USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1940-1944 > Part 39
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A town is known by its trees. They may be a valuable asset or a great liability, depending upon their care or neglect.
Public Shade Trees Defined. All trees within a public way or on the boundaries thereof shall be public shade trees: If the boundaries of the highway cannot be made certain and for that reason it is doubtful whether the tree is within the highway it shall be taken to be within the highway and to be public property until proven otherwise. Towns may appro- priate money to be expended by the tree warden in planting shade trees in public ways, or, if he deems it expedient, upon adjoining land, at a distance not exceeding twenty feet from said public ways for the purpose of improving, protecting, shading or ornamenting the same; provided the written con- sent of the owner is first obtained.
Forty-two young trees were planted in 1943 in various parts of the town, the largest number, eighteen trees, being planted on Walker avenue a newly accepted street.
The efficiency of this department is greatly affected by lack of the equipment requested at former town meetings. A roadside power mower, a small air compressor with tools and a power winch operated from one of our trucks would pay for themselves in a short time and be of great value to the town. The town is the loser each year it delays their purchase.
Recently a large trailer truck left parked on the roadside rolled backwards down grade, pushing into a public tree and by its force, snapped off the roots at the base and destroyed the tree. This beautiful Norway maple was sixteen inches in
141
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diameter growing in line with trees of the same kind. The company in which the owner of the trailer truck is insured only offers to replace this large tree with a little tree which would cost the insurance company less than one tenth of the value of the tree destroyed. The insurance company's attitude is, "take this offer or not, we have plenty of lawyers, and the company would only have to pay the price of the large tree even if it lost the case". The town should make a test case of this incident to provide settlement in future cases of this kind.
To retain experienced tree workers under present condi- tions of high industrial wages I recommend an appropriation of $5,600.00 for the Tree Department in 1944.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. ABBOTT, Tree Warden
142
Report of Moth Superintendent
January 1, 1944
To the Board of Selectmen, Town of Andover:
GENTLEMEN :
Creosoting of Gypsy Moth egg clusters was carried on dur- ing the winter, 270 Brown Tail Moth nests were cut off and burned. Tent caterpillars were numerous in the spring and many nests were cut off as frequent rains interrupted spraying. Fortunately Gypsy Moth caterpillars were not a major control problem as the Office of Defense Transportation reduced the gasoline allotment for our trucks just at the height of the spraying season. It was necessary to curtail spraying and carry over the work into July. Other insects increasing in numbers were the Maple Worm, Willow Beetle, Elm Beetle, Larch Case Bearer Aphids and Fall Web Worm.
Our large and medium-sized spraying machines are in very good running order, but the small sprayer needs frequent adjustment and repair for good operation. Purchase of new hose before the rubber shortage has saved many worries over blowouts. Spray hose is in good condition with the exception of a few lengths of older hose which sometimes blows out under high working pressures.
Arsenate of lead and several other insecticides are re- ported in good supply at about the same price as in 1943.
With wages high in industry it was found necessary to grant an increase in wages to hold the few experienced men in this department. I believe it will be necessary to increase wages in 1944 to hold experienced men for good operation of this department.
Under present conditions I recommend that $5,300.00 be appropriated for the Moth Department in 1944.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. ABBOTT, Moth Superintendent
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Spring Grove Cemetery
The Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery submit their annual report for the year ending 1943:
1401 feet of new curbing was built on the West side of the cemetery.
27 four grave lots were laid out on the West side near Abbot Street.
It was necessary to build several new drains to take care of the surface water.
The banks along the Old Railroad were trimmed out and beautified.
13 lots were sold during the year, several of which were in the new plate section.
There were 68 interments during the year.
The income from perpetual care funds, interments etc. for the year amounted to $4,583.24 out of an expended appro- priation of $8,514.00.
$526.00 was returned to the Town as an unexpended balance.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK R. PETTY, Chairman
FRED E. CHEEVER, Secretary FRED G. CHENEY
CLIFFORD W. DUNNELLS
CLIFFORD E. MARSHALL
144
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
December 31, 1943
To the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Andover: GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit my annual report for the year 1943:
SCALES
Adjusted
Sealed
Condem.
