USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1929 > Part 6
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The fireworks display on the Fourth of July brought a record crowd of autos and people, and this warrants a larger expenditure for fire works.
The zoo, as usual has been a great attraction for youngsters and grown ups alike. The deer family has increased to eight, and with the additional fenced-in area, have plenty of room for more animals.
The bear cub and lynx purchased this year have been a big drawing card, and all the children fell in love with Andy, the bear cub.
The band concerts have been well attended and the different bands deserve praise for the way the concerts were rendered.
The playground apparatus with the new Merry Whirl, and swings, added this year, were in great demand by the children during playground hours and late in the evening. A great many people that work in the factories bring their children down to the playground after supper, as this is the only time Dad has to bring the children down in the auto.
The wading pool was patronized to full capacity, during the playground season. After giving the pool two coats of cement paint, it was much easier to keep clean and attractive looking at all times, therefore a greater benefit as to health and happiness of the children.
Capron Park is an ideal place for recreation and play. And the playground with the Newell Shelter and the Pine Grove, is as fine a playground as can be found in the country.
As Superintendent, I wish to thank the Park Commissioners for their never failing co-operation and support at all times, also the Supervisors of the playground for the efficient and faithful services rendered, the Police Department for the efficient way they handled traffic and the crowds of people on different occasions without one single mishap or complaint, and Supt. of Public Works, John O. Taber, for loam carted to the Park.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. ANDERSON, Park Superintendent.
81
ANNUAL REPORT
To the Commissioners of Capron Park:
The community is no stronger than the citizenry composing it, and since the children of to-day are the citizens of to-morrow, it becomes expedient then to provide adequate training that they may be ready to meet their obligations and responsibilities. This training may be most happily effected through the medium of play.
The program then of Capron Park Playground has been arranged with this fact in mind. Self-development and a feeling of responsibility have been en- couraged and sought in all phases of the various activities. In the handwork classes the attendance is not compulsory but is attained through stimulation of interest. This is also true in the sports program. At all times there has been manifest a splendid spirit of sportsmanship and co-operation among the children. One of the best examples of this is shown in the Leader Corps, an organization composed of five boys and five girls chosen each season by the Supervisors from the regular attendants of the Playground. These leaders are chosen for their outstanding qualities of ability and leadership. This year they were each awarded a bronze medal by the Commissioners.
In the sports program for both boys and girls the Hunton pool has been the most popular place. In the afternoons, swim periods were allowed under supervision and in the mornings Red Cross Instruction classes were held. Three hundred fifty-two children availed themselves of this opportunity of learning to swim. Mention should be made here of the improvements to the bath houses made during the summer and the untiring efforts of Mr. Anderson to keep everything connected with the pool in excellent sanitary condition.
Tennis has been a favorite sport with all the children. Two tournaments were held, one in July and one in August, the winners of each month then meeting in a final match to decide the City Junior title. There are no regular courts laid out for Paddle Tennis, but the one set has been almost in constant use in the Newell Shelter.
The weekly weenie roasts inaugurated a year ago were increasingly popu- lar this year, whole families often making it a picnic occasion.
The major sport interest for boys only has as usual been the Baseball League, with a schedule of games lasting through the season. An appropriate medal was given each member of the winning team. Archery tournaments have been held at various times during the summer, much of the necessary equipment having been made by the boys in their handwork classes. Soccer, football, basketball, volley ball, and track events have been scheduled for the older boys, with low organization games for the younger boys.
In the girls' program there has been volley ball, Newcomb, basketball, dancing, simple track events, and low organization games.
Additional apparatus and sand boxes in the grove have been greatly ap- preciated by the children. The latter have helped to develop sand modelling as a regular activity.
Through the courtesy of the Attleboro Public Library a number of books were sent to the Playground and kept during the season for circulation. This aided materially the Story Hour period. Acknowledgment is made too, of gifts of books and magazines from interested persons.
A Safety Campaign was conducted, working in conjunction with the National Safety Council. There were no serious accidents or injuries, only a few minor cuts and bruises which received First Aid treatment.
The handwork classes have included groups in leather working, woodwork, painting, crocheting, raffia, weaving, embroidery, sewing, reed weaving, sealing wax and paper craft. A great variety of beautiful and useful articles have been made by the children.
The following attendance figures prove the popularity of the Park as a Recreational center:
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ANNUAL REPORT
Boys
9850
Boys' Pool 4363
Girls
7450
Girls' Pool. 3320
These figures do not include the attendance for July 4th, nor are the adults ever counted. Every year more clubs and organizations are using this place for picnics, outings, and field days.
