USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1950-1954 > Part 42
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Additional work was done during the year in connection with the main line from Frairy St. to Dale St. in providing two more manholes with covers at grade level.
Three new house connections were made during 1954.
We ask for an appropriation for 1955 of $1,900.00.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN D. WILLIAMS MYRON H. SMITH HARRY R. LEIGHTON
REPORT OF THE TREE AND MOTH DEPARTMENTS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my Annual Report of the Tree and Moth Departments.
During the past year the usual spraying of the entire roadsides for the control of the Gypsy Moth and the Elm Leaf Beetle was carried on. I recommend that $1,000.00 be appropriated for Moth work for 1955.
The Dutch Elm Disease is on the rise again as was feared last year. In order to keep up with the dying trees and also the costly item of removing the stumps where necessary, I recommend that $4,000.00 be appropriated for the Dutch Elm Disease program of 1955.
The Elms were sprayed this past spring for the control of the Elm Bark Beetle as has been the practice in the past.
23
This coming year we will be able to do away with this appro- priation as the Department of Natural Resources is planning to include Medfield in its blanket spray program for the Gypsy Moth which will also tend to control the Elm Bark Beetle.
The care of trees in Medfield was proceeding quietly un- til hurricane "Carol" came along followed closely by "Edna." This drained this appropriation quickly with much work still to be completed. I recommend $3,500.00 be appropriated for the Care of Trees in 1955.
The brush was cut along the roadsides as usual during the past year. In the future this appropriation will be turned over to the Highway Department as it fits in with their pro- gram better than it does that of the Tree Department.
More trees were planted this year than in the past sev- eral seasons because of a bargain offer from a nursery which worked out very successfully. I recommend a slight increase to $500.00 to compensate for the loss of trees due to hurricanes and the increase in the Dutch Elm Disease.
The Program against Poison Ivy was carried on the same as in the past, covering as many roadsides as possible with the money provided. I recommend $400.00 be appropriated for the control of Poison Ivy.
Respectfully submitted,
ELLIS N. ALLEN, Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The annual report of the Cemetery Department for 1954 is submitted herewith.
The preparation, surveying and grading of Section F has progressed favorably.
Avenues and mowing areas have been maintained econ- omically.
The replacing of sod and arrangement of monuments dis- placed by falling trees in the two hurricanes of 1954, await the spring program.
We have been troubled again with vandalism and wish to quote the law under which we may prosecute: Chapter 272, Section 73, 74, and 75 General Laws .- Sec. 74 Desecration of Burial Ground .- Whoever wrongfully, and by any act not in- cluded in the preceding section, destroys, injures or removes
24
a building, fence, railing or other thing lawfully erected in or around a place of burial or cemetery, or a tree, shrub or plant within its limits, or wrongfully injures a walk or path, or places rubbish or offensive matter or commits a nuisance therein, or in any way desecrates or disfigures the same, shall forfeit not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars
Section 75. Removal of Flowers, etc., from Grave. Whoever without authority, removes flowers, flags or memorial tokens from any grave, tomb, monument or burial lot in any cemetery or other place of burial shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
We wish to thank the Townspeople for their cooperation in our efforts to keep refuse out of the roadways.
Respectfully submitted,
PETER PEDERAINI, KENNETH R. CLARK, JOSEPH A. ROBERTS, Cemetery Commissioners
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDFIELD PARK AND PLAN- NING BOARD FOR THE YEAR 1954
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Board held its regular monthly meetings on the sec- ond Thursday of the month and in addition, met very frequent- ly throughout the year to deal with applications for approval of sub-division plans.
The size of many of these projects required joint meet- ings and cooperation with the other Town departments. Con- siderable work was done in conjunction with the Selectmen to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion for the maintenance of highways in developments which had been previously in- stalled prior to the Town's enactment of Chapter 41, Sec- tion 81, A-Y.
Plans were approved for a substantial development on South Street, this development being in the process of con- struction at the present time. Plans were tentatively approved for another project on Spring Street which has not progressed to date.
The Board considered many suggestions for amending the rules for subdivision control, some of which have been accept- ed and will be published shortly.
At the Annual Town meeting, the Board was instructed to make a study and recommendations for extending the exist-
25
ing sidewalks in the town. This has been done and its rec- ommendations will be presented at the next annual Town Meet- ing in its formal report.
