USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1920-1924 > Part 21
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Aug. 14. George M. Loud and Minnie E. Kinsley, both of Whitman, at West Bridgewater.
25. Clarence W. Staples of West Bridgewater and Martha C. Bowen of East Bridgewater, at East Bridgewater.
Sept. 2. Edmond Piva and Mary C. Travers, both of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
3. Franklin M. Smith and Ida D. (Boyd) Swift, both of Bridgewater, at West Bridgewater.
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22. George H. Cummings, Jr., and Gladys E. Law- son, both of West Bridgewater, at Brockton.
23. Gil Correira of Cambridge and Nellie M. Piva of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
29. Frank M. Francis of Providence, R. I., and Anna L. Enos of West Bridgewater, at Bridge- water.
Oct. 11. Roland A. Carter of West Bridgewater and Mil- dred Cary of Brockton, at Brockton.
13. Lloyd E. Staples of West Bridgewater and Pris- cilla A. Packard of East Bridgewater, at Warham.
20. Amos S. Chaves and Mary A. Rezendes, both of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
22. Everett R. Taylor of Yarmouth and Ruth M. Irving of West Bridgewater, at Brockton.
30. George P. Lipper of Brockton and Ruth F. Con- ant of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
Nov. 7. Howard S. Rickerson of Freeport, N. S., and Marjorie E. Gillespie of Brockton, at West Bridgewater.
29. Quintino Perry and Mary A. Perry, both of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
Dec. 1. Roland W. Alger of West Bridgewater and Cath- erine Stoddard of Easton, at Easton.
1. Manuel Cabral and Lena Torres, both of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
31. Ray W. Nelson of East Bridgewater and Ethel M. Murphy of Brockton, at West Bridge- water.
Oct. 1. Henry Nault of Montpelier, Vt., and Frances M. Trow of West Bridgewater, at Montpelier, Vt.
24. William S. Irwin of West Bridgewater and Kath- erine D. Ruffee of Bridgewater, N. S., at Los Angeles, Calif.
Number of Marriages Recorded 31.
97
DEATHS RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1923
Date
Name
Y. M. D. Cause of Death
Jan.
12 Charles L. Relyea
-
6
6 Intussusception
Feb.
2 Francis W. Wood
73
3
5
Apoplexy
3 William F. Ryder
74
7
2
Angina Pectoris
8 Willard H. Hopkins
Lobar Pneumonia
9 Delia F. Luce
80
4 14
Arterio Sclerosis and Chronic Myocarditis
10
Rilla B. May
59
4
8
Angina Pectoris
16 Ida C. Meginley
83
1
14
Chronic Nephritis
25 Samantha Stewart
84
11
28
Bronchitis
26 Frank L. Howard
68
4
23 Aortic Insufficiency
27 Evered A. Sampson
62
11
5
Carcinoma of Bladder
March
2 George H. Morrell
61
4
7 Grip
19 Stillborn
April
1 Lydia D. Mason
75
6
24
Multiple Sclerosis
22 Lyman E. Copeland
74
9 29
Chronic Heart and Kidney Disease
26 Joseph Pratt
75
11 12
Carcinoma of Perotid Gland
May
5 Sadie S. Noyes
31
7
8
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
12 Clara A. Thayer
88
7
12
Arterio Sclerosis
14 Nellie Cram
72
9
26 Carcinoma of the Euterus
25 William E. Cobbett
82
2
7 Angina Pectoris
26 Joseph M. Salvador -
7
- Whooping Cough
June
26 Walter Crocker
76
4
9
Chronic Myocarditis
28 Edwin B. Haven
70
5
1 Cirrhosis of the Liver
July
1 Francis A. Eaton
10
6
17
9 Arthur L. Howe
2
Accidental Drowning Acute Leptomeningitis
19 Lillian L. Pratt
72
8 13
Angina Pectoris
August
29 Elizabeth M. Ellis
87
2
5
Cerebral Hemorrhage
October
8 Joseph P. Provost 66
-
Paralysis Agitans
19 Julia M. Hooper
74
5 22 Cerebral Arterio Sclerosis
19 Angus J. Kennedy, Jr .- -
4 Hemiplegia
-
2
23
98
Nov.
