USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1937 > Part 7
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83
1
18
Myocarditis
25 Elsie M. (Tuttle) Parker
54
9
9
Pneumonia
30 Bertha E. (Brougham) Gordon
82
1
1
Endocarditis
June
3 George Herbert Browne
58
9
14
Nephritis
5 John M. Libby
79
9
17
Carcinoma
9 Patricia Mary Hoyt
8
10
23
Cardiac Dilatation
11 Martha Fidelia (Blood) Harriman
86
6
20
Carcinoma
13 Sadie M. (Pendergrace) Mansfield
80
Myocarditis
18 Mary (Hoar) Galvin
87
Myocarditis
26 Emma Gertrude (Rice) Steele
71
4
16
28 Albion Dole
79
Myocarditis Myocarditis
July
6 Walter F. Cook
85
3
8
Heart Disease Carcinoma
6 Emma (Farrin) Lawson
84
10
26
6 Roger D. Smith
26
8
22
Accidental
Drowning
9 Everett Harrison Hall
72
8
21
Automobile
Accident
10 Barbara Florence Burgess
20
0
26
Epileptic Convulsions
10 Walter Clifford Flagg
67
3
8
Heart Failure
13 Addie I. (Day) Verne
77
8
30
13 James F. Watson
46
-
17
17 Martha Louise Black
80
4
7
Hemorrhage
17 Marian (Starke) Robinson
32
9
24
Automobile
Hemorrhage Cardiac Dilatation
Accident
77
DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1937
Date
Name
Y M
D Cause of Death
July
18 Sarah (Fortis) Carter
18 Adele (Allard) Merriman
82
8
18
19
26 Leroy W. Barker
66
4
23
Embolism Carcinoma
28 Mary E. (Willcutt) Keith
81
0
16
Pneumonia
August
14 Sarah A. Dalton
58
7
19
Carcinoma
19 Roswell J. Murphy
46
11
20
Struck by Lightning
20 Robert W. Burnham
37
5
9
Endocarditis
23 Gertrude M. (Kenney) Hyatt 50 *
6
9
Coronary Occlusion
29 James A. Freeman
69
8
23
Hemorrhage
September
1 Ianthe L. Parker
82
8
21
Hemorrhage
3 Shirlie (Sanborn) Upton
36
4
14
Intestinal
Obstruction
7 Elizabeth C. (Wallace) Sias
84
1
2
Thrombosis
9 Harold Worth Batchelder
44
10
8
Pneumonia
9 Thomas Lawson
77
8
11
Dilatation of Heart
9 William H. Martin
42
6
5
Automobile
Accident
11 Jesse Thorn
68
6
26
Emboli
13 Peter I. Mullen
66
Carcinoma
19 Elizabeth (Thomas) Ivester
80
11
14
Cardiac Asthma
24 Elizabeth J. Glennie
74
7
20
Heart Failure
26 Howard Penn Knox
61
5
28
Pneumonia
29 Luella Roby (Janes) Lloyd
85
2
1
Hemorrhage
October
7 Carrie L. (Thorn) Proper
70
2
10
Cardio-Vascular
Disease
9 George W. Scott
81
11
2
Pneumonia
10 Francis B. Hunt
59
10
Hemorrhage
10 Beatrice Turner
35
8
18
Tuberculosis
12 Nathaniel P. MacInnis
77
11
10
Thrombosis
14 Henry Brooks
64
Thrombosis
82
9
7
Myocarditis Hemorrhage
28 Mary E. (Drugan) Griffin
71
-
-
78
DEATHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1937
Date
Name
Y M
D
Cause of Death
October
14 Arthur H. Hutchinson
69
4
8
Pneumonia
14 Katherine May (Heath) Irish 64
11
16
Hemorrhage
18 Edwin L. Morse
66
4
5
Embolism
20 Forest H. Bryant
43
4
23
Coronary Occlusion
24 Annie (Phelps) Willis
81
1
16
Carcinoma
29 Florence Eliza (Hadley) Clark
76
9
26
Heart Disease
Eleanor Dean Graves
