USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1960 > Part 5
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John P. Lee and A, Irvin Studley Representatives before the Municipal Council
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Annual Report
Report of the School Committee continued-
Superintendent of Schools
Mr Ralph C. Sturke Office Sanford Street Residence: 42 Third Street
Office Personnel Jessie C. Ford, Sec'y. to Supt. 145 County Street
Hilda R. LaPalme, Prinicipal Clerk 61 Hebron Avenue
Mabel A. Lavallee (Mrs. ) Payroll Clerk 1503 Park Street
Majella L. Turcotte, Clerk 542 Newport Avenue, So. Attleboro
School Dentist Dr. Lino Tiberi 59 Park Street
Administrative Assistant to Supt. Mr. Eugene P. Melville-Sanford St. Residence: 9 Highland Street.
School Physician Dr. Simon Coren 134 Pleasant Street
School Nurses Dorothy B. Wendell, R. N. (Mrs. ) 90 Locust Street
Barbara O'Keefe R. N. (Mrs. ) 11 1/2 Park Avenue Office Hrs. - Supt. Office Bldg. 8:00-9: 00 on School Days.
School Dental Hygienist Ruth Merriss (Mrs. ) Sch. Dental Clinic 18 West Street
SCHOOL CALENDAR
First Term Wednesday, September 7, 1960 to Friday, December 23, 1980
Second Term Tuesday, January 3, 1961 to Friday, February 17, 1961
Third Term Monday, February 27, 1961 to Friday, April 14, 1961
Fourth Term Monday, April 24, 1961 to Friday, June 23, 1961
SCHOOL SESSIONS
High School-One session, from 8:00 to 2:00, with a lunch period of 20 minutes. Thacher JR. High School-One session, from 8:15-2:30, with a lunch period of 20 minutes. So. Attleboro J. H. S. - One session, from 8:17-2:27, with a lunch period of 20 minutes Bliss: Grade I: 8:45-11:15 and 12:30-2:45; Grades II-VI: 8:45-11:15 and 12:30-3:00. Briggs Corner-8:45-11:45 and 12:30-2:30 Farmers School-9:00-11:45 and 1:00-3:00 Finberg Sch. - Grade I; 8:45-11:45 :1:00-2:45Grades II-VI: 8:45-12:00 and 1:00-3:00 Lincoln-Grade I: 8,45-11:30 and 12:30-2:30; Grades II-VI: 8:45-11:45 and 12:45-2:45 Richardson Grades I-IV: 9:00-11:30 and 12:30-3:00; Grades V-VII: 9:00-12:00 & 1:00-3:00 Tiffany -9:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00
Washington-Grade I: 8:45-11:30 and 12:30-2:45; Grades II-V: 8:45-11:45 and 12:45-2:45 Willett Grade I: 9:00-11:30 and 12:45-2:45; Grades II-III: 9:00-11:30 and 12:30-3:00;
Grade IV: 9:00-11:45 and 12:45-3:00; Grades V and VI: 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00; Grade VII: 9:00-11:00 and 12:00-3:00.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNALS-WARA AND WPRO will broadcast No-School announcements beginning at 7:15 A. M. and 7:45 A. M. No signals will be given at noon.
58.
Annual Report
Report of the School Committee continued-
COST OF INSTRUCTION-1960
Valuation of Attleboro, 1960. .
Tax rate per $1000, 1960
Expended for support of schools
Average membership, September 1959-June 1960 .
$ 293.88
Cost of books and supplies per pupil $ 10. 75
Senior High School
Total expended including High School share of general expenses . .. $306, 900. 45
Average membership, September 1959-June 1960 843
Cost per pupil
$364. 05
Cost of books and supplies per pupil ...
$ 21.41
Junior High School
Total expended including Jr. H. S. share of general expenses
$297,299. 32
Average membership, September 1959-June 1960 1242
Cost per pupil
$ 239. 37
Cost of books and supplies per pupil
$ 8. 64
Elementary Schools
Total expended including elementary schools' share of general
expenses . . . . 0 0
$790. 875. 15 2662
Average membership, September 1959-June1960
o Cost per pupil
$ 297.10
. . o Cost of books and supplies per pupil
.....
