USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1954 > Part 10
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
Figures are not available as to the number of Swampscott men and women who were members of the Armed Services during this "conflict". Three Swamp- scott men lost their lives.
ROLL OF HONOR
John A. Miller, Lt. Air Force KIA over Korea 8 Oct. 1951. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart.
George A. Shore, Jr., Pfc. USMC KIA Korea 24 Sept. 1950. Awarded Purple Heart.
Warren C. Dunphy Jr., Capt. Air Force, Killed by accident 18 July 1954, Sacra- mento, California. Awarded Presidential Unit Citation and Distinguished Flying Cross for World War II service in Europe.
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Librarian Miss Edith Snow and her staff for some of the information contained in this report. While every effort has been made to secure accuracy, it is felt that some errors or omissions may have occurred. If any are noted it is requested that this office be informed.
106
1954 Annual Report
Individuals Assisted
Spanish
War
World
War I
World
War II
Korean
Conflict
VETERANS' BENEFITS
Cash Assistance (includes food, and fuel)
1
6
16
1
Medical Assistance (includes doctors, hospitals, etc.
1
2
4
0
VETERANS' SERVICES
Discharges and other official papers photostated
0
16
24
418
Non-service pensions filed with V. A.
0
18
0
0
Service Connected claims for compensation filed with V. A.
0
1
18
62
Hospitalization secured at V. A. or Quigley Hospital
0
6
4
2
Educational or G. I. Loans Processed
0
0
8
32
Claims for increased Compensation filed with V. A.
0
8
2
1
Requests to Congress to assist veterans with V. A. matters
0
4
6
1
Widows of Veterans assisted in filing claims with V. A.
0
2
4
1
Applications for headstones filed with Dept. of Army
0
2
6
1
Korean Bonus forms processed
0
0
0 266
The following listed Swampscott veterans died during 1954.
WORLD WAR I
Henry Jennings Collins
28 January
John James Hughes
4 February
Linthall E. Leatherby
28 February
Edward Joseph Garity
29 April
Warren S. Hildreth
17 May
Ralph Russell
23 May
Edward Marshall Kehoe
Oct.
WORLD WAR II
Gerry Bessom
22 May
Edward James Connell
18 June
Herbert Lester Farrell
30 August
KOREAN CONFLICT
Warren Charles Dunphy Jr. 18 July
107
Town of Swampscott
Public Library
STAFF EDITH N. SNOW, Librarian ELIZABETH W. FORBES, Acting Children's Librarian RUTH E. POLLARD, Reference Librarian MARGUERITE W. CONDON, Part Time Assistant BARBARA E. MANSUR, Library Secretary JOANNE H. BISHOP, General Library Assistant ANGELO LOSANO, Janitor
TRUSTEES GEORGE W. HOWE, Chairman NELSON J. DARLING, JR. RUTH M. BARRY, Secretary
The 1954 Town Meeting voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Building Needs Committee that an addition to the Public Library be built, and appropriated eighty thousand dollars therefor, plus sixty-five hundred for new lights for the present building. As the Article provided, the Town Moderator ap- pointed a special Building Committee to carry out the project: Andrew R. Linscott, Chairman; Richard G. Appel; Nelson J. Darling, Jr .; Philip H. Kitfield; Mrs. Robert A. Linden.
Report of progress on that project properly belongs to that Committee. The Library Board, however, must record their extreme gratification over the most generous gift of Henry S. Baldwin. He gave outright the amount of ten thousand dollars for a room to be called "The Henry S. Baldwin Historical Room", which will contain his unique collection of local history.
At the special Town Meeting in June the Library Board was authorized to accept personal property or gifts of money up to twenty-five thousand dollars toward the building or its furnishings. The Trustees hope it will not be necessary to ask for contributions but if the cost exceeds the appropriation, gifts will be welcome.
Several noteworthy gifts of books, however, have been received: From the estate of Ralph Russell, a regular borrower and good friend of the Library, his collection of books and pictures dealing with the circus.
From D. Curtis Noyes, Jr., an excellent set of Balzac in translation, and twenty-one useful volumes by Jack London and Jules Verne.
