USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1914 > Part 5
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
57
TOWN RECORDS
of 80.28 feet, a distance of 132.28 feet to a point on the southerly side line of Forest Street, thence true north 49 degrees, 0 minutes, 11.9 seconds west, a distance of 40 feet to the northerly line of Forest Street, thence on a curve to the left with a radius of 213.38 feet a distance of 195.83 feet, thence true north 11 degrees, 36 minutes, 41.9 seconds west, a distance of 23.33 feet, thence on a curve to the left with a radius of 740.36 feet a distance of 725.44 feet, thence true north 67 degrees, 45 minutes, 9.9 seconds west, a distance of 744.63 feet, thence on a curve to the right with a radius of 1110.41 feet a distance of 304.98 feet, thence true north 52 degrees, 0 minutes, 58.6 seconds west, a distance of 165.29 feet, thence on a curve to the left with a radius of 4576.66 feet, a distance of 198.88 feet, thence true north 54 degrees, 30 minutes, 22 seconds west, a distance of 1160.12 feet, thence on a curve to the right with a radius of 2207.31 feet a distance of 242.51 feet, thence true north 48 degrees, 12 minutes, 40.8 seconds west, a distance of 26.3 feet to the boundary line between the Towns of Arlington and Lexington. The northerly line is substantially parallel with and 50 feet distant from the above described southerly line.
The lines of Summer Street as above described are all shown on plans filed in the office of the Town Clerk entitled, "Plan and Profile of Summer Street, Arlington, Mass., showing proposed lines and grades, scale 40' - 6' equal 1", November, 1899, H. S. Adams, C. E., and Plan and Profile of Summer Street extension, Arlington, Mass., showing lines and grades, scale horizontal 1" equal 40', vertical 1' equal 6', August 1, 1914, George E. Ahern, Town Engineer."
ART. 10. To see if the Town will authorize the Park Commis- sioners to acquire by purchase or otherwise, for park purposes, the following described parcels of land:
1. A parcel of land bounded and described as follows: North- erly by land of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a distance of 345 feet more or less, easterly by land of Commonwealth of Massachusetts 39 feet more or less, southerly by land now or formerly of Bonelli-Adams Company a distance of 341 feet more or less, westerly by land now or formerly of the heirs of Benjamin F. Russell a distance of 46 feet to point of beginning and containing 19,568 square feet more or less.
58
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
2. A parcel of land bounded and described as follows: North- erly by land of Commonwealth of Massachusetts 285 feet more or less, easterly by land now or formerly of Bonelli-Adams Co., a distance of 106 feet more or less, southerly by land now or for- merly of the heirs of Benjamin F. Russell a distance of 275 feet more or less, westerly by land now or formerly of the Town of Arlington a distance of 87 feet more or less, to the point of begin- ning, and containing 22,944 square feet more or less.
3. A parcel of land bounded and described as follows: North- erly by land now or formerly of Samuel A. Fowle, Trustee, and land now or formerly of Robert D. Farrington, a distance of 289 feet more or less, easterly by land now or formerly of the Town of Arlington a distance of 135 feet more or less, easterly by land now or formerly of David W. Duncan a distance of 200 feet more or less, southerly by land now or formerly of David W. Duncan a distance of 200 feet more or less, westerly by easterly side line of Mystic Street a distance of 113 feet more or less, to point of beginning, containing 49,050 square feet more or less.
Make an appropriation for the same, determine in what manner the money shall be raised, or take any action thereon.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen, on or before said day and hour of meeting.
Given under our hands at said Arlington, this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
FRANK V. NOYES, THOMAS J. DONNELLY, WILLIS P. HOWARD, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
CONSTABLE'S RETURN.
Arlington, September 18, 1914.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
By virtue of this Warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in elec- tions and town affairs, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes herein named, by causing a printed attested copy of
59
TOWN RECORDS
the same to be left at every dwelling house in the Town, and also by posting an attested copy of said Warrant at the doors of the Town Hall in said Arlington, seven (7) days at least before said day of meeting. A notice of the time, place and object of said meeting was published in the Arlington Advocate, the only news- paper published in Arlington.
(Signed) WILLIAM T. CANNIFF, Constable of Arlington.
