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TOWN DOCUMENTS
SIXTY- NINTH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Town of Swampscott, Mass.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1920
SETTLED A.B. 1629
· INCORPORATED
. A. D. 1852.
AS
SWA
LYNN, MASS. FRANK S. WHITTEN, PRINTER
192 1
TOWN DOCUMENTS
SIXTY-NINTH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Town of Swampscott, Mass.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1920
SETTLED A.D. 1629
INCORPO
T.A.D. 1852
RATED
AS
SWA
LYNN, MASS. FRANK S. WHITTEN, PRINTER
1921
2
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
INDEX
Reports of Departments and Committees.
PAGE
Animals, Inspector of
119
Appropriations recommended
198
Appropriations voted
51
Assessors
I26
Building Inspector
129
Cemetery, Superintendent of .
I33
Civic Centre Committee, Report of
183
Committee on New Police Station
31
Dog Officer, Report of
179
Election, Town
27
Election, National and State
67
Finance Committee, Report of
19, 28, 30, 32, 50, 64
IO5
Forest Warden
125
Health, Board of
IIO
Health Officer .
115
Highway, Surveyor of
142
Library, Trustees of
140
Machon School, Committee's Report of
16-18-177
Moth Work, Superintendent of
123
Plumbing, Inspector of
I22
Police, Chief of
103
Poor, Overseers of .
136
Primaries, Presidential
58
Primaries, State
60
Public Property, Inventory of
II
Railway Station Improvement, Committee Report
180
School Census
95
School Committee
82
School Directory
IOI
School Nurse, Report of
185
Town Accountant
204
Town Clerk's Statistics
138
Town Clerk's Records
15 8
Town Engineer
134
Town Officers Appointed
6
Town Officers Elected
4
Town Warrant, January 7, 1920
15
Town Warrant, January 30, 1920
20
Town Warrant, February 16, 1920 .
21
Town Warrant, April 6, 1920 .
29
Town Warrant, October 5, 1920
€2
Town Warrant, February 21, 1921 .
258
Tree Warden, Report of
I24
Water and Sewerage Board
I45
Weights and Measures, Sealer of
130
.
139
Memorial Boulder, Report of Committee Milk Inspector
I18
Park Commission
157
Fire Engineers
Hawthorne Brook, Report of Committee
176
Library, Building Committee's Report .
18I
I20
Selectmen, Board of
Town Committees Appointed
Town Valuation
127
3
INDEX.
1920]
Financial Reports.
PAGE
Assessors' Department
210
Auditing Department
209
Balance Sheets
78-236-254
Bureau of Statistics
71-243 .
Cemetery
229
Collector of Taxes
209-240
County Tax
230
Department Summaries
235
District Nurse
227
Engineering Department
2II
Election and Registration Fire Department
2II
Forest Warden
216
Health Department
216
Heat and Light, G. A. R. Hall
227
Highway Department
219
Insurance
226
Interest and Maturing Debt
229
Law Department
2II
Library
224
Liabilities
169
Machon School Building Memorial Day
231
Metropolitan Assessments
226
Moth Extermination ·
215
Municipal Insurance Fund
174
Notes Payable .
163-168
Park Department Pensions .
227
Police Department .
212
Poor Department
221
Printing Town Reports
226
School Instruction Costs
95
Schools
222
Sealer of Weights and Measures
215
Selectmen's Department .
208
Sewer Maintenance and Operation
217
Sewer Notes and Bonds .
171
State Aid, Civil War
222
State Tax
230
Statistics (1878-1920)
I28
Street Lighting
221
Street Watering and Oiling
219
Teachers' Pensions
224
Town Clerk's Department
210
Town Debt
. 172-237
Town Hall Department
21I
Transfers
233
Treasurer's Report . .
160
Treasury Department
. 209
Treasurer's Receipts
204
Tree Warden .
215
Trust and Investment Funds .
81-173-230
Victory Celebration Committee
227
Water Bonds and Notes .
