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 2
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When the Extension service was first organized, its job in Agriculture was to supply information to com- mercial farmers. However, with an increased population estimated at 30% for the past 10 years in this county the Extension Service is faced with the task of supplying information, not only to commercial farmers, but to part-time farmers, and the new home owners. The Ex- tension Service furnishes the information, but it is up
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to the individual to make the decision as to how this information can be used to the best advantage.
This year, along with the normal requests for infor- mation, we had an exceedingly large number of requests pertaining to lawns and the care of lawns. This includes seeding, fertilizing and control of insects, diseases and weeds. We also had more than the usual number of requests for information on Japanese beetles, squirrels, pigeons, ants, mosquitoes, etc. It is gratifying to know that many who followed the information obtained satisfactory results.
In general, it is quite difficult to find out how much money an individual farmer saves as a result of educational information that he obtains through the Extension Service. However, this past year we were able to do this in one particular instance. Poultrymen and dairymen in Plymouth County has asked for infor- mation pertaining to the home-mixing of grain. As a result of a series of meetings set up by the Extension agents, at which information on this particular subject was discussed, members of one cooperative in Plymouth County are now saving in the vicinity of $5 per ton of grain. At this rate it means that the dairymen and poultrymen in this cooperative are saving over $20,000 a year in their grain costs.
A new Home Department Advisory Board was es- tablished this year to assist the agents with some phases of the Home Department programs.
The young people in Plymouth County who are in 4-H Club Work participate in one of the finest "fair programs" that is conducted in Massachusetts. Plymouth County 4-H Fair, local community fairs, and other major fairs in southeastern Massachusetts provide an excellent opportunity for 4-H club members to exhibit the products they have grown, produced and made as a result of their project work. When five hundred or more 4-H club mem-
27
bers participate in a program, it gives the public an excellent opportunity to see the results of their activities. We are particularly proud of the achievements of our Plymouth County 4-H club members.
Every citizen in Plymouth County should be aware of the fact that the Extension Service is supported by the county, state and federal governments, and that a large number of Plymouth County citizens avail them- selves of the opportunity to secure free help and informa- tion pertaining to the Home, Home Grounds, 4-H Club Work and Agriculture. Requests for such information should be directed to the Plymouth County Extension Service, Court House, Brockton, Mass.
Funds for the Plymouth County Extension Service are derived principally from the County. Some federal funds are also made available through the University of Massachusetts. Most towns in Plymouth County make an appropriation at the town meeting which is used for the general expenditures of the Plymouth County Exten- sion 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 representatives in their respective towns.
A Board of Trustees, appointed by the Plymouth County Commissioners, administer the Extension Service program, and is composed of the following members:
GILBERT BLACKLEDGE, Whitman, Chairman MRS. HAROLD D. BENT, Brockton
LEWIS BILLINGS, Plympton
MRS. MABEL CHANDLER, Duxbury ROBERT HAMMOND, Wareham JOHN A. HOWE, West Bridgewater
JOHN W. LITTLE, Marshfield
JOHN PRENTICE, Plymouth MRS. HERBERT WYDOM, Brockton
GUY L. SOUTHARD, Town Director
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Appeals held thirty-three public hear- ings during the year of 1960. Twenty-two were held at the Town Office Building on St. George St., and because of the limited space at the Town Office Building the rest were held at the Elementary School. In the future all hearings will be held at the Elementary School Building.
Twenty of the petitions were granted, eleven were not granted, one petitioner did not appear, and one peti- tion was voluntarily withdrawn by the applicant.
Two decisions handed down by the Board were chal- lenged by the petitioners in Superior Court. The Duxbury Town Counsel lost both cases. On his advice the Select- men have taken one of the cases to the Supreme Court to try to have the Superior Court's decree reversed.
The Board wishes to thank the interested citizens who came to the hearings and expressed their feelings during the year of 1960, and hope there will be as much or more interest shown during the year of 1961.
