USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > Town annual report of the officers and committees, 1948 > Part 5
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Over one hundred books were purchased in the juvenile field, of which a large number were on display for children's book week. For the children's room, we pur- chased two Mexican prints by Carlos Merida, celebrated contemporary artist of Mexico. This purchase was made possible through the Blanche Arnold Sylvester Fund, by means of which fund were also obtained "U. S. Camera, 1948" and "Portfolio of Flower Prints" by House and Garden. The Woman's Club gift was used to buy "The Encyclopedia of World History."
DONATIONS
The following gifts of books are gratefully acknowl- edged: new books, 24; used books, 310.
The following gifts of magazines and periodicals are gratefully acknowledged :
Plymouth County Press, Specialty Salesman, Kiwanis, National Grange, Starry Crown, Our Dumb Animals, The Lamp, International Harvester World, Our Times, Plain Talk, The China Magazine, Life of the Soldier and Air- man, Premex Travel Club Bulletin, Nation's Business, The Magnificat.
Used magazines: Holiday, Mrs. E. Stanton Wales; Life, Saturday Evening Post, Time, Mrs. Sterling Myrick ; Coronet, Yankee.
FINANCIAL
The trustees are asking the same amount for 1949 which was appropriated for 1948. All supplies have ad- vanced in price but by using careful economy it is hoped
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to give satisfactory service to the public. Salaries, $3,146.00; general expense, $3,854.00; insurance $141.95. Dog tax added.
Respectfully submitted,
BURTON L. WALES, Chairman HENRY E. CLAFLIN, MABEL A. RECORD, ABBY N. ARNOLD, CHRISTINE J. CURTIS, GRACE H. WRIGHT,
ARCHIE C. GILMAN, LOUISE SANDERSON, MARY J. SWEENEY.
Archie C. Gilman, Treasurer of Trustees, in account with Abington Public Library.
January 1, 1949
Statement of Funds for Benefit of the North Branch
Name of Fund
Balance 1/1/48
Income Purchases for Year for Year
Balance 1/1/49
Blanche Arnold Sylvester Fund
$1,000.75
$27.50
$27.30 $1,000.95
First Unitarian Society Fund
1,502.05
41.58
39.41
1,504.22
Gertrude M. Gleason Fund
525.88
14.54
31.92
508.50
Addie L. Conger Fund
5,230.38
144.55
27.67
5,347.26
Totals
$8,259.06 $228.17 $126.30 $8,360.93
Respectfully submitted,
ARCHIE C. GILMAN.
Treasurer of Trustees.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE AND WELFARE AGENT
We herewith submit our report for the year ending December 31, 1948:
There has been a decided increase in the work of this Board during the year due to the changes upward in the monthly assistance in all three categories, also in its administration, due to additional detail required by both the Federal and State Departments in order that increased Federal financial assistance may be received.
During the year, the monthly budgets were increased 8.3% and the Federal contribution is now up to $30 a month instead of $25 a month. There have been increased charges in both local and State hospitals' weekly rates- some of our hospital bills have been very heavy-also some increase in rents which had been approved by State Rental Commission.
We believe our town's people are interested in the activities of each department and want to see that our needy people are cared for. They also are interested from the point of view of the taxpayer, therefore submit the following statistics :
The following is income received during the year 1948 to be used as an estimated receipt on the tax rate of the coming year :
O.A.A. from Other Towns $2,015.64
O.A.A. from State 60.078.56
A.D.C. from State
4.658.53
General Relief from State
1,814.95
General Relief from Other Towns 846.83
General Relief from Individuals 44.00
$69,458.51
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The following amounts were contributed by the fed- eral government during 1948 for O.A.A. and A.D.C. which, by special legislation, are credited direct to the individual accounts and reused during the year :
O.A.A. A.D.C.
$54,467.95 3,154.51
We submit the following information as to the cost of administration in 1948, the amount appropriated by the town and the amount contributed by the federal govern- ment on the administration of O.A.A. and A.D.C .:
General Relief
Town Appropriation Expended
$185.72
To Revenue
$64.28
Aid to Dependent Children
Town Appropriation Expended
$50.00
202.25
Federal Grants Expended
146.52
Balance to 1949
$55.73
Old Age Assistance
Town Appropriation Expended
$500.00
$500.00
2,333.74
Federal Grants Expended
1,753.00
Balance to 1949
$584.86
The following is the comparative case load for the years 1947 and 1948 :
General Relief
1948
14
1947
7
A.D.C.
