Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1940-1944, Part 27

Author: West Bridgewater (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: Town Officers and Committees
Number of Pages: 968


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 1940-1944 > Part 27


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).


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Superintendent


2,360.94


Clerk


671.74


Truant Officer


100.00


Stationery, Postage and Printing


35.14


Telephone


256.41


Traveling Expense


378.44


School Census


45.00


Miscellaneous Administration


142.54


Teachers' Salaries:


High


14,947.11


Elementary


19,432.07


Vocational Education


102.06


Health:


Nurse and Supplies


1,015.30


Physician


300.00


Text Books & Supplies:


High :


Text Books


617.65


Supplies


691.47


Elementary :


Text Books


524.08


Supplies


1,240.64


Tuition :


Vocational


173.20


Transportation


3,052.50


Other Transportation


72.05


Janitor:


Elementary


3,062.65


Fuel & Light:


Fuel


1,590.18


Gas ·


101.60


Electricity


425.72


Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds:


Repairs


1,369.77


、 Water-High


27.13


56


Janitors' Supplies Water-Elementary


205.37


84.00


Other Expenses:


Diplomas and Graduation Exercises


100.94


Miscellaneous


342.60


53,468.30


Unexpended balance reverting to Revenue


1.70


STATE AIDED VOCATIONAL EDUCATION


SMITH-HUGHES & GEORGE DEEN FUNDS


Federal Funds for Vocational Education


1,679.73


1942 Balance


75.27


1,755.00


Expenses :


Salary


1,130.00


Federal Balance carried forward to 1944


625.00


LIBRARY


Appropriation


1,300.00


Expenses :


Maintenance:


Salaries:


Librarian


350.00


Assistants


392.30


Janitor


115.66


Janitor's Supplies


10.19


Books & Periodicals:


Books


306.78


Fuel & Light:


Fuel


72.75


Light


6.44


Other Expenses:


27.49


Petty Supplies


4.20


All Other


1,285.81


Unexpended balance reverting to Revenue


14.19


57


LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS


Expenses :


Books, Periodicals and Bindings


430.07


UNCLASSIFIED DEPARTMENTS


APPROPRIATION


EXPENSES


Care of Monument Grounds, Flags & Parks


700.00


726.76


Memorial & Armistice Day


200.00


180.40


County Aid to Agriculture


100.00


100.00


Town Reports


427.52


427.52


Diphtheria Clinic


75.00


75.00


Well Child Conference


50.00


50.00


Dog Licenses


302.40


Plymouth County Hospital Assessment


2,092.32


2,092.32


Public Welfare Recovery


697.85


War Bond Deductions


387.25


Unexpended balance reverting to Revenue


62.84


CIVILIAN DEFENSE ACCOUNT


Appropriation


2,000.00


1943 Balance


274.74


2,274.74


Expenses:


Janitor


800.00


Telephone


213.72


Electricity


81.62


Fuel


163.41


Janitor's Repairs and Supplies


131.10


Water


14.00


Real Estate Taxes


173.60


Medical Supplies


70.55


Miscellaneous


29.67


Administration Supplies


17.00


1,694.67


Balance carried forward to 1944


580.07


58


RATIONING BOARD


Appropriation


690.00


Refund


.16


690.16


Expenses :


Stationery & Forms


16.17


Telephone


104.99


Office Supplies


69.84


Office Repair


184.88


Janitor


115.00


Electricity


21.76


Fuel


99.30


Transportation Committee


7.50


Other


8.99


Insurance


16.20


644.63


Balance carried forward to 1944


45.53


INSURANCE


Appropriation


1,639.75


Expenses:


Liability


1,049.59


Fire


502.48


War Damage


87.68


1,639.75


INTEREST


Appropriation


100.00


Unexpended balance reverting to Revenue


100.00


FEDERAL PROJECTS ACCOUNT


1941 Balance


600.00


Salary


10.00


Expense


590.00


59


Expenses :


Commissary


434.00


Balance carried forward to 1944


166.00


PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE


WATER DEPARTMENT


Appropriation


10,000.00


Salary


500.00


Expenses


9,500.00


Expenses :


Superintendent


677.00


Clerical


490.45


Labor


531.60


Call Station


180.00


Water


7,558.40


Stationery, Postage & Printing


131.29


Telephone


16.14


Truck Repair, Supplies, & All Other


20.25


Pipe Fittings


226.10


Gas & Oil


70.74


Tools and Repairs


51.98


Other


21.90


9,975.85


Unexpended balance reverting to Water Receipts


24.15


WATER BONDS & INTEREST


.


