USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Stoneham > History of Stoneham, Massachusetts > Part 15
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The Col. Gould Steam Fire Engine was procured in 1870, and was built by Hunneman & Co., Boston, and cost $4,000. It has given good service, but became so much worn that the town, this spring, decided to purchase a new steamer, and the Col. Gould was given partly in exchange. S. C. Trull has been engineer of the Col. Gould for twenty-one years, or ever since it was put into commission.
In 1873 a horse hose carriage was bought of Hunneman & Co. to accom- pany the Gen. Worth Engine. This has been retained by the town and is the one now used by the Gen. Worth Hose Co. It cost $950.
When the Col. Gould Steamer was bought in 1870 a hand hose carriage was purchased with it of Hunneman & Co. at a cost of $700. This was in service for twenty years, and in 1890 was given in part payment for a new hose wagon, built by R. D. Wall at a cost of $250 and the old carriage:
Mr. Wall had built a hose wagon, the Gen. Worth, the same as this one, the year previous at a cost of $300. These are both drawn by hand, although one of them, the Col. Gould, has shafts to be used in case the wagon goes out of town for any purpose.
The town also erected a substantial building in 1870 at a cost of $4,000 in which to house the Col. Gould engine.
In 1886 a new hose carriage, the E. R. Seaver No. 3, was built for the department by T. T. Marston, of Stoneham, at a cost of $330. This is located at Farm Hill in a hose house built by the town at a cost of $800 for building and furnishing.
The Hook and Ladder Truck and Gen. Worth Hose Carriage and Hose Wagon are kept in rooms in the basement of the Town Hall building.
The new steam fire engine is a second size, full nickeled Amoskeag, built by the Manchester Locomotive Works, Manchester, N. H., and cost $3, 500, and the old Col. Gould Engine. It is a substantial and beautiful engine and . one of the best made.
The Fire Department has no horses, but has a contract with James Forrest to draw the Steam Fire Engine at a compensation of $200 per year, with B. B. Batcheller to draw the Hook and Ladder Truck at three dollars for each alarm, with Tredick Bros. to furnish a supply wagon at three dollars for each alarm, and with Levi Hill to draw the Gen. Worth Hose Carriage at $100 per year.
The Chief Engineers of the department and their terms of office have been as follows, the term beginning in May of each year. The first on record is B. F. Richardson, 1857, followed by Orin Hersam, 1858-9-60; Onslow
COL. GOULD ENGINE HOUSE.
180
STONEHAM TODAY.
Gilmore, 1861-2-3-4-5 ; Charles C. Dike, 1866-7 ; Orin Hersam, 1868 ; Wm. C. Dustin, 1869; William F. Walker, 1870-1; Onslow Gilmore 1872; William H. Eastman, 1873-4-5 ; Moses Downs, 1876-7-8-9; Edward R. Seaver, 1880-1; Orin A. Dodge 1882-3; Edward R. Seaver, 1884-5-6; Orin A. Dodge, 1887-8-9-90-I All of the above are living except Mr. Hersam.
The present Board of Engineers consists of Orin A. Dodge, Chief, Geo. E. Sturtevant, First Assistant and John A. LaClair, Second Assistant and Clerk. They were all chosen in 1887 and are now in their fifth consecutive term of service.
During that period the department has maintained a high degree of effic- iency and it can be safely said that the departments of few towns will com- pare with that of Stoneham in promptness in responding to alarms and successful work in extinguishing fires before they have caused serious damage. When we consider the number of large wooden factories and other inflamma- ble buildings in Stoneham, many of them in close proximity to each other, we may acquire some realization of the good work done by the department in preventing serious conflagrations by promptly quenching fires in their in- cipiency or before they have gained much headway.
