Town annual report of Saugus 1942, Part 6

Author: Saugus (Mass.)
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 158


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1942 > Part 6


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The Victory Book Campaign was very successful in Saugus, thanks to the cooperation of the towns- people in giving their books, of- fering their services and helping to spread the word around. 6,482 books were handled, out of which 4,094 were sent out on their way to men in the service. The cam- paign will be carried on again this coming year with as much success, we hope.


The library has received from interested citizens several books and magazine subscriptions which are greatly appreciated. Also sev- eral people, especially our near neighbors, have sent in flowers and we thank them very much.


The Lynn Item has been especi- ally cooperative in publishing our news and I also wish to thank the Lynn Telegram News and the Sau-


64


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec 31


gus Weekly Advertiser for hand- ling our publicity.


Respectfully submitted,


VIVIAN B. COPP, Librarian


We, the Board of Library Trus- tees of the Saugus Public Library accept the report of the librarian and submit it as our report.


JOHN B. LANG, Chairman


LEVERETT B. MEARS


KALER A. PERKINS


CHAUNCY V. WHITTREDGE ALBERT R. MAGEE


WALTER D. BLOSSOM


American Library Association Form of Statistics


Annual Report for the year end- ing December 31, 1942


Name of Library-Saugus Free Public Library


Town-Saugus, Massachusetts


Librarian-Vivian B. Conn


Date of Founding-1887


Population Served-$15,623.323


Library Appropriation per Capita -$.50


Terms of Use-Free for Lending and Reference


Total Number of Agencies-7 Consisting of :


Main Library


Cliftondale Branch


East Saugus Branch


Lynnhurst Branch


North Saugus Branch High School


Hours Open Each Week for Lend- ing and Reference


Main Library 341/2


Cliftondale Branch 21


East Saugus Branch 1012


North Saugus Branch 4


Lynnhurst Branch 3


High School 828


(hours per school year)


Book Stock


Volumes at beginning of


year


23,749


Volumes added 1,811


Volumes withdrawn 812


Total 24,748


Circulation Record


Main Library 30,879


Cliftondale Branch 34,139


East Saugus Branch 8,839


North Saugus Branch 3,387


Lynnhurst Branch 2,598


High School 3,520


Totoal 83,362


Registration Record


Main Library 1,685


Cliftondale Branch 1,174


East Saugus Branch


282


North Saugus Branch 98


Lynnhurst Branch


54


Total


3,293


Trustees


John B. Lang, Chairman Leverett B. Mears, Secretary Walter D. Blossom


Albert R. Magee Kaler A Perkins


Chauncey V. Whittredge


Staff


Vivian B. Copp, Librarian Jean Shackelford, Assistant Li- brarian


Alice Lang, Branch Librarian, Cliftondale Branch Library


Marjorie Walkey, Assistant Branch Librarian, Cliftondale Branch


Aginess I. Blossom. Branch Li- brarian, East Saugus Branch Li- brary


Maude Moses, Branch Librarian, North Saugus Branch Library Anna Swanson, Branch Librarian, Lynnhurst Branch Library


Hour Workers


Patricia Cotting


Barbara Ives


Virginia Garniss


Elaine MacLaren


Barbara Kramer James Blundell


George Blundell


*Barbara Nicoll


*Shirley Williams


*Jeanne Anderson


*resigned


65


REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD


1942]


Report of The Planning Board


To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus;


The Planning Board is pleased to submit its annual repoort for the year ending December 31, 1942. Membership and organization for the year has been as follows; Chairman Frank A. Green, Clerks William H. Robinson and Jack A. Meeker ;- H. Warren Butler , and Walter L. Roy ;- Mr. Francis Comey, Planning Board Engineer. The Board has held its regular meetings every Monday and has held the necessary hearings on all articles pertinante in the annual town meeting warrant. The Board has also advertised and held the necessary hearings acting as a Board of Survey.


Mr. Robinson, who has served as clerk of the Board for the last ten years resigned because of the pres- sure of other business, but the Board is hapnv that he will be able to continue as a member.


