USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > Town annual report of the officers of Dedham, Massachusetts, and the town records 1894 > Part 4
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The number of interments has been below the average for the preceding ten years. The names of those persons whose bodies have been interred in this cemetery will be found in the list annexed to this report. It will be seen that a majority of these died elsewhere than in Dedham, but either by former residence in Dedham or family connection, they had acquired the right to be buried in a lot or space formerly reserved or purchased by their kindred, as a family burial place. As the names of such persons are not entered among the deaths upon the town records, it has been thought best thus to preserve them, with the ages, places and dates of de- cease for future reference.
The amount required for the annual maintenance and care of this cemetery somewhat exceeds the annual appro- priation of four hundred dollars, but the receipts for opening graves will meet any deficiency. The Commissioners there- fore recommend that an appropriation of four hundred dol .. lars, being the same as last year, be made for the use of this- cemetery for the ensuing year.
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Interments in Old Parish Cemetery for year ending Jan. 1, 1894.
NAMES.
PLACE OF DEATH.
DATE OF DEATH.
AGE. Y. M. D.
Hepsey Ann Coolidge,
.
Haddonfield, N. J. East Bridgewater, Mass.
Jan. 13, '93 Jan. 31, '93 |
75 7 6
Amelia Bestwick Turner, .
Dedham, Mass.
Mar. 25, '93 74 7 10
James Harvey Prince,
April 4, '93
68 0 6
Mehitable Bagley White,
Leominster, Mass.
25,'93
77 3 25
Ira Russell, .
Dedham, 66
May 1, '93
87 0 8
Joanna E. Mills,
Needham, 66
May 14, '93
79 11 20
Anna Johnston,
Milton,
July 6, '93
20 0 16.
- Johnston (infant),
July 6, '93
- Mabbett (infant),
66 Hyde Park.
Aug. 16, 93
Harold Blair Parker, .
Dedham,
Sept. 25,'93
7 3
Minerva M. Wakefield,
Boston, 66
Oct. 6, '93
79. .
Charles S. Brooks,
. .
Dec. 1, '93
42 8 18
Hepsibah Everett,
Dedham, 66
" 10, '93
96 6 12
- Spencer (infant),
Hyde Park, 6.
" 14, '93
Edward Wight,
London, Prov. of Ontario,
" 27, '93
55
. .
Harvey James Davenport,
Dedham, Mass.
" 29, '93
82 2 . .
Mary Holmes,
Hyde Park, Mass. .
" 30, '93
69 11 3
Number of interments,
19 Number removed from tombs to Brookdale Cemetery. 2
67 11 28
Aaron Marden,
6,'93
82 8 19.
Catherine K. May,
66
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS IN ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF DEDHAM.
BROOKDALE CEMETERY.
DR.
1893. Feb. 1. Cash on hand, $691 11
Appropriation,
500 00
Burial lots,
879 00
Single graves,
125 00
Interments,
326 00
Sale of grass,
20 00
Grading, sodding and foundations, 84 00
$2,625 11
CR.
Paid P. A. Nolan, for labor,
$496 00
A. J. Nolan, “
376 00
Peter Gallagher,
444 00
James Fogerty,
79 00
P. A. Nolan, use of horse and cart,
259 50
A. J. Nolan, police duty, .
26 00
H. A. Winship, 44 yards webb,
11 25
P. F. Tracy, manure,
9 17
P. A. Nolan,
16 50
Philander Allen, corner stones,
25 00
6 32
T. J. Baker & Son, grass seed,
89 91
E. P. Morse, sods and bedding plants, Rep. lawn mower,
1 50
E. W. Bonnemort, mowing grass,
10 00
C. Russell, tools,
5 62
67
C. S. Churchill, cement, . $1 50
P. F. Corbett, repairing tools,
3 82
Cash on hand, . 764 02
$2,625 11
Examined and found correct, Feb. 9, 1894.
FRANK M. BAILEY, EDWARD C. PAUL,
Auditors.
OLD PARISH CEMETERY.
DR.
To balance unexpended in Town Treas-
ury, Feb. 1, 1893, $77 19
" cash on hand Feb. 1, 1893, paid to Town Treasurer Feb. 11, 1893, 46 75
$123 94
amount of appropriation, April, 1893,
400 00
" received for interments to Feb. 1, 1894,
82 50
66 66 " sale of wood to J. Cleary and F. W. Weatherbee, 4 00
66
" labor on Cox lot,from C. M. Cox, 24 20
66
66 66
66
Tolman lot, from C. J. Bickford, .