80
6
2
Carcinoma
November
6 Charlotte (Rylander) Rylander
86
0
28
Myocarditis
8
Ethel (Leavitt) Hirning
52
3
22
Barbital Poisoning
9 Annie P. (Hutchinson) Carleton
68
10
29
Hemorrhage
15 Elizabeth (Dunn) Stembridge 74
5
28
Hemorrhage
15 Carrie F. (Johnson) Whitney 69
3
24
Carcinoma
17 Helen J. (Barry) Morrison
70
Myocarditis
19 Arthur P. French
83
6
29
Myocarditis
21 Isabella (Brown) Robinson
67
4
17
Heart Disease
26 Thomas L. Freels
55
6
3
Hemorrhage
December
5 Mary Ann (Newton) Coates 81
Hemorrhage
5 Frederick A. Upton
60
8
8
Embolism
6 Willard Eugene Newhall
81
10
26
Embolism
8 Helen (Morrison) Kinney
89
3
21
Arterio Sclerosis
10 David Foley
4
9
13
Automobile
Accident
12 Edward McCarthy
25
Tuberculosis
17 Ella (Martin) Parker
85
7
26
Myocarditis
18 Roger K. Vaughan
44
10
18
Hodgkin's Disease
19 Mary Jane (Hollon) Mills
88
5
15
Hemorrhage
20 John T. Wall
73
8
Myocarditis
24 Alice E. Moody
19
3
21
Pneumonia
26 James Henry Stevens
66
8
24
Pneumonia
29 Alice Sharpe
73
1
-
Pneumonia
30 Herbert L. Gordon
79
4
6
Thrombosis
30 John F. Mahan
3
6
29
Meningitis
7
30
79
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
To the Citizens of the Town of Reading:
The annual report of the Board of Selectmen for the year ending December 31, 1937, is herewith submitted.
At the organization meeting held on March 1st, 1937, the Board or- ganized as follows :-
Newell H. Morton, Chairman J. Warren Killam, Jr., Secretary Carl W. Goodridge Leon G. Bent, Clerk
Appointments made in 1937
Board of Registrars-three years-Ralph S. Keneely.
Board of Appeal-three years-Fred L. Nutter.
Associate Member of Board of Appeal-three years-Howard T. Clinch.
Commissioner of Trust Funds-six years-H. Raymond Johnson and Robert M. Brown, to fill unexpired term of Philip H. Tirrell, re- signed.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Carl M. Smith.
Dog Officer-Charles H. Melendy.
Inspector of Buildings-A. Russell Barnes.
Burial Agent-Soldiers' and Sailors'-Alfred E. Goodwin.
Custodian of Soldiers' Graves-Harry A. Turner.
Forest Warden-Hugh L. Eames.
Keeper of the Lock-up-Jeremiah Cullinane.
Supt. of Fire Alarm-Hugh L. Eames.
Inspector of Wires-Albert E. Maxwell.
Game Warden-James T. Putnam.
Inspector of Animals-Bernard Schimpfke.
Moth Superintendent-Henry M. Donegan.
Soldiers' Relief Agent-Forest H. Bryant, deceased Oct. 20, 1937, Charles W. H. Smith, appointed to fill vacancy.
Custodian of Town Farm-Forest H. Bryant, deceased Oct. 20, 1937, Arthur C. Michelini appointed to fill vacancy.
Weighers of Coal and Hay-Thomas E. Brogan, Charles W. Lee, Mabel L. Mackay, Bertha D. MacLellan, Wendell B. Newell, Charles H. Sweetser, Percy N. Sweetser.
Field Drivers-Arthur W. Bancroft, Adolph S. Larson, Edward E. Nichols.
Fence Viewers-Wendell B. Newell, Carl B. Sawyer, Albert E. Temple.