169
Water Debt Sinking Fund
150
Water Department .
228
·
226
225
213-227
.
.
4
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Elected Town Officers, 1920
Selectmen. Henry S. Baldwin, Chairman.
William E. Carter.
John B. Earp.
Moderator. Daniel F. Knowlton.
Town Clerk. George T. Till.
Town Treasurer. James W. Libby.
Collector of Taxes. Nathan G. Bubier.
Assessors. Edward A. Maxfield, Chairman. Term expires 1923. Clarence B. Humphrey, Secretary. Term expires 1921.
Water and Sewerage Commissioners. George D. R. Durkee, Chairman. Term expires 1922.
Harold G. Enholm. Term expires 1923.
Charles E. Hodgdon. Term expires 1921.
Park Commissioners. James T. Lyons, Chairman. Term expires 1922.
Stuart P. Ellis, Secretary.
Term expires 1923.
Archibald Miller. Term expires 1921.
School Committee. Rev. Edward Tillotson, Chairman. Term expires 1923.
Rev. John Vannevar. Term expires 1922.
Arthur W. Stubbs. Term expires 1921.
Trustees of Public Library. Frank F. Stanley. Term expires 1922.
Francis E. Ingalls Term expires 1923.
F. Keeler Rice Term expires 1921.
Overseers of the Poor. Joseph F. Crowell, Chairman. Term expires 1922.
Harry E. Cahoon. Terin expires 1923.
Edmund Russell, Secretary. Term expires 1921.
Oscar G. Poor. Term expires 1922.
5
ELECTED TOWN OFFICERS.
1920]
Board of Health. Dr. Loring Grimes, Chairman. Term expires 1923.
John B. Cahoon. Term expires 1921.
Harold H. Bartol. Term expires 1922.
Surveyor of Highways. Michael J. Ryan. Term expires 1921. Tree Warden. Everett P. Mudge. Constables. Frank H. Bradford.
Clarence W. Horton. Charles Walter Burrill.
Commissioners of Trust Funds. Henry B. Sprague. Term expires 1922,
Weston K. Lewis. Term expires 1921. + George H. Lucey. Term expires 1921.
*Philip E. Bessom. Term expires 1923.
* Resigned. t Appointed.
6
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Appointed Town Officers, 1920
Town Accountant. Arthur C. Widger.
Town Counsel. James W. Santry.
Engineers of Fire Department. Harry E. Hardy, Chairman.
Charles H. Cunningham. Thomas S. Leadbetter.
James Warnock, Chief. Clarence D. Kendrick, Ist Assistant Chief.
Frank W. Oulton, Captain. Walter M. Champion, Captain. Frederick T. J. McNamara, Captain. Permanent Firemen.
Harold L. Jacobs. Charles Lampard.
Ralph J. Owens.
Charles E. Snow. William B. Snow. Walter A. Thomas.
Permanent Police. Ulysses M. Corson, Chief. Eugene P. Brogan, Captain.
Charles Connell.
- Charles H. Dunlap. James C. Pearson. J. Henry Pedrick. Frank T. Roach.
James M. Kennedy.
Joseph D. Spinney.
Almon B Owens.
William L. Quinn. Albert L. Simpson.
Keeper of Lockup. Ulysses M. Corson.
Constables.
Ulysses M. Corson. Charles H. Dunlap. Charles Connell. Eugene P. Brogan. James C. Pearson. William L. Quinn.
J. Henry Pedrick. James M. Kennedy. Joseph D. Spinney. Almon B. Owens. Frank T.'Roach. Frank B. Stratton.
Town Engineer. Wallace W. Pratt.
Superintendent of Cemetery. Thomas Handley.
Superintendent of Burial of Deceased Soldiers and Sailors. John R. Merritt. Caretaker of Monument Lot. Royal Fowler.
1920]
APPOINTED TOWN OFFICERS.
7
Town Weigher. Mary M. Nies.
