USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1917 > Part 5
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Thursday, August 2, 10.40 p.m. Box 15. A train wreck at Wakefield Junction. The fireman on one of the engines lost his life.
Saturday, August 4, 4.02 p.m. Out of town. Burning of the Lyceum Hall, Reading.
Sunday, August 5, 1.58 p.m. Box 4. An old shack off Montrose Avenue. Cause probably incendiary. Loss, about $25.00.
Wednesday, September 5, 5.26 p.m. Box 32. False alarm.
Sunday, September 23, 11.58 a.m. Box 32. A grocery store at 58 Water Street, owned and occupied by C. Bonfanti. Loss, about $30. Caused by chimney.
Thursday, September 27, 11.55 a.m. Box 54. A small fire at the Montrose School. Caused probably by children. Loss small.
Thursday, October 25, 9.09 a.m. Box 34. A dwelling-house at No. 373 Main Street, the old Mansfield estate. Occupied by C. H. Simonds. Loss, about $75. Cause, a defected chimney.
Saturday, November 3, 2.14 p.m. Box 47. A dwelling-house at 25 Sweetser Street, owned and occupied by G. Santoro. Loss, about $45. Cause, probably by children.
Tuesday, November 6, 2.18 p.m. Box 48. A small barn at 19 Lowell Street. Owned by the estate of Mrs. E. Rosson. Loss, $600. Cause, probably careless smoking.
Sunday, November 11, 3.56 a.m. Box 48. A small fire in a building at the Rifle Range in Reading.
Sunday, November 11, 3.04 p.m. Box 48. Some brush off Pine Street. Monday, November 12, 1.15 a.m. Still alarm. A dwelling-house.
63
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS
Occupied by E. W. Wilder. Owned by Miss E. E. Boit, Fire at No. 37 Rich- ardson Avenue. Loss about $15. Cause combustion.
Friday, November 23, 8.45 p.m. Still alarm. An automobile on Nahant Street. Owned by R. S. Wallis of Boston. Loss $350. Cause, defect in the carburator.
Monday, December 3, 1.02 p.m. Box 43. A fire in a dump off Pleasant Street.
Friday, Dec. 7, 6.16 p.m. Box 115. A small fire in a freight car, owned by B. & M. R. R. at Wakefield Junction. Loss small. Cause, overheated stovepipe.
Sunday, Dec. 16, 1.30 p.m. Still alarm. A dwelling at No. 7 Francis Avenue. Owned by Wm. Arnold. Loss about $20. Cause, sparks from chimney.
Thursday, December 20, 1.42 p.m. Still alarm. A dwelling at No. 29 Bennett Street, owned by the estate of O. Simspon. Occupied by J. A. Dingle. Loss, about $50. Caused by children.
Thursday, December 27, 10.50 a.m. Box 47. A dwelling at No. 25 Sweetser Street, owned and occupied by G. Santoro. Loss, about $50. Caused by children.
Estimate of value of property endangered $41,240.00
Estimate of loss on same . 2,535.00
Insurance on same
14,750.00
The Department has rendered out-of-town service four times during the past year as follows:
June 5, Lynnfield. July 3, Reading. July 27, Stoneham. August 4, Reading.
ROLL OF HONOR
The following members of this Department are now in the service of the U. S. A.
Captain R. N. Frost, Vol. Hose Co., enlisted Sept. 14, 1917.
Cecil Grattan, Vol. Hose Co., enlisted Aug. 4, 1917.
Carl Cheever, Greenwood Hose Co., enlisted April 7, 1917.
ACCIDENTS
On November 11, while riding on the Webb Motor Truck in answering to Box 48, Charles C. Lindsay, Jr., a member of the Ladder Co., was severely injured by a collision with a touring car and at present writing is still unable to go to his work.
64
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
CONCLUSION
We take this opportunity to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen and John A. Meloney, committee on the Fire Department, for the co-operation and advice given us during the year. Also we wish to thank the members of the Department for the faithful discharge of their duties and to Chief Pollard and his men for hearty co-oper ation with us.
