USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1947-1951 > Part 4
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Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH A. CHAGNON Food Inspector -53-
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Honorable Board of Health
Gentlemen:
Alterations and maintenance alone kept all contractors busy during the first few months of the year. Although materials are somewhat more plentiful than during the war, numerous items are still scarce, if not non-existant altogether, and we could also provide steady employment for more licensed plumbers in this community.
There has been a sharp increase in installations of complete bathrooms, washing machines and water heaters of all types.
As in all other lines of business, a large amount of new work is planned for next year, and if material shipments increase in quantity and frequency so as to more closely meet long-standing back-logs, we should be exceedingly busy in 1948.
During the year 1947, the following plumbing fixtures and appliances were installed:
installed:
New
Used
Lavatories
187
10
Water Closets
191
11
Bath Tubs
128
5
Kitchen Sinks
130
4
Laundry Trays
21
1
Sink and Tray Combinations
49
0
Shower Pans
24
0
Urinals
11
1
Slop Sinks
2
0
Industrial Sinks
5
0
Soda Fountains
2
0
Drinking Fountains
1
2
Battery Washing Fountains
2
0
Meat Show Case
1
0
Garbage Disposal Units
3
0
Sewage Lifts
1
0
Dental Cuspidors
2
0
Electric Water Pumps
3
0
Beer Dispensers
3
0
Washing Machines
27
1
Dishwashing Machines
1
0
Foot Baths
1
0
Air Conditioning Units
3
0
Grease Traps
3
0
Hot Water Tanks
95
2
Tankless Water Heaters
27
0
Hot Water Coils
26
0
Electric, Gas, Oil and Coal Water Heaters
64
1
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Water Piping and General Plumbing Repairs
33
FIXTURE TOTALS
876
39
Number of Permits granted
387
Number of Inspections made
713
Number of Water Tests
65
Number of Unfinished Jobs
73
We also inspected the installation of 21 Septic Tanks; 3 Cess- pools; 12 Sewer Connections, and 11 Floor Drains.
We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to those civic- minded citizens who, through their firm belief in law and order, co-operated with us in enforcing the health laws and regulations of our state and community.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. CHAGNON Inspector of Plumbing
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
We hereby present the report of our activities during 1947, as follows:
We quarantined 23 dogs for the usual 14 days on suspicion of rabies infection.
For Mastitis, or Garget, 27 heads of cattle of various grades and value were disposed of by sale, butchering, or otherwise.
We verified the ear-tag numbers of tuberculin tested and the Bang's disease certificates of 49 heads of cattle imported from various states into our community for exhibition, dairying, or slaughtering purposes.
We also visited the farms or premises of 54 of our townspeople who keep and maintain livestock, and found the following number of animals and conditions:
Cattle of various grades and ages
370 heads
Horses
76 heads
Goats
10 heads
Sheep
6 heads
Swine
33 heads
Total heads 495
We requested the owners of several premises to clean and whitewash their stables, remove accumulations of manure, and correct faulty ventilation or poor lighting conditions.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH A. CHAGNON Inspector of Animals -55-
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Honorable Board of Health
Gentlemen:
There has been a continued sharp decrease in local slaughter- ing again this year, but at present, the trend is leveling off to what will eventually be a slight increase over our average pre-war level. Of course, the high price of grain and other feeds also deters many people from raising the few heads of livestock which they formerly produced principally for their own use.
This part of our country is not favorable to raising livestock for meat purposes on a large scale, due to several reasons, physical and economical. Nevertheless, it is significant that local slaughter- ing, as in the depression years of 1930 and the recent war years, tends to fluctuate up and down in relation to the supply and market price of meats available through our local commercial channels.
We were present and assisted at the slaughtering of the follow- ing:
Cattle
58
Calves
167
Hogs
115
Sheep
23
Goats
2
Total
365
We confiscated 3 carcasses of beef and 2 carcasses of hogs and condemned 117 pounds of meat as unfit for human consumption.
Respectfully submitted
JOSEPH A. CHAGNON Inspector of Slaughtering
REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Health
Gentlemen:
Your rules and regulations relating to the pasteurization of milk and cream, new type bottle-caps and the use of milk-carrying vehicles went into effect on April Ist of this year.
