USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1946-1950 > Part 16
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Private Schools
Wilbraham Academy
Fire Protection
Stations at Wilbraham and North Wilbraham - Telephone 24
Police
Five elected Constables and Monson Barracks, State Police - Telephone Palmer 800
Recreational Facilities
Three playgrounds, two skating rinks, swimming beach (additional play- ground to be developed on Main Street Municipal Lot)
Town Highways Public Library Churches
Approximately 46 miles
At North Wilbraham
Four - United at Wilbraham, Con- gregational at North Wilbraham, Roman Catholic at North Wilbra- ham, Methodist at Glendale
Highest Altitude
937 feet Mt. Chapin
Vital Statistics for 1948
Births - 65 Marriages - 65
Deaths -32
School Pupils Elementary - 332 High School - 98 Vocational - 23
4
Town Services - Telephone Directory
Fire Tel. 24
Town Office Tel. 33
Department
Call
Telephone
Assessors - Property
Assessors
33
Birth Certificate
Town Clerk
33
Board of Health
Selectmen
33
Building Permits
Building Inspector
Mr. Herter
16-11
Charities and Relief
Welfare Department
33
Dog Licenses
Town Clerk
33
Dog Roaming
Dog Warden
Mr. Bacon
4-13
Electrical Permits
Building Inspector
Mr. Herter
16-11
Fishing & Hunting Licenses
Town Clerk
33
Highways
Superintendent
277
Library
Librarian
275
Marriage Licenses
Town Clerk
33
Police
Constables
Mr. Donahue
116
Peddlers, etc.
Selectmen
33
Rubbish, Garbage Disposal
Selectmen
33
Sanitary Inspectors
Selectmen
33
Schools
Pines
Sp. 8-1029
Schools
North Wilbraham No. 8
217
Schools
Springfield St. No. 4
216
School Nurse
Supt. of Schools
E. Long. 436
Taxes
Tax Collector
33
Town Treasurer
Town Office
33
Trees
Tree Warden
Mr. Hayn 232
Visiting Nurse
Visiting Nurse Asso.
Sp. 2-4145
Water Department
Superintendent
Mr. Keyes 144
Main Street, Just North of New School Lot
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
TOWN OFFICES
*
The First Visit of a Massachusetts Governor to Wilbraham, as Townspeople Greet His Excellency Robert F. Bradford at Town Offices
Governmental Districts and Representatives for the Town of Wilbraham
Second Congressional District Seventh Councillor District
Worcester and Hampden Senatorial District First Hampden Representative District
United States Senators
Leverett Saltonstall, Newton Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Beverly
Representative in Congress Foster Furcolo, Longmeadow
Councillor John J. O'Brien, Worcester
State Senator Edward W. Staves, Southbridge
Representatives in General Court
Raymond H. Beach, Wilbraham Clarence B. Brown, Brimfield
County Commissioners Charles W. Bray, Chicopee Thomas F. Sullivan, Springfield William F. Stapleton, Holyoke
Annual Town Meeting
March 26, 1949
7
Elected Town Officers AND DATE OF EXPIRATION OF TERM
Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare
Irving J. Cordner, Chairman, 1949 J. Loring Brooks, Jr., 1950 Carl Nelson, 1951
Assessors George E. Egan, Chairman, 1949 Henry I. Edson, 1950 E. Ray Pease, 1951
School Committee
Esther S. Preston, 1949 Carl F. Alsing, 1950 William F. Roach, 1951
Town Collector Lillian E. Thompson, 1949
Treasurer and Town Clerk Walter F. Berry, 1949
Auditor William E. Porter, 1949
Cemetery Commissioners
