USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lebanon > History of Lebanon, N.H., 1761-1887 > Part 33
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"Mr. Chairman of the Board of Selectmen: In April, 1882, the first steps were taken looking to the erection of the memorial structure which we have today assembled to dedicate. The Memorial Building Association was at once formed and subscrip-
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
tions solicited for the purpose. After a sufficient sum had been pledged to warrant it, a building committee was elected consist- ing of Lieuts. Ferdinand Davis, Alpheus Baker, and myself. It is needless to recite the many obstacles that confronted the com- mittee. They were indeed many, and at times discouraging. We will simply say that after the town had appropriated $3,000 our citizens took hold of the work of raising the necessary additional funds with a zeal and determination worthy of the town in which we live.
"The corner-stone was laid by the Grand Lodge F. and A. Masons of the State of New Hampshire on Memorial Day, 1886. Hon. A. M. Shaw was president of the day and Rev. Charles A. Downs delivered an oration, and I may say the whole town took part in the exercises. After a struggle of five years the building was completed. It is a substantial edifice, well calculated to last for a long period of years, and suited, we believe, to the purposes for which it was designed. About two-thirds of the money used has been raised by subscription. The town made a second appro- priation in 1889, amounting to $580. Its total cost, including land, has been $9,239.26, and every dollar expended is supported by itemized vouchers, which at the proper time we desire to turn over to the trustees of the building elected at the annual town meeting held in March, 1890, and we respectfully ask an audit of our account. The building was designed by one of our asso- ciates, Ferdinand Davis. The foundations were laid by W. W. Thompson and M. A. Northrop. The timber was furnished by L. E. Hilliard and the framing was superintended by Nathan W. Morse. The roof is probably the strongest of any building of its size in New Hampshire. The bricks were made by Jason Dens- more and laid under the superintendence of Sylvester Austin. The slating was done by J. H. Orcutt of Northfield, Vt. The in- side finish was put in by Muchmore & Whipple and Miner & Bucklin under the direction of Carlos Dyer. This work and the stair work, done by Harlan P. Goodrich, are models of their kind. The painting was done by W. H. Morris. The furnace was bought at a reduced price of C. M. Baxter. The Memorial win- dows were presented by friends of distinguished Lebanon sol- diers. Nearly all materials and labor have been furnished by artisans and merchants of our own town. In employing work-
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THE TOWN IN THE REBELLION.
men veteran soldiers have invariably been given the preference. I believe, sir, that the long wait since the close of the war before erecting a monumental structure has come more from a profound desire to have an appropriate memorial than from feelings of indifference or neglect of duty on the part of the generous and patriotic citizens of Lebanon. And now, Mr. Chairman, having ยท to the best of our ability performed the duties assigned us, nothing remains for the committee but to ask your acceptance of our work and to place in your hands the keys to the building." (Delivering the keys.)
The building lot was purchased by the Building Association, and the title held by that organization up to July 29, 1891, when it was deeded to the town with the following limitations and con- ditions: "That the above described premises shall be forever preserved for a Soldiers' Memorial, for a Free Public Library and for a place for meeting for veteran soldiers and sons of vet- erans, and for only such purposes as shall preserve the memory of patriots and teach coming generations loyalty and devotion to their country."
The Lebanon Soldiers' Memorial Building was the first to be erected in New Hampshire.
The Granite State Free Press, in its issue of July 11, 1890, gave a very full account of the dedication of the Memorial Building.
24
The Village Fire Precinct and Great Fire of 1887.
State of New Hampshire.
To the Inhabitants of the town of Lebanon in the County of Grafton in said State qualified to vote in town affairs and resident in the ter- ritory hereinafter described viz: Commencing at the South East corner of Uriah Amsden's (H B. Bentons) home farm, thence running easterly to the 4th N H Turnpike (so called) ; thence by the south side of said road to the North East corner. of W. K. Eldridge's Benton lot; thence Westerly by said Eldridge's land to the road leading from Lebanon Center Village. to Dartmouth College; thence Westerly to the North East corner of J. W. Pecks; thence Westerly to the North West corner of said Peck's farm; thence South Westerly to the Staple Bridge (so called and Mascoma River; thence up said river on the South side of O. W. Websters land (now F B. Kendricks); thence Southerly to the South West corner of said Webster's land thence Easterly to the South East corner of Mrs Fanny White's land thence Easterly to the place of beginning.
