USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 19
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Fiction 10,720, Juvenile 7,093, Non-Fiction 3,033
The Library has given The West Acton Branch 20 Books The Library has given Emerson Hospital 68 Books
Those who knew Miss Dee Beebe will be glad to see her water color of The Old North Bridge in Concord. Some have seen it, and later, when the time is ripe, it will be suitably hung. We express gratitude to those who have made it possible for the painting to be in the Library, under condi- tions which we shall not disregard.
The Library acknowledges with gratitude, gifts from the following :
Books
Mildred Pope Moore 120 and magazines; Concord Free Public Library 8; U. S. A. 2; Brenda Duren 2; Mrs. Jesse Reynolds 2; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hapgood, magazines; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Darling 1; Rev. and Mrs. Charles Henry 4; Mr. and Mrs. Henry French 11; Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Shores 8; Mrs. M. M. McGray 8; E. H. Washburn 1; Acton Girl Scouts 1; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley J. Olsen 5; Mrs. Laura Forbes 9; Irving Duren, 3d, 6; V. H. Gannon 1; Mr. and Mrs. Wallace C. Priest 31; Carroll Spinney 1; Summit Encyclopaedia Pub- lishing Co. 3; Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Maynard 3; Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Sweatt 3; Mr. and Mrs. George Dick 1; Mr. and Mrs. Har- rington Moore 15; Walter Bied 12; Linda Stoker 1; John Pearson 1; Mr. and Mrs. James Tolman 1; Dr. and Mrs. Forbes 40; Janet Roth 3; Mr. and Mrs. Julius Roth 1; Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Charter, Pamphlets on Elm Tree Disease; Church of Christ 1; Elizabeth Condon 4; Commonwealth of Massachusetts 5; Firestone Co. 1.
Financial Receipts
Fines
$181.73
Miscellaneous
13.57
Books sold
7.10
Total
$202.40
MARY LOTHROP,
Librarian
200
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH .
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Acton, Massachusetts
The Board of Health herewith submits its report for the year 1952 together with the reports of its Agent, Town and School Nurse, Inspector of Food and Milk, Inspector of Slaughtering, Inspector of Sanitation, Burial Agent and General Report on Health problems encountered in Acton during the year.
Each year for many years your Board of Health report has included in its report only that information that it deems necessary and of interest to the Citizens of Acton. The reports of its Agent, his activities, and many health problems encountered, investigations made, reports rendered to the State Department of Public Health, also to the Middle- sex Health District at Fitchburg. This applies to the various other members of the Health Department where constant supervision of the local Board of Health requires our reports.
In our report of Contagious Diseases which are dangerous to public health, over a period of years only reports can be made, if they are reported to the Agent or members of the Board of Health. These reports can be made by either the Doctor that attended the person afflicted, or a parent, or person in the household. This must be done to keep an accurate record of cases.
The Town Dump has been the cause of considerable concern, with the several new industries that have opened in town during the past few years, the many new homes and the people from outside of Acton who dump refuse over the fence when the dump is closed, or in the driveway next to the Dump on private property. It has been necessary to increase the hours of supervision at the Dump for the various industries. On Sundays and nights, there is still refuse dumped over the fence and inside the fence on adjoin- ing property by individuals.
Prematurity in Massachusetts,-Statistics bear out a statement that the leading cause of death among infants today is prematurity and medical experts have shown that many of these deaths are needless. Some of the reasons
201
given for premature infant deaths are congenital malfor- mations, complications during delivery and extreme imma- turity of the essential body system. It is therefore necessary to get the baby, if at birth it weighs less than 51/2 pounds, to a hospital. Persons delivering the child must report the birth to the Board of Health as soon as possible by telephone and within 24 hours, in writing to the same Board. It is essential that proper transportation to a hospital be arranged and that the child be placed in an incubator immediately following birth.
At present we have no patients at the Middlesex County Sanitorium in Waltham.
