USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1932 > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Special days were held on all playgrounds each week, especially planned to provide entertainment, fun and competition for the younger children. A Pet Show was the Red Letter Day the opening week, and revealed the interesting fact that children love to feed and care for such worthwhile pets as dogs, cats, rabbits, pigeons, chickens, ducks, turkeys and canaries. The big day the second week was Friday, when Soap Bubble Contests provided the thrills and amusement for the merry throngs. A Hobby Show was the big event of the third week and included three divisions-Handicraft, Collections and Na- tural History Specimens. The Doll Show and Parade surpassed all other events the fourth week. A Costume, Horrible and Pajama Parade was the big event of the fifth week. The Closing Day of the final week which included the awarding of ribbons won in athletics and contests and the presentation of Merit Badges earned in athletic tests was the crowning event of the season. The ribbons which were awarded all champions were donated jointly by the Rotary Club, Lion's Club, and Chamber of Commerce.
The Merit Badge Tests, started last year, for excellence in ath- letics, were continued this season. Eighty-nine boys and girls suc- cessfully passed all requirements and received badges. Many who
177
received their First Badge a year ago passed the more difficult tests this year and earned second Badges. This year for the first time we have one boy, James Stevens of Bicknell Playground, who earned the Third Badge which is the highest honor awarded by the National Recreation Association.
The Annual Picnics to Wessagussett Beach were one of the pleas- antest days of the entire season. Bathing, boat rides, water sports and the picnic luncheon itself make this one of the most valuable of playground activities.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Weymouth Gazette and local press correspondents for their splendid cooperation in giving notices and reports of the playground year; also the School Department for the use of their grounds and Legion Field; the Community Association at Nash's Corner and Pond Plain Community Association for the use of their Houses.
Respectfully submitted,
1
ORAL A. PAGE, Playground Supervisor.
WESTON PARK
In August I was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Joseph Kelley as Park Commissioner. Since that time much stress has been put onto the uncompleted baseball diamond at Weston Park. It was necessary to remove some trees in order to make the field of regu- lation size. This has been done and the unemployed are now work- ing on the filling and grading. It was necessary to raise the side- walk at one point which meant the raising of one electric light pole. Many of the old trees have been trimmed and dead limbs removed.
It is sincerely hoped that by another year something can be done so that the basin intended for a skating pond can be flooded and will hold water so that the children can enjoy skating there.
The Broad St. entrance needs attention and we hope to do some grading and cleaning there.
LOVELLS CORNER PLAYGROUND
The grounds and equipment have been kept in good condition but barings and worn parts should be replaced this year.
The tennis court was a grass court but became worn to dust and mud. Asphalt court was built in its place, the loam was used to re- surface the field, most of this work was done by the unemployed.
A second court was much needed so a cheap court was built, put- ting stone dust over the grassland, this was a failure, but was used . by the inexperienced.
A wall was built next to road. The digging out of the new street made this necessary. Hawes Grove was cleaned out of underbrush, this will need to be done for a few years to give the pines a chance to grow.
Baseball seemed to be revived this year, games were played almost every evening and a large gathering could be seen any evening with
178
tennis, baseball and children using the equipment.
One or two accidents happened, it is important that the equipment be kept in the best possible condition.
Football practice was carried on two nights a week and has been of interest to the spectators.
The boys and girls of Lovells Corner are to be commended for the care with which they use the grounds and its equipment.
LAKE ST. PLAYGROUND
The grounds were graded above the wall next to street, and a wall about 50 ft. next to water was built.
A good float and diving board was provided for the swimmers.
POND PLAIN PLAYGROUND
The tennis court was resurfaced with asphalt. A court for basket- ball and volley ball has been developed. The grounds have been graded. The summer house was filled with sand. All equipment has been painted. A large share of the work was done by the unemployed.
PARK AVENUE, LEARY & BAUER MEADOW
The ditch was dug out from the street to the back of the meadow also from the street to land owned by Rago, one hundred and sixty five feet of wall on street line and an extra dam put in.
The field was cut and cleared by the unemployed under the super- vision of Mr. Kelley of East Weymouth.
Lights for lighting the pond were provided.
STETSON'S FIELD
The equipment was painted and repaired.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS W. REA, Chairman CHARLES W. BURGESS, Clerk EVERETT J. McINTOSH.
Park Commissioners.
FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY WEYMOUTH, MASS. 1932
SET 1622
LABORAL
CER
MASSAC
ETTS
.1635.
