USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1897-1899 > Part 6
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First the matter of replacing the old roof with a new one was considered, but the cost was so great it did not seem advisable. We also considered a plan to put several wood trusses in and through the upper hall, to support the trusses and roof above, but in so doing we would sacrifice the upper half for other purposes than for storage.
The third and most feasible (as it seemed to your committee) is to put steel trusses in the roof with suitable beams and posts resting on the brick walls to make the building perfectly strong and durable.
We would therefore recommend an appropriation of sixty-five hundred dollars for repairs on the town hall building.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED O. CLARK, WM. H. LEE, HOYT B. PARKER, J. L. GOOCH, ROGER HOWARI).
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Voted. To accept and adopt the report.
Voted. To raise and appropriate $6,500 for repairs on town hall building.
Voted. That the same committee be authorized to carry out the recommendations of the committee.
Voted. To take up article 24.
Motion to reconsider the vote whereby it was voted to refer this article to the Municipal Light Board was lost.
Voted. To take up article 19.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
Your committee appointed under article 19 relative to changing the location of the crusher have attended to their duty and make the following report :
They are of one opinion that the crusher should be moved to a level of the street as soon as possible, and believing that it will not only be economy in working the ledge, but that stone can be hauled to the plant and save expense of blasting.
Have viewed the plant in Melrose and find the construction of bins and elevator very convenient and economical, the whole plant being on street level and near the ledge. Having carefully con- sidered the matter we recommend that the town raise and appro- priate the sum of seventeen hundred dollars to relocate the crusher.
SOLON WALTON, WM. H. McCAUSLAND, GEO. W. KILLORIN.
Voted. To accept and adopt the report.
Voted. To adjourn this meeting to Friday evening, March 27, at 7.30 p. m.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, MARCH 27, 1896.
Meeting called to order by the Moderator.
Voted to take up article 48.
'The committee reported that they had examined witnesses and found that Miss Charles had sustained serious injuries as the
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result of a fall Jan. 31, 1895. The accident occurred on the concrete walk between the Lincoln school house and Crescent street. The committee recommended that the case be left in the hands of the selectmen to dispose of, and it was voted to accept and adopt the report.
Art. 23. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the purchase and setting up of a repeater to be placed on the fire alarm, as recommended by the fire engineers, or what it will do about it.
Capt. J. H. Carter, chairman of the committee to whom the fire department articles were referred, reported in favor of pur- chasing a repeater and recommended that $550 be appropriated. Voted. To accept and adopt the report.
Art. 32. To see if the town will authorize a fire hydrant to be placed at the intersection of Lake avenue and Spaulding street, and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
The committee recommended the appropriation of $35 for the hydrant.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 33. To see if the town will authorize a fire hydrant to be placed on Crystal street, Boyntonville, at a point in said street to be determined by the fire engineers, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
The committee recommended the placing of a hydrant.
Voted. To accept and adopt the report, and to raise and appropriate $35.
Art. 34. To see if the town will authorize a fire alarm box to be placed in Wakefield Park, to be located under the direction of the fire engineers, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To accept and adopt the report.
Voted. $100 to be expended under the direction of the engineers.
Art. 41. To see if the town will purchase a hose wagon to be located in Montrose, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $400, to include equipment of the wagon.
Art. 42. To see if the town will purchase one thousand feet of hose
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to be located in Montrose, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $600.
Art. 43. To see if the town will authorize a fire hydrant to be placed upon Salem street, near to the town line of Lynnfield, at a point in said street to be determined by the fire engineers, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Indefinitely postponed.
Art. 49. To see if the town will authorize a fire hydrant to be placed at the intersection of Court street and Sweetser street, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
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 indefinitely postpone.
Voted. To take up article 19.
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.
Moved that the work of changing the location of the crusher as voted at the previous meeting, be placed in charge of the committee who reported on the work.
Voted. To lay this motion on the table.
Voted. That the work be performed under the direction of the high- way surveyor.
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.
