USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1943-1944 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
Fire Insurance
1,000.00
Cemetery
On an amendment offered by Louis T. McMahon, it was voted that the Town appropriate
$2,750.00, for the Cemetery Department, $2,000.00, to be raised by taxes and $750.00 to be transferred from Cemetery Account. $ 2,000.00
Reserve Fund $ 750.00 $ 5,000.00
$ 10,350.00
WATER DEPARTMENT
On motion of Herbert S. Barrows, it was voted to ap- propriate the receipts of the Water Department, $7,688.25 to be applied to the interest Account and $7,000.00 to Ma- turing Department.
INTEREST
On an amendment offered by Herbert C. Bar- rows, it was voted to strike out the figure $1,700 and substitute there for the figure $2,011.75 to be raised by taxation and the further sum of $7,688.25, to be transferred from Water Depart- ment Revenue.
MATURING DEPARTMENT
On an amendment offered by Herbert C. Bar- rows, it was voted that the sum of $16,200, be raised by taxation and the further sum of $7.000 be transferred from Water Revenue.
Total amount to be raised by taxation under Article 4 $229.066.75
Article 5. On motion of John D. Cooke, it was voted that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning Jannary 1, 1943, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year and to renew any
23
note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, of the General Laws.
Article 6. On motion of Charles H. Black, it was voted that the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), be raised and appropriated to pay for effecting insurance providing idemnity for the protection of the officers and employees of the Highway, Police and Cemetery Depart- ments, of the Town against loss by reason of their liability to pay damages to others for bodily injuries including death, at any time re- sulting therefrom, caused by the operation within the scope of their official duties of employment of motor vehicles owned by the Town to an amount not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) on account of injury to or death of one person, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Chapter 40, of the General Laws as amended.
Article 7. On motion of J. Turner Hood, it was voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00), for the observance of Memorial Day and that the Moderator appoint a Committee which shall have charge of such observance.
The Moderator appointed the following committee:
John H. Simpson, G. A. R .; Ernest C. Cail, American Legion; Ed- win J. Twomey, American Legion; Justice Balser, American Legion; Louis Kennedy, V. F. W .; Elizabeth Kelley, American Legion Auxili- ary; Lena Cavanaugh, V. F. W. Auxiliary; Paul W. Dayton, American Legion; John H. Doyle, American Legion; Joseph B. McMahon, Amer- ican Legion; Herbert Higganbotham, V. F. W .; Howard Cates Amer- ican Legion, V. F. W .; Anna Barry, American Legion Auxiliary; Evelyn Gordon, V. F. W. Auxiliary; Honorary member, Susan T. Esler, Past State President, American Legion Auxiliary.
Article 8. On motion of Charles H. Black, it was voted that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell at Public Auction in the evening, properties taken by the Town under Tax Title foreclosure procedure, and be authorized to execute all documents necessary to carry out the purposes of this vote, provided however, that before any sales are made due notice of the time and place of sale shall be given by advertising in the local paper and Lowell Sun, at least fourteen (14) days before the sale and deeds executed hereunder must be recorded within twenty (20) days of their execution.
Article 9. On motion of Frank W. Dayton, it was voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00), for the purchase of one (1) truck for the use of the Highway Department, also authorize the Board of Selectmen to pur- chase the same.
24
Article 10. On motion of Walter G. Buckle, it was voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Three Hundred Twenty Five Dollars ($1,325.00), to pay Welfare bills, due other cities and Towns, incurred in previous years.
Article 11. On motion of Charles H. Black, it was voted that the sum of One Hundred Dollars and Eighty-three cents, ($100.83), be raised and appropriated to pay bills incurred by Departments of the Town in the year 1942.
Police Department $61.83
Health and Sanitation $39.00
Article 12. On motion of John D. Cooke, it was voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), the money to be expended under the direction of the 4-H Town Com- mittee serving in co-operation with the Middlesex County Extension Service under the provisions of Section 40 to 45, Chapter 129, General Laws of Massachusetts.
Article 13. On motion of Steven Colucci, it was voted that the Board of Public Welfare be and it is hereby authorized to appoint one of its members as agent for the Board and that the salary of such agent (which shall be the only compensation received by him from any source for services performed as such agent) be and the same is hereby fixed at the annual amount of Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($1,500), to be paid from and in conformity with the appropriation voted for the use of said Board
Article 14. On motion of Charles H. Black, it was voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Hundred ($700) Dollars, plus unexpended balance of 1942, for the purpose of Civilian Defense and for the protection of the people and property in the Town as set forth in and authorized by Chapter 487, of the Acts of 1941.
