USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Somerville, past and present : an illustrated historical souvenir commemorative of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the city government of Somerville, Massachusetts > Part 15
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Although the main desideratum is pure water in abundant quantity, Somerville expects to enjoy from this system the subsidiary advantages of increased pressure in its local system ; cutting off the expense of maintain- ing a local pumping station ; increase in water revenue due to our ability to secure more favorable terms than are at present enjoyed ; and the removal of a certain feeling of prejudice against our city which has prevailed to some extent on account of the unfavorable quality of our present water- supply.
Somerville's interest in the Mystic system will cease by legislative enact- ment on the first day of January, 1898, and she will then become a consumer in this great Metropolitan Water-System.
ISAAC STORY.
JOHN HASKELL BUTLER.
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE COURT.
BY WILLIAM E. BRIGHAM.
CHAPTER XX.
THE long-continued depredations of incendiaries led to the organization of a regular police force in Somerville at a time when no householder could lie down to sleep at night without an anxious fear that his own might be the property which, without warning, would go up in flames, kindled by the torches of a noted gang that had kept the town in terror for years. The regular constabulary had performed police duty exclusively for more than twenty years after the incorporation of the town, or until firemen and citi- zens were compelled to do their own watching to prevent incendiarism.
For the better regulation of the temporary watchmen thus informally employed, a police board was organized, June 19, 1865, with Town Consta- ble Horace B. Runey as chairman and Jairus Mann, now city messenger, and who has been a constable of Somerville since 1858, as secretary. The citi- zens of the town thought they had handled the liquor question quite sucess- fully when, in 1863, the authorities had induced the forty-three liquor dealers of Somerville to agree in writing to sell no more in violation of the law; but the burning of property necessitated more stringent measures, and the police board urged the establishment of a permanent night-watch, stating that " The officers of this town have been upon duty night after night, for weeks together, and some of them night and day also, for many days in succession."
September 6, 1867, Robert R. Perry and, soon afterward, James Hanley were appointed a permanent night-watch, to aid Captain Runey, and the town appropriated, in place of its former annual " Selectmen's Incendiary Fund " of $5,000, the sum of $2,700 for police maintenance. In 1868 Melville C. Parkhurst was added to the night-force; two men were added in 1869 and in 1870 two more. About this time a day-patrol was established, and in 1870 the town was redivided into seven police districts, a night-patrol- man was assigned to each, and the men were put upon fair salaries.
The force was reorganized in 1871 and enlarged to thirteen men, and a set of rules for its control was adopted, emergency only having been its governing factor before that year. Chairman Austin Belknap of the Board of Selectmen meanwhile had kept his eye upon the work of Melville C. Parkhurst, fresh as he was from the hardy experience of war, and having tried that officer and found him efficient, the Board made him captain of the watch. Upon the organization of the first city government, in 1872, Captain Parkhurst was appointed to his present position of chief of police. February 1, 1873, Patrolman Robert R. Perry was made captain of police, which rank he has held uninterruptedly to the present time, with the dis- tinction of being the oldest officer, in point of service, in the department. The office of lieutenant was created in 1875 and filled by Joseph B. Alden
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until his death in March, 1876, when Sergeant Samuel R. Dow was ap- pointed to the place and held it until the office was discontinued in 1877. Charles ('. Folsom was promoted to sergeant in 1876, and resigned, August 1, 1885, to become superintendent for the overseers of the poor, a position he still fills. The four sergeants of the present force, with their dates of appointment to the force and promotion are : Edward McGarr, April, 1871 - September 1, 1884; Christopher C. Cavanagh, May 1, 1869 - August 1, 1885 ; Dennis Kelly, April, 1881 - May 10, 1892; Eugene A. Carter, March, 1884 February 8, 1893.
In 1877, with a city's population of about 22,000, the police force was reduced from twenty-eight to twenty-four men and salaries were cut down. The municipal police signal system was established for the use of the department September 1, 1888. The emergency ambulance was introduced in 1894, upon the completion of the Somerville Hospital, toward the build- ing fund of which the police force collectively had voluntarily contributed the sum of $200. In 1895, acting under authority of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 1895, entitled, "An Act to Provide for the Appointment of a Reserve Police in the City of Somerville," Mayor William H. Hodgkins appointed a reserve police force of eight men -the number of the reserve force is limited to ten by the same law, and the vote of the city council has fixed the number at eight - of whom three already, in accordance with the second section of the Act, requiring the regular force to be recruited from the reserve force, have been promoted to be regular patrolmen. September I, 1896, with a city's population of about 55,000, the force consisted of the chief, one captain, four sergeants, thirty-six regular patrolmen and six re- serve officers.
