USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1902-1907 > Part 4
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
W. H. H. Burbeck, services, Forest Fire Ward. 5 00
$190 33
A part of this expense was refunded by Boston & Maine R. R.
LIBRARY CATALOGUE.
Lowell Mail, printing catalogue $91 50
Mary P. Bunce, preparing catalogue 71 96
Mary P. Bunce, preparing printers copy etc . 25 00
Courier-Citizen Co., printing catalogue . . 291 95
$480 41
62
PAINTING TOWN HOUSE.
J. Henry Colburn, painting Town House
two coats, as per contract $ 80 00
J. Henry Colburn, extra work 6 25
Wright & Fletcher, paint stock 100 10
Wright & Fletcher, hardware and nails 8 85
A. H. Sutherland, repairs 18 10
Hiram Dane, whitewashing fence
15 00
$228 30
ELECTRIC ROAD.
Two petitions were received by the Selectmen for locations for electric roads in town. One for the extension of the Old Stony Brook Valley Street Railway Co., whose franchise had expired, and one from the directors of the Lowell & Fitchburg Street Railway Co. A hearing was given each company, and then a joint hearing with the Selectmen of Chelmsford, Littleton and Ayer. After making careful investigation, the petitioners of the Stony Brook Valley Street Railway Co. were given leave to withdraw, and the franchise granted the Lowell & Fitchburg Street Railway Co.
A copy of the franchise will be found in the Town Clerk's report, subject to the approval of the Railroad Commissioners.
THE FOLLOWING EXPENSE HAS OCCURRED.
F. E. Rollins, stenographer, 2 hearings .. $33 00
F. E. Rollins, stenographer, joint hearing. 20 80
S. H. Fletcher, attending 3 hearings and other expenses 15 00
W. O. Hawkes, attending 3 hearings and other expenses 15 00
A. P. Richardson, attending 3 hearings other expenses 15 00
$98 80
63
GENERAL EXPENSES.
J. A. Healy, use of team, Highway Com . . $ 3 00
Postage for Town Reports. 20 00
J. A. Healy, team and time on Bik case 4 00
Waldo Bros., drain pipe. 16 53
H. A. Hildreth, storage road machine, carts, and sled to June 19, 1902. 7 00
J. Buck & Sons, one road plough. 25 00
H. O. Keyes, removing old building from road. 1 80
J. H. Colburn, painting hearse house 2 50
Eastern Clay Co., drain pipe
221 38
Ai Bicknell, use of team
1 50
John Feeney, repair of harnesses
10 35
R. S. Robson, repair of ballot box
6 75
Food for election officers 5 01
Casting for road machine 90
Tools for Road Department 17 25
J. R. Draper, M. D., return of 10 births . 2 50
S. L. Joslin, M. D., return of 22 births 5 50
W. J. Sleeper, M. D., return of 27 births, 1901-02. 6 75
Express and freight on school books.
8 96
Troop F, Cavalry, allotment for Rifle Range 25 00
Wright & Fletcher, articles as per bill 11 67
W. O. Hawkes, cash for telephone 1 60
Postage for town officers 7 62
One gravel screen. 8 00
Paint for hearse house 2 70
C. E. Whidden, express and freight. 14 43
F. E. Varney, M. D., return 5 births 1 25
J. E. Knight, repair of carts.
7 50
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co., use of telephone for town officers 23 78
N. L. Tuttle, repair of cart
75
G. H. Philbrick, blacksmithing 1 45
F. E. Miller, blacksmithing
75 36
$547 79
64
ROAD DEPARTMENT.
In accordance with the Revised Laws, Benjamin F. Day was appointed Superintendent of Streets. The bills show what months they were paid, but not, in all cases, the month the work or expense occurred.
MARCH.
J. E. Wood, labor $ 3 00
I. G. Hall, labor
13 00
B. F. Day, labor
9 80
Gravel
5 10
1600 1bs. hay
8 00
$38 90
APRIL.
