USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1949-1960 > Part 78
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Charles M. Kilgore Howard B. Knowland
Robert W. Peabody
Charles H. Smith
Walter R. Brown
Henry A. Flagg
William C. Brattin
Bernard A. Schnurbush
Albert R. Caproni John Anderson Nelson B. Cutler, Jr.
Richard L. Mann Gordon H. Baker
Harold F. Kaler Roland M. Curtis
Roy L. Adams John Rose Michael Ferris
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Police: John E. Brockbank Edward A. Galvin Robert C. Barcelo John E. Madden J. Warren Smith Harold R. Hawkes Robert L. Thompson
Andrew G. Gerlek Michael J. Neumann Douglas W. Whitehouse John Donegan Erwin R. Kimball Rupert J. Foglietta
Frank A. Pagano, appd. Deputy Chief 10/1/59
Harry H. Jensen
George B. Scales
Donald E. Anderson Nicholas G. Cockinos George T. Anderson Chester Morton Laurence E. Austin Terence Gibbons Robert E. Barnes, inactive
Edward T. Gibbons Theodore C. Anderson Paul A. Madden
In Appreciation
On February 21, 1914 Mr. and Mrs. Nelson B. Todd and family moved into Lynnfield and established a residence on Summer Street. Now that they are going to leave us it seems fitting and proper that we call to mind the part that Mr. Todd has taken in the development of the Town.
The P.T.A. was organized shortly after and Mr. Todd became a Charter Member and later a Vice President. His interest in education con- tinued with his election as a member of the School Committee, on which he served six years, four of which as chairman. He was a member of the Building Committee that built the original Centre School, that is the frame section of the present Centre School.
His interest in the youth of the Town was further demonstrated when he became a Charter Member of the Playground Association which gave the town its first athletic field. This land is now part of the ground on which the High School and its athletic field is located.
He was the Town Counsel for five years, and served on the Finance Committee for twenty- five years, with several terms as chairman.
He served as Moderator for the town relin- quishing this office when he wanted to transfer his activities to the floor at Town Meetings when Planning and Zoning was first considered. When it was voted to establish a Planning Board he was the first chairman and wrote the first Zoning By-Law.
When the Lynnfield Center Water District was first considered he was of considerable assist-
ance in securing the passage of Chapter 336 of the Acts of 1939 by the General Court of the Commonwealth, and the legal complications con- nected with its organization.
He has given freely of his time and efforts to many service organizations. He was active in the forming of the first Red Cross unit in Lynnfield, and was its first Treasurer, he served several terms on the executive committee of the Centre Congregational Church, and for the past thirty years has been active in the work of the Republi- can Town Committee.
During World War II he served on the Local Draft Board in the capacity of chairman, and when the Auxiliary Police were formed his badge was numbered 2.
Two of Mr. and Mrs. Todd's three sons were killed in action in Germany during World War II. Pfc. David B. Todd, 19, was a member of Co. B, 18th Infantry Regiment and was killed on Nov. 21, 1944. First Lt. Charles N. Todd, 23, a member of Company B, 809th Tank Destroyer Battalion, was killed on March 8, 1945. The Todd's third son, Dr. Barnard P. Todd, lives in Topsfield.
The Todd's home and grounds have been used freely by cultural societies for meeting and lawn parties with either Mr. or Mrs. Todd as the most charming of host or hostess.
Although the Todds may leave, their having been here has made the town more attractive for those who still live here.
-Louis B. Tuck
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Board of Selectmen
This has been another year of growth for Lynnfield-our population is now about 8,000 people; there are about 2,400 dwellings in town; we have over 2,000 students in our school sys- tem. We are not a small town any longer.
Elsewhere in this Annual Report you will find the reports of the heads of the several depart- ments of the Town. We urge that you read these carefully to find out what is being done with the monies you provide. Here, in our report fo you as Selectmen of the Town, we want to point out a few of the major achievements made dur- ing the year.
For the first time in many years, it has been possible to start construction of municipal build- ings other than schools. We have built a new Fire and Police Building on town-owned land next to the Town Hall. This is the first time that Lynnfield has had a building specifically designed and planned for the use of these public safety departments. It should facilitate the workings of the departments and serve their needs for many years to come.
