USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1927-1931 > Part 4
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Number of cases investigated out of town 14
Mothers' Aid visits
Families aided in town 152
Families aided out of town having a settlement in town .. 19
Adults aided outside of own home 35
Adults aided at infirmary 18
Children boarded in institutions and homes 31
Hospital cases (for the year) 34
I will mention here that the Board of Public Welfare has had exceptionally long hospital cases this year :
112
One case costing
$778.00
Another costing
631.88
Another costing
500.03
These three cases totaling .. $1,909.88
I take this occasion to thank the manufacturers, mer- chants, contractors and all who have given their co-operation in helping us in many ways, especially in finding employment to persons whom we were helping.
I also wish to thank the Board of Public Welfare and other town officials for their kind assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
H. H. MICHON,
Almoner.
113
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMITTEE
· For the Year Ending December 31st. 1927.
The Cemetery Committee organized for the year of 1927 with George H. Hartwell as Chairman and S. W. Williams as Clerk.
Eleven lots were sold during the year, ten lots accepted for Perpetual Care, five hundred and eight sunken graves graded, twelve lots reseeded and forty-three graves opened.
The water system was extended six hundred feet. This was done to accommodate those who purchased lots during the past two years in one of the new sections.
Through a readjustment of our funds an amount of money was available to spend in filling what was Pleasure Pond. We advertised for bids for earth filling. Six bids were re- ceived, the lowest being J. Arthur Genereux, the price ninety cents per cubic vard. Enough filling was purchased to nearly fill this section to the desired grade. It is our desire to cover this with loam. seed it down and beautify this part by the planting of ornamental shrubs and trees. It will be a number of years before this filling has settled sufficiently to enable us to open graves here.
The greater part of our appropriation and interest is spent in labor, as more lots are sold and more perpetual cares receiv-
114
ed, our work increases. It was necessary to keep four men thru- out the Summer and early Fall. During the Summer the per- petual care lots were mowed, trimmed and raked three times a month. These lots were carefully checked over four times during the year. Sunken graves filled, grave markers straight- ened and other necessary work done. As much time as could - be spared was put in on the non-care lots in an endeavor to keep the whole Cemetery in as neat a condition as possible.
The old part of the Cemetery specified by Miss Hannah M. Edwards in the trust fund she created, was mowed, raked and trimmed twelve times during the year. Nine lots were graded, sixteen yards of loam being used in this work. Starting at the Main Street entrance about half the monuments and grave markers were re-set and straightened.
Five weeks was spent in the Cole lot, removing dead trees and cutting out what brush had accumulated during the year.
The total amount collected by the Cemetery Department from all sources for the year ending December 31st, 1927, was $1811.00.
Respectfully submitted.
GEORGE H. HARTWELL. Chairman. WARDWELL M. EDWARDS. DANIEL T. MORRILL. CLARENCE F. MORSE. SEAVER M. RICE. ALVA L. HYDE.
115
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY
TRUSTEES OF JACOB EDWARDS LIBRARY
George Grant
John E. Page
Fred E. Corbin
Louis O. Rieutord
E. B. Armstrong For the Fund
Henry Tetreault
For the Town
LIBRARIAN Ella Miersch
ASSISTANTS Dorothy S. Bamford Stella Lavallee (until September) Blanche Weatherhead (after September 1)
SUNDAYS Alpha Fontaine
JANITOR Romaldo di Bonaventura
LIBRARY HOURS
Week days, except January 1, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. 10 to 12 a. m. to 9 p. m. Sundays. October-May 1, 2-5:30.
116
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Library:
USE
In 1927. the Library has had the largest increase in the circulation of books that it has ever had in a single year. 81,674 books were taken out for home use, an increase of 17 per cent over 1926. This increase was probably due partially to lack of work in the town. However, in two years there has been a decrease of two per cent in the proportion of fiction circulated, which would indicate increased interest in worth- while books. Also, our townspeople would probably be amazed if they knew the percentage of fiction circulated which the classics represent-Dickens. Thackery. Hugo. Dumas. George Eliot, Cooper, Conrad, etc.
There is a steadily increasing use of the library for ref- erence. No statistics are kept of this service, but the demand is so large that it is often difficult to meet it adequately.
The reading rooms are usually well filled, and the periodi- cals used to tatters.
GROWTH
The Library contains 26,953 volumes: 641 volumes were worn out and discarded : 491 of these were replaced with new copies. Nine hundred and sixty volumes were added to the library, of which 72 volumes were gifts. We have again added goodly numbers of standard books of non-fiction. books which do not circulate constantly, but are very necessary to students. both young and old.
