USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1926-1932 > Part 20
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62
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Board of Selectmen,
Tewksbury, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The following is our report for the year ending December 31, 1929, as compiled from the daily reports of the Superintendent of Streets.
The past year was the first in which we operated an entirely motorized department from January until December. Consequently, a greater number of permanent men were required to operate the Department throughout the year. Extra men were necessary, how- ever, during the periods in which construction work was at it's height, which is usually when the roads are being oiled, and new extensions are being made.
During the past twelve months a considerable amount of work was accomplished in addition to our regular maintenance program. Many streets were resurfaced with either cinders or gravel, and despite the fact that we had $1,000.00 less in our regular appropria- tion than heretofore, and didn't have the usual appropriation of the past few years for cinders or gravel, we feel, that the town has re- ceived a dollars worth for every one spent, and that a good volume of work has been produced.
We wish to state that in the future, it will be necessary to in- crease our oil appropriation considerably, in order to properly main- tain the ever increasing number of newly gravelled roads, thruout the town. This is a very important matter which should not be over- looked very readily, as it is folly to build roads under the present fast traffic, without a good binder to retain them.
It was necessary to use considerable of our regular appropria- tion. in order to purchase sufficient material to treat the resurfaced streets. An appropriation of $5,000.00 will be required for 1930. The roads which have been oiled are steadily improving, and North Street, Pleasant Street, Whipple Road, Clark Road, Lee Street, Chandler Street, and Shawsheen Street are responding to oil treatment in an excellent manner. Three years of oiling is usually required to perfect a road according to oil experts, and we can heartily agree with them in this respect. Much attention has been given to patching, and after all, maintenance of this sort, is the only real method of safeguarding our expenditures.
63
On cinder roads where oil cannot be applied, we used calcium chloride, which proved quite satisfactory, and gave good results de- spite the unusually dry summer.
One of the major problems confronting us now, is the recon- struction of nearly all of our old stone culverts, as they are giving us no end of trouble. Some are breaking down, others not having ample waterway, while some more are completely blocked, and the road surface, or the property of some abutter is being destroyed for lack of drainage. Our Superintendent made a survey of the entire town, and made a report to us of the condition of the various cul- verts, together with an approximate cost of a new installation in each case. Long culverts should be used where practical, because this eliminates the use of guard rail, which is costly to maintain. We recommend an appropriation of $1350.00 to correct the culvert situa- tion. The following is a list of the culverts where new installations are recommended:
Location
No. of Culverts
Length
Diameter
Whipple Road, near Lowell line.
1
38 feet
18 inches
Astle Street
1
28 "
12
"
Trull Street
1
28
10
Trull Street, at Trull Brook
2
30
36
Trull Street, at River Road
1
150 "
12
Marston Street, near Rogers St.
1
32
"
18
Rogers Street, near Whipple Rd.
1
40
18
Pleasant Street
1
3/2
12
,
Pleasant Street, near Summer St.
1
40
6
North Street, so. of R. R. Cross.
1
40
36
"
North Street
1
34
10
"
Chandler Street, at Foster St.
1
68
15
Lee Street
1
44 "
18
Bridge Street
1
30
15
South Street, near Bridge St.
1
30
18
South Street, near Bridge St.
1
32 "
18
Vale Street
1
30
10
East Street, near Carter St.
1
30 "
12
Pleasant Street
1
40
12
The money asked for in the article in the Town Warrant is for material only, and does not include the cost of installation.
Guard rail in many places is in deplorable condition, and pro- sents a hazard which will have to be corrected without delay. An- other thing which has been sadly neglected for some time is guide
64
signs. There are very few thruout the entire town. During the past year we erected three large standard guide signs in North Tewksbury, and they are neat, clear and comprehensive. Others will be erected during the coming year. Large national standard orange railroad signs were erected at all railroad crossings by our department, as required by Chapter 160 of the General Laws.
