USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1953 > Part 1
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE TOWN OFFICERS
HARWICH HIGHWAY DEPT.
777777 777777 777777
MILTON WELT
TOWN OF HARWICH
TO
SEAL OF INCOR
94
ARWICH
19 5 3
ADOPTED SEPT. 4
. 4.1897
1953 ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
HARWICH
THE
ORAT
SEAL OF
INCORPO
IC94
HARWICH
ADOPTED SEPT. 4.1897
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1953
PRINTED BY KENDALL PRINTING CO. FALMOUTH, MASS.
3
Town Officers - 1953
Selectmen, Overseers Public Welfare and Board of Health
Stephen Weekes Alton E. Walker Howard C. Cahoon
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1954
Assessors
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1954
Town Clerk
Term Expires February 1954
Town Treasurer
Term Expires February 1954
Collector of Taxes
Term Expires February 1954
Surveyor of Highways
Alton P. Hall Term Expires February 1954
Walter E. Cahoon
Tree Warden Term Expires February 1954
John H. Paine
Moderator Term Expires February 1954
School Committee
Ephriam G. Nickerson Margaret Leonard
Channing H. Baker
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1954
Constables
C. Conrad Nickerson Charles S. Hartig Horace F. Wixon
Term Expires February 1954 Term Expires February 1954 Term Expires February 1954
Stephen Weekes Alton E. Walker Howard C. Cahoon
Henry K. Bearse
Henry K. Bearse
Leslie V. Nickerson
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Park Commissioners
Emulous E. Hall Jr. Reginald P. Kendall
William C. Chase
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1954
Water Commissioners
Walter E. Cahoon Francis J. Hibbert
Norman O. Nickerson
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1954
Cemetery Commissioners
Henry F. Smith
Carlton Chandler
John R. S. Handren
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1954
Herring Committee
Donald T. Bates
Archilus H. Cahoon
Milton L. Cahoon
Term Expires February 1954 Term Expires February 1954 Term Expires February 1954
Trustees Broadbrooks Free Library
Mildred B. Paine Hillary M. LeClaire Charlotte P. Sims
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1954
Planning Board
Roswell H. Nye Edwin W. Dybing Ralph B. Snow C. William Johnson, chm.
Esther A. Stidstone, sec.
Term Expires February 1958 Term Expires February 1957 Term Expires February 1956
Term Expires February 1955
Term Expires February 1954
Recreation Commissioners
Raymond H. Grayson Virginia S. Doane Earle F. Bassett Priscilla D. Baldwin H. Morrison Mitchell
Term Expires February 1958 Term Expires February 1957 Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1954
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APPOINTED OFFICERS Finance Committee
Marshall Siebenmann, chm. Calvin C. Eldredge (resigned) Irvin R. Phipps
Henry Higgins
James Baldwin
Thomas M. Wright (resigned) C. R. Crosby
H. William Morey George C. Baldwin
Hilliard E. Hopkins (resigned) Robert S. Stearns
Ashael E. Drake
Term Expires February 1956
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955 Term Expires February 1955
Term Expires February 1954
Term Expires February 1954 Term Expires February 1954
Term Expires February 1954 Term Expires February 1954
Registrars of Voters
Cleon S. Crowell, chm. Joseph V. Gavin
Amy B. Davis (resigned)
Helena T. Maguire
Term Expires February 1956 Term Expires February 1955
Term Expires February 1954
Sealer of Weights & Measures
Victor S. Ryder Term Expires February 1954
Superintendent Moth Department
Walter E. Cahoon Term Expires February 1954
Inspector of Animals
Hilliard E. Hopkins Term Expires February 1954
Inspector of Slaughtering
Hilliard E. Hopkins Term Expires February 1954
Surveyor of Wood and Lumber
Roswell H. Nye Term Expires February 1954
Wire Inspector
Bradford L. Barrett Term Expires February 1954
Building Inspector
Winslow B. Sawyer Term Expires February 1954
Plumbing Inspector Courtenay N. Chase
Term Expires February 1954
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Field Drivers and Fence Viewers
C. Conrad Nickerson
Term Expires February 1954
Charles S. Hartig
Horace F. Wixon
Term Expires February 1954 Term Expires February 1954
Building and Fire Prevention By-Law Appeal Board
Charles T. Chase
Term Expires February 1956
Thomas M. Wright (resigned)
Donald Hall
Term Expires February 1955
Protective By-Law Board of Appeals
Peter Barber (Harwich Port) Charlotte Sims (Harwich)
Sheldon Thayer (S. Harwich) Carl Lombard (N. Harwich)
Term Expires February 1960 Term Expires February 1959 Term Expires February 1958 Term Expires February 1957
