USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1954 > Part 9
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Clerk
Dorchester
26 Machinist
Reading
4 Robert Brueck Hill Doris Elaine Anderson
26
Secretary
Reading
23 Painter
Reading
11 Donald Peter Arsenault Rosalind Elaine Silva
22
Clerk
North Reading
23
Unemployed
Reading
12 James Joseph Varney Geraldine Brown
20
Clerk
Reading
18 Charles William Jensen Elizabeth Mary MacDonald
19
Clerk
Melrose
28 Analyst
Reading
18 Robert David Webb Mary Phyllis Neville
24 School Teacher Nashua, N.H.
21 Truck Driver
Reading
22 Western Electric
Lawrence
19 Clerk
Reading
19 Stenographer
Medford
23 Electronic technician
Lowell
24 Bench worker
Reading
24 U.S. Navy
Minnesota
26 Ernest Eugene Schoepke Eileen Mary O'Malley 25 Clerk
32 Salesman
Reading
50 Purchasing Agt.
Lynn
4 Joseph Irving Deferrari Joan Marilyn Carr
4 Donald William Bateman Patricia Diane Anderson 20
IBM operator
Gloucester
25 Foreman
Arlington
21
U.S. Navy
Reading
19 John Joseph Matanza Marion Mary Kondrat
19 Willis Frederick Chipman Santa Marie Masucci
25 Gilbert Henry Monty Charlotte Mae Runge
Reading
28 Kenneth Charles Hanson Dorothy Elizabeth Colson
23 James Michael Murdock Beverly Ann Murphy
28 John Sardella Mary Shirley Connors
93
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1954
Date
Name
Age Occupation
Residence
October
2 Donald Francis Belair Luvia Mae Drady
19
Shoe worker
North Reading Reading
3 James J. Scione Ruth A. Benjamin
30
Laborer
Wakefield
19
Nurse
Wakefield
3 Arthur William Steele Lois Palmer Nute 32
29 Brakeman
Reading
None
Reading
3 Edward Donovan Denyse Pauline Carey 43
51
Fish dealer
Lanesville
10 Berry Watson Arnold, Jr. Carol Mary Andrews 20
27 Administrator
Reading
Receptionist
Reading
15 Alfred William Boudreau Florence Gertrude Magnani 31
30
Laborer
Saugus
At home
Reading
16 Laurence Bradford Poole Jo Ann Rowell 23
24
Salesman
Stoneham
X-Ray technician Reading
Truck driver
Wakefield.
At home
Reading
23 Richard Thomas Trzepacz Patricia Ann Murphy 24 Office work
23
Printer
West Warren
Reading
23 Carl Albert Franson 60 Machinist Rose Ann Welch Toussaint 55 Housekeeper
Reading
November
7 Raymond Fenwick Brundage, Jr.
33
Machinist
Reading Roslindale
11 John Francis Moran Thelma Anne Harper 31 Secretary
40 Engineer
Boston
Reading
13 Russell Pearson Goddard 47 Actuary Eleanor Keen Maxwell 42 At home
Reading
14 William Clarence Brown 23 U.S.A.F.
Reading
Barbara Florence Coppinger 23 Tel. operator
Reading
December
4 Frederick William Allison 76 Retired Ruth C. Corbett 66 Retired
Winchester
Reading
7 John Edward Swenson Patricia Anne Kelleher 19 Dept. store
21 Printer
Reading
Boston
19 Martin Lewis Shapiro 30 Judith Eleanor Dunn 23
Radio engineer
Reading
Speech therapist
Watertown
Billerica
22 Neal J. Durgin 26 Student Margaret Gottschalk 20 Student
Bronx, N.Y.
18 At home
Lithographer
Reading
16 George Arthur Mansfield, Jr. 27 Virginia Alice Peva Warren 20
Madeline Bertha Gottschalk 32
Secretary
Reading
Pennsylvania
94
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1954
Date
Name
Age Occupation
Residence
December
22 Richard Melvin Carlson Sonja Marie Christiansen
22
U.S.A.F.
