USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1931 > Part 4
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8. Benediction Rev. Robert E. Bisbee
9. March "Field of Glory" Bennett
Orchestra
BATES SCHOOL CLASS OF 1931 SONG By Helena Gammons Tune-"Anchors Aweigh"
Teachers and classmates true
Our work is done
Now we press onward
Till our High School course
Is won-Then ONWARD!
To Bates School our thoughts and hearts
Often will turn
No matter where we are for happy days
At dear old Bates we'll yearn
Years have flown swiftly by In work and in play
Teachers have helped us all along
The upward way-Climb ONWARD!
May we bring honor to our class' fair name
Bring to old Bates School glory
By our future character and fame.
School Colors: Blue and Gold School Slogan: Onward!
60
TEACHERS BATES JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Henry B. Burkland, Principal, Social Studies; Music. Mark R. Shibles, Vice-Principal, Science; Physical Education
Elizabeth H. Benson, English Olive M. Kidd, Mathematics Guidance Faye H. Deane, English Lucy E. Merrihew, Mathematics
Martinia K. Donahue, English; music E. Dorothea Savithes, Grade VI
Harriet M. Jones, Social Studies Effie D. Tucker, Art; Social Studies
SUPERVISORS
Walter G. Hicks, Penmanship Sylvia C. Matheson, Art Wirt B. Phillips; Music
WAPPANUCKETT SCHOOL Helen K. Fagan GRADUATION LIST BATES SCHOOL
Adams, Austin
Keough, William F.
Alger, Ellen K.
Kinsman, Leah D.
Anderson, H. Vera
Kinsman, William L.
Athanasiou, Charlotte M.
Kotchoun, Armenouhi
Bagdon, Alice E.
Lehto, Eino E.
Baker, Margaret H.
Littlejohn, Lois W.
Beal, Robert J.
Liukko, Niilo H.
Beattie, James W.
Long, Louise M.
Benson, Carroll W.
MacDonald, Charles K.
Berry, Earle H.
Maleska, Josephine J.
Blouin, Leah V.
Marra, Ralph P.
Blouin, Mildred L.
Mason, Edward W.
Borsari, Rose M.
Mason, Evelyn M.
Butler, Burton R.
Massicott, Ernest H.
Byram, Bettina L.
Maxim, Doris
Cabral, John Caldwell, Roger
McNeil, Walter J.
Cali, Jennie A.
Milette, France A.
Cali, Rose M.
Mitchell, Harry G.
Camandona, Margaret
Moles, Mary
Card, Roy B.
Morse, Helen F.
Carriero, Joseph
Mott, Barbara V.
Carver, Winsor R.
Murray, Helen A.
Chouinard, Florence A.
Murtha, Evelyn E.
Collins, Dorothea L.
Nitz, Mary H.
Crosier, Enid F.
Norris, Martha E.
Curley, Barbara L.
Osborne, Melva R.
Cushing, Robert L.
Pasztor, Helen M.
DeArruda, Margaret M.
Pearson, Laura B.
Dunham, Anna M.
Pelletier, Jeannette
Dzenawagis, John S.
Penna, Peter F.
Perry, Bernard J.
Eaton, Elinor E.
Mendall, Seaton C.
Card, Earl W.
Morrison, Laura A.
61
Eayrs, Edith L. Egger, Norman F. Erickson, Ethel M. Falconieri, Marie G. Finneran, Alfred T. Foster, Vincent A. Freed, Robert V. Galanto, Josephine Gallagher, Arthur M. Gallagher, Philip T. Gamache, Ernestine A. Gammons, Helena E. Garafalo, Josephine M. Gauthier, Gerard J. Gerrior, Blanche O. Goldman, Lillian P.
Gomes, Arthur E. Gomes, Kenneth E. Goodale, Harry J. Guilford, Earle F. Hadsell, Henry G. Ham, Elizabeth R.
