USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1946-1950 > Part 16
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REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report, as Sealer of Weights and Measures, for the year ending December 31, 1947.
During the year I sealed 361 weighing and measuring de- vices. Adjustments were necessary on many of these devices, including one truck platform scale and several gasoline pumps.
Three platform scales not being used were not sealed.
The State Department of Standards loaned the equipment for measuring the Tank Truck Meter Systems as usual, there- by saving our merchants time and money by not having to go out of town to have this test made.
I found the merchants very cooperative and anxious to have their equipment accurate.
Sealing fees collected $74.25. The same was turned over to the Town Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD W. ESTABROOK, Sealer of Weights and Measures
144 REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
1
To the Board of Selectmen
Acton, Massachusetts
I herewith submit my report for the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1947.
Arrests and prosecutions for the following offenses :
Drunkenness 10
Operating under the influence of liquor 6
Operating after revocation of license 3
Speeding
6
Operating recklessly 2
Operating so as to endanger 5
Not slowing at an intersecting way
19
Not displaying an inspection sticker 18
Operating without a license 5
Failing to stop at Stop sign
12
Law of the road
5
Going away after causing property damage
1
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle
1
Going through a red light
1
Criminal Assault
1
Assault and Battery
1
Larceny
1
Non-payment of wages
4
Delinquent children 3
Fish and Game violations 3
Summonses served for other departments 35
Persons picked up for questioning and released
40
Days in District Court
41
Days in Superior Court
2
Telephone calls received 749
Telephone calls made 334
People coming to Chief's home 152
Committed to State Hospitals 9
Cars tagged for all night parking 10
145
Motor Vehicle accident report :
Accidents reported 34
Occupants injured 30
Occupants killed 2
Pedestrians injured
4
In addition to prosecutions for motor vehicle violations. twenty-three persons were reported to the Registrar for im- proper operation and their licenses were suspended. We also booked seventy-eight operators and gave them verbal warn- ings.
Two hundred twenty-four complaints were received and investigated, as follows :
Prowlers
22
Speeding
17
Dog complaints 12
Drunkenness 10
Family arguments
12
Improper parking
14
Roads not sanded
'2
Children coasting in a street
1
Damage to property
20
Trespassing
10
Assault with criminal intent
3
Break in school building
1
Refusal to return property
1
Disturbance by children
2
Boys fighting
6
Shooting with .22 rifles
7
Larceny
16
B & E & Larceny
6
Refusal to pay taxi fare
1
Bad checks
1
Trouble at school
1
Indecent language in public
1
Dumping rubbish on private property
2
Poultry on private property
1
Disturbances
7
Assault & Battery
3
Occupants of autos acting suspiciously
6
146
Persons acting suspiciously
4
Autos reported stolen
2
Using motor vehicle without authority
1
Glass in highway
1
Swine on private property
Attempted breaks
Children playing in highway
Improper operation of motor vehicles
Operating under the influence
1
Cattle on private property
6
Molesting young girl .
1
Property removed from premises without per- mission
1
Operating restaurant without victualler's license Dropping brush on highway
1
Boys blowing whistles at autos
1 1
Children running in front of cars
1
Boys throwing stones
1
Playing football on Common
1
Boy injured by shotgun shell 1
Hunting out-of-season 1
Miscellaneous calls and duties :
Emergency messages delivered 18
Protection given during transfer of money 36
Property checked at request of owners 20
Revolver permits issued 35
Traffic at fires 63
Street lights reported out 2
Traffic at funerals 3
Assisted in search for escaped prisoners 6
Permits issued for work on the Lord's Day 6
Dogs reported lost
8
Dogs hit by autos 9
1
Call for skunk in trap 1
Call for flooded cellar
1
Call for trouble in heating system 1
Fire discovered and reported by police 1
Cars left on highway and towed in 1
1
1
1 9 1
Attempted suicide
Call for skunk under porch
147
Traffic at road race
1
Motorists assisted at night
4
Traffic lights reported out of order 3
Doors found open during night patrol
·
Assisted in search for missing persons
Power wires down on street (reported to Edison) Traffic during moving of buildings on highway Assisted in investigations for other depts. 7
2
Injured persons assisted
2
Traffic at Firemen's Field Day 1
Lights out on construction job (lighted) 6
Obstructions removed from highways 3
Traffic at auction 1
Call for near drowning 1
Trips out-of-town on investigations, etc .:
Concord 54 Maynard 27
Cambridge 5
Worcester 4
Bedford 4 Boxborough 3
Sudbury 1
Stow
1
. Tewksbury
1
Westwood 1
Littleton
1 Lowell 1
Bridgewater 1
The additional permanent officer, voted for at the last annual meeting, started duty on September 6th. Both offi- cers now work seventy-two hours per week, with extra hours without pay when duty demands. All stores and public build- ings are checked several times during each night and in addi- tion to this, a check is also made, upon request, of all homes temporarily closed or under construction.
