Town annual report of Andover 1897, Part 1

Author: Andover (Mass.)
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 162


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1897 > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7


TOWN OF ANDOVER -


ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDING JANUARY 12, 1897


DOVER THEOL, SE


AN


Y


MAR 1 1897


LIBRARY


40. 6%


THE


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


Receipts and Expenditures


OF THE


TOWN OF ANDOVER


For the Financial Year ending January 12, 1897


OF AND


INCORPORATED - MAY -


1646.


ANDOVER, MASS. THE ANDOVER PRESS 1897


CONTENTS.


Abatement of Taxes, Almshouse,


51


Memorial Day, 49


71


Military Aid, 53


Personal Property at,


72


Miscellaneous, 54


Relief out of,


66 Notes discounted, 50


Remaining in,


71


Notes paid,


50


Repairs at,


66


Overseers of Poor, 64


Anniversary, 250th,


56


Printing and Stationery, 48


Assessors' Report,


88


Punchard Free School, 92


Assets,


81


Representative Fund,


70


Auditors' Certificate,


89


Schedule of Town Property, 61


27


Cemetery Com., Report of, 77


Schools,


24


Chief Engineer's Report,


73


School Books and Supplies,


29


Chief of Police, Report,


75


Selectmen's Account,


24-60


Cities and Towns,


69


Sewer Commissioners' Report,


94


Collector's Account,


79


Sidewalks, 37


Commonwealth,


68


Sinking Fund, 51


Cornell Fund,


91


Snow, Removal of,


35


County Tax,


51


Soldier's Relief, 68


Dog Tax,


51


Spring Grove Cemetery,


48


Drinking Fountain,


52


State Aid 52


Fire Department,


45


State Highway, 38


Hay Scales,


47


State Tax,


51


Highways and Bridges,


31


Street Lighting,


49


Highway Surveyor, a


39


Horses and Drivers,


42


Insurance,


49


Summary of Selectmen's Orders, 63


Interest on Notes and Funds,


49


Town House, 47


Liabilities,


81


Town Meetings, 5


Librarian's Report,


106


Town Officers, 43


Lunatic Hospitals,


69


Town Warrant, 96


Memorial Hall Trustees'


Treasurer's Account, 81


Report,


101 Waterworks maintenance, 46


THEOL


SEM R


ANDOVER


MAR 1 1897


48,643


LIBRARY


Board of Health,


90


School-houses,


Summary of Appropriations and Receipts, 62


3


TOWN OFFICERS, 1897


Selectmen, Assessors and Overseers of Poor.


ARTHUR BLISS,


Term expires March, 1899


SAMUEL H. BOUTWELL,


66 66


1897


JOHN S. STARK, Secretary,


66


66 66 1898


Town Clerk and Tax Collector. ABRAHAM MARLAND.


Town Treasurer. GEORGE A. PARKER.


School Committee.


J. NEWTON COLE, Chairman,


Term expires 1897


MRS. LIZZIE A. WILSON,


66


66


1898


MRS. ELIZABETH HINCKS,


1898


THOMAS DAVID,


66 1898


GEORGE D. PETTEE,


66 1897


WILLIAM SHAW,


66


66


1897


JOHN ALDEN,


66


66


1896


JOHN N. COLE,


66


1896


WILLIAM ODLIN,


66


66 1896


Superintendent of Schools. G. E JOHNSON.


Water Commissioners.


JOHN H. FLINT, Chairman, Term expires March, 1899


FELIX G. HAYNES, Secretary,


66


66 1898


JAMES P. BUTTERFIELD,


1897


Waterworks Superintendent. JOHN E. SMITH.


Engineers of Fire Department.


LEWIS T. HARDY, Chief, GEORGE D. LAWSON, Clerk. ANDREW McTERNEN, NATHAN E. MEARS.


4


Superintendent of Streets. GEORGE W. CHANDLER.


Board of Health.


HOWELL F. WILSON,


66 1896


ARTHUR BLISS, Chairman,


66


66 1897


CHARLES E. ABBOTT, M. D., Secretary,


Term expires 1898


Sewer Commissioners.


WILLIAM S. JENKINS, Chairman, JOHN L. SMITH, JOHN E. SMITH,


Term expires 1897


1899


1898


Chief of Police. GEORGE W. MEARS. Appointed.


