USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Duxbury Massachusetts for the year ending 1960 > Part 12
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Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Superintendent, Insect Pest Control.
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REPORT OF CONTROL OF DUTCH ELM DISEASE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
It is true we have had more elms with Dutch Elm Disease this year than last.
In the 2,600 elms that we spray, there were 13 with Dutch Elm Disease. In that group of trees that we do not spray and those that we could not spray to our satis- faction, there were 20 diseased trees. Our elms received a 12% D.D.T. dormant spray before the buds opened and a 6% D.D.T. foliage spray in addition to the spray they received under Insect Pest Control.
At the New England Conference on Dutch Elm Disease, it was reported that there are antibiotics that need testing for another year or two before any rec- ommendations will be made for the use of same.
With the cooperation of the property owner by re- moving dead limbs and spraying, we may be able to continue to maintain our present and past record of control of one-half of 1% of diseased trees per hundred, for a few more years.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS Tree Warden
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REPORT OF DUXBURY RECREATION COMMITTEE
The overall purpose of this Committee is to coor- dinate town sponsored youth recreation. The Tarkiln Youth Center group has been extremely active with Square Dancing, Cub Scouts, Whist Parties, Suppers. Side trips this summer were made to Boston with a Family Picnic and Field Day also held this summer.
The Old Town Hall Committee directed the summer Tennis Program, Bon Homme Club and the Junior Bad- minton Group.
The Old Town Hall was used for Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, Bon Homme, Junior and Senior Badminton this past year. Both the Tarkiln and Old Town Hall buildings meet a need for such meeting places, so it is this Com- mittee's intention to make sure they are maintained.
JOSEPH VELARDO, Chairman WALTER F. KOPKE, JR., Secretary
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
and the Citizens of Duxbury :
Spring clean-up of Parks and Playgrounds started the first of April. The grass was fertilized and the clay tennis courts were put in shape for use the second week of April.
A permanent little league ball field was established at the Tarkiln Recreation Center.
The back stop at the soft ball field was squared off to a regulation back stop.
The cutting of grass and brush was taken care of on twelve different areas about town.
At the Myles Standish Cellar Lot one of the late winter storms washed out the sand back of the riprap on on the southwest end of the shore-line. During the sum- mer, the Highway Department hauled in excess stone and backing from a road construction job, to take care of the repair work. The major part of this work is completed as of this date.
Recreation is getting to be big business in Duxbury and right now Little League is in need of another field to use. It is expected that 180 boys will be out for practice in the spring.
Train Field is a sad problem right now and your committee (after looking the situation over) thinks it
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advisable only to feed and cut the grass until we can divert at least 75% of its present use to the new, established school fields.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Superintendent Parks and Playgrounds.
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REPORT ON JULY 4TH PARADE 1961
July 15, 1961
Board of Selectmen
Town of Duxbury
St. George Street
Duxbury, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I am enclosing this statement as an itemized account of the July 4th Parade. Under Article 12 of the Town Warrant $950.00 was appropriated. If the Town will pay the bands direct upon approved statements and reim- burse the American Legion for any remaining balance it will be greatly appreciated.
At this time I would like to express my thanks to the Duxbury Police, Fire, Highway and all other Town Departments who assisted in this years celebration.
Cost of Bands
1. Plymouth Post #40 Band $ 275.00
2. Braintree Drum & Bugle 250.00
3. Holy Family Drum & Bugle 100.00
4. St. Marys Annunciators Drum & Bugle ... 100.00
5. Abington Legion Band paid for by Kiwanis
TOTAL
$ 725.00
Cash Awards
Floats 1st prize
$100.00
2nd
50.00
3rd
25.00
$ 175.00
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Horribles 1st prize
$ 50.00
2nd
25.00
3rd
10.00
Best Walking 10.00
$ 95.00
Best Visiting Color Guard
$ 25.00 $ 25.00
TOTAL
$ 295.00
Miscellaneous Expenses
1. Meals for Fort Devens $ 36.00
2. Gasoline for Army Bus 14.28
3. Antique Autos 75.00
4. Scotties Girl Twirlers 10.00
5. Postage 1.14
TOTAL
$ 136.42
GRAND TOTAL OF PARADE COSTS $1,156.42
Respectfully submitted,
CARL A. CARLSON Parade Chairman
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CEMETERIES
To the Cemetery Trustees :
I submit my report for the year 1961.
