USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1950-1954 > Part 35
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At this meeting, the plan of Sutherland Street Extension, hearing for which was held on January 26, was approved and signed.
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Also, the plan of land east of Pine Street on petition by Frank Cairns was approved and signed since Mr. Cairns through a Surety Bond guaranteed that the road surface will meet the grade requirements and will be properly gra- veled.
A profile plan of a way in Shawsheen Hylands off Lowell Street revised May 15, 1953 was approved and signed. The original hearing was held July 7, 1952.
A recorded plan of a private way off School Street, for- merly the Jerome Cross land, was approved.
October 9-The Board met to consider approval of the se- cond section or extension of "Pine Acres" off Pine Street on petition of Frank Cairns. This plan was approved and covers lots 9 through 14 and circle area.
November 6-The petitioner Fred E. Cheever requested approval of a plan of land located on Shawsheen Road and abuting Beech Circle for the purpose of subdivision and opening for public use a private way as shown thereon. This plan was approved.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER C. TOMLINSON, Chairman LEON A. FIELD, Secretary FREDERICK E. CHEEVER KIRK R. BATCHELLER RICHARD C. SIMMERS
EDWARD R. LAWSON, Clerk
133
Report of Recreation Committee
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
The total registration on the five town playgrounds was 975. The total attendance figure for the summer was 30,459. Games, sports, arts, and crafts, special weekly activities, tournaments and inter-playground competitions were blen- ded to give the children a busy and enjoyable season. The Canobie Lake Excursion, the Annual Field Day and Annual Ballardvale carnival were featured events in which all play- grounds participated. The Twi-light Baseball League had a very successful season, the calibre of baseball played being the best in recent years. This phase of summer recreation is rapidly increasing in interest and personnel. Our Commi- ttee also assisted materially the Junior League and the Bal- lardvale Inter-Church League.
POMPS POND
From the standpoint of Life Saving and Water Safety instruction, the past season was the best in the last decade. For the first time, specialized classes in Water Safety were inaugurated and the morning hours at the beach were res- tricted to only those taking courses. The good results we hoped for were accomplished as 420 registered for these classes. There were 286 Beginners; 25 swimmers; 75 Inter- mediates; 18 Junior Life Saving; 16 Senior Life Saving. Out of this group, 147 pupils passed the examinations in their respective fields and were awarded certificates. The beach opened at 10 A. M. and special bus service brought the children to class and returned them at noon. After 12 o'clock noon, the beach was opened to everybody for general water recreation. We plan to carry out the same program this year.
WINTER ACTIVITIES
Skating areas were maintained at Ballardvale and Cen- tral. A new hot-top area is anticipated at Central this year
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which will bring better skating conditions in the future. The Sacred Heart School has offered the use of that rink to all Andover children. Our committee urges all to use this area rather than the hazardous Hussey's Pond. The National So- ciety of Out Door Winter Activities is very emphatic against using natural bodies of water for skating and frowns upon municipal supervision of such spots. Periodic dances at the Youth Center were also part of the winter program.
EASTER AND HALLOWEEN
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt was held in the Park on Easter Saturday with an attendance larger than in the past years. Halloween Parties were conducted at Central, Bal- lardvale, West Center and North District. Many veteran and civic organizations made donations to both these annual events and their generosity defrayed almost half the expen- ditures.
This year the Recreation Committee is sponsoring again a special article in the Town Warrant for $600.00 to be spent in conjunction with the special appropriation of $2,300.00 approved at the 1950 Town Meeting to improve and resur- face a portion of Central Playground for year round recrea- tional activities.
We extend our sincere thanks to all organizations - ve- teran, civil and social - whose generosity and cooperation helped so much in making the past years so successful.
STAFFORD A. LINDSAY, Chairman ALAN F. DUNLOP FRANCIS P. MARKEY, Secretary GEORGE STANLEY, JR. ALCO E. TAYLOR
135
Report of The Special Committee On Water and Sewerage
During 1953 no money was appropriated for major exten- sions to our water supply system, but the Board of Public Works made good use of the annual money set up for their use to complete many minor extensions and improvements, as well as a large number of house connections. This will still further increase the demand on Haggetts Pond which every year comes closer to the safe yield, and thus brings us nearer to the time when it will be necessary to take steps to increase that yield.
