USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1963 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
Fourteen years ago the Braintree Town Meeting Members appropriated $1,000.00 to assist in building the runway but through the 17 years of opera- tion private interests, aviators and persons interested in aviation have raised over $75,000.00 to build and keep the aviation field in excellent condition. Thousands of hours of hard labor have been donated to change the original low swamp area, which was a mosquito breeding tract of land, to build one of the best small airports in New England.
The Braintree Airport is an important factor in attracting new industrial and business firms to settle in Braintree. The Braintree Industrial and Busi- ness Development Commission, with over 1,000 acres of land zoned for ind- ustry, can truly state that Braintree is the only town on the South Shore with complete town owned municipal services, including a municipal airport, water system and electric power plant.
164
Thousands of small planes are now used by business executives to travel to distant points and transact important business with a great saving of time. The Braintree Airport is becoming a popular place for many business men to land their planes in the immediate area of their business locations and avoid a tedious trip from Norwood or Boston to the South Shore. Telephone facili- ties at the airport make it possible to secure quick transportation to local areas.
The Braintree Municipal Airport is located in an area far distant from the main residential section of the town. The pattern of approach and de- parture for planes is away from the town through the unpopulated Blue Hill area and the site has been declared by State Airport Authorities as one of the best in the Commonwealth.
The Braintree Airport Commission appreciates the cooperation of the Braintree Water Department for their sincere cooperation in making the Braintree Airport one of the important municipal facilities of the growing Town of Braintree.
REPORT OF THE BRAINTREE INDUSTRIAL & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR YEAR 1963
William G. Brooks, Chairman; Charles R. Furlong, Secretary; John O. Hold- en, Treasurer; William B. Webber, Archie T. Morrison, Paul H. Young (Selectmen); Frederick J. Klay (Planning Board); Warren J. Cuff (Assessors); Donato T. Richardi (Water Dept.); Carl W. R. Johnson (Electric Light Dept.); and Gerald J. Gray (Sewer Dept.).
Braintree's successful expansion in Industry and Business during the year 1963 can best be expressed by quoting a front page news release in the October issue of the magazine "Commerce Digest", published by the Massachusetts Department of Commerce as follows: "Braintree to use a colloquialism "Never Had It So Good. "What was hardly more than a suburban bedroom community for Boston, has now become one of the most industrialized towns on the South Shore. This transformation has taken place within the last five years, most of it during the latter half of that period.
"The expansion of Braintree with thriving new industrial and commercial business has been one of the real success stories of Massachusetts."
"Location has played an important role, but perhaps over and above that, the cooperative and aggressively friendly attitude of the community leaders has also been a major factor."
"For obvious reasons much of the expansion has taken place at or near the three throughways, Route 128, New Route 3 and the Southeast Expressway and State Route 37, all important to shippers and retailers for heavy traffic."
"Braintree's Planning Board and Business & Industrial Commission proved far sighted in their advanced planning over a period of 15 years and the 1000 acre zoned industrial areas, has provided the town with nine business and industrial locations, which cannot encroach upon or mar the residential sec- tions of the picturesque town.
165
"For years excessive residential expansion forced enlargement of the school system, more town services and higher property taxes. Advent of the South Shore Plaza Shopping Center, one of the finest and most successful in New England with 49 stores, plus the spurt in new business and industrial building, permitted the assessors to decrease the tax rate in 1962 by $5.00 per $1,000.00 valuation and in 1963 add only $1.00 to the rate, while many towns showed major increases during these years.
In the last 2-1/2 years Town Meeting Members have accepted the rec- ommendations of the Industrial Commission and voted to install three major trunk sewer lines to service several new industrial plants, that had taken op- tions on desirable land, if sewers were made available. The Industrial Com- mission is pleased to state that the companies requiring sewer connections have built plants or have announced dates to commence construction of build- ings. These major investments will pay big dividends in coming years to the taxpayers of Braintree and will service several hundred homes in addition to industrial and business enterprises.
