USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1946-1950 > Part 41
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An appropriation of $2500 was made for this work. This money was used for emergency work, such as removing dead, broken and dangerous trees. About $250 had to be used for work requested on the detour on Taylor Road, Hay- ward Road and Charter Road. This amount spent had not been planned on or expected to be needed when the recom- dation for 1950 was made.
Under present conditions more work must be done, more trees should be removed, cabling and trimming done for the public safety.
I recommend $3000 be appropriated for the care of shade trees in 1951. Of this, $2000 to be used for salaries and wages; $1000 for expenses.
An appropriation of $250 was made in 1950 for the replacement of shade trees. There were about 40 trees placed throughout the town. I recommend the same appropriation of $250 be made for the same purpose this coming year.
The sum of $500 was appropriated in 1950 for the feeding of town shade trees. Some of our trees in town need feeding badly, which will help a lot in keeping away some of the diseases. I recommend that $500 be appropriated for the feeding of shade trees in 1951.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES J. KNIGHT, Tree Warden
149
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR 1950
We herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1950.
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 $2,353.17 which can be found itemized in the treasurer's report.
There has been added to the perpetual care account the past year, in new accounts, the sum of $1,900.00.
We recommend an appropriation for the care of the cemeteries, the sum of $7,200.00 for the year 1951.
The State Auditors claim that by the vote taken at the annual Town Meeting, March 14, 1949, that annual care bills are accounts receivable to the Town and must be collected. Therefore we have instructed the superintendent to commit to the Town Collector for collection all annual care bills on lots not under perpetual care. ,
We desire to place on record our sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Ernest Wetherbee, of Albany, Georgia, who gave to the Town of Acton, the sum of $3,000.00 for the purpose of erecting a set of Memorial Gates, in Woodlawn Cemetery. The Wetherbee Memorial Gates, have been erected with the connecting walls, drains laid, memorial bronze plaques set and the entrance graded with gravel in preparation for the hot top in the spring, also the planting of shrubs will be done at that time.
In our report of 1949 we called to the voter's attention the serious problem of either buying additional land, or going up in back of the chapel at Woodlawn Cemetery and develop and layout some of that land for burial purposes. At that time we were asked by the Finance Committee to postpone action last year and to bring it before the voters this year. We are faced with a very serious problem as there are only twenty lots left in the present cemetery and there is no land available to be made into lots. After looking into the matter
150
very thoroughly, we strongly recommend the purchase of the two parcels of land adjoining and near Woodlawn Cemetery, as described in "The Description of Parcels" as follows :-
PARCEL 1
Is situated in the easterly part of Acton, easterly of Woodlawn Cemetery and northerly of Concord Road, con- taining about 42 acres, bounded and described as follows :-
Beginning at the southeasterly corner thereof at land of Edward L. Forbes, formerly of Chauncy B. Robbins, and Concord Road, at corner of a wall thence N. 70° 40' W. along said Concord Road. 874 feet to land of Woodlawn Cemetery thence by a wall N. 16° 12' E. 700 feet, S. 87º 24'W. 403 feet and N. 20° 20' E. 227 feet to a stone bound, all by land of Woodlawn Cemetery, thence S. 81º 51' W. 151 feet by said cemetery land to land of Fred L. Robbins and George W. Larrabee, thence northerly by said Robbins and Larrabee land about 705 feet to a corner at a ditch, thence westerly along a ditch 600 feet to land of Town of Acton, Woodlawn Ceme- tery, formerly of John Fletcher, thence N. 20° 34' E. by said cemetery land 94 5/10 feet to a wall at land formerly of John E. Cutter, but now of John T. Sleeper and wife, thence N. 84° E. along a wall by said Sleeper land 796 feet to land formerly of Henry M. Worden, thence in same course by said Worden land 224 feet to land of Edward L. Forbes, formerly of Chauncy B. Robbins, thence S. 31° 15' E. 550 feet and S. 2° 30' E. 1748 feet by wall and by said Forbes land to Concord Road at the place of beginning.
PARCEL 2
A certain strip of woodland, containing about one acre, situated westerly of Concord Road and westerly of the Chapel Lot, bounded easterly by Concord Road, westerly by the Old Road from Acton Center to Concord and northerly and southerly by the intersections of said Old Road and the New Road called Concord Road.
We have placed in the annual town meeting warrant an
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article for the purchase of this land and we feel that in buy- ing this land the Town will be making a good sound invest- ment and it will take care of future burial space for many years to come for this part of Acton.
