USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1928-1929 > Part 23
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Books which we do not own and are too expensive and of too limited appeal for the Library to buy are borrowed through the Inter-Library Loan System. 215 books were borrowed during 1929 from the Boston Public Library, the public libraries of Brookline, Brockton, Bridgewater and Middleboro, the Boston Medical Library, the State House Library and from the Division of Public Libraries at the State House. These books were borrowed to fill important, individual requests, and in addition to these the Library was supplied with the regular deposits of Italian, German and Yiddish books, and whatever other foreign books were asked for.
Registration
During 1929, 624 new borrowers registered at the Li- brary, 210 of which were juvenile registrations. Of the new adult borrowers, 137 were new temporary residents. There are now 4,894 active card holders, a little more than one-third of our population, a net gain of 470 over the total registration of 1928.
Work With Children
The Children's Room continues to grow in use and popularity, and is frequented a great deal by the teachers
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and parents, as well as by the children. The scarlet- fever epidemic affected this work tremendously; for weeks after the Library was reopened, the children did not come to the Library, and there was a consequent falling off in the circulation of the Juvenile Books. In spite of this set-back, there were 23,807 children's books issued from the Children's Room, 116 more than in 1928. 19,449 children visited the Children's Room for reading and selecting books.
Story Hours were held whenever the pressure of work permitted, and 396 children and 9 adults attended them during 1929. "Book Week" was celebrated as usual dur- ing the week of November 17th. An attractive and stim- ulating exhibition of the new children's books was ar- ranged, and this exhibit called forth much favorable com- ment from both the 247 adults and 875 children who visited it during that week. In the middle of the week 61 children listened to a most entertaining group of stories which were told by Miss Margaret Kyle, and on Saturday morning, a "Book Party" was held for the chil- dren of the fourth grade in town. The children came dressed in costumes representing their favorite book characters, and several games were played, all which had to do with books and reading. There were 210 new juv- enile registrations during 1929. During the summer, deposits of books were lent to the Girl Scout camps.
Work With Schools
Because of a large turn-over in the teaching corps, and the scarlet-fever epidemic, our work with the schools was somewhat retarded. In spite of these interruptions, how- ever, 33 deposits of books were lent to the schools, from the second grade through the High School, and library books were circulated by the teachers. The reading from the State Certificate Reading List was carried on as usu- al, but because of the abnormal school year in 1929, the
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Honor Certificate exercises had to be omitted. 57 Honor Certificates were awarded in June to pupils in the Burton, Knapp, Cornish and Hedge schools. Because of these various interruptions in the school year, and pressure work at the Library, it was found to be impossible to continue the instruction of the Junior High School (8th grade) pupils in the use of the Library. Miss O'Brien was most anxious to have this instruction given to her pupils, but with the increasing work in the Library and its small staff, it was just physically impossible to under- take it even had it been possible for the children to at- tend, as they had done before. The Library does every- thing within its means and resources to co-operate with the schools and to supply the demands made upon it by the teachers and pupils. Often there are no books to send out for a deposit when a request comes, and one of our greatest needs is for more copies of the books on the vari- ous reading lists. In the Junior and Senior High Schools (which have no library of their own) this outside read- ing is required, and the pupils are expected to find their books at the Library. It often happens that for days, there will not be one book on any Reading List available. Our Picture Collection is in constant use, and increasing demands are made for pictures of all sorts, for use in geography, art, history, French and Spanish classes, as well as for individual needs of all sorts. It is most neces- sary that there should be some time spent on this impor- tant part of the Library's work, so that the pictures may be put in better order and made more accessible.
Outside Agencies
The Librarian has continued her work at the Jordan Hospital with most encouraging results, and the books are so much in demand that between the Librarian's visits, the nurses wheel the Book Truck around to the patients. While it is impossible to tell exactly how much
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the books were used, because the patients and nurses are not always careful about making a record of the circu- lation, the Librarian herself lent 1,239 books on her week- ly visits last year. Special requests are filled almost every week for nurses and patients, and for those patients who had spent many months in the Hospital, and had read "every book on the truck" the Librarian furnished extra books each week. The authorities at the Hospital tell us that "we have no idea how much this work is appreciated, by both the patients and the Staff."
Mrs. W. E. Randall is continuing her good work at Long Pond, and circulated 652 books from the deposit of Public Library books which she keeps in her home.
