USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1932-1937 > Part 55
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These improvements under a definite planned pro- gram could be made by the adoption of this "Employ- ment Fund" article, and work and wages could be given the unemployed instead of Public Welfare.
Drainage
We respectfully bring to the attention of the cit- izens, that, although appropriations were voted at the Annual Town Meeting for drainage from Cottage Street through the Puzone estate and pipe drainage on Lafay- ette Street the failure of the Board of Selectmen to secure easements or to take a right of way by eminent domain, these projects approved by the Planning Board, Finance Committee, and the vote of the citizens have not materialized. We emphasize the importance of all Town Officials acting in accord with the vote of the citizenry.
146
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
To our United States Senators and Congressmen for their continued efforts for a new postal building and to the Department of Public Works for their co-operation on the Union St. R. R. overpass and to all local Town Officials and Citizens who have co-operated with us in our efforts to make Randolph a finer place in which to live we extend our sincerest appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
THEODORE S. LUDDINGTON, Chairman EDGAR B. COLE, Vice Chairman WILLIAM M. COLBY, M. D., Secretary THOMAS F. SCANNELL, Treasurer EUGENE L. MCAULIFFE.
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147
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Highway Surveyor
To the Citizens of the Town of Randolph:
In January of this year, with many highways in a deplorable condition, due to lack of sufficient funds being. appropriated in 1936 to cope with the situation, and the lack of proper equipment to rebuild the roads, it was first necessary to secure sufficient appropriations for materials and equipment.
After witnessing demonstrations of road equipment in several towns, I recommended to the Finance Com- mittee, the purchase of a Caterpillar Auto Patrol. At the March town meeting this was approved. This Auto Patrol has proved to be a most valuable piece of road equipment both in the construction of highways and the. removal of ice and snow.
During the year approximately eight miles of streets have been rebuilt and tarred, the major portion under Highway General, and the balance under WPA projects, including
Center, Druid Hill Ave., South, Mill Street ap- proximately 2000 feet from Union, Maple, School, Moulton, Cottage, Depot, West, Lafayette, Gold, High, Vine to Chestnut, lower end of Allen Street, Mt. Pleasant Square, Orchard, Vesey Road, Grove from Cross to North Main, Highland Ave., ap- proximately 1000 feet from Warren, Chestnut, Oak approximately 3500 feet from North Main, Over- look Road, Marion, Old, Stacy and Russ approx- imately 1600 feet.
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Several drainage problems have been taken care of including the waterway through the Taber property at the corner of Canton and North Main Streets, also be-
tween North Main Street and Wales Ave. in the rear of the George Mann estate, and from Mt. Pleasant Square through the Arthur Holbrook property to Belcher Street.
All catch basins have been attended to, and catch basins and pipe drainage have been installed on Maple: Street to alleviate a bad condition there.
CHAPTER 90 HIGHWAYS
Considerable work has been done on Pond Street: including widening of the shoulders in many places and all approaches to catch basins have been constructed with bituminous material. A new 300 foot fence has been erected opposite the pumping station at a dan -- gerous curve, and all fences have been painted.
The entire length of Canton Street was re-surfaced: with an emulsion of sand and asphalt, and shoulders. have been widened in several places, and catch basin approaches have been constructed with bituminous material. Brush on both sides of the street from Canton. line to Overlook Road has been removed.
On Union Street a distance of 600 feet was widened and tarred, and necessary repairs were made in several places. Shoulders and catch basin approaches were con- structed of bituminous material. Approximately 300 feet of gravel sidewalk was rebuilt and a 90 foot guard fence was erected, and several fences repaired and re-painted.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
On North Main Street widening of the road was necessary, and from Warren Street to a point beyond Cottage Street on the east side, including the entrance to Cottage Street, considerable improvement was made.
W. P. A. PROJECTS
The Col-Provia sidewalk from Crawford Square on North Street to Central Cemetery was completed. A side- walk was constructed on Warren Street from North Main Street to Toomey's store.
In operation at the present time is the sidewalk project on West Street from Warren Street to Drink- water's greenhouse.
Also under construction are Lillian Street, Norro- way Avenue, Pauline, Emmeline and Grove Streets. Abbey Street and Bartlett Road are to be built under this project.
Catch basins and pipe drainage were installed on. Overlook Road for a distance of approximately 600 feet.
