USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1952 > Part 2
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
A new Public Safety Council is being organized to promote public safety and prevent traffic ac- cidents and establish Saugus in the position of
MAIN
1820 1
A -210
STREET
7301
40+
A-Z22
140+
200+
1067
A-308
1760 1570
$55.
4600
BORDER
RO
Land
2.196
RIDGE
Court
BOULDER
509
Case
1250%
RD.
NO 6400^
BOULDER
Lond Court Case No 8400^
A + 186
PLAN OF LAND FOR PROPOSED CEMETERY SITE SAUGUS, MASS.
Scole I'. 200
Feb. 24 1953. Henry Seaver Sur.
Proposed New Cemetery Site
10
A-208
A Z09 Area · 835 AC ₺
660's
A-206
RD
first place among the towns of U. S. with a com- parable population.
A "Town Beautiful Commission" will be organ- ized to improve the physical appearance of the town, and encourage private home owners to keep up the appearance of their property by repairs, painting and planting of gardens. They will spon- sor contests for paint-up, fix-up and clean-up pro- grams, Christmas lighting contests, planting of trees, beautification of traffic circles and islands, and at intersections.
New parks and playgrounds will be planned for all parts of the town. Some will be newly con- structed and present playgrounds will be enlarged and improved to meet present and future needs of the town.
Shute Brook in the rear of Riverside Cemetery will be relocated to enlarge the cemetery and de- velop low value land along the railroad tracks,
HOLLAND
ST.
RIVERBANK
RD
WORMSTEAD
BRYANT
ST.
RIVERBANK
[III /1/ PROPOSED "/"
RIVER.
WEWILL CHANNEL !
WOODBURY
RIVER WAY
Praposed straightening of Shutes Brook, for the purpose of making much needed cemetery land.
Saugus River will be relocated near Woodbury Avenue to develop several acres of land now of little value because of winding bends of the river.
If proposed legislation is passed to permit cities and towns to make ordinary repairs to unaccepted streets, the Public Works Department will im- prove the condition of many of these streets now in a very bad condition, with town equipment and gravel from the town pit.
A program of sidewalk construction will be in- augurated whereby the sidewalks on many ac- cepted streets will be cut out to uniform width and graded with gravel from the town pit so that they can be used at once and be ready for bituminous concrete or granolithic when desired.
The town will prosecute a suit in equity against the city of Lynn for recovery of damages sustained
by the inhabitants of Saugus and to secure ade- quate taxable revenue from large tracts of land held by the city of Lynn within the borders of Saugus for Lynn water supply purposes.
If approved by the Annual Town Meeting, the Public Works Department will purchase a one half yard rubber tired combination back-hoe and shovel for water and sewer construction and laterals to homes from mains.
If approved by the Annual Town Meeting, the Public Works Department will also replace three one and one eighth ton dump trucks.
Revision of the zoning and building laws will also be initiated.
Appointment of an electrical inspector and adoption of fees for inspection to prevent large losses from electrical fires will be accomplished.
Proposed Shopping area"
Sale or long term lease of 164 acres of town owned land on the Newburyport Turnpike for business and industrial purposes to obtain large revenue for the town will be asked at Town Meet- ing.
Increased pensions for the retired employees of the town will be proposed.
The Griffenhagen Reclassification and Com- pensation Plan for town employees will be adopted in whole or in part.
Saugus will publish brochure concerning busi- ness and industrial advantages of Saugus written by Vernon W. Evans.
Dredging of Saugus River by the State and Gen- eral Electric Company will be completed.
A construction program for laying and relaying water mains of not less than 6 inches but less than 16 inches in diameter based on a $75,000.00 bond issue will be proposed.
A sidewalk and edgestone construction program with $20,000 for edgestone and $10,000 for bitu- minous concrete or granolithic sidewalks from excess and deficiency fund is advocated.
A program for the construction of sewers cost- ing $200,000 and surface drainage at a cost of $50,000 will be furthered.
11
ST.
RD.
SAUGUS
AVE
There will be a program of mosquito control.
We will reorganize the Public Works Depart- ment to provide increased services to the public.
The town will reestablish the encumbrance sys- tem of accounting.
Expansion of rubbish collection services to other parts of town to include Golden Hills, Lynn Fells Parkway areas and Saville Street, will be accom- plished.
The manager will publish names and important officers of all organizations, churches, civic, fra- ternal, and other organizations of the town.
Recovery of damages from the Northeastern Gas Company resulting from gas line installation, will be sought.
