Wilbraham annual report 1932-1940, Part 17

Author: Wilbraham (Mass.)
Publication date: 1932
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 956


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1932-1940 > Part 17


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Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of Seventy-five ($75.00) Dollars for the observance of Memorial Day.


Article 13. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred and Fifty ($150.00) Dollars for the care of the Memorial Lots at Wilbraham, North Wilbraham and Glendale.


Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of Seventy-five ($75.00) Dollars to be ex- pended in the Town by the Hampden County Trustees for Aid to Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of the Laws of the Commonwealth.


Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars to be expended under the direction of the Planning Board.


Article 16. To see if the Town will authorize the treasurer to assign tax titles to persons making payment of the sums permitted by law and to execute in the name of the Town deeds of release of the same.


Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the Town, fourteen days at least before the sale property taken by the Town under tax title procedure provided that the Selectmen, or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such public auction, may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to participate in the celebration of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Settlement of Springfield and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefore or take any action thereon.


Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to accept Forest Street beginning at the Boston Road and running south for a distance of 800 feet, or take any action relative thereto.


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Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate Eight Hundred ($800.00) Dollars to improve Forest Street beginning at the Boston Road and running south for a distance of 800 feet, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars to Eight Hundred ($800.00) Dollars to be spent on Grove Street from Boston Road due south so as to make the road acceptable by the Town for a distance of 700 feet or take any action thereon.


Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to accept as public highways the street known as Chapin Drive and the road known as Brookdale Road in the Town of Wilbraham, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the necessary sum for material or stock which may be used in constructing a sidewalk on the westerly side of Stony Hill Road, starting at the corner of Weston Street and Stony Hill Road, up to 84 Stony Hill Road, and to authorize the Selectmen to try to have the work done through a W. P. A. project.


Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to change the zoning of a piece of land, owned by Albert Labuda, located at the corner of Weston Street and Stony Hill Road, from Resi- dential "B" to a Business District.


Article 25. To see if the Town will vote and appropriate money and devise ways and means to clean rubbish and gar- bage on Weston, Acton and Stony Hill Streets.


Article 26. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the funds necessary to extend the existing 6 inch water main on Stony Hill Road, to the south, together with the necessary hydrants and fittings to conform to the standards of the Town of Wilbraham, for a distance of ten hundred feet from the present end of the main, or take any action relative thereto.


Article 27. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept from the Ludlow Manufacturing Asso-


90


ciates or Ludlow Manufacturing Company, a conveyance, and transfer of the sewer systems and mains and the fire alarm system, wires and equipment situated within the Town limits upon such terms and conditions as the Board deems advisable and to make such agreements with said Associates or Company as the Board deems proper with respect to the maintenance of said systems or to take any other action relative thereto .:


Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to prohibit the issuance of any new gasoline dealer permits other than to enlarge the capacity of locations now licensed for that purpose for a period of five years 1936 to 1940 inclusive.


And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof, one at the Post Office at Wilbraham, one at the Post Office at North Wilbraham and one at Glendale Church, seven days at least, before the time for holding said meeting. Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk on or before the time for holding said meeting.


Given under our hands this eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and thirty- six.


FRED W. GREEN,


GEORGE E. MURPHY, JR.,


WILLIAM H. McGUIRE,


Selectmen of the Town of Wilbraham.


Index to Contents


Page


Assessors Report


30


Auditors Report


85


Barn and Animal Report


59


Building Inspector's Report


58


Care of Parks


61


Cemetery Commissioners


62


Dental Clinic.


47


Dog Officers Report


59


Emergency Relief Administration Report for 1935


15


Finance Committee Report


63


Fire Department Report


53


Forest Warden Report


56 61


Gipsy Moth Report


Library Trustees Report


45


Memorial Day Report


60


Milk Inspector's Report


59 49


Public Welfare Report.


School Committee Report.


School Directory


School Nurse Report


School Physician Report


School Statistics Report


52


Selectmen's Report


11


Superintendent of Schools Report.


71


Superintendent of Streets Report


39


Tax Collector's Report


32


Town Clerk's Report


49


Town Meeting Report


6


Town Officers


3


Town Warrant


86


Treasurer's Report.


34


Tree Warden's Report


57


Trust Funds Report


37


Water Commissioner's Report


38


Planning Board.


22 64 82 77 77 79


Sealer of Weights and Measures Report


ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE


TOWN OFFICERS OF THE


--


Town of Wilbraham


WILB


TO INCORPORATED


1763.


