USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1952 > Part 7
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The Commission again supervised the stadium at Stackpole Field and continued their summer baseball program which had approximately 140 boys participating. Along with the baseball pro- gram, a softball program was started at Anna Parker field on the new softball field. This pro- gram was enthusiastically accepted by the older
We must keep striving to improve play areas for our children
BRISTOW
59
people of the Town, so much so, that plans in- clude teen age boys and girls in 1953. Anna Parker field will also be completed as a first class softball field in 1953 and will be able to accommodate at least three separate leagues in the Town.
General improvements were made to five areas in 1952 and completed projects were - new bas- ketball courts at Stocker playground and North Saugus, new heavy equipment installed at Lynn- hurst and North Saugus, and the softball area at Anna Parker made playable.
The year 1952 saw the starting of a summer program under the direction of William Kirk, which in our belief will grow into one of the best summer programs for children of any Town or City around us. Mr. Kirk did an outstanding job in setting the ground work in 1952, and next year should see the program become a major develop- ment in the department.
Several hundred children participated in the
Arts, Crafts and games throughout the season from July 1st to September 1st. Based on in- dividual instruction this runs into thousands of hours of value to these children. Each year this program is being improved and our aim is to see that the children of Saugus receive the best of instructions and supervision. Every effort is made to make our program safe at all times.
The Commission is grateful to all Town Officials and departments for their help. We have received excellent cooperation from the School Department, Public Works Department and civic organizations interested in our work and we wish to thank them all. Also we wish to thank the people in the outlying sections for their patience until we can get to their sections to provide a playing area for their children.
CHESTER GAY, Chairman
EDMUND NICHOLSON, Secretary The REV. WILBUR ZEIGLER
30
30
SO
LITTLE LEAGUERS OF TODAY WILL SAIL OUR SHIP OF STATE TOMORROW
Little League directors: Wm. McKenney, President; Clarence Kenner- son, Vice-President; Clarence Churchard, Secretory; Frank McDermott, Treasurer; John Spencer, Spsonor Agent; Thomas Sheehan, Publicity; Thomas Quinlan, Procurement. 350 bays participated in Little League Baseball
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60
BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Gladys H. Warren, Assistant Librarian
The Board of Library Trustees herewith sub- mits its annual report of the activities and services rendered by the library department during the year 1952.
The statistical record shows an increase in our book circulation - 1805 more books circulated than in 1951. This indicates that we are coming back into our own again after sacrificing a bit of our prestige in the recreation field to our rival TV. We have maintained a steady, high level in servicing our townspeople with reference material.
The library has received five books this year as memorial gifts. Four of these were presented in memory of Mrs. Leah Gibbs: EVERYMAN's TALMUD, gift of Congregation Ahavas Sholem; STORY WITHOUT END, gift of Mr. and Mrs. David Hurwitz; LINCOLN LIBRARY, gift of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Bucchiere; JUNIOR BOOK OF AUTHORS, gift of Mr. and Mrs. James Sacco; and one-ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HOME DECO- RATION-in memory of Mrs. Walter J. Taylor, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norman B. Brown. The Saugus Garden Club has furnished flowers for special occasions and several individuals have loaned exhibits for display.
The librarian has kept in close touch with the library and the English department at the High School-again teaching the use of library mate- ials to several classes and speaking at a meeting of the High School teachers. Mrs. Warren and Mrs. Adams have told stories to groups of children in the schools and all the branch librarians worked on a summer book club - The Saugus Summer Sachems -- a project for stimulating library interest among boys and girls.
The library has again been the meeting place for a Great Books Discussion Group. This is the fourth season cur building has been used for this worthwhile cultural program.
The librarian and her staff were hostesses on September 25th to a quarterly meeting of the North Shore Library Club-a professional group of librarians from surrounding communities. Seventy-five guests were present to hear Miriam Putnam of Andover and Maude Preston Gregson of Swampscott. On behalf of the trustees Mrs. Ralph W. George gave a warm and sincere wel- come to the group.
