USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1930 > Part 7
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Bowling and Pool Licenses
Blanche G. Abbott, Chamberlain Bros.
Junk Dealers
Jacob Riseman, Max Horovitz
Other Licenses
Auctioneers, George E. Horrocks, Frederick L. Springford, Everett W. Brown, Leon F. Quimby, Joseph D. Knight; Third Class Liquor, Danforth's Pharmacy, Inn Holder, E. W. Rogers, Dealer in Old Metal, Rod R. Ricard; Indoor Miniature Golf Course, David L. Rise- man, Earle G. Steele; Pop Corn License, Richard Bowman.
Regular weekly meetings have been held during the year and eleven (11) special meetings.
There have been ten (10) public hearings for permits for garages and for the storage and sale of gasoline. The following permits have been issued :
For gasoline storage
C. F. Erickson-Andrew Christensen-Antonio DeMarco
For three car garages
Jeanette Lenfest-Boston Stove Foundry Co.
For increased storage of gasoline
Edward H. Emerson
Three permits for gasoline storage have been refused and one still pending.
Pursuant to the vote of the Annual Town Meeting your Board on March 25 signed order of taking for land to be known as the Town Forest. Committee on Re-forestation was appointed and their report follows. We believe this project well worth-while and re- commend that the work be continued from year to year.
On June 20th the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway made application for license to operate busses within the town to replace existing trolley lines. During the consideration of this application conferences were held with Board of Selectmen of the Towns of Andover, Burlington, North Reading, Wakefield and Wilmington, as well as with officials of the Railway. An adjustment in fares within the Town was granted and your Board issued permit to replace the trolleys with busses. The Railway have agreed to remove tracks
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on any street if and when any change is made in the surfacing of that street. It is expected that tracks on North Main Street will be removed early in 1931.
On September 5th a public hearing was held on the application of James Mason for license to operate busses within the town without restriction. The Board granted the petition for the Town and in accordance with the law a public hearing was held in the State House, Boston, before the Public Utilities at which this Board was represented. Up to the present time no decision has been reached by that Commission.
The Reading Home for Aged Women donated land at the southwesterly corner of Middlesex Ave. and Linden St. to the Town and same was accepted by the Board. This rounds the corner referred to and makes for better traffic conditions.
At the Annual Town Meeting in March your Board was author- ized to exchange land at the northwesterly corner of Main and Lowell Streets with the Old South M. E. Church. The land received will be of benefit to the Town by reducing the sharp turn at this important corner.
In accordance with the vote of the Town at the Annual Meeting a new police station has been built and is now in use by the Depart- ment. Every effort has been made to provide the Town with a build- ing well-suited to the needs of this department and we have no hesi- tancy in saying that this result has been obtained and will work for more efficient operation of our police force. Additional work around the grounds in the spring will considerably add to the appearance of this building.
Your Board is aware of the traffic situation existing on Main Street through the center of the Town. With the re-building of South Main Street last summer and the probable re-construction of North Main Street the coming spring, traffic is bound to further in- crease. We feel that the proper way to control the situation is by automatic signals and consultation with experts has confirmed our opinion. In view of the probability of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway tracks being removed, however, it would seem unwise to take any action until some decision has been reached as to im- provements which this work may necessitate in the square.
A careful study is being made of dangerous corners through- out the Town and action will be taken to provide traffic signals thus reducing, in a measure, the hazards at these points.
The business depression existing during the past year has re- sulted in a situation among some of our citizens which has probably never obtained before. At the request of the Governor of the State we organized as a Committee on Unemployment and through the
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press invited all persons in the Town in need of work to register. At our request the Finance Committee transferred $1,000.00 from the Reserve Fund to be used in handling the situation. While it was im- possible to meet all the needs of the one hundred and twenty-five (125) persons who responded, we endeavored to give work to those with de- pendents so far as the funds would allow. With the men so em- ployed considerable work has been done at the Town Forest and so-called Town Farm as well as dumps cleaned up and unsightly abandoned automobiles removed. It was our thought that the citizens would respond with work at their residences but very few calls have been received. We hope that with the coming spring months the Town will have projects which may further relieve this situation.