A gift from the Woman's Educational Association of Boston of books and pictures on French art. and 35 volumes
117
of books in Italian. has been very welcome. There is a great demand for books in foreign languages, which we have not sufficient income to fill. We have, however, a good collection of readers in easy English to help our townspeople to learn English.
Two hundred and seventy-eight volumes have been re- bound.
BUILDING
The planting about the building has added greatly, not only to the beauty of the library building, but also to the at- tractiveness of the center of the town. A new floor of rub- ber tiles has made the newspaper-room delightful. Both were made possible by the income from the "Edwards Fund." which has also paid for one-fifth of all our expenditures.
ACTIVITIES
The Library has been kept open between five-thirty and six-thirty during the whole year, and on Sunday afternoon. except from May to October. The attendance seems to well warrant the additional expense.
A number of small reading clubs have used the "His- torical room" for their meetings. This room could be used for evening reading clubs, as well.
Over the whole country is a tremendous increase in the desire to learn, to know. With many. it is a question how to begin, what to read. The Library offers you reading courses, arranged by experts, along many lines. You can gain quite as much from these as from most correspondence schools. Why not try them
ELLA E. MIERSCH,
Librarian.
CIRCULATION BY MONTHS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
January
4375
5170
4898
5854
5517
5260
5917
6942.
6323
7261
February
4108
4899
4842
6238
5661
5136
5825
6416
6108
7675
March
4744
5457
5671
6681
6210
5678
6526
6679
7122
8286
April
4329
4971
4767
5745
5378
4472
5783
5822
6321
7124
May
3669
4362
4236
4759
4372
3980
4973
5184
5131
6446
June
3870
3686
4222
4820
4121
3999
4567
5603
5663
6166
July
3654
4163
4146.
5222
4108
4106
4839
5027
4682
5646
August
3605
4276
3732
4997
3738
4128
5253
5043
4419
6148
September
3544
4130
3700
4177
3591
4067
4743
4962
4843
5750
October
1000
4552
4373
4909
4408
5149
5870
6184
6149
6785
November
4042
4564
5254
4888
4773
5342
5933
6590
6904
7438
December
4225
4529
5458
5204
4496
5324
5814
6189
6383
6949
Total
45165
54759
55299
63494
56373
56641
66043
70641
70048
81674
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ACCESSIONS AND CIRCULATION
Volumes circulated in 1926
Volumes circulated in 1927
Per Cent. circulated in 1927
Fiction
33,769
38,371
46.99
Children, Fiction
18,099
21,211
25.98
Children, Non-Fiction
5,890
7,299
8.94
Philisophy
280
250
.30
Religion
277
233
.28
Sociology
539
867
1.06
Language
165
248
.30
Science
265
576
.71
Useful Arts
1,015
1,249
1.53
Fine Arts
1,139
1,082
1.33
Literature
1,916
2,269
2.78
Travel
1,510
2,100
2.57
History
886
1,066
1.31
Biography
1,009
1,172
1.44
Bound Periodicals
198
136
.16
Mass. Public Documents
1
U. S. Public Documents
Foreign Languages
1,839
1,899
2.32
Current Periodicals
1,220
1,639
2.00
Reference Books
31
7
120
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FORM OF STATISTICS
Number of volumes lent for home use 81,674
. Number of days open during the year 340
Hours open each week for reading 561/2
Hours open each week for lending 54
Number of volumes at beginning of year 26,143
Number of volumes added by purchase 888
Number of volumes added by gift 72
Number of volumes replaced (641 worn out) 491
Total number of volumes at end of year 26,953
Number of borrowers registered 5,462
Number of borrowers added 1927 711
GIFTS ,
The library gratefully acknowledges gifts of books from the following: Mrs. Helen Lyon, Miss Williams, Mr. Charles Harrington. Eddy Town Fund, and others.
Also subscriptions to periodicals and newspapers from the following: Southbridge Press, Mrs. A. C. Wieshart, New England Telephone Co., American Optical Co., Southbridge Knights of Columbus. Political Club of Citizens of Polish Descent.
