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 39
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JOHN DEAN, Constable of Dedhm.
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 pursuant to the foregoing warrant, at Memorial Hall, in said town, on the sixteenth day of September, 1895.
The meeting was called to order at the time and place named
496
in said warrant, by the Town Clerk, who presided at the choice of Moderator.
Article One-George W. Humphrey was appointed and sworn by the town Clerk, a teller to aid in receiving, sorting and count- ing votes for Moderator, John R. Bullard was chosen Moderator, by printed ballots, in receiving which the check list was used.
Article Two-Voted to appropriate the sum of twelve thou- sand dollars, for the widening of Milton street, as ordered by the County Commissioners, also voted, that the Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow when so directed by the Selectmen, the sum of twelve thousand dollars, paying therefor a rate of interest not exceeding four per cent per annum, payable semi-annually, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, signed by the Treas- urer, and countersigned by a majority at least of the Selectmen, such indebtedness shall be made payable in such annual pro- portional payments as will extinguish the same in ten years from the date of delivery of said note or notes. The said sum to be applied to the payment of the twelve thousand dollars, ordered by the County Commissioners, for widening Milton Street. On this vote two hundred and twenty-seven persons voted in the affirm- ative, and ten persons in the negative, and the Moderator declared the same as passed by more than a two-thirds vote.
Article Three-The Town voted to indefinitely postpone this article, and said vote was reconsidered and the town voted that the subject matter of this article be referred to a committee of three persons to be appointed by the Moderator, to report at a future meeting, and the Moderator appointed as that committee: Charles C. Sanderson, Geo. C. Stearns and William C. Williams.
Article Four-Voted to appropriate the sum of twelve hun- dred dollars, for the abatement of the taxes of the Merchant's Wollen Company for 1894, and expenses in connection with the adjustment of said abatement.
Article Five-Voted that a Committee of five consisting of the Moderator and four others to be appointed by him, be chosen to represent the Town's interests before the Metropolitan Com- ' mission. That the Committee examine into the needs and re- quirements of the Town, in connection with a sewerage system, and make such investigations as are necessary to enable the town to be properly served by such metropolitan sewer, and that they
497
be authorized to expend a sum not exceeding eight hundred dol- lars for this purpose, and the moderator appointed as the remain- ing members of this Committee, John W. Chase, W. S. Macomber, Erastus Worthington, Jr., and Thomas P. Murray.
Article Six-Voted to appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars for finishing and furnishing the Avery School house, grading the lot on which it stands, and digging and build- ding cesspools, on said lot.
Article Seven-Voted to appropriate the sum of Twenty-five hundred dollars for the improvement of Stone Park and play- grounds, in accordance with the report and recommendations of the Park Commissioners, which report was printed in the Dedham Transcript before said meeting and is as follows :-
TOWN OF DEDHAM. 1 lowing report and recommendations to the Town in regard to the improvement of Stone Park.
The Park Commissioners of the Town of Dedham submit the fol-
Work was commenced early in the season upon the construc- tion of a play ground upon this tract, in accordance with the plan presented by the Park Commissioners in their first report. The labor on this improvement has been performed by townspeople, and by the day, under the superintendence of the Commissioners. The results accomplished have been the grading of an area upon the land purchased, about 400 feet long by 200 feet in width, form- ing a field or playground for use by the school children and younger portion of the townspeople for recreation, games and athletic sports. This area has been graded, loamed and seeded, and will be used as a play ground this fall, application for the same having already been made by the scholars.
The original estimate for this work, as made by the land- scape engineers employed by the Park Commissioners for this purpose, was $5000. The Town appropriated the sum of $4000.
The Commissioners have expended the appropriation in the manner above stated. They feel, however, that the slopes and grounds adjacent to the field should be suitably graded and trim- med so as to make it of greater benefit as a play ground, and that a further enlargement of the play area would be greatly to its
498
advantage. Had the original appropriation intended, of $5000, been voted, no further appropriation for this work would have been necessary.
The Commissioners have considered the further improvement of portions of the Park, especially with reference to the construc- tion of tennis courts, the proper fencing in and protection of the grounds from undue trespassing by carriages, and the needed sanitary arrangements and dressing shed in connection with the use of the grounds for the purposes intended.
