USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1943-1945 > Part 4
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For the remainder of the season we found men enough capable of carrying on the work of maintaining the parks.
Outside of the usual maintenance we had the flagpole at Lawson Park painted two coats by a local steeplejack. We repaired and painted the fence along the breakwater at the Minot waterfront. This fence will have to be replaced in a few years. The comfort station at Peggoty Beach was painted, several panes 'of glass reset, and new shutters built. We also painted the picket fence at Second Cliff Park.
The new Park Commissioners have decided upon a policy of improvement and beautification of the entire park system. The first project along this line is treatment of Lawson Park with a heavy coat of kelp. We believe that fertilization is one of the most necessary needs of the parks for the next few years.
In November the Scituate Kiwanis Club gave the town a beautiful Honor Roll as a temporary memorial to the boys and girls from Scituate in the service of their country. It was erected on Lawson Park and . we believe it is a worthwhile addition to our park system. The Kiwanis Club is to be commended for the spirit and industry shown in this endeavor.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES E. MITCHELL, CLIFFORD L. WARD, SR., F. EUGENIA BROWN.
48
FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
REPORT OF
FIRE DEPARTMENT
January 12, 1944. .
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I submit herewith the report of the Fire Department for the year 1943.
During the past year the department has functioned smoothly and, I think, efficiently. As in other departments, the shortage of man power has been our major problem. In view of the fact that most of our call firemen are at present engaged in work in essential industries out of town, it is remarkable that they have kept, to a great degree. their usual high average of fire attendances.
Our oldest pumping engine (Engine 1) is now out of commission and there is no possibility of obtaining the replacement parts necessary to repair it. The White Co. has advised us that the parts in question have not been manufactured for some years and their stock of these items is exhausted. It does not seem practical to replace this pumping unit at this time, but it will be of primary importance immediately after the present state of war emergency has passed.
All stations have been repaired and painted where necessary, and Station 1 (Brook St.) roof has been re-shingled. All of the apparatus and equipment has been thoroughly checked and overhauled when necessary and is in good operating condition. It should be noted, how- ever, that some of this apparatus is of ancient vintage and could develop serious trouble at any time. All repairing, painting and mechanical work was done, as far as possible, by the men of the department at a considerable saving to the town.
I extend my thanks to the citizens of the town and to all other departments and officials for the courtesy and co-operation shown this department in the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
HOWARD H. COLE, Deputy Chief.
49
FIRE WARDEN'S REPORT
REPORT OF THE
FOREST FIRE WARDEN
January 18, 1944.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The report of the Forest Fire Department for the year 1943 is hereby submitted.
During the past year, this department was called to fewer fires than is normally expected. There were no major forest fires.
The burning over of grass lands and other properties deemed to be fire hazards was curtailed because of the lack of man power available to do this work.
This work is of great value to the town and provision should be made to do as much of it as is possible each year.
I extend my thanks to the citizens of the town and to the various town departments for the co-operation received by this department throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES FINNIE, Forest Warden.
SCITUATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
36 Country Way, Greenbush, Massachusetts
January 18, 1944.
Board of Selectmen, Scituate, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
We beg to submit the following report of activities during the vear 1943.
50
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
During the past year our organization has maintained all activities as reported in the last Town Report. The probability of attack appears to be constantly lessening, but the possibility does certainly exist, also the threat of sabotage or ordinary civilian disaster because of increased commercial activities cannot be ignored. For those reasons, and be- cause of the urgent request of the President of the United States and the Governor of the Commonwealth, we are holding our organization ready for action if necessary.
We have had one occasion during the year to respond to an emer- gency when on July 31, a Navy blimp made a forced landing in our town. Upon request of the Naval authorities received at midnight. such part of the organization as was needed was activated in a very few minutes and stayed on duty during 18 consecutive hours. We were not only thanked for our services, but complimented for our efficiency by the Naval Officer in Command of the Weymouth Base.
Our Red Cross Motor Corps which has volunteered as a part of our organization, activated seven station wagons fully equipped as ambulances and covered five posts, including the medical center on every alert. In addition it has worked 6689 hours and driven 14,986 miles, transporting 1471 patients to hospitals, and volunteers to the Blood Bank. These ladies liave furnished their own cars, given their time, and provided the gasoline and tires used at their own expense. Their assistance to this committee has been invaluable.
