USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1939 > Part 12
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These sidewalks were constructed on all Betterment constructed streets ; abutting newly constructed houses; on outlying streets where no sidewalks existed and in other locations at the request of property owners. The longest single stretch of gravel sidewalk was constructed on Franklin Street, South side, from Pearl Street to near Main Street, where a narrow crooked roadway and a heavily travelled street com- bined to create a dangerous condition for pedestrians, especially school children.
GRANITE CURBING
New granite curbing totaling 1,551.25 lineal feet and including 1,377.35 feet of straight and 173.90 feet of radius curb; and 28 driveway corners or returns were installed in 1939, in 22 different locations, of which 19 installations were made as Betterments on applications of property owners.
Radius curbing was set to round five street intersections in various locations. Two of these roundings were made on intersections relocat- ed in past years on which no construction had been accomplished; the other three were on corners not previously curbed.
Due to granolithic sidewalk construction, street relocations, grade changes and other causes, it was necessary to reset 618.0 lineal feet of existing granite curbing; the longest single stretch of resetting being accomplished on Haven Street, from High Street to Gould Street, where, due to a relocation, it was necessary to reset 246.8 lineal feet of 6" x 18" curbing. In several instances, curbing moved by hurricane felled trees was reset. In several instances of curbing installation, where trees protruded into the normal curb line, sections of brick and cement curbing were installed to avoid endangering the life of the trees by cutting roots.
Highway Department
141
The following table defines new granite curbing installations by streets in 1939 :
GRANITE CURBING INSTALLATION BY STREETS
Total
Street
Number Lots
Feet Straight
Curbing
Radius Returns
Installedl Length Feet
Berkeley Street
2
96.50
2
96.50
California Road
5
296.10
8
296.10
Chute Street
1
33.00
0 33.00
Cross Street
1
43.40
2
43.40
Elliott Street
1
4.00
18.0
0
22.00
Haven Street
1
9.75
39.7
3
49.45
Highland Street
1
123.00
35.0
1
158.00
Hillcrest Road
1
109.20
0
109.20
Main Street
1
64.30
37.2
1
101.50
Summer Avenue
1
78.60
0
78.60
Vine Street
1
80.00
44.0
0
124.00
Washington Street
4
151.90
9
151.90
West Street
1
161.60
2
161.60
Woburn Street
1
126.00
0
126.00
Totals
22
1,377.35
173.90
28
1,551.25
BOUND STONES SET
Bound points were set as required by law to define street lines, as shown in the following table :
BOUND STONES SET
Street
Location Set
Reason Set No. Set
Belmont Orange St. Northerly to Dead End Accept, of 1939 6
Main N. W. Cor. Main and Salem
Reloc. of curve 1
Woburn N. W. Cor. Woburn and Chute
Grano. s/w const. 1 Hanscom Ave. 54 Hanscom Ave., West side
Woburn
South Side, near no. 36
Grano. s/w const.
2
Sanborn West Side, South of Woburn
Grano. s/w const. 1
Lowell North Side, at War Memorial
Grano. s/w const. 1
Vine
N. E. Corner Vine and Bond
Reloc. of corner 2
Highland East side, near no. 25, at angle point Grano. s/w const.
1
Granger Ave. Haverhill St. Westerly
Accept of 1938 10
Prospect Ext. Accept. of 1927 Northerly
Accept. of 1939 2
Waverly Road Hillside Rd., North-Westerly
Accept. of 1938 4
Haven
Between High and Gould Sts.
Reloc. of 1939 3
Gould
Near Haven St.
Reloc. of Haven 1
Total 36
Highway Department
142
Grano. s/w const. 1
Bound stones were set on all 1939 street acceptances ; on two streets accepted in 1938, and all relocations accomplished in 1939. Several bounds were reset where construction work disturbed the bounds and several bounds were raised or lowered to meet new grades, in all in- ·stances being carefully checked by a survey crew.
