USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1934 > Part 18
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Construction of Cedar and Third Streets was started in May, and filling was obtained from the steam shovel excavating Main Street. Third Street in particular required considerable filling, as well as cut- ting off high spots. After grading was completed, the streets were each surfaced with Tarvia B. Ellis Avenue construction was started in June, and after grading, was tar coated.
At High and Lowell Streets, a high bank, thickly covered with trees and undergrowth, obstructed the view, and made a sharp corner at the intersection. This bank was cut back for a distance of sixteen feet, and a stone retaining wall, 95.4 feet in length and an average height of 3.0 feet, was laid. The large elm tree at the intersection was not removed, and ornamental field stones have been placed as a protective wall around it. Traffic is now enabled to make the turn from High Street into Lowell Street without going around the tree.
Grove Street re-location was turned into an E. R. A. Project, and much of the proposed work has been completed. Stone walls have been moved back and rebuilt, and the curve abutting the property at No. 85 Grove Street has been straightened by cutting back the bank and building a four foot retaining wall. Telephone and electric light poles were set back to conform with the new street lines, and gravel sidewalks constructed. As this report is being made, a crew of E. R. A. employees are still working on the project.
At the Special Town Meeting held March 19, 1934, County Road,
211
from Howard Street Extension 2,553.82 feet in a North-westerly di- rection, was accepted under Chapter 83. This was without doubt the most difficult piece of road construction in Reading in recent years. County Road is situated on the Westerly bounds of the town, be- tween West Street and the Woburn town line, and follows the con- tour of a steep hill, necessitating a grade of -7.89% in several places. A narrow, winding roadway, in most places only 10 feet wide, was widened to make a finished roadway 24 feet in width. Large boulders, several tons in weight, were excavated, and a protruding ledge taken out. Construction was started in May, with an E. R. A. Project, at the end of Howard Street Extension. The project was disallowed by order of the Federal authorities, and a steam shovel engaged to com- plete the work of excavation. After grading and rolling, the road- way was treated with Tarvia B. A change in grade of a portion of the road was authorized by the Board of Survey at a hearing held October 15 from Station O+O to Station 600, at which hearing the abutters were present and signified their approval.
Van Norden Road was also accepted as a Public Way at the Special Town Meeting, March 19. Van Norden Road, 4,283.62 feet in length, runs from Forest Street to Franklin Street, and was also started as an E. R. A. Project, but was discontinued by official E. R. A. orders. However, a substantial amount of work had been accom- plished, mainly the spreading of filling obtained from Main Street Chapter 90 Construction. A steam shovel completed excavation on Van Norden Road, which was then graded, rolled and surfaced with Tarvia B.
At this same Town meeting, the relocation and alteration of Frank- lin Street, 7,599.14 feet in length, from Main Street Westerly to Grove Street, was approved. This has been one of the most dangerous roads in Reading, with sharp, narrow curves, high, view-obstructing banks, and a narrow traveled way throughout. An E. R. A. Project has been approved to carry on the work of re-location, and it is expected to continue on through the winter of 1934-35.
Stone walls are to be set back, curves straightened and widened, banks cut, and the entire traveled way scarified, graded, and sur- faced with Tarvia B.
On November 27, 1934, a second Special Town Meeting approved the acceptance under Chapter 83 of Chapin Avenue, 622.13 feet in length, from Main Street Easterly to Elliott Street; a relocation of a portion of Grove Street, 527.41 feet long, north of the Meadow Brook Golf Club-house; and an alteration of the Southeast and Southwest corners at the intersection of Lowell and Deering Streets.
212
Chapin Avenue has been scarified and graded to level and im- prove it temporarily, as storm water drainage must be installed before the road is constructed. This work will commence at as early a date in the Spring of 1935 as weather conditions permit.
At the intersection of Lowell and Deering Streets the corners are to be rounded and cut back, and radius curbing installed, as soon as funds are available for the work.
The relocation of Grove Street, north of the Golf Club, will also be made when weather conditions permit.
