USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Winthrop > The history of Winthrop, Massachusetts ; 1630-1952 > Part 25
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In the Fall of 1931, the unemployment situation had become more serious than had been thought likely, although it remained true that Winthrop, being a town of homes without any industry, was relatively much less affected by the depression than were many other towns where mills and factories shut down. Never- theless, although the appropriations of the Soldiers' Welfare Department, and the Public Welfare Department were greatly increased, and the Old Age Assistance Bureau, under State Law, was organized, and immediately put into operation, there were still insufficient funds available. Accordingly, the Winthrop Un- employment Committee was organized under the leadership of Preston B. Churchill and this writer. A meeting was called at the Town Hall and representatives of all the town's organiza- tions were invited to join in this new committee. The purpose
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of the committee, fundamentally, was to make available to per- sons in need the generosity of the private citizens of the town. The aid was to be given in secret so that no public record would be made. The committee was organized with Preston B. Chur- chill as chairman and this writer as treasurer and executive secretary. An office was established at the town hall and a direct mail campaign for funds was organized. Probably no effort in Winthrop in recent years attracted such universal support. Practically every organization contributed support and funds poured in as soon as the need became known. An employment agency was organized, a door to door collection of food and clothing was conducted and, in strict secrecy, families in need were given fuel and food. Often these necessaries of life were given without being requested by the parties concerned. The only criterion was that of need. The work of this unemployment committee attracted wide attention and was highly praised by State officials of the State Unemployment Committee.
The business of the Town was conducted about as usual. Several storms in March caused extensive damage to the Beach section and an extra expense of $10,000 was incurred in remov- ing sand and gravel from the street and in repairing holes washed into the streets by the surf. Revere Street was widened and rebuilt from Magee's Corner to the Highlands Bridge. There was also dredging to widen and deepen the channels to the Cot- tage Park Yacht Club and the Winthrop Yacht Club, the ma- terials being used to initiate the development of the Point Shirley Playground. The Town lost a leading public servant in the death of Leon C. Guptill, who had served as Town Solicitor for 15 years.
During 1932, the unemployment situation continued to in- crease in gravity and the three members of the Board of Select- men-John J. Murray, Preston B. Churchill and Gordon G. Fullerton-took over the work of the large, representative com- mittee which operated the work the year before. This writer was appointed chairman and Preston B. Churchill, treasurer. Demands upon the committee were very heavy but the towns- people continued to support the work with remarkable generos- ity. Nearly $5,000 was raised in cash and spent for coal and food and several thousand dollars worth of food and clothing were collected and distributed at a store donated for the purpose. The original policy of strict secrecy and impartial distribution was maintained.
In other matters the Town continued to progress. Considera- ble discussion was experienced over the plan to build a break- water off Winthrop Shore Drive in an attempt to end once and for all the annual storm damage. Streets, sewers, storm drain-
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age, sidewalks and the like were extended with the idea that it was better to thus afford employment than to "give" cash help to needy citizens. The United States Post Office was finally completed on the site of the old Town Hall and dedicated with considerable ceremony, September 24, 1932, under the direction of a committee headed by G. Wallace Tibbetts, former selectman. In March, the Town lost one of its most distinguished citizens, William H. Gardner, known to hundreds of Winthrop people as "Billy". He was a merchant in Boston but was well known as a poet and musician. His "Can't You Hear Me Calling, Caroline ?" is probably the most popular of his lyrics although some of his more classical pieces are firmly established in American musical history. He also devoted much time to newspaper writing; his "Old Timer" column in the Review being popular for many years.
The next year, unemployment relief work was still operated under the authority of the Selectmen with Preston B. Churchill as treasurer and this writer as chairman. Some $5,000 in funds and in food and clothing were collected and distributed but the task in Winthrop as well as in all the nation was taken over by the Federal Government and its various alphabetical agencies. The Winthrop Unemployment Committee during the Winter acted as distributing agent for Federal commodities such as coal and food but the important change was the provision of funds with which the Town was able to carry out various public con- struction items at Federal expense.