Chester W. Eaton, Esq., reported on behalf of the committee, stating the case briefly. The committee thought the case worthy of the town's consideration and sympathy, but no special recom- mendation was made. Mr. Eaton, Michael Low and John J. O'Connor, who constituted the committee, spoke in favor of providing some light employment for Mr. Hanglin, whereby he
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could receive renumeration. Inasmuch as the court had decided the case in favor of the town, it did not seem proper for the town to pay any specified "sum of money" to Mr. Hanglin. W. N. Tyler, J. H. Carter, W. G. Strong, Mr. Waterman, Col. Green- ough and others spoke in favor of assisting Mr. Hanglin in some way, but the question of legality arose about paying Mr. Hanglin a sum of money outright. It was finally voted to refer the case to the selectmen with authority to act.
Art. 22. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to con- tinue the work on Main street, Lakeside, as ordered by the county commissioners, or what it will do about it.
The above article was taken up upon motion of W. F. Young, who moved that the money be expended between Lawrence and Cordis streets.
The motion was lost.
Art. 35. To see if the town will appoint a committee to consider the advisability of the purchase by the town for public park purposes 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 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.
E. G. Daland reported that the owners declined to sell any portion of that land without selling the entire strip including ice houses.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone the subject.
The business having been completed, it was voted to pay the moderator $25 for his services. The meeting was dissolved at 10.10.
TOWN MEETING, MAY 12, 1896.
Meeting called to order by town clerk.
Art. I. To choose a moderator.
E. A. Upton was elected moderator.
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Art. 2. To hear and act on the report of the Municipal Light Board in regard to lighting New Salem street.
Chairman Flint reported two methods of lighting : The first, by three arc electric lamps, and the second by oil lamps at a cost of $320 per year. The article was laid on the table.
Art. 3. To see if the town will authorize its Municipal Light Board to extend its present system of street lighting, by the purchase of a dynamo and other necessary appurtenances, and to establish such lamps as may be deemed necessary, and raise and appro- priate a sufficient sum of money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 4. To see if the town will instruct its Municipal Light Board to place an electric arc light between the houses of Robert Bartley and John L. Surrett, on Bartley street, and appropriate money therefor from the proceeds of the sale of the gas and electric light bonds, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To postpone indefinitely.
Art. 5. To see if the town will authorize a fire hydrant to be placed at or near the junction of Converse street and Dell avenue, and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 6. To see if the town will authorize a fire hydrant to be placed at or near the junction of Gould and Converse street and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 7. To see if the town will instruct its highway surveyors to remove the obstructions that prevent the free passage of water through the culvert on Lake street and raise and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To refer to water committee.
Motion to substitute highway surveyor for water committee lost.
Art. 8. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars for the purpose of building a sidewalk on the
30
westerly side of Melvin street between Bennett street and Nahant street, or what it will do about it.
Referred to highway surveyor, on motion of Mr. Low.
Art. 9. To see if the town will cause the new school building on Converse street to be named " The Warren School," or what action it will take in the matter.
Voted. To do so.
Art. 10. To see if the town will authorize its Selectmen to settle the Atherton suit for damages now pending in the superior court, for injuries received in consequence of a defective highway, for the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, and raise and appropriate said sum for that purpose, or what action it will take thereon.
Voted. To do so.
Art. II. To see if the town will instruct its counsel to consent that the plaintiff in the suit of Jeremiah J. Hanglin against the town of Wakefield may file his exceptions in the superior court in said suit, or what action it will take thereon.
Voted. That the town instruct its counsel as indicated in the article, provided that Mr. Hanglin will agree to settle his claims for $500 and that there be no additional cost to the town for counsel fees.
Art. 12. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars for the purpose of milk inspection, and authorize its board of Selectmen to appoint an inspector of milk, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $100.
Voted. To dissolve this meeting.
STATE ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 1896.
Pursuant to a warrant duly drawn and served, the voters assembled at six o'clock in the forenoon at their respective polling places on Tuesday, the third day of November, A. D. 1896, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot for Electors for President and Vice-President of the United States,
31
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary, Treasurer and Receiver- General, Auditor and Attorney General of the Commonwealth, a Councillor for the Fifth Councillor District, a Senator for the Middle- sex and Essex District, a Representative in the General Court to represent the Twenty-ninth Middlesex Representative District, a Clerk of Courts for said county, a County Commissioner for said county, and a Representative in the Congress of the United States to represent the Seventh Congressional District, and also to give in their votes on the same ballot " Yes " or " No," for or against, in answer to the following question :
First article of amendment. Shall the proposed amendment to the constitution establishing Biennial Elections of state officers be approved and ratified? Yes, No.