The land deeded by Eliphalet Stone to trustees, and since acquired by the Town, also needs some slight trimming up and improvement to connect it with the remainder of the Park. Thus improved, this can be rendered a safe and convenient spot for smaller children, without obliging them to be upon the main play- ground.
The Commissioners have had estimates made of the cost of this proposed work. They feel that for an additional sum of $1500 the necessary work incidental to these added improvements can be done. They therefor recommend to the Town that the sum of $2500 be appropriated ; $1000 for the purpose of completing Stone Park as originally reported upon, and $1500 to grade and trim the slopes on the present playground, to enlarge the same, to provide the tennis courts and necessary grading, the necessary fencing and sanitary arrangements, with a dressing shed, and to smooth up and put in proper condition that portion of the grounds given by Mr. Stone, so that it can be used as a playground for smaller children. The Commissioners feel that if this is done, the Town will be amply provided with a playground, and one which is centrally located and easily accessible to all. The limited extent of the area will undoubtedly make Stone Park essentially a play- ground and not properly a park area in years to come. The Com- missioners urge that this appropriation be made at this time, in order that the work may be fully completed before fall and the grounds properly seeded, so that the children may receive the full benefit of the entire grounds as early as possible.
The total expenditure to date has been the previous appro- priation of $8750; this with the appropriation of $2500 herein recommended will make the total cost of the Park $11,250. The total area is 323,206 square feet, which will make the cost of the
-
499
land and improvements about 33 cents per foot, which price the Commissioners feel is much less than it could be secured for to- day, and that each succeeding year will show that the Town has made a wise and economical investment in the purchase and im- provement of this property.
The Commissioners also further recommend that the name of Stone Park be changed to that of "Stone Playground," it being more appropriate in view of the uses for which it is designed.
Respectfully submitted, THOMAS T. ROBINSON, JOHN CROWLEY, E. WORTHINGTON, JR., Park Commissioners.
Article Eight-Voted that this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article Nine-Mr. Thomas T. Robinson presented the follow- ing, "Whereas the Town of Dedham is included in the Metro- politan Park district, and is subject to taxation by the State in consequence of improvements made in said district, none of which are as yet within the limits of this town," and on motion it was voted that it is the desire of the citizens that the Board of Park Commissioners of this town urge the Metropolitan Park Commission to establish a drive way or boulevard, connecting this town with the Stony Brook Reservation at Boyden's Square or elsewhere, as their judgment deems for the Town's best in- terests.
Article Ten-Voted that the subject matter of this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article Eleven-Voted that the subject matter of this article be referred to the Park Commissioners, to report to the town at next annual town meeting.
Article Twelve-Voted that the subject matter of this article be indefinitely postponed.
Articles Thirteen, Fourteen and Eighteen-Voted that the subject matter of these three articles be referred to a Committee of five persons to be appointed by the Moderator, to report to the Town at a future meeting, and the Moderator appointed as that Committee, Clifton P. Baker, J. E. Smith, Chas. C. Sanderson, Horatio G. Turner and Lester A. Newcomb.
500
Article Fifteen-Voted to appropriate two hundred and fifty dollars to light Sprague street from East street to Hyde Park line, and also street from Sprague street to ice houses of Davenport, or houses at the foot of said street leading past said houses with not over thirty lights in all, and that said sum be taken from the Town treasury if there is any unexpended balance therein for which the same can be taken.
Article Sixteen-Voted to instruct the School Committee to insure the new Avery School building against loss by fire.
Article Seventeen-Voted that it was the sense of the Town that the widening of Washington street (adjudicated as neces- sary by the County Commissioners) should be made according to the plan made by Nathaniel Smith, and submitted to the Commissioners by the Selectmen of Dedham.
Article Eighteen- (acted upon with article thirteen.)
Article Nineteen-Voted that this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Articles Twenty and Twenty-one-(A motion was made that articles twenty and twenty-one be indefinitely postponed, and this motion was lost.)
