USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1930 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
82
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
At the annual town meeting of 1929, it was voted (unanimously) : that the sum of thirty-one hundred ($3100) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for walks and drives upon, and the grading of, the grounds of the Highland Hose House, so called, situated on Massachu- setts Avenue; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the committee ap- pointed to construct an engine house on said land under vote passed March 28, 1928.
The committee appointed by the Moderator con- sisted of Selectmen Hollis M. Gott, Luke A. Manning, and Arthur P. Wyman, together with ex-chief of the fire department, Walter H. Peirce, and Chief Daniel B. Tierney. On May 2, 1928, the committee organized with Hollis M. Gott, Chairman, and Chief Tierney, Sec- retary ; on July 9, 1928, thirteen contractors submitted bids ranging from $59,120 to $79,797. The firm pre- senting the lowest figure asked to be excused as they had made an error in their estimate of $6,000. On July 16, 1928, a contract was signed with the Arlington Con- struction Company for the construction of a fire sta- tion for $54,700 according to plans and specifications submitted by George E. Robinson, Achitect.
Upon completion of the removal of the old station, construction of the new building was started on July 30th. On March 4, 1929, the first piece of apparatus was installed. On April 19, 1929, the station was dedi- cated to the memory of Charles Gott, Chief of the Arlington Fire Department from 1878 to 1907.
The committee considers the station one of the finest public buildings in the town of Arlington and as a fire station unsurpassed by any in the country.
The building is, in its front portion, a replica of the Old State House, Boston, and the details of its in- terior finish are in harmony with its colonial design.
83
TOWN RECORDS
The building has a steel frame with outer walls of water-struck brick. The floors are reinforced concrete while partitions and roofs are of gypsum blocks. The pitch roofs are covered with Vermont slate, and all flat roofing has a twenty-year guarantee Barrett specifica- tion tar and gravel covering. All flashings, gutters and conductors are of copper.
On the front of the building are three large ap- paratus doors, each door being equipped with specially designed hardware leading directly to the apparatus floor which is 50 feet wide by 72 feet deep without sup- porting columns of any kind. The apparatus room will accomodate five pieces of motor apparatus. The walls and ceiling are plastered except that there is a pressed interior brick dado four feet six inches high from the water-struck brick pilasters.
All windows are steel casements and the glazing is of colonial purple glass of A quality.
The Chief's quarters on the first floor, consisting of office, reception room, and toilet, are finished in true colonial design and furnished with exact reproductions of colonial furniture.
The second floor contains a large common room in the front center of the building with sliding poles to apparatus room. Leading off this room on one side is a small gymnasium and on the other is a library with open fireplace equipped with book shelves, on which there are at present between seven hundred and eight hundred volumes donated by friends of the department.
A kitchen and eating room also leads from the com- mon room. Connected by a doorway from main stair- way in the center of the second floor is a rotunda through which entrance can be made to all rooms on the
84
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
second floor, and off of which are convenient closets, storerooms, a large cedar closet, telephone booth and storerooms. In the center portion is located two offi- cers' rooms, toilets and showers. Extending from the rotunda to the rear is a wide corridor on each side of which are sufficient lockers for the accommodation of the personnel. On each side of this corridor are located spacious and well ventilated dormitories.
The grounds surrounding the building, and the ramp between the building and the street harmonize with the building and are pleasing in effect.
The Committee feels that the general design of the building, the excellence of its construction and finish, together with the furnishings, have met with the ap- proval of all who have visited the station.
There remains an unexpended balance of twenty- eight (28) dollars and forty-three (43) cents in the ap- propriation for the construction of the building; also, balance of four hundred sixty-four ($464) dollars and eighty-two (82) cents for the grading.
In rendering its final report the Committee requests that it may now be discharged.
Respectfully submitted,
HOLLIS M. GOTT, LUKE A. MANNING, ARTHUR P. WYMAN, WALTER H. PEIRCE, DANIEL B. TIERNEY, Per: HOLLIS M. GOTT, Chairman.
