USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881 > Part 35
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The report for '61 is signed by the same secretary, and I infer that the same gentlemen constituted the Board, though I have not made myself certain that none were changed. Certain nuisances are alluded to as still persistently cherished by some of the inhabitants : one case . of unmodified small-pox had occurred and proved fatal, and five cases of varioloid had been successfully treated. The contagion was not allowed to spread. The Board recommended that the selectmen order general vaccination annually.
In '62 Bainbridge Hayward and Elias Whitney constituted the Board, and reported that they had had little to attend to ; no conta- gious case of disease, but some nuisances to abate. They repeated the recommendation of their predecessors, that the selectmen order general vaccination annually.
In '63, Elias Whitney, Richard Carroll, and Wm. H. Sadler con- stituted the Board. Their report was brief, -more business than usual ; several cases of filth-nuisance ; two of small-pox, one of which proved fatal, and one of varioloid, all costing $37.99, charged to the account of State paupers.
Report for '64 not found.
For '65, Elias Whitney, Richard Carroll, and Willard Bragg, con- stituting the Board, reported nine cases of small-pox, one fatal ; " also the usual amount of nuisances, such as drains, dead dogs, etc." Ex- pense of sickness, including vaccinations by Dr. W. M. Parker, phy- sician to the Board, $94.50, - paid for out of the town treasury.
293
SUMMARY OF ANNUAL REPORTS.
In '66 there were six cases of small-pox, six of varioloid, two deaths from the contagion, and the usual amount of nuisances, -all cost- ing the Town $115.77. Zibeon C. Field, John S. Mead, and James R. Davis constituted the Board.
For '67 the report says : "The duties of the Board of Health during the past year have been arduous. A visitation of that fearful scourge, the cholera, was seriously anticipated." Great precautions in the way of prevention were taken. No well-authenticated case of cholera occurred, and only one of small-pox. Careful attention to vaccination was recommended. No expense mentioned. Signed by Dr. Francis Leland, L. B. Felton, Dr. W. M. Parker, Elias Whitney, and William P. Miller, the Board.
In '68 the Board organized, May 1, by " election of Richard Car- roll as chairman and Dr. I. H. Stearns as secretary and physician ; " John Madden, 2d, was the only other member. The rules adopted were "published for five months in 'The Milford Journal.'" All cases causing complaint settled " without resort to legal measures." The report says, "No infectious or contagious disease has prevailed in town the past year. Indeed, Milford is one of the most healthy locations in Massachusetts."
Report for '69 very brief, and signed only by Dr. W. M. Parker. Who his colleagues were, I have not gone to the records to learn. No cases of small-pox or other contagious disease, but numerous nui- sances abated " without resort to legal measures."
In '70 Drs. A. C. Fay, W. M. Parker, and Thos. W. Flatley consti- tuted the Board. Substance of their report : rules and regulations duly published in " The Milford Journal ; " no cases of small-pox or other contagious diseases during the past year ; other neighboring towns have suffered seriously, showing the importance of our protection by thorough vaccination ; many nuisances removed "without resort to legal measures ; " more drains and sewers needed; let the laws of cleanliness, as a preventive of disease, be better and better observed.
In '71 Drs. Thos. W. Flatley, Dwight Russell, and W. M. Parker, with G. B. Knight as clerk, constituted the Board. With the excep- tion of some nuisances peaceably abated, the sanitary condition of the town reported in good order, the same as last year.
In '72 report not found in print, though on title-page of town- reports purporting to be among the rest.
In '73 the same omission, though the selectmen's report says the Town had to expend $891.44 on account of the prevalence of small- Dox.
In '74 the Board consisted of Drs. Thos. W. Flatley (who dicd
294
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
during the year), Wm. M. Parker, and J. Allen Fay. Their report represents the town to have been unusually healthy during the past year, - no disease requiring the attention of the Board. They had found a responsible party who engaged to remove night-soil gratui- tously, if suitably encouraged by the citizens. They earnestly recom- mend and urge the importance of town sewers, as economical in the end, though costly at the outset.
In '75 nothing found in my copy of pamphlet reports ; nor in that for '76, nor in that for '77, nor in that for '78, nor later. It seems that the duties of the Board of Health have for the last several years been assigned to the selectmen. Either the latter have made no spe- cific reports of their doings in this capacity, or I have not been expert enough to distinguish the particulars. I presume them to have dis- charged their sanitary duties faithfully, but perhaps shall be excused for not looking up and presenting even the more interesting facts and events of their administration. I might have waived this section entirely, but thought it was well to give it a place in its order.1
HISTORY AND STATISTICS OF OUR FIRE-DEPARTMENT.