Platform over 10,000 lbs.
1
7 46
0
Platform under 5,000 lbs.
21
0
Counter 100 lbs. or over
1
3
0
Counter under 100 lbs.
8
46
1
Beam over 100 lbs.
1
1
0
Spring 100 lbs. or over
0
3
0
Spring under 100 lbs.
13
32
1
Computing under 100 lbs.
3
26
0
Personal Weighing (Slot)
12
17
0
Prescription
0
6
0
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Avoirdupois
0
239
0
Apothecary
0
63
0
Metrics
0
25
0
Liquid Measures
0
36
1
Meters over 1 inch
1
4
0
Gasoline Pumps
3
42 14 N.s. 0
Oil measuring pumps
0
11
0
Grease measuring pumps
0
18
0
Quantity measure on pump
0
28
0
Yard sticks
0
9
0
I have collected from December 1, 1942 to November 30, 1943 $101.69 (one hundred and one dollars and sixty-nine cents ).
Respectfully submitted, LEWIS N. MEARS Sealer of Weights and Measures
145
Report of Wire Inspector
To the Board of Selectmen, Andover, Massachusetts
GENTLEMEN:
I hereby submit the following report on Wire Inspections covered by me for the year 1943:
Number of Inspections 42
Collected and turned over to the Treasurer,
Town of Andover
$21.00
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM J. YOUNG, Inspector of Wires
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Town of Andover - Jury List
JUNE, 1943
Abbott, Hartwell B.
Farmer
Anderson, Burtt M.
Plumber
Farmer
Farmer
Chauffeur
Salesman
Auchterlonie, John C.
Blacksmith
Auty, Herbert W.
Foreman
Bachman, Herbert L.
Janitor
Barraclough, Thomas B.
Broker 15 Argyle St. 12 High St.
Barrett, John S.
Clerk 63 Burnham Rd.
Batcheller, Kirk R.
Salesman 161 Lowell St.
Berry, Ralph T.
Cloth Examiner 83 Pine St.
Bissett, James T.
Rec. worker 98 North Main St. 72 Elm St.
Bliss, Arthur
Retired
1 Hidden Rd.
Bloomquist, Bror G.
Electrician
49 Union St.
Brown, George B.
Shipper
29 Main St.
Boutwell, Sherman W.
Designer 163 Shawsheen Rd.
Brown, Robert E.
Inspector
48 Morton St. Boston Rd.
Burke, Michael A.
Undertaker
383 No. Main St.
Buttrick, Frank A.
Trustee 15 Wolcott Ave. 151 Chestnut St.
Buzzell, William O.
Retired
Cairnie, Robert Y.
Operative 18 Baker Lane
Carlton, Tyler F.
Civil Engineer 18 Cheever Cirle
Carter, George A. Janitor 6 Wolcott Ave. Lowell St.
Farmer
Tourist Agency 5 Morton St.
Chemist 100 Burnham Rd.
Builder 4 Stirling St.
Collins, Andrew
Manager 18 Wolcott Ave.
Comber, Joseph
Signal Operator Center St.
Corliss, William B.
Laborer
High Plain Rd.
147
Dascomb Rd. 81 Chestnut St.
Anderson, Ernest Anderson, John A. Angus, Wallace H. Ashburn, James R.
Ballardvale Rd. Ballardvale Rd. 18 Walnut Ave. 135 Haverhill St. 65 Red Spring Rd. 6 Chestnut St. 18 Stratford Rd.
Barnard, W. Shirley
Real Estate
Black, David D.
Insurance
B'uote, Larry B.
Engineer
Chambers, Arthur S. Chipman, Reeve Christeson, Leslie Clark, Thomas T.
Coutts, David L. Cutler, Granville, K.
Printer Dyer
Druggist
Daniels, Roy A.
