USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1947 > Part 4
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Cleanings
117
Root canal treatments
278
Cement fillings
61
Extractions 2nd teeth 13
Extractions 1st teeth 19
You will notice that during 1947 I extracted thirteen permanent teeth, ten more than in 1946. This was due to four new children coming into town, two from Chelsea and two from Beverly. These children were about eleven years old and had never had any dentistry done. Only three of our regular children lost second teeth and I believe these could have been avoided if the children had taken fuller advantage of the clinic.
There were 159 certificates given to the children in 1944.
Respectfully yours.
JOHN KING.
The Board wishes to thank all those who have assisted in any way dur- ing the year.
EVERETT F. HALEY LAWRENCE R. STONE EDWARD A. DEWITT
Amalgam fillings
47
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my report of the activities of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1947.
Total Arrests 42; Females 3, Males 39. CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES
Drunkeness 15 Leaving scene of accident 1
Non-support
1 Driving to endanger 3
Assault
3 Burning to defraud 2
Truancy
1 Breaking and entering 3
Larceny
2
Operating without license
1
Unlicensed dog 1 Operating under influence 5
Arson
4
DISPOSITION OF CASES DISTRICT COURT
Released without arraignment .. 12
Fined and paid 12
Sentenced to House of Correction 2 Appealed to Superior Court 6
Sentenced and put on probation 10
SUPERIOR COURT
Found guilty and fined
6
ARRESTS BY OFFICERS
Frederick
37
Tree
4
Poole 1
SUMMONS SERVED
For local department 9 For out of town police 22
AUTOMOBILE REGULATIONS
Licenses revoked by Registrar 7
Registrations revoked by Registrar 3
Automobile transfers 63
MISCELLANEOUS
Persons conveyed to hospitals and physicians
50
Dangerous wires reported
9
Street lights reported out
41
Street obstructions reported
Accidents involving personal injury 15
Accidents, property damage only 18
Assistance to out of town police 15
The Combination Ambulance-Cruiser has proved to be a valuable addi- tion to the department. Many calls have been received to convey to hos- pitals and physicians persons injured in automobile accidents, as well as persons ill and requiring hospital care.
I wish to express my appreciation of the cooperation and assistance rendered by the police officers and all others who have assisted the depart- ment during the year.
Respectfully submitted EDWARD FREDERICK, Chief of Police.
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REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
The following report of the Highway Department for the year ending December 31, 1947 is respectfully submitted.
During the year the Highway Department has applied approximately 12,000 gallons of asphalt to the streets. An additional amount of 1,000 gallons was also used in mixing pea-stone and sand for patching broken shoulders and holes.
Hamilton Ave. was rebuilt and oiled and necessary drainage installed. A seal-coat is to be applied this year to complete it.
Savoy Rd. was excavated and necessary drainage installed. The com- pletion of this project was held up due to the fact that being a new street water pipes had to be installed first and when this was finished it was too late in the season for the Highway Department to gravel and oil. This. will be completed this year.
Snow removal is becoming more of a problem each year due to the labor situation which is still inadequate to handle any storm in the proper manner. If this condition is to continue some consideration should be given to the purchase of a Snow Loader. This would in no way effect the use of the present hand labor but would result in a speedier and more. efficient removal of snow.
In closing I wish to express my appreciation to each and every Town Department and to the Citizens of the Town for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
LELAND D. THOMPSON, Surveyor of Highways.
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THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of Hamilton :
We submit herewith a report of the activities of the Welfare Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1947.
Expenditures for assistance under General Relief during 1947 showed an increase of nearly $1300 more than in 1946. This was due to increased budgetary allowances and an increase in the number of persons requiring assistance.
Old Age Assistance expenditures were increased over the 1946 figure by nearly $2300, and for the same reasons as applied to General Relief.
Expenditures for Aid to Dependent Children were over $100 less than was expended in 1946, and was due to recipients becoming self-sup- porting and not requiring assistance.
