USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1943 > Part 14
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We have bought many new books for the young people of High School age, including more attractive editions of some of the classics ; also a number of the more interesting books about the war and others of the new fiction. They seem to appreciate having these books on their own shelves and many are asking to have books reserved for them.
The Book Drive for 1943 was very successful, 1043 books being turned in. Again we wish to thank Mrs. Poland and Mrs. Grover for · sorting and packing and Mr. DeMelle Garey for transportation.
177
The Book Group of the Woman's Club has given us two books : The World's 100 Best Stories, edited by Somerset Maugham and The Treasury of the Familiar, edited by R. L. Wood.
The beautiful creche which was in the exhibit case during the Christmas season, was made by Mrs. Timlin and is a gift to the Library from her.
·
The work in the Children's Room has continued with an increase in circulation. Through the summer a story-hour was held once a week. During the month of August the experiment was tried of taking books to two of the Recreation centers, with considerable success. A half- hour of story-telling was held at each of the two centers on the same day.
About 500 books were loaned during the year for use in the different schools. During Book Week eight different classes visited the Library. Better care of books during war time was stressed. The files were ex- plained and the children encouraged to use them. Several groups of Girl Scouts have visited us during the year. More boys and girls are now coming to the children's room for reference work for school. We feel that it has been a busy year of steady growth.
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE J. ABBOTT
Public Library Expense Account
Salaries :
Appropriation $6,044.00
Librarian
$ 1,845.29
Assistants
3,285.23
Janitor
913.21
$ 6,043.73
Maintenance $3,300.00
Fuel, Light, Water, Sewer
$ 420.73
Telephone
47.69
Printing and Supplies
156.09
Maintenance and Repairs
377.01
Books, Periodicals and Binding
2,269.47
Miscellaneous
49.51
$ 3,300.50
Refund
.60
$ 3,299.90
Balance unexpended and returned to revenue :
On Salaries
.27
On maintenance .10
178
Receipts
Fines Collected
$ 696.59
Fees from Out-of-Town Borrowers
16.00
Paid to Town Treasurer
$ 712.59
Balance Dec. 31, 1943
$ 00.00
Circulation Report
Vol. in Library Dec. 31, 1942.
25,684
Volumes bought :
Adult fiction
391
Adult non-fiction
378
769
Juvenile fiction
306
Juvenile non-fiction
112
418
Reference Books
15
Received by gift
159
1361
1361
Withdrawn during year
757
Total no. vol. Dec. 31, 1943
26288
Circulation :
Adult
64427
Juvenile
22631
Total circulation in 1943
87058
Total circulation in 1942
93138
Loss in 1943
6080
New Borrowers Registered :
Adult
383
Juvenile
225
Total new borrowers
608
No. days library open
304
Average daily circulation :
Adult
221.47
Juvenile
74.45
Borrowed from other libraries
17
Lcaned to other libraries
11
179
$ 712.59
27045
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The Board has devoted its attention to several problems including the location of the proposed State Route 128 through the town, a study of capital budgeting, the establishment of a post-war rehabilitation pro- gram and preliminary studies of the need for a library extension and of additional school facilities.
Definite assurance has been obtained that the proposed Circumfer- ential Highway, known as Route 128, will be located in the southerly part of the town, near the Stoneham line. This will preserve valuable properties which would have been injured had the previously planned route been followed.
On motion of the Planning Board two committees have been ap- pointed by action of the town meeting to study and report at the an- nual town meeting in March, 1944 on the matter of long range capital budgeting and on post-war readjustments, respectively. Mr. Berry is serving as chairman of former committee and Mr. Pease is chairman of the latter. Mr. White has continued to serve as the representative of the Board on the Drainage Committee.