Adelbert J. Brooks, 1949 Lee W. Rice, 1950 Roland H. Bennett, 1951
Water Commissioners
Everett P. Pickens, 1949 John F. Baldwin, 1950 Walter L. Woods, 1951
Trustees of Public Library Howe S. Newell, 1949 H. W. Cutler, 1950 Alice P. Plimpton, 1951
Tree Warden Ernest M. Hayn, 1949
8
Constables
Giacomo Alberici, 1949 Ernest L. Bacon, 1949 Jerry Donohue, 1949 Stephen Lopata, 1949 John B. Tupper, 1949
Planning Board
William F. Roach, 1949, Resigned Oren K. Gilbert, 1950 Russell Harrington, 1951 Ralph S. Stedman, 1952 Dudley Bliss, 1953 Gordon W. Holdridge, Appointed, 1949
Playground Commissioners
Louis E. Keyes, 1949 Joseph B. Nalepa, 1950 Ralph S. Stedman, 1951
Pound Keeper Jerry Donohue, 1949
Measurers of Wood and Charcoal
Walter Clark, 1949 Robert M. Welch, 1949
Surveyors of Lumber
Walter Clark, 1949 J. Wilbur Rice, 1949
Field Drivers
Jerry Donohue, 1949 Norman Thurlow, 1949 John B. Tupper, 1949
Weighers of Grain
Henry Clark, 1949 Harlan Wheeler, 1949
9
Officers Appointed by Selectmen AND DATE OF EXPIRATION OF TERM
Town Counsel Frank Auchter, 1949
Superintendent of Streets William M. North, 1949
Financial Committee
Joseph J. Baldwin, 1949
Richard L. Danforth, 1949
John W. Gale, 1949 John J. Lyons, 1949 George E. Murphy, Jr., 1949 Albert L. Martin, 1949 Edward P. Raciborski, 1949
Bookkeeper Hattie E. G. Burbank, Resigned Lillian E. Thompson, Appointed, 1949
Forest Warden Ralph E. Tupper, 1949
Sealer of Weights and Measures Adelbert J. Brooks, 1949
Building Inspector George Herter, 1949
Milk Inspector
James M. Pickens, 1949
Inspector of Slaughtering James M. Pickens, 1949
Board of Fire Commissioners
Wesley G. Chapman, 1949 David J. Muir, 1949 Fred B. Reidy, 1949
Gypsy Moth Superintendent E. Ray Pease, 1949
Registrar of Voters Walter F. Berry (Ex-Officio), 1949 William L. Dempsey, 1951 Harold R. Porter, 1949 John J. Powers, 1950
10
Dog Officer George E. Egan, 1949, Resigned Ernest L. Bacon, 1949, Appointed
Social Worker Helen C. Boden
Fence Viewers
Harold W. Brown, 1949 William L. Dempsey, 1949 John J. Lyons, 1949
Well Child Clinic
Barbara T. Brooks, 1949
Margaret C. Brown, 1949
Louise D. Folsom, 1949 Ina A. Morgan, 1949 Margaret Nelson, Chairman, 1949 Avis B. Ryder, 1949 Edith H. Williamson, 1949
School Dentist Irving P. Dinneen, D.D.S., 1949
Board of Appeals Gordon W. Holdridge, 1950, Resigned Albert L. Martin, 1951 George E. Murphy, Jr., 1949 Jessie L. Rice, 1950 John W. Gale, 1949 (Associate Member)
Wilbraham Safety Committee Walter F. Berry, 1949 Bert Gowell, 1949
William F. Logan, 1949
William M. North, 1949
Ralph E. Tupper, 1949 Carleton R. Reid, 1949
Burial Agent for Veterans William F. Logan
Animal Inspector Fred C. Phelps, Resigned James M. Pickens, Temporary Appointment Ernest L. Bacon, 1949, Appointed
11
School Calendar, 1948-1949
First Term: Wednesday, Sept. 8, to Wednesday, Dec. 22
Second Term: Monday, January 3, to Friday, February 25
Third Term: Monday, March 7, to Friday, April 29
Fourth Term: Monday, May 9, to Friday, June 24
The schools are closed on Friday, October 8, Teacher- Parent Institute; Friday, October 22, annual meeting of the Hampden County Teachers' Association; Wednesday noon, November 24, to Friday, November 26, inclusive, Thanksgiving recess; Friday, April 15, Good Friday; and on all legal holidays.