Respectfully submitted,
W. E. CADE, Chief EDWARD S. JACOB, Secretary HENRY A. FEINDEL Board of Fire Engineers.
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen .- I herewith submit the following report ending, December 31, 1917.
Ad- justed
Sealed
Non- Sealed
Con- demned
Platform scales capacity over 5,000 lbs.
Platform scales capacity under 5,000 lbs.
Counter scales
5
101
1
Barn scales
13
Spring balance
2
71
2
1
Computing (platform)
32
Computing (hanging)
1
Slot weighing
10
2
Prescription
7
Weights (Avoirdupois)
4 694
Weights (Apothecary)
84
Dry measure
9
1
Liquid measure .
85
Oil measuring pumps
23
Stops
45
Molasses measuring pumps
7
Ice cream cans
189
Yard measure
26
Reweighing coke and coal in bag
20
coal in transit
5
charcoal in bag
20
flour
5
dry commodities
4
66
bread
5
Fce collected during the year
$108.41
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT A. MANSFIELD, Sealer of Weights and Measures
18
1
75
65
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Report of Library Trustees
ORGANIZATION OF TRUSTEES
Chairman
Winfield S. Ripley, Jr.
Secretary
· Miss Elizabeth F. Ingram
Treasurer
Arthur H. Boardman
Treasurer
George E. Walker*
COMMITTEES LIBRARY Richard Dutton, Chairman
Hervey J. Skinner
Mrs. Florence L. Bean
READING ROOM Mrs. Florence L. Bean, Chairman
Winfield S. Ripley, Jr. Hervey J. Skinner
CATALOGUE Miss Elizabeth F. Ingram, Chairman Frank T. Woodbury
Arthur L. Evans
FINANCE Walter O. Cartwright, Chairman Arthur L. Evans
Richard Dutton
GREENWOOD Frank T. Woodbury, Chairman
Walter O. Cartwright Miss Elizabeth F. Ingram
BOOK Edson W. White, Chairman
Richard Dutton Frank T. Woodbury Elizabeth F. Ingram Hervey J. Skinner
Winfield S. Ripley, Jr. Arthur L. Evans Florence L. Bean
Walter O. Cartwright
LIBRARIAN H. Gertrude Lee
Assistants
Olive L. Eaton Mrs. Cora MacQuarrie (Greenwood)
Etta F. Smith Mrs. Idabelle F. Studley (Greenwood)
Mrs. Katherine Madden
Extra Attendant
Sunday Attendant, Reading Room Sunday Attendant, Reading Room *Resigned.
. Daniel Goodwin
. William Macleod *
. Oliver Howland, Jr.
66
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
The Trustees of the Beebe Town Library present the sixty-second annual report of the Board for the calendar year, 1917.
Because of the unsettled conditions in the business world and the high cost of building materials, Mr. Junius Beebe and the Library Building Com- mittee decided to postpone the erection of the new library building, the generous gift of the family of Lucius Beebe in honor of their father. In September, the Town Treasurer received the following letter from Mr. Beebe:
Boston, September 28, 1917
Mr. Arthur Boardman, Town Treasurer,
Wakefield, Mass.
Dear Sir :- Complying with my agreement with the Library Building Committee, I have caused to be deposited with the Wakefield Trust Company, the amount of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) to be used for the purpose of erecting a building to be known as the "Beebe Town Library", on the site purchased by the committee for that purpose, and at a time when it seems advisable by that committee to erect the building.
I enclose agreement for your files. This fund is contributed by the family of Lucius Beebe and in his honor.
Yours very truly,
JUNIUS BEEBE.
The Trustees acknowledge with gratitude this gift. It has given them new courage and inspiration for their work.
