USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1934-1936 > Part 18
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Manomet Point formerly standing in the name of Mary L. Brooks but now property of the Town of Plymouth.
Respectfully submitted,
ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
Ralph L. Drew, Chairman; John B. Finney, Franklin A. Hebard, Edward W. Jones, Harry R. Talbot, Paul W. Viets, Joseph S. Contente, Harvey S. Hatch, Warren P. Strong, John F. Taylor, William Anderson, Wil- liam H. Borghesani, George V. Buttner, Russell W. Harlow, Charles Mackinnon.
Attested : Elmer R. Harlow, Secretary.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
OF THE
Town of Plymouth
* *
1620.
A
NMO
For the Year Ending December 31, 1935
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
In making a report of this nature it is very difficult to determine what to include. It is impossible to put everything in detail that has been accomplished in the past year. However, a complete financial statement of every activity that has been undertaken can be found in the town report. We do not propose to dwell on those reports. We can only hope to convey in general the activ- ities of the past year and the condition of the town at present.
In this part of our report we make note of and repeat the resolution offered and voted by the town at the an- nual town meeting held March 23, 1935, regarding the death of George B. Howland, late town clerk and treasurer :
RESOLVED : That in the death of George B. Howland, the Town of Plymouth lost a loyal and valued citizen: a conscientious and able town officer.
That his passing while actively engaged in town affairs and on the very day following his re-election to the offices of Town Clerk and Town Treasurer has left us with the deepest sense of sorrow that will not soon be effaced.
The Highway Department has carried on in the usual manner the improvement of the main highway through the town. Also a great deal of work has been done on the cutlying roads with the assistance of the Federal Gov- ernment. A great many gravelled sidewalks have been covered with Tarvia and cement curbing put in where it was most essential. A number of dangerous corners have been rounded off, stop signs erected, especially where entrances are to the main streets. Work of hard-surfac- ing the Federal Furnance Road will be continued this year with the contributions of $6,500 by the State, $3,250
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by the County and there is an article in the warrant asking for a $3,250 appropriation by the town to carry on this work.
The sewerage system has been extended and a great deal of the old part has been cleaned of roots of trees, with a machine which was purchased for that purpose.
The Police Department has functioned in its usual ef- ficient manner. Crime of a serious nature has been practically negligible. Traffic, which is the serious matter to engage the activities of the department, has been handled in a very satisfactory way especially on Sundays and holidays during the summer months when we have so many tourists. The equipment of the department is in first class condition and of the latest models.
The usual amount of time and thought has been given to the liquor question and we are satisfied that it is being conducted very satisfactorily. The revenue to the town from all liquors was approximately $19,057.00. Very few complaints have been received and we are satisfied that we have the cooperation of all licensees.
The finances of the town are in as good condition as anyone could expect when we consider the condition of private business in the past five or six years. Through the cooperation of the finance committee and heads of de- partments it was possible to reduce the tax rate for 1935. While the Town saw fit to appropriate $189,850 to build a new high school in conjunction with the Federal Gov- ernment, we are satisfied if the same amount of cooper- ation is received in 1936 it is possible to make a further reduction in the tax rate. This, of course, will greatly depend on the attitude of the voters at the approaching business meeting of the town. This is one time in the year when the voter can voice his ideas of what is, or is not, a proper use of his money. Hence the tax rate is largely in the hands of the voters themselves. The
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budgets and articles that are presented by the various departments do not mean that the town cannot function properly without them but gives the voter an opportunity to say whether or not it is his or her desire to have it done at this time.
We have the usual number of petitions for articles in the warrant for the acceptance of roads, all of more or less merit, none of them involving a great expenditure of money and without question are badly needed. We be- lieve that this is something that the town should do a certain amount of each year so as to eventually have all streets that have property on them in good condition.
We are sorry to report that there is no reduction in the number of unemployed in the town. We hesitate to estimate the amount of money that would have been required for welfare, soldiers' relief and other charit- able work performed by the town if it had not been for the assistance of the Federal Government. A large per- centage of this money has been spent on projects that were badly needed but without question would not have been undertaken by the town at this time.
