Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1916-1918, Part 20

Author: Scituate (Mass.)
Publication date: 1916-1918
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 526


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1916-1918 > Part 20


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).


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Aug. 3.


Water rates


1,056 31


Aug. 3.


Insurance.


50 00


Aug. 3.


Distribution maintenance 3 09


Aug. 16. Service rates .


35 59


Aug. 16. Hydrant rental


8.34


Aug. 16. Water rates


206 87


Aug. 23. Meter rates .


260 43


Aug. 23. Service rates


11 85


Aug. 23. Water rates


410 25


Sept. 30.


Meter rates


727 70


July 23.


Water rates


348 47


Report of Scituate Water Company - Expenditures 89


Oct. 21. Water rates.


$351 50


Oct. 21. Service rates 14 80


Oct. 21. Distribution maintenance 46 00


Oct. 25. Interest on deposit . 44 55


Dec. 5. Water rates . 160 50


$29,050 92


Expenditures


Jan. 5. Replacement. $400 00


Jan. 5. Pumping 59 34


Jan.


5. Distribution maintenance 25 38


Jan. 5. Distribution operation.


100 00


Jan. 5. Pumping


29 63


Jan. 5. Service maintenance .


18 00


Jan.


5. Distribution maintenance 21 75


Jan. 5. Replacement .


12 99


Jan. 5. Commercial expense 125 00


Jan. 5.


Replacement .


1,150 00


Jan.


5. Distribution maintenance


99 37


Jan. 5. General expense.


88 50


Jan.


5. Pumping . 53 32


Jan. 5. Replacement. .


31 30


Jan. 5. Distribution maintenance


9 00


Jan. 5. Distribution maintenance 12 50


Jan. 5. Distribution maintenance 2 01


Jan. 17. Replacement .


413 17


Jan. 29.


Interest on bonds .


2,500 00


Jan. 29.


Commercial expense .


15 00


Jan.


29.


Distribution maintenance 3 85


Jan.


31.


Commercial expense 50 00


Jan. 31. Interest on note. 150 00


Jan. 31. Commercial expense . 1 00


Feb. 1. Dividend on preferred stock


2,500 00


Feb. 1. Commercial expense. 125 00


Feb. 1. Commercial expense . 37 89


Feb. 1. Distribution maintenance 21 00


90


Report of Scituate Water Company - Expenditures


Feb. 1. Replacement. $18 75


Feb. 1. Pumping 30 00


Feb. 1. Distribution maintenance 19 50


Feb. 1. Distribution operation


100 00


Feb. 1. Pumping.


. 414 56


Feb. 1. Replacement


407 80


Feb. 1. Distribution maintenance


4 50


Feb.


1. Distribution maintenance


50 95


Feb. 1. General expense.


32 25


Feb. 1. Replacement .


23 02


Feb. 5. Distribution maintenance


24 97


Feb.


5. Commercial expense.


9 00


Feb.


5. Distribution maintenance.


42 17


Feb.


5. Distribution maintenance


10 50


Feb. 5. Commercial expense


125 00


Feb. 14.


Tax.


5 00


Feb. 25.


Pumping


1 80


Feb. 28.


Distribution operation .


100 00


Feb. 28.


Commercial expense


50 00


Mar. 6.


Replacement .


59 00


Mar. 6.


Replacement.


209 66


Mar. 6.


Replacement.


35 25


Mar. 6.


Pumping


8 25


Mar. 6.


Service maintenance


6 00


Mar.


6. Distribution maintenance


27 00


Mar. 6. Pumping .


3 55


Mar. 6.


Replacement .


9 00


Mar. 6.


Replacement.


1 84


Mar. 6.


Commercial expense.


13 89


Mar. 6. Distribution maintenance


6 19


Mar.


6.


Replacement.


34 65


Mar. 6.


Distribution maintenance


14 70


Mar. 6. Replacement.


4 50


Mar.


6. Pumping


202 63


Mar. 6. Distribution maintenance


15 76


Mar. 6. Pumping


2 10


April


2. Distribution operation


100 00


Feb.


5. Distribution maintenance 9 00


Report of Scituate Water Company - Expenditures 91


April 12. Distribution maintenance. $31 12


April 12. Pumping 7 13


April 12. Service maintenance 12 00


April 12. Replacement 34 13


April 12. Replacement. 52 50


April 12. Commercial expense 8 04


April 12. Commercial expense.


20


April 12. Commercial expense


1 00


April 12. Taxes


2 52


May 6. Taxes.


