USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1940-1942 > Part 33
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We have established a Servicemen's Recreation Center or Club House in the property formerly operated as the Colonial Inn on Meeting House Lane. We have a large number of Servicemen quartered here in Scituate and expect that number will be at least doubled shortly. This activity is not being financed from town funds but by the U. S. O. Soldiers and Sailors Committee of Boston, because of our past partici- pation in the Boston Community Fund drives.
We have assisted the First Corps Area Recruiting and Induction Officer in furnishing a means of contact between our citizens who needed information regarding enlistments and that office.
The Chairman of this Committee has also been appointed as the Town War Transportation Coordinator. He has cooperated with and assisted when possible the Town Rationing Board in arranging Group Riding by bus and private cars to Defense plants.
All services, other than a very small amount of clerical work, in connection with our whole activities have been volunteer, without pay of any nature and at our own individual expense for transportation. The response of the general public to our requests for action in carrying out the instructions of the Governor through the State Committee on Public Safety has been very cooperative and helped greatly in obtain- ing satisfactory results.
Although all regulations and instructions under which this Com- mittee operates originate from either National or State authority no Federal or State funds or material have been made available for our use. Through the exercise of careful judgment, and the elimination of such activities, as seemed to us, required only by the larger communities, we
64
SUPERVISOR CARE OF VETERANS' GRAVES REPORT
have been able to operate within the appropriation voted us at the Special Town Meeting of January 5, 1942 and have enough balance left, unless an unforeseen emergency arises, to carry our activities on until the annual Town Meeting, at which time the matter of additional appropriation will come before the citizens for action.
Respectfully submitted,
SCITUATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
PHILIP L. SCHUYLER, Representing the Governor, Chairman.
WILLIAM J. LUMBERT, Water. Department, Vice-Chairman. MICHAEL E. STEWART, Police Department. JAMES FINNIE, Fire Department. HAROLD C. WINGATE, School Department. ROY E. LITCHFIELD, American Legion.
ELMER RAMSDELL, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Scituate, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
I submit my report as Supervisor Care of Veterans Graves in the Town of Scituate for the year 1942. During the past year 160 graves situated in the various Cemeteries and Tombs have been cared for. I have inspected all graves and I find that all Cemetery Corporations and Caretakers are fully cooperating with me in my efforts to see that all graves of Veterans in the Town are properly taken care of. All neglected graves show a very great improvement in their condition. The right of way to the Damon Tomb has been established and cleared.
I wish to thank all who are continuing to assist me in this work.
Respectfully submitted, ELMER F. RAMSDELL,
Supervisor Care of Veterans' Graves.
65
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
To the Citizens of the Town:
During the past year the Highway Department had to curtail almost all major improvements that we contemplated. The present emergency, with the rationing and restricting of road building mate- rials, prevented the completion of projects already started. In many instances we were fortunate to secure permission from the Public Roads Administration and the War Production Board to treat many of our roads with bituminous material, such as tar, which is the most difficult of all material to obtain.
The demand for drainage installations has increased consider- ably. In most cases we were able to correct the most urgently needed of these requirements and many unfavorable conditions were alleviated. However, there still remains drainage difficulties that will have to wait a more opportune time.
Due to the dimout regulations and through the request of the local Committee on Public Safety we have had painted almost twice the amount of road that we had done in normal times or in any pre- vious year. We considered this expedient, as the safety of the towns- people was greatly endangered by the driving hazard then prevalent. Considering the difficulty in securing labor, and especially painters, we believe we were fortunate to secure this service.
The road surface treatment program was contingent upon our receiving approbation from the Public Roads Administration to pur- chase tar. This material, being a vital war necessity, had, therefore, to be meted out or allocated to the various towns and cities in much smaller quantities than formerly used. However, of our seventy-five miles of public roads in the Town, we were able to treat with tar and sand cover approximately one-ninth of the whole. In normal times it is customary to treat about one-sixth of your roads so the program for last year was not as much of a deviation as one might expect. Country Way, from the Cohasset line to the recently built Chapter 90 section was tarred and sanded. Also included were Hatherly Road from Gannett Road to Egypt Avenue, Garden, Hawley, Irving and Jay Roads, Norwell Avenue, Ann Vinal Road, part of Capt. Pierce Road, Edward Foster Road, Elm Street and Cudworth Road.