1948
12
1947
14
O.A.A.
1948
191
1947
189
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$250.00
$50.00
The following are the comparative appropriations and expenditures for the years 1947 and 1948 in General Relief, A.D.C. and O.A.A. assistance :
General Relief 1947
- Town Appropriation
$8,500.00
Expended
$8,146.43
To Revenue
$353.67
General Relief 1948
Town Appropriation and Transfers
$13,981.23
Expended
$13,981.23
A.D.C. 1947
Town Appropriation
$11,383.75
Federal Grants
3,945.78
$15,329.53
Expended
$14,167.88
Balance to 1948
$1,161.65
A.D.C. 1948
Town Appropriation Federal Grants
$13,615.00 3,316.70
$16,931.70
Expended
$14,893.84
Balance to 1949
$2,037.86
O.A.A. 1947
Town Appropriation Federal Grants
$69,442.00 54,387.33
$123,829.33
Expended
$123,593.34
Balance to 1948
$235.99
1
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O.A.A. 1948
Town Appropriation Federal Grants
$88,800.00 54,467.85
$143,267.85
Expended
$140,937.06
Balance to 1949
$2,330.79
Respectfully submitted,
MERRILL D. HASKINS,
TIMOTHY J. CALLAHAN,
WILLIAM D. COUGHLAN, Board of Public Welfare Bureau of Old Age Assist.
JOHN SHANAHAN,
Welfare Agent
89
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE MEMORIAL TO THE SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MARINES OF WORLD WAR I
The Trustees of the World War Memorial to the Soldiers and Sailors of the Town of Abington submit their annual report. The Trustees organized with Thomas H. Buckley, Chairman, and Field Committee Representative, Merrill D. Haskins, Secretary.
During the past year, work has been completed on the Memorial project between the Memorial Building and High School. The work was done by local landscape archi- tects and nurserymen. By agreement with the contracting nurserymen, shrubs in need of replacement will be replaced in the spring planting season.
The exterior of the Memorial Building has been painted and the second story room of the Oldtown Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, has been repainted. It will be necessary to appropriate additional funds for the painting of the interior of the building, including the main hall, quarters of the Dorsey Post, American Legion and Auxil- iary, and hallways. Repairs have been made to the build- ing, including the shower system and water heater in the basement, replacement of the piazza, addition of storm windows on the north and northeast windows.
The building was taken over by the Trustees May 1, 1948, following the vote of the annual town meeting. The sum of $454.00 in rentals has been received and turned over to the Town Treasurer. Suitable arrangements have been made with the veterans' organizations and auxiliaries for use of the building. We remind the citizens that a well- equipped hall is available for their use on nights when not reserved by the veterans' organizations.
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Certain equipment for the building has been pur- chased by the Trustees.
The Trustees have also ordered wire fence to be erected on the north side of Vining Lane from the building to the backstop. We recommend additional fence be pur- chased from the backstop to the tennis court.
THOMAS H. BUCKLEY, Chairman MERRILL D. HASKINS, Secretary BURTON L. THOMPSON RAPHAEL F. MCKEOWN LEO F. MEADY GEORGE H. ROUNDS, ex-officio
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REPORT OF THE VETERANS' AGENT AND DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' SERVICES FOR 1948
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Abington, Mass.
The year 1948 was one of continued activity in veter- ans' affairs but there is an expectation that the demands may diminish this year.
Compensation claims are constantly arising. Many veterans who declined or neglected to file claims when discharged are now finding it difficult to compete with the more able-bodied. Unless the federal government renders some compensatory aid, many will eventually become sub- jects of our charities and public assistance. I am convinced that men and women who have offered their lives in de- fence of the nation should be adequately provided for by the federal government and not forced to become a burden on the local taxpayers.
During the past two years, the expenditures for medical care exceeded all other purposes. There now appears to be a concerted agitation against hospital treat- ment for disabled and ailing veterans by the Veterans' Administration. If this effort is successful, then the local taxpayers are assured of a substantial increase in tax levy. Thousands of dollars have been saved by this town to my knowledge through the medical services offered by the Veterans' Administration.
Certain groups of widows and children of deceased veterans are entitled to pensions. Owing to the rapidly changing population, the veterans' agent cannot become
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acquainted with all the veterans. Therefore, he will appre- ciate a notice of the death of any veteran so that he may investigate the eligibility for a pension. A very substantial amount arrives monthly as a result of this activity and materially benefits the entire community.
