USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1940-1944 > Part 31
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For 1943 we may expect an increase in Tent caterpillars which attack the foliage of fruit trees and varieties of wild cherry in early spring leaving unsightly nests in the branches. Gypsy moth egg clusters while well distributed are not as heavy this winter and the caterpillars should cause less damage than for the past few years. It is hoped that other insect pests will not be above normal.
While some kinds of insecticides and fungicides may be scarce, arsenate of lead is reported in good supply at some extra cost. Some towns and cities appropriated funds and purchased insec- 'ticides in the fall for their 1943 needs. Whether insecticides will be restricted, gasoline available to operate our spraying machines or a labor shortage restrict operations are problems and uncer- tainties of 1943.
Under present conditions I recommend that $4,800.00 be ap- propriated for control work in 1943.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. ABBOTT, Moth Superintendent
170
Spring Grove Cemetery
The Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery submit their annual report for the year 1942.
456 feet of new curbing were laid on the West side of the ceme- tery and 586 feet of old curbing removed and replaced.
All the shrubs in the nursery have been reset out in different sections of the cemetery and the plot seeded down.
20 lots have been sold during the year, several of which are in the new plate section.
Cement steps from the Legion lot to the plate section have been installed.
The Legion Lot has been topped dressed and reseeded. The cannon in front of said lot has been removed for scrap iron to help win the war. A raised tulip bed has been set out in its place.
An attractive garden with a fountain has been set out in the plot in front of the tomb, from materials that were on hand.
The land abutting the cemetery wall on Abbot Street has been trimmed up and the appearance greatly improved.
There were 46 interments during the year.
The income from perpetual care funds, interments etc. for the year amounted to $4,145.34 out of an expended appropriation of $8,541.89. In addition the sum of $2,810.25 was realized from the sale of new perpetual care lots.
Respectfully submitted.
FRANK R. PETTY, Chairman FREDERICK E. CHEEVER, Secretary FRED G. CHENEY CLIFFORD W. DUNNELLS CLIFFORD E. MARSHALL
171
Sealer of Weights and Measures
December 31, 1942
To the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Andover:
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit my annual report for the year 1942:
SCALES
Adjusted
Sealed Condem.
Platform over 10,000 lbs.
3
7
0
Platform under 5000 lbs.
27
47
0
Counter 100 lbs. or over
0
6
0
Counter under 100 lbs.
0
47
2
Beam over 100 lbs.
1
2
0
Spring 100 lbs. or over
0
3
0
Spring under 100 lbs.
18
49
1
Computing under 100 lbs.
1
26
0
Personal weighing (slot)
6
18
0
Prescription
0
4
0
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Avoirdupois
0
229
1
Apothecary
0
55
0
Metrics
0
16
0
Liquid Measures
0
41
0
Oil Jars
0
14
0
Meters over 1 inch
1
3
0
Gasoline Pumps
5
55N.S. 90
Oil Measuring Pumps
0
16
0
Grease Measuring Pumps
0
26
0
Quantity Measure on Pumps
0
31
0
Yard Sticks
0
9
0
I have collected from December 1, 1941 to November 30, 1942 $115.47 (one hundred and fifteen dollars and forty-seven cents).
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS N. MEARS, Sealer of Weights and Measures
172
Report of Wire Inspector
January 18, 1943
Board of Selectmen, Andover, Massachusetts
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit the following report on Wire Inspections covered by me for the year 1942.
Number of Inspections 102
Collected and turned over to the Treasurer,
Town of Andover $51.00
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM J. YOUNG, Wire Inspector
173
Town of Andover - Jury List JUNE, 1942
Abbott, Harold E.
Wool Dealer
Anderson, Burtt M.
Plumber
Anderson, John A.
Farmer
Anderson, John H.
Retired
Angus, Wallace H. Ashburn, James R. Auchterlonie, John C.
Chauffeur
Salesman
Blacksmith
Foreman
Auty, Herbert W. Bachman, Herbert L.
Janitor
Bailey, Ralph A.
Salesman
Bancroft, William A.
Meat Business
Rocky Hill Rd.