Respectfully submitted,
ELBURT C. LOTH, Chairman EDWARD P. HOBART, Secretary H. RUSSELL CHANDLER
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REPORT OF HARBOR MASTER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The 1959 dredging of the basin and channel made it necessary to remove and replace all moorings. The re- setting of moorings for the 1960 season was done in ac- cordance with a plan developed by the Water Front Committee. The plan has allowed us to take full advan- tage of the available deep water mooring area, and the orderly arrangement of moorings has made for a safer mooring area generally.
The great increase in the number of boats operating at high speed in Duxbury Bay during the past few sea- sons has threatened the safety of all who use the Bay.
I recommend that regulations designed to control this situation, along with adequate means of enforcement, be provided so that speed boats will operate safely in these waters, and we will continue to enjoy the pleasure of safe boating and swimming.
This year there were approximately 537 boats, all sizes, moored in Duxbury. An increase of 37 over last year.
Dredging came to a halt in the middle of January 1960. The channel was completed to a depth of 8' and 100' wide to buoys 11 and 12. The basin was dredged to a depth of 8 ft. and enlarged 3 acres giving us an approximate total of 19 acres. The job called for a com- pletion of 21 acres, but because of the added expense of towing the fill out to sea the allotted money was used up. The remaining acreage will be finished as soon as funds are available.
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The Coast Guard buoyed our main channel, as prom- ised, with nine additional markers, giving us regulation buoys all the way.
A mooring fee was adopted after being approved by the Waterfront Committee, Selectmen, and Town Counsel. 129 mooring fee bills were sent out at 50¢ a foot. This included all boats in deep water at the basin. A total of $1,410.00 was collected and turned over to the Town Treasurer.
Twenty-five channel markers were set out; (Twenty at beach channel and five at Joe's Point, Standish Shore.) This year six channel markers, previously main- tained by Mr. Amesbury, were turned over to the Town. A total of thirty-six channel markers will now be main- tained by the Town.
Respectfully submitted, VICTOR D. NICKERSON Harbor Master
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REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
Following is the report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1960.
LIST OF OFFENSES
Assault and Battery
3
Assault with dangerous weapon
1
Breaking, Entering and Larceny
4
Delinquency (Juvenile)
9
Drunkeness
18
Giving false name to Officer
1
Furnishing liquor to minors
1
Illegitimate Child act
1
Larceny
1
Leaving scene of accident
2
Lewdness
1
Malicious destruction of property
1
Manslaughter
1
Non-Support
1
Operating M.V. after license suspension 3
Operating M.V. so as might endanger 11
Operating M.V. under influence of liquor
8
Operating M.V. without license 2
Receiving stolen goods
1
Speeding
1
Use of M.V. without authority
7
Violation of probation
2
Total
80
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DISPOSITIONS
Found guilty and fined
40
Found guilty and committed 11
Found guilty and placed on probation 18
Continued without finding on probation 5
Turned over to other authorities
6
MISCELLANEOUS
Calls and Complaints investigated
2591
Accidents investigated
93
Messages delivered 127
69
Animals destroyed
42
Animals returned to owners
45
Emergency trips to doctors and hospitals
62
Deaths investigated
3
Doors and windows secured
or reported to owners
55
Parking tags issued
183
Warnings issued for minor
motor vehicle violations
174
Beach Parking Permits
(including replacements)
2318
Pistol Permits issued
26
Dealers Licenses (Firearms)
4
Shell-fish Permits issued
1313
Value of money and property
recovered and returned
$7767.00
Miles travelled by Cruisers
96,936
DEPARTMENT ROSTER
Chief Earl W. Chandler
Sergeant
Lawrence C. Doyle
80
Summons served
33
Patrolmen Henry P. McNeil Thomas A. Johnson William K. LaFleur
George F. White
Richard E. Putnam
Intermittent Patrolmen
Frank E. Phillips, Jr. Robert D. Byrne
Intermittent Patrolmen - Provisional
Gilbert M. MacNab
Franklin J. Werner, Jr.
Michael J. Sheehan Kenneth Lovejoy
Respectfully submitted,
EARL W. CHANDLER Chief of Police
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT INSECT PEST CONTROL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The following is a report of Insect Pest Control for the year 1960.
