USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Gardner > History of the town of Gardner, Worcester County, Mass., from the incorporation, June 27, 1785, to the present time > Part 22
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 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
The Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized February 3d, 1873, with the following officers : Thomas F. Carney, President ; Daniel Reagan, Vice President ; Daniel McKeough, Recording and Financial Secretary ; John F. Barnes, Treasurer. The motto of this order is " Friendship, Unity and True Chris- tian Charity." The present officers are as follows : Henry F. Carney, President; Timothy McInerney, Recording Secretary ; John J. Maloney, Financial Secretary ; John F. Barnes, Treas- urer.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Hear the loud alarum bells -. Brazen bells ! What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells ! In the startled ear of night How they scream out their affright ! Too much horrified to speak, They can only shriek, shriek, Out of tune,
In the clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire, In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire Leaping higher, higher, higher, With a desperate desire, And a resolute endeavor, Now-now to sit or never, By the side of the pale-faced moon. Oh, the bells, bells, bells, What a tale their terror tells Of despair ! How they clang, and clash, and roar ! What a horror they outpour On the bosom of the palpitating air !"-Poe.
It was not until the year 1833, that the town took any action looking to protection from fire, by furnishing itself with fire engines. In the warrant for the annual town meeting of that
251
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
year, there was an article to see " if the town will raise two hundred dollars, to be appropriated towards two engines, for the purpose of guarding against loss by fire, act or transact anything relating thereto." " Voted, To raise two hundred dollars, to be laid out to purchase two engines. Voted, To choose a committee of three at the Centre of the town and three. at the South Village, to see to the purchasing of two engines. Chose Moses Wood, Smyrna Glazier, Walter Heywood, com- mittee for the Centre of the town. Chose Abijah M. Severy, Walter Greenwood, Adams Partridge, committee for the South Village. Voted, That one engine be located in the Centre of the town, and the other at the South Village. Voted, To have the committee draw on the town treasurer for the money, as soon as they procure the engines and get their engine houses ready." These engines cost two hundred dollars each ; individ- uals subscribing what the town did not appropriate. The engine house, at the Centre, was located where now stands the National Bank Building : that at the South Village, near the corner of what are now called Broadway and Prospect Streets, opposite the store of Messrs. S. W. A. Stevens & Son. The engine at the South Village was familiarly known by the name of the " Pine Tub," and is now owned by Messrs. A. Bancroft & Co. These engines, of course, were small and incapable of very great service.
Feeling the need of greater facilities for protection against fire, the town voted, March 13, 1852, " to choose a committee of five, to procure two fire engines, one situated at South Gard- ner, so called, and the other situated near the Centre Village, in Gardner, and the expense not to exceed one thousand dollars each. Chose Levi Heywood, Calvin S. Greenwood, Thorley Collester, Levi H. Sawin, Amasa Bancroft, that committee."
It appears from the records, that there was an attempt made to reduce the amount appropriated at the annual meeting, for fire engines. At the April meeting, 1852, there was an article in the town warrant, " to see if the town will so annul the vote passed at a meeting of said town, on the 13th day of March,
252
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
1852, choosing a committee to purchase two fire engines at a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars each, so as to make it read, not exceeding five hundred dollars each, instead of one thousand dollars, act or transact anything relating to said vote." " Voted, To pass over this article." September 6th, 1852, the town voted, " that the committee locate the engine house on either side of Messrs. Levi Heywood & Co's counting house, as the said committee, chosen for that purpose, may deem it best." The engine house at the Centre is located on Central Street, near the shop of Messrs. Heywood Bros. & Co. That at South Gardner, is located on Broadway, near the chair shop of Messrs. Wright & Read. Both of these buildings are two stories in height. The upper story, in each of these buildings, contains a hall, for the accommodation of the engine companies, whose walls are decorated with pictures, appropriate for such places. The names of the two fire companies are, at the South Village, " Cataract No. 1," and at the Centre, " Torrent No. 2."
CATARACT NO. 1.
This company was organized, November 15th, 1852, taking the name of " Cataract Engine Company No. 1." The follow- ing is the Constitution and By-Laws of this company :-
PREAMBLE.
