USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1945 > Part 2
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The Board is grateful to Superintendent of Public Works, Robert W. Mawney, and his staff for the use of their office facilities.
Elmer P. Tufs, Jr., Chairman William F. Walton Clarence D. Roberts
19
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Police Department
1945 Expenditures 1946 Budget Employees 1945 Employees 1946 35
$72,717.88
$76,950.00
35
January 12, 1946
To His Honor, The Mayor, and Municipal Council
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit the annual report of the Police department of the City of Attleboro for the year ending December 31, 1945.
Crime Conditions
The most serious crime committed in Attleboro during 1945 was the kidnapping of one Joseph Poirrier, 34 Bacon Street, Plainville, Mass., on December 14, 1945 at 11:20 P. M. in So. Attleboro by two unknown men and transporting him across the State line into Paw- tucket, R. I., where he was shot in the leg while trying to break away. This crime was promptly reported to the Federal Bureau of Investiga- tion and is still under investigation by the F.B.I. Pawtucket Police and our own department. There were many other crimes committed in Attleboro all of which are listed on another page of this report. There were 1362 complaints investigated, 821 of these were settled by the officers who made the investigation without Court action, and 541 were prosecuted in the Fourth District Court.
Value of property lost or stolen
$17,147.70
Value of property recovered 12,377.97
Balance
4,769.73
Value of property recovered for other
Police departments
$3,250.00
Miss Olive A. Mackinnon agent for the M.S.P.C.C. and Miss Olive A. Nerney of the Probation department have assisted the Police in investigating and adjusting many cases of neglected children and domestic family troubles, most of these cases were settled without Court action.
ARRESTS FOR THE YEAR 1945
Male
Female
Total
Adultry
1
0
1
Assault and Battery
20
2
22
Assault With Dangerous Weapon
3
0
3
Breaking Entering and Larceny
2
0
2
Carrying Concealed Weapon
1
0
1
Cheat Boarding House
1
0
1
City Ord. Violation of
4
1
5
Cruelty of Animals
1
0
1
Delinquency
10
4
14
Disturbance of the Peace
16
1
17
Dogs Unlicensed
1
0
1
Driving M. V. to Endanger
32
3
35
Driving A. M. V. Drunk
30
1
31
Drunkenness
162
3
165
Attisborn fubile :- 3-ph L. "Sweet M/F
20
ANNUAL REPORT
Male
Female
Total
False Alarm of Fire
3
0
3
Food Laws Viol. of
4
0
4
Gaming Allowing
1
0
1
Gaming Present at
6
0
6
Illegitimate Child Act
3
0
3
Indecent Exposure
1
0
1
Larceny and Attempt
16
0
16
Larceny of Auto
3
0
3
Lewd and Lascivious Speech and Behavior
1
5
6
Malicious Mischief
2
0
2
Manslaughter
1
0
1
Motor Vehicle Using Without Authority
1
0
1
Neglect of Children
2
0
2
Neglected Children
5
5
10
Neglect to Provide
15
0
15
Rape
2
0
2
Robbery
1
0
1
Stubborn Child
0
1
1
Tramps and Vagabonds
7
0
7
Trespass Allowing Animal to
1
0
1
Truant
3
0
3
Using Profane Language
1
0
1
Uttering Threat
1
0
1
Total
364
26
390
SUMMONS FOR THE YEAR 1945
Allowing Improper Person to Operate
1
0
1
Allowing Person to Interfere With Oper.
1
0
1
Failing to Slow at Intersection
4
0
4
Failing to Stop on Signal of Officer
2
0
2
Failing to Stop at Stop Sign
5
0
5
Failing to Stop at Red Light
14
2
16
Failing to Keep to Right
9
0
9
Leaving Scene of Accident
6
0
6
Operating M. V. Without Reg. Certificate
6
0
6
Operating After License Suspended
3
0
3
Operating M. V. No License
17
2
19
Operating M. V. Defective Brakes
4
0
4
Operating M. V. No Insurance
5
0
5
Operating Unregistered M. V.
