Town of Norwell annual report 1940-1949, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: The Board
Number of Pages: 1098

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On October 29 the committee visited the Brockton District Report Center where the light board warning system and the method of transmitting alerts from the Filter Station to the most remote Report Center was explained.

On November 24 the committee met to plan a school for Air Raid Wardens and Auxiliary Police, to open on Monday, December 15 at 8 P. M. at the High School, and to continue for six succeeding Mondays for sessions of two hours each. Col. Woodworth announced that he could purchase 2 hospital beds, 2 sterilizers, and operating table, splints etc. at a great advantage from the Camp Edwards Construction and he was authorized to do this and to set up a First Aid room in the Town Hall. Chief Warden Henderson showed a map of the town divided into six warden districts and four police districts, and this was adopted.

NINETY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

On December 11 the committee met to discuss equipment, and it was voted to spend about $250 for basic supplies for the First Aid room, besides blankets, sheets, etc; about $150 for supplies for the Canteen; stirrup pumps, asbestos gloves, goggles, etc. for the wardens. It was expected that gas masks and helmets would be supplied by the State. A census was planned to locate spray pumps, fire extinguishers, hose, extra beds and bedding to be called in when needed, rather than spend for these items, and this was done by spaces on the Warden's Report Cards.

On December 15 the Wardens's School opened under the direction of James A. Liddell, Donald Porter, James Bennett and Alan Virtue, with Mr. Anthony Arau of Whitman as speaker. Notices had been sent to the entire voting list of 400, and 350 were present, a very exceptional turnout compared with other towns.

A Control Center was set up in Fire Station No. 1, and since De- cember 9th has been operating on a twenty-four hour basis under the supervision of Paul Skelding and Raymond Beach. This Center is connected by direct wire from the Army Base and word will be broad- cast from here of any air raids.

THE MASSACHUSETTS WOMEN'S DEFENSE CORPS

Norwell's participation in the work of the Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps was started early in the existence of that organization and has been marked by notable success.

The Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps was initiated by Miss Natalie Hays Hammond. It was designed to organize the women of Massachusetts who wanted to help in defense work; to train those women in the various departments vital to civilian defense, and thus to establish a prepared group which would be available for effective service whenever such service might be required. The value of that group was at once recognized and, shortly after its organization, the Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps was taken over by the Massa- chusetts Committee of Public Safety and placed under the direct command of General Daniel Needham of the Protection Division of that Committee. Thus, although each community in which a branch of the Women's Defense Corps has been established will have, in case of emergency, the benefit of first call upon the services of its branch, the Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps, as an institution, actually is under the jurisdiction of the State and, as such, is quite apart from the regular local defense organization of the individual communities.

Early in July Miss Helen Fogg, who was among the first to become active in the effort toward civilian defense and who had been appointed General Chairman of the Women's Division of the First Norwell Public Safety Committee, registered for the third Women's Defense Corps School which was then forming in Boston. Enrolled in that school, too, at the instance of the Norwell Women's Republican Club, was Mrs. Marshall Burpee. The Women's Republican Club, at its May meeting, had voted to send one of its members to the school and Mrs. Burpee was the member of its selection. Miss Fogg and Mrs. Burpee were graduated in August with the rank of Lieutenant in the Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps. Later both were promoted to the rank of Captain.

On September 8th, under the Chairmanship of the then Lt. Bur- pee,, the first Auxiliary School of the Women's Defense Corps in

TOWN OF NORWELL

Norwell was started. Seventy-eight women were enrolled. The school provided thorough training for members of each of the three depart- ments: Canteen, Motor Transport, and Warden. In addition to the specialized training of each department all of the cadets were required to take Air Raid Precaution, Gas, Close Order Drill and a ten-hour course in First Aid. Many of the women volunteered for further First Aid instruction and completed the Red Cross Standard twenty hour course.

Commencement exercises of that first Auxiliary School were held on the evening of November 12th and the graduates, fiftyeight in number, were awarded the Auxiliary School pin and the State Certificate of Training.

