USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962 > Part 19
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By adding at the end of paragraph 1 of Section VII the following proviso: --- ; provided also that in a Residence A District one build- ing and accessory buildings may be erected on each lot of a plan of lots duly recorded in said registry on or before February 15, 1958 if each of said lots contains an area of not less than 30,000 square feet and frontage of not less than 150 feet --- so that said paragraph 1 of Sec- tion VII will read as follows:
1 Lot size and frontage: In residence districts no building except a one-story building of accessory use shall be erect- ed upon a lot having less than the following area and frontage :
Frontage
Area
Residence A District
200'
40,000 Sq. Ft.
Residence B District
100'
10,000 Sq. Ft.
Business and Industrial Districts
100 '
10,000 Sq. Ft.
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Provided that one building and its accessory building may be erected on any lot which, at the time this By-Law is a- dopted, cannot be made to conform to the above requirements and provided further that in a Residence A District one building and accessory buildings may be erected on each lot of a plan of lots duly recorded in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds, North District, on or before March 12, 1955 if each of said lots meets the frontage and area requirements of a Residence B District; provided also that in a Residence A District one building and accessory buildings may be erected on each lot of a plan of lots duly recorded in said registry on or before February 15, 1958 if each of said lots contains an area of not less than 30,000 square feet and frontage of not less than 150 feet.
8 By striking out, in paragraph 7 of Section VII, the words, "Res- idence B District", and inserting in place thereof the following: --- Residence A District .--- so that said paragraph will read as follows :--- In a Business or Industrial District, buildings erected for residence purposes and their premises shall conform to the lot size, frontage, yard and other regulations of this section applicable to the Residence A District.
or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 43 To see if the Town will vote to hear the report of the House Numbering Committee(appointed by the Moderator under Article 11 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting held on December 8, 1955), and vote that one name be given to each group of public ways described, or to which reference is made, in each of the following groups, (hereinbelow designated by paragraphs), so that, upon naming, or re-naming, or chang- ing the names of said public ways as hereinafter provided, all ways re- ferred to or described in each such group shall thereafter be designated or known by one name; and, for the purpose of more expeditiously accom- plishing the purposes aforesaid, to see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of five voters whose duty it shall be to select, choose and designate one such name for each of said groups and to report the names so chosen and designated by it to the Board of Selectmen within six months from and after the date of its ap- pointment; and to provide that, within thirty days from and after the submission of said report and names to it, the Board of Selectmen shall, by their order, change the names of all public ways mentioned in each such group which are not in conformity with or which in any manner con- flict with the name designated by the committee for each such group, said names, as changed, to be those designated by said committee;
1 Starting at the Chelmsford town line; thence proceeding westerly along what is now known as Main Street, passing to the right of the town com- mon, still proceeding westerly to include what is now known as Forge Village Road, still westerly to include what is known as Pine Street as far as the intersection with Pleasant Street.
2 Starting at the intersection of Graniteville Road and Main Street; thence proceeding northwesterly along what is now known as Graniteville Road, still northwesterly to include what is now known as River Street, still northwesterly to include what is now known as North Street as far as the intersection with Groton Road.
Starting at the Chelmsford town line; thence proceeding westerly 3 along what is now known as Lowell Road, passing to the left of the
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triangle formed by three roads, still proceeding westerly to include a short portion of what is now known as Depot Street, still westerly to include what is now known as Cold Spring Road, still westerly to include the natural continuation of Cold Spring Road until the intersection with Patten Road.
4 Starting at the Tyngsboro town line; thence proceeding southerly a- long what is now known as Tyngsboro Road, still proceeding southerly to include what is now known as Depot Road, crossing Stony Brook along the left side of the triangle formed by three roads to the intersection with what is now known as Lowell Road.
5 Starting at the point where Nutting Road' joins Plain Road; thence proceeding in a westerly direction and including what is now known as Nutting Road, continuing in a northwesterly direction crossing Groton Road and including what is now known as Keyes Road until the intersec- tion with Gould Road.
6 Starting at the Groton town line; thence proceeding easterly along what is now known as Prescott Street, West, then proceeding along what is now known as Prescott Street, East, still proceeding in a northeast- erly direction along what is now known as Main Street in Graniteville, still proceeding the length of what is now known as Beacon Street.
7 Starting at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Prescott Street in a general southeasterly direction, still proceeding and including what is now known as Concord Road, still proceeding along Route 110 for a short distance, thence along the southerly part of Concord Road, still proceeding along what is now known as a part of Carlisle Road to the Carlisle Town line.
