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 1955-1959 > Part 41
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Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD G. ASACK
WILLIAM E. CROWLEY JOHN W. NOYES Water Commissioners
WILLIAM E. NICKERSON Superintendent
POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit the Annual Report of the West Bridge- water Police Department for the year 1958.
Complaints
785
Investigations 904
Investigations with other departments
48
Breaking Entering night time larceny
11
Breaking Entering day time and larceny
3
Larceny 25
Number of Arrests 173 - Male 170 - Female 3
Breaking Entering night time and larceny 8
Breaking Entering day time and larceny 2
96
Larceny
12
Assault and Battery
3
Illegitimacy
1
Malicious damage to property
2
Drunkenness
41
Disturbance
3
Non Support
4
Using car without authority
2
Operating so as to endanger
17
Operating under influence
21
Operating unregistered
5
Operating uninsured
5
Leaving scene of accident after causing property damage
2
Operating after suspension
6
Operating after revocation
2
Speeding
19
Failing to stop for stop sign
11
Failing to stop for officer
3
Attaching plates unlawfully
1
Giving false name
1
Committed to State Hospital
2
Vagrant
1
MISCELLANEOUS
Court Fines Imposed $1255.00
$ 186.20
Stolen Property recovered
$5098.00
Total amount of jail sentences imposed
1 yr. 2 months
Total amount of jail sentences suspended
2 yrs. 7 months
Total amount of probation period
6 yrs. 8 months
Not Guilty
3
Cases Filed
4
Prisoners transported to Plymouth
4
Prisoners transported to Youth Service Board in Boston
0
Missing Persons reported
9
Missing Persons located
9
Business Establishments doors and windows found open or unlocked 184
Street Lights out reported 80
Emergency messages delivered 22
Fines reverting to the Town
97
Emergency truck called by police for lighting equipment 1
Emergency Resuscitator Calls covered by police and fire departments
5
Summonses served for other departments
64
Fire calls covered by police
42
Fires reported by police
1
Times in District Court
168
Times in Superior Court
6
Grand Jury
1
Road Hazards reported
15
Aid to other departments
27
Assistance to disabled motorists
10
Stolen cars located
4
Attempt Break and Entering
4
Runaways located
8
V.A. Hospital Elopees apprehended
2
Lost articles reported
3
Lost articles located
2
Trees down reported
2
Dogs hit by cars
26
Dogs killed
16
Stray dogs
9
Lost dogs
13
Parties bitten by dogs
11
Persons injured other than auto accidents
23
Taken to Doctor or Hospital
15
Revolver permits issued
18
Class 1 Dealers Motor Vehicles Sales Report
163
Class 2 Dealers Motor Vehicles Sales Report
69
Class 3 Dealers Motor Vehicles Sales Report
27
Second Hand Engine Motor Vehicles Report
20
TRAFFIC REPORT
Auto Violations
659
Traffic violations taken to Court
101
Traffic violations sent to the Registry
404
Violations placed on file
82
Violations warning only
72
Persons killed
2
Persons injured
115
98
Auto accidents involving property damage only 36 Persons injured taken to Doctor or Hospital 61
I sincerely express my thanks and appreciation to the Select- men and all other departments for their invaluable assistance in helping us to carry out our duties.
To the members of the department, thanks for your co- operation and untiring efforts to make West Bridgewater a safer and better place in which to live.
Respectfully submitted,
DOUGLAS EATON, SR.
Chief of Police
Following is a list of arrests made in West Bridgewater by State Police Officers during 1958.
Male
Female
Speeding
11
Operating to endanger
2
Selling alcoholic beverage to minor
1
Drunk
1
Operating after suspension
2
Operating under influence
2
Escaped mental patient
1
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
TRUSTEES
ELECTED
TERM EXPIRES
Jessie Anderson
1958*
1959
Winfield Leavitt
1956
1959
Dorothy Freeman
1957
1960
Allen B. Foye
1957
1960
Anna Howe
1958
1961
Stanley Carlson 1958 * To fill unexpired term of Jane Bartlett
1961
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ORGANIZATION
Chairman Secretary
Winfield Leavitt
Treasurer
Dorothy Freeman Anna Howe
BOOK COMMITTEE
Jessie Anderson
Anna Howe
Stanley Carlson Dorothy Freeman
MAINTENANCE
Allen B. Foye
The Trustees of the West Bridgewater Public Library have held four meetings during 1958 to carry on the maintenance and work of the library.
