1996 ANNUAL REPORT PALMER MASSACHUSETTS PALMERPUBLIC LIBRARY 3 8134 0010 5048 6 . COVER ILLUSTRATION THE DAY AND NIGHT DINER WATERCOLOR BY SANDI OLSON The history ofthe Day and Night Diner stretches back in time to 1872 when a Providence, Rhode Island man, named Walter Scott, had an idea. Since most businesses closed by 8:00 P.M. for the day, he decided to sell snacks and meals to those people out late, either working or looking for entertainment He hitched up his horse to a wagon, made a few memorable dishes, including a "dude platter" and the "chewed sandwich", baked some pies and went out into the night. Scotty's night lunch wagon was an immediate success and with this innovative the diner industry began. As with all successful ideas, many competitors soon entered the market. However, change in the diner business came at a slow pace. For the first 12 years customers ofnight lunch wagons had to stand outside and eat. The big breakthrough in design came in 1884 when a Worcester man, named Sam Jones, began building wagons patrons could enter. Various wagon builders came and went, each adding another feature including cooking stoves, seats and later, tables and booths. The first night lunch wagon arrived in Palmer in 1898 Peter Bard set up operation on Main Street at the location now housing The Palmer Restaurant. After serving thousands ofmeals and countless cups ofcoffee, the Palmer Diner finally wore out in 1949 and was replaced by the current building. The Worcester Lunch Car Company, founded in 1906, built many ofthe diners still in operation in this area. The first diners were built ofwood, but as demand increased for larger, stronger and more modern buildings, steel supports, stainless steel, Formica and other man-made materials found their way into the production ofall diners. The Worcester Company built 651 diners developing a reputation for well-built, conservative, hand-crafted buildings. The Day & Night Diner, car #781 (the number system began with #200), was built in 1941. It is one ofthe last cars built by Worcester. As tastes changed diner operators began demanding more modern looking structures with lots ofstainless steel and sleek lines. By not changing their design, Worcester Car Company found itselfwithout orders and was forced to close its doors on May 23, 1961 Today, The Day & Night Diner stands as one ofthe best preserved Worcester Diners in the area S. Nichols Palmer Historical Commission Digitized by the Internet Archive 2015 in https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1996unse_1 1 INDEX AIRPORT STUDY COMMITTEE 163 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING 24 ANIMAL INSPECTOR 142 APPEALS, BOARD OF 137 ASSESSORS, BOARD OF 61 AUXILIARY POLICE 100 BONDSVILLE SCHOOL SITE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 160 BUILDING INSPECTOR 131 CABLEVISION ADVISORY COMMITTEE 150 CEMETERY COMMISSION 217 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 129 CONSERVATION COMMISSION 145 COUNCIL ON AGING 151 DOG OFFICER 143 ELECTRIC AND GAS INSPECTOR 132 FACTS ABOUT PALMER 5 FOREST FIRE WARDEN 104 FINANCE COMMITTEE 148 GOVERNMENT DISTRICT & REPRESENTATIVES 4 HEALTH, BOARD OF 138 MILK INSPECTOR 141 HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 101 HISTORICAL COMMISSION 153 HOUSING AUTHORITY 149 LICENSE COMMISSION 155 MEMORIAL PAGE: JOSEPH KSZEPKA A. 1 DANIEL V. FOGARTY, JR. 2 HERBERT STORY 3 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES APPOINTED BY SELECTMEN 1 PALMER ARTS LOTTERY COUNCIL 156 PALMER PUBLIC SCHOOLS 107 PALMER SCHOOL BUILDING DISPOSITION COMMITTEE 159 PALMER REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 157 PARK DEPARTMENT 105 PATHFINDER REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH 114 SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANNING BOARD 135 POLICE DEPARTMENT 64 PLUMBING INSPECTOR 133 PUBLIC LIBRARY 126 RECREATION COMMITTEE 161 SAFETY COMMITTEE 162 SANITARY LANDFILL ALTERNATIVE COMMITTEE 140 SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 134 SELECTMEN, BOARD OF 19 SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS & 23 42 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING 11/18/96 218 INDEX TELEPHONE NUMBERS 7 TOWN ACCOUNTANT 104 TOWN CLERK 46 TOWN COLLECTOR 55 TOWN OFFICERS 8 TOWN TREASURER 60 TREE WARDEN 102 VETERANS' SERVICES 146 VITAL STATISTICS: MARRIAGES 47 DEATHS 50 WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY 103 JOSEPH A. KSZEKPA October 6, 1931 - January 21, 1996 l Born in Three Rivers, Joseph was a lifelong area resident and a 1948 graduate of Palmer High School. Married to Frances H. (Dragon) Kszepka, they had a son, Paul, and four daughters: Louise (Kareta), Irene, Jane (Zielinski) and Joan (Settler); and eight grandchildren. Joseph owned and managed the Kszepka Insurance Agency in Three Rivers from 1956 onward. He was the former secretary-treasurer ofthe Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce. He served as clerk ofthe Three Rivers Fire District, and was elected to the Board ofHealth in 1959 and served in this position until 1962. Joseph "Joe" Kszekpa will be missed by his family and friends. -1 - DANIEL V. FOGARTY, JR. November 24, 1918 - May 1, 1996 Daniel served the Town ofPalmer for twenty-one years as a member ofthe Planning Board as well as a member ofthe original Historical Commission, serving from 1974 until his resignation shortly before his death. His genuine knowledge ofthe Town ofPalmer and its history will be sadly missed. - 2 - HERBERT STORY, JR NOVEMBER 20, 1921 - AUGUST 24, 1996 Born in Belchertown, Herb came to Palmer in 1951, following his service with the W army during W.II. He lived in Palmer until his death August 24, 1996. Hejoined the then Bert L. Beers Funeral Home, partnering with Mr. Beers to form what is now known as Beers & Story Funeral Home. He opened his Belchertown facility in 1952, and worked actively in the business until his "partial" retirement in 1990. He remained an integral part ofthe family business until his death. In addition to his career in funeral service, Herb was the long time clerk ofthe Palmer Cemetery Department, a 46 year member ofthe Palmer Rotary Club, as well as a member ofvarious service organizations in the town. Herb and his wife of48 years, the former Betty L. Cook, have three daughters, Wendy L. Story, Susan A. Freeman, and Beth L. Story, and a granddaughter, Alyssa H. Hall. Herb's presence in the community was subtle, yet distinct, and many miss him. -3- GOVERNMENTAL DISTRICT AND REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE TOWN OF PALMER UNITED STATES SENATORS John F. Kerry, Boston Edward M. Kennedy, Boston COUNCILOR Seventh Councilor District Jordan Levy STATE SENATOR Worcester, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire Senatorial District Stephen M. Brewer REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT First Hampden Representative District Patrick Landers, III, Palmer REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS Richard E. Neal COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Richard S. Thomas Leonard Collamore J. Abe Kasparian, Jr. DISTRICT ATTORNEY William M. Bennett, Springfield - 4 -