At the last Town Meeting, $80,000 was voted to begin the installation of sewers in Ballardvale with the necessary treatment plant. Detailed engineering study, and the unex- pectedly high prices when bids were called for, showed that although the basic plan was sound it would be more econom- ical to prepare broader plans. The Town is therefore being asked to appropriate another $80,000, which will permit the construction of a suitable plant and the extension of sewer- age facilities to a much wider area than originally planned.
Your committee believes that while the Town is consider- ing more new schools and an office building, it should also keep in mind the necessity for increasing the storage at Haggetts Pond, further extensions to our distributing sys- tem, increased reservoir capacity, and particularly the rein- forcement of our inadequate high pressure system, all of which have been previously recommended by your commit- tee.
JOSEPH A. MCCARTHY, Chairman WILLIAM R. EDWARDS SIDNEY P. WHITE
136
Andover Town Infirmary
January 28, 1954
GENTLEMEN :
To the Selectmen of Andover:
I hereby submit my report of the Town Infirmary for the year 1953. During the past year we have had ten residents, two of whom were temporary. One was a veteran discharged from Togus, Me., who needed a few day's lodging. He found work at Phillips Academy after two days. The other was a Andover resident who needed care for two weeks while his daughter was in the hospital. We lost one of our oldest mem- bers in May after a short illness. On January first, we had seven, all in general good health. Two are over 80, four are between 70 and 80, and one is between 60 and 70. Our present cook has been with us a year.
In the late spring some much needed papering and pain- ting was done to five rooms and the extensive hall in the matron's quarters. During the summer the outside of the infirmary was given two coats of paint by a local contractor and the appearance of the building is much improved. A new linoleum was laid, after the old had been removed and floor sanded, in one of the front rooms. More need the same.
During the seven years I have been here, the house has settled considerable, making for warped doors, cracked ceilings, and loose windows, which in the winter let in more cold air than should be. A great deal of heat is lost. One new storm window was purchased, but that now is a total of 19 which have extra protection and there are more than 60 windows in the Infirmary.
With so much salt and sand being used on the road in the winter, the lawns have become almost non-existant, the rains wash-the sand over to the lawns and leaving it there. The Y made in the back lawn four years ago has proved most unsuccessful and really something should be done to prevent the washing away of what little grass there is left. We seeded one large patch with some new loam but the first heavy rain took all the hard work away.
137
During the Christmas season, the residents were very kindly remembered by the Abbot Academy Christian Asso- ciation, the Andover Garden Club, the November Club, the Courteous Circle of the King's Daughters, the Sacred Heart Sodality, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Carolers from Christ Church, West Parish and St. Augustine's neighbors and a nurse at the Lawrence General Hospital. Hundreds of cards were received and each individual birthday is remembered. The Salavation Army brought Sunshine baskets at Easter and Christmas, and up until a few months ago they also brought movies once a month which are thoroughly enjoyed.
They are also entertained three or four night's a week by watching television through the courtesy of the matron's family.
Very truly yours,
Jean E. Weeks, Matron
-
138
Fire Department
February 2, 1954
Board of Selectmen Town Hall Andover, Mass.
GENTLEMEN :
I have the honor to submit my thirteenth annual report as Chief of the Andover Fire Department.
During the year 1953 the department answered the fol- lowing alarms : 93 Bell; 206 Stills; 2 False; Total 301.
Assessed value of buildings where fire occurred was $647,525.00.
Loss in buildings where fires occured was $16,212.00.
Ambulance calls for the year totaled 681.
Fire prevention inspections in public and mercantile buildings 160. Oil heating systems and Liquefied Petroleum Gas systems inspected 395. Total inspections 555.
The new Jeep Utility truck, authorized by the Town Meet- ing in March, was put in service April 16, 1953.
Respectfully submitted,
C. EDWARD BUCHAN, Chief Andover Fire Dept.
139
Police Department
To the Board of Selectmen, Andover, Massachusetts
January 26, 1954
GENTLEMEN :
I submit a summary of the activities of the Police Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1953.
