USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1924 > Part 14
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APRIL 19, 1925, CELEBRATION
April 19, 1925, being the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, the Board, in accordance with the vote of the Town Meeting and co-operating with the officials of the various towns along the route of Paul Revere, appointed a Committee to look into the question of an adequate celebration. On this Committee the Board tried to get representatives from all patriotic and civic organizations of the town.
211
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
The Board takes this occasion to make acknowledg- ment of the generous gift made by Mrs. Clara S. Peirce and Mr. Peter Schwamb to the town of Arlington, of the large parcel of land adjoining the Cutter School, to be used as a playground.
This gift is made in memory of their father, the late Theodore Schwamb, who was one of the leading manufacturers of the town, and a public spirited citizen.
For details of the various Departments, the citizens are referred to the several Department reports.
NELSON B. CROSBY, Chairman, CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX, FREDERICK W. HILL.
REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Arlington, Massachusetts.
The Licensing Commission hereby respectfully sub- mits its first annual report.
The new regulations of the State Fire Marshal put in operation in 1923 requiring hearings on all applica- tions for garage licenses before the Board of Selectmen demanded so much of the Board's time as to seriously interfere with the proper consideration of other more vital matters.
In order to be relieved of this burden the Board of Selectmen appealed to the Fire Marshal for relief, and by his authority and with his approval appointed a Special Licensing Commission consisting of the Chief of the Fire Department, Chief of Police and Inspector of Buildings to hear and act on all applications for licenses for one and two-car garages.
The Commission held its first meeting Friday, May 2, 1924 in the Selectmen's Room at 8 P. M., and organized with Daniel B. Tierney, Chairman, and John A. Easton, Clerk.
The first and third Fridays of each month were desig- nated as the dates for hearings. Twenty-five hearings were given at the first session of the Commission.
The Commission has held eighteen sessions, and has given two hundred forty-seven hearings.
After the passing of the Zoning By-Law the restric- tions therein prevented this Commission from granting licenses to at least 75% of the applicants.
212
213
REPORT OF LICENSING COMMISSION
This condition was so manifestly unfair and im- posed a hardship not intended by the framers of the Zoning By-Law that the Selectmen, in order to relieve the situation, inserted an article in the warrant for the special town meeting held in October to amend the Zoning By-Law by removing the restrictions imposed and substituting the regulations of the Fire Marshal.
Operating under the amended By-Law, it is now possible to grant licenses to virtually all applicants.
Respectfully submitted, DANIEL B. TIERNEY, THOMAS O. D. URQUHART, WILLIAM GRATTO, Licensing Commission, Town of Arlington.
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT - 1924
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
January 1, 1925.
Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
I have the honor to submit my second annual report as Chief of the Fire Department, for the year ending December 31, 1924.
The Department consists now of fifteen permanent men, three of whom were appointed in May and twenty- three call men.
With the death of ex-Captain Daniel J. Sullivan on September 29th, the town lost its oldest and one of its most efficient firemen. He had served from 1877 to 1922, at which time he was pensioned but his active in- terest and assistance to the department only ceased with his death.
Combination D (reserve since 1917) was put into regular service at the Highland Station last May, re- sponding to all alarms north of Jason and Mill streets. Each section of the town is now protected by two pieces of apparatus that do not respond outside of their district unless summoned by a second alarm or special call. In addition to the better protection furnished by this ar- rangement whereby the pieces respond together, the mileage of all apparatus except the ladder truck has been materially reduced by eliminating the long runs. The ladder truck, of course, must answer all bell alarms.
The Department responded to 77 bell alarms, 160 still alarms, 13 Mutual Aid calls, a total of 250 for the year.
214
215
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
1923
1924
Response of Apparatus
Response of Apparatus
Comb. A 109 calls ' Comb. A
58 calls
Comb. D
12 calls
Comb. D 39 calls
Comb. E
74 calls Comb. E
132 calls
Eng. 1
123 calls
Eng. 1 83 calls
Lad. 1 93 calls
Lad. 1 88 calls
Under date of July 1, 1924, the name of Combination B was changed to Engine 1.
VALUE OF PROPERTY ENDANGERED
Value, Buildings Value, Contents
$449,880 00
77,600 00
Total
$527,480 00
Insurance on Buildings
$478,930 00
Insurance on Contents
68,800 00
Total
$547,730 00
Insurance pd. Buildings
$107,395 27
Insurance pd. Contents
40,351 46
Total
$147,746 73
APPROPRIATION
$41,754 50
Appropriation Expended
41,432 98
Unexpended balance
$321 52
RECEIPTS
Receipts
$126 00
See Auditor's report for details.
