USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Everett > Everett souvenir. 1870-1893 > Part 13
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The Water Commissioners concluded a contract with George H. Norman, of Newport, R. I., October 11, 1871, for laying 40,000 or more feet of pipe, with 75 hydrants and gates for same, for the sum of $46,640, of which 5,000 feet were to be 10-inch pipe, 4,000 feet 8-inch, 18,000 feet 6-inch, and 13,000 feet 4-inch pipe. The work of laying the pipes was not commenced until early in October, but before it could be completed cold weather set in and it was necessary to suspend operations until the following spring. About 23,000 feet of pipe had been laid. The origi- nal estimate of $50,000 having proved insufficient, the town was authorized by the legislature to expend a further sum of $50,000, to be raised by taxa- tion or borrowing. The town, on April 22, 1872, accepted this act, and author- ized a further issue of bonds, like those previously issued, to the amount of $50,000. The work was resumed as soon as the spring opened, and carried forward without interruption, until about 13 miles or 334 miles more than the original estimate, had been constructed.
Water was introduced May 1, 1872. The cost of the works to February 28, 1873, was about $84,000.
The burdensome contract made with the city of Charlestown remained nearly fifteen years, though repeated efforts were made to secure a modification of it. Thomas Leavitt, chairman of the water board, was an early pioneer in the movement to secure a modification of this contract, so as to give to the town of Everett a larger percentage of the water rates, but for many years he labored in vain. The agitation for a modification was resumed, and developed strength in the autumn of 1883, when a proposition was made to petition the legislature to raise an annual sum by taxation, for the purpose of extending the water works. In the following spring, at a town meeting held March 4, it was voted that the town appoint a committee, consisting of Messrs. George Taylor, I. T. Winchester, N. J. Mead, George F. Foster, and Daniel Russell, to determine whether an adequate sup- ply of pure water for the town of Everett could be obtained from artesian wells or springs within the limits of the town, also to determine whether the contract between Everett and Boston could be modified or annulled, the said committee to have authority to employ legal and scientific advice
Isaac T. Winchester,
The son of Isaac and Polly (Balch) Winchester, was born in Hill, N. H., February 2, 1821. He was educated in the public schools at Portland, Me. and Danvers, Mass. Most of his life he has been engaged in the stove, business, but of late years in the retail hay and grain business on Chelsea Street, near Everett Square. . For longer or shorter terms he has resided in New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts, having spent the greater portion of his time, however, in Everett. He has served the town of Everett as a member of the board of selectmen, water board, and board of health -several years in each department. March 17, 1842, he married Diantha, daughter of Paul and Arabella Wentworth, born in Maine, whom he has survived. He resides at No. 13 Corey Street.
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at an expense not exceeding $500, and that the town raise and appropriate that sum for the purposes specified in this article. Thomas Leavitt and F. P. Bennett, were added to the above com- mittee.
This committee organized by the choice of I. T. Winchester, as Chairman, and F. P. Bennett as Secretary. They reported in the following March that they had sunk five wells in the mea- dows of Mr. Thaddeus Peirce, at a cost of $284.83. Three of these wells in the meadow nearest Ferry Street were driven through a bed of clay from six to twelve feet in thickness, and entered a stratum of gravel, in which water, pronounced suitable for domestic purposes, upon analysis by a chemist, was found. The two other wells did not promise any suitable supply. The work was suspended at this point be- cause of the invitation of the city of Chelsea to participate in a conference with the water com- mittee of that city and of Som- erville, with a view to making an effort to secure a modification of the contract with Boston.
The committee reported in favor of establishing a system of artesian wells in case a mod- ification of the water contract could not be secured, and re- ported that such a project was feasible, and that the cost of a sufficient supply to answer the fullest requirements of the popu- lation for some years to come would not exceed $50,000.
