USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1897-1899 > Part 5
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*Chas. F. Hartshorne,
97
847
Scattering,
.
.
.
2
0
2
Blank,
325
47
372
TOWN TREASURER.
*Thomas J. Skinner,
767
90
857
Scattering,
2
O
2
Blank,
308
54
362
SELECTMEN.
*Jas. F. Mansfield,
648
46
694
*Hoyt B. Parker,
653
63
716
*Edward A. Upton,
750
65
815
*Chas. E. Walton,
739
75
814
*Otis V. Waterman,
641
62
703
Daniel Evans, .
573
IOI
674
Edward E. Whiton,
339
50
389
Scattering,
5
I
6
Blank,
1037
257
I294
*A. W. Brownell,
854
99
953
*Chas. F. Hartshorne,
839
104
943
*Chas. F. Woodward,
793
IO5
898
Scattering,
I4
O
14
Blank,
731
I24
855
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
*William A. Cutter,
699
76
775
*Hiram Eaton,
740
9I
831
*Alexander Glass,
566
109
675
W. H. McCausland, .
559
62
621
Scattering,
I
O
I
Blank,
666
93
759
·
.
·
·
·
.
·
.
*Elected.
.
·
.
.
·
.
·
ASSESSORS.
.
.
10
HIGHWAY SURVEYOR.
*Solon Walton,
625
I20
745
Henry Davis,
·
209
5
214
W. M. Ward,
188
8
196
Blank,
55
1 I
66
COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
*Chas. F. Woodward,
799
IO2
90I
Scattering,
3
O
3
Blank,
275
42
317
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 3 YEARS.
*Eliza M. Greenwood,
756
II4
870
*Selim S. White,
799
109
908
Blank,
597
67
664
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 2 YEARS.
* Ida F. Carlisle,
691
IOI
792 .
Scattering,
6
I
7
Blank,
380
44
424
TRUSTEE OF TOWN LIBRARY FOR I YEAR.
*Peter S. Roberts,
754
93
847
Scattering,
.
I
0
I
Blank,
322
5 I
373
TRUSTEES OF BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY FOR 3 YEARS.
*Wm. E. Rogers,
597
78
675
*A. H. Thayer,
58I
62
643
*Otis V. Waterman,
578
85
663
Curtis L. Sopher,
49I
77
568
Scattering,
I
O
I
Blank,
983
130
III3
CONSTABLES.
*James A. McFadden,
872
9I
963
*Edwin F. Poland, .
842
104
946
* Alvin I .. Vannah,
765
119
884
Scattering,
I
IO
II
Blank,
757
I26
883
.
·
*Elected.
11
BOARD OF HEALTH FOR 3 YEARS.
*Alvin L. Vannah,
704
98
802
Scattering,
·
7
0
7
Blank,
366
46
412
PARK COMMISSIONERS.
*Charles H. Hawes, .
704
88
792
*E. S. Hinckley,
680
85
765
*George H. Maddock,
699
87
786
Scattering,
6
0
6
Blank,
II42
I72
1314
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD FOR 3 YEARS.
*Charles H. Spencer,
751
97
848
Scattering,
[
0
I
Blank,
325
47
372
AUDITORS.
*Everett W. Eaton, .
773
103
876
* Albert W. Flint,
731
I04
835
*George W. Linnell,
791
98
889
Scattering,
2
0
2
Blank,
934
I27
106I
FISH COMMITTEE.
*J. C. Hartshorne,
714
83
797
*Samuel Parker,
743
92
835
*Wm. H. Wiley,
725
92
817
Scattering,
I
0
I
Blank,
1048
165
I2I3
FENCE VIEWERS.
*Roger Howard,
754
94
848
*Chas. H. Stearns,
72I
90
. 8II
*George H. Teague,
702
90
792
Scattering,
6
O
6
Blank,
*Elected.
1048
159
I207
.
.
.
12
LICENSE VOTE.
Yes, .
448
26
474
No, .
.
.
533
82
615
Blank,
96
36
132
The ballots and check lists were sealed and delivered to the town clerk.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 3, 1896.
Meeting called to order in the Armory by Town Clerk Charles F. Hartshorne, who read the warrant for the meeting.
Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting. Edward A. Upton was chosen moderator.
Darius Hadley presented the following resolution :
WAKEFIELD, March 3, 1896.
