USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1925 > Part 7
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I, therefore, make the following recommendation- that a modern Fire Station be erected on town prop- erty adjoining the Town Hall. In my opinion, this location conceded to be the hub of the town, is geo- graphically, practically and economically the one most desired. By so doing, the citizens are saved the neces- sity of purchasing or taking land, the apparatus can more speedily, efficiently and thoroughly operate and can more effectively serve the wants of the town. In addition, there will be saved the expenditure of con- tinuous sums of money for repairs each year on the present fire stations, and the added necessity of money to repair and properly equip the fire station in Precinct 2 (Hollis Avenue) both of which needs are impera- tive. My reference to the last named will explain to the citizens of Precinct 2 why it was that the apparatus repaired and formerly used in Precinct 3 is at present
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stored in the Fire Station in that Precinct but used in responding to all alarms in Precincts 1, 2 and 3.
COMPENSATION.
Realizing to the fullest, a fireman's duty, the con- stant risk he undergoes, the willingness with which he undertakes every task and the splendid manner in which he performs his duty, I am compelled to ask that some form of compensation be prepared and pro- vided for him in the event of injury, illness or death resulting from some act in the performance of his duty. Surely, no citizen will say that one who risks all-even his life for the safety of others-is not worthy of some consideratian. Too often have we seen destitution in families of firemen brought about through no fault of the parent, but the direct result of injury or death re- ceived while endeavoring to save the lives and property of others.
I feel that suitable means should be provided for the care of all firemen,-whether permanent or call men, -who have been disabled or killed in the performance of their duty and recommend that favorable action along these lines be taken.
In closing, I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen and all citizens who, through their efforts and many kindnesses, have aided in the success of my depart- ment during the past year.
To the officers and members of the department, I wish to express the deepest appreciation of their con- tinued good will and for, the efficiency they have dis- played under all circumstances.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED A. TENNEY, Chief of the Braintree Fire Department.
163
REPORT OF THE WELFARE WORKER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor.
I herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1925 :
Number of families referred 115.
Calls made 742
Divided as follows:
Overseers :
Application for aid 75
Families aided 54
Persons involved 190
Calls made
409
Application made, aid rendered from
other sources 21
Families now aided 24
Mothers' Aid Families 15
· Persons involved 85
Calls made 262
Famiies now being aided
12
Military Aid Applicatioos
13
Families Aided
12
Calls made
32
Now Aided
8
Board of Health
12
Calls made 39
To the Friendly Aid Association, other organizat- ions and individuals who have rendered valuable as- sistance on many occasions, we wish to express our ap- preciation.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY M. CARY,
Agent
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REPORT OF DENTAL CLINIC, 1925
October 13, 1925
Clinic opened at Braintree Friendly Aid Rooms. Pupils examined by School Nurse and sent to Clinic for treatment.
Report of Dental Clinic from January 1st, to December 31st, 1925
Children treated in January .
261
Cleanings 148
Fillings 118
Extractioons 73
339
Children treated in February 123
Cleanings 69
Fillings 88
Extractions 37
Abscesses opened
2
196
Children treated in March 288
Cleanings 131
Fillings 141
Extractions 51
Abscesses opened 2
Examinations
4
329
Children treated in April
167
Cleanings 95
Fillings 87
Extractions 45
Examinations
1
- 228
165
Children trreated in May
161
Cleanings
65
Fillings
136
Extractions
47
Abscesses opened
1
249
Children treated in October 118
Cleanings 115
Fillings
14
Extractions
4
Children treated in November
141
Cleanings
124
Fillings
150
Extractions
3
277
Children treated in December
150
Cleanings
100
Fillings
50
Extractions
3
- 153
Total number of children treated - 1409.
Total number of operations - 1904.
Respectfully, ELLA V. BERNIER, R. N.
REPORT OF TUBERCULOSIS WORK, 1925
108 calls have been made in connection with the follow-up work in Tuberculosis.
All new cases reported through the Board of Health have been investigated, histories taken and re-
133
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ports sent into the State Board of Health.
An increase of 8 cases has been noted in the past year.
Respectfully, ELLA V. BERNIER, R.N.
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BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS BRAINTREE, MASS.
Precinct 1.
French's Common and Hollingsworth Park
Have been kept in good condition during the summer. A new band stand has been installed on the Common, Base Ball, Foot Ball, and Field Hockey have been the leading sports played on the Common. Trees have been trimmed and space in the rear of the grove has been cleaned up. Sand boxes were filled for the children, new chains purchased for the swings, seats have been installed in the grove, a swing table with seats has been erected for the playground. children. A volley ball court was cleaned for that sport. Basket Ball hoops were put up and the Common mowed and raked at least once every two weeks.