5
0
5
Speeding
55
1
56
Total
146
5
151
No Fix Tickets Issued
38
10
48
Licenses Suspended
36
6
42
Licenses Revoked
22
1
23
Rights of Operators Suspended
20
0
20
Licenses Returned
46
6
52
Registrations Suspended
4
1
5
Registrations Revoked
13
0
13
Registrations Returned
1
0
1
Motor Vehicle Violations Summons
151
Motor Vehicle Violations Warnings
650
0
9
Operating M. V. Without Lights
9
21
ANNUAL REPORT
COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATED 1945
Breaking Entering & Larceny Larceny
53
Larceny of Automobiles
9
Total
89
Value of Property Stolen in City
$12,396.90
Value of Property Lost in City
4,750.80
Total
$17,147.70
Value of Property Recovered
12,377.97
Balance
$4,769.73
Value of Property Recovered for
Other Police Departments
$3,250.00
Miscellaneous Reports
648
Malicious Mischief
62
Missing Persons
22
Hawkers & Peddlers Permits Issued
51
Property Damage
Only
Property
Personal
Persons
Injured
Fatal
Auto vs. Auto
57
20
30
Auto vs. Bicycle
3
4
4
Auto vs. Bridge
1
Auto vs. Bus
2
1
Auto vs. Coaster
2
1
2
Auto vs. Fence
3
1
1
Auto vs. Fire Alarm
1
Auto vs. Hole
1
Auto vs. Horse & Wagon
1
Auto vs. Fire Truck
3
Auto vs. Hydrant
1
Auto vs. Pedestrian
8
28
28
Auto vs. R. R. Arch
1
Auto vs. Stone Wall
2
2
5
Auto vs. Train
1
1
1
Auto vs. Tractor
1
Auto vs. Truck
3
1
1
Auto vs. Skid
2
1
1
Auto vs. Tree
1
4
7
Auto vs. Pole
5
7
16
Motorcycle vs. Pole
1
2
Motorcycle vs. Curb
1
1
Truck vs. Truck
1
1
2
Truck Overturn
1
Total
101
74
98
4
Automobile Accidents, Total
175
Persons Injured
98
Fatalities
4
and
732
Damage
Injury
27
22
ANNUAL REPORT
TRAFFIC
This report will show a decrease in the number of deaths resulting from Automobile accidents from 6 in 1944 to 4 in 1945. There were 175 Motor vehicle accidents during the year, 101 of these were for property damage only, while 74 were for property damage and per- sonal injury, 98 persons being injured, many of the injuries were minor, 4 persons died as result of these accidents.
AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT
We now have two Harley Davidson motorcycles in good condition, one 1941 Mercury coach in fairly good condition but should be traded this year for a new car, two 1942 Ford coaches which we are about to trade for two 1946 Ford coaches, and one new 1946 Ford coach, and one 1934 patrol wagon. The new F.M. Link Radios which were in- stalled in 1945 are working satisfactorily.
IN CONCLUSION
I now wish to express my gratitude to Hon. Francis J. O'Neil, Mayor, and members of the Municipal Council for the interest and consideration shown this department; also to Judge Ralph C. Estes and his associates of the Fourth District Court; to Miss Olive A. Nerney and Mr. Newell B. Vickery of the Probation department; also to Miss Olive A. Mackinnon of the M.S.P.C.C., to the members of the press and to all who have cooperated with this department.
Report of Dog Officer
1945 Expenditures
$1,049.59
1946 Budget 1,050.00
Employees 1945
1
Employees 1946
1
December 1, 1945
INVESTIGATION AND COMPLAINTS:
Complaints Investigated
2
Dogs Boarded
79
Dogs Statutary
79
Dogs Redeemed
7
Dogs Sold
2
Dead Dogs Removed
30
Miles Performing Duties
1836
Dogs Licensed
1847
Service Men Licensed (Free)
48
Kennel Licenses:
One Fifty Dollar
Three Twenty Dollar
Fourteen Ten Dollar
Antone J Dias, Dog Officer
23
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Attleborough Hospital
1945 Expenditures
$11,572.52
1946 Budget $11,825.00
January 14, 1946
To the Honorable Mayor and Municipal Council and to the Trustees of the Attleborough Hospital:
In our 33rd year of operation we had the largest total of patients we have ever cared for. Although the house patients, formally admitted, were 21 less than last year, all the services totalled 7220 as compared with 6814 in 1944-with maternity cases continuing the increasing trend of the past few years, 1624 mothers and babies in 1945, 1563 in 1944.