At this years meeting we must decide on the construction of Salem Road. State and County officials are very anxious to have the Town act favorably in this regard. Another street which-should receive attention is Woburn Street, and bituminous macadam is the type of construction which we would recommend on this thorofare to withstand the heavy traffic. The present roadway is saturated with acid, and will have to be excavated.
The following streets were oiled, showing the number of gallons used, and the number of cubic yards of sand required to cover the oil:
Street
Oil
Sand 2 cubic yards
Trull Street
2,700 gallons
Salem Road
2,693
5
East Street
1,683
5
Livingston Street
2,350
10
Pine Street
600
8
Chapman Street
1,900
5
Dewey Street
900
9
Lee Street
1,300
23
Chandler Street
6,350
221
Pleasant Street
3,500
92
North Street
9,900
439
Whipple Road
6,700
266
Clark Road
2,782
76
Shawsheen Street
7,600
41
East Street-sand to bind stone
82 cubic yards
Andover Street-sand to bind stone
9 cubic yards
Sanding streets and sidewalks
51 cubic yards
A total of 1,344 cubic yards of sand was hauled and used. The total of 51,018 gallons of oil were distributed on the various streets. This does not include the oil, cold tar patch, or asphalt which was used for patching.
The following streets were treated with calcium chloride:
East Street-Maple Street to Andover line.
Maple Street-entire length
Vernon Street-entire length.
65
:
Hood Road-entire length.
River Road-Hood Road to Bailey Road.
Fiske Street-entire length.
State Street-entire length
Lake Street-entire length. South Street-Fernwood to Wilmington line.
Brown Street-South Street to residence of Mr. Purdy.
Whipple Road-French Street to Lowell line.
Calcium Chloride can also be used to cure concrete, or in place of salt to melt ice or snow.
The following streets were resurfaced in whole or in part with gravel or cinders, and the number of cubic yards placed on each street:
Street
Cinders
Gravel
Andover Street
32.5 cubic yards
Astle Street
43.5
Vale Street
49.5
,,
Chandler Street
90.5
Pringle Street
4.5
Marston Street
8 cubic yards
Pinnacle Street
328
River Road
17.5
56
Pine Street
8
Pike Street
22
Old Boston Road
5
Brown Street
7
Maple Street
2
Kendall Street
2
3
Woburn Street
78
Rogers Street
437
Fiske Street
27
Marshall Street
55.5
Billerica Street
104.5
Clark Road
80.5
North Street
367
Dewey Street
226.5
Mill Street
2.5
Shawsheen Street
72.8
,,
,,
French Street
9
Glendale Aven
6
Town Hall Ave.
57
Foster Street
7
,,
Bridge Street
78.5
,,
66
Lee Street
54 "
.,
Carter Street
108
South Street
4
143.5
,
State Street
2
..
..
3
Hood Road
10.5
Pleasant Street
192
Livingston Street
628
Trull Street
1,169
Lake Street
172.5
East Street
154
484.5
Whipple Road
227
Lowe Street
679
..
21
,,
Cross Street
353
Ballard Street
426
.
The total amount of cinders used was 2,098 cubic yards, and the total amount of gravel placed on the various streets was 5,684 cubic yards.
Although no accurate record is kept of material consisting of dirt, sods, or other surplus refuse removed from roadways, approxi- mately 527 cubic yards were handled during the year.
The total amount of material hauled by the department during the year amounted to 9,602 cubic yards. This includes sand, gravel. and cinders.
The supply of cinders which we have been obtaining from the abandoned right of way of the Boston and Maine Railroad have become exhausted, so that all work in the future will be of gravci construction.
Culverts
One new culvert was installed on Billerica Road, near the resi- dence of Mr. Heidenrich, replacing an old stone culvert which had not been functioning for years. This culvert is 32 feet long and 10 inches in diameter, and is of sufficient size to care for the needs at this place.
Another culvert was installed on Vale Street, near the Andover town line. This consisted of two lengths of heavy iron pipe, which had previously been used as a culvert, under the abandoned rail- road right of way. It is 18 inches in diameter, and 20 feet long; and makes an ideal culvert for this location. It was obtained with- out cost.
