USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1939 > Part 7
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Congestive Failure
18 Harriet M. (Hawes) Gay
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6
1 Arterio Sclerosis
18 Glendyne Althea Smith
10
7
26 Pneumonia
19 Anna (Fellows) Carter
85
4
15 Hemorrhage
21 James J. Griffin
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- Carcinomatosis
22 Mary J. (O'Grady) McDavitt
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5 28 Endocarditis
December
1 Annie K. (Bullock) Dame
2 Jennie P. (Gass) Smith
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Hemorrhage
7 Ella A. (Provencher) Hart
71
11
17 Heart Block
9 Elmer P. Crooker
75
2 26 Myocarditis
11 Patrick Thornton
75
-
- Hemorrhage
11 Rufus E. Wright
55
4
24 Carbon-Monoxide Poisoning
12 Abbie E. (Lewis) Fellows
48
6
4 Carcinoma
14 John Mande Doucette
70
8
- Carcinoma
24 James A. Newell
67
6
24 Dilatation of Heart
30 Alice S. (Etchels) Hayes
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3
3 Hemorrhage
67
5
5 Hepatitis
-
22
75
7
18 Thrombosis
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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, 1939 is hereby submitted:
The Board organized following the Town Election with
Carl W. Goodridge, Chairman Newell H. Morton, Secretary Robert E. Fowle Leon G. Bent, Clerk.
Meetings were held regularly every Friday evening, besides many special meetings, two of which convened late on Saturday evenings.
Appointments Made in 1939
Board of Registrars-Three years-Owen McKenney.
Board of Appeal-Three years-Benjamin B. Piper.
Associate Member Board of Appeal-Three years-Herbert T. Schoppelry.
W. P. A. Sponsor's Agent-Arthur C. Michelini.
Soldiers' Relief Agent-Charles W. H. Smith.
Commissioner of Trust Funds-Six years-Clarence C. White.
Sealer of Weights & Measures-Carl M. Smith.
Gas Inspector-David Taggart. Dog Officer-Charles H. Melendy. Building Inspector-A. Russell Barnes. -
Burial Agent, Soldiers' and Sailors'-Charles E. Tasney.
Custodian Soldiers' Graves-Harry A. Turner. Custodian Town Farm-Arthur C. Michelini.
Keeper of the Lock Up-Jeremiah Cullinane.
Supt. Fire Alarm-Hugh L. Eames. Inspector of Wires-Albert C. Maxwell.
Weighers of Coal and Hay-Thomas E. Brogan, Charles W. Lee, Mabel L. McKay, Bertha D. MacLellan, Wendell B. Newell, Percy N. Sweetser.
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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.
Committee on Town Forests-Henry M. Donegan-three years.
Finance Committee-Louis Davis-three years, A. Alden Goldsmith, three years, Frank M. Merrill-three years, Charles F. Trevor-three years, William G. Long-three years.
Town Accountant-Three years-Leon G. Bent.
Game Warden-James T. Putnam.
Moth Superintendent-Henry M. Donegan.
Inspector of Animals-Bernard Schimpfke.
Special Police Officers-John F. Maguire and Charles L. Cummings, Reading High School; Sylvanus Thompson, Lowell St. School; Edward McBrien, Center and Union St. Schools; Walter Smith, Junior High School; James L. Healey, Highland School; Henry W. Bryden, Junior High School; William H. Killam, Municipal Building and Library; Frank F. Strout, Pumping Station; Ralph F. Plouff, William P. Pier- pont, William H. Manning, Charles H. Melendy, Gardner A. Perry, Edgar C. Stuart, American Legion Quarters; Robert O. Chesley, Uni- tarian Church and Community Hall; Thomas F. Classen, Sidney Fred- erick, Sewerage Pumping Station and vicinity; Edward E. Harnden, Town Farm; Charles L. Gowing, Jr., Reading Theater; Fred Reissle, Junior High School; Daniel J. O'Keefe, Town Dump; J. Edward Black, Herbert F. Carter, J. Winthrop Sias, Norman H. Jewett, George O'Keefe, Jacob C. Neilson, George Hall, Frederick W. Burns, Town Forest; Arthur C. Michelini, Town Farm; Charles E. Langdon, Security Hall and Odd Fellows Hall.
Police
The two-way radio and the two cruising cars have now been in service for a period long enough to prove their efficiency. The plan of the Board is to replace one of these cars each year, and keep them on patrol as much as possible. However the Board and our Chief fully realize the value of the man on the beat as indispensable. A W. P. A. project just completed, has indexed all the records and a clerk has been retained to keep them in good shape.