There have been two licenses issued for child centers or Kindergartens in the Town of Acton and under the care of the Town Nurse, for inspection for the Board of Health.
Several meetings were held during the past year con- cerning proper installation of Cess pools and Septic tanks. Two of the meetings were open to the Town and so advertised in a local paper. Each of these meetings were attended by several interested persons building homes in Acton and a State Official of the Massachusetts Health Department was present.
Your Board of Health has been working constantly for the best interest of the people of Acton and should problems arise concerning persons, groups or sections of Town, it is certain that a plan can be worked out to the satisfaction of all.
Respectfully submitted,
ORMA LAWRENCE CLARK, M.D., Chairman HERBERT L. LEUSHER MARTIN J. DUGGAN EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Agent
Board of Health
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH AGENT
To the Board of Health: Acton, Mass.
There were one hundred fourteen cases of contagious diseases which are dangerous to the public health reported dur-
202
ing the year 1952. This is more than twice the number reported in 1951 due to an almost epidemic proposition in Measles during the early part of 1952. This was under control and tapered off during June. This condition was not alone con- fined to this locality, it was a general condition throughout the State.
Cases reported :
Anterior Polio 1
Chicken Pox
13
Dog Bite 6
German Measles 11
Measles
72
Mumps
4
Scarlet Fever
4
Whooping Cough
3
114
Many cases not reported is due to mothers that feel certain of the ailment of their children, who call a Doctor and are advised over the telephone of the necessary treat- ment, thus the Doctor does not see the case and could not report it. Many cases are reported by the Town Nurse and some of them by the parents of the person afflicted. In all cases, such afflictions must be reported to a member of the Board of Health or its Agent.
EDWARD J. HIGGINS,
Agent
REPORT OF TOWN NURSE
To the Board of Health
Gentlemen :
My report for the year ending December 31, 1952 includes the work of my predecessor, Mrs. Lillian F. Taylor,
203
for the months of January through September 1952 and for my work from September through December 31, 1952.
Bedside calls 751
Pre-natal calls 170
Post-natal calls
154
Welfare
410
Night and off hour calls 20
T.B. Patients and contacts 30
Six patients were taken to Middlesex County Hospital for X-Ray and check-up.
Respectfully submitted,
EILEEN F. HALE, R.N.
Town Nurse
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health
Acton, Mass.
Submitted herewith is report of the Inspector of Slaughtering for the year 1952.
During the year 1952 there were two reports of slaughtering in the Town of Acton. On investigation, one of those reported to be slaughtering swine was in error and the other one had changed his mind and had the work done elsewhere. Permits were issued for the slaughtering of poultry in two cases, where proper inspection and sanitary methods were checked and approved. Several other investi- gations were made where slaughtering was suspected without permits.
EDWARD J. HIGGINS,
Inspector of Slaughtering
204
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SANITATION
To the Board of Health
Acton, Mass.
Submitted herewith is report of the Inspector of Sanita- tion during the year 1952.
During the year there were seventy-one (71) cases of sanitation inspections initiated by complaints of individuals in writing, of which corrective action was necessary. Citizens. of the town and requests from home builders who were anxious to comply with health regulations in building homes in Acton. All of these requests were investigated and found to be in compliance with laws at present in effect in Acton.
Inspection of wells and testing of water in ponds, wells and other places where water is used for drinking 18
Inspection of swimming places 9 .... Cess pools draining into or toward wells 9
Waste food and rubbish along roads in town 11
New installation of septic tanks and cess pools 19
Meeting of interested people on septic tanks, cess pools, leaching beds and proper drainage 5
71
Several meetings have been arranged with State Officials during the year and most of them have been very helpful. Many restrictions have been put onto home builders and undoubtedly there will be more. The Board of Health has been aware of the forward progress and the huge building trend during the past two years and every effort is being made to attain maximum safety to the residents of Acton, insofar as safe sanitation engineering is concerned.
