USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875-1877 > Part 15
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
66 240 feet 66 Maple street.
North 66
66 66 west corner of Franklin street.
North 66
66 66 opposite the Alms House.
11
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
East side of Grove street, opposite residence of N. G. Allen.
East 66
66 about 465 feet north of Woodland ave.
East 66
66 66 20 feet south of Central street.
East
Hancock street, about 25 feet north of Grove street.
East 66
66 66 at Fern street.
East 66
66 about 40 feet north of Woodland ave.
East 66
66 66 south corner of Central street.
East 66 Islington avenue, at Malvern street.
West
Lexington street, about 40 feet north of Auburn street.
West 66
66 66 about 860 ft. north of Auburndale ave.
East 66 Melrose 66 south corner of Seaverns street.
West 66
Rowe 66 about 15 feet north of Auburn street.
West 66
66
66
near B. & A. R. R. crossing.
Southeast side of Vista 66 about 540 feet southwest of Wood- land avenue.
East side of Wales street by Charles River, Lower Falls.
North Washington street, east corner of Concord street. Northwest side of Washington st., near Hamilton Grammar School. " at east end of Hamilton School, Northwest 66 66
Lower Falls.
Northwest side of Washington st., at Wales street, Lower Falls.
66 about 290 feet east of Wales st. Northwest 66
66 66 700 feet 66 66 Northwest 66
Northwest 66 66 66 60 feet west of Beacon "
Northwest 66 66
66.
66 650 feet east of
66 opposite residence of Granville Fuller.
Northwest side of Washington street, opp. residence of Samuel Davis.
Northwest 66 66 66 about 30 feet southwest of Aspen avenue.
Northwest side of Washington st., about 280 feet northeast of Fuller st.
Northwest 66 66 66 66 40 feet " Greenough " North side of Wolcott street, west end of Wolcott park.
North 66 west corner of Rowe street.
Northeast side of Woodland street, north corner of Washington st. Northeast 66
southeast corner of Maple street. Northeast 66 66
" near Lassell Female Seminary.
Northeast 66 66
66 about 25 feet north of Grove st.
Northwest 66
at Freeman street.
West 66 66
12
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER
WARD 5.
North side of Boylston street, about 140 feet west of Ellis street.
North
25 feet east of Chestnut street.
North 66
66 west corner of Hartford street.
North 66
66
about 25 feet west of Centre street.
East 66 Chestnut 66 15 feet north of Summer street. 15 feet 66 66 Tremont 66
East 66
West 66 Columbus
66 25 feet 66 Lincoln 66
North Eliot 66
66 265 feet west of Chestnut 66
North 66 66
66 75 feet east of 66
66
North 66
66
30 feet Oak 66
North 66 66
66 west corner of Cottage street.
North Erie avenue, west corner of Bowdoin street. North Forest street, west 66 Columbus "
North 66 east 66 Bowdoin
West Hartford street, north corner of Erie avenue. High street, south corner of Winter street.
East 66
about 40 feet south of Boylston street.
66 South 66
North
Lake avenue, " 15 feet east of Walnut Lincoln street, east corner of Woodman street.
Near Needham street, in front of N. W. W. Engine House. Northeast side of Oak street, about 400 feet west of Needham street. East side of Oak street, about 85 feet north of Chestnut street. East 15 feet " Tunnel 66 66
East
Walnut street, about 25 feet north of Centre Southeast side of Winchester street, southwest corner of Hyde street. East side of Woodward street, about 25 feet north of Boylston street. North 66
South Beacon street, about 40 feet west of Beacon street.
South
east corner of Crescent street.
South 66 66
about 40 feet east of Centre street.
North 66
North 66
66
" 490 feet west of Grant avenue. near residence of P. R. Bishop. about 35 feet south of Homer street.
East
Centre
East
66
25 feet north of Ward street.
East
66
66
15 feet Mill street.
East
66
66
66
310 feet 66 Cotton street.
East
66
66
66
" 610 feet south of Sargent street.
East 66
66
66
70 feet
66
West
west corner of Chestnut street.
13
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
North side of Chase street, east corner of Institution avenue. North 66 66 66 about 15 feet west of Station street. Southwest side of Crescent st., about 15 feet northwest of Centre st.
West side of Crystal street, corner of Lake avenue.
