USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > Town of Franklin annual report 1897 > Part 11
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
ARTICLE 9. To see if the town will instruct the Select- men to suppress the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors in the town for the current year.
ARTICLE 10. To see what sums of money the town will raise and appropriate for the repairs of roads, bridges and sidewalks; for the support of schools, including the salary of a superintendent and the transportation of scholars; for re- pairing school houses, for school books, supplies and miscel- laneous school expenses ; for the support of the poor ; for the support of the fire department ; for water supply ; for pay- ment of town officers ; for payment of town debt and interest ; for abatement and collection of taxes; for street lights ; for printing and stationery ; for suppression of illegal liquor traf- fic ; for payment of police ; for state and military aid ; for sup- port of the library of the Franklin Library Association ; for the decoration of soldiers' graves ; for soldiers' aid ; for mis- cellaneous town expenses.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the town will vote to require the School Committee to employ a Superintendent of Schools, or do anything relating thereto.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the town will appropriate any and what sums of money to construct concrete sidewalks, or do anything relating thereto.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the town will authorize the School Board to employ a clerk at a salary not to exceed fifty dollars,
83
ARTICLE 14. To see if the town will reimburse M. J. Lee, for money paid for concreting, or do anything relating thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the town will choose a commit- tee to take into consideration the advisability of making changes to improve the present method of heating the Horace Mann School House and its sanitary defects.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the town will improve the grounds in the Union Street Cemetery, and appropriate money therefor, or do anything relating thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the town will grant to Franklin Post, No. 60. G. A. R., the custody and occupancy of the Chapel School House, located on East Street, and a portion of the lot on which it stands, so long as the Post continues under its present charter, with the privilege of making an ad- dition of not more than sixteen (16) feet in length to one end of the building, in consideration of a duly authorized agree- ment by the Post that they will use it for legitimate purposes only, keep the building insured for the benefit of the town while occupying the same, and peacefully giving up the same at the specified time with all permanent additions to the build- ing.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the town will purchase the fire alarm system now on trial and appropriate money therefor, or do anything relating thereto.
ARTICLE 19. To see if the town will take any and what action in relation to the abolishing of the grade crossing of the New England Railroad Company on Union Street, and commonly known as " Nason's Crossing."
The polls will be open at seven o'clock, A. M., and may be closed at twelve o'clock, noon.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doing thereon, to the Town Clerk, on or before the hour of said meeting.
84
Given under our hands this sixteenth day of February, A. D., 1897.
EDWIN A. MASON, CHARLES F. NYE, Selectmen of Franklin.
85
REPORT OF THE FRANKLIN LIBRARY. ASSOCIATION.
" The Directors of the Franklin Library Association offer the following report for the year ending February 1, 1897 :
The Library and Reading Room have been open regu- larly fér the past year on all the week days of the year except legal holidays and the month of August. During August; the past year, the rooms have been open every 'Saturday. During the year 13,188 volumes were drawn out for home reading, making an average daily circulation of 46.3 volumes. During the month of August 285 volumes were in circulation. The number of persons drawing books, making no account of those using the books in the Reading Room, is 661. The Library has received by donation the past year 69 volumes, of which 54 are public documents and reports.
The amount appropriated by the town, together with the other income of the Library, suffices to pay the necessary running expenses of the Library, but leaves only a very small amount for the purchase of books.
For the Directors,
DWIGHT M. HODGE.
249
FRANKLIN TOWN RECORDS
FOR THE YEAR 1896.
WARRANT FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, MARCH 2, 1896.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Franklin,
GREETING :
You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to notify and warn the qualified voters of the Town of Franklin to assemble in their Town Hall on Monday, the 2d day of March, A. D. 1896, at eight o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles and matters of business, viz :
ARTICLE 1. To choose by ballot a Moderator to preside over said meeting.
ART. 2. To choose by ballot the following town officers for the year ensuing, viz: Three Selectmen, a Town Treasurer, a Town Clerk, an Auditor, three Assessors of Taxes, three Overseers of Poor, a Collector of Taxes, three members of the Board of Health, one for three years, one for two years and one for one year ; one School Com- mittee for three years, and three Constables, all to be voted for upon one ballot; also upon the same ballot to vote upon the question, "Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
ART. 3. To choose all other necessary town officers for the year ensuing.
ART. 4. To see in what way and manner the town will collect its taxes the current year.
ART. 5. To hear a report of the town officers and act thereon.
