USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1876 to 1950, Volume II > Part 9
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"Section 2: The members so appointed shall qualify in the same manner as is usual for town officers or committees and shall serve for a term of one year, or until their successors are duly appointed and qualified.
"Section 3: The said committee within seven days of their appointment shall meet and organize by electing from their own number a chairman and a clerk, each of whom shall perform the usual duties of such officers. The committee shall hold at least one public hearing prior to each town meeting the warrant for which contains an article or articles calling for the appropriation or expen- diture of town funds or for the disposition of any property of the town at a
73
ANNALS of SUTTON
place and hour prescribed by them on or before the Saturday next prior to such town meeting.
"Section 4: It shall be the duty of the organized committee, within the term of its tenure, to consider all articles in any town warrant which calls for the appropriation or expenditure of moneys, or for the disposition of property of the town, and (at the town meeting at which such articles are to be considered), to report its recommendations thereon. When any vacancy or vacancies occur in the committee, then, forthwith, the remaining members shall by appointment fill such vacancy or vacancies. In event of their failure so to do for fifteen days, then it shall be the duty of the Selectmen at once to make the necessary appoint- ments for the remainder of the term."
November 4-A flood caused much damage in the eastern section of Sutton.
After a five-inch rainfall in eight hours, the dams at Woodbury Village and at the Houghton Grist Mill were washed away during the morning. At noon the Drapery Rod Co. dam gave way, the water sweeping the valley to the Blackstone River, tearing out the road at Woodbury's and the Dudley Shuttle Shop dam and the bridge on the Worcester-Providence highway.
1927
November 19-Voted unanimously, that for the purpose of providing funds for repairing the damage done to the public ways by the recent flood, the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen be and hereby is authorized to borrow, under the provision of the General Laws, a sum of money not exceed- ing $15,000.
1932
February 1-On motion of Maude Maclaren, voted that the moderator ap- point a committee to have the History of Sutton brought up to date and report progress at future meetings.
Appointed were: Ella M. Hartness, Chairman; Gertrude D. Chase, John C. Dudley, Charles P. King and E. Florence Freeland.
1933
February 6-Voted on motion of Wallace F. King that the Road Commis- sioner be elected by ballot at the next Annual Town Meeting.
1935
February 4- The sum of $450 from the Surplus War Bonus Fund was appro- priated for the establishment of a public playground and a committee of seven, including the Selectmen and four others appointed by the moderator, were empowered to negotiate the same. Appointed were Daniel Smith, John Dudley, Edward MacLaren and Frank Freeland.
1936
March 18-This year's flood caused the greatest damage in Manchaug Village.
After heavy rains, water overflowed behind the No. 2 mill, undermining and wrecking sections of it. 2000 heavy bales of stock were washed from the ware- house and carried down to "The Flats". Two bridges along the highway also
74
HISTORY of SUTTON
were torn out, making it necessary to construct temporary roads, while extensive repairs were made.
1938
February 7-Voted, on motion of Nelson Gerber, that the taxpayers be allowed to work on the public roads in payment of their taxes, at least one-half of the amount earned to be applied towards their taxes.
September 21-The Great Hurricane.
The usual Fall rains began about September 14, and after several days of almost constant downpour, the ground was well saturated. The road-drains were severely taxed and the overflow was a problem.
No one was particularly disturbed, however, and decided it was the usual "line-storm".
On the afternoon of September 21, a bus load of happy children rode to Worcester for an afternoon of pleasure, and the ladies went to their sewing meeting. Early in the afternoon, a few people heard a strange warning on the radio: "Hurricane approaching." No one seemed anxious. "We never have hurricanes. It cannot happen here."
Suddenly, in mid-afternoon, came a queer, eerie silence, a quick, sharp, frightened cry of a bird, an orange glow, and a suffocating anxiety, an eclipse- like darkness-and silence.