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Fire
As stated in previous reports, some action will have to be taken on the replacing of the hook and ladder truck in the near future. The truck is a hazard not only to those who operate it, but to those who are on the highways at the time of a fire. A W. P. A. project is work- ing at the Station indexing all the fire records, past and present.
False alarms and the setting of fires, mostly brush, have been a problem this year. Some of the persons responsible have been ap- prehended and turned over to the police.
Town Forest
Another fire at the Forest this year destroyed several hundred trees. The danger of fire has made it necessary to keep a man on the premises all during the dry season. More trees are to be planted in 1940 to replace those destroyed. A W. P. A. project to trim the large trees, build better roads and increase the number of water holes is now in progress.
Tree and Moth
Trees have been planted along the highway to replace those lost in the hurricane of 1938. The W. P. A. is working on insect extermina- tion and has already proven its worth.
Traffic and Parking
Parking, particularly in the Square, has been and still is a grow- ing probiem. Several regulations have been put into effect. At present further research is being conducted with a hope of lessening the problem during the next year.
More complaints are received by the Board regarding speeding than on any other matter. The streets affected are not by any means confined to our Main Streets. Signs have been added at some intersec- tions and certain streets have been further patrolled by the police. The Board does not lean too heavily toward further signs, believing too many will offset the value of those already up. Your Board is giving this problem considerable time and thought. The chief difficulty is in curbing the human weakness in wanting to get somewhere in a hurry with the present day high-powered cars.
Odors
Outstanding among the activities of the year, has been the work trying to eliminate odors from factories in the neighboring city of Woburn. The situation has been getting worse over the past several
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years. Nearly the whole westerly half of the town is affected, and in hot, sultry weather its extent has been considerably more.
It was thought to have been cured two years ago when the Metro- politan Sewer was connected, and for a time there were few odors. During the late spring the matter was taken up with the State Depart- ment of Health and at their suggestion an investigation was conduct- ed to ascertain from just where the odors emulated.
The situation was brought to a head with a midsummer hearing be- fore the State Board of Health at the State House, and with the co- operation of many citizens who supported the Board and attended the hearing, favorable results have been attained.
W. P. A.
The Board has continued to foster projects believed to be of some real value to the Town. Projects of this type will be of lasting benefit. Outstanding are the Forest Glen Cemetery and Pearl St. sewer pro- jects.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation for the co-operation of all Boards, officials and employees during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, CARL W. GOODRIDGE, Chm. NEWELL H. MORTON, Secty. ROBERT E. FOWLE Board of Selectmen
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
To the Honorable, the Law Committee of the Town of Reading :
I submit herewith my report as Town Counsel for the year ending December 31, 1939.
During the past year, sixteen tax lien foreclosure cases were filed in the Land Court and prosecuted to final conclusion and n'ne properties were foreclosed under the Statute of Low Value. Release deeds have been prepared transferring property sold by the Board of Selectmen and acquired by the Town through tax lien foreclosure proceedings in the Land Court. Several tax titles were referred for foreclosure but it was not necessary to commence proceedings in the Court as the pre- liminary action taken resulted in the collection of $14,237.62 in over lue taxes. Opinions have been rendered the Board of Selectmen on vari- ous municipal matters. Traffic regulations have been drafted and the approval of the Department of Public Works obtained and such regu-
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lations have become effective by publication as required by law. Ser- vices were rendered in connection with the bequest to the Town under the will of George H. Grouard for the establishment of a hospital. The contract, specifications and performance bond for the furnishing and erection of the World War Memorial were drafted and advice and as- sistance were given to the Memorial Committee in connection there- with. Articles and motions for the annual and special Town Meetings. on other than routine matters were drafted for Town Departments.
Complaint was brought before the State Board of Health protest- ing the disagreeable odors drifting over the Town from the plant at Woburn. Hearing was held before the State Department of Public Health and many objectors from the Town were heard resulting in an order being issued by the Public Health Department abating the nuisance.
The Board of Public Works routine matters 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 and ad- vice. Opinions were rendered to the Board on various Public Works activities. In the matter of the drainage of the low lands adjacent to. Lake Quannapowitt, the drainage bill was drafted, hearings were con- ducted and services rendered in connection with the enactment of the bill by the Legislature and conferences were held with various State departments relative to the objections of the Town of Wakefield to the proposed drainage law.