Many improvements have been made year by year, greatly facilitating the scope of activities possible. A few others which might be added are:
Running track
Showers in bath houses
At least two more tennis courts
Two courts for paddle tennis
A larger and lighter building than the War chest for handicraft activities, or at least a bench in the Shelter to work on which could be hinged up at night
Tools for boys' wood work classes
Facilities provided for conducting winter sports to include some area flooded for hockey apart from the pond used by the children.
In closing, the Supervisors wish to express their sincere appreciation to the Commissioners for their helpful cooperation at all times.
Respectfully submitted, ALMA C. HILLMAN, J. RAY COONEY,
Supervisors.
Report of the Police Department
To the Honorable Fred E. Briggs, Mayor and Municipal Council,
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit the Annual Report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1929.
ROSTER
Chief Terence E. Flanagan
Lieutenant Franklin McKay
Sergeants
William J. Sargeant William D. Norwood
83
ANNUAL REPORT
Patrolmen
John Bora
Eugene J. LaCroix
Edward E. Gobin
Charles M. Brogan
Louis J. Fournier
William Doucette
Joseph P. McBride
Ernest W. Holt
Joseph F. O'Donnell
Horace A. Clifford
John J. Kelly
Gilbert E. Orr
Donat E. Pion
Peter Marron
Charles E. Brown
Charles E. Willis
Joseph A. Fredette
John F. Drew
Joseph A. Deland
William J. Desonier
Reserve Officers
John J. Bora
James H. Mulkern
CRIME
Police work is becoming more dangerous each year. Four of the officers encountered armed gun men who would not hesitate to shoot to kill if given the opportunity. Luckily however, the bandits were captured and disarmed before they had a chance to use their weapons. I attribute this to the alertness and good judgment of the officers who were making the arrests.
On the afternoon of March 12, Patrolmen Fredette and Orr while attempting to arrest Arthur Ramano for a burglary at the residence of Mr. Caleb Orr in South Attleboro, were held at bay by a revolver in the hands of the bandit. They succeeded in overpowering him and he is now serving a sentence in the House of Correction in New Bedford.
On the morning of November 18, Patrolmen Holt and Clifford came on three men who had broken into the combination lunch room and service station known as "Boyer's Place" on the Washington Street pike. The officers pursued them into Pawtucket and from there to Central Falls where they were finally captured. One of the men attempted to draw a revolver, and he boldly told the officers that he would not have hesitated to use it, if given the opportunity.
All other crimes committed during the year were of the ordinary nature, and in the main good order was prevailed.
TRAFFIC
There has been no change in the traffic situation since my last report. A large number of motor vehicles are used for commercial purposes, and while being loaded and unloaded, they ought to be given the privilege of stopping along the curbstone in front of the store to which they belong.
For the past two years there has been no traffic ordinances in the city, with the result that motor vehicles stand for hours at a time on the principal streets. Some people may say "Enforce such traffic rules as you have got", but I cannot see how the Police Department can enforce traffic rules on some streets and allow them to be flagrantly violated on others.
I trust the Municipal Council will in the near future draw up a set of traffic rules that will conform with the needs of the city, then it will be up to this Depart- ment to enforce them.
LIQUOR ENFORCEMENT
Having no liquor squad such as they have in other cities, we have to depend on the uniformed men to collect evidence of liquor violations, and to information re-
ANNUAL REPORT
ceived from respectable citizens who reside in districts where liquor is dispensed. Citizens who give information of this nature invariably want their names withheld, so a watch must be put on the place suspected, and if evidence of a sufficient nature is found, a raid follows. In this manner the liquor situation is well taken care of, and I have no hesitation in saying that our city is in the foremost ranks among the cities of the Commonwealth, as far as strict enforcement of the liquor laws is concerned.
The mounted officers, both those on motorcycles and in Ford patrols, have done good work in apprehending several loads of liquor passing through the city to other places. In every instance where a violation of the liquor laws was pre- sented to the Fourth District Court, a conviction was obtained.
WELFARE WORK
Every effort is made to correct a juvenile delinquent without arrest, it is only after all other means has failed that the case of a juvenile is brought to the attention of the Court. To prevent the arrest of young persons for petty offenses is one of the chief aims of this department, and many hours are spent at Police Headquarters lecturing to youngsters on the evils of wrong doing. This work does not show on the outside and the general public has no idea of the amount of time it consumes.