At home
24 William Hayden Wyman Carolyn Joy Snow
22
Teacher
Reading Tewksbury Westminster Reading
29 Peter F. Maccini Marion L. Kilgore
30
Hospital Attdt.
No. Grafton
27
Hospital Attdt.
No. Grafton
31 Thomas Leonard Hunt
23
Mechanical engineer
Lawrence
Barbara Catherine Cullinane 22
Secretary
Reading
DELAYED RECORD OF MARRIAGE IN TOWN OF READING 1952
November
29 James Townsend Ranlett Janice Ann McCauley
21
18
DELAYED RECORD OF MARRIAGE IN TOWN OF READING 1953
December
12 George Wheeler Hall, Jr. Joan Marie Mooney 21 Secretary
22 Engineer
Reading Flushing, N.Y.
95
19
22
U.S. Army
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1954
Date Name
YMD
Cause of Death
January
2 Fred Leon Stoker
6 Emma Dora Newell (Bancroft)
96
5 6 Generalized arteriosclerosis.
7 Alma Marie (Gamache) Ayotte 8 59 1 Carbon monoxide poisoning
8 Orlando Cornelius Moyer
9 Edward Gazarian
15 Celesta Chiesa Fulgoni
20 Louis Stanley Harris
21 Charles Frank Burnie 22 Gladys Mary (Carter) Corliss 27
23 Beatrice Maguire
65
2 23 Pulmonary embolus Cerebral hemorrhage
23 Ellen L. Kelly
68
3 5 Myocardial infarction
65 8 13 Cerebral hemorrhage
54 8 9 Pulmonary embolism
105
4 26 Arteriosclerosis
81
2 14 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
3 11 Interstitial pneumonia
February
4 James Nelson Boyd
7 George E. Lorgeree
12 Harry E. Eames
15 Mary O'Brien
16 Christine Maude (Brown) Clark
76 11 11 Cerebral hemorrhage
92 5 2 Broncho-pneumonia
81 7 22 Cerebral hemorrhage
77 3 17 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
77 11 17 Cerebral thrombosis
81 5 2 Uraemia
69 6 9 Lobar pneumonia
80 2 1 Myocardial failure
March
9 Carolyn Beeler (Berry)
11 Emily Augusta (Thompson) Sargent
72
6 9 Generalized peritonitis
73
0 19 Hypertensive cardio vascular and renal disease Metastatic carcinoma
13 Bessie Shlifer
68
15 Lawrence B. Flanders
65 4 21 Hodgkins disease
18 Guido Clerici 53 26 Multiple fractures, auto acdt.
63 0 12 Carcinoma of sigmoid and metastasis 53 Injuries-auto accident
80 11 3 Chronic myocarditis
63 10 12 Nephrosis
18 Mary A. Chandler
19 Georgianna W. Sprague
22 Emma Nichols Howard
23 Edith Priscilla Gleason
24 Cora Mae (Atwood) Remick
25 Ralph W. Smith
27 Carl Johann Anderson
80 6 5 Coronary thrombosis
32 6 27 Meningitis
81 6 12 Cerebral hemorrhage
64 6 25 Reticular Cell Sarcoma
86 5 19 Arteriosclerosis
24 Claudian F. Hill
25 Charles Edward Johnson
30 Willard Abbot Swan
31 Nellie Beatty Hobart
31 Debra Jean Iosua
83 3 4 Cerebral hemorrhage
96
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1954
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
March
20 Jessie May (Bancroft) Staples 83
22 Margaret Christian Bacon 74 8 21 Cerebral thrombosis
23 Emma Mary Wagner 46 8 6 Carcinomatosis
23 John Gordon Brennan 68 8 25 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
23 - Durland 0
0 0 Stillborn
24 John Marshall Smith
26 Mary Helen (Steeves) Ray
27 Elmer Francis Young
73 10
5 Acute myocardial insuffic- iency
April
6 Harvey Shaw Crocker
78
1 6 Multiple sclerosis
7 Baby Murphy
0 0 0 Stillborn
9 Annie Allen McLatchy
86
5 13 Cerebral hemorrhage
10 John J. Murray
80 5 29 Carcinoma of bladder
12
11 Gertrude A. (Upton) Eaton Bertha Emma Gormlie (Miller) 67 6 2 Coronary thrombosis
16 Dennis Francis Cummings
86
9 21 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