During the year Mr. George Earle who has been custodian for a number of years resigned. Mr. Roy Fletcher was appointed to take over that work.
In April, the librarian, Miss Jean Murdock, notified the trustees that she would have to retire on December 31, 1958, under the rules of the Plymouth County Retirement Association. It was with extreme regret that the trustees had to accept Miss Murdock's resignation, for she has served the library and the town long and faithfully. A committee of the trustees was appointed to arrange with the assistant librarian, town officers, and towns- people, for a reception to honor Miss Murdock.
Mrs. Hazel Snow Fletcher, assistant librarian, was appointed as head librarian. The trustees considered applications for assistant librarian. Mrs. Vivian Bassett was appointed to the position.
As the town has grown the demands for the services of the library have increased. The library is now open four days a week during the school year. The building is old and inadequate. Maintenance becomes more and more of a problem each year. During the year 1958 the building has been painted. Heavy screens have been installed to protect the windows on the ground level.
The window frames are in bad shape. An estimate of $600.00 to replace them was obtained. No action was taken.
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Storage space is far from adequate.
The heating system is old and inefficient. It should be re- placed.
The trustees have requested estimates on the cost of installing and operating an oil-burning forced hot air system. This problem was to be presented to the Finance Committee when the 1959 budget for the library is discussed.
Another deficiency is the lack of suitable reading room for both adults and children.
We urge the people of West Bridgewater to use their library. We have an adequate, friendly, helpful staff. The library's col- lection of books is considered by state authorities to be unusually good for the size of the town.
The building and the physical properties, however, are major problems facing West Bridgewater.
Respectfully submitted for the Trustees,
DOROTHY M. FREEMAN
Secretary
LIBRARY REPORT FOR 1958
To the Trustees of the West Bridgewater Public Library.
Report for the year ending December 31, 1958.
We, in the library are aware of the increase of new families in town as 36 new adult and 124 juvenile names have been added to our files.
Our circulation remains over 20,000 books a year; school cir- culation shows a gain in secondary non-fiction, due partly because of the demand for material for the various teachers "WORK- SHOPS", necessitating borrowing 50 books from the State Library and other sources.
The staff attended the annual meeting of the Old Colony
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Library Club, held at Monponsett in June. These Meetings with other librarians in the Old Colony District are very instructive.
Last Spring LIBRARY WEEK was instituted nation wide, and will be observed annually; its purpose is to have folks visit their local libraries and become acquainted with library facilities; some of our visitors were surprised with the various phases of library work. In the Fall we observed "WORLD POETRY DAY", which will also occur each year; it stresses the best in World poetry. Annual CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK in November brings teachers and pupils in to learn how to use a library and its tools. Catholic Book Week was observed in February.
280 old and worn out books were discarded during the year. Some of the magazines have discontinued publication; we have added "Ladies Home Journal" to our list.
This year, more than ever we find our space taxed to the limit, especially the small reference room which is crowded with students working on assignments. Also the very crowded shelves in our section for children's books.
Under improvements a 6 tray filing cabinet was added; the exterior of the building painted; new wire screening installed at the basement windows.
Personnel; In June Mr. George Earle, our custodian for 16 years retired and Mr. Roy Fletcher appointed in his place. Our part-time assistant moved from town and Miss Joy Fidler has ably filled her place. Mrs. Vivian Bassett was also appointed part-time assistant in November until the end of the year.
As this is my last report I express my appreciation to my trustees for their wisdom in problems that have come up over the years; and for the very able assistance of Mrs. Hazel Fletcher, assistant librarian; also to the many friends I have made and the very cordial relations we maintain with the teachers in our schools.
Respectfully submitted,
JEAN M. MURDOCK
Librarian
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STATISTICS School Circulation
Elementary fiction
1478
Elementary Non-fiction
1037
Total Elementary
2515
Secondary fiction
876
Secondary non-fiction
1584
Total secondary
2460
Total elementary
2515
Total secondary
2460
Total school
4975
Circulation
Adult fiction
7569
Adult non-fiction
2183
Juvenile fiction
6148
Juvenile non-fiction
2112
Bound magazines
6
Magazines
2435
20,453
Books purchased
Adult
365
Juvenile
169
Total
534
INSPECTOR OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report of Inspector of Wires for year of 1958.