School Directory, January, 1949
Superintendent of Schools
Harold A. Truell, 2255 Allen Street, East Longmeadow
Superintendent's Secretary
Mrs. Emily Condon, 161 Sumner Avenue, Springfield
Teachers
THE PINES SCHOOL :
Marion E. Kelley, Principal, 3208 Boston Road, North Wilbraham Grade 8
Mrs. Pearl P. Chouffet, 42 Plateau Ave., West Springfield Grade 7
Helen S. Kochanek, 39 Ludlow Ave., Indian Orchard Grades 5-6
Mrs. Lorraine B. Ide, 3432 Main St., Springfield Grades 3-4
Marion L. Holland, 218 Pearl St., Springfield Grade 2 Jean A. Roberts, 201 Osborne Ter., Springfield Grade 1
SPRINGFIELD STREET SCHOOL : Mrs. Millicent G. Green, Principal, 399 Main St., Wilbraham Grade 3 Mrs. Marguerite G. Brady, 9 Orlando St., Wilbraham Grade 2
Mrs. Clara B. Merrill, 20 Summit St., Springfield Grade 1
12
NORTH WILBRAHAM SCHOOL :
Mrs. Mary G. Logan, Principal, 15 Maple St., North Wilbraham Grade 6
Mrs. Stasia K. Lavoie, 35 Stebbins St., Ludlow Grade 5
Mrs. Agnes C. Coote, Bulkley Road, Wilbraham Grade 4
Janitors
THE PINES SCHOOL: Charles Lapine, 98 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham (P. O. Ludlow)
SPRINGFIELD STREET SCHOOL: Henry Hyde, Wilbraham
NORTH WILBRAHAM SCHOOL: Patrick Fitzgerald, North Wilbraham
Supervisor of Art
Mrs. Helen B. Tower, Allen Street, Hampden (P. O. East Longmeadow)
Supervisor of Music
Mrs. Liane S. Fontaine, 451 Main Street, Palmer
Supervisor of Handwriting
William L. Rinehart, 740 Main Street, Waltham 54
School Physician
Arthur H. Goodwin, M. D., 300 Main Street, Wilbraham
School Nurse
Signe L. Polson, 36 Summit Street, Springfield
Supervisor of Attendance
Charles Lapine, 98 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham (P. O. Ludlow)
13
Town Owned Property at Assessed Valuation
Description
Land
Buildings
Equipment
Insurance
Soldiers' Park
$3,500.00
Glendale Memorial Park
300.00
Collins Park
1,000.00
No. 3 School
$500.00
$2,000.00
No. 4 School
No. 8 School
2,135.00
57,960.00
106,800.00
Pines School
Tax Title Property
1,070.00
1,105.00
Cemeteries (includes
Vault at Adams Cem.)
1,600.00
500.00
Municipal Lot (Sackett)
2,000.00
Grassy Hollow
1,320.00
Highway Lot
600.00
3,950.00
2,500.00
Perry Barn
300.00
1,250.00
6,000.00
Library Building
2
5,500.00
7,333.33
Fire Department Bldg. S
750.00
3,400.00
Water System
$111,000.00
Sealer Weights and Measures
1,000.00
1,500.00
Town Office
1,000.00
Town Owned Equipment
Year Purchased
Cost
Insurance
Maxim. 500 Gal. Pump Hose Wagon
1927
$10,000.00
$5,000.00
Sanford Reo Triple Spec. Comb.
1938
5,500.00
5,000.00
Chevrolet 11/2-Ton Dump Truck
1941
1,369.20
Cash Value
Chevrolet 34-Ton Stake Body Truck
1947
1,269.00
1,200.00
Case Tractor
1946
1,323.00
1,500.00
Huber Grader and Bulldozer
1948
3,475.00
3,500.00
3 Sand Spreaders
917.00
5 Snow Plows
1,873.00
600.00
14
Comparative Annual Expenditures of Town Appropriations
(Accounts with receipts or offsetting credits other than appropriations shown in detail in Schedule 2%)