16 George Almont Gould
55 1 12 Coronary thrombosis
18 Madeline (Doucette) Gallant 79
9 15 Sudden death
18 Maryanne Robinson
0
3 8 Chron. pulmonary disease
20 Madeline Mary Johnson (Frotton) 37 11 26 Laennec Cirrhosis of liver 74 2 19 Carcinoma of rectum
23 Fred Howell Ashton
26 Henry Orville Collins
28 Alice Bell (Tuttle) Childs
29 Ann Claire Lewis (Lyons) 79
29 Addie (Ray) Winsor
95 10 1 Generalized arteriosclerosis
May
3 Margaret K. (Riley) Thornton 90
4 Robert D. Partridge 55
6 29 Coronary thrombosis 5
1 Spontaneous cerebral hemor. rhage
6 25 Coronary thrombosis
2 22 Senility
8 Gwendolyn Hall Newhouse 56 1 28 Coronary thrombosis
9 Ethel Lillian Martin 80 8 12 Cerebral thrombosis
13 Everett H. McRonald 53
13 Emily Francesca (Skerry) Willard 9 68
17 Bedford Osser Boone 92
19 Sarah J. Lopez (Fisher) 77
0 Coronary thrombosis
2 25 Cerebral vascular accident Coronary heart disease fol- lowing accident
97
7 14 Generalized Arteriosclerosis
78 1 14 Heart disease
71 10 9 Parkinsons disease
75 1 22 Acute coronary thrombosis
56 8 0 Uremia
72 4 24 Broncho-pneumonia Pulmonary embolization
9 19 Cerebral hemorrhage
7 Margaret Irving (Sloan) Ayer 79 Annie Maude (Henry) Miller 75 8
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1954
Date
Name
YM D
Cause of Death
May
22 Lillian Mary (Hardy) Whidden 88
25 Charles Lester Higgins
69
25
- Hyslip
0
56
26 Arthur Turner
48 6
7 Coronary thrombosis
26 Dominick Zanni
56 0
0 Cause undetermined 2 Anoxia
27 Richard Edwin Case
28 Michael M. Dwyer
7 Hydrocephalus
29 Margaret M. (Clark) Flaherty 77
30 Cora Bosworth Parsons
82
5 21 Carcinoma of right breast Cerebral hemorrhage
June
3 Henry S. Griffin
56
1
8 Astrocytoma
3 Helen Gerry Jones
60
4 James Lesley Healey 79
4 Grace (Dyer) Johnson
79 11 6
8 5 Congenital heart disease
4 Richard Robert Morris
8 Flora Myrtle Brooks (Hall)
12 Maud (Batchelder) McNeal 17 Laura Haigh Sidebottom
17 Thomas Hoey
18 Eugene Durfee
74 10 28 Bronchiopneumonia
21 Edgar Miller Gilman
23 Leslie A. Scott
24 Frederick William Burns
68 6 25 Cerebral thrombosis
24 Laura Idella (Kerhune) 84 Johnson 8 1 Heart bloc
26 John W. Goff
69 9 10 Coronary thrombosis
82
1
3 Paralysis agitans
55
8 5 Coronary occlusion
76 Cerebral hemorrhage
July 3 Angie Velma Eastman Hamblen
4 Robert M. Brown
9 Alfred William Rooney
9 Elin Victoria Lawson (Clauson) 66
87
7 28 Cerebral and general arterio- sclerosis
53
9 28 Heart disease-sudden death
81 28 Heart disease-sudden death
3 14 Cardiac decompensation
9 15 Heart disease Malignant growth
2 Cerebral hemorrhage
64 1 20 Pancreatitis
83 5 23 Lobar pneumonia
78 Probable coronary occlusion Cerebral thrombosis 69
62 2 19 Acute myocardial infarction
30 4 11 Hodgkin's disease
26 Leon Girard Loring Bent
27 Elizabeth G. (Edwards) Griffin 28 Jane T. Kenny
Coronary thrombosis
31 Catherine E. (O'Brien) Long 65
7 22 Arteriosclerotic heart disease 8 12 Coronary thrombosis
0 0 Knot in umbilical cord Hypertensive heart disease
25 Angelina (Mancini) Rossi
98
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1954
Date
Name
YM D
Cause of Death
July
12 Florence (Buckle) Harnden 75 2
14 Betsy Kimmond High 82
14 Cecelia Mary (Pineau) Perry 67
20 Margaret E. Collum 86 6 Coronary occlusion 73 Heart disease
20 Oscar W. Devery
21 Isabella S. Miller
30 Elizabeth M. DeTour 78
31 William Everett Small
69
