USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1941-1945 > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to accept the income from the Trust Fund of the Hines Family Burial Lot, Adams Cemetery; also one Cemetery Trust Fund of $150.00
28
for the Bishop Lot in the East Wilbraham Cemetery, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or any other sum to be expended by the Board of Selectmen to defray the expenses of a preliminary survey in connection with a town system of sewers and sewage disposal, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to establish a street light on Dalton Street, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to extend the water main on Manchonis Road from the now existing hydrant for a distance of about seven hundred (700) feet more or less, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following By-Law: There shall be an annual audit of the town's accounts under the supervision of the Director of Ac- counts of the Department of Corporations and Taxation in accordance with the provisions of Section 35, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 31. To transact such other business as may properly come before said meeting.
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 Glen- dale 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 fifteenth day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and forty-five.
ALBERT L. MARTIN J. LORING BROOKS, JR. IRVING J. CORDNER Selectmen of Wilbraham
29
REPORT OF Annual Town Meeting FEBRUARY 7, 1944
Article 1. Frank Auchter was elected moderator.
Article 2. Minor officers elected :
Pound Keeper John B. Tupper
Measurers of Wood and Charcoal Walter Clark Robert M. Welch
Surveyors of Lumber
Walter Clark
J. Wilbur Rice
Field Drivers
Harold E. Howe John B. Tupper
Norman Thurlow
Weighers of Grain
Ralph Bennett Henry Clark
Article 3. Voted to accept the reports of Selectmen, Board of Public Welfare, Treasurer, School Committee and other officers, with attention called to printing errors.
Article 4. Voted that compensation for elected Town Officers be fixed as follows: Town Clerk-$50.00 per year and fees; Town Treasurer-$600.00; Town Collector-$800.00; Tree Warden-75 cents per hour; Selectmen, two members- $400.00 per year; Chairman, $450.00; Assessors-75 cents per hour; Constables no yearly salary, fees only; Auditor-$100.00 per year; School Committee-$50.00 each per year; Cemetery Commissioner-no salary, 65 cents per hour for time spent at work; Water Commissioners-$75.00 per year each; Library Trustees-no salary; Planning Board Members-no salary; Moderator-$15.00 for Annual Town Meetings and $10.00 for Special Town Meetings.
Article 5. Voted the following appropriations:
Aid to Dependent Children $1,500.00
Americanization Class. 200.00
Assessors Expense 625.00
Board of Health Appropriation
3,000.00
Building Inspector's Expense. 20.00
Cemeteries 750.00
30
Selectmen's Contingent Appropriation
1,100.00
Dental Clinic.
600.00
Election Expense. 700.00
Fire Department
3,000.00
Forest Warden's Appropriation
300.00
Gypsy Moth Appropriation
500.00
Highways, Miscellaneous (Snow Removal-Repairs to Bridges-Maintenance, etc.)
2,600.00
Hydrants.
2,460.00
Insurance and Bonding.
1,200.00
Interest.
100.00
Library (Plus Dog Tax)
1,000.00
Town Office Rent and Ration Board Office Maint.
700.00
Old Age Assistance.
10,000.00
Police
200.00
Printing Town Reports.
555.62
Public Welfare
5,000.00
Registrar's Expense.
150.00
Road Machinery Account.
1,000.00
Schools.
68,600.00
Soldiers Relief, Military Aid, War Allowances and State Aid.
5,000.00
Street Lights.
2,900.00
Town Collector's Expense
400.00
Town Clerk's Expense
200.00
Town Officers' Salaries
6,600.00
Treasurer's Expense.
250.00
Tree Warden's Appropriation
600.00
Water Bonds and Interest
4,560.00
Water Notes and Interest
2,067.50
Water Department Appropriation
6,000.00
Garbage
750.00
$135,188.12
Article 6. Voted that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1944, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, 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, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for same.
Article 8. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,625.00 for the maintenance of Chapter 81 Roads, provided that the State contribute toward the same, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 81 of the General Laws.
31
Article 9. Voted to appropriate and transfer the sum of $5,625.00 from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State share of the cost of work, for the maintenance of Chapter 81 Roads, the reimbursement from the State to be restored, upon its receipt, to unappropriated available funds in the treasury.
Article 10. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the maintenance of Chapter 90 Roads, providing that the State and County contribute toward the same, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 90 of the General Laws.