Harlow, Elliott W., Jr. Hathaway, Avis E. Hinds, Gertrude M. Horbal, Esther Howes, Herbert S. Howes, Robert F. Iampietro, Michael A.
Jefferson, Edwin F. Jennings, Robert E. Johnson, Ada F. Keegan, Eileen P. Kelley, Dorothy L. Kelley, Helen M. Kelly, George F.
Phillips, Blanche E. Powell, Robert N. Reed, David G. Ricco, Mary P. Riggs, Leonard A.
Robbins, Otis N. Robidoux, Arthur C.
Rorschach, Otto A.
Rose, Leah A. Rullo, Albert J.
Russell, Arnold L.
Sabalewski, Charles
Savage, Henry W. Scanlon, Marie D.
Shaw, Madeline Shaw, Maxine F.
Shurtleff, Alice E.
Silvia, Emily L.
Silvia, Mary E. Smarch, Eva
Smith, Albert W. Smith, Ruth A. Sowyrda, Theodora
Stetson, Warren L.
Stuart, Edmonde C.
Thomas, Marion B.
Vickery, Beatrice A.
Wall, Roger B. Washburn, Charles P.
Waters, Lillian
Waters, Valerie
Weeman, Audrey G.
West, Elmore L.
Wilbur, Edgar E.
Wilbur, Madeline M. Wright, Crawford
Wrightington, Hazel C.
WAPPANUCKET SCHOOL
Duphily, Lillian R.
Hopkins, Beatrice E.
62
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit the Twenty-Third annual report and detailed statement of the duties performed by the Police Dept., of the Town of Middleborough, for the fiscal year ending December 31st, 1931.
The past year has been an unusually busy one. There being a large increase of automobiles going down to the cape, also several extra miles of road to be patrolled due to the state building a by-pass from the Bridgewater line to Fall Brook corner.
I recommend that two horns be installed over the signal boxes that are located at the center and at Everett Square. To be used in case of calls during the day, as at the present time the lights cannot be seen during the day.
CHIEF OF POLICE
ALDEN C. SISSON
SERGEANT William Murdock
ACTING SERGEANT Charles H. Rogers
PATROLMEN.
Alton R. Rogers Lorenzo W. Rice
Thomas L. Pittsley
CLERK
Chester Rice.
63
SPECIAL OFFICERS
Paul Anderson
Myron A. Bump
Herbert W. Batchelder
George A. Barney
William O. Casey
Arthur B. Caswell
Walter R. Carmichael
Jesse Carpenter John T. Connors
Alton T. Smith
George Fredette
Ralph Sampson
Robert E. Hewitt
E. Kimball Harrison
Leroy E. Mawhinney George Besse
Harry W. Hull
James J. Vigers
Samuel Hathaway
Jesse C. Wilbur
Wallace Grant
Harold S. Wood
OFFENCES
Males
Females
Total
Assault and battery
11
1
12
Bastardy
1
0
1
Breaking and entering and larceny
10
2
12
Capias
5
0
5
Concealing lease property
6
0
6
Causing injuries to property
6
0
6
Drunkeness
74
2
76
Disturbing the peace
3
0
3
Lodgers
24
0
24
Motor Vehicle Violation
131
1
132
Neglect of children
3
1
4
Non-support
8
0
8
Operating under the influence
20
0
20
+
Alexander Heath Warren E. Jefferson
Louis Littlejohn Patrick McMahon S. Edward Matthews James McDonald Harold Moranville John J. Sullivan
64
Larceny
10
0
10
Violation of game law
6
0
6
Insane
7
3
10
Escaped prisoners
1
0
1
Evading car fare
2
0
2
Ringing false fire alarms
2
0
2
Track Walking
7
0
7
STATISTICAL REPORT OF POLICE DEPART- MENT
Ambulance calls
12
Arrest for out of town officers
9
Amount of fines imposed in Middleboro Court
$4,590.00
Automobile accidents investigated
125
Automobile accidents fatal
5
Automobile accidents persons injured
47
Buildings found open
125
Cases investigated
600
Disturbances quelled without arrest
4
Defective sidewalks reported
2
Defective water-pipes reported