835
181
FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY
TRUSTEES
Gertrude C. Andrews
Joseph Kelley
John Griffin
Kenneth L. Nash
William F. Hathaway
John B. Holland
Arthur E. Pratt Franklin N. Pratt
Clarance P. Whittle
SELECTMEN EX-OFFICIO
William A. Connell
Joseph Crehan
William A. Hannaford Everett E. Callahan
Herman O. Collyer
OFFICERS Clarance P. Whittle, President Gertrude C. Andrews, Secretary
LIBRARIAN Christine E. Evarts
ASSISTANTS
Rachael M. Bodine Ruth B. Clark
Alice M. Gowdy Edith L. Payson Mary L. Smith
BRANCH LIBRARIANS Mary M. Dingwall, North Weymouth Branch Martha J. Hawes, East Weymouth Branch
JANITOR Thomas E. Shea
182
INFORMATION
Hours : Main Library : 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. daily. Children's Room : 2:30 to 6 P.M. daily; Saturday 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Summer hours : July and August, 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. Saturday 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.
Branches : 2 to 5 and 7 to 8 P.M. daily, except Wednesday.
The library and the branches are not open Sundays, legal holidays, nor the 17th. of June.
The library is for the use of all the residents of Weymouth. Tem- porary residents are entitled to the same privileges as permanent residents.
Each card issued to an adult entitles the holder to one book of recent fiction (a book published within the last year), one current periodical, and any reasonable number of other books.
Children under Senior High School age are entitled to a card if the application is signed by a parent or guardian. Cards issued to children entitle the holders to two books, only one of which may be fiction.
All books from the circulating department, except the new fic- tion, may be kept for fourteen days. At the request of the borrower any book not in popular demand will be charged for one month, sub- ject to recall after two weeks if requested by other borrowers. Fic- tion published within the last calendar year, and recent numbers of magazines are limited to seven days with no renewal privilege.
The vacation privilege allows a borrower to take books which are not recent publications for an extended time.
A book cannot be transferred from one card to another, but any fourteen day book may be renewed at the library, by mail, or by *telephone, unless another borrower has asked to have the book re- served. The date due, the author and title of the book, and the bor- rower's name should be stated when the request for renewal is made.
Any book will be reserved at the request of a borrower, who will be notified as soon as the book is available. A charge of one cent is made for this privilege in the case of fiction.
A fine of two cents a day will be incurred for each day's deten- tion of a book after it is due. When a book is sent for by the li- brarian it will be at the expense of the borrower.
Cases of contagious diseases are reported to the library by the Board of Health, and all books which have been exposed to conta- gion are burned.
183
For the convenience of residents living in different parts of the Town, books are exchanged through the delivery stations once a week as follows :
Lovell's Corner, W. B. Chalke & Sons Tuesday
South Weymouth, Fogg Memorial Library Tuesday
South Weymouth, Alfred S. Tirrell Tuesday
East Weymouth, East Weymouth Branch Thursday
North Weymouth, North Weymouth Branch Friday
Weymouth Heights, Adonis School
Thursday
Application for borrower's cards may be made at the Stations as well as at the library and branches.
The library publishes a bulletin of new books several times dur- ing the year. This will be distributed through the library and its agencies, and sent to any resident upon request.
*Telephone 1309-M.
FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT THE TUFTS LIBRARY
The annual report of the Tufts Library for the year 1932 is herewith respectfully submitted :
We are in the midst of the most crucial testing time of our genera- tion. The world wide paralysis of business with its consequent un- employment challenges our government in its every aspect. Our fore- fathers defined the activities and aims of government as "the promo- tion of the general welfare, and the securing of the blessing of liberty for ourselves and our children". The public library is a de- partment of government supported by the taxes of the people, and it is important at this time that we examine our work in the light of these aims.
As unemployment has increased, and more people are faced with the problem of enforced leisure, the work of the public libraries has grown rapidly. It is the one place where people may find free recrea- tion, and free opportunity for study. They are turning to books for an understanding of their problems, and for help in fitting themselves to meet these problems, and accordingly the library has become one of the principal sources for education, for courage, for stability, and morale. That this is true of libraries throughout the United States is evidenced by their reports of greatly increased use, and it is equally true of the Tufts Library here in Weymouth.
Not only are the people who have been patrons of the library through the years reading more books and more thoughtful books than ever before, but 1,385 new borrowers have registered at the library during 1932. The circulation of books mounts steadily. From the Main Library during the past year 103,128 books were borrowed. The figures for the North and East Weymouth Branches respectively are
184
35,234 and 41,765, making a total circulation for the year of 180,127. This is a gain of almost 20,000 over the previous year. In this respect alone the use of the library has increased 33% since 1929. These figures take no account of the use of the reference facilities of the library, nor of the use made of the reading rooms each afternoon and evening. This growing service, which taxes all the present resources of the Tufts Library, is the truest evidence of the value of the library in the life of the community.
