USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1940 > Part 6
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There is no option in this matter. The law requires it. The only salvation is that 50% of this amount is re- imbursed by the State. The full amount has to be ap- propriated and the re-imbursement goes directly into the town treasury.
In addition, employed men may attend night school and the Town has to pay the tuition.
The result is that $2,500.00 more than previously must be appropriated this year.
ADULT ALIEN EDUCATION
Last fall, classes were opened up in accordance with the voted appropriation of $600.00.
A petition signed by 121 people desiring this work has been received by the School Committee. A petition of 20 signers makes the work mandatory. Plans were laid for some 75 to 100 pupils. Instead, 215 pupils enrolled. This more than doubled the number of pupils and teach- ers anticipated. Sessions were closed the latter part of November and were resumed in January.
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With social legislation based upon citizenship and with the great drive on now because of the war emer- gency to require aliens to become citizens, large enroll- ments must be expected in these classes. Palmer has, for many years, had a large percentage of aliens. She has ranked among the highest in the state-not only in aliens, but especially in aliens from non-English-speaking coun- tries. Her Americanization problem has always been acute.
The amount needed this year is $2,200.00, one-half of which is reimbursed by the State. The work is needed ; is compulsory.
PATRIOTISM
There are a few things that Palmer can do to "do her bit" in the present crisis.
One is offer without stint an opportunity for aliens to become citizens. This is being done throughout the country in all patriotic communities.
Another is offer trade education in every way pos- sible, for this world-wide madness will be cured only by America putting to work all of her unequalled indus- trial strength.
These two things should, and must be done. The cost must not be considered. In fact, the cost is easily topped by the shooting off of a few big guns.
In our regular school work, emphasis is being placed upon the slogan-"I Am An American," with all that is implied in such a fact. Locally, we have always stressed patriotism. Now, we are stressing it more than ever, with the possible exception of the previous World War.
We want to "do our bit."
Some time, some way, before this world will be what it should be, the spirit back of this "Common Pray- er" must come into being :
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"Almighty God, we who are members of differ- ent races and faiths desire together Thy fatherhood and our kinship with each other. In our differences we find that many of our hopes, our fears, our as- pirations are one. Thou art our Father, and we are Thy children.
"We are heartily sorry for the mists of fear, envy, hatred, suspicion, and greed which have blind- ed our eyes and thrust us asunder.
"May the light that comes from Thee scatter these mists, cleanse our hearts, give health to our spirits, teach us to put away all bitterness, and walk together in the ways of human friendship.
"Open our eyes to see, as nature abounds in variation, so differences in human beings make for richness in the common life. May we give honor where honor is due-regardless of race, color or cir- cumstance.
"Deepen our respect for unlikeness and our eagerness to understand one another. Through the deeper unities of the spirit in sympathy, insight, and cooperation may we transcend our differences. May we gladly share with each other our best gifts and together seek for a human world fashioned in good under Thy guidance.
"Amen !"
A COMMON PRAYER
(Rabbi, Priest and Minister have co-operated in for- mulating a prayer acknowledging the kinship of the faiths and the common fatherhood of God. It was pub- lished recently by its authors - Rev. John A. O'Brien, pastor of St. John's Catholic Church; Rabbi Benjamin Frankel, director of Hillel Foundation; and the Rev. James C. Baker, pastor of Trinity Methodist-Episcopal Church, all of Urbana, Ill.)
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CONCLUSION
This report is sketchy. Only a few things have been mentioned. We repeat-we are trying to do an honest, conscientious piece of work for the boys and girls of Palmer. They are the ones for whom the schoo's exist. There are weaknesses; but the intentions are the best.
The public has always been patient, considerate, co- operative and appreciative. The teachers have been loyal and interested. The School Committee has been strong in its support and wide in its latitude. Such a combina- tion is a real challenge to any superintendent. We hope we have met it these thirty years.
Respectfully submitted, CLIFTON H. HOBSON,
Superintendent of Schools.
Palmer, Mass., January 20, 1940.
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TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
County of Hampden,
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, in the High School Gymnasium on Converse Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at the Thorn- dike Grammar School in Thorndike; in Precinct C, at the Three Rivers Grammar School in Three Rivers, and in Precinct D, at the Bondsville Grammar School in Bonds- ville, on Monday, the third day of February, A. D. 1941, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the precinct officers of the several voting precincts of said town, for the following officers, to wit: 3 Selectmen, a Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, 3 Auditors, 5 Constables, 3 License Commis- sioners, a Tree Warden, all for the term of one year; 1 Assessor, 1 Member of the Board of Public Welfare, 1 Member of the Board of Health, 1 Cemetery Commission- er, 2 Members of the Planning Board, and 2 Members of the School Committee, all for the term of three years; 1 Member of the School Committee for the term of one year (to fill vacancy) .