STORM WATER DRAINAGE
Storm water drains totaling 2,869.3 feet and ranging in size from 4 inches to 30 inches diameter were installed in 1939, to correct drain- age conditions in various locations; 24 catch basins and 16 manholes were constructed, and 12 granite curb inlets or throatstones set.
The following table illustrates the streets, length and size of drain pipes laid, also catch basins, manholes and curb inlets :
Size and Length of Pipe Installed
Location
30"
24"
18"
12"
5"
4"
C. B.
M. H.
C I.
Totals
Ash St ..
1
Belmont St ..
198.2
2
2
198.2
Birch Meadow
21.0
21.0
California Rd ..
25.0 366.0
1
2
391.0
Charles St. .
32.0
32.0
Franklin St. .
1
42.8
2
1
42.8
Harrison St ..
298.0
3
298.0
Haven St.
24.0
1
24.0
John St ..
2
2
King St.
1
Libby Ave ..
84.0
22.C
106.0
Middle St.
34.0
1
1
34.0
Prescott St.
237.0
237.0
Pinevale Ave
20.0
20.0
Salem St ..
199.5
1
199.5
Union St ..
268.4
2
2
2
268.4
Washington St.
404.0
2
2
404.0
Weston Rd.
220.0
3
2
2
220.0
Willow St ..
168.0
2
1
168.0
Winthrop Ave
205.4
3
3
205.4
Totals
237.0 224.5 419.0 1,454.8
24.0 104.0 84.0 22 0
21
16
12
2.869.3
The Woburn Street-Prescott Street open ditch, partially piped in 1938, was completed and the entire drain location graded, loamed and seeded.
A drain easement was secured from property owners affected and a section of open drain ditch Southerly from Salem Street opposite Memorial Park was piped, and the culvert under Salem Street at this point thoroughly cleaned.
143
Highway Department
2
Hanscom Ave.
One settling basin was constructed on Franklin Street in an at- tempt to eliminate a bad drain condition where surface water collected in a low spot in the roadway, and so far has proved successful. These settling basins are larger than a regulation catch basin, with a gravel base to permit rapid leaching away of surface water collected.
Several catch basins were installed and connected to existing drains where conditions warranted, and several catch basins, found in poor repair, were rebuilt.
MAINTENANCE OF STORM DRAINS
During the unusually dry summer and fall seasons, it was possible to thoroughly clean, deepen and widen many open drain ditches and brooks, in many of which no flow of water was found, in others only a small amount. . Relief recipients were engaged extensively in this work, supervised by department employees.
On several open ditches, at angles, bends and junctions with other ditches, stone rip-rapping was laid to prevent erosion of ditch-walls.
A W. P. A. ditch rip-rap project, approved in 1938, resulted in rip- rapping the large open drain ditch adjacent to the Boston and Maine Railroad track from Washington and High Streets to Main Street. The project, though not completed, was discontinued but is expected to be revived in 1940.
The annual inspection and cleaning of catch basins was accom- plished and loose or broken catch basin or manhole covers replaced.
SPECIAL LABOR ACCOUNT
A special labor fund was raised and appropriated at the Annual March Town Meeting for the continuance of the system inaugurated in 1938, whereby the Welfare Board furnishes the Board of Public Works, each week, with a list of employables from the Welfare rolls. These recipients are assigned to suitable work under the supervision of departmental employees. These men are assigned to work from one to five days per week, in accordance with individual budget require- ments set for them by the Welfare Department.
Much constructive work was accomplished by these Welfare lab- orers in 1939, and the town benefited to the extent of having received a definite return for the money necessarily expended on relief.
Maintenance work at the parks, playgrounds and commons was accomplished almost entirely by these men, as was also much construc- tion work, chief of these being the construction of the wading pool at Washington Street Park; the grading of an additional play area in Birch Meadow Playground; and the construction of the dam, clearing of the land, etc. at the Sturges Ice Skating and Winter Sports Center off Walnut and South Streets.