Constables.


BARNETT ROGERS, WILLIAM L. FRYE, JOHN H. CLINTON.


Trustees of Memorial Hall.


JOSEPH A. SMART,


Term expires 1903


E. KENDALL JENKINS,


1897


GEORGE W. FOSTER,


66 1898


JAMES B. SMITH,


66


66 1899


C. C. CARPENTER,


66


1900


JOSEPH W. SMITH,


66


1901


FRANCIS H. JOHNSON


66


1902


Trustees of Punchard Free School.


GEORGE H. POOR, SAMUEL H. BOUTWELL


HORACE H. TYER, MYRON E. GUTTERSON, GEORGE A. PARKER.


Auditors.


LEWIS T. HARDY, GEORGE A. HIGGINS,


LOUIS A. DANE.


TOWN MEETINGS.


Annual Town Meeting, March 2. 1896.


WARRANT.


ESSEX, SS: To either of the Constables of the Town of Andover. GREETING :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Andover, and North Andover so far as relates to the election of Trustees of the Punchard Free School, qual- ified to vote in town affairs, to meet and assemble at the Town House, in said Andover. on Monday, the Second day of March, 1896, at Nine o'clock, A. M., to act on the follow- ing Articles, namely :


Article 1st. - To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.


Article 2d. - To choose Town Clerk, Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, One member of the Board of Selectmen, Assessors and Overseers of the Poor for three years, One member of the Board of Health for three years, three members of the School Committee for three years, one Water Commissioner for three years, One Trustee of the Memorial Hall for seven years, one Sewer Commissioner for three years, Trustee of Punchard Free School from the South Parish for two years to fill a vacancy, One or more Auditors of Accounts, Constables, Fence Viewers, Field Drivers, Surveyors of Lumber, a Pound Keeper, and any other officers the town may determine to choose.


6


Article 3d. - To take action on the following question : " Shall Licenses be granted for the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors in this town?"


Article 4th. - To determine what sums of money shall be appropriated for Schools, School-Houses, School Books and Supplies, Highways and Bridges, Sidewalks, Removing Snow, Horses and Drivers, Town Officers, Town House, Hay Scales, Fire Department, Insurance, Street Lighting, Printing and Stationery, Spring Grove Cemetery, Memorial Day, State Aid, Military Aid, Waterworks, Interest on Bonds, Funds and Notes, State Tax, County Tax, Abatement of Taxes, Alms- house Expenses, Relief out of Almshouse, Repairs on Alms- house, and other town charges and expenses.


Article 5th. - To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of its incorporation on the request of its Committee of Fifteen.


Article 6th. - To see if the Town will purchase land, re- move and remodel the engine house in Ballard Vale, and appropriate a sum of money therefor, on petition of Engineers and others.


Article 7th. - To see if the Town will vote to reconsider the vote taken two years ago authorizing the sale of the J. P. Bradlee steamer, on petition of Charles F. Billington and others.


Article 8th. - To see if the Town will accept the pro- visions of Chapter 374, Acts of 1895, authorizing the Town to place the administration of their highways under a single highway surveyor, on petition of John E. Smith and others.


Article 9th. - To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to appoint a night watch in Ballard Vale and appropriate a sum of money therefor, on petition of Charles H. Shattuck and others.


Article 10th. - To see if the Town will vote to purchase a new ladder truck and appropriate $1200 therefor, on petition of Engineers and others.


7


Article 11th. - To hear and act on the reports of the Selectmen, Sewer Commissioners, and other Town Officers.


Article 12th. - To see if the Town will accept the list of names for Jurors prepared and posted by the Selectmen.


Article 13th. - To fix the pay of the Firemen for ensuing year.


Article 14th. - To see if the Town will vote to place a drinking fountain at the junction of Main and Marland Streets and appropriate a sum of money therefor, on petition of the Village Improvement Society.


Article 15th. - To see if the Town will accept the pro- visions of Chapter 154 of Acts of 1882 as amended by Chapter 240 of the Acts of 1890 relating to public parks.


Article 16th. - To see if the Town will authorize the erection of an additional electric light on Abbott Street and one on Chestnut Street.


Article 17th. - To determine the method of collecting the taxes the ensuing year.


Article 18th. - To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money to improve Ridge Street.


