USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1908-1909 > Part 8
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Hose 3 has answered 24 Bell Alarms, 18 Still Alarms, also were sent to Chelsea, April 12, in answer to call for help, on duty there 12 hours, used 700 ft. of Hose (Hose 2 covered in while Hose 3 were away), traveled 6912 miles, on duty 40 5-6 hours, laid 7150 ft. of Hose, used 41 Hand Chemicals. Ladder Company has answered 31 Bell Alarms, I Still Alarm, trav- eled 691/2 miles, on duty 26 hours, used II Hand Chemicals, used 340 ft. of Ladder, used 100 ft. of lin. Hose.
The alarms were as follows :
Jan. 14. Box 71, 6.03 A. M. Sylvia Street. Wooden dwelling owned by H. Glugeth. Value of building, $3,250. Insurance on building, $2,200. Value of contents, $600. Insurance on contents, $500. No loss.
Jan. 19. Still alarm, 6.15 P. M. Menotomy Rocks Park. No damage.
Grass fire.
Jan. 19. Still alarm, 12.26 P. M. Menotomy Rocks Park. Grass fire. No damage.
Jan. 20. Box 4, 11.27 A. M. On vacant lot near 56 Gray Street. No damage.
Jan. 22. Still alarm, 11.20 A. M. Harvard Street, land of T. E. Blan- chard. Grass fire. No damage.
Jan. 22. Still alarm, 4.40 P. M. Summer Street Extension, land of H. P.McManus. Brush. No damage.
Jan. 2 Still alarm, 9.48 P. M. Medford, land of W. H. Jones. Grass and fence. No damage.
Jan. 26. Box 36, 12.15 A. M. Post Office Building, owned by estate of Warren Sherburn. Fire in rooms of I. Candib. Value of building, $24,000. Insurance on building, $20,000. Loss on building, $290. Value of contents, $28,210. Insurance on contents, $20,800. Loss on contents, $750.
Jan. 31. Box 61, 5.15 P. M. 49 Claremont Avenue. Wooden dwelling owned by Jas. L. Dow. Value of building, $2,200. In- surance on building, $2,000. Value of contents, $600. No damage.
Feb. 5. Box 54, 7.23 A. M. 1 Park Avenue. Wooden dwelling owned by estate of John Brady. Value of building, $3,000. In- surance on building, $3,000. Loss on building, $35.
Mar. 11. Box 21, 9.39 A. M. 88 Decater Street. Wooden dwelling owned by John W. Dacey. Value of building, $550. In- surance on building, $600. Loss on building, $197. Value of contents, $800. Insurance on contents, $300. No loss.
Mar. 16. Box 39, 1.12 P. M. 751 Massachusetts Avenue, on property owned by Mrs. H. Y. Hill. Ash barrel outside of house. No loss.
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CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPT.
Mar. 17. Box 25, 12.11 A. M. Near Franklin Street. Wooden store- house owned by W. W. Rawson. Value of building, $800. Insurance on building, $500. Loss on building, $200. Value of contents, $500. Insurance on contents, $500. Loss on contents, $240.
Mar. 21. Box 56, 12.07 P. M. 123 Claremont Avenue. Wooden barn owned by E. H. Bartol. Value of building, $200. Insur- ance on building, $200. Loss on building, $200. Value of contents, No insurance on contents; total loss.
Mar. 24. Box 32, 1.34 P. M. 232 Pleasant Street. Wooden dwelling owned by J. S. Pray. Value of building, $4,500. Insur- ance on building, $3,500. Insurance paid, $210. Value of contents, $1,500. No insurance. Loss on contents, $100.
Mar. 30. Still alarm, 7.04 P. M. Washington Avenue. Grass fire. No damage.
Apr. 1. Still alarm, 3.15 P. M. In wood off Sumner Street. Owned by Symes Hospital. No damage.
Apr. 1. Still alarm, 9.37 P. M.
Off Robbin Road. No damage. Grass fire.
Apr. 7. Still alarm, 8.10 A. M. Off Robbins Road. Grass fire. No damage.
