USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1941 > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
Legal questions involving the operation of public schools have been passed upon and advice given. Services were rendered in con- nection with a gift of a sum of money to the School Department for the purchase of books for the High School Library.
The matter of the sale through the Municipal Light Department of the premises at Haven, High and Green Streets, as voted by the Town, has been given attention. The deed was prepared and petition and plan for sub-division filed in the Land Court and the matter of passing papers, securing the purchase price and concluding the trans- action, came under my supervision. Miscellaneous claims have been submitted by the Department for collection. Suits have been com- menced and action taken to recover possession of electrical equipment and appliances sold under conditional contracts of sale. Services have been performed in preparation of the contract for the addition to the Municipal Light Garage and Store Room; securing the performance bond and the execution of the contract and other necessary documents.
During the current year one suit for consequential damages has been commenced against the Town. This case is a companion case to a suit already pending involving alleged claim for damages as a result of an accident on the highway. There are still pending in the courts
242
against the Town, seven suits, nine cases having been disposed of in court during the current year. Several claims of various nature have been made against the Town, liability has been denied by the munici- pality but none of these claims have been made the subject matter of suit.
As provided by the by-laws of the Town, I have prosecuted all suits ordered to be brought in behalf of the Town and defended all suits brought against the Town, have drafted all contracts, bonds, deeds and other legal instruments, have attended all hearings involv- ing municipal affairs, have rendered opinions to all departments and committees upon any subject concerning municipal matters and have performed every professional act required by me in the performance of the duties of my office.
Respectfully submitted, SAMUEL H. DAVIS, Town Counsel.
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
January 31, 1942
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Tree Warden and Moth Superin- tendent for the year 1941.
The Tree Department planted two hundred and twenty-five trees on the roadside. For the past four months the men have worked re- moving dead wood and trimming trees adjacent to the electric wires. The Electric Light Department has paid the expense of this work.
The gypsy moth infestation is very bad in the woodland in the northern part of the town; this requires a lot of woodland spraying in order to keep them from spreading into the residential section. The elm leaf beetles are very bad in the neighboring towns. This causes new infestations each year, requiring a great deal of late spraying. We need a larger spraying machine for this elm beetle spraying.
Respectfully yours, MAURICE H. DONEGAN,
Superintendent.
243
REPORT OF SPONSOR'S AGENT
February 2. 1942 Reading, Massachusetts.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit the annual report of your Sponsor's Agent for the year 1941. During the year seventeen Federal projects were in operation, employing an average of 138 people. This is the lowest average since 1937, and is due to improved business conditions, defense work and the selective draft.
A brief description of projects operated during the past year fol- lows. An itemized account of expenditures of funds for materials and equipment will be found in another part of the Town Report.
Underground Conduit
This project continued through 1941. A total of approximately 30,000 lineal feet of underground duct were installed on High, Lowell, Hartshorn and Vine Streets; 5 manholes were built, and 14,100 square feet of sidewalks resurfaced. Work will be completed in 1942.
Forest Glen Cemetery
Work on the further development of Forest Glen Cemetery con- tinued during the spring and summer of 1941. Work was temporarily suspended on August 12, 1941 as men were transferred to the Quan- napowitt Drainage project.
During the period that the project was in operation, April 23rd to August 12th, an area containing 18,280 square feet was graded, loamed, and seeded. A boundary stonewall, 410 feet in length and containing 218 cubic yards of field stones was constructed. This project will be reopened as soon as weather permits in the spring.
Rip-Rap Open Ditches
The drainage ditch running through Memorial Park was widened, graded and a retaining wall constructed along the banks. New head walls were also constructed on existing culverts.
Charles Street Widening
Work on the widening of Charles Street continued until August 12, 1941, when men were transferred to the Quannapowitt Drainage. Work was completed by the Public Works Department. Work done included the construction of three culverts, removal of trees and ledge, removal and resetting of balance walls, widening of roadway and gravel sur- facing.