Highway Department
144
The right-of-way from Forest Street Southerly to Birch Meadow Playground was also constructed largely by Welfare labor, including removing and rebuilding several hundred lineal feet of stone walls; also much of Waverly Road construction was accomplished by them.
Several retaining walls were erected in various locations and on Pearl Street between Nichols' Lane and Main Street, a long section of stone wall was rebuilt.
On Washington Street construction, Welfare labor was used as much as practical. They were also used on sweeping and cleaning sand from streets and sidewalks.
At the Municipal Garage, Welfare laborers erected a cement block retaining wall for a ramp to the proposed K. P. Mixing Plant and helped fill the ramp with gravel. The front yard was graded, raked, and loam applied, in part, and will be completed in the spring of 1940.
GENERAL
Several improvements have been accomplished at the Municipal Garage, chief among which was the start of a K. P. Mixing Plant,. located in the rear of the garage. When completed, K. P. mixing will be greatly facilitated, as the raw materials can be mixed on an upper level and the finished product delivered to patching trucks on a lower level by means of a hopper and chute.
A chain link fence was erected around the Machine Shop to pro- tect machinery, which has been in continual use during the year re- pairing equipment, turning out replacement parts, etc.
At some time during the night of August 26, 1939, the garage was broken into by persons unknown and the Chevrolet coupe used by the Superintendent stolen. Entrance to the garage was affected by break- ing a rear window, which entered into the stockroom. The stockroom being enclosed with a chain link fence and padlocked gate, a section of fencing was cut out with a pair of powerful brush-cutters. The burg- lars then apparently opened a garage door, backed out a truck which was parked behind the coupe, backed out the coupe, put the truck back in the garage and closed the door. The theft of the coupe was dis- covered the following morning and the police notified. The coupe was discovered, undamaged except for defacing of the door lettering, in a wood-road off Vernon Street in Wakefield two days later. The thieves. were not apprehended.
The front approach to the garage from John Street has been land- scaped and 18 Maple trees and 16 Poplar trees set out. This adds much to the appearance of the garage.
Highway Department
145
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
The Special Labor Account, which was instituted in 1938, is working well. Under this system persons receiving relief from the town who are physically able to work are assigned to this department for work. They are then assigned by this department to some particular project. The department has endeavored to assign them to projects which do not require any large expenditures for materials, except in cases where particular appropriations are made for their use. Much work of a constructive nature has been accomplished and the town thereby has received a definite return for the money expended on relief.
The number of granolithic sidewalk applications received from property owners in 1939 increased greatly over 1938. Several applica- tions remain from 1939. Also several applications have been received so far in 1940. Owners who are contemplating the construction of granolithic sidewalks are advised to file the applications immediately.
The action of the State Legislature in failing to appropriate funds for Chapter 90 Road Construction has had a serious effect on the town. No Chapter 90 work was accomplished in 1939, except a portion of Lowell Street which was carried over from 1938. Neither will there be any in 1940 unless the Legislature reconsiders its previous action. This situation not only prevents the reconstruction of important streets but has a serious financial effect. The lack of Chapter 90 work seriously reduces the amount of money spent by this Department on payrolls. This reduction in payroll will be felt by the merchants in town in lesser sales. Also the amount of money spent by the town on relief will necessarily increase.
The department has been able, in the past two years, to remedy several situations which have been causing annoyance and irritation to townspeople for the past several years. Many small jobs of a construc- tive nature have been done such as: removing dangerous traffic haz- ards of various kinds, correcting poor drainage conditions, rounding particularly sharp corners, and several others. If the appropriations are kept at the same relative level in the next few years as they have been in the past two years, the department will be able to continue to remedy these situations to the benefit of the townspeople. It is more economical to do this type of work gradually by remedying a few situa- tions each year than it is to raise large sums occasionally for the same purpose.