Construction of the new interchange of Routes 1 and 128, and the taking by the Commonwealth of Chemical Hall. made it necessary to replace the facilities of the Fire Department and the hall. A Special Town Meeting, held on November 2, 1959, authorized construction of a Fire Station and Meeting Hall on the site of the old South School, and ground was broken late in Novem- ber. It is expected that this building will be ready for use late in the spring of 1960. Negotiations with the Commonwealth for a settlement in con- nection with the taking of the Chemical Hall land and building have not been completed at this writing. We hope that agreement will be reached early in 1960, and that the Town will be adequately compensated for the loss of this property.
An addition was made to the Center Library during the year. This nearly doubles the library facilities, giving room to provide better service for both adults and children.
Construction and maintenance of our road system continued. Another stretch of Walnut Street was done with Chapter 90 funds, with the County and the State contributing to the cost of construction. Several troublesome drainage conditions were cleared up satisfactorily.
The Fire Department was equipped with a radio communications system for the first time.
System. The training program for our volunteer New wiring was installed in the Alarm Signal fire department was continued. More emphasis was placed on prevention of fires through in- spections of buildings used by the public.
The Police Department was expanded by the addition of one patrolman. One more patrolman attended the State Police training school. Lynn- field was very fortunate in having one of its police officers attend the FBI National Academy. It is expected that we will be able now to insti- tute our own training program, based on recom- mendations of the FBI.
Perhaps the greatest accomplishments of all were those made by the regular employees of the Town in their day-to-day work. We thank them for their co-operation and attention to duty.
We wish to pay special tribute to all those citizens of the Town who served on committees appointed by us this vear. The work they have done for Lynnfield has made our job much easier.
We deeply appreciate their willing- ness to give so freely of their time and energy, mindful that each of them could well have pleaded that their other commitments would not permit them to participate in town affairs.
-The Selectmen
Plans For The Future
With the moving of the Center Fire Company and the Police Department to their new quarters, it becomes possible to make improvements in the Town Hall and the Old Meeting House on the Comnion.
We have recommendations from a committee who studied the Town Hall problem for us. They found that the building was basically sound, and recommended it be renovated. Their plan would provide better office space for the permanent Town Hall employees; improve the heating and sanitary facilities; give rooms for use by com- mittees-so necessary in our form of govern- ment-and furnish a meeting hall for the use of townspeople. The estimated cost of the renova-
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Construction progress on new Fire Station and Meeting Hall in South Lynnfield.
tion is about $30,000, which is equivalent to about $1.40 in the tax rate for one year. It is our feel- ing that something should be done about the Town Hall without delay and we have inserted an article in the Warrant for the 1960 Town Meeting to bring the matter before the Town for action.
In the Old Meeting House on the Common, Lynnfield has a historic building which can be restored at no great cost, if the work is done promptly. It is our belief that this building should be placed in the custody of the Lynnfield Historical Society, Inc., with the Town retaining ownership, and that the society should have charge of restoring it.
Again in connection with the moving of the Fire Department, we feel that a program of re- placing the obsolete fire trucks we have now should be started. With new and larger quarters in both of the new fire stations, it is possible to house the modern equipment we could not use in the old buildings. We think the town should plan to replace all the present trucks (except for the Model T Ford) within the next five years. The cost of this program is estimated at $100,000 and, if one truck is replaced each year, will be about $1.00 in the tax rate each year.
It is expected that our school system will con- tinue to grow. The School Site Acquisition Com- mittee recommends two more sites be secured, before the land is used for some other purpose. The recommended sites are in areas of potential growth, and can be secured now for less than they will cost in a few years, if they can still be acquired then.
Future growth will make the need for good recreational facilities even more pressing than
it is now. We feel that a Municipal Recreation Center is a desirable thing for the Town, and that a site for one should be set aside now, be- fore all large tracts of land in Lynnfield are used for dwelling sites.
Lynnfield is alone in the area in being a town of homes. Almost all the money needed to operate the Town must be raised by taxes on dwellings. We believe this is a very dangerous situation. We think the present zoning by-laws should be changed to attract the right kind of industrial establishments to Lynnfield and give us a broader tax base. We have again recom- mended to the Planning Board that some action be taken in this direction. They are asking for funds at the next Town Meeting to finance a study of this matter, and we heartily urge that the funds be appropriated to their use.
Although the Town has been run well for many years, there are ways by which our opera- tions can be improved. We appointed a com- mittee to study town government and make re- commendations to improve ours and make it more efficient. This committee has been active during the year, but its work will not be finished in time to act on their suggestions until next year. It is expected that action will be proposed to the Town after the final report of the com- mittee has been received.