At Hollingsworth park the diamond has been raked and kept in good condition for base ball. A new drive way on the east side has been installed. This park was used more last summer than ever before.
Precinct 2.
The work of removing gravel and grading Hollis Field, has progressed very satisfactory.
The Highway Department, furnished their equip- ment and removed, filled and graded the lower part of the ball field, so that the grounds are in good condi- tion for most any kind of sports. This work was done under the supervision of Mr. Austerberry.
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The Hollis Field Association, has voted what money in the treasury, about $1,300.00, for grading the upper part of the play-ground, which we intend to complete in the spring.
The field was mowed, cleaned, sand boxes were filled and a section set apart for the entertainment of small children, under the direction of the play-ground. committee.
Precinct 3.
Much work has been accomplished during the past year on the water-front playground. A Tennis Court was laid out, the base ball diamond relocated and mat- erial purchased for a sixty (60) foot back stop which will be erected before the ensuing base ball season. It is the desire of the department to make further im- provements by removing the remaining sods from the diamond, scraping and rolling it, so that when finished it will compare favorably with any field on the South Shore.
During the months of July and August each pre- cinct playgrounds was furnished with a capable in- structor who was in constant attendance during pleas- ant weather and the children derived much pleasure and enjoyment along the lines of proper recreation.
When the cold weather arrived a considerable portion of the field was diked off and flooded so that. hundreds of citizens and children were able to enjoy ice skating.
Respectfully submitted,
Signed
LAWRENCE A. TRAINOR ALBERT F. HOLLIS JOHN N. RODGERS, Park Commissioners
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TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1925 Income
Town Appropriation $ 800.00
Town Appropriation, Hollis Field 1000.00
From N. E. Hollis Fund 500.00
From N. E. Hollis Fund, (1924) . 500.00
$2,800.00
Expenditures
Mowing, Cleaning and Grading .$2,201.36 Labor and Material 535.82
2,737.18
Unexpended balance
$ 62.82
JOHN N. RODGERS, Treasurer.
.
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Highway Department Report
1925
1 To the Honorable Board of Highway Surveyors of the Town of Braintree :
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year ending (1925) for work done by the Highway Department.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR GENERAL REPAIRS TO HIGHWAYS
Labor
Hauling
Stock
Superintendent
Maintenance
$4,751.32
$2,399.94
$6,295.71
Totals $3,000.00 $13,446.97 2,032.90
Street Cleaning
1,689.00
343.90
Tarvia, sanding and
applying
4,561.34
1,494.04
10,453.34
16,508.72
Resurfacing
4,060.52
2,364.00
5,866.16
12,290.68
Guard Rails and
Fences 400.00
692.55
1,092.55.
General Drains and
Catch Basins
1,012.40
1,276.31
1.368.42
3,657.13
Quincy Ave. Bridge Operating Ment
185.00
Repairs to Equip- ment
2,294.59
Bridge Repairs
Concrete Floor
Middle
Street
Concrete Floor
450.00
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Miscellaneous
Rent of Drain to
N.Y.N.H. & H.R.RY
5.00
Express
3.75
Registration Ford Car
10.00
Lunch
1.15
Adv. bids
18.50
Printing
25.50
Insurance on Equipment
and Barns
1,001.35
Appropriations Reserve Fund
$53,023.79
Washington, Union and Central
$60.00
Middle Street Bridge Repairs
450.00
Washington and Ceder
50.00
$560.00
Refunds
$13.25 .
Refunds
25.03
$38.28
Appropriations.
Highways-Gen.
$52,436.55
Repairs
$51,600.00
Insurance
836.55
SNOW REMOVAL
Labor, $5,002.97
Hauling, $1,762.18
Materials, $2,234.68
Total
$8,999.83
Appro.
9,000.00.
Balance.
