USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1931 > Part 18
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Question (2)-Shall the following vote which was approved by the Saugus Limited Town Meeting under date of April 13, 1931, by a vote of 100 in the affirmative and 62 in the negative, be affirmed ?
"Voted : That the town do accept Chapter 240, Acts of 1920, relative to certain sports and games per- mitted on the Lord's Day."
233
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
1931]
The polls will open at 12 o'clock noon and shall close at 8 o'clock P.M., and you are hereby directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the usual places seven days, at least, before the time of holding said meeting, and to distribute copies, as provided by the by-laws at least four days before.
HEREOF, FAIL NOT, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands and Town Seal this fifth day of May, A.D., nineteen hundred and thirty-one.
[TOWN SEAL]
GEORGE H. QUARMBY, JOHN C. PITMAN, HARRY WOODWARD, Board of Selectmen.
A true copy. Attest :
WALTER A. WILSON, Town Clerk.
A true copy. Attest :
W. CHARLES SELLICK, Constable.
234
Town Vote Cast on Referenda May 25, 1931
QUESTION ONE - HIGH SCHOOL
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Total
Yes
356
90
96
266
1 04
58
1 38
158
1,266
No
112
308
246
66
88
247
187
2 89
1,543
Blanks
8
IO
9
IO
3
I
7
I I
59
Total
476
408
35I
342
195
306
332
453
2,868
QUESTION TWO
SUNDAY SPORTS
Yes
308
232
1 92
219
I34
189
I55
300
1,729
No
156
165
152
109
60
IIO
1 70
44
1, 065
Blanks
I 2
I I
7
14
I
7
7
14
73
Total
476
108
35 I
342
195
306
332
458
2,868
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
235
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
1931]
WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
July 13, 1931
TOWN OF SAUGUS
ESSEX, SS.
To W. Charles Sellick, Constable of the Town of Saugus,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Saugus, qualified to vote in town elections and town affairs to assemble in the Town Hall, on Monday evening, July thir- teenth, nineteen hundred and thirty-one, at eight o'clock, to hear and act on the following articles, viz :
ARTICLE 1. To hear and act on reports of Committees.
ART. 2. To see if the town will determine the location of the new High School building, the erection of which was authorized by vote of the annual town meeting held in March last ; authorize the selectmen to acquire land therefor by emin- ent domain, purchase or otherwise ; appropriate money for said purpose and determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended, or take any action in the premises, agree- able to the petition of Charles E. Thrasher and others.
ART. 3. To see if the town will establish a committee of five (5) registered voters to be chosen by the moderator, one of whom shall be a member of the School Committee, one a member of the Finance Committee and one a member of the Planning Board, and authorize and empower such committee to procure, determine and approve plans for and to construct, equip and furnish the new High School building, the erection of which was authorized by vote of the annual town meeting held in March last. Agreeable to the petition of Charles E. Thrasher and others.
ART. 4. To see if the town will vote to purchase, or take by right of eminent domain for school purposes the following described land : Lot A-24 on Plan 1018 on file in Assessors'
236
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Office, Saugus, Mass., containing 4.36 acres, or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of Charles B. McDuffee and others.
ART. 5. To see if the town will vote to appropriate for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of Article 4, of this warrant, the sum of $3,437.50 or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of Charles B. McDuffee and others.
ART. 6. To see if the town will vote to construct a new High School building on that portion of the Saugus Infirmary property bounded westerly by the Newburyport Turnpike, northerly by land now or formerly of Ryman, Drury and the heirs of Caroline A. Ames, easterly by land now or formerly of Shepherd & Davis, and southerly by a way, and on such adjoin- ing land as may be required by the town, and said building to have a new and original equipment, or to see what action the town will take in the matter agreeable to the petition of the School House Investigating Committee.
ART. 7. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee of five citizens, one of whom shall be a member of the School Committee, to have full charge of all matters relating to the construction of the new High School building, and to provide new and original equipment for said building, and said com- mittee shall have full authority to bind the town in all contracts and obligations which they may deem necessary and expedient to enter into in connection with said work in a sum not to ex- ceed $330,000, or to see what action the town will take in the matter agreeable to the petition of the School House Investiga- ting Committee.
