USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1937-1941 > Part 9
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DISEASES OF THE GENITOURINARY SYSTEM
Carcinoma of Prostate
Gland
1
Carcinoma of Scrotum
1
Carcinoma of Uterus 1
Nephritis
2
Cystitis
1
Uremia
2
DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Cerebral Apoplexy
2
Cerebral Hemorrhage __ 15
ALL OTHERS
Accidental :
Asphyxiation
1
Probable Cause
Drowning 1
Fracture of Skull
4
Cerebral Concussion
2
Chronic Myocarditis 2
Intra-uterine Asphyxia
1
Coronary Occlusion
1
Multiple Fractures
1
Still Born 3
Septicemia 1
Prematurity
6
Osteomyelitis
1
Malnutrition 1 Suicide 1
Cardio-renal Disease
2
Total
128
Respectfully submitted, MARGUERITE C. HOULE, R. N.
Cancer of Breast
1
Sclerotic Nephritis
1
Found Dead in Bed :
Chronic Valvular Heart Disease 1
76
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK
To the Board of Health
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Milk Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1938.
The following licenses have been issued :
Peddlers 36
Stores 47
Oleomargarine
16
I have visited with the State Milk Inspector, farms delivering milk in Town:
Number of dairy farms inspected _44
Number of Pasteurizing Plants in- spected 3
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY S. AUCOIN
77
REPORT OF FOOD INSPECTOR
During the year I inspected bakeries, fruit, grocery stores, and meat markets.
Number of inspections 44
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY S. AUCOIN
78
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH NURSE
To the Honorable Board of Health
Dear Sirs :
I hereby submit my report as Board of Health Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1938.
School Clinics-
The seventh, ninth and eleventh grade pupils, are eligible for this clinic. It is sponsored each year by the Board of Health and School departments and conducted by the staff doctors of the Worcester County Tuberculosis Sanatorium, assisted by the field worker of the Southern Worcester County Health Association. The preliminary work was carried on by Mrs. Helen Upham, educational secretary for the Association. She visited all the schools and in a simple language explained to the pupils the object and procedure of these clinics. The children were then able to give their parents intelligent information as to the Tuberculin test, x-ray and physical examination. One hundred and thirty or seventy-nine percent of the group were skin tested-twenty seven x-rayed and fourteen were found positive reactors. Re-examination in a year was rec- commended for five-re-examination in two years for two, and improved nutrition for two.
Pre-Schools Clinics-
Two pre-school clinics are planned in the Spring for the physical examination of the children entering school in the Fall. Parents are notified through the press and the schools to visit their own physician or take their children to the clinic. These examinations give the parents an op- portunity to discuss the general welfare of their children with the doctor, also to become acquainted with the services rendered by the Board of Health in the various clinics held during the school year. A doctor and two dentists were in attendance. Eighty-one were examined, twenty had no de-
79
fects, sixty-one had dental caries, sixteen received dental certificates, twenty-five had enlarged tonsils-three had enlarged cervical glands, and six were underweight. A good portion of these defects were corrected during the summer. Ten had their tonsils removed, about fifty per- cent visited the dentist, and four gained weight.
Tuberculosis Clinics-
In January schedules giving dates for the Tuberculosis Consultation clinic for the coming year, were mailed to thirty-two doctors, twelve nurses, to the Division of Child Guardianship and Welfare, to the superintendents of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., the John Hancock Life Insurance Co., and to Boards of Health covering twelve communities. With the co-operation of the Rutland and Westfield State Sanatoria we have the services of two specialists for the physical examinations and a technician for the x-rays. Patients are admitted with a written request from their own physicians so he may receive a re- port of the findings and recommendations. Twenty-seven doctors requested the service for one hundred and sixty- four patients, eight were admitted to State Sanatoria for treatment.
Diphtheria Immunization Clinics-
Toxoid Clinics are held each year as part of our rou- tine work in the prevention of disease. The Board of Health urge and encourage parents to have their children im- munized during their first year. The mortality and inci- dence of diphtheria is declining rapidly as shown by state and nation-wide statistics, as a result of the general im- munization program, carried on throughout the country. One hundred and sixty-seven children received three in- jections of toxoid.
