USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1935 > Part 11
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The result of a hearing on better drawbridge service by the War Department Engineers affected only one bridge; an effort will be made this year to have the service improved on all drawbridges.
One new spar buoy was placed in the Saugus River at the Point of Pines as an aid to navigation by the Supt. of Light- houses as requested. Lobster Rock near the General Edwards Bridge was removed by the Public Works of Massa- chusetts.
An E.R.A. project for the elimination of obstacles in the Saugus River was successfully conducted for three months until discontinued. Much necessary work was accomplished on this project recommended by the War Department and Public Works Department of Massachusetts, and much more
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
work of the same nature should be undertaken.
As no appropriation has been made for this department all expenses and bills have been paid by the harbor master.
In conclusion I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen and all others who by their cooperation aided me during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP A. FARNHAM,
Harbor Master.
203
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS REPORT
1935]
Report of the Cemetery Commissioner
The Commissioners point with pride to the fact that we have. this year lived well within our appropriation of $8000, including a new truck. The receipts exceeded $10,000 for the year, and we are asking for an appropriation of $8000 for the year 1936.
The E. R. A. again furnished us with a number of good workers, which enabled us to lay over 9700 running feet of gutters, with suitable catch basins; and there was also graded some 63,000 square feet of ground.
Thanks are due the Selectmen for their hearty co-operation in this work, as well as the Board of Public Works; the Wel- fare Board, and Rev. Edward J. Carey, who deserves special thanks for his co-operation with your Board.
It is the desire of your Commissioners that a substantial fund for perpetual care be built up, to eventually reduce the Town's expense, and to this end all new lots sold include per- petual care, and as can be done, old lots are being brought into the fund.
Again an article is being inserted in the new Town Warrant for the purchase of the Montieth property at a cost of $5500, and we ask the further co-operation of the Town Meeting members in securing the only land available for the necessary extension of the cemetery. The Town by unanimous action last year voted to purchase this property for cemetery pur- poses, appropriating $5500 for the same. The item, however, was disallowed at the State House, much to our regret. Had we been allowed to purchase the property in 1935 in accor- dance with the vote of the Town, it is likely we would have been able to fill in and grade it at small expense with E.R.A. assistance, but it is doubtful whether this opportunity will again occur.
Estimates have been made of the total cost of the project, if adopted, and the outside figure for land, fill, wall and gate
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
is $12,500. The receipts, based on past experience over a fifteen-year period, will be in excess of $100,000. The citizens can readily see that this is not only a necessity but a profitable undertaking as well.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY A. B. PECKHAM, WILLIAM E. LUDDEN, BENJAMIN A. FULLERTON, Board of Cemetery Commissioners.
205
POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT
1935]
Report of the Chief of Police
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
It again becomes my privilege and pleasure to submit to you my fifth annual report of the Police Department, during the year 1935.
The department consists of a Chief, one Captain, ten pa- trolmen, five reserve patrolmen and thirty-four special police officers. Of the special police officers there are eleven who have uniforms and are capable of doing police work in emer- gencies. There are also six additional special police officers who are employed by the City of Lynn as watchmen at the Lynn Water Supply in this town.
The roster of the Police Department is as follows:
Chief John T. Stuart
Captain Henry P. Wheaton Regular Patrolmen
Frank W. Joy William MacDougall
James P. Sullivan
Walter F. Neal
Clarence H. Berrett
Joseph A. Lambert Jr.
Roland E. Mansfield
James F. Maher
Peter A. Flaherty
Thomas F. Spencer
Reserve Patrolmen
John E. Luoma
William F. Cahill
Ernest A. Dunham Howard P. Berrett
Thomas E. Canavan, Clerk Special Policemen
Gustave Anderson Howard P. McAdoo
Timothy J. Bannon
Oren O. Bentley James Blair
Alexander S. McCarrier Ernest A. Merrithew Edward Newbury
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Minor Brown
Carl G. Pearson
Rosario A. Buccheiere
Willie Penney
Harold J. Coburn
Dexter G. Pratt
Charles C. DeFranzo
Charles B. Pugsley
Frank Garafano
Henry R. Robinson
Ernest M. Hatch
Fred Sellick
Norman D. Hatch
Frank L. Symonds
Percy Hawkes
Everett Vickary
Charles W. Herald
Ralph Whidden
Clarence W. Howard
John W. White
George I. Hull
Frederick B. Willis
Phillips A. Hull
Daniel B. Willis
John E. Mansfield
Charles Wilson
Special Policemen for Lynn Water Shed
Michael Ahern
Patrick Garrity
Henry A. Dever
William Kennedy
Albert R. Fallon
Dennis Mead
During the year 1935 there were 823 persons arrested. Of this amount 762 were males, 27 females and 34 juveniles. This is an increase over the year 1934.
