Town annual report of Swampscott 1903, Part 3

Author: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 328


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1903 > Part 3


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 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14


Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Clerk of Board of Registrars of Voters.


A true copy. Attest :


MILTON D. PORTER,


Town Clerk.


41


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


Town Meeting, April 21, 1902.


TOWN WARRANT.


ESSEX, SS.


To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott, in said County. GREETING:


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall in said Swampscott, on Monday, the twenty-first day of April, current, at seven o'clock P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz :-


ARTICLE I. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meet- ing.


ART. 2. To see what action the Town will take to raise the culvert on Beach Bluff avenue, eighteen inches, and regrade the avenue at that point. Also to build a stone culvert from Atlantic avenue to the breakwater on Palmer's beach, and make any necessary repairs on the rest of the culvert, and appropriate money for the same.


ART. 3. To see what action the Town will take to build a culvert under Ellis road, and appropriate money for the same.


And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Depot, Post Office, and three other public. and conspicuous places in the Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.


HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due returns of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.


4


[Feb. 20


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


Given under our hands, this eleventh day of April, in the year nineteen hundred and two.


EDWARD A. MAXFIELD, C. B. DELANO, J. M. BASSETT,


Selectmen of Swampscott.


A true copy. Attest :


RICHARD G. GILLEY,


Constable.


Return on the Warrant.


Pursuant to the within Warrant to me directed, I have notified the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott, qualified, as herein expressed, to meet at the time and place and for the purpose herein mentioned, by posting up attested copies of said Warrant at the Town Hall, Depots, Post Office, and twenty other public and conspicuous places in said Swampscott, on Saturday, the twelfth day of April, in the year 1902, the posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.


RICHARD G. GILLEY, Constable of Swampscott.


In accordance with the foregoing Warrant, the voters of the Town met in the Town Hall on Monday, April 21, 1902, and were called to order at 7 o'clock P. M., by the Town Clerk, who read the Warrant calling the meeting and the return thereon.


ARTICLE I. Daniel F. Knowlton was chosen Moderator and qualified for the duty by the Clerk.


ART. 2. On motion of Mr. Burton it was voted, That the top of the culvert at Beach Bluff avenue be raised eighteen inches and the present capacity of the culvert increased to this extent. That Beach Bluff avenue at this point be filled, suitable


43


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


sidewalks, paved gutters and catch-basins be constructed on both sides of the avenue and that the grade of the centre of the street over the culvert when completed and crowned be eighteen inches above the present grade. That the culvert east of Atlan- tic avenue at the Marblehead line be rebuilt of stone, wood and iron, as may be required by and under the direction of the Selectmen of the Town, the bottom of which culvert when completed to decline not less than twelve inches from the bottom of the Atlantic avenue culvert adjoining to the outlet on the Beach, and to appropriate the sum of thirteen hundred dollars for the same, this amount to be raised by a loan.


ART. 3 .. Voted, That the culvert under Ellis road be built and the sum of two hundred dollars be appropriated for the same, this amount to be raised by a loan, the above votes on Articles 2 and 3 were carried by over two-thirds vote.


Voted, at 7.08 P. M., to dissolve the meeting.


Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.


In accordance with the previous adjournment the voters of the Town met at the Town Hall on Monday evening, April 21, 1902, and were called to order at 7.45 o'clock by D. F. Knowl- ton, Moderator.


The records of the last meeting were read and declared ap- proved.


The committee of citizens appointed at a previous meeting to consider and report upon certain Articles in the Warrant, pre- sented their report in print, it having been distributed to the voters of the Town.


Voted, That the report be received and that the several Articles reported upon be taken up in their order.


Voted, That Article 26 be taken up with Article 13.


44


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


ARTICLE XIII.


To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will appropriate for the maintenance or repair of a certain drain leading from Redington street through Sheridan road, so called, to a stone culvert in said road, and to make appropriation therefor, or to take such other action as the meeting may determine.


ARTICLE XXVI.


To see if the Town will accept Walker road from Monument avenue to Devens road, also Sheridan road from its junction with Walker road as far as its junction with Redington street, as laid out by the Selectmen, and appropriate money for the same.