Francis M. Orchard, chairman (W. Harwich) Donald Bates (Pleasant Lake) E. Gorham Nickerson (E. Harwich)
Term Expires February 1956
Term Expires February 1955
Term Expires February 1954
Veterans' Agent
Harry B. Albro
Term Expires February 1954
Acting Civil Defense Director
H. William Morey (resigned) Howard B. Corey Term Expires February 1954
Shellfish Warden
Roger W. Munsey Term Expires February 1954
Harbor Masters
Watson J. Small- (Wytchmere Harbor) Term Expires February 1954 Rupert P. Nichols- (Allens Harbor) Term Expires February 1954
Roger W. Munsey-(Town) Term Expires February 1954
Chief of Police C. Conrad Nickerson
Fire Chief & Forest Warden Charles A. Hall
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Althea M. Chase
Town Accountant Term Expires February 1956
Town Counsel Oscar J. Cahoon
Secretary to Selectmen & Assessors
Charlotte W. Morey
Term Expires February 1954
Welfare Agent
Olive L. Williams
Social Worker Frances V. Nichols
Junior Clerk Typist Mary L. Snow
Dog Officer
Hilliard E. Hopkins Term Expires February 1954
Health Officer
Dr. F. L. Moore
Term Expires February 1954
Sanitary Inspector & Collector of Milk Samples
Ernest C. Eldredge Term Expires February 1954
Wharfinger
Roger W. Munsey Term Expires February 1954
Town Nurse Adelyn J. Peabody, R.N.
Town Forest Committee
Joseph E. Craffey
Donald T. Bates Doris Doane
Trustees Caleb Chase Fund
Milton Cahoon Henry F. Smith
8
Report of the Selectmen
Harwich is growing with giant strides. Each year the summer population increases, more people and more busi- nesses are coming to our Town. We can expect this growth to continue. Every year Cape Cod is made more easily acces- sible. Your Selectmen are trying to prepare for this influx of people and business. Nothing can stop it; we must be ready for it. We must be constantly alert to guide this growth into channels that will be of the greatest benefit to Harwich. While our Town grows we must be sure it grows in such a way that we lose none of its natural charm and beauty.
The many rules and regulations that the voters have been asked to approve in recent years are not to allow their private lives to be entered into and restricted, but are a necessity to protect our Town from those who would come here to commercialize it and profit from it with no thought of saving its inherent tradition of a quiet and peaceful village.
For some months now the Selectmen have been working at solutions to the town's many problems. Some of these problems have been with us a long time-others are new, and are with us because of the rapid growth of our Town. Not un- like other towns on Cape Cod Harwich's chief problem is the lack of Town owned bathing beaches.
At present, out of the 30,000 feet in shore frontage, the Town owns 860 feet. This is but 3% of the entire salt water beach. With an estimated 10,000 summer population and about 400 people or 4% having private beaches it leaves 9,600 people or 96% to use the Town's beaches. Of course not everyone goes swimming, but the inadequancy of our Town bathing beaches is very evident, and a problem that must be solved if we hope to prosper and continue as a summer resort.
Hoping to enlarge our neighborhood beaches at Pleasant Road, Earle Road and the Camp Ground, and to acquire a large beach area in South Harwich east of Deep Hole Road, we have this past year negotiated with intent to purchase, with many owners of beach property and feel that we have
9
gone a long way at improving our situation. The articles in this year's warrant are the result of our work and negotiation.
The Town of Harwich was exceedingly fortunate in 1953 to receive as a gift from Mrs. Eva Bassett of Harwich Port 200 feet of excellent beach at the foot of Wyndemere Road. We also received this year from Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Nickerson of East Harwich a deed to some 100 feet of beach on Pleasant Bay and we are momentarily expecting a deed from Moss Lippincott for 100 feet of beach in the same area. These parcels are at the foot of Bay Road in East Harwich. To these people who have given so generously we are indeed grateful.
This past year in South Harwich at the foot of Deep Hole Road the State Department of Public Works constructed a jetty 200 feet into Nantucket Sound. Some 1,000 cubic yards of sand were trucked into the beach area west of this jetty. This more or less experiement at building a beach seems to be working out very satisfactorily and we are hopeful that more beach can be built to the east of this area. The State Department of Public Works has promised us their co-opera- tion in this work.