Paul Hammell, labor $ 3 00
H. Gadoway, labor 1 50
M. Decoteau, labor. 21 00
Oscar Melvin, labor
11 25
George McGowan, labor
11 63
Samuel Crossland, labor
26 50
Edward Moore, labor
48 00
C. E. Whitcomb, labor
48 00
Parvel Bik, labor
18 75
T. Driscoll, labor.
3 75
B. F. Day, Superintendent.
45 00
Team. 40 00
H. E. Fletcher & Co., stone posts 7 50
P. G. Collins, 3545 1bs. hay
28 37
C. L. Howard, gravel 2 30
$316 55
MAY.
J. A. Healy, team and labor $ 21 00
George McGowan, labor
22 50
H. W. Tarbell, labor 673 02
I. G. Hall, labor 20 74
Amount carried forward $737 26
65
Amount brought forward $737 26
Edward Moore, labor
48 00
C. E. Whitcomb, labor 48 00
M. Decoteau, labor 36 38
L. Tancerell, labor
30 38
John Dinsmore, labor
32 63
Samuel Crossland, labor
12 38
Parvel Bik, labor
30 38
O. Milot, labor. 29 32
B. F. Day, Superintendent.
45 00
Team 65 00
$1114 :73
JUNE.
John Dinsmore, labor $27 10
L. Tancerell, labor
32 25
C. E. Whitcomb, labor. 40 60
O. Milot, labor
21 88
Edward Moore, labor
48 00
M. Decoteau, labor
32 25
Parvel Bik, labor
30 75
Samuel Crossland, labor
13 13
S. M. Hutchins, hay 55 80
B. F. Day, Superintendent. 45 00
Team 57 50
H. E. Fletcher & Co., dualin and fuse 11 03
J. A. Healy, grain, Mar., Apr., May 81 00
JULY.
Charles Marshall, labor $ 4 50
Edward Moore, labor 48 00
Samuel Crossland, labor
34 88
John Dinsmore, labor. 35 63
L. Tancerell, labor 17 63
C. E. Whitcomb, labor 48 00
W. H. Good, labor 19 50
B. F. Day, Superintendent. 45 00
Team
65 00
C. M. Griffin, gravel 2 55
$496 29
$320 69
66
AUGUST.
H. W. Tarbell, labor $54 96
M. Decoteau, labor
22 13
John Dinsmore, labor 27 75
Samuel Crossland, labor.
36 00
Parvel Bik, labor
23 25
Charles Marshall, labor
36 00
C. E. Whitcomb, labor
48 00
Edward Moore, labor
48 00
W. H. Good, labor 5 25
B. F. Day, Superintendent.
45 00
Team.
67 50
Wright & Fletcher, grain 15 00
$428 84
SEPTEMBER.
Charles Marshall, labor $ 7 50
C. E. Whitcomb, labor 48 00
Parvel Bik, labor
22 50
Samuel Crossland, labor 27 75
M. Decoteau, labor 21 75
21 75
R. Easedale, labor
19 50
J. A. Healy, grain, June, July 37 80
B. F. Day, Superintendent. 45 00
Team 60 00
$311 55
OCTOBER.
W. C. Edwards, labor $ 47 01
H. W. Tarbell, labor 116 50
I. G. Hall, labor 46 15
M. Decoteau, labor
12 75
S. McCauley, labor
7 50
Edward Moore, labor
7 40
C. E. Whitcomb, labor.
48 00
S. Crossland, labor
18 00
Robert Easedale, labor
36 27
W. W. Johnson, team
20 00
B. F. Day, Superintendent. 45 00
Team
60 00
$464 58
S. McCauley, labor
67
NOVEMBER.
W. H. Gadoway, labor $ 3 00
I. G. Hall, labor
16 25
R. Easedale, labor 36 57
M. Elliott, labor
29 25
P. Teran, labor
26 25
Samuel Crossland, labor
33 00
O. Milot, labor. 4 50
Charles E. Whitcomb, labor.
38 75
Charles Coture, labor.
4 00
B. F. Day, Superintendent.
45 00
Team. 55 00
$291.57
DECEMBER.
H. E. Gould, labor. $ 10 60
H. W. Tarbell, labor 167 04
R. Easedale, labor
12 38
Samuel Crossland, labor
4 50
W. W. Johnson, team
16 00
Heywood & Fletcher, gravel.
