USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lebanon > History of Lebanon, N.H., 1761-1887 > Part 26
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FIREMEN'S PAY.
. At the annual meeting, 1851, the town voted to pay the mem- bers of the engine company the same sum annually that is al- lowed by law to soldiers doing military duty, which was one dollar annually.
In 1852 the town voted the sum of fifty dollars to Engine Com- pany No. 2, provided they discharge the duties of enginemen and keep the engine in good repair and in condition to be used, to the satisfaction of the selectmen. The same sum was appropriated to the fire department in 1853. In 1857 voted to pay the mem- bers of the fire company three dollars a year-the number of members not to exceed forty.
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
RAILROAD TAX.
At the annual meeting, 1852, the town "Voted that hereafter the sum of three hundred dollars of the money received by the town of the Rail Road tax be annually appropriated for the use of schools, to be equally divided among the several districts."
CEMETERY AT WEST LEBANON.
1852 Voted to appropriate a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars for the purchase of a suitable lot for a burying ground at West Lebanon to be laid out by the Selectmen
This is the present cemetery at West Lebanon.
At the same meeting the following vote was passed :
That, whereas the Connecticut Valley Agricultural Society has voted to hold their Next annual Fair in this town Therefore Resolved that the use of such part of the Common and Town Hall, as they may need, be granted to the Committee of Arrangements of said Society for the purpose of their exhibition.
This was the first agricultural fair ever held in the town. In 1853 a similar vote was passed.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
For years the matter of the bounds of the different school districts was a matter of great perplexity. Almost every year there were petitions of individuals to be set off from one dis- trict to another. Sometimes the change was sanctioned, as often denied.
In 1852 they appointed a committee "to divide the town anew into school districts or to make such changes in the old Districts as they may judge convenient and best calculated to promote the cause of Education, to define and establish the limits of all the School Districts, to number the Districts anew, and to make report of their doings to the town as soon as may be." The com- mittee were W. G. Perley, Horace Hatch and Fitch Loomer. This committee made their report to a special meeting September 17, 1853.
The report was laid upon the table and the selectmen directed. to procure the printing of four hundred copies for distribution, to insert an article in the warrant for the next annual meeting to place the subject before the town.
WILLIAM G. PERLEY.
DANIEL RICHARDSON.
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
At that meeting the report was recommitted to the selectmen for the purpose of reporting a plan of districting the town, dis- turbing the small districts as little as possible, not reducing the number of districts below twelve and describing the bounds and dimensions according to law and report as soon as may be.
At the annual meeting, 1855, "Voted to choose a committee of three to divide the town into school districts and fix the bound- aries thereof according to law."
Elijah Blaisdell, Daniel Richardson and Richard S. Howe were the committee. At this meeting there were several appli- cations for changes in district relations. On the 7th day of July this committee made its report. The report was recommitted to the committee and the "Selectmen directed to procure the print- ing of the report as it now stands, and the Committee directed to obtain such other statistical information in regard to the num- ber of the scholars in each of the proposed School Districts of use to the inhabitants of the town and make such alterations as they may think necessary.
ยท On the 4th of September the report of the committee was ac- cepted, and their divisions of the town into School Districts en- tered upon the records.
All this perplexity about school districts resulted from the fact that families decreased in number of children, leaving, per- haps, a dozen in a district where there used to be fifty or sixty, while the number of farms occupied was the same. The increase of population in the villages of Lebanon and West Lebanon added to the difficulty.
FENCE AROUND THE VILLAGE BURYING GROUND.
In 1854 the selectmen were directed to build a new and suit- able fence around the burying ground in the Center village, with suitable entrances, gates and locks. The expense was $283.97. The expense for painting the fence of the West Lebanon "Bury- ing Ground" the same year was $122.10.
In 1857 the selectmen were directed to fence the burying ground at East Lebanon.
INSTRUCTION TO COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
In the annual meeting of 1853 the town passed the following vote : "That the Selectmen be instructed that when they make
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
a contract for collecting the Taxes that it be distinctly under- stood and agreed, that if the Collector does not collect and pay over to said Selectmen the whole amount of taxes on his bill for collection (except so much as they may abate) on or before the 20th day of February next, said Selectmen are forthwith to issue an extent against said Collector for all that may be due from said Collector."
