USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > History of Dedham, Massachusetts > Part 36
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TOWN FOREST. The town forest was acquired in 1927 by a lease running for more than eight hundred years from St. Paul's Church at a cost of $1300. It has an area of sixty-eight acres and is located in Sandy Valley on one of the older roads of the town, on both sides of the Circumferential Highway. The forest was put in charge of a committee consisting of George A. Phillips, Oscar C. Henning, and Thomas F. Doggett, who immediately proceeded to develop the area into a beautiful and restful place, not only of trees and wild flowers, but of birds and smaller ani- mals. In 1928 two thousand young trees, contributed by the State Board of Conservation, were planted, the number including a thousand red pines, five hundred Norway spruce, and five hun- dred white pines. Later several hundred young hemlocks and some wild flowers, not found growing in Dedham woods, were
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transplanted from New Hampshire, and set in suitable locations on the grounds.
Two memorial trees were early planted near the main entrance with its low wall and rustic gate which bars automobiles but admits pedestrians. An elm tree was planted in memory of Abner Alden, who for sixty-one years served the Dedham public in connection with the Boston & Providence Railroad and its leasee, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. A black walnut tree was planted near the entrance in honor of Fisher Ames, a part of whose farm is included in the town forest. Mr. Ames was greatly interested in agriculture and after his retirement from public life devoted much attention to his Sandy Valley farm. He used to walk daily from the Village in good summer weather to inspect his growing crops and would stop for pleasant chats with residents of Federal Hill as he passed. Along the trails most often used, several hundred tiger lilies have been planted to add a bit of color to the surroundings. Feeders for the wild birds-the thoughtful gift of Mrs. Frederic J. Stim- son-are placed in numerous parts of the forest. Birds are here fed in such numbers during the winter months, that the feeders are semi-weekly filled with grain, all through the generosity of Mrs. Stimson.
The National Tree Planting Council at Washington furnished the Town Forest Committee in 1932 with a little tree, a cutting from one of the venerable trees which adorn the estate of George Washington at Mt. Vernon; also six walnuts gathered from trees growing about the home of Abraham Lincoln at Springfield, Illinois. These were planted to honor the memory of Washing- ton and Lincoln, on March 26, 1932, in the presence of town officers, a delegation from the American Legion, a troop of Boy Scouts, a group of Campfire Girls, a company of school children and citizens of the town. The exercises were in charge of Julius H. Tuttle, President of the Dedham Historical Society. Chair- man Henry J. Kenworthy of the Board of Selectmen, in behalf of the town accepted this contribution from the National Govern- ment which adds an attractive feature to the town forest park.
The Contentment Garden Club has manifested much interest in the town forest and has engaged in making the approach
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worthy of its own natural beauty, by cleaning up the grounds about the entrance, rebuilding the stone wall, and in making rock gardens on either side of the fountain. Dogwood and mountain laurel have been planted and daphne and anemones will in the future overhang the stone wall.
TREE WARDEN. In accordance with public statute enacted in 1899, George A. Phillips was elected Tree Warden at the April meeting in 1900. Mr. Phillips brought to the work a knowledge of tree culture and a just pride in the noble trees of the town. With an appropriation of $50.00 he proceeded to repair injured trees along Dedham highways, and during the year treated four hundred and ninety trees which he found needed attention. Early in the summer it was found that the elm leaf beetle had begun its ravages upon trees in the center of the town. With an added appropriation of $100 made by the Selectmen, Mr. Phillips began the work which has never ceased, of fighting the elm leaf beetle. In July 1910, a small consignment of parasites which prey upon the gypsy moth caterpillar was liberated in Ded- ham in an effort to save our elm trees.
STREET LIGHTING. While the Dedham Gas Light Com- pany was incorporated in 1853, it made but slow progress against oil-burning street lights. In 1869, the Dedham Gas Light Com- pany was paid $20.00 for maintaining two lights in Memorial Hall Square. In 1870 the number of lamps lighted by the town was fifty-five, namely, thirty-eight gas and two oil lamps in Ded- ham Village; two gas lamps in Mill Village; and thirteen oil lamps in South Dedham. It is presumed that the two lamps not accounted for were oil lamps and located near the Post Office in West Dedham. By 1871 pipes had been extended so that forty streets were lighted in Dedham. The Dedham Gas and Electric Light Company was later incorporated, and electric lights were first used in 1887 and extended to street lighting in 1889 at an expense of $5000.00.