These arrests were for the following offenses :- Drunken- ness 186, Violation of the motor vehicles Laws 363, Violation of the road laws 54, Operating a motor vehicle under influence of liquor 43, Larceny delinquent 16, Larceny 19, Violation of the school laws 1, Violation of the liquor laws 1, Concealing leased property 1, Non-support 9, Assault 4, Assault and Battery 7, Violation of the gaming laws 2, Vagrancy 4, Break- ing, entering and larceny, night time 6, Larceny of auto 11, Illigitimacy 2, Indictment warrant 1, Violation of the dog laws (including unlicensed dogs) 20, Ringing false alarm of fire 2, Disorderly conduct 8, Breaking and entering, daytime 1, Setting fires without permits 5, Malicious mischief 1, Vio- lation of the Town By-laws 8, Violation of the poultry laws 1, Arrests on defaults 9, Cruelty to animals 1, Violation of the food laws 1, Interfering with an officer 1, Violation of the shellfish laws 5, Violation of probation 2, Adultery 3, Fornication 1, Destroying property 1, Suspicious persons 2, Failure to pay wages 1, Manslaughter 1, Indecent Exposure 1, Abandonment 1, Violation of parole 1, Profanity 1.
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POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT
1935]
Dispositions of the year's arrests are as follows: Fined 415, Filed 228, Released 46, Dismissed 11, Discharged 25, Committed to House of Correction 19, Committed to State Farm 4, Held for Grand Jury 13, Costs of court and Filed 9, Restitution and Filed 7, Placed on probation to during year 1936 4, Surrendered to Lyman School 3, Court order 1, Still pending 2, Bail forfeited 1, Arrests for Out of Town Police 30.
The nativity of the persons arrested, segregated are as follows: American 636, Canadian 43, Italian 45, Scotch 3, Austrian 5, Jewish 17, English 15, Swedish 6, Irish 9, Greek 6, Polish 15, Norwegian 1, Portuguese 1, Danish 1, Lithuanian 1, French 9, Filipino 1, Russian 1, German 1.
The total amount of fines collected in the Saugus Police Court for the year 1935 $3309. Of this amount the Town of Saugus received $3124., the County of Essex $55. and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts $130. From the Lynn District Court the Town of Saugus received $1353. and this is mostly from Operating under the influence of liquor cases.
Daily reports of officers show the following: Complaints received and investigated 1527, Doors and windows found open and secured 186, Stolen autos reported 30, Stolen autos recovered 59, Articles reported as lost 47, Articles reported as recovered 54, Persons reported as missing 78, Persons re- ported as found 68, Dogs reported as lost 80, Dogs reported as found 94, Responded to fires 59, Conveyed to hospitals 125, Notified for out of town police and hospitals 211, All others 380.
In the year 1935, the two automobiles and the combination ambulance and patrol were replaced with new equipment. The motorized equipment of a police department is a very vital element, and should be at all times modern and depend- able. At this time one of these cars is equipped with short wave radio and when on the road is in constant touch with the station, through the medium of the teletype and the State Police at Framingham. Regarding the motorcycles, there are two in the department. One of these, a 1931 machine is no longer safe to ride. The other a 1934 machine is in good condition and I intend to use this machine on a day patrol
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
and in the future use the car on night patrol instead of the motorcycle.
I believe that the time has arrived when the personnel of the department should be strengthened by the addition of two men. One of these men could be used on relief work and the other replace one of the officers who have had suitable experience, who would be assigned to criminal investigations. There is considerable investigations that require the night officers to work during their hours off and I believe that a man assigned to this work would relieve this situation.
On December 1, 1935, our new station was formally opened and dedicated. I have had the pleasure of conducting through the building many prominent police officials throughout the Commonwealth. They have been loud in their praise of the fine layout and many of them have informed me that there is none better in the State, which I am sure that we; all can justly be proud. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the members of the building committee who served with me, without any remuneration or compensation to make this building a monument to the forces who provide for the pro- tection of the lives and property of the community.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the several Town Officials and all the citizens of the Town who by their cooperation and goodwill aided me in maintaining the high degree of efficiency that the depart- ment ranks. I wish to thank Judge William E. Ludden who was retired from office October 31, 1935, for his help and cooperation during this term and his previous terms. I also wish to thank Judge Charles E. Flynn for his cooperation during his short term. I also thank all the members of the department for their part in keeping the efficiency of the de- partment at a high level.