At the request of certain interested citizens, the name of Third Street, from Cedar Street 550.0 feet Northerly to North (proposed) Street, was changed to "Shipkin Avenue" by the Board of Public Work, after holding a public hearing at which no objections to the change were made.
At the March Town Meeting, the sum of $6,000.00 was raised and appropriated under Section 34, Chapter 90, General Laws, for the purpose of improving and constructing Main Street from Haven Street to Washington Street. Although $7,000.00 had been asked by the Board of Public Works to carry the construction to the B. & M. Railroad crossing from Haven Street, the question as to whether or not the grade crossing on Main Street was to be eliminated in the near future resulted in the stopping of the construction at the south- erly side-line of Washington Street. The total sum estimated and supplied by the State, County and Town for the construction was $18,000.00.
The Storm Drainage was installed by the Highway Department, extra laborers being hired from the Welfare Department and Soldier's Relief rolls. Granite curbing was replaced and reset, and underground ducts laid for traffic signal lights.
Charles Capone was awarded the contract for the construction of Main Street, which called for cement concrete surfacing of Main Street and Fost Office Square, with bituminous concrete three feet wide in the gutters on Main Street, and bituminous concrete approaches at intersecting streets.
At the Westerly intersection of Haven and Main Streets the specifications called for bituminous penetration; the Board felt, however, that more satisfactory results would be obtained by install- ing a cement approach, which was done, by Highway Department em- ployees.
After the completion of Main Street by Capone, the section be- tween Washington Street and the Railroad crossing was dragged with
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the road hone. The shoulders were shaped and the whole area treat- ed with Tarvia Retread, giving a satisfactory surface. It is to be hoped that this section will be surfaced with cement concrete pave- ment in the near future.
At the Special Town Meeting of March 19, under Article 6, the sum of $5,000.00 was raised and appropriated for the Chapter 90 con- struction and improvement of West Street, from the Woburn line to Prescott Street, at an estimated total cost of $15,000.00, two-thirds of which amount was contributed by the State and County.
The road, 30 feet in width, was of bituminous penetration with a 21/2" Top Course penetrated with two gallons of asphalt per square yard and sealed with 3/8 gallon of asphalt, and a bottom course, vari- able, with a 41/2" maximum, bound with sand. The entire job of con- struction was accomplished by the Highway Department.
A steam shovel was engaged for roadway earth excavation, and the earth removed used for filling on County Road. Gravel borrow was taken from the Town pit off Grove Street, several hired trucks being used to augment the Town equipment.
Traffic was not impeded to any great extent by this construction, as one-half of the road was worked on at a time.
In lieu of a storm water drain from County Road Westerly into Woburn, a pre-cast concrete curb was laid, which is pleasing in ap- pearance and keeps the storm water in the gutter; off the abutting properties.
Drainage across West Street was installed where needed, and catch basins and man-holes adjusted to grade. Approaches of inter- secting streets, and portions of sidewalks were constructed of bi- tuminous concrete surfacing Type "D" and other portions of side- walks of gravel and stone dust.
Extra labor was hired from Welfare, Soldier's Relief, and E. R. A. rosters and paid at a 50c per hour rating.
Granolithic Sidewalks
Granolithic sidewalk construction started on May 4, as soon as weather conditions were favorable, and was carried on throughout the season. Three applications that were received in 1933 were taken care of, as well as eight new ones. Granolithic sidewalks totaling 756.16 square yards on a total frontage of 1338.15 feet, were laid, ten being installed under the provisions of Chapter 83, as betterments, and one as a cash proposition. Four applications for granolithic side- walks, totaling 166.88 feet frontage, are on hand for 1935 construction, lack of funds preventing their installation in 1934.
