USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1874 > Part 7
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REMARKS OF REV. MR. DURELL.
As the representative of the people of this district, I have great pleasure in receiving from you, sir, the honored Mayor of our city, these emblems of an important trust. I can never forget the marked interest you have shown from the first, not only in the plans for this house, but also in the selection of the most suitable place for the erection of an edifice, which, from its costliness, must be permanent. We are under great obligations to you and your associates for the unwearied care you have manifested in all matters con- nected with the work of building. This substantial, beau- tiful structure fitly symbolizes the intelligent zeal and pride of the governor and rulers of our city in all that pertains to its welfare or honor, and it will stand as a monument of your
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thoughtfulness for the best interests of our people now, and of all those who shall come after us.
But the pleasure of this occasion is sadly diminished by the absence of one of my associates on this local committee. To the sense of loss to the city is added the feeling of deep personal bereavement by the death of the Rev. Mr. Lowe, the accomplished scholar, the kind, genial, faithfui friend.
To you, Mr. Hunt, as the master of this school, I now give these keys. They must seem to you like a formal con- firmation of the great trust you have so long held in our midst, the daily care of the dearest treasures in all our homes. The growing importance of this charge may be seen in the need of such a building as this, and in the fact that you are at the head of schools which number together thir- teen hundred children. Permit me here to recognize the zeal, thoroughness, and general ability for which you are distinguished as a teacher.
REMARKS OF MR. HUNT.
Mr. Chairman: - It is with mingled emotions that I accept from you, sir, these keys, as a badge of my office of Principal of the Luther V. Bell School. After eight years of service within the classic but dilapidated walls of the Prospect Hill School-house, it seems but a hard- won mead to pass to the elegant rooms and complete accessories of the "Luther V. Bell"; yet it is not with- out fear that I assume the trust, - fear, lest with the improved facilities shall come increased demands from com- mittee and people, and I may be found wanting. But, sir, this occasion is somewhat unique : it is seldom that a mas- ter may shirk the task of a reply at this point in the cer- emony of dedication, and throw the burden of his answer upon younger and more acceptable representatives. I take pleasure in introducing to you and the audience the pupils of the first class in the Prospect Hill Grammar School.
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The audience united with the school in singing the following
-
DEDICATORY ODE.
WRITTEN FOR THE OCCASION BY EDWARD A. KELLEY, ESQ.
To-day another jewel lies Within the sacred crown of lore ; Midst older sisters did it rise, An honor to a needful store.
Beneath the shadow of a hill · With deep historic fame replete, This latest gem may nestle still, - The battle-ground for friendly feet.
Favored of fortune ! e'en the act That told abroad tby happy birth, Gave thee a name to live, in fact, And recognized another's worth.
Belle of the vale, in name and deed, To thee, to-day, our hearts go out ; We bid thee now a warm God-speed ! Scatter sound learning all about.
May those who teach, themselves be taught By Him who is the " perfect way," . And those to whom the truth is brought Be quick to honor and obey.
May kindly actions, words of cheer, Like incense from the altars old, Send grateful fragrance far and near, More precious than renown or gold.
As year by year, still rolling on, Withdraws the veil that lies before,
May battles hére be nobly won, And harvests rich for all in store.
The class introduced by Mr. Hunt entertained the audience with the usual interesting graduating exer- cises.
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Brief addresses were made by Alderman Clark Bennett, Oren S. Knapp, Esq., former member of the School Board, Rev. Chas. Smith, and others.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING.
This building, in size and plan, is substantially the same as the Prescott School-house. It is sixty-eight by eighty-six feet on the ground, and is three stories high.
Each of the first and second stories contains four school- rooms, and there are two school-rooms and an exhibition- hall in the third story. The school-rooms are thirty by thirty-two feet, and twelve feet eight inches high, in the clear. The exhibition-hall is forty-one by sixty-five feet, and seventeen feet in height.
There are eighteen dressing-rooms, ten of which com- municate directly with the school-rooms; the remaining eight are upon the middle stair-landings. The entrance-halls in the first and second stories are twenty-one by twenty-five feet each, and the hall in the third story is eleven by twenty- five feet. The stairways are spacious, well lighted, and of easy grade.
The basement, which is eleven feet high, contains rooms for the janitor's family, rooms for the furnaces and fuel, and play-rooms for the pupils.
