USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1935 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
89
REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
During the year the department has responded to 403 alarms, divided as follows: 108 box alarms, and 295 still alarms.
Estimate of property endangered
$265,275.00
Loss on same
20,917.49
Insurance on same
263,400.00
Insurance paid on same
20,597.49
Transit value
2,400.00
Transit loss 25.00
CONCLUSION
In closing this report I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the Honorable Board of Selectmen for the interest and co-operation mani- fested by them in all matters pertaining to this department.
To Mr. Charles F. Young for the hearty co-operation and interest given by him as Committee on Fire Department during the past year.
To the various other Town Departments who have rendered valuable assistance by their hearty co-operation with this department the past year.
My sincere thanks are also due to the Officers and Members of the Fire Department for the prompt and faithful discharge of their duties.
To Dr. Curtis L. Sopher, Department Physician, my sincere thanks for his valuable aid and interest to members of this department who were injured in the line of duty.
To Mr. J. Theodore Whitney for the interest and co-operation given by him in the planning of projects which made possible much needed improvements at the Fire Station.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED D. GRAHAM,
Chief of Fire Department.
90
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Forest Warden
Wakefield, Mass., January 1, 1936. Gentlemen:
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
During the past year there was a total of 224 woods and grass fires.
Respectfully submitted, · CHIEF FRED D. GRAHAM, Forest Warden
Report of Inspector of Wires-
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Wakefield, Mass., January 1, 1936. Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my Annual Report as Inspector of Wires in com- pliance with the vote of the Town, 1922.
There was a total of 420 inspections made. All defects found were made to conform with the National Code.
Respectfully submitted,
CHIEF FRED D. GRAHAM,
Wire Inspector.
91
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Report of Board of Health
-
To the Citizens of Wakefield:
The continuation of a four years' comparison of infectious and re- portable diseases seems a proper method of placing before our towns- people a picture of health conditions for that period.
This table to quite a degree explains increases and decreases in public care of these diseases.
1932
1933
1934
1935
Tuberculosis
13
12
9
16
Diphtheria
2
5
5
0
Pneumonia
16
9
9
8
Poliomyelitis
0
2
1
4
Measles
8
64
89
5
Mumps
3
16
8
2
Chicken-pox
27
10
14
34
Whooping Cough
5
20
6
22
Septic Sore Throat
1
4
0
1
Scarlet Fever
42
11
10
3
Typhoid Fever
0
0
0
1
Influenza
1
0
0
0
German Measles
0
0
0
30
Cerebral Spinal Meningitis
2
0
0
0
Dog Bites
0
0
26
71
Ophthalmia Neonatorium
1
0
1
0
Total
122
153
178
197
Miss Russell, the Health Nurse, made the following number of visits during the year:
Tuberculosis and contacts
602
Whooping Cough
6
Typhoid Fever
5
Chicken-pox
12
Poliomyelitis
12
Measles
20
Venereal
24
Scarlet Fever
9
Investigating Dog Bites
26
Total
716
92
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Miss Russell made the following trips to the different sanatoriums with patients:
25 trips to North Reading State Sanatorium, North Reading, Mass. 1 trip to Essex Sanatorium, Middleton, Mass.
7 trips to Middlesex County Sanatorium, Waltham, Mass.
A continued comparison of the costs of Tuberculosis and those diseases which add most to our cost seems worth while.
1931
1932
1933
1934 $2,250.99
1935
Tuberculosis
$2,890.77
$2,327.71
$3,223.42
$2,198.67
Diphtheria
100.78
89.28
77.58
13.03
23.97
Scarlet Fever
708.87
758.13
89.00
104.62
189.00
Other Contagion
153.10
78.27
351.60
189.30
479.29
The Board of Health in 1935 was confronted with a condition absoluely without precedent. While a State Law passed by the Legislature of 1934 and effective January 1, 1935, placed upon the Boards of Health the pay- ment for vaccine and its administration in cases arising from rabid dogs, and therefore the Board anticipated some increases, the Board could not foresee what was ahead.
Quite early in the year so many cases of rabid dogs had been reported, and the expense of treatment of those actually bitten and those coming in contact with the rabid animals had reached such limits that the Board decided that a clinic for immunization of dogs should be held.
The Board is fully convinced that only by a 100% immunization of all dogs in Wakefield can we be assured of a freedom from Rabies. Un- fortunately immunization of dogs is not enforceable, but the Board of Health asks the dog owners to think well upon this need both as a pro- tection of their pets, but more especially the welfare of their neighbors and their children. The Board asks for a 100% response when next a clinic is held which will be in the late spring or early summer.
