USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Berlin > History of the town of Berlin, Worcester County, Mass. from 1784 to 1959 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
The warrant for the first Parish Meeting was issued by Samuel Baker, Esq., to Samuel Jones, Innholder, to meet at his house on Tuesday, May 19 (1778), at "two of the clock in the after- noon" to choose Parish officers. The following officers were chosen at this meeting:
1st. Samuel Baker, Moderator to govern said meeting.
2nd. Jonathan Merriam, Parish Clerk.
3rd. Three persons for Parish Committee-James Goddard, Abijah Pratt, and Joshua Johnson.
4th. Parish Assessors-Jonathan Merriam, Timothy Jones, and William Sawyer, Jr.
5th. Chose Samuel Jones, Parish Treasurer.
6th. Chose Fortunatus Barnes, Collector.
With this simple organization the South Parish of Bolton began to function. A second meeting was held on July 6, 1778, to agree upon a Meetinghouse spot for said Parish; and second, to see "what the Parish will do about having preaching amongst our- selves."
The South Parish Church was organized within the Parish on April 7, 1779. And the Meetinghouse (for public assemblies ) was raised on June 16 of the same year, on the plot of land deeded to the inhabitants of the South Parish of Bolton by Samuel Jones.
84
85
CIVIC AFFAIRS
This form of Parish government, within the Town of Bolton, was maintained until March 16, 1784. On this date the territory of the South Parish, with additional territory from Marlboro (now in South Berlin) was incorporated as the District of Ber- lin. Here again, it was Samuel Baker, Justice of the Peace, who issued the warrant to Fortunatus Barnes, principal inhabitant, to call the first meeting for the organization of the District of Berlin.
This meeting was called to assemble at the Meetinghouse on Monday, April 12, 1784, at "one of the clock in the afternoon." The proceedings of the meeting were as follows:
Ist. Chose the Hon. Samuel Baker, Esq., Moderator, for this meeting.
2nd. Chose Jonathan Meriam, District Clerk.
3rd. Chose five Selectmen: Lieut. James Goddard, Mr. John Temple, Jona. Merriam, Mr. William Sawyer, and Capt. Barnabas Maynard.
4th. For Assessors they chose: Mr. David Taylor, Mr. Jona. Merriam, and Lieut. Henry Powers.
5th. For Constable, Joel Fosgate.
6th. For Treasurer, Lieut. Timothy Jones.
7th. The following were chosen by a hand vote: Highway Surveyors: Mr. Nathan Jones, Eph'm Fairbanks, Esq., Levi Merriam, and Capt. Barnabas Maynard.
Tithing-men: Mr. Robert Fife and Ebenezer Worcester. Hog Reaves: Mr. Abel Baker and Jona. Baker.
Culler of Hoops and Staves: Mr. Thomas McBride.
Surveyor of Boards and Shingles: Mr. Jonathan Jones. Sealer of Leather: Mr. John Temple.
Wardens: Messrs. Samuel Jones and Fortunatus Barnes. Fence Viewer: Mr. Jesse Jewett.
Fire Ward: Mr. John Bruce.
Constable: Mr. Nathan Jones.
There evidently were more offices than principal men, for some men held several positions. After passing upon several matters relating to repair of the highways, minister's salary, sums for schooling, and support of the poor, the first District Meeting adjourned on June 7, 1784, having proceeded through a series of adjourned sessions since April 12. Under this District corpora-
86
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
tion, Berlin had the full rights of a Town, except that they must share a Representative with Bolton. For the failure to send a Representative to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1790, they were penalized by a fine of forty-four pounds, fourteen shillings and ten pence; submitted to Constable James Goddard, Jr., for collection. But the General Court re- pented of this chastisement, by refunding twenty-two pounds to the Treasurer of Berlin in 1791.
The civic affairs of Berlin continued to be conducted under this District government until February 6, 1812, when it was incorporated into the Town of Berlin. This act did not change the status of Berlin's government, except that it gave her a rep- resentative to the General Court. Each corporate town containing 150 ratable polls was entitled to one representative, elected annually. Berlin's first representative was Capt. Henry Powers, chosen on May 4, 1812; and he was chosen seven other times until 1830. Under Article XXI of Amendments to the Constitu- tion of Massachusetts (1857) "the House of Representatives shall consist of 240 members." Representation is based upon the census of the previous decade. Berlin shares a Representative with eleven neighboring towns of District No. 11 of Worcester County.