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Granolithic Sidewalk Construction By Streets-1934
Stiect
Frontage
Square Yards
Auburn Street
106.35
57.65
Bancroft Avenue
300.00
163.78
Highland Street
67.20
38.46
Hillcrest Road
80.00
44.44
Howard Street
167.00
102.76
John Street
216.32
119.64
Locust Street
55.00
31.88
Farkview Road
41.28
20.64
Pleasant Street
130.00
69.47
1
Prospect Street
95.00
63.00
Summer Avenue
80.00
44.44
Totals
1,338.15
756.16
One MacAsphalt sidewalk was installed on Gould Street, contain- ing 59.40 square yards adjoining the Ace Art Co. property.
Stone Dust
Stone Dust was used to cover 2,979 square yards of · sidewalk sur- face on a total frontage of 5,056 feet. 37.90 tons of stonedust were used on sidewalk work.
Tarvia B. Sidewalks
Tarvia B Sidewalk Construction was limited to Main Street, a sidewalk being treated from Hobart's Garage 637 feet Southerly, com- prising 460.00 square yards.
Gravel Sidewalks
Gravel Sidewalks have been built, chiefly by Welfare labor, in. the following list of places, where conditions required them. Gravel sidewalks are a foundation upon which later stonedust or Tarvia B will be placed.
Street Signs
Street signs were installed as needed to replace broken ones, to mark newly accepted Public Ways, and on the one street the name of which was changed.
Stone Bounds
Stone Bounds have been set, to establish the street lines, as is re- quired by law, in the following places :
Longwood Road, 6 Stone Bounds, 1 Iron Pipe, defining the 1932 acceptance ; Haverhill Street, 2 Stone Bounds, 1 Iron Pipe, to mark the 1933 relocation opposite Schurmans, No. 386 Haverhill Street; Van Norden Road, 2 Stone Bounds, which were re-set.
215
Curbing Installed
Granite Curbing was installed under Chapter 83 at one location in 1934, totaling: 109.0 feet in length.
In two instances, granite curbing has been purchased by the abut- ter direct from the quarry, and labor to install same has been sup- plied by the Highway Department, 269.8 feet of straight curbing and 12.5 feet of radius curbing, with four 2.0 foot returns, being installed.
Granite radius curbing 12.0 feet in length was set at the north- easterly intersection of Fremont and Berkeley Streets to correct a drainage condition and protect the sidewalk from encroaching traf- fic. At the Northeasterly intersection of Main and Washington Streets 12.0 feet of radius curbing and 11.5 feet of straight curbing was re- set; at the Southeasterly intersection of Main and Green Streets 80.0 feet of straight and 15.0 feet of radius curbing was re-set; at the Westerly side of Post Office Square 100.0 feet of straight curbing was re-set; and on the Easterly side of Main Street, from the office of the Malden & Melrose Gas Co. to the Temple Neckwear Factory, 58.5 feet of curbing was set, no curbing having formerly been set due to the presence of three large elm trees, which have been removed. All of this curbing work on Main Street was occasioned by the Chap- ter 90 construction.
In front of the Municipal Building on Lowell Street, 231.0 feet of Straight and 9.0 feet of Radius curbing was re-set, made necessary by an E. R. A. Project working on the tree lawn.
On Fairview Avenue one throat stone was set.
Storm Water Drainage
Storm Water Drainage was advanced to the extent of 7,427.8 feet during 1934. C. W. A. and E. R. A. Projects were responsible for the greater part of this work, under the supervision of Highway Depart- ment employees. Welfare and Soldier's Relief employees were used in some instances, but to no great extent.
'The storm water drains on Village, John and Minot Streets, start- ed in 1933, were completed in March 1934. A drain was next laid on West Street, from Woburn Street to the intersection of West, Willow, and Summer Avenue, 3,277 feet in length, with 11 catch basins and 1 man hole located as needed at intersecting streets and low spots. The watershed from approximately 35 acres is carried in this drain. At the time work started, four feet of frost was encountered, later in the season long sections of the trench had to be cribbed to prevent cave-ins, from surface water collected in the trench. Other drains installed in 1934 are shown in the following drainage table :
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HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT STORM WATER DRAINAGE - 1934
Size of Drain Pipe Installed
Location
10 in.
6 in.
8 in.
30 in.|24 in.|21 in.|20 in.|18 in.