The Wood Road sewer, completed this past summer, was built with the understanding that the owners of 65 acres of land on New Wood Road on the North Side of Route 128 would build and pay for water lines, fire hydrants, sewers and roads through their property, if the Town of Braintree installed the trunk line sewer to the entrance of the "Plaza Industrial Center." This group of four property owners completed and paid for their road and service installations six months in advance of the completion of the main sewer line. This new 2,000 foot black top road is now ready to service the remaining 60 acres of desirable land bordering Route 128. In early January the Wollaston Alloys Inc. foundry and the Henry Jenkins Transportation Co. moved into their new plants on Wood Road. The C. Healy Co., Thomas H. Hannaford, Pres. are building a 49,300 square foot industrial building with 4 front entrances and 8 loading platforms in the rear, designed for multiple occupancy. The interior will be finished to the specifications of the occupants. Large parking areas have been built at the sides and in the rear of the building. The view from this location is one of the most picturesque in New England and the four major highways are less than 3 minutes away and Boston can be reached in less than 14 minutes. The Red Coach Grill Co. recently announced that building operations will commence on their 4 acre plot on Granite St. opposite the entrance to Route 128, for a $500,000.00 Red Coach Grill to be ready for occupancy in early fall of 1964.
The second sewer line, for which Town Meeting Members appropriated $400,000.00 to service the Braintree Coca Cola Bottling Co. on Granite Street, on 6-1/2 acres of land in the "Messina Granite St. Industrial Center" has been approved for 30% Federal aid and will now cost the Town approximately $280,000.00. This sewer is now being installed by the Piatelli Const. Co. of Pond St., South Braintree as the lowest bidders, at a cost of $369,995.00. The aim of the Braintree Sewer Dept. is to complete this installation by April 1964. This trunk line sewer will service 2 industrial centers and later 3 and over 400 residential homes. Three separate sewer gangs are working through the winter months to complete the work on specified date.
The new Braintree Coca Cola Bottling Plant of 70,000 square feet, costing $1,000,000.00 for plant and equipment, was completely housed in before the severe winter weather arrived. The plant sets back 200 feet from Granite St. as called for by zoning regulations and will have a spacious grass plot and shrubs to beautify the approach to the most modern installation of the World Wide Coca Cola Company operation. The Messina Industrial Center on Granite St. now includes 120 acres for future industrial and business ex- pansion with sewer, water, gas and electricity available.
166
This sewer installation will also serve the newly announced Campanelli Industrial Park of approximately 40 acres adjoining the Messina Center. Be- side the present Campanelli Bros. buildings and lumber yard on the property, 24 acres of land are available for new industrial or business installations. This company has recently purchased land at the left of their present build- ings and the existing lumber yard is to be moved to the left of the administra- tive building, leaving the 24 acres of preferred land serviced by water, sewers, gas and power with roads for several new plants. The Campanelli Trust new $38,000.00 garage was added this past year.
The third sewer appropriation of $130,000.00 voted at the Special Town Meeting this past year, to service the $1,000,000.00 building of the Tubular Rivet & Stud plant, on West St., Old Route 128, on property formerly owned by Alexander and Mary Dymsza, once the Ferguson Riding School farm, with an area of 34.8 acres, is now being studied for installation by the Braintree Sewer Dept. and is planned for August 1964 completion. Negotiations are under way for Federal appropriation of 30% for this installation. 92 homes will eventually be serviced from this main sewer line in addition to the industrial property.
Tubular Rivet & Stud, established in Quincy almost 100 years ago, has purchased this property and a recent newspaper release states that building operations have been fully sanctioned by parent companies and building opera- tions will commence in early spring, with a target date of August 1964 for plant operations to commence. This company, a division of the Townsend Co. of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, was established in 1816. This large group of plants was purchased by Textron Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island, a National Company with many plants producing a variety of products throughout the United States. Officials of the Tubular Rivet & Stud Co. state that operations will be moved from the Wollaston plant to Braintree when buildings are com- pleted. Approximately 300 persons will be employed in the new stream line 130,000 square foot building.
Announcement was made on October 21, 1963 after 1-1/2 years of negotia- tions that the Boston Gear Works of North Quincy a division of the Murray Corporation of Texas Inc., Dallas, Texas, has purchased 80 acres of land from the Prosperity Development Corporation, through Joseph Della Valle, President of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This parcel of land is located on the southern side of Columbian Street, Old Route 128, bordered on the west by the high tension line of the Boston Edison Co. and largely on the east by the Weymouth Town line. The acquisition of land will be used for future expan- sion of Boston Gear Works operations. This company expects to continue to utilize its present facilities in Quincy. The Gear Works was founded in 1877 and produces a complete line of stock gears and power transmissions. The Prosperity area, on the Weymouth side of Braintree to Holbrook, contains 400 acres of land zoned for industry and 200 acres zoned for Class A housing of 25,000 square feet per lot, for residential housing.
