USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1931 > Part 20
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Each team played each other once, making a series of nine games which was won by the Houghs Neck team sponsored by the Blessed Sacrament Lyceum. The play-offs were held at the Boston Arena two nights before a large crowd of Quincy fans. The Bos- ton Gear Works Band were on hand one night and the DeMolay Band the final night to render music during the game and between periods. Manager Lazarus of the Kay Jewelry Company pre- sented Captain O'Brien of Houghs Neck the trophy at the close of the game. The Board were guests of the Houghs Neck team at their victory banquet.
Winter Sports
The Board encouraged winter sports this year on a larger scale than ever before. Natural ponds, such as Manet Lake, Butler's Pond, Sailors' Home Pond, two ponds at St. Moritz were kept cleared of snow and flooded when necessary. Toboggan slides built for the children at St. Moritz, hockey rinks cared for and cleared of snow. At some future time when money is available a toboggan slide at Merrymount Park will be a popular move.
Band Concerts
This popular feature of the parks' program was carried out with great success. Concerts were given at the following playgrounds: Montclair, William Cushing Baker, John Wendall Moses, Merry- mount Beach and Avalon Beach. Free concerts were given by the Cyril P. Morrissette Post No. 294 Band on the Legion home grounds at West Quincy. The Wollaston Post No. 295 Band at Merrymount Park.
The portable bandstand purchased by the Board with money available on a budget item was in constant use and was a good investment.
Tennis
Quincy is indeed fortunate in having tennis courts located at Faxon Field, Atlantic, Bradford Street, Merrymount Park, and Squantum. There are demands from Houghs Neck, South Quincy, and West Quincy for courts. While we realize this is an expen- sive proposition, these demands should be considered at once.
Tennis championships were held at the Faxon Courts. The High School and City teams, open for male and female, were run off for cups donated by Henry M. Faxon. Tennis tournaments were held at the Squantum courts as part of the Supervised Play- ground Program.
Track and Field
The Board encouraged track and field competition on the play- grounds this year. Each holding an elimination on their separate fields, with the contestants finishing first and second, competing in the finals at Pfaffman's Oval August 16. The meet was a
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CITY OF QUINCY
success far beyond expectations; several thousand citizens at- tended. Officials from the N. E. A. A. U. handled the event, which was conducted by Frank Bruce as manager for the Park Board.
Prizes were donated by city officials, merchants and citizens.
The team from Massachusetts Fields scored the highest points, winning the championship for that playground. Cyril P. Mor- risette Post 294 Band furnished music.
Horse Shoe Pitching
Interest in this popular barnyard sport was keen this year, so much so that the Board sponsored two tournaments, one junior and senior; both were conducted at Pfaffman's Oval and were largely attended. There were so many entries it took two days to reach the finals.
Prizes were donated by local merchants. Some permanent courts will be erected this year at Merrymount lower field.
To Veteran Organizations
The Park Board has noted that several parks in this city are unnamed, at the present time listed as Ward Playgrounds. Such playgrounds should be named and dedicated to some leading de- ceased citizens or veteran as a memorial. The playgrounds are in use by the coming generation, and the Board knows of no bet- ter way to perpetuate the names of our veterans and leading citizens. With the coming of Memorial Day, 1932, it is the rec- ommendations of the Quincy Park Board that action be so taken and all fields dedicated this coming year.
The playgrounds listed are as follows: Ward 6, Ward 4, Ward 2, Houghs Neck, Montclair, and Merrymount School Field.
Liveableness an Asset
The absence of parks and playgrounds is a blow to the finan- cial future of any city. Our Chamber of Commerce, in its effort to secure new industries for Quincy should find no more persua- sive argument than the progress we have made in that direction. Recently the city of Dayton, Ohio, secured the location of a very large and important manufacturing industry. Its president, in speaking of their choice of location, said, "I can only say that it was the liveableness of your city that decided the issue. We found others with plenty of labor, others with adequate shipping facili- ties, others in which manufacturing conditions were equal with those of Dayton, but nowhere did we find a place where the qual- ities of living were as highly developed as they were here. Keep Dayton a good place to live in and your future is assured."
