USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1950 > Part 21
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I am taking this opportunity to thank the Board of Selectmen for their splendid cooperation on my behalf, the Town Meeting members for their support and confidence, to the many department heads of the Town for their cooperation and assistance and may I express, at this time, the loss to all of us of our beloved Street Supt. Thomas J. Kelly. His spirit of friendliness and cooperation is being carried on by his successor, Supt. "Jack" O'Leary.
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A word of praise for my own men who have so ably performed their duties especially in the many emergencies that have come up during the year, and we have had to turn out facing the elements and dangers.
Very truly yours, V. LESLIE HEBERT, Tree Warden and Moth Supt.
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE LABAN PRATT HOSPITAL
To the Board of Selectmen Town of Weymouth Massachusetts
By direction of the Chairman of the Trustees of the Laban Pratt Hos- pital, the undersigned is duly authorized to submit to your Honorable Board this annual report, being the fifth annual report of the proceedings of the Trustees, required by the provisions of Section 3, Chapter 246, an Act of the Massachusetts Legislature, approved April 26, 1946, creating Laban Pratt Hospital as a corporation.
The term of office for the Trustees are as follows:
Term expires in 1955: Mrs. Marguerite W. Shaftoe Mrs. Emily L. McGovern Mr. John L. Gallant
Term expires in 1954: Mrs. Harriet S. Berry Hon. Kenneth L. Nash Mr. George E. Pruden
Term expires in 1953: Mrs. Lucy P. Mahoney Mr. Roger P. Loud Mr. Roland T. Seabury
Term expires in 1952: Mrs. Gertrude A. Cassesse Mr. C. Parker Whittle Mr. Clement N. Curtis
Term expires in 1951 : Mr. Preston A. DePlacido Mr. Charles H. Downs Mr. A. Wesley Sampson
The Trustees held two meetings for the year 1950. At a meeting held on October 19, the transfer of $300,000 from the South Weymouth and Weymouth Savings Banks was authorized and U. S. Series G Bonds were purchased. This move was to reduce the amounts of money in the indivi-
251
dual savings banks and the consequent risk because of the $10,000 limit insurance protection. The Board continues to feel that immediate con- struction of a hospital would be unwise.
Respectfully submitted for the Trustees,
CHARLES H. DOWNS, Clerk
LABAN PRATT HOSPITAL
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 1950
To the Trustees of Laban Pratt Hospital Inc. the following financial report of the Hospital for the year ending December 31, 1950 is respect- fully submitted.
Balance on hand January 1, 1950
$651,305.53
Income received:
South Weymouth Savings Bank
$4,499.06
East Weymouth Savings Bank
2,143.66
Weymouth Savings Bank
1,777.70
Government Bonds
6,250.00
Total Income
14,670.42
$665,975.95
Deduct expenses for 1950
353.50
Total Funds January 1, 1951
$665,622.45
INVESTMENT OF ABOVE FUNDS
South Weymouth Savings Bank
$110,845.50
East Weymouth Savings Bank
44,027.23
Weymouth Savings Bank
10,572.03
Government Bonds
500,000.00
Granite Trust Co.
177.69
$665,622.45
Very truly yours,
HARRY I. GRANGER, Treasurer
252
REPORT OF THE HARBOR MASTER
December 31, 1950
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Weymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I respectively submit my report of the activities of the Harbor Master's Department for 1950.
Weymouth's waterfront was patroled from April 15 to November 15, 1950 with an approximate mileage of 2000.
Services and assistance calls were rendered during 1950 as follows:
Lost rowboats recovered 33
Persons assisted
45
15 ft. to 45 ft. small sail and power boats towed or assisted 27
Capsizings attended 5
Investigation of complaints
20
Interclub races convoyed 2
Small races convoyed
20
Police calls answered
10
Fore River launchings attended 5
The two way police radio suggested in the 1949 report has been added to the Harbor Master's equipment aboard the boat, and during the past season has proven its worth.
I wish to again extend my heartfelt thanks for the cooperation of all town officers and others who still willingly give their time and efforts to help me.
Respectfully submitted, CECIL L. EVANS, Harbor Master
REPORT OF THE SHELL FISH CONSTABLE
December 31, 1950
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Town of Weymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen:
In cooperation with the Shell Fish Conservation Department I made several investigations; also with my Deputy Warden, Lawrence Pitts.