3 25 Heart disease-sudden death
August
1 Eva (Houghton) Hills
2 George Thorburn
2 Fred T. Gallagher
29
9 0 Struck by automobile 0 0 Stillborn
75 10 12 Genitourinary infection
5 Gertrude A. Jarvis
49
0 0 Pulmonary embolism
6 Elizabeth T. (Carter) Prescott 57 7 12 Carcinoma
9 William Arthur Booth 71 9 18 Heart disease
11 Lena Evelyn Lufkin (Nickerson) 70
0 0 Hemorrhage
12 Frank Truman Simpson
78
9 10 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
13 Charles McSheehy
50 6 27 Pulmonary embolism
14 Mary T. (Stumbles) Burhoe 72 2 26 Congestive failure
14 Catherine A. (Power) Varrell 66 0 0 Heart disease
17 Palph Ernest Van IIorn 40 11 19 Heart disease -- coronary oc- clusion
20 Henry J. Manley 82 6 6 Myocardial infarction
26 Bertha A. (Schaefer) Quigley 80 1 4 Acute myocardial infarction
26 Bernard Peterson 79 3 28 Myocardial failure
31 Sharon Eleanor Crosby 1 0 26 Drowned
September
3 Agnes L. (Reid) Herrick
5 Arthur Brown Richards
66
0 10 Adenocarcinoma
8 Kenneth L. Brown 29 5 6 Intracranial hemorrhage
11 Julia Frances Spinney
90 3 19 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
14 Clara Emily Douglass
71 5 11 Cerebral vasc. thrombosis
16 Emma A. (Ordway) Quimby 94 2 27 Cerebral hemorrhage 6 16 Arthur L. Stanley 72 2 Heart disease-sudden death Cerebral hemorrhage
18 Emily White (Hatfield)
19 Alice (Livingston) Dean
77 80
2 1 Uraemia
20 Annabell C. Wyman 79 Uraemia
6 Acute myocardial insuffic- iency
3 20 Cerebral thrombosis 0
0 Pulmonary edema
68 11 27 Carcinoma of rectum
Acute myocardial insuffic- iency
0 O Acute myocardial infarct
5 White
5 William Maynard
77 6 16 Cerebral thrombosis
59
74 5 22 Cerebral hemorrhage
99
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1954
Date Name
YMD
Cause of Death
September
23 - Berry
24 Florence C. (MacQuarrie) Hill 76 7 7 Pneumonitis
26 Florence D. (Nichols) Eames 70 2 21 Cerebral hemorrhage
October
4 Katherine B. Dissel 70 7 29 Bronchopneumonia
4 Grace Hushen O'Brien 65 Generalized arteriosclerosis
6 Walter Duncan Driscoll 3
15 Albert Thomas Maddock
15 Angie M. (Rudolph) Whitaker 86
16 Austin F. Bennett
17 Elsie Margaret Campbell
19 Elizabeth V. Thorn
20 Frederick H. Johnson
22 Prospier R. Perry
23 Catherine (Power) Ricker 86 6 28 Cerebral hemorrhage
24 Sarah Mitchell Clark
27 Carrie E. (Wiggin) Rogers
27 Agnes White (Lefave)
29 Ralph Rogers Gibson
31 William Dick
31 Baby Boy Maher
3 13 Chronic myocardial degen- eration
59 1 1 Heart disease-sudden death
52 8 24 Uremia
82 8 20 Heart disease-sudden death
81
2 26 Carcinomatosis
77 10 4 Acute cerebral hemorrhage
85 0 19 Natural causes
84 0 23 Congestive failure
81 8 27 Congestive failure
65
3 7 Carcinoma-right lung
69 4 7 Bronchopneumonia 36 hrs. Pneumonia
November
2 Annie J. Clements
4 Grace E. (Skillen) Poore
4 Eva Webster
7
- Sullivan
9 Frank Shediac
10 Rev. Wm. M. Crawford
21 Catherine L. Doherty (Cullinane) 72
21 Margaret M. Baxter (Hosford) 78
22 Silas Henry Carroll
23 Georgie E. (Dalrymple) Decatur
24 Archer Norton Prentiss
28 Llewellyn R. Hire 62
89 0 7 Bronchopneumonia
73 8 25 Cerebral thrombosis
64 4 25 Myocardial infarction 1 Pneumonia 51
7 Crushed by MTA train
89 8 25 Benign prostatism
4 23 Carcinoma of uterus Carcinoma
77 10 15 Mesenteric thrombosis
85 1 5 Coronary thrombosis
42 5 28 Cirrhosis of liver
4 4 Amyotrophia lateral sclerosis
100
Stillborn
8 0 Leukemia