ART. 6. To see what action the town will take in relation to a pound,
250
ART. 7. To vote a suitable number of names of persons into the jury box for the year ensuing.
ART. 8. To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmer, to borrow such sums of money in anticipation of taxes for the current year as may be necessary to meet the current expenses.
ART. 9. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to sup- press the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors in town for the current year.
ART. 10. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to pay the Superintendent of Schools for the past year, or do anything relating thereto.
ART. 11. To see if the town will require the School Committee to employ a Superintendent of Schools, or do anything relating thereto.
ART. 12. To see what sums of money the town will raise and appropriate for the repairs of roads, bridges and sidewalks; for the support of schools, including the salary of a Superintendent and the transportation of scholars; for repairing school houses, for school books, supplies and miscellaneous school expenses ; for the support of the poor ; for the support of the Fire Department; for water supply ; for street lights ; for the payment of the town debt and interest; for the payment of town officers; for the abatement and collection of taxes ; for printing and stationery ; the suppression of illegal liquor traffic ; for payment of police; for State and military aid; for support of the Library of the Franklin Library Association ; for the decoration of the soldiers' graves ; for soldiers' aid ; and for miscellaneous town expenses.
ART. 13. To see if the town will appropriate any and what sums of money to construct concrete sidewalks in town, or do anything relating thereto.
ART. 14. To see if the town will take any and what action in re- lation to printing its records.
ART. 15. To see if the town will vote to put electric lights into the almshouse, or do anything relating thereto.
ART. 16. To see if the town will take any and what action in re- lation to selling the Chapel schoolhouse and lot.
ART. 17. To see if the town will authorize the School Board to employ a clerk at a salary not to exceed fifty dollars.
ART. 18. To see if the town will take any and what action in re- lation to establishing and maintaining street signs in the village por- tion of the town,
25L
ART. 19. To see if the town will take any and what action in re- lation to the abolishing of the grade crossing of the New England rail- road Company on Union street, and commonly known as "Nason's Crossing."
ART. 20. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to peti- tion the County Commissioners or Board of Railroad Commissioners "To direct that an agent be stationed continuously at Nason's Cross- ing, so called, to open and close the gates at said crossing."
ART. 21. To see what action the town will take toward putting an arc light on Washington street, or do anything relating thereto. .
ART. 22. 'To see if the town will put in a fire alarm system, and appropriate money therefor, or do anything relating thereto.
ART. 23. To see if the town will vote to repair the cemetery at City Mills, or do anything relating thereto.
ART. 24. To see if the town will vote to complete the extension of Dean avenue to Pleasant street, or do anything relating thereto.
ART. 25. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to appear before the Committee on County Estimates and favor a reduction of county taxes.
ART. 26. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to en- deavor to secure better railroad facilities for the town, or do anything relating thereto.
ART. 27. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to pur- chase one or more cells for the lockup.
The polls may be opened at eight o'clock A. M. and may be closed at twelve o'clock noon.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, on or before the hour of said meeting.
Given under our hands at said Franklin this twentieth day of February, A. D. 1896.
GEORGE W. WIGGIN, EDGAR K. RAY, EDWIN A. MASON, Selectmen of Franklin.
On the above warrant the following return was made :
NORFOLK, SS.
FEBRUARY 22, A. D. 1896.
By virtue of the within warrant I have notified the inhabitants of the Town of Franklin herein described to assemble in their Town Hall on Monday, the second day of March, A. D. 1896, for the pur.
252
poses within mentioned, by posting attested copies of the within warrant in each of the post offices of the town, and in ten other public places, seven days before the day of meeting, in compliance with Section two of Article one of the By-Laws of the Town of Franklin.
LEWIS R. WHITAKER, Constable of Franklin.
A true record of the warrant and the return thereon.
Attest : ORESTES T. DOE, Town Clerk.
Proceedings of the Annual Town Meeting, MARCH 2d, 1896.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant the inhabitants of the aforesaid town of Franklin qualified to vote in town affairs met at the Town Hall, in said town, on the first Monday of March, it being the second day of said month, A. D. 1896.
The meeting was called to order at the time and place named in said warrant by the Town Clerk, who read the warrant and return thereon, and then, at his request, Rev. Wm. M. Thayer offered prayer, after which William F. Ray was chosen Moderator by ballot, in receiving which the check-list was used, and he was sworn by the Town Clerk.
