USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1838-1857, v. 1 > Part 38
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One at the corner of Clyde and Newton streets, directing to Brighton, Newton, and Dedham.
One at the corner of Grove and Newton streets, directing to Roxbury and Dedham.
One at the corner of Grove and South streets, directing to Brighton.
One at the corner of South and Newton streets, directing to Dedham, Newton, and Brighton.
One at corner of Warren and Cottage streets, directing to Dedham and Jamaica Plain.
One at corner of Warren and Walnut streets, directing to Jamaica Plain.
One at corner of Washington and Harvard streets, directing to Brigh- ton and Cambridge.
One at corner of Sewell's avenue and Harvard street, directing to Cambridge and Cambridgeport.
The Selectmen recommend that guide-posts and boards be erected at the corner of Washington and Beacon streets, with indexes directing to
455
Annual Meeting, March 20, 1854.
Boston and Newton Centre and Brighton and Roxbury. Also, that a post and board be erected at the corner of Beacon and Harvard streets, directing to Cambridge and Cambridgeport; and as a number of the posts and boards are in bad repair, we recommend the appropriation of fifty dollars for the erection and repair of the same.
All of which is respectfully submitted by the Selectmen.
JER'L DAVENPORT, DAVID S. COOLIDGE, JAMES BARTLETT, Selectmen of Brookline.
BROOKLINE, March 20, 1854. (File G, No. 46.)
Voted, To accept the report.
The report of the School Committee, which had been printed and distributed, was then presented and accepted. (File G, No. 47.)
Voted, 'To accept the Auditors' report which had been printed and distributed. (File G, No. 48.)
Moses Withington, the Town Treasurer, then presented and read the following report :
TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEB. 1, 1854.
RECEIPTS.
Whole amount of receipts from all sources $25,577 54
Deduct payment of loan to the Bank of Brighton . 2,000 00
Whole amount of available funds received
$23,577 54
EXPENDITURES.
Whole amount expended, including payment of loan to Bank
of Brighton
$24,417 54
Whole amount of receipts
$25,577 54
66 66 expenses
24,417 54
Leaving a balance in the Treasury of
$1,160 00
DEBTS OF THE TOWN.
To whom Payable.
Date of Note.
When Payable.
Amount .
Rate of Int.
Gideon Vinal, W. I. Bow- ditch, guardian.
July 22, 1851. July 22, 1856. $2,000 @
6 pr. cent.
Commonwealth Mass
Oct. 17, 1851. Oct. 17, 1854.
2,000
2,000
66
C. J. & G. A. Taylor
Aug.12, 1851.
Aug.12, 1856.
3,000
66
.. .. .. .. .. 66
May 22, 1852.
May 22, 1857.
3,500
5
66
James Bartlett
Jan. 16, 1854.
On demand.
2,660 40
6 66 66
66
. “ 1855.
Total am't of town debt, $15,160.40
456
Brookline Town Records.
The Treasurer holds one note for the town for $1000, given by Syl- vester Kimball, dated May 27th, 1852, payable in three years, with interest semi-annually at the rate of six per cent. Respectfully submitted.
BROOKLINE, March 1st, 1854.
MOSES WITHINGTON,
(File G, 49.)
Treasurer.
Voted, To accept the report.
The committee appointed by the town at a special meet- ing held the 22d of Sept., A. D. 1853, to consider the proposition of David Sears and others in relation to grading a sidewalk and planting shade-trees on that part of Beacon street lying between the junction of said street with the Mill Dam and the nearest upland, presented the following report, which was accepted :
REPORT.
