USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1916 > Part 6
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Records are considered by those who work upon them as being of inestimable value, and by those unfamiliar with them, as being a waste of time, space and work; but how pleased are this latter class when, upon entering an office, they find in a convenient and easy form just the informa- tion they had been searching for. There are, somewhere in the office of this department, incomplete yet valuable records, but in such form that it is with great difficulty anybody is able to use them. During the past year the board has devoted much time to gathering some of these records, so that they will be casy of access, and available for all interested. Only a start has been made, but enough has already been done to show that the work is worthy of a continuance. Under the law certain records must be kept in books, and that law has been complied with, but the more conven- ient form of a card system has been adopted for office and general use. An account card has been opened with each lot, serviceable for a period of eight years. These are arranged by lot numbers. A smaller card index for these account cards has been arranged and entered under the names of all those who have at any time had any business dealings with the lots. These cards are arranged in alphabetical order, thus we have all the lots in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery so arranged that the owners can be located with but little trouble.
Requests are frequently made for copies of deeds to lots, but such a thing has been impossible to give, as no copies were kept, and few are recorded. It is proposed in 1917 to remedy this and to place, as far as possible, a record in a proper deed book of every lot in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery. This system was begun this year with the Perpetual Care Deeds.
Twenty years ago the board talked over the question of a plan book of all the lots in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, but there is nothing in the office to show that this valuable and necessary book was ever started, and much information that such a book would give is now furnished from private sources. It will probably cost the city a goodly sum to get this information some day. During the past year this information has been kept, and thus a beginning has been made in the records of the office. There are about eight thousand burials in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, and with much tedious work, patience and lost time it would be possible to give an in- quirer information concerning any one of them. The method has served its time, and while obliged by law to continue this old system of keeping a register, the department has introduced a card system which when com- pleted will prove of great value, and make accessible information which is frequently being sought. This work should be continued each year until the records back to the year 1856, when the first burials were made, are in this convenient card system.
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CITY OF QUINCY
Mt. Wollaston Cemetery.
This has been a most successful year so far as the management of this cemetery is concerned. More lots were cared for during the year 1916 than in any previous year. This has been a severe tax upon the work- ing foree as the limited appropriation made it impossible to add to the number of men employed. It meant simply crowding in the care of two hundred more lots upon a force of men who were already worked practically to their capacity under present methods. The season was very moist, and it was almost impossible to keep ahead of the grass, and other work that should have been done had to be postponed. There is an excellent chance in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery for many up-to-date improvements and methods, and when these are adopted, the cemetery will bear the in- spection and comparison with any in greater Boston. There is much need of a new set of rules, as the present ones were adopted in 1897. There has been a lack of enforcement of these rules, so that perhaps a new set might be the means of bringing better results, as they would define more plainly just what can be placed on lots, and can be done in the cemetery. At present some sections of the cemetery look more like the display yard of a monumental dealer than a place of burial. Proper rules and their enforee- ment would prevent this. The use of wooden boxes with glass fronts, enelosing metallic wreaths or flowers has been stopped, as they soon get out of repair and become unsightly. This was done by direct orders of the board, although the rules were sufficiently strong to prevent their advent into the cemetery
The appearance of the entrance to Mt. Wollaston Cemetery is not at all what it should be. It has never looked right. The new part added by changing the location of Sea Street looks more like a piece of neglected pasture land. Something should be done the coming year to change these conditions.
It is proposed by the Planning Board to extend Greenleaf Street through the cemetery to Sea Street as a part of their general system of boulevards. If this is done it will divide the cemetery, unless a detour is made around the extreme end of the land owned by the city. This may be the best solution, as many of our boulevards are made more beautiful by winding roadways. If this plan is not feasible, then we recommend that the traet of land which will be left on the northerly side of the new boulevard should be reserved for a chapel and main plant of the cemetery.
At an early date plans should be secured for a chapel for this cemetery. The chapel building should include an up-to-date office with waiting rooms and all modern conveniences.
There are two ponds in the cemetery, and they can be made attractive. Left as at present, they are breeding places for mosquitoes and disease. They should be properly walled and kept filled with fresh water after being placed in good condition.
The following table shows the number of lots under care in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery yearly since 1905. It is deemed best to print this table that lot owners may be encouraged in this good work, and with the hope that the number may increase each year until all are under special care. The price is reasonable, and should be kept so, as it is the duty of the city to do its share in making the cemetery look beautiful.
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PUBLIC BURIAL PLACES
Lots Cared for Since 1905.
Yearly
Perpetual Care
Total
1905
410
158
568
1906
415
175
590
1907
436
184
620
1908
575
190
765
1909
600
202
802
1910
602
218
820
1911
610
229
839
1912
618
256
874
1913
647
277
924
1914
662
291
953
1915
593
315
908
1916
782
353
1135
Hancock Cemetery.