121
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Receipts
Town Appropriation
$8,000.00
Expenditures
Salaries :
Library Staff
$3,519.92
Janitor
983.22
Books
1.744.63
Periodicals
290.13
Binding
133.95
Light
282.93
Coal
599.50
Equipment
92.38
Repairs
13.45
Supplies
138.84
Printing
87.50
Expenses
113.07
$7,999.52
$0.48
MYNOTT FUND
Amount of Fund, JJanuary 1, 1927
$1,003.62
Interest 46.01
$1,049.63
122
Expenditures
Periodicals
$5.00
Books
$38.00
$43.00
Amount of Fund December 31, 1927 ... $1,006.63
EDWARDS BEQUEST
Receipts
At hand December 31, 1926
$1,659.59
April interest 1,219.67
October interest
1,122.73
$4,001.99
Expenditures
Planting grounds
$908.83
Catalog case
131.00
Repairs
23.62
Equipment
66.01
Salaries
1,510.24
Books and binding
559.40
Expenses and supplies
28.17. .
$3,227.27
At hand, January 1, 1928
$774.72
123
REPORT OF THE SEWER COMMISSIONERS
Southbridge, Mass., February 16, 1928.
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts :
The Board of Sewer Commissioners herewith submit their report for the year ending December 31st 1927.
The new filtering beds are working a hundred per cent satisfaction under normal conditions although sewerage must be converted into the river during heavy rainstorms due to the extreme amount of roof waters and surface drain being connected into our sanitary sewer. These waters should be extracted from our sewerage system as both the filter beds and sewerage system are not adequate to care for such ex- treme amounts of water. Inasmuch as every heavy storms such as we have experienced in 1927, the sewer system com- pletely fills, rising to a level back as far as the whole entire flat section causing sewerage to leach out of pipe joints and into property owners' cellars. We are in hopes to be able to have these waters extracted from the sewerage system in the near future. Several man-holes were raised throughout the streets of the town to meet the present grades. A 375-foot stretch of sewer was built on Worcester Street from our sewer assessment revenues. A portion of Cliff Street sewer running along the banks of the so-called New Mill Pond was rebuilt at a cost of $659.25, helping greatly to the conditions existing in that locality. We have
124
issued twenty-seven permits for entering into the sewer sys- tem of 1927. The Clectract tractor which is now used for the plowing of the filter beds and having worked throughout the construction of the filter beds is now completely worn out beyond repairs, for which we recommend an appropriation of $1225.00 for the purchase of a new tractor.
Respectfully submitted,
O. L. LAMERRE, Chairman, OMER L. PERRON. Clerk. PIERRE BENOIT,
Sewer Commissioners.
125
REPORT OF THE PLAYGROUNDS COMMITTEE
Southbridge, Mass., August 4, 1927.
Chairman. School Committee :
Dear Sir :
I hereby submit to you a report of the playground season beginning July 11, and ending August 3.
On July 8th I called a meeting of all playground instruc- tors, but owing to many of the teachers being away on vaca- tion, had to postpone it until Monday, July 11. We were very pleased to have Mrs. Dudley Clarke, Secretary of the School Board, with us at this meeting. All instructors were given outlines of the work which was to be carried on during the season. Miss Hall, the basketry instructor, was able to begin work the first day as the basketry material was ordered be- fore playgrounds begun, but owing to the fact that the other material had not been ordered, the other instructors were handicapped for a few days in their industrial work. The Athletic Directors were also unable to start their baseball activities on the first day, as the baseballs were not given to them until the second day of playgrounds. The number of baseballs received by the Directors of the Playgrounds from Dr. Peloquin are as follows: Central 18. School 13, Elm 10, I'nion 12, Sandersdale 12, taking away six (6) of last year's balls from Sandersdale. Mr. Thibeault also received three (3)
126
more balls during the season, and Mr. Proulx received two (2), making a total of twenty balls for Central Street and six- teen for School. There were also sixteen bats left at Cen- tral Street.
Meetings were held every Wednesday morning at ten o'clock in the American Legion Rooms, Town Hall. All the instructors made weekly reports at these meetings.
During the short period of three and one-half weeks of playgrounds about eight hundred and fifty (850) articles were completed. These included Basketry, Sewing, Weaving, and Painting. Acting on a suggestion of a member of the School Board, children brought material from home to em- broider : vases and shoe trees were also painted. Miss Soldani donated book ends on which the children stenciled and painted designs which were very effective.
We had a daily average attendance of nine hundred children. Many new singing and active games were taught to the children and the children were very enthusiastic all season and looked forward to the final week. Races, relays, dances and games were played and practiced every day in preparation for the final day, and all were very disappointed on learning that the season was to be so short.
Senior and Junior boys and girls of the Central and School Street Playgrounds were prepared to pass the Badge test given by the Playground and Recreation Association of Amer- ica, but owing to the unexpected closing of playgrounds, the instructors were unable to carry out the tests.