POLICE DEPARTMENT. The constable was a very neces- sary officer, so necessary that at first he was appointed for towns by the General Court. Previous to 1876 Dedham depended upon the constable, and officers appointed for special occasions, for all police protection. At the April town meeting in 1876, the 1
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Selectmen were authorized to appoint two police officers to be on duty each day from 4 o'clock in the afternoon to 2 o'clock the following morning and to be subject to call at all times. The officers first appointed were Christopher T. Bailey and Philander S. Young. On September 14, of the same year the town voted to employ two night police officers. George E. Morse was appoint- ed for Dedham Village, and J. Varnum Abbott for East Dedham. They were required to be on duty each day from 8 o'clock in the evening to 5 o'clock the following morning. On the appointment of the first police officers, the Selectmen remarked: "A good police officer should have the support and sympathy of every good citizen. His duties are often perilous and difficult, and if inexperienced, is liable to make mistakes, therefore, he should receive the aid and support of everyone who desires the mainten- ance of good order."
Since 1876 the department has developed with a chief of police, a sergeant, and thirteen patrolmen, having an equipment of automobiles, a cruising car, and motorcycles. During the year 1935 the number of arrests was 723. Fines imposed by Courts $5,295.00; arrests for drunkenness 255, larceny 15; automobile accidents investigated, 220; complaints investigated, 1914; escorts provided for transporting money, 566; messages delivered, 1821; street lights reported out, 303; summonses served, 676. The above are selected from one hundred and thirty-seven items of service during the year.
BOARD OF HEALTH *. A Board of Health was elected, as an experiment, in 1887. The results were so satisfactory and helpful that no attempt was later made to again place the health of the town in the hands of the Selectmen. Dr. John W. Chase, Preston R. Mansfield, and Dr. Andrew H. Hodgdon constituted the first Board of Health. The Board began work with the inten- tion of correcting every territorial defect, but this was found impossible, owing to the absence of sewers and a proper system of drainage in the town. Dedham was still a country community. All legal notices of nuisances were immediately taken up and the necessary action taken. The most important matter as it
* Now called Health Department.
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appeared to the Board was the taking advantage of the "Wet Land Act", the draining of meadows about the center of the town, for many years an ever-present subject. The Board of Health received a petition bearing the signatures of seventy- eight persons setting forth that the East street meadows were wet, spongy and highly offensive from the odors arising therefrom caused by decayed vegetable matter that fills the brook and pre- vents the water from flowing through to its natural channel, and thereby keeping the meadows flooded a greater part of the time, causing a nuisance which ought to be abated. The fall from Wigwam Pond to Charles River, at medium low water, is two feet. It was finally concluded that the nuisance should be abated by clearing out the Brook, (Dwight's Brook) running through the meadows. The expense of the undertaking was $763, of which amount the town paid $226.24; the Boston and Provi- dence Railroad Company, $40.62; and the balance was assessed on the owners of the meadows. In 1889 the Board of Health stated that during the year there had been twenty-eight cases of diphtheria* and six cases of scarlet fever. It was found that with the exception of one case in West Dedham, all the cases occurred in close proximity to the Dedham meadows. In view of this, the Board said: "If people who live in close proximity to these bad lands, permeated with stagnant water, reeking with the impurities of decaying vegetable matter, it becomes them, as they value their comfort, health, and lives, to act upon the admonition given by the Board."
The Board of Health, ever watchful of the sanitary condi- tions of the town, extended in 1894, the collection of garbage and refuse from a limited area by town teams, to a regular con- tracted service in Dedlham Center, East Dedham, and Oakdale. Public dumps, properly supervised, were also established by the Board in 1895.
The untiring efforts of the Board of Health, through the years, hastened the introduction of a system of sewers and inter-
* It is now a custom of the Dedham Health Department each year to urge all parents to have their children protected against diphtheria. For those unable to pay a private physician for this treatment, facilities are offered for children of all ages to take the treatment in a Health Clinic on Saturdays during the month of November.