You are hereby notified to meet at the Town House in said town on Tuesday the 25th instant at 2 o'clock p. m. to act on the following sub- jects
1st to choose a Moderator
2d To see if the Inhabitants living within the bounds of the above described territory will adopt an Act for making farther provisions for the extinguishment of fires approved July 6 1849
Given under our hands and seal this eighth day of September A. D. 1849
William Cole Samuel Wood 2d Abel Low Jr - -
Selectmen of Lebanon
A True copy Geo. S. Kendrick Clerk
At a legal meeting duly notified and holden at the Town House in Lebanon, County of Grafton on the 25th day of September A. D. 1849, the legal voters, residents within the territory described by the Select- men of said Lebanon in their warrant dated September 8th 1849. by major vote
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THE VILLAGE FIRE PRECINCT, ETC.
1st chose Abram Pushee Moderator, who being present took the oath of office by law prescribed
2 Chose George S. Kendrick Clerk
3. Voted to adopt the Act entitled "An act making further provis- ions for the extinguishing of fires"
4 Voted to adjourn this meeting, to meet at the same place (The Town House in Lebanon) Saturday, October 6th 1849, at 7 o'clock P. M. George S. Kendrick, Clerk.
1849 Oct. 6. Met agreeably to adjournment, and 1st Geo. S. Kend- rick being present took the oath of office by law prescribed
2 Voted to hear the report of a Committee upon the expence of a fire engine and apparatus
3 Voted to accept the report
4 Voted to raise the sum of $700. for the purpose of purchasing an engine and all suitable apparatus.
5. Voted that this meeting be dissolved
Geo. S. Kendrick.
This was the beginning of a separate organization for the extinguishment of fires. Its powers were somewhat limited and not well defined. The meetings were called by the selectmen for some time after the organization.
At a meeting held December 3, 1849, the precinct again voted to raise the sum of $700, to purchase a fire engine, hose and other necessary apparatus, and building a house for the same for the use of the precinct. Hiram A. Simons, E. J. Durant and John Burnham were appointed a committee to carry out the wishes of the precinct.
At a meeting held December 25, 1849, "Voted to raise $300 in addition to the $700, to purchase an Engine and apparatus."
The time of the annual meeting was voted to be on the first Wednesday after the second Tuesday of March.
At a meeting held on the 9th day of November 1854 the Precinct voted to refer the question of an Engine House and land, additional Hose and repairs, to a Committee to report at an adjourned meeting W. N. Baker, E. J. Darant and Lorin Smith to be the Committee
Nov. 16 1854, heard the report of the Committee and voted to raise the sum of six hundred dollars for the purchase of additional Hose, procuring by lease or by building an Engine House.
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
J. H. Kendrick, Lorin Smith, and J. C. Sturtevant appointed a Com- mittee to carry out these votes. Meeting adjourned to Dec 7 1854
From this time onward to about 1869 little can be learned from the records. An engine was purchased with hose, and an engine house built upon the ground now occupied by the present house, and various other provisions made or projected to increase pro- tection against fires.
Meetings of the precinct were called by the selectmen, and the same authority appointed the fire wards.
In 1868 the precinct was incorporated under the provisions of what is known as the Keene Act. The precinct was organized under this act at a meeting called by the selectmen for August 24, 1869. F. A. Cushman chosen moderator. The fire wards were J. C. Sturtevant, Solomon Cole, P. E. Davis, W. S. Moses, M. P. Durkee, W. N. Baker, C. C. Benton.
Something of the conditions of the precinct property may be gathered from the following report:
Engine House 18x30 one story high in good condition except the under pinning which is a very poor condition and the grading in front needs repairing. One Hose Cart One Fire Engine in good condition. 300 feet of new hose in good condition 50 feet lengths 300 feet of old, as good as could be expected. 50 feet, old, 25 ft Lengths one hose cart in good condition. One stove, two lanterns O C.
Signed N. B. Marston Foreman
Also two ladders, one of which was out of repair; two hooks, one in bad condition.