Librarian of Public Library. Miss S. L. Honors.
Assistant Librarians.
Miss Pauline Bain. Miss Elizabeth Vannevar.
Superintendent of Moth Work. / Everett P. Mudge.
Forest Warden and Forest Fire Warden. Everett P. Mudge
Building Inspector. Frank E. Morrison.
Inspector of Animals and Provisions. Dr. Frank B. Stratton.
Health Officer and Clerk of Board of Health. Clarence W. Horton.
Sealer of Weights and Measures. *Samuel M. Kehoe. +C. Walter Burrill.
Agent and Janitor Town Hall. L. Herbert Cahoon.
Dog Officer. Dr. Frank B. Stratton.
Field" Driver. William H. Brown.
Fence Viewers.
George H. Doane. Hulbert C. Griffin
Attendant Officer. C. Walter Burrill.
Registrars of Voters.
Ernest B. Thing (Republican) Andrew Olsen (Democrat) Frank D. Thurston (Democrat) George T. Till .
Term expires 1923. Term expires 1921. Term expires 1922. ex officio.
Special Police.
Joshua B. Acker. John E. Barry. James D. Bentley. George W. Boston. Frank H. Bradford. John H. Bryson.
Edward C. Horne. Lemuel W. Pickard. Horace R. Parker Willard P. Jackson. John O'Callahan. Frank E. Morrison.
* Resigned. t Appointed.
8
TOWN DOCUMENTS. [Dec. 31
William P. Bergin. William H. Brown.
Joseph L. M. King.
George H. Reed.
L. Herbert Cahoon.
Raymond“Reynolds.
William H. Carroll.
Arthur W. Rowell.
Daniel B. Collins.
Frank G. Rogers.
Patrick S. Cryan.
Charles J. Roberts.
George D. R. Durkee.
William A. Seaton.
Perley C. Foss.
Albert L. Simpson.
Burton A. Fogg.
Charles P. Snow.
Alfred F. Frazier
Charles A. Stover.
George Farnum.
John C. Thomas.
Thomas Handley.
Coleman M .¿ Wood.
Arthur W. Hughley.
Henry W. Wagenfeld
Roy A Carter.
Harold D. Spinney.
Secretary of Selectmen. Arthur C. Widger.
Secretary of Water and Sewer Commissioners. S. Russell Ingalls.
Superintendent of Water Works. John M. Mather.
Inspector of Plumbing. Edward C. Phillips.
Measurers of Wood.
George S. Briggs.
Charles Corriere. George T. Till.
Weighers of Coal.
George S. Briggs.
George T. Till.
Charles Corriere.
Edna Lamereaux.
Lavinia Norcross.
Carolyn D. Horgan. Daisy Miller. Joseph M. Daley.
Housing and Rent Committee.
Charles G. Woodbridge.
Henry B. Dinan.
Clarence B. Humphrey. Dr. Loring Grimes.
Herbert A. Cahoon
Ulysses M. Corson.
Civic Center Committee.
Henry S. Baldwin. John B. Earp. Charles D. C. Moore.
William E. Carter. James W. Santry. James T. Lyons.
Harry E. Hardy.
Memorial Boulder Committee.
Henry S. Baldwin. John B. Earp.
Earl E. Jenkins.
Ralph D. Merritt.
Willard P. Jackson.
Harry E. Cahoon.
John R. Merritt.
John T. Lee.
Horace R. Parker.
William E. Carter.
James D. Bentley. Alfred F. Frazier.
James T. Lyons.
-
1920]
APPOINTED TOWN OFFICERS.
9
Boston & Maine Improvement Committee.
Edward S. Underwood.
William E. Carter. Edwin W. Tibbetts.
Henry S. Baldwin. John B. Earp Elihu Thomson.
E. Kinsman Banks.
Finance Committee. Harry D. Linscott, Chairman.
Phillip E. Bessom.
Lowell E. Sprague.
Frank A. Mowatt. Benjamin B. Blanchard.
