USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1953 > Part 5
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Curriculum Study.
A curriculum study committee, formed in the high school last year, made recommendations for changes in the freshman program
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of studies. This committee will follow through again this year and recommend changes in the sophomore program. This study is part of a four-year plan that will enable us to bring our text- books, materials, and curriculum offerings as up-to-date as pos- sible. In the main, the committee recommended fewer electives, with a more prescribed balanced curriculum for all pupils.
Another study group, consisting of all English teachers, was formed this year. The aims and purposes of this group are to cor- relate the English program more closely from year to year; to employ better text materials; to fit the English needs more close- ly to the class groups; to improve the school library with selected books; and to give continued emphasis to vocabulary building, composition, and spelling. This group will meet several times this year. As a result, our English aims and objectives should be clear- er; and an improvement should result in the over-all program.
New Materials.
A new science program is complete in all elementary grades.
New library books have been added in all elementary schools and the high school.
New maps and globes to accompany our social studies pro- gram have been placed in grades four, five, and six and will be completed in grades seven and eight after the first of the year.
School Entrance Age.
The entrance age for first-grade pupils is as follows:
Children who will be six years of age on or before December 30, 1954, will be eligible to enter in the fall without examination. Children who reach their sixth birthday in January, 1955, may en- ter upon passing an examination that will be administered at the close of the school year. Parents must call the superintendent's office on or before May 15 to register pupils for the test. Parents are asked not to ask for exceptions to this rule, since none will be granted.
Budget.
The 1954 budget represents a total increase of $33,085.00 over last year. An analysis of this budget shows that, in the main, the increase is due to salaries, transportation, insurance, and a sum of money recommended by the survey committee to continue and expand a program of modernization of our schools.
It is the intent of the School Department that every effort will be made to operate the schools as efficiently and economically as possible.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, may I take the opportunity to express my sin- cere appreciation to the School Committee, a loyal and helpful staff, Parent-Teacher Associations, cooperative parents and friends, businessmen, community organizations, and all others who have given the School Department their wholehearted sup- port in its objective to provide a successful school program for your children.
Respectfully submitted,
DONALD F. McCAFFREY
Superintendent of Schools
January 4, 1954.
Statement-December 31, 1953
Appropriation
Expended
Balance
General Expenses
$13,550.00
$13,548.56
$1.44
Expenses of Instruction
201,550.00
200,320.64
1,229.36
Expenses of Operating
40,700.00
40,674.99
25.01
Repairs
17,100.00
17,098.91
1.09
Auxiliary Agencies
33,935.00
33,930.11
4.89
Furniture and Furnishings
1,500.00
1,497.00
3.00
Trade School
11,500.00
11,491.88
8.12
Retirements
4,290.00
4,289.80
.20
$324,125.00
$322,851.89
$1,273.11
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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 inhabitants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of town officers, to meet at the several polling places in said Palmer, designated by the selectmen, to wit: In Precinct A, at the High School Gym- nasium on Converse Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at the Thorndike Grammar School in Thorndike; in Precinct C, at the Three Rivers Grammar School in Three Rivers, and in Pre- cinct D, at the Bondsville Grammar School in Bondsville, on Mon- day, the first day of February, A. D. 1954, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the town, for the following officers, 3 Selectmen, 5 Constables, 3 License Commissioners, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Tree Warden, all for the term of one year; 1 Assessor, 1 Member of the Board of Public Welfare, 1 Cemetery Commissioner, 2 Mem- bers of the School Committee, Town Clerk, all for the term of three years; and 2 Members of the Planning Board for the term of five years.
The polls will be open at ten o'clock in the forenoon and will be closed at eight o'clock in the evening.
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 Falmer, on Mon- cay, the eighth day of February, A. D. 1954, 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.
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Article 4. To raise money and make appropriations to de- fray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Article 5. To hear and act on reports of committees.
Article 6. To choose committees and give them instructions.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to authorize the sel- ectmen to sell at public auction, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some con- venient 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 whomsoever they may authorize to hold such auction may reject any bid which they deem inade- quate, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to authorize the sel- ectmen to sell at public auction, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some con- venient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, or at private sale, any old and obsolete equipment or personal property, provided that the selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such auction or sale may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative there- to.
