USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1945 > Part 8
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
Automobile Accidents
Total number of automobile accidents reported for year 1945, 201. Fatal accident, 1; Accidents involving property damage, 137; Accidents. involving personal injury, 89; Accidents involving persons taken to doc-
96
tors, 41; Accidents involving persons taken to hospitals, 13; 31 dogs struck or killed by automobiles.
Mileage on Automobile Units
Plymouth, Cruiser number two travelled 24,826 miles; Studebaker, Cruiser number one, travelled 8,994 miles to May 5th and was replaced by Plymouth, Cruiser number one, this cruiser has travelled 19,518 since May 7th; Dodge Ambulance has travelled 3,212 miles, and Packard, Chief's car travelled 2,940 miles, making a total mileage of all units for 1945 of 59,490 miles.
Police Ambulance Records
During the year 1945 the police made the following trips with the ambulance :
Winchester Hospital, 77; Choate Memorial Hospital, 9; St. John's Hospital, 26; Town Limits, 9; Melrose Hospital, 4; Malden Hospital, 1; New England Sanitarium, 12; Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, 2; Mass. General Hospital, 14; Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary, 1; Cambridge City Hospital, 1; Brookline Hospital, 1; Lovell General Hospital, Fort Dev- ens, 1; Baptist Hospital, 1; Children's Hospital, 1; Mass. Memorial Hos- pital, 1; Lowell General Hospital, 1; Delaney Hospital, 1; Somerville Hospital, 2; South Station, 1; Beth Israel Hospital, 1; Veterans Hos- pital, West Roxbury, 1; Soldiers Home Hospital, Chelsea, 1; Lynn Nurs- ing Home, 1; North Andover Rest Home, 2; Waltham Hospital, 1; Tewksbury Hospital, 1. Total trips made by the ambulance for 1945, 174. Received in payment for use of ambulance and turned over to Town Treasurer for 1945, $527.00.
Auxiliary Police
On several occasions during the year the Auxiliary Police have been called out for duty. They have given this department able assistance, and I take this opportunity to thank all the members who rendered service.
IN MEMORIAM James H. Lawler
Born Nov. 11, 1894 Died Sept. 18, 1945
Officer Lawler was appointed a Special Police Officer, Mar. 28, 1927, and appointed a regular Patrolman, Mar. 12, 1928.
Chief Jeremiah Cullinane retired from the department Oct. 28, 1945. Chief Cullinane was appointed a Special Police Officer in 1900, Regular Patrolman Mar. 1, 1913 and made Chief Mar. 1, 1917.
97
.
Sergt. Francis T. Slack retired from the Department May 19, 1945. Sergt. Slack was appointed a Special Police Officer early in 1919, ap- pointed a Regular Patrolman, Sept. 6, 1919 and appointed Sergeant, April 4, 1926.
Patrolman Thomas E. Wall appointed Sergeant, Feb. 4, 1945.
Patrolman Arthur M. Curtin appointed Sergeant, June 24, 1945.
William R. Florence was appointed a temporary Patrolman Oct. 13, 1944, resigned from the Department July 27, 1945.
Richard F. Dugan was appointed a temporary Patrolman July 9, 1945, resigned from the department Aug. 4, 1945.
John F. Beaudoin appointed a temporary Patrolman Sept. 1, 1945. George V. Gaw appointed a temporary Patrolman Sept. 1, 1945.
William H. Faulkner appointed a temporary Patrolman Oct. 9, 1945. William H. Dewsnap, Jr., appointed a temporary Patrolman Nov. 24, 1945.
Sergt. Francis L. Johnson appointed Acting Chief of Police Oct. 28, 1945.
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 welfare of this department, also to. all the members of this department for their work during the year.
FRANCIS L. JOHNSON
Reading, Mass.
NINETY-FIRST REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The report of the Reading Fire Department for the year 1945 is hereby submitted.
Manual Force
The permanent force consists of eleven permanent men including the Chief. Two permanent men were added this year. There are 14 full time and 10 half time call men.
Auxiliary Fire Service
The Auxiliary Fire Service continues to be of valuable assistance to the department. These men have given freely of their time, have main- tained night watches at the Engine 2 station, performed fire duty and as- sisted in the removal of snow from fire hydrants.
