City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1947-1948, Part 7

Author: City of Newburyport
Publication date: 1947
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 300

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Olive Fogg, Children's Librarian

Eleanor E. Gannon, Assistant Bessie W. P. Hills, Perm. Part-Time Beulah E. Moody, Assistant Catherine W. Parsons, Assistant

Vivian G. White, Assistant Part-Time Summer Substitutes Eleanor Cashman, Josephine Johnson, and Marian G. Todd

Janitor C. Frank Kelleher

Report of the Librarian

To the Board of Directors of the Newburyport Public Library:

During three months of 1947-January, November, and December the work of the Library was carried on under normal conditions. From the middle of February, when the noticeable settlement at the corners of the Simpson Annex balcony was first discovered and reported to the Trustees of the Building Fund, to the middle of October, when the last book was restored to its familiar place on the shelves, every effort was made to function as efficiently as possible under emergency conditions. Effective March 14, the entire Simpson Annex was closed to the public as a safety measure by order of the Di- rectors on the recommendation of City Building Inspector, George W. Hussey. Mr. Charles H. Morse, engineer of Haverhill, was employed to make a complete examination of the structural defects and to make plans and recommendations to correct them. After taking various readings on floor, ceiling and trusses he found:

132

ANNUAL REPORT

1. A definite settlement (not new) about 3" from outer wall of Simpson Annex to inner wall.

2. New and recent settlement at balcony columns of approximately 2".

3. Weakness in truss in part, and in second floor partition in part.

It seems an unnecessary repetition to review in this report each step which was taken in order to remedy these structural defects and safely reopen the Simpson Annex to the public. A detailed record may be found in the minutes of the Directors' Meetings, in the minutes of the Special Building Committee, in the Proceedings of the City Council, and in newspaper stories. Rather, this report seems an appropriate place to record our gratitude to all those without whose help and encouragement the work could not have been achieved: to the Library Directors, to the members of the Special Building Com- mittee, to Mayor Kelleher who recommended a special appropriation of $4,000 to cover costs of necessary repairs, and to the Council President Perkins and members of the City Council who voted the appropriation to cover the emergency repairs. Without the willingness and faithfulness of the Library Staff "beyond the call of duty," service to the public would have suffered severely. We wish to acknowledge our indebtedness to the Highway Department for their splendid help in moving approximately 10,000 books out of the Simpson Annex Balcony; to the Veterans' Administration for moving the books back after completion of the repairs, and to the Library custodian, C. Frank Kelleher, for his valuable assistance in the work of resettling. A final acknowledgment is due Mr. Russell Peirce, architect, who supervised the work and whose skilful plans achieved an effect in complete harmony with the original structure.

With a large portion of the building closed off and with the emergency repairs as a frequently audible background during most of the year, we attempted to provide for all essential services. The Library and its two branches were open 303 days during 1947, much of that time with the welcome sounds of repair work in the background. During the year 85,438 books were issued to 8,661 borrowers as compared to 86,105 books to 8,048 borrowers in 1946. Of the total, 8,661 borrowers 1,585 are children.

The total juvenile book circulation was 20,008 in 1947, as compared to 22,471 in 1946. This loss of 2,463 can without doubt be attributed to the emergency combination of the Reading Room with the Children's Room, whereby the children of necessity were de- prived of a room devoted solely to their needs.

The adult book circulation at the main library was 47,307 in 1947 as compared to 44,601 in 1946 and this gain of 3,706 books circulated over the previous year, helped absorb the circulation losses in the Children's department and in the two branch li- braries.

The final figure shows a loss of 667 over the total book circulation of the previous year, although the total gain in number of card holders was 613 for the year.