New revenue for the town will be a 1953 ob- jective.
Reclamation and development of large areas of waste land along our main highways at various locations by removal of ledge and by filling and grading is planned.
We shall make plans for the development of Lily Pond and surrounding areas.
The Bianco Contract started in 1952 will be completed.
Roadway Construction - Centennial Avenue, Tuttle Street, Eustis Street, Breakheart Road, Bennett Avenue, Lodge Avenue, Oaklandvale Avenue, Stone Street and Intervale Ave.
Sidewalk Construction-Jackson Street, Hurd Avenue and Main Street.
Drainage Construction - Woodbury Avenue, Winter Street, Fairmount Avenue, Intervale Ave- nue.
We shall establish ice skating areas and basket- ball courts at various locations in town.
Installation of spot lights on Monument at Saugus Center, cutting of island and landscaping by competent landscape architect, is planned.
Appropriate dedication of the First Iron Works project in cooperation with Old Iron Works Asso- ciation is an objective of 1953.
Proper development of the old Concrete Mate- rials Plant area with proper control of dump is comtemplated.
Appointment of all school janitors as special police officers in and around school property will promote safety.
Establishment of good employee morale is a key 1953 project.
Improved street lighting gives a major goal.
We shall sponsor good public celebrations such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, band concerts, dedication of Old Iron Works, Christmas and other occasions.
The water rates charged residents of Saugus are far too low and should be increased imme- diately to an amount sufficient to place this enter- prise on a paying basis. Saugus is now paying $40 per million gallons from the M.D.C., who are expected to increase this amount to $80 per mil- lion gallons this year. This will contribute to a further loss.
The Saugus water system should not be allowed to operate at a loss and thereby contribute to an increase in the tax rate. Any public utility should be on a business basis and should pay for itself and not be subsidized. Increased salaries, in- creased cost of operation and increased costs of construction and materials, increased cost of sup- plies and equipment with a devalued dollar, justify immediate action.
=
The smaller home represents 458 dwellings with connections to the Main Server System
The larger home represents 3916
dwellings without connection to the Main Sewer System
12
FIRST PUBLIC MEETING HOUSE
This building originally stood on the
location of our present Monument in Saugus Center
Saugus was settled in 1629 and is one of the half dozen oldest towns on the North American con- tinent. Puritans, landing in Salem from the ship, Arbella, made their way inland and settled along the Saugus River.
The town is so old that in its original form it was never incorporated, receiving its charter merely by virtue of its "freemen" taking their seats in the first Great and General Court of Massachu- setts.
Why the name 'Saugus'? The Indian name for the winding stream which has its headwaters in Lake Quanapowitt in what is now Wakefield was 'Aboutsett," a much more phonetic term. In the language of the Pentucket Indians who inhabited what is now Saugus, however, the word "Saugus," means long, or extended, and the Indians gave this name to what is now Nahant and Lynn beach. The Puritans called the tiny settlement "Sawgus" or "Sagus," for the river at Nahant Beach, and eventually the river became known as the Saugus River.
After eight years, the name of the town was changed to "Lin" in the shortest act of the Massa- chusetts Legislature, saying merely, "Sawgust is called Lin." This was in tribute to their second pastor, the Rev. Samuel Whiting, who had been a curate at St. Margaret's Church in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England.
The name "Saugus" then died out, except for the river, until 1815, when the "Third Parish" of Lynn was set aside as the Town of Saugus, after the Great and General Court had killed the orig-
inal bill which sought to have the new community named "Westport."
Many Firsts
Saugus can claim many "firsts" in American history. It is justly famed as the home of the First Iron Works in America now being restored by the American Iron and Steel Institute and the First Iron Works Association for dedication in 1954 as a shrine to American industry. Here in 1645 was founded the first American industry on the twisting banks of the Saugus River. The first fire engine in the United States was made here by Joseph Jenks for the Town of Boston, and the die cast for the famed Pine Tree Shilling of Colonial times.
The Ironmaster's Home at the Old Iron Works on Central Street, dating back to the 17th cen- tury, although a restored building, is said to be the finest expression of colonial architecture in the United States.
Almost equally famed is the Scotch-Bennett- Boardman House in Oaklandvale, now owned by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. Here were housed the Scotch slaves seized at the battle of Marston's Motor and trun- dled back and forth daily to work the Iron Works for their Puritan masters.