The committee continued their endeavors in conjuction with the officials of the cities of Chelsea and Somerville. The desired modification seemed to be on the point of accomplishment, when, at a town meeting held July 14, 1885, it was voted that the committee on water supply be authorized to execute a mod- ified contract, but owing to new complications, the result so much de- sired was deferred for still another year. At a town meeting held May 3, 1885, the water committee presented a report of progress, by Mr. F. P. Ben- nett, Secretary, stating some changes that had been agreed upon in the modified contract, whereupon it was voted that the water committee be given full power to execute a new con- tract with the city of Boston on a basis of 50 per cent. of the gross receipts from water takers. At the same meet- ing it was voted that the town authorize the water commissioners to petition the general court for authority to raise an- nually by taxation the sum of $5,000. The water committe, having completed
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
its duties, made its final report January 29, 1887, having secured the desired modification of the water contract, by which the city receives fifty per cent. of the gross receipts from water, instead of fifteen per cent., as under the old contract. The modification went into effect July 1, 1886.
In 1887 a proposal was brought for- ward to introduce a high water service, as the dwelling houses on the high lands were frequently unable to secure a suitable supply of water. At the town meeting held March 1, 1887, the Water Commissioners were instructed to confer with the authorities of Chelsea and see what arrangements could be
ing land, reservoir, and all other things necessary to make the system com- plete and adequate to supply all the high lands of the town, would not exceed $10,000, and that the annual cost of pumping, including coal, would not exceed $500.
The matter coming up again March 13, 1888, Messrs. Henry Schrow, H. A. Tenney, C. H. Spencer, and G. F. Foster, together with the water com- missioners, were made a committee to investigate, and said committee was authorized and directed to do all acts and things necessary and proper to establish a high water service supply for the high lands of the town. A
Residence and Nursery of C. O. Saunders,
Corner Hancock and Bradford Streets.
made in reference to a high water ser- vice, and report at a future meeting. At a meeting held April 28, 1887, the sum of $5,000 was appropriated for the introduction of a high water service, and the Water Commissioners were authorized to do all acts and things necessary to secure that result. As it was supposed that the supply would be furnished by the city of Chelsea, this appropriation was at that time believed to be sufficient. As the Water Com- missioners were unable to make satis- factory arrangements with Chelsea, they reported that the only feasible plan was to establish an independent sys- tem, constructed and operated by the town, the entire cost of which, includ-
further sum of $5,000 was also raised and appropriated for same. This com- mittee reported, at a meeting held April 25th, that no arrangements could be made with the city of Chelsea, and that the figures and explanations offered by the water commissioners as to the expense of the high service were cor- rect, and that the work could be done for $10,000. The report was accepted and adopted. The work of construct- ing the high service plant was left in the hands of the water commissioners. This high service plant was constructed under the supervision of the chairman of the water board, Mr. Thomas Leavitt, and was put in successful operation in July, 1888, the entire cost being less
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than $10,000, this including the pur- chase of a lot of land, the erection of a pumping station on Irving Street, with the necessary machinery, and also the purchase of land and the erection of a reservoir on Mt. Washington. The high service reservoir was, in 1892, increased in height fourteen feet, from thirty-six to fifty feet, and its present capacity is 135,000 gallons. It supplies 434 houses, containing 589 tenements.
The total expenditures on account of the water department to December 31, 1892, have been $250,351.92. besides $4,974.45 expended for hydrants, $9,999.46 for the high service works and $122,120 for interest on the water debt to December 31, 1892. Of these amounts, 138,263.37 has been provided by taxation.
length of the street mains actually in use at the present time. The pipe originally used was the cement lined water pipe, which the water department has been gradually replacing from time to time, with cast iron pipe. The amount of pipe relaid has been quite large during the past few years, since the introduction of the high service, many of the old pipes being found too weak to bear the increased pressure, and others being too small to supply our greatly increased population. The length of pipe relaid within the past few years has been 17,633 feet, which, de- ducted from the total given above, leaves I42,403 feet of street mains (about 27 miles), which represents approximately the length in actual use January 1, 1893. The number of feet of pipe of the dif-
Henderson Block. Corner Main and Oakes Streets.