About a year ago our Town Salvage Committee asked us to take on that work. We have established a dump for tin in the detached garage at Police Headquarters and have shipped about 2 tons of pre- pared tin cans. We are also just finishing a house-to-house pickup of paper and have shipped upwards of 25 tons of it. This salvage activity is very difficult to handle as the prices obtained do not meet the expense of handling so that much of the work must be done by volunteers. or at Town expense, which we have avoided.
This Committee, with a few additional members, acting as the Scituate Servicemen's Recreation Committee and financed by the U.S.O .. have operated the Colonial Inn property on Meeting House Lane for tlie past year. We liave sleeping accommodations for twenty men in the winter. and forty men in the summer. We also run weekly dance- with junior hostesses, under the supervision of senior hostesses. for servicemen stationed in this area. A group of ladies from the Mayflower Guild, Congregational Church, meet weekly, and do mending for the boys. Also a local artist has made many paintings in miniature of the boys to be sent home.
Our Vice-Chairman has accepted appointment as Chairman of the American Red Cross Camp and Hospital Committee of our local
51
SUPERVISOR CARE OF VETERANS' GRAVES REPORT
Chapter and has provided a great amount of needed articles which the Government does not supply, for the boys in our hospitals. .
Respectfully submitted, PHILIP L. SCHUYLER, Chairman WILLIAM J. LUMBERT, Vice-Chairman
MICHAEL E. STEWART, Chief of Police HOWARD H. COLE, Deputy Chief, Fire Dept.
ROY E. LITCHFIELD, American Legion ELMER F. RAMSDELL, Veterans of Foreign Wars
HAROLD E. WINGATE, School Dept.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR CARE OF VETERANS' GRAVES
January 11, 1944.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I submit my report as Supervisor of Veterans' Graves in the Town of Scituate for the year 1943.
During the past year 162 graves situated in the various tombs and cemeteries have been cared for, an increase of two graves over pre- vious years.
I have inspected all graves and I find that all cemetery corporations and caretakers are continuing to co-operate with me in my efforts to see that all graves of veterans in the Town are properly cared for.
All neglected graves show a great improvement in their condition. I wish to thank all who are continuing to assist me in my efforts.
Respectfully submitted, ELMER F. RAMSDELL,
Supervisor Care of Veterans' Graves.
52
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
To the Citizens of the Town:
The past year found highway activities at a point lower than those of former years. Under present conditions it was virtually impossible to secure labor. Shipyards and other wartime industries claimed almost all available help. Pipe and other necessary material could not be purchased as the Government appropriated the most of it for its own use. Tar, at first allotted to the municipalities under a ration system, was finally declared by the Public Roads Administration to be in suf- ficient quantity that we could use any amount we chose and where to apply it. As a result we tarred many more miles of road this year than we did in the past years. Tarring is the only operation we can perform on a fairly large scale with our limited force. Frost boils caused many eruptions in the streets which we endeavored to fill with bituminous patch, but like all other material it was impossible to purchase this till the War Production Board took it off their forbidden list. In the meantime we made our own. A long, tedious task with our limited help. We shall have to forego many of the accommoda- tions we once realized during the Winter months when we had large snow storms. We sanded the intersections, railroad crossings and hills. Sand at the present time is very scarce and we are using it sparingly so as to be stocked sufficiently in case of a real bad freeze.
As I do not intend to seek re-election I would like to take this opportunity to thank wholeheartedly all the various Town agencies and departments who have co-operated with myself and my employees. To the people of the town I have eternal gratitude for the faith and confidence which they placed in me during my thirteen years of public life. These kind associations made my tenure of office a pleasant one indeed.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES M. WAGNER, Highway Surveyor.
53
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, 1943.
Four hundred twenty-five devices were sealed for use in trade. Thirty-four adjustments were made, light devices were not sealed and one was condemned.
Several peddlers' licenses were inspected.
Thirty-six trial weighings, were made, and several gasoline and fuel tanks were measured.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH N. MURPHY, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Voters of Scituate:
As would be expected under present conditions, expenditures for Public Welfare have been low the past year, in comparison with years in the depression period.
In the A.D.C. category the cost has been about the same as last year, with the probability it will remain about the same in the coming year.
The feature of this year's work has been the changes made in the Old Age Assistance program by the Legislature at its last session, including retroactive payments and the promulgation of a standard State Budget, which insures just and equal treatment of all recipients.