Elgar H. Townsend. Board of Survey. Henry S. Baldwin, Chairman and Secretary.
William E. Carter. John B. Earp.
Machon School Building Committee. Rev. John Vannevar, Chairman. Arthur W. Stubbs, Secretary.
Rev. Edward Tillotson. Henry S. Baldwin.
William E. Carter. John B. Earp.
Harry E. Hardy. Hawthorne Brook Committee.
George D. R. Durkee.
Henry S Baldwin
Harold G. Enholm.
Charles E. Hodgdon.
William E. Carter. John B. Earp.
Election Officers, Town Election, February 16, 1920.
Election Officer
John A. Cullen (Democrat)
Ballot Clerk
Ralph D. Merritt (Republican)
Ballot Clerk
William J Lynch (Democrat)
Deputy Ballot Clerk
W. Percy Norcross (Republican)
Deputy Ballot Clerk
Abram G. Stone (Democrat) Tellers (Democrat) Leo T. Caproni.
Thomas E. Berry.
Harry G. Hutchinson.
Harold D. Spinney.
Everett H. Clark.
Alfred F. Frazier.
James W. Ryan.
Charles E. Melzard.
Anthony A. Lyons.
Ralph H. Carey. Harold C. Snow.
James J. Finnegan. Frank G. Melvin.
Election Officers, Presidential Primaries, April 27, 1920.
Election Officer
John A. Cullen (Democrat)
Ballot Clerk
.
Ballot Clerk
Deputy Ballot Clerk
Deputy Ballot Clerk .
William R. Patten (Republican) William J. Lynch (Democrat) W. Percy Norcross (Republican) Abram G. Stone (Democrat) Tellers (Democrat)
Tellers (Republican) Thomas E Berry. George F. Clay.
James D. Carroll. Everett H. Clark.
Alfred F. Frazier.
James J. Finnegan.
Ralph D. Merritt. C. Freeman Shaw. Harold C. Snow. Coleman M. Wood. Herman E. Story.
John A. Finnegan. Harry G. Hutchinson.
Anthony H. Lyons. Frank G. Melvin.
James H. Ryan.
Tellers (Republican) Herman E. Story. Samuel Hooper.
James D. Carroll.
IO
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Election Officers, State Primaries, September 7, 1920.
Election Officer
Ballot Clerk
Ballot Clerk
Deputy Ballot Clerk .
Deputy Ballot Clerk
John A. Cullen (Democrat) William R. Patten (Republican) William J. Lynch (Democrat) W. Percy Norcross (Republican) Abram G. Stone (Democrat)
Tellers (Republican)
Tellers (Democrat)
Thomas E. Berry.
James D. Carroll.
George F. Clay.
Everett H. Clark.
Alfred F. Frazier.
James J. Finnegan.
Ralph D. Merritt.
John A. Finnegan.
C. Freeman Shaw. Coleman M. Wood. Harold C. Snow.
Anthony A. Lyons.
Frank G. Melvin.
Herman E. Story.
James H. Ryan.
Martha F. Duren.
Mary E. Brogan.
Florence S. Owen.
Margaret L. Brogan.
Della M. Marsh.
Helen M. Lynch.
Lillian S. Pitman.
Ellen Q. Lynch.
Election Officers, Presidential and State Election, November 2, 1920.
Election Officer
Ballot Clerk
Ballot Clerk
Ballot Clerk
Ballot Clerk
Deputy Ballot Clerk
George V. Doane (Republican)
Deputy Ballot Clerk .
Abram G. Stone (Democrat)
Tellers (Republican)
Tellers (Democrat)
Thomas E. Berry.
Everett H. Clark.
George F. Clay.
James J. Finnegan.
Alfred F. Frazier.
John A. Finnegan.
Ralph D. Merritt. C. Freeman Shaw. Harold C. Snow. Herman E. Story.
Harry G. Hutchinson.
Anthony A. Lyons.
