USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1889-1890 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Moved, that we proceed to the choice of two Trustees of the Thayer Public Library.
Voted, To lay this motion on the table.
Voted, That the fourth Article be laid on the table.
Voted, To take Article 2 from the table.
Voted, That the report of the Selectmen be accepted.
Article 5 taken up.
Voted, Unanimously, that the Treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the Selectmen, to hire money in anticipation of taxes of the current fiscal year, and to issue notes of the town therefor, and the debts incurred under the authority of this vote are hereby made payable from said taxes.
88
Voted, Unanimously, that the Treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the Selectmen, to hire money to renew, replace, or pay any existing loan, or any part thereof, and to issue notes of the town therefor.
Article 6 taken up.
The Committee on appropriations then made a report, and the following sums of money were voted to be appropriated for the several objects specified, namely :
Schools,
$9,100 00
School incidentals,
300 00
Schoolhouse incidentals,
800 00
Superintendent of schools,
1,200 00
Text-books and supplies,
700 00
General repairs on highways,
4,000 00
Stone roads and repairs on same,
3,000 00
Support of poor,
4,000 00
Removal of snow,
500 00
Public Library,
700 00
Janitor,
600 00
Town lands, .
100 00
Interest on town debt,
1,200 00
Interest on water bonds,
4,000 00
Sinking fund,
2,000 00
Soldiers' aid,
350 00
Collection and abatements,
600 00
500 00
Insurance on public buildings, Town incidentals,
1,200 00
Town officers,
2,400 00
Expenses of lawsuits, etc.,
5,000 00
Voted, That the income of the dog licenses, and the state and town school funds, be appropriated for schools.
Voted, That so much of the bank and corporation tax to the amount of $7000, be applied to the payment of the above appropriation.
Article 6 laid on the table.
Article 7 laid on the table.
89
Article 8 taken up.
Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $150 for the purpose of assisting the General Sylvanus Thayer Post, No 87, G. A. R., in defraying the expenses of the services on Memorial Day, and that the same be paid to said Post.
Article 9 taken up.
Voted, That the engine companies shall consist of the same number of men as last year, and that the engineers and members of the Fire Department shall be paid for their services for the present year an amount equal to their poll tax.
Article 6 taken from the table.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of $1000 for the support of the Fire Department the present fiscal year.
Article 6 laid on the table.
Voted, That Article 33 be taken up, and that all intervening Articles be laid on the table.
Voted, To refer Articles 12, 13, 17, 18, 23, 25, 31, 32, to a committee of nine, to be appointed by the Moderator; said committee to report at the adjourned meeting.
Moderator appointed Albert E. Avery, Henry A. Johnson, Abijah Allen, George D. Willis, Daniel Potter, Samuel A. Bates, : John Reed, George H. Arnold, and Elmer E. Abercombie, said committee.
Voted, To adjourn to Tuesday evening, April 2, 1889, at seven o'clock.
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 2, 1889.
The town assembled in accordance with the adjournment from March 1, 1889.
The Moderator presiding over the meeting.
Voted, To lay Article 33 on the table.
Article 4 taken from the table.
The Town Clerk reported the following vacancies: Three Constables, one Measurer of Grain, and three Field Drivers.
1
1
90
Voted, To proceed to the choice of one Constable. Jacob W. Reed was elected Constable by ballot, but declined said office.
Voted, That the vacancies in the offices of Field Drivers and Measurer of Grain be filled by the Selectmen, if thought neces- sary.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to nominate a School Fund Committee. Chair appointed for said committee, J. T. Stevens, B. J. Loring, Jr., and Charles I. Craibe.
Committee reported the names of Alva S. Morrison, George D. Willis, Joseph Dyer, William R. Penniman, Naaman L. White, Willie H. Shaw and Joel F. Sheppard, and said persons were elected by ballot to fill the office of School Fund Committee.
Article 4 laid on the table.
Article 7 taken from the table.
