USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1933 > Part 10
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Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL M. HOLMAN, Jr. JAMES F. MURPHY, CHARLES A. BOWEN, Board of Public Welfare
FINANCIAL REPORT
Salaries-Almoner, 3 Clerks, 2 Visitors
Appropriations $ 5,274.48
Administration-Other Expenses 3,469.00
City Infirmary
8,252.06
Mothers' Aid.
14,404.00
Outside Relief
237,194.54
Old Age Assistance
26,337.00
Total Appropriations
$294,931.08
Total Expenditures 283,272.49
Unexpended Balance
$ 11,658.59
127
ANNUAL REPORT
DETAIL OF APPROPRIATIONS Administration-Salaries
Almoner
1,809. 48
Chief Clerk
953.00
1st Clerk.
891.00
2nd Clerk .
400.00
Visitor-1st
1,125.00
Visitor-2nd.
96.00
Total Appropriation.
5,274.48
Total Expenditures
4,942.48
Balance
332.00
Administration-Other Expenses
Appropriation.
2,073.00
Additional Appropriation Aug. 26, 1933.
800.00
Additional Appropriation Aug. 26, 1933.
304.00
Additional Appropriation Nov. 13, 1933
300.00
Total Appropriation.
3,477.00
Deduction by State
8.00
Total Appropriation.
3,469.00
Total Expenditures
3,392.83
Balance
76.1
City Infirmary
Appropriation .
5,403.56
Additional Appropriation, Aug. 21, 1933.
250.00
Transferred from Outside Relief, Dec. 29, 1933.
1,200.00
Refunds, June 8, 1933
39.50
Refunds, Dec. 29, 1933
4.00
Total Appropriation
6,897. 06
Total Expenditures
6,484.74
Balance
412.3
City Infirmary-Salaries
Supt.
860.00
Laborer
495.000
Total Appropriation
1,355.00
Total Expenditures
1,355.00
Balance
.00
128
ANNUAL REPORT
Mothers' Aid
Appropriation.
14,500.60
Transferred to Administration-Salaries Acct.
96.00
Nov. 13, 1933
Total Appropriation.
14,404.00
Total Expentidures
12,573.00
B dance 1,831.00
Old Age Assistance
Appropriation . 24,975.00
Additional Appropriation, Aug. 21, 1933 600.00
Refunds.
762.00
Total Appropriation 26,337.00
Total Expenditures
25,296.98
Balance
1,040.02
Outside Relief
Appropriation.
Appropriations 182,300.00
Additional Appropriation, Aug. 21, 1933
60,000.00 2,194.54
Refunds-Mar., June, Aug., Oct., Dec.
244,494.54
Transferred to Administration Acct. Nov. 13th.
300.00
244,194.54
Transferred to Newport Ave. Project-Dec. 11th.
5,900.00
238,394.54
Transferred to City Infirmary Acct .- Dec. 29th
1,200.00
Total Appropriation 237,194.54
Total Expenditures
229,227.46
Balance $ 7,967.08
DETAIL OF EXPENDITURES ADMINISTRATION-OTHER EXPENSES
Rent
420.00
Light.
59.22
Phone
101.06
Office Supplies
1,910.46
Auto Allowance.
435.00
Transportation (Outside Relief).
467.09
Total Expended. 3,392.83
129
ANNUAL REPORT
City Infirmary
Medical
204.26
Food Supplies
3,126.06
Dry Goods and Clothing.
565.23
Fuel.
628.46
Light.
213.46
Phone
44.79
Other House Maintenance and Operation
525.19
Hay and Grain.
471.22
Outbuildings Maintenance and Operation
705.87
Total Expended 6,484.74
Mothers' Aid
Weekly Cash
12,107.00
Supplies.
253.55
Medical
212.45
Total Expended. 12,573.00
Outside Relief
Rent, Board and Care
173,437.49
Clothing
10,889.90
Fuel.
22,979.63
Medical.
