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CHARLESTOWN 629 PONDFEILDE 1638
MALDEN
NORTHEND
1649
Melrose Public Library Melrose, Massachusetts
MP
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/cityofmelroseann1922melr
ANGIER L. GOODWIN, MAYOR
CITY OF MELROSE MASSACHUSETTS
Annual Reports 1922
WITH
Mayor's Inaugural Address Delivered January 2nd, 1922
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101 PLORED 1628 .
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CHARLESTOWN 1629
POND FEILDE 1638
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· MALDEN ·
NORTH END
1649.
850.
INCOR ORPORATED
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PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY CLERK AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE
THE COPLEY PRESS, Melrose. Mass. 1923
cap 2
MELROSE PUBLIC LIBRARY MELROSE. MASS.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF Hon. Angier L. Goodwin Mayor of Melrose, Massachusetts
JANUARY SECOND NINETEEN HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO
Mr. President and Members of the Board of Aldermen:
We start today a new year in the civic life of Melrose. Problems of considerable moment are calling for consideration. There has never been a time in the history of the city when it has been more essential for its officials to exercise their highest judgment. The tax payers look to us to keep the tax rate down, and yet we know that there are certain automatic increases in some city departments, and we are also confronted with the fact that there will be a decrease in the amount we shall receive from the State for corporation taxes. The conclusion is inevitable that we must make every effort to keep at a minimum the amount to be raised by taxation for current expenses.
But our responsibility is not only to the tax-payer of today; it is also to the citizen of tomorrow. We must go forward as a munici- pality. If we try to stand still, we shall go backward. We must be progressive. Many public improvements have been foregone in the past few years, which are now crying for attention. Some of these we should start this year. And this is our task; to exercise economy and at the same time be progressive; 'to give our people those public improvements which they see provided in other cities, and still act as faithful stewards of the municipal corporation purse which is placed in our hands as trustees for the tax-payers who pay the bills. This responsibility ought to be a sobering influence and insure our most careful and conscientious study of the problems which are before us.
Your Honorable Board have before you the matter of new school buildings. At an early date I shall submit to you certain facts and fig- ures concerning the necessary land to be acquired and I shall hope that no obstacles may arise to prevent an early start in the erection of the proposed addition to the Warren School and a new building in Ward Seven. This will carry out the plan we had in mind and in pur- suance of which the Legislature granted us authority to borrow two hundred thousand dollars outside the debt limit. The matter is of
4
CITY OF MELROSE
first importance and until the appropriation is made to cover this initial step in our School building program we ought not to go very far in contemplation of other large enterprises.
One of the first major matters to engage your attention will be the proposed Memorial city hall. You will be able to approach a con- sideration of this question with two well established facts before you which are beyond dispute. First, the need of better accommodations for the municipal departments in city hall, and second, the desirability of an early determination of the form of memorial to be given by the city in commemoration of the valorous services of the veterans of the world war.
The present city hall is woefully inadequate for the decent dispatch of public business. Those who are responsible for the discharge of this business are the sufferers in the first instance, but the tax-payers, for whom the business is done, are the real sufferers in the long run. I will not enumerate specific examples of over-crowding, for it is a matter of common knowledge. Almost every department is tremend- ously handicapped by inadequate conditions. The citizens are entitled to a certain degree of privacy when they come to city hall on busi- ness and there is very little privacy possible under present conditions. Very few communities as progressive as ours would have tolerated so long the transaction of its public business under conditions so out of date. I believe our people are ready to approve a plan to combine in one structure quarters in which the various city departments may function in adequate and modern surroundings, and quarters to be dedicated to our heroes of the world war and used by them as a per- manent headquarters. This proposition is so important, however, that it should have your most careful consideration before final action, and every reasonable opportunity should be afforded the citizens to examine and discuss with you such preliminary plans as you may have before you.
I urge once more the creating of a Board of Assessments Review to consist of fourteen citizens to be appointed, two from each ward, to pass upon the work of the Assessors in the valuation of real estate. A similar plan has been carried out in other cities with good results, and I firmly believe that this plan would result in a better feeling among our citizens as to the uniformity of valuation.