Appropriation


2,600.00


Refund


10.00


2,610.00


Expenses:


Bonds


2,500.00


Interest


110.00


2,610.00


60


CEMETERY


Appropriation 130.00


Expenses :


Care of Cemeteries


86.00


Unexpended balance reverting to Revenue


44.00


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


Assessed in Tax Levy


3,112.15


Payments to the Commonwealth:


State Tax


2,750.00


State Audit


269.00


State Parks & Reservations


89.15


3,108.15


Overestimated to be carried forward to 1944


4.00


COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH


Assessed in Tax Levy


5,161.91


Underestimate to be assessed in 1944


211.07


5,372.98


Payments to the County:


County Tax


5,372.98


Payments to Federal Government:


Federal Withholding Tax


1,818.30


Refund to Individual


14.80


1,833.10


AGENCY & TRUST INVESTMENTS


NEW


WITH-


PRINCIPAL


DRAWAL


INCOME


Scholarship Fund


150.00


187.50


Cemetery Perpetual Care


123.50


Library Interest Account's


430.38


Investment New Fund


20,000.00


250.00


61


Refunds:


Poll


2.00


Motor Vehicle Excise


17.02


Real Estate


28.00


47.02


RESERVE FUND


Appropriation from Overlay Surplus


3,000.00


Law


825.00


Police


131.91


956.91


Unexpended balance reverting to Overlay Surplus


2,043.09


-


COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS 1943


RECEIPTS


REVENUE


1941


1942


1943


GENERAL REVENUE


Taxes :


Property


$103,341.24 $102,604.11


$98,696.17


Poll


2,126.00


2,068.00


1,888.00


Income


13,823.55


14,178.00


13,014.79


Corporations, Etc.


3,740.95


2,621.45


3,296.54


Licenses & Permits


653.50


679.00


1,132.50


Fines & Forfeits


22.00


195.00


1,515.00


Grants & Gifts:


From the State


9,748.05


8,960.19


2,570.35


From the County (Dog Licenses)


578.95


696.26


736.36


62


COMMERCIAL REVENUE


Privileges:


Motor Vehicle Excise


8,874.65


7,904.48


5,857.11


Departmental:


General Government


787.98


520.25


499.03


Protection of Persons & Property


34.43


35.93


831.15


Health and Sanitation


567.85


260.71


Highways


11,082.29


3,325.42


1,969.55


Charities


26,800.15


30,653.96


31,000.27


Soldiers' Benefits


422.50


300.00


175.00


Schools


531.80


1,326.00


2,252.56


Library


90.14


83.84


83.67


Unclassified


25.72


359.45


Water Department


14,426.50


17,058.26


14,693.94


Interest


1,045.05


729.94


882.35


$198,723.90


$194,219.54


$181,355.05


NON-REVENUE


Agency:


County Dog Tax


864.00


907.40


967.20


Trust and Investment


1,003.09


8,857.33


4,586.29


Refunds


52.53


127.07


10.16


Total Non-Revenue


$1,919.62


$9,891.80


$5,563.65


Total Receipts


$200,643.52


$204,491.34


$186,918.70


Cash Balance from Previous Years


43,858.85


50,190.44


74,481.94


$244,502.37


$254,381.78


$261,400.64


PAYMENTS


FROM REVENUE


EXPENSES:


General Government


$9,681.61


$10,596.69


$9,956.53


Protection of Persons and Property


10,580.29


8,985.85


9,785.67


Health and Sanitation


1,327.21


1,459.93


1,492.01


Highway


24,077.73


17,363.69


17,690.60


63


Charities


42,085.85


40,578.04


41,576.19


Soldiers' Benefits


1,012.12


535.68


777.68


Schools


48,976.00


51,523.73


54,598.30


Public Library


1,649.38


1,641.70


1,715.88


Recreation


542.57


628.14


726.76


Unclassified


9,643.76


7,911.65


7,358.00


Water Department


11,009.54


10,734.45


9,975.85


Cemeteries


121.08


72.00


86.00


Interest


296.92


148.57


110.00


Maturing Bonds and Notes


3,900.00


2,740.00


2,500.00


Total Expense


$164,904.06


$154,920.42


$158,349.47


OUTLAYS:


New Town Offices


48.00


Schools


3,426.00


Highways


7,806.71


1,314.31


Total Outlays from Revenue


11,280.71


1,314.31


Total Payments from Revenue


$176,184.77


$156,234.73


$158,349.47


FROM NON-REVENUE


Agency:


