USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1945-1949 > Part 17
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from buttons to bureaus actively foraged among the books in their fields; the American scene, set forth in the many excellent regional series, found many adherents; water color and oil-paint- ing handbooks were almost in the best seller class. Civil service manuals, books on steam boilers, diesel engines, and automobile repairing were constantly asked for and prepared their readers, the library hopes, to pass their examinations successfully.
As reading interests and needs differ so do the reference ques- tions which come to the library in any year. Kaleidoscopic in variety and appeal they run the gamut from the quickly answered to those requiring a maximum of effort and search, and in kind, from information requested on the proper form for wedding in- vitations to material of assistance in setting up a training program for supervisors in industry.
The veteran as an identifiable entity was fast becoming merged in the general body of library users although the library welcomed every opportunity to be of specific service to this group. Referrals from Mr. Markey's office continued and made it pos- sible for the library to know needs and so to offer more intelligent aid. A collection of books was loaned to the veterans' summer school at Punchard and the AMVETS met at the library until a permanent meeting place could be found.
Group activities at the library included a talk on Russia by Edward Carter of the Institute of Pacific Relations, a lecture on rose growing, and a talk on World Federation, pertinent because of the referendum question on the November ballot. As in past years, several organizations met at the library. The annual Open House, on a November Sunday afternoon, attracted an unusually large number of library friends, who gathered to hear a stimulat- ing talk on home building and ownership, by Mrs. Johnson O'Connor, a Boston architect, to look over new book displays and to mingle in friendly fashion afterwards over the coffee cups. A University Extension course on interior decoration was held in the Ballardvale Branch Library.
The Tercentenary observance brought the library another opportunity to share in a community undertaking. Provision of historical material to groups and individuals, historical exhibits, special opening hours during the three-day event were ways in which it could serve. Not the least pleasant recollection is the visit to the library of the genial mayor of Andover, England.
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The high-light in work with high school age young people was the special. Pocket Books Teen Age Book Show, held in April and jointly sponsored by the library and the junior and senior high schools. Library lessons were given to all the 10th grade English classes and are a part of the library's program for making the library meaningful as well as attractive to these young people. One girl's response is indicative of the end result sought: "I am just getting to know this place. It's fun coming down with the classes; now I can get my home work done twice as fast."
A well-organized program of activities, calculated to stimulate interest in books and reading, was carried on in our Young People's Library. The following might be mentioned as of special interest : a fall tea for mothers and their first grade children which brought out more than seventy; a program of monthly film and story hour programs, begun in October, with a combined average total attendance for the two groups of between 175 and 200; a marionette show as a Christmas treat provided by a Boxford neighbor; books and story-telling services at five summer play- grounds; and two visits from Mr. John J. Cronan, the "man with 100 voices," which delighted several hundred Andover boys and girls.
The weekly library newspaper book columns brought people to the library for the books described, and the policy of listing there not only the new, but the older, still important books, together with special lists and book displays, directed people's attention to many which they might otherwise have overlooked. Also instrumental in bringing people to the library were the several interesting exhibits, handicraft, hobby, art.
Perhaps a brief glance at things to come will not be amiss. Three courses, Conversational Spanish, Planning and Developing the Home Grounds, Tray Painting, the people's choice as results from questionnaires indicate, will probably be given early in 1947. A library of musical recordings seems an assured thing, the initial impetus being a gift from the Andover Evening Study Groups. The library hopes, too, to survey the need for including in its collection more special tools of value to business and industry.
The library has received several memorial gifts during the year and wishes to indicate what a very satisfactory method this is of providing, at a small cost, a living memorial which can be enjoyed by many people.
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Staff changes have been many this year : Mrs. Edmund Cross- ley resigned to take up home responsibilities as did Sarah Ballard Minerella, associated with the library for about nine years and for the past three, during which time the use of the Young People's Library increased noticeably, its well-liked Children's Librarian. Miss Marian Dimlich came to the staff as Clerical Assistant and Miss Mary F. Zecchini was appointed Catalog Librarian, coming to us from the Reference Department of the Portland Public Library. Staff organization also underwent con- siderable change: Miss Margaret D. Manning, whose knowledge of books and whose reading guidance have long been much appre- ciated was made Assistant Librarian, and Miss Margaret Lane, well-qualified to do so, took over as Children's and Young People's Librarian.
Dr. Claude M. Fuess, for many years a valued member of the Library Board, declined to serve again and Mr. Alan R. Blackmer of the Academy Faculty was elected in his stead.
Improvements to the building continued with the repainting of the first and second floor stacks and offices and the installation of a second floor workroom, much needed to provide adequate staff working space.
