USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > History of Salem, N.H. > Part 16
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1889 Charles S. Woodbury, Loren B. Mclaughlin, Daniel Mer- rill.
1890 Loren B. Mclaughlin, Daniel Merrill, Frank L. Woodbury. 1891 Levi W. Taylor, Frank L. Woodbury, Loren E. Bailey. 1892 Frank L. Woodbury, Loren E. Bailey, John P. Atwood. 1893 Charles E. Knight, Frank D. Wilson, Willis Hutchins. 1894 Frank D. Wilson, Willis Hutchins, Charles T. Maxwell.
1895 Frank D. Wilson, Forrest M. Martin, Henry P. Taylor. 1896 Frank D. Wilson, Forrest M. Martin, Wallace W. Cole. 1897 Frank D. Wilson, Wallace W. Cole, Forrest M. Martin. 1898 Frank D. Wilson, Wallace W. Cole, Forrest M. Martin. 1899 Charles S. Woodbury, Prescott B. Emerson, Frank F. Wheeler.
1900 Charles S. Woodbury, Frank F. Wheeler, Prescott B. Emerson.
1901 John C. Crowell, Frank D. Davis, Charles T. Maxwell.
1902 Benjamin R. Wheeler, Charles T. Maxwell, Lewis F. Soule. 1903 Frank F. Wheeler, John Turner, Frank D. Davis.
1904 Benjamin R. Wheeler, Wallace W. Cole, George W. Thom. 1905 Wallace W. Cole, Benjamin R. Wheeler, Frank D. Wilson. 1906 Benjamin R. Wheeler, Frank D. Wilson, Lewis F. Soule. 1907 Charles A. Kimball, Ebenezer Duston, Edwin G. Cate.
In 1744 the district was requested to send delegates to the General Assembly, which then held its sessions at Portsmouth.
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CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
Accordingly Daniel Peaslee and John Ober were chosen. From this time on the delegates were chosen nearly every year. From 1752 to 1777 Salem and Pelham had one representative jointly. And as the balance of voting power was in Salem it was difficult for our neighbors to elect one of their own citizens. After ten years of such experience an attempt was made to break the chain of succession. Major Joseph Wright had been elected to rep- resent these two towns, after an election in which Pelham had been able to exert but a slight influence. In the journal of the House for March 18, 1762, we find record of petitions received from Merrimack and Dunstable, signed by large numbers of free- holders in these towns, "praying that the election of Mr. Jospeh Wright for Salem and Pelham be set aside being contrary to the Constitution and Laws of the Government." That these peti- tions met with no favorable action in the House is evidenced by the fact that Major Wright held his seat for twelve consecutive years, with the same diligent execution of his office that char- acterized his career in town affairs.
Another attempt to prevent the representative from taking his seat was made in 1783, in the case of Capt. John Allen. A peti- tion signed by forty-eight voters of Salem set forth that "some of the voters had not taken the oath of the state before voting, as required by the laws of the state," and demanded a new elec- tion. But at once a counter petition was presented, signed by ninety-four voters, urging the "great expense and inconvenience of a new election," with no possibility of a change in the result. Captain Allen took his seat.
The early sessions of the legislature were held at Portsmouth, later alternating between that town and Concord. The first ses- sion of the House under the new constitution was held at Con- cord, June 2, 1784. Capt. John Allen again was present for Salem.
From 1859 the town has had two representatives, usually re- turning them for a second term. Biennial sessions were insti- tuted in 1879 and are still held, except in cases of special ses- sions. Following is a list of the members of the House from Salem :
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
1744 Daniel Peaslee, John Ober.
1745 Henry Sanders.
1746 John Ober.
1747 Daniel Peaslee, Ebenezer Ayer.
1748 Ebenezer Ayer, John Ober.
1749 Daniel Peaslee.
1750 John Ober.
1752 Henry Sanders.
1758 William Richardson.
1762-'74 Joseph Wright.
1775 Jacob Butler, Jr.
1776 Caleb Duston.
1777 Jonathan Wheeler, resigned. Jeremiah Dow.
1778 Jeremiah Dow.
1779-'80 Timothy Ladd.
1781-'82 Caleb Duston.
1783-'84 John Allen.