SCHEDULE 1
Account
1948 Appropriation or Transfer from Reserve
1948 Total Expenditures of Town Appro.
1948 Unexpended Balance
1947 Expenditures of Town Appro.
1946 Expenditures of Town Appro.
1945 Expenditures of Town Appro.
Aid to Agriculture
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
* Aid to Dependent Children
4,800.00
4,264.95
$535.05
1,699.19
$1,299.37
$898.76
Assessor's Expense
1,100.00
1,099.49
.51
1,030.18
779.99
477.12
Board of Health
1,300.00
816.90
483.10
670.20
996.70
2,964.87
Building Inspector's Expense
150.00
150.00
28.00
11.84
* Cemeteries
1,290.00
1,287.84
2.16
1,085.33
964.67
1,094.75
* Dental Clinic
901.20
901.20
597.85
632.80
596.00
* Election Expense
1,231.50
1,220.84
10.66
274.75
745.03
150.00
Fire Department
5,000.00
4,950.15
49.85
4,701.50
4,388.88
3,500.00
Forest Warden
500.00
498.74
1.26
786.25
320.75
254.50
1,200.00
1,156.37
43.63
1,078.76
962.66
654.79
*Garbage Collection Service Gypsy Moth
700.00
671.70
28.30
691.80
699.28
591.77
*Highways - Bartlett Ave.
*351.90
341.62
10.28
1,398.10
17,250.00
17,249.33
.67
17,248.40
13,800.00
10,817.19
- Chapter 90 Maintenance
** 5,450.00
5,048.51
401.49
1,499.58
899.88
1,190.90
- Chapter 90 Improvement or rebuilding
*37,067.33
3,108.77
33,958.56
21,662.72
19.95
- Forest St.
*426.43
420.85
5.58
1,323.57
- Hunting Lane
750.00
728.42
21.58
- Merrill Road
2,000.00
1,401.40
598.60
.
.
. .
* Includes balance from 194",
** Includes bank loan
15
-
Chapter 81
COMPARATIVE ANNUAL EXPENDITURES OF TOWN APPROPRIATIONS (Continued)
Account
1948 Appropriation or Transfer from Reserve
1948 Total Expenditures of Town Appro.
1948 Unexpended Balance
1947 Expenditures of Town Appro.
1946 Expenditures of Town Appro.
1945 Expenditures of Town Appro.
*Highways (Continued)
- Miscellaneous
$8,500.00
$8,039.85
$ 460.15
$5,879.74
- Nokomis Rd.
*4,541.63
2,705.46
1,836.17
1,208.37
- Ridgewood Rd.
650.00
621.86
28.14
- Purchase of Grader with attachments
3,835.00
3,835.00
- Safety Committee Expense
50.00
28.00
22.00
26.40
25.00
25.00
- Safety Committee - Protection of children
600.00
600.00
600.00
600.00
600.00
Insurance and Bonding
1,100.00
1,057.55
42.45
1,004.73
1,046.14
702.64
Interest
50.00
50.00
140.63
Land Use Survey (Sackett land)
*250.00
50.00
200.00
Legal
600.00
200.00
400.00
356.00
608.58
204.00
*Library
3,143.34
.3,065.67
77.67
2,219.34
2,048.04
2,221.10
Memorial Day
150.00
78.00
72.00
136.84
98.55
75.74
*Old Age Assistance
16,020.82
16,020.82
12,500.00
13,127.41
9,968.48
Parks
291.70
291.70
216.89
212.10
216.00
Planning Board
900.00
601.65
298.35
500.00
Plans for School and Community Bldg.
*20,530.00
7,852.32
12,677.68
Playground
1,200.00
1,156.21
43.79
2,150.00
1,931.34
384.59
Poison Ivy Control
250.00
241.30
8.70
149.40
Police
100.00
55.00
45.00
80.25
72.00
88.55
Printing Town Reports
890.00
887.25
.
2.75
781.50
625.91
572.54
..