Place of Assembly
The following is a copy of the Act of Incorporation of Berlin: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same: That the district of Berlin, in the county of Worcester, be and hereby is incorporated into a town by the name of Berlin, subject to the like duties and requirements, vested with all the powers, priv- ileges and immunities which other towns do or may enjoy, agree- ably to the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth."
The first Parish Meeting was held in "Ye Jones' Inn" on May 19, 1778, and they continued to hold their parish meetings here until the Meetinghouse was suitably constructed. The ordination service for the minister was conducted on a knoll, east of the meetinghouse, on November 26, 1781, because the Meetinghouse was not finished or in suitable condition for this occasion. There- fore, it is reasonable that the Parish Meetings were not held in
87
CIVIC AFFAIRS
the Meetinghouse until March of 1782. It was voted "to pay Samuel Jones 25 pounds for the use of his house in time past."
All public assemblies were held in the Meetinghouse until 1822, when it was taken down by the vote of the Town. A new church building was dedicated in 1826, but evidently the citizens did not wish to profane this sacred temple with the worldly con- duct of civil assemblies. For they held their Town Meetings in the Solomon "Howe's Tavern" until 1827, and in 1828 at Samuel Spofford's hall. Then, thereafter, it was voted to hold the Town Meetings at the schoolhouses in rotation, beginning at the South. This method was the procedure until 1831, when the first town house was built upon the Common. The first Town Meeting to be held in this building was on October 24, 1831.
This diminutive town house served the simple needs of the people for a place in which to transact the Town's business for a period of almost forty years. This "old town house" is preserved in the dwelling located west of the "old cemetery" on Linden Street. The first move to have a new Town house, more suitable to the spirit of progress of their age, was taken in the March Meeting of 1868, when a committee was chosen to investigate. Their report at the 1869 meeting brought forth a vote "to build" and the new Town Hall, located on land deeded for that pur- pose by Artemas Barnes, on Woodward Avenue, facing the Common, was dedicated with impressive exercises on March 2, 1870.
This commodious town building consists of two stories, with the auditorium on the second floor and with town office rooms, kit- chen and Barnes Hall on the first floor. In addition to these rooms, there is Memorial Hall, dedicated to the memory of the soldiers of the Civil War at the same date and in conjunction with the dedication of the Town Hall. From time to time alterations, addi- tional construction, remodeling and repairs have preserved the building in tone with the present day.
In 1904 the Town voted to build an addition onto the Town Hall. This was the section which provided for the stage and ac- commodations. This was done at a cost of $2,229.39. A cistern was constructed at the rear of the Town Hall in 1906, and piped to supply water for the house, at a cost of $467.70. Modern toilet facilities were installed in 1933. Since 1945 appropriations
88
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
have been directed to the installation of a modern heating system. Preparations began by excavating the basement and building a bulkhead entrance. The Selectmen reported, in 1952, that the system had been completely installed, with three sep- arate zones, so that various areas of the Town Hall can be heated without the necessity of heating other unused areas. Modern lighting fixtures have been installed in the Town Hall office, Barnes and Memorial Halls. New hardwood floors have been laid, sanded, and oiled; and painting and decorations have been kept up-to-date.
The Town Meeting
Election Day and Town Meeting proved to be a real holiday in the Town Hall at Berlin Center, during the late '90's. The annual meeting was called to order around nine o'clock in the forenoon and the routine matters of choosing a Moderator and the necessary Town officers were conducted. If time permitted, the report of various Town officers was heard.
At twelve o'clock, the meeting recessed for dinner. Here is where the womenfolk took part in the Town Meeting. They brought the abundance of food, generally prepared at home, and served it in Barnes Hall. While they were busy "cleaning up," the men resumed their "town meeting" at one o'clock.
This was the most interesting part of the meeting, when the various appropriations were made for Town charges, schools, roads and bridges, and library, etc. As a rule there were four or six of the men who participated in these discussions. Appropria- tions must be held at a minimum, so that taxes would be low, but appropriations which promised personal financial reward must be supported and raised. Some of these defenders and pro- moters of "justice" were endowed with vociferous oratory, so that it was not necessary to be within the Town Hall to hear them.