This building, incidentally, is almost a Ripley "Believe It or Not." It has never left its founda- tion but has been in three counties, Essex, Mid- dlesex, and Suffolk, and four towns, Saugus, Lynn, Chelsea, and Melrose, all due to shifting county and local boundaries over the centuries.
13
Saugus can also claim a "first' in American history with its First Female Seminary, founded in 1821, and still located on Main Street. Here Cornelius Conway Fenton, later to be a president of Harvard University, worked as a chore boy for 50 cents per week and his tuition in Latin and Greek by the kindly preceptor, the Rev. Joseph Emerson.
Walked to Harvard
Today comfortable buses transport Saugus school children living two miles or more from their classes. Felton, who lived on what is now Felton Street in West Cliftondale, and which was later named in his honor, as a 'teen-age boy walked daily betwen Saugus and Cambridge to study at the Harvard over which he presided as President in later years.
Not too far from the humble Felton home, the first New England millionaire founded his fortune. Frederic Tudor, who owned what is now the Town Farm property, conceived the idea of shipping ice to the Orient, cutting his first cargo in the pond at the Saugus-Melrose line, and shipping it from the foot of Ballard Street.
He made a fortune, sending fleets laden with the precious ice to Japan, China, and the Dutch East Indies. Another "first" in Saugus' more than 300-year-old history!
Saugus had 99 men who fought in the Revolu- tionary War. Of this total, no less than 57 re- sponded to the call of Paul Revere on the morn- ing of April 19, 1775 and marched to meet the Red Coats under Lord Percy on the farmlands of what is now Arlington under command of Cap- tain David Parker.
A Saugus man, Joseph Roby, son of the Rev. Joseph Roby, pastor of the First Congregational Church, which then stood where the Soldiers' Monument is in Saugus Center, was one of the "Indians" who toppled the King's tea into Boston Harbor at the Boston Tea Party. He was the only man from Greater Lynn present, and was disdainful of the British that he did not even bother to don feathers and paint as an "Indian" as a disguise.
His father was equally patriotic. On the Sun- day after the battle of Lexington and Concord, he appeared in his pulpit with a Bible under one arm and a musket tucked in the other. He placed the Bible on the pulpit, stood the musket against it, and was equally prepared for either the Devil or King George.
Parson Roby, who served the Saugus church for over 50 years and is buried in our old church- yard between his two wives, served throughout the Revolution as one of three members of the Com- mittee on Public Safety from Greater Lynn. After the war, he headed the reception committee which greeted General George Washington at the tavern
in East Saugus when he visited the town on his triumphal tour just prior to his first election as President.
A Patriotic Town
Saugus has always been a patriotic town, con- tributing generously of its treasure and blood in defense of American liberties. In the Civil War, 163 men enlisted from Saugus, and, just as they were to do in World Wars I and II, scores willingly gave their lives that the American way of life might survive, and that Saugus and all of the thousands of other communities in the United States to which it and other Puritan communities gave birth, might continue to offer peace and security to its citizens.
One of the sons of Saugus, Gustavus Vasa Fox, reached the highest station in civic life ever held by a Saugus man during the Civil War, when he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy under Abraham Lincoln. Fox was the Civil War's Don- ald Nelson, the Production 'Boss' of the War Be- tween the States.
He sailed on the relief expedition to Fort Sumter. When it failed, he saw the first shots fired which brought on the Civil War. He pro- vided the Navy cash with which John Erriscon in- vented the "Monitor," the first iron-clad vessel, and after the historic naval battle between the "Monitor" and the Merrimac," he ordered another iron-clad to be built and named "Saugus" for his native town.
From that day to this, there has always been a ship, "Saugus," in the United States Navy, in honor of its great Civil War secretary.
After the War, President Andrew Johnson sent Fox to Russia to thank Czar Nicholas for his aid to the North during that struggle. He was created Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Pleni- potentiary, a great title for a simple Saugus farm boy who had risen high in the councils of nations. In Petrograd, after accepting the salutes of the combined Russian and Swedish fleets in his trip down the Baltic on the monitor, "Saugus," this great American negotiated the purchase of Alaska from the Czar for Secretary of State Seward.
This thumb-nail sketch of Saugus could be magnified a thousand times, as the mirror of his- tory is held up to catch the reflections of the years of service to America of this typical New England town.
But it would be futile. For perhaps, the most striking thing about Saugus cannot be adequately expressed in words. It is the love for their native and adopted town carried by her loyal sons and daughters, far-flung as their destinations in life may be, and their determination to in their day contribute to her enrichment of American culture.
