USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1933-1934 > Part 4
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13.000.00
Shawsheen Ave .- Cons n.
2.000.00
Chapter 30, Maintenance
1,000.00
Electric Street Lights
7.055.00
Board of Public Welfare
12.000.00
Mothers Aid
2.400.00
Additional cake.
State Aid
Military All
100.00
Soldiers' Relief
2.500.00
Schools
Increased transp., toilets, increase in enrollment.
Voestional Training
2.000.00
Library
800.00
Parks
200.00
Addt'l work at Memorial Park
l'nclassified 600.00
Memorial Day
400.00
Water Department
1933 Balance and 1934 Receipls
Cemetery
2,590.00
Rezerve Fund
5,500.00
Town Indebtedness
14,250.00
Interest
20.000.00
Planning Board
50.00
Respectfully, HARRY R. DEMING, Town Accountant.
Overhaul car. Station toi- let. Officer fur special work
" alkional hydrants
2 patients. MIdille ex San.
66
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
In accordance with the requirements of the Town By-Laws, I submit herewith my report as Town Counsel covering the year 1933. A. On January 1, 1933, there were pending the following actions by or against the Town, (exclusive of actions in which the Town was merely summoned as trustee, and in which it had no interest) : Hakey v. Town of Wilmington. Middlesex Superior Court. (Action of tort by Mary Jane Surette Hakey to recover dam- ages for personal injuries alleged to have been received ly reason of a defect in Middlesex Avenue; ad damnum $5,000.)
Shepard v. Town of Wilmington. Essex Superior Court. (Action of tort by Ernest J. Shepard to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been received by reason of a defect in Woburn Street; ad damnum $4,000.)
Bean v. Town of Wilmington. Middlesex Superior Court. (Action of tort by Nellie F. Bean to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been received by reason of a defect in the sidewalk on Main Street; ad damnum $5,000.)
Town of Wilmington v. Wyckstrom, Administrator. Mid- dlesex Superior Court. (Suit against Carl F. Wyckstrom, administrator of the estate of Otto Andrew Ohlson, to recover the amount of $82.16 due the Town from said estate.)
B. During the year 1933 three new suits were brought against the Town, being all actions by the City of Woburn to recover for aid furnished in public welfare cases. Of these three suits. all of which were begun at the same time, only two were finally entered in Court, (the Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex) and these two cases are still pending.
No new actions were brought by the Town during the year.
C. During the year 1933 the following actions by or against the Town were settled and disposed of:
Shepard v. Town of Wilmington. This action, which was referred to and more fully described above. was settled by the payment to the plaintiff of $190.00.
D. The compensation received by the Town Counsel in said actions and in all other matters during the year is as follows:
Compensation : $414.00
Disbursements: 1.05 (These payments were entirely on account of services rendered in 1932.)
Respectfully submitted.
PHILIP B. BUZZELL,
Town Counsel.
67
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen :
I herewith submit the Annual Report of the Wilmington Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1933.
The past year has been a particularly active one for all municipal departments. and the Police Department has been no exception, with a wide range of cases coming under its jurisdiction, varying from minor delinquencies to murder.
While it is obviously impossible to go very deeply into in lividual cases in a report of this nature, several incidents stand out in striking contrast to the type of work that usually engages the atten- lion of this department, and I have touched but briefly upon sonie of the highlights of the past year's activities.
One case in particular, which attracted widespread attention throughout the nation and which was handled in co-operation with several on side police departments and the District Attorney's office. focussed for & time the attention of the entire country upon Wil- mington. A man suspected of a particularly atrocious murder was believed to have hidden himself within the confines of the town and later to have ended his life here, hint sabsequen events proved this theory to have been fallacious. While the trail later led to other sections of the country, this cze has not been solved to date.
The local troop of Boy Scouts deserve commendation for their ald in conducting searches for missing persons
The death of several itinerant non-residents within the town pre- sented a perplexing problem of identification. With but few slender clues to work on, the department succeeded in locating relatives of the deceased. and in every care the responsibility for interment was assumed by the relatives thus located. One case in particular required considerable ingennity, and the trail finally led to Canada, where kin of the deceased were found who identified and cla me! the body.
Thirty-two stolen automobiles were recovered in Wilmington dur- ing the past year and were restored to their rightful owners, wild in the majority of instances were residents of other towns and cities.
