USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1954 > Part 14
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JOHN A. KENNEDY, JAMES A. WHITE, GEORGE L. GOODING, Town Forest Committee.
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INSECT PEST CONTROL
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Our Elms were sprayed and in general are in good condition but will require a lot of pruning.
Moth traps were set out according to instructions supplied by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. We only caught three male moths out of 138 traps. Traps add a lot of work as they are patrolled every seven days. Next year calls for more work as the high winds of the hurricane has blown them in from other counties.
Dutch Elm Disease is with us this year. We had eight cases, three were on State Highway. All Elm trees were sprayed with one spray of 12 percent D.D.T. and two sprays of D.D.T. 6 percent Oil Emulsion.
Elm Leaf Beetles were not very bad last year but Jap Beetles were very bad. Wood Ticks were scarce.
Night spraying has proven to be the only way to spray Elm trees. The winds seem to be very low after 10 o'clock, as the wind cannot exceed seven miles an hour for a good job. The public has been very helpful, but some cars are still parked under Elms.
JOHN A. KENNEDY,
Moth Superintendent.
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Thanks to an efficient and cooperative personnel, the duties and responsibilities with which your Public Safety Commissioners are charged, have been carried out in a manner highly satisfactory to your Commission.
At the annual business meeting of the town in March, the town voted to replace a considerable amount of old and obsolete equipment in the Fire, Police and Health Departments. This rehabilitation program appears to be about completed except for the replacement of the 1916 Seagraves Ladder Truck, which, in our opinion, is a dangerous piece of equipment to be permitted on the highway. It should be replaced. The Commission is studying a plan for systematic replacement of its principle equipment. It is hoped the town will follow this plan so that it will not be faced with major replacements in a single year.
At the special town meeting in August, the town voted to acquire land and build a new non-fire dump in Manomet, in an area along the Beaver Dam Road. Responsibility for building this dump was turned over to a special committee. It is expected that this new dump will be ready for operation sometime in the early spring of 1955. Although the location is not the first choice of the Commissioners, because of the fire hazard which the Commissioners believe exists, and because of the cost of operation, the Commission, nonetheless, will operate the dump to the very best of its ability and at the lowest possible cost.
The Commission will ask the town to acquire a small piece of land in the area known as Costello's
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Corner, for the purpose of providing a dump at the southerly end of town.
The extension of Garbage Collection service along the Carver Road was voted by the town in March and was greatly welcomed by the residents in that area. Late in the year we asked the Massachusetts Depart- ment of Public Health to assist us in making a survey of the nursing needs of the Town. This survey will probably be done sometime in the early spring of 1955. We hope that as a result of the survey and the recommendations that will undoubtedly be made by the state that the services now being supplied can be better coordinated and a substantial saving made to the town. The extension of the Public Health Services by the Commission is greatly to be desired, especially that of clinics which are the basis of disease prevention.
The principle problem that confronts the Commission is that which is being created by the rapid expansion of the southerly end of the town. Each year the requests become more numerous and more insistent that police protection, fire protection, and garbage collection services be extended. It is our opinion that the time is not far distant when the town must establish a sub-fire station in the Manomet section of the town.
Eventually it may also be necessary to establish a sub-police station in the Manomet section, at least during the summer months.
Nearly one-quarter of Plymouth's total taxable property is located southerly of the Pine Hills. With this area showing yearly increases in development, it is obvious that the municipal services must also be extended to take care of this increase in population and property.
Your Commission has had a number of meetings
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with representative groups from Manomet and as a result are recommending a limited extension of the police services during the summer, and also the extension of the garbage collection service in the Butter- milk Bay section of the town.
Your Commission meets regularly each Monday night at the town offices on Lincoln Street. Additional meetings and inspections are frequent throughout the year.
In order to meet the requirements of the state law the Commission is asking that a wire-inspector be appointed and an appropriation be made to establish this new department. We are informed by town counsel that the town has no choice other than to set up this additional inspection service.