85
TOWN RECORDS
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn :
Voted: That the report be accepted and the com- mittee discharged.
Nelson B. Crosby, Chairman of the Committee on Disposition of the Old Town Hall, read the following report :
"Report of the Committee on Disposition of the Old Town Hall
This committee was appointed by the Moderator on the strength of a vote of the Town on April 10, 1929, reading as follows :
Voted : 'That a Committee of five, including one member of the Planning Board, be appointed by the Moderator to investigate and make recommendations as to the disposal of the Old Town Hall, including any portion or all of the lot, by sale or otherwise, said com- mittee to have the power to fill vacancies and to report to the Town not later than the annual meeting of 1930; and further, that the sum of $100 be appropriated for use of said committee, said sum to be raised by general tax.'
Your committee has held three meetings. On ac- count of two of the present committee having served on a similar committee, which reported in 1928, a great deal of information was available which would other- wise have taken much time to obtain.
In view of the location of this property, the pos- sible need of it for other municipal purposes, or the use of it in conjunction with our Town Plan, the com- mittee is unanimous in its opinion that the Town should retain the property.
The outlay for the past three years has been
86
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
$4314.26 and the income has been $6358.02, or a differ- ence of $2044.76.
Your committee wishes to further emphasize the fact that the building in question may have to be used at any time for municipal offices, by virtue of the ex- pansion of all departments.
We are unanimous in the opinion that it would be fool-hardy for the Town to sell this property on the eve of its need for additional office and department use.
We recommend that the entire property be retained by the Town.
Of the appropriation of $100, we have expended 30c for stamps.
Respectfully submitted,
NELSON B. CROSBY, LUKE A. MANNING, THOS. J. DONNELLY, EDITH M. STORKE, CHAS. M. MacMILLIN, Sec."
On motion of Charles H. Higgins :
Voted: That the report be received and the com- mittee discharged.
Lester W. Collins, member of the Planning Board and a member of the Committee appointed to investi- gate the Improvement of Meadowbrook Park north of the sewer viaduct, read the following report :
"Report of Special Committee on Improvement of Meadowbrook Park 1929
Under Article 54 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1929, held as an Adjourned Meeting
87
TOWN RECORDS
on April 10th, 1929, it was unanimously voted: 'That a committee of five citizens, including one member of the Planning Board, one member of the Board of Park Commissioners, one member of the Board of Public Works, one member of the Board of Cemetery Com- mittee be appointed by the Moderator to investigate and make recommendations for the purpose of improv- ing for park uses that part of Meadowbrook Park north of the sewer viaduct; and that the sum of $300 be and hereby is appropriated for the use of said Committee, said sum to be raised by general tax.'
Under date of June 13th, 1929, the following per- sons were appointed by the Moderator to serve on this Committee :
Lester W. Collins, Planning Board
Frank W. Wunderlich, Chairman, Park Department
Walter F. Robinson, Public Works
Warren A. Peirce, Cemetery Committee
Edward L. Shinn, At Large
Mr. Shinn, being unable to serve, Mr. Harold L. Frost was appointed to serve in his place.
After several meetings and inspections of the area, the following conclusions and recommendations are submitted :
Description : The land available for this improve- ment contains approximately 268,800 square feet, or 6.17 acres. It lies closely adjacent to Lower Mystic Lake, being bounded on the West and North by the curve of Mystic Valley Parkway, on the East by land of the Town under control of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners, and on the South by private land
88
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
through which a large Metropolitan sewer has been re- cently run closely adjacent to the Park Area.
The land is roughly rectangular in shape with a maximum width of 360 feet and a maximum length of 780 feet, the principal portion being contained roughly in a rectangle 700 feet by 320 feet.
The whole area is practically level and is com- posed of boggy swamp land of rich loam to considerable depth. The grade is about the same as the normal high water level of the adjacent Lake, at times only the bogs showing and in dry seasons like the Summer of 1929, dry enough to walk entirely over the whole place. It is about 21/2 feet below the surface of the Boulevard.