Although a great amount of clerical work was en- tailed, because of the critical unemployment situation in town, every endeavor has been made to apportion the work, both in labor and hire of trucks, as equitably as possible, to the extent that 'over 275 men have received employment in the Highway Department during the year.
To all town officials, and to the men who were employed under the supervision of the Highway Depart- ment, and others who have co-operated with me during the year, I wish to express my sincerest appreciation.
Respectfully yours,
LOUIS J. COURTNEY,
Highway Surveyor
150
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of the Tree Warden
Randolph, Mass., January 15, 1938
To the Citizens of the Town of Randolph:
It is a loss to any city or town not to have shade trees. Nothing adds more to the beauty of a locality than streets lined with shade trees.
The care and protection of your shade trees is no simple matter, with the building of new highways, pests of all kinds, repairing wounds in trees, cutting out dead and broken limbs.
I recommend the purchase of some new trees each year for replacements. I also recommend a town nursery where small trees can be transplanted and raised to a proper size for street planting. More shade tree plant- ing should be done.
A number of trees were removed last year and a number are requesting tree removals which will have to be taken care of this year. For the removal of a tree the law requires a written application to your Tree War- den for a permit. I am ready and willing, at any time, to co-operate with any of the citizens in regard to the trees.
Thanking the citizens for their co-operation the past year, I remain
Respectfully yours,
JOHN T. MOORE,
Tree Warden.
And let our motto be: "Plan to plant another tree."
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Local Moth Superintendent
Randolph, January 15, 1938
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The gypsy moth situation in the town is very bad. The north and west ends of the town are badly infested.
Under Chapter 152, Section 14, General Laws, as amended by Chapter 415, Acts of 1937, the town may be required to expend during the year 1938, the sum of $2,465.76. This amount the town is liable for. .
The town is badly in need of a new spraying machine. The one we now have has outlived its usefulness.
If a stiff fight is not waged this spring your town is going to be overrun with caterpillars. If you raise your allotted amount we will be able to hold them in check.
The mild winter of 36 and 37 and the absence of ice and snow is partly the reason for so much infestation. Not only will your trees, but your plants and shrubs will be stripped and destroyed.
Respectfully yours, JOHN T. MOORE
Local Moth Superintendent
152
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of Police Department
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit report of the work done by the Police Department of the Town of Randolph, for the year ending December 31, 1937.
Calls answered and investigations made 3170
*Summonses served
129
* Arrests 476
Arraignments in Court
451
Bound over to the Grand Jury
6
Pending in District Court
7
Found guilty in District Court
379
* *Dismissed for want of Prosecution
18
Appealed to Superior Court
13
** Found guilty in Superior Court
29
Nol-prossed in Superior Court
2
Pending in Superior Court
2
Acquitted
21
Filed
137
Probation
31
Fined
217
Released
9
Committed to State Dept. Public Welfare
1
Committed to House of Correction
10
Committed to Psychopathic
4
Committed to Taunton State Hospital
2
Committed to Foxboro
2:
Committed to Lancaster
1
Put up for the night
2.
153
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Stolen Property Recovered
Notices posted
$6,201.38 191
Net returns paid to Town Treasurer from fines over and above expenses of prose- cution $164.57
Fines taken in by District and superior Courts $2,831.00
*Some arrests and summonses were served for out of town police,
** Of the 18 cases dismissed for want of prosecution the police were complainant on 11.
* Includes six cases bound over to the Grand Jury, all of which were found guilty in Superior Court.
Total number of warnings on motor violations 649
Total number of suspensions of licenses 68
Total number of miles covered by police car 62,046 Total number of miles covered by motorcycles 22,873
Respectfully submitted,
PATRICK T. McDONNELL
Chief of Police.
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of Fire Department
Randolph, Mass., January 1, 1938
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1937.
The department responded to 194 calls during the year classified as follows:
Bell alarms 104
Still alarms 90
194
Building fires
30
Brush and grass fires
139
Automobile fires
12
Aid calls
1
False alarms
1
Inhalator
1
Miscellaneous calls
6
Number of feet of 21/2hose used
7,960
Number of feet of 11/2 hose used
3,850
Number of feet of ladder used 256
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Assessed value of property damaged by fire $ 73,450
Insurance on property 171,550
Damage to property
8,754
Insurance paid on loss 8,394
Loss not covered by insurance 360
The apparatus connected with the department is in good condition at the present time.