Highway Department
146
ROLLING EQUIPMENT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
The following chart will illustrate the rolling equipment of the Highway, Water and Sewer Departments, and the year purchased :
No. Item Year Purchased
1. 1-5 ton Sterling H. C. 105 Truck 1939
2. 1-VT6 4-Cyl. Gas Driven Tandem Roller 11/2 Ton 1939
3. 1-6SCP 6 Cubic Foot Cold Patch Mixer 1939
4. 1-Rotary Street Broom 1939
5. 1-11/2 Ton Winch and Derrick 1939
6. 1-3/4 Yd. Steam Shovel 1939
7. 1-5 Ton Sterling H. C. 100 M. Z. Truck 1937
8. 1-Model 82 Barber-Greene Loader 1937
9. 1-Model E. Cletrac Tractor 1937
10. 1-Chevrolet Chassis Air Compressor Truck 1937
11. 1-Model 80 "Handy Sandy" Sand Spreader 1937
12. 1-Ford V-8 Pick-up Truck 1937
13. 1-5-Ton Sterling H. C. 100 Truck 1936
14. 1-11/2 Ton Dodge Truck with Custom Built Body 1936
15. 1-11/2 Ton Chevrolet Truck 1936
16. 1-Chevrolet Standard Coupe 1936
17. 1-Cletrac Model BG Tractor 1936
18. 1-5-Ton Walters FM Four Wheel Drive Truck 1935
19. 1-21/2 Ton Diamond T. Truck 1934
20. 1-Caterpillar Tractor 1934
21. 1 11/2 Ton Chevrolet Truck 1934
22. 1-15 Ton Gasoline Driven Road Roller 1931
23. 1-Master 7 Cement Mixer 1931
24. 1-5 Ton Autocar Truck 1930
25. 1-Fordson Tractor 1927
26. 1-Trailer 1923
27. 1-K. P. Mixer 1922
Highway Department
147
PARK DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Park Department :
Appropriation
$ 4,500.00
Transfer from Reserve
170.00
Refund
4.73
$ 4,674.73
Expended :
Memorial Park
Pay Roll, Care of Park
$ 196.57
Lights
49.21
Misc. Supplies and Tools
206.78
$ 452.56
Leach Park
Pay Roll
$ 10.62
Grass Seed and Fertilizer
51.51
Misc. Supplies
10.00
$ 72.13
Commons
Pay Roll
$ 43.32
Grass Seed and Fertilizer
51.51
Misc. Supplies
73.95
$ 168.78
Curtis Street Rink
Pay Roll
$ 9.56
Lights and Repairs
20.49
$ 30.05
Park Department
148
Sturges Rink
Pay Roll
$ 46.10
Lights
.75
Supplies for Hockey Rink
55.19
$
102.04
Washington Street Park
Pay Roll
$ 730.78
Lights
9.00
Fence
220.00
Resurface Tennis Court
220.00
Misc. Supplies
479.06
$ 1,658.84
Birch Meadow Playground
Pay Roll
$ 432.57
Lights
105.31
Moving and Repairing Lights
400.92
Fencing
103.00
Resurface Tennis Court
245.00
Misc. Supplies
247.12
$ 1,533.92
General
Supervised Play-Payroll $ 310.85
Power Lawn Mower
340.00
$ 650.85
GRAND TOTAL EXPENDED $ 4,669.17
BALANCE UNEXPENDED
$ 5.56
Park Department
149
PARK DEPARTMENT
Readings' Parks, Playgrounds and Recreation Centers continued popular with devotees of outdoor sports in 1939. Tennis and horseshoe courts, baseball and softball diamonds were in constant use by adults and juniors, and the young children enjoyed the facilities offered by wading pools, swings, see-saws, sand boxes, etc.
Softball continued very popular, with several softball leagues op- erating in season, including teams from local business establishments, fraternal organizations and town departments.