Then the trees began to turn their tops and the roar began. Pandemonium followed. Huge elms, many years old, rocked back and forth and fell over high- ways and houses. Roofs blew off like paper, electric light poles splintered, and three church steeples in town were destroyed. The terrific roar of the wind and the crashing of the debris was indescribable. People saw the contents of their attics blowing over the fields and wondered when they would be taken away with the rest of the house. Most of the lovely old hemlocks in Purgatory, pride of the Reservation, were destroyed, as well as apple orchards and wood lots everywhere, in the path of the storm. Barns were severely affected and in West Sutton and elsewhere, the cows were killed by the roof collapse.
About seven o'clock, the roar began to subside. People reached home with difficulty, and the rescue workers began their long, hard task. No human lives were lost and there was no fire, but the destruction of property cannot be estimated.
About eleven o'clock that night, the rain ceased and the welcome silence returned under a starlit sky.
1939
February 6-Voted that the election of town officers and the annual meeting to be held in the first Saturday in February instead of the first Monday in February as at present.
Report of the Committee on Crowded Conditions in the High School:
Voted on motion of Francis O'Mara that the Board of Selectmen appoint a committee to investigate the crowded condition at the high school, this com- mittee to report at the next annual meeting or at some special meeting prior to that time.
75
ANNALS of SUTTON
1940
February 3-The committee was given an extension of time for further inves- tigation and some new members were added to the original committee.
August 2-At this special meeting, a mimeographed report was given each voter from which the following is quoted: "By the decision of the voters of Sutton at the Annual Town Meeting in Feb. 1940, a committee of 29 members was appointed to investigate the crowded conditions of the High School. The members after careful consideration found these conditions needing immediate improvement :
"1. Lack of sufficient heat.
"2. Too crowded seating and poor ventilation.
"3. Lack of equipment for training in science.
"The general committee agreed with the Superintendent on the advisability of consolidation of all the 7th and 8th grades."
Three general plans of building construction were outlined in this report, to correct the poor conditions, and probable estimates of costs were noted,
At this meeting it was voted to appropriate $200 to pay for architects' plans and definite estimates on the three plans suggested.
October 22-Mr. Ernest Sibley of Litchfield, Conn., an architect and specialist in the designing of school buildings, met with the committee and agreed to submit plans at the nominal fee of $200. These were presented at a committee meeting, December 10, 1940. They included plans for using the old building, with repairs and additions, and also designs for a new building with and with- out a gymnasium, the estimated costs ranging from $43,000 to $120,750. Sixteen of the twenty-eight members of the committee were present at this meeting. Superintendent Harris and members of the School Board gave generously of their time, as did Mr. Sibley. Final drawings were given to the committee, January 22, 1941.
The findings of the committee were reported to the voters at the Annual Town Meeting, February 1, 1941. No action was taken.
1943
The Town Report for the year of 1943 was dedicated to Frank E. Dodge, a Town Official for many years, who died October 18, 1943.
"The sympathetic understanding and friendly cooperation he extended to all who sought his help, will live in the memory of his townsmen. To his town and community, he gave his best.
"To this able, conscientious, and considerate public servant, this yearly record of his Town's transaction is dedicated."
1945
February 3- The sum of $400 was voted to cover the cost of the installation of a State approved system of bookkeeping.
A gift of $1000, to be known as the Lombard Memorial Fund in memory of Herbert E. and Frank A. Lombard, was accepted, the income to be expended for books in sympathetic interpretation of the history and culture of other Peoples, especially of Eastern Asia, to be placed in library of the Sutton High School.
76
HISTORY of SUTTON
March 3-Voted, on motion of Fred B. Clark, to name the Triangle (so called) in Manchaug, "Mateychuk Triangle", in honor of John Mateychuk, first boy for the Manchaug Area to die in his country's service in World War II.
SUTTON MEMORIAL SCHOOL
April 29, 1941-On motion of A. G. Kesseli it was voted that the Selectmen be authorized and requested to purchase in the name and behalf of the Town for public purposes a tract of land situated at Woodbury Corner, so called, in the Town of Sutton .. . and that the sum of $1100 be appropriated for such purchase from the Surplus War Bonus Fund now in the treasury.
