USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1931 > Part 10
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Young People's Union, First Baptist Church, New York City
140
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
LIBRARY EXHIBITS-1931 FROM LIBRARY COLLECTION, UNLESS OTHERWISE MARKED Main Library
Byrd pictures
French costumes (a loan)
Lincoln material
Dickens silhouettes
Famous illustrations of Dickens
Color prints
Pictures of treasures at Fenway Court
*Children and life in Europe Smithsonian flower prints
*Sea life Cut-out silhouettes Soap sculpture (from National Small Soap Sculpture Committee)
** Labrador and Alaska
Air mail collection (from Miss David's collection)
** Czecho-slovakian work Polish handwork, figures, (replica of holy crown of Poland from Mr. Kelly)
Indian work Handcraft designs
Paintings in the Lecture Hall; loans from artists:
European scenes, water colors ;- Mrs. Walter B. Cannon and daughters Portraits; oils-Miss Lucia Buckle
Marblehead scenes; water colors-Miss Belle Lamprey
Marblehead and Mt. Desert; water colors-Mr. Joseph Fanck
Greenwood Branch Library
Special Projects: Eskimo village Queen of hearts Lincoln cabin First American flag
Special Loans:
Snow man
Powder horn
Miniature chair
Case of stuffed birds
Dutch scene
Dutch shoes
Alice in Wonderland
Airplane model
May pole
Wild flower picture
Health project
Armadillo basket
Fairy tale Hallowe'en scene
Sail boat model
Old trails monument, a replica
Pilgrim scene Christmas morning Desert scene
Old camp kettle
Pictures of the Alhambra
Carolers Wise men scene
* Loan from Children's Museum, Cambridge
** Loan from Junior Red Cross, Boston
141
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
From the library picture collection:
American sculpture-pictures Washington, D. C. Gardens Interiors Maps
142
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
1
TABLE I
FINANCIAL STATISTICS 1931 Receipts
Town Appropriation
Dog Tax
$ 22,500.00 1,769.79
Income from Library Funds:
Junius Beebe Fund
$ 1,073.89
Marcus Beebe Fund
592.37
Decius Beebe Fund
749.18
Katherine Beebe Fund
256.01
Eleanor H. Beebe Fund
251.37
Frederic Beebe Fund
336.39
Charles S. Beebe Fund
54.24
John H. Beebe Fund
159.42
Alice B. Carpenter Fund
250.95
George O. Carpenter Fund
·
54.21
Sylenda B. Stearns Fund
89.40
J. G. Aborn Library Fund
85.51
Cyrus Gilbert Beebe Fund
101.25
Frederic Beebe Library Fund
48.06
Rev. Thomas A. Emerson Fund
25.30
Flint Memorial Library Fund
48.06
M. W. Gove Library Fund
22.11
Dr. F. P. Hurd Library Fund
126.55
Franklin Poole Library Fund
24.02
Mary H. Pratt Library Fund
10.13
Cyrus Wakefield Library Fund
24.02
Total
$ 4,380.45 $ 28,650.24
143
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
LIBRARY EXPENDITURES FOR 1931
Books
$ 7,215.56
Periodicals Binding Salaries:
577.88 1,690.41
Library service
$ 11,733.86 2,295.00
Janitor service
$14,028.86
Other Expenses :
Printing
$ 470.70
Light
633.35
Heat
1,309.06
Furnishings
688.38
Supplies
693.79
Maintenance:
Repairs
632.29
Miscellaneous
709.96
$ 28,650.24
Library receipts returned to the Town, 1931; from fines, payment of lost books, et cetera $ 889.73
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
TABLE II
CLASSIFIED TABLE OF VOLUMES ISSUED IN 1931
Main Greenwood Adult Juvenile Adult Juvenile
Reference works and bound periodicals
93
220
19
105
Philosophy
1,196
17
140
Religion
588
326
146
171
Sociology
1,842
2,609
233
775
Philology (Language)
132
15
4
22
Natural science
996
984
270
481
Useful arts
2,522
1,403
282
528
Fine Arts
2,974
923
450
295
Literature
4,372
2,267
718
615
History
1,739
1,849
226
931
Travel
2,975
4,060
852
1,263
Biography
3,023
1,155
814
601
Fiction
86,650
20,961
22,996
9,710
*10,596
*4,399
Pamphlets
182
3
Foreign Books which were on loant
257
Current Periodicals
4,662
730
2,298
803
114,203
48,118
29,448
20,699
Total School books issued
8,115
Total
220,583
Pictures
4,192
BORROWERS REGISTERED
Adult 4,278
Juvenile
1,997
6,275
Main Library Greenwood Branch
1,838
8,113
Total borrowers registered (School borrowers not registered)
Main
Greenwood
Adult
Juvenile 325
Adult 103
Juvenile
New Registration
357
138
Total new registrations
1,023
Readers for little folks
t Loan from the Massachusetts Division of Public Libraries
162,321
50,147
212,468
145
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
TABLE III RESOURCES
Volumes belonging to Library, January 1, 1931
45,710
Additions in 1931
MAIN LIBRARY, by purchase;
New Titles
Adult -
1,549
Juvenile
362
1,911
Replacements and Duplicates
Adult
732
Juvenile
615
1,347
GREENWOOD: by purchase;
New Titles
Adult
416
Juvenile
210
626
Replacements and Duplicates
Adult
19
Juvenile
99
118
Gifts
65
School
38
Bound magazines
101
Unclassified
187
Total additions
4,393
Volumes withdrawn, 1931
923*
Volumes belonging to Library, December 31, 1931
49,180
-
*64 of these were burned because of scarlet fever in the families where the books had been borrowed.