Article 15. On motion of August G. Macleod, it was voted that the Town purchase the so-called Roman property on Church Street, consisting of about eighteen acres of land with buildings thereon, for school purposes, and that the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), be and the same is hereby transferred from excess and deficiency account and appropriated to be expended by the Board of Selectmen in consummating such purchase on behalf of the Town, and that the said property, after its acquisition by the Town, shall be in charge of the School Committee.
Article 16. On motion of August G. Macleod. it was voted that the Town authorize the School Committee to sell to the United States
25
Government or to any agency or Department thereof, such number of typewriters, the property of the School Department of the Town, as in the discretion of the Committee can be spared from said Department.
Article 17. On motion of Frank W. Dayton, it was voted that the Town accept Brand Avenue from Richmond Street to Baker Street, a distance of 1800 feet, more or less, as laid out by the Board of Select- mien as the Board of Survey.
Article 18. On motion of John D. Cooke, it was voted that the Town accept Grant Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, a distance of 780 feet, more or less, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as the Board of Survey.
Article 19. On motion of Charles H. Black, it was voted that the Town accept Wilson Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, a distance of 760 feet, more or less, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as the Board of Survey.
Article 20. On motion of Frank W. Dayton, it was voted that the Town accept Lincoln Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, a distance of 720 feet, more or less, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as the Board of Survey.
Article 21. On motion of John D. Cooke, it was voted that the Town accept Pershing Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, a distance of 720 feet, more or less, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as the Board of Survey.
Article 22. On motion of Frank W. Dayton, it was voted that the Town accept Liberty Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine, a distance of 740 feet, more or less, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as the Board of Survey.
Article 23. On motion of Charles H. Black, it was voted that the · Town accept Mackey Road from Federal Street to a distance of 250 feet, more or less, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as the Board of Survey.
On motion of Frank W. Dayton, it was voted to adjourn.
There were 127 registered voters present.
Attest:
WILLIAM S. CAVANAUGH,
Town Clerk.
26
VITAL STATISTICS
BIRTHS -
Number of Births recorded in 1943
116
MARRIAGES
.... 57
DEATHS
Number of Deaths recorded in 1943
62
Persons 70 years and over who died during the year 1943:
Years
Months
Annette Brown
81
6
Mary E. Cole
85
7
John W. Dailey
78
0
Ira W. Davis
79
7
Josephine Dillaway
70
0
Anne D. Doucette
100
9
Cyrus B. Fetredge
83
9
Mary E. Gavin
72
2
Emily R. Hamilton
74
0
Bessie L. Hilton
82
8
Fannie E. Howe
81
4
Ralph G. Howe
79
5
Clara Henderson
73
0
Lizzie F. Keyes
81
3
Abbie S. Mason
81
10
Margaret A. McAndrews
78
0
Adelia C. McPhee
73
1
Charles J. Nichols
78
1
Abbie J. Reilley
73
6
August Rouleau
83
0
Charles J. Sargent
80
2
John H. Simpson
94
4
Georgia A. Stanton
76
3
Mabel W. Wiley
75
9
Clifford Wilson
72
0
George L. Taylor
75
7
Report of Burials for Wildwood Cemetery for the Year 1943.
Wilmington residents died in Wilmington
13
Wilmington residents died elsewhere
18
Non-residents buried in Wilmington
15
Total
46
ERNEST W. EAMES,
Superintendent.
27
Number of Marriages recorded in 1943
Money Paid Town Treasurer on Dog License Account
Whole number licensed.
332
Males 246 Females 32 Spayed 54
By cash paid Town Treasurer
$ 690.00
Report of Division of Fisheries and Game Licenses
Whole number issued
269
Resident Citizen Fishing
93
Resident Citizen Hunting 74
Resident Citizen Sporting
53
Resident Minors and Women's Fishing 25
Resident Citizen Trapping (Minors)
1
Resident Citizen Trapping
4
Resident Citizen Sporting (Free)
14
Resident Military and Naval Sporting (Free)
3
Duplicate licenses
2
Compiled Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths
Number on hand January 1, 1943 93
Number on hand January 1, 1944 93
These records are on sale by a vote of the Selectmen at $1.00 per copy. (Book stores are allowed to purchase these copies at 60 cents each) and may be obtained from the Town Clerk.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM S. CAVANAUGH,
Town Clerk.
The Town Clerk will furnish to parents, householders, physicians and midwives applying therefor, blanks for returns of Births as re- quired by law.