Through the effort of this Board with the cooperation of the Board of Selectmen, the State Department of Public Works have installed a set of traffic lights at the inter- section of Ballard Street and the Salem Turnpike. We feel that this has helped to remedy one of the worst intersections of the Town.


Few of the citizens of the Town realize that one of the most im-


portant functions of the Planning Board is that of acting as a Board of Survey. The Board of Survey works with the developer who is planning to start a new develop- ment within the town, and makes certain rules and specifications in regards to streets, water, drainage, etc. to protect the Town's Interest. We must hold the necessary public hearings and approve the proposed plans before the development can be started.


During the last year the town has had three new developments and when completed they will con- sist of approximately 80 new homes. This will mean about $360,000.00 in new taxable prop- erty to the town. Through our efforts this will represent a sub- stantial decrease in our tax rate.


We take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Town Counsel and Building In- srector, and the other town de- partments, officials and committees who have assisted us during the last year.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK A. GREEN, Chairman JACK A. MEEKER, Clerk H. WARREN BUTLER WILLIAM H. ROBINSON WALTER L. ROY


Report of the Board of Health


To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:


The Board of Health herewith submits its annual report for the ycar ending December 31, 1942.


The general health conditions in the Town shows a marked im- provement this year. Contagious and infectious diseases have been reduced to a comparitively small


number and hospital expenditures have been reduced about one third and costs for the care of Tuber- culosis is the lowest in several years.


There were no cases of Diph- theria reported this year. There are several reasons for these re- ductions, but some of the credit is due the Board by the efficient man-


66


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


ner in which its agents have han- dled the problems.


Since the installation of the sew- er system was started, many of the houses, draining directly into the Saugus River, have been com- pelled to enter the system. This particularly applies to the East Saugus section. With the sewer extending up Main Street much more contamination will be elim- inated from the river. There is still much to be accomplished particularly in relation to the drainage from the mills.


Several sewer projects have been approved including Main, Maple, Grove and School Streets.


In the annual report, for several years, the Board has brought the attention of the citizens to the in- adequate and unsanitary conditions existing in toilet facilities in the Town Hall. It has also been called to the attention of the Selectmen, many times, but no attempt has been made to correct the condition. We dislike to resort to harsh and aggressive measures to correct these conditions.


Several new regulations have been adopted by the Board of Health which includes the licen- sing of all animals and a regula- tion which prohibits the sale or delivery of any cow's milk except Pasteurized. Not only do these improve the health and sanitary conditions, but a considerable sum is turned into the department in license fees.


The State Department of Pub- lic Health has new regulations re- quiring all homes to be licensed, where children under 14 years of age are boarded. The inspections and recommendations are cared for through the local Board.


With the loss of one School nurse it was necessary for the Health department to take over the entire work in the Dental Clinic. This adds much more to the duties of the Board of Health nurse.


For several years the Board has considered the advisability of de- veloping a milk laboratory and has gradually purchased equip- ment. When completed tests can be made in milk cream, skimmed milk, butter, ice cream and choco- late milk. Space, in the Town Hall, for the laboratory was granted by the Board of Selectmen last spring.


With the change of office the Board has been able to conduct a clinic for the prevention of Diph- theria. This program is essential to cmpletely eliminate Diphtheria from our town. In previous years the treatments were given in the various schools, but it was incon- venient and much valuable time was wasted.


With much regret the Health Department lost, by death, on Oc- tober 12, 1942, Mr. Charles Wilson. From the beginning of his asso- ciation with the Department on March 5, 1935 to the time of his departure his faithful and unceas- ing efforts to improve health and sanitary conditions for the benefit and protection of the citizens of Saugus was an inspiration to those who worked with him.


Respectfully submitted,


DR. LEROY C. FURBUSH, Chairman DR. JAMES A. CLARK, Secretarv RICHARD J. SPENCER, Health Officer.


67


REPORT OF SEALER WEIGHTS & MEASURES


1942]


Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures


December 31, 1942


Board of Selectmen


Town Hall


Saugus, Mass.


