USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1941 > Part 14
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Over 1800 citizens of Swampscott have signed up for various types of defense work. Recently the women's division conducted a registration drive for women and enrolled over 1200 women. A master card index is kept of all the names; these are then grouped according to activities the registrants are interested in, such as first aid, air raid warning, auxiliary fire, etc., then each registrant is listed according to special qualifications such as truck driver, me- chanic, nurses, etc.
There are now trained wardens in every precinct. Equipment is being purchased. Organization is rapidly being perfected, so that the town will be able to adjust itself with any emergency.
News articles are placed in two local papers and on the radio at least three times a week. An exhibition and motion picture dis- play will be conducted shortly for the benefit of all townspeople.
At the present time 23 different classes are being operated under the committee's direction.
We would point out that articles sponsored by a petition calling for a Special Town Meeting in July, did not have the approval of the Swampscott Committee on Public Safety. Our request to the Board of Selectmen for a Special Town Meeting was not asked for until December of this year as we saw no need for the spending of money for other then incidentals up to that time. We have
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REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
1941]
spent only $174.02 since the committee was formed up to and in- cluding December of this year.
A meeting of the various committees was called to determine the necessities needed in order to carry on our work and to con- form with Federal and State requirements. Budgets were drawn up by each division of the Committee on Public Safety, and a review of the budgets resulted in a reduction of $7,464.00 over that orig- inally requested.
The following amounts were requested and voted on at the Special Town Meeting held December 30, 1941:
Gas Protection and Decontamination Squad
$1,700.00
Medical Supplies
750.00
Highway Department
500.00
Police Department
2,750.00
Fire Department
11,320.00
General expenses of Civilian Defense
1,500.00
Communications
546.00
Mass. State Guard Reserve
3,200.00
School Department
300.00
Auxiliary Police
2,050.00
$24,616.00
The Town Meeting held December 30th followed the entire recommendations of both the Committee on Public Safety and the Board of Selectmen in their requests for funds.
We would point out that most of the amount asked for covered ¡such items as hose, fire pump, pump for emergency water supply, portable generator, two-way police radio and a fire alarm system, and would have been requested at the Annual Town Meeting in March.
The purpose in asking for the appropriations at this time was 'on account of the scarcity of materials, also to secure at the lowest possible cost. At the present time it is doubtful that we will secure some of the equipment in which case the money not used will be transferred at the Annual Town Meeting to some other account thereby eliminating any increase in tax rate as a result of asking for it at this time.
The Committee of Public Safety has asked both the Federal Government and the State just how much has been included in their budgets to be allotted to towns and for what purpose.
We have been advised by both Governor Saltonstall and Mr. Waddell, Director of State Accounts, that cities and towns should provide as soon as possible funds necessary for Administrative and organizations of advance Defense activities and at the same time suggests, that the time has not arrived to make appropriations for major protective materials, such as fire fighting equipment, helmets, etc.
We wish to thank those whose efforts have been untiring dur- ing this period of preparation. We particularly wish to thank the Co- Chairman, Mr. I. Murray Adams, for the fine co-operation in handling the affairs of the committee in making it function so efficiently. It would have been impossible for me to have carried on the committee work without his help.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Mr. John T. Lee who attended the State School in Boston in June 1941, was one of the men primarily responsible for organizing the A. R. P. schools. Due to his energetic and conscientious effort, the schools were started and the outline of the organization effected. The demands on Mr. Lee's time were such that he was forced to sacrifice his business; consequently he withdrew as Co-Chairman in September, but has continued in an advisory capacity.
The Women's Division headed by Mrs. Peter O. Larson has been of great assistance in co-operating, especially registering our citizens. I also take this opportunity of thanking Miss Mary Buck- nam, Chief of our Report Center, and Mrs. Roger A. Hardy for the clerical assistance and suggestions given.
We wish to thank the Red Cross representatives who have given of their time in training workers and furnishing instructors.
JAMES W. BUCHANAN, Chairman,
Committee on Public Safety.
