Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955, Part 30

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1951
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1262


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 30


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188


and a soil testing laboratory where a complete analysis can be run to determine needed soil nutrients. Also, on applica- tion for membership, any dairyman has access to one of the best bull studs in the northeast for use in his own herd through the artificial breeding program.


Mr. Walter Liebfried has been leader in the Dairy Herd Improvement Association for the county.


Local fruit growers have been interested in the general services rendered by the Extension Service especially in the general program carried on in pest control and marketing.


Among the projects developed of interest to home makers have been Clothing and "Christmas Everywhere".


A 4-H Town Committee was organized under the lead- ership of Mr. John Duston and Mr. C. W. Benson. Clubs have been organized in gardening, poultry, dairy, and foods.


Caroline Livermore was chosen to attend the State 4-H Club Week in Amherst and also was awarded a two-day trip to Boston as county winner in Poultry Club work.


Leaders in 4-H Club Work have been Mrs. Ingolf Hope, Mrs. Norman McIntosh, Mr. John Duston, Mr. C. William Benson, Mr. Fred Heyliger, and Miss Caroline Livermore.


Respectfully submitted,


HARLAN E. TUTTLE ,


Town Director


189


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Acton, Massachusetts


Gentlemen :


The Board of Health herewith submits its report for the year 1953, together with the report of its Agent, Town and School Nurse, Inspector of Food and Milk, Inspector of Sanitation, Inspector of Slaughtering, and a general re- port on the health problems of the Town as they were en- countered during the year.


Again as in past years the Board includes in its report all of the necessary information pertaining to plans for the future health protection of the Town as a whole. It is nec- essary sometimes to include a National and State health pic- - ture to impress you with the necessity of the extent to which we must go for the information we use in local health prob- lems. As in the case of Polio or its many types, National in- formation is obtained from the many letters and information folders, supplies are furnished by the State, and District Health Offices. The local Health Official must know how to obtain this information and the supplies and be here to see that they are properly disbursed when the arrive. Sev- eral times during 1953 this has been demonstrated.


In the report on Diseases Dangerous to Public Health we again insist that ALL cases be reported to either the Board of Health Agent or one of the Board members. Again the National and State health picture is effected as the reports from your local Board of Health are sent to both the Health District and the State Health Department who, in turn, re- port to the Federal Health Department. These agencies then compile these reports for National information and research. During 1953 many cases have been known to exist that were never reported. If the Doctor is called to attend a person for a known disease it is the Doctor's responsibility to report to the Board of Health. If no Doctor has been called it is then the responsibility of the parents or someone in the home to inform the Board of Health.


190


We have one patient in the State Sanitorium in Waltham. This patient has been there for more than a year. We never know from one day to another when we will be called on to take care of others. The fund provided to this is subsidized by the State and returns are made to the Town Treasurer during the first quarter of each year.


With the many new homes and increased population in the Town of Acton together with the added expense of dis- posing of garbage collected in the Town, a great deal of time and energy has been exerted during the past year toward a more uniform schedule of collecting and disposing of the garbage. Many homes in Acton, in the past, have not re- quired that their garbage be collected as they had other ways of disposing of it but, with the new State regulation re- quiring that garbage be cooked prior to its being fed to pigs, increasing demands that it be collected have been made on the contractor.


We have had a considerable increase in the work load at the Town Dump due, in part, to the many new industries which have been dumping several truckloads of refuse every day with the exception of Sunday. The Townspeople have requested that the Dump remain open on Sunday as it is the only day many of them can dispose of their refuse. Formerly it was only necessary to keep the Dump open 3 days a week but with the many new users it has become necessary to remain open the entire week. It will be noticed that a bar- rier has been made at the deep end of the Dump to prevent accident to anyone backing too close to the edge. It is re- quested that anyone disposing of refuse please confine it to the right side of the dump as you enter.


There have been two licenses issued for child centers or kindergartens in the town. The State Health District requires that these be licensed and reported as state super- vision is required in these cases.


With the increase in homes being built in the Town closer supervision of the installation of septic tanks and cess-pools are necessary, Also, with the Zoning of Acton in- creased problems of Health protection have been rising and only by the cooperation of the Citizens of the Town can a


191


maximum program of Public Health protection be attained. Report ALL cases of Dangerous Diseases, report any Health problems that may be noticed; watch the children swimming during the summer as children will swim anywhere that water might be deep enough, making sure that no discolora- tion exists in the water. If children's eyes become inflamed or if any unusual incident looks as if it might be a Health problem, report it, and an investigation will be made by either the Agent or a member of the Board of Health.


