USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1923 > Part 7
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The office of Chief of Police has grown to be one of great responsi- bility, though the salary is far behind that paid in other cities and towns much smaller in population than Attleboro. I respectfully invite com- parison with such places as I have mentioned, and ask for a substantial increase, provided your Honorable Board considers that the office has been efficiently conducted.
APPRECIATION.
A word of appreciation from me will not be out of place here, in reference to the service rendered by all the members of the Department during the year. The officers performed their duty faithfully and well, and no task was too difficult, no assignment too dangerous.
Lieutenant Mckay deserves credit for his alertness in accosting a strange colored man whom he met on the street, as he was on his way to investigate a break at the residence of Mr. Frederick G. Mason. This man, when taken to the Police Station, proved to be the person who committed the burglary, and is now serving a sentence of from four to five years in State Prison.
Patrolman Gobin, assigned to plain clothes duty, has done excep- tionally good work. He is always on the trail of the criminally inclined, and by this means our city has been quite free from crime.
Sergeant Norwood and Patrolman Fournier are to be commended for the manner in which they handled an insane person who battled with them in a dark hallway. The man was overpowered and brought to the Station without either officer using his club. As a result of this struggle Sergeant Norwood was compelled to remain off duty for a week, owing to injuries he received at the time.
89
ANNUAL REPORT
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion I wish to thank His Honor, Mayor George A. Sweeney, the members of the Municipal Council, The Hon. Charles C. Haggerty. Justice of the Fourth District Court, Associate Justices Phillip E. Brady and Ralph C. Estes, Clerk Edwin F. Thayer, Assistant Clerk Miss Lillian M. Chapman, Probation Officer John H. Nerney, Assistant Probation Officer John A. Welsh, City Physician Dr. Wilfred E. Rounesville, General Secretary Miss Ruth M. Hyslop of the Associated Charities, Chief Fred A. Clark and members of the Fire Department, City Hall Employees and newspaper men for their valuable assistance and hearty co-operation manifested on so many occasions during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, TERENCE E. FLANAGAN, Chief of Police.
Honorable George A. Sweeney, Mayor :
DEAR SIR :
Following is the estimate of requirements for 1924:
Regular payroll.
$29,930 36
Vacations and days off.
3,987 00
Extra services
300 00
Court fees
800 00
Rent of station.
1,380 00
Office and station.
450 00
Phone, water and light
450 00
Maintenance of automobiles
1,500 00
Maintenance of motorcycles.
300 00
Lockup keeper and care of Lockup.
200 00
Police equipment and traffic.
300 00
Sickness
200 00
$39,797 36
This estimate does not include new motorcycle, the extra patrolman for South Attleboro, nor the increase in wages asked for.
Respectfully submitted,
TERENCE E. FLANAGAN.
Chief of Police.
SUPPLEMENT TO ANNUAL REPORT.
Arrests for 1923.
Male
Female Total
Assault
7
0
7
Assault and Battery
5
2
7
Assault to Rape
6
0
6
90
ANNUAL REPORT
Assault with Intent to Kill
1
0
1
Abandonment of Child
2
2
4
Abandonment of Wife
1
0
1
Breaking and Entering
2
.
0
2
Breaking, Entering and Larceny
5
0
5
Carrying Dangerous Weapon
1
0
1
Carrying Revolver without a Permit.
2
0
Cruelty to Animals
6
0
6
arrested
1
0
1
Delinquency
Dog. Keeping unlicensed
4
0
Disorderly Conduct on Public Street.
1
0
1
Disorderly House. Keeping a.
2
0
7
Drunkenness
172
5
177
Escaped Lunatic
1
0
1
Fraudulent Check. Drawing of
3
0
3
Insane
2
0
2
Indecent Pictures. Having in possession
1
0
1
Indecent Exposure
1
0
1
Larceny
16
0
16
Larceny from the Person.
1
0
1
Lewdness
0
4
1
Liquor. Illegal keeping and exposing of.
11
0
11
Liquor. Illegal sale of.
