USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1951-1955 > Part 35
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numerous violations, there were necessary changes in our de- partment filing system which had to be made.
Due to the construction of the new South End Bridge and its approaches, a large volume of traffic is now being diverted through Agawam. This, too, means additional patroling and other police activities.
In addition, Agawam is still growing in population and increasing its business establishments. It is only natural that your Police Department must keep pace with the progress and growth of the town if Agawam is to retain its enviable repu- tation.
As Chief of the Department, I express my fullest appreci- ation to the entire force. Their abilities and their loyal per- formance to arduous duties are to be commended.
To the Selectmen, I again express my sincere thanks for their whole-hearted cooperation.
To our citizens, we will strive to merit your continued confidence in us. Guarding your property and welfare is our privileged duty, and we will expend all efforts to continue to make Agawam a good community in which to work, live and play.
Respectfully submitted,
ROLAND C. REED Chief of Police
32
Report of the Building Inspector
January 6, 1954
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit the annual report of the Building In- spector for the year ending December 31, 1953.
153 Dwellings
$1,038,609
88 Garages 54,300
79 Alterations & Additions 68,442
33 New Businesses
339,085
18 Miscellaneous
5,764
22 Demolitions
393
$1,506,200
Comparing the above information with last year's record it is interesting to note the following:
1. There were 28 fewer permits issued in 1953 than in 1952.
2. There were 31 fewer permits for dwellings than in 1952.
3. The number of new garages continues to increase, with 12 more permits issued in 1953 than in 1952.
4. The total value of permits, however, dropped only $143,181.
New business is constantly locating in Agawam and this year shows an increase of 18 permits issued over last year's figure. Several of the more prominent permits were issued to Turcotte Mfg. Co., and the National Gage & Die Inc., both at the Ramah Development off Springfield Street; Northeastern Gas Transmission Co. on Suffield Street; Stacy Machine Works Inc. added additions larger than the original plant; Tinti Food Products, Inc., on the former Caldon tract, Main Street. New business accounted for 22% of the total permit values.
A recommendation of last year has become a reality and the building code is now under revision by a committee ap-
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pointed by the Selectmen. Their report will be found elsewhere in this book.
The work of the Building Inspector continues to increase since he is also the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Many in- fractions of the Zoning By-laws have been reported and investi- gated. As recommended by Mr. Reynolds last year, a full time inspector with proper qualifications would seem to be a wisc investment for the town.
Mr. George Reynolds served as Building Inspector for the first six months of this year and I have served as his part- time associate until the time of his resignation when I was ap- pointed to fill out his unexpired term. It has been a pleasure to serve you and the co-operation of all concerned in my work has been greatly appreciated.
Respectfully submitted, NELSON E. TREVALLION Building Inspector
84
Report of the Electrical Inspector
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit this annual report as Electrical Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1953.
INSPECTIONS
Dwellings
612
Industrial and Commercial
122
Garages
88
Alterations
86
Service entrance changes
66
Oil Burners
204
Water heater conversions
39
Electric ranges
176
Electric clothes dryers
16
Total 1409
The above is a partial summary of the activities of this department. I have attended many out of state meetings of the International Electrical Inspectors' Association, including the National Convention held in Chicago, Illinois, in Septem- ber. This was at considerable expense to myself, due to the fact that out of state expenses are not included in my budget. However, it was most helpful to attend these sessions and to exchange opinions and experiences with Inspectors from all parts of the country.
Although the number of permits to build were fewer dur- ing 1953 than those issued in 1952, industrial and commercial permits were doubled. These installations are of heavier power and lighting demands, and necessitated more attention than the per average permit.
I wish to express my thanks to the Townspeople of Aga-
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wam and to all who helped to make the year 1953 one of gratification and accomplishment.
Respectfully submitted, O. WILLIAM ANDERSON Electrical Inspector
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Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures
December 31, 1953
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my annual report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1953.
DEVICES SEALED
Devices
Adj.
Not Sealed Sealed Cond.
Scales, 5,000 lbs.
1
100 to 5.000 lbs.
21
35
2
1
Scales and balances under 100 lbs.
45
81
Weights, each
143
Vehicle tanks
11
Meter inlet one inch or less, gasoline
1
39
Oil, grease
22
Yard sticks
2
One gallon or over
30
Cloth device
2
Wire rope, cordage
2
Kerosene, oil grease
5
67
373
2
1
Sealing fees, $199.75.