6 Robert H. Hatch
84 - 27
General Arterio Sclerosis
7 Stillborn
18 John T. Hunt
69
3
3
Mitral Insufficiency
22 Mary A. Barnes
88
11
24
Chronic Myocarditis
25 Mary H. Janes
90
2
23
Chronic Myocarditis
Dec. 9 Rose Ferranti
54
6
11 Carcinoma of Sigmoid
11 George L. Sloan
66
10
13 Mary J. Oliver
67
3 Angina Pectoris Chronic Myocarditis
18 John F. Johnson
31
11
26
Brain Tumor
29 Howard C. Pearl
31
3
13
Acute Lobar Pneumonia
Number of Deaths Recorded 39.
99
ABSTRACT FROM CHAPTER 46 OF THE GENERAL LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Sec. 3. Physicians and midwives shall, within forty- eight hours after the birth of every child in cases of which they were in charge, mail or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the city or town in which the birth occurred, a notice stating the date and place of the birth, giving the street number if any, color and the family name. They shall within fifteen days after the birth, mail or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the city or town in which the birth occurred, a report of the birth, stating the date and place, the name, if any, of the child, its sex and color, and the names, ages, places of birth, occupations and residences of the parents, giving the street number, if there be any, and the number of the ward in a city, the maiden name of the mother, if the full return is not made within the forty- eight hours.
The fee of the physician or midwife shall be twenty- five cents for each birth so reported. A physician or mid- wife who neglects to report each birth within forty-eight hours or fifteen days thereafter, shall for each offence for- feit a sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars.
Sec. 6. Parents, within FORTY DAYS after the birth of a child, and every householder within FORTY DAYS after a birth in his house, SHALL cause notice thereof to be given to the CLERK of the city or town in which such child is born.
The facts required for record, as stated in section 3, shall, so far as known or obtainable, be included in every notice given under the provisions of this section.
Sec. 8. A parent, or other person who, by section 6, is required to give, or cause to be given, notice of a birth or death, who neglects to do so for TEN DAYS after the
100
time limited therefor, shall forfeit not more than five dol- lars for each offence.
Sec. 24. The Town Clerk will furnish blanks for re- turns of births to parents, householders, physicians and midwives who apply therefor.
Report of the Selectmen
For the Year Ending December 31, 1923.
During the year the roof of the town offices has been re-graveled, an iron railing has been erected in front of the hall. The hall is in fairly good condition except for a few minor repairs which should be attended to this year.
There is an article in the warrant for the re-placement of the flag pole which was blown down.
We respectfully recommend the following flat appro- priations for the ensuing year.
ELLIS S. LeLACHEUR, ORVIS F. KINNEY, JAMES A. HEMENWAY, Selectmen.
102
APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED
The Division of Accounts advocate that flat appropria- tions be made.
Legislative Department : 1. Moderator, $25.00
Executive Department
1. Selectmen, 900.00
Financial Department:
1. Town Accountant,
700.00
2. Treasurer and Collector, 1,350.00
3. Assessors, 1,200.00
4. Other finance officers and accounts, 50.00
Other General Departments:
1. Town Clerk,
550.00
2. Law,
75.00
3. Election and Registration, 550.00
Municipal Buildings :
1. Town Hall and Offices,
2,300.00
Protection of Persons and Property :
1. Police,
1,500.00
2. Dog Officer, 15.00
3. Fire Department, including equipment,
1,600.00
4. Hydrants,
1,000.00
5. Sealer of Weights and Measures,
100.00
6. Moth Extermination, 2,800.00
7. Tree Warden, 500.00
Health and Sanitation :
1. Board of Health,
1,200.00
2. Inspection of Animals,
100.00
3. Inspection of Slaughtering, 500.00
Permanent Road West Centre St., 1,500.00
103
Highways,
6,150.00
Snow Removal, Street Signs,
Sidewalks and Bridges,
1,500.00
Street Lights,
1,300.00
Charities,
3,000.00
Soldiers' Relief,
200.00
State Aid,
750.00
Library,
640.00
Care of Monument Grounds,
60.00
Parks, Flags and Pole,
300.00
Memorial Day Observance
75.00
Printing and Distributing Town Reports,
400.00
Fire Insurance,
400.00
Reserve Fund,
2,000.00
Interest,
2,500.00
Cemeteries,
100.00
Plymouth County aid to Agriculture,
100.00
Plymouth County Hospital Maintenance,
$738.84
Brockton Hospital, 500.00
Town Meeting.