Your Board of Health has been working for the sound Health protection of the people of the Town of Acton -and they will continue to work to make this Town as free of Health problems as possible. Meetings are held almost daily in the interest of better Health conditions. State and Dis- trict Health officials have met with Dr. O. L. Clark, Chair- man of the Board, in his office on new and constantly changing Health Laws. With every change or new Law it becomes necessary to work out a plan whereby, if it applies to the Town of Acton, steps will be taken to put in in force.


Respectfully submitted,


ORMA L. CLARK, M.D., Chairman MARTIN J. DUGGAN HERBERT L. LEUSHER EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Agent


Board of Health


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH AGENT


To the Board of Health:


There were thirty five cases of contagious diseases which are dangerous to the public health reported during the year 1953.


192


Cases reported :


Chicken-pox


4


German Measles


2


Measles


3


Mumps


4


Scarlatina


1


Meningitis


2


Influenza


3


Dog Bite


8


Malaria


2


Septic sore throat


3


Tuberculosis


3


35


There were thirty-five deaths reported for which burial permits were issued during the year.


Died in Acton 32


Died elsewhere


3


Buried in Acton


15


Buried elsewhere


20


EDWARD J. HIGGINS,


Agent


REPORT OF TOWN NURSE


To the Board of Health :


Gentlemen:


My report for the year ending December 31, 1953 is as follows :


193


Number of visits 1396 Amount received $641.00


January to December 1953


Number of paid calls 725


Other calls: Welfare, follow-up calls on school children, pre-natal and post- natal calls.


Persons taken or sent for


Chest X-rays 21


T. B. Patients and contacts 28


Night and off hour calls 14


I would like to state at this time for the benefit of all the new residents of Acton, that anyone may call the Town Nurse. The telephone number is 3-4393. The hours - before 8:30 A.M. 12:30 to 1:00 P.M. or after 5:00 P.M. The High School Office may be contacted at any other time.


Respectfully submitted,


EILEEN F. HALE, R.N.


Town Nurse


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING


To the Board of Health


Acton, Mass.


Only one case of slaughtering was reported in Acton during the year, for which a report was made. It was for home consumption.


EDWARD J. HIGGINS,


Inspector of Slaughtering


194


REPORT -OF MILK AND FOOD INSPECTOR


To the Board of Health Acton, Mass.


The following is the report of the Milk and Food Inspec- tor, for 1953.


Total Calls made:


Dairy and Goat Barns 24


Milk Checks 11


Restaurants and Stores 36


State Visits and Conferences 9


Complaints


31


During the year it was necessary to attend several Meetings on the regulations and pasteurization of Milk. In most instances this is accomplished by the State Department of Public Health, where Milk samples are taken at the Dairy and tested. Food in Restaurants and other Eating estab- lishments were inspected at Regular intervals.


It was with regret that due to health conditions on my part, I found it necessary to tender my resignation to the Board of Health, at a meeting in December, 1953 and it was accepted.


Having at one time been a member of the Board of Health, I wish to thank the members for their splendid co- operation, for which I am sure it helped during the past few years that I have been associated with them as the In- spector of Food and Milk. As is known to most people I not only functioned as Milk and Food Inspector, but in any capacity that the Board needed assistance. Several times when I was available for meetings that other members or the Agent was otherwise occupied I would fill in, and re- port my findings.


FRANCIS B. WHOULEY, Milk and Food Inspector


195


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SANITATION


-


To the Board of Health Acton, Mass.


One hundred ninety-nine complaints were acted on during the year, as follows:


Inspection of septic tanks and cess pools . 77


Complaints of overflowing-running into


streams and creeks and others concerning water tests and such 104


Swimming places tested and inspected 11


Homes and surroundings inspected on complaints 3


Complaints on keeping of pig and other animals 4


199


EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Sanitary Inspector


REPORT OF WELFARE DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen :


Submitted herewith is the report of the Board of Public Welfare for the year 1953.


OLD AGE ASSISTANCE: The year opened with 65 re- cipients within this group and closed with 60. There were 8 deaths during the year, 2 persons were transferred to other towns and 1 withdrew voluntarily from the payroll. During the same period 6 new applications were approved by our Board.


196


AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN: 6 families having a total of 14 children have been receiving aid during the year. Our present caseload is 5 families with 9 children. The medi- cal expenditure within this category has been unusually low during the year 1953.