19 95


. May 6. Commercial expense .


9 10


May 6. Distribution maintenance. 6 48


May 6. Distribution maintenance 36 75


May 6. Service maintenance 12 00


May 6, Pumping .


24 37


May 6. Replacement.


40 50


May · 6. Distribution operation


100 00


May 6. Legal .


100 00


May 16. Replacement.


100 05


May 16. Replacement .


598 50


May 16. Interest .


48 00


May 16.


Commercial expense.


40


May 16. Distribution maintenance


88 22


May 16. Insurance .


50 00


May 16. Distribution maintenance.


22 29


May 16. Distribution maintenance


12 04


May 16. General expense


43 25


May 16. Pumping .


679 24


May 16.


Replacement.


102 74


May 16. Interest . 150 00


May 16. Commercial expense .


1 00


June 3. Distribution maintenance


28 25


June 3. Pumping.


28 25


June 3. Service maintenance 28 25


June 3. Replacement


9 80


June 3. Distribution operation


100 00


June 29. Taxes


387 73


July 13. Commercial expense 56 14


92


Report of Scituate Water Company - Expenditures


July 13. General expense .


$2 80


July 13. Pumping 1 73


July 13. Purification . 15 90


July 13. Distribution operation 75 00


July 13. Distribution maintenance.


59 04


July 13. Pumping .


59 04


July 13. Service maintenance .


59 04


July


13. Commercial expense


125 00


July 25. Interest on bonds.


2,500 00


July 25. Commercial expense.


15 00


July


28. Interest on note .


150 00


July 28.


Commercial expense .


1 00


July 28.


Distribution maintenance


34 50


July 28. Purification .


165 50


Aug. 1.


Dividend on preferred stock


2,500 00


Aug. 1.


Commercial expense .


150 00


Aug. 1.


Interest .


495 00


Aug.


1.


Commercial expense


3 30


Aug. 1. Pumping .


106 65


Aug. 1. General expense.


26 83


Aug.


1. Commercial expense


75 00


Aug. 1. Commercial expense .


125 00


Aug. 1. Commercial expense .


42 83


Aug. 1.


Commercial expense


100 00


Aug.


3. Commercial expense


166 66


Aug. 3. Commercial expense .


18 00


Aug. 3. Pumping


57 00


Aug. 3. Distribution maintenance


27 00


Aug. 3. Service maintenance .


22 00


Aug. 3. Service maintenance .


1 76


Aug. 3. Distribution maintenance


3 50


Aug. 3. Commercial expense.


24 00


Aug. 3. Commercial expense .


12 00


A ug. 3. Commercial expense .


2 75


Aug. 3. General expense


5 92


A ug. 6. General expense


107 50


Aug. 6. Purification .


363 48


Aug.


6. Distribution maintenance


167 20


Report of Scituate Water Company - Expenditures


93


Aug. 6. Distribution maintenance $7 53


Aug. 6. Pumping 14 00


Aug. 6. Pumping 48 55


. Aug. 6. Commercial expense.


2 00


Aug. 6. Distribution maintenance.


28 20


Aug. 6. Insurance .


50 00


Aug. 6. Distribution maintenance


14 90


Aug. 6. Distribution maintenance


7 65


Aug. 6. Distribution maintenance.


26 00


Aug. 7. Distribution maintenance


3 66


Aug. 7. Service maintenance


78 00


Aug. 7. General expense .


1 00


Aug. 7. Pumping .


358 36


Aug. 29.


Commercial expense


166 66


Aug. 29. Distribution maintenance


47 00


Aug. 29.


Purification .


48 00


Aug. 29. Distribution maintenance


5 00


Sept. 1. Purification


18 00


Sept. 1. Purification . 7 90


Sept. 1. Commercial expense .


23 45


Sept. 1. Commercial expense


2 35


Sept. 1. Pumping


46 00


Sept. 1. Service .


52


Sept. 1. Distribution maintenance


7 27


Sept. 1. General expense.


8 81


Sept. 1. Purification .


136 40


Sept. 1. Distribution maintenance


40 80


Sept. 1. Pumping


28 80


Sept. 1. Service .


22 00


Sept. 1. Purification .


309 05


Oct. 4. Purification


8 05


Oct. 4. Pumping .


1 97


Oct. 4. Service maintenance.


1 36


Oct. 4. Distribution maintenance


12 50


Oct. 4. Commercial expense .


8 67


Oct. 4. Pumping .


