Last week we began looking at the “Annual Statement of the Mayor of the City of Willimantic” for 1941 which represented the Willimantic fiscal year ending 25 November, just 12 days before America’s entry into WWII. Continuing with the contents of the report, we come to the report of Doctor George E. Roch, the city’s Health Officer. Doctor Roch reported that the city had been fortunate to have, “escaped severe epidemics during the past year”. But he also warned that, “the inadequacy and antiquity of our public health set-up will not assure continuance of our general good health. If a serious health problem should arise, especially at this time of national defense, I want to be on record as having requested for the third consecutive year) that modern preventative measures be adopted.” Doctor Roch then suggested that the city’s leadership make contact and work with the State Department of Health which, he said, “is most anxious to help us plan and finance such a district”. He too concluded his report by thanking the Mayor and the city leadership for their “fine cooperation”. The “Acting Librarian’s Report came next. Anne E. Lucey reported that 77,833 books had circulated. “The percentage of circulation was, adult fiction (52%), adult non-fiction (9%) and “juvenile books” (39%). The library was open 290 days during the fiscal year with an average daily circulation of 269. 512 new patrons registered at the library. The library possessed 12,340 volumes. It purchased 838 books and an additional 381 books were donated. The library loaned  1,806 volumes to teachers in the elementary schools with a circulation of 10,066. MS Lucey reported that, “National Book Week was again observed with enthusiasm in the children’s room of the library….Every afternoon, a story hour was conducted by training teachers of the local State Teachers’ College”. The Water Department report was submitted by Superintendent Roger W. Moran. He began by saying that 400 million gallons of filtered water had been delivered to the city. “To insure the purity of this water, 7679 tests have been made by our chemist in our laboratory.” He said that other samples had been sent to the State Department of Health and that, “each and every sample received the highest rating from the State Department”. Sup’t. Moran then went into almost minute detail of all the improvements that were made to upgrade and increase the water supply as more users were added to the system. What he considered to be especially important was the installation of a fourteen inch line valve on Jackson Street, “to insure all of the city having water if for any reason anything happened to our 14 inch line in the town of Mansfield”. The report then mentioned that a nine foot “non climbable” fence had been erected around the reservoir. At the Pumping Station, the Filtration Building had been repainted, “and the water wheels have been checked and balanced but due to their age and construction require constant repair. The report of Fire Chief Michael J. English was the last in the pamphlet. Chief English noted that there were twelve permanent men and thirty call men in the department. The Deputy Chief was Amos Barber. Edward Moran was Captain at Hose Company No. 1, Captain Rufus Rood at Hose Company No. 2 and Captain Amos Lewis at Truck Company No. 1. The department’s report was for an eleven month period during which the department responded to 212 alarms. There were 186 telephone alarms, nine verbal alarms and 17 box alarms. During firefighting operations, the Chief reported that a total of 12,950 feet of hose was laid. For further fire suppression, 1,500 gallons of chemical and 241 fire extinguishers were used as well as ladders being raised a total of 912 feet. The apparatus traveled a total of 368 miles and made 6 calls outside the city limits. In 1941, apparatus consisted of one 750 gallon Mack pumper, a Mack 75 foot ladder truck with 291 feet of ladders, a life net and Deluge set and a Reo chemical hose truck. (33)  The fire alarm box system was tested monthly and “transmitted signals sent over it perfectly”. The chief recommended a new station since he considered Bank Street Headquarters “overcrowded”. He said that the three major pieces of apparatus as well as two small trucks were getting old and so a “long term of replacing apparatus should be instituted”. The Chief spoke of the need to update the building code and to replace a “specified number of Fire Alarm boxes each year”. He ended his report by saying that, the men of the department have performed their duty faithfully and the morale of the department is high.” (Footnote: On December 2, 1941, Mayor Laramee was defeated by 39 votes in his attempt for a fourth term. Russell Hinman became Mayor while Laramee continued his duties as a state legislator.) In this week’s 1942 photo, State Senator Laramee is shown purchasing the new Defense Savings Stamps. With him, from left to right are Street Superintendent Alexis J. Caisse, Jr., an unidentified woman, City Clerk and Treasurer Arthur Clark, Mayor Laramee and Chief of Police Grant Bombria.

                   
                       

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