The Board expresses its thanks to all those who have contributed to the success of the cur- rent year: to the staff for its co-operation and loyalty; to all donors for gifts received and to friends of the library who have loaned treasures for exhibits.
American Library Association Form of Statistics Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1952 Name of the Library Saugus Free Library Library
Town Saugus, Massachusetts
Librarian Huldah Blackmer
Date of founding
1887
Population served (1950 census)
17,329
Library appropriation per capita
$ .901
Total number of agencies
7
Consisting of:
Main Library Lynnhurst Branch
Cliftondale Branch North Saugus Branch
East Saugus Branch Oaklandvale Branch
High School
Hours open for lending and reference (per week) :
Main library 371/2
Cliftondale Branch 21
East Saugus Branch 1312
3
Lynnhurst Branch
North Saugus Branch 4
Oaklandvale Branch (for juveniles only) 2
High School (hours per school year) 828
Book stock:
Volumes at beginning of year 29,390
Volumes added 2,147
Volumes withdrawn 674
Total (December 31, 1952) 30,863
61
Circulation record:
Main Library
38,558
Cliftondale Branch
23,361
East Saugus Branch
5,221
Lynnhurst Branch
2,775
North Saugus Branch
3,489
Oaklandvale Branch
3,256
High School
4,963
Total
81,623
Registration record :
Active Borrowers
New or Re-registered Borrowers
Main library
2,617
719
Cliftondale Branch
1,443
397
East Saugus Branch
530
117
Lynnhurst Branch
112
39
North Saugus Branch
147
34
Oaklandvale Branch
163
24
Totals
5,012
1,330
Staff:
Huldah Blackmer, librarian.
Gladys H. Warren, acting first assistant.
Frances Sperry, branch librarian - Cliftondale and Lynnhurst.
Maude Moses, branch librarian - North Saugus.
Margaret D. Adams, Nettie Sargent, assistants - East Saugus.
Elizabeth Platt, assistant - Oaklandvale,
Hourly workers:
Ruth Hollett, Nancy Buckwell, Anita Mitton, Robert Quirk, Robert Forward. Board of Library Trustees: HAROLD J. ADLINGTON LILLIAN D. GEORGE
KALER A. PERKINS
CATHERINE REYNOLDS
ERNEST L. SHAPIRO
WILLIAM IRBY, chairman
BOARD OF APPEALS
Joseph G. Fisher, Peter A. Rossetti, Chairman, Paul A. Haley
December 31, 1952.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Saugus, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
Your Board of Zoning and Building Appeals submits herewith a report of its activities during the calendar year of 1952, which, in view of ex- panding building operations, plus a more vigorous enforcement of the zoning and building laws, was the busiest in the history of the Board.
.
Under our charter and the statutes, the Board of Appeal is one of the few boards appointed by the Board of Selectmen and responsible solely to them and the Superior Court. Under the pro- visions of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as
amended, and our Zoning and Building By-Laws, it exists to grant variances, or exceptions, in both codes, where a "literal enforcement of the codes would tend to work unwarranted hardship upon property owners."
Although the Superintendent of Buildings, as the enforcing officer of both regulatory codes, has no recourse other than to refuse permits when the requirements of either are not met, any property owners aggrieved by such refusals are guaranteed by statute the right of appeal to the Board of Appeals.
Under certain conditions, and in strict con- formity with the statutes and their best judg-
62
BOARD OF APPEALS
ment, the Board of Appeals by unanimous vote of three members of any panel, may, after a public hearing preceded by notification of all per- sons deemed affected, grant such variances or exceptions, if, in their considered opinion, such action is warranted by the sworn evidence of wit- nesses and can be done "without substantial dero- gation from the intent and purpose of the by- laws."
As your Board of Appeals during the past year has not only held public hearings upon each pe- tition before it but made it a practice to subse- quently view as a Board each locus upon which a variance has been sought, the Board believes that the long hours of completely unsalaried service constitutes, in their opinion, a fine degree of citizenship.