And also to give in their votes on the same ballot " Yes " or " No," for or against, in answer to the following question :
Second article of amendment. Shall the proposed amendment to the constitution establishing Biennial Elections of members of the General Court be approved and ratified? Yes. No.
The polling place for the inhabitants of voting precinct numbered one, qualified to vote as aforesaid, will be in the Town Hall in said Wakefield.
The polling place for the inhabitants of voting precinct numbered two, qualified to vote as aforesaid, will be in the Greenwood hose house situated on Oak street in that part of said town known as Greenwood.
The polls were opened at six o'clock by Town Clerk Hartshorne who swore in the election officers as follows :
FIRST PRECINCT.
Warden, William B. Daniel ; deputy warden, Hoyt B. Parker ; clerk, J. Fred Parker ; deputy clerk, A. W. Brownell ; inspectors, W. J. Mansfield, E. H. Walton, C. E. Walton, Cornelius Donavan ; deputy inspectors, J. W. Grace, R. J. Cuff, J. F. Mansfield and W. W. Bessey. The tellers were W. W. Taft, A. S. Johnston, G. E. Hart, F. S. Hartshorne, P. J. Kelly, J. A. Hickey, E. P. McDonnell, C. H. Sweetser, E. S. Jacob, S. T. Parker, R. F. Draper, Jr., W. C. Skully, M. Low, H. A. Simonds, A. L. Wiley, Alex. A. Morton, C. C. West.
32
SECOND PRECINCT.
Thomas F. Ringer presided as warden and Roy D. Jones was clerk. The inspectors were F. M. Staples and N. A. Heath. The tellers were H. W. Walton, A. H. Thayer, C. E. Kiander, A. E. Kiander, A. E. Parks, W. G. Eaton. A. E. Duffill, A. M. Baxter and R. L. Pitman. The ballots were all couuted shortly before six o'clock and the voting paraphernalia and tally sheets were brought to the town hall.
The polls in both precincts were closed at 4.30 p.m.
The official returns of the vote of Wakefield are herewith given in full.
Precincts. Totals. I 2
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
Bryan and Sewall, Dem.
231
18
249
Bryan and Sewall, D. Bryan nom. paper,
I43
4
!47
Bryan and Watson, People's Party,
2 7
I
28
Levering and Johnson, Prohibition, .
7
O
7
Matchett and Maguire, Soc. Labor Party,
O
4
4
McKinley and Hobart, Rep.
97I
175
1146
Palmer and Buckner, D. Nat. nom. paper, .
13
7
20
GOVERNOR.
Thomas C. Brophy, Soc. Labor Party,
9
O
9
Allen Coffin, Pro.
6
2
8
Frederick O. Prince, D. Nat. nom. paper,
22
6
28
George Fred Williams, D.
212
I3
225
George Fred Williams, Peo. Party,
47
3
50
George Fred Williams, D. Bryan nom. paper,
188
5
193
George Fred Williams,
I7
I
18
Roger Wolcott, R.
907
I72
1079
Blanks,
108
9
II7
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
Christopher T. Callahan,
357
I4
371
W. Murray Crane,
885
I62
1047
Archibald Dakin,
35
3
38
James E. McConnell,
22
4
26
William W. Nash,
I2
O
I 2
Moritz E. Ruther,
9
O
9
Blanks,
.
196
28
224
.
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
33
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Asa F. Hall,
42
2
44
Waldo Lincoln,
55
5
60
William M. Olin,
860
156
1016
Joseph H. Potts,
2 72
I4
286
Leroy D. Usher;
5
O
5
Willard O. Wylie,
I7
3
20
Martin Kennedy,
I
0
I
Blanks,
264
3I
295
TREASURER.
Charles G. F. Claus, .
I5
2
I7
Robert C. Habberley,
29
2
3I
Edward P. Shaw,
828
153
981
Horace P. Tobey,
99
II
IIO
Thomas A. Watson,
294
IO
304
Blanks,
.
25I
33
284
AUDITOR.
Maurice P. Cavanaugh,
149
7
156
Maurice J. Fitzgerald,
150
3
I53
Thomas A. Frissell, .
I5
I
I6
John W. Kimball,
85 1
I54
1005
Rufus H. Phinney,
9
0
9
William P. Proctor,
37
5
42
Charles C. Spellman,
34
6
40
Blanks,
27I
35
306
ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
John C. Chase, .
