USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1920 > Part 4
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2%
4.5%-over
34%
4.0%-4.5%
47%
3.5%-4.0%
17%
3 3%-3.5%
Sediment
Percentage samples.
Sediment test.
6%
Very clean
32%
Clean
53%
Fair
9%
Dirty
Bacteriological
Percentage samples
Bacteria count
3%
500,000-over
23%
200,000-500,000
32%
100,000-200,000
19%
50,000-100,000
23%
10,000- 50,000
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES, J. GUILD, Milk Inspector.
ESTIMATE OF APPROPRIATION FOR 1921
Health Officer's Salary
Maintenance
Laboratory
$100.00
Dental Clinic
600.00
Clerk
366.00
Inspector of Milk.
750.00
Care of Dump.
624.00
Garbage Removal
1,600.00
Inspector of Slaughter
600.00
Inspector of Animals
300.00
Inspector of Plumbing.
300.00
Nursing and Care at Home.
500.00
Sanatoria
6,000.00
Fees to other Cities and Towns
500.00
Physicians' Fee
200.00
Vaccination
25.00
Rent
120.00
Incidentals
250.00
Vital Statistics
225.00
$13,060.00
53
ANNUAL REPORT
PARK COMMISSIONERS
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Municipal Council:
In accordance with the vote of the Council, the Park Commis- sioners met with the Planning Board to consider what should be done to the Common. After viewing it together, it was unanimously decided that the trees were much too crowded and needed a thorough thining out, to give the remaining trees a chance to grow properly.
Therefore about twenty trees were cut down and the stumps re- moved and the ground leveled. The remainder were properly trimmed and the result was a vast improvement in the appearance of the Com- mon. After this, about 1200 tulip bulbs were planted in beds in the open spaces and these should make the Common a beauty spot in the spring.
Respectfully submitted,
C. A. MOOERS J. E. ANDERSON S. D. BUSHEE
Attleboro, Mass., Dec 24, 1920.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Municipal Council:
The Park Commissioners herewith submit their nineteenth annual report for the year 1920.
PARK COMMISSIONERS Charles A. Mooers, Chairman Solon D. Bushee, Treasurer and Superintendent John E. Anderson, Secretary
Supervisor -- J. Ray Cooney. Assistant-Miss Alma Hillman.
Donated
Capron Park was donated to the Town of Attleboro in 1901 bv Everett S. Capron, Harford Capron and Mrs. Shepard Carpenter.
Casino
Donated by Marsden J. Perry in 1902.
Fountain
Donated by Mrs. John Wolfenden in memory of her husband, John Wolfenden, in 1910.
Newell Shelter
Donated by Mrs. Fred E. Newell in 1911.
54
ANNUAL REPORT
Wading Pool and Bath House
Donated by Gertrude Hunton Sweet in memory of her parents, in 1917.
The Park, during the summer, was kept up to its usual high stand- ard. It was highly complimented. A gentleman from New York told Miss Hillman that it was as pretty a small Park as he was ever in; he said he had been in a great many parks. He is a construction en- gineer.
Flower Beds and Borders
The flower beds and borders maintained during the season are one of the essential features in beautifying the Park and much care and attention are required in preserving them.
Trees and Shrubs
The Park is bountifully adorned with beautiful trees and shrubs, including both natural and cultivated stock, which require constant work and care throughout the different seasons of the year. There is also more or less inspection work to be done in the early spring and late in the fall of the year.
Flowers
The flower seeds are started in flats in the Superintendent's cel- lar. Some of the seeds are planted in January, most of them later.
Lawns
There are about six acres of lawns that have to be mown with hand lawn mowers, and it is necessary to do this quite frequently. Lawns were green all summer and were kept mown up to Nov. 15th.
Wading Pool and Lake
The wading pool was as popular as ever; in fact, it is one of the most important features in the Park. The lake in winter is also appreciated.
Labor
There were two men employed in the park besides the super- intendent. The superintendent has the greater care of the flower beds. There will be much more to look after next year; as the im- provements go on it will take more help to maintain the same.
Band Concerts
The band concerts were as popular as in the past. The strongest attraction is music, for the greatest crowds assemble where it is known the headline attraction is to be a band concert. There should be a cover to the band stand, as the sun shines directly into the musicians' eyes during the afternoon concerts, and the audience are frequently blinded by the reflection from the brass instruments. The Commis- sioners have a plan of roof.
Permanent Improvements
There was more done in the way of permanent improvements in 1920 than in any one year since the park was established. There was a large amount of work done on drives; in some places a cut from 2 to 3 feet had to be made; other places required filling the same depth.