Article 11. Voted to appropriate and transfer the sum of $1,000.00 from unappropriated available funds in the Treas- ury to meet the State and County's shares of the cost of the work for the maintenance of Chapter 90 Roads, the reimburse- ments from the State and County to be restored upon their receipt, to unappropriated available funds in the treasury.
Article 12. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $75.00 for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article 13. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00 for the care of the Parks at Wilbraham, North Wilbra- ham and Glendale.
Article 14. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $50.00 to be expended in the Town by the Hampden County Trustees for Aid to Agriculture, in accordance with the pro- visions of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, Chapter 128, Section 42.
Article 15. Voted to authorize the Selectmen to sell at public auction, after first giving notice of the time and place by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the Town, fourteen days at least before sale, property taken by the Town under tax title procedure, provided that the Selectmen, or whomsoveer they authorize to hold such public auction, may reject any bid which they deem inadequate.
Article 16. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $50.00 to be expended by the Highway Safety Committee, with the approval of the Selectmen, in accordance with the Laws of the Commonwealth.
Article 17. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $600.00 to be used to protect the school children from traffic hazards.
Article 18. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to institute or defend suits and employ counsel for the purpose of protecting the interests of the town and to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for same.
32
Article 19. Voted that the Dog Tax of 1943 be given to the Library.
Article 20. Voted to accept the following cemetery trust funds left to the town since the last annual meeting, with the stipulation that care may be limited to the amount of the income; Estate of Inez V. Chilson, one Trust Fund of $100.00 East Wilbraham Cemetery; William H. Graves, one Trust Fund of $100.00 Adams Cemetery; Etta May Simons Estate, one Trust Fund of $200.00 Adams Cemetery; Emma Carson. one Trust Fund of $50.00, East Wilbraham Cemetery; and that the Town accept the income from a Trust Fund of $200.00 provided by the estate of one Idella H. Sheldon, to be expended in Adams Cemetery.
Article 21. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $600.00 to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, to conduct the Well Child Clinic and the necessary follow up work, arising therefrom, and to authorize the Select- men to appoint a Committee to assist in carrying out said pro- gram. Appreciation was expressed for the work of Dr. Edmund Saunders and Mrs. Carl Nelson, and the committee, who did such splendid work in this direction during 1943.
Article 22. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 to be expended for civilian protection and defense by the Committee on Public Safety under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 23. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $350.00 to be expended by the Planning Board in completing the development of new zoning by-laws, and for such other expense as may be necessary to the work of the Planning Board.
Article 24. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $250.00 to be expended by the Board of Selectmen to defray the expenses of a preliminary survey in connection with a town system of sewers and sewage disposal.
Article 25. Voted to re-establish a street light on Piney- wood Avenue, near the corner of River Road, the cost of same to be within total appropriated for street lights under Article 5.
Article 26. Voted to accept and allow the private way now known as Orlando Street as shown on the "Plan of the Stephens Sub-division" as recorded in the Hall of Records in Springfield, Massachusetts, as laid out by the Selectmen, said way being described as follows: Beginning at Ripley Street and running four hundred twenty five (425) feet more or less to the land of Stephens or opposite the east line of land now owned by Marguerite G. Brady, and to appropriate the sum of $300.00 for same.
33
Article 27. Voted that action on this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article 28. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00 for the conducting and promoting of recreation, play, sport and physical education in the town under the provisions of Chapter 45, Section 14 of the General Laws. Expressions of appreciation were made for the kindness of Mrs. Ethel Bradway and Mrs. Grace Thompson, and Wilbraham Academy, in providing for recreational activities on their land for several years.
Article 29. Voted that the Selectmen, acting as a board of park commissioners under Section 2 of Chapter 45 of the General Laws, have and exercise the powers conferred upon the town by Section 14 of said Chapter 45, relative to the con- ducting and promoting of recreation, play, sport and physical education.
Article 30. Voted that the town acquire by purchase from John F. Baldwin, for the consideration of $350.00, a certain tract of land situate in Wilbraham, bounded and de- scribed as follows: On the North by the highway leading from North Wilbraham to Springfield, known as State Highway Route No. 20, and the land of one Fuller; on the East by land of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield, occupied by St. Cecelia's Church, and land now or formerly of one Baldwin and Donohue; on the South by land of said Donohue and land now or formerly of one Malmberg, and on the West by land now or formerly of said Donohue and said Fuller; and that the matter of completing such purchase be left in the hands of the selectmen, and that the sum of $350.00 be raised and appro- priated therefor.
