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ANNUAL REPORT
-
ity of Attleboro MASSACHUSETTS
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FORTY
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/reportsoftownoff1940attl
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY a316540013027176
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS
OF THE
CITY OF ATTLEBORO
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FOR THE YEAR 1940
ATTLEBORO PRINT, Inc. ATTLEBORO, MASS.
YHARE
3
80943
ANNUAL REPORT
CITY OFFICERS
(Small numbers after office indicate how chosen)
1 Appointed by Mayor. 2 Elected by Council. 3 Elected by Voters. Incumbent
Office Inspector of Animals-1 City Almoner Assessors- 1
City Auditor-2 Building Inspector-1 City Clerk-3
Edward H. Brown
February, 1942
Fred A. Clark
February, 1941
Jan. 1, 1940 to
March 1, 1940
William Marshall
March 1, 1940 to
City Collector-3 Constables-1
Doris L. Austin
January, 1941
Frank C. Estes
February, 1941
William E. Healey
February, 1941
Clarence E. Weeman
February, 1941
Merle L. Clark
February, 1941
Eli Franklin
February, 1941
Vincent E. Coyle
February, 1941
Municipal Council-3 Members-at-large
Harold W. Cole
January, 1941
Dr. Arthur F. Gehrung
January, 1941
G. Dallas Jencks
January, 1941
Francis S. Manchester
January, 1941
Christopher W. McNary
January, 1941
Arthur E. Young
January, 1941
Members-by-Wards
Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4
George H. Entwistle
January, 1941
Bradford E. Tyndall
January, 1941
James A. Freeman
January, 1941
Cyril K. Brennan
January, 1941
Ward 5
Herbert C. Lavigueur
January, 1941
Custodian of Property
Henry Rotenberg
Indefinite
Thomas F. Robinson
June 1, 1941
Dog Officer-1 Electrical Inspector
William S. King
Permanent
Fence Viewer & Field Driver-1 John B. Benson
Fire Department Board of Fire Engineers-1
Fred A. Clark, Chief
Permanent
Hayward H. Sweet, Chairman
February, 1941
February, 1942
February, 1943
William E. Sweeney
February, 1944
Supt. of Fire Alarm-1
William S. King Fred A. Clark
Permanent
Forest Warden-1
City Forester & Moth Supt-1 William E. S. Smith
Mary E. McMahon
February, 1941 Permanent
Health Officer-1
Dental Hygienist
Dr. Ralph P. Kent Barbara H. Greene Appointed by Health Officer)
Term Expires
Dr. Frederick L. Briggs
Frederick J. Franz
Lamont M. Clark
January, 1940
Patrick J. Byrnes, Chairman John J. Hodge
January, 1941 January, 1942
Annie A. Wheeler
March 31, 1941 Permanent
February, 1941 Indefinite
February, 1940
Fred A. Clark Alfred J. Laliberte
February, 1941
Health Nurse (Appointed by Health Officer)
Jan. 1, 1941
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ANNUAL REPORT
Office Sturdy Hospital, City Repre- sentatives on Board of Managers
Incumbent
Term Expires
Board of Licenses-1
Albert W. Evans June, 1941 June, 1943 Frank E. MacDonald Francis P. Cronan, Chairman June. 1945
Public Library, Trustees of-1 Mrs. Margaret W. Conro John Stevenson
February, 1941
Edwin F. Leach, Chairman
February, 1941
Miss Edith L. Claflin
February, 1942 February, 1942
Mrs. Winthrop F. Barden, Sec. February, 1942 Hayward H. Sweet February, 1943 Frederick V. Murphy, M. D. February, 1943 February, 1943 Mrs. Caroline S. Holden Mrs. Lucile Palmer Cavender Indefinite
Librarian
(Appointed by Library Trustees)
Lockup Keeper-1
Ernest W. Holt
February, 1941
Mayor-3
John W. Melntyre
January, 1941
Measurer of Lumber-1
George F. Lincoln
February, 1941
Measurers of Wood & Bark-1
Harold Demers
February, 1941
Richard Bauer Frank J. Donnelly
February, 1941
City Messenger-2 Milk Inspector (Appointed by Health Officer)
Robert C. Perriello
Permanent
Park Commissioners-1
Samuel M. Stone, Chairman Harry C. Wolfenden Thomas G. Sadler John E. Anderson
February, 1941
February, 1942 February, 1943
Park Superintendent (Appointed by Park Commissioners)
City Physician-1 Planning Board-1
Dr. Leo Varden
February, 1941
J. Burleigh Moulton
February, 1941 February, 1942
Rev. Frank L. Briggs
Joseph M. Finberg, Chairman Robert W. Mawney Walter A. Cunningham
February, 1943 February, 1944 February, 1944
Louis M. Currie
February, 1945 February, 1945
C. Wallace Cederberg John Bullock
February, 1941
Plumbing Inspector (Appointed by Health Officer)
Police Commissioners-1
Curtis H. Witham John E. Turner, Clerk Raymond F. Brennan, Chair- man Everett H. Lundsten
February, 1943
February, 1944
Ernest W. Holt February, 1941
Police Department- 1 Public Works Department-1
Robert W. Mawney, Supt.
