USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1953 > Part 10
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„-room and two.
Gid obtain figures fol mates Mathom the three low Saugus next
The Essex County governing hoard at Salem yesterday took un- wird payments of increase the seating der advisement a petition of the or its participation inthe school for Irom Saugus Board of Selectmen that , the Boston and Maine Railroad be 1 Eustis Sircet, Saugus.
struction of the new Vet-fated 850 to roughly S' Memorial School. Depending upon which ordered to repair a grade crossing
At the previously granted ratein ha im-1.
pected to get well underway by this Fall.
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SAUGUS
Name Patrolman Elsmore To Head Safety Campaign
Satura
HEADLINES
ram 1953
Bookmilic.
Of Town Finance B Committee Elects Mrs. I To Serve As Secretary
2054 Budget
SAUGUS
Contract for Due To Be Sinn in Publicl A new town-wide collection of ashes and rubbish will start on Mon- . no Torny C. Furbush,
Charles C. DeFronzo, superin -! ident of the public works de -! riment in Saugus, stated at the aring that he has been trying ice 1948 to get the railroad to bair the crossing, and was told
Santa Claus to Get Big Reception On Saturday
Town Beautiful Committee and Chamber to Stage Huge Parade
town to u
At Saugus
Many Prizes T
d On Bond Payr lize Tov.
The Saugus School Committe today appealed tomu:
SAUGUS
Committee to Obtain Bids oms
SAUGUS
New High School Plans Win Approval of State
Town To Be Eligible For Aid To Extent of Half of The Cost
SAUGUS
Saugus Educational Costs Found Less Than Average
Superinte -- ' t Morgan Hails w High School
SAUGUS
Town Prepared To Launch $30,000 Sidewalk Work
Granite Curbstones Will Also Be Installed in Many Sections
Saugus Files Water Suit SAUGUS Against Lynr$250,000 Sewerage Bonds Voted By Town Meeting SA HEADLINES wall
The Town of Saugus filed petition for declaratory judgemer against the City of Lynn in Su perior Court in Salem yesterday which requested that Lynn be ordered to give up rights to prem- ises known as the "abandoned
Members Also Ap' ·tion At Func 1953
nager Churs- ot to quare of ¿
park wit
Saugus Votes Land Sale For New Shopping Center
Roll-Call of 42 To 1 Authorizes Committee To Assist Town Manager
Authorization to sell a total of 164 acres of town-owned land on the Newburyport Turnpike for the construction of a $5,000,000 super-shopping center was usted.
Manager Names Advisory Committee On New School
Appointment by Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence of a nine- member Advisory committee to assist him in the construction of Saugus' wow 39 900 An0 High school on town-owued land off the Newburyport
Ballard Street Widening Due To Start This Fall
State, County and Town Will Share In Expenses of Project
Merchants To Hear Saugus
for Plan SAUGUS
WENTWORTH RESIGNS FROM HALLO DOARD
Manager i aunches Drive To Clean Up Community
Ly of lay for it's
SAUGUS
IS.
of
d
New Sewer Projects Due SAUGUS New Town Report Laud To Be Started Next Week
As One of Greatest Eve
Water Rates Committee To Recommend Increase
Boost Needed, Study Group Finds In Special Report For Town Meeting
cho
Ated
Line to New High School, Present . Rollard St. Planned Selectmen Favor Higher Pay Raise For Workers
pos ounc. er. 1 ened ore 1 · beg nent my end: sirer to . ser
Police and Firefighters Would Receive Increase To $3,600
The Board of Selectmen, mect ing in executive session last nigh
The selectmen voted theillers
pted
Committee Orar -* In Progra-
vu, U00 Sought
or Repairs to Buildings Nearly Every Schoolhor- pwn Hall Urged I>
the last works
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SAUGUS PIONEERS AT THE STATE HOUSE. With a smile of satisfaction, Governor Chris- tian A. Herter signs into law the bill sponsored by Selectman John J. Bucchiere permitting towns and cities to repair unaccepted highways. To the left of His Excellency is Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence, and on his right is the author of the bill. Sharing in Mr. Bucchiere's pleasure is Representative Belden G. Bly, Jr., Saugus' Representative in the General Court, in the rear, who filed the bill upon which the new statute is based.
