USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1903-1905 > Part 42
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" 107, Charles W. Cheever, Main street, Greenwood, South district.
69
No.108, Burned up in Hathaway's fire, 1899.
" 109, W. W. Wanamaker, Nahant street, near almshouse, Woodville district.
" 110, Fred A. Sweetser, 20 Water street, Centre dis- trict.
" 111, Samuel L. White, Fairmount avenue, off West Chestnut street, West district.
" 112, L. A. Green, Charles street, Centre district.
" 113, H. S. Parker, Greenwood.
" 114, G. Whittle, Main street, South district.
" 115, Last record 1901. In doubt, not found.
" 116, S. E. Ryder, druggist, 416 Main street, Centre district.
. " 117, O. N. Gammons, Birch Hill avenue, Centre dis- trict.
" 118, John W. Harnden, barber, 426 Main street, Cen- tre district.
" 119, Thomas Kenney, Summer street, Centre district.
" 120, W. Holden, 1 Cooper street, Greenwood.
" 121, T. L. Munier, 34 Valley street, Centre district.
" 122, Mrs. G. R. Tyzzer, Woodville.
" 123, Crozier Latimer, express, 43 Crescent street, Cen- tre district.
" 124, Wm. F. Barrett, 366 Main street, Centre district.
" 125, J. H. Trask, Byron street, West district.
" 126, J. A. H. McDonald, Main street, Greenwood, South district.
" 127, Charles H. Cheever, Main street, Greenwood, South district.
" 128, A. H. Gould, Forest street, South district.
" 129, C. E. Jones, Greenwood avenue, South district.
" 130, George A. Anderson, Pine street, South district.
" 131, L. W. Curtis, Pleasant street, Centre district.
" 132, Hugh Connell, 442 Main street, Centre district.
70
No.133, N. B. Bucknam, Pitman avenue, Greenwood, South district.
" 134, W. P. Shepard, Shumway Circle, park, West dis- trict.
" 135, Wm. E. Eaton, 15 Summit avenue, park, West district.
" 136, Timothy Doucette, Elm street, cor. West Chest- nut and Elm streets, North district.
" 137, Michael J. McTeague, 21 Murray street, West dis- trict.
" 138, James Balmain, New Salem street court, Bellevue Park, East district.
" 139, Charles H. Black, 268 Salem street, East district.
" 140, Wm. S. Hill, Fairmount avenue, West district.
" 141, Curley's grain elevator, Wakefield Junction.
" 142, John Crosby, Nahant street, Woodville district.
" 143, E. E. Lee, grocer, Main street, South district.
" 144, A. R. Wiley, 10 Avon court, West district. " 145, Last record, 1899.
" 146, J. W. Martin, Greenwood plains, South district.
" 147, S. T. Parker, 203 Lowell street, East district.
" 148, S. T. Parker, 203 Lowell street, East district.
" 149, C. P. Rosson, head of pond, 25 Lowell street, North district.
" 150, S. T. Parker, 203 Lowell street, East district.
" 151, W. L. Griffin, Lowell street, North district.
" 152, Fred G. Stone, 14 Eaton street, Centre district.
" 153, George W. Abbott, 31 Lawrence street, Centre district.
" 154, Thomas H. Moses, 260 Lowell street, East dis- trict.
" 155, D. Hadley, Salem street, East district.
" 156, E. L. Grinnell, Lowell street, East district.
" 157, L. K. Finney, 146 Vernon street, Centre district.
" 158, Rufus Kendrick, 712 Main street, South district.
71
No.159, Middlesex Traders' stable, North avenue, West district.
" 160, A. L. Sterling, 213 Albion street, West district.
" 161, A. Butler, store, 434 Main street, Centre district.
" 162, Foster's drug store, 623 Main street Centre dis- trict.
" 163, A. B. Weld, 623 Main street, Wakefield Junction.
" 164, G. M. Thompson, Parker road, West district.
" 165, G. W. Couillard, 605 Main street (Junction) Centre district.
" 166, Job C. Young, Madison avenue, South district.