55
ANNUAL REPORT
The drives were widened. The bank on Dennis St. was graded a cut of 412 feet in highest place; the gravel was used for filling on drives. By taking Eldredge Street from County, people can drive directly into the Park. The drives are not completed, neither is the grading on Dennis Street, as we had no money.
Memorial Avenue
Memorial Avenue was graded and seeded. It was quite an under- taking and required a great deal of labor, as the ground was heavily wooded. The trees were taken out with a stump puller.
New Drive
The drive north of Evergreen Grove below Casino was moved back 50 feet in order to straighten the drive. It took a large amount of filling; the old drive was covered with loam and seeded. This is a decided improvement.
Casino
Made sewer connection, also gas connections. Painted eaves and gutters on shelter house.
Trimming Trees
One man put in about five weeks' time. The trees were trimmed in a thorough manner. By standing on the knoll between tool house and wading pool, the greater portion of the park can be seen.
Donations
S. Slocomb, one load of cedar posts;
E. L. Gowen, shrubs;
S. M. Einstein, sixty loads of loam for Park Street Park;
Emory Holman, duck;
Mr. King, plants.
People do not realize the amount of work there is to be done in a park, if it is maintained as it should be. The park is becoming more popular each year. Parks are means of enjoyment and healthful rec- reation. Go to any city which has provided a fine centrally located park and see how it is utilized, not only by the town's people but the country people who drive in to the city for a summer holiday.
Usual Maintenance and Construction Work
The board is making an effort to keep the parks in good condi- tion and to make such renovations and repairs as the public health, comfort and amusement require. The general public is practically unanimous in their praise and support of the park and playgrounds, and many heretofore opposed to parks and playgrounds have since come out as the strongest advocates in their favor. Parks are be- coming more popular and attractive to the general public each year.
Parks are never an extravagance; they are always an investment, one that will pay for itself over and over again in the most beneficial of economic returns.
Vandalism
has been fully as troublesome as in the past. It was necessary to get a carpenter and plumber several times during the summer. They break locks and put the drinking fountains out of service. The two flower vases in front of shelter house have covers to protect them dur- ing the winter; the boys managed to get part of the boards off of one of them. The Commissioners think they can furnish ways and means to stop this unnecessary expenditure.
56
ANNUAL REPORT
Repetition of Previous Statement
Feb. 2, 1920, the Superintendent met two ladies, who inquired the way to Capron Park. The snow was ridged each side of the car track, nothing but a toe path on the sidewalk, as the walks had not been cleaned off.
Common
There was a much needed improvement made on Monument Square Common. There were twenty trees removed and the remainder were trimmed. There were three beds of tulip bulbs planted. The greater portion of the Common will need reseeding in the spring.
Park Street Park
There is a plot of ground at the corner of Park and Emory Streets owned by the city. The Park Commissioners recommended that it be used for a park. The City appropriated $300 to improve the same. There were thirty-six trees set, mostly maples. Through the generosi- ty of Mr. S. M. Einstein, it was possible to secure 72 loads of loam without charge. It took about two loads of loam to each tree hole. It ought to be covered with loam and seeded.
Public Parks Decay
The broad fact in connection with the decay of public parks which may be seen in nearly all our American cities is that we Americans are better at starting things than we are at taking care of them after- wards. We employ our Olmsteads and our Vaux to create beautiful parks and then leave them to the tender mercies of men without education in the profound art and science of the making and care of pleasure grounds. There is no art or science which demands a deeper or broader education than this, and the difference between expert knowledge and utter neglect in such a matter can be noted fully in a single day by comparing the appearance of the Arnold Arboretum with that of Central Park in New York or Franklin Park in Boston.
-Boston Transcript.
In the year 1912 the highly cultivated Parks of the eastern cities were maintained at an annual cost per acre of $800.
The buildings all need painting. The casino ought to be shingled, which will cost $500.00 or more. The band stand ought to have a roof to protect the musicians from the sun. The commissioners would like to see the island in lake improved by grading and paving with cobble stone set in Portland cement. It would add greatly to the appearance if the bank of the lake could be improved in the same manner; it would be a great addition towards beautifying the Park if the extension wall could be extended to the corner of wading pool. This would be another decided improvement. It will all have to be done before we have a finished Park.
There could be $5,000.00 more than the commissioners call for, ex- pended to very good advantage.
The Park Commissioners ask for an appropriation for the year 1921, $11,000.00.
