USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1941-1945 > Part 12
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420.45
$158,999.99
Libraries
Librarians' Salaries
$ 450.00
Books .
1,703.40
Periodicals .
50.90
Fuel
117.55
Light
36.85
Furniture
23.05
Supplies.
46.95
All Other
18.61
$
2,447.31
Unclassified
Town Administration Building- Construction
$ 37,081.59
Memorial Day
142.30
Printing and Distributing Town Reports.
648.85
Widows' Annuities
1,200.00
Liability Insurance
694.35
Surety Bonds.
672.00
County Aid to Agriculture
150.00
Tax Title Foreclosure.
971.90
Land Taking
75.00
Defense Fund.
470.07
Ration Board.
461.41
1941 Bills Not Previously Pre- sented .
184.63
$ 42,752.10
To County: Dog Licenses . 2,017.65
56
W.P.A. Projects: Administration.
$ 399.77
River Road Sewer
3,314.46
Westfield River Sewer
60.74
Tools .
299.58
First Aid.
4.70
Venturi House
791.01
$
4,870.26
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISES
Water Department:
Salary of Commissioners .
$ 300.00
Superintendent .
1,200.00
Clerk .
500.00
Printing, Stationery and Post-
age.
217.61
Telephone.
11.51
Furniture, etc.
87.75
Labor .
4,065.90
Trucks. .
203.64
Pipes and Fittings.
1,481.77
Meter Equipment and Repairs.
777.39
Gas and Oil .
340.44
All Other
19.89
Contract .
13,330.11
Water Construction :
Labor.
2,854.42.
Trucks
64.80
Pipes and Fittings
3,202.74
All Other
1.50
Loan .
4,000.00
Interest on Loan
197.50
$ 32,856.97
Cemeteries
Maple Grove Cemetery Fund. . . $ 36.45
Old Cemetery Fund .
10.00
North Cemetery .
45.30
$ 91.75
Interest
Anticipation of Revenue .
$ 236.44
Administration Building Loan.
1,250.00
School Loan
1,262.50
Memorial Bridge Loan.
360.00
57
Sewer Loan
80.00 175.00
Relief Loan.
$
3,363.94
Debt
Anticipation of Revenue . . $ 58,000.00
Administration Building Loan . .
10,000.00
School .
12,000.00
Memorial Bridge
3,000.00
Relief .
2,000.00
Sewer
1,000.00
$ 86,000.00
Agency, Trust and Investment
County Tax
$ 12,938.42
State Tax .
22,200.00
State Parks and Reservations.
309.45
State Audit.
932.34
Smith-Hughes Fund
435.05
George-Deen Fund
1,290.00
Davis Library Fund
514.68
$ 38,520.94
Refunds
Taxes.
$ 379.72
Excise Taxes.
142.00
Interest on Taxes
.75
$ 522.47
Total Payments for Year 1942 .
$527,979.30
RECAPITULATION
General Government
$ 19,963.15
Town Buildings. .
389.58
Administration Building
3,408.59
Protection to Persons and Prop- erty
22,562.96
Health.
3,945.80
Town Nurse.
2,415.72
Sanitation.
7,043.34
Springfield St. Chap. 90 Con- struction
4,548.77
Pine St. Chap. 90 Construction . . 6,538.92 Cooley St. 15.00
58
Highways
9,983.10
Equipment
994.75
Oiling.
3,641.93
Sidewalks .
99.12
Parks and Roadsides
85.75
Ash Removal
983.72
Snow Removal.
1,329.85
Road Machinery Account
2,410.01
Street Lights
8,185.70
Engineering .
3,080.72
Public Welfare.
13,626.11
Dependent Children
6,291.29
Old Age Assistance
34,420.89
Soldiers' Relief.
2,471.15
State and Military Aid.
100.00
Schools .
158,999.99
Libraries .
2,447.31
Unclassified
42,752.10
Dog Licenses
2,017.65
W.P.A. Projects.
4,870.26
Water Department
32,856.97
Cemeteries
91.75
Interest.
3,363.94
Debt .
86,000.00
County Tax
12,839.42
State Tax .
22,200.00
State Parks and Reservations.
309.45
State Audit .
932.34
Smith-Hughes Fund
435.05
George-Deen Fund .
1,290.00
Davis Library Fund
514.68
Refunds.