The Town's parks have been kept in good condition. New paths have been created and new benches have been installed in Baxter Square. The new hard top tennis court was con- structed on Adams Street and was opened at the beginning of the season. It has had much usage by the public since its opening.
Because we recognize the temporary basis of the present swimming arrangements for the public, we have instituted studies in order to suggest facilities on a more permanent basis.
Respectfully submitted,
W. F. MITTENDORF, Chairman, ROGER R. HARDY, CLAIRE SMITH, MALCOLM HASKELL, CHARLES C'. CAIN,
Dec. 29, 1954
Medfield Park and Planning Board
ANNUAL REPORT OF MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY-1954
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1954.
Library Hours: 2:00-8:30 p.m. daily except Sundays and holidays. Summer Hours: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The year of 1954 has seen an increase in circulation. 17,- 160 books have been borrowed from the library, and 136 new applicants have taken out cards. 351 new books have been purchased, of which 158 were juvenile. While this is an in- crease over last year, it is less than previous years, because with the continually rising cost of books. our monthly budget (averaging $50) does not permit of the purchase of as many books as we should have. There was a replacement this year of 21 classics by new editions. 188 books were donated by the fol- lowing: Mr. A. Thorndike, Mr. Charles Woodard, Mrs. Nancy McNally, Bethlehem Steel, The Jay Broiler Co., Mrs. George Dabney, The Hannah Adams Club, Mrs. Orion Wight, Mrs. Henry Byng, Mrs. James White, The Girl Scouts, Miss Ethel Hersey, Miss Dorothy Gardner, The Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Limric, Senator Mccarthy, Mrs. George Kimpton, Mr. Sutherland, Mr. Theodore Peder- son, Mrs. C. Pelon, Mrs. Henry Young, Scott Deering and Mrs. Myron Smith.
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Outstanding books of the year have been:
Fiction
Not As a Stranger
The Royal Box
Never Victorious, Never Defeated
The Dollmaker
Sweet Thursday
Innside Nantucket
Banners Against the Wind
The Pride of the Peacock
The Healing Oath
Mary Anne
Katherine
The Toll-Gate
American Captain
Speak To Me Brother
The Anatomy of a Crime
The View from Pompey's Head
Good Morning, Miss Dove
The Plum Thicket
Soldiers of Fortune
Variable Winds at Jalna
One White Star
My Brother's Keeper
Blue Hurricane
Blow the Wind Southerly
Letter to a Stranger
The Measure of the Years
Non-fiction
Ambassador's Report
Flying Saucers from Outer Space The Conquest of Everest
Seven Years in Tibet
The Mind Alive Away All Boats
But We Were Born Free
Handicrafts of New England
Economics of Money & Banking A Stillness at Appomattox
Audubon's Butterflies and Moths
Early American Woodenware
The Roosevelt Family of Sagamore Hill In the Cause of Peace Engineering Mechanics
Pennsylvania Dutch American Folk Art Shuttlecraft Book of Hand Weaving Let's Visit the Atoms Doctor to the Islands
Fifty Centuries of Art
Atomic Science Bombs and Power
American Science and Invention
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Victorian Jewelry Historic Silver Spies for the Blue and Gold The White and the Gold The White Gate
In addition there were several new biographies, including that of Pearl Buck (My Several Worlds), Albert Einstein, Susan Anthony, Gertrude Lawrence, Douglas MacArthur and David Belasco. There were also the usual mystery stories, westerns and light romances. Space does not permit listing the many lovely children's books, but career books biograph- ies, juvenile mysteries and sports stories are still the most popular with the younger set.
The main room of the library was painted this spring, after an interval of ten years. Additional lighting for the four corners of the room where it is difficult to see the books on the shelves has been planned, but not yet installed.
Plans for a children's room in the basement are going forward, and the Library Board is asking for $2,000 to begin this project. Pictures of suggested plans are on view in the library. This rom is badly needed, as conditions in the main room are becoming overcrowded. There is not room on the shelves for the new books, and many older ones have to be discarded to make room for them. This condition could be remedied if the children's books could be housed in a place of their own. Also, since the school children are using the library in increasing numbers for school work, adults are unable to sit down at the tables for leisurely perusal of the magazines or reading as heretofore, because the tables are all occupied by students. The librarian has found it neces- sary to limit study hours for the young people because of this. All back numbers of periodicals listed in Reader's Guide are kept on file in the basement, and would be readily accessible there for reference work. It is planned to have one section for the smaller children and one for the teen-age group.