This Federal Public Works Administration provided pay roll money with which, for example, a sewage pumping station was constructed. Sewers and drains were built, roads resurfaced and similar work carried out. About 350 men and 75 women were so employed-work which required considerable time and planning by the Selectmen and the superintendent of streets, Timothy J. Mahaney.
The important construction during the year was the build- ing of about 1,000 feet of stone breakwater in three sections off shore from Ocean Avenue. The State appropriated $125,000 for this and the town $25,000. The Town lost five of its public servants during the year : James C. Nelson, tax collector, 1924- 1933; William E. Hewitt, trustee of the public library, 1915-1932; Alfred Tewksbury, public servant in various capacities-asses- sor, registrar of voters, selectman, park commissioner, auditor, moderator, representative to the General Court-1887-1933; Orville E. Johnson, M.D., distinguished physician, town physician and member of the school committee, 1909-1929; and Albert B. Dunham, registrar of voters, 1898-1933. It may be pointed out that these gentlemen were typical of the public servants of the
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town in the length of time they were employed by or gave their time to the town.
During 1934, the Federal Unemployment aid was of con- siderable importance. Selectman William H. Walsh served as the local Emergency Relief Administrator with Theodore C. Naedle as assistant administrator. A total of $182,500 was suplied by the Federal agencies as payroll, for the 12 months ending March 31st, and in addition there was a weekly distribution of food- stuffs, including meat, cheese, flour, eggs, vegetables and other staples as well as fuel and clothes. The work projects included filling and grading at Miller Field and Ingleside Park, the con- struction of drains, repair and reconstruction of the sewer system, painting of public buildings, various mapping and surveying projects and various sewing and clerical projects which provided steady employment for about 40 women. The Public Wel- fare Department's load increased from 172 families or 683 per- sons in 1933 to 246 families, or 738 persons in 1934, yet due to various items of aid from Federal agencies, the cost to the tax- payers remained at about the same level. Of significance to the town was the fact that the sale of wines and malt beverages became legal for the first time in its history. The resignation of William H. McNeil as chief of police brought the temporary appointment as chief of Howard A. Tewksbury and the subse- quent permanent appointment of William F. Pumphret, the pres- ent chief.
The next year, 1935, the Federal aid continued of vital im- portance towards helping provide for the unemployed of the town. The Emergency Relief Administration was succeeded in the Fall by the Works Progress Administration. The Selectmen, representing the town, had a special study made during the Sum- mer in an effort to map out a program of work which would both give employment and give the town permanent benefits, and a special town meeting was held in September to provide funds for materials to be used in the various projects, Washington pro- viding the payroll. Nahant Avenue and part of Highland Ave- nue were thus built and rebuilt, the fire alarm system was ex- tended, Point Shirley Playground was completed and the Lewis Lake landscaping was carried out. In addition there were vari- ous other smaller projects, mostly of the "white collar" variety.
The Selectmen reported, "The Town is in excellent condition financially", but despite the successful efforts to keep the tax rate from increasing, the Board sounded a grim note of warning that the Works Progress Administration was scheduled for liqui- dation by the middle of 1936. If the agency did end, then the town would be faced with a serious financial burden because "we
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have a very definite moral and legal responsibility towards those who are in need of assistance and encouragement, which cannot be avoided. ... " Two prominent citizens passed away during 1934. Dr. Ben Hicks Metcalf, chairman of the Board of Health, 1907-1910 and from 1913-1922. He was a major in the United States Army and the most outstanding medical man of the com- munity for many years. Albert S. Smith, secretary of the Board of Health from 1913-1934 and also a leader in the construction of the Winthrop Community Hospital. The Works Progress Ad- ministration in 1936 continued to afford a backlog of work which met the needs of the unemployed as much as possible. Streets were repaired, sewers and drains were built, schools were painted and decorated and various other projects afforded necessary employment without which the town's expenses would have been much higher. There was considerable criticism of the various Federal alphabet agencies, but the town accepted what was of- fered as the best means of solving the depression problem.