ART. 8. To see if the town will vote to purchase, or take by right of eminent domain for school purposes the following described land : Lot No. 820 as shown on Assessors' plan 1024 town of Saugus, now or formerly owned by George Alkides or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of C. F. Nelson Pratt and others.
ART. 9. To see if the town will vote to appropriate for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of Article 8, of this warrant, the sum of $17,000 or to see what action the town will
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING .
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take in the matter agreeable to the petition of C. F. Nelson Pratt and others.
ART. JO. To see if the town will vote to build an addition of 26 rooms to the High School, above the basement, not in- cluding any appropriation for land damage, agreeable to the petition of Frank Humphries and others.
ART. II. To see if the town will vote to acquire by right of eminent domain or by purchase, for school purposes, the Cohen premises shown as lot A-I on Plan 2003 on file in the Assessors' Office, which premises are located on 223 Central street and have an area of approximately 8.6 acres, or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of Harry B. Bowne and others.
ART. 12. To see if the town will vote to appropriate or raise by borrowing a sum not to exceed $15,500 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of Article 11, and to defray all expenses connected therewith, or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of Harry B. Bowne and others.
ART. 13. To see if the town will vote to rescind its action under Article 25 of the Annual Town Meeting of March II, 1931 or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of C. F. Nelson Pratt and others.
ART. 14. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for repairing the roof of the Sweetser School building, pointing up walls of parapet and covering both cornices and walls with copper, agreeable to the petition of the School Committee.
ART. 15. To see if the town votes to authorize the Select- men to construct a permanent sidewalk on the easterly side of Lincoln Avenue in front of the property owned by Joseph W. Upham et al a distance of about 108 feet, to cost approximately $330.00, agreeable to the petition of Joseph Upham and others.
ART. 16. To see if the town will vote to make Lincoln avenue a through way from the Saugus-Lynn line to the Saugus- Revere line or to see what action the town will take in the matter agreeable to the petition of the Board of Selectmen.
[Dec. 31
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
ART. 17. To see if the town will vote to sell the Old Legion Building in East Saugus to the Polish-American Association or to see what action the town will take in the matter agreeable to the petition of the Board of Selectmen.
ART. IS. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $250.00 for the repair of the gutters of the Town Hall agreeable to the petition of the Board of Selectmen.
ART. 19. To see if the town will vote to accept Hood street as per plan and specifications on file with the Town Clerk or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of Isaac A. Miller and others.
ART. 20. To see if the town will vote to accept Smith road as per plan and specifications on file with the Town Clerk, or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of James L. Conway and others.
ART. 21. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen and their successors in office to sell at private sale any of the property which the town may have acquired or may hereafter acquire through proceedings based upon non-payment of taxes or under proceedings for the sale of lands of low value, to impose upon the property so sold such restrictions, reserva- tions or conditions as shall be deemed expedient, and to execute and deliver in the name and under the seal of the town quitclaim deeds or other instruments therefor, or to see what action the town will take in the matter agreeable to the petition of the Board of Selectmen.
ART. 22. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer and his successors in office to assign tax titles now held, or hereafter acquired, by the town or any interest in property on which the town now has or hereafter acquires tax titles, and to execute and deliver in the name and under the seal of the town proper instruments therefor, or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of the Board of Selectmen.
ART. 23. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $1, 187.00 to construct a surface drain with necessary catch basins on Willis street, through released property to and across
239
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
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Winter street to playground brook or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of Arthur Armstrong and others.
ART. 24. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,000 to pay half the cost of installation of automatic traffic lights at the junction of Walnut street and Broadway provided the State Department of Public Works provide a like sum as their proportionate share, agreeable to the petition of Henry A. B. Peckham.
ART. 25. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,000 to pay half the cost of installation of automatic traffic lights at the junction of Essex street and Broadway, provided the State Department of Public Works provides a like sum as their proportionate share, agreeable to the petition of Henry A. B. Peckham.