Bota SHOE BOX 4
Dot
GOOD FOOD
BOB'S SHOE BOX GLEAMS AS BRIGHTLY AS THE IRON POT after their proud owners, Robert C. Simone and Herbert White, out-did themselves in co-operating in the 1953 Clean-Up and Paint-Up Campaign staged by the Town Beautiful Committee, then headed by Donald J. Flynn. "Let's get in on the act," said Bob and Herb, ,and they proceeded to completely face their Monument Square building with ornamental brick at heavy expense. Just to show that community enthusiasm can be contagious, Herb was so pleased at the result that he changed the name of his Saugus Center eating establishment to make it conform to the handsome "iron pot" surmounting the attractive sign. Improved business has convinced both aggressive members of Saugus' business community that it pays to maintain "ship-shape shops."
Red deach Ørill- COCKTAIL BAR
TOPPED BY ITS COLONIAL COACH, this beautiful modernistic restaurant on the New- buryport Turnpike is typical of the kind of development Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence and other officials are constantly striving to bring to Saugus' Newburyport Turnpike. The Red Coach Grill-its spacious parking area thronged with cars from all States in the Union-is an outstanding advertisement for the town of Saugus to the millions of tour- ists who annually pass its beautifully landscaped grounds.
MODERN SCIENTIFIC LIGHTING in Saugus' Monument Square dramatically shows the contrast between progresive administration and the "horse and buggy days." Beautiful Civil War Memorial in the middle of the square stands out majestically under the GE planned lighting system. Maximum efficiency lighting is now provided in the town's centres by 15,000 lumen mercury-vapor lamps designed by engineers of the General Electric Company.
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IMPORTANCE OF SAUGUS AS THE CENTER OF A BUSY TRADING AREA has not escaped the sharp eyes of such experts as the far-flung national Atlantic and Pacific Tea Store. After a lengthy survey of its possibilities, the firm's experts arranged to take over this super-market erected on land of Charles W. Donovan at the junction of the Newburyport Turnpike and Route 129 at Hawkes' Corner, North Saugus. Thousands of North Shore food customers, with swarms of tourists, crowding into the thoroughly modern foodmart weekly, have proved the wisdom of their selection. Saluting this first of many such prof- itable enterprises-welcome alike to the Town of Saugus and their owners-Town Man- ager Walter E. Lawrence bids a hearty welcome on behalf of the citizens of Saugus.
...
MAJESTIC PINES LIFTING THEIR NEEDLED HOMAGE TO THE HEAVENS provide a back- ground of unparalleled beauty for the home colony Frank D. Carell is building for new residents of Saugus on a lovely site stretching between historic Appleton's Pulpit and the shores of enticing Lily Pond. Flanked by noble promontories of impenetrable granite, these homes have an idyllic setting. Happy, laughing, healthy children will soon be scaling these heights, "shinning" the trees, enjoying "country-living" within minutes of Monument Square.
MORE AND BETTER HOMES FOR MODERN AMERICANS. Saugus is suffering growing pains. In every part of the town new and attractive homes are being erected, so many that 1953's total is the second largest in the community's history. Few of them are more attractive to purchasers than this lovely development in North Saugus where Fred Timmons has creaed a self-contained, park-like atmosphere for a colony of high-type homes soon to be occupied by new residents, whose children will love the large play areas made available for the unusually wide lots.
OD MARZ
AMERICA IS STILL THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY. Take, for example, this new and modern supermarket erected by Anthony Cogliano on Lincoln Avenue. It is the fulfillment of a lifetime dream for progressive businessman Tony Cogliano, whose rapidly expanding busi- ness on nearby Brostow Street finally burst its seams as more and even more customers proved the truth of Ralph Waldo Emerson's doctrine, "If a man build a better mousetrap, the world will wear a beaten path to his door." Where, except in America, could this transition from a tiny corner store to a modern, completely stocked and staffed super- market, become possible within the passage of a few years? Cosmopolitan Saugus- where all races and creeds live and prosper in harmony- rejoices in Tony Cogliano's success.
SANTA CLAUS AND HIS CHIMNEY DESCENT. HIS REINDEER ARE POISED ON THE ROOF. And the WELCOME sign at Donovan's Greenhouses on the Newburyport Turnpike at North Saugus merges with the beautiful artistry of a Christmas scene which attracted thousands to Saugus during the festive season. More than anything else, this picture of "Donovan's Flowers" at the holiday season proves that Saugus businessmen are progressive, alert, leaders in both the fields of trade and civic pride.
