Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1924, Part 4

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 348


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1924 > Part 4


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28 Wallace Bronson Bailey


28 Edna Frances Meuse


31 John Whitmore Rich


Guy E. and Mildred B.


Nov.


4 Phyllis Rae Springford


8 John Hubert McBride 10 10 Ernest Paul Doucette


11 Richard Francis White


14 Raymond Armand Petrain


17 Joseph Alfred Wilton


17 Barbara Marion Merritt


19 Paul Hillman Colvin


21 Edward Frank Clark 23 Phyllis Irene White


25 David Wills Brown


28 Leo Nicholas Roberts


29 Kenneth William Castine


30 Elizabeth Dorothy Burpee


Frederick L. and Mildred H. John W. and Annie P.


Albert J. and Delia G.


Thomas and Winnifred B.


Henry and Alida


Julius K. and Eva G.


Fred E. and Helen C.


Josiah P. and Helen C.


Ernest F. and Myrtle B. Roy E. and Katherine H.


Rodney W. and Mabel H.


Nicholas J. and Mildred F.


William F. and Anna L.


Ray W. and Mary H.


Dec.


1 Lewis Ernest Muise


4 Frances McLaughlin


6 Phyliss Irene Gormlie


7 Barbara Lois Thorn


18 Frank Ellsworth Owen


13 Robert Eugene Zwicker


Jeremiah and Florence M.


Francis J. and Carolyn D.


Joseph J. and Adelaide O.


George H. and Harriet W.


Walter D. and Rose V.


George C. and Alma A.


Arthur J. and Daisy B. George B. and Eleanor K. George H. and Evelyn R. John J. and Hannah B.


John R. and Frances C.


Bertrand W. and Hilda P.


Edward F. and Florence M.


John S. and Margaret M. James A. and Agnes H. Charles F. and Bertha M. Joseph E. and Alice M. Frank M. and Louise W. Lavers D. and Cora H.


47


BIRTHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Name


Parents


18 Barbara Ruth King


18 Thomas Joseph Thornton, Jr.


23 Chester Stanley Buck, Jr.


Chester S. and Malvina J.


24 Charles Andrew Bacigalupo


Philip J. and Theresa C.


24 Alfred Edward Colford


Alfred J. and Annie B.


25 Thomas Merriam Foster


Harold P. and Frances M.


25 Robert Charles Sherrod


Roy L. and Florence M.


29 George Joseph De Vean, Jr.


George J. and Minnie D.


30 James Talbot Emery


Francis P. and Rebecca T.


BIRTHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR PRECEDING YEARS


Feb. 16, 1880


William Matthew Goodwin


Walter C. and Jennie H.


Sept. 13, 1891 Myrtle Delphine Wells


Charles D. and Mabel F.


Apr. 4, 1899 Anna May McKillop


John C. and Annie M.


Nov. 1, 1912


Delma Helena Turner


Hugh N. and Edith F.


Aug. 1, 1918


Lawrence Abbott Cate


Frank C. and Lucille A.


Oct. 1, 1921 Jeanette Eloise Forbes


Frank D. and Margaret D.


July 8, 1922 Natalie Clara Staples


Malcolm L. and Margaret N.


Dec. 6, 1922 Philip Arthur Burbine


Peter J. and Rose G.


Dec. 7, 1922


Thomas Henry Rotchford, Jr.


Thomas H. and Agnes G.


Dec. 27, 1922


Mary Virginia Graves


Percy M. and Hilda L.


May 21, 1923 Ruth Edith Pendergrace


Frederick G. and Edith C.


Chester R. and Almira W.


Thomas J. and Ruth D.


48


MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Names


Age Occupation


Residence


Jan.


18 John Lawrence Knight


21 S. O. Man


Stoneham


Florence Elizabeth Gray


18 Millhand


Reading


30 Henry A. Anderson


56


Carpenter


Brockton


Alice May Crimmins


36


Bookkeeper


Brockton


Feb.


