USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1937-1941 > Part 2
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Breakneck Road
5,000.00
5,000.00
WATERWAYS AND DRAINS
Mckinstry Brook 4,500.00 4,500.00
Elm to Everett on Summer 2,100.00
2,100.00 WPA
Elm to Everett on
Elm 4,800.00
4,800.00
WPA
28
Coombs and Cisco Sts.
3,485.00
3,485.00 WPA
Hamilton and Hook
1,750.00
1,750.00
SEWERS
Trunk
15,000.00
Laterals
4,000.00
15,000.00 WPA 4,000.00 WPA
PARKS
2,000.00
2,000.00 WPA
Total
116,635.00
40,250.00
56,385.00
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FOR 1940
Cost
Town Appropriation
Outside
Sources
PAVING
Main-Everett to
Mechanic (part) _
12,500.00
12,500.00
COUNTRY ROADS
Eastford Road
30,000.00
10,000.00
20,000.00 State and County
Gulf Wood Road
3,000.00
3,000.00
Dennison Road
2,000.00
2,000.00
SEWERS
Trunk line
15,000.00
15,000.00
Laterals
2,000.00
2,000.00
WATERWAYS AND DRAINS
Columbus Avenue
2,700.00
2,700.00
Nuisance Brook or Proulx Ave. and Wall St.
6,500.00
6,500.00
Total
73,700.00
53,700.00
20,000.00
29
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER
For Year Ending December 31, 1937
Cash on Hand January 1,
$151,252.95 1937
Receipts for 1937 1,003,764.93
1937 Disbursements
1,013,571.21
$141,446.67
Less-World War Memorial Fund and Accumulations 12,391.87
Balance, Cash on Hand, December 31,
1937
$129,054.80
FUNDED DEBT
Due
Date of Amount Outstanding
1938 Denominated
Issue of Loan Dec. 31, 1938
$7,500.00 Vocational School Bonds
1922 $150,000.00
$37,500.00
9,000.00 Eastford Road and West St. School Bonds 1936 152,490.00 143,000.00
$75,000.00-Anticipation of Revenue Loan, Due April 12, 1938.
Respectfully submitted, NORBERT C. BENOIT
Town Treasurer
$1,155,017.88
30
CEMETERY FUND
Book No.
Depository
Balance Dec. 31, 1937
Interest 1937
24902
Dedham Inst. for Savings
$2,000.00
$55.00
91607
Fitchburg Savings Bank
2,500.00
62.52
22841
Leominster Savings Bank
1,975.00
49.36
4541 Millbury Savings Bank
1,147.50
34.42
32073
Natick 5-Cent Savings Bank
2,500.00
75.00
8465
Southbridge Savings Bank
3,661.25
275.58
378
People's National Bank
2,500.00
62.50
942
Southbridge National Bank
1,000.00
149.72
153048
Springfield Inst. for Savings
2,000.00
50.00
1498
Salem 5-Cent Savings
2,000.00!
60.00
3791
Ware Savings Bank
2,000.00
60.00
11619
Webster 5-Cent Savings
4,114.68
77.32
55266
Worcester People's Savings
2,000.00
50.00
54964
Worcester 5-Cent Savings
2,000.00
50.00
47299
Worcester Mechanics Savings
2,000.00
50.00
79028
Worcester County Inst. for Savings
2,595.00
64.88
45792
Athol Savings Bank
2,000.00
50.00
91964
Cambridge Savings Bank
3,000.00
90.00
170011
Charlestown 5-Cent Savings
2,000.00
60.00
49264
Gardner Savings Bank
3,000.00
75.00
82904
Lynn Inst. for Savings
2,000.00
60.00
30302
Newburyport 5-Cent Savings
3,000.00
82.50
183325
New Bedford 5-Cent Savings
2,000.00
50.00
29044
Winchendon Savings Bank
2,000.00
60.00
93327
Worcester North Savings Inst.