The Annual Town Meeting shall be held on the first Monday in March in each year for the election of such officers and the determination of such matters as by law are required to be elected or determined by ballot; and all other business shall be considered by adjournment to the second Monday in March at 7.30 p. m. (By-Laws: Art. 1, Sec. 2.)
ELLIS S. LeLACHEUR, ORVIS F. KINNEY, JAMES A. HEMENWAY, Selectmen.
Report of Board of Health.
The following communicable diseases have been reported to the local board :
Diphtheria, eight, all recovered.
Measles, five, all recovered.
Scarlet fever, six, four recovered, two under treatment.
Pulmonary tuberculosis, five (under treatment) .
Syphilis, one.
Lobar pneumonia, two, one died.
The Schick tests and toxin-antitoxin treatment have been performed by the school physicians with the assist- ance of the school nurse, and the district health officer of the State board.
A detailed report of this work will be found in the report of the school nurse.
ELLIS S. LeLACHEUR, ORVIS F. KINNEY, JAMES A. HEMENWAY, Board of Health.
Report of Water Commissioners.
During the year 1923 the department has laid new water mains on the following Streets :
South Main St.
3,500 ft. of 6 in. pipe
Hillside Ave. 400 ft. of 4 in. pipe
Copeland St. 850 ft. of 2 in. pipe
River St. 350 ft. of 2 in. pipe
Ash St.
600 ft. of 2 in. pipe
This year have been installed 35 new service connec- tions, and 5 new hydrants.
Number of hydrants in use 126
Number of water services 755
For a detailed report of receipts and expenditures reference is made to the report of the Town Accountant.
This year there has been a large sum of money expended for new mains on streets as voted at the annual town meeting, and also on other streets where the income derived from water rates made the proposition a paying one. However in the matter of extensions of mains more conservative estimates must be made on account of the increased cost of installation. While our board tries to be conservative, we wish to supply all families with water where the income is satisfactory, and for this reason shall ask the town to make a loan for the extension of mains where feasable. In the matter of the collection of water rates, the board does not wish to be severe or arbitrary but is of the opinion that the amount of uncollected rates is
107
much too great. Acting as a board of directors for the tax- payers of the town, we are convinced that the prompt pay- ments of rates is of the greatest importance to the town, both in the matter of reduction of rates and also in the extension of the system to streets not now supplied with water. We therefore recommend for your approval the adoption of Chapter 391, Acts of 1923, which provides that "The Collector shall have the same powers and be subject to the same duties with respect to such unpaid accounts as in the case of the annual taxes upon real estate, and the provisions of law relative to the collection of such annual taxes."
ORVIS F. KINNEY, HERVEY DUNHAM, WARREN P. LAUGHTON, Water Commissioners of West Bridgewater.
Report of Inspector of Animals.
There have been inspected during the past year 100 stables and 1,014 cattle. Of these 4 were quarantined and 4 killed and found to contain Tuberculosis. Besides the cattle there were 12 hogs inspected. Under the head of Slaughtering the number of animals slaughtered were:
Calves,
928
Hogs,
733
Cattle,
9
Sheep
Goats
-
1,670
Animals condemned :
Hogs,
8
Calves,
10
Beef,
1
Total,
19
DAVID DAILEY,
Inspector.
Year ending 1923.
Report of Chief of Police.