DISABILITY ASSISTANCE: This is a comparatively new form of Public Assistance rendered needy persons over 18 years of age who are totally and permanently disabled. We have aided 5 persons during the year, one of whom died and a new application was approved.


GENERAL RELIEF: Aid under this category is drawn from town funds exclusively and given entirely at the dis- cretion of the Board of Public Welfare. Regular monthly grants have been rendered to 2 persons and additional funds have been expended on emergencies for medically indigent residents of our town.


The ADMINISTRATION of the various categories of Public 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 Mrs. Kathryn VanZandt of Bedford is Secretary at present. The Federal and State participation in the cost of administration covers eighty-three and one-third per cent and the local shares are divided between the three towns according to the caseload, viz :


Acton 60%


Bedford 25%


Carlisle 15%


The following is a detailed analysis of the expenditures for 1953 and the estimated expenditures for 1954:


Old Age Assistance


TOTAL EXPENDITURE


$59,479.03


Amount Paid Acton Residents $57,060.33


Amount Paid to Other Towns 2,418.70


$59,479.03


197


Federal Participation


$24,223.67


State Participation 23,395.49


Reimbursements From Other Towns . 1,251.39


$48,870.55


NET COST TO TOWN OF ACTON ...


$10,608.48


Aid To Dependent Children


TOTAL EXPENDITURE 6,571.25


Federal Participation $ 2,942.76


State Participation


2,191.42


$ 5,134.18


NET COST TO TOWN OF ACTON ...


$ 1,437.07


Disability Assistance


TOTAL EXPENDITURE $ 4,060.42


Federal Participation 1,632.71


State Participation


1,412.36


3,045.07


NET COST TO TOWN OF ACTON ...


$ 1,015.35


General Relief


Regular Grants 1,103.94


Extra Grants 197.90


NET COST TO TOWN OF ACTON


. . .


$ 1,301.84


Administration


TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF NASHOBA DISTRICT $ 6,823.47


Federal Participation $ 2,911.71


State Participation 2,275.65


NET COST TO TOWN OF ACTON $ 800.00


· 198


Recoveries from Liens Placed on Properties of Old Age Assistance Recipients


TOTAL REFUND $ 3,377.84


Federal Share $ 783.07


State Share


1,729.84


$ 2,512.91


NET REFUND FOR TOWN OF


ACTON $ 864.93


Estimated Expenditures for 1954


OLD AGE ASSISTANCE $41,000 :-


AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN $ 5,000 :-


DISABILITY ASSISTANCE $ 3,500 :-


GENERAL RELIEF $ 3,000 :-


ADMINISTRATION (Nashoba District) $ 1,200 :-


SALARIES FOR BOARD MEMBERS . .$ £ 275 :-


Respectfully submitted,


LOSSIE E. LAIRD


A. PERRY MARBLE


WALTER B. STEVENS


Board of Public Welfare


199


REPORT OF COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING WATER SUPPLY FOR TOWN DUMP


This committee has looked into four possible sources of supply to furnish water to the dump; namely - 1-a well and pump system located on the dump property, 2-a surface pipe laid from the water main on Taylor Road, 3-a water main underground from Taylor Road, and 4-the water main extended from Concord Road along Hosmer Street to Mass. Avenue and to the dump.


The Hosmer Street route is by far the most desirable as it will serve the most people at the lowest cost, and par- tially complete the tie-in with the main on School Street, a future project of the water district.


The construction of the motel at Hosmer Street and Route 2 has given a big boost to this extension assuring ample revenue to finance this investment without any large expense to the town.


The water district will install a hydrant at the dump for emergency use and a large meter and service for daily use. This committee has inserted an article in the annual town warrant to be used in defraying the cost of water used at the dump and at the same time serve as a guarantee to the water district.


JOHN F. MOORE, CHAIRMAN F. WENDALL PUTNAM, JR. EDWARD J. HIGGINS


200


REPORT OF THE NAGOG REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE 1953


The members appointed by the selectmen of Acton and Littleton and the school committees of both towns as re- quired by the vote at the March election met at Acton, April 3, 1953 and organized with Mansfield Branigan of Little- ton as chairman and James E. Kinsley of Acton as treasurer.


At the next regular meeting the name of Nagog Re- gional School District of Acton and Littleton was adopted as the corporate name of the district.


Mr. Bennett Sanderson of Littleton was engaged as legal counsel for the district and Priscilla Felt of Acton was engaged as paid secretary of the committee.