Recommendations
Field house and locker rooms Merrymount Park. Provide com- fort stations where necessary. Fill in space on Black's Creek side of Pfaffman's Oval.
Build bandstand on Lower Field. Charge small playing fees for use of Bowling Green. Complete Montclair and Dennis J. O'Neil Playgrounds. Build baseball diamond on second field, Merrymount. Close Mound Street Bath House. Encourage all- year-round activities on all playgrounds.
Provide facilities for mass recreation for women and young woman along lines laid out by the Playground and Recreation Association of America.
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REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
Permits
During the year the following number of permits were issued for the various activities, viz. :
Hockey
120
Picnics 32
Baseball
776
Boy Scout outings
6
Soccer
39
Girl Scout outings
5
Football
72
Exhibition drills
3
Band concerts
50
Concessions
16
Expenditures
The expenditures of this Department may be found in the Au- ditor's Report.
Equipment
During the past year considerable new equipment was added to assist the workers to save time on our growing activities. A half-ton power roller, 1-ton Ford truck, power lawn mower, lin- ing machine, portable bandstand, life preservers, tools of all de- scriptions, garden hose, nozzles and sprayers, four lengths of one- half inch hose, wheelbarrows, hand roller, lime, fertilizer, grass seed, lumber, calcium chloride, ladders, playground apparatus, part replacements, athletic equipment, making it possible to ren- der service for all activities; with the proper care of Park De- partment workers the purchase of equipment this year should be very small.
Vandalism
As in years past the havoc wrought by vandalism has been one of our major expenses in the spring clean-ups. Locks broken, doors kicked in, windows broken, plumbing wrecked and torn out, wire ripped off backstops, flag halyards cut, making this a need- less expenditure of money that could be used for further activities. It is hoped that in time the public can be educated to realize that to destroy city property is a move against their own pocketbook. With all this going on it seems impossible to catch the culprits and bring them to justice.
Conclusion
The magnificent spirit of cooperation evinced by His Honor the Mayor, the City Council, the press of the city, our stenographer, the American Legion Posts, Police and Fire Departments, City Engineer's Department, Supervisor of Playgrounds, Playground Instructors. members of all leagues sponsored by the Board, Park Department workers, citizens who by their generous contributions to our Track and Field Meet, and Playground Pageants, officials of the N. E. A. A. U .. referees and umpires in all leagues, and anyone who by act or deed has made our task of 1931 a pleasure. It is fitting that we should here record our appreciation and grati- tude.
We are proud of our city. our citizenry, our parks and ear- nestly wish that this, the 43rd Annual Report, shall mark another milestone in the upward path.
The Quincy Park Board
WILLIAM M. TRUSSELLE, Chairman THOMAS J. LARKIN, Secretary JOSEPH ANGELO.
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CITY OF QUINCY
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1931
Published by the Trustees 1932
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES 1931
COL. GEORGE E. ADAMS, Chairman
GEORGIANA C. LANE, Secretary
REV. JAMES H. SANKEY, Treasurer
MRS. MARY M. CAREY
CHARLES H. JOHNSON
JOHN PRATT WHITMAN
LIBRARIAN GALEN W. HILL
STAFF
GERTRUDE F. CALLAHAN, First Assistant
MARGARET L. STEARNS, Cataloger
SARAH B. KINGMAN, Children's Librarian
MARTHA E. ROSVALL, In charge of circulation
ALINE F. BLAKE, Assistant
¡VIOLA FRANCIS, Assistant
MARGARET M. HEBERT, Assistant
HELENE E. HODGKINSON, Assistant in Children's Dept.