98
Apparatus
At the Central Station : 1937 Packard Chief's car equipped with two- way radio for communication with the Police Station; Engine 1, a 1,000 gal. per min. Seagrave pumping engine purchased in 1934; Engine 3, a 600 gal. Seagrave engine purchased in 1939; Engine 4, a 1932 Chevrolet forest fire engine with a 100 gal. portable and a 500 gal. front-end pump; Ladder 1, a 65 ft. Seagrave Junior Aerial truck with a 200 gal. pump pur- chased in 1940.
At the Woburn Street Station : Engine 2, a 400 gal. Seagrave engine purchased in 1926; Engine 5, a 1938 Chevrolet which was equipped by the permanent firemen. This engine has a 400 gal. front-end pump and is assigned to the Auxiliary Fire Service.
There is also some equipment, including two 500 gallon pumps loaned by the Government.
Fire Stations
The Central Station, built in 1883, has been altered by removing the three sets of narrow swinging doors and replacing them with two sets of wide overhead doors to allow safer egress of the apparatus. Although this improvement has been made the station is very crowded. An acous- tical ceiling has been installed in the apparatus room. Much of the iron water piping has been replaced with copper tubing. The heating boiler, which has been condemned must be replaced in 1946.
The Woburn Street Station, built in 1874, has received one coat of outside paint and a second coat will be added next year. The belfry roof has been repaired and new gutter and rain conductors placed on the east side. The heating boiler has been repaired and a new bulk- head built. This station has reached an age where constant repairs are necessary.
Service Record
The department has responded to 115 bell alarms, 13 of which were false, 223 still and 190 service calls-a total of 528, which is an increase of 165 over 1944. The fire loss was $49,919.75, an increase of $24,927.11 over last year. Feet of hose laid: 34 in. 16,700; 11/2 in. 11,700; 21/2 in. 17,350 ; 2,372 ft. of ladder were raised including 28 times the aerial ladder was used. 26 water-proof covers have been spread. Extinguishers used : 7 soda-acid; 2 carbon-tetrachloride; 19 carbon-dioxide; 2 foam; 2 chim- ney fuses. Booster tanks were used 148 times. Engines have pumped 271/2 hours, the cellar pump 1291/2 hours, and the lighting generator has operated 61/2 hours.
Twenty fires of unknown or incendiary origin have been investigated by an inspector from the office of the State Fire Marshal. One person was convicted of burning a dwelling and three were apprehended for sounding false alarms.
99
On Halloween the department received over fifty calls in seven hours and it was necessary to call aid from the Wakefield and Stoneham departments to handle the situation. Five appeared in the Woburn Court for setting grass fires that night.
There were two calls for the inhalator and one for the oxygen tent.
October 28th, Mrs. Maria L. Winchester, 52 Washington Street, re- ceived burns during a fire in her home that were fatal. Eight firemen have been injured while fighting fires.
Recommendations
It is my recommendation that the permanent force be increased and that the permanent men be granted the seventy hour week in place of the existing two platoon system whereby these men are on duty eighty- four hours per week. That an extension be connected from the police to the fire station to allow two-way radio conversation direct between the fire chief's car and fire headquarters. Booster brakes should be installed on Engine 5 as a safety measure. The purchase of two air masks to al- low firemen to enter where dangerous gases exist. Replace the con- demned heating boiler in the central station and install additional radia- tion on the apparatus floor. Remodel the central station bathroom. Also, I believe that at this time consideration should be given to the future re- placement of both the Central and Woburn Street Fire Stations.
Conclusion
In conclusion I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen for its cooperation, the members of the department and the Auxiliary Fire Service for the efficient manner in which they have performed their duties, the employees of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for their able assistance in receiving and transmitting emer- gency calls, the Moth Department for assistance at forest fires, the members of the Police Department for their cooperation and assistance at fires and conducting investigations, and the other town departments and citizens who have assisted this department.
Respectfully submitted,
CHIEF HUGH L. EAMES
REPORT OF THE FOREST WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen :
The department has responded to 147 grass and brush fires during the year 1945. This is an increase of 11 over 1944. Improper incinera- tors, carelessness and maliciousness have been the principal causes of these fires.
