USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1952 > Part 14
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The Board of Public Welfare, as Directors of the Town Infirmary, appointed for the 46th consecutive year Mr. Russell L. Dickson, Superintendent, and Sarah A. Dickson, Matron, of the Plymouth Town Infirmary.
The Administration of Public Assistance during the past year has demanded from your Board much deliberation and the constantly increasing cost of medical attention to the recipients has caused considerable concern.
The many changes in the Laws, Rules and Regulations, during the year, which govern the administration of assistance in the several categories of Public Assistance, have required a considerable amount of administrative and clerical time to put the changes into effect. The changes have had, in the most part, the tendency to increase the overall cost both in Administration and in the grants to the needy.
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Effective on May 1, 1952, following the approval of the Governor and the Executive Council, new and increased fee schedules for dental services were established. The new and revised rates increased substantially the dental costs to the relief program.
One of the 1952 amendments to the Social Security Act provided for increased Federal participation in assistance payments and on October 1, 1952, a new formula was introduced for preparing payrolls for claiming the in- creased Federal reimbursements for Old Age, Aid to Dependent Children and Disability Assistance.
Chapter 342 of the General Laws, Acts of 1952, which became effective on August 14th, 1952, provided for in- creased participation by the Commonwealth in tonsil and adenoid operations.
Title IV of the Social Security Act was amended, ef- fective July 1, 1952, and provided that in Aid to Dependent Children prompt notice be given to appropriate law- enforcement officials in respect of a child who has been deserted or abandoned by a parent.
Chapter 801 of the Acts of 1951 provided for several changes in Old Age Assistance effective January 1, 1953:
(1) Provisions to the effect that the Department shall from time to time increase the budgetary requirements to maintain adequate Standards of Assistance.
(2) Provisions for legal minimum rates of $75 plus leisure time activity allowance for persons who live out- side of a family group, and $55 plus leisure time activity allowance for persons who live in a family group.
(3) An increase of $500 per annum in the statutory exemptions for children.
(4) Provisions that the city or town have a lien against the property of any applicant or recipient of Old Age
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Assistance, said lien to be filed in the appropriate registry of deeds or registry district of the land court.
(5) A provision eliminating the present requirement under which the full cost of the $4.00 monthly leisure time activity item is reimbursed by the Commonwealth.
In accordance with the new law the Department also increased board rates, rental rates, and nursing, boarding and convalescent home rates, and in the category of Aid to Dependent Children the rental rates were increased.
PUBLIC WELFARE
The year 1952 presented the usual problems and requests for social services. In the Welfare Department 201 cases were granted "outside" assistance during the year, repre- senting 486 persons. 88 new applications were approved for assistance and an additional 62 cases were interviewed and referred to other private or public agencies or were denied for various reasons. 162 cases were closed during the year and 48 re-applied again for assistance during the year. The peak load for the year came at the end of March with 130 cases representing 329 persons being assisted. The low point was reached in September when 70 cases containing 141 persons were aided.
38% of the applications were made necessary by the "loss of employment because of layoff or discharge"; 23% for "illness or disablement of the recipient or parent in the home"; 5% because of "the loss of the wage earner in the home by death or absence"; 5% "because of depletion of savings or other resources"; 4% by "loss or decrease of contributions of relatives outside the home"; 4% "because of loss of employment or decrease of earnings of other persons in the home"; and the balance of 11% for other and various reasons.
Employment opportunities or increased earnings of the recipient or dependent child accounted for the closing of
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55% of the cases closed during the year and made it pos- sible to return to the Town's "Revenue" account $24,372.81. Reimbursements from the Commonwealth, other Cities and Towns and from other sources amounted to $23,235.18, making the total receipts for this type of assistance $47,607.99. The total appropriation by the Town for 1952 amounted to $103,350.00 and after credit for the total receipts it left the cost to the Town, for this type of assistance, $55,742.01.
The 1952 year closed with 85 cases receiving "outside" assistance, representing 190 persons. 61 of these cases were with a Plymouth settlement, 8 with settlements in other towns or cities, and 16 were without a settlement within this Commonwealth.
INFIRMARY
The services and facilities of the Town Infirmary were made available to 18 persons during the year, a total of 2434 patient days.