EDWARD J. HIGGINS
Sanitary Inspector
205
REPORT OF BURIAL AGENT
To the Board of Health
Acton, Mass ..
There were twenty-seven (27) deaths reported for which burial permits were issued during the year 1952. These include all persons who either died in Acton and were buried in other towns or states, or who died in other towns or states and were brought to Acton for final burial. This also includes Service Personnel being returned from a battlefield for re-interment.
Deaths 27
Died in Acton
21
Died Elsewhere 6
Buried in Acton
16
Buried Elsewhere
11
EDWARD J. HIGGINS,
Burial Agent
REPORT OF MILK AND FOOD INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health
Acton, Mass.
Following is the report of the Milk and Food Inspector for 1952.
Total Calls made:
Dairy and Goat Barns 22
Milk Check 7
Restaurants and stores 30
Septic Tanks 29
State visits and conferences 4
Odors and Complaints 18
An informal meeting with Plumbers and Builders re: Septic tanks, educational and instructive, more meetings to follow.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS B. WHOULEY, Milk and Food Inspector
206
REPORT OF WELFARE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Gentlemen :
We respectfully submit the report of the Board of Pub- lic Welfare for the year 1952.
The appropriation for General Relief (formerly known as Public Welfare) for 1952 was $4,350.00. During the year, we aided 10 cases in Acton and 3 cases out of town with Acton settlements. At the present time, we are aiding 2 welfare cases in Acton. For the out-of-town bills during the past year, we paid $1,010.00, while $2,100.00 was paid for the 10 cases in Acton. In anticipation of bills which will be incurred during 1953, we find it necessary to ask for an appropriation of $3,000.00 which represents a reduction from last year due to transfer of cases from General Relief to Disability Assistance.
For Aid to Dependent Children, we are asking for an appropriation of $5,000.00. During the year, we aided 7 families having a total of 20 children, with extensive hospitalization and medical expenses. Our present case load is 5 families with a total of 9 dependent children.
We are asking for $41,000.00 for Old Age Assistance for the coming year. On January 1, 1952, our case load was 76 and on December 31, 1952, it was 64. During the year, 82 persons were aided under this category; 59 of these had Acton settlements, 9 out-of-town settlements, and 14 were unsettled, that is, the State and Federal funds cover the entire expenditure of their grants.
In the category of Disability Assistance, we had aided 4 cases during 1952. The category was established to pro- vide assistance to needy persons over 18 who are permanently and totally disabled. The actual cost to the town is 25 per cent of the expenditure.
Since April 1, 1952, the administration of the various Categories of Assistance has been handled through the Nashoba Public Welfare District with the office located at the Town Hall, Bedford. Mrs. Anna Coombs of Carlisle has served as Agent and Miss Wilhelmina Knippel of Acton as
207
Clerk. The District covers the towns of Acton, Bedford, and Carlisle and the administrative expenditures are divided as follows: Acton-60 per cent, Bedford-25 per cent, and Car- lisle-15 per cent. As Federal and State participation in District administration covers 831/3 per cent of the cost, we request that the amount $800.00 be appropriated as Acton's share. The total cost to Acton during 1952 has been approximately $2,000.00. A considerable amount of Social Work has been rendered to our Community and on the whole, we feel it has been a very successful first year.