Under Article Twenty, Benjamin Greenhood offered the fol- lowing motion : that the town hereby offers to Margaret Murphy the sum of $350, in settlement of her claim against the town in consequence of injuries sustained by her, through falling on the sidewalk of High street, in the month of December, 1893. And the Selectmen are hereby authorized and instructed to pay to said Margaret Murphy or her agent the said sum, on receiving or being tendered by her or her agent, a release of all claims and demands held by her against the Town. And said motion on being put to the Town was declared lost.
Mr. Greenhood, also, under article twenty-one, offered the following motion : that the Town hereby offers to Catharine Watts the sum of $350, in settlement of her claim against the Town in consequence of injuries sustained by her, through falling on the sidewalk of High street, in the month of December, 1893, and the Selectmen are hereby authorized and instructed to pay to said Cath- arine Watts, or her agents the said sum, on receiving or being tendered by her or her agent, a release of all claims and demands held by her against the Town, and said motion on being put to
£
501
the Town was declared lost, and no further action was taken on said two articles.
Voted that all sums appropriated at this meeting except under article two, be borrowed on the note or notes of the Town, signed by the Treasurer, and countersigned by at least a majority of the Selectmen," such notes to be made payable in one year at a rate of interest not exceeding four per cent per annum, and on this question one hundred and twenty-nine persons voted in the affirmative, and no person voted in the negative, and the vote was declared by the Moderator carried by more than a two-thirds vote.
On motion of C. J. Hurley, it was voted that it be the sense of this meeting, that the Selectmen be requested to print and have distributed the town meeting warrants for all special town meetings among the citizens in the Town Hall.
And on motion the meeting was dissolved.
Attest : DON GLEASON HILL, Town Clerk.
NOVEMBER ELECTION.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT.
[Town Seal.]
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Norfolk, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Ded- ham, in said County, Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of said Town of Dedham, qualified to vote in elections, and on the following question, to assemble in Memorial Hall, in said town, on TUESDAY, the fifth day of November next, it being the Tuesday next after the first Monday of said month, at seven o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in there votes for:
Governor of the Commonwealth;
Lieutenant-Governor of the Commonwealth;
502
Secretary of the Commonwealth;
Auditor of the Commonwealth;
Attorney General of the Commonwealth;
Treasurer and Receiver-General of the Commonwealth;
One Councillor for the SecondCouncillor District;
One Senator for the Second Norfolk Distriet;
One Representative to the next General Court for the First Norfolk Representative District;
One County Commissioner for the County of Norfolk;
Two Special Commissioners for the County of Norfolk;
One Sheriff for the County of Norfolk;
One District Attorney for the South-eastern District.
Also, to vote "Yes" or No" in answer to the following ques- tion :- "Is it expedient that municipal suffrage be granted to women?"
All the officers herein above named to be voted for, and said question to be voted for or against, on the ballots to be provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for this purpose.
The polls will open at seven o'clock in the forenoon, and may be closed at four and one-half o'clock in the afternoon.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, unto the Town Clerk, on or before said day and time.
Given under our hands, and the seal of said Town, at Ded- ham aforesaid, this twenty-fourth day of October, A. D. eighteen hundred and ninety-five.
J. EVERETT SMITH, DAVID NEAL, LESTER A. NEWCOMB, CHARLES H. ELLIS, GEO. W. WEATHERBEE,
Selectmen of Dedham.
On this warrant the following return was made:
Norfolk, ss.
DEDHAM, Nov. 4, 1895.
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
503
copy thereof to be published twice before the time of said meeting, in the Dedham Transcript, a newspaper published in said town of Dedham.
JOHN DEAN, Constable of Dedham.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Dedham in said County, qualified to vote in elections and on the question contained in said warrant, holden at Memorial Hall, in said town, on Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, being the fifth day of said month, A. D. eighteen hundred and ninety-five, for the purpose of giving in their votes for:
Governor of the Commonwealth;
Lieutenant-Governor of the Commonwealth;
Secretary of the Commonwealth;
Auditor of the Commonwealth;
Attorney-General of the Commonwealth;
Treasurer and Receiver-General of the Commonwealth;
One Councillor for the Second Councillor District;
One Senator for the Second Norfolk District;
One Representative to the next General Court for the First Norfolk Representative District;
One County Commissioner for the County of Norfolk;
Two special Commissioners for the County of Norfolk;
One Sheriff for the County of Norfolk;
One District Attorney for the Southeastern District.
