USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1955 > Part 5
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South Middleboro unit-27 calls for the year.
Property Loss
79,200.00
Valuation Total Insurance
81,960.00
Estimated damage
19,665.82
Insurance Paid
17,090.82
Loss not covered by Insurance
2,575.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
Contents
Estimated value
85,100.00
Total Insurance
85,200.00
Estimated damage 20,574.08
Insurance Paid
19,024.08
Loss not covered by Insurance
1,550.00
Apparatus, equipment and Fire Alarm system are in good con- dition. Three new fire alarm boxes were added this past year. Boots, coats, helmets and nozzles, fire extinguishers and other minor equip- ment were added.
The first floor rooms were painted this past year, the second floor rooms should be this coming year along with repairs to doors and windows outside.
Respectfully submitted,
BERTRAM TRIPP
Chief of Fire Department
REPORT OF THE FOREST WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1955: Warden Calls
30
Still Alarms for Grass and Brush Fires
44
TOTAL
74
Estimated damage
$1,200.00
Cost of Extinguishing
Wages Maintenance and Operation
$ 888.40
314.32
TOTAL COST
$1,202.72
Respectfully submitted,
BERTRAM TRIPP
Forest Warden
59
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit for your consideration and approval the report of the weights and measures department for the year 1955:
We are housed at 13 Forest Street, where the State Standards are kept under lock and key at all times. The Town equipment or work- ing equipment have at regular intervals been compared and adjusted to these standards.
The revenue turned in to the Town Treasurer's office for the year 1955 is as follows:
Sealing Fees Adjusting Fees
$384.80
8.20
Total
$393.00
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK A. PERRY
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Scales
Scales
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed
Condemned
Platform over 10,000 lbs.
1
Platform over 100 to 5,000 1bs.
30
97
1
Platform under 100 lbs.
38
133
Weights
12
288
Yard Sticks
Milk Storage tanks
4
Liquid 1 gal. or under
1
Meters 1 in. or less
3
100
Meters more than 1 in.
1
5
Bulk storage
3
Kerosene oil and grease
26
6
-
Totals
84
667
7
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ANNUAL REPORT
Total Tested
Tested Reweighting Correct
Under
Over
Apples
22
22
Bread
20
20
Cheese
12
12
Butter
12
10
2
Potatoes
76
28
42
28
6
-
-
Total
142
28
52
28
62
Thermometer (Clinical) observed
12
Respectfully submitted, FRANK A. PERRY
Sealer of Weights and Measures
REPORT OF CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTOR
January 30, 1956
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Middleboro, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
During my term of office as Civil Defense Director, the think- ing and planning for Civil Defense from the National and State levels, has undergone many changes. Most of these changes in planning have been necessitated by the rapid progress made in the methods of destruction which we have to guard against and the means of de- tection and protection at our disposal.
I feel that today these ideas have jelled to the point where each individual community can now plan effectively for its own preserva- tion. The cold facts are-that target areas must be evacuated-neutral areas stay put-and reception centers are required to accommodate double their present populations. Middleboro is considered to be a reception area. Should a disaster occur, we would be expected to house and feed approximately twenty thousand evacuees for an unde- termined length of time.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Those persons living or working in target areas are subject to almost certain destruction unless evacuated; while we in reception centers would be spared this fate unless hit by a misdirected missile. However, should other localities, within a radius of two hundred miles, be attacked, we still are subject to radio active fallout, which could lead to disastrous results.
Under a recent directive of the Governor of this State, all public services in the State are now an integral part of Civil Defense and will operate as such in case of disaster. Middleboro has, in addition to these public services, one hundred and ten volunteer workers plus many persons trained in first aid by Red Cross, which also operates with Civil Defense in case of need. We have at the present time, eleven amateur radio stations and one mobile unit. This type of com- munication, under the direction of Franklin Standish, could be of invaluable assistance in time of disaster. An auxiliary police force, under the direction of Chief William Gardner, is now in process of formation. Surveys have been made as to housing facilities as well as food and fuel supplies.
One vital facility which we do not have is a ground observers post. We are informed by the Air Command that inasmuch as we are situated in a geographically strategic area, it is of vital impor- tance that we have such a post. Formerly the Ground Observers Corp was operated under army jurisdiction; and at that time an attempt was made to activate a post. It was, however, abandoned because of a lack of volunteer observers. Now the Corp has been incorporated as a part of Civil Defense and an urgent attempt is being made to activate this important function under the supervision of Clayton Thomas.