Bradley M. Rockwood and John B. Collins were ap- pointed Ballot Clerks by the Selectman before the opening of the polls, and said Ballot Clerks were sworn by the Town Clerk before receiving the ballots ; and before the opening of the polls the Town Clerk delivered a bundle packed by him and sealed, as required by law, containing fifteen hundred (1500) official ballots and one hundred and fifty (150) special ballots for women, and the receipt of the Ballot Clerks was taken for said ballots :
And the Town Clerk caused the cards of instruction and specimen ballots to be posted in each of the fifteen marking shelves or compartments provided by the Selectmen and a guard-rail was set six feet or more from said marking shelves or compartments, as required by law, and the cards of in-
253
struction and specimen ballots were posted outside the guard- rail, according to law.
The ballot box provided by the Secretary of the Com- monwealth, used at the election, was publicly opened and shown to be empty, and was examined by the Moderator and Town Clerk; and the register thereon was set at 000 and then locked, and the key thereof given to Silas W. Nick- erson, a constable of Franklin, after which the polls were declared open.
When the ballots were delivered to the voters by the Ballot Clerks the check-list was used, and the name of each voter receiving a ballot was announced and checked on said list by the Ballot Clerks, and the voter so receiving his ballot marked it at the marking shelf or compartment and then deposited his ballot in the box, as directed by the Moderator.
The name of each voter so casting a ballot was announced in a loud and distinct tone of voice and checked upon the check-list by the election officers in charge at said box and list.
The Selectmen, on the 20th day of February current, appointed George R. Winsor and Charles Stewart to act as Tellers at the annual election to be held on the second day of March current. Said George R. Winsor, on the day of the election, declined to act as such Teller, and the Moderator, in open town meeting, appointed Walter C. Sherman to take the place of said George R. Winsor; and also John W. Bradley, Bradley M. Rockwood, Nathan C. Nye and John B. Collins were appointed Tellers by the Moderator. All of the aforesaid Tellers who acted as such were duly sworn.
And Nathan C. Nye and James W. Desmond were ap- pointed by the Moderator as additional Ballot Clerks, who were sworn by the Moderator.
The ballot box was opened by the unanimous consent of the Moderator and Town Clerk at ten o'clock in the forenoon on said day, and the ballots taken therefrom for the purpose of counting, at which time the register on said box showed that 226 ballots had been cast therein, and upon a
254
complete count of all ballots removed as aforesaid it was found that there were 224, and thereupon the canvass and counting of votes was commenced.
All of said ballots and the check-lists were kept within the unobstructed view of the voters present, according to law.
The polls were closed at 4 o'clock P. M., when the register on the ballot box showed that 701 ballots had been cast therein, and the names checked on each voting list were then counted by the election officers in a distinct and audible voice, and the number checked on each list used for the men voters was 681, which was announced ; and the names checked on each of the check-lists used for the women voters were counted in the same manner and there were 11 names checked on each, which was announced; and all the ballots cast into said ballot box were counted and there were found to be 692.
The number of ballots left at the close of the polls de- ducted from the whole number receipted for by the Ballot Clerks showed 692 ballots delivered to the persons who voted.
All the ballots cast by the voters as aforesaid were sorted, counted and declaration thereof made by the Town Clerk in open town meeting, as follows, viz :
For Selectmen :
Walter M. Fisher had three hundred and thirty-two- 332.
Edwin A. Mason had three hundred and seventy-nine- 379.
Jeremiah J. McCarthy had two hundred and ninety- three-293.
William E. Nason had three hundred and thirty-six -- 336.
Charles F. Nye had four hundred and eighty-four-484. Henry R. Jenks had one-1.
Robert A. Stewart had two-2.
Blanks, two hundred and sixteen-216.
And Edwin A. Mason, William E. Nason and Charles F. Nye were declared elected.
For Town Clerk :
255
Orestes T. Doe had six hundred and twenty-620.
Blanks, sixty-one.
And Orestes T. Doe was declared elected and sworn in open town meeting by the Moderator.
For Treasurer :
Henry R. Jenks had six hundred and twenty-six-626. Andrew Trimble had one-1.
Blanks, fifty-four-54.
And Henry R. Jenks was declared elected.
For Assessors :
James O. Chilson had five hundred and sixty-eight-568.
James B. McKinnon had two hundred and thirty-seven- 237.
William E. Nason had five hundred and sixty-560.
William Rockwood had four hundred and seventy-one- 471.
Edward H. Sherman had one-1.
Hubbard M. Bullock had one-1.
Warren H. Bright had one-1 .