Lynnhurst DJA
"HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING!" seems to be the theme of these symbolic angels on the beautiful float of the Lynnhurst Parent-Teacher Association in the town's Christmas parade. One of the finest entries, the work of the association is typical of what it has accomplished during the past year under the fine leadership of Mrs. Eugene N. Skoro- powski, president. The association has also secured a Town Meeting appropriation for paving of the play area of the Lynnhurst School which will be one of the first projects to be undertaken when spring work becomes possible.
SANTA CLAUS HAS JUST ARRIVED AND HERE COMES ONE OF HIS GENIAL HELPERS OF THE SAUGUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE with the gifts. Happy youngsters of all ages, their balloons waving in the cool December breeze, join in to make Saugus' Christmas celebration sponsored by the Town Beautiful Committee and Chamber of Commerce a memorable event. Young America is doing quite a job on the Town Hall greensward, but who cares? Come Spring, it will be as green as ever, and nothing should ever supersede the eternal spirit of the gay Christmas season which beats eternal in the breasts of all men of good will.
"I'M NOT SO SURE I LIKE THIS," says the somewhat startled young lady on the left who sat in the arms of Santa Claus at the Christmas celebration staged by the Town Beautiful Committee and the Saugus Chamber of Commerce during the last holiday sea- son. Her companion on the right, however, seems very smug about the whole business, as though she has a secret understanding with the kindly Santa to fulfill her heart's de- sire. These youngsters are typical of the hundreds who thronged the town's squares to scream with glee at the gaily-colored floats, open the gifts distributed by the Chamber of Commerce, and, just as these two little angels are, talk it over in person with an understanding Santa. This, too, makes a town a neighborly community in which persons of all ages live, meet, and help one another with their problems. There's a lot more to being a good town than fixing roads and collecting taxes and an understanding Town Manager has made such human interest incidents as this possible for storage in the minds of childhood to be re-captured and re-lived in later years.
PROUDLY CLUTCHING HER PRIZE in the Saugus Fishing Derby last summer for boys and girls of all ages is Carolyn Gannino of 47 Wendell Street, whose third prize winning entry wasn't big enough to be captured by the camera although it netted her this handsome award. Carolyn didn't dare to hold it up straight for fear of hiding those gorgeous curls and winning smile.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA THE TRAIL TO CITIZENSHIP
LYNN
NAHANT
LYNNFIELD
SAUGUS
SWAMPSCOTT
WINTHROP
BUILDING THE SAUGUS OF TOMORROW. This many-sided project, in which every citizen must play his part, is being significantly aided by Bay Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America, whose beautiful Camp Nihan in North Saugus is the overnight camping mecca of thousands of disciplined and nature-loving boys under public-spirited leadership. Little Sister, very much impressed by her visit to Nihan's rolling acres, leaves with the hope that when she gets a bit older, similar facilities will be available for Saugus girls.
THAT "SMELT" IN THE PROUD HANDS of Donald Murray of 11 Oakcrest Street topped the field to win him first prize in the Saugus Fishing Derby of last summer, which had all of the budding Isaak Waltons worked up for weeks. "Don's" very proud of that hand- some casting outfit with which he plans to catch bigger and better fish as he gains experience.
"BOY, OH, BOY," says Junior. Would I like to hold those reins. . . . On top of this Christmas-time float participating in the Saugus Town Beautiful and Chamber of Com- merce salute to Santa Claus is not St. Nick himself, but he is the envy of all youngsters as he cleverly maneuvers the horses around a narrow corner. More than 20,000 specta- tors thronged Saugus streets for this holiday tribute to the eternal Spirit of Christmas.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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NEW SAUGUS HIGH SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Seated left to right: Dr. John L. Silver, Miss Alice G. Blood, Secretary; Chairman Paul A. Haley, Mrs. Mary F. Wass, Stephen W. Haynes, Architect. Standing: Educational Consultant Jesse J. Morgan, John A. W. Pearce, Joseph T. Hess, Francis S. Mascianica, Stanley W. Piwowarski.
SAUGUS MEETS THE CHALLENGE OF MODERN EDUCATIONAL DEMANDS
Saugus-one of the half dozen oldest settled communities in the United States-is blazing a new trail in the field of second- ary school education.
With the complete co-operation and leadership of a dynamic and forward-looking Town Manager, a town which is on the eve of celebrating its 325th year as a settled community in 1954 is the center of educational attention in the entire east.
On a 23-acre plot of land fronting on the main gateway to the North-the Newburyport Turnpike-Saugus is building a new completely flexible and utilitarian Senior High School plant, blending the latest in educational trends with contemporary beauty.