Respectfully submitted,
RAY L. HARRIS HARRY E. HOLT HOWARD F. JONES Cemetery Commissioners.
REPORT OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE FOR THE TOWN OF ACTON 1950
Much of the organized programs conducted by the Middlesex County Extension Service are planned on a county basis with these programs available to every town in the county. Organized projects such as mastitis or Green Pas- tures for dairymen; flock health for the poultrymen ; clothing . and food projects for the homemakers, or the various 4-H Club programs for boys and girls, are brought to the in- dividual farmers or homemakers in a general way through the County Bulletin, radio, newspaper publicity, meetings or through correspondence and farm and home visits. In addition to this general work of the Extension Service, work in each town is developed under the guidance of the town director and the local groups interested in agriculture, home- making and Boys' and Girls' 4-H Club work.
Several local poultrymen were assisted with flock health problems and through quality egg and turkey marketing programs poultrymen and turkey growers have been helped in improving their marketing facilities and practices.
152
Fruit growers have been aided in their production and marketing problems and a very well attended meeting was held at the packing plant of Louis Flerra.
Home Furnishing programs in chair seating, slipcover- ing, furniture refinishing and color and design were pre- sented for Acton homemakers. In addition, a home grounds improvement tour was conducted in Acton by the horticul- tural specialist, Professor Alfred Boicourt, from the Univer- sity of Massachusetts.
Acton women participated in both the clothing program conducted by the Extension Service during the year.
Fifty-five boys and girls were enrolled in 4-H Club work. The various projects participated in were crafts, foods, child- care, clothing, dairying, poultry, and gardening. Acton citizens who volunteered their time in the assistance of 4-H Club work were: Mrs. Laurence Winslow, Mrs. Fred Richards, Mrs. C. E. Vose, Rev. David Thompson, Mrs. Daniel Sweeney, Mrs. Fred W. Rimbach, Mr. Paul Cornwall, Mrs. Cleon Phelps, Mrs. George Newton, Mrs. Roger M. Myrick, Mr. Alex Marini, Mrs. Kenneth Jewell, Mr. Edward W. Estabrook. Allan Warner received one of the four County Dairy Club Medals. He also was a counsellor at Camp Middlesex. Nancy Winslow and Janice Phelps were among the top three girls in the clothing project for this county this past year. Nancy Winslow modeled her dress in the Dress Revue at the Eastern States Exposition and Janice Phelps' dress was on display during the entire week.
Signed
HARLAN E. TUTTLE,
Director.
153
REPORT OF THE ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Gertrude P. Tuttle
Carl A. Christofferson
Arthur F. Davis
---------.
Alden C. Flagg
Eugene L. Hall
Ralph W. Piper
Arthur W. Whitcomb
Wendell F. Davis
Florence A. Merriam
Mrs. Tuttle, Miss Merriam and Dr. Davis hold office by election. The others are Corporate Members.
Librarians
Mary Lothrop Evelyn Reed Katherine Kinsley
Memorial Library South Acton Branch West Acton Branch
Custodian
Henry A. Johnson
The party for the presentation of State Honor Cer- tificates was held in May, at the Woman's Club, Acton. Carol Spinney gave a puppet show, which the children and their parents enjoyed exceedingly.
The filing system has been increased by twelve trays. The old trays were too crowded for easy handling.
The walls and ceilings have been thoroughly washed and the ceilings have had two coats of paint.
Mrs. Tuttle and I attended the meeting of The Wachusett Library Association held in Winchendon on June 1.
We are all very grateful to the Reverend and Mrs. David Thompson, Mr. Sidney Laffin and the Churches and Clubs of the town, for making the Story Hour possible, successful and enjoyable. However, we did not begin a new series dur-
154
ing the Fall season, as the children have so many activities that it is hard to get a time suited to all concerned; also, the uncertainty of winter weather and the difficulty of reaching many children at different points for a cancellation, if necessary, entered into the decision.
We thank John Torkelsen for a gift of labor.
The Library has made substantial contributions of books in fair condition, both juvenile and adult, to the Emerson Hospital in Concord.
