USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1932 > Part 17
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About sixty-five hundred yards of filling, subsoil, and loam was carted from J. E. Anderson & Son land on County Street, and about three thousands yards taken in the Park and from lot obtained by the City from Solon D. Bushee. An additional one hundred and fifty stumps were dug out in the pine grove and throughout the Park where trees had been cut in years past, but stumps left standing. Three hundred and fifty oak trees were trimmed and wounds painted with tree paint. This work was all done by men from the City Welfare Depart- ment. The Ford truck was also driven by men from the Welfare Department.
About two acres of land along Elmwood Avenue was graded, covered with loam, seeded and landscaped with evergreens. A stone wall seventy-eight feet long was erected to eliminate danger to people walking on sidewalk on Elmwood Avenue as there was a depression of five fect in this locality. In front of stone wall a place is graded and ready to place rocks in for a rock garden next year, and to be planted sometime when money for rock plants can be appropriated.
For seven weeks the playground supervision was looked after by the super- visors, the last two weeks the children were looked after by your Superintendent. The playground and swimming pool are great health, muscle and character builders with fine and proper supervision.
A new entrance from Wm. Bushee Street, through the pine grove, which was donated to the city from the Late Commissioner and Superintendent of Parks, Solon D. Bushee, was laid out and graded and this part of the grove covered with four to six inches of loam to protect the roots of the pine trees. I recommend that this entrance be named Vilroy Walk, that being the first name of Mrs. Solon D. Bushee.
I also recommend that a suitable marker be placed on stone wall around the pond in honor of former Commissioner and Park Superintendent Solon D. Bushee for his gift to the City of $1500 for this work.
In eight years the improved area of the Park has doubled in acreage and there is now about twenty acres of lawns to care for. The addition of every acre im- proved to lawn, walks, and flowerbeds add materially to the upkeep and main- tenance of the Park work.
As Superintendent, I wish to thank the Park Commissioners for their co- operation and support at all times. Also the playground supervisors for their interest in the health and welfare of the children using the Park playground and swimming pool. And on behalf of the citizens of Attleboro who had the pleasure and privilege to hear the free concerts rendered under the leadership of John Laing Gibb and his High School Band, and Mr. Beaton and his band, to those leaders and musicians, we give grateful thanks for their free concerts in 1932. I also wish to thank the Attleboro Police Department, who are always on the job when there is a large crowd that needs to be handled at the Park.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. ANDERSON, Park Superintendent.
190
ANNUAL REPORT
CAPRON PLAYGROUND REPORT-SEASON 1932
Due to the desire for curtailment of expenses in the Playground Department, the grounds at Capron Park were open only seven weeks with supervision in- stead of the usual nine.
The attendance during this period showed the popularity of the spot as a recreational center and proved the shortening to be simply an economic measure and not due to any lack of interest.
The following figures are compiled from the number of those children who were actual participants of some organized activity under the direction of the supervisors.
Boys-Daily Average 283
Girls-Daily Average .. 206
Boys-Daily Average in Pool. 126 Girls-Daily Average in Pool 120
The attendance at the Hunton pool bespeaks its worth to the children of Attleboro and surrounding places, groups coming as regular attendants from Mansfield, Norton, South Attleboro, even as far as Pawtucket. This summer there were no free periods in the pool, that is without supervision, either morning or afternoon, as every child before going in the water was inspected for any skin disease or infection and also to see that attention was paid to bodily cleanliness. As has been the custom for the past few years swimming lessons were given two mornings a week and those passing the regular Red Cross test at the end of the course were awarded the official Junior button by Mr. Cooney who is an official Red Cross Life Saving and Swimming Instructor. This season sixty-seven boys and girls passed the test.
Two leagues were conducted in baseball with ten teams taking part and the winners were taken to Boston by Mr. Anderson and Miss Hillman where they attended a baseball game as guests of the Red Sox Management.
Several games of Soccer football were held and many members of the High School football squad worked out at the park during the summer. Basketball was mildly popular on the cooler days and a lot of fun was had at this sport.