Article 9. To see if the town will raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 10. To see if the town will vote to appropriate or transfer from the parking meter account any sum of money for (a) police enforcement; (b) constructing, reconstructing, resur- facing, operating and maintaining off street parking areas; (c) a miscellaneous fund under the exclusive control of the selectmen to be used for purposes authorized by law; (d) contribution to- ward cost of snow removal; (e) contribution toward cost of re- surfacing Main Street, Depot Village between Central Street and Church Street.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of money necessary to pay overdraft on snow re- moval.
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to transfer any sum of money from the Overlay Reserve account to the Reserve Fund, or take any action relative thereto.
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Article 13. To see if the town will vote to appropriate any sum of money from Free Cash to reduce the 1954 tax levy, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to accept the fol- lowing Perpetual Care Funds which have been given to it during the year: George and Grace Chamberlain $100.00; Harriet Paine $100.00; Janet C. Parker $150.00; Gertrude J. Blue $50.00; Agnes Chaples $200.00; George H. Hall $200.00; Charles F. Dingman $200.00; Edward G. Hubert $200.00; Henry H. Trappe $200.00; Charles H. and Frank S. Keith $300.00.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to accept the legacy to the Town of Palmer under the Will of Nellie S. Crott, late of Brookfield, which legacy as appears in the Third Clause of said Will is as follows:
"To the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts, the sum of two hundred dollars to forever held and invested by it and the income therefrom to be used and applied annually for the perpetual care, improvement and embellishment of the lot of Lewis and Laura Stutson in the Four Courners Cemetery in Three Rivers in said Palmer", or take any action relative thereto.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of fifty ($50.00) dollars to be expended in the Town by the Hampden County Trustees for Aid to Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws of Massa- chusetts, Chapter 128, Section 42.
Article 17. To see if the town will raise and appropriate sny sum of money to make ALL of the following listed repairs to Palmer Town Hall situated at Four Corners in the Town of Palmer,
1. Install metal window sash with inside wire guard.
2. Install proper electrical fixtures, flush to ceiling and properly guarded.
3. Install complete and proper foundation for the entire building complete with lip for future brick veneering.
4. Strengthen, level and otherwise repair the floor dropping it to as low a level as possible.
5. Paint the outside of the building.
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6. Level ceiling and install acoustical tile on ceiling and a proper distance down the walls.