2,175.00
54.36
43927
Attleborough Savings Bank
2,000.00
60.00
CO-OPERATIVE BANK SHARES
Worcester Co-operative Federal Savings and Loan Association
2,000.00
None
Workingmens Co-operative Bank, Boston
4,000.00
None
Merchants Co-operative Bank, Boston
4,000.00
30.00
Cash on Hand-Dec 31, 1937
50.00
Totals
$69,218.43
$1,898.18
Cemetery Fund as of January 1, 1937
$68,218.43
Added to Fund, 1937
1,000.00
Cemetery Fund as of December 31, 1937
$69,218.43
Respectfully submitted,
NORBERT C. BENOIT
Town Treasurer
JACOB EDWARDS LIBRARY Southbridge, Mass.
31
TRUST FUNDS
Balance
Int.
Balance
Book No.
Depository
Jan. 1, 1937
1937
Dec. 31, 1937
MARY MYNOTT FUND
46690 Southbridge Savings Bank
$1,000.00
30.23
$1,000.00
BOYER FUND
31084
Southbridge Savings Bank
316.88
9.56
326.44
JESSE J. ANGELL FUND
3553 People's National Bank
1,068.43 26.86
1,095.29
WORLD WAR MEMORIAL FUND
36764
Southbridge Savings Bank
6,009.15
181.63
6,190.78
5502
People's National Bank
6,048.94
152.15
6,201.09
ELLA M. COLE FUND
45612
Attleborough Savings Bank
1,000.00
30.00
1,000.00
94985
Cambridge Savings Bank
1,000.00
30.00
1,000.00
176397
Charlestown 5-Cent Savings
1,000.00
30.00
1,000.00
HANNAH M. EDWARDS CEMETERY FUND
The First National Bank of Boston,
Trustee
5,000.00 195.00 5,000.00
Respectfully submitted, NORBERT C. BENOIT
Town Treasurer
33
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
January 15, 1938
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge :
I hereby submit my report for the year ending De- cember 31, 1937.
VITAL STATISTICS
Number of Births 306
Number of Marriages 231
Number of Deaths 160
DOG LICENSES
419 Males at $2.00
$838.00
108 Females at $5.00 540.00
126 Spayed at $2.00 252.00
2 Transfers
Paid Town Treasurer, Licenses $1,630.00
FISH AND GAME LICENSES
663 Resident Citizens' Fishing at $2.00 $1,326.00
357 Resident Citizens' Hunting at $2.00 714.00
249 Resident Citizens' Sporting at $3.25 809.25
176 Resident Citizens' Minor and Female at $1.25 220.00
34
5 Resident Citizens' Minor Trapping 11.25
2 Resident Citizens' Trapping 10.50
46 Resident Citizens' Sporting (free)
12 Special Non-resident Fishing at $1.50 18.00
2 Non-resident Citizens' Minor Fishing at $2.25 4.50
6 Non-resident Citizens' Fishing at $5.25 31.50
3 Non-resident Citizens' Hunting at $10.25 30.75
Non-resident Citizens' Sporting
» Non-resident Citizens' Trapping 6 Duplicates at $.50 3.00
$3,178.75
Paid Division of Fisheries and Game
$3,178.75
Respectfully submitted,
CLARE P. BOYER
Town Clerk
1
-
35
REPORT OF ASSESSORS
The Board of Assessors submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1937 :
Town Appropriations : Including all voted since 1936 Rate was fixed
(a) to be raised by taxation$528,380.34
(b) to be taken from avail- able funds 19,633.74
$548,014.08
Deficit in Overlay Account (1933 Levy)
3.63
State Tax
20,815.00
Auditing Municipal Accounts 532.35
State Parks and Reservations
283.51
Veterans' Exemption
20.39
County Tax
20,773.52
Tuberculosis Hospital
13,879.26
Overlay (of current year)
5,651.10
$609,972.84 $609,972.84
Estimated Revenue for the year
1937 169,140.00
Available funds
19,633.74
188,773.74 188,773.74
Net amount raised by taxation on polls and property 421,199.10
Number of Polls 4947 at $2.00
9,894.00
Valuation Real Estate January 1, 1937 $9,925,890.00
Tax on Real Estate 344,430.30
Valuation, Personal Property, January 1, 1937 $1,927,215.00
Tax on Personal Property 66,874.80
36
Total Valuation _ $11,853,105.00 Total Taxes Assessed January 1, 1937 421,199.10
Sewer Assessments, Unappor- tioned and Apportioned and Interest added to taxes of 1937 2,617.91