ARRESTS AND CHARGES
Drunkenness
49
Larceny
3
Capias
1
Assault and Battery
7 5 3
Vagrancy
Overtime Parking
9
Operating Under Influence of Liquor
7
Operating after Suspension of License
3
Operating to Endanger
2
Operating Motor Vehicle * No Sticker
2
Operating without a License
12
Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle
1
Surrender Warrant
1
Idle and Disorderly
1
Refusing to stop for Officer in Uniform
1 20
Speeding
Leaving scene of Accident
1
Armed Robbery
1
Peeping Tom
1
Breaking and Entering
3
Unlawful use of Automobile
1
A. W. O. L.
2
Delinquent Child
11
Allowing improper person to operate a Motor Vehicle
1
140
Non Support
Carrying a gun without a License 2 Failure to give Hand Signal 2
Preventing another Motor Vehicle to overtake Peddlar - No License 1
1
DISPOSITION OF CASES
Convicted in District Court
85
On File
1
Probation
17
Released by Probation Officer
34
Dismisssed
2
Turned over to out of town Police
6
Turned over to State Police
1
Turned over to Army Authorities
2
Sentenced to House of Correction
7
Turned over to Youth Service Board
5
Miscellaneous complaints received and investigated
573
Summons served for out of town police 142
1
Automobiles recovered in Andover
1
Bicycles Stolen in Andover
16
Bicycles Recovered in Andover
11
Breaks in Camps and Dwellings
22
Doors in Business District found open and secured
123
Sheep killed by dogs
5
Lost children returned to parents
9
Runaway children returned to parents or institutions
19
Dogs killed by automobiles 23
Attempted suicides 2
Street Lights reported out to Lawrence Electric Co. 428
Dogs lost and returned to owner 37
Number of persons bitten by dogs 31
Board of Health and animal Inspector notified on dog bites 31 Cattle lost and returned to owner
4
Dead bodies cared for by police
2
Suicides reported and investigated by police
1
Persons notified for out of town police
29
Tramps put up for night in lock-up 7
14
Automobiles stolen in Andover
Dwellings inspected while owners away 266 Articles found and returned to owner 11 Summons served on local complaints in Andover 21 Missing persons reported, located, and returned 4 Highway conditions reported to B. P. W. 22
Water leaks in street reported by police to B. P. W. 3
Tree Dept. notified of limbs and trees down in street Persons taken to Danvers State Hospital
9
2
Persons taken to Hospital by Police in Cruisers Hens killed by dogs, investigated by Police 273
9
Ducks killed by dogs, investigated by Police
3
Turkeys killed by dogs, investigated by Police
3
Bell Alarms of fire covered by Police
66
Cards sent to Registry of Motor Vehicles for violation of motor law 176
Arrests made for out of town police
6
Breaks in Business District
8
Hens reported stolen
50
Respectfully submitted
DAVID L. NICOLL, Chief of Police
142
Board of Health Nurse and Agent
December 31, 1953
To the Board of Health and Townspeople of Andover
I herewith submit a brief report as Board of Health Nurse and Agent for the Town of Andover for the year 1953:
1953
1952
1951
Dog Bite
46
33
45
Tuberculosis
1
5
3
Scarlet Fever
5
2
19
Chicken Pox
97
14
19
Whooping Cough
12
19
8
Measles
27
148
16
Mumps
22
52
72
Syphilis
1
1
3
Gonorrhea
0
1
0
Infectious Jaundice
0
0
0
Meningitis O.F.
1
0
4
Anterior Poliomyelitis
0
0
0
German Measles
12
12
48
Typhoid Fever
1
1
0.
Undulant Fever
0
1
0
Totals
225
289
237
Deaths from Contagious Diseases
Influenzal Meningitis
0
0
1
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
1
2
2
Totals
1
2
3
In 1954, Andover will continue to hold free clinics. Among these clinics will be Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoid innocu- lations for children entering school, the Baby Clinic, and the Anti-Rabic Clinic for Dogs.
Respectfully submitted, LOTTA M. JOHNSON, R.N., R.S.
143
Milk Inspector's Report
To the Townspeople of Andovers
I submit herewith a brief summary of the activities of my office for the year ending December 31, 1953.
The following licenses have been granted and fees for these have been turned over to the Town Treasurer whose receipt I hold :
Milk and Cream-64
Oleomargarine-22
Ice cream and Frozen Desserts-3
Pasteurization-6
The distribution of the milk and cream licenses is as follows :
Distributors (delivering from trucks)-23
Retailers-25
Restaurants-16
Its also interesting to point out that within the confines of this town we have many items of both pride and interest in the fields of dairy products. Among these items we find-
1. A plant that produces a non-fat dry milk solids pro- duct known as "Shawsheen Maid". This is manufac- tured at the plant of the New England Milk Produ- cer's Association in Shawsheen and is widely distri- buted.
2. A plant specializing in the manufacture of Yogurt which product is shipped from Andover to many of the Atlantic coastal states.
