USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1949-1960 > Part 43
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insure conservation of our trees.
Elimination of Poison Ivy was an added project for the de- partment in 1954 and encouraging results are anticipated. Full efficiency of this program can only be realized by continuance during 1955.
It is the desire of the Tree Warden and the staff of this depart- ment to express appreciation to all officials, departments and the citizens of Lynnfield for unstinting cooperation and assistance in the varying problems arising during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
PERSONNEL OF TREE DEPARTMENT
Donald F. Newhall, TREE WARDEN Delbert E. Porter Edward Foley
Report of MOTH DEPARTMENT
The Gypsy Moth problem continued to harass this department during 1954. A particularly stubborn infestation near the Middleton line caused anxiety well into June and all steps fea- sible were undertaken to contain damage. Marked improvement can be expected in 1955 when the state will join forces with the town in a concentrated effort to control this pest. Aerial spray- ing is scheduled for early May.
Heavy rainfall last Spring gave the Elm Leaf Beetle and kin- dred pests a head start on control efforts for 1954. The 44-year- old spray machine owned by the town also proved entirely in- adequate for effective control. The beetle was particularly active in the Walnut and Salem Street sections of town.
Report of WIRE INSPECTOR
A total of 366 permits were issued by the Department during 1954. This has been a very unusual year due to the frequency and severity of the Hurricane season. During these storms, the Town had better than 100 utility poles damaged or completely destroyed with many sections bereft of power for several days. It was necessary to supply emergency lighting during each of these hurricanes to certain sections where residents were without these all-necessary utilities. At one time we had better than 10 portable generators supplying the needed power.
Through the splendid cooperation of both the Peabody and
The Birch Miner and the Tent Caterpillar infestations were heavier than usual for the Lynnfield area. In this regard, future efficient service of this department can be greatly enhanced by addition of a Mist Blower to insure control and elimination.
Dutch Elm disease declined in Lynnfield in 1954 with only thirteen seriously infected trees being detected by the department.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald F. Newhall, Superintendent Delbert E. Porter Edward Foley
Reading Municipal Light Companies, service was restored as fast as it was humanly possible to do so under these conditions. We had very fine assistance from telephone and lighting facilities as far as Washington, D. C., and Baltimore, Maryland.
The Department wishes, at this time, to sincerely and grate- fully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance rendered by these companies in our time of emergency. The Department also wishes to gratefully acknowledge and thank those many members of our community who offered their tireless efforts and labor to bring our community back to normal and provide the necessary
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power so badly needed in many homes.
Your wire inspector also thanks all Lynnfield citizens for their common-sense attitude during the Holiday Season, expressed in his recent news article. Lynnfield had no flash fires - no personal tragedies - no property damage - as a result of the awareness of the residents to the dangers encountered at this time of the year - electrically. Your wire inspector is indeed proud of our Town's record at this season.
Respectfully submitted,
James V. Thompson Inspector of Wires
Report of SEALER OF WEIGHTS & MEASURES
My records for 1954 show that:
19 Scales were checked and sealed
30 Gas Pumps were checked and sealed 1 Scale condemned
Spot checks were made at various intervals during the year and at no time were any serious variances found. Pre-packaged merchandise has been checked at various times and found to be correct as marked.
The interval of the merchants in maintaining the accuracy of their weighing and measuring devices indicates the high stan- dards they are trying to maintain for their customers.
I wish to thank all for their cheerful co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
Gustav H. Koch Sealer of Weights and Measures
Report of HEALTH OFFICER
This has been a very active year, as far as health work was concerned. We have been called upon to make examinations of various conditions, which affect our Public Health.
Again we had a well attended pre-school age clinic, for the immunization of children against Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Whooping Cough. This clinic seems to fill a definite need in the Town.
I have inspected the day nurseries, and found them to be in
good condition, and well managed, from the viewpoint of health regulations.
There has been a large number of communicable diseases re- ported. Ifind we are getting more co-operation on the reporting of these cases, but again I wish to stress the importance of all communicable diseases being reported.