14,079.91
Town, Cities and Institutions
7,430.53
Burials
410.00
Total Expended
229,227.46
Old Age Assistance
Weekly Cash
24,183.50
Medical.
350.90
Towns, Cities and Institutions
762.58
Total Expended
25,296.98
DETAIL OF APPROPRIATIONS MADE IN 1933 IN PAYMENT OF 1932 BILLS
Administration-Salaries
Appropriated June 20, 1933
4.27
Expended.
4.27
Balance
.00
Outside Relief
Appropriated Feb. 13, 1933
5,130.36
Appropriated April 10, 1933
319.29
Appropriated June 20, 1933
118.60
Appropriated Nov. 13, 1933
4.15
Total Appropriations
5,572.40
Total Expenditures.
5,572.40
Balance.
.00
130
ANNUAL REPORT
City Infirmary
Appropriated Nov. 13, 1933, for 1932 Bills
48.11
Appropriated Nov. 13, 1933
14.62
Appropriated Dec. 29, 1933
15.40
Total Appropriations
78.13
Total Expenditures.
78.13
Balance
.00
BILLS RECEIVABLE
Committed 1933-
Cities and Towns
$ 21,824.47
State.
60,071.79
Total.
$ 81,896.26
Collected from-
Cities and Towns
$ 16,379.59
State
55,486.00
Total.
$ 71,865.59
Outstanding Bills December 31, 1933 $ 10,030.67
ADDITIONAL RECEIPTS
Refunds- Old Age Assistance.
112.00
Sale of Turkeys at City Infirmary. 259.25
$ 371.25
Total Number of Cases in 1933 1256
Individuals 4439
CAUSES OF DEPENDENCY
Unemployment.
945
Insufficient Income
135
Sickness.
20
Desertion, Non-Support .
5
Widows .
25
Insanity.
3
Old Age
108
Orphans
Cripples.
1
Blind.
Chronic Illness
3
1,256
131
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Park Commissioners
Attleboro, Mass. January 1st, 1934.
To the Board of Park Commissioners, Attleboro, Mass.,
Gentlemen:
I present herewith my ninth annual report as your superintendent.
The first work in the early spring was as usual a general cleanup of the Park, the Common, and Angell Park. The Welfare labor was a great help on this kind of work as our regular men had to be on short time all season.
The new entrance from Wm. Bushee Street was finished, planted with flowering trees, shrubs and plants, and was also seeded. An iron post was erected in the center of the entrance walk with a sign, Vilroy Walk-in memory of Mrs. Vilroy Bushee, wife of former Supt. Solon D. Bushee. The walk extends through the grove to the shelter house, 600 feet in length and averaging 10 feet in width.
The boundary line between the grove and the land of Wm. Bushee and Alfred Aden was planted with flowering trees, birches, and shrubs to show the Park line bounding those properties. The part of the grove which had been covered with loam last fall was leveled, raked, and seeded with shady grass seed to stop washing off the new loam.
Our next job was to find a place to plant all our evergreens growing in our nursery, as that land is included as part of the new plan of filling and landscaping our six acie project in the center of the Park. There was no place in the Park ready or suitable for planting of these evergreens so we had to make land for that purpose. This required a tremendous amount of labor as we had to strip subsoil off that area where they are now standing, dig out the gravel, fill back with subsoil, cart more soil and loam to make the land right and suitable for the evergreens to grow. On this new-made land we transplanted 1400 evergreens and trees that were standing in our nursery and only lost two trees, but we used two Welfare men for three weeks carrying water from the Pond to water the trees.
A cement walk, 3 feet wide and 850 feet long was laid next to the fence around the pond, making it much nicer for people to walk around the pond and look at the water fowl and flowers inside the fence.
The road from the animal house past the ballfield and the curve around the pond was widened from four to ten feet, eliminating a dangerous traffic condition, especially during the ballgames.
The land between the pond and ballfield was all graded over and to save money we dug out all the soil and filled in with stones, large and small, from one to three feet as reeded for the proper grade, then the old soil was replaced over the stones and raked. This meant a lot of work, but no expense except the labor. Without the Welfare help we would not have been able to do all this work.
