USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1956 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
Susan Colby Marion R. Cole Ann Lee Compton
John Hogan Lieselotte Ute Horlitz William E. Hosker
Harry Andrew Compton
Mary Frances Coneeney
June Roberta Cooke
John C. Howard Robert Herbert Isaacs
Carol Ann Ivers Gail Ann Jerauld
Mary Elizabeth Johnson
Beverly Ann Jones
Dorothy Ann Jones
Frank Herbert Kean
William Francis Keefe, Jr.
Arnold Bruce Keene Mary Rae Kellett Robert Stewart Kennedy
Janice Marie Kerr
Patricia Mae Kimball
Deborah Lee Kopystecka
Gerald V. Lane Kenneth Chester Latham, Jr.
Martin Pedrick Dickman
Peter Edward Doherty Mary Theresa Donegan
Patricia Ruth Latham Leonard Philip Leary Carl Robert Leighton
155
Beatrice Crocker Flanagan
Ralph Carl Flodin Nancy Elizabeth Fransen Norma Linnea Fransen
Joseph William Haley Shirley Edith Hall Janet Eleanor Harlow Mary Jane Harrington
Robert Donald Cooke Paul Alvin Cotreau Joan Elizabeth Cummings Robert Grosvenor Currier
Richard Harris Curtis William George Dalton Robert E. David George Andrew Davidson, Jr. Joshua Tyler Day, III
Susan Robertson de Brigard Diana de Masellis Priscilla Ruth Denbow Nancy Jane Denno Joseph Edward Di Bona George Roger Dicey
Carolann Leslie William Boyd Leslie Roger Colbourne Livingstone William Edward Lovering Richard Allan Lucas Robert Patterson Mackenzie John Frederick Macklin Ernest Richard MacLean Barbara Ann Macleod
Jane H. Magison
William David Mahar
Edward Willis March Joan Catherine Marden
David William Marshall
George Crandall Mason
Philip Edwin Mason, Jr. Martha Elsiebelle Mathews
Gail Ann McCarthy Gloria Ellen McDonald
Donald James McGillicuddy
Joseph Francis McKeague, Jr.
Patricia Ann McKenney
Barbara Ann McMahon
Ruth Ann McMahon
William Joseph McMahon
Joyce Ann Melanson
Jeanne Ellen Merrill
Karen Linda Mich
Deborah Ann Milton
Ann Moberger
Carol June Moodie Gail Ann Morin
Robert G. Surette
Nancy Joanne Morse
Patricia Elizabeth Mullen
Warren Joseph Surette Nancy Joan Taylor
Walter Joseph Mullin
William Titcomb
Charles Richard Murdoch
Robert Charles Tolonen
Patricia Ann Murdock
John William Tomlinson
Janice Marie Murphy Richard Neilssien Mary-Lou Newhouse
Sally Towle David Cushing Tucker John H. Turner
Eugene Joseph Norton
Joseph Edward Walsh
Mary Virginia Nuccio
Susan Gale Warford
Robert Patrick O'Brien Richard James Ogden
Geraldine Beverley Webb
Joan F. Oliver
Dorothy Ann Oram
Curtis George Parker Suzanne Peale
Kenneth B. Woodside
Richard David Peterson
Janet Anne Wright
Helen Jane Youd
John Lawrence Pineau Er Chang Ping, Jr. Patricia Dianne Poehler
Gail Beverly Porter Margaret Virginia Pratt Barbara Ann Quinton Beverly Deane Rankin Leonard J. Redfern, Jr. Harvey F. Richards Harvey J. Richardson Marion Louise Richardson
Patricia Ann Richardson
Joan Wynne Richmond George Frank Rodda Guy Russell Runge Richard W. Sanborn
James Walter Selfridge
James Richard Sellers
Donna Ruth Sias
David Jonathan Skinner
Edward R. Smith Jean Ann Smith
Carol Snyder
Charles Lowell Spicer
Newton Sherman Spurr Wayne Edwin Steeves Priscilla Marion Stiles Ruth Ann Stockbridge Nicholas Clifton Stokes Virginia Stuart Story
Gail Barbara Strasnick
Patricia Carol Stratton
Jane Priscilla Strout Theodore Charles Surdam
Howard T. Welch Mark A. Whelton Susan Whitney Donald E. Woodland
Marie Frances Zanni
156
89th Annual Report of the BOARD OF TRUSTEES and LIBRARIAN READING PUBLIC LIBRARY
Library Trustees
NEIL C. ROBINSON, Chairman
SYDNEY M. HODSON
H. IRENE LATHAM, Secretary
KATHERINE C. PIERCE
C. NELSON BISHOP
ROBERT E. STEWART
The Library has had a very active and successful year. New library hours were put into operation and have proven very satisfactory as shown by the steady increase in circulation. The distribution of a library pamphlet to all homes in Reading also activated interest in the library. A record library was established this fall and the response to this new venture has been most gratifying. The staff and custodian have continued to give efficient service, and the success of these new ventures has been due to their untiring efforts. However, due to the sharp rise in circulation, we will soon be faced with the need for an- other full time, trained librarian.