On petition of a group of citizens, a special town meeting was held on December 13, 1943, after a public hearing required by law, to con- sider amending the zoning by-laws to extend the present industrial dis- trict to include an area on South Main and Ash Streets immediately south of the railroad crossing and zoned partly for residential purposes but principally for retail business. The town meeting followed the rec- omm'endations of the Board and voted against the proposed revision.
The Board has been represented at numerous public hearings and has met with various boards and committees to discuss matters of mu- tual interest. Board members have given informal talks before many of the civic, social and other interested organizations of the town on the subjects of post-war planning or capital budgeting. Members of the Board have conferred with State officials and others on matters pertaining to public safety, town development and post-war rehabilita- tion.
An inspection has been made of the parks and playground facilities of the town.
Acknowledgment is made of the splendid cooperation on the part of this town's members in the Legislature and the several town boards and many citizens.
Respectfully submitted, A. LLOYD DAVID, Chairman GEORGE B. PEASE, Secretary WALTER D. BERRY WINTHROP D. PARKER PHILIP R. WHITE
180
REPORT OF THE WAR PRICE AND RATIONING BOARD
The Reading Rationing Board was organized in February 1942, upon orders from the O.P.A., and consisted of three members under the lead- ership of Joseph D. Knight. At that time tires were the only commodity rationed.
Since then the number of items rationed has increased to the extent that it now requires 17 Board members, 8 Federal clerks and 2 Town clerks to handle the work efficiently and to take care of the approxi- mately 150 applicants a day.
Rationing is a necessity and the Board members endeavor to give the townspeople fair treatment under the present government regula- tions and we see that there are no cases of undue hardship if it is at all possible to prevent them under the regulations.
This rationing, or depriving people of things to which they are nor- mally accustomed is not a pleasant task and the citizens of the town can be proud of the men and women who give at least six hours each week to this job without pay.
I take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the various organizations and citizens of the town, together with the past and pres- ent members of this Board and clerks for their cooperation and assist- ance.
Respectfully submitted, HERBERT C. TOWLE, Chairman
REPORT OF VETERANS' BENEFITS AGENT
January 20, 1944
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town of Reading, Massachusetts Gentlemen :
Your department of Veterans' Benefits which was known by the former name of Soldiers' Relief Department, has had a busy year. The money expended does not reveal the work of the department. We have assisted fifty-one (51) families with a total of one hundred and six (106) persons. We have rendered various kinds of assistance too numerous to record. We expect to continue to be busy this year.
Respectfully yours, CHARLES W. H. SMITH, Agent
181
4
REPORT OF THE WELFARE BOARD
As required by law the Board of Public Welfare submits its annual report. The authorities whose duty it is to see that the annual Town Report is compiled and printed have asked us to be as brief as possible. They have the best reasons for their request and certainly there never was a better time for brevity so far as this board is concerned.
Mr. Clarence J. Stalliday was appointed a member of this board to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Charles E. Wilkinson, on December 16th, 1943.
We have only to report that the department has functioned smoothly and we believe efficiently throughout 1943. For particulars we refer you to the accompanying condensed report of the Welfare Agent, and to those portions of the Town Accountant's report which show the de- tail of receipts and expenditures.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH D. KNIGHT, Chairman MILES C. HIGGINS, Secretary CLARENCE J. STALLIDAY, Board of Public Welfare
REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT
To the Board of Public Welfare :
I submit herewith a brief report for the year 1943. One important factor has been a continuance of good employment conditions. This has resulted in the lowest yearly expenditure for General Aid since 1930. In Aid to Dependent Children and in Old Age Assistance the average case load did not increase during 1943 but the cost per case showed a material rise because of higher price levels in the necessities of life. The revised Old Age Assistance law,, effective in September, 1943, caused substantial increases throughout this category because of the mandatory budget clause, with the minimum payment requirements being retained in the law as well. This increase, operative for only four months of 1943, will be in effect throughout the whole of this year. It is apparent, there- fore, that without any increase in case load it is still necessary that we have available a larger appropriation for the Old Age Assistance than that provided last year.