Dog Bites
29
Mumps
43
Scarletina
4
Chicken Pox
42
German Measles
5
Whooping Cough 5
Scarlet Fever
1
Measles
93
Non-Paralytic Polio
2
Aseptic Meningitis
1
Tuberculosis
0
Gonorrhea
3
Respectfully submitted,
George S. Robinson, M. D. Health Officer
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Report of the DOG OFFICER
Number of Dogs Picked Up Returned to Owners
52
18
Disposed of
34
Destroyed 5 dogs hit by cars
DOG OFFICER
Tony Procurot
DOGS LICENSED IN 1954
355 Males @ 2.00
$ 710.00
83 Females
@ 5.00
415.00
231 Spayed Females
2.00
462.00
3 Kennels
@ 25. 00
75.00
2 Kennels
@ 10. 00
20.00
674 Licenses Issued
$ 1,682.00
Fees Deducted
134. 80
Paid to County Treasurer $ 1,547.20
Report of CIVIL DEFENSE, DIRECTOR
It is with a deep note of sadness that with the close of 1954 our Operations Communications Chairman, Joseph P. Furrier, is no longer with us to carry on so efficiently and conscientious ly the work of perhaps the most important committee of our Civil
JOSEPH P. FURRIER
Appointed to Board of Registrars, April 23, 1945. Was Chairman from 1950 until his death, December 10, 1954.
Defense. Joe and his loyal men manned the new radio equipment, just installed at Town Hall, for 48 hours during Hurricane Edna and kept our town in communication with the outside world, when a large part of our local and outside lines were out. Richard W. Doremus, active on the committee for years succeeds the late Joseph Furrier as Chairman. Doremus was the one who heard of the Peabody flood on his "short wave" and was first to alert the Peabody Civil Defense Director. Our communications team spend a few hours that night helping out Peabody for which Lynnfield received an appreciative letter.
Hurricane Carol likewise covered by Civil Defense showed the lack of sufficient portable generators for such an emergency. Through the kindness of Civil Defense in Wakefield, Lynn and Middleton generators were loaned to tide us over.
During Hurricane Edna many of the Civil Defense Committee Chairmen and volunteers manned the Emergency Post at Town Hallfrom midnight September 10, to the night of September 12. The call and auxiliary firemen did the same at both fire stations. The auxiliary police patrolled the town while the fire alarm and telephone communications were out. Close synchronization of all departments as a result was possible which resulted in much speedier action in pumping out cellars, removing trees from streets and houses, and furnishing electricity from our portable generators for refrigeration plants, water, sanitation, heat, etc. Volunteer lady workers furnished coffee and doughnuts to the night shifts.
Leroy M. Hadsall succeeds Steven A. Parks in charge of Wardens.
Josiah Poeton has been appointed Evacuation Officer. As of December 31, 1954 Lynnfield was changed from a Neutral area to an Evacuation area.
During the week of February 7, 1955 it is expected that train- ing classes in Feeding and Canteen will be started by the American Red Cross in Lynnfield.
Respectfully submitted, Carl E. Shumway Lynnfield Civil Defense Director
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Report of ROAD COMMISSIONER
The weather applied an all but year-round pressure on the facilities and personnel of the Highway Department in 1954. Early Spring rains, which were the forerunner of a record annual rainfall for this section of New England, presented a problem in highway washouts which was to become almost commonplace for the department throughout the year. The department also was called on to relieve major flooding in many cellars in the town.
The week-ends of May 15 and 22 alone visited downpours of from five to six inches of rain on Lynnfield.
Beginning on the morning of August 31 and continuing until the week ending October 23 the Highway Department was mobilized in clearing the town of wreckage and debris following the impact of hurricanes Carol and Edna.
Atotal of 6, 255 man hours were required to repair, as nearly as was possible, the havoc created by wind and rains. In this regard, the Road Commissioner would like to commend to the citizens of the town all the departments of the town and the many residents of Lynnfield who gave unstintingly of their time and energy during this period of emergency.
Improved equipment has greatly aided the department in cop- ing with the problems of 1954. A new Ford truck, the Payloader, and the sandspreader approved by the Town meeting have added to the general efficiency of equipment.
Chapter 90 work included a stone seal for a portion of Sum- mer Street and elimination of the dangerous intersection at Sum- mer and Salem Streets through construction of an "Island" and placement of trafficsigns. This work was somewhat delayed when the plans for the project were destroyed in a fire at the State Public Works division in Beverly.