5
I
6
Wolcott Hamlin,
24
2
26
Henry F. Hurlburt,
55
I6
7I
Hosea M. Knowlton,
855
I53
I 008
William H. Morse,
46
3
49
John B. O'Donnell,
264
7
27I
Blanks,
267
29
296
COUNCILLOR, FIFTH DISTRICT.
Daniel B. Lord,
385
22
407
Francis Norwood,
.
·
855
I53
1008
Blanks,
.
.
. 2 76
36
312
.
.
34
SENATOR, MIDDLESEX-ESSEX DISTRICT.
John P. Crane, Dem.
612
5 T
663
Fred E. Oelcher, Soc. Labor Party,
8
3
[I
Charles F. Woodward, Rep.
804
I38
942
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT.
29TH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.
Charles W. Locklin, D. and People's Party,
582
73
655
Otis V. Waterman, Rep.
795
123
918
George H. Taylor,
3
0
3
Blanks,
I36
I5
15I
CLERK OF COURTS, MIDDLESEX.
Theodore C. Hurd, Rep. and Dem.
888
II7
1005
Scattering,
3
0
3
Blanks,
625
94
719
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, MIDDLESEX.
Levi S. Gould, Republican,
86 1
152
1013
George A. Perkins, Democrat,
412
23
435
Blanks,
243
36
279
CONGRESSMAN.
William E. Barrett, Republican,
898
156
1054
Philip J. Doherty, Democrat,
463
22
485
N. A. Heath,
I
0
I
Blanks, .
'I55
32
187
.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
First amendment, for biennial election of State officers :
Precinct I-No, 796 ; yes, 300 ; blanks, 420.
Precinct 2-No, 97 ; yes, 46 ; blanks, 68.
Total in town-No, 893 ; yes, 346 ; blanks, 488.
Second amendment, for biennial election of members of the Legislature :
Precinct I-No, 765 ; yes, 281 ; blanks, 470.
Precinct 2-No, 92 ; yes, 44 ; blanks, 75.
Total in town-No, 857 ; yes, 325 ; blanks, 545.
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Voted. To adjourn to Monday evening, Nov. 9, 1896, at 7.30 P. M.
The meeting was called to order at 7.35 o'clock, by Otis V. Waterman, Esq., chairman of the Board of Selectman. Judge Waterman stated that inasmuch as the town clerk was absent on account of illness it would be necessary for the meeting to elect (by ballot) a town clerk pro tem. and he (Judge Water- man) nominated Harris M. Dolbeare for that position. The polls were open and votes cast for town clerk pro tem., which votes, when canvassed by the selectmen, proved to be all for Mr. Dolbeare. The latter was then sworn in by F. A. Gowen. Justice of the Peace, and the regular business of the meeting was then commenced.
The town clerk, pro tem. read the warrant, and then declared the polls open for the election of a moderator.
Art. I. To choose by ballot a moderator to preside at said meeting. Edward A. Upton was elected moderator.
Voted. To take up the articles in the warrant in regular order.
Art. 2. To revise and accept the list of jurors prepared by the selectmen.
The list was read, the same as publicly posted in the entry of the town hall. On request, the names of Stephen W. Lufkin, Austin E. Perry, William D. Deadman, Charles B. Bowman and William H. Atwell, Jr., were stricken from the list and the names of Samuel Parker (Lakeside) and William J. Moulton added. The list was then adopted as amended.
Art. 3. To hear and act upon the report of committees.
Major Wm. N. Tyler, for the committee on new cemetery grounds reported progress. He said the committee had had a map prepared by Engineer Bancroft of Reading but the map had been mislaid and the committee desired further time-but not beyond the adjournment of this meeting.
Voted. That the committee be granted further time.
Art. 4. To see if the town will appoint a committee to investigate and report at a future town meeting upon a claim of Mary L. Maxwell, for damages to her property situated at the inter- section of West Chestnut street and Cedar street in said Wake- field, said damages being alleged to be caused by insufficient drainage in the streets aforesaid, or what it will do about it.
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Voted. That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to take into consideration the subject matter of article 4 and report at the annual meeting.
Chair appointed J. C. Hartshorne, C. W. Eaton and Solon Walton.