The representative of the Family Welfare Association of this city, and the local agent of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, assist very materially in this work. Working in co-operation with the depart- ment in this worthy cause rather than individually the best results are obtained. Having no matron at headquarters the assistance given by the representatives of the above mentioned organizations has been invaluable.
THE POLICE FORCE
The Police Department has functioned perfectly for the past year, the officers performed their duties in a creditable manner and their conduct and discipline was all that could be desired. In reviewing the work done by the department for the year now closed, I can truthfully say that the officers have been alert and diligent in protecting the lives and safety of the residents of this city.
When put to test several times during the past twelve months, the officers displayed the courage and sagacity expected from them and which are two of the necessary elements in the proper performance of police duty.
Captain Louis E. Lutz, instructor and drill master of the Boston Police School, gave a series of thirty lectures in the early spring, these lectures were on Criminal Law and Police work. All the lectures were well attended and the officers both Superior and Subordinate derived much benefit from them. Revolver practice is something that is still lacking in the department, the cost of the services of a competent instructor in this matter would be over balanced by the benefits derived. I commend the good work of Patrolmen Fredette, Orr, ('lifford and Doucette in the apprehension of gunmen and burglars, also for Patrolmen O'Donnell and Brogan for risking their lives in rescuing an insane person from a swamp in South Attleboro, realizing at the same time that any of the other members of the department would have displayed the same tact and courage had the opportunity presented itself. Partolman Gobin assigned to plain clothes duty spent long hours both in this city and out of the state in the apprehension of criminals, and the results obtained must be appreciated.
85
ANNUAL REPORT
EQUIPMENT
The motor equipment consists of a Cadillac Patrol wagon, a Studebaker five passenger car, three Ford runabouts, two Harley Davison motorcycles, and one Indian motorcycle. The Patrol wagon was recently overhauled, it is now in good running order, and although of ancient vintage, there are a few years of service still remaining. The Studebaker received a new coat of paint toward the close of the year, and although almost three years in use is in good order, The Ford patrol cars have covered almost fifty thousand miles each and will need to be replaced by new ones in the Spring. One of the Harley Davison motor- cycles has been two years in the service and I believe it would be sound economy to replace it with a new one. The Police equipment carried by the officers is of the latest pattern and is in good condition, as are also the three riot guns in use by the department.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I again recommend the erection of a suitable building for a Police Station every person acquainted with the quarters now used as such will agree that they are far from being desirable. With a new building for a Police Station, I recom- ment the installation of a modern recall Gamewell system. Such a system would increase the efficiency of the department, and enable the Superior officers to communicate with the officers on the routes in a very short period of time in case. of necessity.
I recommend that your Honorable Board look into the advisibility of pur- chasing summer uniforms for the members of the department. The neighbor- ing towns of Mansfield and North Attleborough have been doing this for a number of years, and very favorable comment was heard of the snappy appearance of the officers during the summer months.
I recommend that drafting and adoption of a set of traffic rules suitable to the needs of the city, and the appointment of two additional Patrolmen to see that they are properly enforced.
I also recommend that the busses be given a stand on the westerly side of Pleasant Street along the curbstone by the common, and the street properly marked off in spaces large enough to allow them within the lines. This would relieve the congested situation that now exists at the Park Street arch.
CONCLUSION
I wish at this time to thank His Honor, Mayor Fred E. Briggs, and the members of the Municipal Council, the Justices of the Fourth District Court and Court Officials, City Hall employees, the members of the Fire Department, newspaper men, and all other persons who in any way assisted the Department during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
TERENCE E. FLANAGAN, Chief of Police.
S6
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Attleboro Public Library
Joseph L. Sweet
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Term Expires 1931 Mrs. Caroline S. Holden Dr. Frederick V. Murphy
Term Expires 1932 Mrs. Eleanor S. Carpenter William L. King Edwin F. Leach
Term Expires 1933
Miss Edith Claflin Raymond M. Horton Mrs. Winthrop F. Barden
OFFICERS
Joseph L. Sweet President
Edwin F. Leach. Secretary
Raymond M. Horton Treasurer
COMMITTEES
The President, Mr. Horton, Mrs. Barden, Mr. King. Administration
The President, Mr. Leach, Dr. Murphy . Building and Property The President, Miss Claflin, Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Holden. . Books
STAFF
Elizabeth Lucile Palmer Librarian
Dorothy I. Hannaford. Senior Assistant
Segrid Lindbeck. Junior Assistant
Elizabeth Peckham. Junior Assistant
Angela Bowen Junior Assistant
Mary Money Fisher Assistant in Charge of Children's Room
PART TIME ASSISTANTS
Jane Hodges Evelyn Hoecke Frances Keena
Mrs. Aravesta H. Paul Hope Reeves Marjorie Rhodes
JANITOR
William P. Barrett
87
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY
January 21, 1930.