It is needless for us to mention any of the historical interests that center around this old burying ground. For years it has gone neglected except for the care it might receive about Memorial Day, and the possi- bility of a fall clean-up, provided sufficient money remained in the appropriation.
A fund of $3000 was left by the late Charles E. French, the income to be spent for the care of this cemetery. This fund ought to produce a yearly revenue of at least $120, which is a fair sum for a start.
The department has for the first time succeeded this year in having three of the lots placed under perpetual care, and the revenue from these will add about $17 more, thus making a total of $137 to expend. The sum is not a large one, but during the past year it has enabled the employment of one man to daily gather the old rubbish deposited there. The paths have been kept clear of weeds, and another year should show a decided improvement.
Through the hearty co-operation of Mayor Bates and the city council the department was provided with $1475 to restore the wall and iron fence along the line of Hancock Street. This work had been postponed for many years, and makeshift repairs seemed to be the limit of the city's interest. When the present board took office they found that it was proposed to dispose of the old iron fence, and rehabilitate the wall to a modern affair. This would forever be a disgrace to the city and would show that we of this generation cared little for the historical burying ground of the old Quincy families. Plans for this work were drawn by the en- gineering department of the city. Delays were caused in beginning the work, as owing to the increased cost of labor and material it was necessary to get a sufficient sum of money to complete the job before any contract could be made. When a sufficient sum was appropriated, sealed proposals were called for by advertisement in the Quincy Telegram, and bids were received as follows:
.
The Pinel Tool Company, wall and fence complete $1,273.85 John R. Richards, capping for wall $4 per lineal foot, delivered; for setting capping and straightening wall, 50 cents per cubic
foot; drilling holes 5 inches deep, 30 cents each (200 lineal feet in wall)
Norfolk Iron Company, fence, gates and arches, complete 990.00
Alexander Kenn, wall complete . 600.00
The Pinel Tool Company, extra, pean hammer, cap stone. 50.00
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CITY OF QUINCY
The bids were opened in the presence of four members of the board, and it was unanimously voted to award the contract to the Pinel Tool Company, they being the lowest bidder. The original bids called for the capstone to be fine pointed. This was thought by two members of the board familiar with granite work to be in bad taste, and as there were suffi- cient funds, it was decided before awarding the contract to ascertain the cost of pean hammered and four-eut face, and upon the recommendation of the above-named gentleman it was decided to have it pean hammered at an additional sum of $50, making the entire contract, which includes everything about the work, $1323.85.
The old capstone had to be removed at the expense of the department, and after being cut into proper lengths it was taken to Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, where it will be finished into boundary posts, thus adding revenue to the city. It was found when the old capstone was removed that only part of the wall was solid granite, and without any instruction from the department and no way to compel it to be done, the Pinel Tool Company of their own accord and free will, have filled the wall with concrete, thus making it solid and preventing the sliding out of the wall in the future. The department, in behalf of the city, extends its thanks to the Pinel Tool Company for this act, which recommends them for fair dealing with our city, a thing which others in similar instances might copy.
An instance in connection with this work shows at least a reverential feeling for the old resting places of the dead, by our citizens of foreign birth. Those who relaid the wall were born in a foreign country, and a passerby heard the boss workman remark to a laborer who was about to break off an end of a piece of granite, " Don't you do that. This is the wall of an old cemetery, and every piece must go back as it was first placed here." This is a lesson for all of us to remember.
The department suggests that as this wall and fence were first made possible by the ladies of the First Unitarian Church, and were appropriately dedicated when completed, that proper rededication exercises be held under the direction of the ladies of that church at some time after the work is finished.
As the town fathers agreed when this cemetery was presented to the town to always keep it properly feneed in, it is our duty, and out of respect to that promise, to see that proper enclosures be erected on the north and south sides and that the fence along the railroad track be put in proper repair. Something should also be done to prevent the accumulation of cinders at the rear part of the cemetery. This matter ought to be taken up with the Law Department of the city, to try and devise some way of abating this nuisance.
Perpetual Care.
This subject is one that should interest all lot owners and should be considered while they are still alive and able to make suitable provision for the care of their lots to the last day. Where the owners are unable to assume the whole expense, they should interest those who will later succeed them, to assist in making a deposit of the necessary amount. There has never been a year when the fund has made such an increase as this, and the department has been called upon to give information to many who have the matter still under advisement. All this has been brought about by the circular letter referred to previously in this report. If the work along this line is continued, there ought to be a decided increase the coming year.
We have found that people have complained at the lack of care these lots have received, claiming that the yearly care system has brought
103
PUBLIC BURIAL PLACES
better results. We have met these complaints by explaining the new card system of office supervision, and assuring the owners that better results would be shown in the future. The city must realize that the methods of doing business of a generation ago, even in a cemetery, will not meet the demands of the people of today. If this fund is to grow, the city must do its part to give the proper care and that means more than they have in the past.