67
Special Appropriation $1,500.00 For Gravel Pit
Previous to the last annual town meeting, we had been obtain- ing gravel from a bank located just off Shawsheen Street. We were then paying for it by the load. The gravel here is excellent, and quite free from rocks. In this part of the town, much of the land has been sold in house lots, by land development companies, con- sequently in order to purchase this bank, it was necessary to buy seven lots of land. Three of the lots are located on Shawsheen Street being numbered 478, 479 and 480, and the remaining four on Hillside Road and numbered 487, 488, 489 and 490. Only those which actually constituted the hill itself were bought. Located between Birchwood Road and Oakview Road just off Mohawk Drive is another hill, and tests made here proved the gravel to be equal if not better than the previous one. We purchased six lots here, all of which are located on Oakview Road. They are numbered 388, 389, 390, 391, 392 and 393. This was all we could buy with the balance of the appropriation, but will provide the department with gravel for some years to come. The first one referred to is over 25 feet high, and the second graduates in height from 50 feet to 65 feet. Both are readily accessible for trucks, being situated in close proxi- mity to Shawsheen Street, and a private road leads to the bank.
Special Appropriation $6,000.00 For Road Roller
After making a thorough investigation of the various makes of road rollers, as to weight, construction, rigidity, and motive power, we decided that the Buffalo-Springfield was best suited to the needs of our department. Therefore, we purchased a 12-ton, latest type, Buffalo-Springfield, four cylinder, three wheel, three speed gaso- line motor road roller, equipped with a Buffalo-Springfield pressure scarifier. This roller has performed every operation well, whether scarifying or rolling. The town can rest assured that no mistake was made in the purchase of this roller.
Special Appropriation $1,000.00 For Andover Street
Work on this street being under the provisions of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, the state and county each contributed a similar amount, thereby making a total of $3,000.00. A large portion of the roadway near the Lowell line was rebuilt, to form a perfect approach to the concrete construction in Lowell. The grade at this point, on the southerly side of the highway was lowered fourteen inches to
68
allow a free flow of water. This eliminated the use of a catch basin which we abolished. The construction was of bituminous macadam, and built to state specifications. Considerable patching was done near the Andover town line, and in places where the edges of the roadway had been damaged they have been repaired. The shoulders were dragged and otherwise maintained. New guard rail was erected to replace that which had become broken or decayed. The guard rail on the entire street has been repainted, and a new length erected near the Longmeadow Golf Club. Two new drop inlets were con- structed, and 130 feet of 10-inch vitrified clay pipe laid for drain- age purposes. Some 300 feet of 10-inch pipe which had been out of service for some time was put into operation. All the work was done by our own department, and we have been complimented on it's neatness.
Special Appropriation $1,000.00 For East Street
As in the case of Andover Street, this appropriation was also ex- pended under the provisions of Chapter 90 of the General Laws. The state and county contribution bringing the total amount of money spent on this job to $3,000.00.
The specifications in this contract called for construction of 600 feet of bituminous macadam, and our department exceeded this by 50 feet, and built two approaches at the State Infirmary, besides a new standard catch basin was built, and a 15-inch concrete culvert installed under the roadway extending into the Infirmary athletic field. A granite head wall was constructed at each end, and guard rail was erected on the easterly side of the highway. Had we built this road of 4-inch construction instead of 8 inches we could have extended the macadam to Livingston Street, but we were advised not to do this. A highway built in the proper manner will last for a number of years; in other words we sacrificed quantity for quality. This was the first penetration asphalt road built by our depart- ment, and it is a credit to every man on the job. The railroad cross- ing across the junction of East and Chandler Streets was com- pletely rebuilt while we were working on East Street, so we built new approaches from both sides. The state commissioners of public works have approved the above work in a letter to us dated Novem- ber 19, 1929. The Andover Street construction has been approved also in a similar manner. We wish to thank Dr. Nichols, Super- intendent of the State Infirmary, Chief Engineer Dooley, and Super- intendent of Maintenance Nash, also of the Infirmary, for their kind co-operation and assistance during the construction of East Street.
