USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1930 > Part 17
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The Child Welfare Committee has held 49 Baby Clinics during the year with a total attendance of 1028 or an average attendance of 21. We hope it is understood that any mother of a baby less than 2 years old may bring that baby to the Clinic where it will be weighed, measured and examined by our baby specialist, Dr. Fitz- gerald, free of charge and suggestions for its diet and care will be given on competent authority and help on any individual problem the mother may have. Some of our babies come only to be weigh- ed and their growth watched and recorded, this is a service we are very glad indeed to render. Many volunteer workers help us to make this possible and we sincerely thank them.
To the many organizations in our town who have helped us through the year to keep our supply chest full of the needed things a's dressings, bandages, baby clothes, bedding, etc., we also wish to give our thanks.
One other item I wish to touch upon probably the outstanding accomplishment of our years efforts, our work for the Pre-school Clinic, the 'Summer Round-Up'. The aim of this clinic is to have all children enter school physically fit. Through an intensive adver- tising campaign we tried to reach the parents of all children enter- ing school in the fall and have them bring their children to the schools on Registration Day, June 21. Here the parents were met by the nurses and the need for a physical examination explained to them, that their children might enter school physically fit to do their school work and not be handicapped by remedial physical de- fects. Those who were able were urged to consult their family phy- sician and cards were given them to be filled out by their physician showing their physical fitness, these to be returned to the school nurse at the beginning of the fall term. Those who were finan- cially unable to do this were cared for at the expense of the Asso- ciation. A few figures will be of interest here, 431 children entered school in September, 296 of these registered at the Summer Round- Up. 135 had to be reached by personal calls. 161 returned cards signed by their family physician, 229 gave only verbal reports and so could not be recorded as in the A-1 class, 31 were examined by Dr. Fitzgerald at the Association clinics.
Next year we hope for greater response in the number of cards filled out and returned. But we feel we have made a good beginning of a splendid work for surely there could be no higher ideal than the perfect physical fitness of our children at the beginning of their careers, a physical soundness on which to build fine characters.
Respectfully submitted
LOUISE E. DODGE, Sec'y
189
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
Year ending December 31, 1930
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wey- mouth.
Gentlemen:
BEALS PARK
We wish to state at this time that there has been expend- ed this year at Beals Park a considerable amount of money which perhaps does not show. But it cost quite a sum this last summer to clean out the pond, and we would like to have the co-operation of the people around this locality to notify the police if they see any one dumping rubbish into the pond.
RUFUS CLARK PARK
The grass was kept mowed and the ground cared for during the summer.
WEYMOUTH HEIGHTS MALL
The grass was kept mowed, also a walk was put on the south- erly side of the park going to the school house, and a fence erect- ed on the southern boundary of the park.
WEBB PARK
General care of the Park and Playground equipment was thor- oughly gone over. The Band Stand was reinforced and repaired to a condition of safety.
WESTON PARK
The ball field was enlarged, some grading done upon it and six benches erected. Sheltering tool house painted, and some grading done in that vicinity. The fencing around the Tennis Courts was straightened and painted. Drainage pipe was put in from back of James Reilly's house, and three points on Broad street connected by catch basins, and continued to a point about fifty feet into the pond. It is hoped that we can finish the piping this year, connecting the drain from Washington Street into the Broad Street sewer and on through to the end of the Park. This will prevent the sewerage from forming the pond which the children now use for skating. It makes an unhealthy, unsanitary and dangerous condition.
We also feel that with the very efficient police force, that Town property in the form of Parks should be patrolled regularly by the police to prevent the destruction of Town property.
POND PLAIN PLAYGROUND
Pond Plain Playground has been graded, and a fine new Ten- nis Court built, and the equipment painted and repaired ..
We would recommend an enclosure for the Tennis Court, and a summer house for the hot days. The Pond Plain Improvement Society provides necessary conveniences for the children.
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LAKE STREET PLAYGROUND
The Lake Street Playground has been graded and a wall put next to the street.
We recommend a wall next to the water, making the play- ground larger and the bathing better.
JACKSON SQUARE AND BAILEY GREEN
Jackson Square and Bailey Green have been well taken, care of, and shrubs added. More shrubs of an evergreen nature should be added this year.
PARK AVENUE
The Meadow leased on Park Avenue for the purpose of having a skating park has been cleared and a Dam built.
Would recommend a Dam built of Cement and a curb to keep water off street.