Also to vote "Yes" or No" in answer to the following ques- tion :- "Is it expedient that municipal suffrage be granted to women?"
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, and before entering upon the duties of said office, were duly sworn by the Town Clerk, and Frank W. Power and John F. Reilly, were appointed by the Selectmen as additional ballot clerks, and being first duly sworn by the Town Clerk, acted as ballot clerks in the absence of the ballot clerks first appointed.
504
Twenty-three voting shelves or compartments were provided by the Town, and guarded according to law. The first set of ballots furnished for said election by the Secretary of the Com- monwealth were, 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. Two ballot boxes called the Standard, furnished and certified to by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, one for men and one for women voters, were, before the balloting began, opened in public meeting and ex- amined by the Selectmen and Town Clerk, and found to be empty, and register of said box set at zero (0) and duly locked as re- quired by law.
The seals of the package containing the first sets of ballots were publicly broken by the Chairman of the Selectmen, and the same was delivered to the ballot clerks, and the cards of instruc- tion and specimen ballots were posted in the voting compartments and about the room as required by law, after which the polls were declared open for the reception of votes. The ballots were de- livered 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 or her marked in one of the voting compartments, aforsaid, and thereafter by each voter deposited in said Standard ballot box, after his or her 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, Crawford R. Brown, John P. Cutter, Frank W. Power, Geo. C. Stearns, F. F. Favor, Alfred C. Smith, Frederick B. Kings- bury, John F. Reilly and Robert B. Worthington, as tellers to aid them in receiving, 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 boxes and check lists used with the same were in their care, and with their unanimous consent the ballot box for men voters was opened nine times to remove the ballots therefrom for the purpose of counting the same. The blank forms furnished
505
by the Secretary of the Commonwealth were used by the election officers. The ballots were divided into blocks, and each block was canvassed as required by law, and the result of such canvasses was reported to the Selectmen, who caused the total result of said canvasses to be recorded on the blank forms provided for that purpose.
On motion the polls were closed at half-past four o'clock in the afternoon, after which it was found that the register of the ballot-box used by the men voters showed 1306 ballots cast.
· The whole number of ballots for men voters furnished in first set was 1900. There was delivered to the men voters 1308 ballots, two of which were returned as spoiled and two given in place thereof. The whole number of ballots for women voters furnished in first set was found to be 2000. There was delivered to the women voters 94 ballots.
The names checked upon the voting lists used at said elec- tion were then counted, and it was found that 1306 names were checked upon each of the two voting lists used for men voters, and that 94 names were checked upon the two voting lists used for women voters. The check lists used were furnished by the registrars of voters. 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.
Elbridge Gerry Brown, of Brockton, had
12
Frederic T. Greenhalge, of Lowell, had
666
Edward Kendall, of Cambridge, had
22
Moritz E. Ruther, of Holyoke, had
20
George Fred. Williams, of Dedham, had
551
Elijah Morse had .
1
Blanks, .
34
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, . 1306
For Lieutenant Governor.
Thomas C. Buddington, of Springfield, had
18
. James S. Grinnell, of Greenfield, had
433
Patrick F. O'Neil, of Boston, had .
35
Edward S. Rogers, of Lee, had .
.
.
30
506
Roger Wolcott, of Boston, had
729
Blanks, .
61
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, .
1306
For Secretary.
Edward J. Flynn, of Boston, had .
434
Joseph F. Maloney, of Lynn, had .
35
Charles D. Nash, of Whitman, had
22
William M. Olin, of Boston, had
710
Willard O. Wylie, of Essex, had
14
Blanks, .
91
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, 1306
For Treasurer and Receiver General.
Martin W. Moran, of Boston, had
32
Wilbur M. Purrington, of Williamsburg, had
19
Edward P. Shaw, of Newburyport, had .
683
Eben S. Stevens, of Dudley, had. .