7 50
66
66
" " Morse lot, Mrs.
Andrews, 3 00
66
66
66
" etc. on Cox lot Mrs.
Cox, .
4 48
$649 62
CR.
By cash paid J. Cleary, for labor in Jan, Feb. and
March, 1893, .
·
.
66
66 66
66
66 66 " April, 25 days, 50 00
66 66
66 D. Cobb,
" May, { day, . 1 00
$24 75
68
By cash paid J. Cleary, for labor in May, 26 days, 66
$52 00
66
66 66 " labor and loam Cox lot, 22 00
66
66 J. V. Fell, sharpening lawn mower, . 1 50
66
66 66
Charles Russell, supplies,
86
66 66 J. J. Cleary, for labor one day, 2 00
66
66 66 J. Cleary, labor, June, 243 days, 49 00
66 66 66 Patrick Riley, trimming hedge, 17 00
66 16 Daniel Cobb, labor } day, July,
1 00
66
J. Cleary, labor in July, 1893, 25 days, 50 00
66
66
66 August, 1893,22 days, 44 00
50 00
66
T. J. Baker & Son. sundries,
2 85
66
66 F. W. Weatherbee, labor and loam Tolman and Morse lots, 7 50
66
6. 66
F. W. Weatherbee, labor and materials, October, 5 75
66
66
66 J. Cleary, labor in Oct., 25 days, 50 00
" Nov., 12} " . 25 00
66
66
" on Cox lot, 2 days, Nov.
. and December, . 4 00
66
6.
" James Shine, manure, . ,
2 50
66
66
" Baker Bros., painting fence and build- ing, 17 50
66
" J. Cleary, for labor in Dec., 1893, 7 00
66
60 " Charles Russell, glass, 16
6 00
Balance unexpended in town treasury Feb. 1, 1894, $99 96
Balance cash on hand, Feb. 1, 1894, · 52 29
152 25
.
66 F. W. Weatherbee, " " 2 " .
4 00
$649 62
66
" Sept., " 25 days,
66
" F. W. Weatherbee,
69
TOOLS BELONGING TO OLD PARISH CEMETERY.
Two lawn mowers, hose, stone roller, grindstone, wheelbarrow, iron bar, border cutter, shovel, spade, hoe, wooden rake, scythes, two scythe snaths, rattan broom, grass hooks, pruning shears, bier, planks, and ropes.
Dedham, Feb. 1, 1894.
ERASTUS WORTHINGTON, PATRICK A. NOLAN, ANDREW. J. NORRIS,
Cemetery Commissioners.
Examined Feb. 13, 1894, and found correct.
DANIEL A. LYNCH, FRANK M. BAILEY, Auditors. EDWARD C. PAUL,
70
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
The following report for 1893 is respectfully submitted by the Board of Health.
During the year 1893 there has been reported to the Board of Health 112 cases of contagious or infectious dis- eases, as follows :-
Diphtheria, 3 cases
Scarlet Fever,
53
Measles,
47
Typhoid Fever, .
9
Total,
112 cases.
From these cases there have been five deaths reported, two from typhoid fever, and three from scarlet fever. The diphtheria cases have been exceptionally few and scattered. There has been a great increase in the scarlet fever cases over previous years. Considerable care has been taken by the Board to prevent the spread of this disease, and the scattered and wide range of the cases rendered it practically impossible for the Board to anticipate results. Many of the cases were traced by the attending physician to outside sources, and beyond the control of the Board. It has been found almost impossible, in some cases, to make the parents understand the value of implicitly following the instructions given by the attending physician, and in one case it became necessary to enforce directions by means of an officer. The three deaths were all in one family where the cases were severest.
The reporting of the cases of measles has heretofore not been insisted upon. The value of such a report is chiefly for the use of the Superintendent of Schools in relation to attendance of pupils afflicted or exposed to this disease.
71
While in adults the measles frequently assume a dangerous type, it is rarely attended with any serious results in children.
The nine cases of typhoid fever, attended with two deaths, were all isolated cases. This disease is now con- sidered largely preventable, it being communicated most frequently by drinking waters containing the disease germ. With the proper precautions in event of sickness there need be no fear of its spreading. .
The Board adopted, early in the season, a series of Rules and Regulations, some of the most important of which were regularly printed and advertised in the Dedham Transcript. Copies of these Rules and Regulations can be obtained at any time of the Board.