From Mrs. Nathan Cohen, a long run of National Geographic magazines, handy for the children's exclusive use.
Saturday evening patronage has been decreasing for some time, as it has in many public libraries. Since January, 1954, the Library has, therefore, closed at 6 P.M. on Saturdays only. Notwithstanding this the adult circulation was 1245 more volumes than in 1953. This closing means an extra morning's service from
108
1954 Annual Report
each staff member who would have been scheduled for Saturday evening, as the working week is still 38 hours. Few people realize that with a small staff the ordering and preparation of books, as well as much maintenance work on the collection, must be done in uninterrupted hours when the Library is not open. Everyone works at least 3 mornings.
Circulation in the Children's Room increased from 32,609 to 42,543. That is 44 per cent of the total number of all books lent in 1954, though not quite all of the juvenile circulation is done from the Children's Room; the collections sent to classrooms accounted for 3,533 volumes. However the room is extremely busy all the time, with peak hours, when 90 to 100 children arrive, which pose particular problems. The popularity of the Summer Reading Club is great; 125 children finished the "book-a-week" required, and were eligible for the party. Vacation circulation equals or surpasses all but a couple of the winter months, indicating that the children read for pleasure as well as for school purposes.
Six mailings of "Books Added" lists were made at intervals to each Town Meeting member and to teachers. One of our greatest needs is to let people know what is obtainable.
Excellent stories in the Lynn papers have often pointed up our work most usefully.
******
Club officers consult the Community Calendar in Swampscott Public Library for open dates when planning meetings
109
Town of Swampscott
Jury List
In accordance with Section 9 of Chapter 234 of the General Laws, the follow- ing Jury List is published in the Annual Town Report:
Name
Residence
Occupation
Addison, Charles G.
54 Sargent Road
Manufacturer
Allen, Russel G.
140 Beach Bluff Avenue
Godfrey-Cabot, Inc.
Anderson, Herbert R.
34 Farragut Road
Sales Manager
Andrews, Herbert W.
37 Orient Court
Machinist
Armstead, Henry E.
4 Francis Road
Winder
Austin, Harold R.
150 Redington Street
Bank Clerk
Avey, Clarence W.
56 Humphrey Street
Machinist
Bailey, Robert E., Jr.
32 Greenwood Terrace
United Shoe
Bailey, Robert W.
141 Paradise Road
Accountant
Baril, Roberre M.
55 Sherwood Road
Sales Eng.
Bennett, Ralph O.
4 King Street
Clerk
Brown, Walter D.
29 Bates Road
Salesman
Burleigh, Elwood L.
55 Bellevue Road
Agent
Carey, Francis D. Carver, Paul F.
24 Estabrook Road
Merchant
Cashman, Edward L.
96 Puritan Road
Production
Chisholm, Theodore S.
7 Rock Avenue
Foreman
Christiansen, Arthur L.
62 Ocean View Road
Manufacturer
Clark, Frederic P.
Clark & Friend
Condon, Thomas W.
Salesman
Connolley, William A.
Ins. Agent
Cotton, Fred P. Cushman, Harold B.
53 Lincoln Circle
Bakery Manager
Davis, J. Price
68 Middlesex Avenue
G. E.
Day, Frank R.
43 Suffolk Avenue
Hoague & Sprague
Deming, Charles
721 Humphrey Street
Bank
Dermody, Gorham L.
37 Rockland Street
Sales
Doughty, Robert S.
41 Roy Street
Salesman
Downey, James
87 Melvin Avenue
G. E.
Drislane, John P.
39 Middlesex Avenue
Office Manager
Drucas, Charles
64 Walnut Road
H. P. Hood
Durkee, Harold A.
28 Puritan Avenue
Manufacturer
Dwyer, Charles W.
172 Aspen Road
Buyer
Eastman, William A.
32 Middlesex Avenue
Salesman
Farren, Robert N.
124 Greenwood Avenue
Adver.
Fellows, Frank G.
73 Plymouth Avenue
Market
Fish, Abbott W., Jr. Flanagan, Edward P.
338 Essex Street
N. E. Tel. & Tel.
Flautt, John B.