The Commission keeps closely informed of new methods and regulations recommended by
the state. Mr. Harold Giles, the Health Inspector attends the Mass. Public Health conference at Massachusetts State College each year. Mr. Andrew Rae, the Plumb- ing Inspector and Mr. Albert Saunders, Jr., the Building Inspector, attend conferences of their respective groups.
We believe it to be one of our responsibilities to call to your attention and to make recommendations that will protect the lives, health, and property of our citizens. The public itself must decide to what extent it wishes to do these things and how much it wishes to pay for them. Your Commission will carry on its duties and responsibilities to the very best of its ability with whatever funds the town makes available.
The statistical information that follows has for reasons of economy been condensed. The fully detailed
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reports of the several divisions of the Commission are on file and available to any interested person.
We wish to express our thanks for the cooperation given us by the general public and by the various town departments.
EQUIPMENT BOUGHT IN 1954 THROUGH SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES Police:
Appropriation:
$1,300.00-Radios (2 mobile)
$1,300.00
1,058.55-Cruiser 1,058.55
1,488.69-Cable
1,750.00
2,196.00-Toilets
2,200.00
Fire:
$10,860.45-Pumper
$10,900.00
355.25-Insurance for Firemen 355.25
865.00-Radio-Central Station
1,050.00
3,893.24-Power Truck
3,900.00
1,581.80-Service Truck
1,585.00
Garbage Collection:
$4,754.51-Garbage Truck
$4,800.00
LESLIE W. MacLEAN, Chairman FRANKLAND W. L. MILES PAUL W. BITTINGER
POLICE DIVISION
Russell P. Dearborn, Chief
Arrests:
Male
421
Female
40
Total
461
Crimes:
Male
276
Female
38
Total
314
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Motor Vehicle Violations:
Male
145
Female
2
Total 147
Auto Violations Turned Over to Registry
for Suspension:
Traffic Violations Notices
30
Miscellaneous Work Done by Division:
Complaints Investigated 3,121
Auto Accidents Investigated 346
Dogs Killed and Injured 67
Prisoners Detained for other departments 95
Summonses served for other departments
114
Summonses served for local department
110
Summonses (no-fix) issued
1,705
Street lights reported out
71
Doors and Windows found unlocked
240
Complaints to Dog Officer 83
Complaints to Health Dept. 41
Complaints to Highway Dept.
78
Auto transfers filed 2,607
Two Hurricanes (People evacuated and given
shelter in Public Buildings) 350
Police Emergency. Box 17 sounded
Ambulance emergency trips
39
Cruisers detailed to fires
32
Cruisers detailed emergency trips
49
Cruisers detailed emergency messages
67
Meters repaired and replaced
824
Licenses and registrations suspended or revoked by registrar
111
Miscellaneous 359
Mileage of Division:
Cruisers
90,602
Service Wagon
8,000
Total
98,602
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Miscellaneous Cash Receipts:
Bicycles registered
$22.00
Photostatic copies 26.00
Photographs sold
113.00
Revolver Licenses and
Permits 56.00
Fees from Taxi Registrations
and Licenses 168.00
Total
$385.00
Fees from out-of-town lockups
97.00
Amount of fines from parking meter violations
121.00
Amount of fines
3,627.00
Value of stolen property recovered
12,264.20
Value of lost property recovered
6,095.01
Total
$18,359.21
FIRE DIVISION Everett B. Wood, Chief
Miles Traveled
2,375
False Alarms
8
Rescue Boat
4
Feet of hose laid, all sizes
32,402
Assessed Value of Buildings
$92,800.00
Value of Contents
20,750.00
Insurance-Bldgs.
64,000.00
Insurance-Contents
55,000.00
Loss-Bldgs.