7. Cover the remainder of the walls with some suitable ma- terial.
8. Build an addition at the southeast exit to include Men's and Women's toilets and washrooms and heat for same.
9. Build an entry at the front door so the hall proper does not open directly outside.
10. Build a new speaker's platform and rostrum.
11. Grade and otherwise landscape the grounds.
12. Remove all rubbish and old curbstones from the pro- perty.
Article 18. To see if the town will lease the Wenimesset School Building in Three Rivers to the Romuald Renaud Post 74 of the American Veterans of World War II for a term of five years, at a rental of $1.00 per year for use as quarters and for recreational facilities, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to remodel, repair and generally improve the Thorndike Street School in the Depot Village, sometimes known as "Old High School" and appropriate and raise by taxation or otherwise, or by transfer from available funds, any sum of money therefor and authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee from the Finance Committee and School Committee to determine said remodeling, repairing and improv- ing, the letting of contracts therefor and general supervision of the work, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate thirty-five hundred ($3500.00) dollars or any other sum for the express purpose of decorating and beautifying the Vil- lages of Bondsville, Thorndike, Three Rivers and Depot Village during the Christmas Holiday Season, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money to defray expenses of taking State Cen- sus to be taken on January 1, 1955.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for installation of ten aluminum elec-
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tric light poles on Main Street, Village of Three Rivers, said sum to cover excess costs over standard wood construction poles or take any action relative thereto.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to install, maintain and raise and appropriate money for additional street lights as follows:
(a) One light at intersection of North Main Street and Shaw Street, Depot Village;
(b) One light at northerly end of Shaw Street, Depot Vil- lage;
(c) Three lights on Old Warren Road northeasterly of Town Farm;
(d) Necessary lights from Stewart Street to High Street, Village of Bondsville;
(e) One light on Pole #18, State Street, Village of Bonds- ville;
(f) One light on Pole #12, Longview Street, Depot Village;
(g) Four lights on Belchertown Street, Village of Three Rivers;
(h) One light at corner of Quaboag and Cheney Streets, Vil- lage of Three Rivers;
(i) One light on Pole #20, end of Squier Street, Depot Vil- lage;
(j) Installation of higher powered lighting on Lariviere Street, Village of Three Rivers, directly opposite new parking lot of Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce;
(k) One light on Buckland Street, Depot Village at a point midway between the end of Spring Street and intersection of Longview and Buckland Streets;
(1) One light on Pole #20, Flynt Street, Lake Thompson District near boundaries of properties of Francis N. Fountain and James A. Girouard;
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(m) One light on Pole #4919, Beech Street, Lake Thompson District near residence of Stephen Dranka;
(n) Three lights on Bondsville Road, Village of Three Rivers as follows:
One light on Pole #54 in front of residence of
Roch Nietupski;
One light on Pole #64 in front of property of
Three Rivers Fire District;
One light on Pole #74 in front of residence of Dosylvia Domey;
(o) One light on High Street, Depot Village near residence of Charles Sherman;
(p) One light at corner of Pleasant Street and Fila Road Village of Thorndike.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to instruct the Sel- ectmen to make orders providing for the assessment upon abut- ting estates of an amount not exceeding one-half the cost of con- struction of a new sidewalk with material of more permanent char- acter than that with which it was originally constructed, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the construction of sidewalks and curbings and/or sidewalk or curbing, or take any action relative thereto on the projects set forth as follows:
(a) New sidewalk on West side of Pearl Street, Depot Vil- lage, from Park Street southerly to Pleasant Street, a distance of approximately two hundred fifty (250) feet;
(b) Sidewalk from foot of stairs to High Street, Village of Bondsville;
(c) Sidewalk from Main and Church Streets, Village of Thorndike, West side, northerly a distance of approximately two hundred thirty (230) feet;
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(d) Sidewalk on Commercial Street, Village of Thorndike, West side, entire length of said street;
(e) Sidewalk on Commercial Street, Village of Thorndike, East side, from Quink's Market to property of one Midura;
(f) New concrete sidewalk on Palmer Street, Village of Three Rivers, a distance of approximately eighteen hundred (1800) feet;
(g) New sidewalk on Maple Street, Depot Village, East side, from Park Street northerly to property of Leo Cordiali;
(h) Sidewalk on easterly side of Charles Street, Village of Three Rivers;
(i) Replacement of existing sidewalk on West side of Thorn- dike Street, Depot Village, from Foster Street to Pine Street;
(j) Complete curbing, King Street, Depot Village, West side, from Pine Street to Highland Street;
(k) Complete curbing on King Street, Depot Village, East side, from Pine Street to North Main Street;
(I) Reconstruction of sidewalk on North Street, Village of Three Rivers, South side, from property of Walter Wojcik to prop- erty of Michael Magiera, a distance of approximately three hun- dred twenty (320) feet;
