USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962 > Part 5
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Digging
585.00
$
3,200.00
Water Guaranty Account:
Refunds
719.82
School Department (See Report)
266,657.17
Vocational School
6,695.63
School Cafeteria
22,754.34
School Athletics
3,382.24
Special School Lighting Program
1,199.75
Repairs to Old Westford Academy
3,426.00
Town Library (See Report)
6,601.67
Mary Atwood Lecture Fund
568.30
72
Town Common:
Wages $ 505.00
Electric Lights
14.52
Loam and Flowers
52.26
Equipment and Repairs
41.82
Flag
19.99
$ 633.59
Whitney Playground:
Wages
$ 866.92
Equipment and Repairs
109.88
Water
18.50
$ 995.30
Civilian Defense:
Safe Box
$ 27.04
Telephone
120.84
Radios
1,321.14
Batteries
53.55
Supplies
235.28
Gasoline
17.67
Trucking
181.85
Repairs
160.41
2,117.78 $
Stock Ponds
150.00
Band Concerts
700.00
Memorial Day
398.22
Town Reports
1,537.00
Insurance, Fire and Compensation
7,909.00
Unpaid Bills
772.29
Veterans' Quarters
900.00
State Audit
823.13
State Parks
1,107.70
Land Damage
180.00
73
Cemeteries :
Wages $ 4,506.50
Clerk's Salary
200.00
Safe Deposit Box
5.50
Equipment
256.03
Gasoline and Repairs
31.23
Flowers
7.35
$ 5,006.61
Perpetual Care
825.00
Perpetual Care Interest
215.10
Perpetual Care Bonds
1,000.00
William L. Wright Fund
154.75
S. D. Fletcher Lot
7.00
Second Bank-State St. Trust Co.
Anticipation Note
$ 50,000.00
Interest on above note
542.50
New School Bond Issue, Principal
40,000.00
New School Bond Issue, Interest
17,280.00
Water Department Loan, Interest
3,653.00
Services re above Loan
917.27
112,392.77 $
Westford Water Company, purchase of Company 281,000.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Twenty notes
20.00
Payments to County:
T. B. Hospital Assessment $ 4,222.15
Retirement System
3,308.43
Dog Licenses
1,229.80
County Tax
13,779.14
$ 22,539.52
74
Payroll Deductions:
Withholding Tax
$ 37,270.71
Retirement System
5,408.13
Blue Cross
1,361.34
$
44,040.18
Refunds: .
Personal Tax
$ 7.60
Real Estate Tax
467.40
Motor Vehicle Excise
1,328.79
Miscellaneous
19.00
$ 1,822.79
Total Expenditures
$1,193,763.04
Balance December 31, 1956
231.133.47
$1,424,896.51
75
TOWN OF WESTFORD - BALANCE SHEET - DECEMBER 31, 1956 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
Assets
Liabilities and Reserves
Water Loan Premium
$ 765.92
Dog Licenses-Due County
52.40
Sale of Cemetery Lots
1,364.03
Sale of Real Estate
1,165.00
Road Machinery Fund
3,891.25
Whitney Shade Tree Account
2.85
Mary Atwood Fund
5.00
Recovery-Old Age Assistance
3,283.66
T. B. Hospital
1,269.24
Unexpended Federal Grants:
Disability $ 981.33
Old Age Assistance
1,115.36
Aid to Dependent Children
1,765.73
Aid to Dependent Children, Adm. 52.20
Disability, Adm.