Disbursements for operating the hospital during 1945 exceeded receipts by $6,383.82. Since the surplus balance at the close of 1944 was $4,065.24, the general fund shows an operating deficit of $2,318.58 on December 31, 1945.
The disbursements for 1945 do not reflect the major and extensive task of repairing and repainting, long deferred because of the war, and started the latter part of the year. After its completion we expect to have a hospital much improved in appearance, both interior and exterior, and hope to be in a position henceforth to brighten things up periodically and thus escape the shabbiness that has been inevitable when we could not get this work done during the war period.
Because of the campaign last summer for funds to modernize the Y.M.C.A. we did not make any canvas last fall of local industrial con- cerns as has been our custom since 1942, and yet we continue to re- ceive contributions from local concerns as well as from some in the outside area to whom we have reported the status of our plant addi- tion account and expressed our appreciation of the generous support we have received from industrial concerns in the surrounding towns. A total of $23,169.08 was contributed to our capital funds in the past year.
Gwendolyn G. Rice and Katherine V. Lloyd, who have directed this hospital since it opened in 1913, are retiring for a well earned rest. These two capable, conscientious women have served Sturdy Hospital with loyalty and devotion for a third of a century and richly deserve the pension which they are to receive from this hospital. Miss Rice leaves next month. Miss Lloyd has already gone for a visit to her former home in England. Both of them merit our deep gratitude and best wishes for prolonged years of restful retirement.
Albert O. Davidsen, with a background of experience in hospital administration and more recently superintendent of the Downtown Hospital in New York City, comes to us the first of February as director of all our increasing activities. His responsibilities will be varied and extensive as befit the efficient conduct of a modern hospital. Mr. Davidsen, his wife and son, will occupy the home of our late friend and associate, Joseph Finberg, which we are acquiring from his estate.
Many hospitals have had to restrict their services, closing up some departments for the time being. Thus far we have managed to keep going, but continued demands for accommodations make more help vitally necessary. The assistance of the Nurses' Aides has been very helpful and much appreciated, but several more would be most useful,
21
ANNUAL REPORT
particularly if we could have a group who would accept regular assign- ments for a short period each week.
The continued cheerful acceptance of increased responsibilities on the part of our reduced group of doctors, nurses and service staff has enabled us to maintain effective conduct of the hospital under very dif- ficult conditions and we acknowledge with especial gratitude all the services which have contributed to this end and which have been per- formed not only by our regular staff but by numerous individuals and organizations.
Attached to this report is a summary of the amounts expended from the 1945 municipal appropriation and the amounts requested for 1946.
Board of Managers, Attleborough Hospital, Inc., Operating Sturdy Memorial Hospital for the City of Attleboro
Members Ex Officio, 1945
C. Wallace Cederberg
Francis J. O'Neil, Mayor
Victor R. Glencross
William Marshall, City Treasurer
William J. Luther
James A. Freeman,
Samuel M. Stone
Pres. Municipal Council
Edwin F. Thayer
Harold E. Sweet, Chairman
Appropriated Expended Requested
1945
1945
1946
Water
1,050.00
1,058.29
1,050.00
Insurance
700.00
889.79
890.00
Hydrant
60.00
60.00
60.00
Fuel & Light
9,750.00
9,539.44
9,800.00
Treas. Bond
25.00
25.00
25.00
$11,585.00
$11,572.52
$11,825.00
12.48
Unexpended Balance .
Report of City Forester
1945 Expenditures
$3,794.13
1946 Budget
$4,200.00
Employees 1945
2
Employees 1946
2
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1945.
The annual scouting for gypsy moths was done and eggs destroyed with creosote.