Apart from the administration of the regular work of the library, the most important undertaking of the year was the campaign to raise money for Camp Libraries. In May, the Secretary of War requested the American Library Association to raise one million dollars ($1,000,000) to be used for the erection of buildings and the purchase of books for libraries in the canton- ments and concentration camps of the country. The amount to be raised in each town and city was based on five per cent in money of the population. Wakefield's share was six hundred and fifty dollars ($650). In accordance with this request, the Board of Trustees and the Library Site Committee met in the Reading Room on the evening of September 20, and appointed a committee, Dr. Fulton T.Parks, chairman, and Miss Gertrude Lee, treasurer, to carry on the campaign. So successful was this campaign that as usual Wakefield went "over the top with the best of luck", and Miss Lee was able to send to Washington seven hundred and sixty dollars and thirty-three cents. ($760.33.)
In addition to the money raised, three hundred and eighty books and many magazines have been contributed for the Camp Libraries. One hun- dred and eighty-five of these books were sent to Camp Plunkett, United States Navy Rifle Range, the remainder were sent to Camp Devens, Ayer. If a permanent building could be provided at the Range for the care of books, much good work could be done for the men.
67
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
In June, Miss Louise Sheldon asked permission of the Trustees to act as substitute library assistant during the summer months for the purpose of gaining some knowledge of library work. The experiment proved so successful that the Trustees are considering the desirability of allowing High School students to do apprentice work during the summer.
At the March town meeting, the town voted to accept a sum of money offered by the executors of the will of the late John G. Aborn, to be used for the purchase of books for the library. Public funds cannot be used to better advantage than in adding to the equipment of our library.
Because of crowded conditions, the Trustees have not been able to attempt much new constructive work, but the usual activities of the library have been administered as efficiently as space and money would permit.
The work of the Story-telling Hour on Saturday mornings, carried on by a committee composed of members of the Kosmos Club with Mrs. Charles E. Montague, chairman, together with the help of the librarian, was very successful. The children were well behaved and appreciative.
To provide foreign literature for those speaking a language other than the English language is an important part of library work. At present the Trustees do not feel justified in entering upon this work in a large way. At the request of the Kosmos Club, however, they have taken over the care of the Italian Library, numbering about fifty volumes, which was loaned by the State Library Commission for the use of Italians.
Although the circulation for the past year is smaller than in the previous year, the Trustees do not feel that this is a matter for anxiety. The spirit of unrest everywhere felt is not conducive to close application to books, and war relief work leaves less time for reading. Then, too, the enlistment of the student body of the country in the army must necessarily affect the circulation of libraries.
There is, however, a marked improvement in the choice of books. The demand for light reading is decreasing and there is a constantly increasing demand for poetry, history, books about the war, scientific books, reference books, and magazines on current literature. It is often difficult to meet these changing demands with the money appropriated for the purchase of books.
There are many lines of library work which have not been attempted in our library. A department devoted to musical scores and music books is desirable. Collections of pictures to illustrate geographical, historical, and literary subjects possess great educational value and would be useful in the public schools. But work of this kind requires more space and money than is at present available and must be left to the future.
The influence of a good library in a community cannot be overestimated; and the wanton destruction of old manuscripts and libraries in devastated Europe, should make us more keenly alive to the value of libraries in America. Let us cherish more carefully than ever the welfare of our own Beebe Town Library, small and inconvenient though it is.
For the ensuing year, the Trustees recommend for the Library appro- priation three thousand seven hundred thirty dollars ($3,730) including the dog tax.
ELIZABETH FRANCES INGRAM, Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
68
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
To the Trustees of the Beebe Town Library the Librarian submits the following report for the year, 1917.
Although the actual circulation is less than last year, library work has been fully as active as usual, and all extra time has been utilized in the re- classification, which is now making progress in all classes. Lack of space is a serious handicap to accomplishment and arrangement, but the new building will solve this problem most satisfactorily.
The library has been much used for reference work and a number of books have been purchased on request or suggestion. A notable addition to reference books was the New International Encyclopaedia.
Books have been loaned to the Armory, while the soldiers were stationed there and to the Y. M. C. A. summer camp, at the request of the Secretary. Both loans were much appreciated and all books were returned in good condition. Some discarded books in fair condition and recent magazines were sent to Fort Revere, when Company A was in service there, and these were much enjoyed by the men.
