Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1910-1912, Part 4

Author: Scituate (Mass.)
Publication date: 1910-1912
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 448


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1910-1912 > Part 4


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Robert Thompson (broken stone) 1722


Left. Seth Turner


1743


Capt. James Turner 1776


Mrs. Mary, wife of Capt. James Turner 1775


Col. Amos Turner 1739


Mrs. Mary, wife of Col. Amos Turner 1722


David Turner


1698


Capt. Samuel Turner 1759


82


Mrs. Abigail, wife of Capt. Samuel Turner 1744


Abigail, daughter of Capt. Samuel Turner 1723


Nathaniel, son of Capt. Samuel Turner 1734


Liddia, daughter of Capt. James Turner. 1740


Josiah Leavitt . 1734


Ignatius Vinal (broken stone) 1796


Patience, daughter of Mr. Ignatius Vinal 1766


Ignatius Vinal, Jr .. 1751


Mrs Mary, wife of Mr. Jacob Vinal


1755


Mrs. Patience, wife of Mr. Ignatius Vinal 1773


Seth, son of Seth Vinal 1754


Mrs. Hannah, wife of Mr. Seth Vinal 1757


Mrs. Mary, wife of Mr. Ignatius Vinal 1751


Nicholas, son of Mr. Jacob Vinal, Sr. 1728


Jonathan, son of Jacob Vinal (broken stone) . 1724?


Mrs. Mary, wife to Mr. John Vinal 1723


Mr. John Vinal 1698


Nathaniel Vinal or Tilden (illegible) 1724


Capt. John Williams (oldest stone) 1694


Mr. Thomas Younge 1732 .


The headstone of Abbah Buck, 1716, recorded in the New England Historic Genealogical Society, has disappeared.


Memorials have been erected. recently to the Men of Kent who settled Scituate in 1628, to the First Ministers of Scituate, to Humphrey Turner and Gen. James Cudworth. Mr. W. Otis of New York will place a monument in the near future in memory of John Otis, one of the first settlers of Scituate, and it is hoped that the Chief Justice Cushing Chapter, Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, will soon erect a tablet marking the site of the first meeting-house of Scituate.


Thanks are due Mrs. E. O. Stoddard for her assistance in copying the inscriptions.


Respectfully submitted, ELLA BATES, Custodian.


83


BOARD OF HEALTH


SCITUATE, MASS., January 1, 1911. To the Citizens of Scituate:


At the annual March meeting Thomas H. Farmer was reëlected, and on March 26 the Board organized with the same presiding officers as last year, also appointing the same Meat and Milk Inspectors.


By a vote of the town the adoption of the section of revised laws relative to the inspection of plumbing was accepted, and the Board, after due consideration, and with the assistance of Mr. F. T. Bailey and Mr. C. H. Waterman, have compiled a code of by-laws, which while not as stringent as in large cities will, we trust, meet the requirements and tend to im- prove the sanitary condition of newly constructed and re- modeled buildings.


Mr. Charles H. Waterman was appointed Plumbing In- spector, and all blanks can be obtained from him.


Mr. Charles Williamson, who has for several years collected garbage at Humarock Beach, refusing to longer do so, Mr. Charles Gilman was appointed, and the other collectors remain the same as last year.


The service at Shore Acres and Third Cliff has been quite a little extended, and although there are some who still con- sider it a hardship to refrain from making unsanitary dis- position of refuse matter, the Board feel that we are slowly and surely extending the work and that shortly we may have a complete system which will favorably compare with any like community.


It is with gratification we are able to report a large decrease this year in contagious diseases, there being five cases of measles, one of scarlet fever, two of diphtheria, two of tuber- culosis and one of typhoid fever.


84


The diphtheria and typhoid cases have been traced and were contracted out of and brought into town.


While we consider this a good showing, we hope, with the assistance and prompt compliance of our rules by the citizens, to make next year's report even more favorable.


We thank all for the assistance rendered in carrying out our ideas, and shall be at all times ready to consider any sug- gestions and complaints presented.


Respectfully submitted,


THOMAS H. FARMER, Chairman. FREDERIC COLE, Secretary. HARRY F. CLEVERLY, M.D.