At Minot the parking space near the post office was raised three feet thus checking inundation by the tidewater which constantly flooded this section. That part of Baileys Causeway was also raised a similar
66
PEIRCE MEMORIAL LIBRARY REPORT
height with gravel, rolled and tarred. A new wooden sidewalk, built with 2 by 8 planking was completed for a distance of two hundred feet, displacing the old one which had served its purpose and was rotting away.
Cement sidewalks were erected at the entrance to the pier. New guard rails, embedded in cement, were constructed along the sidewalks, eliminating a serious menace to public safety. Jericho Road was wid- ened considerably and a five foot cement sidewalk, protected its entire length by rip-rap, was built from the moss beach to a point beyond Hatherly Road. This section has always been a source of danger to pedestrians, especially during the Summer months when we have an influx in our population. We trust the use of this sidewalk by the public will to a great extent remedy this dangerous situation.
The Winter months are almost entirely devoted to snow removal and ice control activities. We have nineteen plows; fifteen are mounted on private trucks and four on town owned equipment. Many Winter visitors to the Town express surprise at the rapidity in which our streets are cleared to facilitate traffic. The most difficult part of last year's snow removal program was to find laborers to operate sand spreaders during icy rain and sleet storms. We can say that we did the best possible under the existing circumstances.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES M. WAGNER, Highway Surveyor.
REPORT OF THE PEIRCE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
The following is the report of the librarian of the Peirce Memorial Library for the year ending December 31, 1942.
Total number of books circulated
16,012
Fiction
9,638
Nonfiction
2,852
Juvenile
3,522
16,012
Magazines circulated in 1942
1,697
Books purchased during year 1942
367
Books given in 1942
31
Books rebound during 1942
37
Number of active card holders
404
67
ALLEN MEMORIAL LIBRARY REPORT
The financial report of the library will be found elsewhere.
We wish to thank our fellow citizens for their generous support and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted, VERNETTA G. BARNES, President Peirce Memorial Library Association.
January 28, 1943.
REPORT OF THE ALLEN MEMORIAL LIBRARY
During the year 1942 we were able to devote a larger proportion of our appropriation to the purchase of books than has been possible in the last few years when the building required rather heavy expendi- tures for repairs. Today, we believe for a small library, we have an exceptional assortment of all types of literature-fiction, non-fiction, text books, and periodicals-which has made the library of greater interest and value to the people of Scituate.
In January this year, the shortage of fuel made it necessary for us to reduce the number of days the library is open from three to two, and we hope on this reduced schedule, we will secure sufficient oil to keep the building comfortable on the days the library is open. It is not possible for us to convert our heating unit to coal, and the trustees have given considerable study to the heating of the library and believe they will be able to keep it functioning until the warm weather solves the problem for us.
Some minor repairs and a partial re-arrangement of the furnish- ings of the library, plus the purchase of a small amount of additional euipment have improved the building, and we hope will prove of real help to our efficient librarian.
We believe there is a growing interest in the library indicated not only by the larger number of people withdrawing books, but also its increasing status as a social and community center, and this is a devel- opment that we hope will continue to grow in importance.
Respectfully submitted,
HOWARD O. FRYE
68
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Board of Selectmen, Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen :
Following is the report of your Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1942.
Four hundred and nineteen devices were sealed for use in trade. Twenty-three adjustments were made. Twelve devices were not sealed and one was condemned.
Several peddlers' licenses were inspected. All transient vendors were licensed and the fees received by the Town.
Forty trial weighings were made, and forty-seven gasoline and fuel tanks were measured. These tanks were measured as a special request of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Sealing fees collected for the year of 1942 were $78.80. Adjusting charges were $1.70. The total amount paid the Town Treasurer in 1942 was $80.50.
Respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH N. MURPHY.
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
69
BOARD OF REGISTRARS' REPORT
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF REGISTRARS
Meetings held for registration of voters in 1942:
February 5th at Town Clerk's Office
February 16th at North Scituate Fire Station
February 17th at Scituate Harbor Fire Station
February 18th at Town Hall
August 26th at Town Hall
October 14th at Town Hall
Meetings were held at the Town Clerk's office for the purpose of certifying names on nomination papers on February 5, June 30, July 7, July 14, and July 21.