" 167, F. S. Grant, Frances avenue, Greenwood, South district.
" 168, G. B. Moore, Pitman avenue, South district.
" 169, Bernard F. Heurlin, Nichols, cor. Prospect street, West district.
" 170, Frank H. Sweetser, 34 Park, Centre district.
" 171, D. J. Murphy, off Green street, Centre district.
" 172, Michael Holden, 5 Bartley street, West district.
" 173, Richard S. Stout, 6 Bennett street, Centre dis- trict.
" 174, D. W. Hunt, 99 Albion street, Centre district.
" 175, J. O'Connell, 58 Richardson street, Centre dis- trict.
" 176, Burned up in Hathaway fire, 1899.
" 177, Michael O'Connell, 47 Lake street, West district.
" 178, John S. Griffiths, 73 Pleasant street, North dis- trict.
" 179, Dean Dudley, Pleasant street, off Salem street, East district.
" 180, C. H. Curtis, baker, 430 Main street, Centre dis- trict.
" 181, E. K. Smith, 231 Lowell street, East district.
" 182, H. L. Goldsmith, 99 Salem street, East district.
72
No.183, Patrick McLaughlin, 65 Cedar street, West dis- trict.
" 184, Owen Corcoran, Wiley place, Woodville district.
" 185, F. E. Bunker, Wave avenue, Centre district.
" 186, J. H. Ringer, janitor Greenwood school-house, South district.
" 187, C. E. Classen, janitor Woodville school, Wood- ville district.
" 188, M. F. Hurley, janitor Montrose school-house, East district.
" 189, Janitor High school-house, Centre district.
" 190, Charles E. Newman, janitor Lincoln school-house, Centre district.
" 191, Thos. Thrush, janitor Franklin school-house, Cen- tre district.
" 192, William W. Chesley, 172 Albion street, West dis- trict.
" 193, H. B. Borden, 714 Main street, South district.
" 194, John F. Alexander, 553 Main street, Centre dis- trict.
" 195, A. L. Treffrey, Pine street, Greenwood.
" 196, Edw. E. Eaton, janitor Warren school, West dis- trict.
,
" 197, Edw. W. Butterfield, janitor Hamilton school, Centre district.
" 198, E. W. Eaton, janitor West Ward school, West district.
" 199, B. F. Shedd, janitor North Ward school-house, North district.
.
" 200, R. F. Draper, janitor Town Hall, Centre district.
" 201, R. L. Pitman, 840 Main street, South district.
" 202, J. T. Paine, 464 Main street, Centre district.
" 203, J. T. Mahoney, 44 Bartley street, West district.
" 204, Arthur Harnden, 12 Water street, Centre district.
" 205, A. A. Butler, off Water street, Centre district.
73
No.206, C. W. Baker, 297 Salem street, East district.
" 207, L. E. Carter, 17 Eaton street, Centre district.
" 208, Wakefield Daily Item, Centre district.
" 209, F. S. Stoddard, 66 Salem street, East district. " 210, Last record, 1900.
" 211, F. P. Hoyt, 1 Walton street, East district.
" 212, Greenwood Hose Company, W. F. D.
" 213, .Will H. Wiley, Lake avenue, Centre district.
" 214, A. N. Cheever, Spring street, Boyntonville, South district.
" 215, Patrick Kenney, 43 Melvin street, Centre district.
" 216, Miss Nellie Gihon, 7 Fitch court, Centre district.
"+ 217, John McLain, Broadway, West district.
" 218, George K. Walton, Salem street, Montrose.
" 219, N. L. Drake, Myrtle avenue, South District.
" 220, F. DeFazio, 468 Main street, fruit store, Centre district.
" 221, S. H. Hill, Cooper street, South distrint.
" 222, J. B. Foster, 69 Vernon street, North district.
" 223, Wakefield Fair Grounds.
" 224, Wakefield Fair Grounds.
" 225, Wm. B. Daniel, 9 Pearl street, Centre district.
" 226, Geo. I. Oliver, 198 Salem street, East district.