During the past year there have been 34 pe- titions for variances in either the zoning or building code before the Board of Appeals for action, necessitating more than 50 meetings of the Board:
They have been disposed of as follows:
Granted
14
Granted with Conditions 10
Denied
4
Leave to Withdraw (killed) 6
Total 34
Appointment by the Town Manager during the past year of a permanent Superintendent of Buildings under Civil Service Protection greatly facilitated the work of the Board, which suffered greatly in the previous two years by lack of the expert knowledge and advice of such an official. During the past year the Board has taken oc- casion to commend the high type of service given them by the new superintendent and his praise- worthy and impartial enforcement of the zoning and building laws upon which the protection of all property depends to no small degree.
The Board also wishes to thank your Honora- ble Board, Walter E. Lawrence, Town Manager; Mrs. Ruth E. Stevens, Town Clerk; Henry Seaver, Town Engineer; Judge Albion L. Hogan, Town Counsel; the Board of Assessors; and all other officials, including the Planning Board, who have at all times co-operated in the efforts of the Board of Appeals to be of service to the citizens.
In closing, the Board wishes to commend in particular the attitude of the Town Manager in his complete co-operation with the Board of Ap- peals in refusing to further close official eyes to the fact that our zoning and building laws do not permit the location of house trailers in residential areas or the erection of prefabricated homes.
By instructing his Superintendent of Buildings to refuse all such permits and inform applicants of their statutory right to hearings and remedial action by the Board of Appeals, the Manager has, we feel, contributed to proper law enforcement.
And the Board of Appeals, in turn, mindful of the view of the Supreme Judicial Court that every case before it rises or falls on its own merits, has granted the single petition before it for a pre- fabricated home, after proper restrictions.
The Board has also granted, with judicious tenure to permit the occupants to obtain other housing, two of the four petitions before it for house trailers in prohibited areas. If the Building Department, under its new director, continues to enforce the law in this respect, we should again have within a relatively short time, a community free of these violations such as we had prior to the policy of permitting their illegal entry.
Our Zoning By-Law was adopted in 1929. It needs drastic revision in keeping with the new conceptions of community zoning. Action by the Town Manager to this end are to be encouraged and are in line with the consistent recommen- dations of this Board of Appeals for the past three years.
This should be a government of laws, and not of men, and the Manager has shown a keen ap- preciation of this fact.
Respectfully submitted, PETER A. ROSSETTI, Chairman JOSEPH G. FISHER PAUL A. HALEY
Board of Appeals.
PETER A. SMITH GEORGE W. PITMAN WALTER E. HOGAN Associate Members
63
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING March 17, 1952
Article 1. Report of Committees.
Article 55. To appropriate $250.00 for use of Special Committee to investigate and report on new Senior High School.
Article 18. To raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000 for sketch plans, exploratory borings, plot plan and educational consultant on new Senior High School.
INDEF. POST. VOTED
Article 2. To authorize Town Treasurer to borrow money in anticipation of revenue.
Article 3. BUDGET FOR TOWN GOVERNMENT (See Accountant's Report) ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING March 24, 1952
Article 51. To amend By-laws concerning length of time certain persons may speak at town meetings.
VOTED
Article 28. To appropriate the sum of $35,000 for equipping, landscaping and grading the Veterans Memorial School, $10,000 to be raised in tax levy of current year and $25,000 to be transferred from Excess and Deficiency Account.
VOTED
Article 4. To appropriate $7,000 for construction of sidewalks of such type and in such location as shall meet with the approval of the Town Manager; same to be constructed under Chapter 83 of the General Laws, as amended, not more than one half of the cost to be assessed to abutting owners.
Article 5. To appropriate a sum of money for sidewalks on Lincoln Ave. from Oak Hill Road to Oak Hill Road.
INDEF, POST.
Article 6. To raise and appropriate a sum of money for sidewalks on Essex Street from present point of termination to a point opposite Mt. Vernon St.