69
-
.
Chapter 81
Owing to the fact that our valuation is constantly changing, the amounts which we must align with the state under the provisions of this act, are changing from year to year. In 1929 we were re- quired to expend the sum of $8,250.00, while the state contribution was $5,500.00. The previous year, 1928, we expended $6,700.00. Main- tenance of our town roads is the principal requirement under Chapter 81, snow removal, and construction or repair of bridges being ex- cepted. The work done during the past year has been approved.
In closing, we wish to thank all who have cooperated with us in any way, and trust that we have given the townspeople a concise and comprehensive report of the work done, and some of our re- quirements for 1930. We remain,
Yours respectfully,
JOHN T. GALE, WILLIAM I. BAILEY, ASAHEL H. JEWELL,
Highway Commissioners of Tewksbury.
70
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
We, the undersigned Park Commissioners, submit the following report:
Considering the elements during the summer months the commons were kept in fine condition. Lawns on the Common at the Centre were treated with fertilizer.
The flag pole was given two coats of paint.
The usual illumination of the tree at the Centre during the Christ- mas and New Year's Holidays was appreciated by both residents and visitors.
We sincerely recommend the same appropriation as last year.
Respectfully submitted,
MISS EDITH A. FORISTALL, Chairman HARRIS M. BRIGGS CHARLES H. WENTWORTH, Secretary
-
71
REPORT OF CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
As chief of the fire department I herewith submit the follow. ing total number of fires attended: .
Forest fires 46
House fires 13
Automobile fires 2
False alarm 3
Total value of building and contents: Forty-seven thousand four hundred and twenty-five dollars ($47,425.00). Damage fourteen thousand and fifteen dollars ($14,015). Insurance paid: Eleven thousand five hundred and seventy-one dollars ($11,571.) Personal property of the Fire Department, thirteen thousand and two hundred dollars.
Respectfully submitted,
A. S. HAINES, Chief of Fire Department.
72
REPORT OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
The following is a report of the work carried on in the town of Tewksbury under the auspices of the Middlesex County Extension Service.
In boys' and girls' 4-H club work 78 boys and girls were en- rolled in the clothing, lunch-box, garden and poultry clubs. Mrs. E. P. Maclaren assisted as local leader. Ferdinand Cuccoli was awarded one of the prizes offered by the North Middlesex Agricultural Society in the garden club contest. Blanche Rychwa was awarded a two day trip to the Massachusetts Agricultural College for doing outstanding club work. The poultry club of the town went on the country-wide poultry tour. At the time of the 4-H club rally in Lowell many local boys and girls attended and the lunch-box club won a sweepstake ribbon on their part of the program.
Three communities in Tewksbury carried a series of Living-room Improvement meetings and the homemakers reported 222 changes in their homes as a result of these meetings. West Tewksbury. South Tewksbury and North Tewksbury were active in this work. Also, West Tewksbury under the leadership of Mrs. Leonard Pineau and Mrs. F. A. Malenson and South Tewksbury under the leader- ship of Mrs. Robert Wells and Mrs. Maude Griffin, were interested in the Vegetable Preparation program. Professor William R. Cole of the Massachusetts Agricultural College gave a canning demon- stration for the benefit of the home-makers of Tewksbury.
In agriculture most of the work took the form of individual farm visits. These visits were made upon request to assist individ- ual farmers with their local problems. Twenty-two of these visits were made during the year.
Eight educational motion picture shows were given to a total attendance of 2020.
Country-wide meetings in poultry, fruit growing and market gardening have been available to the Tewksbury people and many attended the county picnic held during the summer at Wayside Inn. Sudbury, Mass.
73
:
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF TEWKSBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Trustees of the Tewksbury Library submit the following re- port :
Details of expenditure will be found in the Auditor's Report.
The list of books added and donations in the Report of the Librarian.
The regular meetings, the first Saturday of each month, have been held during the year, with the exception of July and August.
