USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1941-1945 > Part 9
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Article 26. Voted to grant the use of the Glendale School House for a period of three years to the Glendale Com- munity Club, in so far as the town has authority to grant this use.
Article 27. Voted to adopt the changes in voting pre- cincts recommended by the Selectmen resulting in three pre- cincts to be known and bounded as follows:
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Precinct A. Beginning at a point formed by the inter- section of the westerly, or Springfield, line with the center line of Dipping Hole Road; thence southerly along the westerly or Springfield line to the Hampden line; thence easterly and northeasterly along the Hampden line to the center of Hollow Road; thence northerly along the center of Hollow Road to the center of the intersection of Hollow Road and Monson Road; thence northerly to the Aviation Beacon; thence northwesterly to a point on Ridge Road seventy-five feet north of the inter- section of Church and Ridge Roads; thence northwesterly to Main Street to the northerly boundary of the Main Street frontage of the property now or formerly of Theresa E. Boden; thence westerly to the center of the intersection of Dipping Hole Road and Stoney Hill Road; thence westerly along the center of Dipping Hole Road to the Springfield line or the point of beginning.
Precinct B. Beginning at a point on the Chicopee River where the described easterly boundary of Precinct C meets the bank of the river; thence southwesterly along the boundary of the described Precinct C to the center of the intersection of Dipping Hole Road and Stony Hill Road to a point in the center of Stony Hill Road; thence easterly along the above described boundary of Precinct A to the above mentioned point on Main Street at the north corner of the land now or formerly of Theresa E. Boden; thence southeasterly and southerly along the above described boundary of Precinct A to the Hampden line; thence easterly along the Hampden line; thence easterly along the Hampden line to the Monson line; thence northerly along the Monson and Palmer line to a point where the Palmer line meets the bank of the Chicopee river; thence along the bank of the Chicopee river southerly and westerly to the northeasterly corner of the described Precinct C or point of beginning.
Precinct C. Beginning at a point where the westerly town line meets the bank of the Chicopee river, southerly along the westerly or Springfield line to the point where this line crosses the center of Dipping Hole Road; thence easterly along the center of Dipping Hole Road to the intersection of that road and Stony Hill Road; to a point in the center of Stony Hill Road; thence northeasterly to a point in the center of the easterly rail of Moran's Bridge, over the Boston and Albany Railroad; thence continuing in the same northeasterly direction to the bank of the Chicopee river to the point of be- ginning at the Springfield line.
Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $75.00 for voting equipment.
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The registered voters at the last State Election in these three precincts were: Precinct A, 519; Precinct B, 591; Pre- cinct C, 377.
Article 28. Voted to change the zoning ordinance affect- ing the property now or formerly in the name of Sophie Nowak, located at the corner of River Street and Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham, Mass., from residential B zone to business zone.
Article 29. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00 to be expended by the Planning Board to revise and legalize the present zoning ordinances and the zoning map.
Article 30. Voted to amend the zoning law as follows: "In residence districts the removal for sale of sod, loam, clay, sand, gravel or quarried stone, except when incidental to and in connection with the construction of a building for which a permit has been issued, or except where it is to be used within the limits of the town, shall be deemed a non-conforming use of land and shall be permitted only if written permission of the Board of Appeals be obtained, and under such conditions as the Board of Appeals may impose and make a part of the permit. The Board of Appeals shall in each instance impose such conditions as will protect the neighborhood and town against permanent and temporary hazards because of con- ditions which may be left after operations are completed or because of the methods of handling such material at the site or of transporting such materials through the town."
Article 31. Voted that action be indefinitely postponed
Article 32 Article 33 Article 34 Voted that action be postponed and that the Selectmen be instructed to study the proposals and report back at the next special or regular meeting of the town.
Article 35 Voted that action be postponed until after the War-Emergency."
Article 36 Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $230.00 to pay a proper charge for effecting insurance providing indemnity for or protection to any officer or employee of the town against loss by reason of his liability to pay damages to others for bodily injuries, including death, at any time re- sulting therefrom, or for damages to property caused by the operation, within the scope of his official duties or employment, of motor vehicles owned by the town, in accordance with the
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provisions of Clause 1, Section 5 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws as amended.