Improvements: The Committee recommends that the improvements be accomplished in several distinct steps to be spread over at least 4 years, as follows :
Tree Protection: There now exists a considerable number of well grown trees of several varieties includ- ing Willow, Elms, Birches and several varieties of Maples. Along the South boundary is a fine growth of mature willows which should be most carefully pre- served. All preserved trees should be immediately surrounded by a stout fence of 4" x 4" uprights set firmly to project four feet above the finished grade and connected by 1" board not less than 3 feet from the trees. We recommend that the Public Works Depart- ment be instructed to dump no rubbish of any kind within these fences, and that the authority of the Park Commissioners over these trees be fully recognized.
Filling: The Public Works Department is now dumping on this low land a considerable regular amount of refuse and an appreciable area is already covered above the tops of the bogs. We recommend that this dumping be continued until firm ground is
89
TOWN RECORDS
formed to within twelve inches of finished grade and no higher. In placing this refuse material, we recom- mend that the Public Works Department be instructed to dump in accordance with the wishes of the Park De- partment. We suggest that placement of this refuse be accomplished by a succession of waves parallel to the exterior boundaries of the land, about 15 feet in width for each strip; the strips to be continuous until each is completed, for reasons given below. We recommend that the Park Department arrange to obtain a suitable power shovel to operate on the firm ground of each newly formed strip excavating the rich loam of the swamp and placing it on the finished firm surface to form the final twelve inches of top dressing. This shovel will insure a large supply of the richest loam for this and any other Town purposes.
Trees Planted : We recommend that the Park De- partment be instructed to plant, at as early date as possible, Swamp Maple Trees on Town land, not nearer than twenty feet from the traveled way of the Boule- vard, forty feet apart. These spacings to be maintained regardless of existing growth. To properly plant these trees, deposits of good loam should be provided at least three feet deep and five feet in diameter. The trees should be immediately protected by fences as described above. We recommend that a banking dam with one to four slopes to the stream be formed of pure loam along the Eastern Boundary to be at least three feet thick and that willows be planted along the top and stream side of this bank at three foot intervals both ways. The brook to be deepened as necessary at this time. We urge that all possible planting be done immediately in order to gain as much growth as possible before use as a park begins.
Playground Facilities: It appears unlikely that provision need be made for adult games on this field for
90
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
anything except possible tennis. The suggestion is made that arrangements be made for the following sports :
Ice Hockey Field Hockey Baseball Tennis Football Junior and Kindergarten Apparatus
There is adequate room for all of these activities without interference and detail location of each can be left to the discretion of the Park Department as fin- ished area becomes available.
Ice Hockey : Recommendation as to Ice Hockey is made at this time as it is believed that provisions for this can be made at once at slight expense. We recom- mend that the Park Department be instructed, as soon as the condition of the ground permits, to proceed to excavate below mean high water in the Lake to allow this area to flood for freezing. This will consist of very little more than removing the growing bogs and using them to bank the rectangle.
Sucker Brook: The East boundary is formed by Sucker Brook, not at present clearly defined. We rec- ommend that the Cemetery and Park Commissions de- termine to their mutual satisfaction a definite line for the Eastern Boundary.
Upon determination of this line, we recommend that the Cemetery Commission shall remove all rubbish from the location of the brook and its new west bank above described, depositing same within the area to be filled.
Kimball Brook: The area is crossed from West to
91
TOWN RECORDS
East by a small clear water brook which enters oppo- site the end of Kimball Road, flowing, partly in an ex- cavated channel, into Sucker Brook.
This stream will interfere with the most efficient use of the space and it is recommended that an open trench be excavated close to the Boulevard boundary and this water be carried into the larger brook at the lowest point possible. This will also furnish clear water for the Ice Hockey Rink which probably should be located at this Northern end of the area.
Total Costs: Estimate of costs are as follows :
Tree Protection
(25 trees @ $2.00) $ 50.00
Filling (Rubbish, no cost)
(10,000 cu. yds. loam from
swamp to surface @ $0.60) ... 6,000.00
Swamp Maple Trees planted
(Cost of necessary loam 2 cu. yds. at each tree, 25 trees @ $6.00) 150.00
Cost of trees (25) and planting @ $3.00 75.00
Sucker Brook Bank.