$8. 36
Expended per pupil based on average membership
$ 51,173, 600. 00 $ 56.90 $ 1,395, 074. 92 4747
59.
Annual Report
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' BENEFITS 1960
To His Honor the Mayor and the Municipal Council:
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith the report for the year ending December 31, 1960.
VETERANS' BENEFITS
Benefits paid to Veterans and Dependents 53,744. 82
Refunds returned to appropriation 505.00
Refunds returned to E. & D. Account
1,347.71
ADMINISTRATION
Salaries and Wages Administration Expenses 1,803. 78
7,610. 00
In the year 1960, we gave assistance to 525 veterans or their dependents. This large number was due to the great amount of unemployment in our city. Many that applied were not eligible to receive aid from this department.
During the year we had two people in Nursing Homes.
As of December 31, 1960 we had 115 cases on our books.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher W. McNary Agent Department of Veterans' Benefits.
60.
Annual Report
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS 1960
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Municipal Council:
I herewith submit my seventh annual report of the Building Inspector for the year 1960.
The total number of permits issued ... .... 668
The estimated value of permits issued $ 6,743,166. 12 An increase over 1959 of. 3,366,870. 15
The amount paid to the City Treasurer $ 2,772.00
(plus Building Code Commission Fee) 5.00
Total. $ 2,777.00
RECOMMENDATIONS OF BUILDING INSPECTOR 1960
1. I recommend that the Expense Account of the Building Inspector be $650. 00 ($450. 00 of this to be used for Elevator Inspections) and the balance of $200. 00 for office supplies and files.
2. I recommend that the salary of the Building Inspector be increased to $1, 500. 00 with the great amount of work that has to be done.
3. I recommend that the salary of the part time clerk be increased to $2, 200. 00 in order that she may put in more hours per week, This is necessary due to the increased amount of office work required, along with the ever increasing building in this city.
4. I recommend that consideration be given to adopt an ordinance for a flat fee of $10. 00 for alterations, construction or additions to business or mercantile buildings which are valued at less that $10,000. 00.
5. Mr. William Wyman of the Providence Elevator Company is the Inspector of Elevators for the city. Many elevators were inspected this past year by Mr. Wyman; who recommended necessary repairs on a number of elevators. I recommend that an ordinance be adopted for a fee for elevator inspections. State Law requires yearly inspections of elevators. Most cities charge a set fee for inspection of elevators.
At this time, I wish to express my appreciation for the assistance given me by the Mayor, City Council and for the advice given me by the City Solicitor; the co-operation of the Planning Board and the Board of Appeals; the Zoning Board, Wire Inspector who have all assisted me on numerous occasions. I also want to thank the Deputy Chiefs and anyone who has assisted me in any way. Respectfully submitted Hiram R. Packard Building Inspector.
61.
Annual Report
Report of the Building Inspector continued-
NEW DWELLINGS - 1960
MONTH
NUMBER
ESTIMATED VALUE
January
6
61,000.00
February
4
41,000.00
March
12
116,800. 00
April
3
40,000. 00
May
18
159,500. 00
June
14
185,700. 00
July
8
76,300.00
August
21
193,500. 00
September
7
70,000,00
October
14
171,000.00
November
10
90,500.00
December
19
193,000.00
136
$ 1,398,300.00
62.
REPORT OF THE BUILDING INSPECTOR-1960
Month Permits-Shingle
Dwellings
Dwelling Alterations
Business
Alterations
Garages
Misc.
Raze Total
Jan
24
5-6600
61000.
2- 5300
1- 12000
3- 10000.
1- 900.
17- 19100
3
80,569. 50
Feb
37
9-9569. 50
4- 41000
Mar
48
4-2015.
