USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1945 > Part 14
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4
4,300.00
4,299.46
.54
5
7,500.00
7,376.81
123.19
6.
1,800.00
1,793.48
6.52
7
700.00
700.00
.00
8
834.06
.00
834.06
9
1,850.90
.00
1,850.90
10
162.24
.00
162.24
11
341.20
.00
341.20
12
189.77
.00
189.77
13
257.15
.00
257.15
14
2,525.26
260.50
2,264.76
15
2,700.00
2,700.00
.00
16-17-22
16,168.30
15,905.79
262.51
Maintenance and repair projects accounted for the greater part of the Highway Department activities during 1945. As in preceding war years, lack of materials, man-power and low appropriations seriously curtailed necessary department work. As a result, highway surfaces have suffered severely from this enforced lack of maintenance. To main- tain the highways, surface spraying and sand covering was resorted to in lieu of other methods which are initially more expensive but which in the long run are more economical and much more satisfactory.
Drainage construction was carried on in a very limited fashion. Re- quests for adequate drainage to provide relief for citizens affected con- tinue to flood the department. but cannot be accomplished due to small annual appropriations.
Granolithic sidewalk construction was advanced during the year, with many more applications received and on file than could be in- stalled with the funds set aside for this work. Sidewalks in Reading are in truly deplorable condition, and, at the present rate of new con- struction, will remain so for a long period.
War emergency work was carried on until the cessation of hos- tilities, consisting of Victory Garden plowing and harrowing and paper and tin salvage collections.
Man-power shortages remained acute during the summer and fall months, but was eased somewhat in December by returning war veter- ans and erstwhile war workers.
Highhway Department
188
A more detailed resume of the work accomplished by the Highway Department follows :
Snow and Ice
Twenty-two snow storms were recorded in Reading during 1945, eight of which were under 1" depth, five of which were under 2" depth, and nine of which were from 31/2" to 26" in depth and required plowing. The following table includes only the nine storms requiring highway snow plowing :
Recorded Snowfall-1945
Date
Snowfall Temp. (inches)
Wind Direction
Force
Remarks
Jan. 7-8
6
++24°
N.N.E.
Strong
Light and Fluffy
Jan. 14-15
31/2
+12°
N.N.W.
Light
Light
Jan. 16-17
6
+10°
North to
Strong
Light to Mod. Heavy
North East
Feb. 5
5
+18°
N.N.E.
Moderate Half Gale
Light and Fluffy
Feb. 8-9
N.N.E.
Heavy Density
10-11
30
+-24°
to East
to Blizzard
Feb. 16
5
+20°
N.N.W.
Moderate Heavy
Nov. 30
Strong to Wet, Heavy Snow -
Dec. 1
14
+-31°
N.N.E.
Gale Force
Rained Prior to Snow
Dec. 19-20
12
+18°
N.N.E.
Light to
Light and Fine
Dec. 29-30
14
+26°
N.N.E.
Light to
Medium - Heavy
Moderate
Total
951/2 inches
Highway snow plowing in 1945 taxed both equipment and personnel to the utmost. As may be observed in the above table of recorded snow- fall, the storms were so spaced as to require almost weekly highway plowing during the months of January, February, and December. Storms not tlisted in the table were interspersed between the listed storms, and a nearly unbroken cold wave from December 1944 to February 20, 1945, with no appreciable thawing or melting of snow from the previous storms had caused these light snowfalls to become traffic packed on the roadways into ice coatings, and roadside snow banks, from daytime melting and night-time freezing, had become masses of ice which could
Highway Department
189
Moderate
not be moved by truck plows. Highway widening, therefore, was very difficult.
The underlying ice coating on highways also was the cause of much tire-chain breakage due to skids. When a chain broke, a truck stalled, often in drifts or snow banks, and had to be towed out. Much other mechanical breakage occurred also during these storms, and at one time during the night of February 8 and 9, all but one heavy plow unit was either broken down or stalled in the streets. At one time or another dur- ing the storms all heavy truck units sustained major mechanical break- downs, ranging from broken springs to universal joints and cracked cylinder blocks. The light truck units also sustained major breakdowns, as did the sidewalk tractor plow units. Snow storms such as were ex- perienced in 1945 are extremely hard on equipment as old as is the ma- jority of the department's truck units. This necessitates continuous and expensive overhauling and repairing.