In my Inaugural Address of a year ago I recommended the passage of an ordinance to restrict the character of buildings on certain streets. Such ordinance failed of passage upon the rendering of an opinion of the former city solicitor that such action would be unconstitutional. It appears that this objection is now removed by an opinion of the Justices of the Supreme Court, and I recommend your early attention
5
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
to this very important matter. We should lose no time in zoning the city and thus regulate the character of buildings with reference to the particular location, in the interests of the proper future development of the community.
Among the things which I think the city has outgrown is the giv- ing of the fire alarm and no-school signal by the stroke of a bell. I recommend instead the installation of a fire whistle.
I suggest that you make a careful study of the nomenclature of Melrose streets. Much confusion results from similarity of names. Certain streets are known by numbers, this being the remains of a somewhat ancient system of nomenclature which has since broken down and leaves a rather absurd situation. There is considerable confusion in the case of two sets of numbers on a street with the same name lying partly in Melrose and partly in Stoneham. That portion of this street which lies in Melrose should be renamed. A study of this situa- tion will probably show a multiplication of confusing names and I believe such study would be well worth while.
I submit for your careful consideration the question of setting apart a suitable space on city land for a municipal camp-ground. Auto- mobile touring with camp equipment is a western idea entirely out of the experimental stage, and lias now taken a firm hold on every part of the country. I predict that Massachusetts cities within a very few years will be providing facilities for automobile campers. So far as I am advised the City of Springfield is the only one in the Common- wealth thus far to do this. I would like to see Melrose one of the first to follow. I am of the opinion that we would find our Board of Trade ready and eager to assume such slight burdens of this under- taking as a municipality, under Massachusetts laws, might be pro- hibited from doing.
The question of street railway transportation remains a bother- some one, and there is probably scant solace in the fact that the problem is not peculiar to Melrose, but exists in neighboring cities and towns. The public trustees have encountered difficulties which are readily apparent; on the other hand they have had a considerable time in which to bring about improvements in the service. Whether there has been any improvement is open to doubt. In the meantime we have been very patient. It is my purpose to begin with this new year to press vigorously for at least some tangible betterment of our street railway accommodations. We cannot in fairness, I suppose, expect a lower fare. I believe we have a right to expect the maintenance of a regular schedule of running time, a more flexible fare zoning, extra transfer privileges and the restoration of a through service to Everett Station of the Elevated. This I shall ask for.
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CITY OF MELROSE
I renew the recommendation which I made a year ago for the creation of a Recreation Commission to encourage, promote and regulate outdoor sports. This Board would supplement and not duplicate the activities of the Park Commission, the School Committee, the Board of Trade, and various other unofficial organizations. We have scarcely commenced to realize the value of giving to our boys and girls, to our young people, and to our outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, the utmost, consistent with our financial ability, in opportunities to engage in the various health-giving sports and games to be enjoyed in the open. Our playgrounds and possibly other vacant spaces should be sprayed for skating, space on Ell Pond kept free from snow, hockey developed, and a carnival held once every winter for exhibitions and contests in skat- ing, skiing, snowshoeing and toboganning. Various summer sports even more readily suggest themselves, including tennis, facilities for which we ought to provide to meet the present insistent demand. All these things make for better health, and help to insure a better citizenship of tomorrow, and the promotion and regulations of recreation deserves to be placed in the hands of a special administrative board.
I hope the city will adhere to the present policy of highways im- provements. Our streets are generally in excellent condition, but I believe it is good economy to continue with highway construction and highway repairs just as far as our resources will permit. Your Honor- able Board should exercise the best of good judgment in determining where the money available should be spent, having in mind the greatest good to the greatest number and a uniform development of the entire city without prejudice to any section. We should permanently con- struct as rapidly as conditions will allow the main entrance streets. My belief is that the next street construction propositions to be un- dertaken are Franklin Street and Swains Pond Avenue.