Inspections
191
Locked locations
16
Meter permits issued
87
103
Service permits issued
80
Water heaters
15
Electric ranges
5
Oil burners
16
Add wiring to existing locations
22
Rough wiring new homes
20
Wiring not approved
15
Clothes dryers
12
Edison permits issued
101
Respectfully submitted,
LLOYD P. NORDHOLM Inspector of Wires
TREE WARDEN
I hereby submit my annual report for the year 1958 as Tree Warden:
The Town Shade Tree Nursery, started in 1953 at one end of the Town Forest, contains 250 Norway Maples, 25 Thornless Locusts, 300 Rock Maples, 125 Pin Oaks, 25 Flowering Dogwoods, 15 Sycamores, and 10 Moraine Locusts. From this supply of young trees, the department replants the Town's roadsides and replaces trees it has removed. Young seedlings are bought from nurseries and placed in the Town Nursery where they are carefully fertil- ized, cultivated and pruned for 4 to 5 years before they have the growth necessary for transplanting to the roadsides. From this supply the past year, 174 trees were transplanted and staked in various locations around town.
Fertilizing of town trees still continues each year using a complete balanced commercial fertilizer. The department's gen- erator with power drill and auger is used for this work and being a slow but very important job, only a few streets are covered each year.
There was some roadside cutting of brush done in 1958 but the spraying of a commercial brush killer in the past years has
104
greatly enlightened this slow job. Coupled along with this, many fire lanes throughout the town in forests have been widened and cleared of brush so as to allow fire-fighting equipment and per- sonnel to quicken access to hard-to-reach areas.
Cabling and bolting of split trees was done as needed. Much of this work became necessary because of high winds of near hurri- cane force in storms throughout the year. Cavity repair was done to seven trees so that a cavity would heal over and mean the saving of a valuable shade tree. Many bark wounds from cars and trucks hitting trees were treated. Any trees damaged beyond repair were removed in the interests of public safety.
The equipment of the department consists of a 1950 pick-up which is in good mechanical condition and equipped for emer- gency duty at all times; a 1956 platform truck which is also used in the Highway department's work of plowing whenever needed; 2 one-man power saws; 1 two-man power saw for large stump work; and one 2500 watt generator with drills and equipment.
Tree removal this year still continues to be the largest time- consuming job. Two oaks, five pine, one Rock maple, four ash, one Willow and one Sycamore were removed and stumps cut flush or below ground level so there would be no public hazard. The occurrence of ills in our shade trees will continue to show up for many years and while we endeavor to head off this type of work by concentrating on what appears to be dangerous, half of the trees are over age trees and while they appear to be in good health, they are physically on the decline.
Besides the above mentioned removals, 83 elms were removed in the town of West Bridgewater. The report of this work is con- tained in the report on Dutch Elm Disease.
Throughout the year, your Tree Warden attended various meetings such as the Mass. Tree Warden's and Forester's Ass'n. Convention at Boston and the annual Dutch Elm Disease Con- ference of the Mass. Forests and Parks Ass'n. at the Waltham Field Station.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the public officials, other town departments and their personnel for their fine cooperation throughout the year. It is a source of much personal
105
satisfaction to be part of the operation of the Town of West Bridgewater.
Finally, I wish to express my appreciation of the sincere efforts and support from the workers of the Forestry Department which have made 1958 a rewarding year for me.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS B. MacQUINN Tree Warden
VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
During the year, this department handled 27 cases, assisting 25 adults and 11 children. Sixteen of these cases were permanent and eleven were of temporary nature, due to illness and unemploy- ment.
The sum of $14,123.75 was spent as follows:
Food, Rent, etc.
$10,732.55
Fuel
1,210.57
Doctor
687.00
Medicine
814.73
Hospital
663.90
Miscellaneous
15.00
$14,123.75
Due to my other work, I found it necessary to tender my resignation, to become effective as soon as a new agent could be named. I feel that this department needs a person who can give more time to the job than I could.
I wish to thank everyone, who, in any way, assisted me during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
ERVIN G. LOTHROP
Veterans' Agent
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INSECT PEST CONTROL
I hereby submit my report for the year 1958.
