USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1922 > Part 4
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The personnel of the Board of Selectmen was practically new; only two mem- bers having previously served, Mr. Peterson on last year's board and Mr. Seavey who had been a member and Chairman several years ago.
Pursuant to the policy of having the entire board responsible for matters pertaining to highway maintenance and improvement, an inspection was made by the entire board in March and in November of all the streets so that de- cisions regarding these matters might be made intelligently.
In order to provide proper sidewalk facilities for the approach to the new High School and to prevent future congestion of traffic in this vicinity, the necessary steps were taken to widen the westerly side of Main Street from West Water Street to beyond the new High School.
Several other matters of considerable importance have come before the Board and decisions made only after most careful consideration. Conferences have been held from time to time with the other boards of the town government on matters of mutual interest. It was necessary in joint session with the Board affected to fill two vacancies on the Light Board and one on the Board of Health.
The Board would express its appreciation of the assistance given by Town Accountant Harry A. Simonds and the advice of the Town Counsel Maynard E. S. Clemons, both being especially helpful this year.
FORREST A. SEAVEY, Chairman, EDGAR H. PETERSON, ARTHUR E. NEWCOMB, CHARLES F. YOUNG, ARTHUR L. GARDNER, Secretary.
Jan. 8, 1923.
52
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Planning Board -
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :-
Wakefield, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
The Town Planning Board has met regularly the past year and submits here- with its annual report.
Two new members of the Board, Mr. Charles F. Winter and Mr. E. M. Bridge, commenced their terms of office in the spring of the present year. In Septem- ber the Board received and accepted with sincere regret the resignation of Dr. Curtis L. Sopher. The Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board, acting jointly, later filled this vacancy by electing Mr. Philip W. Foster to complete the unfinished term of Dr. Sopher.
The Department of Public Utilities has held many hearings at the State House for the consideration of transportation problems in and about Metropolitan Boston. This Board has had one or more of its members present at most of these hearings. Wakefield's particular problem in this connection, is the traffic by heavy trucks operated by out-of-town concerns down Lakeside and through Wakefield Square-causing a heavy and unjust maintenance charge upon the taxpayers of the town, and constituting an added danger to local machines, pedestrians and especially school children. Several meetings were held with the Reading Town Planning Board to consider a possible re-routing of this traffic. No mutually satisfactory route could be found however, and at a pub- lic hearing this Board demonstrated to the Department of Public Utitlities by means of a carefully prepared statement containing the result of a count of trucks passing through Wakefield Square for a period of twenty-four hours: first, that Wakefield had a serious problem; second, that it was a problem which Wakefield, alone, could not solve. This subject is now before the Depart- ment for consideration.
Wakefield is but one of the towns in Metropolitan Boston which suffers from unco-ordinated transportation and planning. This Board, together with others from towns about Boston, at the invitation of the Malden Board met twice at Malden this fall. At these meetings a temporary organization was formed to further the formation of a Metropolitan Planning Board, to consider prob- lems, of a Metropolitan character, such as transportation. The Wakefield Board was actively represented on some of the Committees, holding one Chair- man ship.
The Wakefield Board was present at the Conference of the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards, held in Boston in November at the invitation
53
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
of the Governor of the State. As a result of the work at Malden and at the conference a Metropolitan Planning Board is now being formed. Wakefield may be as active in the work of this Board as it is willing to be.
The Planning Board requested and received from the Board of Selectmen the sum of one hundred dollars for the uses of the Board, especially in connec- tion with the problem of zoning. With a part of this sum we have to date purchased several copies of the most up-to-date map of the town and the latest edition of the Insurance maps of the district. These maps were not however entirely suitable for the work of the Planning Board and a new map was au- thorized to be drawn up. This map is at the scale of 400' equal to one inch and is at present being brought to date through the active co-operation of the Board of Assessors. The original tracing will be the property of the Planning Board and for the first time in the town's history blue prints and black line prints of a town map will be available at a small cost to all departments of the town for use in keeping records and in planning out new work.
It is assumed that the citizens of Wakefield want the town to be not only bigger, but also decidedly better. To do this the town must put its house in order so that it may attract to itself high-grade industries and an intelligent and useful class of residents. A prominent statistician has recently made the statement that in the next five years more than one million people yearly will leave our larger cities and move into suburban districts, the result due largely to the tremendous increased use of the automobile for transportation. The same authority says, that in the same five years Boston, unless it enlarges its present boundaries, will show a lower population figure than it does today. Wakefield is in line to receive its share of this general exodus. Is it ready for this growth and prosperity?