For many years Ingleside Park had been a serious problem, being a marshy area in part and supposedly "bottomless pit". Various attempts had been made to fill the swamp so that the park could be used at will in all seasons, but the filling had not been satisfactory. When the dredging of the Cottage Park-Pleas- ant Park channel was undertaken, the town was able to pipe in about 60,000 yards of fill at a cost of but $10,187.50-just a quarter of the total cost-the State paying the balance. This fill killed the aged willows along Pauline Street but it did make most of the park solid at last. The year brought the death of Henry J. Barry, selectman, 1928-1929; town solicitor, 1932, and Advisory Committee, 1931, 1933 and 1936.
With 1937, the sorry condition of the Narrow Gauge became critical. The road filed a petition in bankruptcy and various plans were broached to keep Winthrop supplied with transpor- tation. The town hired a traffic engineer to study the situation and another plan was offered by which the Boston Elevated would be required to take over the Winthrop Branch. This latter plan was both strenuously opposed and warmly supported. It was clear to some citizens that something would have to be done immediately, yet the majority of the citizens felt that the old Narrow Gauge would somehow keep running. Shirley Gut, which had been naturally filled in so that it was practically dry at low tide was the target of some discussion. The town sought to have the State dredge the Gut open again to prevent adverse tidal action on adjacent beaches-but nothing was accomplished. The Work Progress Administration continued to meet payrolls on certain types of work and this remained a major help in main-
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taining the town's tax rate at about the same low level. The Lewis Lake Project, the Great Head seawall and the Point Shir- ley playground, three such major projects were brought nearly to completion during the year and plans were made for other projects, although the uncertainty of the continuation of the Works Progress Administration caused much concern, as before.
Taxes, the next year, 1938, became a pressing problem. Changes in State assessments, over which the town had no con- trol, threatened to boost the local tax rate by $3.00 and the threat- ened end of the Works Progress Administration, which paid into the town in wages about a quarter of a million dollars annually, also might mean a considerable boost in town expenditures. The Selectmen pointed out that the day was not far distant when the town would have to stand on its own feet and meet all ex- penses by local taxation.
The great event of 1938 was the great "hurricane" of Sep- tember 21st. An estimated 128 trees were blown down along the highways, uprooting 259 feet of edgestones and breaking up 4,563 square feet of granolithic sidewalk. In general, the town escaped lightly but for a few days Winthrop was in a sorry shape. In regard to transportation, the Town Meeting agreed with the Transportation Committee that, if necessary, the town should appropriate money to subsidize the operation of the Narrow Gauge. There was considerable opposition to this plan, but it seemed the only thing that could be done to keep the road op- erating.
The problem of transportation was the great business during 1939. The Town Meeting opposed the Elevated taking over the Narrow Gauge. Many weary and endless conferences followed with officials of the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn R.R. and also with the State House, and it was agreed unofficially that perhaps adjustments could be made which would change public opinion in Winthrop and cause the town to accept the Elevated. The people as a whole still held firmly to the belief that somehow the railroad would keep running and that the town would not have to accept service by Boston Elevated buses. Apparently, the townspeople were determined not to allow buses to operate on the public ways. Matters, however, came to a crisis on De- cember 18th, 1939, when the Narrow Gauge requested the Fed- eral Court to grant leave for the road to cease operations on January 10, 1940. A special town meeting was called on De- cember 18th to take action but it was still felt that the road could be saved and so no action was taken.
It was just at this time that the town lost four public serv- ants whose combined terms of office totaled about a century.
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The four who retired were: Timothy J. Mahaney, who had held almost every office in town and closed his career as superinten- dent of streets; Harry W. Aiken, who was town treasurer for many years; Fred W. Tewksbury, who was an employee of the town practically all his life; and Warren H. Belcher, who was chief of the Fire Department for a great many years.
