USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1924-1925 > Part 26
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As the fiscal year of the library ends in April the exact
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cost of maintenance for the calendar year cannot now be given. It is however always in excess of the amount appropriated by the Town, the difference being met by the income from invested funds, accumulated from gifts and legacies in the seventy years of its corporate exist- ence, which now amount to $26,700.
Despite the utmost prudence it is necessary at times to draw upon this capital for current bills, and that has been the case in the past year to a greater extent than heretofore; a regrettable proceedure that should be averted by an increase in the appropriation.
The library is maintained with efficiency as to service at an expense materially less than that of other towns fairly comparable with ours but its means are inadequate to meet the increasing demand for books of reference and for general reading. It is hoped and believed, how- ever, in view of the impressive facts set forth in the re- port of the librarian which follows, that the Town will prove its appreciation of the library by such a substan- tial increase in the appropriation as will help meet its immediate needs and enhance its usefulness to the com- munity.
The Board of Directors,
WILLIAM S. KYLE, President.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the directors of the Plymouth Public Library :
The following annual report of your librarian is re- spectfully submitted.
In spite of movies, radios, athletics and other modern amusements which tempt our leisure nowadays, our pub- lic library more than maintans its past record of ser-
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vice, for in order to keep abreast of the rapidly increas- ing inventions, discoveries, and complications of our twentieth century life, it is necessary to read, study and think more than ever before.
Our library is as serviceable as its limitations will allow, but its value could be greatly extended if more funds were available.
Dedicated as it is to the high purpose of helping every individual to realize a happier, a more interesting and more abundant life, its work is an integral part of our community welfare, furthermore as a recognized adjunct of our public schools it is contributing a service of far- reaching educational value.
It is hoped these facts, and the detailed record of the year's work which follows, will incline the Town to such an increase in its allowance to the library as will admit of extending its usefulness to the community.
The circulation of the past year was 67,081, the larg- est in the history of the library; a gain of 12,138 over that of 1924, and almost four times as great as the gain of the previous year.
The total attendance of 39,457 also exceeded that of any other year, and was more than 4,000 in excess of the record of the previous year. The juvenile attendance was 17,726; adult, for reading and reference alone, was 21,731. There was gain of 2,352 for the adult attend- ance and of 1,697 for the juvenile.
The total circulation of 67,081 consists of 45,647 adult books, 19,873 juvenile, 1,651 of which were circulated by various school deposits, and of 825 prints. Of these 1,479 were current periodicals, 106 Yiddish, Greek, German, French and Italian books.
Through the Inter-Library Loan, many volumes of non-fiction have been borrowed from the Boston Public and Boston Medical Libraries, and from the Division of Public Libraries at the State House. This work with
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the Inter-Library Loan is increasing rapidly and more and more requests are filled every year. If we do not have in the Library an important work which is desired by a borrower, the librarian will obtain it through some one of the Inter-Library Loan exchanges.
During the school year of 1925, the librarian visited the High School, the Junior High School and every third and sixth grade in town, and addressed the pupils on the functioning of the Library and its relation to the schools. The visits to the third grades were made during the week preceding "Children's Book Week," November 11. Many of the new children's books were exhibited and the children were told that they could have a card at the Li- brary as soon as they were able to write their names in ink. These visits and talks resulted in 110 new juvenile registrations during "Children's Book Week," when the boys and girls came to the Library to examine the new juvenile books which were on exhibition.
In January, 1925, all registrations back of 1922 were cancelled, and the re-registration of all the borrowers, . whose cards were more than three years old, was begun. 'This was done so that our records would contain accurate and up-to-date information, and to weed out the regis- trations of borrowers who were no longer alive or living in Plymouth. This re-registration now takes place auto- matically when each card reaches its expiration date at the end of three years. During 1925, 2,997 registrations took place, 2,130 of which were adult, 867 were juvenile and 315 were temporary residents. There were 238 new adult registrations, 274 new juvenile and 73 new tem- porary residents. Strangers spending a short time in Plymouth may obtain a card by depositing $3.00, all of which is returned to them when the card is cancelled ; 28 people availed themselves of this privilege during the year.