IN MEMORIAM
CHARLES E. HODGDON Member of Water and Sewerage Board 1912 to 1939 Died March 10, 1941 JAMES T. JORDAN Patrolman 1927 to 1941 Died March 16, 1941
BENJAMIN C. PEDRICK
Died May 15, 1941
HAROLD WHEELER 1929 to 1941 Died August 1941
CLARENCE KENDRICK
1883 to 1941
Died September 10, 1941
AUGUSTINE H. RICH
Died December 31, 1941
RALPH H. NUTTER Died December 25, 1941
JAMES W. LIBBY Clerk of Water Board 1907 to 1912 Clerk of Sewer Board 1912 to 1918 Town Treasurer 1918 to 1942 Died January 27, 1942
176
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Board of Selectmen
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
Each year the Board of Selectmen draws up a report of its ac- tivities for the purpose of acquainting the citizens of the Town with the progress of its administration and the course it has pur- sued in seeking equitable solutions to local problems.
The Board has continued the practice of meeting regularly with the heads of those town departments which are under its jurisdic- tion. On each Thursday evening during the course of its weekly meeting, the Board confers with Chiefs of the Police and Fire De- partments. These conferences enable the Board to acquaint itself first hand with matters with which these departments are concerned and are an aid to the department heads in shaping future policies. Similar conferences are held from time to time with the Town En- gineer, Town Accountant, Building Inspector and others. As a result, the Board has been in a position to sponsor improvements in which these departments have an interest and to bring to the Town Meeting Members, when the occasion requires, full informa- tion in regard to past, present and future administrative policies. The continuance of the custom thus established is vital if duplica- tion of effort and expense is to be avoided and maximum effciency maintained.
The budgets of those departments under the jurisdiction of the Board were carefully reviewed and recommendations made both to the Finance Committee and the Town Meeting Members. Reduc- tions in the expenses of operating the town government which the Board had brought about during previous terms of office were main- tained wherever possible. No attempt has been made, however, to reduce expenditures to an extent which would interfere with the functioning of any department or which would deprive the town of needed and useful improvements.
Permits, License and Hearings
During the year, the Board of Selectmen have held hearings on applications for numerous and varied licenses and permits. In making its decisions on these matters, the Board has been compelled to consult what it believed to be the best interests of the town, as a whole. Accordingly, it found it necessary and desirable to deny certain of these applications while granting its unanimous approv- al to others. Swampscott is essentially a community of private homes and residences and the Selectmen have shaped their policies in a manner designed to protect and maintain this type of growth and to discourage any attempts to deprive any section of the com- munity of the right to remain strictly and exclusively residential. The Board strongly advises the continuation of this policy as re- quisite for the future well-being of the town.
Sale of Town Property
The Board of Selectmen, acting on behalf of the town, sold to the Lynn Gas & Electric Company the "Railway Duct Bank," so- called, at a price of $5,000.00. This duct bank extends from the corner of Humphrey Street and Eastern Avenue to a point near the intersection of Cedar Hill Terrace and Humphrey Street, a distance of about 3,800 feet, and was formerly the property of the
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REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN
1941]
Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway during that period when electric street cars were operated in the town. When the change to motor buses was effected, the town received the duct bank from the company for a nominal consideration. From conferences with the Chief of the Fire Department, the Board of Selectmen learned that the duct bank could not be used to advantage in connection with the fire signal system. Conferences were then held with the exec- utives of the Lynn Gas & Electric Company who had expressed a desire to purchase it for use as an auxiliary cable conduit. This sale was sponsored by the Board through an article inserted in the warrant for a Special Town Meeting and received the approval of the Town Meeting Members. The money received was used to re- duce the tax rate for 1941. In addition, its transfer will increase the value of the company's property in the town subject to taxa- tion and will be an added safeguard to insure transmission of elec- trical current to a large part of the town in the event that repairs should make necessary the interruption of service along the com- pany's main line.
