USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1947-1951 > Part 14
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Nuisance Brook near river
Windsor Ct. sidewalk
Permits to open streets (91)
I wish to thank the Selectmen and members of all Town Departments for the continued cooperation given me and the Engineering Department during the year 1948.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY A. RACICOT, Town Engineer
71
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Report of Building Inspector
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Herewith is the report of the Building Activities carried on in Southbridge during the year of 1948.
I have also compiled a 10 year report of building construc- tion, costs and number of families provided for, which in- cludes the real estate valuation.
I think this will make a handy reference table, in view of the many requests I have had from time to time concern- ing such data.
BUILDING REPORT OF 1948
Add. Families No. of Provided
Permits
For
Est. Cost
Single Family residences
24
24
$163,500.00
2 Apartment Dwellings
5
10
55,500.00
Additions and alterations
30
21
67,320.00
Commercial Buildings
4
. .
61,000.00
Private garages
23
. .
17,900.00
Total
86
55
$365.220.00
10 YEAR REPORT OF BUILDING ACTIVITY
Add'1 Total Estimated Families Issued Provided For Construction
Real Estate Valuation
1939
159
145
$586,771
1940
142
131
478,982
$10,703,865
1941
138
101
642,055
11,077,080
-
-
No. Permits
72
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
10 YEAR REPORT OF BUILDING ACTIVITY (Continued
1942
39
21
276,790
11,479,440
1943
50
88
348,240
11,656,740
1944
49
39
309,975
11,735,930
1945
51
21
140,850
11,908,340
1946
98
73
411,775
11,965,975
1947
112
70
476,900
12,155,410
1948
76
55
365,200
Total
914
744
$4,037,558
Respectfully submitted,
ARMAND DE ANGELIS
73
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Report of the Board of Road Commissioners
1 January 1949
Board of Selectmen Town Hall Southbridge, Mass.
Gentlemen :
The Highway Department wishes to submit the following report :
We, the Board of Road Commissioners, wish to thank all officials and the citizens of our town for the cooperation re- ceived at times of emergency and during the regular working periods.
The expenditures of this department may be read by con- sulting the Town Accountant's reports-it is our wish to show what has been accomplished with the various appropriations allocated to our department.
From the first week of January to the second week of March, the crew of the Highway Department composed of the Superintendent, two mechanic-operators, one clerk-operator, seven drivers and seven laborers were kept busy (around the clock at times) plowing the streets and removing the snow and also sanding the streets when needed-the department was cited for its efficiency and effort in keeping all roads passable during the abnormal winter of 1947-1948.
Fifty-three ton of rock salt and 689 yards of sand mixed together were used for the sanding of streets and in order to open roads that had been blocked by drifts it was found neces- sary to request the State Department of Public Works the use of a 10 ton Walters Snow Fighter for opening and widening of the main arteries in and around the Town. The
74
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
expenses for the above mentioned period were low compared to other towns of the same size and population.
As soon as possible the department began patching and repairing the streets and roads that had been badly damaged by the rigors of a severe winter. On gravel roads the follow- ing material was used along with shaping and rolling :
1,800 yards of Gravel.
Asphalt covered streets were repaired using our own patch mixer ; the following materials were used :
12,000 gallons Sticwet asphalt
440 ton small stone
112 yards sand
In conjunction with the patching of roads the following byways were treated with bituminous material :
RC-5 AND SMALL STONE
Marcy Street, Hamilton to Hartwell; Hartwell Street Marcy to Elm; High Street, Main to South; Sayles Street, Main to South; Main Street, Everett to Oak Ridge entrance -- 8,947 gallons.
(PENETRATION) MC-1 AND SAND
Old Charlton Road; Ashland Avenue, upper end; Warren St .; Morris St., 550 ft. only ; River St., 150 ft. near Cutlery Co .; Union St .; Marsh St., Elm to Eastford; West St., 1,500 ft. only ; Crystal St .; Gulf St .- 21,579 gallons.
(SEALER) MC-3 AND SAND
Newell Avenue, Water St., Winter St., Lovely St., School St., Collier St., High St. Ext., Salyes St. Ext., Glover St., Ash- land Avenue, Dean St., Benefit St., Gulf St., Old Charlton Road, Crystal St., Lens St., Lens Court .- 10,647 gallons.
With the above applications approximately 610 yards of sand and 343 tons of small stone were used.
75
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Among the special projects worked on was the Dennison Road project (called Darling Road) with an application of MC-3, this was a 1947 appropriation and should be completed in 1949 with another application of MC-3.