The Ainslie Corporation at 531 Pond Street, South Braintree, completed a 15,000 square foot $75,000.00 addition to their present modern plant for exec- utive, engineering and manufacturing facilities. Four years ago this company chose Braintree for their manufacturing operations, on a 15 acre site. Two years ago the company added a 7500 sq. ft. building for additional engineering and manufacturing space.
The Pond Street Messina Industrial Center has had extensive expansion this past year with the addition of the Hixon Electric Co. $78,000.00, 6700 square foot brick and masonry structure. G. Malcolm Hixon, president and treasurer of this industrial and institutional electrical contracting company has been a life long resident of Braintree. The Republic Floors Inc. have completed a
167
6,000 square foot manufacturing building including office and warehouse in the area adjoining the Hixon Electric plant. Last fall this Nationwide Manufacturer and Distributor of "Sports Floors" started construction of an addition to their plant to double the capacity of their operation. These two new plants adjoin the 21,000 sq. ft. steel and concrete structure of the Whiting Milk Company who employs approximately 225 people and operate 125 refrigerated trucks to deliver Whiting products on the South Shore. This company chose Brain- tree as the center of their delivery operations with easy access to all high- ways. At the extreme end of the Messina Pond St. Center the F. E. Daddario Corporation has constructed a massive equipment garage for heavy equip- ment and as a storage center.
The Carlino "Roc Sam" 18 acre Industrial Park on Pond Street adjoining the Messina Center, has taken on a new look with the demolition of the old original homestead, garage and office. Recently the Piatelli Construction Corporation have moved into a new office building and large equipment Cen- ter for heavy sewer equipment. Guy Tesaro of Braintree has opened the new Jamaica Oil Co. office building and garage in the adjoining area. Felix Carlino has a new Gasoline and Service Station under construction on the site of the original Carlino garage and office.
The new Valle's $394,000.00 Steak House at the junction of Union Street and the Southeast Expressway and new Route 3, now under construction will have a building area of 27,000 square feet on a 5 acre plot of land with park- ing facilities for 500 cars. The auditorium and banquet hall of over 6,000 sq. ft. will be used for trade shows and exhibitions. This site on L. Grossman & Sons property is located on one of the most strategic highway areas in New England with on and off ramps to the Expressway going both north and south, directly in front of the restaurant location. Over 40,000 yards of fill was used to bring the restaurant site at the height of the major highway. This fill was taken from Upper Great Pond, one of Braintree's major water supply areas, and will allow over 5 million gallons of new water storage capacity in upper Great Pond. L. Grossman & Sons have also built new buildings this past year as follows: storage building $91,125.00, addition to store $3,500.00, storage building $41,225.00, and commercial garage $19,500.00. The Grossman ware- house building formerly occupied by Proctor and Gamble, located on Ivory Street, is now occupied by the Carter Rice Paper Company. Proctor & Gamble has built a new warehouse adjoining their manufacturing plant in Quincy.
In August of 1963 the F. Leroy Fox, Inc. formerly of 65 Franklin St., Bos- ton, moved into a new building at 196 Plain St., South Braintree, on land of the South Shore Metal Products Co. This company, founded in 1927 is engaged in the construction of commercial and industrial buildings.
The Forbes two story building of C. Healy Co., Thos. H. Hannaford, Pres. located on Forbes Road on the South side of Route 128, is now almost com - pletely occupied with the following tenants: Albee, Harrold and Hirth, Engin- eering Consultants; Shelby Mutual Insurance Co., Aetna Casualty and Surety Co., Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Co., A. Kimball & Son, Division of Litton Industries, Craftsman Life Insurance Co., C. L. Guild Construction Co., Associated Schools, C. Healy Co. Thos. H. Hannaford, Pioneer Carmer Co., E. Wallace Pyne Co., Accountant, F. E. Barret, Jr., Attorney, F. J. Weiner Co., Celler & Celler, Accountants, Industrial Union Department, Crysler Leasing Corp., Hazeltine Corp. Electro Acoustic System Laboratory, Libby McNeal and Libby and Arthur G. Curren Co. The 40 alley Bowling Alley formerly Hollywood Lanes is now the Braintree Lanes under the owner man- agement of C. Healy Co., Thos. H. Hannaford. The extensive parking areas for the Forbes Building and ideal location on the South side of Route 128 has been a major feature in attracting regional companies with agencies on all major highways.