AS


TTS.


AND OF THE RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1936


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


TOWN OFFICERS


OF THE


Town of Wilbraham


WILE


O


TOWN


INCORPORATED


1763.


MASS


TS.


AC


AND OF THE


RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES


FOR THE


YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1936


3


Town Officers -- 1936


Town Clerk MRS. JENNIE T. ABBOTT


Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare GEORGE E. MURPHY, JR., Chairman


W. H. McGUIRE FRED W. GREEN


Treasurer GEORGE MILO GREEN


Assessors CHARLES W. VINTON, Chairman HENRY I. EDSON FRED W. GREEN


School Committee H. W. CUTLER, Chairman HORACE J. RICE MRS. MARY S. MERRICK


Trustees of Public Library DR. A. L. DAMON, Chairman H. WILLIS CUTLER MRS. MARY R. GREEN


Collector of Taxes OREN K. GILBERT


Fire Commissioners


PAUL E. TUPPER MICHAEL C. SMITH WILLIAM H. EATON


Constables


LEWIS A. BRYANT AUGUSTUS F. FRIEND WILLIAM E. DAY EVERETT P. PICKENS


JOHN B. TUPPER


Auditor WILLIAM E. PORTER


4


Tree Warden ERNEST M. HAYN


Cemetery Commissioners BENJ. B. GREEN ARTHUR E. DIBBLE HENRY I. EDSON


Field Drivers


HAROLD M. BROWN LEWIS A. BRYANT JAMES M. PICKENS


Water Commissioners HOWARD CALKINS GEORGE E. NORTHUP ARTHUR K. PHILLIPPI


Planning Board


RAYMOND H. BEACH LLOYD M. HOOVER IRA W. BELCHER ARTHUR I. MACDONALD ED. G. MacDOWELL


OFFICERS APPOINTED BY SELECTMEN


Registrars of Voters


MRS. JENNIE T. ABBOTT JOHN F. BALDWIN


JAMES F. KEEFE HAROLD R. PORTER


Finance Board WALTER F. BERRY, Chairman WESLEY H. HOLDRIDGE, Secretary JOHN J. LYONS CLARENCE P. BOLLES JOWN W. BALDWIN LEE W. RICE LEON A. JEWELL


Superintendent of Streets FRED C. PHELPS


Sealer of Weights and Measures CHARLES W. VINTON


Inspector of Provisions and Slaughtering JAMES M. PICKENS


5


Inspector of Cattle JAMES M. PICKENS


Inspector of Milk HERBERT W. BURBANK


Building Inspector HERBERT F. SWETLAND


Gypsy Moth Superintendent E. RAY PEASE


Forest Warden AUGUSTUS F. FRIEND


Fence Viewers


HAROLD M. BROWN WILLIAM L. DEMPSEY JOHN J. LYONS


Dog Officer JOHN B. TUPPER


W.P.A. Supervisor WM. H. McGUIRE


Clerk for Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare HELEN C. BODEN


Bookkeeper for Selectmen HATTIE E. G. BURBANK


Town Counsel


ERNEST E. HOBSON


6


Report of Town Meeting


FEBRUARY 3, 1936


Article 1. F. A. Upham was elected Moderator of the meeting.


Article 2. Minor officers elected :


Pound Keeper Lee W. Rice


Measurers of Wood and Charcoal


Walter Clark


Benj. B. Green


Charles W. Vinton Robert M. Welch


Surveyors of Lumber


Walter Clark Benj. B. Green Charles W. Vinton


Field Drivers


Harold M. Brown Lewis A. Bryant James M. Pickens


Weighers of Grain


Ralph Bennett Henry Clark


Article 3. Voted to accept the reports of the Selectmen, Board of Public Welfare, Treasurer, School Committee and other officers as printed.


Article 4. Voted that the compensation of all elected officers be the same as in 1935.


Article 5. Voted the following appropriations: Public Welfare (from fund cash) $12,C00.00


Highways, Misc.


