USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1917-1921 > Part 13
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Through the courtesy of Mrs. Daniels the Library was presented with the Civil War equipment of Mr. Franklin Jacobs; a number of Civil war medals and badges were left to the Library in the will of Mr. C. L. Newhall. Books have been presented by a number of our townspeople and several old pictures of Southbridge of the past. We would again impress upon the people of Southbridge that the Library, fireproof as it is, and with a room reserved for a local history collection, is the proper place in which to deposit any manuscript, newspaper, picture, furniture, poster or notice that is connected in any way with the history of the town.
The Trustees and Librarian will welcome any sug- gestion that will in any way increase the usefulness of the Library.
ELLA E. MIERSCH
Librarian
107
ACCESSIONS
Bound volumes in Library Jan. 1, 1919
23,194
Added by purchase
455
Added by gifts
40
Added by binding periodicals
45
540
23,734
Wornout books
154
Replaced
102
52
Bound volumes in Library January 1, 1920 NEW REGISTRATION
23,682
Names registered, Oct. 24, 1919 to Jan. 1, 1920 CIRCULATION
1449
Days Library was Open
307
Volumes Circulated
54,759
Average Daily Use
178
Smallest Daily Use June 3
92
Largest Daily Use
369
Smallest Monthly Use, June
3,686
Largest Monthly Use, March
5,447
Amount Received from Fines
$288.73
CIRCULATION BY MONTHS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
Volumes added Volumes now in in 1919 Library
Volumes circu- lated in 1918
Volumes circu- lated in 1919
Per cent circu- lated in 1919
Fiction
148
3814
20,451
26,934
49.19
Chidiren, Fiction
24
1380
11,401
12,261
22.39
Children, Non-fiction
30
994
3,261
4054
7.41
Philosophy
11
345
192
201
.37
Religion
649
55
39
.07
Sociology
28
831
378
342
.62
Language
7
117
123
180
.33
Science
8
708
332
424
77
Useful Arts
67
905
882
1098
2.
Fine Arts
14
558
366
580
1.06
Literature
26
2037
573
881
1.61
Travel
26
1528
620
900
1.65
History
58
1766
1,958
1773
3.23
Biography
17
1891
324
728
1.33
Bound Periodicals
45
2840
182
180
.33
Law Reports of Massachusetts
2
346
Mass. Public Documents
6
207
3
U. S. Public Documents
4
354
Foreign Languages
1
756
2,377
2515
4.60
Current Periodicals
1,653
1624
2.97
Reference Books
18
688
17
42
.07
Ammidown Collection
877
Museum
76
ACCESSIONS AND CIRCULATION
1910-11
1911-12
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
January
3775
3641
3711
4055
4182
4289
4404
4375
5170
February
3447
3726
3663
3747
3890
4137
4456
4159
4108
4899
March
3460
3959
4009
4074
4502
4345
4980
5151
4744
5457
April
3119
3330
3209
3496
3847
3614
4293
4135
4329
4971
May
2801
2854
2975
3284
3492
3481
3351
4144
3669
4362
June
2774 .
2756
2828
3101
3698
4167
3628
3930
3870
3686
July
3016
2770
3423
3296
3646
4146
3682
3874
, 3654
4163
August
3244
2972
3558
3190
3834
4005
3653
3748
3605
4276
September
2722
2653
2674
2873
3247
3607
3603
3249
3544
4130
October
3018
2814
2628
3363
3957
3931
3590
3640
1000
4552
November
3154
3198
3278
3673
3918
4137
3991
3984
4042
4564
December
3268
3335
3085
3679
3754
4036
3848
3966
4225
4529
Total
37798
34,367 38971
41487
45840
47,788
47864
48,384
45165
54759
109
110
GIFTS
Vols.
Bankers' Trust Company
1
E. S. and E. M. Balch
1
Gilbert Cheney
1
Reuben H. Donnelly Corporation
1
Felix Gatineau
1
Manufacturers Aircraft Association
1
National War Garden Commission
1
J. C. Wells 19
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Receipts :
$5500.00
Expenditures :
Salaries
$3124.55
Light
192.94
Coal
503.50
Books
760.41
Binding
138.95
Equipment
11.25
Repairs
55.04
Supplies
102.12
Printing
70.00
Expenses
119.97
Newspapers and periodicals
421.15
.
5499.88
$ .12
MYNOTT FUND
Amount of fund January 1, 1919 Interest
:
$1043.80
47.48
$1091.28
Town Appropriation
111
Expenditures : Periodicals Books
$4.50
86.34
$90.84
Amount of fund December 31, 1919
$1000.44
Report of Board of Health
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :-
The Board of Health, W. S. Conway, M. D., J. E. Donais, M. D., and Philias S. Caron, organized with Dr. W. S. Conway, Chairman, and Philias Caron, Secretary; monthly meetings were held during the year.