State Tax


9,075.00


8,250.00


2,750.00


State Parks & Reservations


144.11


119.25


89.15


State Audit


221.56


179.81


269.00


County Tax


6,808.44


5,627.07


5,372.98


County Dog Tax


893.80


934.00


302.40


Trust and Investment


585.01


8,391.28


21,141.38


Refunds


399.24


163.70


47.02


Payroll Deductions


2,220.43


Total Non-Revenue


18,127.16


23,665.11


32,192.36


Total Payments


194,311.93


179,899.84


190,541.83


Cash Balance at end of year


50,190.44


74,481.94


70,858.81


$244,502.37


$254,381.78


$261,400.64


64


IV


BONDED INDEBTEDNESS


Water Loans


1%


4% Bonds


Date of


Issued


12 Notes Issued


Maturity


1914


1940


1943


$500.00


$2,000.00


1944


500.00


2,000.00


1945


2,000.00


1946


2,000.00


$1,000.00


$8,000.00


PUBLIC TRUST FUNDS


Name of Fund


Invested in


Jan. 1, 19 43


Income Earned


Income Paid Out


December 31, 1943


CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS


Evrard-Alger


Brockton Savings Bank


$203.01


$4.08


$4.00


$203.09


Alfred E. Alger


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


210.11


4.22


6.00


208.33


Sanford Alger


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


50.85


1.01


1.00


50.86


William Burke


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


164.61


3.30


6.00


161.91


Davis Copeland


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


200.69


4.02


4.00


200.71


Mrs. Henry Copeland


Brockton Savings Bank


100.30


2.01


2.00


100.31


Lyman and Pardon Copeland


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


650.86


13.07


13.00


650.93


Samuel G. Copeland


Peoples' Savings Bank


200.82


4.02


4.00


200.84


Samuel G. & James Copeland


Brockton Savings Bank


1,042.64


20.95


15.00


1,048.59


Martha K. Crosby


Peoples' Savings Bank


100.05


2.01


2.00


100.06


Mary A. Dewyer


Peoples' Savings Bank


106.44


2.13


4.00


104.57


Michael Dewyer


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


100.22


2.01


2.00


100.23


John E. & Desire L. Gould


Brockton Savings Bank


100.51


2.01


2.00


100.52


The Hartwell Fund


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


313.39


6.29


9.00


310.68


Etta L. Hartwell


Peoples' Savings Bank


324.41


6.51


330.92


Frank P. Hatch


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


161.12


3.23


3.00


161.35


Julia M. Hooper


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


143.12


2.87


145.99


Alba Howard


Brockton Savings Bank


101.37


2.03


2.00


101.40


Isabelle Howard


Peoples' Savings Bank


100.05


2.01


2.00


100.06


S. Nelson Howard


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


102.76


2.05


2.50


102.31


Samuel H. Howard


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


106.39


2.13


3.00


105.52


Harriet M. Jennings


Brockton Savings Bank


105.64


2.11


3.00


104.75


Abbie B. Jones


Brockton Savings Bank


101.50


2.03


2.00


101.53


65


Name of Fund


Invested in


Jan. 1, 19


Income Earned


Income Paid Out


December 31, 1943


Sumner D. Keith


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


113.01


2.27


115.28


Warren C. Kinney


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


200.82


4.02


4.00


200.84


Henry J. LeLacheur


Brockton Savings Bank


100.30


2.01


2.00


100.31


Joshua Morse


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


107.43


2.15


109.58


Emma F. Packard


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


303.73


6.09


6.00


303.82


Fred A. Perkins


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank Brockton Savings Bank


100.41


2.01


2.00


100.42


Rosa R. Shaw


386.77


7.76


7.00


387.53


Sarah F. Shipman


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


100.18


2.01


2.00


100.19


Orrin A. Smith


Peoples' Savings Bank


150.07


3.01


3.00


150.08


South Street Cemetery


Peoples' Savings Bank


90.16


1.81


91.97


Robert Tibbetts


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


100.06


2.01


2.00


100.07


Charles C. Thayer


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


207.68


4.16


211.84


Mary Elizabeth Wilson


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


200.98


4.02


201.00


$6,952.46


$139.43


$123.50


$ 6,968.39


LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS


Cornelia Alger


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank 675.00


675.00


Nathan Copeland


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank 500.00


500.00


Eliza P. Dalton & Millard


O. Dalton


Brockton Savings Bank 250.00


250.00


Mary N. K. Edgerly


N. Easton Savings Bank 250.00


U. S. Fourth Liberty Bond 250.00


500.00


Francis E. Howard