423
Charles N. Wentworth, of Lynn, had
41
William C. Warren had
1
Blanks, .
107
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, 1306
For Auditor.
John W. Kimball, of Fitchburg, had 694
Frederick A. Nagler, of West Springfield, had
30
Andrew H. Paton, of Danvers, had
20
Herman T. Regnell, of Attleboro, had .
16
Alfred C. Whitney, of Boston, had .
425
Julius H. Eis, had .
1
Blanks.
120
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, 1306
For Attorney-General.
Frank M. Forbush, of Natick, had . 18
Henry F. Hurlburt, of Lynn, had . ·
415
Hosea M. Knowlton, of New Bedford, had
711
Squire E. Putney, of Somerville, had
25
A
507
Conrad Reno, of Boston, had .
20
John Mulverhill, had
1
Blanks, .
116
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, 1306
For Councillor, Second District.
William N. Eaton, of Quincy, had . 456
Benjamin S. Lovell, of Weymouth, had .
708
Timothy Lehane, had
1
Thomas G. Conners, had
1
Blanks,
140
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, 1306
For Senator, Second Norfolk District.
Clark P. Harding, of Medway, had
691
Aaron R. Morse, of Walpole, had .
31
Charles Warren, of Dedham, had .
449
Joseph Ross, had .
1
Luke C. McGinness, had
1
William M. Matta, had .
Blanks, .
132
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, 1306
For Representative in General Court, First Norfolk District.
David H. Greenhood, of Dedham, had . 192
Henry D. Humphrey, of Dedham, had .
624
Chester A. Reed, of Dedham, had .
413
Arthur W. Wight, had
1
Franklin L. Brown, had .
2
C. C. Nichols, had .
4
Josh S. Atwood, had
I
Blanks, .
69
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, . 1306
For District Attorney, Southeastern District.
Robert O. Harris, of East Bridgewater, had . Luke McGuiness, had, . 1
891
J. Coolbrith, had . 1
508
Ben. Greenhood, had Thomas Hooban, had John J. Gerry, had
1
1
J. E. Cotter, had .
1
1
1
1
William M. Matta, had .
1
David H. Greenhood, had
2
Andrew J. Nolan, had .
1
Rob O. Schulz, had
2
Blanks,
400
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, .
1306
For County Commissioners, Norfolk.
Thomas Blanchard, of Stoughton, had .
819
Thomas H. Lilly, had .
1
H. Behnke, had
1
Nicholas Mulverhill, had
1
Fletcher Abbott, had
1
James Kelly, had .
1
Alfred Hewins, had
2
Dan McGee, had .
1
David Greenhood, had .
·
1
John W. Conners, had
1
J. Everett Smith, had
1
Blanks, .
476
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, . 1306
For Special Commissioners, Norfolk.
Everett J. Eaton. of Needham, had 651
Curtis McIntosh, of Needham, had
110
Cornelius J. Murphy, of Norfolk, had
415
Lewis R. Whitaker, of Franklin, had
549
R. Mandeville, had
1
Neal McPeck, had
1
Thos. H. Kelly, had
1
Herbert H. Crosby, had
1
Alfred E. Smith, had Daniel McGee, had Ned Sweeney, had
1
509
C. C. Sanderson, had
1
Blanks, .
882
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, For Sheriff, Norfolk.
2612
Augustus B. Endicott, of Dedham, had 881
Abram C. Paul, of Stoughton, had
344
Alfred Smith, had .
1
Blanks, . ,
80
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, Municipal Suffrage to Women.
1306
In answer to the question, "Is it expedient, that municipal suffrage be granted to women?"
Men,
296
Yes. 5 Women
93
No. Men. 749
1
261
Blanks, (Men,)
§ Men, 1306
Whole number of ballots, including blanks, Women, 94
Certificates of said balloting, signed by the Selectmen, and attested by the Town Clerk, were sealed up in open town meeting. The ballots cast into the boxes by the voters were duly sealed up and certified to thereon by the Selectmen, and placed in the custody of the Town Clerk; the check lists used at the ballot boxes were also sealed up and certified to thereon by the Select- men, and the check lists used by the ballot clerks were 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.
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