Upon its completion-expected in the fall of 1955-Saugus High School will no longer be the subject of lifted eyebrows in educational circles when its facilities are discussed.
It will no longer be the last High School of its size in the Commonwealth without a gymnasium.
No longer will its pupils be unable to produce their school dramas in their own plant because the existing assembly hall and stage have been condemned as "unsafe" by the State Department of Public Safety.
Culminating a battle of more than 20 years, in which Saugus' beloved former Superintendent of Schools, Vernon W. Evans, fought annually for a modern plant in the days when it could have been constructed much less expensively, the citizens of Essex County's second largest town have, by an almost unani- mous Town Meeting vote, appropriated $2,200,000 to give their youth a modern secondary school education.
And, by almost the same Town Meeting vote, they have authorized its location on a 23-acre plot of town-owned land bordering on the scenic Newburyport Turnpike, termed by ex- perts of the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commis- sion: "The finest High School building site to be found in the State."
STATE PAYS HALF OF COST
The same State commission has made a financial grant of the maximum State aid possible-50 per cent of all costs above the land, to a maximum of $1,100,000. This will be paid the town one-twentieth annually during the maturity period of the bonds. The State grant, however, does not include interest.
Because of the alertness of the Saugus High School Advisory Building Committee of nine citizens appointed by Town Manager Walter E. Lawrence, Saugus becomes the first community in Massachusetts to receive its first payment this year to help cush- ion the 1954 tax rate.
The Advisory Committee, closely scanning the law, found no reason for the previous policy of the State, exercised in the case of the Veterans' Memorial School, whereby refunds to com- munities did not start until after the completion of the project. The State has yet to start refunds on the Veterans' School, al- though it has been occupied for two years.
At the request of the Advisory Committee and Manager, Representative Belden G. Bly, Jr., called this provision of the law to the attention of the State commission.
"The town of Saugus is to be congratulated," he was told. "There is nothing in the law prohibiting construction grants as building progresses. It has merely been a custom not to pay until after completion of projects.'
PAYS DIVIDENDS TO TAXPAYERS
This single exhibition of the work and study of the Advisory Committee will save the taxpayers of Saugus almost $3 in this year's tax rate. It has also set a policy of State-wide magnitude and is one of the many reasons why the Town Manager-a be- liever in democratic principles-named a committee of nine citi- zens to aid him in planning and building this most costly venture in the history of Saugus.
Planning a secondary school system for the next 40 to 50 years, mindful of both the educational needs of the town of Saugus and the ability of its taxpayers to meet the cost, is not accomplished overnight.
It took three years in East Providence, R. I., to design a similar plant before a steam shovel was wheeled onto the site.
75
Because of preliminary work of the Town Meeting Investi- gating Committee, upon whose recommendations the project was authorized, and a two and three nights a week schedule of confer- ences and meetings of the Town Manager, Advisory Committee, architects and engineers, and department heads and instructors at the present High School, the designing of the new Saugus High School consumed only some 11 months.
Bids were opened on Oct. 30 last. Despite the fact that over a year had transpired between the authorizing Town Meeting and the opening of bids, 11 of the 12 contractors submitting estimates were under the original sum suggested to the Town Meeting. That, alone, shows careful, tedious, painstaking work, with a con- stant vigilant eye scaled to costs.
COURT ACTION DELAYED START
The opportunity to start construction in the beautiful weather of last fall was lost when a "taxpayers' suit" in court challenged the intention of the Manager, upon the advice of the Advisory Committee, to award the contract to the Vara Con- struction Company of Boston, ruled by the Town Counsel to be the "lowest, eligible responsible bidder." State law requires that the contract go to the firm so qualifying.
After a protracted and fair court trial, in which the petition- ing "taxpayers" were represented by highly competent counsel, Judge Charles A. Rome in Salem Superior Court dismissed their temporary injunction, found that the actions of both the Town Manager and Advisory Committee had been legal and prop- er, and ruled, further, as a matter of law, that "The Vara Con- struction Company of Boston is the lowest, eligible responsible bidder," thereby qualifying them for the contract.
The decision of Judge Rome fully upheld the contention of the Town Counsel. It also completely vindicated the judgment of the Town Manager and Advisory Committee, who had they acted otherwise, would have been sued by the Vara Construction Com- pany, and, in the light of Judge Rome's decision, have lost the case.
The Town Manager and Advisory Committee regret the ac- tion of citizens in bringing the "taxpayers" suit. It unnecessarily delayed to no eventual gain to the competing contractor the start, and, therefore, the completion of this urgently needed school.