On March 15. 1950 new coastal fishery regulations were put into effect by the Weymouth Board of Selectmen. No shellfish or seaworms can be dug in the Town without a permit.
Copies of the new rules and regulations can be obtained upon request at the Town Hall.
I wish to again extend my thanks to Lawrence Pitts, for his cooperation. Respectfully submitted, CECIL L. EVANS, Shell Fish Constable
253
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
East Weymouth, Mass. 45 Raymond Street January 15, 1951
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
Following is the report of the Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1950
Places Inspected
51
Cows Inspected
254
Young Stock Inspected
75
Bulls Inspected
5
Goats Inspected
14
Horses and Ponies Inspected
61
Sheep Inspected
20
Swine Inspected
6
Cattle shipped from out of state
54
Dogs quarantined for biting
136
Cats quarantined for biting
2
Rabbits quarantined for biting
1
Dogs quarantined from out of state
3
Cases Investigated
14
Respectfully submitted, JOHN H. REIDY, Inspector of Animals
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
January 15, 1951
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Weymouth Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Park Department has carried on its usual playground activities during the past summer. The program, as in the past, was coordinated with the bath-house program at Wessegusset Beach. This coordination enabled many children to receive swimming instructions from the life guard permanently assigned at the beach.
The first phases of construction were completed on the East Wey- mouth and Pond Plain playgrounds.
A detailed survey of the parks and playgrounds has been completed by the Board and a planned program of repairs and improvements has been started and we hope that we can complete this program during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted, EVERETT J. McINTOSH, Chairman JOSEPH D. SLATTERY, Clerk OTTO C. MASON
254
REPORT OF THE SEWER DEPARTMENT
December 31, 1950
To the Board of Selectmen, Town of Weymouth:
We are pleased to forward our Superintendent's Annual Report and with it our own for the year 1950.
The report of our Superintendent gives the details of work accom- plished in the Sewer Department for 1950. During the year we have ad- vanced the Central and South Weymouth Trunk Sewer from Commercial Street to a point near Greenvale Avenue and there connected to it the Veterans Housing Development, thus serving 148 families.
For 1951 we plan to begin construction of the East Weymouth Trunk Sewer to serve the new Pearl Street school, thereby eliminating the en- tire cost of a disposal plant at the school.
Most of the remaining appropriation will be used in further exten- sion of the Central and South Weymouth Trunk Sewer which is designed and located to serve the largest over-all area extending from North to South through the center of the whole Town.
Respectifully submitted, BOARD OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS J. Herbert Libbey, Chairman John W. Field, Clerk Charles J. Masterson
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWER DEPARTMENT
December 31, 1950
To the Board of Sewer Commissioners, Town of Weymouth:
I submit herewith the third annual report of the Sewer Department.
During the past year, the department has engaged primarily in the continued expansion of the Town's sewer system and the connection of individual dwellings to the system. All of the construction work has been engineered by the department's engineering force and likewise all of the house connections have been constructed by department employees. A columnar summary of the construction activities is appended hereto.
As soon as weather conditions permitted, the unfinished portions of Contract 10 for lateral sewers in Weymouth Landing and Contract 11 for lateral sewers in North Weymouth were completed. Then, as soon as the year's appropriation had been made by the Annual Town Meeting. con- tracts were awarded for the construction of two (2) more sections of the central and South Weymouth Trunk Sewer. A third contract was awarded for the construction of a sub-main in Essex Street and Lake Street. The two (2) contracts for the continued construction of the Central and South Weymouth Trunk Sewer extended this sewer from Commercial Street to a point on Essex Street near Greenvale Avenue. The sub-main in Essex Street and Lake Streets serves the newly constructed Veterans Housing Project and obviated the need for the construction of an expensive private disposal system. It will serve all of the individual houses along the sewer
255
and will eventually serve as a sub-main to carry the lateral sewers from the Lake Shore Park area. The Veterans Housing Authority made a pay- ment to the town of $20,000.00 as a contribution towards the cost of this sewer, and it is expected that an additional contribution of $4,000.00 will be made in the near future.
The two (2) sections of the Central and South Weymouth Trunk Sewer were extremely difficult to build due to deep cuts, a great amount of ledge, and ground water. Furthermore, the original contractor, on one of the sections, was declared to have defaulted his contract and it became neces- sary for the department to re-advertise the contract and award the re- maining portion to a new contractor. This delayed the completion of the work several months.