Sailors at Camp Plunkett, United States Navy Rifle Range, are given free use of the library and many books and magazines, contributed by the townspeople have been sent to the Range. A surplus of books, which the Range had no room for, was sent to Camp Devens at Ayer. In all except the first contribution of books, a label was pasted reading, "Presented to the U. S. Soldiers and Sailors by the Citizens of Wakefield, Mass. Collected by the Beebe Town Library. 1917."
During the year many library building plans have been examined and at the request of the Library Site Committee, the Trustees prepared and sent to the Committee, specifications for the requirements of an adequate library building for the Town of Wakefield.
A list of "War Books", printed in the July bulletin stimulated public interest in this line of reading, which has steadily increased. "War" books now being almost as much in demand as new fiction.
Mrs. Louis W. Evans presented to the Library, from the William Oliver estate, a quantity of old Wakefield papers and books of historic value. Num- erous other gifts are mentioned in detail later in the report.
A telephone was installed in the Library this year and is a great convenience.
The Library was represented by the Librarian and a Trustee at two regular meetings of the Massachusetts Library Club.
We are indebted to the Daily Item for the printing of weekly lists and items of library interest and for invaluable assistance during the Library Week campaign.
This year, the walls and ceiling of the Branch in the Greenwood School building were freshly tinted, much improving the appearance of the room.
69
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
The disorderly disturbances and loss of magazines have practically ceased since an attendant has been present in the Reading Room mornings for six months of the year. The morning hours are from 10 to 12, instead of 8 to 12 as formerly. The later numbers of the Reader's guide have been put on a shelf in the delivery room, where they can be used more conveniently. Three new magazines were added this year; Journal of Political Economy, Red Cross Magazine and Survey.
The receipts and expenditures of the past year are as follows:
LIBRARY AND READING ROOM
Appropriation
$2,630.00
Income from Dog Tax
792.67
Income from Trust Funds
247.70
$3,670.37
SALARIES
Librarian
$750.00
Assistants
507.33
$1,257.33
BOOKS
New
$478.83
Replaced
323.12
Duplicate
· 80.52
Binding and rebinding
296.20
$1,178.67
Printing
113.10
Express .
9.65
Telephone
17.46
Lighting
176.90
Incidentals
97.32
GREENWOOD BRANCH
Librarian
$144.00
Assistant
48.36
Janitor .
26.00
Express .
26.00
Miscellaneous
·
39.48
Books. New
$21.79
Replaced
16.71 38.50
$322.34
70
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
READING ROOM
Daily attendant
$108.80
Sunday attendant
32.25
Magazines and newspapers
179.71
Magazine binders
19.47
Books
148.42
Incidentals and repairs
8.95
$497.60
$3,670.37
Library receipts for 1917, returned to Town
$249.23
STATISTICAL REPORT
Number of volumes Jan. 1, 1917
18,581
Added by purchase, new
665
Added by purchase to replace wornout volumes
415
(12 by donation)
Added by donation
182
Added by magazines bound
32
Volumes added to the Greenwood Branch:
By purchase, new
21
By purchase, to replace
40
(1 by donation)
By donation
13
By magazines bound
2
76
19,951
Volumes worn out and discarded, Main library
834
Volumes worn out and discarded, Greenwood
24
858
Total number of volumes, Jan. 1, 1918
19,093
Number of volumes rebound, Main library
612
Number of volumes rebound, Greenwood
48
660
New names registered, Main library
539
New names registered, Greenwood .
52
591
Books and magazines circulated for home use:
Main library .
61,724
Greenwood
12,304
Total circulation
74,028
Days open for circulation, Main library
303
Average daily circulation
203.7
Days open for circulation, Greenwood
151
Average daily circulation
81.4
.
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
71
Total number of cards registered, Main library Total number of cards registered, Greenwood
4,523
943
Books used for reference, Main library .
3,049
Postals used for waiting list, Main library
607
Postals used for waiting list, Greenwood
120
727
DONATIONS
Books
Pamphlets
Beck, James M.