1
Defective street lights reported
75
Dogs shot
7
Number of arrests during the year
131
Males
126
Females
2
Minors
3
Non-residents
58
Native born
73
Foreign born
55
Number of commitments
10
Number of adult cases in Middleboro Court
488
Number of Minor cases in Middleboro Court
15
Number of non-residents in Middleboro Court
320
Nuisances
2
65
Summons served
500
Street obstructions removed 1
Sale of second-hand automobile reported 969
Value of stolen property recovered and restored $1,200.00
Warning tags on autos
100
MOTORCYCLE REPORT
Cost of operation, of Indian Motorcycle,
repairs, oil, gas
$62.00
Auto Violators reported to Police Headquarters
90
Cases in Court
63
Fines taken in the Court
$540.00
Summons served
15
Obstructions on highway removed
2
Assisted Motorist
10
Accidents reported
15
Disturbance quelled without arrest
1
Mileage
3,466
CONCLUSION
I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for the assistance that the operators of motor vehicles of the Town of Middleboro have given me in the past year. We have had five fatal accidents in the past twelve months, these accidents were due to careless operation of the out of town operators in every case except one. In all cases the parties involved were brought before the Fourth District Court, and were all convicted of operating so as to endanger. We have had fewer accidents and injuries to person than we have had in previous years. Three of these fatal accidents were on the new by-pass and were pedestrians on the highway.
I wish to thank the Superintendent of Schools for the system he has installed into the schools for the education of the children in regards to traffic.
66
I wish to thank the operators of the local telephone ex- change for the good service given the department, which has been a great assistance in our work.
I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for the as- sistance and cooperation given me by the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Fourth District Court, the people of the Town of Middleborough, and the officers of the Department, who have helped to make the administration of this depart- ment a success.
Respectfully submitted, ALDEN C. SISSON,
Chief of Police.
N. MAIN 1
I
1
PLANNING BOARD PARKING CENSUS
x -xxxx
-- JACKSON
1
PETRCE
1
7
1
1
LEGEND
1.
1
1
1
1
1
-
1.
PEARL
×
Single Car
-
1
1
1
1
1
1
xxx
1
1
X
xx
1
1
- 1
1
--
NICKERSON
1
1
-
1
-
1
X xxxx XX
X X
1
1
1
×
1
1
-
I
Sch.
AVERAGE WEEKLY MAXIMUM
MONTH OF APRIL 1931
309 TOTAL CARS
12 MISPARKED
1
-
1 T
-
R.A. Trufant
1
1
1
1
1
-
1
/01
GH
1
1
1
1
1
1
1-
-
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Mx lowy
XX xxxx x
WEBSTER
1
Hall
Parking Space
- WAREHAM
L
0,
XXXXX
7 -
Misparked Carl 1
CLIFFORD
CENTER
- 1
S. MAIN
-
1
UNION
Vacant Space
Proposed 250-Car
- Solid Parking
SCHOOL fee
X
14 OVERCROWDING
-megnetic
PEIRCE
STREET
72.0
Joseph ( Whitcomb
Charles
F Martin et al.
Ella M. Caswell
Ernest E. Thomas
483.9.
Wilson d. Harlen
John
H. Mayode
APT
1070
1
MAIN
25:
1
LXFuller
$46
$2.01
a
Sylvester
DIgna P.
¥5
I stary Brick
$
aruce & Pierce ital
11
83
63 21 62 83
STREET
PLANNING BOARD
PARKING SPACE
NORTH SIDE
50 CARS
SECOND STEP
55 CARS
THIRD STEP
Centre, School, Peirce and North Main Streets
TOTAL CAPACITY 250 CARS
Scale 1 inch = 30 feet. October 30.1930
47.
