USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1956 > Part 1
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ANNUAL REPORTS
For The Year 1956
TOW
RATED SEPT
SEAL O
INCOR
n
WICH
ADO
97
TOWN OF
HARWICH
CE
1956 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
HARWICH
T
SEP
PORAT
SEAL OF
INCORPOR
ICO
HARWICH
ADOPTED SEPT. 4.1097
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1956
KENDALL PRINTING CO. FALMOUTH, MASS.
4
Park Commissioners
Emulous E. Hall, Jr.
Term expires March 1959
Reginald P. Kendall (Resigned)
Term expires March 1958
Term expires March 1957
William C. Chase
Term expires March 1957
Water Commissioners
Norman O. Nickerson
Term expires March 1959
Francis J. Hibbert
Harold Thompson
Term expires March 1958 Term expires March 1957
Cemetery Commissioners
Ambrose Nickerson
Term expires March 1959
Rodney O'Brien
John R. S. Handren
Term expires March 1958 Term expires March 1957
Trustees Broadbrooks Free Library
Mildred B. Paine
Term expires March 1959
Hillary M. LeClaire
Term expires March 1958
Charlotte P. Sims
Term expires March 1957
Planning Board
Ralph B. Snow
Term expires March 1961
C. William Johnson
Term expires March 1960
Esther A. Stidstone
Term expires March 1959
Roswell H. Nye
Term expires March 1958
Edwin W. Dybing
Term expires March 1957
Recreation Commissioners
Earle F. Bassett
Term expires March 1961
Alice C. Morris
Term expires March 1960
Forrest Eaton
Term expires March 1959
Raymond H. Grayson
Term expires March 1958
Virginia S. Doane
Term expires March 1957
Charles E. Dunbar (Appointed)
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APPOINTED OFFICERS
Finance Committee
Alfred Carter Carlton E. Chandler Irvin Phipps Henry Higgins
Term expires March 1959
Term expires March 1959 Term expires March 1959 Term expires March 1958 Term expires March 1958 Term expires March 1957
Wilfred Adams (Resigned)
Guy O. Putnam (Appointed)
Thomas Wright (Resigned)
Term expires March 1958
Ralph Cashen, Sr. (Appointed)
Term expires March 1957
Alfred Paine
Term expires March 1957
Asahel E. Drake
Term expires March 1957
George C. Baldwin, Chm.
Term expires March 1957
Registrars of Voters
Cleon S. Crowell, Chm.
Joseph V. Gavin
Helena T. Maguire
Term expires March 1959 Term expires March 1958 Term expires March 1957
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Victor S. Ryder Term expires March 1957
Superintendent of Moth Department
Walter E. Cahoon Term expires March 1957
Inspector of Animals
Hilliard E. Hopkins Term expires March 1957
Inspector of Slaughtering
Hilliard E. Hopkins Term expires March 1957
Surveyor of Wood and Lumber
Roswell H. Nye Term expires March 1957
Wire Inspector
Bradford L. Barrett Term expires March 1957
Building Inspector
Winslow B. Sawyer Term expires March 1957
Plumbing Inspector
Courtenay N. Chase
Term expires March 1957
6
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers
C. Conrad Nickerson Charles S. Hartig
Horace F. Wixon
Term expires March 1957 Term expires March 1957 Term expires March 1957
Protective By-Law Board of Appeals
West Harwich: Member Associate Member
Term expires March 1963 Ralph B. Cummings John C. Tracy, Jr. Term expires 1962 Donald T. Bates Wilbur H. Crowell
Pleasant Lake: Member Associate Member
East Harwich: Member Associate Member
Term expires March 1961 Leland H. McKenney Charles W. Chase
Harwich Port: Member Associate Member
Term expires March 1960 Peter Barber Raymond H. Grayson
Harwich Center: Member Associate Member
Term expires March 1959 Charlotte P. Sims C. Earl Chase
South Harwich: Member Associate Member
North Harwich:
Member Associate Member