15 in.
.2 in.
Catch Basins
Man Holes
Curb Inlets
Totals
John St .. .
. .
315
51
28
2
1
. .
72.0
Minot St.
111
30
1
·
141.0
West St.
877
11
1
3277.0
Main St.
90
1038
306
11
5
6
1434.0
Green St.
220
360
150.7
4
191.8
Woburn Street. .
. .
54
...
. .
...
. .
28.0
John St. .
166
269
3
435.0
Locust St ..
Highland St.
6
231
1
237.0
Hillside Road .
. ..
. .
. .
...
40
. . .
Totals .
69.1
26
90
48
785
...
2626
2697
1086.7
36
8
6
7427.8
. .
.. .
. .
.
. .
...
.
1
220.0
John St. .
360.0
West Street.
41.1
48.0
Van Norden Rd.
54.0
Harriman Ave.
26
26.0
Forest St ..
28
. .
Open Ditches
The C. W. A. project for cleaning, deepening, and widening main open drainage ditches ended on February 15, 1934, the two crews, total- ing 44 laborers and 2 foremen having completed work on the ditch from John Street near the Wakefield line to Ash, Cross, Main and Prospect Streets, the ditch near the Boston Stove Foundry, and the ditch running through the Basse Farm on West Street to Birch Mea- dow, where much time was spent in cleaning main and lateral drainage ditches. The open drainage ditches are now in excellent repair due to the above described project.
An E. R. A. project employing eight men was evolved to rip-rap and repair the unimproved section of ditch remaining in Memorial Park. Necessary excavation was done, and a section 126 feet long on one bank and on the other bank 146 feet long was faced with rip-rap stone work. The entire open ditch which runs from Charles Street through the skating pond to the dam opposite Orange Street, is now faced with rip-rap stone work.
Tables are included in this report showing the amount of money expended by the Board of Public Welfare and Soldier's Relief to re- lieve unemployment under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works with a list of the work accomplished.
217
. .
394.0
Village St .. .
...
470
470.0
Washington St.
72
1
.
2
. .
48
2400
...
40.0
Amount of Work Done By Men Paid By Welfare Dept. Under the Direction of the Board of Public Works Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1934
Month
Amount Expended
January
$ 1,261.65
February
1,406.25
March
2,262.90
April
2,204.40
May
1,441.50
June
1,285.33
July
1,005.30
August
1,594.65
September
861.75
October
878.70
November
2,114.25
December
1,795.05
Total
$18,111.75
Distribution of Welfare Work: Highway Department
General Maint. Highways
$ 4,868.15
Sidewalk Maint. and Const.
1,716.00
Cleaning Dumps
858.00
Equipment Repairs
394.65
Snow and Ice Removal
1,452.23
Drainage Construction
368.10
Cleaning Drainage Ditches
531.90
Sand Pit
477.60
Cleaning Gutters
877.05
Cutting Brush
299.25
Curbing
104.10
Cleaning Catch Basins
298.50
Shop
2.40
K. P.
103.27
Setting Stone Bounds
4.80
Retaining Walls
111.45
Burning Leaves
212.40
Street Signs
2.40
218
Main Street
69.90
Van Norden Road
28.50
County Road
108.00
Third Street
. . .
2.10
Ellis Avenue
8.55
Haverhill Street
198.15
Guard Rail
...... 18.15
$ 13,115.60
Water and Sewer Departments
Service Pipe Const. and Repairs
$ 153.60
Main Pipe Maint.
23.70
Main Pipe Const. and Repairs
348.90
Service Pipe Maintenance
257.25
Maintenance and Repairs of Hydrants
30.30
Garage at New Pumping Station
87.00
New Wells
31.35
Meter Maintenance
4.20
Sewer Const. and Repairs
42.90
Sewer House Connection
70.65
. .....
$ 1,049.85
Park Department
Ball Park
$ 652.15
Birch Meadow
674.85
Memorial Park
868.80
Reading Common
202.05
Leach Park
19.20
.
