USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1950-1959 > Part 45
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3. That the Norwell Planning Board recommend that real- tors set aside suitable areas for playlots.
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TOWN OF NORWELL
III. PLAYFIELDS:
1. That each of the five villages be alerted to the need of a playfield within a mile radius of the center of population and that the local citizens of each village recommend a 20-acre area that is suitable for athletics, picnicking, winter sports, and if possible, swimming. A section should be developed for parking and a playground.
2. That this should be accomplished before the population in that village becomes congested, and land scarce as well as costly.
3. That in case the Union Athletic Association offers Ridge Hill Grove to the Town that it be extended to a minimum of 20-acres as a recreation area, and accepted.
4. That in case a new school building be erected at Ridge Hill Grove the area not be spoilt as a playfield, such as by cutting all the forest, filling the pond area (that can be developed for winter sports), or by exterminating the sports field.
5. That a minimum of 20-acres of the Jacob's property be acquired south of Main Street to be developed as a playfield. (See swimming). It was the intent of Dr. Jacob's will that Norwell's needs be given preference.
6. That the school grounds of any new school building meet the recognized standard of a minimum of 20-acres and be a public playfield for all ages.
7. That the present elementary school ground be extended to the north to meet the standard of 20-acres.
8. That a playfield cannot be disposed of by the School Committee as is done in the case of school grounds.
9. That school grounds be restricted to school groups during school hours, and that they serve as public recreation areas after school hours.
10. That school buildings be accessible the year around for supervised recreation. This is not to interfere with school activ- ities.
11. That a Director of Recreation be employed by the Recre- ation Commission in cooperation with the School Committee, and that he be responsible to both. It is recognized that in a small community like Norwell that it is highly important to avoid duplication of facilities and service in order to secure the maxi- mum return for money expended.
12. That it is important that a Director of Recreation have interest in music, art, dramatics, handcraft, nature, and camping as well as in sports. In other words, he should have many skills and be sympathetic with a well-rounded program.
13. That land areas must first of all be suitable for parks or
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ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
recreation and when so deemed by the Recreation Commission, may be acquired by purchase or gift, or otherwise, when they meet the individual needs of a village as well as the needs of the Town as a whole.
IV. SWIMMING:
1. That the town clear title to the existing public land, or obtain such, which is suitable, on the North River.
2. That it be accessible, and large enough (20 acres) for such facilities as parking, a pool, bath house, picnic area, and woodland for camping.
3. That a Swimming Pool Construction Committee be ap- pointed by the selectmen to study the best procedure and plan for the Town of Norwell.
4. That serious consideration be given to excavating and sanding of a pool in the salt marsh to be flushed by the tide of the North River. Although precedence for this may be seen at Cedar Acres, Marshfield; B. D. Maxwell, developer-and also at Tracey Hatch's Farm, Marshfield, the Committee belives that the services of competent engineers should be obtained. For comparison, the American Bridge Division, U.S. Steel Corpora- tion estimate of September 10, 1954, is as follows:
A steel swimming pool 20' x 50' can be installed complete, with filtration equipment, for $10,000- $11,000. A town of our size would carry a normal pool load of 40 persons.
However, with an increasing population it would be wise to consider a 30' x 75' pool, which would cost $25,000-$27,000. These prices do not include a bath house. Cedar Acres anticipates a pool 50' x 100', figures for which will be available at an early date.
5. That in any case, the standards, sanitation, safety, and supervision must NOT be sacrificed.
6. That consideration be given to the construction of a fresh water pool and bath-house below the dam at Jacob's Lake, within the area recommended as a playfield. Since this is on the Hanover-Norwell line the practicality of having Hanover cooper- ate in this project should be investigated. There are examples of inter-community cooperation through permissive legislation.
V. A PARK:
1. That the Town of Norwell does not own a single park. Gaffield Park, so called, is in reality a Town Forest, and even for that purpose is much too small. Under proper management it could become a neighborhood picnic area or a Trailer Park, or Public Tourist Camp. At the present it is a nondescript area, and as such unused.
95
TOWN OF NORWELL
2. That the well-balanced community has at least one park of unusual topography, and with scenic and natural history value for people with varied interests.
3. That the recreation needs of citizens are not served by one type of area, such as a playfield, or by one type of water sport such as swimming. There are those who enjoy fishing, boating, hiking, etc., to name a few interests.
4. That Norwell and neighboring towns are in a "recreation desert" as far as an easily accessible public park is concerned. The nearest are Blue Hills, Nantasket, and the Miles Standish State Forest.