The country roadsides were sprayed with arsenate of lead to prevent the spread of the gypsy moth.
The elm trees were sprayed to destroy the elm leaf beetle and canker worms.
The dead wood was trimmed from the shade trees.
As much roadside brush as possible was cut with the help ob- tainable.
Very truly yours,
Wm. E. S. Smith, City Forester
25
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Recreation Commission
1945 Expenditures 1946 Budget $14,556.00 Employees 1945 5
$ 6,898.24
Employees 1946 7
The Recreation Commission through its Chairman Thomas H. Moore herewith submits its report for the year 1945.
HAYWARD FIELD
This field was used for baseball games by both the St. Mary's of Hebronville and the American Legion Juniors during the 1945 season. The High School football team utilized the field for its 1945 schedule of home games.
The new football field was leveled and reseeded under the super- vision of Tom Moore and made ready for use in 1946.
The football area will run across the lower end of the baseball field facing the new bleachers. This will eliminate playing across the diamond.
All windows and sashes were repaired and repainted in the shower rooms and storm blinds were installed to keep the glass from being broken during the winter months.
HORTON FIELD
All playground equipment was installed and repainted. The bleach- ers at this field were also given a coat of gray paint.
DODGEVILLE
The Dodgeville playground equipment was all repainted and in- stalled.
BRIGGS PLAYGROUND
This playground proved to be the big attraction of them all for this season. Children from all sections of the city utilized the facilities there.
The lawns, shrubs and walks were all placed in good condition and made ready for an early opening.
The swimming pool was repaired and all the old caulking was removed and replaced by new material.
All playground equipment, benches, inside of the bath house, swimming pool and wading pool were all repainted and repaired mak- ing the playground a bright spot for all the children using it.
The swimming pool and wading pool painted in bright green colors was the strong attraction during the summer seeing as many as 400 children on peak days.
During the season the children were given swimming lessons and the supervision sponsored two events which proved a huge success: The Annual water carnival was held at the pool and the new field day at the Speedway which included all types of racing and games. On the same day a doll carriage parade was held.
The Briggs playground baseball team was organized under the leadership of Richard Tip O'Neill. This team won the playground championship and also made several trips to out of town playgrounds. The tennis courts were made ready and opened to the public for the summer.
All windows in the bath house were covered with storm blinds.
The playground was under the direct supervision of John Silvia assisted by Richard Tip O'Neill, Virginia Lee and Juilletta Newman.
26
ANNUAL REPORT
While Hayward Feld and Horton Field came under the supervision of Harry Brown of South Attleboro.
The Recreation Commission wishes at this time to thank all those citizens and merchants who in any way aided to make the 1945 season a successful one.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas H. Moore, Chairman.
Recreation Commission
William Blackburn
William Liddell
Manuel Castro John Redding
Steve Halko
Report of Law Department
1945 Expenditures
$1550.00
1946 Budget Employees 1945 1
$1600.00
Employees 1946
1
April 27, 1946
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Municipal Council Attleboro, Massachusetts:
Gentlemen:
Your City Solicitor took office February 1945.
The legal docket of cases pending against the city have all been cleared and there are at this time no cases in the courts against the City of Attleboro.
The amount of opinions requested by the Mayor and the Council, as well as heads of the various departments, during the year were numerous. There were also a great number of consultations with the boards and heads of departments.
Duties performed by your City Solicitor were so varied during the year that to enumerate would be impracticable. I have sat in at a great number of the various board meetings, particularly that of the Appeal Board. Many Ordinances were altered and some completely re- written.
The Office of City Solicitor being permanent and the holder thereof transitory, I would suggest that records be kept in one file of all legal transactions concerning the city business. Not only would this be of assistance to the attorney taking over the office but all records would be readily available when required by the Mayor, the Council and de- partment heads. With this in view, I have commenced a new filing and indexing system.
In closing this brief report, I am pleased to state that it has been a distinct pleasure to work with all connected with the city govern- ment.