+DOROTHY K. WHITE, Assistant
JESSIE D. WILFORD. Reference Assistant
BRANCH LIBRARIANS
MABEL S. BAXTER, Baxter Branch
A. ZAYMA CONNOLLY, Hospital Service
MARIE CORAYER, Parkway Branch MURIEL L. Cox, Montclair Branch
MARION L. DAVIS, Norfolk Downs Branch
M. LOUISE DINEGAN, Lakin Square Branch LAURA A. DUNCANSON, Atlantic Branch HELEN A. EGAN, Manet Branch CAROLYN KITTREDGE, Palmer Branch
PHOEBE A. LINDBERG, Temple Branch
MABEL F. PORTER, Merrymount Branch FRANCES B. RAYMOND, Squantum Branch CATHERINE SAVILLE, Wollaston Branch *CAROL A. GILES, Sqantum Branch
Janitor JOHN V. MEAD
* Resigned.
+ Part time.
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REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
DIRECTORY AND LIBRARY HOURS
MAIN LIBRARY, 40 Washington St. Tel. Pres. 0081. Open 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. daily except Sunday. Open Sundays (for reading only) October to May, 2-6 P. M.
CHILDREN'S ROOM (Entrance on Spear St.) Open daily except Saturday and during vacation, 1.30-6 P. M. Open Saturdays and daily during vacation, 10-12 A. M., 1.30- 6 P. M.
BRANCHES:
ATLANTIC, 137 Sagamore Street, Atlantic. Open every afternoon, 1-6 P. M. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings 7-9 P. M.
BAXTER, 139 Water Street, South Quincy.
Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1-6, 7-9 P. M.
GENERAL PALMER, 516 Sea Street, Adams Shore: Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 1-6, 7-9 P. M.
LAKIN SQUARE BRANCH, 642 Adams Street. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 1-6 P. M. Open Tuesday and Saturday 7-9 P. M.
MANET, Atherton Hough School, Houghs Neck. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1-6 P. M. Open Monday and Friday 7-9 P. M.
MERRYMOUNT, Merrymount School, Agawam Road. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1.30-6 P. M. Open Monday and Friday 7-9 P. M.
MONTCLAIR, 91 Holbrook Road, Montclair .. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1-6 P. M. Open Monday and Friday 7-9 P. M.
NORFOLK DOWNS, 6-8 Tyler Street, Norfolk Downs. Open every afternoon, 1-6 P. M. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7-9 P. M.
PARKWAY BRANCH, 1248 Furnace Brook Parkway, W. Quincy. Open every afternoon, 1-6 P. M. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 7-9 P. M.
SQUANTUM BRANCH, Squantum School, Huckins Avenue. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 1-6 P. M.
TEMPLE, 516 Washington Street, Quincy Point. Open every afternoon, 1-6 P. M. Open Monday and Friday 7-9 P. M.
WOLLASTON, 41 Beale Street, Wollaston. Open daily except Saturday 1-6, 7-9 P. M. Open Saturday 9-12 A. M., 1-6, 7-9 P. M.
HOSPITAL SERVICE, Quincy City Hospital. Monday, Wednesday and Friday 2-5 P. M.
332
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy:
The sixty-first annual report of the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library is submitted herewith.
During the year 1931 there has been a steady and healthy growth in the use made of the facilities offered by the library. The total circulation has reached very nearly three-quarters of a million volumes. At the same time it is gratifying to be able to report that the unit cost per volume circulated has been kept down to 10 cents, being much below the average of 15 cents for public libraries throughout the country. The widespread use of the library by our citizens is reflected in the per capita circulation of 10.3, which is higher than for any previous year and higher than the average for public libraries.
Since our previous report no new branches have been added, and none are considered necessary at this time. There have been made during the year numerous improvements at the main building, among which may be mentioned the new storm porch which has added much to the comfort of both workers and patrons, the oil burner, which has proved to be economical and a great labor- saving device, and the charging, desk of modern library design, which has added much to the ease and efficiency of the circulation routine. Also, as occasion has required, numerous minor improve- ments and additions have been made in the various branches.