Under Article 76 at the March 22, 1952, Town Meeting, $1,865.50 was voted for roof and gutter repairs and under Article 77, $450.00 was voted for the installation of a refrigeration unit in the present ice box. Both the repairs and the installation of the refrigeration unit were com- pleted during the year.
The Lions Club gave their usual and much appreciated party to the residents at Christmas time.
The board rate at the Infirmary was increased to $21.00 weekly on April 1st.
The total appropriation for 1952 was salaries $3,947.00 and for other expenses $7,250. Total appropriation was $11,197.00.
The total cost of operation for the year was salaries $3,892.60 and for other expenses $7,112.99, a total of $11,005.59.
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The receipts for the year were from the Robinson Fund, $8.31; and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, other Cities and Towns, and from individuals, $4,127.62. Transferred from salaries to the "Revenue" account, $54.40, and from other expenses $145.32, leaving the total expenses to the Town for the year 1952, $6,669.94.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
In the Old Age Assistance category, the year opened with 513 persons or cases receiving this type of assistance. There was a slight but steady decline in the case load during the year which ended with 500 persons being granted Old Age Assistance. There were 83 new cases opened during the year and 87 cases closed. Although the case load decreased during the year the new statutory requirements and increased medical demands resulted in a steadily increasing total cost. This increase in cost made necessary a request for a special Town Meeting which was held on November 17, 1952, and $20,800 appropriated for Old Age Assistance.
The total cost for Old Age Assistance for the year was $491,709.59. We had on hand from last year $33,187.81 of Federal Funds and the Federal Government contributed $179,631.22 during the year, making a total of Federal Funds available $212,819.03. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will reimburse the Town approximately $221,793.28 for 1952 and other cities and towns have already paid $5,493.00 for their cases cared for by the Town of Plymouth. $13,521.44 was transferred to the "Revenue" account which left the cost to the Town of Plymouth for the 1952 year $51,604.28 for Old Age Assistance.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
In the Aid to Dependent Children category of Public Assistance the year began with 82 cases composed of 168
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children and 70 parents. The largest number assisted was in April when 90 cases composed of 76 parents and 184 children received assistance. The average for the year was 87 cases, 183 children and 72 parents.
The cost of the Aid to Dependent Children program for the year was $129,927.54. Federal Funds available and expended were $42,665.12 and $5,562.68 was transferred to the "Revenue" account; this will make the cost to the Town of Plymouth of the A. D. C. program for the 1952 year approximately $50,574.70.
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
We have just finished the first year of the Disability Assistance category of assistance.
During the year 20 cases have been approved and as- sisted in this type of assistance. The total assistance granted amounted to $21,007.98. Federal grants for the year will amount to approximately $9,100.47. This will make the final cost to the Town approximately $5,251.98. $3,335.99 was transferred to the "Revenue" account at the close of the year.
It is anticipated that this category of Public Assistance will steadily increase in the coming years, and become a valuable addition to the Public Assistance Program.
SUMMARY
The entire cost for the Public Assistance Program in Plymouth for the year 1952, including salaries and admin- istration, was $747,079.38.
The Federal Government furnished in Grants for Aid $265,076.25 and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will reimburse the Town approximately $296,784.05; other cities and towns and individuals reimbursed $29,875.30, making the total receipts $591,736.17. This leaves the
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amount of $155,343.27 as the approximate cost to the Town of Plymouth for the Public Assistance Program for the year 1952. These figures shown are approximate as the final and exact adjustments and reimbursements will not be known or available until February, 1953.
The above amounts do not include the recoveries on Old Age Assistance Liens on Real Estate which will approximate $12,000.00 when the final recoveries for 1952 are realized. There is also a "carry over" of Federal Funds for salaries for the year 1953 in the amount of $2,272.15.
In conclusion, your Board feels that the attention of the Voters should be called to the outstanding service rendered to the Town of Plymouth and the needy persons of our Community, by Harold G. Roberts, who completed his term of office on March 1, 1952. Mr. Roberts was appointed to the Board on October 28, 1944, and was elected a member of the Board of Public Welfare at the following Town Election. He served continuously until March 1, 1952, five years of which he was the Chairman of the Board and held that position at the termination of his term of service.
His regular attendance at Board meetings and consci- entious devotion to his accepted obligation was an example of good citizenship and he should review with considerable satisfaction his contribution toward the Relief and other Welfare problems of his fellow Towns- people.