Article 37. Voted to accept the provisions of Chapter 54, Section 103A as amended by Chapter 77 of the Acts of 1937 and Section 152 of the Acts of 1939 whereby the privileges of absentee voting in town elections would be extended to the voters of the town.
Article 38. Voted to change the zoning ordinance affect- ing the property now or formerly in the name of John F. Bald- win, beginning at a point on the northeasterly corner of Nine Mile Pond and the southerly side of the old location of the Boston Post Road running southerly along the shore of said pond two hundred twenty-five feet; thence easterly three hundred seventy-five feet; thence northerly one hundred fifty feet; thence westerly along southerly side of said road about five hundred feet to the point of beginning, from residential B zone to business zone.
Article 39. Voted that this meeting instruct all elected and appointed officers and boards of the town to submit in writing to the Finance Committee their requests for appropria- tions, to be acted on at the Annual Meeting, not later than the preceding January 10 of each year.
Voted that the sum of $12,000.00 of the total appropria- tion 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.
JENNIE T. ABBOTT
Town Clerk.
Our Army and Navy needs typewriters acutely. If anyone owns a typewriter for which they do not have immediate use, kindly communicate with
War Production Board
Treasury Procurement Typewriter Purchase Division, 17 Court St., Boston, Mass. or Selectmen's Office, Telephone North Wilbraham 33.
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Report of Board of Selectmen
Your Board of Selectmen have found many new problems as a result of war conditions.
Although Chapter 90 highway construction was suspended during 1942 on account of war manpower and material scarci- ties, an energetic effort was made to complete as much of the Chapter 90 maintenance and Chapter 81 work as possible and to maintain the Town's roads against undue deterioration.
The Board assisted the Massachusetts Office of Price Administration by setting up the original Rationing Board and by providing it with temporary clerical assistance and ยท office quarters. With the approval of the Finance Committee, a transfer from the Reserve appropriation permitted com- pletion of the necessary permanent quarters with heating facilities in the Town Barn, and also to pay for the temporary clerical assistance pending the appointment of a permanent clerk by the Office of Price Administration.
Subsequently, the Office of Price Administration's Mass- achusetts office assumed full responsibility for the clerical work, and also for the nomination and appointment of all members of the Rationing Board-entirely divorcing this agency from the Board of Selectmen's activities.
The Board devoted considerable time throughout the year to the problem of war transportation. The Board con- ferred with the Public Utilities, appeared at one Public Utility hearing and conferred with the management of public carriers serving Wilbraham in the interest of improved service, rate and zone revision, and other matters, to meet transportation problems. The results of these efforts were all successful, re- sulting in added service, a new side route on certain trips serving Main Street south to Tinkham Road, and a reduced rate structure in fares on Boston Road between Springfield and Stony Hill Road, and also between Springfield and North Wilbraham. For further effort and planning toward assisting residents to meet their transportation problems, the Board appointed a War Transportation Committee which has been actively working on the problem.
The Board cooperated with the Wilbraham Garden Club in a program to encourage wartime gardening and home canning, extended the facilities of the highway department equipment and personnel to assist in the Salvage Drive, and appointed an Honor Roll Committee to do credit to Wilbra- ham's sons and daughters in War Service.
With the enthusiastic cooperation of the Committee on Public Safety, much needed equipment for protection was de- veloped by volunteer effort and by securing use of articles through loan, thereby reducing the Town's financial outlay for such protection facilities to a minimum.
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The Board has from time to time throughout the year conferred and worked with the various committees and officials of the Town and has invariably received cooperative and ener- getic interest, indicative of a very gratifying public interest and responsibility on the part of all of those active in Town's affairs.
Perhaps the most difficult problem faced by the Board was the problem of securing a resident physician for the Town. After months of effort and interviewing of prospective physi- cians, the Board was extremely fortunate in being able to persuade Dr. Edmund L. Saunders to locate in Wilbraham. Leaving an established metropolitan practice, Dr. Saunders moved his home to Wilbraham in November, residing on Springfield Street and opening his office on South Main Street.
