Town annual report of Weymouth 1954, Part 8

Author: Weymouth (Mass.)
Publication date: 1954
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 368

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1954 > Part 8

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No Action.

Mr. Cain presented the report of the Committee on Preservation of House Rock as follows :

To the Citizens of the Town of Weymouth:

In accordance with the unanimous vote under Article 7 of the Special Town Meeting of May 25, 1953, the committee of five appointed by the Moderator "to study the possibilities of the Town preserving the House Rock and the purchase of land thereabouts for historical purposes, and to make a report to the next Annual Town Meeting" hereby respectfully makes that report.

Many Weymouth people do not realize that we have in our town what almost might be called one of the wonders of the world, less than three- quarters of a mile from this hall! When we are out pleasure driving we often think it worth while to go considerable distance off our route in order to see some well-advertised scenic attraction like the "Old Man of the Mountains" or the "Desert of Maine"; but there are probably many people in this room who have never seen "House Rock".

Resting on a hillside off Essex Street near the end of a new street called "House Rock Road", is a granite boulder "as big as a large house" whose sphinx-like profile seems to be looking out over the country as if guarding it. For this reason it was called by the Indians "Watching Rock", and was described as "the greate rocke" in a vote of the Town Meeting of January 3, 1658.

New Englanders had long wondered about the round boulders in their fields and walls, some being of types of rock not native, apparently coming from ledges hundreds of miles to the northeastward. The great Prof. Agas- siz finally solved this mystery by showing how they were brought here at least 25,000 years ago by a great sheet of ice that swept southward to cover the land - even over the tops of the highest mountains. Labrador is cov- ered with the last remnant of this glacier today. The tremendous weight of the ice pushing the rocks that were carried along with it, ground into crags and cliffs and tore off many boulders. One of these cliffs, of so-called Dedham type granite, over a billion and a half years old, was near where our stand pipe has recently been built off Essex Street. A huge mass of this cliff was ripped off, but only travelled a short distance before it ground to a halt. This was the origin of House Rock.

It is the largest boulder in Massachusetts, with an estimated weight of 3,500 tons, and probably the third largest in the world, being surpassed in size, so far as is known, only by the "Great Madison Boulder" of Madi- son, N. H. and the "Churchill Boulder" in Nottingham, N. H. Ours is, how- ever, the most perfect specimen of glacial boulder among these, the Madi- son being too angular and unglaciated to be truly representative and the Churchill being broken into a number of pieces. Many scientists and col- lege field classes have come here to study it.

The ten-acre area around it, the purchase of which your committee is recommending, is well suited for park purposes. It stands at the end of a large natural amphitheatre which would make an excellent setting for out-door meetings of many kinds, including dramatic, musical or small- scale athletic events, with rocm for hundreds of spectators, the rock itself and some large trees near it providing a beautiful background for the performance. There is an abundance of parking space for the spectators available.

The central part of the area is a high, rocky, open plateau affording , views in all directions. The tract is well adapted for children's playgrounds, picnicking and other recreational uses. Land of picturesque and varied topography like this is often more interesting and attractive for such pur- poses than a convential flat playground. It is a wonderful place for play- ing "cowboys and Indians"!

Many new homes have been built recently in the vicinity, including a development on the northwest boundary with 73 houses already at least partly completed, and the Housing Authority Lake Street projects only about 2,000 feet away. If we want the children in these homes to keep out of trouble we should provide them with a good place to play. Open spaces in this town are rapidly growing more and more scarce. This is a very practical reason for purchasing this land before it too is broken up into house lots, besides the reason that it contains a world-famous rock which Weymouth should be proud to preserve in a proper setting.

The owner is willing to sell this 10.3 acres to the Town for $4,900.00, and we understand that there is a customer ready to pay that same price for it if the Town does not buy it. $4,900.00 is less than half the cost of one house of the type commonly being constructed today, and your com- mittee considers this a very fair price for the land.

The Town of Hingham has a glacial boulder only one-sixth as large as ours and they have placed a bronze plaque on it and had it protected with a chain link fence fifteen or twenty years ago.

The City of Quincy last January appropriated $7,000.00 to restore the site of America's oldest blast furnace, now an inconspicuous pile of rubble. And Quincy already has a great many historic shrines.

We of Weymouth, the second oldest town in the state and the oldest town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, can never place a marker on the site of our first settlement. We allowed it to be carried away and sold for gravel. Our most famous building, the old Arnold tavern, noted for its part in starting the American Revolution, was torn down without effec- tive protest. The Abigail Adams birthplace narrowly escaped a similar fate.

