USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1932 > Part 11
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15768.00
32.97
Adams Street Resurfacing
1705.28
153.48
2933.41
4792.17
4803.00
10.83
Elm Street Resurfacing
991.16
133.30
1952.58
3077.04
3092.00
14.96
Liberty-Common-Pk. Ave .- Audubon ยท
4736.25
293.64
1229.87
6259.76
6260.00
.24
-
232
Street Signs
Audubon Road Surfacing
64.00
87.98
1529.85
1681.83
Cavanaugh Road
20832.61
2087.85 356.59
15897.49
38817.95
1864.00 100.00 40000.00 5000.00
1182.05 333.72
Transfer from Reserve Fund
Tarvia, Norfolk Sq. & Depot S. B
237.25
237.25
300.00
62.75
48108.64
5396.52
66317.04
119822.20
122451.82
2629.62
SUMMARY
Salary Superintendent Permanent Men
3500.00
3500.00
3500.00
9129.16
8603.09
17732.25
17755.00
22.75
Temporary Labor & Supplies
48108.64
5396.52
66317.04
119822.20
122451.82
2629.62
60737.80
13999.61
66317.04
141054.45
143706.82
2652.37
233
182.17 100.00
Sidewalks Gravel
792.83
3516.86
4666.28
BRAINTREE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT Equipment Values, 1932
Equipment
Bought
Original Value
Depreciation
1932 Valuation
No. 1. Truck, White, 5 Ton
1927
$5500.00
$5500.00
2. Truck, White, 5 Ton
1927
5500.00
5500.00
3. Truck, White, 5 Ton
1925
5500.00
5500.00
4. Truck, Sterling, Dump, 31/2 Ton
1931
5121.00
1280.25
3840.75
5. Truck, G.M.C., 31/2 Ton
1929
3924.10
2943.07
981.03
6. Truck, Sterling, 11/2 Ton
1931
1494.50
373.63
1120.87
7. Truck, Reo, Dump
1926
1500.00
1500.00
Coupe, Oakland
1930
1150.00
766.67
383.33
1. Gas Shovel, Byers (Skimming & Ditching Buckets)
.929
9270.00
4635.00
4635.00
2. Gas Shovel, Byers (Swimming Bucket) Tractor-Mead Morrison, 5 Ton
1931
8445.00
1407.50
7037.50
1925
5500.00
5500.00
1. Tractor-Caterpillar #10 with Snow Plow
1930
1635.00
1090.00
545.00
2. Tractor-Caterpillar #10 with Snow Plow
1930
1635.00
1090.00
545.00
3. Tractor-Caterpillar #10 with Snow Plow
1930
1635.00
1090.00
545.00
4. Tractor-Caterpillar #10 with Snow Plow
1931
1635.00
545.00
1090.00
Steam Roller-18 Ton
1924
5500.00
5500.00
Steam Roller 7 Ton Tandem
1922
2900.00
2900.00
Russell Road Scraper
1926
450.00
450.00
-
Crusher Plant with Breaker
1921
3800.00
3800.00
I
234
Cement Mixer
1924
843.00
843.00
Patching Kettle
1929
250.00
150.00
100.00
Gasoline Pump
1929
284.00
170.40
113.60
Burch Stone Spreader
1926
250.00
250.00
Burch Stone Spreader
1926
250.00
250.00
Cressy Road Sprayer
1921
2000.00
2000.00
Obsolete
Austin Road Scraper
1923
275.00
275.00
"
Tar & Asphalt Mixer
1921
1384.74
1384.74
Austin Loading Machine
1921
3075.00
3075.00
Sidewalk Forms-1000 ft.
1932
506.00
168.67
337.33
Curb Forms-600 ft.
1932
684.50
228.17
456.33
TOTAL
$81896.84
$60166.10
$21730.74
Highway Department Buildings Union Street
$2000.00
235
STREET AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHTING-1932 Actual Cost
MONTH
Hours Lighted HR. MIN.