At Mayflower, Ashdod, Dingley, and Standish Ceme- teries, and at Smith Tomb and Boomer Square, all general work was done. With the leaf blower, supplemented by hand raking, the leaves were removed and the cemeteries cleaned. The evergreens were trimmed and the iron fences on the old lots were painted. We edged around all markers and cleaned all avenues.
We repaired and painted the fence in front of the Myles Standish Cemetery, and also painted the fence at Ashdod Cemetery.
Perpetual Care and Annual Care lots were properly maintained. The Veterans' lots at the main gate on Tremont Street, and the Veterans' graves received our attention.
There were 67 interments this year.
Continuation Report - Hurricane Donna
Three large trees were removed in Mayflower Ceme- tery, one by the Tree Department and the other two by our own men. In Dingley Cemetery we cleared away fallen trees and repaired and painted the fence. Damaged and fallen trees in the Standish Cemetery were pruned or removed as needed. Additional repair work and pruning of trees will have to continue for several years. The
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Town Nursery provided the Cemetery Department with several Maples which we planted to replace trees torn down by the hurricane.
Respectfully submitted,
LAUREL B. FREEMAN Superintendent of Cemeteries
-
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REPORT OF THE CEMETERY TRUSTEES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
and the Citizens of Duxbury.
We submit our report for the year 1961.
The report of the Superintendent has been received noting the work done in the Cemeteries and is made a part of this report.
During the year, we have received from the income of the perpetual care funds, the annual care payments and payments for work done in the cemeteries over $11,800.00. This represents more than 50% of the cost of operating the cemetery department and is the first time on record where the net cost to the Town has been less than 50% of the money expended by the department.
We are also pleased to announce that there has been over 6% increase in the total amount in the perpetual care funds.
We are requesting an appropriation of $18,456.00 to carry on the work of the Cemetery Department during the year 1962.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD P. HOBART, Chairman. HERMAN C. BUMPUS, JR. ERNEST W. CHANDLER CARL E. JOHNSON J. NEWTON SHIRLEY, Secretary.
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REPORT OF THE SOUTH SHORE MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECT
November 17, 1961
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
Submitted herewith is the report of the South Shore Mosquito Control Project of its activities in the Town of Duxbury for the year ending December 31, 1961.
The Town of Duxbury appropriated $7550 for mos- quito control in 1961. This money was used for mosquito control in the Town of Duxbury by the South Shore Mosquito Control Project, a cooperative effort embracing the City of Quincy and Towns of Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate and Weymouth. In addition, the project worked under contract for the U. S. Naval Ammunition Depot.
TYPE OF CONTROL PROGRAM
The basic program of control continued to be based on drainage in the off-season and larvaciding of all areas found to be breeding during the mosquito season. This program was supplemented by application of D.D.T. dust to selected areas during the period when swamps were frozen. Fog generators and mist blowers were used to combat flying mosquitoes.
AERIAL DUSTING
The late winter dusting of all fresh water swamps too large to be treated by hand was done by fixed wing aircraft in March and April. 2400 acres were dusted in the Town of Duxbury.
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GROUND CREW SPRAYING
The ground crews circulated on a schedule through- out their section of the project. They varied from the circuit to treat in the vicinity of complaints or to treat places found to be breeding by superintendent or foreman. They then returned to their rounds.
CATCHBASIN SPRAYING
Two catchbasin units were operated the past season. These units are compressed air sprayers mounted on three-wheeled motorcycles. This phase of work is par- ticularly important in built-up areas since one drainage basin can produce thousands of mosquitoes. 300 breeding basins were sprayed in the Town of Duxbury.
DRAINAGE
The mosquito drainage program has eliminated some ground crew spraying and air spray acreage. In the Town of Duxbury the following ditch work was done: 735 feet of ditches cleaned, 5400 feet reclaimed, 300 feet of new.
ADULT MOSQUITO CONTROL
During the past year a new remote control insecti- cidal fogger was added to this project. It was delivered too late to be used to any extent this year. However, next year, along with our present adulticiding machines, two foggers, and two mist blowers, it will enable us to do spot adulticiding at a pace beyond that of past years and will be good insurance in the event of an Encephalitis outbreak.
