USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1919 > Part 5
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A statistical record of the work for the past season follows.
Week ending
Bungy Field
Capron Park
Free Play
Wading Pool
Total
July 12th
240
318
152
97
807
July 19th
174
245
210
107
736
July 26th
119
214
113
325
771
August 2nd
112
285
145
281
823
August 9th
99
203
63
248
613
August 16th
79
198
155
216
648
August 23rd
95
512
345
105
1057
August 30th
76
125
40
59
300
Y. M. C. A. Swims
Boys
167
Y. M. C. A. Swims
Girls
130
Y. M. C. A. Gym.
141
Totals
994
2100
1223
1438
6193
Respectfully submitted,
H. H. REINHARDT,
Supervisor of Playground.
65
ANNUAL REPORT
PLANNING BOARD
To His Honor, Philip E. Brady, Mayor, and the
Honorable City Council of Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen -:
In accordance with Chapter 494 of Massachusetts Statutes, the Attleboro City Planning Board herewith submits its fifth annual report.
Several meetings have been held during the year, the first meeting being held January 26.
We desire to call attention to the following recommendations that should receive your careful consideration for the coming year :-
No. 1. South Main Street.
We again recommend that South Main Street be widened on the West Side from Park Street to Mill Street, so that it will be approximately 35 feet from curb to curb, instead of 27 feet, as now laid out.
No. 2. Mechanic Street.
There is urgent need of improving Mechanic Street, by widening and rebuild- ing same between Hodges and Fourth Streets.
No. 3. Monument Square.
We recommend that Monument Square be laid out as a one way through fare. At present there are no traffic restrictions in this area and there are many narrow escapes from serious accidents occurring almost daily.
No. 4. Mill Street Conditions ..
We urge that an ordinance be passed prohibiting the parking of vehicles on either side of Mill Street, between the railroad arch and Union Street, and that neat "No Parking" signs be placed at the curb. The present practise of park- ing vehicles on both sides of this street, with street railway cars standing there, causes congestion and in case of fire might prove very unfortunate.
No. 5. Recommendation on Purchasing a Site for a City Hall.
The Planning Board feel that this is by far the most important matter it has had under consideration during the past year, and call attention to two avail- able sites, namely the Holman Homestead property and a North Main Street site. We have given this matter fair and impartial consideration, taking into account matters of expense, surrounding conditions, and appearance, both in the near and distant future, in the life of our city. Expert advice has been se- cured and the matter gone over throughly, and our recommendation carefully considered. We have come to a unaminous decision and are ready to recom- mend that immediate steps be taken to secure the site on North Main Street, shown in Assessors Plat No 10, as lots 7, 8, 10, 32 and 32A. The advantages of this site are as follows :-
66
ANNUAL REPORT
The opportunity of developing a civic center is offered at the North Main Street site, the Public Library, the Y. M. C. A., the public schools, and the Court House, are already located on adjacent properties.
The North Main Street site has more than four times the area of the Hol- man Homestead property, containing approximately 290,000 square feet, a- gainst 61,000 on the Holman site. The North Main Street site has a front- age of 175 feet, with a reasonable assurance of the city being able to secure ad- ditional frontage in the future at a fair price.
Although the area of the North Main Street site is more than four times that of the Holman site, the former can probably be purchased at a lower price than the latter.
The environments of the North Main Street site are most desirable, while. the environments of the Holman Homestead property site are far from desir- able as surroundings for a municipal building, and in order to remove these conditions the city would probably have to control the surrounding property at a great expense.
The North Main Street site provides a location for the City Hall removed from the present objectionable conditions of noise, smoke and dirt from pass- ing trains, a nuisance which would still continue to exist if the City Hall were located on the Holman Homestead property site.
Should the city purchase the North Main Street site, there would be removed' the present danger of there being erected (factories or a garage) next to the Public Library-a most undesirable possibility.
The economic development of the Attleboro business district that demands Pleasant Street, between Park and Falmouth Streets, should not be interfered with by the erection of municipal buildings.
The North Main Street site would provide a high and dry basement suitable for the location of Police Headquarters and the storage of public documents, which features would be unavailable in the Holman Homestead property site.
Should the city purchase this North Main Street site, there would be avail- able land remaining for park purposes, in connection with the civic center.
We urge the purchase of this site immediately, before improvements are. placed thereon, which would greatly increase the cost of land to the city.
We express our appreciation. of the action of the City Council in taking up the recommendation of extending Cliff Street to Hayward Street.