1785 Caleb Duston.
1786 Amos Dow.
1787 Thomas Dow.
1788 Jeremiah Dow.
1789-'92 Thomas Dow.
1793 James Webster.
1794-'96 Joseph Wardwell.
1797-'99 Silas Betton.
1800 Thomas Dow. 1801-'04 Jesse Webster.
1805-'09 David Allen.
1
1810-'11 Silas Betton.
1812-'15 John Clendenin.
1816 Joshua Merrill. 1817-'19 Israel Woodbury.
1820-'27 John Clendenin. 1828-'30 Thornton Betton. 1831 Christopher Morrison. 1833-'35 John Woodbury. 1836-'37 John F. Tenney.
2-HOSE-2
1
HOSE HOUSE NO. 2, AND SPICKET BRIDGE. (M 373)
1
THE OLD SILAS HALL HOUSE. (M 119) (See page 195)
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CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
1838-'39 David Messer.
1840-'41 John H. Thompson. 1842 John F. Tenney. 1844-'45 Nathaniel Woodbury.
1846 David Messer. 1847 John Woodbury. 1849-'50 Richard Woodbury. 1852 Moores Bailey.
1853-'54 Enoch Taylor. 1855-'56 John R. Wheeler.
1858 Edward S. Woodbury.
1859 John F. Tenney, John H. Lancaster. 1860-'61 Joseph Webster, William G. Crowell. 1862-'63 Henry S. Beckford, Lowell Reed. 1864-'65 Charles Austin, Isaac Woodbury. 1866 Edward S. Woodbury, George N. Austin.
1867 Matthew H. Taylor, George N. Austin.
1868 John W. Wheeler, Matthew H. Taylor. 1869 John W. Wheeler, Joel C. Carey.
1870 Levi Cluff, Joel C. Carey.
1871 Levi Cluff, Silas Hall.
1872 Silas Hall, Benjamin R. Wheeler. 1873 Richard Taylor, Benjamin R. Wheeler. 1874 Stephen Bailey, Levi W. Taylor.
1875 Richard Taylor, John W. Wheeler.
1876 George C. Gordon, John W. Wheeler.
1877 William B. Kimball, George C. Gordon.
1878 William B. Kimball, Willard W. Merrill. 1879-'80 Matthew H. Taylor. 1881-'82 Gilman D. Kelley.
1883-'84 Charles T. Maxwell, Joel C. Carey. 1885-'86 William R. Wheeler, Thornton M. Russ. 1887-'88 Peter Batchelder, Milton G. Woodbury. 1889-'90 Milton G. Woodbury, Oliver G. Woodbury. 1891-'92 Charles Kimball, Thomas Duston. 1893-'94 Gilman Corning, Wallace W. Cole. 1895-'96 Frank D. Wilson, Rufus A. Tilton. 1897-'98 James Ewins, Charles F. Kimball.
14
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
1899-1900 Benjamin R. Wheeler, Forrest M. Martin.
1901-'02 John W. Wheeler, Loren E. Bailey.
1903-'04 Daniel A. Abbott, Howard L. Gordon.
1905-'06 John W. Wheeler, Rufus A. Tilton.
1907-'08 John J. Hunt, Charles E. Knight.
Salem has succeeded in placing seven of her citizens in the state senatorship. Their terms of office were as follows :
1800-'03 Silas Betton.
1836-'38 John Woodbury.
1871-'73 Matthew H. Taylor.
1877-'79 John W. Wheeler.
1883-'84 Benjamin R. Wheeler.
1891-'92 Frank P. Woodbury.
1905-'06 Wallace W. Cole.
John W. Wheeler was elected to the governor's council in 1881, where he served for two years. He has had a very wide acquaintance among the public men of the state.
But one Salem man has ever been honored with a seat in Congress. This man was Hon. Silas Betton, who was a member of the Eighth and Ninth Congresses, 1803 and 1805, as repre- sentative. One other, however, received the nomination, but failed of election. This was Hon. John Woodbury, who was senator in 1836-'38.
POSTOFFICE AND MAIL SERVICE.