During 1932 the nation celebrated with deep reverence the bi-cen- tennial of the birth of George Washington. The Tufts Library co- operated with the government and schools in the effort to make this great leader a living personality in the minds of the people.
Many other interesting and timely exhibits have been loaned during the year, and have helped to stimulate the reading interests of adults and children alike. Outstanding among these were exhibits illustra- tive of the activities of the Boy Scouts, made by the Scouts of Troup 1 of Weymouth, and Troop 8 of South Weymouth. A model dirigible and model air-planes were made and loaned by High School boys. Several instructive exhibits were loaned by commercial firms, and we have had on display in the Children's Room an exhibit of handicraft. made by Grade 7 of the Nevins School.
As in former years the Tufts Library has had one of the seniors from the School of Library Science at Simmons College for the period of her practice work; and this year the library was one of a few to be visited by a class under the direction of one of the Library School professors.
On November 10th the Old Colony Library Club met at the Tufts Library. The meeting was held in the Children's Room, and in spite of a severe storm there were twenty-three guests, representing libraries form surrounding towns. A greeting and welcome was extended by the Rev. J. B. Holland, who also gave generous hospitality in provid- ing transportation and luncheon.
A little additional shelving and some much needed chairs have been purchased for the library during 1932, and the wood-work and walls of the main room have been refinished. This was urgently needed, as the wood was becoming weather-worn around the windows.
The work with the boys and girls has gone forward normally. The circulation gain in juvenile books during 1932 is 5,621, and 551 new children have registered as borrowers. Books have been placed in eight of the elementary schools, and the circulation from these school deposits has been 3,397. The Children's Room is a joyous and inter- esting training ground where reading habits and tastes are developed, which in many instances will be of lasting benefit. It is toward this end that the activities of story telling, reading contests, and special projects are carried on, and the response of the children to the best in children's literature gives evidence of the value of the work.
The Trustees of the Tufts Library wish to acknowledge with thanks the gift of a clock which was formerly owned by Mr. Laban Pratt. It stands on the case containing the books in the Laban Pratt Col- lection, and is the gift of his nephew Mr. Arthur Pratt. They also extend sincere thanks to Mrs. Mary Fifield King who has arranged to have a cabinet placed in the library which shall care for and display
185
the valuable historical Fifield Collection previously given by Mrs. King.
Thanks are due to Captain Arthur E. Austin of Weymouth Heights for a gift of seventeen books, and to Mr. Charles Dunbar for a 10 volume history entitled "The Progress of the Nations". This set is a gift to the East Weymouth Branch. Mr. Franklin Pratt has given the library two large scrap books containing newspaper clippings of the Spanish War and the year following. The trustees wish to express their appreciation for this, and also to thank those who have made very welcome gifts of flowers and plants. They also desire to take this opportunity to express their appreciation for the many bulletins and reports received from other libraries.
As we go forward into the work of another year we recognize that we have a more difficult, and at the same time a more important task and more challenging opportunity than in any previous period. We are faced with the need for utmost economy, and at the same time with an unprecedented opportunity for service, and a certainty of heavy increase in the demands which will be made upon us by the public. Any direct crippling of one of the constructive agencies of the community would, in the long run, prove to be an extravagance. The need for library service is imperative now, and future effort to recover ground which might be lost now, would mean a greater pro- portional expense.
The library stands with the schools for the education and up- building of the intellectual life of the community; but it also reaches the adult population, and in days of disheartenment offers them help and inspiration in their efforts toward economic rehabilitation. "The problem of providing moral and spiritual aid for restless hearts and minds is no less serious than that of providing work for idle hands." The trustees and staff of the Tufts Library are working in the hope and to the end that the present standard of service of the library may be maintained, and its essential work safeguarded in this period when the people are turning to books as never before.
Respectfully submitted,
C. P. WHITTLE,
Chairman.
By order and in behalf of the Trustees.
This chart shows the growth of the Tufts Library, especially during the past three years as indicated by the number of books circulated. The need for books, and the opportunity for library service increases in any period of industrial depression and unemployment. ( It is of interest to note that this happened in the years following the financial panic of 1893.)
