USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1926-1930 > Part 24
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REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Charles W. Lawrance,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
I herewith submit my annual report as School physician.
Physical examinations were completed in late October.
During the year we have been practically free from con- tagious diseases, and the general health of the school population has been remarkably good.
Details of health work will be found in the nurse's report.
I wish to thank the Superintendent, nurse and teachers for :their hearty co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, E. A. MAYELL, M. D.
25
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools.
The Physical examinations for the year were completed in October with the following results :-
Number of Examinations. 482
Defects found
Tonsils and Adenoids
75
Poor Posture
208
Glands (Anterior and Posterior cervical) 160
Thyroid
6
Heart
72
Teeth (badly in need of dentistry)
175
Corrections made in eyes
12
Corrections made in Tonsils and Adenoids
8
Special Examinations
2473
Clinics
2
Simple dressings
215
Contagious Diseases
13
Pupils excluded because of contact with Communicable Diseases
14
Home visits
266
Sanitary inspections
150
Individual Talks on Personal Hygiene
178
Clerical work 523
hrs.
Visits to Boxboro
11
April 6th, 1928, the State Department of Public Health held a clinic at the High School. There were 131 children from Acton Schools and 42 from the Boxboro Schools examined at this time making a total of 173.
Of this number 32 re-acted to the Von Pirquet test. The Von Pirquet test is a skin test given to indicate, whether or not the child has ever had a Tuberculous infection, at any time, but does not mean active infection at present. The X-ray is then taken to determine the actual infection. Two more were made for Special X-rays because of Physical condition. All but four of this number were X-rayed at Boxboro, April 24. The final report of the clinic is as follows :
Grades I to VI
Population of School Children 257
Total Number of Children Examined 132
Percentage Examined 51%
Total Number of Contacts Examined 3
Total Number of Children Given the Tuberculin Test . .
131
Total Number of Children Who Reacted to the Test . .
32
Total Percentage of Reactors 24%
Total Number Children X-rayed 33
26
Total Number of Children with Enlarged or Diseased
Tonsils and adenoids 42
Total Number of Cases Classified as Suspects 5
Total Number of Cases Classified as Negative 28 Percentage of suspicious cases of the number of children examined .04
Percentage of negative cases of the number of children X-rayed
.85
Percentage of T & A Cases of the number of children Examined
.32
Total Number of Children in Need of Dentistry
84
Percentage of dental cases of the number of children examined .64
Total Number of Cases Showing Indication of Heart Diseases 0
Total Number of Cases of Malnutrition (Exclusive of the Suspicious cases) 12 Percentage of Malnutrition Cases of the Number of Children examined .09
In May, there were requests for the Schick test and im- munization from 62 children. Of this number there were 32 Schicked. 13 were immune. The rest received Toxin-Antitoxin with the other 30.
Parts of two days in May were spent with Mr. Love and Mr. Lawrance, testing the hearing of all children above the Second Grade by the Audiometer. Many children with defective hear- ing were found.
One child was taken to Dr. Fernald's School at Waverley for mental testing in July.
There is great need for Physical Director and equipment as many of the pupils show much need for special corrective exercises. A great deal more time should be spent on Physical Education than the grade teachers can possibly spare.
Dental work is much needed for all grades. If facilities for dental work were provided at a central point, such as the High School, students could have work done at a nominal cost and the health of the pupils much improved. Such equipment can be obtained temporarily from the State Department.
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN E. FROST, R. N.
27
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
January 24, 1929.
Mr. C. W. Lawrance,
Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Mass.
Dear Sir :
On commencing my duties as supervisor of drawing in the Schools of Acton, I was pleased to find a superintendent and group of teachers who have been always ready to co-operate with me in my plans and suggestions.
The development and cultivation of taste and the apprecia- tion of the beautiful in form and color, are the general aims in teaching art in the schools. In the lower grades, the children are taught mainly the use of their hands, and the ability to fol- low directions, together with simple color facts and design ele- ments. Expression of oneself in line and form, and a further understanding of color and design, are the aims of the lessons in. the upper grades.
Tastes and appreciation are important factors in these grades. While I do not attempt to make an artist of every child, I try to direct and encourage the talented pupil, though not at. the expense of the others.
It is the purpose to correlate art with the other activities of the school room as :- geography, history, language, health, special holidays and seasons, etc. This is to make the child see that art is not something for a few, but it is a factor which enters the life of every individual.
