Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1927, Part 4

Author:
Publication date: 1927
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 162


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GENERAL KNOX MARKER


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through a Commission, has erected suitable markers along the trail which General Henry Knox followed in transporting artillery from Fort Ticonderoga in New York to Boston during the Revolutionary War. The Board designated as a suitable place for the marker the triangular plot of land suituate at Shearer's Corner. During the year the marker was set up and on Armistice Day was accepted from the Commonwealth by the Selectmen and dedicated with suitable exercises. State Treasurer Youngman, Chairman of the General Knox Commission, delivered an appropriate address. Mayor Fordis C. Parker of Springfield graced the occasion with his presence and made fitting remarks. The Board recommends that pro- vision be made for the annual care of the plot. It should be properly mowed and kept in good order. We suggest that an adequate appropriation be made and that the Road Department be requested to take care of the work.


MEMORIAL APPROACH


At the last annual town meeting the town voted to purchase certain land of Charles A. Callahan and Henry D. Converse, running from Park Street to Converse Street in the Depot Village, for a memorial approach to the High School. Early in the year the land was acquired and under the direction of the Selectmen, and with the able and interested volunteer work on the part of the members of Merrill L. Simonds Post, American Legion, a very attractive approach has been made. On Armistice Day, the American Legion conducted appropriate exer- cises at the High School Auditorium and turned the plot over to the town, which was accepted by the Chairman of the Board. The Town has secured both a convenient


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and attractive approach to the High School and a fitting memorial to the men who served the Town and their Country so faithfully in the great World War.


The various problems that have arisen during the year have been given the careful consideration of the Board and every effort has been made to conduct the town's business promptly and economically. The Board is pleased to state that it has had hearty and cheerful co-operation from all the departments of the town.


RECOMMENDATIONS


Statement of Recommendations for the year 1928


Election and Registration $1,500.00


Premium Workman's Compensation Insurance 950.00


Auditing and Accounting 1,490.00


Selectmen's Other Expenses


500.00


Selectmen's Contingent Account


1,800.00


Special Police


1,000.00


Printing and Distribution of Town Reports


900.00


Salaries of Selectmen


1,000.00


Law and Claim Department


1,500.00


Insurance


500.00


Soldiers' Relief


1,000.00


ANDREW B. RATHBONE, LOUIS MARHELEWICZ,


Board of Selectmen.


Jury List


In accordance with Chapter 348 of the Acts of 1907, the Selectmen of the Town of Palmer have prepared the following list of inhabitants of said Town of Palmer as qualified to serve as Jurors for the year beginning July 1, 1927.


Charles O. Murphy William Daly Ralph Senecal James F. Donahue Jeremiah F. O'Connor George J. Flint John E. Moran William M. Barrett Freeman A. Smith James Rathbone Frank J. Henry Joseph A. Fountain Alcide N. Barber George Fournier Lawrence F. Sullivan Frank E. Albro


Michael J. Donahue, Jr. David Belisle John T. Sullivan Robert A. Swain William La Plant Robert Ducy


Highland Street, Palmer Main Street, Three Rivers Ruggles Street, Three Rivers Pine Street, Palmer Fox Street, Palmer Pleasant Street, Palmer Main Street, Palmer Vaille Street, Palmer North Main Street, Palmer Central Street, Palmer Church Street, Thorndike Main Street, Thorndike Main Street, Three Rivers Bourne Street, Three Rivers Main Street, Bondsville Main Street, Bondsville Main Street, Bondsville Main Street, Bondsville Bourne Street, Three Rivers Springfield Street, Three Rivers High Street, Thorndike Commercial Street, Thorndike


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Charles D. Holden John R. Ahearn


Daniel A. Shea


Maurice J. Moriarty


Andrew B. Rathbone


Frederick Brouillette


Fred S. Potter


Andrew C. Carroll


Andrew G. Ditto


Michael J. Sullivan


David E. Marcy Clifford Foster


George W. Motyka


Stanislaw Markot


Albert A. Boissy


John F. Griffin


William P. Donovan Daniel F. Austin


August Amman


George W. Authier


Walter J. Baldwin


David L. Bodfish


John Bradlenski Louis J. Brainerd


John G. Butts


Louis E. Chandler


Marshall R. Clark


Peter E. Cody


Henry D. Converse


Charles Cordiali


Edward F. Cushman


Charles B. Doherty


Emile Erikson


Edwin Fisher


Louis H. Fountaine


Frank M. Foley


44 Converse Street, Palmer South Main Street, Palmer South Main Street, Bondsville High Street, Bondsville King Street, Palmer South Main Street, Palmer Grove Street, Palmer Pinney Street, Palmer North Main Street, Palmer Maple Street, Palmer Central Street, Palmer Commercial Street, Thorndike East Main Street, Three Rivers Ruggles Street, Three Rivers Main Street, Three Rivers


