USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Town records of Brookline, Massachusetts, 1872-1884, v. 3 > Part 20
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Twenty-first Article taken up :
To see if the town will instruct the Water Commissioners to lay water pipes, with suitable hydrants, on the following streets; to wit: on Brighton street from Boylston street to the railroad bridge near Reser- voir station ; also on Boylston street from Brighton street to Reservoir lane.
Thirty-second Article taken up :
To see if the town will authorize the Water Commissioners to lay water pipes through Summit avenue.
Voted, That the Twenty-first and Thirty-second Articles be referred to the Water Commissioners, with instructions to report thereon at a future meeting.
Seventeenth Article taken up :
To give any instructions to any board, officer, or servant of the town.
Voted, That the Selectmen be instructed to examine into the claims of Henry Collins and Lucy J. Smith, and all other claims against the town not settled, for damages to their es- tates by reason of the relocation and making of Washington street, and report at a future meeting of the town.
Thirty-third Article taken up :
To see if the town will make an additional appropriation for interest on the town debt.
Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of four thousand dollars to pay interest on the town debt, to be taken from any unexpended appropriations now in the treasury.
Thirty-fourth Article taken up :
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Brookline Town Records.
To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required for any or all of the foregoing articles.
Voted, That the appropriation made under the Fifth Arti- cle in the warrant, of seven thousand dollars for support of highways, and also the appropriation for constructing St. Paul street, of nine thousand three hundred and twenty- seven dollars and eighty-seven cents, shall be allowed and paid from any money that may be in the treasury and not otherwise appropriated.
Voted, That the Treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow for a term not exceeding one year, money to the amount of fourteen thousand five hundred and thirty-three dollars ($14,533), or so much thereof as may be required, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, countersigned by the Selectmen, and said sum is hereby appropriated as follows ; to wit, -
Under the Third Article, two hundred dollars
$200 Under the Fifth Article, as follows; to wit, -
For lighting town buildings and streets, four thousand dol- lars . . 4000
For making streets, four thousand dollars
· 4000
For supplying town stable, one thousand dollars . 1000
Under the Thirteenth Article, six hundred and fifty-three dollars
653
Under the Twenty-third Article, three thousand dollars
3000
Under the Twenty-fifth Article, one thousand six hundred and eighty dollars . 1680
Voted, That when this meeting adjourns it be to meet in this place two weeks from this date, at seven of the clock in the evening.
Adjourned.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING, JANUARY 18, 1875.
Pursuant to adjournment, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, met at the Town Hall in said town, on Monday, the eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
231
Adjourned Special Meeting, January 18, 1875.
seventy-five, at seven of the clock in the evening, and were called to order by the Moderator, Charles H. Drew.
Seventeenth Article taken up :
To give any instructions to any board, officer, or servant of the town.
The Selectmen presented the following report ; viz., -
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen, who were instructed to examine into the claims of Henry Collins and Lucy J. Smith, and all other claims against the town, not settled, for damages to their estates by reason of the relocation and making of Washington street, and report at a future meeting of the town, have attended to the duty assigned them, and would report that the award made by the County Commissioners
To Mr. Bradford Kingman was
$50 00
Mrs. Lucy J. Smith
555 00
Mr. Henry Collins .
214 75
The amount claimed -
By Mr. Kingman is
300 00
Mrs. Smith
850 00
Mr. Collins ·
. 550 00
All other claims for damages to estates on Washington street have been settled. except the awards made to -
George Baty Blake, Esq.
$3500 00
D. W. Russell, Esq.
125 00
Brookline Gas Light Company
53 40
In the case of Mr. Blake, which was by the vote of the town to be re- ferred to arbitrators, the Selectmen have had several meetings with the counsel of Mr. Blake, but as yet no arbitrators have been determined upon.
THOMAS PARSONS, CHARLES D. HEAD,
CHARLES K. KIRBY,
HORACE JAMES, A. W. BENTON,
Selectmen of the Town of Brookline.
Brookline, January 18, 1875.
Voted, To accept the report.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to settle those claims as they shall deem it to be for the best interests of the town.