The activities of the Children's Room at the Main Library were of necessity some- what curtailed. The Saturday morning story hours had to be discontinued in March- not to be resumed until the Reading Room repairs were completed. Miss Clancy con- ducted the story hours at Emma Andrews and Belleville Branches. There was no Sum- mer Reading Club in 1947, due to the "emergency", but Miss Fogg urged children to read for State Reading Certificates instead and 32 certificates were awarded in 1947. During the spring and fall, Miss Fogg gave library instruction in the use of the library catalogue and reference books, to all of the public school students in the 5th, 6th, 7th,

133

PUBLIC LIBRARY

and 8th grades. Each class came once for instruction, accompanied by their teacher and during school hours, to either the Main Library Children's Room or to Belleville Branch Library. We plan to continue library instruction to all 5th grade classes, thus ensuring that students will have a background in the use of simple reference tools at that point in their studies when they first need them. Library instruction to the elementary grades has not been given since the days when the Children's Room was first organized. The re- sumption of this instruction, too long omitted, is a definite and progressive contribution to the educational program for Newburyport's children. The children enjoy it too and many made their first visit to the library as a result. There were 14 school deposits (school sets) lent to teachers in four schools in 1947. Boys and girls enjoyed interesting programs throughout Book Week which opened Nov. 17. The climax of the week was Miss Bothild Jorgensen's talk on "Child Life in Greenland." Her audience was absorbed in hearing the details of and seeing the souvenirs of her life there as a government teacher.

The demands on our reference collection continued to be even more numerous and varied than in the previous year. Since the Reference Department is located in the Simp- son Annex which had to be closed off, a collection of the most frequently used reference books was moved out and a temporary reference section set up in an alcove of the main circulation department. During the school months, high school students made increased use of books, magazines, and pamphlets for English term papers (scientific subjects be- ing the favorites), historical subjects, and vocational information. A considerable num- ber of the visiting reporters and journalists who came to Newburyport to write up the "Newburyport Plan" visited the library for information on the city's history. A "New- buryport Plan" scrapbook was compiled which contains all the clippings we were able to obtain on the Plan. It has been used many times already, but its greatest value will be for future historians. Work has continued on the indexing of the Newburyport news- papers for local history items. This index is of ever-increasing value.

Certain types of reference books become out of date fairly quickly as statistics or governments change, or as new scientific knowledge supercedes old. During 1947, special emphasis was placed on modernizing our reference collection. A notable addition was the purchase of the latest edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica to replace the outmoded fourteenth edition of 1929 to be used in conjunction with the famous "11th" or scholar's edition. A new edition of "Popular Science Narratives" in 12 volumes and the one volume Van Nostrand's "Scientific Encyclopedia" help greatly in providing up-to-date information on some of the newer scientific developments.

Microfilming of old Newburyport newspapers was continued in 1947, the News Pub- lishing Company paying half the photography costs. Many badly worn volumes still remain to be done but an encouraging start has been made. The years 1879 through 1900 have been completed.

Increased use was made of the interloan facilities offered by the State Division of Public Libraries. Sixty-four books were borrowed for individuals, on such highly specializ- ed subjects as a Polynesian dictionary, raising and marketing citrus fruits, and trapping of mink. A number of plays were borrowed for the West Newbury Players. In addition to sets of books in foreign languages, we borrowed about 100 books on education for Professor Warren's course for teachers given at the High School last year. We, in turn, lent books to Harvard University, to the Fall River Regional Library, and to the Quincy Public Library.

The Ethel Parton Fund, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, had reached

134

ANNUAL REPORT

$1,679.56 by the end of December 1947. We hope the goal of $2,000 will be met in 1948 as the Children's Room is in urgent need of the income of this fund for the purchase of children's books.

Mr. Robert McLaughlin, Newburyport author, was the speaker at the annual meeting of the Friends of the Library in May.

In October, a Food Sale was held to raise money for the purchase of books for the Emma L. Andrews Branch Library and in December another was conducted for the benefit of the Belleville Branch. We are grateful to the Humphries Insurance Company for the use of space on their premises, and to all the many individuals and groups who contributed to the success of these sales.

We have tried to familiarize more people with the workings and resources of the Li- brary. Groups addressed by the Librarian included the Unitarian Women's Alliance; the Dorcas Society of First Church, Newbury; the Belleville Home Circle; St. Peter's Chapel group; and the Kiwanis. Each staff member has contributed reviews of current books which have been printed in the Daily News.

Two changes were made in the Library staff in 1947. Olive R. Carter's resignation which became effective on January 6, was accepted with real regret. Mrs. Mary A. Cummings joined the Staff in February in a temporary capacity, which became a per- manent appointment in April. Mrs. Cummings' previous newspaper, teaching and library experience in the catalogue department of the Cambridge Public Library have con- tributed to the success with which she has undertaken her cataloguing duties.