92.01
-
$ 4,006.63
Appropriation Balances:
Town Hall Repairs
$ 86.71
Town Hall Heating System
202.32
Traffic Signs 290.28
Chapter 90 Roads
26,707.91
School Cafeteria
1,311.76
Repair Old Academy
474.00
Federal School Account
3,787.41
New Six-Year High School
53,765.99
Town Forest 50.00
Library
322.74
Civilian Defense
1,736.44
-----
Personal
2,484.82
Real Estate
20,844.12
$ 26,747.20
Motor Vehicle and Trailer
Excise:
Levy of 1956
6,944.36
Departmental:
Aid to Dependent Children $ 1,504.67
School Department --
72.60
Highway
275.00
Cemetery
57.00
--
$ 1,909.27
Water Department:
Rates
$ 1,371.55
Services
49.36
$ 1,420.91
Cash:
In Bank and office
$231,133.47
Accounts Receivable:
Taxes:
Levy of 1955:
Real Estate
2,906.26
Levy of 1956:
Poll
512.00
State Aid to Highways: Chapter 81 $ 14,940.89
Chapter 90 Maint., State 1,500.00
Chapter 90 Maint., County 1,500.00
Chapter 90 Constr., State 14,380.87
Chapter 90 Constr., County -- 7,190.44
Wiring Siren at Nabnassett --- 300.00
Elm Road Water Extension 2,710.34
Water Guaranty Account 1,284.50
Cemetery
1,571.32
$ 94,601.72
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus
12,782.62
$ 39,512.20
Tax Titles
$
2,616.57
Tax Possessions 2,030.79
$ 4,647.36
State and County Taxes
587.38
State Parks
365.03
Revenue Reserved until Collected: Motor Vehicle and Trailer
Excise $ 6,944.36
Tax Title
4,647.36
Departmental
1,909.27
State and County Aid to High-
ways
39,512.20
Water
--- 1,420.91
$ 54,434.10
Water Surplus
$ 17,146.08
Surplus Revenue
116,685.22
$313,267.18
JAMES L. KNOWLTON Town Accountant, Westford
$313,267.18
Overlay Reserved for Abatement: Levy of 1955 $ 1,098.50
Levy of 1956 ----------
712.96
$
1,811.46
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Trust Funds: In custody of Treasurer: Principal Income
$ 96,531.59
19,663.49
In Custody of Treasurer: Library Funds: Library General Funds: Principal
$ 13,806.08
Income
1,758.94
$ 15,565.02
Mary Atwood Library
Lecture Fund:
Principal
$ 22,597.40
Income
1,508.69
$ 24,106.09
Emily Fletcher Library
Lecture Fund:
Principal ... $ 2,000.00
Income
452.34
$ 2,452.34
Park Funds:
Whitney Shade Tree Fund: Principal $ 2,500.00
Income
653.78
$
3,153.78
Whitney Playground Fund:
Principal
$ 10,000.00
Interest
807.28
$ 10,807.28
Metcalf Monument Fund:
Principal
$ 1,300.00
Income
697.93
-
$ 1,997.93
Cemetery Funds: Lyman Wilkins Fund: Principal
$
1,413.11
Interest
553.58
$
1,966.69
William L. Wright Fund: Principal $ 5,000.00
Income
519.56
$ 5,519.56
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds:
Principal --
$ 37,915.00
Income
12,711.39
$ 50,626.39
$116,195.08
$116,195.08
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt: Inside Debt Limit: General
$170,000.00
Outside Debt Limit 811,000.00
Loans:
Inside Debt Limit:
School
$170,000.00
Outside Debt Limit:
School
510,000.00
Water 281,000.00
Elm Road Water Extension
20,000.00
$981,000.00
$981,000.00
State Audit TOWN OF WESTFORD Balance Sheet - March 20, 1956 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
Assets
Liabilities and Reserves
Cash:
Payroll Deductions:
General
$107,430.78
Federal Taxes $ 1,761.05
County Retirement System 298.07
Blue Cross and Blue Shield ------ 97.65
Accounts Receivable:
Taxes:
Levy of 1954:
Real Estate
$ 1,671.62
Levy of 1955:
Poll
10.00
Personal Property
576.70
Real Estate
12,398.04
Agency : County-Dog Licenses 232.00
Trust Fund Income: Cemetery Perpetual Care ---
12.50
Premium on Loans: Water Loan 1956 1,683.19
Tax Titles and Possessions:
Tax Titles $ 2,336.79
Tax Possessions 3,336.63
$ 5,673.42
Federal Grants:
Disability Assistance:
Administration
$
33.45
Assistance
1,790.03
$
2,156.77
Guarantee Deposits: Water 927.90
$ 14,656.36
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise: Levy of 1955 850.86
Departmental:
Health $
243.57
Aid to Dependent Children: Administration Aid
84.25
Highway 474.50
4,053.95
Disability Assistance --
617.28
Aid to Dependent Children
3,750.12
Old Age Assistance
2,085.57
Veterans' Services 517.96
Cemetery
126.00
$ 12,213.34
Revolving Funds: School Lunch
833.08