Voted, To accept the following jury list as made by the Se- lectmen, namely :
Hiram E. Abbott,
Edward A. Hale,
Joseph M. Allen,
Everett A. Harris,
Orace W. Allen,
Edward P. Hayward,
William Allen,
J. Frederick Allen, Charles G. Anderson, John M. Arnold,
Richard L. Arnold,
Timothy D. Bagley,
Andrew J. Bates,
Salmon F. Jenkins,
John V. Scollard, Willie H. Shaw, Alfred Southworth, William H. Stevens, David H. B. Thayer,
Charles G. Batson, John M. Beals, Elisha A. Belcher, John A. Brigham, William H. Cobb, Charles I. Craibe, Henry F. Crane,
Caleb Thompson,
Foster F. Tupper, Henry B. Vinton,
George A. French,
Thomas A. Watson, Jonathan F. White, Joseph Whitely,
Charles E. French, Henry Gardner,
Charles H. Loring, Frank G. Lunt, William H.Macgreggor, Alverdo H. Mason, Michael McDermott, William B. Merritt, Charles O. Miller, Walter E. Morrison, R. Elmer Morrison,
.
John Whitty,
Henry B. Whitman.
Article 14 taken from the table.
Voted, That we elect six Trustees of the Thayer Public Li- brary. Yeas, 83; Noes, 63.
Charles A. Hayward, Jonathan E. Hayward, Howard M. Hobart, Joseph H. Hobart, Leander B. Hollis, Ellis Hollingsworth, Hosea Jackson,
Walter O. Munroe, Thomas Penniman, Henry A. Penniman, Edward O. Pierson, Rodolphus Porter, John Reed, James A. Reynolds,
91
Moved to reconsider the vote whereby the town voted to elect six Trustees of the Thayer Public Library.
Rejected. Yeas, 59; Noes, 73.
Voted, That the chair appoint a committee of three to nomi- nate six Trustees of the Thayer Public Library.
Chair appointed Alverdo Mason, John Cavanagh, and Caleb Thompson said committee ; they to report at an adjourned meet- ing.
Voted, To adjourn to Monday, April, 22, 1889, at one o'clock; P. M.
SAMUEL A. BATES,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 22, 1889.
The town assembled in accordance with the adjournment from April 2, 1889.
The Moderator called the meeting to order. '
Article 14 before the meeting.
.
Committee to nominate six Trustees of the Thayer Public Library, reported the following names, viz :
For one year, Willie H. Shaw and George D. Willis.
For two years, Albert E. Avery and Alverdo H. Mason.
For three years, Nathaniel H. Hunt and John M. Beals.
Moved to proceed to ballot for six Trustees of the Thayer Public Library,-two for one year, two for two years, and two for three years.
Voted, That the above motion be indefinitely postponed.
Article 4 taken from the table.
Voted, To proceed to the choice of two Trustees of the Thayer Public Library in accordance with the By-laws.
The ballot having been taken, the Moderator declared that 54 ballots had been cast, and were for the following persons, namely :
Scattering, 10; Nathaniel H. Hunt, 49; John M. Beals, 49; and they were declared elected.
92
Article 4 was then laid on the table.
Article 6 taken from the table.
Voted, That all taxes assessed the current year shall be pay- able on or before the first day of December, 1889; and on all taxes not paid on or before the said first day of December, inter- est at the rate of six per centum per annum shall be charged and collected from the said first day of December, until the tax is paid; and that the collector is required immediately after the first day of January, 1890, to exert all the power vested in him by law for the collection of all unpaid taxes.
Voted, To let out the collection of taxes to the lowest bidder ; and David H. B. Thayer having agreed to collect them for one per cent. was elected, by ballot, Collector of Taxes for the ensu- ing year, and was sworn by the Town Clerk.
Article 6 taken from the table.
Voted, To assess $36,400 for the expenses of the town the current year.
Voted, That it is the expression of the town that the Select- men expend the $3,000 already raised solely for the construction of stone roads.
Voted, That the 400 printed catalogues of the books in the Thayer Public Library be sold at 50 cents each, and the money. be paid into the town treasury.
Voted, That we raise and appropriate $100 for conveying and distributing books from the Public Library in the east part of the town.
Article 33 taken from the table.
The committee to whom were referred Articles 12, 13, 17, 18, 23, 25, 31 and 32 made a report, and it was voted that the report be acted on in connection with the several articles named.