1,300.00


Highways, Chapter 81 (from free cash)


6,450.00


Highways, Chapter 90


2,500.00


Contingent, General


700.00


Assessor's Expense 100.00


Treasurer's Expenses 586.50


7


Tax Collector's Expenses


300.00


Town Clerk's Expenses


50.00


Planning Board's Expenses


25.00


Registrar's Expenses


75.00


Building Inspector's Expenses


10.00


Town Office Rent


144.00


Contagious Diseases (from free cash)


2,500.00


Fire Department


5,550.00


Schools


67,431.00


Dental Clinic


600.00


School Bonds, Interest, and Retirement of Bond


3,600.00


Water Bonds, Interest and Retirement Bond


6,560.00


Street Lights


2,437.00


Hydrants


1,650.00


Town Officer's Compensation


4,340.00


Memorial Day


75.00


Care of Parks


150.00


Printing Town Reports


210.00


Gipsy Moth


250.00


Tree Warden


100.00


Forest Warden


100.00


Care of Cemeteries


300.00


Police


150.00


Reserve Fund (from overlay surplus)


5,500.00


Insurance and Bonding


1,200.00


County Tuberculosis Hospital


496.90


Library


1,000.00


Interest


500.00


Soldier's Relief


600.00


Old Age Assistance


2,500.00


Maintenance of Water System (from earnings)


3,000.00


County Aid to Agriculture


75.00


Road Machinery


300.00


W. P. A. Projects (from free cash)


5,000.00


Springfield Celebration


200.00


Extension of Stony Hill Road Water Main


2,500.00


Legal Claims


500.00


$143,615.40


Article 6. Voted that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to


8


borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year beginning January 1, 1936 and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes that may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 17 of General Laws.


Article 7. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to prosecute any person selling or transporting intoxicating liquors in this town contrary to the laws of the Commonwealth.


Article 8. Voted that the dog tax of 1935 be given to the Library.


Article 9. Voted to appropriate $5000.00 to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen for the necessary costs of materials and trucking in the local Works Progress Adminis- tration projects or on local projects operated under the successor, if any, of the Works Progress Administration, providing the Director of Accounts approves the taking of this sum from the accumulated surplus.


Article 10. Voted to raise and appropriate $2,500.00 for the improvement of Glendale Road, provided the State and County contibute toward the same, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 90 General Laws.


Article 11. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to institute or defend suits and employ counsel for the purpose of protecting the interest of the town; and to riase and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the same.


Article 12. Voted to raise and appropriate $75.00 for the observance of Memorial Day.


Article 13. Voted to raise and appropriate $150.00 for the care of the Memorial Lots at Wilbraham, North Wilbraham and Glendale.


Article 14. Voted to raise and appropriate $75.00 to be expended in the town by the Hampden County Trustees for Aid to Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth.


9


Article 15. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $10.00 to be expended under the direction of the Planning Board.


Article 16. Voted that the town hereby empower the Treasurer to release and assign Tax Titles, upon payment to said Treasurer for the use of the town of such sums as are provided by law for the redemption of Tax Titles, and to execute deeds of release of the same, in the name of the town.


Article 17. Voted to authorize the Selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale at some convenient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by the town under tax title procedure, provided that the Selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such public auction, may reject any bid which they deem inadequate.


Article 18. Voted to participate in the celebration of the 300th Anniversary of the Settlement of Springfield and to raise and appropriate $200.00 for the purpose to be expended by a committee consisting of the Selectmen and two others to be appointed by the Moderator of this meeting.


Article 19. Passed.


Article 20. Passed.


Article 21. Passed.


Article 22. Passed.


Article 23. Voted to raise and appropriate the necessary sum for material or stock to be used in constructing a sidewalk on the westerly side of Stony Hill Road, starting at the corner of Weston Street and Stony Hill Road, up to 84 Stony Hill, providing the work can be done through a W. P. A. project.


Article 24. Passed.


Article 25. Voted to refer to the Planning Board for con- sideration the matter of cleaning rubbish and garbage on Weston, Acton and Stony Hill Streets.


10


Article 26. Voted to raise and appropriate $2,500.00 to extend the existing six inch water main on Stony Hill Road to the south together with the necessary hydrants and fittings to conform to the standards of the town for a distance of 1,000 feet from the present end of the main.


Article 27. Laid on the table.


Article 28. Passed.


Voted that all money appropriated at this meeting be raised and assessed on the polls and estates of the town unless otherwise provided for at this meeting.


JENNIE T. ABBOTT, Town Clerk.


11


Report of Special Town Meeting December 5, 1936


Article 1. Mr. F. R. Strassborg was elected by ballot Moderator of the meeting.