Every phase of the engineering, in connection with the above described construction work, was done by department engineers. This has resulted in an appreciable reduction in engineering cost and better control of the construction.
The necessary surveying and planning for continued construction of the Central and South Weymouth Trunk Sewer during 1951 has been done; also the necessary surveying and planning for the construction of the first section of the East Weymouth Trunk Sewer. If this sewer is completed, as recommended, the new school, which is being constructed at the intersection of Evans Street and Pearl Street, will be able to dispose of its sewage to this sewer making it unnecessary to construct a temporary disposal system.
A new pick-up truck was purchased and additional maintenance and construction equipment was added. We are still faced with the in- adequacy of the available garage and workshop facilities. However, the administrative quarters of the department have proved to be very effi- cient and workable.
Further planning and engineering will be carried on during the com- ing year for the construction of the Central and South Weymouth Trunk Sewer as funds are available. However, the present world situation has created a greater demand for engineers of all kinds, and this is reflected in the salaries that are being paid engineers. This creates a problem for this department and one that is difficult to cope with inasmuch as we are in direct competition for the services of available engineers.
To the employees of the department, to the other departments of the town, and to the private citizens who have so courteously helped us in our year's work, I extend my sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS H. HAMILTON, Superintendent of the Sewer Department
256
SUMMARY OF SEWER CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED
Completed as of January 1. 1950
31,023.38 ft.
Completed, 1950:
Bakers Avenue
306.70 ft.
Bluff Road
175.46 ft.
Bryant Avenue
303.34 ft.
Central and South Weymouth Trunk Sewer
6,167.35 ft.
Essex Street
1,488.08 ft.
Fields Avenue
203.05 ft.
Fairlawn Road
656.35 ft.
Johnson Road
674.39 ft.
Lake Street
1,776.22 ft.
Manomet Road
274.81 ft.
Orlando Road
212.70 ft.
Phillips Street
533.80 ft.
Princeton Avenue
591.20 ft.
Prospect Street
468.22 ft.
Prospect Court
251.39 ft.
Richmond Street
481.52 ft.
Sea Street
435.06 ft.
Walker Street
274.45 ft.
Webb Street
331.37 ft.
Wessagussett Road
399.10 ft.
Total Construction 1950
16,004.56 ft.
Total Completed to Date
47,027.94 ft.
House Connections
Complete as of January 1, 1950
77
Completed during 1950 (Individual Properties)
67
Veterans Housing Project (Dwelling Units)
148
Total Connections as of December 31, 1950
292
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Seventy-Second Annual Report of the Trustees of the Tufts Library Weymouth, Massachusetts 1950
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SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF TUFTS LIBRARY WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
TRUSTEES
Wallace H. Drake, M.D. Alice E. Fulton Francis N. Drown Walter C. Gutterson
Philip T. Jones Franklin N. Pratt Leighton S. Voorhees H. Forrest Wilson
Clarance P. Whittle
SELECTMEN EX-OFFICIO
Joseph Crehan Harry Christensen
Joseph A. Fern Raymond Morgan
Herbert A. Chubbuck
OFFICERS
Clarance P. Whittle, President
Franklin N. Pratt, Secretary
LIBRARIAN
Christine E. Evarts
ASSISTANTS
Ruth M. Connors
Mildred W. Olson
Edith L. Payson
Florence G. Truax
*Betty Lou Arnold Edith T. Sanborn Ruth C. Richardson
Dorothy E. Trussell
Alice T. Mulready
Jean L. Nash
Ruth K. Philbrick
Children's & Young People's Librarian Circulation & Records Librarian Cataloger Reference Librarian
Senior Desk Assistant Circulation Assistant Assistant Cataloger Assistant Children's Librarian Circulation Assistant Circulation Assistant Clerical Assistant
BRANCH LIBRARIANS
Catherine C. Condrick
Filomena A. LaRocco
Alice T. Mulready Lena B. Pratt
Florence G. Truax
Dorothy E. Trussell
North Weymouth Branch East Weymouth Branch Lovell's Corner Station Pond Plain Station Weymouth Heights Station Nash's Corner Station
JANITORS
John G. Galvin John Carter Benjamin N. Ells *Resigned
Main Library North Weymouth Branch East Weymouth Branch
261
LIBRARY HOURS
The Tufts Library, Washington Square, Weymouth Landing Open 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Daily
The Children's Room, Commercial Street, Weymouth Landing Open 2:30 to 5 P.M. Daily. Saturdays, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
North Weymouth Branch, 68-70 Sea Street, North Weymouth Open 2 to 6 and 7 to 8 P.M. except Saturday
East Weymouth Branch, Jackson Square, East Weymouth Open 2 to 8 P.M. Daily except Saturday
Lovell's Corner Station, Pratt School, East Weymouth Open 2:30 to 6 and 7 to 8 P.M. Tuesday
Nash's Corner Station, Shaw School, South Weymouth Open 2:30 to 6 and 7 to 8 P.M. Tuesday
Pond Plain Station, 308 Pond Street, South Weymouth Open 2:30 to 6 and 7 to 8 P.M. Friday
Weymouth Heights Station, Adams School, Weymouth Heights Open 2:30 to 6 and 7 to 8 P.M. Thursday
The Library and its Branches are open for circulation of books, refer- ence service and reading as noted above, except on Sundays, legal holidays and the 17th of June.