East 66 Cypress 66 at Paul street.
North
Elgin
66
about 400 feet east of Glen avenue.
South Grafton 66 61 feet west of Centre street.
South 66
66
66
at corner of Homer street.
Northeast side of Hammond street, opposite residence of F. W. Johnson.
Northeast side of Hammond street, south corner of Beacon street.
Northeast 66
66 near residence of Dr. Slade.
Northeast 66 " street, opposite residence of Daniel Stone.
Northeast 66 66 66 Unitarian Chapel.
East side of Hammond street, north of Railroad bridge.
South Homer street, about 150 feet east of Cedar street.
South 66 66 east corner of Pleasant street.
Northeast side of Hyde street, northwest corner of Centre street. North side of Knowles 66 west corner of Station street.
East 66 Parker street, about 630 feet south of Cypress street.
North Pleasant street, about 465 feet west of Centre 66 East 66 66
about 170 feet north of Sudbury river aqueduct.
North side of Rogers street, west corner of Centre street.
West South 66 about 480 feet south of Ward street. Southwest side of Station street, about 135 feet east of Centre st. Southwest 66 66 66 northwest corner of Beacon
West side of Summer 66 north corner of Gibbs street.
North Ward street, about 570 feet east of Summer street.
North 66 66 70 feet " Grant avenue.
North 66 66 480 feet
Waverley avenue.
North
66 near gate house, Waban Hill Reservoir.
North
66
66
66
about 550 feet west of South street.
North 6 Warren " 40 feet west of Glen avenue. Northeast side of Willow street, east corner of Centre street.
WARD 7.
North side of Arlington street, about 20 feet east of Waverley ave. North 66 66 west corner of Pembroke street.
14
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER
East side of Centre street, at Mt. Ida.
South Church
about 20 feet east of Centre street.
Northeast side of Church street, east corner of Eldridge
Northeast
66 about 60 feet west of Park street.
North side of Elmwood street, east corner of Centre street.
North
west corner of Brook "
North Franklin 66 about 60 feet east of Centre street.
North
66
66
at Kenrick park.
North 66
66
about 35 feet west of Waverley ave.
Southeast side of Jefferson street, at Williams street.
East side of Linden street, corner of Washington street.
East
Nonantum street, about 110 feet north of Orchard st.
North
North Bend, west corner of Centre street.
East 66 Park street, about 25 feet north of Vernon street.
East
522 feet
66
East 66
66 north corner of Sargent street.
North 66 Pearl
at Bacon street.
North 66
at Linden street.
East
St. James street, north of Railroad bridge.
North 66 Tremont at Pembroke street.
North 66
66 about 25 feet east of Waverley ave.
South Vernon 66 east corner of Centre street.
South 66
east
Baldwin street.
Washington street, at intersection of Centre street.
North side of Washington st., about 30 feet west of Nonantum st. North at Park street. 66
North
66
66 about 190 feet east of St. James st.
North
66 66
395 feet Waverley ave.
North 66
66
near Boston City line.
East Waverley avenue, south corner of Kenrick street.
East 66
about 925 feet south of Kenrick st.
East
66
66 at Cotton street.
HOUSES.
Since my last report there have been no new houses erected in the city, or any great alterations. I men- tioned in my last report the necessity of repairing the
15
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
sleeping rooms in Steamer House No. 3, but as yet there has nothing been done, and I trust your honorable board may see the necessity of the alterations that I recommend.
I would also recommend an addition be put on the Engine House, in Ward 4, so that the horse may be kept in connection with the house where the Hose Carriage is, so that there will be as little delay as possible in responding to an alarm when it is given; as it is now, the horse is kept some distance away in another stable, and it makes unnecessary delay in getting ready to start for a fire.
I still recommend the purchase of some land, and the erection of a new house in Ward 5, as the old one is unfit for occupancy, and not in a suitable location.
I think it would be best to have the water introduced into all the Engine Houses, for the horses and supplying the steamers, as it is so much purer than that now used.
I also recommended a bath room to be put in Steamer House in Ward 7, but as yet it has not been done, but I hope your honorable board will see the necessity of it.
I would recommend the furnishing of the business rooms in the Hook and Ladder House, in Ward 2, for the benefit of the members of the companies located there. As it is now, they have no accommodations for transacting business or holding their regular meetings.