The Federal Government and the State continue to bear the major portion of the cost of Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children assistance. The following figures show the proportionate cost during 1947 :
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Expenditures
Receipts
By Town
$22,538 50
Federal
$10,282 29
State
8,695 22
Meals Tax
647 90
Net Cost to Town
2,913 09
22,538 50
22.538 50 1
AID TO DEPENDENT CHIDREN
By Town
1,802 06 Federal
555 83
State
626 42
Net Cost to Town
619 81
1,802 06
1.802 06
We anticipate an increase in General Relief and Old Age Assistance expenditures in 1948, and a decrease in Aid to Dependent Children. Our budget for 1948 has been adjusted accordingly.
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We wish to express our appreciation to the local physicians and our District Nurse, Miss Haynes, for their continued cooperation, and to all who have assisted us during the year.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD A. DEWITT EVERETT F. HALEY LAWRENCE R. STONE Board of Public Welfare.
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REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
The Board of Water Commissioners herewith submit their thirteenth annual report for the year ending December 31, 1947.
This is the eighth full year of operation and the following report shows steady growth in the Water Department.
1946
1947
Number of services installed
23
23
Number of service connections
534
557
Number of hydrants
103
103
Number of active services
470
525
Commitments
$9,933.08
$12,058.31
Expenditures, Maintenance & Services
$7,678.53
$10,002.90
Pumpage (Gallons)
31,023,456
39,870,000
Largest single day pumpage (Gallons)
159,000
240,000
The year 1947 has brought a lot of difficulties in the water depart- ment.
The dry weather of the past few years has made our supply so low that it reached the danger point the past summer. An emergency was de- clared and all outside watering, sprinkling and use of swimming pools were curtailed.
After much thought and discussion with the Board of Selectmen and Mr. Charles Morse, our Engineer, a Town Meeting was called to act on the enlargement of the system.
The town voted to enlarge the reservoir by 150,000 gallons, to in- crease the present well field by the addition of twenty-five more driven wells and to bring our pumping capacity up to two hundred and fifty gallons per minute or more if possible.
The reservoir is practically completed and will be put into use by early spring. The well field is now under construction and will also be put into use by early spring.
The Town has voted to lay about five miles of main line pipe. The pipe and fittings for this work have been ordered and delivery is expected to be made early in the spring. Specifications and contracts are now being prepared for the installation, and it is expected that the job will be com- pleted by late fall.
We feel that the increased capacity of the reservoir, and the enlarge- ment of the well field will provide an ample supply of water at all times for several years to come. We realize that the laying of approximately five miles of main line pipe will not complete the town, but it will extend the system to many who are urgently in need of water, some of whom ap-
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plied for such when the system was first installed, and who have been wait- ing patiently since.
We extend our appreciation to our superintendent, J. Edward Cox, who has performed his duties so conscientiously and faithfully. We also thank all of the townspeople who have assisted us during the past year. Repectfully submitted, GEORGE A. HARRIGAN RICHARD H. SMITH CARL G. RICKER Water Commissioners.
53
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WATER BOARD
To the Board of Water Commissioners:
GENTLEMEN :
I herewith submit a report of the activities of the Water Department during the year ending December 31, 1947.
During the year 23 new services were added, requiring the laying of twelve hundred feet of 1 inch pipe; 7 services already installed were con- nected to the town system; 32 services remain unconnected to the town sys- tem.
All town and private hydrants have been inspected periodically and repairs and adjustments made where needed. All meters were inspected and necessary repairs made, 37 being completely overhauled.
Samples of water from the system have been sent to the State Health Department periodically for examination.
Regular inspections have been made of the pumping equipment. Daily records are kept of the amount of water pumped.
Each year shows an increase, eight million more gallons being pumped in 1947 than the previous year.
I sincerely appreciate the assistance rendered by the Water Commis- sioners and townspeople during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, J. EDWARD COX, Superintendent.