Regarding 1948 appropriation-West Street project-this street was improved insofar as ordered in the annual town meeting warrant and voted by the people, calling for the wid- ening of the worst curves with adequate drainage-over and above this, in order to insure that the partly completed pro- ject stay in condition it was voted by the Board and approved by the Finance Committee to apply a treatment of MC-1 to widened parts of West Street and take the cost from the Oil for Roads Account.
Blackmoor Road was widened as voted at the special Town meeting on 26 October 1948-268 yards of gravel were used.
In order to provide good drainage for the Winter months to follow, the Highway crew cleaned all catchbasins and checked the drains for blockage. After completion of the above, sand was hauled to the barn, treated with salt and stored for future use. The Town Barn was once more reinforced with extra beams, the reason for this is that the barn contains a chute with a 21-yard capacity and when the chute is loaded to capacity it is quite a strain on the rafters and beams. The Board, at this time, would like to recommend the building of two storage bins in the yard, these bins to have a total capacity of 100 yards and to be built to State specifications.
The rolling equipment inventory for the department in- cludes :
1-1938 International 11/2 ton dump truck with snow plow.
1-1938 Ford 11/2 ton dump truck.
1-1938 Ford 11/2 ton dump truck with snow plow.
1-1941 Ford 11/2 ton dump truck with snow plow.
1-1942 Chevrolet Coupe (Supt.'s car).
1-1945 FWD 3 ton dump truck with snow plow.
1-1946 Chevrolet 11/2 ton dump truck
1-1946 International 3 ton dump truck with snow plow.
76
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
1-1946 GMC 21/2 ton dump truck with snow plow.
1-1947 International 31/2 ton dump truck with snow plow.
1-1941 Austern-Western Grader with one way plow, V- plow and wing.
1-Buffalo-Springfield 12 ton Roller
1-1948 C. H. & E. Roller, 3 to 5 ton.
1-1942 K-5 Nelson Gravel and Snow Loader.
1-1947 R-10 Nelson Snow Loader.
1 Tilt Mixer Jaeger for mixing patch.
1 Tilt Mixer Rex for mixing cement.
1 Road Hone (towed by grader).
The garage has three stalls with six truck capacity and one special stall for the A-W Grader, in which one loader and one small truck can be stored also. The remaining equip- ment has to be kept in the barn (unheated) except for the large roller, which is kept in an open shed during the Winter.
Without further explanation we feel that there is a need of including the Highway Department in the five year build- ing plan. A new garage with storage facilities for snow plows would expedite our plowing program and allow more efficient work. With a larger sand storage capacity all streets could be sanded in much less time than at present.
In concluding this report we wish to stress that the Board of Road Commissioners and the Highway Department have done their utmost during 1948 to comply with the townspeo- ple's wishes and give the best of service and hope to be able to do the same in the future.
Very truly yours,
ARTHUR H. BACHAND, Chairman LIONEL DuVAL, Clerk ANTHONI CIESLA Board of Road Commissioners
77
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Report of the Planning Board
January 24, 1949.
To the Citizens of Southbridge :
In accordance with the provisions of the general laws we herewith submit the annual report of the Southbridge Planning Board. The aim of this board has been to give every citizens the protection that is due them against the enroachment of their rights by the use of property contrary to the Zoning Laws of the Town. There is a very urgent need to bring the Zoning Laws and Zoning Map up to date as the present one does not contain all the amendments and changes voted upon by the voters since 1941. The work of the Board is considerably handicapped by this lack of new zoning areas. We have conferred with Maynard 0. Saunders the Consulting Engineer for the Planning Board of the City of Springfield for data to bring the map up to date. The state law compels us to make a master map plan as there has been no funds to do this work we are requesting a small amount to do the plan piecemeal, a section of the town at a time. A petition was received by the board from businessmen in the central business area for a study of the feasability of installing parking meters to better control the parking in the areas men- tioned. As a result of a survey we are of the opinion that meters may solve the problem, however, it is left to the voters to decide if the meters are wanted. The petition of residents of the Wor- cester Street in the vicinity of Cady Brook for the study of flood control measures has been referred to the State and we have been informed that some work has been done in connection with the construction of the new highways to Charlton, some dredging was done along the bed of the brook.