522.47
Total Payments for Year 1942. . . Cash on hand 155,110.35
$527,979.30
$683,089.65
POST CLOSING TRIAL BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 1942
Cash
$155,110.35
Cash in School Department. 50.00
Cash in Welfare Department 10.00
Treasurer's Cash Overage
$
234.86
59
1938 Real and Personal Taxes 26.40
1939 Personal Taxes.
34.00
1940 Personal Taxes. 64.80
1941 Real Estate Taxes
18,650.50
1941 Personal Taxes
256.77
1941 Poll Taxes.
126.00
1942 Real Estate Taxes
56,458.62
1942 Personal Taxes
1,256.80
1942 Poll Taxes.
332.00
1940 Motor Vehicle Tax
2.73
1941 Motor Vehicle Tax
76.65
1942 Motor Vehicle Tax 513.15
Tax Titles.
90,330.50
Tax Possessions.
19,971.72
Accounts Receivable Public Wel- fare .
1,556.07
Accounts Receivable Old Age As- sistance .
40.00
Accounts Receivable Schools. . .
821.76
Accounts Receivable Water Sun- dries. 411.70
Water Rents
8,058.24
Road Machinery Fund.
1,296.69
Dog Licenses .
1.80
Surplus War Bonus.
2,701.14
Phelon Library Trust Fund
28.63
Old Cemetery Fund .
61.68
Maple Grove Cemetery Fund
29.56
Overlay Reserve
10,807.86
Overlay 1935
100.00
Overlay 1936
150.00
Overlay 1937
150.00
Overlay 1938
150.00
Overlay 1939 .
115.15
Overlay 1940 .
150.63
Overlay 1941
4,305.76
Overlay 1942 .
10,449.54
Motor Vehicle Excise Revenue 1940.
2.73
Motor Vehicle Excise Revenue 1941.
76.65
Motor Vehicle Excise Revenue 1942.
513.15
Tax Title Revenue.
110,302.22
Departmental Revenue
2,417.83
60
Water Revenue
Excess and Deficiency
8,469.94 195,221.06
U.S. Grant-Old Age Assistance Assistance.
4,233.93 /
U.S. Grant-Old Age Assistance- Administration. 194.42
U.S. Grant-Dependent Children -Assistance.
879.46
U.S. Grant-Dependent Children -Administration
140.04
1
George Deen Funds .
75.00
20.34
Town Administration Building . W.P.A .- Venturi House
2,208.99
$354,823.91
$354,823.91
61
APPROPRIATIONS AVAILABLE AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR 1942
Account
Appropriation
Transfers
Expenditures
General Government.
$ 100.00
$
Available 100.00 2,358.00
$
78.79 2,215.67
Selectmen.
2,300.00
$
58.00+
Accounting .
900.00
900.00
749.27
Treasurer. .
2,850.00
2,850.00
2,698.34
Collector .
3,900.00
250.00+
4,150.00
4,148.71
Assessors .
3,500.00
3,500.00
3,148.84
Law . .
1,162.50
1,162.50
1,110.11
Town Clerk.
1,450.00
1,450.00
1,172.74
Election and Registration.
2,000.00
2,000.00
1,640.68
Town Buildings ..
500.00
500.00
389.58
Administration Building.
2,210.00
1,199.00}
3,409.00
3,408.59
Building Inspector. .
500.00
500.00
Police. .
15,200.00
15,200.00
13,494.29
Fire. ..
8,900.00
80.00}
8,980.00
6,816.63
Forestry.
1,225.00
1.00+
1,226.00
1,171.72
Gypsy Moth.
425.00
425.00
143.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
800.00
800.00
795.16
Dog Officer .
200.00
200.00
142.16
Health . .
5,300.00
5,300.00
1,798.18
Vital Statistics
40.00
40.00
Town Nurse
2,350.00
2,350.00
2,300.98
Diphtheria Clinic.
150.00
150.00
62.38
Inspection (Slaughter and Ani- mal) . . .
1,450.00
1,450.00
1,450.00
Garbage Collection
400.00
400.00
400.00
62
63
Plumbing Inspector Sanitation .
750.00
750.00
750.00 6,643.34
Highways .. .
33,200.00
33,200.00
30,794.65
Springfield St. Chap. 90
2,500.00
3,000.00s
5,500.00
4,548.77
Pine St Chap. 90 . ..