But the members of the Norwell Branch of the Women's Defense Corps did not rest with the completion of their training. A second Auxiliary School, under Captain Fogg, was started on December 30th. Thirty women were enrolled. Lt. Ruth McGhee, a graduate of the First Auxiliary School, conducted a course in Household Wardens for women of Norwell. A second Household Warden's course is now being conducted under the direction of Mrs. Vincent Tyler, also a graduate of the First Auxiliary School. The Women's Defense Corps also under- took a course in Bandaging with Miss Madeleine Kent, R. N., of Scituate, as instructor.

The Town of Norwell and its residents have furthered, in many ways, the work of the Corps. The Committee of the First Parish Church made available its kitchen in the James Library Building for the use of the Canteen Division. The First Parish Ladies' Aid Alliance donated $20 toward the purchase of the Defense Corps' emergency supply of foods. The Town, itself, through its Defense Committee, appropriated the sum of $135 for Canteen equipment. The Town also gave generous space in the Town Office Building as headquarters for the Corps. The Headquarters have been furnished and provided with complete office equipment by members of the Corps, individually, and by residents of Norwell.

A complete mobile unit, available for emergency service to any part of the State, is now operated by the Women's Defense Corps. It in- cludes motor transport, mobile wardens, motor casualty, ambulance, radio car and mobile canteen. Representatives from Hanson and Rockland serve with this group. Officially, however, it is called the Norwell Mobile Unit and is under the command of the Norwell Branch of the Corps. There is also a Reserve Unit which, although equal in every respect to the Mobile Unit, confines the range of its activities to the home community of Norwell.

The Norwell Branch of the Women's Defense Corps is ready for instant service. Its headquarters are manned twenty-four hours a day, with two members always on duty. By drill, practice convoy, and the frequent preparation of meals for large, organized groups it maintains a condition of constant readiness for warden duty, for emergency evacuation and for the feeding of numbers of people in any stricken area. Because of its excellence the Norwell Branch of the Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps has served as a model for other groups and has been officially recognized as outstanding even in Massachusetts' outstanding Defense Organization.

NINETY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

REPORT OF THE ZONING COMMITTEE TOWN OF NORWELL

In March, 1940, the Moderator appointed a committee "to bring in at the next Annual Town Meeting suggestions as to building and zoning laws, and to draft by-laws relative thereto.

Your Committee studied the question of zoning with relation to Norwell, throughout that year, and in the following Town report requested an extension, to make further deliberations. This extension was granted by the Town at the regular meeting in March, 1941. As a result of our work we have prepared the following By-Law for Zoning, which we recommend for adoption by the Town at the reg- ular meeting in March, 1942. It is interesting to notice that since this committee was formed, Hingham and Marshfield have both adopted zoning by-laws. We have endeavored in drafting this ordinance to make it as simple and clear as possible, consistent with its objective, which is to promote the health, safety, convenience and welfare of the Town.

ZONING COMMITTEE

A. Lester Scott Loring H. Jacobs

Samuel S. Sylvester, 2nd

Clement R. Thomas

Sidney E. Dean

Lyonel D. Forkey

Francis E. MacFarlane

Humphrey W. Turner

A. R. Gordon, Chairman

BUSINESS AREAS

Area 1. Norwell Village. On the south side of Main Street in- cluding the land owned by the South Scituate Savings Bank, the land of Merritt (Post Office), the land of MacFarlane.

Area 2. Norwell Village. On the North side of Main Street including the Town Hall site, the site of the fire station, the land of MacFarlane and the land of H. C. Lincoln to the land of Sparrell, and along Central Street a distance of 200 feet thence easterly to the land of Sparrell and parallel to Main Street.

Area 3. Queen Ann's Corner. On the westerly side of Washing- ton Street from the corner of Pond Street a distance of 150 feet and along the southerly side of Pond Street a distance of 150 feet with the boundaries most distant from the corner at right angles to the street lines.

Area 4. Washington Street at the Corner of Grove Street. On the easterly side of Washington Street northerly from Grove Street a distance of 250 feet, thence easterly and parallel to Grove Street a distance of 150 feet, thence southerly parallel to Washington Street to Grove Street, thence westerly along the northerly side of Grove Street to Washington Street.

Area 5. Washington Street at the Corner of Grove Street. On the easterly side of Washington Street southerly along Washing- ton Street 250 feet, thence easterly and parallel to Grove Street a distance of 150 feet, thence northerly and parallel to Washington

TOWN OF NORWELL

Street to the southerly side of Grove Street, thence westerly along the southerly side of Grove Street to Washington Street.