We request that an appropriation of $100.00 be voted by the City Council for the expenses of the Planning Board for the ensuing year.
We thank the Mayor, the Council, the Public Works Department, and the Press, for the many courtesies they have extended to us during the past year.
JOSEPH FINBERG, Chairman. EDGAR A. REMINGTON, Secretary. . RAYMOND M. HORTON. MILFORD E. BLISS MRS. JOSEPHINE HAMMOND. MRS. MARY G. MULLALY.
December 31, 1919.
67
ANNUAL REPORT
POLICE DEPARTMENT
MAYOR Philip E. Brady
COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Oscar Wolfenden
Walter A. Briggs Thomas S. Healey.
Chief of Police
Edmond H. Gingras.
Lieutenant Terence E. Flanagan
Arthur F. Gaffney John Bora
Patrolman
May 9, 1900.
Patrolman
Mar. 16, 1910
William J. Sargeant
Special Officer
Mar., 1911.
William J. Sargeant
Patrolman
Mar. 13, 1912.
Edward E. Gobin
Police Officer and Chauffeur
April 4, 1914.
Edward E. Gobin
Patrolman
Jan. 16, 1915.
Albert E. Sears
Patrolman
Jan. 16, 1915.
William D. Norwood
Patrolman
Jan. 16, 1915.
Franklin Mckay
Reserve Officer
June 30, 1915.
Franklin Mckay
Patrolman
July 12, 1916.
Louis J. Fournier
Reserve Officer
Sept. 6, 1916.
Louis J. Fournier
Patrolman
Joseph McBride
Reserve Officer
April 19, 1918.
Joseph McBride Joseph O'Donnell
Reserve Officer
April 22, 1918.
Joseph O'Donnell
Patrolman
Nov. 1, 1918.
John J. Kelly
Reserve Officer
Nov. 1, 1918.
John J. Kelly
Patrolman
April 1, 1919.
John E. Candelet
Reserve Officer
May 26, 1919.
*Resigned December 26, 1919.
April 1, 1918.
Patrolman
July 20, 1918.
68
ANNUAL REPORT
To His Honor, the Mayor and the Municipal Council :-
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit for your consideration and approval the annual report of the Police Department from December 1, 1918, to December 31, 1919, inclusive.
During that period of time the Police Department made four hundred seventy-one arrests for the following crimes and misdemeanors.
Assault and battery
0
Total 15
Assault on officer
1
0
1
Arson
3
0
3
Auto law, violation of.
83
0
83
Auto taking, without right.
4
0
4
Bastardy.
4
0
4
Burning with intent to defraud.
1
0
1
Breaking, entering and larceny.
2
0
2
Breaking, entering with intent.
1
0
1
Bigamy
1
0
1
Contempt of court.
0
1
1
Cruelty to animals.
6
0
6
City Ordinance, violation of.
3
0
3
Cigarette law, violation of.
1
0
1
Drunkenness.
111
3
114
Disturbance.
10
0
10
Delinquent child.
12
0
12
Diverting electricity.
1
0
1
Disorderly house, keeping.
1
0
1
Evading carfare.
1
0
1
Escaped prisoners.
2
0
2
Gaming, present at.
26
0
26
Glass throwing, in public street
1
0
1
House of ill-fame, keeping.
1
0
1
Habitual absentee.
3
0
3
Health law, violation of.
1
0
1
Indecent exposure.
1
0
1
Idle and disorderly.
1
0
1
Insane, alleged.
1
0
1
Kidnapping.
1
0
1
Larceny .
29
3
32
Larceny, attempt at.
1
0
1
Larceny in a building
10
0
10
Liquor law, violation of.
4
0
4
Malicious mischief.
8
1
9
Manslaughter.
2
0
2
Neglect to provide.
11
0
11
Neglected children.
9
13
22
Neglect to send child to school.
1
0
1
Peddling without license.
1
0
1
Probation, violation of.
6
0
6
Rape.
1
0
1
Receiving stolen property
2
0
2
Robbery
2
0
2
Ringing false fire alarm.
1
0
1
Revolver, carrying, when committing felony
1
0
1
Revolver, carrying, when arrested.
1
0
1
Stealing a ride.
1
0
1
Stubborn child.
1
3
4
Male 15
Female
69
ANNUAL REPORT
Male
Female
Total
Tramp.
13
0
13
Trespass.
11
0
11
Team not lighted.
1
0
1
Vagrant .
5
0
5
Unlawful game on Sunday.