April 29, 1941-Voted on motion of Gordon Humes that the matter of building a new schoolhouse be placed in the hands of a committee of seven, to be appointed by the Moderator, and that such committee be authorized to secure plans and specifications from architects, to advertise for bids for the construction of the building, or any part thereof, to make a contract or contracts for the erection of the building, or any part thereof, and to do all other things incidental or which in the judgment of the committee may be necessary to the proper completion of the building.
The seven members appointed were:
William Keeler Daniel S. Smith Frank E. Dodge
Howard F. Barnett Wendell P. Jones George E. Plante
Sidney Hutchinson
Oct. 1944 Anton G. Kesseli appointed; Frank E. Dodge, dec.
Feb. 2, 1946 Carl F. Lund appointed; William Keeler, dec.
Feb. 17, 1947 Edward Maclaren appointed; Wendell Jones, res.
Two new members added: James A. Smith, George H. Johnson.
Jan. 18, 1949 Mrs. Betty Windle appointed; Carl F. Lund, dec. Feb. 20, 1949 Harold L. Maclaren appointed; Howard Barnett, res.
Chairmen: Wendell P. Jones, April 1941-January 16, 1947; Anton G. Kesseli, January 16, 1947-November 14, 1947; Edward W. Maclaren November 24, 1947- Vice-Chairman: Sidney G. Hutchinson, January 16, 1947- Clerk: Daniel S. Smith, April 1941-
February 7, 1942-At the annual meeting the Building Committee of seven submitted a report of the year's work. It was stated that at the meeting of the Committee on August 15, 1941, Franklyn R. Williams of Worcester was chosen as architect and that an agreement had been signed between the Town of Sutton and Mr. Williams by the Committee. The secretary had on display a picture of the proposed building and presented the details of its plan.
February 6, 1943-The Building Committee reported as follows: "After obtaining the plans and picture of the proposed new high school building (ex- hibited at the last annual Town Meeting), the committee felt that further expenditure of money for clearing and draining land for the building was unwise under present unsettled conditions. We do feel, however, that sufficient headway has been made to place our building among the first ones to be built after the war conditions have been settled.
"We call your attention to the fact that $16,096.67 are in the treasury at the present time, and we are sponsoring an article at this meeting which asks for an appropriation of $15,000. ... "
77
ANNALS of SUTTON
February 15, 1947-The following is an abstract of a report, read at the annual meeting: "The High School Building Committee has met on several occasions. The building plans are now ready.
"We, as a committee, have tried to choose a set of plans that would be for the common good of the most people. First of all, a proper school to meet the needs of the community for sometime to come. It is expensive to add on, once a building has been completed. In the second place, the building is so designed that it can be used by other groups than the School Department as long as that use does not interfere with the school system. We have planned this building with a gymnasium that can be used by all Town groups and an auditorium of suitable size to meet the demands of the people. The Town Hall has been much too small to meet the demands placed upon it on several occasions this past year.
"The school population has increased this year in the Town of Sutton. The present schools are taxed above capacity. This is especially true in Manchaug and in Wilkinsonville. This increase is only a forerunner of what we can expect every year for some time to come. This condition being true, we must as a Town, speed up action toward the completion of the new building, which will relieve the congestion at Manchaug in the seventh and eighth grades and also at Wilkinsonville in the same grades. In other words, every student from the seventh grade through High School will have full advantage of the new building.
"Following is a brief description of the building as planned: On the basement floor will be located a gymnasium with a standard size basketball floor, which can be used for banquets, proms, etc., with a bleacher seating capacity of 360. In the main portion of the building will be located a domestic science room, with a kitchen and lunch counter and facilities for a cafeteria. A manual training room with a small shop attached will be at the other end of the building with a dining hall in the center for those who bring lunches. Also located on the basement floor will be shower rooms and locker rooms for girls on one side and the same for boys on the other side.
"On the first floor are six classroms, two with 25 seats, two with 35 seats and two with 40 seats. On the second floor will be a classroom with 40 seats, a large combination library and study room, a science laboratory with six sinks and a fume hood and a lecture room combined, a music room, a typewriting room and a bookkeeping room. The building is designed to accommodate 360 pupils."
NOTE .- Because of the cost, it was decided to omit the auditorium and to use the combination gymnasium and auditorium. The seating capacity of the gymnasium is 500 with additional bleacher capacity of 360.
