USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1838-1857, v. 1 > Part 9
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WM. H. SHAILER, Sec. of S. Com.
Report accepted. The following Resolution was then adopted :
Resolved, That the Town Hall be hereafter appropriated as a school room for the further accommodations of the high school, and that the general School Committee be a commit- tee with full powers to cause the necessary alterations and finishing in said hall to be immediately made for the accom- adation of said school, according to a plan this day presented by the school committee, and that the sum of Three hundred be appropriated for that purpose ; and that the Town Treasurer be hereby authorized to borrow the money on behalf of the Town, provided there should be no surplus funds in the Treasury.
The following report was read :
The Committee appointed in March last to purchase land for the use of the Town, adjoining the School house lot in School street, have attended thereto, and have purchased of Thomas A. Davis a parcel of land on School Street extending westward from the school house lot one hundred & fifty feet, to Anna Dana's land, and back from said street about one hundred feet, comprising 18,107 square feet, at two cents per foot, amounting to three hundred and sixty-two dollars & 14 cts., which has been paid by the Town Treasurer.
In procuring this land it became necessary to accede to certain condi- tions, which are described in the deed of purchase, for which the privi- lege has been obtained of removing from the adjoining land of said Davis all the gravel which might be obtained by sloping the bank back on said Davis' land from the line of purchase to an angle of 45 degrees with the
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Brookline Town Records.
horizon, leaving the lot purchased by our committee on a level with School Street throughout its whole surface, which will furnish a large supply of gravel for repairing the roads, when wanted.
In order to insure a fulfilment of the conditions of the purchase, your committee take the liberty of annexing the following resolution for the adoption of the Town :
Resolved, That the lot of land purchased of Thomas A. Davis, on School Street, be placed under the immediate and special care and direc- tion of the board of Selectmen, and that they be authorised and requested to regulate the removal of the gravel, stones, or earth from said lot, from year to year, so as to preserve regularity & order during the progress of the work; and to fulfil the conditions of the deed in good faith.
BROOKLINE, August 10, 1843.
SAMUEL PHILBRICK, DAVID COOLIDGE.
Voted, That the report be accepted, and the Resolution adopted.
Deacon Thomas Kendall requested to be excused from further service on the com. on grievances in connection with the Cemetery.
Voted, To excuse Dea. Kendall.
Voted, That George Griggs, Esq., be on the com. in place of Dea. Kendall, resigned.
Adjourned Sine die.
Attest : OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk.
WARRANT FOR NOVEMBER [MEETING ]. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
To Elisha Stone, Constable of the Town of Brookline, in said County, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you . are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said town qualified to Vote in Elections to assemble at Lyceum Hall within said town, on Monday, the Thirteenth day of November inst., at One O'clock in the afternoon, being the second Monday in said month, at which time and
97
Meeting, November 13, 1843.
place the Polls for the choice of the several officers to be voted for, will be opened.
First. To determine whether the town will choose a Representative to send to the next General Court.
Second. To bring in their votes to the Selectmen for Governor and Lieutenant Governor for this Commonwealth, and three Senators for the district of Norfolk for the ensuing year, and to give in their votes for a Representative, (if the town shall decide to send one,) to represent the town in the next General Court to be held at Boston on the first Wednesday of January next. The above officers to be all voted for on one ticket.
You are also required to notify and warn the qualified voters of said town to assemble at said Lyceum Hall on said Monday, the thirteenth inst., at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, for the following purposes, Viz. :
First. To choose a Moderator.
Second. To see if the town will take into consideration the subject of building a town house and an Engine house, and take any measures to carry the same into effect.
Third. To determine whether the town will make an appropriation to defray the expences of repairing the damage done by fire to the engine. Fourth. To hear the reports of any committees appointed by the town, which may be ready to report.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings, at the time and place of the above mentioned town meeting.
Given under our hands and seals this first day of November,
A. D. Eighteen hundred and forty-three.
DANIEL SANDERSON, [L.s.]
DAVID COOLIDGE, [L.S.] of Brookline.
Selectmen
THOMAS GRIGGS, L.S.7 BROOKLINE, Nov. 10, 1843.
NORFOLK, SS.
By virtue of the within warrant I have notified & warned the within named persons to appear at the time and place for the purposes within mentioned.
ELISHA STONE, Constable of Brookline.
At a meeting of the Inhabitants legally warned and assem- bled at Lyceum Hall for the choice of Governor, Lieutenant- Governor, Senators & Representative to the General Court, &c.,-
7
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Brookline Town Records.