Respectfully submitted,
MARION E. RAY.
In conclusion, the teachers and special-subject supervisors join me in thanking the School Committee for their hearty co- operation, and the parents and townspeople for their loyalty to and support of the schools during the past year. Such support from the townspeople, and the many hours of work by the School Committee, is raising our schools to an effective factor in prepar- ing our pupils for the great business of life.
Respectfully yours,
CHARLES W. LAWRANCE.
INDEX
Accountant
40
Appointments by Selectmen
4
Assessors' Report
62
Auditor
60
Board of Health
Cemetery Commissioners
Collector's Report
Electric Light Committee
Fire Department
Forest Warden
Health Nurse
Inspector of Animals
Inspector of Slaughtering
Jury List
Library Report
Middlesex County Extension Service
Public Welfare
Police Department
Selectmen's Report
Superintendent of Streets
Town Clerk
Births
Deaths
Dog Licenses
16
Non-Resident Burials
20 21
Town Meetings
3
Town Warrant
7
Treasurer's Report
33
Cemetery Funds
37
Firemen's Relief Fund
38 38
Nineteenth of April Fund
Wilde Library Fund
37
Trustees Goodnow Fund
61
Trustees Elizabeth White Fund
61
80 78 79 80 6 86 84 64 79 12 77 13 14 19 30
Marriages
Town Officers
35
Elizabeth White Fund
64 65 63 81 39
SECOND SECTION
School Report :
Domestic Science 22
Financial Statement
6
Legal Holidays
4
Organization .
3
School Calendar
3
School Committee
6
School Nurse
25
School Physician
24
Standing Rules
4
Superintendent's Report
16
Supervisor of Drawing
27
Supervisor of Music 28
Teachers
5
22
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
2V
Several Official Boards
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1929
RAT
D
OONI
1735.
ACTON.
THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1930
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Several Official Boards
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1929
RATED
ONI
1735.
ACTON ..
THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS.
1930
TOWN OFFICERS, 1929
MODERATOR Allen Brooks Parker SELECTMEN
Waldo E. Whitcomb Term expires 1930
Howard J. Billings
Term expires 1932
Wendell F. Davis Term expires 1931
TOWN CLERK Horace F. Tuttle
TOWN TREASURER Frank W. Hoit
ASSESSORS
Albert P. Durkee Term expires 1932
Henry L. Haynes
Term expires 1930
Warren H. Jones Term expires 1931
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Howard J. Billings Term expires 1930
Waldo E. Whitcomb Term expires 1930
Wendell F. Davis Term expires 1930
COLLECTOR OF TAXES Charles A. Durkee
TREE WARDEN James O'Neil
CONSTABLES
Michael Foley John T. McNiff
Alan B. Frost Charles A. Durkee
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
Fred W. Green . Term expires 1932
Wendell F. Davis Term expires 1930
Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1931
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Forrest E. Bean Term expires 1932 Lulu L. Clark Term expires 1932
Alberta M. Mead Term expires 1930
Frank Toohey
Term expires 1930
Louisa N. Wood Term expires 1931
Arthur M. Whitcomb Term expires 1930
(Appointed to fill vacancy)
4
TRUSTEES OF MEMORIAL LIBRARY
J. Sidney White
Term expires 1932
Lucius A. Hesselton . Term expires 1930
Horace F. Tuttle
Term expires 1931
BOARD OF HEALTH
Raymond F. Durkee Term expires 1932
Frank E. Tasker
Term expires 1930
George H. Tuttle Term expires 1931
TRUSTEES OF THE ELIZABETH WHITE FUND
Warren H. Jones . Term expires 1932
Waldo E. Whitcomb Term expires 1930
William H. Kingsley Term expires 1931
TRUSTEES OF THE WEST ACTON FIREMAN'S RELIEF FUND
C. D. Cram Term expires 1932
Edgar H. Hall Term expires 1930
A. N. Hederstedt Term expires 1931
TRUSTEES OF GOODNOW FUND
Charles E. Smith Term expires 1932
Charlotte Conant Term expires 1930
Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1931
Appointments by the Selectmen
FINANCE COMMITTEE Murray Brown Frank W. Hoit Alfred W. Davis William Rawitser, George A. Richardson, Webster S. Blanchard
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS Albert H. Perkins
TOWN ACCOUNTANT Howard L. Jones
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
Charles J. Holton Term expires 1932 Daniel W. Sheehan, Jr. Term expires 1930 Edwin A. Phalen Term expires 1931
Horace F. Tuttle, ex-officio
5
ELECTION OFFICERS
Precinct 1
Warden
James W. Coughlin
Deputy Warden
George A. Murphy
Clerk
Arthur W. Wayne
Deputy Clerk
. Spencer H. Taylor
Inspector Arthur F. Davis