Payroll $4,000.00
Maintenance
2,100.00
Playground Supervisors 1,000.00
Permanent improvements 3,000.00
Fourth of July and Municipal Band Concerts 900.00
$11,000.00
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES A. MOOERS
SOLON D. BUSHEE
JOHN E. ANDERSON
57
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF PLAYGROUND SUPERVISOR. SEASON 1920
To the Park Commissioners:
The regular playground season started off with the Athletic Meet which was held as usual on July 4th, in the morning. There was an entry list of fifty-six boys and girls. A total of twenty-four events were run off in exactly two hours. Miss Hillman had full charge of the girls' events, and Ray Cooney the boys'. Previous to the meet, the supervisor had been at the park since July 1st, arranging for the opening. All of the boys who entered had reported at the Y. M. C. A, and been weighed in. On July 5th, the regular playground schedule was started. The playground rules were posted, and several new rules were made in regard to the Wading Pool. Previous to this year there was no rule in regard to bathing suits, the boys and girls were allowed to wear anything that was fit in the pool. This season a strict rule was made that only regular bathing suits would be allowed. The boys were forbidden wearing every day pants or overalls, and were re- quired to wear either dark colored tights or full suits. The girls were forbidden wearing old dresses, and only official suits were al- lowed. These rules were strictly enforced by the supervisor. Several rules in regard to the use of the slide were made in order to safeguard the youngsters. No sliding down backwards or standing up was al- lowed. It might be mentioned here that there was not an accident in the pool, or around the grounds until right at the end of the season, when a boy who had no right on the slide in the grove, he being too big, fell off and strained his wrist. That was the only accident brought to the attention of the supervisor during the season. The girls had their regular closed swimming periods as usual on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2 to 4 o'clock. The boys were allowed in right up to 2 o'clock, and then could go in again at 4 o'clock. There was absolutely no trouble, when 2 o'clock came the boys would go right out very quietly. There were several instances where boys abused the privileges, but this was investigated by Officer Gobin, and the boys were made to right the wrongs. The supervisor wishes to thank Officer Gobin for his cooperation in this direction, also Officer Zilch who was on duty while Mr. Gobin was taking his vacation.
During the second week of the playgrounds the Champion Capron Park Baseball Team was formed, which went through the season without a defeat. The team's record is as follows:
Capron 6. All Stars 0.
Capron 16. All Stars 8.
Capron 11. Rovers. 7.
Capron 15. Bliss 9. Capron 11. Bliss 3.
Capron 6. Chartley Pirates 5. 16 innings.
Capron 16.
Chartley Pirates 7.
Capron 9. Collegians 7.
Capron 14. Collegians 4.
Capron 11. Leedham's Lambs 7.
Capron 11. North Attleboro 3.
The players were Ray Ockert, Captain, Dick Hern, Manager, Max Teacher, Clinton Gorman, Willard McDonald, Lawrence O'Hare, James Birch, Emile Newman, George Monier, Milton Elsbree, Herbert John- son, Bert Uhlig, Tom Nerney, Frank Bliss, Herbert Clegg, Ty Paille.
A baseball league was attempted, but owing to the larger boys going to work, it had to be abandoned.
58
ANNUAL REPORT
The Quoit Tournament got under way with 22 boys entered. The winner for the July Tournament was Ray Ockert, and for the August Tournament, Dick Hern. These two boys met Labor Day to decide the championship for the season, and Hern won out in three straight games.
The weekly playground hikes for boys were started this season for the first time, and made a great hit. Some of the places visited were Hebronville Dam, Farmers Pond, Oldtown, Falls Pond, Lake Pearl, Bungay Reservoir and Meadowbrook. There were two over night hikes, one to Bungay, and the other to Meadowbrook. On the hikes, the boys usually left the shelter house at 1:30.
Soccer Football started, and was proving very popular until the weather got so hot that it was practically impossible to play the game.
Basket Ball games were played in the shelter house, and the boys took to them in great shape. During the vacation week in the shops, some of the older fellows came up to the park, and the result was some very good basket ball. Most of the playground fellows who played are going into high school this fall as freshmen, and should be heard from on the basket ball squad.
The first playground picnic was held during the third week of July, and included a full program of sports. There was an Athletic Meet in the morning and a Swimming Meet in the afternoon. During the day free Merry Go Round rides were given through the generosity of Mr. Patrick Nerney. The attendance was 1730, which was the larg- est days total of the summer. Many picnic parties were held under the pines in the grove.