.17
PRIVATE WORK
$1,000.00
Appropriation Expended
974.98
Balance Unexpended
$25.02
SPECIAL. APPROPRIATIONS
Shaw Street Bridge,
Appropriation Contract
$2,000.00 1,977.60
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Stock Unexpended Balance Tremont Street Appropriation
15.37 7.03
$4,050.00
Labor $617.04
Hauling 1 Stock
$228.00
$3,204.40
Balance
Liberty Street Appropriation
Labor
Hauling
Stock
$942.25
$243.76 $2,813.99
Vinedale Road Appropriation
Labor
Hauling
Stock
$773.43
$110.32 $1,050.08
Balance
Washington Street Appropriation
Labor
Hauling
Stock
$1,438.21
$132.16 $2,164.22
Balance
Grove Street Appropriation
Labor
Haul ing
Stock
$394.55
$53.00
$416.89
Balance
Granite Street Appropriation
Labor
Haul: ing
Stock
$380.55
$109.52
Balance
Hillside Road Appropriation
$501.41
$45.36
$443.67
Balance
9.56
Pond Street Appropriation
Labor
Hauliing
Stock
$1,389.94
$348.05 $3,473.01
$5,211.00
West Street Appropriation (1924)
Total $5,000.00
West Street Appropriation (1925)
Total $5,000.00
Unexpended Balance
$10,000.00
New Equipment Appropriation
Total $5,447.98
Expended -
New Truck
$5,420.00
Miscellaneous
$23.78
Balance
$4.20
Elm and Adams Street Appropriation
$1,314.52
Bridge
Labor
Hauling
Stock
Total
· $850.00
$335.20
$104.82
$24.50 $1,314.52.
Total : $40,49.44 .56
$4,000.00 Total $4,000.00 $1,934.00 . Total: $1,933.83 .17 $3,735.00 Total $3,734.59 .41 $875.00 Total $864.44 10.56. $500.00 Total $490.07 9.93
$1,000.00 $99.44
$5,211.00 Total
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Expended
Balance
$2,995.48
Union Street Appropriation
$3,231.61
Labor
Hauliing Stock Total
$929.14
$429.44 $1,873.03
Balance
Park Avenue Appropriation
$3,231.61 $5,718.39 $179.48
Labor and Materials $179.48 Balance .52
APPROPRIATIONS FOR SIDEWALKS
Sidewalk, Franklin Street
Balance (1924)
$3,185.31
Labor Hauliing Stock Total
$875.80 $114.24 $402.84
$1,392.88
Unexpended Balance
$1,792.53
Sidewalk on Washington Street From Hobart Block To Tremont
Street, South Braintree :
Appropriation
$700.00
Contract
$700.00
Sidewalks (CEMENT)
Appropriation
$6,000.00
Contract
$4,907.31
Materials
$1,092.69
Balance
6.56
Sidewalks, Braintree Highlands:
Appropriation
$1,400.00
Expended Balance
$1,400.00
Equipment owned by Town :
24 acres of land, located on Liberty Street.
Town Barns, Buildings, located on Union Street. Three Dump Trucks (2 Whites) (1. Republic) One Dump Truck, Ton and Half International. One Cressy Spraying Outfit, complete.
One Austin Bucket Loader.
One Austin Cube Mixer.
One Bufflo Steam Roller, (18 Tons).
One Bufflo Steam Roller, (7 Tons).
One Adams Grader.
One Gasoline Pump.
One New England Crusher, Complete.
One Spring Tooth Arrow.
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One Set of drain pipe cleaners.
One Three-ton falls.
One Two-ton falls.
One Van Dorn Drill.
One Erie steam shovel, Type A., complete with ditching bucket.
One Portable blacksmiths forge.
One Air compresser, complete with jack hammer.
Two air plug hammers drills.
One Ford Sedan.
One Fordson tractor, with spare wheels.
Three Snow plows (Trucks).
Twenty Sidewalk Snow plows.
Loaned to the Town of Braintree Highway Depart- ment, by the State Highway Department-One 4-Ton Packard Dump Truck with snow plow, and One Dyer Hot mix plant, complete, conditions being-that the Town returns same when called for by the State De- partment and kept in repair by the Town while in use here.
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance consists principally of patching the seal coating and water bound macadam, gravel, and dirt roads. This work is an absolute necessity, and owing to the increase travel of traffic through the Town, their is of course an expense goes with it, and should not be over looked at the annual Town Meet- ing.
Drainage
The work of drains conveying surface water, is on the. increase every year owing to the new developments of land, in all three sections of the Town, this last Year Drains have been run on the following streets. Holmes and Fairfield Streets. Middle and Harrison
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Avenue. Hollis Avenue. Myrtle and Spruce Streets.
Bridges
Repairs was made to the following Bridges. Shaw Street Bridges, New Concrete floor and sidewalk and Fence walls. Adams Street Bridge, Concrete floor. Middle Street bridge, Concrete floor, only two wooden bridges remaining in the Town and should be repaired this coming year, Pearl Street and Union Street.
GRANTING OF PERMITS
Permits have been issued to dig trenches in the Streets during the year.
Permits granted to the Old Colony Gas Company.
Permits granted to the Water Department.
Permits granted to the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Company.
Permits granted to the Cellar Drains.
Total of Permits Granted.
Permits will not be granted to any company before March 1, 1926, owing to the danger of ditches caving in when the frost comes out of the ground.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE YEAR 1926.
