USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1941-1948 > Part 4
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Under Chapter 211 it is required that the Planning Board establish Rules and Regulations for the Submission of Petitions and Plans of Subdivisions. This was our first task, and required study of those Rules and Regulations that had been adopted by other Towns similar to Lynnfield, from which we promulgated the present Rules and Regulations of Subdivisions. These were printed April 24, 1941, and put in circulation. That these Rules and Regulations have the approval of the State Planning Board is evident by the numerous requests other Planning Boards have made for copies. These Rules and Regulations were designed to save money for the Town, and preclude the possibility of Subdividers coming into the Town, selling as many lots as possible and leaving for the Town the work and cost of putting in improve- ments, such as streets, water mains and sidewalks where necessary.
In accordance with the instructions as given to the Planning Board, by the voters of the Town in Article No. 50 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, the Planning Board has made a study of the site to be chosen for a public building to house the Fire and Police Departments, and recommends that parcel of land owned by the Town on Summer Street south of the Town Hall and adjacent to it, as a site for such building. On account of the war we do not recommend the immediate construction of this building. We suggest that it be considered as a project for the Town after the war and during the period of change from war to peace. Immediately upon the cessation of hostilities, millions will cease their activities in war industries, many must be placed temporarily in Federal, State and Town work of this nature. The Planning Board, in conjunction with most other Planning Boards all through the State, is considering these projects. We plan to study the Town's need of new buildings and have the neces- sary data to submit to the citizens later. At the Annual Conference of the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards, at which Lynnfield was represented, this was the general theme, and the Commonwealth has hired a co-ordinator who will consult with Planning Boards and give them technical advice.
The Grade School in Precinct Two should be replaced by a new modern building, with enough land for playgrounds. This project should be considered, and is recommended by the Board.
F
45
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
The building now used to house the Fire Department at the Centre, is an invaluable historic building, and the Board recommends this be restored. Any old historic building such as this, is a distinct asset to any Town. In this building the citizens have prayed since 1714, and it was here that the men of Lynnfield gathered during the night on the eve of the Battle of Lexington.
At the Annual Town Meeting last March the Town purchased the land for a new High School, and construction of a High School must be listed as one of the Town's needs.
These projects are brought to the attention of the citizens as needed, now, but we realize we are again at war, and this is a war of money. To win we must manufacture more implements of war than our ad- versaries. Federal taxes will be high, the Commonwealth taxes will increase, and even Town expenses will be more for the kind of war that must be waged.
We do not expect these projects to be all considered immediately; they are placed before the people as future expenditures to be con- sidered.
During the past years the trend of population has been away from the larger cities and towns to suburban and rural districts. The war has changed this towards a centralization of population, and this will be accelerated by the restricted use of automobiles. What effect this will have upon our Town we are unable to state. We can watch it and act to control it to our best advantage.
In our report last year we mentioned the effort being made to remove some of the large illegal display signboards on the Turnpike, south of the Square. We are pleased, this year, to report some share of success in that four of these signs have been ordered down by the Public Works Commissioners. In addition to these signs which were illegal, one legal sign in the area zoned for business on the Turnpike was removed voluntarily by the owner, for which he was thanked by the Board in a letter dated July 31, 1941, and published in the Village Press.
We are endowed with many natural advantages, which must be utilized. While much of the land in Town has been allowed to deteri- orate, it can be restored and home war gardens will be in order next year. All food produced in Lynnfield helps the Nation that much. In addition to the 2618 acres of good and limited adaptability, there is much land around houses that can be used for this purpose.
The Town has an opportunity of securing a Town Forest. We have a total acreage of 3,574 acres of forest land in the Town, 745 acres of which is pine wood. This is now available and would pay handsome dividends, as well as provide a breathing space for all time. At the present time 124 Towns in the Commonwealth have a Town Forest. These range from 6 acres in the Town of Webster, in which 6000 trees
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46
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
have been planted, to 6720 acres in North Adams where 454,000 trees have been set out. The Lynnfield Center Water District has 30 acres and this should be added to. In the Commonwealth the different Towns own a total of 37,430 acres on which are 7,600,000 trees. Lynn- field was the home of Mr. Frank J. D. Barnjum, who has done more in the interest of reforestation in the United States and Canada than . any other single individual, and this Board recommends a Town Forest for Lynnfield, and that it be named the Frank J. D. Barnjum Forest.