Contagious Diseases :-
Chicken Pox
5
Diphtheria 8
German Measules
1
Ifluenza
50
Lobar Pneumonia
5
Measles
21
Mumps
8
Scarlet Fever
. 4
Septic Sore Throat
1
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
15
All other form Tuberculosis
1
Typhoid Fever
12
Whooping Cough
8
Syphillis
1
This table shows about the usual number of regular contagious diseases reported in the last few years.
Public Health Nurse :-
The Board adding this year to its work force a full time nurse, after looking over the field they engaged Miss Stella R. Hazelton, R. N., for that work, her report will follow and show the work she has been doing. Although this has not reached the point of co-operation that this board hoped at the beginning, yet every month shows her work growing, and in another year we expect to see her a very busy agent of this board.
Ambulance :-
At the annual meeting the town voted to put the ambulance, given the town by the Southbridge Disrict Nursing Association, under the care of the Board of Health.
The Board arranged with the Chief of the Fire De- partment to keep the machine in repair, also to furnish men to drive the car. Before the machine was turned over to the fire department it was taken to Boston to the mak- ers of the ambulance and given a thorough overhauling. New tires were bought for the rear wheels, supplies were bought, and now the ambulance is in good repair with the exception that it needs painting.
The Board made the charges the same as under the Nurse Association, and the service given by the Fire Department has been of high order for which the Board of Health wish at this time to thank them in the name of the town.
Deaths :-
Following is a list of deaths for the year:
Diseases of the Heart
15
Diseases of the Brain
16
Cancer
10
Pneumonia
12
Tuberculosis
6
Nephritis
4
Diabetes
3
Cholera Infantum
4
Accidental
9
Suicide
1 6
Premature Births
Still-born
12
Ill Defined
7
All Other Diseases
24
Influenza
2
-
115
Bronchitis
3
Total-Males, 72; Females, 61; Unknown, 1-134
Deaths by Months: -
January
11 July
7
February
9 August 15
March
18 September 9
April
7 October
13
May
13 November 13
June
7 December 12
Total-134
The contract for the collection of garbage and rub- bish expires May 1st, 1920, and a new contract will have to be entered into or some other means to do the work.
Respectfully Submitted
J. E. DONAIS, M. D.
PHILIAS S. CARON,
Board of Health
AGENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Health :-
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1919:
Houses Plarcarded for Contagious Diseases 12
Houses Disinfected after Contagious Diseases 12
Houses Disinfected after other Diseases
2
Garbage Nuisances Investigated
72
Rubbish Nuisances Investigated
43
Dump Nuisances Investigated
6
Yard Nuisances Investigated
10
Hen Nuisances Investigated
6
Swine Nuisances Investigated
19
Cesspool Nuisances Investigated
1
Privy Nuisances Investigated
1
Dead Animal Nuisances Investigated
3
Plumbing Nuisances Investigated
4
ยท
116
Cellar Nuisances Investigated 3 Stores Nuisances Investigated 1
Well Nuisances Investigated 1
These complaints have been looked into and where they were found a nuisance and dangerous to the public health, have been ordered abated, and all have been so abated, although some have had to be subjected to orders of the court.
I wish to thank the Board and the public for their part in a work for the betterment of the public health.
Respectfully submitted ALBERT R. BROWN, Agent of the Board of Health
PLUMBING INSPECTOR'S REPORT
To the Board of Health :-
I hereby submit my report as Plumbing Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1919.
During the year I have issued 57 permits to do
plumbing work. They are classified as follows :
New
Old
Total
Residences
0
14
14
Two Tenement Houses
0
3
3
Three Tenement Houses
10
0
10
Four Tenement Houses
1
0
1
Office Buildings
0
4
4
Factories
3
1
4
Laundries
1
0
1
Stories
1
1
2
Bakeries
1
0
1
Schools
0
1
1
Railroad Stations
0
1
1
Additional Fixtures
0
15
15
117
These buildings contain the following fixtures :
Water Closets
93 Wash Trays 42
Sinks
80 Urinals 1
Baths
58
Soda Fountains
1
Bowls
74
On this work I have made the following inspections:
Water Tests 49 Final Tests 49
Other Inspections 4
Following is the number of houses connected with the public sewer or cesspools during the year:
New
Old
Total
With Sewer
9 16
25
With Cesspools
7 0
7
Respectfully submitted
ALBERT R. BROWN,
Inspector of Plumbing
MILK INSPECTOR'S REPORT
To the Board of Health :-
I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1919.