Apr. 7. Still alarm, 1.15 P. M. Rubbish pile near Parmenter School. No damage.
Apr. 10. Still alarm, 8.20 A. M. Grass fire on land of Lucy A. Whitney on Park Avenue. No damage.
Apr. 10. Box 71, 4.19 P. M. 1520 Massachusetts Avenue. Wooden dwelling owned by Julia A. Leahy. Value of building, $1,200. Insurance on building, $1,000. Loss on building, $25. Value of contents, $500. Insurance on, $500. Loss on contents, $77.
Apr. 12. 5.25 P. M., 10 blows. Out of town call for help. Hose 3 sent to Chelsea. On duty 12 hours.
Apr. 13. Box 35, 8.43 P. M. 13 Addison Street. Wooden dwelling owned by H. S. Adams. Needless. No fire.
Apr. 15. Still alarm. Brush fire. No damage.
Apr. 24. Still alarm, 2.25 A. M. Off Chestnut Street, on town dump. Rubbish. No damage.
May 4. Box 27, 10.33 A. M. Wooden shed on Mystic Street owned by Arlington Gas Light Co. Fire on roof. No damage. May 15. Box 35, 1.55 P. M. Arlington Boat Club House on shore of Spy Pond. Value of building, $7,000. Insurance on build- ing, $6,000. Loss on building, $25. Value of contents, $4,000. Insurance on contents, $3,000. Loss on contents, $10.
May 19. Box 14, 1.48 P. M. 72 Henderson Street. Wooden dwelling owned by Patrick Cashman. Value of building, $1,000. Insurance on building, $1,000. Loss on building, $560. Value of contents, $500. No insurance. Loss on coll- tents, $150.
June 7. Still alarm, 3.25 P. M. Old lumber near ice houses, Lin- wood Street. No damage.
June 12. Box 13, 5.21 P. M. Cottage Avenue. Wooden dwelling owned by Geo. D. Lexson. Valne of building, $1,500. In- surance on building, $1,200. Loss on building, $25. Value of contents, $800. Loss on contents, $25.
June 11. Still alarm, 3.30 P. M. Lowell Street, corner Bow. Wooden barn owned by estate of John Brady. No damage.
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CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPT.
June 13. Still alarm, 3.30 P. M. 1351 Massachusetts Avenue. Wooden store owned by J. E. Duncan. Value of building, $3,500. Insurance on building, $2,600. Loss on building, $35. Value of contents, $2,500. Insurance on contents, $2,500. Loss on contents, $17.
June 20. Still alarm, 5.30 P. M. Linwood Street. Grass fire. No damage.
June 21. Box 47, 10.40 A. M. 23 Forest Street. Wooden dwelling owned by Mrs. Bruce Young. Value of building, $3,500. Iisurance on building, $2,500. Loss on building, $40. Value of contents, $700. No insurance. No loss on con- tents.
June 23. Box 27, 9.10 A. M. Wooden drug mill owned by Gould & Bros. Value of building, $8,000. Insurance on building, $5,000. Loss on building, $600. Value of contents, $5,000. Insurance on contents, $5,000. Loss on contents, $1,219. June 25. Still alarm, 4.12 P. M. Medford Street. Grass fire. No damage.
July 3. Box 27, 1.02 P. M. Corner Russen and Mystic Streets. Grass fire. No damage.
July 3. Still alarm, 10.13. Corner Tufts and Massachusetts Ave- nue. Rubbish. No damage.
July 3. Still alarm, S.30 P. M. Dump at Schouler Court. No dam- age.
July Box 46, 1.34 A. M. Corner Brattle and Summer Streets. Wood shed owned by Mrs. A. Sullivan. Value of build- ing, $50. Insurance on building, $50. Loss on building, $25.
4.
July 4. Box 50, 5.24 P. M. 160 Westminster Avenue. Wooden dwell- ing owned by Mrs. A. Swadkins. Value of building, $1,600. Insurance on building, $1,600. Loss on building $125. Value of contents, $1,000. Insurance on contents, $1,000. Loss on contents, $40.
July 8. Still alarm, 5.03 P. M. Lake Street. Hay stack owned by J. J. Lyons. Small damage.