It is time for Wakefield to look ahead and to plan now to insure a future de- velopment that will be for the best interests of the whole town. The most important and immediate problems confronting the town from the planning point of view are:
Better and wider main thoroughfares with proper connections and extensions of the minor streets.
A more adequate supervision and control of new plats and their co-ordination with each other and with existing street layouts.
A comprehensive study of the park and playground possibilities in Wake- field and a real program of development along these lines.
A scheme for expansion and development of school grounds so that every child will have a play space other than the public street. Each year this is delayed reduces the available opportunities and increases the ultimate cost.
And, lastly the establishment of a zoning ordinance controlling and safe guard- ing the use of all property within the town.
The least expensive improvement in town affairs and perhaps the most far reaching and important is the careful preparation and acceptance of a compre-
54
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
hensive town plan and zoning ordinance. Wakefield is going to continue to grow in size. It will either grow in the usual haphazard disorderly expensive way which characterizes the past of American cities and towns, causing the most serious of these present problems, or it will grow in an orderly intelli- gent and economical way. The only way for Wakefield to grow correctly is in accordance with and subject to the restrictions of intelligent guidance.
We quote from the recent report of the Boston Planning Board-"Without attempting to set before you at this time all the benefits which would accrue from the adoption of a comprehensive zoning plan, we would mention briefly that it would stabilize property values, protect residential districts from the encroachment of business and commercial interests, relieve industrial districts of the hampering residential requirements, and in other ways tend to promote and encourage the development of the city along orderly progressive lines,- At the present time about thirty cities throughout the United States have adopt- ed zoning plans and fully as many more have the matter under consideration. In every single instance, so far as the Planning Board is able to ascertain, the work is being carried on with the assistance of expert advice and opinion."
The advantages of zoning or districting plans are being so generally recog- nized, that although the tendency is not yet apparent here-yet in the not far distant future, the' unzoned town will become the refuge of undesirable and nuisance industries, with the attendant congestion of population with its prob- lems of education, Americanization and police protection, while desirable ad- ditions seek other localities where they can be assured of the protection which zoning affords.
The improvements and developments outlined above are essential to the bet- terment and growth of the town and must be made sooner or later. They do not all have to be made at once but plans should be prepared now and the ac- tual work done as opportunity and funds permit. Unless this is done develop- ment will drift along in the usual haphazard way and the citizens will pay more than double for every improvement that has to be made in the future through force of necessity.
To adequately investigate existing conditions, to carefully study the prob- lems involved and to prepare plans and secure proper technical advice for their right solution will require that there be an appropriation from the town at the disposal of the Planning Board. For the year 1923 we believe that $2,000.00 can be profitably spent on such work and that the immediate return to the town will be many times this amount, while the prevention of mistakes and the provision for desirable future growth and development will be all out of proportion to the sum involved.
Respectfully submitted, HUBBARD B. MANSFIELD, E. M. BRIDGE, CHARLES F. WINTER, FRANK T. WOODBURY, PHILIP W. FOSTER.
Jan. 9, 1923.
55
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Report of Inspector of Buildings
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :-
I herewith respectfully submit report for year ending December 31, 1922.
Number of building permits issued 275, for following purposes:
Single dwellings .
80
Two family dwellings
9
Additions to dwellings
32
Remodelled dwellings
2
Summer camps.
3
Stores.
Addition of 4 stoves and alterations, old Armory
1
Community Store building, 6 stores.
1
Convalescent rest home .
1
Church addition and interior alterations
1
Sunday School Hall and Chapel.
Hall and club building
Barns.
Sheds.
Stable.
Hen houses
7
Green houses .
2
Boiler rooms.
2
Building for potting plants
1
Garages.
97
Service Garage additions .
2
Employees Garage for day storage.
1
Community Garage addition.
1
Miscellaneous. 15
Approximate estimate of costs as submitted by applicants $544,954.00.
Building and elevator inspections have been made.
I have examined 53 rooms in lodging houses and found safety ropes in proper shape as required by law in each; also fire escapes and exits.