Further Chapter 90 work already approved will result in the repair of Salem Street and the straightening of the hazardous curve in front of the branch Library before July of 1955.
During 1954 a resurfacing job was completed on Lakeview Drive, the material used is known as Type #1 Bituminous Con- crete. From observation of this material the Road Commissioner recommends that this permanent type surfacing be used as the streets of the town are built up to the limit of frontage regulations.
The department continued efforts to ease the drainage prob- lems that are part and parcel of Lynnfield. Storm drains were in- stalled along Arlington and Lowell Streets, also Highland and Prospect Avenues, the latter twostreets were also rebuilt and sur- faced.
Parsons Avenue was rebuilt and a general improvement of the Center Section of the town was achieved through the construction of the parking lot on land adjacent to the library.
A total of 19 streets were improved wholly or in part by ap- plication of stone seal. These included: Lockwood, Thomas, Locksley, Lakewood, Maywood, Pinewood, Rockwood, Grant,
Stanley, Carter, Laurel, Fairview, Pyburn and Douglas Roads, also Hutchins and Sylvan Circles, Maple Street, Beaver and Fairview Avenues.
At the present time some 22 new streets are in process of con- struction within the town limits. These future additions to the work load of the department are currently the responsibility of the builders involved in construction of homes in Lynnfield.
These roads, in varying degrees of completion, are:
Keniston, Lovell, Mitchell, Richards, Carol Ann, Thwing, Priscilla (ext.), Doncaster, Nottingham(ext.), Grayland, Gerry, Reedy, Temple, Newhall, Roundy, Michael and Melch Roads.
Also Friars Lane, Herrick Lane, Putney Lane, Drury and Ban- croft Streets.
Your Road Commissioner has, fromtime to time, met with the Planning Board with a view toward coinciding the highway pro- gram with Master Plan recommendations for Lynnfield.
The Road Commissioner wishes to take this opportunity to ex- press sincerest appreciation to the officials and departments of the town for the wholehearted cooperation and assistance given to the Highway department throughout the past year.
James C. Fletcher ROAD COMMISSIONER
THE TOWNSEND - SWEETSER HOUSE BUILT IN 1720 BY "CAPTAIN" THOMAS FLINT WHOSE SON WAS KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON IN 1775.
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Report of PARK & CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
During the past year the Department took in the sum of $1, 823. 00, $485. 00 of which was for the perpetual care of lots. Our Budget for the year was $6132.00. $235. 00 covered the sale of lots and these monies were deposited in the Sale of Lots and Graves Fund.
This past year it was necessary, due to a breakdown of the Department's truck, to install a new motor. A new rotary mower was also purchased. The department now has 3 power mowers which are used to maintain the appearance of our parks and cemeteries. During this year we had 18 internments in both Wil- low and Forest Hill Cemeteries.
This coming year we hope to re-surface the tennis courts at Suntaug Park, install new tennis nets, and a backstop for basket-
ball, thus providing better facilities for these sports.
Last Fall work was started on the rear section of Forest Hills cemetery in grading in order to prepare the ground for additional space for the sale of lots and graves.
Should any of the townspeople care to examine the records of the Park and Cemetery Commission, they are available for in- spection on the first and third Monday of every month at the Town Hall when the Commissioners hold their meetings.
Respectfully submitted,
Arthur Bryant, Chairman James V. Thompson, Secretary of the Board Chester Melanson, Board Member
Report of BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
In recent years Welfare Department activities have come in for a great deal more attention and emphasis than at any time in the past. In view of this condition and in consideration of the substantial appropriations necessary to support this program, it is my desire to utilize this report to explain in a general way, how the Town's Assistance Program is financed.
The entire Assistance Program, which includes General Relief, Old Age Assistance, Assistance to persons Who are Disabled and Aid to Dependent Children is governed by rules and regulations established by the State and Federal Governments.