(m) Sidewalk and curbing on Lariviere Street, Village of Three Rivers, West side, from existing walk northerly approxi- mately one hundred fifty (150) feet;
(n) Sidewalk across Common, Village of Three Rivers, from East corner to West corner;
(o) Sidewalk and curb on Squier Street, Depot Village, East side from Highland Street to Pine Street;
(p) Replacement of sidewalk on Park Street, Depot Vil- lage, South side, from Walnut Street to Old Fire Station;
(q) Sidewalk on Belchertown Street, Village of Three Riv- ers, East side, from present walk to Belchertown line;
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(r) Sidewalk and curbing on North Main street, Depot Vil- lage, West side, from Temple Street to Arnold Street, a distance of approximately six hundred ninety (690) feet;
(s) Sidewalk on Converse Street, Depot Village, South side, from Walnut Street to Central Street, a distance of approximately one hundred seventy-five (175) feet;
(t) Sidewalk on River Street, Village of Thorndike, from existing walk to property of Adam Wilk;
(u) Sidewalk, Pleasant Street, Depot Village, North side, from Walnut Street to Thorndike Street;
(v) Sidewalk, North Main Street, Depot Village, including relocation of curbing near Manley's Plumbing Store;
(w) Sidewalk, Main Street, Depot Village, South side, from Bridge Street to LeBlanc's Hardware Store;
(x) Sidewalk, Holbrook Street, Depot Village, East side;
(y) Sidewalk, Pine Street, Depot Village, South side;
(z) Sidewalk, Church Street, Village of Thorndike, from property of Reynolds at 41 Church Street, easterly a distance of approximately four hundred (400) feet.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for construction of sewers and proper catch basins, or take any action relative thereto on the following projects:
(a) Construction of sewer on Strong Street, Depot Village, from South Main Street southerly to Riverview Parkway;
(b) Construction of sewer on Summer Street, Village of Thorndike, from Pleasant Street northerly to residence of John Devereaux, or as far as deemed practicable;
(c) Construction of sewer on Birch Street, Village of Three Rivers, between Ford and Cheney Streets, a distance of approxi- mately three hundred (300) feet;
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(d) Construction of sewer on Main Street, Village of Thorn- dike, from end of present sewer near St. Mary's Church and run- ning thence Westerly approximately four hundred (400) feet.
(e) Construction of sewer and catch basin on North Street, Village of Three Rivers, from Pytka's Bakery Northerly to a point in front of residence of one Topor, approximately twelve hundred eighty (1280) feet;
(f) Extension of present sewer line in River Street, Village of Thorndike, from existing sewer line to property of one Wilk;
(g) Extension of sewers along Old County Highway cross- ing over to Route 32 at St. Thomas Cemetery and along Route 32, a distance of three thousand (3,000) feet, sewer to be pitched to drain into Ware River at Thorndike through main as now laid half way up hill to Palmer Center;
(h) Storm sewer on High Street, Depot Village;
(i) Sanitary sewer on High Street, Depot Village;
(j) Sewer on Main Street, Village of Bondsville;
(k) Sewer on Roosevelt Avenue, Depot Village;
(1) Storm sewer on Breckenridge Street, Depot Village, West side from brook to Park Street a distance of about four hundred (400) feet.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the purchase of the following items of equipment for use of the Highway Department, or take any action relative thereto:
(a) one 2 ton dump truck;
(b) one rake for grader;
(c) power steering for grader and loader
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to improve Main Street, Depot Village, from Central Street to Church Street, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor, said monies to be used together with any monies transferred or appropriated from the parking meter fund.
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Article 29. To see if the town will vote to improve Breck- enridge Street, Depot Village, a distance of about 4/10 of a mile between the two sections of presently improved road, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to improve Old War- ren Road between Mason District Road and residence of Ralph Blanchard by widening the sharp turn at the curve in said road, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to improve Fairview Street, Depot Village, from Shearer Street to Wright Street for purposes of making a more accessible approach to Wing Memorial Hospital, said improvement to be of comparable construction to that presently installed on Wright Street, and raise and appro- priate any sum of money therefor.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to resurface Mason District Road a distance of approximately twenty-five hundred (2500) feet, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to resurface Harvey Street, Village of Thorndike, from High Street to a point near residence of Anna Strzieminski, a distance of approximately six hundred fifty (650) feet, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 34. To see if the town will gravel and oil Flynt Street, from the end of the present oiled section, a distance of ap- proximately 1/3 of a mile, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to repair and other- wise improve High Street in the Depot Village, and raise and ap- propriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to improve North Street, Village of Three Rivers, from the end of the present im- proved surface near Pytka's Bakery and running northerly to the Belchertown line, a distance of approximately fifteen hundred fifty (1550) feet, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to resurface and otherwise improve Flynt Street, Lake Thompson District, from residence of Clarence Johnson southeasterly approximately twen-