Accession-Number of volumes in Library January 1,
1950 20,877
Increase by purchase
282
Increase by gift
210
Withdrawn from circulation
450
Number of volumes in Library January 1, 1951
20,919
Circulation-Number of days Library was open
101
Number of volumes circulated
19,319
Largest daily circulation October 28
524
Smallest daily circulation September 2 Daily average
81
191.2
The Library acknowledges with gratitude, gifts from the following :
BOOKS
Acton Boxborough Branch of The American Red Cross, 1; Mr. and Mrs. David Barry, 25; Robert M. Bowen, 1; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence D. Chickering, 12; Walter P. Chrysler, 1; Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Coles, 3; Concord Free Public Library, 22; Mr. and Mrs. John Crighton, 17; Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Darling, 1; Arthur F. Davis, 169; Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Fallon, 11; Mrs. Laura Forbes, 18; Dr. and Mrs. W. W. Forbes, 37; Mr. and Mrs. H. Calvin Gaebel, 2; Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Harris, 56; Reverend and Mrs. Charles Henry, 3; Mrs. W. E. Hinckley, 5; Institutional, 8; Mrs. Harry B. Little, 50; Mr. and Mrs. Richard McCabe, 14; Edith Mac- Millan, 5; Mr. Harrington Moore, 154; Mrs. Mildred Pope Moore, 132; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Motley, 2; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley J. Olsen, 3; Mr. and Mrs. E. Everett Putnam,
155
2; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Severance, 16; The Twelve-Niners, a 16 volume Encyclopedia; Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Washburn, 2. MAGAZINES
Mr. and Mrs. John Black, Edith MacMillan, W. B. Stevens, E. H. Washburn.
SUBSCRIPTIONS :
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley J. Olsen.
OLD DOCUMENTS
Mrs. Ralph Holden.
FINANCIAL RECEIPTS
Fines
$167.42
Miscellaneous
16.74
Books Sold
7.35
$191.51
MARY LOTHROP,
Librarian
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
January 2, 1951
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Board of Health of Acton herewith submits its report for the year ending December 31st, 1950 together with the report of the Agent, Inspector of Sanitation, Inspector of Slaughtering, Burial Agent and the Inspector of Food and Milk.
We regret to report that World Conditions as they are, it became necessary to recall to Active Service in the U. S. Navy, one of the Members of the Board. Benjamin F. Rice received his orders in September to report for duty with the
156
Armed Forces and is still on duty. A veteran of the Navy in World War II, Benjamin Rice was appointed to fill the va- cancy created by the resignation of Mr. Lowell Cram in 1950. He was elected in 1950 to a one year term to fill the unex- pired term.
The Citizens of Acton are requested to watch for any notice concerning the Town Dump. It is at present in ex- cellent condition but with the new road being constructed along Route 111, it will be necessary some time during the next year to reach the Dump by various routes; East Acton, and North Acton residents will, with the residents of Acton Center, probably find that Concord Road to Hosmer then right on Route 111 to the Dump; while residents from West and South Acton should find it more convenient to go down School Street to Hosmer then to Route 111 and turn left to the Dump. Indications are that the Dump will remain in the same place that it now is. A change might come, if so, it will be advertised.
There were fifty-three cases of contagious diseases, dangerous to public health during the year 1950. All cases of contagious diseases must be reported to the Agent, Board of Health, who in turn must report them to the State De- partment of Public Health without delay.
Cases reported :
Chicken Pox 42
Dog Bite
1
German Measles 2
Measles
2
:
Mumps
2
Scarlet Fever
3
=
Tuberculosis All Forms
1
Total
53
There was an epidemic of Chicken Pox during June and July of 1950 that caused some apprehension on the part of public health officials, when several meetings were held to determine the origin and to isolate and control this disease. After isolation, the disease subsided and there were only a
157
few scattered cases during the rest of the year, with no cases during the end of December reported.
There is one case of Tuberculosis and patient is now in Sanitorium. This is an Acton Settled case with no subsidy from State funds.
Medical supplies used by Town Nurse Lilliam F. Taylor, R.N. on all calls, both School Clinic and Town, are furnished by Board of Health Funds.
Many requests have been made to Board of Health Officials to keep the Town Dump open five days each week instead of the present three days. This will be taken under advisement after it has been determined where the Dump will be finally located.
Your Board of Health is working for the best interests of the town at all times. Should a hardship hit any number or group by its laws or actions, I am sure a satisfactory ex- planation can be had by contacting the member from your district.
We have fought Union Health programs as long as we can because we feel it will only be an added expense to the town, but we have come to the point where we feel it now belongs to the people themselves to decide the matter or joining and we have inserted in the town warrant an article recommending a committee to study this law and make a report to the people for their decision.
