USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1935 > Part 5
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To either of the Constables of the town of Swampscott in said County,
Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby di- rected to notify the inhabitants of the town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall in said Swampscott on Tuesday, the eleventh day of June, at 8:30 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
Article 1. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Finance Committee to transfer from the Reserve Fund to the account of Hawthorne brook, such sum or sums of money, not to exceed five thousand ($5000) dollars, as may be necessary, for the purchase of materials, furnishing trucks and machinery and
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other necessary expenses in connection with the enclosing of Hawthorne brook or a portion thereof, the work to be done as an ERA project.
Article 2. To see if the town will vote to sell the premises taken by it on tax lien against Joseph Raimo et al identified as Land Court Foreclosure Case No. 5226.
Article 3. To appropriate and raise by borrowing or otherwise under any State or Federal laws, general or special, as are applicable, such sum or sums as may be necessary for any or all of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing articles.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Post Offices and in at least one public and con- spicuous place in each precinct of the town and at or in the immediate vicinity of each railroad station in the town seven days before the day appointed for said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this thirty-first day of May, A. D., 1935.
PHILIP E. BESSOM, LESTER B. MORLEY, R. WYER GREENE, Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest : FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Return on the Warrant
Pursuant to the within warrant to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott, by posting attested copies of said warrant at the Town Hall, Post Offices, at least one public and conspicuous place in each precinct in the town, and at or in the immediate vicinity of each railroad station in Swamp- scott, on Monday, June 3, 1935, the posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.
Attest: FRANK H. BRADFORD, Constable.
Special Town Meeting, Tuesday, June 11, 1935
In accordance with the warrant the town meeting members assembled at the Town Hall, and were called to order by John R. Hurlburt, Moderator at 7:45 P. M. the necessary quorum being present (110). The warrant with the re- turn thereon was read by the Town Clerk.
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The Authorization of the Committee
At a special town meeting held Monday, March 25, 1935, it was voted:
"That the sum of six thousand dollars be appropriated to be raised by taxation and to be applied toward the erection and equipping of a high school. That a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator, and said com- mittee be and hereby is authorized to appoint and engage an architect and prepare plans, estimates and specifications for the erection and equipping of such high school on Phillips Park, and also on the present site, and to pay for such plans and other expense incurred under this vote out of this ap- propriation. In case during the current year the town votes to issue bonds for this purpose under any act that may require the appropriation of 25 cents per one thousand dollars of the assessed valuation out of taxation, the amount of $6,000 appropriated by this vote is intended as such appropriation out of taxation.
Said committee is also authorized to make application for a grant of Federal aid for such purpose, file with all Federal and State authorities plans, and other information incidental thereto; and to accept such grant provided that the committee determines that the amount and conditions of the grant are such that acceptance is desirable.
Said committee shall proceed at once, report back to the town as soon as can be done at a special town meeting to be then called. Said committee shall also obtain information and make report on the cost of enlarging, remodeling or adding to the present school.
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1935]
Said committee is also authorized to petition the legislature to extend or modify or both Chapter 262 of the Acts of 1930."
In accordance with the above vote the Moderator appointed the following committee:
PHILIP W. BLOOD, Chairman
PHILIP E. BESSOM
FRED E. RUSSELL
LOUIS I. SCHREINER GEORGE C. THOMAS
The Report of the Committee
The Committee's function under the vote of the town is as follows:
1. To obtain and present information on which the town may act relative to erecting a new high school on Phillips Park.
2. To obtain and present similar information relative to erecting a new high school on the site of the present high school.
3. To obtain and present information relative to adding to, en- larging and remodelling the present high school.
4. To apply for a grant of Federal aid.
5. To petition the legislature for an extension of Chapter 262 of the Acts of 1930 whereby the town was authorized to borrow money outside the debt limit for building a new high school.
The cost of erecting a high school necessarily depends upon the size and type of building. A consideration of present needs, past growth, probable future development, and conferences with the school authorities, convince us that a building with a normal capacity of 600 pupils, will be adequate for the present and for many years to come:
This was taken by us as'a standard requirement to be met in providing the town with a suitable high school.
1. PHILLIPS PARK
In 1929 and 1930 a committee appointed by the town made a thorough study of the matter of erecting a new high school on Phillips Park. They en- gaged an engineer to make soundings as to a foundation. They engaged an architect to make plans for the school. They reported an adequate foundation, and that the site was suitable. Their report and the architects plans are pub- lished in detail in the Town Reports of 1929 and 1930. ..
We have not felt it necessary to duplicate the entire work and expense of that committee. We accept as correct the former committee's report that Phillips Park affords a foundation. The architects employed by the former. committee, Cram & Ferguson, have furnished us with revised plans, based on the requirements we have adopted as standard set forth above, and revised cost estimates based on present prices.