LIBRARY SERVICES
The Library is for the use of all residents of Weymouth. Temporary residents are entitled to the same privileges as permanent residents.
A library card entitles the holder to borrow books, magazines, pam- phlets and pictures for home use. Phonograph records may be borrowed at the Main Library only. The library card must be presented when books and records are borrowed.
The Children's Room at the Main Library and Children's Departments at the Branch Libraries provide books and reading guidance for the boys and girls. Children under Senior High School age are entitled to a card if the application is signed by a parent or guardian. Story hours for the younger children are held on Friday afternoons throughout the Winter months.
Reference service is available at the library or by telephone.
For the convenience of residents in the various parts of the town. there is a weekly exchange of books from all Branch Libraries. A library card is valid at any Branch or at the Main Library.
Telephone:
The Tufts Library - Weymouth 9-1402 North Weymouth Branch - Weymouth 9-1571-J East Weymouth Branch - Weymouth 9-1677-W
262
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY
To the Citizens of the Town of Weymouth:
Two matters of vital import for the future of the Tufts Library will be considered and acted upon at the annual town meeting in March, 1951.
The first of these is the problem of capital outlay on our library build- ing and branches. In compliance with the vote of the town, the trustees have prepared a full report covering this subjct. Summarizing this report, which is appended, we would say that renovation of the present library building would cost the town at least $150,000, and when finished would be inadequate for good library service. It would still be too small. with 20 possibility of further expansion; it would be on three floors, expensive to maintain and administer. Therefor the trustees recommend that the town take the necessary steps to provide for a new Tufts Library building on a site that is adequate for modern library facilities and services. The trustees further recommend a branch library building for North Weymouth and the acquisiition of land for a future branch library at East Weymouth. Other capital outlay expenditures for the library they feel should be deferred.
The second consideration vitally affecting the future of the Tufts Library is the effect upon the library should the town adopt the recom- mendations of Griffenhagen and Associates for the town libraries. The trustees of the Tufts Library were not at any time consulted by the rep- resentatives of Griffenhagen and Associates when the survey was in pro- gress. They would welcome any rcommendation that they believed would improve the service or efficiency of the library, but the recommendations that have been released by Griffenhagen and Associates would, in some instances, defeat their efforts to establish and maintain good library ser- vice for the town of Weymouth. These recommendations are so counter to the standards for good library service that the Massachusetts Library Association and the Massachusetts Division of Public Libraries have pro- tested to the executives of Griffenhagen and Associates and have sent a full record to the officials of the American Library Association. The trus- tees of the Tufts Library have received a strong protest from the chair- man of the Massachusetts Board of Free Public Library Commissioners. This letter states that the recommendations reflect a lack of knowledge and sufficient recognition of the established standards of the library pro- fession. These standards are the backbone of a vital library program in a community, and the wholesale acceptance of the recommndations of this survey will have disastrous effects on the town's library program.
In view of the above the trustees of the Tufts Library urgently request that the recommendations of Griffenhagen and Associates, as they apply to the Tufts Library, should not be accepted by the town. A list of these recommendations and the reply of the Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library to each of them is appended to this report.
The trustees of the Tufts Library have, through nearly three quarters of a century, striven to give the town a high quality of library service on as reasonable a budget as possible. The Tufts Library has been their primary concern. They feel that the personality, training and ability of the professional library staff are as vital to a good library as is the book collection, and they earnestly hope that the town meeting will consider amending the by-law passed in March 1950 so that regulations governing the professional staff of the library will be again subject to the elected Board of Library Trustees, rather than to the Personnel Board which could not be expected to know the accepted practices and procedures for
263
the library profession. Under the present by-law the trustees of the Tufts Library will be severely handicapped in securing competent librarians when vacancies occur.