244
Quannapowitt Drainage
This project was started on August 13, 1941 and will continue through 1942. When completed, this project will drain an area equal to 2.778 square miles or 1777.92 acres. Work consists of the construc- tion of four reinforced concrete culverts, averaging 60 feet each in length; the construction of three bridges with reinforced concrete foot- ings and abutments; the construction of a dike extending from John Street to Ash Street, a distance of 1960 feet, also a dike 350 feet in length, with stop planks at a point 1000 feet east of Main Street and 400 feet north of Summer Avenue, where drainage system starts. Ditch to be excavated is 15,800 feet in length, varying in depth and width, and will require the excavation of approximately 50,000 cubic yards of ma- terial. At the present time the project employs 150 men.
Tree Surgery
Trees along 20 miles of the town's highways were trimmed and cleared of dead branches, trees bolted where necessary, cavities filled and unsafe trees removed.
Housekeeping Aides Project
During 1941, the Housekeeping Aides Project furnished assistance to 243 families. Any family in the lower income group is entitled to this service upon recommendation in writing, of a doctor, visiting nurse, Welfare Office, Old Age Assistance Office, Soldiers' Relief Agent, or any charitable organization. The purpose of this project is to furnish free home assistance in housework and care of children in the homes of the needy, where the homemaker is totally or partially incapacitated because of ill health or confinement, or in case of some temporary em- ergency which makes this assistance necessary.
Moth Project
Work under this project consisted of creosoting egg masses, and nest of gypsy moths, cutting browntail webs and destroying tent cater- pillar webs and eggs. Approximately 1000 acres of woodland were treat- ed.
Stone Bounds and Street Acceptances Project
This project, continued from 1940, will be completed in the spring of 1942. The work consists of :
1. A composite sectional map of the town, showing all accepted streets, and includes records and locations of edgestones, types of side- walks and surface materials.
2. A card record of locations of street monuments showing ties to nearest permanent points, with adequate sketches.
3. A book and card record of all street layout descriptions as taken from Town Meeting records.
245
These records and plans are to be kept on file in the office of the Board of Public Works and will be very useful in future systematic town planning of highway extensions.
Furniture, Toy and Shoe Repair Project
Furniture, toys and shoes donated by townspeople were repaired and renovated under this project, and distributed through the Welfare Department to needy citizens. Due to quota reductions, this project was suspended on June 16, 1941.
Town Vault Records
This project was completed on March 20, 1941. The work consisted of cleaning, indexing, summarizing and filing books, records, reports, plans and other data relating to the administration of town affairs. Books and records were restored to their proper agencies, records which were no longer useful were destroyed, and useful material salvaged, sorted and indexed. An index was prepared of materials remaining in vaults as well as a summary of materials that were discarded.
School Lunch Project
A School Lunch Project, whereby hot lunches were served to child- ren, was operated at the Highland School from May 26th to June 20th. During this period 1800 meals were served. Due to lack of space in the school building, the project was not reopened in September.
Fire Records
This project was completed on June 27, 1941. Fire Department rec- ords were transcribed, tabulated and summarized. An index system covering permits for storage of inflammables was installed and a spot map drawn showing locations of all fires occurring from 1920 to 1940.
Compensation Division
The following report covers injuries sustained by Reading W. P. A. workers for the period January 1, 1941 to December 31, 1941.
1. Injuries of a minor nature not requiring medical attention of a. physician - 35 cases.
2. Injured and requiring medical attention of a physician-31 cases.
3. Injured and requiring medical attention, also losing time from work with compensation - 6 cases.
Total number of accidents - 72.
Total Federal Payroll from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1941 $ 89,438.26
Value of Food Commodities 20,296.52
Value of Clothes 8,077.50
Total $117,812.28
246
Annual Report of the Reading W. P. A. Recreation Project - 1941
January 26, 1942 Reading, Massachusetts.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my annual report as W. P. A. recreation supervisor for the year 1941. With the continuing aid of the Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Reading has had leaders and supervision for public recreation.