What are we going to do about House Rock?

Respectfully submitted

THERON I. CAIN, Chairman JEANETTE F. HAWES, Clerk AMY HILL DUNCAN EVERETT J. MCINTOSH G. STINSON LORD

MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Cain:

That the Town acquire by gift or purchase or take by right of eminent domain, in fee, for park or playground purposes, the following premises on which the House Rock, so-called, is situated, the same being Lot 1 in Block 290 on Sheets 21 and 22 of the Town Atlas revised to January 1, 1951,

excepting therefrom all that part of said Lot 1 which lies southeasterly of a straight line extending from the most northerly corner of Lot 8 in Block 289 on Sheet 21 to the most westerly corner of Lot 5 in Block 290 on Sheet 22 as shown on said Atlas, containing approximately 10-1/3 acres, and that the sum of $4,900.00 be raised and appropriated for this purpose. $4,900.00

Discussion ensued between Mr. Roulston, Sr., Mr. Lane of the School Committee, Mr. Almquist, Mr. McIntosh and Mr. Mason of the Park Com- missioners.

Come now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Cain.

Vote was taken and, hearing only one voice opposed, the Chair de- clared the motion carried by more than a two-thirds vote and

SO VOTED

ARTICLE 75. (On Petition of George E. Lane and Others.) To see it the Town will vote to appoint a Weymouth Advisory Committee of 22 mem- bers, two from each of the eleven precincts, to study the Weymouth Town Government, all town departments and municipal offices, and to make recommendations for such changes as are necessary to accomplish more efficient and less expensive operation and management; and to raise and appropriate necessary funds for a report to the Appropriation Committee and the Board of Selectmen, or to take any other action in relation thereto.

MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:

No Action.

MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Lane of the School Committee.

That the Moderator appoint a Weymouth Advisory Committee of 22 Town Meeting Members, two from each of the eleven precincts, to study the Weymouth Town Government, all town departments and municipal offices, and to make recommendation for such changes as are necessary to accomplish more efficient and less expensive operation and management.

MOVED the following amendment to the substitute motion by Mr. Gallagher.

Said Committee to report to the Appropriation Committee and Board of Selectmen and the next Annual Town Meeting.

Mr. Nolan, Mr. Causer and Mr. Almquist also spoke on the motion.

Comes now the question on the amendment by Mr. Gallagher.

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED

Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Lane as amended.

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED

ARTICLE 76. (At Request of the South Weymouth Business Asso- ciation.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the installation of containers in Columbian Square for the disposal of rubbish.

Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: No Action.

ARTICLE 77. (At Request of William L. Lipp and by Direction of Selectmen.) To see what action the Town will take to grant the Custom Bag and Cover Corp. of Quincy, Mass., to either purchase or rent on a long term lease, the land which shows on Sheet 19, Block 158, Lot 3, lo- cated off 1580 Commercial Street and containing 12,500 square feet, or take any other action in relation thereto.

Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was SO VOTED: No Action.

ARTICLE 78. (At Request of Harry Christensen and Others.) To see if the Town will vote to amend the present vacation plan for all regular town employees under the Wage and Classification Plan or take any other action in relation thereto.

MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:

No Action.

MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Christensen, Town Clerk.

That the present Wage and Classification Plan be amended by striking out that section entitled Vacations and inserting in place thereof the fol- lowing section: Vacations :- All regular employees with one to fifteen years of service will be granted a two weeks annual vacation with pay Employees with fifteen or more years of service will be granted three weeks annual vacation with pay. Employees with six months but less than a year's service will be granted one week only with pay and further that the sum of $900.00 be raised and appropriated for the Police Department for this purpose.

Mr. Roulston, Secretary of the Appropriation Committee, and Mr. Christensen, Town Clerk, spoke on their respective motions.

Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Christensen, Town Clerk.

Vote was taken and, the Chair being in doubt, the Chair ordered a teller count.

Count was taken and the tellers reported 44 votes in favor, 74 op- posed. The Chair then declared the motion LOST.

Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee.

SO VOTED

ARTICLE 79. (At Request of Town Clerk Harry Christensen.) To see if the Town will instruct the Moderator to appoint a Committee of five (5) to make a study relative to voting machines and report to the next Annual Town Meeting, or take any other action in relation thereto.

MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:

No Action.

MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Christensen, Town Clerk.

That the Moderator appoint a Committee of five to make a study rela- tive to voting machines and report to the next Annual Town Meeting.

Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Christensen, Town Clerk.

