USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1946-1950 > Part 59
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REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of the Town of Agawam :
I herewith submit my annual report of the Police De- partment for the year ending December 31, 1950.
Personnel
CHIEF OF POLICE Roland C. Reed
SERGEANTS
Ralph Kenneth Grady Stanley L. Rhodes
PATROLMEN
John J. Chriscolo, Romeo Borgatti, Louis Tatro, Roland Ruelle, Douglas Carr, Edward Harpin, Howard Minor
RESERVE OFFICER Edward Borgatti
I wish to extend for myself and every man on the Police Department, our thanks for the splendid coopera- tion given us in the past year by the citizens of Agawam, and the consideration expressed by your action in the Town Meeting extending our vacation after five years' service.
In the year 1950 several changes have been made in the Police Department.
The booking desk has been moved, so those using the Police entrance may go to the other parts of the building without walking in back of the desk. This is more con- venient for both the public and the Police.
The radio has been moved to a rear room, which gives this department more privacy.
Twenty-four hour cruiser service that was put into effect in 1950, has been very satisfactory, and I feel should have been started long ago. The added traffic ar- rests and fewer night breaks have proved the value of
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this move. Another change is our method of checking vacant homes each day or night, and keeping records of time checked. We urge you, before leaving town on ex- tended vacations or just for a week-end, to notify this station, where record will be made and instructions given for safety of your home.
We have also added oxygen equipment to the am- bulance. This was done through donations and has proved its worth.
With international conditions as they are today, a large Auxiliary Police force has been built up. In case of emergency, whether from war, flood or hurricane, we will be called on, and we are going to be ready to serve in the way needed.
In this hour of uncertainty, let us all get behind our Civil Defense Director, as he will need your help to pro- tect our Town.
Respectfully submitted
ROLAND C. REED Chief of Police
Yearly Report for 1950
Arrests :
1. Against Person
8
2. Against Property
14
3. Against Public Order 523
Total
545
Convictions 509
Dismissed 7
Turned over to other Police
15
Cases Pending
14
Total 545
Warnings:
1. Written
136
2. Verbal
175
Total
311
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Summonses served for other Police
261
Total Accidents
156
Persons injured
59
Cases transported in ambulance
146
Missing persons found and returned
13
Buildings found unlocked and secured
60
Vacant homes reported and checked
92
Dog complaints investigated
91
Amount of fines taken in
$ 4,583.00
Value of property recovered
42,613.00
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The Town Nurse
JANUARY 1, 1950 - DECEMBER 31, 1950
The following is a detailed report of the type of cases cared for by the nurses and the total number of calls made on each case.
Total Number Total Number of
of Cases Nursing Visits Made
5 Pre-natal 11
(Which means care and instruction to the expectant mother, urinalysis and diet)
2 Post Natal 35
(Which means care given to the mother after she has returned home from the hos- pital)
42 New Babies 160
(Instructions to the mother in the care of the baby, bath to the new baby, and making of the formula)
(16 mothers who had 18 premature babies, 14 are now living)
28 Dressings 573
(Dressings are boils, carbuncles, breast, col- ostomies, gall-bladders, appendix, leg ampu- tations, burns and minor infections)
14 Pernicious Anemias 554
(Consists of advice about diet, personal hy- giene and liver injections)
4 Arthritis 284
(Giving of baths, general bed-side care, hypodermics and advice about diet)
14 Cardiacs 433
(Giving of baths, general bed-side care and other instructions that may be necessary)
12 Bright's Disease or Kidney Conditions 337 (Consists mostly of injections, baths and general bed-side care)
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11 Carcinoma or Cancer 219
(This consists of dressings, baths, general bed-side care, giving injections and what- ever instructions may be necessary)
9 Diabetics 197
(Advice about diet, personal hygiene, in- structions about giving insulin and teaching patient or family how to give insulin)
8 Cerebral Hemorrhage or Shock 160
(This consists of baths, enemas, general bed-side care, taking blood pressure, teach- ing the family how to care for a helpless pa- tient and how to prevent and care for bed sores and whatever care may be necessary for the comfort of the patient)
3 Hypertension or High Blood Pressure 58 (Taking blood pressure under doctor's or- ders, urinalysis and general care)
1 Epileptic 6
(Baths, general bed-side care)
4 Fractures 7
(Baths, general bed-side care and making patients as comfortable as possible)
10 Infections 142
(This consists of general care, injections of penicillin, dressings and whatever care nec- essary)
1 Allergy 17
(Asthma-Consists of advice about diet and giving injections of special serums)
6 Senile 149
(This consists of caring for aged people by giving baths and general care and whatever may be necessary to make them comfort- able)
73 All Other and Miscellaneous 823
(Consists of calls made for the following : Checking on T.B. tests, taking of tempera- tures, pulse and respiration, giving alcohol sponges, giving enemas, swabbing sore throats, getting used clothing and taking used clothing to worthy families, taking and
251
getting utensils for loaning cupboard, mak- ing home calls to make arrangements with patients for out-patient department at Springfield Hospital and Westfield Sana- torium, checking on all new babies, making calls on follow-up cases, getting histories on worthy families not on welfare. The above calls are made only under the doctor's orders and the history taking calls are under the order of the selectmen's office.