The apparatus of the department has of late. years been constantly im- proved and added to and now consists as follows, that which is marked * having been added during the last five years, the date of purchase and cost of each being given :
* Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine, second size, full nickeled, built by Man- chester Locomotive Works, Manchester, N. H., 1891, cost $3500 and the old Colonel Gould Steam Fire Engine, the new steamer also bearing the name Col. Gould ; Resolute Hook and Ladder Truck, No. I, built 1881, cost $500 and the old Resolute Hook and Ladder Truck, is fully equipped as follows : one sixty feet * Somerville extension ladder, bought 1887, cost $175, one fifty feet Bangor extension ladder, bought 1877, cost $125, two hundred and thirty feet of common ladders, four Johnson pumps and all other necessary pharaphernalia ; General Worth Hose Carriage No. 2 (horse) carrying 1000 feet of hose, built 1873, cost $950 ; * Colonel Gould Hose Wagon No. I, (hand or horse) carrying 600 feet of hose, pipes. &c., built 1890. cost $250 and the old Co'. Gould hose carriage ; * Gen. Worth Hose Wagon No. 2. (hand) built 1889, cost $300, carrying 500 feet of hose, also * life saving apparatus, bought in 1888, cost $100, comprising one sixty feet chute, one jumping net, guns, &c .; E. R. Seaver Hose Carriage No. 2, carrying 500 feet of hose, built 1886, cost $330. The department has 5,000 feet of hose in good condition, 3300 feet of which has been bought in the last two years. In addition there are twelve hydrant gates, which with the other facilities allow of the throwing of fourteen streams of water in Central Square in case of necessity.
THE NEW STEAM FIRE ENGINE (COL. GOULD.)
182
STONEHAM TO-DAY.
In 1890 an electric fire alarm system was introduced. It was completed and accepted in November and has since given satisfaction. It is the Game- well system and comprises seventeen fire alarm boxes, a whistle machine for the gong on the factory of Sanborn & Mann, a bell striker for the bell on the Congregational Church, a box for school signal in residence of Amos Hill, of the school committee, and tappers in the homes of the engineers. The ex- pense of the whole was $2100.
The appropriation made by the town for the support of the fire department this year is $2800.
In 1883 water was introduced into the town, being furnished by the water works at Wakefield, and fifty-eight post hydrants and one Lowry hydrant have been put in throughout the town. The reservoirs in former use were, however, retained and are kept in condition in the outskirts where the water pipes do not extend, as is also the one in Central Square.
There are now sixty-five men in the department, divided as follows: En- gineers, 3; Hook and Ladder Co., 25; Col. Gould Hose Co., 15; Gen. Worth Hose Co., 12; E. R. Seaver Hose Co., 10.
INDUSTRIES.
The industries of a manufacturing community contribute materially to its support and prosperity, in fact they are the fountain from which its life is drawn, and the citizens appreciate this fact and the public spirited among them are even ready to show their appreciation of the value of these industries when occasion demands. The town of Stoneham is fortunate in this respect. For a great many years it has been an acknowledged manufacturing commu- nity, and although in the outskirts the residents are principally employed in agriculture, floriculture and kindred pursuits, in its industrial reputation abroad it is favorably known as one of the municipalities of the common- wealth noted for the manufacture of shoes. Its factories are well equipped and many of them extensive and afford constant employment to a large num- ber of operatives, women as well as men, and the wages paid compare favorably with those of any branch of industry. The boots and shoes manufactured here are accounted among the best put on the market and their sales extend to all parts of the country.
So complete an account of the origin and growth of the industries of Stoneham has already been given on a preceding page of this book, that it will not be necessary to further consider the subject historically. It is there- fore our purpose in this article to treat it with regard to present facts only.
The shoe business is still the leading industry of the town. It is carried on in fifteen separate factories by about twenty-six different firms. The largest of these is the new factory of T. H. Jones on Franklin Street, capable of em- ploying about three hundred hands and turning out eighty cases of shoes
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
per day. Sanborn & Mann's is next with a capacity of four hundred hands and seventy-five cases per day. The total shipment of boots and shoes from Stoneham from January 1, 1890, to January 1, 1891, was 59,663 cases.
As an outgrowth of and adjunct to shoe manufacturing the following industries have sprung up and furnish employment to many hands: Henry Boyce & Sons, taps, soles and stiffenings ; E. P. Duncklee, innersoles and taps ; E. A. Newhall, taps, soles and heels; C. K. White, taps and heels ; Joshua Mears, heels; E. R. Lothrop Co., boot and shoe tips; S. A. Marston, sole and upper leather tips ; G. W. Newhall & Son, shoe trimmings ; Stackpole & Daniels, shoe trimmings; H. E. Hersam, die maker; Wesley Carville, cutting boards and dynking blocks, all the above being manufactur- ers ; David Tibbetts, Standard machine sewing and fastening ; Mrs. George H. Hathaway, machine stitching on shoe uppers.