14,844.16
Loss-Contents
11,525.00
Water used booster tanks
40,250 Gallons
Feet of ladders used
1,843 Feet
Tel Alarms
294
Box Alarms
54
Radio Alarms
41
Out of Town Calls
5
Air Raid Alarm
1
No School
1
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FOREST FIRE DIVISION
Everett B. Wood, Forest Warden
Miles Traveled
640
Gallons of water used
25,550
Feet of hose laid
10,025
Calls answered
57
Approximate Acreage Burnt Over
97
Largest Fire at Monks Hill (Acres)
25
Off Federal Furnace Road (Acres) 20
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Mechanical Division Captain William Sawyer, Mechanic
On November 30, 1954, our new Manomet Truck was delivered to the Town of Plymouth. It was tested and found all right for pumping, etc. All equipment was checked against the contract and found to be okay. The entire Call Force was drilled on this truck and its equip- ment for four days. The men were very interested and did a fine job operating the truck. The truck was turned over to them on December 13, 1954. The entire force was issued new mittens. The extra equipment from Engine One was transferred to this truck.
On June 10th the department started to build our new power wagon. All equipment was removed from the old Dodge which was traded in, the radio was changed over, making new brackets for same. New siren brackets were made and installed with the siren. A new roof light was installed, a hose cover made, pintle hook installed along with the gas can, adapters and signal lights. The entire truck was painted and lettered, lettering being done outside the department.
On June 15th the new rescue truck was received. This truck was built by the members of the Department. A new pindle tye was welded to the boat trailer which
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makes it possible to tow the rescue boat with any of the forest trucks. This truck is also equipped to carry the new boat for ice rescue work and all our rescue equip- ment.
Fire Prevention Week was observed from October 3rd to 10th. A mass drill was held on Water St. using 34 men, the ladder truck, Engines 2 and 4, the rescue and service trucks. Mr. Walter Haskell loaned us the public address system. We demonstrated the ladder truck and its equipment, pan fires, stretcher ties, life belts, auto fires, the Scott Air Pak, and many other pieces of equip- ment. The Plymouth County plane demonstrated its fire prevention duties. The new rescue truck was on display. About 1000 people attended the demonstration conducted by Captains Sawyer, McAuley and Lamb. Fire drills were held in all schools with a total of 2565 children participat- ing. 1582 children were shown the pumping engine at close range in the school yard. Home inspection blanks were distributed by Capt. Sawyer to all schools with 1267 being returned out of 1557 with the Mt. Pleasant School winning First Prize, Sacred Heart School the Second Prize and Manomet School the Third Prize. Mr. Golden of the Chamber of Commerce arranged for the banners given as prizes. We received over 200 thank you letters from our schools, one class writing a song about the Busy, Busy Firemen.
New fire alarm cable was installed in January from Central Station to Winter St. Assistance was given the Police Dept. in the laying of their cable along the same route.
HEALTH DIVISION
Mrs. Harriet Darsch, Supervisor
Dangerous Diseases reported:
Measles
226
Dog Bites 66
Chicken Pox 39
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Infectious Hepatitis
38
Mumps 21
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 9
Syphilis
6
German Measles
4
Scarlet Fever
4
Non-Paralytic Polio
2
Salmononellosis
2
Diptheria
1
Menengococcal Meningitis
1
Typhoid Fever
1
Undulant Fever
1
Total 421
Licenses and Permits Issued:
Plumbing 784
Cesspool
203
Milk and Cream 129
Oleo
47
Methyl Alcohol
46
Camp, cabin, trailer-coach parks and motels
44
Milk Producers
18
Rubbish Collection
11
Frozen Desserts
4
Funeral Directors
4
Kindergarten
4
Massage
3
Slaughter 2
Empty Cesspool 2
2
Garbage Collection
1
Poultry Slaughter
1
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
.
Total 1306
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Slaughter and Animal Inspection:
Barns Inspected 50
Animals Slaughtered 13
Animals Quarantined
66
Sanitary Inspection:
Routine examinations were made of local eating and drinking establishments.