Article 19th. - To see if the Town will name the street leading from Main past James N. Smart's house Gardner Avenue.


Article 20th. - To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money to care for the public dump, on petition of the Vil- lage Improvement Society.


Article 21st. - To see if the Town will vote to grant the free use of water in case the Village Improvement Society places a fountain in some suitable public place.


Article 22d. - To determine the disposition of unexpend- ed appropriations.


Article 23d. - To see if the Town will appropriate a sum


8


of money to continue the sidewalk on the north side of Sum- mer Street to the house of J. F. Morse.


Article 24th. - To authorize the Treasurer to hire money for the use of the Town, in anticipation of taxes upon the approval of the Selectmen.


Article 25th. - To determine the amount of money to be raised by taxation the ensuing year.


Article 26th. - To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.


Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting.


Given under our hands, at Andover, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six.


ARTHUR BLISS, Selectmen SAM'L H. BOUTWELL, of


JOHN S. STARK, Andover.


Took up Article 1.


Chose George H. Poor, Moderator, by ballot, he receiving all of the twelve votes cast.


Voted, To choose three Constables.


Voted, To choose three Fence Viewers.


Took up Articles 2 and 3, and voted on the same to- gether.


The Moderator appointed Arthur Bliss, Samuel H. Bout- well, and John S. Stark tellers to check the names of voters for Town Officers, and Barnett Rogers teller to check the names and count the License votes, and they were all duly sworn by him to the faithful performance of their duty.


At fifteen minutes past nine the polls were opened and the meeting proceeded to ballot for Town Officers and to


9


vote on the Liquor License question, the check lists being used on both articles.


The Standard ballot box failed to work properly and was laid aside, an open box being substituted therefor in taking the vote on the Liquor License question.


The polls were closed at 2 o'clock P.M.


The whole number of votes cast was


573


Necessary for a choice where there were two candidates for the same office, 287


FOR TOWN CLERK :


Abraham Marland had 573


FOR SELECTMAN, ASSESSOR, AND OVERSEER OF POOR,-3 years.


Arthur Bliss had 401


Barnett Rogers had 166


Peter D. Smith had 1


FOR TOWN TREASURER :


George A. Parker had 573


FOR COLLECTOR OF TAXES :


Abraham Marland had 573


FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE,-3 years :


John Alden had 572


William Odlin had 570


John N. Cole had 570


J. Newton Cole had 1


John W. Bell had 1


FOR WATER COMMISSIONER,-3 years :


John H. Flint had 571


FOR SEWER COMMISSIONER,-3 years :


John L. Smith had 570


John H. Flint had 1


10


FOR TRUSTEE OF MEMORIAL HALL,-7 years : Joseph A. Smart had 572


FOR TRUSTEE OF PUNCHARD FREE SCHOOL,-2 years : Myron E. Gutterson had 564


John Alden had 1


FOR AUDITORS (Three) :


Lewis T. Hardy had 571


Louis A. Dane had 570


George A. Higgins had 355


John J. Sweeney had


213


John H. Flint had


1


FOR BOARD OF HEALTH,-3 years :


Howell F. Wilson had


316


M. E. Clemons had 256


FOR CONSTABLES (Three) :


George F. Cheever had


450


George W. Mears had 332


William L. Frye had 326


John H. Clinton had


310


Edward F. Sisco had


236


-


George F. Baker had


1


M. C. Andrews had


1


George Brown had 1


FOR FENCE VIEWERS (Three) :


Michael T. Welch had


566


William H. Carter had


566


Charles G. Hussey had 317


George Buchan had


256


All the foregoing officers elected were chosen by ballot, the check list being used.


And the Moderator declared -


Abraham Marland elected Town Clerk.


11


Arthur Bliss elected Selectman, Assessor and Overseer of the Poor for three years.


George A. Parker elected Town Treasurer.


Abraham Marland elected Collector of Taxes.


John Alden, John N. Cole, William Odlin, elected School Committee, three years.


John H. Flint elected Water Commissioner, three years.


John L. Smith elected Sewer Commissioner, three years.


Joseph A. Smart elected Trustee of Memorial Hall, seven years.


Myron E. Gutterson elected Trustee of Punchard Free School, two years.


Lewis T. Hardy, Louis A. Dane, George A. Higgins, elected Auditors.