LOVELL'S CORNER PLAYGROUND
The Lovell's Corner playground is always well attended by the children and young people of this and other neighborhoods. The grass is well mowed and the equipment kept in condition for the safety of the children. A new sand pit has been built of concrete 20 x 20 and the Band Stand roof has been made tight. One hun- dred and seventy-five feet of fence was put along the street, and the Tennis Court enclosure put into shape. Some new' shrubs have been added, and a great number of seat posts have been made, Hawes Grove has been cleared of some of the underbrush. This is a very fine grove, and in years to come will be a great asset to the grounds.
LOVELL'S MEADOW
After a careful investagation on the proposition of the Lov- ell Meadows, we would not deem it advisable to go into this pro- ject at this time for two reasons- Namely: That there is a lot wet low land there which would incur a large expense of which we believe would be wise to curtail on at this time, and then it is too near to the church property
REPORT TO THE PARK COMMISSIONERS BY DIRECTOR OF PLAYGROUNDS - EVERETT MCINTOSH
Eight Public Playgrounds are now well established in Wey- mouth. There is stationary equipment on all the grounds located at Beals Park, Lake Street Park, Pond Plain Playground, Webb Park Bicknell School Grounds, Lovell's Corner Playground, Stet- son Field Weston Park.
Over a thousand children visit the various playgrounds daily and take advantages of the opportunity afforded them. Due to the intense heat of the past summer more effort was put into handwork than strenuous games.
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A field worker of the Dennison Paper Manufacturing Com- pany, Mrs. Clara Nichols spent one week here giving instruction in paper mosaic and glorified glass work at each playground. The teachers had a class of instruction in this work. Many attractive articles were made by the children. Painting vases and flower pots soap carving and wooden door stops were popular branches of hand- work.
Paddle Tennis was enjoyed on all grounds and a tournament was held at Stetson Field. Town Champions of each class were chosen. The classes were Junior Girls, Senior Girls, Junior Boys and Senior Boys.
Many inter-playground games of baseball and volley ball for the boys, and volley ball for the girls were played. Competition was very keen and so interest and enthusiasm was aroused. Horri- bles and doll carriage parades always added interest. Much time and effort was spent in the decorating of carriages and the results were most gratifying.
Sand boxes were always filled with castles of sand as the var- ious children worked out some project foremost in their minds.
Upon receiving an invitation from the chairman of the Select- men, the Town of Weymouth was entrusted to the Juniors for the second year for two honors on July 28, 1930.
The officers previously elected were:
BEALS PARK AND BICKNELL SCHOOL
Selectman, June Schieble; Assessor, Eleanor Brayshaw; School Committee, Regley O'Done; Water Commissioner, Thomas Bleak- ney; Park Commissioner, William Boudreau.
WESTON PARK AND WEBB PARK
Selectman, Fred Murray; Assessor, Mary Harrington; School Committee, Harriet Berry; Water Commissioner, Charles Marsh; Park Commissioner, Leonard Kearns.
STETSON FIELD
Selectman, Joseph Dunbar; Assessor, Jiared Marinan; School Committee, Francis Hanson; Water Commissioner, Puritan Poole; Park Commissioner, Theda Munroe.
LOVELL'S CORNER PLAYGROUND
Selectman, Francis Russell; Assessor, Muriel Doble; School Committee, Katherine Reed; Water Commissioner, Robert Grif- fith; Park Commissioner, Marn Doble.
LAKE STREET PLAYGROUND
Selectman, Richard Burns; Assessor, Russell Jacobs; School Committee, Marjorie Jacobs; Water Commissioner, Michael Striano; Park Commissioner, Robert Clark.
POND PLAIN PLAYGROUND
Selectman. Joseph O'Kane; Assessor, Pauline Dyment, School Committee, August Calen; Water Commissioner, Robert Candy; Park Commissioner, Elaine Proctor
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In keeping with the Tercentenary celebration the Selectmen were dressed in Puritan costumes. The purpose of this project is to initiate the children into the affairs of town government. It is undoubtedly of educational value and encouraging to note the zeal of the children and satisfying to view the efficiency with which they do the business at hand of governing the town.
The children of Pond Plain and Lovell's Corner gave a pageant entitled "The Dearest Wish" under the direction of Miss Genevieve Perkins and Miss Helen Moulton at the Pond Plain Community Grounds. Sixty-five children in the cast presented the pageant to a large and appreciative audience.
During the final week each playground had a picnic at Wey- mouth Beach, Swimming, sports and frankfurt roast were enjoyed by all and the bath house was taxed to its capacity.
