USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1924 > Part 6
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On motion of Nelson B. Crosby :
Voted : That when this meeting adjourns it ad- journ to meet on Thursday evening, April 10, 1924, at eight o'clock.
On motion of Egbert E. Stackpole:
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Voted : That the remaining articles in the warrant not already disposed of, with the exception of Article 38, be taken up separately and in the order in which they appear in the report of the Finance Committee.
Article 25 taken up. (Play Ground at High School).
The recommendation as made by the Finance Com- mittee under Article 25 is as follows:
That the town do not make an appropriation for the improvement, development and use of the play ground situated between the "High School Lot" and the land of the Boston & Maine Railroad.
Percy A. Goodale moved that the following substi- tute motion be made in place of that as made by the Finance Committee :
That the sum of $17,500 be and hereby is appro- priated for grading the land in back of the High School, taken as a playground and that the said sum be raised by general tax and be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
There was some discussion in regard to the advisa- bility of the town grading this land at this time.
The hour of eight thirty having arrived the meet- ing recessed.
A True Record : Attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
TOWN WARRANT
To the Constables of the Town of Arlington, in said County,
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. MIDDLESEX, SS. GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the legal voters of the Town of Arlington, to meet in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Wednesday, the 2nd day
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of April, 1924, at 8.30 o'clock, P.M., to act on the follow- ing articles, viz .:
Article 1. To hear and act upon the reports of the Finance and other committees heretofore appointed.
Art. 2. To see if the town will accept the estab- lishment of building lines along the northerly and southerly sides of the way known as Massachusetts avenue, from Central and Academy street to Forest street, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works; establish said lines ; make an appropriation therefor, including dam- ages; determine in what manner the money shall be raised ; or take any action relating thereto.
Said lines as so established are described as fol- lows :
PROPOSED NORTHERLY BUILDING LINE ON MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE
Beginning at the point of intersection of the west- erly side line of Central street and the proposed north- erly building line of Massachusetts avenue, thence N. 67 deg. 15 min. W. a distance of 1696.12 ft. to a point of curve, thence northwesterly on a curve to the right with a radius of 554.56 ft., a distance of 150.26 ft. to a point of tangency, thence N. 52 deg. 19 min. 30 sec. W. a distance of 293.02 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 45 deg. 16 min. W. a distance of 784.10 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 43 deg. 15 min. 30 sec. W. a distance of 1740.13 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 40 deg. 31 min. 30 sec. W. a distance of 176.47 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 33 deg. 00 min. W. a distance of 688.62 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 36 deg. 07 min. 30 sec. W. a distance of 95.97 ft. to the easterly side line of Forest street.
PROPOSED SOUTHERLY BUILDING LINE ON MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE
Beginning at the point of intersection of the west- erly side line of Academy street and the proposed
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southerly building line of Massachusetts avenue, thence N. 67 deg. 51 min. W. a distance of 1638.64 ft. to a point of curve, thence northwesterly on a curve to the right with a radius of 639.56 ft. a distance of 173.30 ft. to a point of tangency; thence N. 52 deg. 19 min. 30 sec. W. a distance of 299.56 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 45 deg. 16 min. W. a distance of 790.84 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 43 deg. 15 min. 30 sec. W. a dis- tance of 1744.64 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 40 deg. 31 min. 30 sec. W. a distance of 183.88 ft. to an angle point, thence N. 33 deg. 00 min. W. a distance of 694.69 ft. to a point of curve, thence westerly on a curve to the left with a radius of 235.84 ft., a distance of 146.60 ft. to a point of tangency on land now or form- erly of Charles D. Warner.
Both above described lines are shown in red on a plan on file at the office of the Town Clerk, Arlington, Mass., and entitled "Plan Showing Proposed Building Lines on Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, Mass., Scale 1 in. equals 40 ft., Jan. 1916, Geo. E. Ahern, Town Engineer."
Art. 3. To see if the town will accept the laying out of a town way from the southerly side line of land formerly of Richard Barry to Summer street, substanti- ally in the location of the private way known as Park Avenue Extension, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments; establish said way; make an appropria- tion for said laying out and the construction of said way; determine in what manner the money shall be raised ; or take any action relating thereto.