I am aware that while instructions have been issued by the State and National agencies governing the conduct of the general public during an impending attack, there is still much uncertainty as to just what is proper procedure. A booklet has been compiled by the National Agency giving all necessary information. Sufficient copies were ordered eight months ago to supply each home in Middleboro; upon their receipt each householder will be presented a copy by neighborhood wardens.
While our local organization is perhaps not as active as in some communities, where there is paid personnel, considerable time and effort has been spent to reach our present level of preparedness. We are still a long way from perfection, but I am sure that the resource- fulness of the heads of the various important services will mold together an efficient organization.
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH B. KEEDWELL
Civil Defense Director
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE MIDDLEBOROUGH PLANNING BOARD
The following recommendations of the Middleborough Planning Board were approved by the Board of Selectmen and put in effect during 1955.
1. That the site of the former Bates School Playground be black- topped and suitably marked as a public parking area.
2. That proper illumination be installed at the Town Hall park- ing lot to provide adequate lighting of the extended parking area.
3. That proper illumination be installed at the parking area between Oak and Pearl Streets, and that a sign indicating the avail- ability of this parking area be erected on Oak Street.
4. That the sharp corner on the south side of the intersection of Union Street and Nickerson Avenue be cut back to make it easier for cars, buses, and trucks to make the turn.
5. That limited parking regulations in congested areas of the Town be established and enforced.
During its first full year of operation, the Planning Board has presented numerous recommendations aimed solely at benefiting the people of Middleboro. Several of these items we consider to be of much greater importance and significance than the above items, and we hope to see them established for the benefit of Middleboro in 1956.
While many of our recommendations were not adopted, we believe that the specific accomplishments above are a first step towards providing better services to the general public and the voters of Middleborough.
Respectfully submitted,
ALTON KRAMER ROBERT LaFOREST ROBERT ROHT GEORGE SAMPSON ELLSWORTH STANDISH
63
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
January 20, 1956
To the President and Board of Trustees,
Middleborough Public Library:
The past year may be regarded as one of accomplishment at the Middleborough Public Library; many of the objectives in view for many years have been achieved. The year has also been one of pro- gress, as there has been a gain in services in almost all departments.
Our patrons express their appreciation of the new wrought-iron railing which has been installed at the front entrance; also of the fine new mat before the front door. No longer do newspaper readers have to cope with the awkward sticks to which the daily newspapers have been attached; now the papers are folded and kept in a rack from which they may be read with ease and comfort. This method was adopted with more than a little hesitation, fearing that papers might be tucked into coat pockets and disappear. The local paper has never been kept with the other papers because of this reason. To date, not one newspaper has been lost.
The Trustees' room has been entirely redecorated, another goal reached; the men's room, the hallway leading to it and the women's rest room have all received coats of colorful paint.
Two major changes have been made in rules governing the bor- rowing of books. Children under fourteen years of age heretofore have been allowed to take during the school year only two books at one time, with the privilege of borrowing three books during vacation periods. Beginning with November and Book Week, three books may be taken by children at all times. There is no limit to the number of books that may be borrowed by those over fourteen years of age. The new ruling regarding those under fourteen has been enthusias- tically received and accounts for some of the increase in circulation. We have abolished the rule requiring a book to be in the library four months before reserves can be taken on it.
The library has had some unusually interesting exhibits during the year. Through the month of March there was an exhibition of oil paintings by the late James W. Murdock, a resident of Middle- borough for many years and widely known as a practicing attorney. The pictures were loaned by Miss Blanche M. Murdock and her sister, who maintain a home in Middleborough. In August the Heart Asso- ciation of Plymouth County set up a most interesting and informative display including an electrical diagramatic heart and a display of pam- phlets on every phase of caring for the heart before and after a heart attack. During Book Week in November, through the interest and cooperation of Mrs. Sylvia Matheson, Art Director in Middle- borough schools, there was an exhibit of miniature stage scenes show- ing realistic backgrounds and settings with figures made of paper mache and clay. This work was done by pupils of the High School and included scenes from the plays of Shakespeare, the novels of Dickens and such literary works as Hiawatha and Robinson Crusoe.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. James R. Meehan presented to the library the collection of newspaper clippings which belonged to Mr. James H. Creedon and represents Mr. Creedon's contributions as a newspaper reporter for a period of almost fifty years. These are being assembled and will form a "James H. Creedon Memorial," providing excellent local historical material for future reference.