Art. 5. To see if the town will discontinue precinct voting in said town, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 6. To see if the town will appoint a committee of three per- sons to investigate the cause of the accident to John Drugan, while in the employ of the town, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the moderator appoint a committee of three to carry out the purpose of this article.
Chair appointed Wm. G. Strong, Charles E. Walton and James P. Keefe.
Art. 7. To see if the town will appoint a committee to confer with the overseers of the poor to ascertain the best method of main- taining its poor department, or what it will do about it.
Motion to appoint a committee was lost.
Art. 8. To see if town will appoint a committee of six persons, to be equally divided between the two political parties, to confer with the town's political committees of said parties for the purposes of accepting the Australian system of voting in caucuses here- after to be held in said town for the nomination of town officers and to report upon the same before the final adjournment of this town meeting.
Motion to indefinitely postpone was put and lost, and a motion of Squire Hamilton's (that the moderator 'appoint a committee as per article) was carried in the affirmative.
Chair appointed James F. Emerson, H. H. Savage and James F. Mansfield as Republicans and J. Fred Parker, R. J. Cuff and James A. Hickey as Democrats ..
Art. 9. To see if the town will authorize its selectmen to employ legal counsel to prosecute or defend any action for or against , the town, or what it will do about it.
Moved that Charles W. Bartlett, of Boston, be retained as . counsel for the town in the Hunt case.
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Moved as an amendment that the selectmen be authorized to employ counsel to defend any suit against the town whenever in their judgment it may be necessary.
This amendment was carried, and Mr. Osgood's motion, thus amended, was then laid on the table.
At 10.20 o'clock it was voted to adjourn to next Monday evening, Nov. 16, at 7.30 o'clock.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, NOV. 16, 1896.
Voted. To take up article 9.
Amendment-to strike out Mr. Osgood's motion that Charles W. Bartlett of Boston be retained as town counsel in the Hunt case-was then voted on and carried.
An amendment that the selectmen be authorized to employ counsel to defend cases against the town now actually pending in the courts, which amendment was carried.
Art. 10. To hear and act upon the report of the committee on re- seating the town hall.
Elroy N. Heath for the committee, read a report recom- mending that the hall be furnished with chairs made by the Wakefield Rattan Company, at a cost of about $1.65 each, in- cluding hat racks and numbers. The number of chairs needed for the floor and balconies would be about 914.
Voted. Vo accept the report. 1
Art. II. To see if the town will vote to purchase new seats for the town hall and appropriate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Motion to reconsider lost.
Art. 12. To see if the town will instruct its selectmen to pay two bills amounting in all to the sum of 67 50-100 dollars, said bills being incurred by the committee on the purchase by the town of the water works of the Wakefield Water Company, and appro- priate money therefor, or what it will do about it.
Voted. $67.50.
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Art. 13. To see if the town will appoint a committee to inquire into the valuation of taxable property in the town, and also into its financial condition and management, with a view of securing a reduction of taxation, and that said committee report at the next annual meeting, or what it will do about it.
Voted. That the moderator be authorized to appoint a committee of fifteen to carry out the purpose of the article and report at their option.
Chair appointed S. K. Hamilton, Richard Britton, S. W. Flint, C. W. Eaton, C. F. Woodward, M. Low, T. J. Skinner, J. C. Hartshorne, A. H. Thayer, J. A. Hickey, H. H. Savage, S. T. Par- ker, James F. Mansfield, H. W. Eustis, R. J. Cuff.
Art. 14. To see if the town will rescind its vote passed Nov. 13, 1893, while acting under article 15 of the town warrant, whereby it voted to increase the number of its selectmen from three to five members, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 15. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars to pay Jeremiah J. Hanglin for injuries received by him while in the employ of the town of Wakefield, or what it will do about it.
Motion to appropriate $500 lost.
Art. 16. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to compensate John Drugan for injuries received by him by reason ot the falling of a tree upon him while in the employ of the town, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 17. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to compensate Philip H. Eager for injuries sustained by him on Lake street in said town in the year 1892, or what it will do about it.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
Art. 18. To see if the town will instruct its selectmen to annually print in its town report the amount of each policy of insurance in force February Ist of each year upon each of its buildings and steam boilers, giving name of company, length of time of con- tract and date of expiration of each policy together with the total amount of insurance upon the town's property and cost of
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