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 1950-1954 > Part 16
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We have not had a single case of diphtheria reported in Town for the last four years. The State Board of Health reports that a number of Diphtheria cases were reported last year, so the local Board of Health feels that children who had the Diphtheria Toxoid immunization three years ago or over should have a booster dose. Therefore, see to it that your child is inoculated for Diph- theria by your family physician, or bring your child to the Diph- theria Clinic which will be held in the Town Hall in April of this year. Children from six to ten years of age inclusive are eligible and parents are urged to take advantage of this free service.
The Diphtheria Clinic was held at the Town Hall in April, May, and June of this year, under the direction and with the co-
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operation of the Board of Health. Assisted by Mrs. Lillian Hewitt, School Nurse, I gave three inoculations three weeks apart, of Diph- theria Toxoid, to 194 children; the results were satisfactory.
A. O. BELMORE, M. D.
Health Officer
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
The Annual Barn Inspection of 1951 was made and is as follows. There were 60 barns.
Cattle
690
Heifers (2 years old)
20
Heifers (under 11/2 years old)
150
Bulls
18
Sheep
2
Goats
16
Swine
49
Horses
28
There were 10 visits for interstate cattle. There have been ? dogs quarantined for routine checkup for rabies after dog bites.
Respectfully submitted, DAVID DAILEY
Inspector of Animals and Slaughtering
79
REPORT OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE
By J. T. Brown, County Agent-Manager
County Aid to Agriculture is the official department for the Plymouth County Extension Service. This county organization has seven members on its professional staff and three clerical mem- bers, and carries on educational programs for Agriculture, Home- making, and 4-H Club Work. It is a part of the University of Massachusetts and the United States Department of Agriculture. Assistance is available to all county people and is not limited to those engaged in agricultural pursuits.
The Agricultural Department conducts educational programs through the medium of meetings, demonstrations, farm visits, radio and newspaper publicity with dairymen, poultrymen, cranberry growers, vegetable growers, fruit growers, florists. Other programs and information are available for minority groups in general live- stock farming, forestry, home grounds improvement, and home food production. Marketing is becoming an important phase of Exten- sion Service work, with benefits both to the farmers and the con- sumers. The Agricultural Department programs are conducted on a countywide or regional basis, depending upon the extent of the industry and the need for attention.
The Home Economics Department conducts educational pro- grams for both rural and urban people in the fields of Home Man- agement, Family Economics, Home Furnishings and Surroundings, Food Preservation and Storage, Food Selection and Preparation, Clothing and Textiles. The organization of town committees and local leaders is responsible for much of the teaching work in this department. This type of adult education is providing needed assistance in many phases of family living that are unavailable in any other way.
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The 4-H Club Department deals with youth between the ages of 10 and 21. The public is well aware of the achievements of 4-H club members. Project work for boys includes dairy, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, gardens, and handicraft. The project work for 4-H club girls offers clothing, canning, child care, foods, home furnish- ings, and crafts. Success of 4-H club work is almost solely depend- ent upon the work of town committees and local leaders for spon- soring and leading 4-H clubs in their respective communities. Agents are able to provide guidance and materials for club use, as well as the organization and committees, and supervision and train- ing of leaders.
Funds for County Aid to Agriculture are derived principally through the appropriation of the County Commissioners. Some Federal funds are also used and supervised through the University of Massachusetts. Most towns make token appropriations that are used in the general budget of the Extension Service. Town appropriations permit the appointment of a Town Director who serves as an unpaid volunteer leader and is the contact man with the county office.
A statistical summary of achievement for the three depart- ments for the past year follows.
STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS - 1951
Agri. Dept.
Home Dept. 108
4-H Club Dept. 593
Total
Farm or Home Visits
2,084
2,785
Telephone Calls
6,651
1,264
3,065
10,980
Office Calls
2,410
383
382
3,175
News Stories
158
80
3
241
Radio Talks
40
79
3
122
Bulletins Distributed
5,176
8,230
6,608
20,014
Individual Letters Written
2,196
373
1,166
3,735
Circular Letters Written
133
84
189
406
Copies Mailed
47,342
19,002
19,468
85,812
Number of Leaders
165
141
127
433
81
Meetings of Local Leaders or
Committeemen
68
23
18
109
Attendance
874
214
364
1,452
Demonstration Meetings Attendance
85
78
18
181
3,095
1,321
569
4,985
Other Extension Meetings Attendance
43
47
270
360
1,703
2,768
9,900
14,371
Meetings with Other
Organizations
61
68
2,321*
2,450*
Attendance
6,509
5,074
22,172
33,755
Number of 4-H Clubs - 102
Number of Club Members Enrolled in 4-H Clubs - 784
* Includes meetings held by Local Leaders and 4-H Clubs
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
During the year 1951, the Highway Department has com- pleted the following work in addition to our regular maintenance program:
New Construction
Pleasant Street-Gravelled, rolled, graded and seal coated. Lincoln Street-Scarified, rolled, gravelled and seal coated. Columbus Avenue-Gravelled, graded, and seal coated. Oliver Street-Gravelled, graded and seal coated.