We, the subscribers, hereby associate ourselves together as members of a company to be attached to Cataract Engine No. 1, in South Gardner Village, and do hereby pledge ourselves to perform the duties of enginemen in said company, and to conform to the by-laws which may be established by a majority of the members, of the said company, agreeable to the laws of the commonwealth ; and do adopt the following constitution for our government :---
CONSTITUTION.
ART. 1. This company shall be designated and known as Cataract Engine Company No. 1.
ART. 2. The officers of this company shall be a Foreman, a First and Second Assistant Foreman, Clerk, Treasurer and two
253
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
Stewards, to be chosen annually, on the first Saturday in May.
ART. 3. Stated meetings of this company shall be held at the engine house on the first Saturday of every month, at a quarter to seven o'clock, r. M., unless otherwise ordered by vote of the company .
ART. 4. Ten members, exclusive of the presiding officer and clerk, shall form a quorum; and in all cases, not otherwise ordered, a majority of those present shall govern.
ART. 5. The officers of this company may be removed from office, by a vote of three-fourths of the company.
ART. 6. For all expenditures, except the ordinary current expenses of the company, the money shall be appropriated by a vote of three-fourths of the members present at a regular meet- ing of the company.
ART. 7. This constitution shall not be altered or amended, except by a vote of three-fourths of the members present, at a regular meeting.
ART. 8. All propositions, to alter or amend this constitution, must be made in writing, and laid before the company, at least, one month before being acted upon.
BY-LAWS.
ART. 1. The foreman shall have command of the com- pany, when on duty, and shall be respected and obeyed. He shall have power to call special meetings, of the company, shall preside at all meetings of the company and have the general supervision of engine apparatus and engine house, shall annually, before the first day of May, transmit, to the assessors, a list of all persons who have done duty, in the company, during the year preceding, and with the two assistants, shall constitute a standing committee
ART. 2. In the absence of the Foreman, at any meeting of the company, the officer next in rank, who may be present, shall have command, and in the absence of all the officers, the oldest member of the company present, shall preside until one of the officers arrive, or a foreman pro tem. be chosen.
254
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
ART. 3. The First Assistant shall be Foreman of the suc- tion hose and shall select four members, who, under his direction, shall have charge of the same. The Second Assistant shall be Foreman of the leading hose and shall select eight members, who, under his direction, shall have charge of the same. The hosemen, when not engaged on the hose, shall assist on the engine.
ART. 4. The clerk shall have charge of all the books and papers of the company, keep a record of all the proceedings and shall hand a list of all delinquents, at each meeting, to the Treasurer, one week after such meeting ; shall keep constantly posted up, at the engine house, a list of names of all the mem- bers of the company, and shall post a notice of each stated meeting of the company, at some place, at least four days pre- vious to holding such meeting, and shall receive such compen- sation for his services, as the company may direct.
ART. 5. The Treasurer shall have charge of all the funds of the company. He shall collect all fines; receive from town treasurer all sums that may be allowed by the town, to the com- pany, or that may be received from any other source. He shall pay such orders as the standing committee may draw upon him, and shall render an account of all money received and paid out by him, at the annual meeting, and at such other times as the company may direct.
ART. 6. The duty of the Stewards shall be to keep the en- gine and all the appurtenances thereof, in good and effective order, and ready for use, at any moment, and report any repairs that are needed, to the Foreman. They shall provide all nec- essary refreshments for the company, when on duty, under the direction of the standing committee, and for their services, shall receive such compensation as the company may direct.
ART. 7. All vacancies in the government of the company, shall be promptly filled, and the commander shall have power to appoint a Clerk pro tem., in the absence of the Clerk.
ART. 8. To all special meetings, called by the Foreman, the company shall be warned by the Clerk, or such other member,
255
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
of the company, as the foreman may appoint, individually or by having a written notice left at the usual place of business or abode of such member, at least twelve hours before the time of holding such meeting.
ART. 9. On an alarm of fire, in town, each member shall repair forthwith to the engine, assist in forwarding it to the place of action, do all reasonable service that may be required of him, and shall not depart without leave of the commander.
ART. 10. The distinguishing badge of this company shall be a belt or band, with Cataract No. 1, printed upon the same, and shall be worn at such times as the Foreman may direct.