12- 116800
4- 2300
1- 6500
2-3050.
21- 22934.
4
153,599.
Apr
47 10-5279
3- 40000
4- 6600
4-3350.
22- 23990.
4
79,219.
May
74 15-13874. 12
18- 159500
13-17200.
1- 1000。
1 - 2000.
19- 7183.
7
200,757. 12
June (
68 16-12359.
14- 185700
3- 6000.
1-11000
3- 7800.
1- 325
13-
9388. 50L
14
2,679,072.50
(1 Public Garage 40000 - 1 School-1 Bishop of Fall River 2,400, 000)
(1 Dwelling & Print Shop Relocated 6500. 8- 76300 10-22650.
1- 6500
dv
19-
38015.
12
151,999.
Aug.
80
22 -15125
21-193500
4- 4050.
1- 36000.
2- 1400
26-
21030.
3
346 105 ..
(1 Professional Building - 75000)
Sept
58
27- 20115
7- 70000
7- 13400,
(1 Addition to Sturdy Hospital - 19400) 14-171000 | 5- 12800. |1-12000
4-421000.
2- 2200
20- 14299.
4
2,346,339.
Oct.
84
33- 13040
( 1 High School - 1, 700, 000 10- 90500 . 1- 6800. 1
17- 42198.
6
169,763.
Nov.
52
16 - 8295
(1 Elevator Well - 10000 - 1 Elevator 11970) 19-193000. 3- 3200.
- 1-58000.
5- 1700,
-
257,610.
Dec.
32
4 - 1710
$6,743,166. 12
668
2- 1400.
8- 11280
97,580.
--
.
=
July
64
14- 8534
15-
57638.
1
180,553.
63.
0
1
Business
Annual Report
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM 1960
To the Board of Fire Engineers, Fire Department Headquarters, 100 Union Street, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Dear Sirs:
I herewith submit the annual report of the activities of the Electrical Branch of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31st, 1960.
Service calls numbering 585 were made involving the various factories and structures that are connected to the Municipal Fire Alarm System. These calls are repairs to sprinkler systems, tests and inspections made along with the Insur- ance Companies' engineers.
The following major changes and additions were made to the system during the past year.
The new form 4 switchboard and its accessories was cut over and placed in operation on January 6th, thereby eliminating the old board. As fast as other work permits, we are planning to break up several of the overloaded circuits and connected units. Previously this could not be done because of the circuit capacity of the old switchboard.
?
Jan. 26. Box 511 and its supporting pedestal was knocked over by a truck owned by the Buxton Box Company. Replacement made and in service.
Feb. 12. Box 2521 at the Finberg School was burned out. The Electric Company linemen in running new wire on Webber Avenue, thru an accident, allowed their high-voltage wires to contact the Fire Alarm Wires. A new box was installed and paid for by the Company's insurance firm.
Work was started in installing underground ducts under Rte. 95 overpass on Mendon Road.
A new fire alarm box 6 and a police box were installed on the pedestal at the corner of Park and Bank Streets. This unit had previously been demo ;- lished and paid for by insurance.
April 4. 12 cross arms were hung on new poles on South Avenue in conjunction with the overpass of Rte. 95. Several houses were moved at this time and our wires had to be moved.
64.
Annual Report
. Report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm continued-
April 7. Work on new lines on South Avenue.
April 8. Same.
April 11. New cement bases were installed at the rear of the Union Street Fire Station for the air tanks.
Previously to this time, the creosoted wood poles on which our boxes are mounted had to be painted three to four coats of primer and paint. We are now able to obtain painted plastic material which wraps around the pole and is fastened with a stapling machine. A dozen or more of these may be installed on a pole while one pole is painted with the old method. Twelve of these have been installed and they save much time and labor.
A new fire alarm box 4142 was installed on a pedestal at the front of the new Union Street Station. This box will eventually be connected to the sprinkler system.
May 1. The new Union Street Fire Station and Fire Alarm office were officially placed in service with appropriate dedication services.