Owing to the continuation of the platoon system, it has been impossible to resume classes at the library for the Eighth Grade in ""How to Use the Library," but several visits have been made by the classes and short periods of instruction held. Story hours were held at the library during Book Week for all pupils of the Third and Fourth Grades. Visits have been made to all schools in town, including rural schools, supplying classrooms with books so that bus pupils as well as those living in town may enjoy the benefits and pleasures of library books. Continuing the plan of State Certificate Reading, 661 small cer- tificates, representing five books read, and 94 Honor certificates, repre- senting twenty books read, have been awarded Grades IV through VIII.
Weekly visits have been made to St. Luke's Hospital to supply patients with reading material. It is interesting to note in this con- nection that the Middleborough library is one of only fifteen libraries in the State of Massachusetts giving weekly bed-side service to hos- pitals and keeping a permanent supply of library books at the hospital. This collection is supplemented each week by new books and maga- zines. A collection of books is maintained at the Hannah B. G. Shaw Home, Montgomery Home, Cedarvale Rest Home and Green Pastures Rest Home.
The librarian and Miss Bassett of the library staff, accompanied by three members of the Board of Trustees, attended a joint meet- ing of the Old Colony Library Club and the Massachusetts Library Trustees Association held at the new North Weymouth branch of Tufts Library, where Mrs. Witbeck participated in a panel discussion, "State Aid to Libraries." The librarian and members of the staff have attended meetings of the Old Colony Library Association, Massa- chusetts Library Association, Round Table of Children's Librarians and Round Table of Librarians for Young Adults.
The library was deprived of the services of a loyal and valued member of the Board of Trustees by the death of Mr. William J. Mac- Dougall. Regular in attendance at trustees' meetings, his advice and interest were given generously for the benefit of the library. To fill the unexpired term of Mr. MacDougall, the selectmen appointed Mr. Horace K. Atkins.
Special thanks are due to Chief William E. Gardiner of the Police Department for his help in retrieving books long overdue. We are grateful to those who have made the library attractive by gifts of flowers and plants, especially members of the Garden Club who have generously supplied flowers throughout the summer season and for special occasions, Mr. Albert H. Hulley and Mr. James R. Meehan. Very much appreciated is the space given each week to the library column by Mr. Lorenzo Wood, editor of the Middleborough Gazette, providing excellent publicity for the library and resulting in a fine response. Many friends of the library have evidenced their interest
65
ANNUAL REPORT
by donating books, magazines and other gifts. With gratitude to the Trustees for their sincere interest and their support of the many projects of the past year, and for the earnest efforts of the staff, I respectfully submit this report.
MERTIE E. WITBECK,
Librarian
MIDDLEBOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY STATISTICS
Circulation of Books Central Library
Adult
Fiction
26,541
Non-fiction
15,740
Rental books
983
Phonograph records
377
Pictures
191
Stereoscopes
40
Foreign books
19
44,391
Juvenile circulation
Fiction
12,876
Non-fiction
12,781
25,657
Branches and Deposits
South Middleboro Branch
1,110
St. Luke's Hospital
604
Green Pastures
300
Montgomery Home
370
Shaw Home
190
High School
476
Pleasant Street School
368
Plymouth Street School
744
Pratt Free School
551
School Street School
361
Union Street School
95
West Side School
2,289
South Middleboro School
810
8.268
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ANNUAL REPORT
Total circulation 1954 75.015
Total circulation 1955 78,316
Increase in circulation 1955 3,301
Number of volumes owned January 1, 1955
60,112
Number of volumes added by purchase 1,528
Number of volumes added by gift 181
Number of volumes added by binding Magazines 16
Newspapers 2
18
Number of volumes transferred from Rental Collection 90
Total number of volumes added, 1955 1,817
61,929
Number of volumes lost or discarded 866
Number of volumes owned December 31, 1955 61,063
Number of phonograph records owned, January 1, 1955 438
Number of phonograph records added by purchase 24
Total number of phonograph records owned, Dec. 31, 1955 462
Magazines currently received 123
Newspapers currently received 12
Money received from fines on books and magazines $792.76
Money received from Rental books 119.59
66.00
Money received from borrowers' cards, non-residents 77 non-resident borrowers $1.00 per year; . 50 per 6 months
New borrowers registered, 1955 475
Adult 207 Juvenile 268
Borrowers re-registered under 5 year registration plan 377
Total number of active borrowers 4,005
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ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Library Treasurer for the Year 1955
SHOWING EXPENDITURE OF ENDOWMENT FUND FOR YEAR 1955
Receipts
Payments
Balance January 1, 1955
$2,539.94
Peirce Fund
3,033.76
$3,049.58
Enoch Pratt Fund
272.94
460.16
Book Sales
250.21
250.21
Rental Books
116.00
104.24
Harriet E. Beals Fund
25.00
25.00
Harriot O. Peirce Fund
12.50
12.50
Copeland Fund
361.74
471.79
Mary Hullahan Fund
105.00
109.72
Miscellaneous
1.75
14.65
Balance December 31, 1955
2,220.99
$6,718.84
$6,718.84
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES Under the Will of Thomas S. Peirce
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Annual Report of the Trustees Under the Will of Thomas S. Peirce for the past calender year is herewith respectfully submitted.