The Somerville Police Relief Association, of which all the men upon the regular force are members, was organized in 1872, and was incorporated December 19, 1881. It is dependent for funds almost exclusively upon the annual police ball, and has more than $20,000 in its treasury. Its officers are : President, Robert R. Perry; clerk, Eugene A. Carter ; treasurer, Melville C. Parkhurst.
Somerville, as town and city, has ever been comparatively free of crime, chiefly because it is a residential place, where the sale of liquor is prohibited by overwhelming public sentiment and the liquor laws are unceasingly enforced. Until 1854 criminal cases were taken to Charlestown or to East Cambridge for trial. From 1854 until the incorporation of the city in 1872, cases were tried almost exclusively by Francis Tufts, acting as justice of the peace, and, later, as trial justice, under the statute whereby certain trial justices were designated and commissioned triennially, who exercised authority and jurisdiction in criminal cases in any town in the county where no Police Court was established. The first trials in Somerville, and those for many years, were conducted in the office of Justice Tufts, on the southwesterly corner of Medford and Washington streets. In 1861 the court was removed to what had been the schoolhouse, on the southeasterly corner of Prospect street and Somerville avenue. A Police Court was established in the city April 23, 1872.
MELVILLE C. PARKHURST.
MICHAEL F. FARRELL.
SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT. 257
The Hon. Isaac Story, who is still in office, was appointed standing justice, and Lebbeus Stetson was elected clerk. Clerk Stetson was suc- ceeded in 1882 by the present incumbent, Herbert C. Chapin. A room in the city hall was used for the sessions of the court until the completion of the fine brick and granite police building on Bow street in 1875. This structure, erected at a cost of about $50,000, furnished, was designed especially for the accommodation of the Police Department, the Police Court, the Somerville Light Infantry and the Overseers of the Poor. It contains also a large hall for ward and city purposes.
POLICE STATION, BOW STREET.
The venerable brick engine-house, on the corner of Prospect and Wash- ington streets, was used as a lockup until 1873, before which time Cambridge accommodated Somerville's overflow of criminals ; and from that time until the police building was finished the present water-works office, corner of Prospect street and Somerville avenue, was used.
The Somerville police department is, in many respects, a model organ- ization. While the city has never pursued the policy, common in many other cities and towns, of maintaining one patrolman to every one thousand inhabitants, the force as constituted is reasonably effective, and enjoys the confidence and good will of the citizens.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BY JOHN S. HAYES.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE Somerville Public Library deserves a prominent place in any recognition of the Somerville of to-day. Its inception, its steady growth, the fidelity of those to whom its interests have been committed, and its wide and increased usefulness, should have more than ordinary attention.
It cannot be disputed that to a very large degree a public library is the focus-point of the intelligence of a community. Of course its value must depend upon the character of its contents and the methods employed to bring it into touch with all classes of people. A public library is not meant for those of exceptional culture only, nor must it merely meet the uncultured taste of those whose lack of experience would make them satisfied with works of a weak if not vicious character. It is for the steady, if necessary, the slow uplifting of those who need, in every station in life, that enlighten- ment of mind which will make them appreciate the ennobling resources of mental culture, refinement, and ambition. From the very first the Public Library of Somerville has come under good guardianship and direction.
The one who took the earliest and most active interest in its establish- inent was Edward E. Edgerly. He held a position as president of the Somerville High School Association which of itself was indicative of the esteem in which he was held by those interested with him in the improve- ment of children and youth. It was unfortunate that his sickness and death prevented the maturing of his plans, but he achieved the success of in- spiring others with the salutary importance of the project he had so per- sistently and strenuously advocated. Those who were associated with him did not receive his ideas in fallow minds or in unsympathetic hearts. On the contrary, at the suggestion of the Association of which he had been President, the selectmen and school committee of the town were invited to co-operate in taking measures for the formation of a library. This propo- sition received the immediate attention of the selectmen. A joint committee was formed, consisting of Austin Belknap, Horace Haskins, and Francis Houghton, of the board of selectmen, and Edward C. Booth, Henry M. Brown and George S. Littlefield of the High School Association. This was in the year 1869. The same committee was reappointed in March, 1870, and prepared and submitted a plan for the proposed library, and presented the names of the following well-known citizens as a Board of Trustees :
1
JOHN S. HAYES.
SOMERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
Austin Belknap, Henry M. Brown, Samuel A. Carlton, Horace P. Hemen- way, Oren S. Knapp, John P. Marshall, Edwin Mills, Frank H. Raymond and Columbus Tyler.
The town, however, at its April meeting in 1871, while voting "That a free public library be established," did not ratify the action of the committee, but instead appointed a committee "to report a plan for operating the same." This committee consisted of the above mentioned citizens, and Russell H. Conwell, Joshua H. Davis, Samuel C. Hunt, George S. Littlefield, Rev. Charles Lowe, Isaac Pitman, and Quincy A. Vinal. Subsequently there was a change made in the composition of the committee. Rev. Charles Lowe and Prof. John P. Marshall being absent in Europe, and so unable to serve, Rev. Geo. W. Durell and John R. Poor were chosen to fill the va- cancies.
It is unnecessary to follow in minute detail the work done by the com- mittee. They reported in print, and submitted a code of by-laws, sub- stantially the same as those now in force, and the citizens in town meeting assembled adopted their recommendations, November 7, 1871.
The change of town government to that of a city necessitated some delay. But at a meeting of the city council held October 21, 1872, a board of trustees consisting of nine members was elected. This board organ- ized November 14, and elected Isaac Pitman librarian.
The library opened for the delivery of books to the public May 1, 1873, in a small room on the lower floor of the city hall. It had a list of 2384 volumes. Of that number 715 volumes were donated by thirty-six public-spirited citizens. From that time until the present, the library has been wholly sustained by the yearly appropriations made by the city coun- cil, and the dog-licenses, which are yearly turned over to the library, it hav- ing received only $102.80 in gifts. The aggregate amount of the annual appropriations and dog-licenses, during the existence of the library, is $111,355.34.
Mr. Pitman continued as librarian, giving valuable help, without money and without price, until June 1, 1875, when he resigned, and his valuable assistant, Miss H. A. Adams, was elected to his place, which she acceptably filled for eighteen years. During her term of service the number of books increased to about 25,000, and the yearly circulation to 93,000. In July, 1893, the present incumbent, John S. Hayes, took charge of the library.
It was evident to the board of trustees that the increasing needs of the library consequent upon the enlarged population of the city, and the more general use of the library books, demanded better accommodations, and more modern methods. The present library building was erected in 1884-5, at a cost of $28,335.45 exclusive of land, and presumably was deemed sufficiently capacious for all prospective needs; yet within ten years it had been outgrown in every department, but particularly in shelf-room for books, and rooms for consultation and study.
By the generous action of the city government, the trustees were en- abled in 1895 to remove the book-cases and erect a steel book-stack, thus
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SOMMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
enabling them to more than double the book-holding capacity of the stack- room. Other changes were made, adding very much to the usefulness of the library for those who desired to consult its resources. A reference room was provided, thus making the books of this department more aces- sible. One room has been set apart for works on our state and town his- tories, and the volumes which now line its walls make a notable beginning for a department of Americana ; and numerous valuable art-books have been added, and so far as was deemed justifiable in view of the limited funds at the disposal of the trustees, foreign books, mostly in general literature, have also found a place within the library.
And still the work goes on. There is an increasing use of the books now held in the library catalogue, and a very urgent need for more. This is indicated by the fact that, having a library of less than 34,000 volumes, and a city population of over 54,000, and rapidly increasing, the yearly circulation has risen to 130,000, - which is equivalent to each volume in the library being circulated four times each year; while the size of the library is in- dicated by the statement that there is less than two-thirds of a book to each inhabitant. It will thus be seen that our library is very small in proportion to the size of the city, while its circulation is comparatively large, - thus making it a question of serious consideration how soon there can be had, at least, a list of 100,000 books in the library.
It is the policy of the trustees to bring the resources of the library as close to the homes of the city as possible. With this end in view, sub-agencies have been located in East Somerville and West Somerville, and books are regularly delivered at the several large school buildings, for the use of teachers and pupils, and thus the library is kept in touch with the younger portion of the community.