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Seal Coated and Sanded
Lincoln Street
Bryant Street
Union Street
Pleasant Street
Hillside Avenue
Wall Street
River Street
South Street
Arch Street
Streets and Shoulders Gravelled
Arch Street
West Street Ellis Avenue
Pleasant Street
Bedford Street Plain Street
South Elm Street
Oliver Street
Crescent Street
Emerson Avenue
Matfield Street
Forest Street
Curbing Set
West Center Street-Widening and curbing reset.
South Main Street-Curbing reset.
Wcst Center Street-Curbing removed.
Drainage Work
Pleasant Street-Old stone culvert removed and new pipe laid. Hillside Avenue-Catch basin rebuilt.
Spring Street-Culvert lowered.
Drainage work done on the following streets:
Arch Street Sunset Avenue Elm Square
Howard Street Turnpike Street Commonwealth Ave.
Matfield River and Town River cleaned of debris.
Fences Painted and Repaired
Arch Street Spring Street East Center Street
South Elm Street Walnut Street
New Street Signs Erected
Emerson Avenue Crescent Street Buttonwood Avenue
Spring Street Manley Street 18 "Children, Go Slow" signs erected.
Prospect Street
Columbus Avenue
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Brush Cut and Removed
Lincoln Street Turnpike Street Columbus Avenue
Pleasant Street
Manley Street
Wall Street
Chapter 90 - New Construction
Crescent Street from West Center Street to Visnaukas Farm.
Chapter 90 - Maintenance
South Elm Street-Resurfaced and honed from Elm Square to Lincoln Street.
East Street-Resurfaced and honed from East Center Street to Union Street.
Matfield Street-Resurfaced and honed from Main Street to Vital Avenue.
Seal Coated
West Street-West Center Street to Beacon Street.
Manley Street-Walnut Street to Brockton Line.
Snow Removal
Snow fences erected on Brooks Place, Union Street and East Street.
All snow removed as soon as possible, and all streets treated with salt and sand when needed.
In closing I would like to recommend the Town purchase a tractor with loader on the front end, cutter bar and blade and broom attachment.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. BAKER
Superintendent
84
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE
An act relative to establishing a program of assistance for persons permanently and totally disabled was approved October 30, 1951. This legislation will necessitate additional procedures and expense in 1952.
The receipts, expenditures and town's net share for aid dur- ing the past three years were as follows:
Payments
Town's Net Share
1949
Administration
$3,140.70
Receipts $975.35
$2,165.35
Aid
72,069.57
51,238.36
19,855.86
1950
Administration
4,771.73
2,379.82
2,391.91
Aid
75,916.92
54,269.29
21,647.63
1951
Administration
5,022.33
2,335.05
2,687.28
Aid
65,291.28
54,173.00
11,108.28
The comparative case loads for the past three years are:
1949-121 1950-159
1951-152
WILLIAM W. NOYES, Chairman CLIFFORD BROMAN ROGER BURRILL Board of Public Welfare ALICE M. DEAN, Welfare Agent
85
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS
We, the Water Commissioners of the Town of West Bridge- water, submit our annual report of the Water Department for 1951.
For the year of 1951 we pumped 88,153,856 gallons of water which is an increase of approximately 7,000,000 gallons over the previous year. The weekly average was 3,048,192 gallons and the daily average was 241,517 gallons. The monthly average for the year was 11,050,368 gallons. Our highest amount pumped was dur- ing the month of July, 505,344 gallons. We are well pleased with the outcome of our water system.
We are anticipating the installation of two new wells in the near future at the well field.
This year we renewed twenty-six old services and installed thirty-four new services. We also repacked and repainted all hy- drants in town.
At the Annual Meeting in March the voters of West Bridge- water appropriated the sum of $11,000.00 for the installation of six-inch mains on Ash Street. We installed approximately 3,000 feet of six-inch transit water mains with the proper fittings and hydrants.