Please accept my sincere thanks for the splendid cooperation of the Town Officials in making Junior Town Government Day possible, the parents for making paper costumes for the pageant, the Weymouth Gazette and Transcript for their generosity in paper space and the donation of election ballots, and all who in any way helped during the past season.
The parks and playgrounds providing beauty spots and recre- ation areas for both adults and children, are giving justification for the expenditure of town funds for aesthetic and health improve- ment of the citizens.
Beauty and utility are notable in the care of Weston Park. The landscaping is effective and attractive. The playground, tennis courts, and the skating pond, all in proximity to the Hunt school. are in use at all seasons. In only a few years with but a moderate outlay of money a rough field has been converted into a very use- ful ornament.
Great Hill Park is a natural beauty spot. Its sight seeing ad- vantage, and its bathing beach attract the young people. The night parkers, petting parties gave rise to complaints that necessi- tated the closing of this beautiful park at 9 o'clock evenings. Over $75,000.00 of the Town's money should not be denied to the citizens. The Commissioners recommend removal of the present restriction to enable law abiding citizens to enjoy to the full the fine New England summer nights. The Park commissioners, there- fore, recommend that a sufficient sum be raised and appropriated for such police protection as shall be necessary for maintaining order on Great Hill Park.
In closing the Commissioners want to thank the citizens who have aided them by appreciating the parks without abusing the privilege. There are some thoughtless people however who have been destructive if not outright malicious proclivities. The Com- missioners call upon all the good citizens to aid in curbing the un- fortunate acts of the careless ones to the end that our parks will be what all desire. Places of beauty and recreation.
Park Commissioners FRANCIS W. REA CHARLES W. BURGESS JOSEPH KELLEY
193
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR| OF TAXES For Years of 1928, 1929, and 1930
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen' of the Town of Wey. mouth.
I am pleased to submit to you my report of the Taxes and In- terest collected by me, as Collector of Taxes, during the year 1930. These, collections, as made and paid over to the Town Treasurer, . apply to the several commitments to me, for the years 1928, 1929 and 1930:
1928 TAXES
Balance Outstanding Jan. 1, 1930 .
$12,404.22
Interest Charged: Personal and Real Estate
833.39
Additional Charge on Commitment (Real Estate) 30.35
Total
$13,267.96
Less Collections on 1928 Taxes :
Personal and Real Estate
$11,010.11
Moth
21.25
Interest
833.39
Total
$11,864.75
Less Abatements on 1928 Taxes:
Personal and Real Estate
$1,403.21
Total Collections and Abatements
$13,267.96
Balance Outstanding December 31, 1930
None
1929 TAXES
Balance Outstanding Jan. 1, 1930
$258,793.57
Interest Collected during 1930:
Personal and Real Estate
$8422.77
Motor Vehicle Excise
350.07
Polls 1.88
8,774.72
Additional Charge on Commitment (On Real Estate)
4.98
Commitment No. 6 on 1929 Motor Vehicle Excise
68.19
Total
$267,641.46
Less Collections on 1929 Taxes:
Personal and Real Estate
$213,487.94
Moth
517.10
Motor Vehicle' Excise
11,921.40
Polls
54.00
Interest on Above
1
8,774.72
Total $234,755.16
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Less Abatements on 1929 Taxes:
Personal and Real Estate
$2,316.10
Moth
24.75
Motor Vehicle Excise
1,144.85
Polls
46.00
Total
$3,531.70
Total Collections and Abatements
$238,286.86
Balance Outstanding December 31, 1930
$29,354.60
Summary :
Personal and Real Estate
$28,018.67
Motor Vehicle Excise
1,335.93
Polls
None
Total
$29,354.60
1930 TAXES
Commitments to Collector:
Polls :
July 11, 1930
$12,528.00
Nov. 5, 1930
158.00
Dec. 31, 1930
14.00
$12, 700.00
Personal and Real Estate:
Oct. 13, 1930
$1,244,247.92
Dec. 20, 1930
1,722.89
$1,245,970.81
Moth :
Oct. 13, 1930
1,704.60
Sidewalk:
Oct. 13, 1930
19.76
Motor Vehicle Excise:
Mar. 13, 1930
$24,825.31
Sept. 25, 1930
23,723.53
Dec. 22, 1930
4,193.31
Dec. 31, 1930
274.14
$53,016.29)
Total Commitments to Collector Add Interest Collected
$1,313,411.46
215.19
Total
$1,313,626.65
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Less Collections on 1930 Taxes:
Personal and Real Estate
Moth
$924,109.07 1,237.10
Sidewalk
11.00
Motor Vehicle Excise
32,578.62
Polls
11,942.00
Interest on Above
215.19
Total $970,092.98
Less Abatements on 1930 Taxes:
Personal and Real Estate
$3,028.89
Moth
7.00
Motor Vehicle Excise
2,770.60
Polls
426.00
Total Abatements
$6,232.49
Total Collections and Abatements