Trial weighings and measures of commodities sold or put up for sale.
Tested
Cor.
Under
Over
Beans
114
100
8
6
Bread
196
141
21
34
Butter
448
336
60
52
Confectionery
150
141
2
7
Dry commodities
136
67
65
4
Flour
29
27
2
0
Fruits and Vegetables
92
74
13
5
Lard
10
82
11
11
Liquid commodities
3
3
0
0
Meats and provisions
255
191
36
28
87
Potatoes
308
146
100
62
Hay
36
26
3
7
1871
1334
321
216
Summary of Inspections
Peddlers Licenses
22
Gas Pumps
22
Bread
97
Food Packages
159
Wholesale Milk Cans
127
Clinical Thermometers (oral)
55
Clinical Thermometers (rectal)
79
Peddlers Scales
7
Junk Scales
11
579
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK E. DRAGHETTI Sealer of Weights and Measures
88
Report of the Trustees For County Aid to Agriculture
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The Trustees are grateful for the support given their agents during the year by the following local citizens who have, with- out pay, assisted in carrying out various projects in farm prac- tices, home management and work with boys and girls in 4-H club work:
Miss Cynthia Allen, Mrs. Robert C. Allen, Charles Baker, Miss Elizabeth Behrens, Mrs. Fred Behrens, John Bellows, Mrs. George Blood, Mrs. Arlene A. Brown, Raymond Casella, Mrs. Frank Crichton, Mrs. Emma Cross, Ralph D'Amato, Mrs. Alice Dean, Feeding Hills Congregational Church, Ernest Free- man, Mrs. Ernest R. Hall, Gary Hinshaw, Mrs. J. R. Hyland, Mrs. R. P. Jenney, Mrs. E. A. Johnson, Shirley Lauritsen, Mrs. Stanley Lipski, Mrs. C. B. Longley, Mrs. Alfred Martel, treas- urer, Captain Leonard House.
Any appropriation made by the town to the Trustees is held by the County Treasurer and used exclusively for reim- bursing any local resident of the town for necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of the law under which the Trustees are appointed. The above local voluntary leaders expended during the year for either travel, meals or demonstra- tion supplies the sum of $131.08.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
1953 Appropriation $100.00
1952 Unexpended Balance 70.69
Total Available for 1953
170.69
Total Expenditure in 1953 131.08
1954 Balance Available 39.61
1954 Recommended Appropriation 150.00
Respectfully submitted,
Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture By: Albert H. Fuller, Clerk
89
Report of the Plumbing Inspector
January 6, 1954 To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Agawam:
During the year of 1953 your plumbing inspector made 928 inspections on new homes, alterations, sewer entrances, sep- tic tanks, heaters and safety valves. This figure is a decrease of about 33% under last year's figure and is due largely to the fewer number of large sub-division developments.
I have been informed of one or two sub-division develop- ments which are contemplated for 1954. These new homes will mean the possibility of a continued high level of plumbing installations.
My recommendation of last year that we revise our out- moded plumbing code was accepted and the new code will be ready for a presentation of acceptance at the Annual Town Meeting in March. This code will be legally advertised in full in the newspapers previous to the Town Meeting date. This new code will mean greater safety and more economy for the home owner.
As your Plumbing Inspector, I would at this time, like to express my appreciation for the co-operation shown me by all the plumbers and owners of buildings and homes. I am now working in co-operation with the Health Agent, Francis Mur- phy, and together we will work to make the Town of Agawam a clean, healthy place to live and be a credit to all.
It has been a pleasure to serve you. Your suggestions, help and advice are always welcome.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD J. DESMARAIS Plumbing Inspector
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Report of the Animal Inspector
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my animal report as Animal Inspector for the year 1953:
Barns Inspected 64
Number of Cows
481
Number of Calves 237
Number of Bulls
28
Number of Steers
34
Number of Horses
28
Number of Swine
1015
Number of Sheep
56
Number of Goats
8
Cattle shipped into town (ear tags)
49
Dog bites
62
Again, in my annual coverage of the Town, I found barns and animals in a very clean and sanitary state.
