USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1902 > Part 11
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nual interest and income of said fund is required to be annually expended for the support of schools in the town, to be divided in the same manner as other money raised for the support of schools. As the conditions existing at the time of the passage of said act and immediately thereafter have so changed that the annual appropriation of a certain sum of money as an income from the " Alewive Fund " secures no practical result, and as in the intervening years since it was thus established the fund has now lost its identity by having been mingled with other moneys of the town, if it is deemed expedient by the town to no longer continue the fiction of appropriating a sum of money as a sup- posed income from the sum; we recommend that petition be made to the legislature for legislation applicable to the changed conditions.
We are of the opinion that such legislation would furnish the only safe means of relief.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE L. NEWTON, BRADFORD HAWES, NELSON W. GARDNER, JOHN F. DWYER, GEORGE C. TORREY, Selectmen of Weymouth.
Voted, That the report be accepted and that the Selectmen be authorized to carry out the provisions of their report.
The Committee on Minor Officers make the following report :
PUBLIC WEIGHERS.
Ward 1 .- Herbert A. Newton, George W. McLeod, James P. McManus, John J. Bryne, Michael J. Lane, William J. Coleman, James H. Coleman, Walter C. Brayshaw, Henry J. Dunn.
Ward 2 .- Wm. M. Reamey, Chas. B. Cushing, Margie Hunt, Wm. T. Brown.
Ward 3 .- John F. Condrick, Chas. B. Trask, Susan C. Rich- ards, James Lonergan, Augustus J. Richards, Orin B. Bates.
Ward 4 .- Wm. G. Nash, Marshall P. Sprague, Wm. Nash.
Ward 5 .- Frank H. Richards, Alvin Hollis, Quincy L. Reed, Susie Carroll.
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SURVEYORS OF WOOD, LUMBER AND BARK.
Ward 1 .- N. Porter Keene and Wm. H. Cowing.
Ward 2 .- John F. Cushing, Waldo Turner, John W. Bates, Joshua Vinal, Chas. Simmons.
Ward 3 .- John B. Rhines, Edward Billings, Chas. B. Trask, Augustus J. Richards, Walter F. Sanborn, Joseph F. Sherman, John F. Condrick, Orin B. Bates, Susan C. Richards, James Lonergan, Henry N. Willoby.
Ward 4 .- William Nash, Gilman B. Loud, Joseph Cummings, Geo. F. Maynard.
Ward 5 .- Geo. E. Reed, Alvin Hollis, Quincy L. Reed, Frank H. Richards, Quincy Reed.
FENCE VIEWERS.
Solomon Ford, Joshua Vinal, Quincy L. Reed, Gilman B. Loud, Francis Richards.
FIELD DRIVERS.
Benj. F. Richards, Isaac Walker, Nathaniel B. Peare, Asa B. Pratt, James T. Pease, John D. Walsh, Geo. B. Bayley, Wm F. Trask, Geo. W. Conant, Michael Allen.
POUND KEEPER.
Benton C. Tirrel.
Voted, That the above report be accepted.
Art. 4. Voted, To raise and appropriate $45,000, and one-half the dog tax and the income from the Alewive fund, for the sup- port of public schools.
Art. 5. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500 for the transportation of pupils to and from school.
Art. 6. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000, and to appropriate the sum of $5,942.72 from the street railway and excise tax for the repair of highways, townways and bridges, and for the removal of snow.
Voted, That it is the sense of this meeting that the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Water Commissioners shall, and they are hereby directed to, forthwith, in the manner hereinafter stated, employ a Superintendent of Streets, who shall also be Superin- tendent of Water, said Superintendent of Water and Streets to
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have charge of all the highways of the town and of the physical portion of the water department, subject to the control of the Selectmen as to matters strictly pertaining to the highways, and subject to the control of the Board of Water Commissioners as to matters principally affecting the water department. .
Said Superintendent of Streets and Water shall be elected by vote of the Board of Selectmen and Board of Water Commission- ers sitting jointly, and his salary shall not exceed $1,800 per annum, which salary shall constitute payment in full for all ser- vices rendered the town by him in either or any capacity.
At 12 o'clock M. it was voted to adjourn for one hour.
At 1 o'clock P. M. the meeting was again called to order and the business proceeded.
Art. 7. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $14,000 and to appropriate the sum of $3,000 for the support of the poor.
Art. 8. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000 for the relief of disabled soldiers and seamen and the families of disabled soldiers and seamen, under Chapter 447 of the Acts of 1890 and Acts in amendment thereof.
