Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955, Part 41

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 41


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Library Objectives for 1955


1. Expansion of the Children's Room by additional shelv- ing, removal of vault doors in that room, and adding lighting inside.


2. Construction of a cat-walk between galleries on second floor to facilitate passage of the Librarians and the Public.


3. Maintenance of the plant, including pointing up brick- work, repair of bulkhead, etc.


4. Improvement of lighting in reference and reading sections.


5. Considerable thought is being spent on plans for the


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future of the Library by those who daily feel the pinch of space and realize that all too soon there will be no room for the storage of new books. The improved Children's Room is inadequate. More space is needed for this purpose and for the addition of new general books, and as has been recommended before, space for the exhibition of objects of historical and educational interest. Many such objects are in the possession of the Library; many others would be loaned but space is lacking for their exhibition. An addition to the Library for these purposes in the not too distant future is not only de- sirable but becoming a necessity.


Accession-


Number of Volumes in Library January 1, 1954


19576


Increase by purchase


269


Increase by gift


299


Withdrawn from circulation


1556


Number of Volumes January 1, 1955


18588


Circulation-


Number of days Library was open


149


Number of Volumes circulated


24233


Largest daily circulation-November 8


1156


Smallest daily circulation-September 1


35


Daily average


162 plus


The Circulation shows a gain of over 1000 over the pre- ceding year and is the largest we have ever had. The break down is as follows


Fiction 11562 Juvenile 9288 Non-Fiction 3383


It is of interest that the cost to the Town of circulating one book in the West Branch is $ .20 as compared with a cost of $ .13 in the Center Library.


We are open three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. We open at 2 P.M. and close at 9 P.M., with an hour out for supper from 6 - 7. The Branch is maintained on Tues- days from 3 -6 P.M. and from 6 - 8 P.M. on Thursdays. We share it with a semi-private Library.


The Library has instituted a system of lending to the elementary public schools for the State Certificate Reading. I used to transport the books myself but as the Town grew, it


181


became impossible to move over 4000 books every two months, and the teachers have been co-operating very well.


The Library has been the recipient of a goodly sum of money. It came from the Estate of Mr. Taintor. He was an uncle of Dr. Robert Davis. He married an Acton girl and when she died, he left money to us which will amount to the neighborhood of $13,000. As this goes to print, the money is in the process of passing hands. We feel very grateful for the opportunities which it will provide.


The Library acknowledges with gratitude, books from the following :


Mr. Robert Charles, 1; Mr. and Mrs. Carl A. Christoffer- son, 2; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Collins, 5; Miss Elizabeth Con- don, 1; Miss Romona Davis, 2; Mr. and Mrs. George Dick, 7; Miss Lynda Dulaney, 3; Dr. and Mrs. W. W. Forbes, 2; Mrs. Laura Forbes, 18; Miss Lois Hall, 3; Mr. and Mrs. Howard L. Jones, 9, and magazines; Howard Lee, 1; Miss Mary Loth- rop, 1; Mrs. Edward Moore, 78, and magazines; Miss Kath- erine Motley, 6; John Murphy Jr., 26; Mr. and Mrs. North, 7; Mr. and Mrs. Ott, 11; Mr. and Mrs. Pettingell, 1; Ralph W. Piper, Jr., 2; The Randen Foundation, 1; Mr. and Mrs. Eliot W. Remick Jr., 77; Rex Corporation, magazines; State of Massachusetts, 1; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith, 33; Walter Stevens, magazines; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin L. Tolf, 1; Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Wold, 1.


Financial Receipts


Library Fines


$213.66


Miscellaneous


6.40


Books sold


6.00


$250.67


MARY LOTHROP,


Librarian.


182


REPORT OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE FOR ACTON


The Middlesex County Extension Service is a publicly supported, educational institution to serve all the towns of the county in agriculture and home economics. In agriculture the work is developed county-wide under the direction of county councils made up of leading farmers in each of the main commodities as vegetables, fruit, poultry, dairying, live- stock, and commercial flowers. A county bulletin is mailed monthly to all cooperating farmers, and timely information is furnished by circular letter, by radio, by telephone and by personal interview, and particular information is sent to those who request it.


Fruit and vegetable service as well as handling numerous calls from home owners was a vital part of the program. Louis Flerra and Albert Jenks of West Acton are leaders. Flerra is on the Vegetable Advisory Committee, and Jenks serves on the Fruit Committee.