Respectfully submitted,
CHIEF HUGH L. EAMES, Forest Warden
100
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
As only the necessary maintenance work has been carried on through 1945, much work will be required on the fire alarm system during the coming year. With the growth of the town there are many locations in need of fire alarm boxes to give ample protection. Many of the old boxes should be replaced as they have outlived their usefulness, two of them being fifty-seven years old. I believe that a program should be planned whereby boxes would be purchased each year, one-half for new locations and the other half to replace old boxes. There also should be additions made to the underground cables with the view of placing all fire alarm circuits underground eventually.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH L. EAMES, Superintendent of Fire Alarm
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The 1945 report of the Inspector of Wires is as follows :
Alterations, extensions and repairs to wiring, 94; Oil burners, 34; Ranges, 10; Motors, 6; Water heaters, 6; Unit heaters, 3; Heat regula- tors, 21; Stokers, 1; New houses, 5; Henhouses, 2; Services replaced, 4; Bell ringing transformers, 2; Refrigeration, 5; Signs, 1.
I wish to thank the electricians for their co-operation and all others who have been of assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH L. EAMES, Inspector of Wires
101
REPORT OF MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Reading, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I submit my report as Moth Superintendent for the year 1945.
There was very little feeding by the Elm Leaf Beetle in 1945. This was due to the cooperation of the property owners having their property sprayed and our extensive spraying of the street trees.
There are very few Gypsy Moths in the residential part of the town. This is also the result of the spray program. The woodland in the north- ern part of the town has several badly infested areas. Due to the labor shortage the past few years we have been unable to spray this wood- land.
I take this opportunity to thank the Board of Selectmen, the Town Accountant and all others who have assisted me in the past year.
Respectfully submitted, MAURICE H. DONEGAN, Moth Superintendent
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of Reading,
I submit my report as Tree Warden for the year 1945.
The unusual warm weather in March made it impossible to com- plete all of our dormant spraying. This work must be done before the buds open and when there is no longer danger of it freezing.
-
Eighty-six trees were planted on the roadside. The cost of these trees has doubled at the nurseries in the past three years.
Due to hurricane damage, maple wilt, gas leaks and automobile col- lisions it was necessary to remove eighteen trees from the roadside.
There is a large amount of work required on the street trees and for this reason we are unable to keep up with all the requests for work on private property.
I wish to thank the employees of this department, the Board of Public Works, the Electric Light Department and all others who have assisted me in the past year.
Respectfully submitted, MAURICE H. DONEGAN, Tree Warden
102
REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health,
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1945.
Number of permits granted
34
Number of fixtures installed 127
Bath tubs
16
Lavatories
33
Closets
30
Sinks
13
Trays
11
Boilers
10
Showers
2
Sewer conenctions
12
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID TAGGART,
Inspector of Plumbing
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit the building report for the year 1945.
The restrictions on building were removed to some extent these last few months; therefore there is more activity in building operations which is evident by the following report :
A new law became effective on November 1st, 1945, that puts a con- siderable amount of responsibility on all building inspectors throughout the State of Massachusetts and it will require very much more time to enforce these new laws in all their phases.
In other words the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Safety are putting all the responsibility on the local Building De- partments.
However, here are the results of permits as issued with the estimated cost of same.
16 New dwellings $ 74,600.00
7 New garages 27,600.00
.25 Alterations and additions to all types of buildings. 41,480.00
103
8 Hen houses 3,285.00
2 Greenhouses 5,000.00
7 Miscellaneous buildings 1,950.00
Total estimated cost of all building construction $153,915.00
The sum of one hundred sixty-four ($164.50) dollars and fifty cents was received in fees for the above building permits.
Several buildings have been investigated as to their safety, and in some cases orders were given to take them down, which were complied with.
There have been several complaints for violation of the zoning laws. All cases have been investigated and either have or will be corrected.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE H. SIDEBOTTOM, Building Inspector
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
January 26, 1946
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town of Reading, Massachusetts Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year January 1, 1945 to January 1, 1946.
Thirty-seven dogs were quarantined for inflicting personal injuries, and thirty-six dogs released after the period of quarantine expired. The one dog not released from quarantine, broke loose before the expiration period and still remains at large.
The increased number of dogs being quarantined was apparently the result of young children being bitten or scratched in an attempt to make friends with unfamiliar animals.