In 1786 the first arrangement was made for the regular dis- tribution of mail in the state. Portsmouth was the center of the system, which employed two posts. They rode alternately, one each week. . The first started Monday and followed a route from Portsmouth to Exeter, Nottingham, Concord, Plymouth, Haver- hill, Orford, Hanover, then returned through Boscawen, New- field, Canterbury, Epsom, Newmarket, to the starting point. The second started Thursday of the next week from Portsmouth to Exeter, Kingston, Chester, Londonderry, Litchfield, Amherst, returning by way of Dunstable, Salem, Plaistow, Kingston, to Portsmouth. This gave each town a mail every two weeks, while Exeter was included in both routes.
Whether this system was long employed we do not know.
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CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
There is no mention in the records at Concord of any change. When the Londonderry Turnpike was opened in 1804 the mail was transferred to the stage line, coming through Boston to the central New Hampshire cities and towns. The first postoffice in Salem was in the old tavern at the Center, the proprietor, Phineas Gordon, being the first postmaster. It was next transferred to the Ewins store in 1814. The stage left the turnpike at Mes- ser's and came directly to the Center with the mail. Thence it proceeded over the Canobie Lake road, past the Kelley home- stead, coming upon the Turnpike again near Gould's mill in Windham. Stages which did not carry mail kept the Turnpike for the entire course.
In 1831-'32 Mark Webster was postmaster. He transferred the postoffice to the Turnpike, having the room in the basement of the Silas Hall house for that purpose. Here he had a small table with a single long drawer in which he kept the mail. When a person called for letters he would look through the contents of the drawer. It was many years before the volume of mail was sufficient to warrant or even suggest the use of a box system of distribution. No stamps were used; the postmaster took the price of postage and marked the letter with a lead pencil as paid for. It cost six cents to send a letter, and a proportionately large rate for newspapers.
Each postmaster appointed kept the office wherever most con- venient for his business. Thus the location was frequently changed. The complete list of postmasters of Salem, with the date of appointment of each is as follows:
Phineas Gordon (established)
John Ewins
April 1, 1804 July 1, 1814
M. A. Webster
February 7, 1831
J. C. Ewins
March 27, 1833
Silas Hall
September 29, 1849
J. R. Wheeler
February 1, 1850
Rawson Coburn
April 6, 1855
G. C. Gordon
October 4, 1861
C. I. Bowker
February 5, 1879
John Austin
October 1, 1882
J. A. Martin
July 29, 1885
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
Rawson Coburn James Ewins
April 8, 1886
July 13, 1889
L. B. Mclaughlin
July 29, 1893
G. O. Reynolds June 16, 1897
The next postoffice established in town was that at North Salem, in 1831. At first the mail was brought only every two weeks. In 1837, when J. H. Thompson was postmaster, the ser- vice was found very inadequate to supply the demands of the lower part of the village. Thompson lived on the hill east of Cowbell Corner, and kept the postoffice in the store near the river (M 614). He brought the mail once a week from Haver- hill in a wooden box about two feet long. It was not until about 1870 that two mails a week were received at this office. And in 1880, when a third was added, people thought they were mount- ing to the top notch of modern convenience.
A list of the postmasters at North Salem is here appended :
N. B. Duston, Jr. (established) July 22, 1831
J. H. Thompson John Chase E. G. Duston John Taylor
November 4, 1837
February 13, 1838
April 29, 1844
M. H. Taylor
May 29, 1858
James Taylor
August 2, 1861
M. H. Taylor
April 22, 1862
W. G. Crowell
May 5, 1865
M. H. Taylor
December 11, 1866
Moses Whitaker
May 8, 1871
G. H. Taylor M. H. Taylor
June 11, 1873
J. H. Taylor
May 29, 1879
L. W. Taylor
December 30, 1884
G. W. Taylor Thos. Duston
April 11, 1893
L. W. Taylor
October 18, 1894
M. H. Taylor H. P. Taylor
January 16, 1901 July 3, 1903
The postoffice at the Depot was established in 1863, when the growth of that village first began to indicate something of its
June 10, 1850
November 11, 1872
December 15, 1888
HON. MATTHEW HARVEY TAYLOR.
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CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
future promise. Six men, covering eight terms, have held the office :
J. C. Carey (established) July 20, 1863
J. A. Troy
August 15, 1870
R. A. Tilton
December 7, 1882
F. C. Buxton
February 28, 1883
James Ayer August 24, 1885
F. C. Buxton
May 13, 1889
M. G. Woodbury
April 11, 1893
F. C. Buxton
April 16, 1897
The office has been located in the stores at the Depot, usually that of the postmaster.