The Forest Fire Engine, which has been in continual service since 1931, will have to be overhauled this year.
The new Seagrave pumping engine, purchased this year, was placed in commission September 20, 1937 fol- lowing a test made by the New England Insurance Ex- change.
In conclusion I wish to extend my thanks to the Board of Selectmen and the citizens for their co-operation and interest in the welfare of the Department.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD L. BAILEY
Chief of Fire Department
156
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Randolph, Mass., January 6, 1938
To the Board of Selectmen, Randolph, Mass.
Gentlemen:
During the year 1937 I have sealed:
Scales
127
Weights
119
Liquid measures
104
Gasoline pumps
78
Oil jars
86
Kerosene pumps
16
Grease pumps
26
Yard sticks
15
Taxi meters
7
Oil measuring pumps
84
Re-sealed and tested:
Gasoline pumps
30
Scales
25
Inspections made:
Pedlars' licenses
20
Pedlars' Scales 20
Fees collected and turned over
to the Town Treasurer $101.77
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Salary of Sealer
$150.00
Transporting weights
44.48
Purchase of equipment
15.52
$210.00
Appropriation
$210.00
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL P. LYONS,
Sealer of Weights and Measures
158
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
List of Jurors
AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Randolph, Mass., July 5, 1937.
Anderson, Lars, Farmer Ahern, William J., Shoeworker Ayres, George, Foundry-man Burchell, Elmer L., Accountant Boothby, John R., Carpenter Bradley, James D., Reporter Brennan, John B., Retired Burns, Samuel, Shoemaker Bustard, William M., Shoeworker Chase, Arthur, Machinist Cain, Patrick, R. R. Employee Copeland, Bernard J., Manager Carmichael, Andrew G., Steward Cattanach, John, Salesman Camelio, Peter P., Laborer Clark, Joseph B., Foreman Cormey, George, Carpenter Cosman, Sylvester S., Retired Cullen, John F., Laborer Cutting, Robert S., Plumber Doody, Arthur L., Insurance Doyle, Peter, Carpenter Driscoll, Harold B., Carpenter Eddy, William F., Carpenter Eldridge, George, Shoeworker Erickson, August W., Carpenter Ferris, Emory A., Rubberworker Fahey, Edward, Laborer
South Main St.
111 South Main St. High St.
Fairmount St. Woodlawn St. 20 Ward St. 153 Warren St. 26 Warren St.
36 Woodlawn St. Royal St. 51 Howard St. 315 North Main St. Englewood Ave.
44 Belcher St. Warren St. 22 Mill St. North St. Druid Hill Ave. High St. Morse St. South Main St. Amelian Road Vesey Road 591 North Main St. North Main St. Oak St. Liberty St. 108 Warren St.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Fardy, Linwood E., Repairman Flannigan, Walter J., Salesman
24 Depot St. 85 Canton St.
Foley, Patrick, Filling Station op. Good, John, Shoeworker
1251 North Main St. 8 Mill St. 194 Orchard St. South Main St. West St.
Hawkins, William, Carpenter Hutchinson, Ralph M., Mechanic Jorgenson, Carl J., Painter
Kane, Charles E., Salesman
Keefe, James F., Truck driver
Kelley, John E., Architect
71 South Main St. 17 Wales Ave. Bartlett Road
Lyons, C. Fred, Retired LeVangie, Benjamin M., Mechanic Mann, Arthur L., Plumber
Mount Pleasant Square Warren St.
McGerigle, John, Shoeworker
39 Roel St.
McAuliffe, Eugene L., Real Estate Mixer, Herbert L., Chauffeur Murphy, Daniel, Printer
1113 North Main St. 631 North St.
Mitchell, Edward, Plumber
1115 North Main St.
Murphy, Edward, Laborer
30 West St.
McMahon, Joseph, Bookkeeper
47 South St. Gordon St.
McCabe, Hugh V., Laborer McAuliffe, Robert, Retired Neary, Arthur, Salesman O'Donnell, Arthur, Candy-maker
166 Union St. Warren St.
O'Connor, William, Restaurant mgr.
6 Marion St. 19 Roel St. 41 Howard St. 328 Canton St.
O'Connell, John J., Shoeworker O'Neil, Matthew J., Retired O'Riley, Thomas, Plumber Peters, Gerald J., Chauffeur Richards, Noe, Restaurant mgr.