54
RATIONING BOARD REPORT
A full financial statement will be found in the report of the Town Accountant and need not be repeated here.
We wish to thank all town departments, officials and individuals who have co-operated with and assisted us the past year.
Respectfully submitted, W. M. BROWN, ANNIE M. SOMERS, FRANKLIN T. SHARP, Board of Public Welfare.
REPORT OF THE SCITUATE RATIONING BOARD No. 271
January 17, 1944.
Board of Selectmen, Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen :
Although we are a Federal Agency, our activities affect every citizen in town and as Town funds carry one-third of our expenses, we felt we would like the privilege of making a brief statement to you upon our work, to be incorporated in your annual Town Report.
Immediately after the town voted us funds at the 1943 annual meeting, we moved from the inadequate quarters in the Town Hall to a house at 420 Country Way. On May 1, 1943, a new chairman was appointed who has devoted his entire time to the Board's business since that date. On June 1st, 1943, we obtained Federal authority to employ two additional clerks. This enlargement of personnel and quarters made it possible to eliminate the very annoying delays in handling the public.
Because the house we were occupying was sold, we were obliged to again move, and did so on August 4, 1943, taking the second floor at 70 Front Street, in the Harbor. This new location has proved to be the most convenient for the public of any occupied.
There appears to be little reason to expect any lessening of detail for the coming year. We wish to thank the school teachers who did a splendid job in issuing Food Books Nos. 2 and 4. Our regular organi- zation could not possibly have handled this job.
It must be apparent to everyone by now that Rationing is necessary and that we must expect to have to put up with its inconveniences for
55
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REPORT
some time to come, in order to protect the less well-to-do citizens by assuring a just division of scarce commodities.
Our contribution to the war effort is a very disagreeable and thankless task and we ask your cooperation in backing up our Armed Forces.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP L. SCHUYLER, Chairman RUSSELL L. FISH RICHARD L. BROWN Gasoline Panel
DORIS D. WARD
MARION BROWN LILLIAN E. FINNIE Food Panel
A. WILLIS TOTMAN JOHN HEFFERNAN FRANCES COLE Oil Panel
WILMOT BROWN RICHARD M. ROGERS Price Panel
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :
Engineering work, because of the existing conditions, was greatly curtailed. I believe, however, at the end of the national emergency this department should receive the attention of the citizens, especially toward bringing our Town Maps to date.
The following is a summary of the work performed by the Engi- neering Department for the year ending December 31st, 1943:
1. Attending hearings preparatory to making layouts of streets offered for acceptance as Town ways.
2. Making surveys and plans for layouts of new streets and relocation of lines of existing streets.
56
TOWN COUNSEL'S REPORT
3. Preparing plans, etc., floats and ramps near Town Landing.
4. Preparing plans and index land acquired by Town by fore- closure of Tax Titles.
5. Establishing definite street lines where none existed for land court surveys and other surveys.
6. Appearing at the Massachusetts Land Court in the interest of the Town.
7. Making miscellaneous plans for various Town Departments.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY A. LITCHFIELD,
Town Engineer.
REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL
During the year 1943 there has been the usual diversity of prob- lems necessitating legal advice and services. With the experience of fifteen years as Town Counsel it was possible and practical to come to a contractual understanding with the Honorable Board of Selectmen resulting with their cooperation in a saving to the town in its legal department.
Illustrative of matters given attention during the year are the following items:
Preparation of deeds in town's land sales.
Representation of the town in State Appellate Tax Board cases for the Board of Assessors.
Welfare Department problems, including settlement of cases of City of Boston vs. Inhabitants of Scituate and counter-suits in the Suffolk Superior Court.
Assistance to the Water Department on contract and easement.
Annual Town Meeting problems.
Conferences with various town officials on such questions as zoning, parks, labor, civil service, public health, licenses, appropria- tions, public duties, articles, claims.
It is the aim of counsel to help keep the town out of litigation and to contribute to the present harmonious relations between our officials and citizens.
January 2, 1944.
VERNON W. MARR.