Term expires March 1958 Herbert R. Morse Amadee S. Mazzur Term expires March 1957 John S. Raneo William L. Chandler
Veterans' Agent
Harry B. Albro Term expires March 1957
Shellfish Warden
Roger W. Munsey Term expires March 1957
Harbor Masters
Watson J. Small- (Wytchmere Harbor) Term expires March 1957
Rupert P. Nichols- (Allens Harbor)
Term expires March 1957
Roger W. Munsey-(Town) Term expires March 1957
Wharfinger
Joseph L. Ellis
Term expires March 1957
7
Chief of Police
C. Conrad Nickerson Term expires March 1957 Fire Chief and Forest Warden
Charles A. Hall
Term expires March 1957
Town Accountant
Douglas B. Sawyer Term expires March 1959
Civil Defense Director
Charles S. Hartig
Term expires March 1957
Town Counsel
Oscar J. Cahoon Term expires April 1957 Secretary to Selectmen and Assessors
Charlotte W. Morey Term expires March 1957
Clerk-(Town Treasurer, Town Clerk, Tax Collector & Town Accountant)
Dorothy M. Ellis Term expires March 1957
Dog Officer
Hilliard E. Hopkins Term expires March 1957
Health Officer
Dr. F. L. Moore Term expires March 1957
Sanitary Inspector and Collector of Milk Samples
Ernest C. Eldredge Term expires March 1957
Welfare Agent Olive L. Williams
Social Worker Madeline M. Galeckie
Junior Clerk & Typist
Mary L. Snow
Town Nurse Adelyn J. Peabody
Trustees Caleb Chase Fund
Douglas B. Sawyer Norman O. Nickerson Henry F. Smith
Term expires March 1959 Term expires March 1958 Term expires March 1957
8
Town Forest Committee
Doris Doane Donald T. Bates Joseph E. Craffey
Term expires March 1959 Term expires March 1958 Term expires March 1957
Custodian Town Office Building Suso A. Jussila
Registered Land Surveyor Benjamin P. Chase
Custodian Town Dump James L. Smith
9
Report of the Selectmen
In accordance with instructions of the townspeople the Selectmen directed the following projects during the year:
A contract was awarded for two additional jetties and sand fill at Red River beach in South Harwich from Uncle Venies Road to the Chatham line.
The purchase of two new police cruisers was put out to bid and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder-Hall Buick Inc. of Orleans.
A committee of nine persons were appointed to study the conditions and utility of the several town buildings; to determine the advisability of repairing, altering, selling, des- troying or maintaining in their present condition each of these buildings. The committee appointed also made a study of the space needs of each of the town departments. The results of their investigation appear elsewhere in the Town Report.
There was a committee appointed to determine the most satisfactory method of expending the $1,000 for the celebra- tion of July 4, 1956 and likewise a report of this committee appears elsewhere in the Town Report.
Four band concerts were given this past summer at Brooks Park in Harwich. One by the Chatham Band and the other three by the Orleans Band.
The Selectmen have been in touch with the owners and abuttors of the proposed harbor lands to determine their feelings in this matter. We have discussed the proposals with the State Division of Waterways and the Corps of U. S. Army Engineers and have studied various harbors and mar- inas in the Cape area. We feel these projects require addi- tional study and that the facts should be placed before the townspeople to enable them to evaluate the whole picture. In part this is an attempt to improve our facilities for recre- ation in order to present an attractive town. We do not want to defeat that purpose by undertaking projects which will increase the tax rate to an unattractive level. We feel it is possible, with proper planning, to relieve the over-crowded harbors while maintaining a sensible rate.