INDEF. POST.
Article 7. To appropriate money for sidewalk on Main St. from Lynn Fells Pkwy. to Oaklandvale School.
INDEF. POST. VOTED
Article 8. To rezone lot 7 or A18 Plan 2009 from single residence to business.
Article 9. That the Moderator appoint a committee of 5 citizens to investigate the feasibility of future action for improvement, development, maintenance and protection of rivers, harbors, tidewaters and foreshores of Saugus.
VOTED
Article 10. To raise and appropriate $8,000 for clearing, widening and deepening Oaklandvale Brook.
Article 11. To appropriate a sum of money for sidewalks on Essex Street.
Article 12. To rezone lots A-2, A-145, A-146 and A-156 on Plan 1041 from single residential to business.
VOTED VOTED INDEF. POST.
Article 14. To appropriate a sum of money for surface drain on Stone Street.
Article 15. To appropriate $5,000 for Gypsy Moth Work.
INDEF. POST. INDEF. POST.
Article 16. To appropriate $5,000 for eradication of Dutch Elm Disease.
Article 19. To appropriate $3,000 for installing new and modern lighting equipment in classrooms of School Buildings.
VOTED
Article 20. To appropriate $9,000 for highway drain on Winter St. between Pinecrest Ave. and Kenwood Ave. and from Willis Street through Stocker Street.
VOTED
Article 21. To request Rep. Bly to file bill in legislature to authorize the town to pay to Hazel C. Marison the sum of $193.95 to re-imburse her for medical expenses incurred as result of injuries received while in performance of her duties as a teacher.
VOTED
Article 22. That the benefits of workmen's compensation be now extended to include school teachers.
VOTED
Article 23. To request Rep. Bly to file bill in legislature to authorize the town to re-imburse M. Pearl Peterson the sum of $477.00 for medical expenses incurred as result of injury received while in performance of duties as a teacher.
VOTED
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING April 7, 1953
Article 17. To appropriate $1,400 for curbing along the northern or northwestern side of Jackson Street.
VOTED
Article 24. To appropriate $15,000 for laying out and constructing drains and ditches for surface drainage on Connolly Ave. and Nason Road; $14,000 to be raised in tax levy of 1952 and $1,000 by transfer from unexpended balance of appropriation under Article 33 of Annual Town Meeting of 1951.
VOTED
Article 25. To appropriate a sum of money to complete renovation of Ballard School.
INDEF. POST.
Article 26. To appropriate money for granolithic sidewalks on Dustin St., Dudley Street and Ballard Street.
INDEF. POST. INDEF. POST.
Article 27. To accept Wolcott Road and Douglas Road.
Article 29. To appropriate $2,000 for legal services, recording and notice fees, land court costs, etc. in connection with foreclosure of tax titles.
VOTED
Article 30. To appropriate $1,500 for land damages on Central St.
VOTED
Article 31. To appropriate $35,000 for renovating the Armitage School, $15,483.99 in tax levy and $19,516.01 transferred from various unexpended balances. Article 32. To appropriate $5,100 for Civil Defense.
VOTED
Article 33. Installing water pipe on Atlantic Ave.
REFERRED TO MANAGER
Article 34. To appropriate $1,000 for engineering survey on brook improvements in Oaklandvale.
VOTED
Article 35. To accept Elaine Ave. and appropriate $10.00 for purchase of taking of land therefore.
VOTED
Article 36. To rezone lot A135 on Plan 1021 from single residence to business. VOTED
Article 37. To appropriate money to survey parking needs of business areas.
INDEF. POST.
INDEF. POST. INDEF. POST.
Article 13. To appropriate $1,000 for mosquito control.
VOTED
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING March 31, 1952
VOTED VOTED
VOTED
64
Article 38. To appropriate $5,000 for asphalt topping of Oaklandvale School play- ground, repairs to fire escape, modern lighting and new desks.
Article 39. That the Moderator appoint a committee of five on making permanent the Soldiers monument on High School property.