- School Athletics 1,649.93
$
2,483.01
Appropriation Balances: Revenue:
General $513,767.38
Non-Revenue :
School Construction 57,149.21
$570,916.59
Overestimates 1955: State: Parks and Reservations
94.87
Sale of Real Estate Fund 1,060.00
Sale of Cemetery Lots Fund
--
1,239.03
-
$ 7,815.00
Water:
Rates
$
8,861.97
Services and Miscellaneous 1,167.66
$ 10,029.63
Aid to Highways:
State
----------
$ 7,642.59
County
3,690.44
$ 11,333.03
Revenue 1956:
Appropriations Voted $632,872.07 County Hospital Assessment Paid 4,222.15
$637,094.22
Old Age Assistance: Adminstration 142.21
Assistance
6,109.35
-
--
Deduct:
Estimated Receipts Collected .... 20,539.57
Available Funds Voted 85,772.29
$530,782.36
Unprovided For or Overdrawn Accounts:
Underestimates 1955: County :
Tax
$
1,272.88
Tuberculosis Hospital 807.78
$ 2,080.66
To be Provided For: Nashoba Associated Boards of Health Assessment 1,007.57
Receipts Reserved for Appropriation : Road Machinery 344.75
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus
11,861.54
Overlays Reserved for Abatements: Levy of 1954 $ 956.48
Levy of 1955 1,155.50
$
2,111.98
Revenue Reserved Until Collected : Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise $ 850.86
Tax Title and Possession
5,673.42
Departmental 7,815.00
Water 10,029.63
Aid to Highways
11,333.03
$ 35,701.94
Surplus Revenue:
General
48,620.26
$691,659.67
$691,659.67
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
The Board of Fire Engineers submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1956.
The following men were appointed as Fire Engineers: Edward N. Lamson, Leo Larkin, Francis Mulligan, Carl Nylund and Hubert Ray- mond.
The organization of the Board of Fire Engineers followed with the election of Edward N. Lamson as Chief and Francis Mulligan as Clerk.
The Fire Department answered one hundred and twenty-nine calls as follows: 10 building fires, 3 chimney fires, 8 oil burners and heaters, 6 automotive fires, 2 tractors, 1 motor boat, 1 Electric Light Co. sub- station, 57 brush and grass fires, 36 dump fires, 2 false alarms, 4 mutual aid calls.
Three times the Westford Fire Department was called to Lowell, once for a drowning in the Merrimack River and twice for fires. Great appreciation has been expressed by all the Lowell officials on these oc- casions. The fourth mutual aid call was from Groton for the Lawrence Academy fire.
Twice Westford felt the need for outside aid, at the barn fire at the Hudgings Nursing Home in Graniteville and the large Fletcher house at Fletcher's Quarry.
For the Hudgings fire we had help from Chelmsford, Carlisle and a State Forestry truck with Arthur Hallenburg the State Forest Warden for this area.
For the Fletcher fire we had a ladder truck, a pumper and Chief F. J. Kelleher from Lowell, also two trucks and Chief Allan Kidder from Chelmsford and again Carlisle sent its tanker to our aid.
We are deeply grateful to our neighbors for their quick response and help. Our appreciation was expressed in writing to all of the above mentioned.
The ambulance, manned by firemen, again rendered great service to the people of Westford answering 101 calls.
During December, the Forest Warden felt it necessary to resign be- cause of the duties at Westford Academy. The Selectmen immediately appointed the Chief as Forest Warden. The Board of Fire Engineers feel that forest fires can be handled by the Fire Department in the same manner as any fire and with the same chain of command.
83
The Board of Fire Engineers would like to express their apprecia- tion and thanks to all the officers and men of the department for their fine support and excellent work for the year. Again the Engineers want to recognize the importance of the switchboard and the unusual capabil- ities of Mrs. St. Onge in handling this important duty.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD N. LAMSON LEO LARKIN FRANCIS MULLIGAN CARL NYLUND
HUBERT RAYMOND
Board of Fire Engineers.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
Board of Health
Westford, Mass.
