Town of Arlington annual report 1953, Part 13

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1953
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 396


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A committee has been formed to develop a base hospital at Arlington High School to supplement the medical services of Symmes Arlington Hospital. Plans are well formulated and a program to develop this much needed phase of our effort has been instituted. Equipment for four first aid stations has been re- ceived from the Commonwealth, at no cost to the Town and is being stored in key locations in the community.


Further aid was received this year from the Federal Govern- ment in the purchase of equipment and supplies. Under this pro- gram the Town pays fifty per cent of the cost, with balance paid by the United States Government.


Training pamphlets and visual aid supplies have been received throughout the year from the Federal Government which assist greatly in the conduct of training programs.


Inventories of personnel, equipment and materials within the community for possible use in a emergecy have been prepared and a total of 1.823 people are presently enrolled in our program.


It is impossible to enumerate in a report of this kind the many individuals who have participated actively in our program during the year. Our program, however, would not have been possible without their volunteer efforts. To all concerned and especially our Deputy Directors may we express our grateful appreciation.


We are particularly indebted to the Board of Park Commis- sioners for use of its facilities and equipment at 33 Ryder Street, and to the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager for their assistance in the interpretation and conduct of this program.


Respectfully submitted,


DANIEL J. MCFADDEN


Director of Civil Defense


156


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Annual Report of the Department of Veterans' Services


The Honorable Town Manager


Robbins Town Hall Arlington, Mass.


Dear Sir :-


Submitted herewith is the ninth annual report of the Depart- ment of Veterans' Services covering the calendar year 1953.


The department is bound by law to furnish financial assistance to veterans of all wars and their legal dependents who qualify under the terms of Chapter 115, General Laws of Massachusetts, and to the dependents of service men and women during periods of war when pay and allotment checks are delayed for some reason or otlier. A thorough investigation must be made in each case. These types of aid are called Veterans' Benefits, War Allowance and Burial Aid. The enactment of Chapter 723, Acts of 1945 and subsequent amend- ments thereto have made it mandatory that this department furnish to veterans, their dependents and other kin such information, advice and assistance as may be necessary to enable them to procure the benefits to which they are or may be entitled relative to employment, vocational or other educational opportunities, hospitalization, medical care, pensions, compensation and other veterans' benefits. It also provides that the department shall have on hand copies of current booklets and other printed matter pertaining to the statutory rights of war veterans provided under state and federal laws. The Director must work in close co-ordination with the U. S. Veterans Adminis- tration, Army, Navy and Air Departments, the Selective Service Boards, the Department of Labor and other federal agencies which have to do with service men, veterans and their dependents as well as with our various state departments and the organizations of veterans All such activities come under the head of Veterans' Services, a tabulation of which follows:


Photostatic copies made


3,186


Documents notarized


135


Discharges recorded in Town Archives 307


Counsel and Information


At office


996


By telephone 521


Housing. Employment and Civil Service


Office interviews


141


Telephone calls


379


Letters 123


Selectire Service. Allotments. Discharges. Bonus. Etc.


Office interviews


655


Telephone calls


663


Letters


346


157


REPORT OF THE DEPT. OF VETERANS' SERVICE


Administrative, Business, Etc.


Office interviews


242


Telephone calls


391


Letters, History entries and records 1,431


Veterans Administration Matters


Office interviews 597


Telephone calls 841


Home visits 42


Hospital visits 43


Other visits


433


Veterans Administration forms completed


281


Letters


332


Total for the year 1953 12,085


Last year the annual report contained the results of a study of contacts with the U. S. Veterans Administration, over the previous seven years, in the prosecution of claims of veterans for compensa- tion, pensions, insurance, hospitalization, G. I. Bill benefits, etc. A tabulation of 1953 business with the Veterans Administration follows:


Number of claims handled 83


Total of cash benefits accruing to claimants dur-


ing the calendar year 1953 $57,804.70


Estimated total of money saved the town in 1953 by reason of successful prosecution of claims of persons who would otherwise be benefi- ciaries of this department $33,017.40


Number of applicants for Veterans' Benefits who were kept off of our aid rolls or, if aided were dropped from the rolls or had their aid sub- stantially reduced by reason of awards made by the U. S. Veterans Administration during 1953 27


Of the 83 claims abovementioned many were for benefits provided by the so called G. I. Bill of Rights, for hospitalization and medical and dental treatment. Such claims as these did not often bring direct cash benefits but, indirectly, brought about a saving to the veterans and to the Town. If, for reasons of economy, Congress should vote to repeal laws which provide pensions, hospitalization and other benefits for disabled veterans whose disabilities are not rated service connected by the U. S. Veterans Administration but whose breakdown in health can very well be attributed to the rigors of warfare under- gone while serving in the armed forces of the United States dur- ing wartime, it is conceivable that the roster of aid cases would be tripled and quadrupled and the cost of aid to the Town increased by $100,000.00 per year or more.