Federal Projects
During the past year, Mr. Charles D. Addison has worked under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen as W.P.A. Co-ord- inator, and has rendered conscientious service to the town and its departments in the development of projects for approval of the Works Progress Administration. Many of these projects, such as the Continuous Sidewalk Construction Program, were sponsored directly by the Board of Selectmen. This particular project has proved to be a most worthwhile way of using the Federal Funds allocated to the town for W.P.A. work.
The W.P.A. Recreational Project has been continued. Its value is evidenced by the large number of children and adults who have availed themselves of the courses of useful craft instruction which have been sponsored by it as well as by the increase in attendance at the various indoor and outdoor sports and games which the pro- ject has promoted. Skilled instructors have made this whole pro- gram a source of education as well as healthful exercises for those who have participated in it.
No opportunity to sponsor worthwhile projects has been ne- glected by the Board. Every matter has been thoroughly investi- gated with available facilities and in each instance the assistance of our Congressman and Senators has been sought and obtained. Such care has resulted in a smoothly operating W.P.A. program which has brought work to persons in need of it and improvement to the properties of the town.
During the year the Board conducted a survey on the advis- ability of introducing into Swampscott the Food Stamp Plan. The adoption of the plan, recommended by the Board, would have brought great benefits both to participants and to local business men, without additional cost to the town. However, our Welfare and W.P.A. rolls have been dwindling so rapidly due to increased avenues of private employment, that the Federal Government could not, at this time, approve this area as suited to the operation of the plan. The Board observed this decline in Welfare and W.P.A. rolls with a great deal of hope for the future well-being of all the citizens of the town. If former conditions return, the Board would recommend that the advisability of adopting the Food Stamp Plan in the town be again taken under consideration.
178
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
National and Local Defense
In June, 1940, Governor Saltonstall organized throughout the State, Civilian Defense Committees which have to do with the pro- tection of citizens throughout the Commonwealth. On the recom- mendation of the Board of Selectmen, Mr. James W. Buchanan was appointed by Governor Saltonstall as Chairman to appoint and organize a local committee in our town. The purpose of this com- mittee was to organize our resources of personnel and equipment into an effective working unit so that in times of national and local emergency, this community would be prepared to protect itself more effectively and efficiently from the harms and the losses that unpreparedness might otherwise bring. Air Raid Wardens, Aux- iliary Firemen, and Auxiliary Policemen, were given courses of in- struction. A unit of the Massachusetts State Guard Reserve was formed, with a complement of forty-five men and three officers. Children and adults alike willingly volunteered their services and time in the furtherance of the program. All of these preparations were of prime importance not only to a feeling of local security and protection, but to an actual ability to meet the future in its darkest and grimest aspects.
When, in early December, we found we were a nation attacked and at war, the Board of Selectmen called a Special Town Meeting so that money might be made available for the purchase of the equipment and supplies necessary to supplement the defense organ- ization which was at hand. This Town Meeting, held on December 30, 1941, appropriated for this purpose a total of $24,616.00, to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. By vote of that meeting the funds so appropriated were allocated to various of our defense needs and requirements. Preparations for the pur- chase of the equipment and supplies were undertaken immediately and each day brings us closer to the peak of our ability to combat any local emergency that may beset us.
The willing and wholehearted co-operation of the citizens of the town, one with another, has done much to present a favorable situation. Undoubtedly it will continue. Your Board of Select- men stands ready to co-operate and devote an excess of time and energy to further the Committee of Public Safety's fine work, so that all may benefit equally and equally bear the burdens of an effort undertaken in their behalf. There will be no relaxation from endeavor designed to promote our mutual interests.
We urge all to redouble their efforts to be of assistance in any place that assistance may be needed.
Boy Scout. Lodge
The Selectmen set aside $800.00 to cover the material cost, under a W.P.A. Project, for the construction of a Boy Scout Lodge at Jackson Park.