The committee chosen by the town of Brookline, in September last, with instructions to consider the proposition made by the Hon. David Sears and others, having given the subject due consideration, now report, that said proposition, if accepted by the town, requires the further con- struction of the embankments to be made of gravel, eight feet in width, on each side of the new county road called Beacon street across the whole plat of salt march, and raised to a height sufficient for planting trees above the reach of the highest spring tides, which would be higher than the grade of the present road, and would also require the grading of the road to be raised still higher. Another railing on each side across said marshes, and several hundred ornamental trees, amply supplied with loam to secure their growth would also be required, all which would require an expenditure of several thousand dollars. And inasmuch as the suit which has been pending before the Supreme Judicial Court between the Worcester Roilroad Corporation and the County Commis- sioners is yet undecided, and may in its termination require the erection of a bridge which would change the grade of said road to a considerable distance on each side of its crossing, your committee are of opinion that any action in favor of said proposition at this time would be premature.
(Signed,) SAMUEL PHILBRICK. JESSE BIRD. WILLIAM ASPINWALL.
Dated, BROOKLINE, March 20, 1854. (File G, No. 50.)
George Griggs, chairman of the committee chosen by the town at a special meeting held on the 26th day of December, 1853, to take into consideration the subject of having a survey made of the roads and the laying out of new roads in prospective, presented the following report, which was accepted :
457
Annual Meeting, March 20, 1854.
REPORT.
The committee appointed on the twenty-sixth of December last, upon the subject of a survey of the town, &c., ask leave to report, and call the attention of their fellow-citizens to some reasons for making the subject which has been referred to them one of prompt and immediate action by the town. The increased demand for land for building-lots and improvements in the estates in the town, occasion the removal of the old walls and fences which have for many years formed the boundary line between the roads and the lands of private owners. In this manner the highway is liable to be encroached upon when new walls and fences are erected, and without a correct plan of the streets showing the actual present side lines, it is always difficult and in many instances will soon be impossible to determine what were the original limits of the ways. If a correct plan of each street, with its side lines well defined, were known to be in existence and in the possession of the town, it might check the disposition, if any such exists, or remove the temptation to eke out one's scanty acres by protruding fences and walls into the high- ways. By having lines for proposed widenings indicated on a plan of the streets, owners who are building new fences or laying out their grounds adjoining highways, and who are willing to contribute towards the public improvements by dedicating to public use a portion of their lands when needed for widening the roads, would know where to set their walls and fences so as to form a part of a regular and uniform plan. The advantage of having profiles of every street accompanying the plans will be understood when we consider the necessity of having streets provided with suitable gutters, drains and culverts for the proper disposal of the water. The propriety of having the grades of streets determined, and the widenings made as soon as conveniently may be, after the surveys and plans are completed, will be apparent when we reflect that to widen and grade a street after buildings have been placed near it is frequently the cause of damage or inconvenience to the owners or occupants of the building, and consequently, by the increased claim for land damages, the cost of making such improvements is every year becoming greater as the town becomes more densely inhabited.
The committee have employed three engineers to take levels and make surveys, plans and profiles. The plans and profiles are herewith sub- mitted to the town as specimens of the manner in which they would recommend that the work be done. In regard to the cost, the committee were not able to procure exact estimates. The nearest approximation they can make of what it would cost to have all the streets, public and private, surveyed, and plans and profiles made similar to those already done, and to have them all reduced and connected together so as to make a correct map of the town, is that from two thousand to twenty-five hundred dollars would be required. This sum, it is thought, will cover the expense also of placing stone monuments at the angles in the roads and of striking off five hundred copies of the corrected map of the town. They therefore recommend that a committee be appointed to employ an engineer, or engineers, to make a survey and plans and profiles of the streets of the town in a manner similar to that of School street and
458
Brookline Town Records.
Pleasant street, and to make a map from such surveys, indicating on the map such new streets and public parks or lots as have already been established or projected, or, as in his opinion, will be needed, and when completed, have copies of the map struck off for the use of the inhab- itants of the town upon payment of such prices as the Selectmen of the town shall by vote determine, and that an appropriation of twenty-five hundred dollars be made to carry this plan into execution.
(Signed,) GEORGE GRIGGS. W. P. ATKINSON.
BROOKLINE, March 20, 1854. (File G, No. 51.)
The following vote of thanks was then read by the chair- man, and, on motion of Mr. Samuel Philbrick, was unani- mously passed :
Voted, That the thanks of the town be presented to the Rev. William H. Shailer for his long and faithful services as a member of the School Committee of this town.