I have it on the authority of Seth P. Carpenter, Esq., that the first movement to get up a fire-engine company in Milford was started about the year 1831. A considerable number of public-spirited citi- zens, who realized the danger from fire to the public and private buildings in town, especially in the growing village at the Centre, resolved to procure one or two fire-engines, and man them. Of course this must be done by purely voluntary contribution and. association. Two of the old-fashioned tub engines, manufactured in Belchertown, at the cost of $125 each, were purchased. The intention was to have two companies, one in the upper village and the other in the lower ; but only one company could be organized, which was in the lower village. William Godfrey, who was much interested in having an en- gine manned in his immediate vicinity, when unsuccessful, stored his engine under one of his sheds then standing near the parish common, where it finally fell to pieces. Mr. Carpenter was, I think, the first, or certainly an early, commander of the pioneer company organized. But their engine was a small, clumsy thing, which was thought to
1 Since the foregoing waa penned, my attention haa been called to a sharp controversy in Eng- land on the merits of vaccination, ao earnestly urged by our Board of Health and kindred onea generally. The opponents of vaccination in that country plead strong facts and reaaona against the practice, aa propagating many foul and dangerous diseasea worse than the amall-pox; and they have confident hopes that Parliament will ere long radically modify, if not repeal, ita vac- cination lawa. The controversy has been transplanted to thia country, and is taking root here. What will be the result, remaina to be aeen.
295
ORGANIZATION OF FIRE-DEPARTMENT.
perform a notable exploit when made to throw water over the Brick Meeting-house tower, only some sixty feet high. They soon bought a second-hand Hunneman engine for $350, which did much greater execution. This, however, was not satisfactory long, and a nice new Hunneman was procured at a cost of $800. This could be worked admirably.
In 1837 the subject was brought before the Town, to see what they would do about raising money to aid in the equipment of fire-appa- ratus. A vote was obtained to aid in the work to an amount not exceeding two hundred dollars. Some time in 1838 Engine Company No. 2 was formed, and the Town paid $50 towards a house for it. The same year the Town commenced choosing officers called fire- wards, which I suppose was in accordance with the general statutes of that period. These officers continued to be annually chosen down to 1854, when a special act was passed by the Legislature, authorizing the establishment of a regularly organized fire-department. In 1843 the Town paid the poll-taxes of its engine-men, and, besides other encouragements, appropriated $838 for a new engine and apparatus. Thenceforth protection against fire became annually an increasing town charge, though for a time moderate. It was some time before firemen got much for their services. Their pay began with remission of their poll-tax, and gradually rose.
Their first really respectable engine-house, built in 1844, cost the town $1,044.56 ; engine repairs and services the same year cost $53.91. In '45 the Town paid for engine repairs, etc., $324.14, and for firemen's poll-taxes $66.08. In '46 the expense was quite small ; likewise in '47 and '48. In '49 it amounted to only $172.46. In '50 it rose to $282.95, and in '51 to $668.78. In '52, with new engine, hook-and-ladder company, house, etc., it went up to $3,300. In '53 it stood, with cost of reservoirs, $490.14. In '54 it amounted to $1,692.90.
Before proceeding farther in this line of annual expenses, I will bring up the retinue of historic facts and events. By referring to the selectmen's record of appointments, I find that their first appoint- ment of engine-men was for No. 1, Aug. 19, 1837 ; and their number was thirty. Jan. 26, 1838, they appointed twenty-four men for No. 2. As new men were wanted, they were thenceforth appointed by the same authority, - sometimes a few, and sometimes the whole of a company at once. They also discharged firemen, as occasion ren- dered proper. The names of all firemen are given, but it will hardly be expected that I should transcribe them into this work. In 1854, when the engineers were directed by the selectmen to organize the
296
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
fire-department, pursuant to the forementioned act of the Legislature, they promptly assembled, July 1 of that year, and soon after com- pleted their work by choosing the necessary officers, adopting by-laws, etc. Their own rules and regulations, as also those sanctioned by the Town (both sets printed) are as follows : -
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE COMPANIES ATTACHED TO THE MILFORD FIRE-DEPARTMENT.