Sidewalk Assessments, Unappor- tioned and Apportioned and Interest added to taxes of 1937
196.52
Warrant to Collector May 14, 1937 424,013.53
Additional Assessments
December 20, 1937
Real Estate, Valuation, $9,275.00
Tax on Real Estate
321.84
Warrant to Collector, December 20, 1937 321.84
June 7, 1937 Polls 20 at $2.00
40.00
Warrant to Collector, June 7, 1937 40.00
December 4, 1937
Polls 13 at $2.00 26.00
Warrant to Collector, December 4, 1937 26.00
December 28, 1937 Polls 1 at $2.00
2.00
Warrant to Collector, December 28, 1937 2.00
Total Assessed Valuation on Per- sonal and Real Estate for 1937 $11,862,380.00 Total Warrants to Collector on Polls, Personal, Real Estate and Sewer and Sidewalk As- sessments for 1937 424,403.37
Valuation of Motor Vehicles for 1937 $1,120,050.00 Tax on Motor Vehicles for 1937 31,064.57 Warrant to Collector for 1937 31,064.57
37
Total Assessed Valuation for
1937 $12,982,430.00 Total Warrants to Collector for 1937 455,467.94
Rate of Local Tax per thousand
34.70
Rate of Motor Excise Tax per thousand 34.62
VALUE OF EXEMPTED PROPERTY
Churches, Schools and Hospital 1,461,300.00
U. S. P. O. Property 98,000.00
Town Property 1,558,900.00
$3,118,200.00
Number of persons, partnerships and cor- porations assessed on Real and Personal Estate 2338
Number of Motor Vehicles Assessed 4188
JOSEPH T. GERVAIS
PHILIAS F. X. CASAVANT JOSEPH METRAS
Board of Assessors
39
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
In accordance with the law and custom, I submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1937. Giving names of members of the fire department, values of properties under my supervision, number of fires we re- sponded to, values of properties where loss occurred, dates and locations of fires, also recommendations I deem · necessary for the ensuing year.
The balance from last year's appropriation was $46.03.
I recommend an appropriation of $26,078.38.
We responded to 220 still alarms, and 18 bell alarms, total 238.
216 Hydrants at $55.25 each per year $11,934.00:
The detailed report and budget follows;
Value of buildings $348,550.00
Loss on buildings 12,184.47
Insurance on buildings
274,500.00
Insurance paid on buildings 11,869.47
Value of contents 82,815.00
Loss on contents
6,936.36
Insurance on contents
68,500.00
Insurance paid on contents
9,940.00
INVENTORY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Two fire stations 75,000.00
Fire apparatus
36,000.00
Fire department supplies 9,000.00
Gamewell fire alarm system
7,000.00
40
ROSTER OF THE SOUTHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT
CHIEF Joseph E. Ducheneau DEPUTY CHIEF George W. Laughnane ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHIEF Henry Lavoie
PERMANENT MEN
Oswald Meunier, House Captain Napoleon Donais Emile Caouette George M. Lamothe, House Lieutenant Almanzar Martel Dan Daniels
George Jolie
CALLMEN HOSE NO. 1
Michael Maloney, Captain Hermas Lippe
Hormidas Belanger, Lieutenant Lionel Peloquin
Napoleon Fontaine
Armand Dumas
Victor Tavernier Leopold Langlois
Henry Desourdy
George Lavallee
Dominic Santo
Archie Langevin
CALLMEN LADDER NO. 1
Leandre Coutu, Captain
Ovila Donais
Felix Lavallee, Lieutenant
Romeo Laroche
Ovide Desrosier
Arthur Caplette
Isadore Lafleche
Romeo Lippe
Eugene Blais
Napoleon Blais
CALLMEN HOSE NO. 2
Telesphore Leduc, Lieutenant Julius Duff Albert Trembley
Adelard Lepage
Isadore L'Heureux
Theodore Benoit
Ernest McDonald Alva Gregoire
· George W. Lavallee, Captain No. 2
41
SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM James C. Sandgren
January 30-Box 57 at 6:20 P. M. Dwelling at 242 Ever- ett street. Owned by Frank Oloff. Cause unknown. In- sured.