" 227, John T. Hill, 821 Main street, South district.
" 228, Bowser & Co., 446 Main street, Centre district.
" 229, A. A. Carlton, 370 Main street, Centre district.
" 230, G. M. Kelly, 15 Mechanic street, Centre district. " 231, W. H. Perkins, 18 Lafayette street, Centre dis- trict.
" 232, John Flanley block, Main street, Centre district.
" 233, Last record, 1901, error, supposed to have been lost in rink fire, 1899.
" 234, Rufus Kendrick, 712 Main street, South district.
" 235, A. Turnbull, 44 Salem street, East district.
74
No.236, John B. Fairbanks, 91 Pleasant street, Centre district.
" 237, R. G. Wolfe, Crystal street, South district.
" 238, T. F. Ringer, F. F. W.
" 239, Harry E. Lane, 4 Albion street, Centre district.
" 240, James G. Hunt, 58 Nahant street, Centre district.
" 241, Alfred W. Vint, Water street, Woodville district.
" 242, In doubt, not found.
" 243, Charles A. Bent, Mt. Pleasant avenue, Woodville district.
" 244, S. T. Parker, 203 Lowell street, East district.
" 245, Dr. J. H. Kimball, Myrtle avenue, South district.
" 246, A. D. Jenkins, Franklin street, Centre district.
" 247, R. E. Archibald, High street, South district.
" 248, Otto Anderson, 6 Pleasant street, Centre district.
" 249, Wm. H. Lee, Oak street, South district.
" 250, Geo. A. Hird, 117 Vernon street, North district.
" 251, C. E. Newman, janitor Lincoln school.
" 252, C. E. Newman, janitor Lincoln school.
" 253, Edw. W. Butterfield, janitor Hamilton school.
" 254, A. F. Lyman, janitor High school.
" 255, J. H. Ringer, janitor Greenwood school.
" 256, Ernest Haywood, Charles street, Centre district.
" 257, Alex. Murray, janitor Woodville school.
" 258, W. W. Shedd, janitor F. P. Hurd school.
" 259, A. F. Lyman, janitor High school.
" 260, Thomas Thrush, janitor Franklin school.
" 261, Edw. E. Eaton, janitor, Warren school.
" 262, Edw. E. Eaton, janitor West Ward school, West district.
" 263, Greenwood Hose Co.
" 264, C. H. Curtis, Rifle range.
" 265, Wakefield Fire Department.
" 266, 66 66
" 267,
" 268,
75
Police Department.
The accompanying report of the police department leaves little necessary to be said by us. The figures and facts sub- mitted give a comprehensive view of the work which has been done.
The recommendations which the chief of the department. makes in regard to a small increase in the regular force, are worthy of careful consideration by our people.
It will be noted that the "cases investigated" comprised a large number during the last year. In these, more than in the number of arrests made or cases tried in court, lies the burden of a police department's duties in a town like ours.
Upon the recommendation of the Chief, Special Officer James J. Kennedy was dismissed from the force for the good of the service, and notified to turn over to the chief all property belonging to the town.
CHIEF'S REPORT.
WAKEFIELD, MASS., Feb. 1, 1906. 1
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :- I have the honor of presenting to your hon- orable board a report of the doings of the police depart- ment for the year ending Jan. 31, 1906.
Whole number of arrests,
Males,
·
.
123 . 130
Females,
7
130
76
CAUSES OF ARRESTS.
Adultery,
2
Assault and battery,
5
Adulterated milk selling,
1
Arson,
3
Bastardy, .
2
Dipsomaniac,
1
Drunkenness,
76
Evading car fare,
1
Larceny,
7
Liquor keeping,
5
Liquor nuisance,
1
Non-support,
3
Receiving stolen property,
1
Ringing false fire alarms, .
3
Suspicious character,
1
Safe Keeping,
2
Truancy, .
1
Threats,
1
Violation of probation,
3
Vagrancy,
1
Violation Sunday law,
1
Warrants for other towns,
3
Insane,
5
Indecent exposure,
·
.
