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 1935-1939 > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
Costs
88.50
1,261.38
$2,392.39
Payments to Treasurer
$443.93
Added to taxes
687.08
Outstanding December 31, 1939
1,261.38
$2,392.39
Water Liens Added to Taxes-1938
Outstanding January 1, 1939
$560.90
Payments to Treasurer 1939
560.90
Water Liens Added to Taxes-1939
Commitment per warrant
$687.08
Payments to Treasurer
$153.96
Outstanding December 31, 1939
533.12
$687.08
133
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Department of Corporations and Taxation Division of Accounts State House, Boston
January 25, 1940
To the Board of Selectmen
Mr. James A. Hemenway, Chairman West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the town of West Bridgewater for the year ending December 31, 1939, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Herman B. Dine, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours,
THEODORE N. WADDELL, Director of Accounts.
TOWN OF WEST BRIDGEWATER Balance Sheet - December 31, 1939 General Accounts
Assets
Liabilities and Reserves
Cash :
General
$40,822.33
Library (Petty Cash)
10.00
$40,832.33
Special Accounts : Westdale Improvement Society $174.76
Surplus War Bonus 540.32
Accounts Receivable :
Taxes :
Levy of 1938
$740.04
Levy of 1939
31,046.37
Road Machinery Fund
2,062.09
Library Funds Income Overestimate 1939:
16.25
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes :
Levy of 1939
344.16
Tax Titles
3,818.43
Tax Possessions
1,324.54
Departmental:
Public Welfare $655.75
Aid to Dependent Children
225.33
Unexpended Balances 3,246.55
Water Department-Available Surplus 5,350.53 Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus 4,532.40
Overlays Reserved for Abatement of Taxes: Levy of 1938 $740.04
$715.08
Sale of Real Estate Fund
900.00
Reimbursement from Estate:
Old Age Assistance 400.00
31,786.41
State Parks and Reservations Assessment 18.66
Old Age Assistance
82.89
Levy of 1939 1,287.04
963.97
Water Department:
Revenue Reserved Until Collected:
Rates and Services
2,279.20
Liens
1,261.38
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax $344.16 Tax Title and Tax Possession 5,142.97
Liens Added to Taxes, 1939
533.12
4,073.70
Departmental
963.97
Water
4,073.70
Loan Authorized : Water Mains
12,000.00
Loan Authorized-Unissued
12,000.00
Surplus Revenue
53,350.10
$95,143.54
$95,143.54
Debt Accounts
Net Funded or Fixed Debt
$7,270.00
Water Loans
$7,270.00
Trust Accounts
Trust Funds, Cash and Securities
$25,330.39
Library Funds Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds
$18,912.57
6,417.82
$25,330.39
$25,330.39
2,027.08
10,524.80
136
REPORT ON THE W. P. A.
The year 1939 has been a repetition of previous years so far as the number employed and the general char- acter of the work performed. At this writing only a few less persons are upon the payrolls than at the close of 1938 which number was 62 as against 59 at present. The improvement in general business locally is not of the type in which shoeworkers and laborers are re- quired. In my opinion there is not much hope of relief from this burden upon the taxpayers unless some un- foreseen element appears in the business world to im- prove industry beyond normal. We are forced to the knowledge that each year our educational institutions turn out thousands of young men and women who must be employed. For obvious reasons, industry prefers to educate the young to their particular business. Our business demands fall far short of present supply of labor, and the return to what we could term normal will not absorb the millions now employed upon the federal relief programs. War in Europe may inflate business for a while in this country, but at its conclusion we are sure to be worse off. Financially depleted Europe can- not give to us through trade their normal demand of our products. Through their application of modern machinery to the production of those articles which we formerly sold them, they have become our competitor. With these two elements, their financial distress and their own production of manufactured goods operating against us, we must plan to meet a new condition. How, when and with what new development is everybody's problem. Until such time as we find the answer, it is my opinion that the Federal Government must carry on with the present or some other form of work relief. It is not particularly pleasing to the taxpayers or the em- ployees upon this form of work, but it is humane, also defensive against the many isms that would gain a much greater and unpleasant standing within our
137
boundaries if not a more regrettable result. Hungry men with cold, hungry children probably would not remain active listeners to cold reasoning in place of food and clothing for any appreciable length of time. Who can deny we have a serious problem? What ad- justments can be made? Where is the Moses to lead us out of the Bullrushes ?
ACTIVITIES OF THE W. P. A.
