USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1951-1955 > Part 30
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ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1955, 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 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 4. Recommend.
ARTICLE 5. To raise such sums of money as may be deemed necessary for defraying the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year and appropriate the same and vote how the same shall be raised.
ARTICLE 5.
Aid to Agriculture
$ 125.00
Aid to Dependent Children
2,000.00
Aid to Disabled
6,000.00
Assessor's Expense Account
3,000.00
Board of Health
6,000.00
Building Inspector's Expense
100.00
Cemeteries
1,800.00
Civil Defense
6,500.00
Community Program - Schools
3,500.00
Dental Clinic
1,050.00
Election Expense
400.00
Fire Department
8,150.00
Forest Warden
700.00
General Relief
5,000.00
Gypsy Moth and Elm Disease Control
1,500.00
Gypsy Moth - Destroying Dead Wood in Town Eims
1,500.00
Highways - Miscellaneous
12,500.00
Insurance and Bonding
2,000.00
Interest
50.00
Legal
2,000.00
Library Expense
6,914.17
Liquor Law Enforcement
100 00
Memorial Day and Independence Day
250.00
Old Age Assistance
13,000.00
Parks
350.00
Planning Board Expense
600.00
Playground Expense
3,000.00
Police
12,500.00
Printing Town Reports
1,500.00
Registrar's Expense
200.00
Road Machinery Operating Expense
3,600.00
Schools
289,706.00
School Bonds and Interest - 1949
22,200.00
(State Refund - $9,426.25)
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School Bond and Interest - 1953 (State Refund - $9,894.62)
26,365.00
Safety Committee Expense
1,200.00
Selectmen's Contingency Fund
1,500.00
Settlement of Damage Claims State Census Expense
750.00
Street Lights
4,000.00
Town Clerk's Expense
750.00
Town Collector's Expense
900.00
Town Officers and Employees Salaries
22,800.00
Town Office and Buildings Maintenance
5,000.00
Town Treasurer's Expense
400.00
Town Treasurer's Expense - Land Court
250.00
Tree Warden's Expense
1,000.00
Veterans' Benefits
2,000.00
Water Bonds and Interest - 1926
3,240.00
Water Bonds and Interest - 1947
2,570.43
Water Bonds and Interest - 1953
11,912.50
Water Department - Maintenance
21,500.00
Well Child Clinic
900.00
Wilbraham Contributory Retirement Account - Town's Portion
5,137.09
$531,470.19
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 81 Highway work, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 6. Recommend.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 7. Recommend.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Construction, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 8. Recommend.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public way the street now known as Wilbraview Drive, as shown on sub-division plan drawn by Engineers Durkee, White and Town dated April, 1950, filed in the office of the Wilbraham Town Clerk, beginning at Springfield Street and running northerly for a distance of 1,090.63 feet, and that the sum of $1,276.00 or any other sum be raised and appropriated for construction of said Wilbraview Drive, and that betterment assessments be levied in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.
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1,500.00
ARTICLE 9. Recommend.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public way the private way known as Lake Drive, which is described as beginning at Boston Road and running south- erly to Hillcrest Drive a distance of 455 feet, and being 28 feet in width throughout said length, said 28-foot width consisting of the original 18-foot width as shown on a map filed in the office of the Wilbraham Town Clerk, entitled Lake Shores, Section 6, Phillips, Dudley, Sullivan, Surveyors, dated April, 1929, and an additional 5 feet on the easterly side and 5 feet on the westerly side, making a total width of 28 feet; said way having been formally dedicated to the public use and an easement therein for the purposes of a public way having been granted to the Town contingent upon such acceptance; and that the sum of $750.75 or any other sum more or less be raised and appropriated for the construction and improvement of said Lake Drive, and that betterment assessments be levied in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 80 of the General Laws; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 10. Recommend.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to surface a parking area at the North Wilbraham Fire Station to service both the Fire Station and the Library, and that the sum of $1,000.00 be raised or appropriated and added to the Miscellaneous Highways Account, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 11. Recommend.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $9,500 or any other sum, to be expended under the direction of the Board of Fire Com- missioners for the purchase of a new fire truck, to be garaged at the North Wilbraham Fire Station, to meet additional current needs, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 12. Recommend.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will receive a current report from the Civic Survey Council appointed jointly by the Planning Board and the Selectmen, and will vote to continue such council as a standing advisory committee to study long-term community planning, submitting their recommendations from time to time to the Planning Board, the Selectmen and future meetings of the Town, and authorize the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen acting jointly to make future appointments to this com- mittee, or take any other action relative thereto.