6 05
$216.57
JANUARY.
H. V. Hildreth, labor $ 16 22
H. W. Tarbell, labor.
10 08
W. H. H. Burbank, labor. 7 50
T. Driscoll, labor ..
1 50
W. W. Johnson, labor
2 75
J. A. Healy, team and labor
2 88
J. A. Healy, grain, Aug., Oct., Nov., Dec.,
63 83
A. Bunce, gravel. .
9 30
N. B. Blood, 3870 lbs. hay
30 96
H. D. Wright, covering stone
30 40
Jeptha Wright, gravel
8 05
B. F. Day, labor
16 50
Team
7 50
Gravel
4 40
$211 87
Appropriation, $4000.
$4212 14
68
Schedule of property belonging to the town for use of Road Department: 2 horses, 1 set heavy harnesses, 2 carts, 4 whiffle- trees and chains, 1 evener and spreader, 2 horse collars, 1 wrench, 1 wagon jack, 2 heavy chains, 1 stone lifter, 1 pair hand splices, 5 rakes, 15 shovels, 1 manure fork, 4 stone forks, 3 plows, 12 blasting drills, 1 drill spoon, 6 plug drills, lot of shims and wedges, 1 bush snath, 2 bush scythes, 2 axes, 1 trimming saw, 2 halters, 6 lanterns, 1 oil can, 1 tool box, 3 large hoes, 2 small hoes, 11 picks, 6 iron bars, 1 pinch bar, 1 hand hammer, 2 striking ham- mers, 2 stone hammers, 1 currycomb and brush, 2 horse blankets, 2 stone drags, 2 yokes, 1 road scraper, 2 gravel screens, 1 mattock, 1 pail, 1 post rammer, 1 post spoon, 1 post hole digger, lot of sewer pipe, 2 nose bags, 1 trowel, 1 paving hammer, 1 grab hook, 3 pick handles, 5 lbs. dualin, 3870 lbs. hay.
BREAKING ROADS.
J. H. Decatur $ 5 40
S. W. Kimball 37 50
J. W. O'Brien 4 35
C. F. Shugrue
10 40
C. E. Whitcomb
8 19
C. H. Bicknell.
2 03
E. H. Dane
5 40
C. H. Eastman
1 65
L. W. Seems
60
W. Petherick, Jr.
75
Harry Hartford 9 00
F. W. Davis
3 90
C. V. Badger
2 63
J. H. Connell
2 80
J. A. Healy
26 20
S. L. Taylor and others
35 40
W. W. Johnson
18 00
A. McDonald 11 30
John Good. 3 00
Amount carried forward. $188 50
69
Amount brought forward $188 50
S. E. Hutchins.
2 93
J. E. Knight
3 00
J. M. O'Brien
15 40
F. L. McCoy
8 78
Leroy Hartford
3 00
John Flynn
2 70
B. J. Flynn
3 45
H. E. Gould
30 77
J. H. O'Brien 7 65
O. A. Davis 2 40
W. T. Reed 1 05
E. H. Flagg. 5 92
J. F. Shaw. 2 25
D. J. McLeod. 7 80
George Sherman 7 20
4 57
G. A. Kimball
8 20
I. G. Hall
5 25
B. F. Day
11 63
H. Kabele
1 20
H. B. Read and others
12 88
J. A. Henry.
75
V. R. Sherburne
3 45
L. J. Eliason
9 00
D. Burke
5 25
George Burke
7 50
W. J. Harrup 3 75
Thomas Harrup
3 75
F. W. Banister
5 70
A. H. Burnham
13 05
John Wayne. 3 75
W. C. Edwards 27 82
F. L. Downs . 6 00
A. S. Vose 15 37
S. B. Wright 18 40
A. Bunce
2 64
M. F. Downs and others 70 69
Amount carried forward $533 40
George Osgood .
. 70
Amount brought forward.
$533 40
M. Carr
5 85
Edward Murphy.
19 57
W. F. Balch
4 55
F. H. Hildreth
2 90
S. H. Balch and others
9 05
$575 32
STATE HIGHWAY.