Bridgewater Savings Bank 250.00


U. S. Fourth Liberty Bond


250.00


43


500.00


66


William J. Howard & Anna C. Peoples' Savings Bank Howard Mary L. Perkins


22.30


.44


War Bond Series G. 2,500.00


2,522.74


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank


1,000.00


1,000.00


Mary P. Whitman


Brockton, Savings Bank


3,000.00


Bridgewater Savings Bank


4,000.00


E. Bridgewater Sav. Bank 4,000.00


Peoples' Savings Bank


4,000.00


15,000.00


$20,947.30


$ .44


$20,947.74


LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS


Interest Acct. No. 1


Brockton Savings Bank


388.98


308.93


323.12


374.79


Interest Acct. No. 2


Brockton Savings Bank


111.04


131.99


106.95


136.08


$500.02


$440.92


$430.07


$510.87


SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND


William J. Howard and Anna


Peoples' Savings Bank


44.59


1.93


46.52


Clifford Howard


War Bond Series G.


5,062.50


125.00


5,187.50


$5,107.09


$126.93


$5,234.02


67


.


68


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


I herewith submit my annual report for the year 1943:


In 1943, the shortage of material and the lack of a complete road crew made new construction impossible. Most of the high- way road work was done by using Black Mix and Gravel Patch- ing.


The following streets were Tarvia Seal Coated:


Scotland Street one-half mile


Pleasant Street one-half mile


East Street seven-tenths mile Manley Street six-tenths mile


Walnut Street


one tenth mile


Four thousand feet on East Center Street was laid with a mixture consisting of crushed stone and tarvia called "Mixed-in- place". The shoulders of this road were widened three feet on each side, making the road twenty-four feet instead of eighteen feet.


All drains and catch basins were inspected and a new one installed on Hillside Avenue.


Bridges, sign posts, school signs and traffic lines were check- ed and repainted. Throughout the year, a great many street and


69


school signs were destroyed. This caused an unnecessary expense to the townspeople and we do hope it will not continue next year.


During the year, two large steel girders were moved from the South Main Street bridge to the bridge on Forest Street, to be used in the future.


Above is a summary of some of the work accomplished by the Department but it is impossible to give all of the work done.


I want to thank the Board of Selectmen, department heads and laborers for their cooperation.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE G. TUCKER,


Superintendent.


70


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS


For the Year ending December 31, 1943


Fifty-four barns were inspected through-out the year of 1943.


The routine follow-up work was down on seven dogs for rabies.


There were no Slaughtering Licenses given out in West Bridgewater during the year.


Respectfully submitted,


DAVID DAILEY,


Inspector of Animals.


71


REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER


The financial transactions of the Town for the year 1943 may be briefly summarized as follows:


Cash on hand January 1, 1943


$ 74,481.94


Cash on hand December 31, 1943


70,868.81


Received from Collector


119,795.36


Received from Other Sources


67,123.34


Total Receipts


186,918.70


Payments during the year of 1943


190,541.83


Payments on Water Bonds and Notes


2,500.00


Payments of Interest on Water Bonds and Notes


100.00


Outstanding Water Bonds, December 31, 1943


5,000.00


Outstanding Water Notes, December 31, 1943 6,000.00


Tax Title Accounts, December 31, 1943


4,819.35


Tax Title Redemptions 1,352.80


Tax Title Partial Payments


122.00


Tax Title Added Interest


207.62


Tax Title Releases


.60.00


Sale of Tax Title Possessions and Treasurers' Sale


107.00


Bought U. S. War Bonds, Series G.


20,000.00


The report of the expenses of the Treasurer's Office and a detailed account of the Library Trust Funds, and Cemetery Trust Funds, may be found in the Town Accountant's Report.


Respectfully submitted,


ORVIS F. KINNEY


Treasurer.


72


ANNUAL REPORT West Bridgewater Civilian Defense Committee - January 1, 1944


Three years have elapsed since the Civilian Defense Com- mittee was established in West Bridgewater. During this entire period the general activities of Defense Committees have been viewed with varying degrees of sympathy and cooperation. Many have felt that much of the time and effort spent in the organ- ization and operation of Defense Committees could have been spent to much better advantage in some other line of endeavor. We believe that much of the confusion has been due to wishful thinking and to an undue amount of confidence in the resource- fulness and ability of the American public, rather than to any decision that might have been reached as the result of careful analysis and study.