The new two-way Motorola F. M. Radio set has been installed in the cruiser. This enables us to contact either the Concord or Maynard Police Departments direct from the cruiser and all calls put out by either the Concord or Maynard stations are picked up by the cruisers in Concord, Acton, Lincoln and Maynard. This is a great improvement over the old setup.
In closing, I would like to express my thanks to the voters of Acton for their support at Town Meeting, to Chief William
5 3
7
148
G. Ryan of the Concord Police Department for his cooperation, which enables us to have two-way radio service, to the local telephone operators for their cooperation in locating the offi- cer when out on duty, and to all others who in any way as- sisted us in our duties during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL FOLEY Chief of Police
REPORT OF TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
The Town Forest Committee submits the following report for the year 1947.
No additional forest land has been purchased or acquired during the year. The present forest, consisting of two parcels, -one of 49 acres and the other of 22 acres,-should be enlarged if additional land can be acquired under suitable conditions.
It is recommended that the amount of $500.00, appro- priated in 1945 for the Committee, remain available for pos- sible use during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
ARNO H. PERKINS, Chairman JAMES J. KNIGHT JOHN M. WHITTIER, Secretary
149
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year 1947.
Barns visited 40
Cows
244
Young cattle
89
Bulls
13
Hogs
21
Horses
24
Sheep
4
Goats
8
Steers
5
Dog bites
9
Dogs quarantined
12
Dogs Interstate shipment
3
Rabies
0
As a whole cattle and barns are kept clean. Cattle free from diseases.
All dogs that are purchased in other states must be accompanied by a certificate of health from the State of ship- ment. If not, they shall have to be quarantined for a period of ninety days.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST E. ALLSOPP
Inspector of Animals
150 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Board of Health of Acton herewith submits its re- port for the year ending Dec. 31, 1947, together with the annual report of the Agent and Inspector of Slaughtering.
There were thirty-seven cases of contagious diseases reported to the Board of Health during the year as follows :
Scarlet Fever 1
Chicken Pox 4
Tuberculosis 1
German Measles 2
Tetanus 1
Measles
4
Whooping Cough 13
Gonorrhea 1
Malaria
1
Dog Bite 9
The town has been free from any epidemic of commu- nicable diseases and the health in general is considered good.
The diphtheria clinic was held at the schools as in recent years and much more interest was shown than in any pre- vious year. See the report of the school nurse.
We have continued to take care of one patient in the Middlesex County Sanatorium for the entire year of 1947 and anticipate the continuance of this for 1948. Therefore, we recommend the appropriation of $5000.00 for the use of this board for 1948, the same as last year.
DEATHS
Deaths recorded 39
Residents of Acton 35
Residents of other places 4
Occurring in Acton 25
151
Occurring in other places 14
Burial permits issued
26
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF HEALTH ACTON, MASSACHUSETTS O. L. Clark, M.D., Chairman L. H. Cram H. Leusher E. E. Allsopp, Agent
REPORT OF TOWN NURSE
To the Board of Health Acton, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year ending De cember 31, 1947 -
Bedside calls 720
Pre-natal 150
Post-natal 62
Welfare 140
Night calls 37
Six patients taken to the Middlesex Sanatorium for X-ray and annual check-up. Four taken to the Emerson Hospital for various reasons.
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN F. TAYLOR, R.N.
152
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Slaughtering from Jan. 1, 1947, to Dec. 31, 1947.
Hogs
36
Condemned . 0
Beef
12
Condemned 0
Veal
16
Condemned. 0
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST E. ALLSOPP Inspector of Slaughtering
REPORT OF ELIZABETH WHITE FUND
The trustees have signed orders to the treasurer for Four Hundred and twenty-five dollars ($425.00) for the year ending December 31, 1947.
These orders have been given after careful investigation with knowledge that each person is worthy of help from this trust fund.
Respectfully submitted,
WALDO E. WHITCOMB CLARA L. SAWYER GRACE O. LEARS Trustees of the Elizabeth White Fund
153
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my report for the Fire Department for the year 1947.