During the year the Selectmen held several confer- ences with the Commission of the Department of Public Utilities and officials of the Plymouth Electric Light Company regarding the merger of the Plymouth Electric Light Company and the Southeastern Massachusetts Power and Electric Company. At first the Board objected to the merger of the two companies, but after agreements had been made for substantial reductions in the rates in Plymouth it was decided to withdraw our objections to the merger. The Governor's Public Util- ities Commission was of great assistance to us and played an important part in getting the reduction in rates. We also feel that it would be only fair to say that the officials
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of the Plymouth County Electric Company were very fair in their dealings with us.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES A. WHITE WILLIAM H. ARMSTRONG ANDREW J. CARR CHARLES MONING AMEDEO V. SGARZI
Board of Selectmen
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THE REPORT OF THE INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE
An article in the warrant of the town meeting held in March, 1935, instructing the Selectmen to organize a committee for the promotion of industry in Plymouth was accepted, also an appropriation of $3,000 to be used by this committee on April 3. The Selectmen organized the committee and in addition to themselves selected the following interested citizens to become members: Henry Walton, James S. Swanton, Morton Collingwood, Abra- ham Penn, Edward A. Buttner, Alfred N. Gifford, Joseph S. Contente, J. Frankland Miller, David A. Cappannari, Fernando Collari, Walter Haskell, Emil W. Birnstein, Joseph Rogers, Raymond T. Shipley, Paul W. Kunze, and Edward H. Duffy.
At the organization meeting William H. Armstrong was elected Chairman; Mr. James S. Swanton, Vice Chairman; Amedeo Sgarzi, Secretary. The committee held meetings weekly for some time and employed the services of an industrial councilor who was to work on a commission basis. The agreement with this person was to the effect that he would be paid 2% of the first year's pay roll of any concern he would bring to Plymouth. These payments were to be made in quarterly install- ments during the first year. A number of propositions were brought before the committee by this gentleman and for various reasons could not be accepted on account of the lack of suitable factory space to meet the require- ments of these prospective concerns.
After about three months the committee decided to discontinue that method of operation and voted to termin- ate their agreement. Shortly after this period negoti-
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ations were made with a Mr. Francis White who was interested in taking over the Standish Mills. The propo- sition as presented by Mr. White required a substantial amount of financing, the bulk of which was sought from the Federal Government through the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. In order to complete the arrange- ments necessary, in order to get this government loan, it was necessary for the Selectmen to appear personally in the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Department in Washington.
As the nature of the loan was one without precedent it was necessary to go into great detail with the R. F. C. and during the month of November we were notified by the government that they would approve the loan con- ditional upon a like amount being furnished by parties interested.
It became necessary to organize a committee to raise $15,000 and the sale of second mortgage bonds in denom- inations of $50 were solicited by members of this com- mittee. Within a short period of time the amount neces- ary was fully subscribed when it was learned that the principal in the transaction would not furnish the amount agreed upon with the committee. Because of various factors which came up at that time it was decided by the five directors of the industrial committee, which consisted of the Selectmen, to cancel all arrangements, as it was not considered, under the circumstances, that the venture could be successful on any different basis than that originally agreed upon.
This decision was very disappointing to all concerned, as many hours of valuable time had been given to the problem by the Selectmen and other members of the committee.
Since that time negotiations are being carried on with another prospective manufacturer and there are great possibilities of success.
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After holding 21 meetings the committee can not report any definite success in so far as tangible results are concerned but the experience gained has been very valuable. There is no definite program of procedure that a committee of this nature can follow and must rely upon the alertness of the committee and citizens of the town to call to their attention any prospective manufacturer that they may learn about.
At the present time there is a balance of practically $2,300 left for the committee to continue with and the Selectmen feel that this amount is sufficient for the com- mittee to continue with during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. ARMSTRONG, Chairman.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND SEWERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit a report of the work done in the Street and Sewer Departments from January 1st, 1935 to December 31st, 1935.
SEWERS
The following Sewer Extension has been put in this year : Prince St., 50'-8" vitrified pipe, 1-4x8 Y. Three new manholes were built on Oak St., one on Samoset St. Several old manholes have been brought up to grade of road. Approximately three miles of our Main Sewers have been cleared of tree roots with the Expanding Root Cutter and Sewer Cleaner that was purchased last year. It is probable several new extensions will be called for this coming year and I recommend $5,000.00 to be appro- priated to carry out this work.
STREET CLEANING
The usual work of cleaning streets has been carried out this year. Catch basins have been cleaned out, gutters cleaned of sand, and brushing up of leaves in the fall was done.
DRAINS
A number of new Catch basins have been built to take care of surface water that has always had to run a long distance before it could enter into a drain. These basins have taken care of a deplorable condition, especially when there is a heavy rainstorm.