State Street, Bondsville Main Street, Bondsville South Main Street, Bondsville Pine Street, Palmer South Main Street, Palmer Knox Street, Palmer


Holbrook Street, Palmer Main Street, Palmer Highland Street, Palmer Pine Street, Paimer Squier Street, Palmer Squier Street, Palmer North Main Street, Palmer North Main Street, Palmer


Main Street, Palmer Thorndike Street, Palmer Pine Street, Palmer Forest Street, Palmer Church Street, Thorndike North Main Street, Palmer Knox Street, Palmer


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R. J. Wilder H. B. Sanborn Vernon Simmington Sidney H. Sayles Reginald Kempton Carl King F. J. Jarvis Arthur W. Holbrook William M. Gale


Wm. J. Birmingham


Edward P. Brown Harold W. Brainerd Michael Pelczarski Frank J. Longtine Edward J. Curtin Wm. B. Kerigan Samuel Thayer Eddie Tenczar Frank J. Salamon Stanley F. Salamon Stanley Skrzyniarz Albert Kolbusz Alozy Konicki Charles H. Bresette


Seymour Chabot Alphonse C. Abare


Peter E. Bard Leslie W. Cameron Charles F. Dingman Albert E. Edwards


Robert E. Faulkner Wm. J. Gillis H. Stewart Redmond John C. Bauer Lyman L. Keith Ludwik Marhelewicz


Squier Street, Palmer Central Street, Palmer Central Street, Palmer Central Street, Palmer South Main Street, Palmer North Main Street, Palmer Squier Street, Palmer Thorndike Street, Palmer Pleasant Street, Palmer Highland Street, Palmer Squier Street, Palmer Highland Street, Palmer High Street, Thorndike High Street, Thorndike Church Street, Thorndike Ware Road, Palmer Summer Street, Thorndike Main Street, Thorndike Church Street, Thorndike Hobbs Street, Thorndike High Street, Thorndike Main Street, Thorndike Church Street, Thorndike Church Street, Thorndike Main Street, Thorndike Pine Street, Palmer Converse Street, Palmer Knox Street, Palmer Grove Street, Palmer Pleasant Street, Palmer


Pine Street, Palmer North Main Street, Palmer High Street, Three Rivers Maple Terrace, Three Rivers Main Street, Three Rivers Bourne Street, Three Rivers


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Wilfred Boissy Frank J. B. Camerlin


Frank M. Fleury Edmond Forte


Peter Frydryk


Albert S. Geer


Henry A. Laviolette


Stanley Ziemba


Alcide Poitras


Paul Rollett


Melton J. Royce


Jan S. Stachovecz


Elmer H. Powell


Charles H. Sharratt


Michael R. Sullivan


John J. Conway


Benj. C. Shaw


Main Street, Bondsville


Frank Lamb


Pine Street, Bondsville


Horace F. Parker


Main Street, Bondsville


High Street, Bondsville


John F. Shaw


Main Street, Three Rivers Main Street, Three Rivers Kelly Street, Three Rivers Ruggles Street, Three Rivers North Street, Three Rivers High Street, Three Rivers Springfield Street, Three Rivers Main Street, Three Rivers High Street, Three Rivers Main Street, Three Rivers North Street, Three Rivers Main Street, Three Rivers High Street, Three Rivers Palmer Road, Bondsville State Street, Bondsville Main Street, Bondsville


ANDREW B. RATHBONE, LUDWIK MARHELEWICZ,


. Selectmen of Palmer


Town Warrant


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


County of Hampden, ss.