Smith, Herman H., Merchant
Sawyer, George, Retired
Druid Hill Ave. Morgan St. 12 Liberty St. 50 Pond St. 222 Liberty St. Maitland Ave.
Sarni, Rocco, Farmer
Schofield, Robert, Painter
High St.
Gaffey, James E., Jr., Salesman Haskell, Joseph, Clerk
439 North Main St. Lafayette St. Van Beal Road North Main St.
160
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Shanks, Charles E., Clerk Smith, Norman, Fireman Southwick, Edward, Laborer Stephens, Charles, Shoeworker Sullivan, George R., Box-maker Shea, James, Shoeworker Teed, Frank F., Contractor Thomson, Percy H., Gardener Tierney, William, Chauffeur Truelson, Charles H., Farmer Wilbur, Herbert C., Painter Woodward, Walter W., Salesman Whitney, John B., Superintendent
Russ St. Vine St. 21 Norfolk Road North St.
391 South Main St. Ward St. 50 Oak St. 410 North Main St. 140 North St. 240 Chestnut St. Wales Ave. Vinton St. 66 Allen St.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Report of School Committee
The School Committee hereby submits its annual report for the calendar year of 1937. Further elaboration and details of this report will be found in the report of the Superintendent of Schools and in the reports of various departments.
The School Committee, following the precedent of past years, has given much time and thought to the improvement of school property. It has been the en- deavor of your Committee, whenever possible, to make the repairs and improvements permanent, thereby avoid- ing the expense of redoing hastily put together repairs, It is unavoidable that certain necessary, minor repairs, -such as painting, patching and renewals, return year after year. These repairs must be attended to as the necessity occurs and should not be allowed to accumu- late, as it is then a double burden the following year.
There are about seventy rooms in our school system, not including corridors, stair-halls, etc. This means the painting of about twelve rooms, with accessory rooms each year plus the painting of the exterior of, at least, two buildings each year. There are fifty-six rooms equip- ped with school furniture. Assuming the life of this furniture to be approximately twenty years, it would mean the replacing of about two and one-half rooms each year. Some of this furniture lasts considerable longer than twenty years and some a lesser time.
In order to effect a permanent cure for the water seepage through the parapet wall, and into the building,
162
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
over the second story windows, it was decided to apply for a W. P. A. project for the Devine School and Stetson High School. The project was granted by the Federal Government. An article was inserted in the Town War- rant to cover the cost of materials but because of the adjournment of the Town Meeting, the article was not acted upon. The School Committee was compelled to finance this work from their current expense account with the exception of about $300.00 taken from the town's appropriation for W. P. A. material. Because of this difficulty, it was found necessary to discontinue the pro- ject at the completion of the Devine School.
At the Devine School a permanent cure has been effected and all seepage through the parapet wall has been stopped. The parapet was taken down to the level of the stone cornice. Flashing was installed over this stone cornice, through the wall connecting with the roof flashing, on the back side. All brick, stone and copper was removed, cleaned and replaced. About 27,000 bricks were handled in the progress of the work and many men were given employment. Your Committee feels that with the aid of the W. P. A., a splendid job was done. Your Committee recommends that this project be continued next year at the Stetson High School.
For many years the sanitary conditions at the two Prescott school buildings have been a source of great annoyance. Because of the insistent demands of the Mass. Dept. of Public Safety, the School Committee of the year 1936, were compelled to make a beginning on this work. In that year the Prescott Primary building work was begun. The toilet rooms were completely redone. New plumbing fixtures and piping were installed; new
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
duct work and a ventilating fan satisfactorily completed the work done in that building. This year, continuing the work so well begun in 1936, the toilet rooms in the main Prescott building were overhauled; new toilet fix- tures installed in the boys' toilet room and a new venti- lating system with new ventilating fan, installed in both girls' and boys' toilet rooms. Because the basement of the main Prescott building is sunk into the ground, dangerously close to the level of the cesspools, your Com- mittee feels that no permanent cure can be hoped for in this building until the plumbing is moved out of the basement to the floors above. However, this thought was kept in mind while making the present repairs and all fixtures, fans, etc. can be readily transferred at some future time. We feel that the plumbing in this building is now quite satisfactory.
A complete new system of electric wiring and fix- tures was installed at the Prescott Primary building. During the summer, the exterior of this building was repaired and painted two coats. The Devine School classrooms and all exterior window trim in the easterly side of the building was painted under a W. P. A. pro- ject. All school buildings where the necessity required, were painted during the summer, with the aid of the janitors in their respective buildings.