It has been a pleasure for us to serve as your Selectmen this year. We hope that our efforts on your behalf have met with your approval.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN Ross F. Coon, Chairman Proctor A. Coffin Mason J. Condon
11
Our Town Clerk, Harry W. Higgins
Our town clerk, Harry W. Higgins, will be- gin his twenty-first year in office in March, the longest in span of years of service to the town of Lynnfield since 1870.
Looking back almost 100 years into the history of the town clerks who have served the town, one is impressed with the fact that only six per- sons have held that key position since 1870. Their terms of office ranged from six to twenty years.
John Danforth, member of one of Lynnfield's most prominent families, served for six years. He was followed by F. P. Russell (the only way he ever signed his name) for sixteen years. Eben Parsons held office for thirteen years and Oscar Phillips for twenty. Fred I. Wilkins was serving in his tenth year when he was accidentally killed by an auto driven by a close friend, as he crossed the street at the junction of Main and South Common Streets after attending a meeting in the town hall.
Mrs. Wilkins carried on her husband's work from November, 1939 to March, 1940, at which time Harry W. Higgins was elected to office. At the time of his campaign, he lived directly across from the town hall, a phrase which became a talking issue for his campaign for clerk.
Mr. Higgins was born in Boston in 1897, but resided in Somerville, attending its schools and graduating from its High School. He received his higher education at Wentworth Institute in Bos- ton. In 1927 he married the former Katherine Strong of Winthrop, a teacher, to whom he was introduced by the former town clerk of Win- throp. The couple moved to Lynnfield where they have resided for over thirty years. They have two children, a daughter, Mrs. Lois Tannehill of Montana and Charles of Lynnfield.
Like his predecessors, Mr. Higgins' home was his office for quite a few years. As the town grew and the population increased, demands on his time also increased. It became necessary to make a change, and room was made in the as-
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sessor's office for his files and records. The new office was open at certain hours, but Harry Higgins was accommodating at all hours to those seeking information which only he had access to.
With the passing of his first decade in office during the war years and after, his office was changed again to the selectmen's room. He soon outgrew that, and this past year was granted the use of a private office in the town hall, and today he has the assistance of a part-time worker to accept. record and compile pertinent town facts and figures for the archives.
Duties for which our town clerk is responsible, most of which are required by law, include main- taining a complete list of vital statistics such as births, marriages, deaths; issuing dog, fish and game licenses and marriage licenses; recording security instruments such as chattel mortgages; preparing nomination papers and ballot sheets for all elections; to have charge of wardens at elections, and to establish the final figures for the elections. It is also his duty to administer the oath of office to all elected officials, and to record all regular and special town meetings.
He is automatically a member of the Board of Registrars, and is responsible for preparing the voting lists and the street lists.
In addition to his regular duties, our town clerk has to certify any changes or amendments to the town by-laws by sending them to the at- torney general for approval. Following approval, he must advertise the changes three times in the local paper and county paper.
For quite some years, Harry Higgins has been a member of the Massachusetts Town Clerks' Association, whose annual meetings he attends each year. Several years ago, he was the subject of an article in the "Who's Who Among the Town Clerks," a bulletin which the Association publishes for its members.
With authority as a justice of the peace, Harry Higgins performs marriages on an average of one a month. Perhaps one of the most colorful marriages he ever officiated at was that of the late Huntington "Tacks" Hardwick in 1948, a former Harvard football great who married the daughter of an Italian Countess and paid the large fee of $50.00.
In 1951, Harry was one of the few town clerks given tenure of office by vote of the people at a regular election.
In addition to his duties as clerk, Harry Hig- gins was appointed assistant town treasurer in 1941, when the treasurer, William Grace signed up for duty in the Navy. In 1942, he was elected to the office and today he still maintains the position. Once elected annually, the office is now for a three-year term.
In his role of treasurer, Harry is in charge of all monies of the town, either paid in or out. Upon the authorization of the selectmen or the town accountant, he pays all bills. He is also responsible for keeping all ledgers and bank accounts, and for providing a monthly state- ment to the town accountant, who in turn gives a report to the selectmien.
Outside of his official jobs, Harry Higgins' interest is in sports, particularly hockey and baseball. After coming to Lynnfield he played baseball and hockey for the Lynnfield Town Team. Later as school custodian, he directed the football and baseball program for the boys in the Center School when it housed all eight grades. It was during this time that he also organized a junior hockey team which played private schools.