The above sports were for boys only, of course, volley ball and other group games were enjoyed by the girls. Usually two junior tournaments are carried on in tennis, one a month, and the two winners playing at the end of the summer for the city championship, but owing to the shortness of time this season there was only one tournament for the boys and one for the girls, with the final playoff on the Field Day in August. Through the kindness of Mr. Charles Lyons, gold medals were awarded to the winners. For the Senior players the regular singles and doubles tournaments were held. Paddle tennis continues to be a popular game with both boys and girls; the one court being in constant use. The old fashioned art of pitching horseshoes has completely supplanted the game of quoits. Even adding another court to the two already in use hardly met the demand. Tournaments were held at the end of the season and the Junior and Senior Playground champions decided.
Every Thursday noon weenie roasts were held in the grove and although rain sometimes dampened the atmosphere it never affected the enthusiasm of the children and their parents who have come to regard this as the regular weekly picnic day.
Despite the economy practices an intensive and varied handwork program was carried on. Through the generosity of a former resident a quantity of reed and raphia were given for the children's work from which they made many useful and attractive baskets.
191
ANNUAL REPORT
Much interest was shown by both boys and girls in making articles in leather, ineluding pocketbooks, bags, manicure cases, knife cases, card cases, table covers, book covers, book ends, belts and desk sets. Another medium of self expression in creative ability was found in working with paper. This is a particularly good one because of its low cost, adaptability to different age groups, and because of the opportunity for study of color harmony.
Stamped articles to embroider were obtained at cost prices from the Art Fabric Company of Roxbury and also furnished much useful material for quiet activity periods.
The local Chamber of Commerce provided another quiet activity in the distribution of safety booklets containing stories with pictures to color.
The Massachusetts Automobile Rating and Accident Bureau also sent other lesson sheets, and gave the badges for the Playground Leaders Corp.
Stressing constantly the habit of safety has helped to decrease the accidents even though the attendance increases yearly and again this summer no serious accidents were suffered during the playground hours, only minor cuts and bruises given first-aid by the supervisors.
The last week of the season a well attended Field Day was held. A track meet for boys and girls was held in the morning and at the same time the tennis finals were contested, along with those in horseshoes. During the noon hour a weenie roast was held in the grove, and in the afternoon competitions, sports and games were conducted in the Hunton Pool.
In closing the supervisors wish to thank the Commissioners and Park Super- intendent for their cooperation and support. Thanks are extended to Mr. Ander- son and Mr. Keim for the splendid manner in which the Hunton Pool was kept.
As a recommendation for next season we would like to suggest that con- sideration be given to a shower bath system at the Hunton Pool and that toilets be installed. These two improvements would make conditions almost ideal for the children.
Respectfully, MISS ALMA HILLMAN J. RAY COONEY
192
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Attleboro Public Library
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mrs. Winthrop F. Barden
Mrs. Eleanor S. Carpenter Miss Edith Claflin
Mrs. Caroline S. Holden
Raymond M. Horton William L. King Edwin L. Leach Dr. Frederick V. Murphy
*Joseph L. Sweet
Hayward Sweet
*Deceased
COMMITTEES
The President, Mr. Horton, Mrs. Barden, Mr. King. . .. . . Administration The President, Mr. King, Dr. Murphy. Building and Property The President, Miss Claflin, Mrs. Holden, Mrs. Barden, Mr. Sweet. . . Books
STAFF
Elizabeth Lucile Palmer: Librarian
Dorothy I. Hannaford. Senior Assistant
Segrid Lindbeck. Junior Assistant
(Mrs.) Elizabeth Hatch. Junior Assistant
Evelyn Hoecke. Junior Assistant
Angela Bowen. Assistant in Charge of Children's Room
Muriel Hodson
Extra Assistant
PART TIME ASSISTANTS
(Mrs.) Mary H. Fisher
(Mrs.) Jennie L. Sturdy *Jean Walsh
Alice Ingerson
*Grace Lennox
*Resigned
JANITOR
William P. Barrett
193
ANNUAL REPORT
January 18, 1932.