The front entrance is on Vinal Avenue, and there are two entrances to the basement in the rear of the building.
The walls and partitions are constructed of bricks. The exterior walls are faced with pressed bricks. The base and belt courses, and the window caps and sills are granite. The inside finish is ash and walnut. The floors and stairs are hard pine. The halls in each story are furnished with sinks, and supplied with Mystic water.
The plans and specifications were furnished by Lyman Underwood, Esq., of Boston. The contractors were John S. Tuttle for the masonry, and G. T. Burnham & Co. for the carpentry. The building is heated by four No. 24 Peerless
136
furnaces, furnished by Charles Holmes, Esq. The furniture for teachers and pupils was manufactured by W. G. Shat- tuck, Esq.
The building was commenced in June, 1873, and completed in June, 1874; it was constructed under the supervision of the Committee on Public Property, and is complete in all its appointments. It was first occupied by the schools Sept. 7.
Cost of lot, 22,262 feet . $9,279 80
" " grading 589 00
66 " building, heating apparatus, out-house and fence . 47,608' 91
" " school furniture and settecs for the hall, 3,122 29 Total cost . $60,600 00
Dr. Luther V. Bell was a member of the Somer- ville School Committee from 1843 to 1847. In 1851 a school-building was constructed on Cherry Street, and in honor of Dr. Bell, was named the " Bell Pri- mary School-house." In April, 1871, that building was moved to Beacon Street, and placed upon the site of the Harvard Primary School-house, which was burnt in March of that year, and received the name of the building for which it was substituted. In con- sequence of these changes the committee adopted the following: -
Whereas, The School-house known as the Bell Primary School- house has been moved to a new locality, and the name thereof changed ; and whereas, it is the desire of this School Board to per- petuate the memory of Dr. Luther V. Bell, a citizen so eminent in his profession, and so strong in his attachment to the interests of the schools ; therefore,
Resolved, That this Board recommend that the name of Dr. Bell be given to the next large School-building erected in Somerville.
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In accordance with this recommendation, the hon- ored name of Luther V. Bell has been given to the new edifice.
The following items were collected, mainly from a discourse on the life and character of Dr. Bell, read by Dr. Ray to the Association of Superintendents of North American Institutions for the Insane, at its annual meeting in Providence, R. I., June 10, 1862.
We think they will be of sufficient interest to our citizens, many of whom were personally acquainted with Dr. Bell, to warrant their insertion in this connection.
LUTHER V. BELL, M. D., LL. D., was born in Chester, N. H., Dec. 20, 1806. Before he had finished his seventeenth year he gradu- ated at Bowdoin College, with a reputation unsullied by any of those follies which students are so apt to mistake for the fruits of spirit and courage. Notwithstanding his youth, he held a respec- table rank in a class of considerably more than the average ability. He commenced the study of medicine with his brother, in the city of New York, and received his medical degree from the Hanover Medical School.
Having completed his courses and taken his degree, he was induced by his friends, who thought him too young to assume the responsibilities of a physician, to spend a year or more in a counting-room.
He commenced the practice of medicine in New York, but was led by family reasons to choose for his field of labor his native place, Chester, which he subsequently changed for Derry.
He soon achieved distinction, particularly in surgery, and early acquired a reputation as a writer on medical subjects. For two years in succession, while still under thirty years of age, he won the Cambridge-Boylston prize medal by medical essays of such merit that they still form a part of the standard medical literature of the country.
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About this time the success of the State Lunatic Hospital in Worcester attracted the attention of the philanthropic in New Hampshire to the necessity of a similar institution in their own State, and strong efforts were made to induce the legislature to undertake its establishment. Dr. Bell devoted himself with great zeal to the promotion of this enterprise. Twice he was elected to the legislature for the defence of his favorite plan. The ability be displayed in the discussion of the subject, and his elaborate report as chairman of a committee on the projected institution, made a decidedly favorable impression on the public mind, and led to his election to the superintendency of McLean Asylum.
He entered upon his duties in January, 1837, and for nearly twenty years conducted the institution with rare ability and suc- cess. His talents and manners were well calculated to dissipate prejudice, to win the favor of the thinking classes, and to impress upon all the conviction that he was fully adequate to the utmost requirements of his place. The parent, the child, the guardian, left in his charge the dearest object of their affections, well satis- fied that they could not have made a better choice.
