USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1961-1965 > Part 21
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525-3305
Visiting Nurse
Visiting Nurse Assoc. Springfield
732-4145
Water Department
Superintendent
6-3816
6-3060
Sundays and Holidays
6-3413
6-3816
WILBRAHAM,
ASSAC
SETTS
1763 ORPORATED
WILBRAHAM ANNUAL REPORT
All Events Programmed Were Huge Success
1763
Bicentennial News
1963
VOL. 200
WILBRAHAM, MASS., JUNE 15, 1963
XX PAGES
TOWN CELEBRATES 200TH YEAR
PARADE FLOATS AND BANDS EXCELLENT
'OUR TOWN' PLAY GOOD
HISTORICAL PAGEANT "SPRINGFIELD MOUNTAIN"
OUTDOOR BARBEQUE
Palomino Polo Match
Dance
Festival
Track & Field Baseball
Recognition Social
Golf & Tennis Tournaments
NEW OFFICIAL TOWN SEAL ADOPTED
Grange Marks 75th Year
Policemen's Bicent. Ball
BICENTENNIAL BALL QUEEN CROWNED
Silver Tea And Exhibid
Exhibit of Arts & Crafts
Horseshoe
Tournament
Special Church Services
Old Fashioned Circus
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BOWLING TOURNAMENTS Cub Car Derby. Blossom Time Races-Finals
Home Tour
Flower Show
Horse Show
BURYING THE NEW CAPSULE
1
9
6
3
FIREWORKS DISPLAY 50 Year Capsule Opened BEARDS JUDGED
Western Mass. Music Fest.
WWater Carnival
HEAR YE HEAR YE
WILBRAHAM Bicentennial 1763 -1963
ANNUAL REPORT
WILBRAHAM MASSACHUSETTS
1963
The feature section in this Town Report is: "The Past, Present, and Future" An important incident of our Bicentennial program was the adoption of a new Town Seal, which appears in the upper left corner of the cover.
In passing, we should also mention that the Town again received particular distinction from the Selectmen's Association, of a 3rd prize award for our Town Report last year.
INSIDE COVER: Early in the year several of these signs were erected around the town by Mr. Thomas Wells, left, and Mr. Maurice Disley, at right.
( Photo by H. Bogue )
Cover design by artist Richard C. Stevens
The history of our Town Records for the past 200 years may be shown by the following excerpts from each of the 50th anniversary entries.
1763 -
Wilbraham. Here Begins The Records for The Town of Hillraham which Town Originally ival known by the Name of the 4th Precinct of Springfield and is now with an adition of Land Incorporated into a Distinct and Separate Town as will appear by the follow ing act of Passed by the Great of General Court or assembly of his Majesties Provina of the Massachusets Bay in New England Begun and held at Boston upon Wednesday the 25th Day of May aD 1763~
The recorder displays the sense of importance of events in the opening phrase.
(1813) Art is Granted Five hundred Dollar for werfung high ways Art 6 noted to El. jul. Works fifties Dollars ... The account of his Loosing hie tax bill. The muting ware this dreaded
Of the six Articles, included in 1813, four had to do with votes for town officials and only two, reproduced herewith, had to do with money.
the investigation of this Jeune ".
This has fancied the lightat
John An Annick Your Cellé
Deciphered this reads :
"This is the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of this Town. It has been as fine and pleasant a day as could be desired."
Then follow three long pages summarizing the parade, speeches and festivities of the day and the report is closed with a paragraph which reads:
"Thus has passed the brightest and proudest day enjoyed by the people of the Town of Wilbraham."
1913 Nampdow S.S. ·Commonwealth of Massachusetts
D.H. Eaton. Constabler of the town of Hilbraham in said Curity, greeting! In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and war the inhabitants of said town qualified to vote in elections and tour affairs to meet in Grange Hall in Hilfsthan on Monday the month day of march next of (treff 10 o clock try to ail on The following articles. Ving, To chose af moderator to theside in said meeting.
Art 1
Art 19 2, zur if the Town will raise and appropriate money for the improvement of the Highway stom The Boston Road to the Springfield theme by building a side walk on atheme
By 1913 the record was four pages long, and consisted of 19 articles.
