By ordinance enacted late in 1945, the City Council provided for the first time in our history for a full-time Building Inspector. This ordinance established a long needed provision for building regulations that will assure us of a better built city for the future and eliminate, over a long period of time, the many wooden structures now found in the congested area. While we would ordinarily welcome such a demolition program in the interest of commercial expansion and area improvement, it is regrettable that we were not in a position to further increase the available dwelling units by any residential construction. During the year several meetings were held in the interest of housing, and ways and means were sought to provide new dwelling units. At each meeting it was definitely concluded that building programs are primarily the function of private capital and of private interests, and that building controls, building supplies, and the labor market permitting the private interests would move quickly to supply the deficiency.
On August 11, 1945, forty-four months and seven days after it had started on December 7, 1941, the war which had engaged the full productive capacity of this nation for the past four years ground slowly to an end. The successful conclusion of this war, the outcome of which was never in doubt, was assured when the war in Europe ended with the complete capitulation of Germany on May 8, three months before the startling announcement that atomic energy had been employed to hasten the end of the conflict. Thus, on August 14, 1945, this country had passed through the first stage of its greatest crisis and had emerged with its courage undimmed, its hope for the future still high, and with unbounded faith in its ability to meet the problems of the future and to turn them into golden opportunities. Your City of Bangor has emerged from this period saddened beyond measure by the loss of 101 of its citizens who gave their lives in its defense, and today stands in full acknowledgement of its debt to them and to the 4,349 others who offered all they had in our behalf and who, in some cases, suffered irreparable physical and mental damage. It is the avowed intention of your city to erect a memorial that will, for a long time yet to come, suitably commemorate the unselfish devotion of these citizens to their fellowman.
During the past three years, a new problem has come to Bangor in the form of a lack of suitable housing. Altogether too many of Bangor's people are residing under improper conditions, conditions which are only tending to undermine the health of the community and to increase our deliquency problems. Some step must be taken to make better quarters available to these people and to compel the maintenance of standards thus established. While your management recognizes this problem, and is frank to bring it up for discussion, it does not as yet bave the answer to it. We recognize only that provisions for new and better quarters must be made at a cost within the means of these people before the present housing can be condemned.
The great war and its demands on manpower and materials has influenced the operation of your city to the same extent that it has controlled the policies of other corporate bodies. We have not found it possible, due to these shortages, to carry out our normal peacetime program and, as a result, we are rapidly accumulating a list of deferred maintenance work which will be taken care of when men and materials are again available. It is the established policy of the city to defer all maintenance work that can, with safety, be delayed until after the war. In pursuing this policy, we are not making further demands on an already limited labor market, nor are we using materials that are badly needed in the furtherance of the war effort. However, what is most important because of this deferred maintenance we are building a work program that will furnish employment to many of the men who will most certainly return to this city when the war is over, and who, by virtue of their service to their country, have every right to expect gainful employment.
Review of 1942: Equipped Civilian Defense Control Center, and completed organization of city departments as integral parts of Civilian Defense Corps. Invested $21,500 surplus cash in United States War Bonds, replacing trust funds formerly used by city. Invested $25,000 cemetery trust funds in United States War Bonds. Installed Police Radio in transmitting station, police headquarters and four police automobiles. Appointed a full time Juvenile Officer. Appointed an Inspector of Eating and Drinking Places. Built new reinforced concrete Retaining Wall in Davenport Park. Built a new reinforced concrete bridge on Finson Road. Installed new Drag Line Bucket gravel loading equipment. Passed ordinances Establishing Bus Stations; Regulating Storage of Flammable Liquids: Prohibiting Fireworks; Providing for Appointment of Provisional Police; Creating the Office of Police Woman; and Establishing Taxi Stands.