Paid playground supervisors and instructors were in attendance at all parks and playgrounds at regularly scheduled periods, during July and August, augmenting the W. P. A. Recreation Project playground supervisors. These young people, all of whom were qualified as athletic instructors in one or more of the various outdoor sports, and also in several handicraft hobbies, such as model airplane construction and woodworking, held classes daily in baseball, tennis, softball and football, also in craft-work, for the youngsters at the parks.
Ice hockey and skating were also popular, in season, and rinks and skating areas maintained. The cold weather in November and December of 1939 and lack of snow caused particularly good ice conditions.
A brief resume of the improvements accomplished at each park, playground and recreation center and the commons follows :
Memorial Park
Maintenance work at the Park throughout the year was accom- plished by Soldiers Relief and Welfare Department laborers supervised by Departmental employees. Early in the Spring, the grounds were thoroughly cleared of debris left by the September 1938 hurricane and several old and partly dead poplar trees on the Salem Street frontage, weakened by the hurricane, were either pruned or removed. Shrubs and bushes were pruned and trimmed, shrub beds and walks edged, walks raked and graveled and lawn areas kept mowed and trimmed.
The system of French drains installed in 1938 functioned satisfac- torily and permitted the use of that section of the Park so treated to be used as a junior ball diamond continuously.
The play equipment in the enclosed play yard was repaired and erec- ted early in the summer season, and the enclosure was opened during specified periods daily with playground supervisors in attendance.
The horseshoe courts, located near the Harrison Street entrance, were not usable during wet periods of the year. To remedy this condi- tion, the elevation of the courts was raised approximately two and one- half feet with gravel filling; raked, rolled and graded. New pitching boxes, bars and pins were installed and the lights repaired.
Park Department
150
Before flooding the skating area in the fall, grass was burned and hummocks removed from the pond area. Because of the dry weather, the Park was not fully flooded until late in Deecember when heavy rains and melting snow overflowed the area.
Birch Meadow Playground
Birch Meadow continued to be the most popular of our various parks. With facilities for baseball, softball, tennis, wading and other recreational activities, including a hockey rink and ice skating in season, the Playground is in continuous use throughout the year.
The Playground was further developed by clearing an additional area Southeast of the "Overlook" and grading same with earth fill ob- tained from various construction jobs.
A regulation softball diamond was constructed, complete with a backstop and floodlights and was used constantly in season by various softball leagues. Due to the extreme popularity of this sport, the field was relocated during the fall so as to provide a larger area for playing. This larger area is so located that games may now be played without the necessity of established field rules because of physical obstacles.
The wading pool was cleaned and repaired, cracks filled and a layer of cement run over the floor of the pool. Fine sand was spread around the pool to create a "beach." The hot, dry summer season made the pool extremely popular with the younger children, who at times over- taxed its capacity. The pool was cleaned, flushed and sterilized at fre- quent intervals so as to provide sanitary conditions at all times.
Tennis courts were repaired and reconditioned early in the spring ; fences rebuilt, court playing lines repainted, nets stretched and net covers installed, etc. One court was completely resurfaced with a black- top hot mix and rolled into a smooth, level playing surface.
A new roadway, started in 1939, was completed with filling hauled from various near-by construction jobs and permits access to the Play- ground from Main Street via Hillside and Waverly Roads. Eventually, a second new roadway will connect with Rice Road and Forest Street, permitting access to the Playground from the Northern section of town.
Brush was cut from the "Overlook" and three small field-stone fire- places built for picnickers.
Swings, see-saws and the "Ocean Wave" apparatus were erected early in the season. Because of vandalism, it was necessary to dis- mantle and remove the "Ocean Wave" during the summer. This van- dalism was carried to such an extent that the "Ocean Wave" has been completely wrecked and will have to be abandoned.