Mrs. Ernest Ellis of Ellisville takes care of the library books for the villagers in Ellisville, and 764 books were read by that small group of people. Both Mrs. Randall and Mrs. Ellis are enthusiastic about how much it means to their neighbors to have these books, and we in turn are most grateful to these two philanthropic women for the generous and helpful work which they are doing.
Books
1,300 books were added to the Library in 1929, 569 less than in 1928, and 853 less than in 1927. Of these 1,300, 137 were gifts. With our increasing circulation and the growing demands made upon the Library from all sides, more books are vitally needed instead of less. 370 books were discarded, and there are now approximately 22,938 books in the Library.
The Staff
In September 1929, Miss Elizabeth Sampson resigned in order to enter Simmons College, where she is taking the regular four year college course in Library Science. Mrs. Lillian Dorr, our part-time assistant, was appointed to the position of full-time assistant, and Miss Nancy Sears, as senior in the Plymouth High School, was given the position of part-time worker.
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Various members of the Staff have attended meetings of the Mass. Library Club, the Old Colony Library Club, and the Round Table of Children's Librarians in Boston. The Librarian gave a talk on her "Hospital Library Work" at the June meeting of the Mass. Library Club in Provincetown, and was elected President of the Old Colony Library Club for the second time. She was also re-appointed to the Mass. Library Club's "Committee on Inter-Racial Service," which meets at the State House once a month.
The Building
During 1929 several unexpected but absolutely neces- sary repairs were made on the building; since these re- pairs were not planned for in our 1929 appropriation, their having to be done caused the Library to have a. rather painful year financially. Extensive repairs to the roof and to the chimney, and several other carpentry and plumbing jobs reduced our book fund and made the strictest economy necessary in order to pull through the year.
A new filing-cabinet was installed in the office, replac- ing one which was completely out-grown and a burden to use.
Plans for 1930
The American Library Association states that there should be one assistant to every 20,000 books circulated. With our total circulation of 110,830, 5 full-time assist- ants are needed, and for over a year, our four assistants have been carrying the work of five. It is hoped that the Directors will see fit to appoint one new apprentice-as- sistant, and that they will vote to raise the salaries of those assistants who are not yet receiving $1,000 a year, which amount the Div. of Public Libraries urges as the initial salary for any library worker.
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We cannot keep up with the demands made by the public and we cannot supply the service which we should like to supply unless the means for doing so are provided. The American Library Association considers a circula- tion of 5 books per capita as part of a model town library. We are now circulating 8 books per capita, under the handicap of too little help and too little money. Our book supply which ought to be increasing, with these increas- ing demands, has been decreasing. It would seem that if the town of Plymouth demands help from the Library to the extent this report records, that it in turn ought to grant a fair amount of money for its support. The li- brary costs each citizen of Plymouth about 67 cents. The American Library Association asserts that no town can have an adequate Public Library on less than $1.00 per capita income. It is hoped that an increased appropri- ation for 1930 will enable the Library to offer still better service to the public. A large summer population, most of whom are taxpayers, complicate our work here, and leaves us no time to catch up in the "dull months" as many libraries do.
Gifts
The Library wishes to thank the Plymouth Woman's Club for a gift of $50.00 for the purchase of new Chil- dren's books, and to acknowledge with grateful thanks all the donors of books, periodicals and flowers. All of these gifts have been very helpful to the Library in every way. The Library wishes to acknowledge its indebted- ness to the "Old Colony Memorial" for all of the space which it has given to library publicity, book lists, etc., all of which publicity is of invaluable aid to the Library.
In closing, the Librarian wishes to extend her grateful thanks to the Staff for their loyalty and co-operation dur- ing the past year, and to express her sincere gratitude to the Trustees for their interested and always helpful sup-
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port. An institution cannot fail to progress when those who are responsible for it, work together for its develop- ment, and under such circumstances one cannot do other- wise than to hope for still better things to come.
Respectfully submitted,
MINNIE BURKE FIGMIC,
Librarian.
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REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS 1929
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen:
We respectfully submit the following report for the past year :
BEACH PARK
The parking space was filled to capacity on all Sun- days and Holidays during the summer. Some filling has been started on the opposite side of the street. When completed, many more cars may be accommodated. Three catch basins should be made near the cement sea wall, to take care of all drainage from the parking space. Re- ceived from room $995.65; suits $71.20; towels $136.55.
STEPHENS FIELD
The playground has been equipped with portable bleachers, having a seating capacity of 1,000. A new back stop was erected for use during the baseball season. Several hundred loads of loom are rolled on to the sur- face of the playground each year to fill the places caused by settling of the dump.
