USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1946 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
It is provided that all civil service employees in the Department of Public Welfare of the Commonwealth, including the supervisor, ref- erees and employees of the subdivision of appeals in said department or of any city or town, employed in the administration of the Old Age Assistance Law on the effective date of this proposed measure, shall be transferred to the service of the Old Age Pension Commission, retain- ing their present civil service seniority retirement rights and any step increases from the minimum pay of their grade earned during their service with said department or said bureaus.
It is provided that all records and property used in the administra- tion of the Old Age Assistance Law and which are the property of the Commonwealth are to be transferred to the Old Age Pension Com- mission.
This act shall take effect on March first, nineteen hundred and forty-seven,-
which proposed law was approved in the House of Rep- resentatives by a vote of 125 in the affirmative and 79 in the negative, and on which the Senate did not vote,
YES
NO 1 -be approved ?
QUESTION NO. 2 LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION
Shall this measure which provides that no labor union may be operated or maintained unless there is filed with the Commissioner of Labor and Industries a statement signed by the President and Treas- urer setting forth the union's officers, aims, scale of dues, fees, fines, assessments and the salaries of the officers.
The President and Treasurer of a labor union is required to file annually with the Commissioner of Labor and Industries a detailed statement in writing setting forth all receipts and expenditures of the union which shall be open to the public, and the said Commissioner is given the power to summons witnesses and records; and there is a penalty of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 for whoever fails to file a statement or whoever knowingly makes a false statement,- which was disapproved in the House of Representatives YES İ by a vote of 50 in the affirmative and 154 in the negative and in the Senate by a vote of 6 in the affirmative and NO 24 in the negative, -be approved ?
To obtain a full expression of opinion, voters should vote on all three of the following questions :-
(a) If a voter desires to permit the sale in this city (or town) of any and all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on and off the premises where sold, he will vote "YES" on all three questions.
(b) If he desires to permit the sale herein of wines and malt bev-
68
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
erages only to be drunk on and off the premises where sold, he will vote "NO" on question one, "YES" on question two and "NO" on question three.
(c) If he desires to permit the sale herein of all alcoholic beverages but only in packages, so called, not to be drunk on the premises where sold, he will vote "NO" on questions one and two and "YES" on question three.
(d) If he desires to permit the sale herein of wines and malt bev- erages to be drunk on and off the premises where sold and in addition other alcoholic beverages, but only in packages, so called, not to be drunk on the premises where sold, he will vote "NO" on question one and "YES" on questions two and three.
(e) If he desires to prohibit the sale herein of any and all alcoholic beverages whether to be drunk on or off the premises where sold, he will vote "NO" on all three questions.
1. Shall licenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of all alcoholic beverages (whisky, rum, gin, malt beverages, wines and all other alcoholic beverages) ?
YES |
NO -
2. Shall licenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of wines and malt beverages (wines and beer, ale and all other malt beverages) ?
YES İ
NO 1
3. Shall licenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of all alcoholic beverages in pack- ages, so called, not to be drunk on the premises ?
YES
NO
1. Shall the pari-mutuel system of betting on li- censed horse races be permitted in this county ?
NO
2. Shall the pari-mutuel system of betting on li- censed dog races be permitted in this county ?
YES !
NO
"Shall the General Court enact legislation requiring jury service by women, with such reservations as it may prescribe ?"
YES
NO |
QUESTION OF PUBLIC POLICY
"Shall the Representatives in the General Court from this District be instructed to vote to request the President and the Congress of the United States to direct our Delegates to the United Nations to propose or sup- port Amendments to its Charter which will strengthen the United Nations and make it a World Federal Gov- ernment able to prevent War ?"
YES |
NO | --
THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting an attested copy thereof at the Town Hall, the Post Office, and in at least two public and conspicuous places in each precinct in the town, and at or in the immediate vicinity of each railroad station in the town not less than seven days before the day appointed for said meeting.
YES |
69
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK
1946]
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this third day of October, 1946.
(Seal.)
A true copy. Attest:
LEONARD H. BATES, Constable.
ROBERT G. BYRNE, KENNETH W. ULMAN, ROGER J. CONNELL, Selectmen of Swampscott.
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 two public and conspicuous places in each precinct in the town, and at or in the immediate vicinity of each railroad station in Swampscott on Monday, October 28, 1946, the posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.