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Margaret E. McLean, Chairman Gordon S. McCosh Dexter M. Brooks John J. Magee Paul L. LaForest
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REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR 1952
PARKS AND GARDENS
Town Brook. at Brewster Garden has been cleaned again this year, the wall along the north side of the brook has been relaid, the flag pole moved to a new location. The wall on the south side needs relaying, and we recom- mend an appropriation for this work. Considerable space has been added to the park by narrowing the brook and filling.
A County survey being made along the northerly bounds of Morton Park for the purpose of straightening Summer Street, permission was granted to remove the standing timber. Mr. Kennedy, our Tree Warden, and Mr. Cherry, our State Forester, with our Superintendent, went through the entire park and marked all old and decadent trees, uprooted trees, and trees that should be removed for the good of the property. Mr. Cherry recom- mends another such cutting in about ten years. For this timber the Town received thirty-five hundred dollars ($3500). The old dead oaks standing among the pines are being removed by the County Farm for the cord wood.
Our Superintendent, at the request of the Morton Park Committee, met with them and explained the projects now in progress, which met with their approval. Recom- mendations as to the development and management of this property as a park, picnic ground, and bathing beach were also discussed, and the Commissioners will appreci- ate any recommendations the committee might make. We have included nothing in our budget for this park except regular maintenance.
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PLAYGROUNDS
All playgrounds have been kept in a safe condition and have been well patronized. All football games were played at the Standish Avenue Playground. The new steel bleachers were erected and drinking fountains installed. All posts enclosing playing area are set in cement and are removable.
Stephens Field was very popular this year, the playing field being converted into a Little League Ball Park. The committee members and all who gave of their time for this project should be commended for this good work. The games were enjoyed by the adults as well as the youngsters.
The Soft Ball League played their games at Nook Farm.
For Supervised Playground Activities, see the Recre- ation Supervisor's report.
PLYMOUTH PARK DEPARTMENT SUMMER PLAYGROUND PROGRAM
The following is a summary of the activities that made up the major portion of the summer program:
Baseball League. Two leagues (midgets and juniors) each team playing the other four times. One hundred thirty-five boys participating.
Arts and Crafts. Instruction was given at three play- grounds, three days a week, with eighty boys and girls participating. A display of the projects was held at the M & M Sporting Goods Store.
After Supper Basketball League. One league consist- ing of four teams, each team playing each other once, twenty-four boys participating.
Tumbling Classes. Held once a week for four weeks at the Stephens Field playground.
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Tennis. Tennis instruction and tournaments were held throughout the summer at Veterans Field and Stephens Field.
Swimming. Swimming classes were conducted at Nelson Street, Stephens Field, and Manomet by qualified Red Cross instructors.
Trip to Fenway Park. For interested boys and girls who paid for bus transportation, admission to game was free. Approximately one hundred and fifty attended.
Band Concerts. A series of three band concerts were held at Veterans Field with the co-operation of Local No. 281 of the American Federation of Musicians.
Playground Field Day. Held at Stephens Field. This included a baseball championship game, baseball contests, swimming and playground races and awarding of prizes.
Routine Activities. Include active and quiet games, croquet, checkers, cards, horseshoes, archery, volleyball, touch football, seesaws, jungle gyms, swings, and slides.
ANTONE SPATH, Supervisor.
BATHING BEACHES
Parking space seems to be the problem at the bathing beaches. We recommend a charge for parking be made to all non-citizens, especially at Beach Park. The Beach Park bath house has been repaired. There being a Town appointed committee on Beach Park, we feel that changes and improvements should be recommended by them, so have included nothing in our budget except for general maintenance. The bath house at Nelson Street has been shingled. The camping sites at Nelson Street and Indian Reservation have been well utilized. The buildings at Indian Reservation are being painted. The new toilet building has been erected and the plumbing will be installed in the spring. The new Willys truck has been
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a great help in our work and a great addition to our equipment.
The following property has been maintained in a pre- sentable condition during the year:
Parks-
Brewster Garden
Bangs Park
Training Green
Burton Park
Bates Park
Carver Square Circle
Park Avenue
Circle at Water on Park Ave.