$ 2,417.05
Miscellaneous
Town Forest
$ 24.00
School Department
413.70
Municipal Building
953.85
Police Station
4.20
219
.
Cemetery Department
11.10
Office-Clerical
122.40
$
1,529.25
Total
$ 18,111.75
Amount of Work Done By Men Paid By Soldier's Relief Department Under the Direction of the Board of Public Works Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1934
January
$ 92.80
February
226.20
March
314.40
April
272.00
May
87.80
June
135.40
July
. .
137.60
August
135.40
September
121.60
October
84.60
November
235.00
December
131.20
$ 1,974.00
Distribution of Soldier's Relief Work 1934 Highway Department
General Maint. Work
$ 444.40
Sidewalk Const. and Maint.
104.00
Cleaning Dumps
278.40
Equipment Repairs
30.40
Cleaning Drainage Ditches
32.00
Snow and Ice Removal
265.40
Cutting Brush
28.80
Van Norden Road
6.40
Main Street
7.40
Sand Pit Maint.
9.60
Cleaning Gutters
35.20
Clearing Catch Basins
6.40
Burning Leaves
13.80
Setting Curbing
45.40
220
K. P. Patching
Street Signs
$
1,332.00
Water and Sewer Departments
Service Pipe Maint. $ 6.40
Main Pipe Maint. and Const.
6.40
Working at Pumping Station
12.80
Sewer House Connection
5.00
Park Department
Common
$ 13.20
Memorial Park
92.80
Birch Meadow
38.40
Ball Park
161.80
Leach Park
122.80
Miscellaneous
School Department
$ 171.00
Municipal Building
5.00
Town Forest
6.40
$ 182.40
Total
$ 1,974.00
Rolling Equipment of the Board of Public Works
The following chart will illustrate the rolling equipment of the dif- ferent departments and the year bought :
1 - 15 Ton Gasoline Driven Roller, 1931,
1
-
5 Ton Six Cylinder Autocar Truck, 1930.
1
-
21/2 Ton Diamond T Truck, 1934.
1
- 31/2 Ton Diamond T Truck, 1929. - 11% Ton Chevrolet Truck, 1930. 1
1
- Ford Chassis Air Compressor Truck, 1930.
1 - Chevrolet Coupe, 1933. 1 - Ford Coupe, 1930.
1
- Caterpillar Tractor, 1934.
- Cletrac Tractor, 1930. 1
1
- Master 7 Cement Mixer, 1931.
1
- K. P. Mixer, 1922.
- Trailer, 1923. 1 - 11% Ton Chevrolet Truck, 1934. 1
1 -11/2 Ton Chevrolet Truck, 1931. 1 -Fordson Tractor, 1927.
221
18.00 6.40
$ 30.60
$ 429.00
PARK DEPARTMENT
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Park Department: General Appropriation
$ 2,000.00
Transferred from Excess and Deficiency Fund
300.00
Transferred from Van Norden Road Account 400.00
Expended :
$ 2,700.00
Memorial Park
$ 894.89
Supervised Play
110.52
Common and Main St. Parks
14.00
Leach Park
5.85
. Ball Park
647.53
Birch Meadow
1,006.39
Total Expenditures
$ 2,679.18
Balance Unexpended
$ 20.82
Park Department
The Parks and Playgrounds have been greatly improved during the past year, C. W. A. and E. R. A. labor having been used extensively in their upkeep, repair, and advancement. Early in the spring an of- ficial F. E. R. A. order came through that only 30% of the monthly F. E. R. A. disbursements to Reading could be used for departmental construction work, the remaining 70% to be used in Park and Play- ground development.
Projects were immediately made up to construct tennis courts at Washington Street Ball Park, to improve and construct Birch Meadow Playground in accordance with the approved Manning development plans, and to supply E. R. A. Playground supervisors for Memorial Park.