168
Braintree is fast becoming a "Regional Insurance Area" with Shelby, Aetna, Mass. Mutual, Craftsman, Liberty Mutual, and Lumbermans with Regional Headquarters now located in Braintree the "Capitol of the South Shore."
Other new additions to Braintree's building program in the year 1963 are T. J. Flatley Apartment Buildings, 12 units $300,000.00 in area opposite Braintree Post Office, Henry Pompeo Braintree Hlds. Office and Store addi- tions, George Ross modernization of Office Building at 5 Corners, King Optical Co. addition to office building, Anthony J. DiBona, Machine Shop, Paul Sweezey addition to Company Garage, 3 new Gasolene and Lubritorium Stations, Mans- field Belyea New Lubritorium, New Baptist Church Washington Street, Addition to Dr. Allen's Dental Office South Braintree Radio Tower Station W.J.D.A. on Blueberry Hill. John Deere Building of Conner Motor Company, and others.
The fast growing 100 acre South Shore Plaza Shopping Center located at the junction of all major highways has completed Phase 1 and is now working on Phase 2 for further expansion from the present 49 stores with 3,000 parking stations without meters to the aim of 90 stores with 7,000 parking places. The Plaza report for the year 1963 from Paul Lowney, General Manager is as follows: The year 1963 was a banner year for South Shore Plaza. The number of stores has grown to 49 with the opening of Fischer's Bakery and Doran's Delicatessen. Also in 1963 South Shore Plaza added an Optometrist's- Office, Ann Taylor, a women's sportswear shop, Lane Bryant, Singer Sewing Machine Co., a Gulf Service Station and a 300 seat Meeting Room. The Meet- ing Room has been offered, for a minimum charge, to any South Shore Civic Group. With the opening of the Meeting Room, South Shore Plaza hopes to be- come a community center as well as a center for shopping, on the South Shore. "
"South Shore Plaza's 50th store will be open in early 1964. The progress South Shore Plaza has shown in 1963 has been a tremendous one. More and more people from a widening market area are now visiting South Shore Plaza. With the addition of the new tenants, South Shore Plaza's square footage now stands at approximately 500,000."
"With establishments such as the Rib Room and Tivoli House Restaurants, Charter House Hotel, James David Shoe, the Finishing Touch, and the Liberty Mutual Insurance office, all of which opened in 1962, South Shore Plaza is widening its shopping range."
Braintree has a bright future with many prospects for added business and industrial building. Please remember that immediate tax reduction cannot be expected until buildings are completed. Much time is consumed in completing plans and large buildings take many months to build and outfit with machinery. Major sewer lines must be paid for by the first buildings erected in new ind- ustrial areas. Without sewers and water lines and complete service facilities large industrial plants cannot operate. Once these services are installed new taxes will help to reduce tax rates. At the present time necessary salary in- creases for school and town employees together with demands for major town improvements will definitely call for Luxury High Rise Apartment Buildings to furnish additional revenue and housing for people whose families have graduated from the family homestead. These buildings should be located in one area of Braintree that now houses only business and industrial buildings.
The Braintree Industrial Commission appreciates the splendid cooperation of all Braintree Officials and Service Commissions during the past year. All leads to new prospects who wish to build in Braintree should be referred to members of the Industrial Commission.
WILLIAM G. BROOKS
169
REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT - 1963 CHESTER F. LANGTRY, Town Engineer
The Engineering Department has carried out the usual activities during the past year. This office serves as a central information agency for providing all types of information to the people of Braintree concerning land develop- ments, land use and information regarding planning and zoning.