In addition to contacts with the Veterans Administration on claims. this office has also assisted claimants for Social Security. U. S. Employees Compensation, Railroad Retirement and other benefits.


158


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


VETERANS' BENEFITS, WAR ALLOWANCE AND BURIAL AID


A tabulation of administrative work connected with the disburse- ment of financial aid to needy veterans and their dependents and to the needy dependents of persons on active duty with the armed forces of the United States, the amounts disbursed under the several classification of aid and the sums recaptured and returned to the General Fund of the Town follows:


Office visits (applications, interviews, investigations, etc. ) 463


Home visits 354


Hospital visits 43


Other visits


201


Telephone calls


1,529


Applications completed, history entries, records & letters 3,010


Total for the year 1953 5,600


Cases on rolls :


(a) Settled in Arlington 81


(b) Settled in another community 1


(c) State settled 0


Applications and re-applications received 107


Applications and re-applications accepted 82


Applications and re-applications rejected or withdrawn .. 17 Applications referred to other communities or elsewhere 8


Refund cases 11


Disbursements to or on behalf of veterans, service men and their dependents for the period January 1, 1953 through December 31, 1953, were as follows:


VETERANS' BENEFITS (Needy cases, State participation 50% of authorized payments) $25,386.00


WAR ALLOWANCE (Needy dependents of persons in active service. Full reimburse- ment by State) 651.50


BURIAL AID


Chapter 115, General Laws of Mass. (Needy cases, State participation 50% in Arlington settled cases and 100% in all other cases) Chapter 573, Acts of 1946, (Reimbursement of recognized organizations of veterans for expenses incurred in providing military honors at funerals of veterans who died overseas in World War II and the Korean War. State participation 100% of author- ized expenditures ) 0.00


229.83


Total disbursements $26,267.33


Reimbursement received by Town Treasurer from State Treasurer in year 1953 (Reimbursements usually in arrears. The following fig- ures include last six months of 1952 and first eight months, of 1953).


159


REPORT OF THE DEPT. OF VETERANS' SERVICES


Veterans' Benefits


$14,585.48


War Allowance


$10.63


Burial Aid


Chapter 115


225.00


Chapter 573


0.00


Received from other municipalities


0.00


Refunds from beneficiaries


511.67


Total returned to Town Treasury


$16,132.78


Net expenditures


$10,134.55


1953 was a remarkable year in several respects. There was no unemployment problem at any time. Distress brought about by the illness or death of a family breadwinner or extraordinary medical and hospital expenses were the main causes of applications for aid. For some inexplainable reason there was no sharp upswing in either the number of persons on the aid rolls or, the amounts of disburse- ments, towards the end of the year as is usually the case. The passage of the Korean Veterans Bonus Law and the channeling of applicants through the Veterans' Services Department brought to the office nearly all Arlington Korean veterans wlio were discharged or released from active duty. The opportunity was presented to thoroughly brief them on the laws pertaining to veterans, to see that they were taking advan- tage of benefits offered them and to counsel them against allowing the opportunities and benefits to go by default. Many out of state veterans who formerly resided in Arlington called on the department, by mail, to help them process their Bonus applications. In every instance their requests were complied with.


In conclusion we wish to gratefully acknowledge the help and cooperation extended by the Town Manager, the members of the Board of Selectmen and the Personnel Board and their excutive secretaries, the Advisory Board of the Department of, Veterans' Services and the efficient and faithful service of the employees of the department.


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES R. ARMOUR


Director


160


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Report of the Cemetery Department


January 12, 1954


Hon. Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass.


Gentlemen:


The report of the Cemetery Commissioners for the year ending December 31, 1953, is herewith submitted.


The Board organized March 11, 1953 with Wathen B. Hen- derson, chairman, Mabel G. Robinson, clerk, and Edward C. Preston in charge of grounds.


