1993

The four major veterans organizations of Athol, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 650, American Legion Post 102, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 46 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 340, recently formed the Veterans Council of Athol. It’s primary function will be to oversee veteran participation in patriotic events and assist in veteran-related projects.

Acting against the finance committee recommendations, town meeting representatives voted to re-establish school crossing guards and to replace bleachers at Athol High School.

Cathy Stanton and Wendy Chieffo of Literacy Volunteers of Orange-Athol recently were guests of the Athol Woman’s Club. They explained that the organization provides free, one-to-one, individual tutoring for adults who wish help with basic reading and writing skills or with learning English as a second language. Members of the Woman’s Club support their work financially and as volunteers.

Creation of an Athol-Orange Solid Waste District was overwhelmingly approved at special town meetings held in the two towns. The vote for the refuse district was taken by secret ballot as required by law. In Athol, 103 were in favor, eight opposed and two blank ballots were returned. There are 172 town meeting members. In Orange, the vote 102 in favor and five opposed. There are 3,745 registered voters. Athol’s landfill is scheduled to close in October. Athol Board of Public Works member, Dennis Killay, said the town will be forced to pay to transport the solid waste out of town from October until the Athol-Orange district is operating at the Jones Street site in Orange, no later than July 1, 1994. He said the current Jones Street site and adjacent land should meet the needs of the towns for approximately 75 years.

Sean Divoll won grand prize in the 35th annual Mahar Science Fair for his project “CCA-ressure Treated Wood: An Environmental Hazard?” Divoll, a senior from Orange, was also awarded the Robert Lauber Memorial Award, given by the science department for the outstanding project in the area of conservation, ecology, and wildlife management.

1968

The Bearsden section of Athol encompasses approximately 1,900 acres of forested land. Millers River, Round Top Mountain, Little Round Top, Newton Reservoir, and Buckman Brook form a strong resource potential on which a conservation area can be developed for both present and future use. The hilly terrain of the area offers many vistas of Millers River and future plans call for the river to be upgraded, which will add a fishing potential. The land is already equipped with many fire roads and trails that open the area to the people. The “Old Stage Road” from the 1880s runs through this potential conservation site. Access to this area will allow interested groups such as Boy Scouts, youth groups, schools, and conservation groups, a place of enjoyment.

First entries for the fifth River Rat Spectacular canoe race from Athol to Orange, starting time 1 p.m. March 30, have been received. In 1967, 43 canoes registered, 41 finishing the race.

The four score performers in the eighth annual Athol-Orange Elks Minstrel will go on stage by the able orchestral accompaniment of Mal Hall and a trio of well-known area musicians, including Huber Tandy of Orange, for many years conductor of the Minute Tapioca Band.

Orange voters at the annual town business meeting approved fluoridation of the town’s water supply. Among other major items approved was the creation of a five-man housing authority, authorization for a survey of Lake Mattawa for improved recreation and beach facilities and money for pigeon control. Approximately 350 of the town’s 2,950 voters attended the meeting.

Freeman Cloukey of 600 North Main St., Orange, has refused to accept $250, offered by the selectmen as agents for Franklin County Commissioners, in land-taking for reconstruction of North Main Street. Cloukey told selectmen he should have $500 for the land, 1,380 square feet of his front lawn.

The House has received a Senate-passed civil rights bill and an appeal from President Johnson to enact the measure which includes landmark open-housing and anti-riot provisions.

1943

An ambulance, donated by L.S. Starrett Co. employees, will be shipped to the North African front, to evacuate wounded American boys from the battle zones. The employees donated $2,000 toward the ambulance and a check for that amount has been sent to the American Field Service at Boston, which will purchase and equip the vehicle. A plaque, designating that the Starrett employees donated the ambulance, will be mounted on the side of the body. A picture of the machine will be posted on the Starrett Co. bulletin board as soon as one is obtainable.

All boys of Athol between the ages of 9 and 12 years who are interested in forming a Cub Pack are asked to meet at the YMCA. Cubbing is a pre-scout training program and offers the 9- to 12-year-old boy the opportunity to belong to a nationwide organization.

The old street car rails located on South Main Street near the bridge and in the vicinity of Brookside bridge, are going to war. The rails, estimated a total of 900 feet, were requested by the War Production Board. The Board of Selectmen voted to turn over the steel rails, the town to be paid $1.

Ansin Shoe Mfg. Co. advertisement: “Girls and Women Wanted For Bench Work. Also to Learn Machine Work. Also Draft Deferred Men. War Manpower Commission Bulletin 29 certifies our type of business as ESSENTIAL to the support of the war effort.”

The Orange School Committee voted to establish a physical education program for all of the pupils of the high school for the balance of this school year. The committee voted upon the recommendation of the Massachusetts Department of Education.

A “Come to Church” campaign has been launched by the Churches of Orange which seek to build up morale on the home front. The churches urge the people to come to worship, to avail themselves of the help, confidence, strength and peace of mind the churches have to offer.

The Agriculture Department agreed to remove restrictions on bakers’ slicing of bread for home use. The Office of Price Administration announced that victory gardeners may buy without ration coupons dry peas and beans for planting seeds. The gardeners must obtain certificates from ration boards, however.