Voted, To send a Representative to the next General Court.
For Governor :
George N. Briggs of Pittsfield had one hundred and thirty-four Votes. (134.)
Marcus Morton had sixty-two Votes. (62.)
For Lieutenant-Governor :
John Reed of Yarmouth had one hundred and thirty-four Votes Henry H. Childs had sixty-two Votes.
. Luther Metcalf of Medway Benj'n F. Copeland of Roxbury Joseph Richards of Braintree
had 134 Votes. had 133
For Senators :
Artemas Brown of Medway
62 66
Bradford L. Wales of Randolph
62 66
Darius Brewer of Dorchester
62
Theodore Lyman of Brookline 1 Appleton Howe of Weymouth 1
- Thomas Kendall had 126 Votes.
For
James Bartlett
61
66
Representative
Daniel Sanderson “
1
to General Court :
Martin Morse
1
John Howe 66 1
Voted, To close the Polls at 20 minutes pass 3 o'clock. Meeting disolved.
A meeting of the Inhabitants, warned at half-past three o'clock, organized by choosing-
Capt. Daniel Sanderson, Moderator.
Voted, That, in consequence of our recent appropriation of the Town Hall to the use of the public high school, & of the destruction of the Engine house by fire the past summer, it is both expedient and necessary that preparitory measures be taken at this time for providing a new Town Hall, & store house for the Fire Engine; and that a committee of five citizens, selected from different parts of the Town, be now appointed to look out and decide upon some suitable location, ascertain the price for which it can be obtained, procure from an architect a plan of a building suitable for the accommodation of the Town, get an estimate of the whole expense, and make a report of their proceedings to our annual meeting in March next, and that Messrs. Samuel
133
99
Meeting, November 13, 1843.
Philbrick, Abijah Warren Goddard, Charles Stearns, Jun., Daniel Sanderson & Timothy Corey constitute said com- mittee.
Voted, That the selectmen be authorized, if necessary, to borrow a sum not exceeding 550 dollars to pay the expense of repairing the Fire Engine.
The following report of the School committee was read, and accepted by vote :
SCHOOL COM. REPORT.
The School Committee, who were authorized by a vote of the inhabit- ants of Brookline, at their meeting in August last, to prepare the Town Hall for the use of the public high school, gave to the subject their earliest attention, and caused the necessary alterations and finishings to be completed during the summer vacation of sd. school, in season for the commencement of the present term in the early part of September. The net amount expended is $281.67, which sum has been rec'd from the Town Treasurer, and disbursed in payment of the following bills, Viz. :
C. W. Brown & Co's flooring boards $43 59
G. Folling, Junr's bill cherry boards & joist
23 80
Elisha Stone's bill, carpenter work
68 37
do. do. bill pine boards
1 50
S. Wales' bill chairs
107 00
Conway & Kitteredge's bill, painting
18 61
H. W. Carr's bill, cleaning & white washing
12 50
Ross' bill, varnishing desks 8
Brown's bill, planing, sawing & turning
4 99
S. S. C. Jones' bill, nails & screws .
4 32
Sundry bills carting
3 25
Window fastenings, Inkstands, covers & screws
4 23
Making a gross amount of
300 16
From which deduct proceeds of sales of old lumber & rem-
nants of new, &c.
18 49
Leaving a net expenditure as above of
281 67
Brookline, Nov. 13, 1843.
For School Committee.
SAM'L PHILBRICK.
Committee on grievances in connection with Cemetery. Report read.
Voted, To lay the report on the table.
Voted, That the investigating Committee chosen in March last (of which Dea. Thomas Kendall was chairman) to exam-
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Brookline Town Records.
ine the accounts of the Cemetery Committee be discharged from further duty, at their request.
Minority Report of Committee on grievances was read.
Voted, To take up the Majority report.
A very angry discussion arrose on the reports,
Whereupon George Griggs, Esq., after making a very conciliatory address, Moved, That the whole subject be laid on the table, and the Committee be discharged, which was adopted by Yeas and Nays, as follows :
Yeas. Amos Atkinson William Bird John A. Bird
Nays. Augustus Allen
George Babcock James Bartlett
David Coolidge
Benjamin Bradley
David S. Coolidge George Craft
George Bell
William Capen
Samuel Bryant .