The board went along with the voters on the Goddard Street widening and recommended the taking of sixteen feet. We still feel that a new fire alarm is needed and recommend the installa- tion of new equipment to bring the system up to the standards of the fire underwriters. The board is indeed pleased to have been commended by the Registry of Motor Vehicles for its work
78
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
in traffic safety. The board held a public hearing on the Everett Street tree removal and the sentiment of the voters was upheld. The officials did not cut down these trees. A program for tree planting will be started with the cooperation of the Town Tree Warden. Bernard L. Raimondo was appointed Investigator for the board and it is surprising to find a large number of violations of the Planning and Zoning Laws, there were taken care of as they were not of a serious nature. The board has on file the Traffic Rules and Orders of the Town and any citizen may ex- amine them at any time. We held a public hearing on a peti- tion from the citizens of Worcester Street. The board does not recommend the changes.
The area on Pleasant Street and Hillcrest Avenue was changed from residential to general business. A petition for the approval of the layout of Maple Terrace was approved. The board has met with several committees concerned with provid- ing housing for Veterans. Some progress has been made. Upon receipt of final plans this board will cooperate one hunderd per cent. We have recommended the installation of steel signs on several street, namely, Edwards at Hamilton, Marsh Street, Lyons Street, Westwood Hills Area. The board recommended the construction of a sidewalk on the southerly side of Ashland Avenue. There have been several fatalities in this area recently. From the standpoint of public convenience and safety, we be- lieve the residents of private streets are entitled to snow removal services. We recommend this service be rendered on these private streets.
We recommended that land be taken by eminent domain in order to widen Cisco Street so that the members of the Romanian Parish will have a better access to their church. Several health violations were referred to the Board of Health and were reme- died.
Respectfully yours,
GEORGE S. DUQUETTE, BERNARD L. RAIMONDO, EDWARD SEREMET, MITCHELL KURPOSKA, RAOUL GAULIN,
Southbridge Planning Board.
79
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Report of Town Government Committee
Southbridge, Mass. January 24, 1949.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
We are submitting herewith the report of the Committee authorized by the Annual Town Meetings of 1947 and 1948 to study possible changes in the Town Government.
Respectfully submitted,
DANA P. BENT, Secretary.
REPORT OF THE TOWN GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
January 24, 1949.
To the Voters of the Town of Southbridge :
In accordance with a vote of the annual town meeting of 1947 this committee was appointed by the selectmen to make a study of possible changes in the town government, particularly with regard to adoption of the Town Manager or Representative Town Meeting.
As originally appointed the committee comprised Messers. Ubald Lariviere, A. J. Peloquin, I. E. Pulsifer, A. L. Simonds, and D. P. Bent. By vote of the annual meeting of 1948 Mr.
80
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
Mitchell Kurposka and Dr. Arthur Tieri were added to the original group.
Since May, 1947, we have held 21 meetings. During this time we have studied available material on the subject; the by- laws of towns operating with the town manager form; we have consulted with experts in the field; we have met with town boards and departments concerned with the raising and spend- ing of money; and we have discussed the problem as related to our own town government.
In our study the following points have been brought out:
1. There are now over 50 elective officers in our town government responsible directly to the voters.
2. The total annual disbursements of the town are approximately a million dollars exclusive of matur- ing debt. Of this total the school costs represent between 25% and 30% ; welfare approximately 20% ; and highway, sewer, park and engineering activities slightly over 20%.
3. In many departments there is a lack of sound, effi- cient business methods.
4. Due to the organizational set-up there is lack of coordination between the departments.
5. There is lack of long term planning.
6. On the other hand, we believe some departments are exceptionally well run and the Finance Committee represents a fair control over excessive and unwise expenditures.
It is the conclusion of the committee that the greatest op- portunity for improved efficiency and economy is in the group of activities comprising public works (highways, sewer, park, cemetery, engineering and construction projects). This is borne out by the fact that expenses of this group represent 20 to 25% of the total.
81
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
The establishment of a Department of Public Works would coordinate these activities and contribute to more efficient oper- ation.
The committee unanimously agrees that some change is necessary in our government, also that no system is any better than the officials who operate it.
By a vote of 4-3 the committee does not recommend adop- tion of the Town Manager Form of Government or Representa- tive Town Meeting but does recommend that the town proceed with the necessary steps to establish a Department of Public Works to include the present highway, sewer, park, cemetery and engineering departments.