May 9. Work was started on speeding-up and re-timing all fire alarm boxes and equipment in our system.
May 16. A new box 7212 was placed in service and connected to the interior system at the Pleasant Manor Nursing Home on Pleasant Street.
May 21. Sprinkler system in a new addition and in the Boiler Room of the Crown Yarn and Bleach Company was connected to box 1171.
June 6. 900 feet of 10 conductor cable installed underground on South Avenue under Rte. 95 overpass.
June 15. Two 2 conductor cables run from 181 North Main Street to second pole beyond box 33.
June 16. New Civil Defense Antenna erected on Union Street Fire Station.
June 19. All Attleboro telephones cut over to dial system.
June 24. Job of placing our cables under ground on South Avenue completed.
June 29, Repairs and new remote stations on radio network completed in Stations "B" and "C". 1
July 1. Sprinkler connections completed to boxes 7114 and 7116.
65.
Annual Report
Report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm continued-
July 21. A dual rear wheel broke away from a truck loaded with steel carne off and in so doing, demolished box 33 and its supporting standard. Our claim against the insurance company was paid in full for damage done.
Aug. 2, Box 4 was struck by a truck but only minor repairs were necessary to place it in service.
The fire alarm tapper in the home of Ex-Deputy Chief Churchill was removed and the wires taken down.
Aug. 9. The air tanks for the diaphone horn were installed and connected to the compressor. These were the tanks and horn formally located at the South Main Street Station and were not included in the re-construction of the Union Street Station.
Aug. 11. Demolition of the old nurses' quarters at the Sturdy Hospital was started and our box 6314 was removed together with the interior equipment. It was then necessary to run wires to the laundry to pick up the circuit and temporarily feed box 6315 until such time as the new building was erected.
Aug. 23. All poles and overhead wires on the south side of the station were re- moved, this included the high voltage wires of the electric company. A new service was installed in the Fire Alarm garage in the rear of the station.
Aug. 31. A new underground lateral was installed for the purpose of connecting our cables to the Public Library . This work was accomplished by the Wilson Company of Natick, Mass.
Sept. 12. Much damage was done to our outside lines by the hurricane of Sept. 13, our entire system was back in working order within twenty-four hours with the exception of box 522 which was burned out by contact with high- voltage.
Sept. 23. Two new fire alarm boxes were installed and placed in service. Box 3116 at the Public Library . This box is connected to numerous fire detector heads within the building . Box 6231 at the Thomae Company on May- nard Street. This box is connected to the sprinkler system.
Sept. 10. The fire alarm line truck with its winch pulled out Engine 5 which was stuck on a fire call.
Oct. 17. All of the old lead cable pulled out of ducts on North Main Street from 181 to box 33. This cable was relieved by new cable previously installed.
66.
Annual Report
Report of the Fire Alarm Superintendent continued
Oct. 18. New box 2714 was installed at the Thompson Chemical Company off Bliss Avenue and connected to interior system.
Oct. 25. A rather odd accident happened this date when an alarm came in from box 452. A roofing crew had been engaged in putting on a new roof on the Blake Building and when lowering their tools to the ground, a large crow-bar accidently fell and penetrated the top of the fire alarm box thereby sounding the alarm.
Nov. 2 Two new boxes were installed at the Thompson Chemical Company and connected to the interior systems. These boxes are 2713 and 2715. At this time, trampbox 4321 was installed temporarily in place of box 2715.
Nov. 9 A new line was constructed on the West Service Road at the clover leaf on Route 95 at Turner Street. A fire alarm tapper was installed in the home of Russell Tennant, Superintendent of Public Works.
Nov. 30
Nov. 29 A moving picture pertaining to School House fires was shown to the Attleboro Lions' Club, the Attleboro School Committee, the Mayor and Municipal Council of Taunton, the custodians of Schools of Attleboro and the Kiwanis Club of Attleboro.