LEONARD H. BATES,
Constable.
STATE ELECTION Tuesday, November 5, 1946
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the voters of Swamp- scott assembled at their voting places in the several precincts and were called to order at 7 o'clock A.M. by their presiding officers. The war- rant with the return thereon was read by the Clerk in each precinct.
The following were appointed Precinct Officers and qualified for same:
PRECINCT ONE Warden
J. Hervey Blackford, R
Clerk Harriett T. Kain, D
Inspector. Lauretta M. Fournier, D
Inspector Ruth B. Houghton, R
Teller
Cornelia T. Moore, R
Teller. Mary L. Ronzano, D
Teller Beatrice F. Hamel, D
Teller.
Catherine Hogan, I
Teller. Esther Philbin, R
Teller. Sarah Norcross, R
PRECINCT TWO
Warden William T. Pearson, R
Clerk. Ernest Loyte
Inspector Lillian A. Currant, R
Inspector James E. Connor, D
Teller Doris L. Smith, D
Teller. .Margaret Nolan, D
Teller. Ruth Conley, R
Teller. John Philpot, D
Teller Miriam D. Magee, I
Teller Virginia Olson, D
Teller William R. Patten, R
70
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
PRECINCT THREE
Warden
Stuart P. Ellis, R
Clerk.
.Walter L. Kehoe, D
Inspector Alma A. Jackson, R
Inspector
Lee A. Cooley
Teller
Winnifred G. Jacobs, R
Teller. Cleora Tilden
Teller.
Elizabeth M. Callahan, D
Teller. Margaret M. Stinson, D
Teller.
Dorothy I. Legere, D
Teller.
Elva P. Garey, R
PRECINCT FOUR
Warden Herman B. Betts, R
Clerk
Bessie F. Maguire, D
Inspector Henry P. Grace, D
Inspector.
Anna C. Howard
Teller
Lucille V. Duggan, D
Teller
Hazel C. Sibley, R
Teller
Edith J. Johnson, R
Teller
.Ida G. Ingalls, D
Teller.
Martha L. Graham, R
Teller
Eileen Goodwin, D
PRECINCT FIVE
Warden. John T. Morrison, R
Clerk F. H. McCarron, D
Inspector Christina Pierce, D
Inspector
Joan Brown, R ...
Teller
Helen R. Gillen, R
Teller Bessie P. Laxton, R
Teller
Alice E. Leslie, D
Teller
Francis H. McCarron
Teller.
Sydna H. Collins, R
Telle
Florence E. Scanlon, D
Teller
Valerie Byrne, R
PRECINCT SIX
Warden. Irving Curtis, R
Clerk Anna M. Burke, D
Inspector Anna G. Mather, D
Inspector Lucy G. Nickerson, R
Teller
Eva Evans, R
Teller Katherine Lamkin, R
Teller Marie G. Sprague, R
Teller
.Helen Coan, D
Telle
Sarah Holbry, R
Teller.
Doris L. Torrey, R
PRECINCT SEVEN
Warden. Glover Swindlehurst, D
Clerk George C. Cotton, R
Inspector Annie L. Ward, D
Inspector Earl Bailey, R
Teller David F. Carroll, R
Teller Ethel Spear, D
Teller. Grace Russell, R
Teller Blanche Pratt, R
Teller Alice M. Weber, D
Teller
Madeline Costin, I
PRECINCT EIGHT
Warden Etta J. Minton, R
Clerk. Irene H. Johnson, R
Inspector .Mary B. Hill, R
Inspector. Elizabeth A. Donlon, D
Teller Anna T. Connors, D
Teller. Irene L. Perkins, I
Teller Mary Beaton, R
Teller. Pauline Duncan, R
Teller Gladys Williams, R
Teller Helen C. Burk, D
71
The balloting started at 7 o'clock A.M. and the count started at 3 P.M. The polls closed at 7 P.M. The ballot boxes registered correctly and the checks on the voting list were the same as the vote cast.
Precinct 6 was the first to make a return, at 8:55 P.M., and Pre- cinct 8 the last, at 11:05 P.M.