S
Photo by H. Bogue
Photos by E. Nadolski
MEBRAHANG A
Photo by H. Bogue
-
Photo by H. Bogue
Photo by E. Nadolski
4
--
Contestants for the Title of "Miss Wilbraham"
Photo by H. Bogue
Photo by E. Nadolski
The Queen and her Court: Left to right; Silvia Sekak, Marilyn Stacy, Queen Roberta Marco, Candy Lagone and Kathy Nelson.
The Brothers of the Brush
Photo by H. Bogue
5
Photo by H. Bogue
The Kirk Family
Photo by E. Nadolski
All dressed up and ready to go, in the Old-Fashioned way. Left to right: Mr. Alan Fritts, Mrs. Theodore W. Gebeau, Mr. Theodore W. Gebeau, and the Town Crier, Richard Goulding.
6
Photo by H. Bogue
Opening the Old Capsule - Our Selectmen, Jesse L. Rice, Roger T. Hintze and Sidney Low and our Town Clerk Doris G. Cochran.
Photo by H. Bogue
Burying the New Capsule - Standing: Selectmen Sidney Low, Roger T. Hintze and Jesse L. Rice. In front: Bicentennial Chairman Robert A. Edwards at left, and Program Chairman Frank G. Shannis, at right.
Now, where do we go from here?
Probably about the only way we can realistically attempt to fore- see the future is by a few chart projections - 1948 was chosen as the base year as that was when the Town started to "explode." Com- pared with 200 years, 15 years is a very short period of time. How- ever, it is a serious responsibility of every voting citizen to remember that every new thing voted for, means not only the original construc- tion dollars, but also the expansion of the supporting operating and maintenance services. Take a look at the following charts and note (Charts by Richard G. LaRochelle ) the trend.
7
- WILBRAHAM - TOWN POPULATION - 1948-1963 -
14,000
13,000
12,000
11,000
1
1
10,000
PROJECTED TREND
9,000
-
---
8,000
--
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
1948
1950
1955
1960
1963
1966
1969
1973
~ NUMBER OF NEW HOMES IN WILBRAHAM-1948-1963 ~
210
195
180
- 1
.-
-
165
-
TREND
150
PROJECTED
135
120
105
90
75
60
45
30
15
0
1948 '49 '50 '51 '52 '53 '54 '55 '56 '57 '58 '59 '60 '61 '62 '63 '64 '65 '66 '67 '68 '69 '70 '71 '72 '73
~ WILBRAHAM SCHOOL POPULATION (NO. OF PUPILS) -1948-1963-
3,500
3,256
- -
3,000
2,750
TREND ---
2,500
PROJECTED
2,250
-
2,000
1,75 0
1,500
1,250
1,000
750
500
250
1948 '49 '50 '51 '52 '53 '54 '5 '56 '57 -58 '59 '60 '1 '62 '63 '64 '65 '66 '67 '68 '69 '70 '71 '72 '73
-CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR WILBRAHAM SCHOOL BUILDINGS - 1948-1963-
$2,800,000
2,600,000
2,400,000
2,200,000
2,000,000
1,800,000
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200, 000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
O
1948
1951
1954
1957
1960
1963
1966
1969
1973
-
PROJECTED TREND
--
Facts About Wilbraham
Settled :
1731
Incorporated :
1763
Location:
Eight miles east of Springfield
Population:
Approximately 8,500
Form of Government:
Town Meeting
Tax Rate:
$23.50
Number of Dwellings: 2,443
Property Valuation:
$48,540,240.00
Town Offices:
North Main Street -
Telephone 596 3816
Public Schools:
Pines, Stony Hill, Memorial,
Minnechaug Regional High
Private Schools:
Wilbraham Academy
Fire Protection:
Stations at Wilbraham and North Wil- braham. Telephone 596 3111 for report- ing fire only; telephone 596 3122 for all other calls
Police :
Station at Town Office
Telephone 596 3837 - if no answer, call STATE POLICE 283 5671
Chief John S. Leary 596 3376
Recreational Facilities: Three playgrounds, swimming beach
Town Highways: Public Library:
Approximately 67 miles
Boston Road --
North Wilbraham Telephone 596 4461 Library hours:
Weekdays, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Churches :
Highest Altitude:
Closed Saturdays during July and August Five-Wilbraham United Church, Grace Union Church (Congregational - No. Wilbraham), Glendale (Methodist), Church of the Epiphany (Episcopal), St. Cecilia's (Roman Catholic) 937 feet - Mount Chapin
12
Selectmen's Report
1963 has been a most unusual year. It not only has been the year of our Bicentennial Celebration, but we like to think of it as the end of one great era and the beginning of another that has even greater promise for the future well-being of Wilbraham. Our progress, our development, and our future will depend on our willingness to face up to the immediate problems that are before us. Research and development are one of our most impor- tant activities and the citizens of this town are well equipped with potential ability to do the proper community planning that will be for the best interests of everyone.