STREET
NORTH
trustees under wi er. .. Thenas. S. Peirce
autory frais.
via story Drie"
$34
i
25 49 74 37 12
$101
$18 5
CENTRE
FIRST STEP
145 CARS
teas Under withfor Thomas S. Peirce
Minnie C
Norris
STREET
Allen R. Thatcher Trustee Episcopal Parich
700 HOS
RYDER
Hello
Iscoulist
S.Edward Matthewa
Plan of Block
Frederia & wellman
67
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Selectmen and the Town of Middleboro :-
This second annual report of the Planning Board is to be considered and included with our recial report on the Parking Problem submitted to the Selectmen last summer. That special report represents a large part of the accomplish- ments of the Planning Board for the two years, and merits your earnest consideration.
The Town appropriated for the use of the Planning Board half the amount asked for at the February meeting. Later half of this was transferred from us by vote of the Town. We have operated, therefore, on one quarter of our estimated needs. We wonder if any other department equals this record.
We have secured a single air-map sheet of a small part of the Town, which the Assessors are working up into a sample Assessors' Map sheet for demonstration purposes. This should aid in determining the advisability of airmapping the whole Town.
A delegation attended the State meeting of Planning Boards at Lowell with benefit and at no cost to the Town. Their literature has proven of service.
We have been handicapped in that all our men members are employed and not available to attend conferences in busi- ness hours, and the ladies are naturally hesitant about at- tending meetings where it seems certain there will be no other ladies present. This precluded our participation in plans for police and courtroom accomodations. We hope to remedy this deficiency at this election.
We have further considered the problems connected with zoning, and are about ready to start an educational cam- paign on the subject.
We are prepared to sponsor an improvement program for the Town, by which the needs of the Town over a period of years may be budgeted, so as not to overburden the tax
68
rate of any one year. Such a program would include con- struction to supplant the Union Street School, and similar needs of the Town which are urgent.
We recommend modification of the water rates to permit gradual expansion of the system; development of facilities for neglected areas such as Hillside Avenue, etc. We repeat our last year's recommendation for replacement of shade trees as a low-cost employment and improvement project, and first steps toward a park-and-playground development.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL A. TRUFANT JANE V. PHINNEY ENID S. CROSIER KENNETH B. KEEDWELL
JESSE CARPENTER, JR.
Planning Board
69
REPORT ON PARKING PROBLEM
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen;
In accordance with the vote of the Town, the Planning Board has made a study of the parking problem. It is our privilege at this time to formally report on the matter to your Board and the Town, that action may be taken.
We find that the parking situation is indeed acute; also that the new State Highway, while lessening the risk of parking in the business district, has not eased the real trouble. State, County and Town are building better roads leading into our town, and extending them out further to enable rural customers to reach town. Our merchants spend large sums to decorate show windows and make the interior of the stores attractive. But between the roads and the counters is a very weak link-the parking facilities. Conditions today are as if a splendid system of railroads had no depots.
In this day and age towns are more and more coming into active competition with each other. In matters of trade this is especially significant. We strive to attract trade from the surrounding communities; still other centers strive to attract trade from here. Trade chooses for itself the best trading center for its purposes; elements involved are still distance (though less important with better roads), character of stores (though less important with identical chain stores everywhere), and convenience.
That item of convenience is increasing greatly in im- portance as the parking situation becomes worse. It may soon be the all-important consideration. The Carver or Plympton resident with the chain-store habit may trade here or at Plymouth or Kingston. No choice in road or distance; little choice in stores; how about convenience? The Lake- ville resident chooses between New Bedford, Taunton, and Middleboro. We must offer pretty good conveniences to get him. And so on around our borders-and even in South
70
and North Middleboro itself. The townspeople would benefit in taxes, prices, trade conveniences and store charac- ter could we double our trade territory.