All shade trees along the roadside were sprayed twice this year with 6% DDT and since some trees were infested with mites, an insect which sucks the plant juices from leaves during the late summer, Malathion was used on these trees. The department this year was hampered in its spraying operations by extremely wet weather. In addition to the two foliar sprays above, all town elms received a dormant spray of 12% DDT in the early Spring. Again high winds and rain made this application very hard. This spray is to control the elm bark beetle, the carrier of the Dutch Elm Disease. This season again, the majority of spraying was done at night in order to eliminate the possibility of getting spray on autos and also, there is little or no wind at night. In 1959, the department is again requesting from the townspeople that they replace the 1951 model mist blower with a new model. The new models are much more economical both in operation and in appli- cation of material.
During the summer, the department worked in conjunction with the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project and with the mist blower, made several applications of DDT weekly at night around the residential districts for mosquito control. This depart- ment handles the control work on a local level and has given much information as to local breeding areas and outbreaks of mosquitoes to the County Project. In July, the town aerial sprayed 1000 acres of residential areas with 12% DDT for mosquito control. Another application was made by air in August. In surveying the town and taking into consideration the unusual wet summer we had, making conditions ideal for breeding, I found that we had a very effective control.
The serious and costly problem of Dutch Elm Disease still continues to confront us. After removing over a hundred of our town elms yearly, your superintendent is still hoping a successful chemical treatment will be found either for protection or cure. Although unverified "cures" continue to be reported with great regularity, a full report on this disease is contained in a special report.
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The Eastern Tent Caterpillar and Japanese Beetle appeared at a minimum of spots in 1958 and in an effort to eradicate the Japanese Beetle, the department released milky spore disease powder in various sections of the town. This is harmless to humans and animals but the disease destroys the beetle grubs and reduction of the adult beetle population will come about in time.
POISON IVY ERADICATION
There is definitely a reduction of poison ivy along our road- sides and stonewalls since the use of 2-4-D and 2-4-5T, a chemical hormone which the department sprays on the ivy thus killing it.
With the plant being eliminated from the roadsides, the de- partment is now proceeding, in its battle against Poison Ivy, by going in deeper on private property. By State law, towns and cities are allowed to proceed 100 feet or more on private property for the purpose of spraying Poison Ivy. All the department asks is that the property owner contact the superintendent and inform him of the location of the ivy.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS B. MacQUINN Supt. of Insect Pest Control
DUTCH ELM DISEASE CONTROL
I hereby submit my annual report for the year 1958.
The Dutch Elm Disease still continues to be a constant threat and is yearly destroying many stately elms throughout the town. Each year the department takes samples from those elms during the summer months, which, because of their yellowed and withered leaves, appear to be contracting the disease. These samples are then sent to the Shade Tree Laboratories at Amherst where they undergo a laboratory examination. If these trees are con- firmed to have the disease, they must be completely removed before the following Spring.
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The disease is carried from an infected to a healthy elm by the elm bark beetle on its mouth parts of the spring beetle brood. After infection in the Spring, the growth and spread through the sap-conducting vessels is rapid and by summer, branches start to wilt followed by the leaves browning.
Protection of individual elms is secured by application of a dormant spray. In April or May, the entire tree is covered with a 12% DDT spray to prevent any beetle penetration.
This year, 87 elms will be removed and the wood from them burned or buried to completely rid it of disease. None of this dis- eased wood can be given away since this wood contains the grubs of the elm bark beetle and must be destroyed by immediate burning.
Many town elms have been fertilized and limed to make them more resistant to the disease. This program will continue yearly.
We shall do our utmost to save our remaining elms, not only for their own grace and beauty but to partially shade and protect the small trees planted to replace the trees lost. However, the Dutch Elm Disease has brought about increased public interest in shade trees. At the continued rate of losses, our future generations may never live to see a street shade tree which measures seventy feet in height and five feet in diameter at the base, the measure- ments of many of our graceful elms.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS B. MacQUINN Superintendent of Insect Pest Control
TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE
The townspeople are reminded that they have a Town Forest of 10 acres at the rear of the Memorial Field at their disposal. This fine grove contains White Pine, White Spruce, Hemlock and Norway Pine, as well as a small, spring-fed pond, providing recre- ation within easy access of all the people and can greatly aid in the preservation of wild life.
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In 1958, the Forestry Department cut all underlying brush in the forest as well as low-hanging branches and deadwood in the pines. Some trees were sawed down to allow the remaining trees more space to grow.