A problem which is present in certain automobile cases and which becomes particularly troublesome toward the close of the year is insurance cancellations. Cases of this nature require a great deal of investigation. In several other cases it was discovered that car owners who had given Wilmington addresses at the Regis- try of Motor Vehicles were revealed as either residing here but very few weeks, or giving the addresss of friends, in order to escape the higher insurance rates which cover the Metropolitan Boston area.
In closing, may I take this opportunity to thank your honorable board, the citizens of Wilmington, the various departments, and the men of this department for the fine spirit of co-operation which I believe is responsible in no small measure, for whatever success we may have achieved.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY AINSWORTH,
Chief of Police.
68
Arrests Classified
Arrests
Male
Female
4
Residents
40
Non-Residents
.
Causes of Arrest
Non Support
5
Non Payment of Wages
3
Drunk
29
Violation of Auto Laws
22 7
Insane
2
Breaking and Entering and Larceny
Assault with Intent
1
Manslaughter
1 5
Maintaining Gaming Machines
1
Gaming on the Lord's Day
5
Indecent Exposure
2
Cruelty to Animals
1
Shop Lifting
2
Arson
3
Murder
1
Dispositions
Suspended
5
House of Correction
3
State Hospital - Tewksbury and Danvers
3
Probation
14
On File
25
Released
18
Number of Fines
14
Turned Over to Out-of-Town Police
13
Shirley
1
Lyman
1
Amount in Fines
$430.00
Value of Stolen Property Recovered
$8.483.00 56
Warrants and Summons Served
Cancellation of Auto Plates, Investigated at the request of the Registry of Motor Vehicles 66
Persons Missing from the State Hospital Found and re- turned
7
Others Reported Missing and Found
8
Dogs Disposed of
61
Transfer of Motor Vehicles
188
. Accidents Reported 75 . .
97 93
57
Assault - Battery
7
Violation of Liquor Laws
.
. .
.
69
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my Sixteenth Annual Report as Chief of the Wilmington Fire Department.
This Department has answered alarms as follows for the year endin_ December 31, 1933 :
Month
House Chimney Brush
Autos Trucks Oil Burn.
January
4
1
3
2
February 1
3
1
March
2
1
2
April 3
3
7
May
4
24
1
June
2
1
July
6
S
1
August
4
September
October
1
2
1
1
November
5
1
5
December
5
4
-
-
36
15
60
3
?
6
Out of Town calls
5
Call with Inhalator
1
Rescue Horse from Hole in Floor 1
Help Find Lost Child
1 Nubnish
$7,425.00
Valuation of Buildings
79,950.00
Damage to Buildings
16,276.00
La ua ion of Contents
47,200.00
Damage to Contents
4,875.00
Valuation of Autos
1,400.00
D. mare lo Autos
475.00
Valuation of Trucks
12 .. 00
Number of feet 212-inchi hose laid
20.500
Number of feet 112-inch hose laid
24,350
Number of feet of Chemical hose
3.150
Gallons of Chemical used
1,200
Fire Permits issued
260
Oil Pein its issued
268
Hydrants used
22
Mileage cf Trucks:
Re3
475
La France
145
Ford N. 1
.
.
.
.
.
.
2
1
2
Valuation of Buildings Destroyed
Damage to Trucks
70
ROLL OF DEPARTMENT
Chief Edwin L. Day
Asst. Chief Winfred W. Rice
Captain Chester T. Horton
Clerk Charles H. Black
Members
W. G. Buckle
E. Eames
H. Pietzsch
J. Castine
F. Field
H. Quigley
George Cotton
J. Gracie
N. Rice
John Cotton
J. McAndrew
R. Wood
N. Darling
F. Muse
E. Downing
N. Perry
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIN L. DAY,
Chief of Fire Department.
71
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board cf Selectmen :
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year 1933.
Sealed
Condemned
Platform scales over 5,000 1bs.
3
1
Platform scales under 5,000 1bs.
14
Counter, over 100 1bs.
1
Counter, under 100 1bs.
13
Beam, under 100 lbs.
1
Springs, over 100 1bs.
10
Springs, under 100 1bs.
36
3
Computing, under 100 1bs.
16
Personal Weighing scales .
6
Avoirdupois
S6
Vehicle Tanks
2
Liquid Measures
230
2
Gasoline Pumps
48
3
Kerosene Pumps
3
Quantity stops on pumps
303
Oil Measuring Pumps
22
Gasoline Meters
20
Sealing fees collected and turned over to Town Treasurer $71.50 The following are re-weights of commodities for immediate delivery:
Number Tested
Number Correct
Under
Over
Coal in Paper Bags
20
12
5
3
Grain or Feed
10
5
5
Butter
24
18
6
Vegetables
12
12
Tard
20
20
Bread
25
25
Confectionery
5
5
116 55
5
56
Number of Licenses Inspected
14
Hawkers' and Pedlers' Scales Tested.