5. That the Commonwealth and Metropolitan Park Author- ity have by-passed Norwell and surrounding towns.
6. That the Recreation Survey Committee would be negli- gent if it failed to call attention to the unusual area in the Mt. Blue-Black Pond area, which meets the requirements of a natural park. The quaking bog of Black Pond and the association of the Acadians in this tract as well as abutting the Pilgrim-Puritan Patent Line are considerations. The region is the "Little Switz- erland" of Norwell in scenic value . It may prove to be the source of our water supply, as well as a winter sports area, and wildlife refuge.
7. That a Committee on Natural Reserve be appointed to work with the State Conservation Dept., the Metropolitan Park Authority, and/or the Trustees of Reservations to consider the setting aside of this area as a permanent reserve.
VI. SUMMARY: In conclusion it should be said:
1. That this be considered a twenty-year plan.
2. That it is important to acquire land now while prices are reasonable.
3. That procedure be adjusted to our financial capacity.
4. That a director of recreation be appointed by Sept., 1955.
5. That a swimming pool be ready by June, 1956.
6. That a standard-sized playfield be obtained before con- structing a school building.
7. That a state park or forest be established in the Mt. Blue- Black Pond Area within the next ten years.
8. That all playfields and recreation areas be developed within the next twenty years.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM G. VINAL, Chairman
MARY OSBORN KNAPP MARION G. SCHELLER
RAYMOND MERRILL
W. KEITH SMITH
ROY W. BERGREN WILLIAM J. YETMAN
As approved: September 20, 1954
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ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Washington Street Cemetery Committee
To the Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
The Washington Street Cemetery Committee wishes to report that during the year they completed the work of prepar- ing, penetrating and sealing all roads in the cemetery.
We drew up the following rules and regulations as requested and filed same with the Town Clerk.
Rules and Regulations for Washington Street Cemetery
Article I. The Cemetery, which is Town owned, is for the use of residents of the Town of Norwell only.
Article II. The Price of Lots.
All lots, as laid out on plan by Harrison L. House in 1891, are priced as follows: Any lot bordering on graveled walk or driveway will be $275; other lots will be $250. This price includes perpetual care of $200, which is compulsory. Perpetual care consists of the cutting of grass and trimming around monu- ments or markers. Any citizen of the Town buying a lot has the privilege of paying for it in a year's time. No burials permitted however, until the lot is paid for. No lots can be resold by the buyer. The Town will repurchase lots at the price paid for them. The unused portion of any lot partially paid for shall revert to the Town.
Article III. Monuments and Markers.
All monuments and markers must have a cement foundation put in by cemetery employees, or under the super- vision of the Cemetery Committee. Markers of all description must be of flush type.
Article IV. Flowers and Decorations.
No mounded graves allowed. Flower beds allowed only around monuments. Potted plants or bouquets may be set on graves. Shrubs planted at monuments must be kept pruned back. No trees are to be planted.
Article V. General Rules and Restrictions.
All dogs must be kept in cars or on a leash.
We ask all to leave the cemetery at sundown.
If you have annual care, or work done on your lot, pay your bill when submitted. No work will be done on lots where the bill for previous year has not been paid.
All flags can be removed from Veterans' graves as they become unsightly from the elements.
97
TOWN OF NORWELL
The Cemetery Committee has ruled that the appearance on Washington Street at the entrance shall be maintained as it now appears in 1954. No lots shall be sold in this front portion which would detract from the dignity and beauty of the Cemetery.
The Cemetery Committee submits these rules and regu- lations and also these friendly suggestions:
When buying a lot, give thought to whether you want a whole lot, or if a half lot would serve your needs. Any member of the Cemetery Committee would be glad to assist you in making a choice.
To those owning lots visiting the Cemetery, we ask you to drive slowly.
We have cleaned up the damage from the hurricanes. We reset some trees with the hope they will come back.
We would like to thank the friends who gave of their time and equipment to reset these trees, cut up those not saved and hauling away debris.
A word of thanks to our local monument man for the resetting of the stones disturbed.
As there are many new residents in Town, we again wish to advise all that this Town owned Cemetery is for legal residents of the Town of Norwell and that any member of the Cemetery Committee would be glad to show them around and assist them in selecting a family lot.
During 1954 we laid to rest thirteen of our friends and neighbors.
COMFORT
There is a day of sunny rest For every dark and troubled night And grief mav bide an evening guest But joy shall come with morning light.