SERIOUS FIRES
March 20th, the Masonic Block was badly damaged by fire which started in the cellar from the heater, caus- ing a loss to the buildings and contents of $21,668.55.
216
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
October 24, 5.55 A. M., box 39 was sounded for a fire in the Baptist Church. A passing motorist dis- covered and reported it to the men at the Highland Sta- tion, and when the alarm was turned in the building was completely involved. At 5.59 A. M., four minutes later, a General Alarm was given, calling Somerville, Medford, and Belmont. This Mutual Aid group rendered valuable assistance, and although fifteen water lines were in ac- tion, five from pumping engines, it was 12.07 P. M. before the recall was sounded. Cause of fire unknown.
Insurance paid on building $60,974.37
Insurance paid on organ 16,000.00
Insurance paid on contents 3,278.94
Total
$80,253.31
December 14th, fire gutted the interior of the resid- ence of Arthur Birch, 74 Wollaston avenue, from overheated furnace while the family was out. Loss on the building, $8,000.00; on contents, $3,500.00; total $11,500.00.
FIRE PREVENTION
During this year all mercantile buildings were given closer inspection. Once in every two weeks, firemen ex- amined each store, office, etc., to prevent accumulation of inflammable waste material, and to discover other fire hazards. As a result only one store fire occurred, and that same store had given us the only serious fire last year. In 1924, 9,152 inspections were made as compared with 4,180 in 1923.
Being thoroughly convinced that the best time to put out a fire is to attack it BEFORE it starts in the place WHERE it starts, our Fire Prevention Week pro- gram was a visit to every one of the 3,918 dwellings of the town. Almost every cellar was inspected and advice given concerning the accumulation of papers and rub- bish, ashes in wooden containers or against wooden par-
217
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
titions, defective chimneys and smoke pipes, and the laying of electric wires across iron pipes or the fasten- ing of them in place by nails or iron staples.
In practically every inspection throughout the year, whether business or residential, the men have received the greatest courtesy and most splendid co-operation. All dwellings will be inspected annually. Total inspec- tions for the year-13,070.
I earnestly recommend that the practice of collect- ing rubbish only once a month during the summer sea- son be discontinued. 206 permits were issued to burn rubbish out doors. These permits may be obtained at either station at any time.
From the first of February, 772 automatic gas shut- offs have been installed on all new gas meters or replace- ments. When fire occurs near the meter, this device automatically shuts off the flow of gas through the main before the heat becomes intense enough to destroy the meter, thereby preventing the spread of fire, and adding much to the safety of the occupants and the building. Although the installation is not compulsory under our building code, Mr. Woodhead of the Arlington Gas Light Company, knowing their great value in case of fire, has ordered that one of these automatic gas shut-offs be at- tached to each new meter.
All school buildings were inspected and 74 ex- tinguishers recharged.
Recommendations relative to sprinklering the base- ments of the schools were made to the Selectmen, who for- warded them to the School Committee for consideration.
A drafting platform was constructed on the shore of Spy Pond at the end of Linwood street, large enough to place two pumping engines in case of fire in the ice houses or any of the buildings bordering on the railroad. The front wall of this platform is under four feet of water and was constructed by the firemen at a cost of $16.79, the price of the cement.
218
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Tunnels have been placed under the tracks for the hose in order that the train service would not be inter- rupted. The approach to the platform was built by the Highway Department.
RECOMMENDATIONS
As a measure of added protection, I recommend that the high pressure water service be extended to the great- est limit possible this year. Particularly, that this serv- ice be continued from the dead end at Russell Park oppo- site No. 20 Mystic street, in a loop around Chestnut street to the dead end at the Russell School on Medford street. The section bounded by Massachusetts avenue, Mystic, Chestnut and Medford streets is a high value district and should have adequate water protection.
Also that a main be laid from Highland avenue through Grove street to increase the pressure at the Symmes Hospital. This arrangement would give a direct flow from the standpipe without reduction. At present the pressure is reduced on Massachusetts avenue oppo- site Brattle street. The only hydrant at the hospital has a pressure of approximately thirty (30) pounds, not enough to supply a pumping engine or to furnish suffi- cient water for sprinklers in the basement, a protection absolutely necessary to safeguard the lives and property. If a serious fire occurred there, the fire department would be practically powerless with the present water supply.