The Welfare help trimmed about 400 trees in the Park this year and there are probably 100 trees that have not been trimmed out of 1800 all told on your Park property. Many of the trees have been trimmed two or three times in the nine years I have served as your superintendent.
The two trucks were in use all the season, outside of the Ford truck, which was put up in October and November to save maintenance and to keep within the budget.
132
ANNUAL REPORT
We carted 3,328 yards of subsoil from A. S. Ingraham's lard, corner West and Mechanic Streets, that he gave the Park free of charge. When the sub- soil gave out and Mr. Ingraham told us to stop, we had to go back to John E. Anderson's land on County Street, where we have to pay 10c per yard for the subsoil. But, at that, it is more economical to get it from there, as the number of loads per day we can haul more than offsets the price per load we have to pay.
The wading-pool and bathing-house were given a coat of paint and the pool scrubbed and water kept clean all during the playground season. The supervisors were on the job at all times, inspecting the kiddies as to cleanliness and skin trouble. We did not have one single complaint all season. I hope you will not think I am bragging when I say we have the cleanest looking outdoor wading pool in this section of the State or in Rhode Island. Also, there is not a shadier or more natural playground in New England than is the Capron Park Playground.
The Casino Building was washed outside this year and the Shelter House, woodwork, animal house, and houses of the deer, bear, and lynx, were all painted. The painting was done by Welfare help and they did a good job.
No oil was put on the roads this year, but will have to go on in 1934 to keep the roads from cracking and going to pieces.
The ballfield and tennis courts were in great demand all season. Some days we had as many as four different ball games, and lots of times scores of tennis players had to turn back as there were so many ahead of them that it would be dark before they could get a court.
There will not be any tulips coming up on our beds on the Common or on three of the beds in the Park this coming spring, as we had to keep within the budget.
All summer we used handmowers to cut the lawn in the Park to save the power-mowers and gasoline. It required four welfare workers to cut and trim the lawns in the Park each week. One of the Welfare men cared for the Common and one took care of Angell Park. All told we have 20 acres of lawn to cut every week.
Respectfully submitted, J. E. ANDERSON, Park Superintendent.
CAPRON PLAYGROUND REPORT
To the Commissioners of Capron Park:
In nearly every community, large or small, recreation problems and needs have had a far more important part this year than ever before. This has been due largely to the necessity of providing recreation facilities for the increased number of children who have been at home and to solve the problem of added leisure time of adults. Though the work of Capron Park Playground deals primarily with the children, the latter circumstances has necessitated widening the scope of work to include adults where ever it was feasible.
This has been carried out especially in the tennis tournaments. The first one was the Capron Park, Open Tournament for adults. There were forty- six entries in this and was won by Henry Solomon of Pawtucket, for the second year. A small extrance fee was charged to defray the expense of the prizes. After this was finished, the Attleboro City Tournament in both singles and doubles was played. The singles was won by Clarke Holt, the defending champ- ion, and the doubles won by Clarke and Everett Holt, also the defending champ-
133
ANNUAL REPORT
ions. No fee was charged and no prizes were awarded for this one. The winner was entered to represent Attleboro in the New England Playground Tournament at Springfield, Mass.
One might be led to believe that since the tournaments have been held only for men, that the women are not interested. The fact is that nearly as many women as men use the courts but they merely are not interested in tourna- ment play.
The childrens' tournaments were the Boys City, won by Edmund Stone; the Junior Boys Tournament won by Arthur Payette: and the Boys Doubles won by Edmund Stone and Charles Markman. The Girls Touranment was won by Gertrude Wallin. Because of the increasing popularity of tennis, special in- struction periods for the children were conducted by the supervisors.
Horseshoe Tournaments also were organized for both the adults and children. Even the addition of a new court, making three in all, was not enought to meet the demand. The courts were in constant use all day long, some even bringing their horseshoes in order to play outside of playground hours and during the weekends.