The following number of votes were cast:
Precinct 1
636
2
701
3
639
4
588
5
751
6
592
7
860
8
787
Total vote cast
5554
For Governor:
Precinct
1 2
3 4 5
6
7
8 · Total
Robert F. Bradford,
Cambridge
443 541 461 466 636 463 674 639 181 153 167 116 112 119 178 144
4
1
2
16
Guy S. Williams, Worcester 0
4
2
0
0
1 5
6
2
37
For Lieutenant Governor:
Arthur W. Coolidge, Reading 421 536 436 457 592 444 638 610
4134
Paul A. Dever, Cambridge ....
184 155 188 125 148 131 205 156
1292
Alfred Erickson, Quincy ..
1
1
4
0
2
2
2
0
12
Francis A. Votano, Lynn
14
4
5
1
2
6
1
33
36
Blanks
16
5
6
5
7
9
14 18
80
For Secretary:
Frederic W. Cook, Somerville 464 564 490 479 642 480 710 655
4484
Benedict F. FitzGerald, Jr., Cambridge
137 117 129
97
91
94 120 104
889
Malcolm T. Rowe, Lynn
15
10
9
1
7
5
9
4
60
Blanks
20
10
11
11
11
13
21
24
121
For Treasurer:
Laurence Curtis, Boston ..
431 533 456 460 605 449 675 632
4241
John E. Hurley, Boston
182 150 155 116 133 127 159 136
1148
Lawrence Gilfedder, Boston
8
13
6
2
4
5
1
2
41
Charles E. Vaughan,
2
0
2
1
0
1
2
0
8
Blanks
13
5
20
9
9
10
23
17
106
For Auditor:
Thomas J. Buckley,
Boston
206 187 186 129 148 136 189 165
1346
Russell A. Wood, Cambridge 402 494 427 446 589 436 632 601
4027
Pearl J. McGlynn, Springfield
6
5
7
2
3
2
11
2
38
Robert A. Simmons, Boston ..
3
1
5
1
1
3
0
1
15
Blanks
19
14
14
10
10
15
28
18
128
For Attorney General: Clarence A. Barnes, Mansfield
414 539 459 468 627 466 681 658 193 139 160 103 108 107 150 105
4312
Francis E. Kelly, Boston ..
1065
William F. Oro, Boston . ......
8
4
8
1
3
6
2
4
36
Howard B. Rand, Haverhill.
3
4
3
3
1
1
2
2
19
Blanks
18
15
9
13
12
12
25
18
122
0
3
4
1
1
1
0
8
Blanks
12
0
5
5
2
4323
Maurice J. Tobin, Boston
1170
Horace I. Hillis, Saugus ...
Brockton
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK
1946]
72
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
For Senator in Congress: Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.,
Beverly
491 575 495 484 644 474 710 657
4530
David I. Walsh, Fitchburg. ...
133 118 134
97
99 106 135 122
944
Henning A. Blomen, Boston ..
1
4
2
0
2
4
0
2
15
Mark R. Shaw, Melrose.
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
4
Blanks
10
3
8
7
5
7
15
6
61
For Congressman, Sixth District:
George J. Bates, Salem
448 559 490 485 633 494 708 674
4491
Richard B. O'Keefe, Salem
174 133 136
95 103
89 126 100
956
Blanks
14
9
13
8
15
9
26
13
107
For Councillor, Fifth District:
Alfred C. Gaunt, Methuen ...
422 520 459 456 583 449 636 609
4134
Robert V. O'Sullivan,
Lawrence
192 172 152 119 143 123 180 150
1231
Blanks
22
9
28
13
25
20
44
28
189
For Senator, First Essex District:
Charles V. Hogan, Lynn
225 230 211 154 190 163 225 185
1583
Grayce M. Lawrence, Swampscott
394 463 410 423 548 416 616 579
3849
Blanks
17
8
18
11
13
13
19 23
122
Representatives in General Court:
Eben Parsons, Marblehead .... 490 550 489 480 641 463 666 636 Kendall A. Sanderson, Marblehead
4223
Edmond Talbot, Jr., Salem ....