57
ASSESSORS' REPORT
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Detail of 1943 Assessments
Number of Polls assessed
1,463
Amount of Poll Tax Warrant
$2,926.00
Number of persons, partnerships
and corporations assessed on
property
3,339
Value of assessed Real Estate:
Buildings
$8,886,310.00
Land
3,190,455.00
Total Value of Real Estate
$12,076,765.00
Total Value of Personal Estate
951,579.00
Total Valuation January 1, 1943
$13,028,344.00
Total Valuation January 1, 1942
13,268,473.00
Decrease in valuation
$240,129.00
Omitted Assessments December 31, 1943
100.00
Assessed
Horses
48
Cows
60
Other Neat
10
Sheep
12
Fowl
5,418
All other
289
Swine
6
Automobiles
1,916
Budget for 1943
Town appropriations
$479,293.07
Voted to be taken from available funds in 1943
57,000.00
$536,293.07
State Tax and Assessments:
State Tax
$9,300.00
Auditing Municipal 'Accounts
697.96
Hospital and Home Care for Civil War Veterans.
150.00
State Parks and Reservations
226.33
County Tax and Assessments:
County Tax
17,456.62
Tuberculosis Hospital
7,075.83
Overlay for current year
14,411.87
Gross Amount to be raised
$585,999.14
58
LIST OF JURORS
Estimated Receipts:
Income Tax
$32,390.82
Corporation Taxes
11,148.30
Motor Vehicle Excise
7,500.00
Licenses
3,750.00
Fines
275.00
Special Assessments
175.00
General Government
850.00
Protection of Persons and Property
200.00
Health and Sanitation
250.00
Charities
3,500.00
Old Age Assistance
11,074.00
Old Age Tax (Meals)
533.70
Soldiers' Benefits
1,400.00
Schools
500.00
Water Department
57,501.00
Interest on Taxes and Assessments
4,000.00
Additional Fees
175.00
Appropriations voted by Town to be taken from available funds.
57,000.00
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
$192,222.82
Net Amount to be raised by taxation on polls and property
$393,776.32
Number of polls-1,463 at $2 each
2,926.00
Total Valuation of Personal Property-$951,579 at $30
28,547.37
Total Valuation of Real Estate -- $12,076,765
362,302.95
Total Taxes levied on Polls and Property
$393,776.32
Special Assessments:
Moth
317.50
Water
3,338.90
Total Amount of all Taxes and Assessments committed in 1943
$397,432.72
Tax on Omitted Assessments December 31, 1943
3.00
Abatements in 1943:
To Joseph R. Dillon, Collector, for 1940
$ 8.00
To Joseph R. Dillon, Collector, for 1941
291.05
To Joseph R. Dillon, Collector, for 1942
1,444.48
To Joseph R. Dillon, Collector, for 1943
5,860.59
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY A. LITCHFIELD, Chairman HENRY T. FITTS, W. IRVING LINCOLN,
Assessors of Scituate.
LIST OF JURORS FOR 1943
Prepared as provided for in Chapter 234, Section 4, General Laws
Abbott, Augustus L., First Parish Road, Janitor Adams, George S., Maple Street, Public Accountant Anderson, James A., Gannett Road, Coal Salesman
59
LIST OF JURORS
Bates, Herbert C., Lincoln Road, Painter Belcher, Everett E., Country Way, Contractor Best, Theodore H., Jericho Road, Mosser Brier, Clarence E., Gilson Road, Insurance Browne, Leon D., Booth Hill Road, Salesman Chase, Arthur M., Fairview Avenue, Yard Man Cogswell, W. Cleveland, Gannett Road, Salesman Cook, Harry P., First Parish Road, R.R. Exp. Clerk Curtis, William W., Ann Vinal Road, Salesman Dacey, James B., Country Way, Foreman Davis, Ray H., First Parish Road, Defense Worker Donald, Harry W., Hatherly Road, Insurance Dorr, Frederick S., Hatherly Road, Painter Dowd, Frank W., Gannett Road, Defense Worker Fillmore, Andrew J., Cudworth Road, Chauffeur Fish, Archie E., Chief Justice Cushing Road, Defense Worker Freeman, Don W., Stockbridge Road, at home Goodnow, John M., Stetson Road, Manufacturer Goodridge, G. Herbert, Country Way, Office Manager Hall, E. Winthrop, Stockbridge Road, Mfr. Manager Hewett, Charles M., Buttonwood Lane, Sales Manager Litchfield, Ezra S., Clapp Road, Plumber Litchfield, Lewis B., Tilden Road, Guard Litchfield, Ralph M., Driftway, Merchant Locklin, Freeman V., Mann Lot Road, Machinist Merritt, Lloyd E., Clapp Road, Farmer Murphy, Joseph N., Cherry Lane, Painter O'Hern, Robert P., Otis Place, Clerk. Reddy, Norman, Mann Lot Road, Plumber Richmond, Winthrop C., Second Cliff, Inspector Sharp, Edgar C., Mitchell Avenue, Salesman Sharp, Franklin T., Clapp Road, Clerk Smith, John L., Branch Street, Heating Spencer, Paul F., Elm Street, Accountant Stenback, Karl H., Otis Place, Merchant Street, Lionel A., Grove Street, Insurance Swift, Ward C., Country. Way, Insurance Sylvester, F. Lester, First Parish Road, Carpenter Varney, George F., First Parish Road, Repair Man Viall, Charles R., First Parish Road, Optician
60
PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE REPORT
Webb, George A., off Kent Street, Mosser
White, Edward P., Capt. Pierce Road, Bank Clerk Whittaker, Harold C., Beaver Dam Road, Garage Proprietor
Wilder, Herbert E., Country Way, Garage Yenetchi, George V., First Parish Road, Highway Maintenance Young, John H., Stone Road, Accountant
Yuhr, George, Bramble Avenue, Salesman
DENNIS H. SHEA, W. IRVING LINCOLN, WILLIAMS B. JAMES,
Selectmen of Scituate.