At the present time there is much state wide agitation for state owned beaches on Cape Cod. Although we have done a great deal to provide seashore facilities for our towns- people and our summer visitors, we should do much more, thereby improving the attractiveness of our Town and Com- bating the menace of state control.
However your Selectmen would avoid at all costs picnic tables, hot dog stands or any other commercialization of our Town's Parks and beaches. Every effort must be made to preserve our beaches and to keep them as naturally beautiful as possible.
The problem of off street parking in Harwich Port is not a new problem-it has been with us a long time. We feel that we must find some relief for parking and traffic in this part of our Town. We have talked with the First National Store and with the A & P in regard to a super market for Harwich Port. They are definitely interested and we are hopeful it can be worked out. Our immediate program is to purchase the Phineas O. Baker property which goes through to Pleasant Street and to sell the front on Route 28 with 150 feet depth to some business concern. The remaining land is to be used for parking, entrance to the property from Route 28 and exit to Pleasant Street. Further plans are to purchase land between this property and the Schoolhouse Lot, and a
10
future possibility is to tie in this area with the parking lot behind the Savings Bank and Trust Company. If we can acquire sufficient off street parking we will be able to do away with parking on Route 28 in the summer and thereby elimin- ate a serious traffic hazard.
This program is planned not solely to assist the business section of our town, but also to attempt to provide adequate parking space for the townspeople and our summer residents, and to relieve the traffic congestion.
In an attempt to relieve some of the pressure on our salt water beaches, and also to provide for the public, access to fresh water, the Selectmen have articles in the Warrant cal- ling for the purchase of shore land on Seymours Pond and Long Pond. We believe that these two areas will provide the Town with a beginning for fresh water bathing that can be increased and developed in later years. Perhaps we should discuss at this time the article in the Warrant which calls for the purchase of the Aluisy property in East Harwich. This area comprising some 160 acres of woodland, a large lodge, a cottage, garage and boathouse, also includes the whole of Bucks Pond, part of John Joseph's Pond and various swampy areas. If the voters see fit to purchase this property its devel- opment could be planned over a period of time in whatever way would be most advantageous to the Town. In presenting this article to the voters we are looking to the future; to the time when our fresh water beaches will be as coveted as our salt water beaches are today.
Another article in this year's warrant concerns the pur- chase of some 60 acres of land for recreational purposes north of and adjacent to Brooks Park. This article includes the purchase of the old railroad bed from Oak Street to Route 39. The property consisting mainly of wood and scrubland, is level and should be excellent land for future recreational developement.
The voters are asked this year to extend our Protective By-Law into East Harwich, Harwich Center, Pleasant Lake and North Harwich. With the acceptance of this extension the entire town will be zoned. Although zoning is not a panacea for any town, never-the-less we feel that it has been and will be in the future a benefit to the Town, a means of protection to the townspeople, and a preservation of our way of living here in Harwich.
There is an article in the Warrant this year to purchase the Old Bank Building in Harwich Center for $15,000.00 and to appropriate $15,000.00 to alter and refinish the interior.
11
We feel that this building can be made into excellent and ef- ficient Town Offices with all the necessary rooms and privacy.
In June 1953 the Town borrowed $430,000 in a twenty year bond issue to construct the addition to the Elementary School. The Town pays interest on this loan at 2.7%. Our total bonded debt outstanding on January 1, 1954 was $732,000 with $711,000 for School bonds and $21,000 for Water Bonds.
According to the instructions voted in the 1953 warrant the Selectmen have carried out the following projects:
Elimination of the dangerous intersection of Route 137 and 39 in East Harwich. This work was done by the State Department of Public Works under Chapter 90.
Purchase of a new Police Cruiser. Chase Chevrolet of Chatham was awarded the bid.
Purchase of a new Pumper for the Fire Department. American LaFrance Company was awarded the bid and contract.
Construction of Comfort Station on Bank Street beach. Cape Cod Builders were awarded the bid and contract.
Construction and improvement of Parking Lots at Bank Street beach, Earle Road and Pleasant Road. Fred Crowell was awarded the bid and contract.
Extension of School House Parking Lot in Harwich Port. Fred V. Lawrence of Falmouth was awarded the bid and contract.
Construction of Lothrop Avenue bridge. This work was done by Turner & Breivogel Company and was supervised by the State Department of Public Works who added $2,000 to the Town's appropriation of $4,500.
Fourth of July Celebration. The Selectmen appointed a committee to work with us on this project. The Committee decided on a Band Concert and fire works in Brooks Park. A block dance was held in the School House Parking Lot in Harwich Port. All these events took place the night before the Fourth.