440 517 462 475 605 447 669 608 453 521 457 454 600 431 633 588
4137
Blanks
525 515 509 355 407 435 612 529
3887
County Commissioner:
William J. O'Leary, Haverhill 162 151 154 110 141 118 165 170
1171
Arthur A. Thompson, Methuen
433 527 440 455 582 429 632 566
4064
Blanks
41
23
45
23
28
45
63
51
319
District Attorney :
Hugh A. Cregg, Methuen
551 611 535 511 674 502 735 699
4818
Blanks
85
90 104 77
77
90 125 88
736
Clerk of Courts:
Archie N. Frost, Andover .... Blanks
102
97 111
84 88 103 145 105
835
For Register of Deeds:
Thomas F. Duffy, Lynn ... 194 153 180 121 144 127 191 161 A. Franklin Priest, Haverhill 412 517 425 451 586 430 613 593
4027
Blanks
30
31
34
16
21
35
56 33
256
Register of Probate and Insolvency: John James Costello, North Andover
145 138 134 104 107
91 140 124
983 4321
Richard J. White, Jr., Lynn 460 539 472 470 626 463 665 626
Blanks
31
24
33
14
18
38
55 37
250
For County Treasurer:
James D. Bentley,
Swampscott
497 587 508 479 634 477 710 636
4528
John M. Bresnahan, Lynn ..
122 103 117
96 106 103 123 120
890
Blanks
17
11
14
13
11
12
27
31
136
Question No. 1-Pensions:
Yes
289 266 229 179 214 167 299 213
1856
No
154 270 250 273 390 276 359 441
2413
Blanks
193 165 160 136 147 149 202 133
1285
534 604 528 504 663 489 715 682
4719
1271
4415
73
RECORDS OF THE TOWN CLERK
1946]
Question No. 2-Labor:
Yes
321 417 390 363 538 394 576 603
3602
No
143 127 113 100 105
72 108
84
852
Blanks
172 157 136 125 108 126 176 100
1100
Question No. 1-Licenses:
Yes
457 466 428 426 533 407 084 613
4014
No
122 167 161 112 166 131 116 115
1090
Blanks
57
68
50
50
52
54
60
59
450
No. 2-Licenses:
Yes
439 444 398 417 516 391 632 564
3801
No
104 151 158
87 154 106 100 105
965
Blanks
93 106
83
84
81
95 128 118
788
No. 3-Licenses:
Yes
450 459 409 417 527 420 649 594
3925
No
96 143 142
87 140
91 101
86
886
Blanks
90
99
88
84 84
81 110 107
743
Horses:
Yes
362 315 310 304 313 290 415 339
2648
No
183 294 253 225 355 224 311 365
2210
Blanks
91
92
76
59
83
78 134 83
696
Dogs:
Yes
315 278 281 255 259 244 389 283
2304
No
197 299 256 243 384 234 315 382
2310
Blanks
124 124 102 90 109 114 156 122
940
Jury:
Yes
371 397 358 342 461 353 487 491
3260
No
125 187 159 150 181 130 174 197
1303
Blanks
140 117 122
96 109 109 199
99
991
United Nation:
Yes
463 535 496 445 586 447 646 647
4265
No
33
31
27
37
53
32
46
97
356
Blanks
140 135 116 106 112 113 168
43
933
Adjourned at 11:50 P.M.
Attest:
MALCOLM F. MacLEAN, JR., Town Clerk.
RECOUNT OF VOTES
In accordance with the order of Frederic W. Cook, Secretary of the Commonwealth, a recount for votes cast for Lieutenant Governor and Auditor at the State Election, November 5, 1946, was held in the Town Hall, December 2, 1946, at 7:00 P.M., by the Board of Registrars as- sisted by the following tellers :
John Yasi Irving Curtis John Morrison Walter Kehoe Frank Melvin
Leonard Bates Ralph Floro Anthony Queena Donald Sawyer Stuart Ellis
Lois Munsey, Tabulator
74
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
The results were as follows:
For Lieutenant Governor:
Arthur W. Coolidge
421 539 436 455 593 445 637 610
4136
Paul A. Dever
184 152 188 126 147 130 206 165
1298
Alfred Erickson
2
1
3
0
2
3
3
1
15
Francis A. Votano
13
4
5
1
2
5
0
3
33
Blanks
16
5
7
6
8
9
13
8
72
For Auditor:
Thomas J. Buckley
205 185 187 133 151 142 199 170
1372
Russell A. Wood
402 494 427 441 586 430 622 596
3998
Pearl J. McGlinn
6
4
6
1
3
3
1
2
26
Robert A. Simmons
1
2
2
2
1
2
0
1
11
Blanks
22
16
17
11
11
15
37
18
147
Original Vote
Recount Vote
Coolidge
4134
4136
Dever
1292
1298
Erickson
12
15
Votano
36
33
Blanks
80
72
5554
5554
Buckley
1346
1372
Wood
4027
3998
McGlynn
38
26
Simmons
15
11
Blanks
128
147
5554
5554
The following number of votes were cast:
Precinct 1
636
2
701
3
639
4
588
5
752
6
592
7
859
8
787
Total vote cast
5554
HERBERT W. ANDREWS, HAROLD R. YOUNG, DOROTHY M. MINTON, MALCOLM F. MacLEAN, JR., Clerk,
Board of Registrars.