Around four-thirty, it became necessary for several of the farmers to leave to do their chores. Others became tired of the "harangue" and so they retired. Thus the meeting gradually came to a close.
Compared to those former days, we find that the present sys-
89
CIVIC AFFAIRS
tem of Town affairs are conducted under the provisions of By- Laws as adopted under Article 22 of the warrant of the Annual Town Meeting of March 5, 1951. Article II, which deals with Town Meetings, Warrants, and Town Reports, is as follows:
Section 1. The annual town meeting for the election of town officers shall be held on the first Monday of March of each year.
Section 2. All business of the annual town meeting, except the election of such officers and the determination of such matters as are required by law to be elected or determined by ballot, shall be considered at an adjournment of such meeting to be held on the second Mon- day of March at 7:30 P.M.
Section 3. Notice of every town meeting shall be given by posting attested copies of the warrant therefor at the Town Hall, at the Post Office in Berlin Center, at the Post Office in South Berlin, and at the Post Office in West Berlin not less than seven days before the day fixed for such meeting. The Selectmen shall cause the warrant for the annual town meeting to be printed in the annual report of the town officers of Berlin. At least five days before the day fixed in the warrant for annual town meeting, the Selectmen shall cause to be left at each voting household in the town a copy of the annual town report. At least five days before the day fixed in the warrant for each special town meeting, the Selectmen shall cause a notice of the subject matter of the warrant to be mailed to each household in the town.
The Selectmen shall, not less than ten days before the date on which the warrant for the annual town meeting shall be closed for the insertion of any additional articles, post a notice of said closing date at the Town Hall and at the Post Offices in Berlin Center, South Berlin, and West Berlin.
Section 4. At any town meeting held for the transaction of town busi- ness, no person whose name is not on the list of voters shall be admitted to the floor of the hall, except press reporters and invited guests within the discretion of the Moderator. It shall be the special duty of the police and the town tellers to enforce this By-law by use of the check list; but the same shall not apply to the State election, primaries or meetings for the election of town officers. The Mod- erator shall determine the bounds of the floor of the hall.
Section 5. Articles for the warrant shall be acted upon in the order in which they stand, except that the Moderator may upon request and for reasons stated, entertain the motion to take up an article out of this regular order.
Section 6. No motion, the effect of which would be to dissolve a town meeting, shall be in order until every article in the warrant has been acted upon, but this shall not preclude the postponement of
90
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
action on, or consideration of, any article to an adjournment of the meeting to a stated time.
When a question is before the meeting, the following motions, namely: to adjourn; to lay on the table; for the previous question; to postpone to a time certain; to commit, recommit or refer; to amend; to postpone indefinitely; shall be received and shall have precedence in the foregoing order; and the first three shall be de- cided without debate.
Section 7. All votes on motions shall be taken in the first instance by a voice vote; if the Moderator be in doubt he may call for a standing vote; if the Moderator be still in doubt or if the vote as declared by the Moderator be still in doubt or if the vote as declared by the Moderator be immediately questioned by seven of the voters present, the vote shall be taken by a "yes" and "no" ballot. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the taking of a vote by ballot in the first instance if a motion to that effect shall be duly made and carried by a majority of the voters present and voting thereon.
All votes on the appropriation of money in excess of one thou- sand dollars shall be taken in the first instance by ballot, as above provided, unless said appropriation shall be recommended or ap- proved by the Finance Committee.
Section 8. The Moderator may decline to put motions obviously friv- olous or tending to disorder. A motion shall be presented in writing if the Moderator requests. The Moderator shall be governed in his rulings by the provisions of these articles.
Section 9. No person shall speak more than twice upon any question, except to answer in inquiry or to give information requested, without first obtaining leave of the meeting and then not until others who have not spoken upon the question shall have spoken if they desire. Section 10. All committees shall be appointed by the Moderator, un- less otherwise specially directed by the meeting, and all committees so appointed shall be directed to report within a definite time. If a committee does not report within the time stated, or at the first annual town meeting held thereafter, it shall be considered dis- charged. The Moderator shall not be a member of any committee appointed by him.
