USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > The record of the town meetings, and abstract of births, marriages, and deaths, in the town of Dedham, Massachusetts, 1887-1896 > Part 32
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Treasurer and Receiver-General of the Commonwealth ;
Auditor of the Commonwealth ;
Attorney-General of the Commonwealth ;
Senator for the Second Norfolk District.
One Representative to the next General Court for the First Norfolk Representative District ;
Register of Deeds for the County of Norfolk ;
Treasurer for the County of Norfolk;
One County Commissioner for the County of Norfolk ;
One County Commissioner for the County of Norfolk, to fill the vacancy which has occurred by the death of John Q. A. Lothrop, for the remainder of the term for which he was elected.
To vote for or against the Article of Amendment to the Con- stitution of this Commonwealth, namely :- "Article of Amend- ment to the Constitution relative to Commissioners of Insolvency: So much of Article nineteen of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of this Commonwealth as is contained in the follow- ing words : 'Commissioners of Insolvency' is hereby annulled."
The meeting was called to order at 7 o'clock A. M., by the Town Clerk, who read the warrant.
Aaron W. Baker and Frank E. Morse were appointed by the Selectmen as ballot clerks under the provisions of Chapter 417, Acts of 1893, and were then sworn to the faithful performance of
.
402
their duties by the Town Clerk, and acted as ballot clerks under the provisions of said Act.
Willie W. Baker and John F. Riley were appointed by the Selectmen as additional ballot clerks, were also duly sworn by the Town Clerk, and in the absence of the ballot clerks acted in their place.
Twenty-three voting shelves or compartments were provided by the Town according to the requirements of said act and guarded as therein required. The first set of ballots furnished for said election by the Secretary of the Commonwealth was, before the opening of the polls on said day, delivered by the Town Clerk, sealed, to the Chairman of the Selectmen, and his receipt taken therefor. The ballot box called the Standard, fur- nished and certified to by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, was, before the balloting began, opened in public meeting and examined by the Selectmen and Town Clerk, and found to be empty, and register of said box was set at zero (0) and thereupon locked as required by law.
The seals of the package containing the first set of ballots were publicly broken by the Chairman of the Selectmen, and the same were delivered to the ballot clerks, and the cards of instruc- tion and specimen ballots were posted in the voting compart- ments and about the room as required by law, after which the polls were declared open for the reception of votes. The ballots were delivered to each voter by the ballot clerks after the name of such voter had first been publicly announced and his name been duly checked by said clerks upon the voting list used by them. The ballot as delivered to each voter was by him marked in one of the voting compartments, aforesaid, and thereafter by each voter deposited by him in said Standard ballot box, after his name had first been publicly announced at said box and duly checked upon the voting list by the election officers in charge of said box and list.
The Selectmen appointed Edward L. Burdakin, Howard Col- burn, Chester A. Reed, Alfred B. Page, Thomas J. Hannon, Crawford R. Brown, Charles N. Rogers, Charles A. Cline, Neal E. McPeck, Joseph A. Laforme, John P. Cutter, M. Gardner Boyd, John E. Fisher, Frank R. Power, Henry E. French, Frank `A. Cummings and Willie W. Baker as tellers to aid them in re-
403
ceiving, sorting and counting said ballots, and before entering upon their duties as such tellers, they were duly sworn by the Town Clerk.
The Selectmen and Town Clerk had charge of the election, and the ballot box and check list used with the same were in their care, and with their unanimous consent the ballot box was opened at thirteen minutes past one o'clock in the afternoon to remove the ballots therefrom for the purpose of counting the same. The blank forms furnished by the Secretary of the Com- monwealth were used by the election officers. The ballots were divided into blocks and each block was canvassed as required by the provisions of Chap. 417 of the Acts of 1893, and the result of such canvasses was reported to the Selectmen, who caused the total result of said canvassers to be recorded on the blank forms provided for that purpose.
On motion the polls were closed at thirty-two minutes past four o'clock in the afternoon, after which it was found that the register of the ballot box showed (1186) eleven hundred eighty-six ballots cast.
The whole number of ballots furnished in first set was
found to be
1952
There was delivered to voters 1186
And there remained unused . 766
Which were sealed up and delivered to the Town Clerk.
The names of the voters checked upon the two voting lists used as aforesaid were then counted, and it was found that 1186 names were checked on each of said lists. The check lists used were furnished by the registrars of voters for the purpose of said election. Upon the completion of the canvass of all the votes cast, and the whole number duly sorted, counted and recorded, declaration thereof was made in open Town meeting, as required by law and was as follows :
For Governor.