3. A farm specializing in the raising of prize livestock as well as in the production of dairy products. Live- stock from the Wild Rose Farm is highly regarded at the various fairs and shows where our Andover grown stock generally wins its share of blue ribbons.
144
This town offers excellent opportunities for student group inspections of the dairy field.
During the year 51 samples of milk and eight samples of cream were tested for butter fat, total solids and bacteria content. With two exceptions, all of the samples were within state standards.
Periodic inspection trips were made to various farms and producing units.
It is safe to state that the dairy product situation in this town is in good shape but the cooperation of all citizens is requested in the year ahead. Any infraction or suspected infraction of the milk laws in this community should be cal- led to our attention at once.
Respectfully,
ROBERT A. WALSH, Milk Inspector
145
Report of Building Inspector
To the Board of Selectmen, Town of Andover, Mass.
GENTLEMEN
I herewith submit to your Board my report for the year ending December 31, 1953.
There were One Hundred Ninety Nine (199) permits is- sued for construction of New Buildings and One Hundred Twenty Eight (128) permits for Additions and Alterations.
The estimate value of new construction reached a total of Two Million Eighteen Thousand and Ninety Five Dollars ($2018095.00) and One Hundred Ninety Seven Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Dollars ($197975.00) was the estimated cost of Additions and Alterations.
The above making a final estimated total of Two Million Two Hundred Sixteen Thousand and Seventy Dollars ($2216070.00).
Twelve (12) additional apartments have been provided by alterations in existing buildings during the past year, thereby bringing the new dwelling count for 1953 to a total of One Hundred Sixty Four (164) units.
The New Building Permits are classified below :
Dwellings
152
Single Garages
14
Two Stall Garages
10
Greenhouse
1
Loading Platform
2
Office Building
1
Foundation only
1
Tool Storage and Garage
1
River Wall
1
Poultry House
4
Piggery
1
Pump House
1
146
Swimming Pool
2
Temporary Tool House
1
Summer House
1
Sand & Gravel Plant
Tool Shed
Garage Foundation
Shop
1
Radio Control Building
1 1
Storage Building
This Department has collected in fees and turned over to the Town Treasurer Two Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Nine Dollars ($2,689.00).
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH W. COLEMAN, Building Inspector
Report of Wire Inspector
January 2, 1954
Board of Selectmen,
Town Hall
Andover, Massachusetts
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit my report for wiring inspections for the year 1953.
Number of wiring inspection permits 518
Number of fixture inspection permits 32
Total 550
Amount collected and turned over to treasurer, Town of Andover, $550.00.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM J. YOUNG, Wire Inspector
147
1 1 1
Sealer of Weights and Measures
December 31, 1953
Board of Selectmen Andover, Massachusetts
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit my annual report for the year 1953 :
Work performed from Jaunary 1, 1953 to December 31, 1953 inclusive including Scales, Weights, Gasoline meters Vehicle tank systems, etc .:
Adjusted Sealed Not Sealed Condemned 44 539 3 4
Total
OTHER WORK PERFORMED
Complaints investigated 9
Trial weighings and measurements of commodities put up for sale 594
Other inspections : Pedlars, oil & coal certificates 104
Total collection for the year 1953 were, $237.55.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH SERIO, Sealer
148
Report of Tree Warden
To the Citizens of Andover :- January 1, 1954
The Tree Warden is an elected officer independent of any other town department. He derives all his powers from the Legislature and his duties are prescribed under Chapter 87 of the General Laws of Massachusetts. The Supreme Court through Justice Braley has handed down a decision that, "public shade trees are planted and maintained not merely for the benefit of cities and towns but are for the benefit and enjoyment of all the inhabitants of the Commonwealth having occasion to use the public ways. There are over six- teen thousand shade trees on the public ways of the town and many miles of roadside growth under the care of the tree wardens department.
The following number of trained men care for and main- tain these trees and roadside growth.
Two men paid for out of the tree department appro- priation.
Two men paid for out of the Dutch elm disease department appropriation.
One man paid for out of the moth department appropria- tion.
A total of five regular men in all three departments. Salary and wages amount to 80% of all appropriations. The 20% remaining is paid out for insecticides, two sprayings of elms by a helicopter, maintenance of two 11/2 ton trucks and a 3/4 ton pickup truck, a tractor, three spraying ma- chines, three chain saws and tools. Rent of shop and garage, telephone, heat etc. Men of the department repair tools and much of the equipment in stormy weather when there are no emergency calls.