Information and assistance was made available to all dairy and livestock producers in this area. Farm visits, cir- cular letters, radio talks and local meetings were all employed as means of assisting the local farmers to better understand and keep abreast of the many changes in agricultural tech- niques.


The official dairy cow testing program in the area is directly supervised by the Livestock Agent and includes the service of complete record keeping on the production and feeding of dairy cows. All farmers in the area have available the services of the Artificial Breeding Program through the local Association, and a soil testing laboratory is maintained to serve all farmers or landowners who desire a soil analysis to determine the fertility of their soil.


Service was extended through the Extension Poultry Program in three primary areas: the poultry flock, its care and improvement, breeding, feeding, health, and manage- ment; poultry products, their care and disposition, process-


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ing, storage, merchandising, pricing, and consumer informa- tion; and the farmer, his farm and family and agriculture, business management, youth work, and assistance to organ- izations. F. W. Putnam, Jr., Woodbury Lane, Acton served as a member of the 1953-1954 Extension Poultry Advisory Committee.


The Extension Service cooperated with the Minuteman Turkey Association in holding meetings for everyone inter- ested in turkeys in this area. These meetings are held each month at the offices of the Middlesex County Extension Serv- ice, 19 Everett St., Concord. The Extension Service cooper- ated with the Middlesex County Poultry Assoc. in holding meetings for poultrymen in Acton, at the town hall. F. Wendell Putnam, Woodbury Lane served as President of the organization for 1954.


Home Demonstration Agents are trained home econom- ists ready to solve problems in homemaking: foods, nutrition, canning, freezing, clothing, home furnishings, home manage- ment, family life, family and community recreation. A monthly letter is sent to all who request it.


Mrs. Ingolf Hope, Mrs. Laurence Winslow, and Mrs. Cleon Phelps are members of the Advisory Committee. Pro- grams presented during 1954 were chair seating, slip cover and lamp shade construction, Christmas Everywhere, and foundation facts and figures. Three women participated in a county-wide training school.


There were five 4-H Clubs in Acton approximately and about 22 girls and 27 boys enrolled. The Poultry Club was under the leadership of Caroline Livermore and David Driscoll. The Dairy Club was under C. William Benson; the Garden, Mrs. Norman McIntosh; Horse, Mrs. Betty Morrison ; Clothing, Mrs. Ingolf Hope and Mrs. David Driscoll. There were also a few members enrolled in the Boxboro Sheep Club. The boys and girls participated in the 4-H program by being in judging events and demonstration events. Two boys and two girls from Acton enrolled at Camp Middlesex.


184


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen


Acton, Massachusetts


Gentlemen :


The Board of Health herewith submits its report for the year 1954, together with the report of its Agent, Town and School Nurse, Inspector of Food and Milk, Inspector of Sani- tation, Inspector of Slaughtering, and a general report on the health problems of the Town as they were encountered during the year.


For your reading convenience our report this year is di- vided into five categories: Establishing a New Health Office, Administration of the Town Dump, Consideration of a New Town Plumbing Code, Pollution Study, and Miscellaneous Health Conditions.


Establishing a New Health Office :


During the past few years the work load of the Board has been so great that a centralized Board of Health office has been fast becoming a necessity. Many complaints have been received, requests for inspections have been numerous, per- mits and licenses of various kinds have had to be issued almost every day owing to the rapid increase in population and hous- ing. All this, plus the fact that our records were filed in the homes of the Board members and Agent and not complete in one place, made the need for an office with a full-time clerk imperative. It was voted by the Board to request the Select- men for a Board of Health room in the Town Hall. The Board hired Mrs. Claire Jackson as clerk to the Agent until perma- nent quarters could be established. In April of 1954 the Select- men advised us that a room in the Town Hall would be pro- vided and on June 7 the new Board of Health office was opened to the public with a full-time secretary, Mrs. Vesta Thompson, in charge. We wish to extend our appreciation to the Select- men for making this new office a reality for because of it we have been able to serve the people of Acton with more capabil- ity and efficiency.


185


Administration of the Town Dump:


To meet adequately the needs of the people of Acton the Town Dump is kept open 24 hours a day, every day. A typical day as reported by Custodian Alexander Whiteneck, showed a count of 340 cars including 44 trucks taking advantage of the dump's facilities. This sort of traffic necessitates the hauling in of a vast amount of fill to build a solid and efficient runway. This extra fill has increased automatically the over-all expense of maintaining the dump. However, because of the increased home and industrial population of the Town this added expense was justified.


