Annual report of the Town of Middleton, MA.

180 Pages·2000·9.9 MB·English

by  Middleton (Mass.)

HISTORYOFMIDDLETONPOND
(CoverStory)
The earliest known name forthis beautiful area was Will's Hill, named fora Native American who
chose it as his home. During certain times, the local tribes would use the then connecting
waterways andportage to travel to nearby beaches where theypicnicked on clams and mussels.
Theygrew theircropson the hillandhadaccessto asmuch wateras needed.
A map dated 1886 shows it as Wilkens Pond. Our first European settler was Bray Wilkins who
lived on the far side, now Lake Street, with his six sons and brother-in-law John Gingell. These
strong fellowssupportedthemselvesin partbychopping down treesandsawing them into housing
material, barrelstaves, etc.
At somepoint, the name was changed to Middleton Pond, possiblyaround the time of 1875 when
the Town ofDanvers expressed an interest in drawing water offto supply Danvers residents. In
return, Middleton secured three centers in town where hydrant water would be accessible: the
cemetery, the centeroftown and near Howe's Station. From these simple beginnings, our water
system emerged.
The Pondhas been a greatsource ofrecreation andsome industryoverthe centuries. During the
early 1900's several families set up icehouses to cut and supply ice to the townspeople. The
Curriers of Forest Street and the Richardson's had successful icehouses before the advent of
refrigeration. During the 1920's, a lively dance pavilion was located on the Boston Street side of
the pond. It was a romantic setting fordancing, music and boat rentals. Local stories have it that
when the pavilion era ended the building was cut into two sections and the two parts sold on the
turn ofacoin.
There were also a few summer camps around the pond as evidenced by the foundations of old
fireplaces. And ofcourse, people used to swim in the pond. The area nearthe presentpumping
station was supplied with sand for a beach. However, because people using the beach in the
summerand ice skaters in the winterwere notas careful as they should have been permission to
swim, skate and boat was withdrawn. This was due in part to concerns that arose regarding
several deaths attributed to weak ice. In the cemetery next to Memorial Hall is gravestone for
Joseph Long whodiedonjustsuch weakice.
Another untimely death occunredprobably in the 1940's. A popular local young man named Roy
Osborne tried to land on the frozen pond but the ice was too weak to support the weight of his
airplane. He sufferedbroken limbs and couldnotget outofthe plane on his own. All attempts to
save him failed because rescuers could not get over or through the ice fast enough. He and his
plane submergedin sighton manyhorrifiedonlookers.
TodayMiddleton Pondisa lovelyarea to walk nearandenjoy the beautyofsuch a pristine bodyof
water with its surrounding woods. It is definitely a well-prizedjewel ofour community with a long
andinterestinghistory.
Note: The beautiful cover and the corresponding information are due to thetalents of several Middleton residents. The
photographiscourtesyofChrisAnderson, renowned local photographer. The original oil paintingthatis thesubject ofthe
cover hangs inthe 2 floor ofMemorialHalt. Itwas paintedfor and gifted totheTown of Middleton by Ruth Vantine, our
well-knowlocalartist. Thehistoricalinformationwas provided byRita Kelley, an active memberofthehistorical community
inMiddleton. Thankyouallforyourcontributions.
Wewouldalsoliketothankthemembersofthemunicipaldepartments andcommitteeswhocontributedtheirreports.
Compilation, graphics, editing by Susan Gannon-Moore. Project coordination by Robert Murphy. Printing services by
MinutemanPressofDanvers.
2000
ANNUAL REPORT
Town
of Middleton
Massachusetts
Two Hundred and Seventy-Second
Municipal Year
6
History of Middleton Pond Inside Cover
Dedication 1
Schedule of Meetings, Office Hours, Telephone Listings 2
Officials - State and Federal 4
Officials - Town Appointed 5
Officials - Town Elected 9
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Board ofSelectmen/Town Administrator 10
Town Clerk:
Special Town Meeting (11/16/99) 1
Presidential Primary Election (3/7/00) 24
Special Town Meeting (5/9/00) 25