The baseball schedule of the Senior and Junior boys, planned and carried out by the Athletic Directors, caused
-
127
a great deal of interest among the children of the different grounds. The Senior league games were played on the Dresser Street Playground, and the Junior League games were played either on the School Street or Central Street grounds. The competition between the Senior girls of the larger grounds was especially edifying. The principal game between these girls was Punch Ball, which always drew a large attendance of children at which ever ground they were scheduled to play.
Enclosed with this report you will find an inventory of all the stock on hand at the different grounds, also the sup- ply list for material needed for next season. I would recom- mend that more time be spent on recreational activities than on the industrial work, which would of course. eliminate a great deal of expense to the town, as this would not require as many instructors as we have at the present time.
Respectfully submitted,
CECILIA E. POWER.
1
129
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Voters of the Town of Southbridge :
I hereby submit my annual report for the year ending December 31st, 1927.
It has been my policy to remove all dead and dangerous branches. and prune the important trees of the town; giving proper care to the old and new wounds to prevent disease and insect spread.
The condition of the public trees as a whole is good.
One fault I have found on a few streets is trees planted too near together for their own good, causing much dead wood from lack of sunshine.
I wish at this time to thank Messrs. A. M. Bartholomew and J. Lippe for removing the underbrush and rubbish on the town lot bordering on Marcy Street.
Thirty-one trees planted this year with applications al- ready in for nearly that amount for next year.
Applications for removal of thirteen trees received. Twelve removed.
Eradication of currants and gooseberries, both wild and cultivated on public land for the protection of the pine trees from the "Blister Rust" disease was carried on, State shar- ing half the expense.
130
Ribes eradicated (Cole Estate and Dresser Street Play- grounds ).
Wild black currants 362
Wild red currants 2546
Wild gooseberries 1796
('ultivated gooseberries
5
Total plants 4709
No infection found on these plants.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN P. MCKINSTRY, Tree Warden.
131
REPORT OF AN AUDIT
of THE ACCOUNTS OF ·
THE TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1927
Made in Accordance with the Provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws
March 8, 1928
132
To the Board of Selectmen,
-
Mr. Alfred JJ. Peloquin, Chairman, Southbridge, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the accounts of the town of Southbridge for the year ending December 31, 1927, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws. This report is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Edward H. Fenton, Chief Accountant of this Division.
Very truly yours,
THEODORE N. WADDELL,
Director of Accounts.
133
Mr. Theodore N. Waddell,
Director of Accounts,
Department of Corporations and Taxation, State House, Boston.
Sir :
In accordance with your instructions, I have made an au- dit of the accounts of the town of Southbridge for the year ending December 31. 1927. and submit the following report thereon :
The financial transactions of the town as recorded on the books of the several departments receiving or disbursing money for the town, or committing bills for collection, were examined and reconciled with the books and records in the town accountant's office.
The books and accounts in the town accountant's office were examined and checked. The recorded receipts were checked with the departmental records and with the treas- urer's books, and the recorded payments were checked with the treasurer's records.
The appropriation accounts were checked with the town clerk's record of appropriations and transfers voted by the town.
The ledger was analyzed, necessary adjustments being made to bring the ledger accounts in balance, and a balance
134
sheet, which is appended to this report, was prepared show- ing the financial condition of the town on December 31, 1927.
The classification book was checked to the ledger ac- counts and the necessary corrections were made.
The town treasurer's accounts were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were checked with the records in the several departments collecting money for the town and with the other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury. The payments were checked with the warrants authorizing the treasurer to disburse town funds and with the accountant's books.
The cash book was footed for the period covered by the audit and the cash balance was reconciled with the amounts in the banks and in the treasurer's office.
The payments on account of debt and interest were veri- fied with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled bonds, notes and coupons on file. -
The commitment of sewer assessments to the treasurer were proved, the receipts were checked, the abatements and apportionments were verified, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved.
The bank books and securities representing the invest- ments of the sinking fund and of the several trust funds were examined and verified, the income, withdrawals, and new be- quests being proved and found to be as recorded.
Appended to this report are tables showing a reconcilia- tion of the treasurer's cash and the condition of the sinking fund and the trust funds.
135
The books and accounts of the tax collector were exam- ined and verified. The commitments were proved to the as- sessors' warrants and the recorded collections were verified by a comparison with the payments to the treasurer as shown by the treasurer's books. The abatements as recorded were checked to the assessors' records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the town accountant's books.