By means of funds in the annual city appropriation the number of books has been constantly augmented, and while now the total is over 90,000, yet that amount is inadequate to meet the ever-in- creasing demands. During the year many gifts of books have been received from individuals, and to such friends of the library grate- ful acknowledgment has been extended. The library also has been the recipient of a unique gift from Hon. Chester I. Campbell, ex-mayor of our city, which will be a very valuable adjunct to the children's department. It consists of dolls from all countries dressed in native costume. Mrs. Campbell spent many years in making this wonderful collection, and in memory of her it will be known as the Alice L. Campbell Collection. The library acknowl- edges this gift with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude.
It is necessary to call attention again to the overcrowded condi- tion of the book stacks and administration facilities in the main building. While present economic conditions have added to the number of those enjoying the advantages of our library, yet the ordinary and normal growth of our library system will continue to emphasize the necessity of finding a solution to this problem.
The trustees take this opportunity to record the continued effi- ciency, loyalty and zeal of the librarian and members of the staff, and to thank the mayor and city council for the support and co- operation rendered so generously by them to the Library Depart- ment.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. ADAMS,
Chairman.
GEORGIANA CUSHING LANE, Secretary.
333
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
TREASURER'S STATEMENT-1931
THOMAS CRANE ENDOWMENT FUND
Securities on hand December 31, 1930:
10 Matured shares of Pioneer Co-opera- tive Bank $2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Massachusetts Co- operative Bank 2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Wollaston Co-oper- ative Bank 2,000 00
3 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. 5% Bonds (cost) 2,940 75
$8,940 75
Balance in National Mt. Wollaston Bank, December 31, 1930
$100 00
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1930 2 92
Received:
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
2 26
Interest on American Tel. & Tel. Bonds
145 83
Interest from Pioneer Co-operative Bank 100 00
Interest from Massachusetts Co-operative Bank
130 00
Interest from Wollaston Co-operative
Bank
105 00
Interest from Quincy Co-operative Bank Sale of two $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. 5% Bonds
2,165 00
Paid:
John V. Mead, care of library building and grounds
$520 00
Thompson B. Crane, lumber, labor
6 36
S. C. Brannan, work on storm porch
13 00
Transferred to Crane Memorial Fund
2,000 00
Balance on hand December 31, 1931:
Balance in National Mt. Wollaston Bank
100 00
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank
139 15
$2,778 51 $2,778 51
Securities on hand December 31, 1931:
10 Matured shares of Pioneer Co-opera- tive Bank
$2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Massachusetts Co- operative Bank
2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Wollaston Co-op- erative Bank
2,000 00
*10 Matured shares of Quincy Co-opera- tive Bank 2,000 00
1 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. 5% Bond
940 75
$8,940 75
*Transferred from Crane Memorial Fund by vote of Trustees.
27 50
334
CITY OF QUINCY
Crane Memorial Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1930:
10 Matured shares of Henry Wilson Co- operative Bank $2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Quincy Co-opera- tive Bank
2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Volunteer Co-oper- ative Bank 2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Homestead Co-op- erative Bank 2,000 00
1 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. 5% Bond (cost) 980 25
$8,980 25
What is left of the Laban Pratt property, so called, has practically been paid for from, and is now, a part of this fund and was assessed in 1925 for
17,900 00
$26,880 25
Balance in National Mt. Wollaston Bank, December 31, 1930 $65 60
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1930 1 84
Received :
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
13 24
Interest on American Tel. & Tel. Bond ...