54
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for traffic control lights at certain hazard- ous locations, and determine whether the cost thereof shall be raised by taxation or transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 14. Recommend.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Fire Commissioners to study and report on the Town's needs as to equipment and location of a fire station site near Springfield and Main Streets and to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purchase of land for this purpose, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to amend the zoning by-laws and change from Residence "A-1" to "Neighborhood Shopping District" the hereinafter described adjoining parcels of land as shown on Plan No. 585-02 of C. E. Anderson, Engineer, dated December, 1954 and filed in the office of the Wilbraham Planning Board. This first described parcel of land lying southeasterly of land owned by Gideon Dickinson, and along land of Town of Wilbraham known as Crane Park, fully described as follows: "beginning at the southeasterly corner of land owned by Gideon Dickinson and running thence along land of said Dickinson and the easterly line of a private way known as Burt Lane N 5° 54' 20" W, 218.08'; thence along land of the Town of Wilbraham known as Crane Park S 73° 46' 30" E, 71.83': thence continuing along said land of the Town of Wilbraham N 11º 32' 30" E, 137.33': thence along land of Raymond F. Gurney and Lloyd M. Hoover S 85° 50' 40" E 425.43': thence along other land owned by J. Loring Brooks, Jr. S 4° 09' 20" W, 339.15'; thence con- tinuing along other land of said J. Loring Brooks, Jr., N 85° 50' 40" W, 520 feet to the point of beginning. Above first described parcel containing an area of 3.78 acres, and this second described parcel of land lying between the said first parcel and the parcels of land owned by Wallace C. Tiffany and by Lloyd M. and Elizabeth Hoover, and between said Burt Lane and the land of the Town of Wilbraham fully described as follows; beginning at a point on the north side of Burt Lane at the south-easterly corner of land of Wallace C. Tiffany and running thence along land of said Tiffany and Lloyd M. Hoover N 26° 15' E 139.53'; thence along land of Town of Wilbraham known as Crane Park S 73° 46' 30" E, 85'; thence along land of J. Loring Brooks, Jr., S 05° 54' 20" E, 132.92'; thence along the northerly side of Burt Lane N 76° 38" W, 138.28' to the point of beginning, containing an area of 0.34 of an acre.
ARTICLE 16. No appropriation involved. Refer to Town Meeting without prejudice.
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ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will vote to accept a gift of certain parcels of land colored green and blue on plan marked "Plan of Land No. 1, Wilbraham Civic Survey Council", dated January 14, 1955 and filed with the Town Clerk, for the purpose of providing vehicular parking and highway use in the vicinity of Main and Springfield Streets ; to rescind the action taken under Article 3 of the Annual Town Meeting of April 4, 1864; to accept or re-accept as public ways the land colored green and purple on said plan with such ways to be graded, drained and surfaced with available Chapter 90 or Chapter 81 funds, whichever is applicable; to accept a gift of $1,000.00 or any other sum which is the full amount of the estimated Town's share of such work to be performed on land herein accepted as a gift, and to appropriate and add to Miscellaneous Highway appropriation said $1000 or any other sum so given, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 17. No appropriation involved. Refer to Town Meeting without prejudice.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to accept a gift of $1,000 to cover the entire cost of purchasing and installing water pipe and one fire hydrant to be located at such point on the highway as accepted under Article 17, as the Water Commissioners shall determine; and to appropriate said $1,000 to add to the Water Department's installation appropriation for the above purpose, or take any action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 18. Recommend.
ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen in behalf of and in the name of the Town to sell for $1.00 and other consideration to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield, a corporation sole under Chapter 368 of the Acts and Resolves of 1898 of the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that land colored blue on a plan marked "Plan of Land No. 2 Wilbraham Civic Survey Council", dated January 14, 1955 and filed with the Town Clerk for the purpose of providing vehicular parking, said land being a strip approximately 25 feet deep along the west boundary of property now occupied by Saint Cecelia's Church, subject to the condi- tion that when, and if, said church property shall no longer be used for church purposes, title to this parcel will revert to the Town of Wilbraham; or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 19. Recommend.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from the Road Machinery Fund the sum of $830.00 or any other sum for a 20 x 20 foot steel building
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for storage purposes for the Highway Department, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 20. Recommend.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from the Road Machinery Fund the sum of $1,278.00 or any sum for a 10 foot sand spreader and equipment, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 21. Recommend.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Board of Selectmen to install one electric light on Walter Street, at or near the residence of Mitchell Szczepanek, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 22. Recommend.