The water rates received from the incorporation of the town, to December 31, 1892 were $87,416.53, of which about $69,000 have been received since the modification of the water contract in 1886. The receipts in 1892 were $17,447.69. The receipts being now sufficient to pay the cost of mainten- ance of the water works and the interest on the water debt, besides providing a sinking fund, the water department is self sustaining and has ceased since 1890 to be a burden on the tax-payers. The gross amount of water debt December 31, 1892 was $130,000.
The total amount of pipe laid to December 31, 1892, was 160,036 feet. This does not however represent the
" ferent sizes originally laid, the amount replaced by larger or stronger pipe, and the approximate length of pipe, of the different sizes, still in use, are as follows :
Total laid to Jan 1, 1893.
Replaced.
Remaining in use.
2 in.
1,570
415
1,155
3 "
941
675
266
4
60,364
2,349
58,015
6 “
70,276
11,018
59,258
8 4
7,054
40
7,014
15,518
3,136
12,382
12
1,157
1,1 57
14
206
206
15
50
50
=
2,900
2,900
Total, 160,036
17,633
142,403
Prior to 1891, the largest street mains in use were ten inches in diam-
ter. With the great increase in the number of water takers, these pipes were found to be of insufficient capacity, so that at times the water pressure was very much reduced. To obviate this difficulty a ten inch pipe was laid through Bow Street, in 1891, and in 1892 the work of laying a twenty inch main pipe to extend to the Mystic water mains in Charlestown was com- menced in Everett Square. Of this large pipe 2,900 feet have already been laid.
The steady growth of the population in Everett had made it apparent several years ago that a system of sewerage was urgently needed. The matter was brought up at a town meeting held March 13, 1888, at which a committee of fifteen, consisting of Amos Stone, C. P. Kittredge, C. S. Hapgood, Dr. W. K. Knowles, Dr. R. E. Brown, Sam'l Freeman, 2d, F. B. Wallis, S. A. Deshon, Fred. Baldwin, Hudson Keeney, J. H. Cannell, Geo. W. Davies, Jas. Cochran, Geo. E. Smith and Dr. W. G. Hanson, were appointed to consider the matter and report at a future meeting. This committee, by its chairman, Amos Stone, presented its report at a town meeting, held March 5, 1889, when it was voted, 267 in favor to I opposed, that the sys- tem of sewerage recommended in the report of the committee be adopted, and that the town treasurer be authorized to borrow from time to time, with the approval of the selectmen, a sum of money not exceeding $50,000 to pay for constructing the same. The committee estimated that the existing streets re- quiring drainage had a total length of twenty-eight miles ; and they estimated the cost of the proposed system of sewerage for these twenty-eight miles of streets as follows :
3 miles of 36 x 36 in. at $3.00 per ft. $47,520
3 miles of 24 x 24 in. at $2.00 per ft. 31,680
3 miles of 18 x 18 in. at $1.50 per ft. 23,760
3 miles of 12 x 12 in. at $1.00 per ft. 15,840
16 miles of 10 x 10 in. at $ .So per ft. 65,584
amounting to $186,384, the average cost per mile being estimated at $6,657, and the average cost per foot at $1.26.
At the same meeting at which this system of sewerage was adopted, a commission of five citizens to serve for three years without pay, were- appointed with full power to carry into effect the system so adopted. This commission consisted of Amos Stone, Cyrus S. Hapgood, Hudson Keeney, George E. Smith, and Samuel Freeman, 2d.