A committee, called a water committee, began a report which continued for several meetings. The purpose of this committee was to find or make a supply of water to use for extinguishing fires. In the course of their investigations they asked and re- ceived one hundred dollars to enable them "to employ a practical engineer to make surveys, give distances, etc."
At a meeting held October 18, 1869, the precinct voted to pur- chase a force pump, forty-five rods of suitable iron pipe to lay from the river to the park, and hydrants to be attached to the same; to purchase 500 feet of hose, with the necessary couplings and nozzles; to purchase five ladders, three roof ladders, 100 feet 11/2-inch rope, necessary hooks and pikes; to provide a place to
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THE VILLAGE FIRE PRECINCT, ETC.
keep the same; to defray the necessary expense to ditch and lay said pipe, and put said pump in good running order, all to be done in two months from the date of the meeting.
They also voted to raise three thousand dollars to carry to completion all these projects.
C. C. Benton and P. E. Davis and Solomon Cole were ap- pointed the agents of the precinct to superintend the work.
This committee was authorized to hire the three thousand dol- lars for twelve months upon precinct notes. L. C. Pattee and J. W. Gerrish offered in the meeting to loan the money at six per cent interest, payable in gold, and principal in currency, which offer was gladly accepted.
After several adjournments, January 10, 1870, the above com- mittee made a report of their work, from which it appears that the expense of the pump, iron pipe, ditching, etc., was $1,549.83.
We learn also that cement was used in the joints of the pipe, which upon trial proved insufficient, when the pump was dis- connected from the pipe and 650 feet of hose attached with which several trials were made as to the power of the pump, which proved satisfactory in part only. It was found that the pump was lacking in power. It appears that the work was done at great disadvantage from the lateness of the season. The hose was not purchased by the committee.
At the annual meeting held 1870, a petition from the members of Mascoma Fire Engine Co., No. 2, asking for the building of a new engine house and hall suitable for the company to meet in for the transaction of general business was presented. Upon this petition a committee of investigation was appointed-P. E. Davis and W. N. Baker-and the meeting adjourned for two weeks. The records are silent as to this meeting.
The next meeting was called, upon petition, by the selectmen, to be held August 13, 1870. For some reason which does not appear the preceding meeting was illegal. New officers were chosen. The committee which had reported the January preced- ing, made an additional report, from which it appears that the iron pipe had been relaid. Upon trial of the pump the system proved entirely satisfactory, throwing on the common two streams equal to two fire engines.
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
It was also voted to authorize the selectmen to levy and collect a tax in the precinct amounting to eighteen hundred dollars.
A resolution offered by E. H. Cheney inaugurating the attempt to find a full and reliable supply of water for the precinct. The provision of the resolution was as follows :
A Committee to be elected by ballot whose duty should be to secure the services of a competent and disinterested Engineer not a resident of the town to make surveys of several proposed routes and plans for supplying the Precinct with water including Stony Brook and Enfield Pond; the practibility of supplying water by hydraulic rams force pumps to a reservoir on the hill East of the Village, to make careful estimates of each plan, report of the whole to be submitted to an ad- journed meeting.
The sum of three hundred dollars to be appropriated to pay the ex- pense
The committee elected were William Duncan, P. E. Davis and L. C. Pattee.
At the same meeting the fire wards were authorized to buy 500 feet of hose, and give the precinct's note for the amount expended.
The force pump was located in Hall's mill, now W. F. Shaw's.
At an adjourned meeting September 3, 1870, the committee re- ported progress and the meeting adjourned for four weeks. Adjournments continued to October 24, 1870, when P. B. Sawyer of Manchester, the engineer employed, read his report, which the precinct accepted and ordered a vote of thanks. Some difficul- ties about the location of the force pump and the use of a wheel . to operate it having arisen, a committee was appointed to confer with Mr. Hall.
Also voted that the committee be instructed to report upon the probable expense of building reservoirs in all parts of the pre- cinct, and supplying them with water for fire purposes.
At an adjourned meeting held November 5, 1870, Mr. Duncan reported that ten cisterns would be necessary for use of the pre- cinct at a cost of forty dollars each. It was voted that the pump system be adopted; that is, that the cisterns should be filled by pumping water from the river.