ART. 26. To see if the town will transfer the unexpended balance of the Central street-Baker street relaying mains appro- priation to water extension or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of the Board of Selectmen.
ART. 27. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $2,602.00 to extend the water main on Basswood avenue a distance of 550 feet or to see what action the town will take in the matter agreeable to the petition of Claire and Albert Geary.
ART. 28. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 for Highways, Fences and Bridges and Drainage, the work to be done by the Town's Unemployed, agreeable to the petition of the Unemployment Reference Committee.
ART. 29. To see if the town will vote to accept that portion of Pearson street, not now accepted, a distance of about 400 feet, in accordance with plan and specifications on file with the Town Clerk, from the junction of Pearson and Jasper streets to the portion now accepted, making it a public way in its entirety, or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of Herman Hancock and others.
:40
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
ART. 30. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $1,663.70 for unpaid bills for 1930 and previous years as follows :
Public Welfare
$807 79
Soldiers' 'Relief .
263 75
Snow and Ice 84 35
Schools
189 32
Highway
IS2 29
Water Maintenance
12 50
Cemetery
48 00
Law Department
48 20
Sealer of Weights and Measures
27 50
said sum to be raised by taxation or to see what action the town will take in the matter, agreeable to the petition of the Town Accountant.
ART. 31. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $8, 175.00 to be used with money appropriated by the Essex County Commissioners or any part thereof ; or to be used with money appropriated by the Essex County Commissioners and the State Highway Department of Massachusetts for the purpose of constructing a gravel, pea stone, asphalt surface road from Howard street to Sweetwater street according to plan on file with the Town Clerk, drawn by Public Works Depart- ment, to the Saugus-Melrose line on Griswold road via Sweet- water street and Griswold road known at present as Bay State road, or to see what action the town will take on the matter agreeable to the petition of Mildred Perry and others.
ART. 32. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 and instruct the Selectmen to use said sum or any part thereof to take land by right of eminent domain, or purchase, or both, for the purpose of constructing and main- taining a street shown as a proposed street from Howard street to Sweetser street, according to the following description : Beginning at point on the northerly line of Howard street ninety (90) feet more or less easterly from the dividing line between the city of Melrose and the town of Saugus, thence turning and running in a northwesterly direction ninety (90) feet from said dividing line and parallel through the land now or formerly of Henry J. Penney for a distance of eleven hundred and forty (1140) feet more or less and through the land now or formerly
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ..
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of Griswold, four hundred and twenty (420) feet more or less to the southwesterly line of Sweetwater street (said line as above described is intended to be the southwesterly line of said proposed new road) thence turning and running in an easterly direction across said Sweetwater street, thence turning and run- ning in a southeasterly direction by a line forty (40) feet distant from and parallel with the above said described southwesterly line of the said proposed new road, passing through the land of said Griswold for a distance of four hundred and twenty (420) feet more or less and through the land of said Penney eleven hundred and forty (1140) feet more or less to the northerly line of said Howard street, forty (40) feet more or less to the point of beginning.
All of the said measurements and directions being as shown on a plan entitled "Plan and Profile " Sweetwater Street Exten- sion, Saugus, Mass., scale ; Hor. 40 feet ; equals I". Vert. 10 feet equals I". July Ist, 1926, Public Works Department, said plan to be recorded in the office of the Town Clerk. Said road to be constructed to the grade as shown on said plan.
Or to see what action the town will take in the matter agree- able to the petition of Mildred Perry and others.
You are hereby directed to serve this Warrant, by posting attested copies thereof at the usual places seven days, at least, before the time of holding said meeting, and to distribute copies as provided by the by-laws at least four days before.
HEREOF, FAIL NOT, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands and Town Seal this fifteenth day of June A.D., nineteen hundred and thirty-one.
GEORGE QUARMBY, 1 JOHN PITMAN, HARRY WOODWARD. Board of Selectmen.