The Selectmen are exceedingly proud of our Bicentennial activi- ties. Every affair was characterized as exceptional and indicated good planning, dedicated effort, and a sense of being proud of our town. At the time of the parade, our town was a show place and we were proud to be your Selectmen and witness the civic pride and civic interest that was displayed for the benefit of more than 50,000 visitors. It was a thrill we all will remember for the rest of our lives, and may we express our appreciation to all the towns- people who took part and witnessed the affairs of this celebration.
The problems of "population explosion" have created a chain reaction along all lines of town services and we feel substantial long range planning is required to solve these problems to elimi- nate any undue expense that might be created by temporary solu- tions. Your Selectmen and other elected officials have been trying to keep abreast of these problems and have made recommenda- tions to forestall any undue increases in taxation. We learn that these problems have a compounding effect in meeting the financial obligations that are now required to bring many of our services up to today's standards. We hesitate to consistently cry "wolf," but we are arriving on the threshold and must face up to the prob- lems and meet them with determination and good logical conclu- sions that will be less expensive to the town in the long run. We have been very successful in the past and have a right to be proud of our accomplishments; we have no one to thank but you people who have displayed good judgment in determining the solutions for the many, many problems that have been presented to you. All town employees have done a remarkable job. In comparing
13
the cost of the services rendered with those of other towns in the area, the returns on your tax dollar are exceptional.
The warrant has many articles for your consideration which are related to the future growth and development of Wilbraham. You have indicated in the past that you desire to preserve Wil- braham as a residential town, second to none, well planned and an ideal place to bring up your children. If we are to continue on this basis, there are now certain considerations that you must be aware of because of the financial obligations to maintain such a community.
We beg your consideration and careful analysis of the articles which are related in some degree with the future planning, safety, health and welfare for the benefit of the citizens of our town, namely:
1. Master Plan recommendations
2. Conservation Commission recommendations
3. Storm drainage study
4. Transmission line article
5. Sanitary sewer articles
6. Sidewalk articles
7. Establishment of a Personnel Board
8. Study Committees for the reorganization of Town services
9. Home Rule article
Space does not permit a detailed explanation of all these prob- lems. However, where committees have been established and reports are included in this Town Report, please read and be pre- pared to ask questions. Where reports are not available, suffi- cient preparations are now being made to answer your questions at town meeting. We feel these are the first steps to be considered in molding your future program into an economical and efficient operation as far as the future of the town is concerned. The growth trends of the past fifteen years, indicated by charts shown elsewhere in this report, will give some idea of the growth pattern your officials are confronted with. Curtailment of this explosive growth apparently is impossible and, therefore, we must gear our- selves accordingly. These trends are unusual and exceptional, but what is exceptional must be considered normal as far as Wilbra- ham is concerned based on the experience of the past fifteen years.
In attempting to analyze the annual statement, we added to our surplus $94,057.01 which when added to our previous surplus
14
makes a total of $363,389.84 as available free cash for this year's use. Any amount spent from this surplus amount does not affect the tax rate. This amount also shows good management as well as efficient and economical administration. We hope to continue this same spirit of accomplishment in the future and, with your indulgence and confidence in your elected and appointed officials, we hope to see a similar or greater profit year after year. There is always a better way of doing things and your town officials must not become complacent and fail to seek still more efficient and economical methods in the future.
Your Selectmen are very much in favor of adopting recommen- dations as presented by the Master Plan engineer for adoption by the Planning Board and the citizens of Wilbraham. We have attended many of the meetings and are utterly amazed at the fu- ture predicted growth of our town as set forth in this report. We feel the recommendations contained in the Technical Plan- ning Associates' report will eventually make Wilbraham one of the most attractive communities in the Commonwealth.