47 92
Interest from Natick Co-operative Bank 105 00 Interest from Quincy Co-operative Bank 82 50
Interest from Volunteer Co-operative Bank
100 00
Interest from Homestead Co-operative Bank 100 00
Sale of 1 American Tel. & Tel. 5% Bond 1,082 50
From Thomas Crane Endowment Fund .... 2,000 00
Paid:
F. W. Hibbett & Sons, repairs
$80 29
National Mt. Wollaston Bank, safe in vault 5 00
William Westland & Co., loma spreader and loma
86 25
Remington Rand Business Service, Inc., delivery counter
1,496 25
Silent £ Automatic Sales Corporation, model A Burner and installed burner motor
515 00
S. C. Brannan, storm porch and desk alterations
264 74
General Fireproofing Corporation, stools W. G. Conner, cork carpet and repairs ...... Robert H. Stearns Furniture Co., book truck
12 90
73 35
41 00
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REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
George H. Fisher, painting, stock .. Mrs. T. J. Carey, sentrose
42 13
3 45
W. H. Haslett Co., repairing stone work and plastering 174 38
Galen W. Hill, cash paid H. C. Newman for thermostat guard 15 00
Atlantic Motors, Inc., accessories
78 00
Balance on hand December 31, 1931:
Balance in National Mt. Wollaston Bank
65 60
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank
645 26
$3,598 60 $3,598 60
Securities on hand December 31, 1931:
*10 Matured shares of Natick Co-opera- tive Bank $2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Volunteer Co-oper- ative Bank 2,000 00
10 Matured shares of Homestead Co-op- erative Bank 2,000 00
$6,000 00
Laban Pratt property, so called
17,900 00
$23,900 00
Note: Transferred to Thomas Crane Endowment Fund: 10 Matured shares of Quincy Co-operative Bank $2,000.00 by vote of Trustees.
Cotton Center Johnson Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1930:
2 $1,000 Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph Bands, 5's (cost) $1,890 00
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank December 31, 1930 $24 99
Received:
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
66
Paid:
Desmond Publishing Company, books $12 50
Dodd Mead Co., book 6 65
J. M. Bergling, book 3 00
Balance on hand, December 31, 1931:
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank 3 50
$25 65 $25 65
Securities on hand December 31, 1931: 2 $1,000 Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph Bonds, 5's (cost) $1,890 00
*Name changed from Henry Wilson Co-operative Bank to Natick Co-operative Bank.
336
CITY OF QUINCY
George W. Morton Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1930:
2 $1,000 Kansas City Terminal Bonds, 4's $1,880 50 Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1930 $3,208 11
Received:
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
159 44
Interest on Bonds 80 00
Paid:
Patterson's Flower Store, flowers
$11 00
Galen W. Hill, expenses of Library Club and Staff meeting 16 16
Thomas S. Burgin, Wm. T. Donovan, W. Porter & Co., bond for Treasurer 25 00
Appropriation for expenses of members of Staff at A. L. A. Conference at New Haven, June 22-28, 1931 120 00
Colson Co. of Massachusetts, hand truck 19 80 M. S. Baxter, work done for Treasurer 20 00
W. G. Foley, wreaths
12 00
R. E. Foy & Sons, Christmas trees
5 50
Jessie D. Wilford, papers for scrapbook
2 18
Thomas Nelson & Sons, pages for Ency- clopaedia 5 00
Balance on hand December 31, 1931:
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank .....
3,210 91
$3,447 55 $3,447 55
Securities on hand December 31, 1931:
2 $1,000 Kansas City Terminal Bonds, 4's
$1,880 50
Alice G. White Fund
Securities on hand December 31, 1930:
1 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel Bond (cost) $980 25
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank, December 31, 1930 52 10
Received :
Interest on Bond
50 00
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank 3 35
Paid:
The Boston Music Co., books $97 84
Balance on hand December 31, 1931:
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank 7 61
$105 45 $105 45
Securities on hand December 31, 1931:
1 $1,000 American Tel. & Tel. Bond (cost)
$980 25
·
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REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Ellery Channing Butler Fund
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank December 31, 1930 $1,000 73
Received:
Interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank
50 40
Paid:
Henry A. Wheeler, repairing flag
$1 40
The Rice Studio, photo, library interior 8 00
John J. Cronan, story hour 10 00
The Bookshop for Boys and Girls, Chil- dren's book course
10 00
Edith H. Payson, selection and purchase of music for library 3 50
Securities on hand December 31, 1931:
Balance in Quincy Savings Bank 1,018 23
$1,051 13 $1,051 13
JAMES H. SANKEY, Treasurer. GEORGIANA CUSHING LANE, Auditing Committee.