Joshua C. Clark
Hiramı R. Bean
Samuel Clark
William P. Brewer
Timothy Corey Isaac Cook
George S. Cushing Wm. W. Clement
Isaac Dearborn
A. H. Clapp
John Dustin
Benjamin B. Davis George Dunn Harrison Fay Thomas Griggs
John Gibbs Samuel Goddard
Clark L. Haynes
William J. Griggs George Griggs Abijah Warren Goddard Charles Heath John Hayden Edward Hall
William A. Humphrey
William Hall
Moses Jones
Joseph Kimball
Charles Howe
George W. Merrell
James Leeds Martin Morse John Dane
Moody Page
Charles Morse
Edward Pray
Michael Mellen Lyman Morse Augustus T. Newell Henry J. Oliver James L. Oliver Daniel Pierce
Charles Reed Calvin Smitlı Thomas Seaverns
Franklin Stone
George Stoddard Hugh M. Sanborn
Amos Snow
William Perry James Patten
Luther Seaverns
Timothy Corey, Jun.
Joshua W. Blanchard
George W. Colbeth
Elkanah Foss
James Morse
Charles D. Perry
Samuel Page
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Meeting, November 13, 1843.
Samuel Philbrick
Charles W. Tolman
John Robinson
Luther Tinkham
James Robinson
John W. Warren
Benjamin H. Rhoades
Charles Warren
Charles Stearns, Jr.
Samuel A. Walker
Marshal Stearns
David Whitney
Edward R. Secomb
Amos Whittemore
Samuel A. Shurtlief
Oliver Whyte, Jun.
Elisha Stone
Henry Whitney
Charles Smith
George Bartlett
Seth T. Thayer
Thomas Calef-47.
Otis Withington
Moses Withington Joseph White
Joseph L. White William White
Daniel Sanderson
Solomon F. Stearns
George A. Brewer
Moses Andem-56.
Adjourned. Sine-die.
OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk.
PETITION OF JEREMIAH LYON AND OTHERS.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled :
The undersigned, inhabitants of that part of Roxbury which adjoins the east part of Brookline, and residing in the immediate vicinity of School Houses, Post Office and Town House of Brookline, respectfully petition your Honorable body, that a line may be drawn, dividing Roxbury and Brookline, through the centre of Muddy Brook, so called ; beginning where said Brook runs near the intersection of the Mill Dam Road with the County Road, and pursuing the line of the said Brook through the estate of Henry S. Ward; thence following said Brook through the land of Samuel Wyman, until it meets a wall dividing said Wyman's land from the land of Joseph Curtis; thence following said wall nearly in a north- easterly direction, until it meets the present line of division between Roxbury and Brookline.
Your petitioners would hereby become inhabitants of Brookline, and able to avail themselves of School Houses, Post Office and Town House, near to them, very much to their convenience, and without injury to any one. They therefore pray that the said line may be established as a boundry line between Roxbury and Brookline, and as in duty bound will ever pray.
JEREMIAH LYON, and 23 others.
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Brookline Town Records.
ORDER OF NOTICE.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
IN SENATE, Jan. 17, 1844.
On the petition aforesaid, Ordered, That the petitioners cause an attested copy of their Petition, with order thereon, to be published in the Boston Courier and the Bay State Democrat three times, and also to be served on the Several Clerks of the Towns of Roxbury and Brookline ten days, at least, before the first day of February next, that all persons interested may then appear and show cause, if any they have, why the Prayer of said Petition should not be granted.
Sent down for concurrence.
CHAS. CALHOUN, Clerk.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Jan. 17, 1844. Concurred.
CHAS. W. STOREY, JR., Clerk.
A true copy.
Attest : CHARLES CALHOUN, Clerk of the Senate.
WARRANT FOR JANUARY MEETING. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
To Elisha Stone, Constable of the Town of Brookline:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said town, qualified to vote in town affairs, to assemble at the Centre School House in said town, on Tuesday, the thirtieth day of January, at two o'clock in the afternoon, to act on the following articles, Viz. :
First. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Second. To hear and act on an Order of Notice from the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the Petition of Jeremiah Lyon and others relative to being set off from Roxbury, and annexed to Brookline.
Third. Also to hear and act upon the report of the Committee upon the Town Hall.
103
Meeting, January 30, 1844.
Given under our hands and Seals, this twentieth day of Jan- uary, eighteen hundred and forty-four.
DAVID COOLIDGE,
L.S. L.S.
Selectmen
THOMAS GRIGGS, L.S. ]
JL
of Brookline.
NORFOLK, SS.