The facilities of the Children's Room are out of proportion with the demands placed on them, therefore it seems desirable to expand into the basement of the new stack room.
EXCERPTS FROM THE LIBRARIAN'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
The past year has been a very interesting and stimulating one and it has kept us all stretching out to reach our goals. For several years I have felt that there was a need to increase the hours the library was open to the public. It is a great satisfaction to me that we were able to do it this year. A large number of people have taken the time to express their pleasure in the increase in hours. We are now adjusted to the hours and feel convinced that the move was a very progressive one.
The big problem before us in the next few years is that of meeting the growing needs of the children of the town. The circulation in the children's room this year was nearly half that in the adult room, and there were nearly as many new borrowers as in the adult department. Partly because of this growth and partly because of the great increase in reference work the children from grades four to eight are doing, there is need for three people in that department for part of the after- noon. There is also a definite need for more tables at which the children can work.
The library is very much alive. We can see it not only in the increased number of borrowers and increased circulation, it is evident in an intangible way in the whole spirit and attitude of those who use our facilities.
157
I appreciate the steady response of the clerical staff to our needs this year. They have been fine. It has been a pleasure to work with the Trustees to improve conditions in the building, and provide service to the public.
ANNA R. TURNER,
Head Librarian
Statistical Report
Books Purchased
1955
1956
Adult
1,093
1,222
Juvenile
634
729
Gifts
336
155
Withdrawn
1,268
334
Total books on hand
36,346
38,118
Circulation
Adult
67,848
77,106
Juvenile
32,150
37,563
Misc.
4,256
2,162
Total
104,254
116,831
New borrowers
978
1,183
Fines received
$1,440.85
$1,743.64
NOTE: See the Accountant's Report for a breakdown of library expenses and a statement on trust funds.
REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEAL
To The Board of Selectmen
Reading, Massachusetts
The undersigned submit their report for the Board of Appeal of the Town for the year 1956.
The Board heard 35 cases on 13 hearing days. 34 were for variations of the Zoning By-Laws. One was as a result of a Board of Survey Con- dition. Of the total, 16 were granted, 8 were denied, 3 were dismissed, 2 were withdrawn, and 6 are pending. At the close of the year, all petitions brought before the Board had been heard.
GERALD E. FOSBROKE, Chairman PHILIP R. WHITE, JR., Secretary ERNEST L. NIGRO
Board of Appeal
158
RECREATION PROGRAM
Playground and Attendance
In 1956 we had the largest attendance on our playgrounds since the recreational program was inaugurated. Supervised play was carried on in the following areas: Washington Street Playground, Memorial Park, Eaton School, Lowell Street School, Highland Street School, Pros- pect Street School, and Birch Meadow.
It is the hope of the Recreation Committee to open up new play areas in the Summer of 1957 on the two new sites purchased for schools; namely, Glen Meadow and the corner of Haverhill and Charles Streets.
Staff
Your Committee has been most fortunate in obtaining a competent staff, consisting of people who are teachers or people who have had at least one year of college training. The staff this year took a two day course covering the technique of playground instruction, first aid, and the co-ordinating of games.
It is the hope of the Committee that it will be able to continue to obtain instructors with a college or teaching background, for it has been proven many times that their experience has made the recreational program much better.
Program
One of the outstanding sports carried on in all the playgrounds was baseball. As stated in our report of 1954, "In spite of uniformed Little and Pony Leagues, enthusiasm for games between playgrounds, in an informal atmosphere, continued at a high level." The baseball program of the playgrounds is so designed to synchronize and lend its support to the uniformed league teams.
The girls for the first time on the playgrounds had an organized softball team.
Arts and crafts is one of the most active phases of the playground program. It is designed so that there is instruction for the children up and through the third grade on one day and for the older children on another day.
The interest in tennis is on the upward trend; as is archery. Special instruction is being given to the children in these two areas.
Basketball has gained a great deal of momentum over the past two years and it is the hope of the Committee that basketball standards can be erected in all playgrounds.