"The exits and entrances to the building are so arranged that the gymnasium or auditorium or the main building can be used individually without opening other sections of the building."
APPROPRIATIONS
1941
$ 5,000.00
1946
15,000.00
1942
12,500.00
1947
10,000.00
1943
15,000.00
1948
15,000.00
1944
15,000.00
1949
15,000.00
1945
15,000.00
Total
$117,500.00
78
HISTORY of SUTTON
Appropriations through transfer of funds:
February 15, 1947 $4750 from sale of Town Farm.
January 28, 1948 Surplus Bonus Fund with accumulations.
$3825 from sale of district schoolhouses and the Pincenneault House.
October 19, 1950 $7000 from available funds in the Treasury.
August 2, 1951 $300 from available funds in the Treasury.
February 15, 1947-Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to petition the Massachusetts Legislature for permission to borrow $225,000 over and above the legal borrowing capacity of the Town, said money to be used for the purpose of building a new High School.
February 15, 1947-Voted that the supervision and control of the land pur- chased for the Athletic Field be transferred to the School Committee, said land to be used in part as the site for the new school.
June 24, 1949-Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $430,000 for the purpose of constructing and originally equipping and furnishing a schoolhouse and to meet said appropriation that $101,407.47 be appropriated from the School Building Fund, $3,592.53 from Surplus Revenue, and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow $325,000 and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor, payable in not more than 20 years. Two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars of the loan hereby author- ized is under the authority of and in accordance with the provisions of the Acts of 1949, and $100,000 of the amount authorized to be borrowed is under authority of and in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws.
The present School Building Committee, already appointed, is hereby author- ized to enter into contracts and do all things necessary to accomplish the con- struction, furnishing and equipping of the said building. The said Committee is also directed to make application for reimbursement to the Town from the Commonwealth in accordance with the provisions of the Acts of 1948.
General Contract for Building
$391,331.56
Special Contracts
Well and Special Wiring
1,777.40
Architect's Fees
29,459.15
Engineering
364.00
Equipment .
30,523.64
Site Developments
12,195.25
Other Costs
1,846.30
Total Cost
$467,497.30
State Reimbursement
$233,396.64
The work was substantially completed November 1, 1950. The building was accepted by the Town, May 7, 1951. The final payment to Contractor, July 10, 1951.
79
ANNALS of SUTTON
CORNERSTONE LAYING SUTTON MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL November 13, 1949 2:30 P.M.
Master of Ceremonies
Edward W. Maclaren Chairman of School Building Committee and Chairman of Sutton School Committee
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
Led by Mr. Mirliani Rev. Lionel R. Goddu
Invocation
Welcome
James A. Smith Chairman, Board of Selectmen
Sutton School Greetings
J. J. Morgan Superintendent of Schools Joseph A. Sullivan Principal of Sutton High School Sutton High School Glee Club Directed by Frederick S. Mirliani
"Send Out Thy Light" 2
"Fairest Lord Jesus" 5
Memorial Service
Commander Roland Picard John Mateychuk Post, A. L. 390 Commander Francis Silum Dudley-Gendron Post, A. L. 414
Memorial Prayer
Rev. Albert F. Greene
Corner Stone Laying Introduction of
Mr. Franklyn R. Williams, Architect Mr. R. A. Bail, Contractor Mr. L. R. Bail, Supt. of Construction
Setting of Box
George E. Plante, A. G. Kesseli, Sidney Hutchinson Members of Building Committee
Placing of the Contents in the Box
Placing of Mortar
Daniel S. Smith Past Comdr. John Mooskian Dudley-Gendron Post Commander Roland Picard John Mateychuk Post
"America the Beautiful"
Benediction
Taps
Led by Mr. Mirliani Rev. Edgar G. Wolfe Harold F. Smith Class of '50
(List of articles placed in the box: Names of Committee for purchasing original playground site.
Names and report of Committee for purchasing building site which is now added to the playground site.
Pictures of the schools to be closed, Gen. Rufus Putnam and Town Hall, South Sutton School, the present High School and pictures of this building to date.