Frank G. Melvin.
James H. Ryan.
Alexander J. Wallace.
James A. Hegarty.
Martha F. Duren.
Mary E. Brogan.
Florence S. Owen.
Margaret L. Brogan.
Lillian S. Pitman.
Ellen Q. Lynch.
Eunice A. Newhall.
Alice T. Bergin.
John A. Cullen (Democrat) William R. Patten (Republican) William J. Lynch (Democrat) John T. Lee (Republican) James D. Carroll (Democrat)
Harry G. Hutchinson.
II
INVENTORY OF PUBLIC PROPERTY.
1920]
Inventory of Public Property
Miscellaneous.
Town Hall and land
$37,000 00
House adjoining and land
3,000 00
Public Library and equipment
35,000 00
Soldiers' Monument
3,000 00
Hay scales
800 00
Piano
350 00
Standard weights and measures
250 00
Treasurer's safe
295 00
Town Clerk's safe
75 00
Collector's safe
50 00
Selectmen's office fixtures
600 00
G. A. R.Hall and land .
9,000 00
$89,420 00
School Department.
Phillips School and land
. $150,000 00
Clarke School and land
43,000 00
Machon School and land
17,000 00
Palmer School and land
11,000 00
Hadley School and land
140,000 00
Manual Training School
2,000 00
Essex Street land .
300 00
School furniture
13,050 00
Manual Training equipment
1,700 00
Domestic Science equipment
1,300 00
Books, elementary
3,000 00
Books, High School
2,000 00
Laboratory
3,500 00
Pianos .
1,250 00
Equipment
300 00
$389,400 00
Cemetery Department.
Receiving tomb
$2,000 00
Old tomb
20 00
House
500 00
Land
5,000 00
Implements
100 00
$7,620 00
Police Department.
Police station
$3,300 00
Ambulance and garage
3,000 00
Safe
100 00
Three desks, II chairs . Cabinet
100 00
84 00
Typewriter
60 00
Public statues
10 00
Equipment for officers
383 00
Lungmotor
130 00
$7,167 00
I 2
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Street Watering Department.
Two watering carts
$400 00
Oil wagon .
600 00
Pump .
.
50 00
$1,050 00
Highway Department.
Stone crusher plant
$5,000 00
Steam road roller
3,000 00
Storage building, stable and land, State road
8,500 00
Gravel bank (Marblehead) .
500 00
Locker building (Marblehead)
75 00
Road machine
250 00
Water cart
200 00
Two-horse wagon
200 00
Street sweepers
300 00
Ten snow plows
500 00
Gutter plows
75 00
Sand (stored).
300 00
Horse, harness, buggy, sleigh, pung, blankets,
350 00
Equipment and supplies
580 00
Six horses, harness, etc.
2,500 00
Tip carts
500 00
Pungs .
350 00
Crushed stone at yard .
400 00
$23,580 00 -
Assessors' Department.
Plans and maps
$3,000 00
Safe
90 co
Chairs
50 00
Desk
25 00
Table
25 00
Cabinet and cards
55 00
$3,245 00
Park Department.
Land, Blaney's Beach Reservation
$38,303 00
Buildings, Blaney's Beach Reservation
7,500 00
Land, Monument Avenue Reservation
24,997 00
Land, Paradise Road Playground
15,205 00
Building, Paradise Road Playground .
300 00
Building, Jackson Park
300 00
Jackson Park
10,000 00
Phillips Park
8,000 00
Equipment and tools
308 60
Office furniture
67 00
Signs, wire and tank
45 00
Bubble fountains
100 00
$105,125 60
Health Department.
Dory and fittings .
$15 00
Tools
25 00
Hospital and ambulance
2,800 00
Household goods .
25 00
Carriage shed
50 00
Generators
100 00
Office furnishings
250 00
Milk inspection outfit
35 00
·
$3,300 00
13
INVENTORY OF PUBLIC PROPERTY.
1920]
Moth Department.