KW. Hrs. Used
Lamp Renewals No. & Size
# 655 Cost
Labor
Maintain Lamp Repl. Labor Fixt. Electricity Cost Sockets & Patrol
Cost Sub-Totals
January
403.00
39990
70-100
$39.56
$48.23
$163.69
$474.33
$755.81
12-750
30.00
February
362.20
72780
365-100
206.32
105.62
176.35
846.64
1375.54
25-250
26.75
6-1000
13,86
March
346.47
68380
154-100
87.04
40.00
85.59
1079.75
1292.38
April
291.34
57220
387-100
218.75
42.32
118.73
701.66
1081.46
May
261.08
49305
165-100
93.27
40.30
186.41
611.88
931.68
June
234.26
48184
186-100
105.14
63.84
66.18
668.77
910.68
5-400
6.75
July
251.41
56450
1-1000
2.31
49.20
74.77
891.44
1066.90
August
275.41
56490
4-400
5.40
63.00
46.21
883.52
1067.66
September
319.35
63580
2-1000
4.62
58.72
14.25
1029.10
1201.66
October
373.05
72920
3-1000
6.93
80.93
51.20
1100.46
1378.19
25-250
26.75
198-100
111.92
November
397.18
79490
14-250
14.98
90.66
247.73
1092.47
1502.36
December
420.04
97203
198-100
111.92
78.88
154.51
1491.83
1837.14
Totals
3936,39
761992
2298-
1382.47
761.70
1385.62
10871.85
14401.64
236
87-100
49.18
123-100
69.53
168-100
94.97
100-100
56.52
TRAFFIC SIGNALS
West & Granite
3500
17-60
3.40
62.75
66.15
Grove & Plain
550
2-60
.40
9.99
10.39
Union & Liberty
3650
14-60
2.80
66.18
68.98
Central Ave.
234
4.42
4.42
Police Spot
2700
9-500
19.44
31.59
51.03
Church E. Bra.
3825
4-500
8.64
53.75
72.29
11-300
9.90
776451
2355-
1427.05
11100.53
14674.90
1932 Loss in Operation
2318.65
CASH RECEIVED
12356.25
237
STREET LIGHTING - ESTIMATE 1933 Set up as of January 1, 1933
#Lights
Lumens
Wattage
System Series
Parallel System
Location
1164
1000
63.7
75000
65
2500
145.4
10000
4
4000
223.5
1000
31
10000
520.
16000
4
4000
223.5
1000
19
10000
520.
10000
1
60.
60
Central Ave. S. B.
14
60.
840
Union & Liberty. E. B.
120
Grove & Plain. S. B.
1200
West & Granite. B.
3
500.
1500
Police Lights
1
250.
250
1
300.
300
1
500.
500
"
"
10
750.
7500
3 mos. Little Pond.
1340
31500
4236.1
113000
12270
STREET LIGHTING Estimate 1933 Net Cost 776450 at .01472
Kw. Hrs.
$11,430.81
Lamp Renewals
1,427.00
Fixtures
.......
1,100.00
Labor
1,042.19
TOTAL
$15,000.00
2
60.
20
60.
238
Church. E. B. "
"
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Planning Board OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE FROM
December 31, 1931 to December 31, 1932
F.BRA
NE CIR CO
MOJ
..
SS
1640.
Printed by Order of the Town
240
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The Planning Board presents its report for the year 1932.
About the middle of the year, owing to the considera- tion of health, Mr. Theron I. Cain felt it necessary to resign from the Planning Board, of which he had been a valued member for eight years and its chairman for most of that time. Mr. Cain is a well-informed and de- voted student of the problems of town planning and community improvement. He was a conscientious and diligent servant of the town, giving untold time, thought and labor to making Braintree a better place in which to live. His vision and foresight were a constant inspiration to his fellow members of the Board.
Mr. Archie T. Morrison was appointed to fill the va- cancy caused by Mr. Cain's resignation at a joint meet- ing of the Selectmen and members of the Planning Board held in November. We are indeed fortunate in the ap- pointment of Mr. Morrison, a Braintree citizen of twenty- one years standing, and who has always taken an active interest in town affairs. Mr. Morrison brings consider- able experience to our work of town planning for he had a prominent part in the zoning problems of the City of Quincy and is at present chairman of the Industrial Conservation Committee of its Chamber of Commerce.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
In its report for the year 1931, your Planning Board referred to the important work done during that year under Professor Comey's direction on the first stage of the "Comprehensive Plan." It recommended that the second stage of that task should be carried out during 1932. Due to the fact that the necessary funds were not
241
appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting, it was im- possible to continue that work this year. As explained in previous reports of this Board, the "Comprehensive Plan" is a matter of great importance in the future de- velopment of this town and it is therefore highly de- sirable that the second stage of that plan be prepared in the near future, as the expense will be small and the resulting benefits to the town will be large.