A large proportion of the complaints made to the Board during the previous year, were from the keeping of swine in the more thickly settled portion of the village. It was found difficult to allow the keeping of swine in certain lo- calities without their being a nuisance. In consequence, the Board adopted the regulations now in force, prohibiting the keeping of swine within the more settled portions of the village, with the result that the complaints and nuisances from this sourse ceased. Under the present ideas that swine must be kept in filth and mire, the Board believe that the prohibition of their keeping in the closely settled portions of the town, is the only method whereby this nuisance can be disposed of satisfactorily.
The collection of swill has been a considerable problem during the past year, due largely no doubt to the exclusion of swine in certain sections. It was hoped that some person would be ready to make the collection without compensation, the value of the material being sufficient to offset the labor of removal. The Board now have an arrangement whereby the refuse is collected twice a week. A more thorough sys- tem and the collecting to be done oftener in a special cart, has been under consideration for some time by the Board. The principal difficulty is that a certain amount must be paid
72
for this service, while the Board has not been authorized to make any expenditure for this purpose. It would seem that the benefit to be derived from such a careful removal of wastes would be well worth the payment of a sum in part compensation for such services, and the Board recommend that the Town appropriate a sum not exceeding three hun- dred dollars ($300) for this purpose, to be expended under the direction of the Board.
The question of sewerage works and sewage disposal was considered at some length in the report of last year. The Town must, at a very early date, take the question of sewerage seriously under consideration. Each year the de- mand grows more imperative. It needs but an inspection of the majority of cesspools in this town to convince one of the necessity of a more sanitary and efficient method. The cost of caring for these unsightly and unsanitary receptacles is as great, if not greater, than would be the expense to the Town of an efficient sewerage system. Many cesspools are becom- ing choked up and are merely cisterns to be cleaned out often at great expense and discomfort, or else allowed to overflow as a continual menace to health. It is earnestly hoped that the Town will take immediate action in relation to the sew- erage question.
The sewage disposal area off Bates Street, in use by the County Jail, has been thoroughly renovated during the past season. Settlements on this work produced leakage at certain points from the underground piping, causing at times more or less odor and consequent discomfort. The field has been thoroughly regraded, and the absorption piping taken up and carefully re-laid. In its present condition there need be no fear or discomfort from this source.
In accordance with Chapter 477 of the Acts of 1893, the Board has prepared a set of by-laws for the consideration of the Town in relation to the regulation of plumbing and plumbers. Such a set of by-laws must be acted upon by the Town before much can be done in the way of inspection of
78
plumbing, and the Board respectfully present these for action by the Town.
The Board have appointed a Board of Plumbers' Exam- iners and Inspector, as required by the Act above referred to, but their duties are somewhat nominal until the Town takes action in regard to this macter.
In accordance with the recommendations of the last report, the Board appointed Mr. Irving Donley as health officer. The duties of the health officer consist in serving the notices issued from time to time by the Board, and in aiding them in the abatement of nuisances, and the general discharge of their duties. Mr. Donley has well and faith- fully performed the duties intrusted to him. Mr. William F. Drugan has, for many years, faithfully discharged the duties of fumigator for the Board in a highly satisfactory manner, and has performed such duties during the past year. The vital statistics have been in charge of Mr. Franklin P. Higgins.
A matter of considerable importance has been brought before the Board this year in relation to the better drain- age of Wigwam meadows and Little Wigwam swamp. This subject has been before the Town for many years, and has been reported on by previous boards of health and commit- tees. While such reports have been unanimously in favor of improving this drainage, little has been done in this direction except to clear a ditch from Wigwam pond to the river.
After a hearing and careful examination of the locality in company with some of the petitioners, the Board decided that a careful survey and thorough examination of the swamps and facilities for better drainage should be made as a guide for a proper consideration of the subject. In accordance with this, plans and a report with estimates have been prepared, which treat the whole matter in an exhaust- ive and thorough manner, This report is annexed to the report of the Board, and in view of the fact that some Town
74
action is necessary in the matter before further procedure, the Board recommend it to the careful consideration of the Town. This report shows conclusively that much good can be accomplished by merely deepening and improving the old drainage channels, and that practically all the expense can be charged to the abutting land owners and railroad corporations. Other methods of accomplishing the same purpose are shown, but the expense entailed is, in the minds of the Board, too great for the benefits derived, While the Board thoroughly believe that this plan for better drainage should be adopted and carried out, yet they do not con- sider the lands in question at present injurious to public health within the meaning of the statute. That such drain- age would tend towards making the surrounding territory much better for general uses, the Board has no doubt, and that it may in time become injurious if not attended to in the near future, seems very probable. In view of this position of the Board, they have decided to present the whole matter before the Town, asking that action be taken instructing the Board to proceed and secure such drainage as is herein recommended, and that the Town determine whether it will defray any or all of the costs incident there- to, or charge the proper costs on the abutting land owners. and railroad corporations.