During March and April we have been taking a parking census of the business district on several occasions each week. This work has been done by the Planning Board members, without cost. As a result, our data are limited by the spare time of the members. However, we find that in March, the average weekly maximum observed was 309 cars; and in April 351 cars parked in the business district at one time. We attach sample sheet showing what these conditions represent. Please note the "misparked" cars, which are parked at hydrants, crosswalks, driveways, in no-parking areas, etc. These are an indication of the actual congestion. The "overcrowding" classification is the additional number of cars which would have to be removed to make the district inviting to the prospective customer. We figure that one space in four should be vacant, on the average, in order not to discourage extra trade. We estimate the capacity of the business district for convenient parking at 225 cars.
In order to secure an inviting business district, we should provide accommodation for the "misparked" cars, plus the "overcrowding" cars, plus the cars which would move in from School, Peirce, Webster and other streets to take the places thereby made vacant. A place for them must be provided which they will use from choice in order to do any good. In view of the number of spaces thus required (85 for March, 125 for April) there is no alternative but the provi- sion of suitable off-street facilities. The fundamental of good accessibility for business development is well established yet there seems almost a deliberate attempt to ruin this accessibility by jamming the streets with parked vehicles. In a few years, the parking problem should be entirely over- come by the provision of suitable off-street facilities, which must be on a par with the street facilities as regards accessi- bility, proximity, and attractiveness.
71
The only way we find to accomplish this and still preserve the present high-value district is by block-center parking spaces. These can be made reasonably accessible, are in the closest proximity to the stores, and can be made as at- tractive as desired. The eventual development would be a hollow square of stores, fronting on the present streets and also on the parking space, with show windows, sidewalks, etc. on both. The cars entering this space would be sur- rounded by stores, all of which would be nearer than the average motorist is able to park at present during rush hours.
We have prepared outline maps of two such block-center spaces, one in the South Main-Wareham Street block and one in the North Main-Center Street block. Our parking census clearly shows that the greatest need is for the North Main-Center Street space.
We have studied other alternatives. All involve conflict · with human nature, however, as follows:
1. Spreading rush hours. This would involve breaking the Saturday Night habit, which is quite firmly fixed. Close study indicates that it would be better to take advantage of this trade habit by making Middleboro the only town nearby where good parking is available on Saturday night, and thus draw trade from competing communities.
2. Avoiding conflicts. When there is any entertain- ment at Town Hall or other large hall on trade nights, near- by parking facilities are overtaxed, and a bad impression is made on visitors to such functions. They will not venture to return to shop. Partial relief can be had by forbidding rental of Town Hall on trade nights, though nearsighted merchants will object. Further we cannot go.
3. Building a new business district, based on parking accessibility. It is unthinkable that we should thus desert our present high-value district.
4. Elimination of the Park Theatre. Parking conges- tion is worse during shows. A subsantial part of the Town Hall space is taken by movie patrons during show time, as well as space on South Main, Webster Street, etc. Substi-
72
tution of a parking space instead of the theatre would some- what improve conditions, though the site is small. The 1. cost and difficulties would probably be prohibitive.
5. Enlarge Town Hall parking space. There is at present no limit on size of this space. Cars can park over the entire rear yard of the Bates School, but they do not. Instead, they jam School St., North Main St., etc. In other words, the Bates School yard is too far from the stores to attract parkers. Even the bandstand vicinity does not fill until theatre-time, and largely empties when the show is out. We might better allow parking on Nickerson Street.
6. Enforcement of parking regulations. This would make for a safer town, but would decrease trade by driving it elsewhere.
7. Widening business streets. The cost is too high for a general widening, but opportunities should be watched for widening some stretches, such as the upper ends of Wareham an Jackson Streets, also School and Peirce Streets at the village.
To return to the subject of our planned parking space, we described the needs as 85 spaces for March and 125 for April. Please note that these are not summer-trade figures, but nearly bed-rock conditions. We anticipate that summer- visitor figures will add at least 50 to the requirements, making 175 car spaces desirable. Allowing for growth, we have developed our plan for a theoretical capacity of 250 cars. After noting the vagaries of the haphazard parker, we con- clude that about 225 cars would comfortably fill this space, unless some stall-marking system were employed.
