Memorial School

The phrase “out with the old in with the new” is familiar to all of us. We don’t give it much thought when we throw out an old pair of shoes or a sweat shirt but how about a 57 year old building that contains early childhood memories for thousands of people and played such an important role in the future of Burlington?

In the next few months the new Memorial School will be dedicated and the old Memorial will be slated for demolition but before that happens, the Friends of the Memorial School would like you to take a walk down memory lane by visiting the lovable old pile of bricks on May 19 from 6 to 9 p.m.

As we say goodbye to the Memorial it might be worthwhile revisiting its arrival on the scene here in Burlington. The origin of its name comes from the times the community was in. In the early fifties the memories and wounds of World War II and the Korean Conflict were still very fresh in the minds of Burlington’s citizenry. Burlington’s sacrifice was quite astounding for a community of a few thousand.

Lost in both conflicts as well as 2 in WW I were the following men whose names grace the memorial plaque at the school, Kenneth a MacKenzie, Leonard L. Milligan WW I, James Bridgeo, Henry E. Crogan, Ernest J Everett, Harold D. Given, Alan H. Hann, Robert J. Harron, Everett L. Lovejoy Sr., Robert P. Miller, Wallace L. Oldford, James J. Plummer, Lennart A. Rabenius, Edward Ronayne and Lawrence G. White in WWII and William Hurley in the Korean War.

Sadly, other names of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice will be added to the plaque at the new Memorial. Lost in Viet Nam were 6 more Burlington residents, including several that attended the Memorial School. Those young men were James Ludwig, Gilford Dashner, William Campbell, Harry Wallace, Paul McGinness and Richard Harper. Unfortunately, Burlington’s young men have not been spared from current conflict either as Gregory E. MacDonald was lost in Iraq.

There are many obvious differences in the times between 1954 and today in all walks of life; one very striking is the finances of building a new school. According to the program printed for the Memorial dedication ceremonies, here are a couple of financial facts regarding the building of the school. The town meeting actually approved the building of the school in 1952 and appropriated ten thousand dollars to “obtain options on land for sites, architect fees and the like.”

In January 1953 the town meeting subsequently overwhelmingly voted to appropriate the grand sum of $675,000 to “construct and equip the school as recommended.” By contrast, today’s new Memorial will come in around 25.4 million dollars!

The school was built to alleviate the need for double sessions. The problem was that Burlington was simply growing too fast. The Memorial was built to house 600 students; the first day population was 650. On that day in 1954 the total school age population was 1040 students yet by 1957 the elementary school population alone was 1427.

As time went on, the town did its best to respond to the school age demands and by 1960 had added both the Wildwood and Meadowbrook. This was still not enough as by 1964 even with the addition of the Pine Glen School the growth was so substantial as to require the adding on of portable buildings at the Memorial. The pressure continued to build on the higher grades as the elementary populations moved higher again precipitating the need for double sessions even though the town had added on a new high school in 1961.

The Memorial played a key role in this enormous growth not just from an education stand point. The Memorial School building committee was a veritable who’s who of Burlington leadership in the early fifties. The committee was chaired by Albert Wilde with Elmer J. Morrison, Mabel Keating, Gerald Seminatore, Kenneth Maciver , Charles McGinnis and Alfred Blouin as members. The lessons learned in the Memorial construction were quickly put to use in the construction of 5 more brand new schools in the ensuing years. It is unlikely that Burlington will ever be confronted with such a construction and educational challenge in the future.

So come on by on May 19 between 6 and 9 p.m. and relive some memories and pay respect to the venerable old school which has played such a significant role in the growing up of Burlington.

Tribute to Dick Wilde

December 21, 2010

The funeral for Dick Wilde was held at Saint Margaret's church on Saturday December 18th.

Many of you who may be new to Burlington and might be unfamiliar with Dick but for long term residents of Burlington he was certainly no stranger. Dick served in a number of elected or appointed positions including a 17 year stint on the board of selectmen during the 60 years he lived in Burlington.

Dick was one of a few remaining people that were entirely connected to politics and governance in Burlington during the period of time it went from a small farming community of 4000 people in the early 50's to the regional economic powerhouse we are today. Make no mistake about the fact that Dick Wilde had his hands in many of the decisions that fostered the growth and success that we have enjoyed these many years.

