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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-04-11-PATRIOTS-min.pdf Town of Lexington, Patriots ' Day Committee, 1934. The fifth meeting of the Patriot 's Day Committee was held at the Town Office Building an April 11th with all members of the Committee in attendance, namely, Eugene H. Partridge, Chairman, John E Gilcreast, A. Randall Soderberg and James H. Russell. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Partridge at 8:05 P.M. The Clerk informed the Committee that a Mr. Beadle, Drum Corps Manager of„ the Jos. L. Stevens Post #1240, Veterans df Foreign Wars of Swampscott, had made a personal call with reference to securing an invitation for their organization to come to Lexington to take part in the April 19th parade. The Clerk informed the Committee that it was explained to Mr. Beadle that there were no funds available with which to pay transportation andMr. Beadle stated that his organization was ready and willing to pay for their own transportation. The Committee then voted to authorize the Clerk to extend an invitation to the Joseph L. Stevens Drum Corps to come to Lexington. The Clerk read the following letters which had been received since the last meeting of the Committee A letter from the Clerk of the Board of Selectmen stating that the Board would ride in the parade on April 19th to the reviewing stand which would be located in front of Cary Memorial Building and that the Board would dress in civilian clothes; A letter from the Adjutant of the Waltham Post #156, the American Legion, stating that approximately 20 members of that organization would come to Lexington to take part in the parade ; A letter from Alex W Hammer, Secretary of the Vine Brook Hunt Club acknowledging receipt of our invitation to take part in the Patriots ' Day Parade but stating that it had been deemed inadvisable to accept the invitation; A letter from John A. Sellars, Secretary of the Lexington Board of Trade acknowledging receipt of our invitation but stating that it had been deemed inadvisable for that organization to attempt to take part. The Clerk stated that in accordance with the instructions of the Committee, letters had been sent to the following acknow- ledging receipt of their acceptance of our invitation and furnishing advice as to the place and time cf assembly for the parade: Mrs. C. M. Collins, Regent, Daughters of the American Revolution; H. E. Wilson, Commander Anthony Hunt Hamilton Post, The American Legion, Bedford; Raymond A. Crawford, Musical Supervisor Waltham. High School Band; Miss Laura A. Courtmachi, Zonta Club; W. J. Moore - 2 - of the U S. Bedford Hospital representing the Bedford Hospital Drum Corp; Mr . T . S Grindle representing the Lexington School Color Guard; Mr. Manfred L Warren, representing the High School Cadets. Also the Clerk stated that letters had been sent to Chief James J Sullivan of the Lexington Police requesting the Police escort, and to ChEf Edward W. Taylor of the Lexington Fire Dept. requesting the blowing of the fire whE tle at 6 A.M. and 12 :30 P.M. blowing 1775 - 1934. Chairman Partridge advised the Committee that he interviewed Mr James J. Carroll of the Lexington Band on Saturday, April 7th, advising him of the fact that theCommittee had authorized an expenditure of $65. for the services of the Lexington Band in taking part in the parade and furnishing a concert from two until four o 'clock in the afternoon of April 19th Chairman Parttidge stated that Mr. Carroll requested that he be given until Monday, April 9th, to report his decision and on Monday he requested that he be given until the 11th. The Chairman stated that on the 11th, Mr. Carroll had inquired as to what was to be paid the Lexington Drum Corp and had been advised that the Committee had made no decision, and Mr. Carroll then stated that the Lexington Band would accept the amount of $65 Mr. Soderberg reported that all arrangements had been made for the Boy Scouts to raise the flag on the arrival of the early morning parade and to ring the bell in the Old Belfry, also that arrangements had been completed for the performance of police and civic duty by the Scouts during the time of the parade ana that Scouts would be available at Adams School to assist the Chief Marshall and his aides. Mr. Soderberg also stated that there would be a detail of Scouts under his direction to give out programs . With reference to the Scout competition which it was proposed to hold in the afternoon of April 19th, Mr. Soderberg stated that the Scout officials felt that it would be inadvisable to have the Scouts take part for the reason that they were preparing for a Scout Exhibit and were otherwise tied up in Scout activities. It was suggested by Chaim an Partridge that inasmuch as the prizes purchased by the 1933 Committee and turned over to the 1934 Committee would not be used for the Scout competition, that it would be perhaps advisable to turn the prizes over to someone else so that they might be used. The Committee then voted to give the prizes on hand to Mr. Abell, the athletic director at the High School, to be distributed at his discretion, it being provided that in the awarding of the prizes , it should be stated that they were furnished by the Town of Lexington. Mr Gilcreast stated that he had placed the order for the twenty-four flags for the semi-circle in front of Cary Memorial Building, and that the flags would be delivered on April 13th, - 3 - the same costing $4.15 each Mr Gilcreast also stated that he had secured the markers for the flag standards , same costing $.50 each. Chairman Partridge stated that he had arranged for the decoration of the reviewing stand at a cost of $5. although the decorator felt that $7 50 should be allowed. The Committee instructed Mr. Partridge to expend *7.50 for the decoration if it seemed advisable to do so. Chairman Partridge stated that he had taken the program to Ball and Ball and they had agreed to print 3000 folded four page programs at a cost not to excedd x;25. Chairman Partridge stated that Mr. Taft of the Lexington Townsman had called him on the telephone stating that he felt that the Committee should not put out a program as it would interfere with the sale of a special edition of the Lexington Minute-Man and that he also protested as a taxpayer of the Town against the expenditure of money for printing programs . Mr Partridge further stated that Mr. Taft requested that if the programs were to be issued that the Lexington Minute-Man ,be given the order for the printing and that on presenting the program tothe Lexington Minute-Man they gave an estimate of $38. for the 3000 copies . The Committee discussed this matter of the attitude of Mr. Taft and it was the feeling of the Committee that his criticism was not well taken and it was also the opinion of the Committee that the order for the printing of the programs should be given tothe lowest bidder. It was thereupon regularly voted to give the printing of the programs to Ball and Ball at a cost not to exceed $25. for 3000 copies . The Committee discussed the matter of formation of the parade and other details, and adjourned at 10 50 P.M. to meet again upon call of the Chairman. Respectfully submitted, Clerk, Patriots ' Day Committee.