REPORT OF THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
No greater service since the inception of the Extension Service has been rendered Plymouth County towns than in 1943. Under war- time conditions the County Agricultural Agents, Home Demonstration Agents, and 4-H Club Agents of our county office have contributed heavily to the wonderful record of production. The past year has seen thousands of new producers of food influenced in many ways directly or indirectly by County Aid to Agriculture. A great tribute is due the farmers of America for their part in this war effort. The greatest production in history was achieved under the most severe handicaps.
In addition to the Food Production and Preservation program, other-new responsibilities fell on our Extension Service. Assignments of the United States Department of Agriculture in handling programs affecting rural people have had a definite influence in the conduct of the farm business and home. A few of these follow: U.S.D.A. War Board, Farm Labor Program, Farm Rationing, cooperation with the Office of Price Administration, Farm Transportation, Priorities infor- mation, War Production Board assistance, and Selective Service help in reporting over five hundred cases for agricultural deferment.
All members of the Extension Staff devoted an increasing amount of time in 1943 to the promotion of production and preservation of food, with particular emphasis on home food production.
Carrying out the Governor's state-wide request, the local Extension Service assumed the responsibility of setting up Food Production and Preservation Committees in each town of Plymouth County. These
61
PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE REPORT
committees were made up of representatives from various town organi- zations. Some of their important functions included: arranging for mass meetings on gardening and canning, setting up information centers, making arrangements for plowing, and conducting Victory Harvest Fairs.
The County Extension Staff assisted the local committees by con- ducting meetings, making soil tests, preparing newspaper articles and circular letters. Hundreds of home gardeners were given help by tele- phone, office calls or garden visits. The agents worked with local committees in arranging for the harvest fairs.
The work accomplished by these committees was a real contribution to the war effort. It is believed that the experience gained along these lines in 1943 will be invaluable to a still greater food production pro- gram in 1944. Tribute is due the Town Committee members for their valuable work.
The agricultural agents' wartime program has been a flexible one in an attempt to do the most important assignments with the many other new responsibilities delegated these agents. The Farm Labor Program assigned to the Extension Service for direction and adminis- tration on May 1, though difficult, has proven of considerable success. Evidence of this may be found from the fact that 614 farm recruits were found and placed on farms during the year. Grave critical needs for permanent dairy and poultry help is still a major problem. Com- modity educational programs were conducted for dairymen, poultry- men, fruit, vegetable, and cranberry growers, forestry products, and general livestock producers. By the guidance of commodity com- mittees in each of these industries, the agricultural agents have shaped their educational program plans. As usual, all request farm visits have been fulfilled as promptly and efficiently as wartime conditions have allowed.
Conservation was the general theme of the Home Department in 1943. Meetings were conducted in many towns on the care and repair of home furnishings and equipment. Homemakers also received help along the lines of nutrition and food buying in war time, and renovation of clothing. Nearly 2,500 women attended the 111 canning demon- strations which were held during the summer. These included demon- strations on canning vegetables, fruits, chicken, fish, and meat. From reports received, it would seem that these same women canned 445,000 jars of food-a sizable contribution to the winter's food supply. Infor- mation was also given on other methods of food preservation and home storage.
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