6
Clinical Thermometers Observed
10
Appropriation and Expenses of Department as follows: Appropriation
$325.00
Transferred
25.00
Total Expense
$350.00
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN F. MUSE.
Sealer.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- Incorrect -
72
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit a report of the Building Inspection Depart- ment for the year 1933.
Th total number of permits granted for the year was 46, of which 31 at $1 each were new construction, and 15 at 50c each were altera- tions.
The fees of $38.50 were collected and turned over to the Town Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted,
CHESTER T. HORTON,
Inspector of Buildings.
73
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The activities and details of the Library for the past year are included in the annual report of the Librarian.
After deducting the overhead and running expenses of the Library, the balance of the appropriation was used for the pur- chase of new books.
It has been the endeavor of the Book Committee to purchase books of diversified subjects so that they will be of interest to various types of readers.
There were a few suggestions made by readers during the year and as far as possible we have sorured thece books accordingly.
The financial report for the year is shown in the report of the Town Accountant.
Respectfully submitted.
EDWARD N. EAMES, Chairman, LOUIS MCMAHON. HOWARD E. BEDELL. HELEN N. BUCK. PETER NEILSON, PHILIP B. BUZZELL,
Trustees of Public Library.
74
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Honorable Board of Trustees:
I herewith submit my annual report as Librarian.
Public documents, books, pamphlets, bulletins, catalogues and leaflets received, 148.
United States bulletins and leaflets for display have been received from Mrs. Edith Nourse Rogers; also lists of available farmers' bulletins and leaflets of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Bulletins and flyers for distribution have been received from the State Department of Education; also one poster.
One book has been presented by the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, one by the U. S. Shipping Board, one by Wilmington Woman's Club, six by Louis T. McMahon, one by F. H. Warren, three from other friends; also two maps and two posters. Number of new books purchased ( one in paper) 125 volumes
25 volumes Number of books purchased to replace
Number of books rebound during the year. 155 volumes
One book considered discarded is still at the Library and has been placed again on the shelf.
Another book, previously returned in too poor condition for use, has been destroyed and taken from list. Three books have been destroyed on account of contagious disease and two cojectionable books have been taken from the Library.
One book ruined and four more not returned by borrowers (one was replaced by borrower). 90 volumes
Number of books worn out and discarded.
Number of books in Library 6,554 volumes
Number of books taken out during the year .. 11,368 volumes
Number of persons taking out books during the year.
857
Number of magazines taken out during the year 247
The reading table has been supplied from the Town appropriation with the following magazines: Radio News, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Scientific American, National Sportsman, Hy- geia, Review of Reviews and World's Work, Nature Magazine, Na- tional Geographic, Good Housekeeping, Woman's Home Companion, The American, Country Gentleman, Boys' Life, The Youths' Com- panion combined with The American Boy, St. Nicholas and Child Life.
Some others contributed by friends are: Our Dumb Animals, Living Tissue, Columbia, New England Poultryman, Bell Telephone Quarterly, American Issue, Journal of Calendar Reform, Specialty Salesman, Recruiting News, Travelers Standard, Selected Motion Pictures, The World Tomorrow and the Town paper, the Wilmington
75
News; also some copies of Gospel Trumpet, Word Study, Library Journal, Massachusetts Health Journal, International Student and Understanding the Child.
Receipts :
Fines on Library Books
$68.25
Given
.06
34 old books sold
3.40
Books ruined and books lost and damaged . 2.10
Passed in to Town Treasurer
$73.81
Respectfully submitted,
ANNA T. SHELDON,
Librarian.
76
REPORT OF
MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE
J
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Wilmington. Mass.
I respectfully submit to you the following report of the Memorial Day Committee.
Memorial Day was fittingly and appropriately observed by the several military organizations of the Town. The ceremonies staried at 8.00 A. M. when a firing squad and buglar proceeded to Nee Park where fitting exercises were held.