Animals Disposed of
78
Free chest X-rays taken at Jordan Hospital
Health X-ray clinic 499
Free chest X-rays taken at the Plymouth
County X-ray clinic 190
Total 689
Receipts:
Licenses and permits issued $2,625.00
Tuberculosis subsidy 1,844.99
Division of Aid & Relief
999.00
John Cadman Garbage Contract
400.00
Trailer park fee commitments
276.00
Dental Clinic Fees
79.05
Total
$6,224.04
BUILDING INSPECTION Albert F. Saunders, Inspector
New Construction:
No. Permits Issued:
Type of Building Builders Est. Cost
40
Year Round Dwellings
$295,000
257
Summer Dwellings
626,105
7
Commercial Buildings
42,500
6
Boys Camps
4,200
28
Garages (Private)
18,200
22
Barns and Shed
3,765
1
Motel
25,000
3
Recreation Buildings
3,100
9
Other Buildings
4,425
373 Permits Issued
$1,022,295
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Alterations:
No. Permits Issued:
Type of Building
Builders Est. Cost
45
Year Round Dwellings
$72,672
57
Summer Dwellings
36,730
1
School
118,000
3
Garages (Private)
525
1
Nursing Home
2,000
5
Clubs and Halls
28,500
1
County Building
8,700
16
Commercial Buildings
21,050
2
Hotel and Motel
27,000
2
Apartments
12,000
5
Other Buildings
1,700
138 Permits Issued
$328,877
Total Estimated Builders Construction Cost
ยท (Not assessed valuation)
$1,351,172
11 Relocated and moved in from out of Town 318 Calls made on Zoning requirements 1 Violation (Zoning) pending Court Action
3 Buildings Demolished
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Harold E. Giles, Sealer
Weighing and Measuring Devices inspected:
Tested
842
Sealed
828
Adjusted
45
Not Sealed
6
Condemned
8
Sealing Fees Collected
$529.85
Adjusting Fees Collected
22.00
Total $551.85
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Inspections which permit no fees, weighing of commodities put up for sale.
Total Tested 386
Correct Weight 264
UnderWeight 41
Over Weight 81
Peddler's Licenses
10
DOG OFFICER
Louis Cappella, Dog Officer
Dogs licensed
1,334
Kennels licensed
19
Dog complaints
542
Dead dogs picked up
24
Dogs redeemed by owners
33
Dogs sold
5
Dogs destroyed
178
Restraining orders issued
2
Court complaints
None
Dog notices sent out for unpaid dog licenses
630
Dog bites 66
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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 1 to Decem- ber 31, 1954:
SEWERS
The following sewer program was carried out with the following work completed: Cooper St., a new main sewer line was laid a distance of 650' of 8" V.T. pipe with 2 manholes. Approximately two miles of main sewer were cleaned of roots and manholes repaired. Twenty new sewer connections were made into new houses. Several house services were cleared of roots and grease.
STREET CLEANING
The cleaning of streets with the Motor Driven Sweep- er still continues with good results. The main road was swept every day while the waterfront and side streets received their sweeping every other day.
ASPHALT SIDEWALKS
The maintenance and construction of sidewalks were completed on the following streets: Mt. Pleasant St., Whiting St., Centennial St., North St., Hall St. on north and south sides, Mayflower St., Knapp Terrace, Town Square on the north side. Several driveways and places around trees were patched with sidewalk mix.
DRAINS
A new surface water drain was laid in Taylor Avenue, Manomet, with 220'-10" pipe, 200'-12" pipe, 500'-15" pipe and 380'-18" pipe, total of 1300' of corrugated pipe with 11 catchbasins with grates and frames with one stone header at Bartlett Brook. 40' of 20" corrugated pipe was
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extended at the rear of the Plymouth Bottling Works. Drain pipes between catchbasins at Alden St. drain and drain in rear of Samoset St. were taken out and cleaned of debris and replaced. Other catchbasins and drains were cleaned and flushed.