Based on these estimates, we believe and report that a new high school, such as outlined, can be erected and equipped on Phillips Park at the estimated cost of $450,000.
The proposed school would accommodate 600 to 625 students. The three main elements included are (1) the school rooms and administration; (2) the auditorium; (3) the gymnasium. The auditorium and gymnasium will have very frequent evening or holiday use for non-school purposes; these elements have therefore been placed on the front of the building where they are easily accessible to the public, and can be cut off from the school proper. Thus the auditorium and gymnasium are not only conveniently located, but the large windows which they require, make a very effective feature in the design of the front. The school rooms are disposed about them on three floors.
Main Floor
The main entrance is in the center of the building on the left of the central lobby is the auditorium with coat rooms, stage and seats for 697 persons, 540 on the floor, 157 in a gallery. On the right of the center is the gymnasium, which can be divided into two parts by a folding partition, or used as a unit, when it has floor space for a standard basket ball court, and folding bleachers for 140 spectators. The lockers and showers are on the floor below. Opposite
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the end of the entrance lobby is the administrative unit, consisting of offices for the principal, and rooms for men and women teachers and the school nurse. On one side of the office unit are the five rooms for business training; on the other two laboratories and three class rooms. There are toilet rooms for boys and girls on each floor, and built-in lockers in the corridor partitions.
Second Floor
On this floor is the auditorium gallery, and a double gymnasium gallery. In the center is a school library, with librarian's room. On the left is a double study hall, divisible into two rooms by a folding partition, a single study hall, and a room for free-hand drawing; on the right are biology laboratory, and three class rooms.
Ground Floor
On the front portion of this floor are showers and lockers, boiler room and cafeteria. The girls' showers are in separate compartments; gang showers are provided for the boys. In addition there are gymnasium instructors' offices, and rooms for corrective physical training. The cafeteria has a kitchen, and seating space for 375 students at one shift. On this floor there are six class rooms, and rooms for cooking, sewing, manual training and mechanical drawing.
Summary of Rooms
Administrative unit (principal, teachers, nurse)
Academic class rooms and study halls
15
Science
3
Business training
5
Drawing 2
Domestic arts 2
Shops
Library
Auditorium, with stage and gallery
Cafeteria and food preparation
1 1 (48 students) (700 students) (375 students)
Gymnasium-double, boys and girls
Showers and lockers for boys and girls
Rest rooms for boys and girls
Material
The building is designed to be built of sand struck brick, with limestone trim. Floors in class rooms and in general throughout the building are to be asphalt tile. Corridor floors are to be of asphalt tile except in the main entrance lobby, where there will be terrazzo laid in patterns. The gymnasium floor is to be of maple, laid in mastic.
Stairs are to be metal construction with metal risers and treads of pressed steel with a cast masonry wearing surface.
Standard built-in locker equipment is to be included and built into corridor partitions. Exposed section of corridor where there are no lockers, to be faced with glazed terra cotta tile.
A certain amount of acoustical material will be required similar to Celotex for the ceilings of typewriting rooms, etc., and acoustical plaster in corridors and parts of the auditorium.
Heating system will be low pressure steam with unit heaters for class rooms and the usual ventilating equipment. Boilers are to be cast iron, sectional type.
There will be a flat composition roof.
In considering Phillips Park we have contemplated locating the building about 100 feet back from Humphrey street equidistant from the new football field and the easterly boundary of the park.
II. NEW SCHOOL ON THE PRESENT SITE
To build an entirely new school on the present site would seem to be impractical. It would necessitate first tearing down the present building. There is no adequate place in town to carry on classes. The school work would be dis- rupted and pupils would lose in effect nearly a year's time. However, if the town desires to build a new school on the present site we are of the opinion that the cost would be approximately the same as at Phillips Park.
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1935]
III. THE PRESENT BUILDING
The Committee conferred with J. Williams Beal, Sons, the architects for the new Melrose High School, as to the present structure. Based on their study conferences with the school authorities, and our own observations, we believe and report that a school suitable for present needs and adequate to care for future growth can be provided by adding to and making some changes in the present building. The lot of the present high school contains 75,000 feet. It is so laid out as to permit additions on the rear.
To cover the requirements we have set up as a standard it would be nec- essary to make the following additions and changes:
It is proposed to build on to the rear of the existing building in accordance with the accompanying plans an addition which will contain class rooms or special rooms, cafeteria, auditorium and gymnasium with lockers and showers. The class rooms in the existing building on the north and south side will remain as at present, the connections to the addition to be made through the exist- ing class rooms on the east side or rear. New students toilets and locker space to be provided on each floor in this location. The existing auditorium on the third floor will be divided into three laboratories, and the present gymnasium will be used as a shop.