Annual Town Meeting (5/9/00) 26
Annual Town Meeting - Continued (5/10/00) 42
Annual Town Meeting - Continued (5/11/00) 51
Annual Town Election (5/15/00) 58
RegistrarsofVoters 59
FINANCIAL
Board ofAssessors 60
Custodian ofTown Lands 62
Town Accountant:
Balance Sheet 63
Cash Disbursements 64
Cash Receipts 73
Town Treasurer& Tax Collector 77
PUBLIC SAFETY
Animal Control Office 83
Fire Department 84
Police Department 92
Inspectorof Buildings 113
Inspectorof Gas, Plumbing 115
InspectorofWires 115
9
MUNICIPAL WORKS
Department of Public Works 116
Division ofWater 118
Solid Waste & Recyling 11
Electric Light Department 124
PLANNING and LAND USE
Conservation Commission 130
Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) 132
Planning Board 134
Zoning Board ofAppeals 135
CULTURE and RECREATION
Flint Public Library 136
Historical Commission 139
Recreation Department 140
EDUCATION
Masconomet Regional School District 142
Middleton Public Schools 144
North Shore Regional Vocational School District 154
HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES
Board of Health 157
Council on Aging 160
Housing Authority 162
Tri-Town Council on Youth Services 166
Veterans' Services 169
Waren Evans' Nostalgic Sleigh Rides
Warren Evans shown in his cowboy costume, in character
with his hay and sleigh ride activities.
DEDICATION
Warren Evans
Equal measures of industriousness, persistence, and generosity define the life of Warren Evans.
Warren began working at the then Boston Blacking Co., now Bostik in 1957. But it is his after
hours avocation ofworking a wagon and team of horses that has brought so much pleasure to him
and to this community. Many adults remember the hours they spent as children on summer hay
rides and winter sleigh rides singing the songs of Gene Autry and others. On occasion, they were
joined on Warren's wagon by notables such as Arthur Fiedler, long time conductor of the Boston
Symphony Orchestra and Johnny Buczyk ofthe Boston Bruins.
In 1960, Warren called upon every home in Middleton driving a wagon pulled by two workhorses,
to collect money forthe Jimmy Fund. When he had collected $335, the plant managertold him to
take the next day off and take the money into Red Sox great Ted Williams, who was national
chairman of the Jimmy Fund. Warren was Ted William's guest at the last game of his illustrious
career.
To this day, Warren's knowledge of the eastern part of Middleton is encyclopedic and his
knowledge is matched only by his love and concern for the land. Like the magnificent Curtis Oak
Tree whose caretaker he has been for so many years, Warren symbolizes the best old-fashioned
virtues of the community of Middleton. To paraphrase the words of his favorite songster, Gene
Autry, hisfellowcitizenswish thatWarren's"trailsalways be happy ones".
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3
1999 2000 SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES
-
STATE FEDERAL
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FIRSTESSEXand SIXTHDISTRICT
MIDDLESEXDISTRICT Congressman John F. Tierney
Senator Bruce E. Tarr 17 Peabody Square
State House Peabody, MA. 01960
Room 313A Tel: [phone]
Boston, MA. 02133 Fax: [phone]
Tel: [phone] or
120 Cannon Building
U.S. House of Representatives
COUNCILLOR Washington, D C. 20515
Tel: [phone]
FIFTH DISTRICT
Fax: [phone]
Councillor Patricia A. Dowling
State House
Room 184
UNITED STATES SENATOR
Boston, MA. 02133
Tel: [phone]x5 The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy
409 John F. Kennedy Federal Building
Boston, MA. 02203
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT Tel: [phone]
TWENTY SECOND or
MIDDLESEXDISTRICT SR-315 Russell Senate Office Building
Representative Brian M. Cresta Washington, D C. 20510
State House Tel: [phone]
Room 550 Fax: [phone]
Boston, MA. 02133 E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]
or
UNITED STATES SENATOR
27 Water Street
Wakefield, MA. 01880 The Honorable John F. Kerry
[phone] 10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA. 02116
Tel: [phone]
GOVERNOR or
The Honorable Argeo Paul Cellucci SR-362 Russell Senate Office Building
State House Washington, D C. 20510
Room 360 Tel: [phone]
Boston, MA. 02133 Fax: [phone]
Tel: [phone] E-mail: john [email protected]