193 Humphrey Street
Shoe Manufacturer
Frost, Karl M. Fuller, Gordon F.
14 Ocean View Road
Estimator
Goldstein, Henry
8 Commonwealth Avenue Hatter
Goodhue, George K., Jr.
15 Clarke Road
Banker
Goodwin, Herman A.
142 Walker Road
Tanner
38 Maple Avenue
Engineer
38 Gale Road
Vice President
5 Fuller Terrace
News Agent
29 Norfolk Avenue Item
Harris, William W.
33 Aspen Road Writer
62 Orient Court Sales
40 Magnolia Road
Accountant
281 Atlantic Avenue
Buyer
Hapgood, Franklin E. Harpin, Raoul E.
Houghton, Austin S. Howe, Everett C. Hunt, Robert F.
55 Greenway
Sales
29 Manton Road
Adver
Graham, Philip T. Grynkraut, John F.
63 Orchard Road
Asst. Chemist
151 Phillips Avenue 44a Atlantic Avenue 30 Beach Avenue
57 Sargent Road
Sales
110
1954 Annual Report
Name
Hunkins, Richard A. Hussey, Harold G.
Ingalls, Michael M. Ingram, Stephen R.
Jaffee, Harry N. Jewell, Richard G. Johanson, Helmer C. Johnson, Harry E. Johnson, Iver
Kerr, Herbert B. Kline, L. Herbert Koban, Vassell A.
Langmaid, Joseph Legro, Raymond P. Lewis, Carl S. Lilly, John M.
Lobred, James I. Loring, Maynard N. Loveday, Edward D.
MacPhee, Angus D. Manning, Richard F. McDermott, Bernard F. Mc Manus, Julia I. Merritt, Charles Milmore, Norville L. Minihane, Donald Morse, Judson P.
Nichols, Howard A.
O'Connell, John P. O'Neill Robert F.
Perron, Andre Pierce, Ralph
Randall, Charles H.
Regan, Patrick F. Remick, Ervin D., Jr.
Roger, Norman Russell, Amos E.
Sargent, Walter E.
79 Greenwood Avenue
Salesman
Shoe
Manager
141 Norfolk Avenue
Oil Burners Teacher
Chemist
Stairs, Wilbur C.
21 Lodge Road
G. E.
Stevens, John H. Stowell, Frank S.
100 Stetson Avenue
335 Forest Avenue
17 Middlesex Avenue
Machinist
35 Grant Road
91 Farragut Road
97 Phillips Avenue
93 Kensington Lane
Foreman
Vose, Harold L., Jr. Warfield, Earl B.
Residence
Occupation
Asst. Manager Manager
Salesman Leather
39 Bates Road
314 Forest Avenue
39 Lincoln House Avenue
358 Essex Street
26 Nichols Street
19 Puritan Park 8 Sheridan Terrace
13 Phillips Circle
Designer
26 Beach Bluff Avenue
Dealer
30 Suffolk Avenue
Machinist
187 Burrill Street
Pur. Agent
40 Bellevue Road
Y.M.C.A.
Manager
Clerk
Jr. Executive
17 Walnut Road
Rem. Rand
21 Palmer Road
Hardware
Accountant
Home
Tel. Co.
Vice Pres.
64 Franklin Avenue
87 Ocean Avenue
66 Magnolia Road
22 Maple Avenue
30 Stanwood Road
57 Plymouth Avenue
51 Lexington Circle
7 Orient Court
Mechanic
121 Norfolk Avenue
Asst. Manager
Pers. Work
Buyer
66 Kensington Lane
Manager
Sarra, Robert L. Shaw, Minot M. Snell, Walter B. Spurr, Francis A. Stahl, Louis E.
11 Thomas Road 17 Allen Road
Boomna-Breed Bookkeeper
Tilden, Calvin S. Townsend, Paul H. Turner, Frederick J. Turner, George A.
Vance, George E.
16 Beverly Road
Paint Co.
17 Arbutus Road
Dealer
226 Salem Street 20 Banks Terrace
1 Puritan Lane
18 Roy Street
Manager Engineer
Eagle Shoe Leather Worker G. E.