The firms engaged in the boot and shoe industry are here given, with a complete tabulated statement of the capacity, and output of their factories, together with other interesting particulars, as follows :
I84
NAMES.
Floor Room.
What Trade.
No. Hands.
Av. Cases per day.
Established.
Kind of Goods.
. 5 floors, 40,500 ft. Sanborn & Mann ... 5 floors, 37,000 ft. Western and southern. 365 Southern and western. 260
60 65
1866| Women's, Misses' and Children's. ISSI |Women's, Misses', Children's, Men's, Boys' and Youths'.
Vinton & Jenkins. . . 4 floors, 16,Soo ft. Western
125
15 1 877 Women's, Misses', Children's, Boys' and Youths'.
Tucker & Moulton. . 4 floors, 34,000 ft.
Western and southern. 125
P. Cogan & Son .... 3 floors, 8,400 ft.
Western and New Eng land.
L. P. Benton
4 floors, 8,064 ft. New England ...
60
12 18S2|Fine Grade of Women's, Misses' a( d Children's, Boys' and Youths'. IO 1875 Women's, Misses', Children's, Boys' and Youths'. 1876 Youths' Misses', Women's and Chil- dren's. 8 Infants.
L. P. Benton .. Green & Jones Bros. 3 floors, 10,000 ft. Retail.
.
5℃
8 TS91 Women's, Misses', Children's, Boys' and Youths'.
F. W. B. Worthen .. I floor, 3000 ft. New England and wes- 25
tern.
John M. Noyes .....
3 floors, 9,325 ft.
Southern, western and middle.
60
IO ISS7 Misses' and Children's Grain Goods.
J. H. Dempsey.
3 floors, 7,500 ft.
Western . 55
IO IS87 Misses', Children's, Women's, Boys' and Youths'.
H. D. Wallace & Son|1 floor, 3,000 ft. Retail and Jobbing ...
4C
4
1887
Misses' and Children's Grain, Goat and Kid Boys' and Youths' Buff and Split.
and
tern.
.. 60
18S2 Women's, Misses' and Children's. IO
Middlesex Boot and 4 floors, 12,800 ft Shoe Co.
Western southern, and New England.
90
1875 Misses', Children's, Boys' and Youths'. I 2
D. Corcoran & Co ... I floor, 3,000 ft. | New England and New 12
York.
S. W. Kimball. ...
4 floors, 16,000 ft. New England and wes- tern.
35
IO
H. Hay. . 3 floors, 9,900 ft.
New England and wes tern.
60
IO
IS72|Women's, Misses' and Children's. Women's, Misses' .... and Children's Grain Button.
A. W, Butterfield.
New England and wes- 20
I 1877 Hand sewed Children's Boots and
· tern.
Shoes.
STONEHAM TO-DAY.
. New England. .
7
1891
4 IS70 Women's, Misses', Children's, Boys' and Girls'.
John Best .... ... I floor, 2,500 ft. New England and wes 5
2
18So Misses' and Women's, Boys' Youths'
American Boot and 4 floors, 13,220 ft. Western J. b. Shoe Co.
4
I-S91 Children's and Misses' Dongolas.
T. H. Jones .. . .
F. Bryant .... . I floor, 4,000 ft. New England and wes-| 25 tern.
L. V. Colahan ... . 2 floors, 2,400 ft. New England and wes- terr.
24
R. E. Kinsley. .... J floor, 5000 ft. New England ...
. 30
5
.... Boys' and Youths', Misses' and Chil- dren's. !1891 Boys' and Youths'. 2
Martin & Maxwell .. 1,500 ft.
New England ...
I 5 12 1871 Misses' and Children's Kid, Goat and Grain.
Sanborn & Hill.
. New England ... . 18
2 1873 Hand-sewed Ladies' Oxford and Chil- dren's.
L. C. Shaw ... W. Richardson ..
. New England .. New England. .
6
24 P
. Children's Button Boots.
5 [ 1878| Misses', Women's and Children's, Boys' and Youths'. 1890|Misses' and Children's Spring and Heel 3
S. Sprague ..... 2 floors, 720 ft. New England .
·
2 .... IS90 Men's Brogans.
STONEHAM TO-DAY.
185
186
1
STONEHAM TO-DAY.
The tanning and currying business, of old an important industry of Stone- ham, is now carried on by one firm, but a firm of long standing and of wide reputation, the firm of Wm. Tidd & Co., mentioned on page 97.