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GEORGE H. HARADEN
GEORGE H. HARADEN
George H. Haraden, the son of Andrew and Sarah (Gibney) Haraden, was born July 15, 1879 in Hamilton on the old Gibney Farm, a place occa- sionally visited by the late poet Longfellow and now the site of the famous Myopia Hunt Club, and died July 23, 1947, a lifelong resident of the town.
He had been janitor of the Town Hall from January 7, 1918, down to the date of his death. He had also served for many years as a member of the police and fire departments and had been caretaker of the cemetery and the town parks.
Familiarly called "Doc." by his host of friends and regarded by all as almost a part of the Town Hall itself, he was ever present at any Town Meeting or other assembly held at the Town Hall for the past quarter- century ; and was a walking lexicon of information of town events during that period.
Of a genial and kindly disposition, he was ever ready to extend a help- ing hand whenever his services were needed and he will be sorely missed by all who have occasion to visit the Town Hall for any purpose. His daily weather predictions were almost a legend. His many good deeds will live long in the hearts of his legion of friends.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
To the Citizens of Hamilton :
The Selectmen herewith present their report covering the year 1947.
Under Chapter 90 Construction, that portion of Asbury Street extend- ing to the Topsfield Town line, a distance of approximately 7/8 of a mile, has been completed at a total cost of $20,542., Hamilton's share of the cost was $5,135.50 with the state and county paying the balance.
We are asking for an additional appropriation of $1,500.00 under Chapter 90 Construction in 1948 to refinish a part of Essex Street. A similar amount was appropriated last year but it proved insufficient to cover the bid submitted to do the work.
We have carried out the wishes of the townspeople as expressed by their vote under Article 19 of the 1947 warrant, by making the necessary repairs and alterations to the Adelaide Dodge Walsh School building for the purpose of providing head-quarters for the Augustus P. Gardner Post #194 American Legion. The building was formally turned over to the Post on Armistice Day.
July 1st we had delivered to the town the new Seagraves 750 gallon pumper. This new addition to the fire department gives the town most efficient equipment for fire fighting purposes. After passing the Fire Un- derwriters' test it was placed into service and more than proved its worth at the Winthrop fire last fall.
Under the vote of the town to purchase and acquire a new combina- tion cruiser and ambulance for the police department, the board visited the town of Weston where two such vehicles are in operation. From in- formation gained by the visit to Weston the Board decided to purchase a car and have it converted for both cruiser and ambulance work. Three local people, all dealers in cars, were submitted specifications and asked to return bids to the Board. The Ipswich Motor Co. was the only bidder, and it was awarded the contract.
During the past summer the Water Board came before the Selectmen to warn us of the necessity of calling a special town-meeting to consider appropriating a sum of money to be used to increase the water supply and further develop the water system. Complying with their request we called the meeting for August 29th.
Three streets, Lake Drive, Adams Road and Margaret Road have been laid out and plans are now in file at the Town Clerk's office. We are ask- ing that they be accepted at the coming Town Meeting.
During the past year George H. Haraden, for 30 years janitor and caretaker of the Town Hall passed on after a long illness. To take his place the Board appointed Lester Standley, a veteran of World War I, and well qualified to perform the duties.
57
It is necessary that we ask for a sum of money to cover painting the Town Hall on the outside this year. It has been several years since the building was last painted. Several places on the front and rear have been peeling and we feel that the work should be done in 1948.
We wish to call to your attention the present setup of the office arrangements in the Town Hall. We are not advocating that anything be done about it at this time but we do want you to bear in mind that some- thing should be done before long. We should be aware that times are changing, that the town is growing and that the changes and growth have placed new demands upon the number of records to be kept and the paper work involved in keeping such records. At the present time many valuable records are being kept wherever a place can be found, on shelves, in closets or in desk drawers, hardly suitable places. The vault is far too small to take care of all of the things that should be placed in it and if a fire ever gets started these things would be a complete loss.