Gentlemen :


The following is a detailed re- port of my activities for the year.


Scales


Pounds


Sealed


Not Sealed


Condemned


Platform


over 5000


2


Platform


100 to 5000


5


9


1


Counter


under 100


6


Spring


100 to 5000


1


Spring


under 100


33


2


Computing


under 100


40


Personal Weighing


(slot)


1


Prescription


4


Weights


Avoirdupois


15


Liquid Measuring Devices


Vehicle Tanks


5


Gasoline Meter Systems


80


32


Tank truck Meter Systems


15


Totals


207


40


TRIAL WEIGHING OF COMMODITIES PUT UP FOR SALE


Total Tested


Correct


Under


Over


Beans


140


126


14


Bread


425


416


9


Butter


501


491


10


Coal (in paper bags)


100


98


2


Coal (in transit)


6


1


5


Flour


121


116


5


Lard


62


58


4


Potatoes


360


310


50


Totals 1715


1615


95


5


Inspections Made


Re-test of Devices After Sealing


Gasoline Meter Systems


56


Peddlar's Licenses


8


Scales all types


92


Milk Jars


280


Fuel Truck Meters


6


Coal Certificates


15


Marking of bread


425


Marking of food packages


1386


Marking of Coal of paper bags 100 Peddlar's Scales 8


Junk Scales


5


Ice Cream Cans


20


Oil Jars


165


2672


154


Weighings Made for Town of Saugus


15,644 Gals Bituminous Products 906,990 lbs. Coal


Respectfully submitted ALFRED H. WOODWARD, Sealer of Weights and Measures


4


The testing of weights and meas-


ures of all tunes has been carried on as usual in the past year, and those not up to standard have been promptly condemned.


1


Paper or Fiber Cartons


260


68


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Report of the Superintendent of Buildings


December 31, 1942


Summer House


1 350.00


Chimney


1


65.00


Moving Houses


2


0.00


Demolish


1


0.00


Signs


9


0.00


Excavations


4


0.00


Fireplaces


3


550.00


Office


1


1,000.00


Gasoline Pump


1


0.00


I herewith submit my report as Superintendent of Buildings for the year ending December 31, 1942


The following report is a list of the Type, number and value of permits issued during the year.


Type


No.


Value


Dwellings


28


$94,750.00


Additions


90


31,808.00


Repairs


67


15,996.00


Garages


39


7,970.00


Sheds


12


1,660.00


Hen Coops


19


3,965.00


Barns


5


1,175.00


Foundations


1


250.00


MELBOURNE MacLEOD, Superintendent of Buildings.


Report of the Police Department


January 1, 1943


To the Honorable Board of Select- men :-


It again becomes my pleasure to present to you my twelfth an- nual report of the Police Depart- ment during the year 1942.


The Department consists of a Chief, one Captain, one Lieutenant, and eleven Patrolmen, and five Re- serve Officers. There are forty-five Special Police Officers, forty-five Auxiliary Police Officers. Of this amount nineteen of them


are equipped with uniforms and are canable of doing regular Police work in case of emergency. There are also the watchmen at the Lynn Water Shed, who are Special Po- lice Officers. There are eight in this group.


The Roster of the Police De- partment is as follows :-


Chief John T. Stuart


Captain Henry P. Wheaton


Lieutenant Roland E. Mansfield


Regular Patrolmen James P. Sullivan Clarence H. Berrett William MacDougall Joseph A. Lambert, Jr. James F. Maher Thomas F. Spencer Walter F. Neal


William F. Cahill


Ernest A. Dunham


Howard P. Berrett


Carl G. W. Pearson


Reserve Patrolmen


Rosario Bucchiere Walter J. Elsmore Edgar T. McKenney John I. O'Brien Anthony J. McNeil


The Honorable Board of Select- men,


Town Hall


Saugus, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


284 $159,539.00


I have turned over to the Town Treasurer the total sum of 540.00 received for permits issued during the year.


I wish to thank all deparments for their cooperation in this work.