Article 40. To appropriate $722.58 to re-imburse Charles Ryder for expenses or damages sustained by him while acting as a fireman.
VOTED
Article 41. To transfer $5392.80 for Chapter 90 construction of Ballard Street, voted in 1950 to construction of sidewalks on Ballard, Dudley, Dustin Streets, Greenwood Ave. and Warren Road.
Article 42. To vote to approve a policy governing extensions to water mains.
Article 43. To appropriate a sum of money for sidewalks on Bristow Street and Seagirt Ave.
INDEF. POST.
Article 44. To accept approximately 200 feet of Emory Street and appropriate $10.00 for necessary takings.
VOTED
Article 45. To appropriate $6,132 to grant increase of $292 to full time employees of of Fire Department.
INDEF. POST.
Article 46.
- To appropriate $35,000 to fill in land for Cemetery purposes and enlarging Riverside Cemetery; $10,000 to be raised in tax levy and $25,000 transferred from Excess and Denciency Account.
VOTED
Article 47.
To accept Glendale Ave. from Springdale Ave. to Warren Ave. and to appropriate $10.00 for takings.
VOTED
Article 48. To refer matter of dredging and improving Saugus River to committee under Article 9, for investigation and report.
VOTED
Article 49. To amend lot A-7 and A-8 on Plan 1040 for business purposes.
INDEF. POST.
Article 50. To rezone property on Plan 2014, shown as lot A35 for business purposes.
INDEF. POST.
Article 52. To accept remaining portion of Hurd Ave. and portion of Pelham Street with intervening land to Westland Ave. and to appropriate $10.00 for taking and $5,000 to commence construction of said Hurd Ave. and Pelham St. Article 53. To rezone lot A6 Plan 1036 for business purposes.
VOTED DEFEATED
Article 54. To reimburse N. Jessie O'Neil for $112.50 in damages sustained by her in defense of suit for property damage arising out of operation of a town owncd vehicle.
VOTED
Article 56. To deed to East Saugus Improvement Association, Inc. part of lot A-47 on Plan 3010.
VOTED
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING October 20, 1952
REPORTS ACCEPTED
Article 1. Reports of Committees.
Article 2. To appropriate $2,200,000 for constructing, originally equipping and furnish- ing a new high school building, $20,000 from available funds and bond issue of $380,000. under Chapter 44 of Gen. Laws and $1,8000,000 bond issue under chapter 645 of Acts of 1948 as amended.
VOTED
Article 3. To vote to locate new high school on Town owned land on Broadway, lots A-2, A-15, A-43, A-138 and A-148 on Plan of land taken in Nov. 1950.
VOTED
Article 4. To appropriate $30,200 for sanitary sewer on connection with new high school, to authorize the Selectmen to take necessary easements therefor, purchase or take by eminent domain. $5,200 from available funds and bond issue of $25,000.
VOTED
ADJOURNED SPECIAL TOWN MEETING October 27, 1952
Article 5. To locate the proposed new high school on Berrett property near Cliff St.
Article 6. To appropriate money for sanitary sewer.
Article 7. To rezone lot A35, A91, A90, A92 and A93 Plan 2014 for business purposes.
Article 8. To rezone for business purposes, lots A532 to A534, A460 to A468 and A450 to A459 Plan 2028.
VOTED
Article 9. To appropriate $193.95 to re-imburse Hazel C. Marison. From available funds.
VOTED
Article 10. To appropriate $477 to re-imburse M. Pearl Peterson. From available funds.
VOTED INDEF. POST.
Article 11.
To amend the Zoning By-Law, Section 17A.
Article 12. To appropriate $7,000 for sanitary sewer on Olive Ave. and Oakhill Rd. Transfer from available funds.
VOTED
Article 13.
To appropriate $172.00 to pay Margaret A. Lambert, widow of Joseph A. Lambert, Jr. in accordance with Chapter 41, Section 100 of General Laws. From available funds.
VOTED
Article 15.
INDEF. POST.