This certainly means business. Looking for the occasion of so stringent a requirement it is found that the collector for 1851 was behind at the close of the financial year $660.90, for 1852, $518.35. Was the requirement efficacious? In the report for 1853-'54 no deficiency of the collector is noted. An "extent" is a fearful legal implement, being a "writ of execution against the body lands or goods."
GROCERIES.
At the annual meeting in 1854 the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved that the groceries in this town for the sale of strong Beer and Cider, as carried on for the last year are great nuisances, and that they ought to be discountenanced by all good citizens as not only cor- rupting our youth but as bringing disgrace on our whole community.
At the same meeting the following resolution was adopted :
Whereas the progress of Temperance has been essentially sustained and promoted by stringent enactments in other States therefore:
Resolved that our Representatives be instructed to cooperate with other members of the Legislature in procuring the passage of a law whereby the traffic in intoxicating liquors may most effectually be prevented and further resolved that our Gentlemen Representatives be a Committee in behalf of this town to wait on the Hon. Senator from Dist. No 11, requesting him to use all due efforts in the cause of eradi- cating traffic
The "Gentlemen Representatives" were A. H. Cragin and William S. Ela. The "Hon. Senator from Dist. No. 11," was Jonathan E. Sargent, afterward Chief Justice of the state.
RAILROAD BRIDGES AND CROSSING.
At first small engines and low cars were used on railroads. After a time larger engines and taller cars came into use, so that higher bridges were needed, involving changes in the grades when crossing highways, subjecting towns to inconvenience and expense, hence the following vote :
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
That the Selectmen be instructed to object to the raising of the Rail- road bridge near Mrs. Hutchins and the bridge at East Lebanon and see that the rights of the public are fully sustained in regard to the damages and grading.
The first bridge is that on Hanover Street.
Formerly the railroad passed over the highway near Solon Peck's on grade, but in 1857 a change was made so that the high- way should pass under the railroad, and the town instructed the selectmen to supervise the work and lay out the highway ac- cordingly, and petition the court for leave to discontinue the old highway which was a part of the Fourth New Hampshire.
About this time a large maple tree, which for more than fifty years had been a landmark in this locality, being one of the bounds of the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike, was taken down on account of old age.
HEARSE FOR WEST LEBANON.
At the annual meeting, 1857, the town instructed the selectmen to procure a hearse and build a suitable house for the same for. the accommodation of the inhabitants of West Lebanon.
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POLICE OFFICERS.
In 1859 the town adopted Chapter 114 of the Revised Statutes. This chapter provides for the appointment of police officers, not to exceed seven in number, whose term of office should terminate on the last day of March. They were to be constables and con- servators of the peace, to make regulations for the stand of hacks, etc., the height and position of awnings and shades on or near any buildings, respecting any obstruction of streets, lanes and alleys, the smoking of any pipe or cigar therein, or in any stable or other outbuildings. These regulations could only be in force upon the approbation of the selectmen, and being recorded by the town clerk and published a reasonable time in one or more newspapers.
Nothing seems to have been done under this act, beyond its adoption.
1860 TO 1870. POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
Political parties, before so numerous, and so uncertain in their action, had by this time become consolidated into two great par-
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
ties, each having definite principles and aims-the Republicans and the Democrats. Matters came to a crisis in 1860 by the election of Abraham Lincoln as president.
At the annual meeting in 1860 the vote was as follows for governor : Ichabod Goodwin, R., had 328; Asa P. Cate, D., had 187 votes. In the state Goodwin had 38,037; Cate, 33,544.
In 1861 Nathaniel Berry, R., had 316; George Stark, D., 159.
In the state Berry had 35,467; Stark, 3,141.
In 1862 Berry, R., had 292; Stark, D., 150. In the state Berry had 31,150; Stark, 28,566.
In 1863 Walter Harriman, I. D., had 28 votes; Ira A. Eastman, D., 168; Joseph A. Gilmore, R., 328. In the state, 363 scatter- ing. Walter Harriman, 4,372; Gilmore, 29,035; Eastman, 22,833. There was no choice by the people, but Gilmore was elected by the legislature. Harriman had always been a Demo- crat, but parted with his party on the issues of the war. He was among those who were known as War Democrats.
In 1864 Joseph A. Gilmore, R., had 379 votes; Edward W. Harrington, D., had 173. In the state Harrington had 31,340, Gilmore had 37,006.