The last postoffice within the territory of Salem is at Canobie Lake. It was established February 3, 1886. The postmaster appointed at that time was Albert O. Alexander, who has held the position ever since.
The mail for Salem and North Salem is brought by the Boston & Maine Railroad to Salem Depot, and from there taken to the Center by the Southern New Hampshire electrics. Here the North Salem mail is turned over to Henry Wilson, who drives the stage between these last named villages. From Salem Depot a rural delivery route is laid out which supplies mail to outlying residents in all parts of the town, except the extreme northeast. These are included in the route from Westville.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
One of the most noteworthy civic occurrences in the history of Salem was the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anni- versary of the incorporation of the town. To be exact in date this should have come on the eleventh of May. But as the Old Home Week observance was planned for the third week of August it was thought best to defer the anniversary affair and unite the two into one grand celebration. The date was fixed as August 14, 1900. Early in the year committees were appointed and work begun on the general arrangements. The officers and committees selected were as follows :
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
LIST OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES. PRESIDENT. Charles T. Woodbury. VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Charles S. Woodbury, Frank F. Wheeler, Prescott B. Emerson.
SECRETARY. John F. Hall.
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.
Daniel A. Abbott, Miss Emma Webber,
Miss Mary E. Hall, Levi W. Taylor
TREASURER. William E. Lancaster.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Frank D. Wilson,
Eugene W. Stevens,
Kimball M. Mclaughlin, Loren E. Bailey,
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
Loren E. Bailey, William E. Lancaster,
Charles H. Mirrick.
INVITATION COMMITTEE.
John W. Wheeler, Levi W. Taylor,
James Ayer.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE.
E. W. Stevens,
Frank D. Wilson,
James Ewins,
Daniel A. Abbott, K. M. Mclaughlin, Wm. E. Lancaster.
RECEPTION COMMITTEE.
Levi Woodbury, Prescott C. Hall,
Fred C. Buxton,
Frank P. Woodbury,
James Ayer,
John W. Wheeler,
Matthew H. Taylor,
George C. Gordon,
Benj. R. Wheeler, Wallace W. Cole,
Thornton M. Russ, Stephen S. Shannon,
William H. Presby,
Forrest M. Martin, Levi W. Taylor.
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CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
MUSIC COMMITTEE.
Benj. R. Wheeler, Clinton L. Silver, John C. Crowell. DECORATION COMMITTEE. Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Stevens,
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer F. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel A. Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace R. Holt,
John J. Richardson, Charles H. Ayer,
Miss Alice Perkins, Miss Emma Webber.
SPORTS COMMITTEE.
Ernest L. Silver, J. W. Crowell, Arthur Cross, David S. Emery, Ernest Woodbury.
William H. Presby,
HISTORICAL COMMITTEE.
James Ayer, Thomas D. Lancaster, -
Matthew H. Taylor.
DINNER COMMITTEE.
Loren B. Mclaughlin, Kimball M. Mclaughlin, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Willis G. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Atwood, Mr. and Mrs. David Emery, Mr. and Mrs. Loren E. Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Haigh, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Joy, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bolduc, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer F. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Weiss, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan G. Abbott,
Mrs. Augusta Duston, John F. Hall, Miss Jennie Foster, Mrs. Lucretia Holt,
Frank F. Wheeler, Miss Sarah Coburn, George Thom, John J. Richardson,
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
Miss Eliza Merrill, Josiah Q. Cluff,
Mrs. Susan A. Cluff,
Edward M. Serrey, Fred Woodbury.
PARADE COMMITTEE.
Frank F. Wheeler,
K. M. Mclaughlin,
Loren E. Bailey,
F. W. Allen,
Fred C. Buxton,
Brady Brothers,
Wilson Brothers,
John Turner,
Charles S. Woodbury,
Charles F. Kimball,
Philip Bergeron,
Wallace W. Cole,
Fred O. Wheeler,
Willis G. Richardson,
Frederick K. Duston. 1
GRAND STAND COMMITTEE.
John C. Crowell,
William L. Hall,
Nathan G. Abbott.
FIRE WORKS COMMITTEE.