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS
During the past year, your Planning Board has been fortunate in securing the services of three to four sur- veyors employed by the Emergency Planning and Re- search Bureau of Boston, and these men were used by this Board to make several topographic surveys in cer- tain undeveloped sections of the town. The work done by these men was carried on at practically no expense to the town due to the fact that the Bureau paid the wages of the men from funds subscribed for the purpose of aiding unemployed engineers and draftsmen, and the plan of operation provided for the employment of the men on public work which would not be done by those regularly employed on such work. The results achieved in Braintree by this procedure have been very gratifying and the topographic plans prepared by these men from their survey notes are splendid pieces of work which will ultimately be invaluable to the town. The two most note- worthy surveys made were (1) a section of undeveloped land between the intersection of Pearl and Liberty Streets in Braintree and Summer Street in Weymouth and (2) a considerable area between Peach Street and Division Street in the south part of the town. The first survey will be invaluable in connection with determining the most economical route for a probable future highway in that section and the second survey will be equally im-
242
portant in the layout of the best routes for future streets to make more direct connections between the Braintree Highlands School and Division and Peach Street.
ADDITION OF TOWN ENGINEER TO THE BOARD
At the last Annual Town Meeting it was voted that the Town Engineer should be a member, ex-officio, of the Planning Board. That action has proven to be wise and constructive and your Planning Board deeply appreciates the spirit of cooperation which Mr. George N. Watson has shown during the past year. His assistance in direct- ing the work of the men engaged in the topographic sur- veys previously described was very helpful to your Board.
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BI-CENTENNIAL
Every school boy and girl knows that George Wash- ington's first profession was that of surveyor. He was so competent that when still a youth of seventeen he was entrusted with important commissions to survey large tracts of country. Probably no man has ever travelled on foot and horseback over so wide a space of America. In addition to this practical experience Washington had that rare ability which sees into and plans for the future. Of this the city which bears his name stands witness.
On July 16th, 1790, Congress voted that the President should be entrusted with the care of choosing on the Potomac River a territory of ten square miles which should become "the Federal Territory" and the perman- ent seat of the Government of the United States. It was characteristic of Washington that his choice was quickly made for he had ridden or walked all over the area which he selected. He then appointed L'Enfant to carry out the practical work of creating the capital city but did
243
not relax his guiding genius. Glenn Brown in his "His- tory of the United States Capitol" writes :
"L'Enfant's draft was altered and the map completed under the direction of General Washington who, with a clear understanding of the situation, gave close and pain- staking personal attention to everything that related to the District of Columbia of the Federal City. This ac- curate knowledge of details and interest of the President is clearly shown by letters to the Commissioners and others in authority at that time. Most important for the future beauty and artistic effect of the city were the se- lection and location of building, statuary, and monument sites. Washington, L'Enfant, and Ellicott, who was do- ing the fieldwork, went over the ground together and, as a note on the map says, 'carefully selected the sites of the grand edifices where they would command the greatest prospect and be susceptible of the greatest im- provement.'"
With these facts of American history as inspiration the Massachusetts Bi-Centennial Commission early in the year appointed a committee on Town Planning with Mrs. Charles Sumner Bird of Walpole as chairman which evolved the Game Plan contest for young people. The plan was immediately endorsed by the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards. The committee gener- ously volunteered its services and Capt. Percy R. Creed its secretary, an eloquent speaker on American history, presented the Game Plan before the assembly of our high school.
With the splendid cooperation of our superintendent of schools, Mr. C. Edward Fisher, the principal of the high school, Mr. James L. Jordan, Mr. G. Vinton Jones of the Civics department and others of the high school faculty, about seventy pupils entered the contest. In
244
these Game Plans, the young people gave descriptions of Braintree as it is in 1932 and as it should be in 2032, with maps. The Planning Board's Pathfinder Survey, first part of Braintree's Comprehensive Town Plan, with its data and twenty-four valuable maps (described in the Annual Report, 1931) filed in the town engineer's office, furnished a large source of information for the pupils.
The public exhibition of these Braintree town plans was held in the Braintree High School on the afternoon of December 13, 1932, at which time your Planning Board made the following awards: First prize of $10.00 to Theodora Lytle; second prize of $5.00 to Edward Odell, Robert Odell and George E. Warren, Jr. for their group effort; five third prizes of $1.00 each to Carl A. Bergman, Suzanne Blodgett, C. Fuller, the co-operative work of Doris Bean, Gertrude Mann and Phyllis Cushing; also Gertrude Mann and Dorothy Perr. At the Norfolk Coun- ty exhibition held in the gymnasium of the Dedham high school, December 17, where Braintree covered a large center section, our young people made a most creditable showing.
The meaning of the Game Plan was succinctly ex- pressed in an editorial of the "Braintree Observer" of December 16, 1932, which we quote in part:
"It is a happy augury for the future of Braintree, when our young people, while mindful of our past history and aware of the present, are moved to penetrate, in imagin- ation, the future and meditate upon what the home com- munity might become, with local pride to foster, and intelligent foresight to plan, the things that will result in greater civic beauty, charm and utility."