Amongst new peacetime activities and problems for 1942 the Board registered three hundred and sixteen bicycles under the ordinance adopted at the last Town meeting, held hearings on the petitions for acceptance of four private ways (Bartlett Road, Bulkley Road, Forest Street and Manchonis Road ex- tension), and assigned street numbers to houses on most of the streets in the Town, reviewed and fixed street names, erected new street signs, established the voted new precinct lines, set up voting facilities for the new precinct "C" and arranged with private parties to collect garbage in certain sections of the Town where this matter had become a problem.
During 1942, the Town for the first time operated its own Well Child Clinic without the direct participation of state physicians. The Board wishes to congratulate the special com- mittee under the chairmanship of Mrs. Carl Nelson for its effective and generous work in connection with this extremely worthwhile program.
On the subject of protection of the public against fire hazards in buildings in the Town where the public might gather, the Board has arranged with the New England Fire Insurance Rating Association to inspect the premises of all holders of liquor licenses. The Board has also assisted in introducing an article in the warrant to provide for a second stairway and exit from the quarters occupied by the Rationing Board and the American Legion in the Town Barn.
The Town has to date been relatively fortunate in not suffering from scarlet fever in serious proportion. In fact the total number of cases reported for 1942 were ten compared with seven cases in 1941. The Board has found to date that no extraordinary precautions seemed required other than to urge residents to refrain from taking their children to city stores, movies or other public places.
At this time the Board wishes to call the attention of the voters to a matter of current interest. Since 1937 each worker employed by private industry has been included in the old age retirement provisions of the Social Security Act, and by his
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own tax contribution and the tax contribution of his employer provided for retirement benefits for his old age, and survivors' benefits for his widow, should he die before the youngest child reaches the age of eighteen, and also for benefits for the wife or widow when she reaches the age of sixty-five.
Under the present provisions of the Social Security, work- ers employed by municipalities are excluded from the taxation program of the Social Security Act, and consequently from the previously mentioned benefits of said act.
For many years the State has operated the Teacher's Retirement Fund, but at present our Town has no program for the old age and survivorship protection of its other em- ployees, including the men who work for the highway de- partment.
We recommend therefore that the Town authorize and direct the establishment of a committee to study and report on the desirability, cost, and necessary procedure for accepting whatever provisions of the Municipal Employees Retirement Act are necessary to provide the deserved old age protection for Town employees.
As yet the Town has not received any official decision in the determination of title procedures brought in the Land Court in reference to the Mountain school, the Mile Tree school and the Stony Hill school. The Board believes that eventual title clarification of these properties by authoritative jurisdiction will be for the best interest of the Town and all the people interested.
The task of administering the affairs of our Town under conditions of war has extended into many unforseen problems. We still recall the arduous days of financial depression and the vastly different problems which were paramount then in the duties of town administration.
We advocate the continuation of prudent planning for the days ahead when employment may again be at a low ebb, and the financial ability of the tax payer even more severely strained than before.
There is a respectable accumulation of funds in the town treasury which should cushion the town for future emergen- cies. We recommend that these funds be zealously kept in re- serve, and that 1943 taxation provide for all 1943 costs of local government.
For the sympathetic understanding of all of our towns- people we extend our sincerest thanks.
Faithfully yours, GEORGE E. MURPHY, JR. J. LORING BROOKS, JR. ALBERT L. MARTIN
Selectmen of Town of Wilbraham
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Report of War Transportation Committee
From all indications, 1943 will not be an easy year with respect to the problem of providing transportation for the residents of Wilbraham. Up to within a comparatively short time ago, it has not been too difficult a one to solve, but in recent weeks the picture has been considerably changed, and it is with a distinct sense of apprehension that your committee views the outlook for the future. Public transporation facilities are already overburdened at certain times of the day, and as the weeks go by, their burden surely will be increased if gasoline rations are restricted further in order to make certain of an ample supply of this vital commodity for our fighting forces, and to relieve the fuel oil shortage now existing in New England.