For about ten years his interest in sports has been recognized by Wakefield where he became a helper-manager of a junior baseball team and coach of the hockey team. Later he became jun- ior varsity and freshman hockey coach at Wake- field High School, and finally assisted with the varsity team. When Head Coach Charles Kirk was ill last year, Harry coached the varsity team to victory, placing them in second place in the Eastern Massachusetts Hockey League.
Mr. Higgins is an ardent salt water fisherman who enjoys trips during the summer on commer- cial deep sea draggers or trawlers.
For thirteen years he was a member of the regular call Fire Department having been ap- pointed by the late chief, William Moxham. In 1948, he was appointed captain by former Chief Joe Poeton.
Our town clerk plans to continue to serve the town in the same considerate and courteous man- ner as when he first took office, until time for him to retire.
-Gertrude H. Hatch
13
S
ELECTION OF TOWN OFFICERS HELD MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1959
Election Officers Serving Were As Follows:
Precinct 1
Alexander G. Williams, Warden
Joseph H. LeBrun, Clerk
Kendall M. Dolbeare
Albert White, Jr.
David V. Farrar
Donald Anderson
Robert H. Settles
William E. Holmes
Edward W. Foley
Edward P. McConarty
John S. Strong
Norman Grady, Police Officer
Precinct 2
Chester R. Melanson, Warden
J. Arthur McGonnell, Clerk
John Duggan
John McWeeny
W. Thomas McGonnell
Rupert J. Foglietta
Willard Phillips
Randolph P. Inslee
Joseph M. Cronin
Franklin Livermore, Police Officer
SELECTMEN, BOARD OF PUBLIC
WELFARE, Three Years
Prec.
Prec. Total
1
2
* Mason J. Condon
546
357
903
Stanley E. Flagg
281
196
477
James W. Melanson
223
287
510
Blanks
19
16
35
ASSESSOR, Three Years
*Stanley G. Thwing Blanks
109
102
211
BOARD OF HEALTH, Three Years
Manton P. Spear
966
750
1716
Blanks
103
106
209
TRUSTEE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY,
Three Years
*James Y. Lake Blanks
943
743
1686
126
113
239
PARK AND CEMETERY COMMISSIONER, Three Years
Prec.
Prec. Total
1
2
John B. Rodgers
552
386
938
*Donald R. Ross
495
450
945
Blanks
22
20
42
CONSTABLES, One Year
*Charles V. Sweetser
932
715
1647
* Allison G. Tedford
879
714
1593
Blanks
327
283
610
TREE WARDEN, One Year
*Gustav H. Koch
946
739
1685
Blanks
123
117
240
ROAD COMMISSIONER, One Year
*James C. Fletcher
971
767
1738
Blanks
98
89
187
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, Three Years
Bessie L. Sinish
433
343
776
*Willis P. Burbank
606
599
1205
*Shirley T. Northrup
851
543
1394
Blanks
248
227
475
PLANNING BOARD, Five Years
*Russell E. Franck
951
738
1689
Blanks
118
118
236
MODERATOR, One Year
*John H. Kimball
980
759
1739
Blanks
89
97
186
* Denotes elected nominee
TOTAL VOTE CAST
Precinct 1 1069
Precinct 2 856
Total
1925
REFERENDUM VOTE
Shall this Town accept the provisions of Sec- tion 111D of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, a fair and concise summary of which appears be- low:
"In any city or town which accepts this section, all members of its regular police or fire force may be granted a vacation without loss of pay.
14
960
754
1714
Such vacations shall be computed in the follow- ing manner:
"For five years' service, but less than ten years' service, a vacation of three weeks.
"For ten years' service, or more, a vacation of four weeks."
Prec. Prec. Total
1
2
Yes 318 265
583
No
656
517
1173
Blanks
95
74
169
HARRY W. HIGGINS,
Town Clerk
Result of Recount held March 14, 1959 for Park and Cemetery Commissioner:
Original Vote
Prec.
Prec. Total
John B. Rodgers
386
938
Donald R. Ross
495
450
945
Blanks
22
20
42
Recount Vote
John B. Rodgers
553
371
924
Donald R. Ross
495
464
959
Blanks
21
21
42
William B. Murphy
Ernest J. Bonah, Jr.
Edward A. Galvin
Harry W. Higgins, Clerk
RECORD OF ACTION TAKEN AT ANNUAL TOWN MEETING HELD MARCH 9, 1959 IN HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM AND GYMNASIUM
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by the Moderator who read the call for the meet- ing and the constable's return.
On motion duly made and seconded it was voted to dispense with the reading of the Articles, until taken up for action.
ARTICLE 1.