" ARTICLE I. Each company may propose candidates for its department, specifying their ages, and, if minors, the certificate required by the Fire Ordinances; all appointments shall be approved by the Board of Engineers, and returned to the company. Whenever a candidate is rejected by the Board of Engineers, he will not be allowed to act as a member of the company. No person under eighteen years of age shall be appointed as a member of the Department.
" ART. II. It shall be the duty of the Foremen of the several companies to make, or canse to be made, on the last Monday in April, arinually, to the Chief Engineer, a statement of the condition of the engine or other apparatus, with an inventory of all the property intrusted to their care, and belonging to the town, together with a correct list of the names of the mem- bers; also, special reports of all officers chosen, and all resignations, dis- charge of members, and all cases of neglect of duty or disobedience of orders. They shall also see that the engines, houses, and other apparatus are kept neat, clean, and ready for immediate use, and the passage to said house clear of snow and other obstructions, preserve order in their several com- panies, and require and enforce a strict compliance with the Town Ordi- nances and regulations of the Board of Engineers. In their absence, the Assistant Foremen shall perform their duties, and other times render them such assistance as they may require.
" ART. III. Any member expecting to be absent from town ten days or more, shall be required to procure a substitute, to be approved by the Fore- man of his company, whose name he shall hand to the Clerk of the com- pany; but no member shall be allowed a substitute except in case of sickness or absence from the town, and in no instance for a longer period than one month, except in case of sickness.
" ART. IV. It is required of the members of the Department, as a gen- eral rule, not to open the doors or windows of a building on fire, without a supply of water can be procured, and to be careful to avoid unnecessarily damaging furniture or other goods by water. At a fire where water cannot be procured by suction, or a line of engines, the members will endeavor to prevent the fire from spreading by means of buckets or otherwise, until a supply can be had. The members of each company will remain with the engine and apparatus of which they have charge, except when otherwise directed by an Engineer.
" ART. V. In the absence of an Engineer, on the arrival at a fire, as a
297
RULES OF THE FIRE-DEPARTMENT.
general rule, the first engine is to be taken to the nearest reservoir or place where a supply of water can be obtained, immediately placed in readiness for operation ; and, in case the fire cannot be reached for want of sufficient quantity of hose, the officers will exert themselves to obtain another engine to receive the water and pass it on towards or to the fire. Engine companies will not call upon each other for hose, but upon the Engineer.
" ART. VI. The Hook-and-Ladder Company, on arriving at a fire, will take their station as near the same as under existing circumstances shall be thought expedient. The commanding officer will immediately on his arrival report himself to the Engineer in command.
" ART. VII. Members of each company are to have the control of the apparatus committed to their care, which is not to be handled, used, or in any way meddled with by the members of other companies, unless by per- mission of an Engineer ; and whenever, at a fire, one company shall have hose or other apparatus belonging to another, they shall in all cases promptly return the same to the company to whom it belongs.
" ART. VIII. On no occasion shall any officer allow his company to run their engine or carriage in returning from a fire or alarm, or drill, and in all cases they shall keep to the right.
" ART. IX. When any repairs shall be necessary upon any engine or carriage, or other apparatus, the Foreman shall give information to the Chief Engineer if practicable; if not, to any Engineer. No bills are to be paid until approved by the Board of Engineers.
"ART. X. Water must not be taken from any reservoirs except in case of fire, or by order of an Engineer.
" ART. XI. Whenever a fire shall occur known to be out of Milford, no engine or apparatus shall be taken to said fire unless by the consent of the Chief Engineer or his Assistants.
" ART. XII. The members of the several companies regularly admitted and appointed shall wear such caps, badges, or insignia, as the Board of Engineers shall from time to time direct to be furnished at the expense of the town ; and no other person or persons shall be permitted to wear the same except under such restrictions and regulations as the Board of Engineers may direct.
" ART. XIII. Every member of the Fire Department shall be held responsible for any property of the Department intrusted to his care ; and, in case of loss or damage through neglect, its value shall be deducted from his compensation.
" Adopted by the Board of Engineers, Feb. 4, 1861.
"S. C. SHEPARD, Chief Engineer. W. F. BARBER, Assistant Engineer. A. C. WITHINGTON, Assistant Engineer. GEORGE JONES, Assistant Engineer. B. HAYWARD, Assistant Engineer. GEORGE HANCOCK, Assistant Engineer. N. W. HEATH, Assistant Engineer."