Dear Sirs:
Following is the report of the Inspector of Animals from January 1, 1956 to December 31, 1956.
Number of cows 2 years or older 326
Number of heifers 1 year to 2 years
37
Number of heifers under 1 year 13
Number of bulls 7
Number of pigs 1473
Number of horses 66
6
Number of sheep
Number of goats 9
Number of dog bites-30 visits 76
Number of reports on out of state cows 9
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH A. WILSON, Inspector of Animals
84
ASSESSORS' REPORT Year ending December 31, 1956
Value of Buildings, January 1, 1956
$3,859,780.00
Value of Land, January 1, 1956 903,180.00
Value of Personal Property, January 1, 1956
722,655.00
Total Valuation, January 1, 1956 $5,485,615.00
Appropriations Annual Town Meeting, March 10, 1956 606,629.58
Amounts Taken from Available Funds 75,360.77
Amount Taken from Overlay Surplus
Debt and Interest Charges for New School
57,280.00
Interest Charges Water Department Loan
3,653.00
State Taxes Including Underestimates of Previous Year
1,470.93
County Taxes Including Underestimates of Previous Year
20,783.81
Nashoba Associated Boards of Health 4,030.30
1956 Overlay Fund 11,556.80
Gross Amount to be Raised 819,435.28
Receipts Including Overestimates of Previous Year 250,983.18
Amount Taken From Available Funds to Reduce Tax Rate 35,000.00
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds 399,728.54
Net Amount to be Raised on Polls and Property 419,706.74
Tax Rate $76.00 Per Thousand.
Additional Real Estate Commitment
60.80
Additional Personal Property Commitment
45.60
Total Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise Commitments
59,187.82
Levy of 1955 $ 3,902.05
Levy of 1956 55,267.77
Number of Polls
1,528
Number of Horses 51
Number of Cows 288
Number of Neat Cattle 88
1,280
Number of Sheep
4
Number of Fowl 31,435
Number of All Others
140
Number of Acres of Land 18,000
Number of Dwellings
1,792
85
Number of Swine
ABATEMENTS
POLLS
PROPERTY
EXCISE
1952
$
$ 5.00
1953
5.10
1954
41.30
1955
6.00
57.00
899.63
1956
534.00
10,323.84
3,081.11
Respectfully submitted,
CARROLL J. ROLLINS NORMAN K. NESMITH JOHN J. O'CONNELL
Assessors of Westford.
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1956.
I have answered and acted on the following complaints: Dogs destroying poultry 4
Reports filed with County Commissioners for damage to poultry and livestock 5
Dogs molesting livestock
2
Stray dogs returned to owner 18
Stray dogs disposed of
11
Dogs struck by cars 23
Investigations and Complaints 58
I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen, Chief John F. Sullivan, Sgt. John L. Connell and Charles L. Hildreth for their kind cooperation and assistance during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. O'CONNELL
86
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR
I herewith submit my report as Tax Collector for the Town of West- ford for the year ending December 31, 1956.
Any questions in regard to the assessments of taxes should be pre- sented to the Board of Assessors.