All residents are permitted to record their discharges at this office. This service has proved invaluable. All vet- erans are invited to consult the Agent and Director of Veterans' Services whenever a problem arises.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH C. HOHMAN, Veterans' Agent Director of Veterans' Services
93
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
Most of the time and effort of the Board during the past year was devoted to collaboration with the Building Code Committee in revising and amending the proposed Building Code to better fit the particular needs and requirements of our town.
The Board studied proposed layout plans for several real estate sub-divisions in the town and made a number of recommendations for changes. Layout plans were finally approved by the Board for sub-divisions located at Plymouth Terrace, Vineyard Farms and the W. C. Jordan development at Shaw Avenue extension.
At the request of the North Abington Improvement Association a revised plan was prepared for proposed development, as a playground, of property given the town by Miss Abbey Arnold located opposite the North Abing- ton railroad station. This was based on the original plan prepared by Everett Slayter.
Respectfully submitted,
STERLING MYRICK, Chairman DONALD W. SMITH ROBERT CRAIG CHARLES F. WHITMAN HELEN L. BUCKLEY, Secretary
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REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND MEMORIAL FIELD COMMITTEE
The report of the joint field committees cover the expenditure of $2,650.00 appropriation in the March meet- ing for labor ; seed, loam and fertilizer ; mowing and rolling field; erection of backstop for soft ball. The field has been extensively used the past year in the tennis and soft ball activities, with the usual use of the playing and practise football fields by the Abington High School eleven and Oldtown Football Association eleven. Soft ball interest increased during the year so a new backstop was erected on the old soft ball playing field and from indications of interested citizens, the joint field committee will have to plan on two soft ball diamonds next year to accommo- date local residents interested in playing. The tennis courts are in need of resurfacing which will be the first repair work on the courts since their construction in 1939. The baseball diamond was used by the High School nine and for a brief time in the spring, by the Abington Merchants.
The American Legion Post is considering the spon- sorship of a Legion junior baseball nine which may use the diamond during the summer months. Use of the land formerly owned by Andrew Babb was granted to the Girl Scout Council of Abington by the Memorial Trustees. The Council has erected a shelter, fireplace, water system. and toilet on the grounds. We recommend a study being made of the possibility of obtaining well water in suf- ficient volume to re-open the swimming pool.
THOMAS H. BUCKLEY
GEORGE F. GARRITY
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REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
To the Citizens of the Town of Abington: ,
The 65th annual report of the Park Commissioners is hereby submitted.
Your Commissioners succeeded in getting the annual clean up accomplished before there was any real danger of a fire marring the beauties of Island Grove. Each year as the trees get larger and older there is more accumulation of leaves and debris to be removed, but for safety and appearance it is necessary to do this work.
Because the swimming pool in the Grove is polluted, there have not been as many outings as in previous years because nearly all of the visitors desire to be where they can have bathing facilities.
Your Commissioners deem it advisable to remove some more of the large pine trees which are dying and are becoming a menace to safety of the public and users of Island Grove. This should be followed by planting more young pines to restore the beauty which Island Grove enjoyed before the advent of the 1938 Hurricane and sub- sequent loss of dying trees.
Your Commissioners have had many requests for the use of the Ball Field. We are of the opinion that it would be advisable to improve the Ball Park by getting the out- field cleaned of brush and seeded and the diamond leveled.
Mr. Melvin Libby found it necessary to resign from the Park Commissioners and the remaining two members had a meeting with the Board of Selectmen and appointed Mr. Robert M. Waters to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Libby.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTON G. WYMAN FRED CURTIS ROBERT M. WATERS Park Commissioners
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REPORT OF THE BUILDING CODE COMMITTEE
The Building Code Committee has held a number of meetings devoted to study and revision of the proposed building code as turned over to the Committee by the March 1948 Town Meeting. This code was based on a model prepared by the Board of Standards of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in response to a request filed with them by the Board of Selectmen. The Committee has reviewed the proposed code carefully and in detail and after thorough discussion has made certain amendments and additions designed to fit the code more nearly to the par- ticular conditions and requirements of Abington.
A public hearing was held at Abington High School on the evening of Wednesday, January 5th for the purpose of presenting the proposed code to any interested citizens for their discussion and comment. A number of sugges- tions were made by citizens at that hearing which were adopted by the Committee and incorporated into the proposed code.