What of the long range future? Much thought has been given in 1946 to the objectives and program for library advance from this point on. In essence it can be briefly stated, whatever form any particular segment may take, that basic in the library's pro- gram is its concern to help men and women become intelligent and participating citizens, to aid them in their attempt to realize their highest potentialities, and to contribute, in its own way, to the building of the good society.
Again a special word of thanks and appreciation to Staff and Board and Library friends who helped to make the library a use- ful functioning community agency.
Respectfully submitted,
MIRIAM PUTNAM, Librarian
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1946 STATISTICS OF LIBRARY USE
BOOK STOCK
Volumes at beginning of year
Adult 33,126
Juvenile 7.616
Total 40,742
Volumes added by purchase
1,517
721
2,238
Volumes added by gift
154
59
213
Volumes lost or withdrawn
487
240
727
Total volumes at end of year
34,310
8,156
42,466
Lost volumes found
2
3
5
34,312
8,159
42,471
Periodicals currently received
87
USE
Volumes
% of total circ.
Volumes of adult fiction loaned
46,492
43.9
Volumes of adult non-fiction loaned
24,791
23.4
Number of children's books loaned
34,733
32.7
Total number of books loaned
106.016
REGISTRATION
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Borrowers registered during year
610
247
857
Total number of registered borrowers
4,664
1,207
5,871
Circulation per capita (based on 1945 census figures)
8.9
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Board of Public Works
Andover, Mass. January 20, 1947
The Board of Public Works voted to adopt the following report of the Superintendent as its report for 1946 with recom- mendations for 1947.
SIDNEY P. WHITE, Chairman SANBORN A. CALDWELL, Secretary EDWARD A. DOYLE FRED W. DOYLE JOHN H. KELLY
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Superintendent's Report
To the Board of Public Works:
GENTLEMEN :
The major activities and developments in the Water, Highway, Sewer and Park Departments during the year which ended December 31, 1946, were as follows:
WATER DEPARTMENT
The following report was received from Weston & Sampson, Consulting Engineers, on January 6, 1947 :
Board of Public Works
Andover, Massachusetts
GENTLEMEN :
We submit the following report on the improvements to the water and sewerage system for the year 1946:
Water Mains
In 1945 a 16" cast iron cement lined main was installed on Lowell Street from the Haggetts Pond Pumping Station to Cutler Road. During 1946 a 16" cast iron cement lined main was in- stalled along Cutler Road, Reservation Street and Central Street to Elm Square, a distance of 12,067 ft., a 16" main on Phillips Street from Central Street to Main Street, a distance of 3,203 ft., and a 12" main on Elm Street from Elm Square to Walnut Avenue, a distance of 2,698 ft. The main purpose of these im- provements was to provide sufficient pipe capacity to deliver an adequate supply of water to the Town and to supplement the present 6" main on Elm Street.
Proposals for furnishing the cast iron pipe and fittings were received on April 15, 1946 as follows:
Warren Pipe Company $74,814.52
R. D. Wood Company 75,217.48
U.S. Pipe & Foundry Co. 76,929.79
The contract was awarded to the R. D. Wood Company because of a more favorable date of delivery.
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The following proposals were received on May 27, 1946 for installing the mains:
C. Jiustino, Dorchester, Mass. $45,038.00
John Williams, Dorchester, Mass. 53,477.50
Cibotti & Andreassi, Roslindale, Mass. 54,712.50
Dominick Zani, Reading, Mass. 55,060.00
DiMascio & Susi, Dorchester, Mass. 61,160.00
R. Zoppo, Roslindale, Mass. 63,697.50
Wes Construction Co., W. Roxbury, Mass. 63,752.50
Williams Bros., Dorchester, Mass. 72,171.00
C. Reppucci & Sons, Inc., Boston, Mass. 74,971.00
Pacella Bros., Dorchester, Mass. 80,698.50
San-Vel Cons. Co., Littleton, Mass. 95,152.00
Louis C. Cyr, Lawrence, Mass. 102,713.50
The contract was awarded on May 27 to C. Jiustino, the lowest bidder.
The contract for furnishing fire hydrants and gate valves was awarded to the Rensselaer Valve Company at the following prices :
Fire hydrants @
$ 76.70 each
16" gate valves @ 189.70 each
12" gate valves @ 99.40 each
8" gate valves @ 45.30 each
6" gate valves @
29.30 each
The valve boxes were ordered from Sumner & Dunbar at a unit price of $8.40 each.