The following is a detailed analysis of expenditures for 1952:
GENERAL RELIEF
Paid to other places on Acton settled
cases
$ 1,010.00 2,100.00
Paid to cases in Acton
$ 3,110.00
Estimated reimbusement from other towns
315.60
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton
$ 2,794.40
Aid to Dependent Children
Total expended $ 10,068.00
Estimated Federal Grants
$
3,563.00
Estimated State Reimbursements 3,363.00
$ 6,926.00
6,926.00
Approx mate net cost to Town of
Acton
Old Age Assistance $ 3,142.00
Total expended $ 66,382.00
Estimated Federal Grants
$ 25,349.00
Estimated State Reimbursements
29,544.00
208
Estimated Reimbursements from other towns 1,027.34
$ 55,920.34
55,920.34
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton
$ 10,461.66
Disability Assistance
Total expended
$ 3,236.34
Estimated Federal Grants $ 1,050.00
Estimated State Reimbursements
1,372.00
$ 2,422.00
2,422.00
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton
$
814.34
Appropriations Recommended for 1953
General Relief $ 3,000.00
Aid to Dependent Children 5,000.00
Disability Assistance 3,500.00
Old Age Assistance 41,000.00
Administration
800.00
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER B. STEVENS LOSSIE E. LAIRD A. PERRY MARBLE
Board of Public Welfare
209
REGIONAL SCHOOL PLANNING COMMITTEE ACTON, MASSASSACHUSETTS
January 28, 1953
The Board of Selectmen Acton, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
Our committee, formed by vote of the Town of Acton under Article 6 of the Special Town Meeting called for 8:00 P.M. o'clock on Monday, May 19, 1952, and formed under provisions of Section 14 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby submits to you its report and recommendations.
After examining our school situation and the situations of nearby towns we found that the logical answer to our problem was to approach the Regional School Planning Com- mittee as set up by the vote of the Town of Littleton and to form with them a Regional School District Planning Board.
Their needs seemed to be similar to ours, the two towns are closely knit, both geographically and economically, and hence lend themselves very well to the possibilities of form- ing a Regional School District.
We have met with Littleton's committee and together have drawn up, as authorized under Section 14 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, a proposed agreement for a Regional School District to be formed, details of which are being pre- sented under separate cover. It is our earnest hope that this proposed agreement can be submitted to the voters of the Town of Acton at the annual town election to be held on March 2, 1953.
Respectfully submitted,
ACTON REGIONAL SCHOOL PLANNING COMMITTEE
ROBERT M. STOW, Chairman
THOMAS MOTLEY, 2ND, Secretary-Treasurer LEONARD A. GODFREY, JR., Member of the School Committee
210
REPORT OF THE AUDITORIUM-GYMNASIUM BUILDING COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Acton:
In accordance with the vote on Article 2 of the July 28, 1952 Special Town Meeting, the Auditorium-Gymnasium Building Committee submits the following report.
After several conferences with Mr. Haynes of the S. W. Haynes Associates of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, it was found that it was impossible to build a high school size gymnasium with the money available from the Blanchard gift. However, this committee feels it should build as large a building as possible with the $150,000.00 gift. This building will not be rated as a high school size gymnasium although it will have a larger court than any that our teams play on at the present time. As an auditorium, it will seat approximately six hundred.
It is the intention of this committee to construct the back wall of this building of such material that it can be easily removed for enlargement when a high school is built.
If the town meeting votes favorably on the article in the annual warrant of 1953 asking for authority to use the $150,000.00 gift from The Blanchard Foundation, this com- mittee feels that it can meet the July 1, 1953 deadline.
PORTER G. JENKS MARION C. REED
EDWARD J. BURSAW ORMAL S. LAFFIN LEO C. CUNNINGHAM
WALTER B. STEVENS DANA HINCKLEY
Auditorium-Gymnasium Building Committee
211
REPORT OF ZONING COMMITTEE
To the Selectmen Town of Acton Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Zoning Committee has been hard at work since it reported at the town meeting in March, 1952. The Com- mittee has met between thirty and forty times. Six unofficial public hearings have been held to consider local problems and residents of the immediate areas under consideration have been invited to attend.
The Committee is making every effort to produce a code that is in conformity with the wishes of the citizens themselves.
We feel that the job is approaching completion. We ex- pect to hold the required public hearing in the near future. We will hold a second public hearing, if necessary. Follow- ing the hearing, or hearings, we plan to present the com- pleted code at a special town meeting, to be held as soon as practicable after public hearings are completed.