Area 6. On the Westerly side of Washington Street at Breezy Bend Farm, comprising the present frontage of Forkey et al, to a depth of 250 feet.

Area 7. Easterly side of Washington Street. At Bell's Farm, estate of Charles E. Goldman, comprising the present frontage to a depth of 250 feet.

PROPOSED ZONING BY-LAW FOR THE TOWN OF NORWELL, MASS.

This By-Law shall be known and may be cited as the Zoning Law of the Town of Norwell. It is enacted in order to promote the health, safety, convenience and welfare of the Town.

SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS

"Detached one-family house." A detached one-family house is a dwelling accomodating but a single family, and having no party wall or walls in common with an adjacent house or houses.

"Farm." A farm means any tract of land used for the production of crops or the rearing of animals or poultry.

"Front Yard." A front yard is the required open space between the street line and the nearest part of any building on the lot ex- cluding projections.

"Half Story" The term "half story" shall mean a story in a sloping roof, the area of which at a height four feet above the floor does not exceed two-thirds of the floor area of the story im- mediately below it.

"Hall." A hall is a room or a building appropriated to the meetings of a fraternal, literary or other incorporated society; and excludes the term "halls" wherever it appears in Section 3 hereof.

"Lot" A lot is the parcel of land on which a principal building and its accessories are placed together with the required open spaces.

"Projections." Projections shall mean cornices, eaves, gutters, outside chimneys, steps, bay windows and terraces.

"Story of a Building." A story of a building is that part of the building above the basement or cellar and between the top of any tier of floor beams and the top of the tier floor or roof beams next above.

"Way." A way is a passage, street, road, or bridge, public or private.

SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS

(a) Classes of Districts. For the purpose of this Zoning By-Law the Town is hereby divided into two classes of districts, to be known as:

NINETY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

1. Residence Districts.

2. Business Districts.

These districts are shown on a map which accompanies this Zoning By-Law, entitled "Zoning Map of Norwell, Mass., June, 1941, prepared by the Zoning Committee of the Town of Norwell as ap- pointed by the Moderator in March 1940 and continued by vote of the Town in regular Town Meeting, March, 1941, and filed in the Town in regular Town Meeting, March, 1941, and filed in the office of the Town Clerk, which map, and all of its contents, is hereby made a part of this Zoning By-Law.

(b) Lots in two districts. Where a district boundary line divides any lot existing at the time such line is adopted, the regu- lations for the less restricted portion of such lot shall extend not more than thirty feet into the more restricted portion, provided the lot has frontage in the less restricted district.

SECTION 3 RESIDENCE DISTRICT USES

In a residence district no building shall be erected, altered, used or maintained, and no building or premises shall be used for any purpose except:

(a) Detached one-family house.

(b) Private club not conducted for profit and not containing sleeping quarters for more than four persons.

(d) Educational use ..

(e) Farm, garden, nursery or greenhouse, selling products the major portion of which are raised in the Town, and excluding any use injurious or offensive to the neighborhood.

(f) Municipal recreational use;

(g) Telephone exchange, not including a service station or out- side storage of supplies.

(h) Accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incident to any of the above permitted uses and not detrimental to a resi- dential neighborhood. The use of a room or rooms in a dwelling for customary home occupation, or home occupations carried on by the person or persons resident therein, shall be permitted as an acces- sory use, provided that there be no display or advertising except a sign of not more than three square feet in area. The term "accessory use" shall not include:

1. A garage for the storage of more than three automo- biles;

2. Storage of more than three commercial automobiles ex- cept on a farm;

3. The taking of more than four lodgers;

4. Real Estate signs over six square feet in area adver-

NORWELL

SCITUATE

PLYMOUTH COUNTY

HINGHAM

GROVE S.