This year a new program was started which included the in- stallation of three hundred new and rebuilt meters and we antic- ipate completion of this program this year. It is our policy that every water taker will be metered. It was voted by the Water Com- missioners that all new developments shall be installed with no less than six-inch water mains. Again our water system proved its value at the two recent fires at White's Garage and the Unitarian
86
Church compared to the old system we had during the High school fire.
We have set up a long range program to replace all two-inch mains with six-inch mains and larger throughout the town, to tie in dead end mains wherever possible, and to clean mains wher- ever needed.
Again we invite the public to inspect our new water system and also planned tours by school children.
We wish to thank all those who cooperated with us this past year.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
of Board of Water Commissioners of West Bridgewater
The following regulations shall be considered a part of the contract with every person who takes water; and every such person by taking water shall be considered to express his assent to be bound thereby. All applicants for the in- troduction of water to any premises, or for the extension of any pipe for the conveyance of such water, shall be signed by such applicant, and shall state fully and fairly all and several of the various uses to which water is to be ap- plied; and whenever thereafter any other uses of water, or additional service pipe or plumbing or fixtures are required, a further application must be made as aforesaid.
The Water Commissioners reserve the right to decline to connect with plumbing which has not been done by a plumber approved by them. All ap- plicants for whom service pipe is laid will be charged for the use of one faucet and sill cock whether the water is used or not. Persons taking water must keep their own water pipes and all fixtures connected therewith in good repair, and protected from frost at their own expense. They must provide a stop and waste cock to be properly located inside the building, and have the pipes so arranged that the water can be drawn from them wherever and whenever there is danger of its freezing.
No alterations in pipes or fixtures shall be made and no additional fixtures put in without notice to the Water Commissioners, and a permit having been obtained thercfor by a plumber approved by them. The only exception to thc above rule will be in cases where pipes have burst, and damage to the premises
87
is likely to result from delay in making necessary repairs. In all occupied prem- ises all water fixtures of whatever nature will be deemed and held as used, and will be charged for so long as said fixtures shall remain connected with the water pipes.
No person shall be entitled to damages, nor to have any portion of a pay- ment refunded for any stoppage of supply occasioned by accident to any por- tion of the works, nor for any stoppage for purposes of additions or repairs, NOR FOR NON USE OCCASIONED BY ABSENCE. The Water Com- missioners shall have the right to shut off water to make repairs or additions without notice.
No hydrant or hose attachment shall be placed in any yard or area of any premises so situated as to be accessible to persons living in or occupying neigh- boring premises, unless the owner of the premises first named becomes respons- ible for and pays the water rent for all persons using water therefrom. No water taker will be allowed to supply water to parties not entitled to its use ex- cept by special permit from the Water Commissioners, and if found doing so without a permit the supply will be cut off, and the water rent already paid forfeited.
No permits will be granted for garden sprinklers, sill faucets, fountains, or post hydrants, unaccompanied with inside use, unless by special permit; liable to be abrogated on notice at any time. There shall be no concealment of the purpose for which water is used. There shall be no unnecessary waste of water. Any person violating this rule shall be liable to have his supply shut off, and the amount paid therefor forfeited. No person shall interfere with the fire hydrants, hydrants for street sprinklers, valves or other water works fixtures without proper authority.
The Water Commissioners shall have the power to ascertain by meter the quantity used in every case, and the rate shall be charged as set forth under meter rates. The Water Commissioners, their agents and assistants, may enter the premises of any water taker, at all reasonable hours of the day, to examine the pipes and fixtures, the quantity of water used, and the manner of its use.
CAUTION. It being frequently necessary to shut off the water from the street mains to make extensions and repairs, without giving notice, all per- sons having boilers on their premises, not supplied by tanks, but depending upon the pressure from the street mains to keep them supplied, are cautioned against danger from collapse.
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PAYMENT OF BILLS. All bills at annual rates will be payable three months in advance, January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. If bills remain unpaid for 60 days after due the amount then becomes subject to a lien in accordance with Chapter 40 of the General Laws. The supply of water is liable to be shut off for non-payment of bills, or violation of rules, and when so shut off the bill, if any, shall be paid before letting on.
Water shall not be left running to prevent freezing. All persons using water for building purposes are required to obtain a permit from the Water Commissioners before taking water from any faucet or fixture connected with the water works.