ARTICLE 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,810.00 or any other sum, to purchase a pick-up truck for the use of the Water Depart- ment, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 23. Recommend.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $8,500.00 or any other sum to purchase a 30 x 60 foot cinder block building for the Water Department, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 24. Recommend.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell at public auction the Perry Barn, when vacated by the Water Department, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 25. Recommend.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury the sum of $8,500.00 or any sum to be spent by the Water Department for additional household and busi- ness installations for water service, the cost of which is to be collected by the Town from the individuals or concerns requesting the installations, and which is returned to sur- plus funds, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 26. Recommend.
ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $125,000.00 or any other sum to lay a 16 inch water main from the existing main at the corner of North Main Street and Maple Street and running southerly on Main Street as far as this appropriation will allow, and determine whether the money shall be provided for by
57
taxation, by appropriation from available funds in the treasury, and/or by borrowing under authority of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 27. Recommend.
ARTICLE 28. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $57,000.00 or any other sum to lay a 10 inch water main on Tinkham Road from Main Street to Stony Hill Road, and on Stony Hill Road northerly to the existing main, and determine whether the money shall be provided for by taxation, by appropriation from available funds in the treasury, and/or by borrowing under authority of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 28. Recommend postponement.
ARTICLE 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,300.00 or any other sum to extend the existing 6 inch water main with appropriate hydrants for a distance of approximately 500 feet in an easterly direction on Monson Road, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 29. Recommend subject to 50% betterments.
ARTICLE 30. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $150,000.00 or any other sum to install or lay an 8 inch water main from the now existing water system to the Palmer line, including stand-pipe and pumping sta- tion; determine whether the money shall be provided for by taxation, by appropriation from available funds in the treasury, and/or by borrowing under authority of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 30. Recommend postponement.
ARTICLE 31. To see if the Town will vote to amend the vote adopted under Article 42 of the Annual Town Meeting of March, 1950 relating to mechanical amusement devices, so as to allow Veterans' organizations incorporated under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts only, in said Town, the use of said devices in their establishments, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 31. No appropriation involved.
ARTICLE 32. To see if the Town will vote to accept reg- ulations relative to the construction, alteration and main- tenance of buildings and other structures in the Town, proposed by the Board of Standards in the Department of Public Safety of the Commonwealth, certified copies of
58
which have been filed by said Board with the Clerk of the Town in accordance with the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 143, Section 3.
ARTICLE 32. No appropriation involved.
ARTICLE 33. To hear and act upon the report of the School Survey Committee relative to constructing and equipping additional school rooms and facilities, and to further instruct the School Survey Committee, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 33. No appropriation involved.
ARTICLE 34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds in the treas- ury the sum of $5,000.00 or any other sum for architect's services for the completion of plans and specifications for new school facilities, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 34. Recommend.
ARTICLE 35. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of constructing and equipping a school building or buildings, and determine whether the money shall be provided for by taxation, from available funds in the treasury, and/or by borrowing under authority of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 35. Recommend.
ARTICLE 36. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,400.00 or any other sum, to build about 1810 feet of sidewalk on Main Street as required to complete the sidewalk between the residence of Merrill and Delmore Circle, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 36. Recommend.
ARTICLE 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,700.00 or any other sum to build a sidewalk on Springfield Street between Ripley and Main Streets, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 37. Recommend.
ARTICLE 38. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following by-law or a by-law substantially similar; "No child under 16 years of age shall be, loiter or remain upon any street, highway, park or other public way or place in the Town, between the hours of 9.30 p.m. and 4.00 a.m. unless accompanied by or under the control or care of a parent, guardian or other adult person; or unless in some
59
employment or in the performance of some duty directed in writing by said parent, guardian or other adult person ; and no such child, while in such employment or perform- ance of such duty, shall loiter upon any such street, park or other public place.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this by-law shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five dollars for each offense.
In enforcing this by-law, a police officer or constable may, in his discretion warn and send home any child who for the first time violates the provisions of this by-law, and shall report such action to the Board of Selectmen, who shall cause notice thereof to be sent to the parent, guardian or other person having the care of such child."
ARTICLE 38. No appropriation involved.
ARTICLE 39. To see if the Town will vote to repeal that part of Article 2, Section 6 of the Town by-laws which requires the election of five constables for one year, and instead of electing constables, to authorize the appointment of constables by the Selectmen in accordance with the provision of the General Laws, Chapter 41, Sections 91A and 91B, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 39. No appropriation involved.
ARTICLE 40. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 or any other sum for a Reserve Fund to be transferred from the Overlay Surplus Account, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 40. Recommend.