Warrants Dated
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1956
June 1, 1954 Real Estate
$ 2,291.49
None
May 20, 1955 Real Estate
16,912.80
$ 2,908.06
Dec. 19, 1955 Real Estate
7.20
4.20
May 20, 1955 Personal Property
1,269.40
None
Mar. 3, 1955 Polls
2.00
None
July 20, 1955 Polls
4.00
None
Dec. 19, 1955 Polls
4.00
None
Feb. 3, 1955 Excise
50.70
None
Mar. 9, 1955 Excise
.54
None
May 16, 1955 Excise
42.70
None
July 20, 1955 Excise
87.00
None
July 28, 1955 Excise
78.73
None
Aug. 10, 1955 Excise
9.67
None
Sept. 8, 1955 Excise
89.40
None
Oct. 7, 1955 Excise
11.61
None
Nov. 21, 1955 Excise
505.79
None
1955 Excise Committed Jan. 4, 1956
3,136.75
None
1955 Excise Committed Jan. 20, 1956
667.43
None
1955 Excise Committed Feb. 2, 1956
115.87
None
June 1, 1956 Real Estate
361,984.96
20,783.32
Dec. 19, 1956 Real Estate
60.80
60.80
June 1, 1956 Personal Property
54,921.78
2,484.82
Aug. 2, 1956 Personal Property
45.60
None
Nov. 5, 1956 Polls
3,056.00
498.00
Apr. 2, 1956 Excise
7,809.10
None
May 2, 1956 Excise
9,052.84
None
June 11, 1956 Excise
4,330.87
None
June 28, 1956 Excise
2,141.93
13.61
July 16, 1956 Excise
7,402.67
28.31
87
Aug. 15, 1956 Excise
2,993.75
187.75
Sept. 5, 1956 Excise
11,442.63
176.92
Oct. 25, 1956 Excise
5,157.24
1,194.83
Dec. 6, 1956 Excise
4,936.74
3,575.32
Total
$500,623.99
Total outstanding Dec. 31, 1956
$31,915.94
DAVID I. OLSSON,
Tax Collector.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
As Sealer of Weights and Measures for the Town of Westford I submit my report herewith as follow.
Number of Scales under 100 lbs. 20
Number of Scales over 100 lbs.
13
Number of Scales 5,000 to 10,000 lbs.
4
Number of Gasoline Meters
17
Number of Kerosene Pumps
2
Total 56
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT A. HILDRETH
Sealer
88
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Assistance was granted from this department in 1956 on an average monthly caseload as follows: Old Age Assistance, 57 cases; Disability Assistance, 10 cases; Aid to Dependent Children, 10 cases and General Relief, 4 cases.
A cost of living increase of 5.8% went into effect on July 1, 1956 in Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children and Disability Assist- ance. There was also an increase in some of the hospital rates during the year as well as the Lowell Visiting Nurse Association rates for re- cipients of Public Assistance.
On November 7, 1956, the law became effective making citizenship no longer an eligibility requirement in Old Age Assistance, as long as 20 years residence in the United States could be established.
At the Westford Infirmary, there were 4 local persons boarded dur- ing the year and one private patient. The rate of board is $15.00 per week. A used television set was purchased at a very reasonable price for the enjoyment of the patients in the home.
SAMUEL A. RICHARDS
REGINALD BLOWEY WILLIAM C. MacMILLAN Board of Public Welfare
INFIRMARY CREDITS-1956
Milk
$ 4,666.13
Eggs
1,064.89
Chickens - Hens
359.82
Patients Board-Private
660.00
Telephone
75.80
Calves
38.00
Pigs
290.00
Tractor Work
74.50
Eastern States Dividend
90.43
N. E. Milk Producer's Association
135.92
$ 7,455.49
89
Meals in Lockup $ 10.50
Inmates' Board - Local
3,120.00
$
3,130.50
INFIRMARY DEBITS-1956
Salaries-Superintendent and Matron $ 1,903.92
Salaries - Employees
714.68
Dry Goods - Clothing
271.38
Appraisers
15.00
Middlesex County Retirement
60.00
Gas - Electricity
364.81
Food Locker
55.04
Tobacco
69.12
Veterinarian
36.00
Provisions
2,262.39
Grain - Feed
5,675.53
Repairs
208.90
Telephone
292.85
Gasoline - Oil
727.30
Supplies
526.18
Slaughtering
14.00
Fuel
521.25
Electrical Work
250.00
Chickens
112.50
Television
40.00
Water
121.60
Painting - Papering - Wallpaper
63.14
Truck Insurance
3.30
Baling Hay
313.50
Farm Bureau Dues