We have also tried to figure out a way that the present office arrange- ment might be rearranged so that more privacy could be maintained when one has business to transact with the Town Clerk, Selectmen, Assessors and so on. Many more people today find it necessary to go to the Town Hall on business and we feel that they are entitled to the full convenience of privacy.
We are happy to hear that Mr. Robert B. Walsh, our Town Counsel, is well on the road to recovery from his long illness and that only the severe winter has kept him from attending the regular meetings of the Board on Monday nights. However, he has kept in constant touch with the affairs of the town all during his illness and has rendered much valuable assistance to us during that time. We sincerely appreciate his valuable assistance.
To Francis Whipple, our busy clerk, and to all others who have aided us in any way during the past year we extend our grateful thanks.
Respectfully submitted, LAWRENCE R. STONE EDWARD A. DEWITT EVERETT F. HALEY Board of Selectmen.
58
WARRANT FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
ESSEX, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Hamilton:
GREETINGS :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Hamilton, qualified to vote in election and Town affairs to meet in the Town Hall in said Town on Monday, the first day of March, nineteen hundred and forty-eight (March 1, 1948), at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening (7.30 P. M.) then and there to act on the following articles, viz.
Article 1. To bring your ballots for :
Moderator for one year.
Town Clerk for one year.
Three Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare for one year.
Treasurer for one year.
Tax Collector for one year.
One Assessor for three years.
One Highway Surveyor for one year.
One Tree Warden for one year.
Three Constables for one year.
One Library Trustee for three years.
One Park Commissioner for three years.
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
One Water Commissioner for three years.
One member of the Planning Board for five years.
And vote on the following Question :-
Shall the provisions of section forty of chapter seventy-one of the General Laws, as amended, relative to equal pay for men and women teachers be in force in this town.
Yes ... .No.
The above named officers and question to be voted for on one ballot on Tuesday. the ninth day of March, 1948 (March 9, 1948). The polls will be opened at 5 :45 o'clock A. M .. and will close at 8:00 o'clock P. M.
Article 2. To choose and appoint all other Town Officers in such manner as the Town may determine.
Article 3. To hear the reports of the Town Officers and of the Finance and Advisory Committee and all other committees and take any action thereon.
Article 4. To raise and appropriate money for Schools, Highways, Essex County Retirement Board and all other Town expenses and de- termine the manner of expending the same.
59
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account the sum of $1500.00 for chapter 90 Highway Construction on Essex Street or take any action thereon.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account the sum of $1000.00 for chapter 90 Maintenance or take any action thereon.
Article ?. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $1800.00 from the Cemetery Sale of Lots and Graves Fund to a Special Cemetery Account to be expended by the Cemetery Commissioners for improvements of the cemetery, or take any action thereon.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account the sum of $10,000.00 for the purpose of making alterations in the Jonathan Lamson School building on Railroad Avenue, consisting of an emergency exit in the cafe- teria to the yard, certain rewiring work, fireproofing, installation of a sprinkler system at strategic points and /or other necessary alterations, or take any other action thereon, as petitioned for by Richard Preston and others.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account the sum of $2000.00 to continue the building of a hot-top sidewalk on the northeasterly side of Asbury Street, beginning at the end of the existing hot-top construction and extending toward Main Street or take any action thereon.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money to build a hot-top sidewalk on the southeasterly side of Union Street from Asbury Street to Mill Street or take any action thereon.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account a sum of money for the purpose of building a hot-top sidewalk on the southwesterly side of Pleasant Street from Willow Street to Elliott Street or take any action thereon.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account the sum of $10,000.00 to build a Municipal Garage of cement blocks on the town property in the rear of the Town Hall for use by the Highway Department for the storage of it's motor vehicles, material and it's other equipment, or take any action thereon.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account, a sum of money for the state and county share of Chapter 90 Highway maintenance and construction.