During 1935 the Board expended for immunization of dogs the sum of approximately $185.00, and for anti-rabic treatment of humans approx- imately $1,125.00. While it may seem to some that treatment of all con- tacts is unnecessary, who is to say which presents possibilities of fatal results when it is known absolutely that a bite from a rabid dog is not the only fatal cause, but death may follow an untreated case where a person has come in contact with the saliva of a rabid dog.
Through the continued work of Dr. Charles E. Montague, the School Physician, the work of immunization against Diphtheria has continued among the school children, and the only expense of the Board chargeable to this once dread disease, has been in providing equipment for such im- munization and cards for recording. This Board now has a full card file of all cases immunized by the School Physician since the work was begun several years ago.
93
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
It should also be added that the Board has a card file of all licensed dogs immunized at the clinic in 1935.
The Board of Health would especially note the manner in which the three public dumps have been kept the year past. We feel that the Board and the town has a most efficient servant in the person of Mr. Joyce.
The Board of Health earnestly asks the townspeople to deposit their ashes and rubbish, not including garbage, at one of these dumps where disposal of such refuse is made.
The attention of the townspeople hardly needs to be called to the generally unsatisfactory condition of garbage collection for the latter part of the year 1934. The Board was very fortunate under the conditions to get someone who would assume the old contract and give the town as satisfactory collections as we have had during 1935.
The Board feels that the town will have to pay more in the future than it has in the past for a satisfactory collection of its garbage.
Respectfully submitted,
WESLEY S. GOODWIN, Chairman CARL E. ALLISON, M. D. NED C. LOUD, Secretary
Tuberculosis Dispensary Report
To the Wakefield Board of Health:
Gentlemen:
The annual report of the Tuberculosis Dispensary is herewith respect- fully submitted.
The Tuberculosis Dispensary is open the first and third Friday eve- nings in the month from 8 - 9 and the second and fourth Tuesday after- noons in the month from 3.30 - 4.30.
We have examined during the year, patients discharged from sana- toria contact cases and suspicious cases of tuberculosis. Ninety-two ex- aminations were made.
A certain amount of follow-up work has been done for these patients. Thirty-two adults were taken to the North Reading State Sanatorium, and to the Middlesex Sanatorium for further examination of chest and to be X-rayed, and sixty-two children were taken to North Reading Sanatorium for chest examinations, X-rays and Von Pirquet tests. On the discovery
94
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
of a new case of tuberculosis, if active, efforts are made to have the pa- tient hospitalized and if possible to have all the members of the family examined by the family physician or at the clinic.
We feel it is important to hospitalize all active cases, not only that immediate and proper care should be given, but that a known case of infection may be removed.
In the last ten or twelve years we have come to recognize the insidious- ness of tuberculosis. While the disease is most commonly found in adults between the age of eighteen and twenty-five, it actually lays its founda- tion in early childhood, many years before it becomes manifest. As a rule we all react perfectly well to a first infection with the bacilli of tuber- culosis, providing the dosage is not too great or overwhelming, and sel- dom does the first infection leave any impression on our health.
We now know that tuberculosis, or the adult type of tuberculosis is usually caused by reinfection, and that the disease is not usually caused by the first invaders. However, and herein lies the significance of the childhood type of tuberculosis, should the same child at any future date receive another dose of these bacilli, they will grow and flourish better in the lung tissue than did the first invaders, and the adult type of tuber- culosis is likely to develop.
We have at the present time five patients at the Middlesex County Sanatorium, and two patients at Lakeville State Sanatorium.
Sixteen new cases of tuberculosis were reported in the year 1935, and there were two deaths.
IRA W. RICHARDSON, M. D., Dispensary Physician
NELLIE B. RUSSELL, R. N., Dispensary Nurse
Report of Health Officer
Board of Health:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1935.
The work of this Department is about the same year after year. Many complaints come in, some of which are without foundation, but all must be investigated.
The work on the public dumps during the past year has been done by Mr. John Joyce, under my supervision. He keeps them in very good con-
95
REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER
dition and I have inspected the dumps in several other towns, and found none kept in any better condition than the Wakefield dumps.
We wish our citizens would take their rubbish to the dumps instead of putting it on the side of the streets or vacant lots. This would keep our town more attractive.
We have had numerous complaints about over-flowing cesspools. We usually try to get the owners of these cesspools to connect with the sewer if sewer is available.
I have made 643 calls during the year.
Respectfully submitted, DAVID TAGGART, Health Officer
Report of Plumbing Inspector
-
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1935.
