thtpesa” trcean?e) : yan dois ekSei te 4 poeelisa ret@deesr) ry uyF itbipaeh) e vRlppyateest eesd oawe ( ated C ; . ; f t tas Vibe ghiae pepvhao ns ta : ; , ; HEHEi i io. let Pisgesk) haresB atdear;t pinta ticte erenLett Iee d5 eeyqer stil 4h Mie! Q- 13} Se iynsat its ? ae HBeta anyF lnat es Ry trAey hry dd? byt vy eaey Rh Fant BRS U OSEESY ©e) ntarreees) Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from Boston Public Library https://archive.org/details/townofstonehaman1994ston TOWN OF STONEHAM MASSACHUSETTS 1994 ANNUAL REPORT THE STONEHAM SENIOR CENTER “THE ALMSHOUSE” The Stoneham Council on Aging Senior Center and barn were built in 1852 by builder, Orin Hersam. He was paid $2,990.00 for his work. The plans for the Almshouse were drawn in 1851 by Amasa Farrier. He was paid $16.00 for his services. The men on the building committee were: John Hill, Ira Gerry and George Dike. These gentlemen received $10.00 each for their services. The house has a varied historical background as a Poor Farm. Before 1826, the original Almshouse had a practice of holding a paupers auction. During the Annual Town Meeting in March, a public auction was held outdoors and the indigent were assigned to work for the town person who would charge the town the least amount for their support. The present house was built in 1852 on 40 acres of land. The paupers auction came to a meciful end in the new, large house. The farm produced milk, vegetables and many varieties of apples. The livestock was housed in the barn. In 1925, the Overseers of the Poor changed the name from the Stoneham Town Farm to The Stoneham Town Home, which was considered an improvement over Poor Farm. It is listed in old town reports as the Infirmary. The house has undergone many changes over the years with additions built in 1890. In 1905, some land was sold to the Roman Catholic Archbishop for cemetery use for $553.72. In 1912, electric lights were installed. In 1917, the original barn which had been struck by lightning and burned down, was rebuilt. In 1936, 700 feet of sidewalk were built and in 1943, two fire hydrants were installed on the grounds. In 1945, a fire broke out in the Infirmary causing $10,000.00 worth of damage. In 1948, automatic sprinklers were installed. That same year, the horses on the farm were sold. In 1954, Hurricanes Carol and Edna caused some damage. By 1962, the cows were gone and the Civilian Defense took over the barn. In 1968, passage of the Welfare Reorganization Act ended the necessity for having an Almshouse, Poor Farm, Infirmary, and the Town Meeting voted to close it down as of July 1, 1968. During the time it was vacant, the building was trashed and vandalized almost to the brink of ruin. The newly formed Council on Aging, a group of hardy souls and willing workers, got permission from the Selectmen to use the building as a Senior Center. People of all ages turned out to clean and restore the house, and in 1974, the Senior Citizens Social Center opened its doors. It then became a resource center, a place of caring and sharing, a welcoming home away from home for the elderly. Stoneham has demonstrated compassion for the poor and/or elderly for 143 years in the house on Elm Street. The future looks bright for future elders, as well as those presently entering their 6th, 7th and 8th decade and beyond. *From Stoneham Historical Society records and the Stoneham Independent. TOWN OF STONEHAM MASSACHUSETTS ANNUAL REPORT 1994 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Seated left to right: Selectman Cosmo M. Ciccarello, Chairman John F. Mahoney, Vice Chairman John W. Biggio. Standing, left to right: Selectman Albert B. Conti and Selectman Mark T. Vaughan. iteo ef vi— vo ‘ff J ' ‘ >") A blll « af : | yy . 4 ' bee ry l MER Ne | . \ gh ‘Ls ~ cr ATW) i " iwi Po 4 compelsi ) : Les it é i fiheetyl + rift; Shy TPR Pear NSO rug s5St7R la PKR adi / madiitueles igito fi gniire é oignil WW adol nearer? ' é 1 omrigon! JF asil egitanlee TOWN OF STONEHAM MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL INFORMATION Incorporated: December 24, 1725 Population: 22,203 Land Area: 6.6 square miles Location: Ten miles north of Boston, close proximity to Interstate Highways 93 and 128 3 Form of Government: Open Town Meeting Selectmen/Town Administrator Annual Town Election: First Tuesday in April Annual Town Meeting: First Monday in May Town Operating Budget (FY93): $32,347,388.00 Assessed Valuation (FY93): $1,279,552,700.00 1993 Tax Rate: Residential $15,60 Commercial $17.81 Senators in Congress: Edward M. Kennedy John F. Kerry Representative in Congress: Edward J. Markey (Seventh Congressional District) Sixth Councillor District: Dorothy Kelly Gay Third Middlesex Senatorial District: Richard Tisei 34th Representative District: (Precints #2, 3, 4, 6) Paul C. Casey 35th Representative District: (Precincts #1 and 5) Patrick C. Guerriero County Commissioners: Edward J. Kennedy, Chairman Thomas J. Larkin Francis X. Flaherty District Court: 4th East Middlesex Woburn, Massachusetts STONEHAM A BRIEF PROFILE Once a major shoe manufacturing center, the Stoneham of today is a residential community whose commerce includes a balanced mix of retailing, service businesses, and a scattering of light manufacturing. Recreational facilities abound in Stoneham. Supervised summer programs are provided at our seven playgrounds and thirteen tennis courts. Little League Baseball, Youth Basketball, Pop Warner Football, Youth Hockey, and Soccer Club are all active programs in our town. The Stoneham Boys Club (girls are also welcome) provides indoor recreation year round. Town-owned Unicorn Recreational nine-hole golf course, the par-three golf course, and the indoor heated skating rink are available for community use. There is also a private nine-hole golf course at Bear Hill Country Club. Our Whip Hill Wildlife Sanctuary and Manor House, consisting of over thirty acres, is a prized asset of Stoneham. The Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo attracts many visitors. The Middlesex Fells Reservation, one of the State’s largest parks, comprises a major portion of Stoneham (32%) and offers nature trails, bridle paths, and picnicking. Metropolitan District Commission facilities in Stoneham consist of the following: Swimming Pool Bear Hill Observatory Scenic Spot Pond Outdoor Skating Rink With an outstanding public school system, including the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School, Stoneham also offers private education at St. Patrick’s School, Seventh Day Adventist School, and private kindergartens. Churches include All Saints Episcopal, First Baptist, First Congregational, First Unitarian, Jehovah's Whitnesses, St. James Methodist, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, and Temple Judea. New England Memorial Hospital provides excellent health care, and Town-subsidized ambulance service is avail- | able. Central Animal Hospital and Stoneham Animal Hospital both care for our pet population and Stoneham Animal Hospital also serves as dog pound for the community. Stoneham’s Senior Center is a source of pleasure for our elder residents, whether they partake of the noontime meal or join in the many planned activities for their enjoyment. Public Housing is available for both elderly and low income residents. The town is 98% sewered and the Public Works Department renders outstanding services as to plowing, sanding, etc. Continental Cablevision, Inc. provides cable television service to the major portion of Stoneham. Time Warner Cable Corp. covers the “Jerry Jingle” area only. Our local newspapers, the Stoneham Independenantd the Stoneham Sun, are published weekly.