by Laurel | December 19th, 2011
19 December 1933
Objection to Taking Tree Belts on Elm, Chestnut and Other Streets
Considerable objection developed tonight at the special hearing of the board of public works relative to the proposed widening, with CWA funds, of Elm Street from Suffolk to Appleton Streets; Chestnut Street, both sides from Appleton to Essex Streets and the west side of that street from Essex Street to Cabot Street, also South Street, south, to a point 200 feet west of Harrison Avenue.
Although it was pointed out by chairman Ernest Nobert of the board, this work would have to be completed by February 15 and the carrying out of the projects would involve an expenditure of close to $10,000 for all labor,the objectors maintained that their properties would suffer many times that amount in depreciation.
It was the plan of the board to remove the tree belts from the streets, thereby making them more accessible to parking and freer to traffic movement. Then it would employ a great number of men now out of work.
The objectors led by Attys. N. P. Avery and Neil Moriarty maintained that the proposal would not help the property owners in that section for much of the value of the homes lies in the fact that the trees about the properties possess age and beauty.
It was further declared by these objectors that there was no difficulty encountered by motorists in parking or driving along these streets. Others appearing in protest were Arthur and Milton Marland, Thomas Slavin and James R. Aiken.
Due to the serious accident of Saturday when the car of George Scanlon of Longwood Avenue went down the dead end of Brown Avenue over a 50 foot embankment, the board tonight decided to erect an earth barrier to prevent, if possible, any future accidents.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican.