Whereas, the selectmen have granted to the Wakefield and Stone- ham Street Railway company the right to construct an electric rail- way from Wakefield Centre through Salem street to the Lynnfield town line, and
Whereas, an electric railway cannot be laid at grade across a rail- road without the permission of the railroad commissioners, therefore
Resolved, by the citizens of Wakefield in town meeting assembled, that it will be for the interest of the town and surrounding communi- ties to have said railroad constructed and that the railroad commis- sioners be requested to grant to said railway company the right to cross at grade the Georgetown branch and the Salem branch rail- roads.
Unanimously adopted.
Voted. To take up articles 17, 20, 22, 27, 28, 30, 40, 51, 52.
Voted. To refer above articles to a committee of nine to take said articles into consideration and report at an adjournment of this meeting. Chair appointed Solon Walton, Richard Britton, M. Low, F. P. Hoyt, Chas. F. Woodward, Thomas Lally, Wm. K. Perkins, Geo. W. Killorin and Wm. G. Strong.
Voted. To take up articles 23, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42, 43 and 49.
13
Voted. That the above articles be referred to a committee of seven to include the Board of Fire Engineers, to report at an adjourn- ment of this meeting. Chair appointed James H. Carter, Levi Flanders, H. W. Dalrymple, Wm. E. Cade, E. H. Walton, Darius Hadley and Daniel Evans.
Art. 2. To act upon the acceptance of the reports of town officers as published.
Voted to accept the reports.
Art. 3. To choose all town officers not required by law to be chosen by ballot.
Voted. That a committee of five be appointed to bring in a list. Chair appointed Wm. E. Rogers, Wm. N. Tyler, J. C. Harts- horne, James Hickey and S. W. Flint.
Art. 4. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to hire money to pay all demands in anticipation of taxes.
Voted. That the town treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the selectmen, to hire money in anticipation of the taxes of the current municipal year, and to issue notes of the town therefor ; and all debts so incurred shall be paid from said taxes.
Art. 5. To raise and appropriate money for the following purposes, to wit : For payment of town debt and interest, for school pur- "poses, support of the poor, repairs of highways and bridges, and determine how the same shall be expended, fire department, public library and reading room, salaries of town officers, town house expenses, miscellaneous expenses, annual rental of hyd- rants, police department, common and park improvement, muni- cipal light board and all other necessary town charges.
Voted. To raise and appropriate the following amounts. Interest on town debt, $ 13,000 ; support of schools, general fund $27,- 000 ; school contingent fund, $1500, and for the payment of old bills in the same fund, $500 ; school books and supplies, $2,000 ; support of poor, $6,500 together with the receipts from the town farm ; highways and bridges, $9,000 ; fire department, $3,200 ; public library, $300 and the dog tax ; public reading room, $175 ; salaries of town officers, $3,505 ; police department, $1,200 ; town house expenses, $1500 ; miscellaneous expenses, $10,000 ; municipal light board, $2,000, and income from the plant ; rental of hydrants, $4,305 ; common and park improvement, $500.
14
Voted. That the salary of the highway surveyor be referred to a committee of three to report at an adjournment of this meeting. Chair appointed Wm. N. Tyler, Everett W. Eaton and Everett Hart.
Art. 6. To see what method the town will adopt for the collection of taxes for the year ensuing.
Voted. That all taxes be due Sept. 15, 1896, and that a discount of two per cent. be allowed on all bills paid before that time ; and that interest be charged on all unpaid taxes at the rate of six per cent. after Oct. 1, 1896, until such taxes are paid.
Art. 7. To see if the town will authorize its collector of taxes for the year ensuing to use all means which a town treasurer, when appointed collector, may use.
Voted.
Art. 8. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appro- priate for concrete work.
Voted. $500 for sidewalks where abuttors pay one-half, and $500 for repairing concrete sidewalks and gutters.
Art. 9. To see if the town will authorize its selectmen to appoint a night watch and will raise and appropriate money to pay them.
Voted. $1800.
Art. 10. To determine the compensation of engine-men for the year ensuing.
Voted. $25 per annum.
Art. II. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars for the purposes of Memorial Day.
Voted. $200.
Art. 12. To see if the town will authorize its school committee to employ a superintendent of schools and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted. To do so.
Art. 13. To see if the town will choose an appropriation committee to consider the matter of appropriations for the year 1897, and report in the town report of that year.
Voted. To do so.
Chair appointed on appropriation committee, Everett Hart,
15
W. K. Perkins, W. F. Young, W. G. Strong, Richard Cuff, M. Low, S. T. Parker, P. S. Roberts, C. F. Woodward, E. W. Ea- ton, S. W. Flint, W. N. Tyler, E. M. Southworth, C. H. Spencer, Daniel Evans.