I recommend that the following appropriations be made for repairs to Highways and Bridges:
Repairs
General
$14,000.00
Street Cleaning
2,000.00
Quincy Avenue Bridge
300.00
Tarvia
16,000.00
Resurfacing
12,000.00
Drains and Catch Basins
2,000.00
Guard rails and fences
1,000.00
Insurance on equipment
1,000.00
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Bridge repairs
8,000.00
Highways, Equipment
10,350.00
Highways, (Private work)
2,000.00
Snow
9,000.00
Street Lighting
9,225.00
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
(As requested by various citizens of the TOWN) Precinct One :
Washington Street, High school to Central Avenue. Washington Street, French's Common to Thayer Place. Union Street, R. R. Track to Cleveland Avenue. Union Street, DeCoste Store to Middle Street. Elmwood Avenue, Tremont Street, to Franklin Street. Hobart Avenue, Hollingsworth Avenue to 375' East. Academy Street, Hollingsworth Avenue to Tremont. Smith Street, Hancock to 320' West.
Pond Street, Fairview Avenue to Glendale Road. Franklin Street Drain.
Precinct Two :
Center Street, Quincy line to Washington Street. Dean Street, Cochato Road to Oak Street.
Holmes Street, Fairfield to Washington Street. Harrison Avenue, Cleveland Avenue to Middle Street. Morrison Road, Adams Street to Drinkwater Lane. Wilmarth Road, Webster Street to 490' North. Washington Street, High school to Hollis Avenue. Washington Street, Hollis Avenue to River Street. Washington Street, River Street to Storrs Avenue. Washington Street, Storrs Avenue to Braintree Bank. Washington Street, Braintree Bank to School Street. Washington Street, School Street to Pres. Rd. Washington Street, Pres. Road to Capen's Bridge. Independence Avenue, Capen's Bridge to Quincy line and Washington Street intersection.
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Precinct Three :
Adams Street, Railroad to Commercial Street. Commercial Street, Adams to Union Street. Union Street, Middle Street-to Hillside Road. Stetson Street, Faxon to Elliott Street.
Nelson, Shaw to Prospect Street.
Somerville Avenue, Shaw to 400' East.
Marietta Avenue, Hayward Street to Dewey Road.
Edgemont Road-
Bickford Road-
Pleasant View Avenue, Quincy Avenue to Vinedale Road.
Commercial Street, from Adams Street to Elm Drain. River Street, (Prec. No. 2.) Precinct Two :
Elm Street Drain from Kelley's Store to R. R. Culvert. Elm Street Drain, from Elmlawn Road, to Fore River track.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED AUSTERBURY, Superintendent of Streets.
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REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The Planning Board presents its report for the year ending December 31, 1925.
The Braintree's population is growing very rapidly at the present time is a matter of common notice. For several years prior to 1920 it increased at a fairly steady rate of about 15% per five years. But between 1920 and 1925 it increased from 10,580 to 13,193, about 25%. If this rate of increase is continued our population in 1935 will be over 20,000. As far as can be seen at the present time, there are no prospects of any interruption of this growth. On the contrary, the indications are that the rate of increase will be- come faster and faster in progressive ratio since we are directly in the path of the inevitable expansion of of metropolitian Boston. It seems probable that Brain- tree is just about to enter a new period of her history and is on the eve of undergoing a complete transfor- mation.
In view of these facts, it would seem to be the part of wisdom and common sense for us, the citizens, to try to plan for the future, in so far as it can be fore- seen, and to do what is possible toward controlling the character of this growth so that orderliness and at- tractiveness of the town and the values of the proper- ties within its borders may be preserved and increased.
Fortunately for us, effective methods of doing this have been discovered. The one of these which is un- doubtedly the most important is called "Zoning." The essential idea in this is the division of the community into districts or "zones" and the adoption of such re- gulations for each zone with regard to the uses, con-
179
struction, heights, and set-backs of buildings and the percentage of lot covered, as seem most likely to con- serve property values and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the inhabitants.
The people of Braintree have already accepted zoning with reference to the construction of buildings. Recognizing that in certain districts the fire hazards are greater than in others, we have adopted special building regulations for them which do not apply to the other sections of the town. This, so far as it goes, is a good illustration of the fundamental idea of zoning -the realization that some parts of the commmunity have different conditions from others and therefore require different regulations. This is not favoritism, . for all sections having similar conditions are treated alike; it is simply common sense.
