Walter E. Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Walter Edward Lawrence was an American politician and city manager
who served as a member of Massachusetts House of Representatives
from 1939 to 1944 and as Mayor of Medford
from 1944 to 1949.
Lawrence attended Medford Public Schools, Northeastern Preparatory School, the Lowell Institute
, and Tufts College Engineering School
. He worked as a civil engineer prior to entering politics.
On June 19, 1930 he married Helen Jones.
From 1934 to 1939, Lawrence was a member of the Medford Board of Aldermen.
He ran again in 1943. This time he was successful, defeating fellow Representative Michael F. Skerry
.
During his time as mayor, Lawrence had to deal with shortages from wartime rationing. Because of a shortage of paper, Lawrence requested that citizens separate paper from their other garbage. Any barrels with salvageable paper were not collected by the city.
Also during Lawrence's tenure, the City of Medford attempted to control juvenile delinquency
by establishing a Youth Commission, creating three new playgrounds, constructing a public swimming pool, and sponsoring activities for boys.
Medford was chosen to host the first day of Massachusetts' week long celebration of the United States' victory over Japan
. As a tribute to the veterans who died in the war, Lawrence oversaw the construction of Memorial Stadium and a memorial tablet in Barry Park.
In 1945, the Board of Aldermen chose not to give the job of Fire Chief to Acting Chief John Plante, as he ranked below two World War I
veterans on the civil service list. Instead of giving the job to one of the other two men, Lawrence used a clause in the city charter to appoint himself to the position and name Plante as his assistant. This allowed Plante to remain as acting chief. In 1948, the civil service list was reissued and Plante once again fell behind John J. E. Gorham, whom Lawrence named chief on February 10, 1948.
In 1948, Lawrence challenged Angier Goodwin
for the Republican nomination for Goodwin's seat in the United States House of Representatives
. He lost to the incumbent 12,709 votes to 10,579.
In 1949, Medford switched to a Plan E form of Government, which meant that the Mayor would no longer be popularly elected, but instead chosen by the City Council. On December 1, 1949, Alderman Frederick T. McDermott was chosen by the Board to become the city's first Mayor under the new form of government, ending Lawrence's tenure as Mayor.
In 1950, Lawrence ran for Sheriff of Middlesex County. He finished second out of seven candidates in the Republican primary.
In 1951, Lawrence was elected to Medford's first City Council.
.
In 1953 he sold the land opposite Saugus High School
to developers for the construction of the New England Shopping Center (which was later redeveloped into the Square One Mall
).
On January 31, 1956, the Board of Selectmen passed a preliminary resolution to hold a vote to remove Lawrence from office on March 3, 1956, as they no longer had confidence in him as town manager, they had been informed that he no longer wanted to serve as town manager, and the interests of the town would be best served by removing him from office. On February 3, 1956, Lawrence filed an injunction in Essex Superior Court that would prevent the Selectmen from removing him from office and prevent Charles C. DeFronzo from becoming temporary manager. Lawrence claimed that the Selectmen did not follow the proper procedure for removing him because they did not "detail the specific reasons for his proposed removal". The case was dismissed and a year later the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
affirmed the lower court's decision.
In 1960, Lawrence was appointed Town Manager of Provincetown, Massachusetts
. That August he made a request to the state government to provide financial aid to help fight the infiltration of Beatnik
s into the town.
On July 15, 1964, Lawrence left his post in Provincetown to become city manager of Haverhill, Massachusetts
. During his time in Haverhill, Lawrence clashed with the school committee over the school department's budget, fought against excess sick leave by city employees, and authorized the movement of Haverhill High School
to the former Amesbury High School
building.
In March 1967, Lawrence was hospitalized and Public Works Commissioner James Ginty was named acting manager. On April 9, 1967, Lawrence died following a long illness.
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
who served as a member of Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1939 to 1944 and as Mayor of Medford
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
from 1944 to 1949.
Early life
Lawrence was born on December 8, 1905 to George Bertram Lawrence and Della (Chievney) Lawrence.Lawrence attended Medford Public Schools, Northeastern Preparatory School, the Lowell Institute
Lowell Institute
The Lowell Institute is an educational foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., providing for free public lectures, and endowed by the bequest of $250,000 left by John Lowell, Jr., who died in 1836. Under the terms of his will 10% of the net income was to be added to the principal, which in...
, and Tufts College Engineering School
Tufts University School of Engineering
The School of Engineering is one of the eight schools and colleges that comprise Tufts University . The school offers undergraduate and professional degrees in several fields of engineering and computer science...
. He worked as a civil engineer prior to entering politics.
On June 19, 1930 he married Helen Jones.
From 1934 to 1939, Lawrence was a member of the Medford Board of Aldermen.
Mayor of Medford
In 1941, Lawrence was a candidate for Mayor of Medford. He narrowly defeated Leland C. Bickford in the Republican primary , but lost in the general election to incumbent John C. Carr 11,500 votes to 11,039.He ran again in 1943. This time he was successful, defeating fellow Representative Michael F. Skerry
Michael F. Skerry
Michael Francis "Mike" Skerry was a Massachusetts legislator; he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for six terms, from 1941–1957, and was the speaker from 1955 to 1957. Skerry served as delegate from the 8th District of Middlesex County to the Democratic National Convention from...