Mr. Frank Greenough has always been willing to aid us in any way possible and we wish to express our appreciation to him. During the past year when we were in need of gravel at the dump due to the settlement of the 1938 hurricane trees, Mr. Greenough gave free gravel and the use of a bulldozer.


Edward J. Higgins, Agent of the Board of Health, has made faithful and periodic inspections of the dump to control the deposit of offal and refuse, to insure safety from rats, ver- min and other dangerous contamination, and to keep it clean for public use. It goes without saying that to keep the Town Dump in its present good condition, it is necessary for the public to co-operate by knowing and abiding by the rules posted in the area.


Consideration of a New Town Plumbing Code :


The rapid growth of the population of Acton has neces- sitated the consideration of a Plumbing Code for the protection of Town home-owners. In the past the Board of Health con- sidered the advisability of such a Plumbing Code, however, because of the absence, until recently, of a Planning Board and Zoning and Wiring Laws, it was considered infeasible. Local and State pressure has been applied for the establish- ment of such a Code, and on January 1, 1955, by unanimous vote of the Board, the Plumbing Code, under Chapter 111, went into effect. The following appointments were made by the Board of Health :


Joseph G. Perry of West Acton . Plumbing Inspetor William Osbeck of Maynard, Assistant Plumbing Inspector


186


Pollution Study :


During 1954 a preliminary survey for the detection of possible pollution along Fort Pond Brook was made by the Board of Health, the Agent, with the aid of Herbert Nickerson, State Engineer. Aubrey Kretschmar, a member of the Town Planning Board, accompanied the Survey Group at the invita- tion of the Board. This is not the first time such a survey has been made, there have been many in past years.


From thirteen different stations along the brook, water samples were collected and taken to the State Laboratories for examination by the State Engineer. The return report in- dicated the presence of pollution. Three of the thirteen sta- tions were reported dangerously contaminated, and Board ac- tion was taken to alleviate this condition. Further and more extensive survey along Fort Pond Brook, Nashoba Brook, and the Assabet River is recommended by the Board of Health before an adequate pollution study can be complete. The con- tinued good health and well-being of the people of Acton de- pend upon appropriate health protection.


Miscellaneous Health Conditions :


Good garbage service depends to a great extent upon the co-operation of the home-owners of Acton. Several complaints of poor garbage collection received this year, when investi- gated, proved to be the result of unintentional transgression of the rules. It might be well to reiterate the rules of Garbage Collection :


1. The word "garbage" shall include all refuse of animal and vegetable matter which has been used or was in- tended to be used for food for human consumption.


2. No paper or rubbish may be mixed with the garbage. If there is paper or rubbish in the container with the garbage, the Collector shall not be obliged to collect the garbage.


3. Rain or other water must be kept out.


4. No disinfectants may be poured on the garbage as it is fed to hogs.


A great deal of time, energy and strength has been expended by the Board of Health and the Collector in the effort to pro- vide good, dependable, regular service.


187


Presently we have no patients in the State Sanitorium at Waltham, nor do we anticipated any for the coming year. However, it is necessary to have on hand appropriated funds for unpredicted cases. This fund is subsidized by the state and returns are made to the Town Treasurer during the first quarter of each year.


There have been six licenses issued for child centers and kindergartens in the Town during the past year. The State Health District requires that these be licensed and under the supervision of the local Board of Health.


Due to the many problems that have come before the Board of Health it has been physically impossible to correct them in one regular meeting a month. During the year of 1954 we have had 98 different special meetings besides our regular meeting each 3rd Monday of the month.


The Board of Health requests, urgently, that dog bites and all communicable diseases such as Chicken-Pox, German Measles, Measles, Mumps, Scarlet Fever and Whooping Cough be reported faithfully to the Board of Health Office. This is imperative! This is important! The control of contagious dis- eases depends upon this simple vigil. Weekly reports of local conditions are sent from this office to the State Office in Bos- ton, thence to the National Office in Washington. At the Na- tional Office a watchful eye is kept on every section of the country. If raging contagion overwhelms any area, miracle drugs and immune globulin are raced to the rescue. Your call or card can stop an epidemic! Don't forget !


This past year water was piped to the dump. We wish to thank Chief MacGregor and the Fire Department for their co-operation in fighting fires there.


Our appreciation goes to Chief of Police, Michael Foley, for the many times he has assisted us in investigations.