245
RECOMMENDATIONS
(a) COMPREHENSIVE TOWN PLAN
Your Planning Board appreciating the need for strict economy in town expenditures has not asked for any appropriations to begin the work in the general pre- liminary town plan which would be the second stage of the Comprehensive Town Plan.
Our 1931 report outlined the work accomplished, to- gether with maps and data placed on file and made avail- able for interested parties. For the same reason as stated above no appropriation was made in 1932.
However, in order that the Town may realize on the efforts and money already expended in securing data and preparing maps and for consultant fees it is recommend- ed that early consideration be given to proceeding with the next and more important stage of the Plan, the com- pletion of which with the third and final stage and its acceptance by the town can only result in the saving of many thousands of dollars to the Town and the yielding of many more thousands through inspiring desirable residents to live within an attractively developed and carefully planned community.
(b) CIVIC CENTRE .
Your Planning Board together with many of the citi- zens of the Town favor a civic centre development. The acquisition of land available and opposite the town hall would make possible a balanced arrangement and a most attractive and practical future development of such a centre. Many fine civic centre developments may be seen in a drive through some of our North and South Shore towns.
It is again recommended that consideration be given
246
as early as possible to acquiring this property for the purposes stated.
(c) MONATIQUOT PARKWAY
There are many places of scenic beauty along the streams of Braintree that might easily be lost to the town by the encroachments of buildings. One such is the glen shaded by stately willow trees through which the Mona- tiquot River tumbles in a series of cascades, located in East Braintree near the junction of Allen and Commer- cial Streets. The trustees of Thayer Academy offer this land, comprising several acres to the town for public park or other civic purposes. The acquiring of this beautiful site entails no expense to the town and your Planning Board recommends its acceptance. May this deed of gift be an inspiration to citizens and organiza- tions who are in a position to help the town acquire other areas for civic purposes for the future development and preservation of Braintree's natural beauty.
INVITATION
In closing our report we again invite any citizen or any community group having suggestions pertaining to planned town development to communicate with your Planning Board Chairman or with any of its members. We need the co-operation of every interested citizen where it concerns street, park and general development. Like an individual a town or city is invariably judged by the appearance it makes. As citizens we are all re- sponsible for whatever this appearance may be. Make our town attractive so that it will thus serve to invite desirable residents to our community and lighten the present individual tax burdens.
Town and city planning means the application of busi-
247
ness methods and practical ideas to development and growth which usually covers a period of many genera- tions. Every one appreciates the need and value of plans in connection with home constructions and engineering developments of any type.
Why not help to plan your town too?
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH W. PARKER, Chairman J. CALEB JUSTICE, Secretary JOHN F. CLINTON SAMUEL M. ELLSWORTH ARCHIE T. MORRISON GEORGE N. WATSON,
Town Engineer Members of the Planning Board.
ZONING COMMITTEE REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1932
Early in the year the Zoning Committee comprising fifteen members was divided into sub-committee each of which was assigned a portion of the proposed Zoning By-Law for study and revision. These reports are now ready for the consideration of the committee as a whole. Since it has been found impossible to complete the work in sufficient time to place before the Town for vote in March 1933, the Town is asked to accept the Committee's report of Progress and to continue the Zoning Commit- tee carrying over last year's appropriation in order to complete the proposed Zoning By-Law for submission to the Annual Town Meeting in March 1934.
KENNETH G. BLODGETT, Chairman, J. CALEB JUSTICE, Secretary.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Department OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE FROM
December 31, 1931 to December 31, 1932
F .BR
MOI
TREE
.1640.
SS
Printed by Order of the Town
250
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. Henry D. Higgins, Chairman, 490 Washington St., Braintree.
Mrs. Alida N. Stevens, Secretary, 75 Tremont Street, South Braintree.
Mr. Howard B. Blewett, 363 Tremont Street, Braintree. Mr. Wilford P. Woodsum, 99 Academy Street, South Braintree.
Mrs. Harriet B. W. Kimball, 137 Shaw Street, East Braintree.
Mr. C. Frederick Tarbox, 27 Willard Street, East Brain -. tree.
Superintendent of Schools
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, 39 Oak Street, Braintree. Office Telephone Braintree 0782.
Office Hours
On School days from eight to nine a.m.
Secretary
Miss Thelma Mackenzie, 48 Plain St., South Braintree.
Office Hours
Eight to twelve, one to five, on days when school is in session.
Meetings of the School Committee
Second Monday evening of each month at eight o'clock in the Town House, Washington Street, South Brain- tree.
251
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 1, 1933.