3
0
3
Liquor Nuisance. Maintaining a.
2
0
2
Malicious Mischief
10
0
10
Making False Statement to Assessor
1
0
1
Manslaughter
2
0
2
Motor Vehicle Law.
Violation of.
203
1
204
Murder
1
0
1
Neglected Children
2
4
6
Neglect to Provide
9
0
9
Peddling without a License.
1
1
2
Perjury
1
0
1
Promoting a Lottery
2
0
2
Probation. Violation of
8
0
8
Pure Food Law. Violation of.
1
0
1
Receiving Stolen Property
1
0
1
Resisting an Officer.
1
0
1
Robbery
1
0
1
Runaway Children
7
0
7
Stubborn Child.
2
1
2
Storing Gasoline without a Permit.
1
0
1
Statutory Larceny
1
0
1
Tramp
14
0
14
Truant
1
0
1
Unnatural Act
2
0
2
Using Profane Language on Public Street.
2
0
2
Uttering Threats
2
0
2
Vagrant
1
0
1
Weekly Payment Law. Violation of .
1
0
1
Total
542
25
567
2
Habitual Truant
2
0
.
Insufficient Measure. Giving of
2
0
2
Dangerous Weapon. Being armed with, when
0
5
5
1
Trespass
1
0
91
ANNUAL REPORT
MISCELLANEOUS CASES RECEIVING POLICE ATTENTION.
Accidents reported and investigated. 253
Articles found by patrolmen and returned to owner. 119
Automobiles reported stolen in other cities ... 198
Automobiles stolen in other cities, recovered here. 4
Automobiles stolen in Attleboro and recovered .. 3
Automobiles reported parked in violation of Traffic Rules
268
Cases investigated
583
Insane persons committed.
Larcenies reported
Lost children found and returned to parents.
29
Missing persons located 24
Miscellaneous reports. 472
53
Persons arrested for other cities. 10
Persons bitten by dog. 9
Reports of malicious mischief
79
Street defects reported by patrolmen. 68
Street lights reported out by patrolmen. 107
Wires reported down 29
189 7
Doors found open by patrolmen and secured.
91
Patients carried to hospital in Police Ambulance.
92
ANNUAL REPORT
DOG OFFICER
Attleboro, Mass., December 15, 1923.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and Municipal Council :-
I herewith submit my annual report to you as Dog Officer for the year ending December 15, 1923.
The past year has witnessed a considerable growth in the dog popula- tion of our city, which I have reason to believe will exceed 1,200 licensed dogs.
I had submitted to me by the City Clerk the names of one hundred ninety-eight delinquent tax payers of dog licenses. From among these, I have had two convictions of keeping unlicensed dogs, according to Chapter 140 of the General Laws relating thereto.
During the past year, I have killed seventy-nine dogs by virtue of my office, and investigated two hundred and forty complaints within the limits of the City of . Attleboro.
I am quite certain that the appropriation as of years 1922 and 1923 is altogether inadequate to compensate the holder of this office, and I would recommend the appropriation be increased at least $100.00 for the ensuing year.
Respectfully submitted,
WINFIELD E. DUNHAM, Dog Officer.
93
ANNUAL REPORT
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Term Expires 1924.
Raymond M. Horton Miss Edith Claflin Miss Elizabeth Wilmarth
Term Expires 1925.
Joseph L. Sweet Mrs. Caroline S. Holden Thos. E. McCaffrey
Term Expires 1926.
Mrs. Eleanor S. Carpenter William L. King Edwin L. Leach
Officers. Joseph L. Sweet, President Edwin F. Leach, Secretary Raymond M. Horton, Treasurer
Administration Committee.
The President, Raymond M. Horton, Miss Elizabeth Wilmarth.
Building and Property Committee.
The President, Thomas E. McCaffrey, Edwin L. Leach.
Book Committee. The President, Mrs. Eleanor Carpenter, Miss Edith Claflin, Mrs. Caroline Holden.
94
ANNUAL REPORT
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Central Building
North Main Street.