Insect pests make their appearance in April and the Tent Caterpillars are about first on the list. In recent years the only infestation has been at the North end of Duxbury Beach and during the past year there has been a marked decrease in numbers. However, a build-up in Ugly Nest Caterpillar on Choke Cherry and Beach Plums in that area was short-lived, reproducing less than a dozen egg clusters last year.
Our distressing problem last summer was the in- ability to control the Elm Leaf Beetles. Reports from Amherst were that the insect was becoming immune to D.D.T. A change in spray material is being made to control this insect this coming season.
Other insects on the Insect Pest List appear to be on the decrease.
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 :
During the year 1960 our elm trees were pruned, two sprays applied and the diseased trees removed.
There were eight diseased trees in all the elms that were sprayed. In the group of elms that were not sprayed, there were fourteen diseased trees.
The hurricane caused many broken elm branches and if these are not removed and burned within the next few months, they will help increase the spread of Dutch Elm Disease.
We have recorded, in actual count, up to 7,800 young beetles under the bark in an area of two square feet. This indicates the importance of removing dying, dis- eased, and broken branches from the elms. The coopera- tion of property owners in this regard has been greatly appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS Tree Warden
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REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Duxbury :
I herewith submit my report for the Tree Depart- ment during the year 1960.
The major part of the work that was done in this department during the year was cleaning up after the hurricane. This work included the removal of hanging and broken branches in the tops of trees. The low- hanging branches that would interfere with the snow- plowing and sanding trucks were removed, as well as the dead and dangerous trees that might fall into the streets during storms.
The trees planted during the year included 8 Elms, 17 Maples, 5 Purple Beach, 1 Hawthorne, 3 Sweet Gums, 2 Red Leaf Smoke trees, 16 Flowering Crabs, 2 Flowering Cherry trees, 6 Willows, 1 Ginkgo, 2 Dwarf Euonymus and 1 London Planetree.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS Tree Warden
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Duxbury :
The work on Parks and Playgrounds started the first of April with the cleaning up of the grounds and fertilizing of grass areas.
The surface of the clay tennis courts was cultivated, reworked, rolled and ready for use the middle of April.
In addition to the play area around the School, there are eight other small areas, all of which require a man's full time and only possible by cooperation from the Highway Department with the use of its equipment.
At the Myles Standish Cellar Lot a drainage system was extended to give better protection from erosion at this point.
Hurricane "Donna" caused additional work at the playground, some of which has already been done and things will be on schedule when Spring comes.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Superintendent
Parks and Playgrounds
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REPORT OF THE SHELL FISH WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I submit my report as Shellfish Constable for the year 1960.
There were twenty-one annual fee forms set out and $26.75 collected from grant holders and one new grant permit issued for $5.00.
Three hundred and forty bushels of Cherrystones and large Quahaugs and ten bushels of Seed Quahaugs were planted during the summer and early fall.
About six acres of shore were plowed at Shipyard Lane and Elder Brewster Rd. in an attempt to catch floating Clam seed this coming spring.
Fifty-eight commercial permits were issued at $5.00 each, 1,531 family permits at 50¢ and 25 free ones.
Following is the record of shellfish and sea-worms taken commercially during the year.
340 bushels quahaugs @ $2.50 $
850.00
412 bushels cherry stones @
4.00
1,648.00
220 bushels little necks
@ 9.60 2,112.00
600 bushels mixed quahaugs
@ 4.00 2,400.00
12 bushels clams
@
8.00
96.00
24 bushels clams
@
12.00
288.00
21 bushels clams
@
9.00
189.00
24 bushels mussells
@
2.00
48.00
22,530 sea-worms
@
.03
675.90
140 bushels razorfish
@
9.00
1,260.00
72 bushels razorfish
@ 12.00
864.00
Total all shellfish and worms
$10,430.90
Respectfully submitted,
MANUEL OLIVER
Shellfish Constable
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REPORT OF VETERANS' AGENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I respectfully submit my report as Agent and Direc- tor for the Department of Veterans Services for the year 1960.
I have continued to assist Veterans, and their De- pendents, in filing and obtaining the many State and Federal Benefits, they are eligible for. Four Pension and one Compensation claims were handled, the applicants to receive Federal checks.
I have registered forty local eighteen year old boys for Draft Board No. 29, Marshfield, Massachusetts.