PLANS FOR WINTER
Throughout the months between past and coming mosquito breeding season much attention will be given
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to ditching. Work on the salt marsh will be done in the fall and early spring. When snow and ice conditions are right, prahatch dusting, as was done in past years, will be done. The success of past years' work along these lines makes it feasible to continue and expand this pro- gram as help and weather permit. In addition to ground dusting, it is planned to continue application of D.D.T. insecticide dust by air in the Town of Duxbury as results last year were successful.
PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR
All phases of the work carried out in the past will continue, placing emphasis on drainage for permanent control, and then, in this order: dusting for prehatch control, spraying for larval control, mist blowing and fogging for adult control.
The project wishes to acknowledge the help received from officials and departments of the Town and sincerely hopes that benefits derived by these departments as a result of this cooperation are as great as those derived by the project.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE B. STARR, JR., M.D. Commissioner for Duxbury
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT WATER DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Water Commissioners Town of Duxbury, Mass.
Gentlemen :
Following are the 1961 statistics of the Duxbury Water Department, as required by the Massachusetts Department of Health :
Greatest amount pumped in any one day : July 13, 1961, 1,264,000 gallons.
Greatest amount pumped in any seven consecutive days :
August 13 through August 19, 1961, 7,073,000 gals. Total amount pumped during 1961: 184,217,000 gallons. Number of services at the end of the year: 1812. Number of active services at the end of the year : 1792. New Services installed during the year : 66. Miles of water mains at the end of the year: 46.06. Number of Hydrants at the end of the year : 353. Acres of land owned for water supply purposes: 57.67 acres.
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH O. MACOMBER Superintendent
35
PLYMOUTH COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE (Plymouth County Extension Service) By ROBERT B. EWING, County Agent-Manager
The Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service was established in 1914, when Congress passed the Smith- Lever Act. The question heard so many times since then is "What is the Extension Service, and what does it do?"
The answer to that question is clearly defined in the Act passed by Congress which states, in part, that the Extension Service shall - "aid in diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical informa- tion on subjects relating to Agriculture and Home Econ- omics, and to encourage the application of the same".
Each year agreements are written between the United States Department of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts and Plymouth County. The Federal, State and County governments cooperate in furnishing this service to the citizens of Plymouth County. Thus the name "Cooperative" Extension Service. Since the Ply- mouth County Extension Service was organized and established in 1915, information pertaining to Agricul- ture, Home Economics education, 4-H Club Work, has been given free to all citizens of Plymouth County. The Extension Service has always been known as the "edu- cational arm" of the United States Department of Agri- culture.
The Extension Service office is located in the Court House, Brockton, and is staffed by agents who conduct programs in Agriculture, Home Economics and 4-H Club Work by furnishing educational information through
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farm and home visits, letters, newspaper articles, radio talks, meetings, office visits. The basic job of the Exten- sion Service has always been the same and that is "to aid in diffusing among the people of Plymouth County, use- ful and practical information on subjects relating to Agri- culture and Home Economics".
Funds for conducting the Plymouth County Exten- sion Service are derived from three sources: Federal, State and County Governments. Along with these funds, most towns in Plymouth County make an annual appro- priation which is used for the general expenditures of the Plymouth County Extension Service. Town Directors are appointed in those towns where an appropriation is made. These Town Directors are unpaid volunteer leaders who serve as the Extension Service representative in their respective towns.
For the commercial and part-time farmers, infor- mation is available in the following: agronomy, farm management, insect and disease control, marketing, pro- duction, rodent control and weed control.
For the home owners information is available in the following: Growing Vegetables, Flowers and Shrubs : insect and disease control : also information on lawns and household insects.
For the housewife and homemaker information and programs are available in the following subjects: Con- sumer education, home management, homemaking skills, and leadership development.
4-H Club Work is a youth program and is available to any boy or girl between the ages of 10 and 21. These young people are organized in agricultural and home economics clubs of all kinds.
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Requests for information in agriculture, home econ- omics or 4-H Club Work should be directed to the Ply- mouth County Extension Service, Court House, Brockton.
While the Extension Service furnishes information, it is up to the individual who receives this information to make the decision as to how it can be used to the best advantage.
Many Plymouth County citizens avail themselves of the opportunity each year to secure this free help and information pertaining to the home, home grounds, 4-H Club Work and agriculture. As the Extension Service is supported by the Federal, State and County governments, all citizens should make full use of their Extension Service.