8 Starting in a northwesterly corner of the Common where Boston Road joins Main Street; thence in a southerly direction along what is now known as Boston Road to and crossing Route 110, still southerly along what is now known as Carlisle Road until it joins what is now known as Concord Road.
9 Starting where Lincoln Street joins Main Street; thence in a south- westerly direction along Lincoln Street crossing what is now known as Boston Road, still proceeding along what is now known as Boston Road, still proceeding along what is now known as Hildreth Street until the intersection with Concord Road.
10 Starting where what is known as Boston Road joins Route 110 on its southerly side; thence southerly along Boston Road crossing Concord Road until the Littleton town line.
11 Starting at the Chelmsford town line; thence westerly along Chelms- ford Road, still westerly along a part of Boston Road, still westerly along Littleton Road to the Littleton town line. This includes the en- tire length of Route 110.
12 Starting at the junction of Brookside Road and Nabnasset Street; thence westerly along Brookside Road to the junction with Plain Road, still westerly along Plain Road to and crossing Stony Brook and contin- uing along the right side of the triangle formed by three roads to what is now known as Depot Street.
13 Starting at the junction of Depot Street and Main Street; thence northerly along Depot Street until it joins what is known as Cold Spring Road.
14 Starting at the junction of Stony Brook Road and Main Street; thence northerly along Stony Brook Road and crossing Stony Brook, thence bear- ing to the right along what is now known as Polley Road to the intersec- tion with Plain Road.
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15 Starting at the most northerly end of Oak Hill Road; thence south- erly along Oak Hill Road to the junction with Brookside Road, thence still southerly along Brookside crossing Stony Brook to and crossing what is now known as Lowell Road, still southerly along what is now known as Chamberlain Road to and crossing Main Street, still southerly along Chamberlain Road to Chelmsford Road sometimes called Route 110. 16 Starting at the intersection of Story Street and Prescott Street West; thence northerly along Story Street, thence easterly along Story Street Extension, thence easterly along what is now known as Lincoln Avenue to Prescott Street East.
17 Starting at the intersection of Elm Street and Prescott Street East; thence northerly along Elm Street crossing an intersecting Street and along a proposed street.
18 Starting at the intersection of Oak Street and Pleasant Street; thence easterly along Oak Street, thence southerly along Chestnut Street. 19 Starting at the intersection of Pershing Street with Prescott Street East; thence along Pershing Street and what is now known as Smith Street to Prescott Street East.
20 Starting at the intersection of Broadway and Third Streets; thence easterly and northerly along Third Street and White Street to Fourth Street.
21 Starting at the intersection of Gould Road and Groton Road; thence northerly along the length of what is known as Gould Road, still north- erly along what is now known as a part of Keyes Road to the Groton town line.
22 Starting at the intersection of Town Farm Road and Prescott Street East; thence southwesterly along Town Farm Road and crossing Forge Vil- lage Road including what is known as Abbot Street until its intersec- tion with Pleasant Street.
or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 44 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of paying to the Treasurer of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health the amount certified by said Boards as the Town's share of the cost and expenses of the District for the year 1958; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 45 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purposes of Civil Defense; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 46 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from the Water Department Surplus Revenue, the sum of Seventy-Two Hundred ($7,200.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the pur- pose of reconstructing and improving the water supply system in and a- long Main Street in Westford Center, by laying or re-laying approxi- mately Twelve Hundred Fifty (1250) feet of eight (8) inch mains therein, said mains to replace the existing four (4) inch mains now in use; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 47 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Sixteen Thousand ($16,000.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of reconstructing and improving the water supply system in and along that portion of Main Street and Depot Street, beginning at a point in said Main Street nearly opposite the Town Hall, and extend- ing along said Main and Depot Streets, to a point nearly opposite West- ford Academy, by laying or re-laying approximately Twenty-Seven Hundred Fifty (2750) feet of eight (8) inch mains therein, said mains to replace the existing six (6) inch mains now in use; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 48 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eighteen Hundred ($1800.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing a new pick-up truck for the use of the Water Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Water Commissioners; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 49 To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the Town Infirmary, and, in the event it so votes, to determine what, if any, present disposition shall be made of all property, real, personal or mixed, now being used or maintained in connection therewith; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 50 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of paying Mr. Arthur Englund for services rendered by him in preparing and drawing plans for the proposed alteration, repair or renovation of the Town Hall; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 51 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of defraying the cost of alter- ing, repairing or renovating all or any part of the Town Hall; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 52 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Hundred ($600.00) Dollars, or some other sum for the purpose of defraying the expenses of painting and decorating various portions of the interior of the Town Hall; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 53 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred ($300.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing an adding machine for the use of the Welfare De- partment, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Public Welfare, and to authorize said Board to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale title to the adding machine now being used by said Board and apply the sum received therefor against the purchase price of the new adding machine; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 54 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install two street lights on Lillian Road on Poles num- bered 3 and 7; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 55 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Robinson Road on Pole No. or act in relation thereto.