February, 1942
Recreation Commissioners-1
Wm. A. Blackburn, Chairman George T. Oldham Thomas H. Moore
February, 1939 February, 1941 February, 1943
John W. McIntyre-2 William Marshall, ex-officio Francis S. Manchester-2
February, 1941
February, 1941 February, 1941
February, 1941
Raymond M. Horton, Treas.
February, 1941
Permanent
February, 1941 February, 1942
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ANNUAL REPORT
Office
Incumbent
Term Expires
Board of Registrars-1
Thomas F. Nolan, Chairman
February, 1941
Felix A. Desmarais
February, 1942
February, 1943
February, 1944
Contributory Retirement Board
Edward H. Brown, Ex-officio Louis R. Wilmarth (Elected by Mem. of System)
Indefinite March, 1942
Earl P. Cooper- I
July, 1943
School Committee-3
Harold D. Baker, Jr.
January, 1941
Leland B. Smith
January, 1941
Edwin F. Thayer, Chairman January, 1941
Mrs. Dorothy R. Worman January, 1941
William A. Blackburn
January, 1943
Mrs. Lida H. Holbrook
January, 1943
Allen Remington
January, 1943
Mrs. Rena Rounseville
January, 1943
Mrs. Alice Stobbs
January, 1943
Lewis A. Fales
Permanent
Supt. of Schools (Appointed by School Committee)
School Nurse (Appointed by School Committee)
Dorothy B. Wendell, R. N.
Permanent
School Physician Dr. Jesse W. Battershall
Permanent
(Appointed by School Committee)
Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures-1
Daniel O'Connell February, 1941
Sewer Loan Commission
John W. McIntyre, Mayor, ex-officio William Marshall, City Treasurer, ex-officio Victor R. Glencross-2 February, 1940
Harvey E. Clap-2 February, 1941
Soldiers' Relief and Burial Agent-2
Louis R. Wilmarth February, 1941
City Solicitor-1
Henri G. Proulx February, 1941
City Stenographer-2
Pearl F. Fales February, 1941
City Treasurer-3
William Marshall January, 1941
Trustees of the Capron and Deborah Starkey Funds-All Ex-officio John W. McIntyre, Mayor William Marshall, City Treasurer
Edwin F. Thayer, Chairman of School Com.
Board of Public Welfare-1 Norman J. Stone February, 1941
Paul H. Weiss February, 1942
John B. Stenberg, Chairman February, 1943
1 Appointed by Mayor. 2 Elected by Council. 3 Elected by Voters.
Mrs. Eva L. Kent, Clerk Bernard A. MacDonald
Dr. Arthur F. Gehrung Councilman-at-large
John W. McIntyre Mayor
Harold W. Cole Councilman-at-large
Arthur E. Young Councilman-at-large
G. Dallas Jencks Councilman-at-large
Francis S. Manchester Councilman-at-large President of Council
Christopher W. McNary Councilman-at-large
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ANNUAL REPORT
Bradford E. Tyndall Councilman-Ward 2
Cyril K Brennan Councilman-Ward 4
George H. Entwistle Councilman-Ward 1
James A. Freeman Councilman-Ward 3
Herbert C. Lavigueur Councilman-Ward 5
Pearl F. Fales City Stenographer
Henry Rotenberg Custodian of Land Acquired Through Foreclosure of Tax Titles
ANNUAL REPORT
Leo Varden, M. D. City Physician
Frank J. Donnelly City Messenger
7
Victor R. Glencross Sewer Loan Commissioner
Felix A. Desmarais Board of Registrars
Harvey E. Clap Sewer Loan Commissioner
Bernard A. MacDonald Board of Registrars
00
Thomas F. Nolan. Chairman Board of Registrars
Mrs. Eva L. Kent, Clerk Board of Registrars
ANNUAL REPORT
Inaugural Address
Former City Clerk Annie A. Wheeler administering oath of office to Mayor John W. Mcintyre, Elks' Auditorium, Tuesday, January 7, 1941
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ANNUAL REPORT
Members of the Council, Ladies and Gentlemen:
When I think of the past two years in City affairs, my mind turns about one striking fact-the large number of men and women who are sincerely devoted to Attleboro and who are willing to give their time, energy and money to the public good. This has been a source of some amazement to me as well as a continuing inspiration. In Attleboro there is never the problem of getting someone to help. Rather the difficulty is in selecting one without offending a dozen others who are equally anxious. So long as we have this kind of interest, our community will not go far astray.