Voted, That the Town Clerk send to Mr. Shailer an attested copy of this vote.
The committee appointed to examine that part of Boylston street lying in front of Henry Lee's estate, made the follow- ing report, which was accepted :
REPORT.
The committee chosen by the town of Brookline, in December last, with instructions to examine that part of Boylston street lying in front of the estate of Henry Lee and make report concerning its condition at this meeting, have attended to that appointment, and are of opinion that the safety and convenience of public travelling require that, for a dis- tance of about 17 rods, the bank wall should be removed and relaid and the embankment widened about ten feet, with a suitable culvert and water-course and new railing; and your committee recommend an appro- priation for that purpose, and the appointment of a committee to carry the same into effect without delay.
SAMUEL PHILBRICK. J. DAVENPORT. JAMES BARTLETT.
BROOKLINE, 20 March, 1854. (File G, No. 52.)
Voted, That the same gentlemen who made the report be and hereby are appointed a committee to carry the recom- mendation of widening Boylston street into effect.
The Second Article was then taken up, and the meeting Voted, To choose three Selectmen for the ensuing year.
459
Annual Meeting, March 20, 1854.
The whole number of votes cast was one hundred and sixty-one. Scattering 28. James Bartlett had 133, David S. Coolidge had 107, John C. Abbott had 122, and they were declared duly elected Selectmen of the town of Brook- line for the ensuing year.
Voted, To choose three Principal and three Assistant Assessors for the ensuing year.
Voted, That a committee of three be chosen, to retire to nominate a list of three names for the office of Assistant Assessors,
-and Messrs. George B. Blake, Sam'l Philbrick and T. E. Francis were nominated and chosen, who retired to attend to that duty, pending which the meeting proceeded to vote for the three Principal Assessors, with the following result :
Whole number of votes was one hundred and nine. W. A. Humphrey had 105, A. W. Seamans had 86, James Rob- inson had 77, and were chosen Assessors for the ensuing year.
The committee appointed to nominate Assistant Assessors reported to the meeting the names of Messrs. Charles Stearns, Jr., Abijah W. Goddard and Charles B. Dana.
The report was accepted.
The meeting then proceeded to vote for three Assistant Assessors. The whole number of ballots was sixty-nine. The result of the balloting was as follows :
E. C. Emerson had 58. William H. Jameson had 44.
C. B. Dana had 32. A. W. Goddard had 32.
Charles Stearns, Jr., had 11.
Geo. B. Blake had 16.
Charles W. Scudder had 11.
M. D. Parker had 3.
The Chair declared Messrs. Emerson and Jameson chosen, and as Messrs. Goddard and Dana had the same number each, the meeting would fill the vacancy occasioned by the vote standing the same for each.
Messrs. Goddard and Dana both desiring that their names might be dropped, the result was the choice of George F. Homer, so that the gentlemen elected Assistant Assessors are E. C. Emerson, W. H. Jameson, George F. Homer.
Voted, To take up the Third Article and proceed to bring in their votes for County Treasurer,
460
Brookline Town Records.
-and the whole number cast was seventy-six, all of which were for George Ellis of Dedham (76).
Voted, To choose five School Committeemen for the ensu- ing year.
The whole number of votes cast was one hundred and forty-four (144).
Rev. John S. Stone had 53.
Mation M. Smith had 37.
William P. Atkinson had 66.
T. E. Francis had 33.
Edw. A. Wild had 50.
T. B. Hayward had 34.
Rev. Frederick N. Knapp had 53.
Edw. F. Head had 31.
Rev. Matson M. Smith had 57.
S. A. Shurtleff had 18.
D. S. Kendall had 1.
A. Winsor had 1.
-and the five first-named gentlemen were declared duly elected School Committee for the ensuing year.
Voted, That the Selectmen be Overseers of the Poor.
Voted, To choose three Surveyors of Highways for the ensuing year.