Your Board of Health is pledged to the preservation of good Health conditions in our Town, and we will work long and ardently toward keeping the Town free from the hazards of health problems. The newly established office is open each week, Monday - Friday, for the specific purpose of handling any of your health questions or requests. We will watch, care- fully, for new and changing laws and rules of health regula-


188


tions. We will take advantage of State and National advice and assistance. We will hold many special and after-hour meetings. We will do everything we can to keep Acton in good health !


Respectfully submitted,


ORMA L. 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:


There were ninety-three cases of contagious diseases which are dangerous to the public health reported during the year 1954.


Cases reported :


Chicken-pox 31


German Measles 5


Measles 19


Mumps 11


Scarlet Fever 8


Dog Bite 19


-


93


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


Died in Acton


26


Died elsewhere


5


Buried in Acton 16


Buried elsewhere


15


EDWARD J. HIGGINS


Agent


189


REPORT OF TOWN NURSE


To the Board of Health :


Gentlemen :


I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1954.


Old Age


Welfare


Aid to Dependent Children


165 visits


Veterans, Veterans' Widows or their dependents


Communicable Diseases


Childhood Diseases 18 . .


Tuberculosis :


Trips to Waltham Sanitorium 10


Number of persons X-Rayed at monthly clinic


56


Inactive Tuberculosis patients and contacts 26


Paid visits to persons under Doctor's care :


Medical, Surgical, Chronic - 803


Trips to hospitals and doctors with patients


6


Follow-up visits (not charged) 311


1


Kindergartens inspected


3


Maternal and Child Health Visits :


Prenatal 20


Postnatal 70


Preschool children 62


School children (home visits) 166


Home Deliveries 1


Night, Sunday and off hour calls . .


38


Total number of visits 1693


Total amount of money received and


turned over to Treasurer . . . $749.00


In the Town as well as in the schools, prevention should


190


be stressed more in many aspects of Public Health. There are still some infants not being immunized against diphtheria until school age. More work must be done on Maternal and child health in the future and it is hoped that we may establish some dental care for the preschool children this coming year.


I wish to express my appreciation to the Board of Health for their co-operation during the past year and for the time allowed me to attend a course in Public Health Nursing at Simmons College.


The Board of Health office is open every day, Monday through Friday and the Town Nurse may be reached by con- tacting this office. The phone number is Col. 3-4736.


Respectfully submitted,


EILEEN F. HALE, R.N., Town Nurse.


REPORT OF MILK AND FOOD INSPECTOR


Board of Health


Acton, Massachusetts


Following is a report of the Milk and Food Inspection for 1954:


10 Milk plants visited


7 Eating places visited


2 Catering establishments


10 Stores where milk is sold


2 Ice Cream licenses issued


19 Milk licenses issued


11 Milk Dealer's licenses issued


13 Oleomargarine licenses issued


1 Slaughtering of Poultry license issued


It his been a pleasure to serve the Board of Health of Acton as Milk and Food Inspector.


Respectfully submitted,


BRADFORD S. LEACH


191


----


--


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING


To the Board of Health


Acton, Massachusetts


There were no cases of slaughtering reported in Acton during the year. Several inquiries were made in regard to slaughtering but when price was quoted the people decided to take their slaughtering elsewhere.


EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Inspector of Slaughtering.


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SANITATION


To the Board of Health :


Acton


Massachusetts


Three hundred and forty-three complaints and inspec- tions were acted on during the year as follows :


Inspection of septic tanks and cess pools (2 inspections are necessary for each permit issued) 156


Complaints of overflowing-running into


streams and creeks and others concerning water tests and such


On file by letter 7


Verbal complaints 46


Swimming places tested and inspected 12


Homes and surroundings inspected on complaints 110


Licenses granted for operating nursery schools, motel and overnight camps, and transporta- tion of offal thru Acton 12


343


EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Sanitary Inspector


192


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 1954.


OLD AGE ASSISTANCE: The year opened with 60 re- cipients in this group and closed with 57. There have been 4 deaths and 1 withdrawal. Two new applications have been approved.


AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN: During the year aid has been rendered to 7 families with a total of 15 children under this category of assistance.


DISABILITY ASSISTANCE: Four recipients have been aided in this group.


GENERAL RELIEF: The Board has extended aid to two recipients with regular monthly grants. In addition to this there has been a heavy drain for hospital care, doctors and temporary aid to Acton residents living in other towns.