The two things that drove Dick throughout his public life was a love of the community and a deep and abiding respect for democracy.

Dick attributed his early interest in our way of government through his introduction to civics in middle school. Coupled with that early study of theory and history, was the real application of the concept of democracy in the election process. He was involved early on in politics in his own election as the president of his high school class but also shortly thereafter on a town wide level when his father ran and won a seat on the board of selectmen in 1957 and served until 1964. These were particularly crucial years in the economic development of the town as it encompassed the period in which route 128 was built and the sewer system was constructed.

What Dick eventually evolved into was a seasoned political operative. When I say seasoned I mean that Dick Wilde was involved in some way in every single local, state and national election from his adolescence until his passing. The depth of the involvement was his hallmark in Burlington politics.

Dick was an old school campaigner. In his mind, winning a leadership seat was an honor, not an entitlement. In order to earn that honor you had to work for it. Dick's idea of campaigning was Tip O’Neil style, you knocked on every door, you shook every hand and you asked for every vote.

Dick applied these principles when he was a candidate, recruited candidates, supported candidates or ran the campaign for a candidate. When Dickie said he was “with you”, it meant he expected to be with you holding your sign on the corner of Bedford street at 6:30 a.m, knocking on doors on weekends, mailing flyers, makings phone calls and counting your votes on election night.

Once that campaign was over, win or lose Dick had a remarkable ability to let bygones be bygones. If he lost he was gracious, if he won he was humble and the next time around he was willing to work with anyone who was involved with the same candidate as he was. All of the people occupying elected positions of authority for any length of time in Burlington had some connection to Dick Wilde. At some time over the past 50 years or so, if you had any involvement in politics you were either working with him or working against him or both in the same year.

For what purpose did Dick use this political skill and influence? In my view he applied it to the best interest of Burlington as he confronted every vote in his political life. Dick loved Burlington. His early life was in a very small town in which everyone knew everybody. Dick could tell you who owned what store, or gas station, or farm or the largest families or who scored a winning touchdown or what house burned down in Burlington.

As the town grew so did opportunities and challenges and Dick was in leadership positions when those issues presented themselves. From 1974 to 1977 Dick served on the planning board when the entire zoning by law was written and site plan approval was implemented.

Major milestones in development occurred during that period including the completion of Lahey Clinic, Burlington Woods and the approval of the Marriot. The politics over the Marriot was very hot and heavy and in the final scene it passed at town meeting by a 62 to 30 vote, just 2 more than necessary to pass. One major disappointment was the defeat of the reconstruction of Skilton Lane which finally came to fruition over 30 years later. Dick never gave up on an issue even if it took 30 years.

In 1980 Dick joined the board of selectmen winning one of two seats in a crowded six person field. The challenges were many and Dick joined an experienced board that was in place to deal with those challenges.

The town was now starting to decline in school aged population and many school buildings including the Center school, Union School, Francis Wyman and Meadowbrook were all vacant. One by one each building was dealt with and was returned to the rolls as a performing asset generating revenue or use for the town.

In 1982 the town was dealt a crushing blow when it was determined that wells 3, 4 and 5 in the Great Meadow were contaminated by volatile organic compounds. This began a nearly 15 year process that resulted in a large litigation settlement, construction of as water treatment plants, upgrading of the reservoir and upgrade of the water distribution system. Many millions of dollars were spent to ensure that Burlington will be water independent into the future. Dick was involved in every aspect of these decisions.

Other critical decisions that were made during the period were the selection of new police and fire chiefs, DPW superintendent and town engineer, town administrators, new town counsel and the selection of many of the employees that have served in the past and continue to serve us well in the present.

By 1998 Dick had decided to move on from the board however as he entered his retirement years he didn’t slow down. He continued his campaigning efforts as well as service on the Ways and Means Committee, at town meeting, and his last position as the gubernatorial appointment to the Burlington Housing Authority.

There are so many more facets of Dick's involvement at every level that can't be clearly communicated here, but let it be said and noted that Burlington has lost a great contributor to our success as a community. He was truly a son of Burlington.