4
0
4
Uttering threats.
11
0
11
Unmarked package.
1
0
1
Unnatural act, committing.
3
0
3
Unlicensed dog, keeping .
2
0
2
Wayward child.
0
1
1
Walking on railroad
4
0
4
446
25
471
Equipment
Motor equipment now consists of a Cadillac Patrol Wagon and Cadillac Touring Car both in good condition and giving excellent service. A new mo- torcycle is needed with sidecar attachment, the one now in use having been used for six summers, further use of it would not be economical.
Revolvers and handcuffs carried by police officers are of the latest pattern and in good condition.
Recommendations
These do not differ in any great extent from what I have recommended in the past only that the need of their being adopted is more apparent every year. Briefly, they are the building of a Police Station with the installation of a Sig- nal System, motor vehicles for the use of the Patrolman in Hebronville and South Attleboro to properly patrol these districts, and the appointment of a chauffeur to have charge and take care of motor vehicles owned by the depart- ment. The need of a Police Station with signal system and a garage to house the cars should be given more than a casual consideration and then forgotten. The citizens of Attleboro are entitled to the best services from their police but efficient work cannot be done by the department if it must continue work- ing under conditions as they are at the present time. The department is e- quipped with up to date motor apparatus, other than that it still continues to function as it did under the old Town form of government. This does not in- vite favorable comparism with cities and towns of a like population and valu- ation.
I would recommend that favorable action be taken by the City Government in regard to the increase of wages asked for by the police. If we are to keep the force working harmoniously and satisfied they must be paid enough to in- sure health and comfortable living conditions.
At no time during the past four years has the reserve force reached the legal limit of five men which the department needs, due to the low rate of compensa- tion.
I recommend that the sum of $33310.00 be appropriated for the mainten- ance of the Police Department during 1920.
Respectfullly submitted,
EDMOND H. GINGRAS.
Chief of Police.
70
ANNUAL REPORT
PUBLIC LIBRARY
To the Mayor and Council of the City of Attleboro.
Gentlemen :-
The year 1919 for the Attleboro Public Library has been a busy one, in fact, the busiest that the Trustees of the Library have ever had the pleasure of re- porting. All departments have shown a decided increased in their activities, the total circulation of books being approximately 15% more than the highest total on record.
Problems at the Library have been similar to our city's industrial problems, namely, a greatly increased volume of work with difficulty in obtaining suffi- cient trained workers. However, the Librarian and her staff are to be congratula- ted on the splendid results of the year in spite of these conditions and we look forward to the coming year as full of promise and with the assurance of even better results.
The Library in common with most of the other City departments has been brought face to face with the continued upward climb in the cost of labor and commodities. The Trustees have felt that the members of the Library staff should receive substantial increases in remuneration, and the additional cost of Library material of every sort is surprising and annoying. In the belief, how- ever, that Attleboro's taxpayers stand ready to meet this necessary increase in expense and also that they desire the continuance of the Library's high stand- ard of work, we have felt it necessary to ask for a larger appropriation this year. We feel, however, that the $10,500 requested, an increase of $1500 over 1919, is a reasonable one in view of the conditions.
Mrs. Spofford, as chief Librarian, has submitted her annual report to the Trustees, and we present it herewith as a document of interest and serving as conclusive evidence of the "busy" Library year. of 1919.
We are glad to report that owing to the care that Mr. Chace, custodian of the Library, has given the Library building, that it has not become necessary, until the close of this its twelfth year, to make hardly any expenditures on building up-keep. We now find it necessary, however, to refinish some of the furniture and certain parts of the outside of the buildings. With the com- pletion of this work, the Library building will again be in excellent condition.
As you will notice from Mrs. Spofford's report the children's room, which was opened a year ago last fall, has proven to be immensely worth while and its constant growth is anticipated with increasing benefits to the children of our City.
Along these same lines, the Library has endeavored to cooperate to the ut- most with the school department in the desire to acquaint the children with
71
ANNUAL REPORT
the Library and the material available therein. Such training of the child is sure to result in greater use of the Library and make it even more than now a serviceable community center.
Respectfully submitted,
Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library,
JOSEPH L. SWEET, Chairman LEONARD I. LAMB, THOMAS E. McCAFFREY. ELIZABETH J. WILMARTH, ELEANOR S. CARPENTER, CHARLES S. HOLDEN,
MARK E. ROWE,
RAYMOND M. HORTON.