The importance of the work with the children and the schools cannot be over-emphasized and every year finds it
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increasing rapidly. Beginning with March 18, 1925, a daily record of the reference questions has been kept, and from that date through December 31, 2,702 refer- ence questions were asked at the Library desk, and the great majority of these inquiries came from the school children and the information desired was a necessary completion of their daily lessons. The State Certificate reading has grown in popularity, and in June, 1925, Miss E. Kathleen Jones from the Division of Public Libra- ries, in the State House, Boston, Mass., presented 89 Honor Certificates to the pupils of the Knapp and Bur- ton Schools. She accompanied her presentation with a short talk on the value of books and reading in the devel- opment of one's life. To obtain an Honor Certificate each pupil must read twenty books from the State Certificate Reading List, and 89 Honor Certificates signify that 1780 books were read for this purpose alone. Deposits containing books on this list are placed in the school- rooms engaged in interesting the pupils to obtain an Honor Certificate, and in this way the books are avail- able at once for the pupil and the teacher. There has been the largest demand of any year for library book deposits in the schools, many teachers asking for them to use in addition to the school books, as well as for the Certificate reading. This has necessitated the buying of a large quantity of duplicate juvenile books, and even yet there are not enough.
The children's story hour, which Miss Haigh, the Children's Librarian, holds twice a month from Novem- ber until April, is greatly appreciated by the children who come in large numbers every year. During the win- ter of 1925, 307 children were in attendance.
1225 new books have been added to the Library, of these 159 were gifts, and 397 were replacements and du- plicate copies of standard works. 1856 useless books were discarded as a result of a complete and thorough investigation of the stacks on the part of the Librarian,
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Children's Librarian and the Book Committee, thereby securing more room for the adult books, and postponing the erection of new stacks for perhaps two years. This was a long and arduous piece of work, but a most nec- sary one, and the effort has been fully repaid with the knowledge that there is no "dead wood" on the Library shelves. There are now approximately 18,000 books in - the Library.
In addition to the activities described above, several changes of interest and improvement have occurred in the Library. Beginning with March, 1925, adult bor- rowers were allowed to take as many books of any kind as they wished on one card, the only restriction being that of one seven day book to a card. In order to sup- plement our copies of new fiction so that they would be available to a larger number of patrons a "Duplicate Pay Collection" was started on April 17. The books in this collection are duplicate copies of those on the seven day shelf, and five cents a week is charged for them. They soon pay for themselves, and are then added to our permanent collection. The duplicate pay copies can be reserved for any borrower upon request.
An intermediate book-shelf for Boys and Girls from 12-18 years was begun in July, and is of great help in filling in the gaps between the juvenile and adult depart- ments. It is endeavored to have in this department, some adult and some juvenile books that will appeal to the boy or girl who feels too old for the juvenile department, or too young for the adult, or who is not yet old enough (14 years) to obtain an adult card.
The exhibition given during Children's Book Week was followed by an exhibition for Education Week. Oc- casional articles in regard to the use of the Public Li- brary have been contributed to the Old Colony Memorial, and several posters calling the attention of the commun- ity to the Library have been placed in appropriate places about town. A new "Public Library" sign has been placed on the telegraph pole at the head of North Street,
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and our "Plymouth Public Library" electric sign has been re-set and re-painted. Several deposits of books were lent to the various Boy Scout camps in the out- skirts of Plymouth during last July and August. In September the "American Library Association Reading Courses," a part of the A. L. A. Adult Education plan were introduced by the Library, and the first one, the course in "Biology" attracted much interest. A different subject is issued each month, and the public found them very helpful and interesting.