Joseph W. Heaton had one-1.
Blanks, two hundred and three-203.
And James O. Chilson, William E. Nason and William Rockwood were declared elected.
For Overseers of the Poor :
George E. Emerson had five hundred and eighty three -583.
Henry R. Jenks had six hundred and ten-610.
Samuel Y. Reed had five hundred and seventy six-576.
David W. Corson had one-1.
Alfred Clark, Jr., had one-1.
John G. Cunningham had one-1.
George Daniels had one-1.
Blank, two hundred and seventy-270.
And George E. Emerson, Henry R. Jenks and Samuel Y. Reed were declared elected.
For Auditor ;
Nelson E. Newell had five hundred and eighty six-856.
256
Blanks, ninety five-95. And Nelson E. Newell was declared elected.
For Collector of Taxes :
Edward H. Sherman had five hundred and forty-540. Hubbard M. Bullock had one-1. -
Frank Woolford had one-1.
Henry E. Ruggles had one-1.
William Rockwood had one-1. Blanks, one hundred and thirty seven-137. And Edward H. Sherman was declared elected.
For School Committee :
George King had four hundred and eighty eight-488. Dwight M. Hodge had three-3.
Mary A. Wiggin had five-5. Charles Stewart had one-1. Blanks one hundred and ninety five-195. And George King was declared elected.
For Board of Health for three years :
Gregory A. Martin had five hundred and eighty four-584. Charles F. McCarty had one-1. A. J. Gallison had one-1.
For Board of Health for two years : Dwight M. Hodge had five hundred and thirty eight-538. Ambrose J. Gallison had one-1.
For Board of Health for one year :
Charles F. McCarty had two hundred and twenty nine -229.
Metcalf E. Pond had three hundred and ninety four-394. Walter M. Fisher had one-1.
Wilton A. Pond had one-1.
Blanks, two hundred and ninty-three-293.
And Gregory A. Martin, Dwight M. Hodge and Metcalf E. Pond were declared elected. For Constables :
William G. Cody had one hundred and ninety-six-196.
Anthony Connor had three hundred and seventy-seven- 377,
257
Fred L. Davis had three hundred and sixty-one-361.
William E. Nason had four hundred and ninety-five-495. Lewis R. Whitaker had four hundred and eight-408.
Silas W. Nickerson had six-6.
Blanks, two hundred-200.
Anthony Connor, William E. Nason and Lewis R. Whit- aker were declared elected.
And said Anthony Connor was sworn into said office in open town meeting by the Moderator.
In answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
Yes, one hundred and eighty-seven-187.
No, four hundred and eighteen-418.
Blanks, seventy-six-76.
Voted, that the Moderator appoint a committee of fifteen to consider the remaining articles of the warrant, and the Moderator appointed the following persons, viz :
George W. Wiggin, Joseph P. Bassett, Adelbert D. Thayer, George E. Emerson, Henry R. Jenks, Harry T. Hayward, Jeremiah J. McCarthy, Fred P. Chapman, Lewis R. Whitaker, Wilton A. Pond, Charles Stewart, Charles E. Woodward, Dennis F. O'Sullivan, Charles L. Aldrich, Law- rence E. Morressey.
Voted, that when this meeting adjourns it be to Monday, the ninth day of March current, at Morse's Opera House, at 7 o'clock. P. M.
Voted, that the polls be kept open until 4 o'clock P. M. and then closed.
Voted, to take up and consider Article 25, and thereupon it was voted that the Selectmen be and hereby are instructed and authorized to appear as a committee for the town, by counsel or otherwise, before the Committee on County Esti- mates, and request a reduction in county taxes.
After the declaration of the vote as aforesaid all the ballots cast at said election were sealed up in an envelope and en- dorsed thereon by the Moderator, and the check-lists used were also sealed up and endorsed by the Moderator and
258
Ballot Clerks respectively, and were all placed in the custody of the Town Clerk.
And on motion at 9.15 P. M. the meeting was adjourned to Monday next Morse's Opera House at 7 o'clock as afore- said.
A true record.
Attest :
ORESTES T. DOE, Town Clerk.
Proceedings of Adjourned Annual Town Meeting,
MARCH 9, 1896.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Franklin qualified to vote in town affairs, held in Morse Opera House, in said town, on Monday, the ninth day of March, 1896, pur- suant to the aforesaid adjournment, William F. Ray, the mod- erator, called the meeting to order at 7 o'clock in the evening, and the business proceeded as follows, to wit :
ARTICLE 3. The meeting made choice of the following town officers :
FENCE VIEWERS.