Public Improvements
The Board of Selectmen again this year sponsored the contin- uation of resurfacing and removal of car tracks on Humphrey Street. The request for a similar appropriation from the State and County was turned down due to a misunderstanding as to whether the work was requested under maintenance or construction and later reconsidered favorably as construction work under Chapter 90. The town received $4,000.00 from the State and $2,000.00 from the County as a result of the County Commissioners' co-operation on this matter which was very helpful in keeping our tax rate low.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN
1941]
The work was done under the supervision of Mr. Ryan of our Highway Department and has been completed up to the junction of Humphrey Street and Puritan Road.
The Board will again ask the State and County to contribute a similar amount in 1942 to carry on this work, and are in hopes of securing the amount necessary to complete the project to the Lynn line.
Motor Vehicle Insurance Rates
The Board of Selectmen, assisted by the Town Counsel Lester B. Morley, continued the struggle to obtain a reduction in the com- pulsory liability insurance rates for owners of motor vehicles who are residents of the Town of Swampscott. It was the contention of the Selectmen that accidents in the town are few in number, that these few have not been of a serious nature and that the percent- age based upon accidents involving vehicles of Swampscott resi- dents as against the total number of vehicles registered from this town was very low. All the facts and statistics relative to this matter were carefully studied and compiled and presented to the Commissioner of Insurance. The result of this effort was a re- duction in the rate from $29.80 to $25.00, effected January 1, 1942. Swampscott now enjoys one of the lowest rates of any community of comparable size in the State. The Board will continue to do all that is possible to secure further reductions and carefully guard against any conditions or circumstances that would tend to bring about any increase.
Licenses
We submit herewith a list of all licenses and permits which we have issued during the year:
AUCTIONEERS:
Fred W. Brown, 13 Barnstable Street
Irwin W. Burnham, 7 Puritan Road
George P. Craig, 154 Humphrey Street James M. Foody, 80 Franklin Avenue
George W. Foster, 50 Bradlee Avenue
BOWLING:
James D. Bentley, 217 Burrill Street
EXPRESS:
Thomas E. Andresen, 11 Minerva Street
New Ocean House, Inc., 216 Puritan Road
Willis E. Shephard, 645 Humphrey Street David E. Sherman, 196 Burrill Street
Victor E. Trenholm, 28 Blaney Street
HAWKERS AND PEDDLERS:
Charles Foundas, 98 Florence Avenue Speros Kolatsonis, 18 Richmond Place
INNHOLDERS:
Mary K. Conway, d/b/a Willey House, 80 Humphrey Street Lillian A. Little, d/b/a General Glover Inn, Salem Street
180
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
New Ocean House, Inc., 216 Puritan Road
Preston-Hollywood Corp., d/b/a Hotel Preston, 440 Atlantic Ave- nue
Charlotte A. Snow, d/b/a The Claremont, 28 Claremont Terrace
JUNK:
Jacob Goldberg, 26 Elm Place
Louis Zletz, 36 Cherry Street
Nathan E. Zletz, 97 Eastman Avenue
LIQUOR LICENSES:
Common Victualers, wines and malt beverages:
John A. and Mary M. Dedrick, d/b/a Johnny's Lunch, 422 Humphrey Street
Swampscott Restaurant, Inc., 15-17 Railroad Avenue Innholders, all alcoholic beverages:
Mary K. Conway, d/b/a (The Willey House, 80 Humphrey Street: Transferred to Keegan Hotel Corporation, d/b/a Willey House, 80 Humphrey Street