Electrician
Operative
Real Estate Salesman Trucking Contractor
Dufton, George C. H.
Ellis, Franklin T.
Dresser
Retired
Fallon, Joseph E. Jr.
Feeney, Byron J.
Fleming, John J.
Contractor
Flint, Edwin M.
Farmer
Flint, John H.
Painter
Foster, Russell
Electrician
Gill, Joseph M.
Carpenter
Gilman, Albert E. Carpenter
Graham, Arthur M.
Clerk
Gray, Claremont I.
Clerk
Hadley, Ralph E.
Retired
Hannon, Laurence J. Hardy, Frederick C.
Harnedy, William A.
Harrington, Warren A.
Hatch, William G.
Hickey, Vincent P.
Accountant
Hill, Charles A.
Electrician
Clerk
Painter
Clerk
Horey, James H.
Carpenter
Hulme, Samuel P.
Real Estate
Hutcheson, Douglas W.
Printer
Jackson, Arthur R.
Carpenter
221 So. Main St.
Johnson, Howard B.
Judge, Homer G.
Kurth, William W.
Merchant
2 Florence St. 99 Shawsheen Rd. 70 Chestnut St. 78 Chestnut St. 57 Park St. 109 Elm St. 38 Florence St. 19 Washington Ave. 7 Argyle St. 109 Elm St.
37 Maple Ave. Pleasant St. 35 Washington Ave. 15 Fletcher St. 16 Cuba St. Lowell St.
38 Whittier St. 32 Washington Ave. 30 Wolcott Ave. 63 High St. Haggetts Pond Rd. 89 Burnham Rd. 36 High St. 6 Summer St. 232 No. Main St. 13 Chestnut St. Lowell St.
Farmer
Clerk
Ballistician Janitor
Hill, John K. Holt, Carl J.
Holt, Percy R.
2 Whittier Ct. 6 Morton St. So. Main St. 61 Elm St. 45 Whittier St.
Engineer 26 Carmel Rd. 93 Summer St.
Carpenter
300 No. Main St.
148
Dalton, Charles F.
Davis, Charles W. Dearborn, Roy S. D'Entremont, Francis H. Dole, Percy J.
Emerson, Charles F.
Accountant Salesman
72 Park St. 45 High St. Holt Road
Foreman
Lindsay, Carl N. Livingston, Clinton R. Livingston, George F. Luce, Rowland L. Lynch, James A. Lynch, Michael J.
Salesman
Operative
Farmer
Furniture
Farmer
Rubber Worker
Contractor
Clerk
Mooar, Philip C.
Mechanic
Salesman 27 Summer St.
Morse, Walter I.
Laborer 30 No. Main St.
Myatt, Peter S.
Laborer Highland Ave.
Nelligan, Francis A.
Compositor
9 Carmel Rd.
Newman, Winthrop R.
Gardener 121 Elm St.
Newton, Charles M.
Poultryman Boutwell Rd. Chipper 2 Stratford Rd. 7 Cuba St.
Nolan, James A.
Salesman
Oldroyd, Joseph
Crossing Tender Center St., B.V.
Petrie, Alexander B.
Gardener 51 Bartlet St.
Petty, Frank R.
Pike, John N.
Clerk Center St., B.V. Bricklayer 53 Essex St. Farmer Argilla Rd.
Rennie, Adam E.
Rennie, George
Farmer
Argilla Rd. 7 Abbot St.
Ripley, Walter C.
Painter
Hall Ave., B.V.
Robb, David B.
Janitor 32 Park St.
Robb, James G.
Operative
94 No. Main St. 47 Cuba St.
Ronan, William A.
Chauffeur
60 Morton St.
Roundy, Glenn H.
Printer
73 Maple Ave. Andover
Shea, Maurice P.
Operative
30 Burnham Rd. 5 York St.
Smith, J. Lewis
Salesman
Stack, Robert A.
Chauffeur
20 Summer St. 8 Cuba St.
Stirling, William
Janitor
Taylor, Thomas D.