ALTON E. WALKER, Chairman STEPHEN WEEKES EMULOUS E. HALL -
Harwich Board of Selectmen
10
Report of the Assessors
Valuation of the Town-Dec. 31, 1956
$14,769,750.00
Valuation of the Town-Dec. 31, 1955
14,192,350.00
Increase in valuation
$577,400.00
Valuation of land exclusive of buildings
$2,723,060.00
Valuation of buildings exclusive of land
10,845,470.00
Total Valuation of land & buildings
$13,568,530.00
Valuation of Personal Estate:
Stock in Trade
$54,700.00
Machinery
456,910.00
Live Stock
710.00
All other tangible property
688,900.00
1,201,220.00
$14,769,750.00
Taxes levied :
Tax on Real Estate
$664,857.97
Tax on Personal Property
58,859.78
Tax on Polls
2,436.00
$726,153.75
Tax rate-$49.00 per thousand
Added valuation:
Real Estate
$16,570.00
Taxes on added real estate
811.93
Number of livestock assessed:
Horse
1
Cows
2
Swine
60
Fowl
150
Goats
1
Number of acres of land assessed
7,528.76
Number of dwellings assessed
3,069
11
Recapitulation
Total appropriation as certified by the Town Clerk
$918,117.67
Amount used from Available funds
7,479.38
Overlay Deficits
1,362.11
County Retirement
4,886.41
State Park & Reservations
762.60
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
1,262.89
Mosquito Control
4,959.99
Mosquito Control (underestimate of 1955)
14.95
County Tax
66,298.47
County tax (underestimate of 1955)
7,781.61
Overlay of Current Year
9,000.00
Final Court judgments-land taking
3,423.52
Gross amount to be raised
$1,025,349.60
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
Income Tax
$35,424.73
Corporation taxes
29,132.20
Old Age Tax (Meals)
1,794.84
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
40,048.77
Licenses
4,000.00
General Government
4,000.00
Charities (other than Federal Grants)
8,000.00
Old Age Assistance
(other than Federal Grants)
32,872.44
Veterans' Services
2,955.47
Schools (funds from Income Tax not included)
7,000.00
Public Services (Water)
50,127.56
Court House Rent
1,250.00
Total Estimated Receipts
$216,606.01
Overestimates of previous year: State Parks
$110.46
Amounts taken from Available Funds
82,479.38
$299,195.85
12
Total amount to be raised
$1,025,349.60
Total estimated receipts
and available funds 299,195.85
Net amount to be raised by taxation $726,153.75
Tax on Polls
$2,436.00
Tax on Personal
58,859.78
Tax on Real Estate
664,857.97
$726,153.75
EMULOUS E. HALL, Chairman ALTON E. WALKER STEPHEN WEEKES
Assessors of Harwich
13
TOWN OF HARWICH ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
MARCH 4, 1957
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Barnstable, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Harwich in said County,
Greeting:
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 the High School Auditorium in said Town on Monday, March 4, 1957 at 12 noon then and there to act on Article 1 and afterwards on the following day, Tuesday, March 5, 1957 at 7:30 P.M. to meet in Exchange Hall and act on the remaining articles.
Polls will be open at 12 noon and will close at 8:00 P.M.
Article 1. To Choose on one ballot the following Town Officers and Committees: Moderator, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes for one year; one Selectman, Overseer of Public Welfare and the Board of Health for three years; one Assessor for three years; one Recreation Com- mittee for five years; three Constables for one year; one Trustee of Brooks Library for three years; one Cemetery Com- missioner for three years; one Tree Warden for three years; two School Committee for three years; one Park Commis- sioner for three years; one Park Commissioner for one year; one Water Commissioner for three years and one Planning Board Member for five years.
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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 bor- row money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1957 and to issue a note or notes therefore payable within one year and to re- new 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 1956.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate such sums of money as may be required to defray Town charges for the calendar year of 1957 and to act fully thereon.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate or transfer from unappropriated 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 ap- propriate a sum of money to be used with whatever State and County funds are available under Chapter 90, Road Con- struction and to act fully thereon.
Article 8. To see what action the Town will take in regard to the Herring Fisheries for the year of 1957 and to act fully thereon.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- priate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of holding Band Concerts in the summer of 1957 and to act fully thereon.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to be used under the direction of the Board of Selectmen to properly celebrate and observe July 4, 1957 and to act fully thereon.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) to be expended under the direction of the library trustees for fur- niture and furnishings in the west room of Brooks Free Library on the second floor of Brooks Block, this room to be used for the children's and young people's library and to act fully thereon.