The proposed code as adopted by the Committee was shown to the Chairman of the Board of Standards for his informal review and comment. Since his comments were favorable and he did not suggest any material changes the proposed building code was deemed adequate by the Committee and so introduced into the warrant awaiting the action of the citizens at the annual Town Meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
STERLING MYRICK, Chairman HELEN L. BUCKLEY, Secretary AMELIAN N. PASTUZAK LOUISE SANDERSON HELEN G. HOHMAN ARTHUR M. CLARKE CHARLES F. WHITMAN, JR. DONALD W. SMITH ELWYN B. SHURTLEFF ROBERT C. CRAIG GEORGE H. TOWER
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Big Sandy Pond and Pumping Station
WATER COMMISSIONERS' REPORT
The Joint Board of Water Commissioners of Abington and Rockland herewith submit their 63rd annual report which covers the year 1948.
Services in Rockland 2,136
Services in Abington 1,725
Services in Joint Works 140
New Services in Rockland 35
New Services in Abington 69
New Services in Joint Works 1
During the month of May, and again in the month of August, tastes and odors developed in the water supply of Big Sandy Pond. Analysis of the water by the State Department of Public Health showed that these tastes and odors were caused by various types of algae and vegetable growths, a condition which has been prevalent in previous years. Treatment of the pond with copper sulphate and activated carbon resulted in improving this condition temporarily.
In the month of July the new Gravel Packed Well was put into operation, pumping about one-third the water supplied to the Towns, the remaining two-thirds was sup- plied from Big Sandy Pond. In October this ratio was increased to one half well water and one half pond water. On October 27th, pumping from the pond was discon- tinued, and the entire supply for the Towns was taken from the well. At this time analysis of the pond water showed 1.2 parts per million of iron, while those of the well showed .65 parts per million. The high iron content of the pond water was attributed to the Fall "turnover" of the Pond, by the State Department of Public Health. Rusty water conditions and iron stains on cooking utensils, enamelware and washings, produced many justifiable com- plaints from consumers in both Towns. Little or nothing could be done at the time since both sources of supply were extremely high in iron content; (the standard being not in excess of .3 per million.)
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On November 4th the iron content of the Pond water returned to normal, (.35 parts per million) and immedi- ately the well was abandoned, and the entire supply was taken from the Pond.
Although the quality and purity of the well water is „very high, it had to be temporarily abandoned until the possibilities of an iron removal could be studied. Quoting from the 1945 Annual Report of the Water Commissioners to the Town, "The Commissioners are of the opinion that the gravel well supply has decided advantages over the filtration, and also in the event that iron did continue in the well supply, it can be removed mechanically without the addition of chemicals."
Inasmuch as the iron content of the well water is apparently not going to decrease the continued use of the well, it will be necessary to install iron removal equipment before the well can again be used.
The Joint Boards of Water Commissioners of Abing- ton and Rockland, have employed the firm of Weston and Sampson, Consulting Engineers, for the purpose of im- proving the water supply for both Towns. Lack of time for careful study by the firm of Weston and Sampson will preclude a report for the 1949 Annual Town Meeting. Any action to be taken on iron removal equipment or other treatment must be taken jointly by the Commissioners of Abington and Rockland, and also jointly by the two towns themselves.
Increased consumption of water in the Towns, due to new building and industrial use, has taxed the 16" force main, feeding both towns, to its full capacity. This is an extremely hazardous condition as regards to fire protec- tion. Little or no margin of safety is allowed in case of a bad break, such as occurred on November 4th, or in case of a serious fire. This situation also affects the blowing of hydrants or flushing of the system to help remedy unsatis- factory water conditions in various parts of the Town. Such measures of relief must be restricted to times when the tank is full and the consumption low.
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WATER COMMISSIONERS' REPORT FOR 1948
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Abington :
Submitted herewith is the report of the Board of Water Commissioners on their supervision and manage- ment of the Abington Water Works for the year ending December 31, 1948, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 206, Acts of 1885, Chapter 56, Acts of 1897 and Chapter 618, Acts of 1945. A listing of outstanding notes, issued for water works purposes, will be found in the report of the Town Treasurer. Receipts and expenditures are listed in the report of the Town Accountant. Separate reports will be found elsewhere of the Joint Board of Water Commissioners of Abington and Rockland on the joint water works of the two towns. Their report will include the report of the Joint Superintendent and the Joint Registrar.