1,062.96x
6,000.00s
7,062.96
6,538.92
Cooley St. Construction
1,800.00
1,800.00
15.00
U.S. Grant-Old Age Assist- ance .
20,202.36*
20,202.36
15,932.87
U.S. Grant-Dependent Child- ren . .
4,629.79*
4,629.79
3,610.29
Old Age Assistance .
22,025.00
22,025.00
18,488.02
Dependent Children .
3,300.00
3,300.00
2,681.00
Public Welfare .
18,210.00
18,210.00
11,653.33
Soldiers' Relief . .
8,000.00
8,000.00
2,471.15
State and Military Aid
250.00
250.00
100.00
Schools. .
159,000.00
159,000.00
158,999.99
Libraries . .
750.00
1,811.240
2,561.24
2,447.31
Unclassified.
800.00
800.00
648.85
Surety Bonds .
700.00
700.00
672.00
Memorial Day Observance.
150.00
150.00
142.30
Liability Insurance.
750.00
750.00
694.35
Reserve Fund. ..
3,000.00
3,000.00
2,918.11
County Aid to Agriculture.
150.00
150.00
150.00
Widows' Annuities. .
1,200.00
1,200.00
1,200.00
Land Taking. .
145.00
145.00
75.00
Tax Title Foreclosures .
1,068.65
1,068.65
971.90
Defense Funds .
500.00
500.00
470.07
6,700.00
6,700.00
Ration Board .
500.00}
500.00
461.41
1941 Bills Not Previously Pre- sented. .
184.63
184.63
184.63
W.P.A. Projects.
1,000.00
20,684.47x
21,684.47
4,870.26
Water ... .
37,700.00
830.11+
38,530.11
32,856.97
Cemeteries.
50.00
50.00
45.30
Interest . .
4,000.00
4,000.00
3,363.94
Debt. .
27,992.00
8.00
28,000.00
28,000.00
*Federal Grant
+Transferred from Reserve Fund. oHampden County Dog Fund xCarried forward from previous year.
sState and County
64
Report of Tax Collector
1942
Tax Committed.
$315,365.60
Cash paid to Treasurer
$240,386.78
Less Refunds .
344.80
240,041.98
Abatements
2,441.80
Tax Titles.
14,834.40
Uncollected
58,047.42
$315,365.60
PREVIOUS YEARS
January 1, 1942 Balance due.
$108,970.86
Plus added adjustments.
155.14
$109,126.00
Cash paid to Treasurer
88,709.90
Less Refunds
34.92
$ 88,674.98
Abatements
1,008.24
Tax Titles.
284.31
Uncollected Taxes 1941 Real Es- tate and Personal .
18,907.27
Uncollected Taxes 1941 Poll
126.00
Uncollected Taxes 1940 Personal .
64.80
Uncollected Taxes 1939 Personal .
34.00
Uncollected Taxes 1938 Personal .
26.40
$109,126.00
Motor Vehicle Excise 1942 Committed .
$ 19,140.88.
Cash paid to Treasurer. Less Refunds .
$ 18,087.42
117.73
$ 17,969.69
65
Abatements .
658.04
Balance Due January 1, 1943.
513.15
$ 19,140.88
Previous Years Excise
Balance Due January 1, 1942.
$ 1,099.89
Added Adjustments
9.05
$ 1,108.94
Cash paid to Treasurer
$ 802.11
Less Refunds
24.27
$ 777.84
Abatements
251.72
Balance Due January 1, 1943.
79.38
$ 1,108.94
RAYMOND F. FINNEGAN, Collector of Taxes.
Auditor's Report
January 22, 1943.
The Office of Town Auditor in my opinion should be abolished, as we now have a yearly audit by the state depart- ment. It seems merely a duplication of work which can not be done for any such amount as the Town appropriates.
I have looked over the accounts for the year 1942, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are correct as printed.
SIDNEY F. ATWOOD,
Auditor.
66
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
As usual the Board held regular meetings in the Welfare quarters during 1942 and part of each meeting was devoted to Old Age Assistance.
In April our Department was moved to the new ad- ministration building where we have very fine offices.
The detail of the work will be covered by the report of our agent.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK W. KELLOGG JEREMIAH J. CAVANAUGH OSCAR T. BARKER
REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT
Since the Division of Civil Service has required reports from us they have demanded that all persons under their jurisdiction be listed by their proper titles and this worker in order to receive his pay, must be called Welfare Agent so instead of making two reports for 1942, one will be enough.