180,000
170,000
160,000
150,000
140,000
130,000
120,000
110,000
100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
1880
1866
1890
1098
1900
190B
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1931
1931
187
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM OF STATISTICS For the year ending December 31, 1932
Population served (Census of 1930)
20,882
Assessed valuation of Town
$46,499,105.00
Total number of agencies, consisting of
Main Library
1
Branches
2
Delivery stations
4
Schools
9
Number of days open during the year
302
Total valuation of library property
$104,600.00
Number of volumes at beginning of year
44,169
Number of volumes added by purchase
2,178
Number of volumes added by gift
95
Number of volumes added by binding
0
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn
700
Total number of volumes at end of year
45.519
Number of volumes of fiction lent
135,691
Total number of volumes lent
180,127
Number of borrowers registered
6,063
Number of new borrowers registered in 1932
1,385
Number of periodicals received; 111; titles; 170 copies.
Receipts from
Payments for
Town appropriation
$21,058.00
Books & periodicals $4,747.84
Endowment funds
1,213.07
Binding
740.61
Salaries, library
service, janitor
service
10,996.64
Heat
441.79
Light
472.30
Rent (Branches)
2,160.00
Other expenses 2,705.84
Unexpended balance
6.05
$22,271.07
$22,271.07
APPENDIX A-STATISTICS Classification of Circulation
Main Library
North Weymouth
East Weymouth
Grand Total
Juvenile Adult
Total Juvenile Adult
Total Juvenile Adult
Total Juvenile Adult
Total
General Works
17
82
99
3
3
21
26
47
38
111
149
Philosophy
56
662
718
73
73
1
117
118
57
852
909
Religion
1,108
277
1,385
28
39
67
41
50
91
1,177
366
1,543
Social Sciences
3,670
1,114
4,784
1,490
81
1,571
1,416
111
1,527
6,576
1,306
7,882
Language
174
204
378
4
1
5
21
284
305
199
489
688
Natural Science
635
635
1,270
168
48
216
265
84
349
1,068
767
1,835
Useful Arts
954
1,117
2,071
281
82
363
292
72
364
1,527
1,271
2,798
Fine Arts
1,942
1,917
3,859
627
136
763
667
186
853
3,236
2,239
5,475
Literature
704
1,806
2,510
246
166
412
694
297
991
1,644
2,269
3,913
History
814
1,019
1,833
177
156
333
129
234
363
1,120
1,409
2,529
Travel
1,008
2,081
3,089
415
326
741
497
477
974
1,920
2,884
4,804
Biography
678
2,094
2,772
235
352
587
292
342
634
1,205
2,788
3,993
Periodicals
446
2,910
3,356
397
1,278
1,675
558
2,091
2,649
1,401
6,279
7,680
Pamphlets
8
230
238
8
230
238
Fiction
14,297
60,469
74,766
6,350
22,075
28,425
10,588
21,912
32,500
31,235
104,456
135,691
Total
26,511
76,617
103,128
10,418
24,816
35,234
15,482
26,283
41,765
52,411 127,716 180,127
Number of Volumes Distributed through the Several Delivery Stations
Precincts
Delivery Stations
Loans 3,240
4
Alfred S. Tirrell
5
Fogg Memorial Library
1,046
7
W. B. Chalke & Sons
2,634
8
Weymouth Heights Economy Store
2,095
9,015
3,579
Class
Number of volumes distributed through schools
188
189
APPENDIX B Registrations
Number of borrowers registered December 31, 1931
5,395
Tufts Library
Adult
431
Juvenile
249
680
North Weymouth Branch Adult
176
Juvenile
117
293
East Weymouth Branch
Adult
227
Juvenile
185
412
1,385
Number of renewed registrations during 1932
945
Number of registrations which have expired during 1932
1,510
6,215
Number of registrations void by death or removal from town
152
Number of borrowers registered December 31, 1932 6,063
APPENDIX C-PERIODICALS
American boy
Boston Herald
American cookery
Boys' life
American forests
Catholic world
American girl
Child life
American home
*Christian leader
*American issue
*Church militant
*Columbia
American Library Association booklist
*Congregationalist
American Library Association bulletin
Congressional digest
American magazine
Country gentleman Country life
American magazine of art
Cumulative book index
American observer
Current events Current history
Annals of the American Academy of political and social science
Delineator
Education
Asia
Etude
Atlantic monthly
Everygirl's
Aviation
*Bell telephone quarterly
Better homes and gardens Bird-lore
Book review digest
Bookman
Boston Evening Transcript
*Federation topics Field and stream Forum-Century Good Housekeeping
Harper's magazine *Horticulture
House and garden
7,725
190
House beautiful Illustrated London news Industrial education magazine Junior home Ladies' home journal