1,000.00
Willow Trees at Brook 25.00
Special Preparation for Play-
ground Facilities :
Ice Skating $ 300.00
Field Hockey 100.00
Baseball 100.00
Tennis (2) 2,000.00
Football 100.00
Junior App.
500.00
Total 3,100.00
92
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Rubbish Removal from Brook . 200.00
Kimball Brook Diversion 150.00
12 Benches 250.00
Locker Building and Toilets 2,500.00
Water and Sewer.
500.00
Total $14,000.00
Annual Expenditures : We recommend that annual expenditures be allocated as follows : 1930-To Tree Protection. . .. .
$ 50.00
Swamp Loam Handling (1/4 of area) 1,500.00
Swamp Maple Trees Planted
225.00
Sucker Brook Bank
1,000.00
Cleaning
200.00
Willow Trees 25.00
Ice Skating Area
300.00
Brook Diversion
150.00
$3,450.00
1931-To Swamp Loam Handling
(14 area)
1,500.00
Tennis Courts
2,000.00
Junior Apparatus
500.00
Water and Sewer
500.00
1932-To Loam Handling (14 of
area)
1,500.00
Field Hockey
100.00
Baseball
100.00
Football
100.00
Locker Building & Toilets
2,500.00
4,300.00
1933-To Loam Handling (14
area)
1,500.00
Benches
250.00
1,750.00
Total
$14,000.00
4,500.00
93
TOWN RECORDS
This report is respectfully submitted with the sug- gestion that the recommendations be carried out under the supervision of the Park Department.
F. W. WUNDERLICH, Chairman"
Mr. Collins emphasized the recommendation rela- tive to dumping by the Public Works Department.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted : That the report be received and the com- mittee discharged :
The Moderator, Curtis H. Waterman, expressed to the members of these various discharged committees the thanks and appreciation of the citizens and Town Meeting Members for their time and labor so gener- ously given.
On motion of Arthur P. Wyman :
Voted : That the reports of the Selectmen and vari- ous Town Officers, as presented in the Town Report, together with the additions of the Table of Statistics of Assessors and Committees heretofore appointed, be accepted.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn :
Voted : That the report of the Finance Committee be received.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn :
Voted : That Article 3 be laid on the table.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn :
Voted : That the remaining articles in the Warrant be now taken up, and that the recommendations of the
94
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Finance Committee under the various articles as pre- sented in their printed report be considered as now before the meeting to be acted on without further mo- tion, respectively and in the order in which they ap- pear in said Warrant.
Article 4 taken up. (Town Outlays and Expenses.)
Voted (Unanimously) : That sums be appropriated to defray Town expenses for the year 1930, to be ex- pended as detailed under the direction of the respec- tive department heads, as follows :
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
1. Finance Committee (Finance Committee)
Salaries $900.00
(Chairman, $250; Secre- tary, $50; Clerk, $600) Expenses 600.00
$1,500.00
Reserve Fund
15,000.00
$16,500.00
2. Board of Appeal (Board of Selectmen) Salaries and Expenses . $600.00
3. Selectmen (Board of Selectmen)
Salaries of the Board .... $2,000.00 (Chairman, $800; Others, $600 each) Other Salaries and Ex-
penses 5,309.00
(Clerk of Board, $2,000;
Other Salaries, $1,534)
Contingent Expenses . . 500.00
95
TOWN RECORDS
On substitute motion of Hol- lis M. Gott: For publishing, printing and/or delivering of any or all by-laws of the Town 350.00
$8,159.00
4. Accountant (Board of Selectmen)
Salary of Accountant .... $3,500.00
Other Salaries and Ex- penses 1,275.00
$4,775.00
5. Treasurer (Treasurer)
Salary of Treasurer. $3,200.00
Other Salaries and Ex- penses 930.00
6. Collector (Collector of Taxes)
Salary of Collector.