85


INSPECTOR OF MILK


NORTH SCITUATE, MASS., January 1, 1911.


To the Board of Health:


There have been the same number of milk licenses issued this year as last and to the same parties, and I wish to thank all for the promptness with which they complied with the notices issued.


Many expressions have been tendered me in regard to the improved quality of the milk furnished in some sections, and while a number of samples have been tested, there has been nothing found that would not meet the standard requirements.


· Yours respectfully,


THOMAS H. FARMER, PH.G., Milk Inspector.


86


INSPECTOR OF MEAT


SCITUATE, MASS., January 1, 1911.


To the Board of Health:


This year there has been granted by the Selectmen four licenses for the slaughter of cattle, and I have inspected ninety-five pigs, forty calves, six beef and eight sheep, and with one exception found all in good condition and suitable for consumption.


The above accounting shows a decided advance over last year in the number of animals slaughtered in town, and it is to be hoped that the industry may still increase.


Respectfully,


THOMAS H. FARMER, Meat Inspector.


87


REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


SCITUATE, December 31, 1910.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


In rendering the report of the Fire Department, the Board of Engineers wishes to call attention to the amount of property saved by the companies of the town the current year. There were several brush and forest fires, some caused by the sparks of locomotives and some from causes unknown. The largest were the ones in Mann Lot woods and in Egypt. There were four buildings to catch fire during the year. The first was the dwelling of Mr. George V. Yenetchi, on the 29th of June, which supposedly caught. from a spark of a locomotive, and but for the service of Hose No. 1 the building would have been a total loss. The fire was confined to the roof. The damage of the interior was largely done by water. Mr. Yenetchi was very grateful for the quick and effective work done by the firemen (he being an old fireman of the Boston department), and said the town should feel proud of its Fire Department. The next building was a little shed in the west part of the town, occupied by Mr. George Odell. It was completely destroyed, being a small affair and no word being sent to the department for aid.


The next fire, and the most stubborn one we have had to contend with, was a tank car on the side track at Egypt, filled with gasoline, on September 27, at 3 A.M. Three com- panies responded to the alarm and the fire was put out without much loss; but much valuable time was lost on account of shortage of hose. An interested citizen, who witnessed our hazardous work, gave us a great compliment, with fifteen dollars to each company besides.


The next fire, still fresh in the memories of most of us, was on December 5, when the large store of M. G. Seaverns & Co. wasseen on fire, and at one time threatening the destruction


88


of the whole corners. The blaze was seen coming through the roof when the alarm was rung in. Four companies re- sponded to the alarm, and were aided by the crew of the Life Saving Station, who did excellent work, and the Cohasset company. The building being quite. high, it was hard to reach without the aid of borrowed ladders, but we soon had the fire under control, burning only the roof; but a great amount of damage was done to the goods by the tons of water poured in. The fire was supposed to have caught from the spark of a locomotive.


The next fire was December 6, at 2.30 A.M., the fruit store of Mr. D. P. Shea. Hose 3 quickly responded to the alarm, but was handicapped by having all of their hose in tower of building drying from the fire of the day before. It was frozen to the reels, but was pulled down and dragged to the fire and we soon had three lines on. The fire was under control when Hose No. 1 (who had made a record run) and the Cohasset company arrived. The building, being a small one, was a total loss, although not entirely consumed, but the Gannett Block, only a distance of eight or ten feet, was saved with the exception of burning off the clapboards and boarding on part of one side. On the other side the residence of Mr. Shea, a distance of twenty feet, the paint was only scorched and the glass cracked by the heat. In appreciation of the service of the firemen at these two fires, four public-spirited citizens (two being sufferers from the fires) contributed a sum of money for the purchase of equipment of Hose No. 3, and through the Chief we purchased two pipe ends with shut-off nozzles, which if we had possessed at the time of the fire at the Variety Store, we could have saved hundreds of dollars worth of damage to goods.