As 1940 opened the Narrow Gauge was the topic of the moment. The Federal Court gave the railroad leave to abandon its service on January 27, 1940. A Town Meeting was held on January 8 which again refused to accept the Elevated service and adjourned after arranging for a new transportation com- mittee. Probably at least half the people in town refused to believe the Narrow Gauge would cease operations. Another town meeting was held January 26, the day before the road was to cease operating, and $15,000 was appropriated to help the Narrow Gauge keep operating. This money was never used, for at midnight on the 27th the road did stop.
Anticipating the situation, the Selectmen had arranged with the State Department of Public Utilities for 60-day emergency permits authorizing bus service when the road did stop. Several bus companies offered their services but the State Commissioners gave the Winthrop-Boston permit to the Saugus Bus Company, who became the Rapid Transit Company. This company com- menced operations promptly between Point Shirley and Maverick Square with a ten-cent fare. The original permit was good for but 60 days, so on February 19, 1940, the Selectmen gave a per- manent permit to the same company. The company also obtained a permanent license from the City of Boston despite much oppo- sition from the people of East Boston.
The end of the Narrow Gauge left Winthrop without direct transportation to Lynn, although a number of Winthrop people work in that city. The State Department of Public Utilities issued an emergency 60-day license to the Service Bus Company for a line from Winthrop Highlands down Revere Beach to Lynn. When the emergency license expired, the Lynn City Council re- fused to allow the bus line to operate in Lynn and hence the Win- throp people riding to and from work were forced to change to Eastern Massachusetts buses at the Point of Pines-and to pay an extra fare. After a great amount of difficult negotiation, the situation was eventually adjusted-since, after all, it was an injustice to Winthrop people on the part of Lynn and yet the profit involved to the Eastern Massachusetts Company amounted to practically nothing.
In passing, it may be remarked, from the personal expe- rience of the writer, that the bus service has been adequate if
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unpleasant when compared with the old Narrow Gauge. Buses are crowded and there has been a most marked change in the conduct of Winthrop people as they jostle in the Grand Rush to get into a bus, especially at Maverick coming home during the rush hour in the evening. On the other hand, the bus company has a most difficult job because the bulk of the traffic comes in a morning and in a late afternoon peak and, traffic conditions through East Boston being what they are, the drivers have very great trouble in keeping to schedule-especially when snow and ice snarl up traffic into worse knots than is normal. Early in January, 1952, work was completed on the extension of the Elevated to Orient Heights. Winthrop buses now operate only to the Heights. Certainly, Winthrop people are pleased to be at last freed of riding through East Boston. However, the crux of the problem still remains-fares. As the Elevated extension was being completed, the state permitted the bus company to raise fares so that the round trip for Winthrop people to and from their jobs in town reached 60 cents a day-15 cents for the bus and 15 cents for the Elevated and the same on return. This was something of a hardship for many people. However, this matter is not history but news, and cannot be discussed in a book of this character, for it is both complicated and contemporary. It may be said, however, that the town for years fought with the Narrow Gauge to keep fares down from rising too far from the 5-cent ride we once enjoyed and the town has struggled with the Rapid Transit line ever since its inception to keep fares down. It is true that the town has not been conspicuously successful -but think what the fare might have been if the battle was not waged!
It was in 1940 that the Town was forced to give over its attempts to have Shirley Gut reopened. The Town Board of Health considered it necessary to have the strong tidal currents restored and the five yacht clubs in town ardently supported the plan to have the Gut dredged. However, the City of Boston, with its prison on Deer Island, opposed the cutting of the road across the Gut and then the United States Army constructed a fort and other installations on Deer Island and made it clear that the Gut would not be opened again, for without the road the fort would be useless. So the Gut passed into history-at least for the present.
The town in 1940 began serious pressure to have the North Metropolitan Sewer, originally built through the Town 45 years previously, reconstructed. Some $8,000,000-of which the town was assessed some $250,000-had by 1940 been spent on improv- ing the old sewer beyond the town, and yet nothing had been done
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by 1940 to help Winthrop, save ten years of talk and planning. An attempt was made in 1940 also to have the town construct and operate its own electric light and power plant because of the alleged high rates charged for such service by the Suburban Gas and Electric Company. The Town Meeting, save for a few votes, almost unanimously refused to proceed in the matter, especially after the Suburban granted a $30,000 a year reduction in rates. The year was marked by the passing of a distinguished citizen, Fred. G. Curtis, selectman and school committeeman.