HIGHWAY PROGRAM
The Chapter 90 Construction allotment for 1964 will com- plete the reconstruction of Dipping Hole Road from the Spring- field Line easterly to Stony Hill Road. This work is being done by our own Highway Department rather than to hire an outside contractor to do the work. Our experience indicates we get about one-third more mileage on such construction projects by doing the work ourselves. As soon as this road is completed, we plan to consider the reconstruction of a certain section of south Main Street.
The Chapter 90 Maintenance account is primarily for resurfac- ing a few sections of Chapter 90 roads that are badly in need of repair.
Chapter 81 funds this year are again not sufficient to do all that we should do on our local streets. This account takes care of maintenance items on our local streets.
For two years the State has given us funds under Chapter 782, Acts of 1962, and Chapter 822, Acts of 1963 to be used for the construction of roads that are approved by the Department of Public Works. The sum of $17,057.08, which is the total amount of these grants, is being recommended in Article 9 to be spent on the reconstruction of Soule Road.
15
SIDEWALKS
Articles 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 represent our sidewalk program as recommended by the School Committee for the coming year.
If these sidewalks are built, there will be considerable savings in our school transportation costs; therefore, there is an economic justification for this expenditure. Based on the present and pro- jected school population, these sidewalks will be paid for in less than six years.
The proposed sidewalks are being built along our main traveled ways and coincidentally are also on our Chapter 90 highways. Experts have advised us that in the future these main roads will not be wide enough to accommodate the volume of traffic that is anticipated. The present roadways are only fifty feet wide and this whole width should be used for vehicular traffic. To reserve this whole area, we are recommending that an additional five feet of land be taken at this time for sidewalk use. Exceptions will be made to avoid cutting down stately trees and the sidewalks will curve in these instances. However, the land should be ob- tained now for future use. The question and problem of snow removal should be resolved to obtain the maximum use of these sidewalks during the winter. Several pieces of specialized equip- ment should be purchased by the town, or else it will be necessary to contract snow removal to an outside concern which will guar- antee that the school children will be able to walk to school on snowy mornings.
By taking an extra five feet for these sidewalks, the present trees and tree belt will be protected; safety and general appear- ance will be greatly improved, and will also guarantee for the future the full use of the present roadways which will be the main arteries for vehicular traffic.
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Both departments are asking for additional personnel to keep up with the demands caused by a rapidly expanding community. Your Selectmen and Finance Committee have studied these rec- ommendations very carefully. The present proposals represent minimum requirements, and we beg your acceptance of these recommendations. The Selectmen are also requesting that a study committee be appointed to determine if the town needs a Depart- ment of Public Safety. We feel this is a very progressive step and many economies, improved service, and efficient operations can
16
result from such a department. A study committee would reveal these facts at a subsequent meeting. Addition of the new per- sonnel at this time is needed to merely take care of our current problems.
TOWN DUMP
Because of the complaints filed by local citizens with the State Department of Public Health, your Selectmen were instructed to maintain a "land fill operation" which greatly increased our expenditures of the past year for this service. The sanitary fill operation that is now employed at the dump has reduced the hazards and complaints, and we hope to continue on this basis for several years. Your Selectmen appointed a "Disposal Research Committee" which was most helpful to us in resolving this prob- lem. Many excellent recommendations were made for future consideration, and as needs arise they will be presented to you for your approval. The Board of Health budget for the current year includes the sum of $15,250 for operations at the present dump site.
SANITARY SEWERS
Wilbraham has two small sanitary sewer systems that dump raw sewage into the Chicopee River. The State Department of Public Health has also directed us to discontinue this practice before the end of 1966. This problem has been under considera- tion for many years, but action has been postponed, or delayed, until the other towns along the Chicopee River, which pollute the stream to a greater degree, were compelled to do likewise. The federal program to eliminate the contamination of rivers and streams in New England is becoming very effective and they are willing to contribute 30% of the construction cost if the pollution is eliminated.
Article 35 covers the construction cost to tie in with the Springfield sewer system. Since federal funds are available under Public Law 660, your Selectmen have made application for this particular project which is located in the vicinity of Pines School. We hope by the end of 1964 this project will be completed.
Article 36 covers the annual assessment that will be charged against Wilbraham by Springfield and your Selectmen have voted that such assessment should be charged directly against the users of this service. Therefore, a sewer tax will be assessed against each property owner who has a sewer connection. The annual
17
charge for this service is $15.00 a family. Industrial and business demands will be charged more based on the volume of sewage.