In pursuance of the foregoing Warrant the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington qualified, as the law requires, to vote in elec- tions and town affairs, met in the Town Hall, on Friday the eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen and were called to order at seven- thirty o'clock in the evening by the Town Clerk, who read the Warrant calling the meeting, and the return thereon of the Con- stable who served the same upon the inhabitants.
Article 1 taken up. (Choice of Moderator.)
John G. Brackett was unanimously elected Moderator and was sworn to the faithful performance of his duties by the Town Clerk.
Article 2 taken up. (Reports of Committees.)
Louis B. Carr, Chairman of the Committee of Twenty-one, presented the report of that Committee in printed form and said report was distributed to the assembled citizens. On motion the report was received.
The report was then laid on the table.
Jacob Bitzer, Chairman of the High School Committee, then presented the report of said Committee, the report being also in printed form, and requested the Secretary of the Committee, Clarence A. Moore, to read the report to the citizens. The report was as follows:
To the Citizens of Arlington:
At the Town Meeting held April 9, 1914, the following vote was passed:
Voted: That a Committee of seven be appointed to obtain working plans, specifications and estimates for a High School building, to accommodate not less than eight hundred (800) pupils, including equipment, at a cost not to exceed $175,000, to be erected on the Schouler Court Site, the purchase of which
60
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
the Selectmen were authorized to make by the vote of the Town at the Town Meeting, February 2, 1914, and that an appropriation of $500 be made for the use of said Committee, said sum to be taken from the general tax of 1914. The said Committee shall have power to fill vacancies.
Acting under the provisions of the above vote, your Committee met April 13 and organized. The Committee has held approxi- mately thirty meetings and has visited most of the more recently erected High School buildings in this vicinity. We have also had the assistance of members of the School Committee, of the Superintendent of Schools and of the Principal of the High School, to whom we are indebted for helpful advice and suggestions.
Early in the deliberations of the Committee the question of an architectural competition arose and after careful considera- tion of the matter, extending over several meetings, and also under the advice of several prominent disinterested architects, we deemed it inexpedient to hold such a competition. It seemed to the Committee that the interests of the Town would be better served by the selection of an architect in whom it had confidence and the employment of a professional advisor.
In this capacity the services of Prof. James Knox Taylor, formerly employed by the United States Government and, until recently, head of the Architectural Department of the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology, were secured. He has attended most of the meetings of the Committee and has rendered valuable assistance. As architect, the Committee chose Mr. H. B. S. Prescott of the firm of Prescott & Sidebottom.
In order that the architect might have at his disposal all avail- able information to assist him in designing the foundations of the proposed building, the Committee had test borings made to determine with a reasonable degree of accuracy the nature of the underlying soil. The borings showed the material to be good gravel, excellent material upon which to build.
Plans and specifications having been developed, the Committee proceeded to advertise for bids. Thirteen proposals from con- tractors were received and were opened in public, August 28, in the Hearing Room of the Town Hall.
The bids were found to range from $182,441 to $166,530 for the general construction of the building. Figures were received
61
TOWN RECORDS
at the same time for the installation of the heating and ventilat- ing system from eight firms, ranging from $22,730 to $17,598. The following table shows the cost of the building based upon actual proposals on file with the Committee:
General Contract for erecting building $156,530
Installation of heating and ventilating system .
17,598
Furnishings .
7,725
Grading, including water and sewer connections and electric conduit. .
6,275
Electric lighting fixtures.
925
Plans, specifications, supervision and architect's fee. . . 10,500
Total.
$199,553
The Committee believes that, if the plans as submitted by them meet with the approval of the Town, the Committee appointed to erect the building should have the sum of $200,000 placed at its disposal.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) JACOB BITZER, Chairman, CLARENCE A. MOORE, Secretary.
The report was received. File No. 801.
At the request of the Committee, Mr. Prescott presented views of the proposed building, on the screen, and explained the many details of the structure.
Mr. Nelson B. Crosby, a member of the Committee, then pre- sented a minority report and requested the Clerk to read a com- munication from Mr. R. A. Cram, President of the Boston Society of Architects. The minority report was received and ordered filed. File No. 802.
Article 2 was then laid on the table.
Article 3 taken up. (Appropriation for High School.)