During the past year the Planning Board has had the benefit of Mr. Pearson Stewart's presence at many of our meetings, and his ad- vice and assistance in publishing the new edition of our Zoning By- Laws is deeply appreciated, and we also thank Mr. Nelson B. Todd who has attended all our meetings and advised us on all legal matters.
Respectfully submitted,
LOUIS B. TUCK, Chairman, Lynnfield Planning Board.
REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEALS
To the Citizens of the Town of Lynnfield :
The present Board of Appeals was appointed by the Selectmen on May 15, 1941, in accordance with the By-Law adopted at Town Meeting on March 10, 1941. At the organization meeting of May 22, 1941 the regular members of the Board, Joseph W. Cassidy, Louis B. Tuck, and Ralph W. Green, met and appointed the Chairman, Joseph W. Cassidy, and the Secretary, Ralph W. Green, for a term of one year.
The first appeal case was heard on June 4, 1941, that appeal having been filed before the rules of procedure adopted by the Board had become effective, but from that date to November 3, 1941, when the last appeal for the year was heard, eighteen (18) additional cases were heard and passed upon. Many of these cases required inspections by the members of the Board, who have been pleased to donate their time and automobile expense for these trips.
Inasmuch as it is one of the duties of this Board to attend to the publication of notices of hearings, one of the rules adopted requires a fee of $5.00 from each appellee to cover the expense of publication and mailing. This rule was not affective at the time of the first hearing, but subsequently the sum of $90.00 was realized from the eighteen later cases, and remitted to the Town Treasurer.
The Finance Committee, on July 3, 1941, transferred the sum of one hundred dollars from the surplus account, for the use of this Board. We expended the sum of $52.36 for newspaper notices, mailing
. 47
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
to abutters, postage and envelopes, so that there is an unexpended balance of $47.64 remaining out of the fund of $100.00 allocated for our use.
THE BOARD OF APPEALS, Joseph W. Cassidy, Chairman.
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of the Town of Lynnfield:
Herewith I respectfully submit my annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1941:
The Department responded to 115 bell alarms and 15 still and tele- phone calls, making a total of 130 calls.
There were 10 building fires, 71 grass and woods fires, 5 false and needless alarms, 8 automobile fires, 2 dump fires, 3 chimney fires, 2 needless alarms, 2 truck fires, 1 oil burner fire, 21 small street and house grass fires. We responded to three out-of-town calls-Peabody, Lynn, Reading; two emergency calls.
The department laid 26,000 feet of 21/2, 11% and booster lines of hose and raised 428 feet of ladders. Seventy pony extinguishers and Indian pumps were used.
The total loss from building fires was approximately $10,800.00.
At this time I want to thank the people for our new truck, and say that we feel that the money was well expended, not only for abso- lute needs, but because we cannot get the same kind of a piece of apparatus today, for more than $1,000.00 additional cost.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM W. MOXHAM, Chief of Fire Department.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and
The Citizens of the Town of Lynnfield:
In preparing my report for the past year I must first of all apologize for any omissions or lack of detail which may occur. Due to my recent illness I have been kept from close contact with my department and therefore some details may be overlooked.
The past year has been a very busy one for the members of the department and all have been required to work many extra hours for
48
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
which no compensation was provided. This work has been done willingly and cheerfully by the officers, for which I am deeply grateful.
The police radio and cruiser have worked out to advantage even beyond my fondest hopes or expectations. There have been but two breaks in town during the past year which sets a new record and is but one of the many examples which, in my opinion, prove the worth of the constant vigil of an officer in the cruiser. I again invite any citizen of the town who has not availed himself of an opportunity to see and hear the radio in operation, to do so at his convenience. The officers will be pleased at any time to demonstrate how the radio works and its several advantages.