Construction work on installing mains began June 13, and the pipe laying was completed on November 20. Except for resurfac- ing trenches, which will be done early in the spring, the contract was practically completed on December 1, 1946. The work com- prises 2.9 miles of 16" and 0.5 mile of 12" mains, thirteen fire hydrants, ten connections with existing mains, a blow-off on Central Street at the Shawsheen River, nine 16", three 12", one 10", four 8" and seventeen 6" gate valves. The quantity of ledge and large boulders paid for as Rock Excavation amounted to 522 cubic yards.
Due to the scarcity of lead for pipe joints, it was decided to use "Leadite, " a lead substitute compound, and the results were very
139
satisfactory. After the pipe was jointed and before backfilling, the mains were tested in sections under normal working pressures. About four weeks later they were again tested under an average pressure of about 150 lbs. per square inch. Except for two defec- tive pipes which were repaired, the leakage tests were within the limits allowed under the specifications. The mains were placed in service after being sterilized with chlorine.
The total value of the work done under. the contract with C. Jiustino as of December 1, 1946 amounted to $40,426.80. In addition, $5,083.40 has been retained for resurfacing trenches, and Extra Work items may amount to about $300.00, making a total of less than $46,000.00.
The purposes for which these improvements have been under- taken have been fully realized, and the major portion of the original program for the water distribution system has been accomplished.
Previous to laying the 16" main on Lowell Street in 1945, the pumps at Haggetts Pond delivered 1,150 gallons per minute with a discharge pressure of 125 lbs. on the gauge in the pumping station. Any increase in capacity was impractical because of an excessive pressure in the distribution system, especially at Shaw- sheen Village, and the rate of pumping was definitely limited by the carrying capacity of the old 12" main.
Recent tests of the pumps with the new 16" main in service show the following results.
The electric pump will now deliver 1,400 gallons per minute with a discharge gauge reading of 100 lbs., as compared to a form- er delivery of 1,150 gallons per minute at 125 lbs. pressure. During the summer months when the consumption is at a maxi- mum, the pressures in the system will be lowered and the present electric pump will probably deliver 1,600 gallons per minute, or 2,300,000 gallons per day.
The steam pump will now deliver 1,700 gallons per minute with a discharge gauge reading of 110 lbs. as compared with a former delivery of 1,150 gallons per minute at 125 lbs. pressure. During high consumption periods the present steam pump will probably deliver 1,800 gallons per minute or 2,590,000 gallons per day.
The 16" main not only has greatly increased the capacity of the present pumps, but has considerably reduced the cost of
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power for pumping. However, the performance of both pumps is somewhat restricted by the suction lift. The present old 14" suction pipe into Haggetts Pond is the limiting factor, and you are considering the installation of a new suction main. This additional suction will allow the present pumps to operate more advantageously, and will be ready in future years for pumps of greater capacity. At the same time, it will be an added safeguard to an uninterrupted water supply.
Sewers
The only sewer construction was the completion of the Shaw- sheen Heights and Elm Street sewers begun in the fall of 1945. The final estimate for the Shawsheen Heights contract amounted to $15,361.95 and for the Elm Street sewer, $10,538.92.
Respectfully submitted,
WESTON & SAMPSON
GAS:RW
The steam turbine at the Haggetts Pond Pumping Station was reconditioned, including the renewal of the first-stage buckets by the General Electric Company. The following report was re- ceived :
Town of Andover
Board of Public Works
Andover, Mass.
GENTLEMEN :
Our Mr. H. R. Lawson supervised the assembly of the new first row, first stage buckets. The rest of the buckets, wheels, etc. appear to be in good condition. The tooth contact of the reduction gear is very good as is the condition of the teeth.
The bearings, packings, etc. were found to be in good condition.
A new pilot valve and bushing were assembled in the governing mechanism.
The lubricating system was thoroughly cleaned out and new oil put in.
Upon starting the unit it was found that the emergency gov- ernor would not operate at 6000 rpm so a spare emergency gov- ernor was assembled. The new one was tested and found to trip at 5700 rpm.
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The unit was placed in service March 5 operating with a maxi- mum vibration of .001".
We believe you have on hand, therefore, an emergency gov- ernor assembly which we would recommend be returned to the factory for repairs. It may require only disassembly and cleaning or may require actual replacement of parts.
If you wish to have this done, we will be pleased to send an identification tag and complete shipping instructions.
Yours very truly, G. W. HOWARD, District Turbine Engineer By W. A. TAYLOR
W. A. TAYLOR/ EC
The Worthington pump which is operated by the General Electric Turbine was reconditioned by the Worthington Pump Company.
Cross connections have been tested by a State Board of Health engineer and one of the Town employees. There are four cross connections at the Shawsheen Mills, one at Phillips Academy and two at the Tyer Rubber Company.