In order to make the library more accessible, a new finding-list was printed about one year ago, after a re-classification of all books in the library, at an expense of $4,344. In order to give information as to new books, or books bearing on special topics, a monthly bulletin for free distribution has been issued, and frequent communications printed in the local press, which has very cordially seconded the efforts which have been industriously made by those in charge of the library.
The trustees have always given patient thought and valuable time, voluntarily and gratuitously, sometimes in much perplexity, to promoting the interests of the institution committed to their guardianship. The high character of the books selected and placed upon the shelves testifies to their faithfulness, and indicates that they fully appreciate the responsibilities placed upon them ; and it is evident that the library has been exceedingly fortunate in having the services of able and devoted men and women in its organization, management, and administration. It has been built up and carried forward with no false step or retrograde movement, from its small beginning in a little room, until it has quite outgrown the beautiful building it now occupies, and it seeks to-day new opportunities of usefulness, even in advance of public requirements.
CHARLES S. LINCOLN.
CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES.
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
Judging from its past growth, and from its present influence, it is by no means unreasonable to expect that the public library will be an increasing power for good in the flourishing, intelligent, and beautiful city of Somer- ville.
The interest taken in the library since its beginning, and the use made of it, may be imperfectly indicated by the following brief citation of figures : In 1873, as has been already stated, the number of books in the library was 2,384 ; the circulation that year was 18,047 volumes. Two years later, that is, in 1875, there had been placed in the library 5,235 books, and the circulation was 39,025. In 1880, 8,614 books, 67,894 circulation; in 1885, 12,788 books, 65.450 circulation ; in 1890, 20,112 books, 95,127 circulation ; in 1894, 27,729 books, 106,341 circulation ; and in 1896, up to November 1, 36,642 books, and a circulation of 116,786. The circulation for the entire year will probably exceed 130,000 volumes. The number of books worn out, lost and discarded, up to the present time, has been 2,754, making the num- ber of volumes in the library about 34,000. The total circulation has been 1,727,038 volumes.
The library and reading-room are open every day (Sundays and legal holidays excepted) from 9 A. M. to 6 P. M ; Wednesdays and Saturdays until 9 P. M. The reference room is open from 1.30 P. M. to 5.30 P. M. Books are delivered and collected at the several large grammar schools as frequently as the demand may require.
Any resident of Somerville, over fourteen years of age, is entitled to the use of the library by signing the proper application, and presenting a written recommendation that he is a suitable person to use the library, signed by two citizens of Somerville.
Any person visiting the library for the purpose of literary or scientific investigation may temporarily receive the benefits of the reading-room and the use of the books within the library building.
Special privileges are granted professional persons, teachers, authors, and special students requiring the use of more than one book at a time.
It is hoped that those who make use of the library will have no hesi- tation in consulting the librarians and assistants in all matters upon which information is needed. Inquiries regarding special subjects of study are always invited, and will receive careful attention. Information slips can be obtained at the desk.
ORGANIZATION.
Trustees. - Charles S. Lincoln, president, J. Henry Flitner, Christo- pher E. Rymes, Charles H. Brown, Elijah C. Clark, John B. Viall, Charles A. West, J. Frank Wellington, Charles W. Sawyer; John S. Hayes, secre- tary.
Library Staff. - John S. Hayes, librarian ; Clara L. Bidwell, assistant librarian; Anna L. Stone and Mary J. Warren, assistants; F. Mabel Nor- cross, cataloguer ; Esther M. Mayhew, Charles A. Wiggin and Henry N. Sanborn, attendants ; Charles A. Southwick, janitor.
J. FRANK WELLINGTON.
CHARLES W. SAWYER.
JAMES R. HOPKINS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BY WILLIAM E. BRIGHAM.
CHAPTER XXII.
FROM 1842, when all Somerville was a quiet farming country, dates the history of the Somerville Fire Department. For nearly fifty years a curious little machine had been in service in Charlestown proper, a "tub " hand engine, Mystic No. 6 by name. Its principal mechanism consisted of an oblong wooden tank sheathed with metal, pistons which worked perpendi- cularly, and handsome lancewood brakes. It could not "draught " water, and all it threw was first poured into it from buckets - hence its denomina- tion "tub."