GENERAL RELIEF: During the year you provided assistance to ten persons who were in need of your help because they were unable to provide for themselves. They were the aged, the sick, the deserted and the unemployed. Because of your investment of approximately Three Thousand Dollars and personal interest they are healthier and happier, thereby making our Town a better place in which to live.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE: During the year your tax dollar provided adequate assistance to sixty five citizens who were 65 years or over. They were cared for in their own homes, in the homes of relatives, in nursing and boarding homes or in the hospital. The cost of this care has been $49, 353. 92. The Fed- eral Government has returned to the Town $19, 627. 01 which has been re-used and $18, 282. 92 which has been returned from the State and gone into town's Excess and Deficiency Account.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN: Most of the cases receiv- ing Aid to Dependent Children are from homes where the father is deceased, where parents are separated by divorce or by desertion or the breadwinner is physically handicapped because of illness. Under this form of assistance you have kept intact one family representing three persons. The cost during 1954 was $1, 784. 22.
The Federal Government returned to the Town $594. 00 and the State $467. 50 which went into the town's Excess and Deficiency Account.
ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS WHO ARE DISABLED; This new mandatory category was created by State Department of Public Welfare as of January 1, 1952. We spent nothing this past year on a $1, 000. 00 appropriation, but I have requested an appropriation of $500. 00 in the 1955 budget.
As Director of Civilian War Aid I have attended several meetings during the past year on mass housing, mass feeding and congregate care as set up under the Civil Defense Organization.
Respectfully submitted,
Wesley W. Munroe, Agent
Arthur W. Nelson, Chairman Clifton E. Hodgdon Arthur S. Tewksbury, Jr.
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Report of VETERANS' SERVICES
Veterans' Services for 1954 remained about the same as the year previous except for a slight increase as to the Korean Bonus of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and requests for informa- tion and assistance toward the disabled veterans real estate tax abatements.
In the first part of 1954 three permanent cases on Veterans Benefits were dropped due to the increase of federal benefits,
but as the year moved on and due to uncertain conditions other cases have been added so that the annual appropriation was not of sufficient funds to care for the benefits required.
Respectfully submitted,
Burton B. Cogswell, Veterans' Agent Director of Veterans' Services
Report of SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The rapid increase of school population continues to be the most pressing cause of problems for your School Committee. The increase, which has been greater each year, may be illustrated as follows: In September 1953 grades 1 - 9 numbered 827; in September 1954, 980. For September 1955 we are estimating a total of more than 1130.
Due to rapid growth, there will be some crowding in the schools until September 1956, when the new twelve room ele- mentary school building on Summer Street will be available. We are fortunate to have an experienced and able School Building Committee moving forward on schedule with this project.
We have made definite commitments to keep our tenth grade in Lynnfield in September 1957. Thus we must determine the High School curriculum and develop a staff of teachers to work at the secondary level. The Town must plan to add the High School wing to the Junior High School building by September 1958, if this plan is to be realized.
The planning of adequate facilities for the High School is of utmost importance. To this end, a Future School Plant Planning Committee, Carl F. VanBennekom, chairman, is working inde- pendently of, but in cooperation with the School Committee. This committee will report its recommendations to the Town in November 1955.
Because we feel that we must procure more teachers with ex- perience, and retain those which are now here, we have made revisions in the salary schedule to enable us to compete for such people. The changes are effective in September 1955. The School Committee voted the changes only after considerable study. In reviewing the problem, we have had the benefit of recommendations of a Salary Study Committee, chaired by Sam- uel R. Puffer, and made up of lay people and teachers. This committee examined, at our request, Lynnfield's situation in light of its present and future needs, and, after a careful analysis, made several recommendations. The School Committee's action reflects one recommendation. Unless we are in a competitive position salarywise, we will find ourselves with a preponderance of inexperienced teachers. Such will be especially true at the Junior High and Senior High school levels. Such a situation would be a serious obstacle to the orderly development of a good
school system. We hope that the step we have taken will enable us to avoid this difficulty.
A Future School Site Committee, Gordon B. Wilkes, chair- man, is working to determine the Town's future school site needs. This, we feel, is good planning, since estimates of the master plan indicate that Lynnfield's eventual population will be more than double its present numbers. We urge your careful considera- tion of this group's report when it appears.
The School Committee has enacted a definite bus transporta- tion policy. Since the safety of children walking to school is of vital importance, we have requested that means be taken by the Police Department to provide protection at key points. The Police Chief has provided for this protection in his 1955 budget.