Section 11. The annual town report shall contain, in addition to the reports of officers, boards and committees, a detailed report of all monies received into and paid out of the town treasury in the finan- cial year next preceding, showing separately payments made from the proceeds of loans as capital outlays for permanent improvements; the report of the collector of taxes, of receipts, payments and abate- ments; statements of all funds belonging to the town or held for the benefit of its inhabitants; a statement of the liabilities of the town on bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness or otherwise, and of indebtedness authorized but not incurred, and the purposes thereof; a statement of the transfers made to or from any appropriations;
91
CIVIC AFFAIRS
abstracts of the records of the town meetings held since publication of the last annual report; and such other matters as the report is required by law to contain or as may be inserted by the Selectmen under the discretion granted them by law. The Selectmen in their annual reports shall state what actions have been brought against and on behalf of the town, what cases have been compromised or settled and the terms thereof, and the current standing of all suits of law involving the town or any of its interests; and they shall give a summary of their activities and decisions during the past year.
The Franchise
When Samuel Baker, by order of the General Court, issued the warrant to some principal inhabitant (Samuel Jones) of the South Parish of Bolton, on May 5, 1778, he worded it as follows: "to give notice to the inhabitants of the said South Parish, qualified to vote in town affairs." While the notice of the first Parish Meeting was directed to the inhabitants of the South Parish of Bolton, the vote was limited to a prescribed number. Under the provisions of the Constitution of Massachusetts (Part II, Chap. I, Sec. III, Art. IV), the qualifications to voters were expressed thus: "every male person, being twenty-one years of age, and resident in any particular town in the Commonwealth for the space of one year next proceeding, having a freehold estate within the said town of an annual income of three pounds, or any estate of the value of sixty pounds."
So we observe that suffrage was limited by material posses- sions, as well as to sex and age. These qualifications for voters held true during the civic life of the Parish, District, and Town affairs until 1857. The only change in the wording being that of the monetary system, so that in the Town Warrant of 1821 the notice read: "warn freeholders and other inhabitants having a freehold estate of the annual income of $10.00, or any estate of the value of $200.00 ... to bring in their votes."
The right to vote was augmented by the Amendment (Art. XX) to the Constitution which required that the voter must be able to read the Constitution in the English language and write his name. This article was ratified by the people on May 1, 1857. Article XV of Amendments of the Constitution of the United States provides that the vote shall not be denied or abridged . . .
92
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This article was declared ratified on March 30 of 1870. So, one by one, the property, tax, and servitude restrictions have been removed by amendments to the Constitution. On November 4, 1884, a new Standard Ballot Box was installed. And, on March 2, 1914, the Australian ballot system was adopted by a vote of the town.
Finally, the limitation by reason of sex was removed by Article XIX which states that "the right of citizens ... to vote shall not be denied or abridged ... on account of sex." This article was proclaimed ratified on August 26, 1920. The question of the civic and political rights of women had been a problem for discussion and legislation in the Town of Berlin for a half century. As early as 1837, the subject of woman suffrage was debated in the Berlin Lyceum at the Town Hall. The question of "Ought females to be admitted to citizenship" was debated and decided in the nega- tive. The curtain ran down on the Berlin Lyceum in 1841 with the question undecided by the most intellectual men of their time.
When women took advantage of the law permitting them to vote for members of the local School Committee, in 1890, it at- tracted considerable public comment. The Berlin News of March 12, 1890 broadcasted the fact that on the previous Monday, seven (7) women voted for members of the School Committee; but sarcastically pointed out that none of these had children to send to school, so why should they be interested in who was on the School Committee? On November 2, 1915, the Town of Berlin cast their votes on the proposed amendment "Shall ... enabling women to vote be approved and ratified?" The men voters put themselves on record by a vote of fifty-eight YES and ninety-six NO.
The women had their first opportunity to exercise their new privilege of citizenship in the Primary Election of September 7, 1920. Whereupon the Town Clerk (Frank Crossman) was so profoundly impressed with their response that he entered upon the Records: "The women having received the right to vote-the polls having closed at 8 o'clock-the check revealed that fifty-one women and seventy-six men had voted. Mrs. George H. Sawyer cast the first vote." A similar gleeful entry was made in the Records following the State Election of November 2, 1920: "The
93
CIVIC AFFAIRS
women were out in force. The register showed that 356 votes had been cast. On consulting the check list, it revealed that 167 women had voted out of a registration of 171." In 1953 the women of Berlin voted one hundred per cent.