I hope to see this year a start made on a comprehensive plan to develop and improve a number of narrow ways, of which Dill's Court, is an example, situated almost in the heart of the city. This plan when finally carried out would greatly increase our valuation. I can conceive of no enterprise upon which we could embark at this time which would promise greater improvement or pay better dividends for the future.
We should improve the approach to Wyoming Cemetery from Lebanon Street. Sylvan Street from Main Street easterly to the main entrance is in good condition, but from that point to Lebanon Street the roadway is narrow and not wide enough for vehicles to pass. This part of Sylvan Street should be widened and macadamized and a granolithic sidewalk constructed. If anywhere we may well be jealous of physical surroundings, it is in the immediate approaches to our beautiful city of the dead.
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
The acquiring by the City of the Pleasant Street property now oc- cupied by the city stables should be followed shortly by the discon- tinuance of this property for that purpose and it's utilization for park purposes. I shall shortly forward to you plans for the erection of such a building on the Tremont Street city stables site as will enable the removal of all public works property as well as the unsightly building on the Keating lot. I shall recommend that this work be speedily done.
I urge your early consideration of the increasing need of a mu- nicipal garage. A suitable lot of land should be acquired reasonably near city hall upon which should be erected a modern structure capable of housing all the automotive apparatus of the city outside the fire de- partment. The consummation of this plan, together with the provision for a city mechanician now pending before your Board, will, in my judgment, be an improvement distinctly justified from the standpoint of eventual economy.
The handling of the automobile traffic is bound to give us increas- ing trouble with each succeeding year. It is proposed to carry out in Melrose the system of uniform road markings endorsed by the state highway authorities, and to increase the number of so-called "silent policemen." But this is not enough. We must provide for greater protection to the public by having traffic officers stationed for longer hours at more prominent street intersections. I propose to have our policemen do less patrol duty and more traffic duty. An officer on traffic duty at a given corner may always be found in case of emer- fency. I further recommend that the police department should be supplied with a motorcycle to be used by a traffic officer for enforcing the laws against speeding which are now being pretty consistently violated in certain parts of the city. The perfection of the flying ma- chine, apparently some years in the future, will solve to some extent the problem of congestion of motor vehicles in the public highways, but until that time comes we shall see this problem annually growing more acute, with gradually stiffening rules and regulations on the part of the state and local authorities. We should not hesitate to let it be known that Melrose is one city where automobile traffic rules and laws must be honored not in the breach but in the observance.
Under the recent constitutional amendment, the Commonwealth is now committed to biennial elections of state officials. The majority of the cities now have biennial elections for Mayor. I believe we should ask the Legislature for authority to establish a two-year term for Mayor in Melrose. With a citizenship like ours the possibility of the election of a corrupt or unsafe Mayor is remote. An annual election means the diverting into the channels of a political campaign of energies which ought to be centered in the orderly conduct of adminis- trative affairs.
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CITY OF MELROSE
The greatly increased use of automobiles in winter gives rise to the problem of proper protection to boys and girls coasting in the street. It is wrong for the city to countenance the use of a street for coasting and not take reasonable steps to protect the coasters from the dangers of traffic. We should restrict the use of the highways for coasting to such streets as we are able to adequately cover at street intersections by traffic policemen.
Melrose is fortunate in having a revitalized merchant's organiza- tion in its Board of Trade. We should take every opportunity to co- operate with the Board of Trade in every movement looking to the upbuilding of the city, and we should in return of course expect their cooperation with the city government. The prosperity of our local merchants is indissolubly linked with the prosperity of the city and all its people. A full realization of this fact on the part of every citizen would be a tremendous step in the physical and civic upbuilding of Melrose. The city government should also strive to cooperate in every proper way with every other organization in the city which stands for civic improvement. In every concerted movement along these lines there is but one common interest, and that is making the city in which we live a better city in which to live.