Detailed reports of the various Town Departments appear elsewhere in this book. We wish to thank all those who have contributed this year to the welfare of our Town.
Respectfully submitted,
HOWARD C. CAHOON ALTON E. WALKER STEPHEN WEEKS
Selectmen of Harwich
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Assessors' Report
Valuation of the Town-December 31, 1953
$13,203,960.00
Valuation of the Town-December 31, 1952
12,281,040.00
Increase in valuation $922,920.00
Valuation of land exclusive of buildings
$2,706,170.00
Valuation of buildings exclusive of land
9,415,780.00
Total valuation of land & buildings
$12,121,950.00
Valuation of Personal Estates:
Stock in Trade
$101,050.00
Machinery
52,900.00
Livestock
1,340.70
All other Tangible Property
296,719.30
Total valuation of
Personal Property
$1,082,010.00
$12,121,950.00
1,082,010.00
$13,203,960.00
Taxes Levied :
Tax on Real Estate
$387,902.40
Tax on Personal Property
34,624.32
Tax on Polls
2,310.00
Total taxes
$424,836.72
Tax Rate-$32.00 per Thousand
Added valuation-November 16, 1953:
Real Estate
$6,100.00
Personal Property
1,730.00
$7,830.00
Added valuation-October 16, 1953:
Personal Property $12,150.00
$12,150.00
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Added valuation-December 18, 1953: Real Estate
$700.00
$700.00
Total added valuation
Total tax on added valuation
$20,680.00 $661.76
Number of Livestock Assessed:
Horses 6
Cows
4
Swine
10
Goats
9
Fowl 285
Number of Acres of Land Assessed-9,038.24
Number of Dwellings Assessed-2,683
Recapitulation
Total appropriations as certified by the Town Clerk
$575,321.03
Amount used from Available Funds
117,765.33
Overlay Deficits-1951 & 1952
358.72
State Parks & Reservations
539.88
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
796.27
Mosquito Control-Cape Cod Project
4,298.37
County Tax
59,513.91
Overlay 1952
5,998.00
Barnstable County Retirement System
2,739.57
Gross amount to be raised
$767,331.08
Estimated Receipts
Income Tax
$30,625.93
Corporation Tax
29,752.20
Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise
30,075.73
Old Age Tax (Meals)
2,006.82
Licenses
5,000.00
General Government
9,500.00
Charities (other than Federal Grants)
9,000.00
Old Age Assistance (other than Federal Grants)
43,000.00
Veterans Benefits
4,000.00
Schools
12,473.28
Public Services (water)
48,000.00
Court House Rent
1,250.00
Total estimated receipts
$224,683.96
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Overestimates of previous year: Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project Amounts taken from Available Funds
$45.07 117,765.33
$117,810.40
Total amount to be raised
$767,331.08
Total estimated receipts and available funds
342,494.36
Net amount raised by Taxation
$424,836.72
Tax on Polls
$2,310.00
Personal Property
34,624.32
Real Estate tax
387,902.40
$424,836.72 $424,836.72
ALTON E. WALKER, Chm.
HOWARD C. CAHOON
STEPHEN WEEKES
Assessors of Harwich
15
TOWN OF HARWICH
THE TOY RATED SEPT
E
SEAL OF
ORA
1694
HARWICH
ADOPTED SEPT.
4.1897
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
WARRANT
February 8, 1954 THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASACHUSETTS
Barnstable, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Harwich in said County, Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in elections and town affairs to meet in High School Auditorium in said Town on Monday, Febru- ary 8, 1954 at 7:00 A.M., then and there to act on Article 1 and afterwards on the following day, Tuesday, February 9, 1954 at 7:30 P.M. to meet in Exchange Hall to act on the remaining articles.
Polls will be open at 7:00 A.M. and may close at 2:00 P.M.
Article 1. To choose on one ballot the following Town Offi- cers and Committees: Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes for one year; one Selectman, Overseer of Public Wel- fare and Board of Health for three years; one Assessor for three years; three Herring Committee members for one year; one Recreation Committee member for five years; three Con- stables for one year; one Trustee of Brooks Library for 3 years; one Park Commissioner for three years; Surveyor of Highways
==
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for one year; one Cemetery Commissioner for three years; one Tree Warden for one year; Moderator for one year; one School Committee for three years; one Water Commissioner for three years; and one Planning Board Member for five years.