Second Article taken up :
To hear and act upon the reports of town officers and committees.
The committee appointed on the 30th of November last to
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Brookline Town Records.
consider the whole subject of claims on the Town Hall, pre- sented the following report ; to wit, --
REPORT.
New Town Hall.
The committee appointed at a special meeting of the inhabitants of Brookline, holden November 30, 1874, " to report on all the bills paid on account of the Town Hall, and all claims remaining unpaid," respectfully present the following as their report : -
Upon careful examination by the committee, it appears that, to the present time, there has been paid on account of the new Town Hall and its. equipment, and outside work and grading connected therewith, the total sum of $179,556.96 ; which amount has been paid by orders drawn against the several appropriations of 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, and 1874, for building, finishing, and furnishing, and adjusting and settling claims on the new Town Hall.
Upon these appropriations orders have been drawn by the Building Committee, the Selectmen, and the committee appointed by the town October 28, 1873, to " audit, adjust, settle, and pay all claims, legal and equitable, of parties who have done work or furnished materials in the building of the new Town Hall." The details of payments will appear in the Treasurer's reports for the several years above mentioned.
The above total cost, to date, of $179,556.96, was paid as follows : -
By the Building Committee
$156,998 07
By the Selectmen
15,711 91
By the Adjusting Committee
6,846 98
$179,556 96
This amount includes $10,195.99 paid for furnishing halls, ante-rooms, and offices; $7875.00 paid for architects' commissions and competitive designs ; $2100.00 for insurance; $1152.25 for coal; care of building, $843.25; heating apparatus, $7184.50: decorations, $5228.74; gas fix- tures, $1972.65; and about $7000.00 for grading, granite work, and finishing grounds.
The committee, appointed as above, to " audit, adjust, settle, and pay all claims, legal and equitable, of parties who have done work or fur- nished materials in the building of the new Town Hall," having, by adver- tisements and posted notices, duly notified all such parties, held many meetings and considered a large number of claims. The appropriation by the town for this purpose was $7660.00; and the committee have expended $6846.98. All the claims allowed by the committee were for labor and materials furnished under the carpenter's contract, and in each instance the claimant signed a receipt in full of all demands against the town and the contractor.
The amount of the appropriation not being sufficient to pay the claims in full, said committee were obliged to settle a portion of the claims by the payment of fifty per cent thereof, being the sum of $2702.02.
The joint committee, appointed November 30, 1874, have examined the claim of George Moulton, stair-builder, referred to them for adjustment.
233
Adjourned Special Meeting, January 18, 1875.
This claim was not before the Adjusting Committee, as Mr. Moulton considered that he had a valid legal claim to enforce a lien for his full charges. But Mr. Moulton now appears before your committee, and, substantially admitting that he has no claim against the town which can be enforced at law, asks the town to consider his claim as an equitable one. Mr. Moulton's claim is under the carpenter's contract, and is for work done and materials furnished in stair-building on the new Town Hall. The contract price was $2500, and he has been paid by the con- tractor $400, leaving his claim $2100. The committee are of opinion that this is an equitable claim, and that Mr. Moulton should be paid at the same rate as similar claims by the Adjusting Committee, and a further allowance in consideration of all the circumstances of his case. They find that he should be paid $1575 upon executing a proper receipt to the town, and a release to the contractor and the sheriff of Norfolk. This is satisfactory to Mr. Moulton.
The Adjusting Committee declined to allow any costs in certain peti- tions for liens. Your committee think that a portion of these costs should be paid, being for expenses incurred by laborers to enforce their claims, and amounting to about $50.
The Selectmen retained counsel in five suits arising out of these claims, for which the expenses are $70.38. The committee find that this amount should be paid.
Since the appointment of your joint committee, M. K. Chase & Co., of Blue Hill, Maine, have placed with their attorney for collection a claim against the town for $8637.02 for extra granite work on the new Town Hall. This claim is without foundation in the opinion of the architect and Building Committee.
Your committee have been informed that Mr. Melcher, the contractor of the carpenter work on the new Town Hall, desires to have his accounts examined by some committee of the town.