Some of these rules and regulations were grudgingly accepted by both dealers and consumers, and at first, considerable confusion and misunderstanding developed, but conditions were ironed out after several special hearings held by your Board.
As you know, the purpose of constantly repeated inspections, tests and analyses is to discover faults, find the cause, and apply corrective methods. To be of any value, these corrections must be made effective at the source of the trouble and be accompanied with
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subsequent verifying tests and analyses on the finished products.
The pasteurizing process is not to be considered as a universal cure-all for every ailment of the dairy industry, but rather as an additional safeguard which kills all pathogenic bacteria that may have multiplied in the milk before processing. This process does not otherwise add one iota to the intrinsic or nutritional value of the milk or cream, except that it increases somewhat the keeping qualities of the product.
With the above well-established facts in mind, your inspector has always been of the opinion that the emphasis, or the greater amount of effort should be applied at the dairy farm where the milk is produced, rather than at the dealers' vehicles at the time of delivery to consumers.
The production of clean, safe milk at the farms, properly cooled and transported in clean vehicles to the receiving plant where it is adequately processed and bottled under sanitary condi- tions and thereafter protected from subsequent contamination should be, and is, our aiming point. A product cannot be any better than the materials it is made from.
Therefore, in submitting this report, the total numbers of samples, tests and analyses are given, as well as the number of samples which fell short of the established standards or which were altogether unsatisfactory.
During the year, we were able to gather 142 samples of milk or cream, which we tested and analyzed as follows:
TESTS FOR BUTTER FATS: 129 samples
18 were below the state standard of 3.35% by weight.
TESTS FOR SOLIDS OR MINERALS: 76 samples
46 were below standard which is 12% by weight. Note-This type of tests for solids is not for dietary purposes, but merely to ascertain whether the milk was diluted or skimmed.
KEEPING QUALITY TESTS AND GRADING: 126 samples
Divided as follows: 58 good; 28 fair; 13 poor; 27 unsatisfactory. Total 126.
POSPHATASE TESTS: (To determine if milk is thoroughly pas- teurzied) 2were positive, or not pasteurized 43 samples.
tive, or not pasteurized.
MICROSCOPIC BACTERIA COUNT: 118 samples
39 were high, or excessive (No microscopic state standard). Note-The Standard Plate Count of Bacteria by which the state standards are set cannot be performed by your inspector due to reasons which your Board is acquainted with.
MASTITIS: SEROLOGICAL AND MICROSCOPIC: 17 samples 13 were found positive and the cows eliminated from produc- tion.
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We also granted the following licenses: Pasteurization Plants Milk Dealers (Vehicles) Milk Dealers (Stores, Restaurants) Ice Cream Manufacturing
5
14
83
2
Oleomargarine, Licenses and Registrations
68
Respectfully submitted JOSEPH A. CHAGNON Inspector of Milk
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PLANNING BOARD
To the Citizens of Southbridge, Mass.
Your Planning Board herewith submits their report for the year 1947.
The Board wishes to thank Mr. J. George Page, past Board member and chairman for his unselfish work on the Board the past several years. Mr. Page did not seek re-election in 1948. The Board welcomes Mr. R. Gaulin, the new member of the Board One of tre officals acts of the Board was to change the meeting nightsi from every other Tuesday to every Monday for the convenience of the citizens. The Board has worked in co-operation with the Board of Selectman and the Chamber of Commerce in the study of the advisability of installing parking meters in town. The Board made a study of the proposed widening of Goddard Street and is co-operating with the Board of Selectmen in regards to this wide- ning. The Board held a conference with the Chief of Police with regards to improving the traffic flow in town. In co-operation with the Department of Public Works the Board has had several Stop signs installed at the intersection of Dresser and Marcy Streets, Mechanic and North Streets and Oakes Avenue and South Street iagonal parking was recommended for the Globe Village area, also a crosswarlk from Mill Street to High Street. The Board re- quested the Building Inspector to check on several zoning viola- tions and had them corrected.
The Board granted a conditional approval to Martin Krasow- sky and others for the laying out of Gibraltar Avenue, Walter Street and George Street. A change of Zone was made of Morris Street from a Single Family Zone to a Two-Family Zone, also one from a Two-Family Zone to a Retail Zone. The Board approved both changes. The Board held a conference and conducted a field survey of the Fire Alarm System.