The report of your librarian for the year 1950 follows the two appended reports of the trustees noted above.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARANCE P. WHITTLE
President of the Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library. By order and on behalf of the Board.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY RELATIVE TO THE LIBRARY FACILITIES OF THE TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
By vote of the Special Town Meeting, Monday, October 2, 1950, the trustees of the Tufts Library were requested to prepare a complete report of recommendations on a capital out-lay plan for the Tufts Library and Branches, including the disposal of the Tufts Library building and property and a proposed site for a new library building.
This report follows:
A. THE TUFTS LIBRARY BUILDING. In reporting on the Tufts Library building it seemed best to compare the present building with the facilities standard today for a community the size of Weymouth. The following comparison is made:
To give library service that meets the standards of the American Library Ass'n for a community the size of Weymouth, a modern main library building should provide the following :
Our present building compares with these standards as follows:
For today's population 18,000 sq. ft. of floor space. (A new library should allow for at least 20 years population growth and the floor area be es- timated accordingly.)
Adaquate lighting everywhere.
Entrance and main library services on the street level.
Periodical & Reading Room, attrac- tively and comfortably furnished, and accommodating approximately 50 persons.
Reference Room apart from the Reading Room.
We have 7,566 sq. ft. of usuable floor space. The attic, if finished off and made available for use, would give a total of 11,349 sq. ft. We would still lack 6,651 sq. ft. of needed space to meet today's needs.
Poor lighting almost everywhere. The wiring is obsolete and is a fire hazard.
Our main library is up one flight.
Our Periodical & Reading Room seats 27. We have 3 long tables and 1 small one. Crowded condi- tions prevent re-designing.
We have no separate Reference Room. Shelves on one side of the Reading Room hold our reference books. This is very inadequate.
264
To give library service that meets the standards of the American Library Ass'n for a community the size of Weymouth, a modern main library building should provide the following :
Our present building compares with these standards as follows:
Children's Library and Story Hour Room.
We have a good Children's Library but the adjacent room is over- crowded and put to many uses be- sides the group needs of children. It is not a room, only a portion of the Children's Room, screened off by book shelves.
Young People's Library. Teen-agers have special interests and needs.
Music and Art Room.
Local history and genealogical col- lection.
Space for the 1879 Library and rare books.
Family Room: Books on child care, education, etc. (Some libraries call this the Parent's and Teach- er's Room.)
Auditorium equipped for audio- visual use for cultural and educa- tional group meetings, film forums, etc.
Cataloging Room.
Receiving and shipping room.
Adequate work rooms for book pro- cessing, book mending - prepara- tion for binding, branch exchange, school deposit exchanges, etc.
We have no room for young people's library services; only a few book shelves back of our main desk.
We have no Music and Art Room. Music is in a corner of the Periodi- call & Reading Room. No good place for art books or pictures.
We have no room for such a collec- tion. A few genealogical books are shelved with our reference books. Catalog cards bring out Weymouth analytics so that some day these books may be brought together.
We have no good place for this and are using needed shelves in our Story Hour Room.
We have a few books of this nature in the Story Hour Room.
We have no auditorium. This great- ly restricts the service of the library as a community center.
We have no room for this essential service. Our cataloging is done in a crowded space back of book cases.
We have no receiving and shipping room. Books must be brought over the stairs and piled in the Trustees' Room or in front of the main desk.
We have no work rooms at all. We have to use the Trusteees' Room and one end of the Children's Room. This is a desperate need.
265
To give library service that meets the standards of the American Library Ass'n for a community the size of Weymouth, a modern main library building should provide the following :
Our present building compares with these standards as follows:
Steel book stacks to accommodate up to 72,000 volumes.
We have twelve old wooden cases taking precious space on our main floor. It is doubtful if the present structure will bear the weight of additional stacks, either in the attic or on the main floor. The basement is damp and not adequate for storage. This too is a desperate need.
Librarian's office large enough to have a section for an assistant librarian's desk (or with an adjacent office for the assistant librarian.
Trustees' Room.
We have one but it has to double as a work room.
We have a dark corner under the stairs, screened off by bookcases. There are no facilities.
We have a cumbersome but not very roomy old safe. It is over- crowded.
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