True, reports from the several war areas have for the most part been favorable to the cause of the United Nations. It is also true that these same reports of success have removed from · our shores much of the menace against which Civilian Defense Protection was organized. However, much remains to be done before the victory is won, our need for protection and precaution at home cannot be over-looked.


Due to this improvement in the general conditions, there have been adjustments made in the Civilian Defense Program. These changes were made as a result of recommendations by the Army and the Civilian Defense Headquarters. Dim-out regula-


73


tions have been relaxed, and it has been deemed unnecessary to continue the twenty-four hour manning of our telephone service at the Report Center. We are, however, required to have a cover- age of the Federal Telephone at all times. In order to comply with regulations, extensions have been placed in the Fire Station and in the home of Edward Bourne, the head of the Protection Division of our Civilian Defense Committee and Chief of our Fire Department.


The several units of the organization, including Wardens, Auxiliary Policemen, Auxiliary Firemen, First Aid Groups, Rescue Squads, and so on, have been organized in such a way that they are ready to function at very short notice. West Bridgewater may well be proud of the activity of its townspeople on the home front as well as in the Armed Forces. It is one of the few com- munities where protection was provided through a twenty-four hour coverage by the citizens throughout the period of extreme emergency. The various services of the organization have main- tained their high degree of efficiency through the constant interest and hard work of the individuals in those organizations. We have always been ready to answer whatever calls have been made upon us.


Examination of the expenditures for the past year will show that $1,694.67 was spent in this protective service. Our budget for 1944 calls for an appropriation of $1,400 which, added to a balance of $580.07 which was not expended, means that our total budget for expenditures for the year 1944 will be $1,980.07. The distribution of the expenditures is as follows:


Janitor's Salary


$803.00


Telephone


200.00


Electricity


100.00


Fuel


200.00


Water


14.00


74


Taxes


175.00


Call Station


120.00


Supplies


368.07


$1,980.07


Medical supplies, janitor's supplies, incidentals, repairs, and so on total $368.07.


It is quite possible that many citizens may feel that an ap- propriation for Civilian Defense Activity for the year 1944 can and should be eliminated. Careful consideration has been given to the various facts involved. Information obtained from most reliable sources seems to bear us out in our decision that such action does not seem feasible at this time.


Whereas the immediate danger of invasion seems to have been removed, those in authority, both the Army and the Civilian Defense Organizations, are convinced that it is still essential that we maintain our organization on a working basis until such time as there is no longer the possibility that anything may happen to us. There is also another reason why Civilian Defense Groups should be kept in a condition of readiness, and that is in the matter of service in time of civilian emergency. With the pro- gram already set up we should be in a position to handle any emergency which might arise. Under normal conditions, one might argue that such a service was not a necessary one, but during this time due to the general man-power situation our regular agencies can ill afford to have additional demands made upon them, and are only too anxious to take advantage of the assistance which Civilian Defense Groups may be in a position to render.


The Civilian Defense Committee, the Red Cross, the Aux- iliary Policemen, the Nurses Training Units, and others still use


75


the Headquarters Building for their regular meetings. The Ration Board has its headquarters on the second floor of the building and uses three of the rooms as offices. Your committee continues to meet regularly to consider reports and regulations from District and State Headquarters and to keep in working condition the organization which has been set up for your protection. The other groups are endeavoring to carry on various phases in the furtherance of civilian and war activities.


The Committee wishes to extend to all of those who have assisted in any way their thanks and appreciation for services rendered. May we never be called upon to face a major catas- trophe, and may the time be short until we will no longer need to maintain our organization at a constant "alert". Let us be thankful that we have been called upon to sacrifice so little.


H. E. Bryant, Chairman Ralph S. Frellick, Executive Secretary William W. Noyes, Chief Warden Alfred T. Wells, Food and Supplies Edward L. Bourne, Chairman-Protection Div. James A. Kehoe, Map Plot


Horace E. Swann, Evacuation Dr. A. O. Belmore, Medical.


76


REPORT OF RATIONING BOARD


Your local Rationing Board, first organized in January, 1941, hereby submits its second annual report. It is indeed a pleasure to announce the many new and necessary changes that have been made during the past successful year.