146
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
TABLE IV
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM FOR UNIFORM STATISTICS
Population of Wakefield (1930)
16,000
Terms of use of Library: FREE
Agencies: Main Library, one branch, nine schools
303
Days open during the year-Branch Library
218
Hours open each week for lending-Main Library 66
Hours open each week for lending-Branch 161/2
Hours open each week for reading-Main Library
69
Hours open each week for reading-Branch
161/2
Number of volumes at beginning of year
45,710
Number of volumes added by purchase
4,328
Number of volumes added by gift
65
Number of volumes withdrawn during year
923
Number of volumes at end of year
49,180
Pictures
60,135
Famphlets
3,891
Numbered of registered borrowers
8,113
Number of volumes lent for home use
220,583
Number of pictures lent for home use
4,192
Registration period
2 years
Number newspapers (one gift) received currently
11
Number periodical titles currently received
Main Library 154
Branch Library
38
Library receipts :
Town appropriation
$ 22,500.00
Income from dog tax
1,769.79
Income from trust funds
4,380.45
$ 28,650.24
Library expenditures:
Books
$ 7,215.56
Periodicals
577.88
Binding
1,690.41
Salaries, library service
11,733.86
Salaries, janitor service
2,295.00
Light
633.35
Heat
1,309.06
Supplies
693.79
Other maintenance
2,501.33
Total
$ 28,650.24 $889.73 received from fines, payment of lost books, etc., and returned to the Town.
Days open during the year-Main Library
147
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
Report of Planning Board
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Wakefield, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The Town Planning Board submits to you its report for the year end- ing December 31, 1931.
The Zoning Law has been changed in two districts during the past year. Regarding the district at the head of Lake Quannapowitt, the Planning Board held a hearing at the direction of the March Town Meet- ing and after careful deliberation, opposed the change from general res- idence to business. Nevertheless, the meeting voted the change and it has been approved by the Attorney General.
Regarding the district of Salem st, near the Lynnfield line-the Plan- ning Board, again, as directed by the town meeting, held a hearing and after careful deliberation, opposed the change from a single residence to a business district. Again the town meeting disregarded the Board's rec- ommendation and voted the change.
This also has been officially approved.
The Planning Board is in no way discouraged by this action, as it is the normal procedure of Democratic government. When it has earnestly considered the merits of such questions, and, in the light of what it con- siders the best interests of the general town welfare has made its recom- mendation to the town, its duty, in that particular case, is done.
The Board does, however, feel that with persistent effort on its part and with the natural but slow growth of intelligent public education in civic matters, such cases will become less frequent.
Mr. William Roberts of the Planning Board resigned his position this year, which resignation, caused by the pressure of his business, was regret- fully accepted. As yet the vacancy has not been filled.
The Planning Board authorized and there has been prepared, under its direction, a revised and corrected map of the town.
1. This map shows all existing streets.
2. All proposed streets of record in the assessors' office.
3. All public property.
4. All public and semi-public buildings.
5. The districts of the zoning law corrected to date.
A colored copy of the map has been hung, framed, in the Selectmen's office, and the Planning Board will, upon request, furnish other boards with copies of the map at the cost of re-production.