Yours truly,
C. J. FARLEY
212
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ACTON
For the Year Ending December 31, 1952
RATED
NI
1735.
"ACTON.
Town of Acton, Massachusetts
ORGANIZATION
Acton School Committee
Mr. Leo Cunningham, Chairman Term expires 1953
Mrs. Gerald Hollis, Secretary Term expires 1953
Mrs. G. Howard Reed Term expires 1953
Mrs. Harlan Tuttle Term expires 1954
Mr. Dana Hinckley Term expires 1954
Mr. Leonard Godfrey Term expires 1955
Meetings of the School Committee
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held the second Tuesday of each month in the high school at 7:30 p.m. Exceptions may be made, especially during the summer months.
Superintendent Whitman Pearson
School Department Office, High School Building Telephone Acton 3-4181
School Department Secretary Mrs. Donald Felt
School Physician
Paul P. Gates, M.D. Telephone 3-5671
School Nurse
Mrs. Eileen Hale, R.N. Telephone 3-4393
Attendance Officer . Louis Leveroni High School, Telephone 3-4181 .. Principal, William O'Connell Custodian, Louis Leveroni
Center School, Tel. 3-5233 ... Principal, Mrs. Dardana Berry
Custodian, Norman Livermore
Fire House Classroom
Miss Joan Dwane
Church Classroom
. Mrs. Celina MacLean
South School, Tel. 3-4274 . .. Principal, Miss Julia McCarthy Custodian, Kenneth Harvey
Acton Center Woman's Club Mrs. Madeleine Kingston West School, Tel. 3-5642 ... Principal, Mrs. Carolyn Douglas Custodian, Ernest Banks
School Street Apartments . Mrs. Helen DeCoste
Miss Anne Derby
2
School Calendar 1953-1954
Reopening of Schools, January 5, 1953
Winter recess, February 23-27 Spring recess, April 20-24 Close of School, Grades 1-8, June 5
Close of School, Grades 9-12, June 12
Graduation, June 12 Summer Recess
Teachers Meetings, September 8
Reopening of High School, September 9
Reopening of Elementary Schools, September 10 Columbus Day, October 12 Visiting Day (Convention), October 30
Armistice Day, November 11 Thanksgiving Recess, November 26-27
Christmas Holidays, December 24 to January 3, 1954 Reopening of Schools, January 4, 1954 Winter Recess, February 22-26, 1954 Spring Recess, April 19-23, 1954 Memorial Day, celebrated May 31, 1954 Close of School, Grades 1-8, June 11, 1954 Close of School, Grades 9-12, June 18, 1954 Graduation, June 18, 1954
No School Signal - All Schools, All Day 7:00 A.M., Fire Horn 2-2-2-2 7:00-8:00 A.M., WBZ, WEEI 7:15 A.M. No school, grades 1 to 8, all day 11:30 A.M. 1-1-1-1 No school Senior High, grades 9-12
3
ACTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT, 1952
In conjunction with the 1952 school department report, which has been approved by the School Committee, we wish to make the following report.
At the March election, Mr. Leonard Godfrey was elected as a new member of the School Committee. Mr. Wilson Sked and Mr. Leo Cunningham were re-elected. At the organiza- tion meeting Mr. Wilson Sked was elected chairman and Mrs. Eleanore Hollis clerk. Your very capable chairman resigned in August due to business transfer and Mrs. Marion Reed was appointed to fill the vacancy.
Acton school housing facilities have been taxed beyond their capacity necessitating the rental of rooms in Maynard again this year, as well as in the Acton Center Woman's Club House, the Congregational Church in Acton Center and the Center Fire Station.
The catastrophe at the Wilson School in Maynard, which occurred shortly before Christmas, resulted in another hous- ing problem for your committee. However, we were very grateful to Mr. Porter Jenks for the rental of two apart- ments. He rushed them to completion so that we could get your children back to school without delay.