28
JURY LIST-TOWN OF WILMINGTON (Revised 1943)
Name
Occupation
Address
David Anderson
Leather Worker
Park Street
Thomas Bailey
Retired
Main Street
Charles A. Baldwin
Ass't. Stevedore
Jones Avenue
James D. Blake
Accountant
Middlesex Avenue
Fred F. Cain James W. Castine
Leather Worker
Columbia Street
John W. Cooke
Retired
Aldrich Road
Ernest M. Crispo
Stone Mason
Joseph Cunningham
Machinist
Hopkins Street Off Glen Rd. Glen Road Jones Avenue
William P. Curtin Lawrence H. Cushing Paul W. Dayton
Draftsman
Electrician
Burlington Ave. Chestnut St.
Philip F. Denner
Supervisor
Clarence W. Doucette
Engineer
Ballardvale St. Adams Street Middlesex Ave.
Adrian A. Durkee
Barber
Ernest W. Eames
Laundryman
Talbot Emery
Shipper
William Ferrick
Shipper
John J. Finnerty
Manager
Walter Fitch
Sales Representative
Hillside Way Off Salem St.
Edwin Forrest
Stock Esp.
Silverhurst Ave.
Clarence Gardiner
Mechanic
Middlesex Ave.
Harry E. Goodearl
Salesman
Federal St. Cottage St.
William S. Hale
Fireman
Columbia St.
Ralph Henderson
Mechanic
Woburn St.
Herbert Higginbotham Security Salesman
Chestnut St.
Gilbert T. Hill
Janitor
Lowell St. Thurston Ave.
Hans J. Larson
Ironworker
Glen Road
Lloyd S. Lewis
Salesman
Middlesex Ave.
George G. McKittrick
Machinist
Eames St.
Louis A. Munson
Foreman
Church Street
Supt.
Middlesex Ave.
H. Oliver Newcomb Gardiner I. Richie Paul E. Todd
Clerk
Engineer
Lewis J. Waterman
Mechanic
Robert Waters
Bank Clerk
Fairview Ave.
James G. Watters
Laborer
Edward Welling
Supply Officer
Off Federal St. Off Glen Rd.
29
Middlesex Ave. Concord Street Lake Street Adamıs Street Off Beacon St.
Ernest H. Downing
Shipwright
John H. Doyle
Currier
John R. Fleming
Truckman
Walter Goss
Clerk
Arthur G. Kidder
Towerman
Columbia St. Chestnut St. Adams Street
Supervisor
Clark Street
Editor
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Wilmington, Mass., February 8, 1944.
The following is the report of the Board of Assessors for the year 1943:
VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY AS OF JANUARY 1, 1943.
Real Estate $4,111.260.00
Personal Property
373,505.00
RECAPITULATION
Real Estate Tax $ 159,516.66
Personal Property Tax
14,492.02
Poll Tax
3,192.00
Excise Tax
5,361.41
Dec. Commitment (R. E.)
97.00
Total Appropriation
249,784.52
Appropriation from available funds
17,550.00
State Tax
3,700.00
State Parks and Reservations
129.33
County Tax
5,264.37
Tuberculosis Hospital
1,284.60
Amount of Overlay
6,418.86
Overlay Deficits
2,433.87
Gross amount to be raised
286,565.55
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds $ 109,364.87
Total Amount Levied on Polls and Property and commit-
ted to the collector in 1943 177,200.68
$ 286,565.55
Tax Rate per $1000 for 1943 38.80
SCHEDULE OF TOWN PROPERTY, JANUARY 1, 1943.
REAL ESTATE
Water Dept. Buildings Standpipe Equipment and Land ..... $ 416,000.00
School Houses and Lots 138,450.00
Town Hall and Fire Equipment 7,500.00
30
Town Park
4,500.00
Cemetery and Buildings
23,000.00
Library Building and Land
2,000.00
Fire Engine House and Land
2,750.00
Moth House and Land
700.00
Common and Flag Staff
2,500.00
Highway Building and Land
5,000.00
$ 602,400.00
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Highway Trucks Machinery, Etc.
5,000.00
Safes, Furniture, Etc. in Town Hall
2,000.00
Fire Trucks and Equipment
10,000.00
Sprayers and Fixtures
100.00.
Sealers of Weights and Measures Equipment
2,000.00
Police Equipment
3,000.00
Town Ambulance
2,000.00
School Supplies, Furniture, Etc.
9,500.00
Furniture Water Department
500.00
Library Contents
2,800.00
Cemetery Trucks, Tools, Etc.
1,000.00
31
... ... ..