There is, besides, the firm of Wm. D. Byron & Sons, engaged in leather making in their factory near Farm Hill Station. The westward tendency of these industries makes it very improbable that they are destined to grow in Stoneham, in the sense that new establishments will be opened.
The leather shipped from Stoneham from January 1, 1890, to January I, 1891, was 35,505 rolls.
A new industry introduced into Stoneham, and one that promises a pros- perous future, is the manufacturing of drugs, medicines and chemicals by the E. L. Patch Company in their factory on Montvale Avenue.
This company was organized Nov. 16, 1888, chartered Dec. 24, 1888, with a capital of $100,000 and commenced active business operations May I, 1889.
The officers are Prof. Edgar L. Patch, President; J. F. Ryder, Vice President ; Hon. Onslow Gilmore, Treasurer; Henry Canning, Secretary ; F. E. Rowell, Clerk; Geo. Y. Hutchins and C. E. Dotey, Directors.
The company manufactures chemical and pharmaceutical preparations in great variety. Among their products we might name purified chemicals, granular effervescent salts, percolation powders, assayed drugs, fluid extracts, chemical syrups, elixirs, tablets, compressed and cut lozenges, pills and tritu- rates.
The business has the personal supervision of President Patch, who is a chemist of eminence and unusual ability, possessing a thorough scientific knowledge of his profession and endowed with native genius and discern- ment. With such a master at the helm it seems a forgone conclusion, judging from results already obtained, that the progress of this corporation must be steadily and surely forward.
Every effort is made to have the products of the very best quality, and to secure this all products are sampled and assayed and all that are in any way deficient brought to standard.
The business has rapidly expanded and necessitated the enlargement of buildings to twice their original capacity during the past two years. It will be gratifying to the citizens to have it continue to meet with favor and be- come a prominent industry of the town.
At present (May 1891) the total number employed in all departments is 52. A view of the laboratory may be seen on the next page.
There are two firms engaged in carriage building, R. D. Wall and W. Ward Child, the latter having succeeded B. F. Richardson in 1871 and con- tinued at the same old stand on Main street since, although he was in the same business during a period of years previous to that time.
THE E. L. PATCH COMPANY LABORATORY.
188
STONEHAM TO-DAY.
Mr. Wall succeeded to the business of O. A. Edgell in 1872 and has since that time been engaged in the manufacturing to order of all descriptions of fine carriages. He is now located on Block street.
The manufacturing of paper boxes for all purposes is also carried on by William P. Fletcher, who has lately moved into new, larger and more conve- nient quarters on Pleasant street, adjoining the railroad.
There two are firms engaged in making wooden boxes, Orra Paige, on the corner of Pine and Tidd Streets, and the new firm of F. H. Garman, manu- facturer of packing boxes and box shooks, on Pomeworth Street.
W. H. Farnham & Co. carry on the business of manufacturing shoe lasts on Montvale Avenue. It will well repay a visit to this place to see the rodent machines turn in a few moments rough blocks of maple into shapely lasts, the exact counterpart of a given model, though perhaps differing from it in size.
In the east part of the town, Mr. Samuel Hipkiss carries on an extensive business in manufacturing base balls, tennis balls, etc.
The Foster Manufacturing Co., corner of Main and Summer Streets, man- ufacture pencil sharpeners. Saws are made by J. A. Healey & Co., Central Square, and stair building is done by Fred W. Lawry, Main Street.
SOCIETIES AND CLUBS.
There are a large number of excellent fraternal and other societies in Stoneham, most of which have a good membership. A complete list is given with the names of principal officers and dates and places of meeting, as follows :
Columbian Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F. Noble Grand. W. Scott Pryor ; Rec. Sec'y, W. Ward Child. Every Friday night. Odd Fellows' Hall.
Columbian Encampment No. 43, I. O. O. F. Chief Patriarch, R. R. Gilman ; Scribe, W. Ward Child. Ist and 3d Mondays. Odd Fellows' Hall. Canton Fells, No. 26, Patriarchs Militant, I. O. O. F. Captain, S.C. Batchelder; Lieut., C. F. Brown; Ensign, R. R. Gilman. 2d Monday.
Evergreen Lodge, No. 19, D. of R. Noble Grand, Mrs. O. F. Huntoon ; Rec. Sec'y, Alma Johonnot. 2d Tuesday. Odd Fellows' Hall.