This project has been in operation since 1934 and has had an ever increasing program. There have been many changes during 1941. The recreation personnel has been drastically reduced due to quota reduc- tions, the 18-months employment law, and the draft.
Adult Program
Winter and Spring-
The citizens of Reading, realizing the value of leisure-time hobbies, have supported the program in a satisfactory manner. The physical activities offered were: basketball, badminton, volley ball and gymnas- tics. These activities were carried on at the High School gymnasium until February when they were transferred to the Recreation Center. Art classes, metalcraft, drama, community singing, special events, pho- tography, card and table games made up the balance of the program. Summer -
Birch Meadow and the Washington Street Park were used exten- sively by adults for softball, tennis, and baseball .. In other years, Memorial Park was the best attended playground, but due to vandal- ism, this playground was closed in May and not opened until late in the season. There were few leaders assigned to this area and only out-door activities operated.
Fall and Winter -
This season opened in September with only three W. P. A. leaders on the recreation staff. Needless to say, the program had to be cur- tailed. Rather than cutting the number of activities, the number of classes per week was decreased. During these months the Recreation Center offered the following program: metalcraft, art classes, photog- raphy, gymnastics, ping pong, badminton, special events, and defense activities, which will be covered under Defense.
Special Events -
The main special events of the Adult Program were the exhibits which are held annually. These include metalcraft, leathercraft, pho- tography, and pastels.
The photographic display was a new undertaking for the recreation project. Pictures taken by members of the class which was conducted once each week, were enlarged and mounted as they could be displayed
247
to better advantage. Special lighting was made possible by equipment loaned by the Municipal Light Department. This event was held in April.
The metalcraft and leathercraft exhibition held in May drew not only local visitors but also many people from nearby towns and cities. The fame of these groups is well known throughout this area. The art class decorated the rooms with pastel murals which added to the beauty of the scene.
65 well drawn pastels were exhibited at the Recreation Center 'n September. All pastels were mounted and arranged by Louis Babine, art director. The comments received were very favorable.
In October, arrangements were made with the M. M. Ross Gallery, 32 Huntington Avenue, Boston and the pastels were again on display. During the three weeks of the exhibit, over 2000 saw this work. Thus the work of the participants of the Reading W. P. A. recreation project has been brought to the public.
Defense Program -
Early in June, in co-operation with the Reading Defense Com- mittee, classes in First Aid, Women's Defense Corps, and Drill were held at the Recreation Center. Due to the large enrollment in Women's De- fense Corps and Drill, it was advisable to transfer the groups to the Jun- ior High School. In the fall, there were more First Aid classes organ- ized. Standard, advanced and instructors' courses were held. These were attended by men and women alike. In December, the permanent Air Raid Warden Control Center was housed in the Recreation Center. This meant a further curtailment in the physical activities offered to the children and adults.
Children's Program
Winter and Spring --
Through the Reading School Committee, facilities in the High School gymnasium were made available for basketball for boys. The Game Rooms with equipment for pingpong, miniature pool, card and table games, badminton, and games for little people were in daily use.
Instruction in art, painting, drawing, sewing, knitting. and wood- craft was offered daily.
Summer -
The playgrounds were opened in June and closed in September. Baseball League for Junior boys was organized with regular scheduled games. From this League an All-Star team was selected for out-of- town games. Tennis matches were played with Winchester and Stone- ham. In pleasant weather, games suitable for playgrounds were avail- able to all. The swings and wading pools were heavily patronized by boys and girls of all ages.
248
.
Fall and Winter -
With the closing of the playground season, all activities were oper- ated in the Recreation Center. Crafts, art, games of all types, danc- ing, singing, and reading were much appreciated by the children. Special Events -
One day each week was designed as Special Event Day. Pet Shows, Field Days, Big League Baseball Game, Baseball Field Day, League Play-offs, and annual tourneys comprised the special events. While all participants were children, parents and friends greatly enjoyed the events.