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree:
For your School Committee's report this year there might be simply a reprint of last year's report, for con- ditions in this department are as stated in last year's report, except that perhaps the needs are becoming more and more apparent, and as time goes on there is no doubt but what the public will see and appreciate the needs and take the necessary action to meet them. It seems unfortunate that the town is not in a position to take advantage of the present low prices existing for labor and material, and enter upon a building program which would not only satisfy present needs but also anticipate the future, rather than wait for prosperity and then be obliged to pay the higher prices. The most this depart- ment can do is to do the best it can with the facilities provided, and that will continue to be done.
Following this may be found reports from our Super- intendent and others engaged by your School Committee for the organization, supervision, and instruction of the children in the Town. We feel that they are worthy of your attention.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY D. HIGGINS, Chairman ALIDA N. STEVENS, Recording Secretary HOWARD B. BLEWETT WILFORD P. WOODSUM, HARRIET B. W. KIMBALL, C. FREDERICK TARBOX,
School Committee.
252
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
January 1, 1933.
To the School Committee :
I present herewith, as Superintendent of Schools, my twelfth annual report of the School Department.
I would suggest that last year's report be read, for it applies today, and in conjunction with what I say this year makes a more complete picture of the situation.
The Department lost 8 teachers by resignation, and was obliged to put five more teachers in the high school corps, thus making it necessary to select 13 teachers.
Because of a petition presented to the State Board of Education, it was necessary to provide transportation for many High School pupils.
Repairs to buildings during the year were very few, as the funds available for such work were smaller than at any time for many years.
With the assistance of the Welfare Department an excellent piece of work was accomplished on the play- ground at the Highlands School, and it is to be hoped that another year similar work may be done on other school grounds. Some start has already been made at the Penniman and Abraham Lincoln, and I hope it will be carried on to a finish.
Our school buildings are being used by an energetic and loyal group of parent-teacher associations which are actively interesting themselves in our schools, and in my judgment this is as it should be. Not only is this ad- vantageous to our schools, but the general public also is profiting thereby. I hope the time may come when there
253
can be in the school department budget a considerable sum of money appropriated for the purpose of securing speakers of reputation who can talk with authority on some of the topics of the day, and inform the general public. There is no reason why the large investment in buildings should not be used for the purpose of instruct- ing and entertaining the adult population, although primarily constructed for the education of children, when such use causes no unreasonable wear and tear and does not interfere with the education of children. Our Sacred Concerts in the high school, free to the public, one of which is to be given on January 22, are along this line.
Probably the one great question in everyone's mind is that question involving dollars and cents-in other words, costs. Fortunately the State Board of Education in this state issues a very complete detailed report of costs, and puts the facts in table form, thus making most convenient the opportunity for comparisons. From a study of these tables we see that there are but 66 school systems out of 355 in the whole state where the per pupil cost was less than in Braintree. We have a larger population than two cities in the State, but we have a larger average mem- bership in our schools than six cities. There are 11 towns with a larger population, but only six of them have a larger average membership in their schools.
It should be of interest to compare costs, etc., for a ten-year period in Braintree :
State
1921
State Rank
1931
Rank
Average Membership
2247
3500
Valuation per pupil
$5372 .-
235
$7061 .-
167
Cost per pupil (taxation)
56.12
204
74.77 193
In 1921 our valuation per pupil put us in 235 position of the 355 in the State, and our cost per pupil was 31
254
places ABOVE, whereas in 1931 our cost per pupil was 26 places BELOW our rank with respect to valuation per pupil.
Our budget for 1933 as made out and presented to the Finance Committee calls for $324,800.00, which is nearly $17,000.00 more than last year, accounted for in the following way: $1,500.00 more for teachers, since it will be necessary to have 2 more teachers in the high school next year on account of about 100 more students to in- struct, and this, with increased enrollment in the grades, explains the need of about $3,500.00 more for textbooks and supplies. $3,000.00 more for transportation as a result of the State requiring transportation to and from the High School. The balance of the increase is accounted for by the desire of this Department to do everything possible to get your school plant into a condition such that there may be the least depreciation possible, and this requires a large amount of painting which should have been done before now but appropriations have not been made sufficiently large so that it could be done.
I might continue this report and give many more facts, but it costs money to print it, and anyone wanting any information pertaining to this department and its work can get it by just coming into the office of the Superin- tendent of Schools in the Town Hall and asking for it.
There are reports following which give detailed in- formation regarding the various activities of our schools, and I recommend them to your attention.
Respectfully submitted, C. EDWARD FISHER. January 1, 1933.
255
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, Superintendent of Schools, Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
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