The following schedules outline the present book valuation of the Fund held for the Benefit of the Town of Middleborough and the Fund held in trust for the Middleborough Public Library. A Statement of the Receipts and Disbursements of each fund for the year ended December 31, 1955 is also included in this report.
Fund Held in Trust for Use and Benefit of Town of Middleborough
Stocks-Inventory value or cost
$192,237.06
Bonds-Inventory value or cost
112,335.81
Mortgages and Notes
86,026.28
Real Estate
63,912.30
Cabinet at Library
100.00
Office Equipment
155.50
Savings Bank Deposits
16,000.00
Cash on hand in checking account
3,624.17
$474,391.12
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ANNUAL REPORT
INCOME ACCOUNT
Receipts
Rentals
$ 9,095.00
Dividends
11,523.73
Coupons Interest
5,762.79
Reimbursements Acct. Taxes
64.20
Acct. Insurance
340.52
$27,816.24
Disbursements
Salaries, Trustees
$ 2,499.84
Janitor
1,980.00
Insurance
526.92
Repairs
1,164.55
Light and Heat
1,102.22
Water
239.16
Taxes, Real Estate
5,352.29
Taxes, Social Security
39.60
Refund, Dividend
85.00
Accrued Interest
183.67
Sundries
166.69
$13,339.94
Net Income for the year
$14,476.30
Balance on hand January 1, 1955
13,011.48
$27,487.78
Paid for Use and Benefit of the Town
Uniforms School Bands
$ 1,149.36
High School Com'l Course
600.00
Bates School Manual Training
1,483.39
Playgrounds
West Side
919.66
No. Main Street
490.45
Attendants
1,950.00
$ 6,592.86
Balance on hand January 1, 1956
$20,894.92
Fund Held in Trust for the Middleborough Public Library
Stocks-Inventory value or cost
$25,442.22
Bonds-Inventory value or cost
23,573.82
Savings Bank Deposits
10,318.12
$59,334.16
1,030.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
INCOME ACCOUNT
Receipts
Dividends Coupons
$ 2,294.95 702.50
$ 2,997.45
Disbursements
Paid to Treasurer of the: Middleborough Library
$ 2,986.45
Com. of Massachusetts
3.00
Registrar of Probate
8.00
$ 2,997.45
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR D. BENSON FREDERICK S. WESTON
FLETCHER CLARK, JR.
Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
To: Members of the Park Board Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce Members of the Board of Selectmen
January 20, 1956
Gentlemen:
Upon completion of my first year as Superintendent of the Park Department I am very happy to be able to report that the department has continued its record of successfully serving the townspeople in the field of recreation, athletics and entertainment. The proof of how well the playground serves the community is found in the number of people who avail themselves of its services and facilities; and this year the number of participants ranged up to almost 5,000 a week some weeks. This figure does not include evening activities such as softball and baseball leagues, tennis, dances and concerts, and informal groups of players. In all of these activities the Park Department was either directly or indirectly responsible for their organization and supervision. We have found that the playgrounds are very popular places during the evening hours, attracting both youngsters and adults. This makes it necessary and prudent to maintain a sufficient number of adult staff members to supervise these various activities and to in- sure the usual happy and safe atmosphere. Fortunately, now that the West Side Playground is available to us I am now able to schedule some of these activities to that area and thus alleviate the load at the Central Playground.