The Board of Trustees appointed by the Plymouth County Commissioners, administer the Plymouth County Extension Service programs. It is composed of the fol- lowing members :
GILBERT BLACKLEDGE, Whitman, Chairman
MRS. HAROLD D. BENT, Brockton
LOUIS BILLINGS, Plympton MRS. MABEL CHANDLER, Duxbury MRS. GLADYS GIBBS, Hanover® ROBERT HAMMOND, Wareham JOHN HOWE, West Bridgewater JOHN W. LITTLE, Marshfield
JOHN PRENTICE, Plymouth
GUY L. SOUTHARD, Town Director, County Aid to Agriculture
38
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I respectfully submit my report as Building Inspector and Wiring Inspector for the year 1961.
The following figures show the total number of per- mits processed for the year 1961.
Houses (Also house & garage combinations) 54
Garages 14
Non-Residential Structures (includes stores, storage buildings, work shops, etc.)
Alterations & Additions 74
10
Miscellaneous (relocations, renewal permits, etc.) 20
Sewage Disposal
26
Electrical 62
Total number of permits issued 260
Gross receipts for 1961
$2,716.00
Less Refunds 4.00
Net
$2,712.00
The estimated costs of construction
shown on "Application for Permit"
Forms totalled $1,247,371.00
Assistance was also given to 29 people in filing petitions to the Board of Appeals.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK E. PHILLIPS, JR. Building Inspector
39
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Board of Appeals held thirty-three public hear- ings during 1961. Twenty-six were on petition for vari- ance in the residential district and seven in the business district.
Of these petitions two were withdrawn at the hearing and one is still pending waiting relocation of certain prop- erty lines. Of the remaining thirty the Board granted twenty substantially as requested and ten were denied.
The Board thanks the interested citizens who came to the hearings. The opinions as expressed by the citizens at these public hearings is always a great help to the Board in arriving at its decisions.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT SEYMOUR, Chairman EDWARD P. HOBART, Secretary H. RUSSELL CHANDLER
40
REPORT OF HARBOR MASTER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
This year there were approximately 674 boats of all sizes - 213 tenders, 214 outboards, 118 sailboats, 117 inboards, and 12 auxiliary sailboats - moored in Dux- bury.
There were fifteen calls from Scituate Coast Guard to check if boats reported missing and overdue were in Duxbury. Twenty boats were reported missing from shore points. Sixteen were relocated. Fifteen boats broke loose from moorings along-shore. None were total losses, but some were severely damaged. Two boats were re- ported swamped. All passengers in the outboard were saved, but two in the sailboat were lost at sea.
Slowdown signs were placed at Blufish River, Back River, and at the Basin. These areas were much im- proved. However, they will be as closely observed in the future as they were in the past year.
New Rules and Regulations were made up by the Waterfront Committee, approved by the Selectmen, adopted, and posted at the start of the season.
Thirty-one channel markers were set out on the 1st of May - six at Howland's Lane, five at Joe's Point, and twenty at the beach channel. When we picked up the markers on November 1, seven were missing.
Mooring fee bills were sent out and at the time of writing this report, some fees had not been received.
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Where mooring fees were not paid by the end of 1961, the mooring location will be given to the "number one" person on the waiting list and the delinquent will be placed at the bottom.
Respectfully submitted
VICTOR D. NICKERSON Harbor Master
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REPORT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT 1961
I hereby submit my report as Agent for the Board of Health for the year 1961.
A clinic was held early in the year to give booster shots of Salk vaccine for polio and it was well attended. It will be repeated this year if the oral vaccine is still not available.
The communicable diseases reported to the Depart- ment during the past year were as follows :
Mumps 5
Chicken Pox
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Measles 56
German Measles
9
Roseola
1
Meningitis 1
Encephalitis
1
Dog Bites 13
Please report all such diseases even though they may be mild and not seen by a physician.
Rat bait is always available at Dr. Starr's office and works well on any rodent problem.
We are grateful to the State Department of Public Health for their assistance and cooperation in the inspec- tion and licensing of eating establishments, chicken farms, and the like.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE ROSS STARR, JR., M.D.
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REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC.