On May 12, 1902, the Selectmen received notice from the Highway Commission that they had made an allotment of five thousand dollars ($5000) for the construction of a section of State Highway, beginning at the end of road at Minot's Corner, "recently improved under the so-called 'Small Town Act,' and extending to or towards the Littleton line." The Selectmen waived the right to contract with the Commission for the build- ing of the road, and the work was contracted by the Commission and done under their supervision.
On February 4, 1903, the Commission voted to lay out as a State Highway the road from Minot's Corner to the centre of the town, which was improved last year under the so-called "Small Town Act." This will give the town about four miles of State Highway, which, connecting with the State Highway on the Great Road in Littleton, will make a State Highway from the centre of the town to Boston.
The Selectmen have also petitioned to the Highway Com- mission for a State Road from Minot's Corner to Chelmsford line.
ESTIMATES FOR 1903-1904.
In making these estimates for the amount of money asked for, to be raised or appropriated at the annual meeting, we have placed under the head of each department the amount that is asked for by that department.
SELECTMEN.
Highways
$4000 00
Town debts and charges
2000 00
$6000 00
71
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Support of poor
$2200 00
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Support of schools
$6000 00
Tuition of High School scholars 1500 00
Text books and supplies for schools
600 00
$8100 00
TRUSTEES J. V. FLETCHER LIBRARY.
Books
$150 00
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BURIAL GROUNDS.
Public burial grounds. $200 00
$16,650 00
Total number of orders, 433.
Total amount of orders, $17,838.10.
SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, WESLEY O. HAWKES, ALBERT P. RICHARDSON, Selectmen of Westford.
72
LIST OF JURORS.
The following names will be reported at the annual meeting in March, to be placed in the jury box, subject to revision by the town.
NAMES.
OCCUPATION.
William H. H. Burbeck,
Laborer.
Augustine W. Carkin,
Quarry Man.
Ernest H. Dane,
Painter.
Quincy W. Day
Farmer.
Elbert H. Flagg,
Farmer.
John M. Fletcher,
Merchant.
John Feeney,
Harness Maker.
David L. Greig,
Farmer.
Edwin E. Heywood,
Farmer.
George H. Hartford,
Farmer.
Frank H. Hildreth,
Farmer.
George A. Kimball,
Farmer.
Joseph E. Knight,
Wheelwright.
Henry J. Murphy,
Farmer.
Elmer E. Nutting,
Machinist.
James O'Brien,
Blacksmith.
Charles E. Osgood,
Carpenter.
Judson Parsons,
Farmer.
Wilbert E. Parsons,
Provision Dealer.
Nathan Prescott,
Painter.
Amos B. Polley,
Farmer.
Ossian V. Robey,
Carpenter.
Almon S. Vose,
Farmer.
John Wilson,
Farmer.
J. Everett Woods,
Farmer.
Alfred Woodbury,
Farmer.
SHERMAN H. FLETCHER,
WESLEY O. HAWKES, ALBERT P. RICHARDSON,
Selectmen of Westford.
Westford, February 16, 1903.
73
Report of Selectmen on Naming Streets and Roads
AS PER VOTE OF TOWN, MARCH 17, 1902.
NAMES OF STREETS AND ROADS.
In compliance with vote passed at the last annual meeting, the Selectmen make the following report for your acceptance or revision.
In making up the list of names we have endeavored to follow names that apply to localities or old residents as far as we could. There may be a few roads that we have omitted which can be added if the town so votes.
WESTFORD CENTRE AND VICINITY.
From Chelmsford line near Chamberlin's Corner, by Fairview Cemetery, through center of town, to junction of roads near house of Ai Bicknell Main Street From Main Street, at Drew's Corner, to Westford Depot Depot Street
From Main Street, at house of A. J. Abbot, to Bridge Street, Graniteville . Graniteville Road
From Main Street to Minot's Corner, by Nashoba Hill, to Littleton line (State Road) Boston Road
From Boston Road, at Old Academy building, by Chas. L. Hildreth's house, to Concord Road, at A. C. Whittier's house Hildreth Street
From Main Street, south side of Common, to Hildreth Street
Lincoln Street
74
From Junction of Main Street and Flagg Road, at house of Ai Bicknell, by Oren Cooledge place, to Town Farm Road, at house of Nelson L. Prescott. Forge Village Road
From junction of Main Street and Forge Village Road, at- house of Ai Bicknell, by house of S. G. Humiston and J. A. Parson, to Hildreth Street. Flagg Road
From Main Street, near house of Fletcher Peckens, by house of Hugh Mills, to Main Street, near house of Oscar R. Spalding Leland Street
GRANITEVILLE AND VICINITY.