Article 31. Voted to return to the general funds of the Town the unexpended balances of the following appropriations :
Bulkley Road Improvement $63.50 Town Barn Alterations $20.78
Article 32. Passed.
Article 33. Voted to provide for the overdraft of $57.10 on the 1943 appropriation for Manchonis Road by transferring the remaining unexpended balance of the 1941 appropriation to this account.
Article 34. Voted to appropriate the sum of $4,500 for a Reserve Fund, this amount to be transferred from the Over- lay Surplus Account.
Article 35. Voted to transfer from available funds in the treasury the sum of $5,000.00 for the purchase of war bonds that are legal investments for savings banks, in order to establish
34
a post-war rehabilitation fund, in accordance with the pro- visions of Chapter 5 of the Acts of 1943.
Article 36. Voted that the sum of $10,000 of the total appropriation be taken from the free cash in the treasury. Voted that all money appropriated at this meeting be raised by assessment against the polls, personal properties and real estate of the town, unless otherwise provided for at this meeting.
Voted that the Moderator appoint a committee of two to draw up resolutions for Mrs. Jennie T. Abbott and to forward copies of same to her family.
Voted to keep the polls open until 7:00 P.M.
Voted to adjourn.
35
Special Town Meeting SEPTEMBER 30, 1944
Article 1. Frank Auchter elected moderator of the meet- ing.
Article 2. Voted that the town acquire by purchase from Philias Tetreault and Amanda Tetreault, for the sum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) a certain tract of land situate on the southerly side of the Boston Road, so called, and known as State Highway Route No. 20, in Wilbraham, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a bound in the southerly side of said road and at the northwest corner of land of the Town of Wilbraham, purchased from one Baldwin, thence Southerly along last named land one hundred fifty (150) feet to other land of the Town of Wilbraham; thence Westerly along other land of the Town of Wilbraham fifty (50) feet; thence Northerly, in a line parallel with the first described line, along other land of said Philias and Amanda Tetreault, one hundred fifty (150) feet to the southerly side of said road) thence Easterly along the southerly side of said road fifty (50; feet to the place of beginning; and that the sum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) be appropriated therefor. - Unani- mous vote.
Article 3. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000.00) to construct a Sand Storage and Loading Bin and Shed on the Highway and Water Department lot on Boston Road. Vote not unanimous.
Article 4. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) to make repairs on the sewer running along Boston Road. Vote unanimous.
Article 5. Voted to authorize the Selectmen to rent office space in the Town Barn, so called, and to make a monthly rent of one dollar ($1.00) per month. Vote unanimous.
Article 6. Voted to accept the resolution made by George E .. Murphy Jr. to authorize the Selectmen to designate the Town Barn as Perry Building. Unanimous vote.
Moved that appropriations not otherwise provided for at this meeting be raised by levy upon the polls, personal property and real estate in the town, and be included in the tax levy for 1945.
Voted to adjourn.
23 registered voters present.
36
Special Town Meeting DECEMBER 23, 1944
Article 1. Frank Auchter was unanimously elected by ballot as moderator.
Article 2. Voted to delay action on this article and pro- ceed to article three.
Article 3. Under this article Mr. Brooks, Selectman, gave a report on building covered under article two. Voted that the report given by Mr. Brooks be accepted and incor- porated in report of this special town meeting. Report of Mr. Brooks follows:
Your Board of Selectmen have long recognized the need of more adequate housing facilities for the equipment and materials of the Highway and Water Department's and intended to recommend to the Annual Town Meeting of February 1945 that an appropriation be voted to con- struct a suitable building, or buildings, for such purposes as soon as materials and labor would be available.
On December 7, 1944 the Board of Selectmen secured through one of its members a sales proposal of the War Department seeking bids on several prefabricated build- ings located in East Hartford, Connecticut, ranging in sizes from 20 x 80 to 20 x 180 feet. This offering required bids accompanied by certified checks to be in Boston on December 14, 1944. This gave the Board a very limited time to investigate the possible advantages to the town of making a bid and to qualify as bidder if such action were to adequate advantage of the Town. Of course, there was no time in which to give even the required notice for a special town meeting before final bids must be filed.