A true copy. Attest :
W. CHARLES SELLICK,
Constable.
16
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
Alexander S. Addison, Chairman Paul A. Haley, Secretary
Charles T. Anderson
Edward Gibbs, Jr.
Frank F. Humphries
Frederick R. Sharp
Charles E. Stillings
Bertrand D. Westendarp
BY PRECINCTS
Precinct 1. Bertrand D. Westendarp
Precinct 2. Paul A. Haley
Precinct 3.
Frederick R. Sharp
Precinct 4. Edward Gibbs, Jr.
Precinct 5. Charles E. Stillings
Precinct 6. Charles T. Anderson
Precinct 7. Alexander S. Addison
Precinct 8. Frank F. Humphries
Town Meeting Members :
You are called to attend a Special Town Meeting on July 13, 1931, at eight o'clock and your Finance Committee presents herewith its report on the Warrant as published. The Finance Committee believes that this is a most important Special Town Meeting as intelligent disposition of the articles in this Warrant will add to your prestige as Town Meeting Members and it is the hope of the committee that you will familiarize yourselves with the issues to be acted on and gather all possible informa- tion concerning the subjects.
This report brings to you as members of the Limited Town Meeting, the best judgment of the Finance Committee on each of the pending questions.
The Finance Committee presents herewith its report to the Special Town Meeting of July 13, 1931 :
Articles pertaining to school sites, construction and taking of land.
ARTs. Numbers 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
1931 ]
Following its usual custom of giving hearings to the peti- tioners of articles in the Warrant, the Finance Committee invited the sponsors of the above articles to a hearing, and it is to be noted that only the petitioner of Article 10 condescended to dis- cuss the merits of his article.
All others ignored the invitation although in fairness to the proponents of Articles 6 and 7 it must be stated that these two articles had been fully discussed in meetings previous to the Annual Town Meeting in March. A majority of the Finance Committee (Mr. Humphries and Mr. Sharp in the negative) deemed it advisable to secure the unbiased advice of an engineer and we herewith submit copy of report of Charles T. Main, Inc., 201 Devonshire street, Boston, without comment, except to call special attention to the fact that under Article 4,-Unity Camp Site, so called, the engineer included in his report land other than that called for under Article 4 in the Warrant.
Lot A-24 is assessed for $2,750.
After reading and discussing the report thoroughly, the Finance Committee voted as follows :
For addition to present High School-One vote cast by Mr. Humphries.
For Sim's Farm Site-One vote cast by Mr. Sharp.
For Unity Camp Site-Two votes cast by Mr. Anderson and Mr. Stillings.
For Town Farm Site-Four votes cast by Mr. Addison, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Haley, and Mr. Westendarp.
All other sites no votes.
Report to the Finance Committee of the town of Saugus on the selection of site for a proposed high school building.
June 30, 1931.
Finance Committee, Town of Saugus, Massachusetts :
Attention of Mr. Alexander S. Addison, Chairman.
GENTLEMEN :- Complying with your recent request we have visited the various proposed sites for a new high school, as
244
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
described in the town Warrant dated July 13, 1931, for the pur- pose of determining the site best suited for the location of the new school.
The lots are known as follows :
I. Town Farm.
2. Unity Camp.
3. Fiske's Field.
4. Sims Farm.
5. George Alkides Lot.
6. Cohen Farm.
7. Present High School Lot.
Basis of Report
This report is based on data furnished us by town officials, material obtained in the Assessors' Office, from a plan of the town made by the Public Works Department, dated 1931, and from our own observations in the field.
General Information
The population of the town of Saugus for the past twenty years is given in the census as follows :
1910
8,047
1920
10,874
1930
15,057
The growth has been mainly in Saugus Centre, East Saugus and Cliftondale.
The geographical center of the town is located about?one- quarter mile west of Monument Square, Saugus Centre.
The town is about 22 miles wide and about 5 miles long, and has an area of about 10.6 square miles.