To the Honorable Mayor and Council of the City of Attleboro:
The Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library herewith respectfully tender their report for the year 1932.
The total circulation of books loaned for home use was 149,566, but as our librarian reports this does not take into consideration the number of books handled for references and other purposes. A fair estimate of the total handling could be put moderately at three times this amount. Besides the circulation of books the staff is constantly being called upon for information which inany times is not procurable from the books in our collection and which is obtained by borrowing books from outside libraries. Many translation are freely given of business letters received in foreign languages by our local manufacturers. Your library therefore serves its community in a very wide field of interests.
The demand for technical books has increased in greater proportion than the other subjects and our collection of these is hopelessly inadequate if we are to successfully cope with the requirements of the community.
In our efforts to operate on the appropriated budget, we were forced to reduce the hours of opening 13%, but despite this fact our circulation showed a gain of 12% over 1930 and our Sunday attendance was more than at any time since 1928. Getting a little further into statistics, we find that the hours applied to circulation showed nineteen books circulated every 15 minutes.
Your board has held meetings every month during the year except during the Summer vacation. We feel that the best service possible has been rendered with the funds at our disposal. The demand of course is for more new books and then more new books.
The past year has taken from us, one whose inspiration and guidance was of inestimable value to the library as well as our whole community and it is with the realization of a great loss that we note the passing of Mr. Joseph L. Sweet.
Attached you will find the reports of the Treasurer and Librarian, together with a report of the invested funds.
The interest shown in the welfare of the library has been reflected in the many gifts it has received in books, magazines and money to be applied for some special purpose and voluntary services which have come to us unsolicited. For all we are extremely grateful.
Respectfully submitted,
Trustees of Attleboro Public Library, Ethel H. Barden, Secretary.
To the Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library:
"The one thing that American people are provided with more amply than at any other time in our history is spare time The decently equipped public library offers a real opportunity for those with the ambition to better their status of life. Those without trade or profession can learn a vast number of valuable facts about some form of activity, which intrigues their imagination, thereby starting themselves on the road to achievement."
The above is an excerpt from an editorial in the Indianapolis Times of October 14, 1932.
With an appropriation for general expenses (salaries excluded) of 36.5% less than the average appropriation for the years 1927-31, the circulation of the Attleboro Public Library for the year 1932 has exceeded the average circulation for the same period by 9%.
194
ANNUAL REPORT
South Attleboro branch alone had a gain of 3,210 volumes.
The Attleboro library is no exception to the records as shown by similar institutions all over the United States.
As a record for new business, what firm can quote 1313 new customers during the past 12 months? And of these new borrowers registered only one-half were children below High School.
A private business can and must curtail with a falling off of orders, and maintenance costs can be somewhat reduced. Public libraries, like Welfare departments, find vastly increased business in times of economic depression. Reading rooms are occupied to capacity, and book collections which have barely been adequate in the past, now fail to supply more than 1-3 of the needs of the community.
Libraries have always had a reputation for economical administration. Despite longer working schedules and shorter vacations, the average salary for library assistants even in 1929 was 25%-75% lower than that for school teachers.
The monetary costs to the community have been exceedingly modest. In 1932 the City Appropriation for all library purposes was $.75 per capita. For $.75 per year, or the price of 2 movies, each person in Attleboro has been able to command the information and recreation to be found in 35,242 books, plus about 100 magazines and newspapers, as well as the services of employees trained by study and experience in handling and interpreting the resources of the library.
The minimum amount required for the efficient operation of any library has been set at $1.00 per capita. Had it not been for the income available from special funds and the generous gifts from individuals and organizations, the Attleboro library would have been totally unable to cope with the demands made upon it during recent years.
On December 2 Fred Telford, Director of the Bureau of Personal Administra- tion made the following statement.
"It is important at this time that the services rendered by public libraries instead of being curtailed, should be expanded and improved and librarians should be required to do more in meeting the depression and its problems then they were called upon to do in the days of prosperity."