Committee on Elm Tree Protection-Andrew Christensen, Henry M. Donegan, John F. Sawyer.
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Committee on Town Forest for three years: Leland W. Kingman. Finance Committee for three years: William A. Connelly, D.M.D., George A. Cotton, John L. Devaney, Margaret R. Ellison, Allan H. Sturges, and Clarence M. Kimball, to fill unexpired term of George H. Cotton.
W. P. A. Sponsor's Agent-Arthur C. Michelini, appointed to fill unexpired term of Forest H. Bryant, deceased.
Special Police Officers
John F. Maguire
J. Fred Richardson
Sylvanus Thompson
Edward McBrien
Walter Smith
James L. Healey
Henry W. Bryden
William H. Killam
Municipal Building and Public Library Pumping Station
Frank F. Strout
Ralph F. Plouff
William P. Pierpont
William H. Manning
Charles H. Melendy
Gardner A. Perry Edward Stuart
American Legion Quarters Unitarian Church and Community Hall
Robert O. Chesley
Thomas F. Classen
Sidney Frederick
Forest H. Bryant Edward E. Harnden
Sterling W. Powell
Arthur C. Michelini
Charles L. Gowing, Jr.
Fred Reissle Daniel J. O'Keefe J. Edward Black
Herbert F. Carter
J. Winthrop Sias
Frederick W. Burns
Charles L. Cummings
Town Forest Reading High School
81
1
Reading High School Prospect St. School Lowell St. School Center and Union Schools Junior High School Highland School Junior High School
Sewerage Pumping Station and vicinity Town Farm Building Town Farm Building Town Farm Building Town Farm Building Reading Theatre Junior High School Town Dump
Fire Department
There were no major capital expenditures in this Department this year. It was necessary however, to replace the Chief's car and this was done with a 1937 Packard in the latter part of the year.
For the past several years there has been considerable discussion concerning the replacement of the ladder truck, a motor vehicle placed in the service of the department in 1916 and at that time carrying over certain equipment from the old horse drawn wagon. Your Board brought the matter to the attention of the Finance Committee in the early part of 1937 but at the urgent request of the Committee refrained from pressing the matter at Town Meeting and continued the use of the old equipment by borrowing a necessary ladder from the Town of Arlington. This situation seems deplorable to your Board and your serious consideration of the matter at the annual meeting is urged.
Fire Alarm
The Fire Alarm Department has functioned very satisfactorily this year. The entire system is at the present time in very good condition. It has been necessary to change considerable wire due to the new underground construction and also to the replacement and new location of poles by the Electric Light Department and the Telephone Company. The expenditures in the Department are dependent to a large degree on the elements-wind, snow, ice, etc., and are therefore of necessity subject to considerable fluctuation.
Police Department
A Chief's car was purchased in November for use in this depart- ment. There have been previously in operation two motorcycles. Ex- perience has developed that this equipment is expensive to operate both from the standpoint of repairs and from injuries sustained by the per- sonnel of the department. One of the motor cycles damaged last year was not repaired but was taken out of service. Your Board contem- plates the withdrawal of the remaining motorcycle from service and replacing this equipment with an additional cruise car.
Radio
The matter of two-way radio communications between the cruise cars and the station has been given serious and lengthy consideration by your Board and by all persons connected with the Department as well as a great many private citizens interested in the protection of life and property. The matter was before the annual town meeting in 1937 with an adverse Finance Committee report. It is believed that this report was based on the uncertainty of the type of equipment to be used and its method of operation. Your Board now believes that this objection has been removed.
82
Ambulance
The ambulance has been used a great deal both in emergency ac- cident cases and also in transporting citizens to and from hospitals on account of illnesses and operations. Your Board is considering the advisability of a schedule of charges for this service.
Traffic
The traffic lights have been in operation for a period of six months and as a general proposition can be considered satisfactory. There is now, and will be from time to time, details in light control, which of necessity must be changed or corrected. These necessary changes can only be determined from experience, usage and suggestions.
