USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1954-1956 > Part 12
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During 1954 Wayland Civil Defense more than proved its worth to the town. Many of the 105 members of the Auxiliary Police saw active duty during the two hurricanes, the drowning in the Sudbury River, and over Hallowe'en week-end. Indeed, Wayland acquired such a reputation for being well policed that Hallowe'en mischief makers gave the town a wide birth. It was even said that there were more cops than kids on the streets both nights of that week-end.
During the hurricane disasters, auxiliary police directed traffic, cleared roads, transmitted emergency messages, aided the Fire Depart- ment, and generally were indispensable. The two CD emergency electric generators were operated almost continuously for ten days to two weeks supplying lights and power to the town hall, the two fire stations and the CD Control Center in the basement of the Library.
The Wayland Auxiliary Police pistol teams stand high in the rankings of The New England Police Revolver League. Four full teams are now shooting two evenings each week (Wednesday and Thursday at 8 P. M.) and there is still room for any one who wants to join in the shooting. The town owns two target revolvers and supplies ammunition at less than one-half the cost.
During the fall of the year the Auxiliary Fire Department was organized with about twelve men starting training every Tuesday evening at the Cochituate fire station. Eventually it is hoped that this force will total fifteen men in each precinct.
Application has been made to the Federal Civil Defense Administra- tion for funds totalling one-half the cost of a CD rescue truck which is to be under the control of the fire department. Members of the depart- ment are attending the state Rescue Training School at Westboro and the Fire Department, with the cooperation of the American Legion, expects to be able to comply fully with the FCDA requirement that for a rescue truck there must be three teams of trained men to man it. Each team consists of eight men and a leader so that the truck can be manned on a 24-hour basis with three shifts.
Also during the year, the Warden Service commenced initial organi- zation. More than 100 ladies in precinct One have already volunteered for this service and it is hoped that an equal number will be enrolled in precinct Two.
Three crystal controlled monitor radio receivers were acquired and installed in the main Control Center, one on the local police frequency,
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one on the local fire department frequency, and one on the state police frequency. In addition the Control Center is provided with a radio transmitter and receiver on the ten-meter radio amateur band for com- munication with the Cochituate control center and with the two-way mobile radio car. This car and equipment were used very effectively during the hurricanes.
During December, the control center in precinct Two was moved from Legion Hall basement to the basement of the Cochituate School. This change was made not for want of any hospitality on the part of the American Legion Post, which has been most cooperative, but to acquire a much more advantageous location. It was found during Hurri- cane Edna, that the basement of Legion Hall was unusable because of flooding. Further, the two-way radio equipment would not function so close to the road. Finally, larger quarters available for exclusive use of Civil Defense were needed. The large room in the basement of the school, with its own outside entrance, answered all purposes nicely.
During 1955 the State Civil Defense Agency is initiating sweeping changes in organization and planning. Wayland is being transferred from the Worcester to the Greater Boston Area, with sector headquarters in Newton. CD planning calls for the evacuation, upon receipt of the Yellow Alert, of all persons within the perimeter bounded roughly by Route 128. Many of these refugees will pass through Wayland on Routes 20 and 30 and must be kept going to assembly areas still further out. These new plans will require revision of our thinking in Wayland, with considerable strengthening of the Auxiliary Police and the welfare and first aid units to cope with altered conditions.
When it is considered that, to stand a reasonable chance of survival, one would have to be in the basement of a reenforced concrete building not closer than 4 to 5 miles from Ground Zero; or under some cover not closer than about 10 miles from Ground Zero, assuming a ten megaton H-bomb (i.e. equivalent of ten million tons of TNT), it is clear that Wayland can no longer be considered a country town, safe from this type of warfare. There would be substantial damage in the towns, and we would have our hands full trying to survive, let alone caring for refugees.
As part of this revised thinking there will be announcements of new plans and programs from time to time in the Town Crier, and the daily papers. We urge that you keep yourself informed of these changes and make your own plans accordingly.
To enroll in Civil Defense, call the Director at EL 8-2535, and ask for an application blank. We need women in the Warden Service, Control Center, First Aid, Canteen. We need men in the Auxiliary Police, Auxiliary Fire Department, Rescue Service, First Aid, and Radiological Monitoring. Licensed radio operators are needed in Com- munications.