The above are all non-communicable diseases.
4,165
Total number of hours spent in office 125 hrs.
Total number of hours spent in the baby clinic 121 .
Total number of clinic hours spent for Dip- theria, Vaccination and Pre-school 20
266
No. of calls made on an 8 holiday year
19
Calls made on 53 Sundays 119
138
Total amount of fees collected for nursing service $952.50 Fees collected from John Hancock Insurance Co. 7.00
Report on Communicable Diseases to the Agawam Board of Health :
Mumps
14
Measles (regular)
18
Whooping Cough
33
Chicken Pox
24
Scarlet Fever
18
Tuberculosis
3
Meningitis
1
Poliomyelitis (Non-paralytic)
4
Bronchial Pneumonia
5
Amebic Dysentary
2
Infectious Encephalitis
1
123
Total number of dog bites reported
30
The above list of cases are the ones that have been reported to the office. This is probably not a complete
252
list as the diseases are not always reported to the town office either by the family or the doctor, therefore a cor- rect total can not be obtained.
Appointments made for patients to be taken to the Westfield Sanitorium, hospital clinics, doctors and dentist's offices 34
X-rays taken by the T.B. Mobile Unit in West Springfield 5
Our Diptheria Immunization Clinic was held March 8 in North Agawam. 36 children in the third grade were given a booster dose. On March 22, 56 children in the third grade at the Agawam Center school were given the booster dose. That same day at the Granger school, Feed- ing Hills, 63 children were given the booster dose, 3 pre- school children also received boosters. On March 28, 38 children from the third grade of the Springfield St. School were given the booster, 4 pre-school children were also given boosters, making 7 pre-school, 193 school children, totaling 200 all together.
The vaccination clinic was held April 26. 54 children were vaccinated by Dr. Charles Diamond who was then school physician at $1.00 per child, paid by parent or guardian to the doctor.
The pre-school physical examination clinic was held May 10, 24 and 31. All these clinics were under the su- pervision of Dr. Charles Diamond, part-time Board of Health doctor. Dr. Diamond was assisted by Miss Mary O'Brien, school nurse, Mrs. Elmyra Hamelin and myself. At the Katherine Danahy school there were 18 examined and 4 had physical defects. At the Benjamin Phelps school on the same day there were 73 children examined and 7 defects found. On May 24 at the Springfield St. school, 30 children were examined by Dr. Monyek who substituted for Dr. Diamond, 19 defects were found. On May 31, at the Granger school, 29 children were examined and 8 defects were found. Out of the 188 children ex- amined, 150 were found to be in perfect condition.
On April 18, Miss O'Brien, Mrs. Hamelin and myself attended a health meeting from 1 to 6 p. m. in the Hol- yoke Visiting Nurses' rooms. It was a very interesting meeting with 100 nurses present.
On April 21, we attended a meeting in Amherst on
253
Health Unions. On June 14 we attended another meeting in Amherst on Health Unions.
The playgrounds were checked by Miss O'Brien and Mrs. Hamelin during July and August. Health condi- tions were found very good with the exception of a few sore throats. On a whole, the playground health was good.
On August 11, three men from the sewer department were given their Typhoid booster shots.
Miss Mary E. Lewis, R.N., public health nursing supervisor from Amherst has made us three visits- January 4, 18 and November 28. We always welcome Miss Lewis' visits. She is always willing to listen and help us with our town health problems. It is always a pleasure to have her and wish it were possible to see her more often.