A lime applicator manufactured by the Wallace & Tiernan Company has been installed at the Haggetts Pond Pumping Station. Since the installation of this machine very few com- plaints of rusty water have been made.
A hydrant has been installed in front of the Fire Station. This gives adequate protection in case of fire in the rear of the Barnard Block.
WATER MAIN INSTALLATIONS CEMENT LINED CAST IRON PIPE
Location
Size
Length
Cost
Article
Blanchard Street
8''
1000 Ft.
3199.81
43
Ballardvale Road
225 Ft.
1799.01
44
Vine Street
8"
236 Ft.
1420.53
46
Spring Grove Road
182 Ft.
888.20
47
Virginia Road
6'
134 Ft.
598.52
50
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A tap for a six-inch water main has been installed on Elni Street to supply the water system to the new development of the Central Construction Company. The water main on their prop- erty was installed by the Company.
A new Dodge runabout truck was purchased from the J. W. Robinson Company and put into use July 10th. This was pur- chased under Article 20 of the 1946 Warrant. The old Ford pickup truck was sold to Mr. Irving J. Moss of Andover Street for the O.P.A. price of $313.11.
On July 20th due to the excessive amount of water being used by the farmers, it was necessary to obtain water from the City of Lawrence at two places: namely, from a hydrant on Broadway and from another on Mt. Vernon Street. The number of gallons of water taken from same was 1,817,880 gallons before the reservoirs were back to normal.
Mr. Howard Pillsbury resigned as chief engineer at the Hag- getts Pond Pumping Station as did his two assistants Roland Coe and William Macleod.
Mr. Philip E. Rollins was hired by the Board of Public Works to replace Mr. Pillsbury and Mr. Alfred J. Frisch was hired as his assistant.
During 1946, 443,692,000 gallons of water were pumped at the Haggetts Pond Pumping Station, a daily average of 1,215,600 gallons. The steam turbine was in operation 4967 hours and 0 minutes and the electric pump 792 hours and 45 minutes, making a daily average of 15 hours and 47 minutes.
To provide for adequate expenditure in the Water Department during 1947, we recommend an appropriation of $47,500.00.
Services in use January 1, 1947 2797 Meters in use January 1, 1947 2767
WATER RECEIPTS
Water Rates $60,169.98
Water Construction 551.72
Paid to Town Treasurer $60,721.70
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COMPARATIVE STATISTICS AS OF JANUARY 1, 1947
Cost per Million Gals.
Year
Net Cost of Mainten- ance
Cost of Pumping
· by total Mainten- ance
by cost of Pumping
Gallons Pumped
Miles of Main Pipe
1937
28,358.32
*15,113.06
71.04
*37.86
399.170.000
76.58
1938
28,371.42
*14,429.22
75.45
₹38.37
376,011,000
77.14
1939
27,830.64
14,640.99
63.87
*33.60
435,725.000
78.78
1940
27,799.18
*15,256.13
67.04
*36.79
414.653,000
79.89
1941
27,796.08
*17,494.91
56.81
*35.76
489,287,000
80.63
1942
30,859.93
18,211.08
74.13
43.75
416.314,000
80.77
1943
33,418.32
*19,387.57
85.53
*49.62
390,688,000
80.77
1944
38,043.35
*20,658.91
89.48
*48.59
425,152.000
80.77
1945
43.148.15
*21,916.43
106.30
*53.99
405,883,000
84.90
1946
47,857.73
*22,638.40
107.86
*51.02
443,692,000
88.64
*Cost at both stations.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The following table shows the snowfall for the year 1946:
January
20.00 Inches
February
15.50 Inches
March
1.00 Inches
April
2.00 Inches
December
11.75 Inches
Total
50.25 Inches
A check-up has been made of street signs and a number of new ones have been made and installed.
A drain pipe discovered broken between a catch basin and manhole on Lowell Street near the corner of Iceland Road was repaired using a piece of twelve-inch corrugated iron pipe.
An old stone drain across Haggetts Pond Road that had out- lived its usefulness has been replaced with a twelve-inch cor- rugated iron pipe.
Filter Bed Road in the vicinity of Haverhill Street was grav- elled, shaped up and rolled. Iceland Road was given a similar treatment.
A drain from River Street, Ballardvale to the Shawsheen River in the way of Mr. Clifford Marshall's property was blocked at the
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lower end. This was cleaned out and an additional length of pipe was laid at the lower end.
The roadways in the way of the drainage system that was installed on Topping Road and Juliette Street were dug up, gravelled, rolled and given an application of Tarvia B-4.
The scraping of roads started the 22nd of April and was com- pleted the 15th of May.