At the annual meeting in 1865, Frederick Smyth, R., for gov- ernor, had 330 votes; Edward W. Harrington, D., had 132. In the state Harrington had 28,017, Smyth had 34,145.
In 1866, at the annual meeting, for governor, Frederick Smyth, R., had 334 votes; John G. Sinclair, D., had 144. In the state Sinclair had 30,484 votes, Smyth had 35,136.
In 1867, at the annual meeting, Walter Harriman, now become a Republican, for governor, had 335 votes; John G. Sinclair, D., had 167 votes. In the state Sinclair had 32,663 votes, Harriman had 35,809.
In 1868 Walter Harriman, R., had, for governor, 469 votes; John G. Sinclair, D., had 208. A large vote, the largest ever cast up to this date in the town and the largest in the state.
In the state Sinclair had 37,260, Harriman, 39,778, making with the addition of 30 scattering, 77,068.
For the first time three representatives to the legislature were chosen this year.
In 1869 at the annual meeting the vote for governor was, for
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
Onslow Stearns, R., 350 votes; for John Bedel, D., 200. In the state Bedel had 32,057; Stearns had 35,772.
In this period only the ordinary town matters will be noted. The centennial celebration and the war history will be given in separate articles.
It was not often that the people of the town had any great contests in their choice of officers, but one of the most remark- able struggles happened in 1860. The first representative was chosen at the first ballot, when the town proceeded to ballot for the second representative, with the following result:
Daniel Richardson had 181 votes.
Jewett D. Hosley had 174 votes.
Harlow S. Nash had 32 votes. Asa M. Moore had 14 votes.
Watson K. Eldridge had 6 votes. James H. Kendrick had 5 votes.
Charles B. Haddock had 4 votes. James Hubbard had 1 vote. James Murch had 1 vote. Philander Hall had 1 vote. John Clough had 1 vote. Emory Whitaker had 1 vote. John W. Bean had 1 vote. Farris Cummings had 1 vote. Rodney Lund had 1 vote.
There was no choice. There was none on the second ballot, but the candidates were not quite so numerous. In the third ballot a new candidate appears in the contest, Frances A. Cush- man, who was chosen by a majority of two votes. The historian remembers the day as full of excitement, the friends of the dif- ferent candidates shouting the names of their preference with all their might. Yet there was no violence. But of all those voted for that day not more than two are living today, Frances A. Cushman and Rodney Lund.
COUNTY FARM.
At the annual meeting, 1860, the town gave an expression of opinion on the question whether it was expedient to establish a county farm by a vote of 150 in favor and 10 against it.
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
BURYING GROUNDS.
In 1860 the selectmen were authorized to improve the bury- ing ground at Lebanon Center at an expense not exceeding two hundred dollars. This cemetery had become so fully occupied that more ground was needed, and in 1863 the selectmen were directed to "examine and report on location and grounds for a new burying ground for the town." In 1864 these instructions were renewed.
In 1867 the selectmen were instructed to "purchase such additions and make such repairs as they shall deem proper to the old Burying Ground near General Luther Aldens, sufficient to make it a Cemetery for the Town, and that the Moderator ap- point a Committee of three to cooperate and advise with the Selectmen." The committee were Daniel Richardson, Adoniram Smalley and Nathan B. Stearns. All this shows that there was a great variety of opinion as to the proper place for so sacred a purpose. The location mentioned above was the first ground devoted to this purpose.
In 1868 the matter was still undecided, for then this vote was passed : "That the Selectmen be authorized and directed to purchase land for a Burying Ground near the centre of the town."
In June of the same year the question came up again and a committee of three consisting of Nathan B. Stearns, Colby C. Benton and J. C. Sturtevant, was appointed to act with the selectmen and report at an adjourned meeting. In the meantime several different locations were examined, one of which was on land now owned by Horace Hatch, but it did not meet the minds of all the people, so the whole subject was referred to the same committee in a meeting held on August 8, to report at the next town meeting.
In 1869 the selectmen were instructed to select and purchase a lot for burial purposes before the next annual meeting, but the period closed without any final action, so difficult it was to suit all the people or even a majority of them.
In 1870 the committee purchased a tract of land for a ceme- tery, lying north of C. M. Messenger's dwelling-house, since known as the Trotting Park. But this did not satisfy the peo- ple, so at the annual meeting, 1871, the selectmen were directed
JESSE C. STURTEVANT.