Hours-Week days, 10 A. M. to 9 P. M.
The reading room is open Sundays, 3 to 9 P. M., except during the inonths of June, July, August and September. Children's Room-School days, 12:30 to 6 P. M. Saturdays-10 A. M. to 8 P. M.
School Vacations-10 A. M. to 6 P. M .: Saturdays-10 A. M. to 8 P. M.
Branches-
High School-School year, 8 A. M. to 2 P. M. Hebronville School-School year, Tuesdays, 4-8:30 P. M. Dodgeville Neighborhood House-Tuesdays, 3-8:30 P. M.
Staff.
( Mrs.) Lucinda F. Spofford, Librarian. Laura Monnier, Senior Assistant. ** Agnes C. Norton, Junior Assistant. Dorothy Richardson, Assistant. Helen M. Claflin, High School Librarian. ** Alice M. Wetherell, Children's Work. Carolyn Towle, Children's Librarian.
Part Time Assistants.
Catherine Meegan Dorothy Chace Zilpah Bennett
Elizabeth Peckham Florence Richardson Jennie Pierce
Sunday Assistant. Emma Lewis
Janitor. Frank Chace
** Resigned.
95
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
To the Honorable Mayor and the City Council of Attleboro :
GENTLEMEN :
The Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library respectfully submit their annual report for year ending December 31, 1923.
The total circulation of books for the year was 118,100, with 26,003 books in the Library at the end of the year.
The splendid service which is being rendered the people of Attle- boro by our Public Library can be appreciated by a study of the com- prehensive and complete report which our Librarian, Mrs. Lucinda F. Spofford, has submitted to the Trustees and is herewith appended. The report of the Treasurer is also called to your attention.
Plans have been made to extend the service this year to South Attle- boro by establishing a Branch Library, where we can begin in a small way to meet the library requirements of that growing section of our city.
The Branch is to be located in the Dean Building on Newport Avenue. It will require the expenditure of $600 to put the room in suit- able condition for library use. This amount will be provided by the residents of South Attleboro and friends.
In our budget as presented for expenses of the year 1924, we have asked for $14,782, which is only $282 more than last year, and we believe is the minimum amount on which it is possible to operate and make necessary repairs. Last year, $1,060 was used in making part of the repairs, and there remains a large amount of refinishing necessary on the interior of the building, which will require $1,000 to keep up the appearance of this beautiful building as we feel the citizens of Attleboro desire. Much of this expense is now necessary due to the fact that almost no refinishing has been done to the walls, ceilings, or floors until last year since the building was completed nearly fourteen years ago.
Unfortunately, we have lost two of our staff during the past year, who have taken . more remunerative positions. In order that our Library may keep up its standard of efficiency, care must be taken that those who serve our interests are properly compensated.
The Trustees are pleased to see the library hall has been used more frequently during the last year than in previous years. Many meetings and lectures of educational nature have been held. It is also gratifying to note the increasing interest in the children's room, where every effort is made to teach the young people how to use the library, and encourage them to read the right books.
.
96
ANNUAL REPORT
We feel the duties of the librarian and staff have been handled in a capable and efficient manner, and everything possible done to assist all who wish to make use of our Library, and it is their desire as well as ours to continue to furnish at all times the best books obtainable for Attleboro people.
It is evident our Library is appreciated, as during last year we have received $3,060 in gifts to the Book Funds, and one hundred dollars given in books to the children's room and other useful gifts. We hope that other citizens will add to the Book Fund, in order that we may increase our income for use in the purchase of books.
We wish to express our thanks and appreciation to all who have in any way helped in the success of the Library.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH L. SWEET, Chairman, THOMAS E. McCAFFREY, ELIZABETH J. WILMARTH, ELEANOR S. CARPENTER,
WILLIAM L. KING, RAYMOND M. HORTON,
EDITH L. CLAFLIN, CAROLINE S. HOLDEN, EDWIN F. LEACH, Secretary.
Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library.
97
ANNUAL REPORT
TREASURER'S REPORT OF INVESTED FUNDS.