John H. Simpson
John H. Simpson, the oldest citizen of the Town of Wilmington, the last Civil War Veteran in this section, and, for many years, the proud possessor of the "Post Cane" which is given by "The Boston Post" to the oldest male citizens in New England Towns, departed this life on November 5, 1943, at the age of 94.
"Uncle John," as he was kindly called by both young and old, was born in North Reading, Massachusetts, on June 28, 1849, the son of William and Phoebe Kenny Simpson.
At the age of fourteen, on December 8, 1863, he left his work as a shoemaker to enlist in the Civil War. He served in the 1st Battalion, Heavy Artillery, Company D, as a guarder of deserters and of prison- ers of war. On September 15, 1865, at Fort Independence, Boston, he was honorably discharged from the Army.
About seventy-five years ago, he took up residence in the Town of Wilmington, and entered the employ of The Bond Cracker Company. Later, he worked in a tannery and was a special officer and a fire warden for the Town of Wilmington. When the North Reading Sana- torium opened in 1909, under the supervision of Doctor Carl C. Mac- Corison, "Uncle John" drove the team to and from the North Wilming- ton Station to deliver and collect mail for the personnel and patients of the Sanatorium. He did this work for a period of ten years until his retirement at the age of 70.
He was a charter member of Post 194, G. A. R., of Reading, and was the last of the four members of Post 194 which disbanded in 1933. He enjoyed having been an Honorary Member of the Wilmington Le- gion Post 136, and of V. F. W. Nee-Ellsworth Post 2458. Also, for several years, he was a member of Wilmington Friendship Lodge of Masons.
In November, 1879, he married Anna L. Swain, who passed on in 1923. His surviving relatives are grandnieces and grandnephews.
32
JOHN H. SIMPSON
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
In accordance with the requirements of the Town By-Laws, I sub- mit herewith my report as Town Counsel covering the year 1943.
A. On January 1, 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, and of tax lien foreclosure proceedings in the Land Court) :
City of Lowell v. Town of Wilmington, District Court of Lowell. (Action of contract by City of Lowell to recover the sum of $275.96 for special vocational training of certain pupils.)
City of Lowell v. Town of Wilmington, District Court of Lowell. (Action of contract by City of Lowell to recover $657.77 plus interest for aid furnished in a public welfare case.)
City of Lowell v. Town of Wilmington, District Court of Lowell. (Action of contract by City of Lowell to recover $721.90 for aid fur- nished in a public welfare case.)
Town of Wilmington v. City of Cambridge, Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract by Town of Wilmington to recover for aid furnished in public welfare cases: ad damnum $400.)
Town of Wilmington v. Josephine Zanotti et al, Middlesex Superior Court. (Bill in equity to reach proceeds of fire insurance policy in satisfaction of claim for unpaid taxes.)
Town of Wilmington v. Certain Defendants, Middlesex Superior Court. (Bill in equity under the provisions of G. L. Chap. 117, Secs. 6- 11 inclusive.)
Town of Wilmington v. A Certain Defendant, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract under G. L. Chap. 117, Sec- tion 5.)
B. During the year 1943 the following new actions were brought against the Town:
City of Cambridge v. Town of Wilmington, Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract by City of Cambridge to re- cover $1,276.35 for aid furnished in public welfare cases,)
33
Jacob Levine & Sons v. Town of Wilmington, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract to recover burial expense.)
During the year 1943 the Town brought no new actions.
C. During the year 1943 the following actions by or against the Town were settled or disposed of:
The two actions of City of Cambridge v. Town of Wilmington, and Town of Wilmington v. City of Cambridge, listed above as pending on January 1, 1943, were disposed of by agreement of "neither party" in each instance, and the exchange of checks for the amounts owed by Cambridge and Wilmington respectively, as agreed between their re- spective welfare departments.
The case of Town of Wilmington v. Certain Defendants, in the Middlesex Superior Court, was disposed of, after trial, by a finding and decree in favor of the plaintiff, requiring weekly payments by certain of the defendants.
D. Compensation was received by the Town Counsel in said mat- ters and in all other matters during the year as follows:
Compensation $ 400.00
Disbursements
36.79
(The above amounts were entirely on account of services rendered and disbursements paid in the calendar year 1942.)
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP B. BUZZELL,
Town Counsel.
34
WILMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Herewith I submit my report for the Wilmington Police Depart- ment for the year 1943.
As you can see from my tabulated report the Police Department, in comparison to the previous year of 1942, has made 9 less arrests but has investigated 160 more complaints. It has been very noticeable, and possibly due to the exigency of war days, that many of these com- plaints concern juvenile delinquency. The policy of this Department has always been to arrest and produce a minor before the court only as a last resort. I, as Chief of Police, and my officers all agree that a court record against a juvenile is a tremendous deterrent in later years. Consequently, many of these complaints which concerned broken windows and petty larceny by children have been handled by our own probationary department and without having to resort to arrest and conviction by the court.