The plan contains the following rooms which are designed to accommodate adequately a senior High School of 600 pupils.
35 pupils each
Study
70
"
Physics laboratory
24
"
Chemistry laboratory
30
"
Biology laboratory
30
Typewriting room
30
Bookkeeping room
35
Machine room
15
Mechanical drawing
35
Freehand drawing
35
Cooking room
20
Sewing room
30
"
Large shop
30
Small shop
15
Library
60
Auditorium-seating capacity 650.
Gymnasium-double, boys and girls.
Locker and shower baths.
Cafeteria-seating capacity 325.
Administrative officers.
Teachers rooms.
Nurses rooms.
Toilets-boys and girls.
Book rooms and storage space.
Condition of Existing Building
The existing building is well built and in excellent condition structurally. The plan of addition contemplates, practically speaking, no major changes in supporting structural walls or roof. The only cutting of walls necessary will be where the window area in present class rooms will be increased. The present tower will be removed as well as the large ventilating chimneys which have been the source of considerable maintenance expense. The boiler plant is in good condition and will be utilized; ample space is available for an additional boiler.
The building both from the standpoint of plan and structure is well adapted to addition and alteration at a reasonable cost.
Description of Plans
The accompanying plans shows the existing walls and partitions in black and all new partitions and walls cross hatched. It will be seen that most of the existing partitions remain as at present. The space occupied by two class rooms on the rear of the first and second floors are used for connecting corridors to the addition and locker space and toilets. The existing windows will remain, open- ing into a large light court.
11 Standard class rooms
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The corridors of the new addition and present building on all floors except the third form a rectangle around which are located the class rooms and special rooms. The large court with windows opening into the corridors and locker space is ideal and the general plan is most convenient and permits the students to pass from classes with the minimum interference and confusion.
Two new stairways are provided in the addition making a total of four which provide the proper exits for the building and make the circulation from floor to floor easy and convenient. All stairways are fireproof, and each class room has two separate means of exit.
The auditorium at present takes up the whole third floor. It is planned to divide this as indicated for the physics, biology, and chemistry laboratories, and is the most desirable location for these rooms. No supporting partitions are changed. The existing windows are enlarged to give proper natural illumination.
The new auditorium opens directly off the corridors on the north side, thereby leaving so far as possible the best orientation for class rooms. The main floor which seats 480 is on the first floor level and the balcony which seats 150 is on the second floor level. The main floor is pitched to the stage and will to- gether with the balcony be provided with fixed seats. The stage is of ample size and planned for convenient use. Natural illumination will be provided by skylight.
The gymnasium is on the first floor level and has a clear floor space 60x80 feet which may be divided by a folding partition, making gymnasiums 40x60 feet for boys and girls. The balcony seats 180 and is entered from the second floor.
Shower baths and locker rooms are located directly under the gymnasium and both the boys and girls have separate stairways leading from the same to their respective gymnasiums.
It should be noted that the gymnasium has windows on three sides assuring ample light and sunshine and is located so that the noise will not be objectionable to the class rooms or auditorium. The plan permits using the gymnasium, showers and lockers as a separate unit without opening the whole school building to the public.
In the basement the present gymnasium will be utilized without changes as a general shop and is suited perfectly for this purpose. The space now occupied by bleachers will be used for store room and the existing toilet room space used for a General Shop.
The grade of the ground is such that all basement windows will be full size in the new addition.
Construction
The new addition will have masonry exterior and interior supporting walls, fireproof stairways, and mill construction first floors, hard pine rafter joist con- struction for the second floor and roof. Walls of corridors, gymnasium, showers, lockers and toilets will show brick finish. All other walls and ceilings will be wire lathed and plastered.
All interior finish will be hard wood, finished natural, with maple floors in class-rooms, mastic tile or linoleum in corridors, and special rooms, and terrazzo or tile floors in toilets.
The electrical system including illumination, clock system, fire alarms and telephone will be entirely new throughout.
The plumbing will be entirely new throughout.
The present heating boilers will be retained and an additional boiler in- stalled, utilizing as much as possible of the present heating mains and piping. Apart from the boiler unit, however, a practically complete new system of heating and ventilating with unit ventilators will be installed with full auto- matic control.
Exterior of Building
The present slate roof will remain. The tower and large ventilating chim- neys will be removed and a new central cupola of simple design will be built on the main roof as indicated on the exterior elevations.
As is indicated new stone trim will be placed around the entrances to the building and all exposed surfaces of the existing building will be covered with a veneer of new brick to correspond with the addition so that the building will not have a patched appearance due to the necessary cutting of the walls where
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window sizes are increased. This new brickwork will give a much brighter and modern appearance to the present building and will of course make the whole completed structure appear like one unit. It is planned to make the new ad- dition very simple in design. On the south side the present roof will be extended over the new addition thus, as the rest of the addition is well back from the street, there will be no view of the completed structure which will be unattract- ive.