1
Butler, Florence
1
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
2
Cheney, W. A.
1
Dixon, W. Macneile
9
1
Dolbeare, H. M.
2
Donegan, Timothy
1
Doran, G. H., Co.
1
Doubleday, Page & Co.
1
Dresser, H. W.
1
Dutton, E. P. & Co.
1
1
Eaton, William E., M.D.
28
Felt and Tarrant Manufacturing Co.
1
French, Mrs. G. R.
1
Friends
6
3
Hall, Mrs. Mary K., in memory of her son, Morton B. Hall
1
Houghton, Mifflin Co.
1
Kosmos Club
16
Langtry, A. P.
1
Lee, H. Gertrude
4
Maclardy, Mrs. Hugh A.
1
Massachusetts, Commonwealth of
25
1
Massachusetts Society of Sons of the American Rev.
1
Miezuvi, Peter
2
National Security League, New York
1
Oliver, William, estate of
25
Parker, Sir Gilbert
2
2
Parker, Harvey S.
1
Parker, Mrs. Harvey S.
1
Poland, G. M.
1
Ripley, W. S., Jr.
11
Ripley, Mrs. W. S., Jr.
11
Sargent, Porter E.
1
Simonds, Charles H.
25
Skinner, H. J.
1
Superintendent of Schools .
38
United States Government
7
Wright, Lydia L.
2
1
1
72
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
MAGAZINES DONATED
Dutton, Richard. Harvard Alumni Bulletin
Dutton, Richard. Journal of the Outdoor Life.
French, Mrs. G. R. Our Four-footed Friends.
Friends. New Armenia.
Publishers. Our Dumb Animals.
Publishers. Stenotypist.
Skinner, H. J. National Geographic magazine.
GREENWOOD BRANCH DONATIONS
Books
Hall, Mrs. Mary C.
1
Phillips, Mrs. F. L.
6
Pittman, Mrs. L. J.
4
Ripley, W. S., Jr.
1
Whiton, Arthur E.
2
MAGAZINES DONATED
Hall, Mrs. Mary C. Harper's magazine.
MacQuarrie, Mrs. Cora. Cosmopolitan.
MacQuarrie, Mrs. Cora. Literary Digest
Morrill, Mrs. Helena. Everybody's magazine.
Morrill, Mrs. Helena. Pictorial Review.
Pittman, Mrs. L. J. Miscellaneous copies.
Publishers. Our Dumb Animals.
Watson, Mrs. F. T. Outlook.
Young, Paul. Miscellaneous copies.
Library Hours:
Daily, except Sunday, 2 to 8.30 p.m., Saturdays, 2 to 9 p.m.
Reading Room Hours:
Daily, 10 to 12 a.m., 1.30 to 5, 7 to 9 p.m., Sundays, 2 to 5 p.m.
Greenwood Branch: Monday and Thursday, 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, 6.30 to 8.30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan. 2, 1918
H. GERTRUDE LEE, Librarian
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
73
American Library Association Form for Uniform Statistics.
Annual report for year ended Dec. 31, 1917.
Beebe Town Library, Wakefield, Mass.
Population, 12,781.
Terms of use. Free.
Agencies. Main library, one branch.
Days open during year. Main library
303
Hours open each week for lending. Main library
3912
Hours open each week for reading. · Main library
3912
Days open during year. Branch
151
Hours open each week for lending.
Branch
6
Hours open each week for reading. Branch .
6
Number of volumes at beginning of year
18,581
Number of volumes added by purchase
1,128
Number of volumes added by gift
208
Number of volumes added by binding
34
Number of volumes withdrawn during year
858
Total number of volumes at end of year
19,093
Number of volumes loaned for home use
74,028
Number of borrowers registered during year
591
Total number of registered borrowers
5,466
Registration period
5 years
Number of newspapers (8) and periodicals (60) currently received. Main library
68
Number of periodicals currently received. Branch
13
LIBRARY RECEIPTS
Local taxation
$2,630.00
Income from Dog Tax
792.67
Income from Trust Funds
247.70
$3,670.37
PAYMENTS FOR
Books
$1,069.39
Periodicals
166.71
Binding
296.20
Salaries
1,616.74
Light
176.90
Other expenses
344.43
$3,670.37
74
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Park Commissioners
In submitting our annual report, we feel that the value of the town's park system cannot be too often impressed upon the minds of our people for the fostering of civic pride. If we seem to dwell strongly upon this point, it is because we feel deeply that familiarity with the advantages in this respect which Wakefield possesses should not lead to a too modest valuation of them.