The Selectmen consulted the Town Counsel and received confirmation that it might legally bid on and purchase the building as second hand lumber with funds from the Miscellaneous Highway appropriation and thus render it available (if such bid was successful) for a special town meeting to subsequently vote to dismantle, move and re-erect the building in Wilbraham should the Town wish to do so.
In order to provide complete freedom of choice in the matter to the Special Town Meeting, the Selectmen ar- ranged before submitting bid-to secure a definite offer from the private business of one Selectman in an amount which would exceed the Town's bid by $45.00 to more
37
than cover the cost of the bid, if successful, added to the cost of the Special Town Meeting. It would then be possible for the Town Meeting to vote either to move the building to Wilbraham or to sell it as is, where it is without any net cost or loss to the Town.
The Selectmen then had a builder estimate the value of the lumber in the building at the prevailing market price of second hand lumber. This was reported to be in excess of $750.00. An approximate estimate covering the second hand value of the contents of the building in plumbing fixtures, piping, wiring, stoves etc. totaled to no less than $150.00. After reviewing the above total value of $900.00 the Board of Selectmen decided to submit a bid in the name of the Town.
Subsequently, the Selectmen secured the names of successful bidders on a previous offering of similar build- ings and found that the successful bids had averaged be- tween $300.00 and $400.00 for each building. Accordingly the Board of Selectmen voted to bid $225.00 for the build- ing.
Immediately after the Selectmen learned by telephoning the War Department that the Town bid of $225.00 was the successful bid on the particular building bid on, they issued call for this afternoon's special meeting. It was impossible to delay this special meeting since War De- partment terms of sale require the removal of the building, piers and any other materials on or before January 27, 1945.
The Board of Selectmen estimate that to remove and re-erect the complete building without alterations would cost about $1600.00 if done by private contractor or about $1000.00 if it could be done by Highway Department employees. However, it would seem to the best interest of the Town to re-erect the building in two or possibly three separate buildings with one or more set up on con- crete block walls for increased height and with a dirt or cement floor instead of a wooden floor.
After careful consideration the Board of Selectmen con- cluded to recommend that the services of a private con- tractor be engaged to remove all materials (except contents sold at the site) and erect approximately 20 feet by 40 feet of the building with garage doors at one 20 foot end and with one end of the existing building at the other 20 foot end. This building, together with present rented garage space, will permit housing the Town truck and also storing the unerected portions of the building under cover until such time as the Highway Department can erect or utilize it. The 20 foot by 40 foot building to be erected
38
now would be set up on 2 foot concrete block walls and left for the present with a dirt floor.
It is estimated that the cost of dismantling and moving to Wilbraham the entire building and usable contents, altering and erecting the 20 foot by 40 foot building as above will cost no more than $2000.00. It is further estimated that the Highway Department subsequently may be able as fill in work to erect the remainder of the existing building as another duplicate size building and possibly a third small one for somewhere in the neighbor- hood of $750.00 to $1000.00. Thus it would appear that the Town could secure 1600 to 2000 square feet of monitor buildings for a total cost of $3000.00 and extend the project over as extended a period as may prove desirable. It is estimated that the present cost of constructing similar facilities new, were it possible to do it now, would cost in the neighborhood of $6000.00 to $6500.00. The Town will . additionally salvage some additional materials for use or sale and will acquire hot water system and plumbing material for use in the above building.
After the above report the meeting took up Article 2.
Article 2. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $2300.00 to dissemble at East Hartford, Conn. prefabricated, demountable, section building, listed as Group 5 on sales pro- posal W19-016-45-32 of Division Engineer of the War Depart- ment, 75 Federal Street, Boston, which building has been pur- chased by the Town of Wilbraham for highway department second-hand lumber, to clear the building site as required by the War Department, to move, repair, alter and re-erect approx- imately half of said building on the town owned lot on Boston Road, and to hold the balance of said building sections for later erection or other use by the Highway Department under then existing miscellaneous highway appropriations. A unanimous vote.
Article 3. Voted to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell at private sale any materials, contents or other appurten- ances from building purchased from the War Department, either at East Hartford at the time of removal or subsequently after such materials have been transported to Wilbraham.
Voted that all money appropriated at this meeting be raised by assessment against the polls, personal properties, and real estate of the town during the year 1945.
Voted to adjourn.