The following is a detailed analysis of the expenditures for 1954 and the estimated expenditures for 1955:


Old Age Assistance


Amount paid to Acton residents . .$ 54,117.63


Amount paid to Acton cases elsewhere 1,168.53


$ 55,286.16


Federal share


$ 22,720.95


State share 22,413.68


Receipts from other towns 703.16


$ 45,837.79


Net cost to Acton ..... .


$ 9,448.37


193


Aid to Dependent Children


Amount paid to Acton residents


Federal share $ 3,517.30 2,976.11


State share


$ 8,928.32


$ 6,493.41


Net cost to Acton .


$ 2,434.91


Disability Assistance


Amount paid to Acton residents


$ 3,343.47


Federal share $ 1,228.73


State share


1,299.13


$ 2,527.86


Net cost to Acton $ 815.61


General Relief


Maintenance


$ 2,349.15


Hospital


706.76


Doctors


176.00


$ 3,231.91


Net cost to Acton


$ 3,231.91


Administration of Nashoba Public Welfare District


TOTAL COST


$ 8,168.91


Net cost to Acton


$ 1,200.00


Recoveries from Liens on Property


Total refund


$ 3,473.30


Federal share $ 1,354.59


1,412.48


$ 2,767.07


Net refund to Acton ...


$ 706.23


State share


194


Recovery from Insurance Assigned to Acton -


Total Recovery


$ 321.76


Estimated Expenditure for 1955


OLD AGE ASSISTANCE $ 41,000.00


AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN $ 5,000.00


DISABILITY ASSISTANCE


$ 3,000.00


GENERAL RELIEF


$ 3,000.00


ADMINISTRATION


$ 1,800.00


SALARIES FOR BOARD MEMBERS


$ 275.00


Respectfully submitted,


A. PERRY MARBLE, LOSSIE E. LAIRD, WALTER B. STEVENS, Board of Public Welfare


BOARD OF APPEALS


January 7, 1955


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


Gentlemen :


The Acton Board of Appeals herewith submits its an- nual report for the year 1954.


Since this is the first annual report of the Board of Ap- peals it has been thought desirable to include some back- ground information for the benefit of the citizens of Acton.


The Board of Appeals exists as part of the administra- tive machinery of the Protective Zoning By-Law. The General Laws of Massachusetts provide that the Selectmen shall enforce the Zoning By-Law but that any person who feels aggrieved by any decision of the Selectmen may appeal to


195


the Board of Appeals.


Section 30 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws provides for a Board of Appeals consisting of three members to be appointed by the Selectmen. The Board of Appeals has the following powers: (1) To hear and decide appeals from de- cisions of the Board of Selectmen relative to the Protective Zoning By-Law, (2) To hear and decide requests for special permits upon which the Board of Appeals is required to pass under the terms of the Protective Zoning By-Law, and (3) To authorize upon appeal or petition a variance from the terms of the Protective Zoning By-Law, where a literal en- forcement of its provisions would involve substantial hard- ship and where desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially derogating from the intent or purpose of the By-Law, but not otherwise. The Board of Appeals is limited to these powers by law.


The present Board of Appeals was appointed in April 1954 with Bradford Sturtevant and Donald Parker as al- ternates. During the year it has held six public hearings. Two variances have been granted; two petitions have been granted with qualifications, and two petitions have been re- jected as being detrimental to the general welfare. The Board has at all times kept in mind that the Zoning Law can only be effective by cooperation on the part of all of the town officers concerned. Acting on this belief we have, at various times, sought and received the cooperation of the Selectmen, the Board of Health, the Planning Board, the Town Counsel and the Chief of the Fire Department. The Board of Appeals thanks these various public officials for their cooperation.


Respectfully submitted,


HAYWARD S. HOUGHTON OTTO O. PASANEN EDWARD M. FERRY


Board of Appeals


196


REPORT OF THE NAGOG REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE 1954


The major activities of the Nagog Regional School Dis- trict Committee for the period January 1, 1954 through December 31, 1954 are as follows :


1. Aaron Marcus elected Chairman to replace Mansfield Branigan - January 6.


2. Contract signed with Architect S. W. Haynes. Prelimin- ary plan for building accepted - January 28.


3. Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commission ap- proved preliminary plans - May 1.


4. Town Meetings in Acton and Littleton for approval of Bond Issue for $1,200,000 resulted in a favorable vote in Acton and a negative vote in Littleton.




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