The system of sewerage thus adopted was to have an outlet into Mystic river, to which no little opposition was de- veloped in some of the neighboring municipalities. It was some time before the approval of the State Board of Health could be procured. A still fur- ther delay was caused by a division of
20
"
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EVERETT SOUVENIR.
opinion as to whether the Sewer Com- missioners or Road Commissioners had jurisdiction, the matter being finally decided in favor of the latter. It was not until June 8, 1890, that the Road Commissioners were ready to advertise for bids for the construction of the first section of the sewer, extending from the tide - water gate - chamber through Rover, Robin, Mystic Streets and Broadway to a point just south of the Boston & Maine Railroad, a dis- tance of 4,418 feet. The bids were closed June 16, 1890, and the contract for this section was awarded to John A. Gill, of East Boston. This sewer, from the outlet to Broadway, 1,74973 feet, is 36 by 38 inches in diameter. In Broadway it is 32 by 36 inches in diameter for 2,6691/2 feet. The con- tract to construct 351 feet of wooden outlet was made with John M. Devir, of Malden. The contract for the con- struction of section two of the sewer, extending from section one to Han- cock Street, 4,408 feet, was awarded to Dennis O'Connell, of Boston. This section, from the end of section one to Church Street, was constructed of brick, and from Church Street to the top of Belmont Hill it consists of a twelve inch pipe. The work on sections one and two was substantially completed as far as Everett Square, in 1890. At the close of that year, the Commission- ers reported that the length of the completed sewer was 7,758 feet, and the outlay thus far, $24,521.29.
The work was continued in 1891, and at the end of that year the com- missioners reported that the length of the sewer, substantially completed, was as follows : Broadway, Mystic, Robin, and Rover Streets, 8,949 feet; Main Street, 5,279 feet ; Chelsea Street, 1,446 feet ; Bow Street, 1,236 feet; Paris Street, 792 feet; Liberty Street, 850 feet ; Beacham Street, 808 feet; Han- cock Street, 554 feet ; Tileston Street, 538 feet ; Pleasant Street, 459 feet ; Willard Street, 336 feet; Union Ave- nue, 321 feet ; Elmwood Place, 228 feet ; Charles Court, 191 feet, making in all 21,987 lineal feet or about 4} miles, including about 212 miles of the largest sewer mains-the most expen- sive parts of the system. The cost of the work to December 31, 1891, was $72,423.II.
In 1892 the work progressed more rapidly, and at its close there were 42,904 lineal feet, or about 8 miles of completed sewers. The work of 1892 embraced the construction of 20,917.18 lineal feet of sewers and 81 manholes. Of these, 1,979.43 lineal feet were of brick, and 18,737.45 feet pipe sewers, distributed by streets as follows : Brad- ford, 847.70 feet brick and 1,214.70 pipe; Bucknam, 344.50 brick and 1,645
pipe ; Linden, 787.53 brick and 1,947.50 pipe ; Avon, 530 ; Beacon, 560.50; Chel- sea, 701.20 ; Clark, 607.40 ; Cleveland Avenue, 1,585.70; Dean, 925; Dyer Avenue, 531.60 ; Hawthorne, 305 ; Han- cock, 882 ; Kinsman, 500.30 ; Locust, 506.60 ; Oakes, 875.45 ; School, 279.65 ; Swan, 423.80 ; Tufts Avenue, 225 ; War- ren, 649.50 ; Waverly, 1,764.30 ; West, 358.50 ; Winslow, 663.70 ; Winthrop, 1,055.05. All these are pipe sewers except as otherwise mentioned. The total expenditures in the construction of sewers in 1892 were $35,267.57 or about $9,043 per mile as compared with $17,367 per mile for the portions constructed in 1890 and 1891. The total cost of our sewerage system to December 31, 1892, was $107,675.68.
The cost of this system to the city of Everett may be estimated at $100,000 or more, giving a total outlay for sewer- age of nearly or quite $500,000. This represents only about $150 to each dwelling in the city with the burden growing relatively lighter by the natural growth of the city in population and resources. When the great sanitary value of a system of sewerage is taken into account, this outlay commends itself as in the main, a prudent investment. The system has been laid out and con- structed under the immediate supervision of Joseph J. Carr, of Chelsea, as engi- neer, assisted by Geo. L. Mirick, of Everett. The sewerage system thus wisely inaugurated by the town, will un- doubtedly be completed by the city.