ALFRED J. PELOQUIN, Chairman MITCHELL KURPOSKA UBALD LARIVIERE IRVING E. PULSIFER ALBERT L. SIMONDS ARTHUR TIERI DANA P. BENT
82
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
Report of the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library Library Department
TRUSTEES For the Edwards Bequest Wardell M. Edwards, Chairman
WV. Wesley Crawford Gertrude W. Smith John O. Martin
For the Town
Oswald J. Laliberte Dr. Nerio W. Pioppi Edward Sheehan
LIBRARY HOURS
Open 1949:
Monday-Friday - 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Saturday - 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
Closed 1949 :
January 1 May 30 July 4 September 5
November 11
November 24
December 26
New Year's Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Armistice Day Thanksgiving Day Monday following Christmas Day
83
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library :
Jacob Edwards Memorial Library ends the year 1948 with but a negligible increase in circulation (578) over last year's figures, but with the certainty that its services are receiving increased use by the people of Southbridge. It is especially evident that children and young people are using the library, its books, magazines, pictures, and reference collection, for both pleasure reading and school work. Any visitor entering the library week days during the school year from three-thirty until five and between six-thirty and eight can vouch for that without the aid of verifying statistics. An increase of 2442 in circulation of children's books, the registering of 280 new juvenile borrowers, the congested conditions at the circula- tion desk, and the crowded reading rooms filled with busy youngsters (sometimes to the dismay of adult patrons, is is feared) all emphasize the need of a larger and separate room for the use of young library users.
A story hour and reading club program inaugurated dur- ing the summer by Mary Ann Hazelton, children's librarian, and Jean Small, part time assistant, was apparently much ap- preciated by both children and parents. The group met Thurs- day mornings for six weeks with an average attendance of about thirty-five children. The forty-one youngsters enrolled read a total of 391 books. It is felt that this is a very worth- while part of library activities and it is hoped that a similar program can be carried out in the coming year.
Miss Isabel Planeta, the present children's librarian, visited the public elementary schools the week before and during Book Week with most gratifying results. The eager response of children to an invitation to see, handle, and read good books is one of the most rewarding features of any phase of library service. The possibilities for increasing and improving the library facilities for the children of Southbridge are virtually limitless if space, equipment, and personnel can be made avail- able.
84
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
The library staff suffered its usual staff changes during the year of 1948. Miss Gertrude Peloquin resigned from the staff in January and was succeeded by Mrs. David Hobson. Miss Mary Ann Hazelton left in August to be married and Miss Isabel Planeta joined the staff in September as children's librarian. The library has been fortunate in acquiring the services of local people since it has been unable to compete with other cities and towns in obtaining professionally trained per- sonnel.
Following is a table of statistics relating to libraries in town in Massachusetts, similar in size to Southbridge. These statistics have been taken from the 1948 edition of THE AM- ERICAN LIBRARY DIRECTORY, although the figures are those of 1946. The towns listed are the only ones within the population range of 14,000-19,000 in the directory (with one exception) and were not selected for any other reason. The exception is Webster which was included because of local interest although it has a slightly smaller population.
Circu-
Dedham
15,508
52,550
Income $24,490
107,539
Greenfield
15,672
51,382
23,565
149,504
Marlboro
15,154
60,773
15,048
146,664
Milford
15,338
28,777
7,700
38,230
Milton
18,708
58,223
36,223
156,771
Norwood
15,383
32,820
33,157
92,043
Saugus
14,825
28,234
12,183
85,162
Southbridge
16,825
31,170
15,185
94,431
Wakefield
16,223
74,945
30,994
166,814
Webster
13,186
28,497
14,309
60,104
Wellesley
15,127
51,830
24,477
137,451
W. Springfield
17,135
37,790
14,567
80,911
Westfield
18,793
56,413
27,948
169,190
Winchester
15,081
44,797
31,349
148,154
Winthrop
16,768
43,820
20,018
94,859
Pop.
Vol. in Lib.
lation
In 1948, 1612 people registered at the library to borrow books, 598 of whom are new borrowers, the other 1014 are former borrowers whose cards had expired. It is interesting to note that sixty-one non-residents of Southbridge paid one
85
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
dollar for the privilege of borrowing books from Jacob Edwards Memorial Library this year, twenty-eight of whom were new registrants. In the last four years, 5,241 people have borrowed books from the library.