$3,500.00
Other Salaries and Ex-
penses
8,400.00
(Salaries, $5,700)
$11,900.00
7. Assessors (Board of Assessors)
Salaries of the Board, ($1,200 each) $3,600.00
On substitute motion of Augustus J. Power 89 voting in favor and 88 in opposition : Other Salaries and Ex-
penses 11,505.00 (Salaries, $8,500; Ex- penses, $3.005)
$15,105.00
$4,130.00
96
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
8. Legal (Board of Selectmen)
Salary of Town Counsel. ... $2,000.00
Expenses :
Legal expenses, includ- ing, among others, ex- penses relating to the prosecution, defense or settlement of actions or claims by, against or in- volving the interests of the Town or relating to matters for which there have been or may be special appropriations 38,350.00
$40,350.00
9. Town Clerk (Town Clerk)
Salary of Town Clerk ....
$3,500.00
Other Salaries and Ex-
penses
3,474.00
(Salaries, $2,704)
$6,974.00
10. Board of Public Works, General Admin- istration (Board of Public Works)
Salaries of the Board . .. $2,000.00 (Chairman, $800; Others, $600 each)
Other Salaries and Ex-
penses
11,580.00
(Salaries, $9,580)
$13,580.00
97
TOWN RECORDS
11. Engineering (Joint Board of Selectmen and Board
of Public Works)
Salary of Town Engineer $3,900.00
Salary of Assistant Town Engineer 2,600.00
Other Salaries
and
Ex-
penses
10,340.00
(Special Plans for Use
of Department, $800)
(Plans for Sewer and
Storm Drains System, $300)
Reproducing Plans
3,500.00
$20,340.00
12. Elections and Town Meetings (Board of Selectmen)
Salaries and Expenses . .
$7,265.00
(Registrars, $600)
13. Planning Board (Planning Board)
Salaries and Expen-
ses
$400.00
Special Engineering; the
additional sum of .
.
200.00
$600.00
14. Board of Survey (Joint Board of Selectmen and
Board of Public Works)
Salary of Clerk.
$800.00
Other Salaries and
Ex-
penses
1,500.00
(Salaries, $1,200)
$2,300.00
98
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
15. Robbins Memorial Town Hall (Board of Selectmen) Salaries $5,428.00
Maintenance of Building . 11,039.00
(Fuel and. Lighting,
$3,550; Repairs and Maintenance, $6,289)
Maintenance of Grounds ..
1,360.00
$17,827.00
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
16. Police Department (Board of Selectmen) Salaries . $96,425.75 (Chief, $3,200)
Expenses 7,850.00
(Expenses and Equip-
ment, $4,475; Automo-
bile Maintenance, $2,- 000; Maintenance of Building, $1,575)
Expenses incurred outside the Commonwealth as described in General Laws, Chapter 40, Sec- tion 5, Paragraph 34. . 200.00
$104,475.75
99
TOWN RECORDS
17. Fire Department (Board of Selectmen) Salaries $94,351.50
(Chief, $3,200)
Expenses
11,845.00
(Expenses and Equip-
ment, $8,245; Mainte- nance of Buildings and Grounds, $3,600)
New apparatus 3,400.00
Expenses Incurred Out- side Commonwealth as
Described in General
Laws, Chapter 40, Sec- tion 5, Paragraph 34. . 200.00
$109,796.50
Fire and Police Signal Sys- tem-From May 1, 1930
Salaries
$2,200.00
(Salary of Superinten- dent, $1,667)
Maintenance of System .. 2,572.00
Additional Fire and Police Boxes 3,360.00
$8,132.00
18. Building, Plumbing And Gas Inspection (Board of Selectmen) Salaries $9,150.00
Building Inspector, $3,200; (Plumbing and Gas In- spector, $2,750)
Expenses
1,500.00
$10,650.00
100
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
19. Wire Department (Joint Board of Selectmen and
Board of Public Works)
From January 1, to April 30, 1930
Salaries
$2,946.65
Expenses
529.00
$3,475.65
(Board of Selectmen)
From May 1, to December 31, 1930
Salaries
$3,135.01
Expenses
450.00
$3,585.01
(Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public
Works). From May 1, to December 31, 1930 Salary of Superintendent of Wires $465.00
20. Sealer of Weights and Measures (Board of Select-
men)
Salary and Expenses.
