USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1895-1899 > Part 33
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EBEN F. GAY, FRANCIS E. EVERETT, JAMES A. HARTSHORN,
Auditors.
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Norwood : -
GENTLEMEN : The Board of Engineers herewith submit their annual report of the list of fires and alarms which have occurred during the year ending Jan. 31, 1898, with the cause and amount of loss in each case, so far as it has been prac- ticable to obtain such information.
February 17. Fire in house owned by Dr. L. H. Plimp- ton, and occupied by Patrick Ruddy, Rockhill Avenue. Damage to building, $25. Damage on contents, $20. Insured. Cause, overheated stove.
March 11. Still alarm. Shed at Chandler & Gay. Dam- age slight. Brush fire end of Concord Avenue.
March 16, 7.15 P. M. Fire in blackhouse at G. H. Mor- rill & Co.'s Printing Ink Manufactory. Loss slight. No insurance.
March 31. Still alarm. Grass fire back of East School- house.
March 31. Still alarm. Grass fire on King Gay Farm. Grass fire at Balch Schoolhouse.
April 1. Still alarm. Fire in woods near reservoir.
April 2. Still alarm. Fire in woods on Nahatan Street.
April 4, 3.45 A. M. No alarm given. Ellis Station on New England Railroad. Total loss. Insured. Caused prob- ably by spark from passing locomotive.
.
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April 19, 2.30 P. M. Fire in laboratory of Dr. F. S. Baston, Hartshorn's Block. Damage to building, $20. Damage to contents, $20. Insured. Caused by overturning vessel of hot fat.
April 19. Still alarm. Fire in Washburn's woods near Ellis Station.
May 21. Still alarm. Fence around M. H. Howard's shop.
August 18, 1.25 A. M. Fire in stable of Fred A. Hunt. Total loss. Insured. Cause unknown.
November 1, 8.15 A. M., Box 36. Fire at house of Mrs. M. A. Dean, Guild Street. Damage, $35. Caused probably from matches in a lot of shavings in cellar.
November 2, 6.30 A. M., Box 26. Chimney fire at house of B. Johnson, and occupied by P. O'Malley, Railroad Avenue. No damage.
November 20, 2.20 A. M., Box 37. Fire in shaving tower at New England Car Shop. No damage. Cansed probably by spark from boilers.
November 26, 6.42 P. M., Box 58. Fire in coloring room at Winslow Bros. Tannery. Damage slight. Cause unknown.
January 12, 1.20 A. M., Box 39. Fire in boiling house at G. H. Morrill & Co.'s Printing Ink Manufactory. Damage $250. No insurance. Caused by back draft under kettle.
APPARATUS.
CENTRAL STATION, MARKET STREET.
One hook and ladder truck carrying four chemical extin- guishers (pony size), one hose wagon carrying four chemical extinguishers (pony size), 1,000 feet of hose.
One hand hose reel with 500 feet of hose.
One double runner pung with 750 feet of hose.
Washington No. 1 hand engine.
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HOSE HOUSE NO. 2.
One hand hose reel with 500 feet of hose.
One double runner pung with 750 feet of hose. Two Holloway chemical extinguishers. America No. 2 hand engine.
HOSE.
The department now has 3,600 feet of good reliable hose and 800 feet that is liable to give out when used at our high- est pressure.
We would recommend that 500 feet be purchased this year.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
We would respectfully recommend the following : -
That fire alarm boxes be placed at the corner of Na- hatan and Prospect Streets and corner of Rock and Monroe Streets.
That the sum of $300 be raised and appropriated for the purchase of hose.
The sum of $300 be raised and appropriated for the sup- port of the Fire Alarm System the ensuing year.
The sum of $1,800 be raised and appropriated for the support of the Fire Department the ensuing year.
J. F. BOYDEN,
H. F. WALKER,
F. W. TURNER,
Board of Engineers.
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REPORT OF FIRE ALARM COMMITTEE.
In response to the desire of the Fire Department to ren- der the town more efficient service by the immediate localiza- tion of fires, the town voted at the adjourned meeting last April to raise and appropriate fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) for the purpose of introducing an electrical fire alarm system, and chose J. F. Boyden, F. A. Fales, H. F. Walker, F. W. Turner and F. S. Baston, as committee to superintend its introduction.