The merchant who neglects to stock items for which there is a steady call soon loses the confidence of his customers. A library, a goodly portion of whose books are in shreds from constant use, and whose reference and technical col- lections have been allowed to become antiquated cannot serve its borrowers with any degree of satisfaction.
A budget more closely approximating the minimum standard for the main- tenance of a useful, efficient institution, is most urgently needed.
Statistics of costs and circulation are appended.
Every effort has been made to administer all funds economically, and the staff has given intelligent cooperation in the working out of plans for simplified practice for the handling of routine, in order that time and money for materials thus saved, might be translated into a greater helpfulness to the individual borrower.
Circulation statistics represent only the number of books, pictures and pamphlets actually borrowed for home use. A modest estimate would give three times that number handled and consulted within the library building.
The year has brought the loss of one without whom the present Attleboro Library would never had existed. In the death of Mr. Joseph L. Sweet the library sustained a great loss. In accordance with his usual generosity, provi- sion had been made in his will for the establishment of a fund for library purposes. But a legacy which is far greater and never to be forgotten is that of inspiration, counsel and ever-present enthusiasm.
For the patience with short-comings and the support and encouragement given by the Trustees in the working out of details of the library administration I hereby express my gratitude and appreciation.
Respectfully submitted, ELIZABETH LUCILE PALMER, Librarian.
195
ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL REPORTS
RECEIPTS:
City of Attleboro
$16,424.00
(credit)
.55
$16,424.55
EXPENDITURES:
Salaries and Wages
$10,672.82
Other Expenses :
Books.
$2,692.67
Fuel
269.13
Light
769.08
Phone
42.31
Building and Grounds
404.51
Bindery
542.92
Dodgeville
23.96
Hebronville
74.66
South Attleboro
192.78
Washington
66.26
Printing
79.50
Postage
27.30
Trucking and Express
41.04
Insurance.
46.50
Carfares.
19.90
Incidentals
468.08
5,750.55
16,423.37
UNEXPENDED BALANCE
1.18
REPORT OF INVESTED FUNDS January 1, 1933
W. R. Cobb Fund-Book No. 36,652, Attle. Sav. Bank. .
$ 5,000.00
E. H. Horton Fund-Acct. No. 2806, 2 sh. Attle. S. & L .. .
1,000.00
E. H. Bliss Fund-Bellows Falls, Hydro Elec. No. N3654 3654 5% Bond
1,000.00
D. H. Smith Fund-Cert. No. 81 Bond. Inv. Tr. of Amer.
5,200.00
E. F. Leach Fund-Book No. 38667 Attle. Sav. Bank.
1,462.65
J. L. Sweet Fund-Book No. 38666 Attle. Sav. Bank
1,462.65
E. H. Horton Res .- Book No. 34696 Attle. Sav. Bank
2,122.44
Thos. E. McCaffrey-Cert. No. 3721. 1 sh. Attle. S. & L. .
500.00
Sarah F. Briggs Fund-Book No. 41127 Attle. Sav. Bk. Bal .. 681.90 1932 Interest. 31.00
712.90
Women's Library Aid-Book No. 40047 Attle. Sav. Bk. Bal. 390.36 1932 Interest.
17.76
408.12
Organ Recital Fund-Book No. 118 Attle. Trust Co.
338.41
1932 Interest.
13.66
1 sh. Attle. S. & L. . 500.00
852.07
Letitia S. Allen Fund-Book No. 3682 Attle. Trust Co.
463.79
1932 Interest. .
18.72
1 sh. Attle. Sav. & Loan.