Machinist
79 Lowell St. Carmel Rd.
Thornton, E. Burke
Retired
Tucker, Charles H.
Titcomb, William S.
Operative 111 Abbot St. Mill Executive 15 Chandler Rd.
149
59 Salem St. Andover St. Brown St. 10 Summer St. Gray Rd. 40 Essex St.
McCarthy, Frank G. Mears, Lewis N.
12 Wolcott Ave. Andover St. 108 Lowell St.
Morse, H. Allison
Nicoll, Frank L.
Ripley, Philip F.
Retired
Rockwell, Henry D. Jr.
Carder
Schofield, James F.
Weaver
Trustees of Memorial Hall Library
NATHAN C. HAMBLIN WINSOR GALE HENRY G. TYER
BURTON S. FLAGG JOHN D. LITTLE MARY BYERS SMITH
CLAUDE M. FUESS
Chairman MARY BYERS SMITH
Secretary and Treasurer WINSOR GALE
Librarian MIRIAM PUTNAM
MARGARET D. MANNING, Catalog Librarian EVELYN R. ROBINSON, School Librarian
SARAH A. BALLARD, Children's Librarian ISABELL F. NOONE, General Assistant
STELLA K. KISHON, Clerical Assistant
SOPHYE F. SIMON, Branch Librarian, Ballardvale
Janitor ARCHIBALD D. MACLAREN
151
Report of the Memorial Hall Librarian
THE LIBRARY IN THE COMMUNITY
As the library reviews its year, the program of film forums, an adventure in community adult education, stands out as perhaps its most significant new activity. It will be evident as the report proceeds that it was a year of change both as re- gards personnel and internal organization. As the war pro- gresses, individuals, groups and public services alike come to have a new awareness of their interrelatedness. There is building a sounder kind of community life. Looking back over a twelve months' period, the library emerges a very definite piece in the pattern of community living as through its fundamental services and in other lesser ways it has striven to contribute to individual well-being and has implemented the programs of groups and organizations throughout the community.
Mr. Philip F. Ripley, for twenty years a member of the Library Board of Trustees and for eight years its Chairman, retired upon the expiration of his term. Mr. John D. Little was elected to fill the vacancy thus created. Although Mr. Ripley is no longer formally connected with the Library, his con- tinued interest after his long years of constructive service can surely be counted upon. Miss Mary Byers Smith, grand- daughter of the moving spirit in the library's founding some seventy years ago, was elected to the Chairmanship and brings to it a lifetime interest in books and a sure appreciation of their importance in human living.
Quite in keeping with the tempo of the times, change struck the library staff swiftly and often, when in May, Miss Dorothy Ruhl, a member of the staff since 1934, resigned to be married and when, in November, Miss Nancy E. Babcock, associated with the library since 1938, left to accept a posi- tion in the Manchester, New Hampshire Public Library. Both had made themselves a very real part of the library and it was with regret that their resignations were accepted. Every good wish for success in their new ventures goes with them.
152
The Ballardvale Branch Library was also not immune to change, for in February, Miss Martha D. Byington, who had served the branch faithfully since its opening, retired and was succeeded by Mrs. Walter H. Simon. In July, Miss Isabell F. Noone, 1943 graduate of the Simmons College School of Library Science, joined the staff as general assistant. One position still remains unfilled due to the lack of available trained personnel. This circumstance, by no means a problem of the library profession alone, will probably mean making internal readjustments to permit a duration appointment rather than a permanent one.
There have been in addition other changes within the library organization itself. Since 1938 the library has ex- tended part-time library service to the Andover Junior High School, gradually increasing it from one and one-half hours daily to four hours daily in 1943. At its May board meeting, the Trustees voted to extend, subject to the approval of the School Department, full-time library service to the Henry C. Sanborn Library at the Andover Junior High School. Under present circumstances, this arrangement seemed to offer the best allocation of library resources to boys and girls of junior high school age. This full-time service with Miss Evelyn R. Robinson, who had initiated it, as School Librarian has been in progress since May 1943. Miss Sarah A. Ballard, Assistant in the Young People's Library since 1937 was appointed to the position of Children's Librarian, formerly held by Miss Robinson. Miss Noone has taken over the readers' advisory service at the Goldsmith Library at the Punchard High School succeeding Miss Ruhl and is at the library each day during the second and third periods.