Whole number of votes cast was fifty-seven (57). Wil- liam J. Griggs had 57, Thomas C. Quimby had 57, Augus- tus Allen had 54, and they were chosen Surveyors of High- ways for the ensuing year.
Voted, To choose five Constables.
Whole number of votes was ninety-two (92). Augustus Allen had 92, Hugh M. Sanborn had 88, Elisha Stone had 92, A. H. Clapp had 85, Chas. Smith had 48, and they were chosen Constables for the ensuing year, and Messrs. Augus- tus Allen, Elisha Stone, H. M. Sanborn and A. H. Clapp being present, were sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties by the chairman of the meeting.
Voted, Not to choose Tythingmen.
Voted, To choose fifteen Field Drivers for the ensuing year,
-and the following-named gentlemen were nominated and chosen, viz. : Field Drivers-Joshua Sears, George Griggs, Isaac Farrington, David H. Daniels, Moses Jones, Jr., Wil- liam H. Jameson, Charles Burrell, William O. Churchill, Ira A. Dutton, Marshall Russell, Rufus S. Allen, Chas. G. Colbath, Simon Warren, Jerathmael Davenport, Horace James.
461
Annual Meeting, March 20, 1854.
Montgomery D. Parker and Abijah W. Goddard were chosen Fence Viewers for the ensuing year.
Elisha Stone, J. Anson Guild, William D. Coolidge, were chosen Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark.
Charles Smith was chosen Pound Keeper.
The following-named gentlemen were chosen Prudential School Committee for the ensuing year :
Charles Stearns, Jr., for the North District.
Joseph L. White for the Middle District.
Chas. G. Colbath for the South District.
Jerathmael Davenport for the High, Grammar, and Pri- mary School in the village.
Jesse Bird, Samuel Philbrick, Harrison Fay, were chosen Cemetery Committee.
Charles D. Head, Charles W. Scudder, Edw. Atkinson, were chosen Auditors.
Augustus Allen, Charles W. Tolman, John Colby, Oliver Cousens, Moses Jones, Jr., were chosen Fire Wards.
The check-list was used during the voting by ballot, and each name was found and checked before their votes were deposited. (File G, No. 53.)
LIST OF JURORS PREPARED BY THE SELECTMEN AND APPROVED BY THE TOWN AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING, HELD MARCH THE 20th, A. D .1854.
NAMES.
William P. Atkinson David S. Coolidge
Abraham H. Lambert
James Bartlett
Timothy Corey James Robinson
George Babcock
George Craft
Charles W. Scudder
Benj. F. Baker
Robert S. Davis Augustus W. Seamans
Stephen G. Bass
William Dearborn Edward R. Seccomb
Robert Barnett
Elijah C. Emerson
Marshall Stearns
William Bird George B. Blake
Clark L. Haynes
John W. Turner
Benj. Bradley, Linden pl. Charles Heath
Simon Warren
Henry W. Carr Elijah Hersey
Joseph L. White
Nathaniel G. Chapin
Willard A. Humphrey
Frederick J. Williams
William Churchill
William H. Jameson
Howard S. Williams
Samuel Clark Alfred Kenrick, Jr.
Abijah W. Goddard
Simeon Taylor
Voted, To lay the Sixth Article on the table.
Voted, To to take up the Seventh Article, viz. :
To see if the town will cause a flag-staff to be erected in front of the engine-house.
462
Brookline Town Records.
Voted, That a committee of three be chosen to erect a flag-staff in front of the engine-house, the cost not to exceed seventy-five dollars.
Messrs. Augustus Allen, Nathaniel Lyford, William W. Clement, were chosen to constitute that committee.
The Eighth Article coming up, it was-
Voted, That the subject be referred to a committee of three, to take the subject into consideration and report at some future meeting,
-and Messrs. Samuel Philbrick, Jerathmael Davenport, George B. Blake, were chosen to constitute said committee.