There were 271 names added to the voting list in 1942 by reg- istrations, while 145 names were dropped because of deaths and change of residence, resulting in a gain in registration of 126.
Registered Voters in the Town of Scituate on December 31, 1942:
Males
1581
Females 1546
The Board made a house to house canvass throughout the entire Town of Scituate as required by Chapter 440 of the Acts of 1938, an Act transferring certain duties of local Assessors to the Registrars of Voters relative to the listing of inhabitants.
The attention of interested parties is called to Chapter 51, Section 2 of the General Laws, viz: If the name of a female who is duly registered as a voter is changed by marriage or by decree of court, her right to vote in her former name shall continue until January first next follow- ing. Adherence to this law thus requires every female now on the voting list whose name is changed by marriage or by decree of court to appear at an advertised meeting of the Board of Registrars and re-register as a voter if desirous of continuing to vote in Scituate as her previous name will automatically be stricken from the list.
Respectfully submitted,
BERTHA L. TURNER, J. EDWARD HARNEY, DANIEL J. QUEENEY, WILLIAM M. WADE, Board of Registrars of Voters.
70
SCITUATE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICE
SCITUATE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
To the Citizens of Scituate:
The Scituate Public Health Nursing Service has endeavored to carry on its regular activities amid the unusual conditions of the past year.
The Well-Baby Clinic, held monthly, is one of our most important activities. The response of the mothers of the town has been gratify- ing. Dr. Fitzgerald, well-known baby specialist, has been in charge, assisted by Mrs. Alice Dowd, town nurse. We wish to thank the mem- bers of the Motor Corps who provided transportation for the clinic.
The thrift shop, located at the Harbor, offered needed clothing, furniture, etc., to the townspeople. Owing to heating difficulties the thrift shop has been closed for the winter months, but will be opened later.
Last summer the Nursing Service sent three children to the Ply- mouth County Health Camp in Hanson, Mass.
We have been glad to co-operate with the Board of Health in spon- soring clinics for diphtheria immunization.
Our membership drive was successful this year, as it has been in the past. The generous contributions of the people of Scituate are greatly appreciated. Recognizing the dangers and uncertainties of the times due to the war, we have endeavored to build up a fund so that in the event of any emergency occurring we will be able to be of as much assistance as possible when called upon.
The proceeds of the Christmas Seals sale, sponsored by the Nursing Service under the chairmanship of Mrs. Louis J. Rouleau, were greater than last year.
I wish to thank Mrs. Alice Dowd and the members of the Nursing Service board for their support.
The Scituate Public Health Nursing Service is ready, as always, to be of service to the town and its people in this or any emergency.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGARET M. REYNOLDS,
President.
71
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE REPORT
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
Board of Health :
I herewith submit my annual report of activities for the year 1942:
Bedside Nursing Visits 1727
143
Soldiers' Relief Visits
10
Hospital Visits with patients.
52
Ambulance Cases
25
Doctor's Office Visits with patients
78
Infant Care Visits
241
Baby Clinics
12
Antitoxin Clinics
3
Prenatal Visits
116
Postnatal Visits
62
Maternity Cases
3
T.B. Follow up Cases
145
Contagious Visits
35
Public Health Meetings
3
Conferences with State Health Workers
12
Unclassified Visits
500
Total Number of Visits
3167
Telephone Communications for Health Work
500
Antitoxin Clinics for Diphtheria and Small-Pox, sponsored by the Board of Health, were very successful. One hundred eighty-three (183) children were cared for.
Health Education programs are carried on and based on the individual needs.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE M. DOWD, R.N.
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICE REPORT OF THE TREASURER
The Association, through the treasurer, wishes to thank all the people who helped to make our membership drive so successful this past year. We hope to have your continued support to enable us to carry on. The president's report will give an account of our activities. Owing to war conditions this report is necessarily short.
72
Old Age Visits for Welfare Dept.
PUBLIC NURSING SERVICE FINANCIAL REPORT
A list of sustaining members will be published in the Scituate Herald the first week in March.