Dental Clinics-
Children in the first four grades with permits signed by parents are accepted for treatment, during eight months of the year beginning October 1st. to June 1st. Each child has an oral examination and is instructed in the
80
care of the teeth and value of oral hygiene. The dentist in charge takes care of all defects in the six year molars, and extract abscessed teeth. When corrections are made the child is given a certificate, which states all necessary work at the present time is completed.
Number who reported to clinic 515
Number of extractions 86
Number of cleanings 361
Number of children receiving certificates 174
Number of fillings 178
Four girls spent eight weeks at the Sterling Health
Camp, maintained by the sale of Christmas seals. Three girls were contacts to Tuberculosis in the family, and the other an x-sanitorium patient from Westfield. During this vacation they had an abundance of right food, supervised play, careful medical and nursing attention, with lessons in swimming, and various hand-crafts. All gained in weight. Two-five pounds each; one-six and three-fourths; and one-ten pounds.
One thousand and seventy-three children in the parochial schools, were examined by the medical inspectors, assisted by the nurse. Defects recorded and notices sent to parents. This year for the first time, we have had the use of an audiometer, and operator to test the hearing of all the pupils in the elementary grades, beginning with the third. This service was made possible by the State Department of Health, Division of Child Hygiene, and the parochial school authorities wish to express their appreciation.
Impaired hearing is a defect, difficult to detect with- , out the aid of a special instrument, and often the cause or retardation in class work.
Seven hundred and sixty-four were tested and thirty- seven re-tested. In the re-tested group, only ten were re- corded with a marked loss of hearing, needing medical attention or lip reading classes.
At this time I wish to thank all organizations and in- dividuals who co-operated and assisted in any way.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGUERITE C. HOULE, R. N.
1
81
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
January 3, 1938
To the Board of Health
Gentlemen :
I hereby render my annual report for the year end- ing Dec. 31, 1938. You have appointed me on June 12, 1938, and I was sworn in and took over my duties on June 24. The records left me by my two predecessors were in good condition to that date.
During the year, 842 new fixtures were installed, divided as follows :
Lavatories
214
Baths
173
Laundry Trays
33
Urinals
4
Sinks
175
Water Closets 206
Slop Sinks
2
Shower Pans
6
Cellar Connections
6
Soda Fountains 1
Washing Fountains
1
Washing Machines 2
Water Coolers
5
Relocations, etc.
20
82
A total of 172 permits was granted for various plumbing work, on which 378 inspections and 102 water tests were made, besides several advisory visits. There remains 21 unfinished jobs.
To my knowledge all work has been performed ac- cording to the by-laws, and the few minor mistakes and omissions have been cheerfully corrected.
I also wish to take this opportunity to advise the modernization of our plumbing by-laws in order to sim- plify and regroup them, and to lower the cost of plumb- ing work to the home owners.
I wish at this time to thank the Board of Health, the public and the plumbers for their sincere co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH A. CHAGNON Inspector of Plumbing
83
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge:
Owing to conditions beyond our control forty addi- tional cases were assisted on Temporary Aid by the Board of Public Welfare during the year 1938 over the number for the previous year.
In order to show the net expense of the Department we again call your attention to the reimbursement from the State Department and the Federal Government dur- ing the year 1938 as listed in the Town Accountant's re- port.
Following are statistics taken from our records for the year.
TOTAL CASE LOAD-1938
265 employable families representing 1235 persons
40 unemployable families representing 119 persons
30 employable single cases 30 persons
58 unemployable single cases 58 persons
393 cases Total 1442 persons
The W. P. A. and local Town projects under the supervision of the Town Engineer helped considerably in reducing our case load.
The Federal Distribution Center at 50 Central St., assisted to the comfort of many families, and is still in operation. It employs three men, paid by the Federal Government, in distributing food and clothing to needy persons whether or not on relief.
84
Aid to Dependent Children as in previous years was under the supervision of the State Department. These families were visited periodically by a representative of the State and also by a visitor representing the local Board of Public Welfare.
In addition to this a monthly statistical report is required by the Department of Research and Statistics affiliated with the State Department of Public Welfare.
Case load for 1938-Seventeen cases representing sixty-six persons were aided under the Aid to Dependent Children Law. Of that number forty-four children aided were under sixteen years of age and five were over sixteen years.
Causes of Dependency :
Father deceased 14
Father incapacitated
3
Total 17
The local Infirmary provided for a total of twenty- seven cases during the year. In addition to the repairs caused by the hurricane there were also some improve- ments made for the welfare of the inmates and the prop- erty is now in first class condition.