George H. Cary, of Lynn, had 20
Frederic T. Greenhalge, of Lowell, had .
689
Alfred W. Richardson, of Springfield, had
13
John E. Russell, of Leicester, had . .
412
£
404
David Taylor, of Boston, had .
32 Blanks, .
20
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, .
1186
For Lieutenant Governor.
Wilbert O. Dwinell, of Danvers, had 17
Moritz E. Ruther, of Holyoke, had
30
Samuel B. Shapleigh, of Boston, had
29
Charles E. Stratton, of Boston, had
363
Roger Wolcott, of Boston, had
707
J. Everett Smith had
1
Blanks,
39
Whole number of ballots, including blanks 1186
For Secretary.
Charles A. DeCourcy, of Lawrence, had
349
Wilbert D. Farnham, Jr., of Somerville, had
10
Joseph F. Malloney, of Lynn, had .
38
William M. Olin, of Boston, had
699
Isaac W. Skinner, of Brockton, had
29
Blanks, .
61
Whole number of ballots, including blanks 1186
For Treasurer.
Emil Auerbach, of Adams, had
38
John M. Fisher, of Attleborough, had
6
James S. Grinnell, of Greenfield, had
368
Martin W. Moran, of Boston, had .
27
Henry M. Phillips, of Springfield, had
673
Blanks, .
74
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, . For Auditor.
· 1186
John W. Kimball, of Fitchburg, had
669
Maurice W. Landers, of Pittsfield, had .
24
Wilbur M. Purrington, of Williamsburg, had .
6
Charles N. Wentworth, of Lynn, had
40
Alfred C. Whitney, of Boston, had
373
405
John Bestwick had
1
Blanks, .
73
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, . 1186
For Attorney General.
Frank M. Forbush, of Natick, had
11
Henry F. Hurlburt, of Lynn, had
355
Hosea M. Knowlton, of New Bedford, had 680
Frederick August Nagler, of West Springfield, had 39
James Sumner, of Milton, had
30
Elisha Greenhood had
1
Blanks, . .
70
Whole number of ballots, including blanks ·
1186
For Councillor, Second District.
Bushrod Morse, of Sharon, had 413
Cyrus Savage, of Taunton, had
673
John Harris had
1
Victor Reeves had
1
Blanks, .
98
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, . 1186
For Senator, Second Norfolk Distriet.
Robert S. Gray, of Walpole, had . 695
Joshua B. Hanners, of Walpole, had
16
Charles Warren, of Dedham, had
388
D. Victor Reeves had
1
Blanks
86
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, 1186
For Representative in General Court, First Norfolk District.
Henry D. Humphrey, of Dedham, had . 665
Frederick B. Kingsbury, of Dedham, had 469 .
Isaac W. White had
1
William Warner had
1
William Matta had
1
Blanks, .
49
Whole number of ballots, including blanks 1186
406
For County Commissioners, Norfolk.
Thomas Blanchard of Stoughton, to fill vacancy, had William W. Burke, of Weymouth, to fill vacancy, had 71
664
Nelson W. Green, of Hyde Park, full term, had . 35
Melville P. Morrell, of Hyde Park, full term, had 621
Henry E. Ruggles, of Franklin, had .
305
Don Gleason Hill, to fill vacancy, had
1
Don Gleason Hill, full term, had
1
Blanks, full term
224
Blanks, to fill vacancy
450
Whole number of ballots, including blanks . 2372
For County Treasurer, Norfolk.
Robert C. Habberley of Hyde Park, had
35
Charles H. Smith, of Dedham, had
971
Owen Reynolds had .
1
William H. Matta had
1
William F. Walley had
1
Blanks
177
Whole number of ballots, including blanks . 1186
For Register of Deeds, Norfolk District.
John H. Burdakin, of Dedham, had . 987
Louis W. Hodges, of Foxborough, had
23
Fred Gould had .
1
Blanks
:
175
Whole number of ballots, including blanks . . 1186
For Representative in Congress, Eleventh District.
John F. Dowd, of Hyde Park, had 43
William F. Draper of Hopedale, had .
692
Bentley Wirt Warren, of Boston, had . 375
. Blanks,
76
Whole number of ballots, including blanks . 1186
407
Amendment to Constitution.
Shall the proposed amendment to the Constitution relative to Commissioners of Insolvency be approved and ratified ?
Yes
434
No . . . . 94 .
Blanks, .