Barnard, Foster C.
Trustee
Barraclough, Thomas B.
Broker
Barrett, Patrick J.
Ins. Collector
Gas. Sta. Oper.
Batcheller, Kirk R.
Salesman
Bissett, James T.
Rec. worker
Black, David D.
Insurance
Bliss, Arthur
Retired
Boutwell, Everett S.
Farmer
Boutwell, Sherman W.
Designer
Brierly, James
Operator
Brown, Robert E.
Inspector
Buchan, Raymond L.
Retired
Burke, Michael A.
Burton, Everett D.
Buttrick, Frank A.
Trustee
Buzzell, William O.
Retired
Cannon, Gordon R.
Odd Work
Carlton, Tyler F.
Civil Engineer
Carter, George A. Cheney, Fred G.
Janitor Retired
Tourist Agency
Builder
Laborer
Manager
18 Wolcott Ave.
174
83 Bartlet St. 81 Chestnut St. Ballardvale Rd. 3 William St. 18 Walnut Ave. 135 Haverhill St. 65 Red Spring Rd. 6 Chestnut St. 18 Stratford Rd. Porter Rd.
3 Cabot Rd. 15 Argyle St. 102 Chestnut St. Haggetts Pd. Rd. 161 Lowell St. 98 North Main St. 72 Elm St. 1 Hidden Rd. High Plain Rd. 163 Shawsheen Rd. Tewksbury St. 48 Morton St. Lincoln St.
Undertaker Manager
383 No. Main St. 13 Maple Ave. 15 Wolcott Ave. 151 Chestnut St. 54 Salem St.
Chipman, Reeve Clark, Thomas T. ยท Colbath, Howard L. Collins, Andrew
18 Cheever Circle 6 Wolcott Ave. 83 Maple Ave. 5 Morton St. 4 Stirling St. River St.
Barron, William F.
Corliss, William B. Coutts, David L.
Cutler, Granville K.
Dalton, Charles F.
Druggist
Electrician
Daniels, Roy A. Davis, Charles W. Dearborn, Roy S.
Operative Real Estate
D'Entremont, Francis H.
Deyermond, Robert V.
Painter
Deyermond, Robert V. .
Janitor
Disbrow, George W.
Farmer
Disbrow, Walter A.
Farmer
Dole, Percy J.
Trucking
Carpenter
Retired
Chauffeur
Contractor
Flint, Edwin M.
Farmer
Forbes, David A.
Janitor
Froburg, Albion F.
Farmer
Gordon, Walter N.
Clerk
Graham, Arthur M.
Hannon, Laurence J.
Foreman
Hatch, William G.
Janitor
Harrington, Warren A.
Hill, Charles A.
Electrician
Clerk
Real Estate
Jackson, Arthur R.
Johnson, Leonard P.
Judge, Homer G.
Carpenter
Salesman
Clerk
Livingston, Harold
Loomer, Amos
Retired
Farmer
Clerk
Bookkeeper
Fireman
Clerk
High Plain Rd. 2 Florence St. 99 Shawsheen Rd. 70 Chestnut St. 78 Chestnut St. 57 Park St. 109 Elm St. 38 Florence St. Salem St. 91 Elm St. Chandler Rd. Chandler Rd. 19 Washington Ave. 36 Summer St. 72 Park St. 5 Fleming Ave. 37 Maple Ave. Pleasant St.
1 Sweeney Ct. 151 Elm St. 47 Union St. 38 Whittier St. 63 High St. 6 Summer St. 36 High St. 13 Chestnut St. 6 Morton St. 61 Elm St. 221 So. Main St. 22 York St. 93 Summer St. 18 Summer St. 75 Elm St. 107 Abbot St. Andover St. Gray Rd. 34 Florence St. 57 Railroad St. Clark Rd. Andover St.
175
Holt, Percy R.
Hulme, Samuel P.
Carpenter
Engineer
Kinsman, Leslie S.
Kyle, William F.
Florist
Lynch, James A.
Mahoney, Timothy J.
McDonald, William L.
McGhie, Gavin H.