Mr. Carr, for the Committee of Twenty-one, made a motion that no action be taken under this article.
Mr. Bitzer offered, as a substitute motion, the following:
That the sum of one hundred eighty-six thousand (186,000) dollars be appropriated for the erection of a High School building
62
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
on the Schouler Court Site, so called, substantially in accordance with the plans of the Committee appointed by the Town April 9, 1914, that the Town borrow said sum of one hundred eighty- six thousand (186,000) dollars for the construction of said building (not including furnishings and grading), and for this purpose issue one hundred eighty-six (186) negotiable bonds, for the sum of one thousand dollars each, ten payable in the year 1915, ten payable in each of the succeeding seventeen years, and six payable in the nineteenth year thereafter, said bonds to be designated on the face thereof "High School Loan of 1914." All such bonds to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen and to bear interest semi-annually, at a rate not exceeding four and one-half per cent per annum. And that the Committee appointed April 9, 1914, be authorized and empowered to super- vise and direct the erection of said building and the expenditure of the sum hereby appropriated. And the Treasurer is hereby authorized and empowered in the name and behalf of the Town to make a temporary loan for a period of not more than one year in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of said bonds and to issue therefor the note of the Town, signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen, said note to be paid from the proceeds of the sale of said bonds.
This motion was discussed by Messrs. Bitzer, W. W. Crosby, Birch, Williams, Tupper, John W. Bailey and others.
On a petition signed by Jacob Bitzer and fifteen other legal voters of the Town the vote was taken by use of the check list.
The vote being called for, the Moderator appointed Frank Y. Wellington, Ernest H. Freeman, Charles M. MacMillan and Deane S. Reynolds to receive, sort and count the ballots. The polls were then declared open.
Article 3 was laid on the table pending the result of the ballot.
It appearing at this time that the business calling the meeting might not be finished this evening a motion was carried that when this meeting adjourns it adjourn to meet two weeks from this date. The adjournment, however, was not necessary as the re- maining articles in the Warrant were acted upon during the counting of the vote under Article 3.
Article 4 taken up. (Equipment of High School.)
The Committee of Twenty-one recommended, and it was
63
TOWN RECORDS
SO voted : That no action be taken under this article. Article 5 taken up. (Selectmen to dispose of buildings, etc.)
Voted: That the Selectmen are hereby authorized to remove or dispose of such unoccupied buildings now standing upon the Schouler Court Site, so called, as may interfere with building operations upon said site.
Article 6 taken up. (Purchase of Hall estate.)
Voted: That the Selectmen be and they are hereby authorized and empowered, in the name and behalf of the Town, to purchase by good and sufficient deeds conveying a clear title to the same, the strip of land adjoining the Schouler Court Site so called, and known as the Benjamin Hall Estate, containing about 9358 square feet of land and to pay therefor a sum not exceeding $1200 and the taxes assessed for 1914, said sum to be taken from the proceeds of sales of Cemetery lots now in the Treasury.
At this time the Moderator, after announcing that the polls would be closed at this time, declared the poll sclosed. The tellers appointed proceeded to count and tabulate the ballots cast. During the time occupied by the counting of the ballots the business of the meeting was resumed.
Article 7 taken up. (Authority of Treasurer to borrow.)
Voted (by a two-thirds vote) : That for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan to and for the Town of Arlington, in anticipa- tion of revenues of the municipal year 1914, the Town Treasurer be and hereby is authorized and directed to borrow, from time to time, with the approval of the Selectmen, a sum or sums, in the aggregate not exceeding fifty thousand (50,000) dollars and to execute and deliver therefor the note or notes of the Town issued in accordance with and conforming to the requirements of Chapter 616 of the Acts of 1910, and amendments thereto, pay- able within one year from the time the loan is made. Any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans under this vote shall be paid from the revenues of said municipal year.
Article 9 taken up. (Summer Street and Extension.)