ART. 11. The following fines shall be imposed upon and collected of the respective members, for violation of the follow- ing rules : For absence at any stated or regular meeting, at first roll call, twelve and one-half cents ; for absence at last roll call, twelve and one-half cents ; for absence at an alarm of fire, one dollar ; for leaving any stated or special meeting, before the company is dismissed, without leave of the commander, fifty cents ; for leaving at a fire, without permission, two dollars ; for disobedience of orders, one dollar.
ART. 12. The standing committee shall have power to remit fines, in the following cases : For non-attendance, in the case of sickness, of the member himself; for non-attendance at special meetings, when not warned of the same; for absence at an alarm of fire when the alarm was not known. All excuses must be tendered at or before the next meeting.
ART. 13. Any person who shall receive a two-thirds vote of the members present, at a regular meeting, may become a mem- ber of this company, by signing the constitution, and any member may be discharged therefrom by vote of the company.
ART. 14. All money in the hands of, or dne the Treasurer, at the annual meeting, shall remain in the treasury unless other- wise ordered by vote of the company, but no member shall be entitled to a dividend unless he shall have attended, at least, four regular meetings, unless by special vote of the company.
256
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
The following is a list of the first officers of this company : Samuel Bent, Foreman ; O. C. Jillson, First Assistant ; Porter Monroe, Second Assistant ; J. M. Moore, Clerk ; A. Sawtelle, Treasurer ; William Greenwood, A. C. Bennett, Stewards.
The Cataract is a well drilled and efficient company ; it has, several times, successfully competed for prizes offered at firemen's musters. The following is its record : October 28th, 1868, at Orange, 158 feet, prize, $25, which sum was one-half of the third prize ; September 20th, 1873, at Brattleboro', Vt., 182 fect, 6 inches, second prize, $200; October 6th, 1876, at Win- chendon, 174 feet, 4 1-2 inches, third prize, $50 ; September 14th, 1877, at Athol, 200 feet, 1 1-2 inches, second prize, $75 ; also a prize for running, $25.
The following are the present officers of this company : C. O. Bent, Foreman; Amos Coleman, First Assistant ; R. L. Bent, Second Assistant; W. F. Learned, Clerk and Treasurer ; G. R. Pratt and Edwin Rice, Stewards.
TORRENT ENGINE COMPANY.
This company belongs to the Centre of the town. It was organized October 30th, 1852. We give the following, as the constitution and by-laws of this company, at the present time :-
CONSTITUTION.
ART. 1. This company shall be designated and known as Torrent Engine Company, No. 2.
ART. 2. The officers of this company shall be a Foreman, First and Second Assistant Foreman, Clerk, Treasurer and two Stewards, to be chosen annually, by ballot, on the first Monday in May.
ART. 3. Stated meetings shall be held on the first Saturday in every month.
ART. 4. Ten members, exclusive of the presiding officer and clerk, shall form a quorum ; and in all cases not otherwise directed, a majority of those present shall govern.
ART. 5. The officers of the company shall be liable to be removed from office by a vote of three-fourths of the members of the company.
257
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
ART. 6. For all expenditures, except the ordinary current expenses of the company, the money shall be appropriated by a vote of three-fourths of the members present at a regular meeting of the company.
ART. 7. Every active member who shall perform engine duty for one year, shall receive -- , minus his fines ; and every active member who shall perform engine duty for less than a year shall receive - a month, minus his fines.
ART. 8. All by-laws or resolves shall be equally binding with the constitution, provided always that no by-laws or re- solves shall be passed by the company repugnant with the tenor of this instrument.
ART. 9. All propositions to alter or amend this constitution must be made in writing, and handed to the clerk, whose duty it shall be to lay it before the company at least one month be- fore it is acted upon.
ART. 10. This constitution shall not be altered or amended except by a vote of three-fourths of the members present at a regular meeting.
ART. 11. This company may keep a roll of honorary mem- bers, whose duty shall be to keep a general lookout for the in- terests of the company ; and who shall annually, in the month of May, pay into the treasury the sum of three dollars and twenty-five cents. Honorary members may take part in the fes- tivities and entertainments of the company the same as other members. Honorary members shall be admitted and discharged in same manner as other members.