Interior View of S. A. Freeman's Drug Store, Henderson's Block, Corner Main and Oakes Streets.
It is evident that the total cost of the system will be nearly or quite double the original estimate. To pro- vide for its further extension, the legis- lature has just passed an act authorizing a loan of $125.000. The cost of the sewer is in part to be provided for by an assessment upon the abutters of fifty cents per front foot. These assess- ments on 30 miles of sewer will amount, if collected, to $158,400. This sum and bonds issued or authorized will furnish an available fund of $383,400, provided the assessments are collected, an amount nearly or quite sufficient to extend the system over our whole terri- tory. The Metropolitan Sewer, now in process of construction, will, when com- pleted, be substituted for the Mystic river as an outlet for our local sewers.
XXII.
SOCIETIES.
ODD FELLOWS.
The Everett Lodge of Odd Fellows was instituted March 18, 1875, with fif- teen charter members, as follows : A. F. Ferguson, C. O. Sanborn, Carlos E. Bolton, W. W. Bullock, Nathan B. Ray- mond, J. O. W. Dearing, Wm. Tyzzer, Jr., Josiah A. Kinsman, Wm: H. Pierce, Geo. A. Colby, Joseph W. Bartlett, A. B. Robinson, David Smith, George W. Paine, and S. C. Currrier. The first meeting was held in the Masonic Hall, through the kindness of Palestine Lodge, and subsequent meetings were held in Everett (small) Hall, until July 18, 1875, when the Lodge moved into a room fitted
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EVERETT SOUVENIR.
General William Warren Bullock,
For many years a resident of Everett, was born in Boston, in 1819. He was, before the war, a captain of the old Boston Artillery and of the Washington Artillery, and also held a high office in the Ist Regiment ; was Brigadier-General in the State Militia, and was connected with the Boston Fire Department. In 1862 he went to the war as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 30th Reg- iment, and served in the department of the Gulf until November 25, 1864, when he resigned. Ile was the first commander of the N. P. Banks Army and Navy Veteran Corps, of Charlestown. He was a Free Mason, Odd Fellow, and member of several other societies. After the war he held a clerkship in the Boston Custom House. Ile settled in South Malden or Everett about 1869 or 1870. He was smitten with paralysis while on his way to his post of duty, and died February 5, 1882.
up for that purpose on the third floor of the Masonic Building, where they re- mained until April, 1888, when, having purchased the present fine, brick Odd
Manser, E. C. Healey, F. P. Melvin, A. Johnson, L. K. James, L. T. James, G. S. Ross, G. A. Towne, A. G. Brooks, I. H. Mudgett, G. H. Burr, T. P. Len- nox, W. S. Philbrook, Jr., E. A. Little- field, F. D. Goddard, J. D. Henderson, W. C. Day, W. S. Bulkley, A. M. Petten- gill, Sam'l Hoyle, F. L. Slack, T. H. Kite, J. H. Brown.
THE GLENDON CLUB
Was organized November 14, 1887. Charles C. Nichols, Esq., was the leading spirit in forming the organization, and its first President, occupying that posi- tion by successive re-elections until 1891. Its name proposed by C. F. McSorley, was adopted at the second meeting of the club. A membership fee of $5, and monthly dues of $2 per member were established. All games on the Sabbath,
ments of a high order. In the early part of the present winter it gave a minstrel entertainment for two succes- sive evenings, from which it netted about $800. Recently it repeated this enter- tainment for the benefit of the families of the four men who lost their lives in the burning of the West End car house, on Ferry Street, the net proceeds of which were about $300. Recognizing the refining influence of woman, the club has opened its rooms to the lady friends of the members in several "ladies' nights " entertainments.
It has given annual dinners for three or more years, which have been occa- sions of great interest. At the dinner last year, Mr. Henry M. Whitney, Presi- dent of the West End Street Railway Company, was a guest, and delivered an able address on street railroads. At the
Two Blocks Owned by D. N. Badger, Broadway, Near Everett Square.
