Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1916-1920, Part 1

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 512


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1916-1920 > Part 1


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ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY 3 2211 00098 9769


For Reference


Not to be taken from this room


REFERENCE BOOK ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY ACTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01720


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013


http://archive.org/details/annualreportstow19161920acto


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS


OF THE


TOWN OF ACTON


MASSACHUSETTS


FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31


1916


RATED


ONI


.1735.


ACTON ..


THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1917


565-000


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS


OF THE


TOWN OF ACTON


MASSACHUSETTS


FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31


1916


RATED


1735.


ACTON.


Geneal Coll 974.44 A 188 c.2


THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS.


1917


REFERENCE BOOK ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY ACTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01720


3


TOWN OFFICERS, 1916


Selectmen


Charles J. Holton Term expires 1918


Warren H. Jones


Term expires 1917


William H. Kingsley Term expires 1919


Town Clerk


Horace F. Tuttle


Town Treasurer Frank W. Hoit


Assessors


James B. Tuttle Term expires 1918


Arthur M. Whitcomb . Term expires 1917


William B. Franklin Term expires 1919


Overseers of the Poor


William H. Kingsley Warren H. Jones Charles J. Holton


Collector of Taxes


Arthur M. Whitcomb


Tree Warden James O'Neil


Constables


John T. McNiff Charles A. Taylor Oliver D. Wood!


4


Field Drivers


John T. McNiff Leon A. Gale


Elwyn T. Hollowell Charles A. Taylor


Fence Viewers


Charles J. Holton Warren H. Jones William H. Kingsley


Cemetery Commissioners


Julian Tuttle Term expires 1918


Fred W. Green Term expires 1917


IIorace F. Tuttle Term expires 1919


School Committee


Edwin A. Phalen Term expires 1917


Herbert W. Lewis Term expires 1918


Bertram E. Hall


Term expires 1919


Trustees Memorial Library


J. Sidney White Term expires 1917


Lucius A. Hesselton Term expires 1918


Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1919


Board of Health


Edwin A. Phalen


Term expires 1917


Frank E. Tasker Term expires 1918


Edward C. Page Term expires 1919


Finance Committee


James B. Tuttle Edgar H. Hall Asaph Merriam Horace F. Tuttle Arthur M. Whitcomb


5


APPOINTED BY THE SELECTMEN


Superintendent of Streets Albert H. Perkins


Town Accountant Howard L. Jones


Registrars of Voters


Lewis Willard . Term expires 1919


James McGreen


Term expires 1918


George E. Holton Term expires 1917


Horace F. Tuttle, ex-officio


Election Officers


Precinct 1


Warden James W. Coughlin


Deputy Warden Edwin A. Phalen


Clerk . Horace F. Tuttle


Deputy Clerk Moses E. Taylor


Inspector Arthur F. Davis


Deputy Inspector Willis L. Holden


Inspector James O'Neil


Deputy Inspector


William C. Coughlin


Precinct 2


Warden L. A. Hesselton


Deputy Warden


T. F. Newton


Clerk . Lorenzo E. Reed


Deputy Clerk Francis J. Crowley


Inspector .L. C. Hastings


Deputy Inspector Frank A. Merriam


Inspector Constance O'Neil


Deputy Inspector


David J. Foley


6


Precinct 3


Warden Charles J. Holton


Deputy Warden


. Eugene L. Hall


Clerk


. David R. Kinsley


Deputy Clerk William L. Tenney


Inspector Fred S. Whitcomb


.C. H. Mead


Deputy Inspector


Inspector Guy P. Littlefield


Deputy Inspector


.John T. McNiff


Cattle Inspector Fred S. Whitcomb


Fire Engineers William H. Kingsley. Chief


Precinct 1


Dexter L. Spinney, 1st Asst. Arthur F. Harris. 2nd Asst. E. P. Gates, 3rd Asst.


Precinct 2


Nelson J. Cole, 1st Asst. E. C. Page, 2nd Asst. W. H. Jones. 3rd Asst.


Precinct 3


Edgar T. Rice, 1st Asst. A. B. Parker, 2nd Asst. W. J. Costello, 3rd Asst.