Respectfully Submitted,
JOHN T. STUART, Chief of Police.
MELLEN RING JOY
In Memoriam
Hellen Ring Jny
1865
- 1935
Member of the City of Boston Fire Department 1888-1923
Lieutenant 1897-1906
Captain
1906-1923
Chief of the Town of Saugus Fire Department 1923 -- 1935
Died from injuries received in the perfor- mance of his duty at the explosion and fire at the Town Garage July 29, 1935.
"This Tablet is erected to keep green in our hearts the memory of a brave man".
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".
-Quoted from bronze tablet erected in the new Fire station on Woodbury Avenue.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of the Board of Fire Engineers
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of the Town of Saugus :
We herewith submit the annual report on the personnel, condition, and activities of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1935.
ROSTER Captain William R. Salsman, Jr. Lieutenants
Ralph E. Berrett George B. Drew
Permanent Firemen
Chester A. Tarbox
John Mclaughlin
Harold R. Atkinson
Alfred A. Bird
Joseph L. Maguire
Albert F. Jervis
Warren Newhall
Norman T. Hull
George W. Parrott
Guy H. Collins
Leo Cahill
Call Firemen
Lewis O. Gray
Ernest M. Hatch
Frank P. Garofano
Lewis E. Richardson
W. Randolph Popp
John Cahill
Fred Chesley
Arthur E. Gustafson
Board of Fire Engineers
Charles C. DeFronzo, Chairman George Gosselin, Clerk Arthur W. Price Ernest W. Homan
During 1935 the Fire Department responded to 484 alarms and calls, for fires and other duties; an increase of 127 over 1934. There were 133 box alarms and 351 telephone calls, 26 of which were followed by box alarms to call the call firemen to duty. Fifty-six of the alarms were false or need- less.
211
BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS REPORT
1935]
The apparatus traveled a total of 6,656 miles in responding to calls : Engine #1, 439 miles ; Engine #2, 1369 miles; Ladder #1, 502 miles. Hose #3, borrowed from Lynn while Engine #1 was out of service for repairs, traveled 68 miles. The Chief's car traveled 4278 miles in responding to alarms and in the performance of many other duties.
The assessed valuation of buildings and automobiles, the insurance on automobiles, buildings, and their contents, etc. were, as nearly as could be ascertained, as follows:
Assessed valuation of buildings, autos, trucks, etc.$266,850.00 Loss on buildings, motor vehicles, etc. 61,580.00
Insurance on buildings, etc. 291,800.00
Insurance paid for losses on buildings, etc. 63,300.88 Estimated value of contents 86,920.00
Loss on contents 17,505.00
Insurance on contents 59,000.00
Insurance paid for losses on contents 16,353.30
During the year 31,850 feet of 34 inch hose, 20,300 feet of 11/2 inch hose, 37,700 feet of 21% inch hose, and 12,000 feet of 1 inch State-owned hose were laid and used at fires; a total of 101,850 feet. 42,950 feet of the above were used at grass, brush, and woods fires. 1,067 feet of ladders were raised. 221/2 gallons of chemicals were used. 39 tanks of oxygen were used.
Tabulation and classification of Fire Alarms and Calls Acetyline and rags 1
Automobiles and trucks 16
Automobile in river 1
2
Broken gas pipe
1
I Brooder house
1
(Calls to City of Lynn 2
(Calls to City of Melrose
1
(Calls to City of Revere
2
(Candle for religious purposes
1
(Careless use of matches
4
(Cats in trees
4
(Child playing with candles
1
(Chimney fires
13
Bon fires
212
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Children locked in bath room 1
Cigarettes 11
Clothing over gas range
1
Combustion in sawdust
2
Defective heater
1
Defective refrigerators
3
Defective smoke pipes
4
Dumps and rubbish fires
42
False and needless
56
Fire-place
1
Gas pipe leaking in street
1
Grass fires
13
Green-house
1
Incendiary
5
Inhalator calls
11
Man in river
1
Oil lanterns
1
Overheated stoves
3
Radio
1
Range-oil burners
7
Set by children
94
Set by occupants
1
Set by sparks from other fires
13
Set by rats and matches
1
Short circuits
3
Smoking in bed
1
Sparks from electric switch
1
Sparks from steam shovel
1
Spontaneous combustion
2
Sprinkler system failed
1
Stack heaters
2
Struck by lightning
2
Tarvia plant
1
Unknown causes
58
Woodland and brush fires
87
Total fire alarms, calls, etc.