Special events, which include all playgrounds, are held every other week. Two of the outstanding events last summer were the Boston Childrens' Theatre Show and the carnival held the last week of the playground season. Inter-community play days have been continued with a great deal of success.
159
Winter Sports
Our winter sports program is increasing and the attendance has been good this past year. We have had the various skating rinks supervised and hope to have some inter-park hockey contests in the coming years.
Needs
One of the definite needs is swimming facilities and wading pools. At the present time there are but two wading pools available for the hundreds of children who would like to use them. Your Committee feels most strongly that there should be a wading pool at Memorial Park and a complete swimming pool located in Birch Meadow.
Lights are also needed for softball field at Birch Meadow.
Appreciation
The Recreation Committee wishes to extend its thanks to the School Committee, the Board of Public Works, the Board of Selectmen, the Reading Chronicle, and many other people too numerous to mention, for their help and cooperation in making this program one of the best in Greater Boston.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT E. TURNER, Chairman
H. LEE DONLEY
NEWELL H. MORTON ALBERT CHISHOLM
RICHARD GALE DOMENICK ZANNI, JR. LAWRENCE DREW
WILLIAM WILLSON, JR.
HERBERT RIXON
C. SUMNER TEEL, Clerk
Recreation Committee
160
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS OF THE
Town of Reading, Massachusetts
for the year ending
December 31, 1956
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
To the Citizens of Reading:
The Board of Public Works herewith submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1956.
The Board organized on March 12, 1956 with Kenneth R. Johnson as Chairman, and Coleman J. Donahue as Secretary. James T. Putnam was re-appointed Superintendent.
Many problems resulting from the continued rapid growth of Reading have been of great concern to the Board of Public Works during the year 1956. Having jurisdiction over the Water, Sewer, Highway, Park and Town Dump Divisions, with their numerous sub-divisions, each new housing development has a marked effect on the several vital pub- lic utilities under its control.
Sewerage problems were extremely urgent in 1956. A housing development consisting of 89 lots and known as "Glen Meadows" was constructed in the so-called "Chinaman's Farm" adjacent to West Street. The developers agreed to install sewerage at their own expense if the Town would agree to carry sewerage mains from the Willow Street Sewage Pumping Station to the intersection of West Street, Willow Street and Summer Avenue. At a Special Town Meeting held January 30, 1956, funds were voted for the Willow Street Sewer, and the main installed. This resulted in an important extension of the public sewer- age system, enabling future connection of much of the North-Westerly sectors of Reading. At the Annual March 1956 Town Meeting, the Board requested that $150,000.00 be appropriated for Sewer Construction, in order that some relief might be given to those citizens who were in dire need of Town sewerage mains. As a result of this request, a Spe- cial Sewer Study Committee was appointed and instructed to carefully study and review the entire sewerage problem, and to report back to the Town at a specified date. This Committee has held many meetings during the year, and has received all possible assistance from the Board and its Superintendent. At a Special Town Meeting held November 19, 1956, the Special Sewer Study Committee requested the Board of Pub- lic Works to submit its recommendations for sewer construction appro- priations for the year 1957, as the Special Committee report had not been completed. This the Board will do. As of December 31, 1956, sewer extension petitions totaling over one-half million dollars in cost have been filed with the Board. These petitions have been presented to the Board by groups of citizens seeking relief from insanitary condi- tions caused by failure of septic tanks, cesspools and leaching fields.
Storm drain installations were made on a planned program to alle- viate in part some of the numerous poorly-drained sections of the Town. Petitions continue to be received from many of these localities, and the Board has installed drains at points of greatest need. By virtue of an allocation of funds from the Massachusetts Flood Relief Board, several roadways, culverts, and open drain ditches, badly damaged by the flood rains of hurricane "Diane" on August 18, 1955, were rebuilt. Chief
162
among these locations permanently repaired was the box culvert at In- tervale Terrace, a vital link in the Birch Meadow drainage system.
Sidewalk construction under the continuous run or block-system policy was substantially advanced, with the completion of Woburn Street and Summer Avenue sidewalks and a start made on Oak Street sidewalk. Construction of primary or grade schools in outlying dis- tricts is adding tremendously to the immediate need for sidewalks for protection of school children.
The Birch Meadow High School Athletic Field drainage problem is still acute. Of the four serious culvert problems present, the Intervale Terrace culvert has now been corrected; funds will be requested in 1957 for the Lowell Street Culvert, and it is believed that the West-Willow- Summer Avenue culvert will be installed in 1957 as a part of West Street Chapter 90 road construction. This will leave only the Boston & Maine Railroad culvert and brook channel improvements from Lowell Street to West-Willow-Summer Avenue for attention in 1958. The brook channel Westerly of West Street has been relocated and lowered three feet by the Glen Meadows developers, from West Street to the Reading- Woburn line.