The Park Department appropriation for 1934 was $2,000.00 but as this amount was insufficient to supply all materials needed in the ex- tensive E. R. A. projects in our Parks, an additional sum amounting to $300.00 was transferred to the Park Department appropriation from the excess and deficiency fund, and at the Special Town Meeting of No- vember 27, 1934, $400.00 was transferred to the Park Department, mak- ing the total Park Dept. appropriations and transfers for 1934, $2,700.00. The Reading F. E. R. A. Administration, from a special fund, expended $42.62 for Park Department supplies, therefore the total sum of money available for Park Department use in 1934 was $2,742.62. A brief de- scription of the activities in each Park, Playground, and the Common follow :
Memorial Park
The general care and upkeep of the Park was efficiently carried
222
on by employees of the Welfare Department, who were used to mow the grassed areas, trim shrubbery, edge foot-paths, and for general care-taking. A new power lawn mower is badly needed to replace the one now in use.
The tennis and horse-shoe courts were kept in fine repair and were used extensively throughout the season. An organization has been formed by the devotees of horse-shoe pitching, called the Reading Horse-Shoe Club, and an indoor horseshoe court installed in Memorial Park barn, for winter use. Plans have been made to repair the barn and install a heating system by means of an E. R. A. project.
Supervised play and general summer school vacation activities were again under the jurisdiction of the Playground Committee of the Reading Woman's Club. The Board of Public Works wishes to take this opportunity of expressing their appreciation for the high standard of playground efficiency made possible by the efforts of the Playground Committee.
An E. R. A. project supplied seventeen instructors and supervisors of supervised play, from July 5, to August 30, who were all selected after having duly qualified as instructors in the various playground ac- tivities to which they were assigned. A number of leagues in various types of sport, such as baseball, tennis, golf, and horse shoe pitching were organized by them, and suitable prizes were awarded to the winners of the different contests at the close of the season. The base- ball league was especially of interest to the children, and through the courtesy of the management of the Boston Braves and Red Sox teams, two trips were made by bus to see these teams play regular major league games, at Braves Field and Fenway Park, 150 children being taken each time.
The Memorial boulder, which was formerly located near the band stand, has been moved to a new location at the main entrance to Mem- orial Park on Salem Street. The boulder, which is set in a cement foundation, is surrounded by American arborvitae shrubs, and bears a bronze tablet upon which is inscribed the names of Reading World War heroes. Twenty weeping willow trees have been set out along the brook, between the dam and Salem Street, as an additional memorial. This work was done at the request of Reading Post 62, American Legion.
Birch Meadow; Playground
The F. E. R. A. ruling regarding the expenditure of 70% of the town's monthly F. E. R. A. allotment on park and playground improve- ment was responsible for a marked advance in the development of Birch Meadow Playground. A crew averaging 88 men were employed from June 25, 1934 to Jan. 3, 1935 in the development of the Playground along the lines laid out in the Manning plans, which were adopted by vote of the Town in 1932.
223
These men have cut the underbrush from, and rough-graded a large area near the Bancroft Avenue entrance. A steam shovel and hired trucks were employed in hauling gravel for filling from the Mea- dow Brook Golf Club, and was used to grade the area between the present tennis courts and the overlook. Three additional tennis courts, constructed of gravel with a black tar surface, and enclosed with fences, have been constructed, and used extensively through the season.
A fieldstone fireplace was constructed on the overlook, and was used by a number of picnic parties. It is a large structure, containing a fire pit, grid, oven and chimney.
Paths and walks have been laid out on the portion graded, and loam and sods placed around the borders of the paths and rolled and seeded.
During the summer the wading pool was in constant use, and was augmented by a hydrant shower attached to the town water system near the wading pool.
In the fall a, hockey rink, 200' x 70', with board sides four feet in height, was erected at the end of Bancroft Avenue. It has been kept in good condition for skating and hockey throughout the winter months, and is illuminated at night with floodlights installed by the Municipal Light Dept. A quarter meter has been set to pay for the electricity used. The Reading Hockey Club has played several league games at the rink, and hockey players in general are requested to use the rink for hockey playing instead of Memorial Park skating pond, to eliminate the hazard of injuries to children.
Washington Street Ball Park
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