July 11. Still alarm, 10.33 A. M. Draper Avenue. Grass fire. No damage.
July 16. Box 14, 2.35 A. M. J. P. Squire estate, Massachusetts Ave- nue. Grass fire. No damage.
Aug. 4. Still alarm, 8.15 P. M. Lowell Street, on land owned by A. Bain. Rubbish. No damage.
Sept. 16. Box 52, 10.37. False alarm.
Oct. 3. Still alarm, 4.20 P. M. 1025 Massachusetts Avenue. Chim- ney fire. Dwelling house owned by Miss Woods. No damage.
Oct. 17. Box 46, 10.51 A. M. Off Brattle Lane. Wooden barn owned by Geo. H. Hill. No damage.
Oct. 19. Still alarm, 6.05 P. M. Mill Street. Rubbish on dump of H. L. Frost Co. No damage.
Oct. 21. Still alarm, 3.00 Park Avenue. Grass fire.
Oct. 24. Box 23, 9.17 P. M. Broadway. Hay stack owned by M. E. Moore. Loss on hay, $20.
Oct. 27. Still alarm, 5.25 P. M. On estate of Mrs. Peck, off Lom- bard Road. Henhouse. Small damage.
Oct. 31. Box 43, 1.57 P. M. Summer Street Extension. Grass fire. No damage.
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CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPT.
Nov. 2. Still alarm, 7.12 P. M. Medford Street. Grass fire on land f W. H. Jones. No damage.
Nov. 7. Still alarm, 10.10. Forest Street. Brush fire. No damage.
Nov. 7. Still alarm, 12.16 P. M. Oak Street. Brush fire. No damage.
Nov. 7. Still alarm, 6.50 P. M. Boston & Maine R.R., near the Cen- tre. Railroad ties. No damage.
Nov. 17. Box 36, 7.48 A. M. Wooden dwelling. Swan Place. Owned by Mrs. N. H. Knickerbocker. Value of building, $4,000. Insurance on building, $4,000. No loss. Value of con- tents, $600. Insured, $500. Loss on contents, $6.
Nov. 21. Still alarm, 10.25 P. M. 59 Winter Street. Wood dwelling owned by Thos. Coughlin. Needless.
Nov. 23. Box 25, 12.43 A. M. Wooden boilerhouse on estate of W. W. Rawson, off Franklin Street. Value of building, $2,000. Insurance on building, $1,200. Loss on building, $350.
Nov. 28. Still alarm, 12.14 P. M. Medford Street, in rear of St. Agnes' School. Grass fire. No damage.
Nov. 28. Box 47, 2.37 P. M. False alarm.
Dec. Still alarm, 9.45 P. M. Bartlett Avenue, on land of Hill estate. Brush fire. No damage.
Dec.
1.
Still alarm, 7.20 P. M. Summer Street Extension.
Brush
fire No ยท damage.
Dec. 3. Still alarm, 7.30 P. M. Bow Street Grass fire. No damage.
Dec. 4. Still alarm, 10.00 A. M. Massachusetts Avenue, on land of Mrs. G. H. Sprague. Grass fire. No damage.
Dec.
Dec. 11.
9. Still alarm, 5.53 P. M. Pond Lane. Grass fire. No damage. Box 23, 5.07 P. M. 106 Broadway. Wooden dwelling owned by estate J. P. Squire. Value of building, $5,000. Insur- ance on building, $4,500. Loss on building, $50. Value of contents, $2,500. No insurance. Loss, $10.
Dec. 11. Still alarm, 3.40 P. M. Fire in chimney of house owned by W. B. Douglass. No damage.
Dec. 18. Box 39, 5.21 P. M. 24 Central Street. Wooden dwelling
.
owned by F. S. Breen. Value of building, $2,200. Insur- ance on building, $2,000. No loss. Value of contents, $1,200. Insurance on contents, $1,000. No damage.
Dec. 28. Still alarm, 8.20 P. M. 28 Draper Avenue. Wooden dwell- ing. Burning lamp. No damage.