Furniture
Manufacturer
28 Shaw Road
35 Bay View Drive
40 Lewis Road
38 Pleasant Street
101 Melvin Avenue 19 Banks Terrace 34 BellevueRoad
Mech. Eng. Steel
Accountant
Leather Salesman
United Shoe Sales Rep.
164 Puritan Road 6 Brown Road
90 Puritan Road 44 Winshaw Road
Sylvania Mech. Eng. Coca-Cola
111
Town of Swampscott
Name
Residence
Occupation
Warnock. Philip B.
28 Bay View Drive
Launderette
Way. John S.
121 Beach Bluff Avenue
Salesman
Webber. Robert P.
9 Elliott Street
Lab. Tech.
Welch, John Q.
76 King Street
G. E.
Welsh. Richard J.
10 Stone Court
Salesman
Whidden. Donald S.
90 Puritan Lane
Merchant
Whipple. John W.
1 Eureka Avenue
G, E,
Willett. Fred A.
57 Orient Court
Teller
York. Philip A.
26 Hillerest Circle
Mechanic
Zaiger. Louis
25 Atlantic Avenue
Manufacturer
Building Inspector
RAYMOND O. DOANE, Building Inspector
Dwellings
New
62
$ $66.200.00
Alterations and Additions
39
53.060.00
Private Garages
New
58
58.300.00
Alterations and Additions
1
1.900.00
Miscellaneous
Office Buildings
20,350 00
Restaurant (Alterations)
1
5.000.00
Apartment House (Alterations)
1
10,000.00
Store (Alterations
6.000.00
Work Shop
1
5.000.00
Greenhouse
1.950.00
Church (Alterations )
1
4,400.00
Warehouse
1
4,000.00
Tool House
1
4.000.00
Guest House (Alterations)
1
1.000.00
Demolish Dwellings
Demolish Garage
1
151
$1.046.160.00
Building Permits
181
Permits to Shingle
119
Number of Inspections (Buildings)
305
Number of Inspections (Shingling)
119
Amount of Buildings Fees Collected
$245 00
Elevator Operator's Licenses
Issuel: New
4
4.00
Renewals
1
2.00
$254.00
All hotels and elevators have been inspected and returns made to the State. Several complaints of violations of the building laws have been investigated and in all cases adjustments made. Frequent examinations were made of buildings in course of construction and repair.
112
Demolish Shed
300
424
1954 Annual Report
World War II Memorial Fund
ERNEST MANCHIN, Chairman BENJAMIN GOLDBERG, Secretary PHILIP H. STAFFORD CLEMENT E. KENNEDY JOHN R. COOPER
DAVID F. DOHERTY ALBERT F. PASHBY
A very fine precedent was established during the year. Two former Classes of Swampscott High School, made contributions to the Fund. No doubt other Classes may make contributions to the Fund in the future. The contributions during the year totalled $150 and were received from the following:
Mr. Arthur R. Schwartz $50.00
Swampscott High School Class of 1934 70.00
Swampscott High School Class of 1929 30.00
For the fourth year a $250 scholarship was awarded. The award was made to Virginia M. Donald, who enrolled at State Teachers College at Salem, Massachusetts.
The financial report of the Fund as of December 31, 1954 follows:
Salem Five Cents Savings Bank $ 5,409.90
Salem Savings Bank 5,435.62
Provident Institution for Savings
106.52
Total Balance $10,952.04
Balance due Virginia M. Donald
150.00
Net Balance as of December 31, 1954 $10,802.04
The total of the scholarships awarded to date is $ 1,000.
At the Annual Meeting of the Trustees, which was held October 13, 1954 at the New Ocean House, it was noted that the Fund has been increased by an amount of $156, in accumulated earnings. The contributions received during the year were formally accepted by the Trustees. The growth of the Fund from contributions and earnings was considered satisfactory progress. Ernest Manchin was elected Chair- man and Philip H. Stafford was elected Secretary of the Trustees for the coming year.
The Swampscott World War II Memorial Fund welcomes gifts and bequests. It is suggested that those contemplating gifts or bequests, confer with any Trustee of the Fund. A letter received from the U. S. Treasury Department, states "Contri- butions made to the Fund are deductible by the donors in computing their taxable net income, etc".