REMEMBER, TAKE COVER AND STAY THERE WHEN YOU HEAR THE "RED ALERT" - a series of short blasts on the fire alarm for three minutes. The "ALL CLEAR" is the signal two, repeated three times at two-minute intervals. Tune your radio to CONELRAD, 640 or 1240 on the regular AM dial, for instructions.
W. R. HULBERT, Director.
180
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
The most important events of 1954 were the Hurricanes of August 31 and September 11th.
Our trees caught the full impact of the high winds, the results we experienced.
Then came the huge cleanup program.
Throughout the entire town well over 100 trees along the highways, were either uprooted, broken off, or in such a hazardous condition as to make removal necessary. There were a tremendous number of broken branches left hanging over sidewalks and streets, that were a menace to the public. Under the regulation of State assistance in obtaining funds to do this work, I was limited to the removal of what was considered hazardous. Many torn sections in trees, stubs of broken branches remain, these torn areas and stubs of limbs will be subject to decay, and will be hazardous limbs on trees in the future. Under the State funds these were not allowed to be painted. This will have to be taken care of as soon as possible.
I wish to express my appreciation to the many townspeople who assisted in the early days following the storm.
There were eighteen Norway Maple trees set out this fall.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES L. FULLICK, Tree Warden.
REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
Wayland, Massachusetts January 4, 1955
The Board of Selectmen
Town Hall, Wayland, Massachusetts Dear Sirs:
There were 230 plumbing permits issued in the town of Wayland during the year 1954, for which $1723 was collected and turned over to the town Treasurer.
There were 19 violations of the new plumbing Code. These were corrected, and made to conform with the new plumbing Code of the town of Wayland.
Respectfully submitted,
T. JOHN DALY, Plumbing Inspector for the Town of Wayland.
181
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
Number of Alarms answered by
Cochituate Wayland
Locked in Cellar
1
Garage
1
Pump Out Cellars
1
21
Drowning
2
4
False
8
3
Needless
Call to Wayland
18
Call for Resuscitator
4
Rubbish
1
Accident
1
Leaking Refrigerator
1
Truck
3
Barn
1
Call for Boat
2
2
Motorcycle
1
Motor Boat
1
Television Set
1
Gasoline Motor
1
Woods
3
13
Auto
9
4
Grass
19
14
House
2
3
Oil Burner
4
2
Cat in Tree
14
10
Lost Child
4
2
Dumps
5
Call to Cochituate
9
Tool Shed
1
1
Brush
18
3
Oil Range
1
Old Tree
1
Trailer Truck
2
Town Gravel Pit
1
Call to Framingham
1
Leaves
1
Call to Sudbury
2
2
122
110
The Fire Department has answered more fire alarms this year than in any previous year. Each year, as the town grows in population, the number of fires and other emergency calls increases in proportion. For comparison we list the number of fire-calls for each of the past five years.
1950 -107
1951-145 1952 -171
1953-223
1954-232
182
1
Electric Wires Down
1
1
Stand By
During the month of March two-way radios were installed in Engine 4 at Wayland, Engine 5 at Cochituate and in the Chief's car; and a receiving set was installed in each Fire Station. This radio equipment has greatly increased the efficiency of the Department in saving needless runs of extra equipment to a fire, and in making easier the dispatching of equipment from one fire to another when two fires were in progress at the same time. Since the radios have been operated on the same wave-length as used by the Natick, Framingham and Sud- bury Fire Departments, they also have proven to be invaluable in work- ing out mutual aid problems, and especially in working with the Natick Fire Department, which acts as a clearing-house for telephoned fire calls.
On April 5th the necessary fire alarm and telephone installations to the Central Fire Station at Natick were completed so that the dis- patcher there could handle our fire calls by telephone, sounding an alarm from Box 17 at Cochituate, or Box 61 at Wayland, as the case might require. A loud-speaker was installed on the telephone connected with a microphone in Wayland and Cochituate Stations so that the Natick Dispatcher would know, when he sounded an alarm from Natick, that our fire whistles were blowing.
A red network telephone was installed from each fire station to the Natick Dispatcher's office so that firemen answering an alarm would have a clear circuit to learn the location of the fire.
A resuscitator was purchased in May and after it was demonstrated to the men of both fire companies, and all became familiar with the handling of the equipment, it was assigned to the Wayland Company.