From Greig's Corner, by H. D. Wright's house, to Groton Road North Street
From Greig's Corner, by Depot and Catholic Church, to Reed's Brook. Main Street
From C. G. Sargent's Sons' Machine Shop, over railroad bridge near house of John Caunter, to Bridge Street,
Broadway Street
From Greig's Corner to Broadway Street, at railroad bridge River Street
From Broadway Street to River Street First Street
From Broadway Street to railroad landing Second Street
From Broadway Street, by Music Hall Third Street
From Broadway Street to River Street
Fourth Street
White Street From Third Street to Fourth Street ,
From Broadway Street, by School House. Cross Street
From Broadway Street, by Methodist Church Pond Street
From River Street to land of Jeptha Wright. . . Maple Street From Greig's Corner to house of Mrs. J. Allard. .. Beacon Street From Main Street, near Depot, under railroad, to Broad- way Street Bridge Street From Bridge Street to Pine Ridge Depot . . Pine Ridge Road From Main Street Depot towards stone quarries. . Granite Street
75
From Main Street, near West Graniteville Depot, to Groton line. West Street
From West Street, over Cowdrey Hill, to Groton Road, at house of E. J. Woods . Cowdrey Hill Road
FORGE VILLAGE AND VICINITY.
From Depot to Reed's Brook, Main Street, Graniteville,
Union Street
From Depot to Groton line Central Street
From Depot, by house of H. A. Gurney, to junction of Concord and Beaver Brook Roads. Pleasant Street
From Pleasant Street, by Club House Bradford Street
From Pleasant Street to Forge Pond Pond Street
From Pleasant Street to Forge Village Road, at junction of roads at Nelson L. Prescott's house Pine Street
From junction of roads at Nelson L. Prescott's house, by Town Farm, to Union Street. Town Farm Road From Pleasant Street. Forge Village, over Beaver Brook, to Littleton line. Beaver Brook Road
SUBURBAN DISTRICTS.
From junction Pleasant Street, Forge Village, and Beaver Brook Road, by West Cemetery, to Littleton Road, near house of Angus McDonald, and from corner of roads near Amos Leighton's house to Carlisle Road, at Parker-
ville School-house.
Concord Road
From Boston Road, near house of Amos Leighton, to Little- ton line. Littleton Road
From Forge Village Road, west of Pine Ridge Depot, to Concord Road, at West Cemetery . Cemetery Road From Concord Road, by house of William Vose, to Cowdrey Corner Old Lowell Road
From Minot's Corner, by Parkerville School-house, to Carlisle line, near Carlisle Station Carlisle Road
2
76
From Carlisle Road, by Old Gates Place, to Acton line,
Texas Road
From Acton line, by house of Warren Sweetser, to Chelms- ford line Acton Road
From Acton Road, by L. Sweetser place, across Old Lowell Road, to South Chelmsford Road, at house of A. J. Blaisdell Vose Road
From Carlisle Road, by house of C. M. Griffin, to Vose Road, Griffin Road
From Flagg Road, by house of C. L. Howard, to Littleton Road Howard Road
From Flagg Road, by house S. E. Hutchins, to Concord Road Robinson Road
From Forge Village Road, by Old Patten place, to Pleasant Street, Forge Village. Patten Road
From Patten Road to Robinson Road Hartford Road
From Chelmsford Road, near house of A. E. Jenne, by house of A. J. Blaisdell, to South Chelmsford line, South Chelmsford Road
From Chelmsford Road, at A. H. Burnham's house, by house of A. Bunce, across Main Street, to Lowell Road, near house of F. W. Banister Providence Road
From Providence Road to Depot Street Cummings Road
From Main Street, at house of D. H. Waller, by house of John M. O'Brien, to South Chelmsford line ..... Tadmuck Road
From Depot Street, by M. Steele's house and Samuel L. Taylor's house, to Chelmsford line Lowell Road
From Main Street, at Read Farm Corner, by Stony Brook School-house, across Lowell Road, over Stony Brook and under railroad, by house of James H. O'Brien, to Plain Road . Stony Brook Road