Howell F. Wilson elected Board of Health, three years.


George F. Cheever, George W. Mears, William L. Frye, elected Constables.


Michael T. Welch, William H. Carter, Charles G. Hussey, elected Fence Viewers.


The result of the vote on the Liquor License question was declared by the Moderator to be as follows :


" Yes," 42.


" No," 374.


Chose Field Drivers : John L. Noyes, George Buchan, Fred. M. Hill, George T. Abbott.


Chose Surveyors of Lumber : Charles H. Marland, Charles G. Hussey, Charles Green, Joseph F. Cole, Joshua H. Chand- ler, George H. Coffin, William H. Carter, George*P. Pills- bury, Frank E. Gleason, Edward S. Hardy.


Chose as Pound Keeper: Superintendent of the Town Farm, and


Voted, That the town barn and barn yard be the pound.


Took up Article 4.


Voted, To appropriate the following stated sums of money :


12


Schools,


$19,600


School-houses,


3,000


School Books and Supplies, 1,500


Macadamized Roads, 4,000


Repairs on Highways and Bridges,


3,000


Sidewalks ($700 of which to be expended under " betterment act")


1,300


Removing Snow,


500


Town Officers,


5,000


Town House,


1,000


Water-works, maintenance,


4,700


Sinking Fund,


675


Fire Department, Running Expenses,


2,000


66


66 New Apparatus and Engine


House changes,


3,000


Horses and Drivers,


3,000


Street Lighting,


3,700


Printing and Stationery,


700


Spring Grove Cemetery (also proceeds of sale of lots),


300


Memorial Day,


200


State Aid,


1,600


Military Aid,


300


Expenses of Almshouse,


4,000


Relief out of Almshouse, ยท


5,000


Repairs on Almshouse,


500


State Tax,


6,000


County Tax,


5,000


Abatement of Taxes,


300


Interest on Notes, Funds, and Bonds,


10,000


Insurance,


500


Hay Scales,


50


Miscellaneous,


1,500


250th Anniversary,


4,500


Drinking Fountain (see Art. 14),


275


Public Dump (see Art. 20),


25


$96,725


13


Took up Article 5.


Voted, To appropriate the sum of four thousand five hun- dred dollars for the Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Andover. The vote stood Yes, 216; No, none.


Voted, That Articles 6 and 10 be considered together.


The appropriations called for in these two Articles having already been considered in the list of appropriations, further action was unnecessary.


Took up Article 7.


Voted, To rescind the vote passed two years ago authoriz- ing the sale of the J. P. Bradlee Steamer.


Took up Article 8.


Voted, That the Town accept the provisions of Chapter 374, Acts of 1895, authorizing the Town to place the administra- tion of their highways under a single Highway Surveyor.


Voted, That the Moderator appoint a committee to bring in names of candidates for the office of Highway Surveyor.


The Moderator appointed John N. Cole, M. E. Clemons, and Arthur Bliss as that committee.


Moved, To reconsider the acceptance of the law relating to Highway Surveyor. The motion was lost.


Voted, To lay Article 8 on the table until the committee report.


The committee reported that they were unable to agree.


Took up Article 9.


Voted, To indefinitely postpone.


Article 10 has already been acted upon.


Took up Article 11.


Voted, That the Town instruct the Sewer Commissioners to appeal to the Legislature to repeal Section 15 of Chapter


14


386 of the Acts of 1895, entitled, " An Act to authorize the Town of Andover to establish a system of Sewerage.


Voted, To accept the report of the Town Officers.


Took up Article 12.


Voted, To strike the following names from the Jury List, at the request of the persons : Edward W. Burtt, Jonathan M. Bean, Henry J. Gardner, Stillman H. Harnden, George F. Lawrence, Henry A. Russell, James Spence, Allen Simpson.


Voted, To accept the Jury List as amended, here following :


Abbott, Allen F.


Hoffman, Carl


Abbott, Warren G.


Holt, Ballard


Abbot, Edward F.


Hanson, Eugene A.


Abbot, Stephen E.


Hardy, Fred. S.


Anderson, James


Haynes, Bancroft T.


Anderson, Frank H.


Hayward, Henry M.


Berry, J. Warren


Hayward, Henry A.


Bodwell, Lewis F.


Hackett, William H.