A number of services were carried out for other Town departments, as follows:
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Betterment plans were made, cost estimates were figured and sidewalks were staked out on the following streets:
Elliot Street-east side-from Walnut Street to Stetson Street Faxon Street-west side-from Commercial Street to Stetson Street French Avenue-both sides-from Holbrook Avenue to Union Street Lakeside Drive-north side-from Walnut Street to Lakeside School Maple Street-west side-from Hollis Avenue to Monatiquot Avenue River Street-south side-from Arnold Street to Middle Street Stetson Street-north side-from Brookside Road to Elliot Street Walnut Street-east side-from No. 191 to No. 257
Willard Street-east side-from Stetson Street to Claremont Street
Street layout plans were made of the following:
Belknap Road - from Cain Avenue to Cranmore Road
Birch Street - from Forest Street to Daniel Road Forbes Road - from Granite Street to end Helen Road - from Norfolk Road to Doris Road Norfolk Road - from Helen Road to Middle Street
Old Country Way - from No. 255 to South Street Selwyn Road - from Court Road to Cain Avenue Tower Hill Road - from Pond Street to end Winter Street - from Forest Street to Daniel Road
Gutter grades were established on Nickerson Road, Mt. Vernon Street, Birchcroft Road and Washington Street.
Drains were staked out on French Avenue and Hayward Street and the Cen- tral Avenue drain was re-staked.
Forbes Road was staked out and grades established; Winthrop Avenue and Forest Street were re-staked.
Lot corners were replaced at 53 Forest Street.
PLANNING BOARD
Revised subdivision plans and made several changes that were referred back to the subdivider.
Reviewed proposed subdivision changes and offered several suggestions.
170
WATER DEPARTMENT
Staked street lines on Gordon Road and Aspinwall Road. Provided deeds and plans for the Crowley Pit Taking. Located all fuel tanks at all pumping stations.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Layouts were made for stop signs at the intersections of the following streets:
Common Street and Washington Street Commercial Street and Adams Street Division Street and Liberty Street
PARK DEPARTMENT
Located property lines at Beechwood Road and Vinedale Road for Parking Area.
Staked out Little League Ball Field off Pond Street.
MISCELLANEOUS
Staked lot at No. 69 Hillside Road (Veterans Housing).
Plans and prints were furnished the Industrial Development Commission upon request.
Furnished plan of land known as "Pond Meadows" off Liberty Street to the Conservation Committee.
Street lines were staked on Carter Road, Dewey Road, Edgehill Road, Hill- crest Road, Somerville Avenue, Trefton Drive and West Street.
One thousand deeds were processed for the Board of Assessors and the necessary changes made on plans and records.
All subdivision plans from the Registry of Deeds were processed and changes made on Assessors Plans.
One hundred sixty two new buildings were located and plotted on Assessors Plans, together with two hundred ten additions.
Mr. Harold C. Pearl, the Town Engineer who served the Town since May 2, 1955, reached the mandatory retirement age and left the Town's service as of July 1, 1963. During the period from July 1st to November 4th the Town had no Town Engineer, but the functions of the Department were ably carried out by the Senior Engineering Aides and other departmental personnel until the new Town Engineer became associated with the Town on the 4th of November.
This department has received considerable assistance from other depart- ments, which is properly appreciated.
171
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BRAINTREE ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT - 1963
Your Commissioners submit the Annual Report of the Braintree Electric Light Department for the year ending December 31, 1963.
ERNEST S. REYNOLDS, Chairman CARL W. R. JOHNSON, Secretary WALTER J. HANSEN
MANAGER'S REPORT TO THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
Gentlemen:
The Braintree Electric Light Department has completed its 71st year of service to the Town and its occupants. The past year has, in the overall pic- ture, been one of continued growth and prosperity. The last three months of the year showed signs of decreasing peak loads with the Kwh. output on some weeks dropping behind that of the previous year. Peak load, which normally occurs during the Christmas Season, did not exceed 26,900 Kw. as compared with 27,500 Kw. established in 1962. The Kilowatt hour output for December, 1963, exceeded that of 1962 by 3.8% for a new high of 12,078,000 Kwh. in one month.
Rising costs, in all areas of operation, are increasing the cost per Kwh. delivered to the Customer. On the other hand, increasing customer usage which extends billing to the lowest steps on our rates, is decreasing our rate of return per Kwh. sold. The compensating factors against these two trends (increasing costs and decreasing returns) are higher sales volume with low- er incremental returns and greater efficiency in the method of generating and distributing power.
The following comparison of 1963 and 1962 Sales shows an increase of 4.22% for the year 1963:
1963 - Kwh.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.