Several marked changes in charges for betterments, water main construction, water service pipe construction, and requirements for street construction by developers were instituted by the Board in 1956 as follows:
1. Sewer Frontage Assessments: Increasing costs of labor and ma- terials for sewer construction, when reviewed following the 1955 construction period, showed the existing $1.25 per front foot assessment to be inadequate, and the charge was in- creased to $2.50 per front foot. The act creating the Town of Reading sewerage system states that 30 per cent of the cost of the system shall be levied against abuttors and 70 per cent against the tax levy.
2. Water Main Construction: With the increased number of water mains required by housing developments, it was voted that henceforth all costs of water main extensions should be borne by the applicants.
3. Water Service Construction: For reasons similar to those enumerated in Water Main Construction, it was voted to charge all costs of water service construction to the applicant. The en- trance fee of $50.00 was raised to $75.00 per service, and is deemed to be a fair charge for the water meter and ordinary maintenance of the water service.
4. Street Construction by Developers: For the proper construction of streets by developers, it was voted that all roadways in housing developments would be required to have a two-course bituminous concrete surface three inches in final compacted thickness. All sidewalks on said streets shall have a two-course two-and-one half inch bituminous concrete surface, after com- paction. These regulations will result in lower maintenance costs by the Town in the future.
163
Other revisions in existing regulations and charges are being studied by the Board to keep in step with the rapidly changing economic stand- ards.
The Board during the year has given much time and study to the problem of acquiring privately owned property for a suitable access road to the Business C Zoned area located Southerly of South Street, abutting State Route 128. The problems regarding this access road are manifold, and in an earnest endeavor to arrive at an equitable so- lution, several duly advertised public hearings were held regarding three alternate routes; qualified land appraisers were retained to esti- mate probable land damages; owners of private property, to be effected by the access road, interviewed, and on November 19, 1956, at a Special Town Meeting, an access road named "Jacob Way" was pro- posed by the Board, accepted by the Town Meeting, and an appropria- tion made to defray costs of land damages and road construction. At the time of writing this report, legal requirements regarding land tak- ings are being completed, and an actual entry for road construction is anticipated in early 1957.
Relocation of Route 28, construction of which will start in 1957, has also received the attention of the Board. This new super-highway sys- tem will pass through the Westerly section of Reading, and cross Wal- nut, South, West and Lowell Streets. The only expense borne by the Town will be on South Street where the Town will bear the difference in cost of material only between the existing 6" water main and a new 12" water main, which will pass under the new Route 28, and improve the water distribution grid system in that area. This cost is included in the 1957 Budget.
The Board had anticipated that the report of the survey of possible water resources being conducted by the Waterways Division of the State Department of Public Works, with the assistance of geological and seismographic data, would be available for this annual report, but advices now are that the report will be forthcoming in the Spring of 1957. A complete review of the adequacy of the present water supply is of vital interest to the Board.
The Board of Public Works has endeavored to cooperate with other Town Boards and Departments during the past year and wishes to ac- knowledge the courtesy, help and cooperation extended to them by other Town Boards and Departments.
The Board also wishes to commend the many conscientious em- ployees of the Department for their continued loyalty and cooperation.
Reference is made to the report of the Superintendent for a more detailed account of the activities of the various divisions which comprise the Departments supervised by the Board of Public Works.
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH R JOHNSON, Chairman COLEMAN J. DONAHUE, Secretary WALTER S. HOPKINS, JR. HAROLD D. KILGORE, JR. DOMENICK ZANNI, JR.
164
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Public Works:
Gentlemen:
As required by Section 4, Chapter 118 of an Act authorizing the Town of Reading to establish a Board of Public Works, I respectfully submit for your consideration the thirty-sixth annual report of the Department of Public Works (Water, Highway, Sewer, Park, Engineering) and a chronicle of the principal work performed during the year 1956, with recommendations for the coming year.
General
The year 1956 was an all-time peak construction year in all Public Works Department Divisions, engendered by new housing developments, Town School Construction, drainage problems, street construction and the record-breaking snow-fall. Examination of the statistical data in- cluded in this report will show that water main installation, main trunk sewer construction and many other items reached an all-time high, with expectations of new construction highs being set in 1957.