Columbian Mutual Relief Association, I. O. O. F. Pres., C. F. Brown ; Clerk, C. O. Currier. Meet 2d Friday.
Columbian Mutual Benefit Association, I. O. O. F. Fres., S. H. Green ; Clerk, W. Ward Child.
King Cyrus Lodge, F. & A. M. Worshipful Master, J. A. Frasier ; Sec- retary, Orra Paige. 3d Wednesday. Odd Fellows' Hall.
Beulah Chapter, No. 11, Order Eastern Star. Worthy Matron, H. Angie Sweetser; Secretary, Lillian V. Boothby. 3d Thursday. Odd Fellows' Hall.
189
STONEHAM TO-DAY.
Division 4, A. O. H. President, John Leach; Secretary, John B. McDonald. Rooms in Saurin's Building.
J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R. Commander, M. W. Messer; Adjutant, G. E. Whitehouse. Every Monday. Grand Army Hall.
Woman's Relief Corps 65. President, Clara L. Buswell; Secretary, Annie Bartlett. 2d and 4th Fridays. G. A. R. Hall.
Capt John H. Dike Camp No. 86, Sons of Veterans. Meetings in G. A. R. Hall Ist and 3d. Fridays. Captain, W. G. Bartlett ; Ist Sergt., M. B. Chase.
Company H, Sixth Regiment, M. V. M. Captain, S. G. Sweetser; Ist Lieut., F. F. Green; 2d Lieut., Frank Tabbut; Clerk, W. E. Sweetser. Armory, Main street.
Wamscott Tribe, No. 39, I. O. Red Men. Sachem, John Gray ; Chief of Records, R. O. Hanson. Meet every Thursday. Dow's Block.
Daughters of Pocahontas. Pocahontas, Clara M. Johnson; Keeper of Records, Mrs. M. A. Dow. Ist and 3d Fridays. Red Men's Hall.
Highland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. M. Councillor, George Thayer ; Rec. Sec'y, A. S. Howe. Every Wednesday. O. U. A. M. Hall.
True American Council, No. 15, Daughters of Liberty. Councillor, C. E. Cloutman. Rec. Sec'y, Miss Addie Putney. O. U. A. M. Hall.
Fells Lodge, No. 63, A. O. U. W. Master Workman, Frank Barnes ; Recorder, W. W. Houghton. 2d and 4th Tuesdays. Good Templars' Hall.
Stoneham Lodge, No. 371, K. of H. Dictator, G. Andrews; Reporter, S. D. Allen. Ist and 3d Tuesdays. Good Templars' Hall.
Stoneham Lodge No. 804, A. L. of H. Commander, G. J. Child ; Sec'y, John Best. 2d and 4th Tuesdays. Grand Army Hall.
Bear Hill Assembly, R. S. of G. F. Ruler, F. O. Berry ; Secretary, A . L. Bean. G. A. R. Hall. Ist Wednesday.
Forest Union, No. 686, E. A. U. President, Mrs. Ellen J. Tay ; Sec'y, C. S. Jewett. 2d Wednesday. G. A. R. Hall.
Miles Standish Colony, No. 7, U. O. P. F. Worthy Gov., Henry A. Smith ; Secretary, John Best. Ist and 3d Tuesdays. Grand Army Hall.
Victory Commandery, No. 52, O. G. G. Conductor, Timothy Cronin ; Secretary, G. W. Hook. 2d and last Mondays.
Royal Conclave, K. and L. Councillor, L. Lewis; Secretary, R. O. Han- son. 2d and 4th Fridays. Good Templars' Hall.
Friendly Aid Society. President, Joseph Theobald; Secretary, T. Fred Emery. Ist and 3d Thursdays.
Garnet Lodge, Order of Solid Rock. Chief Councillor, Lucy H. Johnson ; Recorder, May Coombs. 4th Wednesday.
Stoneham Board of Trade. President, W. C. Whitcher; Secretary, F. W. Spencer. 2d Monday. O. U. A. M. Hall.
190
STONEHAM TODAY
Stoneham Sportsman's Club. President, P. H. Horne ; Secretary, W. H. Hurd. Rooms, Dorr's Block.
Athletic Club. President, F. E. Cummings ; Secretary, Harry Boyce. Rooms, Dorr's Block.