The Trustees have not been able to do as much as they wished, us the dog taxes were one hundred dollars less than last year.
Our great need is of more space, as we have more books now than our racks will hold. We send boxes of books to the schools at the North and South part of the town, and would gladly co-operate with the other teachers if called upon to do so.
The Trustees would welcome any advice so that we may make the Library of more use to the community.
The children seem to enjoy the Library fully as much as the older ones, and we wish we could do more for them.
On account of lack of space and the little call for non-fiction we do not buy as many as we would like. We wish that more of the subscrib- ers to the Library would take advantage of the offer of the Trustees and ask for any of non-fiction that they would care to have.
We wish to thank the Librarians for the faithful and courteous service which they give, the donors of books for their generosity, and the patrons of the Library for their co-operation.
The Trustees respectfully request that the article in the Warrant asking for the Library an appropriation of 750 dollars and the money received from the dog taxes be granted.
Respectfully submitted,
KATE FOLSOM RUTH H. TINGLEY RUTH W. SMITH EGDAR SMITH GEO. A. MARSHALL
74
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
To the Board of Trustees of the Tewksbury Public Library:
The following report is respectfully submitted:
The circulation of books as a whole shows an increase, especially in the districts.
There is a steady increase in the circulation of magazines. -
There is quite a call for reference books which may be kept a month, unless called for by other patrons.
Four boxes are being sent to the districts: Wamesit, South Tewks- bury, North Tewksbury School and Shawsheen School.
Several books have been purchased on request during the past year. The Trustees will purchase books on request if names and authors of books are left with the Librarian.
A donation of books was received from Mrs. Brooks Stevens, Jr., for which we are very grateful.
The library is open to the public Wednesday evenings from 7.00 to 8.30, and Saturday afternoons and evenings from 2.00 to 9.00. Legal holidays excepted.
CIRCULATION OF BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY
Wednesdays
Fiction
2,801 Religion
6
History
9
. Sociology 8
Literature
9 Science
20
Travel
20 Poetry
19
Arts
19
Philosophy
4
Biography
17 Total
2,932
Saturdays
Fiction
10,749 Religion 24
History
57
Sociology 39
Literature
29 Science 58
Travel
57 Poetry
71
Arts
74
Philosophy
28
Biography
87
Total
11,273
Wednesdays and Saturdays 14,205
Total Circulation (Library and Districts), 16,295
75
CIRCULATION OF BOOKS IN DISTRICTS
Wamesit
Fiction
995 Religion
1
History
Sociology
1
Literature
Science
Travel
Poetry
Arts
1 Philosophy
Biography
2 Total
1,000
South
Fiction
174 Religion
History
Sociology
Literature
Science
Travel
2 Poetry
Arts
Philosophy
Biography
7 Total
183
Shawsheen School
Fiction
332
Religion
5
History
2 Sociology
5
Literature
2 Science
5
Travel
2 Poetry
2
Arts
6 Philosophy
1
Biography
2 Total
364
North Tewksbury School
Fiction
511 Religion
2
History
1 Sociology
3
Literature
Science
8
Travel
6 Poetry
4
Arts
5 Philosophy
Biography
3 Total 543
Total Circulation in Districts, 2,090
76
CIRCULATION OF MAGAZINES
American
37 Literary Digest
78
Atlantic Monthly
9 McCall's
25
Better Homes and Gardens
15 Munsey's-All-Story 44