JAMES C. KINNEY, Chairman THOMAS J. CARNES, Secretary EDWARD G. ASACK
FIRE DEPARTMENT TELEPHONE NO. 4137
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit the Annual Report of the West Bridge- water Fire Department for the year 1951.
PERSONNEL
One Chief, two Deputies, twenty-six members, one alarm op- erator, one Electrician, five Deputy Forest Wardens.
APPARATUS
One 500 gallon triple combination Buffalo Equipment on Dia- mond Truck, fourteen years old.
One Chevrolet Combination Truck with 320 gallon tank and portable pump, six years old.
89
One 500 gallon triple combination Maxim, twenty-seven years old.
One E. & J. Resuscitator and one National cutting unit for emergency use.
One twelve foot boat presented to the town by the American Legion for emergency.
One G.E. Mobile Radio Receiver and Transmitter on Chev- rolet Combination.
One G.E. Mobile Radio Receiver and Transmitter on Buffalo Engine 2.
One G.E. Mobile Radio Receiver and Transmitter to bc mounted on new Engine 1; at the present time it is mounted in Fire Station.
ALARMS ANSWERED
Frame Buildings
21
Grass and Woodland (173/4 acres)
26
Alarms, no fires 1
Automobiles, trucks, and tractors
10
Aid calls out of Town
2
Dumps, rubbish, and electric light poles
8
Emergency calls, and Aid to Police
3
Total alarms answered 71
In performing its duties in 1951 the Fire Apparatus has trav- eled 509 miles, operated pumps at fires for 62 hours and laid 11,800 feet of booster hose, 4,450 feet of 11/2" hose, 6,050 fect of 21/2" hose and also raised a total of 637 feet of ladders.
BUILDING FIRES
Value Losses and Insurance Paid
Assessors Value of Fire Damaged Buildings $56,325.00
Insurance carried on same 84,100.00
Estimated loss on Buildings 10,615.00
Insurance paid on same 15,375.00
90
CONTENTS IN BUILDING FIRES Value Losses and Insurance Paid
Estimated Value of Contents
62,300.00
Insurance carried on same 61,190.00
Estimated Loss on Contents
29,710.00
Insurance paid on same
37,300.00
PERMITS ISSUED
Open Air Fires 527
Oil Burners and Storage 159
Bottled Gas, and miscellaneous permits 53
During the year I have investigated seventy-one complaints (11 various Firc Hazards, smoke scares, etc.
Bell Alarms and Whistle are tested daily at 7 p.m. except on Sundays.
At the Annual Town Meeting in March the voters of the town appropriated $17,000.00 for the purchase of a new 750 gallon pumping engine to replace old Engine 1 which is twenty-seven years old. The committee purchased a Seagrave Fire Engine Pumper to be delivered on the first of the year 1952. This fire truck is being built to our specifications for the best performance to the town.
INSPECTIONS
Inspections on Schools, Rest Homes, Public Buildings and Private Enterprises are made periodically. Recommendations of alterations in various buildings were made, and these have been carried out.
Board of Fire Prevention Regulations Rules and Regulations of Department of Public Safety
Chapter 148 - Section 10
It is required by law that any installation or alteration of fuel oil burners of any type shall not be made by any person or firm unless in possession of a certificate of competency.
91
No oil burner of any type, or oil tanks, shall be installed with- out first filing an application for permit with the head of the Fire Department.
After installation of oil burners and tanks, a completion cer- tificate must be filed with the head of the Fire Department for in- spection of work.
No person or firm shall use or store liquified petroleum gas (known as bottle gas) used for cooking and heating purposes, with- out first filing an application and obtaining a permit from the head of the Fire Department.
NOTICE
Permits must be obtained from the Fire Department for all open air fires.
ATTENTION
To keep your fire loss small, CALL YOUR FIRE DEPART- MENT IMMEDIATELY upon discovering a fire in a building, grass or woodland.
I wish to thank the Selectmen, Officers and members of the Department, and all others who have helped in any way with the Department.
Respectfully submitted, ANTONE SOUSA Chief, Fire Department
REPORT OF STREET LIGHTING SURVEY COMMITTEE
We members of this new Committee feel that we have made a good beginning and, if allowed to continue for a few more years,
92
will be able to complete a detailed study of the street lighting sys- tcm of the entire town.
It would be fine if lights could be installed now wherever needed or desired, but this would create quite an increase in an already painfully high tax rate. We hope through our work to rec- ommend enough new lights to take care of the most pressing needs but in an amount which will not necessitate an increase in the tax ratc. For example, two new average-sized homes this year should provide for the new lights we are recommending now. Incidentally, we wish to remind our voters that the appropriation requested for new lights is not for the cost of installation, but rather for the cost of the first year's operation, and that this cost is continued each ycar thereafter although hidden in the general budget. The Brock- ton Edison Company pays for the cost of installation.