658
Whole number of ballots, including blanks . 1186
Certificates of said balloting, signed by a majority of the Selectmen, and attested by the Town Clerk, were sealed up in open town meeting. The ballots cast into the box by the voters were duly sealed up and certified to thereon by a majority of the Selectmen and placed in the custody of the Town Clerk, the check list used at the ballot box was also sealed up and certified to thereon by a majority of the Selectmen, and the check list used by the ballot clerks was also sealed up and certified to by the ballot clerks, and delivered to the Town Clerk in accordance with the law in that case made and provided.
And on motion the meeting was dissolved at fifty-five minutes past seven o'clock P. M. 1
Attest :
DON GLEASON HILL,
Town Clerk.
The Clerks of the Towns of Dedham and Norwood, in the County of Norfolk, comprising the Norfolk Representative Dis- trict Number One, at their meeting at Memorial Hall, in said Dedham, on Friday, the sixteenth day of November, A. D. 1894, at twelve o'clock noon, said day being the tenth day following the election,made out under their hands the following complete returns of all votes cast for Representative to the General Court in said District, as follows, to wit :
Whole number of votes cast, not including blanks,
seventeen hundred forty-one (1741)
Henry D. Humphrey, of Dedham, had one thousand .
seventeen . (1017)
Frederick B. Kingsbury, of Dedham, had seven
hundred twenty-one . (721)
408
Isaac W. White had one
(1)
William Warner had one
(1)
William Matta had one
(1)
(1741)
DON GLEASON HILL, Town Clerk of Dedham. FRANCIS TINKER, Town Clerk of Norwood.
Attest :
DON GLEASON HILL, Town Clerk.
DEDHAM, Mass., Nov. 22, 1894.
DON GLEASON HILL, Town Clerk.
Dear Sir :
At a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and School Committee of the town of Dedham, held at Memorial Hall, Nov. 21, 1804, it appearing that Mrs. Mabell S. C. Pelton, a member of the School Committee, had declined further service on said Board, that notice of said resignation had been given by the remaining members of said School Committee in writing to the Selectmen of said town, and that public notice of more than one week had been given by publication in the Dedham Transcript, a newspaper published in said town, thereupon the two Boards proceeded to fill such vacancy by a joint ballot of both said Boards, and upon a count of the ballots cast it was found that Dr. Francis L. Bab- cock had received more ballots than any other person for said office, and said Dr. Francis L. Babcock was declared elected to hold such office of School Committee until the end of the present municipal year and until the next annual town election.
R. W. HINE, Secretary of School Committee. GEORGE W. WEATHERBEE, Clerk ot Selectmen.
Attest :
DON GLEASON HILL, Town Clerk.
409
TOWN MEETING WARRANT.
[Town Seal.]
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS. To any Constable of the Town of Dedham, in said County, Greeting :
You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town of Ded- ham, qualified to vote in town affairs, to assemble at Memorial Hall, in said town, on Tuesday, the eleventh day of December, A. D. 1894, at seven and one-half o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :
Article One-To choose a Moderator of said meeting.
Article Two-To see if the Town will permit the Town of Hyde Park to use for burial purposes a parcel of land in this town, comprising two acres, more or less, and bounded as follows, to wit :- Easterly on the line between Hyde Park and Dedham ; southerly on Mother Brook ; westerly on land of Halbauer, and northwesterly on land of Favor.
Article Three-To hear and act on the report of the Park Commissioners.
Article Four-To see what sums the Town will vote to appro- priate for park purposes, and to determine the method of raising the same.
Article Five-To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Park Commissioners to petition the General Court in its behalf for the passage of a bill granting to the Town substantially the powers set out in a bill relating to a loan for park purposes, suggested in said Commissioners' report.
Article Six-To see if the Town will accept from Daniel R. Beckford, Frank M. Bailey and Francis L. Babcock-trustees under a deed to them by Eliphalet Stone, recorded, Norfolk Deeds, libro 547, folio 158-a conveyance of about 49,897 square feet of land in Dedham, between Penniman Place and Elmview Place, said land to be held by the Town for park purposes.
Article Seven-To see if the Town will accept a new street, as laid out by the Selectmen, from Mt. Vernon street to Walnut street, to be known as Whiting avenue, and appropriate money to construct the same and determine how said money shall be raised.
410
Hereof fail not, but make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, unto the Selectmen, on or before said day and time.
Given under our hands, and the seal of said Town, at Ded- ham, aforesaid, this twenty-eighth day of November, A. D. eighteen hundred and ninety-four.
THOMAS P. MURRAY, FERDINAND F. FAVOR, J. EVERETT SMITH, DAVID NEAL, Dedham.