Repair or overhaul requiring special servicing is per- formed mostly in local garages. This is the same policy as used by all other town departments.
149
Tree department men are often called out after hours in rain and snow storms to clear the roads of fallen trees and broken branches.
In times of emergencies like the flood of 1936 and the hurricanes of 1938 and 1944 every town department has all its men and equipment alerted to take part in all work, co- ordinated by the selectmen.
Andover is fortunate in the ability of its officials and men of all departments. Their knowledge and interest in their work sets a high standard for other municipalities to equal. There may be a few drones at times but they do not remain long. The percentage of good men in town employ is much greater than in many other towns and cities as well as in industry.
Men in the tree department are trained in all branches of tree maintenance, and receive higher pay for this specilized work.
The men in the tree department are of high intelligence, only their love of trees and interest in their work holds them from better paid positions in commercial tree companies or in industry.
The foreman of these departments has served the town with distinction for nearly twenty five years. He has given many unpaid hours to the town, trained many of the men in tree work over the years and saved the town hundreds of dollars by his skill in repairing ropes, tools and equipment. The tree and moth departments in Andover are considered by state officials as one of the best of its size in the Common- wealth with higher quality work than many larger town and city departments.
Over the past seventeen years we have built a monument of service to the town and state, by the maintenance of large trees-a legecy from the past - and in the planting of young shade trees, a monument that will last as long as the trees themselves, a heritage to future generations.
Your Tree Warden has acquired much knowledge of trees, through his association with tree officers from other towns and cities, members of commercial tree companies and with
150
instructors in shade tree practices; many of whom have beaten a path to his door in the past seventeen years.
Your Tree Warden has served the town with ability, with devotion to the shade trees of the town, and with a friendly service to all citizens of Andover.
He offers his services to the town as your Tree Warden as long as you care to elect him. He has two more years to serve of his present term. A consolidation of the tree department into the board of public works would automatically end his services to the town, and would end the services of his fore- man by retirement and his trained men by their leaving to join commercial tree companies.
Your shade trees - Andovers greatest asset - would suffer from neglect as in the few other towns where the tree de- partment has been placed under public works department. Skilled tree workers soon leave departments under control of men with no knowledge of tree care.
How many more years the present Tree Warden serves you are in the hands of the voters of Andover if a bill filed in the Legislature this year, by Representative Collins is passed allowing this consolidation.
During 1953 two disastrous storms occured which have taken their toll of trees, causing several weeks of repair work after each storm, to the exclusion of all other work.
During the past fourteen years with hot dry summers our trees (190 surrounded by hard street pavements) have ac- cumulated an excessive amount of dead wood. The two men paid from the tree department have not been able to main- tain our trees in good condition. Trees in poor condition attract borers and other insects that take a heavy toll and cause excessive repair work.
I am requesting the employment of another trained tree climber in the tree department at an increase in the appro- priation of $3200.00.
This tree climber would replace one eliminated two years ago when the tree department appropriation was reduced by three thousand dollars. This reduction has proved unwise and costly to the town.
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A special article in the warrant will request $312.00 for a 20 inch electric chain saw to be operated from our electric generator.
Our present 14 inch electric chain saw purchased two years ago and used up in trees has proven a fine invesment for the town. Our generator is capable of operating both saws at the same time.
Another special article in the town warrant will request $2200.00 for a tractor with safety mower attachments for roadside mowing in the summer and the tractor to be used at other times in heavy tree removal work especially in the removal of large elm trees which have to be removed because of infection with the Dutch elm disease.
The use of the board of public works sidewalk tractor proved to be excessively costly to the town in roadside mo- wing operations. Not suited for roadside mowing it practi- cally ruined a $390.00 mowing machine. In polite language it was a costly engineering blunder.
NEW TREES
Because of many storms last spring which delayed plan- ting only 32 young trees were planted. In late October after heavy rains soaked the ground 35 more young trees were planted.
Two years ago the Andover Village Improvement Society appropriated $150.00 for the Tree Warden to purchase new trees for the town. Half of the young trees were planted at that time while the remainder were held over in a nursery and planted this fall. Many of these trees were new varieties not often planted in Andover.
The varieties were Thornless Honey Locust, Moraine Locust, Globe Locust, Liquidambar, Gingko, Crimson King Maple, Chinese Flowering Dogwood, Magnolia and Gray Beech.
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