THE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH
Under the present management has as a general thing worked satisfactorily. There has been in addition to the eighteen boxes and gongs and five strikers, which
16
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER
were in use at the time of my last report, the following improvements, alterations, and additions :
Box 13, corner of Sargent and Centre streets, with 23 posts and 14 miles of wire.
Box 14, corner of Washington and Church streets, with 9 posts and 14 miles of wire.
Box 32, corner of Pine and River streets, with 21 posts and 1g miles of wire.
Box 21, Hook and Ladder House.
Box 73 has been changed from the old engine house on Station street to the house of Steamer 3. A new gong has been put in the Hook and Ladder House, and the small gong formerly on the house of Mr. Exley in Lower Falls has been put up in Hose 5's house in Auburndale.
The new battery room for the Superintendent of the Fire Alarm Telegraph is a great addition, and I think it will answer all the wants for many years to come. I still recommend a new striker in Ward 3, and as I said in my last report I should think that as suitable a place as can be found would be the City Hall bell. Under the present management a member of Steamer 2, if he is out of the house, cannot tell when an alarm is given whether it is for him to go on the first call or not ; but if there was a striker on the City Hall bell it would notify members more promptly, and tell them exactly the locality of the alarm.
In conclusion, I would say that the present force of the Fire Department is able to cope with any fire that we are liable to have; as in the case of the fire in Newton Centre, December 6th, at Dudley's stable, we kept the fire confined to the building where it origi- nated, and I think it is one of the worst places for a fire in the City, but it was kept from spreading to the adjoining buildings only by the aid of the Water
17
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Works, as the want of water has been one of the fail- ures of the Fire Department for the past years.
I tender my sincere thanks to His Honor the Mayor, and City Government, for their attention paid to the requirements of the Department, and their prompt and cheerful manner in which they have given me their co-operation the past year, and to the Committee on Fire Department for their close attention to the wants and requirements of the Department for the past year.
I would tender my sincere thanks to the local En- gineers for the prompt and faithful discharge of their duty, and to all the members of the Department for the promptness and faithful discharge of their duty ; also the Superintendent of the Fire Alarm Telegraph.
The Police of Newton have my warmest thanks for the assistance they have given the Department the past year; also the Superintendent of Streets, for his kind attention in furnishing horses for the benefit of the Department.
Respectfully submitted,
ORRIN WHIPPLE, Chief Engineer.
E
REPORT
OF THE
PARK COMMISSIONERS
TO THE
CITY COUNCIL OF NEWTON, MASS.
JANUARY 1876.
BOSTON: GEO. L. KEYES, PRINTER, 166 CONGRESS, COR. FRANKLIN STREET. 1876.
REPORT.
TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF NEWTON :
Under an order of the Mayor and Aldermen, and of the Common Council of the City of Newton, adopted in concurrence January 25th and 27th, 1875, the un- dersigned were appointed a " Board of Park Commis- sioners."
That order and the preamble thereto read thus :
" Whereas, the Newton Horticultural Society, at a meeting held on the 14th of January instant, chose a committee to memorialize the City Council in behalf of said Society, and presented its petition that 'a Board of Commissioners be appointed to consider and report upon the best means of securing the necessary lands and laying out one or more public Parks in the City of Newton';
Therefore, ordered, That a commission of six be appointed by the Mayor, who shall be called the Board of Park Commissioners, and that the Mayor shall be one of said Commissioners; said Commis- sioners to serve without pay."
It will be seen that this order does not invest the Commissioners with any powers whatever, nor in fact prescribe any duties, unless such as may be inferred from the preamble, reciting the language of the petition of the Newton Horticultural Society, viz. : " To consider and report upon the best means of securing the neces- sary lands and laying out one or more public parks in the City of Newton."
.
4
Assuming such to have been the intention of the City Council in adopting the order, we have proceeded on the assumption, and directed our labors to the elucida- tion of the two questions thus presented, and now beg leave to
REPORT.
The consideration of the question of the " best means of securing the necessary lands," will require an exam- ination into the financial condition of the City, and of its ability and the willingness of its taxpayers to incur the expense necessary for the "laying out of one or more public parks."
It must be apparent to every one who will give the subject serious thought, that our present necessities and the large prospective increase of our population impera- tively demand that immediate attention be given to the providing at an early day of an ample and bountiful supply of good water, and a comprehensive and thor- ough system of sewerage. Suitable provision has al- ready been made for the first of these, and action on the other must soon follow as an absolute necessity.