Library journal Library quarterly Literary digest Living age Marine engineering and shipping age
*Museum of Fine Arts bulletin Nation
National geographic magazine *National humane review
*National republic Nation's business
Nature magazine
New England Conservatory of Music bulletin
New republic
New York Herald Tribune- Books
New York Times Book Review
Nineteenth century and after North American review
*Official record of the U. S. Department of Agriculture
Old time New England Ontario library review Open road *Our dumb animals Parents' magazine
Pictorial review Popular mechanics Popular science monthly *Protectionist Publishers' weekly Quincy Evening News Reader's guide to periodicals
*Recruiting news *Red Cross courier Review of reviews (American) *Rotarian St. Nicholas
Saturday evening post
Saturday review of literature Scholastic
*School School and society
School arts magazine
Scientific American
Scribner's magazine
Small home
*Specialty salesman magazine Standard quarterly review Survey
Travel Vertical file service catalog Weymouth Gazette and Transcript
*Weymouth Truth Wilson bulletin
Wisconsin library bulletin
Woman's home companion World tomorrow
EAST WEYMOUTH BRANCH
American boy American girl
American home
Literary digest
American magazine
National geographic magazine
American observer
Nature magazine
Atlantic monthly
Aviation
Open road Pictorial review
Better homes and gardens Child life Current events
Popular mechanics
Popular science monthly Psychology
Current history
Review of reviews
Delineator Education Etude Good housekeeping
Harper's magazine
*Instructor Ladies' home journal
*Rotarian St. Nicholas Saturday review of literature Small home
Travel
191
NORTH WEYMOUTH BRANCH
American boy
Literary digest
American girl
McCall's magazine
American home
National geographic magazine
American magazine
Nature magazine
American observer
Open road
Atlantic monthly
Popular mechanics
Aviation
Popular science monthly
Better homes and gardens
Reader's digest
Child life
*Rotarian
*Christian leader
St. Nicholas
Current history
Small home
Etude
Field and stream
Travel
Good housekeeping
Woman's home companion
*Gift
THE FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1932
Salaries and Wages :
Librarian and assistants
$7,896.89
·Janitor
1,596.00
9,492.89
Books and Periodicals, etc :
Library Book House
1,619.29
Personal Book Shop
1,053.23
Herman Goldberger
169.15
H. W. Wilson Co.
110.46
DeWolfe & Fiske Co.
78.38
W. F. Quarrie & Co.
75.00
Miscellaneous
618.85
3,724.36
Binding Books
740.61
Fuel
441.79
Light
367.30
Maintenance of Building :
Charles H. Burkett, painting
265.00
Remington Rand, Inc.
214.75
P. Derby Co.
213.75
L. C. Smith Co.
125.25
Weymouth Vocational School
59.55
Miscellaneous
144.83
1,023.13
Other Expenses :
Printing, Tel., supplies, equipment, etc.
865.03
Transportation and delivery of books
312.50
Insurance
14.45
1,191.98
16,982.06
192
North Weymouth Branch :
Librarians
703.75
Rent
780.00
Books and periodicals
408.98
Maintenance
56.44
Light
34.80
Transportation of books
62.00
Sundries
7.55
2,053.52
East Weymouth Branch :
Librarian
800.00
Janitor
216.00
Rent
1,380.00
Books and periodicals
615.50
Transportation of books
52.00
Maintenance
41.30
Light
70.20
Sundries
54.44
3,229.44
Total expended
22,265.02
Balance to Treasury
6.05
Total
$22,271.07
Appropriation, March 7, 1932
21,058.00
Income from other sources :
Tufts Fund-Books
106.25
Tufts Fund-Reading Room
106.25
Joseph E. Trask Fund
573.72
Augustus J. Richards Fund
217.48
Susannah Hunt Stetson Fund
103.12
Tirrell Donation
41.25
Francis Flint Forsythe Fund
41.25
Charles Henry Pratt Trust Fund
23.75
1,213.07
Total
$22,271.07
December 31, 1932
EMERSON R. DIZER, Town Accountant
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
ISSET 1622
WES
ER
MASSACH
TTS
.1635.
WEYMOUTH, MASS. 1932
195
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE PRINCE H. TIRRELL, Chairman MRS. ARTHUR R. TAYLOR, Secretary
FRANCIS W. REA Term expires April 1, 1933 706 Pleasant Street, East Weymouth Wey. 1198-M Term expires April 1, 1933 Wey. 2175-M
PRINCE H. TIRRELL 167 Pleasant Street, South Weymouth JOHN P. HUNT 99 Front Street, Weymouth J. HERBERT LIBBY, M. D.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.