The activities of the School Department relative to the erection of the new Elementary School on Pearl Street under a P. W. A. grant have come before me for consideration and advice. I supervised the preparation of the contract for the construction of the school house building and the performance bond given by the contractor in connec. tion therewith. The equipment in the school was furnished by six dif- ferent companies which necessitated the preparation and approval of contract documents and performance bond for each of the contractors. The P. W. A. requirements of the Government relating to legal forms and documents in connection with the carrying out of this project were supervised, prepared and submitted for my approval and consideration and many resolutions of the school committee were drafted relative to formal action taken in furtherance of the project. The outstanding contract for the transportation of school children was assigned by the contractor and a new contract for such transportation was prepared running to the assignee and containing the necessary provisions relat- ing to the transportation of children to the new school which was open- ed on January 3, 1940. Several opinions relating to school matters have been rendered and advice given in regard to legal questions in - volving the operation of public schools. The contract for the removal of
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ashes and rubbish from the schools was submitted for my consideration and approval. Reimbursement was secured for the Town for damage caused to the fence of the Junior High School as a result of an automo- bile accident.
Services were required in the matter of the purchase of Black's Block property for the use of the Municipal Light Department and for the erection of an office building thereon. The title to the property was examined and the supervision of the matter of the acquisition of the property and discharge of the outstanding encumbrances were in- cluded as part of the services rendered in the conclusion of the trans- action. The legal details of the advertisement for bids, the preparation of the contract documents for the erection of the building including the performance bond of the contractor came under my supervision. Sev- eral claims of the Municipal Light Department were referred to me for collection and suits have been brought and satisfactory settlements have been obtained in certain cases. A new form of conditional sales con- tract was prepared for the Department to meet the requirements of a recent amendment to the General Laws and opinions have been rend- ered concerning Department matters. I am defending the Town's con- tingent interest in a suit for death and conscious suffering as a result of an accident involving the Electric Light Department wherein the policy contract of the Town is limited in its protection to $10,000 and the amount of the alleged damages in the writ is $50,000. As a result of an accident on Main Street causing damage to an electric light stand- ard and traffic signal, I secured for the Town in settlement, the title to an automobile owned by the person responsible therefor.
Several opinions were rendered concerning welfare matters and under the Old Age Assistance Law mortgages and bonds given by recipients of Old Age Assistance were prepared and recorded in the Registry of Deeds after completing the necessary examination of the real estate title. Guardianship proceedings which were started in the Mid- dlesex Probate Court in 1938 for the purpose of seeking reimbursement for Welfare aid furnished, were concluded resulting in the payment to the Town of approximately $100. Two cases involving damage to auto- mobiles used by the Welfare Department were satisfactorily com- promised so the Town was compensated for the damage sustained. One of the suits brought by municipality against the Town to recover for Welfare aid furnished individuals having a legal settlement in Reading was duly adjusted and the final record disposing of the case has been entered in Court.
At the beginning of the year twenty-seven appeals relating to the valuation of real estate were pending against the Assessors before the Appellate Tax Board. All of these cases were disposed of either by trial or satisfactory adjustment by agreement of the parties. I repre-
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sented the interest of the Town at a hearing before the Bankruptcy Court to determine the valuation for taxation purposes of the real and personal property of a taxpayer. Seventeen appeals are now pending before the Appellate Tax Board. Opinions have been rendered to the Board of Assessors concerning assessments of property and tax matters. The damage to the cemetery stone wall on the westerly side of Main Street which was occasioned by the construction of the State Highway by the Commonwealth has been settled and the State has rebuilt the wall.
Several Trustee's Answers were filed in behalf of the Town in con- nection with suits brought against contractors and all the claims have been satisfactorily adjusted. Suits were brought by two municipalities against the Town to recover for Welfare aid furnished individuals hav- ing legal settlement in the Town and four suits were commenced against the Town for alleged claim for damages sustained as a result of ac- cidents on the highways. Four claims were made against the Town re- sulting from alleged accidents on the highways and two of these claims have been disposed of by compromise after authorization by vote of the committee. Two suits pending in the Superior Court by authority of the committee have been satisfactorily adjusted. There are still pending in the Courts, against the Town, eleven suits which will be disposed of as soon as they are reached for trial upon the Court Docket.