Article Ninth coming up, viz. :
To see if the town will sell Isaac Taylor a piece of the town's land in rear of his estate on Harvard street,
-it was-
Voted, That the subject be left with the Selectmen, with full power to act in the premises, and to sell to Mr. Taylor if they think fit.
Voted, That the Selectmen be and hereby are instructed to inquire into the expediency of selling the remainder of the town's land lying between the abutters on Harvard street and the new town-way laid out from Mechanic place to School street.
Article Tenth coming up, it was-
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to prosecute all violations of the law respecting the sale of intoxicating drinks.
Voted, That two hundred dollars be appropriated to defray the expenses of the same.
Article Eleventh taken up, concerning the remonstrance of John McCormack and others, it was-
Voted, That the vote passed December the 26th, 1853, instructing and authorizing the Selectmen to purchase a cer- tain lot of land in Pearl place for a school-house lot, be and hereby is rescinded.
Voted, That the selection of a site for a school-house in or near Pearl place, be left to the School and Building Com- mittees.
463
Annual Meeting, March 20, 1854.
The Twelfth Article coming up, the Selectmen presented the following report :
REPORT.
At the request of several of the inhabitants of the town, the Selectmen, after giving due notice according to law to all persons interested, laid out and widened the way leading from Walnut street to Boylston street, beginning at the southeasterly corner of said way, thence west on said way twenty feet eight inches, thence running fourteen feet four inches on land of Sam'l A. Walker, thence running northeasterly ninety feet six inches to Boylston street, thence running easterly thirteen feet on land of said Walker, thence easterly across said way to land of Royal Wood- ward, Jr., thence running southeasterly on land of said Woodward and Benjamin Bradley to the first-named point. The land taken for widening said way is eleven hundred and forty-seven feet, all belonging to Samuel A. Walker, for which the Selectmen have awarded said Walker twenty- five cents per foot, amounting to two hundred eighty-six 75-100 dollars.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
J. DAVENPORT, D. S. COOLIDGE, JAMES BARTLETT, Selectmen of Brookline.
BROOKLINE, March 20, 1854. (File G, No. 54.)
Voted, Not to accept the report,
-Mr. Eben Wright giving notice that he would present a substitute that would be a better arrangement.
Voted, To adjourn to Monday afternoon, April the third, at three o'clock in the afternoon, in this place.
Adjourned.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
In conformity with the laws of the Commonwealth, the Town Clerk forthwith issued his warrant and delivered the same to Constable Elisha Stone, requiring him to summon all officers chosen, to appear before the Town Clerk within seven days from the reception of such summons and be sworn to their respective offices, where an oath is required by law, or to signify their acceptance or refusal of the office to which they were respectively chosen.
Attest :
B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
(File G, No. 55.)
464
Brookline Town Records.
NORFOLK, SS. BROOKLINE.
Then personally appeared the undermentioned persons and were sworn before me at the times set against their names, or signified their refusal or acceptance of the office to which they had been severally chosen.
B. F. BAKER,
Town Clerk.
27 March. James Bartlett sworn Selectman and accepted Overseers Poor.
27 David S. Coolidge "
66
27 J. C. Abbott 66 66
20 66 W. A. Humphrey, A. W. Seamans, James Robinson, sworn Principal Assessors.
20 Elijah C. Emerson, W. H. Jameson, George F. Homer, sworn Assistant Assessors.
25 66 William J. Griggs sworn Highway Surveyor.
1 April. Thomas C. Quimby “ 66 28 March. Augustus Allen declined serving Highway Surveyor. 28 Charles Smith (Constable), Charles Smith (Pound Keeper).
28
Joshua Sears sworn Field Driver.
28 George Griggs
28 Isaac Farrington
22 66 David H. Daniels 66
24 William O. Churchill « 66 66
24 Ira A. Dutton
24 Marshall Russell
27
Simon Warren
66
66
66
20
66 Moses Jones, Jr., 66 66 66
20 William H. Jameson “ 66 66
20
66 Charles Burrell
66
20
Chas. G. Colbath 66
66
20 66
Rufus S. Allen
66
28 Jr. Davenport declined serving Field Driver.
28
66 Horace James
20
66 Moses Withington, Treasurer and Collector. Sworn 20th.
22
Abijah W. Goddard, Montgomery D. Parker, sworn Fence Viewers.