Dec. 20 Box 6314 and fire detectors were installed in the temporary nurses home in the Tappan Estate on Park Street. The box to remain in this location until such time as the new nurses' home will be completed.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We are pleased to state at this time that the new fire alarm Form 4 equipment has been installed and is now in full operation. Because of having been restricted by the capacity of the old switchgear and repeater, we have not been able to install new street boxes in the various new plats and other locations that have been under petition for a long time. Now that we have the necessary capacity of addition- al boxes, we recommend that funds be provided by His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council of a sufficient sum to install the boxes required.
In regard to new fire alarm boxes, we have previously recommended that when a new contemplated plat is brought in for acceptance, the owner or developer should agree to provide at least one fire alarm box in the plat. This same thing is required for them to provide grade, sewers, water and utilities in any new plat before it may be accepted by the city. This has been in order for a number of years in many Massachusetts communities. The nearest is the City of Brockton and is part of their City Ordinance. The first cost of installing fire alarm in a new plat is quite expensive and an ordi-
67.
Annual Report
Report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm continued-
nance requiring the job to be paid for by the owner or developer would save the City of Attleboro considerable money and the in- stallation of new boxes would automatically keep abreast of the growth of the city. We have a copy of the Ordinance of the City of Brockton on file in this office.
FIRE ALARM LINE TRUCK
Our present line truck is quite old and should be replaced in the near future. The aerial ladder mounted on this truck is in constant use and also should be re- placed. This ladder has contributed to one fatal accident and most certainly should be replaced. It is one of the first of its type made and is cumbersome and awkward to operate. The utilities have discontinued the use of this type of ladder years ago and their safety departments ban their use altogether.
The station wagon assigned to this branch has seen its best years of service and in the interest of safety and economy should be replaced.
A lot of our underground cable has been in use for over 40 years and a plan of allocating some funds for its replacement each year should be given consideration. If this cable is not replaced a little at a time, there will come a time when it will have to be replaced in entirety and the funds for this replacement would almost be prohibitive. We have requested funds for this purpose for years and get no consider- ation whatever. The cable is the heart of the system and something must be done. Disconcern in regard the condition of the fire alarm cables by town and city govern- ments has been the main reason for the Telephone Company taking over many of the city and town owned systems through out the country. When the cable conditions reach a point where they are unreliable and wont function, the cost of entire replacement is tremendous and the Telephone Company is then able to step in and offer their lease of cable program which sounds less expensive at the time but in the end is three times as costly and the fire department loses all control over their system.
In conclusion, we wish to extend our thanks to His Honor the Mayor, Municipal Council, Chief of Department, Board of Fire Engineers and all the members of City Departments who gave of their assistance toward the successful operation of this department for the year ending December 31st, 1960.
At this time, I wish to make a short resume of the partial history of the Attleboro Fire Alarm system. The old town of Attleboro was one of the first of several cities of the Nation to install a system of telegraphy for the purpose of transmitting an alarm of fire. It originally started in the year 1886 with the installation of two cir- cuits and a total of 10 street fire alarm boxes. This system was installed by the pre- sent Gamewell Company of Newton Upper Falls.
68.
Annual Report
Report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm continued-
In the early 1900s, Joseph H. Newcomb, who was a former employee of the Gamewell Company, moved to Attleboro from Newton Upper Falls and was employed for a short time as an electrician in maintenance at the Dr. Solomon edifice on Park Street (now the LaSallet Shrine) and worked there for a short period. He then joined the Attleboro Fire Department in the position of fireman and a driver of the horse-drawn apparatus. When Chief Hiram R. Packard found out that Joe was an electrician and a former manufacturer of fire alarm equipment Chief Packard placed him in charge of the system and Joe was the first Superinten- dent of the Attleboro Fire Alarm system and continued as such until his passing in 1937. Previously to this, Chief Packard had charge of the maintenance of the sys- tem. (This Chief Packard was the father of present Chief Packard who in his youth assisted his father in the care of the fire alarm system).