Following is a list of arrests and activities of the department during the past year:
1 Arson
1 Assault and battery
3 Drunkenness
1 Larceny of automobile
2 Escaped inmates
82 Automobile accidents
42 Automobile accidents, personal injuries involved
19 Ambulance calls
16 Buildings found open, made secure
82 Buildings reported vacant, protected
11 Cars investigated for other departments
2 Dead bodies cared for, human
36 Dead bodies cared for, animals
476 Defective street lights reported
1 Defective hydrant reported
3 Defective streets and walks reported
18 Dogs killed and cared for by police
6 Dogs turned over to Dog Officer
4 Injured persons assisted home
38 Injured persons assisted to hospitals
1 Insane person returned to hospital
1 Lost child cared for and returned to parents
28 Messages delivered
9 Sick persons assisted home
23 Street obstructions removed
7 Wires down reported
2 Runaway children located
28 Investigations for other departments
72 Complaints of children
32 Summonses served for other departments
12 Stolen automobiles recovered
49
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
12 Licenses to operate automobiles revoked
14 Registrations revoked
7 Registrations suspended
223 Automobile violations
3236 Messages broadcast
16650 Cruiser car mileage
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT S. WEBSTER, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my first annual report of the Building Depart- ment, ending December 31, 1941.
Permits issued, 114 as follows:
78 Dwellings
Approx. Value $365,775.00
8 Remodeling and Additions
3,825.00
4 Repairs
850.00
5 Garages
1,400.00
5 Poultry Houses
1,300.00
5 Business
3,700.00
9 Miscellaneous
1,900.00
$378,750.00
The year 1941, as the above figures indicate, was the largest revenue producing period that the Town of Lynnfield ever has known. The problem of the more adequate enforcement of the Zoning and Building regulations is one worthy of the citizens' serious attention.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM W. MOXHAM, Building Inspector.
1
50
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The following articles were sealed:
3 Platform Scales
6 Beam Scales
3 Spring Scales
6 Computing Scales
2 Slot Weighing Scales
20 Liquid Measures
34 Gas Pump Meters
2 Oil Measuring Pumps
Fees collected $22.16.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. WESTOVER, Sealer of Weights and Measures
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF MOTH DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Gentlemen:
The past year's work was carried along the same lines as in previous years. Woodlands were looked over for gypsy moth infesta- tions and partly creosoted. The center part of the Town is good, except the northern part of Lowell and Chestnut Streets, also Main Street near the Middleton line. The south part of the Town had a general increase which was extremely heavy on the Turnpike, Salem, Summer and Walnut Streets, near the Saugus line.
Little spraying was done on these infestations because of such a small crew of men. The loss of the WPA men makes the work more difficult. There were no browntail moth webs found last year.
The elm leaf beetle was extremely 'heavy in private property, but was hardly noticeable on the street trees, which had been sprayed. This work is carried on under the supervision of the State Department of Conservation.
The State contributed $924.06 to the Town in money and supplies during the year.
I hope that extra money will be appropriated at the coming Town Meeting so that these infestations may be properly handled.
Respectfully submitted,
LYMAN H. TWISS,
Supt. of Moth Department
51
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
4
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
Due to the shortage of paper the State has not sent any inspection books to Inspectors yet so no report is available.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR W. BRYANT, Inspector of Animals.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Milk for the year ending December 31, 1941. I have inspected places where milk was kept for sale and issued licenses as required.
Number of Licenses, 27. Fees collected, $13.50.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR W. BRYANT, Inspector of Milk.
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen. Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Dog Officer for the year ending December 31, 1941. I have answered 84 calls and disposed of 22 dogs. I believe all dogs in the Town have been licensed.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR W. BRYANT, Dog Officer.
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of the Town of Lynnfield:
At the last annual town meeting an appropriation was made for the care of shade trees.
This appropriation was used to take down dead trees and to trim up trees where there were dead and dangerous limbs; also trees where the branches were low and obstructed traffic along the highway. Some cavity work was done on trees that were bad.
52
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
An appropriation was made for the purchase and planting of shade trees. Sixty Norway maples and 6 Lindens were purchased and planted in different parts of the Town.
I hope that a much larger appropriation will be made at the next annual Town Meeting to carry on this work, and that another amount will be provided for the purchase of trees, to be set out along the highways.
Respectfully submitted,
LYMAN H. TWISS, Tree Warden.
REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1941: Whooping Cough 16
Mumps
16
Measles
6
Chicken Pox
11
Dog Bite 14
Syphilis
1
Neisserian inf. 5
Diphtheria 0
Scarlet Fever 0
We wish again to remind you that certain contagious diseases are reportable whether a physician has been called or not. It would help us greatly if these cases are all reported promptly as required by law.
Summary of Report
Number of Complaints
8
Verbal Notices
9
Inspections Made
40
Letters Written
45
Telephone Calls 232
Permits to Attend School 38
Wells Examined and Water Tested 7
Obstetrical Cases
1
Surgical Cases 3
Ambulance Calls
12
Number of Professional Calls
Office
162
House
203
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE S. ROBINSON, M.D., D.O.,
Health Officer.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS 53
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
The streets of the town were plowed and sanded during the winter months, when needed.
The usual work was done on gutters, catch basins and drains.
Good care of the streets that needed tar and sand was done in the usual manner.
We bought a new Dodge 2-ton truck, which, added to our equipment, was a great improvement.
Another stretch of Summer Street was completed under Chapter 90 funds. I sincerely hope that another stretch can be started the coming year.
Bushes were cut along most of the highways where needed.
Respectfully submitted,
MINOT H. CARTER, Superintendent of Streets.
REPORT OF THE SURPLUS COMMODITY DIVISION OF THE LYNNFIELD WELFARE BOARD
To the Honorable Board of Public Welfare:
I hereby make my annual report of the Surplus Commodity Division of the Lynnfield Welfare Board.
Approximately thirty-five families have derived benefit from this assistance.
For your information, during the year 1941 this department distrib- uted more commodities per relief case than in any previous year, though the total volume of commodities distributed was below previous years because of reduced relief caseload, and the expansion of the stamp plan program in many communities. The report of distribution activities in our community for the year 1941 is as follows: Direct distribution of food $2,311.61, clothing $884.45. The combined value of both food and clothing for the year 1941 was $3,196.06.
Below are the amounts of food and clothing received in the Town from the Salem Warehouse during the year 1941:
Food
Fresh Apples
1,550
Pounds
Fresh Cabbage
200
Pounds
Cereal Wheat
1,754
Pounds
Eggs
450 Dozen
White Flour
4,030.25 Pounds
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TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
Grapefruit Juice
72
Cans
White Potatoes
2,325
Pounds
Dried Raisins
750
Pounds
Fresh Ham
410
Pounds
Dried Pea Beans
1,650
Pounds
Canned Carrots
120
Cans
Corn Meal
300
Pounds
Graham Flour
905.5
Pounds
Fresh Grapefruit
1,826
Pounds
Dried Peaches
150
Pounds
Dried Prunes
450
Pounds
Lard
1,020
Pounds
Fresh Peaches
900
Pounds
Clothing
Women's Bloomers
12
Girls' Cotton Dresses
54
Women's Nightgowns
24
Men's Pants
42
Men's and Boys' Shorts
144
Boys' Cotton Suits
6
Boys' Pants
66
Children's Blouses
30
Women's Cotton Dresses
156
Men's Nightshirts
24
Full Sheets
60
Men's and Boys' Shirts
216
Children's Pajamas
6
Men's Jackets
24
Layettes
3
Men's Pajamas
12
Women's Slips
18
Men's Dungarees
30
Boys' Dungarees
24
Total Articles of Clothing
963
Respectfully submitted,
WESLEY W. MUNROE,
Supervisor.
CASE LOAD OF THE SURPLUS COMMODITY DIVISION OF THE LYNNFIELD WELFARE BOARD 1941
Increase
Decrease
Month
Cases
Persons
Cases
Persons
Cases
Persons
January 1, 1941
43
169
February 1, 1941
47
182
4
13
March 1, 1941
47
182
April 1, 1941
42
161
5
21
May 1, 1941
38
141
4
20
June 1, 1941
37
138
1
3
July 1, 1941
33
139
1
4
August 1, 1941
30
130
3
9
September 1, 1941
25
114
5
16
October 1, 1941
22
95
3
19
November 1, 1941
21
87
1
8
December 1, 1941
22
69
1
18
December 31, 1941
25
87
3
18
.
REPORT OF SURPLUS COMMODITY DIVISION 55
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TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
REPORT OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES IN LYNNFIELD DURING 1941
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
WPA was suspended in Lynnfield on June 24, 1941, as unemploy- ment was at a low ebb. At that time we were working on Moth Project #22715.