14
IN MEMORIAM
George H. Mason
W. Charles Sellick
John J. Mullen
"An honest man is the noblest work of God" - POPE. *
The wealth of a community is not measured in its busi- ness blocks, nor in its boundless acres of land, nor even in its happy and attractive homes. Its true wealth is built on the strong and secure foundation of the integrity and service of its citizens, and, rich indeed, is that community in which its leaders are actuated by the principles of civic consciousness and the possession of a great spirit of social awareness of their responsibilities to their fellow citizens.
Measured by this standard, Saugus has, over the years, been one of the richest of all communities.
During the past year, God, in His infinite wisdom, called unto Himself all that was immortal of three such citizens whose service to their fellow citizens will long be remembered with gratitude.
Fortunate indeed is the Town of Saugus to have num- bered among its citizens such men as W. Charles Sellick, George H. Mason, and John J. Mullen, men of varied tal- ents and divergent viewpoints, but each making his contribution to the enrichment of our beloved community.
For 43 years W. Charles Sellick served faithfully and with that abundant zest for life which characterized his entire career as Constable of the Town of Saugus. Rarely, indeed, was he opposed at the polls, for his friendly smile, cheerful personality, and instinctive good- will for his fellow citizens bound them to him in the bonds of mutual love and affection. In his long career of public service, he also served briefly as Tree Warden, and for many years was an elected member of our Town Meeting.
George H. Mason brought to the service of the people of Saugus the talents and training of a successful busi- ness executive coupled with a genuine love of his fellow man, plus that complete integrity which again and again led his townspeople to seek his service in positions of honor and trust. He was a member of our first Plan- ning Board, later served several terms as a member of
* * the Board of Selectmen, and then, richly endowed with the maturity of years, he was with distinction to himself and his Town a member for several terms of the Board of Assessors and its chairman. In addition, his voice in Town Meeting was always raised on the side of what he sincerely believed to be the best interests of all of the people of Saugus.
Atter service as a young man on the Boston City Council, and later as a member of the Board of Alder- men and Mayor of Everett, Honorable John J. Mullen had the unique distinction of being honored with the trust of the people of three communities, including the T'own of Saugus where he entered upon an active business career in middle life. Those privileged to know his service to the less fortunate in Saugus in the days of the Great Depression know that he was a man of charity to whom service to those in need was a vital part of his creed. His richly endowed mind, his intrinsic charity, and his clarity of vision led to his serving three terms as a mem- ber and chairman of the Board of Assessors, and he also was for a year chairman of our Board of Selectmen. He, also with his wit and vigorous oratory made a distinct contribution as a member of the Town Meeting.
It is noteworthy that the contribution of each of these citizens and leaders of the Town of Saugus was distinct and in a separate pattern from that of their associates. But, in turn, the talents of each blended into the com- munity picture to form the warp and woof of a finer Saugus.
T'hey who have passed across the veil into a better land have left their torch of civic consciousness in our feeble fingers. Let us grasp it firmly and press on, so that we, too, may emulate their contributions to community en- richment.
"Death is but the golden key that opens the palace of eternity." - MILTON.
15
Harry F. Wentworth
John J. Bucchiere,
David J. Lucey,
Frank Evans, Jr., To the Citizens of Saugus:
Your Board of Selectmen held its first meeting in January, 1952 for the purpose of organization for the coming year. After long deliberation and full discussion it was decided to hold regular meet- ings of the Board on the first and third Mondays of each month, said meetings to be open to both the public and to the press. All regular sessions of your Board have been open meetings.
Within a few weeks and due to the resigna- tion of former Town Manager, Norman G. Young, your Board was faced with the major task of selecting a new manager. After lengthy interview- ing of many candidates and intensive research into their records, Walter E. Lawrence, former Mayor of Medford, became the unanimous choice of your Board to take over the reins of government in our Town.
Although there is less than a full year of service behind Mr. Lawrence, your Board feels that he is
Albion R. Rice, Chairman,
BOARD OF
SELECTMEN
the right man for the stupendous job to be done in this Town, and that our Municipality under his inspirational leadership will move forward to a brilliant future.
This has been a most cooperative Board, with each of its members doing his bit toward making this town of Saugus a better one in which to live. There have been and will be differences of opin- ion, but the final decisions have had for the most part unanimous approval. You may be assured that this body of Selectmen will continue to serve you in the manner which they feel will be for the best interests of all our townspeople.