The first major change or addition made to the fire alarm system was the in- stallation of a ten-circuit repeater and a six-circuit protector and main switch- board in 1905. The repeater remained in constant service from 1905 until 1960 and experienced only one failure and this was caused by a direct hit from a bolt of lightning there not being the proper protection to disperse the heavy charge. By 1924, the six-circuit switchboard became overloaded -- circuits had been doubled up and ten circuits were operating off one six-circuit board. Joe New- comb had warned the town fathers for a number of years that the capacity of the board had been reached but could not impress them as to the importance. By 1925, Joe had convinced the City Council that something must be done at once. The necessary funds were appropriated and upon Joe's recommendation a twelve circuit switchboard and a 12- circuit protector board. were purchased and installed in the Union Street Fire Station with Joe's guarantee that the installation would take care of the city's needs for twenty-five years and this was proven.
Previous to 1925, Joe had numerous assistants drawn from the ranks of the fire department and among them was "Happy'Holloway and Charles I. Gay. When large jobs came up, linemen from both the Electric Company and the Telephone Company were employed. In 1924, Charlie Gay, upon his own request, was trans- ferred from the Electrical Branch back to the Fire Department. Because of nume- rous fatal accidents to linemen in the Attleboro area, Joe could not interest anyone to work with him as the assistant fire alarm electrician. Joe, in desperation, went to his old buddy, Charlie Smith, who at that time was superintendent of the line department of the old Attleboro Steam & Electric Company and told him of his troubles. Bill King (the writer) a lineman with the electric company, was requested and advised by Charlie Smith to go to work on a temporary basis with Joe to assist him with the maintenance of the Fire Alarm System. In the late part of 1924, King started work on the Fire Alarm on a temporary basis while being an employee of the Electric Company. On October 1, 1925, King was appointed Assistant Fire Alarm Electrician by the late Mayor, George A. Sweeney.
69.
Annual Report
Report of the Fire Alarm Superintendent continued-
Mr. Newcomb continued on as Superintendent until his retirement in 1937 and later in that year, King was appointed as Superintendent and at this time of writing is serving in that capacity.
Frank N. Hoyle was appointed Assistant Fire Alarm Electrician on November 13, 1937 and continued in that position until his resignation August 5, 1946. Hoyle served in the U. S. Navy from October 11, 1942 to November 14, 1942.
Harold F. Wellman joined the Fire Department on March 17, 1942 and on September 9, 1946 was promoted to Assistant Fire Alarm Electrician. At the present time he continues to serve in that capacity.
The following men, with the exception of one, were members of the Fire Department have served this branch as linemen at various times:
Arvid Olson
1946
Walter S. Lamay
April 11, 1951 to December 15, 1952
William S. King, Jr. Sept. 1946 September 25, 1957
James R. Liddell
1946
Charles T. Videto, Jr. Nov. 15, 1955 Nov. 1956
(Videto passed away in service from injuries received due to an accident while in- stalling Christmas Decorations on North Main Street).
Amos B. Couture Fire Dept. January 14, 1951 Same at this time.
Amos B. Couture Intermittent Basis, Electrical Branch, January 6, 1958.
Present Complement 1960
William S, King, Superintendent Harold F. Wellman, Assistant Fire Alarm
Superintendent
Amos B. Couture, Intermittent Signal Maintainer
As the former Superintendent, Joseph H. Newcomb predicted and guaranteed, about 1950 the system installed in 1925 started to become overloaded. Therefore, at that time, this department began a series of recommendations to the Mayor and Municipal Council that in order to keep up with the growth of the city action should be started to make provisions for the modernization of the existing system. Nothing was accomplished and we finally reached the stage whereby the codes and laws govern- ing the operation of Fire Alarm Systems prevented us from adding any new boxes to the system.
In a period of almost ten years there was no action but arguments, discussions and many broken promises and eventually the New England Fire Insurance Rating Association threatened to raise the fire insurance rates of the entire city.
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