January 9, 1920.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library :-
I have the honor to submit the annual report for the year ending December 31, 1919.
The first year of peace has gone by and following the first expression of thankfulness has come a period of unrest and turmoil. The library cannot often take the initiative in reform but it can assist every organization which is working for a better America. To "be aristocratic in taste and democratic in service is the privilege and glory of the Public Library" The Library is having, as never before an opportunity to pass on the words of every great man who has a message that will aid in our work of reconstruction. More mater- ial is available in books, magazines and pamphlets and more and more people are learning to come to the Library as the source of supply. After the years of war which has deepened our introspection comes greater taste for reading. The Library department is the most free and cosmopolitan and it is the Libra- ry which has the greatest power to interpret the spirit of American democracy.
Circulation.
The total circulation for the year amounted to 82, 197, an increase of 14,030 from the previous year. The largest previous circulation was in 1915 with a total of 71,425, which makes the circulation of 1919 larger by 10,772 than ever in the history of the Library.
The circulation from the Central Library has amounted to 68,525, an increase of 458 over the combined circulation of the Central, High School, Dodge- ville, Hebronville and School deposits in 1918.
The growth in use of the Library is shown by the following table which gives the total circulation of books and magazines for different fiscal years, ending in December.
Circulation by year since the Library was moved to the present building.
1907
38,998
1908
49,332
1909
48,262
1910
50,233
1911
54,461
72
ANNUAL REPORT
1912
58,188
1913
58,573
1914
65,392
1915
71,425
1916
67,197
1917
66,428
1918
68,167
1919
82,197
The attendance on Sundays and holidays for reading and reference has been
January.
393
February.
512
March. 480
April
448
May.
271
June.
332
September.
239
October
446
November.
507
December.
345
No record is made of the "reference" use of books, that is of those books used in the Central Library and its branches, but it doubtless is equal to the record- ed home circulation. Even when one looks at the circulation figures, it is diffi- cult to estimate the real value of the work done throughout the year. The human side does not appear in statistics. The human interest side is certainly vital. Any work that goes on in the city is reflected in the request for books at the Library. What the people of the community are thinking and talking about is registered from day to day by questions asked at the reference desk and the books consulted. Workers in jewelry, metal work, china painting and the other crafts find much to interest them among the books on these sub- jects and also in the works on design and historic ornament. In the spring there is always a demand for plans for bungalows and small country houses. Interior decoration receives a large share of attention. The householder comes for furniture designs and new ideas for walls and draperies. The person who has a plot of land comes for the latest things on gardens. Many teachers and students are users of the library. The material sought includes biography, education, examples of painting, designs, and textiles.
In the early summer playground games and folk dances all lead their in- structors to the use of books. Always during musical events there are fre- quent requests for books on musical subjects-something about a singer, a pianist, or an opera.
There is the user who knows what he wants and there is another class of users who seem to be afraid to make their desires known. Such a reader asks for a particular book and after much time has been spent a general air of dis- satisfaction and uneasiness makes the assistant realize that he is not getting what he wants. A series of questions gradually brings out the fact that he is looking for information that could have been secured instantly if a definate statement had been made in the beginning. There is another class of users who tax the ingenuity of the assistant to a considerable extent. The following anecdote will illustrate their character. A lady came to the desk and said: "There's a book in here,-a big red book-this thick and about this long. I had it here last week, one of the other young ladies brought it to me. I don't remember the author's name, but it has a big picture of a cathedral inside the cover." In such cases, out of the many books that the library owns, that par- ticular one must be discovered. To make such indefinite needs more direct is one of the chief reasons for our work. At all times every possible effort is. made to help anyone to find a definite answer for an indefinite request.
73
ANNUAL REPORT
Often the telephone is used to find out whether the Library has material on a certain subject before a visit for study is made. If the article giving the in- formation is not too long, it is read to the inquirer over the telephone so that he may be saved a trip to the Library.
The constantly growing picture collection is of great use. The pictures most used are, industries, costumes, seals, insignia and the various countries.
Below is a table showing the number of books borrowed in the main classes during the year.
Central Adult
Library A.H.S. Dodgeville Hebronville Grade Juv.
Total
Schools
General Works .
2,491
510
25
26
5
3,057
Philosophy
291
18
24
2
- 13
348
Religion.
271
242
25
9
10
38
595
Sociology .\
838
3,438
78
349
397
442
5,542
Philology
111
3
8
4
9
135
Science.