Having heard that the towns of Stoneham and Reading had a through- traffic problem and were considering plans to by-pass their business centers and anticipating that such a by-pass might take the route of the formerly proposed Quannapowitt Boulevard which would bring heavy traffic through Cedar st in Wakefield to the detriment of the West Side residential dis-
148
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
trict, the Wakefield Planning Board called a joint meeting of the Planning Boards of Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield, at which time a committee consisting of one from each board was appointed to study what was con- sidered a problem common to the three towns. The committee has made an exhaustive study and is ready to report with a recommendation for a major-by-pass-route which will solve the troubles of Reading and Stoneham and rather than injuring Wakefield will contribute to the solution of its own through-traffic problem.
It is expected that this project will be presented to the metropolitan division of planning for study and presentation to the Legislature in the near future.
The Board asks the co-operation of the Town Boards, our Representa- tive, and the Townspeople, when the details of the project have been made public in the press, and later when the bill is before the Legislature.
Respectfully submitted,
Signed
EDWARD M. BRIDGE, Chairman,
LEON F. REED, Secretary, DR. FRANK T. WOODBURY,
DR. T. FULTON PARKS.
149
REPORT OF MOTH DEPARTMENT
Report of Supt. of Moth Dept.
Wakefield, Mass., January 1, 1932.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Superintendent of the Moth Depart- ment for the year 1931.
This year we planted 125 young trees along the streets where they were needed. Of these we bought 50 and took 75 from our own nursery.
The condition of the gypsy, browntail and satin moths is about the same as last year.
This year we spent $2,692.50 for moth work; $2,289.43 for trimming trees and cutting them down; $1,486.06 for spraying and $1,882.93 for cutting brush.
For other expenditures and appropriations of this department see Town Accountant's report.
Respectfully yours, JOHN A. LANDRY, Superintendent.
150
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Inspector of Animals
Wakefield, Mass., December 29, 1931. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Gentlemen :
At this time I wish to submit my report as Animal Inspector.
Have inspected 19 barns.
On one dairy farm there were four reactors taken by State to be slaughtered.
During the year there were 24 dogs placed under quarantine, none of which had rabies.
There was one cat placed in quarantine and one with rabies.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. BENNETT, Animal Inspector.
151
REPORT OF BATH HOUSE INSTRUCTOR
Report of Bath House Instructor
Wakefield Park Board, Wakefield, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
In submitting my annual report I wish to express my appreciation for the co-operation your board has given me during the past year. This friendly spirit, I am sure, has helped to make a success of the bathing problem in our town.
The following data will give you an idea of the growing need for better facilities and careful supervision:
Total number in attendance
41,370
Number of minor injuries
104
Number of persons needing help (beyond their depth)
83
Number of suspensions
11
Average daily attendance
689
Maximum attendance
Number of serious accidents
3000 0
I am sure the members of the Park Board are acquainted with con- ditions at the bath house, and will agree that the toilet problem must be solved. I hope that the Board can convince the Finance Committee that the bath house has to be moved back about 30 feet, so that the beach can be made wider. Some allowance must be made to improve conditions within the house itself as foot infection will soon appear unless the floor can be kept free of water. The raft is in good condition and will cost very little to float it repaired. I cannot see the need for the upper floor in the house and would like to see the roof lowered and fitted with window space for additional sunlight.
I will gladly meet your board and will offer any help I can in getting matters started for another year.
Yours truly,
September 4, 1931.
J. E. HARRINGTON.
152
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Recreation Commission
During the summer of 1931 three playgrounds were opened and super- vised play was provided at each. The playground on the Park, the one at Greenwood and the Henry J. Nasella playground at Water Street were open for eight weeks during July and August from 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. daily, except Saturdays and Sundays. The total attendance of children at these playgrounds during the year was approximately 35,200.
The program consisted of athletics, pageantry, folk dancing, handcraft, story-telling hours, apparatus play, sand box play, weekly novelty contests and baseball classes for juveniles. There were special contests on Play Day and on Demonstration Day.
The playground staff consisted of the following:
Supervisor, William D. Healey
Assistant, Joseph Casey
Supervisor of handcraft, Eunice Wall
Supervisor of girls' athletics, Frances Welsh
Supervisor of pageantry, folk dancing and story telling, Ellen Ashenden. Assistants, Catherine Nichols and Margaret Dobson
The appropriation for this work was $1500 and the Recreation Com- mission believes that the money was well spent.
With the increase in automobile traffic it is important that play- grounds be established and maintained where children may play without being in danger. We feel that the playground system of the town should continue in development so that provision may be made for taking care of young children during the summer months.
In addition to the above program, Mr. Healey and Mr. Casey organized a Twilight Baseball League for men. This was done for the purpose of providing recreation for adult groups especially since there were so many unemployed who were looking for recreation or for the opportunity to witness baseball games. This league consisted of eight teams. These teams played a schedule of thirty-two games and these games were well attended. This league stirred up considerable interest and the Recreation Commission feels that it was most successful. It is recommended that this work be continued on a larger scale next year.