Bowman, Charles


Johnson, Isaac


Brown, George A.


Jowett, William H.


Bailey, Samuel H.


Kibbee, Charles H.


Boutwell, Samuel H.


Keeland, John E.


Boynton, Henry


Lowd, Joseph H.


Billington, Charles F.


Lovejoy, Sephen A.


Blunt, Charles C.


Livingston, William


Boutwell, Edward W.


Mooar, J. Warren


Caldwell, Albert W.


Moody, A. Herbert


Chandler, George W.


Moulton, Charles N. Mathews, Thomas A.


Cole, Joseph F.


Chandler, Joshua H.


Newton, Charles H. Neal, Horace F.


Caffrey, Owen F. Carter, William H.


Platt, Thomas W.


Carpenter, Charles C.


Phelps, Frank C.


Christie, George A.


Poor, Daniel H.


Donald, Walter S.


Riley, Lawrence F,


Dodson, Richard J.


Stack, John, Jr.


1


15


Daley, James E.


Schneider, Louis H.


Daley, Thomas F.


Stott, Joshua H. Stark, John S.


Dane, Louis A.


Daley, Patrick


Stott, Thomas E.


Dear, Alexander


Scott, John W.


Davey, John


Shaw, Benjamin


Erving, Abbott


Tuck, M. Warren


Foster, Frank M.


Wiggin, George W.


Flint, James S.


Ward, Wilber F.


Grosvenor, James


Welch, Michael T.


Took up Article 13. Voted, To pay firemen same as last year ($25).


Took up Article 14.


Voted, That $275 be appropriated for a drinking fountain, to be located at the junction of Main and Marland Streets.


Took up Article 15.


Voted, To proceed to vote on the acceptance of the pro- visions of Chapter 154 of Acts of 1882, as amended by Chapter 240 of the Acts of 1890, relating to public parks. The check list was used in taking this vote.


Voted, To close the polls on Park Act at 3.50 p.m., and the polls were closed at that hour.


The following is the result of the vote on Park Act: Yes, 11; No. 1.


Voted, That Article 8 be taken from the table.


Voted, That the choice of Highway Surveyor be deferred until an adjourned meeting.


Voted, That when this meeting adjourn it be to 8 o'clock p.m., two weeks from this evening (March 16).


Took up Article 16.


This Article was voted on, but was not carried.


.


16


Took up Article 17.


Voted, That taxes be collected on same terms as last year.


Took up Article 18.


Voted, That Ridge Street be improved out of the regular appropriation.


Took up Article 19.


Voted, To name the street leading from Main Street past James N. Smart's house, " Gardner Avenue."


Took up Article 20.


Voted, To appropriate $25 for Public Dump to be under control of the Village Improvement Society.


Took up Article 21.


Voted, That if a Fountain be given to the Town to be placed in Elm Square, that water be provided for it without charge.


Took up Article 22.


Voted, That all unexpended balances be turned into the treasury, except one hundred dollars of the balance of the Sewer Commissioners.


Took up Article 23.


Voted, To indefinitely postpone.


Took up Article 24.


Voted, To authorize the Treasurer to hire money for the use of the Town, in anticipation of taxes, upon the approval of the Selectmen.


Took up Article 25.


Voted, To raise eighty thousand dollars by taxation.


17


Took up Article 26.


Voted, That the Committee on the 250th Anniversary be instructed to procure suitable quarters for the literary exer- cises on that occasion.


Voted, That the Town request the School Committee to allow the Committee on the 250th Anniversary to use the Punchard School House for the Loan Collection.


The following is a copy of the Second Annual Report of the Committee of Fifteen on the 250th Anniversary of the Incorporation of Andover :


SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN TO THE TOWN OF ANDOVER, MARCH 2, 1896.


At the Annual Meeting of 1895 your Committee of Fifteen on the 250th Anniversary of the Incorporation of Andover, appointed at the Annual Meeting of 1894, reported progress, and presented certain recommendations and appointments, and a general outline of a civic celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Town. That report was accepted, and its recommendations were adopted. This report, and the action thereon, may be found on pp. 15, 16 and 17 of the Annual Reports of the Town Officers for the year ending January 15, 1896.


During the year your Committee held meetings Oct. 26, Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Dec. 20, Feb. 3, Feb. 21 ; many meetings have been held by the sub-committees.