If the town think such examination proper, your committee are of opinion that it should be by disinterested persons, not heretofore con- nected with the subject.
Having thus examined all the matters to them submitted, and made a full report thereon, including the total cost of the Town Hall and equip- ments, and of all claims now outstanding, your committee present the following votes, and ask to be discharged.
Brookline, January 13, 1875.
WM. A. WELLMAN. AUGUSTINE SHURTLEFF. GEO. F. HOMER. JAMES W. EDGERLY. THOMAS H. BACON.
Voted, To accept the foregoing report.
Voted, To pay to George Moulton the sum of fifteen hun- dred and seventy-five dollars ($1575.00), for work done and materials furnished for new Town Hall, the same to be in
234
Boookline Town Records.
full of all demands against the town, the contractor, and the sheriff of Norfolk.
Voted, To pay the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars thirty-eight cents ($120.38) to the counsel employed by the town in suits relating to new Town Hall, and for sundry costs therein.
Voted, That Messrs. Charles D. Head, Horace James, and Benjamin F. Baker, be a committee to examine the accounts of Mr. W. K. Melcher in the matter of the new Town Hall, and report thereon to the town.
Twenty-second Article taken up :
To see what action the town will take for the purchase of one or more chemical fire-engines.
The Selectmen, to whom was referred the foregoing article, presented the following -
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen, to whom was referred the Twenty-second Article in the warrant by the following vote: " Voted, that the subject be referred to the Selectmen, to report at a future meeting what engines are the best ; also the places where they shall be kept, and how used," would report that they have attended to the duty assigned them, and would recom- mend that the town purchase one Babcock chemical engine, at a cost not exceeding three hundred and fifty dollars, and that the same be placed in the brick stable of Dr. William R. Lawrence, on Carlton street, and be under the care of some suitable person or persons appointed by the engi- neers of the Fire Department, providing the storing and care of said en- gine be assumed by the inhabitants of the locality to be benefited, with- out expense to the town.
Brookline, December 21, 1874.
THOMAS PARSONS, CHARLES D. HEAD, CHARLES K. KIRBY, HORACE JAMES, A. W. BENTON, Selectmen of Brookline.
Voted, To accept the report.
Voted, That the whole matter be indefinitely postponed.
M. J. Stone, Esq., presented the following report of the majority of the committee on the site for a soldiers' monu- ment ; viz., -
REPORT.
The committee appointed by the town meeting held January 4, 1875, "To select a suitable and appropriate site for the location of a memorial struc-
235
Adjourned Special Meeting, January 18, 1875.
ture in honor of the soldiers and sailors from the town of Brookline who lost their lives in the late war of the rebellion, and which may serve to commemorate those inhabitants of this town who fell in earlier wars of our country," respectfully report -
That they have selected as a suitable and appropriate site for the loca- tion of such memorial structure, the lot of land situated on the northwest corner of Cypress street and Cypress place, owned by the town, and com- monly known as the "Library lot," and recommend the passage of the following vote by the town : -
Voted, That the town approve of the selection of the said "Library lot," located on the corner of Cypress street and Cypress place, as a site, and will cause to be erected thereon such structure, provided that the subscribers to a certain fund for the purpose of purchasing said lot for the location of a town library building, will consent to the appropria- tion of the same for this purpose, upon repayment to them of their sub- scription, with interest.
Respectfully submitted. MILTON J. STONE, Chairman of Committee.
Brookline, January 18, 1875.
James M. Codman presented the report of a minority of said committee, as follows ; to wit, -
REPORT.
The undersigned dissent from the report presented by the majority. They feel unable to make a satisfactory selection of a site for a memo- rial to the soldiers and sailors of Brookline, without considering at the same time the character and cost of such memorial.
As the town has never expressed any decision on the matter, they are in doubt whether the memorial is to be of a description suited for indoors or out of doors ; whether it is to take the form of a commemorative mural monument in the Town Hall; whether it should be of a style suitable for an eminence or a plain, for a street corner or a public square; whether it should be a tribute of respect to those persons only who fell in the civil war, or should include also those of previous wars, as suggested in the report of a former committee. All these considerations, together with that of the sum to be appropriated by the town for the purpose, naturally affect the question of the site, and must have their due weight in its selection. A majority of the present committee decided that the above considerations were not covered by their instructions, thus precluding the undersigned from adopting what they believe to be the only correct method of examining the question, and forming a rational and judicious opinion.