Superintendent Pearson of Acton and Superintendent Harriman of the Littleton Union were engaged as educa- tional advisers for the committee.


The Town of Acton appropriated $22,668 at the May Town Meeting and the Town of Littleton appropriated $17,332 at the June Town Meeting for the use of the com- mittee.


Regional headquarters were established at 193 Central Street, West Acton, and The National Shawmut Bank was made financial agent for the district.


A license agreement for the use of The Blanchard Audi- torium was signed by the Acton Selectmen and the Regional Committee November 1953.


Haynes Associates were engaged as architects by the committee in December 1953. The committee is working with the architects on proposed plans for the school.


The committee proposes to construct and equip a com- pletely modern and efficient secondary school plant providing a comprehensive curriculum which will include college prep- aratory, commercial and general courses as well as pro- vision for Vocational Education in the areas of Agriculture,


201


Metal Working and Automobile, Woodworking, and Home Making. In addition special purpose facilities for Art, Music, Dramatics and Sports will be provided.


It is expected that now that the complex problems of the formative stages of the district are solved that steady progress will be made toward the completion of the project.


AARON MARCUS KENNETH DUFFY LEO CUNNINGHAM ROGER CRAFTS JAMES E. KINSLEY


Nagog Regional School District Committee


IN MEMORIAM


In December, 1953 Littleton lost one of its out- standing citizens in the untimely death of Mansfield Branigan. During the past year he was appointed to the Massachusetts Regional District Commission by Gov. Christian Herter and previously he was elected chairman of the Nagog Regional School District.


Mansfield Branigan's unselfish devotion and un- tiring will to foster a better public school educational program for Littleton and Acton has been the main force in bringing the Nagog Regional School District to its present stage of development. Skillfully and tactfully he was able to solve many of the original problems of establishing a District of this nature and his work of creating harmonious relations and a better understanding between the citizens of the two towns will long be remembered. Truly, upon its completion, the new Regional High School will in a large part be a memorial to Mansfield Branigan.


202


NAGOG REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT


Treasurer's Report


RECEIVED


7/27/53-Town of Acton .... $22,668.00


8/ 3/53-Town of Littleton .. 17,332.00 12/10/53-U. S. Treas. Bills 30,000.00


$ 70,000.00


Payments Committee's Orders 60,290.40


Cash Balance Dec. 31, 1953 9 709.60


U. S. Treas. Bills Due 3/11/54 $30,000.00


JAMES E. KINSLEY,


District Treasurer


REPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE


The Elementary School Building Committee entered into a contract on October 15, 1952 with the Morris Construction Co. of Lowell to build an eight elementary class room addi- tion to the High School with a cafeteria, kitchen, teacher's room, health suite, principal's office, boiler room, and neces- sary toilet and storage rocms. The building was accepted as substantially completed on August 24, 1953. The contractor is responsible for any faulty materials or workmanship that shall be observed before August 24, 1954 and reported to the Building Committee.


203


The building has an insulated roof and thermopane win- dows to save heat. A modern inter-communication system with microphone, record-player, and AM FM radio has been installed. The kitchen is equipped with a gas water heater, gas ranges, and gas serving counter; an electric refrigerator, . an electric upright frozen food storage chest, and a dish- washer. The cafeteria will seat 300 students at a time.


The water supply, sewerage disposal system, electric service, and heating system are adequate to service a 4 room addition.


The Committee awarded a contract to Greenough Broth- ers for excavating, graveling, grading, and hot topping around the new addition and the parking area behind the High School. The Committee also hired the Greenough Brothers equipment to develop a new play area at the end of the new addition. The Committee has installed 400 feet of Cyclone Chain Link Fence on the property line between the Kelley Estate and the school.


Over 1000 people attended open house on October 4, 1953. Cider and doughnuts which were donated by the Building Committee were served by members of the P. T. A.


The Committee wishes to thank the Acton Garden Club for its gift of evergreens, plants and decorations that have been put in the plant box at the loading platform and in the lobby. The lobby box has been changed with the season.


The Committee would like to thank the School Com- mittee, Superintendent Pearson, teachers, janitors, many town officials, and townspeople for their wonderful coopera- tion and interest on this building project.


PORTER G. JENKS ORMAL LAFFIN WALTER B. STEVENS LEO C. CUNNINGHAM DANA B. HINCKLEY EDWARD J. BURSAW MARION C. REED


204


REPORT OF ACTON ZONING COMMITTEE


Your Zoning Committee, consisting of Harold Y. Banquer, Medville L. Clark, Charles Judd Farley, Ellis C. Johnson and Norman R. Veenstra was appointed in October, 1951 in accordance with the vote of the annual Town Meeting of March, 1951


The committee worked hard and diligently, meeting about once a week during the period of its existence.