The Town Farm property, so called, is now vacant and we recommend that the property be turned over to the Board of Public Works to be used in lieu of their present location on John St.
In closing may we express our appreciation to the various Boards of the Town for their co-operation during the year.
CHARLES F. TREVOR, Chairman W. HOMER MORRISON, Secretary MOLLIE A. SWEETSER Board of Selectmen
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of Reading :
The Board of Overseers of the Public Welfare submits the fol- lowing report for the year ending December 31, 1930.
The Board organized for the year by electing Mary F. Daniel as Chairman, Myrtle L. Leman as Secretary, Charles F. Trevor being the third member of the Board. Helen A. Brown was appointed visitor for the Board and Leon G .Bent, Clerk.
Aid, Board and Care $ 14,626.39
Mothers' Aid 4,069.93
Temporary Aid 3,235.01
Administrative Expenses
952.00
$ 22,883.33 Note: The following reimbursements have been or will be received :
Aid, Board & Care
Reimbursement from other Cities and Towns $ 2,355.58 Reimbursement from Hospital Fund 662.90
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Mothers' Aid
Reimbursement from State $ 1,896.12
Temporary Aid
Reimbursement from State
$ 3,235.01
$
8,149.61
While Reading has not been as severely affected by the business depression of the past year as have the industrial towns of the state, yet a comparison of the number of persons aided this year with those of 1929 shows a marked increase. We submit this comparison as fol- lows :
Causes for Seeking Aid
1929
1930
Illness
7
11
Unemployment
6
34
Old Age
4
11
Widowhood
8
10
Desertion or non-support
5
7
Mentally deficient
3
3
Total individuals aided
184
269
As may be seen from this table the number of old people aided has increased greatly. Several of these might well come under the head of "unemployment," for younger men, having lost their regular posi- tions, have usurped the "odd jobs" which would be the means of liveli- hood for our older men.
A new state law, the Old Age Assistance Act, which goes into effect July 1, 1931, will greatly affect this department. It provides aid for needy persons seventy years or over who have been residents of Massachusetts for twenty years. An appropriation of $5,000 will be requested to meet the requirements of this law. We are now caring for eleven aged persons through the regular channels at an average cost of $8 a week per person. The requested appropriation is based upon this ratio.
With the aid of a part time visitor only, we are unable to give adequate attention to mothers and families of ill or unemployed persons as well as to the aged and another part-time visitor will be needed from July 1st to December 31st, 1931. The law states that each Board of Public Welfare shall keep this new assistance distinctly separate from all other aid, and the law requires the services of a visitor.
The past year has been most unusual. People have been forced to ask for aid who never before have had public help, and who never
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again will be obliged to seek assistance. But there are those who because of large families, inadequate training when young, or physical incapa- city will need the help of the Board from time to time. For. these people, thoughtful, sympathetic, individual service is needed as well as closer supervision. There is need to make better contacts with relatives and friends, more careful investigation, and to secure work for men, women, and boys and girls of High School age, where their health permits. This the Board hopes to accomplish.
One thousand pounds of confiscated sugar were turned over to the Board by the Chief of Police for distribution among needy families. Two carloads of railroad ties one given by Richard A. Skane and another by the Boston and Maine Railroad, were much appreciated gifts. The Board employed idle men to cut and split the wood.
The Welfare Board wishes to thank the Board of Public Works for its ready co-operation in the distribution of wood, some of which came from the Town Forest. We wish to thank all the friends who so kindly donated clothing, shoes and bedding.
The Board appreciates the willing service of our visitor, Miss Helen A. Brown, who gave unstintingly of her time during the past year. Her knowledge of persons and conditions is invaluable to the Board.
Until this year the Board of Public Welfare has had no per- manent headquarters since its separation from the Board of Selectmen. We are now established in Room 17, on the second floor of the Muni- cipal Building, with ample closet space for storing gifts of clothing.