For God hath marked each sorrowing day And numbered every secret tear
And Heaven's long age of bliss shall pay For all His children suffer here.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD H. BROOKS WILLIAM JACOBS STEWART BOWKER, Chairman
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ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Planning Board
To the Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
The activities of the Planning Board, during its first year, have been concerned chiefly with matters of immediate necessity.
The first of these was the revision of the current rules and regulations governing the subdivision of land. This was deemed advisable in order to have them conform with all the changes made by the State Legislature through adoption of Chapter 674 of the Acts of 1953 and also with recent Town by-laws, such as the minimum requirements for road con- struction.
The Board spent considerable time on this study. The revised regulations became effective and the finished copies were available September 1, 1954.
Another subject considered was the site of the proposed Elementary School. In order to familiarize itself with the problem, the Board met in joint session with the School Building Committee, the Water Board, the Recreational Survey Committee, and the Taxpayers' Association. As a result of these meetings, and its own deliberations, the Board is of the unanimous opinion that the logical location for a new Elementary School is the west end of Town.
The Board found, during the investigation into present school building needs that a thorough study of the future school population potential for the next eight years would be most advisable. The Board recommends that a well-qualified com- mittee be appointed by the Selectmen to make such a study and to report its progress to the regular Town Meeting of March, 1956.
Routine work at the open meetings, which have been held the first and third Thursday of each month, and the executive sessions held the second and fourth Thursday has consisted of the examination of plans submitted. The Plymouth County Registry of Deeds will not record any plans unless they have been signed by the local Planning Board. This applies to both those coming under the Subdivision Control Law and requiring Planning Board approval and those not requiring Planning Board approval, but endorsement by the Board.
Of the first group only two have been submitted. On these
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TOWN OF NORWELL
the legal procedure has been followed. Hearings have been held and approval given. Of the second group a large number have been submitted and have been duly stamped and endorsed. At this time the Board wishes to remind all those intending to appear with plans, that the Rules and Regulations set up a definite procedure for these submissions and that there will be no delay in obtaining action by the Board providing all the required documents are at hand at the time of submission.
From information received, while examining plans, and during discussions with the Zoning Board of Appeals, it became apparent that certain inequities in the present Zoning By-Law should be corrected as soon as possible.
Subsequently the Town voted at the Special Town Meeting, November 8, 1954, to instruct the Planning Board to "inves- tigate inequities in the Zoning By-Law, if any exist, with regard to lot size requirements."
In analyzing this problem, the Board sent postal question- naires to all property owners of the Town in an effort to determine the feeling of the townspeople on this subject. The 30 to 35% return was gratifying and the resulting data was used as the basis for recommended changes in the Zoning By-Law. A public hearing on the proposed amendments has been scheduled in January.
The Board realizes that zoning is a complex problem and one not to be solved without due study. There are many other phases of the Zoning By-Law which should be considered but which would require more time for investigation than could be provided before the coming Town Meeting. The location and areas of the established Business Zones, for instance, is a matter which may require amendment, but certainly is not one that should be undertaken without due study. Where business and residential zones overlap as they do, the problem is partic- ularly complicated and any blanket extension of the Business Zone does not appear fair or equitable. Consequently, the Board is of the opinion that this question should be made the subject of a more thoughtful and careful study.
In 1955, the Board intends to expand its start on long range planning, to develop recommendations for housing of Town equipment, expansion of Town offices, and construction of sidewalks, to look into the advisability of setting off a section of Town for small industries, and formulation of a building code.
The Planning Board recommends that: County layouts of roads be encouraged, straightening of curves in roads in
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ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
lightly populated localities be accomplished soon to avoid or minimize the costs of future land taking in more densely populated areas; a survey of future school population and building requirements be made and recommendations devel- oped; that the recommendations of the Recreational Survey Committee be given careful consideration, that steps be taken to set aside certain recreational areas, and that supervised recreational activities be further studied.
The Board wishes to thank the Town officials and citizens who have greatly assisted the committee and their work in this first year, and trust they will continue their support.
Respectfully submitted,
H. PHILLIP CAUSER, Chairman RALPH H. COLEMAN CHARLES H. CROMBIE JOHN H. LANCASTER G. HERBERT REPASS, Clerk
Report of Inspector of Animals
To the Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the Town of Norwell for the year 1954.
Quarantine of dogs having bitten persons: Number of dogs quarantined 17
Number of calls 34
Quarantine of cats having bitten persons:
Number of cats quarantined
1
Number of calls 2
Heads taken into New England Diagnostic Laboratory to be tested for rabies 4
Inspection of barns and listing of animals in Norwell for the Division of Livestock Disease Control.