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The polls will be open at six o'clock in the forenoon and will be closed at five 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 tenth day of February, A. D. 1941, 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 appropriations to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to authorize the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1941, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 6. To hear and act on reports of commit- tees.
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 ensu- ing 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,
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and instruct the school committee as to the manner of let- ting 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 and appropriate money for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article 12. To see what action the town will take in respect to lighting the streets and whether it will author- ize the selectmen to make contract therefor, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Article 13. To see what action the town will take relative to suits and claims now pending against the town.
Article 14. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the care and improvement of cemeteries.
Article 15 To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the suppression of the gypsy, brown-tail and satin moths and elm tree beetles, and other insect pests.
Article 16. To see if the town will raise and ap- propriate such sums of money as may be necessary to de- fray the cost of rent, janitor service and maintenance of the town offices in the Holbrook Building.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1000 to help defray the cost of maintaining the District Nurse.
Article 18. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to be expended within the town under the direction of the Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, for the promotion of boys' and girls' work in agriculture, home making and country life in the town,
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including agricultural demonstration work on land owned by the town, or owned by any resident of the town, in ac- cordance with the provisions of Section 45 of Chapter 128 of the General Laws.
Article 19. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate 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.
Article 20. To see what action the town will take in relation to sewers.
Article 21. To see what action the town will take in regard to sidewalks and curbing.
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 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 authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to bor- row money as permitted by law to meet any appropria- tions made or expenses incurred under any of the articles of this warrant.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the granting of ade- quate assistance to deserving citizens of the town in need of relief and support sixty-five years of age or over under the provisions of Chapter 118A of the General Laws, and for expenses to be incurred in connection with the grant- ing of such assistance, or take any action relative thereto.
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Article 25. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to provide and maintain quarters for Edward T. Goodreau Post, No. 1813, Veterans of For- eign Wars of the United States for the year 1941.
Article 26. To see if the town will authorize the school committee to appoint any member thereof to the office or position of school physician and determine and fix the salary of any such appointee under the provisions of Section 4A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum or sums of money to enable the town to cooperate with the Federal Government in unemploy- ment relief and other projects of direct or indirect benefit
to the town, or its inhabitants, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to purchase or lease any land or buildings for use as a town barn or yard, appropriate any sum of money therefor and raise said sum by taxation or otherwise, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by the town under tax title procedure, provided that the selectmen or whomso- ever they may authorize to hold such auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 30. To see what action the town will take relative to the care and preservation of the Memorial Ap- proach to the High School, the plot of land at Shearer's Corner upon which the General Knox Marker is located, and the memorial plots in the several villages of the town.
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Article 31. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the operation and main- tenance of the Legion Field and the Eager Playground in the Depot Village, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 32. To see if the town will accept and allow a town way in the Depot Village, as shown on plan en- titled "Plan Showing Building Lots owned by H. F. C. Merriam in Palmer, Mass." prepared by Nathaniel Clapp, C. E., dated October, 1934, as laid out by the Selectmen, according to the following description :
Beginning at the point of curvature of the first course of the street herein described, said point being in the southwesterly line of South Main Street S. 49° 12' E. four hundred thirty-three and 01/100 feet, more or less, from a Massachusetts highway bound in the southwesterly line of South Main Street, which bound is at Station 34+00W of the State Highway Layout of 1924 and marks the north- westerly end of said layout; then curving SOUTH- EASTERLY twenty-three and 56/100 (23.56) feet on an arc having a radius of fifteen (15) feet to a point of tangency marked by a concrete bound; thence S. 40° 48' W. two hundred fifty-five (255) feet to a concrete bound at the point of curvature of the following course: thence curving SOUTHWESTERLY one hundred eleven and 82/100 (111.82) feet on an arc having a radius of one hundred three and 97/100 (103.97) feet to a point of tangency ; thence S. 77º 35' E. one hundred eighteen and 83/100 (118.83) feet to a point ; thence S. 49° 12' E. twen- ty (20) feet to the point of curvature of the following course; thence curving NORTHWESTERLY thirty-one and 42/100 (31.42) feet on an arc having a radius of twenty (20) feet to a point of tangency ; thence N. 40° 48' E. two hundred seventy (270) feet to the point of curva- ture of the following course; thence curving NORTH-
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EASTERLY twenty-three and 56/100 (23.56) feet on an arc having a radius of fifteen (15) feet to a point of tan- gency with the southwesterly line of South Main Street; thence N. 49° 12' W. eighty (80) feet in the southwesterly line of South Main Street to the point of beginning. Said street has a width of fifty (50) feet between the parallel courses. Said street is to be known as SALEM STREET, and is shown on said plan as Jones Street.