Selectmen of
GEORGE W. WEATHERBEE,
On this warrant the following return was made :-
Norfolk, ss. · Dedham, Dec. 8th, 1894.
By virtue of this warrant, I have notified and warned the legal voters of the Town of Dedham, aforesaid, to meet at the time and place, and for the purposes specified in said warrant, by posting attested copies thereof in each of the post offices in said town, and in twenty other public places in said town, seven days at least before the day of said meeting, and by causing an attested copy thereof to be published twice before the time of said meeting in the Dedham Transcript, a newspaper published in said town of Dedham.
MARTIN J. BARRETT, Constable of Dedham.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Norfolk, ss.
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Dedham, in said County, qualified to vote in town affairs, held in pursuance to the foregoing warrant, in Memorial Hall, in said town, on Tues- day, the eleventh day of December, 1894. The meeting was called to order at the time stated in said warrant by the Town Clerk, who presided at the choice of Moderator.
Article One-John R. Bullard was chosen Moderator by written ballot, in receiving which the check list was used.
Article Two-Voted to permit the town of Hyde Park to use for burial purposes, a parcel of land in this town, comprising two acres, more or less, and bounded as follows, to wit :- Easterly on the line between Hyde Park and Dedham ; southerly on Mother
£
411
Brook ; westerly on land of Halbauer, and northwesterly on land of Favor.
Article Three-The Report of the Park Commissioners filed with the Town Clerk, December 8, 1894, was read, and it was voted that said report be accepted. The Report was as follows ;:
REPORT OF BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Dedham:
The first work taken up by your Board upon its organiza- tion, August 14, 1894, was the consideration of the Stony Brook Reservation of the Metropolitan Park System. At this meeting it was voted to ask for a conference with the Metropolitan Park Commissioners, and ascertain what benefits Dedham might expect to receive.
As a result of this action, conferences have been held with the Metropolitan Board at its sessions, with its secretary and with individual members. Your Commissioners realized at once that they were embarrassed by not having been able to confer earlier, as the Stony Brook Reservation had already been considered and its details practically closed. They, how- ever, expressed. a willingness to entertain and examine any suggestions which this Board might make, and as a result, plans have been developed benefiting Dedham which are now under consideration ; but with the large amount of other work in hand by the Metropolitan Commissioners, the prob- able tax upon their time in attending the Assessment Com- missioners' hearings, together with matters which will undoubtedly be brought before the coming Legislature, your Board feel certain that nothing definite can be expected until next year, and possibly later.
Your Board being satisfied that any benefits which might be derived from a connection with the Metropolitan Park System could not be realized within such time as our citizens might reasonably expect to have park improvements, and
412
feeling that the town desired immediate action in relation to local reservations, your Commissioners at once took up the matter of locating some small parks.
Your Commissioners believe that one important demand at the present time is a suitable and adequate play ground or grounds, to be used by the children, and in connection with which small park areas should be provided for the general public, to be developed from time to time as the Town may see fit, and which also might be made a part of a more ex- tended system of Parks.
Many localities in the Town have been personally ex- amined and plans made of some, which have been carefully discussed. As a result of these examinations and discussions, two places seemed to be best adapted for such general pur- poses, viz .: The land on the Charles River, bounded by Ames, Fuller and Bridge streets, containing about twenty acres, and on which is located the Old Powder House, and the land bounded by Colburn, Maverick and Curve streets, together with land between Colburn Street and Mother Brook, containing about fourteen and three-quarters acres.
The land adjoining the Avery School has been considered, but being of so small area, and being so far and distinctly separated from the other property, it did not seem wise to recommend its taking. Your Commissioners suggest that it be taken by the School Board and added to the Avery School lot.
Your Commissioners felt that these properties, if taken for Park purposes, would be convenient to all parts of the town, and, containing as they do about thirty-five acres, would embrace sufficient area for places of recreation and admit of desirable improvements, such as the construc- tion of walks, play-grounds, bath houses, skating ponds, etc.
Not wishing to rely entirely upon its judgment, the Board voted to ask Messrs. Aspinwall & Lincoln, the well- known Landscape Surveyors and Engineers, to go over the various properties and give their opinion as to which were
;
£
413
the most desirable. They favored the territory on Ames street and Maverick street. Maps showing the possible de- velopment were submitted by them, together with an estimate of the cost of making improvements on each.