During the entire s'eries of snow storms, all roads were kept open and passable with the exception of a portion of Wakefield Street near the Wakefield Farm. Twice during the storms this section of roadway became so drifted, between cut-banks, that the snow loader was used to remove the drifted snow.
During the December 1945 snow storms, the department's snow fighting equipment was augmented by the acquisition of a new 5-ton Sterling truck and the hiring of a 5-ton Mack truck. Another newly hired unit is a Fordson Tractor equipped with a Ferguson snow plow, which was used to plow all rough private ways which hitherto had to be hand-shoveled in severe storms.
The Barber-Greene snow loader proved its worth in 1945, with snow quickly and efficiently removed from all regularly serviced locations fol- lowing each storm. Without it, and lacking adequate shovelers, much of the snow could not have been removed.
The department was again fortunate in having the assistance, dur- ing severe storms, of several former employees and citizens, who substituted as truck drivers, mechanics, etc. for regular employees who worked long hours without rest. During the series of early February storms, the men worked for 41 consecutive hours without rest.
General Highway Maintenance
Roadway maintenance work was carried on to the fullest possible extent of limited funds, with a program planned to cover as much street surfaces as possible. Honing and mixed-in-place jobs were held to a
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190
minimum, and surface seal and spot-spray jobs a maximum, in an effort to make the available material cover the most street surface. Both sand and stone were used to cover 64,962 gallons of road oil. Sections of two streets were honed and sections of two streets were mixed-in-place jobs, the remainder being all either surface seal or spot-spray.
Roadway patching was carried on extensively through the year, the severe winter of 1944-1945 having caused road surfaces to break up badly. Both K. P. and gravel patching were done, with some commercial patch- ing material also being used. A total of 2,300 gallons of cold patch liquid was used by the department in mixing cold patch aggregate at the garage mixing plant, and 116 tons of ready-mixed commercial patch- ing material was used in street patching operations.
The usual sweeping and cleaning of highways was accomplished in the early Spring, and was made more difficult than usual by the unusual amount of sand used to combat icy streets during the preceding winter months.
Brush was cut from roadsides during the Fall and Winter months to eliminate traffic hazards or narrow, winding outlying streets and at dangerous intersections.
A street sign program was carried on at the garage workshop during rainy days, and many new wooden street signs were manufactured, to replace old and worn existing signs.
Chapter 90 Maintenance
Chapter 90 Maintenance work was accomplished on Haverhill Street, West Street, Main Street, and Reading Square. On Haverhill and West Streets a regular surface seal job was accomplished, as was Main Street from Washington Street to the railroad crossing. On Main Street from Washington Street to Haven Street, and at the intersection of Lowell street, hot-mix sheet asphalt was applied to spalled sections of the granolithic roadway surface, and rolled in place with a medium weight gasoline roller. This method was used as an experimental measure in an effort to solve the problem of patching spalled concrete sections, at the request of the State Department of Public Works.
Chapter 83 Construction
For the third consecutive year, no streets were accepted as Public Ways, nor were any streets constructed under the provisions of Chapter 83 during 1945. Several streets, accepted in previous years, have yet to be constructed, due to shortage of man-power and materials.
Highway Department
191
Granolithic Sidewalk Construction
The following table illustrates granolithic sidewalk construction in 1945 :
Granclithic Sidewalk Construction by Streets
Street
No. Lots
Feet Frontage
Square Yards
Auburn
1
82.50
48.30
Bancroft
5
368.00
254.67
California
1
80.00
47.53
Cross
1
112.00
56.15
Grand
1
58.10
39.44
Green
1
54.00
36.11
Haven
1
98.85
55.01
Highland
3
167.35
99.50
Linden
1
88.60
74.25
Middlesex
1
81.50
38.89
Prescott
2
117.20
69.88
WVest
1
71.19
46.69
Total
18
1379.29
866.42
Each of the above listed granolithic sidewalks was installed at the owner's request under the provision of the Betterment Act, the property owner paying one-half the cost of construction of the sidewalk abutting his property. A number of applications are on hand for future construc- tion, as requests for granolithic sidewalks in 1945 far exceeded in cost the funds appropriated for this work.
Several existing granolithic sidewalks were repaired during the year, after having failed from various causes. In some instances, sections of sidewalk were removed and re-laid. Tree roots, frost heaves and other physical causes were responsible for the damaged sidewalks.