PART OF DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM
Under our democratic system of government, however, we have to pay a price for our freedom. These citizens of the Town of Saugus exercised their legal rights, mistaken as their judgment may have been. The delay and additional cost can only be written off as part of the price we pay for democracy, and it should in fairness, be stated that the "taxpayers" who brought the suit had a perfectly legal right to do so if they so desired.
On January 12 of this year, with two feet of snow covering the site which had previously been available for preliminary work, Manager Lawrence signed the contract.
The Vara Construction Company has started work. Con- tract completion date is April 30, 1955, but this is subject to ex- tensions for "strikes, lock-outs, material shortages, and acts of God." Target date for occupancy is the Wednesday after Labor Day in 1955.
Due to the fact that the bid was under the original estimate, and with the complete approval of the School Committee, Ad- visory Committee and Manager, four additional classrooms, with a total of 120 seats, will be added to the original plans. These will cost roughly $40,000, or $10,000 per room, and if added after completion under a new contract would, at present market costs, range in cost from $20,000 to $25,000 per room.
This will raise the opening-day classroom seating accomoda- tions of the new Saugus High School from the previously planned 850 to at least 970. As this estimate is based upon the State-rec- ommended optimum figure of 30 pupils per room, the figure can well rise above this without crowding occuring.
All facilities-gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria, shops, li- brary, laboratories, and other such units-are designed for a peak load of 1200, to provide for later classroom additions.
The taxpayers and citizens of Saugus will be interested in the following general description of the project, thereby enabling them to comprehend its lay-out as artisans speed construction with the advent of good weather:
FENCED FROM TURNPIKE
The building and site development, entirely on town-owned land off the Newburyport Turnpike, but completely fenced from Route 1, with neither access nor exit to the highway, is designed for an eventual student load of 1200 pupils. There will be a total of 48 instructional rooms, laboratories, and units.
Immediate classroom seating will be provided for 970 stu- dents. It is expected that the present Saugus Senior High School, part of which is 47 years old, and which houses 753 students, will be entirely converted to Junior High School and elementary school use with the opening of the new building, which is ex- pected to occur in the fall of 1955.
The auditorium, cafeteria, kitchen, gymnasium, library, shop and home-making and other suites and departments of the new Saugus High School are all designed for the eventual peak load of 1200 students.
Provision is also made for the later addition of academic rooms without disturbing any of the present facilities.
The new building, aside from the auditorium and gymna- sium, will be of single-story, open-type, construction, making pro- vision for proper natural and artificial lighting of modern type for secondary school activities.
The design of the new $2,200,000 plant is contemporary. It will face Main Street, thereby providing better access to the play area and stadium, and the classroom wing will project back into the lot area toward Vine Street.
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BUILDING FLEXIBLE IN DESIGN
Flexibility in construction and room arrangement has been the constant aim of the committee, its architect, and its educa- tional consultant, to the end that the building will adapt itself to changing educational needs in the generations ahead with the least expense to the town of Saugus.
By constructing a single-story building, costs have been shaved by some 15 per cent, on the average. Materials have been chosen that are best adapted for their various uses, not only keep- ing in mind first costs, but maintenance expense as well.
Foundations are of concrete. Exterior walls are of masonry with a water-struck red brick exterior face. The structural floors and roof are concrete. The entire frame will be steel.
Glazed structural tile will be used in the corridor walls and toilets. Plywood will be utilized in offices and the lower part of the gymnasium walls, and other features of the building, such as lobbies, will also be in plywood. The auditorium lobby will be in marble.
Floors ef classrooms will be of asphalt tile, with ceramic tile in toilets and showers. Heavy schoolhouse plumbing will be uti- lized with brass piping. The heating and ventilating will include an oil burning steam vapor system.
In keeping with modern educational trends, the rooms will be of varying sizes, to accommodate large as well as small classes. All laboratories will be of the latest approved type with ultra- modern facilities.
AUDITORIUM TO SEAT 1170
The auditorium, with a modern stage, will seat 1170 persons, and will in addition to being used for school purposes, be available for community use. The gymnasium will seat 850. There will be provision for 125 students in the library. The cafeteria will ac- commodate 400 pupils at a seating. The shops will be designed to teach various trades, including automobile repairing.
The new school will also include among other features five English classrooms and an English laboratory or speech-room with a low platform; four social studies classrooms, four mathe- matics classrooms, two language classrooms, and one classroom for alternate use of social studies, English, and language depart- ments.
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