Mears, Lewis N.
Laborer Printer
Dyer
Salesman
Driscoll, John J.
Emerson, Charles F.
Fleming, Edward H.
Fleming, John J.
Clerk
Clerk
Milne, David Morrissey, William B.
Laborer
Electrician
Morse, H. Allison
Salesman
Morse, Walter I.
Laborer
Carpenter
Compositor
Nolan, James A.
Salesman
Noyes, John L.
Farmer
Oldroyd, Joseph
Crossing Tender
Petrie, George B.
Laborer
Petty, Frank R.
Clerk
Pike, John N.
Bricklayer
Pike, Walter E.
Guard
Poland, Burdette J.
Photographer
Pomeroy, Llewellyn D.
Electrician
Foster's Pond
Remington, J. Augustus
Agent
Remmes, Joseph T.
Electrician
Rennie, George
Farmer
Ripley, Philip F.
Retired
Ripley, Walter C.
Painter
Robb, James G.
Operative
Rockwell, Henry D., Jr.
Carder
Roundy, Glenn H.
Printer
Ryley, James
Clerk
Saunders, Leonard
Retired
Scholtz, Samuel H.
Superintendent
Shaw, Irving R.
Woolsorter
Andover St.
Sherry, Frank R.
Pattern Maker
Andover St.
Smith, Fred H.
Foreman
Stirling, William
Janitor
Sullivan, Augustine P.
Accountant
Thornton, E. Burke
Retired
Titcomb, William S.
Mill Executive Truck Driver
15 Chandler Rd. River St.
Trow, Henry J.
Weeks, Eugene M.
Salesman
West, Archibald L.
Electrician
Whiteway, Hayward G.
Carpenter
20 Cuba St. 66 Poor St. 27 Summer St. 30 No. Main St. River St. 9 Carmel Rd. 7 Cuba St. Lovejoy Rd.
Center St., B. V. 6 Chickering Ct. Center St., B. V. 53 Essex St. Lowell St. 126 Main St.
354 No. Main St. Woodland Rd.
Argilla Rd. 7 Abbot St. Hall Ave., B. V. 94 No. Main St. 47 Cuba St.
73 Maple Ave. 50 Salem St. 61 High St. Ballardvale Rd.
95 Maple Ave. 8 Cuba St. 34 Essex St. Carmel Rd.
19 Wolcott Ave. 21 Pine St. 3 Ferndale Ave.
176
Nason, Harry C. Nelligan, Francis A.
Trustees of Memorial Hall Library
NATHAN C. HAMBLIN WINSOR GALE
HENRY G. TYER
BURTON S. FLAGG PHILIP F. RIPLEY MARY BYERS SMITH
CLAUDE M. FUESS
Chairman PHILIP F. RIPLEY
Secretary and Treasurer WINSOR GALE
Librarian
MIRIAM PUTNAM
MARGARET D. MANNING, Catalog Librarian DOROTHY H. RUHL, Circulation Librarian NANCY E. BABCOCK, General Assistant EVELYN R. ROBINSON, Children's Librarian SARAH A. BALLARD, Assistant Children's Librarian SOPHYE F. SIMON, Branch Librarian, Ballardvale
Janitor ARCHIBALD D. MACLAREN
177
Trustees of Memorial Hall Library
At the close of the 1942 fiscal year, the Trustees had the follow- ing monies on hand :
4 shrs. American Telephone & Telegraph Co. $ 571.50
$5,000 Bangor & Aroostook Railroad 4% 1951 5,000.00
2,000 Boston & Albany Railroad 5% 1963 2,000.00
1,000 Boston & Maine Railroad 4% 1960
1,000.00
1,000 Boston & Maine Railroad Income Bonds 1,000.00
1,000 Central New York Power Corp. 334% 1962
1,000.00
7,500 Chicago Railways Co. 5% C.F.D.