On January 18, Miss Lewis was accompanied by Miss Helen Kearsley, who is consultant in child health for the state. Miss Kearsley's office is in Boston. She visited our baby clinic and gave a very nice report on the way our clinic was run.
Our well-baby clinic is doing wonderful under the supervision of Dr. Mildred Hausman from West Spring- field whom we are most fortunate to have. The total number of babies who attended the clinic from January to December are 426. All these babies have a complete physical examination on their first visit to our clinic by Dr. Hausman. If at this time any physical defects are found, Dr. Hausman advises the mother to take her baby to her own physician or makes an appointment for the baby to go to some hospital clinic.
Of these 426 babies, the following received these in- jections etc.
Vaccinated 59
Triple shots 56
(triple shots consists of Diptheria, Tetanus Toxoid and Pertussis Vaccine which means they are protected against Diptheria, whoop- ing cough and lock-jaw)
Whooping cough boosters and diptheria comb. 13
Pertussis shots 7
Tetanus shots 4
All these innoculations are given free.
254
We are most fortunate that in June, the state of Massachusetts has furnished us free of charge the triple and the pertussis innoculations for our baby clinic. Our free baby clinic is held the first and third Wednesday of each month from 10:30 a. m. to 12:30 p. m. We are in hopes of making our clinic three hours instead of two this coming year as our clinic is on the steady increase. We hope the finance board will see this, too, as I am ask- ing for an increase for Dr. Hausman's salary. All first visits to our well-baby clinic should be made by appoint- ment with the town nurse by calling 7-2616. If trans- portation is necessary, we are most willing to give it. I wish to thank all those who so gratefully gave of their time to help make our well-baby clinic a success. They are Mrs. Ronald King, Mrs. Edmund Arnold, Mrs. Stew- art, Mrs. Howard Minor, who so willing have done the driving for us. Those who have worked so dilligently in our clinic room are Miss Joanne Woodbury, Mrs. Henry Lawson, Mrs. Joseph Paquin, Mrs. Stanley Nygren, Mrs. Theodore Twarog, Mrs. J. Reynolds and Mrs. Cascella who have so willingly helped to make records and weigh babies. We are all proud of the growth of the well-baby clinic. This could not have been if it had not been for the cooperation the lay people have given us. Again we say, thank you !
Our new formed Agawam Health Council, now in its second year, held its first meeting on February 9 with Mrs. Lewis Woodbury, president, in charge. Other meet- ings held were on April 13, June 8, October 19 and De- cember 14. At these meetings Miss O'Brien and myself gave our nursing reports. On October 3, 1949 our guest speakers were Miss Ethel Brooks and Miss Ring who spoke of the "Hard of Hearing." On December 8, 1949, were Mr. Paul McCurda, who spoke of T.B. seals and the benefit derived from the sales, and Dr. Knowlton from the Westfield Sanatorium who spoke of the fine work being done there. On January 12, 1950, a Military Whist party was held under fine supervision and direction of Mr. James O'Keefe. It was a success! February 9, Dr. Hoag, podia- trist, gave a very fine talk on care of the feet. He spoke of the very good work done by Miss O'Brien, school nurse, in the entire school system. Our April speakers were Miss Mary Fitzgerald and Dr. W. Lee who spoke of the
255
importance of the nearly formed Health Unions. In ten years from 1949, Agawam will probably be part of a Health union which will be by November 1959. On June 29 there was a very interesting talk by Mrs. Charlotte Hoffman who has charge of the blood bank. She told of the work done by the Red Cross Blood Bank. The Octo- ber meeting brought Miss Beryl Roberts from Boston who sat in on a round table discussion of the workings of a Health Council. All organizations and townspeople are invited to these health meetings. On December 14 the health council had a very interesting meeting on Civil Defense. Mr. James O'Keefe, director of Civil Defense in Agawam, spoke on what plans had been accomplished for civil defense in the town of Agawam. He also stated the plans that were to be completed in the near future. Dr. Tate spoke on what personnel and the number needed to carry ont a well organized civil defense. He stressed the importance of everyone volunteering to do their part in case of an emergency and urged that all the general pub- lic take a first aid course and home nursing if possible. More meetings on this subject will be held later.