We fully realize the indebtedness of town and the gener- osity with which they have responded with appropriations for our maintenance, but it is impossible to successfully battle with fire without the equipment to work with, and


89


an investigation of the work done by the department will convince any fair-minded citizen that the value of property saved this last year is greater than the whole expense of the Fire Department since its organization. Our services are free gratis; we are not tax dodgers as some have made the remark, for we pay annual dues of two dollars to the company, which is equivalent to our poll tax. We would like some new hose for each company. Hose Company No. 4 should have a wagon and have wanted one for some time, but have been reluctant to ask for one until necessity has driven them to it. Hose No. 5 would like a house of their own, as they are renting a building for their home which does very well for the storage of equipment, but is unfit for the care of same, as they are compelled to dry the hose by hanging in trees, which would hardly do in freezing weather.


The Board of Engineers have deemed it advisable to request the town's citizens not to call aid from outside towns in fighting fires without authority from the engineers or the Selectmen of the town, and we also voted to keep outside of buildings on fire all but firemen and persons connected with building in danger.


There were three new hydrants added this year, one at Mann Hill, one at Shore Acres, and one at Third Cliff, making a total of one hundred and sixteen.


The engineers recommend a separate appropriation as allowed by law for the fighting of forest fires. The expense of two departments has been run on the appropriation of one. We recommend an appropriation of eight hundred dollars for the support of the Fire Department.


Respectfully submitted,


E. R. SEAVERNS, Chief. F. W. LITCHFIELD, Clerk.


D. P. SYLVESTER, District Chief. A. H. LANE, District Chief.


HENRY T. COLE, District Engineer.


90


1


REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSION


To the Citizens of Scituate:


Early last spring the Park Commission, in company with the Tree Warden and the Surveyor of Highways, visited every public open lot and park site in town, approved names to designate each, and appointed local custodians as follows:


PLOT CUSTODIAN FEE


ALLEN CLAPP Thaddeus L. Litchfield $5 00


Church and High Streets. .


KONOHASSET


Edward Bush


5 00


High Street and Booth Hill Road


JOHN L. MANSON Edward Bush 5 00


· High and Grove Streets


MUNGO'S CORNER (2) Galen Watson 8 00


Grove and Central Streets


THOMAS FARMER Thomas H. Farmer. *


Central and Maple Streets


FATHER CONANT Wiley S. Damon . 5 00


Central and Main Streets


JOHN J. FORD Miss Mary A. Ford . 5 00


Main Street and Bell Neck Road


WOODWORTH Miss Mary A. Ford . 5 00


Main and Pond Streets


BARNABAS BRIGGS .


William W. Hunt, Jr ..


5 00


Main and Elm Streets


OLD ABBEY William W. Waterman . . 5 00


Water and Kent Streets


JOHN H. YOUNG. . Walter S. Harrub 5 00


Highland and Union Streets


PAPPINEAU Walter C. Gardner 5 00


Common and Central Streets


RUSSELL COOK Mrs. E. O. Cook


Central and Elm Streets


* Custodian serves voluntarily, without fee.


91


PLOT CUSTODIAN FEE


ROLAND TURNER


.


Arthur Williams .


Central and Kent Streets


GEORGE H. WEBB . . Dr. H. F. Cleverly


$10 00


Front and Brook Streets


SATUIT


Philip Turner


5 00


Bay and Brook Streets


RHODOLPHUS


Capt. George W. Hodgdon . 5 00


Bay Street and Turner Avenue


DREAMWOLD.


Thomas W. Lawson


Main and Brant Streets


ELISHA PEIRCE


Silas Peirce


Main and Charles Streets


DEACON CUDWORTH . George Lincoln


Main and Hollet Streets


JAMES DAMON Coleman Millett


Hollet and Gannett Streets


CLARA ANN .


Coleman Millett


Hollet and Beach Streets


KENT STREET


Percy Mann .


5 00


Kent and Highland Streets


Other reservations which are under the jurisdiction of the Park Commission or should be are these :


THE BLUFF GREEN on Beach Street, Minot, between the "Collier Field" and the sea.


GEORGE O. ALLEN PARK, Sand Hills. ELM PARK, Highland Street.