The storage house was moved to a more suitable loca- tion. The bath house was improved by having shrubbery set out near by. Bath house receipts : rooms $65.10; suits $13.70; towels $9.00. A boat and life saving equip- ment was added.
Filling was completed at the south side of the field and a fence erected. This section has been graded, cov- ered with loom and seeded. It is the aim of the com- mission to beautify this area around the pond with walks and shrubbery, making it a suitable place for the Edward
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Bangs Memorial, which is to be dedicated in August, 1930. The Edward Bangs Descendants have chosen this spot for the location of a beautiful granite memorial. The site being on or near the original grant of land to Ed- ward Bangs. This section will be named The Edward Bangs Park.
BREWSTER GARDEN
Through the generous cooperation of Mr. John Luddy owner of the land adjoining the park, near the Plymouth Electric Light Power Station, the grounds were cleared and shrubbery planted, beautifying this section and matching it with the garden.
Great care has been taken in the maintenance of the grounds, to make it one of Plymouth's show places. It is recommended by the Commission that suitable signs be placed at the entrances to make the garden more ac- cessible for tourists.
SOUTH STREET PLAYGROUNDS
Children in this section of the town have used this play- ground daily. A large wire mesh should be placed in one section of the field to keep baseballs confined to the park limits.
BURTON PARK
The shrubbery has been suitably cared for and a fence built on the north side of the park.
BATES PARK
An extension of the water system should be made to properly care for the grass in dry weather.
NELSON STREET PLAYGROUNDS
The playground is proving very popular with children in this section of the town, and the baseball diamond is used daily. The out field should be filled in with gravel.
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Bath house receipts, rooms $67.20; suits 11.60; towels $7.70.
TRAINING GREEN
This park received the necessary care and is in fine condition.
MORTON PARK
Telephone and electric power lines have been extended to the bath house. A steel boat and life saving equip- ment was installed. The large water tank which services the bath house toilets is now filled by an electric pump replacing hand pumps.
One way traffic was established through the park, with entrance at Summer Street and exit at Billington Street. Fourteen acres of scrub land has been cleared and 1200 pines set out. Over $500.00 (five hundred dollars) was spent on the suppression of moths. New swings and pic- nic tables were placed at Hospital Point. Bath house receipts, rooms $98.75; suits $10.10; towels $8.85.
INDIAN LANDS
Dead trees have been removed from this reservation and the necessary care has been given.
MUNICIPAL CAMP
This camp is advertising itself throughout the coun- try. The number of overnight autos parked here for camping was 2,439. A slight advance in the price charged for parking was made. Amount received from parking $853.65. The grounds are in fine condition and a cement retaining wall has been erected on the shore side of the camp.
DEPOT PARK Additional shrubbery was set out at each entrance.
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VETERANS FIELD
Several hundred children use this playground daily. Playground equipment is in constant use from early morning until nine in the evening, when the caretaker clears the field. Additional playground apparatus is recommended for this playground. A physical director holds classes and supervises the play during the summer months.
Board of Park Commissioners,
MYRON L. SMITH, ROY E. BEAMAN, JAMES T. FRAZIER.
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BOARD OF HEALTH
DIRECTORY
Term Expires
Herbert S. Maxwell, Chairman,
1932
Andrew J. Carr, Secretary,
1931
William E. Curtin, M. D.,
1930
Edward K. Morse, Inspector and Fumigating Officer
Daniel J. Sullivan, Inspector of Milk
Dr. F. H. Bradley, Inspector of Slaughtering
Arthur A. Sampson, Inspector of Plumbing
Michael D. Welsh, Inspector of Plumbing
Almeda Chandler, Clerk
Harry A. Taft, Charles Cranford, E. E. Farnham, Augus- tus B. Rogers, Anthony Drigoli and Joseph Contente, Special Inspectors
The regular meetings of the Board of Health are held on every Tuesday evening at five o'clock.
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 1929 RECEIPTS
Appropriation, March, 1929,
$18,000.00
Appropriation, November, 1929,
1,000.00
$19,000.00
PAYMENTS
General and Administrative Ex- penses, $1,889.71
Quarantine and Contagious Dis- eases, 4,783.91
Tuberculosis,
3,098.10
Vital Statistics, 72.50
Inspection (animal, meat, milk),
2,748.30
Public Dump, 2,799.98
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Tuberculosis Dispensary Ex- penses, 697.82
Dental Clinic Expenses, 1,215.34
Plumbing Inspection, Fumigat- ing and various expenses, 1,690.70
Total Payments,
18,996.36
Balance to Excess and Deficiency, $3.64
In the matter of contagious diseases this tabulation speaks for itself, although undoubtedly a good many cases where there was no doctor called in, were not reported, and we are calling the attention of the householders to the fact that all contagious cases must be reported where a doctor is not called.