Article 16. To amend zoning by-law.
INDEF. POST.
Article 17. To authorize the Selectmen to take by eminent domain necessary land or easements under Article 24 of 1952 Annual Town Meeting and to appro- priate $10.00 for same. From available funds.
VOTED
Article 18. To authorize the selectmen to purchase or take by eminent domain land or easements in connection with surface drain on Fairmount Ave. and appropriate $10.00 for same from available funds.
VOTED
Article 19. To authorize selectmen to purchase or take land for highway purposes on Centennial Ave. and to appropriate $10.00 for same, from available funds.
VOTED
Article 20. To accept provisions of General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 6A to permit municipal advertising under certain conditions.
VOTED
Article 21. To appropriate $1,000 for public celebrations. From available funds.
VOTED
Article 22. To appropriate $300 for souvenirs to members of armed services. From available funds.
VOTED
RUTH E. STEVENS, Town Clerk
65
INDEF. POST. INDEF. POST. VOTED
Article 14. To transfer $2900 from Excess and Deficiency Account to Building Dept. To authorize the Town Manager to sell Mansfield School.
VOTED
INDEF. POST. VOTED
INDEF. POST. INDEF. POST.
...
Believing that Saugus should attract new busi- ness and industry into our community, Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence, late in 1952, re- quested the Board of Selectmen to appoint two Industrial Development Commissions. In line with his suggestion, the Board of Selectmen appointed two such commissions composed of representative men and women of the town. One commission is known as the Newburyport Turnpike Industrial Development Commission and the other as the Salem Turnpike Industrial Development Commis- sion.
The Town Manager appointed Vernon W. Evans, retired Superintendent of Schools, as the Executive Director of the two commissions. He assumed his duties on December 1, 1952 serving
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Vernon W. Evans, Executive Director
without salary. The Director, in turn, appointed Mrs. Rita Auclair as his Administrative Assistant.
Mr. Harry W. Merrill was chosen by the mem- bers of the Newburyport Turnpike Commission to serve as Chairman of that group and Mr. Joseph Krzywicki was elected by the members of the Salem Turnpike Commission to serve in the same capacity for this group.
Both commissions have been further organized into smaller groups known as sub-committees each charged with the development of certain phases of the task which lies ahead.
An office has been established in the Town Hall for the Director and his Administrative Assistant.
Saugus is not only receptive to new business and industry but the advent of such is badly needed to bolster town finances. In addition, our town is
Seated: John Serino, Rita Auclair, Mary Wass, Joseph Krgywicki, Frederick J. Englond. Standing: John J. Buccheire, John Pearson, Henry Seover, Phillip Wyatt, Frank J. McDermott, Abraham Pinciss, Joseph Hess, Fiore Sacco, Jahn Mueller, Fred Callahon, Donold R. Reiniger, Hollis E. Hogle, Jr., Mark Rolph, Harvey Wasserboehr, Arthur Brown, Harry W. Merrill, Herbert Spence.
66
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
-
Seated, left ta right: Helmer Jasephson, Peter Grady, Harvey Paole, J. Gearge Bainbridge, Darathy Estabraak. Standing, left to right: Harry Wentwarth, Charles Danavan, Albian R. Rice, James J. Hogan, Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence, Richard Nelsan, Chester P. Gibsan, Herman Bunker, Arthur E. Gustafsan, Barnet Shapira, Dr. T. Lawrence Halpert, Leslie Parsans, Blaine Allen.
very favorably situated for such since it is the nearest town north of Boston with large areas of undeveloped land suitable for business and indus- try.
Although the commissions are in their infant stage, it is indeed encouraging that many men of business and industry have already contacted the Director and displayed a keen interest in locating in our town.
It is the considered opinion of the Executive Di- rector that two factors are, at present, retarding the work of the two commissions.
(1) The Newburyport Turnpike in Saugus is not even sensibly zoned. This is also true of sev- eral other areas within the confines of our com- munity. This situation should be taken care of immediately.
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