Considerable more work has been given us due to the enact- ment of Chapter 340 Acts of 1947. A committee was formed of members of the Board and various Veterans organizations to study the need for Housing for Veterans in Southbridge.
The Board attended several meetings of the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards.
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We wish to thank the Board of Selectmen, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Town Engineer and other town officials for their co- operation.
Respectfully yours J. GEORGE PAGE, Chairman BERNARD L. RAIMONDO, Secretary EDWARD SEREMET GEORGE S. DUQUETTE MITCHELL KURPOSKA
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Town of Southbridge,
Board of Selectmen
Southbridge, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The following is the report of your Board of Zoning Appeals.
The Board acted from a safety factor and recommended and approved a change of Business property of Mr. George Duquette on Lebanon Hill, by changing a retail store from one building to an adjoining building on the same premises.
Respectfully submitted PETER GRAF, Chairman EDWARD SEREMET, Secretary MITCHELL KURPOSKA Board of Zoning Appeals
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RECREATION COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Southbridge, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
During the year 1947 the Municipal Athletic Field project started in the Fall of the previous year on the town owned tract of land on Dresser Street progressed satisfactorily although consider- ably hindered by an unusually rainy season.
The draining, grading, layout and seeding has been completed as well as the Tennis Courts, Tract, and Dugouts for Baseball. The Fence, also, is completely erected except for the area where the Field House will be located.
The following is a brief summary of amounts expended on the project during the past year:
Balance Jan. 1, 1947
$81,466.09
Cost of completed work
$33,957.21
Less amounts due but not yet paid
8,798.68
25,158.53
Balance Dec. 31, 1947
Further work contracted for is as follows :
Baseball grandstand and bleachers
$15,551.00
(Seating capacity approximately 1600)
Field House and entrance
23,215.00
Total
Balance for Football Stands
$38,766.00 $8,742.88
Work has been started on the foundation for the permanent Baseball Grandstand which is to be completed by April 1, 1948. The portable bleachers will be erected at the same time and com- pletion of this will make the field available for baseball this Spring.
While construction of the Field Houses and Entrance got away to a poor start because of adverse conditions, it is anticipated that this project will also be completed early this Spring. At this time when all bills have been paid, the stands for Football will be con- tracted for. The seating capacity will be determined by the sum re- maining from the original appropriation of $100,000.
Inasmuch as the Recreation Committee's authority is confined solely to the construction of these facilities and that the field will be ready for use early this Spring, it will be necessary for the citi- zens of the town to vote to create an authority for the operation, maintenance and future construction of this Athletic Field.
To the end that the best interests of the Town be served, it was suggested that this authority be vested in a committee which would also have responsibility over the operation, maintenance
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$56,307.56
and future construction of the Swimming Pool. After consulting with the Swimming Pool Committee through Mr. Henry Racicot, Town Engineer, and subsequently approved by the Swimming Pool Committee, the following recommendation was adopted:
That the committee established under Article 12 at the Special Town Meeting of December 13, 1943 and designated as the Recreational Committee and Committee established under Article 21 at the Annual Meeting of March 10, 1941 and de- signated as the Swimming Pool Committee be discharged and a new committee appointed.
This new committee to be known as the Southbridge Recrea- tion Committee and to consist of 15 voters, 5 of which will be the 3 Park Commissioners, The Building Inspector and the Town Engineer, whoever they may be, 5 of which will be ap- appointed for 2 years, 5 of which will be appointed for 1 year. The appointments to be made by the Board of Selectmen and succeeding appointments to be made for 3 years as terms expire or as necessary to fill vacancies from any cause. The Committee will elect its own chairman.
This committee is hereby authorized and instructed to super- vise the future construction, operation and maintenance of the municipal Athletic Field and Swimming Pool. They are to make rules for the use of these Recreational Facilities, fix rentals, and concession fees, accept gifts to the Town for these facilities and so operate them that the income received by the Town will eventually equal the cost of these facilities plus the net operating and maintenance appropriations made at this or future Town Meetings.
The General Committee is hereby also authorized and instruct- ed to reserve the use of the Athletic Field for the School De- partment Athletic Program, said program to be submitted to general committee no later than April 1st of each year for Spring and Summer Activities and no later than August 31, for Fall and Winter Activities.