I have issued thirty-two (32) milk licenses and seven (7) oleomargarine licenses for which I have turned over to the Town Treasurer the sum of $21.00.
I have had but a few minor complaints about the milk and some of these have been caused by neglect of the users, the others to the pedler and only a few to the farmer.
I have visited places where milk is handled in town and on the farms and changes are being made slowly for the better handling of milk.
In the summer the State Board of Agriculture took nine samples of milk from peddlers on the street for the Allied Dairy Interests. I have just received the results from that division and while the report shows that all
118
samples were above the legal mark for butter fat, the report on dirty milk was bad. The average score was 59.344 which is not as good as it ought to be for nearby farm delivery.
I believe the time has arrived where the law should be enforced somewhat more rigidly and less persuasion of words used.
One of the means to keep the bacteria count low is by means of pasteurized milk by the dealers. This de- stroys the germs of contagious diseases and the milk does not sour as quickly, another is by keeping dirt out of the milk and storing in a cold place until delivered, then the housekeeper must do her part if she wishes sweet milk.
Hoping that the milk in 1920 will be cleaner, which means better food and better health, I wish to thank the Board and the public in this work.
Respectfully submitted ALBERT R. BROWN, Inspector ofMilk
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH NURSE
To the Southbridge Board of Health :-
As the Board of Healtht Nurse I have made 793 visits since June 1919 to December 1919. Postnatal visits 439; prenatal 50; typhoid visits 44; scarlet fever 2; tubercu- lar visits 151; visits on tubercular contacts 76; school visits 31. Two patients have been accompanied to State sanitoriums.
The Board of Health Nurse may be found in the of- fice at the Town Hall from 3 p. m. to 5 p. m. where moth- ers may come to weigh their babies, to find if they are under weight. All children that are found under weight and under-nourished are instructed about feeding and given proper advice.
119
Monday of each week I have been in the Tubercular dispensary at the Town Hall from 5 p. m. to 7 p. m. 16 patients have made 24 visits to the dispensary. These have been examined by a physician and when found to be tubercular have been given advice, and home visits made to these patients. Number of patients examined 16. Of the number 4 were found positive, 7 negative, and 5 suspicious.
All persons who have been exposed to tuberculosis, or have recurring attacks of cough following colds, should come to the clinic for free medical examination and ad- vice, or go to their own physician.
Respectfully submitted
STELLA R. HAZELTON, R. N., Board of Health Nurse
Report of Selectmen
To the Voters of the Town of Southbridge :-
Your Board of Selectmen submit for your approval their report for the year ending December 31, 1919.
The Board organized as follows: Wilfrid J. Lamour- eux, Chairman ; Daniel T. Morrill, Clerk ; they held weekly meetings on Mondays at 7.30 o'clock p. m. Army Supplies :-
Through the efforts of citizens and the Board of Se- lectmen, army supplies were bought and sold to the pub- lic. The Selectmen met and chose George Grant as chair- man of committee for this work, he calling the committee together and assigning them their part in the distribution
The chairman reports that all worked in harmony and although not enough food could be secured, the pub- lic was benefitted to a certain extent by their efforts.
Welcome Home Commitee :-
The committee appointed to welcome home the Sol- diers and Sailors of the World War provided a suitable programe for the occasion, which was held on Labor Day. September 4, 1919. This was a gala day for the town and its returned boys with all the people of the town taking part in the celebration and many from out of town were here to see and hear the good things provided. This com- mittee made a report to the town at a special town meet- ing and were well .within their appropriation of $8000.00 raised by the town.
Dudley River Road :-
Te Dudley River Road from the Lensdale plant of the A O Co., to the town line of Dudley has been finished, the last one and one-quarter miles being of cement, thereby constructing an up-to-date permanent road. This was
122
built by money from the Town, County and State. The Selectmen believe that now that the main streets into town have been repaired, more attention should in the future be given to the streets branching from Main St.
Court Room :-
The County Commissioners approached the Select- men in reference to renting rooms in the fire headquar- ters on Elm Street for a district court. After consulting with the Engineers, alterations were made, money being appropriated at a special meeting and the rooms rented to the County for $50.00 a month.
Town Hall :-
Repairs have been made on the town hall building as follows. For many years complaints have been made about the condition of the main hall for dancing. The Board had this floor surfaced by a sanding machine, new boards put in where needed, and the floor re-finished, making it a good floor for dancing; the brick and stone work on the outside of the building has been pointed up by a mason; the sidewalk repaired around the building, one room painted and other minor repairs made to the building.
