USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1950-1954 > Part 47
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The library building, originally built in 1871 and exten- sively added to in 1926, has served the needs of this commu- nity well but is actually a deterrent to the type of library service that is being offered.
A new building, planned from the inside out, would be the best solution but there are factors that make this seem an un- realistic step to take at this time; namely, high capital ex- penditure facing the town in the next few years; the total cost of a new building, for which there is no appropriate site in prospect, estimated between $350,000 - $400,000 ; the large amount of usable space in the present building and its stra- tegic location in the center of town.
174
The modernization program proposed by Mr. Wheeler and adopted by the Board would alleviate some of the weaknesses of the present building, incorporate some of the functional aspects of modern building and through interior alterations and two additions bring about a library plant, not perfect to be sure, but one which could serve the town's needs for the next twenty years.
This proposed modernization would bring to full useful- ness present valuable space, now largely wasted, would pro- vide a one story, glass addition at the front, extending to the sidewalk, with a sidewalk level entrance and a two story addition to the West. These additions and alterations would provide an informal adult reading room with thirty more seats, much needed book shelving and capacity for further expansion, quieter adult reading areas, 8,000 more highly used books on the main floor, thus facilitating reader use, a new informational and reference center, an efficient circu- lation center, a listening room for housing recordings, ade- quate office and work space for staff and - very important indeed, more floor space, seating and shelving capacity for our overcrowded Children's Room.
The total cost of these changes will be $162,500. and the Trustees have placed an article in the warrant so that the voters can act upon these recommendations at the next March town meeting.
The architects have told us that our building program will take some six to eight months to complete and that although there will be inconveniences, it wil not be necessary to cur- tail services in this period.
We believe in this building program. Our belief has given us the necessary courage to go ahead with this project in the face of such a wide seeking for town funds. We believe that it is our obligation to point out library needs since no other agency in the community should be expected to do it for us.
' We hope that we shall be successful in securing voter ap- proval for this project but whichever way things go, the li- brary will continue to carry on its service at the highest level of which it is capable and will, within the limitations which
175
the present building imposes, try to meet new demands as they are made.
The potentialities for service are limitless for a library which sees itself uniquely fitted to help keep the channels of communication open between individual and group; to serve as a center for life-long education; to serve as a source of carefully chosen materials, book and non-book, old and new, controversial and experimental ; to be in a real sense, a unify- ing community force, coordinating community resources, helping to focalize community problems.
1954 STATISTICS OF LIBRARY USE BOOK STOCK
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Volumes at beginning of year
38,204
11,263
49,467
Volumes added by purchase
1,531
917
2,448
Volumes added by gift
81
11
92
Volumes lost or withdrawn
965
305
1,270
Lost volumes found
5
5
38,851
11,891
50,742
Newspapers & periodicals currently received
196
Periodicals received by gift
29
USE
Volumes
% of total Circulation
Volumes of adult fiction loaned
36,264
29.8
Volumes of non-fiction loaned
31,747
26.0
Number of Children's books loaned
38,455
31.6
Pamphlets and Periodicals
7,601
06.2
Number of adult records loaned
4,844
Number of children's records loaned
1,781
06.4
Pictures
978
Film Strips and slides
155
Total number of books, records, etc. loaned 121,825
176
REGISTRATION
Borrowers registered during the year 800 449
1,249
Total number of registered borrowers 3,493
2,080 5,573
Circulation per capita (based on estimated population figure 13,500)
9.0
SUMMARY OF THE USE OF BOOKS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES
Average number of books on deposit at a given time in school libraries (These are frequent- ly changed) 1920
Classroom deposits borrowed from the Central school Libraries
Jan. to June (5 months) 49 classrooms
7280
Sept. to Dec. (4 months) 52 classrooms
6432
13,712
(Each book was used in the classroom from 2 to 30 times.)
Circulation to individual children from each school library.
Central & Stowe (8 months)
3576
Shawsheen* (4 months)
750
Bradlee* (4 months)
300
West (To begin in 1955)
0
*estimated
Total 4626
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Board of Public Works
Andover, Mass. January 1, 1955
The Board of Public Works voted to adopt the following report of the Superintendent and Engineer as its report for 1954.
SIDNEY P. WHITE, Chairman ALEXANDER H. HENDERSON, Secretary P. LEROY WILSON ERNEST N. HALL FRANCIS P. REILLY
178
Report of Superintendent and Engineer
To the Board of Public Works:
GENTLEMEN :
As heretofore, we respectfully submit a combined report covering the construction, maintenance and engineering phases of the various departments for the calendar year of 1954.