Your committee recommend


That Walker and Sheridan roads be accepted as laid out by the Selectmen ; that $1,000 be appropriated to put them in prop- er condition, the amount to be raised by loan, and that the work to be done under the Highway Surveyor.


This as will be seen, virtually disposes of Article XIII in re- gard to the drain in Sheridan road, for if the Town accepts the street it will be obliged to maintain the drain. This, in the opin- ion of your committee, is the best way for the Town to act in the matter, notwithstanding there is a certain agreement in regard to this drain between the Swampscott Land Company and the Town which seems to be differently construed by the former Board of Selectmen and the Swampscott Land Company.


Now, with what light your committee has, as far as they have had an opportunity to go into the matter, it seems to them that the Town has turned water down into this street which formerly went some other way, which, probably, in case of litigation, the Town would be liable for ; and taking the whole matter into con- sideration, we believe the best way out for the Town is by accept- ing the street and making the appropriations as recommended above.


Voted, To accept and adopt the recommendations on Article 26.


45


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


ARTICLE XV.


To see if the Town will place an arc light at the junction of Bradlee and Phillips avenues, as petitioned for.


Your committee recommend.


That an arc light be substituted for the present incandescent light at the junction of Bradlee and Phillips avenues, and that the sum of $68 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by a loan.


Voted, To accept and adopt the report on Article XV.


ARTICLE XVI.


To see if the Town will light that part of- the State Highway between the hill and the Salem line, as petitioned for.


Your committee recommend


That it is inexpedient to light that part of the State Highway between the hill and the Salem line at present.


Voted, To accept and adopt the report of the committee on Article XVI.


Voted, That Article 17 lay upon the table until the other articles are disposed of.


ARTICLE XVIII.


To see what action the Town will take, if any, in relation to placing a public drinking fountain for man and beast at the junction of Essex street and Stetson avenue, and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for.


46


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Your committee recommend


That a drinking fountain for man and beast be placed at the junction of Stetson avenue and Essex street and that the sum of one hundred dollars be appropriated for the same, to be raised by a loan.


Voted, To accept and adopt the committee recommendations on Article 18.


ARTICLE XIX.


To see what action the Town will take in relation to connect- ing the stone culvert under the Boston & Maine railroad with a drain pipe into the Norfolk avenue drain through the lot num- berred 23 on the plan of the Stetson Land Co., and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for.


Your committee recommend


That this matter be referred to the Board of Selectmen with power to act.


Voted, To accept and adopt the committee's report on Article 19.


ARTICLE XX.


To see what action the Town will take in procuring a play- ground for the children and appropriate money for the same, as petitioned for.


Your committee beg leave to report the following :


Several lots of land were inspected. There seemed to be a large number of remonstrants against the project. Even those having large families of children objected to having a playground located in the vicinity of their residence. It seems to be almost impossible to secure a field suitable in all respects for this pur- pose located within a reasonable distance of the centre of the Town. The lot located on Farragut road could not be secured.


47


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


Three acres of land located beyond the railroad and owned by the Swampscott Land Trust, was all right as regards location, but the price was such that, as the agent of the company sug- gested, " was calculated to raise the hair on your head." Three hundred dollars ($300) per acre was thought to be a reasonable figure, but the manager of the trust argued that as a water supply had been provided, and with a sewer in sight, the value of land in Swampscott had materially advanced. The price quoted was fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) per acre. The above informa- tion will undoubtedly furnish a subject for consideration for our Board of Assessors.


Concerning the Farwell meadow, so called, it cannot be pur- chased.


The lot on Pine street, now in the hands of the Water Com- missioners, would answer the purpose admirably, and could, at a nominal expense, be put in good condition.


The land known as the acre, which it is stated could be filled with gutter scrapings, was considered. This lot would require so much filling that if this method was adopted, undoubtedly a majority of this generation would be dead before the work could be completed.


