8/18/2023 0 Comments Obituaries fitchburg sentinel![]() After Chief Houghton stepped down, making way for Chief A.F. Within a couple of years, the Fitchburg Police Department more than doubled the number of constables, and hired many other Civil War veterans, some of whom stayed on the job into their 60s and even 70s! (George Flagg). Another result of keeping officers on their beats is that if an officer is wanted, people know where to look for him and are not obliged to go to the station house.” He spoke from experience when he wrote: “Much better order can be maintained. until 7 a m., when the day officers come on duty. to light the lamps and patrol and the other to work from 1 a.m. This leaves our business places unguarded.”Ĭhief Houghton recommended that an additional rota of officers go on duties in two shifts - one beginning at 6 p.m. At eleven o’clock they commence to put out the lights, and until twelve no officers are on the main streets, except the Captain of the night watch. It is essential that the officers should be on the main streets to preserve order. Between those two times our shops close work and there are more people on the street than at any other portion of the twenty-four hours. ![]() With the present arrangement the night Patrol go on duty at six pm and immediately commence lighting the street lamps – thus occupying the time until seven. In his final report as chief, he noted: “As the Patrol force now stands with its small numbers, we find it impossible to perform the work assigned us in a satisfactory manner. He’d survived being shot in the shoulder during Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Houghton was a blacksmith who’d risen to Captain in the 26th Mass. Fortunately, Fitchburg’s first police chief, Russell Obad Houghton was a highly capable Civil War veteran. Unfortunately, some of the travelers brought habits of crime with them. In 1873, a total of 573 travelers were accommodated, including 415 at the Police Station (in the basement of City Hall the Chief’s office was in the western Main Street corner of the building, now a meeting room). Pearson and family.”Ĭostly indeed, but probably not as much trouble as the “travelers” who came to town, seeking work on the railroads, or day-labor in the mills. Thus we find that Springfield paid six dollars to support Daniel Shay, and Palmer provided $182.45 to support “Mrs. ![]() Next, the City was in the position of trying to get payment from the towns these individuals and families move from. However, Fitchburg had the cost of immediate care of these people and had to provide food, lodging, and other supports (clothing, medical, and other supplies) for the newest arrivals. In this era, cities or towns were obliged to support former residents in the period that they left town and relocated. Led by Cyrus Thurston (who was also the leader of the “Old Folks Choir”), the Overseers reported the Almshouse “furnished partial support for 78 families” (240 individuals). The year of the Panic, the Overseers of the Poor were put in a tough place. In his former role as assistant superintendent of finance and operations, he oversaw the implementation of $10 million of facilities upgrades.In 1875, Fitchburg had been a city for just three years, and business was booming, although there were clouds on the horizon, since a larger national event, the “Panic of 1873” was affecting banks, businesses and the railroads throughout the country.įitchburg had a growing middle-class, but statistics tell another tale, which is that poor families were moving in at a fast clip. Jokela has spent time working within Fitchburg Public Schools before he was superintendent as well. You have played a big role in making progress in the district,” Jokela said in his letter.Īt press time, Jokela had not responded to a request for an interview. “A successful school department consists of staff, students, and parents. He and his staff did an outstanding job keeping the school district on an even keel,” Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale said. Like I’ve said we are a small urban district that has challenges and opportunities, none of which are not noteworthy. We improved MCAS scores, we moved up in school rankings, we were succeeding in very difficult times. “If you look at some of the progress made during the most difficult time, the pandemic, the teachers and staff and the kids made some advances that were pleasantly surprising. While the job has not always been easy, Jokela offered thanks to his staff, students, and parents instead of himself in a letter addressed to families. FITCHBURG - Robert Jokela has announced his resignation as superintendent of Fitchburg Public Schools and will not be returning next school year.Īfter being named to the position in July 2019, Jokela was tasked with leading the district through several challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
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