USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1858-1871, v. 2 > Part 11
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Your committee deem it advisable to make such purchase, and would recommend to the town to purchase lots numbered 62 and 63 in a plan of Allston place, on Winchester street, in the edge of Brighton, containing about 52,500 square feet of land, and that the sum of ($900) nine hun- dred dollars be raised and appropriated for that purpose. Your com- mittee also recommend that the sum of ($300) three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated to purchase a lot of gravel land on Heath street. Also, that the sum of ($500) five hundred dollars be raised and appropriated to purchase land for a way from Warren street to the gravel bank near the reservoir and for the fencing and walling of the same.
Article Twelfth. To see what action the town will take in relation to ordering the filling up of Pearl and Davis places, in order to protect the public health.
Your committee find a very bad state of things in Davis place, such as requires immediate attention from the Board of Health. They therefore recommend that the town raise and appropriate the sum of ($300) three hundred dollars, to be used by said Board of Health in such way as they in their discretion shall deem necessary.
Article Thirteenth.' To consider and act upon the subject of purchas- ing a lot of land for a playground for the scholars of the Pearl place school.
This subject has received a great deal of attention from the committee, and they have investigated to the best of their judgment all the facilities offered. They agree that it is desirable to obtain such accommodations as are asked for in that vicinity, either by purchasing land adjoining the present school-house or some in the immediate vicinity. . We therefore had a plan made of such lots as could be purchased to enlarge the pres- ent school-house lot to the best advantage, as also the prices asked for the same. We found that to enlarge said lot to 19,120 square feet would cost about ($4,000) four thousand dollars; if enlarged to 29,100 square feet, it would cost ($7,000) seven thousand dollars. At this last esti- mate we found it very difficult to arrive at any definite conclusion, inas- much as we could not get any definite fixed prices for the land of some of the abutters. We also obtained a plan and estimate of a lot of land belonging to Col. Thomas Aspinwall, lying a few hundred feet east of the above-named lot, and we found that the town could purchase and grade a lot of 29,100 square feet for the sum of ($3,450) three thousand four hundred and fifty dollars, and from that up to 60,000 square feet, at the same rate; also, that the present school-house could be moved and placed on the same in good order for the sum of ($650) six hundred and fifty dollars. Under these circumstances we deemed it best to report the facts in the case to the town, with the desire that they would take such action in the matter as they in their judgment might deem best.
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Brookline Town Records.
Article Fourteenth. To consider and act upon the subject of draining the low lands usually known as Pearl place, and laying out, grading and accepting the streets thereon.
Your committee consider this a subject of great importance, and demands more attention than they have had time to bestow upon it. They therefore request further time to investigate the matter.
Article Sixteenth. To consider and act upon the expediency of provid- ing a suitable place for the hose-carriage in the village.
This your committee thought should be done, and they would there- fore recommend that the sum of ($1,300) one thousand three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for the purchase of a lot of land and the erection thereon of a brick building suitable for that purpose.
JAMES BARTLETT,
Chairman of Committee.
Voted, To accept the foregoing report.
Voted, To consider and act upon each article separately. Fifth Article.
Voted, To accept the report thereon.
Sixth Article.
Voted, To recommit the same, to be reported thereon at some future day.
Seventh Article.
Voted, That the same be recommitted.
Eighth Article.
Voted, That the report thereon be adopted.
Ninth Article.
Voted, That the subject be referred back to the com- mittee.
Eleventh Article.
Voted, To accept and adopt the report thereon.
Voted, That the sum of ($900) nine hundred dollars be raised and appropriated to purchase gravel land on Win- chester street. (See page [121].)
Voted, That the sum of ($300) three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated to purchase gravel land on Heath street. (See page [121].)
Voted, That the sum of ($500) five hundred dollars be raised and appropriated to purchase land for a townway from Warren street to the gravel bank near the reservoir. (See page [121].)
127
Special Meeting, April 29, 1861.
Twelfth Article.
Voted, To accept and adopt the report thereon.
Voted, That the sum of ($300) three hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for the use of the Board of Health. (See page [121].)