Fortunate in having the use of an exceptionally fine diamond, the boys naturally took a keen interest in baseball. There were two baseball leagues composed of nine teams. In the Junior League, the Cardinals, the Aces, the Feathervilles, and the Camp Finbergs; and in the Senior League, the Black Hawks, the Oak Hill Juniors, the Pirates, the Red Sox, and the Hebronville Juniors. The Pirates and the Cardinals were the winners and were taken to Fenway Park as the guests of the Red Sox at the end of the season. Transporta- tion was provided by the Park Commissioners. Besides the regular leagues, many pick-up games were played.
Many sports and pastimes are enjoyed at the Park, but the greatest source of delight is the Hunton Pool. Kept in immaculate condition by Mr. Anderson and his helpers who have been willing to stay late at night to clean and scrub the cement so that no time might be taken from the playground hours, and under direct supervision all the while it is open for use, it would be hard to find its superior or even its equal. Besides the regular periods both morning and after- noon, averaging a daily attendance of 224, with children ranging in age from two to teens, there were held two special swimming instruction classes each week with a total attendance of 417 boys and girls. 115 Beginners' Swimming buttons were awarded those taking the regulation Red Cross tests.
The regular game program for all included batball, playground baseball, basketball, paddle tennis, volley ball, touch football, track and field sports, and many low organizations games for the younger children. Many of the A. H. S. football candidates practised on the Athletic Field all summer.
While golf is barred at present it should be allowed during certain hours when the playground is not in use. This would be of interest to adults as well as children.
Due to lack, of funds, no free material was provided for handicraft, and though the supervisors procured all materials at cost prices, the children could not buy as much as in former years. This lessened the work of the handicraft classes to a very great extent. Some work was done in leather, soap modelling, paper craft, sewing and embroidery.
Through the courtesy of the Automobile Rating and Accident Bureau, paper cutouts were provided for the children to color and make into safety posters. This same organization kindly supplied all the badges and certificates for the Playground Leaders. This group was composed of boys and girls chosen by the supervisors to assist them and to help with the smaller children.
The Sweet Memorial Library sent to the children a great number of old magazines. These were used for reading and also in the making of scrapbooks.
134
ANNUAL REPORT
Grateful acknowledgment is also made to the stores and individuals who donated puzzles, books, magazines and games. These were found especially ยท helpful on rainy days.
Another way in which the Park served both children and adults was in the weekly weenie roast. This has become the regular family picnic day, not only the mothers coming with the children, but the fathers also stopped in for the noon meal. These outdoor dinners have been such an evident source of en- joyment to the whole family that it might be advisable to further encourage them by building out-of-door fireplaces as so many of the Parks and Recreation Centers are now doing.
When one considers the number of children attending the Playground daily and the varying ages it is worthy of note that there were only fourteen First Aid cases during the summer. These were only slight cuts and bruises which were taken care of by the supervisors, there being no serious accidents during Playground hours. Three children were badly bitten by the monkeys at the animal house and some arrangement should be made before another season to prevent any further possibility of this danger.
At the end of a busy, happy season during which over 16,000 boys and girls enjoyed all the privileges of the Playground, a well attended Field Day was held.
In closing the supervisors wish to thank the Park Commissioners and Super- intendent for their splendid help and cooperation at all times.
Respectfully submitted, J. RAY COONEY ALMA C. HILLMAN
135
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Attleboro Public Library
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mrs. Winthrop F. Barden, Secretary
Raymond M. Horton, Treasurer
*Mrs. Thomas Carpenter
William L. King
Miss Edith Claflin
Edwin F. Leach, President
Mrs. Arthur C. Conro
Dr. Frederick V. Murphy
Mrs. ('harles Holden
Hayward H. Sweet
STAFF
Elizabeth Lucile Palmer
Librarian
Dorothy I. Hannaford
Senior Assistant
Segrid Lindbeck
Junior Assistant
(Mrs.) Elizabeth P. Hatch
Junior Assistant
Evelyn M. Hoecke
Junior Assistant
Angela Bowen
Children's Librarian
Muriel M. Hodson
Extra Assistant
PART TIME ASSISTANTS
(Mrs.) Mary H. Fisher Alice M. Ingerson (Mrs.) Jennie L. Sturdy *Resigned
Muriel Westerberg *Olive Woodworth
JANITOR
William P. Barrett
136
ANNUAL REPORT
Hon. Stephen H. Foley, Mayor of the City of Attleboro,
March 2, 1934
Attleboro, Mass.,
Hon. Sir:
The Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library, Joseph L. Sweet Memorial present their annual report for the year 1933 and enclose detailed reports of the Treasurer and Librarian.