Article 33. To see if the town will accept and allow a town way in the Depot Village, as shown on plan en- titled "Plan Showing Building Lots owned by H. F. C. Merriam in Palmer, Mass." prepared by Nathaniel Clapp, C. E., dated October, 1934, as laid out by the Selectmen, ac- cording to the following description :
Beginning at the point of curvature of the first course of the street herein described, said point being in the southwesterly line of South Main Street S. 49° 12' E. one hundred fifty-one and 65/100 (151.65) feet, more or less from a Massachusetts highway bound in the southwesterly line of South Main Street, which bound is at Station 34+00W of the State Highway Layout of 1924 and marks the northwesterly end of said layout; thence curving SOUTHEASTERLY twenty-four and 71/100 (24.71) feet on an arc having a radius of fifteen (15) feet to a point of tangency marked by a concrete bound; thence S. 45° 12' W. three hundred forty-nine and 12/100 (349.12) feet to a concrete bound at the point of curvature of the following course; thence curving SOUTHWESTERLY twenty-five and 33/100 (25.33) feet on an arc having a radius of twenty (20) feet to a point of tangency ; thence S. 62° 14' E. fourteen and 68/100 (14.68) feet to a point ; then S. 44° 48' W. seventy (70) feet to the point of curva- ture of the following course; thence curving NORTH- WESTERLY thirty-one and 42/100 (31.42) feet on an arc having a radius of twenty (20) feet to a point of tangen- cy; thence N. 45° 12' E. three hundred forty-nine and 97/100 (349.97) feet to the point of curvature of the fol- lowing course; thence curving NORTHEASTERLY
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twenty-two and 41/100 (22.41) feet on an arc having a radius of fifteen (15) feet to a point of tangency with the southwesterly line of South Main Street; thence N. 49° 12' W. eighty and 24/100 (80.24) feet in the southwest- erly line of South Main Street to the point of beginning. Said street has a width of fifty (50) feet between the parallel courses, is shown on said plan as Conant Street, and is to be known as CONANT STREET.
Article 34. To see if the town will accept and allow a town way in the Depot Village, as shown on plan en- titled "Plan Showing Building Lots owned by H. F. C. Merriam in Palmer, Mass." prepared by Nathaniel Clapp, C. E., dated October, 1934, as laid out by the Selectmen, according to the following description :
Beginning at a point which is N. 62° 14' W. seven and 02/100 (7.02) feet from a concrete bound which is op- posite the southwesterly end of "Conant Street" as shown on said plan; thence running S. 62° 14' E. seven and 02/100 (7.02) feet to said bound; thence running S. 44° 48' E. one hundred eighty-two and 10/100 (182.10) feet to the point of curvature of the following course; thence curving to the left thirty-nine and 01/100 (39.01) feet on an arc having a radius of sixty-eight and 19/100 (68.19) feet to a point of tangency (the tangents of this curve are twenty and 06/100 feet and their intersection is marked by a concrete bound) ; then running S. 77° 35' E. one hundred forty-three and 90/100 (143.90) feet to the point of curvature of the following course; thence curv- ing to the right forty-nine and 54/100 (49.54) feet on an arc having a radius of one hundred (100) feet to a point marked by a concrete bound; thence running N. 40° 48' E. fifty (50) feet to a point ; thence running N. 49° 12' W. thirty-seven and 93/100 (37.93) feet to a point; thence running N. 77º 35' W. one hundred eighty-one and 83/100 (181.83) feet to the point of curvature of the following course ; thence curving to the right ten and 41/100 (10.41)
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feet on an arc having a radius of eighteen and 19/100 (18.19) feet to a point of tangency marked by a concrete bound ; thence running N. 44° 48' W. one hundred eighty- nine and 77/100 (189.77) feet to a point; thence running N. 62° 14' W. fourteen and 68/100 (14.68) feet to a point ; thence running S. 27° 46' W. fifty (50) feet to the point of beginning. Said street is fifty (50) feet wide between the parallel courses, lies about four hundred (400) feet southwesterly of and generally parallel to South Main Street, is shown on said plan as Bluff Avenue, and is to be known as RIVER VIEW PARKWAY.
Article 35. To see if the town will raise and ap- propriate the sum of $600.00, or any sum, for the con- struction of about 365 feet of hardened roadway in Oak Knoll Cemetery.
Article 36. (a) To see what action the town will take with reference to the planting and preservation of shade trees ; (b) To see if the town will vote to determine and fix the salary of the tree warden and raise and ap- propriate money for the same; (c) To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for labor and materials and tools for use in connection with the Department of the Tree Warden.