1947 has been a difficult year in many ways-with prices of books and all supplies for the Library rising inordinately; with living costs rising out of all proportion to the Li- brary staff's very conservative salaries. We appreciate the effort made by the Directors in trying to get library salaries increased.

In spite of all difficulties 1947 may be said to have been a good year, a progressive one of laying firm foundations for future development.

Respectfully submitted,

KATHERINE M. KUECHLE,

Librarian.

135

PUBLIC LIBRARY

STATISTICS For the Year Ending December 31, 1947

Population served

13,916

Assessed valuation .

14,192,530

Number of days open during year.

303

Hours open each week for lending.

Hours open each week for reading

Hours open each week, for Andrews Branch.

Hours open each week, for Belleville Branch

Borrowers

Adult 6,409

1,639

8,048

Added during 1947

957

341

1,298

Totals.

7,366

1,980

9,346

Withdrawn during 1947.

290

395

685

Total December 31, 1947

7,076

1,585

8,661

Circulation

Adult Juvenile Non-Fict. Fiction Non-Fiction Fict.

Total

Main Library

16,779

30,528

2,943

9,373

59,623

Andrews Branch.

4,532

7,539

728

2,710

15,509

Belleville Branch

1,214

4,838

856

3,398

10,306

Total.

22,525

42,905

4,527

15,481

85,438

Book Stock

Adult Juvenile

Total

No. of vols. Jan. 1, 1947

76,856

5,469

82,325

No. of vols. added in 1947

1,482

154

1,636

Totals. .

78,338

5,623

83,961

No. of volums. withdrawn in 1947

610

680

Total Dec. 31, 1947

77,728

5,553

83,281

Donors to the Library in 1947

Akerman, Mrs. Marjorie

Aldrich, Miss J. M.

Aldrich, Mr. Winthrop W.

Beckley-Cardy Publishing Company

American Antiquarian Society

Belleville Girl's Service Club

Anderson, Mr. H. F.

Bowen, Mr. Harold K.

Asquith, Mr. Donald

Batchelder, Mrs. Abigail Beal, Mr. George Brinton

Bradbury, Mr. Frank

Juvenile

Total

January 1, 1947

136

ANNUAL REPORT

Brown, Miss Mina

Bryant, Miss Charlotte

Burnhome, Mr. Clement Charles, Mr. H. J. Chinese News Service Chrysler, Corporation

Curtis, Mrs. John P.

Cutino, Mr. Salvatore

Daniels, Mr. Josephus

Dau, Mr. F. W.

Davis, Miss Florence

Davis, Mr. Walter G.

Dodge, Mrs. Eliza

Mullliken, Mr. Robert S.

Dodge, Mr. Laurence P.

Dondlinger, Mr. Peter T.

Doyle, Mr. Edward D.

Driver, Mrs. Robert M.

Dugan, Mr. James J.

Education Committee National Foreign Trade Council

Eldred, Mr. William T.

Fogg, Miss Olive

Foundation for Economic Education, Inc.

Fox, Mrs. Marion

Potter, Mr. John

Goethe, Mr. C M.

Pound, Mr. Arthur

Putnam's Sons, G. B.

Hayward, The Rev. Laurence

Hodges, Miss Barbara

Ireland, Mr. Frank B.

Joftes, Mr. Saul E.

Ryerson Physical Laboratory

Shean, Mr. Richard

Stevens, Mrs. Lena

Kimball, Mr. S. F.

Lantz, Mr. John P.

Leary, Miss Mary

Lincoln, Mr. Leroy A

Little, Miss Agnes

Little, Miss Eliza A.

Littlefield, Mrs. Sidney Longley, Mrs. M. C.

Lunt, Mr. Daniel B. Lunt, Mrs. Daniel B.

Lunt, Mr. Ernest M.

MacCurdy, Mrs. Harold

Maumee Press

Marquand, Mr. John P.

Meador Publishing Company

Morrison, Miss Melinda

Moseley, Mrs. F. S.