16
*Public Welfare
*8,500.00
6,617.21
1,882.79
7,406.12
3,447.71 101.61
4,193.75
Registrar's Expense
150.00
117.21
32.79
98.13
104.75
Road Machinery Operating Account
1,250.00
1,225.89
24.11
914.87
753.57
763.35
*Schools
92,648.00
91,523.23
1,124.77
83,273.02
75,302.04
70,305.25
Selectmen's Contingent
903.02
903.02
382.42
442.34
849.58
Street Lights
3,400.00
3,139.48
260.52
2,906.58
2,759.96
2,730.99
Town Clerk's Expense
325.00
224.36
100.64
145.71
90.87
178.51
Town Collector's Expense
800.00
694.34
105.66
523.50
334.62
237.45
Town Officers and Employees Salaries
8,250.00
8,074.39
175.61
6,559.23
6,828.55
6,041.92
Town Offices and Building - Rent and Maintenance
800.00
631.90
168.10
957.01
1,058.97
922.34
Town Treasurer's Expense
430.00
324.21
105.79
385.57
184.18
208.45
Tree Warden
750.00
620.11
129.89
849.90
599.92
518.19
* Veteran's Benefits
2,500.00
1,424.01
1,075.99
1,054.72
1,063.49
930.79
Water Bonds and Interest
4,080.00
4,080.00
4,200.00
4,320.00
4,440.00
* Water Department
Article 17
*54,115.68
36,972.26
17,143.42
7,884.32
Installations
*7,275.33
7,214.65
60.68
5,847.13
9,839.41
Maintenance
9,200.00
8,141.78
1,058.22
7,387.73
2,845.25
Bill-Standpipe
902.95
902.95
Water Notes and Interest
2,783.00
2,767.20
15.80
Well Child Clinic
600.00
496.25
103.75
490.38
460.01
510.00
Wilbraham Contributory Account
332.40
332.40
.
$345,141.23
$269,006.57
$76,134.66
$215,017.61
$165,384.04
$136,948.53
* Includes balance from 1947 ** Includes bank loan
17
Net Cost to the Town of Accounts with Receipts or Offsetting Credits Other than Town Appropriations
SCHEDULE 2
1948 Expenditures of Town Appropriations (See Schedule 1)
1948 Receipts from Federal. State, County, Cities or Towns ( Available for Expenditure)
1948 - Total Expenditures Including Receipts
Offsetting Credits to Gen. Treas. (Not Available for Expenditure)
1948 Net Cost to the Town
1947 Net Cost to the Town
Aid to Dependent Children
$4,264.95
$914.85
$5,179.80
$931.04
$3,333.91
$1,112.56
Cemeteries
1.287.84
1,287.84
40.00
1,247.84
951.25
Dental Clinic
901.20
901.20
84.75
816.45
514.35
Election Expense
1,220.84
1,220.84
9.35
1,211.49
274.75
Garbage Collection
1,156.37
1,156.37
*1,197.00
*40.63
*76.24
Library (includes Dog Tax)
3,065.67
3,065.67
292.06
2,773.61
1,925.19
Highways - Bartlett Ave.
341.62
Chapter 81
17,249.33
Chapter 90 Maintenance
5,048.51
Chapter 90 Imp. or Rebldg.
3,108.77
- Forest St.
420.85
Hunting Lane
728.42
Merrill Rd.
1,401.40
Miscellaneous
8,039.85
Nokomis Rd.
2,705.46
Ridgewood Rd.
621.86
39,666.07
12,339.32
27,326.75
32,335.79
Old Age Assistance
16,020.82
9,942.13
25,962.95
8 102.25
7,918.57
2,753.32
Public Welfare
6,617.21
Schools
91,523.23
Veterans' Benefits
1,424.01
1,424.01
416.73
1,007.28
563.62
Water Department - Maintenance
8,141.78
Installations
10,214.65
-
Deposits
5,418.98
- Article 17
36,972.26
- Water Bonds.
Notes and Interest 6,847.20
67,594.87
23,658.72
43,926.15
9,791.27
. .
. .
. .
.
6,617.21
1,779.44
4,837.77
5,710.86
91,523.23
19,462.09
72,061.14
69,545.49
ยท
* Credit
18
Account
JUDGE ERNEST E. HOBSON Former Town Counsel
The Board of Selectmen and all Town Officials were deeply disappointed when Judge Ernest E. Hobson found it necessary to resign as Wilbraham's Town Counsel at the end of 1947 after nearly twenty years of service in that office.
Serving as judge in both the Superior Court as well as the Palmer District Court in addition to caring for an ex- tensive law practice, Judge Hobson still found time to de- vote an unusual amount of thought and energy to good local government in his service both to his home town of Palmer and to Wilbraham as Town Counsel.
Throughout his legal association with Wilbraham, he has always willingly rendered far more service than the scope of the office would normally require. His construc- tive judgment and careful advice have contributed im- measurably to Wilbraham's sound progress.