Art. 14. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for re- pairs on the town hall, and appoint a committee to execute the same, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That a committee of three be appointed to retire and nomi- nate a committee of five who should investigate and report at a future town meeting. Chair appointed Wm. N. Tyler, H. B. Par- ker and 'T. J. Skinner who reported the following committee of five : F. O. Clark, W. H. Lee, Roger Howard, Jos. L. Gooch and H. B. Parker.
Report accepted and adopted.
Art. 15. To see if the town will instruct the committee mentioned in the next preceding article to employ an architect in making repairs on the town hall, or in any other way instruct said com- mittee, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To lay this article on the table.
Art. 16. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of twenty-five dollars for the use of the fish committee, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $25.
Art. 18. To see if the town will choose a suitable person to serve for a term of four years to fill the vacancy which now exists in the committee heretofore chosen to provide lectures in accordance with the terms of the bequest of Cornelius Sweetser, and instruct said committee to choose a suitable person to fill any vacancy occurring in said committee, and annually report such choice to the town, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To do so, and Charles H. Howe was chosen.
Art. 19. To see what action, if any, the town will take in reference to changing the present location of the stone crusher, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted. To refer to a committee of three, one of whom shall be the highway surveyor. Chair appointed Solon Walton, Wm. H. McCausland and George W. Killorin.
16
Art. 21. To see if the town will instruct its selectmen to obtain the refusal of a certain lot of land situated on the westerly side of Main street and opposite the town hall, for future library purposes, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To so instruct.
Art. 24. To see if the town will instruct its municipal light board to place an electric light between the houses of Robert Bartley and John L. Surrett, on Bartley street, and appropriate money there- for from the proceeds of the sale of the gas and electric light bonds, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To refer to Municipal Light Board.
Art. 25. To hear and act upon the report of the committee hereto- fore appointed to procure plans and estimates for a school house in Greenwood.
The committee was unable to report and the article was laid on the table.
Art. 26. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the erection of a school house in Greenwood, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To lay this article on the table.
Art. 29. To see if the town will appoint a committee to investigate the official acts and accounts of the board of road commissioners for the year 1895, or what it will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 31. To see if the town will adopt the following method to fill vacancies on committees : "Any vacancies occurring in committees during any fiscal year may be filled, unless otherwise provided for, by a majority vote of the remaining members of such com- mittees and the selectmen in joint convention assembled together, and the town clerk shall record such action and notify persons so chosen," or what it will do about it.
Voted. On motion of F. A. Gowen.
Art. 35. To see if the town will appoint a committee to consider the advisability of the purchase by the town for public park pur- poses of that portion of land bordering on Lake Quannapowitt, and lying westerly from the old burying ground to the ice houses of John G. Morrill. and lying northerly from Church street, said
17
committee to obtain terms for its purchase and report their doings at a future town meeting, with their recommendations thereon, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To appoint a committee of three to take the matter into consideration.
Chair appointed E. G. Daland, C. H. Hawes and L. E. Hawes. Voted. To adjourn to Thursday, March 5, at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 5, 1896.
Meeting called to order by Moderator E. A. Upton.
Voted. That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to prepare resolutions on the death of Governor Frederick T. Green- halge.
Chair appointed M. Low, O. V. Waterman and Wm. N. Tyler, who reported the following resolutions, which were unaminously adopted by a rising vote.
Whereas, The inhabitants of the town of Wakefield, in town meeting assembled, have learned with sorrow and deep regret of the death of His Excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth, at his home in Lowell ; therefore be it
Resolved, That as citizens of a Commonwealth distinctively American in its character, broad and liberal in its educational instincts, true in its patriotism,
That, in the death of His Excellency Frederick T. Greenhalge we, as a people have lost the foremost type of a true American citizen, a conscientious, able and courageous Chief Executive, and a man pre-eminently distinguished in his personal qualities,
That this great public loss is deeply intensified by the bereave- ment of a stricken, devoted and tender wife and family, to whom we extend the warmest sympathies of our hearts.
Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of the town, and that a copy be forwarded to the family of our late Governor.
MICHAEL LOW, OTIS V. WATERMAN, WM. N. TYLER.
Committee on Resolutions.
18
Voted. To take up article 5.