7,500.00
1,000 City of Detroit 412% 1951
1,000.00
3,000 Eastern Gas & Fuel Associates 4% 1956
3,000.00
3,000 New England Power Association 5% 1948
3,000.00
1,000 New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. 5% 1952
1,000.00
1,000 New York Steam Corp. 312% 1963
1,000.00
3,000 Northern States Power Co. 312% 1967
3,000.00
5,000 Pennsylvania Co. 4% 1963
5,000.00
6,000 Pennsylvania Railroad Co. 414% 1984 6,000.00
5,000 Puget Sound Power & Light Co. 412% 1950
5,000.00
1,000 Philadelphia Electric Co. 312% 1967
1,000.00
3,000 U.S. Treasury 3% 1946
3,000.00
Massachusetts Savings Banks
7,896.27
Federal Savings & Loan Associations
26,000.00
Income Invested 25.82
Income on Hand 150.89
$84,144.48
WINSOR GALE, Treasurer
The above securities and cash have been inspected by the Investment Committee and found correct.
BURTON S. FLAGG NATHAN C. HAMBLIN
178
Report of the Memorial Hall Librarian
The year 1942 will long be remembered as a time of unprece- dented change from the impact of which no individual or institu- tion escaped. Unusual demands, occasioned by the war, have found public library patterns of service flexible enough to meet them. If the focus point has shifted a bit, it does not mean in any sense that the library has abandoned its primary obligation which is to make available through books the cultural heritage of mankind.
This year has seen an increased interest in books of current history, in personal narratives of the war, and in books about hitherto unknown places now the far flung theatres of war. Ex- tremely popular, also, have been algebras, geometries and books on aeronautics, meteorology and navigation as young men have studied to prepare themselves for the armed services. Continued use has been made of our technical book collection and in no other year has the library bought so heavily of books on technical subjects.
Restrictions on travel, rationing regulations, new emphasis on nutrition, consumer needs and the education of the citizen in a world at war, too, have had their effect upon reading habits. During the summer, to cite one example, our most frequent re- quests were for books on building outdoor fireplaces, planning picnics and other outdoor activities.
The Library is maintaining a subject index to the many timely publications emanating from the federal government and other agencies designed to acquaint the average citizen with develop- ments along the production front, the rationing program, op- portunities in the armed forces, and the other aspects of the civilian and national defense program. Library bulletin boards throughout the year have been used to display newspaper clip- pings, posters and other materials bearing on national and local civilian defense activities and exhibits of books on allied subjects have been featured frequently.
In cooperation with community defense groups, book lists have been distributed and book exhibits arranged at a number of civilian defense courses. A nutrition book shelf has been set aside for the use of members of the Parent Teachers Nutrition course.
179
A list of books of probable interest to inductees has been posted at the Selective Service Office; another on nutrition at Red Cross Headquarters.
Andover has contributed some 5500 books to the Victory Book Campaign, the largest concerted drive ever undertaken to procure books for men in the armed forces. Books have been sent to the Military Police Post here in Andover, to Fort Devens and U.S.O. centers. It was not found feasible as first planned to send wom- en's and children's books to bombed and industrial areas so many of these books have been given to local hospitals and in- firmaries.
Important as these war time activities are it is well to remem- ber as a London librarian has so ably done that "it is useless and indeed impossible to win the war if we lose faith in the essential value, such as in the power and beauty of the written word, the achievements of the human mind and imagination, the glories of the past, and the idea of progress." We know with Milton that "books are not absolutely dead things" and we know, too, that libraries have an enormous opportunity to show people how living they really are. It is idle to send young men to fight for a way of life, if we in libraries, in schools and on the home front are not prepared to spend every energy protecting the things of the mind and spirit for which they fight. Books are our weapons and while they may be able to play little part in altering the shape of things as they are, they must have an enormous influence on the shape of things to come in making real to all the nature and power of democracy, in helping in the formulation of ideals and policies looking toward a post war world based on justice and reason.
Book selection thus is of tremendous importance since not only is it necessary that book collections be adequately maintained but that as the nerve center of the library's service, they do not remain static but are renewed constantly through the addition of books which reflect competently the times in which we are living. It is no easy task at best for the library to choose from the thousands of books pouring off the presses each year those which will best suit the varying needs of the book borrowing public, best meet emergency needs, be best calculated to serve a useful purpose beyond this present crisis.