39
Elected Town Officers -- 1944
AND DATE OF EXPIRATION OF TERMS
Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare ALBERT L. MARTIN, Chairman, 1945 IRVING J. CORDNER, 1946 J. LORING BROOKS, Jr., 1947
Assessors E. RAY PEASE, 1945 CHARLES W. VINTON, 1946 HENRY I. EDSON, 1947
School Committee H. W. CUTLER, 1945 ESTHER S. PRESTON, 1946 CARL F. ALSING, 1947
Town Collector MICHAEL C. SMITH, 1945
Treasurer and Town Clerk WALTER F. BERRY, 1945
Auditor WILLIAM E. PORTER, 1945
Cemetery Commissioners HENRY I. EDSON, 1945 ADELBERT J. BROOKS, 1946 LEE W. RICE, Jr., 1947
Water Commissioners HOWARD F. CALKINS, 1945 EVERETT P. PICKENS, 1946 RUSSELL HARRINGTON, 1947
40
Trustees of Public Library ALICE P. PLIMPTON, 1945 HOWE S. NEWELL, 1946 H. W. CUTLER, 1947
Tree Warden ERNEST M. HAYN, 1945
Constables GIACOMO ALBERICI ERNEST L. BACON WILLIAM E. DAY JERRY DONAHUE JOHN B. TUPPER
Planning Board RAYMOND H. BEACH, 1946 RUSSELL HARRINGTON, 1945 ARTHUR I. MACDONALD, 1945 RAY PALMER, 1946 RALPH S. STEDMAN, 1947
Pound Keeper JOHN B. TUPPER
Measurers of Wood and Charcoal WALTER CLARK ROBERT M. WELCH
Surveyors of Lumber WALTER CLARK J. WILBUR RICE
Field Drivers HAROLD E. HOWE JOHN B. TUPPER NORMAN THURLOW
Weighers of Grain
RALPH BENNETT HENRY CLARK
41
Officers Appointed by Selectmen
Town Counsel ERNEST E. HOBSON, 1945
Bookkeeper for Selectmen HATTIE E. G. BURBANK, 1945
Superintendent of Streets FRED C. PHELPS, 1945
Financial Committee
JOSEPH J. BALDWIN, 1945 JOHN W. GALE, 1945
LEON A. JEWELL, 1945 JOHN J. LYONS, 1945 GEORGE E. MURPHY, Jr. 1945 CARL NELSON, 1945 EDWARD P. RACIBORSKI, 1945
Board of Fire Commissioners WESLEY G. CHAPMAN, 1945 DAVID J. MUIR, 1945 FRED B. REIDY, 1945
Forest Warden JERRY DONAHUE, 1945
Sealer of Weights and Measures CHARLES W. VINTON, 1945
Building Inspector GEORGE HERTER, 1945
Milk Inspector JAMES M. PICKENS, 1945
42
Inspector of Slaughtering, Inspector of Animals FRED C. PHELPS, 1945
Gypsy Moth Superintendent E. RAY PEASE, 1945
Registrar of Voters WALTER F. BERRY, (Ex-Officio), 1945 WILLIAM L. DEMPSEY, 1945 HAROLD R. PORTER, 1946 JOHN J. POWERS, 1947
Fence Viewers HAROLD W. BROWN, 1945 JOHN J. LYONS, 1945 WILLIAM L. DEMPSEY, 1945
Dog Officer JOHN B. TUPPER, 1945
Social Worker HELEN C. BODEN
Youth Guidance and Recreational Committee
EUGENE H. WESSELLS, Jr., Chairman JOCELYN M. STEDMAN, Secretary REV. JOSEPH W. MERCHANT, Resigned
Stanley J. Boryczka Marguerite G. Brady Raymond T. Chmura Mary Ann Cooper Kenneth I. Jack
Clara Prendergast John S. Polaczak Marie L. Richmond Lee W. Rice Isabel D. Riddle
Donald C. Stiles
43
Rationing Board Members and Office Staff
Frank Auchter, Chairman
George E. Egan
Joseph B. Nalepa
Carl Nelson William R. Cooper Helen A. Reid, Clerk
Elizabeth E. Campsie, Clerk and Custodian
Honor Roll Committee
Winthrop E. Bell Helen C. Boden Bert W. Gowell
Joseph B. Nalepa Ray Palmer Fred B. Reidy
Veterans Rehabilitation Committee
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.