MARY F. DANIEL, Chairman MYRTLE L. LEMAN, Secretary CHARLES F. TREVOR
REPORT OF VISITOR
To the Board of Public Welfare :
I herewith submit my report for the year 1930.
The past year has been, as all must realize an unusually difficult one in more than one way. The principal trouble affecting the Depart- ment of Public Welfare has been the great amount of unemployment in many lines of industry. To the average man earning only enough to care for the needs of his family from week to week, and, if he has several small children, not able to save much for the future, lack of work for several weeks or months is a great disaster. For this reason alone we have had a number of applications for aid from people who
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had never before thought it would be possible for them to be placed in such a position, and be obliged to ask for relief. Twenty-seven fami- lies who had never before applied for aid, were obliged to do so this year, while nine who had at some previous time received aid, made new applications, making a total of thirty-tix. The causes for new applica- tions being made were as follows: Three from old age; five from sepa- ration or desertion of husband; five from illness; twenty-three from unemployment. Eighteen cases were closed during the year, four by death; two by removal from town; two in which the children had grown up and got work; and ten who had assistance for a short time and regained their independence after a temporary lift.
The visitor recorded 676 visits made to homes, an increase of more than 200 over last year, not including calls made at the State Infirmary, North Reading Sanatorium and other hospitals. More time in proportion to the larger number of people aided has necessarily been given to attention of grocery orders, and milk, coal and other bills have been approved as in previous years.
The assistance of the Visiting Nurse at all times is a great help, and the co-operation of the School Nurse, Attendance Officer and Good Health Committee is also of great assistance. We wish to extend thanks to the members of the Visiting Nurse Association and friends who gave of their time and strength in packing the bountiful Thanks- giving baskets, the contents of which were largely given by the school children.
We are grateful to the various organizations who co-operated in our Christmas work, and thank all for their generosity in giving dinners, fuel, money, clothing and toys. The Police Officers generously gave six tons of coal to some of our families who had been affected by unemployment. More organizations than usual gave dinners, and we would like to express our thanks to the Board of Trade, Knights of Columbus, Elks, Knights Templars, Telephone Girls, schools and churches and many kind friends who gave generously. The Legion Auxiliary gave a great deal of help to the families of Service men who had been obliged to call upon this department for help, when ineligible for Soldier's Relief on account of lack of settlement when coming from another State. We wish to thank all those who helped brighten this Christmas season for these families.
The Visitor wishes to thank the members of the Board for their constant interest and help during the year. Attention to details and a thorough understanding of each case has been a great help, and a farge share of responsibility taken, has been much appreciated by her. Mr. Bent, clerk of the Board, is always willing to help in problems which come up, and his assistance is much appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN A. BROWN, Visitor.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS
For the year Ended December, 31
1930
memorial to Walter S. Parker
The School Committee of the Town of Reading takes this occasion, the day of the funeral services of Walter S. Parker, to enter upon its records this appreciation of the outstanding service which he rendered to the Town and to its schools.
Although he served our citizens in many capacities in a long and honorable career, his connection with the schools of his native town was particularly noteworthy. As an educator he was employed in the schools of Boston for many years and from his professional training and great store of experience we were permitted to draw heavily dur- ing a membership on the School Committee of forty-six years most of that time being its chairman.
During that extended term every child who passed through our schools enjoyed the benefit of the supervision which he gave to their needs, the interest which he took in their welfare, heard the words of wisdom which came from his lips, and felt the influence of his kindly, human and understanding personality. It is fitting, indeed, that his name shall be borne in lasting commemoration of such service by the Walter S. Parker Junior High School of this town and we rejoice that he should have been spared to share in the activities of that school on many occasions since its comple- tion.
In deep appreciation, therefore, of the memorable services of Walter S. Parker faithfully and well performed, his successors in the School Committee of Reading direct that this expression of our regard and esteem be spread upon the records of the Committee on a page set apart for the purpose and that a copy be transmitted to the bereaved members of his family.
Unanimously adopted by vote of the School Commit- tee, January the seventh, nineteen hundred thirty-one.