In May, the Board of Selectmen sanctioned the buy- ing of a new blood pressure manometer so with doctor's orders, we nurses are able to take blood pressures of pa- tients and report what we find to the doctor in charge. No blood pressure is taken without a written order from the doctor. As a matter of fact, all nursing orders are written out by the doctor in charge of the case before we take the patient on.
On November 22, 11 baskets of canned food were de- livered to homes of worthy people donated by the Aga- wam Congregational Sunday School under the supervision of Mr. Hauser. These baskets were made up by Miss O'Brien and myself and were delivered by Mrs. Hamelin with the assistance of 2 school boys.
On December 7, a general disaster meeting was called by the American Red Cross at the High School of Com- merce. Representing Agawam were Mrs. Lewis Wood- bury, president of the Health Council, Mrs. Clifford Pond, Mrs. Cascella, Mrs. Hamelin and myself. The auditorium was filled with several hundred nurses in uniform. It was a very impressive meeting with Miss Dorothy Hickey
256
R.N. chairman and several distinguished speakers and a showing of the result of the atom bomb on Japan.
On December 22 and 23-32 Christmas baskets and toys were delivered to worthy folks. Many of these bas- kets were delivered by the organizations who gave them. We wish to thank the following: The East Agawam Cur- rent Events Club, to several anonymous persons who gave money, Agawam Women's Club, Lions Club, Boy Scouts and cubs, Agawam Congregational Church, the Feeding Hills Lay Methodist Church, Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion and any other person or organizations that may have donated. I thank each and every one. Boxes of candy were given by Mrs. Hollis Kane from Feeding Hills P.T .- A. and Agawam Baptist church.
Again I can find no words to express my gratitude to the town officials, nurses and friends for their kindness to me in my recent accident. I fell on June 18 and broke my leg and I did not return on duty until September 23. I can's sing praises enough for work carried on while I was laid up by Mrs. Hamelin, Miss O'Brien and Mrs. Cas- cella. Mrs. Cascella continues on full time until October 31 when with the consent of the selectmen and finance board, Mrs. Cascella was put on part-time service, that is, 10 hours a week or 1% day Monday and Tuesday and all day on Friday. I feel we are most fortunate to have her. I do hope the selectmen, finance board and townspeople will continue to keep Mrs. Cascella on a part-time basis as our town has grown so rapidly. We can use the service of 21% nurses a day full time for the size and population of the Town of Agawam. Because our work varies, some days we make a lot of short calls, then too, some of our patients take 1 to 2 hours. Therefore the days when we make a few calls are much harder than the days when we make a great many calls. I do not feel that one can judge our work by the number of calls made. I would welcome any member of the town offices or layman to come out on district with us to see how and what we do.
At this time I wish to thank all the townspeople, of- ficials and my nurses for their kindness to me.
Respectfully submitted, CLARA H. WILLIAMS
Town Nurse
257
REPORT OF VETERAN'S AGENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my anual report as Agent and Director of Veteran's Benefits and Services.
During the first three months of this past year I was sick and unable to carry on the work at the office, therefore, it is impossible for me to give an accurate report on the number of Veterans and their dependents who applied at this department for aid, either through interviews, correspondence or telephone calls, as there was no report kept.
The problems confronting the Veteran are many as time goes on. The greatest problem facing the veteran today is housing. In 1948 the State allotted Agawam 31 units under Chapter 200. Twice that number would not take care of the number of approved applications that are now on file. I hope that in the near future, the Aga- wam Housing Authority will be able to have the State allot enough units to correct this situation.
Under Veteran's Benefits, case loads did increase a little over 1949, due to the fact that we are now aiding the Veteran and dependents of W.W.I; W.W.II; and now, all veterans who have gone into the Armed Forces after June 25, 1950, as a result of the present situation in Korea. These cases are due to increase, and we must expect, and plan, on this load getting heavier steadily.
The work for the Agent under Veteran's Benefits, has increased to the extent that a great deal of his time is spent away from the office-investigating and tracing settlements of Veterans or their dependents, who have applied for aid, who come from other cities or towns. Many come to this office for service and find the office closed because of this.
There is a great deal of correspondence that has to be written between the State Department and this office in regard to cases and settlements. A part-time clerk for this department would keep the office open at all times
258
and help expedite the filing of applications and keep the correspondence up to date.