Article 12 taken from the table.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to examine into the rights and liabilities of the town of Braintree in relation to Smelt Brook, and report at some future meeting.
Alverdo Mason, Charles C. Mellen and J. Franklin Bates were appointed said committee.
Article 13 taken from the table.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed by the Mod- erator to consider a system of sewerage and drainage, and
93
report thereon at the next annual town meeting; and that said committee serve without pay.
Moderator appointed T. H. Dearing, Henry M. White and Albert E. Avery said committee.
Article 17 taken from the table.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to consider, and report at the next annual town meeting, a method for lighting the streets and public buildings; and that said committee serve without pay.
The chair appointed James T. Stevens, E. Watson Arnold and L. O. Crocker said committee.
Article 18 taken from the table.
Voted, That the Selectmen consider, and report at the next annual town meeting, the estimated expense of rebuilding the waterway at Cart Bridge, together with such plans and specifi- cations for rebuilding the same as they see fit.
Article 23 taken from the table.
Voted, That the subject be indefinitely postponed.
Article 25 taken from the table.
Voted, That the town, although desirous of compensating Mr. B. J. Loring, Jr., for the losses sustained by him while in the faithful performance of his duties as a Constable of the town, yet being of the opinion that the town cannot legally authorize the expenditure of money for such a purpose, no action be taken on this article.
Article 31 taken from the table.
Voted, That the Selectmen be requested to petition the County Commissioners to relocate the highway known as Hancock street, and particularly that portion thereof extending from the junc- tion with Washington street on the northerly side of Cart Bridge to the land of the heirs of John H. Thayer.
Article 32 taken from the table.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed by the Moder- ator to consider, consult with the Adjutant General, obtain from him such plans and estimates as he may have in his possession, for the purpose of building an armory for Company K, M. V. M. Also to ascertain where a piece of land can be procured for a site for said armory, and the cost of the same. Said committee to report at some future meeting, and shall serve without pay.
94
Moderator appointed as said committee George D. Willis, William H. Reed and L. H. H. Johnson.
Article 33 taken from the table.
Committee on case of Edward Bannon made a report which was received and placed on file.
The Committee on the 250th anniversary made a report which recommended the celebration of that anniversary by the town in its corporate capacity.
Voted, That the town celebrate the 250th anniversary of the incorporation of the town; and that the matter of details and expenses be referred to the same committee, with instructions to report to the town at some future meeting the amount of money . necessary to be raised to carry on the celebration.
Article 33 laid on the table.
Article 24 was taken from the table.
The committee to whom was referred the subject of the erection of a High School building in the north part of the town made the following report :
MARCH 4, 1889.
Your committee beg leave to report that they have held a num- ber of meetings and have listened to the representations of the North and East parts of the town, both as to present evils and the immediate demands of the future. The vote of the town appoint- ing this committee seeming to infer that the rooms in the Town Hall devoted to the High School are unfit and inadequate, your committee find that, while they have served their purpose for many years, there has always been serious complaint from the citizens of the East on account of the distance, so that many girls and boys have been deprived of the advantages of a High School course. Benefits, however, which some parents have been able to give their children by sending them to Quincy or Weymouth.
It is represented that the health of boys and girls is endangered by the long walk in inclement weather, and a number of cases have been reported to your committee where hard working mechanics have preferred to pay the tuition in Weymouth rather than risk the health of their children. It is also stated that parties desirous to locate in East Braintree are often turned away when they learn of these disadvantages of location. It is also represented that the Town Hall is wholly needed for town purposes, for armory, for offi- cers' rooms, and for use of the different town officers and committees.
95
In addition to these representations and of prime importance in itself is the fact that the High School is over crowded already, as are other school rooms, and with the prospect of a large addition to our population some steps must be taken to secure more accommodations.
The Middle Street School is already overflowing, and as its surplus naturally goes to the Union School, and as that schoolhouse can hold no more, it seems to the committee that the time has come to take the first steps to provide new quarters. Therefore, the committee recommend that the town secure a proper location in the North part of the town for a building to contain the High School and the over- flow from the other schools in that part of the town. And as a site which is equally accessible from East Braintree and all parts of the South by railroad, they would recommend the location east of the First Parish Church, known as the Thayer estate.