Voted (by a two-thirds vote): That the Town accept and establish as a Town way the way known as Summer Street and Summer Street Extension as laid out, relocated and widened by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of better-
64
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ments, said way being more particularly described in Article 9 of the Warrant. And the sum of ten thousand seven hundred (10,700) dollars is hereby appropriated for the payment of land damages incurred by said layout, relocation or widening, said sum to be borrowed, and for this purpose the Treasurer is hereby authorized and empowered in the name and behalf of the Town to issue ten serial bonds therefor, the first bond to be for $1700 payable in the year 1915, and the remainder of said bonds to be for the sum of $1000 each, payable in each of the nine succeeding years thereafter; said bonds to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen and to bear interest at a rate not to exceed four and one-half per cent per annum and to be designated on the face thereof, "Summer Street Loan of 1914."
Article 8 taken up. (To lay out a way over land of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.)
Voted: That the Town give authority to the Cemetery Com- missioners to allow a way to be built through a part of their land on the shore of Mystic Lake and in proximity to Meadow Brook Park.
Article 10 taken up. (Land for park purposes near Mystic Lake.)
Voted (by a two-thirds vote): That the Park Commissioners be and hereby are authorized and empowered, in the name and behalf of the Town, to acquire by purchase or otherwise, for park purposes, the parcels of land described in Article 10 of the War- rant. And the sum of $5800 is hereby appropriated for the purpose of paying for said land, said sum to be borrowed, and for this purpose the Treasurer is hereby authorized and em- powered, in the name and behalf of the Town, to issue ten serial bonds therefor, the first bond to be for the sum of $1300, payable in the year 1915, and the remaining bonds to be for the sum of $500 each, payable in each of the nine succeeding years thereafter, said bonds to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen and to bear interest payable semi-annually at a rate not to exceed four and one-half per cent per annum and to be designated on the face thereof, "Park Loan of 1914."
Article 3 taken from the table.
At this time (11.30 P.M.), the tellers appointed to count the ballots cast on Mr. Bitzer's motion under Article 3, reported to
65
TOWN RECORDS
the Town Clerk the result of the ballot. The Town Clerk then. announced the result as follows:
Whole number of ballots cast. 447
Necessary for a two-thirds vote 298
Number voting in the affirmative 368
Number voting in the negative. 79
and declaration was made that the motion offered by Mr. Bitzer under Article 3 had been carried by a two-thirds vote, and that the sum of $186,000` had been appropriated for the erection of a High School building.
All articles in the Warrant calling the meeting having been acted upon, it was
Voted: That this meeting do now adjourn.
Meeting dissolved at 11.45 P.M.
The number of citizens attending the meeting, as determined by the Constables in charge of the turnstiles was five hundred thirty (530).
A true record of the meeting. Attest:
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. MIDDLESEX, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Arlington, in said County. GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town who are qualified to vote in the primaries, to meet in Town Hall, Arlington, Tuesday, the twenty-second day of September, 1914, at 12 o'clock M., for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes to the primary officers for the nomina- tion of candidates of political parties for the following offices:
Governor, for this Commonwealth; Lieutenant-Governor, for this Commonwealth; Secretary of the Commonwealth, for this Commonwealth; Treasurer and Receiver-General, for this
66
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Commonwealth; Auditor of the Commonwealth, for this Common- wealth; Attorney-General, for this Commonwealth; Representa- tive in Congress, for the Eighth Congressional District; Council- lor, for the Sixth Councillor District; Senator, for the Sixth Middlesex Senatorial District; Representative in General Court, for the Twenty-ninth Representative District; County Commis- sioner, for Middlesex County.
And for the Election of the following officers:
District Member of State Committee, for each political party for the Sixth Senatorial District.
Members of the Democratic Town Committee.
Members of the Republican Party Town Committee.
Members of the Progressive Party Town Committee.
Delegates to State Conventions of Political Parties.
All the above candidates and officers are to be voted for upon one ballot.
· The polls will be open from 12 o'clock M., to 8 o'clock P.M.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof, seven days at least before the time of said meeting, as directed by vote of the Town.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this eighth day of September, A.D., 1914.
FRANK V. NOYES, THOMAS J. DONNELLY, WILLIS P. HOWARD, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
CONSTABLE'S RETURN.
Arlington, September 18, 1914.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
By virtue of this Warrant I have notified and warned the . voters of the Town of Arlington, qualified as the law directs to vote in primaries, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes herein named, by causing a printed attested copy; to be left at every dwelling house in Town, and also by posting an
67
TOWN RECORDS
attested copy at the doors of the Town Hall, seven days at least before said day of meeting.