THOMAS MANN PARK, Highland Street.


HOLLET ISLAND PARK, Hollet Street, deeded to the town by Mr. and Mrs. Silas Peirce in 1907.


UNION HALL GROUNDS. Placed in charge of keeper of the lockup.


* Custodian serves voluntarily, without fee.


92


The local custodians have done their work well (with one or two exceptions), some of them so well as to call forth the commendation of their fellow citizens. The Commission wishes to commend especially the work of Mr. Philip Turner on the Satuit plot. He has made that plot a model.


The Union Hall grounds have been put into fine condition through the cooperation of the town, the Commission, and the Woman's Club. To the Woman's Club belongs the chief honor, not only for the planning of the improvement, but for selecting Mr. Edward Wesley Cushman, a skillful specialist, to do the work.


The Commission recommends that the grounds as well as the building be placed in charge of the keeper of the lockup, and that his salary be sufficiently increased to enable him to keep both in good condition.


Young rock maples have been set to complete the lines of trees along the northerly end of Booth Hill Road.


Through securing the cooperation of the Massachusetts Highway Commission, approximately two hundred trees have been planted along the State Road, wherever desirable, from the Cohasset line to the North River. These were generously given to the town by the State Commission, and planted by the Tree Warden at an expense to the town of $155.81.


The only tree in the square at North Scituate was saved from destruction last spring by the prompt action of the Commissioners, and that tree has now been placed perma- nently in the custody of the Park Commission.


The grounds in the vicinity of the Scituate Railroad Station have been improved by the construction of two grass plots, with loam secured through the generous cooperation of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, and trees have been planted in one of the plots along the line of the highway.


Several of the public plots have been graded, notably the John J. Ford plot at Greenbush.


93


The name of the park given to the town by Mr. and Mrs. Silas Peirce has, by their request, been changed to Hollet Island Park, thus perpetuating the ancient name.


The Commission wishes to commend the action of many citizens of the town in making improvements in the appearance of their home grounds and places of business. All such work is a public benefaction.


WILLIAM H. NORTH, Chairman. CLEMENT J. PROUTY, Treasurer. HENRY T. BAILEY, Secretary.


94


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN


SCITUATE, MASS., January 21, 1911.


The Tree Warden appropriation has been expended as follows, viz .: $75 for hand sprayer, hose, etc., $65 for young trees, $325 in spraying for elm beetle.


The balance has been spent in mulching and a little trimming, it having been impossible to do much trimming this year with the money available.


Should recommend an appropriation of, at least, $600 for elm beetle work. This I consider important for the reason that if the elms are not properly sprayed we shall lose them in a few years.


The Massachusetts Highway Commission have furnished two hundred trees, which were planted along the State High- way under the direction of their forester, the future care of which will be paid for by the State.


One prosecution was made for cutting trees on the public highway and conviction secured, the court imposing a fine of twenty dollars. Quite a little work needs to be done on the trees, and on some roadsides require thinning so that those left may grow into shape and make good specimens. Would recommend four hundred dollars for this work.


The moth work has been carried out under the direction of Mr. Frank A. Bates (forester's agent for this district), and has been much the same as in former years, with the exception of confining most of the work to orchards and residential districts.


Attention is called to those who have old, hollow trees and piles of rubbish, the State authorities insisting that all such holes in trees be covered with zinc, tight enough to keep out the female gypsy moth, and all piles of tin cans and other


95


rubbish be removed, as these make breeding places for the moths, and they are not discovered until the caterpillars crawl out in the summer. Several of the most badly infested places were sprayed last summer, showing good results; spray- ing being considered by authorities one of the best methods of handling badly infested areas.


As there seems to be some confusion regarding the spraying, perhaps a few words regarding it would not be amiss. If any place is so badly infested that it is considered necessary to spray in order to hold the moths in check, it is done and is paid for as any other moth work, viz., any charge less and up to one-half of one per cent. is assessed on the property, and the balance by the town and State.


This year the town, at a special meeting, appropriated a sum equal to the private property assessment, so that all work done under the law was free to individuals; any other spraying is paid for directly by individuals and cannot be carried as a moth assessment.