$976,325.47
Balance Outstanding December 31, 1930 Summary :
Personal and Real Estate
$319,302.11
Motor Vehicle Excise
17,667.07
Polls
332.0.0
$337,301.18 Respectfully submitted, FRANK W. HOLBROOK Collector of Taxes
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wey- mouth;
I present to you my report of the Taxes and Interest collect- ed and the same turned over to the Town Treasurer from Jan- uary 1, 1930 to December 31, 1930: 1926 TAXES
Balance outstanding January 1, 1930 Abatement
$23.25
Personal
$23.25
1927 TAXES
$13.61
Balance outstanding Jan. 1, 1930 Interest
1.29
Total
$14.90
Collected during 1930
Interest
$1.23
Abatement Personal
13.61
Total collected and abated
14.90
Respectfully submitted A. W. SAMPSON Collector of Taxes for 1926 and 1927
$337,301.18
196
REPORT OF TOWN ENGINEER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the town of Wey- mouth,
Gentlemen :-
I submit herewith my twenty-fourth annual report on surveying and engineering work done for the town in 1930.
This includes the yearly revision of the Assessor's maps; the routine surveying and engineering work done each year to a greater or less degree in all cities and towns; and other special work done during the year.
The assessors maps numbered 1 to 65 inclusive were corrected to and including April 1, 1930 by copying and entering thereon all transfers for the preceding year; by the measurement, location and addition of all new buildings; by the removal of all buildings razed lost by fire or otherwise eliminated; by the correction of existing buildings materially changed either by additions or otherwise; and by the plotting thereon of all new streets, and such land sub- divisions or developments, or other data as may assist in the as- sessment of taxes or be of interest to the assessors.
In the revision to April 1, 1930 a total of 1400 parcels of land transferred by deeds, takings or releases, including original and transfer certificates in the Land Court, were copied; about 156 dwel- lings, 220 other taxable buildings, and approximately 157 exter- ior changes in existing buildings were located and measured; and all entered or plotted on the maps.
Municipal buildings added included the addition to the Hunt School building, the public bath house at North Weymouth, and a small building on Weston Park. The broadcasting station W. E. E. I. at the Edison Plant at North Weymouth was also entered on the maps.
As the parcels of land transferred, the new buildings and the changes inthe old buildings are quite evenly distributed through- out the town it is apparent that after doing the registry work and field work ,necessary to obtain the required data, much remains to be done on the maps. This includes the erasure of the names of former owners and of buildings no longer existing or changed in location or shape: the addition of new buildings and the correc- tion of such as are changed; and the entering of the names of the new owners with the area covered by such new ownership.
While occasionally a parcel of land is sold as a whole, in many cases a sale means an additional owner and two areas in place of one. All of the above is necessary work done each year to put the maps into proper shape for the use of the assessors.
The final step is the taking of new negatives from the correct- ed maps and furnishing of a set of prints therefrom to the asses- sors.
Copies of any or all of these maps can be obtained practically at cost from the town.
The above with some minor work appurtenant to same is list- ed as town survey work and charged against the appropriation made for that purpose.
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I would recommend an appropriation for 1931 of $2500, similiar to that of the past few years.
I want to again touch on the desirability and value of record- ing all legal papers relative to the ownership of the title to the land; such a record often results in a substantial saving to future owners or perhaps to ones heirs and may be the means of determin- ing the location of a disputed boundary line without the expense of recourse to the land court.
During the past year numerous town survey sheets were sold; also quite a number of the lithograph maps published in 1929 were sold or voted by your Board to various organizations for their use.
An appropriation of $500. was made in former years for the purchase and setting of stone bounds on town streets, and bounds charged to this appropriation have been set on Beals Street, Pecksuot Road, Broad Street, Commercial 'Street, Evans Street, Webb Street, Liberty Square, Pond Street, Wilson Avenue, Shaw Road, Bartlett Street, Bayview Street, Addington Circle, and Clin- ton Road. This work is important and should be continued each year.