Town of Palmer


To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer, in said County,


GREETING :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the in- habitants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elec- tions of town officers, to meet at the several polling places in said Palmer, designated by the Selectmen, to wit: In Precinct A, at Holbrook Hall in the Holbrook Building on Main Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at Recreation Building (room on the street floor) on Com- mercial Street in Thorndike; in Precinct C, at Saint Stan- islaus Polish Lyceum Building (hall on the second floor) on East Main Street in Three Rivers; and in Precinct D, at Boston Duck Company's Hall on Main Street, in Bonds- ville, on Monday, the sixth day of February, A. D. 1928, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to precinct officers of the several voting precincts of said town, for the following town offi- cers, to wit: Three Selectmen, a Town Treasurer, a Collec- tor of Taxes, three Auditors, five Constables, three License Commissioners, and a Tree Warden, all for the


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term of one year ; one Road Commissioner, one member of the Board of Health, one Assessor, one member of the Board of Public Welfare, one Cemetery Commissioner, two members of the School Committee and two members of the Planning Board, all for the term of three years; also to vote by ballot, which shall be "yes" or "no", upon the acceptance of Chapter 2, General Acts of 1928, en- titled "An act placing the office of Chief of Police in the Town of Palmer under the Civil Service Laws."


The polls will be open at six o'clock in the forenoon and will be closed at three-thirty o'clock in the afternoon.


And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town House at Four Corners, in said Palmer, on Monday, the thirteenth day of Feb- ruary, A. D. 1928, at seven o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, viz :


Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.


Article 2. To choose all other usual town officers.


Article 3. To act on the reports of the town officers.


Article 4. To raise money and make appropria- tions to defray expenses of the town for the ensuing year.


Article 5. To see if the town will authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the ensuing financial year, in anticipation of the revenue of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for current expenses of the town, but not exceeding in the aggregate the amount permitted by law,


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giving the note or notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the date thereof, all debts incurred under authority of this vote to be paid from revenue of the said financial year.


Article 6. To hear and act on the reports of com - mittees.


Article 7. To choose committees and give them in- structions.


Article 8. To determine the manner and state the terms and conditions of collecting the taxes for the en- suing year, and fix the compensation of the collector of taxes.


Article 9. To see if the town will raise and appro. priate money to convey pupils to and from public schools, and instruct the school committee as to the manner of letting the contract for such conveyance.


Article 10. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the Young Men's Library Association, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise money for the observance of Memorial Day.


Article 12. To see what action the town will take in relation to sewers.


Article 13. To see what action the town will take in respect to lighting the streets and whether it will au- thorize the selectmen to make contract therefor, and raise and appropriate money for the same.


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Article 14. To see what action the town will take in reference to the planting and preservation of shade trees.


Article 15. To see what action the town will take in regard to sidewalks and curbing.


Article 16. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the improvement of cemeteries.


Article 17. To see if the town will appropriate money for the suppression of gypsy, brown-tail and satin moths and elm tree beetles, and other insect pests.


Article 18. To see what action the town will take relative to suits and claims now pending against the town.


Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the insurance and maintenance of the auto fire trucks for the ensuing year, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 20. To see if the town will appropriate such sum of money as may be necessary to defray the cost of rent, janitor service and maintenance of the town offices in the Holbrook Building.


Article 21. To see if the town will vote to sprinkle or spread upon its public ways, or parts thereof, water or any liquid or material suitable for laying or preventing dust and preserving the surface of such ways and for san- itary purposes, the cost thereof to be assessed upon abut- ting estates, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 22. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to be paid to the Wing Memorial Hospital Association for the charitable purposes of said association in this town, or for the care and support in


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said hospital of persons wholly or in part unable to sup- port or care for themselves, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 23. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 to help defray the cost of maintaining the District Nurse.


Article 24. To see if the town will vote to maintain police in the several villages, authorize the selectmen to employ and appoint in addition a Chief of Police, and to make rules and regulations for the government of all the police officers of the town, and raise and appropriate money for the same.


Article 25. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money to meet the town's share of the cost to the County of Hampden for providing adequate hospital care for consumptives under the provisions of Chapter III of the General Laws.


Article 26. To see if the town will raise and appro-


priate the sum of five hundred dollars, or any sum, to be expended within the town under the direction of the Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, for the promo- tion of boys' and girls' work in agriculture, home making and country life in the town, including agricultural dem- onstration work on land owned by the town, or owned by any resident of the town, in accordance with the pro- visions of Section 45 of Chapter 128 of the General Laws.


Article 27. To see if the town will appropriate money under the authority of Section 22 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws for the care of graves of persons who served in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States in time of war or insurrection and were honorably discharged from such service.