The Library is very grateful to the following donors for many acceptable gifts of books, periodicals, pictures, etc. :-
Mrs. George Stephens, Jr., Rev. A. R. Hussey, Mrs. Wm. S. Townsend, Mr. Fritz Bittinger, Mrs. Henry Hedge, Mr. Wm. S. Kyle, Miss Hubble, Mrs. Arthur Finney, Mr. R. S. Kellen, Plymouth Antiquarian Society, Mrs. Alice Goddard, Mrs. Roger Holden, Mr. Joseph Helling, Plymouth Book Club, Government Printing Office, Dennison Mfg. Co., Mr. John Courtney, Smithson- ian Institution, U. S. Bureau of Education, Miss Anme P. Appleton, H. W. Wilson Co., Ford Motor Co., Mr. Chas. M. Remey, Plymouth County Health Association, Mass. Public Library Commission, Miss Lillian Poch, Mrs. E. H. Bradford, Mrs. Lombard, Mass. Dept. of Agriculture, Anne and Margaret Torbert.
MINNIE BURKE FIGMIC,
Librarian.
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List of Jurors
Adamson, William, Billington street, Standish Mill emp. Addyman, Arthur, 2 Phoenix court, machinist.
Akeley, Leon B. 70 Allerton street, dresser. Alexander, Earl, 65 Alden street, weaver.
Alsheimer, Albert P., 58 Summer street, rivet maker. Anderson, Robert, 12 So. Spooner street, Cordage emp. Anderson, Walter A., 57 Alden street, clerk.
Andrews, William F., 24 Mt. Pleasant street, clerk.
Armstrong, Robert, 5 So. Spooner street, Cordage emp. Armstrong, William, 370 Court street, machinist. Badger, Frank N., Edes street, weaver.
Bagnell, Michael J., 19 Winslow street, weaver. Bain, James, 1 1-4 So. Spooner street, Cordage emp. Baker, Harold W., 8 Chilton street, store manager. Barlow, George F., 103 Court street, janitor. Barnard, Peter D., 16 Murray street, loom fixer.
Barnes, George C., 9 Washington street, clerk.
Beauregard, L. Edgar, 4 Alden street, weaver. Beever, John A. 268 Court street, overseer.
Bennett, G. Vernon, 208 Court street, clerk.
Beytes, Leon H., 430 Court street, civil engineer.
Bittinger, Fritz John, 140 Court street, Mgr. Editor. Bliss, Frederic A., 5 No. Green street, clerk. Blueit, Edward, 16 North street, loom fixer. Bodell, James, 427 Court street, Cordage emp.
Bosworth, Leslie F., 427a Court street, engineer.
Brenner, Henry, 191 Standish avenue, laborer. Brewer, David L., Cliff street, Ins. Agent. Brewster, Wallace B., 51 Allerton street, electrician. Briggs, James A., 10 Lothrop street, percher. Briggs, Lyman W., 22 Oak street, clerk.
Buchanan, Vincent, 15 Winslow street, painter.
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Bunker, Guy C., 4 Sever street, foreman. Burns, Alfred S., 109 Court street, clerk. Cadman, John O., 128 Sandwich street, prison officer. Callahan, Michael T., 60 Court street, shipper. Cameron, William, 51 So. Spooner street, foreman. Carr, Charles F., 26 Middle street, laborer. Carver, Frank W., 20 Brewster street, salesman. Cash, Henry T., 49 So. Spooner street, Cordage emp. Cash, Willis F., 411 Court street, Cordage emp. Cassidy, Bernard W., 9 Oak street, clerk. Cassidy, Thomas L., 60 Summer street, clerk. Christie, Alfred C., 7 Fremont street, Cordage emp. Clark, William N., 30 Mt. Pleasant street, chauffeur. Coakley, Dennis P., 75 Samoset street, weaver. Cole, Charles F. Jr., 128 Sandwich street, machinist. Costello, Thomas J., Cedarville, laborer.