A matter of major interest in carrying on a relief program as ex- tensive as the one now being attempted throughout the country is the final net cost to the various cities and towns as it applies to their local taxes. This net cost for 1943 was the lowest it has been since 1930. To show the method of computing this cost by balancing receipts against expenditures, the following condensed schedule is submitted :
182
Welfare Department Net Costs for 1943
Expenditures *Receipts
General Aid-Town Cases
$ 14,407.91
$ 1,900.60
General Aid-State Cases
3,100.25
3,567.77
Aid to Dependent Children
16,275.35
12,975.63
Old Age Assistance
116,729.36
98,007.53
$150,512.87
$116,451.53
Total credits
$116,451.53
Net Cost $ 34,061.34
*Recoveries through collection of charges against other cities and towns, the state, and federal grants.
In handling this assistance program of $150,000.00 for 1943, with its many involved social problems affecting the family life of each recipient, as well as the enormous amount of detail necessary to recover for the town the substantial receipts listed above, it is to be noted that the ad- ministrative cost remains below 61/2%.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD E. HARNDEN,
Welfare Agent
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Board of Health :
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1943.
Number of permits granted 58
Number of fixtures installed 164
Bath Tubs 20
Closets
45
Lavatories
25
Sinks
28
Boilers 20
8
Sinks and Trays 10
Two part trays
8
164
I have made 210 inspections covering plumbing. Respectfully submitted,
DAVID MARTIN, Inspector of Plumbing
183 .
Tankless Heaters
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR 1943
To the Citizens of the Town of Reading.
The Cemetery Trustees submit their annual report as follows :
The Board organized for the year by electing Clarence C. White as Chairman and Fred L. Nutter as Secretary. William P. Pierpont was re-appointed Superintendent.
The Report of the Superintendent, approved by the Trustees and appended hereto, covers very fully the work carried on during the year. The Trustees feel that the excellent condition of both Cemeteries re- flect the efficient management of the Superintendent and the loyalty and faithfulness of his assistants.
The appropriation for the year was $10,000.00 for maintenance of Laurel Hill and Forest Glen Cemeteries. $1,000.00 was transferred from the Cemetery Reserve Fund to assist in carrying on the work of the De- partment.
The maintenance of the Cemeteries has been supervised carefully by the Trustees, with a view to keeping within these appropriations.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE C. WHITE, Chairman .
FRED L. NUTTER, Secretary HARRY C. BARR,
ARTHUR MICHELINI,
FRANK LEE EDGERLEY,
JAMES W. FAIRCHILD,
Board of Cemetery Trustees
LAUREL HILL AND FOREST GLEN CEMETERIES
Report for 1943
To the Board of Cemetery Trustees,
Town of Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my sixteenth annual report of Laurel Hill and Forest Glen Cemeteries ending December 31, 1943.
The regular maintenance work was kept up in the Cemeteries dur- ing the year, with the extra employees including three high school boys hired during part of the summer season to mow lots.
In Laurel Hill the annual care signs, urns and hydrants were painted and the interior of the shop was painted one coat. Catch basins were cleaned out, hedges and shrubs were trimmed and watered throughout the season, lot bounds were raised, stepping stones were trimmed and trees pruned and dead wood removed. Three trees were cut down that
184
had become unsightly. Town plots and perpetual care lots were fer- tilized in the fall. leaves raked up and disposed of and all avenues were plowed and kept open during the winter.
There were eighty-six interments in Laurel Hill Cemetery during the year. Ninety-nine sunken graves were repaired, forty winter graves were graded and seeded and eight monument and twenty-seven marker foundations were built.
Two lots, four adult graves and three baby graves were sold this year and two graves were used by the Welfare Department. There are still a few large lots remaining unsold in Laurel Hill; four eight grave and two six grave lots in desirable locations. Twelve old lots and one single grave were placed under perpetual care, one lot had an additional amount for care placed on it and one lot had a special bequest for flow- ers to be placed on the lot Memorial Day of each year.