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
to sell the land "for the most they could get," and that a com- mittee of three should be chosen to select new ground for a cemetery, and the committee to select a spot and ascertain the cost of erecting a receiving tomb and report to a future meeting called for that purpose.
F. A. Cushman, Orrin Bugbee, L. C. Pattee, committee. This committee made their report to the annual meeting in 1872, when the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved that the Town of Lebanon has not and, does not possess a suitable or convenient spot of ground for a Cemetery for the use of the centre and East part of the town, and with a view of the great and pressing necessity for immediate action, that a committee of three be chosen, who shall be and are hereby authorized to purchase and estab- lish a Cemetery, fence and lay out the same into lots to be deeded to persons purchasing the same, by the Selectmen, and to erect a public tomb on the same, and to make such other improvements as they shall deem necessary, and that the sum of three thousand dollars be appro- priated for this purpose.
The same committee was continued to carry out the terms of the resolution.
The committee purchased of J. C. Sturtevant the tract now known as Glenwood Cemetery. The tomb which had been so often voted to be built was constructed by P. H. Freeto & Sons. The ground was laid out into lots by C. A. Downs & Sons. The total cost of the cemetery, including the land, was about $4,000.
Thus the long difference of opinion as to the location of the cemetery was ended, though not to the satisfaction of every- body. But as time passes away the wisdom of the location be- comes apparent. It is secluded, yet within a few minutes' walk from the village. It has a varied surface, affording ad- vantages for great beauty of form. Constant improvement is now annually made, making it an attractive place for the final rest.
It has been noted as an interesting coincidence that the first occupant of both the village cemetery and of Glenwood bore the same family name-that of Hough.
SHADE TREES.
The following resolution indicates that the people were awak- ening to higher ideas as to their dwelling-place. They began
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
to wish it to be beautiful and attractive as well as convenient. At the annual meeting, 1861, they resolved, "that the inhabi- tants of the town be allowed to set out shade trees and make sidewalks on the sides of the streets, not to exceed eight feet in width, where the width of the street will admit of it." Not a little of the beauty of our village is owing to the work then begun and encouraged. Benjamin Gallup, now of Chicago, then a young man, deserves recognition for the trees he planted on School Street.
ENGINE CO. NO. 2.
In 1862 the town voted "to pay each member of Engine Com- pany No. 2 the sum of three dollars per annum" from the date of their organization, which amounted to $158.50.
In 1864 the town voted to pay the members of the company five dollars a year.
HEARSE.
At a special meeting held November 28, 1863, the selectmen were instructed to purchase a hearse for the town, to be kept at the hearse house in the village.
TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR THE POOR.
On March, 1864, the house on the poor farm was destroyed by fire, leaving the inmates without a home. April 7 a meeting of the town was held to consider the matter of rebuilding the house, at which they declined to raise money for that purpose, but au- thorized the selectmen "to buy or hire a house and land for the convenience of the town in the support of the town's poor, or otherwise provide as they shall deem best for the interests of the town."
The selectmen "deemed it best" to distribute the poor among different families in the town. The house was never rebuilt, nor any other bought or built. So far as the town poor are concerned the practice continues to the present time.
In 1865 the town authorized the selectmen to deed the town farm to G. W. Worthen. Price, $3,300.
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. HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
SEXTONS FOR CEMETERIES.
In 1866, at the annual meeting, the selectmen were instructed "to appoint for each of the public burying grounds, a suitable person to take charge of the hearse and take care of the grounds, and answer the calls of those desiring his services, by their pay- ing him for such service."
ENCOURAGEMENT OF MANUFACTURES.
At the annual meeting, 1866, the following resolution was adopted unanimously :
Resolved that we, the legal voters of the Town of Lebanon, do cor- dially extend a hearty invitation to Manufacturing capital to come among us, and that we will vote at the earliest opportunity to give our assent to the act entitled an act to encourage manufacturing, passed July 3, 1860.
On the 14th of April, 1866, the town adopted this law.
This was the first public encouragement given to manufac- turing by the town, which, continued from time to time, has been so effective in increasing its population and wealth.
PARK ON HANOVER STREET.