W. H. SHAW, . JOHN KELLEY, ALVA S. MORRISON, A. J. BATES, Committee.
Not signed by George D. Willis, P. D. Holbrook, Richard Arnold.
Voted, To adjourn to Tuesday, May 7, 1889, at 7.30 o'clock P. M.
BRAINTREE, May 7, 1889.
The town met in accordance with the adjournment from April 22, 1889.
Francis A. Hobart in the chair.
Article 24 under consideration.
Voted, That the whole matter be placed in the hands of the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools, and that they be directed to examine into the subject and report at the next annual meeting.
Article 29 taken from the table.
Voted, To accept Myrtle street, Spruce street and Vine street, as shown upon a plan of land belonging to Edward Reed, made by Charles A. Pierson in September, 1887, and as laid out by the Selectmen.
Article 28 taken from the table.
96
Voted, To accept Standish avenue as laid out by the Select- men, and appropriate $150 to build the same.
Article 26 taken from the table.
Voted, That the town sell said land, and that the price shall be determined by the Selectmen.
Article 20 taken from the table.
Voted, That it be indefinitely postponed.
Article 27 taken from the table.
Voted, That it be indefinitely postponed.
Article 19 taken from the table.
Voted, To accept that portion of Tremont street extending from Taylor street to Central avenue, as laid out by the Select- men, and appropriate $250 for improving the same.
Article 30.taken from the table.
Voted, That it be indefinitely postponed.
Article 15 taken from the table.
Voted, That it be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, Unanimously, that the Moderator be paid the sum of $25 for his services in that position.
Voted, To adjourn sine die.
NORFOLK, ss. To either of the constables of the town of Braintree, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in elections, to meet at the Town Hall in said Braintree, on Monday, the twenty-second day of April, 1889, at 7.30 o'clock in the forenoon, to give in their votes to the Selectmen on the following article of Amend- ment to the Constitution, namely :
The manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors to be used as a beverage are prohibited. The General Court shall enact suit- able legislation to enforce the provisions of this article. The polls shall be kept open until 12 o'clock M.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting true and attested copies of the same in not less than nine public
97
places in this town, seven days, at least, before the time of said meeting; and by publishing once in the Braintree Observer.
Hereof fail not, but make return of this warrant, with your do ings thereon, to the Selectmen before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands, at Braintree, this eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty- nine.
ANSEL O. CLARK, NATHANIEL F. HUNT, R. ALLEN GAGE, Selectmen of Braintree.
NORFOLK, ss. BRAINTREE, 'April 13, 1889.
Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the inhabi- tants of the town of Braintree herein described, to meet at the time and place, and for the purposes within mentioned, by post- ing up attested copies of this warrant at more than nine public places in said town of Braintree, seven days, at least, before the time set for said meeting; and by publishing it in the Braintree Observer once before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON, Constable of Braintree.
. A TRUE COPY. Attest :
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, April 22, 1889.
In accordance with the above warrant, the meeting was called to order by Ansel O. Clark, chairman of the Selectmen, and the warrant read. The polls were declared open at seven hours and thirty-three minutes A. M.
The chairman appointed George D. Willis and Willie H. Shaw as tellers, and they were sworn by the Town Clerk.
98
Voted, That the polls shall be closed at 12.30 P. M .; and at that time they were declared closed.
The chairman announced the result of the ballot as follows, namely :
Whole number of ballots, 450. Yes, 154; No, 296.
Voted, To dissolve this meeting.
SAMUEL A. BATES,
Town Clerk.
NORFOLK, ss. To either of the constables of the town of Braintree, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Braintree, on Tuesday, the seventh day of May, 1889, at seven and one-quarter o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles, namely :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To see if the town will elect six Trustees of the Thayer Public Library, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 304 of the Acts and Resolves of the Legislature of 1888.
ART. 3. To choose any committee, and hear the report of any committee, and act thereon.
You are to give notice of this meeting by posting true and attested copies of this warrant in not less than nine public places in this town, seven days, at least, before the time of said meeting, and by publishing once in the Braintree Observer.
Hereof fail not, but make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk before the time of said meeting.
99
Given under our hands at Braintree, this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.
