USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1950 > Part 2
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Fire Prevention, Inspections and Revenues.
To prevent a fire before it starts. That is Fire Prevention. To accom- plish this we have to have the cooperation of our citizens. We have conduc-
17
Annual Report
ed over six hundred inspections this year of Schools, Factories, Places of Public Assembly and Oil Burner Installations in homes.
Revenue from issuing permits for the storage of fuel oil, blasting and fire- works amount to $145.50 to the City Treasurer.
RADIO.
We recommend a Central Transmitter Station be installed at the Central Fire Station, That a Stationary Transmitter be installed at the South Attleboro Station. That Two-Way Radio be installed on all apparatus.
Emergency Equipment for the operation of Lights, Oil Burner and Radio in case of failure of electric power. We recommend a 1200 Watt Motor Gener- ator set at the South Attleboro Station and a 750 Watt set at the Twin Village Station.
CIVIL DEFENSE
We must build and improve our Department to meet Civil Defense require- ments.
Our recommendations are based on these requirements and we hope finan- cial assistance from State and Government sources will help defray recommen- ded expenditures.
APPRECIATION.
During the year several organizations and individuals have assisted our Department in many ways.
At this time we record our appreciation and thanks to the Red Cross, Box 9 Club and the doctors who assisted us in many ways with their kindness during fires.
As always the Police Department has assisted us at fires and with radio, their cooperation has been excellent.
His Honor the Mayor, Cyril K. Brennan, members of the Municipal Council, our Committee Fire and Police, have studied our re- quests for improvements and have assisted materially to keep our Depart- ment in working condition satisfactory to the Insurance Underwriters.
Attleboro Fire Department, Board of Fire Engineers.
Joseph O. Mowry, Chief William E. Sweeney, Chairman Charles E. Thomae, Clerk Hayward H. Sweet
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Annual Report
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
To Honorable Cyril K. Brennan, Mayor, and Members of the Municipal Council
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith the annual report of the Attleboro Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1950.
The complement of this department is a Chief, a. Lieutenant, an Inspector, three Sergeants, twenty-four Patrolmen and five Reserve Patrol- men. Also on the payroll are a Building Custodian and seven retired Police- men.
The equipment on hand at the present time is: One 1950 Ford Sedan, two 1950 Ford Coaches, two 1949 Fard Coaches, one 1934 Patrol Wagon which is used for utility work and one panel.bodied Dodge, used for an emergency ambulance. Also on hand are two 1948 Harley Davidson motor- cycles and one 1949 Harley Davidson motorcycle which are used through the summer months. I recommend that the two 1949 Fords be traded in toward the purchase of two 1951 cars. The motorcycles are still in good condition and will probably serve satisfactorily for another year. All cars are equipped with two-way radios with the main transmitter at Police Headquarters. Trans- mission connections are maintained constantly with North Attleboro and Norton police departments who are on the same wave length as we. During the year the transmitting frequency was changed from 33.5 KC to 39.5 KC by order of the Federal Communications Commission.
During 1950 this department made 342 arrests for numerous offenses. There were 237 summonses issued, mostly for motor vehicle vio- lations. The officers investigated 245 motor vehicle accidents in which there were 183 personal injuries, one resulting in death. About 200 other minor ac- cidents were reported to the station; these did not require police investiga- tion as only minor property damage resulted.
There were 109 auto licenses (local) suspended by the Regis- trar on the recommendation of this department or outside departments for auto violations. Thirty licenses were revoked for major offenses. Most of those suspended were reinstated after a short period by the Registrar. App- roximately 850 warnings were given to motorists who were checked for min- or motor violations.
In addition to the arrests this department made there were · 3038 miscellaneous complaints investigated by the officers. Quite a number'
isern futlic, -ph L. 19Pct MI- 7 i'll bring, Mace
Annual Report
of these complaints were needless or "false alarms" but those that required investigation were adjusted satisfactorily by the investigator. A great maj- ority of the more serious crimes were followed by quick arrests. Juvenile complaints in most cases were taken care of at Police Headquarters through conferences with the children and their parents.
By the use of parking meters traffic conditions are for the most part greatly improved. Full time is required of the services of one officer to repair defective meters and to collect the revenue weekly which is derived from their use. The department maintains two cruisers during the day, one which operates around the center and the other in South Attleboro. One man operates each of these cars. The inspector also maintains his car somewhere in the City most of the time. The night shifts use three cruisers continually from 4 P. M. to 8 A. M. being manned by two men at certain times. They patrol the entire city constantly, checking traffic, investigating accidents and complaints, and protecting manufacturing plants and stores in the outer areas. Many factories, banks and stores are equipped with burglar alarms connected with the station and quite.a few watchmen report hourly via phone to headquarters during the nighttime . Over 140,000 calls, including those of the watchmen, radio calls, box calls from the center and others are answer- ed and logged at the station annually.