The committee at their first meeting organized with Chief of Fire Department J. F. Boyden as chairman, and F. S. Bas- ton as clerk. At the display rooms of the three principal manufactories of fire alarm apparatus was seen all of the vari- ous appliances, after which the committee visited from time to time the towns of Dedham, Canton, Hyde Park, and Melrose, where the practical working of systems used was thoroughly inspected.
Estimates for the introduction and completion of a fire alarm system were obtained from the Gamewell Co., George M. Stevens, the United States Co .; and the contract was awarded to George M. Stevens. The figures below show to whom and for what the money has been paid.
The work has been well done, and the system works sat- isfactorily, as has been proven. The town being geographi- cally long, it was found necessary, in order to give a universal alarm, to place a signal at each end ; and through the courtesy of the proprietors respectively, we have placed an eight-inch steam chime whistle upon the tannery of Messrs. Lyman Smith's Sons and Messrs. Winslow Bros.
The alarm boxes have been placed at the most convenient points. It has been our object to cover the town as com- pletely as possible, and by so doing, and in order to clear high trees or go through them without injury, extra high poles and heavy insulated wire were found necessary, which has
99
caused us to slightly exceed the sum granted; but with a system so nearly complete at so slight an excess, the committee feel well pleased with the results.
The signal code has been made as simple and comprehen- sive as possible consistent with efficiency. The " no school " signal, especially during the recent heavy storms, has been equally appreciated by teachers, scholars, and parents.
We wish especially to call attention to our industrial pro- tection. The subject of placing private boxes in the different manufactories, thereby instantly locating the cause of alarm, they being used for no fire other than one occurring in the building represented by its respective number, was presented to the various proprietors and received by them with such favor that special boxes were placed in the buildings of Messrs. Winslow Bros., Messrs. H. M. Plimpton & Co., Nor- wood Press, Messrs. Geo. H. Morrill & Co., and New England Car shops ; the expense of which was willingly borne by the said firms in appreciation of the added protection against destruction of their property.
In summary, we wish to congratulate the Fire Depart- ment upon this the expression of their appreciation by the citi- zens, and the town that they have an organization so inter- ested as to desire to so increase their facilities as to make protection more positive and conflagration nearer impossible.
The system is inspected every day, and the test blows morning and night prove it to be in order. And we, as the construction committee, are pleased to present the above report, feeling that a better alarm service could not have been provided for the money ; that Mr. Stevens has been conscien- tous and painstaking in fulfilling his contract; that we have not expended a dollar needlessly; and sincerely hope the citi- zens of the town will be equally satisfied with this one more added source of protection to their property.
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Summary of disbursement by the Fire Alarm Construction Committee : -
Paid Geo. M. Stevens, as per contract, $1,800 00
New England Tel. Co., for poles, 34 36
New England R. R. Co., freight, 14 40
John Nugent, teaming, 14 50
Pratt & Marston, express,
85
Dana Fisher, labor on wire,
9 00
M. W. Fairbanks, labor on wire, 6 00
$1,879 11
Appropriation, $1,500 00
CREDITS :
Private boxes : Messrs. Winslow Bros., 50 00
Messrs. H. M. Plimpton & Co., 50 00
Norwood Press, 50 00
Messrs. Geo. H. Morrill & Co., 50 00
New England R. R. Co., 50 00
Messrs. Geo. S. Winslow, extra poles, 47 42
Norwood Press, extra poles,
7 87
1,805 29
Balance due committee,
$73 82
Signed,
J. F. BOYDEN, F. A. FALES, H. F. WALKER, F. W. TURNER, F. S. BASTON,
Committee.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
At the commencement of the year the Board of Trustees deemed it expedient to subdivide their work by the appoint- ment of committees, which have been constituted as follows : Committee on purchase of books, J. S. Cushing and L. H. Plimpton ; committee on cataloguing and arrangement of books, J. C. Lane and M. B. Parker; committee on adminis- tration of the library, M. E. Colburn and I. S. Fogg.
During the past year 16,582 books and 1,614 magazines have been taken from the library. The total of the former item is slightly less than last year, probably due in part to the fact that we have been so cramped for room that some of our books were not accessible, and partly because the number of new books bought has been limited, both by lack of space in which to arrange them upon our shelves and by our hold- ing back a portion of our funds to meet expenses incident to the removal to the new building.
In anticipation of this event the library has been carefully examined, as thoroughly as was possible while books were being issued for circulation daily, the labor being apportioned among the Trustees, the committee on administration doing more than an equal share of the work; and the books found to be worn out and defective have been replaced, and the books in need of rebinding have been rebound, so that the condition · of the library as a whole is much improved. During the period of meagre appropriations a few years ago it had become far from creditable.