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Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to receive the report of the General George S. Patton, Jr., Memorial Committee printed in the annual Town Report as a report of progress, to continue in office the present com- mittee for the purposes therein set forth, or take any action thereon.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to have the Assessors pub- lish a Valuation List and Poll, Personal Property and Real Estate Taxes of the Town of Hamilton in the year 1950 and every fifth year following thereafter or take any action thereon.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to rescind section 6 of chap- ter II. of the Town By-laws, providing that "fifty legal voters shall con- stitute a quorum at all town meetings" and substitute the following; "Sec- tion 6. One hundred legal voters shall constitute a quorum at all town meeting."
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote, subject to compliance by the selectmen with the provisions of section 81 I. of chapter 41 of the General Laws as enacted under chapter 340 of the Acts and Resolves of 1947, to accept the proposed layout as a public way by the selectmen of Lake Road, so-called, situated in East Hamilton, all substantially as shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Lake Road, Hamilton, Mass., dated November 1947. Charles H. Morse, Eng. Haverhill, Mass." now on file in the office of the Town Clerk of Hamilton, or take any action thereon.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote, subject to compliance by the selectmen with the provisions of section 81 I. of chapter 41 of the General Laws as enacted under chapter 340 of the Acts and Resolves of 1947, to accept the proposed layout as a public way by the selectmen of Margaret Road, so-called, as shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Margaret Road, Hamilton, Mass., for acceptance, Scales as Noted, dated December 1947" now on file in the office of the Town Clerk of Hamilton, or take any action thereon.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote, subject to compliance by the selectmen with the provisions of section 81 I. of chapter 41 of the General Laws as enacted under chapter 340 of the Acts and Resolves of 1947, to accept the proposed layout by the selectmen of Adams Road, so- called, from Baker Avenue to Central Avenue as shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Adams and Gifford Road. Hamilton, Mass., for acceptance, dated November 1941, Morse, Dickinson and Goodwin Eng'rs., Haverhill, Mass., now on file in the office of the Town Clerk of Hamilton, or take any action thereon.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to adopt a by-law relative to the parking of vehicles, that no person shall park a vehicle longer than one hour at any time between the hours of 9 A. M. and 6 P. M. of any day except Sunday and holidays on Railroad Avenue between Main Street and Willow Street and on Main Street between the Wenham line and Walnut
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Road, to provide for the erection of warning signs or signals at dangerous points in the town, to define the powers of the police, to fix the penalties to be imposed for violations of the provisions of the by-law and to make rules and regulations relative to the use of motor vehicles and their traffic upon the streets and highways of the Town of Hamilton or take any action thereon.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote that the custody, care, super- vision and maintenance of the Dorothy Winthrop Memorial Lot be vested in the School Committee with all the powers and duties incident thereto, or take any action thereon.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to include in a ballot to be voted on at the adjourned session of the town meeting to be held March 9, 1948, the following question; "Shall the Town vote to adopt a proposed zoning by-law and map originally establishing the boundaries of zoning districts in the Town of Hamilton and regulations and restrictions to be enforced therein, as recommended by the Planning Board, copies of which are filed with the Town Clerk" or to take any action thereon.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time time in anticipation of revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1949 and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a shorter period than one year, in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws and Amendments thereto.
Article 24. To see if the Town will Authorize the Collector to use all means of collecting taxes which as Town Treasurer, when appointed Collector, may use agreeable to Chapter 41, Section 37, General Laws and Amendments thereto.
Article 25. To act on any other matter that may legally come before said meeting.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof, one at the Town Hall, and one at each of the three postoffices in said Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place of holding said meeting.
Given under our hands this 26th day of January, A. D. 1948. LAWRENCE R. STONE EDWARD A. DEWITT EVERETT F. HALEY Selectmen of Hamilton.
A true copy, Attest :
FRANCIS H. WHIPPLE,
Town Clerk.
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