February 7-Still alarm at 9:35 P. M. Shed at 3 Bowlen Ave. Owned by Louis Colognesi. Caused by careless use of matches. Insured.
February 13-Still alarm at 5:45 P. M. Tenements at 384 East Main street. Owned by Peter Graff. Caused by overheated chimney. Insured.
February 18-Still alarm at 8:10 A. M. Tenements at 372 Hamilton street. Owned by Amedee Leblanc. Caused by overheated chimney. Insured.
February 28-Box 24 at 1:40 A. M. Tenements at 23 off Wall street. Owned by Costandino. Caused by defec- tive wiring. Insured.
March 1-Box 34 at 5:26 P. M. Stores and Rooming house at 314 Main street. Owned by Costa Bros. Caused by careless use of matches. Insured.
March 4-Box 34 at 12:29 A. M. Store and Offices at 296 Main street. Owned by Mrs. Hartwell. Caused by cigar- ette. Insured.
March 4-Still alarm at 7:05 P. M. Tenements at 107 Plimpton street. Owned by George Castonguay. Caused by careless use of matches. Insured.
May 21-Still alarm at 5:05 P. M. Tenements at 85 Wor- cester street. Owned by Tully Estate. Caused by care · less use of matches. Insured.
May 29-Box 45 at 1:45 A. M. Tenements at 4 Charlton street. Owned by Alfred Vincent. Caused by spontan- eous combustion. Insured.
42
May 29-Still alarm at 5:45 P. M. Tenements at 95 Fair .. lawn Ave. Owned by Omer Belanger. Caused by oil stove. Insured.
June 8-Box 25 at 6:49 P. M. Stores and Tenements at 351 Hamilton street. Owned by Adelard Laporte. Caused by overheated stove pipe. Insured.
June 17- Still alarm at 1:14 P. M. Stores and Tenements at 282 Hamilton street. Owned by Mrs. Calahan. Caused by oil stove. Insured.
July 5-Still alarm at 9:55 P. M. Dwelling at 442 Wor- cester street. Owned by Mrs. Lamarine. Caused by fire- works. Insured.
August 29-Still alarm at 4:00 P. M. Stores and Tene- ments at 8 Pleasant street. Owned by J. J. Delehanty. Caused by overheated motor. Insured.
September 4-Box 52 at 4:30 A. M. Tenements at 75 Morris street. Owned by Phillipe Stevens. Caused by defective wiring. Insured.
September 11-Box 23 at 1:40 A. M. Tenements at 244 West street. Owned by Mrs. Albina Chicoine. Caused by spontaneous combustion. Insured.
October 14-Box 52 at 12:52 A. M. Tenements at 46 Morris stree. Owned by Ziu Bros. Caused by overheat- ed chimney. Insured.
October 18-Still alarm at 8:40 A. M. Gas station at West Main street. Owned by American Oil Co. Caused by washing floor with gasoline. Insured.
October 30-Still alarm at 11:06 P. M. Dwelling at 88 Highland street. Owned by Arthur Archambeault. Caused by careless use of smoking. Insured.
November 4-Still alarm at 11:30 P. M. Hotel at 366 Main street. Owned by Murphy. Caused by overheated furnace. Insured.
43
November 9-Still alarm at 4:30 A. M. Factory at Mill street. Owned by Ames Worsted Co. Caused by short circuit. Insured.
November 13-Box 35 at 1:50 A. M. Tenements at 86 Hamilton street. Owned by Dr. Page. Caused by spon- taneous combustion. Insured.
November 17-Box 25 at 2:38 P. M. Tenements at 371 Hamilton street. Owned by Wm. Larochelle. Caused by careless smoking. Insured.