WILLIAM T. CANNIFF, Constable of Arlington. .
Pursuant to the foregoing Warrant, the voters of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in primaries, met in the Town Hall, in said Arlington, on Tuesday, the twenty-second day of Sep- tember, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen and were called to order at 12 o'clock noon, by Frank V: Noyes, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who read the War, rant calling the meeting and the return thereon of the Constable who served the same upon the inhabitants.
Under the law Mr. Noyes served as Chairman of the meeting.
The law governing elections prevailed and the Town Hall was fitted up as a polling place, a space railed off and steel booths provided for the use of voters to examine and mark their ballots.
Each booth was supplied with suitable facilities for the purpose, and cards of instructions to and penalties on voters.
. The following election officers having been appointed by the Selectmen were sworn to the faithful performance of their duties and assigned as follows:
Ballot Clerks- William D. Grannan, Clarence G. Parsons, David T. Dale and Edward W. Schwamb.
Ballot Boxes - Frank Y. Wellington, George C. Tewksbury, Ernest H. Freeman and Frank F. Russell.
Inspectors - Josiah W. Hovey, Oscar Schnetzer, Frank E. Kenney and W. Forbes Robertson.
Tellers - Frank A. O'Brien, George H. Peirce, Fred G. Wilder, William A. Stevens and George McK. Richardson.
Sealed packages of ballots, supplied by the Secretary of State, were then delivered to the election officers by the Town Clerk. These ballots were opened publicly and given to the ballot clerks for distribution to the voters.
Specimen ballots, cards of instructions and penalties on voters were posted in conspicuous places for the information of voters as in the case of State and Town elections.
The ballot boxes were examined by the presiding officer and the Town Clerk. The registers were found to be set at zero and the boxes empty.
68
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The registrars of voters supplied the election officers with lists of registered voters.
At five (5) minutes after twelve (12) o'clock, the polls were declared open and remained open until eight (8) o'clock in the evening, at which time, after due notice they were declared closed.
Under the law, the ballot boxes could not be open for the purpose of counting ballots until the close of the polls. The law further requires that all the ballots cast for any party shall be counted before the ballots of any other party.
At the close of the polls (eight o'clock), the boxes registered as follows:
A to L, 210; M to Z, 152. Total 362.
This number being removed and sorted were found to be as follows:
Republican, 267; Democratic, 39; Progressive Party, 56. Total 362.
The ballot clerks and tellers counted the names checked by them and found the number to agree with the number registered by the ballot boxes, three hundred sixty-two (362).
The ballots were sorted, counted and announcement made at ten o'clock as follows:
REPUBLICAN PARTY (TOTAL 267). GOVERNOR.
Samuel W. McCall, two hundred forty-seven (247).
Blanks, twenty (20).
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. -
Grafton D. Cushing, one hundred forty-six (146).
August H. Goetting, fifty-six (56).
Elmer A. Stevens, fifty-seven (57).
Blanks, eight (8).
SECRETARY.
Frank L. Brier, fifty (50). 1
William S. Kinney, thirteen (13).
Albert P. Langtry, one hundred eighty-six (186). Blanks, eighteen (18).
69
TOWN RECORDS
TREASURER. Charles L. Burrill, one hundred fifty-two (152). Frederick E. Peirce, ninety-eight (98). Blanks, seventeen (17).
AUDITOR. Alonzo B. Cook, one hundred fifty-eight (158). Joseph Monette, eighty-eight (88). Blanks, twenty-one (21).
ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
Henry C. Attwill, twenty-six (26). John A. Curtin, thirty-eight (38). James M. Hallowell, seventy (70). John J. Higgins, ninety-two (92). James A. Stiles, twenty-six (26). Blanks, fifteen (15).
CONGRESSMAN.
Charles S. Baxter, sixty (60). Frederick W. Dallinger, one hundred ninety-four (194). Blanks, thirteen (13).
COUNCILLOR. Henry C. Mulligan, two hundred eighteen (218). Blanks, forty-nine (49).
SENATOR. Wilton B. Fay, two hundred twenty-eight (228). Blanks, thirty-nine (39).
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT. Jacob Bitzer, two hundred twenty-five (225). Cyrus E. Dallin, four (4). Blankş, thirty-eight (38).
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.