In Memoriam hattie E. G. Burbank
The Board of Selectmen is joined by all Townspeople in a sincere tribute to the memory of the late Hattie E. G. Burbank who has served the Town as bookkeeper faithfully and untiringly for the past seventeen years. Her cheerful courage and willing enthusiasm are keenly missed by all who knew her.
19
Town of Wilbraham BALANCE SHEET-DECEMBER 31, 1948
GENERAL ACCOUNTS
LIABILITIES AND RESERVE
Assets
Federal Taxes Withheld
$1,332.00
Cash :
County Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment - Overestimate
117.55
Surplus War Bonus
Surplus War Bonus Fund and Accumulations
2,538.00
Sale of Real Estate Fund 7,099.90
Tailing's
20.25
Taxes :
Road Machinery Fund
2,438.62
Levy of 1947
$193.32
1,100.00
Levy of 1948
11,146.47
11,339.79
Planning Board Deposits Federal Grants : Old Age Assistance: Assistance Administration
$439.13
Tax Titles
$518.47
Tax Possessions
177.08
695.55
Assistance 238.76
820.88
Departmental :
Selectmen
$2,764.50
Aid to Dependent Children
1,198.19
Land Use Survey - Sackett Lot 200.00
Old Age Assistance
2,530.02
Veterans' Benefits
620.20
7,112.91
Town By-Laws 500.00
Plans for Sewerage System
742.00
Water Department:
Rates
$326.06
Miscellaneous
532.45
858.51
Reserve Fund - Overlay Surplus
7,847.24
Aid to Highways: State
$11,007.14
$193.32
County
3,830.00
14,837.14
Overlays Reserved for Abatements : Levy of 1947 Levy of 1948
1,899.31
2,092.63
General
$171,295.08 2,538.00
$173,833.08
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise : Levy of 1948
538.69
142.99
Aid to Dependent Children :
Unexpended Balances : Highway Construction, Chap. 90 $33,958.56 Relocate Twelve Mile Brook 346.40
Plans for School and Com. Bldg. 12,677.68
Const. of Trunk Water Mains 17,143.42
65,568.06
Accounts Receivable :
20
Dog Officer's Fees
14.50
Revenue Reserved Until Collected : Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise $538.69
Tax Title 695.55
Departmental 7,112.91
Water 858.51 State and County Aid to Hwys. 14,837.14
24,042.80
Underestimates :
State Parks and Reservation Tax $35.36
County Tax
242.82
278.18
Overdrawn Account:
Surplus Revenue
95,309.15
Highways Chapter 90 Maintenance
798.51
$210,327.08
$210,327.08
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt $53,500.00
Water Loans $53,500.00
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Chloe B. Stebbins Charity Fund
$208.89
Deacon Warriner School Fund 782.93
School Lot Fund 803.42
Chloe B. Stebbins Library Fund
117.21
Abner Bell Library Fund
46.83
Henry Cutler Library Fund
1,155.31
Morton L. Day Library Fund
321.09
Town Community House Building Fund
561.17
Civil War Mortar Memorial Plaque Fund
36.08
Laura Bruuer Cemetery General Care Fund
1,151.79
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds 8,496.12
Soldier Monument Park Fund 1,061.51
Post-War Rehabilitation Fund 101,066.75
$115,809.10
$115,809.10
21
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Trust and Investment Accounts :
Cash and Securities $115,809.10
Overpayments to County : Dog Licenses
$3.60
Contributory Retirement System 16.62
20.22
Pictures and News from Great and Little Wilbraham in England - from which Wilbraham, Massachusetts Received Its Name
q: Wilbraham
Gt Wilbraham
22
EXTRACTS FROM LETTER WRITTEN DECEMBER 9, 1948 BY THE VICAR OF GREAT WILBRAHAM TO MRS. CARL NELSON OF WILBRAHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
The Vicarage Great Wilbraham N. Cambridge, England December 9, 1948
... There are two adjoining villages, Great and Little Wilbraham, very similar in kind.
Great Wilbraham is a country village seven miles from Cambridge, a city which contains the famous university with its celebrated col- leges and churches. But Wilbraham itself is an old-fashioned country village with a mainly agricultural and farming population. The majority of the people are farm labourers living in thatched cottages, although a few go to work in Cambridge by a daily bus which started only a few years ago. During the war many young girls cycled in throughout the year to work in factories. There are now a certain number of council houses with electric light and modern conveniences. There is a village school for children up to 11 years old; then they go by bus to a central secondary school situated at a village three miles away. The population of the village is about 400.