Voted. To reconsider the vote whereby the town voted to raise and appropriate $10,000 for miscellaneous expenses.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $9,000 for miscellaneous expenses. Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 36. To see if the town will appoint a committee to take into consideration the advisability of the purchase by the town of a steam road roller ; to investigate as to kinds, qualities, prices, cost of operating and chances of a revenue to the town from the letting of the same for hire, and report upon their doings with their suggestions at the next town meeting, or what it will do about it. Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 37. To see if the town will authorize its selectmen to pay the bill for legal services for two years last past, of George H. Towle, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $965.40.
Art. 38. To see if the town will authorize the placing of two electric arc lights as follows : one at the corner of Court street and Central street, and one at the corner of Pleasant street and Sweetser street, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To refer to Municipal Light Board.
Motion to take up article 29 lost.
Art. 39. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars to defray the cost of preparing and issuing a second volume of the catalogue of the Beebe Town Library, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $400.
Art. 44. To see if the town will instruct its municipal light board to take into consideration the better lighting of New Salem street and to report its suggestions to the town thereon at the next town meeting.
Voted. To refer to Municipal Light Board to report at a future meeting.
Art. 45. To see if the town will authorize its selectmen to permit
19
the Richardson Light Guard to have the use of and care of the settees heretofore used in the town hall until said hall is re- paired, or what it will do about it.
Voted.
Art. 46. To see if the town will appoint a committee to consider the advisability of the town purchasing new settees for use in the town hall, to investigate kinds, prices and number needed, and report with suggestions (if any) at the next town meeting, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To appoint a committee of five.
Art. 47. To hear and act upon reports of committees.
Maj. Tyler and J. C. Hartshorne reported briefly on behalf of the committee on public burial grounds and lower railroad fares and further time was granted as asked for.
Art. 48. To see if the town will pay Hattie E. Charles for injuries received by her on account of the defective condition of a way in town, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To refer to a committee of three to investigate and report at some future meeting.
Wm. E. Rogers, Fred O. Clark and E. A. Carlisle were appointed on this committee.
Art. 50. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to pay for the services of some person to wind and regulate the tower clock in the Universalist church in said Wakefield for the year ensuing, or what it will about it.
A motion to appropriate $25 was lost.
Art. 53. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to compensate Jeremiah J. Hanglin for injuries received by him while employed by the town, or what it will do about it. Voted. To refer to a committee of three to investigate and report at a future meeting.
C. W. Eaton, John J. O'Connor, and Michael Low were appointed on this committee.
Art. 54. To see if the town will extend the time at which the sewerage committee appointed in 1895 is to report in print, to enable the committee to include in its report the special sewerage act of the Legislature for Wakefield, Greenwood, and
20
Boyntonville, and the final results of its investigations and. negotiations, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To extend the time.
Art. 55. To see if the town will raise and appropriate two hundred dollars to defray the incidental expenses of the committee on sewerage, or what action it will take in relation thereto.
Voted. $200.
Art. 56. To see if the town will accept the provisions of sections one to nineteen inclusive, of chapter 50 of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts and amendments thereto relating to " Sewers and. Drains," or what action it will take thereon.
Voted. To accept.
Art. 57. To see if the town will accept the act entitled " An Act to give greater powers to cities and towns in relation to the con- struction of sewers," and amendments thereto, being Chapter 245 of the Acts and Resolves passed by the Massachusetts legis- lature A. D. 1892, or what action the town will take thereon. Voted. To accept.
Art. 58. To see if the town will accept chapter 304 and amend- ments thereto of the Acts and Resolves passed by the Massa- chusetts Legislature A. D. 1893, which is " An Act to provide- for the election of sewer commissioners in towns," or what action it will take thereon.
Voted. To accept.
Chair appointed as committee under article 46. Elroy N. Heath, Jacob C. Hartshorne, J. Fred Parker, Chas. N. Winship .. and Thos. J. Skinner.
Voted. To adjourn to Tuesday, March 24, 1896 at 7.30 P.M.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 24, 1896.
Meeting called to order by the moderator.
Voted. To take article 25 from the table. The committee pre- sented the following report.
Your committee have attended to the duty assigned them and respectfully offer the following report :
21
From the several plans submitted those of Mr. H. J. Preston were selected.
This plan contemplates a two story, four room brick, slate roofed building, so arranged as to allow of extension to the east when necessary.
The school rooms all have a south exposure with corridors and stairs to the north.
In addition to the school rooms there will be a teachers' room on the first floor with toilet accommodations, and a class room in the second story. The heating will probably be by furnaces. The sanitary arrangements in the basement are intended to be of the dry cremating system.