Lillian A. Little, d/b/a General Glover Inn, Salem Street
New Ocean House, Inc., 216 Puritan Road
Preston-Hollywood Corp., d/b/a Hotel Preston, 440 Atlantic Avenue
Retail Package Goods Stores:
all alcoholic:
Joseph G. Glancy, d/b/a Clancy's Market, 115-119 Burrill Street
Louis A. Hershman, d/b/a Hershman's Delicatessen, 156 Hum- phrey Street
The Shore Line Import Co., Inc., 503 Humphrey Street
Wines and malt beverages:
Robert B. Hegarty, 357 Essex Street
OVERHANGING SIGNS:
Blaney's, Inc., 153-155 Humphrey Street
Booma-Breed, Inc., 436 Humphrey Street
John F. Campbell, d/b/a Jack's Variety Store, 434 Humphrey Street
Almerida Chabot, d/b/a Al's Variety Store, 509 Humphrey Street
Essex Oil Company, Inc., 197 Essex Street
Cecil R. Fitzpatrick & Frank J. Ripley, d/b/a Ripley & Fitzpat- rick, 26 Puritan Road
Louis A. Hershman, 134-138 Humphrey Street
Clarence Joslyn, 658 Humphrey Street
Wallace H. Mah, d/b/a The Eden Restaurant, 410 Humphrey Street
Parisian Dry Cleansers Co., Inc., d/b/a 138 Humphrey Street
Progressive Cleansers Co., d/b/a Lee Cleansers, 162 Humphrey Street
John A. Purdon, d/b/a Swampscott Standard Garage, 460 Hum- phrey Street
Frank I. Richardson, d/b/a King's Beach Garage, 36 Humphrey Street
Shore Line Import Co., Inc., 503 Humphrey Street
William Welch, d/b/a Oceanside Garage, 12 Pine Street
Charles F. Young, d/b/a Bickford's Pharmacy, 135 Burrill Street
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REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN
1941]
POOL LICENSE:
James D. Bentley, 217 Burrill Street
SEVEN-DAY COMMON VICTUALERS:
Blaney's Inc., 153-155 Humphrey Street
John F. Campbell, d/b/a Jack's Variety Store, 434 Humphrey Street
Almerida Chabot, 509 Humphrey Street
Charlotte A. Snow, d/b/a The Claremont, 28 Claremont Terrace
Curtis and Chaisson, 406 Humphrey Street
John A. and Mary M. Dedrick, d/b/a Johnny's Lunch, 422 Hum- phrey Street
Doane's, Inc., 141 Humphrey Street
Doane's Inc., 149 Humphrey Street
F. Elmer Eaton, d/b/a Eaton, the Druggist, 146 Humphrey Street Catherine C. Finnerty, 27 New Ocean Street
Samuel L. Glazier, 52 Pine Street
William H. Hanifey and Edmund F. Curley, 414-420 Humphrey Street
Robert B. Hegarty, 357 Essex Street
Louis A. Hershman, d/b/a Hershman's Delicatessen, 136-138 Hum- phrey Street
Frank Linares, 52 Pine Street
Wallace H. Mah, 408-410 Humphrey Street
Celia C. Mahan, 99 Paradise Road
William and Mary C. Mair, d/b/a Mair's Home Bakery, 112 Bur- rill Street
Paul Bromley, d/b/a Sunbeam, 977 State Road
Swampscott Restaurant, Inc., 15-17 Railroad Avenue
TAXI:
William H. Carroll, 148 Burrill Street
Ray W. Griffin, 489 Humphrey Street
James Waldron, New Ocean House Garage, Humphrey Street (3)
USED CAR DEALERS:
Joseph J. Carroll, d/b/a Carroll's Auto Sales, 148 Burrill Street Class I
Anthony J. Gandolfo, 182 Paradise Road, Class II
Hayes Lougee, 219 Paradise Road, Class II
ZONING PERMITS:
Booma-Breed, Inc., garage, 144 Stetson Avenue
Stanley P. Arnold, dry cleansing office, 158 Humphrey Street Mary E. Bowring, variety store, 29 New Ocean Street
Edythe S. Bradford, candy kitchen and gift shop, 99 Paradise Road
Paul Bromley, cocktail lounge and restaurant, 977 State Road Maurice Carr, variety store, 49 Hillside Avenue
Almerida Chabot, variety store, 509 Humphrey Street
Mable L. Cronk, gift shop, 664 Humphrey Street
E. W. Donald, drug store, 203 Burrill Street
Essex Realty Trust, Michael R. Connelly, gasoline filling station, 24 Essex Street (denied)