Respectfully submitted, RICHARD E. CUGNASCA, D.V.M., Inspector of Animals.
101
TOWN OF NORWELL
Report of the Dog Officer
To the Selectmen of Norwell
Gentlemen:
Stray dogs boarded for 6 days 19
Returned dogs to owners 10
Dead on arrival 10
Disposing of unlicensed dogs 19
Investigating dog complaints
19
All dogs must be licensed by April 1.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT L. MOLLA, Dog Officer.
Report of the Highway Surveyor - 1954
To the Selectmen of the Town of Norwell
Gentlemen:
The special article of $5,000.00 for River Street continued the resurfacing to Common Avenue.
Forest Street, Doris Avenue, Leigh Road, and Mill Lane were completed with resurfacing with asphalt.
The $2,000.00 for Jacobs' Lake drainage completed the project from Doris Avenue to Wendell Avenue, and from Wendell Avenue to Jacobs' Trail.
Chapter 90 project on Main Street was started at the Scituate line, and was carried on under the supervision of the state engineer.
An itemized account of Chapter 81 is printed in the report.
Respectfully submitted,
PERRY H. OSBORN,
Highway Surveyor.
CHAPTER 81 PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE
Town of Norwell, Jan. 17, 1955
1954 Allot. $19,200 - State $13,200, Town $6,000
Road
Scrape or Drag
Gravel
G & S Drainage Brush
Gravel
Bit.
Surface Treatment Asphalt
Sign
Misc.
Total
Summer St.
$66.00
$24.00
$65.37
$41.25
$196.62
Grove St.
223.80
24.00
100.00 $1,212.39
81.07
1,641.26
High St.
105.00
4.00
267.00
1,921.69
$5.00
2,657.70
Prospect St.
211.44
43.75
$11.50
180.75
5.00
44.25
496.69
Barstow Ave.
Bowker St.
18.00
10.00
30.00
20.82
78.82
Cedar St.
30.00
10.00
40.00
Central St.
165.00
18.00
332.87
454.66
5.00
66.00
1,041.53
Church St.
10.00
4.00
Circuit St.
127.00
17.75
141.02
294.65
5.00
585.42
Common Ave.
6.00
10.00
16.00
Common St.
11.00
6.00
36.25
53.25
Cross St.
$32.00
204.50
111.85
87.50
108.05
5.00
47.00
595.90
Dover St.
23.30
53.25
76.55
Forest Ave.
20.00
$10.00
2.00
32.00
Forest St.
78.00
161.75
$39.00
120.00
73.88
472.63
Green St.
229.00
40.00
310.75
30.00
6.00
172.87
4.00
25.00
817.62
Jacobs Lane
8.00
8.25
367.56
383.81
Lincoln St.
142.00
17.75
10.00
169.75
Main St. 123 32.00
236.50
52.50
64.00
582.36
586.74
10.00
125.00
1,734.10
Mount Blue
456.00
38.00
219.25
70.06
43.50
836.81
Norwell Ave.
133.50
92.00
23.20
248.70
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ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
14.00
Patch
Road
Scrape or Drag
Patch
Surface Treatment Asphalt
Sign
Misc.
Total
Oak St.
10.00
2.00
35.15
47.15
Parker St.
10.00
14.00
24.00
Pleasant Ave.
117.00
163.25
178.45
13.86
472.56
Pine St
85.25
22.00
209.02
409.71
5.00
730.98
Pond St.
10.00
6.00
61.50
29.25
106.75
River St.
766.00
210.50
32.00
461.31
85.00
5.00
7.50
1,567.31
School St.
159.50
6.00
32.38
267.58
465.46
South St.
52.00
64.00
96.00
249.15
461.15
Stetson Rd.
218.75
106.00
16.00
32.50
1,341.23
13.50
1,727.98
Tiffany Rd.
51.00
14.00
85.50
13.50
164.00
Bridge St.
87.00
2.00
10.00
115.00
214.00
West St.
4.00
5.00
9.00
Winter St.
93.25
16.00
151.58
5.00
265.83
Mt. Hope St.
20.00
37.25
51.56
317.36
426.17
Mill Lane
34.00
2.00
10.00
46.00
Neal Gate
64.00
10.00
74.00
Jacobs Trail
15.50
10.00
25.50
Prouty Ave.
Duncan Drive
Wendall Ave. 48.75
10.00
58.75
Doris Ave.
36.75
15.50
. .
. .
.
.