The outstanding accounts were further verified by mail- ing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town. One claim was re- ceived to the effect that taxes and interest amounting to $130.62 were paid. the claim being substantiated by a re- ceipied bill. The other replies received indicate that the re- maining accounts, as listed, are correct.
Summaries of the tax and assessment accounts and a re- conciliation of the tax collector's cash are appended to this report.
The town clerk's recorded receipts for licenses issued for the town were verified with the selectmen's record of licenses granted, and the cash on hand was also verified. The records of dog and of hunting licenses issued were examined, and the payments to the county and the State, respectively, were verified.
The records of receipts from the rent of the town hall and from the sealer of weights and measures, as well as from the police, fire, health, highway, public welfare, school, li- brary and cemetery departments, were examined; and the payments to the treasurer were checked with the treasurer's and accountant's books.
136
It is again recommended that an appropriation be voted for State Aid and that the reimbursements from the State be used by the assessors in fixing the tax levy, as is provided in Section 23, Chapter 59, General Laws.
The surety bonds of the town treasurer, Tax collector, and town clerk for the faithful performance of their duties were - examined and found to be in proper form.
For the co-operation received from the several town of ficials, I wish, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
EDW. H. FENTON, Chief Accountant.
137
RECONCILIATION OF TREASURER'S CASH
Balance January 1. 1927 $66,734.11
Receipts 1,138.769.92
$1,205,504.03
Payments
$1,147,688.36
Balance December 31, 1927
57.815.67
$1.205.504.03
Balance January 1. 1928.
$57,815.67
Receipts January 1 to February 2, 1928
25,078.51
$82.894.18
Payments January 1 to February 2,
1928
$52,357.76
Balance February 2. 1928
30.536.42
$82.894.18
Balance February 2. 1928. per cash
book
$30.536.42
Bank Balances : Southbridge National Bank $25.709.46
People's National Bank. South- bridge 629.11 Southbridge National Bank, Sav- ings Department 2,000.00
138
Cash in office (verified) 197.85 .
$30.536.42
Southbridge National Bank
Balance February 2. 1928, per bank
statement $32,062.22
Balance February 2, 1928, per check
$25,709.46 register
Outstanding checks per list
6,352.76
$32,062.22
People's National Bank, Southbridge
Balance February 2, 1928, per bank
statement $4,853.77
Balance February 2, 1928, per check
register $2,629.11
Outstanding checks per list
2.224.66
$4,853.77
139
RECONCILIATION OF COLLECTOR'S CASH
Dne from collector February 2. 1928 :
Taxe: 1925
$23.56
Taxes 1926
223.88
Taxes 1927
2.466.75
Interest. taxes 1925
3.92
Interest, taxes 1926
5.56
Interest. taxes 1927
51.15
Apportioned sidewalk assessments 1926 50.80
Committed sidewalk interest
5.33
Interest on bank deposits (Janu- ary. 1928
1.56
Cash over
8.40
$2.840.91
Cash in office February 2. 1928 (veri- fied $2.839.35
In banks February 2. 1925. per bank statements :
Southbridge National Bank 1.15
People's National Bank
.41
32.840.91
TAXES-1924
Outstanding January 1. 1927 $628.35
Payments to treasurer 1927 $430.85
Abatements 1927 197.500
$628.35
140
TAXES-1925
Outstanding January 1, 1927 $19,927.99
Payments to treasurer $18,727.70
Abatements 736.96
Outstanding December 31, 1927 463.33
$19,927.99
Outstanding January 1, 1928 $463.33
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to
February 2, 1928
$350.57
Outstanding February 2, 1928, per list 89.20
Cash on hand February 2, 1928. 23.56
$463.33
TAXES-1926
Outstanding January 1, 1927
$70,033.59
Overpayment to collector (to be re-
funded)
10.00
$70,043.59
Payments to treasurer
$46,661.07
Abatements
72.33
Transferred to tax titles
8.50
Outstanding December 31, 1927
23,301.69
$70,043.59
Outstanding January 1, 1928
$23,301.69
141
Payments to treasurer January 1 to
February 2, 1928 $1,000.33
Outstanding February 2, 1928
22,077.48
Cash on hand February 2, 1928
223.88
$23,301.69
TAXES-1927
Commitment per warrant
$431,858.09
Additional commitment 163.00
$432.021.09
Payments to treasurer $367,085.82
Abatements 678.98
Outstanding December 31, 1927
64,256.29
$432,021.09
Outstanding January 1, 1928 $64,256:29
Payments to treasurer January 1 to
February 2, 1928 $3,889.46
Outstanding February 2, 1928, per list 57,900.08
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