2 Walter Richard Trafton


27


Farmer


Swampscott


Grace Damon Flint


27


Clerk


Reading


17 Samuel Joseph Feinstein Lillian Finstein


23


Clerk


Cambridge


23 Iron Worker


Stoneham


24 Warren Fred. Gregory Mary Ellen Clements


21 At home


Reading


27 Emil Andrew Frotten


23 Millhand


Reading


Esther White


28 Housework


Reading


March


8 Horton Eldredge


21 Chauffeur


North Reading


Bertha Mary (Dill) Dudley


37 Mill Operative


North Reading


15 Craig Vincent


27 Telephone Engineer


Reading


Ruth Louise Wiggin


24


At home Bedford, N. H.


25 Frank A. Smith


42


Cook


North Reading


Jessie E. Bannister


34


Waitress


Reading


April


12 Joseph F. Merrill


22


Teamster


Lynn


Erma A. Harriman


18


Shoeworker


Lynn


27 Roland N. Beauchamp


27


Mason Tender


Reading


Nellie Mary Surette


26 Millhand


Reading


May


17 John Wilson Dorothy D. M. Hedgeley


18


Operative


Malden


21 William Joseph McMahon Alice Christina Torrell


26


Ice Cream Maker


Reading


18 Shoe Worker


Reading


25 John F. Dulong Dorothy Griffith


19 Greenhouse Worker


Lynnfield


28 John Langford Morton Dorothy Lane


44 Insurance Engineer


Plymouth


28 Secretary


Reading


June


4 Charles F. Carter


23 Expressman


Ayer


Jennie L. Lyle


28 Stenographer


Reading


7 Louis Granville Hill


52


Superintendent


Reading


Marion (Campbell) Strout 40 Bookkeeper


Medford


21


Chauffeur


Malden


21 Weigher


Reading


23 Auto. Mechanic


Reading


47


BIRTHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Name


Parents


18 Barbara Ruth King


18 Thomas Joseph Thornton, Jr.


23 Chester Stanley Buck, Jr. Chester S. and Malvina J.


24 Charles Andrew Bacigalupo


24 Alfred Edward Colford


Alfred J. and Annie B.


Harold P. and Frances M.


25 Robert Charles Sherrod


Roy L. and Florence M.


29 George Joseph De Vean, Jr.


George J. and Minnie D.


30 James Talbot Emery


Francis P. and Rebecca T.


BIRTHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR PRECEDING YEARS


Feb. 16, 1880


William Matthew Goodwin


Walter C. and Jennie H.


Sept. 13, 1891 Myrtle Delphine Wells


Charles D. and Mabel F.


Apr. 4, 1899 Anna May McKillop


John C. and Annie M.


Nov. 1, 1912


Delma Helena Turner


Hugh N. and Edith F.


Aug. 1, 1918


Lawrence Abbott Cate


Frank C. and Lucille A.


Oct. 1, 1921


Jeanette Eloise Forbes


Frank D. and Margaret D.


July 8, 1922


Natalie Clara Staples


Malcolm L. and Margaret N.


Dec. 6, 1922 Philip Arthur Burbine


Peter J. and Rose G.


Dec. 7, 1922


Thomas Henry Rotchford, Jr.


Thomas H. and Agnes G.


Dec. 27, 1922


Mary Virginia Graves


Percy M. and Hilda L.


May 21, 1923 Ruth Edith Pendergrace


Frederick G. and Edith C.


Philip J. and Theresa C.


25 Thomas Merriam Foster


Chester R. and Almira W.


Thomas J. and Ruth D.


50


MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Names


Age Occupation


Residence


31 Joseph L. Hartnett


26 Insurance Adjuster


Charlestown


Mary F. Hickey


20


Counter Girl


Reading


31 Thomas Joseph Thornton


25 Clerk


Reading


Ruth Elizabeth Doucette


20 Telephone Operator


Reading


Sept.


1 John James Flanagan Ella May Meekins


24 Stenographer


Reading


5 Ralph A. McDowell Rachel Hutchinson


22 Stenographer


Reading


16 Raymond James McKay Alma Matilda DeLesdernier


32


Organ Pipe Maker


Reading


33 Clerk


Reading


34 Chef


Reading


7 Percy Charles Rogers Evelyn Louise Dow


18 Stenographer


Reading


10 Arthur Michelini


31 Manufacturer


Reading


Helen Nowell


25 At home


Reading


13 Frederick E. Smith Stella M. Brooks


26 Stenographer


Lynn


15 Chester D. Stevens


27


Statistician


Reading


Beulah H. Page


25


Clerk


Reading


17 Robert Weaver Totten


38


Plumber


Reading


Alda Lottie Parker


37


Teacher


Reading


27 William Louis Wilby


20 Baker


Stoneham


Ethel M. Crafts


21 Shoe Worker


Reading


Oct.