ANSEL O. CLARK, NATHANIEL F. HUNT, R. ALLEN GAGE,
Selectmen of Braintree.
NORFOLK, ss. BRAINTREE, April, 30, 1889.
Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the inhabitants of the town of Braintree herein described, to meet at the time and place, and for the purposes within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of this warrant at more than nine public places in said town of Braintree, seven days before the time set for said meeting; and I have likewise caused the said warrant to be published in the Braintree Observer once before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON,
Constable of Braintree. 1
A TRUE COPY. Attest :
SAMUEL A. BATES,
Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, May 7, 1889.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the meeting was called to order, and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
Under Article 1, Francis A. Hobart was elected Moderator by the use of the check-list, and was sworn by the Town Clerk.
/ ART. 2. Voted, That the consideration of this article be indefinitely postponed.
100
ART. 3. Resolutions were offered by Alverdo Mason, upon which no action was taken.
Voted, That we adjourn.
SAMUEL A. BATES,
Town Clerk.
NORFOLK, ss. To either of the constables of the town of Braintree, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Braintree, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall in said Braintree, on Wednesday, the twenty-sixth day of June, 1889, at eight o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles, namely :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To see if the town will vote to establish a system of police, and appropriate such sum of money as may be deemed necessary for the maintenance of the same.
ART. 3. To see if the town will authorize the committee on street lighting to make a report at said meeting.
ART. 4. To see if the town will favor the granting by the Selectmen of a franchise for an Electric Light Company, as petitioned for by J. T. Stevens and others.
ART. 5. To see if the town will vote to instruct the Select- men, and request the School Committee, to have water placed in the public buildings and schoolhouses on the line of the pipes of the Water Company.
ART. 6. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to extend water pipes from the pipes of the Water Company near Cart Bridge, to the point on Hancock street to the house of J. T. Stevens, and make such other extensions as may be deemed proper.
You are to give notice of this meeting by posting true and attested copies of this warrant in not less than nine public places
ยท
1
101
in this town, seven days, at least, before the time of said meet- ing ; and by publishing once in the Braintree Observer.
Hereof fail not, but make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree, this seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.
ANSEL O. CLARK, NATHANIEL F. HUNT, R. ALLEN GAGE,
Selectmen of Braintree.
NORFOLK, ss. BRAINTREE, June 18, 1889.
Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the inhabitants of the town of Braintree herein described, to meet at the time and place, and for the purposes within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of this warrant at more than nine public places in said town, seven days before the time set for said meeting; and I have likewise caused the said warrant to be published in the Braintree Observer once before the time set for said meeting.
HORACE FAXON, Constable of Braintree.
A TRUE COPY.
Attest :
SAMUEL A. BATES, Town Clerk.
BRAINTREE, June 26, 1889.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the meeting was called to order, and the warrant read by the Town Clerk.
Upon ballot, by the use of the check-list, Francis A. Hobart was elected Moderator, and sworn by the Town Clerk.
102
Voted, That Article 2 be indefinitely postponed.
Article 3 was taken up.
Voted, That the Committee on Street Lighting be requested to report at this time.
Said committee then made the following report, which was received and ordered to be placed on file :
REPORT.
The committee appointed by the town to consider and report upon the best method of lighting the public buildings and streets of the town, have given such consideration as possible during the limited time they have had the matter in charge. From the fact that we were not authorized to incur any expense, we have not visited other places or been able to examine the methods adopted, but from inquiries made, and from statements in the public press, we find that all the towns in this vicinity,-Dedham, Stoughton, Weymouth, Randolph, Holbrook, Hingham, Hyde Park, and the city of Quincy, and many other places, - are adopting some system of electric lighting ; and this method is now generally acknowledged to be the best, as well as the most economical. We are not prepared to advise or recommend that the town take immediate action, but we are decidedly of the opinion that it is for the best interest of the town that at an early date the town should take steps to secure the lighting of our public streets and buildings by electricity ; contracting with such parties as will furnish the best system at the lowest price.
JAMES T. STEVENS, E. WATSON ARNOLD, Committee.
1
Voted, That the committee be continued; and they are hereby instructed to make further investigation, and are authorized to incur such expense as they may deem necessary.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.