$2,875.00
(Salary, $2,100)
Expenses Incurred Out-
side the Commonwealth
as Described in General
Laws, Chapter 40, Sec-
tion 5, Paragraph 34. . 100.00
$2,975.00
21. Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth Suppression (Board
of Selectmen)
$5,240.00
Salaries and Expenses . . . . (Salary of Superin- tendent, $1,450)
22. Tree Warden (Tree Warden)
Salaries and Expenses . . . .
$7,090.00
(Salary of Warden, $750)
$7,090.00
101
TOWN RECORDS
23. Board of Health (Board of Health)
Salary of Board. $750.00 Other Salaries and Expenses 10,335.00 (Salary of Agent, $2,860)
Communicable Diseases ... 10,683.64
Care of Spy Pond and Reservoir 908.00
Expenses Incurred Out- side the Commonwealth as Described in General Laws, Chapter 40, Sec- tion 5, Paragraph 34. ... 200.00
$22,876.64
24. Vital Statistics (Town Clerk). $400.00
25. Inspector of Animals (Board of Select- men) $350.00
26. Sewer Maintenance (Board of Public Works) $4,750.00
27. Sanitary Division (Board of Public
Works) Removal of Ashes, Offal
and Rubbish.
$81,500.00
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS
28. Division of Highways and Bridges (Board of Pub- lic Works)
Administration $7,020.00
(Salary of Superinten- dent of Highways $3,- 900)
Maintenance of Streets and Bridges 102,500.00 (Air Compressor, $2,500)
$109,520.00
102
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
29. Removal of Snow and Ice (Board of Public Works) $19,000.00
Overlay of 1929 $3,840.74
30. Street Lighting (Joint Board of Se- lectmen and Board of Public Works) $42,243.57
31. Traffic Signals (Board of Selectmen) Maintenance $1,150.00
$1,150.00
32. Public Welfare Department (Board of Selectmen)
Salaries $3,100.00
(Agent, $2,300; Phy- sician, $600)
Aid and Expenses 36,000.00
$39,100.00
33. District or Other Nurses (Board of Selectmen) $1,000.00
34. State and Military Aid (Board of
Selectmen) $1,000.00
35. Soldiers' Relief, Burials and Exemp- tions (Board of Selectmen) $7,000.00
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
36. School Department (School Committee) General Control $25,425.00
Instructional Service 539,805.00
Operation of School Plant 71,773.00
Maintenance of School Plant 36,208.00
Auxiliary Agencies and Other Activities 19,880.00
Capital Outlay 24,916.00
Vocational School Tuition 4,000.00 Expenses Incurred Out- side the Commonwealth as Described in General Laws, Chapter 40, Sec- tion 5, Paragraph 34 ... 350.00
$722,357.00
103
TOWN RECORDS
37. Robbins Library and Branches (Trustees of the
Robbins Library)
Books and Maintenance
of Libraries
$24,932.00
Dog Tax
2,271.30
RECREATION AND UNCLASSIFIED
38. Public Parks Department (Board of Park Com-
missioners)
Salary of Superintendent. . $2,007.50
Other Salaries and Ex-
penses
2,760.00
Heights Playground Plans 200.00
Menotomy Rocks Park
Outlay
550.00
$5,517.50
39. Pensions (Board of Selectmen)
$13,204.03
40. Memorial Day . To be Expended as Follows: Under the Direction of Francis Gould Post, No. 36, G. A. R. $300.00
Local Post of the United
Spanish War Veterans ..
. 100.00
Arlington Post, No. 39,
American Legion
300.00
$700.00
41. On substitute motion of Arthur P.
Wyman :
Patriots' Day (Board of Selectmen)
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.