A course for training local police officers is contemplated by the Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel I. Murphy. This training course will be held at the State Police Training School in Framingham starting in February 1951 and will last for three weeks. This course will cover thorough- ly everything pertaining to police work including law instruction, scientific aids in crime detection, first-aid, ballistics and others. I recommend that one or more members of the department be allowed to attend this school at a cost of $75.00 per man.
In conclusion I wish to convey the department's deepest app - reciation to Mayor Cyril K. Brennan and members of the Municipal Council for the interest and consideration which they have shown the department. We have enjoyed the fullest cooperation from all law -enforcing agencies as well as those engaged in social welfare work. To the Justices and others associa- ted with the Fourth District Court we are indeed grateful for their assistance at all times. We also appreciate the help we have received from the Motor Vehicle Department of the Commonwealth and from the Police Departments of all neighboring communities. A summary of the work of the department for the year 1950 is attached hereto.
Respectfully submitted
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Approved by Police Commission: John E. Turner John W. Wolfenden Frank J. Nerney Thomas H. Brennan
Peter J. Marron, Chief of Police
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Annual Report
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS 1950 No. Accidents
Persons Injured
Fatals
Auto v. Auto
125
88
0
Auto vs. Bicycle
9
7
0
Auto vs. Building
1
0
0
Auto vs. Bus
1
1
0
Auto vs. Curbing
1
0
0
Auto vs. Curve
1
1
0
Auto vs. Fence
6
2
0
Auto vs. Hen House
1
0
1
Auto vs. Horse
3
1
Auto vs. House
2
1
Auto vs. Hydrant
3
2
0
Auto vs. Mail -box
2
0
0
Auto vs. Overhead Bridge
1
0
0
Auto vs. Parked Auto
1
0
0
Auto vs Parking Meter
1
0
0
Auto vs. Pedestrian
32
30
1
Auto vs. Pole
24
26
0
Auto vs. Post
1
0
0
Auto vs. Power Shovel
1
1
0
Auto vs Stonewall
1
2
0
Auto vs. Store Window
1
0
0
Auto vs, Swamp
1
0
Auto vs. Truck
5
1
Auto vs. Traffic Sign
1
0
0
Auto vs. Trailer Truck
1
1
Auto vs. Tree
16
16
Auto vs. Tricycle
1
1
Auto vs. Skid
1
0
Motorcycle vs. Curbing
1
2
TOTALS
245
183
1
Besides the 245 accidents listed above there were about 200 other minor accidents that consisted of small property damage which were reported to this department.
Licenses suspended by Registrar (Local) 109
Motor Vehicle Violation
Licenses revoked by Registrar
30
cards filed for 1950
Licenses reinstated by Registrar
88
Summonses
188
Registrations suspended
11
Registry Action
48
Registrations revoked
14 Warnings
854
Registrations reinstated
1 No Fix Tickets
8
Rights to operate in Mass. suspended
24
0000 0 0
21
Annual Report ARRESTS FOR 1950
Male
Female
Total
Abandonment of Family
1
0
1
Accosting Persons of Opposite Sex
1
0
1
Assault and Battery
11
0
11
Assault on a Police Officer
1
0
1
Assault with the Intent to Rape
5
0
5
Assault with the Intent to Rob
2
0
2
Attempt to Commit Larceny
4
0
4
Being a Boarding House Cheat
1
0
1
Breaking & Entering & Larceny
2
0
2
Breaking & Entering & Larceny (Night)
2
0
2
Concealing Leased Property
1
0
1
Constituting a Rat Harborage
0
1
1
Contempt of Court
1
0
1
Delinquent Child
9
0
9
Disturbance of the Peace
14
0
14
Drunkenress
95
3
98
Dumping Rubbish (Violation of City Ord.