10.00
62.25
Douglas Ave. 9.75
9.75
Totals
$19,200.00
103
TOWN OF NORWELL
52.25
Leigh Rd.
36.75
15.50
.
Gravel
G & S Drainage Brush
Gravel Bit.
Pleasant St.
104
ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the School Building Committee
To the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and the Citizens of the Town of Norwell:
The Norwell School Building Committee, voted into being by the Citizens of Norwell at Town Meeting and continued in opera- tion by subsequent similar authority, reports the completion of the Sparrell Building and renovations in the original high-school building within the appropriations for those respective purposes.
The Building Committee is currently engaged in the process of securing plans for a twelve-classroom elementary school to be constructed on the site known as Ridge Hill Grove.
On behalf of the Town, the Building Committee acknowl- edges the gift of Ridge Hill Grove from the Union Athletic Asso- ciation as a school building site.
When plans for such construction are complete, firm bids will be sought. The citizens will then be asked to consider an appropriation to meet building costs.
Your Building Committee assures the voters that the per- formance of its duties will be in the interest of economy and for the purpose of providing a strictly functional elementary- school building for the Town of Norwell.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD B. KING PRIMO MAZZUCHELLI CHARLES H. PIKE ROBERT H. KROEGER, Secretary FREDERICK A. SMALL, Chairman
Norwell School Building Committee
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TOWN OF NORWELL
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Norwell:
At this time your school committee would like to reassure the citizens of Norwell that it is ever mindful that the most important resource in any community is the developing children. They constitute the greatest potential asset. Whether or not this asset is developed to its maximum capacity by the application of scientific principles of education depends largely on the quality of the public school. The school is dependent upon the quality of the school board. The board must be supported by the com- munity in its effort to maintain as good schools as the financial ability of the community will permit. In Norwell, we are most fortunate to have this support of which we are deeply appreciative.
Last March, Mr. James Hall terminated thirteen years of valuable service as a member of the school committee. At that time Grace F. Cole was elected to fill the vacancy.
The new school committee met and organized on April fifth. Wilder Gaudette was elected chairman and Nellie L. Sparrell, secretary-treasurer.
The Sparrell Building, dedicated to Mrs. Nellie L. Sparrell, in appreciation of over a generation of service to public edu- cation was opened in January. This necessitated a change in the administrative policy. Mr. Small became a full time super- vising principal of the junior-senior high unit. Mrs. Ella Osborn was made principal of the elementary school with a part time secretary. This enables Mrs. Osborn to spend more time in a supervisory capacity.
In September, a full time physical education program was put into effect. Felix Dixon was made Director of Physical Education. Mrs. Mary Knapp, a graduate of Sargent College, was elected instructor of physical education for girls. This enlarged program allows each pupil to participate in physical and mental health building activities.
We are happy to report to you that Mr. Axon will become a full time manual arts teacher in September 1955. This will make this popular and practical course available to more students. Also, at that time, the music program will be expanded to include four days of supervision by Mr. Hewitt.
Since 1922 the school buildings have been available for use by the townspeople. In recent years it has been necessary to
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ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
make nominal charges to cover the cost of keeping the buildings open. This money goes into the General Fund of the town. The school facilities are available to civic, religious, fraternal and patriotic organizations of the Town of Norwell. In 1953 we put into contract form regulations for the use of school property.
Schedule of Rates:
1. No rental charge for any school organization or any town Youth organizations.
2. Any other town organizations (not for profit) rental charge $5.00.
3. Profit making ventures:
Afternoons $8.00
Evenings 12.00
Afternoon and Evening 15.00 Janitor's Fees:
1. Youth organizations other than school groups - $2.00 until 10:30 p.m. Fifty cents additional for each half hour after 10:30 p.m.
2. Other town organizations $3.00 until 10:30 p.m. One dollar for each additional halt hour after 10:30 p.m.
3. The school facilities are not available on Sunday.
The contracts are available at either of the principals' offices.
In the past five years we have almost doubled our school population. Looking ahead to the next five years, we anticipate a large increase. We have 499 elementary pupils of which 357 are in the elementary school building, and 142 in the high school building. We can expect an additional 113 elementary pupils entering in the fall of 1955. According to the pre-school census as of January 1, 1954, in three sections alone, namely, Washington Street, Washington Park and Norwell Homes, there has been a gain, in a year's time, of 118 children. This is indicative of an immediate need for a 12-room school at the westerly end of town. Such a building would permit the housing of the first six grades in two elementary units. At the same time it would provide facilities for the growth of the junior and senior high school. The present enrollment of the junior high school is 153 and the senior high 143.
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