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION
The following roads were constructed or resurfaced: Royal St., So. Cherry St. and Squanto Road were widened, brought to grade with gravel, and a 2" mixed-in-place black top was laid. McKinley Road, Grant St., Washing- ton St., Franklin St., Hall St. and So. Meadow Rd. were sealed with asphalt, peastone base and sealed with sand. Prince St. was graded with gravel and a 2" penetrated stone base was sand sealed for a distance of 300'-22" wide. Sandwich Road, Cole's Lane, Oak St., Winslow St. and Magoni Terrace were resurfaced 11/2" thick with a special asphalt mix. Town Wharf was resurfaced with the Type I mix with a base 21/2" thick and a 1" top. South Pond Road was sealed with asphalt and sand for a distance of two miles.
CHAPTER 90 CONSTRUCTION (Standish Ave., from Liberty St. to Spooner St.)
A new surface water drain was installed from Court St. to Bourne St. over Standish Ave. to Liberty St. This project included 4,265' of plain concrete and reinforced pipe, sizes from 10" to 36" pipe. 34 catchbasins were built at all street intersections, 15 manholes were built in the middle of the main road. All trenches were tamped with gravel and a base course of 3" stone penetrated with asphalt and rolled. A 4" Type I base and top will be laid over the old road in the spring. This contract was award- ed to Del Prete Construction Co., Inc. of Rockland, Massa- chusetts.
CHAPTER 90 MAINTENANCE
Two miles of Route 44 was sealed with sand and asphalt. The shoulders were widened two feet and re-
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paired with hot mix. The State, County and Town each contributing 1/3 of the cost.
GRANOLITHIC SIDEWALK AND CURBING
Cement curbing was built on the east side of Royal St. for a distance of 430'-15" deep with 6" showing above the gutter and 7" wide for a black top sidewalk to be laid in 1955. On Castle St., 209' of curbing was built to stop surface water from running onto the property at the Gari- baldi Club. Two small sections of curbing were built on Standish Ave. where tree roots were removed.
TRAFFIC AND STREET MARKING
This program was carried out this year with center lines and crosswalks painted white and a number of new ones added. Several taxi stands, a large number of en- trances and driveways were painted out with yellow paint. Traffic signs were repainted and new ones erected. All meter lines were repainted. All damaged meter posts were replaced that were hit by trucks or cars.
MISCELLANEOUS
With the arrival of Hurricane Carol on August 31 and Hurricane Edna on September 11, the department was kept busy in clearing the streets of debris, trees and re- moval of tree stumps. The Tree Department also assisted with this work.
On May 8, 1954, the main sewer on Sandwich St. be- came blocked with sewage backing into the cellars of homes from Stephens St. to Fremont St. It was necessary to dig down to the old sewer pipe some 20' below the road surface and here were discovered sections of old pipe broken and filled with solid blue clay, 2' below sea level. The department, not having the proper equipment, found it necessary to hire the Forrest Construction Co. of Nor- wood, Massachusetts, to complete the project. This job required planking the trench with 3" plank and 6"x6" stringers and braces for a distance of 185'. The planks were cut off 5' below the surface of the road and all crib-
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bing remains in the ground to protect the pipe from mov- ing with the tide water. The Forrest Construction Co. completed the work on August 20. The Highway Depart- ment filled the trench with new gravel and was left to settle when at a later date a 4" top of hot mix was laid.
Several requests from the Selectmen's office and oth- er departments were given the proper attention.
Accepted streets were bounded by the Town Engineer with bounds being made by the Highway Department.
Lines and grades for streets and sewer work have been supplied by the Town Engineer, Edward Chase, and records of same filed at his office on Lincoln Street.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMER C. CHANDLER, Supt. of Streets and Sewers.
REPORT OF HARBOR MASTER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
My records show that over thirty-one million pounds of fish were landed at Town Wharf during 1954. That is more than twice as much as ever landed before.
During 1954 we had three hurricanes but the damage in Plymouth Harbor was very light as compared to other places. Only four small boats were a total loss.
Fishing Boats in Harbor 8,450
Pleasure Boats in Harbor 4,825
Dories Reported Missing 74
Missing Dories Recovered
62
ELMER P. BOUTIN,
Harbor Master.