15
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of nine hundred and twenty-five dollars ($925) to be expended under the direction of the library trustees for the necessary carpentry work, painting, lighting and furnishings for the south room in Brooks Free Library on the second floor of Brooks Block, this room to be used as the Art Room for the Rogers Groups and to act fully thereon.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to expend the refunded Dog Tax for the support of Brooks Free Library and to act fully thereon.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars ($950) to purchase a new police cruiser and equipment and to author- ize the Selectmen to trade the 1956 Buick cruiser now owned by the town, the sum received from said trade to be used toward the purchase of the new car and to act fully thereon.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars ($950) to purchase a new police cruiser and equipment and to au- thorize the Selectmen to trade the 1956 Buick cruiser now owned by the town, the sum received from said trade to be used toward the purchase of the new car and to act fully thereon.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of seventy-five hundred dollars ($7,500) for the purpose of purchasing a power wagon type truck for the Fire Department, said truck to replace the 1935 Ford tank truck now in service and to act fully thereon.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200) for the purchase of 300 feet of 21/2 inch double jacket fire hose and 500 feet of 11/2 inch double jacket fire hose and to act fully thereon.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to establish a committee which will study and recommend to the Town the way or ways for meeting the problem of school space needs; the committee shall consist of the five members of the School Committee, as it is constituted from time to time, and five other members, to be appointed within thirty days of this meeting by the Selectmen; and that the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) be raised and appropriated for the expenses of this committee and to act fully thereon.
16
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of thirty-eight hundred dollars ($3,800) for the purchase and installation of a new burner at Harwich High School and to act fully thereon.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to be added to the sum appropriated in 1956 for the purchase and installation of an auxiliary generator and to act fully thereon.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) to be used in planting shade trees along town accepted ways under Chapter 87 and to act fully thereon.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to prepare the proper plans for the purpose of taking by purchase or eminent domain the low lands, lands of low value and where it is necessary for access purposes, the immediate uplands adjoining Andrews River on the south side of Rte. 28 to the ocean for boating and recreational pur- poses and to report at the next annual town meeting of 1958 and to act fully thereon.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to abandon all and any rights that may have been acquired in a way leading from Pleasant Lake Avenue across and by the residence of John J. Rose, Jr. to the residence of Theodore Canto and Philip Perez and to act fully thereon.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase or take by eminent domain the land on the south side of Rte. 28 and east of Herring River, said parcel belonging in part to Judith L. Davis and others. Said property is bounded northerly by the State Highway; easterly and southerly by land of James J. Falvey et ux; easterly by Marshall Siebenmann et ux and Margaret L. Forbes et al Mary T. Forbes; southerly by John L. Doherty et ux and westerly by Herring River, meaning and intending to purchase or take by eminent domain the Davis property and marshland southerly of the State Highway to the upland of John L. Doherty et ux, said parcel of land to be purchased or taken by eminent domain for the purpose of a town landing and harbor facilities and to act fully thereon.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to purchase or take by eminent domain certain swampland, lowland and land of low value, and where it is necessary to access purposes, the immediate upland in the
17
vicinity of Allen Harbor Creek, and north of Lower County Road, for the purpose of protecting the Public Health and recreational purposes, said lands being more particularly bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point in the northerly side line of Lower County Road, which point is 350 feet more or less easterly from the easterly side line of Nehoiden Road, so called; thence running northwesterly 725 feet more or less by lands of Whitehouse Properties Inc. and owners unknown to a point; thence running northeasterly 350 feet more or less by land of owner unknown and land of one Trainer to a point; thence running southeasterly 900 feet more or less by lands of said Trainer, Louis Handler et ux and Frederick Crowell to a point; thence running southerly 500 feet more or less by land of said Crowell and land of Alexander B. Stewart et ux to a point; thence running west- erly by land of said Stewart 250 feet more or less to a point; thence running northwesterly by lands of said Stewart et ux 275 feet more or less to a point; thence running southwest- erly 550 feet more or less by land of said Stewart et ux to Lower County Road; thence running westerly by Lower County Road 200 feet more or less to the point of beginning, as shown on a plan entitled "Proposed Land Taking at Allen's Harbor, Harwich Port", filed with the Board of Selectmen and to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the purpose of dredging Allen's Harbor, being 25% of the cost, providing the State contributes 75% under Chapter 90 or any amendments thereto and to act fully thereon.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) to be used for harbor improvements at Little Round Cove in East Harwich, being 25% of the cost, providing the State con- tributes 75% under Chapter 90 or any amendments thereto and act fully thereon.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to be used in harbor improvements, including dredging, at Wychmere Harbor in Harwich Port, being 25% of the cost, providing the State contributes 75% under Chapter 90 or any amendments thereto and to act fully thereon.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) for the pur- pose of purchasing Christmas decorations for the Town Office Building and to act fully thereon.