Thirteenth Article.
Voted, That the same be referred back to the committee. Fourteenth Article.
Voted, That the report be accepted, and the request of the committee complied with.
Sixteenth Article.
Voted, That the same be referred back to the committee.
Voted, That the various appropriations made by the town, including those for the purpose of making and repairing high- ways and townways, be assessed after deducting the amount now in the treasury and the probable recipts for the ensuing year, amounting to the sum of - - dollars, upon the polls and estates, real and personal, of the inhabitants, resi- dent and non-resident, of the town, and collected as the town charges are usually charged and collected.
The business being all finished that was specified in the warrant, the meeting was dissolved.
Dissolved.
Attest :
B. F. BAKER,
Town Clerk.
SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 29, 1861.
WARRANT.
SEAL.
SEAL.
SEAL.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
SEAL.
NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Brookline,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, to meet at the Town Hall, on Monday, the twenty-ninth day of April,
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Brookline Town Records.
instant, at half-past seven of the clock in the evening, for the following purposes, viz. :
First. To choose a Moderator.
Second. To consider and act upon the organization of military com- panies.
Third. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as shall be deemed necessary to carry out such organization, or other purpose con- nected therewith.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, on or before the day and time of said meeting.
Given under our hands and seals at Brookline aforesaid, this twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty-one.
JAMES BARTLETT, MARSHAL STEARNS, THOMAS PARSONS, N. G. CHAPIN, Selectmen of the Town of Brookline.
NORFOLK, SS.
BROOKLINE, April 25th, 1861.
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within named, by leaving a printed notice of the same at their last and usual place of residence.
S. C. HOPKINS,
Constable of Brookline ..
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline met at the Town Hall, on Monday evening, April the twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty- one, and were called to order by the Town Clerk, who read the warrant and return thereon, and presided until the choice of a Moderator, under Article First.
On motion-
Voted, To choose a Moderator by nomination.
The meeting nominated and chose James Bartlett for a Moderator, and took the chair.
The Second Article taken up, to wit :
To consider and act upon the organization of military companies.
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Special Meeting, April 29, 1861.
Thomas Parsons offered the following resolutions, to wit :
First. That a military committee, to consist of ten mem- bers, be appointed to take charge of all military arrange- ments which shall be made by the town, and to have the control of all matters connected therewith, their chairman to act as the commanding officer of the entire military organi- zation, subject to the direction and approval of the com- mittee.
Second. That there be opened forthwith a list of all male inhabitants of Brookline above the age of seventeen years who wish to be drilled for military service, and that the military committee be authorized to form the persons form- ing such list into such corps as they may deem expedient for the public good.
Third. That the military committee be authorized to draw upon the military fund in such amounts, at such times, and for such uses as a majority of such committee shall determine, and all such drafts shall be signed by the chair- man and countersigned by at least two other members of the committee and approved by the Selectmen.
Fourth. That the following gentlemen constitute the Board of Military Committee, viz. : Moses B. Williams (chairman), James A. Dupee, Marshal Stearns, Thomas B. Hall, Thomas Parsons, Wm. Aspinwall, Wm. K. Melcher, N. Lyford, James M. Howe, Edward A. Wild.
On motion-
Voted, To accept and allow the first resolution.
Voted, To accept and allow the second resolution.
Voted, To accept and allow the third resolution.
Voted, To accept and allow the fourth resolution.
Third Article taken up :
To raise and appropriate such sums of money as shall be deemed neces- sary to carry out such organizations, or any other purposes connected therewith.