During the year, we have had a total of nineteen cases, representing fifty-five persons who received Veterans Benefits. Four additional cases, with out of Town settlements, were also handled by this Department.
I recovered the sum of $1,144.75 for the Town, hav- ing had a Lien against an insurance settlement due one of our cases.
In my capacity as Burial Agent, two cases were handled.
The appropriation for this Department was $14,412.00, but due to the Fore River Ship Yard Strike on January 22, through June 19, this Department acquired five unexpected cases, and also due to unfore- seen medical expenses, it was necessary to request the Finance Committee to transfer the sum of $3,000.00 from the Reserve Fund to carry us through the last three months of the year. $336.33 of this $3,000.00 was not used and will be returned to the Reserve Fund.
The State Department of Veterans Services will reimburse the Town approximately half of the amount expended this year.
Respectfully submitted, HENRY P. McNEIL Agent
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HEALTH DEPARTMENT 1960
I hereby submit my report as Agent for the Board of Health, for the year 1960.
Until the final acceptance for general usage of the Sabin oral vaccine for Poliomyelitis, the Department of Public Health still advises that booster shots of Salk vaccine be given yearly. It is not fair to any child who has had the protection of the original series of shots not to continue the program.
The communicable diseases reported to the Depart- ment during the past year were as follows :
Measles 6
Mumps
40
Chicken Pox 48
Dog Bites 6
Tuberculosis
1
German Measles 13
Venereal Disease 1
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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DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY
To the Trustees :
At the end of another calendar year, 1960 belongs to the annals of the past. The history of a library year is important to all who are in any way concerned with the administration and functioning of the library as well as to those who depend upon its services and resources for information and recreation.
In many ways 1960 differed from the first seven years of the present librarian's sojourn in office. To begin with it was a year of very bad storms and generally inclement weather. A blizzard on March 4th kept the library closed on Friday and Saturday of that week and the schools on Friday and Monday. On September 12th the hurricane closed the library that day and the schools were closed on September 12th, 13th, and 14th. On December 12th the library was closed when another blizzard descended upon Duxbury and the schools re- mained closed on the 12th and 13th of December. In addition to these major storms torrential rains through- out the year and minor visitations of snow greatly hampered the carrying on of our Elementary School Pro- gramme. There were many Thursdays when the rain was so heavy that none of the classes could get to the library. Thursday is the day when either 5 or 7 classes are scheduled for their library visit. On Wednesday two classes come and one class comes on every other day ex- cept Saturday. Not only weather but many changes in our population also contributed to the small loss in circulation which the library suffered in 1960. Several of our best "reading families" moved away, all loth to go, and their staunch support of the library was very much missed.
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All this goes to say that for the first time since accurate library statistics were recorded in 1953, there has been a slight loss in circulation. The total circulation for 1960 is 59,435, 688 less than in 1959, when the figures totalled 60,123. The adult circulation for 1960 is 26,952. The junior circulation amounts to 32,483 - 5,531 more than the adult and 778 more than in 1959. A loss of 688 would have been more than made up by two good Thurs- days when anywhere between 450 and 500 books are circulated. Based on the 1960 population figures (4584) for Duxbury, our 59,435 circulation gives us a per capita circulation of about 13. This is a figure far ahead of the 5 per capita circulation considered satisfactory by the American Library Association.
It is well understood, of course, that circulation statistics are only a partial reflection of the activities carried on by the library. Reference work with ele- mentary, high school and college students increases month by month. Answering all sorts of inquiries from the adult population and helping all comers in their choice of read- ing is also a part of the daily routine. As our reference department is being built up as fast as funds allow, we are gradually being enabled to carry on an increasing amount of research work. It would seem that the picture of the library's service is on its way to being a well- developed and well-rounded one as far as the library's resources permit. With the best books that we can afford to purchase, both for reading and reference, together with a Staff always ready to help in every way, it is hoped that with this foundation to grow on, that the library will be enabled to extend and widen its services to the com- munity as a whole.