It is frequently a temptation to think in this world of swiftly changing values of the public library and of books as un- reality in contrast to the stern reality of the fighting front or the all-out effort on the domestic, simply because they are not action as we are prone to conceive it. However, a little thought causes us to reflect that the written word has always been a potent source of action from Magna Carta to the Atlantic Charter. As for the public library itself, the storehouse of all that men have thought, labored and suffered for throughout
153
the centuries, it is reality; it is action. For in presenting the truth through books and in building up a valid type of public opinion, it is enabling men and women to engage actively and intelligently in building the kind of world they want to live in. It can, too, direct attention to problems of immediate concern and can suggest books which will make for a better under- standing of the problems involved. Take for example racism and its manifestations in the recent ugly anti-Semitic outbreak in the city of Boston or the race riots in Detroit. The library can present books of scientific and historical accuracy such as Ruth Benedict's RACE: SCIENCE AND POLITICS, Mar- garet Mead's AND KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY, Carey McWilliams's BROTHERS UNDER THE SKIN, powerful weapons in building up a sane attitude upon race relations.
If books are as important as that-and they are-then they must be made available to all who need and want them and some way must be found to bring them to the attention of those who do not yet know that they need them. This calls for work outside the library walls with individuals and groups. Its value can not be overestimated. It means also that book collections must be carefully maintained and the right book available when it is most needed. Who knows what the right book may mean if translated into dollars and cents to the war effort or into expanded capacity for human living if translated into human values.
As the war grows daily closer to our community and im- pinges itself in some degree upon the lives of individuals living in it, books come to play an increasingly important role. for there is no doubt that men and women, however remotely the war may touch them, need occasional respite from the headlines, the radio with its round the clock newscasts, from themselves. For some of our readers this has meant the pick- ing up again of old interests, of well-loved hobbies, all of which is evident in the number of books along this line that have circulated during the past year. For some it has meant turning to books which explain the past and-as Emerson reminds us every age writes its own books-to books which point the way to the building of a better future for mankind. For yet others it has meant the need for books "not about the
154
war", for books which shut out the present nightmare as ef- fectively as can be done. The library has been conscious of these needs and has through book lists, book exhibits and in- dividual book selection endeavored to be of assistance. Miss Manning has compiled several very interesting and helpful book lists. One of special timeliness, MENTAL HEALTH IN WARTIME, was mailed out to physicians, nurses, social workers and ministers and has proved to be of considerable interest. Discovering human needs and finding the books to fit them places upon the library staff the responsibility of know- ing books well and of being able to relate one book with another.
It is invigorating to learn when the library has really been of assistance, when its book collection has really filled a need. One borrower shared with us the fact that his total knowledge about steam boilers was acquired from the library books which he had borrowed, a knowledge which led a fellow- workman to look upon him as an authority. Consider the workman's surprise when he learned the source of this fund of information especially since this same man had to revise his previously held conception of books and libraries as un- necessary luxuries in a world at war!
Some reading trends have already been suggested and it is always interesting to comment upon them, to see as events follow events swiftly, new currents of reading interests, to look at circulation figures and to deduce certain conclusions. It is somewhat to play the role of interpreter and even prophet. There has been no falling off in interest in books about the far-flung theatres of war and in books of first hand war ex- periences, in books which depict the life and culture of the peoples among whom our men are stationed. As our industrial workers become fully trained, it is not surprising that there has been a slackening off in the use of technical books. Our young people, this is true of both boys and girls, read avidly about all phases of the armed services. There has been a noticeable if not great resurgence of interest in books of psychology and religion and the increased use of magazine and pamphlet has continued. The constant use of maps and atlases is proof that we are becoming geography minded.