W. R. Cobb Fund.
Book 36652, Attleboro Savings Bank. $5,000 00
Daniel H. Smith Fund.
41/4% Bond of 3rd Liberty Loan. 5,000 00
Emily H. Horton Fund.
6% Bond, Province of Saskatchewan. 1,000 00
Emily H. Horton Fund.
Book 34696, Attleboro Savings Bank, $588.14 -Int. on same, $18.80. 606 94
Everett B. Bliss Fund.
7% Bond of Winter Bros.
1,000 00
Market Bid, $95
Joseph L. Sweet Book Fund. Book 38666, Attleboro Savings Bank
1,000 00
Edwin Leach Book Fund.
Book 38667, Attleboro Savings Bank.
1,000 00
Letitia L. Allen Fund, $674.95; Int. for $27.24
1923,
702 19
Organ Recital Fund
$311 34
Deposit
60 00
Int. for 1923
13 76
385 10
Total
Bank Balance.
299 42
$15,993 65
RAYMOND M. HORTON, Secretary.
TREASURER'S REPORT OF INVESTED FUNDS.
Income Account.
1923.
Jan. 1. Balance on hand checking acct.
$98 02
April 11. Interest from D. H. Smith Fund.
$106 25
Interest from E. R. Horton Fund. 30 00
21. Interest from W. R. Cobb Fund. 125 00
Sept. 19. Interest from D. H. Smith Fund. 106 25
Interest from E. H. Horton Fund. 30 00
Oct. 20. Interest from W. R. Cobb Fund. 125 00
Dec. 4. Interest from E. B. Bliss Fund. 35 00
$557 50
Expenditures.
June 6. Progressive Publishing Co.
$62 10
Oct. 18. Attleboro Savings Bank, deposited in
Book 34696
200 00
Nov. 20. Desmond Publishing Co.
94 00
$356 10
Bal. December 31, 1923
$299 42
RAYMOND M. HORTON, Treasurer.
$15,694 23
$655 52
98
ANNUAL REPORT
LIBRARY.
Receipts.
City of Attleboro
$14,500 00
Expenditures.
Salaries and janitor service
$7,817 65
Bindery
909 86
Books
2,499 98
Building
1,059 98
Fuel and light.
1,094 80
Inc.
939 82
Total payments $14,322 09
Balance, January 1, 1924
$177 91
RAYMOND M. HORTON, Treasurer.
99
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees :
I respectfully submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1923.
While the number of books circulated during the year is less than the number circulated last year, we feel that the library has succeeded to a greater extent than ever before in becoming predominantly a social institution ; that is, that its primary concern is now with the service that it may render society, to the people.
With a circulation of 118,100, from 26,003 books, 1,850 of which are reference books, we feel that a good use has been made of them. Of the many types of service rendered by the library, that of the home use of books is the only one that can be measured by figures. There is no record of the hours spent on the preparing and selection of books, ref- erence questions, answered in person and by phone, of the planning of club programs, advice on books, of classes taught, of committee meet- ings, arrangements for exhibits, classes and lectures, and any of the wider and newer activities of the library.
"The day when the librarian, or the professor, or the clergyman could retire into his tower and hold aloof is past. The more work the library does, the more its ramifications multiply, and the further they extend, the more those conditions are favored that make the continu- ance of the library possible. Democracy will have its true and laudable service from the library, and the library in its turn will have adequate sympathy, aid and support from the people. 'To be aristocratic in taste and democratic in service,' says Bliss Perry, 'is the privilege and glory of the public library.'"
The story of our own public library is one of devotion and great vision by what was at first a small group of people.
Today, we have more friends. More persons have used the library this year for clubs, classes and lectures than ever before. Eight clubs have made use of the hall for lectures on literary, art and social ques- tions. Three courses of lectures have been given by the University Extension on Contemporary Literature, Modern Drama, and Oral Eng- lish. The librarian has spoken before clubs and granges on the topics of books and bookish subjects.