During the first two weeks in August, while the supervisor was on his vacation, the work was carried on by Mr. F. P. Robbins, the boys secretary at the Y. M. C. A. The Annual Playground Outing to Lake Pearl was scheduled during Mr. Robbins stay at the park, but owing to poor weather had to be postponed twice. It was finally held on Aug. 21st, but was not a success owing to the earlier postponements which were unavoidable. Mr. Robbins took the boys on an overnight hike to Meadowbrook, and the boys enjoyed it immensely.
The supervisor returned on Aug. 16th, and immediately started plans for the second playground picnic, which was scheduled for the 18th. This had to be postponed to the 20th on account of the poor weather. The regular Athletic and Swimming program was carried out in addition to some bicycle races. The attendance was 671.
One of the big things of the playground season was the forming of the Playground Leaders Council. This consisted of ten boys. The object of the council was as follows:
1. To assist the supervisor in all matters pertaining to the run- ning of the playgrounds.
2. To know the playground rules, and to report all infractions of same to the supervisor.
3. To do their best to stop all profanity on the Athletic Field, and around the Park.
4. To take care of the apparatus, and see that it be returned.
5. To lead games, etc., taught by the supervisor.
All of the leaders were required to pass the Athletic Efficiency tests before becoming eligible for the leaders' emblem.
The tests were as follows:
1. Run a 100 yards in 14 seconds.
2. Chin one's self 6 times.
3. Running Broad Jump, 11 ft. 6 in.
4. Standing Broad Jump, 6 ft. 6 in.
5. Running High Jump, 4 ft.
59
ANNUAL REPORT
Their attendance was checked up, as was their conduct.
The leaders for the first season were: Ray Ockert, Max Teacher, Dick Hern, Herbert Clegg, Carroll Greene, Robert Geddes, Earl Hol- den, James Birch, William McDonald, and Frank Bliss.
All of these boys were awarded the letter, which is a winged design in gold, with the letters P. L., in blue. All of the letters were made by Miss Hillman.
The supervisor firmly believes that some great work can be done with this council of ten each summer, and hopes, now that it has been started, that it will be permanent, also that the emblem remain the same each season, with no boy allowed to win the emblem more than once. The council was of real benefit to the playgrounds this past season if for no other reason than keeping track of the apparatus. Not a baseball was lost all season, and more than once when apparatus was left out, which was thought to have been returned, the leaders would find it, take it to their homes, and return it to the park the next day.
Tennis became quite popular towards the end of the season, and every day there was some good match games played in the shelter house.
Quite a few of the boys were out every day training for the final athletic meet of the season. The jumping pits were in fine shape all through the summer, and the supervisor wishes to thank Mr. John Anderson for his fine cooperation. The Wading Pool never looked better, due to his great work, and the bathing houses were always in first class condition. The supervisor had an idea that if the pool could be flowed over every morning it would help Mr. Anderson out to a considerable extent, so had an arranement made to block up the drain. This flowed the pool over and of course took away all the mat- ter that was floating on top. Towards the end of the season this was done every day, and besides helping to keep the pool clean, made it about three inches deeper.
The final Athletic Meet and Closing Exhibition was held on Labor Day in the afternoon, starting at 1:30 sharp.
While the attendance was small, very few older people attending the meet itself was a success. For the first time at a playground meet, the competitors were required to wear regulation track suits. This made the meet much more attractive for the people looking on, besides making it much more healthful for the youthful competitors.
Taking the season altogether the supervisor was very reluctant to leave when Labor Day came around. The season was a very enjoyable one.
Respectfully submitted,
J. RAY COONEY, Supervisor.
Report of Miss Hillman to the Supervisor. Season 1920
Basketry work has been one of the most important things the girls have done the past summer. Some of the different kinds of bas- kets have included:
All Reed Work-Market Baskets, Flower Baskets, Sandwich Trays, Bon Bon Baskets, Work Baskets, Lamp Shades, Lunch Baskets, Card Trays.
In Reed and Raphia-Fruit Baskets, Sewing Bags, Flower Baskets, Flower Pot Holder, Sewing Baskets.
60
ANNUAL REPORT
The following Needlework has been done-Crochet, Tatting, Em- broidering, Knitting, Hand Bags, Hat Making.
Every Tuesday afternoon there was a story hour for the girls. The favorite book was Maeterlincks' "Blue Bird." Swimming instruc- tion was held at the "Y" the first part of the season. Later there was special events for girls in the pool at the park, during the regular girls' period. Some nature study hikes were held, and a study made of the flowers common to the locality. Some of the games played were:
Quoits, Newcombe, Corner Ball, Volley Ball, Dodge Ball, Nigger Baby, different kinds of Tag, Singing Games, Folk Dancing, (was not popular), Tennis.