It is with this thought in mind that we urge upon you a constant awareness of the seriousness of this situation and the need for co-operation on the part of everyone in helping to lessen and distribute the burden on our already over-taxed facilities. We are confident that during this critical period material benefits will be derived from observance of the follow- ing suggestions:
Try to arrange for at least four passengers in every car which carries workers to and from their jobs.
If you ride on the busses, use the mid-day trips whenever possible, and avoid the busy hours.
Use the trains as much as possible.
If you must drive to the city for doctor's treatment or other necessary errands, call your neighbors and share your car on such trips.
Make up groups for shopping trips on certain days of the week.
When going to church, arrange to transport others.
Be on the lookout for persons who may have missed the bus - particularly at the busy hours - and offer a ride if you have room in your car.
Above all - don't drive unnecessarily and with an empty car.
Your committee will welcome inquiries and pledges its help in arranging for pooled rides or a share-your-car program wherever possible - but we ask your help in bringing your problems to us. As a result of a canvass conducted by the ladies of the town, we now have available quite a complete index of the workers in town and their hours, and we believe this information will prove especially useful and helpful to you.
Let's attack this job in the American way, and by a united effort on the part of us all, work out the manner and means for providing necessary transportation which will be the most adequate and least inconvenient for all concerned.
IRVING J. CORDNER, Chairman MARY L. LYNCH, Secretary
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Report of Planning Board
The Planning Board has not been particularly active during the past year in routine matters. There has been only one change of zone acted upon, which was a hold-over from several years back.
At the 1942 Town Meeting the Planning Board requested an appropriation for the purpose of revising the existing ordi- nances and the zoning map. The appropriation was granted and in accordance with the powers under the article in the warrant, the Planning Board engaged Mr. Maynard Saunders, Planning Engineer of Springfield, to assist the board in revision of the present zoning ordinances. Several meetings were held during the year with Mr. Saunders and due to the number of changes which were necessary in the existing bylaws, it was felt that it would be desirable to draft new ordinances. Mr. Saunders was accordingly advised to proceed with drawing these new ordinances and work was started. It was anticipated at the time Mr. Saunders was directed to proceed that these revised ordinances and a new map would be ready for action at the Town Meeting in 1943. Unfortunately, due to Mr. Saunders' pressure of duties in organizing Civilian Defense in Springfield and illness late in the year, these revised ordinances are not completed at this time. It is anticipated, however, that early in this year the new bylaws will be completed and ready for submission to the next Town Meeting.
During the discussions with Mr. Saunders, many discrep- ancies were noted in the zoning ordinances and there are many loopholes which it was felt should be stopped. The revised ordinances are an attempt to overcome these discrepancies and loopholes. It should be borne in mind that zoning is the outstanding example of "the greatest benefit to the largest number." There probably will be cases where individuals may feel aggrieved and the Planning Board fully appreciates this fact. Nevertheless, it has proceeded upon the basis of what is best for the town as a whole rather than preferences of individuals. At the same time due consideration has been given the fact that Wilbraham originally and to a large extent at present is a farming community, but within the past few years has given many indications that it is developing mainly as a residential area, and the new zoning ordinances attempt to provide proper protection for such use, at the same time with- out infringing upon the rights of the individual to conduct activities presently carried on in a particular location.
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It is the hope of the Planning Board that when the new ordinances are ready and submitted to the Town Meeting that they will receive favorable consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
A. I. MACDONALD, Chairman WALTER LAUFFERT HERBERT SWETLAND RAY PALMER RUSSELL HARRINGTON
Planning Board.