Deputy Inspector . Willis L. Holden
Inspector
Leo F. McCarthy
Deputy Inspector
Harold Coughlin
Precinct 2
Warden
Lucius A. Hesselton
Deputy Warden
Theron F. Newton
Clerk
John J. Manning
Deputy Clerk
Thomas Murray
Inspector Lewis C. Hastings
Deputy Inspector
Frank A. Merriam
Inspector
Timothy Hennessey
Deputy Inspector
James Brown
Precinct 3
Warden . Bertram D. Hall
Deputy Warden
. Fred S. Whitcomb
Clerk
David R. Kinsley
Deputy Clerk
Frank McDonald
Inspector
A. R. Beach
Deputy Inspector
. Harry Holt
Inspector . James Kinsley
Deputy Inspector Guy P. Littlefield
CATTLE INSPECTOR Fred S. Whitcomb
FIRE ENGINEERS Frank W. Hoit, Chief
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS
Precinct 1 Samuel E. Knowlton
Precinct 2 George K. Hayward
Precinct 3 H. Stewart MacGregor
FOREST WARDEN Alan B. Frost
6
SUPERINTENDENT OF MOTH WORK James O'Neil
POLICE OFFICERS Chief, Michael J. Foley
John T. McNiff
Alan B. Frost
DIRECTOR MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE Charles B. Willett
Fred Billings Arthur Emerson David Morrison Frank E. Parsons Spencer H. Taylor
Edward F. Nealey Theron A. Lowden Charles Miles Herbert A. Thayer Clarence Chickering
David R. Kinsley William Johnson Henry L. Haynes Howard C. Tracy Eugene L. Hall
Jury List
Revised 1929
Precinct 1
Oliver D. Wood James W. Coughlin George S. Tucker Charles E. Willett
Precinct 2
Patrick J. Foley Carl Flint James Brown David Cook
Precinct 3 James E. Kinsley James A. Grimes John T. McNiff
William J. Benere
Edgar I. Blaisdell
7
TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss.
ŁAFE
-1735.
"ACTON.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Acton, in said County, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify the legal voters of said town of Acton, qualified to vote at town meetings for the transaction of town affairs, to meet in their respective precincts, to wit :
Precinct 1-Town Hall in said Acton.
Precinct 2-Universalist Church, South Acton.
Precinct 3-Fire House, West Acton.
At 12 o'clock noon, on Monday, the third day of March, 1930, by posting a copy of this warrant, by you attested, at each of the places as directed by vote of the town, seven days at least before the said third day of March.
To bring in their votes on one ballot for the following town officers : One moderator for one year, one town clerk for one year, one selectman for three years, one assessor for three years, three for department of public welfare for one year, one treasurer for one year, one collector of taxes for one year, four constables for one year, two for school committee for three years, one for school committee for one year, to fill the unexpired term of Edgar H. Hall; one for board of health for three years, one cemetery commissioner for three years, one trustee Memorial library for three years, one tree warden for one year.
The polls will be open at 12 o'clock noon, and close at 7 o'clock p. m.
8
You are further requested in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to notify the legal voters of said town of Acton, as aforesaid, to meet at the town hall, in said Acton, on Monday, the tenth day of March, at 9 o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles :
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers and committees, and fix salaries of all town officers.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the several reports of the town officers.
Article 3. To hear and act upon the reports of any committees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.
Article 4. To see what sum of money the town will appro- priate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town and determine how the same shall be raised.
Article 5. To see what sum of money the town will raise for the observance of Memorial day.
Article 6. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.
Article 7. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the fire department, or vote anything thereon.
Article 8. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires, and fix price thereon.
Article 9. To see what action the town will take toward the suppression of the brown-tail and gypsy moth.
Article 10. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to insure the employees of the town, or act anything thereon.
Article 11. To see what amount of money the town will appropriate for the payment of premiums on the treasurer's and collector's bonds, or act anything thereon.