Bookman
8 National Geographic
21
Buddy Magazine
6 Pictorial Review 19
Century
8 Popular Science 17
Child Life
18 Review of Reviews
5
Country Gentleman
20 Scribner's 18
Cosmopolitan
44 St. Nicholas
6
Every Child's
3 Woman's Home Companion 27
Good Housekeeping
42 World's Work 7
Harper's
14
Others
36
Junior Home-Little Folks 55
Ladies' Home Journal
23
Total 605
-
77
BOOKS ADDED TO THE LIBRARY
404
Fiction
Adams, Harrison. The Pioneer Boys of Kansas. jA4-11
Aldrich, Bess S. A Lantern in Her Hand. A19-30 2c
Altemus, Henry Co. The Peter Rabbit Story Book A24-40r
Atherton, Gertrude. The Jealous Gods. A36-15
Dido, Queen of Hearts A36-16
Bacheller, Irving. The House of the Three Ganders B2-24
Bailey, Temple. Burning Beauty B2-84
Baldwin, Faith. Garden Oats B9-12
The Incredible Year B9-13
Barbour, Ralph Henry. Substitute Jimmy jB16-45
The Fortunes of the Team. jB16-46
Grantham Gets On jB16-47
Bartley, Nalbro. The Godfather B17-86
Baum, Frank L. The Wizard of Oz JB23-10*
The Land of Oz. jB23-11*
The Road to Oz jB23-16*
Ozma of Oz jB23-20*
Queen Zixi of Iz jB23-23*
John Dough and the Cherub jB23-24*
Baum's American Fairy Tales jB23-25* Jack Pumpinkhead of Oz jB23-26
Baxter, George Owen. Tiger Man B26-71
Beach, Rex. Son of the Gods. B27-11
Bennett, Arnold. Accident B38-51
Berkeley, Anthony. The Layton Court Mystery.
B39-80
Bianco, Margery Williams. Poor Cecco
jB45-30
Bindloss, Harold. The Frontiersman
B46-95
Larry of Lonesome Lake. B46-96
Blaisdell, Mary Frances. Cherry Tree Children jB51-30r
Twilight Town jB51-32r
Polly and Dolly
JB51-35
Blaisdell, Etta Frances.
My Garden of Stories jB57-36
jB57-40
Booth, Charles G. Gold Bullets
Bower, B. M. The Swallow Fork Bulls. The Flying U.'s Last Stand B65-40
B65-39
Brand, Max. The Gun Tamer B67-60
Pillar Mountain B68-6
78
Brandeis, Madeline. The Wee Scotch Piper jB68-30 The Little Indian Weaver jB68-31 The Little Dutch Tulip Girl jB68-32
Buchan, John. The Courts of the Morning. B85-7
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Lost Empire. B95-54
Bush, Christopher. The Perfect Murder Case B96-70
Campbell, Alice. Water Weed C9-50
Campbell, T. Bowyer. Little Miss
C10-30
Carfrae, Elizabeth. The Distant Stars
C13-15
Carter, Russell Gordon. Three Points of Honor
($4,000 Prize Story) C14-61
Chadwick, Maria Pratt. Bow Wow and Mew Mew jC24-20
Puss In Boots and Reynard the Fox jC24-21
Jack and the Beanstalk. jC24-22 Three Little Kittens; Chicken Little .. jC24-23
Red Riding Hood; The Seven Kids. jC24-24
The Three Pigs jC24-25
Little People's Sound Primer jC24-26
Chapman, Maristan. The Happy Mountain C29-30
Home Place
C29-31
Charteris, Leslie. Meet the Tiger
C32-65
Clark, Ellery H. The Strength of the Hills
C49-8
Clarke, J. Erskine, M. A. Chatterbox for 1930
JC51-11
Cleugh, Sophie. Spring
C54-3
Colver, Alice Ross. The Dimmest Dream
C68-58
The Red Headed Goddess C68-59
Babs at Home C68-61
Comstock, Harriet T. The Piper's Price
C69-47
Connington, J. J. The Case With the Nine Solutions
C69-97
Connor, Ralph. The Runner C70-14
Cooper, Courtney Ryley. The Challenge of the Bush C81-47
Cooper Elizabeth. What Price Youth
C81-65
Cottrell, Dorothy. The Singing Gold C88-15 -
Crofts. Freeman Wills. The Purple Sickle Murder
C10-3
Crosby, Percy. Skippy C104-30
Crump, Irving. The Boys' Book of Coast Guards JC105-21
Cullum, Ridgwell. The Tiger of Cloud River C105-5G
Curwood, James Oliver. The Crippled Lady of Peribonka. C115-19
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