We express our thanks to the manufacturers and business men in general for their cooperation with this Department during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, HERMAS LIPPE, Chairman MARIE LARIVIERE, Clerk OVIDE DESROSIERS, Other Member H. H. Michon, Supervisor
85
REPORT OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge:
The Bureau of Old Age Assistance herewith sub- mits its report for the year 1938. The Bureau has met regularly on the first and third Monday of each month. Each application has been thoroughly investigated and considered and acted upon according to the merit of the case.
Cases have been steadily increasing as will be noted by the following tables and statistics :
Added Cases
Closed Cases
Month
Cases Aided
Jan. 1, 1938
130
4
2
January
132
0
1
February
131
7
2
March
136
4
3
April
137
4
0
May
141
3
0
June
144
4
0
July
148
2
2
August
148
9
1
September
156
2
0
October
158
5
3
November
160
2
0
December
162
Totals
46
14
Dec. 31, 1938
162
86
Causes for Closing Cases :
By death 6
Moved out of Town 4
Became self-supporting after grant 1
Found ineligible after grant 3
Total 14
Causes for Rejecting Cases :
Insufficient information 1
Cash in excess 4
Unable to prove citizenship 1
Not needy
3
Children able to provide
1
Total 11
Of the number of cases aided there were fifteen cases which were unsettled and eight cases holding set- tlements in some other city or town. There were twelve cases holding Southbridge settlements aided in other cities or towns.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. LAUGHNANE, Chairman HERMAS LIPPE, Clerk MARIE LARIVIERE, Other Member H. H. MICHON, Supervisor
87
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMITTEE
The Cemetery Commission organized with Seaver M. Rice as Chairman and Samuel W. Williams, Clerk. The spring work was started April first with a small number of men. The force was gradually increased un- til June first. Our objective during this period was the preparation of the Cemetery for Memorial Day. Parti- cular attention was given perpetual care lots. Those under this head were inspected four times during the year, their condition noted and necessary work done. The Cemetery was mowed, trimmed and raked at reg- ular intervals. The power mowers and trimmers pur- chased in the past two years have proven very satisfac- tory and have enabled us to speed up our mowing sched- ule. We wish to express our thanks to the Board of Pub- lic Welfare for supplying men on their roll who worked in the Cemetery for their orders. This help spent their time assisting in a program of weed elimination. The Cemetery suffered tremendously from the effects of the hurricane. We had a large number of ornamental trees, those of the blue spruce variety predominating. The greater part of our best specimens were lost. One hun- dred and eighty one had to be removed. Through the cooperation of the Board of Selectmen a W. P. A. grant was secured to do this work. We were successful in re- storing eighty trees by pulling them back in position. The falling trees knocked over a number of monuments in certain sections. These have been placed back in posi- tion. Several were badly broken. Those so damaged will have to be repaired by the owners, our department
SS
assumes no responsibility in this particular. We hope to start immediately on a reforestation program employing a landscape expert to assist in the work. A number of new sections have been developed since the original planting was made. The landscape plan to be followed will include these sections as well as the older parts of the Cemetery. The hurricane demolished the grove which borders Cohasse Street. We plan to develop this into a full lot, perpetual care, section. Properly land- scaped this will make one of our most attractive lot loca- tions. We desire to express our appreciation to the Board of Selectmen and other Town Officials for their help and assistance during the year.
Respectfully submitted, SEAVER M. RICE DANIEL T. MORRILL WARDWELL M. EDWARDS
Cemetery Commissioners
89
REPORT OF WORLD WAR MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
February 2, 1939
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Southbridge, Mass. Gentlemen :
The citizens of Southbridge at the annual town meeting of March 14, 1938 voted unanimously to pur- chase the Stone Property adjoining the Elm Street Fire Station for $18,500 and create a park to be known as the World War Memorial Park.
The citizens of Southbridge also voted to transfer the World War Memorial fund of $12,469.25 for use of a committee in legally spending this money in the pur- chase and erection of a suitable memorial in the Memo- rial Park and for other expenses in improvements and also for the Dedication of said Memorial.