Gravel and Stonedust Sidewalks
Gravel, topped with stonedust, was used to temporarily surface existing dirt sidewalks. In other sections, the existing sidewalks were surface-smoothed and stonedust applied. This is but a temporary though necessary expedient, as the sidewalks so treated remain in repair for but a short time. Stonedust was used to temporarily surface 4735 lineal feet of gravel or earth sidewalks abutting 57 different properties, total- ing 2850 square yards, 70.5 tons of stonedust being used for this pur- pose. These installations were for the most part done on application of abutting property owners.
Highhway Department
192
Granite Curbing
No new granite curbing was set in 1945, as granite quarries were still not producing cut stone for the market. A number of applications are on file for installation when curbing is again available.
It was necessary, however, to reset a number of lengths of existing granite curb, due to displacement of the curb from various reasons. Some old curbing, from stock in the highway garage yard, was set where new sidewalk construction made curbing necessary. Several two foot drive- way returns were also set, for like reasons.
Storm Water Drainage
Five storm water drain extensions were made in 1945, as illustrated in the following table :
Size and Length of Pipe
Location
30"
18"
12"
10"
8"
C.B.'s
M.H.'s
Total Pipe® Only
Sunnyside Ave.
60.0
60.0
Bancroft Ave.
277.0
58.0
19.0
6
354.0
Gould St.
86.0
5.0
2
2
91.0
Temple St.
64.0
600.0
6
4
664.0
Walnut St.
515.0
5
3
515.0
Totals
60.0
64.0
1478.0
5.0
58.0
19.0
19
9
1684.0
The drains shown above are only a small proportion of storm water drains listed for installation when and if funds are made available. With the limited funds appropriated annually for this work, attempts are made- each year to give relief to most seriously affected regions. Complaints from property owners of inadequate surface water drainage are received in great number by the department, and most of them are justified by existing conditions. Roadway maintenance is also increased by surface- running water, causing road surface breakage, shoulder wash-outs, and frost boils in the winter months. Surveys and layouts of proposed storm drain installations are completed and on file in the department's engi- neering office, only awaiting funds for installation.
In addition to the drains listed in the above table, several catch bas- ins were installed and connected to old existing drains to relieve local drain conditions.
Maintenance of Storm Drains
Cleaning of open drain ditches was somewhat curtailed in 1945, due to pressure of other work and scarcity of labor. All open ditches found in the past to cause drainage problems were however cleaned in the usual manner.
All catch basins were cleaned during the year, and extra-large quan- tities of material were taken from them, caused by heavy winter street sanding, severe rain storms, etc. Storm drain pipes were rodded and flushed in several sections, and culverts were cleaned of foreign objects which by accident or design had become lodged therein.
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193
Concrete headwalls were extended at bridges crossing the Quanna- powitt Drain Ditch, to prevent traffic from running into the ditch ex- cavation. Repairs also were made to a diversion dike between Ash Street, Cross Street, and Summer Avenue. The Quannapowitt Drain Ditch functioned efficiently during the year. carrying off the water from the year's above-normal rainfall easily. This was especially true during the Spring thawing period, when deep snow accumulations melted by heavy rains caused heavy water run-offs.
Dumps
John Street public dump was maintained during the year, with a department caretaker in attendance during scheduled working hours. At various times during the year, the Bay City gas shovel and the bulldozer were used to level off and extend dumping areas. Gravel was applied as needed to fill holes and level off the access roads.
Several dead evergreen trees were removed from the screen plant- ing adjacent to John Street and replaced with new trees, and the lawned and shrubbed areas renovated.
Roadside dumping is again being practiced in Reading by certain citizens. This is a pernicious practice, resulting in unsightly and un- healthy piles of garbage, cans, bottles, and paper on outlying streets. The John Street dump is the only legal public dumping area in Reading, is maintained for the townspeople, and they are urged to use it. Persons dumping refuse on roadsides may be subject to prosecution.
War Emergency
An active part was taken by the department in war emergency work during the year, in cooperation with the various war agencies in charge of Victory Gardening, paper and tin salvage, clothing collection, etc., and emergency equipment held in readiness for any possible need. In Feb- ruary, during the coal shortage, department personnel, trucks and gaso- line shovel loaded and hauled bituminous coal from the Town coal stock pile at the Municipal Light Dept. yard to schools, Ration Board building, Public Library and Municipal Building, and stored same in the respec- tive coal bins.