73 Bronchopneumonia
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1954
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
December
1 James L. Gagnon
60
9 18 Gastro intestinal bleeding
1 Infant Robinson
2 hrs.
Prematurity
8 George A. Brown
87
2 27 Coronary thrombosis
9 John G. Moore
79
2 Coronary occlusion
11 Baby Boy Harm
15 hours 30 min.
19 Margaret J. Richards
21 Homer W. Holden
71
1 28 Rupture of aortic anuerysm
22 Lillias C. Pierce
90 2 30 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
22 Roger A. Lyon
69 1 29 Coronary thrombosis
23 Annie M. Allard
76
4 6 Coronary occlusion
71
4 3 Cerebral hemorrhage
57 2 24 Heart disease-sudden death
31 Frank J. Collins, Jr.
22
4 21 Hemorrhage
NOTICE TO PARENTS, HOUSEWIVES, PHYSICIANS AND MID-WIVES
Your attention is called to the sections below taken from the revised laws. Blank forms for return of birth can be obtained from the Town Clerk.
General Laws, Chap. 46, Sec. 3 (Tercentenary Edition) (As Amended By Chapter 326, Section One, Acts of 1939)
Every physician, or hospital medical officer registered under section nine of chapter one hundred and twelve, in this chapter called officer, shall keep a record of the birth of every child in cases of which he was in charge, showing date and place of birth, the name, if any, of the child, its sex and color, the name, age, birthplace, occupation and resi- dence (including the street number, if any, and the ward number if in a city) of each parent, the maiden name of the mother and the name of the physician or officer, if any, personally attending the birth. If the child is illegitimate, the name of and other facts relating to the father and mother; provided that if an illegitmate child shall have become legitimate by the intermarriage of his parents and the acknowledgement of his father, as provided in section seven of chapter one hundred and ninety, prior to the mailing or delivery of any report herein required, such report shall read in all respects, as if such child had been born to such parents in lawful wedlock. Said physician or officer shall, within 15 days after such birth, mail or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the town where such birth occurred, a report stating the facts herein above required to be shown on said record and also the said written request, if any; provided that if said report is not so made within forty-eight
101
73 1 3 Cerebral thrombosis
28 John Angus Bell
29 Maurice O. Reebenacker
hours after such birth, said physician, or officer shall within said forty- eight hours, mail or deliver to said clerk or registrar a notice stating the date and place of the birth, the street number, if any, the ward number, if in a city, and the family name. Upon presentation to him of a cer- tificate of the town clerk stating that any such birth has been duly reported, the town treasurer shall pay to such physician or officer a fee of twenty-five cents for each birth so reported. Any physician or any such officer violating any provision of this section shall forfeit not more than twenty-five dollars. The said town clerk or registrar shall file daily with the local board of health, a list of all births reported to him, showing, as to each, the date of birth, sex, color, family name, residence; ward and physician or officer in charge.