City Manager's Letter to the City Council. Gentlemen: In this report I shall not attempt to emphasize the amount of work or the difficulties encountered because of the National emergency and its impact upon local government administration; but shall give you a plain statement of fact be it favorable or unfavorable. In order to arrive at true values over a period of time it is necessary to make comparisons. The several charts in this report are, therefore, definite comparisons. In reviewing the accomplishments and activities of the City Government during the past year the development of the Airport is seen as outstanding. Although the actual work did not come under City control, excepting that specifications, etc., required City approval, the contribution of $75,000 by the City, supplemented by an additional sum by the Maine Military Defense Commission for the purchase of the necessary land, made the development of an Army Air Base here possible. While preliminary negotiations had been made and considerable construction carried out prior to 1941, the change in construction plans resulted in practically the whole existing development as of December 31 having been accomplished during the past year. During the progress of this work many conferences with Government officials were held and agreements and leases entered into, all of which while cooperative, fully safeguarded the City's interests. The Housing Project on Thirteenth Street, for the accommodation of military personnel, came as a direct result of the development of the Air Base. Again, although the City was not involved in the actual construction, certain agreements had to be worked out and ratified. As one unit of government cannot tax another the City is to be reimbursed by the Federal Government for rendering certain services such as fire and police protection, snow removal, garbage collection, etc.
The reports of the various City Departments for the year 1940, as printed herein, are in condensed form, showing the more important functions of the departments that are of interest to the general public. The detial reports are on file at the office of the City Clerk.
This report, covering briefly the municipal activities of the City of Bangor for the year 1939, has been compiled and edited by the City Manager in the hope of a better understanding by the people of our City as to the functions and the accomplishments of their City Government. Without doubt, the vast majority of our citizens lack real knowledge of the operations of their City Government; and it is truly hoped that this publication will not only interest them, but will also aid them to become more civic conscious from a governmental viewpoint as to the activities of our City.
A sample paragraph, regarding Bass Park: "This ever-increasing popular recreational area was greatly enhanced in appearance this past year by acquisition of the old house and garage at the corner of Buck and Main Streets by the Trustees. This, in company with another old house owned by the city, on the Dutton Street side of the property, were both torn down. As a result, the Auditorium area of this park has been developed into lawns and wide parking areas for automobiles, thereby making this Auditorium a most excellent and convenient place for conventions, large gatherings, etc."
As a forward step towards better safeguarding pedestrians and motorists, State Street from Exchange to the Hogan Road and Hammond Street from the City Hall to West Broadway were relighted by the installation of the most modern up-to-date highway lights. A convertible prowl ambulance car -- the first vehicle of its kind purchased by a municipality in this section of the country -- was put in operation in the Bangor Police Department on May 5th. This vehicle, designed for speed and efficiency of operation, was an important addition Lo the department as it is available instantly for ambulance service when an accident occurs.
Again for the fifth time in five consecutive years, despite most adverse conditions brought about the the floods of last spring which wrought havoc with Bangor's bridges, roads, sewers, sidewalks and the Water Works Dam, the City of Bangor not only lived within its budget and finished its fiscal year ending December 31, 1936, with an unexpended balance in its appropriation account, but also was able to conserve $62,355 to the city's Surplus Account, as against $64,455 in 1935. In other words, during each of the past five years, the city spent less money than was appropriated...On March 12th, the Fire Department received an emergency call in the late afternoon, to rescue people by boats, etc., in the Broadway Park and Center Street district, from flooded houses caused by the Meadow Brook Bog breaking loose, flowing over the section of the city, and covering the territory for several hours with many feet of water. [includes photograph].
A report submitted by the Public Works: "SNOW REMOVAL-Bangor was visited last January with the worst snowstorms in many years and snow removal costs for that month went over the $13,000 mark which made a heavy drain on the greatly reduced budget of this Department. However, streets and roads throughout the City were kept open to traffic and this achievement won much praise for Bangor. The public today expects an entirely different service from what satisfied them a few years ago and this cannot be given with inadequate or obsolete equipment."