None can deny that there has been a gratifying industrial upturn here during the past two years. By whatever index it is measured-by production figures, by wages paid, by houses occupied, by retail trade, by bank deposits, or by any other standard, 1940 has been our most prosperous year to date. The average family today has better and more food, better clothing, finer shelter and more of the comforts and conveniences of life than ever before. Many of today's neces- sities were yesterday's luxuries, or even unheard of then. Thus it would have been a very poor city administration which could not have gotten by without causing substantial fault-finding in this period of general good feeling.
When a mayor begins a new term it is the custom for him in his inaugural address to review the activities of the past term and to outline the prospects for the future as they appear to him. Obviously he can touch only the high spots. He must pass over much that is interesting and worthwhile. Like the motion picture producer, he must cut the material at hand so that it may be presented within a reasonable time. This is only fair to his audience, although it may be that some of the best sequences will be omitted, or perhaps, should I say, ex- purgated?
So for what they may be worth I pass along to you the following observations :
Our financial picture is satisfactory. The net debt of the city has increased $54,000 to $622,865. This represents a $146,000 decrease in our old debt and the acquisition of a new obligation of $200,000 in fifteen year bonds for the con- struction of a grade school. Our excess and deficiency account has increased about $40,000 so that we are really about where we were two years ago financially, and have the school in addition.
Public Schools
Our largest department and perhaps the most fundamental in the American scheme of life is the Public Schools. Due partly to the Federal immigration restrictions, partly to the fact that the average family in America is smaller than it used to be, and partly to other reasons that the sociologists (but not I) might give you, recent years have seen a steady decrease in the general school population. In 1939 there were ninety-two fewer pupils in our public schools than in 1938. In 1940 the enrollment was one hundred fifty-eight less than in 1939, and the 1940 figure is eight hundred twenty-four less than that of 1932-a twenty per cent decrease in eight years. Because of the increased costs of maintaining our older and smaller schools, several consolidations are taking place.
Pupils have been transferred from the Carpenter Street School to the Richard- son School; from the Dodgeville School to the Finberg School at Hebronville; from the City School in South Attleboro to the Lincoln School. In each case the use of an old wooden building has been discontinued. Within the next year pupils will be transferred from Bank, Sanford, Capron and Farmers Schools to the new school now under construction on Watson Avenue.
The School Committee has been busy completing the nine-room addition to the High School and in the construction of a modern twenty-room grade school to be completed this summer. Federal funds under the Public Works Ad- ministration paid for forty-five per cent of the cost of the High School addition.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The city's application for P. W. A. funds to assist in the construction of the grammar school was not submitted in time for approval before the total allotted funds had been earmarked for other projects in 1938. The site for the new school containing some ten and one-half acres was obtained through the cooperation of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Richards, and I am pleased to announce that these in- dividuals have volunteered to donate a portion of the private roadway at the westerly end of the school lot so that a new public way may be constructed from Mechanic Street along the east bank of the river to join Watson Avenue.
The Jewelry Trade School in seven years of operation has proved successful. Local manufacturers by subscription have donated approximately $7,500 for new equipment. A committee from the Chamber of Commerce composed of Messrs. Leland B. Smith, Chairman, Rathbun Willard, Russell J. Brooks, Philip Leach, J. Carlton Bagnall, and Harry R. Holbrook has been active in securing this co- operation from the manufacturers. The space in the Ingraham Building has been increased forty per cent and an enlarged program will be undertaken. This will involve some increase in appropriations. It is felt that the trade school will soon be in a position to take a significant part in the defense program. An in- teresting feature of the trade school has been the night classes operated under the sponsorship of the Peoples Institute for twenty weeks each year.
Four members of the School Committee retired in the past two years. They have the following records of service:
Edwin F. Thayer, 1915-1941, Chairman, 1919-1941 Dr. Reginald P. Dakin, 1909-1939, Secretary 1914-1939 Leonard I. Lamb, 1925-1939 Leland B. Smith, 1933-1939
All of these men made substantial contributions to our school system and the city should be grateful for their service.