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The following drains have been laid this year: White Horse Beach, on new road being built by W.P.A. labor, 48'-15" pipe coated with tar; Union St., at entrance of Water St. and Union St. where road has been widened, 66'-12" plain corrugated pipe was laid to old drain; Prince St., a new drain was laid across the street to take care of surface water, 48'-12" corrugated pipe was laid, two catch basins built; Carver Rd. and Samoset St., 50'-12" vitrified pipe was laid.
The following new drains and catch basins have been laid by E.R.A. and W.P.A. labor this year: Court St., from Hamilton St. to Savery's Lane, 422'-15" vitrified pipe, 240'-12" vitrified pipe, 3 catch basins, covers and frames. Court St., from Prince St. to Hedge Road, 860'-20" vitrified pipe, 3 new catch basins, frames and covers. Court St., from Clyfton St. to Samoset St. (west side) 550'-15" vitrified pipe, 240'-12" vitrified pipe, 4 inlets, and two catch basins were built. Alvin Road, from Alvin Road to Murdock's Pond at rear of Oak St., 300'-20" vitrified pipe, 490'-15" vitrified pipe, 100'-12" vitrified pipe, 3 large catch basins, 2 small catch basins, frames and covers. The Town of Plymouth contributed $3,646.84 to buy the material for these drains and the Government contributed $8,830.35 for labor.
ASPHALT SIDEWALKS
Approximately 13,145 sq. yds. of this Hot Mixed sur- face has been completed this year. The following side- walks were surfaced: Centennial St. (north side) 993 sq. yds., Nelson St. (south side) 669 sq. yds., Mayflower St. (east and west sides) 10911/2 sq. yds., Lincoln St. from Sandwich St. to Union St. (north side) 3660 sq. yds., Stephen's St. from Sandwich St. to Whiting St. 320 sq. yds., Court St. several bad places from Plymouth and Kingston Line to Samoset St. were covered with a new top surface 658 sq. yds., Sandwich St. (west side) 20 sq. yds., Standish Ave. from Hamilton St. to Cherry St. (east side) 1450 sq. yds., Savery's Lane (north and south
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sides) 242 sq. yds., Atlantic St. from Court St. to last house on north side 661 sq. yds., Clyfton St. from Court St. to the property of Warren S. Bumpus 130 sq. yds., Murray St. from Lothrop St. to Court St. (west side) 666 sq. yds., Edes St. (west side) 254 sq. yds., Chestnut St. from Davis St. to Samoset St. (west side) 408 sq. yds., Oak St. new surface from Davis St. to Samoset St. (west side) and covering bad places to Summer St. 344 sq. yds., Prince St. north side from Court St. to Cordage St. 345 sq. yds., Grey Ave. from Alvin Road to Davis St. (west and east sides) 204 sq. yds., Middle St. from Main St. to Carver St. (north and south sides) 708 sq. yds., Seaver St. from Russell St. to the Bramhall property (west side) 122 sq. yds., and Newfield St. (east side) 210 sq. yds.
GRANOLITHIC SIDEWALKS AND CURB
Summer St., south side, 119 lineal feet of cement curb was laid; Clyfton St., 170 feet of curb was laid on the south side and 13 feet of curb on the north side; Chestnut St., 551 lineal feet of cement curb was laid on the west side; Vernon St., entrance of Vernon and Courts Sts., 19 lineal feet of curb and three cement slabs were laid to replace old ones that were taken out to put in a new drain; Nelson St., 354 lineal feet of curb was laid on the south side, 228 lineal feet of curb on the north side; Spooner St., 380 lineal feet of curb was laid at the en- trance of Spooner St. and No. Spooner St. to widen cor- ner and filled with gravel for a sidewalk to be surfaced this coming year; Murray St., 246 lineal feet of cement curb was laid on the west side and old walk was brought to grade with gravel and covered with hot mixed sur- face; Prince St., 225 lineal feet of curb was laid on the north side for a sidewalk, 200 lineal feet of curb was laid on the south side for a sidewalk.
A large number of slabs have been replaced with new ones that tree roots have broken up and lifted out of grade.
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SPECIAL BUDGET
Court and Sandwich Sts .- A surface coat of tar (K. P.) and pea stone was put on these streets. This material was dragged and mixed to take out depressions and make a non-skid surface. This year the distance from Jabez Corner to town line at Kingston was completed.
Long Pond Road-A surface of retread tar and gravel was put on this road from the junction of Obery Road and South St. to South Pond Village, over the old surface laid three years ago for a sealing coat. One additional mile was covered 2" thick from the Mast Road to the Liggett Estate after the Tarvia Emulsion had been ap- plied to harden the old gravel base.