In 1838, four years before Somerville was set off as a town, the Charles- town authorities assigned this engine to duty in Charlestown's big back yard, as Somerville then was, and a plain two-story wooden engine-house with cupola was built for it on the corner of Washington and Prospect streets, at a cost of $400. In this the engine was placed, and a small bell was hung in the cupola. For years, even after the Somerville company was or- ganized, in 1842, an alarm of fire could be rung only by means of this bell. For years, also, according to a law then in force, every man in town was re- quired to hang two buckets, usually of leather and painted, in his front hall, and when an alarm was sounded it was his duty to seize those buckets, hurry to the fire and range in line with others to assist in passing water from well or cistern to the men who worked the engine.
August 6, 1838, the selectmen appointed Benjamin F. Ricker, Hiram Allen, Clark Bennett, Solomon Story, James Underwood, Nathan Tufts, Nathan Tufts, Jr., David A. Sanborn, William Bonner, John Runey, Jr., True Morrill, Henry A. Ireland, Charles Miller, Jerome Thorp, Joshua Rand, Levi Orcutt, Daniel Stone, Joseph Clark, Robert Vinal, William Munroe, William Parker, Nathan Blodgett, Benjamin Hadley, Benjamin Hadley, Jr., Abram Welch, Oliver Tufts, Samuel T. Frost, Asa Richards, Dustin N. Smith, Oscar Bennett, Robert Sanborn, Nathaniel Williams, John Giles, Caleb Harrington and Charles Wentworth, "to be engineers and firemen constituting a new company designated as Engine Company No. 6, attached to Engine 6, located near Milk Row in said Charlestown." The Charles Miller mentioned in the foregoing was the man who named Somerville. The records fail to give the list of officers of the original " Mystic 6" company. The first officers mentioned were in 1840, when 269
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John Runey, Jr., was foreman : Solomon Story, assistant foreman ; Jerome Thorp, second assistant ; and Robert A. Vinal, clerk and treasurer. In 1839 Hiram Allen had been appointed an assistant engineer, and was, it is stated, the only representative the Somerville district ever had upon the Charles- town board of fire engineers. In 1842, when the town was set off, old Mys- tic 6 was left as a legacy to Somerville, and the engine's valuation, $50, was entered upon the town records. This engine was Somerville's only fire apparatus until 1850 ; in^ 1856, by vote of the town, Abram Welch was authorized to sell the venerable relic, which he did for $30, and it was taken to East Boston and broken up for old junk. The small hand bell which came with it from Charlestown is now in possession of Chief Hopkins at the central fire station. It bears the inscription :-
" Presented to Company No. 7 by Mr. John B. Parker."
The salary of the firemen, all volunteers, was $1.50 each per annum, paid by the abatement of the poll tax. Fires were infrequent, however, and in a short time the company disbanded ; and from that time until 1850 the engine was manned sometimes by a regularly organized company and sometimes by volunteers. In 1846 the "Boys' Company," so called, because composed of young men from 16 to 20 years old, was organized. According to the recollection of some of its members, Levi Orcutt was foreman, David A. Sanborn, Jr., assistant foreman, and J. Manley Clark, clerk. Among other members were Quincy A. Vinal, Robert A. Vinal, Horace B .. Runey, George W. Fillebrown, Carlton Hawkins, "Jimmy" Williams (a popular colored man), George Ambrose Clark, Albert L. Sanborn, Daniel Sanborn, Henry Munroe, Henry Thorpe, and Quincy Harrington.
In 1850 began what may be termed the romantic days of the department which continued for fifteen years, during which time the firemen as such were closely identified with the social life of the town. November 12, 1849, after repeated attempts at like action, the town appropriated $1,438.75 for the purchase of a "good and sufficient fire engine." It arrived about Jan- uary 1, 1850, and was styled " Somerville No. 1." It was a first-class inod- ern suction machine, one of the best ever made by the celebrated Hunne- man & Co. of Roxbury, and had six and a half inch cylinders, folding brakes and all the latest improvements. January 7, 1850, the selectmen appointed the following board of fire engineers : Nathan Tufts, Jr., Gard- ner T. Ring, George O. Brastow, John B. Osgood, and Abram Welch. Mr. Welch declining to serve, Hiram Allen was appointed in his place. Jan- uary 15, the board organized by the choice of Nathan Tufts, Jr., as chief engineer, and George O. Brastow, clerk. More than fifty men at once en- rolled in the company, and soon it was one of the leading and most popular organizations in town. Following is the original roster of Somerville En- gine Company No. 1, as taken from a poster in the possession of Chief Hopkins, and which is believed to be the only one in existence :
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