Number of permits granted
58
Number of fixtures installed
380
Divided as follows:
Bath tubs
61
Lavatories
75
Closets 85
Sinks 60
Wash trays 53
Boilers 44
Showers 2
Total 380
I have made 214 inspections during the year.
This Department has received $56.00 for plumbing permits during the year which has been turned over to the Town Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID TAGGART, Plumbing Inspector
96
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Inspector of Milk and Food
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Milk and Food for the year ending December 31, 1935.
The work of this Department during the year has been marked by more and varied activities than usual.
The results as shown by the milk, cream, and ice-cream analyses covering this period have been most satisfactory. Today the local con- sumer is enjoying milk at the lowest price which in many cases meet Grade A requirements or better.
In view of the above it would now appear that the milestone has been reached that was the objective of the Board of Health nine years ago when the Board determined to lay the foundation for a future safer, and more nutritious supply of this most essential food. Let it be mentioned at this time that today's findings are in no small measure the results of a far-seeing, conscientious effort on their part.
There are over 8500 quarts of milk consumed daily in Wakefield. When this is considered one my readily see that adequate protection for a town's milk supply is quite significant. In reality second only to its water supply.
The largest number of licenses in any one year were issued from this office in 1935. The largest amount of revenue was also reported, amount- ing to nearly 100% more than on my first year in office. In like manner the greatest number of milk plants and dairy farms were inspected. The latter calling for much out of state work.
With this increase in number of retailers and outside dealers distrib- uting the town's milk supply, as well as changing regulations having in- creased the kinds and standards of milk quality it must be apparent to your Board that the future carrying on of this work, with the small funds available for the purpose, presents no ordinary task.
The above situation should be of no little concern to the community, as much of the health and well being of the people are dependent on this source, especially during these most stressful times.
As regard the food inspection work it has been largely confined to com- plaints all of which have been taken care of satisfactorily.
As in the past it has been along the line of duty to attend a number of conferences during the year. Notable among these this season were ones at Worcester, Fall River, and the Massachusetts State College at Amherst. The work of the conference, large conducted under the De-
97
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK AND FOOD
partment of Public Health and Agriculture is educational in scope. The results are reflected in the necessity of keeping abreast of constantly changing conditions.
The following are the details of records:
Retail Licenses issued
84 @ $ .50
$ 42.00
Wagon Dealers Licenses issued
33 @
.50
16.50
Oleomargarine Permits issued
21 @
.50 10.50
Ice Cream Mfg. Licenses issued
3 @
5.00
15.00
Pasteurizing Licenses issued
3 @
10.00
30.00
$114.00
I take this opportunity to thank the members of your Board for their faithful co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, LAWRENCE E. DOUCETT, Inspector of Milk and Food.
Report of Slaughter House Inspector
To the Board of Health: Gentlemen:
No animals inspected for the year 1935, therefore nothing to report. Respectfully submitted, MELVIN W. BROWN, Inspector of Slaughtering.
98
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Board of Assessors
February 3, 1936.
To the Citizens of Wakefield:
We herewith submit the Annual Report of the Assessors' Department for the year ending December 31, 1935.
State Tax
$ 30,875.00
Charles River Basin
2,200.00
Metropolitan Sewerage Loan
10,650.00
Metropolitan Parks
8,800.00
Metropolitan Planning Division
135.00
Metropolitan Parks Loan Fund
1,428.00
Metropolitan Parks Loan Fund (Nantasket Maintenance)
525.00
Wellington Bridge Maintenance
30.00
Abatement of Smoke Nuisance
115.00
Care of Civil War Veterans
620.00
Municipal Lighting Plants
60.00
Canterbury Street-Highway
45.00
Land-takings on State Highway, Revere
465.00
Ocean Avenue, Revere (Highway)
180.00
Ways in Malden, Braintree and Hingham
2.00
West Roxbury-Brookline Parkway
65.00
Total State Charges
County Tax
$ 56,195.00 30,972.86
Total State and County Charges
87,167.86
Charges for Town Purposes
$904,786.41
Overlay Deficit for 1931
111.27
Old Age Assistance-Uncollected 1931
147.00
Old Age Assistance-Uncollected 1932
137.00
Overlay for 1935
26,079.96
Total Gross Levy
$1,018,429.50
Estimated Receipts
$249,249.57
Transferred from Light Department to Treasury
23,000.00
Transferred from Federal Water Project
7,628.96
5166 Polls @ $2.00 each
10,332.00
Total Receipts
$ 290,210.53
Net Levy
$ 728,218.97
Rate of Taxation, $34.00 per $1,000.