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of Attleboro,
Gentlemen:
The Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library respectfully submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1929.
The total circulation of books for the year was 130,445 and 31,257 books in the library at the end of the year.
A great improvement was made in the library equipment last year by the installation of the new book stacks which provide for approximately 5,600 volumes. The work was well done and very satisfactory although it caused an unavoidable loss in circulation of books during the process of installing, but we are now in a position to continue the library service without interruption for several years.
We have submitted for your approval the budget of expenses required for 1930 amounting to $17,508, of this amount $10,498 is for salaries and wages and $7,010 for other expenses.
The Trustees are grateful to those who have made gifts to the library during the year and also to others who have given assistance in carrying on the service.
We regret that our President Mr. J. L. Sweet has been enable to attend our board meeting the past year on account of ill health.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH L. SWEET, President, CAROLINE S. HOLDEN, EDITH CLAFLIN,
ELEANOR S. CARPENTER, DR. FREDERICK V. MURPHY, MRS. WINTHROP F. BARDEN,
RAYMOND M. HORTON,
EDWIN F. LEACH.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
Receipts
City of Attleboro
$20,023.95
Expenditures
Salaries and Wages
9,599.94
Other Expenses:
Books
$ 2,299.27
Fuel
655.03
Light
544.83
Phone
43.83
Buildings and grounds.
5,187.25
Bindery
641.94
SS
ANNUAL REPORT
Dodgeville
18.86
Hebronville
79.31
So. Attleboro.
222.46
Washington
63.27
Printing
121.33
Postage
33.09
Trucking and Express
48.48
Insurance
46.50
Carfare
23.01
Securing information
2.30
Incidentals
380.98
$10,411.74
$20,011.68
UNEXPENDED BALANCE. 12.27
TREASURER'S REPORT OF INVESTED FUNDS Report for Year Ending December 31, 1929
E. F. Leach Book Fund:
Book No. 38667 Attle. Savings Bank, 12|31|28 $ 1,264.38
Interest-Apr. 15, 1929. 31.60
Oct. 15, 1929 32.38 $ 1,328.36
J. L. Sweet Book Fund:
Book No. 38666 Attle. Savings Bank, 12|31 |28.
1,264.38
Interest-Apr. 15, 1929
31.60
Oct. 15, 1929.
32.38
1,328.36
Sarah J. Briggs Fund:
Book No. 41127 Attle. Savings Bank, 12|31|28
598.50
Interest-Apr. 15, 1929.
14.73
Oct. 15, 1929
15.10
619.33
Women's Library Aid:
Book No. 40047 Attle. Savings Bank, 12|31|28
337.50
Interest-Apr. 15, 1929
8.43
Oct. 15, 1929
8.63
354.56
E. II. Horton Fund, Reserve:
Book No. 34696 Attle. Savings Bank, 12|31|28
1,512.39
Interest-Apr. 15, 1929
37.80
Deposit June 3, 1929
100.00
Dec. 2, 1929
50.00
1,740.61
W. R. Cobb Fund: Book No. 36652 Attle. Savings Bank
5,000.00
E. H. Horton Fund:
1,000.00
2 Shares Cert. No. 2806 Attle. Savings & Loan E. H. Bliss Fund: 7% Bond, Winter Bros.
1,000.00
D. H. Smith Fund: 52 Shares, Bond Investment Trust.
5,200.00
Oct. 15, 1929 40.42
89
ANNUAL REPORT
Organ Recital Fund:
Book No. 118 Attle. Trust Co., 12|31|28.
744.55
Interest-Dec. 31, 1929
30.06
774.61
Letitia F. Allen Fund:
Book No. 3682 Attle. Trust Co., 12|31 |28.
855.89
Interest-Dec. 31, 1929
34.54
890.43
Balance 12|31|29 $19,236.26
$19,236.26
12|31 |28.