In the performance of the duties of my office, I have prosecuted all suits ordered to be brought in behalf of the Town, have defended all actions or suits brought against the Town, have drafted all contracts, bonds, deeds and other legal instruments, have attended all hearings involving municipal affairs, have rendered opinions to all departments upon any subject concerning municipal matters and have performed every professional act required of me in the execution of the duties of my office.
Respectfully submitted, SAMUEL H. DAVIS Town Counsel
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Gentlemen :
I hereby submit the annual report of the Police Department of the Town of Reading for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Arrests for the year 1939 228 Males, 219; Females, 9; Residents, 122; Non-residents, 106; Adults, 212; Minors, 16; American born, 204; Foreign born, 24.
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Causes of Arrests
Drunkenness, 105; Warrants for Out of Town Officers, 6; Non- Support, 10; Operating under influence of liquor, 16; Insane, 4; Assault and Battery, 4; Stubborn child, 1; Breaking and Entering in daytime, 5; Capias, 7; Leaving scene of accident, 1; Suspicious person, 1; Carry- ing loaded revolver without a permit, 1; Breaking and Entering in night-time, 8; Abortion, 2; Kidnapping, 1; Passing bad checks, 1; Ring- ing false fire alarm, 1; Larceny, 3; Larceny of auto, 2; Malicious dam- age to property, 2; Runaway, 2; Attempt to commit larceny, 1; Pro- moting a lottery, 1; Violation Chap. 90-Sec. 15-Gen. Laws R. R. Crossing, 1; Operating so as to endanger, 5; Illegitimacy, 1; Setting a fire without a permit, 1; Operating after license expired, 1; Attempt to sell mortgaged property, 1; Auto violations, 33.
Disposition of Cases in Court
Fined, 43; Filed, 28; Released, 66; Suspended sentence, 11; Dis- missed, 7; Probation, 2; Appealed, 13; Turned over to out-of-town Of- ficers, 14; Continued, 13; State Farm, Bridgewater, 1; House of Cor- rection, Billerica, 4; Discharged, 1; Danvers State Hospital, 4; Capias issued ,2; Probable cause, 8; Dismissed for lack of prosecution, 3; Not guilty, 6; Turned over to parents, 2.
Amount of Fines Imposed by Court
24 at $5.00 each, $120.00; 2 at $20.00 each, $40.00; 4 at $25.00 each, $100.00; 5 at $50.00 each, $250.00; 1 at $60.00 each, $60.00; 6 at $35.00 each, $210.00; 1 at $100.00 each, $100.00.
Miscellaneous
Cases investigated, 459; automobile accidents, 127; transients put up, 94; buildings found open and secured, 160; cats shot by officers, 4; special messages delivered after hours, 115; children lost and found and turned over to parents, 24; windows found open and secured, 45; live wires found and reported, 2; street lights out and reported, 58; old persons found straying picked up and returned to their homes, 8; fires reported by officers, 12; defective streets and sidewalks reported, 46; summons delivered, 174; dead bodies cared for, 3; covered all fires ; property reported stolen, $8,827.50; property recovered, $13,855.26; property recovered for out of town officers, $4,285.00; persons injured in accidents and taken to doctors, 71; persons injured in accidents and taken to hospital, 31; fatal accidents, 2; total runs made by ambulance, 173; to following hospitals, Massachusetts General, 10; Massachusetts Memorial, 12; Choate Memorial, Woburn, 27; Winchester, 46; Palmer Memorial, 2; Boston Osteopathic, 5; Danvers State, 3; Melrose Hospi- tal, 6; Carney, 15; St. John's, Lowell, 23; Baker Memorial, 3; Chelsea Naval, 2; Boston Lying-In, 1; St. Elizabeth's, 2; Tewksbury, 2; Law- rence General, 1; Deaconness, 1; trips made within town limits, 13. A total of 3,609 miles was covered by the Ambulance; Cruiser No. 1 cov-
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ered 25,200 miles from Jan. 1 to Oct. 3, when it was replaced by a new one; the new Cruiser No. 1 has covered 11,400 miles from Oct. 8 to Dec. 31; Cruiser No. 2 has covered 35,547 miles during the year 1939, making a total of 75,756 miles travelled by the various automotive units of the department for 1939.
Conclusion
At this time I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Judges of our District Court, the Clerks of our Court, our local Press, and all others who assisted in promoting the welfare of this department, also the members of this departinent for what they have done.
Respectfully submitted, JEREMIAH CULLINANE, Chief of Police, Reading, Mass.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
The 1939 report of the Chief of the Fire Department is herewith submitted.