It is with no arrogant pride that every Wakefield citizen may claim for his or her home-town the leadership among the smaller municipalities of Massachusetts in the beauty of its environing and interior landscape.
The casual visitor, no less than the permanent dweller, carries with him, as the most compelling characteristic of Wakefield, the impression of its recreative open spaces combined with the beauty of its lakes.
The charm of the town's scenery has a wide range of variety.
First and foremost in this wide range is the Common-with its extensive ornamental public grounds, its sweep of well-kept sward, its gravelled paths and bright parterres of flowers, its groups and avenues of noble elms, its splendid monument to the valor and devotion of Wakefield's sons in the war for the preservation of the Union and its beautiful outlook over the waters Quannapowitt.
Equal in estimation, but wide in scenic contrast is the area of rare charm comprised in the Hart's Hill Reservation. This is purposely kept, as nearly as may be consistent with public service, in the unadorned beauty of a wild tract of land as Nature made it. In this reservation, the town possesses a wide area of rocky woodland easily and quickly accessible. Its character gives the restful, health-promoting recreation which comes from the enjoyment of beautiful rural scenery, and a relief from the nervous tension and irritability of town life that is found in the enjoyment of grateful serenity and the scenic qualities of breadth, distance and atmospheric perspective amid great rocks and crags, wooded hills, shady glens and forest by-paths.
The work of the Commission the past year has been largely on the line of conserving and adding to the attractive features of these parts of the town's park system, together with the small, ornamental plots in different parts of the town.
With regard to improvements which we have been able to make the past year, the most notable perhaps are the small plots ornamental with flowers and shrubbery which have been laid out near the entrance to Wakefield Park, at Wakefield Junction and in front of the Congregational and Baptist churches. These have been in the capable charge of Eugene Lenners.
The patriotism of Wakefield in the great war for the preservation of the world's democracy is exemplified on the Common by the lofty flagstaff from which the Stars and Stripes will float daily until the defeat of Prussia's mad ambition to enslave the world is fully achieved.
1
75
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
The care of the Common has been, as for many years, in the hands of William H. Murray. His conscientious and painstaking care in the work is shown by the good order and neatness with which the paths and turf are kept.
The advantages of the Hart's Hill Reservation have come to be known to a wider extent among our people the past summer and autumn than for - years together previously. Boys have found it an ideal place for play and their elders in great numbers have discovered that there is no more attractive place for picnics and basket parties and small family outings. Its growth in popularity the past year has been very marked.
Special attention has been given to the drinking fountains on Hart's Hill and opposite the band stand on the Common, as well as the ornamental fountain at the Rockery.
The public bath-house on Lake Quannapowitt, off Church Street, was largely patronized during the season. Improvements in the building have been made and the adjacent beach and under-water ground put in order. The bath-house has been under the charge of Richard J. Lane with satisfaction to the public and the commissioners. On two days a week, the bath-house was given to the use of girls under the special care and patronage of the Kosmos Club. This admirable feature is covered by a separate report which is hereto appended.
The border of Lake Quannapowitt between the water's edge and Main street, Lakeside, has been cleared of unsightly undergrowth so as to make it a more attractive part of the landscape frame which encircles the waters of Quannapowitt.
The rank growth of water weeds has become a serious blot on the beauty of the lake, and a detriment to the enjoyment of boating. By vote of the committee, the work of clearing away the unsightly growth has been given to this commission and we hope by another season to succeed in removing the objectionable feature. A moderate addition to the usual appropriation for the Park Department will be asked for this purpose.
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