A committee was named to carry out the provisions of these articles and the following citizens were chosen : Alfred J. Peloquin, Seaver M. Rice, Walter C. Chace, Ar- thur A. Allard, Morris Goodwin, H. Emerson Hill, Val- more P. Tetreault, Onesiphore L. Lapierre. Later the names of Rita Regis, Edward E. LeClair, C. Elmer Smith and E. L. Chapin were added to the committee.
This committee met and organized with Alfred J. Peloquin as chairman and Seaver M. Rice as secretary. Various sub-committees were appointed and weekly meetings were held on Wednesday evenings.
Early in April the purchase of the Stone Property was consumated without difficulty. The buildings on the
90
property were auctioned and removed. Actual work in preparing the property for park purpose started early in June.
The committee, after interviewing representatives of a number of firms specializing in stone and bronze memorials and also going over carefully the plans, speci- fications and prices, voted to award the contract for a granite monument to the Rock of Ages Corporation of Barre, Vermont through its local agent, M. D. Morrill and Son. The price was $10,000 and it was stipulated the Memorial should be erected by the latter part of Au- gust.
On Saturday, August 27, 1938, the Memorial was dedicated with fitting ceremonies. The day itself was all that could be desired. The sun shone from a clear sky and the town never looked more beautiful with its fine shade trees and general well kept appearance, as yet unmarred by the terrible hurricane which came a month later.
A parade preceded the dedication ceremonies which comprised all civic and patriotic organizations, practical- ly every Southbridge World War Veteran and a battal- ion of the 13th U. S. Regular Infantry and band from Fort Devens. At noon the guests and committee lunched at the Cohasse Country Club.
The dedication itself was one that will long be re- membered by all those privileged to attend. The Chair- man, Alfred J. Peloquin, presented the Park and Memo- rial to the town which was accepted by the chairman of the Selectmen, Valmore P. Tetreault. The Governor of the Commonwealth, Charles F. Hurley, gave an ad- dress as well as Congressman Joseph E. Casey and other public officials. The Department Commander of the American Legion, John Maguire, spoke as did Post Com- mander H. Emerson Hill.
The Memorial itself is a masterpiece of the Sculp- tor's art and harmonizes well with its surroundings. Created from Vermont granite it should endure as long as time itself.
91
The names of the 24 Southbridge men and women who died or were killed in action during the World War are cut into the main central shaft. The Memorial is copyrighted and is the only one of its kind in the country.
Considerable help was given by the town and the federal government in the form of .W.P.A. Projects which enabled us to do grading and other needed work on the property. A flagstone walk was constructed which leads to the Memorial, also a stone wall around two sides of the property. The Wells family donated a 40 foot steel flagpole and the auxiliary of Southbridge Post No. 31 gave a United States flag.
The committee raised the sum of $400 through the sale of souvenir medals, programs and the proceeds of a military ball. This money was spent on improvements on the property. After all bills have been paid there is a balance of $194.50 which was transferred to the town's General Fund.
It should be borne in mind that some further work remains to be done on the Park with the advent of warm- er weather. Two of the large elms were felled by the hurricane in September and should be replaced with new plantings. There remains some landscaping to be done, walks should be constructed and benches installed as originally planned. We feel that the newly appointed board of trustees for the Park will do everything in its power to carry out all plans and improvements icr the better. The upkeep of the property will require a small annual appropriation.
The World War Memorial Committee submits its re- port with a deep appreciation for all the help it received and cooperation given by all town officials, civic, reli- gious and patriotic organizations and the citizens.
Each and every member of the committee is proud to have served our beloved town and bring to a success- ful conclusion the erection of the World War Memorial, dedicated to those of Southbridge who served our coun- try in the World War. In closing, we echo the slogan which adorned our program, "Southbridge Remembers."
93
REPORT OF HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
To the Citizens of Southbridge :
Your Board of Highway Commissioners wish to sub- mit the following report of the work of the highway de- partment for the year ending December 31, 1938. We have endeavored to make this report as complete as pos- sible, but it is our hope that our next annual report will give you more detailed information because of various additional cost figures which we plan to keep in 1939.
The two floods and hurricane of 1938 were severe handicaps to the work of our department and in many cases these disasters destroyed the value of work which had been carried on by our department.