Equally apparent to us, is the desire on the part of our people generally for the establishment of public parks in our City, whenever it can be accomplished with proper economy and a due regard to their ability to meet the additional taxation requisite therefor.
We confessedly need to-day small public parks in most if not all of our villages, to serve as play grounds for our children if for no other purpose. We need also for civic, military and political celebrations a large park centrally located, and we shall need, in the not distant future, a series of public parks for driving and other
5
recreative and sanitary purposes, easily accessible to all the inhabitants of the City. The cost of obtaining the more imperative necessities-a supply of water and a proper system of sewerage-will be, however, so large, and the increased taxation required to meet the pay- ment of that cost so great, that we are fully convinced our taxpayers will not consent to be involved in further expenditure for the establishment of public parks at present.
It is urged with great force of truth, that times now are "hard," taxation heavy, and all kinds of business dull and unprofitable, and therefore the establishment of public parks-which, notwithstanding all that can be said in their favor must be considered somewhat in the light of luxuries-should await the return of more pros- perous times. These views are correct and proper, and meet our hearty concurrence.
It does not necessarily follow, however, that because from pecuniary considerations we feel compelled to postpone, that we should abandon altogether efforts for their establishment at a proper time. On the contrary, we claim that such a substantial good as the establish- ment of public parks is generally admitted to be, should not be lost sight of, but wisely consummated, as soon as returning prosperity and increased ability of means will warrant. The present " hard times " will not con- tinue forever. The burdens of taxation will not always be felt to bear so heavily as now, and in the good time coming in the near future, as we hope and believe, our people will be able to accomplish for this and many other improvements, what they can now only desire. We propose, therefore, in this to suggest what may be done at a moderate cost in the way of public parks, when that good time is upon us.
6
Newton is most favorably situated for the building of a series of public parks and their connecting boulevards and avenues. An inspection of the map will show that the many villages of which the City is composed are located mostly on two lines of railroad, one near its south-eastern, and the other near its north-western boundaries, leaving between these two lines, through nearly the centre of the City, a belt of comparatively unimproved land, procurable at moderate cost, and most admirably adapted for park purposes.
Whatever system of public parks may hereafter be projected or established in Newton should embrace a connection, by wide and handsome avenues, with the parks and avenues of neighboring municipalities, so that our people and the inhabitants of those places may each enjoy the improvements and privileges of the other, without additional cost to either.
Our neighbors of Boston and Brookline are now moving actively in the matter of public parks. It is safe to assume that whatever system either or both may adopt, will embrace a connection with the Chestnut Hill and Brookline reservoirs, and the fine driveways and avenues around and near them. These are in close proximity to, and portions of them adjoin our territory, and their privileges are already now enjoyed by large numbers of our people.
Our Water Commissioners have located the Newton reservoir near that of the "Chestnut Hill," and we understand have in contemplation the building of a sub- stantial driveway around it. That vicinity would there- fore seem to be the most suitable point for making the desired connection with the driveways and avenues around and near the Chestnut Hill and Brookline reser-
7
voirs. So good an opportunity of doing this, and mak- ing a handsome public park on the summit of Prospect Hill, connecting therewith at a moderate cost, ought not to be lost. The views from the entire length of the side slopes of that hill can hardly be excelled for beauty, and from the summit a delightful and charming pros- pect of the neighboring cities and towns can be had. We would therefore recommend that measures be taken at the proper time for forming such a connection by a wide handsome avenue, connecting at a point on South Street near land of Knowles, thence skirting the north- east, north and northwest side slopes of Prospect Hill, through lands of Lawrence, Bennett, Sargent, Tucker and others to the summit of that hill, whence it could easily be made to connect with the proposed driveway around the Newton reservoir, and terminate on Ward Street.
Looking to the future, however, it would be advisable to extend it from the reservoir through land of Sargent to Waverly Avenue, across Waverly Avenue through Cotton to Centre Street. This last, being one of the widest and handsomest streets in the City, would afford our people easier and better access to the reservoir and proposed park, and be a more fitting termination than Ward Street, in case hereafter it should be determined not to extend the establishment of public parks farther.