Art. 9. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $300, and to appropriate $8,500 for the payment of State and Military Aid under the provisions of Chapters 372 and 374 of the Acts of 1899, and for burials as provided in Chapter 279 of the Acts of 1896.
Art. 10. Voted, To lay this article on the table.
Voted, To take from the table the report of the Engineers of the Fire Department.
Voted, That their report be accepted.
Art. 10. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000 for the support of the Fire Department.
Art. 11. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $4,000 for Police service.
Art. 12. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 and to appropriate one-half of the dog tax and the rentals of the Library building for the Tufts Library.
Art. 13. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for the maintenance of a public reading room in the Fogg Library.
Art. 14. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 for the abatement and remittance of taxes.
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Art. 15. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000 for the payment of interest that may become due the ensuing year.
Art. 16. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500 for printing and advertising.
Voted, That the Selectmen and all Boards of Town Officers be instructed to advertise only in the Weymouth Gazette. Yes, 179; No, 149.
A motion to reconsider the above vote was not carried.
The Moderator, at this stage of the meeting, called Augustus J. Richards, Esq., to the chair, in order that he-might bring be- fore the town resolutions in favor of the late Judge James Hum- phrey. Appropriate remarks were also made by Albert P. Wor- then, Esq., and by Mr. Richards. The resolutions were unani- mously adopted by a rising vote.
Art. 17. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 for miscellaneous expenses.
Art. 18. Voted, That $6,300 be raised and appropriated for the payment of Town Officers, the Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor and Board of Health to receive $2,600, the Assessors $1,100; also a sum not exceeding. $200 for clerk hire; Town Clerk, $125; Town Treasurer, $450; Auditors, $100; School Committee, for services and expenses, $350; Sealer of Weights and Measures, same as last year ; Tree Warden, $100.
Art. 19. Voted, To raise and appropriate for election ex- penses the sum of $700.
Art. 20. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $400 for Memorial Day.
Art. 21. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $700 for rent and care of town offices.
Art. 22. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $400, to be expended in the interest of public health.
Art. 23. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $7,800 for electric lights, to be expended under the direction of the fol- lowing committee, to wit. : J. Clarence Howe, Frank H. Torrey, George W. Baker, Frank H. Mason and Lysander Heald.
Art. 24. Voted, That for the purpose of procuring a tem- porary loan to and for the use of the Town of Weymouth, in an- ticipation of the taxes of the present municipal year, the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow, from time
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to time, with the approval of a majority of the Selectmen of said town, a sum or sums in the aggregate amounting to one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, and to execute and deliver the note or notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the time the loan is made.
Art. 25. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000 toward the Sinking Fund, for the payment at maturity of the High School Bonds.
Art. 26. Voted, That the article in relation to gravelling Pleasant Street be referred to the Superintendent of Streets.
Art. 27. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500 for the purchase of a chemical engine, to be placed in Ward 5, under the direction of the Engineer.
Art. 28. Voted, That a committee consisting of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department and Engineers of Wards 4 and 5, carry the provisions of the preceding article into effect.
Art. 29. Voted, That the article in relation to establishing a Board of Health be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 30. Voted, That the article in relation to the working of the easterly end of Pearl street be referred to the Superintendent of Streets.
Art. 31. Voted, That the article in relation to the extending of the water pipe from the residence of John Hall on Washington Street to the Weymouth Town House, be referred to the Water Commissioner with instructions to put the pipe in.
Art. 32. Voted, To appropriate from the revenue of the Water Works for the current year the sum of $25,320, to be expended for the following purposes, viz. : , $18,280 for interest on the Weymouth Water Loan Bonds becoming due the ensuing year, $2,300 for the salaries of the Superintendent of the Works and Engineer of the Pumping Station, $1,700 for maintenance of the Works, and $3,040 for all necessary expense.
Art. 33. Voted, To appropriate and direct to be paid to the Trustees of the Sinking Fund, out of the income of water rents for the current year, the sum of $9,140 to be set apart and invested as a Sinking Fund for the payment at maturity of the principal of the Weymouth Water Loan Bonds.
Voted, To take up Article 2 in relation to the Auditors' recom- mendation for a town accountant ..
Voted, To lay the subject on the table.
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Voted, To take from the table the report of the Committee on By-laws.
Voted, That the report be accepted.
Voted, To take from the table the Auditors' recommendation.
Voted, That the matter be referred to the Selectmen, the past and present Board of Auditors.
Voted, That it is the sense of this meeting that the several boards of town officers employ a town accountant at an expense not exceeding $1,000.