It is surprising that a majority of the remonstrants give as the reason for their attitude the unparliamentary language used by some of the boys and their utter disregard for the personal rights of others. Therefore your committee has decided to call your attention particularly to the Pine street land, owned by the Town, and leave the matter for you to decide ; and that action be taken when the report of the Park Commissioners on King's Beach Reservation is received.


Voted, To accept the report of the committee and that the matter be taken up when the Park Commissioners' Report is received.


ARTICLE XXI.


To see what action the Town will take in placing an arc light at the corner of Greenwood avenue and Greenwood terrace, as petitioned for.


48


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Your committee recommend


That two incandescents be placed in proper position on Green- wood terrace to sufficiently light that locality and that the sum of $36 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by loan.


Voted, To accept and adopt the committee's report on Art- icle 21.


ARTICLE XXII.


To see what action the Town will take in placing a single stone crossing across Franklin avenue at the junction with Stet- son avenue.


Your committee recommend


That a single crossing be laid as petitioned for, and that $65 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by loan, the work to be done under the direction of the Highway Surveyor.


Voted, To accept and adopt the report of the committee on Article 22.


ARTICLE XXIII.


To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $1,500 for the resurfacing of Atlantic avenue from the junction of Hum- phrey and Orient streets to the Marblehead line, as petitioned for.


Your committee recommend


That the sum of $1,500 be appropriated to be expended on Atlantic avenue, as petitioned for ; that the amount be raised by a loan, and that the work be done under the direction of the Highway Surveyor.


Voted, To accept and adopt the recommendations of the committee on this Article.


49


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


ARTICLE XXIV.


To see if the Town will accept Elmwood road as laid out by the Selectmen, and appropriate money for the same.


Your committee recommend


That Elmwood road be accepted as laid out by the Selectmen, and that $300 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by loan, and that the work be done under the direction of the Surveyor of Highways.


Voted, To accept and adopt the report of the committee on Article 24.


ARTICLE XXV.


To see if the Town will accept Roy street, Jessie street, Buena Vista street and Eureka avenue as laid out by the Selectmen, and appropriate money for the same.


Your committee recommend


That the above named streets be accepted as laid out by the Selectmen, and that $1,000 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by loan, and that the work be done under the supervision of the Highway Surveyor.


Voted, To accept and adopt the recommendations of the committee on Article 25 the waivers for all the streets named in the Article to be first signed.


ARTICLE XVII.


To see if the Town will accept Belmont avenue and Minerva street as laid out by the Selectmen, and appropriate money for the same.


50


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Your committee recommend


That Belmont avenue and Minerva street as laid out by the Selectmen be accepted, and that $500 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by loan, the amount to be expended under the direction of the Highway Survey or.


Voted, To accept and adopt the committee's report on Art- icle 27.


ARTICLE XXVIII


To see what action the Town will take for the collection of house offal and ashes, and appropriate money for the same.


Your committee recommend


That this matter be committed to the Selectmen, and that $2,000 be appropriated for the same.


Voted, That the contract for collection of house offal and ashes be committed to the Board of Health, and that the sum of $2,000 be appropriated for the same.


On motion of Mr. Stubbs it was Voted, That a record be kept in each department of the Town, of all contracts that are given out, with the name of each bidder, and the amount of each bid, the same to be inserted in our annual report.


ART. 29. To see if the Town will extend the Norfolk avenue drain from New Ocean street, the present terminus, to the sea, or devise some other means of disposing of the surface water from said drain, now discharged on Farwell's Meadows, and appro- priate money for same.


On motion of P. F. Munsey it was Voted, That Article 29 be referred to the Sewer Commissioners with instructions to remedy the conditions now existing in the Farwell Meadows immediately in the most practical manner, and that $300 be appropriated for that purpose, the same to be raised by a loan.


5I


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1901]


ARTICLE XXXI.


To see what action the Town will take in regard to laying a single crossing at the junction of Middlesex avenue and Ellis road, across Hampden street, and appropriate money for the same.


Your committee recommend


That a single crossing be laid as petitioned for, and that $65 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by loan, the work to be done under direction of the Highway Surveyor.


Voted, To accept and adopt the report of the committee on Article 31.