For the information of administrators or executors of estates of deceased persons, under the laws of Massachusetts, they have the authority to provide for perpetual care of a burial lot.
A statement of the Perpetual Care Fund is attached to this report for the first time, and we believe it should appear each year, as the best pro- tection to the fund is publicity.
We are going to suggest that the fund for perpetual care in the Han- cock Cemetery should be kept as a separate account, so that the income will be devoted to the cemetery for which it is intended. It will be noticed that the income of the fund for the first time since it was established shows a falling off. This is not through any fault of the board of managers, but is entirely due to a system adopted some few years ago, and which should be corrected when future investments are made. The loss of this income was a serious one, for with the increased expenses brought about by the advance in the cost of labor, and all supplies, as well as the increased number of lots cared for, it made it a difficult matter to keep within our appropriation.
Some uniform system of price should be adopted for placing lots under perpetual care.
It is with much pleasure that we call attention to the various incomes of the department, as they show a decided increase over previous years. In some of the branches the increase was a natural one, but in the others it was brought about by the introduction of up-to-date business methods.
The board had under consideration the matter of reserving a certain section of the cemetery where the lots would be sold with perpetual care, and we recommend this for the consideration of our successors. This would also mean the reservation of a portion of the single grave section under the same condition.
The experience of the board has brought us to conclusions which we offer as recommendations. The Burial Department of the city has out- grown its form, which has existed for over forty years, and which was handed down from the town government, and incorporated in our city charter. It is largely this old form that is responsible for the lack of records, as well as the modern ways of doing business. No business man expects efficient work unless he has a department under permanent and competent employees, and why should a city believe it will get good results without adopting such methods? This department has grown to be one of import- ance. It has the expenditure of practically $10,000 annually, and the preservation of records of great value. The business has been done with- out a close adherence to the law, and some of the lot owners have been given deeds that are valuable only for the paper upon which they are printed.
Under former methods information cannot be furnished that is re- liable, as some of the facts are in writing, while others that make these of value are not. Persons having business with the department should have a permanent office to go to, where they may receive civil, courteous and prompt service, and their requests be attended to according to modern business methods. In consideration of the conditions that exist, the board recommends that a permanent office be established, and that the office of secretary be made permanent. We further recommend that the member-
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CITY OF QUINCY
ship of the board be reduced to three instead of six, as at present. It is almost impossible to get six members of an unpaid board to devote much time to an important office, unless there is an opportunity of frequently appearing in the limelight, and the chance of such publicity is not very promising in a department where all matters are of a serious nature. This change was considered very carefully during the latter part of the summer, and was talked over with some of the city officials. The secretary of the board receives a salary of $300 per year, and a clerk is paid $156, thus about one-third of the amount necessary for a permanent officer is being annually paid. The additional expense to the city would prove to be a profitable investment for the services rendered.
It was also considered that the board should be composed of five members, but in either case it was agreed that the membership should be so arranged that but one member should retire each year, thus giving a permanent unpaid board, with a permanent officer to conduct the business of the department.
For the first time the city has received some income for the care of single graves. This has been a matter from which employees have reaped the benefit in the past. Now that the department cares for single graves for the season at the expense of one dollar, there ought to be many more cared for.
The department was obliged to enforce the rule which prevents bands of music from entering the cemetery, because of the crowd that follows and tramples over the lots su: rounding where the interment is to be made.
The general statistics and financial report of the department are attached.
The city has been very fortunate this year in having as the secretary of this board a person who was interested in and an expert on card systems, and to him belongs much of the credit for the establishing of a fine system of records which should be constantly added to until all the back years are included in it.
An appropriation was made to be expended by the city engineer in making a new plan of Mt. Wollaston Cemetery. This will be of great assistance to the department, particularly when sectional copies are made for office use. The present patchwork system of numbering the lots by sections ought to be abandoned, and we know of no better time than now. There has been no system about the numbering of the lots in this cemetery, which was due entirely to the careless method in use, but to completely correct it would involve much extra work, and a possible amount of confusion.
A large tract has been graded this year, and laid out in new lots. It might be a good plan to reserve this section for perpetual care lots.
For a long time the question of enclosing Mt. Wollaston Cemetery has been under consideration. Every year its need becomes more impera- tive. We hope that the city will not wait until the work of vandals makes immediate action necessary. The board suggests that some suitable stock design of iron fence be selected, and that $1,000 be appropriated each year, until the whole cemetery is enclosed.
The board extends its thanks to Mayor Bates and to the members of the City Council for their hearty co-operation during the entire year, and in behalf of the employees of the department their thanks are extended to Mayor Bates for the increase in pay to $2.50 per day and the Saturday half holiday made early in the season, and also to the general order on file in the office increasing the pay to $2.75 per day on and after December 21, 1916.