ACCORD PONO

, ROCKLAND

MAIN

STREET | ROUTE 123

RIL

MARSHFIELD

HANOVER

ROUTE 123

NORTH

ZONING MAP BUSINESS DISTRICTS ARE SHOWN BY BLACK RECTANGLES

PEMBROKE

TOWN OF NORWELL

NINETY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

tising the sale or rental of only the premises on which they are located, and bulletin boards and signs over twelve square feet accessory to uses specified in this section;

(i) Any of the following uses, provided it is not injurious or offensive to the neighborhood, and only if authorized by the Board of Appeals:

1. Alterations, otherwise prohibited, of a dwelling exist- ing at the time this by-law is adopted for two families;

2. Aviation field;

3. Cemetery;

4. Golf Club;

5. Gravel, loam, clay, sand or stone removal;

6. Hospital, convalescent home; sanitarium, institution, or philanthropic use;

7. Ice harvesting and storage on the same premises;

8. Municipal use;

9. Riding stable;

10. Establishment for the breeding, sale, and boarding of dogs.

SECTION 4 BUSINESS USES.

In a business district no building shall be erected or altered and no building, premises or land shall be used for any purpose injurious, or offensive to the neighborhood by reason of the emission of odor, fumes, dust, smoke, vibration, or noise. The following uses shall be permitted:

1. Any use permitted in a residence district;

2. Filling station or garage on approval of the Board of Appeals;

3. Municipal use;

4. Newspaper or job printing;

5. Office or bank;

6. Place of amusement or assembly;

7. Restaurant;

8. Retail business, service or public utility not involving manufacture on the premises except of products the major portion of which is to be sold at retail by the manufacturer to the consumer and provided further that not more than ten operators shall be employed in such manufacture;

9. Sign advertising goods or service offered by an occu- pant of the premises for sale, hire, or use;

10. Trailer camps and/or over-night camps on approval of the Board of Appeals;

TOWN OF NORWELL

11. Storage of junk for commercial purposes on approval of the Board of Appeals.

SECTION 5 NON-CONFORMING USES

(a) Continuation of non-conforming uses. Any building or use of a building, structure, or land, or part thereof, existing at the time this by-law is adopted may be continued although such build- ing or use does not conform to the provisions thereof, except as pro- vided in (b).

(b) Limitation on Restoration. A non-conforming building which has been damaged or destroyed may be repaired or rebuilt, but the restoration shall not substantially exceed the original area and height and shall be placed no nearer the street than the build- ing which it replaces.

SECTION 6 HEIGHT REGULATIONS

(a) Residence district heights. In a residence district no build- ing shall be erected or altered to exceed two and one-half stories in height.

(b) Business district heights. In a business district no build- ing shall be erected or altered to exceed two and one-half stories in height.

(c) Height exceptions. Chimneys, elevators, poles, spires, tanks, towers and other projections not used for human occupancy may extend a reasonable height above the height limits herein fixed, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen or an inspector who may be appointed by them.

SECTION 7. AREA REGULATIONS

(a) Front yards. In a residence district where the way is forty or more feet in width no building or roadside stand shall be erect- ed or placed within twenty-five feet of the way line. Where the way is less than forty feet in width the building or stand shall be placed not less than forty-five feet from the center of the way. Where present buildings or adjoining lots are less than twenty-five feet from the way line, new buildings may be placed as near the way line as the average of the buildings on said adjoining lots. A vacant lot shall be treated as though occupied by a building set back twenty-five feet.

(b) Side and rear yards. In a residence district no buildings shall be built within ten feet of the side or rear lot line or within twenty feet of any other building unless there is a fire resisting wall.

(c) Lot size. No building shall be erected in the residence dis- trict on a lot containing less than 20,000 square feet or less than 100 feet wide. The lot width shall be measured at the way line or the set back line.

NINETY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

This section shall not apply to any lot which at the time of this Zoning By-Law becomes effective, is narrower at the way or is of lesser area than the specifications herein provided, but only one dwelling may be erected on a lot containing less than 20,000 square feet, or having a frontage of less than 100 feet, if such a lot was recorded with Plymouth County Registry of Deeds at the time of the adoption of this by-law, and did not at the time of such adop- tion adjoin other land of the same owner available for use in con- nection with said lot.

(d) Corner Clearance. Within the area formed by the lines of intersecting ways and a line joining points on such lines fifteen feet distant from their point of intersection, or in the case of a rounded corner, the point of intersection of their tangents, no struc- ture other than a building, and no foliage, shall be maintained be- tween a height three and one-half feet and a height eight feet above the plane through their curb grades.

(e) Projections. Nothing herein shall prevent the projection of steps, stoops not exceeding thirty square feet in area, eaves, cor- nices, window sills, or belt courses into any required yard.