Police Department
The establishment of a Police Commission of four members has proved to be helpful to the department. While the department has been maintained at a high plane during the past two years, and several outstanding pieces of police work performed, Chief Holt and the Police Commission feel that an improvement in efficiency will result if a two way radio system is added to the equipment. It is also recommended by the Commission that a member of the department be sent to the National Police School conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for an intensive course in advanced methods. To cope with the modern criminal, police departments must continually improve their equipment and strategy.
The Police Commission has recommended adoption of a number of ordinance changes to improve parking and traffic conditions. Additional parking and stop signs should be provided. Parking has become one of our most important problems. A start has been made by opening of a new parking lot on North Main Street. This will accommodate about 400 automobiles.
Persons who leave their automobiles on the highway all night create a nuisance and a hazard particularly during the snow storm season. Steps must be taken to abolish this heedless practice. All of these matters should receive earnest consideration by the Municipal Council.
Fire Department
One new piece, a five hundred gallon pump has been added to the Fire Department equipment, replacing a twenty-five year old engine. The department has been up to its usual high standard under Chief Fred A. Clark now serving his thirty-ninth year. It is suggested that the possibility of erecting a new sub- station between Hebronville and Dodgeville be examined (thus eliminating the decrepit old station at Hebronville). This should afford better protection to these
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ANNUAL REPORT
sections and to the Briggs Corner area, particularly the Bristol County Tuber- culosis Hospital. The Superintendent of Fire Alarm visualizes a benefit to the department from a tie up with the propsed two way police radio system. Our fire loss has been remarkably low in Attleboro since the great fire of 1917. In 1939 when the middle building of the Sanford Street School trio caught fire, a great many hoped that it would be destroyed beyond repair. Then a replacement would have to be made. But as usual, the firemen were on the job early and kept the loss to a minimum.
Health
We have been fortunately free from major epidemics in recent years. The dental clinic with quarters in the Bliss School has brought about an astonishing improvement in the general condition of our school children's teeth, and the in- struction given in the care of teeth should pay important dividends to the young- sters in later life. The Health Inspector has been particularly vigilant not only in testing milk and milk products but in analyzing foods and liquids sold in the city, and inspecting markets, restaurants, bakeries, overnight camps, dumps, ice cream plants, water supplies, and in investigating nuisance complaints.
Welfare Department
While generally improved business conditions have reduced the Outside Relief load, the last few years have witnessed an ever increasing number of persons receiving benefits under the Old Age Assistance Act. It is doubtful that we have yet reached the point when the number of those leaving the rolls equals the new additions. It is likely that Old Age benefits will be extended and increased through legislation now pending in the General Court.
To my mind the most significant improvement in our City administration has been the advent of the Special Labor project. Men who were formerly recipients of order slips from the Welfare Department have been offered regular jobs under the direction of the Public Works Department. By this requirement a number of loafers who led a parasitic existence for years were eliminated from public support. The change of status from a welfare recipient to a paid employee has resulted generally in a marked improvement in the morale and independence of the individual and his family. In addition the city has benefited by a very substantial amount of useful work. A considerable number of men employed in the Special Labor Project have been taken from the Soldiers Relief list.
The Board of Public Welfare has paid special attention to improving the record system of the department. Complete information is now compiled and readily available for every case. An important improvement has been made in the operation of the City Infirmary. Drastic economies have been effected without sacrificing any essential in the care and maintenance of the inmates. This is largely due to improved buying methods and more scientific planning of menus. Further improvement may result from a larger utilization of the farm for growing vegetables, and perhaps in raising poultry. In 1940 through the efforts of Councilman George Entwistle, a cow named Buttercup was purchased. She has paid such good dividends that a companion of similar talent and abilities is to be bought this year.
I believe that this unpaid board has done a remarkably efficient job.
Public Library
The public library has been used this year more than ever before. Its circu- lation of over one hundred forty thousand is noteworthy for a city of this size. Although the usual funds have been lacking for the desired increase in new books and for the replacement of worn volumes, some progress has been made in this direction. The library building has been reconditioned on both the outside and
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ANNUAL REPORT
the inside. The branch libraries at South Attleboro, Washington Street Annex, Hebronville and Dodgeville, and the deposit stations in the schools and hospitals account for over forty-four per cent of the library's circulation.