298
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE FIRE-DEPARTMENT, AND CITIZENS, TO BE OBSERVED AT FIRES.
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS, AND APPROVED BY THE TOWN OF MILFORD, NOV. 20, 1854, FOR PREVENTING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES.
" SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the Engineers, upon alarm of fires, to immediately repair to or near where the fire may be, and to take proper measures that the several engines and other apparatns be arranged in the most advantageous situation, and duly worked for the effectnal extinguish- ment of the fire ; to require and compel assistance from all persons as well as members of the fire-department, in extinguishing the fire, removing fur- niture, goods, or other merchandise from any building on fire, or in danger thereof ; to appoint guards to secure the same, and also in pulling down or demolishing any house or other building, if occasion requires, and further to suppress all turmoil and disorder.
" It shall also be their duty to cause order to be preserved in going to, working at, or returning from fires, and at all other times when companies attached to the fire-department are on duty.
"SECT. 2. The Chief Engineer shall have the command at fires over all other Engineers, all members of the fire-department, and all other persons who may be present at fires, and shall direct all proper measures for the extinguishment of the fires, protection of property, preservation of order, and observance of the fire-laws; provided that no building on fire, or in danger thereof, shall be pulled down, blown up, or otherwise demolished, without the concurrence of two or more of the Engineers, if present.
" SECT. 3. In case of the absence of the Chief Engineer, the Engineer next in rank who shall be present shall execute the duties of the officer with full powers.
" SECT. 4. 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.
"SECT. 5. All persons present, not members of either of the said com- panies, are hereby enjoined to obey the directions of any Engineer given at a fire, and to render their services, if required by any Engineer, under a penalty of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars; and it is enjoined upon the Chief Engineer to prosecute all violations of this section.
"SECT. 6. It shall be the duty of such of the Constables of the town as may be selected by the Engineers for that service, to repair, on the alarm of fire, immediately to the place where the fire may be, and there to use their best skill and power, under the direction of the Chief Engineer, for the preservation of the public peace, the prevention of theft, destruction of prop- erty, and the removal of all suspected persons, for which service the Con- stable shall receive such compensation as shall in each case be ordered by the Engineers.
299
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
" SECT. 7. And it is further ordered that no person shall carry any fire- brands, lighted matches, or other ignited materials, openly in the streets or thoroughfares of the town; and no owner or occupant of any dwelling-house, shop, or other buildings, shall maintain, or cause to be erected, any defec- tive chimney, hearth, oven, stove or stovepipe, fire-frame, or other fixtures, or shall have a deposit of ashes, shavings, or other combustible material, which may give just cause of alarm, or be the means of kindling or spread- ing fire, under penalty of not less than two nor more than twenty dollars.
" SECT. 8. That if any chimney, stove-pipe, or flue, within the town, where any other buildings are so near as to be endangered therefrom, shall take or be set on fire, the occupant of such house to which such chimney, stove-pipe, or flue appertains shall forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars: provided it shall be lawful for any person to set fire to and burn his chim- ney or stovepipe between sunrise and noon, if the buildings contiguous are wet with rain or covered with snow.
"SECT. 9. That no person shall discharge or set off any squibs, ser- pents, rockets, fire-crackers, or other fireworks, in any place within the town, without leave from an Engineer, under a penalty of not more than twenty dollars.
" SECT. 10. That no person shall make any bonfire, or fire for burning brush, rubbish, or any other fire in the open air, in the night-time, without leave from an Engineer, under the penalty of not less than two nor more than twenty dollars.
"SECT. 11. And it shall be the duty of the Chief and other Engineers to inquire for and examine into all shops, new buildings erecting, or other places, where defective chimneys, flues, stoves, or stovepipe may be, and where shavings or other combustible material may be collected and depos- ited, and from time to time, and at all times, to be vigilant in taking care of and the removal of the same, whenever in the opinion of any two of them the same may be dangerous to the security of the town from fire; and the owners or occupants of such defective chimneys, flues, stoves or stovepipe, shavings, or other combustible matter, who shall refuse or neglect to remove the same forthwith after being ordered thereto by any two Engineers in writing, shall forfeit and pay five dollars for each day afterwards that the same shall remain unremoved.