99
REPORT OF ASSESSORS
TOWN VALUATIONS
$16,078,165.00
Buildings Land
4,003,530.00
Personal
1,336,510.00
Total Valuations
$21,418,205.00
Loss in Valuations, 1935
$ 33,470.00
Valuation of December Assessment
9,775.00
Bonded Debt of Town, January 1, 1935
883,500.00
Payments made in 1935
129,500.00
Bonded Debt January 1, 1936
$ 754,000.00
Assets of Town including Land and Buildings, Municipal Light Plant, Water Works, Sewer and Tangible Personal Property Less Bonded Debt
$4,882,284.00
754,000.00
Assets above Liabilities
$4,128,284.00
PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Land and Buildings
$ 140,500.00
Literary Institutions
200,400.00
Benevolent Institutions
23,350.00
Organizations of Veterans
9,200.00
Houses of Religious Worship
600,600.00
Cemeteries, Land and Buildings
69,200.00
Total $1,043,250.00
Number of Polls assessed (a gain of 18 since date of Tax Levy)
5,184
Number of Motor Vehicles assessed
3,878
Valuation of Motor Vehicles
$815,800.00
Excise Tax committed in 1935
$ 22,995.99
Number of Dwelling Houses assessed
3,389
Number of Persons, Partnerships and Corporations assessed
4,397
Value of Assessed Stock in Trade
$459,210.00
Value of Machinery, assessed
$323,180.00
Value of Real Estate assessed
$20,081,695.00
Value of Livestock assessed
$ 21,940.00
All other Ratables assessed
$532,180.00
Number of Horses assessed
38
Number of Cows assessed
198
Number of Swine assessed
67
Number of Fowl assessed
9,294
Number of Acres of Land in Town
4,000
100
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Number of Acres, Lake Quannapowitt
247.94
Number of Acres, Crystal Lake
82.86
Number of Acres, Town Common
2.50
Number of Acres, Hart's Hill
9.68
Number of Acres, Park at Lakeside
6.75
Number of Acres, Cemetery on Church Street
4.14
Number of Acres, Cemetery on Lowell Street
35
Area of Town Rockery 4,300 sq. ft.
Respectfully submitted by Wakefield Assessors
HUGH CONNELL, Chairman,
DAVID SLINEY,
ARTHUR C. VERGE, Secretary.
Report of Inspector of Animals
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Wakefield, Mass., January 6, 1936. Gentlemen:
At this time I wish to submit my report as "Animal Inspector" for year ending December 31, 1935.
There have been 188 heads of cattle inspected.
Have inspected 26 cow barns.
There were 7 heads reacting cattle which were slaughtered.
There have been 98 dogs placed in quarantine.
There have been 5 dogs found to have had rabies.
There was 1 cat found to have had rabies.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE A. BENNETT,
Inspector of Animals.
Report of Dog Officer
Wakefield, Mass., January 6, 1936. Gentlemen :
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
At this time I wish to submit my report as "Dog Officer" for the year ending December 31, 1935.
Have answered 384 calls.
Have canvassed the town twice for unlicensed dogs.
There have been 47 dogs gassed.
There have been 12 dogs placed in homes.
There have been 25 dogs returned to rightful owners. Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. BENNETT, Dog Officer.
101
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
Wakefield, Mass., January 2, 1936. Gentlemen:
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit the following report for the year 1935:
Adjusted
Sealed
Condemned
Platform scales over 5000 lbs.
1
Platform scales under 5000 lbs.
8
42
1
Counter scales 100 lbs. or over
4
Counter scales under 100 lbs.
1
34
1
Spring scales 100 lbs. or over
1
4
Spring-scales under 100 lbs.
17
84
Beam scales under 100 lbs.
1
Computing scales over 100 lbs.
2
3
Computing scales under 100 lbs.
12
73
2
Personal weighing scales
9
Avoirdupois weights
320
Liquid measures
99
Gasoline pumps
7
113
33
Gasoline meters
54
Kerosene pumps
1
Oil pumps
2
Quan. measure on pumps
20
567
Yard sticks
49
Cloth measure devices
2
Amount of fees, $118.12.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES J. DEVLIN, Sealer. 2
102
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Town Counsel
Wakefield, Mass., January 14, 1936. Wakefield, Mass.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :- As town counsel I make the following report for the year 1935.