The engineering division has continued to be of assistance to various town departments from time to time as well as performing all engineering for the Board of Public Works. This office has furnished advice and assistance to the Board of Selectmen, Police Department, School Department and the several committees working for the Moderator. Private individuals, engineers, contractors, builders and others call- ing on us for information or advice have been assisted as much as is consistent with the limitations and regulations of this office.
Plans and descriptions were prepared for two parcels of land at the rear of #62 - #68 Morton Street to enable the Selectmen to try to square off the southeasterly corner of the Playstead. Labor and supervision was furnished to the Selectmen for the purpose of removing the old scales at the rear of the Town House and for installing new scales. .
Several permit sketches of proposed "Stop" sign locations were prepared for the Police Department. Plans, specifica- tions, and field supervision were furnished this department for the installation of a traffic signal system and controller booth at Elm Square. Contracts for this work in the total amount of $9,044.00 were awarded in August; but the actual construction work was not commenced until late October and was completed in late December.
179
Property lines were established and brush, boulders, etc. were cleared from a small parcel of land at the West Ele- mentary School for the School Department. Assistance was given in the preparation of specifications for paving work at the Stowe School and at the Bradlee School.
Floor grades in existing buildings were determined for the School Building Committee and assistance was given them in the laying out of test boring sites for proposed build- ing foundation studies.
Office and field assistance was furnished to the Town Hall Building Committee, and plans, information, and office space were made available to the engineers working on resident- ial rezoning for the Zoning Study Committee.
Insofar as was possible, inspections were made of all con- struction work performed on new ways which might become town ways in the future.
Miscellaneous advice and estimating assistance has been given to private individuals who wished to prepare special articles for the town meeting warrant.
HIGHWAY
The following table in inches shows the snow fall for the year 1954:
January
15.0 Inches
February
2.0 Inches
March
2.2 Inches
April
2.0 Inches
November
Traces
December
15.0 Inches
Total 36.2 Inches
The snow fall for the season November 1953 to April 1954 inclusive totaled 21.2 inches.
The following road surfaces were treated with tarvia and honed : Precinct 1 & 2 - Cabot Road, Carmel Road (Walnut Avenue to Infirmary), Coolidge Road, Cuba Street, Elm Street (Square to Washington Avenue), Johnson Road, Lu- pine Road, Maple Avenue, Morton Street, Pasho Street, Pun- chard Avenue, Red Spring Road (Moraine Street to Shaw-
180
sheen Road), Washington Avenue, Walnut Avenue (Carmel Road to Elm Street), and Pomps Pond Parking Area ; Pre- cinct 3 : - Dufton Road Extension, Dartmouth Road, Enmore Street, Ferndale Avenue, George Street, High Street (to Haverhill Street only), Juliette Street, Princeton Avenue, Marwood Drive, Windsor Street, Yale Road and York Street (from Haverhill Street notherly) ; Precinct 4 : - Bailey Road (Pleasant Street to Haggetts Pond Road), Beacon Street (Chandler Road to Lawrence Line), Bellevue Road (Lowell Street to Haggetts Pond Road), Brown Street, Chandler Road, Chandler Circle, Chandler Road (Dump to River Road, Haggetts Pond Road (Lowell Street to Boutwell Road), Lovejoy Road, and North Street (River Road to Webster Street) ; Precinct 5: - Andover Street (Central Street to beyond Bannister Road), Tewksbury Street (Chester Street to Tewksbury Line) ; Precinct 6: - Boston Road, County Road (Main Street to Rattlesnake Hill Road), Gould Road (Main Street to By-Pass), Hidden Road (Porter Road to Sunset Rock Road), Holt Road (Salem Street to Stinson Road), Jenkins Road, Spring Grove Road (near Rogers), Sunset Rock Road (Hidden Road to near Nunez), Wildwood Road (Holt Road to By-Pass) and Woodland Road. Two applications were applied on the following re- cently accepted ways: Theodore Avenue, Juniper Road, Forbes Lane, Cassimere Street, Henderson Avenue and Al- den Road. A total of 94,715 gallons of tarvia and asphalt were applied.
In addition, under special articles on street surfacing, a total of 11,050 gallons of tar were applied.