105
PUBLIC BURIAL PLACES
The pay of the superintendent was increased $10 per month and is now. $1200 per year. This was done in accordance with the general increase of the other employees of the department.
Included in this report are a few extracts from the Revised Laws which everybody should carefully read. This information is frequently requested from the department, and its publication will correct some of the erroneous information which now prevails.
Extracts Revised Laws.
Section 26 of Chapter 78: Lots in cemeteries incorporated under the provisions of Section 1, tombs in public cemeteries in cities, and lots and tombs in public cemeteries in towns, shall be held indivisible, and upon decease of a proprietor of such lot, the title thereto shall vest in his heirs-at-law or devisees subject to the following limitations and conditions:
If he leaves a widow and children they shall have the possession, care and control of said lot or tomb in common during her life.
If he leaves a widow and no children she shall have such possession care and control during her life.
If he leaves children and no widow, they shall have in common the possession, care and cont ol of such lots or tombs during their joint lives, and the survivor of them during his life.
The persons in possession, care and control of such lots or tombs may erect a monument and make other permanent improvements thereon.
The widow shall have a right of permanent interment for her own body in such lot or tomb, but it may be removed therefrom to some other family lot or tomb with the consent of her heirs.
If two or more persons are entitled to the possession, care and control of such lot or tomb, they shall designate in writing to the clerk of the corporation, or, if it is a tomb or lot in a public cemetery, to the Board of Cemetery Commissioners, if any, or to the city or town clerk, which of their number shall represent the lot; and in default of such designation, the Board of Trustees or directors of the corporation, the Board of Cemetery Commissioners, if any, or the Board of Health, if such lots or tombs are in public cemeteries, in cities or towns, shall enter of record which of said persons shall represent the lot during such default.
The widow may at any time release her right in such lot, but no con- veyance or devise by any other person shall deprive her of such right.
Section 28 of Chapter 78: A wife shall be entitled to a right of inter- ment for her own body in any burial lot or tomb of which her husband was seized at any time during coverture, which right shall be exempt from the operation of the laws regulating conveyance, descent and devise, but which may be released by her in the same manner as dower.
Section 29 of Chapter 78: A husband shall have the same rights in the tomb or burial lot of his wife as a wife has in that of her husband, and may assert or release the same in the same manner as she may assert or release her rights.
Where the lot is not bequeathed in the will, or where there is no will, it descends to the heirs-at-law of the deceased owner, who are (Rev. Laws, Mass., Chap. 133, Sect. 1):
1. Children, and issue of any deceased child.
2. If no issue, then his or her father and mother.
3. If no issue nor mother, then his or her father.
4. If no issue nor father, then his or her mother.
5. If no issue and no father nor mother, then his or her brothers and sisters, and children of any deceased brother or sister.
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CITY OF QUINCY
6. If no issue and no father, mother, brother nor sister, then next of kin.
From the above it can be seen that the Massachusetts laws require that the title of a lot shall be vested in the name of a living individual.
Heirs are requested to immediately comply with this State law after the death of a lot owner. Otherwise delays may occur in determining whether interment orders are properly signed. Application for necessary documents in blank form may be made at the department office in City Hall.
Comparative Statement of Expenditures and Incomes for Expenses of Department.
Appropria- tion
Income Per Care
Johnson Fund $6.06
Williams Fund
Foundation Grading $618.22
French Fund
1905
$4,000.00
$828.79
1906
4,000.00
879.25
5.29
674.75
1907
4,000.00
975.55
6.06
671.23
1908
4,000.00
1,003.23
6.06
699.65
$169.73
1909
4,000.00
1,048.25
6.06
888.20
120.00
1910
4,000.00
1,112.24
6.06
856.90
120.00
1911
4,250.00
1,116.13
6.06
879.80
120.00
1912
4,750.00
1,229.79
6.06
1,001.58
99.80
1913
5,000.00
1,316.66
6.06
770.70
124.17
1914
5,000.00
1,344.93
6.06
1,205.10
96.25
1915
5,000.00
1,665.79
6.06
$24.48
1,213.79
121.67
1916
6,100.00
1,588.58
6.06
16.16
1,439.49
105.00
Rent of house, 1914.
$118.00
Rent of house, 1915
120.00
Rent of house, 1916
115.20
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF INCOME AS PART OF CITY RECEIPTS
Lots Sold
Graves Sold
Opening Graves
Miscel- laneous
Care Lots
-- Burials- Han. Mt. Wol.
Perpetual Care Fund
Income, P. C. Fund
1905
$1,405.00
$240.00
$1,047.00
$29.00
$1,271.00
0
214
$20,913.00
$1,175.00
1906
1,336.00
305.00
1,123.00
34.50
1,224.50
5
265
23,563.00
2,600.00
1907
*2,353.00
1,167.00
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