Exceptions pending in the Supreme Court at the end of 1934, taken in the trial of five automobile-highway cases, known as the Zacharer cases, were sustained early in 1935, and final judgments in favor of the town were entered, and costs to the town of $100.00 collected. In these cases the jury awarded the plaintiffs in the aggregate $2,300.00, which by the decision the town saves. There were also two other cases brought arising from the same accident, which happened on Lowell Street, and after the decision was handed down these last two cases were also disposed of without trial, in the town's favor. Besides the saving to the town the decision was of great value in establishing that municipalities are not liable for the ordinary wear at the edge of the macadam of a way even if it becomes ragged as it was in the present instance.
In one case tried at Malden for injuries at a crosswalk on Main Street, the court awarded the plaintiff $310.00. In another case, there, for dam- ages at an alleged defect in the sidewalk of Main Street, the court found for the town and on appeal by the plaintiff the finding was sustained. In an action of contract against the town at Malden a counterclaim was filed and a finding for the town of $265.00 was made, of which $100.00 has been collected.
One accident case, on a highway, was settled for $100 paid by the town, and another for $15.
Three tax appeal cases were tried with abatements in small sums or- dered for the petitioners.
One compensation case was settled for $200 after hearings at the Com- pensation Board, the compensation agent and department concurring.
Collections have been made for several departments. Many titles have been examined in connection with acquisition of Greenwood and Moulton playgrounds. Street lay-outs and takings have been drawn and recorded.
Hearings have been had in connection with the equity suit to restrain pollution in Stoneham of the water shed of Crystal Lake. A stipulation filed therein requires all pigs to be removed from the defendant's premises in April of this year.
Several cases have been brought the last year for damages from high- way defects and there are now pending some nine cases, some quite old.
There are two tax title foreclosures brought by the town, and one tax appeal pending. Also three petitions for assessment of damages for taking of easements for street relocations.
Many opinions, oral and written, have been given to the departments and officers of the town. My weekly attendance with your board has been
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
103
very pleasant and I thank you for the friendliness which has made my thirty-fifth year as town counsel very agreeable.
Respectfully submitted,
MAYNARD E. S. CLEMONS,
Town Counsel.
Report of Supt. of Moth Dept.
Wakefield, Mass., Jan. 1, 1936.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Superintendent of the Moth Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1935.
We found about five percent more Gypsy Moth nests and ten percent more Elm Leaf Beetle in 1935 than we did in 1934. The Brown Tail, Satin Moth and Fall Web Worm are the same as last year. We found no trace whatever of the Dutch Elm Disease in the town.
We have been obliged to cut down 60 shade trees on account of the ERA where they have widened the street or put in cement sidewalks. We also removed 25 more that died from various causes.
We planted 55 young trees along streets where they were most needed. The Garden Club bought and gave us 30 of these trees to plant on streets where we saw fit. The other trees were grown in our own nursery on Broadway.
We spent $2,444.14 for moth work, $1,613.03 for spraying and $1,562.58 for trimming and cutting down trees.
· For other expenditures and appropriations of this department see Town Accountant's Report.
Respectfully yours, JOHN A. LANDRY, Supt .. of Moth Department.
Report of Inspector of Buildings
January 2, 1936.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Wakefield, Mass.
Dear Sirs,
I submit the following report of my activities for the year 1935: Building Permits granted 139
Building Inspections 200
104
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Elevators inspected
19
Fire Escapes and Public Buildings inspected 9
Convalescent Homes inspected 4
Rooming Houses inspected
10
Signs and Awnings inspected
23
Inspections after Fires
20
Building without a Permit
22
Buildings torn down
21
Permits refused
7
Cases to Appeal Board 1
Approximate valuation of new construction-$85,975.00. Included in this figure is $9,060 for buildings being erected without a permit.
$156.50 in permit fees has been collected and turned into the Town Treasury.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH W. MacINNIS, Building Inspector.
Report of Compensation Agent
January 2, 1936.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Wakefield, Mass.
Dear Sirs,
There were 34 Compensation cases in 1935 requiring an expenditure of $1,522.39 out of an appropriation of $2,500.00. $334.00 was paid out of 1935 appropriation on account of 1934 bills. This makes a total expendi- ture of $1,856.39 out of the 1935 appropriation.
Highway Department 15 injured
Moth Department
1 injured
School Department
3 injured
Water Department
13 injured
Sewer Department
2 injured
Total
34 injured
One man who has been on Compensation since 1930 received $619.71 in 1935, which closed the case as the $4,500 awarded him by the Industrial Accident Board had been paid by the Town.
One man will receive $9.00 per week until he has received $4,500.00 settlement agreed upon by the Industrial Accident Board.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.