Respectfully submitted,


69


REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT


1942]


Police Matron Mabel D. Murdock


Daily reports of Officers show the following :- Complaints and reports received 1729. Assaults 9, Articles lost 56, articles found 53, Autos stolen 8, Break 66, Bitten by dogs 37, Birds and animals killed by dogs 14, Conveyed to Hos- pitals 213, Conveyed from Hospi- tals 71, Disturbances 39, Domestic troubles 44, Dogs missing 99, Dogs found 98, Dogs Barking 36, Fires discovered or responded to 38, Holes in sidewalks and streets 14 Larcenies 101, Persons reported missing, Lost persons found 74 Playing in streets 22 Notified or investigated for other authorities 168, Doors and Windows found open 248, Lights found burning 31, Property damaged 37, Prowl- ers and Peepers 34, Missles thrown 20, Stolen autos recovered 10, All Others 850.


During the year 1942 there were 376 arrested. Of this amount 363 were males, 13 females, 12 Juve- niles.


Dispositions of the year's ar- rests are as follows :- Fined 120,


Filed 94, Released 62, Dismissed 15, Costs of Court 12, House of Cor- rection 15, Cases appealed 13, Grand Jury 11. Probation 24, Con- cord Reformatory 3, Lyman School 1, Shirley Industrial School, 3, State Farm 1, Turned over to Mili- tary Authorities 1, Arrests for Out of Town Police 153.


In conclusion I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the several Town Officials, and all other good citizens of the Town who by their cooperation, and good will aided me in maintaining the high degree of efficiency that our Police Department ranks. I also want to thank the Justices of both the Saugus Trial Justice Court, and the Lynn District Court for their co-operation during the past year. Last, but not least I want to thank all the members of the Police Department for the wonder- ful work that they have done in the past year in keeping the effi- ciency of the Department at a high standing.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN T. STUART. Chief of Police.


Report of the Board of Selectmen


The year 1942, with its wartime adjustments has made it necessary to curtail or reduce the normal functions of public service. Per- sonnel in some departments were reduced to a critical point early in the year through enlistments in the Armed Services. This was not- ably true in the Public Works De- partment and others.


The Works Progress Adminis- tration program was necessarily limited with insufficient labor to carry out work assigned for the year. Sewer extension and side- walk construction suffered thereby in midyear, Works Progress Ad- ministration program was virtually at a standstill while every avail- able man was placed on the re-


moval of car rails. Our cost of operation for supplies on this work (not including labor charges borne by the government) was more than offset by the revenue received from scrap steel through the agencies of the United States Government. Priority requirement of the OPA governing critical materials pre- vented carrying out many of the regular functions of maintenance and upkeep. This included road building, water extension and ar- ticles authorized by the town meet- ing. In spite of this, extra effort was made to keep essential services operating normally, very little if any complaint has been made by our citizens.


By careful management is was


70


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


possible to return substantial sums of money from our various depart- ments to the town treasurer at the end of the year. It is hoped these returns along with other depart- ments will provide very definite improvement in the whole financial structure of the town. It is gen- erally considered that our financial picture is the best in a decade with the program excelerated a year ago to liquidate the tax title ac- count and with continued effort this year and in the future should soon place the town in the enviable class of municipality long recognized to have sound government financing.


To meet the ever increasing cost of living thrust upon our employ- ees required adjustments in salary and wages were made for the past year. We believe that municipali- ties should be flexible enough in operation to provde funds for such emergencies as they arise and we believe that in the coming town meeting that sufficient funds should be provided in the budget to meet the situation. Many reforms have been adopted to provide operation of budget at a minimum for 1943,. keeping in mind reservicing water extension for new developments and others.