Another step in this same direction is zoning with reference to use. It is obvious that some land, because of its nearness to pedestrain traffic centers, is especial- ly suited to general business purposes. Other tracts, affording easy access to freight transportation and plenty of room for expansion, are particularly adapted to manufacturing. Still other districts have advan- tages of location, drainage, and attractiveness which make them most valuable for residential uses. People find it profitable to use land in this specialized way and oft-repeated experience has shown that it is in line with public interest for communities to encourage this natural tendency. When a factory or store is built in the midst of a residential neighborhood or when a heavy manufacturing plant is placed in a general bus- iness district, the value of all the surrounding property frequently diminishes. A common result of this de- preciation is what is known as a "blighted district", where the owners lose confidence in the future of their holdings and let the condition of the buildings run
180
down, refusing to sink any more money in what seems likely to become a comparatively worthless investment. Of course this means serious loss not only to the prop- erty owners, but to the town's treasury as well, to say nothing of inestimable injury to the happiness of every- body concerned. The only effective remedy for this which has so far been discovered and put into common practise is "use zoning."
In use zoning, various appropriately located dis- tricts are established, some especially for manufactur- ing, some for business, and some for residential pur -. poses. (In many communities these three types are subdivided in various ways, such as "heavy" or "nui- sance" and "light" manufacturing zones, "one-family", two-family" and "multifamily" residential zones, etc.) Then new structures are prohibited from being built in zones where they would be injurious as for example : new factories must not be built in business or residen -. tial zones, and new stores, gasoline stations, or public garages cannot be scattered promiscuously about among the districts reserved for homes. Structures already established at the time of the passing of the ordinance which do not conform to the uses prescribed for their district are allowed to be maintained, but must not be materially enlarged.
Besides saving money for the citizens of the town by protecting property values from depreciation, use zoning also effects economy in street layout and the supply of water, electric, and sewer service, thereby providing each kind of district with exactly the type of service needed and at the lowest cost.
Other very desirable types of zoning limit the maximum height of buildings, their minimum set-back from street and lot lines, their maximum area in re- lation to the lot and the minimum size of lots, These regulations are valuable for ensuring all inhabitants. adequate light and air and for preventing unhealth- ful conditions.
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Zoning regulations are administered by the build- ing inspector, subject to appeal to a Board of Appeals.
The character of zoning adopted in different com- munities varies greatly, according not only to the physical conditions in the territory but also to the de- sires of the inhabitants. Although the details are worked out by the Planning Board with technical as- sistance, the fundamental policies to be followed are determined by public sentiment, as expressed at num- erous hearings held in the different localities while the plans are being prepared. If subsequent exper- ience should reveal defects in the ordinance, or future changed conditions make different provisions desirable, amendments may be made by a two-thirds vote of the town meeting.
But although Braintree's zoning problem is not exactly like that of any other community, it would seem wise to take all possible advantage of the experience of other towns. This can be most readily done by retaining the services of some professional town plan- ning consultant who has made the study of these highly technical matters his specialty and who can view the local problems without any bias. His charges, the cost of the hearings, and the printing of the report would be practically the only expense of the operation. This under present conditions ought not to total more than $2000 which is a very small sum indeed in com- parison with the benefits to be received. The security which zoning affords will surely attract enough addi- tional valuation to the town to repay this expense in a very short time.
That zoning is thoroughly practical is shown by its wide acceptance all over the country. It has been adopted by 41 towns and cities in Massachusetts alone since 1920. All the communities within a radius of ten miles from the state-house except Braintree, Wey-
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mouth, Hull, Nahant, and Saugus have now either completed or are at work on zoning ordinances. This puts the unzoned territory in special danger of inva- sion by undesirable sorts of developement which are being excluded from other places. We feel that Brain- tree can not afford to lose any time in adopting this means of protection.
Therefore the Planning Board unanimously and strongly recommends that the town this year raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000 to be expended under the direction of the Planning Board for the purpose of preparing a comprehensive zoning by-law and report- ing the same to the town.
Another kind of provision for the future which is very important is the widening and straightening of our main highways, in order to adapt them to modern and future traffic conditions. This has already been well started and we hope it will be continued until all our principal thoroughfares are cared for. Among the most urgent needs remaining are Hancock Street between Thayer Avenue and Plain Street and Wash- ington Street at the Braintree Highlands railroad bridge. Liberty Street south of Norfolk Road, should be relocated before any important reconstruction is done on it and before the value of the adjacent land rises to such degree as to materially increase the damages.
We believe that the relocation, extension, and con- struction of Common Street as far as Sunnyside Park and the extension of the layout through to Granite Street should be pushed to completion this year. This will give much-needed relief to a number of tax-payers and will be a large step toward the provision of what will probably be some day one of our most important highways.
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