The following roads were treated with "Tarvia Retread": Beacon Street, North Street, Laurel Lane, Fiske Street, Cheever Circle, Pine Street, Stratford Road, Bartlet Street, Punchard Avenue, Bailey Road, Andover Street, Carmel Road, Walnut Avenue, Prospect Road, Argyle Street, Arundel Street, Enmore Street, York Street, Carisbrooke Street, Riverina Road, Fleming Avenue, Carlisle Street, Sutherland Street, Sterling Street, Dumbarton Street, Cedar Road, Liberty Street, Rocky Hill Road, Stinson Road, Haggetts Pond Road, Buxton Court, Lewis Street, and sections of Chandler Road from North Street to Beacon Street and from Greenwood Road to a point beyond the dump; High Plain Road from Greenwood Road to the driveway of Mrs. Stella Babicki; River Road from the North School to Laurel Lane; Highland Road from North Andover Line to Sum- mer Street; Morton Street from Chestnut Street to top of hill; Summer Street, upper end; Vine Street from Holt Road to By- Pass; Pleasant Street from Haggetts Pond Road to Boutwell Road; High Street from Haverhill Street to the North Andover Line and from Walnut Avenue to a point beyond Carmel Road; Gould Road near the North Reading Line; Coolidge Road, near Cedar Road; and the side of Shawsheen Road between Lincoln Circle and Lowell Street.
A stone wall with a cement cap was built in front of the prop- erty of Mr. John D. Little on Shawsheen Road. This work was done by Mr. Frank G. McCarthy, local contractor, for a price of $457.50. The removal of a tree and the grading of the lawn was done by Town employees.
A section of Bannister Road, from Clark Road to the property of Mr. Maynard Abbott has been given an application of tar and also the Town Yard has been given a similar treatment.
Rattlesnake Hill Road from Woburn Street to the culvert near the overflow of Foster's Pond has been shaped up, gravelled and given an application of tar. Gleason Street and Brundrett Avenue
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between River Road and Chandler Road received a similar treatment.
The culvert pipes under Salem Street and Prospect Road have been connected with a thirty-six inch reinforced concrete pipe and the space between has been filled with gravel, making a much better approach from Salem Street to Prospect Road.
A number of the stringers on the Stevens Street bridge were reinforced by spiking 3" X 12" pieces to the existing stringers and the plank sidewalk of the Ballardvale bridge was also repaired.
The top planking was renewed on the Andover Street and Central Street bridges over the Shawsheen River.
The No. 77 Austin-Western Grader purchased in 1935 was sold to Mr. George Brox of Hudson, Mass. at a price of $2,500.00.
The following miscellaneous pieces of equipment were pur- chased :
3" Homelite Centrifugal Pump at a cost of $340.00
Leadite Furnace and Pot at a cost of 113.83
Electric Welder at a cost of 215.00
A 5'-0" wire fence has been erected on the easterly side of Riverina Road. This work was done by the Victor Fence Com- pany, lowest bidder, and was done under Article 52 of the 1946 Warrant.
A number of the tar patches that were made in the state high- way on Main Street because of water leaks have been dug and concreted. There are still a number to be done.
A cement sidewalk has been constructed and granite curbing installed in front of the property of Mr. Philip A. Costello. The grass plot and also a section of the lawn were loamed and graded.
Ballardvale Road where the six-inch main was continued was gravelled, graded and given an application of tar, and Blanchard Street where the eight-inch water main was installed received a similar treatment.
A wire guard fence fifty feet long has been installed on School Street in the way of the Rogers Brook culvert.
The triangular plot at the corner of Stevens Street and Shaw- sheen Road has been made much smaller, making the width of roads in this vicinity much wider thereby assuring safer driving.
A number of fences were repaired and painted.
"Tarvia D" sidewalks have been constructed: on the easterly side of Carmel Road; easterly side of Moraine Street; a short
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stretch on the northerly side of Red Spring Road near the corner of Moraine Street; Chester Street from Mr. Alvin J. Zink's property to the property of Mr. John J. Smith; Clark Road from the Fire Station to the driveway of Mrs. Smith; River Street from the end of the existing sidewalk on the westerly side of the driveway of Mr. Lester F. Abbott; Bartlet Street easterly side between Park Street and Chestnut Street; Tewksbury Street, northerly side from Center Street to Oak Street; Canterbury Street westerly side from the cement sidewalk to the last house; Shawsheen Road between Lincoln Street and Lincoln Circle; Hidden Road near Main Street; Binney Street southerly side at lower end; both sides of Walker Avenue; Central Street, westerly side between Brook and School Streets; North Main Street, in front of M. A. Burke's property, lower end of Shepley Street.
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