Water Division
Water main installations in housing developments accounted for the greater part of main water pipe construction in 1956. One development alone contained 86 lots, most of which were built on during the year. Water mains in 6", 8", and 12" sizes were installed, totaling 17,331.66 lineal feet of mains, and twenty-four new fire hydrants were set. There are, as of December 31, 1956 a total of 70.45 miles of water mains in the distribution system. In the Glen Meadows housing development, a 12" cement lined water main totaling 2,652.0 lineal feet was installed, to improve the distribution grid system in the Westerly part of Reading. New water services in sizes from 1" to 2" were installed at 205 locations, totaling 12,481.50 lineal feet. All water mains, fire hydrants, and water services were installed by Water Division personnel. Water services were renewed at 63 locations, and many existing services were rodded and reamed to improve volume of water delivered to homes.
New water meters were installed in 162 locations; 468 meters were removed, repaired, tested and reset, and 10 obsolete meters were junked and replaced with new meters.
Pumping Stations
A total of 430,214,900 gallons of water was delivered to the distribu- tion system by Water Pumping Stations Nos. 1, 2, and 3 at Hundred Acres Meadows. This is an increase of 45,088 gallons over 1955, and sets a new pumping record for the Water Division. The annual daily average pumped in 1956 was 1,175,451 gallons, or an estimated 68.34 gallons per capita daily. Highest single day's pumpage was on Satur-
165
day, August 4th, 1956, with 1,981.100 gallons, and the highest seven- days' pumpage from July 30th through August 5th with a total of 13,263,- 600 gallons.
On July 2nd, 1956 a serious break occurred in Suction Line B, result- ing in a shut-down of the main pumping station during a drought period. While the break was being repaired, it was necessary to pump from a gravel-packed well with a Fire Department pumping engine di- rect to the Deferrization Plant, by-passing Pumping Station No. 1 . Several houses on Lothrop and Jere Roads, at a high elevation, ex- perienced water shortages during this period, and a Civilian Defense pumping engine was utilized to pump from two hydrants, from a low elevation to a high elevation, to supply these houses with water. On December 29th, 1956, during a severe snow, sleet, and rain storm, a power failure caused by snow-laden tree limbs falling on the electric power lines caused serious damage at Pumping Station No. 1. The phase-failure relays on the 75 H. P. switchboard panel did not function, and a fire was started in the switchboard. Prompt action by the Pump- ing Station Engineer and the line crew of the Reading Municipal Light Department kept damage to a minimum. The station was out of ser- vice for five days, while electrical repairs were being made.
Several water main breaks, all of a minor nature, were experienced during the year, and were all promptly repaired by the Water Division.
Replacement of existing 114" water mains, which were inadequate to satisfy existing demands of modern house plumbing, was carried on extensively in 1956, to the limit of available funds. Inadequate 114" water mains totaling 1741 lineal feet were replaced with 6" water mains in four streets, and four new fire hydrants set. The water distribution system contains many miles of inadequate 114" mains, which cause great inconvenience to the home owners served by them, and a replace- ment program is being carried on by the Water Division as funds per- mit.
All fire hydrants were inspected, checked for leaks and other de- fects, re-packed and lubricated during the year. Two hydrants were damaged by motor vehicles during the year, and were replaced.
Deferrization Plant
The Deferrization Plant required major attention in 1956. During the early winter months of the year, reinforced concrete coke-slats were fabricated at the Municipal Garage for use in aerator coke re- placement. After the late Spring snowstorms were over, the aerator coke was removed from both contact aerators; new vertical aerator pipes installed; the new coke slats set in place; repairs effected to the aerator walls and 93 tons of new coke installed in the aerator beds. As these aerator beds are at a high elevation, it was necessary to engage a crane with clam-shell attachment to remove and replace the coke.
Immediately on completion of the aerator project, the task of re- moving and replacing all of the sand in the two sand filter beds was be- gun. Diligent search by Weston & Sampson, Consulting Engineers, and
166
by Water Division personnel for filter sand meeting the rigid and exact- ing specifications required, disclosed that the only location from which filter sand could be obtained locally was at the sand dunes in Plum Is- land, which are owned by the United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Parker River, N. W. Refuge in Newburyport. The sand dunes being situated on the Atlantic Ocean side of a wooden trestle bridge spanning the Plum Island River, posted for 10 ton capacity maximum load including vehicle, it was necessary to haul the sand from the dunes in light-weight Town Trucks; stock-pile the sand at Plum Island Airport; reload at the stock pile and haul to the filter beds in large trucks. A total of 1644 tons of sand was hauled from the dunes and deposited in the sand filters in five working days.
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.