There were an increasing number of dog bite cases this year which were carefully checked and quarantined. I cau- tion all townspeople to report all cases of being bitten by a dog, although there has not been a case of Rabies in this section for several years, there has been an alarming rise of this dread disease in other States, especially New York and the southern States.
I have tried to co-operate fully with our new Health Agent, Mr. Francis Murphy, and believe that with the help of all, he can keep disease at a minimum in our Town.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD T. WILSON Animal Inspector
91'
Report of the Highway Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The following is a report of the Highway Department for the year ending December 31, 1953:
The patching of streets has been reduced considerably duc to the more extensive resurfacing and the surface drainage pro- gram. This will allow more time to be spent on shoulder work and brush control. More of this work has been done than in former years. Spraying will help control brush in the coming year.
Liquid dust layer was used on twenty of the unpaved streets.
A number of old and worn out culverts have been replaced with larger culverts which have been treated to prevent rust and corrosion.
New signs and concrete guard posts have been erected at numerous locations. We are also in the process of posting pri- vate ways and dead end streets.
More streets were resurfaced this year than formerly, with more stone cover being used. A roller would help us to enlarge on this program as they are not available at all times, and therefore we have to rely on sand cover when we would rather use stone.
The following forty-three streets were treated with either tar or asphalt during the year under the Maintenance Oiling appropriation: Alfred, Alfred Circle, Alfred Court, Annable, Anthony, Belvedere, Brookline, Central, Charles, Church, Cleveland, Cooper (part), Corey, Ellington, Elm (part), Fed- eral, Garden, High, Highland Avenue, King, King Avenue, Lealand Avenue, Letendre Avenue, Liberty, Moore (lower part), Mill (part), Mulberry, Norman Terrace, North West, Northwood, Ottawa, Perry Lane (part), Poplar, Rowley (part),
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Silver, South (part), South Park Terrace (south), Spring, Springfield (Bridge to Walnut), Tower Terrace, Valentine, Williams, and Wilson.
There were fifteen streets gravelled and surfaced under New Oiling. Two others have been gravelled and will be sur- faced in the spring. The following were surfaced: Albert (part), Barney, Dyotte, Edward (part), Gale, Hall, Ley, Lin- coln, Mooreland, Pierce, Portland, Spencer, South Park Ter- race (north), Warren, and Witheridge.
The following streets were resurfaced with asphalt and stone and rolled under the Chapter 90 Maintenance program: Ehm (part), North Westfield (1.1 miles), Shoemaker Lane (1.5 miles), Suffield (8,000 feet). Four hundred feet of road was also rebuilt on Shoemaker Lane at the old railroad crossing.
Work orders for one hundred new sewer services were is- sued in 1953 and all were completed. Blocked sewers at private homes numbered one hundred and thirty-four. A number of services were replaced to the property line. These were the old clay pipe type and root growth had made it impossible to keep the pipe clear for any length of time.
The rebuilding of Main Street caused extra work and costs which was unexpected at the time the budget was figured. Manholes and sewer mains were installed for future use so that it would not be necessary to break into the new highway. Some of these are already in use. All manholes were adjusted and new frames and covers were used on many of them. Concrete was replaced where needed and repairs made when pipes were broken in the process of construction. Forty feet of pressure pipe and forty-four feet of clay pipe was removed and reset in order to allow the rebuilding of a culvert near Federal Street.
Catch basins and manholes were constructed on numerous streets. Sewer cleaning equipment was purchased under a separate appropriation and has proved to be very satisfactory.
New streets arc being added to our rubbish routes which, of course, makes added work. Therefore, it takes more time to complete the collection in certain sections of the Town. A load packer truck would save time and give better service than the open trucks. The dump is being bulldozed by hired equip- ment.
Snow plowing was not as big a problem as in some years
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but the sand and salt program is more extensive. We are using more material and getting out earlier in order to make the highways as safe as possible.
Sidewalk Maintenance consisted of lowering concrete slabs that have heaved mostly from root growth, pouring new con- crete where the sidewalk has been badly broken, raising the grade in some of the lower places, and resurfacing some with stone dust. Some of the high joints were smoothed out with colprovia.
I believe the Machinery Fund has enough accumulation of equipment earnings to pay for the new roller we are so badly in need of. We also have a five year old truck which should be replaced.