Victory Gardens
Reading's Victory Gardeners, many of them now veterans of three years or more of war gardening, continued active in 1945. Several gar- dens in new locations were plowed, but for the most part the garden areas were the same as plowed in previous years, when most of them were either virgin soil or long disused garden plots. The three years of tillage and cultivation has resulted in some very excellent garden areas.
Mild, unseasonable weather in March advanced the growing season about a month ahead of normal, and victory garden plowing started on April 7. with a goodly backlog of applications on hand. The departments
Highhway Department
194
plowmen, profiting from past experience, were able to run through the list of applications rapidly, and on May 12 the plowing program was completed, with 80 separate garden plots plowed and harrowed. Many early gardens situated in the low-lands were either ruined or damaged materially by wet, cold weather in April and May, but plentiful and fre- quent rains during the summer months resulted in a good growing sea- son as a whole.
With the ending of the war emergency, the department's garden plowing has terminated, and gardeners are advised that no garden plow- ing or harrowing will be done in the future. There are now a number of local plowmen who can be engaged for garden plowing, and garden- ers who wish plowing done in the Spring of 1946 should contact them as early in the season as possible. With the food situation and the govern- ment food program what it is, home gardening appears to be as neces- sary or more so than heretofore.
Salvage Collection
In cooperation with the Reading Salvage Committee, Town-wide salvage collection of paper and tin were made in 1945. The following table shows the dates and approximate quantities of material collected :
Tons Paper Tons Tin (Approx.)
Date
Material
(Approx.) 40
10
March 6
Paper and Tin
May 14
Paper and Tin
40
10
August 19
Paper and Tin
46
11
Approximate Totals.
126 tons 31 tons
For each salvage collection. freight box-cars were spotted on High Street railroad siding, and in each drive two cars were completely filled, with several truck-loads of books and magazines sent to the Horovitz Yard in Stoneham. All Departmental trucks and personnel participated in these collections, assisted by trucks and personnel of the Municipal Light, Moth, Welfare, and Cemetery Departments. The August 19 col- lection was the final one, as the Federal sponsored collective organiza- tions ceased to exist as of September 30, 1945. Calls are still being re- ceived at the Board of Public Works office regarding paper and tin col- lections, and citizens are advised henceforth to contact any of the sev- eral licensed junk dealers who operate in Reading.
Clothing Collection
Department trucks and personnel were also used to load and trans- port donated used clothing from various locations to a central clothing sorting and bundling depot at Pearl Street School, for donation to the United National Clothing Collection organization for war relief. This collection was made in April, and approximately 15 tons of clothing were collected, which was later hauled to Wakefield and loaded in freight cars for further destinations.
Highhway Department
195
PARK DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Park Department: Appropriation $ 6,000.00 Expended :
Memorial Park
Pay Roll
$ 1,215.59
Supplies
349.52
1,565.11 $
Leach Park
Pay Roll
$ 116.20
Skating Rink
Pay Roll
$ 93.82
Lights
66.01
Supplies
90.00
$ 249.83
Commons
Pay Roll
$ 340.51
Repairs and Misc.
61.00
$ 401.51
Washington Street Park
Pay Roll
$ 965.72
Supplies and Misc.
168.08
$ 1,133.80
Birch Meadow
Pay Roll
$ 896.60
Supplies and Misc.
133.29
Lights
190.11
$
1,220.00
Miscellaneous
Pay Roll
$ 162.02
Supplies and Misc.
497.69
Road Machinery
653.37
1,313.08
$
Total Expended
$
5,999.53
Balance Unexpended
$ .47
Park Department
196
PARK DEPARTMENT
Parks and Playgrounds again were used extensively by outdoor sports enthusiasts, and were well patronized for all seasonal sports. The Read- ing Recreation Committee again sponsored a broad, well-planned and excellently supervised program during the school vacation months, under the direction of a salaried director and playground staff. For a more complete record of the results achieved by the Recreation Committee in 1945, reference is made to the report of said Committee printed else- where in this report.
Due to the limited budget of the Park Department, it was necessary during the year to carefully plan maintenance and repair work in the parks. Large grassed areas, lawns, trees, shrubs and paths must be main- tained, and annually account for a large proportion of Park Department funds, leaving but a small balance for new construction or playground apparatus.
A brief resume of improvements and maintenance work accomp- lished at each Park, Playground and recreation center follows :
Memorial Park
Maintenance work only was accomplished at Memorial Park during the year. The grounds were maintained to present their usual pleasing appearance, and tennis courts, playground equipment and enclosed play yard maintained. During the winter months the ice skating pond was flooded and maintained.