There have been 132 complaints investigated, 32 auto- mobile accidents, 11 liquor raids, 41 arrests and 30 sum- mons served.
The arrests were as follows: 14 drunkenness, 3 keep- ing and exposing, 4 larceny, 2 assault, 2 non-support, 2 lewd- ness, 1 bastardy, 13 violating automobile laws.
Recovered property valued at $800.00 besides 11 stolen autos restored to owners.
The Treasurer has received $325.00 court fines.
One insane person committed to the Insane Hospital at Foxboro.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY O. DAVENPORT,
Chief.
Report of Fire Department.
In compliance with the requirements I submit the report of the West Bridgewater Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1923 which will include the cost of maintaining, loss of property, and cause of fires as near as can be ascertained.
CALL FORCE
The force consists of twenty-two men, six forest fire wardens, one chief, one assistant chief; fourteen men at Central station, six men at Hose Wagon No. 3 at Manley's.
APPARATUS
One Auto Combination.
One Auto Hose Truck.
One Single Hose Wagon.
In performing this service the apparatus has travelled 198 miles. The department has laid 7,000 feet of hose, 1,400 feet of chemical hose. It has also raised 490 feet of ladders and used 950 gallons of chemicals. There are in service 2,500 feet of 21/2 inch hose and 250 feet of chemical hose. We would recommend purchase of 500 feet of hose.
CALL SYSTEM.
The department has a good call system to all the fire- men's houses. All alarms are sent out from the telephones, 4137-R chief, 4777-R, 6665.
111
WIRE DEPARTMENT
Stock used and work of the Department: There has been 500 feet of insulated copper wire strung to take the place of the No. 12 iron wire; there has been 4 bells changed and two new bells inserted.
FIRES AS THEY OCCURRED
Jan. 5. Fire in frame house occupied by A. D. Barker.
7. Fire in frame house owned by Mike Silvia.
7. Chimney fire, Grant St.
23. Chimney fire, William Shippman's.
Feb. 12. Chimney fire, Howard Wilbur's.
13. Fire, frame house, Joe Bragga, caught from chimney.
19. Fire, frame house, owned by Manuel Chaves.
14. Chimney fire, house owned by Howard Wilbur.
25. Fire, frame house, occupied by Sunnon Johns- ton, caught from gas stove.
25. Fire in frame, owned by Charles E. Weather- bee, bed on fire.
25. Chimney fire, Ernest Conant.
26. Chimney fire, house owned by Joe Bragga, Prog. Ave.
19. Fire in frame garage owned by Antone Silvia.
Mar.
9. Chimney fire, Grant St.
21. Chimney fire, Joe Howard's.
27. Chimney fire, John Silvia.
28. Fire in frame house, Charles Wakelings, caught from chimney.
Apr. 6. Chimney fire, William Shipman's.
7. Woods fire, land owned by O. Ness.
7. Woods fire, near Matfield Depot.
8. Grass and tar barrels, Copeland St., Roach's gravel pit.
12. Grass fire near Foundry.
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14. Grass, Matfield Depot.
19. Grass fire, Nalorse Ave.
20. Grass fire, River St.
21. Brush fire, Thayer Ave.
21 Brush fire, Thayer Ave.
22. Woods fire off East St.
22. Meadow fire, land owned by A. D. Barker.
29. Grass fire, West Meadow.
29. Grass, Bedford St.
23. Woods fire off Belmont St.
18. Grass and woods fire, land owned by Tom Churchill.
May
16. Woods fire near McFadden's crossing.
4. Brush, near Cochessett Depot.
15. Brush, land owned by Joe Howard.
27. Fire in frame brooder house owned by Ebbin Wood.
June 2. Grass fire, land owned by Joe Howard.
2. Woods fire, off Fayer Ave.
2. Wood fire, near Robert's East St.
July 4.
Fire in frame building owned by Hebert Alger.
5. Chimney fire, Dan Sullivan's.
6. Woods fire, land owned by O. Ness.
7. Chimney fire, William Chipman's.
7. Grass fire, Matfield St.
Aug. 21. Dump fire, Elm Square.