In 1844 the Trustees of the Butler Hospital, at Providence, R. I., then about to establish an institution for the insane, pro- cured his services to visit Europe and ascertain what improvements had been made in the construction and ventilation of Insane Hos- pitals. During his absence of three months only, he visited the principal hospitals of England and France, and on his return to New York he had already completed plans for the construction of a hospital which, for size and adaptation, has no superior in this country.
For five years he was President of the Association of Superin- tendents of North American Institutions for the Insane. In 1850 he was chosen a member of the Executive Council of the State. In 1852 he was a member of the Baltimore Convention, which nominated Gen. Scott for the Presidency. In the same year he was a candidate for Congress. In 1853 he was appointed one of a Board of Commissioners for examining convicts in the Penitentiary who presented indications of mental disease. In 1856 he was a candidate for the office of Governor. In 1857 he was elected President of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
In 1856, after a service of nearly twenty years, he retired from the McLean Asylum, in consequence of failing health, and thence-
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forth resided in Charlestown. Much of his time after his retire- ment from the Asylum was given to consultations with other physicians, and to attendance on trials in courts of justice as a medical expert.
In the spring of 1861 a new scene opened, in which this feeble invalid was destined, under the spur of a noble sentiment, to en- counter exposure, privations, and toil, unknown to his most vig- orous years. In that great crisis of our affairs, which was to try men's souls as they were never tried before, he needed no second thought to determine what part he should act. By nature and by education, by principle and by feeling, a friend to law and order and a lover of his country, he sprung at once to the support of the Government without caring to see who stood beside him.
He felt that in the impending conflict no man should be idle. No pressure of duty kept him at home; he was conscious of pos- sessing talents and skill that would be of service to the cause, and his example would have its weight at a time when men, just recov- ering from surprise and stupor, were earnestly watching the move- ments of one another. Abandoning the little circle that had become inexpressibly dear to his affections, and renouncing all the little appliances of comfort which seemed indispensable to his in- valid condition, he offered his services to the Governor of the State on the 10th of June, received his commission as Surgeon of the 11th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, and left with it for Washington on the 30th of the same month. His regiment was soon removed to the Virginia side of the river, and took its full share in the disastrous battle of Bull Run. He established himself in Sudley Church, and from 2 to 7 P. M. was engaged in perform- ing operations. After encountering many perils and hair-breadth escapes, he reached Washington the next day, with a disorganized, panic-stricken host of fugitives. His regiment was now ordered to Maryland and made a part of Gen. Hooker's Division. Shortly after he was appointed Brigade Surgeon, and finally Division Surgeon.
Up to the last week of his life his health and power of endur- ance steadily improved under the hardships and privations of the camp; and yet he took them as they came, making no attempt to favor himself by unusual privileges. During his whole period of service in Maryland he slept out of camp but one night. " Seven nights," he says, in a letter to a friend, " I slept beneath the can-
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opy of heaven ; twice I was on horseback, or on foot, behind my marching regiment, over twenty-four hours in succession. I have had but one sick day and have been cheerful and happy." Within a month of his death he wrote, "I never had the beginning of a . regret at my decision to devote what may be left of life and ability to the great cause. I have, as you know, four motherless children. Painful as it is to leave such a charge, even in the worthiest hands, I have been forced to it by the reflection that the great issue under the stern arbitrament of arms is, whether or not our children are to have a country."
On the morning of February 5, 1862, he was awakened by intense pains in his chest. In the course of a day or two dyspnœa came on, and at the end of six days death ensued. In the midst of the severest pains he continued calm and self-possessed, saw clearly the inevitable result, said he had no messages to send, no orders to give, for he had provided for everything.
Thus, quietly and without ostentation, a life devoted to the cause of humanity and science was beautifully finished by a death in the service of his country.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD,
1874.
-
1
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, February 22, 1875.
Accepted. Referred to the Committee on Printing with instruc- tions to print the same in the Annual Report, also to print separate as many copies as the Water Board may direct.
Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, February 24, 1875. SOLOMON DAVIS, Clerk.
IN WATER BOARD,
SOMERVILLE, Jan. 29, 1875.