James Ewins, Levi Woodbury,
Levi W. Taylor. BADGE COMMITTEE. E. W. Stevens.
ANTIQUES AND CURIOSITIES.
Mrs. M. A. Mclaughlin,
Miss Emma Coburn,
Miss Hattie Merrill,
Miss Minnie Emerson,
Miss Annie Shannon,
Miss Nellie Gordon,
Mrs. Augusta Duston,
Mrs. Ellen L. Taylor,
Mrs. Oliver G. Woodbury, Mrs. John J. Hunt,
Mrs. S. M. Kelley, Mrs. P. C. Foster,
Mrs. Ada Sunderland,
Mrs. Benj. P. Kelley,
Miss Ida Ryder,
Miss Jennie Foster,
Miss Mabel Cole.
USHERS.
Charles A. Kimball, Frank D. Davis, James H. Hadley, John J. Richardson,
Clifton Hall, L. Wallace Hall, David S. Emery, Ernest R. Woodbury,
Edward L. Gordon.
Mrs. Fred O. Wheeler, Miss Mary Woodbury,
Miss Ethel Wheeler,
Miss Dora Merrill,
HON. WALLACE W. COLE.
DAVID S. EMERY.
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CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
Tnese committees worked diligently and spared no labor or pains to make the celebration a success. A program of enter- tainment for the full day was arranged, including features calcu- lated to please residents and visitors of all ages and tastes, as follows :
PROGRAM.
Sunrise.
Ringing of Bells.
9.00
Firing of Governor's Salute.
9.30 Parade starts at Salem Depot and marches to the Center.
11.00
Parade reviewed by Governor at Salem Center.
11.30-12.00 Reception to School Children and Aged Citizens.
11.00-12.00 Library and Historical Rooms open.
Sports.
12.00
Ringing of Bells.
Dinner in Town Hall and Tent.
12.00- 1.30 2.00
Literary Exercises.
Music by the Band.
Prayer, Rev. A. B. Rowell.
Address of Welcome, President of the Day.
Reading of Old Home Week Proclamation.
The Commonwealth of New Hampshire,
Gov. Frank W. Rollins.
Music by the Band.
Historical Address, Rev. Chas. W. Gallagher, D. D., Auburndale, Mass.
The Salem of My Boyhood,
Hon. Frank L. Beckford, Laconia, N. H.
Music by the Band.
Methuen and Salem, "Mother and Daughter," Hon. J. S. Howe, Methuen, Mass. The Town of Salem,
George C. Gordon, Esq., Salem, N. H. Music by the Band.
The Town and the Church, Rev. S. E. Quimbly.
The Town and School, E. L. Silver, A. B. Library and Historical Rooms open.
4.00- 6.00 7.30- 9.30 Band Concert and Fireworks.
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
SPORTS.
100-yard Dash
ยท Egg Race (women)
220-yard Dash
Potato Race (boys)
3-legged Race
Potato Race (girls)
Sack Race Broad and High Jump
Invitations were sent out to six hundred and eighty-five per- sons, who had been residents of Salem, but were then scattered in many states from Maine to California. Many of these em- braced the opportunity to return to their native town at a time when its attractiveness was at its maximum.
The success of the celebration eclipsed even that of the Old Home Week the year before. The day opened heavy and damp, but this in nowise dulled the ardor of the expectant throng. The program was carried out as planned, no feature failing to enlist the appreciation of the spectators or auditors. The morning trains brought many visitors into town, and the high- ways were lined with vehicles of all descriptions bringing in those who lived in the neighboring cities and towns.
Wooden tablets or markers were prepared for the historic sites about town, giving a brief statement of the significance of each feature thus noted. A list of these places was also pub- lished in the souvenir booklet issued for the occasion. However, this list was incomplete, besides being marred by several glaring typographical errors. The visitors strolling about town and reading the suggestions upon the tablets were carried back to the olden days when the town was young and comparatively undeveloped.
PAUPERS.
Like all other towns, Salem has always been confronted with the problem of caring for the unfortunate members of society who cannot provide for their own support. In the early days the few cases were met by the generosity of neighbors who kindly contributed small amounts of supplies from time to time. If such help could not fill the requirements action was taken by the town. A case of this character is presented by the records of 1774. It seems that the death of a mother left her little daugh-
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CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
ter an orphan, without relations who might take her in. An article was inserted in the warrant, "To see what the town will do toward the support of -'s child, now lying a constant. charge on the town.". The record of the meeting has this very heartless item as the outcome of this article: "Voted in the negative on this article"! which doubtless means that the voters considered it the business of some one other than the town to care for this child.