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Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate such sum of money as may be necessary to pay overdrafts made by the several departments of the town during the year 1927, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 29. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for new sidewalks as follows :- (a) Curbing, with tree belt, along the cement walk on the northeasterly side of Park Street in the Depot Village, adjoining the land known as the Memorial Approach to the High School and extending 10 feet southeasterly from the southeast- erly line of said approach; (b) Curbing, with tree belt, along the cement walk on the southwesterly side of Con- verse Street in the Depot Village, adjoining the land known as the Memorial Approach to the High School and extending 10 feet southeasterly from the southeasterly line of said approach; (c) Cinder walk along Hill Street in Thorndike, running from its intersection with Church Street northeasterly, northerly and northwesterly to Harding Street, thence westerly along Harding Street to Hobbs Street, thence northerly along Hobbs Street to the northerly terminus of said Hobbs Street; (d) Sidewalk, with curbing, on the northerly side of North Main Street in the Depot Village, from the Point of Rocks to Shearer's Corner; (e) Curbing along the sidewalk on the southerly side of Bourne Street, in Three Rivers, from Main Street to Pleasant Street, with necessary repairs to said walk; (f) Install curbing and repair present sidewalk on the Palmer Road in Three Rivers from South Street to prop- erty of one Les, and provide suitable drainage for said Palmer Road at that point.


Article 30. To see if the town will vote to construct a sidewalk under the tracks of the Central Vermont and Ware River Railroads, about 450 feet west of Shearer's


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Corner on the Boston Road, raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 31. To see what action the town will take relative to the care and preservation of the plot of land at Shearer's Corner upon which the General Knox Marker is located.


Article 32. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to petition the proper authority for an alteration at the crossing of the Springfield Road and the tracks of the Ware River Branch of the Boston & Albany Railroad and the Central Vermont Railway, known as the Wire Mill Underpass, so as to provide a safe and suitable passageway for pedestrians at said crossing, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 33. To see if the town will vote to build an improved highway in the Ludlow or Red Bridge Road, from the end of the present macadam in Springfield Street in the Village of Three Rivers, to the Wilbraham town line, appropriate any sum of money therefor, and raise said sum by taxation or otherwise, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 34. To see if the town will raise and appropri- ate money for the improvement of highways as follows: (a) Improve and harden with gravel or other suitable ma- terial Pinney Street in the Depot Village from Park Street to property of the Whittall Associates, (b) Macadamize or otherwise improve and harden Converse Street in the Depot Village; (c) Macadamize or otherwise improve and harden Walnut Street in the Depot Village; (d) Macada- mize or otherwise improve and harden High Street in the Village of Thorndike from Commercial Street to School Street; (e) Improve and harden Bourne Street in the Village of Three Rivers from East Main Street to Pleas-


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ant Street; (f) Improve and harden Pleasant Street in the Village of Three Rivers from Bourne Street to East Main Street; (g) Macadamize or otherwise improve and harden the highway running from the road leading from Thorndike to Palmer to the State Highway leading to Ware at a point opposite St. Thomas' Cemetery.


Article 35. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain additional electric lights as follows: (a) 2 lights on Shaw Street in the Depot Village; (b) 2 lights on the Belchertown Road in the Village of Three Rivers; (c) 1 light on Thorndike Street in the Depot Village at a point opposite the main entrance to Oak Knoll Cemetery ; (d) 2 lights on the Springfield Road at the Wire Mill Un- derpass; (e) 1 light on the road from Shearer's Corner to Four Corners, at a point near the house of John Fila.


Article 36. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the construction of sewers as follows : (a) Catch basin at the corner of Monat and East Main Streets in Three Rivers; (b) Additional catch basin to connect with the Gay Avenue sewer in Thorndike; (c) Sewer in Oak Street, Three Rivers, from Cross Street westerly to Ruggles, southerly in Ruggles Street to River- view Avenue and through Riverview Avenue to the river, and in Ruggles Street from Oak Street southeriy to a point near the house of John Jajuga.


Article 37. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money to repair the heating plant and system in the Memorial Hall Building.


Article 38. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money to refurnish and repair the Town Farm buildings.


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Article 39. To see if the town will vote to provide additional fire protection for the Town Farm buildings and appropriate any sum of money therefor.


Article 40. To see what action the town will take relative to the care and preservation of the Memorial Ap- proach to the High School.