On motion of William Aspinwall, it was-
Voted, That the sum of fifteen thousand dollars is hereby raised and appropriated, to be called the Military Fund, for
9
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Brookline Town Records.
the purpose of providing and furnishing armories, drill- rooms or parade grounds, procuring ammunition, camp equipage and utensils, and for providing for the families of such inhabitants as may serve as militia, and for such other purposes connected with the preparation of the inhabitants of the town to perform their duties as militia as the military committee may deem expedient; and such fund shall be paid by the Treasurer to the military committee upon their drafts, signed by the chairman and countersigned by two other members thereof and approved by the Selectmen, and shall be expended in such manner as shall be directed by a vote of said committee. Said sum, with an addition thereto not exceeding five per cent thereof for the convenience of apportionment, shall be assessed by the Assessors, separately from all other assessments, upon the real and personal estates of residents and non-residents within the town liable to tax- ation therein, and the amount so assessed shall be inserted by the Collector in the tax bills as a separate item. The Treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow the whole or any part of the above-mentioned sum before its collection upon the assessment aforesaid.
Voted, That the Town Clerk be and hereby is authorized to enter upon the records of the town the proceedings of the two informal meetings held by the town upon this subject.
Voted, That the military committee be and hereby is au- thorized to use the Town Hall, lighted free of charge, for the purpose of drill.
Voted, That the meeting be now dissolved.
Dissolved.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
Citizens' Meeting, April 20, 1861. 131
CITIZENS' MEETING, APRIL 20, 1861.
BROOKLINE, April 20, 1861.
A meeting of the citizens of Brookline for the purpose of considering the present disturbed state of affairs and adopt- ing measures to aid in the protection and defence of the country; was held at the Town Hall, Saturday evening, April 20, 1861. The hall was crowded.
The meeting was called to order by Amos A. Lawrence, and after prayer offered by Rev. Dr. John S. Stone, was. organized by the choice of the following officers :
President-John Howe.
Vice-Presidents-Augustus Aspinwall, George B. Blake,. James S. Amory, Thomas Gray.
Secretaries-Thomas B. Hall, William O. Churchill.
Mr. Howe, on taking the chair, made a few stirring remarks, and closed by offering to the first family in Brook- line whose head should be lost in the defence of the country a land-warrant which he had received from the government for his services in the war of 1812.
Appropriate and stirring remarks were made by William Aspinwall, Amos A. Lawrence, Wilder Dwight, James S. Amory, J. Murray Howe, Wm. A. Wellman, George B. Blake, Moses B. Williams, Capt. Thomas O. Selfridge, (U. S. N.), and others, which were received with frequent and hearty cheers.
On motion of Wilder Dwight, it was-
Voted, That a committee of seven be appointed to pre- pare a plan for the organization and drill of a company or ยท companies in the town of Brookline to aid in the defence of the government, and that the committee report the plan at the earliest moment, and take such further action as they may deem necessary.
-
A nominating committee was appointed, and upon their report the following were constituted a committee to carry out Mr. Dwight's motion, viz. : Amos A. Lawrence, Moses
4
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Brookline Town Records.
B. Williams, J. Murray Howe, B. F. Baker, T. E. Francis, William Aspinwall, and Thomas Parsons, to which Thomas B. Hall was afterwards added.
On motion of George B. Blake, a subscription list was opened to raise a fund for the purchase of two hundred muskets and to establish a military fund for the use of the town, which list was headed by Mr. Blake with the sum of one thousand dollars.
On motion of Mr. Wellman, another subscription list was opened to raise a fund for the purchase of materials to be used by the ladies of Brookline who have expressed a wish to aid in preparing clothes for the recruits that may be raised in the town.
Mr. Panter offered the use of his large hall for the use of the ladies for this purpose.
Mr. James Dupee was appointed by a unanimous vote to be treasurer to receive the sums subscribed.
The meeting was then adjourned, amid hearty cheers for the volunteers of Massachusetts, to meet on Monday even- ing next, after the town meeting to be held on that evening.
Attest : THOMAS B. HALL, WILLIAM O. CHURCHILL, Secretaries.
CITIZENS' MEETING, APRIL 22; 1861.
The meeting of the citizens of Brookline, adjourned from Saturday evening, was held in the Town Hall this evening. The hall was again crowded.
The committee appointed at the last meeting reported a series of resolutions, which were unanimously adopted.
RESOLUTIONS.