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED B. HOWARD Highway Superintendent
94
Report of the Engineering Department
Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The report of the Engineering Department for the year 1953 shows more sewer construction having been carried out than ever before accomplished in a single year by contract work. The following sanitary sewers are listed with the total footage of each.
Lincoln Street, 900 feet; Ley Street, 600 feet; Portland Place, 550 feet; Witheridge Street, 450 feet; Dyotte and Warren Streets, 750 feet; North Westfield Street, 746 feet; Silver Street, 1148 fect; Suffield Street, 1000 feet.
Following is a list of the streets upon which storm drainage was constructed: Cooper Street, 1822 feet; Mill Street, 350 feet; Albert Street, 350 feet; Meadow Avenue, 550 feet; Alham- bra Circle, 1945 feet.
On Springfield Street, between Rowley Street and Royal Lanc, the old sidewalk which was in a deplorable condition. was replaced with a bituminous concrete walk to a grade such as to eliminate the running in of water from the highway. The highway construction of a few years previous had raised the grade such as to cause considerable drainage problems inas- much as the walk was lower than the road. This has been elimi- nated by the construction of a berm in conjunction with the sidewalk work.
Other work requiring engineering during the year was the layout and construction of the high school parking lot, and the construction and design of the Water Department meter chamber for the connecting of the Agawam Main Street line directly into the forty-eight inch Springfield Water Works sys- temn. This connection will provide for a new source of supply and will eliminate the drain on the Silver Street and Shoemaker Lane arcas. It was also necessary to make the taking plans for the high school building site, the Main Street drain case-
95
ments, and the Meadow Avenue and Alhambra Circle drain casements.
The following streets were laid out and accepted at the annual town meeting: Fairview Street, Meadow Avenue, Lea- land Avenue, Grant Street, North Alhambra Circle, South Al- hambra Circle, Ley Street, and Woodside Drive.
Considerable time was spent on office work necessary for the making and recording of the betterment assessments which are in effect for all sanitary and storm sewer construction. All betterment assessments for the construction during 1953 have been recorded and bills sent out.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT E. ALCORN Town Engineer
96
Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance
The Board and Bureau were both organized early in the ycar with the same chairman and meetings were called when necessary and all categories of relief were discussed each time.
We were able to increase our staff by the reinstatement of aworker who was formerly employed in our office.
The agent's report will cover the details of the work.
Respectfully submitted,
LEONARD P. RISING ANDREW CHRISCOLA JEREMIAH J. CAVANAUGH
97
Report of the Veterans' Agent
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my annual report as Veteran's Agent, Director of Veterans' Services and Veterans' Burial Agent.
Since the Department of Veteran's Services was established in Agawam, there has been a steady gain in the services ren- dered to our veterans and their dependents. The Department not only gives service to the veteran, but also his dependents, which includes his wife, widow, children under 18 years of age, and the veterans' mother and father.
The greater part of the demand on this department is for financial aid, the nature of which is kept confidential; medical and hospitalization costs continue to mount, although the build- ing of the Soldier's Home has brought some relief on operative and domiciliary cases.
This past year 17 veterans were admitted to the Soldier's Home out-patient care or domiciliary care. Three veterans, with service connected disability, were admitted to the Vet- cran's Administration hospital in Newington, Conn. Three veterans; six veterans' dependents were admitted to local hos- pitals. Six veterans, 1 veteran's widow and one veteran's mother died in 1953. Grave markers were furnished by the Town and placed on the veterans' graves. Burial expenses for two were paid by the Town.
Assistance was given the widows and next of kin, in getting any Federal or State benefits they might be entitled to.
It has been the policy of this department, this past year, to publicize veterans' legislation of pertinent interest to vet- crans of all wars in the local papers.
133 veterans made application for the Korean State Bonus through this office. Photostat copies of their service records were made and placed on file in this office. 144 veterans with
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a 10% or more disability, their widows, Gold Star Mothers or holders of the Purple Heart, applied and received the $2,000. Real Estate abatement.
Cases receiving monetary aid paid entirely from Town ap- propriations have not been too heavy this past year. They are duc to increase as we now have the Korean Veteran and his dependents, who are entitled to the same kind of aid as World War 1 and World War 2.
Again I wish to remind all veterans and their dependents in Town. that this department was created to assist them in solving any problems they may have. I wish to take this op- portunity to thank the Board of Selectmen, all department heads, and the veterans of all wars, for their kindness and pa- tience and cooperation in making it possible for this depart- ment to function so effectively in 1953.