484
Alarms and Calls by Month for 1935.
January 8
Bell Alarms
Telephone Alarms 10
Total 18
1935]
BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT
213
February
4
11
15
March
13
34
47
April
16
43
59
May
12
41
53
June
5
12
17
July
15
20
35
August
9
58
67
September
2
12
14
October
15
60
75
November
14
20
34
December
20
30
50
Totals
. 133
351
484
All the fire apparatus, Engines #1 and #2, and Ladder #1, are in fair condition ; good for several years to come, provided that they do not meet with accidents. The Oldsmobile sedan, the Chief's car, is in good condition.
On July 31, 1935, Chief Mellen R. Joy died from injuries and burns received July 29, 1935 at the Town of Saugus' Garage explosion and fire.
Also, on July 29, 1935, Warren Newhall and Norman T. Hull received serious burns and injuries at the same fire. At the present time these men are still unfit to perform active duty.
The Fire Department has done excellent work in keeping the fire loss down to such a small amount, (appr. $78,000) when it is noted that the department must cover a very large territory, nearly 111/2 square miles, and do so with a small number of men to man the apparatus and extinguish fires.
In closing we make the following recommendations :
That a fire alarm box, punch register, and a fire alarm gong be installed in the C.C.C. camp on Forest Street. The camp has a fire truck, fully equipped for service, and the commandant has agreed to send it to assist us at any fires at which we might need help. If the camp had the equip- ment listed above, it could answer some of our alarms on special signals.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
We recommend the installation of a complete, new, Fire Alarm system.
We recommend that two small trucks be bought and put into Fire Department service immediately. At the present time we are using two very expensive pumping engines to answer woods and grass fire alarms. During 1935 this ex- pensive equipment responded to 351 false, grass, woods, auto- mobile, inhalator, and needless alarms. Many of these calls necessitate driving our heavy, costly apparatus over rough roads and cart-paths, with the constant danger of damage. If we had two small, inexpensive trucks with which to answer such calls as are known not to require the service of a big pump, (and most of the telephone calls are of this nature) the consequent saving in wear and tear on the big machines would more than pay for the small ones.
We recommend that Engine#2, the Mack pump, be painted.
We recommend a program calling for the installation of new hydrants every year; those we have are too few and far between.
We recommend the taking of a parcel of land in the Clif- tondale section of the town as a site for the erection of a new fire station.
We recommend the appointment of four permanent men and ten call men. The work of the department has increased greatly during the past few years. Many times the appa- ratus goes out without sufficient men to operate it properly.
We recommend that 1,000 feet of 21/2 inch hose, 1,000 feet of 11/2 inch hose, and 500 feet of 3/4 inch hose be purchased.
We recommend that a fire alarm box be installed at the town infirmary.
We recommend that two hydrants be installed on Walnut street between Elm street and the Lynn line, a distance of 2,200 feet or nearly one half a mile, which now has no hy- drants. We also recommend that one hydrant be installed on Vine street between Main street and 68 Vine street, a distance of 1880 feet, now without a hydrant.
We recommend fire prevention as the best means of reduc-
.
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BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT
1935]
ing the great loss of life and property from fire. Be your own fire inspector; inspect your home from cellar to attic and remove all materials and rubbish that might cause fire or constitute a fire hazard.
Familiarize yourself with the location and workings of the nearest fire alarm box to your home and place of business.
In case of fire, go to the nearest box, open the door, and pull down the hook on the inside door. If possible, wait at the box to direct firemen and apparatus to the fire.
Keep your premises clean and free from rubbish.
Keep halls, stairways, and exits to fire-escapes free from obstructions.
Put ashes, oily or inflammable materials into metal recep- tacles with metal tops.
Be careful in the use of lighted matches, candles, and cigar and cigarette stubs.
Never use open flame in thawing frozen water pipes; wrap cloths around them and pour hot water over them. Any flame is likely to start a fire.
Never sound false alarms. There is a heavy fine and im- prisonment for this offense or for interfering or tampering with the fire alarm system in any way.
Signed by the Acting Chief,
CAPTAIN WILLIAM R. SALSMAN, JR.
Signed by the Board of Fire Engineers
CHARLES C. DeFRONZO, Chairman, GEORGE GOSSELIN, Clerk, ERNEST W. HOMAN, ARTHUR W. PRICE.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Superintendent of Fire Alarm
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen; Board of Fire Engi- neers and the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
I hereby submit the report of the activities of the Fire Alarm Division during 1935.