WAR AGAIN
By the time 1941 opened, the great conflagration which was World War II had profoundly affected the world's economic health. In America, the war had practically wiped out the de- pression-whether for good or evil cannot as yet be determined, because, economically, the war may still be considered as con- tinuing. Works Progress Administration funds were sharply reduced and eventually withdrawn. It was the opinion of those in authority at Washington that defense activities were provid- ing so much employment that there was no longer need for the depression financing which had continued for so long. Briefly, the cessations of WPA caused some hardships in Winthrop, since a number of men and women had come to rely upon WPA work for their permanent livelihood. Before long, however, the men concerned were largely absorbed again into industry. Women were not so readily absorbed but most of them did in time find regular employment.
During the first two-thirds of the year, the town, after con- siderable discussion, voted to purchase the portions of the real estate of the Narrow Gauge known as the Battery Marshes and the Thornton flats. The town also appointed a committee to consider acquiring the right of way and other real estate, such as the old car barn lot between Main Street and the Marsh, and the sites of the stations. The titles concerned were in a some- what confused legal condition and a great amount of time and work was needed to clear the titles so that the town could take possession. Further confusion resulted when the Army an- nounced it was taking by eminent domain a portion of the right of way near Fort Banks. This action ended the possibility of the town taking the right of way for use as a circumferential highway-as had been suggested.
For some time, during the war in Europe, Winthrop had had a civilian defense organization which, for practical purposes, was clearly inadequate to the needs of the town. Winthrop being an island of homes completely surrounded by military objectives,
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was certainly in a dangerous position should a real or even a token attack be made by air or submarines. Thus, on December 4, the Selectmen called a special conference to consider enlarging the defense organization. On December 7th came Pearl Harbor and thus when the conference was held the following night, the need for a really effective defense organization required no ex- planation. The responsibility was given to Percy L. Sterling as chairman of the Committee of Civilian Defense and he organ- ized a large and active committee in a short time, giving Win- throp the benefit of an efficient committee.
The chief officers of the committee included: Frank C. Gor- man and Fritz E. Westlin, vice chairmen; Thomas H. Fielding, secretary, and John W. Fielding, Chief Air Raid Warden.
During 1942, Winthrop was drawn deep into the greatest concentrated effort this nation has ever made. Fighting Japan in the Pacific and Germany on the Atlantic, and having made our industrial plant an arsenal not for ourselves alone but for Britain, France and Russia, we experienced a profound alteration in our way of life. The greatest wrench came, of course, to the men and women who enlisted or were drafted into the armed services. Some 1,300 Winthrop residents were in the armed services by the end of the year. The local Civilian Defense Com- mittee was greatly enlarged and strengthened and developed under the energetic leadership of Percy L. Sterling. Indeed, to the original defense committee, transformed into the Winthrop Committee on Public Safety, were added two other divisions- the war services division and the social services division. Percy L. Sterling was appointed chairman of the Public Safety Com- mittee; Frank C. Gorman, vice-chairman, and Edwin Lane, sec- retary. Then, of course, there were established the draft board and the rationing board. Both of these committees, whose mem- bers gave their time and energy in amazing amounts to their difficult and thankless jobs, performed admirably. With gaso- line, fuel oil, meat, sugar and all the rest rationed strictly and very honestly, the war came into every Winthrop home, in addi- tion to the homes who lost members to the armed services. Win- throp was at war. It gave gladly of what was required of it and marked up a record second to none in the Commonwealth.
During the year, the regular business of the town had to be continued within the limitations of the emergency. The old Win- throp Center Station, long an eyesore, was leveled away. Jef- ferson Street was extended to the new business section and the new property was landscaped to make a small but attractive park. The old railroad bed from the station site to Pauline Street was designed as a parking place, but after being paved, it has turned
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