Murphy, Miss Eleanor Mustard, Mrs. Ann

Nat. Assoc. of Broadcasting

Nat. Assoc. of Manufacturers

Newburyport High School Record Staff

Noyes, Mr. H. Greenleaf

Ogden, Mrs. Gertrude

Osgood, Mrs. Louise

Parton, Mr. James

Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.

Quill, Mrs. Caroline

Ross, Mr. George

Rowland, Mr. C.

Kalman, Mrs. Israel Kaplan, Jerry

Thurlow, Mrs. Florence

Titcomb, Miss Annie B.

Volpone Motor Co., Inc.

Whitney, Mr. James E. Wilson, Mrs. Albert P.

Wood, Mr. W. G.

Exhibitions of Hobbies

Arthur Walden and Little America Mementos-Lent by Mrs. Malcolm Ayers Best Sellers, 1747-1947 Blown Glass-Lent by Mr. George F. Cochrane

Christmas Seals-Lent by Mr. Philip Pearson and Health Center Christmas in Art Copper-Lent by E. W. Allen and Company

Map of Colonial America-Lent by Currier School, 7th grade classes of Miss O'Neil and Miss Burke

Greenleaf, Misses Laura and Lillian

137

LIBRARY TRUSTEES

House of Seven Gables Model-Lent by N. E. Mutual Life Insurance, Boston Newburyport in Early Photographs

Newburyport Street Railway-Lent by Mr. Osmond R. Cummings

Old Songs-Lent by Mr. Caleb Fowler

Sherlock Holmes and Baker Street Irregulars-Lent by Mr. Laurence P. Dodge Stamps-Lent by Frank Martin and Lawrence Stokes

Street Car Model-Lent by Father Barry

Exhibits in Children's Room

Foreign Dolls-Lent by Mrs. Beulah Moody

Panel-"Snow White"-Lent by Kelly School, Miss McGlew's Class Soap Figurines-Lent by Anna Dow

Stamps-Lent by John Connors

Books Purchased from Income of Funds

Andrews, Emma L ..

Bradstreet, Charles W

Colby, Lucy G. B.

Currier, John J.

Dodge, Nathan D.

Dodge, William H. P.

Foster, Daniel.

Frothingham, Joseph A

Green, Sarah A.

Haskell, George.

Marston, Stephen W

Moulton, Alice C

Pathe, Paul .

Peabody, George C

136

Pettingell, George B.

Plumer, Wilhelmina L.

Sawyer, Matthias P

Spring, John Rand

228

Stickney, Elizabeth H

406

Stone, Eben F.

Sweetser, Benjamin G

Wiggin, Mary C

Wightman, Alice C.

Williams, Abraham .

Total

1,201

General.

Special

Total

Grand Total

1,251

138

ANNUAL REPORT

Report of Water Commissioners

February 6, 1948.

To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council,

City of Newburyport, Mass.

Gentlemen:

The Fifty-second annual report of the Board of Water Commissioners is respectfully submitted herewith.

BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS,

Freeman J. Condon, Chairman, John F. Cutter, Willard S. Little,

Thomas F. McGrath, Daniel J. Reardon.

Margaret Leary, Junior Clerk.

Financial Statement, 1947

Balance December 31, 1946 .

$12,955.37

Receipts

Water Rates

$58,657.48

Meter Rates

15,868.07

Artichoke River Maintenance

50.00

General Distribution .

40.81

City of Newburyport.

5,000.00

Newbury Service Pipe Maintenance

30.98

Newbury Service Pipe Construction.

179.74

Main Pumping Station

20.00

Service Pipe Maintenance.

97.24

Service Pipe Construction.

370.69

Sundry .

382.25

Truck Maintenance

8.47

Advance Planning.

700.00

$81,405.73

Water Mains Bonds.

$10,000.00

Interest and Premium

77.48

$10,077.48

$91,483.21

$104,438.58

139

WATER COMMISSIONERS

Payments

Artichoke River Maintenance

$1,189.12

Artichoke Station Maintenance

9,161.27

Filter Bed Maintenance.

2,993.53

Gate Maintenance

250.86

General Maintenance

5,763.29

General Distribution .