That as soon as possible thereafter, a main be laid from the junction of Mystic and Chestnut streets to con- nect with the high pressure service line on Summer street.
The entire section east of Soldiers Monument, in- cluding Pleasant and Medford streets, is the low pressure area, ranging from forty (40) pounds to a maximum of sixty (60) pounds. This part of the town, particularly what is known as East Arlington, is entirely covered
219
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
with two-apartment houses and contains one sixteen- room school building and the erection of another is under consideration, also valuable mercantile property. I recommend that the high pressure service be extended to this district at the earliest possible time.
Hydrants should be installed on the low service main between the Police Station and Brattle street. Between these two points there are no hydrants at present on this service. On the intermediate service main between Brattle street and Forest street, four (4) hydrants should be installed. In case of fire on the northerly side of Mas- sachusetts avenue, hose is stretched across this thorough- fare completely tying up all traffic, often for a consider- able time. Massachusetts avenue is one of the main arteries of travel in this Commonwealth, and it is to avoid interruption of this traffic that the above recom- mendation is offered.
Arlington is now too thickly populated to depend any longer on the service of a single ladder truck, a most valuable piece of apparatus for protection to life in case of fire.
In addition to the ladders, the truck carries a large equipment of safety and emergency appliances that can- not easily be transferred to the other apparatus, if, for any reason the truck is unable to respond to an alarm. Any other piece of apparatus may be borrowed from a neighboring department in an emergency, but no one will take the responsibility of lending a ladder truck, willing though they are to send one on special call. Even that, of course, would occasion a great delay and might be too late to help in the rescue work.
Two trucks would adequately protect the town for years to come, each one serving its own section except in case of disability, when one could cover the whole town during the period of repair.
220
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
I recommend the appropriation of $10,000.00 for the purchase of a ladder truck.
Four (4) men should be appointed the coming year to increase the force sufficiently to respond to calls re- ceived by telephone and Mutual Aid calls without sound- ing an alarm and wait for call men to arrive. Somerville responds to seven (7) boxes in Arlington on first alarm with five (5) men; Medford responds to two (2) boxes in Arlington with five (5) men and Belmont responds to six (6) boxes in Arlington with four (4) men, without sounding an alarm.
When the new station is completed, a fireman will be stationed at the desk every minute of the day and night ready to receive calls by telephone and transmit alarms. When the entire department is engaged in fighting fires, he will be on duty to signal for outside assistance immediately. The department must gradu- ally change to a permanent basis with sufficient men available at station when alarms are received. No more call men are being appointed to replace those leaving the department.
I recommend the appropriation of $58,228.00 for the maintenance of the Department for the ensuing year, this sum to cover the expense of procuring new ladder truck and four (4) additional men.
In concluding, I wish to express my gratitude to the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Police Department, . the Highway Department and to all who in any way assisted in making the work of the Department effectual.
To the officers and men of the Fire Department, I extend sincere thanks for their faithful performance of duty, and particularly do I appreciate the work of the men who so willingly gave of their days off during the inspection of dwellings.
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL B. TIERNEY, Chief.
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
Arlington, Mass, January 1, 1925. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen :
I have the honor of submitting to you my twentieth annual report of the doings of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1924.
Department Organization
Chief
1
Inspector with the rank of Lieutenant
1
Sergeants
3
Patrolmen
23
Reserve Patrolmen
1
Roster
Rank
Name
Date of Appointment
Chief, Thomas O. D. Urquhart
Jan. 1st, 1905
Inspector, Daniel M. Hooley
May 1st, 1887
Sergeant, John Duffy
July 27th, 1891
Sergeant,
Theodore R. Belyea
June 16th, 1913
Sergeant, Edwin C. Jacobs
October 16th, 1911
Patrolman, Thomas F. Priest
May 29th. 1904 August 26th, 1905
June 16th, 1913
Patrolman, F. Joseph Cahalin Patrolman, Felix Lopez Patrolman, T. Arthur Nolan Patrolman, Thomas M. Donovan
June 16th, 1913 Feb. 2nd, 1914
June 13th, 1916
June 19th, 1917
June 1st, 1920 June 1st, 1920
April 4th, 1921
Patrolman, Charles E. Carroll Patrolman, Daniel P. Barry Patrolman, George E. Moore Patrolman, William P. Mahoney Patrolman, T. Francis Meagher, Jr. Patrolman, Maurice J. Scannell Patrolman, M. James Coughlin
April 25th, 1921
April 25th, 1921
221
222
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Patrolman, Harold F. Pick
Patrolman, James J. Flynn Patrolman, James R. Burns
Patrolman, Archibald F. Bullock
Patrolman, William A. Scanlan Patrolman, Joseph D. White Patrolman, John Roche
Patrolman, William Burns
Patrolman, Charles O. Toomey
Dec. 22nd, 1924
Patrolman, Albert E. Ryan
Dec. 22nd, 1924
Patrolman, Denis F. Shea
Dec. 22nd, 1924
Reserve Patrolman, Ralph H. Olson
August 11th, 1924
During the year there has been 1808 arrests made, and of this number 65 were females and 85 juveniles or persons under the age of 17 years. 1164 were non-resi- dents.