77
From Chelmsford line, by Brick Tavern, to Groton line, Groton Road
From H. E. Fletcher & Co.'s Stone Quarry, across Groton Road, to Edwards' Corner Oak Hill Road
From West Chelmsford line to Nabnassett Pond, Nabnassett Street
From Curran's Corner, by Brookside Station, to Hamblet's Corner, at junction of Lowell Road. ... Brookside Road
From Hamblet's Corner, over Francis Hill, by Chamberlin's Corner, to South Chelmsford line. Chamberlin Road
From Edwards' Corner to Westford Depot Plain Road
From Oak Hill Road, by Wheeler place, across Groton Road, to Tyngsboro line Rd. & Forrest Road
From Groton Road, near Forrest Road, to Tyngsboro Road, near house of Edward Murphy. . . Flushing Pond Road
From Westford Depot, by North Cemetery, to junction of Dunstable and Tyngsboro Roads. . Depot Road
From junction of Depot Road, Dunstable and Tyngsboro Roads, by Flushing Pond, to Tyngsboro line, Tyngsboro Road
From junction of Depot Road, Dunstable and Tyngsboro Roads, by Brick Tavern, to Tyngsboro line,
Dunstable Road
From Depot Street, at J. V. Fletcher farm, by house of Quincy W. Day, to Pine Ridge Road, near Pine Ridge Station Coldspring Road
From Plain Road, by North Cemetery and house of B. F. Nutting, to Groton Road. Nutting Road
From Groton Road, by Keyes Pond, by house of H. O. Keyes, to Tyngsboro line Keyes Road
From Keyes Road, at Simpson place, by house of Dennis Burke, across Dunstable Road, to Tyngsboro line, Tenney Road
78
From Tenney Road to house of Frank H. Hildreth,
Long-Sought-For Pond Road
From junction of roads at H. O. Keyes' house, by house of Edwin Gould, to Groton Road. Gould Road
From Groton Road, at E. J. Woods' house, to house of J. O. Blodgett, at Groton line. Millstone Hill Road
SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, WESLEY O. HAWKES, ALBERT P. RICHARDSON,
Selectmen of Westford.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The Selectmen, acting under the law as the Board of Health, appointed Wesley O. Hawkes and W. H. H. Burbeck as agents, and Dr. W. J. Sleeper as special agent on smallpox cases.
Albert P. Richardson and John A. Healy licensed as under- takers.
The general health of the town, outside of the smallpox cases at Forge Village, was good, excepting a number of cases of typhoid fever. Fortunately none proved fatal; but it is the duty of every householder, for their own protection, to carefully examine their drainage and surroundings, to see if everything is kept in a clean and healthy condition. This disease is very' likely to originate from bad drainage, especially from outbuildings, wells and sink drains.
The following table is for the calendar year 1902, to conform with calendar year of the State Board of Health, consequently the number of cases of smallpox will not appear in this table, but will appear in the report of the calendar year 1903, as they occurred after January 1, 1903; but the report on these case will be found after the general expense account.
CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES FOR THE YEAR 1902.
Number.
Deaths.
Diphtheria
3
Measles
5
1
Typhoid fever
7
-
15
1
80
GENERAL EXPENSES.
State Board of Health, culture tubes $ 2 00
S. H. Fletcher, services and expenses .. . . 25 00
W. O. Hawkes, services and expenses .. . 25 00
A. P. Richardson, services and expenses .. 25 00
W. H. H. Burbeck, services as agent
15 00
Wood alcohol and chloride of lime
9 90
One dozen fumigators
2 50
Two disinfecting apparatus
17 00
$121.40
REPORT OF SMALLPOX CASES.
On January 2, two cases of smallpox were discovered in the families of P. Ricard and J. Benoit in the "Hop House block," so called, in Forge Village. Later there were three other cases in the families of P. Ricard and J. Ricard, all related.