1 Ralph Michelini Dorothy Knox


10 Albert Chadwick Maxwell Ethel Frances Quinn


25


Electrician


Reading


11 George Joseph Deveau Helen Minnie Doucette


18 At home


Reading


24 Auto. Mechanic


Melrose


12 Wilbur Solomon Morrell Mary Mabel White


23 Shoe Worker


Reading


15 George Johnson Marie Ward


45 Domestic


Reading


30 Paymaster


Reading


17 Harold S. Goodridge Edith L. Sherman


26 Stenographer


Waltham


33 Shipper


Malden


24 At home


Reading


29 Bank Clerk


Melrose


21 Bank Clerk


Reading


-


22 Manufacturer


Reading


21 At home


Reading


23 Telephone Operator


Wakefield


17 R. R. Worker


Wakefield


45 Salesman


Reading


18 Jesse Holbrook Clark Helen Augusta Lord


18 Joseph Morton Warren Ethyl Mae Mitchell


24 Foreman


South Boston


32


Tabulator


Melrose


27 Clerk


Reading


.


51


MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Names


Age Occupation


Residence


19 Arthur John Frotten


24 Barber


Reading


Marjorie Louise Doucette


19 At home


Woburn


27 Ralph Pierce Eldridge Jeanette May Bernard


48


Salesman


Reading


32 At home


Reading


Nov.


2 Harry Edward White Nellie Frances Heselton


18 Waitress


Reading


2 Rudolph Wyer Marion Lassell


17


Clerk


Reading


7 John Andrew McIntosh Lillian May Crosby


21 Machine Operator


Reading


25 Isaac Bolton Hannah J. Eaton


54 At home


Reading


46 Physician


Boston


26 Arthur Stanley Gibson Marion Audrey Fowle


26


Bank Clerk


Reading


26 Louis Joseph LeBlanc Lena Warner


21 Housework


Reading


77 Retired


Reading


26 Volney Sprague Elizabeth Pike


64 Housekeeper


Lisbon, N. H.


21


Asst. Finisher


Reading


27 William Patrick Burke Mary Elizabeth Simpson


20


Clerk


Medford


38 Police Officer


Reading


27 Patrick Joseph Long Katherine O'Brien


36 Housework


Winchester


27 Frederick L. Riessle Margaret T. Turner


32 Chauffeur


Reading


26 Cloth Inspector


Reading


Dec.


4 Harry Eldridge Waldron Clara Ethel Legro


23 Bookkeeper


Quincy


19 Clerk


Reading


Greenskeeper


Reading


13 Hermidos A. Saulnier Mary Esther Doucette


38


Shoeworker


Stoneham


16 Leather Worker


Reading


25 Albert Clarence Graupner, Jr. 25 Ethel Gertrude Bancroft


24 Bookkeeper


Reading


19 Donald Warren Shepard Eva Marie Rayfuse


21 Insurance Broker


Reading


21 Stenographer Reading


23 Rubber Worker


Reading


24


Machinist


New Bedford


22 Mechanic


Stoneham


55


Track Hand


Reading


21


Millhand


Reading


12 Howard Daggett Farrant Marie Hazel Robart


24 At home


Reading


Clerk


Reading


52


DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Name


YMD


Cause of Death


Oct., 1918


5 Albert O. Surette


35


10 12 Pneumonia


Jan.


1


2 Ralph A. Fratus


35


9


Ulcer of Duodenum 6


6 Walter L. McConney


59


8


28


Hemorrhage


8 Julie R. French


53


0


26 Carcinoma


9 Susan . Grace Putnam


79 6 19 Diabetes


16 Franklin P. Eaton


69


10 1 Heart Disease


19 Robert Powers


69


7


15


Heart Disease


19 Lucy M. Kidder


76. 11


10 Hemorrhage


22 Margaret Riessle


5-1


0


12 Gall Stones


28 Michael A. Hickey


74


10


28


Carcinoma


31 Gordon W. Lewis


8


1


19


Automobile Accident


Feb.