BROOKLINE, January 28, 1844.
By virtue of this warrant I have notified and warned the within men- tioned persons to appear at the time and place, for the purposes within mentioned.
ELISHA STONE, Constable of Brookline.
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Brookline, legally warned and assembled at the Centre School House on Tues- day, January 30, 1844,-
Mr. Abijah W. Goddard was chosen Moderator by one vote.
Voted, That we accede to the prayer of the Petition of Jeremiah Lyon and others.
The following Report was read :
REPORT ON TOWN HALL.
The Committee appointed by the Town of Brookline in Novr. last to look out a suitable location for a Town Hall & Engine House, procure a plan, and estimate of the probable cost of the building &c., would now report,-That although they gave early attention to the business, & have pursued it as closely as circumstances of illness, severity of the weather and the prevailing tardiness & disinclination on the part of land holders to part with their land on any reasonable terms would permit, your Com- inittee have not, till within a week past, obtained from any one such terms for the disposal of an eligible site as they felt warranted in report- ing for the acceptance of the Town,- which has nessarily allowed but a very limited time for obtaining information in regard to a model for a building best adapted to the particular location & wants of the Town, & for procuring an estimate of the expense necessary for its construction. Your Committee, nevertheless, have deemed it proper to make the Town acquainted with the result of their labours, at this time, tho' earlier than had been contemplated.
Your committee have obtained the refusal of three Seperate locations which they now present to the consideration of the Town. One is owned by Silas Pierce, & is the same parcel of land he purchased of the Town in 1840. His terms for about 4 of an acre having about 6 rods front on Walnut Street adjoining the Centre school house is 500 dolls. conditioned that the Hall when built shall stand as far westward on the lot as the post now standing in the street near the wall, and that the Town shall
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Brookline Town Records.
build the whole partition fence. This fixed location is by no means the best which this lot will allow and is greatly inferiour in many respects to one at the east, beyond the eastern boundry of this lot. In considera- tion of this your committee prevailed on Mr. Pierce to name his terms for a further quantity of about 20 Rods of land on the eastern side, giv- ing nearly three rods more length on Walnut Street : and presenting a more convenient and eligible site, requiring less expense in the founda- tion and admitting a more dry and airy basement, and foreclosing the liability of another building being placed in front on Mr. Pierce's premices-considering these advantages, your committee are unanimous in giving preference to the larger quantity of land notwithstanding a further sum of 500 dolls. is required to purchase it. A plan for a Hall prepared for this lot before the terms for the other lots were obtained, will be presented with this report. It is designed to stand end towards the street, 73 ft. in length including a portico of 7 ft. supported by 4 doric pillars; the interior of the Hall is 60 ft. by 363 ft. within the walls & 173 ft. between the floor & ceiling, lighted by 8 windows of 15 lights 20 by 14 inches each, with a small window in the ceiling over the plat- form to receive the light from the southern attic window. The floor to be permanently seated with 30 seats 164 ft. in length, allowing room for 330 adult persons to sit comfortably, & pass each other. without disturb- ance. A basement story of 8 ft. mostly below the level of the street, will give ample space for two rooms 16 ft. by 18 ft. each for use of Selectmen, Assessors & Committees. Also for an Engine House if considered a suitable location, & a cellar for a furnace & other needful purposes-or for a primary school room if considered an unsuitable location for a fire engine. The estimates for cost of this building have been made by Mr. Edwards, calculating the basement story of brick, walls 16 inches in thickness,-with a shingle roof and copper gutters-without finishing any part of the basement excepting the two rooms for use of Selectmen &c., all other parts to be thoroughly finished of best materials & work- manship, including three Chandeliers, & furnace complete, for the sum of 4000 dollars.
Another lot owned by James Bartlett, is situated on Washington St. between the estates of Mr. Holden and Mr. Leeds Measuring 205 ft. on Washington St. and extending back 180 ft. containing 31,194 ft. of land -- by the plan; The price is 3 cts. per foot, amounting to $935.82c. This lot, tho' not so central as the other is considered by your committee an eligible & beautiful situation-combining the advantages of an eligible place for a fire engine house & two spacious School rooms which may be made in the basement, at small additional expense sufficient accommoda- tions of 144 scholars, allowing two ample rooms for the fire engine, and allowing the sale of the old school house & lot in School St. The pro- ceeds of which together with the saving of expense that would be required for a seperate Engine house may be safely estimated at 1600 {lols,-without disposing of the land purchased in School Street last summer. Another saving of 400 to 500 dols. can be made in this arrange- ment by dispensing with the removal of the School house on School Street & the additions and repairs that will soon be found necessary for
105
Meeting, January 30, 1844.
the accommodation of the district school in that house; besides a per- petual saving of expense in keeping in repair an Engine house and School house in seperate buildings. In addition to these advantages, a very large quantity of gravel can be taken from this hill for the repair of roads, a part of which must be removed before the building can be erected.