During 1939 there was a more constant number of employees and much activity upon our highways, water mains and service extension. The average number of workers for the year figures 50 upon manual labor, and 8 white collar employees employed on sewing, commis- sary, and as clerks, the latter under the designation of National Youth Administration. There were 8 young men assigned to the C. C. C. Camps.
The following projects are those operated during 1939 and either completed or still operating:
HURRICANE DAMAGE
Beyond the knowledge of what we could grasp by observation as we hurried along over the devastated territory, there was a tremendous damage apparent when the labor of clean-up came into effect. The WPA contributed through payrolls $9,037.51 and $75.00 for equipment. The Town contributed in direct labor, trucks, tools, etc., $112.60, making a total of $9,225.11 expended from both WPA and Town. Only places where there was a menace to travel or a fire hazard were taken care of. Private property other than those endangering the public or public property was left to the owner to clean up, but later considered a fire hazard and was taken care of in a Forestry Project.
PARK ANNEX
Resumption of Park Annex was taken up early in the summer and the quality of its completion speaks for itself. Advantages perhaps not apparent now will in
138
time prove the worth of the stand and its surroundings, and it was better to obtain the labor required while we could than to wish later for the objective.
TRAFFIC CENTERS
The several traffic centers that have been curbed, graded and seeded are: junction of Union and East Streets, cement curbed; Matfield and Belmont Streets, stone curbed; Matfield and East Streets, cement curbed; East and East Center Streets, stone curbed; South Elm and Charles Streets, stone curbed. These five with three others, junction of River and Arch Streets, Arch and Bryant Streets, River and South Streets, complete the junction traffic centers. Suggestions have been made to install some type of curbed area to more safely direct traffic at the junction of West and Crescent Streets. This no doubt will be worked out sometime.
FORESTRY
This project consisted in trimming fallen trees and burning the slash leaving the log for the owner to dis- pose of as he desired. This action was considered ben- eficial both in assisting the owner to realize some value from the logs or wood and to remove a very dangerous fire hazard.
FIRE LANES
The six miles of fire lanes through the wooded sec- tions of the Town are a safety measure in the preserva- tion of our forests and possibly other nearby property. These lanes were so constructed that our fire apparatus can readily drive into the vicinity of any fire which may occur. The six miles are distributed in the following areas : One fire lane from the Camps through old Forest Street to Scotland Street; one from Stony Road connect- ing with one from West Street and extending through to Walnut Street; one from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street, Campello; one from Brooks Place through to Chestnut Street, Campello. This was a very worthwhile project.
.
139
GYPSY MOTH
This project has been very helpful in keeping within bounds this pest to the well being of our trees. Towns that have not used such a project are certainly a contrast in the condition of their trees.
TREE TRIMMING
This project like the moth project aids greatly in the health of the trees, keeping them not only shapely but also safe to pass under without fear of damage from dead branches. We may be justly proud of our shade trees.
HISTORY OF WEST BRIDGEWATER
Under the supervision of Mr. Ernest Robinson, Super- intendent of Schools, and the undersigned, this project through the very skilled work of Eveline Johnson as- sisted by Miss Cleopha Dillenschneider, is now com- pleted. Sketches of old habitations taken from photos searched out from the attics of contributors, and a won- derful fund of information not found elsewhere in print, so splendidly written, that the combination of sketch and story is more than merely entertaining to those interested in the early days of West Bridgewater. We hope to find a way to have it published in a book for preservation of our history as a township.
SEWING
The sewing unit has produced 2,289 pieces from Janu- ary 1, 1939 to August 31, 1939 at which time the unit was suspended for a stated period of thirty days. However, the thirty days were stretched to eighty-four days and was not resumed until November 24, 1939. At present and during the year the sewing unit has been restricted to three machine operators and one cutter, who is also the supervisor. Continuing the production from No- vember 24, 1939 to December 31, 1939, garments made and added to the earlier production make a total for the nine months of 2,583 pieces. The various types of garments are delivered to a central point (Brockton)
140
as are all other garments from a number of Towns in the district, and the needs of each community are req- uisitioned from that central point weekly.
INDEXING RECORDS
This project was in operation until the thirty-day lay- off on August 31, 1939 and has just been resumed on December 14, 1939. The text of the work is to take from our records actions of the Town Meetings and any au- thorized special action by the duly elected officials, and index the same, giving such information as is important in a special ledger so that any required knowledge may be quickly obtained. This is important work and will be followed up from year to year.