With the increase in attendance it followed naturally that the staff had to be enlarged, and even at that, during the peak of our season, which happened to be the first four weeks, we found ourselves short-handed many times. The attendance did drop off from the fifth week on, due in part to vacations, and in part to the polio epi- demic. When it was generally recognized that polio was in the epi- demic stage, I conferred with local medical and health authorities on what our course of action should be in such a situation. Their recom- mendations were carefully and strictly carried out at the playground in general and the swimming pool in particular.
We were fortunate in having on our staff this year not only well- qualified, but what is even more important in a recreation program, enthusiastic members:
John Driscoll, Assistant Superintendent.
Doris Thorson, Supervisor of Girls' Activities.
Charles Clark, Supervisor of Aquatics.
William Levesque, Supervisor of Boys' Activities.
Alan Smith, Supervisor of West Side Playground.
Oliver Washburn, James Follett, and Joseph Briggs who served at different times as Supervisor of Grounds.
Assistants in the various sports were David Butler, Frank Follett, Gordon Fawcett, Barbara Tate, Douglas McLean, Jacqueline Jones, Joan Wilkie, Russell Austin, Keith Humphreys, and Edward Kraus.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. Manuel Pavao, who offered his services in Archery and Wrest- ling.
Mr. David Reed, who volunteered his services in Tennis.
One of the main objectives of the department this year was to offer as great a variety of activities as possible. Our reasons for this were:
1. To stimulate interest in new activities.
2. To find out what the fields of greatest interest were.
3. To develop, especially in the youngsters, certain essential physical skills.
To carry out this objective we offered the opportunity to partici- pate in the following:
1. The swimming pool program
The swimming pool program is two-fold: first, instruction; second, recreational swimming.
At the beginning of the season many sign up for instruction, but as the season progresses, the number diminishes. At the completion of the prescribed course, certificates are awarded. The classes are grouped according to the age of the children beginning with the novice and proceeding to the beginners, intermediate, swimmer and junior life saving. This year 2,853 youngsters attended our morning swim- ming lessons.
Afternoons, evenings, and weekends are devoted to recreational swimming. This year's attendance was 14,756, slightly less than last year's record, but up until the polio outbreak we were almost 3,000 ahead of last year's figure. This leads me to believe that, barring a re- currence of a similar polio incident, we can look forward to a record- breaking year at the pool.
In order to maintain our record for safety at the pool it makes it necessary to have as many qualified and responsible people on duty both for supervision and the proper sanitary maintenance. Consider- ing the size of our pool and the great numbers who use it I feel it is imperative to have on duty at all times at least one definitely adult supervisor.
2. Midget and junior baseball games were scheduled five days a week. A spirited series was played between Central and West Side playground teams.
3. A 1,000-Point Contest was initiated this season and proved extremely popular. This contest was held every morning each week and consisted of instruction and competition in the most popular sports-horseshoe pitching, baseball, touch football, basketball, volley- ball, swimming, track, wrestling, tennis and badminton.
Youngsters were divided into three age groups for both boys and girls. Each week first, second and third place ribbons were awarded on a basis of points accumulated that week. To those who accumu- lated a lesser number of points but nevertheless participated well, we gave felt awards. At the end of the contest trophies were awarded to those who had accumulated the most number of points overall.
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ANNUAL REPORT
4. Volleyball-Instruction and games scheduled in volleyball proved to be very popular amongst the boys.
5. Archery-We introduced this sport not only to add variety but also for the sake of muscular development, concentration and poise. We were fortunate in having an expert instructor in Mr. Manuel Pavao, who offered his services gratis.
6. Tennis-Tennis instructions were given three times a week by staff members and Mr. David Reed, who also donated his time and services to the program.
7. Touch Football-We introduced this sport toward the end of the playground season when we felt the feeling of football was in the air.
8. Basketball-Informal games were scheduled towards the end of the season.
9. Horseshoes-Proved very popular with the youngsters at the beginning of the season.
10. Track-Instructions and competition were offered in the more popular track and field events.
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