In event of the assessment of such costs, the Town must. make an appropriation for the immediate prosecution of the work, the amounts to be refunded by such assessments when the work is completed.
The total cost of this work is estimated as about Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000).
It is earnestly hoped that the Town will so instruct the: Board and make the necessary appropriation.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
J. W. CHASE, Board®
F. L. BABCOCK, of
E. WORTHINGTON, Jr., ) Health.
P
t
C
1
75
REPORT ON DRAINAGE OF WIGWAM MEADOWS,- DEDHAM, MASS.
DR. JOHN W. CHASE, Chairman of Board of Health, Dedham, Mass.
DEAR SIR :- I have, at your request, made certain sur- veys, investigations and examinations looking towards the better drainage of the Wigwam Meadows, and respectfully present to you the results of my labors in the following
REPORT :
The total area drained by Wigwam or Dwight's Brook and tributaries, above the Washington Street culvert, is as nearly as can be determined by reference to various maps and a careful inspection of the territory, 2,880 acres, or four and one-half square miles. This territory includes two small ponds known as Wigwam Pond, with an area of about . 2276 acres of water surface, and Little Wigwam Pond with an area of about 2% acres of water surface, respectively. . Surrounding these ponds and along the connecting streams, Dwight's Brook and tributaries, are about 200 acres of meadow and swamp land lying at nearly the same level throughout their extent. The most satisfactory and econom- ical method of permanently lowering the water level over this stretch of low meadow and swamp land is the essential object of this inquiry.
The remaining portion of the watershed or land drain- ing into this territory consists for the greater part of wood -- land, with a considerable portion of the more thickly-settled part of the town embraced within its limits.
76
The watershed extends northward as far as High Street, reaching to Connecticut Corner and Haven Street ; it in- cludes a large portion of the territory lying between West- field Street and High Street, and reaching westerly as far as the Glover farm on Westfield Street, extends to the out- skirts of West Dedham and the Town farm property, em- braces a portion of Islington and Endicott, and follows Mt. Vernon Street for a considerable distance as its eastern boundry. The flowage from the above territory empties into the lower meadow and swamp portion, the drainage of which in turn is to be provided for iu an efficient and satisfactory manner.
The question naturally divides itself into two heads during its consideration. First : The physical features in- fluencing the drainage in question both natural and artificial. Second : The equally important consideration of cost, re- garding the difficulties imposed by existing rights of mill owners, railroad corporations and land owners, together with the present means and method of drainage.
Referring to the physical features of the problem, we have primarily the natural drainage outlet for this territory in Dwight's or Wigwam brook passing into the Charles river just below the Washington Street brook cross- ing. The Charles river at this point is practically an elon- gated mill pond, the dam at Newton Upper Falls affecting the flow and depth of water. Immediately below the entrance of Dwight's Brook into the river, Mill Creek, or Mother Brook, leads out to the eastward. Mill Creek is an artificial channel, cut from the Charles River through to the Neponset River, for the purpose of furnishing water power to various mill privileges along its line. The mill owners upon Mill Creek have a legal right to a certain portion of the water naturally flowing in Charles River, and for the purpose of regulating and measuring this flow, a certain portion of the bed of the Creek has been especially prepared. The present rights of mill owners at Newton, and along Mill Creek, thus
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depend largely upon the maintenance of present conditions affecting the height of water in Charles River at the point in question. Any attempted change in the height of water in Charles River must be considered with these conditions in view.
The course of Dwight's Brook from the Charles River to Williams street is through meadow lands, with a somewhat tortuous channel. A culvert of ample dimensions is provided at Washington street. At Williams street begins a culvert of composite construction, which extends diagonally across High street and under the railroad bridge. From the last point it runs by an irregular course under the yard and tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad, to the meadow above. The total length of this culvert is about six hundred and eighty feet, and its peculiar construction and present condition warrant a description of it in detail.