500.00
982.51
$20,703.34
ANNUAL REPORT
196
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES January 1, 1933
Receipts:
1932
Jan. 1-Cash in Bank
$ 100.65
Jan. 21-Int. A. S. & L .- E. H. Horton Fund. 25.00
Mar. 3-Withdrawn from Organ Recital Fund. 500.00
Mar. 3-Withdrawn from L. S. Allen Fund . 500.00
25.00
May 20-Savings Bank Int .- W. R. Cobb Fund. 112.50
June 1-Bond Inv. Trust-D. H. Smith Fund 130.00
July 19-A. S. & Loan-E. H. Horton Fund. 25.00
July 19-A. S. & Loan-L. S. Allen Fund .. 12.50
July 19-A. S. & Loan-Organ Recital Fund. 12.50
July 19-A. S. & Loan-Isabel McCaffrey Fund. 12.50
25.00
Oct 18-Attle. Sav. Bk .- W. R. Cobb Fund. 112.50
Oct. 18-Attle. Sav. Bk .- E. H. Horton Res. Fund. 96.58
Oct. 18-Attle. Sav. Bk .- J. L. Sweet Fund. 66.54
Oct. 18-Attle. Sav. Bk .- E. F. Leach Fund. 66.54
Dec. 1-Bond Inv. Trust-D. H. Smith Fund 130.00
1,852.16
$1,952.81
Expenditures :
Jan. 25-L. H. Cooper Co. 19.20
Mar. 3-1 sh. A. S. & Loan-Organ Recital Fund 500.00
Mar. 3-1 sh. A. S. & Loan-L. S. Allen Fund . 500.00
May 2-E. L. Palmer-Special Work. 15.39
May 2-E. L. Palmer-Extra time for staff .
12.21
May 20-J. R. White Co. 91.10
June 1-Misc. Library Expenses 24.44
24.44
Aug. 9-Misc. Library Expense.
30.55
Aug. 1-Revenue Tax on Checks .
.02
Sept. 1-Revenue Tax on Checks.
.02
Sept. 12-Misc. Library Expense
23.19
Oct. 4-Misc. Library Expense
26.73
Oct. 1-Revenue Tax on Checks.
.02
Oct. 18-Pope and Read.
78.66
Oct. 18-R. I. News Co.
17.15
Oct. 18-The Personal Book Shop
26.47
Nov. 2-Misc. Library Expenses
16.80
Nov. 1-Revenue Tax on Checks.
.08
Dec. 1-Revenue Tax on Checks
.02
Dec. 1-L. H. Cooper Co. Magazines 1932-1933.
220.40
Dec. 2-Misc. Library Expense.
16.80
Dec. 30-Misc. Library Expense 21.00
75.00
1,739.69
Dec. 30-Pope & Read.
$ 213.12
Attleboro Trust Co .- Balance.
J
July 1-Misc. Library Expense
April 1-Coupon-Bellows Falls Hydro-Elec. E. H. Bliss Fund
Oct. 1-Coupon-Bellows Falls Hydro-Elec. E. H. Bliss Fund
197
ANNUAL REPORT
LIBRARY STATISTICS
Annual Report for the Year Ending December 31, 1932 Attleboro Public Library, Attleboro, Mass.
Date of founding
1885
Population served.
21,769
Terms of Use-Free for lending and reading
Total number of agencies.
12
(Consisting of central library, 4 branches, 3 camps, 1 hospital, 3 schools)
Number of days open during year (Central Library) (Excluding Sundays)
304
Hours open each week for lending (Central Library)
57
Hours open each week for reading (Central Library)
60
Number of volumes at beginning of year.
33,681
Number of volumes added by purchase (binding magazines 20) 2,172
Number of volumes added by gift. 127
2,299
Number of volumes withdrawn and lost .
640
Volumes returned
2
Total number at end of year
35,342
Number of newspapers currently received.
10
Number of periodicals currently received .
86
Number of publications issued during the year (booklists and reports) .
10
Adult
Juv.
Total
Number of volumes of fiction lent for home use. 76,995
30,984
107,979
Total number of volumes lent for home use . . .100,568 48,998 149,566
Circulation per capita.
6.87
Number of pictures, photographs and prints lent for home use
1,561
Number of borrowers registered during year . . 845 Adult
Juv.
Total
468
1,313
Registration period, years 3
Number on staff, library service.