25
Elisha Stone sworn Surveyor of Lumber and Measurer of Wood and Bark.
25 William D. Coolidge.
28
66
J. Anson Guild sworn Surveyor of Lumber and Measurer of Wood and Bark.
24
66 John S. Stone (D. D.) accepted School Committee.
15 Edw. A. Wild
60
66
21 Matson M. Smith, Rev.
28
66 Frederick N. Knapp, Rev. 66
66
20
66 William P. Atkinson 66 66
66
1
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 3, 1854.
465
28 March. Charles Stearns, Jr., accepted Prudential School Committee.
24 Joseph L. White
27
66 J. Davenport 66 66
27
Sam'l Philbrick accepted Cemetery Committee.
27 66 Jesse Bird
Harrison Fay.
28 Chas D. Head accepted Auditor.
21
66 Chas. W. Scudder
22
66 Edward Atkinson
28 Augustus Allen accepted Fire Ward.
24
60 Charles W. Tolman
66
27 Oliver Cousens 66 66 66
John Colby.
20
66 Moses Jones, Jr. 66 66
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 3, 1854.
Pursuant to the adjournment of the twentienth day of March, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline met in the Town Hall in said town, on the third day of April, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four, at three of the clock in the afternoon.
The Moderator called the meeting to order and read a list of the officers chosen at the last meeting who had not been qualified or who had declined to serve.
W. A. Humphrey (sworn by the Town Clerk, ) and Frederick J. Williams were chosen Principal Assessors ; Elijah C. Emerson, Assistant Assessor (sworn by the Moderator).
Mr. Williams declining to serve, was excused, and Jerath- mael Davenport was elected in his stead, and was sworn to the duties by the Moderator.
Thomas C. Quimby and Charles Warren (of Walnut street) were chosen Surveyors of Highways. Mr. Quimby was sworn by Moderator.
Voted, To rescind the vote of the town passed at the last meeting to choose five Constables for the ensuing year, and that four be the number.
30
466
Brookline Town Records.
H. M. Sanborn was chosen Pound Keeper. Accepted.
H. M. Sanborn, Chas. W. Tolman, James Driscoll, were chosen Field Drivers, and sworn by the Moderator.
Voted, To rescind the vote of the town passed at the last meeting to choose fifteen Field Drivers, and that thirteen be the number.
Abijah W. Goddard was chosen Fence Viewer. Sworn. Harrison Fay was chosen Cemetery Committee.
Voted, To rescind the vote passed at the last meeting to choose five Fire Wards, and that four be the number.
Voted, To take the Sixth Article from the table.
After some discussion upon the subject, it was, on motion of Mr. James Robinson-
Voted, To lay the Sixth Article upon the table until the appropriations come up.
Voted, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chair to procure surveys, plans and profiles of the streets and ways of the town, and that one thousand dollars be appro- priated to defray the expenses thereof.
The committee appointed by the Chair were Messrs. George Griggs, John C. Abbott, W. P. Atkinson, James Bartlett, David S. Coolidge, committee on plans and profiles of the streets.
Voted, That the following appropriations be made for the ensuing year, to wit :
For the support of the poor . $1,400 00
66 66 schools
6,000 00
66 highways
1,700 00
books of reference .
300 00
widening Boylston street in front of Henry Lee's estate
300 00
making road by Town Hall, widening School street, and land damages 500 00
making drain through School street, and settlement of difficulties therewith connected
600 00
county tax
5,100 00
fire department .
500 00
to pay to the collector for collecting taxes
200 00
abatement of taxes
400 00
town officers
1,000 00
repairs of town building's
200 00
467
Adjourned Annual Meeting, April 3, 1854.
Amount brought forward - $18,200 00
For repairs of High school-house, under direction of the Selectmen
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