After the danger of grass and woodland fires lessened in early summer, Engine 3 of Cochituate was sent to the Farrar Company of Woodville for an extensive overhauling. This truck was purchased in 1935 and these repairs will mean that several more years of normal use can be expected of it. A new engine was installed. the one hundred gallon booster tank was replaced with a three hundred gallon tank, the chassis was repaired, and the general appearance was improved by a new paint job.
On August 31st the first of the series of three hurricanes hit this area, confronting the Department with many problems. The high winds and falling trees and limbs smashed utility and fire alarm wires into the streets. Since our Department depended entirely on call-men, we were fortunate that most of the men were able to obtain leave-of-absence from their places of employment, to work for the Fire Department. Both Stations were manned throughout the emergency until electric power was restored and our fire alarm circuits repaired.
The emergency work was nearing completion on September 3rd, when both companies responded to a tragic call to the bridge on Pelham Island Road, where two sons of Dr. and Mrs. Howard E. Lind had lost their lives in the river. Our two boats were joined very soon by 13 others from neighboring fire and police departments, as well as the State Police. Dragging operations were interrupted by darkness and bv a severe thunder storm, which struck so suddenly that State Police Officer Alvin Collins was struck by lightning before the boats and equipment could be secured and the personnel could find shelter. (In December, as this report is being prepared, we are glad to report that
183
Trooper Collins has recovered sufficiently to be able to return to light duty at his barracks.)
Early the following morning, this grim task was resumed and the body of the second child was recovered.
The second hurricane of the year, on September 11th, brought a deluge of rain such as scarcely had been known since Noah's time. In less than an hour, puddles became ponds, brooks became rivers and our river a veritable sea. Our Department, though poorly equipped for the job, responded to an incessant torrent of calls, to pump out more than a hundred cellars, including a restaurant, a school, a market and many homes. Anything that would pump water was pressed into service. Two communities were entirely isolated by flood, and boat service was rendered to them. Meanwhile, the alarm system had to be repaired again.
The last hurricane of the year hit only one parting blow as it passed through the town: It brought down a high tension wire across the fire alarm wires on Plain Road, causing considerable damage to fire boxes on that road, and to a mutual aid relay box on State Road East.
In the latter part of October, Mr. William R. Hulbert, head of Civil Defense turned over to the Board of Engineers a list of twelve men, who had signed up as auxiliary firemen. The Board assigned Capt. Francis J. Hartin of the Cochituate Company, as drill-master; and under his able leadership, with the assistance of some of the men of his Company, the auxiliary class has progressed with a twelve-week course. This course covers pump operations, the handling of ladders and hose, the operation of the resuscitator and lighting machine, the function of the fire alarm, and the administration of Fire Department affairs.
In accordance with the provisions of G. L. Chapter 148, the oil storage and oil burner inspections, which have been in progress for the past six years, have continued this year.
During 1954 357 oil storage inspections have been made, and where the oil equipment was found to be in order a permit was issued. 14 installations have been found defective, and permits denied until repairs were made by the owner. Fees collected from new oil burner permits for 1954 have amounted to: $56.50 and have been turned over to the Town.
A contract was awarded to the L. W. Bills Company of Lexington this past year, for the purpose of installing a fire alarm circuit from the Wayland Station to Waltham Road in North Wayland. Eight fire alarm boxes will be installed along this circuit at strategic points; and at its termination it will tie in electrically with the fire alarm boxes of the two new developments at Marshall Terrace and Red Barn Road.
We are aware that certain areas of town are not yet covered in this respect. But the lines of the fire alarm system have been, and will continue to be extended as rapidly as Town finances permit.
A list of all existing fire alarm boxes is published in this report. The Board of Engineers suggests that each citizen of Wayland check this list of boxes, in order to become familiar with the number and location of the box nearest his respective home. It is by far the most positive means of summoning the fire department, defining the location of the call as clearly as possible.