There has been a raging epidemic of rabies in a number of south- ern, western, and mid-western states this past summer, and although there has been no rabies in animals in the State of Massachusetts for over two years, one never knows where it might break out next. Thus, one should refrain from attempting to make friends with strange dogs.
Respectfully submitted, GARDINER A. LESTER, D.V.M., Inspector of Animals
104
REPORT OF POST-WAR PLANNING COMMITTEE
To the Citizens :
The organization and facilities established through the activities of the Post-War Planning Committee have had no severe demand placed upon them.
An Information Center which had been organized in the High School and handled by the School Department personnel aided all serv- ice men and women who presented themselves at the center for informa- tion. For the most part, the returning veteran who appealed to the center for assistance asked for educational guidance. One or two cases asked for legal advice and they were referred to the proper person through the organization created by the Post-War Planning Committee. A brief summary of some of the things accomplished through the center are as follows :
Letters written to individuals who ask for educational advice .. 26 United States Armed Forces Institute papers filled out stating the
credits that the veteran can get for courses taken in the service
and the list of credits earned toward a high school diploma 17
Transcripts of records given to veterans to take to other institutions of learning 16
College forms filled out and sent at the request of veterans 25 Forms filled out for the Veterans Bureau (Veterans Rehabilitation) 5 Personal interviews 27
The organization established for Educational Guidance, Employ- ment, Medical and Legal Aid as well as personal rehabilitation of the serviceman has functioned and is standing by for such opportunities to serve as may come. During the summer months the Veterans Service Officer, Charles W. H. Smith took charge of the Information Center work through his office and aided several during that time.
When materials and labor supplies are ready for use the work sur- vey that established data as to potential work plans of citizens for re- pair maintenance and building purposes will be useful to those inter- ested. As yet, no extensive use of the projects outlined in the schedules of work established by the Town Meeting and for which engineering and survying monies were appropriated has had to be made. The fund of $200 made available from the Salvation Army by the efforts of Mr. Quimby is still intact.
The committee appreciates the cooperation rendered by the Town Boards and believes that the machinery established through the effort
105
of the Post-War Planning Committee will be of much assistance in carrying out the vote of the last special Town Meeting concerning this work.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE B. PEASE, Chairman
RALPH G. BABCOCK, Secretary
IRVING C. AUSTIN
WENDELL P. DAVIS
W. GARDNER LONG
H. WILSON POWERS
FRANK D. TANNER
Post-War Planning Committee
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of Reading :
There were ninety-nine cases of contagious diseases reported during the year 1945.
Anterior Poliomyeltis
10
Chicken Pox
13
Diphtheria
2
Dog Bite
41
Malaria
2
Measles
7
Mumps
6
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
1
Scarlet Fever
10
Spinal Meningitis
1
Whooping Cough
6
Respectfully submitted,
E. M. HALLIGAN, M. D.
C. R. BAISLEY, M. D.
C. F. ATKINSON
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1945
The Board of Appeals held four hearings during the year 1945, two of which were granted and two denied. Records of these hearings are on file with the Town Clerk.
Respectfully submitted, CLIFTON S. NICHOLS, Chairman
HERBERT T. SCHOPPELRY, Secretary ROBERT L. DEAN
Board of Appeals
106
REPORT OF THE WELFARE BOARD
Even though war-time regulations as to conservation of paper and manpower have been relaxed, we are still of the opinion that the cit- izens of Reading are not in favor of unnecessarily voluminous and ver- bose reports from its town officials ; hence we continue our regular prac- tice of brevity.
We are happy to be able to say that 1945 was less costly than we anticipated, although the cessation of hostilities made some noticeable changes in the employment situation, still the load on the department has not increased very much, and we were able to turn back a substantial amount of money, unexpended, from our appropriation for last year (see Town Accountant's Report). Changes in the Old Age Assistance Law, effective January 1, 1946, plus indicated increases in General Aid and Aid to Dependent Children charges, have caused us to ask for a budget some $10,000.00 in excess of 1945; however, experience shows that our capable Welfare Agent and his excellent staff of Social Work- ers and office assistants, have in the past few years been able to keep expenses below our estimates and we hope the same will be true this year.