The commission also recommends that the town provide more facilities for adult recreation and with this in view, we renew our recommendation of last year in asking that the town build two tennis courts on the old ice house property off Church Street and North Avenue. This extension of our recreation program should be made to include more recreation for adults as soon as times are more favorable.
Respectfully submitted, EUGENE J. SULLIVAN,
Chairman of Recreation Commission.
153
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Report of School Committee
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
School Committee for 1931
Harry B. Allman, Chairman, Greenwood Street
Term Expires 1933
Term Expires 1934
Mrs. Eva Gowing Ripley, Secretary, Emerson Street Dr. J. William O'Connell, Treasurer, Fairmount Ave. Term Expires 1934 John B. Sawyer, Summit Avenue Term expires 1932
Mrs. Mabel W. Sweetser, Main Street Term Expires 1933 Thomas F. Kenney, appointed to succeed Leo A. Rogers Term Expires 1931
SUB-COMMITTEES
Mr. Kenney
Public Property Mr. Allman Mr. Sawyer
Finance and Accounts
Mr. Sawyer
Dr. O'Connell Mr. Allman
Teachers and Salaries
Mrs. Sweetser Dr. O'Connell
Dr. O'Connell
Mrs. Ripley Mrs. Sweetser
Text Books and Supplies Mrs. Ripley Mr. Kenney
Mrs. Sweetser
Superintendent of Schools Willard B. Atwell, 94 West Chestnut Street
Secretary to the Superintendent
Pauline E. Meads, 240 Lowell Street
Mrs. Ripley
Courses of Study
154
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Herein is submitted a report compiled from the reports of the various sections within the Department.
As has been our custom for the last six years, group tests of intelligence were given to all grades this year. These are given to a class as a whole except in the first two grades where the children are tested in groups of ten or twelve. Whereas one test does not give a correct picture of any one child, the results of from four to six tests are fairly dependable and give us an idea of what to expect from a child in his schoolroom work. They also give us an idea as to what we should expect from a class as a whole and how it should compare academically with other classes of the same grade.
Fifty-four children were tested for admittance last fall and of these sixteen or about thirty percent were admitted. This is about the usual percentage of admissions. Children tested the first year that we did this work are now in the seventh and eighth grades and the quality of their work has proved that these tests do enable us to predict, to a large degree, the type of school work a child will do.
Two children who were admitted on test and later did two grades in one year, are now in the highest division of the eighth grade.
Our attention was centered on silent reading throughout the year and a test in May to follow up the one given the previous fall, showed much improvement.
Last June the first attempt to measure first grade silent reading was made and Gates Primary Reading test was used. The results were very satisfactory. This test will be used as a basis for comparison throughout the second year's work.
The results of mimeographed arithmetic tests sent out from this office from time to time indicate that the new arithmetics are not only helping the children acquire and maintain skill in the fundamentals, but are a distinct help in the teaching of problem solving.
A reading committee has been at work for nearly a year studying the newer reading methods and is nearly ready to report and recommend a new basal system for grades one, two and three. With the use of an up- to-date method we should soon see a vast improvement in reading.
The next task will be the making of a curriculum and the study and selection of a text or texts in the social studies.
Several boys have gone from our special classes to trade schools and there are studying in the automobile or cabinet making shops. Our older girls are taking cooking with the high school freshmen and it is hoped that we may be able to send these girls on to industrial art schools.
Another special class consisting of pupils who are capable of rapid pro- motion would fill a felt need. Now, children who are able to accomplish the elementary school work in less than normal time must be tutored. A class for these children would be much more satisfactory.
155
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
A committee of the P. T. A. at the Franklin School assisted in the distribution of seventeen baskets of meats and groceries to the needy of the District on the Tuesday before Christmas. This committee co-oper- ated with the Town Welfare Board who furnished the meats; the other materials for the baskets were supplied by donation and from the treasury of the P. T. A.
The P. T. A. at Woodville held a whist party in December, and gave a portion of the proceeds for the purchase of candy for the pupils of the school and the remainder for welfare work.
In Greenwood the eighth grade club contributed $5.00 to the Town's welfare work. The pupils of the School gave three truck loads of books, toys, clothing and food to the same cause.
Each of the other schools did its share of contributing to those who were less fortunate in the neighborhood.
Such work by the pupils is a valuable experience and training in civic duties.
The teachers are also trying to do their share in helping the needy. Practically everyone has volunteered a contribution of one percent of his or her salary for six months from and including December.