1 Warren A. Batchelder


88


0


19


Nephritis


3 Dexter F. Pecott


66


5 10


Arterio Sclerosis


9 Charlotte E. C. Clapp


79


4


4


Oedema


10 Edgar Knight


61


11 13 Hemorrhage


11 John J. Leary


75


11


7 Myocarditis


18 Augusta Jones


80


1


13 Carcinoma


25 Sarah Hutchinson


20


8


25


Eclampsia


26 Augustine P. Cummings


37


9


10 Tuberculosis


Mar.


1 Alfred Foster Swett


62


6 14


Nephritis


2 Ida M. Bowen


66


0 0 Myocarditis


10 James P. Riley


25


0


0 Pneumonia


12 George W. Perkins


58


2


27 Hemorrhage


16 Almeda E. Duley


87


1 12


Advanced Age


26 Harold Carden


0


0 5 Hydrocephalus


Apr. 3


3 Margaret A. Stewart


75


2 17 Myocarditis


5 Benjamin H. Jellison


78


3 7 Anaemia


7 Sophia F. Hamilton


90 8 19 Myocarditis


8 David Morin


73


7 18 Oedema


31


10 Jack Alexander Berg


2


9 6 Pneumonia


53


DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Name


YMD


Cause of Death


13


Lydia L. Surrey


44


5


2


Anaemia


15 Dorothy Robertson


0


0


5


Hemorrhage


20 Mabel E. Becker


51


0


12


Pneumonia


23 Lewis H. Graham


19


4


4


Accidental Burns


24 Susan B. Higgins


70


11


15


Heart Disease


24 Mary F. Robbins ยท


33


9


5 Carcinoma


27 Phoebe Atkins Johnson


82


1


30


Hemorrhage


29 Marian A. Clapp


49


6 29


Ruptured Appendix


May


2 Lydia J. Hyde


74


7


14


Carcinoma


6 Louise A. Nichols


57


7


2


Fracture of Spine


7 Caroline E. Harnden


75


4


19


Hemorrhage


8 Ellis Proctor Holmes


63


11 29


Heart Disease


11 Julia E. Prescott


74


7


12


Pneumonia


12 Benjamin F. Goodwin


70


8


0 Hemorrhage


21 Hermenigilde Bourgault


53


0


0 Myocarditis


25 Moses E. Nichols


82


11


18 Nephritis


27 Marie T. Palumbo


0


9


29


Hemorrhage


30 Joseph P. Fay


21


9


29


Septicaemia


-


June


3 Robert Morton


51


2


24


Carcinoma


10 George A. Hunt


64


7


19


Nephritis


12 Mary A. Morrison


68


11


7 Heart Disease


18 Bessie M. Hutchinson


51


9


18


Myocarditis


19 Agnes L. Vyse


0


0


9


Hemorrhage


July


8 Catherine E. Gigie


78


6 28 Carcinoma


9 Morton H. Ambler


25


7 20


Accidental Electrocution


17 Augusta C. Sawyer


87


5 17


Carcinoma


28 Catherine Gordon


8


6 20


Automobile Accident


Aug.


2 Forest S. Lowell


64


4 10 Hemorrhage


2


4


6 Orville W. Smith


55


7 11 Myocarditis


7 Mary F. Damon


79


4 9 Heart Disease


12 Freeman R. Slocum


30


0 10


Heart Disease


12


54


DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Name


YMD


Cause of Death


13 Richard Sears


14


16 Gilman M. Stokes


89


3


7


Heart Disease


26


Annie Riley


87


0


0


Myocarditis


28


Iva E. Alexander


46


3


29


Myocarditis


2S


Gilman L. Parker


77


0


9 Traemia


28


Francis G. Wilson


0


2


28


Intestinal Indigestion


30


Mary Ann Meaney


82


5


0 Myocarditis


Sept.


5 Anne H. Wait


45


6


8


Nephritis


10 Edward H. Morris


13


11


15


Peritonitis


11 Ida F. Chase


61


8


30


Heart Disease


15 Fred E. Grimes


31


11 7


Tuberculosis


15


Sarah D. Newhall


57


10 13


Carcinoma


20 Exie Estes


68


2


25 Encephalitis


24 Sarah W. Brown


81


0


0 Myocarditis


27 Corey H. Wetmore


42


10


23


Tuberculosis


30 Barbara Frances Braun


0


0


4


Heart Disease


Oct.