Forest Warden William H. Kingsley


Deputy Forest Wardens All the above named assistant Fire Engineers


Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark J. W. Dupee Bertram D. Hall E. C. Cheney Charles E. Smith Frank A. Merriam


7


Public Weighers


J. P. Fletcher M. E. Taylor E. C. Cheney E. F. Conant Thomas Hearon George H. Reed William H. Teele John H. Greer


Sealer of Weights and Measures Lowell H. Cram


Superintendent of Moth Work James O'Neil


Police Officers


Charles A. Taylor John T. McNiff


Oliver D. Wood James N. Berry


Inspector of Slaughter Houses


Charles A. Dudley


8


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


Middlesex, ss.


-1735.


ACTON


To either of the Constables of the Town of Acton in the County aforesaid. GREETING :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required and directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Acton, who are qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs therein, to meet in the town hall in said town, on Monday, the fifth day of March, 1917, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :


Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.


Article 2. To bring in their votes on one ballot for the following named town officers, to wit: One town clerk for one year, one selectman for three years, three overseers of the poor for one year, one town treasurer for one year, five members of the finance committee for one year, one collector of taxes for one year, one tree warden for one year, four constables for one year, four field drivers for one year. three


9


fence viewers for one year, one assessor for three years, one assessor for two years to fill unexpired term, one trustee of the Memorial library for three years, one member of the school committee for three years, one cemetery commissioner for three years, one member of the board of health for three years. Also on the same ballot to vote Yes or No on the fol- lowing question: "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"


The polls will be opened at 9.30 a. m., and may be closed at 4 p. m.


Article 3. To choose all necessary town officers not named in Article 2, and fix salaries of all town officers.


Article 4. To see if the town will accept the reports of the various town officers.


Article 5. To hear and act upon the reports of any committees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.


Article 6. To see what sums of money the town will raise by taxation and appropriate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town.


Article 7. To see what amount of money the town will raise and appropriate for the due observance of Memorial day.


Article 8. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for the enforcement of the liquor law, or act anything thereon.


Article 9. To see what action the town will take in regard to the extermination of the elm leaf. beetle.


Article 10. To see what action the town will take in regard to the extermination of the gypsy and brown tail moth.


Article 11. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.


Article 12. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires and fix the price, or act anything thereon.


Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to insure the employes of the town, or do or act anything thereon.


10


Article 14. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the fire. department, or do or act anything thereon.


Article 15. To see what amount of money the town will raise and appropriate for payment of premium on treas- urer and collector's bond, or act anything thereon.


Article 16. To see if the town will install one or more. street lights in Acton Center, on the Littleton road, between the schoolhouse and residence of John F. Schneider, or act anything thereon.


Article 17. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to improve the grounds around the town hall, or act anything thereon.


Article 18. To see if the town will vote to authorize the fire engineers to make certain interior alterations in the fire house at West Acton, or do or act anything thereon.


Article 19. To see if the town will vote to authorize the purchase and equipment of automobile trucks for the use of the fire and forest fire departments, and will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or do or act anything thereon.


Article 20. To see if the town will vote to re- appropriate the twenty-five dollars, appropriated at the last annual meeting, for the removal of the watering trough at the Center, or do or act anything thereon.


Article 21. To see if the town will vote to re- appropriate the unexpended balance of money appropriated at a special town meeting for the repair of the Pope road so-called, or act anything thereon.


Article 22. To see what action the town will take to raise and appropriate $150.00 for the George Washington Memorial Building, Washington, D. C.


Article 23. To see if the town will vote to instruct the selectmen to petition the American Woolen Company to ex- tend the street lighting system from "Merriman's Corner" to the Christofferson place in South Acton, or act anything thereon.


Article 24. To see what action the town will take on


11


the acceptance of Section 1, Chapter 153, of the Acts of 1916, viz: "In towns having less than ten thousand inhabi- tants, the annual license fee for carrying on the business of slaughtering neat cattle, sheep, or swine, shall be such sum, not exceeding one hundred dollars, as the selectmen shall fix."


Article 25. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars for the purpose of removing snow and sanding that part of the streets used as sidewalks, one hundred dollars to be at the disposal of each precinct and to be expended at the discretion of the selectmen, or act anything thereon.


Article 26. To see if the town will authorize the treas- urer. with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the finan- cial year, beginning January 1, 1917, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year. Any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.


And you are hereby commanded to serve this warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in each of the Post Offices and Railroad Stations in said town, and one in each of the stores of C. H. Mead & Co., W. E. Whitcomb, M. E. Taylor & Co., H. W. Lewis. Finney & Hoit, George H. Reed, and one at the Nagog House, all in said town, seven days at least before the time appointed for holding said meeting.


Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the town clerk, or the select- men. at or before the time appointed for holding said meeting.


Given under our hands at Acton, this twenty-first day of February. in the year one thousand. nine hundred and seventeen.


CHARLES J. HOLTON, WILLIAM H. KINGSLEY. WARREN H. JONES, Selectmen of Acton.


12


TOWN CLERK'S REPORT


Proceedings of the Annual Meeting, March 6th, 1916


Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.


Allen Brooks Parker was chosen moderator.


.


Article 2. To bring in their votes on one ballot for town officers : also to vote on the question: "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?"


The following town officers were chosen :


Town Clerk-Horace F. Tuttle.


Selectman. three years-William H. Kingsley.


Selectman, one year-Warren H. Jones.


Assessor, three years-William B. Franklin.


Assessor, one year-Arthur M. Whitcomb.


Overseers of the Poor-William H. Kingsley, Warren H. Jones, Charles J. Holton.


Treasurer-Frank W. Hoit.


Collector of Taxes-Arthur M. Whitcomb.


Constables-John T. McNiff. Charles A. Taylor, Oliver D. Wood.


Field Drivers-John T. McNiff. Elwyn T. Hollowell, Leon A. Gale, Charles A. Taylor.


Fence Viewers-Charles J. Holton. Warren H. Jones, William H. Kingsley.


School Committee-Bertram E. Hall.


Cemetery Commissioner-Horace F. Tuttle.


Board of Health-Edward C. Page.


Trustee of Memorial Library-Horace F. Tuttle.


Tree Warden-James O'Neil.


Finance Committee-James B. Tuttle. Edgar H. Hall,


13


Asaph Merriam, Horace F. Tuttle, Arthur M. Whitcomb.


On the question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?"


27 voted Yes.


138 voted No.


Article 3. To choose all necessary town officers not named in Article 2 and to fix the salaries of all town officers.


Voted: To instruct the selectmen to appoint surveyors of lumber and measurers of wood and bark.


Chose Horace F. Tuttle, trustee of Goodnow fund for three years.


Voted: That the board of health be instructed to ap- point one school physician at a salary of fifty dollars per year.


Voted: That the salary of the collector of taxes be one percent of the amount collected.


Voted: That the salary of the treasurer be two hun- · dred dollars ($200) per annum.


. Voted: That the salary of the chairman of the select- men by one hundred dollars ($100) per annum and the other members fifty dollars ($50) per annum each.


Voted: That the salary of the superintendent of streets be fixed by the selectmen.


Article 4. To see if the town will accept the reports of the various town officers.


Voted: To accept the reports of the several town officers.


Article 5. To hear and act upon the reports of any committees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.


The committee appointed to consider the matter of by- laws reported that in their opinion it was inexpedient to adopt any special by-laws and suggested that the standing votes of the town and the provisions of the state law which have been adopted by this town, be printed in the next annual town report.


Voted: To accept the report and that its suggestions be carried out.


14


The committee appointed at the last annual town meet- ing to make an investigation concerning a supply of electric current for this town reported through its chairman, Allen Brooks Parker. The committee recommended that the town take no action at present in relation to the town supplying its own electric current for light and power.


Voted: To accept the report and give the committee a vote of thanks for their efficient services.


Article 6. To see what sums of money the town will raise by taxation and appropriate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town.


Voted: To raise for


Memorial day $150.00


Repairing roads and bridges 4,000.00


Special work on Lowell road


1,000.00


Memorial library, current expenses


450.00


Memorial library, for books 200.00.


Schools 18,000.00


Hydrant service


2,700.00


Street lighting


3,300.00


Moth work


1,005.76 .


Salaries of town officers 1,800.00


Voted: To appropriate for oiling roads such sum as the selectmen may determine.


$200.00


Buildings and grounds


300.00


Repairing interior of town hall


35.00


Gilding faces to town clock


25.00


Laying water main to Woodlawn cemetery


500.00


Treasurer's bond


50.00


Collector's bond


100.00


Elm leaf beetle


400.00


Insurance of town employes


200.00


Police department


150.00


Fire department


400.00


Fire department for supplies


400.00


Fire department, brush fires


200.00


Removing watering trough


15


Board of Health


500.00


Town home


500.00


Outside poor


1,500.00


Cemeteries


700.00


Unclassified


500.00


Printing


250.00


Reserve fund


1,500.00


Article 7. To see what amount of money the town will raise and appropriate for the due observance of Memorial Day.