During the year work of developing land west of Sucker Brook for cemetery purposes was continued, the result being several plots are ready for the surveyors.


Other Town departments have given us valuable assistance during the year, and under the present Town Manager we feel we will have even more cooperation.


Three of our emloyees have served the department well for twenty-five years, Edward C. Preston, James P. Walsh and Jeremiah Drinan. We wish at this time to thank them for a quarter of a century of loyal and devoted service. Wathen B. Henderson served eighteen years as superintendent and is starting on the seventh year as a commissioner. He has watched the men at their work through the years and feels they deserve this mention.


There were 332 bodies interred in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery dur- ing 1953.


Following are the amounts received by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners:


Sale of Lots and Graves $ 9,787.00


Annual Care 2,125.50


Foundations


2,198.80


Opening Graves


9,261.00


Miscellaneous


2,827.00


Perpetual Care 12,605.00


Income from Funds


8,897.02


Respectfully submitted,


WATHEN B. HENDERSON ARTHUR R. KIMBALL NILS G. ANDERSON Board of Cemetery Commissioners


161


REPORT OF THE FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM


Report of the Fire and Police Signal System


Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts


Dear Sir:


As Superintendent of the Fire and Police Signal System I sub- mit my Fifth Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1953.


The System is maintained by Assistant Superintendent Lester W. Cameron together with Signal Maintainers Nicholas J. Bucciero and Frederick J. Manning.


Fire Alarm and Police Signals


Many open circuits occurred. Some were caused by aerial lines and cable breaking during storms and others when poles and pedestals were damaged by automobiles. Many difficulties were experienced as the result of general breakdowns in spliced con- nections in the System throughout the Town.


Automobiles struck and damaged:


Box 441 Robbins Memorial Town Hall


Box 286 Concord Turnpike opposite No. 440


Box 31 Broadway - Medford Street


For street construction relocated :


Box 423 Pleasant Street - Lakeview


Box 571 Massachusetts Avenue - Dundee Road


Relocated:


Box 124 Police Box, Academy Street, from sidewalk of pole to South Side.


Box 2851 Mott Street - Wilson Avenue to Mott Street - Concord Turnpike.


Installed following new fire alarm boxes:


Box 329 Columbia Road Upland Road West


Box 243 Marion Road - Belknap Street


Box 397 Longmeadow Road - Old Middlesex Path


Installing the following new fire alarm boxes:


377 Joyce Road - Ivy Circle


3931 Morningside Drive - Hodge Road


8452 Appleton Street - Concord Turnpike


8662 Oakland Avenue - ยท Rhinecliff Street 28 Margaret Street - Mary Street


8671 Corncord Turnpike - Rhinecliff Street


8613 Virginia Road Valentine Road


6432 Quincy Street - Lehigh Street


3912 Crosby Street - Upland Road


7122 Symmes Nurses Home


178 River Street Fordham Street


754 Forest Street - - Frazer Road


162


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Replacing:


Box 357 Mystic Street - Falmouth Road


Box 553 Massachusetts Avenue - Forest Street


Installed following new police boxes:


Box 143 Massachusetts Avenue - Franklin Street


Box 217 Mystic Street Kimball Road


Box 451 Dow Avenue Rhinecliff Street


Box 417 Concord Turnpike -- St. Camillus Church


Box 361 Longmeadow Road - Old Middlesex Path


Box 171 Milton Street - Herbert Road


Cable Construction


Enlarged fire alarm manhole on Franklin Street at Fire Alarm Headquarters and added two 3-inch conduits from Franklin Street to Massachusetts Avenue manhole.


Pulled in 66-conductor underground cable from Police Head- quarters, Central Street. Massachusetts Avenue to Highland Fire Station.


Replaced 2-conductor lead underground cable with 6-conductor cable on Sherborn Street and on Teel Street.


Installed 6-conductor aerial cable on Gray Street, Jason Street, Wollaston Avenue, Mystic Street, Daniels Street, Rhinecliff Street, Appleton Street, Dow Avenue, Falmouth Road, Park Avenue Ex- tension, Forest Street, Thomas Street, Oak Hill Drive, Washington Street, Overlook Road, Longmeadow Road and on Concord Turn- pike at Arlmont Village.


Cut over 20-conductor cable from Pleasant Street Test Ter- minal, Massachusetts Avenue to Belmont Line.