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Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) to be ex- pended for recreation and amusement in the form of base- ball and to act fully thereon.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to request the Selectmen that no "Off premise" sign permits will be issued for such signs to be on Town Ways except as may be granted by the Appeal Board and then only when actual hardship has been proved and authorized by the Selectmen of the Town-and to see if the Town will vote to request the Select- men to erect, where needed, directional and street identi- fication signs that will be similar to the signs now used by the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, and to see what sum of money the Town will raise and appropriate for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of eleven thousand dollars ($11,000) for the purpose of constructing a basement for an assembly room, a central heating system and inside toilet facilities in the Recreation Building on Sisson Road and to act fully thereon.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) in promoting Cranberry Harvest days at Harwich, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Harwich Chamber of Commerce and the Harwich Board of Selectmen and to act fully thereon.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) to be used under the direction of the Selectmen to provide skating facilities in the Town of Harwich and to act fully thereon.
Article 35. Providing that the Town shall previously have voted by ballot in favor of fluoridation, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to carry into effect the fluoridation of the Town's water supply and to act fully thereon.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to appoint a committee of seven to study the feasi- bility of building a municipal auditorium and police station. Said committee to report its findings and recommendations at the 1958 Annual Town Meeting. Said committee to pro- vide alternate plans as to location and type of construction and that the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) be ap- propriated which may be spent by the said committee for
19
the hiring of architects and the making of plans and for all other incidental purposes and to act fully thereon.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of forty-five hundred dollars ($4,500) for the purpose of purchasing a new truck for the Highway Department and to authorize the Highway Surveyor to trade the old truck and the sum from same to be used toward the purchase of a new truck and to act fully thereon.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of seven hundred and twenty-five dollars ($725) for the purpose of purchasing a new snow plow for the Highway Department and to act fully thereon.
Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to install a drainage system to take care of the surface water from Cross Street and Pleasant Street and Freeman Street to Route #28 in Har- wich Port and to act fully thereon.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the sale by the Highway Surveyor to the highest bidder under sealed bids, the Stockland Grader now used in the Highway Department and to act fully thereon.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the sale by the Highway Surveyor to the highest bidder under sealed bids, all the iron junk no longer used by the Depart- ment and to act fully thereon.
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the sale by the Highway Surveyor to the highest bidder under sealed bids, the Wisconsin Air Cooled Engine now used in the Highway Department and to act fully thereon.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of sixty-nine hundred dollars ($6,900) for the purchase of a new tractor with a front end loader and to authorize the Highway Surveyor to trade the old Ford tractor with the front end loader and the sum from same to be used toward the purchase of the new apparatus and to act fully thereon.
Article 44. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of four hundred dollars ($400) to extend the sidewalk on the north side of Sisson Road in Harwich from the High School to the residence of Arthur Chase and to act fully thereon.
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Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out Orton Road in South Harwich, leading from South Chatham Road northerly to a turn around and back to South Chatham Road and to act fully thereon.
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