Annual Participation Chart
It must be remembered that the W. P. A. recreation program operates on a year-round basis with groups meeting morning, after- noon, and evening. With this fact in mind, the annual participation figures do not seem excessive.
Under 20 Years
Over 20 Years
Activities
Male
Female
Male
Female
Total
Badminton
2915
1708
470
174
5267
Baseball
3080
164
529
3773
Basketball
285
243
528
Gym class
372
372
Ping pong, pool
9578
4755
1590
192
16115
Softball
543
142
1716
2401
Tennis
2389
1664
1663
1030
6746
Swings
4136
4253
8389
Wading pools
3617
3323
6940
Volley ball
77
77
Playground games
1562
730
2292
Card and table games
4231
1779
1874
7898
Craft classes
3376
5605
597
3714
13292
Art class
1927
1680
535
1419
5561
Photography
126
77
475
378
1056
Drama
60
66
201
217
544
Community singing
704
835
95
103
1737
Dancing, folk, social
649
885
44
1578
Reading
422
166
588
First Aid
431
1774
2205
Air Warden training
294
294
Special Events
1652
621
544
1834
4651
Spectators
9093
12745
21838
Grand Totals
41252
28453
11334
11251
92290
249
Acknowledgements -
Many thanks are given to the following who have aided with 5- nances, materials, moral support, and personal assistance: The Fed- eral Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, The Board of Selectmen, The Board of Public Works, The Sponsor's Agent and his office staff, The Superintendent of Public Works, The Park Playground Leaders, The Reading School Department, The Reading Municipal Light Department, The Town Accountant, The Reading Chronicle, and The M. M. Ross Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts.
Respectfully submitted, EVELIE L. IRVING, Reading W. P. A. Recreation Supervisor ..
I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen for their co-operation and advice, also other Town Boards who have at all times been co-opera- tive and helpful.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR MICHELINI, Sponsor's Agent ..
REPORT OF SOLDIERS' RELIEF AGENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
January 30, 1942 Reading, Massachusetts.
Your Soldiers' Relief Agent respectfully submits his annual report for the year 1941.
We have aided 27 family cases and 13 single cases, with a total of 100 persons; this compared with the last few years, shows a consider- able decrease in relief. While the natural trend would show an in- crease, the great improvement in business has offset the ageing of the veteran and the cost of relief has been lowered.
The uncertainty of the future, owing to the war our country is engaged in, and the probable extension of Soldiers' Relief to a new class, makes any prediction of what the coming year will be, impossible.
Very truly yours, CHARLES W. H. SMITH, Soldiers' Relief Agent.
250
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
In accordance with the custom from time immemorial, the Welfare Board herewith submits its report to the town for the year 1941.
The method of carrying on the business in 1941 has been in marked contrast to the usual procedure in recent years. The Board has con- cerned itself chiefly with matters of organization, administration and policy, keeping a sharp eye on the financial side of the picture as a whole, leaving the daily routine of receiving applicants and handling their individual social problems, to the agent and his corps of social workers. This plan has justified itself in operation, as evidenced in lowered costs of conducting the work and an amazing improvement in the morale and efficiency of the office personnel.
For further information as to the details of the financial results and a discussion of the various problems already faced, with others still before us, we refer you to the Town Accountant's figures and the report of the Welfare Agent, appended hereto.
JOSEPH D. KNIGHT, Chairman MILES C. HIGGINS, Secretary CHARLES E. WILKINSON Board of Public Welfare.
REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT
To the Board of Public Welfare :
The following report for the year 1941 is submitted :
The outstanding developments for the past year have been the substantial reduction in General Aid expenditure and the completion of the organization of the Civil Service Merit System involving all public welfare administrative employees engaged in the supervision of public assistance, the social case work, and the clerical work required by law in connection therewith.
The detailed accounts of appropriations, transfers, refunds, and federal grants, together with classified expenditures in all welfare ac- counts, has been furnished to the Town Accountant and these sched- ules appear as usual in his yearly report of receipts and expenditures.