Fellows' Building, formerly known as the Library Building, and having fitted up the third floor for a Lodge room, they moved into their present quarters which were dedicated with appropriate cere- monies, May 2, 1888. The membership of the Lodge in the spring of 1890. was 180, as compared with 69 in the year 1879. A. F. Ferguson was the first Noble Grand, as the chief officer of the Lodge is called. The membership of the Lodge in December, 1892, was 214.
The Past Grands of Everett Lodge have been as follows: A. F. Ferguson, C. E. Bolton, G. W. Paine, David Smith, Wm. Tyzzer, J. W. Bartlett, T. A. Smith, Geo. Taylor, C. O. Sanborn, W. F. De- laney, W. W. Bullock, B. F. Badger, C. Manser, D. Russell, S. C. Currier, D. P.
and the use of intoxicating liquors were strictly prohibited. The membership was limited to twenty-five, which was increased to fifty in 1889, at which time the monthly dues were reduced to $1 per member. The limit of member- ship has since been abolished, and the membership fee increased to $10.
Its first place of meeting was the south- westerly room on the second floor of Odd Fellows' Block, now occupied by the Everett Public Library. In 1890 the membership increased rapidly in numbers, character and strength. Hav- ing outgrown the quarters at first hired, the suite of rooms in Plaisted's Block, now occupied by the Club, was leased and furnished. During its existence the Club has given several public entertain-
dinner this year, Messrs. William B. de las Casas and Sylvester Baxter, the for- mer a member, and the latter secretary of the Metropolitan Park Commission, were guests, and each delivered an interesting address upon Parks. The Club donated a national flag to the Warren School. It is a subscriber for several periodicals. Financially, the Club is in a very satisfactory condition. Its current debts are paid and it owns, subject to a small incumbrance, a large lot of land on Church Street, upon which it will, in the near future, erect a club house. A committee appointed for that purpose have procured plans, prepared by John C. Spofford, architect, a mem- ber of the Club, for a club house to cost not more than $16,000 for the building
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EVERETT SOUVENIR.
Charles C. Nichols,
Was born in Everett, then South Malden, Octo- ber 13, 1859. He is the second son of the late Joseph E. and Lucena (Corbett) Nichols. (See sketch of life of Joseph E. Nichols.) He attended the common schools of Everett, and graduated from the High School in 1877, from the Chelsea High School in 1879, from Harvard College in 1883, and from the Harvard Law School in 1887. In 1885 he entered the law office of the late Hon. Charles Robinson, Jr., at Boston, and was admitted to the bar in Suffolk County in 1886. He opened an evening office in Everett, and returned to the law school to complete his course of study there. In September, 1887, he opened an office in Boston at 23 Court Street, where, and in Everett he has practiced law ever since. Mr. Nichols served the town as auditor for two years, 1886-87; was the can- didate of his party (Democratic) for the legis- lature in 1887; was acting town treasurer and collector for some two months in 1890; was appointed registrar of voters for three years, in 1890, which position he resigned, at the end of one year, to accept the office of selectman, to which he was elected in 1891 and again in 1892, being the chairman of the board the past year. Mr. Nichols was a member of the Thayer Club in the law school ; was the first president of the Glendon Club, holding that office for over three years; is a member of the New England Tariff Reform League; of the Young Men's Democratic Club of Massachusetts; of the Harvard Law School Association, and of the Palestine Lodge of F. & A. M. Several years ago Mr. Nichols was librarian of the Universalist Sunday School and later was the treasurer and collector of that society. He is now the treasurer and a trustee of the Everett Associates. Mr. Nichols, for a young man of limited means, has seen much of the world. In 1884 he went to Europe as a member of the American Lacrosse team, and he has since traveled in the West and South. October 9, 1888, Mr. Nichols was married, by the Rev. C. A. Hayden, at Lisbon, Maine, to Hattie Frances, daughter of David Otis and Frances Jane (Smith) Corbett, both of Lisbon. They have two children, Helen Frances and Mildred Lucena.
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