DEATHS
Deaths reported 22
Died in Acton 16
Died Elsewhere 6
Buried in Acton
14
Buried Elsewhere
8
Respectfully submitted,
ORMA LAWRENCE CLARK, M.D.,
Chairman
HERBERT L. LEUSHER
EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Agent
Board of Health
158
REPORT OF TOWN NURSE
To the Board of Health, Acton, Massachusetts Gentlemen :
My report for the year ending December 31, 1950.
Bedside calls 831
Pre-natal calls 195
Post-natal calls 135
Welfare 318
Night calls
15
T. B. calls
25
Twelve patients were taken to Middlesex County Hospi- tal for X-ray and check-up.
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN F. TAYLOR, R.N.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health, Acton, Massachusetts.
Submitted herewith is Report of Inspector of Slaughter- ing for the year 1950.
During the year 1950 there were no reports of slaughter- ing of animals in the Town of Acton.
There were 10 cases of reports of slaughtering of Poul- try that were investigated and reported to proper authorities.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD J. HIGGINS,
Inspector of Slaughtering
159
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SANITATION
To the Board of Health, Acton, Massachusetts.
Submitted herewith is report of Inspector of Sanitation during the year 1950.
During the year 1950, there were 24 cases of Sanitary inspection, with reports and correction methods advised.
Cess Pools draining into Wells 9
Waste Food thrown from Cars 7
Waste Food thrown into River, South Acton 4
Inspection of Swimming Places 2
Cess Pools Draining Into River, South Acton 2
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Inspector of Sanitation
REPORT OF MILK AND FOOD INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health, Acton, Massachusetts.
Following is the report of the Milk and Food Inspector for 1950.
Total calls made :
109
Store Inspections
56
Dairy Barn Inspections 35
5
Water Analysis 10
Milk Samples
3
Ice Cream Samples
1
Consultation and Visits with State Board of Health Officials
7
Permits Given 33
15
Complaints of Odors, Etc.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS B. WHOULEY, Milk and Food Inspector
Restaurant Inspections
Goat Barn Inspections
160
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 1950.
The appropriation for Welfare for 1950 was $4,500.00. A transfer of $2.07 from the Reserve Fund was necessary to cover the expenditures for the year. During 1950, we aided fourteen cases in Acton and six cases out of town with Acton settlements. At the present time, we are aiding two welfare cases in Acton. For the out-of-town bills during the past year, we paid $715.69, while $3,786.38 was paid for the fourteen cases in Acton. In anticipation of bills which will be incurred during 1951, we find it necessary to ask for an appropriation of $4,500.00, the same as last year.
For Aid to Dependent Children, we are asking an appro- priation of $5,000.00. This is $1,500.00 less than the appro- priation during 1950. During the year, we aided ten families having a total of nineteen dependent children. Our present case load is six families with a total of thirteen children.
We are asking for $35,000.00 for Old Age Assistance for the coming year. This is the same as last year's appropria- tion. On January 1, 1950, our case load was 80 and on December 31, 1950, it was 78. During the entire year, 91 persons were aided under this category of assistance, 67 of these had Acton settlements, 15 with out-of-town settlements and 9 which were unsettled. The increase in Social Security affected 23 cases.
Your Board, desiring to give you an analysis of the expenditures for 1950, submits the following :
TMPORARY AID
Paid to State on Acton settled cases $92.69
Paid to other places on Acton settled
cases. 623.00
Paid to cases in Acton 3,786.38
$4,502.07
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Estimated reimbursement from State $1,098.00
1,098.00
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton
$3,404.07
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Total expended
$6,290.29
Estimated Federal Grants $1,621.60
Estimated State reimbursements .. 2,096.77
3,718.37
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton
$2,571.92
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Total expended $62,917.53
Estimated Federal Grants
$27,611.13
Estimated State reimbursements
24,459.97
Estimated reimbursement from other
places
1,835.62
53,906.72
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton
$9,010.81
Appropriations recommended for 1951 :
Temporary Aid $4,500.00
Aid to Dependent Children
5,000.00
Old Age Assistance
35,000.00
Administration
1,300.00
Respectfully submitted,
LOSSIE E. LAIRD WALTER B. STEVENS A. PERRY MARBLE Board of Public Welfare.
162
REPORT OF THE FIRE HOUSE COMMITTEE
The contract for the new fire station at Acton Center was awarded to Jenny Bros. of Concord and Acton and should be completed in the spring.
Various changes from original plans have been made necessary, but the building will be a distinct asset to the community both in service facilities and appearance. The committee was forced to change architects, but in so doing we will have a two story building with more ample accomo- dations.
Restrictions which had been placed on the land had to be untangled, and the sky-rocketing of building costs brought on by the Korean war raised construction estimates of the architect by more than 20 per cent.