The Selectmen seeing that these repairs were going to be large have rented the hall more freely than in pre- vious years, and for the first time, basket ball is being played in the town hall.
West Street Re-location :-
The Selectmen held a hearing and re-located the bounds of West Street from Main street to South Street, and have caused an article to be inserted in the annual warrant for your approval.
WILFRID J. LAMOUREUX, DANIEL T. MORRILL, FRANK A. SANSOUCY Selectmen of Southbridge
-
Recommendations for 1920
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Moderator
$
50.00
Law
600.00
Selectmen
2,000.00
Town Clerk
1,200.00
Accountant
1,400.00
Election and Registra-
Treasurer
1,400.00
tion
2,000.00
Tax Collector 1,850.00
Town Hall
2,800.00
Assessors 4,000.00
PROTECTION TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Police Department
..
21,127.00
Sealer of Weights and
Fire Department
16,709.25
Measures
900.00
Tree Warden 500.00
Forest Fires
500.00
Moth Extermination 100.00
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Garbage and Rubbish
.. 2,000.00
Sanitary Cleaning
1,350.00
Board of Health 7,000.00
Main and Hamilton
Sewer Maintenance 3,000.00
Street Cleaning
1,600.00
General Cleaning 2,200.00
HIGHWAY
Highway
11,800.00
Street Lights
14,000.00
Bridges
550.00
Maintenance of Perma-
Sidewalk Repairs 3,500.00
nent Roads
5,000.00
Railings
400.00
Street Oiling
2,500.00
CHARITIES AND SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
Outside Relief of Poor 9,000.00 Military Aid 400.00
Almshouse
6,000.00 Soldiers' Relief
1,600.00
Mothers' Aid 5,000.00 Soldiers' Burial's 100.00
EDUCATION
Schools
88,000.00 Jacob Edwards Public
Library
6,000.00
RECREATION . . . .
Playgrounds and Bath-
ing Pool
3,000.00
CELEBRATION
Public Band Concerts .. 250.00
1
124
UNCLASSIFIED
Damage to Persons
Care of Town Clock
and Personal Prop-
.. 50.00 Annual Reports
erty
500.00 Water, Hydrants' ser-
Insurance 2,500.00
vice and Ice Supply. 7,000.00
Memorial Day and Cemetery Improvement 1700.00
Care of Graves 450.00 Interest 12,425.00
Searching Parties
100.00 Maturing Debt
21,300.00
-
Report of Tax Collector
1919 TAXES
Assessors' Warrant $243,654.39
Collected to Dec. 31, 1919 $214,631.29
Abatement to December 31, 1919 199.63
$214,830.92
Balance Outstanding January 1, 1920
$27,814.47
Excise Tax :
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1919
$1,655.25
Total Excise Tax collected to Dec. 1, 1919 $1,655.25
1918 TAXES
Balance uncollected January 1, 1919 $31,436.02
Collected to December 31, 1919 25,199.21
Balance uncollected January 1, 1920 $6,236.81
1917 TAXES
Balance uncollected January 1, 1919 $7,229.89
Collected to December 31, 1919 6,645.20
Balance Outstanding January 1, 1920 \ $784.69
1916 TAXES
Balance uncollected January 1, 1919
$236.75
Collected to December 31, 1919 86.88
Abatements 134.00
$220.88
Balance outstanding January 1, 1920
$15.87
1915 TAXES
Balance uncollected January 1, 1919 $21.52
Collected to December 31, 1919 21.52
STREET OILING ASSESSMENT
Balance uncollected January 1, 1919 $491.61
Collected to December 31, 1919
45.50
Balance outstanding January 1, 1920 $446.11
126
SIDEWALK ASSESSMENTS
Balance Uncollected January 1, 1919 $398.00
Balance Outstanding January 1, 1920 $398.00
Respecfully yours E. E. GABREE, Collector
-
Town Warrant MARCH 1, 1920
Worcester, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of South- bridge, in the County of Worcester, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby requested to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Southbridge, aforesaid, qualified to vote in town affairs to meet in the Town Hall in said Southbridge, on Monday, the first day of March, 1920, at 5.45 o'clock in the forenoon, to act on the following articles :
Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside over said meeting. .
Article 2. To choose by ballot all necessary town officers for the ensuing year; viz :-
Clerk, Treasurer, three Selectmen, one Overseer of the Poor for three years, one overseer of the Poor for two years, one Overseer of the Poor for one year, Col- lector of Taxes, one Assessor for three years, one Assess- or for two years (to fill vacancy), one member of the Board of Health for three years, two members of the School Committee for three years, one member of the School Committee for two years (to fill vacancy), one Park Commissioner for three years, one Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years, one Sewer Commissioner for three years, two Cemetery Commissioners for three years, Tree Warden, Highway Surveyor, three Constables and all others provided for by law.