7;
ARTICLE 56 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Jonas Road on Pole No. 8334; cr act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 57 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Oak Hill Road on Pole No. 5; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 58 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Tyngsborough Road on Pole No. 58; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 59 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Tyngsborough Road on Pole No. 73; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 60 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install two street lights on Hawthorne Avenue on Poles numbered 3 and 9; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 61 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Forrest Road on Pole No. 3; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 62 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Main Street in Westford Center on Pole No. 143 or Fole No. 129; or act in relation thereto. ARTICLE 63 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install one street light on Hillside Avenue on Pole 149/14; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 64 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirteen Hundred ($1300.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing a new automobile for the Police Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Select- men; and to authorize said Board to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale title to the oldest of the automobiles now being used by said Department and apply the sum received therefrom against the pur- chase price of the new automobile; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 65 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fourteen Thousand Two Hundred Seventy-Nine and 90/100 ($14,279.90) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing two (2) new trucks for the Highway Department, said purchases to be made under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen, and to authorize said Board to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale title to two trucks now being used by said Department and apply the sum received therefrom against the purchase price of the two new trucks; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 66 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing two (2) new snow-plows for the Highway Department; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 67 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from available funds a certain sum to be deducted by the Assessors under the provisions of Section 23 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, as most re- cently amended, from the amount required to be assessed by them; or act in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up true and attested copies thereof at the Town Hall and at each Post Office in said Westford, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord, 1958.
Horace F. Wyman John J. Kavanagh Edward F. Harrington Selectmen of Westford
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Annual Report OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD
WES
RI
For the Year Ending December 31 1957
ORGANIZATION - SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Norman E. Day, Chairman
Term Expires 1958
Nicholas Sudak, Jr.
Term Expires 1958
Arthur A. Abbood
Term Expires 1959
Richard S. Emmet, Jr., Secretary
Term Expires 1959
R. Andrew Fletcher, Jr.
Term Expires 1960
Term Expires 1960
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Lloyd G. Blanchard
Office - Westford Academy
Telephone MY 2-6561
SECRETARY
Mrs. Emma G. Egerton
SCHOOL TELEPHONES
Westford Academy MY 2-6771
Cameron School MY 2-6542
Roudenbush School
MY 2-6911
Sargent School MY 2-6553
Wm. E. Frost School MY 2-6230
Nabnasset School MY 2-6233
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Maurice Huckins, Jr., Westford, Mass. Tel. MY 2-8090
SCHOOL NURSE
Dorothy Healy, R. N., Westford, Mass.
Tel. Office MY 2-8431, Academy
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Robert J. Spinner
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF WESTFORD :
The School Committee respectfully submits its Report for the year ending December 31, 1957
Early in the year the School Committee had decisions to render in two important areas, entrance age for Grade I, and the pupil assignment for the Old Academy which was scheduled to reopen in September. These problems were especially difficult because, 1) the solutions had to be based in part on opinion as well as on fact, and 2) the decisions would have a direct bearing on the educational experiences of Westford's children.
ENTRANCE AGE
The question of entrance age had been thoroughly reviewed by the School Committee in 1956 and, by vote of the full Committee as early as December 1956, the entrance age for Grade I was advanced from five years eight months to five years ten months. All elementary principals and Grade I teachers supported the advanced entrance age, and January 29th Miss Marguerite L. Gourville, Director of Student Teaching at Lowell Teachers College, addressing a group of interested parents in the Academy Cafeteria, urged a six year entrance age, as six-year olds, 1) were more ready to cope with the drastic environmental change asso- ciated with commencing school, and 2) were better prepared to face the difficult and complex task of learning to read. The School Committee reviewed its earlier decision and agreed there was ample justification for reaffirming this decision effective September 1957. This new regu- lation means in effect that a child's sixth birthday must occur before November 1 in order for that child to be eligible for enrollment in Grade I in September of that year.
USE OF THE OLD ACADEMY
The second problem revolved around the most effective use of the Old Academy. The two most logical solutions were, 1) Grades 3-4-5-6 of Nabnasset and 2) Town-wide Grade 6. A public hearing was held April 29th in the Academy Cafeteria to discuss the alternatives. A poll of the Townspeople present indicated a split opinion. The School Commit- tee rendered final decision June 17th, voting unanimously to place Grade 6 in the Old Academy. The factors supporting this recommendation included, 1) a more even distribution of pupils, 2) better preparation for Grade 7 through a modified departmentalized plan, 3) availability of Gymnasium for Grade 6 Physical Education and 4) fewer classes dis- rupted throughout the system. The decision of course does increase the complexity of the Transportation Program.