The Board of Selectmen ap- pointed the following committees during the year 1942:


The Rationing Board consisting of the following members:


John W. White, Chairman George W. Pitman Randolph Popp


Miriam Flynn John C Pitman Edward Walkey


Thomas Skahan


Florence Eaton Warren S. Packard Russell Gray


Henry O. Westendarp Fannie Metcalf


The War Transportation Com- mittee :


William Rockhill, Local Adminis- trator


Earl Dudman, Transportation


John T. Stuart, Police and Fire Departments


Vernon Evans, Schools Frederick Kelley, Labor Harold Glynn, Civic and Improve- ment Associations Wallace Long, Local Business Gerald Forrest, Local Business J. Edward Doyle, Industry Bruce Mills, Industry


The following members were added to the existing Water Sur- vey Committee :


Albert C. Day Ernest Swett Arthur Price


The board has also taken steps to have the front entrance of the Town Hall renovated, fire stops and panic locks installed throughout the building to prevent any Fire disaster in the Town Hall.


Chapter 90 maintenance should not be neglected to the point where large expenditures should be nec- essary to restore them to normal use especially to the expected loss of county aid during 1943. Several members were added to the water committee in a determined effort to find the most reasonable and least expensive wav of maintain- ing uniform pressure and volume in our water mains, supplying out- lying districts with sufficient water is our committee's study. Consider- able progress and study has been made by checking pressure in vari- ous sections of town corolating facts as to size of incoming mains from Lynn and metering flow of water during twenty-four hour periods throughout various sec- tions. We are confident some re- lief will be found to districts now depending on the very meagre supply of water.


We wish to take this means to pay tribute to our employees who have answered the call to our Armed Services and wish them God sneed and safe victorious return.


GEORGE H. QUARMBY, Chairman


HAROLD P. RICE WILLIAM S. OLIVER


Board of Selectmen


71


REPORT OF W. P. A. SPONSOR'S AGENT


1942]


Report of the W. P. A. Sponsor's Agent


January 2, 1943


Honorable Board of Selectmen Town Hall


Saugus, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


In submitting the report of the Works Projects Administration (WPA) for the year ending 1942, it is a pleasure to inform you that we finished the year within our appropriation and have a balance of $5,945.65 with which to start the new year From the sale of car rails we were able to turn back to the town treasury the sum of $2,193.74.


During the year 1942 WPA pro- jects laid 4,990 lineal feet of side- walks; 2,456 lineal feet of water- mains: 1,288 lineal feet of 8" sew- er mains and we took out 165.44 long tons of car rails. We also operated the following projects which were closed at the end of


the federal fiscal year, June 30th. Anawan and Bond Place Drainage, Gypsy Moths, Engineering, Recre- ation and Building Inspector Re- cords.


Our local Surplus Commodity store gave out various items of foods and clothing to the needy families of Saugus to the value of $22,658.62.


During this past year the WPA personnel has been greatly reduced but we did average 93 men per month. Our WPA workers re- ceived approximately $69,486.36 in the form of payroll checks from the Federal Government. This amount does not include projects that are State Wide such as Fed- eral Music, Commissary and Train- ing Centers for Welding and Ma- chine work.


Very truly yours,


CARL E. CHAPMAN, Acting Sponsor's Agent WPA


Report of the Town Engineer


Saugus Massachusetts


December 21, 1942


Mr. Carl E. Chapman


Acting Superintendent, Public Works Department.


Dear Sir:


I am submitting a report of the Engineering Department and a division of time on this work for the year 1942.


Sewers


January to December, 99 days Kent Street (part) Granite Court Bond Place Central Street Main Street (start) (laid out and ready for construction) School Street


Grove Street


Maple Street Main Street


Drainage


January to December, 28 days Bond Place Old Drainage Plans Brought Date


Office


January to December, 16 days Index plans, estimates and general office work.


Water


January to December, 18 days Intervale Ave. Riverside Ct. Lodge Ave. Bennett Ave. Sunnyside Park Connolly Ave. Foss Ave. Essex St.


72


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Elmwood Ave. Puritan Ave. Ballard St. Nason Rd.


Curtis Rd. 3,046 ft. 6" C. I. Pipe 698 ft. 8" C. I. Pipe


Sidewalks January to December, 67 Days


All street lines with supervision


Assessors January to December, 23 days Assessment Sheets


Respectfully submitted :


Miscellaneous Lines given on 10 streets.