Voted: To raise $150 for the due observance of Mem- orial Day.


Article 8. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for the enforcement of the liquor laws, or act any- thing thereon.


Voted: To re-appropriate the unexpended balance of last year for the enforcement of the liquor laws.


Article 9. To see what action the town will take in regard to the extermination of the elm leaf beetle.


Voted: To appropriate four hundred dollars, the same to cover all work done by the tree warden.


Article 10. To see what action the town will take in regard to the extermination of the gypsy and brown tail moth.


Voted: To raise the amount required by state law, or one thousand, five dollars and seventy-six cents.


Article 11. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.


Voted: That all taxes shall be payable not later than October 15, 1916, and on all taxes remaining unpaid after November 1, 1916, interest shall be charged at the rate of six per cent per annum from October 15, 1916, until such taxes are paid.


Voted: That poll and personal taxes only be payable on demand.


Voted that the collector shall issue summons for all poll


16


and personal taxes only remaining unpaid September 1, and that the collector shall collect all taxes committed to him within the municipal year in which they are assessed.


Article 12. To see if the town will vote to oil the streets in the villages of the town, or act anything thereon.


Voted: That the matter be left in the hands of the selectmen.


Article 13. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires and fix the price, or act anything thereon.


Voted to pass over the article.


Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to insure the employes of the town, or do or act anything thereon.


Voted: To appropriate two hundred dollars to insure all employes of the town.


Article 15. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the fire depart- ments, or do or act anything thereon.


Voted: To appropriate four hundred dollars for fire departments, and four hundred dollars for supplies, pro- vided that any balance after the purchase of supplies may be used to pay salaries.


Article 16. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money not exceeding $500 toward the water main that is to connect Woodlawn cemetery with the town water system, or do or act anything thereon.


Voted : To appropriate five hundred dollars toward the water main to connect Woodlawn cemetery with the town water system.


Voted: That Edgar H. Hall, William F. Stevens and Horace F. Tuttle be a committee to act for the town in all matters relating to the laving of said water main.


Article 17. To see if the town will vote to discontinue the road leading from the state road at a point a few rods east of the house of A. W. Davis. to the house of G. T. Sisson (known as the Gould farm), or act anything thereon.


Voted: To discontinue the road leading from the state


17


road at a point a few rods east of the house of A. W. Davis, to the house of G. T. Sisson (known as the Gould farm).


Article 18. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to have the hands and figures on three faces of the town clock gold-leafed.


Voted: That the matter be referred to the selectmen with power to act, and to appropriate thirty-five dollars to defray the expense.


Article 19. To see what action the town will take in reference to securing the removal of the partly burned building situated on the hotel property in Acton Center.


Voted: Unanimously that the selectmen be requested to secure the removal if possible of the partially burned building situated on the hotel property in the center of the town.


Article 20. To see if the town will vote to spend fifteen hundred dollars of the money raised and appropriated for highways, for the repair of the so-called Lowell road, from the Great road to the place where it was repaired last year,provided the state and county will each appropriate like amounts for said road, or take any action thereon.


Voted to pass over the article.


Article 21. To see if the town will vote to close or discontinue the two pieces of road leading from the so-called Daniel Tuttle road, one by Dr. Allen's house, and the other crossing over by the town hall.


Voted to discontinue the two pieces of road leading from the so-called Daniel Tuttle road, one by Dr. Allen's house, and the other crossing over by the town hall.


Article 22. To see if the town will vote to have the old stone watering trough that stands at the old town pump moved to some other part of the town, where it can be used for the public's benefit, and appropriate a sum of money for doing the same.


Voted: That the selectmen be instructed to remove the stone watering trough. to some place where it can be used


18


and that twenty-five dollars be appropriated to defray the expense.


Article 23. To see if the town will vote to tint the walls and ceilings of the town hall, including ante rooms, and paint the wood work, patch the plastering and such other work to make the job complete, and appropriate a sum of money for the same.


Voted: To paint, decorate and repair the interior of the town hall as specified in the article, and that three hundred dollars be appropriated to pay the expense.


Article 24. To see what amount of money the town will raise and appropriate for payment of premium on treasurer's and collector's bonds, or act anything thereon.


Voted: That the town reimburse the present tax co]- lector, W. F. Stevens, for any premium he may be obliged to pay for his bond by reason of uncollected taxes. .


Voted: To appropriate fifty dollars for treasurer's bond and one hundred dollars for tax collector's bond.