ADMINISTRA TIVE APPOINTMENTS
The resignation of the Academy Principal and the Superintendent of Schools in the spring paved the way for many special meetings on into the early summer. Dr. Harold L. Gear of Boston University, retained as a consultant by the School Committee, aided in the preparation of a statement of qualifications and in the determination of procedures.
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Applications were received, recommendations sought, applicants screened, interviews held with the remaining applicants and final appointments announced late in July. Mr. Lloyd G. Blanchard of Darien, Connecticut, signed a one year contract, as Superintendent of Schools, dated August Ist and Dr. Lawrence J. Fitzpatrick of Somerville High, signed a one year contract, as Academy Principal, starting the same date.
REOPENING OF THE OLD ACADEMY
In the meantime work was going ahead on the reopening of the Old Academy. Gas replaced coal in the heating unit, the interior was re- painted, floors received some attention, shades were hung, granite steps were reset, the driveway was paved and, at the suggestion of the Academy Trustees, the school was renamed the William C. Roudenbush School in honor of a former Principal who served for twenty five years. The Trustees provided the fine new name plate which adorns Westford's fifth Elementary School.
THE SCHOOL BAND
August 25th, the School Committee welcomed to a special meeting Mr. Fred Burne of the Dyson Company. Pending official Town action, the Com- mittee accepted the Dyson Company's generous offer of Band Instruments, Uniforms and Music valued in excess of $6,000.00. Band members are now practicing once a week under the direction of Mr. Raymond Giblin, Band- master. A Between-the-Halves Concert is planned for one of the basket- ball games and dates of summer Concerts will be announced later.
THE ACADEMY
During the month of August the new Academy Principal devoted his full attention to preparation for the opening day of school in Septem- ber. Teacher and pupil schedules were prepared and home room assign- ments published; policies covering attendance, discipline and dismissal were detailed; releases concerning acceptable dress and behavior at dances were published in the Lowell Sun. The Academy Schedule was re- vised to allow a special make-up period Monday, Wednesday and Friday for those in need of special help as well as for violators of school regulations.
Supervision of the Instructional Program is the single most impor- tant responsibility of the Academy Principal, especially where one half the Staff had had a year or less actual teaching experience. To assure adequate attention to this vital function, Dr. Fitzpatrick delegated the duties of Pupil Transportation, Substitute Teachers, Tardiness, Sup- plies and Audio-Visual Aids to Mr. Kenneth Robes and Mr. Charles Foley of the Academy Staff. A full time Secretary, Mrs. Eva Deforge, was as- signed to the Academy to type, file and in general cover the office so that Dr. Fitzpatrick could be available to his teachers.
An Academy Honor Roll has been instituted, releases concerning School Activities appear regularly in the Westford section of the Lowell Sun, and the Report Card has been revised to conform more nearly to the generally accepted Secondary School Reporting Procedures.
Student Activities have been encouraged. At present there are op- portunities Tuesdays and Thursdays for those interested in Art, Photog-
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raphy, Dancing and Music. The Driver Education Courses are well attend- ed and the Student Council is functioning smoothly.
All Faculty members are participating in the preparation of Courses of Studies, or Syllabi, to assure uniformity of objectives and to pro- vide Instructional Guidance for each member of the Academy Faculty.
While the Academic Teachers work chiefly with the Instructional Program, the primary job of The Guidance Program, under Mr. John Gordon, is to teach the student about himself in relation to his life's plans. The main tool of this service is the interview in which the Counselor and the student discuss and evaluate the student's interests, abilities and achievements in order to aid the student in making educational and vocational choices. Other duties handled by the Director are: The su- pervision of the Testing Program, the gathering and disseminating of occupational information, the planning and carrying out of the Placement Service and Follow-Up Surveys and conducting special case studies of non-achievers.
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
During the past year Mrs. Lottie Blodgett retired after thirty five years of service to the school children of Westford.
The Elementary Time Schedule was of course affected by the change in the Academy opening and closing time, as all Schools require Bus Service. This Schedule was accomplished and made operable only through the unselfish cooperation of all the Elementary School Principals, Mr. Peter Perry of Roudenbush, Mrs. Rita Miller of Frost, Mrs. Alice Murphy of Cameron, Mrs. Helen Gibbons of Sargent and Mrs. Ruth Wright of Nab- nasset. The change extended the Elementary School day fifteen minutes and placed the buses at the service of the Elementary Schools only after Academy pupils had been returned home.
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