Attest:
MALCOLM F. MacLEAN, JR., Town Clerk.
75
DISPOSITION OF OLD TOWN HALL
1946]
Report of Committee Re Disposition of Old Town Hall
On July 6, 1945, the Moderator, under Article 28 of the Annual Town Meeting of that year, appointed Henry S. Baldwin, Philip W. Blood, Robert G. Byrne, Loring Grimes, and H. D. Linscott, a Commit- tee to look into the question of disposition of the old Town Hall and report to the Annual Town Meeting of 1946.
The building comes within the definition of a public assembly hall in General Laws, Chapter 143, and hence is under supervision of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety. For use as a hall a cer- tificate of occupancy from the department is required. Unless revoked, the certificate runs for five years. The Committee learned that the certificate last issued had expired in December, 1944, and had not been renewed. On August 8, 1945, the Committee wrote the Selectmen call- ing attention to this situation. The Committee then asked the district inspector of the Department of Public Safety for a report. The report was made in September, 1945. A copy is attached. He recommended fire escapes, better exit doors, enclosing boiler room with masonry, repairing plaster and roof leaks, overhauling auxiliary gas lighting system and other improvements. "In order for me to certify the build- ing for use in accordance with Chapter 143," he wrote, these orders must be complied with. Also closing up the rubbish closet under the stairway.
If it seems strange that a certificate should be refused after occu- pancy for so many years, the answer probably is that building laws and inspection tightened after the Cocoanut Grove fire. It needs no expert to realize that use by any considerable gathering of people must have been a hazard.
The Committee asked the town building inspector to furnish an estimate of the cost of the changes required by the state. He sub- mitted an estimate, itemized, of $3,190.00.
The Town Hall was built in 1860 at a cost said to have been about $4600. In 1902 the annex was added at a cost of approximately $5200. Since all town offices are in the new Administration Building, and town meetings may be held in the entirely adequate Hadley School Auditorium, the Town Hall now serves no municipal need save to house the automatic fire alarm whistle and its equipment, which could be placed elsewhere or discontinued.
Possible use for other than municipal purposes has been consid- ered. General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 9, provides: "A city or town may for the purpose of providing suitable headquarters for a post or posts of The American Legion and of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and for a chapter or chapters of the Disabled American Veterans of the World War and for a post or posts of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States and for a post or posts of La Legion Franco-Americaine des Etats-Unis d'Amerique, lease for a period not exceeding five years buildings or parts of buildings which shall be under the direction and control of such post or posts, or chapter or chapters, subject to regulations made in cities by the mayor with the approval of the council and in towns by vote of the town."
Leon E. Abbott Post, American Legion, occupies a building on Burrill Street. It is owned by Leon E. Abbott Post, American Legion,
76
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Building Association, purchased in 1923 when the Association raised approximately $10,000 by subscriptions. The town leases it as quar- ters for the Legion at $1350 per year.
Joseph L. Stevens Post No. 1240, Veterans of Foreign Wars, has quarters at 434 Humphrey Street, leased to the town and furnished to the Post at $650 per year. A four-year lease expires May 6, 1946. The lease can be renewed or the Post can remain as tenant at will. The owner, Frank H. Smith, does not intend to ask the Post to vacate.
Both organizations seek increased membership from veterans of World War II. There is a possibility that groups of World War II vet- erans may form their own organization. Joseph L. Stevens Post also plans to raise $50,000, its representatives say, to build its own memo- rial building.
Joseph L. Stevens Post applied to the Selectmen to grant it the use of the old Town Hall for quarters in place of its present rooms at 434 Humphrey Street. The Selectmen applied to the Finance Committee to authorize a transfer of money from the Emergency Fund to make the changes and improvements necessary for occupancy. Since the mat- ter was not an emergency within the meaning of the municipal finance act, and since the fund was insufficient to cover this and necessary emergency drafts, and since the question was one for the Town Meet- ing rather than any board to pass on, the Finance Committee properly declined approval. This led to the calling of a Special Town Meeting January 8, 1946. A quorum did not attend, no action could be taken, and the meeting adjourned to the present date.