338
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library :
The year 1931 witnessed the achievement of the goal of a ten per capita circulation of books, long hoped for, but, so far as the rec- ords show, never before reached in the history of this library. It also proved to be a record-breaking year in other respects. Though no figures are kept of the attendance in the reading room of the main library, it has been apparent that never before has it been so popular or used so extensively. On many afternoons and evenings double the number of tables and chairs would not accom- modate those desiring to use them. Undoubtedly the unemploy- ment situation has been a factor both in the increased use of the reading room facilities, as well as the increased borrowing of books for home use. The general effect of the present business depres- sion on the library and its opportunity will be discussed elsewhere in this report.
In handling the increased work the new modern charging desk installed in May has been of great assistance. Previously it had been impossible for three persons to work at the old desk, and even two were handicapped by continually getting in each other's way. Three persons, and even more, can work easily in the hollow square of the new desk with its separate counters for charging books, dis- charging them, and registering borrowers, while ample space is provided for registration and branch files and for books on reserve and working tools.
Book Additions
Though the number of books added to the library in 1931 num- bered 11,179 volumes, the net gain was 6,616, bringing the total book stock to 91,911 volumes. This gain was the largest for many years. In spite of this, we are still understocked to meet the de- mands of our patrons. By way of comparison, I may point out that the public libraries of our neighboring cities, Brockton, Brook- line, Cambridge, Lynn, Newton and Somerville, all have book col- lections varying from 110,000 to 150,000 volumes, and, except in the case of Newton, their circulation is smaller than that of our own library. A brief analysis of the book purchases may be of inter- est. Of the 11,179 books added during the year, 10,768 were by direct purchase, 241 were gifts and 139 books added by binding magazines or re-entering books previously checked as lost books. Of the 11,179 books added, only 2,873 were new books; that is, books never before in the library, while 6,698, over one-half of the purchases, were duplicates, and 1,577 were replacements of books discarded or lost. Of the 2,273 new titles 952 were fiction and 1,780 non-fiction. Books for the children amounted to 44 per cent, for adults 56 per cent.
Circulation
At the end of the year the list of registered borrowers numbered 23,856 persons, just about one-third of the population of Quincy. As the registration is limited to three-year periods and we con- stantly check off the names of persons who have died or are known to have left the city, this number may reasonably be considered as including active borrowers. The total number of books loaned for
339
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
home use amounted to 741,827 volumes, not far below the three- quarter million mark, and a gain of 11 per cent over last year's figures. As mentioned in my first paragraph, this represents a cir- culation of 10 per capita, 10.3 to be exact, a figure exceeded by relatively few public libraries in cities of over 20,000 and much above the average per capita circulation.
Branches
Of the twelve branches, all but the Merrymount Branch showed substantial increases in circulation. The Squantum Branch had the most notable increase-over 58 per cent. The Baxter Branch gained 42 per cent, the General Palmer, Manet and Lakin Square branches all had more than 20 per cent increases and the Wollaston and Norfolk Downs branches better than 10 per cent. The circula- tion of books through the branches amounted to 484,274 volumes, or approximately 65 per cent of the total home use of books.
In the report of last year, mention was made of the intention to move the Baxter Branch, provided a site could be found nearer the business center of the South Quincy district in proximity to the Quincy Adams railroad station. In September, 1931, we secured a store in the block at the corner of Water and Franklin Streets and the branch was moved and opened in the new location September 26th. New furniture was installed and a very considerable number of new books purchased for the shelves. As was confidently antici- pated, the change resulted in a notable increase in use, the circula- tion during the last three months of the year being more than double the largest circulation for the same period in any previous years in the history of the branch. A marked increase in the regis- tration of borrowers was also noted, a large proportion of them coming from the Penn's Hill section of the city, people who had heretofore found the old location out of their way. Miss Baxter has been the recipient of many congratulations both on the attrac- tive quarters and the service the branch is rendering to the resi- dents of South Quincy.
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