A plan for the basement floor only has been prepared for this location ; the hall in the plan for the other location will answer for this also. Some alteration in the model for this location will be necessary, the stairway from the basement to the hall must be in the entry, which will require more length to the building, and probably an increased expense including the finishing the school rooms of 500 to 1000 dols., above the other estimate. Your Committee have had no time to get an estimate for this location, as the terms on which it could be had were not laid before us definitely till last evening.
The third lot named by your committee is owned by Mr. Bird situated on the corner of Boylston & Cypress Streets, measuring 4 rods on Boylston & 8 rods on Cypress streets, making 32 square rods; the price is $696.96. This location having no advantage of sheds for horses, and not so eligible a situation for an engine house & having no other advan- tages not combined in the other locations-your Committee consider it of less consideration than either of the other lots.
The plan prepaired for the lot owned by Silas Pierce will answer equally well for this if thought preferable by the Town.
If the Town should think proper to accept of either the aboved named terms for the purpose of erecting a building, your committee would recommend the use of the fund recd. from the Federal Government towards the expense, & that the balance required should be borrowed by the Treasurer when needed on the best possible terms not exceeding an interest of 6 per cent payable in annual instalments of 500 dols. each, with interest annually, first deducting 500 dols. to be raised the ensuing year.
All which is submitted in behalf of the Committee,
SAMUEL PHILBRICK, Chairman.
BROOKLINE, Jan. 30, 1844.
Voted, That the terms offered by Mr. James Bartlett for the sale of a site for a Town Hall, as Reported this day by the Committee on the Town Hall, be accepted ; and that Messrs. Samuel Philbrick, Bela Stoddard, and Charles Stearns Junr. be hereby appointed a building Committee who are authorized to close the contract for said lot of land, and take a deed in behalf of the Town of the same-and who are further authorized to proceed to the erection and completion of a building on said lot, according to the plan and sugges- tions of the aforesaid Committee, this day presented-and the fund received from the Federal Government be hereby
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Brookline Town Records.
appropriated, and that a further sum of 4000 dollars be also appropriated for the purpose of defraying the expense of the land and Hall aforesaid. And that the Treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow when needed the sum, not exceeding the sum of four thousand dollars on the best possible terms, not exceeding an interest of 6 per cent, payable in annual instalments of five hundred dollars each, with Interest, which several amounts shall be placed at the disposal of the building Committee above mentioned, when needed.
Voted, That the building Com. be authorized to get the building insured while building.
Adjd. without day.
OTIS WITHINGTON, Town Clerk.
WARRANT FOR MARCH MEETING.
NORFOLK, SS.
To Elisha Stone, Constable of the Town of Brookline, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify the inhabitants of the said town of Brookline qualified to vote in town affars to meet at Lyceum Hall in said town on Monday the fourth day of March next at one o'clock in the afternoon at which time and place the polls will be opened for the following pur- poses Viz. :
First. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Second. To receive the report of the Treasurer and of any Committees that are prepared to report, and act thereon.
Third. To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year.
Fourth. To bring in their votes for County Treasurer.
Fifth. To see what the town will do relative to widening the road, and filling up a part of the Brook on Washington Street, near the estate of Mr. Fay.
Sixth. To see if the town will authorize the School Committee to introduce "instruction in the Elements of Vocal Musick" into the public schools.
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Meeting, March 4, 1844.
Seventh. To take into consideration the subject of causing a Survey and a map of the town to be made, and to adopt measures to carry the same into effect.
Eighth. To grant and appropriate such sums of Money, as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doing thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time & place of said meeting. .
You are also hereby directed to notify the inhabitants of the said town of Brookline, qualified to vote in Elections, to bring in to the Selectmen at the Centre School House in said town, on Monday the first day of April next at two o'clock in the afternoon, at which time and place the polls will be opened, their Votes for three County Commissioners and two special commissioners for the County of Norfolk being all inhabitants of different towns within said County, to serve for three years from the first Monday in April 1844, and until others are chosen in their stead.
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