2
0
2
Escaped Prisoner
1
0
1
Exploding Fireworks in the Street
1
0
1
Fraudulent Check, Passing a
1
0
1
Fugitive from Justice
4
0
4
Getting Woman with Child
2
0
2
Habitual Truant
1
1
2
Illegal Possession of Fireworks
1
0
1
Indecent Exposure
1
0
1
Keeping Pigs without a Permit
0
1
1
Kidnapping
1
0
1
Larceny of a Motor Vehicle
1
0
1
Larceny over $100
2
0
2
Larceny over $100
19
1
20
Lewd & Lascivious Cohabitation
2
2
4
Lewd & Lascivious in Speech & Behavior
4
0
4
Lewd Show, Participating in
0
1
1
Malicious Damage to Property
2
0
2
Malicious Mischief
3
0
3
Neglect to Provide
15
0
15
Operating a Motor Vehicle to Endanger
45
2
47
Operating a Motor Vehicle under Influence of Liquor
34
0
34
Permitting a Building to be used for Horse Bets
1
0
1
Registering Bets on Horse Racing
2
0
2
22
Annual Report ARRESTS FOR 1950 - cont.
Male
Female
Total
Selling Ammunition to a Minor
1
0
1
Selling Leased Property
1
0
1
Tramp
4
0
4
Trespassing
0
1
1
Violation of Probation
24
2
26
TOTALS
327
15
342
SUMMONSES FOR 1950
Male
Female
Total
Allowing an improper person to
operate a motor vehicle
1
0
1
Attaching plates to a m/v other than the mole assigned to
1
0
1
Failure to keep to the right of the travelled way
1
0
1
Failure to have m/v inspected
16
0
16
Failure to stop for a police officer
2
0
2
Failure to stop for a school bus
7
0
7
Failure to stop for a red light
2
0
2
Failure to stop for a "Stop Sign"
8
3
11
Leaving scene of an accident after causing property damage
6
0
6
Operating a motor vehicle without authority
2
0
2
Operating a motor vehicle not prop - erly equipped with brakes
5
0
5
Operating a motor vehicle not prop- erly equipped with lights
2
0
2
Operating a motor vehicle at an unreasonable rate of speed
146
4
150
Operating a motor vehicle without a license
14
0
14
Operating a motor vehicle without a license in possession
2
0
2
Operating a motor vehicle without reg istration in possession
3
0
3
Operating a motor vehicle after right to operate suspended
2
0
2
Operating uninsured motor vehicle
4
0
4
Operating unregistered motor vehicle
4
0
4
Passing where view is obstructed Totals
2
0
2
230
7
237
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Annual Report
Besides the 342 arrests that were made during 1950 and the 237 summonses issued there were 3038 miscellaneous complaints investigated. Most of these complaints were of a trivial nature; some were needless and some required action and attention by the investigating officers.
INSPECTOR'S DIVISION - 1950
THE FOLLOWING is a recapitulation of the more serious and aggravated crimes in the City of Attleboro during the past year which were in- vestigated by the Inspector's Division of the Police Department.
RAPE (or assault with intent to Rape)
Committed
5
Cleared by Arrest 5
ROBBERY
1
1
BURGLARY
30
10
LARCENY (Over $50.00)
19
6
LARCENY (Under $50.00)
199
143
AUTOMOBILE THEFT (or Unlawful Taking)
7
6
1
During 1950 goods and monies in the amount of $ 30,209.48 were reported stolen or misappropriated. This department recovered $16,556.05 worth of this property.
During 1950 the Chief issued 236 revolver permits to residents of Attleboro netting the City of Attleboro $118.00. There were 377 bicycle reg- istrations issued bringing in $ 94.25.
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24
Annual Report
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Park Commissioners
Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my fifth annual report as Superintendent of Parks.
Capron Park has become quite a center of interest here- abouts. The people of Attleboro are visiting us more often than ever and visitors from nearby towns and cities are making Capron Park a "must" on short trips from home.
I believe that it is safe to estimate that 200,000 adults visit- ed Capron Park during the past year. I would not dare estimate the number of children that have enjoyed the playground and animals during the year. The pleasure that the Park affords both children and grownups makes our efforts worth while
Some new planting of trees, shrubs and bulbs was done dur- ing the year. Two large blue spruce trees were placed in front of the Span- ish War monument. The diamond in front of the rock garden was overhauled and set with lilacs, daphne which blooms in February and narcissus bulbs. Some Rhododendrons and Dogwoods were set near the main entrance and some Flowering Crabs were set on the lawn along County Street. A plant- ing of Mountain Laurel was made near the rose bed. Other plantings were made but these were the most important.
Several hundred new plants and bulbs were set out in the rock garden. As always the rock garden was a picture worth seeing.
The flower beds did very well in spite of the handicap of another extremely dry summer. The dry season gave our lawns a serious setback However, we sprayed for crab grass and weeds and I believe that given the necessary amount of rain the lawns will come back and be a thing of beauty.