SECTION 8. ADMINISTRATION

(a) Enforcement. This by-law shall be enforced by the Board of Selectmen, either directly or by an inspector appointed by them; and upon any well founded information as to a violation, the said Board shall take immediate steps to enforce this by-law in any man- ner provided by law.

(b) Board of Appeals. A Board of Appeals is hereby estab- lished (as provided under Sec. 30, Chapter 40, G. L. as amended) to consist of three citizens of the Town, who shall be qualified by education or experience to pass upon matters which may be brought before them. They shall be appointed by the Selectmen for terms of one, two and three years, the term of one member expiring each year. Appointments after the first year are to be for three years. Vacancies shall be filled by the Selectmen for the balance of any unexpired term. No member shall act in any case in which he may have a personal or financial interest, an associate member being designated in such cases by the Selectmen.

(c) Method of Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Selectmen denying him a permit may appeal from such de- cision to the Board of Appeals created by this by-law.

(d) Public Hearings and Notice. In the case of every appeal made to said Board and of every application for permit or variance made to it under the provisions of this Zoning By-Law, the Board of Appeals shall hold a public hearing to consider the appeal or application in question and shall cause a notice thereof to be pub-

TOWN OF NORWELL

lished in the local newspaper or on the Bulletin Board in the Town Office Building not less than ten days before the date set for said hearing and shall cause a copy of the notice to be sent by registered mail to all abutting land owners as shown by the records of the Assessors of the Town of Norwell and to any other person or per- sons who, in the opinion of the Board of Appeals, may be interested in said application or appeal.

(e) Variance. At all times hereafter, after giving notice and holding a public hearing in the manner provided by this by-law, the Board of Appeals may authorize with respect to a particular building or parcel of land a variance from any of the terms of this Zoning By-Law where, owing to conditions especially affecting said building or parcel but not affecting generally the zoning district in which it is located, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this Zoning By-Law would involve substantial hardship to the owner of said building or parcel, and where desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without sub- stantial derogation from the intent or purpose of this Zoning By- Law, but not otherwise.

(f) Court Appeal. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Board of Appeals may appeal to the Superior Court sitting in equity for Plymouth County provided that such appeal is filed in said Court within fifteen days after such decision is recorded.

(g) Amendment. This By-Law or any portion thereof may be amended by a two-thirds vote of any Town Meeting.

SECTION 9 PENALTIES.

Whoever violates any provision of this Zoning By-Law shall for- feit and pay for each offense a penalty of not more than twenty dol- lars. Each day that wilful violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

The invalidity of any section or provision of this Zoning By-Law shall not affect the validity of any other provision thereof.

This Zoning By-Law shall not interfere with or annul any By- Law or other Law in effect in the Town of Norwell.

So much of this Zoning By-Law as is approved by the Attorney General shall take effect upon its publication as required by law.

NINETY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

SCHOOL DIRECTORY School Committee

JAMES P. HALL, Chairman

NELLIE L. SPARRELL, Mrs., Secretary

HORACE D. GAUDETTE

Tel. Hanover 136 Tel. Norwell 76 Tel. Rockland 443-J

Superintendent of Schools THOMAS E. RUSH Office, Salmond School, Hanover, Mass., Tel. 172 Residence, Broadway, South Hanover, Tel. 97

Supervisors MYRTLE BOWLIN, Music H. RODMAN BOOTH, Art

School Physician RAYMOND G. VINAL, M. D.

School Nurse CATHERINE A. ROE, R. N. School Dentist WILLIS B. PARSONS, D. M. D. Janitors

RICHARD WHITING

C. ALMON BRUCE

FRANK LIND

Ridge Hill School Center Primary School High School

SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULATIONS

Children who become five years of age on March first may enter school the following September.

No child under seven years of age will be admitted to school for the first time after October first of any year.

If there appears to be room in the first grade, tests will be given to children who are too young to enter school. No child may take this test who will not be five before the opening of school.

A child entering school for the first time is required to present to the teacher a birth certificate and vaccination or exemption from vaccination certificate. Exemption must be renewed every six months.

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Town of Norwell annual report 1940-1949, Part 12

Author: Publication date: 1940 Publisher: The Board Number of Pages: 1098

Author:
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: The Board
Number of Pages: 1098