Article 2. Voted to accept and allow a town way, known as Grove Street, in the village of North Wilbraham, as shown on plan entitled "Section C-Lakeshore, Wilbraham, Mass., April, 1929," as laid out by the selectmen, said way being des- cribed as follows: beginning at the southern boundary of the State Highway known as Boston Road, thence southerly a distance of about seven hundred feet more or less to two con- crete bounds, one at the south eastern extremity of said street, one at the south western extremity of said street, located fifty- one and sixty-six hundredths feet apart, measured in an easterly and westerly direction which concrete bounds mark the inter- section of Grove Street so called with Manchonis Road so called on said plan. The width of said Grove Street is established as fifty-one and sixty-six hundredths feet throughout its full length from the northern extremity to the southern extremity of said street as shown on said plan. Said town way is laid out ove land now or formerly belonging to Boyle Realty Company.


Article 3. Voted to accept and allow a town way, known as Manchonis Road, in the Village of North Wilbraham, as shown on plans entitled "Section C, Lakeshore, Wilbraham, Mass., April 1929" filed herewith, and plan entitled Section D, Lakeshore, Wilbraham, Mass., April 1929, Phillips, Dudley, Sullivan Surveyors," as laid out by the Selectmen, said way being described as follows: beginning at a concrete bound mark- ing the south eastern extremity of Grove Street, and beginning also at another concrete bound fifty feet south of said south east boundary of Grove Street, which later bound shall be the south eastern boundary of Manchonis Road and running west for a distance of approximately fifteen feet more or less to two concrete bounds, one of which is the south western boundary of said Manchonis Road, the other fifty feet north of said boundary shall be the north western boundary of Manchonis


12


Road, both of which boundaries being located at or near the intersection of Manchonis Road and Forest Street. The width of said Manchonis Road is established as fifty feet throughout its entire length from the eastern extremity to the western extremity as shown on said plan. Said town way is laid out over land now or formerly belonging to the Boyle Realty Company and others.


Article 4. Voted to accept and allow a town way, known as Chapin Drive in the Village of Wilbraham (Stony Hill), as shown on plan entitled "Location of Chapin Drive and Brookdale Drive, Wilbraham, Mass., Cobb, Beesley & Miles, Engineers, Springfield, Mass., December, 1935," as laid out by the Selectmen, said way being described as follows: beginning. at the intersection of Chapin Drive and Springfield Street running in a southerly direction for a distance of approximately six hundred feet to Brookdale Road, as shown on said plan. Said way being fifty feet in width throughout its entire length. Said town way is now laid out over land now or formerly be- longing to Wilbraham Business Corporation and others.


Article 5. Voted to accept and allow a town way, known as Brookdale Road, in the Village of Wilbraham (Stony Hill), as shown on the plan entitled "Location of Chapin Drive and Brookdale Drive, Wilbraham, Mass., Cobb, Beesley & Miles, Engineers, Springfield, Mass., December, 1935," as laid out by the Selectmen, said way being described as follows: beginning at the intersection of Stony Hill Road and Brookdale Road, and running in a westerly direction for a distance of about seven hundred feet more or less to Edgewood Road, said way being fifty feet in width throughout its entire length. Said way is now laid out over land nor or formerly belonging to Wilbra- ham Business Corporation and others.


Article 6. Voted to accept and allow a town way, known as Ripley Street, as shown on three plans, the "Brewer Field plan of lots owned by Mary E. Gurney and surveyed by Merrill & Sears, August, 1921." On said plan Ripley Street is known as lot No. 18; also as shown on plan of "Edward Stephen's Division, surveyed by Merrill & Sears, July, 1931"; also plan of "Merrick Park Wilbraham, owned by Metille Del. Brooks, Cobb, Beesley & Miles, Engineers, Springfield, Mass., July,


13


1925 which plan recorded in Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Book of Plans, Z, Page 43," as laid out by the Selectmen, said way being described as follows: beginning at the inter- section of Springfield Street and running in a southerly direction for a distance of about nine hundred feet more or less to the intersection of Pomeroy Street the width of said street is hereby established as sixty-six feet throughout its entire length. Said way is now laid out over land now or formerly of Mary E. Gurney, Edward Stephens, Metille Del. Brooks and others.


Article 7. Voted to accept and allow a part of the town way, known as Pomeroy Street, in the Village of Wilbraham, as shown on the plan of "Merrick Park, Wilbraham, Mass., owned by Metille Del. Brooks-Cobb, Beesley and Niles, Engineers, July, 1925, Springfield, Mass., recorded in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Book of Plans, C. Page 43," as laid out by the Selectmen, said way being described as follows; beginning at the intersection of Ripley Street and Pomeroy Street and running easterly to the easterly boundary of Frederick R. Strassberg's property. Said way being fifty feet in width throughout its entire length. Said way is now laid out over land now or formerly belonging to Metille De. Brooks and others.