The playground received considerable amount of patron- age from the younger set which is a great satisfaction to us. The summer program was under the supervision of Eddie Kelley, and Ruth Alice Henderson. The attendance was larger than during any of my previous years as Superintendent.
Fourth of July was again spoiled by rain and the fireworks
2,5
Annual Report,
(
had to be postponed until July 8th, However, the display was acclaimed as the "best ever "
The tennis courts were in constant play and requests for more courts was a regular thing .. The Gy championship was won by Bob Cloutier. He received the H. C. Wolforden Cup for men's single champion and the S. M. Stone Challenge Cup Miss Wright won the women's singles and received the H C. Wolfenden Cup. The Johnson brothers won the men's doubles and recei- ved the Thomas G. Sadler cups
The ball field was used for an estimated 150 games. This is heavy usage but we managed to keep it in good condition.
It is estimated that about 8.000 children used the swimming- pool spending many happy hours there
The band conceris were a source of much pleasure during the summer. Harry Greene and his Jewelry City Band were very well applauded for the job they did We were most fortunate in having Miss Lillian Poirier as a soloist this past summer This very young and very beautiful singer charmed her audiences and we predict great things for her in the world of music. Eddie Childs filled in for us at one concert and was very well received. Jim Sullivan was kept away from the concerts by illness but was able to sing at the last two concerts of the season and as always he received a big hand. Our new P A system made the concerts much easier to hear and consequently much more enjoyable.
The Common, Angell Park, Memorial Bridge and the Squares which we have under our supervision received their usual care.
Our budget for the year 1950 was divided as follows
Salary & Wages
Other Expenses
Capron Park
$ 12,986 15
$ 6,455 89
Zoo
3,689,70
1,895.45
Common
1,217.35
530.00
Angell Park
347.45
245 00
Memorial Bridge
736.95
346.00
Squares
272.30
97.00
$ 19.249 90
$ 9,569.34
(Bal. $.10)
(Bal. $ 66)
I would like to make the following recommendations for the
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Annual Report
improvement of Capron Park:
1. Grade the ball field. This would make a safer playing area and add to the appearance of the Park. This area is now the only one not having a finished appearance.
2. Enlarge the parking area.
3. Oil the road leading to the Shelter-House, thereby elimin- ating a great deal of dust.
4. Investigate the possibilities for enlarging the Zoo build- ing. The Zoo is a great attraction to both young and old. We have had a number of animals offered to us which we have had to refuse because we do not have the facilities to take care of them.
Our expenses show an increase each year but this increase is only in keeping with the general rise in prices of both labor and material. A comparison of figures over the years will show that our operating costs have not increased in proportion to the general increase in costs. Further- more, the number of people using the Park and obtaining pleasure from it has increased at a much higher rate over the same period.
Very truly yours,
Robert W. Sharkey, Jr. Superintendent.
27
Annual Report T.EPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
To the Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library:
"ocepacif humanity were to lose its libraries. not only would it be deprived of certain treasures of art, certain spiritual riches. but more important still, it would lose its recipes for living. " Georges Duhamel.
The annual appraisal of arms and functions of the Attleboro Public Library may well be considered in the light of the above q otation from the noted French scholar.
The Attleboro Public Library from its beginnings has striven to make avail- able to the community, so far as it was financially possible, some of the treas- ures of art. the spiritual riches and the recipes for living which constitute the fabric of civilized living, Broadly interpreted, the Public Library tries to serve many kinds of people, in many different ways. To that erd. books and other printed matter are chosen, staff members selected and trained. There is a sizeable range of activity, however, which that single statement fails to convey. The choosing involves many factors:
Purpose: immediately pertinent or of permanent value
Decisions based on:
items available, and cost material on hand - its content, its present con- dition needs - past, present, future Cultural enrichment vs. contemporary how-to-do reading level - for specialist or beginner
Such evaluation is not quickly done, nor by those who have but casual acquaint- ance with books, and the intellectual and recreational needs of the people and industries and institutions which constitute the community.
Furthermore, the acquisition of material, alone, does not constitute a library dedicated to public service. The by-word of the technical library -- "material unindexed is as useless as a machine that ceases to function", is even more applicable to a public library, for the technical library serves a selected adult clientele, interested in a particular field; the public library must pro- vide for an infinite number of interests, and the age range begins with ABC cloth picture books.
Particular skills and techniques are necessary to organize the mass of print. that comes to the library; skills and techniques of organization, and classi-
278
Annual Report
fication. There must be cataloguers, and secretaries to attent to the details of accounting, recording, and correspondence.