184
LOCATION OF FIRE ALARM BOXES Wayland and Cochituate
12 Pemberton Road near Harrison Street
13 Pemberton Road and Shawmut Avenue
132 Public Bathing Beach, Lake Cochituate
14 Harrison Street
15 Cochituate Grammar School, Main Street
17 Engine House, Cochituate
19 Willard Street at Winter Street
23 Commonwealth Road West at Pemberton Road
24 Commonwealth Road at Main Street
25 Commonwealth Road East at Old Tavern Road
26 West Plain Street at Castle Gate South
261 Edgewood Road
27 Commonwealth Road East at Oak Street
271 Oak Street at Timber Lane
272 Timber Lane at Eden Road
31 East Plain Street at Pollock Road
32 Commonwealth Road East near French Avenue
322 Mitchell Street at West Plain Street
3221 Maguire Road at Pleasant Street
3271
Simpson Road at Emerson Road
3272 Richard Road
3273 Russell Road
3274 Emerson Road at Hawthorne Road
33 Loker Street at Thompson Street
34 Main Street at East Plain Street
36 Commonwealth Road East and East Plain Street
37 Peck Avenue at School Street
38 Old Connecticut Path at West Plain Street
381 Park Lane off Maiden Lane
41 Lake Shore Drive at Beech Street
412 Sycamore Road at Hemlock Road
413 Lake Shore Drive
416 Old Connecticut Path at Pine Ridge Road
42 Pine Ridge Road
414 Main Street at Pond Drive
4142 Lakeview Road
421 Pequot Road at Happy Hollow Road
422 Pequot Road near Juniper Lane
423 Pequot Road - Elementary School
43 Cochituate Road at Happy Hollow Road
431 Rice Spring Lane at Goodman Lane
45 Main Street at Dudley Road
451 Dudley Road at Crest Road
453 Dudley Road
471 Cochituate Road near Fiske Corner
52 State Road at Cochituate Road
521 Wayland High School off Cochituate Road
53 Wayland Grammar School, Cochituate Road
541 Cochituate Road at Woodridge Road
61 Engine House, Wayland
612 Millbrook Road at Nob Hill Road
613 Corner Glen Street and Plain Road
185
621 Corner Clay Pit Hill Road and Plain Road
63 Corner Draper Road and Plain Road
64 Corner Bennett Road and State Road East
642 Corner Spring Hill Road and State Road East
66 Corner Rich Valley Road and State Road East
664 Junction of Old Connecticut Path and State Road East
67 State Road at St. Ann's Church
671 State Road West near Railroad Crossing
71 Concord Road at Bow Road
712
Concord Road at Plain Road
82 Concord Road at Trainingfield Road
831 Concord Road at Glezen Lane
84 Concord Road at Moore Road
841 Concord Road at Lincoln Road
851 Concord Road at Sherman Bridge Road
921 Concord Road at Red Barn Road
922 Marshall Terrace
93 Red Barn Road
Special Signals
1 Daily Test at 5:45 P. M.
2 All Out
3-3-3 Military Call
4-4-4 Boy Scouts
5-5 No School Signal at 7:00 A. M.
7-7 All Call-Firemen to Report to Their Stations
Out of Town Signals
512 Framingham
513 Lincoln
514 Natick
515 Sudbury
516 Weston
At this time, the Board of Engineers would like to extend its thanks and appreciation to the men of the Department for their cooperation; and especially for their having obtained short leaves-of-absence from their regular employment, to staff completely both fire stations until the telephone and fire alarm signal systems were restored to normal use, after the hurricane damage. The board would also like to thank our neighboring towns of Natick, Weston, Framingham, Sudbury and Lin- coln for their mutual aid services; and to thank the Red Cross Canteen Service, the Civil Defense Department, the local police, the police of our neighboring towns, the State Police, the proprietors of certain restaurants and markets, those persons who sent food to the firemen during the emergency period after the hurricanes, and to all citizens, who at various times have helped at the scene of a fire or an accident.
Respectfully submitted,
F. CLIFTON HAYNES, Chief HOMER L. MACDONALD, Assistant Chief FRANK CARTER, Deputy Chief PARKER GROTON, Deputy Chief ERNEST H. DAMON, Engineer
Board of Engineers.
186
REPORT OF THE BUILDING INSPECTOR
The Building Inspection Department submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1954:
Building Permits
39 Alterations
137 New Houses
3 Storage Sheds
17 Garages
1 Produce Stand
1 Porch
1 Greenhouse
1 Pavilion
1 Machine Shop
1 Research Laboratory
Wiring Permits
165 New Houses
48 Alterations
12 Oil Burners
1 Telephone Exchange
6 Dryers
22 Hot Water Heaters
1 Pumping Station
1 School House
1 Produce Stand
3 Ranges
1 Electric Sign
1 Gas Pump
1 Old House
1 Research Laboratory
The total estimated cost of all building permits issued, which includes commercial buildings, new houses, accessory buildings, garages etc., amounted to $2,721,250.00. There were 137 homes built this year which was 43 less than last year's amount.