Your board has held its regular meetings on every Tuesday night each month except during the summer vacation.
The physical and moral upkeep have necessarily suffered to some extent in the past year due to a limited budget with which to furction in a year when the library has been used by the public more than in any other one year. However, your board and the staff recognizing the situation put their shoulders to the wheel and cheerfully endeavored to render a service of normal expectantey.
The library has been a refuge and solace to the many who have found them- selves without employment and the splendid work of the staff during this trying period has not only been along educational ard recreational lines, but character buildirg as well.
In June a bronze tablet was unveiled, with appropriate services, dedicating the Attleboro Public Library to the memory of MI. Joseph Lyman Sweet.
The Librarian's report gives you such a comprehensive study of the opera- tions during the past year, that we will omit going into further statistics. The function of the library is of course to circulate books and to supply current reading material. We may perhaps be justifiably criticized for not being able to furnish a larger quantity of new books, but under the existing conditions we have been unable to satisfactorily cope with this problem.
The Attleboro public as usual has been most generous both in gifts of material and services and we wish to gratefully acknowledge this splendid spirit of co- operation. The staff has been most urselfish in their desire to keep the standard of service up to the maximum and we wish to express our appreciation for having had the benefit of their untiring services.
Respectfully submitted, Trustees of The Attleboro Public Library, Joseph L. Sweet Memorial. Ethel N. Barden, Secretary.
To the Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library,
Joseph L. Sweet Memorial,
Gentlemen:
Herewith is presented a report for the year 1933.
Business depression creates ironies in the cultural as well as the economic life of the community. Struggling under the curtailment of a budget which has never provided more than the most meager ratiors. the Attleboro Public Library, in common with libraries in general, has been faced with the problems of giving intellectual and recreational sustenance to more people than in previous years.
137
ANNUAL REPORT
Since 1930 the number of new borrowers increased faster than the book stock. With the exception of the past year, the adult registrations were twice as great as for children. The number of card holders at the central library and the four branches represent 37% of the population of the city. In order that the records may indicate active users, a periodic clearance of files is made. Con- sequently the 8,087 listed as card holders represent only names which have been recorded since January, 1930.
The average life of a book before repairs or binding becomes imperative is about three months. A net gain in book stock of 8,203 volumes in seven years with a total circulation of 993,092 volumes makes it readily seen that there must be an immediate increase in the number of new books purchased in order to prevent the deterioration of the book collection. Those who maintain that there must be many old volumes that people haven't read are correct. But there are times when old shabby volumes of even the greatest books are no more palatable than Sunday's roast warmed over on Thursday night. A public library fails lamentably in its function as purveyor of intellectual stimulus and recreation if it offers stones to those who ask for bread.
During the year a number of short-cuts in routine were adopted as a means of cutting down on the purchase of supplies and also in order that more personal assistance might be given to the patrons. In some cases these economies have proved inconvenient to borrowers. In the long run they afforded a means of closer contact between the borrower and the resources of the library and facilitated the intensive use of the book collection.
Opportunities for professional contacts which add stimulus and breadth of experience are essential in the development of an alert personnel. Three mem- bers of the staff have taken summer courses in library training. Attendance at group conferences, visits to other libraries and extension study brought fresh view points to the work. In times of stress the maintenance of standards and quality are particularly vital.