It was further voted that the sum of fifteen thousand dollars be raised to carry into effect this and other votes of the meeting,
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THE VILLAGE FIRE PRECINCT, ETC.
including the construction of ten iron cisterns, but at a subse- quent meeting the whole action was annulled. The committee reported their action with Mr. Hall, and the precinct voted to pay him one hundred and fifty dollars.
The affairs of the precinct seem to have fallen into confusion at this time, approaching disorganization. No meetings were held until the 26th of September, 1871, when a meeting was called by the selectmen, upon petition, to choose all necessary officers and for other purposes, especially to consider the financial con- dition of the precinct.
The officers were duly chosen, the finances discussed, and ad- journment followed to September 29, 1871. The clerk was di- rected to make such arrangements with holders of notes against the precinct as he could best do, either by extension of the notes or borrowing money to pay them.
A resolution was also adopted to introduce running water to be stored in a reservoir on the hill east of the village.
A meeting was called October 17, 1871, to act upon the fol- lowing articles :
1. To adopt the Act of 1868, to enable the precinct to estab- lish water-works.
2. To choose a committee of five to carry out the provisions of the resolutions adopted at the previous meeting.
3. To authorize the board of fire wards to erect a hose tower.
The first article received a negative vote. The second and third were passed, and the meeting adjourned without day.
At a meeting held November 2, 1871, voted by a small majority to adopt the Act of 1868, establishing water-works in Lebanon.
At an adjournment of this meeting it was voted that a com- mittee of five be raised to put the force pump in working order in some suitable place, and to purchase a chemical engine.
The committee consisted of J. W. Gerrish, P. E. Davis, Wm. Duncan, Solomon Cole, and E. J. Durant.
At a meeting held June, 1872, the fire wards were authorized and instructed to procure and place ready for use proper and sufficient pipes and hydrants to connect with the force pumps of J. C. Sturtevant & Co., and extend the same so as to furnish the best practical protection to the property in that vicinity, and also to connect with and supply the hydrants near the common, and
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
also to locate and put in proper cisterns or reservoirs, not to ex- ceed six in number, provided that an agreement satisfactory to the fire wards can be obtained of said Sturtevant & Co., relative to the use of said pumps.
The fire wards were directed to borrow, upon the credit of the precinct, such sum of money as may be required to carry out the action of this meeting, not to exceed four thousand dollars.
A contract carrying out these instructions was made with the J. C. Sturtevant Co.
The chemical engine was purchased on trial and found to be satisfactory, and has continued to prove one of the best invest- ments the precinct ever made.
At a meeting held September 19, 1872, the precinct voted to purchase a new fire engine, and appointed Orimel T. Muchmore, A. W. Baker and P. E. Davis a committee to purchase it; $2,500 appropriated for the purchase.
At a meeting held February 8, 1873, the following action was taken :
Resolved that the Selectmen of the Town of Lebanon be and are hereby requested to enlarge the boundaries of the Center Village Fire Precinct of said town of Lebanon to the boundaries of the town, and that said Selectmen be requested to appraise the property of the Pre- cinct and when the Precinct shall be enlarged they shall assume the debt of the present Precinct, to the amount of said appraisment, and the present Precinct shall pay the balance of indebtedness up to the date the same shall be enlarged
The meaning of the above resolution is somewhat vague, but when "the property of the precinct" which was to be appraised is limited to fire engines, hose and other apparatus, the meaning is clearer. The enlarged precinct was to assume whatever in- debtedness there might be upon that kind of property, but for whatever debts there might be for construction of iron pipes buried, etc., the original precinct was to be held responsible.
The action of the town on this extension of the boundaries of the precinct was as follows :
At the annual meeting held in 1875, the following resolution was adopted :
Whereas the present Fire Precinct of Lebanon comprises more than one half of the taxable property of said town and have already expended
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THE VILLAGE FIRE PRECINCT, ETC.
large sums for the purpose of supplying suitable apparatus for the ex- tinguishment of fires which is virtually for the benefit of the town
And whereas, under existing regulations, the present fire department have no jurisdiction or authority to act outside of the limits of the present Fire Precinct. Therefore;
Resolved that the Selectmen be instructed to so extend the limits of the Fire Precinct as to include the whole town
It will be noted that this action of the town was two years af- ter that of the precinct.