Total number of alarms responded to are as follows -
Building
5
Automobile 5
Chimney 4
Emergency
1
Oil
1
False
1
-
17
The new emergency service truck is still in construction, but I hope it will be complete, and in service before town meeting day.
The equipment is in excellent condition and we now have a plan to replace our needs, a little each year, so that there will not be a large expenditure in any one year.
Respectfully submitted,
H. S. MacGREGOR Chief of Fire Department
REPORT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION AGENT
The Honorable Board of Selectmen :
There was only one accident reported to me during the year of 1947. That one was not serious and the workman returned to work in a few days.
Please report all accidents promptly to your Compensation Agent.
HOWARD L. JONES Compensation Agent
154
REPORT OF VETERANS SERVICES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
This past year we started shaping up the office of Veterans Services by utilization of the various supplies purchased, getting the printing done on such as was necessary and recording on the various forms the information previously recorded from the discharges of the Veterans. So that now we have two hundred and fifty-two (252) discharges recorded and indexed in the binder kept in the safe and the facts transcribed onto records kept in an individual alphabetical file folder in the files with an indexed card of addresses file to take care of address changes.
All bonus cases disallowed, held for hearings or confer- ence on insufficient evidence have been reopened, the hearings or conference help and up to November 1 we are happy to state have all been granted in favor of the veteran. Since then we have had three cases go to conference but they will have sufficient supporting evidence shortly to warrant their being found favorable for payment.
We have had the handling of almost every conceivably known type of problem to a veteran. Educational, on the Job Training, Insurance, Hospitalization, Naturalization, Compen- sation, Disability allowance, Employment, Maternity and in- fant care, Child welfare, Housing, Building and loan, Business loan, Discrimination, preference Civil Service, Allotment, Emergency release from service, Lost clothing, Return of bodies, Graves registration and many others of lesser nature but all a problem to the man or woman involved. We have tried to make them feel that their problem is our problem, that their placing of confidence in us, if complete, honest, and without prejudice, can be and is a source of relief and help even though sometimes the desired goal is not reached as fully and completely as expected.
Evidently we must be having a certain degree of success because Veterans from other towns are calling either by phone or in person for assistance and we shall gladly do any-
155
thing in our power to help no matter where they come from. The only fault we find, if it can be called a fault, is that too many Veterans are procrastinating. Putting off registering that discharge, picking up that insurance, filing that disability claim within the time limits, or doing the thing necessary . to protect, not just themselves but that prospective wife or child. We cannot make you do any of these things, but do not let false security, pride, or just plain stubbornness be the means of putting us in a position where we cannot help you or your loved ones when an emergency arises. We are not magicians, just humans like yourself, and a registered and recorded discharge is the key to all trouble locks.
Register it now-any Tuesday or Friday night at the Town Hall.
Thanks
THERON A. LOWDEN Director of Veterans Services
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Acton:
I herewith submit my report, concerning the work of the Highway Department, for the year 1947.
The regular maintenance and work of cleaning and patch- ing was carried on. Extensive brush cutting was done.
Various roads were surface treated, much of which was high type pavement.
Several stone drains were replaced by metal culvert pipe.
Construction on Main Street was continued to a point south of Wheeler Lane. Several dangerous curves were elimi- nated. The land for straightening the curves was donated by the abutters. The fill was given. This work will be continued in 1948.
156
A policy is being adopted of rebuilding, at least, one large capstone culvert each year. The first is in the process of construction on Brook Street.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL C. BERRY Superintendent of Streets
FOREST WARDEN'S REPORT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Your forest warden submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1947.
Total No. of grass and brush fires 72
Collection for illegal fires $76.95
The new forest fire truck has been put into service, and has proved a big asset in extinguishing forest fires. This truck is equipped with approximately 3000 ft. of one inch hose, 500 ft. of booster hose and also carries 500 gals. of water which make combatting forest and grass fires much easier.
The forest fire equipment is in excellent condition except that a small amount of hose should be added each year to replace worn out hose.
Respectfully submitted,
H. S. MacGREGOR Forest Warden
157 REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR 1947
We herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1947.
The account of the town treasurer shows that during the past year the cemetery department has received and paid into the treasury the sum of $1669.44 itemized as follows :-
Annual care of lots
$ 576.00
Burials
494.00
Rental of lowering device
48.00
Sale of lots
300.00
Foundations
192.44
Miscellaneous
59.00
$1669.44
We ask that these receipts may be considered in making your appropriations for the current year.
We recommend an appropriation for the care of the ceme- teries the sum of $4900.00 for the year 1948.