Voted, To take up Article 18.
Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for the ex- pense of a town accountant
Voted, That the Moderator appoint a committee on appro- priations for the ensuing year.
Art. 34. Voted, To appropriate the sum of $6,000 for the purpose of extending the main water pipe line.
Art. 35. Voted, To raise and appropriate $5,000 for hy- drants, and for the water rent and care of drinking fountains.
Art. 36. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $50 for the care and improvement of the public parks of Weymouth.
Art. 37. Voted, That the school and buildings at Nash's Corner retain the name of "Shaw."
Art. 38. Voted, To instruct the Board of Selectmen to pay $2 per day to all able bodied men, for work performed by the town, whether by contract or otherwise, and preference to be given to citizens and taxpayers, and that eight hours shall con- stitute a day's work.
Art. 39. Voted, To pay to the members of the Fire Depart- ment thirty cents per hour for each hour of actual service at fires, in addition to the salary of $10 per year and poll tax now paid to them.
Art. 40. Voted, That the article in relation to placing an electric light on Green Street be indefinitely postponed.
Art. 41. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $100 to cause the records of the several streets in the town to be in- dexed.
Art. 42. Voted, That the Water Commissioner be authorized to appoint a collector of water rent who shall be required to give a bond satisfactory to the Selectmen.
Art. 43. Voted, That the claim of Joseph F. Taylor, reim-
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bursement of the amount he has paid as taxes upon a parcel of land not owned by him, be referred to the Board of Assessors and three others to be appointed by the Moderator, and, if deemed advisable, reimburse the estate of Joseph F. Taylor for the amount paid.
Art. 44. Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to dispose of unused safes or any other personal property belonging to the town.
Art. 45. Voted, that the Selectmen, with the advice of coun- sel, be authorized to commence suit for the recovery of any money due the town.
Art. 46. Voted, To pay the night police $2.00 per night.
Art. 47. That if, in their judgment, the interests of the town so required, the Selectmen be authorized to sell any buildings owned by the town of which it is likely to make no further use, with or without the land upon which the same may be located, or any vacant lots of land owned by the town; and that the Town Treasurer be authorized to deliver and convey proper deeds for any lands which may be sold under this .vote.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to sell what is now called the Athens School House, the same to be removed from its present location within one month after said sale, and the net pro- ceeds of such sale be placed in the hands of the building commit- tee of the new schoolhouse, to be spent by them in furnishing the rooms of the new schoolhouse.
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to sell at auction, or give away, the old High School building.
Art. 48. Voted, To raise and appropriate $4,500, and that we appropriate $6,000 for the following deficiencies and overdrafts : Schools, $3,000 ; setting and stone, $109; grade damage, $150; Board of Health, $3,000; Fire Department, $550; Town House, $65; Town Officers, $222 ; Soldiers' relief, $1,000; Poor Ac- count, $2,000.
Art. 49. Voted, That all taxes shall become due and payable on or before the tenth day of October next, and that the Collec- tor be instructed to collect forthwith, according to law, all taxes remaining unpaid after that date, with interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, and that the salary of the Collector be the same as last year, six mills on the dollar.
Art. 50. Voted, To amend the Jury List, by striking out the
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names of Geo. E. White, Wm. H. Robinson, Nathaniel A. Derby, Charles B. Harrington and John D. Gooley, and adding the names of Josiah H. Pratt, Willie B. Loud and E. Ellsworth Merchant.
Voted, That the list as now amended be accepted and adopted.
Art. 51. Voted, To accept the report of the Selectmen upon the laying out of a new way from Bay View Street to the harbor, to be called Holbrook Road.
Art. 52. Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for the preservation of shade trees.
Voted unanimously, and by a rising vote, That the thanks of the town be extended to the Moderator, Judge Louis A. Cook, for the fair and impartial manner in which he has conducted this our annual town meeting.
Resolutions offered by Hon. Louis A. Cook, seconded by A. P. Worthen, Esq., in memory of Hon. James Humphrey, whose death occurred July 17, 1901 : -
James Humphrey is a famillar name in Weymouth.
One hundred and sixty-seven years ago a bearer of that name was elected a Constable of Weymouth, and for many years con- tinued to serve his town in one capacity or another until the close of a long and useful life. He also served many years as Repre- sentative and for several terms as Senator. He was known as Major James Humphrey, and he was a man of influence not only in town matters, but also in church and parish work. While he was Representative to the General Court the citizens of this town, October 16, 1765, passed resolutions instructing him as to what course he should pursue upon the Stamp Act and other matters. These resolutions were supposed to have been prepared by Dr. Cotton Tufts, and the closing words were: "As to any other affairs we leave their management to your noted prudence and judgment in which we place the highest confidence."