Representatives of Joseph L. Stevens Post conferred with our Committee. Its Adjutant, Albert W. Tucker of Lynn, wrote us that the Post "would like to have the use of the top floor and the ell in which the water department was. We would expect to have the town use it any time they wish," and added, "we are out to build a memorial building and hope to have it in about two years."
In November, 1945, the Selectmen sent out a straw ballot. With it was an appeal headed, "This is your Town Hall. Do you wish it de- stroyed ?" There had been no proposal to destroy it. The appeal stated that "many groups have indicated their desire to obtain quarters in the building. The Boy Scouts, the Sea Scouts, the Camp Fire Girls, the group promoting the Youth Center, the Shaw Improvement Associa- tion, and many others are interested. Most important of all, veterans' group are growing rapidly with added membership from the veterans of World War II. Stevens Post must vacate their quarters on Hum- phrey Street in March of next year." The appeal was so worded that votes in favor were bound to predominate. We do not mean to say that a majority of citizens may not be in favor of keeping the building. But a presentation of all sides of the question would have made the expres- sion more impressive.
The Finance Committee engaged Thomas W. Duncan to inspect the building and report the cost of putting it in shape. Mr. Duncan has a lifelong background as a building contractor plus a very complete experience during the past six years in constructing Army canton- ments. His opinion is authoritative. Mr. Duncan reports that, in addi- tion to the improvements required by the Department of Public Safety, the building must have a new heating system. He estimates the total expense at $9855. This does not include removal of vaults, which would be expensive. A copy of his report is attached.
If the building were renovated as above outlined, there would still remain a lower floor cut up into small offices not adapted to any of the uses described. If quarters are to be provided for civic organizations mentioned, alterations here would be necessary, and sanitary facilities should be improved.
77
DISPOSITION OF OLD TOWN HALL
1946]
Assuming the building were put in shape for use of the various organizations, there would remain an annual upkeep of around $5000, with no one but the town to pay.
Without meaning to belittle the efforts of Joseph L. Stevens Post to obtain a memorial building, and wishing its members all success, experience makes us skeptical of the ability of a single organization to raise $50,000 in Swampscott, or of this sum being adequate to acquire land and put up a suitable building. It is possible, though by no means certain, that if a substantial sum were raised, a mortgage loan might be obtained, but the service of this and the maintenance of such a building would be quite a burden.
If the Town Hall were neded for municipal purposes, then to allow its incidental use by civic organizations would be in order. But where it is not so needed, appropriation of money for such use alone would be of questionable legality. Towns can raise money only for purposes authorized by statute.
Thus, the situation is that the town owns a building which at present serves no real municipal use. Should it now make an appropria- tion to rehabilitate it for use of non-municipal organizations ? Regard- less of how low the appropriation may be set in the beginning, experi- ence shows that in the end required expenditures generally exceed all estimates. If we start, we doubtless will end up by being called on to appropriate more than originally figured. Further, should the town fur- nish annually janitor service, heat, light and the other necessary items of overhead ? Once it undertakes this expense the chances are it will continue indefinitely.
Since the town offices were moved into the new Administration Building, the old building has been used as a meeting place of the Lions Club, a business men's group, Scout organizations, and others. Presumably the number is limited so that the use does not require a state certificate, although we do not know that this is so. We under- stand no charge is made to these organizations. Even were a charge made it would doubtless be nominal. Can the citizens be taxed to pro- vide free quarters for civic organizations ?
A memorial building with quarters and facilities for patriotic and civic organizations, groups, classes, club and social gatherings, well planned, so equipped as to appeal to youth as well as adults, would be good. It ought to stimulate leadership, public spirit, and generally be helpful to the public welfare. Desirable as this may be. it is not a municipal function. Perhaps such an undertaking could be financed and carried on by a public subscription if all organizations and groups in Swampscott could be persuaded to combine in a genuine public spirited effort. Such a building should be owned and operated by a public civic organization, its control entirely free from town politics. Possibly in time legislative sanction may give wider scope to undertakings of this sort.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.