All this is but a sketch of the motive force, so to speak, of the Attleboro Pub- Library in service to and with the community.
Specific questions frequently asked are: How many books ? Are they all in the building ? How many are loaned ? To how many people? What type of book is in most demand ?
While numbers alone, whether of the size of the collection or of the number of books loaned, give no hint of quality, they do serve to indicate potential resources for study and recreation.
Since 1927, 68,869 volumes have been cataloged and added to the book stock. Library books get heavy use. A few are lost. Some, chiefly economic and technical, become obsolete. For these reasons 31,499 volumes have been dis- carded from the collection during this same period (1927-1950). There are to date (December 31, 1950) 66,682 volumes in the collection.
During this 23-year period a grand total of 2,906,395 books have been loaned, 1,205,795 to children. The number of registered borrowers at Central Libra- ry alone, is now 4,582; 662 of whom were new adult readers registered in 1950. 1,136 children have cards of their own.
A check of reading interests and trends, shows a marked increase in purpose- ful reading during the past two decades. Various explanations have been guess- es -- too many mediocre novels, (maybe taste is improving), novels too bulky for enjoyment, increase in inexpensive escape reading, radio and vidio com- petition. Whatever the cause, the reading of books of non-fiction accounts for 46.8% of the 1950 circulation, with the greatest number of books (3174) in the Fine Arts classification, followed by books on technology and those called Useful Arts (2380); with history and country material (2308) a close third.
The four branches - Hebronville, South Attleboro, Tiffany and Washington, and the Sturdy Hospital library service, supplements service from the cen- tral library. These branches, which in their course have been subject to many changes of location and personnel, function as micro-libraries. Tiffany is the most active, with a circulation of 15,326 which now exceeds Washington with its circulation of 10,328. Although for many years Washington loaned by far the greatest number of books, its borrowers must be watching television rather than reading, for Hebronville, with a much smaller number of borrow- ers now is not far below with 8,666 volumes loaned in 1950.
Upon urgent request from the people of South Attleboro Village, a branch was opened in Legion Hall in September 1949, after crowded conditions at Lincoln-
29
Annual Report
School eliminated the space used for library purposes. At present there are 177 borrowers registered, with a total circulation for the year of 3,160 books, slightly over 40% of which were loaned to adults.
Effort is being directed to acquaint the teachers at Lincoln School with the convenience of using the Village Library to provide for their classroom needs. With the exception of Tiffany and the South Attleboro Village Library, scant attention has been given to proper housing of the branch collections.
The growing use of the Hebronville Branch during recent years makes addi- tional space highly desirable. The removal or partial cutting away of a par- tition to an unused room, would, for a moderate outlay of money, result in improvement to both service and appearance of the branch.
Washington Branch is located in a rickety portable building many years ago considered unsafe for use. The roof, the walls, and the underpinning are in a bad state of deterioration, far too bad to make repair advisable financially. The floor is good, and the location excellent. Immediate planning for new quarters is urgently recommended for storms and winter winds will surely work havor before long.
The costly toll of wind and storm made a new roof imperative at the main library this year, thus postponing the long overdue painting which had been planned. Prior consideration, moreover, was given in 1950 to the installation of a new boiler necessitated by a default in the water system.
The library building is now 44 years old, and despite good care, repairs be- come more frequent. Painting and redecorating have, therefore, been given but scant attention, but now certain sections, notably the Children's Room, the work room and halls, are deplorably shabby.
The problem of space is everpresent. Additional stacks in the art and tech- nical room have relieved over-crowded shelves and the purchase of new units for the shelf list have released catalog files for the Children's Department. Temporary shelving was installed in the lecture hall to take care of material on World War I. The local history and genealogy collections were moved up- stairs to the room formerly used as a Trustee Room. The librarian trans- ferred her office to the former genealogy room, thus relinquishing space for the cataloger, who had shared with three other workers, record files and off- ice equipment, a room barely adequate for two persons. At present it would seem that the limit has been reached to this shifting about so reminiscent of the March Hare's tea party of Alice-in-Wonderland. The next major project must surely be a wing.
- The library has been most fortunate in having but little change in personnel during the year. In November, John L. Barrett who had served as Custodian
30
Annual Report
for six years resigned to enter business for himself. Herman Isele has been appointed in his stead.
To the custodians of the library belong much credit for the operation of the library. The responsibilities are many, the work is considerable and the long hours, including three nights, has been inadequately recompensed. it is hoped that future pay rates will be more commensurate with duties.
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