This culvert has been a successive growth, extensions and alterations being made from time to time as necessity required. To this fact is undoubtedly due the irregular course and composite nature of its construction. The upper end of the culvert was constructed when the Readville branch track was first brought into Dedham. It provided a covered box stone culvert under the single track, leaving the remain- der of the brook channel across the present railroad yard open. In the process of extensions and additions to the yard, es- pecially with the erection of the new station, the brook channel was gradually covered with a similar box culvert, until the en- tire distance across the railroad yard was filled. The box culvert followed the brook channel, which accounts for its winding and irregular course. The ground along the brook channel was originally a meadow and had a very yielding surface. A depth of twenty feet of mud exists close at hand, .. and the material forming the brook channel was of this. .nature.
In order to protect the channel, it has been learned by inquiry that for a portion of the distance rows of piles were
78
driven along the sides of the channel, and a plank capping placed on the same at the level of the bottom of the culvert. Upon this foundation side walls of field stone were con- structed, and a line of heavy capping stone set in place for a cover. The culvert thus formed was roughly about five feet in width, and five to seven feet in height. Recent examina- tions of this culvert show dangerous settlements of the side walls. At one point the side wall seems to require but little force to throw a portion into the culvert, some of the wall having already been forced in. At another point the side walls have settled, one side much more than the other, to such an extent that it is impossible to now pass through this culvert, while a few years ago this passage was comparatively easy.
This obvious and continued settlement points to but one result, the eventual collapse of the culvert at these points, and the consequent stoppage of flow until the neces- sary repairs are made. Added to these settlements, a large amount of drift wood, consisting of logs, plank and other material has found lodgment at the point of greatest settle- ment where such drift material has become tightly wedged in, thus blocking the culvert considerably. Should a freshet of ordinary volume occur, this accumulation must either be forcibly dislodged or else form an obstacle which will back up and prevent the free passage of the water at this point.
This box culvert merges at its end near the High Street Railroad bridge into a double pipe culvert which runs under the bridge across High Street. At this junction the course of the culvert makes a sharp turn before entering the pipes. This turn, together with the reduced and divided channel formed by the pipes, will effectually prevent most, if not all, the drift material coming to this point from further passage, and will form a new barrier and stoppage for the water, should the debris now lodged above be forced along by a freshet.
The pipes above referred to are two in number, and of
79
cast iron, 48 inches in diameter. At their upper end they are somewhat over a foot higher at the bottom than the cul- vert bed immediately above. They do not follow the same grade together, the westerly one being higher than the east- erly. The easterly has a total fall of three inches in its en- tire length of 122.6 feet. At a point near the centre of this pipe it rises two inches higher than the upper end of the pipe, and five inches higher than the lower end. The cen- tral elevation in the westerly pipe is even more marked, be- ing about three inches higher in the centre than the easterly pipe. This double pipe culvert running under the High Street bridge is one of the vital points as touching upon the drainage of the meadows above. Its elevation is higher than any other portion of the culvert leading from above the railroad to below Williams Street. More particular mention of these high elevations will be made later in this report.
Above the railroad, the brook passes immediately through the meadows to Wigwam Pond. The channel is somewhat irregular, but owing to extensive ditching done sev- eral years ago the channel for the main distance is amply wide and free from obstruction. The meadows immediately above the railroad form a part of the area before designated as the territory to be drained. The Jamaica Pond Ice Company have large ice houses located adjacent to the New York & New England Railroad, and at a point near to Wigwam Pond, from which they take the supply of ice. From the pond to the ice house they have excavated a large ditch about 50 feet in width. The original outlet of Dwight's Brook has been cut off from direct flowage into the ditch running through the meadow below by a series of plank cut- offs or dams. These hold the height of water in Wigwam Pond from four to six inches higher at all times than the water in the ditch in the meadow below. Exception of course must be made when the entire meadows are flooded in times of freshet. The reason for holding the water of Wigwam Pond back in this manner is understood to be a de-
80
sire to prevent all flow from the stream coming from the westward immediately by the ice houses from entering the pond. This stream forms a very considerable portion of the flow passing through the brook below, draining the Sandy Valley and Westfield Street portion. This stream last re- ferred to originally received the drainage from the County Jail direct and undiluted, and for this reason it was con- sidered essential to prevent all flow from it into a pond used for a public ice supply. The original conditions have been much improved, the drainage from the Jail being now dis- posed of by a system of subsoil filtration, which has lately been thoroughly overhauled.
The withholding of the water of Wigwam Pond to the slight increased elevation of four to six inches above men- tioned, is sufficient to allow a very large amount of steepage or soaking through the low-lying meadow land in the vicinity of the outlet. This action produces in the meadow land im- mediately adjacent to the pond, a super-saturated condition in many places, rendering it impossible to pass over on foot.
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