However, in 1779, the minors were "bid off at vendue" (auc- tion) at ten to twelve shillings per week for keeping them. And five years later a very unlimited obligation was assumed-"Voted that the town of Salem support the widow hilton in a decent manner for time to come." Throughout the history of the town widows in a helpless state have been generally well cared for, both by the town and by individuals. Several such instances are noted under other headings.
During the first part of the last century the paupers were cared for by citizens who had bidden them off at auction. The price received varied from twenty-five cents to one dollar per week, according to the characteristics of the person. If it was one who could be of some assistance in the household the bid would be lower than for one who would be more of a care. Sometimes the entire lot was struck off to one man for a stated sum. This method became more and more in vogue as time went on. In 1824 "the town's poor were struck off to John Kimball for $325.00 for the present year." Again in 1830 it was "voted to have them taken care of the same as last year, except that those who keep them shall nurse them and mend their clothes." The contract was let for $490.
It shortly became evident that the town could maintain its poor more economically on a farm of its own than by putting them out to citizens. In the years 1833 and 1835 it was voted to purchase a farm for the town, but no further action was taken regarding it. In 1836 the selectmen were chosen a com- mittee to find out the cost of a farm and stock. The next year they reported their investigations, and the report was accepted. But the figure was beyond the range of vision of the voters, and a negative vote on the purchase was the result.
204
HISTORY OF SALEM.
About this time a new bone of contention appeared. In the state treasury was a certain sum of money which yielded an income larger than was required for it. Just what this surplus revenue should be used for was a question which was decided by giving each town its share. In Salem there was much dis- cussion as to the use to which this money should be put. In 1837 it was voted to leave it and take only the interest on it for the support of the primary schools. But the next year it was voted to take out the revenue and pay the state tax with what interest had accumulated. It seems that nothing was done at this time toward obtaining the money. The warrant of 1839, March 12, contained a petition of John R. Rowell and others to have the surplus revenue used immediately for the purchase of a town farm whereon to support the town paupers. First, David Messer was chosen an agent to loan the money after he should have received it from the state for the town. It was loaned on bond and mortgage on real estate to thirty-nine citi- zens of the town. Finally David Messer, Joseph Thom, and Richard Woodbury were chosen a committee to buy and stock the farm. In 1839 it was thought best to collect the surplus revenue, this duty being given Richard Woodbury.
Meantime the poor had been cared for in the manner de- scribed above. In 1837 they were put out under contract to Stephen Duston for $400. It had already been provided, in 1824, that "should any of the town's poor be taken away by death or otherwise before the year expires then the person who bids them off shall deduct out of the whole sum a proportional sum of what he or she or they were struck off at." Thus the town did not propose to pay for more than it obtained.
When it was definitely decided to buy a farm a bargain was made with John Palmer for the place formerly owned by Evan Jones, the town taking possession about 1843. From this time on the annual report of the town officials included the report of conditions, financial and other, at the town farm.
Religious meetings were occasionally held there under the auspices of one or another of the societies of the town. This was calculated to help to cheer those who were inmates, and
-
HOSE HOUSE NO. 1, SALEM DEPOT. (M 121) (See page 206)
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CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
make them feel that they still had friends among the people of the community.
The buildings were old and somewhat dilapidated. After a few years it became evident that extensive repairs would soon be necessary. Some proposed abandoning this place, in view of which a meeting was called September 20, 1856, to see about a new location. The plan was not countenanced, however, by the voters, as a better solution for the problem was found. In 1857 a new house was built at a cost of $2,332.37. This is the one now standing on the farm.
The number of inmates was at times small. Since about 1900 the number has been very small, only from one to three or four. In 1902 it was proposed to sell or lease the farm, two articles to this effect appearing in the warrant. They were passed without any considerable support. Article 9 of the war- rant of 1905 was more successful. At that time it was voted to sell. The price obtained was $7,458.42, which was turned over to the town treasurer. Since the sale the town has sent its few paupers to the county farm at Brentwood.
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