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ested public spirited citizens in the introduction of a water supply which has greatly added to the healthfulness of the town. Cases of malaria, typhoid fever and dysentery now seldom appear. A laboratory to facilitate the diagnosis of diphtheria, malaria, tuber- culosis, and typhoid fever was opened by the Health Department April 1, 1912. Dr. Arthur M. Worthington was appointed Bacte- riologist to report the result of examinations to doctors only. The first year two hundred and forty-three culture outfits were examined of which forty-three proved to be positive. The work has continued with positive results in the promotion of health in the community.
The Health Department was made responsible by statutc law in 1924 for the dental hygiene of the pupils of the public schools, and on the recommendation of the Health Department a Child Welfare Dental Clinic was opened at the Avery School in 1923. At this clinic pupils of all grades in the elementary schools were given proper attention to their teeth, whereby they will be better preserved. In 1925 the School Board ran a Dental Clinic to which the dentists of the town gave a number of hours each morning. A Dental Clinic for full-time work was first opened in 1927 which included prophylactic treatment. Through the efforts of the Health Department, the death rate from tuberculosis has declined. The Board has demonstrated that small pox, typhoid, and diphtheria can be prevented. And it is confidently believed that the day will come when whooping cough, measles, and scarlet fever will disappear, as yellow fever and cholera have, under scientific prevention methods.
MEDICAL INSPECTION. Medical inspection as a precaution to prevent the spread of contagious diseases was introduced into the Dedham schools in 1892. At first, the matter was wholly in the hands of the teacher. A child who was sick in school was sent home by the teacher with a note to the parent requesting that a physician be called. In all cases the child was not allowed to return to school until the principal was satisfied that there was no danger of contagion. This practise was found very helpful in preventing the spread of diphtheria, scarlet fever, and measles. An act passed by the General Court, which went into effect Sep-
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tember 1, 1906, required the School Committee of every city and ยท town in the Commonwealth to appoint one or more school physi- cians, and assign one to every public school within the city or town and to furnish all necessary facilities for the performance of their duties. As required by law, and provided by a vote of the town, medical inspection was instituted in Dedham in 1907, with the following appointments : High School, Dr. John W. Pratt; Ames School, Dr. Edward W. Finn; Avery School, Dr. F. P. Drew; Oakdale School, Dr. G. E. Hoffses; Quincy School, Dr. H. M. Grady ; Dexter School, Dr. B. E. Ebbs; Riverdale School, Dr. A. M. Worthington; Sight Specialist, Dr. A. W. Place. These physi- cians immediately entered upon their duties in the public schools and good results have been apparent in the public health of the town.
DEDHAM INFIRMARY *. From the early settlement of the town, Dedham has cared for her indigent, sick and infirm inhabi- tants. In accordance with a Court order, a storehouse for lost goods was established in the house of Edward Kempe in 1640. John Richards having found an old saddle paid the treasurer seven shillings, the town's share of its value, for the use of the poor. The Selectmen were informed in 1669 that Toby Double is dan- gerously sick at the home of John Aldis, where his family is visited with sickness and no longer able to entertain him. The term of his hired service having expired and being dependent upon the town for relief, Deacon Aldis, Peter Woodward, and Sergeant Avery are deputed to treat with Anthony Fisher to attain a room in his house and with Nill Mackyah to attend to the said Toby in the time of his sickness. Provisions to be pro- vided at the town charge.
A motion was made to the town January 3, 1675, whether they would bear the charge of the "healings of John Hawes leage" that was hurt in providing timber for the fortification for secur- ing the town from the "Endines" and it was voted in the affirma- tive. When in 1679 James Grant's wife was sick with small pox, a committee of six prominent citizens led by Captain Fisher, was appointed to care for the case. Timothy Dwight was ordered to
* The name of the institution variously known as the poor-house, work-house, and aims-house has been changed by statute law to "Infirmary."
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give James Grant a bushel of wheat and two bushels of Indian corn, and Sergeant Metcalf agreed to help him to whatever he really stood in need of in his wife's sickness at the expense of the town.