Replaced 6-conductor underground cable on Marion Road and on Acton Street.


Replaced 2-conductor aerial cable on Bartlett Avenue, Jason Street, Irving Street, Addison Street, Academy Street, Marion Road and Columbia Road.


Air Raid Signals


May 7, Air Raid Test held from 9:15 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. when two whistles and 14 sirens were sounded throughout the town.


July 26, at 9:00 p.m. sirens and whistles announced signing of Korean Armistice.


June 9, installed siren, 2 H.P. on Medford Street-Sherborn Street.


February 5, Air Horns at Park Circle Station in service at 5:00 p.m.


Installed 1/2-H.P. sirens on:


Massachusetts Avenue - Teel Street Massachusetts Avenue - Winter Street Massachusetts Avenue - Tufts Street


Massachusetts Avenue - Mill Street


Massachusetts Avenue - - Brattle Street


Massachusetts Avenue - - Forest Street


Massachusetts Avenue Park Avenue


163


REPORT OF THE FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM


Installed 2-H.P. siren on Pleasant Street - Gould Road.


March 10, removed steam whistle from Metropolitan District Commission Pumping Station.


July 16, contractor removed old fire bells from Crosby School, Highland Fire Station and Heights Carbarn Tower.


Tank pressure reduced from 120 pounds to 90 pounds on air plant at Headquarters Station for whistle.


Replaced 115 batteries in local and main Battery.


Three-inch tapper at Robbins Memorial Town Hall replaced with four-inch tapper.


May 17, when Edison current failed, the stand-by Kohler Lighting Unit worked satisfactorily to maintain the Fire and Police Signal System and the lighting equipment at Fire Department Head- quarters.


Special Details


Made 30 transfers of lines to new poles.


Painted fire and police signal boxes throughout the town.


Installed 12-volt Two-way Radio on Ladder 2.


Arranged Christmas lighting and decorations at the Town Hall, Library, on Tree at Monument Park, at Fire Department Headquar- ters and at Highland Station.


Survey Committee


The Committee appointed in 1951 to survey the Fire and Police Signal System held several meetings and made surveys. It will continue actively in an effort to improve the Signal System.


Appropriation


1953 Appropriation $20,677.01


Expended 18,590.50


Balance


$ 2,086.51


Credits


Sale of junk $206.46


Recommendations


For the year 1954 recommend that $18,049.46 be appropriated to include installation of ten fire alarm boxes and five police sig- nal boxes.


Conclusion


To Lester W. Cameron, Assistant Superintendent of the Fire and Police Signal System, under whose supervision this Division is maintained and operated most efficiently, my sincerest thanks.


Respectfully submitted,


RICHARD J. TIERNEY Superintendent. Fire and Police Signal System


164


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Report of the Wire Department


January 14, 1954


Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit my fourteenth annual report as Inspector of Wires for the year ending December 31, 1953.


Street Lighting


The street lighting in service December 31, 1952 was as follows:


800 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 1,597


1,000 Lunien Incandescent Lamps 80


2,500 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 34


4,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 23


6,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 381


10,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps . 126


15,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 10


The following lighting was installed during the year:


1,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 33


6,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 3


Inspection of Wires


One thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven (1,967) permits for electrical work together with sixteen (16) permits without charge for Town of Arlington installations making a total of one thousand nine hundred and eighty-three (1.983) permits were issued during the year. Fees collected amounted to Nine Hundred and Eighty-Four Dollars and Fifty Cents ($984.50).


Poles and Wires on Streets


The Boston Edison Company replaced fifty (50) poles and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany replaced one hundred and two (102) poles dur- ing 1953.


I wish to express my thanks to you, the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the various departments of the Town for your co- operation and courtesy during the year.


Respectfully submitted,


ROBERT L. REID


Inspector of Wires


165


TREE WARDEN, MOTH AND TOWN HOUSE GROUNDS


Report of the Tree Warden and Superintendent of the Moth and Town House Grounds Department


Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit my report as Tree Warden and Superintendent of the Moth and Town Hall Grounds Departments for the year ending December 31, 1953.


TREE DEPARTMENT


During the year 300 trees were planted on new streets that were constructed in 1952 by the Public Works Department and private contractors also in various sections of the town to replace trees that had died or for some other reason had to be removed.