The number of books now in the library is about 7,175, the number of new books purchased during the year being 157 in addition to the large number of worn out books replaced.
102
The Norwood Advertiser, Norwood Messenger, Norwood News, Norwood Bee, the Bulletin and Good Roads, from the L. A. W., and the Land of Sunshine, of Los Angeles, have been received regularly as gifts from the publishers, for which the Trustees desire to express their thanks.
The usual financial statement of our receipts and expenses during the past year, ending February 1st, is appended ; also an estimate for the coming year ; but as this will be the first year in our new building, and we shall be at some extra expense in moving, we cannot make so close an estimate as in former years, or in years to come. By our estimate we have asked for the appropriation of an amount such as we believe the town will think proper under the circumstances. It would neither be wise nor suitable that the collection of books in our new building should be in all respects such as we would main- tain in our former quarters, and the greater facilities for use of the library which the new building affords will no doubt demand a greater provision in books, as well as periodicals, newspapers, and magazines.
During the months of the past year we have rejoiced to see the new building approaching completion, and at its close, on the first day of February, 1898, the Morrill Memorial Library building was presented to the town by public exer- cises, at which the weather unfortunately prevented many of our citizens from being present, but the publication of the same in the newspapers renders detailed mention of them in this place superfluous. The address of presentation was made by Mr. Frank T. Morrill on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Morrill, and there were addresses of acceptance by Mr. Frank A. Fales, chairman of the Selectmen, and Mr. John C. Lane, chairman of this Board, as well as an address by Mr. Francis (). Winslow.
At the town meeting, January 20th, it was voted, " To authorize the Trustees of the Public Library to accept for the town a deed of gift from George H. Morrill of land on the corner of Walpole and Beacon Streets, with the Morrill
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Memorial Library building erected in memory of Sarah Bond Morrill, the said building, together with the hall therein, to be used only for literary and educational purposes." At a meet- ing of the Trustees of the Public Library on the following day, January 21st, 1898, the deed dated and acknowledged November 6th, 1897, was submitted and read, and it was there- upon voted, " That the trustees of the Public Library accept for the town of Norwood the deed of gift from George H. Morrill and Louisa J. Morrill, which has just been read and submitted to the meeting, and authorize the chairman of said Trustees to receive delivery thereof, and cause the same to be duly recorded." A committee was also appointed to prepare a vote of thanks from the trustees, which was submitted at a subse- quent meeting, and adopted February 14th, 1898, as follows : -
" The Board of Trustees of the Public Library of the town of Norwood desire to give a permanent place upon their records to this expression of their appreciation of the new library building presented by Mr. and Mrs. George H. Morrill, to perpetuate the memory of their daughter, Sarah B. Morrill, and of the generous and munificent spirit of the donors.
" There is no public need in any department of the town of Norwood which, till the present moment, has been more pressing than that of proper accommodation for the collection of books under our charge, and a reading room to be used in connection with the same; and it is cause for great congratula- tion to the town that we should at this time, by this gift, be provided with spacious apartments for the former use, and, in addition, a convenient and desirable place in which the people of the town may resort to make acquaintance with current periodicals, as well as the resources of literature in general. For ninety-eight years, during which our library has been established and serving the interests of this community, it has been without permanent home; and we may now expect that the slow growth and limited service of the past may be stim- ulated and enabled to attain a position commensurate with the needs and character of the town.
104
"For all the benefits, direct and indirect, received from the Morrill Memorial Library building, we shall be deeply in- debted to the givers, and our sense of obligation is increased by the rich and costly perfection of its appointments.
" We add to our sincere thanks our pledge that the library shall be administered in a spirit in harmony with the purpose of the gift, and such as will be fitting in connection with such a memorial."
The deed of the property was recorded February 2d, 1896, and a copy is appended to this report.
With the transfer of this property the Trustees received paid-up policies of fire insurance upon the building and its furnishings, amounting to $60,000, expiring January 20th, 1899, as follows :
No. 30,383, 84,612, 10,000, National Fire Insurance Co. of Hartford.
$10,000, German American Insurance Co.
6,338, 10,000,
Niagara Fire Insurance Co.
C 455,485, 10,000,
Queen Insurance Co.
1,349, 5,000, Ætna Insurance Co.