45 00


Oct. 4. Distribution maintenance 70 00


Oct. 4. Service maintenance 25 00


1


· 94 Report of Scituate Water Company - Expenditures


Oct. 4. Purification .


$146 00


Oct. 4. Commercial expense 166 66


Oct. 4. Pumping


172 40


Oct. 7. Loan.


2,000 00


Oct. 9.


Pumping


479 32


Oct. 10. Interest on note .


150 00


Oct. 10. Commercial expense


1 00


Oct. 11. Pumping


92 64.


Oct. 11.


Pumping


26 52


Oct. 11. Distribution maintenance


6 00


Oct. 11. Pumping


7 50


Oct. 11 Pumping .


4 00


Oct. 11. Distribution maintenance .


59 75


Oct. 11. Distribution maintenance. 54 36


30 20


Nov. 1. Commercial expense .


166 66


Nov. 1. Purification


7 92


Nov. 1. Pumping


2 98


Nov. 1.


Pumping .


25 64


Nov. 1. Distribution maintenance


9 32


Nov. 1. Distribution maintenance


4 00


Nov. 1. Distribution maintenance


44 00


Nov. . 1. Pumping .


36 50


Nov. 1. Service maintenance


51 00


Nov. 1. Purification .


130 00


Nov. 1. Purification


1 00


Nov. 2. Interest .


150 00


Nov. 2. Commercial expense


1 00


Nov. 4. Commercial expense .


94 57


Nov. 6. Commercial expense


1 00


Nov. 6. Interest on note


150 00


Nov. 8.


Replacement .


339 32


Nov. 30.


Interest on note .


150 00


Nov. 30.


Commercial expense


1 00


Dec. 6. Commercial expense.


166 66


Dec. 6. Purification


8 00


Dec. 6. Pumping .


64 00


Dec.


6. Service maintenance .


69 00


Oct. 18. Interest on note .


.


95


Report of Scituate Water Company - Expenditures


Dec. 6. Distribution operation .


$125 00


Dec. 6. Commercial expense. 13 29


Dec. 6. Distribution maintenance 14 15


Dec. 6. Pumping 59 35


Dec. 6. Distribution maintenance 52 00


Dec. 11.


Interest on note .


150 00


Dec. 11.


Commercial expense


1 00


Dec. 28.


General expense. .


82 01


Dec. 28.


Service maintenance


32 36


Dec. 28.


Pumping


27 72


Dec. 28.


Pumping


5 65


Dec. 28.


Distribution maintenance


12 60


Dec. 28.


Pumping


17 68


Dec. 28. Purification


151 13


Dec. 28. Distribution maintenance. 58 93


Dec. 28.


Legal 17 50


$28.707 31


96


Report of the Park Commission


REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSION


To the Citizens of Scituate:


The small plots in the various sections of the Town have as usual been taken care of as well as could be expected under the conditions. The money appropriated for the partial renovation of the "Cedar Point Lighthouse " has been judiciously expended, but a further appropriation is needed before the buildings can be put in thorough repair. We think it advisable to do this over a period of a few years, and shall therefore ask for only a small appropriation this year, continuing the same till we succeed in turning over the property and grounds as a park of which Scituate may be proud.


The acquisition of the bathing beach at the Sand Hills is a very important step in the right direction and in the estimation of your commission will tend towards still greater improvements in that section of the Town. Through the kindness of Mr. T. W. Lawson and Mr. Frank O. White the Town is now in possession of the deeds to the land near the Egypt depot, donated to the Town by these two gentle- men. The Common upon which stands our Soldiers and Sailors' Monument must have special and careful attention. The grounds should be kept in the very best condition if the plot and monument are to remain an attraction and one worthy the Town of Scituate.


The Park Commission continues to hope that its citizens may some day decide to remove the building now used as a lock-up and open up that plot as a small park. It would certainly greatly improve that particular location, which is one of the beauty spots of our beautiful Town.


WILLIAM H. NORTH, JOHN F. DALBY, FRANK H. BARRY.


97


Report of Tree Warden


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN


To the Citizens of Scituate:


In pursuance of the regular custom I am herewith pre- senting my report as Tree Warden. The position has gradually become of more and more importance as the public realize the value of the work done.


The year of 1918 being one of limited appropriation I could not do so much work as I would like. I have set out one hundred and twenty-seven trees in different parts of our Town. I have done as much trimming of trees and mowing of bushes as was possible. It is my belief that the best results come from digging and fertilizing around young trees.