Major Humphrey was the son and also the father of a James Humphrey.
Belonging to the next generation was another bearing that already honored name, and, like his distinguished predecessor, a descendant of Jonas Humphrey of Dorchester and his son, Dea- con Jonas Humphrey, who settled in Weymouth about 1650, and became "one of the influential, capable and leading men of the
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town." He was known as James Humphrey, Esq., or 3rd, and for more than a quarter of a century was an honored schoolmaster in the town, besides instructing many private pupils in Latin, Greek, and mathematics. In 1794 he made a very accurate sur- vey of the town lines. He served his townsmen as Selectman, Town Clerk, and Notary, and his services are thus described in the " Historical Sketch of the Town of Weymouth" : "For thirty years he held the highest offices in the gift of the town, and was one of its most useful citizens."
The James Humphrey who was known to the present genera- tion as Judge James Humphrey was a grandson of James Hum- phrey, 3rd, and was born January 20, 1819, in the gambrel-roofed house which is still standing on Commercial street near the resi- dence of Mr. James B. Jones.
He was educated at Derby Academy, Hingham, and . at Phillips Andover Academy. After teaching school for more than ten years, he studied in the law office of D. W. Gooch in Boston, and was admitted to practice in 1855. He had, how- ever, earlier begun his remarkable career of service in behalf of his fellow citizens, as he had already been elected to the offices of School Committee, Assessor and Selectman.
December 23, 1861, he married Susan Humphrey Cushing, and one son and three daughters were born of the union.
The following record shows his continued calls to the public service :
Selectman-1853-4-7-60-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-70-1-2-3-4-5.
Overseer of the Poor-1865-6-7-8-70-1-2-3-4-5.
Assessor-1851-4-67-8-70-4.
Prudential Committee-1856-9.
School Committee-1844-54-7-8-60-1-74-5-6-7-8-9-80-1.
Trustee of Tufts Library-1879 to 1901.
Chairman of Book Committee, Committee on Appropriations- 1888-1898 inclusive.
Committee to consider propriety of abolishing school districts, 1859.
In addition to the above he was named for most of the im- portant special committees, and generally occupied the position of chairman.
His long continued service as Chairman of the Book Com- mittee for the Tufts Library, and as Chairman of the Com-
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mittee on Appropriations, was particularly valuable to the town.
Still more notable was the service rendered to his native town and his country as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen during the trying period of the Civil War, -service which was the man- ifestation of the deepest and most devoted patriotism.
For a generation he was the legal advisor of the various boards of town officers, and during that time the town was wonderfully successful in the conduct and result of such law suits as occurred, some of which were exceedingly important, notably the contest with reference to the Tufts Library fund, and the damage cases arising from the taking of the water of Weymouth Great Pond.
In his participating in the affairs of the town meeting one of his latest, if not the latest act, was a vigorous protest which he made in a speech opposing the use of the date " 1622 " upon the town seal, as marking the first settlement, and on his motion the inscription for the new seal was changed to "1623." He ob- jected to tracing the settlement of Weymouth to the characterless men who made the temporary settlement in 1622.
When a man has faithfully served his town so many years and given so much of his life work in behalf of the public good, it is fitting that some proper action should be taken to show the appre- ciation of his fellow citizens of such notable service and of such heroic self-sacrifice.
In the historical address of Charles Francis Adams delivered upon the occasion of the celebration of the two hundred and fif- tieth anniversary of the settlement of Weymouth, these words occur :
" Weymouth then, as now, had among its citizens a James Humphrey, and under date of March 12, 1781, I find this entry : ' Voted, That the thanks of the town be given to the Hon. James Humphrey, Esq., for his faithful service as a Selectman in the town for more than forty years past.' Unlike so many of her sister towns, the Weymouth of to-day has never, even yet, learned enough of the service of true republican government to rotate its own officials. When they have had a man who was willing to serve them well and faithfully, they have actually kept him in office. The James Humphrey of the last century served the town over forty years; the James Humphrey of this has al- ready served it nearly twenty-five."
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This oration was delivered in 1874. In the light of subsequent events we may say that James Humphrey of the present general tion served his town about fifty years.