The Board of Trustees and the librarians wish to thank Senior Girl Scouts for their valuable assistance in the several tasks assigned to them, and the many friends of the library who have donated books, magazines and flowers to the library during the year.
The Trustees are asking for the sum of $1800 this year as the annual appropriation, together with the Dog Tax $648.70 and the library fines $324.53 to help defray regular mainten- ance costs of the library; these amounts to supplement the Trust Fund income, which rising costs make insufficient for the present day maintenance of the library.
Respectfully submitted,
ETHEL G. HERSEY, Librarian BERTHA H. JEFFERSON, Secretary
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MR. C. MUNROE CLARK, Chairman MISS ANNE DONLAN MR. CHARLES WOODARD MRS. DANA B. JEFFERSON MR. MARK HOLLINGSWORTH MRS. HENRY BYNG
ETHEL G. HERSEY, Librarian ALICE S. RIPLEY, Asst. Librarian CHARLES PATTEN, Custodian
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
We hereby respectfully submit our report of the Board of Health for the year ending December 31, 1954.
We have issued licenses to dealers selling, buying or transporting Methyl Alcohol or Wood Alcohol, so-called, or any preparation other than Shellac or Varnish.
The garbage collection contract was renewed and collections are made twice a week during the summer months and once a week during the winter months.
The Medfield School Dental Clinic is under the supervision of the Board of Health and all children in the elementary buildings were examined. Treatment has been started on all those who desire to have the work done at the Clinic.
At the present time there are two patients at the Norfolk County Tuberculosis Hospital at Braintree. We have one patient at the Rutland State Sanatorium.
The following contagious diseases were reported:
Dog Bite
8
Measles
6
Mumps 4
Non-paralytic Poliomyelitis
1
Tuberculosis
5
Several complaints were taken care of throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
A. RITCHEY STAGG, M.D., Chairman
CLARENCE BOYCE MADELEINE HARDING Board of Health
January 11, 1955
29
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The following is the report of the Board of Public Welfare for the year 1954.
A total of 50 Old Age Assistance cases, 5 Aid to Dependent Children cases, 7 Disability Assistance cases and 2 General Relief cases were administered.
Aid rendered to recipients in all four categories was as follows:
Old Age Assistance
$41,394.70
Aid to Dependent Children
6,848.18
Disability Assistance
1,921.68
General Relief
1,280.74
This year another reduction in the Old Age Assistance case load is evidenced by State statistical reports. This condition is general throughout the State. Not only do we see evidence of the Lien Law in this reduction, but in the amount of money recovered during 1954. This year $554.40 was recovered through the Lien Law. The total amount recovered on Old Age Assist- ance cases was $4,792.20.
The "Medical Care Plan", a plan compiled for uniformity throughout the State in medical compliance and better serv- ice to our recipients, has been put into practice. Administratively this Medical Care Plan requires detailed attention to authori- zation procedure and the cooperation of all, recipients and vendors, to achieve the maximum conformity, which is manda- tory on all Boards of Public Welfare. The cooperation which this Board of Public Welfare has received is commendable.
The added services given to Aid to Dependent Children re- cipients has shown an increase, administratively, in the addi- tional number of purposeful interviews. This intensified serv- ice, rendered in compliance with the State Standards, has proven its worth both socially and economically. The emphasis placed on the welfare of the child in his own home has made it evident that this kind of assistance and investigation is an investment for the Taxpayer in the future of the dependent youth.
It is the goal of those responsible for the administration of these assistance programs at our local level, the district level and the state level that these plans for assistance be ad- ministered to give the best service to recipients, keeping in mind their responsibility to the taxpayers of the town and the compliance with state and federal requirements.
30
No major changes in Policies and Procedures are antici- pated in the coming year.
From time to time our personnel attends refresher courses conducted by the Department of Public Welfare for personnel at the local, district and state levels.
An increase in awards to those who receive Old Age and Surviors Insurance was granted by Congress as of September 1, 1954, payable on October 1, 1954. This increase in resources was noted and deducted from all individual recipient's budgets.
As Agent and Clerk, respectively, Mrs. Doris M. Carr and Mrs. Helen E. Kennedy have continued to serve commendably. For their able assistance during the year the Board wishes to publicly thank them.