Spooner Park
Plot opposite Mabbett Mill
Morton Mill Site
Playgrounds-
Stephens Field
Standish Avenue
Veterans Field
Nelson Street
Nook Farm
Manomet
Holmes Field
South Street
Bathing Beaches-
Beach Park
Stephens Field
Nelson Street
Morton Park
Indian Reservation
Camping Grounds-
Indian Reservation, Manomet Nelson Street Camp Ground
Our recreational spots have been taxed to capacity this year; people coming from surrounding cities and towns for picnics, especially on Sundays.
We wish to thank all department heads who have co-operated with us during the year. We also extend our thanks to Mrs. Grady who has been a great source of information and help to the department.
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RECEIPTS FOR CAMPING AND BATHING
1951
1952
Beach Park
$865.50
$954.00
Beach Concession
725.00
725.00
Indian Reservation
2,171.00
2,433.50
Morton Park
90.25
104.50
Nelson Street
1,363.90
1,249.40
Stephens Field
30.50
32.95
Sale of Timber
3,500.00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. SIEVER, Chairman
EDWARD J. E. HAND ARTHUR M. SIRRICO
By: CLIFTON C. WOOD, Supt.
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REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of Plymouth:
This year most of our street trees in the Town that needed trimming have been done. We have also taken down a few trees that were in dangerous condition and also those trees which were diseased.
Some of the new developments around the Town have been planted. We have planted some forty-five trees in these areas.
Road-side trimming was done this year, which included most of our roads around Town. This will continue to be done each year until all the roads are trimmed.
I want to thank the Selectmen for their co-operation in securing the sickle bar and tractor from the Highway Department. The roadside trimming could not have been done to this extent if it continued to be done by hand mowing.
The chainsaw also has been most valuable as a piece of equipment for the Tree Department. I have visions of securing another handy tool, a small chainsaw weighing around twenty-seven pounds.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. KENNEDY.
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REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Cemetery Commissioners herewith pre- sent their report for the year 1952:
OAK GROVE AND VINE HILLS CEMETERIES
In keeping with our policy of eliminating roads that are not needed or are too narrow for modern vehicles, in 1952 we closed part of the road known as Oak Avenue in Vine Hills Cemetery. This section of road, together with adjacent areas, has been graded, loamed and seeded, thus making twenty-two fine burial lots with a total area of 7150 square feet. We were fortunate in acquiring the loam for this project from the Manomet Elementary School site for the mere cost of hauling it. Another 20-ft. drainage well was constructed in this area and part of the roads hard surfaced.
The receiving tomb in Oak Grove Cemetery was painted inside and put into fine condition. Approximately 2,500 feet of the chain link fence on the east side of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries was painted this year.
At this time we wish to call the attention of the people who have or are planning to establish so-called perpetual care funds for their cemetery lots, that the Town assumes no responsibility for any work other than that which can be paid for from the income of each individual fund.
BURIAL HILL
Burial Hill had an unusual number of visitors during the year of 1952.
The wearing away of the Gov. William Bradford obelisk had made it very difficult to read its interesting
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epitaph. This fall the monument was removed for repol- ishing and to have the letters recut. The epitaph is com- posed of Latin, Yiddish and English letters and required careful checking to assure accuracy in the final recutting. This work will be finished and the monument in place in the spring of 1953.
BURIAL HILL ADDITION
We wish, at this time, to extend our sincere thanks to Sheriff Charles Robbins for the splendid work done by his men in razing the house on Russell Street and the grading and seeding of the lot. This was a saving to the Town of approximately $600.00.
ยท OUTLYING CEMETERIES
The maintenance work in the Outlying Cemeteries was carried out as usual. There are eleven cemeteries in this group, one of which is situated on the Kingston line and another near the Bourne line. A few of these cemeteries are not controlled by the Town but must be visited regu- larly for the inspection and maintenance of Veterans' Graves.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR E. BLACKMER, Chairman RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE JOHN B. FINNEY Board of Cemetery Commissioners.
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35th ANNUAL NURSING SERVICE REPORT PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY NURSE ASSOCIATION - 1951 - 1952
Statistical Report
No. Patients
Service
No. Visits
341
Medical and Surgical
6500
3
Crippled Children Service
4
2
Acute Communicable 3
2
Tuberculosis
20
24 Maternity Care
83
14
Health Education
72
Unclassified
80
Pay Status
Free
2743 Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. 368
Part Fee
2037
John Hancock Mutual
Full Fee
1250 Life Ins. Co. 195
Welfare
749
Supervisory 89
Old Age Assistance 1536
Unclassified 80
. 18 Well Child Conferences 281 visits
29 Kingston Patients
500 visits
MARY C. LYNCH, R.N.,
Nurse Supervisor.