Moth Project #22715-Many acres of woodland were creosoted during the winter months and later sprayed. Lynnfield is still an in- fested area, bounded by cities and towns which are likewise infested.
Playground Project #16769-During 1941 considerable improvement was accomplished on the tennis courts. At a special Town Meeting money was appropriated for fencing the tennis courts and later in the season two units of tennis nets were bought and installed in concrete foundations. All the area within the tennis courts should be given, as soon as possible, a hard surface, so that the players may have more playing space.
Lynnfield should be grateful for the WPA assistance we have re- ceived in the past. The accomplishments have been of such benefit to the Town that I am sure further assistance will be gladly granted if the need arises in the future.
Respectfully submitted, WESLEY W. MUNROE, Sponsor and Referal Agent for WPA.
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ANNUAL REPORT of the SCHOOL COMMITTEE and SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD MASSACHUSETTS
Year Ending December 31, 1941
SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1941
Mrs. Norma McKillop, Chairman
Walter DeWilde Edward S. Averell
Term expires 1942
Term expires 1943 Term expires 1944
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS John D. Whittier, Wenham, Massachusetts Residence Telephone - Hamilton 224-W Office Telephone - Topsfield 171 Office Hours - Monday and Thursday South School - 10 to 12 M. Center School - 2 to 4 P. M.
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TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL .COMMITTEE
Twenty-four meetings of the Committee have been held this past year.
In June, our esteemed chairman and secretary was taken seriously ill, and has been unable to carry on her duties with us. Up to the present time no one has been appointed to take her place, and the two remaining members have carried on. Her absence has been appreciably felt.
The greatest achievement of the year was the completion of the toilets in the Center School.
The wooden part of the Center School has been given three coats of white paint by a local painter.
At the start of the Christmas vacation, the boiler in the South School burst. It was made thirty years ago by a manufacturer not now in business and no parts could readily be found to repair it. The committee was fortunate in locating a heating contractor who was able to supply us with a new boiler, capable of handling any new building which might be constructed in the future. This was installed during the Christmas vacation and school opened on schedule, January 5, 1942.
The lower room on the south end of the South School always has been difficult to heat. While installing the boiler, the committee had the contractor look over this situation and was fortunate in having it remedied by very simple means and at small expense. Other attempts by heating contractors have failed to solve this problem.
It is hoped that the citizens will give serious consideration to the construction of a new school building in the south part of the Town, as repairs and maintenance are making the old building an expensive one. Furthermore, the ventilation system is very poor, making the building a health menace. It is also considered a fire trap and should be replaced as soon as possible.
Your committee has been faced with the problem of obtaining several new teachers during the past year, with one vacancy still not filled. It is felt that in order to obtain more efficient and experienced teachers the wage standard of the teaching staff should be raised. By comparison with other towns of like size it has been shown that Lynnfield is underpaying its teachers.
A hot lunch program for the Center School has been inaugurated, though not yet in working order. This program will benefit about 175 pupils.
A bus was added to the transportation system whereby the pupils of the South School, living east of the Turnpike, have been transported from and to school at the noon hour.
A standpipe has been installed in the wooden part of the Center
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
School, making available two lines of one and one-half inch hose for fire fighting purposes, and decreasing the insurance rates considerably.
At a meeting of Union #46 held in Hamilton this spring, two matters affecting your Town were brought to a conclusion. The first of these was the withdrawal of Hamilton from the Union, thus leaving Lynn- field, Topsfield and Wenham to carry on. Lynnfield shared the greatest percentage of the increased expense, though the Superintendent's salary was decreased $500. The second matter was the election of Mr. J. D. Whittier as Superintendent of the Union for the next three years. This vote was not unanimous. His salary was decreased from $4000 to $3500.
The chairman of this Union for the past and present years is Edward S. Averell, Lynnfield school committee, and the secretary is Mrs. Smith of the Topsfield School Committee.
Your committee has had the supervision of the playground activities during the past summer. Sessions were held every day from July 6 to August 15, inclusive, 9:30 to 11:30 and 1:30 to 3:00 at the Center and South schoolgrounds.
Registration for the season
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