A motion to take action on each article only in the order in which it appears on the warrant was defeated by a vote of 483 in favor and 674 opposed.
Motion was then made to take up Articles 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 in that order. Following action on various amendments, it was voted to take up Article 21, first, then to act on Articles 24, 22, 23, 25, 26 and 27.
ARTICLE 21.
Following the reading of a report by the Plan- ning Board it was voted to "Amend the Zoning By-Laws and Zoning Map of the Town of Lynn- field by extending the present limited business zolle on Summer Street from its present ter- minus, northwesterly along Summer Street to the Circumferential Highway known as Route 128." 1396 voted in favor of the article and 5 opposed.
ARTICLE 24.
* (2) Building accessory to the hotel may be erected, but only with the approval of site, plans and building design by the Board of Appeal.
Following the reading of a report by the Plan- ning Board and a general discussion of the Ar- ticle it was voted (973 for, and 244 opposed) to allow each speaker a time limit of 5 minutes, and that they may not speak again until other
proponents or opponents have been heard. Time- keepers were appointed in the auditorium and gymnasium.
840 Voted to amend the zoning by-law by add- ing under Section 2 (use regulations) (c) (Limit- ed Business District Uses) 9 (Additional use if authorized by the Board of Appeals) the follow- ing section:
(C) (1) Hotels, provided that the Board of Appeals after public hearing, shall find and de- termine that such building and use, including the site, plans and building design, constitute a desirable development in and will not be detri- mental to the neighborhood, and subject further to the following conditions:
Not more than 35 per centum of the lot area shall be occupied by buildings; no sleeping rooms shall be located below the mean finished grade of the ground adjoining the building; there shall be ample parking space for automobiles provided on the lot, which shall not be less than one reasonably accessible automobile space for each guest sleeping room in the building plus reasonably adequate provision for persons dining or attending functions in the building; and such other conditions and restrictions as the Board of Appeals may prescribe in the interest of the Town in carrying out the purposes of this By- Law. Cooking in rooms occupied by guests is expressly prohibited." * and 543 were opposed, not being the necessary two-thirds in favor the article was declared defeated by the Moderator.
A motion to adjourn until Wednesday at 8:00 o'clock, March 11, 1959, in the High School Audi- torium and Gymnasium, was next made and voted, 596 being in favor and 550 opposed.
ar
15
1 552
2
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING HELD MARCH 11, 1959
The first action of the March 11th meeting was a motion to reconsider action on Article 24. Be- fore action on this motion was taken it was voted to allow slides to be shown of the pro- posed hotel or motel in Lynnfield; with 946 in favor and 335 opposed; followed by a unanimous vote to move the previous question. The motion to reconsider action on Article 24 was defeated by a vote of 931 in favor and 504 opposed. The inain motion was next voted on, the result being 848 in favor and 578 opposed.
*Art. 24 (3) Site Plans must also be approved by the Building Inspector as provided in Section 3 (D) of the Zoning By-Laws.
ARTICLE 22.
Following the reading of a report by the Plan- ning Board an amendment to the original Article was offered as follows; "That the Town amend the Zoning By-Laws and Zoning Map, by rezon- ing from residential to limited business, the fol- lowing described area:
Beginning at the northerly edge of Route 128 at a point two hundred (200) feet west of the westerly side of Walnut Street, and thence run- ning in a northwesterly direction parallel to Wal- nut Street for a distance of fifteen hundred (1500) feet, more or less; thence turning and run- ning in a westerly direction parallel to Route 128 for a distance of one thousand (1000) feet;
thence turning and running in a southeasterly direction for a distance of fifteen hundred (1500) feet to the northerly edge of Route 128; thence turning and running along the northerly edge of Route 128 in an easterly direction for a dis- tance of one thousand (1000) feet to the point of beginning. The amendment was voted on and declared lost. The original article "To amend the Zoning By-Laws and Zoning Map by Rezoning from Residential to Limited Businesses the fol- lowing described area:
"Beginning at the northerly edge of Route 128 and running along the westerly side of Walnut Street in a northwesterly direction for a distance of 1500 feet, more or less; thence turning and running in a westerly direction, parallel to Route 128, for a distance of 1200 feet; thence turning and running in a southeasterly direction for a distance of 1500 feet to the northerly edge of Route 128; thence turning and running along the northerly edge of Route 128, in an easterly direc- tion, for a distance of 1200 feet to the point of beginning" was next voted on and declared de- feated, following a standing vote of 134 in favor and 762 opposed. A motion to reconsider was defeated.
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