There has been added to the perpetual care account the past year, in new accounts, the sum of $2325.00.
An itemized account of the expenditures for the care of the cemeteries will be found in the report of the town ac- countant.
RAY L. HARRIS HOWARD F. JONES HARRY E. HOLT Cemetery Commissioners 1
158
REPORT OF WELFARE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
We respectfully submit the report of the Board of Public Welfare for the year 1947.
The appropriation for Welfare for 1947 was $4,500, out of which $3,502.97 was spent, leaving a balance of $997.03. During 1947, we aided six cases in Acton and six cases out of town with Acton settlements. At the present time, we are aiding six welfare cases, four of which are in Acton. For the out-of-town bills during the past year, we paid $1,535.83 while $1,967.14 was paid for the six cases in Acton. In anticipation of bills which will be incurred during 1948, we find it necessary to ask for an appropriation of $4,500, which is the same as last year.
For Aid to Dependent Children, we are asking an appro- priation of $3,000. This is a decrease of $500 from last year. During 1947, we aided three families having a total of eight dependent children. Our present case load is two families with a total of three children.
We are asking for $25,000 for Old Age Assistance for the coming year. This is the same as last year. On January 1, 1947, our case load was 68 and on December 31, 1947, it was 65. During the entire year, 78 persons were aided under this category of assistance, 54 of these had Acton settlements, 15 with out-of-town settlements and 9 which were unsettled. Owing to the high cost of living, state budgetary standards were increased during the past year, making it necessary to increase the grants of most of the recipients of Old Age Assistance.
Your Board, desiring to give you an analysis of the ex- penditures for 1947, submits the following :
TEMPORARY AID
Paid to State on Acton settled cases ..... $ 610.50 Paid to other places on Acton settled cases 925.33
159
Paid to cases in Acton
1,967.14
$3,502.97
Estimated reimbursements :
from other towns $1,859.88
1,859.88
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton . . $1,643.09
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Total Expended $2,507.25
Estimated Federal Grants $ 531.64
Estimated State reimbursements 835.77
1,367.41
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton . . $1,139.84
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Total expended $42,602.87
Estimated Federal Grants $18,871.89
Estimated State reimbursements 16,142.85
Estimated reimbursements from other
places
879.24
35,893.98
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton $ 6,708.89
Appropriations recommended for 1948 :
Old Age Assistance $25,000.00
Temporary Aid 4,500.00
Aid to Dependent Children 3,000.00
Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN J. INESON MARY M. LAFFIN WALTER B. STEVENS Board of Public Welfare
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON MASSACHUSETTS
RATEL
- 1735.
·ACTON
For the year Ending December 31st, 1947
Murphy & Snyder, Maynard, Massachusetts
2
ORGANIZATION
School Committee
Mr. Richard A. Lowden, Chairman Term expires 1948
Mrs. Gertrude Tuttle Term expires 1948
Mrs. G. Howard Reed Term expires 1949
Mr. Ralph W. Stearns
Term expires 1949
Mr. Ernest Simpson Term expires 1950
Mrs. Hazel P. Vose Term expires 1950
Meetings of the School Committee
Regular meetings of the school committee are held the second Monday of each month in the high school at 8:00 p.m. Exceptions may be made during July and August.
Superintendent David C. Bowen Office-High School Building, Telephone 110
School Physician Ernest A. Mayell, M.D.
East Acton, Telephone 345-3
School Nurse Mrs. Simon D. Taylor, R.N. North Acton, Telephone 33-22
Attendance Officer . George H. Charter West Acton, Telephone 110
Custodians : High School, Tel. 110 . George H. Charter
Center School, Tel. 86 . W. Burton Harvey
South School, Tel. 445 Kenneth Harvey West School, Tel. 105 Ernest G. Banks
3
Tentative Calendar for 1948
Monday, January 5, Schools Open Friday, February 20, Schools Close Monday, March 1, Schools Open Friday, April 16, Schools Close
Monday, April 26, Schools Open Monday, May 31, Holiday (Memorial Day)
Friday, June 11, Elementary Schools Close
Friday, June 11, High School Graduation
Friday, June 18, High School Closes
School Year 1948-1949
September 6, High School Opens
September 13, Elementary Schools Open
October 12, Columbus Day
October 29, Teachers' Convention
November 11, Armistice Day
November 25 and 26, Thanksgiving Recess
December 23, Schools Close
1949
January 3, Schcols Open February 18, Schools Close
February 28, Schools Open April 15, Schools Close
April 25, Schools Open May 31, Memorial Day
June 10, Elementary Schools Close
June 10, High School Graduation
June 24, High School Closes
No School Signal - All Schools All Day
7:00 a.m., fire whistle in all precincts-2-2-2-2 7:00-8:00 a.m., radio announcements over WBZ and WEEI
4
STANDING RULES OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1. Admission to School (as amended by vote of the school committee November 2, 1943).