Parks and Playgrounds
Among the important recent improvements has been the development of the Fred E. Briggs playground on Parker Street. This land donated to the city by former Mayor Fred E. Briggs now boasts of two fine tennis courts, a wading pool, a paddling pool, a bath house and a playground area. The grounds are enclosed with a rubble wall surmounted by a chain link fence. Many shrubs and trees were planted and the whole area landscaped. This spot has been frequented by thousands of children during the past summer and will become a real beauty spot in this well populated section.
A new baseball field has been acquired in Dodgeville on South Main Street just south of the bridge along the railroad. This area and Finberg Park are listed for further development in the next two years. A fence and wall have been con- structed at Horton Field. These fields are under the supervision of the Recreation Board.
Capron Park has been restored to its pre-hurricane beauty under the loving care of Superintendent John Anderson and the Park Commission. Some 250 twelve-foot Maple trees were bought by public subscription and planted in the area where the magnificent pine grove had been devastated on September 23, 1938. The park roads have been resurfaced, needed drainage installed, and a new triangular area at the entrance to the Park is being developed for a flower bed. Band concerts were given each Sunday night during the summer. Funds were raised by subscription to cover the cost of these free concerts.
Mention should be made of the fine work of the W. P. A. Recreation Project under the supervision of John J. O'Neil. In addition to the recreation center at the old school building on South Main Street, a new center has been started in the abandoned City School in South Attleboro. Programs are conducted in the schools daily, especially at the Finberg School which has a gymnasium. There are classes in handiwork, art, drawing, metal work, airplane modelling and other subjects. Baseball and basketball leagues have been operated and a large part of the supervision at the Fred E. Briggs playground was done by Recreation Project workers. Thousands have benefitted by these programs.
Public Works Department
Even the listing of the improvements accomplished by the Public Works Department in the past two years would require considerable space. In brief, 6.77 miles of main line water pipes were laid, 18 new streets constructed, the main trunk line sewer at Hebronville restored, 21,882 lineal feet of curb and 22,719 square yards of granolithic sidewalk laid, the new North Main Street Parking Lot developed, the streets about the business center resurfaced with bituminous concrete, the Fred E. Briggs playground constructed, 7.23 miles of rural roads widened and resurfaced, the Manchester and Olive Steet main drain replaced, and numerous minor improvements made.
It should be noted that a suitable playground for the East Side section has been recommended by mayors almost every year since the incorporation of the city, and the cleaning of the Ten Mile river (now in progress) was the subject of a detailed report back in 1894. At least one interested citizen has kept the subject alive during the intervening years.
A new 3-4 cubic yard Koehring gasoline power shovel and a horse power Allis-Chalmers bulldozer have been acquired. It is hoped that a new power roller to replace the 25-year old Buffalo-Springfield steam roller may be purchased, and that the department may add a mechanical loader useful for sand and gravel loading or snow removal.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The equipment has been maintained in first class shape by the repair division at the Wall Street Garage. The Public Works Department and Superintendent Mawney received many compliments for the efficient and economical handling of the snow after the severe storms of March, 1940.
We should not lose sight of the fact that the major part of the enlarged public works program would have been impossible without the thousands of hours of labor provided by the W. P. A. These men did fine work particularly on sidewalk construction throughout the city. Installation of new hard surface walks has meant an increased measure of safety and comfort to pedestrians and has added to the attractiveness of our streets. The betterment costs for these improvements under the W. P. A. has been about half the ordinary charge.
Planning Board
We have an excellent Planning Board. They have been busy preparing zoning studies and have accumulated a vast store of information which will be useful to the community. Every citizen should be made to realize the funda- mental importance of systematized planning to preserve our assets and to im- prove our future. The results of the Planning Board studies will be made available to the public in the near future by Mr. Joseph Finberg, chairman.
Space will not permit turning to the other departments. Suffice it to quote a state official who recently investigated the operation of all of our departments- "Never in my experience have I seen a group of municipal departments operate so cleanly, efficiently, harmoniously and economically. The accounts are in excellent shape and show the result of teamwork. It is a great relief to come to Attleboro after some of the places we have to visit."
Looking forward, your city officers will have many important matters for consideration. What effect the wars abroad will have on Attleboro no one can predict. We cannot be sure that we will not be operating on a war basis our- selves within two years.
Among the topics of interest to the new council and school committee are:
1. Steps to combat the elm tree beetle.
2. The results of the Planning Board zoning studies.
3. Possible improved street lighting at a minimum of increased cost.
4. Two way police radios.
5. Development of a recreational area on the Mechanic Street side of the new school.
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