I wish to thank all who have shown interest in my work in the past year and hope they will continue to show in- terest in the future.


Respectfully,


WILLIAM F. FORD, Tree Warden.


98


Report of Board of Health


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH


To the Citizens of the Town of Scituate:


We present our report for the year 1918. We regret to say that we have a larger number of communicable diseases to report than usual, due to the epidemic of influenza. Fortunately there were fewer deaths in Scituate than in other towns. We have inspected all dairies and cow ba. 15 in Scituate twice this year: many of them have shown im- provements and carried out suggestions of last year. We have had very few complaints during the year, regarding the disposal of garbage. We have had several complaints regarding the overflowing of cess pools, to which we have written the owners and found they have all been attended to.


The appropriation of $400 made by the Town for the purpose of widening and straightening the creek in the meadows back of North Scituate Beach was spent to good advantage. The work has been done and the conditions thereby are much improved.


Expenses


1918


Mar. 9. James S. Barry, quarantine. $20 00


Mar. 12. Henry Webb, expenses. 11 46


April 11. Mass. Homeopathic Hospital 73 50


April 11.


William P. Grovestein, expenses 39 80


April 11. William P. Grovestein, services 80 00


April 11. Geo ge T. Otis, services 79 00


April 11. Henry Webb, services


80 00


May 24. John Fallon, burying dog


2 00


June 23. Moses Jellows, quarantined for 20 days. 40 00


June 23. Germ destroyers, 1416-16 Post. 14 26


June 23. Bound rook Press, permits for


plumbing 7 14


99


Report of Board of Health


June 23. F. A. Conroy, burying dog $2 00


June 23. Thomas Tobin, burying dog 3 00


June 23. George W. Kimball, burying dog 2 00


Aug. 1. William P. Grovestein, services


64 00


Aug. 1. George T. Otis, services 62 00


Aug. 1. Henry Webb, service 85 00


Aug. 1. W. W. Waterman, inspector of cattle


62 50


Aug. 1. Arthur B. Merritt, inspector of plumbing 16 00


J. F. Bresnahan, inspector of cattle


75 00


Bates Wilder Co., automobile ser- vice. 35 00


William P. Grovestein, services. 99 00


George T. Otis, services 100 00


John W. Burke, services. 98 00


$1,150 66


REPORT OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES


Spanish Influenza and Pneumonia had 355 cases reported : 225 males, 130 females, 6 deaths.


Diphtheria .


8 cases


Chicken Pox


2 cases


Measles . .


12 cases


German Measles


7 cases


Scarlet Fever.


14 cases


Typhoid Fever


2 cases


Whooping Cough 5 cases


Respectfully submitted,


WILLIAM P. GROVESTEIN, Chairman. GEORGE T. OTIS, JOHN W. BURKE, Secretary.


100


Report of Inspector of Plumbing


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING


Scituate, Mass., January 1, 1919.


Board of Health, Scituate, Mass.


Dear Sirs: Owing to the war, building construction in this Town the past year has been far below normal.


Very few plumbing permits have been issued by me. The plumbers who have filed their applications have had permits granted them, which work I have inspected and found complied with the laws and plumbing regulations of the Town of Scituate.


Respectfully yours, ARTHUR R. MERRITT, Inspector of Plumbing.


101


Report of Inspector of Milk


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK


To the Citizens of Scituate:


There were twelve milk licenses issued for the year 1918.


I have tested samples for bacteria and butter fat and have found a great improvement in the milk. In fact the test for bacteria was the best yet, showing that the owners of da ries are doing their utmost to give their customers clean milk.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE T. OTIS, Milk Inspector.


102


Report of Inspector of Slaughtering


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING FOR PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1918


North Scituate, Mass .. January 1, 1919. The Scituate Board of Health.


Gentlemen: During the year 1918 I inspected a total of eighty-two butchered animals divided as follows: twenty- three veal, fifty-five swine and four beeves, all of which I found in perfect condition and suitable for consumption.


Respectfully submitted,


J. F. BRESNAHAN, Inspector.


103


Report of Fire Department


REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


North Scituate, Mass., December 31, 1918.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.


Gentlemen: In accordance with your request, the Board of Engineers met at the Town Hall, May 13, and the following officers were elected: Chief, E. R. Seaverns; As- sistant Chief, C. M. Litchfield; Second Assistant Chief, D. P. Sylvester; Clerk, F. W. Litchfield; District Engineer, A. B. Cole.