Children shall not be admitted to the public schools unless they are five years, nine months of age on or before September 1. Ordinarily, entrance must come during the first two weeks of school. All children entering for the first time must present birth and vaccination certificates.
2. Excuses for Absence and Tardiness (as amended by vote of the school committee January, 1944).
Pupils are expected to attend school regularly except for illness. They must present a written excuse signed by parent or guardian stating a definite reason for each absence or tardiness.
3. Detention
Pupils may be detained after school in the afternoon not longer than thirty minutes in the elementary schools and for a longer period in the high school.
4. Contagious Diseases, State Laws: Chapter 71, Section 55; Chapter 76, Section 15:
"A child from a household where a person is ill with smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, or any other in- fectious or contagious disease, or from a household exposed to contagion from any such disease in another household, shall not attend any public school during such illness or exposure until the teacher of the school has been furnished with a certificate from the local board of health, school physician, or from the attending physician, stating that danger of con- veying such disease by such child has passed".
5
TEACHERS IN SERVICE as of January 1, 1948
Center School
Appt. Graduate of Home Address
*Dardana Berry (Mrs.), Prin. 1943 Framingham Normal · Acton
Gertrude Braman (Mrs.)
1946 Fitchburg Normal Acton
Isabel MacPherson, B.S.
1947 Boston University Newton
South School
Julia McCarthy, Prin.
1906 Fitchburg Normal So. Acton
Florence Merriam
1927 Fitchburg Normal So. Acton
Jessie Gemma (Mrs.)
1946 Fitchburg State Col. Clinton
West School
Carrie Wells (Mrs.), Prin.
1943 Fitchburg Normal
So. Acton
Carolyn Douglas (Mrs.), B.S.E. 1940 Fitchburg State Col.
Helen Best (Mrs.)
1947 Wheelock
So. Acton Acton
High School
David C. Bowen, Prin., B.S .; Ed.M.
William O'Connell, B.S.E .; Ass't Prin., High School Mary Emerson (Mrs.), B.S. Jacqueline Jeyes, B.S.E.
Henry Hopkinson, L.L.B.
Judith Britton, B.A. Marion Towne, A.B. Marjorie Greene, A.B.
Richard Headstrom, B.S.
Maria Piermarini, B.A. Alexander Kyrios, B.A .; M.Ed. 1946 Tufts College
Patricia Deehan, A.B.
Ralph Stetson
1946 Dartmouth College Harvard University 1945 Boston University
1943 Univ. of N. H.
1947 Salem Teachers' Col.
1930 Northeastern Law
1947 Emerson College
1921 Smith College
1946 Emmanuel College 1946 M. I. T.
1946 Boston University
1946 Boston University
1947 Mass. Art School
E. Pepperel!
Salem
So. Acton Lowell
W. Acton Leominster Concord
Dorchester Malden
Leominster Lynn Woburn Concord
Supervisors
Nathalia Vincent, B.S.P.E. John Priske, A.B .; M.A.
Elsea Bridgess
1947 B.U .- Sargent College 1946 N. E. Conservatory Truro College 1946 Museum of Fine Arts
Arlington Nashua, N. H. York Beach Maine
*Acting Principal
6
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Voters of Acton:
The school committee herewith submits its report for 1947, with that of the superintendent, which has been ac- cepted by the committee.
In March, two new members were elected to the com- mittee-Mrs. Hazel P. Vose of South Acton, and Mr. Ernest Simpson of North Acton.
Mr. Herman H. Gatchell resigned in April and Mrs. Gertrude Tuttle was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The committee hopes the voters will approve the two articles it has in the Town Warrant. The survey means so much for the better education of the children in the town.
We welcome cooperation between parents and teachers at all times. It was with regret that we accepted the resigna- tion of Miss Genevieve McKenna at the close of school, De- cember 19, 1947.
The committee requests that you appropriate the sum of $84,875.00 for the 1948 budget.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD A. LOWDEN, Chairman
7
Received-To Credit of Schools
Chap. 71, S. 7A (1947-679) Transportation $ 32.20
General School Fund (Part I) 4,340.00
Tuition and Transportation-State Wards 111.68
Vocational Education Tuition 103.25
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