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REPORT OF TOWN OFFICE BUILDING COMMITTEE
The report of the Town Office Building Committee is submitted herewith with comparative photographs of the exterior for a matter of record and as an example of economical planning.
The original building was constructed in 1892 as a High School and additions were made in 1914. In 1936, it was discontinued as a school building but partly occu- pied in the years following by the Public Welfare Depart- ment and used for storage purposes.
At a special Town Meeting in September 1951, it was voted that the Planning Board consisting of James A. White, Walter H. Neaves, Ellis W. Brewster, A. Linwood Ellis and Amedeo V. Sgarzi, study the possibility of con- verting the Old High School to Town offices which re- solved in that Board's recommendation at the March 1952 meeting of an appropriation of $215,000 for that purpose.
It was also voted that a Building Committee be ap- pointed by the Moderator. This Committee, after several meetings and conferences with the assistance of Architect Walter N. Gaffney, sent out invitations to bid on the com- plete remodeling which was awarded to Malaguti Bros. of Plymouth as general contractor who in turn engaged sub-contractors, all of Plymouth, for the several classified specialties involved.
Careful thought by the Committee was given to the future when planning for the ultimate occupation as a Town Office Building in order that it may be used for as long as possible in the expansion of Town Government.
One matter that had been lacking since the beginning of our Town was ample and adequate vault room. Conse- quently, six large, fireproof vaults were constructed that should serve the requirements for many years.
BEFORE REMODELING
AFTER REMODELING
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Heating, ventilation and lighting proved to be an im- portant factor and required many hours of study, especial- ly the interior colors of walls, blinds and floor coverings which appears to be successfully accomplished.
Parking space was carefully considered and as much lawn as possible without sacrificing the general appear- ance of the surroundings was converted to black-top sur- face to accomodate the personnel as well as the public having business in the building.
Several administrative departments previously had no office of their own and were obliged to share desk space with others in the already overcrowded Town House. These departments required office equipment, hence the extra appropriation in 1953 for this purpose.
The building now accommodates all administrative bodies of the Town with ample space designed and equipped for public hearings when necessary.
There is a building attendant present Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to midnight and Saturdays until noon to care for the property.
The office building has been occupied since Septem- ber 1953 and except for nominal maintenance expenses, nothing is anticipated in the matter of repairs for a long period.
The Committee considers that the Town received fair value for the money expended and all work was per- formed by local people at a time when it was appreciated.
In conclusion, the Committee recommends that the Office Building be treated as such and only Town business conducted therein.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES T. FRAZIER, Chairman, HERBERT H. LANMAN, ELMER R. HARLOW, ANTHONY V. PIOPPI, PETER R. BILLEY,
Town Office Building Committee.
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LIST OF JURORS
Prepared by the Selectmen of Plymouth, Mass., for 1955
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Alberici, Onelio, 2 Castle Street, Barber Alden, Katherine L., 42 Summer Street, Potter Alexander, Earl, 65 Alden Street, Retired Anderson, Robert, State Road, Carpenter Anti, Harold, 93 Standish Avenue, Carpenter Anzuoni, George S., White Horse Road, Bus Manager
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Bagni, Peter, 1B South Spooner Street, Cordage Employee Barufaldi, Harold, 35 Mt. Pleasant Street, Oil Dealer Blackmer, George E., White Horse Road, Real Estate Agt. Botieri, Ernest R., 3 High Cliff Avenue, Jeweler Botieri, Robert E., High Cliff Avenue, Mechanic Bowler, Robert B., Jr., Off Summer Street, Farmer Boyer, Harold A., 176 Sandwich Street, Painter Bradford, Edward W., 158 Sandwich Street, Grocer Bradford, Stanley A., 158 Sandwich Street, Grocer Bresnahan, Alfred E., Beaver Dam Road, Salesman Brewster, Benjamin B., 88 Warren Avenue, Assistant Factory Manager
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