As usual we have handled all categories of relief, Old Age Assistance, General Relief and Aid to Dependent Children. Old Age Assistance for several years has been our largest, both in case load and expense, but we are pleased to report, that in spite of the new law which went into effect last spring in- creasing the amount of aid given to many of the recipients, we spent less for this aid in 1942 than we did in 1941. This was made possible only by a great deal of time and effort on the part of the agent who has for the first time been obliged to make all the home visits. The reduction in cost in this department has been due in part to the increased earnings of the sons and daughters of the recipients, who consequently have been able to make a contribution or furnish full support.
67
General Relief is at as low a level as we can hope it ever will be as those on aid are nearly all what may be called un- employables.
We have always tried to find work for everyone who was idle and could work, but lately we have even been able to find employment for some who are so handicapped that they had given up hopes of ever finding work again.
The Food Stamp Plan has been in operation during the entire year and we sold over $11,000.00 worth of Orange Stamps with which the purchasers received about half of this amount in Blue Stamps with which they could procure foods on the free list.
Our Clerk-typist who has been with the department for a good many years has left us to take private employment. She is an especially fine typist and a very capable office worker. This leaves but two workers, a reduction of 60% in less than two years and which we think is more than any other town of our size has made.
The welfare agent has charge of the expenditure locally of two additional funds; Civilian War Assistance, a Federal Fund and Civilian Emergency Relief Fund furnished by the Commonwealth. We hope it will never be necessary to draw from either of these, but they are available if damage should result from enemy action or if evacuation should become necessary.
The agent has been connected with Civilian Defense since its beginning and will try to cover this in a separate report.
Our work has been done in more agreeable surroundings since April first when we moved into our fine quarters in the new administration building and there is the added con- venience of being'under the same roof with the other depart- ments.
We, however, are the most fortunate of all because we have by far the finest and most comfortable offices in the building.
Respectfully submitted, WALTER S. KERR, Welfare Agent.
January 12, 1943.
68
1942 REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE AND THE HAMPDEN COUNTY IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE TOWN OF AGAWAM
Agricultural Work
During the year practically the same agricultural pro- jects were carried on that were started in 1941. Due to the war effort however many new activities required the attention of the County Agent. As secretary of numerous War Action Committees he was in a position to advise and assist many farmers in connection with carrying out the various recom- mendations, regulations and orders of the Federal Govern- ment.
Home Bureau Work
During the year one hundred sixty-five different co- operators in Agawam participated in eight different projects conducted by twelve volunteer leaders who had sixteen meetings or demonstrations. Very outstanding work was accomplished by the Feeding Hills coat making group who received third prize in the County competition on Summary Day.
The following leaders were in charge of the various home projects and their total expenses incurred in carrying them out was $10.00.
Mrs. E. H. Torrey, Mrs. Ernest Hall, Mrs. Walter Campbell, Mrs. Eugene Garlick, Miss Lora Smith, Mrs. Frank Draghetti, Mrs. Justin Hyland, Mrs. Cleon Phelps and Mrs. Warren Bodurtha.
4-H CLUB WORK
There were one hundred seventy-nine young people enrolled in eleven different 4-H Club projects during the year in which there were nineteen organized clubs. The largest enrollment was in gardening followed by canning and clothing. Several outstanding club members won special recognition in this work. Alice Draghetti was a delegate to the State Camp at Amherst. Noel Brown won a $25.00 War Bond
69
for garden work. Alan, Wayne and Loren Clark won special recognition in poultry judging and Prentiss Jenks, Jr. in dairy work.
The following were volunteer leaders who had charge of the 4-H Club work in the town and the total expenses in- curred by them was $87.04.
Miss Jean Peterson, Mrs. Gerald Connor, Miss Mary Gravel, Miss Ruth Grout, Miss Alice Draghetti, Mrs. George Moore, Miss Ruth Raison, Mrs. Edwin Stewart, Mrs. Harvey Polhamus, Miss Shirley Ahern, Mrs. John Cornell and Mrs. Stanley Lipski.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
1942 Appropriation.
Balance carried over from 1941
$150.00 .29
$150.29
*Expended in 1942
97.04
Balance available for 1943
$ 53.25
Amount Recommended for 1943
$ 75.00
*Local leaders as listed above incurred these expenses and they received checks directly from the County Treasurer who handles the Town appropriation for the Trustees accord- ing to Chapter 128 of the General Laws.