Dennehy, Jeremiah F., 47 Samoset street, finisher. Dittmar, Warren E. 152 1-2 Court street, Cordage emp. Dixon, Charles A., 4 So. Russell street, retired. Donovan, Richard J., 33 Allerton street, weaver. Douglas, Harold E., 88 Sandwich street, clerk. Drew, Ralph L., 4 Holmes Terrace, Cordage emp. Ellis, Elton P., 27 Mayflower street, carpenter. Ellis, Ernest C. Ellisville, carpenter. Flavell, Thomas F., 8 Park avenue, blacksmith. Fogarty, Thomas S., 11 Bay View avenue, clerk. Fox, Alfred, 10 So. Spooner street, Cordage emp. Gardner, John H., 51 Allerton street, chauffeur. Garvais, George, Oak street, weaver. Girard, Raymond F., 76 Standish avenue, electrician. Goddard, Harrison F., 14 Chilton street, clerk. Goddard, Walter W., 29 Samoset street, rope maker. Goldthwaite, George A., 3 Whiting street, woodworker. Goodwin, Bernard J., 28 1-2 Middle street, electrician. Gray, Norman W., 362 Court street, salesman. Grey, Burton R., 23 So. Spooner street, steam fitter. Hagen, Frank A., 16 Atlantic street, foreman.
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Harriman, William H., 150 Court street, salesman. Hathaway, Elmer W. 22 Pleasant street, retired. Hazen, James W., Manomet, farmer. Hedge, Isaac L., 367 Court street, retired.
Hemmerly, William H., 11 Bartlett street, chauffeur. Holmes, Charles B., Allen court, painter.
Holmes, Isaac T., 189 Court street, poultry raiser.
Holmes, Roland T., 11 Whiting street, clerk.
Hultenius, Axel, 37 So. Spooner street, Cordage emp. Jewell, Albion G. 5 Chilton street, musician.
Kelley, Frank C., 372 Court street, foreman.
Kinsey, Herbert F., 42 Alden street, pattern weaver.
Lanman, Herbert H., 7 Davis street, clerk. Leach, George A., Clifford road, farmer. Loring, Bernard D., 18 Clyfton street, musician.
Lowry, Abraham, 17 Whiting street, painter.
Luce, Arthur H., 17 Clyfton street, retired. Lumb, Fred, 11 Fremont street, harness raiser. Lumb, Thomas, 66 Samoset street, weaver.
Manter, Arthur L., 13 Mt. Pleasant street, painter.
Martin, Frank M., 243 Sandwich street, machinist.
McArdle, John F., 22 Davis street, salesman.
McCosh, John A., Manomet, clerk.
McEwen, Thomas G., 18 Fremont street, cloth examiner.
McNeil, H. Gordon, 63 Oak street, clerk.
Mooney, Earl, 24 Oak street, plumber.
Morse, Arthur L., 21 Mayflower street, clothier. Morton, Donald W., 31 Vernon street, musician.
Morton, Harry H., 3 Whiting street, clerk.
Morton, Louis, 4 South street, Cordage emp. Mulcahy, Frank H., 40 Russell street, weaver. Murphy, Cornelius P., 11 Court street, foreman. Nickerson, James M., Clifford road, carpenter. Norton, Thomas E., 16 Vernon street, weaver. O'Connell, John J. Jr., 20 Hall place, laborer. Oosterdiep, John W., 98 Allerton street, overseer. Otto, Albert B., 8 Centennial street, weaver. Paranteau, Alphonse, 31 Russell street, weaver.
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Paty, George L., Samoset street, Cordage emp. Peck, Adam, 366 Court street, foreman. Perkins, Isaac H., 19 Mayflower street, mason. Pierce, Charles H., River street, fisherman. Pratt, Ernest B., 52 Russell street, laborer. Priestley, Edmund J., 116 Sandwich street, weaver. Quartz, Frank Jr., 156 Court street, grocer.
Raymond, Charles H., 41 South street, rivet maker.