Article 8. Voted to pass the article.


Article 9. Voted to appropriate $500.00 to defray the costs anticipated for the balance of the year, the same to be transferred to the Miscellaneous Highway Account in the following amounts: $300.00 the unexpended balance of the Contagious Diseases Appropriation and $200.00 from the appropriation for the town's participation in the Springfield Celebration.


Article 10. Voted to pass the article.


JENNIE T. ABBOTT, Town Clerk.


14


Report of Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare


The year 1936 insofar as the Town of Wilbraham was con- cerned may truly be said to have been definitely an eventful year. Scarcely had the town completed its annual business meeting and formulated tentative plans and procedure for the balance of the year when a most unlooked for condition dev- eloped in the arrival of the March flood. Not in the memory of the oldest of our native inhabitants has the Chicopee River risen at any time to an amount which would even closely approach the height recorded for that stream for the period from March 17th to March 23d. Very fortunately there was no great damage locally to dwelling houses and it was not necessary as it was in so many nearby communities for the town to evacuate people from their homes, but it is a long to be re- membered fact that the water rose to such height that there was eight inches of water at one time going over the bulkhead on the Wilbraham side of the Collins Manufacturing Com- pany's dam at North Wilbraham. It is distinctly memorable that for several nights that the peopole living in the Cottage Street and Mill Street regions were in a justifiable state of alarm, fearing that it might be necessary to hurriedly leave their homes if the water rose to greater height through the threat- ened destruction of dams farther north on the stream. Late on the night of March 17th it was observed by the town officials and the officials of the Collins Co., that the unparallelled rise in the stream had so suddenly and tremendously increased that it threatened to break its way around the dam and bulkhead on the Wilbraham side of the river. Emergency work with sand bags was immediately started and continuously kept in opera- tion until seven o clock in the morning of March 20th when the first recession was noted in the height of the river. Early in the morning of March 18th effective riprap work performed by the highway department under the direction of Supt. Phelps doubtlessly saved the covered bridge from destruction when the water threatened to wash away the shore pier on the Wilbraham side. Early on the same morning the water washed its way around the shore pier on the Ludlow side of the so called Red Bridge and left the bridge suspended in the air on


15


the north side. The bridge remained in that position until early in the afternoon when large logs and other debris finally suc- ceeded in entirely destroying the bridge. The wreckage was washed to a point in the river just below where the tailrace of the Red Bridge Power House discharges into the river This wreckage if allowed to remain in its present position would perhaps in time begin to impede the water freely discharging from the wheels of the power plant and will have to be removed.


The Selectmen at the earliest opportunity began prepara- tions to secure Federal and State aid in the reconstruction of Red Bridge. The Board appeared before a special legislative committee for flood damage at a public hearing held at the State House in Boston. They also, at a later occasion appeared before the Commissioners of Hampden County relative to the same purpose and together with the Ludlow Board of Selectmen appeared before Commissioner of Public Works, William Callahan in Boston. Accordingly this bridge was included in the list of bridges submitted in Chapter 429 of the Acts of 1936 which provided for the reconstruction of certain bridges dam- aged by floods in the Commonwealth under the supervision of the Department of Public Works. By the provisions of said act the bridge will be reconstructed largely by funds derived from the State and Federal Government, and since the act provided that the expense for the reconstruction of said bridge should be participated in addition one eighth by the County, and one eighth by the town in which the bridge is located, we anticipate that not more than one sixteenth of the expense will be borne by Wilbraham since the Town of Ludlow is an equal participant and will share one half of the amount to be borne as the so called town share. The engineering necessary was performed at no expense to the town by the engineering firm of Leroy M. Hersum of Boston working under, and at the instance of the State Department of Public Works. Incidentally Chapter 429 also provided that the amounts to be paid by the cities and towns under this act shall be assessed and collected by the State Treasurer as a part of their state tax in the year 1937. Accordingly on January 5, 1937 bids were opened by the State Department of Public Works in Boston for re- construction of the so called Red Bridge spanning the Chicopee river between Wilbraham and Ludlow. The contract as ad- vertised also included the removal of the old bridge structure from the river bed.




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