Respectfully submitted,
TRUSTEES FOR COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE, L. B. BOSTON, Clerk.
70
REPORT OF W. P. A. Projects
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1942
Honorable Board of Selectmen: Gentlemen ยท
The following is a report of W.P.A. projects for the year ending December 31, 1942:
Westfield River Interceptor Sewer
A portion of this sewer in the Agawam meadows 3,474 feet long including two blow-off chambers that could not be constructed in 1941 due to high water, was constructed be- tween Jan. 1, 1942 and Feb. 26, 1942. All the 10" asbestos cement K & M pipe for this work was furnished by the Federal Government.
Town Cost. $3,375.20
Fed. Materials 3,741.64
Fed. Labor Figures Not Available
All W.P.A. labor in Agawam was transferred Feb. 27, 1942 to either Barnes Airport or Westover Field on Federal Airport Work, no further W.P.A. work being done in Agawam.
Town funds for the completion of the Venturi House on Bondi's Island are to be carried over to 1943 when con- struction possibly may be done by contract. All mechanical equipment is now on hand.
Expenditures $ 791.01
Balance $2,208.99
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. MALLEY, W.P.A. Coordinator.
71
REPORT OF THE Highway Department
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1942 Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The following is a report of the Highway Department for the year ending December 31, 1942:
Highway Maintenance
Under this heading is included patching of highway pavements, scraping and repairing dirt and gravel roads, guard rail repairs and replacements, roadside brush cutting, street sign repairs and replacements, and dump maintenance. Expenditures-$8,983.64. Balance-$1,016.36.
It is recommended that Cooper Street, between Suffield and Mill Streets, be graveled where necessary with a portion of the 1943 appropriation.
Snow Removal
Under this heading is included, snow plowing, road sand- ing, erection and dismantling snow fence.
Expenditures-$1,329.85 Balance-$170.15.
Equipment
One thousand dollars was appropriated from the Road Machinery Account for the purchase of a small tractor and weed cutter for trimming brush and weeds from roadsides as manual labor for this work is hard to hire. Purchase price $994.75-Balance-$5.25.
Ash and Rubbish Removal
Two collections of ashes and rubbish were made instead of one as was done the previous year, making less of these materials standing in all parts of town.
It is recommended that all residents either sell or burn their papers to minimize the amount of labor required and the amount of materials to be handled.
Expenditures-$983.72 Balance-$16.28.
72
Parks
Several small parks in town are maintained with this ap- propriation; including mowing, hedge cutting and waiting station repairs.
Expenditures-$85.75
Balance-$64.25.
Sidewalks
Under this heading is included repairing holes and wash- outs in dirt sidewalks and repairing cracks and frost heaves in hardened sidewalks.
Expenditures-$99.12 Balance-$400.88.
Maintenance Oiling
Several tarred gravel streets were tarred and given a fine trap rock finish during 1942 including, North Street, from Obrien's Corner to North Westfield Street, Reed Street, Monroe Street, Letendre Avenue, Leonard Street-easterly end, Kensington Street-northerly end, Central Street, east end of Adams Street, James Street, Homer Street, Norris Street and two approaches to the Agawam-West Springfield Bridge.
Expenditures-$3,641.93 Balance-$3,908.07.
Road Machinery Account
Money is transferred to this account from various other accounts for rental of equipment, and is to be appropriated for other uses the following year.
1941 Balance . $ 15.79
1942 Receipts
1,280.90
Total on Hand.
$1,296.69
Road Machinery Fund
Money is appropriated and placed in this fund for main- tenance and operation of all equipment used in Highway Maintenance, Snow Removal, etc.
Expenditures-$2,410.01 Balance-$589.99.
New Sanitary Sewer Construction
Eight inch sanitary sewers on Royal and Randall Streets were constructed by contract for a total distance of 2,314 feet, including six manholes and six inch house connections to twenty-three buildings.
Also a ten inch sewer extension of 103 feet was made on River Road southerly of Alhambra Circle-the total cost of these three sewers being $3,500.00.
73
Sanitary Sewers
During 1942 thirty-five two-family and eighteen single houses were connected to various sewers in town. Bringing receipts of $3,350.00.
Under this heading also comes repairs and maintenance and flushing of all sanitary sewers.
Expenditures-$2,189.47 Balance $10.53.