The main procession of the day then formed on the Common at 9.00 A. M. This procession consisted of a. forty five piece band and autómobiles with G. A. R. veterans, gold star mothers and wounded veterans, then followed the veterans of the Spanish War, World War and its auxiliaries and a local troop of Boy Scouts of America. The parade proceeded to North Wilmington where Comrade Simp- son, the only surviving member of the G. A. R. living in Wilming- ton, cast a wreath of flowers on the water of the Ipswich River. The parade then reformed and proceeded to Regan Park where an appropriate address, the firing of a volley, taps and the placing of a wreath upon the monument were carried out. Rogers Park was next visited where the same program was carried out with a short address by W. A. Rogers, father of Harold, for whom the Park is named. The Soldiers' Monument was then visited where Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was delivered by Allen Franz, a High School student, and the monument decorated. The graves of all our sol- dier dead were decorated with the American Flag and a basket of flowers, after which the parade proceeded to the soldiers' lot, where the oration of the day was delivered by Francis X. Cotter, National Liason Officer of the V. F. W. The marchers then assembled at the Grange Hall, where refreshments were served.
A part of the appropriation was used this year in having the re- mains of two Civil War veterans taken from unmarked graves, and the same placed in the soldiers' lot. It was also necessary to have some slight repairs made on the gun that marks the soldiers' lot.
Respectfully submitted,
LOUIS I. ELFMAN,
Chairman.
77
HTIATH 101 REPORT OF THE WORK DONE BY THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON
The following is a report of the work developed in Wilmington, during the year 1933, by the Middlesex County Extension Service.
Many farm visits were made during the year to assist the local dairymen in obtaining the T. B. test for their cattle, and also to improve their milk marketing,
In addition, farm visits were made to poultrymen and fruit grow- ers to help them with production and marketing problems.
An all-day Institute that was faily well attended, was held. This meeting was sponsored by the local Grange, and their cooperation was greatly appreciated.
A spray service was maintained for local fruit growers, and other information on the culture and marketing of fruit was sent out from time to time.
There has been no active group this year carrying on the Exten- sion Service for program for women. A one day institute was held; the program for the women consisted of a low cost meal demonstra- tion, help on garment renovation, a talk on the good school lunch, and suggestions for recreation in the home.
A talk on low cost meals by the home demonstration agent at a meeting of the American Home Section of the Woman's Club at which seventy attended, was given.
Six 4-H clubs of S5 members were led by Miss Henrietta Swain Mrs. Paul Todd, Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, Miss Elizabeth Tibbetts, Mr. Christian Neilson, Mr. Norman Darling, and Mr. Harry Jessup.
Pauline and Dorothy Todd took part in the country dress contest in Lexington in June.
The spring exhibit of food and homecraft clubs was held at the Walker School. Prize winners were Virginia Cove, Pauline Todd, Marjorie Connor. Dorothy Todd, and Josephine Ray.
The garden work carried on this past summer was of unusual merit. Two out of the five awards of a two-day trip to Massachu- setts State College awarded in the eastern section of the country were awarded to Wilmington club members: Margaret Thomas and Edward Hansen. Garden club members held an exhibit in the window of the Economy store which was filled with quality vege- tables. Nine prizes were awarded, the two first and two seconds going to Louis Cote, Donald Fossey, Ivan Palmer, and Howard Fossey.
Due to the efforts of Miss Henrietta Swain, 4-H chairman, several additional clubs were started in the fall.
78
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of the Town of Wilmington:
The following is the list of reportable diseases received by the Board of Health for the year 1933:
Chicken Pox
2
Dog Bites
9
Rabies
1
German Measles
1
Measles
5
Mumps
7
Scarlet Fever
14
Whooping Cough
22
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
4
Infantile Paralysis
1
Pneumonia
4
.