To conclude this report this Board wishes to express its appreciation to the town officials, doctors and private business men and publicly thank them for their excellent cooperation during the year 1954.
Respectfully submitted
WILLIAM S. FARMER
Chairman
LAWTON B. KINGSBURY Clerk
THEODORE B. PEDERSON Member
1954 POLICE REPORT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby respectfully submit my report as Chief of Police for the year ending December 31, 1954.
Assault and battery on officer 1
Assault and battery
1
Assault with intent to rape
1
Drunkedness 4
Breaking and entering in nighttime and larceny 1
Arrest for out-of-town police departments 2
Operating under influence of liquor
2
Operating without license
2
Operating to endanger
3
Operating unregistered auto
1
Operating uninsured auto
1
Operating after suspension
1
Leaving scene after causing property damage 1
Malicious injury to property
1
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Using automobile without authority 2
Operating without certificate of registration 1
Delinquent child breaking and entering in nighttime 1 Delinquent child operating unregistered auto 2
Delinquent child operating without license 2
Delinquent child operating uninsured auto Disturbance of peace
Violation of Pure Food Law
1
Person committed to Medfield State Hospital
1
Cases placed on file
1
Released by Probation Officer
1
One fine
$50.00
Three fines, $25.00 each
75.00
One fine 10.00
Fines at Dedham District Court
One pay cost to injury to property
One given 3 months suspended sentence at House of Correction
Delinquent child placed on probation at Superior Court, 1 year for operating unregistered, un- insured, automobile, and without license
One found not guilty at Dedham Superior Court for the following offenses: Assault and bat- tery on officer, operating under the influence of liquor, and drunkedness
One given 3 months suspended sentence for 2 years for breaking and entering in nighttime
One given 3 months suspended sentence for 2 years for using a car without authority
One given 21/2 years suspended sentence at Ded- ham Superior Court for assault with intent to rape
One found not guilty for assault and battery in District Court
Officers attending District Attorney's office 3 days
Officers attending Dedham Juvenile Court 3 days
Officers attending Grand Jury 4 days
Officers attending Dedham District Court 24 days
Officers attending Dedham Superior Court
7 days
Summons served for other police departments 72
Capias served for other police departments 4
2 Warrants served for other police departments Held for Grand Jury 3
Men drawn on Jury Duty 9
1
Complaints received and investigated 201
6
Breaking and entering in homes
4
Breaking and entering camps 3
Breaking and entering Grade School 1
Breaking and entering Storehouse 1
32
Woman drawn on Jury Duty
Breaking and entering in nighttime
$135.00 $12.00
2
1
Missing boys located in New Jersey Missing children found Automobiles broken into
2
2
2
Miscellaneous
Automobile accidents
56
Injured adults
22
Injured children
5
Disturbance suppressed-no arrest
10
Messages received and delivered
22
Fires located by police
7
Fires put out by police
4
Windows broken
2
Automobiles tagged
25
Automobiles removed from highway
2
Automobile stolen in Wilmington, recovered here
Automobile stolen in Walpole, recovered here
Automobile stolen in Medfield, located in Quincy
Bicycle stolen and recovered here
Patients reported missing
35
Safe pried open in a home
1
Patients picked up by Police
6
Closed houses covered
25
Doors found open, owners notified
3
Windows found open, owners notified
8
Street lights reported out
12
Registry
Automobile licenses revoked 6
Automobile licenses suspended 8
Automobile licenses returned 6
Registration plates found, turned in to Registry
5
Automobile licenses recommended
5
Automobile sales and transfers 157
Automobile violator turned in to Registry
28
Automobile Class Two transfers
23
Automobile registration plate stolen in Norwood
1
Automobile registration plate recovered here 1
Out of State automobiles check at Medfield State Hospital 8
There were 2 train accidents
Paid details
67
Two prison breaks where officer covered roads from Norfolk Prison Colony
Two hurricanes-town was without lights
The Chief of Police in behalf of the Town was presented for the third time a Safety Award for the year 1953 by Mr. John Adams and Inspector Fred Blanck of the Registry of Motor Ve- hicles who represented Registrar King.
33
The award is made to towns which have not had a fatal automobile accident within its limits during the year. Since there were no accidents during the year 1954 a similar award will be forthcoming in the Fall of this year.