Value of buildings endangered. $79,550 00
Insurance on buildings endangered 65,450 00
Loss on buildings endangered. 2,992 00 Value of contents .. 53,110 00
Insurance on contents. 36,800 00 Loss on contents. 2,844 00
RECOMMENDATIONS. I recommend the appropriation of $11,627.00 for the maintenance of the Fire Department for the ensuing year. This sum is necessary in order to maintain the department on its present basis and keep it there.
I recommend the extension of the high water service on Massachusetts avenue, below the present ending. There are quite a number of buildings in this section which, if a fire ever starts, we will need high pressure. I believe it is cheaper for the town to lay pipe and have plenty of hydrants than to buy
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CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPT.
a steamer, and by having hydrants well located it also saves in use of hose.
I recommend that some action be taken toward a new build- ing at the Heights. The present building is all out of repair and I do not believe it good policy to spend any amount on present structure. There are a few repairs which must be attended to, regardless.
There has been, of late, a movement started to form a Metro- politan Fire District, which will include Arlington. Nothing definite has been suggested yet. This movement is for the better fire protection in case of a conflagration, and means that a large fire-fighting force can be centered at the desired place in short space of time. It may mean the outlay of a sum of money in the near future, for a fire alarm system connecting the several cities and towns into one large fire district. All that we can do at present is to await developments. I think that it is a move in the right direction and will mean better fire protection in the near future.
CONCLUSION. In closing my report, I respectfully thank your honorable board for the courteous manner in which they have always received me in my official capacity. I also wish to thank all other officials of the town, who have so will- ingly given their services when called upon. To my assistant, and members of the department, my thanks for the able man- ner in which they answered all demands made upon them, making the work of the Chief a task of pleasure and great benefit to the town.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER H. PEIRCE, Chief.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
ARLINGTON, Mass., December 31, 1908.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass : -
I herewith submit report of the inspection of buildings for the year 1908. Eighty-four permits were issued covering work classified as follows -
Dwellings, one family
29
Estimated Cost $104,700
two families
13
60,000
three families
7
35,000
Additions and alterations
11
10,525
Stables and sheds
17
12,250
Storage Warehouse.
1
8,500
Temporary .
5
1,550
83
$232,525
One permit transferred on building moved to new location.
The increase in valuation of the Town is indicated, in part, by a comparison of estimated costs of new buildings, additions and alterations for the past five years.
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
$112,500
$212,550
$279,075
$181,000
$232,525
Total for the period, $1,017,650.
The Revision of the Building Laws in the near future will, I trust, bring about a better understanding of the Regulations both by the builders and the Inspection Department.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT W. POND,
Inspector of Buildings.
.
REPORT OF TOWN PHYSICIAN.
ARLINGTON, MASS., December 31, 1908.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : -
GENTLEMEN-I herewith respectfully submit report as Town Physician for the year 1908.
Number of office calls. 42
Number of visits made. 30
Emergency calls at police station . 16
Fortunately, but minor troubles have claimed my attention. Only four serious cases stand out among the others, pneumonia, fracture at the elbow, advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, diphtheria (sent to Somerville Contagious Hospital), also two children were operated for adenoids and enlarged tonsils.
Among the emergency cases treated at the police station there was one death from fracture of the skull. A similar case was re- ferred to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Two gun shot wounds were transferred to hospital for operation.
Respectfully submitted,
G. E. SANGER,
Town Physician.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK.
To the Board of Selectmen : -
GENTLEMEN-I submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1908. I have issued fifty registration certificates and twenty-two licenses for selling milk and cream. I have col- lected this year thirty-six dollars and paid the same to the collector.
I have collected this year seventy-five samples of milk and cream and tested the same and found them up to the state standard.
I have had three complaints reported to me on quality of milk and after testing the same found them of good quality and up to standard. The milk dealers of Arlington are trying to give the Town a good quality of milk.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK P. WINN,
Inspector of Milk.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : -
GENTLEMEN-I have the honor to submit to you the following report for the year ending December 31, 1908.
The sealer of weights and measures has visited all the places of business in the town and sealed all scales and measures and the work is steadily increasing.