6,523,887, 5,000, Royal Insurance Co. of Liverpool.
100,101,
5,000,
Commercial Union Assurance Co. Limited of London.
560, 5,000, Home Insurance Co.
It will be necessary to renew this insurance during the coming year, and it will be advisable and more economical to do so for a term of five years.
The Trustees have for some years felt the need of a proper classification and arrangement of the books and a new cata- logue, without which the library will in large part lose its usefulness; and at this time, with the removal of the library to the new building, it seems desirable that steps in that direc- tion should be taken at once. The Trustees have accordingly employed Miss Jennie A. Hewitt, of the Canton library, a trained and experienced expert, whom they believe to be competent
105
for the task, to act as librarian of our library, with the expec- tation that she will be able by degrees to classify, arrange and catalogue our books as it should be done, while attending to her other duties as librarian. A temporary arrangement has been made for the janitorship and care of the new building, which will be sufficient until the Trustees are able to define more exactly the time and duties to be required of a janitor.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN C. LANE, Chairman, MARIA E. COLBURN, Secretary, MARTHA B. PARKER, IRVING S. FOGG, J. S. CUSHING, L. H. PLIMPTON,
Trustees.
106
THE TRUSTEES OF THE NORWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY, in account with the TOWN OF NORWOOD.
RECEIPTS :
Balance in treasury Feb. 1, 1897,
$146 87
Balance in hands of librarian, 58
Total on hand Feb. 1, 1897,
$147 45
Dog tax appropriation,
433 10
Town appropriation,
560 00
Income from Chickering fund,
7 55
Fines received,
36 13
Paid for two books lost,
2 00
Sale of catalogues,
1 34
Total,
$1,187 57
EXPENSES :
Rent,
$125 00
Books (including $145.20 due Feb. 1, 1897),
326 70
Magazines and periodicals, 49 00
Binding,
72 90
Librarian and assistants,
307 44
Oil, fuel and lighting,
38 26
Incidentals,
18 27
Total,
$937 57
Balance in treasury Feb. 1, 1898,
$245 58
Balance in hands of librarian, 4 42
Total on hand Feb. 1, 1898,
250 00
Total,
$1,187 57
107
Estimate for 1898.
EXPENSES :
Rent to March 1, 1898, in Village Hall building, $20 84
Insurance (on new building for one year), 182 50
Heating and lighting,
250 00
Books,
400 00
Magazines and periodicals,
175 00
Binding and rebinding,
75 00
Librarian, janitor and assistants,
1,375 00
Incidentals,
174 96
Balance to be left on hand to pay expenses before the appropriation of 1899 will be available,
475 00
Total,
$3,128 30
RECEIPTS :
Balance on hand Feb. 1, 1898,
$250 00
Dog tax, 340 80
Chiekering fund, probably,
7 50
Fines, probably, 30 00
Total, 628 30
Balance for which appropriation is asked in addition to the dog tax, $2,500 00
·
108
DEED OF MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
Whereas we, George H. Morrill and Louisa J. Morrill of Norwood, in the County of Norfolk, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have erected a building in said Norwood as a memorial to our daughter, Sarah Bond Morrill, deceased on the seventh day of March, A. D. 1895, which we desire shall be known as the Morrill Memorial Library, and whereas we intend that the said Morrill Memorial Library shall be devoted to the benefit of the inhabitants of said town of Norwood, and whereas the town of Norwood has duly established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a public library within said Norwood for the purpose of holding real and per- sonal estate in addition to books and objects of curiosity and art, and has elected a board of trustees for said public library, which board of trustees is a fit and proper trustee to carry out our intention.
Now therefore be it known that we, the said George H. Morrill and Louisa J. Morrill, in consideration of the premises and of One Dollar ($1.00) paid by the town of Norwood, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said town of Norwood the following described premises : viz :
A certain lot of land with said Memorial building thereon situated on the northwesterly side of Walpole Street in said Norwood and bounded and described as followes : -
Commencing at a point on the northwesterly side of said Wal- pole Street and adjoining land of the Congregational Society in said Norwood, thence in a north westerly direction along said Congregational Society's land two hundred feet (200')to a point : thence at right angles in an easterly or slightly deflected northeasterly direction along land of said town on which the High School stands about one hundred and seven feet (107') to a point on Beacon Street : thence in a southeasterly direction along said Beacon Street about two hundred fifteen and seven-tenths feet (215,7%') to said Walpole Street : thence in a
109
westerly direction along said Walpole Street forty feet (40') to a point : thence continuing in a westerly direction along said Walpole Street thirty-eight feet (38') to a point : thence continuing in said westerly direction along said Walpole Street forty-four and five-one-hundreths feet (4415%') to the point of beginning: said lot containing twenty-three thousand nine hundred and thirty-two (23,932 sq. ft.) square feet in land, more or less, being lot No. 1 on a plan of land recorded with deed of F. M. Craigin to Tyler Thayer and being part of the premises described in said deed recorded with Norfolk Deeds, Libro 620, Folio 464, said deed being dated April 30, 1889.