Following is the financial statement for 1942.
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE SCITUATE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICE
Receipts
Cash on hand January 1, 1942
$775.71
Thrift Shop
379.44
Nurses' Contributions
167.25
Tonsil Clinic 1941
5.00
Membership Drive
444.00
Telephone Tolls
1.70
Baby Clinic
65.00
Bank Interest
8.75
T. B. Sales (Seal), last year's return
231.29
Rebate, Stamped Envelopes
3.29
Emeline L. Jacobs, Trust Fund, Interest.
4.14
$2,085.57
Expenditures
William H. Harney, Rent
$300.00
Geraldine Dowd, Salary
60.00
Timpany Oil Co.
60.55
Edison Electric Light Co.
19.05
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co.
61.87
Miscellaneous Expenses
38.34
Donation United War Fund
10.00
Call Drug Co., Supplies
27.76
Margery Herbert, Salary
108.00
E. B. Fitzgerald, M.D., Baby Clinic
240.00
Membership Drive, Expenses
95.20
Plymouth County Health Assn., Children's Camp
239.40
Donation, Plymouth Co. Health Assn.
5.00
Donation, Scituate Citizens U. S. War Serv- ice Fund
10.00
T.B. Seal Sale Expenses
14.88
$1,290.05
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1943
795.52
$2,085.57
C. L. HARTS, Treasurer.
73
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Our work during the past year has consisted of following out all Laws, Rules and Regulations pertaining to Health and Health meas- ures. Our main object has been to check communicable diseases, pre- vent epidemics, and to keep Scituate one of the healthiest towns in our Commonwealth.
We have employed agencies that have checked, in its infancy, the spread of disease, and all employed by us have carried on their work in a creditable manner.
War conditions have added greatly to our work, but by carefully guarding against elements that naturally follow crowded conditions in shops, factories or armed service, we have kept this town free from epidemics.
Our School Dental and our Pre-School Clinics have been a success. Our Antitoxin Clinics were the largest in years; 183 children were immunized against Diphtheria and Smallpox during the year.
Beaches, Rivers, Ponds, Brooks, and Roadsides have been kept clean of any debris that might spread disease.
During the year the Scituate Public Health Nursing Service has conducted a Well Baby Clinic which has been a greater success than in former years.
Alice M. Dowd, R.N., our Public Health Nurse, has been extremely busy cleaning up tuberculosis cases and other contacts of long stand- ing. I quote from a letter received from the State Department of Health: "We wish to commend the Scituate Board of Health for their success during the past year and to thank them for the cooperation given by their Health Nurse whenever called upon."
During the year we have followed our usual practice of notifying the school authorities of every case of contagious disease, so that they might follow out their rules in regard to school attendance.
Many types of illness can be prevented by care and an early con- sultation with the family physician; and whenever possible, advantage taken of our Clinics which are held to prevent outbreaks of contagious disease.
All situations involving health and health conditions are para- mount today more than ever before because of War and War condi- tions; therefore citizens should take advantage of every opportunity to
74
BOARD OF HEALTH
secure health knowledge and when war is over we will be in a position to combat any and all types of disease that naturally follow unusual conditions.
We wish to thank the Red Cross and their Motor Corps for assisting in the success of our Clinics, and the Scituate Public Health Nursing Service for the use of their office and supplies.
Town officials, heads of departments and many others have given their cooperation when called upon and this has been an added help in making Scituate 100% in health and health measures.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER L. ENOS, Chairman, GEORGE H. OTIS, DR. WILLIAM P. GROVESTEIN, Board of Health.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Board of Health,
Scituate, Mass .:
I wish to report that I have quarantined all dogs which have bitten people and have attended to all matters relative to cattle, goats and swine.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES O. CHASE, Inspector of Animals.
REPORT OF THE MILK INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health,
Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I have issued 29 store licenses, 10 wholesale licenses to dealers and one license for the pasteurization of milk.
Many samples of milk have been taken and sent to the Brockton City Laboratory for examination and found to be up to standard.
75
BOARD OF HEALTH
Several State Inspectors have been in Scituate the past year, giving valuable information and help to milk dealers regarding their equip- ment and methods of milk production.