But it causes a tinge of sadness when we reflect that there is no other James Humphrey to follow, at least in direct descent; for there is now no living male descendant of Lemuel Humphrey, the father of the subject of this sketch, although he left several sons. The last ray of hope was extinguished when James E. Humphrey died suddenly of tropical fever in the West Indies in the strength of his young manhood, after having achieved honorable distinction in the field of science. This was a terrible blow to a fond and ambitious father, to a yearning mother, to affectionate sisters, and not least, to a loving and devoted young wife,-and it is un- doubtedly a distinct loss to the town of Weymouth, his birth- place.
But the services of Judge James Humphrey were not limited by the requirements of his town ; for he was a representative to the Legislature in 1852 and in 1869. He was senator in 1872. He was County Commissioner from 1875 to 1882, and in 1882 he was appointed Justice of the District Court at East Norfolk, which position he held until his death. His political experience was large. He was usually a delegate to the more important con- ventions and was for many years chairman of the Republican Town Committee.
Hampered as he was by a physical infirmity induced in early childhood, it was always a source of wonderment to his friends that he was able to fulfil so many demands and to bring about so many results. It used to be a favorite expression with him that if he "only had his legs" he might accomplish something. But he had the clear mind, the sound judgment, the indomitable will, and the steadfastness of purpose.
In the following resolutions we express in a feeble way our re- spect, admiration, and gratitude : -
Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father to remove Judge James Humphrey from his sphere of usefulness on earth, there- fore,
Resolved, That the citizens of the Town of Weymouth in An- nual Town meeting assembled hereby record their gratitude for the conspicuous service which he rendered to state, county, town, and village.
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Resolved, This his decease has removed from high places of usefulness, dignity, and honor an ideal citizen and a faithful public servant, who was stricken down in the maturity of his powers.
Resolved, That this resolution be entered upon the records of this annual meeting as a tribute of honor and respect; that the vote be taken by a rising vote, and that the Clerk transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased, with the assurance of the sincere sympathy of the inhabitants of the town he served so well.
APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE.
WARD 1. C. H. Bolles, B. F. Thomas, J. A. Holbrook.
WARD 2.
. M. E. Hawes, W. C. Earle, M. Sheehy. WARD 3. G. H. Bicknell, F. M. Drown, J. B. Whelan. WARD 4. Geo. L. Barnes, S. S. Spear, Charles Hawes. WARD 5. Alvin Hollis, George E. Reed, A. F. Bullock.
Voted to adjourn.
Attest : JOHN A. RAYMOND, Town Clerk.
OFFICE OF SELECTMEN.
WEYMOUTH, October 13, 1902.
JOHN A. RAYMOND, Town Clerk :-
At a meeting of the Selectmen of Weymouth held as above, the following were appointed as precinct officers for the year com- mencing November 1, 1902 :
PRECINCT 1.
Warden, James B. French ; Deputy Warden, Frank A. Rich- ards ; Clerk, Walter L. Jenkins ; Deputy Clerk, Joshua P. Hol- brook ; Inspectors, Josiah H. Pratt, Ancil Burrell, John A. Hol- brook, George Ruggles ; Deputy Inspectors, David Dunbar, John
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F. Binney ; Ballot Box Constable, B. Frank Richard ; Constable, Isaac H. Walker.
PRECINCT 2.
Warden, Charles J. McMorrow; Deputy Warden, John V. Powers ; Clerk, Wm. H. Pratt; Deputy Clerk, Charles H. Bearce ; Inspectors, E. Q. S. Litchfield, Thomas B. Loud, George A. McGowan, Frank K. Raymond; Deputy Inspectors, Albert C. Burrell, Cyrus E. Raymond ; Ballot Box Constable, Asa B. Pratt; Constable, Arthur H. Pratt.
PRECINCT 3.
Warden, William S. Wallace; Deputy Warden, Owen L. Greelish ; Clerk, Jacob Dexheimer; Deputy Clerk, Jesse H. Pierce ; Inspectors, Atherton W. Tilden, J. Rupert Walsh, William H. Wall, James A. Pray ; Deputy Inspectors, Charles E. Whitten, Burton F. Johnson ; Ballot Box Constable, Oliver Houghton ; Constable, Thomas Fitzgerald.
PRECINCT 4.
Warden, Thomas H. Melville ; Deputy Warden, Fred L. Bay- ley ; Clerk, J. Ellis Gardner; Deputy Clerk, Stephen L. Hol- brook ; Inspectors, Edward Howley, William T. Spilsted, Adol- phus P. Poole, Frank Tisdale; Deputy Inspectors, Daniel L. Bresnahan, Hamilton Tirrell; Ballot Box Constable, George B. Bailey ; Constable, William F. French.
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