During the year, fire has removed two landmarks of Scituate. Both were incend ary fires and were the only buildings wholly destroyed; they were the Methodist Church, on January 13, and Eaton's Hotel, on Coleman's Heights, in June.


We have purchased 1000 feet of new hose and distributed it among the different companies, and with the permission of the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Service, I have placed 100 feet on the reel at the station at North Scituate Beach.


The fire at Dr. Simpson's, Barker Farm, in May, estab- lished the fact that to depend on horses in District No 1 was unreliable, and as a larger part of our mercantile property lies within this district, in addition to the project the Gov- ernment was building, and expecting our co-operation, it became apparent that we had to take some steps to better our equipment in that section. After conferring with, and having the approval of your Honorable Board, we have caused to be placed in No. 1 a chemical combination, which will increase the efficiency immeasurably.


Having received word, November 20, from United States Explosive Inspector, requesting the co-operation of the Chiefs


104


Report of Fire Department


of the Fire Departments of Massachusetts to enforce the Federal Explosive Act, which is very exacting and requires a license to handle it in any way :


(a) Manufacturers' license.


(b) Vendor's license.


() Purchaser's license.


(d) Foreman's license.


(e) Exporter's license.


(f) Importer's license.


(g) Analyst's, educator's, inventor's and investigator's license.


Violations of these provisions are punishable by a fine of $5000 and imprisonment of one year or both, and it is required that persons in this Town, resident or non-resi- dent, citizen or alien, to report to the Chief of this Depart- ment a list of explosives, detonating percussion caps, etc., at once.


The Department has been called to the assistance of our neighboring Town of Marshfield twice. On April 1 to a fo est fire, and at Green Harbor, to the hotel fire. On October 25, we were called to Norwell.


During the year, this Department has had three members from Hose No. 1, two members from Hose No. 2, one mem - ber from Hose No. 3, and five members from Hose No. 5, enter the Service of our Country, to help battle for Democ- racy. Two were placed on the "Honor List": Fred Jackson, of Hose No. 5, being wounded, and Fred Hyland of Hose No. 3, paying the "supreme sacrifice."


The cordial relations, and the interest taken by your Honorable Board in this Department have created a closer relation between our members.


The Board feel it their duty to ask the citizens of this Town for an appropriation for the purchase of a pumping engine.


105


Report of Fire Department


We recommend the appropriation of $3,750 for the maintenance of the Department.


Yours respectfully,


E. R. SEAVERNS, Chief, F. W. LITCHFIELD, Clerk, C. M. LITCHFIELD, District Chief, D. P. SYLVESTER, A. B. COLE.


106


Report of Forest Warden


REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN


North Scituate, Mass., December 31, 1918.


To the Citizens of Scituate:


In making a report on forest fires, I would say that we have not had any large fires this year, but numerous small ones. The weather was greatly in our favor during the past season. and the slash law has been a great help, but it should be the duty of every citizen to exercise the greatest caution in regard to burning brush and rubbish. I would suggest an appropriation of $550 for fighting forest fires.


Respectfully submitted,


E. R. SEAVERNS, Forest Warden.


107


Report of the Clean-up Committee


REPORT OF THE CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE


To the Citizens of Scituate:


The first work of the Clean-Up Committee this year was the general cleaning up of the Town and disposing of rubbish which had accumulated during the previous season. This was done during Clean-Up Week.


Teams were sent to the premises of persons so desiring and all rubbish and trash carried away and disposed of; the only requirement being that owners of premises have material which they wished disposed of placed where our men could load it into carts.


A mistake on the part of some few persons was that the Clean-Up Committee would go into cellars and carry off ashes -this, of course, was not possible.


The Committee has placed in various parts of the Town galvanized iron ash barrels for the reception of trash, waste paper, etc., which would otherwise litter our streets. These barrels were emptied once a week or as often as necessary during the summer months, thus helping in a degree to keep our streets free from unsightly rubbish which so gen- erally disfigures roadways.


The Clean-Up Committee has this year endeavored to exercise economy in its work and has not expended all its appropriation. A few more rubbish barrels can be used to advantage in different parts of the Town the coming year, and the Committee has been promised that should barrels be so placed they will be cared for during the season without expense to the Committee. These barrels were not purchased this year because of the high cost, and with the hope and expectation that another year prices would be nearer normal.


The Committee hopes that an appropriation for the coming year will be made equal to that of last year so that


108


Report of the Clean-up Committee


work which was not done during the past season because of the high cost of everything, can be carried on as it should.