18,768.59
Gain, 1929 $ 467.67
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES Year Ending December 31, 1929 Library Report
January 1, 1929
Deposits
$166.85
Jan. 15-Attle. Savings & Loan, E. H. Horton Fund. 27.50
Apr. 20-Attle. Savings Bank, Wm. R. Cobb Fund. 125.00
June 1-Bond Inv. Trust, D. H. Smith Fund 130.00
June 1-Winter Bros. Co., E. H. Bliss Fund. 35.00
July 15-Attle. Savings & Loan, E. H. Borton Fund
27.50
Oct. 15-Attle. Savings Bank, Wm. R. Cobb Fund.
125.00
Dec. 1-Bond Inv. Trust, D. H. Smith Fund 130.00
Dec. 1-Winter Bros. Co., E. H. Bliss Fund. 35.00
635.00
$801.85
Checks Paid:
June 3-Transfer to E. H. Horton Reserve Fund.
$100.00
June 5-No. Attle Chronicle. 12.00
Aug. 3-R. H. Hinckley
65.25
Oct. 3-Noble & Noble.
24.53
Oct. 3-Personal Book Shop
57.25
Nov. 6-L. H. Cooper Co .. 208.00
5.00
Personal Book Shop
33.00
Personal Book Shop.
9.87
Book Shop Boys & Girls.
9.65
Frontier I ress .
15.50
R. L. James Book Co.
9.38
Transfer to E. H. Horton Res. Fund.
50.00
599.43
Bank Balance, January 1, 1930
$202.42
ANNUAL REPORT, 1929
To the Board of Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library:
Herewith is submitted the annual report of the work of the Public Library for the year 1929.
The central point of interest for the year 1929 was the planning for and the erection of a new floor of book stacks. These stacks, built on top of the present section by the Art Metal Construction Co., provide for approximately
Dec. 2-Jordan-Marsh Co.
90
ANNUAL REPORT
5600 volumes. For several years the book shelves have been overcrowded, and the new stacks are indeed a welcome addition to the equipment of the building. By providing space for the storage of the lesser used and the oversize books, the installation of the new stacks has released space on the other shelves. This space has made possible a rearrangement of the books on music, those in foreign lan- guages, and biography. The resultant shelf arrangement is more convenient for both library staff and the public.
The acquisition of new stacks unfortunately cost not only money but library service. It was necessary to close the building to the public and discontinue service at the branches for five weeks. As a result, the circulation record for the year show a loss of 11,355 volumes as compared with the record for 1928. When one considers, however, that the circulation per month for the period January- July 1929, averaged a bit over 11,876, it may be seen that the loss is less than a month's circulation.
Even when the building could be opened for use, it was impossible to resume immediately all of the library's activities. The service to the public schools, especially, was impaired, and the reopening of the branches at Dodgeville and Washington schools delayed. It is highly desirable that some provision be made in the near future for extra assistants, in order that more satisfactory arrange- ments may be made to care for emergencies.
Although the stacks represented the major piece of remodelling, other portions of the building received a share of attention. The galleries on the third floor were entirely redecorated, and the floors waxed, the worn out chairs in the lecture hall recaned, chairs from the reading room repaired, and the tottering, squeaking high chairs at the circulation desk, replaced with modern equipment. In addi- tion, the entire building received a thorough cleaning.
Turning our attention from the building itself, we come to that for which a library exists, namely, the supplying of books, and the providing of an information service, for the public. Despite the months interruption of a building closed to the public, the books loaned for home use during 1929 totalled 130,445 volumes, or somewhat over 6 per capita. 89,131 of these were fiction, and 41,314 were non-fiction, a fact which shows that Attleboro people are not afraid of the so- called more solid type of reading. A glance at the statistical tables will show a growing use of the library facilities of the branches, particularly Hebronville and 1 ashington. Collections of books were also sent to the Daggett Crandall Home, Bristol County Health Camp, Lion's Camp and Camp Finberg. The number of new borrowers registered thruout the system totals 1062. The number of registered adult borrowers at Central is 4,541. This number is exclusive of the Children's Room and the individual branches.
The book collection now consists of 31,257 volumes, 1,327 of which are new titles added during the year. There were 778 replacements and duplicates, and 29 by binding. But book acquistions and the demand for new books are by no means commensurate. The call for new books is continuous and the problem of selection becomes increasingly difficult with meager funds. The most pressing book needs are new reference books to replace the out-of-date volumes, up-to-date books on technical and business subjects and recent books in foreign languages. The technical and business demands can occasionally be met by borrowing from other libraries, and the collections in French, German, Swedish, etc. may be supplemented by groups of books sent out from the Massachusetts Division of Public Libraries, but the need for more adequate book funds remains constant.
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