JOHN J. BUCCHIERE
FRANK EVANS, Jr. DAVID J. LUCEY,
HARRY F. WENTWORTH ALBION R. RICE, Chairman
16
AUDITING DEPARTMENT
Carl E. Chapman, Town Accountant
December 31, 1952
In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 41, Section 61 of the General Laws, I herewith submit to the citizens of Saugus the Annual Re- port of all business transactions by the Town De- partments, and a Statement of Financial Condition of the Municipal Corporation for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1952.
General Financial Condition
On January 1, 1952 the Town started the year with a surplus of $187,821.90 in the Excess and Deficiency Account. To assist in holding the tax rate as low as possible for 1952 sums of money amounting to over $88,000 were transferred .to various appropriations by Town Meeting vote. The following are the withdrawals in 1952:
Veterans Memorial School Construction. $25,000.00
Enlarge Cemetery
25,000.00
Added to Tax Titles by Collector
9,416.54
Olive Ave., Oakhill Rd. Sewer.
7,000.00
Building Department
2,900.00
Celebrations
1,000.00
New High School Bond Issue. 20,000.00
New High School Sewer Bond Issue
5,200.00
Miscellaneous
2,231.52
$97,748.06
The following are the additions to the account in 1952:
Tax Title Redemptions
$14,833.79
Tax Possession Sales
14,893.47
Unexpended Balances
10,024.85
Estimated Receipts
60,180.77
Miscellaneous
120.00
$100,052.88
Temporary Loans
During the period from March to June 1952 it was necessary for the Treasurer to borrow tem- porary loans in the amount of $400,000 for pay- ment of accounts. These loans were paid in full by November 8, 1952. At the closing of the Town accounts on December 31, 1952 approximately 94% of the taxes had been paid to the Town Col- lector.
In December it was necessary to borrow $30,000 for Old Age Assistance under authority of Chap- ter 108 of the Acts of 1951. This is the only out- standing temporary loan.
Tax Titles and Tax Possessions
The Tax Titles were lowered from $82,679.70 on January 1, 1952 to $46,652.90 on December 31, 1952. The redemptions received amounted to $14,833.79 and the remainder was closed out by Tax Disclaimer.
The Tax Possessions were lowered from $126,- 172.33 to $120,939.49 on December 31, 1952. Al- though the receipts from sales by the Board of Selectmen was $14,893.47, this decrease was par- tially offset by foreclosures after the Treasurer's sales of land of low value.
Town Indebtedness
The bonded indebtedness was lowered by pay- ment of maturities from $928,000 to $864,000 in 1952. At the Special Town Meeting of October 20, 1952 the Town was authorized by vote to issue $2,180,000. bonds for construction of a new High School and $25,000 bonds for sewer construction to the new school.
The borrowing capacity, inside the debt limit, amounts to approximately $86,000 on January 1, 1953.
General
The Income Tax received from the Common- wealth of Massachusetts increased by $8,142.27 over the amount received in 1951 and the Cor- poration Tax increased $5,376.14. The Town Esti- mated Receipts Account shows an increase of $39,700 over that of 1951.
The total cash receipts was $369,300 more than 1951 and the total cash expenditures were $205,700 more than 1951.
CARL E. CHAPMAN
17
BALANCE SHEET December 31, 1952
ASSETS
Cash:
Special Articles - Unexpended Balancee: Sewers:
1950 Olive Ave. and Oakhill Rd. 1952 $ 7,000.00 1,394.51
Hurd Avenue Now High School
1952
5,200.00
Drains:
Lincoln Avenue
1951 Real Estate
1,727.08
1952 Real Estate
69,184.52
1952 Personal Property
2,673.13
Connolly Ave. - Nason Road
1952
11,703.07
1952 Poll
2.00
73,588.73
Land Purchase: Rurd Avenue
1951
10.00
Intervale Avenue
1951
10.00
Connolly Ave. - Nason Road
1952
10.00
Special Assessmento:
42.78
Emory Street
1952
10.00
1952 Sewer Interest
5.89
1951 Unapportioned
435.00
Sewer Rentals:
149.63
Dec. 1952
1,358.01
Hurd Avenue
1950
7,372.50
Added to 1952 Taxes
117.00
1950
5,800.00
Installations
300.84
2,409.15
Broadway Elm Street Marion and Union Streets
1950
15,000.00
Tax Titles
46,652.90
Chapter 90, Highways:
1952
736.69
Tax Title Possessions
120,939.49
Central Street-Contract 13462 General Construction Maintenance
1952
7,624.33
Departmental: Temporary Aid
1,510.65
Renovate Armitage School
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.