2,908.96

Hydrant Maintenance

586.34

Mains Maintenance

516.74

Meter Maintenance

674.39

Newbury-Mains Maintenance

30.80

Newbury-Hydrant Maintenance.

25.08

Newbury-Service Pipe Maintenance.

88.78

Main Pumping Station Maintenance

34,534.79

Service Pipe Maintenance.

4,280.03

Standpipe Coffin's Court

157.93

Standpipe Myrtle Ave.

16.00

Truck Maintenance

887.76

$64,065.67

Construction

Hydrant

$543.51

Mains

4,669.94

Meters

84.78

Newbury-Service Pipe Construction.

680.83

Service Pipe.

2,474.26

$8,453.32

Water Mains

$7,466.36

Bonds

$7,000.00

Interest

1,520.00

Retirement .

772.73

Petty Cash

100.00

$9,392.73

$89,378.08

Balance December 31, 1947

$15,060.50

Respectfully submitted,

GERTRUDE C. GORWAIZ,

Clerk.

140

ANNUAL REPORT

Construction and Maintenance Division 1947

Services:

Fifty-seven new Services were laid:

Fifty in Newburyport requiring 2,048'-9" of 1" Cement lined pipe.

Seven in Newbury requiring 500' of 1" and 11'-2" of 11/2" Cement lined pipe.

Nineteen leaks in services were repaired requiring 111'-4" of 1" and 21' of 11/2" Ce- ment lined pipe.

Twelve services were repaired and two renewed.

Meters:

Seven new meters were set during the year.

Ten meters were replaced, four reset, two repaired and one frozen.

Hydrants:

Three new hydrants were set-One on Highland Ave. near No. 16, one on Low and one on Norman Avenue.

Two hydrants were repaired and three replaced.

Mains:

New Mains in the following streets:

Low Street-776'-8" Cast Iron Cement Lined.

Norman Ave .- 539'-6" Cast Iron and Cement Lined.

Moseley Avenue-164'-6" Cast Iron.

Murphy Avenue-303'-7" 8" Cast Iron Cement Lined. Norman Avenue-254'-8" Cast Iron Cement Lined.

Farrell Street-288'-6" Cast Iron Cement Lined.

Hardy Street-204'-6" Cast Iron.

Leaks repaired in Ship, Magnolia, Liberty Streets and Brown's Wharf.

Water System Statistics

Newburyport

Newbury

Miles of Mains

Total Number of Services

4,260

187

Toral Number of Meters

107

Total Number of Hydrants

287

Private Hydrants

Personnel:

John Lucy-Foreman

John Reardon-Pipe Layer

Raymond Rayno-Pipe Layer

Charles Ayers-Laborer

Respectfully submitted,

JOHN LUCY,

Foreman.

141

WATER COMMISSIONERS

Monthly Pumpage 1947

Daily Ave. Per Capita

Service

Artichoke

Service

Gallons

January .

55,636,000

34,849,800 1,794,710

127

February

49,175,600

31,540,800 1,756,290

124

March.

53,936,800

31,770,800 1,739,890

123

April

50,475,400

32,044,400 1,682,500

119

May

50,960,300

34,707,600 1,643,900 116

June

51,017,500

39,081,600 1,700,580

120

July.

58,000,500

40,176,000 1,870,980 39,072,000 1,829,800

129

September

51,921,400

35,920,800 1,730,710

122

October

53,740,500

36,924,400 1,733,570

122

November

48,130,500

35,272,400 1,604,350

114

December

52,022,200

35,643,600 1,687,140

119

631,741,900

427,004,200 1,735,550

123 Ave.

Precipitation

January .

2.74"

February

1.16"

March.

3.68"

April.

3.80"

May

3.69"

June

3.40"

July.

5.42"

August

1.39"

September

3.68"

October

.07"

November

6.43"

December.

4.55"

40.51"

Monthly Average 3.38"

Pumping Station Statistics 1947

Main Station

Gallons Pumped to Service

631,741,900

Daily Average

1,735,550

Total Coal Used-Lbs.

1,940,660

Coal Used Pumping-Lbs.

1,860,116

Daily Average

5,110

Coal Used for Lighting-Lbs

49,644

Coal Used for Heating-Lbs.