There have been two changes in the Committee : Frederic W. Greene, having resigned his charge in the West Parish and removed to Middletown, Ct., his place was filled, in accordance with the authority of the vote of the Town, by the appointment of Peter D. Smith ; George Gould, having removed temporarily from the town, asked to be released from further service on the Committee, and his place was filled by the appointment of Arthur Bliss.


The Committee deemed it wise to change the date of the celebra- tion from the 6th of May to the 20th of May, and accordingly to ask the pastors of the churches to preach the memorial sermons on the 17th of May instead of the 3d of May next.


The Committee, as authorized by the Town, has created sub- committees, as follows :


18


Invitation and Guests -C. F. P. Bancroft, chairman.


Evening Reception and Historical Tableaux - A. L. Ripley, chairman.


Decorations- Geo. W. Foster, chairman.


Music - Arthur Bliss, chairman.


Salute and Fireworks - John L. Smith, chairman.


Procession - Peter D. Smith, chairman.


Printing - John N. Cole, chairman.


Banquet - Wm. Marland, chairman.


Loan Collection and Historic Sites - Samuel H. Boutwell, chair- man.


Transportation - Howell F. Wilson, chairman.


Sports - Joseph M. Bradley, chairman.


Children's Festival- Joseph W. Smith, chairman. They have constituted themselves the Finance Committee, with George H. Poor as chairman, to which as General Committee also, each sub-com- mittee is to report. Each sub-committee has for its chairman, or in its membership, a member of the General Committee, so that a general unity of plans and effort may be readily secured. About one hundred and seventeen men and women were invited to serve the town on these sub-committees, of whom only two have requested to be excused.


In addition to the appointment of Orator and Poet, as voted at the last town meeting, the Committee of Fifteen have appointed Rev. Frank R. Shipman, the pastor of our oldest church, chaplain of the day, Peter D. Smith, chief marshal, and John Wesley Churchill, toast-master.


The provisional program adopted by your Committee includes the following as possible features : -


For the evening of the 19th May, a general reception with music, and tableaux illustrating distinctive events and scenes in the town's history.


For the morning of the 20th, sunrise bells and artillery salute.


A procession, in which the schools may have a prominent place, and the various organizations of the town.


The literary exercises.


The dinner, followed by addresses from distinguished guests and others.


Various entertainment for the children.


19


Field sports and athletic games.


A loan collection in some suitable place, with objects of special historical, industrial, and personal interest.


There has been a very general interest in the matter of decora- tions, and the Committee expect such general and hearty response from families and firms, especially from the children, as will make a May festival of great beauty.


For the evening of the 20th, the Committee has considered the possibility of an out-of-door concert, with a display of fireworks, and possibly one or more indoor promenade concerts at the same time.


Your Committee has been guided by a few broad principles. We cannot vie with the larger and richer communities in numbers and display. We have not the means of housing and entertaining a great throng of spectators, who have little personal interest in our celebration. We must therefore study to make it dignified and worthy, rather than elaborate and costly. We have no one audi- torium in which we can gather a very large assembly. The Com- mittee has sought therefore to provide a variety of exercises, some of which may properly be in progress at the same time, and which at all events will appeal to a variety of differing interests, thereby relieving the poverty of our accommodations.


Your Committee did not accept your appointment in 1894, and its renewal in 1895, as a right of inheritance, or a mark of distinc- tion, or a coveted privilege, but they accepted it as servants of the town to promote a celebration historic, comprehensive, and patriotic. They record here their appreciation of the support they have re- ceived thus far from old citizens and new comers, from women as well as men, from youth and adults, from all parts of our scattered territory, and from former residents and their descendents as well as from our present inhabitants. It has been the desire of your Committee to enlist everybody in this celebration, till everybody within our borders feels that it is unselfishly his. They have taken it for granted that every man, woman, and child should regard him- self as a member of the great central " committee of the whole," and should charge himself with a responsibility for this celebration, which was begun by the vote, in the name of the town as a whole, of the town as it is to-day, with all the various components that are in it, and which is to be carried on with the distinct aim of paying


20


a worthy tribute of gratitude and reverence to the past, with a con- scious civic self-respect and appreciation of the present, and with a generous reference to the future of a township already favorably known for its noble public spirit.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.