Two highway widening jobs were done this year. The up- per end of Summer Street, east of #127 was regraded, widened and resurfaced. This work, which required the re- moval of trees and cutting back of slopes, has resulted in better drainage conditions and an improved traffic flow over this formerly narrow roadway. The second widening project was located on Chandler Road between Beacon Street and a point 150 northwest of Juniper Road. Mr. Fred W. Doyle released a considerable frontage of land here to enable this stretch of road to be developed to the full width recom-
181
mended by the County Engineer. Land on both sides of this road is rapidly being built upon, and it was highly desirable to establish an adequate traveled way while it was still possible to do so.
The reconstruction and widening of Main Street from Dwight Street northerly to Wheeler Street was completed this year. This section of road, now a State Highway, was reconstructed under contract and was opened to traffic in mid-September. This department's sewer and water person- nel renewed sewer and water services as necessary, and ad- justed gate boxes and manhole frames to the new grades as established by the State. Funds for this work were provided under Article 21, 1954 and $565.45 was expended.
The Andover By-Pass, Route #125, was completely re- surfaced this Summer by the State under contract work ac- count. This highway was originally built in 1932 and con- sisted of one center lane of bituminous penetration macadam and two outer lanes of reinforced concrete. Resurfacing con- sisted of two layers of Type I bituminous concrete together with additional paved gutters and shoulders.
Much interest has been shown locally during the past year in regard to the probable relocation of Route #28 thru the western portion of Andover. A definite line has not been established; but its location has been the subject of several hearings and many meetings, sponsored both by local offi- cials and groups, and by the Mass. Dept. of Public Works. It is felt that by mid-1955 a definite route will have been es- tablished and then the effect on our local roads can be more clearly determined.
As stated elsewhere in this report, 1954 has been an ex- tremely wet year, and aside from the two rare hurricanes of August 31st and September 11th, many other heavy rain- storms occurring throughout the year caused considerable drainage problems. In May a culvert on River Road at Sta- tion 131+0, (known locally as Deer Jump) failed at its down- stream headwall after heavy rains, and the wash-out threat- ened the safety of the highway. Toward the end of the year a Chapter 90 contract was let to L. C. Cyr Construction Co. for the complete rebuilding of the downstream half of this cul-
.
182
vert, including a new headwall and paved discharge channel. This work was substantially completed by mid-December and the road was reopened to traffic.
Many smaller culverts failed or otherwise became trouble- some during the year and the following replacements were made: Rattlesnake Hill Road at Foster's Pond outlet, new conduit 32 L. F .- 42" R. C. C. P .; Reservation Road just east of Cutler Road, replace stone box with 52 L. F .- 24" R. C. C. P .; Lincoln Street near #58, replace stone box with 22 L. F .- 12" R. C. C. P .; Holt Road opposite Bancroft Road, in- stall side drain 56 L. F .- 12" R. C. C. P .; Summer street 300 feet west of Highland Road, replace stone box with 48 L. F .- 18" R. C. C. P .; Sunset Rock Road 900 feet north of Ballard- vale Road, replace old corrugated metal with 40 L. F. 30" R. C. C. P .; Dascomb Road 150 feet south of Clark Road, replace old corrugated metal with 40 L. F .- 24" R. C. C. P.
A section of stone box culvert carrying Rogers Brook un- der Central Street became weakened due to high flows caused by the September 11th hurricane, and the surface of the roadway was endangered by the possible collapse of this culvert. E. Mercier and Son were awarded a contract to excavate and repair this damage and this work was com- pleted by December 1, 1954.
It should be noted that the two hurricanes mentioned above were quite different in their effects on the work of this department. The first, that of August 31, 1954, was one of severe winds, light rains and of generally short duration. Its damage to trees was great, 146 loosened or overturned stumps on public ways had to be removed, and these over- turned stumps caused secondary damage to roadways, curbs and sidewalks. Drainage damage was relatively minor.
The second hurricane, that of September 11, 1954 was one of high winds also but the duration of the storm was very long and the accompanying rainfall broke all records. The bulk of the damage from this storm was caused by the flood- ing of areas never flooded before and by severe washouts. Wind damage was slight compared to the other storm.
Cleaning up and making repairs after these two storms naturally took precedence over regularly scheduled work,
183
therefore no new sidewalks were constructed this year.
Sidewalk areas around both the Stowe and the Bradlee Schools were paved by the B. P. W. forces at the expense of the School Department.
Sufficient steel cable and concrete posts were purchased to erect 800 feet of guard rail fencing on the westerly side of High Street opposite Flint Circle. Material cost was $752.00.
Article 18 covered work done with Chapter 90 Mainte- nance funds wherein the Town supplied two thirds and the State one third of the cost of $2,514.20.