SO VOTED

ARTICLE 80. (By Direction of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of stocking the ponds and inland waters, located within the Town limits, with fish and of l.ber- ating game, all in accordance with General Laws (Ter. Ed.), Chapter 10, Section 5, Clause 41, or take any other action in relation thereto.

Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the sum of $300,00 be raised and ap- propriated to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of stocking the ponds and inland waters located within the Town limits with fish and of liberating game all in accordance with General Laws (Ter. Ed.), Chapter 40, Section 5, Cause 41. $300.00

ARTICLE 81. (By Direction of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for a "Testimonial Folder" to be given to mothers and wives who have lost sons, daughters and husbands in World War II and the Korean War, or take any other action in relation thereto.

MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:

That the sum of $200.00 be raised and appropriated for a "Testimonial Folder" to be given to mothers and wives who have lost sons, daughters and husbands in World War II. Said sum to be expended under the direc- tion of the Board of Selectmen. $200.00

Mr. Almquist and Mr. Amabile of the Board of Selectmen spoke on the motion.

Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee.

SO VOTED

ARTICLE 82. (At Request of Hugh R. Ferguson and Bernice D. Fer- guson.) To see if the Town will vote to abandon all its right, title and in- terest in and to that portion of Clapp Avenue, a town way laid out in the year 1881, which lies within the boundaries of the land shown as Lots 34 and 35, Block 273 on Sheet 20 of the Town of Weymouth Atlas, and also shown as Lots 27 and 28 on a certain plan entitled "Plan of Land in Wey- mouth, Mass." dated October 31, 1952, Russell H. Whiting, Registered Land Surveyor, filed in the Land Court as Plan No. 24139A, or take any other action in relation thereto.

Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Town abandon all its right, title and interest in and to that portion of Clapp Avenue as described in the article.

ARTICLE 83. (By Direction of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will accept a gift of an ambulance from the Weymouth Servicemen's Home- coming Committee and to appropriate a sum sufficient to properly main- tain said ambulance for the ensuing year, or take any other action in re- lation thereto.

Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: No Action.

ARTICLE 84. (At Request of Personnel Board.) To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4 of Section 409 of the Town By-Laws as fol- lows: The membership of the Personnel Board shall be increased to five (5) by the Moderator appointing two additional citizens and registered voters, one shall be appointed for a period of two years, and one for a period of three years, and thereafter as their terms expire for a period of three years.

Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Town amend its by-laws relative to the membership of the Personnel Board as described in the article.

ARTICLE 85. (At Request of Personnel Board.)

(1) To see if the Town will vote to change the classification for clerk in Registrar's office from S-2 to S-3.

(2) Vote to increase the maximum of PF-1-1 from $3924.00 to $4050.00.

(3) Vote to establish classification PF-1-2 with salary range identical with that of S-7 to cover Fireman Master Mechanic.

(4) Vote to change the Tree Warden's classification from S-7 to S-8, or take any other action in relation thereto.

Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Town accept the recommendations of the Personnel Board relative to the changes as outlined in the article.

MOVED the following resolution by Mr. Shields, Chairman of the School Committee:

WHEREAS, Harry Arlanson has continuously since 1935 molded our Weymouth youth in the fine traditions of American sportsmanship, and

WHEREAS, he has been a living example of that tradition worthy of emulation, and

WHEREAS, the seeds of his good example will manifest their fruition in the lives of our youth for generations to come,

BE IT RESOLVED, that this Weymouth Town Meeting give a rising vote of gratitude to Harry Arlanson, upon his departure from this town, and may success crown his efforts in his new and greater endeavor, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this vote be included in the records of this meeting.

The Town Meeting Members present stood and applauded in their ac- ceptance of the resolution as presented by Mr. Shields, Chairman of the School Committee.

The Moderator offered his thanks to the various committees who have worked so hard and well during the past year. He also paid special tribute to Mr. Russell A. Stiles and Mr. Benjamin Santacroce, retiring members of the Appropriation Committee, and recently retired Chief of Police Ed- ward F. Butler. The Town Meeting Members applauded the retiring mem- bers as so mentioned by the Moderator.

Upon motion duly made, it was

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Annual Town Meeting adjourn at 12:25 A.M.