Respectfully submitted,
Daniel A. J. Doyle
27
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Health Department
1945 Expenditures 1946 Budget Employees 1945 Employees 1946
$28,660.48 $29,693.00
8 8
F. L. Girouard, M.D., health officer, in his annual report for 1945, sees as future needs to protect the health of the citizens, a per- manent rodent control program, a new city dumping site, rubbish col- lection, a comfort station and the extension of a sanitary sewage system. Dr. Girouard reported 544 as the total number of treatments given at the annual diphtheria prevention clinic. In reporting on com- municable diseases he said, "Anterior poliomyelitis, chicken pox, dy- sentery, German measles, measles, mumps, scarlet fever, typhoid fever and Undulant fever showed a lower incidence than the 10-year average. For the sixth successive year no cases of Undulant fever were reported, and for the eighth successive year no cases of diphtheria were reported. Meningitis, whooping cough and tuberculosis showed a higher inci- dence than the 10-year average." Of the deaths the health office said that only nine died of a reportable disease during the year. Tuberculosis claimed 5, lobar pneumonia 2 and Meningitis, 2. The total number of deaths in the city from all causes in 1945 was 325.
Robert C. Perriello, B.S., milk inspector, bacteriologist and au- thorized agent, reported that during his inspections and investigations in 1945 that approximately 900 pounds of food were condemned during 1342 inspections and investigations of farms, dealers and produce dealers, ice cream plants, eating and drinking establishments, milk and food wagons, nuisances, etc. The milk inspector reported there were 133 milk licenses in the city and 28 pasteurization plants, while the number of quarts of pasteurized milk consumed in Attleboro per day, as of July 1, 1945, was 11,610. A total of 242 licenses and permits were issued by his office and the statistical report shows various types of chemical and bacteriological analysises made of milk, milk drinks, private water samples, ice cream, swimming pool water, etc.
The report of the health nurse, Lois E. Wilmarth, R.N., showed a total of 2143 visits during the year. She reported that 23 Attleboro per- sons received treatment and care as tuberculosis patients at Bristol County hospital during the year 1945. Fourteen new cases of active tuberculosis were reported and all were hospitalized but one. The health nurse devoted assistance to the diphtheria prevention clinic and contacted persons reported to have had infantile paralysis during the past 10 years in behalf of the Infantile Paralysis Foundation. As school nurse for St. Joseph's Parochial school, weekly visits were made in the interest of infectious disease control and general health conditions of the pupils.
W. E. Turner, D.D.S. and Frances L. Macartney, D.H., reported on the dental clinic for 1945. Five hundred and fifty four patients were seen in 111 operating days; 1167 fillings were made, 209 extractions, 93 cleanings, 14 treatments, 9 examinations and 201 dismissals. The dental hygienist reported 114 school visits, 202 classroom talks, 1225 inspections and 14 cleanings. Among other activities was the distribu- tion of nine gross of toothbrushes in lower grades at cost (60 each.)
Plumbing Inspector James F. Forrest reported 95 permits issued during the year 1945.
Frederick L. Briggs, D.V.M., inspector of animals and inspector of slaughtering, reported a complete inspection of all cattle and the premises in which they were stabled. He reported finding no tuberculo- sis in cattle and no cases of rabies having been present in the city for the past year.
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Airport Planning Committee
Carlton H. Nerney, Chairman
George E. Nerney
Charles D. J. Smith
Robert W. Mawney
Charles C. Cain
. Harold Gordon Royal Baker Eliza Sicard
Carrol C. Thacher Raymond J. Rioux
John W. Wolfenden
Frank Mossberg Ernest LaCroix
Councilmen
Bertrand O. Lambert
Herbert C. Lavigueur
John J. Johnson
Leon F. Pierce
Gordon M. Mackinnon
James A. Freeman
North Attleboro
Ralph L. Harden
Joseph E. Diamond
Nathan B. Phipps Jarvis Hunt
Frederic. E. Sturdy
To the Mayor and Members of the Municipal Council:
Your Committee on Airport Development held two meetings this year and meantime accumulated a considerable quantity of informa- tion about airfields.
It was felt, as experts advised, that the city should make haste slowly and allow the federal and state governments to set up their policies before attempting to determine just what we would do or what the city should spend.