This committee will elect from its own membership an operat- ing sub-committee of 3 members who are to directly handle the details of the operation of the Municipal Athletic Field and an operation sub-committee of 3 members to directly handle the details of the operation of the Municipal Swimming Pool and who are to report to the General Committee at least once each month, these sub-committees to carry out the policies laid down by the general committee. The general committee may also appoint other sub-committees to carry out any other details as seem advisable.
The administration is to conform to State, local and Federal laws and regulations as to admissions, tickets, and public safety. Accurate records of daily attendance and gate receipts shall be kept of the use of these facilities and copies of these records
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shall be furnished to sponsoring organizations, if any, and to the Town Treasurer.
No member of this committee may be paid any money for services on materials pertaining to these facilities unless a copy of a vote of the general committee authorizing each pay- ment is filed with the Town Accountant.
Rental or other income shall be paid directly to the Town Treasurer and all payments shall be made by the Town Treas- urer on properly approved warrants.
The general committee may make such rules for their own guidance, attendance and publicity as may be voted in any meeting of that committee.
The Committee further recommends that in order to complete the Municipal Athletic Field project, that Dresser Street from Marcy to Sayles Streets be re-surfaced and a sidewalk constructed.
We would also like to point out at this time the desirability of the Town acquiring the property known as Alumni Field and to develop this as a play field for that area of the Town.
In conclusion, your Chairman would like to express his ap- preciation and thanks to the members of the committee and other town officials who have so generously donated their time to the furtherance of this project.
Respectfully submitted HECTOR P. LeCLAIR, Chairman LEOPOLD POIRIER, Secretary
Joseph Piasta Norman Leblanc
Emil Martin Anthony Deterando
Roland Langevin
Lorenzo Beaupre John Farland Albert Simonds Rev. Walter Kraft Albert Renna
Alton K. Marsters
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WORLD WAR MEMORIAL TRUSTEES
To the Citizens of Southbridge, Mass.
Following is an account of the expenses for the maintainance of Memorial Park in the year ending December 31, 1947.
Labor for cutting grass, trimming shrubs, and snow removal Electricity and water
$181.49
17.30
Spraying trees
78.50
Material and supplies
85.35
TOTAL EXPENSES
$362.64
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR A. ROY
OVILA DONAIS
JAMES MURPHY
ARTHUR CABANA
LECTANCE LANDRY
ROSARIO ARPIN Trustees
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Southbridge, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following is a report of the Park Commission for the year end- ing December 31, 1947.
May, June, July, August, September, care of Legion Plots Labor
$228.66
Loam
19.25
Rope
5.00
Total Expenditures
$252.91
Respectfully submitted
JOHN FARLAND WILFRED GAUTHIER
ROLAND LANGEVIN
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حـ ...
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE JACOB EDWARDS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
TRUSTEES For the Town Wardwell M. Edwards, Chairman
Dr. Nerio W. Pioppi For the Edwards Bequest
Oswald J. Laliberte
John O. Martin
W. Wesley Crawford
Gertrude W. Smith Arthur Kay
LIBRARY HOURS
Open 1948: Monday-Friday-10.00 A. M. to 9.00 P. M. Saturday - 10.00 A. M. to 6.00 P. M.
Closed 1948:
January 1 May 30
New Year's Day
July 4
Independence Day
September 6
Labor Day
November 11
Armistice Day
November 25
Thanksgiving Day
December 25
Christmas Day
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library:
Annual report time is here again, and again it is hard for the librarian to become articulate enough to summarize and record the activities of the library for the year. She can list statistics of circu- lation, new books added to the library, new borrowers registered, but people take these things for granted, and they give but little indication of the time, energy, money involved, and of the services rendered by a library which are impossible to measure by figures.