Reagan, Thomas W., 102 Sandwich street, watchman. Rich, Fred I., 99 Court street, overseer. Richard, John B., 21 Brewster street, barber. Richardson, Robert, Ship Pond, fisherman. Sampson, Harry G., 4 Bradford street, weigher.
Sampson, Ossian M., 66 Standish avenue, tack maker. Sears, Luther F., 240 Sandwich street, Cordage emp. Shaw, Elwood A., 70 Court street, retired. Sherman, Louis N., 133 Summer street, clerk. Simmons, Harry L., 36 Mayflower street, carpenter. Simmons, Walter T., 1 Murray street, shipper. Sink, Sidney L., 6 Lewis street, telephone inspector. Strong, Warren P., 27 Allerton street, insurance agent. Swanton, James S., 54 Allerton street, carpenter. Webber, Charles Jr., 28 Centennial street, percher. Woolford, George R., 24 Bay View avenue, jeweler. WILLIAM T. ELDRIDGE, HENRY W. BARNES, JR., WALTER E. BENT, FRANK EASTWOOD,
Selectmen of Plymouth.
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Report of the Town Planning Board
In the death of Mr. Arthur Lord, who had served as Chairman of this Board since its inception, the Town has suffered a great loss. His value will become more and more evident as we miss his wise counsel in all matters pertaining to Town welfare.
Since August, 1925, monthly meetings have been held and the following is a list of the various projects consid- ered by the Board :
1. The Westerly Route through Plymouth, which is still under consideration by the Board in conjunction with the State Public Works Department. There are some disadvantages in connection with the route first proposed, notably the cost of the fill necessary at Goddard's Meadow to extend Oak Street northerly to connect with Standish Avenue; the narrowness of Oak Street for a through route; the bad corner at Summer Street, and the cost of crossing Town Brook. Another route, still further west- erly and crossing Town Brook at or near Deep Water Bridge, is now being studied.
2. A plan for using Depot Park as a parking place for automobiles. This project was unanimously disapproved by the Board.
3. Parking place on School Street. Careful plans and estimates were made of this project and, after mature consideration this plan, too, was disapproved. In connec- tion with this a number of other suggested locations were studied but, for what appeared to be adequate reasons, were disapproved. The last suggestion for a parking . place which came before us was the northerly shore of Town Brook, west of the Morton grain mill, and this may be worthy of further consideration.
4. A plan for improvements at street corners by in-
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creasing the radius of curvature. The Board made an ex- amination of several dangerous corners, and recommends to the Selectmen a special appropriation of $1,000.00 to accomplish this at the following points :
Sandwich Street at Lincoln Street.
Court Street at Brewster Street.
Court Street at Clyfton Street.
Court Street at Vernon Street.
Court Street at Samoset Street.
Court Street at South Park Avenue.
Court Street at North Park Avenue.
Court Street at Allerton Street.
Allerton Street near the monument.
It is not the intention of the Board to encourage greater speed at these corners, but only to make it easier to turn into and out of the tide of travel with the least interrup- tion to traffic.
5. A proposition for erecting a building at the corner of a main street and a side street, so located that it would obstruct the vision and be an element of danger to traffic, as well as a disfigurement of the landscape. The Board appreciates the appearance before it of the proponent of this project, and hopes he has abandoned it.
6. Ornamental lighting on Water Street. In conjunc- tion with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Plymouth Electric Light Company, we considered and approved a plan for ornamental lighting on Water Street at Cole's Hill and the Rock.
7. Sanitaries near Cole's Hill. Several locations were suggested, the one most favored by the Board being at the southerly end of the reservation, near the outlet of Town Brook.
8. Acquiring by the Town, land easterly of Water Street, between the State Wharf and the new Town Wharf. The Board favors the acquiring by the Town at this time of so much of the above mentioned land as can be purchased at a reasonable price by agreement with the owners.