1st. Resolved, That a military committee, to consist of ten members, be appointed to take charge of all military arrangements which shall be made by the town, and to have
133
Citizens' Meeting, April 22, 1861.
the control of all matters. connected therewith, their chair- man to act as the commanding officer of the entire military organization, subject to the direction and approval of the committee.
2d. Resolved, That there forthwith be opened a list of all male inhabitants of Brookline above the age of seventeen years who wish to be drilled for military service, and that the military committee be authorized to form the persons forming such lists into such corps as they may deem expe- dient for the public good.
3d. Resolved, That the military committee be authorized to draw upon the military fund in such amounts, at such times, and for such purposes as a majority of such commit- tee shall determine, and all such drafts shall be signed by the chairman and countersigned by at least two other mem- bers of the committee and approved by the Selectmen.
4th. Resolved, That the following gentlemen constitute the military committee : Moses B. Williams (chairman), James A. Dupee, Marshal Stearns, Wm. K. Melcher, Na- thaniel Lyford, Thomas B. Hall, Thomas Parsons, William Aspinwall, James Murray Howe, and Edward A. Wild.
Voted, That the military committee be directed to attend immediately to the wants of the families of those citizens of Brookline who have already gone into service.
Patriotic and stirring speeches were made by C. W. Wilder, S. S. Bucklin, and others, which were received with great enthusiasm.
The roll lists were eagerly signed during and after the meeting.
Three hearty cheers were given for Gov. Andrew, who it was said, had, by his prompt action, placed Massachusetts where she always wished to be, in the foremost rank.
Voted, That the Selectmen be requested to remove the fence between the Town Hall and the school-house in the rear, and that they be requested to grade the ground suita- ble for a parade ground for all drill purposes, and that suit- able gateways be provided in the fence now standing on the sides of the lot.
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Brookline Town Records.
Voted, That the proceedings of this and last Saturday's meetings, as well as of all adjournments of this meeting, be placed on the records of the town.
The meeting was then adjourned till called together by the military committee.
Attest : THOMAS B. HALL, Secretary.
SPECIAL MEETING, JUNE 13, 1861.
WARRANT.
SEAL. 1
SEAL.
SEAL. 1 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
SEAL.
SEAL.]
NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Brookline,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, to meet at the Town Hall in said town, on Thursday, the thirteenth day of June, instant, at seven and a half of the clock in the even- ing, for the following purposes, viz :
First. To choose a Moderator.
Second. To hear and act upon the report of the military committee.
Third. To see what action the town will take upon any recommenda- tion of the military committee in relation to the appropriation voted at the town meeting held on the twenty-ninth of April last.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, on or before the time of said meeting. Given under our hands and seals at Brookline aforesaid, this third day of June, in the year of our Lord eighteen hun- dred and sixty-one.
JAMES BARTLETT, MARSHAL STEARNS, THOMAS PARSONS, E. R. SECOMB, N. G. CHAPIN, Selectmen of the Town of Brookline.
135
Special Meeting, June 13, 1861.
NORFOLK, SS.
BROOKLINE, June 8th, 1861.
In pursuance of the within warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within named, by leaving a printed notice of the same at their last and usual place of residence.
S. C. HOPKINS,
Constable of Brookline.
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the citizens of the town of Brookline met in the Town Hall in said town, on Thursday, the thirteenth day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and were called to order at seven and a half of the clock in the evening, by the Town Clerk, who proceeded to read the warrant calling said meeting and the return thereon, and presided during a choice of a Moderator, under the First Article in said warrant.
Voted, To choose a Moderator by nomination.
The meeting then nominated and chose for Moderator, James Bartlett, and he took the chair.
The Second Article in the warrant was then taken up, viz. :
To hear and act upon the report of the military committee.
The chairman of the military committee presented the following report, to wit :
REPORT.
BROOKLINE, June 13th, 1861.
Mr. Moderator,-The Legislature of the State having been called together, and having adjourned for the present, after taking such action as regards the various military appropriations needed in this crisis of our national existence, the Military Committee appointed by the town have deemed it proper to request the citizens to hear their report of such action as they have taken, and to call the attention of the town to the vote passed at the meeting of the 29th day of April last, in regard to raising the amount appropriated by the town and assessing it as a sep- arate tax.