Offenses for which complaint was made:
Assault and battery
24
Assault
Assault with intent to kill
1 1 1
Attempted larceny
Accessory after the fact to breaking and entering
1 1
Accosting persons of the opposite sex
Assault with intent to rob
1
Bastardy
5
Breaking and entering and larceny
29
Breaking and entering and attempted larceny
6
Common drunkard
4
Concealing leased property
1
Carrying a revolver without permit
3
Capias on default
38
Contempt of Court
2
Contributing to delinquency of child
1
Drunkenness 178
Disturbance of the peace
18
Feb. 13th, 1922 Sept. 11th, 1922 January 2nd, 1923
October 1st, 1923
October 1st, 1923 October 21st, 1923 Feb. 29th, 1924 May 5th, 1924
223
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
Evading car fare
1
Habitual truant
4
Indecent exposure
1
Keeping an unlicensed dog Kidnapping
1
Larceny
65
Larceny from persons unknown
2
Lewd and lascivious co-habitation
4
Malicious injury to personal property Manslaughter
1
Non-support of parent
4
Non-support of wife and minor children
17
Non-support of minor children
2
Non-payment of wages
2
Perjury
1
Receiving stolen property
3
Runaway child
1
Rape
1
Suspicious persons
4
Stubborn child
4
Safekeeping
2
Selling air gun to minor
1
Sale of cigarettes to minors
1
Truancy
1
Trespass
1
Threats
5
Unlawfully removing grave stones
ยท1
Vagrancy
3
Violation of alien fire arm law
1
Violation building laws
2
Violation of the liquor laws
9
Violation of probation
16
Violation of the pure food laws
2
Violation of parole
1
2
9
224
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Violation of park rules
Violation of game laws
Violation of the law of the road
4
Violation of the by-laws, profanity
4 1
1
9
1
1
3
3
Occupying streets without a permit
2
Insufficient lights on excavation
4
Keeping a barking dog
1
Violation of traffic rules
196
Violation of automobile laws
1072
Cases were disposed of as follows :
Appealed on finding of guilty
50
Bound over to the grand jury
9
Bound over to keep the peace
1
Continued for hearing or disposition
62
Complaints withdrawn by complainants and dismissed
39
Defaulted
76
Discharged
48
Delivered to other police
273
Fined
318
House of Correction
21
House of Correction and sentence suspended
13
Lyman School for Boys
6
Massachusetts Reformatory
3
Probation
66
Placed on file
675
Released at police station
121
Reformatory for Women
1
Reformatory for Women and sentence suspended State Farm
S
State Farm and sentence suspended 2
2
1
Peddling without a license
Collecting junk without a license
Habitually congregating
Setting fires without a permit
Discharging firearms
Posting notices on poles
Nude bathing
1
225
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
Shirley School for Boys
2
Sent to Psychopatic Hospital and committed 3
Fines and costs to the amount of $8,331 were im- posed by the Court, and imprisonment of 37 months was imposed.
The Chief attended Court 134 days, and the officers 601 days. ,
Miscellaneous Business
Accidents reported (all kinds)
330
Ambulance calls
27
Buildings reported vacant and protected
211
Cases investigated
1210
Dead bodies cared for
6
Defective hydrants reported
5
Defective street lights reported
144
Defective wires reported
59
Defective water pipes reported
18
Defective gas pipes reported
2
Details for public assemblages
102
Dogs killed
45
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
105
Fires extinguished without alarm
10
Fire alarms given
22
Injured persons assisted home
22
Injured persons assisted to hospitals
48
Lanterns put in dangerous places
158
Lost children cared for
63
Messages delivered
230
Notices served for the Board of Selectmen
4
Notices to delinquent dog owners
5
Officers at fires
154
Obstructions in streets reported
194
Runaway teams secured
3
Sick persons assisted home
19
Sick persons assisted to hospitals
13
Stores found unlocked at night and secured
564
Wagon calls 135
226
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Traffic
In 1922 there were six deaths caused by autos, and in 1923 there were four, and in 1924 there were two.