Estimates were received from five bidders, and the amount asked for, after careful consideration, is believed to be sufficient to com- plete the building ready for occupancy. Our estimates also include gradings, concrete walks and fences.
An unique feature of the building will be the utilization of the chimney for a clock tower, the clock to be provided by the citizens of Greenwood. We recommend that the town raise and appropriate the sum of $16,500.
A. H. THAYER, WM. F. YOUNG, H. W. WALTON, WM. H. LEE, C. E. HUSSEY, WM. G. STRONG, DANIEL, EVANS.
Committee.
Voted. To accept the report.
Voted. To take article 26 from the table.
Voted. That the town raise and appropriate $16,500 for the erection of a brick school-house in Greenwood in accordance with the plans of Mr. H. J. Preston as submitted by the committee and that the town treasurer be authorized with the approval of the Selectmen to hire the sum of $16,000 and to issue notes or bonds of the town therefor, the same to be made payable in the sum of $1,000 each year for sixteen years and that the said amount of $1,000 shall be included in the tax levy of each year,
22
beginning with the year 1897 and that the sum of $500 be included in the tax levy of this year.
Voted. That the same committee have charge.
Voted. To take up article 3.
W. E. Rogers, Esq., reported on behalf of the committee and the following additional officers were chosen :
WEIGHERS OF COAL AND MERCHANDISE.
N. E. Cutler, J. M. Perley,
J. C. W. Walton, A. A. Mansfield, W. M. Ward.
G. P. Haley,
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
C. F. Bickford,
Roger Howard,
H. B. Parker,
MEASURERS OF WOOD.
G. P. Haley,
J. G. Morrill, A. A. Mansfield,
G. W. Killorin,
H. N. Oliver,
Charles Talbot,
E. E. Lee, A. L. Mansfield.
FIELD DRIVERS.
Alexander Glass,
Warren F. Shedd,
Joseph E. Hopkins,
O. G. Sanborn, George K. Walton, Andrew McDonald.
The various articles relating to the highway department were then taken up.
Art. 17. To see if the town will pay for one-half the cost of edge- stones and the setting thereof upon sidewalks where abuttors pay one-half cost of the same, and raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars therefor, or what it will do about it. Voted. $500.
Art. 20. To see if the town will authorize the construction of a public highway between Valley street and Nahant street, and raise and appropriate four hundred dollars therefor, or what it will do about it. .
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 22. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to continue the work on Main street, Lakeside, as ordered by the county commissioners, or what it will do about it.
Elwin I. Purrington, C. H. Spencer, J. A. Sederquest.
23
Voted. $1,000.
Art. 27. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of six hundred dollars to grade Bartley street and build a side- walk on the northerly side thereof, or what it will do about it.
Committee recommended that this be referred to the high- way surveyor.
This was rejected.
Voted. $600.
Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 28. To see what action the town will take relative to water which collects and remains for a short period of time on the highway at the intersection of Sweetser street and Pleasant street to the damage of abuttors there situate, and the obstruc- tion of public travel on said highway.
Mr. Britton moved that the article be referred to a commit- tee of five to report at a future town meeting. Captain J. H. Carter amended the motion by referring the matter to the same committee, and it was so voted.
Art. 30. To see if the town will build a concrete crossing across Bryon street at the junction of said street with Albion street, and build a sidewalk on the northerly side of Albion street from Byron street to the town line of Stoneham, and raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $500.
Art. 40. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of twenty-eight hundred dollars to repair New Salem street, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $1,500.
Art. 51. To see if the town will build a concrete crossing across West Chestnut street at the foot of Fairmount avenue, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Referred to highway surveyor.
Art. 52. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars to grade and repair Greenwood street from Myrtle avenue to Crystal street in Greenwood, or what it will do about it.
24
Voted. $500.
Voted. To take up article 5.
Voted. That all appropriations called for under the reports of com- mittee on highways and bridges be added to the regular highway appropriations and that all be expended under the direction of the highway surveyor.
Committee on salary of highway surveyor reported and recommended the salary of $800.
Voted. To accept the report.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $800 under this article.
Motion to reconsider the vote whereby it was voted not to take up article 29 lost.
Voted. To take up article 14.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
Your committee appointed to investigate and report on repairs on town hall building would respectfully submit the following :
Your committee have taken under consideration three ways of supporting the roof which is the most important part of the repairs required.
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