Article 25. To see if the town will vote to sell the town farm, or act anything thereon.


Voted: Not to sell the town farm.


Proceedings of the Special Town Meeting, March 30th, 1916.


Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.


Allen Brooks Parker was chosen moderator.


Article 2. To see if the town will authorize the treas- urer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1916, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.


Voted that the town treasurer, with the approval of


19


the selectmen, be authorized to borrow money and issue a note or notes as specified in this article.


Article 3. To see what action the town will take toward re-contracting for street lamps.


Voted: That the selectmen contract with the American Woolen Company for street lighting for five years.


Article 4. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to contract with the water district for the rental of hydrants on the Littleton road, or do or act anything thereon.


Voted: That the town appropriate twenty-five dollars per hydrant for not more than five hydrants on said road, in accordance with the contract existing between the town and water district.


Article 5. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars to widen and repair the road leading from the house of Miss Alice Davis on the "Great road," so-called, to the house of Mrs. Gertrude C. Daniels, or pass any vote or votes thereon that the town may think proper.


Voted: That the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars · be appropriated to widen and repair the road described in the article, and that the appropriation be expended under the direction and supervision of Mrs. Gertrude C. Daniels.


Proceedings of the Special Town Meeting, July 10th, 1916


Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.


Allen Brooks Parker was chosen moderator.


Article 2. To see if the town will vote to borrow the sum of one thousand dollars to be expended in repairing the road extending from the "Great road," so-called, at a point near the Webster Robbins place to the Carlisle line, as recommended by the county commissioners, or act any- thing thereon.


20


Voted: Unanimously that a sum of money not exceed- ing one thousand dollars be borrowed by the treasurer, with approval of the selectmen, to repair said road in accordance with this article, said sum to be payable in 1917.


State Election, November 7th, 1917.


Party designations : D., Democratic ; Prog., Progressive ; R., Republican; S., Socialist; S. L., Socialist Labor; P., Prohibition.


Precincts


Total


1


2


3


Whole number of ballots cast 124 142


167 433


President and Vice President


Benson and Kirkpartrick, S.


0


1


0


1


Hanley and Landreth, P.


0


0


1


1


Hughes and Fairbanks, R.


98


87


131


316


Reimer and Harrison, S. L.


0


0


0


0


Wilson and Marshall, D.


25


51


29


105


Blanks


1


3


6


10


Governor


James Hayes, S. L.


1


0


0


1


Chester R. Lawrence, P.


1


0


4


5


Samuel W. McCall, R.


100


92


128


320


Frederick W. Mansfield, D.


18


42


24


84


Dana A. White, S.


0


1


1


2


Blanks


4


7


10


21


Lieutenant Governor


Calvin Coolidge, R.


101


98


128


327


Alfred H. Evans, P.


0


0


0


0


Sylvester J. McBride, S.


0


1


1


2


21


Thomas J. Maher, S. L.


0


1


0


1


Thomas P. Riley, D.


15


32


23


70


Blanks


8


10


15


33


Secretary


Thomas F. Brennan, S. L.


0


0


0


0


Leon R. Eyges, D.


15


26


18


59


Louis Adams Grout, S.


0


1


1


2


Albert P. Langtry, R.


96


102


126


324


Blanks


13


13


22


48


Treasurer


Charles L. Burrill, R.


99


101


122


322


Frederick E. Oelcher, S. L.


0


0


0


0


Elam K. Sheldon, S.


0


1


1


2


Henry N. Teague, D.


15


27


22


64


Blanks


10


13


22


45


Auditor


Joseph Bearak, S.


0


1


1 2


Frank Bohmback, S. L.


0


0


0


0


Alonzo B. Cook, R.


94


101


122


317


John B. N. Soulliere, D.


16


27


17


60


Blanks


14


13


27


54


Attorney General


Henry C. Attwill, R.


95


103


123


321


Joseph Joyce Donahue, D.


15


26


18


59


Joseph Jiskra, S. L.


0


0


0


0


John Weaver Sherman, S.


1


2


1


4


Blanks


13


11


25


49


United States Senator


John F. Fitzgerald, D.


17


49


27


93


Henry Cabot Lodge, R.


99


84


120


303


22


William N. McDonald, S. 0


1


1 2


Blanks


8


8


19


35


Congressman Fifth District


Roger Sherman Hoar, D.


20


42


28


90


John Jacob Rogers, R.


97


96


131


324


Blanks


7


4


8


19


Councillor Sixth District




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