There were eleven interments in Forest Glen Cemetery this year. Five sunken graves were repaired, two monument and one marker foundations built and approximately twelve hundred stepping stones were trimmed and raised and all lot bounds and numbers raised.
The sale of lots in this Cemetery increases each year. This year we sold eleven lots and one single grave.
With this report I have covered the general operation of the year's work of this Department. I recommend that the macadam avenues in Laurel Hill be resurfaced next season with a coating of asphalt and pea stone, as this has not been done for several years and they are beginning to break up. Some of the others should have a coat of Tarvia and pea stone. This will insure their preservation for several years. The tool house should be reshingled next year.
The financial statement will appear in the report of the Town Ac- countant.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM P. PIERPONT, Superintendent
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
The Board of Appeal held three hearings during the year 1943, one of which was denied, one granted, and one dismissed as not coming un- der the jurisdiction of the Board of Appeal.
Respectfully submitted, BENJAMIN B. PIPER, Chairman FRED L. NUTTER Secretary DUDLEY B. KILLAM Board of Appeal
185
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK AND FOOD
To the Honorable Board of Health,
Town of Reading
Gentlemen :
The inspection of the local milk supply and dairies handling the same has been conducted along the same lines as of previous years. That is, it has consisted of the collecting and analysis of milk samples for their butter-fat, solids and bacteria contents, also in the inspection of the barns, utensils and the milk-rooms in which the milk is handled.
There were 78 samples of milk collected and analyzed, with satis- factory results in the majority of cases.
32 licenses were issued to sell milk.
The inspection of the local food supply has consisted of the inspec- tion of the premises where food is stored and handled, such as markets, grocery stores, bakeries, restaurant and roadside stands.
Such inspections were made during the year and in most cases con- ditions were found to be satisfactory
Yours respectfully, CARL M. SMITH, Inspector of Milk and Food
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town of Reading
Gentlemen :
The following is a tabulation of the work completed by the Depart- ment of Weights and Measures of the Town of Reading for the year 1943 :
Work Performed from Jan. 1, 1943 to Dec. 31, 1943
1. Scales
Adjusted
Sealed
Platform, over 10,000 1bs.
1
3
Platform, 100 to 5,000 1bs.
5
8
Counter, 100 to 5,000 1bs.
1
1
Counter, under 100 1bs.
6
12
Spring, under 100 1bs.
7
17
Computing, under 100 1bs.
15
30
Person weighing, slot
1
2. Weights
Avoirdupois 1
61
3. Volumetric
Liquid Measures
15
Dry Measures 3
186
Work Performed from Jan. 1, 1943 to Dec, 31, 1943
3. Volumetric
Fuel Baskets
4. Automatic Liquid-Measuring Devices
Gasoline Pump
2
41
Stops on Pump
5
5
Gasoline Meter Systems
2
40
Grease Measuring Devices
8
5. Linear Measure
9
Trial Weighings and Measurements of Commodities Sold or Put Up For Sale
Total No.
Nc. Correct
Under
Over
Bread
20
17
1
2
Butter
12
6
2
Dry Commodities
32
29
1
2
Grain and Feed
10
10
Ice
4
1
1
2
Potatoes
20
16
2
2
98
79
7
12
Inspections Made
Paper and Fibre Cartons
2
Pedlers' Licenses
2
Transient Vendors
1
Ice Scales
3
Junk Scales
3
Respectfully submitted, CARL M. SMITH, Sealer of Weights and Measures
REPORT OF THE FOREST WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen :
The department has responded to 249 grass, brush, dump and rub- bish fires in 1943. This is an increase of 134 over 1942.