And now, Honorable Aldermen, may I say in conclusion, that I desire nothing in the coming year more earnestly than I desire your co- operation. I desire to work with you in a harmonious effort to fulfill our common obligation to the people who have entrusted us with power. Let us resolve tonight, as we stand on the threshold of a new year, that we shall so act as public officials that when we come to account for our stewardship at the end of 1922, our citizens may be able to say that this city government has done what it could to make Melrose grow; that this city government has done what it could to keep Mel- rose clean.
GOVERNMENT of the City of Melrose, 1922
Mayor .
ANGIER L. GOODWIN
President of the Board of Aldermen H. RAY WILSON
City Clerk W. DeHAVEN JONES
Office, Mel. 0080 Res., Mel. 0275-R
Aldermen-at-Large
Ward
George H. Jackman, 3 Carney Terrace.
4
Leslie F. Keene, 146 Wyoming Ave., West 5
Arthur L. Marr, 236 Foster Street, East. 6
Carl E. Shumway, 25 Bellevue Avenue 4
William A. Carrie, 22 York Terrace. . 1
John Dike, 112 Emerson Street, West 4
Llewellyn H. McLain, 76 Wyoming Avenue, East. 5
Ward Aldermen
Frank S. Leavitt, 36 York Terrace 1 1
Winfield C. Littlefield, 200 Melrose Street 1
Lorenzo J. Peabody, 1087 Main Street 2
1 H. Ray Wilson, 818 Main Street. 2
Joseph R. Hebblethwaite, 26 High Street, North 3
Benning L. Wentworth, 75 Beech Avenue. 3
Lorin A. Presby, 20 Emerson Place 4
Willis A. Smith, 21 Lake Avenue. 4
Charles B. Camerlin, 88 Florence Street. 5
Chester I. Chase, 1 Alden Street. 5
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CITY OF MELROSE
Walter F. Chapman, 321 Foster Street, East. 6
Walter A. T. Norris, 136 Foster Street, East. 6 Jesse H. Holt, 103 Meridian Street. 7
Nelson J. Sanford, 379 Swain's Pond Avenue 7
MELROSE BOARD OF ALDERMEN STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1922
Appropriations Alderman Carrie, Chairman. Dike, Keene, McLain, Sanford, Shumway, Norris, Presby and Camerlin
Education, Health and Charity Alderman Norris, Chairman. Presby, Jackman, Marr, Camerlin, Smith and Holt
Finance Alderman Dike, Chairman. Peabody, Carrie, Norris, Sanford, Leavitt and Holt
Highways Alderman Keene, Chairman. Sanford, Littlefield, Shumway, Peabody, Chapman and Hebblethwaite
Protection and Licenses Alderman McLain, Chairman. Camerlin, Wentworth, Chapman, Smith, Hebblethwaite and Chase
Public Service Alderman Shumway, Chairman. Wentworth, Mclain, Keene, Marr, Littlefied and Leavitt
Legal and Legislative Matters President Wilson, Chairman. Jackman, Carrie, Dike, Peabody, Presby and Chase
Clerk of Committees VICTOR C. KIRMES
City Officers
City Clerk W. DeHAVEN JONES
Assistant City Clerk and Clerk of Committees Victor C. Kirmes
City Treasurer William R. Lavender
-
City Collector William A. Carrie
-
City Auditor William T. Wolley
-
Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works George O. W. Servis
Mayor's Clerk Blanche E. Nickerson
City Solicitor Charles H. Gilmore
Chief of Fire Department Joseph Edwards, retired Frank C. Newman
Chief of Police George E. Kerr
Inspector of Buildings William S. Allen
12
CITY OF MELROSE
Inspector of Plumbing Andrew J. Burnett
Inspector of Food David O. Parker
Inspectors of Slaughtering
David O. Parker
Calvert H. Playdon
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar H. E. Berger, Jr.