HIGH SCHOOL
The enrollment at the beginning of the school year was as follows:
Boys
Girls
Total
Post Graduates
21
22
43
Seniors
82
105
187
Juniors
106
121
227
Sophomores
132
115
247
Freshmen
170
158
328
Eighth Grade
114
108
222
625
629
1254
This gave an enrollment for the four year High School of 1032 pupils, which was 96 more than the year previous. It was necessary to conduct the school on the two platoon system on account of lack of accommoda- tions. It seemed advisable to have the eighth grade pupils transferred from the Lafayette School to the afternoon session with the Freshmen. That gave a three year high school of 704 pupils in the forenoon and the Freshmen and Eighth grade, a school of 550 pupils in the afternoon.
School now begins at 8.00 A. M., and is in session continuously until 5.04 P.M. As most pupils take five subjects, the program is planned so that the recitations will come consecutively with but few study periods until the sixth period. Those who have study periods the sixth period are dismissed from school at the end of the fifth period, or 12.04 P. M., and about 175 pupils of the afternoon school begin recitations at the begin- ning of the sixth period, or 12.10 P. M. Practically all of the pupils of
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
the morning session are dismissed at the end of the sixth period, or 12.52 P. M. and the rest of the pupils of the afternoon session begin school at 1.00 P. M. and continue until 5.04 P. M.
Military drill is required of the Sophomore boys only, this year, as it was not possible to make a schedule whereby the Freshmen boys could take drill at the same time as the Sophomores and get in their regular class work. In place of military drill the Freshmen boys have Physical Train- ing in the gymnasium twice a week. Military drill comes at the end of the sixth period, or 12.54 P. M. and lasts until 1.50 P. M.
Having school sessions continuously from 8.00 A. M. until 5.04 P. M. necessitated several changes, some of which are as follows: There is a fifteen minute recess at 11.07 A. M. at which a light lunch is served. Last year we had two lunches of twenty-five minutes each, at which a warm lunch was served. The Boys' Glee Club has its rehearsals at the Y. M. C. A. building every Thursday at two o'clock as we have no place to rehearse in the High School. Only boys of the three upper classes are eligible as the Freshmen boys have classes at that time so cannot belong to the Glee Club. £ The Girls' Glee Club was discontinued as there was no place to rehearse. The Dramatic Club was dropped as it was impossible to find a place to hold meetings, also the gymnasium is used all day so we could not stage any plays as we would be interfering with the gymnasium classes. The High School Orchestra has its rehearsals after the afternoon sessions
which is 5.04 and is a very inconvenient time.
The orchestra does ex-
cellent work nevertheless. The basketball teams have to practice after
5 P. M. daily.
They practice until 6.30 or 7.00 P. M. On our league schedule we have some afternoon games to be played here. When we play these games we will have to omit the gymnasium classes and no one can attend the games as that would interfere with the regular school classes. We do not have the Booster, the weekly school paper, as it did not seem advisable to try to publish it under existing conditions. The Public Speak- ing Classes and the Inter Nos Club, the large girls' club, are unable to function as we cannot use the auditorium. Classes are conducted in the gymnasium which interfere with any exercises being held in the auditorium at the same time.
We had one of the best and most successful football seasons that we have had for many years. Coach Healey had a squad of over fifty boys and developed four teams. He deserves much credit as he does all the coaching, having no assistant.
Our gymnasium locker room is far too small for so large a squad as we have in football, so it has been necessary to use the corridor outside the locker room as a dressing room and it was most unsatisfactory as pupils had to use this corridor in going to and from classes. To remedy this, the Athletic Association has removed the seats from the gymnasium balcony, boarded it up on the gymnasium side and converted it into a large locker room. The work was done by the boys of the wood-working department, under Mr. Marche's supervision. We now need fifty large wire lockers so
157
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
the football clothing can dry out in the lockers. I trust the School Com- mittee will procure them for us.
Last year's graduating class of 202 pupils was the largest in the history of the school. The class gift was $79.87, for a fund to be used as a schol- arship when it amounts to $100.00.
If Richard Willard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest G. Willard, had lived, he would have graduated with the class of 1931. His parents wishing to benefit his classmates in some practical manner, provided, in his memory, two scholarships of seventy-five dollars each to be awarded to two different members of this class each year for four years. The award is to be made after the first semester's work in any institution of higher education, pref- erence to be given to those who graduated from the Lincoln school, and who in the opinion of a committee, are most worthy and deserving. The committee to award the scholarship is to consist of the principal of the school, the dean of girls, and the secretary of the school committee.
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