Article 37. To see if the town will raise and ap- propriate the sum of $2000.00 for the maintenance and repair of Chapter 90 Roads, so-called, said amount to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both, for this pur- pose, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Article 38. To see if the town will raise and ap- propriate the sum of $6,000.00 to complete the improve- ment of the Palmer-Bondsville Road, from Shearer's Corner to Four Corners, said sum to be used in conjunc- tion with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both, under the provisions of Chapter 90
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of the General Laws, or any other provision of Law, for this purpose, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to author- ize the selectmen to cause a study and survey to be made for the construction of a sewage system and disposal plant and filter bed in the town, and raise the sum of $1500.00, or any sum, for this purpose, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for repairs to the present gasoline shovel, or to purchase a new gasoline shovel.
Article 41. To see if the town will purchase a new pick-up truck for the Highway Department and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Article 42. To see if the town will raise and ap- propriate the sum of $2500.00 to complete the improve- ment of the Three Rivers-Thorndike Road, between the Ware River Railroad crossing near No. 1 Mill, so-called, and St. Mary's Church in Thorndike, said amount to be used in conjunction with any money which may be al- lotted by the State or County, or both, under the provi- sions of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, or any other provision of law, for this purpose, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 43. To see if the town will vote to accept the following perpetual care funds which have been given to it during the year : Emma E. Converse $200.00; Estelle M. Howe $100.00; Frederick R. Sistare $100.00; Gladys G. Crosby $100.00; Alice T. Childs $100.00; James F. Mc- Elwain $200.00; Henry McElwain $100.00; Georgianna MacGeachey $100.00; Sarah Fenton $100.00; Albert B. Ramsdell $100.00; Elizabeth E. Frame (addition) $100.00; Etta M. Harris $100.00; Joseph P. Brown
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$300.00; William C. Millen $100.00; A. E. Peterson $100.00; Edward P. Brown $200.00; Archie E. and Alice J. Beebe $100.00; David B. Smith $100.00.
Article 44. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain an additional electric light on State Street, Bondsville, between property of Adam Broton and prop- erty of John Kulig.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the improvement of highways as follows :- (a) Improve Shaw Street in the Depot Vil- lage by changing the grade thereof, or otherwise; (b) Complete the oiling of the Old Warren Road from Palmer Center to the Boston Post Road.
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee to consider the matter of dividing the town into zones or districts under the provisions of General Laws and report its findings thereon to some future meet- ing of the town, and raise and appropriate any sum of money to be used by said committee in connection with its study and report.
Article 47. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the purchase and erection of street signs in the Depot Village.
Article 48. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Health to appoint any member thereof to the office or position of physician to the Board of Health, and determine and fix the salary of any such appointee, under the provisions of Section 4A of Chapter 41 of the Gen- eral Laws, and raise and appropriate any sum of money for the salary of such appointee.
Article 49. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the purchase of a cruiser car for the use of the police department, or take any action relative thereto.
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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.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at or before the holding of said meeting.
Given under our hands this thirteenth day of Jan- uary, A. D. 1941.
GEORGE B. CHENEY WILLIAM F. GRISWOLD CHARLES J. FOUNTAIN
Selectmen of Palmer
A true copy, Attest : THOMAS W. HOLT Constable of the Town of Palmer.
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Report of License Commissioners
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The following Licenses granted during the year 1940 :
Common Victualers 39
Innholders 6
All Alcoholic:
Innholders 5
Common Victualers 4
Common Victualers (Seasonal) 1
Package Goods Store 1
Druggists (Package Goods Store)
1
Clubs 5
Clubs (Seasonal)
1
Druggists 3
Malt Beverages and Wines :
Common Victualer 9
Package Goods Store 1
Package Goods Store
(Malt Beverages Only) 1
One Day Permits
(Malt Beverages Only) 8
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM E. OTIS, Chairman of Board of License Commissioners
Index
Animal Inspection 105
Assessors' Report 36
Auditors' Report 124
Balance Sheet for 1940
84
Board of Health 94
Board of Public Welfare
40
Board of Public Welfare for Aid to
Dependent Children 47
Cemetery Commissioners Report 23
Chief of Police 118
Forest Fire Warden
120
Jury List 101
Inspector of Slaughtering
109
License Commission
167
Milk Inspector
109
Moth Department
123
Old Age Assistance 49
Park Commissioners' Report
121
School Committee 131
98
Selectmen
54
Tax Collector's Report 110
Town Bookkeeper's Report 57
Town Clerk's Report 5
Town Officers-Expiration Date 3
Town Warrant 153
Tree Warden 112
Treasurer's Report 52
Trial Balance 90
Young Men's Library Association 114
W. P. A.
92
Sealer of Weights and Measures Report
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