30,900

Gallons Pumped per lb. of Coal.

339

K. W. Generated at Main Station.

16,548

132

August

56,725,200

142

ANNUAL REPORT

Artichoke Station

Total Gallons Pumped

427,004,200

Daily Average.

1,173,090

Gallons Pumped by Motor

299,126,400

Total K.W.H. Used

247,495

Daily Average

680

Gallons Pumped per K. W.H.

1,209

Gallons Pumped by Diesel

127,877,800

Diesel Fuel Oil Used-Gals.

8,917

Gallons Pumped per Gallon of Fuel Oil

14,340

Pumping Records

Total Gallons Pumped-Main and Artichoke.

1,058,746,100

Daily Average.

2,908,643

Greatest Amount Pumped to Service One Day August 12th

2,342,000

Greatest Amount Pumped to Service One Week August 11-17

14,175,600

Personnel:

Laborers:

Lester Bridges-Chief Engineer

Dennis Cronin

Jeremiah Leary-Asst. Chief Engineer

Orrin Kimball

Carl Bridges-Engineer

Joseph Rosyna

Ralph Estabrooks-Engineer

Earl Shute

Frank Purcell-Engineer

Harry Lanen

Ernest Miller-Engineer

Respectfully submitted,

JEREMIAH LEARY,

Chief Engineer.

143

WATER COMMISSIONERS

Budget, 1948

Artichoke River Maintenance.

$400.00

Artichoke Station Maintenance :- Electric.

5,000.00

Diesel Oil

900.00

Chlorine

300.00

Auto

225.00

Telephone

50.00

Oil.

80.00

Miscellaneous

500.00

Main Station.

Electric.

200.00

Telephone

55.00

Oil.

350.00

Coal

15,000.00

Chlorine

300.00

Miscellaneous

1,000.00

Filter.

200.00

General Office.

Telephone and Lights

200.00

Supplies

1,000.00

General Distribution-Supplies

500.00

Gate Maintenance

100.00

Hydrant Maintenance

300.00

Mains Maintenance

300.00

Meter Maintenance .

250.00

Service Pipe Maintenance

500.00

Standpipes

125.00

Trucks

800.00

Truck-12 Ton Pick up $1,250.00

1,500.00

Insurance (W. C. & P. L.).

1,100.00

Construction-Gates-Hydrants, etc

2,000.00

Retirement

2,110.37

Bonds

8,000.00

Interest

1,495.00

Labor and Salaries

39,283.12

$84,348.49

Bonds

$8,000.00

Interest

1,495.00

Salaries.

39,283.12

Other Expenses.

35,570.37

$84,348.49

Auto

225.00

144

ANNUAL REPORT

Report of Retirement Board

Honorable John M. Kelleher, Mayor,

Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Dear Sir:

We present herewith the report for the year ending December 31, 1947:

Number of Members at Close of Year

Active

146

Inactive

Pensioners

Total

166

Retirements during year

Active members deceased

Inactive members deceased.

Withdrawals

Cash Receipts

Balance January 1, 1947

$92,886.67

Contribution of members

10,284.32

Re-deposits

737.10

Transfers from other systems

26.22

Appropriated by city :

Pension Fund

$15,950.00

Special Fund for Military Service Credit.

650.00

Expense Fund .

800.00

Appropriated by Water Department.

772.73

$18,172.73

Income from Investments.

2,586.30

$124,693.34

Cash Disbursements

Annuities Paid

$407.85

Pensions Paid

14,036.39

Refunds

1,822.05

Expenses

730.09

Decrease by Adjustments of Ledger Assets.

1,300.00

Balance December 31, 1947.

106,396.96

$124,693.34

145

RETIREMENT BOARD

The funds of the Retirement System on December 31, 1947 were invested as follows:

Investments

Due Date

Amount

Income

Merchants National Bank.

Demand

$2,616.92

Institution for Savings.

Demand

22,443.34

$550.73

Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank,

Demand

536.70

10.57

First National Bank, Boston.

9,800.00

450.00

National Shawmut Bank, Boston

1,200.00

50.00

Braintree Co-operative Bank

1,000.00

30.00

Lawrence Co-operative Bank .

800.00

20.00