ARTICLE XXXII.


To see what action the Town will take in remodeling the Town Hall, and appropriate money for the same, as left over from the last Annual Town Meeting.


Your committee recommend the following :


After a careful consideration of the matter we are of the unan- imous opinion that more room must be provided for the Town officials, in order to properly transact the business of the Town, and we recommend and present for your consideration a plan for an addition to the east side of the hall 22 by 37 feet, two stories, with flat roof, which we believe will be sufficient for the next eight or ten years. This arrangement will give three more office rooms on the first floor and two ante-rooms and small hall on the second floor.


In regard to the Selectmen's report upon the Hall, we recom- mend its adoption, and that the sum of forty-five hundred dollars be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the above recom- mendations, the same to be raised by loan.


M. E. Nies offered an amendment to the report of the com- mittee that a room be set apart in the Town Hall, as an establish-


SWAMPSCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY


52


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


ed office for the use of the Board of Assessors. Carried. After which the report of the committee as thus amended, was ac- cepted and adopted.


ARTICLE XXXIII.


To see if the Town will instruct the Selectmen to serve an in- junction against the City of Lynn, for letting the water from the sewer, near Herrick's shoe shop in Lynn, overflow and run down through Swampscott to the beach, as it is injurious to health and a damage to property, as petitioned for.


Your committee recommend


That the Selectmen be instructed to confer with the proper Lynn authorities in regard to abating this nuisance at once, in an amiable way if possible, but if same cannot be satisfactorily ad- justed, they be directed to take necessary legal steps to the end.


Voted, To accept and adopt the report of the committee on Article XXXIII.


ARTICLE XXXV.


To see if the Town will instruct the Selectmen to take proper action to the end that hereafter no person or persons be employ- ed by said Town of Swampscott, either directly or indirectly, to build, alter, change or repair any street or highway that has or may hereafter be built or established within said Town of Swampscott, unless such person or persons at the time of such employment be actual residents and taxpayers of said Town and citizens of the United States, as petitioned for.


Your committee recommend


That the Town take no action on this Article.


On motion of M. E. Nies an amendment was carried, that it is the sentiment of the Town that preference be given to citizens of


53


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


the Town upon all public work, after which the report of the committee was accepted and adopted.


ARTICLE XXXVI.


To see what action the Town will take to construct a stone crossing across the end of Salem street at its junction with Humphrey street as petitioned for.


Your committee recommend


That a double stone crossing be laid as petitioned for, and that $120 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by loan, the work to be done under direction of the Highway Surveyor.


Voted, To accept and adopt the committee's report on Article 36.


ARTICLE XXXVII.


To see what action the Town will take in regard to placing an electric arc lamp in front of No. 39 Harrison avenue and ap- propriate money for the same, as petitioned for.


Your committee recommend


That an arc light be placed in the most advantageous position on Harrison avenue, to properly light the locality, and that $68 be appropriated for the same, to be raised by loan.


George A. Jackson offered an amendment, That an incandes- cent light be placed on Harirson avenue, and that $16 be appro- priated for the same, to be raised by loan. Carried.


ARTICLE XXXVIII.


To see what action the Town will take in reguard to furnish- ing free transportation for school children, as petitioned for.


54


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Your committee recommend


That this article be indefinitely postponed.


Voted, To accept and adopt the committee's report on this article.


AMENDMENT OF W. A. STUBBS.


Your committee recommend


That an appropriation of $2,000 be made to carry out the motion of Mr. Stubbs, relative to an addition to the Essex Street School.


After considerable debate, in which the School Committee counseled delay for a year, in order to have a new school build- ing on the Stetson Land Co. location, the report of the com- mittee was accepted and adopted.


The Park Commissioners submitted the following report on the matter of King's Beach Reservation.


To the citizens of Swampscott :


In accordance with a vote of the Town instructing the Park Commissioners to report at the adjourned Town Meeting, "The exact relation of the Town to the King's Beach Reservation, and the reason the same has not been turned over to the Town," we can perhaps best reply by referring to the printed reports of the Park Commissioners from year to year, and to the action finally taken by the Town relative to the above mentioned matters and of record on its books.