Perhaps it might be of interest to try to picture just what processes are involved in the selection, purchase, and preparation of every book before it can be charged out over the counter for home use. First, its selection is to be considered. The librarian, of course, cannot read every book someone asks for. Even if it were humanly possible to read every book before adding it to the library collection, she could not, of course, trust her individual judgment on that of her staff about books on every subject under the sun. She must rely on critics, specialists in their field, and their opinions of the books to be considered. Therefore before passing judgment on whether or not a book should be bought for the library, the librarian must consult book reviews if it is a current book in question, or the several standard aids to book selection for public libraries. After the decision is made regarding its purchase, the
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Memorial Day
book must then be ordered from a book store or publisher. Upon receipt of the book and the bill for it, the book is processed for library use. It is opened properly and carefully to prevent later breaking down of the binding, the buying information (price, source and date) is written in the book, it is embossed with the library stamp and a pocket is pasted in the front. Then comes the actual classifying and cataloging of the book. Possibly Library of Congress or Wilson printed catalog cards have been ordered for the book. If so, the job is greatly facilitated. If not, the librarian must verify the correct form of the author's name, must decide upon its classification, and if it is non-fiction, a Dewey Decimal classifi- cation number must be assigned to it and also a Cutter or author number. The librarian must then decide under what subject head- ings the book must be entered in the card catalog and also what other entries must represent the book in the catalog besides the author, such as title, editor, joint author, illustrator, etc. The book is then ready to go to the typist to have the proper cards typed for this public catalog, and a card for the office record, and a book card. Finally, after the book, if non-fiction, has been marked on its spine with the call number (classification number and author number) and, if fiction, with just author and title inside, it is put on the shelves for public use.
This process was followed for 1558 new titles added to the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library in 1947. 1497 people registered at the library this year to borrow these and other books. 3126 bor- rowers registered in 1945 and 1946, making a total of 4633 bor- rowers registered in the last three years which is the period of activity of each borrower's card. This shows that only 25% of the people of Southbridge are registered borrowers at the public library. These 4633 borrowers borrowed 91,441 books for home use. 29% of all borrowers are children and they borrowed 27,106 books or 29% of the total circulation.
Again it should be pointed out that a library's service to a com- munity cannot be judged by statistics alone. No count is made of the users of reference books, newspapers and periodicals in the reading and reference rooms. Children and young people crowd the rooms day after day using library facilities both for school use and personal pleasure, sometimes to the distraction of more mature readers! Innumerable questions are answered and others given careful attention and sometimes hours of research even if the answer is elusive.
Book Week, as usual, brought its reward in increased use of the facilities of the children's rooms and in the appearance of new faces encouraged to come to the library by Miss Hazelton's visits to the public schools. Two hundred and forty new borrowers of gram- mar school age registered this year. The circulation of 3045 chil- dren's books during the month of November is an indication of the possibilities which lie ahead when a trained children's librarian can operate from a well-equipped separate children's department devoted entirely to children's needs and interest. Over 2000 of the
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present 5369 books in the children's room are difficult for the children themselves to find and consult because they are shelved in narrow aisles of stacks. Still others are on high shelves out of reach of short arms or crowded tightly into too small a space. When these things are remedied it is safe to say service to the children of Southbridge can be increased 100%.
The library staff now consists of four full-time members. Mrs. Hilda Heather joined the staff in March on a part-time basis and after completing a six-weeks summer course in library science re- turned to the library in September in a full-time capacity as refer- ence librarian. Mrs. F. H. Niklason, nee Ruth Desmarais, resigned in June and Miss Mary Ann Hazelton replaced her as children's assistant the end of August. The library and its friends and patrons as well as the people of Southbridge as a whole were shocked and saddened by the loss in August of Jean Small from its part-time staff because of her contraction of infantile paralysis. It is the hope of the staff that next summer will find her back, smiling and willing as ever to help.
The librarian and her staff are grateful to the users of the library for their cooperation and friendliness. It is their hope that more people of Southbridge will be added to the group of library users in 1948.
STATISTICAL RECORD
Library
Jacob Edwards Memorial Library
Date of founding
1871
Population served
17,561
Days open during year
307
Hours open each week
63
Number of volumes January 1, 1947
31,170
Number of volumes added
1,710
New 1,558) Including 435 books by gift and
Replaced 152) transfer from Rental Collection
Number of volumes discarded and lost
935
Number of volumes December 31, 1947
31,945
Number of registered borrowers 4,633
Number of volumes lent for home use
91,441
Largest circulation for one day (December 1)
578
Smallest circulation for one day (December 24)
129
Average circulation per day
297.85
LIBRARY STAFF
Librarian
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