Building and elevator inspections have been made, unsafe buildings examined and improved, given much time in an endeavor to have owners cease having roof water flow on sidewalks, especially in cold weather, making sidewalks un- safe, and succeeding in some instances in having these conditions improved.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK J. HENKEL,
Building Inspector.
1 1 4 5 1
5
56
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Inspector of Animals
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Dear Sirs :-
I herewith submit my Annual Report, as Inspector of Animals.
I have found no cases of Hog Cholera this year. There were fourteen (14) cases of Hemorrhagic Septicemia, and four cases of Tubercular Cows. Those condemned, were disposed of. There were also two (2) Tubercular hogs.
Respectfully submitted,
DR. PALMER CORBETT.
Report of the Moth Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :---
I herewith submit my report as Supt. of the Moth Department for 1922. This year we have trimmed about half the trees injured in the sleet storm of last year and expect to be able to finish up that work this year.
The condition of the Gypsy and Browntail Moths is improving and we are finding fewer infestations each year. This year $1,425.97 was spent for spray- ing, $1,601.31 for creosoting and $4,877.03 for trimming trees injured by last year's storm.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN A. LANDRY,
Moth Superintendent.
57
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures
Wakefield, Mass., Dec. 18, 1922.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :-
I respectfully submit the following report for the year 1922:
Non Con- Adjusted Sealed Sealed demned
Platform scales over 5000 lbs
19
Platform scales over 5000 lbs
86
1
Counter scales
111
Beam scales
17
Spring scales.
89
3
Computing scales.
62
Slot Weighing Scales.
10
Prescription scales.
6
Weights (Avoirdupois)
887
Weights (Apothecary)
131
Dry Measures.
5
Liquid Measures .
137
Ice Cream Cans.
8
Gasoline Pumps.
1
30
Kerosene Pumps
8
Molasses Pumps
4
Quantity Stops.
159
Yard Measures.
38
Amount of fees collected.
$146.88
Respectfully submitted,
A. A. MANSFIELD,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
58
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Workmen's Compensation Agent
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Wakefield, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
There were six employees injured during the past year who received com- pensation. Three of this number received specific compensation, one of these for the amputation of finger at first joint, $120.00, another for the loss of the use of finger at first joint due to permanent stiffness, $120.00. the third one Mr. Levi Muse in addition to regular compensation of $16.00 per week, until the same amounts to $4,000.00, also $10.00 per week for 100 weeks specific com- pensation, $1,000.00 for the loss of both hands by amputation. This is the case mentioned in last year's report, both hands were electrically burned, and while every effort was made to save his arms, it was necessary to amputate both to save the patient's life.
This has been the most distressing case that the town has had in its experience of compensation insurance. The young man was entirely helpless. I am quite sure the citizens will appreciate the action of the various town officials who approved and authorized the securing for Mr. Muse two of the best ar- tificial arms to be had, the expense of these was $500.00 for arms and $52.85 for expense to New York for instruction to use same.
In a short time Mr. Muse was able to write, and was very happy to not be helpless, but able to help himself, I might add that Mr. Muse has received and is receiving the maximum amount of compensation according to the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act.
Also payments have been made for year of $10.00 per week, on death case continued from last year.
There were fifteen (15) employees slightly injured who received medical treat- ment only.
I have attended a number of consultations and hearings by Accident Board, at State House in connection with cases.
The expenditures have been for compensation $2,733.29. The balance for Medical treatment, Hospital and other charges. Total, $3,787,33. A de- tailed statement may be found in the Town Accountant's report.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK J. HENKEL,
Compensation Agent.
59
. REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
Report of Town Counsel
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Town of Wakefield.
Gentlemen :-
Following is my report for the year 1922.
The suit for $15,000.00 brought by Richardson, Driver et al against the town for services as architects for High School after many conferences was settled for $2,400.00, the amount the committee under advice originally offered on this claim.
Suit by Bates Motor Sales Co. against town for repairs to former light plant manager's automobile was disposed of without trial by discontinuance by plain- tiff, the former manager paying the bill.
Personal taxes have been collected through this department to the amount of $856.88.
Titles have been examined of property taken over by the town and in one case because of defective title the matter (land on Crystal Lake) will have to again be acted on in town meeting.
A considerable amount of time has been consumed in arranging for sale of some old tax titles which brought in $400.00. There remain many dollars of the town in old tax titles.