Manual Force
The manual force of the department consists of 9 permanent men, including the Chief, and 23 call men.
Apparatus
At the Central Fire Station are located a 1937 Packard sedan Chief's car; Engine 1, a 1,000 gal. per. min. Seagrave pumping engine with a 100 gallon booster tank, purchased in 1934; Engine 3, a 600 gal. per. min. Seagrave pumping engine with an 85 gallon booster tank, purchased in 1929, Engine 4, a 1932 Chevrolet 11/2 ton truck used for forest and grass fires, which carries a 100 gal. per min. portable pump and a 65 gallon booster tank and 3,000 feet of 11/2 inch hose; Ladder 1, a Robin- son ladder truck purchased in 1916 and powered with a White motor taken from a 1913 or 1914 coupe. This piece of apparatus has reached the condition where it is a hazard, it is undependable and the ladders, many of which were from the old horse drawn truck, are unsafe.
Engine 2, a 400 gal. per min. Seagrave pumping engine wth a 65 gallon booster tank is located at the Woburn street station. The pump on this engine received extensive repairs this year. This engine was purchased in 1926.
Permits
Permits have been issued for the storage of 24,650 gallons of fuel oil in connection with 78 power burners and 37 range burners. There
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are now recorded a total of 2742 oil burners of which 1528 are range burners and 1214 are power burners. 8 permits for the sale of fire- works were granted 3 for blasting and 8 for the storage of alcohol products.
Service Record
The department has answered 427 calls, an increase of 81 over last year. There were 26 false alarms an increase of 7 over 1938. One arrest was made and conviction obtained in the Woburn Court.
Value of property endangered by fire
$305,475.00
Insurance on same
267,000.00
Loss
14,481.25
Insurance Paid
10,455.70
Uninsured Loss
4,025.55
Miles traveled
9,272.3
Feet of hose laid, 21/2 inch
17,900
11/2 inch
40,800
1 inch
6,250
3/4 inch
6,400
Feet of ladder raised
730
Booster tanks used
119
3 gallons soda and acid extinguishers
26
1 quart carbon-tetrachloride extinguishers
3
Carbon-dioxide extinguishers
9
Foam extinguishers
2
Hours engines pumped
991/4
Calls for inhalator
2
Salvage covers spread
12
Lighting unit used, hours
231/2
Recommendations
I recommend that Ladder 1 be replaced at once as this piece of apparatus is now unsafe for further use and the ladders are dangerous to use.
The permanent force should be increased and radio installed in the Chief's car.
Conclusion
In conclusion I wish to thank the Honorable Board for its co-op- eration, the members of the department for the faithful performance of their duty, the employees of the telephone company for their valu- able aid in the reception of emergency calls by telephone and all other town departments and persons who have assisted this department.
Respectfully submitted, HUGH L. EAMES,
Chief of the Fire Department.
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REPORT OF THE FOREST FIRE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
The annual report of the Forest Fire Warden is hereby submitted.
The department has responded to 156 grass and brush fires and 16 rubbish and dump fires. This is 43 more than last year. The greater number were of incendiary origin. Many were caused by improper incinerators.
One man was convicted in the Woburn Court for having a fire without a permit. Two incendiary fires were started in the Town For- est.
Much valuable work was done by the C. C. C. units which worked twelve weeks clearing up the hurricane blowdown hazards, clearing wood roads, and cutting new fire roads to allow the passage of fire apparatus through the woods. With this work accomplished there is still a serious forest fire hazard.
On September 23rd, a fire crossed the meadows from John street and endangered the property in the "Fair Grounds" section. Assistance was rendered by the departments from North Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Wilmington. Valuable assistance was given by many volunteers.
I wish to thank all who have assisted this department.
Respectfully submitted, HUGH L. EAMES, Forest Fire Warden.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Reading, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
Two petitions for variation of the application of the Zoning By- Law were presented to the Board of Appeal during the year 1939, of which one was granted and one denied.
Detailed reports of both cases are on file at the office of the Town Clerk, and are open to public inspection.
Respectfully submitted, HENRY Q. MILLETT, Chairman FRED L. NUTTER, Secretary BENJAMIN B. PIPER
Board of Appeal
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my third annual report as Inspector of Wires for the Town of Reading for the term ending December 31, 1939.
During the year I have made 651 inspections and have issued 387 permits to perform wiring in the town which are classified as follows : Repairs, additions and alterations
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