The origin of these cases was Canada. The cases were promptly reported to the Board of Health here, also the State Board of Health at Boston. Dr F. L. Morse of the State Board promptly visited the cases, in connection with Dr. W. J. Sleeper, concurring fully in the diagnosis, as also Dr. C. P. Feeley, who was connected with the cases.
The cases were unfortunately situated for quarantine, being in a block with two doors, and each admitting to one sick and one well family. No suitable house for a hospital was found in the town limits. Application was made to an adjoining town to take possession or hire a vacant farm house just over the town line, situated nearly a mile from the public highway, which would have been an ideal place, as no one would have been exposed there. This was refused by the Board of Health of that town, much to our regret and seemingly uncalled for on their part. Under these conditions, as soon as possible the well families were moved into one end of the block, and the sick ones at the other end. The Abbot Worsted Co. heartily co-operated in all measures. Their operatives were immediatly vaccinated, both in Forge Village and in Graniteville, at the expense of the company, and the operatives at the Brookside Mill at the expense of the pro- prietor, Mr. George C. Moore, for those residing out of town. The
81
people of Forge Village and Graniteville were quite generally vaccinated, and others in town who might apply, at public expense-a general vaccinating notice having been issued as required by law.
The care and direction of all matters were placed in the hands of Dr. W. J. Sleeper, under the supervision of the Board of Health, and energetic measures to stop the spread of the disease, and stamp it out as soon as possible, were taken.
Thirty-nine people were quarantined in Forge Village and eleven at Graniteville for two weeks. At the end of that time all but seven were released. Of these, two were released on February 1 and remaining five on February 11.
All quarantined persons had to be maintained at public expense. A part of the expense for those sick is expected to be repaid the town by the State, relieving the town a considerable part of the expense.
The surroundings made it necessary to employ a constant guard, day and night, for the whole time, and the number em- ployed was gradually lessened as the circumstances would permit.
Disinfection was very thorough and the buildings thoroughly painted, papered and whitewashed before being turned over to the Abbot Worsted Co.
The expense, seemingly large, is really not so, considering the circumstances of the large number quarantined, guarding, medical attendance and disinfecting and destroying property.
We were very fortunate to escape so well from what promised to be a severe epidemic.
All schools were closed for two weeks, and places of worship and gatherings also.
The School Committee's attention was called to the require- ments of the law in regard to pupils attending school not vacci- nated.
82
The following expense has occurred :- Dr. W. J. Sleeper, 42 visits to P. Ricard,
Mrs. Jos. Benoit, Oliver Ricard, Odonia Ricard and Mrs. P. Ricard (smallpox patients) $630 00
Examining 153 persons before quaran- tine, at 50 cents each 76 50
Two examinations (10 persons) Eli
family after quarantine, 50 cents each examination 10 00
$716 50
EXPENSE OF P. RICARD FAMILY.
W. E. Parsons, stove, etc $ 6 50
G. E. Mountain, groceries, P. Ricard 23 92
Merrimack Clothing Co., clothing 11 98
Cash paid for infected property destroyed. 15 90
G. O. Jackson, milk 2 05
Drugs and medicines furnished . 39 87
G. E. Mountain, groceries furnished Odonia Ricard 7 40
Wright & Fletcher, 1 pr. shoes, Odonia Ricard. 1 50
Wright & Fletcher, 1 pr. shoes, Oliver Ricard. 1 25
$110 37
EDWARD BRULIER AND FAMILY.
G. E. Mountain, groceries. $22 12
Cash paid for 1} cords cut wood. 12 00
Mrs. Edw. Brulier, services cleaning. 2 67
$36 79
OLIVER BYRON AND FAMILY.
Oliver Byron, guard, labor and inter- preter $15 00
G. E. Mountain, groceries. 18 80
Cash paid for infected property destroyed, 14 00
$47 80
83
J. RICARD AND FAMILY.
G. E. Mountain, groceries. $29 64
Dr. W. J. Sleeper, 4 examinations (10 persons) at 50 cents each examina- tion, after quarantine. 20 00
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.