Said way as so laid out is bounded and described as follows :
Beginning at a point on the northerly side line of Park avenue extension at the southerly side line of land formerly of Richard Barry ; said point being 154.93 ft. northeasterly from the intersection of the easterly side
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line of Branch avenue and said northerly side line of Park Avenue Extension, thence northeasterly on said northerly side line of Park Avenue Extension 672.77 ft. to the westerly side line of Summer street extension, thence southeasterly on said westerly side line of Sum- mer street extension a distance of 43.32 ft. to the south- erly side line of Park Avenue Extension, thence south- westerly on the southerly side line of Park Avenue Ex- tension 692.42 ft. to a point on said southerly side line of Park Avenue Extension, thence northwesterly across said Park Avenue Extension 40.11 ft. to the point of be- ginning, as shown upon two plans marked "Plan and Profile of Park Avenue Extension, Section A, as Laid Out on a Plat of House lots Entitled Highland Park, by R. W. Seamans, Engineer, Providence, R. I., August 1913, Scale Hor. 1 in. equals 40 ft., Vert. 1 in. equals 6 ft., and Plan and Profile of Park Avenue Extension, Section B, as Laid Out on a Plat of Houselots Entitled Highland Park, by R. W. Seamans, Engineer, Provid- ence, R. I., August 1913, Scale, Hor. 1 in. equals 40 ft., Vert. 1 in. equals 6 ft.," on file in the office of the Town Engineer of said town.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this War- rant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen, on or before said day and hour of meeting.
Given under our hands, at said Arlington, this four- teenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand nine hundred and twenty-four.
NELSON B. CROSBY, CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX, FREDERICK W. HILL, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington
CONSTABLE'S RETURN
Arlington, March 24, 1924.
Middlesex County.
By virtue of this warrant, I have notified and warned the legal voters of the Town of Arlington to
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meet at the times and places and for the purposes herein named by causing a printed attested copy of the same to be left at every dwelling house in the town, by posting an attested copy at the doors of the Town Hall seven days at least before said day of meeting, and by posting attested copies in two or more conspicuous places in each voting precinct in the town. A notice of the time, places and objects of the meetings was published in the local papers.
(Signed) DANIEL M. HOOLEY, Constable of Arlington.
Arlington, April 2, 1924.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, the Town Meeting members met in the Town Hall, Arlington, and were called to order at 8.30 o'clock in the evening by the Moderator, John G. Brackett, warrants having been sent by mail by the Town Clerk seven days at least be- fore the date of meeting. Notices of the special meet- ing were placed in the local papers.
Two hundred members attended the meeting.
The Clerk read the Call and the Constable's Return of the warrant, the reading of the rest of the warrant being waived by the unanimous consent of the meeting.
Article 1 taken up (Reports of Committees).
On motion of Egbert E. Stackpole :
Voted : That the report of the Finance Committee be received.
On motion of Egbert E. Stackpole :
Voted: That Article 1 be laid on the table.
On motion of Egbert E. Stackpole, under Article 2 of the Warrant (Building Lines on Masachusetts Avenue) :
ยท Voted : That the establishment of building lines along the northerly and southerly sides of the way known as Massachusetts avenue from Central and Acad-
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emy street to Forest street, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, and more particularly described in Article 2 of the war- rant, be accepted :
That said building lines be established and that, as provided in said establishment, steps, windows, porticos and other usual projections appurtenant to the front wall of a building may be erected and maintained be- tween said building lines and said way, and buildings or parts of buildings, embankments, steps, walls, fences and gates, existing at the time of the establishing of said building lines between said building lines and said way may be permitted to remain and to be maintained; that said Joint Board be authorized to make any necessary takings for the purpose; and that the sum of one hun- dred ($100.00) dollars be and hereby is appropriated therefor.
Article 3 taken up (Laying Out of Park Avenue Extension from Land of Barry to Summer Street).