For the purpose of comparison, a list of figures for the past few years is shown below:
Year
New Houses
Estimated Cost
1950
141
$754,500.00
1951
155
875,000.00
1952
140
1,203,150.00
1953
181
2,128,500.00
1954
137
2,721,250.00
NEW HOUSE DEVELOPMENT BY PRECINCT
Year
Cochituate
Wayland
1950
30
111
1951
62
93
1952
40
101
1953
97
84
1954
43
94
187
The building trend in Wayland has continued this year to favor individual construction needs rather than speculative building. Not only have these individual plans called for the more expensive types of homes but the developers have tended this year to build large and more costly homes than in recent years.
As this report is being prepared in December, three non-residential buildings are nearing completion: The Parmenter Health Center, The new Elementary School on Pequot Road and the addition to the Trini- tarian Congregational Church. Also in this month two new non-resi- dential permits have been issued, one for a machine shop and one for an industrial research laboratory, both on State Road West.
Fifty-seven cases of zoning variations were prepared and brought to the Zoning Board of Appeals for decision. There were fourteen more cases than in the previous year.
Fees collected from both wiring and building permits during 1954 have amounted to $3,802.00 and have been turned over to the Town Treasurer.
The Building Department would like to thank the Town Officials and citizens who have helped in the affairs of this office during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, HOMER L. MACDONALD, Building Inspector.
REPORT OF THE MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
The trees on all existing streets and roadways have been sprayed for the prevention of Gypsy Moth. Due to the increase in traffic, through the town, during the day, we found it beneficial to spray early in the morning. This, we realize may have been annoying, but it was necessary toward successful spraying.
This coming year the State has suggested a helicopter spraying program. A complete survey of the town was requested. A map of all areas which include, poultry, dairy, grazing lands, mink ranches, green- houses, pools containing fish etc., commercial agriculture and stands, fish hatcheries, rest homes, Health Center, and water supplies was sent to the State including the number of acres included in each area.
Early in January the remaining 1953 condemned Dutch Elm diseased trees were removed and destroyed. New samples were taken in July 1954 and sent to Amherst for culture. Forty-three samples were sent and thirty-nine came back as positive Dutch Elm Disease. This program of combating this disease should be continued in order to try to halt the spread of this disease.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. NELSON, Moth Superintendent.
188
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD FOR THE YEAR 1954
The Planning Board has had a very active year, holding forty-nine regular meetings, several special meetings, and numerous field trips. While the rate of subdivision of land in terms of number of lots was somewhat reduced from that of 1953, considerable time was spent in control of the subdivisions which had been approved previous to 1954. Also many lot plans were certified which do not come under the sub- division control law but do require Planning Board signatures, with the result that new building in Wayland continued at a high rate. Sub- divisions approved this year are shown at the end of this report.
Zoning changes in 1954 included the extension of the Limited Com- mercial District to accommodate Raytheon's Engineering Laboratory; the establishment of a new by-law requiring approval of site plans by the Zoning Board of Appeals before issuance of building permits in the Business, Industrial and Limited Commercial Zones; the prohibition of residences in the above-named districts; and the inclusion of additional land in one of the 60,000 square foot Residence Districts.
The assignment of house numbers throughout Town has been com- pleted. A tentative list of numbers was published in the TOWN CRIER, following which corrections have been made with the help of townspeople who notified the Board of errors.
Although it was intended to distribute a final list of street numbers with the Town Report, it has been decided in the interest of having it as accurate as possible to defer publication until completion of the detailed cross checking with the latest census which is nearing completion. The list will be published at the earliest possible date.
Several meetings with the engineers for the Massachusetts Turn- pike Authority have been held to obtain engineering details for the pro- posed Toll Road; and requests for adequate approaches, utilities, drain- age and other engineering features have been made to protect the interests of the Town.
Members of the Planning Board have served on several committees, including the School Site, Regional School, Drainage, Water Meter, and Park and Playground Committees.
The Planning Board is recommending the adoption of a completely revised Business District By-Law, aimed at insuring proper development in Business Districts under modern standards. The Board considers this action of great importance in the process of making the Town By-Laws more consistent with our needs.
Presently in progress are studies of proper land use in the light of the continuing growth of Wayland, watershed and drainage problems, laying out of town roads, acquisition of land for various town uses, and bringing the town By-Laws up to date.
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