15.00
$ 14,637.39
90
WESTFORD INFIRMARY APPRAISAL
STOCK AND FARM EQUIPMENT
1. Milk Room and Milking Equipment $ 700.00
2. Fifteen Milking Cows 3,275.00
3. One Bull 250.00
4. Five Heifers 450.00
5. Grain 249.64
6. Sixty tons of hay 2,100.00
7. One Hay Fork, Hoist and Motor 200.00
8. Thirty-Five Tons of Ensilage 420.00
9. One Hundred Twenty-Five Grain Bags 18.75
10. Manure
650.00
11. Hay Loader
100.00
12. Manure Spreader
375.00
13. One Horse Hay Rake
20.00
14. One Sulky Plow 10.00
15. One Two Horse Disc Harrow 5.00
16. One Potato Digger 50.00
17. Wagon and Sled 5.00
18. One Tip Cart 10.00
19. Lumber
300.00
20. One Drag - Steel Head 15.00
21. One Lime Spreader 50.00
22. One Corn Planter 25.00
23. One Horse Cultivator
5.00
24 One Hay Tedder
25.00
25 One Tractor Harrow
200.00
26. One Smoothing Harrow 3.00
20.00
28. Two One Horse Cultivators
5.00
29. Two Walking Plows
5.00
30. One Two Horse Hoe
5.00
31. One Ford Tractor
1,000.00
32. One Tractor Plow
150.00
33. One Tractor Pulley 40.00
34. One One-Horse Corn Planter 2.50
91
27. One Seed Sower and Weeder
35. One Ensilage Cutter 150.00
36. One Side Delivery Rake 100.00
37. One Motor Truck 800.00
38. Grindstone, Motor and Scythe Grinder 30.00
39. Fence Post and Insulators 30.00
40. One Electric Fence Unit 20.00
41. Chains 20.00
42. Farm Tools 65.00
43. Block and Tackle
10.00
44. One Extension and Two Step Ladders
20.00
45. One Planet Junior Seeder
8.00
46. Two Cross-Cut Saws 2.50
15.00
48. One Electric Drill 35.00
49. Three Dusters 30.00
50. Platform Scales 20.00
51. Brooder Equipment
50.00
52. Blacksmith's Tools
25.00
53. One Saw Frame - Tractor
40.00
54. Corn Harvester
25.00
55. Garden Hose and Lawn Mower
35.00
56. Fire Hose and Nozzle
10.00
57. One Gas Stove
1.00
58. Three Chicken Crates
3.00
59. Wooden Tank
5.00
60. Shavings and Sawdust 45.00
46.00
62. Fuel Oil 6.00
63. Milk Separator
1.00
64. Three Wheel Barrows 15.00
65. Gas 58.00
66. Coal
128.00
67. One Two-Horse Mowing Machine
25.00
68. Wood 340.00
69. Swine 255.00
70. Laying Hens 650.00
71. Asbestos Roof Coating 20.00
72. One Kitchen Stove 5.00
92
61. Fertilizer
47. Carpenter's Tools
HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT
1. Superintendent's Furniture 125.00
2. Kitchen and Pantry 950.00
3. Contents of Attic 25.00
4. Canned Goods and Empty Jars 220.00
5. Provisions
433.00
6. Potatoes and Vegetables
100.00
7. Dry Goods
450.00
8. Inmate's Furniture 1,785.00
9. Inmate's Dishes 95.00
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT H. PICKING RAYMOND S. WILSON MARYGAN SOCHA
Appraisers.
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY DEPARTMENT
We have improved the looks of our cemeteries by lowering and re- setting a lot of corner posts and markers during the year.
We need to repair and hot top part of the roads in Fairview Ceme- tery. We need to buy 2 more power mowers and we need some fertilizer for this year so we are asking for more money.
Respectfully,
AXEL G. LUNDBERG ALBERT A. HILDRETH FREDERICK SCHILL Cemetery Commissioners
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REPORT OF THE WESTFORD 4-H ORGANIZATION FOR 1956
It is felt that the Town of Westford has completed another very suc- cessful 4-H year. The Town Committee has had seven very active busi- ness meetings. It continues under the chairmanship of John F. Sanders, with Miss Ruth Chamberlain assisting in the Home Demonstration De- partment and Mr. George Fletcher in the Farm and Livestock Depart- ment.
Because of the growth of the organization it became evident that By-Laws were needed for the Town Committee to work under. A com- mittee was appointed, with Mr. George Fletcher as chairman, and they brought in a fine set of By-Laws which were adopted. We hope that they will make for a much smoother operating Town Committee and Clubs.