.
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Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Chicken-Pox
21
Diphtheria
1
1
2
Epidemic Crebro- Spinal Meningitis
1
1
Influenza
30| 3|
33
Hypostatic Pneumonia
1
1 2.
Lobar Pneumonia
8|4|42 00
£
1
1
20
Broncho Pneumonia
7| |1
1
Measles
1
1
Mumps
1
1
Scarlet Fever
7|14|126|11| 6| 5| 2
1|1|1
1|175
Septic Sore Throat
4
1
5
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
1
| 3
1
2
7
Tuberculosis all Forms
1 1
2
4
Typhoid Fever
1
1
Whooping Cough
2| 3
5
Gonorrhea
2
1
1
4
Scabies
1| 1
1
3
5733|134191016 5 1 3| 1| 4|11|294
8
1
3
9
9
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To the Inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth :
The Health Department herewith present its report, together with its reports of various appointees for the year ending Dec. 31, 1929.
There has been no Public Health Clinic since February, due to the fact that the board felt it unnecessary, also it being an added expense to the Town. The follow-up work for tuberculosis has been taken care of in compliance with the State Department of Public Health, Division of Tuberculosis. Over fifty homes have been visited during the past year. There have been from five to nine patients receiving care and treatment at the Plymouth County Hospital, South Hanson, Mass., and two at Lakeville State Sanatorium during the year 1929.
In the month of March there was an epidemic of scar- let fever. The table on contagious will show the number of cases, most of which were during that month. This meant much work for the members of the board, also the Milk and Sanitary Inspectors, with every member standing by and doing his duty. During this epidemic many families were cared for by medical attendance, also with provisions and fuel provided.
Sanitary Inspections have been given special attention throughout the year, it covers quite a wide range and includes the placarding of houses during periods of in- fection, the investigation of suspected sources of contam- ination, visits to restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores.
These tours of inspection require no little time. It is one of the duties of the board of health to see that nuis- ances are abated and dead animals removed.
Plymouth Nine
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The testing of the water supply of the Town, both public and private, has been made at frequent intervals by the State Authorities.
An appropriation of $18,000.00 is asked for the year 1930.
HERBERT S. MAXWELL, Chairman ANDREW J. CARR, Secretary WILLIAM E. CURTIN, M. D.
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In Memoriam
GEORGE W. WOOD
Inspector of Slaughtering of the Health Department From
March 1924 to April 1929
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTER- ING FOR THE YEAR 1929
Cattle
Calves
Hogs
Sheep
Goat
January,
7
4
4
February,
6
6
2
March,
6
8
4
April,
6
9
1
May,
6
18
1
June,
4
10
3
July,
6
11
August,
7
12
2
September,
8
6
7
October,
11
5
23
1
November,
8
2
9
December,
9
4
16
2
-
-
-
84
95
72
2
1
In September one cow was condemned as suffering from Generalized Tuberculosis, this cow came from an- other town. During the past year we have a very good place to slaughter animals, situated off Nicks Rock Road, on a high hill. The building was built for the purpose of a slaughter house, has good asphalt floor and sides for two feet or more are asphalt. There are plenty of win- dows in the building, town water and the building is well drained, and after each slaughter day is well washed and cleaned. We have used Tuesdays and Thursdays for days for slaughtering the past year.
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On Tuesday, December 10, 1929, Dr. Kingston and Dr. Drury of the State Board of Health came down to look at the slaughter house, and were well pleased with situation and arrangements of same, and said they wished more towns in the State had as good place to slaughter.
FREDERICK H. BRADLEY, V. M. D.,
Inspector.
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ANNUAL REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR FOR 1929
Jan. 6, 1930.
To the Honorable Board of Health: Gentlemen :
In accordance with the Gen. Laws, Mass., Chapter 40, Section 49, I herewith submit a report as Inspector of Milk for the year ending December 31, 1929.
Work Performed
Licenses or permits issued in 1929 :
Type
Class A
Class B
Class C
Total
Milk Dealers Licenses,
80
44
45
169
Oleomargarine Licenses,
9
9
Permits,
40
40.