Park Department
151
Washington Street Ball Park
Spring maintenance work on the Ball Park was delayed by rainy weather and soft ground and could not be started until the middle of April. The entire Park area was raked and cleaned of debris, fertilizer applied and spread, low and/or bare spots loamed and seeded and the entire field rolled with a tandem gasoline roller. Runners lanes be- tween bases were spaded up, loam applied and rolled; pitchers mound and batters box excavated and filled with clay. The ball field was available for spring baseball practice April 20.
The tennis courts required extensive repairs, particularly to the fences, which were partially rebuilt and then painted. One court was resurfaced with hot top mix.
The bleachers, used the preceding fall at the Junior High School. were dismantled and moved to the Ball Park; repaired, painted and erected. A score-board of suitable dimension and construction was erected between the bleachers and the flag-pole.
During the year, Welfare employees were assigned as caretakers at the Park, mowing grass, raking, pruning shrubs, etc. During the dry, hot summer, it was several times necessary to spray the infield with water to prevent burning out of the grass and sod.
The wading pool at Birch Meadow Playground in past years has proved so popular that a petition, signed by 110 residents abutting Washington Street Ball Park, was tendered to the Board requesting a wading pool be constructed at the Ball Park for the use of children in that vicinity, who formerly were obliged to travel a considerable dis- tance to use the Birch Meadow Pool. The Board has recognized for some time the need of more wading pools, but due to lack of funds has been unable to build them.
By utilizing Welfare labor, however, a wading pool was constructed at the Ball Park, located between the tennis courts and bleachers at the Westerly boundary of the Park. The pool, of similar design to the Birch Meadow Pool, is constructed of rip-rapped stone walls, bottom and sides grouted with cement, and a 2 inch cover of cement laid over bottom of pool, which is 56 feet by 40 feet in dimension, with sloping ends and bottom, allowing water depths of from 0 to 4.0 feet. A ball type shower was built into the shallow end of the pool and a 5 inch V. C. drain pipe laid in an easement taken across private property to outlet the pool into an open drain ditch. To fill the pool and operate the shower, a 2 inch cast iron pipe was laid from Washington Street. A chain link fence with a lockable gate was erected to enclose the pool and was kept closed at all times except when a playground supervisor
Park Department
152
was in attendance. Needless to say, the pool was thronged with children during the hot summer months. Due to the continuous use of this pool by great numbers of children, it has been necessary to frequently drain clean, flush and sterilize the pool and the adjacent surroundings so as to insure relatively sanitary conditions.
The baseball field was in continual use in season, with school, town, and community league teams active. Playground supervisors were as- signed to give instructions and coaching for baseball and tennis. A softball diamond was laid out and used extensively and in the fall, a junior size football gridiron was laid out.
The childrens swings and see-saws were kept in good repair and sand boxes refilled and maintained.
The Annual Fourth of July Field Day, sponsored by the Board, was held as usual at the Ball Park the morning of the Fourth. Approxi- mately 150 children participated in the games and races, with a large gallery of adult spectators on the side lines. Three races or contests were run in each of the following classes : Midgets, Age 9-12, Boys and Girls; Juniors, Age 12-15, Boys and Girls; Seniors, Age 15 and over, Boys and Girls; also an open to all Bicycle Race and a Special Event for Boy and Girl Scouts. Prizes were awarded for First and Second Place in each event, a total of 42 prizes being awarded. This Field Day is very popular and becoming more so each year. Although the prizes are of an inexpensive nature the children strive hard to win them and seem to be quite pleased with them.
Reading Common
The four grass plots comprising the Common received regular at- tention and maintenance, this work being assigned to Welfare laborers. Loam was applied to low and/or bare spots, rolled and seeded. The en- tire area was raked early in the spring to remove hurricane litter, fer- tilized and rolled.
One Maple tree and two Elm trees were planted to replace those lost in the hurricane of 1938 and shrubs and trees pruned and trimmed. Shrub beds and walks were edged and smoothed and stone dust applied on all sidewalks surrounding the Common.
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