FARM TO MARKET
The allotment from the Federal Works Progress Ad- ministration for work upon our highways was $16,- 196.67. The amount supplemented by Town funds for this work was $4,381.39, thus making a total of $20,- 578.06 and was distributed upon the following streets :
Manley Street, from the railroad tracks north to Wal- nut Street, .4 of a mile graveled preparatory to black- topping;
Walnut Street for a distance of .5 of a mile; Prospect Street for a distance of .4 of a mile;
Cross Street for a distance of .2 of a mile; Bedford Street for a distance of .3 of a mile; Ash Street for a distance of .2 of a mile; Keenan Street for a distance of .3 of a mile; Thayer Avenue for a distance of .3 of a mile; Commonwealth Avenue for a distance of .2 of a mile; Pleasant Street for a distance of .2 of a mile; Forest Street for a distance of .7 of a mile.
All the foregoing are now graveled and ready for black-topping; some have been black-topped.
141
Forest Street necessitated a large volume of labor. There were twenty-five trees removed; stone walls set back from six to ten feet for a distance of 2,850 linear feet; drainage installed with several catch basins and shoulders built to permit widening of the street. The graveled, rebuilt part for the distance above mentioned approaches the bridge within a few feet. It is the inten- tion to install a new bridge as outlined in a project now before the Federal Government, and to black-top all when the bridge is completed.
All the above mentioned streets were widened; shoul- ders built; drains installed or cleaned; bushes, trees and stumps removed. It is hoped that those not black- topped will be this year.
HERBERT E. BRYANT, Coordinator.
142
W. P. A. EXPENDITURES
Federal Expense $2,460.63
Town Expense
From Special Town Ap- propriation
*Sewing
** Curbing Centers
701.06
366.55
** Park Annex and Hurricane Damage
10,180.96
143.54
** Fire Lanes
4,360.45
$116.00
*Historical
621.85
14.50
*Gypsy Moth
1,136.12
44.75
*Farm to Market
16,196.67
4,381.39
** Tree Trimming
2,615.51
157.25
*Indexing Records
936.19
11.60
** Forestry
8,681.27
2.00
134.00
*Commissary
528.12
Surveying
295.36
Railroad Bridges
41.22
Supervisor
1,040.00
Clerk
699.65
Travel
67.33
Postage
12.13
General
59.95
Total
$47,890.23
$8,108.85
$452.00
Note:
*Projects still operating.
** Projects finished.
Net Expense from WPA Material Account
$8,108.85
Special Town Appropriation for WPA Projects
452.00
$8,108.85
Total Expense to the Town
$8,560.85
Total Grant From Federal Government to WPA Projects
$47,890.23
Federal Grants 85%
Town Expense 15%
100%
HERBERT E. BRYANT.
$445.51
143
THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
Twenty-five years of Agricultural leadership has been provided the towns of Plymouth County through the Extension Service, officially recognized as County Aid to Agriculture. During this period of time, great agri- cultural achievements have been made through the in- itiative and leadership of agricultural associations, farmers' cooperatives, homemakers' groups, 4-H clubs and their many allied contributing sources.
This service available to all coordinates the efforts of the U.S.D.A., the Massachusetts State College, and local groups in the interest of rural people.
Educational programs are largely determined by county committees, assuring the practicability of meet- ings, speakers, and subjects of interest to commodity, homemakers' and 4-H club groups.
During 1939 the Extension Service agents directed personally in Plymouth County 813 meetings with an attendance of 21,485 people; made personal contact with 12,237 people on individual problems; and reached 87,000 people through circular letters.
Information and assistance has been available to everyone in the subjects pertaining to Agriculture, Home Economics and the 4-H Club. These include for farmers the subjects of: dairy, poultry, fruits, vege- tables, cranberries, forestry, general livestock, farm ac- counts, and many others. For Homemakers in 1939 emphasis has been placed on Money Management, Nu- trition, Child Development, Home Furnishing and Rec- reation. Additional work has been done in Clothing, Food Preservation, Home Grounds Improvement. For 4-H activities, clubs in Poultry, Dairy, Garden, Conser- vation, Handicraft, Food, Canning, Clothing, Home Furnishing and others have been used by 1959 enrolled members in the county.
144
The people of West Bridgewater have been afforded this service in the best manner possible to meet the de- mands and interest of groups and individuals. The sup- port of each town financially and morally is greatly ap- preciated by the Extension Service, and by the people who know its value as an influence in adult education.
145
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS For the Year Ending December 31, 1939
There have been inspected during the past year 79 stables and 1028 cattle. Besides these cattle there were 76 hogs, 8 sheep and 2 goats.