ART. 12. These articles of the constitution we, the under- signed, do hereby bind ourselves to support.
BY-LAWS.
ART. 1. The Foreman shall have command of the company when on duty, and shall be respected and obeyed accordingly. He shall preside at all stated and special meetings, and shall have a general supervision of the engine apparatus and engine house.
33
258
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
ART. 2. The Assistants shall aid the Foreman in the perform- ance of his duties ; and in case of the absence of the Foreman, or vacancy of the office, the First Assistant shall have command ; and in case of his absence the Second Assistant shall have con- mand ; and in case of the absence of the Foreman and both Assistants, the Clerk shall preside and have command of the company.
ART. 3. The Clerk shall have charge of all books and papers of the company, keep a record of all proceedings, and shall annually, in the month of April, transmit to the selectmen a list of members, for their approbation. He shall post or publish notices of regular meetings, as the company may direct, on or before the morning of the day of the meeting; and, upon ap- plication in writing of five members of the company, special meetings may be called by the Clerk, leaving individually, or causing to be left, at the usual residence of each member, a notice of such meeting, or by publishing the same in the Gard- ner News.
ART. 4. The First Assistant shall be Foreman of the suction hose, and shall select four members, who under his direction shall have charge of the same. The Second Assistant shall be Foreman of the leading hose. He shall select eight members, who under his direction shall have charge of the same. The hosemen, when not engaged on the hose, shall assist on the engine.
ART. 5. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the company, collect all fines, and receive from the town treasurer all sums that may be allowed by the town to the company and which may be received from any other source. He shall pay such orders as the Foreman may draw on him, and render an account of all money received and paid by him at the annual meeting of the company.
ART. 6. The duty of the Stewards shall be to keep the engine house and all the appurtenanees thereto in good and effective order and ready for use, report any repairs that are wanted, to the Foreman, and keep a general lookout for the in-
259
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
terests of the company. They shall provide all necessary re- freshments for the company when on duty, under the direction of the commanding officer ; and for such service shall receive a reasonable compensation.
ART. 7. All vacancies in the government of the company shall be promptly filled, and the Foreman shall have power to appoint a Clerk pro tem. in case of absence of the Clerk.
ART. 8. The stated meetings of the company shall be held at the engine house, at 7 o'clock, P. M., unless otherwise ordered by a vote of the company at any regular meeting.
ART. 9. On an alarm of fire in town, each member shall repair forthwith to the engine, assist in forwarding it to the place of action, do all reasonable service which may be required of him, and not depart without leave from the commanding officer.
ART. 10. The following fines shall be imposed and collected of the respective members for violation of the following rules :--
For being absent at the first roll call, and present at the last, twelve and one-half cents.
For being present at the first roll call, and absent at the last, twelve and one-half cents.
For absence at an alarm of fire in town, fifty cents.
For leaving any regular or special meeting before the com- pany is dismissed without leave from the Foreman, twenty-five cents.
For leaving at a fire without permission, $1.
For disobedience of orders, $2.
ART. 11. The roll shall be called at the opening of the meeting, and again at the adjournment.
ART. 12. All excuses for non-attendance at meetings of the company, and at fires, shall be made to the Foreman ; and when he shall not see fit to determine on the sufficiency of the ex- cuse, he may submit the subject to the company. All excuses must be made at or before the next meeting.
ART. 13. No person shall be admitted a member of this company except by a vote of two-thirds of the members pres-
260
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
ent and voting by ballot, " Yes " or " No," at a regular meeting.
ART. 14. There may be an addition or amendment to these by-laws, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting,-provided this proposed amendment be handed to the clerk, in writing, and it be laid before the company at least one month previous to its being acted upon
ART. 15. Any active member who does not attend four regu- lar meetings during the year, shall receive no pay for services as fireman, and his name may be dropped from the roll by a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting at a regular meeting.
The following are the names of the first officers of this com- pany : Joel Cowce, Foreman ; George L. Peckham, First Assistant ; Merrick Adams, Second Assistant ; C. Thompson, Jr., Clerk and Treasurer ; John Burdick, First Steward ; G. F. Conant, Second Steward.
This is also a well trained and efficient company, possessing much of the esprit de corps, which ought to characterize such organizations, to whom is intrusted, to so large a degree, the preservation of so much property.