TWO NEW HIGHWAY TRUCKS
At the March Town Meeting, $3300.00 was appropri- ated for a new truck to replace the old three-ton truck that has been used by the Highway Dept. for the past eight years. A Studebaker truck was purchased for $2800.00, leaving a balance of $500.00. With the balance from the Studebaker truck and permission from the Board of Selectmen, I purchased a Chevrolet Pick-Up truck to replace the old Dodge truck which had been in service for seven years.
HARD-SURFACED STREETS
The following streets were hard-surfaced: Savery's Ave. from Standish Ave. to Cordage Terrace with K. P. tar and stone; Prince St. from Court St. to end of street with K. P. tar and pea stone and No. 2 stone; Spooner St. from Fire Station north to brook, this road was scari- fied, scraped and brought to grade with gravel with a surface of K. P. tar and 3/4" stone, sealed with retread tar and sand; Cherry St. Court from Cherry St. to end of street, K. P. tar and 3/4" stone; Alden St. from Stand- ish Ave. to end of tar road a surface of K. P. tar and pea stone; Nelson St. from Court St. to railroad crossing,
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this road was scarified, scraped and brought to grade wich gravel, a surface of K. P. tar and 3/4" stone, sealed wich retread tar and sand; Water St. from North St. to railroad station at South Park Ave. a surface of K. P. tar and pea stone, dragged and rolled, was put on this road; Liberty St. from Standish Ave. to end of street, this road was scarified, scraped and brought to grade with gravel, surface of K. P. and No. 2 stone, sealed with retread tar and sand; Darby Road from the Carver and Plymouth Line for a distance of 300 feet a surface of asphalt and pea stone, dragged and rolled was put over the old road bed and patched in several bad places; Clif- ford Road from Doten Road to Sandwich Road, this road was scarified, clay was taken out of several places, filled with gravel, several stone drains were put under the road to take care of spring water, brought to grade with gravel, and a surface of K. P. tar and No. 2 stone put on top. This road is to have a seal coat this coming year. A surface of K. P. tar and pea stone was put on from Warren Ave. to Leach's Hill to take care of a very dan- gerous condition; Seaver St. resurfaced with K. P. tar and pea stone from Allerton St. to No. Russell St .; North Russell St. resurfaced with K. P. tar and pea stone from Allerton St. to Court St .; Russell St. resurfaced from Allerton St. to Summer St. with K. P. tar and pea stone; Edes St. resurfaced with K. P. tar and No. 2 stone from Summer St. to end of street; Beaver Dam Road, resur- faced from State Highway to end of road with retread tar and gravel, at bridge it was hard-surfaced with K. P. tar and No. 2 stone sealed with retread tar and sand; Carver St. from Middle St. to Leyden St. scarified, scraped and brought to grade with gravel, resurfaced with K. P. tar and 3/4" stone; Wood St. resurfaced with K. P. tar and 3/4" stone, sealed with retread tar and sand; Standish Ave. from Cherry St. to So. Spooner St. this road was scarified, scraped and brought to grade with gravel, a surface of K. P. tar and No. 2 stone sealed with K. P. tar and pea stone was put on top; South and North Cherry St., resurfaced with K. P. tar and pea stone;
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Sparrow's Hill from Summer St. to top of hill a seal coat of retread tar and sand was applied; Brewster St. from Court St. to Water St. the deep gutters were filled with gravel and a surface of K. P. tar and No. 2 stone was put over the gravel. The street was then covered from curb to curb with K. P. tar and pea stone; Murray St. from Lothrop St. to Court St. resurfaced with retread tar and gravel. The following streets have been gravelled and brought to grade for a hard-surface to be put on this coming year : Royal St., Carver Road, Obery Road, Rus- sell Ave., and Union St. Goddard Court, this road was brought to grade with gravel, a surface of K. P. tar and pea stone put on top.
SUMMER STREET PLAYGROUND
Two hundred and sixty-five lineal feet of Chain Link fence, 6' high, was purchased. This fence was erected by the Chain-Link Fence Co. of Brookline. The posts are set in three feet of cement with a 10' double drive gate for entrance to gate on Town Brook. This fence was bought and erected for $300.86.
POINT ROAD
A new style fence was constructed at the end of Point Road for the protection of traffic at a very dangerous place along this road. This fence was purchased from the P. F. McDonald Co. of Boston. Two strands of 550' each of Page Traffic Tape totalling 1100' with post fittings and bolts stretched on cedar posts. The posts were furnished by the department.