While not directly connected with clean-up! work, the Committee wishes to acknowledge its appreciation of the work done by the scholars of the Hatherly and Jenkins Schools who had "War Gardens" or who cared for their own lawns and home grounds.


It was the intention of the Clean-Up Committee to have these gardens and grounds viewed during the growing season by a special committee with the view to awarding prizes; but circumstances beyond our control prevented the Clean-Up Committee from finding a suitable committee to do this work at the proper time, and as the usual prizes were not given the Clean-Up Committee takes this means of expressing its appreciation of the faithful work done by these children; and that the townspeople may know who some of its faithful young citizens are the Committee here publishes an honor roll of those children who continued faithful to the work during the season.


WAR GARDENS MADE BY


Francis Barry, Kenneth Bates, Clara Biasey, Marian Biasey, Eugene Blanchard, Elsie Bogdanoff, Robert Bonney, Wilfred Brown, John Burbank, Ella Cole, Bertram Cole, Benjamin Curran, Joseph Dwyer, James Dwyer, May Ford, Paul Gillis, Malcom Hall, Eleanor Hollis, Sara Jellows, Marshall Lane, Ezra Litchfield, John Stonefield, Franklin Sharp, Gertrude Stanley, Florence Townsend, Nathaniel Tilden, Lawrence Webster, George Vinton, Elmer Vinton.


LAWNS AND HOME GROUNDS CARED FOR BY Nelson Bates, Eleanor Dwyer, Nelson Lee, Freeman LochEn, Annie McCarthy, Marguritte McKenney, Dorothy McDermott, Mary Prouty, Evelyne Smith, Ella Cole, Nathaniel Tilden, Florence Townsend, George Vinton, Elmer Vinton, Mildred Webster, Franklin Sharp.


Respectfully submitted, S. A. AGNEW, Chairman.


109


Trustees of the Scituate Historical Society


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE SCITUATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY


To the Inhabitants of the Town of Scituate :


The Trustees of the Scituate Historical Society submit this, their report of the Cudworth House property which three years ago was given into the custody and control of the corporation.


At the annual meeting of the Town in March, 1918, the sum of $300 was appropriated and made available for shingling the walls and roof. A contract involving the whole of this amount was made with Thomas F. Bailey & Son. As the work developed it became apparent that other repairs were necessary. New gutters, corner boards and saddle boards, new shutters and substantial repairs to the chimney, all could be supplied and made cheaper, while the shingling was being done, than separately and after- ward. The members of the Society were already sub- scribing and collecting among themselves a fund for reno- vating, restoring, papering and painting the interior. The amount thus collected was sufficiently large to do both. They were both done, the Town paying $300 and the So- ciety more than twice that sum. Both exterior and interior (save one room on the second floor) are entirely restored in exact keeping with the appearance of the house while it was occupied by the Cudworth owners. In this, and the further respect that it is a bit of eighteenth century Town history now brought into active use, it is unique. Antiqua- rians and colonial historians who have visited it speak of it in words of appreciation. With its contents, which have been generously offered to the "loan collection," it is already sought as an object of historical interest. The trustees will reopen it in May until October. Meantime, a key is


110


Trustees of the Scituate Historical Society


always available at the Town office for members and towns- people who may desire to show it to friends. The house itself, and all of the furnishings, many of which are of rare value, are fully insured. The former is, of course, for the benefit of the Town; the latter, paid for by the Society, is for the benefit of the individual owners of loan collections.


The members of the Society are strong in the belief that it can be an efficient agent for much benefit to the Town in preserving the tangible evidences of its municipal colony, and the memories of those intangible influences which in the last half of the seventeenth century made it a dominant and controlling one. Plymouth itself was second to Scit- uate from 1650 to the union with the Bay Colony in 1692. They are earnest in their determination for a progressive activity to this end.


Early in the year the Trustees were discussing the great desirab 'ty of restoring the tomb of William Cushing, son of Scituate and Judge of the highest Court of the land, the Supreme Court of the United States at Washington. It has long been neglected. A committee of the Society was appointed and already the Cushing kindred are subscribing to a memorial to be placed on a granite boulder at the junction of the present Country Way and Rotten Marsh Bridge Road, leading to Walnut Tree Hill, the home of Judge Cushing and the place of his burial. At the time when this report goes to press enough has already been pledged to indicate that the full cost of the sculpture ($1,500) will easily be raised.




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