Clubs are organized in the following subjects: Dairy, Poultry, Rabbit, Sewing, Girls Crafts, Child Care, Hostess, Cooking, Gardening, Canning, Freezing, Woodcraft, Recreation, Bicycle Safety and Care. Any boy or girl who is interested is invited to participate. Contact the Town Chair- man or any Leader and he will see that you get in touch with the Leader of the club in which you are interested.
The Town is well represented at the County level with our Town Chairman a member of the County Advisory Council and a Director of the Middlesex County 4-H Fair, Incorporated. Mr. George Fletcher is a member of the Dairy; Mr. John Aldrich, Poultry; Mr. Marshall Nye, Rabbits; Mrs. Harold Fletcher and Mrs. Lawrence Smith, Food Preserv- ing, Freezing and Canning; Mrs. Thomas Darrah, Dress Revue; and Mrs. John Sanders, Fair Book Committes for the Middlesex County 4-H Fair, Inc. Mr. Peter Perry and Mr. John Aldrich are members of the 4-H Camp Committee.
Our former Town Chairman, Mrs. Willard Moore, was one of three in the County to receive her twenty-year plaque at the State Leaders' Banquet at Greenfield in March.
The Junior Leaders, which include 4-H'ers fifteen years and over, have been a big help in all activities. Donald Hildreth won the State Recreation award and a trip to Lyme, New Hampshire. He serves as Junior Councilor at 4-H Camp. John J. O'Connell, Jr. won the County Citizenship Award. Joyce Baker won County Dairy Cooking Demonstra- tion went on to State competition and won third prize, Westford was sorry to lose Joyce to the State of New Jersey. She is continuing her 4-H activities there and has the makings of a national winner. Paul Daley is on the State Dairy Judging Team, and Jonathan Aldrich participates on the Junior County Poultry Judging Team. Patti Darrah and Muriel
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Leedberg are Junior Councilors at 4-H Camp, and Muriel led a club of six Cloverbuds in Crafts very successfully. Most of the Junior Leaders are members of the Northern Section Service Club and participate in its activities. Donald Hildreth is the Treasurer of that Club.
All the members have taken active part in demonstrations in the County and at State level with exhibits and demonstrations at Eastern States Exposition, and the Stop & Shop display at Cambridge. They won $95.00 at the County Fair alone.
Boosters Night which signals the beginning of the 4-H year was well attended. Our committee worked with the Westford Grange Fair Com- mittee to help make that a success. Our Achievement Night more than filled the Town Hall with displays and attendance. National 4-H Week was observed with the usual banquet, and we had the pleasure of hear- ing an address by Mr. Leonard Harkness, State Leader from Minnesota.
Outstanding as all these accomplishments are, there is no way to determine how much moral and spiritual help has been given our boys and girls. Certainly they have been a credit to the Town wherever they have been 4-H wise. Perhaps in years to come the highlight of 1956 will be the presentation by Westford to the 4-H County organization of ap- proximately seven acres of land to go with the twenty-three acres 4-H had bought and bringing the County 4-H Center and Fair Grounds to the Town. The sincere thanks of both the Town and County 4-H organiza- tions go to the citizens of Westford for being far-sighted enough to see the advantage of having the Center here, 4-H is making it a spot to be proud of. You are urged to visit it often. The Poultry and Dairy Sheds, constructed by all volunteer labor, were used for the 1956 Fair. The Ad- ministration and Club House Building, construction of which has been under the direct supervision of the Westford organization is well under way.
Many of the townspeople other than 4-H'ers have helped in the build- ing of this 4-H Center, and it would be impossible to list them all here and to tell the work they have done both in the giving of their time and the use of their tools and machinery.
As in past years the seventy-five dollars ($75.00) appropriated by the Town to 4-H was combined with funds earned by the members to purchase another sewing machine.
The sincere thanks of the Town Chairman of 4-H goes to all within the organization, and to all the townspeople who have helped to make 4-H such a great success.
JOHN F. SANDERS
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REPORT OF THE TREASURER
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