The greater number of these fires were incendiary or from careless burning of rubbish, many times in improper incinerators. Respectfully submitted,
CHIEF HUGH L. EAMES, Forest Warden
187
Adjusted 1
Sealed
Yard Sticks
45
255
Incorrect
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Reading, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit the annual report of the Police Department of the Town of Reading for the year ending December 31, 1943.
Arrests for the Year 1943
Males, 184; Females, 4; Adults, 164; Minors, 24; Residents, 80; Non- Residents, 108; American Born, 176; Foreign Born, 12. Total Number of Arrests, 188.
Causes of Arrest
Drunkenness, 58; Assault and Battery, 10; Non-Support, 6; Larceny, 2; Insane, 2; Breaking and Entering in Night Time, 4; Delinquent Chil- dren, 4; Capias, 5; Runaways, 2; Out-of-town Warrants, 10; Lewd and Lascivious, 1 Operating After Revocation, 2; Operating Under Influence of Liquor, 12; Automobile Violations, 62; Driving So As To Endanger, 2; Defaulted, 1; Disturbing the Peace, 2; A.W.O.L., 1; Warrants, 2.
Disposition of Cases in Courts
Fines, 92; Released, 35; Turned Over to Out-of-town Officers, 11; House of Correction, 4; House of Correction, Suspended, 10; Worcester State Hospital, 2; Shirley School, 1; Lyman School, Suspended, 2; Held for Grand Jury, 5; Concord Reformatory, 1; Complaint Withdrawn, 2; Continued, 3; Dismissed, 2; Turned over to United States Navy, 1; On File, 12; Defaulted, 1; Found Not Guilty, 3; Probation, 1.
Amounts of Fines Imposed By Courts
1 Fine, $500.00; 2 Fines, $100.00; 8 Fines, $50.00; 6 Fines, $35.00; 7 Fines, $25.00; 14 Fines, $20.00; 31 Fines, $15.00; 13 Fines, $10.00; 7 Fines, $5.00. Total Fines, $2,395.00; from this total the Town received $1,724.50.
Value of Properties Stolen and Recovered
Value of Property Reported as Stolen in Reading $ 7,019.50
Value of Property Recovered in Reading 6,393.37
Value of Property Recovered for Out-of-town Officers 3,175.00
Total Value of Property Recovered in Year 1943. $ 9,568.37
Miscellaneous Services Rendered by the Police Department
The major items of police service are indicated in the foregoing tables. However, a wide variety of incidental services which occupy much of the department's time and attention is summarized as follows :
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Transients put up, 12; Buildings found open, 3; Windows found open, 16; Doors found open, 102; road and sidewalk conditions reported, 12; summons delivered, 146; Lost children found and returned to par- ents, 34; Runaway children, 7; Wires reported down, 6; Special mes- sages delivered, 103; Dead bodies cared for, 4; Drowning accidents, 1; Broken poles reported, 5; Convoys escorted, 7; Lights reported out, 12; Bad odors reported, 8; Cows found on streets, 3; Horses found on streets, 2; Pigs found on streets, 5; Persons taken to their homes, 2; Assistance given sick persons, 15; Buildings reported damaged, 3; Prop- erty found outside and brought to Station, 11 (value $241.00) ; Family trouble investigated, 24; Teletype messages sent out for out-of-Town departments, 28; Fire department called, 12; Delivered Lord's Day li- censes, 19; Malden & Melrose Gas Co. notified about low pressure, 1; Starved and injured dogs taken care of, 12; Dogs shot, 2; Alert test messages received, 57; Trips to Pumping Station, 83; Trips to Watch Tower, Wakefield Street, 42; Trips made out-of-town for Ration Board, 6; Man-hole covers reported off, 1; Bicycles reported stolen, 31; Bi- cycles recovered, 27; Vacant houses of people away inspected, 142; Mis- cellaneous cases investigated, 251; 8 persons reported missing-7 re- turned to their homes. Covered all fire alarms. Finger-printing by Officer Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, 52 hours. All officers of the department reported for duty during all test air-raid demonstrations during the year.