"SECT. 12. All members of the fire-department, while on duty at a fire, 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 dis- missed at roll-call, shall forfeit all pay for his services for three months pre- vious to such refusal or neglect, unless he can furnish an excuse that shall be satisfactory to a majority of the Engineers."
The Department began to make annual reports to the Town in the spring of 1856, which have generally, if not always, been printed, along with the other official reports. The Board of Engineers has consisted, ordinarily, of from nine to six members, according to the convenience of circumstances.
300
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
All that now seems necessary for me is to tabulate the more im- portant facts, events, and statistics deducible from these printed annual reports, then close with the names of engineers successively serving, and their principal officers, - mingling only a few general remarks. Let my first column designate the year; the second, the number of firemen in service, including the engineers ; the third, the number of engines ; the fourth, the number of carriages for various apparatus ; the fifth, the number of feet of leading hose ; the sixth, the number of engine-houses ; the seventh, the number of reservoirs ; the eighth, the number of alarms answered ; the ninth, the number of actual fires in buildings ; the tenth, total cost of the year to the Town; and the eleventh, brief notes. The years begin and end in February.
Year.
Men.
Engines.
Carriages.
Feet of hose.
Houses.
Reservoirs.
Alarms.
Actual fires.
Total cost.
Notes.
1856
125 125
2
2
1,400
2
10
14
8
$16,775, property. This year's report not found.
1859
172
2+
1,775
3
11
20
12
2,147 91
Hose, hook-and-ladder car- riages.
1860
160
2+
2,280
3
12
24
12
1,742 33
$1,963, property.
1861
169
2
2,230
3
12
32
11
2,462 49
1862
163
5
2,275
3
15
25
13
1,233 20
900, property.
1863
164
5
2
2,275
3
15
11
8
563 62
900, property.
1864
171
5
2
2,275
3
15
13
8
648 75
1,110, property.
1865
174
5
2
2,275
3
15
32
11
674 98
1,015, property.
1866
171
5
2
2,275
3
15
26
10
730 48
No further returns of prop- erty.
1867
181
5
2
3,750
3
15
32
15
6,172 07
1868
196
5
2
3,750
3
15
32
14
1,138 52
1869
217
4
2
5,150
4
15
27
9
13,159 62
1870
216
4
2
3,000
4
16
21
9
2,913 23
1871
193
4
2
3,000
4
16
36
13
3,716 10
1872
193
4
2
4,050
4
17
31
9
7,427 82
1873
194
4
2
4,850
4
17
27
13
5,321 23
1874
168
6
2
4,650
5
17
14
6
6,346 93
1875
179
5
2
4,350
5
17
26
11
8,030 13
1876
182
5
2
5,350
5
17
19
9
6,057 02
1877
165
5
9
5,350
5
17
16
5
4,593 35
1878
167
5
2
5,300
5
17
8
6
5,432 66
1879
167
5
2
5,950
5
17
30
18
6.065 96
1880
170
5
2
6,650
5
18
19
7
5,165 97
Every thing in good order.
2
1,400
*
*
$1,549 41 3,222 03
1857
1858
New steamer and equip- ments.
Span of horses for regular service.
Fire-extinguisher, Hopedale. Another steamer.
* Not given.
There are some interesting details which I found it impossible to notice in the above table ; but perhaps it is sufficiently inclusive. The number of carriages specified applies only to those of the " Wide-Awake Hose Co." and "Excelsior Hook-and-Ladder Co.,"
301
THE DEPARTMENT AND ENGINEERS.
which have continued as regular organizations since 1854. The other engine-companies have always had carriages attached to them. Actual fires include only fires in buildings, a few of which were out of town. There have been fires in woods, piles of lumber, etc., also more or less false alarms every year. The early reports gave the amount of property destroyed not covered by insurance. It would have been well to continue this item in subsequent reports, but for some reason it was dropped. The Board of Engineers has been annually organized from 1854 downward, and well officered. From all that I have ever known or heard, our Fire-Department has always been deservedly respected for its efficiency, and acquitted itself to the general satisfaction. This is plainly indicated by the appropriations made annually for its maintenance. Some may have deemed it too expensive ; but most of our citizens know that their firemen have very arduous and dangerous duties to perform, for which the money they get, and the pecuniary outlays made to furnish them conveniences, are but a moderate equivalent. They therefore accord to them an honorable appreciation. The names of our engineers, and their years of service, as nearly as I could ascertain, are designated in the following list : -
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