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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
School Committee
Carl M. Spencer, Ch., 119 Woburn St. Term Expires 1933
Mrs. Laura S. Gordon, 93 Haven St. Term Expires 1933
Mrs. Josephine L. Fowler, 65 Temple St. Term Expires 1931
Arthur W. Coolidge, 136 Summer Ave.
.
Term Expires 1931
Harold A. Carnes, 39 Grand St.
Term Expires 1932
Logan R. Dickie, 56 Walnut St.
Term Expires 1932
School Committee Office
High School, Sanborn St. Telephone, Reading 0180
(Open 8.30 a. m. to 4 p. m. except on Saturdays : 9 a. m. to 12 m.)
Supervisory Staff
Adelbert L. Safford, $3,800, Superintendent, Office Hours : School Days, 9 to 9.30 a. m.
Margaret Hunt, $1,400, Accountant and Order Clerk.
Abigail H. Mingo, $2,200, Sec. to Supt., Attendance Officer, Dean of Girls, Manager of School Lunches.
Verna L. Wadleigh, $1,900, Testing and Statistics, Special Research. Charles R. Henderson, $1,000, School Physician, Consultant in Athletics. Mabel M. Brown, $2,000, Director of Health in the Schools and Nurse. Clara B. Lord, $1,200, School Nurse and Instructor in Nursing Tech- nique.
Mercie V. Nichols, $1,900, Supervisor Drawing, teaches in Senior High School.
Margaret Whittier, $1,800, Supervisor Music, lower grades, teaches in Junior High School.
Margaret Cameron, $2,000, Supervisor Penmanship, lower grades, teaches in Junior High School.
School Clerks
Senior High: Myrtle W. Tilton, $1,000.
Junior High : Doris Skinner, $968.
Junior High : Esther Downs, $660.
Highland : Beatrice Bryden, $792.
No School Signals Fire Alarm 2-2 repeated 3 times Street Lights turned on for 5 minutes 7.30 a. m. for (Senior High School, Junior High School, Intermediate School [gr. 5 and 6], Opportunity School).
8.15 a. m. for Grades 1 to 4 inclusive, morning session.
12.45 p. m. for Grades 1 to 4 inclusive, afternoon session.
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To keep the schools open every school day if possible is the policy of the management. This affords parents the choice either of sending pupils to school or of keeping them at home as the parent considers the conditions warrant in his particular case.
School Clinics
Diphtheria Prevention, by special appointment.
Tuberculosis Prevention, by special appointment.
Pre-School, every Tuesday at 3 p. m., at the Grouard House Dental, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Grouard House Posture, first Monday of each month at the Grouard House Habit, first Tuesday of each month at the Grouard House.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Reading :
The School Committee submits the following report for the year 1930 :
Because of the extended report on school accommodations which is also submitted, some of the Department reports usually printed with our Annual Report have been omitted. These include reports of the several supervisors and the principals of the High School, Junior High School and Intermediate School (Highland Building).
We appreciate the loyal efforts of the principals and teachers, the high ideals and continued progress indicated by these reports, and regret that the length of our report this year makes it inadvisable to publish in full. We shall be glad to furnish copies of individual reports to anyone interested, upon request.
The expenditures of the School Department have been kept with- in the budget for the year, and there remains in the Town Treasury a balance of $6,741.50, made up as follows: Salary Account, $1,240.53; General Account, $5,289.15; Agricultural Salaries, $103.36; Agricultural Maintenance, $48.67; and Industrial Tuition, $59.79.
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The greater part of the balance on the General Account is from the $5,000 budget item for work on the proposed athletic field at the Walter S. Parker Junior High School. This amount was included in our budget for 1930, with the expectation that work on this area would be commenced during the year. But at the Annual Town Meeting a committee was appointed to study the needs of the Town for an ath- letic field and, as the location referred to was one of those under con- sideration by the committee, it became advisable not to use the appro- priation. It therefore remains in the Town Treasury.
As we understand that the Committee on Athletic Field will not report in favor of this area for a town field, we are.securing plans for its development for school purposes. If these plans are prepared in time we shall present the matter to the town through an article in the Warrant of the Annual Meeting.