It is well for any institution to reflect now and then upon its beginnings. The history of the Attleboro Library began in 1885 and it was housed in various places up to the time of the crection of the present building in 1907.
In recognition of the vision, the dynamic energy and generosity of one who made the present library possible, a bronze tablet inscribed to the memory of Joseph Lyman Sweet was placed in the library June 29. A simple rededication service preceded the unveiling of the tablet which bears the following inscription : THIS LIBRARY IS DEDICATED BY THE CITIZENS OF ATTLEBORO TO JOSEPH LYMAN SWEET, WHOSE PUBLIC SPIRITED GENEROSITY AND UNTIRING DEVOTION MADE POSSIBLE ITS ERECTION AND PERPETUATION AND WHOSE MEMORY IS ENSIIRINED IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE.
Despite the many insistent demands on their time and money, many in- dividuals and organizations have thoughtfully and generously presented to the library not only books, but flowers, material for exhibit purposes, and personal services, and the press has shown much courtesy in the handling of library items.
In so far as such intangible things as stimulation, inspiration, and recreation can be measured, the appended statistics can give an approximate view of the use of the library for 1933. To the many who have given the library an op- portunity to be of help and to all those who have cooperated in making this aid possible, I express appreciation and thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
ELIZABETH LUCILE PALMER, Librarian.
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY Attleboro Massachusetts
CITY OF ATTLEBORO
INCOME FROM INVESTED FUNDS
Receipts
Salaries. . .
$8,751.15
Other expenses 5,749.00
Receipts Bal., January 1, 1933: Attleboro Trust Co., checking account
213.12
Receipts : Income from investments 4,374.02
14,500.15
Disbursements
Salaries
8,751.12
Books
883.14
Other Expenses :
Books.
2,327.26
Fuel.
310.10
Light. .
773.84
.
Coal
261.80
Building
466.33
Magazines
18.90
Rent of safe deposit box
22.00
Supplies .
41.38
Equipment.
82.06
Insurance.
13.31
Washington
62.00
Bond Analysis
25.00
Printing
88.70
Dues .
15.00
Postage
33.21
Insurance
218.25
Trucking
35.04
Carfare.
11.10
Incidentals
473.37
$5,748.89 $14,500.01
$3,080.70
.14
$1,506.44
138
ANNUAL REPORT
Repairs to books. 86.66
Payroll .
413.84
Part time workers.
409.80
Repairs to building.
546.33
Phone.
42.44
Bindery .
636.33
Dodgeville
12.92
Hebronville
65.22
South Attleboro
192.78
Check Tax. .
.70
Misc. Library exp. Removing rubbish .. 1.22
259.56
4,587.14
Disbursements
LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS Balance Sheet December 31, 1933
TRUST FUND INVESTMENTS:
TRUST FUNDS:
Letitia S. Allen 500.00
Edwin Bliss.
1,000.00
Sarah J. Briggs. 500.00
William R. Cobb
5,000.00
Shares in Bond Investment Trust of America. 5,000.00
98,975.00
Book
Thomas E. McCaffrey 500.00
Organ recital. 505.00
Daniel H. Smith
5,000.00
Joseph L. Sweet.
100,000.00
Joseph L. Sweet.
1,000.00
Book
Women's Library Aid Assn. 278.17
Total Trust Fund Investments.
.
116,283.77
116,283.77
ANNUAL
REPORT
INVESTED INCOME:
Cash in checking account. 1,293.82
First National Bank
Cash in checking account. 212.62
Attleboro Trust Co.
Savings bank accounts. 4,219.57
Schedule B-1
Shares in Bond Investment Trust of America 200.00
Total Invested Income. 5,926.01
INVESTED INCOME 5,926.01
122,209.78
$122,209.78
139
Savings bank accounts. . 9,808.77 Schedule B-1
Shares in Attleborough Savings and Loan Assn. 2,500.00
Emily H. Horton 1,000.00
Edwin F. Leach
1,000.00
Bonds-Schedule B-2
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY Attleboro. Massachusetts A Statement of Operations
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