For the poor department I have brought one suit for $1,500.00 and one in equity to compel support. These are pending.
There are pending against the town five highway accident cases and one for alleged negligence of the gas department.
Contracts and bonds have been passed upon and many opinions given to the different departments of the town.
Respectfully submitted,
M. E. S. CLEMONS,
Town Counsel.
60
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of the Chief of Police
Wakefield, Mass., January 1, 1923.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :-
I have the honor to submit to your Honorable Board the report of the doings of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1922.
Number of arrests
358
Number of arrests on warrants.
25
Number of summons served .
50
Males.
350
Females.
8
Residents.
250
Non-residents.
106
Commorants.
2
FOR THE FOLLOWING CRIMES, VIZ :-
Arrested for other officers.
8
Adultery .
2
Assault and battery.
16
Bigamy
1
Bastardy
1
Cruelty to animals.
3
Capias
4 213
Drunkenness.
1
Disturbing. the peace.
1
Insane
2
Illegal sale of liquor
19
Liquor search
4
Larceny.
9
Manslaughter.
1
Malicious mischief.
1
Mutual assault.
Non support.
Operating an automobile while under the influence of liquor
Profane language.
2
Refusing to stop on signal from officer
1 7
Short weight on ice
2
Stubbornness .
. Suspicious person
.
7
. ...
2 7 3
Default warrant.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
6x
Safe keeping.
6
Throwing glass in the street .
1
Violation of automobile laws.
20
Violation of game laws.
1
Violation of town by-laws
1
Violation of milk bottle laws.
7
Violation of trespass laws.
4
Wagon without a light
1
Total 358
HOW DISPOSED OF
Continued.
20
Delivered to other officers
8
Discharged
17
Free ice .
7
Fines imposed ..
223
House of correction.
3
Insane hospital.
2
Lyman school.
7
Placed on file
14
Probation .
9
Restitution
1
Released .
39
Suspended sentence.
6
State prison
1
State farm.
1
Total.
358
AMOUNT OF FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURT
1 at
$2.00
$2.00
1 " 2.50
2.50
2 4 3.00
6.00
4 " 5.00
20.00
2 "
6.00
12.00
1 " 7.00
7.00
188 " 10.00
1,880.00
1 10.50
10.50
3 "
15.00
45.00
5 " 20.00
100.00
2 " 25.00
50.00
19 " 100.00
1,900.00
1 " 250.00
250.00
$4,285.00
62
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
MISCELLANEOUS REPORT
Amount of stolen property recovered.
$2,700.95
Amount of lost property recovered.
88.50
Accidents reported.
91
Bicycles found .
8
Buildings found open and secured
229
Broken wires reported.
4
Complaints and cases investigated.
275
Detail for public assemblages .
350
Detail for private assemblages .
13
Defects in street and sidewalks reported.
71
Defects in water pipes reported.
9
Defects in gas pipes reported.
2
Defects in hydrants reported.
Dogs killed
14
Fires discovered and alarm given
1 1
Lost children cared for
14
Lost dogs found and returned to owners.
38
Lanterns in dangerous places.
42
Medical examiner cases .
2
Obstructions removed from the street.
3
Officers at fires.
45
Runaway boys cared for.
3
Sick and disabled people assisted .
8
Stray teams cared for
3
Stray horses cared for.
3
Street lights not burning and reported
364
Wires burning trees and reported. .
5
Water running to waste and reported .
9
I have collected in non-support cases $2,320.00 and have paid the same by check.
On duty calls 23,700.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I strongly urge the addition of three more men to the force.
One man for night duty on the west side for the District west of Chestnut Street.
One man for night duty in the Greenwood Section for the District south of Forest Street.
One man for day-duty in the Greenwood Section.
It is a well known fact that these sections that I have mentioned are grow- ing fast and should have police protection.
2
Fires extinguished without an alarm
ยท
63
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
I also recommend that a police signal system be installed; this is much needed as at the present time it is very important that the officers have a chance to call the office at once and also that the officer in charge at the office may have a chance to notify the men on the street at once in case of emergency.
DISCIPLINE
The members of this department have conducted themselves in a creditable manner and have done their duty, and I want to thank them.
CONCLUSION
To your Honorable Board, and to his Honor Judge Charles M. Bruce, and his associates Thomas P. Riley, Willis Stover, and to the Clerk, Wilfred B. Tyler, and his assistant, Henry C. Bacon, and to each and every person who have assisted and remembered this Department, I wish to extend my sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES J. POLLARD,
Chief of Police.