Voted : That the laying out of a town way from the southerly side line of land formerly of Richard Barry to Summer street, substantially in the location of the private way known as Park avenue extension, as more particularly described in Article 3 of the warrant, un- der the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, be accepted, said way established and said Joint Board authorized to take land for the purpose of said way; and that the sum of sixty-five hundred and forty-six dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the original construction of said way, including land damages and the cost of any pavement and sidewalk laid at the time of said con- struction.
Article 1 taken from the table.
There being no further business under Article 1, the same was declared disposed of.
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TOWN RECORDS
All business calling the meeting having been dis- posed of, the meeting dissolved at 8.50 o'clock.
A true record, attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE,
Town Clerk.
Arlington, April 2, 1924.
Pursuant to the vote of recess, the adjourned an- nual Town Meeting was called to order at 8.55 o'clock in the evening by the Moderator, John G. Brackett.
Article 25 taken up (Grading of Land in Rear of High School).
On permission being obtained by Percy A. Goodale, Ralph Henricus, physical director in the Arlington schools, told of the need in the town for this lot back of the High School as a play ground.
The question before the meeting at this time being whether a substitute motion would be made, the motion was put before the meeting. The Moderator being in doubt as to the result of the vote, requested a rising vote; ninety-six voted in the affirmative and eighty- seven in the negative.
The substitute motion was then voted on by rising vote. Ninety voted in the affirmative and ninety-three in the negative, and declaration was made by the Mod- erator that the substitute motion was lost.
Jacob Bitzer moved that in the substitute motion the sum of $15,000 be substituted for the $17,500.
Clarence A. Moore moved that the last eight words of the substitute motion be stricken out and the follow- ing be added: "Supervision of the Park Commission- ers." The motion as now before the meeting reading as follows :
That the sum of $15,000 be and hereby is appropri- ated for grading the land in back of the High School,
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taken as a play ground, and that the said sum be raised by general tax and be expended under the supervision of the Park Commissioners.
This motion being put before the meeting, was not carried, eighty-eight voting in the affirmative and one hundred and two in the negative.
The original motion as made by the Finance Com- mittee was carried, which is as follows :
Voted: That the town do not make an appropria- tion for the improvement, development and use of the play ground situated between the "High School Lot" and the land of the Boston & Maine Railroad.
Article 26 taken up.
On motion of Elliott R. Barker :
Voted (Unanimously) : That the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and empowered, on behalf of the town, to purchase, take in fee by eminent domain, or ac- quire by gift for the enlargement of the Cutter School Lot, so called, all or any portion of the parcel of land situated on Robbins road, adjoining said lot, and more particularly described in Article 26 of the warrant, and that the sum of five thousand ($5000) dollars be and hereby is appropriated therefor, including the cost of complying with the terms of any gift, said sum to be ex- pended under the direction of the Selectmen.
Elliott R. Barker read the following letter from Mrs. Clara S. Peirce and Mr. Peter Schwamb :
Arlington, Mass, June 15, 1923.
MR. ELLIOTT R. BARKER,
Chairman, Committee on Schools.
Dear Sir :
In response to your inquiry as to cost of land ad- joining the Cutter School lot for use as a play ground, we beg to submit the following reply :
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TOWN RECORDS
In the event of the extension of the Cutter School building toward School street, as originally contem- plated, we will donate a plot of land on the southwest- erly side of the school lot, one hundred and fifty feet wide, between Robbins road and School street, to be used as a playground.
It is understood that the town in grading said land will make provision for drainage from the adjoining land and will provide proper retaining walls or slopes for the adjoining lots.
This land is donated in memory of Theodore Schwamb, by Clara Schwamb Peirce and Peter Schwamb.
Yours respectfully, (Signed) CLARA S. PEIRCE. PETER SCHWAMB.
It was the sense of the meeting that a letter should be sent by the Town Clerk to Mrs. Clara S. Peirce and Mr. Peter Schwamb in recognition and acceptance of their generous gift to the town.
Article 27 taken up (Additional Fire Protection in Peirce School).
On motion of Elliott R. Barker :
Voted: That the sum of seven hundred ($700) dol- lars be and hereby is appropriated for the installation of additional means of fire protection in the school house on Park avenue north, known as the "Peirce School," said sum to be expended under the direction of the committee appointed, under vote of the town passed July 11, 1923, to construct said school house.