On January 10, 1943, our Board, with five members, and one part-time and one full-time Clerk, was moved from the Tax Co- llector's Office to their new Office which is situated in the Civi- lian Defense Quarters on 2 Central Square. This, in itself, was a very smart and beneficial step. We have been more convenient- ly located for the Townspeople, and although we have been more expense to the Town this past year, we believe that it has all been quite worth while. We received all of our Office Furniture directly from the Federal Government, thus relieving the Town of this large expense.


On June 3, and November 10, respectively; we were very fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. Horace Swann, and Mr. James Kehoe as regular volunteer Board Members. Because of his helpful assistance in the capacity of Transportation Chair- man, we placed Mr. Kehoe on our gasoline and tire panel. Mr. Swann duly volunteered to act as Chairman of the Price Panel. We were also very fortunate in being permitted to promote Miss Gladys Bergstrom from part-time to full-time Clerk.


This year again we have had the able assistance of the Supt. of Schools and the teachers in many of our Rationing Registra- tions, and also, the School Committee was kind enough to lend us a typewriter while we were waiting for ours to arrive from the State.


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On November 1, our hours were changed and we feel that they will be much more beneficial to the Townspeople. We are now open to the public, Weekdays, except Tuesday, from eight- thirty a.m. to twelve and from one p.m. until five-thirty p.m. On Tuesday from twelve o'clock noon until nine p.m. The Board meetings are held on Tuesday evening between seven-thirty and nine p.m.


This year we have divided our Board into seperate panels.


They are as follows:


Gasoline, Tires, Shoes, Bicycles, Rubber Boots, Typewriters


Raleigh A. Holden Walter C. Dunbar James A. Kehoe


Fuel Oil, Meats, Price Control, Processed Foods, Sugar, Heating stoves.


Sherman H. Perkins L. Merrill Caswell Horace E. Swann


Mr. Hemenway, Chairman, has supervision of all panels.


We would like to suggest that all persons filling out renewals for supplementary gasoline file their applications thirty days be- fore the expiration date of their book. This will help to benefit each individual as well as the Board itself.


In closing, I would like to thank Mr. Taylor, the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Teachers and all others who have helped to make our past year a successful one by their unselfish cooperation and respect. The Board has tried very


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hard to take care of all situations which have arisen to the best of their ability, and we feel that we have done so.


Respectfully submitted,


J. RUSSELL HEMENWAY, Chairman. L. MERRILL CASWELL WALTER C. DUNBAR RALEIGH A. HOLDEN JAMES A. KEHOE SHERMAN H. PERKINS HORACE E. SWANN


79


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN AND SUPERINTENDENT OF GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen


I herewith submit my annual report for the year 1943.


The trees of the town are in a healthy condition though the extreme cold weather last winter killed some of the maple tree branches.


Many of the elm trees around the center of the town were infested with the elm leaf beetle, but not as badly as in previous years.


All the trees bordering the highways were sprayed and some of the elms were sprayed twice.


We scouted for the gypsy moth egg clusters and have creo- soted all that we found, though they were not as numerous as in years past.


The usual trimming of low hanging and dead branches was done during the year and also several dead and dangerous trees were removed.


Respectfully submitted,


CHRISTOPHER READ, Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent.


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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


During the year 1943 there were 297 reportable diseases sent in to the Board of Health as follows:


1943


1942


Chicken Pox


43


41


Dog Bite


6


2


German Measles


117


21


Measles


40


21


Meningitis Pfeiffer Bacillus


1


1


Influenza


2


0


Malaria


1


0


Mumps


44


30


Pneumonia, Lobar


1


2


Scarlet Fever


3


6


Whooping Cough


39


2


297


126


The above report shows that we had 171 more communic- able diseases reported in 1943 than we had in 1942 and we well know that many more should have been reported, but were not; SO we wish to call to the attention of the Public the law re- quiring that certain diseases be reported under penalty of fine. Therefore, it is the duty of everyone to acquaint himself with the reportable diseases. We had 217 cases of measles last year and as a result of children attending school who had contracted the Measles and were in close contact with others, also the in- difference of the parents, Measles gained an unwarranted spread in the early months of 1943. Some people seem to think that


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this disease is of no particular importance and treat it accord- ingly. This office is informed that it is one of the worst diseases, and if the proper care is not administered it may result in sev- eral chronic defects. Why hesitate to report the case? Your child may get well but your neighbor's child who might have contracted the malady from him may die or become inflicted with the one or many defects related to Measles. It is the opin- ion of the State Board of Health that too little attention is paid to the seriousness of Measles.




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