During the past year the major activities of the de- partment have been as follows:
a. Oiling and patching of town streets with the as- phalt and emulsion method of oiling and the cold patch method of patching. These streets include the follow- ing :
South, Water, Edwards. Newell Avenue, Winter, Chester, Union, Everett, Highland, Litchfield Avenue, Cross, Summer, Poplar, Pine, Park, Caron, Coombs, Over- land, Morris, Mechanic, Brochu, Charlton. Henry, Thomas, Chestnut, Evergreen, Dresser, Paige Hill, Olney Avenue, Glover, High St. Extension, Columbus Avenue, Pleasant.
In addition patching was also done on several other streets that were not oiled, such as:
High Street, Marcy Street, Sayles Street.
94
This work cost the town approximately $9,000 of which $3,860 was for payroll, $5,093 for oil and $213 for sand.
b. On some town streets and country roads storm water drains were either leaking or blocked up so that water from heavy rains was not carried off as it should be. As a result roads were washed out and gutted. The Highway Department spent considerable time and money improving these conditions. In some cases new drains and catch basins had to be installed while in others the old drains could be repaired. Among those which were fixed at a total cost of $1,672 were :
1. Hamilton and Hook Streets
2. Charlton Street
3. Eastford Road
4. Old Dudley Road
5. South Street and South Hill Road
6. Columbus Avenue.
c. Most of the bad spots on country roads were graveled and honed and rolled in the spring. The cost of this work was $5,796 of which $4,681 was for payroll, $674 for gravel and $441 for truck hire. The floods washed out a lot of this work and additional repairs to these roads had to be made under a WPA emergency ap- propriation.
d. In order to keep town streets in a good clean con- dition all streets were swept five times during the year. Each sweeping takes about four days' time of the entire department. Main, Central and Elm Streets in the busi- ness section are swept every night during the summer months from midnight to 6 A. M. This entire work was done at a cost of $2,235.
e. Repair work was carried out on various roads and streets under special appropriation made at the March town meeting, such as Oliver Street, Fiske and Mill Streets and Breakneck Road. The cost of the Oliver Street job was $656.56 of which $360.50 was for payroll, $144.54 for materials and $151.52 for road oil. The cost
95
of the Fiske and Mill Streets job was $490.53 of which $288.00 was for payroll, $6.42 for materials and supplies and $256.11 for road oil. The cost of the Breakneck Road job was $1,051.50 of which $697.10 was for pay- roll, $206.00 for pipe and $148.40 for a compressor. In the Breakneck Road job considerable ledge was encount- ered which has brought the cost of this job higher than anticipated. This job has not been completed to date.
f. The town rubbish collection was carried on under the supervision of this department on a contract basis for $1,485.50. Regular collections were made twice a month from April to November.
g. Repairs were made to some sidewalks.
h. Supervision of the town dump was also carried on under this department on a contract basis at a cost of $348.19 of which $170.00 was for payroll, $93.75 for rental and $84.44 for materials and supplies.
$2,249 was spent by the Highway Department from its regular appropriation for repair work after the July flood. This money was spent as follows:
Payroll $1,769.00
Rental of Gasoline Shovel 200.00
Gravel 100.80
All other supplies and
materials 179.29
As a result of the emergency caused by the Septem- ber flood and hurricane approximately $6,000 was spent by the Highway Department from the emergency appro- priation in repairing damages to streets and roads. This money was spent as follows:
Payroll
$4,795.85
Truck Hire
1,129.50
Materials used in this work were paid for from W.P.A. funds.
96
The Highway Department this year has had a reg- ular force of approximately 21 men who have worked throughout the year. Twenty-one members of the de- partment received a two weeks' vacation with pay at a cost to the town of $840.00. These men are good work- men and capable of doing whatever jobs are required in the Highway Department.
The present equipment of the Highway Department is as follows:
4-112 Ton Dump Trucks. Two of these have a 212 yd. Body and two have a 11% yd. Body. One of these trucks is an International purchased in 1938 at a cost of $1,115.20. A Ford truck was also purchased in 1938 at a cost of $1,089.
1-Chevrolet Suburban Carryall bought in 1938 at a cost of $785.
1-12 Ton Three Wheel Gasoline Roller Equipped with a Scarifier and Self-Starter. This was bought in 1938 at a cost of $3,540 after $1,500 paid by the town in rental had been credited to the purchase price.
1-32 Horse Power Tractor equipped with Bull- dozer Blade.
1-Full Bag Cement Mixer.
1-12 Bag Cement Mixer.
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