7 Joseph R. White


0


0


28


Gastro Enteritis


7 Calvin W. Park


78


3


14


Myocarditis


9 Samuel Metcalf


88


7


26 Myocarditis


17 Mary Quinn


0


0


3 Melena


21 William John Everett


63


4


8 Pneumonia


23 Miriam Innis


34


0


0 Convulsions


24 Chester B. Rogers


55


0 24 Anaemia


29 Edward Lincoln Abbott


61


10


14


Hemorrhage


31


Samuel H. Parker


73


0


25


Myocarditis


Nov.


1 Katherine E. Hunt


95


8 14


Arterio Sclerosis


3 Margaret Jane Cameron


66


11


4


Cancer


7 Philip McArthur


75


9


0 Apoplexy


10


12 Emerline C. Nichols


93


10 1 Enteritis


18 Katherine Helen Wakefield


52


7 0 Carcinoma


19 Julia E. Chaffee


76


8 2 Arterio Sclerosis


24 Rosetta S. Smith


81


6 13


Pneumonia


27 Isabelle Fiske Rankin


73


5 18 Pneumonia


28 Malcolm McLeod


86


10


26 Heart Disease


29 Martha A. Batchelder


87


9


8 Arterio Sclerosis


30 Daniel F. Whalen


56


2


6 Carcinoma


2


2


0


Accidental Burns


55


DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1924


Date


Name


Y M


Cause of Death


Dec.


3 Joseph B. Doherty


44


9


0 Phthisis


5 Ray Gowing


49


0


0


Pneumonia


6 Addin L. Hibbert


72


0


7 Myelitis


6 Richard J. Brophy


40 0


0 Phthisis


10


Georgia May Tully


47 2


27


Broncho Pneumonia


16 Zwicker


0


0


3


Hemorrhage


19 Walter H. Calkin


66


7


1 Pneumonia


19 Ellen Frost


62


11


29


Heart Disease


20 Mary E. Jewell


70


5


5 Nephritis


21 Elizabeth W. Frost


48


11 10


Accidental Burns


25 Diana M. Dean


78


3


18


Myocarditis


26 Eva A. Dickey


69


8


26


Cerebral Hemorrhage


27 Clement Gleason


74


8


22 Hemorrhage


28 Charlotte Patterson Holmes


81


1


28


Hemorrhage


31


Chester C. Richardson


68


2 20


Coronary Sclerosis


56


REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN


To the Citizens of Reading:


We herewith submit the annual report of the Board of Selectmen for the year ending December 31, 1924, together with the reports of the various departments under our supervision.


The first meeting of the Board following the annual election was held March 3, 1924, and Joseph D. Knight was chosen Chairman and Robert E. Parker, Secretary; Leon G. Bent was appointed Clerk.


During the year weekly meetings have been held and ten special meetings and fifteen hearings on gasoline station locations have been held, seven permits being granted.


In joint sessions with the Library Trustees and also with the Ceme- tery Trustees, appointments have been made filling vacancies on those boards.


Due to the ever increasing volume of motor traffic we have found it necessary to appoint an additional police officer in order that the Police Department might be in a better position to give proper protec- tion to the children in the vicinity of our school houses.


The congestion at the polls during the recent election has made apparent the necessity for additional facilities for handling the num- her desiring to vote. A plan is under way to increase the accommodations for the voters during the rush hours.


Five additional traffic beacons similar to those now installed at the corner of High and Haven Streets and corner of Washington and Main Streets have been ordered subject to the approval of the Town and will be installed in locations as follows: Cor. Middlesex Avenue and Lowell Street, corner Woburn and Chute Streets, corner Haven and Main Streets, corner Woburn and West Streets, corner Summer Avenue and Prescott Street.


With the increase in automobile travel has come a considerable in- crease in the number of roadside stands selling farm products, tonics, etc. The Board views with some concern the resulting congestion in traffic where the stands are placed too near the traveled way on the main thoroughfares and it seems advisable that steps be taken to require that these be so located that patrons will not interfere with traffic.


The deplorable condition of the Police Department quarters has been repeatedly brought before the Town. Proper facilities for this depart- ment is still a matter that should engage the early attention of the citizens.