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PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LORING BRANCH REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1952
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. John D. Brewer President
Mr. Burr F. Jones*
Vice-President
Miss Sara C. Bodell
Clerk
Mr. Frank D. Bartlett Treasurer
Mrs. Edward R. Belcher
Mr. Roland W. Holmes
Mrs. Edward W. Burgess
Miss Marion E. Park
Mrs. Harry B. Davis
Dr. Bryce Prindle
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom
Mrs. Francis W. Savery
*Deceased.
MAIN LIBRARY
Staff: Hazel M. White, Librarian
Ann E. Lucas, Children's Librarian
Katharine F. Freeland, Cataloger
Lucy C. Rae, General Assistant in charge of circu- lation
Carolyn F. Pratt, General Assistant in charge of records
Margaret N. Osmond, Part-time Assistant
Ruth F. O'Brien, Part-time Assistant
Lois M. Wood, Part-time Assistant
Number of staff in equivalent of full time (40-hour week) 51/2, Janitor service 1/2.
Library was open for reading and lending 297 days, 66 hours weekly.
In Junior Department there were 7,241 readers and visitors.
No attendance record is kept in Adult Department.
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The Library subscribes to 76 periodicals and 5 newspapers.
18 periodicals and 1 newspaper are received as gifts. Number of books rebound - 463.
BOOK STOCK
Number of volumes Dec. 31, 1951
28,888
Number of volumes added in 1952
1,748
By purchase
1,554
By gift
194
Total
30,636
Number of volumes withdrawn in 1952
1,366
Total volumes Dec. 31, 1952
29,270
During 1952 the Board of Directors continued with their program of building renovation. The roof repair having been complete in 1951, in February of 1952 the Library building was closed to the public for a week while the main reading room, the balcony, the art room, the Junior Room, the office, and the hallways were painted.
In the summer the woodwork on the outside of the building was painted, and the necessary "pointing up" of the brick work was done.
In the balcony the old out-moded wooden picture cases were replaced by much needed metal shelving.
The expense of this Building Maintenance and New Equipment was paid from the Income from Invested Funds.
Although the new metal shelving has alleviated the crowded condition in the balcony, there is still inadequate shelving on the main floor, in spite of continual discarding and the annual book sales.
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Gifts:
We have received several gifts of books. The Woman's Club gave books in memory of three of its deceased members.
Miss Elizabeth Townsend gave the Junior Department the sum of $200.00 to be used for a new floor covering. The new asphalt tile has brightened the whole room, and the children often speak of it. Miss Townsend gave the Junior Department an additional $50.00 to be used for purchasing new books.
An electric water cooler for the comfort and con- venience of the staff was installed in the staff room in August. The funds for this also came from Miss Townsend.
A large show case was donated to the Library by Mr. Henry Hornblower, 2nd. It was first used in the fall in the main reading room for the exhibit of old Bibles, and is now being used in the Junior Room.
Circulation:
The circulation of fiction in the Adult Department at both the Main Library and the Branch shows a decided drop from last year. Just what this indicates is difficult to say. At Loring Branch this decrease was more than offset by the increase in the circulation in the Junior Department, so that the total circulation at Loring shows an increase for 1952.
At the Main Library, while the Junior Department shows an increase, it is not enough to overbalance the decrease in the Adult Department. There probably would not have been a decrease of 571 at the Main Library if it had not been closed for a week for the interior painting.
Books:
The two novels, The Silver Chalice, by Costain, and the Caine Mutiny, by Wouk, have been very popular; and in
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non-fiction, A Man Called Peter, by Marshall, and the new Revised Standard Version of the Bible, have con- sistently remained at the top of the list.
The price of novels has remained at an average of $3.50, but prices for non-fiction seem to continue upward.
Book Reviews:
Miss Lucas of the Library Staff is in much demand for her book reviews. She has given several this year to local church groups.
School Work:
The High School teachers, as in previous years, asked to have books held in reserve at the library for the use of their students. This year, because of the large number of students that overflowed the reading room, we have tried to work out a schedule with the teachers, whereby not more than one project will be in progress at the same time.
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