Collector of Milk Samples Thomas F. Harris
Inspector of Animals Calvert H. Playdon
Sealer of Weights and Measures Philip B. Carruthers
Superintendent Brown Tail and Gypsy Moth John J. Mccullough
Burial Agent Mary A. Kenah
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Agent State Military Aid and Soldiers' Relief Mary A. Kenah
13
CITY OFFICERS
Assessors Fred'k W. Patten, term expires 1925 Joshua T. Nowell, term expires 1923 John C. Crolly, term expires 1924
Assistant Assessors
Nellie L. Messenger
Mary Anderton Harriett C. Holdich
Inspector of Wires
Fred A. Edwards
Board of Health Clarence P. Holden, M. D., Chairman
William A. Tomer Melvin A. Walter
Lillian H. Wiley, Clerk
City Physician Clarence P. Holden, M. D.
School Physicians
Elizabeth Hirst
Edward L. Marr Albert E. Small
Public Health Nurse
Mrs. Myrtle S. Meriam
Overseers of the Poor Adeline G. Reed, Chairman
Thomas F. Troy
Eugene L. Pack
Pratt Farm Closed November 1, 1918
14
CITY OF MELROSE
Park Commission
Addison L. Winship, Chairman.
Term expires 1924
Andrew F. Evers, resigned; Richard H. Lord.
66
66
1925
Robert A. Perkins.
66
66
1923
Harry N. Vaughn.
66
66
1922
Gustaf E. Johnson
66
66
1926
School Committee
William Coggeshall, Chairman.
Term expires 1923
Josiah D. Bullens.
1923
F. Janet Habberley
1924
Isabelle Stantial.
66
66
1924
Paul H. Provandie.
66
66
1924
William B. Alexander
66
1922
Harry F. Sears
66
66
1922
Mabel B. Dole
60
66
1923
Sinking Fund Commissioners
Edward J. Kitching, Chairman
Term expires 1925
Franklin P. Shumway.
66
1923
Everett L. Fuller, deceased; Maurice G. Cochrane.
66 1924
Trustees of Public Library
Rev. Paul Sterling, Chairman
Term expires 1924
Clara G. Muldoon.
66
1925
Neil Divver.
1925
Frank W. Campbell.
66
66 1923
Mary C. Barton
66
1923
Ralph G. Harman.
66
1924
..
1922
William T. Atwood.
66
Cemetery Committee Willis C. Goss, Chairman
J. Henry Kunhardt
Peter H. Ackerman Victor C. Kirmes, Clerk Roscoe A. Leavitt, Supt. Wyoming Cemetery Richard J. T. Roome, Inspector of Graves of Soldiers and Sailors
15
CITY OFFICERS
Registrars of Voters
Edwin L. Cragin, Chairman Term expires 1925 John J. Keating 66 1923 Edwin J. Tirrell 1924 66 W. DeHaven Jones, City Clerk, ex-Officio
Engineers of Fire Department
Joseph Edwards, Chief, retired; Frank C. Newman Charles F. Woodward, Deputy Chief
Public Weighers of Merchandise
Fred H. Goss
John F. Rand
Flora M. Harris
Charles B. Goss
Grace F. Gilbert
Patrick J. Kervin
Glenna B. Towner
James G. Stiles
Patrick G. DeCourcy
George E. Findlay
Josiah Ginns
Enoch R. Pye
James McTiernan
Richard T. Ricker
Charles F. Woodward
Arnold K. Prior
Mrs. M. A. McDonough
Dennis J. Murphy
Albert J. Waghorne
John T. Craven
Robert A. Dickson
Clifford Thompson
James H. Jeffery
Edward A. Hearstin
C. Raymond Herald
Field Driver M. James Hanley
Pound Keeper M. James Hanley
Daniel J. Lucey
Fence Viewers Lewis C. Hoyt
Charles H. Everson
William H. Burns Louis B. Heaton
Constables M. James Hanley George E. Burke
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CITY OF MELROSE
Dog Officer M. James Hanley
Keeper of the Lock-up George E. Kerr
Police Officers
George E. Kerr, Chief
Louis B. Heaton, Captain
George E. Fuller
Allston H. Pineo
Wallace B. Eaton
Frank N. Pierce
Garfield Carpenter
Michael Reardon
Daniel J. Foley
Albert A. McBeth
Frederick M. Kirmes
William A. Riley
Michael J. Brennan
William T. Fahy, Inspecto.