We have been able to develop a play area two hundred feet square at the South School. This area will be available for use by September 1955, after the grass has had an opportunity to grow.
School facilities have been used by outside groups after school hours more than three hundred times in 1954. About two-thirds of this use is for youth activities or for school connected groups, such as Parent Teachers Associations, for which no charge is made. The balance is for adult activities, for which established charges have been paid to the Town Treasurer.
The School Committee has received good support from the Parent Teachers Associations. Representatives of the groups have attended nearly all School Committee meetings as observers. Of special value is the pre-school census, done for us by these groups. Without the carefully tabulated information on future school populations, our job of planning would be a guess at best.
We have also availed ourselves of technical knowledge which individual citizens have been kind enough to give us, in handling some of our maintenance, repair, and developmental projects. We are most appreciative of the services given willingly to the Town by Lynnfield citizens.
The regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 8:00 p. m. on the first and third Mondays of each month. The place of meeting is the Junior High School. The meetings are
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open. Interested citizens are invited to attend.
LYNNFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Winsor H. Beebe Willis P. Burbank Robert W. Davis Bessie L. Sinish Charles W. Kessler, Chairman
POPE PROPERTY SITE OF PROPOSED SCHOOL
Report of SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
The year 1954 was one of very recognizable growth, both in terms of numbers and in respect to the educational program itself. The problems related to numbers seem constantly apparent; those related to program growth are not always as immediately reflected, but are at least equally noteworthy.
As the school system grows larger, it is possible to provide expanded and broadened programs. While we cannot comment upon program improvements in detail, it should be realized that the efforts of the citizens of Lynnfield in providing adequate plant, materials, and staff have made it possible for resultant improvements in the real business of the schools, the education of the child. We already the recipients of a fairly sizable number of inquiries and visitors attracted by one phase or another of educational developments in Lynnfield. This is, of course, highly complimentary to both the citizens and the professional staff, whose efforts should not go un-noted.
In the interest of condensation, I should like to comment briefly on four areas. Three of these are general in nature, and the fourth is indicative of program growth. They are: Enrollment trends, school costs, immediate problems, and the testing program.
ENROLLMENT STATISTICS
Each year the growth of pupil population has accelerated somewhat beyond the expectation. 1954 was no exception in this respect. The opening of the 1954-55 school year found 18% more pupils in grades I through IX than were in attendance at the opening of the last previous school year. At the present time, weareresponsible for educating 1158 pupils at all levels. Enrollment figures for the past three years illustrate the growth pattern:
Dec. 1952
Dec. 1953
Dec. 1954
Grade I
114
115
134
Grades II-VIII
586
687
783
Grade IX
46
59
84
Grades X-XII*
123
127
150
Vocational
6
7
7
Totals
875
995
1,158
* At Wakefield High School
Recent experience has indicated that we gain one child in school for each new home built, in the year of first occupancy. Since upwards of 200 building permits were issued for new home construction in 1954, we can anticipate a like number of addi- tional pupils to be provided for by the start of the next school year. It is obvious that the school year 1955-56 will be one of considerable strain because of pressure of numbers. This will mean the necessity for some re-assignment of grades to adjust the building load for the year. The completion of the new elementary building for September of 1956 will allow for organi- zation in keeping with the additional facilities.
SCHOOL COSTS
The 1954 school budget insured maintenance of an adequate level of education for the community's children during a year of continued extreme expansion. While school costs are higher each year, the State reimbursements formula is relatively favorable to Lynnfield at the present time. Reimbursements from State sources have grown from $28, 000 in 1951 to upwards of $56, 000 in 1954. The 1954 receipts by the Town include:
General School Fund $ 33, 012 22,308
Transportation
$ 55,320
These reimbursements again were equivalent to about 20% of the operating budget for the fiscal year, as has been the cir- cumstance since 1952.
During 1954, the Town received several payments from the School Building Assistance funds. These totaled $49, 696. 01 and were credited as follows:
Junior High School
$39, 140. 18
South School
7,262.26
Center School
3,293.57
$49,696. 01
The amount credited on the Junior High School building in 1954 included two annual payments. Starting in 1955, the Town will receive $19, 570. 09 annually during the term of the bond
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