For the newer residents of the town of Templeton, the residents that were too young to remember, and for those who have forgotten - I am going to tell you about the Battle of the Bales.
This is not the first time our town has been divided. In 1975, two men from Templeton went hunting off Hubbardston Rd. They came across a huge area that was filled with baled trash. That was the day the Battle of the Bales started.
A company from Cambridge had gone to the town of Hubbardston and asked if they could bring via railroad car, rubbish to their town to establish a dump. The residents refused loudly. This company then came to Templeton but this time it was not brought before the residents. There was no permit or vote. Instead, one of our respected landowners decided to do a deal on his own, apparently thinking they would not be caught. Once the word of the discovery was out, a cover up was in the works. Trucks hauling gravel and a bulldozer worked quickly to bury the evidence.
Templeton's first Concerned Citizens group was established. Gladys Salame became our spokeswoman. The residents of the area attended the next selectmens meeting, demanding action.
The result was pretty much no response at all. The concerned citizens were relentless, putting pressure on selectmen, trying to determine what was in the material dumped and what to do with it.
A hearing was held in Boston and the police chief and conservation chairman tried to cover for their friend.
The two men that found the trash also testified about what they had seen.
One selectman quit his position even though he had nothing to do with the cover up and did not need the added pressure. I could not blame him; things got very nasty.
DEP decided they would have the bales where they were. They could not send it back, and it was too much for our landfill to hold - it is still buried off Hubbardston Rd and every year I pray it won't cause environmental problems.
As a result of how poorly the situation had been handled by the board of Selectmen, Gladys decided to run for office. She was running against a selectman from Baldwinville. I was her campaign manager. She and I went door to door in every precinct asking the residents for their vote. No one had ever done that.
The election was on May 3, 1976. Baldwinville was the largest precinct at that time. Their votes would be counted last. The results from East Templeton, Otter River, and Templeton Center had Gladys ahead by 156 votes.
The good old boy network did not want her to win. When the tally was done, she lost by 46 votes! Gladys asked for a recount. The recount was held. I remember standing in the town clerks office. The atmosphere was hostile to say the least. I was leaning on the counter with Gladys on my right. I could see the Town Clerk just inside the safe. He was trying to get an envelope to stay closed. It had the ballots from Baldwinville in it. It had been opened and the rubber cement would not stay stuck.
There was nothing we could do. We did not have the ballots sequestered and we did not have a lawyer with us - we were too trusting and dumb.
After the recount, Gladys lost the election by 44 votes. The next year she won Baldwinville by 166 votes.
After all this time, you must be wondering why I am writing this. For one thing, when Jeff Bennett won the election, then it was lost only to be won in a recount, I told him I did not think it was a mistake. Someone did not want him to be looking over their shoulders any more than when Gladys ran.
At Candidates Night, I was told this is not the past. I can only say some people think "the ends justify the means." I do not. I know how bad politics can be and how bad they have been in the past 9 or 10 years.
It is not okay to treat anyone badly when they go to the selectmans office for help or for information. Elected officials work for every citizen, not a select few.
When Paul Cosentino confronted our past selectmans coordinator, she should have sucked it up and admitted a mistake had been made instead of letting things get out of hand. I could only think, "that could have been my father."
As a resident, you may have felt the need to sign the recall petition, or maybe you were in the uncomfortable position of being afraid to say no.
Just remember, no one knows who you vote for when you go into the voting booth.
Julie and Bob need our support. The town needs to settle down so we can enjoy our 250th Anniversary.
This is my view from the hill on South Road.
Beverly Miganowicz Bartolomeo