Cost of Building
Our architects have made detailed estimates of the cost of the building which include all construction work, heating, ventilating, plumbing, electrical, necessary built-in school equipment, movable furniture and equipment, architect's services and services of clerk of work, and have had their figures checked by several contractors. These figures show that to carry out the work necessitates an appropriation of $325,000.00.
The architects also report that this work could be carried on without seriously interfering with school sessions.
IV. FEDERAL AID
The allotments and regulations for carrying out the public works aid program of the government were released in a letter dated May 25, 1935, signed by Mr. Parker of the State P. W. A. office. The amounts and terms of grants to communities for public works are to be on a 45% grant, and 55% loan basis. About 90% of the cost of a school would be eligible to receive the grant of 45%.
We believe the town should now adopt definitely one of the propositions above set forth, vote an appropriation by bond issue conditional upon obtain- ing a satisfactory grant of Federal funds and empower whatever committee may have charge of the matter to negotiate for and approve or reject such grant.
V. EXTENDING LEGISLATIVE ACT
The committee petitioned and obtained from the legislature authority for the town to borrow outside the limit of indebtedness not exceeding $400,000 for building a new high school, enlarging, adding to, remodeling the. present high school, on fifteen year bonds.
VI. CONCLUSION
We do not consider it part of our job to compare the plans on which we are directed to report, or to set forth their relative advantages and disadvant- ages. The arguments on both plans are well known to the town. Neither is it necessary to discuss the need for better and greater high school accommodation. It may be taken for granted that most people interested in the subject are convinced of this. We report merely that an adequate high school, suitable to the present and probable future needs of the town, and satisfactory to the school department, may be provided either by building a new school on Phillips Park at an approximate cost of $450,000, or by adding to and making changes in the present school at an approximate cost of $325,000.
The probable effect on the tax rate of carrying out either plan, estimated without considering a credit of federal aid, would be, on a basis of 15 year bonds and using a figure of $23,400,000 as the valuation of the town.
New school-first year, $1.86 per M; average over 15 years $1.57 per M. Present school remodeled-first year, $1.34 per M; average over 15 years, $1.13 per M.
The probable effect on the tax rate estimated as above but using a 45% . grant on the 90% of the cost'eligible would be:
New school -first year, $1.10 per M; average over 15 years $.93 per M.
Present school remodeled, first year, $.80 per M; average over 15 years, $.67 per M.
Of the $6000 appropriated for use of the committee, we have expended as follows:
For printing this report Approximately $200. (Cuts, printing and necessary secretarial work)
The advice, estimates and plans of the architects (which are preliminary and not detailed working plans) were furnished without cost, probably upon
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
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the assumption that whichever plan is adopted the architect in question will be employed.
We have caused to be placed in a warrant for a special town meeting such articles as we believe necessary in order that action may be taken on our report and bring about the building of a high school, and have requested the Selectmen to call a town meeting.
Respectfully submitted, PHILIP W. BLOOD, Chairman PHILIP E. BESSOM FRED E. RUSSELL LOUIS I. SCHREINER GEORGE C. THOMAS
Voted, article 1. That the report of the High School Committee be accepted and the committee thanked for their excellent report.
The Finance Committee report was read by John H. Blodgett, Chairman Voted, article 3. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That the town build an addition to and enlarge and remodel the present High School building, commonly known as the Phillips School, located on Greenwood avenue, Swampscott, and originally equip and furnish such addition and that there be raised and appropriated for this purpose the sum of $325,000. And that the treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen be and hereby is authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed $325,000. and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor, said bonds or notes to be issued and payable in accord- ance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws. Chapter 44, and amendment thereof and additions thereto, Chapter 241 of the Acts of 1935, either or both, and or any other act or acts relating to borrowing for such purpose, the whole loan to be paid in not more than 20 years or at such earlier period as may be determined by the Treasurer with the approval of the Select- men. All moneys received from the Federal government under any act auth- orizing the grant of money to towns for this purpose shall be applied to meet the cost of building and originally equipping and furnishing said addition and enlargement, or to payment of the loan herein authorized, or the money to be borrowed to be reduced by the amount of the grant received and applied to the cost of the project; or in any or all of said ways. There were 121 members voting, 117 for and 4 against, carried by more than two-thirds vote.
Voted, article 4. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as follows:
That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, article 5. To accept the report of the Finance Committee and adopt their recommendations as amended :
That the committee appointed under Article 6 of this warrant be author- ized and empowered in the name and behalf of this town, to apply for, negotiate for, accept or reject a grant of Federal aid for the purposes of carrying out the vote of this meeting under Article 3, and be it resolved by the town meeting members of the town of Swampscott in session duly assembled:
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