At the start, the committee endeavored to appraise the feeling of the town. What kind of a town did the citizens want - a residential town? a manufacturing town? a farm- ing community? Careful consideration was given to the reasons why previous zoning codes had been rejected. We finally came to the conclusion that the citizentry wanted neither a purely residential town nor a manufacturing one, but a compromise with somewhat more industry and with farming, a traditional activity in Acton, restricted as little as possible. We wrote the Protective Zoning By-Laws along these lines.


Informal meetings were held in various sections of the town to obtain the local viewpoint. The wishes of each lo- cality were always given serious consideration and deviated from only when the committee felt that they ran counter to the interests of the town as a whole.


On Monday, April 13, 1953, a legally advertised public hearing was held. Following the hearing, objections raised at the hearing were serious y considered. Groups having ob- jections were heard. Some minor amendments were made, after which new maps were prepared in accordance with these changes.


The proposed Protective Zoning By-Laws, unanimously approved by the Committee, were submitted to the Town Planning Board on May 25, 1953 in accordance with Sec- tion 27, Chapter 40 of the General Laws.


The By-Laws with amendments were passed at a Special Town Meeting on December 16, 1953.


205


The Chairman wishes to express his thanks to the Zoning Committee for their devotion to the job at hand and their willingness to consider all sides of a problem. No matter how different our initial viewpoints might be, we were always able to reach a workable agreement.


CHARLES JUDD FARLEY,


Chairman


AMENDMENT TO TOWN BY-LAWS TOWN OF ACTON MASSACHUSETTS ANNUAL TOWN MEETING March 9, 1953


Article 30. To see if the town will vote to amend Section two (2) of the Town By-Laws by adding the following articles, or act anything thereon.


Article 11. Every way that shall be laid out for the acceptance of the town as a town way, shall be laid out forty feet or more in width, with twenty-four feet or more of approved road building materials that shall meet the requirements of the Planning Board.


Article 12. If an existing private way shall be laid out for the acceptance of the town as a town way, such way shall not be accepted unless and until the Planning Board shall have certified in writing that such way meets the requirements of Article 11.


Voted Unanimously: To amend Section two (2) of the Town By-Laws by adding the following articles :


Article 11. Every way that shall be laid out for the acceptance of the town as a town way, shall be laid out forty feet or more in width, with twenty-four


206


feet or more of approved road building materials that shall meet the requirements of the Planning Board.


Article 12. If an existing private way shall be laid out for the acceptance of the town as a town way, such way shall not be accepted unless and until the Planning Board shall have certified in writing that such way meets the requirements of Article 11.


A true copy : Attest : HARLAN E. TUTTLE,


Town Clerk


Boston, Mass., June 11, 1953


The foregoing by-laws are hereby approved.


GEORGE FINGOLD,


Attorney General


207


1


ANNUAL REPORT of the


PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ACTON


For the Year Ending December 31, 1953


RATED


-1735.


ACTON.


Town of Acton, Massachusetts


Printed at


Concord Press, Inc., West Concord, Mass.


ORGANIZATION


Acton School Committee


Mr. Dana Hinckley, Chairman Term Expires 1954


Mr. Edward McNiff Term Expires 1954


Mr. Leonard Godfrey Term Expires 1955


Mr. Fred Abbt Term Expires 1955


Mr. Leo Cunningham Term Expires 1956


Mr. Thomas Wetherbee Term Expires 1956


Meetings of the School Committee


Regular meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month in the new primary school at 7:30 p.m.


Tel.


Superintendent of Schools, Whitman Pearson 3-4181


School Physician, Paul D. Gates, M.D. 3-5671


School Nurse, Mrs. Eileen Hale, R.N. .3-4393


Principals :


High School, William O'Connell 3-4181


Primary School, Miss Julia McCarthy 3-4181


Center School, Mrs. Dardana Berry .3-5233


West School, Mrs. Carolyn Douglas 3-5642


South School, Miss Florence Merriam 3-4274


School Secretary, Mrs. Priscilla Felt 3-4181


Attendance Officer, Louis Leveroni 3-4181


School Calendar


Reopening of Schools, January 4, 1954


Winter Recess, February 22-26


Spring Recess, April 12-16


Patriot's Day, April 19




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