In presenting their report, the committee wish to state that their meetings have been fully attended, each subject which has been acted upon has been carefully weighed and considered, and that in all cases their actions have been unanimous.
The citizens of the town are doubtless aware that a company was raised for the war, in the town of Brookline, which incorporated
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Brookline Town Records.
the men who had been raised in West Roxbury. This company was officered entirely from the town of Brookline, was mustered into the service of the State, and the officers were commissioned by the Gov- ernor. As soon as this had been done, your committee proceeded to make the necessary preparation to uniform the company and to make arrangements to procure such articles as they deemed important to make them comfortable and to fit them for efficient service. This company consisted of ninety-five men. The next orders received by Captain Wild, who was in command of this company, was from the Governor, directing him to take command of Company A, in the First Regiment, and to take the two lieutenants with him, this company having been left without officers by the promotion of the captain and the severe illness of the two lieutenants. Captain Wild was also directed in the same order to fill up Company A from the Brookline company, and to dis- tribute the balance of the men in the different companies of the same regiment which were not already filled up to the standard of the requisi- tion of the United States. These orders were obeyed, and the regiment was then mustered into the service of the United States.
The greatest difficulties with which your committee have had to contend was the change in the position of these men. They have been embar- rassed between the fear of wasting the funds confided to them, and, on the other hand, of causing the men to suffer and retarding the public service by delay in their action. If the Brookline company had been allowed to go into service as originally intended, your committee feel that they may safely assert that such arrangement had been made as would send them forth in as good condition and as well provided as any company which has left the state. The moment the change took place all arrangements which had been made for this company, as a company, that it was possible to countermand were countermanded, and the atten- tion of the committee was given to providing the officers and men indi- vidually with such articles as were necessary for their comfort and health, and this they believe has been done. A small amount of money has also been forwarded to such of the citizens of this town as had left in the service of the state before you committee had been appointed, to enable them to provide themselves with some small comforts, of which they would otherwise been destitute. It would be very ungrateful on the part of your committee to leave this part of their report without expressing their thanks to the ladies of the town for their labor in pre- paring clothing, and for their unwearied efforts to second the action of the committee.
In compliance with the vote of the town relating to military instruc- tion, your committee have given as much attention to the drill of the citizens as was possible without neglecting more pressing matters of immediate importance, and they now hope to have more time to devote to this subject, and to place it in the power of every citizen of the town to acquire some knowledge of military drill and discipline. The com- mittee have procured an armory and have engaged the services of an armorer, who is also a competent instructor, and have purchased such articles as were absolutely needed for carrying out their instructions,
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Special Meeting, June 13, 1861.
and which they could not otherwise procure. The committee would also state that by the resignation of Captain E. A. Wild a vacancy has been created in the Military Committee. Your committee believe that the action of the Legislature has legalized all the expenditures made by the town for military purposes, and that the expenditure of a larger sum than seventy-five hundred dollars will not be needed during the present year. All of which is respectfully submitted,
MOSES B. WILLIAMS, Chairman.
Voted, To accept and allow the foregoing report. Voted, That James Bartlett be and hereby is appointed a member of the Military Committee, in place of Captain E. A. Wild, resigned.
Third Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take upon any recommendations of the Military Committee in relation to the appropriation voted at the town meeting held on the twenty-ninth day of April last.
On motion of William Aspinwall, it was-
Voted, That the vote passed by the town at its meeting held on the twenty-ninth day of April last, appropriating fifteen thousand dollars, to be called the Military Fund, be and hereby is so amended that seventy-five hundred dollars only of said amount shall be raised by taxation during the present year, and that said sum of seventy-five hundred dollars be included by the Assessors with the other moneys to be raised by taxation, and be assessed upon the polls and estates, real and personal, of the inhabitants and non-residents, together with and in the same manner as the other taxes are raised, and that the Treasurer be authorized to borrow the whole or any part of the sum heretofore appropriated, if the same shall be required by the Military Committee.
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