It will be noted that there has not been one case of diphtheria in the past year, proving the remarkable value of diphtheria toxin antitoxin injections. This should prove an incentive to all to have these injections given to their children.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. McGUINNESS, M. D.,
Agent of Board of Health.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Together with the Report of
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
For the Year Ending December 31. 1933
51
REPORT OF THE WILMINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1933
To the Citizens of Wilmington :
For the Wilmington School Department the year 1913 was quiet and queyenifut There has been practiceUy no orlicism of the Neparimedi and anmelbing like a cooperative and sympathetic apnoepliere awms re have been cultivated between the various branches of the Town Government Nevertheless, the present webood sotaxation in the town is far from satt factory to those who ar m conher with the details of its porking
The greatest dleahy Has been the introduction of the platoon syntein The sevawb and wlgbt grades, tozether copsklitel a worl of Junlor Flizp School, can be accommodated omly at an after-
shirt and ellows im opportunity for school wudy og for Ire rmula- sinn. Unless the sobufois le these grades basic (Je dispo . Oscus cood opportunity to kluny at home, they fall to yot wher they chobe receive coum their sonoat Instrue inh. Sueb Taffare appeirs (v mường otte 1 -choot periods, as Tre Blin- la the fewer grabs, we notice porticilarly. the atiffieiffties and problems arising from the frans- where they ran he orcommodsten. In recent years, there has been a large increase in ebild popula- tou In the west part of dir town. Steps have been jateu to pro- ville a new school at Silver Lake to aceninruindate this growth. This has met, bewever. why local opposition. Virions Judividual for vartons personal reasons. bayw, for the time being prevented the acquisition of a snitalle sice fur a new school. It is to bo hoped two: the better jodlement of the town as o thuir will vier- vail, and do something for the children in this part of the town. The appropriation of $0.000 a year for the schools for this year proved to be inadequate and the committee is grateful for ite extru one thousand dollars allotted to them recently. This en- abled them to balance their budget for the year. 82 During the year, very few repairs were made upon the schools. A new boiler and a thorough over-hauling of the heating equip- ment in the Centre School was necessary at considerable expense. Strict economy in the purchases of supplies and continued reduc- tion of teachers', supervisiors' and janitors' salaries, was necessary. The average annual cost per pupil was about $55.00. This is re- markably low, even for Wilmington, and sets a record for the Commonwealth as a whole. This would not have been possible except for the low salaries paid to the teachers, and to the teach- ers, and all the other members of the school staff, the Town should be grateful for faithful and unselfish service rendered. Under the Civil Works program of the National Government. labor has been furnished to grade a playground in the rear of the Centre School, and to paint that school, the Whitefield School and the portable school buildings. It is expected that such work will be continued until May and possibly other school improvements will be obtained. Ten years ago, the School Committee war increased to its pres- ent number of six. This has proved to be a very efficient size and our experience is borne out in other towns, for six seems to be the usual size for School Committees in the larger towns in Mas- sachusetts. A committee greater than six, tends to div'de itself into political parties and blocs, and so fails to function in an im- partial way as school committees; while committees of three in general fail to be efficient because one member mentally dom- inates the second member and the two acting to-gether, over-ride or ignore the third. Such a committee becomes a one-man power. For the ensuing year, a large appropriation is absolutely neces- sary. It has been demonstrated that the cramped school condi- tions are impairing the benefits which the children in the higher grades should receive. In this manner, a word to the wise should be sufficient. JOHN W. HATHAWAY, Chairman, HELEN H. BUCK, OLIVIA H. NORCROSS, ALFRED S. ALLEN, NORMANN W. PERRY, HARRY W. DeLORIEA, Committee. S3 School Committee John W. Hathaway, Chairman Alfred S. Allen Norman W. Perry Helen H. Buck Olivia H. Norcross Harry W. DeLoried Term expires 1936 Term expires 1934 Term expires 1934 Term expires 1935 Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936 Secretary Stephen G. Bean Superintendent of Schools School Physician School Nurse Stephen G. Bean Ernest C. MacDougall, M. D. Esther H. Nichols SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1934 Winter Term January 2. to February 24 - eight weeks. Vacation one week. Winter-Spring Term March 5, to April 27 - eight weeks Vacation one week. Spring Term May 7, to June 29 - eight weeks. Summer Vacation Fall Term September 10, to December 21 - fifteen weeks Holidays February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12, November 11, and November 30. 84 REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS To the Wilmington School Committee: Ladies and Gentlemen: I herewith present my tenth in the series of annual reports of the Superintendent of Schools. In these days of the reduced budgets for expenditures for educa- tion it is difficult to present a cheering or cheerful report on the condition of the school system. It is peculiarly difficult in Wil- mington because of the fact that in years when other communities were spending, on the average, one hundred twenty dollars per pupil for education, we were c.ruggling along on less than seventy dollars. It must be evident that in those places spending one hun- dred dollars, a ten per cent cut need not present anything like the hardship that a similar cut would mean to a town spending less than seventy. That seventy seemed, by comparison, a rock bottom level. cutting that ten per cent, and still expecting results does not seem good sense. It seemed even less reasonable in view of the fact that in 1930 the budget had been $71,000 for about 1,002 pupils. This was cut in 1931 to $67,500 and the enrollment increased to 1.018. In 1932 another slice was lopped off leaving $66.000 for about 1.100 pupils. The climax arrived in 1933 with a reduction to $60.000 and an enrollment of 1,120. The per pupil average allowance was thus reduced to less than $55 per pupil. Thus in four years enrollment had increased 10% and the appropriation was cut 14℃. Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.