.
.
1
130
DISPOSITION OF CASES.
Held for Superior Court, . 11
Committed to House of Correction,
18
" State Farm,
4
" Foxboro, .
1
.
77
Committed to State Prison,
1
" Danvers, ·
5
Surrendered to other towns,
3
Discharged by Court,
6
Defaulted,
3
Probated, .
23
Placed on file,
4
Released by keeper ..
33
Paid fines,
18
130
Aggregate term of imprisonment House of Correction (17)
. . 21 months
State Prison (1) not less than 2 1-2 nor more than 5 years
State Farm (4) indefinite, period.
NATIVITY OF PRISONERS.
American,
80
Irish,
27
English,
13
Italian,
5
Sweden,
3
Germany,
1
France,
.
.
1
130
FINES.
Fines imposed, .
$630 00 Fines paid, ·
360 00
78 ·
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
Accidents reported and investigated,
11
Fire alarms attended,
25
Broken wires reported,
3
Breaks in water pipe rep. .
2
Complaints received and investigated,
385
Defects in streets reported,
12
Dogs killed,
7
Escorts furnished,
1
Horses found cast,
5
Liquor search warrants served,
10
Search warrant for stolen property,
1
Stolen property reported,
$183 50
recovered,
91 50
Doors found open and secured, .
229
Dogs licensed, .
428
Lights reported not burning,
105
Notices served,
70
Disturbances suppressed, .
20
Dead bodies recovered,
2
Persons in distress assisted,
18
Lanterns furnished dangerous places,
11
Water found running and shut off,
3
Stray teams found and secured,
5
Stray children reported and found,
9
Lost property recovered, .
$284 00
Obstructions removed from highway,
4
LIQUOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
There have been ten liquor search warrants served, of which six were successful, and the proprietors of the places arrested and brought before the court, and were fined $50.00 each, which they paid, and one case settled by the party agreeing to quit the business, under an agreement with the
79
court if he was found continuing the same he would be brought before the court and fined $100.00 or more.
Amount of liquor seized :
4 gallons whiskey.
1 gallon wine.
4 gallons lager beer.
1 1-2 gallons ale.
1-4 gallon rum.
1-4 gallon cocktail.
3-8 gallon gin.
April 30. Jeremiah J. Shannahan and John McCormack arrested for setting fire to building on Foundry street, April 29, and burning same. Arraigned in court. Probable cause found and held for Grand Jury. Plead guilty at Superior Court, and sentenced to three months House of Correction ; committed.
Sept. 28. Leonard E. Coulter arrested for setting fire and burning his house at No. 2 Grafton street, on the morn- ing of Aug. 23. Arraigned before the Superior Court at Cambridge, December term. Plead guilty and sentenced to not less than two and one-half years nor more than five years State Prison.
July 22. Frank Lunt, No. 608 Main street, while riding a bicycle near the Junction was thrown from his wheel and killed. Taken charge of by Police.
Dec. 25. Edgar O. Long of Winchester died on train be- tween Reading and Wakefield, and taken off train at Upper Depot. Body taken charge of by Undertaker Walton and Police.
Dec. 31. John Ritchie and Grace Holden drowned in Lake Quannapowitt. Bodies recovered by Police and citi- zens Jan. 1, 1906.
80
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The town has year after year neglected to provide suitable police protection for its inhabitants, and I want to simply repeat what other chiefs have often told you, that is, the town should have at its command a police department. I will not enter into detail in this matter, but I will say this, how- ever, that no man who has the best interests of this town at heart can help but see that this is true.
I would recommend that the town adopt so much of chap- ter 19 of the Revised Laws as relates to the appointment of police officers under the civil service, and that you have a police department to consist of five patrolmen, and a chief, and that for the maintaining of such a department the sum of $5,500.00, together with the court fines, be appropriated. I would also recommend that not over six special police be assigned for the extra police work.
In conclusion I wish to thank your honorable board for the kindly assistance and advice given me during the year.