As early as 1866 there were plans to fence in a triangular piece of land at the junction of Hanover and High streets, for a park, for then Enoch F. Hough, Dan Storrs and others peti- tioned the town for liberty to build a fence there. The petition was referred to the selectmen.
On the 14th of April, 1866, upon the recommendation of the selectmen, leave was granted to Enoch F. Hough, Dan Storrs and others "to fence ten feet of the road Leading past Ziba Durkee's garden for the purpose of a Park and for no other purpose Provided that said E. F. Hough shall also give his heater piece lying between the three roads for the same pur- pose." Nearly thirty years passed before the plan was realized. It is a good use of the piece of land.
Much credit should be given to Miss Mary Lyman Storrs for her patience and perseverance in procuring the realization of a plan of so many years ago. In September, 1894, Frank G. Hough, son of E. F. Hough, presented the town with a deed of the "Heater piece."
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
ROADS DISCONTINUED ACROSS THE COMMON.
At the annual meeting in 1866, the town instructed the select- men to petition the supreme court for leave to discontinue all highways leading through the Common. In due time leave was granted.
TOWN HOUSE.
The lower part of the town house had remained substantially in the same condition in which it was when removed from the Common, a very inconvenient and unsightly room. Little had been done to the outside, notwithstanding all the votes which had been passed directing the painting and repairing. Mean- time the town had increased in population and wealth and de- sired a better place in which to transact its business and hold its gatherings for various purposes. They considered it,-and justly, too,-unworthy of a town such as Lebanon had then be- come, the most prominent in northern New Hampshire. It was not only inconvenient and uninviting to the people themselves, but likely to repel strangers who might wish to find a home in a town having, in many respects, great advantages and attrac- tions. The people began to talk and to plan about a new or bet- ter town hall with the following results :
At the annual meeting in 1868 the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved that a Committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to ascertain at what price the pewholders of the Universalist Society will dispose of their interest in the Town House Building, and that said Committee be authorized to procure plans and estimates of the pro- posed alterations, and to make all necessary arrangements for the pur- chase of the interest of the Universalist Society, and report at a special meeting of the town, to be called for that purpose at the earliest prac- ticable time.
The committee were A. W. Baker, I. C. Sturtevant, F. A. Cushman, J. W. Gerrish and Martin Buck.
On April 25, 1868, the committee made the following report:
We, the Committeee appointed at the last annual town meeting to ascertain at what price the pewholders of the Universalist Society will dispose of its interest in the town house building, and to procure plans and estimates of the proposed alterations, and to make all necessary ar- rangements for the purchase of the interests of said Universalist So- ciety, and to report at a special meeting of the town called for that
COL. FRANK C. CHURCHILL.
WILLIAM H. COTTON.
JOSEPH W. GERRISH.
ALPHEUS W. BAKER.
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
purpose, having performed the duties assigned us, respectfully submit the following report:
The Universalist Society, as a society, having by vote of the town gained permission to occupy the upper part of the house as a house of worship in 1835, and having now reserved to them in the deed of 1850 of the land on which the house now stands, all the right, title and in- terest which was granted to them by the vote of the town in 1835, have voted, at a meeting duly called, to exchange their interests in the upper part of the house, in case the town should vote to repair the house, for town purposes, for the same privileges in the lower part of the house they now have, in the upper part, or to abide the decision of disinter- ested appraisers.
At a meeting of the pew-holders it was voted to sell the pews to the town, the same to be appraised by a Committee of three disinterested persons. The Committee further report that they have procured plans and made estimates of the proposed alterations and that the plans by them procured are substantially as follows: To take out the whole in- terior of the house, to raise the building six feet; put on to the north end an addition of thirty feet; at the South end to build out 13 feet even with the tower; having the entrance through the bell tower; base- ment story 91/2 feet high. Upon the first floor it is proposed to have the entrance from the front with double doors, an entry on either side of which are to be stairs leading to the gallery. Directly opposite the outer doors are the doors opening into the main room, designated the audience floor. At the North end of the house is the platform 31/2 feet high, 15 feet wide and 26 feet long, on either side of which are. ante- rooms 12 feet square, opening to the platform. The gallery itself is to be built around the south side of the house and upon the East and West sides, extending as far as the scond window from the North end of the house. The bell deck to be remodeled and repaired, to corre- spond in outward appearance and symetry to the house. All to be clapboarded and painted.
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