There is no decrease in the activities of the library during the summer months. Junior and Senior High School students have Summer Reading Programmes and the library Staff works with them in the selection of their
43
books. As soon as school closes in June, many of the summer people have arrived; the youngsters armed with "Reading Lists" from all over the country and the adults looking for the newest and best in every field of literature. The college students do research for long-term papers and all of the others, even first-graders, work hard on their Reading Lists. The library receives many compliments from the summer residents and guests for the pleasure and profit they have derived from the use of the library during their Duxbury vacation.
On December 31st, 1960, 5496 borrowers had regi- stered since 1953. 622 registrations were recorded in 1960, 289 being new borrowers and 333 were re-registrations after the expiration of their four-year cards.
With a book budget of $3500 the library purchased two new sets of encyclopedias; the 1961 World Book and the 1961 Americana together with 1425 new titles at about $2.33 per volume. The encyclopedias cost about $325. $3,176 bought the regular book titles. With these two new wonderful sets of books, the library begins 1961 with a much improved equipment for meeting most future reference problems. The demand for new books keeps on increasing daily. All titles requested are given careful consideration and are purchased if they are suit- able for the library and not too exorbitant in price.
Book prices keep soaring and during the past year, many of the books most sought after were $10 a copy. If the 1961 Book Budget can be maintained at $3500, more titles can be purchased another year, since it will not be necessary to buy the encyclopedias. More books are needed in all categories, especially in our work with the Elementary School. There are never enough titles for the younger grades.
Our Elementary School Programme is now an ac- cepted part of the school curriculum and weather permit-
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ting is carried on regularly. Beginning in September the librarian holds a Story Hour for all four classes of first grade children every other week. After January 1st of each year, the first grade pupils receive their library cards and borrow books to take home. How delighted they are when they become proud possessors of a library card! Last June a library party was held on the lawn; the children listened to stories and enjoyed ice-cream. At Christmas time the librarian visited the Elementary School and read Christmas stories to all first grades assembled in the Auditorium. Because of the bad weather the children could not come to the Library.
During 1960 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed a law called an "Act Providing State Aid for Free Public Libraries". It is the first time since 1890 that any public library legislation has been enacted. At that time the Massachusetts Library Extension Service was founded.
One million dollars has been appropriated to imple- ment this Act and will be made available to public libraries throughout the state which meet the minimum requirements of the law. The Duxbury Free Library ap- pears to qualify for this assistance. Towns below 10,000 population will be granted twenty-five cents for every in- habitant, based upon the 1960 Federal census (Duxbury 4584). That would add $1146 to the library's income. The Town of Duxbury would be required to appropriate $13,- 752 in order to apply for this State Aid. This is a matter of vital importance to be discussed by the Library Trustees and with the Finance Board. If the library were to receive these additional funds there are many ways in which the services of the library could be extended. As it is now, our yearly budget is always severely strained to cover necessities and there is no provision for further growth in the amount which the Trustees have to spend.
To sum it all up, all signs point to a growing aware- ness of how important it is for a community to maintain
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a good library. That it is the duty of our legislators, our Library Trustees and employees and the citizens at large to co-operate and make it possible for the library to serve all who are in anyway interested in furthering their education and enriching their lives by the companionship of good books.
It is the hope of the librarian that the Duxbury Free Library will be enabled to grow and to enlarge its services and in so doing reach and attract an ever wider audience.
The population of Duxbury is increasing. Mr. Shirley estimates that it has now reached about 4800, but for all official purposes the Federal census figures must be used. New families are coming to the library every day, gradu- ally taking the places of the ones who have moved away. There is every indication that there will be an increasing use of the library in 1961. More children in the schools, more adults in search of knowledge and recreation. May the funds to carry on this work be forthcoming.
Again the librarian wishes to extend her thanks and appreciation to all who have helped to carry on the work of 1960: to the Trustees, to a Staff deeply interested in the conduct and growth of the library, Mrs. Winifred T. Couch, Mrs. Odeal O. Moody, Mrs. Margaret R. Bates, Mrs. Winona Strachan and Mr. James E. Walke, custo- dian. To the members of the Duxbury Garden Club for all of their exhibits of plants and flowers and to the Junior Garden Club for another original and beautiful Christmas tree. And to all others who have contributed money, books, periodicals, plants and flowers our thanks is due.
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