The moths are now pretty generally scattered over town, and while we have been able to hold them in check so far, we anticipate that there will be some places stripped next summer.


Thanking the property owners for their cooperation in this work, I respectfully submit this report.


PERCIVAL S. BROWN,


Tree Warden.


96


REPORT OF ADVISORY BOARD


To the Citizens of Scituate:


An Advisory Board of seven members was elected by the town at its annual meeting in March, 1910. Early in our deliberations it became evident that if such a Board or Committee was to be of any real value to the town, its con- stitution and the by-laws governing its service must be placed upon some reasonable, permanent basis. While, therefore, your Board may make suggestions regarding financial articles in the Warrant for 1911, we beg leave to suggest the adoption of a code of by-laws under Chapter 130 of the Acts of 1910. These by-laws, if adopted by the town, properly approved by the Attorney-General and published, will provide for the perpetuation of such an Advisory Board after March, 1912.


PROPOSED ADVISORY BOARD TOWN OF SCITUATE, MASS.


SECTION 1. An Advisory Board to consist of nine non- officeholding taxpayers shall be elected at the annual town meeting following the adoption, approval and publication of these by-laws, who shall serve without pay, and whose term of office shall be as follows: three for one year, three for two years, and three for three years; and there shall be elected to said Board at each annual town meeting thereafter three mem- bers to serve for the term of three years, or until the close of the town meeting at which their successors are elected.


SECTION 2. After the close of each annual town meeting said Advisory Board shall organize by the choice of a Chairman and Clerk.


SECTION 3. It shall be the duty of the Advisory Board to investigate and consider all financial propositions or articles to


97


be brought before the town, and to report and advise thereof in open town meeting before action thereon by the town.


SECTION 4. The Selectmen shall transmit to the Advisory Board a copy of every town warrant issued by them on or before the day the same is posted.


SECTION 5. The Advisory Board may require the Selectmen and other town officers, under whose directions appropriations of money are expended, to submit to them, at least thirty days before the annual town meeting, an estimate of the appropria- tion necessary to be made for their various departments, and to come before them for consultation regarding the same, at such times and places as said Board shall determine.


SECTION 6. The Advisory Board shall grant a hearing to the several voters whose signatures first appear as petitioners upon all articles under which appropriations of money are proposed.


SECTION 7. All reports and advice or recommendations of said Board, as provided in Section 3, shall be submitted in writing, signed by the Chairman and Clerk, and together with the records of the proceedings of said Board, which it shall be the duty of the Clerk aforesaid to keep, shall be filed with the town's records in the office of the Town Clerk.


SECTION 8. Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.


1


(Signed) ALBERT D. SPAULDING, Chairman. CLIFTON B. LEE, Secretary. CHARLES H. TILDEN. JOHN CUMMINGS. JOSEPH A. WARD. EDGAR TILDEN. JOHN T. FITTS.


98


REPORT OF THE SCITUATE WATER COMPANY


STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE SCITUATE WATER COMPANY FOR THE YEAR 1910


Receipts


Jan. 12. Water rates $1,626 35


Jan. 12. Service rates 16 00


Jan. 14. Loan 600 00


Feb. 1. Interest


9 04


Feb. 2.


Loan


25 00


Feb. 2. Water rates


11 90


Feb. 24. Water rates


1,305 17


April 30. Loan


5,000 00


June 8.


Loan


5,000 00


June 28.


Service rates


95 80


June 28.


Water rates


992 00


July 2.


Water rates


999 84


July


2. Service rates


58 90


July 8.


Water rates


2,716 59


July 8. Service rates


26 05


July 14. Service rates


75 75


July 14. Water rates


1,077 45


July 22. Water rates


1,040 20


July 22. Service rates


175 65


July 26. Service rates


8 00


July . 26. Water rates


568 74


Aug. 1. Water rates


714 94


Aug. 1. Service rates


116 30


Aug. 3. Water rates


1,092 10


Aug. 3. Service rates


41 75


Aug. 10. Water rates


847 23


Aug.