From the Traffic report: "The handling of automobile traffic today is rapidly becoming the most difficult and the most important part of a Police Department. The traffic situation in Bangor has been handled in a more satisfactory and efficient manner than ever before due to improvements in operating the Traffic Division to changes in the personnel and to modern equipment. The Bangor Police Department is now making a thorough check-up of all public automobiles and trucks as regards proper lights, brakes, etc. and requires defective equipment to be placed in proper condition before these cars are allowed on the highway. In order to make streets safe, this department is carrying on a determined war against speeders, reckless drivers and drunken drivers, in a firm, courteous but impartial manner."[...Bangor Centennial 1934 marked Bangor's one hundredth year as a corporation. Fitting exercises including Firemen's Muster, Races, etc., were held in June. CWA and ERA. Many worth while projects were undertaken and carried out with CWA and ERA Funds. To enumerate all these projects would make this abstract too lengthy. The Water Works Park--a veritable fairyland--has been a wonderful addition to the park system of this City. Another really worth while project has been the Bass Park Municipal Playground, with tennis courts occupied last summer from daylight to dark--its baseball diamonds--football field, and children's playgrounds...]
December 31, 1933 not only marked the end of the second year of the Council-Manager Form of Government in Bangor, under the new charter adopted by the people in September, 1931, but also the end of what has proven to be one of the most difficult in the history of the City. The year 1933 was a trying year, a year when depression and employment were at their lowest ebb, a year of great bank failures, but yet with all it was a year in which Bangor advanced definitely. It was a year in which this City faced the same problems of falling revenues and decreased business activities that have harassed all municipalities, but all in all, Bangor came through 1933 with an exceptionally good record as compared to most other cities. [From the Foreword]
Features photographs and descriptions of crews working on working on and installing power lines, including laying a submarine 3,000 volt cable from Great Cranberry Isle to Manset.
Lists some of the accidents involving Bangor Hydro-Electric Company employees in from January 1939 to September 1940. Including: "Newcomb F. Clark. Meter Reader, Bangor. March 11, 1940. Reading meters, slipped on the steps and fell, injuring his ankle. Accident not officially reported until March 20th, and he returned to work which did not require walking or standing on his fee. He lost 7 days."
Features many photos of employees and employees' family members at the company's annual outing at Lucerne-in-Maine. Competitions were held in a variety of sports such as softball, archery, swimming, horseshoes, three-legged races, egg races, and peanut races.
Sample paragraphs: Electric car service to Hampden should not become history without some word on the impromptu, farewell party accorded car No. 10 on the last trip Saturday night, July 27th [1940]. During the day there bad been casual conversations around the Hydro, "Are you going to see the last car off for Hampden?" "Do you realize that it was nearly forty-three years ago that Charlie Johnson ran the first street car to Hampden and that Charlie is going to take the last car down to Hampden tonight?" But, there were few that said they'd surely be at the waiting room on Post Office Sq. 11 P.M. on Saturday night. An early arrival however saw two good-looking gentlemen in earnest conversation in the waiting room. None other than Charlie Smith, now retired, in conversation with Edwin Carvell, also retired. Mr. Carvell joined the Hydro as motorman on April 7th 1894, and Mr. Smith was conductor on the first car to Hampden on Dec. 1st, 1897, with Charlie Johnson ae motorman.
This issue focuses on the office workers for Bangor Hydro-Electric Company, including front office secretaries, and the sales, maintenance, home demonstration, promotion, and marketing departments.
Many photographs show hydraulic equipment used in the late 1930s, early 1940s by the company as well as on-location photos at Treworgy Dam at Ellsworth Falls, Veazie, and in Milford. "It may be of interest to our readers to know that the duties of the Hydraulic Maintenance crew carry them, occasionally, to the more remote sections of our territory where we maintain and operate storage dams. One of Mr. [Fred] Murphy's duties is to make a periodic trip to three remote storage dams on the Piscataquis River namely, Schoodic, Seboois, and Endless Dams. There are no travelled ways to these dams and he makes the trip on foot, carrying with him a pack and camping out in the woods over night. These trips take anywhere from three days to a week, depending on the work required and weather conditions."
Highlights operations and innovations of the electrical department staff and engineers. Pages 6-7 show a legend indicating all of the generating stations, substations, division offices, and retail stores of Bangor Hydro-Electric Company.
Covers the major engineering activities of the company for 1938-1939, enriched by photographs of the Ellsworth and Veazie stations, as well as many photographs from "the field."