If, in a few years, with a sufficiency of means for the purpose, the City should determine to make a series of public parks and connecting avenues, the avenue now proposed to terminate at Centre Street should be ex- tended across that street to Mill Street, for at that point opens a stretch of comparatively unimproved land as finely adapted for park purposes as any City in the
S
country can boast. A short distance from Centre Street, between Mill Street on the north, and Homer Street on the south, boldly jutting out into Bullough's pond on the west, is a tract of nearly level land that would answer a very good purpose for a small park, besides being particularly well adapted for military exercises and civic celebrations. Beyond this, passing through Hull Street, between lands of Gov. Claflin and J. J. Walworth, Esq., and extending westward to Chestnut Street, thence via Beacon and Walnut to Homer Street, across Homer and along the eastern shore of Bullough's pond to the proposed military park just mentioned, embracing within its area Newton Cemetery, Bullough's pond and Coldstream brook, lies a tract of country so finely diversified with rock and forest, hill and valley, lake, brook and meadow, as to leave little else to be desired for a good sized first-class park. The great natural beauty of this tract, and its perfect adaptation for all park purposes cannot be too highly estimated. These should be kept constantly in view, and we trust the City government will not fail to exercise proper care at all times, that any streets proposed to be laid out through this territory shall not interfere with its most perfect use as a park hereafter. Later on, as means will permit, suitable avenues can be made from Chestnut Street connecting with other avenues and parks on or near Charles River at Auburndale and Lower Falls, and also from Beacon Street to Upper Falls and the Highlands, connecting there with avenues from Brookline and West Roxbury, or by Boylston Street and through lands of Hon. John Lowell and others to Hammond Street. From this last named point good and sufficient connections already exist with the
9
" Chestnut Hill" and the site selected for the Newton reservoir. Good connections also already exist between the Highlands and Chestnut Hill reservoir, by way of Crystal Lake, Newton Centre Village, and Beacon Street.
The preparation of these tracts for park uses, and the cost of such portions of them as the City might be com- pelled to purchase, will necessarily involve a large ex- penditure of time and money. It is not necessary, how- ever, that the expenditure should be incurred for five or even ten years or more, and we do not propose or recommend that it should be incurred at all, until such time as our people have the ability and express their willingness to meet the required expense. Feeling well assured, however, that the time is not very far distant when they will be both able and willing, we deem it of the utmost importance that the City have in its pos- session properly drawn plans for such a series of public parks and connecting avenues, as, after the considera- tion due to a matter of such magnitude and general interest, shall be deemed necessary or desirable to meet its present and prospective needs in that direction, so that succeeding city councils and park commissioners shall have an accepted plan or plans as a basis, to which they should conform in whatever they may un- dertake from time to time for the establishment of public parks.
An act of the Legislature, passed in 1875, entitled "An act for the laying out of public parks in or near the City of Boston," contains a provision that the cities and towns adjoining Boston may enjoy all the rights, bene- fits and privileges granted by said act to the City of Boston, provided that a majority of the legal voters of
10
any such city or town at the annual meeting for the choice of municipal officers shall vote to accept the provision of said act. Another of the provisions, gives to the park commissioners appointed under the act the power to assess betterments on any lands receiving any special benefit and advantage from the locating or lay- ing out of a park under the provisions of the act, not to exceed one-half the amount which the board of Park Commissioners shall adjudge to be the whole benefit received by it.
It will be seen, therefore, that the City can, to a cer- tain extent, protect itself against the extortionate de- mands which some of the owners of desirable lands might be disposed to make. We believe, however, that a Board of Park Commissioners composed of intelligent judicious citizens would have but rare occasion to exer- cise the power of assessment conferred by the act, but would be able to secure by negotiation, at moderate cost, all the land that may be required.
Some owners of lands would doubtless cheerfully do- nate. Others owning lands near as well as within the desired territory, would be disposed to sell at a low nominal price those within, and seek compensation there- for in the largely enhanced price the location of a park would secure to them for such lands as they would have remaining near it. On all the connecting avenues it would be very desirable-and we believe it would not be difficult-to arrange with the owners of lands abutting thereon, to do away entirely with all street and partition walls and fences, and where the conformation of the lands will permit, to have those next adjoining the ave- nues graded down by proper slopes to nearly the level of the avenue, and so grassed and planted with trees
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.