The following is the record of this company, in its successful competition for prizes, at firemen's musters : October 20th, 1870, at Greenfield, 192 feet, third prize, $100; October 6th, 1876, at Winchendon, 174 feet, 4 1-2 inches, first prize, $175 ; July 4, 1877, at Peterboro', N. H., 200 feet, 2 inches, first prize, $25. There was a local contest in September, 1870, between Cataract No. 1 and Torrent No. 2. There were two prizes offered, one of $50 for the best horizontal playing, and one of $25 for the quickest time in running ten rods, setting machine and playing through three hundred feet of hose, a dis- tance of fifty feet. The first prize was won by Torrent No. 2, the second by Cataract No. 1.
The following is a list of the present officers of this com- pany : C. N. Edgell, Foreman ; Harvey Clark, First Assistant ; H. C. Wood, Second Assistant ; S. W. Howe, Clerk and Treas- urer ; F. P. Cowan, J. W. Thompson, Stewards.
261
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
The following are the engineers of the Fire Department for the year 1877 : Ezra Osgood, Chief Engineer ; S. W. A. Stevens, First Assistant; Walter Bancroft, Second Assistant and Tub Engineer ; L. L. Sawin, Third Assistant and Clerk; F. P. Learned, Fourth Assistant ; J. M. Moore, Fifth Assistant and Tub Engineer ; Edmund Coleman, Sixth Assistant.
The following are the expenses of the Fire Department for the year above mentioned : Cataract Engine Company No. 1, ser- vices of sixty men, for one year, at $7.50 per man, $450; expenses of company, $56.27. Torrent Engine Company No. 2, services of sixty men for one year, at $7.50 per man, $450 ; expenses of company, $113.76 ; Services of engineers, $52.50. Total, $1122.53.
SPECIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE FIRE DE- PARTMENT.
ART. 6. If any member of either of the several companies belonging to the Fire Department shall wilfully neglect or refuse to perform his duty, or shall be guilty of disorderly conduct, disobedience to the officers or to any engineer, he may for such offence be discharged from the Fire Department, and shall be liable to a fine of not less than two nor more than ten dollars.
ART. 8. All members of the Fire Department, while on duty or drill, shall wear such badges as are provided for them ; and any member refusing or neglecting to wear the same, until the several companies shall be dismissed at roll call, shall forfeit all pay for his services for three months previous to such refusal or neglect, unless he can furnish an excuse that shall be satis- factory to a majority of engineers.
ART. 11. It shall be the duty of the Foreman of the com- pany to make, or cause to be made, on the last Monday of April, annually, to the Chief Engineer, a statement of the con- dition of the engine or other apparatus, with an inventory of all the other property intrusted to his care and belonging to the town, together with a correct list of the names of the members. It shall be his duty to see that said property is properly taken
262
HISTORY OF GARDNER.
care of, and to report any deficiency, defect or want of repair therein as soon as known to him, to the Chief Engineer if practicable, if not, to any Assistant Engineer. He shall also see that the engine, house and other apparatus are kept neat, elean and ready for immediate use, and the passage to said house clear of snow or other obstructions. He shall have (subject to the board of engineers, or any member thercof) the entire com- mand of the company at all times.
ART. 12. It shall be the duty of the Foreman to make, or cause to be made, a monthly report to the board of engineers of all officers chosen and all resignations, discharge of members and all cases of neglect of duty or disobedience of orders.
It shall also be his duty to cause the engine to be taken out and worked once at least in each of the following months, viz. : May, June, July, August, September, October and November.
ART. 13. Any member of the company expecting to be absent from town thirty days or more shall be required to pro- cure a substitute to be approved by the Foreman, whose name he shall hand to the Clerk of the company. But no member shall be allowed a substitute except in sickness or absence from town, and in no instance for a longer period than two months, except in case of sickness.
ART. 15. Every member of the Fire Department shall be held responsible for any property of the department entrusted to his care ; and in case of loss or damage, through neglect, its value shall be deducted from his compensation.
The town has provided large reservoirs in different localities, within its limits, for the convenience of the Fire Department, whose ability and readiness afford our citizens a sense of security against the destruction of property by fire.
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.