A true copy .. Attest:

HARRY CHRISTENSEN

Town Clerk

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS March 1 & 3, 1954

Article

Raise and Appropriate

Appropriate

Item

1. Appropriation Committee

$ 1,300.00

2. Selectmen's Department

11,840.00

3. Town Accountant's Department

16,188.00

4. Town Treasurer's Department

21,058.00

5. Tax Collector's Department

22,241.00

6. Assessors' Department

23,458.00

7. Legal Department

6,000.00

8. Payment of Damages & Workmen's Comp. Act.

15,000.00

9. Town Clerk's Department 14,837.00

10. Elections and Registrations

13,348.00

11. Engineering Department

12,800.00

12. Planning Board

1,100.00

13. Maintenance and upkeep of Town Hall and Town Hall Annex and War Memorial

34,497.00

$1,370.00

14. Maintenance and upkeep of Civil War Soldiers' Monument

100.00

15. Police Department

258,156.00

3,500.00

16. Fire Department

315,888.00

1,100.00

17. Inspector's Department

14,465.00

18. Sealer of Weights and Measurers

1,600.00

19.

20. Gypsy Moth and other insect pest extermin- ation & care of shade trees

43,441.00

21. Street Lighting

56,269.00

22. Harbor Master's Department

8,122.00

23. Board of Health

43,944.00

24. Employment of Nurses

7,500.00

25. Garbage disposal

46,000.00

26. Public welfare and old age assistance

594,000.00

27. Pensions

30,760.56

28.

Veterans' Benefits and War Allowance, in- cluding the Burial of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors

91,760.00

29. Highway Department

307,412.00

32,500.00

30. Public Schools

1,942,979.04

3,784.96

31. Libraries

89,530.00

32.

Observance of Memorial Day

2.000.00

33. Parks and Playgrounds

41,064.00

530.00

34. Miscellaneous Expenses

13,870.00

35. Unpaid bills 0

Raise and Appropriate Appropriate

Article

36. Overdrafts

37. Retirement System

67,086.21

38. Water Department

300,710.00

45,000.00

39. Sewer Department

70,000.00

40. Alewife Fisheries

200.00

41. Care of Soldiers' Graves

2,160.00

42. Care of old cemeteries

475.00

43. Interest and discount

117,190.00

44. Retirement of Bonds and Notes due in 1954

375,000.00

45. Municipal Buildings Fire Insurance Fund

1.00

46. Fire and other insurance

14,500.00

47. Reserve Fund

25,000.00

Article

4. Use of Assessors in determining tax rate

7. Highways Water mains

28,314.00

8. Construction of streets

6,580.00

9. Working Whitman Street

3,000.00

10. Grading and filling on Oak Street

475.00

12. Widening Summer Street

3,000.00

13. Acquisition of land of Joseph Perrone

150.00

16. Overtime for street department

3,000.00

18. Construction of sidewalks and curbings

25,000.00

19 &

20. Drainage work on Francis Rd. and others 4,000.00

21. Resurfacing, etc. of Commercial Street and/or Middle Street under Chapter 90

25,000.00

26. Construction of sea wall on Fort Point Road

10,000.00

28. South Shore Mosquito Control

8,250.00

30. Dutch Elm disease control

11,000.00

35. Observance of Armistice Day

350.00

26. Bronze plaque in honor of Pfc. Wm. C. Shores

100.00

38. Academy Avenue School Building

38,500.00

Loan-500,000.00

39. Purchase of Stetson Shoe Co. land

12,000.00

40. Branch library at North Weymouth

95,000.00

41. Work on playground off Century Road

1,800.00

49. Entrance at Lovell's Park playground

8,500.00

50. Development of bathing facilities at Whitman's Pond 5,000.00

57. Construction of particular sewers

73,000.00

58. Construction of common sewers

157,000.00

Loan-100,000.00

59. Construction of night soil disposal chamber

15,000.00

60. Construction of parking area at Town Hall Annex

1,000.00

Raise and Appropriate

Appropriate 75,000.00

5,676.00

Raise and Appropriate Appropriate

Article

61. Working parking area, South Weymouth Railroad Station 1,000.00

62. Purchase of entrance to Weymouth Landing Parking Area

2,081.93

64. Lighting Weymouth Landing Parking Area

1,800.00

66. Installation of water mains

Loan-150,000.00

68. To purchase uniforms for Police Department

3,825.00

69. To Purchase uniforms for Fire Department

2,920.00

71. Purchase of land for Public Works Building

7,500.00

74. Purchase of House Rock land

4,900.00

80. Stocking inland waters

300.00

81. Testimonial Folder, World War II

200.00

$5,270,839.81 $1,290,016.89

A true copy. Attest: HARRY CHRISTENSEN

Town Clerk

ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION

March 8, 1954

Returns Received

Time

Votes Cast

Precinct One