Electric ranges have been installed in the lunch rooms of the Devine and Prescott School buildings. Proper counters for the serving of food, shelves and cupboards for the storage of dishes, etc. have been built. The serv- ing of hot lunches, at a minimum cost to the pupils of the Devine, Prescott and Stetson High Schools, is being efficiently handled.
164
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
The High School is continually in need of repairs and an extensive repair job on the heating system was necessary during the winter vacation. About fifty-four steam traps including thermastatic and float traps on steam mains were replaced. A radiator was installed in the library and two speed heaters installed in the lunch room. Earlier in the year a tankless heater was installed, connected directly to the hot water boiler, giving a con- tinuous flow of warm water to the shower baths; a val- uable and necessary addition for the comfort and con- venience of the children.
For economy of operation, the heating system in the Stetson High School will eventually have to be entirely redone. This can be accomplished gradually, and in progressive stages as the Committee plans to do. There is no provision, at the present time, for the recirculation of warm air from the building, to be mixed with the in-coming cold air in the fan room. We believe it is necessary for the sake of economy and comfort that proper ducts with thermastatic control dampers, located in the main cold air duct be installed. We believe the heating system should be so adjusted and arranged that the auditorium and parts of the building used for com- munity and school activities at night, could be cut off and heated separately from the main building. We be- lieve that it is wasteful to continue the use of light and medium fuel oil in this building. This accounts, in a large measure, for the tremendously heavy cost of heat- ing. The present oil burners are inadequate and are incapable of developing the full capacity of the boilers. We recommend two new oil burners be installed, capable of burning fully automatically heavy "Bunker C" fuel oil. This item alone would save the cost of nearly half the fuel used in this building and would pay for the installation in less than three years.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Your Committee feels strongly the need for the' proper maintenance and care of all school buildings and the necessity of making permanent, any change or ex- tensive improvement. Mindful, however, of the present. economic conditions, we feel that progress must, of necessity, be made slowly and in easy stages. However, where existing conditions contribute to a continual yearly waste, they should not be allowed to remain un- cared for.
In order to conform to the state requirement gov- erning transportation, it was found necessary at the beginning of the year, to break an age-old precedent established in this town many years ago. Due to the increased number of children attending high school from the North Randolph district, we were obliged to furnish free transportation to high school children living two or more miles from the high school. This threw an added burden on our already overburdened expense account, but with the cooperation of the bus drivers, the Com- mittee was enabled to continue this work up to December 31st at no additional expense to the town. Beginning January 1st, however, we were compelled to increase the contract price for transportation to cover the increased. mileage and labor involved.
Your Committee, in the interest of safety, has formally requested the Board of Selectmen to take what- ever necessary and appropriate steps that may be re- quired, to have the lane leading to the Belcher School, known as "School Lane" closed to public traffic; also the making of Old Street, on which the Devine School is located, a one-way street, entering from the Canton Street end. We believe these two measures will mater- ially add to the safety of children attending these two schools. In the case of the Belcher School, the closing
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
of School Lane will eliminate a great source of potential danger. We quote from the school report for the year 1933:
"Last year your Committee recommended the pur- chase of the lot of land located on the corner of Belcher Street and School Lane and the closing of that section of School Lane within the bounds of the Belcher School property to public traffic. To quote from our report of last year, 'We believe this School Lane to be a source of great danger to the children attending the Belcher School. It is inevitable that serious accidents may be caused by automobiles swinging out of Belcher Street up the steep incline into School Lane.'
"Your Committee still believes School Lane, so called to be a source of danger to the children at- tending this school, cutting through the school yard, as it does, with playgrounds extending across the street into the grove on the opposite side; your Committee feels that if it were not for the eternal vigilance of the teachers, serious accidents would be unavoidable."
It is proposed that your Committee insert an article in the warrant for the year 1938, requesting the appoint- ment of a Committee, to act with the School Committee, to make a report at the next Annual Town Meeting, on the question of acquiring the land mentioned above, this land to be added to the Belcher School property.
Your Committee earnestly recommends the establish- ment of a state-aided household art course in the High School. An article has been inserted in the Town War- rant for the year 1938, asking for an appropriation of $1200.00 for this purpose. Such a course, established at
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