For the Year Ended December 31, 1961
Including payments made by the Town of Duxbury for the Library
Library
Town of
RECEIPTS
Treasurer Duxbury
Total
On hand January 1, 1961 in bank
$ 490.89
From Trust Funds:
Wright
$4,050.88
Winsor
906.72
Hathaway
134.45
Duxbury Hall
218.50
Hunt
32.50
$5,343.05
5,343.05
Appropriation
($13,132.00)
$13,131.72
Total Receipts
$5,833.94 $13,131.72 $18,965.94
EXPENDITURES
Salaries
$
$ 9,758.33 $ 9,758.33
Books
1,124.77
2,352.54
3,477.31
Supplies
422.84
242.25
665.09
Repairs and Improvements
152.46
94.96
247.42
Insurance
604.28
604.28
Fuel Oil
783.97
56.16
840.13
Electricity
408.19
408.19
Telephone
152.43
152.43
Janitor Services
897.00
897.00
Other Operating Expenses
38.47
23.20
61.67
Total Expenditures
$3,980.13 $13,131.72 $17,111.85
Balance in Bank, Dec. 31, 1961
1,853.81
1,853.81
$5,833.94 $13,131.72 $18,965.66
Respectfully submitted, C. RUSSELL EDDY, Treasurer Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
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REPORT OF THE DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY
To the Trustees :
December 31st, 1961 brings to a close another year of library history. 1961 has been a year of increased use of the library in all directions, together with the continu- ing development of its services and resources.
During 1961 the total circulation of library books totalled 64,475, a gain of 5040 over that of 1960 and 30,776 more than in 1953, the first full year of the present librarian's tenure of office. Just these figures alone are an indication of how much the use of the library has increased since those days. Of this 64,475 circulation, 29,764 books were borrowed by adults and 34,711 by juniors. Circulation figures as we all know, are only a partial disclosure of the library's activities. Reference work with all of the pupils in the public schools and with private school and college students is a big part of the daily routine. With our very good reference collection, much satisfactory work is being done in this field. Term papers are required of all pupils beginning with Junior High through High School and nearly all of the material for these papers is searched for and found in the Duxbury Free Library.
Extensive book selection and reference work is also carried on with our adult readers, many of whom are students and people taking courses in widely varied sub- jects. Adults using the library in summer always include many distinguished researchers and readers as well as those who borrow books for relaxation and pleasure. These visitors to the library never fail to express their enthusiasm for all that the library has been able to do for them during their stay in Duxbury.
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The summer months are busy ones in the Duxbury Free Library. There is no decline in the library's activi- ties. As soon as the schools are closed, Duxbury pupils and boys and girls from many parts of the country come to the library with their "summer reading lists." The Library Staff give very careful attention to the selection of these books, in the hope that every title chosen will prove to be the right one for each individual reader.
In the summer of 1961, the library co-operated with the Duxbury Science Programme and a deposit of over 50 science books was made up from their reading list and placed in the Science classroom for the use of the boys and girls taking the course. Many other titles were bor- rowed from the library by the boys and girls themselves. The supervisors of the course were delighted to discover our up-to-date science collection and to know that they were free to use it as extensively as possible.
On December 31, 1961, 6212 borrowers had registered since 1953. During 1961, 715 registrations were re- corded; 407 of these being new borrowers and 308 were re-registrations after the expiration of their four year cards; in 1961 there were 118 more new borrowers than in 1960.
$3447.31 was spent for books and magazines during 1961. Allowing $110 for the magazine bill, $3337.31 purchased 1400 new titles at an average cost of $2.10 per title. In 1960, $3176 bought 1425 titles.
The larger book budget and fewer titles for the money reflect the constant rise in the price of books. Very careful book selection precedes all purchases. Where $5.00 used to be the average top-price for a "must" book in biography, history, travel, or science, these titles are now commonly listed at $7.50 and $10.00. Our increasing circulation statistics reflect the demands made upon the
46
library. It is hoped that our 1962 book budget will be adequate to supply most legitimate requests and will enable us to keep abreast of the changing world in which we live. The librarian is sincerely concerned with getting the very best books to be had with the money at her command.
Our Elementary School Programme becomes more of a part of the regular school curriculum each year and is an established event in our library routine. All elemen- tary school classes visit the library beginning with the first grade and ending with the sixth. Each grade, ac- companied by its teacher visits the library every other week. Twelve classes come to the library each week. The children are taught to become acquainted with the library, how to use reference books and how to select books for their own reading enjoyment. When a class has a special assignment, help is given in selecting the books for their subject.
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