Within sixty days after the date of the birth of any child born in the commonwealth with visible congenital deformities, or any condition apparently acquired at birth which may lead to crippling, the physician in attendance upon said births shall prepare upon a form provided by the state department of public health and file with the clerk of the town where such births occurred a report setting forth such visible congenital deformity, or any condition apparently acquired at birth which may lead to crippling.
Said clerk shall transmit forthwith to said department such supple- mentary report of such birth. The contents of such report shall be solely for the use of said department in connection with its functions relative to crippled children, and such report shall not be open to public inspection or constitute a public record.
General Laws, Chap. 46, Sec. 6
Parents within forty days after the birth of a child, and every householder, within forty days after a birth in his home, shall cause notice thereof to be given to the clerk of the town where such child is born.
General Laws, Chapter 111
Sections 110 and 111, require physicians, registered hospital medical officers, nurses or other attendants to report at once to the local board of health, every child one or both of whose eyes become inflamed, swollen and red and show an unnatural discharge within two weeks after birth.
102
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board organized at a special meeting March 1, 1954 as follows:
Kenneth C. Latham, Chairman
Lawrence Drew James E. Calvin, Secretary Boyd H. Stewart, Clerk
Regular meetings were held every Monday evening with the ex- ception of the summer months when they were held every other Monday evening, and special meetings were held whenever necessary. We fol- lowed our usual custom of furnishing the Reading Chronicle with a condensed agenda of the meetings of the Board each week. The several departments under the jurisdiction of this Board have made their re- ports which appear on other pages.
Several meetings were held with representatives of the Boston and Maine Railroad regarding improvement of the appearance and parking facilities at the depot. We are pleased to report this work has been completed and a large area set aside for off street parking. This has greatly relieved the traffic congestion at the depot during the rush hours.
Several conferences were held with U.S. Army Officers Corps of Engineers, New England Division, in regard to placing a radar instal- lation on Bear Hill and launching site at Reading Rifie and Revolver Club. The work is now in progress, and these various pieces of land will become restricted areas. However, we are sure the utmost hospi- tality will be extended to the citizens of Reading by the U.S. Army of- ficials should any citizen be interested in this project.
On August 23, 1954, the Board executed a deed for a 50-foot strip of land on John St. to the William J. Walker Company for $2,500.00. The sale of this land will open a large tract of otherwise inaccessible land.
A state of emergency was declared by your Board at a special meeting called for that purpose on August 31 as a result of a devastating visit by hurricane "Carol." This meeting was necessary in order that proper departments might expend money for cleaning up the debris and for the protection of life and property.
The Board sponsored a United Nations Day which was held at the new high school on October 24 under the leadership of the League of Women Voters. This was to give the citizens of Reading a better opportunity to see the way of life of our neighbors in the United Nations and also to explain the purpose and aims of this tremendous body.
A joint meeting was held with the Board of Library Trustees on November 8 for the purpose of appointing Mr. Robert Stewart to fiill the vacancy on that Board caused by the untimely death of Mr. Kenneth Brown.