113
Town of Swampscott
School Department
WALTER H. FORBES, JR., Chairman LILLIAN I. WHITE
GEORGE A. CHADWELL
WILLIAM H. ROTHWELL, 2ND
THEODORE C. SARGENT
Term Expires 1956
Term Expires 1957
Term Expires 1957
Term Expires 1955
Term Expires 1956
28 Greenwood Terrace 8 Phillips Avenue 96 Stetson Avenue Little's Point 9 Clarke Road
Regular meeting, second Thursday of each month.
Superintendent of Schools JOHN A. WHITEHEAD 367 Forest Avenue LYnn 8-9455
Secretary of School Committee WILLIAM H. ROTHWELL, 2ND Little's Point LYnn 5-6272
Secretary GERTRUDE DONLON
37 Salem Street LYnn 2-6643
The office of the Superintendent of Schools is open on school days from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1954
Winter term begins Monday, January 3
Winter term closes Friday, February 18
Spring term begins Monday, February 28
Spring term closes Friday, April 15
Summer term begins
Monday, April 25
Fall term begins Wednesday, September 7
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
Ladies and Gentlemen :
The major problem that confronted your School Committee during 1954 is the same that has faced us for the past two years - adequate housing for the school children of Swampscott.
With the opening, in September, of the Stanley School addition, the housing situation at the elementary level has been relieved, and for the first time in four years there is no platoon system in Swampscott.
During the year just past, our efforts have been concentrated on the housing problem at the secondary level. The problem as it appeared to us at the start of school in September was an enrollment at the High School of 590 pupils with a capacity of 550, and at the Junior High School an enrollment of 343 with a capacity of 330. The problem will be even more acute on the opening of school in September, 1955. The predicted enrollment at the High School will be 675 with a capacity of 550, and at the Junior High School (grades seven and eight) 337 with a capacity of 330. Obviously some immediate corrective steps must be taken or we will be unable to operate from sheer lack of space.
114
1954 Annual Report
The sworn duty of your School Committee is to maintain the high standard of education which we have all come to expect of the Swampscott School System. Your School Committee is determined to avoid the two platoon system at the secondary level as long as possible, and we are happy to say that after careful planning with Mr. Dunn, Principal of the High School, and the Superintendent of Schools, we have been able to avoid the two platoon system at the High School for the year 1955-1956. This will be accomplished by making two extra classrooms out of what is now our study hall, and one additional classroom in the basement. The auditorium must now be used as a study hall, and the cafeteria as an activities room. It is necessary for us to appropriate $7,050 in our 1955 budget for this project.
The hope for the future of the educational system of Swampscott rests with the acceptance by the citizens of the reports to be submitted early in 1955 by the two committees appointed by the Moderator. The first committe will report on the location and plans for a new High School, and the second committee will report on the future use of the Hadley School building. Prompt action by the Town Meeting to place the recommended plans into action will aid in reaching an eventual answer to our space needs. Your School Committee has done all in its power to maintain the standards of education that you have instructed us you want for your children. Unless action is prompt we will be forced to take action that will eventually lead to a lowering of this standard. Let us repeat - the future of the education of our children rests strictly with you, the citizens of Swampscott.
Your School Committee is making every effort to keep the cost per pupil for education in Swampscott at a moderate level. We seek high professional standards and try to attain this objective by efficient administration so that total expenditures will be kept in line. By following this pattern we have been able to build a budget for 1955 that shows only a 4.8% increase over last year, whereas our pupil popula- tion has climbed more than 6.7%. As a consequence, our costs per pupil will decrease this year.
The Superintendent's report gives many details about the activities of your School Department, and we urge all citizens to read it.
To the Swampscott School Committee,
Mrs. White and Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my third annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
The year 1954 has been characterized by intense activity in all phases of school work in order to meet the needs of our growing student population. The year has seen more than the usual amount of growth in our school population, school plant, and school program. We have a reputation for doing outstanding work in teaching youngsters the fundamental subjects, and in the general discipline and morale of the department. As we have faced the problems of 1954, it has been our aim to adjust our practices and conditions to current conditions without jeopardizing in any way the values that have been so well established and maintained by our predecessors.