12
Number on staff, janitor service.
1
Report of City Forester
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council:
I herewith submit my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1932. During the winter months the eggs of the gypsy moth were destroyed with creosote, on the roadside trees, shade trees and orchards.
Brush cutting was also completed.
The trees and brush along the roadside were sprayed with arsenate of lead in the early summer to check the spread of the gypsy moths.
The dead wood was removed from a large amount of shade trees on the principal streets of the city, a great number of welfare men were employed on this task, also throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. E. S. SMITH, City Forester.
Total
198
ANNUAL REPORT
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Attleboro, Mass., July 1, 1933
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council:
I herewith submit the following report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for 1932.
Adjusted
Sealed 5
Platform over 5000
5
Platform 100-5000
78
86
Counter under 100
17
72
Beam 100 lbs. or over
9
Spring under 100 lbs. .
75
148
4
Computing under 100 lbs.
67
105
1
Personal weighing (Slot)
14
Prescription .
4
5
Avoirdupois .
8
669
Apothecary
53
Metric
37
Troy
7
Liquid
116
Oil Jars.
82
Dry .
5
Fuel Baskets
4
Gas Pumps
6
168
28
Gas Meters
1
Kerosene.
6
13
3
Oil Pumps
47
115
9
Quantity Measures.
398
878
Yard Sticks.
24
Totals
716
2733
45
Fees collected and turned over to City Treasurer:
Transient Vendors-4.
$ 81.70
Local License Fees-25
125.00
License Plates-24.
12.00
Special City License-20.
500.00
Sealing
220.02
Coal Reweighings
14
Commodity Reweighing
716
I recommend a Municipal Standard Scale where fuel bought by the City could be checked on delivery of every load.
Respectfully submitted,
DAN O'CONNELL, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Con- demned
199
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Electrical Inspector
To His Honor the Mayor and the Municipal Council:
I herewith submit my report as Electrical Inspector for the year ending December 31st, 1932.
Appli- cations
Inspec- tions
Re-Inspec-
January
69
Permits 69
92
94
186
February
71
71
95
74
169
March
69
69
128
97
225
April
132
132
176
110
286
May
96
96
128
115
243
June.
70
70
94
138
232
July
53
53
71
63
134
August.
86
86
115
83
198
September
104
104
138
114
252
October
99
99
132
166
298
November
98
98
120
95
215
December
39
39
52
100
152
986
986
1,341
1,249
2,590
RECOMMENDATIONS
Office Expenses
$225.00
Maintenance of Small Car.
150.00
$375.00
I would also at this time recommend that something may be done in the future regarding the matter of charging a fee for the issuance of permits. Upon investigations in a number of cities of this size, I have found that the fee system was in force in some way or another.
I wish at this time to extend my sincere thanks to His Honor the Mayor, the Municipal Council and all officials and citizens for their courtesy and hearty co-operation extended to this office during the past year of 1932.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. NEWCOMB, Electrical Inspector.
tions
Total
200
ANNUAL REPORT
Fire Department
MAYOR Stephen H. Foley
COMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON FIRE DEPARTMENT
Henry E. Wright, Chairman John B. Morin
Earle L. Swift
BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
William E. Sweeney, Chairman
Craig C. Pope
Cheif Fred A. Clark, Clerk Asst. Chief Leonard Gould
PERMANENT MEN Located at South Main Street Station
Chief Fred A. Clark
22 Hayward St.
Asst. Chief Leonard Gould
88 Forest St.
Captain Bert E. Riley
21 Bicknell St.
Lieutenant Joseph O. Mowry
5 Second St.
Lieutenant Herbert E. Knight
15 Angell St.
Frank E. Barney
681 Park St. 7 Garden St.
Francis J. Barrett
62A Hazel St.
Eustace H. Benson.
1473 Park St.
Williams A. Demers .
41A Holman St.
Manuel Duigmedgian
105 Parker St.
Harold Cassidy
23 Foley St.
Lawrence Flanagan.
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