Ladies' Aid. President, Mrs. A. J. Kempton; Secretary, Mrs. A. R. Green; 2d and 4th Thursdays. G. A. R. Hall.
Woman's Christian Temperance'Union. President, Mrs. E. P. Nickerson ; Secretary, Mrs. C. A. Anderson. Meet alternate Thursday evenings with the Secretary.
Crystal Gem Lodge, No. 19, I. O. G. T. Worthy Chief Templar, Frank I. Tibbetts; Secretary, Miss Annie Bartlett. Every Wednesday. Gocd Templars' Hall, Dow's Block.
Loyal Legion. Supt., Mrs. L. C. Shaw ; Ass't Supt., Mrs. G. A. Young. Meet every Wednesday afternoon.
Young Men's Christian Association. President, J. B. Hawkins ; Secretary, G. A. Mathews; General Secretary, Frank B. Robbins. Rooms, Franklin street.
Ladies' Auxiliary to Y. M. C. A. President, Mrs. J. B. Hawkins ; Sec'y, Miss G. A. Richardson. Rooms on Franklin street.
Cutters Union. Rooms in Aaron Hill's Building.
Laster's Protective Union. Rooms in Dow's Building.
Lincoln Club. President, W. S. Keene; Secretary, F. E. Nickerson. . Rooms in Chases' Building.
Central Club. President, E. H. Moore ; Secretary, C. E. Horne. Room in Chases' Building.
Farm Hill Gun Club. President, Hamilton Hay; Secretary, Homer C. Hay.
St. Patrick's Catholic Total Abstinence Society. President, Geo. Hamill ; Sec'y, J. W. Kelly. Meet every Friday. Room Dow's Block.
THE PROFESSIONS.
In the professions the town is fortunate in the possession of men of ability, probity and liberal education, sincere in the path of duty and broad minded in its exemplification.
All the professions are well represented, medicine, the ministry, law and dentistry as well as music and the languages.
MERCANTILE BUSINESS AND MECHANICAL TRADES.
The commercial establishments and mechanical trades of Stoneham are worthy of special commendation.
The different branches of trade are represented in great variety, and the stores are as a rule large, well appointed and furnished with liberal and
191
STONEHAM TO-DAY ..
varied stocks of merchandise admirably adapted to the wants of the public, and in the matter of prices the tradesmen are as reasonable as can be found in any community outside of the large cities.
The stores are liberally patronized, and the merchants conduct their busi- ness with spirit, enterprise and good judgment, and are consequently pros- perous.
Of those engaged in mechanical trades it can be said that they are men of acknowledged skill and care, and retain the confidence and support of the people.
192
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
SILAS DEAN.
Silas Dean, Stoneham's veteran Town Clerk, was born in Reading, Mass., November 7, 1815, and is the son of Silas and Mary (Willey) Dean.
He attended the common school and afterward the academy kept by John Batchelder in his native town, practically finishing his schooling at the age of sixteen, although he attended the academy again for a few months two or three years later.
While attending school he learned the trade of a cordwainer (shoemaker) and worked at it from his twelfth to sixteenth years. After leaving school he went to Malden, where he waited upon customers in a dry goods store between two and three years, and afterwards worked in a country store in South Reading, now Wakefield, for about a year.
Mr. Dean came to Stoneham to settle permanently in September, 1839, and during most of the time for sixteen or seventeen years he worked at his trade, manufacturing and making shoes for other manufacturers, although he taught in the public schools for a few months in the first years of his residence here, and kept a private school in the winter of 1842 or '43 in the room he now occupies as his office. There are a number of persons now living in the town who attended his private school.
In 1849 he was chosen Town Clerk and held the position four years, and again in 1856 he was appointed to the office by the Selectmen to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Silas N. Richardson on account of illness. Mr. Dean was sworn into office August 11, 1856, and has held the office ever since, being elected every year for thirty-five consecutive years, which with the four years previously makes a service of nearly thirty-nine years, he being one of the oldest and the longest in service of the living Town Clerks.
He has been on the Board of School Committee at different times an ag- gregate of eleven years, his first term being in 1845. He was elected as an Overseer of the Poor in 1866 and has been a member of the Board ever since, except one year when the Selectmen acted as Overseers, thus making a service in this department of twenty-four years.
In 1853 he represented Stoneham in the Constitutional Convention held at Boston for the purpose of revising the Constitution of the Common- wealth.
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