Other stone bounds set on streets or elsewhere and charged to the appropriation for that particular street or work include bounds on Riley Avenue, Vanness Road, Kirkland Road, Wachu- sett Road, Roosevelt Road, at the junction of Front and Stetson streets on the Weymouth Water Works taking near Swan Avenue, and on the boundary line of Bicknell School land. In addition a number of old bounds have been reset.
During the past two years an appropriation of $500. has been made each year for the purpose of making a survey and plan of cemeteries in Weymouth showing thereon the location of the graves of the deceased veterans of different wars together with the name of the veteran and the war in which he served.
Survey and plans of the following cemeteries have been com- peted and prints for your Board and for distribution to the vet- eran organizations for their use have been delivered to the Sel- ectmen :- Village Cemetery, Fairmount Cemetery, Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery, Highland Cemetery and the North Weymouth Cemetery. This work should be completed and I would recommend an appropriation of $500. for the coming year.
On special work perhaps the most outstanding was the design and construction for the new addition to the Bicknell School at North Weymouth of a septic tank 20 feet long, 10 feet wide and 8 feet 3 inches deep (inside dimensions) of reinforced, waterproof concrete, with an accompanying disposal field.
This is the third and smallest of three septic tanks (each design- ed for its particular location and number of persons served) built for the school department of Weymouth, the first being at the High School and the second at the Hunt School.
Among the routine work I would list the following: Survey and plan of land on Front and Stetson Streets (adjacent the Hunt School lot) acquired for school purposes and topographical plan of same; design and grading plan of Hunt School grounds, and stak-
198
ing and giving grades for curbs, drives, walks, etc .; staking prop- ยท erty lines of land owned by the town; survey and sketch showing suggested straightening of Pleasant Street from its junction with Water Street to a point near the police station; survey and plan of takings at or near Great Pond for preservation of water supply; staking and grades for permanent sidewalk construction; profile, staking and grades for Bicknell meadow drains and filling, off Broad Street, East Weymouth; staking for sea wall at Wessagusset; staking and grades on newly accepted streets; profile, staking and grades for Middle Street south of Washington Street; survey and preliminary plan showing proposed widening of Broad Street be- tween Central Square and Commercial Square; preliminary sur- vey, and plan of Broad Street between Central Square and Lincoln Square; staking and giving grades for curb on Park Avenue and elsewhere; profiles, staking and giving grades for permanent side- walk construction; establishing and giving street lines, and staking corner junctions; taking profiles of streets; taking profiles and giv- ing grades for drains; staking at Legion Field and at the Cen- tral Fire Station; surveys and plan of relocation of a part of Iron Hill Street; of relocations at the junction of Neck and North Streets, at Spring and Broad Streets, at Bartlett Street and Bab- cock Avenue, at Bayview Street north and Bayview Street east, and at Charles and Lake Streets; survey and plan of land to be acquired by the town; plan of that portion of Lakeside Avenue accepted by the town; street descriptions; street numberings; staking Westminster Road, survey and plan of land on Island View Road, an dprofile and grades for pipe line in the Birches for the Water Department; various work in connection with the pro- posed municipal golf course; and surveys, taking levels, etc., to- gether with attendance at court on 'hearings or actions by or against the town.
In closing I would extend to your Board, to other town offi- cials, to members of different veteran organizations, to various cemetery officials and to the citizens of the town in general my thanks for all courtesy shown and assistance rendered to me and to my assistants in our work for and throughout the town.
Respectfully submitted, RUSSELL H. WHITING Civil Engineer
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Weymouth:
The estimated valuation of new buildings and alterations dur- ing 1930 was approximately 54% of the 1929 estimated valuation. This decrease has been due mainly to industrial depression and has accentuated the overbuilt conditions prevailing in residential types.
New residential building has fallen drastically and shows no signs of immediate recovery. The estimated valnation of residential building was $303,900. in 1930 as compared to $667,700 in 1929.
There is no doubt that residential building which is now considerably below long term normal is approaching or has struck
199
the bottom of the present movement at least. This is not to say that any recovery is in immediate prospect, but there are indica- tions that the force of the decline has spent itself, and that the present situation serves to limit building to actual requirements and lays the groundwork for a healthy improvement when general business recovers and the population again drift back to normal living conditions.
It is apparent that there is a surplus of building and until this surplus has decreased materially, the financing of new con- struction will be difficult to obtain, but with the price of material and cost of labor as at present substantially reduced it is only a reasonable assumption that considerable activity will result dur- ing the coming year.
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