Article 12. To see if the town will authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time, in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1st, 1930, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the reveue of said financial year.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to employ a public health nurse, and appropriate a sum of money for the main- tenance of the same.
9
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00, or some other amount, and elect a director, the money to be expended by, and the director to serve in co-operation with the Middlesex County trustees for county aid to agriculture in the work of the Middlesex County Extension Service, under the provisions of Sections 40 to 45, Chapter 128, General Laws of Massachusetts.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to sell any unused equipment of the different depart- ments of the town or act anything thereon.
Article 16. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $300.00 or some other sum for he settlement of claimes against the town and legal expenses in connection therewith or act anything thereon.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to have one street light placed at or near the driveway of Herbert S. Davis, on Main street.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00), to rebuild Summer street, from Central street to the Boxboro' line, provided a like sum is allotted the town by the state and a similar sum by the county of Middlesex, or act anything thereon.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00), to rebuild Newtown road, from Main street to the Littleton line, provided a like sum is allotted to the town by the state and a similar sum by the county of Middlesex, or act anything thereon.
Article 20. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $150.00 for town forest work, or act anything thereon.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to accept the Board of Survey act, in accordance with Chapter 41, Section 73 to 81 inclusive, General Laws, or act anything thereon.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to appoint a com- mittee, to present to the town, at next annual town meeting, a tentative zoning map and laws, in accordance with Chapter 40, Section 25, General Laws, or act anything thereon.
Article 23. To see if the town will appoint a planning board, in accordance with Chapter 41, Section 70, General Laws.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to establish and maintain a street light on the pole opposite the Acton Motor company, School street, West Acton, or act anything thereon.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00), to buy new improved equipment for the Fire Truck, in precinct three, or act anything thereon.
10
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), for the purpose of reconstructing the roof of the Fire House, at Acton Center, so as to provide a room on the second floor for firemen's meetings, or any other town purposes, or act anything thereon.
Article 27. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of six hundred and fifty dollars ($650.00), to install a compressed air whistle, at the fire house, in South Acton, or act anything thereon.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty-five hundred dollars ($3500.00), to develop the High School athletic field and grounds, or act anything thereon.
Article 29. To see if the town will instruct the selectmen, to removed the fountain located in the center of Quimby square, and to connect water to the stone trough on School street, or act anything thereon.
Article 30. To see what action the town will take with regards to a tercentennial celebration.
Article 31. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00), to improve the ground for parking purposes around the town hall, or act anything thereon.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote, to relocate the highway, at the southeast corner of Quimby square, and appropri- ate a sum of money therefor, or act anything thereon.
Article 33. To see what action the town will take toward placing a raised triangular plot, in Quimby square, conforming to the three ways, making them two way streets from all angles, placing an under ground wiring to a light or lights on a metal pole, and otherwise reconditioning the square, or act anything thereon.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the town clerk at or before the first time of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands at Acton, this fifth day of February, 1930.
WALDO E. WHITCOMB, WENDELL F. DAVIS, HOWARD J. BILLINGS, Selectmen of Acton.
4 6
11
FINANCE COMMITTEE
-
The Commitee on Finance makes the following recomenda- tions relating to appropriations.
Article 4 :
Roads, general maintenance
$12,000.00
Schools
45,000.00 5,050.00
Street lighting
800.00
Books
200.00
Hydrant service
2,959.00
General government
4,800.00
Buildings and grounds
800.00
Cemeteries
1,200.00
Military aid
200.00
State aid
200.00
Soldiers' relief
500.00
Police department
1,500.00
Board of health
1,000.00
Public welfare
2,500.00 €
Snow removal
1,500.00
Care of shade trees
500.00
Reserve fund
1,200.00 500.00
Unclassified
Bonds, (High school and others)
9,500.00
Interest on bonds and notes
2,276.00
Interest on revenue loans
2,300.00 *
$96,485.00
19,120.00
$115,605.00
Article 5 Memorial Day
$300.00
Article 7 Fire department maintenance 2,000.00
New hose.
700.00
Article 8 Forest fires 500.00
Article 9 Gypsy moth work 1,250.00
Article 10 Liability insurance 500.00
Article 11 Treasurer's and collector's bonds 270.00
Article 13 Public health nurse 2,200.00
Article 14 Demonstration work 300.00
(Agriculture)
Article 16 Settlement of claims 300.00
Article 17 and 24 To leave to Board of Selectmen
Article 18 Summer street road 3,000.00
Article 19 Newtown road 3,000.00
Memorial Library
12
Article 20 Town forest work 150.00
Article 25 To be included in Article 7.