To have and to hold the granted premises with all the privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging to the said town of Norwood and its successors forever, but upon the follow- ing trusts : First, to take possession of and hold the said premises under the name of the Morrill Memorial Library for the bene- fit of the inhabitants of the town of Norwood, to be devoted to the uses and purposes herein set forth. 1. To hold the books, pictures, works of art, furniture and fixtures in the building at the date of the delivery of this deed and all other books, pictures and works of art that have been or may here- after be given to the said town of Norwood, or its successors for said Morrill Memorial Library. 2. To receive and afford proper and suitable accomodations for the Public Library of the town of Norwood, and all books, pamphlets and objects of curiosity and art that are now possessed or may hereafter be obtained by said trustees of the Public Library from appro- priations made by said town of Norwood or from other sources, and any other property belonging to said Public Library kindred to the purpose, and to furnish all reasonable conven- iences for the officers and persons in charge. 3. To grant the free use of the said Morrill Memorial Library and its contents to all the inhabitants of said town of Norwood under such reason- able rules and regulations as shall from time to time be es- tablished by the board of trustees of said Public Library or
110
their successors. 4. The building including its hall to be used for literary and educational purposes only.
Second, To receive and hold any and all funds, donations or gifts that has been or may at any time hereafter be given, bequeathed or devised to the said town of Norwood or its successors, or to the trustees of said Public Library on behalf of the Public Library or on behalf of said Morrill Memorial Library, and expend the principal or income thereof according to the terms of such gift : and if no expressed disposition is made of such gift by the donor thereof, then the said trustees may expend the principal or income from such trust fund in perservation and maintenance of said Morrill Memorial Library and the care of its grounds, towards the expense of maintain- ing the Public Library therein kept, in the purchase of works of art and books, or in such other way as the board of trustees of said Public Library or its successors may from time to time deem best fitted to promote the object and intent of this trust. And whenever they shall have determined that the present building is inadequate to suitably accomodate the growth of the Library then they may expend so much of said undisposed principal in extending said building as shall afford the proper conveniences sought : but in so doing they shall have due regard for the architectural character of the present structure and shall not materially impair its general design.
And we do hereby, for ourselves and our heirs, executors and administrators, covenant with the grantee and its successors that we are lawfully seized in fee simple of the granted prem- ises that they are free from all incumbrances, that we have good right to sell and convey the same as aforesaid, and that we will and our heirs, executors and administrators shall war- rant and defend the same to the grantee and to its successors forever against the lawful claim and demand of all persons.
And for the consideration aforesaid, I, Louisa J. Morrill do hereby release unto the said grantee and their successors all right of or to both dower and homestead in the granted premises.
111
In witness whereof we, the said George H. Morrill and Louisa J. Morrill hereunto set our hands and seals this sixth day of November in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-seven.
GEORGE H. MORRILL. SEAL] LOUISA J. MORRILL. SEAL
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
EMMA L. SHATTUCK.
GEORGE H. MORRILL, Jr.
ALICE H. PLIMPTON.
GRACE L. PLIMPTON.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK SS.
NORWOOD, Nov. 6, 1897.
Then personally appeared the above named George H. Morrill, and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed, before me,
FRANK A. FALES, Justice of the Peace.
Dedham, Feb. 2, 1898, at 11 o'clock and 55 minutes, A. M., received and entered with Norfolk Deeds, Libro 807, Folio 401.
Attest :
EDWD. L. BURDAKIN,
Assistant Register.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. CLASSIFIED STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
History.
Biography.
Travels.
Science.
Philosophy
Moral and Religious.
Language and Literaturc.
Fiction.
Juvenilc.
Magazines.
Total.
Fines.
1897. Feb.
81
13
26
20
1
25
1,081
204
157
1,608
$2 45
Mar.
73
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