The laws that have been passed during the past year places more work and responsibility on the sealer. In the month of November, he must make a report to the state sealer. He is obliged to visit all stores and make a weighing test ; also to inspect all milk teams to see that the bottles are sealed ; also weigh some of the coal trans- ported through the town and keep a record of the same. The fol- lowing work has been done during the past year.
Number of weights and measures sealed :
Platform scales that will weigh over 5,000 lbs 9
66 66 66 under 5,000 lbs. 34
Computing scales
15
Slot weighing scales
3
All other scales
201
Weights
508
Dry measures
197
Liquid measures other than milk jars
103
Milk jars . 11,880
Linear measures. 6
Cloth and other measuring machines 21
Number of test weighing of coal in transit 17 Number of test weighing in stores. 31
Number of inspections of milk jars in use on milk teams. . . 21
Number of inspections of scales and measures used by junk collectors, hawkers and peddlers 34
99
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Number of scales condemned weighing under 5,000 lbs. 7
Number of computing scales condemned. 4
Number of all other scales condemned
16
Number of weights condemned .
21
Number of dry measures condemned.
23
Number of liquid measures condemned
8
Number of milk jars condemned
331
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. DONAHUE, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
December 31, 1908.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Arlington : -
GENTLEMEN-I have the honor to submit my annual report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1908.
There have been only two cases of glanders in horses and three cases of rabies in dogs.
Inimaking the regular fall inspection, I have inspected one hun- dred and fifty one cows, five hundred and seventy-nine hogs, two goats and sixty-two stables in which these animals were stabled. In all cases the proper papers were given to the owners.
Respectfully submitted,
LAURENCE L. PEIRCE, M. D. V.
Inspector of Animals.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ARLINGTON, Dec. 31, 1908.
To the Town of Arlington :-
:
Provided that the schools of a town are running in good order perhaps one of the best tests of the stability and effectiveness of its educational system is a study of the changes in its teaching force during a fixed period. The changes in our schools during the past year were as follows: High School: Arthur Delano, Fannie Myerson, Clara M. Trask, Ruth Tenney and Mary A. Weaver took the places respectively of Alfred L. Morgan, Myrtle C. Dickson, Angelina S. Weeks, Mabel E. Bowker and Ella Somerby.
Ninth Grade: Jennie B. Allyn took the place of Isabella H. Howe.
Russell School: Gertrude A. Woolner took the place of Mac Blackmar.
Cutter School : Charlotte Haliburton in the place of Josephine Davidson.
Crosby School : Ina J. Pearson in the place of Esther G. Hatch.
Locke School : Alice M. Connor, Lillian M. Tinkham and Bes- sie M. Hartshorn were engaged to take the places respectively of Lura P. Fitch, Philena A. Parker, and Mabel Darrah.
Special teacher in drawing, Fannie E. Fish, now has the posi- tion formerly held by Evelyn F. Cross.
From an examination of the above it will be seen that the num- ber of changes among the grade teachers was normal and we are able to say that in nearly every case the change was caused by a final withdrawal from teaching. However, that in the High School was unusually large, and caused because other towns and cities were willing to pay more than we could afford. Because other resignations were about to be handed in by reason of such outbidding, it was found necessary to raise the maximum yearly salary to nine hundred dollars in order to retain some of the re-
101
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
maining teachers. It is pleasing to state that in spite of the resignations of these most excellent instructors that the school work has gone on smoothly and well.
William Finlay, who has acted as Janitor of the High School so faithfully for so many years, resigned his position in October. Richard Robbins, who has been appointed in his place, is, how- ever, doing the work most acceptably.
In the spring the schoolhouse fire disaster of the Middle West stirred up the parents of Arlington pupils equally with those of other towns and cities. In order to comply with the expressed feelings of the townspeople as to the safety of our school build- ings in the event of a fire, the State Board having this matter in charge was asked in to inspect all of our school property. The inspector of the above Board reported that in the main our build- ings complied with the laws. He demanded some minor changes in regard to double bolts on a few outside doors, the painting of exit signs, etc. The only extensive protective measures asked for were the putting in of systems of fire gongs with pull attachments, instead of electric wiring, in all the buildings, and in the Russell School the placing of ground glass partitions with central swing- ing doors through the centers of the three hallways and the placing of glass panels in all the recitation room doors. After the opening of the schools in the fall, our Secretary was able to re- port that these demands had been fully attended to.