Town Forest
In pursuance of a vote at the annual town meeting, twelve acres of land additional have been acquired in Great Island so-called, and an- nexed to the Town Forest. This area together with that previously developed, should be within a ten-year period one of the beauty spots of Reading.
Tree and Moth Department
A great many new trees have been set out this year on our resi- dential streets and a great deal of repair work has been done on the older shade trees. A new sprayer was purchased with sufficient capa- city to reach the highest elms and has been used to a great advantage.
Vacancies
Two joint meetings were held by your Board with other Boards in Town for the purpose of filling vacancies :
First : In joint session with the School Committee electing Howard T. Clinch to that Committee.
Second: In joint session with the Trustees of the Public Library electing A. Imrie Dixon.
W. P.A.
The Federal Relief situation has passed through many changes since its inception. More and more control has been taken over by the District and State Headquarters. The Sponsor's Agent and the various Town Departments have enjoyed a very happy relationship with Headquarters and have been able to obtain a great deal of co- operation in local difficulties.
The most satisfactory and beneficial project to the Town now under construction is the Forest Glen Cemetery. This project will eventually bring revenues to the Town far in excess of town funds expended as well as filling an urgent requirement.
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In Memoriam
-
FOREST H. BRYANT
W. P. A. Sponsor's Agent-Soldiers' Relief Agent
DIED OCTOBER 20. 1937
A true and faithful servant to the Citizens of the Town of Reading.
Safety
In connection with the Governor's Highway Safety Campaign, a local committee has been organized consisting of the clergy, representa- tives of the various civic organizations, and the Police and Fire De- partments.
The committee held its first meeting in December and general plans call for a program of education of highway problems through the me- dium of lectures, movies, and general advertising. The purpose is to constantly keep before the citizens the many dangers on our roads.
Hearings
Your Board has held six hearings during the year on applications for the storage and sale of gasoline. Four have been denied, two have been granted.
Numerous hearings have also been held for the storage of gasoline in the tank of an automobile in a private garage, no opposition has been voiced and all have been granted.
Resignations
The only resignation received directly by your Board was that of Philip H. Tirrell, who was obliged because of his health, to give up his work as Commissioner of Trust Funds. The Town is greatly in- debted to Mr. Tirrell for his years of faithful service and your Board wishes to thank him in behalf of the town and to hope for his speedy return to health.
The Board expresses its appreciation to the various town boards, town officials and town employees for their continued loyalty and co- operation over the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Selectmen.
85
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
To the Honorable, the Law Committee of the Town of Reading :
My report as Town Counsel for the year ending December 31, 1937, is submitted herewith.
The many and varied Municipal activities of the several departments of the Town involving matters of a legal nature have had my considera- tion in the performance of the duties of my office. It has been a year replete with many important matters requiring decisions and advice, and the usual routine Town affairs have occupied my attention during the year. The salient departmental matters coming before me for action and consideration will be more specifically referred to in detail in this report under the classification of the boards of the Town having direct supervision thereof.
In connection with the activities of the Board of Selectmen, negotia- tions for settlement of damages for taking of a parcel of land by Eminent Domain in 1936, for the enlargement and development of the public dump on John Street were successfully concluded. Release deeds and waivers of claims for damages were obtained from the owners of such parcel. Deeds were prepared by me covering six parcels of land sold by the Selectmen, which parcels were acquired by the Town through tax lien foreclosure proceedings in the Land Court. The title was examined to a certain parcel of land taken by Eminent Domain for the further development of the Town Forest, and the taking was perfected and settlement of damages effected with counsel for claimants. Pro- ceedings were supervised by me in connection with the removal or suspension of a policeman under the classified Civil Service Law, and the matter of the removal of a call fireman under the provisions of the Statute was referred to me for consideration and advice. Services were rendered by me in the matter of the contract for the installation of a system of traffic signals in the Town, and an opinion rendered relative to the authority of the Board of Selectmen to designate the location of the control booth used in connection therewith. Many opinions were rendered to the Board during the year upon several Municipal questions. I attended hearings before the Department of Public Utilities in connec- tion with the elimination of a restriction in the license of Mason Bus Company to operate motor vehicles for hire in the Town. During the year, certain amendments and additions to the Traffic Rules and Regu- lations of the Town were prepared by me and submitted to the Depart- ment of Public Works for approval, and certain amendments relative to the inspection of wires were drafted for the Board. Criminal pro- ceedings were instituted in the Woburn Court for violation of the build- ing laws, and a penalty was imposed upon the offender for such violation.