Public hearings were held on petitions of property owners for the removal of five trees for various reasons. Four of these petitions were granted and one was denied, due to the fact that there were many objections against it.


The Board of Survey ordered seventeen trees to be removed to make way for street and sidewalk construction, or in some cases for hazardous driving conditions.


A continuation of our program of trimming and raising up trees to alleviate obstruction from high delivery trucks and buses traveling along our highways is still in progress. Many requests were received during the year for trimming and cutting back trecs that were grow- ing close to houses and overhanging roofs and porches: so it seems that we must continue to make this part of our program from year to year. We try to do a certain section of town each year as it is impossible to cover the entire town in one season.


During the course of the year many severe windstorms did serious damage to our trees which eventually required surgical work.


On June 9, 1953, a tornado of major force struck the City of Wor- cester. I was alerted by the Director of Civil Defense, Mr. Daniel J. McFadden, about 10:00 P.M. to stand by for a possible assignment to the area to assist in tree removal, etc. Shortly after, I did get a call and two men of the Tree Department, two men of the Public Works Department and myself proceeded to Worcester equipped with a truck, three chainsaws, a generator and floodlight. We worked through the night and next day until I was assured that all streets were passable.


Trees were planted for the Park Department on the Summer and Thorndike Street Playgrounds by this department.


166


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Trees were trimmed and removed for the Cemetery, School, High- way and Park Departments at the request of the respective boards and department heads.


The motor equipment of the Department was used by the Public Works Department during the winter months for snow plowing and snow removal whenever requested by the Superintendent.


GYPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT


The regular spraying schedule of this department was carried on as usual including a dormant spray given to Elm trees to combat the Scolytus Beetle which is the carrier of the Dutch Elm Disease. During the year twenty cases of this disease were found in the town, making a total of fifty-three cases that have been found to date. Even though this figure is relatively small compared to 23,396 trees that have been afflicted, in the state as of December 31, 1953, every precaution must be taken so it will not spread further. There is no known cure for the disease outside of removing the trees and burning them up or burying them. Spraying at the proper time and a continuation of our sani- tation program will still be adhered to.


The second major problem of this department is the Japanese Beetle and despite the fact that we eradicate them in one section they are always cropping up somewhere else. Eradication of this insect would be made much easier if property owners would spray their own property and treat their lawns wherever possible.


The Tent Caterpillar was again prevalent this year in the Arl- mont Village section which required us to start our spraying season earlier.


All of the main streets and many side streets had to be sprayed in the early morning hours due to heavy traffic conditions during the middle of the day.


There were 941 private estates sprayed on request of property owners, outside of our two Housing Projects, who in turn made a remittance to the Town for the cost of the work.


Menotomy Rocks Park was again spraved by airplane this year and very favorable results obtained from it.


TOWN HOUSE GROUNDS DEPARTMENT


As has been the custom in past years, the personnel of the Tree Warden and Moth Departments maintain the grounds bordering the Town Hall and Robbins House. These men also take care of the lawn and hedges at Police Headquarters and the grass area adjoining the parking lot on Mystic Street.


The regular maintenence of the grounds and shrubbery was at- tended to as usual. Replacements of some of the plants had to be made in the spring due to winter killing. The pool in the center of the grounds was given two coats of special waterproof paint, but I think in another year it will need extensive repairs.


167


TREE WARDEN, MOTH AND TOWN HOUSE GROUNDS


Due to the installation of a telephone cable from the Town Hall to the. Library and Robbins House a trench had to be dug in the late fall. Because it was so late in the season no repairs could be made to the lawn; this work will have to be done in the Spring.


The Patriots' Day celebration which again attracted an enormous crowd of adults and children, necessitated the men of the department to rope off the entrance to the Town Hall and police the grounds.


A, permanent watchman was employed during the summer months to patrol the grounds every evening as well as all day Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.


The bases of the fountains on the front platform of the Town Hall were not planted this year as in former years, because of anticipated repairs to the railing of the platform; but due to the many favorable comments received about them in past years we will continue planting again in the Spring.


Snow removal from the front platform of the Hall, the walks through the grounds, also the parking area in the rear of the building and at the Robbins House comes under the jurisdiction of this De- partment.


In conclusion, I wish to gratefully acknowledge the cooperation given me by you and your staff, the personnel of this Department and all other departments of the Town.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE M. DOLAN Tree Warden and Superintendent of Moth and Town House Grounds Department




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