Your Commissioners felt that the money necessary for the construction of play-grounds could be best expended with greater immediate financial benefit to the Town by taking some tract of undeveloped land near the centre and expend- ing the money on this. A location was found on the pro- posed Whiting Avenue extension, adjoining the property now held for the Town by Trustees, under deed of Eliphalet Stone, which seemed capable for such development. Surveys were made and, prices obtained, and it was found that the same could be taken and the play-ground constructed for practically the same amount as would be required to con- struct the play-grounds on the other two. An examination of the proposed Whiting Avenue showed that it was de- sirable to change the proposed location of the same in order to provide greater area for the play-ground. The additional grading of the proposed street thus made necessary, to be used in constructing the proposed new play-ground, and if the proposed Whiting Avenue extension is constructed at this time, and done in conjunction with the work of the Park Commissioners, it will be a saving to the Town. Suggestions to this effect were made to the Selectmen, who have voted to lay out the street. This proposed play-ground is about 3500 feet from Memorial Hall, 2800 feet from Oakdale, and 2000 feet from Boyden's Square; it also has railroad facilities very near.
After having considered the whole matter carefully, the Board believe that it is desirable for the Town, under the Act of 1882, to own the three properties above men- tioned, excepting the land on which the boat-house stands on the Ames Street property, and recommend that the Town appropriate the following amounts for the payment of the same :-
414
Henry White, about 7 acres, .
$ 6,000.00
Mrs. Eliza F. Brown, about 72 acres, together with the buildings, allowing her to occupy the house and stable until October 1st, 1895, $10,630.00
Chauncey S. Churchill, about & acre,
Mrs. Eliza F. Brown,
Mrs. Emma H. Taft,
F. F. Brown, about Į acre, $ 370.00
George F. Brown,
Mrs. Joseph Lathrop, about 42 acres, ·
$ 2,850.00
Merchants Woolen Co., about 142 acres, not including the buildings, allowing one year for their removal, and allowing $2,600.00 toward said removal, $14,700.00
Mrs. Louisa M. Morse, about 64 acres,
$ 4,750.00
And also recommend that the town appropriate, to be expended by the Commissioners in the improvement and benefit of the Park System, $ 5,460.00
Making a total appropriation of $45,000.00
Of the above properties your Commissioners have ob- tained and recorded bonds of conveyance from the owners, excepting Mrs. Lathrop, C. S. Churchill, and the Merchants Woolen Company.
It is proposed by the Commissioners to call the territory on Ames Street, POWDER ROCK PARK; that on Maverick Street, AVERY PARK; and that on the proposed Whiting Avenue extension, STONE PARK.
As to the desirability of these places for the purposes for which the Commissioners propose to devote them, the report of Messrs. Aspinwall & Lincoln, which is herewith submitted, seems to thoroughly cover the ground. An ex- amination of the maps will give all a clear idea of what developments are possible.
It is not proposed to make any immediate improvement
$ 240.00
415
beyond the necessary clearing of the woods, and trimming the trees, except on Stone Park, upon which the Commis- sioners intend to begin work at once, and as this work will be nearly all labor (no material needing to be purchased), it cannot but be of advantage to the citizens of the town desiring work this winter. The Commissioners feel that the work should be done by town laborers, and that the price for such labor should be left with the Labor Commissioners already appointed by the town.
It is the unanimous opinion of your board, that the parks being for future benefit as well as present, the payment of the same should be extended over the longest period possible. Under the statutes the town can borrow for ten years. Your Commissioners believe that this period should be extended if possible to not exceeding fifty years, at a rate of interest not exceeding four per cent., and special legisla- tion allowing this asked from the coming Legislature, and ask to be empowered to petition in behalf of the town for authority to borrow not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Dollars, payable within a terin not exceeding fifty years, at a rate of interest not exceeding four per cent., a proposed form of which act is herewith submitted. The object in asking for more than the amount now recommended being to place the town in position to improve and extend its Park System from time to time if it shall so vote, under the privi- lege of a fifty years' loan.
Until the result of such proposed legislation is deter- mined, your Commissioners recommend that the money be borrowed for ten years at a rate of interest not exceeding four per cent. ; the Town reserving the right to fund or ex- change said loan at any time for the fifty years. The interest on the proposed loan at four per cent. is $1800 per year, and under a ten years' loan the yearly sinking fund would be an addition of $3600 more, making a total to be provided by the Town each year of $5400, which on the present valuation of six million dollars, would add a tax
£
416
of 90 cents on each one thousand dollars property ; and under a fifty years' loan the sinking fund requirement would be $450 per year, making a total, with interest of $2250, which on the same valuation, would add 373 cents tax on each one thousand dollars property, a sum which all must admit will not be a burden. If the same results come to Dedham as have followed in many other places, the increased valuation incident to the establishment of the Parks will more than pay both interest and sinking fund within a few years.
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