Four Patrolmen were appointed to the Police Department. They were Evan P. Edwards, Fred Granelli, Joseph W. Cormier, and Leonard P. Hoyt, and John Beaudoin was reinstated. This brings the strength of the the department to twenty Patrolmen, three Sergeants, and a Chief.
103
We have one Patrolman, Officer William H. Dewsnap, acting as an in- spector in plain clothes.
The Board held many hearings throughout the past twelve months regarding storage of gasoline, restraining of dogs, relocating bus routes, and amusement license for pony rides.
The committee to study the recreational facilities, access roads, etc., at Birch Meadow in conjunction with the new high school was appointed at follows: William B. Herrick, C. Lyman Richardson, William H. Dolben, Jr., and Gilbert M. Lothrop. This committee is to report on their study at the Annual Town Meeting in March 1955.
Also a committee was appointed for the purpose of reorganizing the Reading Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce. Carl Sawyer was appointed chairman for the reorganization. The committee for Christ- mas lighting was appointed with William Schmidt as chairman. After several meetings, the former Chamber of Commerce was reactivated with great enthusiasm, and we look forward with a great deal of pride to the rebirth of many of their activities which helped make Reading such an outstanding town just a few years ago.
It was with deep regret that the Board of Selectmen, on November 1, 1954, voted to retire Mr. Luke Halpin, a member of the faculty of Reading High School, because of ill health. He has been a shining beacon for over thirty years to the young people of Reading in guiding them in their many careers so that to this very day he still receives "thank you" letters from those who were helped by his wisdom. Good Luck, Luke, and may you have many happy years of retirement.
On October 18, the School Department relinquished all rights and jurisdiction of the old high school building on Sanborn Street. It is the hope of this Board that this building may become a community center for Reading, and a committee has been appointed to make a study for the rehabilitation of this building, to advise this Board of this very broad picture and its possibilities. This, of course, is in the event that the building may never be used for school purposes again.
A great deal of time was spent by this Board in its efforts to bring to Reading the insurance company which has now decided to locate in an adjoining town due to cheaper land cost and a better view for a business office, overlooking the lake.
It is the opinion of your Board that as much forward thinking as is possible be given to the various problems which we anticipate will become a reality at some future date, possibly in some cases sooner than expected. If the Town continues to expand, particularly in the outskirts, additional manpower and equipment must be provided for both our Police and Fire Departments. We prophesy that the Police Station is large enough to fulfill the Town's requirements for some time to come. This cannot be said, however, of the Fire Department stations. The following gives food for thought with respect to fire protection.
1. The necessity of more adequate coverage of the west side of the Town. Money has been appropriated to make a survey of the feasibility of building a new station or remodeling the old one; also as to whether or not more equipment such as a ladder truck to be housed there and the required personnel to man it are necessary. We
104
must remember that most of our rest homes as well as a tremendous growth has taken place on the west side.
2. The possibility of adding to the floor space of the Central Fire Station on the lower level to house additional equipment.
3. Shall we need a third fire station and personnel on the north side of town?
4. The possibility of having to add to the budget of the Tree and Moth Department in the years to come to take care of the demands of State and County for more efficient control of the various bugs, beetles, etc., that plague us, and in some instances appear to have become immune to the effects of insecticides currently in use.
5. If there is need for more playgrounds, land takings should be made while it can be had at a reasonable price. The taking of land in developed areas is usually very expensive.
We realize that some of the subjects mentioned do not come under the jurisdiction of this Board, but we believe that the citizens are entitled to know of our long range thinking on the subjects mentioned and on all those that will be brought up from time to time either through the medium of the Chronicle or at Town Meetings.
It is again our privilege to express our appreciation for the co- operation received from the Police Reserve Association and the Auxiliary Fire Department for the help they rendered throughout the year and to all town departments for the tremendous job which they did through hurricanes "Carol" and "Edna." There was a display of cooperation, and all town departments worked as a team for the good of all.
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