The church is very old, about a thousand years, and two years ago was badly damaged in a storm which blew off one of the 4 pin- nacles of the tower. The people have worked hard to raise the money for the necessary repairs.
The local squire originally owned the whole area, but has now let out the land to various farmers and keeps only his private grounds and woods and a nursery for selling Xmas trees. Every year we have a decorated Xmas tree in the school for the children's party and in the church for the church services. There is a village War Memorial Hall where Whist Drives and dances are held; and there are branches of the Mothers' Union, the Women's Institute and the British Legion.
Little Wilbraham is a similar kind of village, but smaller.
It has its own church, but the 2 villages combine in social activi- ties. In both there are many old people and a number of invalids.
The locality escaped much bombing in the war, but we had aero- dromes close at hand including an American bomber station; and there were many American airmen in Cambridge.
I will be very pleased to hear that you have received this letter and to give you any further information.
Yours very sincerely,
H. K. FRANCE Vicar of Great Wilbraham
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Report of Board of Selectmen
WATER
During the year the Selectmen cooperated with the Wa- ter Commissioners in the development of a solution to the town's lack of volume and pressure in its water distribu- tion system. This joint action ultimately led to the signing of a contract with the Metropolitan Water Commission for supplying water to the town from the Quabbin Reservoir. It is expected that the necessary pipe lines will be com- pleted in the year 1950.
To prepare our water system to adequately distribute the volume and pressure which the new supply will provide it was necessary to extend the water mains westerly on Boston Road to Stony Hill Road and southerly on Stony Hill Road to connect up with existing mains. The 1947 Annual Town Meeting voted to appropriate $55,000 and the Special Town Meeting held September 17, 1948 voted to appropriate $7,000 for this purpose, $30,000 of which
Springfield Street, Last Chapter 90 Project Completed
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was transferred from unappropriated available funds and the remaining $32,000 is to be raised by the issue of water notes to be retired over a ten-year period.
SCHOOL AND AUDITORIUM
A great deal of time has been given by the Selectmen acting jointly with the School Committee to the choosing of architects and the study of plans for the proposed ele- mentary school and all-purpose community auditorium- gymnasium. Two special town meetings have been held at which this important project was discussed.
Subsequent to the development of the first tentative plans, legislation was passed providing for a State aid pro- gram of 20% to 50% of the cost of consolidated schools, the percentage allowed depending upon the valuation of the town and number of pupils as compared to the State as a whole. Based on these factors it was later determined that Wilbraham's share of this aid would amount to approx- imately 331/3 %.
An application for this aid in the form of a letter to- gether with preliminary plans of the school have now been forwarded to the State Commission. Final plans and speci- fications are being completed which will be forwarded to the Commission as soon as ready. Contractor's bids will be obtained from these plans and definite specifications will be submitted to the 1949 Annual Town Meeting.
HIGHWAYS
In 1947 the State failed to allocate sufficient funds to enable the town to complete the Chapter 90 road work planned for that year on Springfield Street. Rebuilding of the remaining gap just west of Stony Hill Road was per- force postponed. In 1948 the plan for early construction of a new school on the town lot forced the Selectmen to the conclusion that the widening and improving of Main Street from Gebeau's garage to the town lot must be given priority over all other projects. Throughout the year a great many meetings have been held with the Department of Public Works and their engineers both in Boston and in Wilbra- ham and with the County Commissioners to provide a lay- out which would equitably serve the interests of the abut- ters and adequately provide for public safety at this danger- ous point. Such a plan has finally been evolved and final plans in anticipation of early construction have been com- pleted.
Tentative plans for a five-year program are now being developed for Chapter 90 construction and maintenance to be completed as rapidly as the town's appropriations for
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this will permit. Included in this program will be plans for painting white center lines on the highways at points where they will prove most beneficial to public safety.
Your Board of Selectmen has been seriously concerned with the danger of the Canal Bridge. This bridge primarily
Section of Main Street near New School Lot to be Relocated and Rebuilt in 1949 under Chapter 90 Construction
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