Besides the persons that have used the library for the help they will get in their business and professions, we feel sure that "Our library is a Haven, a serene port into which float human craft of every sort, mighty and small alike. Some seek rest, long soul-craved; while some, whose compasses have long been buffeted by Life's tempests so that they are no longer able to point the right route, come for repairs. Within our quiet reading room, made tasteful-lined with books, bright- ened by flowers-they haul down their tired sails while our shelves and
100
ANNUAL REPORT
tables supply their varied needs, and make them forget their weariness. Here they find stimulus for discouraged ambition, as our carefully chosen books and periodicals open up to them new vistas of sparkling, unsailed seas, eagerly awaiting their venturing."
In March, the library sent out an appeal through the "Sun" for books for the American Merchant Marine Library Association, and a goodly number were collected and forwarded to the Boston office. The amount of $14.75 was collected for the Louvain Library.
An exhibit of twelve paintings, in oil, by Mead Schaeffer, the orig- inal illustrations of "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville, attracted many people to the library.
Through the kindness of the "Sun" editor, a list of Garden books, Civil War books and notes on current books have appeared in the local paper.
The vacation privileges of the library have been farther extended, so that the library not only allows ten books to those who vacation out of town, but borrowers who prefer mnay, by depositing money to cover postage, have books mailed them each week or at stated times.
The first meeting of the newly formed Old Dartmouth Library Club was held in Attleboro, November 22, 1923. It proved to be a very help- ful meeting as Miss E. Louise Jones, agent for the Library Commission, conducted a Round Table, at which all were free to discuss individual problems. Miss Ruth MacNeil, Field Librarian of the Gaylord Brothers, gave a mending demonstration; recent books were discussed by Ada Perry, Librarian, North Attleboro, and Miss Jane Thuman, Children's Librarian of New Bedford Public Library.
Good Book Week was observed by an exhibit of desirable children's books. The collection aimed to represent the best of the inexpensive books that would suit the purse of the average parent, as well as the more expensive editions. Publicity was given the exhibit in the paper, and announcements were given before various women's clubs.
One of the most important activities of the library is the reference work. Here no record is made of the number of reference books and magazines consulted. It would be impossible to estimate the number of hours of library time used in this very valuable kind of work. No record is kept of the telephone calls seeking information.
Nineteen hundred sixty-two books were catalogued for the Public Library, and 179 for the High School Library. Seventeen hundred four books were added by purchase and bindery and 186 by gift. Two hun- dred thirty-two pamphlets were classified and filed.
The picture collection has been gone over and newly mounted as well as new pictures added. Twenty-two hundred pictures were cir- culated during the year.
That the home reading was diversified as the activities of the Library is shown by the accompanying table :
CIRCULATION BY MONTH AND BY CLASSES.
051
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
910
920
T.N.F. Fict.
Total
January
402
64
46
1,070
9
169
305
296
453
243
268
293
3,618
8,439
12,057
February
292
47
58
1,038
7
158
289
288
561
235
338
388
3,699
7,973
11,672
March
392
49
70
1,239
15
238
254
297
570
253
305
336
4,018
8,391
12,409
April
311
42
52
965
9
190
180
232
447
196
232
244
3,100
6,769
9,869
May
290
37
43
1,056
10
244
246
253
482
214
278
270
3,423
6,657
10,080
June
207
28
53
1,150
6
195
126
174
336
155
168
134
2,732
6,649
9,381
July
142
34
27
472
8
121
76
139
179
55
130
93
1,476
5,353
6,829
August
126
36
27
472
7
132
79
109
160
78
121
90
1,437
5,240
6,677
September
205
41
37
770
8
177
143
200
250
317
134
105
2,387
5,201
7,588
October
250
42
74
918
10
202
194
282
493
438
181
179
3,263
6,629
9,892
November
256
35
81
960
14
216
231
241
618
433
233
274
3,592
7,573
11,165
December
244
35
76
837
11
190
210
216
563
333
207
300
3,222
7,259
10,481
Total
3,117
490
644 10,947
114
2,232
2,333
2,727
5,112
2,950
2,595
2,706
35,967. 82,133 118,100
ANNUAL REPORT
101
102
ANNUAL REPORT
The circulation for the central library and branches is given for comparison :
Central
High School Dodgeville Hebronville TOTAL
1919
70,705
3,307
2,143
6,042
82,197
1920
77,944
2,816
1,771
5,841
88,272
1921
107,160
4,717
2,501
5,288
119,666
1922
112,531
5,151
2.792
5,274
125,748
1923
100,259
8,374
2,487
4,363
118,100
CHILDREN'S WORK AND SCHOOLS.