It is a sufficient award in itself to know that no deaths due to automobiles have occurred during the past two years within the Town of Medfield.
On that occasion I expressed my gratitude for such an out- standing record to the officers who serve in my Department, to the Highway Department, and the citizens of the Town, all of whom have contributed to such an excellent record. At this time I similarly express my thanks to them publicly.
This concludes my last report in this last year of my career as your first Chief of the Police Department.
Although there naturally have been problems of varying degrees of importance during my thirty years as Chief of the Police Department, I believe that each one has been handled and disposed of in the best interest of the inhabitants of the Town of Medfield.
I wish finally to express my abiding appreciation to the peo- ple for the trust and confidence that they have reposed in me during the long period of time during which I have served them to the best of my ability and sincerely wish my successor and the Town a pleasant passage of time.
Respectively submitted,
COLEMAN J. HOGAN Chief of Police
REPORT OF THE FIRE ENGINEERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Fire Engineers hereby submit their report for the year ending December 31, 1954.
There were 55 alarms of fire classified as follows:
Grass & brush
38
Buildings
5
Automobile 3
Oil Burners
1
Washing gasoline
1
Chimney
1
False
3
Out of Town
2
Gasoline
1
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The Engineers would at this time like to remind the citi- zens of Medfield that about the time they receive this report the telephone system will be changed to a dial system. This has called for changes in the fire alarm. Until this change the fire alarm was transmitted by the telephone operators as a public service and we wish at this time to thank the telephone operators for the service they have given to the Fire Depart- ment and the citizens of Medfield. The fire alarm will now be transmitted from the telephone switchboard at the Medfield State Hospital.
Now we ask you to be very careful. Do not dial Operator in case of fire, but dial number on fire alarm card and be sure and give your fire alarm location number as is shown on your fire alarm card. This is very important to the Opera- tor. This must be done carefully so that the correct alarm will be sounded to assure you of the fast response of the Fire Department to the exact location of the fire.
If you did not receive a fire alarm card, one may be ob- tained at the Town Office.
Due to the hurricanes "Carol" and "Edna" the wood- lands are in a serious condition. We ask you to be careful of fires in the open. Please obtain a permit.
Respectfully submitted, EDGAR W. ALLEN
KENNETH R. CLARK Fire Engineers
REPORT OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Although there are no areas of conflict in the world where overt and actual hostilities exist there remains the constant need of an alert and prepared citizenry ready for any defense emergency.
The function of the Department of Civil Defense is equally concerned with emergencies that arise from disasters due to the powerful forces of nature. Preparedness against hostile action and relief from destructive disaster are co- partners within the functioning and purpose of this Depart- ment.
During the year 1954 the Auxiliary Police were organized under the leadership of Mr. William McLin.
Plans and preparations are being made by the Director and the Chief of the Fire Department to organize and train an auxiliary Fire Department.
35
Your Director attended many Regional and District meet- ings during the past year where valuable information, expe- riences, and suggestions are presented to the local directors.
To all officials who have assisted me and to the voluntary members of the Civil Defense Agency I wish to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES CLOUGHERTY, Director Civil Defense Department.
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit the annual report of the Department of Weights and Measures for the year 1954:
Scales
Adjusted
Sealed
Platform, over 10,000 lbs.
1
Scales, 100 to 5,000 lbs.
5
Scales, under 100 lbs.
18
Weights All
50
Capacity Measures Liquid
11
Automatic Measures
Gasoline
12
Grease, Oil
5
Bulk Storage
2
Linear Measures Yard Sticks
4
108
Trial Weighing of Commodities
Tested
Correct
Potatoes
40
40
Meat
14
14
Bread
40
40
Pastry
40
40
Nuts
10
10
Confectionery
10
10
154
154
Expenses
J. F. Whittier, Salary
$125,00
Supplies
7.53
Transportation
25.00
Bond
5.00
Total
$162.53
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Receipts
Sealing and Adjusting Charges
$48.50
Use of Equipment and Share of Bond from Dover 5.00
Total
$53.50
Respectfully submitted, J. FRED WHITTIER Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1954.
The dogs reported to have bitten persons were quarantined and released at the end of the quarantine period.
In the annual inspection there were 210 cattle, 49 horses, 4 goats, 5 sheep and 67 swine.
The animals showed no signs of contagious diseases and the premises were found in a satisfactory condition.
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