Rose Fiory, vegetable business, Lot 75 on Railroad Avenue
Ada M. Forrest, gift shop and lending library, 242 Humphrey Street
Albert Gallo, florist business in a proposed building, 477 Hum- phrey Street
182
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Anthony J. Gandolfo, sale of second-hand motor vehicles and au- tomobile repairing, 182 Paradise Road
Samuel L. Glazier, variety store, 52 Pine Street
John F. Hanifey, golf driving range, Paradise Road
William H. Hanifey and Edmund F. Curley, restaurant, 414-420 Humphrey Street
George E. Keegan, hotel, 80 Humphrey Street
Edward A. Klemm, bakery goods store and confectionery shop, 162 Humphrey Street
Frank Linares, variety store, 52 Pine Street
Hayes Lougee, sale of second-hand motor vehicles, 219 Paradise Road
Celia C. Mahan, gift shop and tea room, 99 Paradise Road Richard Marquardo, fruit store, 31 New Ocean Street (withdrawn)
Helen I. McCarty, beauty shop, 134 Humphrey Street
William R. McQuire, fruit store, 2-10 Puritan Road
Imogen G. Morrison and Frances H. Welch, candy kitchen, 438 Humphrey Street
Blanche M. Morrow, home arts store, 463 Humphrey Street
E. R. Shereye, real estate and insurance, 154 Humphrey Street (not granted)
Arthur J. Paquette, automobile repairing and service, 219 Para- dise Road
Leslie F. Powers, bakery goods and confectionery shop, 179 Bur- rill Street
Progressive Cleansers Co., laundry and dry cleansing office, 162 Humphrey Street
Josephine I. Reagan, general food market, 29 Essex Street
Roland C. Booma, restaurant, 2-10 Puritan Road (withdrawn)
Ripley & Fitzpatrick, public garage to do automobile repairing, 26 Puritan Road
Henrietta A. Stetson, bakery goods and confectionery shop, 179 Burrill Street
Chas. H. Woodman, theatre and three stores, 424-426 Humphrey Street (denied)
Charles F. Young, drug store, 135 Burrill Street
1941]
BUDGET FOR 1942
The following are the amounts requested by the various officers, boards, and committees for the conduct of their departments during the year 1942:
General Government
Moderator
$100.00
Finance Committee
300.00
Town Meeting
85.00
Selectmen
4,049.00
Selectmen's Contingent Fund, W.P.A.
1,853.00
Accounting
5,039.50
Treasury
5,425.00
Certification of Notes and Bonds
100.00
Law
1,250.00
Collector of Taxes
5,489.00
Town Clerk
2,345.00
Election and Registration
5,205.00
Assessors
4,800.00
Engineering
7,630.00
Town Hall
5,899.00
Board of Appeals
175.00
Planning Board
300.00
Contributory Retirement Funds
10,110.65
$60,155.15
Protection of Persons and Property
Police
$42,080.00
Fire
55,360.00
Forest Warden
507.50
Inspector of Buildings
1,165.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
825.00
Dog Officer
1,366.86
Constable
100.00
Inspector of Animals
200.00
Insurance
5,350.00
106,954.36
Health and Sanitation
Health
$8,602.00
Health Nurse
1,635.00
Dental Clinic
1,350.00
District Nurse
800.00
Refuse and Garbage
13,035.00
Sewer
10,389.00
Brooks
388.90
Particular Sewers
200.00
Emergency Sewers
1,000.00
Mosquitoes
400.00
37,799.90
Highways and Bridges
Highway Lighting Streets
$43,543.75 26,000.00
69,543.75
REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN
183
184
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Charities and Soldiers' Benefits
Public Welfare
$27,980.00
Pensions and Compensation
5,979.72
Old Age Assistance
40,250.00
Soldiers' Relief
8,800.00
State and Military Aid
1,490.00
Workmen's Compensation
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