The activities of the children's department as well as those of the rest of the library are not restricted alone to the circulation of books. Efforts are made in many ways to attract the children to the library.
During the year an exhibit of shells was held in the children's room. The collection started with a few choice specimens, but before the end of the exhibit it had grown to large proportions as the boys and girls added shells they had found and those that their different homes offered.
An exhibit of dolls at the time of "Good book week" called many children and adults to the children's room. Many of the dolls from foreign countries were loaned by Marion Sweet, while very interesting old dolls were borrowed from the many friends of the library. A wooden boy doll, and a Philippine doll has such interesting histories that the owner, Mrs. Benjamin Taylor, wrote out their life stories. The children read them with enthusiasm. Mrs. Joseph L. Sweet, Mrs. Gertrude Sweet. Mrs. Emily Richardson and Miss Kate Goff were helpful in making the exhibit possible.
In January, Mrs. Florence Coe conducted a story hour, and during November, Mrs. Margaret Powers of Boston told stories twice to a hall comfortably filled with children.
During the summer a vacation reading club was started. Reading lists with the headings-Poetry; America, the land we live in; Dame Nature's minstrels ; Four footed friends; Farm tales ; Knights and deeds of valor; Out-of-door books; Boys and girls of other lands; Ancient and prehistoric times; Stories of real people ;- were in the room, in attractive folders, and from these lists the members of the club selected their reading. When the books were returnd short reviews were written. Each week six of the best. were posted on the bulletin board. Three hundred and fifty-eight reviews were written.
As a fitting close to this club the Public Library sent out invitations to the members, with tickets for four of their little friends, to attend a story hour. As a result, Mr. and Mrs. Cronan of Boston told stories to an interested group of children. At the close of the story hour, Mayor George Sweeney, in a very gracious and pleasing manner, presented diplomas to the six children who had read and written reviews of the books they had read in the most satisfactory manner. The diplomas, with their attractive lettering and fitting sentiment, were the work of Mr. George E. Nerney.
The circulation of books from the room in the early months of the year showed a slight decrease from last year. However, with a circu- lation of 36,450, there are many children who are learning to use the library.
103
ANNUAL REPORT
This slight decrease may be due to the much larger number of books taken on teacher's cards for class room use.
January
295
February
204
March
287
April
208
May
244
June
89
August
1
September
226
October
214
November
169
December
112
Total
2,149
ยท
The total circulation in 1922 on teachers' cards from the room was 1584. This shows an increase of 465 over the previous year.
Instruction and book talks were given twice to the seventh grade at Richardson School; to the girls of the Continuation school and part of the Bank Street School. Two visits were made to the Library by the evening school pupils and Americanization classes, many members of the latter class having been in this country only a few months.
Books were sent to the outlying schools from which we received a circulation of 2,617. "As the new impulse in education tends to encourage children to 'dig out' for themselves needed information, pupils working out projects in social groups are discovering their need of the library." It is time for intensified co-operation between teachers and librarians since they have equal interest in meeting this demand of pupils for access to sources of information. "Readers are made, not born, and the distrac- tions of present-day city life gravitate against the habit of reading worth while books. The newspapers, the magazines, the moving pictures, and the light novel absorb the reading time of the educated public and there is need of much work being done to bring to the groups of children the great pleasure and profit to be derived from acquaintance with good books." Money spent for a series of story hours would do much toward this end, that the children would learn to enjoy good reading and have an appreciation for the beautiful in our wealth of folk tales, legends and stories.
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