Pinehurst Improvement Association

The Pinehurst Improvement Association was the neighborhood improvement society of Pinehurst, the summer colony and later suburb along Boston Road in the south part of Billerica (see Billerica Garden Suburb and the Growth of Pinehurst), one of several district associations formed after the town-wide Billerica Improvement Association. It is first recorded in 1915, and by 1931 it had its own hall on Boston Road opposite the Pinehurst School.

In 1915 the town's committee on building by-laws held a public hearing "at the request of the Pinehurst Improvement Association, at the Pavilion at Pinehurst Park, which was loaned for this purpose by Mr. J. Joseph McHugh." More than 100 people came, "including representatives of all the districts in this section, which has a summer population of between four thousand and five thousand people." The same summer the association asked the town for protection against fire: the special town meeting of July 12, 1915 voted $100 "to buy fire extinguishers for the use of the Pinehurst Improvement Association in its district."

The association had a float in the Welcome Home parade for the town's soldiers and sailors on July 4, 1919, beside the Riverdale Improvement Association and the town's lodges and clubs (see World War I). In 1929 it presented an upright piano to the Pinehurst School. The Billerica directory of 1930-31 lists both the association and a second body, the Pinehurst Improvement Association Associates, at their hall on Boston Road opposite the Pinehurst School, the association meeting on Fridays and electing its officers each year; the same directory notes Catholic services held at the association's hall, with Masses at 9, 10 and 11 from May 15 to October and at 10 in the winter (see St. Mary's Church). The 1932 suburban directory still lists the Pinehurst Improvement association on Boston Road. Later records of the association have not been found.

References

1. Town Report 1915, committee on building by-laws: hearing at the request of the Pinehurst Improvement Association at the Pavilion at Pinehurst Park, over 100 present
2. Town Report 1915: warrant for July 12, 1915, Art. 2, $100 for fire extinguishers for the use of the Pinehurst Improvement Association
3. Town Report 1915: special town meeting of July 12, 1915, Art. 2, $100 raised and appropriated
4. Town Report 1919: Welcome Home celebration, July 4, 1919; floats include the Pinehurst Improvement Association
5. Town Report 1929, schools: an upright piano presented to the Pinehurst School by the Pinehurst Improvement Association
6. Lowell Suburban Directory 1932-33, Billerica: Pinehurst Improvement, Boston rd