School space, our greatest challenge
The provision for teaching space for our secondary school population is now the most important problem that the School Department and citizens of Swampscott
115
Town of Swampscott
have to face. Our Senior High School is designed to accommodate a maximum of five hundred and fifty pupils under the present school program; our Junior High School is designed to accommodate at the most three hundred thirty pupils under the present program. Those figures have already been exceeded by present enrollments. This fact has presented a serious problem in scheduling the classes to be taught, and maintaining school morale and discipline. It is obvious that our educational environment will be less favorable under crowded conditions.
During 1954 the predicted enrollments as originally given to us by the Educational Service Associates at Tufts College, have been restudied by the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commission. This study shows that in the next twelve years the enrollments in grades seven to nine will be between six and seven hundred students. This figure will be reached in 1958 and will stay there consistently throughout the years of enrollment prediction. The same study also shows that in grades ten to twelve the figure of five hundred sixty will be reached for these three grades in 1960 and thereafter will stay between six and seven hun- dred throughout the period of prediction which, for the high school, ends in 1969. This particular formula is a conservative one based upon children already born. It is obvious that the town, at the moment, is completely unequipped to face this problem which will be felt with considerable severity in the fall of 1955.
Over the years several studies of building needs have been made by School Committes, Town Committees, and outside experts. From these studies it becomes very clear that the most economical and satisfactory solution to this problem is a construction of a new senior high school to accommodate grades ten to twelve. If this is done the present high school building will function very well as a Junior
Junior High pupils eat in five shifts - all as crowded as this one.
116
1954 Annual Report
High School for the forseeable future. Such a solution would not only give flexi- bility (ability to shift ninth grade back and forth as enrollments change) but also makes it unnecessary for the School Committee to request any further school con- struction in Swampscott at least until 1970, which is the period we can predict at this time.
During 1954 a special committee, appointed by the town to study building needs, recommended that a high school be built at Phillips Park. The School Committee accepted these recommendations and spent considerable time in making a thorough investigation of all the possible ways of carrying out this project. Considerable written material was made available to the people exploring all phases of the problem.
Subsequently, a High School Investigating Committee was appointed as a result of a special town meeting. The School Committee has cooperated by furnishing information whenever it has been requested. The School Committee and the school staff will continue to do everything in their power to expedite the solution of this most serious problem in the interests of the children now in the Swampscott schools.
Mr. James Dunn, Principal of Swampscott High School, indicates his concern with this problem in his report as follows:
"The great problem which faces us in the high school is our lack of space in the face of rapidly growing enrollment, a problem quite familiar to many communi- ties, but none the less, most acute in our case. Last June we graduated 111 boys and girls. This year's senior class numbers 115. It is apparent that we shall not again have such moderate size classes in the forseeable future. Our present junior, sophomore
With all classrooms in use, the High School cafeteria is used for testing.
117
Town of Swampscott
and freshman classes have respectively 149, 150 and 176 pupils. Our total enrollments as of now is 590. We anticipate an entering class next September of approximately 200, which will boost our enrollment to 675. One can imagine the task that con- fronts us when it is necessary to carry on in a building designed to function for 550. To maintain school morale, discipline and our present standards, our faculty will face a stern challenge.
An examination of the previous year's graduates provides us with one yardstick for evaluating the work accomplished in this school. Of this class of 111, 67% continued their education beyond high school. Twenty four-year colleges are attended by this group in addition to junior colleges, technical schools, schools of nursing and secretarial schools. Nearly one fifth of the group entered full-time jobs and 10% entered the service.
Obviously it is not possible to give much individual instruction in every day class work in most areas. To a considerable extent, this is compensated for by the individual attention of our guidance department and by special attention to college students in special drills for examinaitons by subject teachers in preparation for college entrance examinations. This work is done in afternoon sessions extending over a period of several months. The excellent placement work of our business department has resulted in bringing well-trained young people and jobs together. Parents would do well to consider the advantages of our business curriculum.
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.