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One of the thrilling things about a public library is its great democracy. Consider for a moment that to it come men and women in all walks of life, with all degrees of education and culture, with all types of needs to be met. In recollection there passes in review before the charging desk a myriad of people. Among them, to note but a few; the young officer, hardly more than a boy, just married and on leave, who wanted Thomas Wolfe's OF TIME AND THE RIVER so that his wife might read it and share his enthusiasm for it; a lieutenant from a nearby military post who hoped that he might be able (he was) to borrow from what he called "our fine stock of books"; the mother, who wanted a book on aerial photography so that she could better understand the work her son was doing; the West Andover farmer who discussed the importance of soils and fertilizers with us, loaned us a book on the subject which he thought valuable, a copy of which was subsequently pur- chased for the library upon the strength of his recommend- ation; the factory worker, engaged in research on rubber, who was put into touch with the authority on rubber and rubber substitutes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; an industrial worker, who aided in the use of the card catalog, was moved to say, "Wouldn't I have been disappointed if you hadn't come along".
The library's reference collection has been taxed to find answers to all the questions that an information-eager public has put to it. Figures are not available to substantiate the statement, nevertheless made, that people are asking more questions than ever before.
An exciting venture in a phase of community adult educa- tion hitherto untried by the library, was the undertaking with the cooperation of the Joint Committee on Film Forums, of a series of film forums on the general theme of WINNING THE WAR AND THE PEACE, held at the library on eight Monday evenings from February to April. Some one hundred and fifty different people attended the forums which had a total attendance of about four hundred. Comments from dis- cussion leaders and forum attendants attested interest in this kind of program and the hope was expressed that something similar would be attempted another year. A full account of
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these forums appeared in the June issue of the Massachusetts Library Association Bulletin and a partial reprint-evidence of the general interest in the use of visual aids in education- in the November number of Educational Screen. In early December a group of those who had shown particular interest in the forums, met with the librarian to lay preliminary plans for the coming year.
Ballardvale, not to be outdone, made knows its desire for a similar type of program and with a group of Ballardvale citizens serving as a program planning committee, a series of six discussion meetings on such subjects as: THE PROB- LEMS WE FACE, RUSSIA, MINORITY GROUPS, ECO- NOMIC SECURITY, CHINA, and the POST WAR WORLD, were held under the sponsorship of the library on Tuesday evenings in October and November at the Ballardvale Branch Library. As was true of the Memorial Hall Library discussion meetings earlier in the year, book lists were distributed, book exhibits arranged for each meeting and every opportunity ex- tended to any who were interested to borrow the books on dis- play. On the whole attendance was good and had it not been for the weekly bad weather, there is no doubt that it would have been even better.
It would be exciting, if sometime, a way might be found to take a few of our discussion meetings to the outlying districts of town, provided our discussion leaders could be persuaded to do a two night stand.
During the summer, book talks were held in the outlying districts in an effort to bring the library into a little closer relationship to the people who are more than ever now, be- cause of gas rationing, isolated from its books and services. The library looks forward to the time when, through a book- mobile service, it can give effective library service to all the far-flung sections of the town.
In an effort to meet the needs of people who find it difficult to visit the library as frequently as formerly, the library has made a minor change in rules: all books and magazines are now charged out for fourteen days.
As has been suggested in the earlier portion of the report, the new organizational set-up of work with boys and girls will
157
result, it is hoped, in a better over-all service to boys and girls throughout the community. Already it has been possible to place greater emphasis upon our work with elementary school boys and girls with a resulting increase in their use of the Young People's Library. At the Andover Junior High School, where our audience is so to speak ready made, the librarian is in a strategic position to meet every boy and girl, to make books attractive even to the book shy, of whom there are never very many, and through instruction in the use of reference and library tools, to develop more intelligent and independent library users. It should mean that the library is laying a sure foundation for the future since books and libraries should normally become a natural part of each child's equipment.
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