DOTEN ROAD
An appropriation of $250.00 was alloted the depart- ment to pay half the cost of hard-surfacing approximate- ly six hundred feet of Doten Road. The other half was paid by Mr. Rogers who owns property on this road. A
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surface of K. P. tar and No. 2 stone, sealed with retread tar and sand was laid over the old gravel base.
CEDARVILLE ROAD
A surface of K. P. tar and No. 2 stone was laid over the old gravel road after it was scraped and brought to grade with gravel. A seal coat of retread tar was ap- plied for a distance of .4 of a mile through the village where the travelling condition is very bad in the spring of the year.
FEDERAL FURNACE ROAD
This road was excavated from the Plymouth and Car- ver line for an approximate distance of one and one-half miles, removing dead sand, high places and cutting cor- ners to carry out the line and grade of road laid out by the County Engineer.
The sub-grade was properly drained by laying pipe across the road and building leach basins at each end. Several of these drains were laid in low places.
Six inches of base gravel was added to sub-grade and rolled to a solid base. Four inches of gravel was applied on top of the base gravel for a top surface of tar and gravel. One gallon per sq. yd. of retread tar was applied to this gravel base and dragged with a Disc Harrow until thoroughly mixed and placed to grade by the road grader and rolled. A seal coat of retread tar was applied at one- half gallon per sq. yd., covered with sand and rolled.
This road was built under a Chapter 90 proposition. The total amount appropriated for the Federal Furnace Road was $11,900.00, the town contributing $2975.00, County $2975.00, and State $5950.00. Total cost of work done on Federal Furnace Road amounted to $11,899.97, labor and material included.
The gravel roads in the outlying districts have been
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scraped and gravelled in places most needed. A large number of bad curves have been cut back and roads wid- ened to make travel safer.
Lines and grades for street and sewer work have been supplied by our Town Engineer, Arthur E. Blackmer, and records of same kept on file.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMER C. CHANDLER,
Superintendent of Streets and Sewers.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN CLERK
Births, Deaths, Marriages
Town of Plymouth
1620.
MA
VN OF PLY
MO.L
For the Year Ending December 31, 1935
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MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN PLYMOUTH IN 1935
Jan. 1. Alfred Rodman Hussey, Jr. and Jane Strick- land, both of Plymouth.
Jan. 1. Charles Allen Smart of Chillicothe, Ohio and Margaret Warren Hussey of Plymouth, married in Plymouth.
Jan. 12. Leslie Morse Swift and Kathryn Frances Good- win, both of Plymouth.
Jan. 12. John Barboza and Mary Grace Silva, both of Carver, married in Plymouth.
Jan. 12. John Morris Ferreira of Plymouth and Car- men Lillian Perry of Attleboro, married in Attle- boro.
Jan. 12. Earl Thomas Knight and Mary Brown, both of Plymouth.
Jan. 19. William Curtis Dunlap and Jennie Victoria Cole, both of Plymouth.
Jan. 26. Carl Franklin Bumpus and Charlotte Mae Burgess, both of Plymouth, married in Duxbury.
Feb. 1. Joseph Balboni and Rosie Balboni, both of Plymouth.
Feb. 3. John Menowsky and Barbara Claire Lewis, both of Plymouth.
Feb. 9. Harold J. McMillen of Napoleon, Ohio and Ruth Petronella Manter of Plymouth, married in Plym- outh.
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Feb. 9. Arsene Walter Morin and Elizabeth Perrier, both of Plymouth.
Feb. 14. Anthony Conti and Liberta Berardi, both of Boston, married in Plymouth.
Feb. 16. Ernest Gerald Nickerson and Louise Knight, both of Plymouth, married in Braintree.
Feb. 16. Harry Randal Young and Irene Pimental, both of Plymouth, married in Braintree.
Feb. 20. Edgar Francis Broadbent of Plymouth and Helen Bertha Pasho of Cambridge, married in Well- fleet.
Feb. 20. Nando Govoni and Mary Celia Rapoza, both of Plymouth, married in East Providence, R. I.
Feb. 23. Charles Francis Picard and Frances H. Buck, both of Plymouth.
Feb. 24. Louis Zavalcofsky and Ada Barufaldi, both of Plymouth, married in Boston.
Mar. 1. Ernest Guidaboni of Plymouth and Mabel Fregni of Kingston, married in Plymouth.
Mar. 5. Oliver Delmont DeLancey and Katherine Ter- esa Walsh, both of Plymouth.
Mar. 7. Arnaldo Louis Ferazzi and Stella Anita Camp- bell, both of Plymouth.
Mar. 12. S. Mayall Bruner and Elizabeth Genet Probst, both of Plymouth.
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