December 10-Still alarm at 9:55 P. M. Tenements at 62 Cross street. Owned by Rebecca Proulx. Caused by children playing with matches. Insured.
In closing my report for the year, I wish to thank the citizens for their co-operation, and the members of the fire department for their loyalty to their work.
In conclusion the chief, Joseph E. Ducheneau, on be- half of the members of the fire department wish to thank the Board of Selectmen and the other Town officials for their courtesy and consideration of the department.
JOSEPH E. DUCHENEAU Chief
GEORGE W. LAUGHNANE Deupty Chief and Clerk
For the Fire Department Oswald Meunier Assistant Clerk®
JACOB EDWARDS LIBRARY Southbridge, Mass.
44
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER
Permits to keep, store, and sell explosives, and maintain garages :
Permits
Fire works 18
High explosives
6
Maintain garages 190
Range oil burners 2,082
Power oil burners
376
Open air permits
29
To remove empty gasoline tanks
0
Inspections
Hotels and boarding houses 15
Tenement houses
793
Garages
190
Range oil burners
2,082
Power oil burners
376
45
REPORT OF FOREST FIRE WARDEN
The forest fire department answered 13 alarms for forest fires in 1937.
Last year's appropriation was $200.00.
The balance from last year's appropriation was $44.41.
I recommend an appropriation of $200.00.
Fire Warden's salary $200.00.
There were 29 permits for fires in the open.
I wish at this time to thank the people for their good will, and again ask their co-operation with this depart- ment to prevent forest fires in this vicinity.
Inventory of the Forest Fire Department
One forest fire pump with 3000 feet of hose _ $1,000.00
One ton and one half Ford truck 200.00
One Chevrolet Truck 100.00
One ton Ford truck 50.00.
Thirty-six 21/2 gallon fire extinguishers
288.00
Eight five gallon cans
9.00
Five four gallon cans 2.00
Three five gallon pumps
15.00
Six ten gallon pumps
30.00
Six ten quart pails
6.00
Two shovels 2.00
JOSEPH E. DUCHENEAU
Forest Fire Warden
46
REPORT OF THE AMBULANCE DEPARTMENT
In rendering my report for the past year, I wish to state that there was an appropriation of $150.00 made for this department.
For the coming year, I recommend an appropriation of $150.00.
During the past year the ambulance department has collected $390.00.
The balance from last year's appropriation was $23.53.
During the past year the ambulance made the fol- lowing trips :
Southbridge
123
Worcester
36
Charlton
12
Sturbridge
5
Fiskdale
3
Holyoke
2
Boston
1 1 1
Wrentham
1
West Boylston
1 1
Holden
Palmer
1
Wales
1 1
Brimfield
1
Dodge
Oxford
1
Dudley
1
Chelsea
Springfield
47
Inventory of the Ambulance Department
One Ford ambulance
$1,400.00
One spare tire
10.00
One first aid kit
5.00
One folding stretcher
20.00
Four blankets
16.00
Eleven sheets
9.00
Four pillow cases
2.00
Two pillows
3.00
JOSEPH E. DUCHENEAU Chief of the Fire Department
49
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Southbridge, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith for your consideration my report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1937. The organ- ization of the police department at the close of the year was as follows:
CHIEF Ulric Brault
PATROLMEN
Patrick Donnelly
Ernest J. Fierro
Joseph Paquin
Arthur Bouthillier
Ovila Martin Joseph Morin
Albert Lamarine
John Lango Jr.
Arthur Murphy Carl Corriveau
Alfred E. Lariviere Moise Beaudry
Arcade Grenier, Sub. Zenon Lamothe, Sub.
George H. Fitts, Sub. Sylvio Bachand, Sub. Gregorio Materas, Sub. Stanley E. Knowles, Sub.
50
JANITOR AND ASSISTANT LOCKUP KEEPER Arcade Grenier
Duties performed by the police department during the year expiring December 31, 1937. Total Arrests 574, Males 543, Females 31, Minors 40.