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ty-two hundred (2200) feet, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to resurface and otherwise improve Carter Street, Lake Thompson District, from Flynt Street northerly, a distance of eleven hundred (1100) feet, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to improve and harden the road surface on Roosevelt Street, Depot Village, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to improve Commer- cial Street, Village of Thorndike, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 41. To see if the town will vote to improve and harden Beech Street, Lake Thompson District, and raise and ap- propriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to improve Cheney Street, Village of Three Rivers, a distance of approximately six hundred (600) feet, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 43. To see if the town will vote to improve Spring- field Street, Village of Three Rivers, from end of present im- proved surface to Ludlow Road, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 44. To see if the town will vote to improve Palmer Road, Village of Three Rivers, from present improved surface to the railroad underpass, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to improve and widen where necessary Bridge Street and Belchertown Road, Village of Three Rivers, from intersection of Bridge and Main Streets north- erly to the town line, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to improve Quaboag Street, Village of Three Rivers, a distance of approximately one hundred fifty (150) feet, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
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Article 47. To see if the town will vote to improve Cedar Street, Village of Three Rivers, a distance of approximately five hundred fifty (550) feet, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to improve Foster Street, also known as Airport Road, Village of Bondsville, from the end of the present improved surface to the town line, a dis- tance of approximately one-half (1/2) mile, and raise and appro- priate any sum of money therefor.
Article 49. To see if the town will vote to improve Emery Street, Village of Bondsville, from the end of the present improved surface to Forest Lake-Bondsville Road, a distance of approx- imately one-half (1/2) mile, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 50. To see if the town will vote to reconstruct and improve Highland Street, Depot Village, from Brown Street to King Street, and raise and appropriate any sum of money there- for.
Article 51. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the improvement of South Main Street, Depot Village, said sum to be used in conjunction with monies appropriated under Article 74 of the Warrant calling the Annual Town Meeting of February 9, 1953, or take any action re- lative thereto.
Article 52. To see if the town will vote to complete repairs on Mason District Road, or raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 53. To see if the town will vote to improve Fuller Street, Village of Bondsville, from Bondsville Road to Pine Street, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 54. To see if the town will vote to improve Blan- chard Street, Depot Village, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 55. To see if the town will vote to improve Maple Street, Village of Three Rivers, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
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ยท Article 56. To see if the town will vote to improve Converse Street, Depot Village, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 57. To see if the town will vote to improve Calkins Road, from Palmer Road to the top of the hill, and raise and ap- propriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 58. To see if the town will vote to improve and re- grade railroad crossing at Cheneyville, Village of Three Rivers, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by post- ing 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 Bondsville, seven days at least before the holding of said meeting and by publishing an attested copy thereof in at least two issues of the Journal-Register, a news- paper 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 sixth day of January, A. D. 1954.
s/ PETER F. WARAKOMSKI s/ GEORGE B. CHENEY s/ HERBERT W. BISHOP
Selectmen of Palmer
A true copy;
Attest: WILLIAM E. HOLT
Constable of Palmer
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Index
Animal Inspector 82
Assessors' Report 31
Balance Sheet for 1953 69
Board of Health
81
Board of Public Welfare 37
Board of Public Welfare for Aid to
Dependent Children 40
Board of Public Welfare on Disability Assistance 45
Cemetery Commissioner's Report
29
Chief of Police 72
3
Forest Fire Warden
88
Governmental Districts and Representatives
4
Jury List
78
Inspector of Slaughtering
71
License Commission 71
Milk Inspector 36
Moth Department 74
Old Age Assistance 42
Park Commissioners' Report
76
School Committee 89
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Sealer of Weights and Measures Report 34
Selectmen
7
Tax Collector's Report
27
Town Accountant's Report
47
Town Clerk's Report
8
Town Officers-1953
5
Town Warrant-1953 95
Tree Warden's Report 87
Treasurer's Report 30
Unexpended Balance 65
Veteran's Service Center 83
Vital Statistics
9
Young Men's Library Association 85
Facts About Palmer
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