Many thousands of dollars have been wasted throughout the coun- try on airfields which were started and not completed and it was not desired to add Attleboro to the list. Located as we are within a few air miles of Hillsgrove, it did not seem that we would be able to secure many stops of the big passenger liners but would have to rely on pick-ups done by auxiliary lines.
The nature of Attleboro's products is such as to forecast a liberal use of air express with resulting benefit to the industry and its workers and we are most interested in seeing this worked out.
To make progress toward this end, the City Council has wisely, in our opinion, approved a joint airport committee for a district to be set up with North Attleboro and perhaps other towns. There is no law yet allowing appropriations for such joint enterprises and so we must await the action of congress and the legislature.
The committee welcomes the addition of Eliza Sicard and Ernest LaCroix as members of this group, both veteran fliers.
May we also express our thanks for hearty co-operation given us by the Mayor, members of the Council and state house officials.
29
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Public Library
1945 Expenditures
$26,969.65
1946 Budget $27,415.50
Employees 1945 12
Employees 1946 12
Hon. Francis J. O'Neil, Mayor of Attleboro:
My dear Sir,
Enclosed you will find the annual report of the Librarian of the Attleboro Public Library, Joseph L. Sweet Memorial.
The report is so well presented, both for easy reading and clarity that I will only mention one or two matters which should be par- ticularly stressed.
From the budget you have no doubt noticed that the salary budget is extremely low. For some time the pay of the library workers has been below that paid for comparable work in both private and public interests, and I am sure that you will agree that increases must be taken into consideration. The loyalty and untiring work of the staff has been greatly apreciated by the Trustees and I am sure from the public at large.
We are desperately in need of more Stack space and work room facilities, so we are very much in hopes that the Post War plans for the library extension may be carried through at the earliest possible time, conducive to building requirements.
Respectfully submitted,
Trustees of The Attleboro Public Library Joseph L. Sweet Memorial.
Ethel H. Barden, Secy.
"Reading furnishes the mind only with the materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours."-John Locke.
Questions concerning the operation and maintenance of the Public Library are frequent. Consequently this year's report of operations will be presented largely in tabular form.
How many books are in the library?
The library book stock contains 56,969 volumes
Subscription to 195 magazines
Pamphlet collection 4500 items (approx.) Pictures 11,502 mounted Pictures (exclusive of post-cards & stereographs
115,000 unmounted (estimate)
Maps
Special files of Genealogical-charts, cemetery records, family papers, pictures, etc.
Special file of Local History-documents, pamphlets, letters, rec- ords.
Special file of Vocational material
How many are new books?
Purchased
2,572 volumes
Received by gift 504 volumes
30
ANNUAL REPORT
How many wear out?
Rebound 1,016 books and magazines 10,000 (estimate)
Repaired at the library
Withdrawn or obsolete 2,572 volumes
Net gain in book stock, January 1, 1945-January 1, 1946 .. 506 volumes How many people have library cards? (active period 3 years) .... 5,298
Adults
Children
From main library
2,536
1,043
Hebronville
73
243
South Attleboro (Lincoln School)
183
183
Tiffany
89
403
Washington
157
388
Total
3,038
2,660
New "customers" 1945
383
229
How many books were circulated?
Adults
45,288
Children 46,124
Distributed as follows:
Main library
32,285
20,269
Hebronville
1,519
5,643
South Attleboro (Lincoln)
1,831
4,677
Tiffany
982
5,188
Washington
2,284
10,138
Sturdy Hospital
4,490
309
High School
1,896
What kind of books do people read? And why?
People read for information and for recreation; the two are fre- quently indistinguishable. Reading interests and tastes vary from year to year. The years 1939-1944 stressed technical and how-to-do books, while music and design and the fine arts in general were less in de- mand. Books on philosophy and religion are interesting greater num- bers of people. Biography is just beginning to creep up again to its popularity of 1939-1942, and the circulation of current periodicals is also increasing. For the past ten years, non-fiction has averaged 31.36% of the total number of books read.
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