The Committee has continued the policy of making permanent improvements in the grounds about the schools. During the past year the playground of the Chestnut Hill School was graded and surfaced and fenced off from the highway, and the building was painted. At the Highland School improvements have been made in the walks and drives, the playground has been graded and surfaced, and improvements have also been made about the Channell House, or Opportunity School. There is still some work to be done on the lawns and planting at the Highland School, estimated to cost about $2,500, which is provided for in our 1931 budget.
It is apparent that the Town must shortly provide increased facilities for the elementary schools. During the year an important survey has been made of the school accommodations of Reading by Professor Jesse B. Davis of the School of Education of Boston Univer- sity. Your attention is called to his report, which is submitted here- with. The very comprehensive report describes our present facilities and suggests the steps which should be taken from time to time to provide for the growth in school population. We indorse his recom- mendations in general and believe that the most important task before the School Committee during the next few years will be to secure the sites and to make preparations to carry out the building policy which he recommends. Provision should also be made for neighborhood play- ground areas, in connection with new schools, a facility in which Read- ing is sadly deficient.
The above plans call for the abandonment in the course of time of several of the present wooden buildings, including that at Lowell Street. In spite of the prospective abandonment of this school, it will have to be used for a few years longer, and a new heating plant must be installed this summer. A similar condition at the Center School,
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while not quite so acute, may require the installation of a new boiler before next year.
In addition to the current or ordinary repairs, there are other items for the repair of buildings and for new class room furniture which should be included in the 1931 budget. While it might be possi- ble to limit the repair expenditures to about the same amount as for each of the last two years, a larger appropriation could profitably and wisely be expended. In the present condition of depression and unem- ployment it appears to us that a special effort should be made to do as much work this year as can wisely be undertaken, and we therefore propose the appropriation of a larger amount than the absolute min- imum requirement. We hope this program may appeal to our citizens as reasonable and that we may be authorized to undertake it.
The space in the High School building which is now used for office purposes by the Superintendent of Schools and the School Com- mittee is needed by the school and should be surrendered by the Com- mittee as soon as possible. Professor Davis' report proposes that the Town acquire the land to the north of the High School building ex- tending between Sanborn and Linden Streets to Lowell Street. His suggestion that in the future extension of the High School a building might be erected which would house a gymnasium, hall and cafeteria is of great interest to us and may solve the problem which we have in Reading of providing a suitable auditorium for Town Meetings and other public purposes. In the town of Norwood a municipal auditor- ium has been secured in just this way. If in carrying out this plan one of the houses standing on the land referred to could be acquired at this time, it could be easily adapted for the use of the Superintendent of Schools, the School Committee, the school nurse and other depart- ments of school work, such use to continue until the time comes for an extension of the High School building, where suitable office space would be obtained. If we are in a position to report a plan for such accommodation to the Annual Town Meeting, we will submit it through an article in the Warrant.
The athletic activities of the schools have been put upon a per- manent and self-sustaining basis, under the supervision and oversight of a sub-committee of our Board. By the purchase of some new equipment and the encouragement of general participation by all in sports and games, marked progress has been made in this field. Health instruction and supervision, the coaching of teams, and the financial operations of the school athletic associations have been established on a sound basis, which gives promise of a steady advance in this valuable function of the schools.
The school buildings and grounds have been brought to their
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present satisfactory condition under the supervision of the Sub-Com- mittee on Buildings and Grounds, and the result is a tribute to the painstaking attention which they have given to this work.
The people of the Town were saddened by the recent death of Walter S. Parker, whose services to our schools over a period of forty- six years of membership on this Committee have been notable. A memorial commemorating this outstanding record and the value of his services to the Town has been adopted by the Committee and has be- come a part of our records.
The terms of Arthur W. Coolidge and Josephine L. Fowler expire and are to be filled at the annual election.
Respectfully submitted, HAROLD A. CARNES,
ARTHUR W. COOLIDGE, LOGAN R. DICKIE,
JOSEPHINE L. FOWLER,
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