543
620
47
41
92
90
1,433
Useful Arts
1,398
428
35
70
62
20
2,013
Fine Arts
1,466
543
7
35
18
29
2,098
Literature.
1,512
1,226
358
108
267
190
3,661
History
1,279
518
159
26
107
90
2,179
Travel. .
775
773
367
62
58
53
2,088
Biography
616
540
526
59
64
23
1,828
Fiction.
35,313
12,762
1,648
1,354
4,951
1,192
57,220
Total
46,904 21,621
3,307
2,143
6,042
2,180
82,197
Picture circulation 3,444.
Children's Room and School Use.
The circulation of books among the children has materially increased. The juvenile books circulated amounted to 28,066 in 1919, and 16,454 in 1918, an increase of 11,612.
The needs of the Children's room are many. The demand is most insistent for some of the best children's books. It seems impossible to have too many fairy tales and books for those beginning to read. Nearly all readers have had fathers, brothers, or cousins in France and the personal element has brought a large demand for books of history and travel.
The Children's room has been made more attractive by the addition of three pictures, the gift of Mr. Joseph L. Sweet.
Particular attention has been given not only in our selection of books for the Library, but in seeking to extend our influence over the buyers of books, to the subject of children's reading. The Library has always sought to exert an influence in behalf of wise selection on the part of the individuals who buy books for children. Knowing that the purchase of inferior books is usually made from a lack of knowledge of the better class, an exhibition of books suit- able for children was open for two weeks during the holiday season. There were books in low priced editions with good illustrations and print, as well as the more expensive. Through the gift of Mrs. Harold Sweet the exhibition was made of lasting value to the Library by the addition of many finely illus- trated juvenile books. These will form a permanent "model collection" which may be examined by anyone at any time.
The work with children has not made the progress it might, due to the lack of sufficient assistants. The time of a trained worker might well be spent in this department. However the effort is made to make good books available to all the children of the community; To train boys and girls to use with discrim- ination the adult library; to reinforce and supplement the class work of the city; to cooperate with institutions for civic and social betterment; and, first and last, to build character and develop literary taste through the medium of books.
74
ANNUAL REPORT'
School requirements have included a new range of topics for written work and oral themes, drawn from current events and world problems.
School deposits were sent to the various rooms in the Briggs Corner, Wash- ington, and South Attleboro schools. The total number of books sent was 592, and these had a circulation amounting to 2180. In no place are the books more appreciated than by the children who use the books sent them in their school libraries.
The pupils of the Bank St., and Sanford St. schools are constant users of the Library. Pupils from the eighth grades have been to the Library for two les- sons, one on the location of books and the use of the catalog, and one on the use of a few reference books.
Branches
-
A circulation of 2193 is reported at the Dodgeville branch, a gain of 1021 over the previous year. At best, figures are only an indication of the work done. What can measure the entertainment, inspiration and instruction received from the association of good books?
During the year particular attention has been paid to two or three lines of work, which do not show on any table of statistics, but which do add very very much to the usefulness of the library. One of these is the attitude of the chil- dren toward the room. Every effort is being made on Library day at the Dodge- ville Neighborhood House to make them feel that it is a place for recreation but a quiet one; not a general meeting place for boisterous play, but for a de- finite kind of entertainment and instruction which can and must be enjoyed without disturbing other people. Results of such work must necessarily be slow but there are encouraging signs.
Since early summer Miss Bertha Hunnewell has done commendable work. Eight story hours were held during the late spring, fall and winter months with an average. attendance of 25. Stories were told from "Robin Hood" Kipling's "Jungle book," and selected fairy tales and Christmas stories.
Teachers from the Dodgeville school have borrowed freely from the collect- ion of books and have in this way helped to, introduce the children to worth while reading.
The House committee of the Dodgeville Neighborhood Association had doors placed on the book cases, thus making much easier the care of the books. The Association also subscribed to the Leslie's, Ladies Home Journal and Mod- ern Priscilla, for use in the reading room.
The Hebronville Branch under the inspiring influence of Miss Martha J. Roberts and the painstaking care of Miss Jennie Pierce has done excellent work. The circulation has been most gratifying; 6042 in 1919 and 1813 in 1918.
Here the call for books and magazines is insistent. No where except in the Central Children's Room is the need for books and magazines more imperative. This is a Branch that has great opportunity to promote good reading and inter- est people in good books. There ought to be a larger number of good fiction, biography, books of travel and popular science, and many books of popular appeal available for use at this Branch. Had the Library a large income much could wisely be spent for books at Hebronville.
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