The difficulties met with in other towns, and the results attained, ad- monish us not to form a hasty judgment with regard to anything that is to be of so permanent a character; and in order to obtain a thoroughly good memorial for Brookline, precise information of what is possible to be done from all points of view should be presented to the town for its intelligent action.
236
Brookline Town Records.
The undersigned would therefore respectfully suggest, assuming that the town decide to erect a memorial, that the subject of its style, cost, and site be considered as a whole, be referred to a new committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator, and that this committee be in- structed to report in detail and in print at as early a date as may be practicable, and one week in advance of any town meeting.
And they further recommend that the unexpended balance remaining from the appropriation for a previous committee be placed at their dis- posal.
JAMES M. CODMAN, ROBT. AMORY.
Voted, To accept the reports.
Mr. George M. Towle moved that the latter part of the minority report, relating to the style, cost, and site for a monument, be passed by the town.
Mr. William Aspinwall moved to amend the motion by substituting therefor the vote offered by the majority of the committee.
After considerable debate upon the subject, the amend- ment was adopted by the meeting.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourn, it be to meet in this place on Monday, the twenty-fifth instant, at seven o'clock in the evening.
Voted, To adjourn.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING, JANUARY 25, 1875.
Pursuant to adjournment, the inhabitants of the town of Brookline, qualified to vote in elections, met at the Town Hall in said town, on Monday, the twenty-fifth day of Janu- ary in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, at seven of the clock in the evening, and were called to order by the Moderator, Charles H. Drew.
The vote on the site of a soldiers and sailors' monument, which was pending at the close of the meeting of the eigh- teenth instant, was taken up, when, on motion of George F. Homer, Esq., it was -
Voted, To lay the subject on the table.
237
Adjourned Special Meeting, January 25, 1875.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of one thousand five hun- dred and seventy-five dollars for the payment of George Moulton for work done and material furnished for new Town Hall.
Voted, That the Treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow the sum of one thousand five hundred and seventy-five dol- lars, or so much thereof as may be required, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, countersigned by the Selectmen, on such time and terms as the Selectmen may deem best.
Voted, To take up the subject of a site for a soldiers' monument.
After considerable discussion upon the subject, it was -
Voted, That the monument to be erected by the town of Brookline to the memory of the soldiers and sailors who died in the war of the rebellion, be placed in the centre or other portion of the town lot on Cypress street, known as the playground lot.
Voted, That Charles H. Drew, Esq., Gen. Theodore Lyman, Capt. George P. Richardson, Adm. J. F. Greene, Maj. M. J. Stone, be a committee to report upon a plan for a suitable structure in memory of the soldiers and sailors who lost their lives in the war of the rebellion, and which may also serve to commemorate the names of those who fell in earlier wars, and upon the style and cost of the same, and report at the annual town meeting in print; and that the Selectmen be requested to insert an article in the warrant for the next annual meeting, to see if the town will appropriate the money necessary to defray the expense.
Fourteenth Article taken up :
To see if the town will take any action upon laying out and making sewers or drains in private streets or estates, or any public street.
Voted, That the subject be referred to the Board of Health, with instructions to abate the nuisance.
Seventeenth Article taken up :
To give any instructions to any board, officer, or servant of the town.
Voted, That the Selectmen and the chairman of the Board of Water Commissioners be a committee to appear before
238
Brookline Town Records.
the appropriate legislative committee and oppose the pollu- tion of Charles river by the diversion of Pegan brook or other foul stream into it.
Dissolved.
Attest : B. F. BAKER, Town Clerk.
Perambulation of Boundary Line between Brookline and Newton.
Be it remembered, that on the twelfth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, we, the subscrib- ers, being authorized as the law directs, met and proceeded to perambu- late the boundary line, between the city of Newton in the County of Mid- dlesex, and the town of Brookline in the County of Norfolk, and find the several bounds and monuments as follows; to wit, -
1st. A stone monument marked R B and N near the westerly edge of Troublesome swamp (so called), which forms the corner bound be- tween Boston (formerly West Roxbury), Brookline, and Newton.