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9. Public landing places and proposed new road at White Horse Beach. The Town now owns no shore prop- erty between Beach Park and Cedarville, except, perhaps, two or three fifty foot strips at White Horse Beach. The Board believes that the Town should seriously con- sider extending the road at White Horse southerly to the Point Road. This is of itself desirable and, in addition, will give better access to these strips ; also, it may be pos- sible for the Town to acquire additional shore frontage in this vicintiy.
10. Proposed new road through the Alden Street School yard to connect Alden Street with Court Street. This is not considered expedient by the Board.
It is the desire of the Planning Board to be of the great- est possible service to the Town, and to that end we be- speak the support of all the citizens. Bring your ques- tions and your suggestions for town improvement to us and let us consider them together; let us be a clearing house for these matters. With cooperation of this kind we are sure many things can be accomplished that will be of benefit to the whole Town.
F. C. HOLMES, Chairman E. W. BREWSTER, ARTHUR E. BLACKMER, GEORGE S. GOODING, LE BARON R. BARKER,.
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Report of Fire Commissioner
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Being appointed to the office of Fire Commissioner on Nov. 2, 1925, releasing Mr. Fred A. Jenks at that time I beg to make the following report.
After making a careful inspection, as to the buildings, I found the Central Station badly in need of immediate repairs, the North Station, repairs of a minor nature will put that building in reasonable good condition.
Also found that the former Commissioner had under consideration in conjunction with the Chief of Police, the formulation of some definite plan in regard to the pre- vention of conditions by auto and others, thereby inter- fering with the efficiency of the Fire Department, and trust that in the near future such plans will be con- sumated.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY WALTON, Commissioner.
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Report of Chief of Fire Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Fire Com- missioner.
Gentlemen :
In compliance with the requirements of the State Laws, I respectfully submit the report of the Plymouth Fire Department, for the year ending December 31, 1925.
APPARATUS
Two Seagrave Tripple Combinations auto pumping engine, chemical and hose and wagons.
One Seagrave Combination pumper and hose wagon.
One Pope Hartford Combination chemical and hose wagon, in very poor condition.
LADDER TRUCKS
One Seagrave City Service Truck, One horse drawn ladder truck and chemical tank.
OTHER MACHINES ;
One Federal Service car and one Chief's automobile, Buick roadster.
RESERVE APPARATUS
Two steam fire engines, one horse drawn hose wagon.
HOSE
At the present time we have on hand 8,500 ft. of two and one-half inch double jacket hose in first class condi- tion. 1,500 ft. in fair condition.
FIRE ALARM
Over a mile of new underground cable was provided, slack wires were pulled up, bare wires insulated and tree
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grounds cleared and frequently gone over, a new box in- stalled at the Jordan Hospital, a mile of new over head wires run and all fire alarm boxes repaired, cleaned and frequently tested.
HYDRANTS
Several new hydrants were added in different parts of the town during the year, a careful inspection of each hydrant was made during the month of November, and all were properly drained, to prevent them freezing dur- ing the cold weather.
INSPECTIONS
During the year Hotels and lodging houses were in- spected and gone over, as required by the State Police and reports turned into the State House.
In conclusion I wish to extend my thanks to the Hon- orable Board of Selectmen, for their co-operation and interest in the welfare of the department, to the Police Department for their assistance, and to all others that have volunteered their services or assisted the depart- ment in any manner, and to the officers and members of the department, for the efficient and faithful manner in which they have performed their duty.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT E. HILLER,
Chief Fire Department.
(
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ORGANIZATION
Fire Commissioner, Chief of Department,
Deputy Chief of Department,
Fire Dept. Surgeon,
Henry Walton Albert Hiller Clifton Hatton Walter D. Shurtleff
CENTRAL STATION
Combination A. Tripple Combination
Combination D. Tripple Combination Combination B. Hose and Pumping Engine Captain, Fred W. Paty (Permanent) Alfred Nickerson (Call)
Lieutenant,
Permanent Men
Charles Schroeder Charles Shaw Everett Wood
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