On the last regular afternoon of the playground season there were 21 different children used the Tennis Court.
In closing would like to say that there has been better cooperation among the kiddies this year than ever before. It has been just like one big happy family at the park during the entire summer.
Respectfully submitted,
MISS ALMA HILLMAN, Girls' Instructor.
Report of Apparatus at the Start of the Season, 1920.
To the Park Commissioners:
1 Bat, 1 Indoor Baseball, 1 Soccer Football, 1 Volley Ball, 1 Foot- ball, 1 Bean Bag, 2 Catcher's Mitts, 1 dozen Baseballs (new), 2 sets Quoits, 1 Net, 3 sets Rope Quoits, 2 sets Baseball Bases.
J. RAY COONEY, Supervisor.
Record of Apparatus Returned at End of Season 1920.
To the Park Commissioners:
1 Rugby Football, 1 Soccer Football, 1 Volley Ball, 2 sets Quoits, 1 Indoor Baseball, 1 Football Cover, 1 Net, 1 Football Bladder, 1 Bean Bag, 2 sets Wooden Quoits, 1 Small set Wooden Quoits, 2 sets Baseball Bases, 2 Catcher's Mitts, 1 Good Baseball, 6 Tape Balls, 2 Bats.
J. RAY COONEY, Supervisor.
Report of Supervisor. Attendance. 1920
Boys
Girls
Boys' Pool
Girls' Pool
Week beginning June 28th
95
66
No Pool
Week beginning July 5th.
1148
642
419
188
Week beginning July 12th.
769
296
281
117
Week beginning July 19th.
1290
835
474
121
Week beginning July 26th.
665
406
146
92
Week beginning Aug. 2d.
571
391
156
91
Week beginning Aug. 9th.
391
218
161
99
Week beginning Aug. 16tlì.
1082
530
234
107
Week beginning Aug. 23rd.
471
261
106
70
Week beginning Aug. 30th.
542
295
105
36
7024
3940
2082
921
Grand total, 13,967.
J. RAY COONEY, Supervisor.
61
ANNUAL REPORT
Recommendations
It was a great surprise to nie to see the interest that was displayed in Tennis. This game was not started until the very end of the sea- son, but made a hit at once. All of the games were played in the shelter house. It would be a great thing in my mind if a couple of ten- nis courts could be installed on the Athletic Field. When the game was started there was some doubt in my mind as to the division of time in regard to the use of the court. A rule was made that if any one was waiting to use the court, that only one set could be played. This worked out fine. I really think that if a couple of courts were made at the park, that they would be in use most of the time. And the boys and girls are not fussy. Very crude courts would serve the purpose.
I would also like to suggest that something be done about install- ing toilets in the bathing houses. At the present time that is one of the greatest needs of the playgrounds.
Another thing that I would like to suggest is that baskets be made to be hung up in the shelter house, so that a real game of basket ball might be played. This game is one of the favorite sports at the park, and all during the season games were played using the girders of the shelter house as baskets. The supervisor tried to install the baskets that are owned by the "Y", but found it impossible. There is also one other great need, and that is a drinking fountain at the furthest end of the athletic field near the merry go round. At the present time if the boys are playing a game and want a drink they have to take a wheel and ride up to the shelter house for it. And you can't get a good drink at the shelter house, because it doesn't work right ha.f the time.
J. RAY COONEY, Supervisor.
PLANNING BOARD
Attleboro, Mass., Dec. 1, 1920.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Municipal Council:
Gentlemen:
In accordance with Chapter 494 of Massachusetts Statutes, the Attleboro City Planning Board herewith submits its fifth annual report.
We have held a number of meetings during the year, and discussed a great many important matters pertaining to the welfare of Attleboro in the city planning line and in this, our annual report, we make the following recommendations:
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 approxi- mately 35 feet from curb to curb, instead of 27 feet as now laid out.
As the city now owns a part of the land called for in these im- provements and as most of the land is unoccupied (the location of the Briggs House being the only exception) this improvement should be made before buildings are erected on the land required.
62
ANNUAL REPORT
No. 2 Mechanics Street.
There is urgent need of at once improving Mechanics Street, be- tween Hodges Street and Fourth Street, by replacing the dangerous bridges which are now too narrow for the safety of either pedestrians, or vehicles.
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