The following is the record of a meeting of the fire wards held March 26, 1873: "The meeting was called to order by W. N. Baker, who stated that the meeting was called for the purpose of receiving the new Fire Engine from the hands of the Com- mittee appointed by the Precinct to purchase the same. The Committee submitted a report of their doings and formally de- livered the new Fire Engine, the Athletic No. 3, into the hands of the Fire Wards."
The engine was left in the charge of the foreman of Mascoma No. 2 until other arrangements could be made. A company was formed to take charge of the Athletic, to serve without pay. At the same time C. M. Hoffman was requested to form a company for the extinguisher.
At a meeting held June 4, 1873, the precinct voted to purchase a hook and ladder outfit at a cost not exceeding $700; also to purchase a uniform for the Athletic No. 3 company at a cost not exceeding $480.
At this time the affairs of the precinct were in great uncer- tainty and confusion. Many doubted the legality of their votes and action.
In 1873 the Legislature passed an act recognizing the Lebanon Center Village Fire Precinct, as duly organized under the laws of the state, with all the powers and privileges incident to such organizations.
By section 2 the precinct could, at any meeting duly notified and holden, ratify and confirm any votes heretofore passed by the precinct, and any action heretofore taken by the precinct, and any acts of the officers and agents of said precinct heretofore done and performed in pursuance of any vote or action of said precinct, and all such votes, actions and acts when so ratified and
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
confirmed shall be valid, legal and binding upon said precinct and the inhabitants and property thereof.
At a meeting held August 2, 1873, to consider this act, the precinct found it difficult to decide what votes and action to ratify.
One resolution offered was "to ratify and confirm the acts and doings of all former meetings of the precinct, excepting four reso- lutions." What these resolutions were does not appear. The resolution was withdrawn and the meeting adjourned to August 16.
At this meeting a motion was made, "to commence with the records of the precinct and ratify such resolutions and motions as may be required." The motion was carried. A motion to "appoint a Committee of three to examine the records and report what portion was necessary to be ratified" was lost.
Another motion was made, "to appoint a Committee of three to examine the records of the Precinct and make a report in two weeks of all it was necessary to ratify." This motion prevailed. A part of the committee appointed by the chair declined to serve. While there was delay in securing this committee another motion was made, "to ratify and confirm all the Precinct's acts and do- ings at former meetings with the boundaries as they now stand recorded, together with all the acts which the officers and agents have heretofore done." The motion prevailed.
A short time after this wholesale ratification of all acts relieved the precinct from a serious difficulty. In obedience to the in- structions of the precinct, the chief engineer had purchased uni- forms for Athletic No. 3. This instruction was given June 4, 1873. The action was considered illegal, as being outside of the powers of the precinct. Nevertheless the creditors were pressing for their pay and it was held to be hard to hold the chief engineer personally responsible for the payment of the bills. Some one in examining the records discovered that the instruction given to the chief engineer was just previous to the passage of the act of the Legislature, and was one of the doings which had been rati- fied. Accordingly the precinct ordered the bills to be paid.
In 1875 a petition was presented to the selectmen requesting that the boundaries of the precinct might be extended to those of the town. The town at its annual meeting the same year had
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THE VILLAGE FIRE PRECINCT, ETC.
voted to instruct the selectmen to make the change in the bound- aries. When the matter came before the selectmen in a formal manner there was no other course open to them but to grant the request of the petitioners. And this was their decision and a proper record of it made upon the books of the precinct. From the record it does not appear that there was any opposition made to this change.
The precinct had adjourned the choice of its officers until the decision of the selectmen was made known, so that the rest of the town could take part in the election.
At the meeting of the precinct it was decided to elect eleven fire wards, one at East Lebanon, two at West Lebanon, one at large and seven at the Center.
These fire wards were Charles B. Plastridge at East Lebanon, Jewett D. Hosley and A. S. Eaton at West Lebanon, John T. Breck at large, J. C. Sturtevant, H. P. Goodrich, A. W. Baker, Moses P. Durkee, C. P. Mahan, D. B. Emerson at the Center Village.
This union, although sought by both parties, did not prove to be a happy one. It subsisted but a single year, during which a precinct tax was assessed upon the whole town. No record exists of the dissolution of the union, but the historian learns after much and patient inquiry that it was dissolved by petition to the selectmen by those outside of the original bounds of the precinct. No opposition was made by the precinct.
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