After a quick survey of the whole town we decided that the immediate vicinity of Monument Square needed our first atten- tion. Anyone driving through there on Routes 28 or 106 after dark will realize what a danger spot it is under present lighting condi- tions. A committee appointed by the Finance Committee to study that arca had done an excellent job but taken no action, and we have carried on from where that committee left off. Our recom- mendation is as follows:
Add: Seven 400 candlepower lights One 100 candlepower light Onc 500-watt traffic spotlight
Remove: One 400 candlepower light Two 250 candlepower lights
A petition has been presented to us requesting two 100 candle- power lights on Commonwealth Avenue. It seems that this is a dead end street with a private driveway at the end. The proposed lights should help to keep vehicles from mistakenly entering the driveway, and we recommend them. We also suggest that a sign
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reading "Dead End Street" be placed on North Elm Street at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue to prevent some cars from going in there instead of into Howard Street.
Another petition has been presented to us for lights on Cres- cent Street. This street is expected to be completely black-topped before long and already is becoming quite heavily traveled. Our studies lead us to recommend eleven new 100 candlepower lights which will complete the lighting on that street, except for the new part through the fields where there are no houses or poles.
Wc wish to express our appreciation to all those who have given us help from time to time.
Respectfully submitted
RALEIGH HOLDEN, Chairman FRANCIS CHEYUNSKI NANDO PAGANI LESTER REYNOLDS WILLIAM TURNER
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
On January 18, 1951 bids for the new school were opened, and were found to be in excess of the $1,000,000 previously ap- propriated. It was necessary for the selectmen to petition the Leg- islature for an extension in the town debt limit in the amount of $300,000. This was done, and voted by the Legislature, and on February 17, Saturday, at 3 p.m., a special town meeting was held, at which time the $300,000 of additional money was appropriated. The construction contract was signed on that evening with Rich
94
Brothers Construction Company, the low bidder. Work com- menced on the following Monday, February 20.
Construction proceeded at a rapid rate, and by the end of the year the building was closed in and supplied with temporary heat.
During the year, the Committee purchased most of the fur- niture and equipment. Facilities were engaged in Brockton for the storage of this equipment as it was delivered, and a great part of the purchases were on hand in storage by December 31.
One finish grading contract was let to the Blue Hill Sand & Gravel Company of Randolph. This work consisted of levelling and spreading loam on the athletic fields behind the building, ex- cepting the football field. This work was completed by frost time except for seeding, which will be done in the spring.
It is anticipated that the building will be ready for occupancy before the end of the school term this coming June.
JOHN C. ELDRIDGE, Chairman ROGER H. BURRILL, Secretary ALLAN FOYE EARL GIFFORD
JULIAN LUCINI
CLIFFORD CARLSON
CLIFFORD BROMAN WARREN ANDERSON ROYAL SNELL
CHARLES ENSHER PAUL LUNDGREN
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
Superintendent of Schools
OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
ER
WEST
MASS.
45/656
1822. - 1-
PULPIT ROOK
16.
PORATED
FEB
FOR THE YEAR 1951
DORR'S PRINT SHOP BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS
96
MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
James A. Kehoe, 173 West Center Street Broc. 1459-W Term expires 1953
Thomas F. Kemp, 17 Emerson Avenue
Broc. 7461
Term expires 1952
Harry Richardson, 77 Walnut Street Term expires 1954
Broc. 459-W-1
Erland W. Thayer, 16 Union Street Term expires 1952
Broc. 8-1402-W
Linwood Thompson, 177 Crescent Street Term expires 1954
Broc. 4256-R
Warren A. Turner, 20 Scotland Street Broc. 847-M-4
Term expires 1953
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Second Monday evening of each month at 7:45 o'clock at the Center School.
SUPERINTENDENT Bert L. Merrill
Office: Rear Center School Broc. 5094
Residence: 153 High Street, Mansfield Mans. 104
Conference by appointment
CLERK
Barbara Ann Perkins, 476 Cherry Street, Bridgewater Brid. 2457
Office hours: Rear Center School
Monday through Thursday, 8:30-5:00 Friday, 8:30-4:00
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. Joseph Calitri, M. D.,
Broc. 678
17 Central Square
97
SCHOOL NURSE
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