Article 2. To choose all other Town Officers and Com- mittees.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1954 and to issue a note or notes therefore payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17 Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 4. To hear the report of all Town Officers and Committees for the year of 1953.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required to defray Town charges for the calendar year 1954 and to act fully thereon.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriate available funds in the Treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90, Highway Maintenance, or take any action in relation thereon.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to be used with whatever State and County funds are available under Chapter 90, Road Construction and to act fully thereon.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to accept the gift by deed of a piece of beachland located at the foot of Wyndemere Bluffs Road in Harwich Port more particularly described in a deed of Eva M. Bassett to the Town of Harwich dated October 31, 1953 and recorded in Barnstable County Registry of Deeds-book 867-page 432, and to act fully thereon.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase or take by eminent domain for beach purposes the following described parcel of land at the Camp Ground in Harwich Port: Souther- ly by Nantucket Sound; westerly by Anne I. Tangney; northerly by Zylpha Road, a town way; easterly and north- westerly by Fred S. Sherman et ux; northerly and westerly by William G. Dexter; northerly by Ocean Avenue; easterly by
17
Olive F. Hall et al; northerly by Olive F. Hall et al and Mary Millea et al; westerly by Mary Millea et al; northerly by Atlantc Street; easterly and northerly by George W. Nightin- gale et ux and easterly by Stuart C. Hurlburt et al according to a plan drawn by Chase, Kelley & Sweetser dated Janu- ary 15, 1954 and filed with the Selectmen and being property owned by Ella F. Doane, the Trustees of Ocean Grove Associa- tion and their succesors and owners unknown, and to act fully thereon.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase or take by eminent domain for beach purposes the following described parcel of land in West Harwich: Northerly by John J. Taylor et ux; Alfred W. Jones et ux; easterly by Whitehouse Proper- ties Inc .; southerly by Nantucket Sound and westerly by the Town of Harwich, acording to a plan drawn by Chase, Kel- ley & Sweetser, dated January 15, 1954 and filed with the Board of Selectmen, said land included within the said plan belonging to John J. Taylor et ux under deed reecorded in Barnstable County Registry of Deeds book 716-page 197; Ella F. Doane under deed recorded in Barnstable County Registry of Deeds book 573-page 30; Alfred W. Jones et ux under deed recorded in Barnstable County Registry of Deeds book 704-page 298, book 704-page 296 and owners unknown, and to act fully thereon.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase or take by eminent domain for beach purposes the following described parcels of land in South Harwich: Area A: Southerly by Nantucket Sound; westerly and northerly by the Town of Harwich; southeasterly by Uncle Venies Road. Area B: Southerly by Nantucket Sound; northwesterly by Uncle Venies Road, a town way, and northerly by Uncle Venies Road, a county way; easterly and northerly by Sheila Parker et al; northerly by Bowmars Inc .; Wilbur Nickerson and owners unknown; easterly by the Chatham-Harwich town line. All according to a plan of land drawn by Chase, Kelley & Sweetser dated January 15, 1954 and filed with the Selectmen, and said land included in said plan belonging to the following owners: Carl S. Ell, under deeds recorded in Barnstable County Registry of Deeds book 456-page 439 and book 462- page 447; Bowmars Inc., under certificate of title #11088 registration book 74-page 68; Ruth Keogh Dickinson, certifi- cate of title #3022 land registration book 12-page 162; Brett, Orton and owners unknown; Evelyn M. Case, certificate of title #4086 land registration book 18-page 106; R. Stafford
.
18
Derby certificate of title #5443 land registration book 28- page 123; Frederick B. Walker et al under deed recorded in Barnstable County Registry of Deeds book 477-page 350; the heirs of Jeremiah Walker; Robert Bitzer et ux, certificate of title #2963 land registration book 12-page 103; John C. Bishop et ali, certificate of title #6622 land registration book 38-page 32; Wilbur Nickerson, and owners unknown, and to act fully thereon.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase or take by eminent domain from Clifton B. Russell for beach purposes the following described parcel of land in West Harwich: Southwesterly by Kendall H. Doble et ali; northerly by Clifton B. Russell; easterly by a way and southerly by Nantucket Sound according to a plan drawn by Chase, Kelley & Sweetser, dated January 15, 1954 and filed with the Board of Selectmen, said land included within the said plan being a portion of a parcel of registered land held under certificate #12238 as shown on land court plan #14737, and to act fully thereon.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of seventy-five hundred dollars ($7,500) to be used for the prevention of shore erosion and the devel- opment of the beach facilities at the new beach in South Harwich, and to act fully thereon.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the prevention of shore erosion and the development of beach facilities at the Earle Road Beach in West Harwich and to act fully thereon.
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