Town Clerk's Report
Births recorded
56
Births of prior years recorded
36
Correction of record of births
13
Marriages recorded
72
Correction of record of marriage
1
Deaths recorded
34
Personal property mortgages recorded
18
Other instruments recorded
8
Oaths administered
58
Gasoline permits renewed
18
Dog licenses, male
210
Dog licenses, female
58
Dog licenses, spayed female
83
Dog licenses, kennel
4
Resident Citizens' Fishing licenses
140
Resident Citizens' Hunting licenses
124
Resident Citizens' Sporting licenses
82
Resident Citizens' Women's and Minor's Fishing[licenses
56
Resident Minor Trapper's licenses
2
Resident Citizens' Trapping licenses
4
Resident Citizens' Trapping and Sporting Free
7
Non Resident Citizens' Hunting licenses
1
Non Resident Citizens' Special Fishing licenses
1
Duplicate licenses
1
JENNIE T. ABBOTT,
Town Clerk.
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Wilbraham:
It gives me pleasure to submit herewith my second annual report as superintendent of schools in the town of Wilbraham.
Changes in Personnel
In June Miss Katherine A. Hart terminated a long and successful teaching career in Wilbraham. A great many children were fortunate in being able to begin their formal schooling under her careful guidance. A good start in school is very important. Miss Hart's pupils received such a start. Her sympathetic understanding of young children was exemplified in the high quality of the results which she accomplished. Indicative of Miss Hart's popularity was the very large at- tendance at the farewell reception given in her honor.
To fill the vacancy caused by Miss Hart's resignation, the school committee, acting on the recommendation of the superin- tendent, elected Miss Christine E. Pike of Charlemont, Mass., to teach the first and second grades at the Springfield Street School. Miss Pike graduated from the State Teachers' College at North Adams in June, 1941, when she received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education. She came to Wilbraham after one year's successful experience in the lower grades in Colrain, Massachusetts. Miss Pike is living up to the fine recommendations which accompanied her application and outstanding success should be hers in the teaching profession.
Mrs. Simmington, principal of The Pines School, was granted an extended leave of absence due to a prolonged ill- ness. It is hoped that soon she will have recovered and that she will be able again to resume her duties at The Pines where she is loved by all her teachers and pupils.
Mrs. Pearl P. Chouffet of West Springfield is substituting for Mrs. Simmington in a most satisfactory manner. Miss Marion E. Kelley is serving very acceptably as acting-principal during Mrs. Simmington's absence.
At the suggestion of Mrs. Tower, Art Supervisor, Mrs. Simmington recently composed a poem which was sent to all residents of Wilbraham who are serving in the armed forces of the United States. We are proud to reproduce it below. It is conclusive evidence of Mrs. Simmington's remarkable ability. This prayer was printed in booklet form, the cover of which was decorated by the older boys and girls. Many notes of appreciation have come from the recipients and have greatly pleased Mrs. Simmington and the school children. This poem was published in the January issue of The Massachusetts Teacher, the official magazine of the Massachusetts Teachers' Federation.
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A Prayer For Our Boys
Dear God, Who watches over all
And knows our fears and joys,
Look down upon this war-torn world
And guard our Wilbraham boys.
From valleys, plains, and mountains loved They came unselfishly
In answer to the call to arms To make all nations free.
Make every star in heaven's dome To them a guiding light
Which says to them if courage fails, "Fight on! our cause is right!"
Watch over them, dear Lord, we pray; Till every flag's unfurled
From east to west, from north to south,
Above a peaceful world.
-Agnes I. Simmington
It is with the deepest regret that the passing of Dr. Arthur L. Damon is recorded. For almost twenty years he served sympathetically, understandingly, and efficiently the town of Wilbraham as School Physician. He often said that the last thing he wanted to give up was his work among the boys and girls in the schools. This wish was gratified. The loss of Dr. Damon is felt deeply by all of those who are connected with our schools.
Dr. Edmund L. Saunders, a former Boston specialist, was appointed recently to be the new School Physician. Prior to this appointment Dr. Rohr of East Longmeadow served as acting School Physician.
DR. ARTHUR L. DAMON School Physician 1923 - 1942
Eelmentary Schools and the War
During the past year much has occurred to greatly change the slogan "school as usual". In spite of the attractiveness of such a phrase, no one can declare truthfully that such is now the case. The nation is at war-all of us are at war and that means our schools are at war. In addition to teaching the
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