251
General Aid
In this category so great a reduction in expenditure was made during 1941 that it seems advisable to indicate what we believe to be the salient causes. In the first place, the trend of employment started sharply upward in April. This situation was country-wide and is re- flected in the General Aid expenditures of all Massachusetts cities and towns whose figures have come to our notice. Reading, however, was better prepared to capitalize on conditions than many other municipali- ties. What we really did about it was pioneer work so far as we can learn. As the Board is aware, it was proposed at the first of the year to employ a person who should give his entire time to the task of bringing employable people on relief into profitable contact with pros- pective employers. The Finance Committee, whose sub-committee had just completed an intensive study of welfare conditions, was wholly in accord and approved an additional appropriation for this purpose. There was little comparable precedent for this work and no system already in operation by other towns was available which could be copied or modified to meet our requirements. However, this employment re- search employee, with the assistance of comprehensive case records already in hand and with the further great benefit of the considerable knowledge of the personal characteristics and capabilities of many of those unemployed which had been acquired by the visitors, succeeded in placing a material number of people in jobs. Some of these jobs were of a seasonal nature and many of them were matters of only a few days work at a time. In other instances persons for whom suitable employment was found have since remained continuously off relief. This job-finding effort was not limited strictly to persons actually re- ceiving welfare aid. It was extended to include Soldiers' Relief, W. P. A. employees, and to those known to be potential welfare cases even though they were not actually on relief at the time attention was given to them. In 1941 the entire expense of this activity, some $1,200.00, was carried by the General Aid Administrative account because the idea originated in that department. In the future some thought might be given to the allocation of some of this relatively small cost to other town departments, Soldiers' Relief, W. P. A., etc., in proportion to the benefits they receive from it. Beyond question this employment research effort accounted for a substantial portion of the decrease in General Aid expenditure. Continuance of this labor-placing work, which now has the advantage of a year's experience, is strongly recommended.
The placing of administrative responsibility directly upon the office personnel, under a unanimous ruling of the Board in January, was a second advantage because each employee's duties could be clearly de- fined, more especially in actual case work operation, thus bringing
252
into effect a single-minded attention to each problem. This avoided duplication of contact with recipients and eliminated all possibility of working at cross purposes in the determination of the need for relief, both of which processes are confusing to the person seeking aid. It further promotes efficiency in setting up provision for necessary relief without waste.
The General Aid case load as of record for 1941 was 189 cases is against 252 cases during 1940. The only cases recorded are those on which expenditure has been made. The number of those who apply but for whom no expenditure is incurred represents the ability of a qualified social worker to show an applicant that his own resources, properly applied, will take care of him, or that his difficulty can be met in a manner involving no expenditure from welfare funds. In many instances the social worker uses more energy and ingenuity in keep- ing someone off the relief rolls-which is the best thing for the appli- cant where possible-than in arranging for budgetary requirements where assistance is mandatory.
Aid to Dependent Children
This type of assistance was put into its present form in 1937, at which time federal participation in the cost began. Previously, since 1913, in fact, this form of help was classified as "Aid to Mothers with Dependent Children," commonly referred to as "Mothers' Aid," and applied only to those instances where the mother was actually present in the home and in charge of her children. The workings of the Social Security Act have since broadened this field so as to include depend- ent children deprived of parental support, in any proper home where they are under the care of a relative. This relationship may be by blood or by marriage and covers some two dozen kinds of family ties which can make a person eligible to head a case under the present legislation providing for Aid to Dependent Children.
The case increase has been steady but has not shown the periodic spurts which have appeared in Old Age Assistance. In 1937 we had a total listing of 28 A. D. C. cases and in 1941 this figure reached 38, an increase of about 35 per cent during the five-year period. The case load of 1941, taken month by month, shows an increase of approxi- mately 10 per cent over 1940. The expenditure, however, did not in- crease. The average number of eligible children per case was less, certain children becoming over the eligible age, with no new children coming into the family to take their places. Also, some of these older children became employed and self-supporting and, in a few instances, able to assist toward the family budget.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.