For more specific details of our activities and the effect of the cost of welfare on the town tax rate, we refer you to the report of the Wel- fare Agent appended herewith.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH D. KNIGHT, Chairman CLARENCE J. STALLIDAY, Secretary MILES C. HIGGINS Board of Public Welfare
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
To the Board of Public Welfare :
I submit the following report as Welfare Agent and Director of Old Age Assistance for the year 1945.
We have assisted during the year 42 cases of General Aid, of which 5 were family cases and 37 single cases. Of the family cases only 2 have been assisted for any length of time. The single cases are, for the most
107
part, continuing cases of long duration, representing persons who are physically or mentally unable to support themselves and who have no relatives able to help them. One gratifying surprise has been the main- tenance of fairly good employment conditions, notwithstanding the ces- sation of actual warfare, although we are aware that in some instances compensation for unemployment has been maintaining some people who otherwise might have been obliged to seek assistance. With consider- able misgiving I have recommended a decrease in our General Aid appro- priation for 1946, mainly because of the substantial amounts of unused appropriation we have been turning back into revenue for the past few years. A search of our records of past years and conferences with the public welfare officials of neighboring cities and towns does not provide a basis for anything better than an estimate for 1946 General Aid ex- penditures which is, necessarily, merely an educated guess. We may at least hope for the best and trust that a reduced appropriation will carry us through.
In the Aid to Dependent Children category we have assisted a total of 16 cases, involving 34 children under 16-or under 18 if regularly at- tending school. There is approximately 20% federal participation in this expense and the commonwealth reimburses 33 1/3%. As nearly every item of living expenses, with the possible exception of fuel oil, range oil, and rent, has been steadily on the increase during the recent years this upward trend is reflected in our expenditure for Aid to Dependent Chil- dren, which is based directly on the cost of state standard budgetary needs.
The federal participation, based on the same "per child" figure as it was in 1937, has been, of course, a steadily decreasing percentage of the total cost. This fact has been called to the attention of federal officials by many public welfare officers throughout the state but as most of the federal personnel we come in contact with locally is of the auditing, in- vestigating, or "survey" type no result toward a better ratio of federal reimbursement has been achieved. Possibly a better avenue of approach would be through our Senators and Representatives in Congress.
The case load in Aid to Dependent Children, which has been rather low during the last two years, is now definitely increasing. This means that although we had an excess of $2,700.00 in this account for 1945, which goes to revenue, it would be unsound in the face of the visibly rising costs to request an appropriation any lower than the figure of $13,000.00 (plus U. S. Grants) for 1945 to meet the needs of the coming year.
Old Age Assistance shows a total of 275 cases aided during 1945, the highest for any one month being 236, for December. A state re- vision upward of standard budget figures, these figures being manda- tory on us in making an allotment for Old Age Assistance, was the main
108
cause of a rise in monthly "cost per case" of about 121/2% from March 1st to the end of the year. Chapter 683, Acts of 1945, effective January 1st, 1946, practically eliminates the legal liability of children so far as Old Age Assistance parents is concerned. At this writing the exact per- centage of increase in case expenditure under the operation of this new law is not available. However, it appears to be headed for approxi- mately 10%. Another factor, already in evidence, is that under the much larger exemptions now given to children we will have applications from persons who otherwise would have been deterred by the fact that children might be held legally liable for all or part of their support. Fed- eral help in this category exhibits a tendency similar to that in Aid to Dependent Children. Federal Grants cannot exceed $20.00 for any one case per month. Consequently, federal share in the cost has dropped from 44% plus to about 40% towards the end of 1945, and there will be a further material percentage reduction in 1946. Although the prelim- inary estimate submitted by me for 1946 requests an increase in appro- priation from $72,500.00 to $84,000.00 as compared to 1945, I am already concerned lest the increased figure fall short of our 1946 requirements. However, we have no definite knowledge of the future, any more than the fire department knows how many fires it will be called to in 1946 or the police department knows how many arrests it will make. Lacking a more exact basis than the only one available, namely, a thorough survey of past years and a careful study of the probable effect of the new leg- islation, it is difficult to justify a demand for an appropriation larger than that asked for in our 1946 estimate. If the situation goes out of hand during the year the matter will have to be handled as it arises.
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.