Poison Ivy, which seems to predominate everywhere, was also sprayed with brush killer to eliminate this nuisance. Part of the town forest where oaks and maple are was cleared out and sprayed with brush killer to stop any new sucker growth from these cuttings.
The committee welcomes any use of the forest by either Cub, Boy or Girl Scouts or any other organization. This is a wonderful outdoor classroom for schools in natural resource studies.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS B. MacQUINN ELMER HUNT ANTONE SOUZA Town Forest Committee
REPORT OF THE STREET LIGHTING COMMITTEE
The Committee after considering requests and suggestions presented recommends the following changes:
The corner Keenan and Bedford Streets - Install 1000 lumen Light on pole #47/1. Yearly increased cost- $17.00
Howard Street - Install 2500 lumen lights on poles #7/1, 2 and 5. Yearly increased cost- 93.00
North Main Street - Replace present 1000 lumen lights on poles #26/18 and 20 with 2500 lumen lights. Yearly increased cost- 28.00
Copeland Street - Install 1000 lumen light on pole # 30/18. Yearly increased cost- 17.00
Yearly increased total
$155.00
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The above installations and changes include only those which the Committee thought necessary at this time. The Committee wishes to thank Chief Eaton of the Police Department and Mr. Fred Mason of the Brockton Edison Company for their assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS W. LABRACHE, Chairman LESTER W. REYNOLDS FRANCIS CHEYUNSKI JOSEPH A. SALHANEY SUMNER OHLSON
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT - 1958
During the year 1958 there was a definite increase in the re- portable cases of diseases to the board of health. This however, does not necessarily mean that illness was more prevalent, but rather that parents were more aware of the requirement that they report diseases contracted by their children which were not con- sidered severe enough to warrant medical attention. The figure almost doubled as compared to 1957 with the most numerous being chicken pox and measles.
Following cases were reported:
27 Chicken pox
12 Dog bites
6 German measles
38 Measles
1 Mumps
1 Scarletina
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Antigen clinic and dental clinic were conducted at the public schools and itemized information regarding these two services may be found under the school reports.
111
Drainage improvement is an item which has received a great deal of consideration by the board of health, with particular em- phasis on the Willow Brook watershed which includes much of the central section of West Bridgewater. In conjunction with the planning board, members attended a hearing at the State DPW relative to acquiring assistance in a drainage project. Word was received that a preliminary engineering survey would be under- taken late last fall. As this was not accomplished, it is now hoped that work will be furthered this spring and to that effect, confer- ences have been held with both Rep. Malcolm Boynton and Sen. Warren Keith. Adequate drainage is felt to be highly important as it would aid in eliminating mosquito-breeding areas; provide better sewage disposal conditions and reclaim land from a current swampy condition to its previous dry state of years ago when much of the area was drained by clearly defined brooks and small water- ways.
Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project (see full report) was of benefit to the town though much of its work was nullified due to the exceptionally wet season. However, through aerial and ground spraying, as well as proposed drainage, the county work is expected to become more and more valuable to the health and comfort of the entire area, as time progresses. Aerial sprays were also conducted, as well as road-side coverage, by the local depart- ment under the direction of Supt. Thomas MacQuinn.
Once again, drainage enters the picture in the ever-present problem of sewage disposal for home-owners. Well over thirty visits were made during the year where over-flowing cesspools were a health menace. Townspeople were co-operative and remedial work done by installing leaching fingers and dry wells. Problem is difficult as a large portion of West Bridgewater land is low with an under-lying strata of blue marl which prevents water from draining.
Road-side dumping has been eliminated to a great degree. A number of unhealthy situations on private property were also eliminated. Three houses were condemned by the board as unfit for human habitation and were so posted by the police.
Conditions at the Town dump have been improved through constant bull-dozing and application of gravel to provide a cleaner
112
and more solid surface for those using its facilities. Dumping in specified areas has also been of assistance, and for the most part, residents have been cooperative. Police have been helpful in en- forcing the rule that only refuse from the town may be disposed of in the dump. Inflammable rubbish has been burned periodically under the supervision of Harold Denley. Fire department report shows that this policy has greatly cut down the number of fires at the dump; thus being a financial saving to the town as well as protecting adjacent property. A wide fire lane was also cleared as a protective measure.
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