The local milk producer is having much trouble with labor and is carrying on only under difficult conditions. The government has promised relief but this is slow in coming.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. OTIS, Milk Inspector.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health,
Scituate, Mass .:
Dear Sirs:
I have inspected all animals slaughtered in the Town of Scituate according to the laws of Massachusetts and found the same in perfect condition.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIN L. MERRITT, Inspector of Slaughtering.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DENTIST
To the Board of Health and Superintendent of Schools,
Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen :
The following work was done in the grade schools of the town in 1942:
-
Fillings in Permanent Teeth 430
Fillings in Temporary Teeth 117
Extractions of Permanent Teeth 2
Extractions of Temporary Teeth 87
76
BOARD OF HEALTH
Teeth Treated 113
Prophylactic Treatments 136
Completed Cases 127
The largest percentage of work is done in the second, third and fourth classes. The first permanent molars are in position at this time, and are filled as soon as small defects are discovered. Near the end of the school year a chance is given to the sixth graders to have their work completed before leaving for Junior High School.
Respectfully yours,
DR. W. B. PARSONS, School Dentist.
REPORT OF THE PRE-SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC
Scituate Board of Health,
Scituate, Massachusetts.
Dear Sirs:
The summer of 1942 saw the completion of one of the largest and most successful Pre-School Dental Clinics since its inception. Its accomplishments will go far beyond the usual health results and will, in these times, when the professions are taxed to the limit of their strength, assure a greater measure of health within the community.
Preventive Dentistry will again prove its value, in that in creating a sound and healthful condition within the oral cavity, the acknowl- edged source of entrance for most infection and pathology, it will have built up that much more immunity to sickness and epidemic in a time when such immunity is desperately needed.
This year's clinic generalized; and the effort to spread the services to all was realized with each child given the maximum amount of attention time would permit. Defects were great in number.
Thirty-eight children were examined. Three hundred ninety-four defects were found within the oral cavity.
Thirty-four children were given dental care.
Thirty-eight roentgenograms were taken.
Thirty-nine treatments were given.
Two hundred thirty-seven restorations were made.
77
PUBLIC WELFARE REPORT
Fifteen extractions were made.
Twenty-nine prophylactics were given.
Twelve cases were completed.
The interest shown by the mothers was particularly heartening, and for the 1943 clinic, the opportunity for one or two group meetings with the mothers, to discuss their problems is a recommendation I strongly urge.
Commendable indeed is a Board of Health whose foresight finds functioning as part of a regular and well established program a public health service the Government is today demanding.
Yours sincerely, JOHN F. CRIMMINS, D.M.D.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of Scituate:
Your Board this year lost one of its oldest and most universally known and esteemed of its members in the sudden passing of Dr. Harry T. Handy. We who have associated with him in official, professional or personal capacity can appreciate the truly great qualities of the man; and together with the hundreds of his patients to whom he has brought healing and cheer, we unite in mourning his loss.
The Welfare load this year has been small, owing to almost uni- versal employment. Those now on our rolls are unable to provide for themselves due to age or infirmities, and in a few cases, due to un- expected illness or temporary inability to provide for themselves.
The State law establishing minimum payments to Old Age Assist- ance recipients went into effect this year, resulting in many adjustments in their payments. These adjustments were invariably upward, and as the cost of living increases the budgets furnished by the State from which the allowances are computed are also showing an increase. The abandonment of all W.P.A. projects in the near future will probably be followed by further applications for this form of relief, and, of course, each year a number reach the age of eligibility.
The Aid to Dependent Children rolls are fairly constant, some families having become ineligible due to the children becoming of age in excess of the limit or by moving away, but these have been replaced by other families coming into town.
78
RATIONING BOARD REPORT
We anticipate no great change in the demand for aid during the coming year. There are a number of disputed cases of charges against the town for support of Scituate people in other localities, some of which are very old and have dragged through the administration of several previous boards. These cases we hope to settle; and as the laws permit other towns and cities to collect reimbursements for aid rendered our citizens, these charges, if proven, will have to be paid. It is, of course, reciprocal, and we collect from other towns for aid rendered their citizens.
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