Rodolpho M. Handy, Wilton A. Pond, Everett S. Mes- senger.
FIELD DRIVERS.
Charles F. Fiske, Thomas L. Martin, Arthur M. Jenks. POUND-KEEPER.
Rodolpho M. Handy.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN.
The Committee of Fifteen, through its Chairman, George W. Wiggin, Esq., presented the report thereof, and the meet- ing voted that said report be accepted and placed on file, and it was also voted that each section of the report of said com- mittee be acted upon at the same time as the articles in the warrant to which it referred,
259
COMPENSATION OF COLLECTOR.
ARTICLE 4. Committee report and recommend "That the compensation of the Collector of Taxes be one per cent. on the amount collected, and that the Collector have the same power and authority that the Treasurer has when appointed Collector."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted. REPORT OF TOWN OFFICERS.
ARTICLE 5. Committee report and recommend "That the report of the town officers, as printed in the Annual Report, be accepted."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted. POUND.
ARTICLE 6. Committee report and recommend "That the barnyard at the almshouse be the pound for the present year."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted. JURORS.
ARTICLE 7. Committee report and recommend "That the list of jurors as printed by the Selectmen be placed in the jury box the current year."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted, and the names reported and accepted are as follows, viz :
Allen, Cyrus M.
Gaskill, George N.
Allen, Thomas B.
Gatchell, George H.
Austin, William H.
Geb, Jacob F.
Baker, J. Herbert
Gowen, Charles R.
Bacon, George W.
Heath, Albert E.
Bates, Frank A.
Hopkins, Jesse D.
Barrett, Sherman H.
Hosie, John R.
Barrett, Jonas A.
Jenks, Henry R.
Brock, Albert L.
Kingsbury, George A.
Bassett, Charles S.
Lesure, John F.
Blake, Oramel B.
McCarthy, Jeremiah
Bent, Herbert A.
Blake, William A.
Messenger, Everett S. Metcalf, Edgar A.
260
Bradley, John W.
Moran, Daniel P.
Buckley, Daniel, Jr.,
Metcalf, Hiram F.
Bullock, Hubbard M.
Metcalf, E. Lovell
Butters, Edward F.
Murphy, John
Campbell. Charles E.
O'Donnell, Patrick H.
Carter, Osman B.
Osborne, Fred E.
Corbin, Charles H.
Peck, George I.
Chapman, Elisha P.
Pond, Wilton A.
Chase, William C.
Richardson, John W.
Chute, Rupert J.
Rounds, Daniel H.
Cleaveland, William M.
Rockwood, Bradley M.
Cody, William G.
Sherman, Edward H.
Colby, William H.
Smith, Alba P., Jr.
Collins, John B.
Smith, Calvin M.
Corbin, Daniel O.
Sommers, Rudolph
Cunningham, John G.
Stetson, Orlando S.
Dean, Arthur A.
Stevens, Roswell K.
Desmond, James W.
Tyler, John H.
Daniels, Lucius W.
Willard, Frank A.
Daboll, Charles M.
Willard, Aaron A.
Estey, Willard H.
Waterman, John A.
Everett, Alfred F.
White, Richard S.
Emerson, George E.
Woodward, Amos P.
Folger, Howard J.
Ware, Eugene F.
Fales, Charles L.
Wood, James P.
BORROWING MONEY.
ARTICLE 8. Committee report and recommend "That the Treasurer be authorized, under the directon of the Select- men, to borrow money in anticipation of taxes for the current year, and that the same be payable therefrom."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.
LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
ARTICLE 9. Committee report and recommend "That the Selectmen be instructed to suppress the illegal sale of intoxicating liquor in town the current year."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.
261
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
ARTICLE 10. Committee report and recommend "That the sum of three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated to pay the Superintendent of Schools for the past year."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
ARTICLE 11. Committee report and recommend "That the town require the School Committee to employ a Superin- tendent of Schools the present year."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted. APPROPRIATIONS.
ARTICLE 12. Voted, that the town raise and appro- priate for the following named purposes the following-named sums of money for the current year, to wit :
For repair of roads, bridges and sidewalks, to be expended under the direction of the Select- men, $6,000 00
Support of schools, including salary of a Superin- tendent, repair of school houses, school books
and supplies, miscellaneous expenses and transportation of scholars,
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.