Under the head of slaughtering the number of ani- mals slaughtered were:
Calves
42
Hogs
178
Cows
2
Sheep
1
Total
283
Animals condemned :
Calves
2
DAVID DAILEY, Inspector of Animals.
146
REPORT OF THE TOWN TREASURER
The financial transactions of the Town for the year 1939 may be briefly summarized as follows:
Cash on hand January 1, 1939 $34,619.94
Receipts during year of 1939 184,393.97
The receipts were divided as follows:
Received from Collector $116,786.34
Received from Other Sources 67,607.63
Payments during the year 1939 178,191.58
Cash on hand December 31, 1939
40,822.33
Payments on Water Bonds 4,030.00
Payments on Interest on Water Bonds 392.64
Outstanding Water Bonds December 31, 1939
7,270.00
Tax Title Redemptions and Partial Payments
Taxes, Liens and Costs
$2,430.58
Added Interest
225.26
Tax Title Releases
57.00
Tax Title Foreclosures
761.11
Tax Title Accounts January 1, 1939
6,378.84
Tax Title Accounts January 1, 1940
3,818.43
Cemetery Trust Funds Addition
Millage M. Corkum, administrator, for perpetual care of Mary Elizabeth Wilson's family lots in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, $200.00. Said sum to be known as Mary Elizabeth Wilson Trust Fund.
The report of the expenditures of the Treasurer's of- fice, and a detailed account of the Library Trust Funds and Cemetery Funds may be found in the Town Ac- countant's Report.
ORVIS F. KINNEY,
Treasurer.
147
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my annual report of the West Bridgewater Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1939 :
Appropriation
$2,400.00
Refund
34.18
Total
$2,434.18
Maintenance Cost
$1,610.02
New Cruising Car
639.00
$2,249.02
Unexpended Balance on Hand $185.16
During the year the following cases were disposed of according to the necessity of the case:
Complaints and Investigations
297
Automobile Violations
87
Driving under Influence of Liquor
2
Drunks
11
Breaking and Entering Unoccupied Buildings
6
Larceny
3
Assault and Disturbance
2
Trespassing
3
Miscellaneous
Automobile Accidents 32
Automobile Accidents, persons taken to Hospital 12
Automobile Accidents, persons taken to Doctors 13
Bicycle Accident, person taken to Doctor 1
Persons struck by Automobiles, taken to Doctors, Hospital 4
148
Persons trampled to Death by Horse 1
Persons bitten by dogs, treated by Doctor, Hospital 5
Dogs killed by Automobiles and reported 11
Persons reported missing 2
Summons served for other Departments 16
Registration Plates returned to Registry (sets) 14
Windows reported broken in unoccupied buildings 14
Missing persons held for other Police 1
Automobile transfer papers 54
The police cruiser has travelled 7335 miles in the performance of duties, making several trips to different Hospitals where it was an emergency case.
I wish to impress upon the parents the need of cau- tioning the children of the danger of playing in the highways where there is so much travelling these days.
In closing I wish to thank the Selectmen and all others who have in any way helped the Department. To the Officers I extend my hearty thanks for their coopera- tion.
Respectfully submitted,
CHESTER R. RIPLEY, Acting Chief of Police.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
FOR THE YEAR 1939
150
MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Harvey A. Scranton, Chairman
Term expires 1942
G. Wendell Hennessey
Term expires 1942
Clare E. Parker
Term expires 1940
Sherman H. Perkins
Term expires 1941
Lloyd P. Tyrer
Term expires 1941
Henry F. Woodward
Term expires 1940
Evelyn T. Guttler, Secretary
Superintendent of Schools Ernest W. Robinson
Office, Howard High School Telephone Brockton 5094
Residence, 19 Ash St., West Bridgewater
Telephone Brockton 6811-W
School Physician Joseph Berkowitz, M.D.
School Attendance Officer Ervin W. Lothrop
151
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the citizens of West Bridgewater:
The past year has seen a definite amount of progress in our school system both in the development of the educational side and the improvement of the material parts of the school plant. As we stated in our report last year, all of our schools now have modern sanitary units, a result obtained at the end of a 6 year plan of continuous improvement along sanitary and hygienic lines.
The improved lighting system which was installed in the darkest room of the Center school proved at first to be an expensive proposition because of the increased amount of electricity needed to follow the instructions of the lighting experts who installed it. A careful study of the lighting effects in the room over an extended period, pointed the way to a better method of utilizing the lights than before so that the costs of operation have been substantially reduced.