The entire line has been rebuilt from Washington Square toward the Lynn Line due to the worn out condition of the line previously in use in that area. Due to discontinuance of the street cars in North Saugus the line from Walnut Street at Cleveland Avenue to Walnut near Central Street and Hawkes Corner to Corbetts Corner was rebuilt using poles on the opposite side of the street.
A new central Fire Station was wired and equipped, some of the equipment being loaned until such time as the town wishes to authorize a new system.
The records show only one outside line failure during 1935. This was directly due to a falling limb of such size that no wire would withstand it.
One new box was purchased and placed at Robin and Oriole Streets.
Every effort has been made and is being made to have our fire alarm system so equipped and maintained that we can rely upon it and request a better rating from the Insurance Underwriters. Much needs to be done and equipment changed which is far beyond our financial reach to do.
Transportation is a very weak spot as all work requiring any volume of material has to be arranged to meet transpor- tation borrowed from other departments. The Superintend- ent's personal car has been used to a great extent but cannot be used to carry heavy, bulky articles.
Fire boxes rewound after alarms 162
Tested 264
Repairs 16
217
SUPT. OF FIRE ALARM REPORT
1935]
Tower Bells, Rewound 189
Repairs 7
Fire Alarm Tapper Repairs 6
Line Wire Placed 88,450 feet Removed 81,370 feet
Number of blows on Fire Alarm 5,417
A new Fire Alarm System cannot be too strongly recom- mended, one to conform to and installed according to the Board of Underwriters will increase the safety of our homes and lives and return to us its cost in reduced insurance rates.
Respectfully submitted,
RAY S. WADE, Supt. Fire Alarm.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Forest Fire Warden
Saugus, Mass., January 1, 1936.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit the annual report of the Forest Fire Warden for the year ending December 31, 1935.
During the year 1935, there were 87 brush fires, 13 grass fires, as against 97 brush fires and wood fires, and 29 grass fires in the year 1934.
On July 31, 1935, Chief Mellen R. Joy died from injuries and burns received at the town garage fire and explosion, and since that time I have been acting Forest Fire Warden.
During the year the following amount of hose was laid and used at brush, wood and grass fires, 20,500 feet 3/4 inch hose, 12,000 feet 1 inch hose, 8,750 feet 11/2 inch hose, 1,700 feet 21/2 inch hose, a total of 42,950 feet.
I recommend that the Town purchase 12 water pump cans, brush fire brooms, rakes, shovels, etc. for the extinguishing of grass and wood fires as this type of equipment is in a very poor condition.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES C. DE FRONZO, Acting Forest Fire Warden.
219
BOARD OF SELECTMEN'S REPORT
1935]
Report of the Board of Selectmen
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
Your Board of Selectmen in reviewing the events of the past year are greatly pleased at the advance which has been made in the general municipal welfare, but on the other hand are greatly disturbed over many of our citizens who are still unemployed.
The one great problem today is to take care of the needy and this is our aim; and desire. The last 5 years have been very hard years for all public officials, and we have tried to keep the municipal expenditures down to help the taxpayer and also have worked unceasingly to aid our unfortunate neighbor who through no fault of his own needs assistance. Through the C.W.A., the E.R.A. and now into the W.P.A. your board has worked long and diligently on all problems that have arisen on each type of relief.
The Board of Selectmen have had nothing to do with the picking of men to work on the E.R.A. or the W.P.A. Under the W.P.A. they are assigned from Salem after registering for such work at an employment office. However during the past year, by means of the Federal Government funds, we have been able to repair many accepted streets, build some good granolithic sidewalks, lay some much needed drains in different sections of our town and many other projects have been completed. We kindly ask you to read report of Dept of Public Works and you will find the complete record of all accomplishments during year 1935.
At a special town meeting held in the early Fall a com- mittee was appointed to advise with the Board of Selectmen to repair unaccepted streets in the town. A project was drawn up by the advisory committee, promptly signed by the selectmen and submitted to Salem for approval; it was re- turned by the engineers at Salem, because no work can be done on unaccepted streets.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
However a project to do engineering work on our streets was promptly signed by the Board of Selectmen and has been approved and work has started.
We are all pleased that this was above the town's quota of 364 workmen and therefore no local person will lose his job because of this additional project granted our town.
We have projects approved and submitted for approval to take care of these 364 men and women.
We have worked for the best interests of the citizens of the Town of Saugus during the past year and we wish to thank everyone for the cooperation they have given us during the past 12 months.
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