Patrick H. O'Leary
Joseph V. Curran
Robert A. Lloyd
Harold S. Wolley
Reserve Officers
Walter Herbert Wells
John W. Holden
Harvey D. Forbes Edwin E. Spraker
Special Officers
M. James Hanley
Burgess W. Grover
Edgar Sherburne Joseph A. Lavin
Special Officers to Serve Without Pay
Edward P. Mclaughlin
George H. Cray
Arthur S. Moreland
O. S. Davenport
Roscoe A. Leavitt
Harry H. Thompson
F. C. Newman
Charles J. Wing
Charles W. Burnham
George W. Higgins
WVm. H. Winfield
Chester W. Woodbury
A. B. McIlwraith Leon F. Crane
Philip B. Caruthers
John J. Mccullough
Elias H. Hislop
17
CITY OFFICERS
Planning Board
Agnes L. Dodge
Term expires 1923
Frank H. Noyes.
1922
E. Gertrude Copeland.
66
1922
Albe S. Noyes.
66
1922
Robert L. Briggs
66
1924
Eva G. Osgood.
66
1924
Albert F. Hussey
66
66
1-924
Edward E. Prior
66
66
1923
George C. Glover
66
1923
Advisory Committee on Memorial Building
Dr. Frank A. Newman
Term expires 1925
Clarance T. Fernald.
66
1925
Fred E. Ellis.
66
66
1925
Elmer Wilson.
1925
Fredeirck U. Corson
..
1924
Nellie F. Luce.
66
1924
Ethel G. Collins
66
1924
Elizabeth M. Stetson.
66
6
1924
Edward L. Evans
66
1923
J. Sydney Hitchins
1923
Dr. Walter H. Flanders
66
1923
Board of Survey
E. Copeland Lang. .
Term expires 1923
William N. Folsom
66
1922
William E. Waterhouse
66
1924
66
66
66
Annual Report of the School Dept. School Committee for 1923
Name
Residence
Term Expires
Harry F. Sears
44 Oris St.
1925
William Coggeshall
158 E. Foster St.
1924
Mrs. Mabel B. Dole
24 W. Emerson St. 1923
Mr. Josiah D. Bullens
254 Porter St.
1923
Mr. Henry N. Andrews
54 York Terrace .
1925
Mr. Frank J. Sherman
167 Porter St. 1925
Mrs. Isabelle Stantiall
146 Florence St.
1924
Mr. Elmer O. Goodridge
463 Lebanon St.
. 1924
Mrs. F. Janet Habberley
17 Bellevue Ave. .
1924
William Coggeshall, Chairman
Herman H. Stuart, Secretary
Meetings of the Committee
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the Com- mittee Room, High School Building, on the first Monday of every month, except during July and August, at 7.30 p. m.
Superintendent of Schools
Herman H. Stuart
11 Bartlett Street Office: High School Building-Tel. Office Melrose 2284, and 2285 Residence, Mel. 0609-M
Gladys W. Tower
Secretary 109 Highland Ave., Melrose Tel. Melrose 1039-R
STANDING COMMITTEES
Finance and Supplies
Mr. Bullens Mr. Sears Mr. Sherman Mr. Goodridge Mr. Andrews
Mr. Sherman
Schoolhouses and Janitors Mr. Goodridge
Mr. Bullens
Teachers and Salaries
Mr. Sears Mrs. Habberley Mrs. Dole Mrs. Stantial
Text Books and Courses of Study
Mrs. Stantial Mrs. Dole Mrs. Habberley Mr. Andrews
The Chairman of the School Committee is a member, ex-officio, of all standing committees.
20
CITY OF MELROSE
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Legislative
Mr. Coggeshall
Mr. Sears
Mr. Bullens
VISITING COMMITTEES
High School. School Committee
Franklin and Whittier Schools. Mrs. Dole
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