86
The routine matters of the Board of Public Works relating to the laying out of streets, orders of taking, easements for drainage and water mains and waivers of claims for damages have required my attention. Opinions concerning the activities coming under the supervision of the Board of Public Works have been rendered by me. Titles have been examined in connection with the taking of land for sand and gravel pit and for right of way through other property for access thereto. Nego- tiations were carried on by me with counsel representing the owners of land affected by such takings, which negotiations ended in a satisfactory settlement between the Town and the claimants. Title was examined to the land on John Street acquired by the Town as site for the Muni- cipal Garage, the necessary instruments transferring title were prepared and legal supervision over the passing of papers and the completion of the transaction attended to. Under authority conferred by vote of the Town, I prepared an act for the Legislature amending the statutory provisions of the sewer law authorizing the Town to establish regulations requiring owners to connect with the common sewer, and the same was duly enacted as law. The contract, specifications and contractor's bonds for the construction of the Municipal Garage on John Street and the contract for heating and plumbing in connection therewith were referred to me for consideration and approval.
In connection with the School Department, opinions have been rend- ered relative to the operation of the school cafeterias and advice relating to court action against habitual truants, and a complaint was brought by me in the Woburn Court against an habitual school offender, which resulted in his removal from the public schools. The contracts for the transportation of school children and for the removal of ashes and rubbish were examined and approved.
Several claims were referred to me during the year by the Muni- cipal Light Department and satisfactory settlements were obtained in connection therewith. Opinions were rendered by me relative to the sale of electrical appliances, and the approval of bills concerning the pur- chase and sale of such appliances. I supervised the legal phases of the transaction and the passing of papers in connection with the purchase by the Town of ducts, cables and other personal property from the Edison Electric Illuminating Company.
During the year several opinions were rendered by me to the Board of Public Welfare relating to the Town Farm Building and other matters concerning the duties of the Board as defined by law. Under the pro- visions of a recent amendment to the Old Age Assistance Law, several bonds and mortgages given by recipients of Old Age Assistance were prepared by me, after completing the necessary examination of the records in the Registry of Deeds.
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In the performance of the duties of my office, I have devoted con- siderable time to the cases brought against the Board of Assessors before the Appellate Tax Board. There are now pending before the Board six undisposed of appeals, and during the year eight cases were satisfactorily disposed of. I have assisted the Planning Board relative to the proposed new Zoning By-Law, have attended hearings of the Board of Appeal and have rendered opinions in connection with their decisions on questions involving the zoning and building laws of the Town.
Fifteen cases for foreclosure of tax titles in the Land Court were commenced by me during the year, and twelve of such cases have been disposed of by decrees issued by the Court foreclosing the right of re- demption and declaring the title to said parcels to be absolute. There are four cases still pending which it is hoped will be disposed of in the near future.
During the year three suits were brought against the Town, two for alleged damages sustained as a result of an accident on the highway, and the other suit for alleged damages as result of the removal of sand and gravel from premises on Grove Street. Two suits pending in the Courts have been disposed of by compromise under authority by vote of the Town and your committee, and two claims which were not made the subject of suit were satisfactorily adjusted. There are still pending in the Courts against the Town eight suits, and during the year six claims have been made against the Town which have not been made the subject of litigation.