Costs of all items necessary for the operation of the water works continued to increase during the year of 1948 and at a rate much faster than the increased revenue. This has resulted in lessening the amount available for new extensions and improvements. For the past several years the revenue has provided for the operation and maintenance of the existing works and in addition an amount sufficient to extend the mains for supplying new buildings located either on existing streets which were without water service or upon new streets. In common with neighboring towns, there is more new building con- struction in progress than in any other year since the water works was first installed. Many new streets are being laid out in tracts of land which were previously undeveloped. There seems no alternative but to extend the water mains into these streets to provide domestic service and fire protection. As this report is written, there are 37 applications for water service on file for locations now being developed. Some of these are located in the vicinity of Thicket Street, East Battery Street, O'Connor Road (off Vineyard Road) and Winsor Park (off Plymouth
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Street). As the current revenue is insufficient to meet the cost of these extensions, we recommend that the sum of $10,000.00 be borrowed for this purpose. This is to be repaid in not more than 10 years from water revenue.
Sixty-nine (69) new services were connected in 1948, the greatest number in any year since the original instal- lation.
The water mains were extended as follows:
Davis Avenue (Replacement of 2-inch temporary main) 960 ft. of 6" pipe
Wilbur Street (Replacement of
11/4-inch temporary main) 660 ft. of 6" pipe
Groveland Street
246 ft. of 6" pipe
Colonel Hunt Drive
294 ft. of 6" pipe
Linwood Street
383 ft. of 6" pipe
Charles Street
186 ft. of 6" pipe
Pinecrest Road
385 ft. of 6" pipe
O'Connor Road
160 ft. of 6" pipe
The amount of water used by the takers of two towns has continued to increase year by year. If this increase continues, it will necessitate an increase in pumping facili- ties. This will probably be a "booster" pump located near the end of the force main nearest the towns. Such an arrangement will allow water to be pumped at a higher rate into the force main at the pumping station without increasing the pressure to a point which would be danger- ous. At present, water is pumped at the rate of 1,050 gallons per minute which requires a pressure of about 120 pounds per square inch to lift the water and overcome the friction of the pipes. It takes an average of over 16 hours pumping per day to supply the present demand. There are days when "around the clock" pumping is necessary. Pumps which would pump at a higher rate would increase the pressure to a point which would probably burst the mains. A "booster pump" would work in conjunction with the main pump and allow the present force main to supply water at an increased rate without increasing the pressure at the pumping station.
As previously reported, an attempt was made to obtain a suitable ground water supply from a well located at a point of land which extends into Great Sandy Bottom
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Pond in Pembroke. This land is part of the original pump- ing station lot taken for that purpose in 1886. The well is about 300 feet from the pumping station. Test wells were first driven in several locations in the vicinity in search of a location where there was water of suitable quality (free from bacteria, objectionable tastes and odors) and having a soil of a course nature so that it could con- tinuously yield a sufficient amount of water to supply our needs at all times.
Two locations on the point of land were reported to have strata of coarse gravel and samples of the water from one of them, designated as Test Well No. 5, were submitted to the Department of Public Health by Howard E. Bailey. Consulting Engineer. The report on the samples submitted by Engineer Bailey stated that the iron content of water collected on March 18, 1945 was .05 parts per million and the iron content of another sample, collected on May 25, 1945, at the end of a 24 hour pumping test, was the same, i.e .. . 05 parts per million. Under date of May 14, 1945, Vlado A. Getting, Commissioner of Public Health, wrote the Joint Board of Water Commissioners in part: "The results of the analyses of a sample of water from this well collected on May 4, 1945. show that it was clear and colorless, free from turbidity and sediment and odor, soft and generally of good quality for drinking and other domestic purposes. The water contained iron and manga- nese in amounts less than that known to be objectionable in waters used for drinking purposes. Taking into con- sideration the favorable results of this preliminary test. the Department is of the opinion that the site in question may prove to be an appropriate one for development of a ground water supply for Abington and Rockland. Accord- ingly the Department recommends that your Board con- tinue its tests in the general vicinity of the well in question in order to ascertain the probable quantity and quality of the water available." Under date of May 31, 1945, Engineer Bailey wrote the Joint Board, in part, "Since the test wells indicate that an ample supply of excellent water may be obtained from wells near the pumping station. the next step is to sink one full-size gravel-wall well at this location. and to pump therefrom, at a rate of not less than 1.050 gallons per minute. This test should be conducted for about seven days and observations made on the draw- down and samples of water taken for analyses by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Upon the
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