This department is for the benefit of all Veterans and their dependents in town, and I ask their co-operation in bringing their problems here to be solved.
Respectfully submitted,
LESLIE C. MILLER Veteran's Agent
259
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
The following is a report of the Engineering Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1950.
Engineering
The first months of the year were devoted to com- pleting the street numbering so that the Board of Regis- trars would have an up-to-date listing from which to complete the new voting lists. This was necessary due to the state's requirement that all voters be listed numer- ically by street numbers instead of the previous listing which was alphabetical.
A number of layouts were submitted to the town meeting for acceptance as Public Highways. The end of the year sees a good many sections which must be investigated for the acceptance of other new streets.
A small scale map showing all the streets was brought up to date and printed. These copies will serve useful in the Civil Defense Program as well as to the general public having access through the town clerk's office to purchase them. The revenue which the town receives from these maps does not show on the engineer- ing accounts as it is returned to the town through the town treasurer.
The various construction projects carried out in the town are outlined in the following reports.
Springfield Street Sidewalk Construction
A permanent sidewalk was constructed from the Agawam Bridge to O'Brien's Corner and was a bitumin- ous mixture rolled upon a gravel base. It was necessary to place guard posts along the edge of the walk where it presented a hazard to the pedestrian travel. The walk
260
where ever possible was laid away from the traveled road. One reason for this deviation was the problem of erosion through the center of Springfield Street hill and the added costs for which funds were not available to bring the sidewalk grade high enough to prevent being washed out.
This sidewalk was constructed under the betterments assessment program and assessments to the amount of $1,469.61 will be sent to property owners.
A temporary sidewalk which required considerable grading was laid out between Harding and Colemore Streets on the northerly side of Springfield Street. This walk was covered with a layer of rock dust. The nature of the construction was temporary because of the re- building of Springfield Street Highway through this section. The pupils of West Agawam who live on the northerly side of the street have been using this walk to good advantage and has eliminated their necessity of crossing Route 57 except at the traffic officer.
Bridge Street Sidewalk West
This concrete walk was constructed from the South- end of the Mittineague Bridge to a point opposite River Street. A concrete curbing was laid so as to provide pro- tection for the walk. This work was done under the betterment assessment program and assessments to the amount of $397.46 will be sent out.
The season did not allow time to complete the con- struction on the East side of Bridge Street so this work has been deferred until 1951.
Chapter 90 Construction
The reconstruction of Springfield Street between the Agawam Bridge and O'Brien's Corner was completed during the summer months. This bituminous macadam road way has done much to eliminate the hazard during the winter months through the elmination of the curve in the center of the hill and the reduction of the steepness in grade.
The entrance from this new roadway into Walnut Street was faultily designed by the traffic department of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, but after considerable conferences and the co-operation of
261
Commissioner Grout the approach was re-designed. Since this work was not included in the original contract it was necessary for the town to undertake this con- struction.
The 1950 construction of Springfield Street has just begun and only surface drainage will be laid during the winter months. This project extends from O'Brien's Corner to a point just beyond the intersection of Mill and Springfield Streets. The road throughout the larger part of this section will be widened and recapped with bitu- minous mixture. It is anticipated that this work will be completed before late 1951.
The 1951 program of Chapter 90 Construction looks forward to continuation of the Springfield Street work through to Feeding Hills Center and the extending on Southwick Street to the town line. The construction for this work will probably start late in 1951 since the state budget is not established until July.
Main Street Sewer
This sewer on Main Street was constructed upon the advice of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works since it was necessary to locate the pipes under the hard- ened surface. By so doing the work at the time of the reconstruction of the highway the town will now be per- mitted to carry this work through to the State Line in the near future. It was also necessary to install the cross connections for the Southerly side between River- side Park and the State Line. The cost of the work was $11,094.16.
Springfield & William Street Sewer
Springfield Street between Greenock and Mill Street was without a sanitary sewer and because of the Chapter 90 reconstruction in this section it was necessary to complete the work at this time. In order to be able to lay the sewer through the low spot at the junction of Springfield and Poplar Streets, it was necessary to con- nect to the Mill Street sewer by way of William Street. The cost being $20,464.30.
Hall Street Sewer
Hall Street was the first sewer to be constructed in the town under the betterment assessment account. This
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