The Selectmen being met together with the Reverend Pas- tor, and some others of the inhabitants to consider the case of Samuel Aldridge after much "adjatation & consideration" of the case, the widow Judson being present in behalf of her son Samuel declared herself willing to provide for him "suitable to his condi- tion", a committee was appointed to treat with goodman Green of Cambridge, or any other "mete person", on as good and easy terms as possible, to teach the said Samuel a trade, whereby he may in some measure be able in the future to provide for himself.
Previous to 1773 the poor of the town were quartered upon the inhabitants on such terms as could be agreed upon. June 14, 1773 a committee was appointed to consider the expediency of erecting a house for the poor. The committee reported in favor of building a work-house on the Training Field. The report was accepted and a building was erected near the Dexter School house which served the town for sixty years* when it was sold to Reuben Richards and moved away. Samuel Dexter of Menden, formerly of Dedham, made an annual contribution, through the Rev. Thomas Thacher, for the relief of the sick and indigent. His con- tributions covered a period of fifteen years and in 1807 the amount of $157.25 had been received and distributed.
Entering into the spirit of Dorothea Dix, in her endeavor to rescue the insane from the shocking conditions under which they were placed with criminals in jails, Dedham in 1823 built an ad- dition to the work-house for the better comfort and safety of the insane. In 1832 the town acquired of James Warren a sixty-three acre farm on Fox Hill where the alms-house was continued until the incorporation of Westwood in 1897. On October 12, 1892 the alms-house was destroyed by fire.
A new house was built on the same site in 1892 capable of accommodating twenty inmates and ultimately thirty-five, with a
* In 1818 the number of persons in the work-house was twenty-six, of whom one was 85 years old, another 87 years and Moll Saunders was in her 97th year. The annual cost of supporting each inmate was $1.25 per week.
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barn of ample capacity, and a water supply, at a cost of $18,000. As the town almshouse was within the limits of the new town of Westwood, the necessity arose for providing a new almshouse. A committee was appointed July 18, 1898 to purchase land and erect suitable buildings. A site was selected on Elm Street and an adequate house with all modern conveniences was erected and in 1900 a barn was added. In 1930 a large addition was made at the rear of the house which allowed for four extra double bed- rooms, a reception room for male inmates, a bath, medicine, and linen closets.
MOTHER'S AID. Mother's aid is based upon a law enacted by the Legislature in 1913, and adopted by the town of Dedham in 1917. The purpose of the law is to provide for mothers who have dependent children under fourteen years of age. Under this law the state reimburses the town one-third of all the aid ren- dered to persons who have a settlement in the town. The intent of the law is to keep the family intact, to provide the mother with a sufficient amount of money so she can give her children proper care and remain at home.
TEMPORARY RELIEF. The town took up in 1922 the work of temporary relief; the extending of aid to persons often in deep distress. The work includes board of children, hospital aid, care in state institutions, transportation and aid in their own homes.
HIGHWAY WORK. The town was originally divided into road districts, and highway surveyors were elected annually in each section of the town, to whom the Assessors delivered the highway tax assessed against each property holder in the dis- trict. In 1827 each taxpayer was given the privilege of working out his highway tax, or, as an equivalent to pay two-thirds of the amount assessed in money. The following year cash pay- ments were increased to three-fourths of the amount assessed.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STREETS. The duties of the De- partment of Streets, which has in its care the eighty-seven miles of Dedham Roads, as defined by the town, should be known to every citizen. This department has not only the general care of all the public streets and sidewalks, but the construction of all new streets and sidewalks, the care of bridges, fences, street
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signs, culverts, surface drains, and catch basins, street cleaning and street oiling. The Common comes under its care, also the public dumps.
The Massachusetts Highway Commission constructed its first piece of State Highway in Dedham in 1913. The work consisted of eight-tenths of a mile on Washington street, from the West- wood line to Court street. Later, in 1914, Bridge street, one and three-tenths miles, was put under state construction, and the town relieved of all future care of these highways. In 1927 the State took over Washington Street from Williams Street to the Boston line and in 1931 constructed the Circumferential Highway over virgin land. In 1932 the State built the Providence Turn- pike over the old Norfolk Railroad from the Westwood line to Washington Street and in 1935 extended it across the Purchase meadows to Boston at Spring Street.