I have filed answers to suits in which the Town was summoned as Trustee, have attended hearings of the various Boards, drafted all bonds, deeds and other legal instruments and have performed every professional act required of me in the performance of the duties of my office.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL H. DAVIS
Town Counsel.
88
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The use of the library and the service of the library continued to increase in 1937. The home circulation of 92,922 books during the year was the largest of any year in the history of the library. It is almost double the circulation ten years ago. The 603 new card hold- ers to register during the year make the largest number of new pa- trons for any year excepting only the years at the bottom of the depression. A depression always booms library patronage. The pre- sent number of active card holders is 3547, which compares with 3200 families in the town.
This is sufficient indication that the use of the library is general throughout the town. The library added 1300 books to the shelves during the year and retired 500 worn volumes, ending the year with 21,000 books on the shelves.
At the end of the year the librarian was authorized to extend the afternoon hours until 6 o'clock, in place of the previous 5 o'clock closing. This will meet the convenience of many readers and will make 41 hours a week of library service in place of the 36-hour schedule in 1937. The increase in hours worked by the library staff is not at pre- sent being remunerated. The only cost to the town is an additional 30 cents an hour, five days a week, for an assistant at the delivery desk.
All the books are at all times available to any reader in an arrange- ment on open shelves that invites the reader to browse for his own choice in reading. This open shelf arrangement affords the reader the most informal and accessible service that a library can offer. But it makes the problem of space acute as both readers and books increase toward the limits of the library.
Shelf room has been overtaxed, so that during the year it was necessary to tuck in bookcases wherever space afforded. New tables have extended the reading space to the limits of the reading rooms. At the year's end, the trustees, put to it to find space for the normal growth of the library and the steady increase in its use without addition to the building, were forced to consider building shelves in the fireplace al- coves.
As new books continue to demand space upon the already crowded shelves, it will from this point on become increasingly necessary to keep a continuing and challenging scrutiny of the old books to make sure that they justify their space.
Reading enjoys more library service than most towns its size, and for less money. The State Division of Public Libraries calls an appro- priation of $1 per capita a minimum library budget. Reading, with a population of 10,700, has a 1937 library budget of $8,120. The library could make its service more useful in many ways with a little more
89
money pome expansion of the library budget will be required to keep pace with the increasing use that the town makes of it. It will not be long before an addition to the library space will become imperative.
The library continues to be fortunate in the quality of its staff serv- ices. The much more than average library service rendered Reading on so restricted a budget is due to the ability, experience and enthusiasm of the three women who run the library: Miss Bertha L. Brown, lib- rarian, Miss Grace J. Abbott, assistant librarian, and Miss A. Rebecca Turner, librarian in the children's room. At a very slight total expenditure for part-time service, Miss Brown has been securing capable assistance during rush hours at the delivery desk.
The librarians have been alert in the selection of new books to keep abreast of current publications. They receive and solicit assist- ance in selecting and appraising books for purchase, both from the trustees and from other qualified readers. The policy in the acquisi- tion of books and selection of magazines is as completely responsive to the expressed interests of readers as the librarians and the trustees can make it. To serve the diverse interests of so varied a reading pub- lic as Reading presents is a problem in which the library will continue to welcome suggestions.
A major function of the library continues to be that of serving the school children with their needs in standard reference books and to maintain for them reserve shelves for their assigned reading. This service and the guidance and supervision it entails is an important part of the educational activity of the town. It imposes a considerable problem on the library, both of space and time. So many young people take a good deal of attention, make incidentally a good deal of con- fusion and inevitably some noise. To distinguish between those who come to read and those who come for purely social purposes, is often difficult. It becomes important, because the library is all one room and no part of it can be quiet unless there is order throughout. The library staff must ask adult readers to bear with them in this, and must continue to seek the fullest co-operation of the schools and of par- ents on behalf of disciplined use of the library, until increased space at the library, or some other social center for young people of Reading is provided.
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