In passing, note might well be made of the strong sentiment against the Russell School Building among the parents who send their children there. It is not, of course, a modern building and has recitation rooms on three floors, but it will compare very fav- orably with many of the school buildings in nearby towns and cities, and it has recently been renovated and repaired at a con- siderable expense. Your Superintendent of Schools has both his own children attending there at the present time, and says that he has no fears whatever for their safety.
At the new Parmenter School a dry rot started in the partitions in the basement, which condition demanded attention during the summer vacation. Dampness and a lack of circulation of air are the causes of such rotting. The former was looked after by con- creting outside the foundations and studying the action of the dry wells, and the latter by tearing down partitions. It is too early to state just how effective this work has been, and it may be necessary to under drain the whole building, as it seems the land on which the building was erected is of a springy nature.
Under a most excellent committee's charge the addition to the Locke School is now well under way, and will be ready for oc- cupancy at the opening of the schools the coming September. The
102
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
building contains four recitation rooms each on the first and sec- ond floors, and there is a very good sized hall on the third floor. The heating plant is placed separately between the old and the new parts.
The new course of study along commercial lines added to the High School courses some four years ago, and the natural growth of the town have at last filled that building to over-flowing. At the last Fall town meeting a committee was named to consider the housing of the ninth grade and to return its findings at the March meeting of 1909. It is well that this committee is a strong one, because the problem that they have to solve for the town is an extremely difficult one. When they bring in their report to the town it should be studied most carefully, for it will proba- bly cover needs for the future as well as for the immediate pres- ent.
The new course of study for the grades spoken of in our last report was put into operation September last, and it seems that our Superintendent and grade teachers have done their work most admirably.
The Superintendent is now working out a new course for the High School, which will broaden the electives most fully, and we hope will remove from parents' minds the impression that the classical course of study is being looked after more carefully than the others.
The sub-committee having in charge the course of the Pratt Fund free lectures at Cotting Hall has secured some excellent lecturers during this year, and the parents are especially invited to attend these not only to hear the lectures but also to meet the teachers, as it is well known that there is not as strong a bond be- tween parents and teachers in the High School as there is in the grades. A school can do its best only when there is intelligent and cordial co-operation between teacher, parent and pupil.
The merchants of the town will please take notice that a new order system for supplies has been established by the Secretary of the Board and they should supply nothing to the schools, unless it be in the case of an emergency, without a written order there- for.
Mr. Herbert W. Rawson, because of increased business re- sponsibilities was compelled to resign his position on the Board in the early fall. As yet no one has been found to take his place. This failure to procure a new member is not the fault of the mem- bers having the selection in charge. The several men who have been approached on the subject have not been willing to enter upon the work. In addition to this vacancy, other new members must be chosen for another year because of the retiring of present
103
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
members. The committee does not like to make the selections, because then the charge is rightfully brought that they are at- tempting to be a self-perpetuating body, but if they do not act, the selecting may go by default. There must be more attention paid to the choosing of new members for this body and that at- tention must be given by the whole town.
This present committee stands in the same position in regard to the desirability of establishing small primary school buildings throughout the town as former committees have stood, but it has found that the cost of such is too great per pupil, and the town is not wealthy enough to stand such a burden.
Arlington is facing a most serious school problem at the present time because of the overcrowding of the neighboring cities of Somerville and Cambridge. Apartment houses are being built here and will continue to be built here more than any other style of dwelling, and this will cause the school population to increase far in excess of the taxable property added. There is no doubt that the Crosby School will soon be overcrowded. Further than this the problem of industrial education will soon play a large part in the American educational world, and all new buildings must be built with rooms for those additional courses in view. It has seemed wise at this time to point out some of these larger ques- tions in order that the people may not be taken too much by sur- prise when they are presented to them for immediate action.
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