10. Service rates


73 90


99


Aug. 15. Water rates


$540 63


Aug. 19. Water rates


457 48


Aug. 19. Service rates 8 00


Aug. 23. Service rates


8 00


Aug. 23. Water rates


729 82


Sept. 14. Service rates


40 00


Sept. 14.


Water rates


377 37


Sept. 20. Water rates


194 13


Sept. 20. Service rates


8 00


Oct. 6. Water rates


838 64


Oct. 6. Service rates


40 96


Nov. 4. Water rates 73 40


Nov. 4. Rent.


55 00


Dec. 17. Water rates


199 35


Dec. 27.


Water rates


11 90


Dec. 27. Service rates


8 00


Dec. 30. Service rates


24 00


Dec. 30. Water rates


15 95


$27,945 28


Expenditures


Jan. 15. General maintenance. $11 10


Jan. 15. Pumping station, maintenance 31 25


Jan. 14. Interest


2,500 00


Feb. 10. Expense


5 00


Feb. 24. Return of loan


600 00


Feb. 26. Legal expenses


50 00


March 1. General maintenance.


85 80


March 1. Pumping station, maintenance


190 44


March 1. Service maintenance .


2 00


March 1. Salary 91 66


March 4. Fuel . 36 00


March 4. General maintenance.


100 06


March 4. Legal expenses 42 50


100


April 4. Salary $91 66


April 4. Interest 150 00


May 3. Haines & Co., account construction 4,000 00


May


5. General maintenance. 103 35


May 5. Service maintenance 2 60


May 5. Legal expenses 64 75


May


5. Pumping station, maintenance 1 75


May


5. General maintenance. 142 14


May


5. Service maintenance 4 00


May 5. Pumping station, maintenance 4 00


May 11.


General maintenance. 67 66


May 11. Salary. 91 66


May 11. Fuel 2 50


May 11.


Service maintenance 2 50


May


11. Pumping station, maintenance 7 50


May 23. General maintenance.


7 39


May 23. Service maintenance . 50


June 2. Interest 150 00


June 2.


Haines & Co., account construction 4,850 00


June 2. Salary 91 66


June 2. General maintenance. 124 46


July 1. Salary 91 66


July 1.


General maintenance. 95 60


July 8.


General maintenance. 30 59


July 8.


Pumping station, maintenance 25 50


July 11. Office expenses 200 00


July 11.


Interest 2,500 00


July 11. Pumping station, maintenance 1 00


Aug. 1. Dividend


4,000 00


Aug. 2. Salary


91 66


Aug. 2. General maintenance. 139 95


Aug. 5. General maintenance. 10'8 41


Aug. 8. Interest 150 00


Aug. 18. Office expenses 100 00


Aug. 18. General maintenance. 100 00


101


Aug. 18. Rebate water rates $1 00


Sept. 10.


Salary . 91 66


Sept. 10. General maintenance. 141 60


Sept. 23. Pumping station, maintenance 25 90


Sept. 23. General maintenance. 14 95


Sept. 30.


Taxes


1,691 76


Sept. 30.


Salary


91 66


Sept. 30. General maintenance.


117 20


Oct. 6.


General maintenance.


65 00


Oct. . 20.


General maintenance.


24 85


Oct. 20.


Taxes


70 40


Oct. 25. Interest


150 00


Oct. 31.


Office expenses


300 00


Nov. 4. General maintenance.


94 79


Nov. 4. Salary


91 66


Nov. 4. Insurance


102 33


Dec. 1.


General maintenance.


43 69


Dec. 10.


Salary


91 66


Dec. 10. General maintenance. 137 57


Dec. 10. Fuel .


368 12


Dec. 10.


Salary


91 66


Dec. 10. Loan


25 00


Dec. 10. Haines & Co., on account.


870 49


Dec. 10.


Interest


97


Dec. 10. Office expenses


600 00


Dec. 10. Insurance


55 00


Dec. 24


Legal expenses


250 00


Dec. 29. Pumping station, maintenance


159 80


Dec. 29. General maintenance.


15 55


Dec. 30. Salary


91 66


Dec. 30. General maintenance. 50 73




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