To the City Council :-
In compliance with the provisions of an ordinance of the city, the Somerville Mystic Water Board has the honor to submit herewith their
ANNUAL REPORT,
Presenting a statement in detail of the quantity of pipe laid, and the number of fire hydrants and stop gates set during the past year, as also a statement of the general progress and condition of the Works at the present time.
By authority granted to the Water Board by the City Council in 1873, a new 12-inch main pipe has been constructed 2,596 feet in length, connecting di- rectly with the Reservoir on Walnut Hill, and passing through Packard Street to Broadway, where it intersects with a 10-inch pipe running through Broadway to Holland Street, and connecting with the 10-inch pipe previously laid in that street. This is the most important addition which has been made to the Works, and the westerly portion of the city is now provided with the means of an abundant supply of water, both for domestic purposes and for the extinguishment of fires. In fact, since the con- struction of the above referred to 12-inch pipe, the whole city, so far as its pipe area of supply mains is concerned, is very thoroughly provided for, the
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following being the number and size of the branches connected with the Charlestown Works, viz. -
One 12-inch in Packard Street, direct from Reservoir.
" 12 " junction Broadway and Cedar Street, from 30-in. main. £ 12 " Central 66 30 “
8
66
Pearl and Myrtle 66
" Walnut
66
66 30 “
66 30 " 66
Two 6 66 66
" Cross
66 30 “
66 30 . 66
66
6
66
Medford and School
60
30 “ 66
30 “ 66
60
4
Broadway, near Temple
6 24 “ 66
8
66 junction Broadway and Medford "
66
24 “ 66
4
66 Heath St., bet. West and Bond
24 " 66
66
8
at Charlestown line, near R. R. bridge
66 24 “ 66
8
66
66
" Washington St. . "
8 " pipe.
66 30 " 66
Two 6 € 6 66
One 6
60 " Myrtle
66
One 6
66
" Marshall 66
66
6
66
Central
Making an aggregate of 791.6 square inches, more than equal to the capacity of a 30-inch pipe. The advantage of having so many sources of supply in case of accident is obvious.
Until recently no fears have been entertained as to the adequacy of Mystic Pond, with its present stor- age basin, to supply an abundance of water to the several cities and towns furnished therefrom. On account of the unprecedented drought of the past year, the water in the pond is very low, being over two feet below the top of the conduit, and making it necessary for the Charlestown Water Board to erect temporary pumping works for the purpose of keeping the conduit supplied. This temporary work is now being constructed with all possible dispatch, and no fears need be entertained as to a supply, until such
145
time as a natural relief from this threatened water famine shall come.
During the severe cold weather of the month of January, the increased consumption, or rather the waste of water, amounted to about 4,000,000 gallons daily, and at this time, owing to the increased velocity in the mains, the head was reduced in the high localities in our city to such an extent as to entirely cut off the supply: eventually something must be done to remedy this.
The city of Boston has legislative authority to increase the storage capacity of the Mystic Pond, and the Charlestown Water Board is authorized to procure the conveyance of bonds for such land as may be designated by the engineer for the purpose. Earnest consideration is being given to the subject, and in all probability early decisive action will be taken.
The sanitary qualities of the Mystic water have also received the attention of the Boston authorities. A medical commission of three physicians, appointed by an order of the City Council to investigate as to the sanitary condition of the Sudbury, Mystic, Shaw- shine, and Charles Rivers, have made a report from which the following paragraph relating to the Mystic is quoted, viz. -
" Thus from the dense population, the sewage, and from the tanneries is a large amount of decomposing animal matter turned into the Abajouna and the Horn Pond branch, to be conveyed, not all but inevitably some of it, to Mystic Pond; and judging
10
146
from the past, the amount of pollution will increase from year to year, and with it the difficulty of the problem of purification. To leave matters as they are is to confidently expect in time a degree of contamination which will make itself felt in East Boston, Charlestown, Chelsea, and Somerville, if it be not already felt in these communities. It may be that their statistics of mortality of to-day compare favorably with those of the well-water period, but it is questionable if the figures of the future will com- pare favorably with those of to-day. Of course the only remedy is to keep all this filth out by perfect sewerage."
Probably whenever the storage capacity of the pond is increased, some provision will be made to drain the territory referred to by the medical com- mission as furnishing the objectionable polluting matter; yet the Board, in view of the possible serious results which might soon occur to the in- habitants using the water, would recommend that such action be taken by the city council as, in their opinion, may be necessary to urge upon the city of Boston immediate steps towards the commencement and early completion of the necessary sewer.