Article 29 taken up (Equipment and Furnishings- Peirce School).
On motion of Elliott R. Barker :
Voted : That the sum of $7,500 be and hereby is ap- propriated for original equipment and furnishings for the new school located on Park avenue north, known as
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the "Peirce School"; said sum to be expended under the direction of the committee appointed under vote of the town, passed July 11, 1923. to construct said school, said committee to have the power to fill any vacancy therein.
Article 30 taken up (Land for School House Pur- poses).
The following substitute motion was made by Earle C. Hopkins :
That the town authorize the Selectmen to acquire by purchase, or otherwise, for school building purposes, all or any portion of a parcel of land situated in said Arlington, and particularly described in Article 30 of the warrant. That the sum of $30,000 be appropriated for this purpose, the money to be raised by general tax.
Elliott R. Barker, Chairman of the Committee on Additional School Accommodations, gave a detailed re- port of the situation in general.
Alexander H. Rice, Chairman of the School Com- mittee, gave the opinion of the School Committee in general.
There was considerable discussion, many feeling that the True Lot as described in Article 30 of the war- rant was too small.
The proposition of land on the Wyman Farm was dicussed. No definite figure had, however, been given by the Messrs. Wyman.
Petition was received from William C. Drouet for a reconsideration of Article 25 of the warrant at the next adjourned meeting.
At forty minutes after ten o'clock the meeting ad- journed to April 10, 1924, at eight o'clock.
A true record, attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE,
Town Clerk.
Arlington, April 10, 1924.
Pursuant to the vote of adjournment on April 2, 1924, the Town Meeting members met in the Town Hall
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on Thursday evening, April 10, 1924, notices having been sent by mail by the Town Clerk to the Town Meeting members seven days at least before the meeting. Notices were placed in the local papers and posted in at least two places in each precinct.
Lists of duly qualified Town Meeting members were used at the entrances of the meeting place and were in charge of James F. Higgins and Philip T. Robinson.
The check lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that two hundred and four members attended the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at eight o'clock by the Moderator, John G. Brackett.
The Town Meeting members who had not already been sworn were sworn by the Moderator.
Article 30 (Land for School House Purposes).
Before taking up the substitute motion, as made by. Earle C. Hopkins, Elliott R. Barker asked permission to explain lantern slides of the territory in question, namely, the True site and the Wyman site. Permission being granted, Mr. Barker explained the above men- tioned territory.
Myron W. Dole of the School Committee then ex- plained other slides on these two sites. Mr. Dole read a letter from Augustus S. True in regard to the True property.
After further discussion on the subject, the ques- tion of the substitute motion was voted upon and lost.
The original motion as made by the Chairman of the Finance Committee was put before the meeting and it was voted.
Voted : That the town do not authorize the Select- men to acquire by purchase or otherwise for school building purposes all or any portion of a parcel of land situated in said Arlington, and particularly described
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in Article 30 of the warrant; and further voted: that the subject matter of this article be referred back to the Committee on Additional School Accommodations for further study and later report.
On motion of Nelson B. Crosby :
Voted : That when this meeting adjourns it adjourn to meet on April 22, at eight o'clock P.M.
On motion as made by William C. Drouet and sec- onded by Frank A. Woodhead, a standing vote was taken as to whether or not Article 25 of the warrant should be reconsidered at this meeting, the same hav- ing been petitioned for by Mr. Drouet before the close of the last adjourned meeting. Eighty-one voted in favor of a reconsideration and ninety-five voted in op- position to a reconsideration. The motion for recon- sideration being therefore lost.
Article 31 taken up (Oil Burning System in High School Building).
Voted : That the town do not appropriate the sum of $5000 or any other sum for the installation of an oil burning system in the High School building.
Article 32 taken up (Locker Equipment in High School).
Voted : That the town do not appropriate the sum of $3,500 or any other sum to provide locker equipment in the High School building.
Article 33 taken up (Shelter-Spy Pond Play Ground).
Voted (Unanimously) : That the sum of $3000 be and hereby is appropriated for the building and equip- ment of a shelter on the Spy Pond play ground, said sum to be expended under the direction of the School Committee.