Automobile Accidents
Total number of automobile accidents for year 1943, 148; Accidents involving property damage, 89; Accidents involving personal injury, 51; Accidents involving persons taken to doctors, 26; Accidents involving persons taken to hospitals, 18; Fatal accidents, 1; 25 dogs struck or killed by automobiles.
Mileage on Automobile Units
Cruiser number one travelled 10,198 miles to May 5th, replaced by Studebaker which has travelled 15,408 miles; cruiser number two, Ply- mouth, has travelled 41,106 miles; Packard sedan has travelled 3,520 miles ; ambulance has travelled 3,620 miles, making a total mileage cov- ered by all units for the year 1943, 73,852 miles.
Police Ambulance Records
During the year 1943 the police made the following trips with the ambulance :
Winchester Hospital, 87; Choate Memorial Hospital, 10; Mass. General Hospital, 36; Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, 6; St. John's Hospital, 24; Tewksbury State Hospital, 1; Medford Hospital, 1; New England Sanitarium, 2; Melrose Hospital, 4; Wakefield Convalescent Home, 4; Town Limits, 10; Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, 4; Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary, 2; Carney Hospital, 3; Chelsea Naval Hospital, 1; Robert
189
Bent Brigham Hospital, 1; Maplewood Hospital, 1; Stoneham Conval- escent Home, 3; St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1; Pondville State Hospital, 1; Delaney Hospital, Lowell, 1; Worcester State Hospital, 3; Mass. Me- morial, 1. Total trips made by the ambulance for the year 1943, 207. Received in payment for use of ambulance and turned over to the Town Treasurer for year 1943, $660.00.
Bicycle Registrations
Since bicycle registration started, up to December 31, 1943, 1,508 plates have been issued. $300.75 was collected for plates in 1942 and turned over to the Town Treasurer. In 1943, $95.50 was collected for plates and turned over to the Town Treasurer.
Auxiliary Police
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Auxil- iary Police for their assistance given this department during the year. Their uniforms have been dyed blue, new caps with numerals and new brass buttons for the coats have been provided.
For approximately two months six to eight men reported to the Sta- tion Tuesday and Thursday nights from 8:30 to 11:00 P. M. At the present time two men report for duty six nights each week from 8:30 to 11:00 P. M. and perform regular police work during that time. ,
Recommendation
Due to the fact that our ambulance, a 1934 Dodge, is now ten years old and much out of date, I recommend that the Town purchase a new ambulance as soon as is possible.
Officer Gordon G. MacIntire has been retired due to sickness. John R. Condon was appointed a regular police officer Dec. 20th. On Nov. 2nd the Report Center was closed and since that time the Police De- partment takes the calls from Malden. .
· Conclusion
At this time I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Judges of the Superior and District Courts, the Clerks of our Courts, our local press, and all others who have assisted in promoting the wel- fare of this department, also the members of this department for their work done during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
JEREMIAH CULLINANE, Chief of Police, Reading, Mass.
190
EIGHTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT 1
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The 1943 report of the Reading Fire Department is hereby sub- mitted :
Manual Force
Nine permanent men including the chief. Call men: Due to a num- ber of call men being engaged in defense work there is a serious short- age of man power, more so during the daytime. There are at the present time 8 full time call men, that are available 24 hours a day, 9 half time call men, 4 full time call substitutes and 4 half time call substitutes mak- ing a total of 201/2 call men.
Apparatus
At the Central Fire Station is located a 1937 Packard chief's car ; Engine 1, a 1,000 gal. per min. Seagrave pumping engine purchased 1934; Engine 3, 600 gal. Seagrave engine purchased 1929; Engine 4, a 1938 Chevrolet purchased 1932-this is a forest fire truck equipped with a 100 gal. portable pump; Ladder 1, Seagrave 65 ft. junior aerial ladder truck with a 200 gal. pump.
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