We feel that we have shown the need for such a space. A glance at our plan should show its suitability. We will now turn to means for developing this space. The cost will depend on the attitude and degree of cooperation of the owners involved. The assessed valuation of the land re- quired is about $8,000. We do not feel that the owners of the business property should be paid as much as the as- sessed valuation, since their remaining land, with improved
73
parking facilities, will be worth more than their entire present holdings. However, some adjustment must undoubtedly be made, and some of the land is residential. We therefore assume that $1500 must be paid for land, and about $4500 for buildings, grading, lighting, etc., and a further $2000 for miscellaneous items, making a total of $8000.
This might be furnished and the work carried out in three ways:
1. By the Town.
2. By the merchants.
3. By the Town at the expense of business property abuttors.
The Town is not the direct beneficiary of the work, but the merchants would immediately be benefitted. However, the Town has the authority, and might vote the funds. We do not recommend this.
The merchants could finance the work, but if trouble developed with any one of the fifteen property owners, they would have no authority to take land legally for the work. It hardly seems possible that the merchants could carry it out.
However, the laws (Chap. 79, 80 and 80A) provide a means by which the Town could take the land under its powers of Eminent Domain, carry out the development, and assess the costs on the benefitted abuttors. All may have ten years to pay, and rents may be raised to reimburse owners, leases notwithstanding. Assuming that $800 per year were to be raised, and the entire cost met by the 25 stores in the block, the average store would be assessed $32 per year. This is a negligible amount for the benefits received. Of course the owners would be put to an additional expense for building entrances and probably show windows on the parking space.
The actual spreading on the assessment of benefits is a detail for the legal profession. The Board has attempted to estimate how this would be done, giving due weight to store area, land value, and distance from parking to store counters. We have spread the assessments on three differ-
74
ent bases, and find the greatest benefit for any one store varies from $98 to $127 per annum, and the least from $2 to $5 per annum. The smallest is for the School St. barber shop, and the largest is for either the Five and Ten or the Ryder store, depending on the method used. An average of the three spreads might be most equitable. We append a map showing the average of the three.
The objection will be raised that these assessments are not spread on the residential property abutting on the space as well. To meet this, the deeds may be drawn so that, in order to obtain access from such property to the space for business purposes, a contribution must be made by the owner, which would be spent for improvements on the space. Some such arrangement is essential, as the execution of this pro- ject will speedily convert all abutting residential property into business property.
Also, objection will be raised that we do not assess owners of stores across the street. This may be met by putting the boot on the other foot. If across-the-street owners find . it necessary later to develop center-block parking in their own blocks, stores already having center-block parking should not be assessed therefor. The most direct benefits will of course accrue to the abutting stores in any case.
We suggest that this report be published in suitable form and distributed to the business men and others involved; that your Board call a public hearing on the matter after such publication; and that suitable articles be inserted in the warrant for a Town Meeting as soon as advisable.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL A. TRUFANT, Chairman ENID S. CROSIER JANE V. PHINNEY KENNETH B. KEEDWELL JESSE CARPENTER, JR.
Planning Board.
75
WATER DEPARTMENT
There is little of unusual interest in this department this year.
All the hydrants have been flushed, tested and greased twice; once in the spring and again in the early winter, in order that we may be reasonably sure they will not freeze during the winter.
All the main gates have been tested and those found needing repairs have been fixed. The curb boxes have all been brought up to grade and the curb stops tested and re- paired. The dead meters have been taken out, repaired and reset.
In the fall it appeared that there would be a balance in this appropriation. In order to assist the unemployment situation and also to improve the grounds around the Pump- ing Station, some much needed grading was done; the river and brook walled in, and when a coat of loam is placed over the sub-grade, which we hope to do next year, the grounds around the Station will be much improved.
The filteration plant has done its work satisfactorily this year, but in 1932 it will be necessary to remove the sand in the sand filter and the coke in the reisler, as this expense amounts to about two thousand dollars, there will be but little money available for any other improvements in this department next year.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE,
Town Manager and Superintendent.
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