Article 34 taken up (Automobile for School Nurse and Attendance Officer).
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Voted (Unanimously) : That the sum of $750 be and hereby is appropriated for the purchase of an auto- mobile for the use of the school nurse and attendance officer, said sum to be expended under the direction of the School Committee.
Article 35 taken up (Buildings-Park Land- Mass. Avenue, Broadway and Franklin Street).
Voted (Unanimously) : That the Board of Select- men be and hereby is authorized and empowered, in the name and on behalf of the town, to sell at public auction or private sale all or any of the buildings on the land taken by the town for the purpose of erecting an engine house thereon, and to execute, acknowledge and deliver the proper documents for that purpose, all for the minimum amount of $100 and upon such other terms as the Selectmen shall consider proper.
Article 36 taken up (Central Fire Station).
J. Howard Hayes spoke in regard to the urgent need of better fire protection in the western section of the town, and expressed himself as opposed to the present plan of Central Fire Station.
On motion of J. Howard Hayes :
Voted : That no substitute motion be made.
The original recommendation of the Finance Com- mittee was then taken up and the motion as recom- mended by them was lost.
On motion of Walter S. Elliett, the meeting ad- journed at fifty-five minutes after ten o'clock.
A true record, attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE,
Town Clerk.
Arlington, April 22, 1924.
Pursuant to the vote of adjournment on April 10, 1924, the Town Meeting members met in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, April 22, 1924, notices having been
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1
sent by mail by the Town Clerk to the Town Meeting members seven days at least before the meeting. Notices were published in the local papers and posted at three places in each precinct.
Lists of the duly qualified Town Meeting members were used at the entrances of the meeting place and were in charge of James F. Higgins and Philip T. Robinson.
The check lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that one hundred and seventy-five members attended the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at eight o'clock by the Moderator, John G. Brackett.
The Town Meeting members who had not already been sworn were sworn by the Moderator.
Article 36, not having been disposed of at the previous meeting, was taken up.
Nelson B. Crosby reviewed the Central Fire Station situation. J. Henry Hayes explained his motion made at the previous meeting and expressed himself as still disapproving the present plan. Earl A. Ryder read a paper stating that he considered the present plan ex- travagant.
Walter H. Peirce, Chairman of the Committee on Fire Station, asked permission of the meeting to have Mr. Robinson of Messrs MacNaughton & Robinson, architects, explain the proposed plan on the screen. Permission being granted, Mr. Robinson explained the plan by means of lantern slides.
After a lengthy discussion on the motion as made by Nelson B. Crosby :
Voted (By a two-thirds vote) : That there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of one hundred and thirty-nine thousand and five hundred dollars
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($139,500) for the purpose of constructing a building to be used for an engine house upon the land situated in said Arlington, and particularly described in Article 36 of the warrant, including the cost of original equipment and furnishings; that for this purpose fifty-nine thou- sand five hundred dollars ($59,500) be raised by gener- al tax, and for the balance eighty thousand ($80,000) dollars the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select- men, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the said sum of eighty thousand ($80,000) dollars and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor, said bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with the provisions of Sec- tion 19 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and all acts in addition thereto or amendment thereof, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than eight years from the date of issue of the first bond or note, or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine; and, further, that the committee appointed under vote of the town, passed March 8, 1923, to pro- cure plans and estimates for the construction of a Fire Department building and the installation therein of fire alarm apparatus, be a committee with full authority to construct said building to be used for an engine house, within the sum herein appropriated, substantially in ac- cordance with plans presented at this meeting, and with power to fill any vacancy in said committee.
On a rising vote one hundred and thirty-nine voted in favor of the above vote and thirty-one in opposition.
On motion of Nelson B. Crosby :
Voted : That when this meeting ajourns it adjourn to meet on May 6, 1924, at eight o'clock in the evening.
Article 37 taken up (Taking of Park Land for Cemetery and Burial Purposes).
Warren A. Peirce, Chairman of the Cemetery Com- missioners, explained the subject matter of Article 37 by means of a map drawn by George E. Ahern, Town Engineer.
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