26. Canoe Club fire, Murray's.
26. Fire roof frame building, Carl Anderson, caught from Canoe Club.
26. Fire roof frame building owned by Murray, caught from Canoe Club.
26. Fire roof frame building owned by Arthur B. Spencer.
28. Woods fire, N. Main St., land owned by M. Roach.
Oct. 6. Bog fire, land owned by Hammond, East St.
6. Bog fire, land owned by Hammond, East St.
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7. Bog fire, land owned by Hammond, East St.
7. Bog fire, land owned by Hammond, East St.
13. Woods fire, pinegrove owned by Arthur E. Clark.
Nov. 4. Woods fire, pinegrove owned by Mrs. Alger North, Main St.
10. Dump fire, North Elm St.
11. Auto fire, Cochessett.
19. Chimney fire, John Kent's.
Dec. 8. Fire, frame house owned by Dr. LeLachure.
18. Chimney fire, Jack Madden's, Bedford St.
In closing I wish to thank the Selectmen and all others who have in any way helped the department. To the officers and members of the department I extend my hearty thanks for their co-operation.
WARREN P. LAUGHTON, Chief.
Report of Superintendent of Streets.
The equipment of the Highway Department consists of two road machines, 1 Ford truck, shovels, picks, rakes, forks, road plow, tar kettle, and nine snow plows.
There has been a great deal of work on the Highway this year and most of the gravel roads in this town have been very good. Work has been done on every road in town, some more than others. The Selectmen and myself have watched the roads very closely and have tried to fix all bad places as soon as possible.
Everybody in town wants good roads, but you know that a winter like this one has been, freezing and thawing, means a lot of muddy roads. You know also that the day for dirt roads is a thing of the past. I would like to see every road in town a black road, but if the people stop to think what these roads cost, when they ride over them, you will be patient until we can build more of them. It is impossible for Selectmen, Superintendent of Streets, or any other man to keep a dirt road in condition where traffic is so heavy.
There has been some feeling because West Center St. was not built last summer. I will say it was impossible to build this road last summer, for all the gravel to build the turnpike road in Easton had to be carted over the road, and so the State said: "No, we cannot build this road this year." That meant about four of five miles of West Bridge- water roads spoiled to build one mile in Easton. I will say that the Selectmen by hard work did get the State to
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oil and fix the road in very good shape, for a dirt road.
There is not much I can say about the roads, but I will say this I have ridden over a great many roads in different towns, and our dirt roads are just as good, if not better, than most of them. If you do not think so, ride over a few dirt roads in the City of Brockton where they have all the things to make roads with, money included.
There is one thing more I want to touch on and that is a tractor for the town. We had a Fordson tractor on the road machine and it is out of place. It cannot do the work of four good horses. But there is a tractor that will do the work and that is a Cleveland tractor, but its costs quite a good deal more. It is a caterpillar tread, but it will do the work.
You will notice I have not said anything on money affairs. All bills are in the hands of the Town Accountant and can be seen at any time by going to the office.
The Selectmen and myself have put in a great deal of time looking over the roads and I want to thank them and all citizens of the town who have helped me in my work of the year.
GEORGE G. TUCKER,
Superintendent of Streets.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
FOR THE YEAR 1923
A. H. WILLIS, PRINTER BRIDGEWATER, MASS.
1924
Report of School Committee.
In the year past we have welcomed a new superinten- dent of schools and a new principal of the Howard High School. We are very much pleased with the work they have done in the few months they have been with us and are encouraged to look forward to some exceptionally good results. The specific manner in which they are attacking their problems is not a matter for consideration in this report, as it is fully covered in reports submitted by them directly.
REPAIRS
Every citizen of the town should know that the com- mittee has made numerous improvements in school property during the last year which were very essential. Some were forced by considerations of health, some to effect economy in maintenance.