.
During his time as mayor, Lawrence had to deal with shortages from wartime rationing. Because of a shortage of paper, Lawrence requested that citizens separate paper from their other garbage. Any barrels with salvageable paper were not collected by the city.
Also during Lawrence's tenure, the City of Medford attempted to control juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by minors who fall under a statutory age limit. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not...
by establishing a Youth Commission, creating three new playgrounds, constructing a public swimming pool, and sponsoring activities for boys.
Medford was chosen to host the first day of Massachusetts' week long celebration of the United States' victory over Japan
Victory over Japan Day
Victory over Japan Day is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred, effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of that event...
. As a tribute to the veterans who died in the war, Lawrence oversaw the construction of Memorial Stadium and a memorial tablet in Barry Park.
In 1945, the Board of Aldermen chose not to give the job of Fire Chief to Acting Chief John Plante, as he ranked below two World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veterans on the civil service list. Instead of giving the job to one of the other two men, Lawrence used a clause in the city charter to appoint himself to the position and name Plante as his assistant. This allowed Plante to remain as acting chief. In 1948, the civil service list was reissued and Plante once again fell behind John J. E. Gorham, whom Lawrence named chief on February 10, 1948.
In 1948, Lawrence challenged Angier Goodwin
Angier Goodwin
Angier Louis Goodwin was a Representative from Massachusetts.He graduated from Colby College in 1902, and attended Harvard Law School three years later...
for the Republican nomination for Goodwin's seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He lost to the incumbent 12,709 votes to 10,579.
In 1949, Medford switched to a Plan E form of Government, which meant that the Mayor would no longer be popularly elected, but instead chosen by the City Council. On December 1, 1949, Alderman Frederick T. McDermott was chosen by the Board to become the city's first Mayor under the new form of government, ending Lawrence's tenure as Mayor.
In 1950, Lawrence ran for Sheriff of Middlesex County. He finished second out of seven candidates in the Republican primary.
In 1951, Lawrence was elected to Medford's first City Council.
Town Manager
On May 2, 1952, Lawrence was named Town Manager of Saugus, MassachusettsSaugus, Massachusetts
Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"...
.
In 1953 he sold the land opposite Saugus High School
Saugus High School (Massachusetts)
Saugus High School is an American public secondary school located in Saugus, Massachusetts.-Facilities:The current Saugus High campus opened in September 1955. The single-story structure includes a cafeteria, auditorium, offices, classrooms, and a gymnasium....
to developers for the construction of the New England Shopping Center (which was later redeveloped into the Square One Mall
Square One Mall
This article is about the mall in Saugus, Massachusetts. For the mall located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, please see Square One Shopping Centre....
).
On January 31, 1956, the Board of Selectmen passed a preliminary resolution to hold a vote to remove Lawrence from office on March 3, 1956, as they no longer had confidence in him as town manager, they had been informed that he no longer wanted to serve as town manager, and the interests of the town would be best served by removing him from office. On February 3, 1956, Lawrence filed an injunction in Essex Superior Court that would prevent the Selectmen from removing him from office and prevent Charles C. DeFronzo from becoming temporary manager. Lawrence claimed that the Selectmen did not follow the proper procedure for removing him because they did not "detail the specific reasons for his proposed removal". The case was dismissed and a year later the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SJC has the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning appellate court in the Western Hemisphere.-History:...
affirmed the lower court's decision.
In 1960, Lawrence was appointed Town Manager of Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
. That August he made a request to the state government to provide financial aid to help fight the infiltration of Beatnik
Beatnik
Beatnik was a media stereotype of the 1950s and early 1960s that displayed the more superficial aspects of the Beat Generation literary movement of the 1950s and violent film images, along with a cartoonish depiction of the real-life people and the spiritual quest in Jack Kerouac's autobiographical...
s into the town.
On July 15, 1964, Lawrence left his post in Provincetown to become city manager of Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 60,879 at the 2010 census.Located on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the...
. During his time in Haverhill, Lawrence clashed with the school committee over the school department's budget, fought against excess sick leave by city employees, and authorized the movement of Haverhill High School
Haverhill High School
Haverhill High School is the high school of Haverhill, Massachusetts. It enrolls around 2,200 students in grades 9 through 12 from many diverse backgrounds. The school offers a variety of Advanced Placement classes, a wide range of clubs, a number of varsity and junior varsity sports, as well as a...
to the former Amesbury High School
Amesbury High School
Amesbury High School is a coeducational preparatory school in the city of Amesbury, Massachusetts, drawing students from Amesbury, South Hampton, New Hampshire, and other parts of the Merrimack River Valley region....
building.
In March 1967, Lawrence was hospitalized and Public Works Commissioner James Ginty was named acting manager. On April 9, 1967, Lawrence died following a long illness.