JOHN DYER, Town Engineer


IN MEMORIAM


WILLIAM RICHARD SALSMAN, JR. 1895 1942


Member of Saugus Fire Depart- ment 1917 - 1942


Lieutenant 1923 - 1931


Captain 1931 - 1935


Acting Chief 1935 - 1936


Chief of the Town of Saugus Fire


Department 1936 - 1942


JOHN M. WARD


1902 1942


Member of Saugus Fire Depart- partment 1937 1942


Call Fireman 1937 - 1937


Fireman 1937 - 1942


Report of the Board of Fire Engineers


To the Honorable Board of Sel- ectmen and the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:


We herewith submit the annual report on the personnel, condi- tions and activities of the Fire De- partment for the year ending De- cember 31, 1942.


ROSTER


Acting Chief George B. Drew


Captain George B. Drew (Now Acting Chief)


Lieutenants Ralph E. Berrett Joseph L. Maguire


Permanent Firemen Harold Atkinson Alfred A. Bird Albert Jervis


Warren Newhall Norman Hull George Parrott Leo Cahill Guy Collins


Frank Beckford


Robert Jacobs Robert Champoux (Intermittent)


Call Firemen Lewis O. Gray Randolph Popp Fred Chesley Peter Walzar


Lewis Richardson Joseph Vatcher


Surveys and plans, various Stone bounds, 73 Defense work.


Locating water mains and gates.


Supervision of Chap. 90 work. Supervision of Mosquito work.


Total of 251 days covering work for the Public Works Department, Assessors, School, Cemetery, W. P. A., and miscellaneous.


73


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


1942]


Walter Wetmore Harold Ridings John Cahill Arthur Gustafson Leslie Hitchings


*George M. Berrett Theodore Frieswyk


*Robert Griffin Edwin Holmes


*Charles Ryder


Board of Fire Engineers Harold Rice, Chairman George Quarmby William Oliver


*Denotes in the armed forces of the U. S.


During the year 1942 the Fire Department responded to 386 alarms and calls for fires and other


duties. There were 28 box alarms; 358 telephone calls of which 17 were followed by box alarms. 41 of these calls were needless or false.


The apparatus traveled a total of 1331 miles in responding to calls. Engine No. 1, went 79 miles, Engine No. 2. 266 miles, Engine No. 3, went 799 miles, Ladder No. 1 went 186 miles. The Chief's car traveled 8,061 miles in responding to alarms and in the performance of other duties.


The assessed valuation of build- ings, autos, trucks, the insurance on buildings, automobiles, and their contents, etc., were, as nearly as possible ascertained as follows:


Assessed valuation of buildings, autos, trucks, etc. $135,080.00


Insurance on buildings, etc.


298,980.00


Loss on buildings, motor vehicles, etc. 8,075.00


6,335.00


Insurance paid for losses on buildings, etc. Estimated value of contents


115,750.00


Loss of contents


4,353.00


Insurance on contents Insurance paid for loss of contents


45,000.00


1,761.00


During the year 17,450 feet of 21/2 inch hose, 15,250 feet of 11/2 inch hose and 61,000 feet of 3/4 inch hose was used to extinguish fires, a total of 92,850 feet of hose. Of the above hose stretched, 69,600 feet were used at brush, dump, and wood fires. There was 344 feet of ladders used and 31 tanks of oxygen with the oxygen tent and other medical and first aid appliances.


The fire apparatus, Engine No. 2, and Engine No. 3, are in fair condition, the Ladder truck is in good condition and should last for several years to come providing they do not meet with any acci- dents. The Oldsmobile sedan, the Chief's car is in fair condition. The Seagraves pumping engine is unreliable and should be replaced as soon as pending priority is re- leased.


The Fire Department has done excellent work in keeping the fire loss down to such a small amount approximately $15,000.00 when it


is noted that the department must cover a large territory, nearly 111/2 square miles and do so with a small number of men to man the apparatus and extinguish fires.




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