BRIDGES
The bridges under the control of the Board were inspected at various times during the year and each was found to be safe for its posted load limit.
It was planned to completely clean and repaint the open deck bridges on Central Street and on Stevens Street this year. A joint contract for painting these two bridges was awarded in July and the contractor commenced work on Cen- tral Street Bridge on the 27th of that month. However by the time feezing weather had arrived the work was still not com- plete and it became necessary to cancel the contract.
It is hopd that this work can be successfully planned and executed in 1955.
WATER SYSTEM
Water mains installed by B. P. W. forces for the year are as follows :
Red Spring Road
147.0 L.F.
8" C.L.C.I.
Brundrett Avenue
1641.0 L.F. 6" C.L.C.I.
(No. of River Road)
Brundrett Avenue (So. of River Road)
733.4 L.F. 6" C.L.C.I.
In addition to the above, 5035 L. F. of 6" C.L.C.I. was add- ed to the system by virtue of the acceptance of seven private ways at the Town Meeting.
Several water mains of 6" C.L.C.I. pipe have been con-
184
structed during the year by private interests in the course of developing real estate subdivisions. Inspection, testing and location measuring have been performed where possible by this office.
A new check valve was installed on the discharge line of the De Laval pumping unit at Haggetts Pond. The old valve, a fully enclosed Pratt and Cady, had been causing consider- able trouble by sticking open then slamming shut. Every repair job meant digging the valve up since it was not en- closed in a pit. In making this replacement, a suitable valve pit with cover was constructed and a new Rensselaer check valve with outside spring installed. Future servicing of this valve will be greatly simplified.
In continuation of last year's work on the eroded outlet dikes at Haggetts Pond, the Board this year constructed a stone faced spillway section at the point where Fish Brook leaves the pond. The spillway is so designed that it will allow storage up to theoretical full pond and yet pass sufficient excess water so that the pond cannot rise above its allowable full level.
The storage of Haggetts Pond was greatly improved this year, in part because of the above mentioned dike work and in part because of the very wet year with the rainfall well distributed thru-out the year. The dikes enabled us to con- serve water which normally would have been lost during the Spring rainy season. Summer rains greatly reduced the lawn and garden draft thus reducing the demand on the pond. For the first time since 1951 the average daily yield has ex- ceeded the average daily demand. Precipitation for the year amounted to 53.80 inches as measured by the Essex Compa- ny in Lawrence. The 70 year average, including 1954, is 40.96 inches. This excess of thirteen inches over normal re- presents practically one third of the year's rainfall, and the Essex Company states it is the wettest year in the history of their 70 years of records.
On the first day of the year the pond was at elevation 112.88. Full pond is considered to be at elevation 117.65. Snow and Spring rains caused the pond to fill steadily until May 22nd when it reached elevation 117.46, the highest
185
recorded level in a great many years. The level then dropped slowly until August 30th when it reached its low point for the Summer at elevation 115.65. Hurricane rains and other rains caused another rise to elevation 117.29 on September 18th. From that date onward there was a steady slow fall to elevation 116.83 on the last day of the year.
This rise in water level represents a net gain in storage of about 266 million gallons for the year, or 0.73 M. G. D. The total pumpage for the year was 525.055 million gallons or 1.438 M. G. D. The sum of these average quantities, 2.17 M. G. D., gives an approximation of the yield of the watershed during the wettest year on record. It is doubtful if this yield will be exceeded for some time to come. At any rate it serves to indicate the maximum yield of our water supply under the most ideal conditions.
No pumping records were established this year. In fact there was only one day upon which over 3 million gallons were pumped. On June 22nd a total of 3.060 M. G. was pump- ed for the maximum day of the year.
€
The total recorded pumpage at Bancroft Road Station for the year was 102.578 million gallons, or an average of 281,- 050 gallons per day. This total volume of water represents re-pumpage for the High Service System, and is 19.5% of the total pumped at Haggetts Pond. This is a decrease of nearly 10 M. G. compared to 1953 and reflects the decrease in lawn and garden sprinkling because of copius rains.
Despite the damage caused by two hurricanes, no disrupt- ion occurred in our water distribution. Electrical failures necessitated the use of auxiliary pumping at both stations. Haggetts Pond Station was without electricity for about 12 hours and Bancroft Road Station was without electricity for four days.
RECEIPTS
Water Rates
$83,864.57
Water Services and Miscellaneous
2,660.30
Paid to Town Treasurer $86,524.87
186
WATER SYSTEM SUMMARY, for year ending December 31st
Year
Received from Water Rates
Net Cost of Maint. incl. pumping
Direct Cost of Pumping
Cost per Mil. Gals.
by total mainten.
by direct pumping
Received per Million Gals.