History of the John Mateychuk Post and Auxiliary and the Dudley-Gendron Post and Auxiliary of the American Legion. Names of the Veterans of World War II.
Names of the School children of Sutton.
A sample of record cards kept by the Sutton School Department.
The 1948 Town Report of Sutton. The latest Valuation List of Sutton.
The latest edition of the names of the men and women of Sutton.)
80
HISTORY of SUTTON
DEDICATION PROGRAM
November 12, 1950 3:00 P.M.
Master of Ceremonies
Daniel S. Smith 2:45-3:00 P. M.
Organ Selections Posting of Colors
Rev. Lionel F. Goddu
"Send Out Thy Light"
High School Chorus Rev. G. Edgar Wolfe
Address
Admiral Louis Denfield High School Chorus
"Prayer of Thanksgiving"
"Alma Mater"
Recognition of Gifts
E. W. Maclaren
Silent Prayer in Memory of Departed Veterans
Taps
Harold Smith, Robert Girard Chorus, Audience
"Star-Spangled Banner"
Benediction
Rev. G. Edgar Wolfe
Organ Selections. Retiring of Colors.
USHERS
Frank H. Bullard
Arthur E. King Earl P. Briggs
Alexis J. Chausse
James J. Casey
J. Alvin Eaton Harold F. Whittier
Frank A. Freeland
This building is dedicated to the children of Sutton in memory of the young men and women of Sutton who served their country in time of war, in order that the free institutions of this country, as symbolized in the Sutton Memorial School, may survive and prosper.
1945
March 3-Report of Committee to Recommend a List of Names for Public Roads in Sutton :
"In recent years road-naming in Sutton has been a merry free-for-all in which newcomers and non-residents have played a conspicuous part. Many public roads have been given three different names and some, perhaps, more. Most of the new names have been bestowed without rhyme or reason. The resulting con- fusion and uncertainty besides causing endless annoyance, in many cases made public records misleading and dangerous. To remedy this condition as far as possible this committee was appointed, but so far as the past is concerned we must remember that the public records cannot be wiped out.
"In selecting a name your committee has been influenced by historical con- siderations, public records and the wishes of those persons who live or own real estate in the immediate neighborhood. In many cases any one of two or three names seemed to be appropriate. That the name recommended has in every instance been the best from all points of view we, of course, do not claim, but we do feel that every name suggested has some reason for existence.
"At any rate, as a result of the work of this committee, and of the action of the voters upon our recommendations, no road in the future should have more than one name and this will be a relief and a godsend to many.
"A list of the names recommended by us is attached and made a part of this report which is submitted as a substitute for the one heretofore presented.
J. Fred Humes, John F. Freeland, John C. Dudley, Committee
Invocation
Dedicatory Prayer
81
ANNALS of SUTTON
ROAD NAMES AS VOTED AT TOWN MEETING March 3, 1945 District 1
From Oxford Line through West Sutton to Northbridge Line Central Turnpike
From Douglas Road South and East to Waters Farm Waters Road
From West Sutton South to Douglas Line Douglas Road
From West Sutton North and East to Boston Road Town Farm Road
From West Sutton North East via Sutton Center to Wilkinsonville Boston Road
From West Sutton Cemetery Northeast to Millbury Line West Sutton Road
From West Sutton School House Southeast to Manchaug Manchaug Road
From Manchaug Road East via Break Neck to Northbridge Line Mendon Road
From Mendon Road South to Manchaug Road Old Mill Road
From Central Turnpike to Mendon Road Josefson Avenue
From Boston Road South and East to Central Turnpike Century Farm Road
From Boston Road East to Century Farm Road Rich Road
From Manchaug Road West to Aldrich Dam Aldrich Lane
From Douglas Road to Oxford Line Douglas Pike
District 2
From Central Turnpike South to Mendon Road Fuller Road
From Woodbury Corner via Putnam Hill to Manchaug Putnam Hill Road
From Lackey Road to Putnam Hill Road Boulster Road
From Putnam Hill Road to Manchaug Road Lackey Road
From Putnam Hill Road to Bennett Farm Bennett Road
From Mendon Road to Putnam Hill Road Medbury Road
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