Since the last Annual Report of the Board, notice has been received from I. P. Converse, Esq., the attorney having in charge the case of Alexander Campbell against the City of Somerville, - the same being a claim for 25 per cent of back pay, and for extra work done under his contract for trenching for water pipes, - that the suit has been decided by
147
the judges of the Supreme Court in favor of the city. This decision materially reduces the loss sustained by the city in the Brooks case.
Ten stand-pipes for the supply of watering carts . have been set the past season, at the request of the Committee of the City Council on watering streets. They have worked satisfactorily, and the Board recommend that others be set wherever there is a call for watering streets, the use of fire hydrants for the purpose being objectionable, on account of the lia- bility of their being put out of order by inexperi- enced persons, and thus becoming useless when required for fire purposes.
The total amount of distribution pipe laid in the streets of the city to December 31, 1874, is 41 miles 501.4 feet; number of fire hydrants, 226; number of stop gates, 291, of which 3 miles, 1009 feet of pipe, 22 post hydrants, 2 Lowry hydrants and 41 stop gates have been laid and set during the year 1874. On account of change in grades of streets, 4,905 feet of distribution pipe have been relaid, 9 hydrants reset, and 53 service pipes lowered; 364 new service pipes have been laid.
Water is now supplied to 2586 dwelling-houses, 3426 families, 66 stores and shops, 22 manufactories, 267 stables, the City Hall, school-houses, engine and hose houses, several churches, and other public buildings, - a gain of 325 dwelling-houses, 431 fam- ilies, 9 stores, one manufactory, and 39 stables for the year.
The water fixtures in use are designated as fol- lows: 3310 sinks, 424 taps, 565 bath-tubs, 674 wash-
148
hand basins, 609 pans, 429 self-acting and 177 hopper water closets, 88 private hydrants, 23 urinals, 10 fountains, and 391 hand-hose.
The general supervision of the work has been under the charge of the superintendent, Mr. Benjamin Almy, whose ability and faithfulness in the perform- ance of his duties merits and receives the full confi- dence of the Board. His competent and obliging assistant, Mr. Joshua E. Eldridge, has also performed his duties in a very satisfactory manner.
The engineering has been under the direction of Mr. Charles D. Elliott, the city engineer.
You are referred to the report of the superintend- ent, herewith presented, containing a tabular state- ment of the amount of pipe laid, and other work performed during the year, as also an inventory of stock and tools on hand at the workshop.
The cost of the Works is as follows: -
Value December 31st, 1873 - - $273,378 02
Expended during the year 1874, including stock now on hand -
- - 34,294 06
Total - $307,672 08
The Board desires to acknowledge the friendly and cordial manner in which all inquiries for in- formation, etc., have been met by the officers and members of the Charlestown Water Board.
C. E. RYMES. THOS. CUNNINGHAM. HORACE HASKINS. ROBERT A. VINAL. CUTLER DOWNER.
149
STATEMENT SHOWING TOTAL LENGTH OF DISTRIBUTION WATER PIPES LAID IN SOMERVILLE, TO JANUARY 1, 1875.
Tot. Miles & Ft.
Feet. 12 inch. 10 inch.
Feet.
Feet. Feet. 8 inch. 6 inch. 4 inch. Feet.
Feet. 3 inch.
Feet. 2 inch.
Miles. Feet.
Laid previous to 1874
5,946.6 2,596.
3,478. 666.
2,728.
5,784.
4,004.
1.071.
3
1,009.
TOTAL
8,542.6
4,144.
28,277.6 86,122.7 80,658.
7,289.5|
1,747.
41
301.4
TO THE SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD :
Gentlemen, - My Annual Report as Superintendent of the Somerville Water Works is respectfully submitted, comprising all work performed under my care during the past year, and also inventory of materials on hand December 31, 1874.
PIPE LAID IN 1874. Size of Pipe laid.
Gates set 1874.
STREET.
Feet. Feet. 12 in. 10 in.
Feet. 8 in.
Feet. 6 in.
Feet. 4 in.
Feet. 3 in.
12 in.
10 in.
8 in.
1 6 in.
¡Post hydrants
Lowry hy-
drants set '74.
Hydr .. nt pipe.
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