-
-
-
Total,
80
53
85
218
Summary of Inspections Made :
Class A .- Hotels, restaurants, tea rooms, lunch- counters, drug stores,
123
Class B .- Stores, markets, etc.,
104
Class C .- Producers of those primarily dealing in milk,
158
Dairies,
55
Pasteurizing Plants,
21
Ice Cream Plants,
4
Total, 465
Average Percentage per class for Sanitary Conditions :
Class A .- Dealers,
81.14%
Class B .- Dealers,
78.25
Class C .- Dealers, 77.43
Dairies, 84.84
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Ice Cream Plants, Pasteurizing Plants,
97.50
90.70
Average percentage of sanitary conditions, 84.97
Summary of Tests Made :
Testing milk for Butter Fats,
154
Testing milk for Solids,
286
Testing milk for Sediment,
69
Testing cream for Butter Fats,
6
Testing milk for Tubercle Bacilli (T. B.),
33
Testing milk for Adulteration, 138
Testing milk for Streptococci,
181
Total,
867
Average percentage of Butter Fats in milk,
4.16 %
Average of percentage of Solids, 13.487
Average percentage of Butter Fats in cream,
40.4
Tuberculin Test :
Cattle tested under State Supervision in 1929,
Plymouth,
504
Cattle tested and passed,
489
Cattle tested and reacted,
15
Percentage passing test,
97%
Expenditures for 1929
Salary of Milk Inspector,
$631.23
Salary of Collector of Samples,
600.00
Equipment,
90.77
Auto Expense,
100.52
Material, Miscellaneous,
79.01
Total, $1,501.53
DANIEL J. SULLIVAN.
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REPORT OF INSPECTORS OF PLUMBING
Plymouth, Mass., January 1, 1930.
To the Honorable Board of Health :
We herewith submit our report for the year 1929
Number of Permits, 145
Number of Inspections, 193
Number of Old Buildings, 98
Number of New Buildings, 47
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR A. SAMPSON,
MICHAEL D. WELSH,
Inspectors of Plumbing.
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REPORT OF FIRE COMMISSIONER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit the report of the Plymouth Fire Department for the year 1929. On analysis it shows that the fire loss was the smallest for a number of years, be- ing only 2.05% of the assessed value of the property in- volved, which certainly indicates the high efficiency of the Department and is very gratifying to your Fire Com- missioner and should entitle the entire Department to the continued loyal support of your Honorable Board and the citizens of the Town.
Following is a brief summary of the conditions of the personnel, buildings, apparatus and signal system.
PERSONNEL
An excellent spirit of enthusiasm and co-operation continues to exist throughout the entire department which in my opinion is the principle reason for the ex- cellent results as shown by the very small fire loss.
BUILDINGS
Both the Central and North Stations, with the excep- tion of ordinary repairs, are in good condition.
APPARATUS
Housed in the Central Station
Combination A, 400 gallon pump, hose and chemical
Combination D, 400 gallon pump, hose and chemical Combination B, 750 gallon pump, hose and chemical Ladder Truck
Two Service cars and Chief's car
All of the above are in good condition.
Housed in North Station
Combination C, chemical and hose, in good condition.
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Horse-drawn Ladder Truck. Regarding this machine I can but refer to previous reports. It is very evident that this machine should be replaced with a motor driven ladder truck.
Your Commissioner is reluctant to ask you for an ap- propriation at this time, as the Town apparently faces other expensive propositions.
FIRE ALARM SIGNAL SYSTEM,-
I am pleased to report that the signal system on Sand- wich, Main and Court Streets from Jabez Corner to the Kingston and Plymouth line are now underground and two new boxes have been installed and puts the main line in excellent condition. There is considerable work to be done yet on the aerial circuits and the addition of new boxes. It is the plan of your Commissioner to continue annually to improve these conditions from the regular ap- propriation using the men of the Department all possible for this work.
ORGANIZATION
Fire Commissioner, Chief Fire Department,
Deputy Chief Fire Department,
Henry Walton Albert Hiller Clifton Hatton
Central Station Captain Fred Paty Captain Everett Wood
Percy Gardner Charles Schroeder
James Farris
C. Thom Shaw Augustus Burgess Peter Bibeau
Chester Wood
Call Force
Lieut. Alfred Nickerson
Elmer Chandler Peleg Chandler
Charles Baumgartner
John Sampson Daniel Sullivan Milton Howland
George Banker
Charles Carr
Arthur Lovell
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Warren Sampson Norman Holmes
Max Siever Philip Vacchini
Hook and Ladder
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