57


In conclusion, we would express our appreciation of the continued spirit of co-operation evidenced by the various boards and department heads with this board, as matters referred to them by us have invariably received prompt and proper attention.


We would also mention with appreciation the service rendered by our clerk, Mr. Bent, who attends to much of the detail incident to the conduct of the executive office of the Town.


Respectfully submitted,


JOSEPH D. KNIGHT, ROBERT E. PARKER, FREDERICK L. SPRINGFORD, Selectmen of Reading.


58


REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


I herewith submit to your Honorable Board the report of the Police Department for year ending December 31, 1924:


Total number of arrests for year 1924-260.


Males


252


Females


8


Resident


116


Non-resident


141


American born


182


Foreign born


78


Adults


205


Minors


55


Making a total unmber


260


Causes of Arrests


Assaults


5


Larceny


18


Drunkenness


97


Keeping and exposing liquor for sale


6


Capias


3


Non-support


11


Insane


3


Disturbing the peace


1


Breaking and entering


4


Attempt breaking and entering


2


Driving auto under influence of liquor


23


Violating automobile laws


63


Delinquent children


2


Driving auto so as to endanger public


7


Violating Volstead act


2


Gaming


6


Rape


1


Carrying dangerous weapon without permit


1


No home


1


Illegal transportation liquor


1


Disposition of Cases in Court


Fined


114


Released


24


Turned over to out of town officers


9


59


Placed on file


53


Placed on probation


9


Cases continued 10


State hospital, Danvers


2


State hospital, Tewksbury


2


House of Correction


3


House of Correction, suspended


7


Appealed cases


10


Dismissed for want of prosecution


2


Discharged


7


State farm


1


Fines suspended


3


Held for Grand Jury


4


Amount of Fines Imposed by Court


5 at $ 2.00 each $ 10.00


34 at $ 5.00 each


170.00


1 at $ 8.00 8.00


370.00


8 at $ 15.00 each


120.00


2 at $ 25.00 each


50.00


2 at $ 30.00 each


60.00


9 at $ 50.00 each


450.00


6 at $ 75.00 each


450.00


5 at $100.00 each


500.00


2 at $150.00 each


300.00


Miscellaneous


Cases investigated 205


Disturbances quelled


7


Buildings found open and secured


114


Children lost and returned parents


9


Dead body taken care of


1


Windows found open


8


Dogs killed . 20


Wires found down and reported


3


Accidents reported and investigated


145


Lantern put in dangerous places


4


Defective sidewalks and streets reported


5


Electric lights reported out


9


Search warrants served 11


Residences temporarily vacated and special attention asked 15


Property reported stolen $7,487.29


Property recovered 6,419.29


Goods found outside of buildings and brought to station 75.00


Property damage and restitution made 50.00


Summons served for out of town officers 44


Automobiles reported stolen by out of town officers 52


37 at $ 10.00 each


60 ROSTER Chief Jeremiah Cullinane


Patrolmen


Oscar H. Low Francis T. Slack Timothy J. Cullinane Frank R. Fisher


Patrick J. Long William F. O'Brien Daniel T. Scanlon Harold W. O'Brien


Conclusion


I desire at this time to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Judges and Clerks of our Court, our local press, and all others who assisted in any way in promoting the welfare of this department; also all members of the force for what they have done.


Respectfully yours,


JEREMIAH CULLINANE, Chief of Police.


61


REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,


Reading, Mass.


Gentlemen :- The annual report of the Fire Department is herewith submitted giving the record of fires that have occurred during the year ending December 31, 1924, together with such information as I think may be of interest to the Town.


Finances


My financial transactions are all embodied in the report of the Town Accountant to which I would respectfully refer you for any information you may desire in that line.


Manual Force


The Department consists of fiye permanent men (including the Chief) and twenty-five callmen. At the State Election the Town voted to adopt the two Platoon System in the Fire Department and this will necessitate the addition of three more permanent men.


Apparatus and Equipment


The Department has five pieces of motor apparatus, four at the Cen- tral Fire Station as follows: one Knox triple combination of 600 gallons per minute capacity, purchased in 1913; one Robinson double tank com- bination purchased in 1916; one Robinson combination service ladder truck purchased in 1916; one Simplex single tank combination which was built this year by the members of the permanent force. At Hose 2 Station on Woburn st. there is a Ford hose truck. All of the machines are in good working order with the exception of the triple combination for which new wheels must be built this year. I would recommend that these wheels be made for pneumatic tires.