OFFENCES
Assault and Battery 9
Robbery
1
Arson 3
Breaking and Entering
4
Concealed Leased Property
1
Fraud
1
Larceny 36
Malicious Mischief
4
Receiving Stolen Goods 5
Trespassing 1
Using Motor Vehicle Without Authority 9
Delinquency 1
Disturbing the Peace
15
Driving Auto as to Endanger
3
Driving While Intoxicated 19
Drunkenness 247
Forgery
2
Fornification 3
Gaming and Present at the Game 14
Idle and Disorderly 1
Violation of Illegitimate Child Act 2
Indecent Exposure 2
51
Lewdness
7
Violation of Liquor Laws
2
Promoting Lottery
11
Violation of Motor Vehicle Laws
98
Neglect and Non-Support 21
Peddling Unlicensed
7
Stubborness
5
Vagrants
8
Escape from Institution
5
Insane
2
Fire Arm in Possession
2
Fugitive from Justice
2
Neglected Children
9
Maintaining a Dance Without a License 1
Possession of Obscene Literature 2
Violation of Food Laws 2
Violation Order of the Court
9
Miscellaneous
Number of Motor Vehicle Licenses Suspended 162
Goods Stolen and Recovered
$8,165.00
Goods Stolen Not Recovered
2,475.00
Accidents Investigated 52
Motor Vehicles Stolen and Re- 18
covered
1 1 1 1
1
1
Buildings Found Unlocked 97
-
52
PROPERTY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON DECEMBER 31, 1937,
Building and Land
$60,000.00
All Other Equipment
5,000.00
$65,000.00
In conclusion I wish to extend in behalf of the offi- cers of the department and myself to the Honorable Board of Selectmen and other officials, our sincere thanks for their kindly consideration during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, ULRIC BRAULT
December 31, 1937
Chief
53
REPORT of the TRUSTEES of the JACOB EDWARDS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
TRUSTEES For the Town
Robert P. Montague
Seaver Rice
Oswald J. Laliberte
Henry J. Tetreault
For the Edwards Bequest Richard C. Paige, Chairman Gertrude W. Smith
George B. Wells
LIBRARY HOURS
Week Days, except January 1, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Armistice Day until 2 p. m., Thanksgiving Day and Christmas-10 to 12; 2 to 9 p. m .; (when schools are in session until 12:15) ; Sundays, Octo- ber-May (for reading), 2 to 9.
54
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Edwards Memorial Library :
We are hearing a great deal about Democracy these days. The public library is democratic in the primary sense-it may be considered the aptest symbol of a dem- ocracy. Its only function is to enlighten and inform.
Many children acquire their first love of books in the children's room of a public library-radios and movies cannot take the place of books in the education of chil- dren and young people. Sufficient time for reading is im- portant to every child's development. "Magic, unless it is written down, escapes one," said Anne Lindbergh in 'North to the Orient.' The reader, too, can absorb the magic.
Young people will read good books if they are en- thusiastically presented to them. It is amazing to see the progress of children from schools where the teacher de- vises attractive ways of luring non-readers into the Li- brary, so that they too may learn to read for pleasure. This is the only way to make real reading habits that will last for lifelong happiness and profit.
It pays to have sufficient assistance in the Library so that both Librarian and Assistants will have time to ad- vise, discuss and encourage the reading of the best books.
In all public libraries, less books are being taken out for home use than there were three or four years ago, but the reference use of libraries, by adults as well as by pu- pils in the schools is increasing steadily. This is true of Southbridge, as almost everywhere. In the late after- noons and evenings, it is frequently difficult to take care of the charging desk, because of the demands for help in reference work.
92,490 volumes were circulated during 1937, a de- crease of 9 per cent from 1936, 7.5 per cent of which was in adult fiction.
55
The demand for technical books (which include vo- cational books) is constantly increasing. It has always been the policy of this Library to buy as many of these as possible, but they are expensive and tempting. Open shelves are here to stay, but they present a great problem in every public library.