This was two too many, and was due to negligence on the part of the drivers.
There were 227 auto collisions recorded in which no person was reported injured, but where the machines were more or less damaged.
There were 51 auto collisions in which personal in- jury was claimed.
Much has been said and can be said on this sub- ject of traffic, but to get results that will diminish the loss of life and prevent personal injury is quite another problem.
We have strictly enforced the auto laws, and feel that in diminishing the number of deaths due to autos from six in 1922 to two in 1924 that some gain has been made; and it is our determination, if humanly pos- sible, to have a clean record of no killings for 1925.
The traffic squad, consisting of a sergeant and eight men on traffic posts and one man doing patrol duty on a motor cycle, did efficient work, and are en- titled to much credit.
During the year we have attended many Safety First Council and traffic expert meetings. We have urged that a state law be passed forbidding autos to go to the left of an electric car; that all autos coming out of streets on the right into main thoroughfares be made to come to a full stop before entering upon the line of traffic; and that all persons owning autos be compelled to carry personal injury liability insurance.
During the year talks on safety first were given at the High and Junior High Schools, and through the courtesy of Mr. Hoffman, owner of the Regent Theatre, several talks were given at this theatre. I believe these talks were well received, and helped prevent accidents.
227
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
The sale and exchange of 690 automobiles in Ar- lington have been recorded at the police station during the year, and 3273 autos have been reported to us as hav- ing been stolen in the Metropolitan District.
Four autos were reported to us as stolen in Ar- lington, and these have been recovered.
There is a serious demand for more traffic officers at various points, but the fact should not be lost sight of that, owing to the large growth of the town, we need more men on night patrol.
Fatalities investigated other than by automobiles were:
Suicide
2
Shock
2
Drowning, accidental
2
Struck by railroad trains
1
Accidental falling down stairs 1 Alcoholism 1
As compared with other cities and towns surround- ing us, we have been fortunate in the small number of breaks, holdups, and larcenies.
Every precaution within the means at our com- mand has been taken to prevent these occurrences, and Inspector Hooley was detailed to give his whole time and attention to this line of work.
If the citizens would phone us upon seeing any strange person in their locality acting in, to them, a suspicious manner, it would be greatly appreciated, and would help us immensely in keeping crooks out of this town.
It is a wonder that more stores are not looted, when you find that your police have found during the year 564 stores unlocked, and secured them.
During the year 35 persons have been arrested for breaking and entering, and 65 for larceny.
228
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Several good arrests have been made by your patrolmen for breaking and entering, and a few breaks have been cleaned up, but hardly any of the property stolen has been recovered owing to the stubborn refusal of the thieves to assist in restitution.
We have caused the liquor laws to be rigidly en- forced, and I have every reason to believe that this com- munity is more free from this evil than any other in the district.
On account of days off (every officer by law is en- titled to one day off in every eight), vacations, and sick- ness, officers have been absent 1488 days.
Police Signal System
72,341 duty calls and 2352 telephone calls have been received at the station from officers on patrol during the year.
There, is need of two new boxes being added, and the cost of installation has been taken up with Superin- tendent Mason of the Wire Department, who will ask that an appropriation be made for this purpose.
There are now 22 boxes, located as follows :
Box 12, Mass. avenue, corner of Henderson street. .
Box 13, Mass. avenue, corner of Winter street.
Box 15, Mass. avenue, corner of Tufts street.
Box 16, Lake street, opposite Lakehill avenue Box 141, Mass. avenue, near Monument.
Box 21, Medford street, near Lewis avenue.
Box 22, Mystic street. corner of Boulevard.
Box 23, Mystic street, opposite Falmouth road.
Box 24, Broadway, opposite River street.
Box 25, River street, corner of Decatur street
Box 26, Broadway, corner of Cleveland street.
Box 31, Mass. avenue, corner of Central street.
Box 32, Gray street, near Bartlett avenue.
Box 34, Pleasant street, corner of Gould road.
229
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
Box 41, Mass. avenue, near Grove street.
Box 42, Park avenue, corner of. Prospect avenue.
Box 43, Brattle street, corner of Summer street.
Box 44, Mass. avenue, corner of Forest street.
Box 45, Wollaston avenue, corner of Tanager street.
Box 46, Mt. Vernon street, corner of Gloucester street.
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