Annual Pumpage Haggetts Station (Million Gals.)
No. of service pipes in use
No. of Meters in use
No. of Hydrants
Miles of Main Pipe
1940*
$52,241.14
$27,799.18
$15,256.13
$67.04
$36.79
$125.99
414.653
2653
2587
728
79.89
1941
57,702.22
27,796.08
17,494.91
56.81
35.76
117.93
489.287
2729
2663
739
80.63
1942
55,259.54
30,859.93
18,211.08
74.13
43.75
132.74
416.314
2743
2677
741
80.77
1943
55,831.00
33,418.32
19,387.57
85.53
49.62
142.90
390.688
2747
2681
741
80.77
187
1944
62,039.75
38,043.35
20,658.91
89.48
48.59
145.92
425.152
2709
2688
742
80.77
1945
54,622.93
43,148.15
21,916.43
106.30
53.99
134.58
405.883
2735
2705
765
84.90
1946
60,169.98
47,857.73
22,638.40
107.86
51.02
135.61
443.692
2797
2767
785
88.64
1947
59,170.09
47,200.50
19,587.05
100.56
41.73
126.07
469.364
2862
2832
788
88.87
1948
62,472.54
49,967.87
26,340.63
98.94
52.15
123.70
505.306
2969
2939
796
89.69
1949
64,013.87
48,659.18
26,453.23
91.49
49.74
120.36
531.844
3066
3036
810
90.82
1950
67,871.62
49,417.39
26,516.09
90.46
48.02
124.24
546.313
3202
3172
815
91.73
1951
63,239.86
51,237.40
25,175.79
97.74
48.54
120.64
524.204
3311
3272
820
92.35
1952
72,972.04
53,356.72
28,583.58
93.34
49.47
126.29
577.800
3376
3338
822
93.34
1953
82,390.94
59,433.18
32,159.51
96.18
52.04
133.34
617.917
3456
3418
829
93.93
1954
83,864.57
59,043.59
25,571.55
112.45
48.70
159.73
525.055
3632
3604
839
95.36
*See Annual Report of 1939 for years 1889 through 1939.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM
No new sewer extensions were built by town forces this year. However, some work was done on the construction of relief sewers in an effort to remedy some troublesome problems.
Two manholes on the high level sewer, one at Essex Street and one at Pearson Street, were adjusted to act as overflows so that high flows in this main sewer could be diverted in part to the Shawsheen River trunk sewer. As a further part of this scheme a tie-in between the upper and lower Essex Street sewers was made, thus allowing part of the increased flow in Essex Street and Pearson Street to be conducted di- rectly down lower Essex Street to the trunk. This tie-in con- sisted of 142 L. F. of 8" V. C. P.
In August work was started on a 12 inch parallel relief sewer for Chestnut Street. This job progressed very slowly due to its great depth, its proximity to the old sewer trench, and high ground water conditions. Despite these conditions, and an enforced shut-down caused by two hurricanes, the sewer was carried to a point just beyond Rogers Brook, and out of the most difficult construction area before Winter made it necessary to close the job.
The Ballardvale sewerage program was substantially completed this year. Bids were received in March on the three phases of the work. Work under each contract was started early in April and by mid-September all work was substantially complete, except for patching roads and clean- ing up.
The first house connection was made on October 22, 1954 and by the end of the year 23 buildings had been connected to the system. First sewage was received into the treatment plant on November 15, 1954. On December 29, 1954 the treatment plant in full operation was inspected by repre- sentatives of the State Department of Public Health.
This much needed improvement to the Ballardvale Dis- trict was not accomplished without a certain amount of diffi- culty for all concerned. Work by both contractors in the vi- cinity of the railroad crossing was continually hampered by a fine silty soil and much ground water. The work of jacking
188
a sleeve under both railroad tracks was further impeded when large boulders were encountered in the railroad right of way. Neither contractor performed a very satisfactory job of repairing roadway surfaces, and for this reason the Town has been forced to hold back sufficient funds to gua- rantee the ultimate repair of the roads. Final payments are still pending on all contracts.
Following is the name of the successful bidder on each phase, and the final amount of each contract as determined by the engineering firm of Weston and Sampson, Boston, Mass. who designed and supervised the entire Ballardvale project.
Contract #1 Treatment Plant and Equipment Contractor : N.M. & N. Construction Co. Medford, Mass. Amount $51,832.27
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