It is important to buy books of reference each year; this year a new encyclopedia "The World Book," was bought for the children's room, superseding the edition bought in 1924. The latest edition of "Who's Who" has been added. "The standard catalog for high school li- braries, a selected catalog of 3450 books," is valuable in helping both teachers and pupils to select the best books for high school use on every subject. A number of other reference books of value have been added.
Many volumes of wornout fiction were replaced, as well as many copies of wornout children's books (espe- cially books used by grades four through nine) .
The Rental collection continues popular, offering as it does extra copies of popular books, which are trans- ferred to the Library when they have paid for them- selves. 154 volumes have been added to the Library by this means during the year; the 64 volumes now in the Rental collection will probably pay what is due on the books.
Some public libraries are adding a "one cent shelf" to pay for replacing and duplicating older book titles without direct expenditure of library funds.
Through the Massachusetts Library Commission, the State continued to lend us "libraries" of books in French, Polish, Greek and Italian. The Polish books are in special demand, but all of the books are well read.
The Library has had gifts of books during the year, a number of books from each of the following: Mr. Pin-
56
cus, Miss Pettibone, Mrs. Hamilton Smith, Miss Cady- the most interesting gifts have been those given in mem- ory of someone: The American Legion Auxiliary gave two books in memory of Miss Nora Higgins; Mrs. Yvonne Corporon gave twenty books in French in memory of her mother, Mrs. Eugenie Bedard.
544 new names were registered during the year, making 10,619 now registered at the Library.
The 7th grade was added to "Vacation reading" of the 4th, 5th and 6th grades, with prizes of books given by George Wells.
The income of the Library for 1937 was:
Town appropriation $7,875.00
Income-Edwards Bequest
1,915.31
Income-Bradford Fund
141.70
$2,057.01
Expenditures-Trust Funds :
Salaries
$351.86
Books
578.40
Binding
16.60
Building
23.54
Supplies
15.19
Light
55.92
Expense
17.41
Town
962.00
$2,020.92
57
To reimburse Town for amount over- drawn for salaries on account of Town pension fund
Balance-Trust Funds Jan. 1, 1938 $36.09
The Library turned back to the Town $589 in fines, so that the Library cost the Town $7,286.
Respectfully submitted,
ELLA E. MIERSCH
Librarian
58
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM OF STATISTICS
Name of Library Jacob Edwards Memorial Library
Town and State Southbridge, Massachusetts
Name of Librarian Ella E. Miersch
Date of Founding 1871
Population Served
15,786
Number of days open during year 339
Hours open each week for reading
55-62
Hours open each week for lending
55
Number of Volumes at beginning of year
27,214
Number of Volumes added
1,494
New
1,020
Replaced 474
Number of volumes added by gift, and from Duplicate Pay 237
Number of volumes worn out and discarded 1
1,240
Number of volumes at end of year
27,468
Circulation per capita 6
Number of registered borrowers
10,619
Number of volumes lent for home use
92,490
59
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
Always, as in previous years, our Town has re- mained the home of beautiful Elms, having to our credit approximately 2,000 shade trees.
Due to the care they receive, such as trimming all dead branches, not only for their beauty, but for our main reason-the safety of the public, none of our trees have been affected by the Dutch Elm Disease as yet.
As you may be pleased to know that the town sup- plied me with 100 trees of different species in 1920, which are now ranging from twenty to thirty feet in height. It would be my sincere wish to set out as many more, if the town would supply them for me, as I have removed sever- al which were caused to die, of lack of water, being set in sidewalks or gutters.
Should any citizen notice anything unusual in any tree, please advise the Tree Warden. By doing so such action would save your trees and many others also. Hop- ing I may receive your kind cooperation as in the past,
I am always ready to serve you.
ALBERT A. L'ECUYER
Tree Warden
61
REPORT OF GYPSY MOTH DEPARTMENT
Owing to our regular care yearly of our Gypsy Moth we are yet to lose any tree on that account. But it re- quires a yearly survey, as we are menaced' on every side. Tent Eater Pillars are also a mean pest, thriving mostly on cherry trees and bushes, roadside trees, are a different type and shorter. Japanese Beetles are always to be fought. Very few are in our vicinity, due to our constant scrutiny.
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