The future growth will probably be west of the turnpike, on land adjoining Melrose and Wakefield, as we understand that in these towns there are being built very desirable houses border- ing on the Saugus line. This would have a tendency to en- hance the value of the adjoining Saugus property for residential purposes.
245
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
1931]
The town of Saugus has no sewers, and it will be necessary to provide a suitable sewerage system, consisting of drains and cesspools, or any lot chosen.
We have set up the following generally accepted outline, which we have applied to each lot as a measure to determine its suitability for a school site :
Essential Qualities of the Site
I. Adequate Size.
(a) For the building and its future extensions.
(b) For the proper setting of the building and its re- moval from the noise and dust of the street.
(c) For outdoor games and physical education.
(d) For school gardens, if desired.
2. Orientation of Buildings.
Most classrooms should have sunlight part of the day. This result is obtained most readily if the site permits the long axis of the building to extend approximately north and south.
3. Freedom from Noise and Odors.
Avoid proximity to railroads, gas plants, factories, and other sources of injurious noise and odors.
4. Suitability of Construction.
Avoid low, filled, and wet land. Avoid abrupt changes in grade unless the building can be readily adapted to them.
Ledge rocks may increase cost of foundation.
5. Safety.
Elementary schools especially should not be located on dangerous thoroughfares.
6. Healthfulness.
Abundance of fresh air and sunlight, and freedom from noise, dust, and odors, are conducive to health.
7. Reasonable Centrality to Contributing Area.
Exact centrality is not so important as other factors.
2 16
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
S. Reasonable Accessibility.
If possible, the school should be so located that it will not be necessary to transport the children.
The contributing area should be determined so as to estimate the probable and possible future growth. In cities, it is gen- erally agreed that the contributing areas for schools may be as follows :
For elementary schools, a radius of ยง to 3 miles.
For Junior High Schools, a radius of It to 1} miles.
For Senior High Schools, a radius of 1g to 2 miles.
The above are regarded as reasonable walking distances.
In rural regions, the contributing areas may well be enlarged, with provisions for transportation of pupils, in order to secure more effective school units.
I. TOWN FARM.
The Town Farm is located on Broadway, Saugus, or better known as the "Newburyport Turnpike."
The lot is irregular in shape, contains 12.94 acres, and is practically level, requiring a minimum of grading. It is large enough to accommodate the proposed new school and any ad- ditions that may be required for many years.
The building can be located well back from the street so that it will not be bothered by noise and dust from the street.
There is sufficient room on the lot for a playground, where outdoor games can be held and physical education can be pursued.
There is also room for school gardens, if desired.
The building can be so located on this lot that the maximum amount of sunlight will be admitted to the school rooms.
There are no railroads, gas plants, factories, or other sources of injurious noise and odors located near this lot.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
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The land is not low and wet. There is about two feet of loam and overburden, and then a good, hard gravel, which it is not easy to work a bar through. Ledge is exposed on the opposite side of the street, but we understand that none has ever been found on this lot.
The lot is ideal from a construction point of view.
The school building could be located far enough away from the street line that there need be no danger from traffic on the turnpike. Any children who would have to cross the turn- pike to reach this site would have to cross it to reach any other of the proposed sites.
From a health standpoint, the location could not be improved upon as there is an abundance of fresh air and sunshine, and it is free from obnoxious noise, dust, and odors.
The location of the lot is such that no student would have more than two miles to walk except from the extreme limits of Golden Hills, North Saugus, and East Saugus. The limit for high school students is two miles.
The sewerage and drainage on this lot can be taken care of easily as the subsurface materials appear to be such that the water from cesspools will filter away readily into the brook on the north of the lot.
This lot is now owned by the town, and if used will not take any taxable property, although, at some future time, this lot might become valuable for residential purposes.
2. UNITY CAMP SITE.
The Unity Camp site is located on Central street, which is the main thoroughfare from Cliftondale to Saugus Centre.
The proposed site consists of two lots shown on the Assessors' plans as A-24 and A-31. The area of A-24 is given as 4.36 acres. No area is given for A-31, but there is probably some- thing in excess of three acres.
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