Other repairs have been the shingling of the south side of the roof at Cochesett, the building of a cement side walk from the street to the front door at Cochesett thereby enabling the pupils to avoid the walking through the very muddy yard in wet weather. At the Center school a beginning has been made of enclosing the yard with sightly and useful boundaries. On the street side a barberry hedge, which extends from the extreme southwest corner of the school grounds to the southeast corner of the library grounds, has been planted. This continuous boundary was made through the cooperation of the library trustees who paid their share of the frontage costs. A five foot substantial wire fence has been started on the west boundary and con- structed for fifty feet to replace the unsightly, tumble- down, stone and wood combination that had been there for many years. Eventually we hope to continue this
152
wire fence well to the north of the present boundary. The west slope of the roof of the front building at the Center school, which was damaged by the hurricane quite severely, has been permanently repaired.
The most pronounced change of the school year in the teaching staff was that of the principalship of the Center school from which Miss MacDonald retired at the legal age limit. The school committee feels that a very definite loss has been sustained in the community both by the parents, pupils and fellow teachers, and wishes to express its appreciation of the long duration and fine quality of service rendered by Miss MacDonald to the town of West Bridgewater. Mr. Benjamin Thomas who succeeded Miss MacDonald has taken hold of his task with commendable vigor and enthusiasm, bringing to his work the benefits of several years teach- ing experience.
An analysis of amounts spent in 1939 and proposed expenditures in 1940 is appended. The 1940 figures call for an increase due to the yearly increment in the teachers' salaries and a decrease in the annual cost of transportation.
1939 Expenditures $3,883.02
1940 Estimates
Administration
$3,930.00
Salaries
30,943.62
31,700.00
Books and supplies
2,640.85
2,800.00
Janitors
2,457.00
2,460.00
Fuel and Light
2,573.92
2,600.00
Repairs
1,063.96
1,300.00
Transportation
3,695.00
3,120.00
Tuition
718.24
825.00
Health
1,176.06
1,225.00
Misc.
169.43
140.00
$49,321.10
$50,100.00
Principal Rose L. MacDonald, retired June 1939, after fifty years as teacher in the Massachusetts schools, forty- nine consecutive years of which were given to the serv- ice of the town of West Bridgewater as teacher and principal of the Center school.
153
We hope some time to initiate a continuous program of school yard improvement to develop certain artistic effects of lawn and shrubbery while not infringing upon the playground facilities for the boys and girls. What little we have done thus far is a decided improvement upon the previous conditions.
The committee again solicits the active cooperation of all interested in the progress and welfare of our schools.
Respectfully submitted,
HARVEY SCRANTON, Chairman.
154
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee:
In accordance with custom, I herewith present the annual report of the schools of West Bridgewater, containing the usual numerical data concerning the number of teachers and pupils, membership and at- tendance, and distribution by age and grade at current writing. The various activities of the different depart- ments will be found in the appended reports of the several heads of these departments, and merit the care- ful study by everyone interested in the progress and welfare of our educational system.
COMPARATIVE MEMBERSHIP TABLE
School
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
Howard High
132
134
146
164
186
192
Center
209
219
250
243
237
224
Sunset Ave.
172
163
164
153
150
149
Cochesett
57
57
53
41
41
62
Matfield
62
62
32
34
28
29
Jerusalem
23
27
26
24
18
16
655
662
671
659
660
672
Examination of the above table of comparative mem- bership brings out again clearly the peculiar trend of school population that was pointed out in the school report of 1939; namely the definite increase over a short period of time in high school member- ship, and a concurrent decrease in the
School
Population elementary schools, amounting to 60 Trends more pupils in the high school over a period of six years, and 37 fewer in the grades. The operation of this membership trend has been observed in all parts of the country, and many noted educators including several college presidents,
155
have begun to try to forecast the effect of this pupil shortage, if maintained and intensified for any length of time, upon the curricula, physical equipment, and administration of all types of schools, elementary, sec- ondary, junior and senior collegiate, in the not too remote future.
Modern education is becoming increasingly compli- cated as we try to shape it to the needs of the boys and girls in our schools. It should be a bal- Educational anced process whereby the child, the Objectives youth, the adult ought to be able to get and keep good health, sound morals, ef- ficiency, skill, useful information, a sense of social re- sponsibility, and a love of the beautiful as expressed by the various arts in the abundance of modern life. In varying degrees according to their means, outlook and progressiveness, each community is striving to build its future citizenship on the soundest and most enduring lines.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.