Article 3. To vote by ballot "Yes" or "No" in an- swer to the following question: "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
128
Article 4. To hear the reports of the Town Account- ant, Treasurer, Clerk, Selectmen, School Committee, Li- brary Committee, etc., and to act anything thereon.
Article 5. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to pay town debts and charges for the current financial year or act anything thereon.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the cur- rent financial year, or act anything thereon.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to cause an audit to be made of the town's accounts for 1920, or act anything thereon.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to pay the Enginemen, or act anything thereon.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to give the Collector of Taxes the same power to collect taxes that the Town Treasurer has when appointed Collector of Taxes, or act anything thereon.
Article 10. To see if the town will vote to have all taxes due and payable October 1, 1920, and if not paid on or before October 15, 1920, to have interest charged at the rate of 6 per cent per annum from October 1, 1920 or act anything thereon.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to fix the compensation of town officers, laborers and teams, or act anything thereon.
. Article 12. To see if the town will vote to macad- amize the North Woodstock Road to the Connecticut line, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to build a macadam road on West Street, from the end of the pres- ent macadam in front of the Engine House to a point at
129
the angle of the road by Edmond Richards' at the foot of the hill; raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement sidewalk on the southerly side of West Street from the corner of Lovely Street to the corner of Collier Street, said walk to be five feet (5 ft.) wide, raise and ap- propriate money therefor or act thereon.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate for special repairs on thee road from the "Bacon District School House" past the residence of Her- bert Haskell, the sum of $150, or act thereon.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to install & Dental Clinic, in the town hall building or other building, for the treatment and examination of school children's teeth, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to pur- chase the land lying between the Northerly line of Main Street and the Masonic Building Association, land of Wil- frid J. Lamoureux and land of the Eagles Building As- sociation, raise and appropriate money therefor, or act anything thereon.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to conduct a school of Americani- zation at the various industrial plants of the town, and to contract with the various companies for the mainten- ance of the same, or act anything thereon.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to ratify and approve the action of the School Committee in es- tablishing a State-aided vocational education in 1919, and to see if the town will authorize the school committee to establish and maintain State-aided vocational educa- tion in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 471, Acts of 1911, and acts amendatory thereto, or dependent thereon, and further authorize the School Committee to
130
1
expend such sums from the General School Appropriation as may be necessary for that purpose, or act anything therton.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to construct an improved road on Eastford road, from the corner of Hartwell Street, southerly, raise and appropriate money therefor, or act anything thereon.
Article 21. To hear and act on the report of the committee appointed under article 24, of the town meet- ing of March 13, 1916, which was appointed to procure plans for a new primary school building on Marcy and Dresser Streets, on land purchased from Mrs. E. J. Bar- tholomew, and to see if said committee will be authorized and instructed to proceed with the erection of a building for primary school purposes, in accordance with the rec- ommendation of said Committee, according to plans, specifications and estimates to be submitted, raise and appropriate money therefor, or act anything thereon.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to repair North Street by laying a macadamized or other perma- nent surface thereon, raise and appropriate money there- for, or act anything thereon.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer on Everett street, from a point near the house of E. D. Desrosier, a distance of about four hundred feet in a southerly direction to connect with the sewer main at the corner of Everett and Cohasse Streets, raise and appropriate money therefor or act anything thereon.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to accept the report of the Selectmen, as to the laying out as a pub- lic way and to be known as Wall street, and running from Pleasant street westerly to the land of Norval Newell, raise and appropriate money therefor of act thereon.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to accept the report of the Selectmen, as to the laying out a public
131
way, a certain extension of Moon Street, running north- erly from the end of the present layout of Moon street to Laurel street, so-called, raise. and appropriate money therefor, or act anything thereon.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to construct a cement concrete sidewalk on both sides of Maple Street, raise and appropriate money therefor, or act thereon.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Eastford Road, from the Hyde Manufacturing Company, southerly to 69 Eastford Road, raise and ap- propriate money therefor, or act anything thereon.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to pave or repair Elm Street, as recommended in the report of the Road Committee, raise and appropriate money therefor, or act anything thereon.
Article 29 To see if the town will vote to pave or repair Central Street, from Main Street to the location of the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co., as recom- mended by the Road Committee, raise and appropriate money therefor, or act anything thereon.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to pave or repair Main Street, from the corner of Hamilton Street to South Street, as recommended by the Road Commit- tee, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
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