Article 41. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of two thousand dollars to be ex- pended by the Planning Board for the purpose of making a survey of the town and developing therefrom a zoning map and by-laws for the purpose of regulating the use of property and the construction of buildings in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws.


Article 42. To see if the town will vote to have the assessors' valuation of property for the year 1927 printed, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 43. To see if the town will appropriate money, to be expended in the discretion and under the direction of the selectmen, for the repair and maintenance of the clock in the Universalist Church tower in the Depot Village, or take any action relative thereto.


And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by posting up attested copies thereof in some one public place in each of the four villages of the town known as the Depot Village, Thorndike, Three Rivers and Bonds- ville, seven days at least before the holding of said meet- ing, and by publishing an attested copy thereof in at least two issues of the Journal-Register, a newspaper published in said Palmer, the first publication to be not less than seven days before the holding of said meeting.


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Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at or be- fore the holding of said meeting.


- Given under our hands this twentieth day of Janu- ary, A. D. 1928


ANDREW B. RATHBONE, LUDWIK MARHELEWICZ, Selectmen of Palmer.


A true copy, Attest :


MICHAEL COLLINS,


Constable of the Town of Palmer.


TOWN OF PALMER


SCHOOL REPORT


For the Year Ending DECEMBER 31, 1927


Report of School Committee


To the Citizens of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts:


Your School Committee, herewith submits as a part of its report, the report to it, of the superintendent of schools. In this, some of the outstanding features of school operation are discussed. An amplification of this brief report of the School Committee may be made, verb- ally, later.


Last year the budget request, all but unanimously endorsed by the finance sub-committee on schools, was for the sum of $179,447.11. Of this amount there was expended $177,326,62 leaving an unexpended balance of $2,120.49.


This balance was mainly due, to unexpectedly favor- able condition of weather and coal cost and to a lessened vocational school cost. Thus while we are glad to re- port this balance, we can take no credit for it, as we are unable to control weather, coal prices or the number who wish to accept vocational school advantages. Had wea- ther been more severe, coal prices higher and a greater instead of a lesser enrollment in vocational school a deficit might as easly have resulted as a balance. Items such as these mentioned, are estimated on "experience" of previous year or years.


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At the moment we cannot say what the amount of the budget request of the present year will be, as the study has not been completed.


Your committee is constantly working to secure the greatest efficiency possible in the schools. You have a devoted corps of teachers, who loyally perform their duties and the standing of your system regardless of the low comparative cost is high among those of the state and is improving.


Respectfully submitted,


DR. GEORGE A. MOORE, Chairman School Committee


Palmer, Mass., January 17, 1928.


School Committee, 1927 -- 1928


DR. GEORGE A. MOORE, Chairman CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Secretary


Dr. George A. Moore


Term expires 1930


Dr. Everett P. Jewett


Term expires 1930


Robert E. Faulkner


Term expires 1929


Dennis J. Horgan


Term expires 1929


John F. Shea


Term expires 1928


Jeremiah J. Kelley


Term expires 1928


Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 7.30 p. m. on the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month.


All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent on the Monday before the above date.


Superintendent of Schools, Clifton H. Hobson.


Office, High School Building. Telephone 54. Office Hours :- 8 a. m. to 12 m., 1 to 5 p. m .; Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.


ATTENDANCE OFFICERS


Patrick McKelligett,


Depot


T. J. Crimmins,


Depot


Patrick Nagle,


William Smith,


Arthur Bennett,


Thorndike Three Rivers Forest Lake Bondsville


John P. Donahue,


Daniel Dunn,


Depot


Edmund L. Guerin,


Town


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JANITORS


Patrick McKelligett,


Palmer


Jerry Sullivan,


Palmer


Herbert Blanchard,


Palmer


Patrick Nagle,


Thorndike


John P. Donahue,


Bondsville


William Smith,


Three Rivers


Daniel Dunn,


Wire Mill


Calendar


HIGH SCHOOL


Winter term begins January 3, 1928 ; ends February 24, 1928 Spring term begins March 5, 1928; ends April 27, 1928 Summer term begins May 7, 1928; ends June 29, 1928 Fall term begins September 4, 1928 ; ends December 21, 1928 Winterterm begins January 2, 1929 ; ends February 21, 1929 Spring term begins March 4, 1929 ; ends April 26, 1929 Summer term begins May 6, 1929; ends June 28, 1929




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