2d. Thence to an iron monument marked N and B on a large rock in land now or late of Caleb Craft.
3d. Thence to a stone monument marked N and B on the north side of the road near, and westerly from, the saw mill.
4th. Thence to a stone monument marked N and B in Stake meadow, so called, which monument forms a corner.
5th. Thence to an iron in the corner of a wall marked N and B on a ledge of rocks near Stake meadow.
6th. Thence to an iron monument marked N and B in the wall by the land now or formerly of Capt. Clark.
7th. Thence to a stone monument marked N and B at the northerly side of the road near the house late of Arba Hyde, and where Florence street in Newton and Heath street in Brookline join.
8th. Thence to a stone monument marked N and B on the southerly side of the Worcester turnpike or Boylston street.
9th. Thence to a stone monument marked N and B on the westerly side of the road known as Hammond street, by land now of John Low- ell, formerly of Daniel Kingsley.
10th. Thence to an abutment stone marked N and B at the end of a wall on land of heirs of Joseph Lee.
11th. Thence to a stone monument marked N and B in a swail.
12th. Thence to a stone monument marked N and B B on the south side and in the embankment of the New York & New England Railroad, in land formerly of John Kingsbury, which bound forms the corner bound between Newton, Brookline, and Boston (formerly Brighton) ; all which bounds and monuments we have renewed and agreed to this day.
ASUPH R. CARTER, FREDERIC SCHOFF, Agents of the City of Newton. THOMAS PARSONS, HORACE JAMES, Selectmen of the Town of Brookline.
239
Annual Meeting, March 22, 1875.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 22, 1875.
WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
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 Monday, the twenty-second day of March current, at one of the clock in the afternoon, for the following purposes ; to wit, -
First. To choose a Moderator.
Second. To choose the usual town officers for the ensuing year. Also to choose six trustees of the new town cemetery, being two for one year, two for two years, two for three years.
Third. To hear and act upon the reports of town officers and com- mittees.
Fourth. To hear and act upon the report of the Engineers of the Fire Department.
Fifth. To hear and act upon the report of the Water Commissioners.
Sixth. To see if the town will accept the list of jurors as revised by the Selectmen, and posted according to law. .
Seventh. To see what action the town will take upon a communica- tion from the Legislative Committee on Towns to the Selectmen, that a hearing will be had in the blue room of the State House, on Friday, March 26, at 10 A.M., on a petition of David Coolidge and others to re- unite Brookline to Boston.
Eighth. To act upon by-laws already adopted, or to adopt any new by-law which may be proposed.
Ninth. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to defray the expense of a suitable memorial of the soldiers and sailors from this town who lost their lives in the late war of the rebellion.
Tenth. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money, not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars, to defray the cost of erecting a soldiers and sailors' monument in the open air, upon the petition of Ginery Twitchell and others.
Eleventh. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to pay claims and awards against the town.
Twelfth. To see what action the town will take upon the report of the commission appointed to recommend a system of sewerage for the town.
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Brookline Town Records.
Thirteenth. To see what action the town will take in regard to the lot of land on the corner of Cypress street and Cypress place, being the Library lot, so called.
Fourteenth. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to estab- lish a grade agreeably to the provisions of Chapter 38 of the Acts of the year 1873, being " An Act to establish a grade in the town of Brookline."
Fifteenth. To see if the town will accept and allow School street as altered by the Selectmen.
Sixteenth. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money, not to exceed the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars, to pay Bartholomew Cusick, one of the quota of Brookline, back State aid.
Seventeenth. To see if the town will authorize the Water Commission- ers to lay water pipes, with suitable hydrants, on Harvard street, to the Brighton line, also on Marion street.
Eighteenth. To see what action the town will take in regard to an invitation to participate in the forthcoming Centennial observance at Lexington.
Nineteenth. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required to defray the expenses of the town during the ensuing year, and for any or all of the foregoing articles.
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