The new Elementary addition will be completed and ready for classes in September. Three members of the School Committee are serving on the School Building Committee and one member is serving on the Regional School District Planning Board.
We wish to thank the Acton Center Woman's Club, the Acton Center Congregational Church, the Acton Fire Depart- ment, Mr. Porter Jenks and the School Department of May- nard for their sincere cooperation for furnishing housing facilities for our school children.
In closing, we wish to express our appreciation for the splendid work of all members of the staff of the Acton School Department.
ACTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE, LEO C. CUNNINGHAM, Chairman
4
Received-To the Credit of Public Schools
State Aid for Transportation (Cost above $5 a pupil in net average membership for trans- portation over 11/2 miles) $ 2,805.00
State Aid for Public Schools (Approximately
$1,000 per teacher) 31,150.23
Tuition-Commonwealth of Massachusetts Wards 971.96
Tuition-City of Boston Wards 498.78
Tuition-Town of Boxborough 3,887.50
Tuition-and Transportation-Town of Westford 521.05
Tuition-David Nelson 25.00
Miscellaneous Collections at the High School 33.77
TOTAL $39,893.29
Net Cost of Operating Public Schools
Appropriated March, 1952 $137,700.00
Transferred December, 1952 17.13
Total amount expended . $137,717.13
Received to Credit of Schools (explanation above) 39,893.29
NET AMOUNT FROM LOCAL TAXES . 97,823.84
Less : Cost of New Equipment (Capital Outlay ) . . 1,197.90
NET COST OF OPERATION FROM LOCAL TAXES $ 96,625.94
5
Expended for Operation in 1952
Salaries
High $54,682.42
Elementary $ 55,193.70
Total $109,876.12
Fuel
1,025.90
2,168.54
3,194.44
Books and Supplies
3,515.70
2,470.54
5,986.24
Transportation
4,200.00
4,200.00
8,400.00
Power, Repairs, Rent, Misc.
3,221.82
5,473.56
8,695.38
Libraries
77.70
21.20
98.90
Health
133.55
134.60
268.15
Gross Cost of Operation
$ 66,857.09
$ 69,662.14
$136,519.23
Gross cost per high school pupil (272)
$ 245.80
Gross cost per elementary school pupil (423)
$ 164.69
Gross cost per pupil (695)
$ 196.43
Gross cost of operation (as above)
$ 66,857.09
$ 69,662.14
$136,519.23
Less Receipts
$ 21,689.34
$ 18,203.95
$ 39,893.29
Net Cost of Operation
$ 45,167.75
$ 51,458.19
$ 96,625.94
Net cost per high school pupil
(272) $ 166.06
Net cost per elementary school pupil (423)
$ 121.65
Net cost per pupil (695)
$ 139.03
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee and Citizens of Acton, Massachu- setts :
Herewith is presented my fifth annual report as Super- intendent of Schools for Acton. The topical form of report which was introduced in 1950 to promote easier reading and easier reference has been augmented by a section on school finance, since this subject is of particular interest in view of the extra cost involved in the building, equipping, staffing, and maintaining of additional school facilities.
6
SCHOOL FINANCE
School Funds and State Aid for Public Schools- Chapter 70, General Laws
SECTION 10. School Committees shall annually, in sub- mitting estimates of the amount of money necessary for the proper maintenance of the schools, include their estimate of the amount of school aid the town will receive under this chapter, and of other reimbursements to be received from the commonwealth on account of the support of schools. In making recommendations for appropriations for the support of schools, the finance committee of towns and similar com- mittees in cities shall specify the estimated amount to be received as such school aid or reimbursements from the com- monwealth and the amount to be raised by local taxation. All amounts paid to any town under this chapter shall at the time of payment be accompanied by a written statement from the state treasurer designating such payments as "School Aid according to Chapter seventy of the General Laws" and stating the amount of the payment.
Estimated Receipts for 1953
State Aid-General School Fund
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