The second annual report of the Park Commissioners for the year ending February 28, 1896, says " that a formal application was made to the Metropolitan Board of Park Commissions to take for the Commonwealth, the whole of King's Beach and turn it over to our Park Commissioners to improve and administer," and in due time they informed us that they had acceded to our


55


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


request, and later sent us their act of taking in accordance with the provisions of the law. The act referred to was dated October 2, 1895, and recorded with the Essex Southern District Deeds.


The Park Commissioners' report for the year ending February 28, 1898, says substantially : " At this writing we have no assur- ance as to what time or in what condition the King's Beach Res- ervation may be turned over to us," but however, on the 28th day of December of the same year (1898), the " Indenture," or paper of transfer from the Metropolitan Board to the Park Commis- sioners of Swampscott was drawn up, signed by members of the Metropolitan Board and sent to your Board for approval and acceptance, it being necessary that a vote of the Town be had for acceptance.


This " Indenture " however, contained certain restrictions and conditions relative to the care and improvement of the beach, which, in the opinion of your Board, were undesirable and they were unwilling to accept the indenture and reported their opin- ion to the Town at the March meeting of 1899.


By referring again to the records of a Special Town Meeting held on December 4, 1899, it will be seen that it was voted in Article II as follows : "That the Town approves the action of the Park Commissioners as reported at the March meeting in not accepting the transfer of King's Beach under the conditions named in the indenture proprosed by the Metropolitan Park Commissioners, said conditions seeming to conflict with rights granted to the Town by the general court (act approved Feb. 15, 1896) and with the understanding between the Park Commis- sioners of the Town and the Metropolitan Park Commissioners when the clearing of the beaches was agreed upon, your Com- missioners therefore have taken no further action with reference to King's Beach Reservation.


Respectfully submitted,


E. H. HATFIELD, J. M. GROSVENOR, JR., J. P. JACKSON,


Park Commissioners.


56


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Voted, That the report be accepted.


On motion of M. E. Nies, it was Voted, That the Selectmen in conjunction with the Park Commissioners, proceed in a legal manner, to regain possession of King's Beach, now held by the State of Massachusetts, and properly belonging to the Town, under contracts made with the State, whereby the State was to turn over the same to the Town without restrictions or pro- visions.


Voted, That the report of the Selectmen on the Beach Bluff Culvert be laid upon the table.


Art. 17, Voted, 40 to I, That the sum of $500 be appropri- ated to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town; that the occasion be observed on July 20th and 21st ; that the general committee in charge of the celebration include the Board of Selectmen, the clergymen of the town, including the Rev. Geo. A. Jackson, the members of the School Com- mittee, and the Superintendent of Schools, two members each of the following : James L. Bates Post 118, G. A. R., Women's Relief Corps, Swampscott Lodge I. O. of O. F., Elmwood Re- bekah Lodge, Tarantine Tribe, I. O. of Red Men, Nodwa Council D. of P., Egg Rock Lodge, I. O. Good Templars, Swampscott Club, Tedesco Club, Winnipesikett Club, Swampscott Woman's Club, Improvement Club, Fire Department, and James Frank Moore.


The votes taken under Articles 26, 15, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 36 and 37 were carried by more than a two- thirds vote.


Voted, at 11. 10 P. M. to dissolve the meeting.


Attest :


MILTON D. PORTER, Clerk.


57


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


Resignation of Member of the School Board and Filling of the Vacancy.


SWAMPSCOTT, May 1, 1902.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


GENTLEMEN,-I hereby respectfully tender my resignation as a member of the School Board, same to take effect on May 1, 1902.


Yours truly, EDWIN M. BAILEY.


Due notice having been given, the Board of Selectmen, and the remaining members of the School Board met in convention on Monday, May 12, 1902, when H. Cushing Bulfinch was appointed to fill the vacancy on the School Board for the balance of the current year in place of Edwin M. Bailey, resigned.


Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.


Special Town Meeting, June 2, 1902.


TOWN WARRANT.




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.