The ultimate test of a library's ability to select the right books
180
is whether or not these books find their reading public for if they do not, it matters not how meticulous the care exercised in their selection. The place where the library's book selection policy can best be tested is in the circulation department or wherever the professional staff comes into contact with the reading needs of men and women, boys and girls. Remembered instances come to mind which show how much the right book at the right time can mean to individuals. For example there is the young man who said, "When I was in high school, I read nothing but westerns but now I'm reading better things. I sat up until four o'clock to finish Forester's Captain From Connecticut." Remembered also is the woman, able to read but little, who was thrilled at the beautiful photographic picture book The River who said, "I am not going to work tonight, I am going to look at my book"; the soldier temporarily billeted in Andover who borrowed the Education of Ilyman Kaplan as relaxation for his leisure moments; the woman, recently from Europe, who, seeking new roots, wanted books which would interpret American ways and customs to her; the young man who gave library books full credit for his success in passing the examinations into the Naval Flying Cadets.
Reference questions have been many and varied ranging all the way from a request to indentify train whistles to a request for material on how to twirl a baton. Although generally the library book collection is equal to most demands upon it, there are times when it is necessary to call upon other resources; namely, in the instance of the train whistles to get help from the Boston and Maine Railroad.
The library has proved the value of small and carefully selected collections of books in bringing to the fore books which, if left to the comparative obscurity of the stacks, might have escaped notice. In an attempt to focus attention upon books which il- luminate the problems of our present-day world, a small section of the book stacks in the main reading room has been given over to a collection of books, pamphlets, magazines which we have called Windows on Our World. Here in close proximity are di- verse thinkers of every time and age.
One of the most vital ways in which the library serves its community in war time or any time is through its work with boys and girls. Through books in a Young People's Library new worlds of beauty and imagination are opened to boys and girls
181
which might otherwise, for many at least, remain unknown. Through books the library, too, can present to boys and girls the semblance of a normal world even though the reality be otherwise.
Circulation figures reveal that boys and girls in spite of com- peting activities managed to read more books in 1942 than in 1941. 40,393 books, 37% of the total number of books circulated- a very high proportion indeed-were issued to boys and girls. Of this number 14,601 were borrowed from the classroom libra- ries in the elementary schools.
The Young People's Library has shown signs of healthy activi- ty this past year as anyone who may have visited it on a busy afternoon and seen it filled with obviously interested boys and girls can attest. There is no doubt that boys and girls want books. The emphasis this year has been placed in developing interest in reading, not just the obvious, but the unusual books as well. Increased use of the Young People's Library by parents has been quite apparent and indicates that they are well aware of the place of books in the lives of boys and girls. A sixth grade library council, a new feature this year, has met frequently at the library to plan book talks in which council members participated and has served on the whole as a very good link between the library and other six graders through out the schools. Book talks by the members of the staff in addition to usual activities have done a good deal to keep interest in books and the library high.
An extremely interesting experiment, stemming out of the belief that boys and girls are individuals and should be so treated, was carried on this year. Especially mature readers among the ninth graders were permitted to use the adult library. Reading records were kept and while they have not been completely analyzed, they showed as we were sure that they would, that maturity of reading interests and chronological age do not always coincide.
Book talks, panel discussions and other activities served to make the Henry C. Sanborn Library a lively place. 5188 books were circulated during the year, an average of thirteen per stu- dent, an excellent record considering the fact that the library gives only part-time service. The Memorial Hall Library co- operated in the school's annual book week program by providing two films: From Cover to Cover and A Day in a School Library.
182
Again this year ninth grade boys and girls visited the library at the end of the school year to sign for adult cards and to become acquainted with the upstairs library. A special browsing corner has been set aside where attractive editions and books of special interest to this group are housed.
Our work with boys and girls of high school age is of great im- portance for we must see to it that the enthusiasms for books and reading gained in our Young People's Library are carried over into adult life. Particularly in these days must we bring to our young people, whose expectation of formal education has been prematurely ended, as rich a cultural background as possible. We look forward to a time when we can extend our readers' advisory service at the Punchard High School and when we can do more in the way of book talks and book discussions, all of which play an important part in stimulating interest in books.