There have been a number of outstanding cases during this past year, the most prominent of which was the breaking up of a stolen shoes racket operating within and without the confines of our town. With the permission of the court, over 400 pairs of confiscated shoes were donated to the local Red Cross and the operator was sent to the House of Correction. Several other heinous crimes were committed and the perpetrators are now serving prison sentences.
The Police Department has tried to keep the infractions of the motor vehicle laws to a minimum and I am glad to be able to report that there have been no deaths caused this year by motor vehicles. There appears to be a general compliance with regard to the Gover- nor's order regulating war-time speed limits but now and then a viola- tor is apprehended. At the present time the courts deal very severely with them. Consequently, if the breach of the law has not been too serious, and it is a first offense, we have made it a practise to make ont a courtesy card which states the offense and contains a warning to the operator of the vehicle. I have found that in most cases this system has been extremely successful and the offender has a new respect not only for the law he has broken but also for the Town of Wilmington.
35
Due to the fact that the Department has lost 11 men to the Armed Forces, I have had various members of the Special Police giving of their time where and when they could. The group of men formerly called the Auxiliary Police were all appointed special officers in order that they might be allowed to assume the duties of regular policemen when needed. This has been of inestimable value not only to myself but to the Town as a whole. I would like to stress again the fact that these nien generously give of their time at no expense whatever to the Town. We have continued to hold our Thursday night meetings throughout the year. At each meeting we discuss our mutual problems and seek to find how we may better serve our community. This organ- ization, like others throughout the Town has on several occasions been of assistance to the various servicemen's committees and we are always ready and willing to further a worthy cause.
Feeling it to be a great public need, I have requested a new police radio. Our old radio was made obsolete when the State Police, with whom we were connected, changed its frequency and installed new equipment. This made our radio unusable.
The purchase of this new radio, though approved, has been de- layed by the fact of war-time restriction and priorities but should be ready for use in the near future. At the coming Town Meeting I anı going to ask the purchase of a new Police car, in which this radio can be installed, as the present car, having given us excellent service, is in need of many expensive repairs. We must remember that tlie police cruising car is in constant service twenty-four hours a day and must be in such condition to render immediate emergency.
Again this year our Town Ambulance has been used to great ad- vantage. I sincerely feel that is has saved many lives and the Police Department is still grateful to the Town for its purchase. We of the department, and those for whom it has been used, appreciatively realize the excellent service it has rendered. We have been glad to extend service to our neighboring communities in any emergency. For the past year we have had 189 ambulance cases. 1
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to you as the Board of Selectmen, for your hearty cooperation with the Police Department. I also acknowledge gratefully the work of the members of the depart- ment, including the two police women appointed this last year. I also wish to express my appreciation to the citizens of the Town and to the various Departments of the Town for their cooperation.
Respectfully yours,
HARRY J. AINSWORTH,
Chief of Police.
36
ARRESTS
Number of Arrests
106
Males
100
Females
6
Residents
43
Non Residents
63
CAUSES OF ARRESTS
Assault and Battery
3
Attempted Rape
1
Breaking and Entering
5
Delinquent Children
4
Default
1
Drunkenness
52
Deserter from U. S. Army
1
Hunting without a License
2
Larceny
9
Neglected Children
1
Non Support
4
Rape
1
Receiving Stolen Property
1
Stubborn Children
1
Street Litter
4
Violation of Motor Vehicle Laws:
Operating under the Influence
2
Speeding
6
Failing to Stop for an Officer
1
Failing to Slow Down
1
Operating an Unregistered Car
1
Operating an Uninsured Car
1
Failing to show Officer a License
1
Failing to show Officer a Registration 1
Failing to Slow Down at an Intersection
1
Leaving the scene of an Accident
1
16
DISPOSITION OF CASES
Released
10
Filed
6
Discharged by Court
1
Suspended Sentence
15
House of Correction
To Officers of other Cities and Towns
S
To Officers of the United States Army
1
37
.
Fined 21 Fines Imposed
$149.00
9 Probation
State Prison
1
MISCELLANEOUS
Accidents Reported
30
Persons Injured :
Males-24
Females-8
Total
32
Automobile Licenses Revoked and Suspended
18
Automobile Registrations Revoked :
12
Buildings Found Open
15
Dogs Disposed of:
Males-30
Females-22
Total
52
Complaints
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.