Building
$135 00
Power sprayer and hose
1,200 00
Ladders
59 00
Small power sprayer
273 00
Insecticides .
87 00
Tools, etc.
268 00
$2,022 00
Poor Department.
Safe
.
.
$35 00
Furniture
35 00
$70 00
Fire Department.
Engine house and land, New Ocean street
$7,000 00
Ladder truck and equipment
7,000 00
Supply wagon
200 00
Fire alarm system
8,920 00
Harness, blankets, etc.
50 00
Furniture and bedding
300 00
Combination pumping outfit and equipment
8,200 00
Service car
600 00
$32,270 00
Phillips Beach House.
Chemical house and land
$14,000 00
Auto Combination A and equipment
3,575 00
Horse drawn chemical .
500 00
Blankets, harness, etc. .
50 00
Furniture and bedding
75 00
Tire shoes and inner tubes
50 00
-
$18,250 00
Hose.
Hose reel and supplies at Essex street car barn .
$200 00
Three thousand seven hundred feet of 23-inch hose
3,130 00
Five hundred feet of 34-inch hose
200 00
Seven hundred feet of 23-inch poor hose
$3,530 00
Water Department.
Water mains and standpipes
· $173,881 05
Land on Pine street
5,000 00
Twenty thousand feet West brook
1,000 00
Ten acres, Thompson's meadow
1,000 00
Work shop and garage
2.000 00
Auto truck
100 00
Office furniture
700 00
Two thousand sixty-eight meters
19.131 25
Stock on hand .
5,000 00
$207,812 30
·
.
14
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Sewer Department.
Pumping station
$17,000 00
Pumping plant
12,000 00
Land
5,000 00
Office furniture
350 00
Tools and equipment
500 00
$34,850 00
Engineering Department.
Instruments and tools
$457 00
Typewriter
100 00
Furniture
140 00
Supplies
50 00
$747 00
Summary.
Miscellaneous
$89,420 00
School ,
389,400 00
Cemetery
7,620 00
Police
7,167 00
Street watering
1,050 00
Highway
23,580 00
Assessors
3,245 00
Park
105,125 60
Health
3,300 00
Moth
2,022 00
Poor
70 00
Fire
54,050 00
Water
207,812 30
Sewer
34,850 00
Engineering .
747 00
$929,458 90
15
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1920]
.
Town Clerk's Records.
Special Town Meeting, January 7, 1920. TOWN WARRANT.
ESSEX, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott in said County, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall in said Swampscott, on Wednesday, the seventh day of January, 1920, at 8 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz. :
ARTICLE I. To hear and act on the report of the Machon School Building Committee.
ART. 2. To see if the town will vote an additional sum of money for the proposed Machon School building and make appropriation for the same.
ART. 3. To appropriate and raise, by borrowing or otherwise, such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for any or all of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing article.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Post Offices, and three other public and con- spicuous places in the town, seven days before the day appointed for said meeting.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this nineteenth day of December, A. D., 1919.
HENRY S. BALDWIN, GRANT S. HILTON, Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest :
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Return on the Warrant.
Pursuant to the within warrant to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott by posting attested copies of said warrant at the Town Hall, Post Offices and three other public and conspicuous places in Swampscott on Monday, December 29th, 1919, the posting of said notices being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.
FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Special Town eeting, January 7, 1920.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the voters assembled at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening, January 7th, 1920. There were less than one hundred voters present.
Voted, To adjourn to Thursday evening, January 22, 1920, at 8 o'clock.
Attest : GEORGE T. TILL, Town Clerk.
16
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Adjourned Special Town Meeting, January 22, 1920.
In accordance with the adjournment, the voters of the town assembled at the Town Hall on Thursday evening, January 22, 1920. There were more than one hundred voters present.
Daniel F. Knowlton, Moderator, called the meeting to order at 8.20 o'clock.
The warrant calling the meeting and the return thereon were read by the Town Clerk.