Article 26 Centre fire house
1,000.00
Article 27 Fire whistle, South Acton
650.00
Article 28 Committee on finance recommends not over
2,500.00 35 00. -
Article 29 Committee on finance is advised that no
special appropriation need be made.
Article 31 Town Hall Grounds 500.00
$19,120.00
Article 32 Committee on finance is unable to make any recom- mendation, as no estimate of cost has been furnished.
Article 33 Committee on finance does not think it advisable to recommend.
FINANCE COMMITTEE,
Precinct 1. Precinct 2.
Murray Brown, Frank W. Hoit,
George A. Richardson, William Rawitser,
Precinct 3.
Webster S. Blanchard, Alfred W. Davis,
AUDITOR'S REPORT
I have examined the books and accounts of the Treasurer of the Town of Acton and also the books and records of the Collector of taxes and have found them correct. Notices have been sent to all delinquent tax payers.
HOWARD L. JONES Town Accountant
February 12, 1930.
13
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
We herewith submit for your approval the report of the various departments of the town for the year ending December 31, 1929 :
Under Article 19 to grade the abandoned dump in precinct one opposite the cemetery. For this we advertised for bids. When we opened our bids we found all except one far in excess of the appropriation for this work and your board rejected all bids. Later Mr. George Greenough took the contract to fill the dump and bring it up to grade for the sum of three hundred dollars and this has been filled and seeded down with grass.
Under Article 21, the common at Acton center has been greatly improved doing all that could be done with the appro- priation, as this has been neglected in the past much more could be done here.
Under Article 22, a committee of six has been appointed by the selectmen to act as an electric light committee and you will find their report printed elsewhere in this report.
Under Article 23 ,and 24, the state and county came in with the town under the provisions of Section 34, Chapter 90, of the general laws. The work was advertised for bids and the contract was awarded to John J. Watkins of Amesbury Mass. he being the lowest bidder.
The work has been completed and approved by the commis- sioners of public works, November 26, 1929, and we feel that we made a saving to the town by having this work done by contract, as the town has not the equipment for this work.
Under Article 28, after looking at several makes of Road Rol- lers, we decided on a twelve ton Buffalo Gasoline Roller which has been doing good work on our roads this year. We also purchased new sprinklers for the watering cart which puts this in good work- ing order.
Under Article 34, one electric light was placed near the house of A. C. Jones on Arlington street, also the electric light near the high school was moved up one pole, so as to give better light to the entrance to the high school grounds.
Under Article 37, after several meetings with the state and county officials with no success we were obliged to repair Nagog Hill road without help from either state or county. So with the appropriation made by the town this road was graveled in part, scraped oiled and rolled, which brought this road into very good shape for the present time.
Under Article 38, a vote to authorize the selectmen to sell the
14
unused gravel pit located on the state road to Mr. Murray Brown, for the sum of one dollar, this deed has been given and the sum paid.
Under Articles 20, 25, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33 and 36, we have en- deavored to give special attention to the roads named in these Articles and to have what has been done in the form of a perma- nent nature that may be added to from year to year
In conclusion, we feel that the conditions of the town are im- proving each year having paid a part of our bonded indebtness thus cutting down our heavy expense and we would urge the citi- zens to read and carefully study the reports of all the town offi- cers and committees printed in this report especially that of the finance committee in order that we may keep our tax rate down below the average of the state.
Respectfully submitted,
WALDO E. WHITCOMB, WENDALL F. DAVIS, HOWARD J. BILLINGS.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT
Births
Whole number recorded
41
Born in Acton 14 Native parentage 26
Males
24
Native parentage
27
Females 17 Mixed parentage 11
Marriages
Whole number recorded
28
Residents of Acton 34 Residents of other places, 22
Deaths
Whole number recorded
42
Residents of Acton 37 Residents of other places, .. 5
Occurring in Acton 31 Occurring in other places, 11
Average age in years, 65 plus.
The town clerk requests information of any errors, or omis- sions in the list of births, marriages and deaths.
The town clerk hereby gives notice that he is prepared to furnish blanks for the return of births and deaths.
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