Report of Forest Warden
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
During the year 1922 there was a total of 107 woods and grass fires, and the cost to extinguish same is as follows:
Appropriation made, March $150.00
Expended as per pay rolls (total cost). 148.50
$1.50
Respectfully submitted,
F. D. GRAHAM,
Forest Warden.
64
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Chief of Fire Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit the Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1922, with the total alarms, together with their losses on same as near as possible to obtain.
APPARATUS
There are at the present time 9 pieces of apparatus in this department, di- vided as follows:
One Triple Combination put in service October 1912. Is equipped with pump, chemical tank, 1,100 feet of 21/2 inch hose, together with such other equip- ment necessary.
One Combination Service truck put in service September, 1914. Is equipped with 310 feet of ladders, one chemical tank, I oxygen tank for resuscitation work, together with 500 feet of 21/2 inch hose and much other equipment.
One Auto Combination put in service in 1920. Carries 1,000 feet of 21/2 inch hose, chemical tank, and other necessary equipment.
One Auto Squad wagon put in service in 1914. A new water gun has been mounted on this machine capable of delivering 1,100 gallons of water per minute by the connection of four 21/2 inch hose lines, and carries much other smaller equipment.
One Auto Combination at the Greenwood Station. Is equipped with 800 feet of 21/2 inch hose, chemical tank, and other equipment. Put in service in 1914.
One horse drawn wagon stationed at Montrose, put in service in 1893. Car- ries 800 feet of 212 inch hose and other equipment.
One Buick Chief's car put in service in 1921. This machine has proved a valuable addition to the department.
There is in reserve 2 steam fire engines, both in good condition. The Silsby engine put in service in 1882. The Amoskeag engine put in service in 1907.
65
REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
RECORD OF FIRES
During the year the department has responded to 188 alarms, divided as follows: 147 still alarms and 41 box alarms. The box alarms and the still alarms which involved loss are as follows:
Wednesday, January 11, 5.38 p. m. Still alarm. Electric car on Albion Street. Owned by the Eastern Mass. st. Ry. Loss, $150.00.
Friday, January 27, 9.03 a. m. Box 32. Garage, Water Street. Owned by Joseph Longo. Loss, small. Cause, unknown.
Saturday, February 4, 10.40 p. m. Dwelling house, 10 Hart Street. Oc- cupied by Joseph Petrucci. Loss, $45.00. Cause, child playing with matches.
Sunday, February 12, 10.08 p. m. Box 12. Main Street, Greenwood. No loss. Cause, smoke from salamander.
Saturday, February 25, 1.15 p. m. Dwelling house, 23 Salem Street. Owned and occupied by Gerhard Von Klock. Loss, $225.00. Cause: Electric iron.
Monday, March 6, 9.44 a. m. Box 35. Store, Albion Street. Occupied by Direct Importing Co: No loss. Cause: kettle of fat boiling over.
Monday, March 6, 2.08 p. m. Box 29. Dwelling house, 10 Hillside Ave. Owned and occupied by Chester A. Phillips. Loss, $175.00. Cause, sparks from chimney.
Saturday, March 11, 6.50 p. m. Box 116. False Alarm.
Saturday, March 18, 12.30 p. m. Box 6. Town Almshouse, Farm Street. Owned by Town of Wakefield. Loss, $1,200.00. Cause, sparks from chimney.
Saturday, March 18, 7.07 p. m. Still alarm followed by box 27. Dwelling house, 67 West Chestnut St. Owned by Wakefield Building Association. Oc- cupied by H. N. Cummings. Loss: $10.00. Cause, sparks from -chimney.
Saturday, March 18, 9.03 p. m. Still alarm. Motor Cycle shop, 107 Al- bion Street. Owned by C. F. Woodward. Occupied by Charles and Frank Martin. Loss, $5.00. Cause, sparks form incinerator.
Sunday, March 19, 12.07 p. m. Box 44. Brush fire.
Sunday, March 19, 6.36 p. m. Box 113. Chimney fire 52 Renwick Road. No loss. Cause, soot in chimney.
Sunday, March 26, 3.42 p. m. Box 116. Brush fire, Harrison Ave. Need- less alarm.
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