To his Honor Judge Bruce, and his assistants Judges Libby and Sweetser, and also to the Clerk of the District Court, William N. Tyler, and his able assistant, Wilfred B. Tyler, I wish to extend my sincere thanks for the kind and courteous treatment accorded me throughout the year.
To the night watch and special police officers who have contributed to the success of this department, you have my thanks. Respectfully submitted,
HARVEY M. COFFIN,
Chief of Police.
81 .
Highway Department.
At the beginning of the year the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Sewer Commissioners voted to unite in the ap- pointment of one engineer to serve both as engineer for the Sewer Department and Superintendent of Streets, an agree- ment being made whereby the work of the sewer depart- ment should not interfere with the work on the streets, the Superintendent to be under the control and direction of the Board of Selectmen.
The salary paid by the Selectmen was the usual amouut, $900, to which $600 was added by the Sewer Commission- ers for work in their department. Inasmuch as the latter department had already asked the Finance Committee for $1000 for engineer's salary, the amount required for that purpose was reduced $400, and the appropriations reduced to that extent. The amount of work anticipated for the highway department was rather less than usual because of the small appropriation for streets made at the March meet- ing and the lessening number of house connections enabled the Sewer Department to spare its engineer a greater part of the day.
On the whole there was no interference to either depart- ment by work of the other though several small repairs and some cleaning were omitted because of scarcity of labor at the time of the unexpected construction of the Converse street sewer, other town departments being engaged in con- struction at the same time.
The detailed account of the year's work in this depart- ment will be found in the report of the Superintendent of Streets. Your committee, however, desires to call atten- tion to a few important facts in connection with this de- partment.
-
82
The increasing heavy teaming and automobiling, espec- ially when streets are soft, and the decreasing amount of money annually appropriated have produced an increasing discrepancy between repair and deterioration.
Short sections of streets have been rebuilt by the town in past few years and long stretches allowed to go untouched from lack of funds. Vernon street, from Lowell St. to the Lynnfield line is cited as an example.
So long as this increasing discrepancy is permitted the amount eventually required increases year by year, as is in- dicated by the additional appropriations recommended by successive Boards of Selectmen.
Our limited appropriations for street watering admits the wetting of only a portion of our macadam and the balance is in places unraveling from neglect in this respect. For example upper West Chestnut street and Bennett near Traverse.
The natural advantages of the town in respect to drain- age have not been developed and utilized, and should re- ceive serious attention before permanent construction of streets is extended. Parts of Main street, especially in Greenwood, will require extensive work and repair before it can be accepted by the County Commissioners, and neglect- ed problems in drainage should be solved before rebuilding.
Several sections of streets have been constructed so nar- row that passing is difficult for carriages of ordinary width of tread. By reason of the increased width of automobile tread, passing has become dangerous and a liability placed upon the town. Pine street, in Cox's woods, so called, is cited as an instance where immediate widening is required, to avoid accidents and liability.
New sidewalks have been constructed, the abutters paying one-half the cost, and repairs made as far as the funds available would permit, but the liability of the town in this respect is increasing by deteriorations beyond our resources
83
for repair. The sidewalk on Gould and Converse streets requires the expenditure of several hundred dollars to place it in respectable condition.
Before entering any extensive work the department should have new and modern machinery to enable it to do its work better and more economically. The street roller weighs 12 tons and does only a part of its proper work and that indif- fcrently, causing loss of time and added expense for repair. The cost for repairs last year was about 4 per cent. on $4000. whereas a new 15 ton roller could have been obtained in exchange for the old one and $2200 additional.
The town is sadly in need of storage for its highway ap- paratus, and a place whereby this can be obtained and the remedy for the foregoing conditions accomplished, will be found in the recommendations of this board and its engi- neer presented to the Finance Committee.
Doubtless some of the above committee and other citi- zens as well, view with alarm the increasing demands of this board for money for Street Department. It is, how- ever, the only possible result of the disparity between wear and repair-deterioration and appropriation.