The course on the Reading Interests of Boys and Girls, spon- sored by the Library and part of the adult education program of the Andover Evening Study Groups was, in spite of a small enrollment, a great success. The course was planned by Miss Robinson who gave all the lectures but the last two : one of which was given by Miss Alice M. Jordan, formerly Supervisor of Work with Boys and Girls in the Boston Public Library, who traced the historical development of children's books; the other, by Mrs. Grace Allen Hogarth, Editor of Children's Books for Houghton Mifflin, who spoke on children's book publishing.
Our adult vocational counseling service on Monday evenings from seven until nine o'clock under the direction of trained counsellors, was carried on from January until June. Because of emergency demands upon their time, the counsellors are unable to carry on this service. It is possible that a program of an informal character comprising discussion groups and occasional film presentations may be worked out.
The acquisition of a second hand mimeograph has made it possible for the library to issue more frequent book lists and to give them wider distribution. In addition to our monthly book bulletin, The New Book Sampler, the following book lists have been prepared and mimeographed during the year; Food for the Family, Gardens for Victory, Adventuring with Books, These Endure, Sixty Outstanding Books of 1942, Books for a Child's Home Library, Civilian Defense, The Cooperative Way, Books
183
for the Christmas Tree. These do not include the individual read- ing lists compiled to meet specific needs.
Economy in cataloging procedures has been effected by adopt- ing Library of Congress and H. W. Wilson printed catalog cards which in addition bring to the library the bibliographic skill of experts.
The Massachusetts Library Association Classification Standard for Massachusetts Public Libraries was adopted in principle by the Library Board of Trustees. Increases granted this year have brought the general salary level more nearly in line with accepted library standards. At the same time the staff working week has been increased to forty hours, the average working schedule in most libraries.
During this year two Simmons girls, Miss Evelyn Buck and Miss Mary Zecchini, did their two weeks' field work in our library. We were delighted to give them their first taste of real library work and to be able to make a small contribution to the library profession.
In addition to the defense groups the following organizations held meetings in the library building : League of Women Voters, Adult Education classes, Andover Village Improvement Society, Committee of Minute Women, Andover Historical Society, Chinese-Russian Relief Committee, Andover Cooperative Society Merrimack Valley Social Work Conference.
The Librarian has spoken before the following groups: Law- rence Young Women's Christian Association, Ballardvale Con- gregational Church Christian Endeavor Society, Merrimack Valley Vocational Guidance Association on "What the Public Library can Contribute to a Community Vocational Guidance Service," Junior Women's Guild at Christ Church, Margaret Slattery class. Miss Robinson has spoken to the following groups: North Andover Parent Teachers Association, Literature Depart- ment of the November Club, Margaret Slattery Class, Business Girls' Group at the Lawrence Young Women's Christian Associa- tion, New England School Library Association, Methodist Church in Bradford. She has also led an extremely interesting panel discussion "Do Librarians Choose Books Boys and Girls Like" at the fall meeting of the North Shore Library Club.
Members of the staff have been active in community defense activities. Four members have their first aid certificates; one is an
184
air raid warden, another, a member of the Red Cross Motor Corps.
Staff meetings have been planned to allow the maximum of staff participation and to include discussion of library problems. Miss Jordan spoke to the staff at one meeting on early children's books and at another, Miss Underhill reminisced delightfully about early days in the library profession.
The Librarian attended the American Library Association conference at Milwaukee in June; Miss Robinson the Columbia School of Library Service for a third summer.
After thirty-four years of devoted service, Mrs. Elizabeth Donaldson retired in July. We shall not soon forget her part in making the library an attractive place.
Due to pressure of professional work, Mr. George F. Sawyer did not seek reelection to the Board of Trustees. However, we shall continue to count upon his interest in the library and its welfare. Mr. Winsor Gale was elected Trustee in his place and succeeds him as secretary and treasurer of the Board.
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