For the benefit of those who might like to know just what kinds of books library borrowers read, the following table is shown :
1946
1947
1948
General works
79
109
130
Philisophy
539
557
605
Religion
229
385
341
Social Science
1,141
908
1,173
Language
186
110
169
Science
618
588
553
Useful arts
2,016
2,062
1,939
Fine arts and recreation
1,893
1,934
2,131
Literature
2,272
2,213
1,920
History
1,501
1,270
1,325
Travel
1,495
1,660
1,592
Biography
2,802
2,647
2,350
Current periodicals
3,264
3,119
3,331
Pamphlets
110
118
103
Total adult non-fiction
18,145
17,680
17,660
Fiction
48,437
45,969
43,900
Foreign books
402
686
799
Adult total
66,984
64,335
62,359
Children's books
and magazines
27,447
27,106
29,548
Pictures
39
77
110
Grand total
94,431
91,441
92,019
It can be seen that reading in several classes of books has increased noticeably-philosophy, social science, and fine arts, along with the reading of current periodicals. The read- ing of books in foreign languages (French, Italian, Polish, and Greek) has almost doubled in three years. Books in these language groups are borrowed from the Division of Public Libraries in Boston, and the library has added about a dozen French books to its own collection. Biography reading has
86
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
fallen off considerably, but it is still a popular type. Fiction, although it shows a decrease of over 4500 in the past three years, still represents seventy per cent of all adult reading. The decrease in number can be attributed in part to the preponder- ance of very lengthy novels as exemplified by the 1514 pages of Ben Ames Williams' HOUSE DIVIDED, 1067 pages of RE- MEMBRANCE ROCK, by Carl Sandburg, and 1060 pages of Ross Lockridge's RAINTREE COUNTY. Statistics show, too, that there were some 300 less fiction titles published in 1948 than in 1947.
It is regretted that it has become necessary to enforce more strictly the law relating to returning books and other library property to the library. A new state law makes it a legal offense to fail to return library materials, and hereafter, if a borrower does not return the book, magazine, picture, or other printed matter, after the usual three card notices and a statement of the law are sent, he will be turned over to the Town Counsel for prosecuion. It is unfortunate that a very few delinquent borrowers make this harsh step necessary, but it is pointed out that Town property is involved and must be potected. It is expected that in this busy world, people need reminders about books that they may have temporarily forgotten they borrowed, and they may not stop to- realize that other people may want these same books. During the past year, 3627 of these routine card notices for overdue books were sent and over 1000 reserve notices were either sent or telephoned.
The librarian and her staff are still impressed by the friendliness and cooperation of the people in Southbridge as a whole. It is their pleasure to serve these people to the best of their ability.
STATISTICAL RECORD
Library
Jacob Edwards Memorial Library
Date of founding
1871
Population served
17,561
Days open during the year
307
Hours open each week
63
87
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Number of volumes January 1, 1948 Number of volumes added 1,632
31,945
New 1,588) Including 358 books by gift and
Replaced 44) transfer from rental collection
Number of volumes discarded and lost 359
Number of volumes December 31, 1948
33,218
Number of registered borrowers 5,241
Number of volumes lent for home use 92,019
Largest circulation for one day (November 22)
596
Smallest circulation for one day (December 24) 139
Average circulation per day
299.74
LIBRARY STAFF
Librarian
Reference Librarian
General assistant
Children's librarian Janitor
Elaine Van Nostrand Hilda Heather Gladys Hobson Isabel Planeta Romualdo Di Bonaventura
PART TIME STAFF
Phyllis Horne Dorothy Kimball
Natalie Pulsifer Marcia Small
Helen Rowley Barbara St. Martin
Respectfully submitted,
ELAINE VAN NOSTRAND Librarian
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY DEPARTMENT THE JACOB EDWARDS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
1948 Receipts and Expenditures 1949 Budget Estimate
1948
1948 Ex-
1949
Receipts penditures Budget
ITEM
Town Appropriation
Regular a/c
$12,800.00
. .
.
Special (Equipment)
1,000.00
...
·
. . . .
Less Refund to E.&D. a/c
86.30
...
13,713.70
. . . .
. . . .
Transfer to Special Appro.
1,000.00
·
Special Appro. Reserve
. . 12,713.70
. .
. . . .
83
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
....
·
13,800.00
ITEM
Jan. 1, 1948 1948 Addition
$1,000.00 1,000.00
...
. ·
. .
·
2,000.00
.. . .
. ...
....
MYNOTT FUND Bal. Jan 1, 1948 Receipts 1948
44.83
...
. . . .
20.00
..
...
....
64.83
... .
. .. .
Disbursements
38.95
38.95
. ...
. .
Bal. Dec. 31, 1948
25.88
·
.
... .
. ...
TRUSTEE FUNDS
Bal. Jan. 1, 1948
743.17
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
Receipts
Edwards Trusts
4,767.93
. . . .
· · · ·
. .. .
Bradford Trusts
97.36
. . . .
. . . .
. . ..
Interest Spec. Res.
190.00
. . . .
... .
5,798.46
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
Operating Balance
89
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
1948
1948 Ex-
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