Recommendations


The call members of the department have requested an increase in their salary of fifty dollars per year making their salary one hundred and fifty dollars per year. I would ask that your board give this matter due consideration as I feel that their request is just. I would also recom- mend the purchase of the following equipment and appliances, some of which have become obsolete and dangerous to use: two ladders, hose, two portable electric lanterns, an electric tire pump, life net and patrol covers. I would further recommend that Combination A and Ladder No. 1 be painted this year. The State Legislature passed an act requiring all


62


cities and towns to adopt the so-called "National Standard Thread" on all hose couplings. We must change our present hose couplings at some time this year.


Fire Prevention


I have issued 839 permits for fires out of doors, 38 permits for the installation of oil burning equipment, five permits for the sale of fireworks, three permits for blasting. I have made regular inspection of public gar- ages and mercantile buildings.


There are now over one hundred fuel oil burning pieces of apparatus in town. Most of these are of an approved type and have the necessary safety attachments on them but there are still a few in use which are not thus equipped and constitute a fire hazard.


Record of Alarms


Bell


Still


Total


January


3


5


8


February


4


1


5


March


2


4


6


April


9


15


24


May


4


10


14


June


6


9


15


July


4


13


17


August


4


6


10


September


5


8


13


October


5


26


31


November


7


22


29


December


10


22


32


Total


63


141


204


Number of miles traveled


829.4


Number of feet of 2 1-2 inch hose laid


6,600


Number of feet of 1 1-2 in. hose laid


2,400


Number of feet of chemical hose used


3,200


Number of feet of ladders raised


310


Number of gallons of chemicals used


1,251


Number of covers spread


3


Number of gallons of gasoline used


490


Number of gallons of oil used


25


Value of property in danger


$307,080.00


Insurance thereon


363,950.00


Loss thereto


9,000.57


Insurance paid


8,288.57


Uninsured loss


312.00


-


63


Conclusion


In conclusion, I wish to extend to your Honorable Board, to the Town Accountant, Treasurer and the Finance Committee my thanks for the courtesies and co-operation I have received during the year. I wish to compliment the officers and members of the department on the prompt and efficient manner in which they have performed their duties. I also wish to express my thanks to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company for the use of current, to the Chief of Police for services ren- dered by his department at fires and to the employees of the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for the prompt and efficient service rendered in receiving alarms by telephone.


Respectfully submitted


ORVILLE O. ORDWAY, Chief Fire Department.


64 REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM


To the Board of Fire Engineers :-


Gentlemen :- The report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm is as follows:


The system is good condition. The lines have been all cleared of grounds, new cross arms placed where needed and trees trimmed for ample clearance.


The whistle valve has been repaired.


The street boxes have been painted and many boxes changed to new poles which have replaced old ones.


One new box was added the past year, Box 141, located at Howard st. and Hill Crest road.


New break wheels and contacts were placed in boxes 121, 47 and 48. The system consists of :


30 Miles of overhead construction.


150 Cells of storage battery.


1 Stevens five circuit repeater with necessary instrument boards.


37 Stevens fire alarm boxes.


28 Gamewell fire alarm box for still alarms.


1 Gamewell fire alarm for still alarms.


1 United States fire alarm box in reserve.


1 Gamewell transmitter with 69 wheels.


2 Stevens tower bell strikers.


1 Stevens tower bell striker in reserve.


1 Stevens whistle blowing machine.


1 12 inch Crosby chime whistle.


2 Gamewell tape punching registers.


2 14 inch gongs.


1 12 inch gong.


2 8 inch gongs.


11 6 inch tappers. .


1 testing station on circuits 3 and 4 at Hose 2 house.


Recommendations


That fire alarm boxes be placed at the following locations:


Pleasant and Eaton sts.


Pratt st. near Prescott.


Forest st. west of Main st.


Salem st. near Libby ave.


That doors of the "Keyless" type be placed in boxes 29 and 231. That underground construction be started in 1926.


65


In conclusion, I wish to thank your honorable Board and the Chief of the Fire Department for their co-operation.




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