1926-12-06-STM-MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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101 Art . 1 . J . Henry Duffy read the following report for the Committee on the sale of the Almshouse Property : Lexington , Mass . , Nov . 13 , 1926 To the Citizens of LexFigton : At the annual town meeting held in March 1926 the following Article was presented in the Warrant : Article 30 : - " To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell a portion of the Almshouse Property and contents , or act in anymanner relating thereto . " Under this Article the following vote was passed : " Voted , that this Article be referred to a Committee of seven , including the Chairman of the Selectmen , of the School Committee , of the Planning Board , and of. the Appropriation Committee , and three others to be appointed by the Moderator , this Committee to report not later than the next Annual Meeting . " In pursuance of this vote the following Committee was appointed ; Theodore A . Custance Chairman of Selectmen Frederick L . Emery Chairman of the Planning Board Francis S . Chamberlain Chairman of Appropriation Committee Howard S . 0 . Nichols Chairman of School Committee Edward H . Mara Arthur W . Maddi s on J . Henry Duffy The Committee has carefully considered the matter in hand and presents the following report : The Almshouse property is located in the Concord Hill section so - called , at the junction of Hill and Cedar Streets and comprises about 22 acres of land with the buildings thereon . The buildings consist of a frame house and barn together with various sheds and out buildings , all in need of considerable repair . The house formerly used principally as an Almshouse is now temporarily occupied by a family requiring the Town ' s assistance . The number of inmates at the house had decreased to such an extent in 1925 that the Selectmen found it unwise and uneconomical to maintain the house strictly for almshouse purposes with the necessary matron , equipment , etc . , and since that time persons have been very satisfactorily cared for by an arrangement with other municipalities . The barns , sheds , etc . , are utilized for stabling 8 horses , and storing wagons and other equipment for the highway department . We understand that about one third of the hay required for the horses is raised upon the place . In this connection we are informed that until such time as the town can secure a suitable site for establishing a much needed central location to accommodate the various divisions of the Public Works Department , these buildings or equivalent room else - where are needed to house such equipment as is now located there . Such , . then , is the general use to which the property is now being put by the town . Situated about a mile from the Hancock School and central play- ground , and about a mile and a quarter from the Parker School at North Lexington , the property embraces a fairly uniform tract , well cleared , with a frontage of about 1400 feet on Uedar Street and bout 900 feet on Hill Street , with good high building land abutting these streets and sloping gently to an area of level meadow land with a brook running through the same . This low rrea comprises perhaps one fourth of the entire tract . The property presents an unusual natural amphitheater commanding a delightful view of the hills and mountains of '7estnrn Massachusetts , and because of its size and general character offers unique future opportunities for municipal use such as school , playground and other purposes . The general area of high. ground is well adapted for school or other general building locations , while the love ground in the centrEt1