The report of the Machon School Building Committee was read by John Vannevar, Chairman.
Machon School Building Committee Report.
Read January 7 and January 22, 1920; filed January 22, 1920.
To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott:
After two attempts to get bids that would enable it to proceed with the construction of the proposed Machon School building with an assurance that it could be completed within the appropriation of $90,000, your committee finds it necessary to come before the town for further instructions.
Your committee does not intend to tire you with unnecessary details nor take up your time by entering into a discussion of the various ele- ments which are making building projects extremely difficult at this time. The issue with the committee has been well defined, and it has earnestly sought to secure contracts which would enable it to proceed with a building much needed by the school department, not only for the addi- tional room which it would provide but also to furnish attractive and healthful quarters for those children who now are obliged to use the old structure.
At a special town meeting on September 25, 1919, the voters accepted and adopted a report of the finance committee, which proposed the erec- tion of a school building according to plans and specifications submitted by William H. McLean, a Boston architect, who presented a guarantee, in the form of his personal bond for $10,000, that bidders would come forward with figures which would enable the committee to erect and equip the building within the sum of $90,000, the amount which was accordingly appropriated.
The method of procedure was somewhat unusual, in that the town took no part in the preliminary details nor left the committee with optional power. The questions of site, size and character of building, architect and amount of appropriation, were matters arranged in recommendations of the finance committee, before the town had taken any initial action, or disposed of a report of a site committee which it had duly appointed to investigate the question of a location for a proposed new building at an earlier town meeting.
The object, presumably, was to facilitate action and enable an early start upon a building that is very much needed by the school authorities. But unfortunately certain contingencies arose that have made it impossible for the committee to proceed further without supplementary action on the part of the town, contingencies that have served to delay rather than facilitate progress.
Four days after the special town meeting, on September 29, your com- mittee assembled for the first time and organized with Dr. John Vannevar as chairman and Arthur W. Stubbs as secretary. The vote of the town accepted and adopted plans and specifications, upon which a number of minor alterations were to be made, of a school building erected in the town of Concord, Massachusetts. The committee met in the expectation and belief that the architect would be in a position to deliver plans and specifications before the expiration of the time involved in immediately advertising for bids. The architect, however, said he would need some time, and after some discussion agreed that he would be able to submit
17
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
1920]
them in time for prospective bidders to figure on them before October 18, the date set for receiving and opening the bids. Mr. McLean failed to have them ready and at a meeting on October 20, it was voted to extend the time for opening bids one week, and this announcement was forthwith published in the daily papers, as had been the call for bids. The plans and specifications did not reach the committee until November 10, six weeks after its first meeting, and the time was again extended. On November 24, two weeks later and long after the committee had hoped to begin operations, bids were received and opened. In the meanwhile, upon the request of the committee, the architect had agreed to extend the time of his bond to the date of the opening of bids.
Although calls for bids were advertised in both local papers and in one Boston daily, only one bid for the general contract was received. The figures were from C. H. Cunningham & Son Company and were for $85,450, less the stone excavation. In conjunction with the lowest bids for heating and ventilating, plumbing and lighting, together with the estimated cost of equipment, the architect's fees, grading, walks, sewer, and a minimum contingent fund, the cost of the proposed building would reach approximately $121,000, and your committee had no other course than to reject all bids and advertise for new. These were received and opened on December 11. They included no bids for the general contract and left your committee entirely at sea. At a subsequent meeting all the second bids were rejected and it was voted to go to the town for further instructions.
Your committee has nothing to offer in the way of recommendations, believing that a discussion of the question on the floor of the Town Hall will best bring out the wishes of the citizens and result in a plan of action that will assure the construction of a schoolhouse for the people of this district. There are only two logical conclusions to be reached by the failure of contractors to bid for the general contract. The amount of the appropriation was either so small that they could not find a way to profitably bid on the project, or the very much unsettled state of the material and labor market made it an entirely unsafe speculation.
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