It is recommended that $2,500.00 be appropriated in 1943 for this work as the number of new sewer connections being made is increasing each year.
Surface Drainage Sewers
This heading included cleaning of catch basins, open- ing drain ditches, cleaning culverts and installing several culverts.
1942 Expenditures-$953.87 Balance-$46.13.
New Construction
Funds were appropriated for the construction of a bi- tuminous macadam roadway on Cooley Street 30 feet wide between Bridge and Moore Streets. Due to the inability to get sufficient bituminous materials for this construction these funds are being carried over to 1943.
Chapter 90 Maintenance
For the duration of the war no funds are to be alloted for new construction with Chapter 90 funds. $5.500.00 was appropriated for Chapter 90 maintenance for Springfield and Southwick Streets. The full distance of 4.93 miles was done with this appropriation.
Expenditures-$4,548.77
Balance-$951.23.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM D. RISING, Highway Superintendent.
74
REPORT OF THE Board of Fire Engineers
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Over one hundred of our fires this year have been of brush or grass. Needless to say most of them caused by care- lessness. We have stated before and do again, we expect some day while the apparatus is away from the station to have a fire in someone's buildings that will cause more damage than all the grass and brush fires combined.
Because of priorities and other restrictions we have been unable to get equipment needed this year. A new heating unit should be installed in the Agawam Center station this year.
Some of the volunteer firemen and many of the auxiliary fire force have been taken by the armed forces. We wish at this time to thank the officers and men of the department for their loyal and efficient work.
The calls upon the department were as follows:
Co. No. 1 North Agawam 55
Co. No. 2 Feeding Hills 40
Co. No. 3 Agawam Center 50
E. J. GOSSELIN, Chairman FRANK T. GOSS R. S. FARNSWORTH Board of Fire Engineers.
75
REPORT OF THE Chief of Police
OF THE TOWN OF AGAWAM FOR THE YEAR 1942
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Following is the annual report of the Police Department from January 1, 1942 to December 31, 1942, inclusive:
Arrests
Number of Arrests against Public Order. 268 Number of Arrests against Property 4
Number of Arrests against Persons 5
Total Number of Arrests 277
Dispositions
Total Number of Court Convictions 277
Total Number of Fines Taken in $3,692.00
Total Amount turned back to the Town. 2,137.00
Value of Stolen property recovered 2,200.00
I wish to thank the Building Commissioners and also the citizens of Agawam for the fine Police Headquarters which has been established for us during the past year.
I believe the people of Agawam, as well as all others, will receive better and more efficient service than they have received previously, due to the fact that we are now able to have someone in the office twenty-four hours a day to answer any call and take care of any emergencies that may arise.
In the past year our accidents have shown a marked decline. We have had but one fatal accident which would not have happened if the operator had obeyed police orders.
Larceny and destruction of property in town have been exceedingly low and losses from this source have been reduced to the lowest level that I have seen since I have been con- nected with the Police Department.
PERLEY J. HEWEY, Chief of Police.
76
REPORT OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE COUNCIL
A civilian defense organization was formed here in 1941 when all other cities and towns did likewise.
Our police chief was appointed by the selectmen as town chairman and the different divisions were set up by him with a chairman for each division. Under his supervision an auxil- iary police force was established and the several division chair- men set up their necessary subdivisions.
Classes were held for air raid wardens, first aid workers and home nursing, and auxiliary firemen have been recruited in all sections of the town. The air raid wardens and auxil- iary police have functioned in every black-out and all other divisions have done what seemed necessary.
The Health and Social Service division has a committee including the heads of several of our public services; the Services and Supplies Division is well organized with many subdivisions; the Evacuation Division is in fine shape with a large number of shelters available in case of emergency and arrangements made with the Red Cross and the Board of Public Welfare to care for refugees. This is where the Civilian War Assistance and Civilian Emergency Relief Funds become available. The War Services Division formerly known as the Women's Division has done especially well and has a good many volunteers for work at the report center which they hope to be able to operate from 7 A.M. to 9 P.M. A room in the new building has been equipped for this pur- pose but due to shortage of volunteers, and the gas, rubber and fuel situation it has seemed best to have this center function only during tests, black-outs or other similar in- cidents, but if conditions demand or an emergency should arise it could be manned very quickly. It is not lack of in- terest or laziness on the part of those responsible that prompted them to make this decision, but it seemed the most sensible and practical arrangement to make at present.
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