Memorial Park Barn has been subjected to acts of vandalism which renders it practically untenable. In addition to breaking windows, doors, etc., vandals several times attempted to burn it down by inserting dry grass under the wooden shingles and igniting same. Each time, how- ever, quick action by the Fire Department extinguished the flames. Some action must be taken in the near future either on replacing or removing the Barn.
Birch Meadow Playground
The greater part of all seasonal playground activities in Reading again was carried on at Birch Meadow. Facilities for tennis, soft-ball, baseball, wading, camping, small children's playground, picnicing and ice sports in season were all well patronized. Much of the activities of the summer recreation program centered at this playground. All sports facilities were maintained by the department to the fullest extent of limited available funds.
During the winter months, brush and trees were cut from the sec- tion of Birch Meadow to be next developed, also from the knoll called the "Overlook." Material obtained from Spring cleaning of streets was hauled and dumped in the area stripped of brush, and the material lev- eled off with a bulldozer.
Park Department
197
A new soft-ball field was laid out in the early summer months, and used extensively. The tennis courts were in constant use, and were again illuminated for night play. Acts of vandalism to the lighting equipment necessitated much replacement of fixtures, shades, and time switches.
Washington Street Ball Park
The baseball field was readied for Spring baseball practice of the High School baseball squad as early in the Spring as weather conditions warranted. The entire field was given its usual Spring cleanup, and rolled with a small rented gasoline tandem roller. Adequate mainte- nance work continued through the season, and a fairly good turf re- sulted from frequent summer rains.
The small children's play yard was set up early in July, and was in constant use in season. Two new tether-ball posts were set up in the Park, and proved popular with the teen age group.
The annual July 4th Field Day, sponsored by the Board of Public Works, was held at the Ball Park on Wednesday, July 4. Directed by a representative of the Board assisted by Recreation Committee play- ground supervisors, twenty-four races, novelty and special events were staged, divided by age brackets into three classes for both boys and girls. Suitable merchandise prizes were awarded to first and second place winners in each event. Approximately 350 persons participated in the Field Day, as contestants and/or spectators.
Sturges Public Ice Skating and Winter Sports Center
This ice skating and hockey center was again popular in season. Heavy rains during the latter part of 1945, coupled with cold weather, flooded the area beyond normal bounds, and made early ice. Snow from frequent storms was pushed off the skating areas with a rented Ford- son-Ferguson tractor plow, and the hockey rink was kept cleared by hand labor. Night lights were again used, and several hockey teams were active. Coasting and skiing on the gentle slopes surrounding the skating pond was carried on extensively by young and old winter sports enthusiasts.
War Memorial
Maintenance of lawned areas, walks and shrubs was accomplished, and the background planting of evergreen trees kept trimmed to present an attractive appearance.
Commons and Grass Plots
The Common, Elm and Leach Parks, and intersection grass plots re- ceived no special improvements during the year, but were maintained to present a neat appearance.
The large wooden top-mast flagpole on the Common was struck by lightning during the summer, and damaged to such an extent that it was removed. Efforts to obtain a new pole are being made, but as yet have been unsuccessful.
Park Department
198
SEWER DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Sewer Department :
Construction and Maintenance Account
Appropriation
$ 12,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$
5,529.88
Interest on Bonds
850.00
Insurance
613.47
Misc. Tools and Supplies
1,862.80
Road Machinery Account
1,330.32
Equipment Rental
666.25
Total Expended
$ 10,852.72
Balance Unexpended
$ 1,147.28
House Connection Account
Appropriation
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 1,491.04
Pipe, Fittings, etc.
508.57
Total Expended
$
1,999.61
Balance Unexpended
$ .39
MAIN TRUNK SEWER EXTENSIONS
Four main trunk sewer extensions totaling 762.49 feet were installed in 1945, each installation being made on applications of owners of exist- ing residences and other buildings to connect their premises with the common sanitary sewer. No sewer underdrains were installed in 1945. Several other applications for trunk sewer extensions have been made, but, due to lack of funds in the Sewer Department Construction budget, have not been installed. Surveys and layouts have been completed for several sewer extensions by a Post War Planning project, which will, when constructed, give needed relief to a number of property owners.
The following table illustrates main trunk sewer extensions in 1945, by streets :
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