Respectfully submitted, LESLIE C. MILLER Veterans' Agent
99
Report of the Agawam Library Trustees
The three librarians in the town have endeavored to serve the public as best they could.
Agawam Center has carried on in the usual manner.
North Agawam has had a large increase in circulation be- cause the library has been open Wednesday afternoons from two to five instead of from three to five. This gives the children who go by bus an opportunity to take books.
Feeding Hills Library was closed five different weeks, three times in October because of lack of heat and twice because Christmas and New Year's came on Friday, the day the library is open.
We hope each year more people will use our libraries.
Feeding Hills
Number of Books
7,896
Borrowers
672
Circulation 5,197
North Agawam
Number of Books
4,582
Borrowers
715
Circulation
10,503
Agawam Center
Number of Books
8,000
Borrowers
750
Circulation
12,845
Respectfully submitted,
CLARA J. MCVEIGH ODETTE Z. BENJAMIN EVA S. KERR
100
Report of the Parks & Playground Commissioners
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
We are very pleased to be able to report a successful year under the limitations of the budget allowed this department.
We have enclosed the report given to this commission by the Director of Recreation and feel it warrants your attention.
REPORT OF THE PLAYGROUND DIRECTOR
I would like to commend the following instructors on a job well done for the summer of 1953. Donald Hastings, Mary Pond, Elizabeth Guidi, Robert Mercadante, Arlene Egbert, Joseph Pisano, Judy Hyland, John Beltrandi, and Jeanette Barry, supervisor of Arts and Crafts.
The playground attendance in the town of Agawam has grown so rapidly in the last five years we have had a difficult time in keeping abreast of the growth.
For the summer of 1953, we had a total attendance of 8,618 for the present four playgrounds. The breakdown by playground is as follows:
Phelps, 2,645; Shea's, 1,968; Springfield Street, 2,151; Granger, 1,854; a grand total of 8,618.
This is an increase of over 35% from the year 1952. We also took 553 children to Babb's beach for swimming. This was one of the most popular events of the year for the children.
We continued our Riverside outing trip, with the gracious help of the management at Riverside; who gave the children 4,000 free rides. The Playground Commissioners purchased a meal ticket worth 30c for each child attending. We had 407 children at this event, not including many mothers who attended with their younger children.
We continued our program of Arts and Crafts under the able direction of Miss Barry. Miss Barry went to each play- ground twice a week for a half day. Here the children paid
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a small charge for the materials they used. Many of the arti- cles that the children made were exhibted at the Lions Fair.
We had checker tournaments and various other games at all playgrounds. We tried a softball league for the first time this year. Although running into transportation difficulties, we managed to play two rounds with the Phelps and Spring- field Street playgrounds ending in a tie.
There is a definite need for a larger appropriation for the next season. The playground attendance has increased so rap- idly with the growth of the town that the present budget does not cover our increased expenditures. This year we received a total appropriation of $3,980, of which $250 was for main- tenance of Veterans Memorial Park, and $400 which goes to the winter program. This left us with a sum of $3,350 to pay salaries, buses, and purchase equipment for the summer. When one takes into consideration that four years ago around 3,000 children attended the summer program and now we have over 8,000, we can easily see why we need more funds. I would also estimate that an increase of 10 to 15% can be expected for next year.
We would have liked to have taken various field trips, such as Westover Field, Spalding Plant, Museum of Fine Arts, and many other places which are educational as well as enjoy- able to the children; but we lacked the funds for such a trip.
A thought for the commissioners to think about for the future is that consideration should be given to the North Aga- wam and Suffield St. sections. At present, North Agawam children have to go to Shea's Field for their activities. The ever growing Suffield St. section has to go to Agawam Center to enjoy any facilities. North Agawam is thickly populated while Suffield Street is growing rapidly.
Taking all facts into consideration we think the children had an enjoyable summer and received maximum enjoyment for each dollar appropriated.
FRANCIS J. ROSSO, Director
Note the reference to the increased attendance and the reasons for same.
Note the omissions of popular trips that are not too ex- pensive and yet, worthwhile.
Again, the reference to the North Agawam area and Reed
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Street areas, between lower Suffield Street and Main Street in regard to lack of playground facilities.
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