The rights of franchise have been extended by the permission of absentee voting which was legalized by Article LXXVI which was ratified by the people on November 7, 1944. This provision has aided to swell the Berlin vote of her 731 registered citizens.
Departments of Government
The government of the Town of Berlin emerged with a group of principal men chosen to fill the six important offices of the Town. These were: Moderator, Clerk, Selectmen (5), Assessors (3), Constable, and Treasurer. To these a number of minor posi- tions were filled by a show of hand vote, many of which were later appointed by the Selectmen. These positions included (7) Highway Surveyors, (2) Tithing-men, (3) Hog Reaves, Culler of Hoops and Staves, Surveyor of Boards and Shingles, Sealer of Leather, (2) Wardens, Fence Viewer, Fire Warden, and Assist- ant Constable. Several of these positions were dropped when their function became obsolete and new ones have been added as circumstances required.
Some of the new positions were: Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures (1787), Grave Diggers (1790 only), Field Drivers (1801), Measurers of Wood and Bark (1801), Thief Detectors (1841 only), Commissioner of Public Buildings (1866-1904), Public Weighers (1875), Trustees of Trust Funds (1890), Inspector of Animals (1892), Tree Warden (1900), Moth Superintendent (1909), Collector of Taxes (1910), Inspector of Slaughter (1915), Inspector of Meat (1916-1922), Burial Agent (1931 to date), Dog Officer (1933), and Milk and Sanitary Inspector (1936). (The date in parentheses marks the time of the origin of the position).
As time progressed, the operation of town affairs became more and more complicated, so in order to facilitate the functions of government, departments were formed and placed in charge of committees. Many of these have been designated as Boards. The fact is that the Annual Town Report of Treasurer, Selectmen
94
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
and Overseers of Poor, and School Committee-as of the year 1895 consisting of twenty-nine pages-has grown to a booklet of 136 pages and is labeled:
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN, MASSACHUSETTS
One of the most essential of these is that of the Board of Select- men. At the first District meeting of 1784, five Selectmen were elected and this number continued to be elected annually until 1835, when the number was reduced to three. In 1900, the system was changed to elect one member each year to serve a term of three years, so that at no time would there be a board of three entirely new members.
The duties and responsibilities of the Selectmen have con- tinued to increase over the course of years and the multiplication of civic affairs. In the early years, the Selectmen had charge of the support of the poor, but in 1932 a three-man Board of Public Welfare was established. Yet the Selectmen are also the Board of Health; they appoint several specific inspectors and lay plans to affiliate with such units as the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, and the Worcester County Tuberculosis Hospital.
It is the prerogative of the Board of Selectmen to make some twenty-two appointments, including: Agent of Board of Health, Milk and Sanitary Inspector, Assistant Milk and Sanitary In- spector, Forest Fire Warden, Inspectors of Slaughter (3), In- spector of Animals, Moth Superintendent, Chief of Police, Police Sergeant, Regular Police (17), Special Police (9), Dog Officer, Field Drivers (3), Agents to Issue Burial Permits (2), Registrar of Voters, Burial Agent and Agent for Care of Veterans' Graves, Surveyors of Wood and Lumber (3), Sealer of Weights and Measures, Fire Engineers (3), Playground Commission, and Superintendent of Streets.
The Superintendent of Streets is accountable to the Selectmen for the maintenance of highways, road machinery, bridges, and drains. He also supervises road construction work, which, in turn, is under the approval and vigilance of the State and County Engineers and County Commissioners. The cost to the Town of Berlin for roads and bridges in 1855 was $859.42; in 1895 it was
95
CIVIC AFFAIRS
$1,026.27; and for 1953 expenditures amounted to $40,609.87. Several reasons may be sighted for this marked increase in the cost of road construction and maintenance. By the year 1895 most all of the forty miles of roadway had been laid out, but they were not surfaced as of today. Had our roads been of the con- struction, say even of 1925, they would have been demolished by the hurricane Edna's flood storms in 1954. In the early 1900's the farmers of Berlin worked out their road-tax at their con- venience, but the price of modern road construction zooms on account of the higher cost of materials, equipment, and labor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.