ARTICLE 41. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury the sum of $5,500.00 or any other sum to pay the garbage collector with receipts from garbage collection subscribers to be restored as received by the Town Collector to unappropriated available funds in the treasury, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 41. Recommend.
ARTICLE 42. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell at public auction, 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 14 days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under the tax title procedure, provided that the Select- men, or whomsoever they authorize to hold such public auction, may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 42. Recommend.
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ARTICLE 43. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to institute or defend suits and employ counsel for the purpose of protecting the interests of the Town, or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 43. Recommend.
ARTICLE 44. To see what disposition the Town will make of the Dog Tax of 1954.
ARTICLE 44. Recommend adding to Library Appropriation - $870.83.
ARTICLE 45. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following by-law: "No person shall fire or discharge any firearms or explosives of any kind within the limits of any highway, park, or other public property, or on any private property except with the consent of the owner or tenant thereof or the agent of either; provided, however, that this by-law shall not apply to the lawful defense of life or property, or to any discharge of firearms in accordance with law enforcement", or take any other action relative thereto.
ARTICLE 45. No appropriation involved.
ARTICLE 46. 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 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 ninth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and fifty-five.
ROGER T. HINTZE J. LORING BROOKS, JR. CARL NELSON
Selectmen of Wilbraham
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BASEBALL TEAM
Front Row, left to right: John Brackinisky, G. Hapgood Parks, Stanley Makuch, James Keefe, James Ashe, Clifford Bradway.
Back row, left to right: William O'Connor, William Brackinisky, Frank Mathews, George Murphy, Thomas Bower, Albert Bobowiec, William Falvey.
CHAMPION'S
NO WILBRAHAM
Quabolag
Valley League
BASEBALL CHAMPIONS - 1925
In local sports annals, one of the best known baseball teams that the town ever had, attracted statewide attention during the years 1924-25-26.
Playing under the banner of North Wilbraham A. C., this team in 1925, won the Quaboag league championship, a coveted title of that era and one in which the leading semi-pro players of those days found a stepping-stone to big league opportunities.
One of Wilbraham's greatest citizens, the late George E. Murphy, was connected with the team in a managerial role along with the late Thomas E. Bower.
Today, thirty years after this team rode to statewide fame by winning the Quaboag league crown in a series against Palmer and Three Rivers teams to settle a triple-tie, there are older residents of this community who, at any time, can give a play-by-play account of those games.
Home grounds for the team was Grassy Hollow which in those days was far from the beautiful playground it now is.
When the final game of the 1925 series was played here against the famed Three Rivers aggregation, more than 3000 people were on hand to witness the thrilling contest.
The roster of that team was as follows: William F. O'Connor, now a practicing Attorney in Palmer; John Brackinisky and William Brackinisky, who still reside here and are employed at Wilbraham Paper Co .; James F. Keefe, deceased, who for many years worked for the Boston and Albany R. R., at Springfield; Clifford Bradway, one of the league's leading batsmen, who still resides here; Stanley Makuch, now of Indian Orchard and proprietor of the Orchard bowling alleys there; Albert Bobowiec of Ludlow; William Falvey, deceased, whose home was Springfield; James Ashe, now a resident of Woronoco; Frank Mathews, of Dalton, and G. Hapgood Parks, a teacher-coach at Wilbraham Academy of those days, whose pitching prowess contributed greatly to the success of the team. He was a Gardner resident, and is said to be now teaching in Boston.
General Information about Wilbraham
Town
Wilbraham
County
Hampden
Location
West central Massachusetts, bor- dered by East Longmeadow on the southwest, Springfield on the west, Ludlow on the north, Belchertown, Palmer and Monson on the east and Hamp- den on the south. The Chicopee River runs along the northern boundary of the town. It is 6 miles from Springfield, 82 miles from Boston, 33 miles from Hart- ford, Connecticut, and 140 miles from New York City.
Population
Approximately 5,000
Land Area
22.22 square miles
63
Climate (Springfield)
Mean temperature in January : 25.7ºF.
Mean temperature in July : 72.6°F. Mean annual precipitation : 43.62 inches.
Elevation at Town Hall
Approximately 290 feet above mean sea level.
Highest Altitude
Mt. Chapin 937 feet.
Topographical Characteristics
Wilbraham Mountain runs along the east with an elevation of 800 feet on the south sloping down to about 300 feet in the north. West of the mountain is a wide valley about 200 feet above mean sea level. Wilbraham forms part of the Connecticut Watershed. Soil is moist and of good texture with some wet, and somewhat rough and stony.
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