Article 37 which refers to a second small system in Wilbraham asks your permission to appoint a study committee to review the problems in the North Wilbraham section in the vicinity of Maple Street, Chapel Street, Boston Road, and Cottage Avenue. This study likewise will include recommendations for future needs for additional business and industrial expansion that might take place in this area. This committee is to work cooperatively with Tighe and Bond and your Board of Health. A proposal should be forthcoming before the next annual meeting. Our intentions concerning these impending projects will be filed with the State Department of Public Health on or before February 14, 1964 as requested, and we earnestly appeal to the citizens of Wilbra- ham to approve the recommendations as outlined in the articles.
PLUMBING CODE
The State Department of Public Health requires each com- munity to adopt a Plumbing Code. If we do not have a code or fail to adopt the State code, the town will be assessed a fine of $50.00 each month until such a code is adopted. We reactivated the Plumbing Code Committee to update our own code that has been subsequently approved by the State.
TRANSMISSION LINE
Article 42 has specific reference to the transmission line. Your officials have been resisting the attempt on the part of the West- ern Massachusetts Electric Company to bisect the town with this transmission line. The decision, at press time, is in the hands of the Commissioners of the Department of Public Utilities and they have indicated that a decision will be made sometime in March, 1964. We have been pleading for consideration of an alternate route that would be less injurious to the future growth and well-being of the Town of Wilbraham.
We are asking for confirmation of our actions to date, and we appreciate your letters to State officials and other important State representatives which have been helpful. We appeal to you to continue writing such letters because we feel they are most impor- tant.
The Selectmen on October 10, 1963 denied the Western Mas- sachusetts Electric Company the right to cross our public ways. Our letter to the Department of Public Utilities is a matter of
18
record and is on file at the Town Office for those who might be interested in reading it.
You can be sure that your Selectmen are unanimous in their opinion that the creation of a scarred landscape, denuded of trees for a width of 350' extending through the middle of town (popu- lation wise) for a distance of five and one-half miles, in more or less of a straight line, with an unsightly mess of steel and ugly wooden towers with strings of wires stretched across the country- side, creating an unsightly, unattractive and undesirable appear- ance, would be absolutely inappropriate to the future residential development of a beautiful and attractive town. Therefore, the devastation of such property is contrary to the best public interest and welfare of the citizens in the community.
In the event the decision from the Department of Public Utili- ties is contrary to the best interests of our town, we hope with your approval of Article 42 to appeal such decision.
The various study committees we are recommending will do much to formulate the policies we desire to adopt for the future, especially the study committees for the reorganization of town services along functional lines. Such a reorganization will relieve your Selectmen of much of the unnecessary, trivial detail that we are required to execute under the present arrangement. We feel that these study groups will be able to recommend to you people a better solution to the problems that are now confront- ing us.
Even though we are faced with all these problems, the future is not bleak. The legislature in Boston must face up to the fact that we need additional tax revenue. They must also face up to the fact that the burdens of a town should not be placed on the income from real estate property alone. Your Selectmen have gone on record as supporting a sales tax, and it is imperative on behalf of the citizens of the town to express their feelings on this matter to their State representatives and State senators. We urge you to write in order that they will have some concrete evidence as to the wishes of you the people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ROGER T. HINTZE, Chairman
JESSE L. RICE SIDNEY LOW
19
Report of the Wilbraham School Committee
Plato wrote, "The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life." The directions are many in today's complex world. The Wilbraham School Committee is charged by the statutes of this commonwealth and by the voters of this community with determining what direction the educational program in this school system shall take.
There are many who propose a return to an education con- sisting only of the three R's; an equal number recommend a highly selective educational program, in which only the talented could be included. Standing between the two extremes is a policy of sound educational opportunity and a potential for academic achievement that will meet the needs of every student. Your school committee is continuing its efforts to develop and main- tain such a program. The challenge facing Wilbraham and every other school system in this country is that of providing the direc- tion of effort and stimulation of desire that will result in the maxi- mum development of each individual.
The direction of the pupil is accomplished through the efforts of the teacher. This school system seeks to employ and retain teachers who probe beneath the surface - who experiment and stimulate. We look for teachers with ideas - interesting and challenging individuals - those with a full knowledge of the importance of sustained effort and a real desire to assist others in the learning process.
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