With roads cleared of snow even before a storm is over, it is well to remember conditions a century ago. It is told of Jere- miah Whiting of Green Lodge, who married Ruth Wells of Rox- bury, that on their wedding day, at her home in Roxbury, a heavy snow storm came up which obliged him to leave his bride and go home to attend to his cattle. The snow was so deep the next morning that he had to get out of the second-story window and it was three weeks before he was able to go back to Roxbury for his wife.
NAMES AND ORIGIN OF STREETS. The town appointed in 1900 Don Gleason Hill, Frank Smith, and Nathaniel Smith, a committee "to compile a list of streets in the town, with suitable references to the records relating to each street, giving the name or names by which each street is now, or has been known, and the origin of such name." This was found to be an impossible task, as the records of the town do not show when all early roads were laid out. The town originally held all lands in common and set off to individuals certain grants from time to time. For the pur- pose of reaching these grants, the town indicated certain ways for common travel. These ways were usually laid out by com- mittees appointed by the selectmen, the committee reporting back to the selectmen and their doings being approved either by
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the selectmen or the town in public meetings. Some early ways were developed from Indian trails and cart roads.
ORNAMENTAL TREES. The individuals who planted orna- mental trees by the roadside for the benefit of coming genera- tions should be held in grateful remembrance as public benefac- tors. The present generation now enjoys the fruit of their disinter- ested labors. Fisher Ames, who was greatly interested in all branches of agriculture, was the first citizen to plant ornamental trees on public grounds. Two elm trees*, still remembered, were planted by him on the grounds of the First Church. The oldest ornamental trees, of which we have knowledge, are the English elms (which have long since lost their beauty) standing in front of the Community House. These trees were transplanted by Judge Haven in 1789. Among those who should be especially re- membered in this important work are Ira Cleveland, at whose in- stigation trees were first planted in the village cemetery and on the common. The stately trees which adorn East Street were set out by Edward J. Penniman. Through the years Henry O. Hil- dreth labored earnestly and successfully in this work and to him the present generation is indebted for many trees which now adorn and add beauty to the town. The liberality and public spirit of Eliphalet Stone and Francis Marsh should not be forgot- ten. They gave to the town, from their respective nurseries, many of the trees which now adorn our streets.
FIRE ENGINES. In the year 1800 a number of citizens living at Connecticut Corner, then the center of business activities in Dedham, considering "that our dwelling houses and other build- ings are liable to be consumed by devouring flames and that no effi- cient means are provided for their preservation and being of the opinion that a good fire engine would be most likely to save prop- erty against the calamity of fire" united in the purchase of a fire engine by subscription which they presented to the selectmen on the condition that it should be kept near the store of Calvin Whit- ing, at the corner of Lowder and High Streets, for the use of the town, provided the selectmen accept it and annually appoint a suffi- cient number of persons suitable to manage it as enginemen, to be
* Authority of Dr. Danforth P. Wight.
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kept ready for an alarm of fire in which case it shall be carried to the assistance and help of any inhabitant of the town. This gift was made by Ebenezer Wight and twenty others. The engine which had been built by Paul Revere was named "Hero No. 1" and was accept- ed by the selectmen May 26, 1800. The subscribers were appointed to manage it as "enginemen" in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth. This engine was exchanged for the new "Hero" in 1848. At a meeting of the Company held June 10, 1800, Eliphalet Baker was chosen Captain and Amasa Guild, Clerk. By-laws were adopted providing for quarterly meetings on the first Monday of January, April, July and October. At the January meeting offi- cers were elected, a roll call made at 6 o'clock and all absent mem- bers fined 3 shillings. Instead of electing a treasurer a "box" was provided in which all fees, fines, and premiums gained by being "first at the fire" were deposited and could not be drawn out ex- cept by a three-quarter vote of the company. It was also voted that the money should not be loaned or put out to interest to any member of the Company. There was a sliding scale for member- ship ranging from $1.00 to $2.00 evidently according to the means of the applicant. The stewards had full care of the engine and if carried to a fire and allowed to freeze up each member was re- quired to pay 3 shillings for his negligence. Fines were imposed for absence from a fire ranging from 20 cents to 3 shillings. If a member refused to work the engine when called upon by the captain he was fined a sum not exceeding 50 cents nor less than 10 cents.
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