The time for balancing this account may be postponed, but cannot be averted. The town must eventually pay the balance which is increasing year by year. I believe the county will be justified in rebuilding Vernon street from Salem street to the Lynnfield line and assessing the cost to the town, unless soon repaired.
The liability of the town increases as the streets and side- walks deteriorate, and the money would be much better expended in repair than in paying damages.
STATE ROADS.
In 1904-5 Town report, the Selectmen outlined their efforts to secure an allotment of State road for Wakefield.
84
Several hearings were given at State Highway Commis- sioners' office in Boston. Wakefield was joined in their petition, by the towns of Lynnfield and Peabody and the city of Salem, asking that a State road be built through the sev- eral towns, connecting at Salem with other State roads. After due consideration of the matter the commissioners de- cided that in a view of this being in the nature of a lateral line of road (a system not yet inaugurated) its allotment could not be considered until intersecting sections of trunk lines were completed.
The present Board of Selectmen feeling that the Town of Wakefield should enjoy a portion of the State appropriation for highways, have continued their efforts in that direction, asking the State to complete the macadamizing of Main street from Lawrence street to the Reading town line. Ir this we were joined by the selectmen of Reading, asking for a continuance of the State road to Reading square, there to connect with the trunk line from Boston to Andover and northward. Chairman McClintock of the board of Mass. Highway Commissioners, on the invitation of our Board visited Wakefield, and with them and the chairman of the Reading board of selectmen, went over the route, examining the con- dition of the road, its drainage and other features that might influence the State in making an allotment for us. On our return to Wakefield a conference was held at the Town Hall, and after a full and free discussion of the whole matter, we found our chances of getting this allotment from the State in the near future were very remote, as other sections of the State were in greater need of an immediate outlay.
Assurance was given us, however, that under the "Small Town Act" the State would build us a State road and pay one-half of the cost, (approximately $3,000), and give us as good a piece of road as they have built in any locality. Act- ing on this proposition and pledge, an appropriation of $3,000 will be asked for at the coming March Town Meeting.
85
Favorable action by the Town will insure the building of this much needed section of our highway the present season, and save the outlay of a large sum of money which will otherwise have to be expended for repairs.
This section of State road would be built under contract, and the Town of Wakefield if properly equipped for the ser- vice could enjoy the honor of building this road, under the State supervision, and at the same time carry out the decree of the County Commissioners made in 1889, wherein they were directed to lay out, and rebuilt that section of town road lying between Lawrence street and the Reading town line, according to plan prepared and submitted by Charles Mills, which decree as yet remains uncompleted.
The building of this road will open up a still larger field for the employment of town labor, and be an object lesson for our town people in road building.
Preliminary survey has been made by the State, anticipat- ing favorable action by our town.
CENTRE POND.
The incoming Board of Selectmen for 1905 took up the matter of the drainage of Centre pond, so called, with the full expectation of relieving the town of existing condi- tions, along the outlined propositions as set forth in our last town report. Plans have . been drawn and estimates made covering the cost of the several propositions there de- scribed. Several conferences were held with the parties in interest, and much time given to the consideration of this important subject, but owing to the lack of power vested in the town to change water courses and establish new drains, the work was suspended until such time as a proper or legal right could be secured from the Legislature.
Accordingly the town was asked, and voted at its Novem- ber town meeting, to give the necessary authority to the Se-
86
lectmen to petition the General Court for the passage of an act relative to water courses and surface drainage, so that changes can legally be made, looking not only to the better- ment of the drainage of the Centre district, but whenever necessary throughout the town.
With this right secured it is hoped a speedy solution of this long needed improvement will be secured and the cause of many complaints eliminated. The unsightly and unsani- tary conditions that have so long existed right here in the centre of Wakefield should have been remedied years ago, and it is hoped that the incoming Board of Selectmen will carry forward the improvement herewith outlined, or see that proper drainage and more wholesome conditions are secured.
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS REPORT.
To the Honorable, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of
Wakefield :
I herewith submit as your executive officer a report of the business of the Highway Department from April 1, 1905 to Jan. 31, 1906.
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