We have installed modern toilets in the four-room building at the Center School and at the Cochesett School. replacing old-fashioned earth closets. Because of the com- mittee's knowledge that additional housing would soon be required at the Center, toilets were not installed in the two-room building, as an arrangement made at that time might not prove permanent. In this connection it should be explained that it at first appeared that an addition to the two-room building would be sufficient. So great has been the recent increase in number of pupils, however, that
120
a separate building seems to be the only business-like solution.
It must be added that we still have seven school build- ings with the crude toilet arrangements of other days. It is the sense of the committee that modern toilets should be placed in every school building where conditions and finan- cial resources will permit.
The committee has built a new basement entrance to the four-room building on the south side, which is a great convenience to the children and of assistance to the teachers in handling them, saves much wear on the build- ing and reduces the cost of maintaining an average heat during the winter months.
Two rooms have been painted in the same building, making it much more pleasant for the children, more sanitary, and because the room has been Tightened up, easier for them and the teachers to do their work.
In the two-room building at the Center conditions in the basement, formerly very unsatisfactory, have been improved. The ceiling in the playrooms have been repaired and walls and ceilings painted. Repairs to partitions, which formerly constituted a fire hazard, were also made. It was found necessary to purchase a new heater for that building, used for heating the halls, because the old one was burned out. A one-pipe heater was installed and thus far has given very satisfactory results.
With some of our older buildings we have done what we could to keep them in efficient use, and apparently must expect to make many minor repairs each year. Spending any large sum on most of them, however, does not seem justified.
The committee has made large strides in improving the appearance of the grounds at the Center. Fences have been repaired and painted and considerable grading has been done.
The committee has also set out at the rear of the lot approximately 250 three-year-old white pines. This was
121
made possible without expense to the town through the efforts of Committeeman Barker and the courtesy of the State Forestry Department.
The trees, we believe, will eventually give the children shade in warm weather, form a windbreak on the unpro- tected north side of the buildings and add much to the attractiveness of the grounds. . They are set out close together, in accordance with modern forestry practise.
To sum up: Every school has been carefully inspected and everything has been done to make it healthful and pleasant for the children and their teachers, and to preserve the property, in so far as our appropriation would allow.
HOUSING PROBLEMS
A most vital matter which we want to bring to your attention is that of housing. Already we are overcrowded in several rooms, the teachers are handicapped by much too large classes, and educational results are obtained only by extra effort. The most accurate forecast possible shows that unless we obtain extra room by next September, about half of the pupils in the grades will have to go on half time. In other words, the amount of instruction they receive will be tremendously reduced.
To explain briefly :- West Bridgewater's population in 22 years has increased 54 per cent. but the school popula- tion has increased 131 per cent. Moreover, instead of the usual increase in number of pupils from year to year of about 4 per cent., we have had in the last year an increase of 7 per cent. and there is no indication that it will be less in the coming year.
In other words, we have attained a size and a rate of increase which makes it practically certain that we will gain a whole roomful of pupils each year. These must be provided for.
An indication of the present trend is seen not only in the number of dwellings under construction or recently
122
completed but in the fact that more than 30 pupils have registered in our schools since the opening of the Fall season.
It has become the sense of the committee, after a study of these and other factors, that the smallest practicable building which should be provided, and that at the Center, is one of four rooms. This will be filled almost at once. Unless this building be authorized quickly, with an under- standing that an addition is to follow within a year or two at the North End, preferably at Sunset Avenue-even four rooms will prove inadequate. Our school population is largely concentrated at these two points and our most rapid growth is being experienced there.
The school board, in addition to regular monthly meet- ings, has held frequent special meetings and meetings of sub-committees on special problems. It has been a busy year.
In closing let us say we want all citizens of the town to feel it is their duty, for the benefit of the pupils, to visit the school committee with any grievances or suggestions they wish to submit. Our regular meetings are held in the assessors' room at Town Hall the second Monday every month at 7.45 P. M. We invite constructive criticism or suggestions.
Let us add that many questions about the conduct of the schools which arise are answered by the by-laws of the committee, copies of which can be had on application.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER C. DUNBAR. Chairman.
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