After twice advertising for bids it became apparent that to build as planned more money would be necessary. At the special meeting in November the voters strongly disapproved appropriating any more money so the committee without sacrificing any of the basic dimensions or fixtures awarded the contract to the low bidder after cutting approximately $12,000 from the specifications.
The ground floor of the station will be entirely completed but the interior of the upstairs, with the exception of the toilet rooms, will have to be completed later. This proposal was filed as an alternate bid by the contractors. The other major cuts which were necessary to keep within the appro- priation are: - elimination of the cellar, no cupola, and substitution of marble dust stucco for the brick facing on the outside walls.
Despite these changes the town will have a good looking building which will be adequate for many years.
WALTER B. STEVENS F. WENDELL PUTNAM, JR. LLOYD W. PRIEST EDWARD J. BURSAW H. STUART MacGREGOR Fire House Committee.
163
REPORT OF TOWN BY-LAWS COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
A list of the special and general statutes accepted by the town has been assembled and should be checked by legal advice to determine the correct references in the General Laws and whether some of these statutes are now obsolete.
In checking back through the records, we find where the town has accepted thirty-nine of these General Laws and special enactments, some of which were under the Public Statutes.
The amendments pertaining to the Fire Department which were voted at the Annual Town Meeting, March 8, 1948 and the By-Law under Article 48 of the Annual Town Meeting, March 13, 1950 under the provisions of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, Section 21, Paragraph 17, to prohibit unlicensed stripping of farm land, as printed in the Town Report under Proposed Earth Removal By-Laws, which was unanimously voted, have not been approved by the Attorney General. The Town Clerk and one of the Board of Select- men have called at the Attorney General's office but have not been able to get any action. Also, no answer to a com- munication of June 30th.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. MORSE HANSON S. MacGREGOR GEORGE S. BRAMAN
164
AMENDMENT TO TOWN BY-LAWS TOWN OF ACTON
Annual Town Meeting, March 8, 1948
Article 30. VOTED UNANIMOUSLY: To amend Ar- ticle I of Section 5 of the Town By-Laws by striking out said Article 1 and substituting therefor the amendment as printed in the town report with the additional amendment under B. That a board of engineers may be empowered to choose one of their members as a clerk. Also, under C. The Chief shall annually in December in conjunction with the assistant engineers submit to the Board of Selectmen a budget for the maintenance of the Department for the ensuing year.
"Fire Department" SECTION 5
Article 1. The Town shall maintain a fire department as set forth hereinafter :
A-Organization
The department shall consist of a Chief Engineer and three Assistant Engineers (one from each precinct), to be know as the Board of Engineers, who shall each year be ap- pointed by the Board of Selectmen. There shall be three companies (one in each precinct) each company to consist of eighteen (18) members, or such other number of members as the Board of Engineers may from time to time deem advisable. The officers of each company shall consist of a Captain, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant, Treasurer, and Clerk, who shall be elected by each company at its regular meeting in May of each year. No Engineer shall hold any company office.
B-Duties of the Board of Engineers
The Board of Engineers shall hold meetings when called by the Chief Engineer, to transact business of the Depart- ment; and they shall annually, in April, appoint all firemen, Superintendent of Fire Alarm System, Assistant Superin- tendent of Fire Alarm System, Fire Department Physician, and Janitors, and that the Board of Engineers may be em-
165
powered to choose one of their members as a clerk. New company members may be appointed at any time, and shall be appointed from the lists of nominations submitted by the respective companies. Upon complaint to the Board of Engineers by any member of the Department against another member thereof, the Board shall act; and may, after giving seven (7) days notice to the member against whom such complaint is lodged, suspend or discharge said member. Upon application for a hearing by any member aggrieved by: such action of the Board, the Board shall arrange for, and conduct, such hearing. It shall be the duty of each Precinct Engineer to assist the Chief in the discharge of his duties, and serve in his place, in case of his absence, in his respective precinct. It shall be the duty of each Precinct Engineer under the Chief Engineer, to have charge of the fire station and all equipment in his precinct, and he shall be held responsible for the condition thereof. It shall be the duty of each Pre- cinct Engineer to order sundry supplies needed for his fire station and to approve all bills for supplies and equipment required and purchased for his precinct; and to transmit such approved bills to the Chief for presentation to the Selectmen for approval and payment thereof. It shall be the duty of each Precinct Engineer to hold at least one company practice each month during the months of May, June, July, and August.
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