1869-08-04Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To one of the Constables of the town of Beverly.- Greeting.
You are hereby required in the name of said Commonwealth, to notify and warn in the usual manner
the qualified voters of said town to meet at the Town Hall on Wednesday the fourth day of August
next at one o’clock afternoon for the following purposes days:-
1st. To choose a Moderator.
2d. To act upon the petition of the Bancroft Heirs for a Jury to assess the damages caused by the
Extension of the Town way known as Dane Street through their lands.
3d. To see if the Town will accept and allow of the Town way as laid out by the Selectmen over land
of Joseph H. Herrick and others, extending from Cabot Street to Rantoul Street, according to Report
of Selectmen on file with Town Clerk.
4th. To act on the petition of Abraham Lord and others for a new School House in the part of the
Town heretofore known as the Bass River District, and to obtain a lot of land therefor.
5th. To see if the Town will authorize their Treasurer to borrow of the Commonwealth, on the credit
of the Town, a sum not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, to meet any expenses, incurred or to be
incurred, either under the Act of the Legislature of the present year, entitled an “Act relating to the
Salem Water Works, and to supplying the Inhabitants of Beverly with water therefrom” or under any
other act or law, or under any vote or votes of the Town relating to said supply of water.
6th. To see if the Town will give any further authority to borrow of other parties for the purposes
specified in the previous Articles.
7th. To act on the petition of Salem Street Railway for the location of additional turn outs on Cabot
Street, near Wallis Street; near Bartlett Street; and near Stone Street.
8th. To see if the Town will cause the grade of the streets, wherever the water pipes may be laid, to
be so changed and established, as to make the same conform to the fixed and suitable lines.
Hereof fail not but make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon
before said time.
Given under our hands and seal this twenty-seventh day of July, in the year Eighteen hundred and
sixty-nine.
John I. Baker
Seth NorwoodSelectmen
B. N. Dodgeof Beverly
F. W. Cressy
Beverly July 28,1869. I have notified the persons named in the foregoing warrant, as therein directed
by posting notifications, stating the time, place and objects of said Meeting, at each of the several
places named in the Town Regulations for posting such notices.
W. P. Moses, Constable Beverly.
A true copy of the original warrant and return thereon.
Attest.
James Hill, Town Clerk.
At a meeting of the qualified voters of town of Beverly held (in pursuance of the warrant recorded
on the next preceding pages) at the Town Hall in said town on Wednesday the fourth day of August
in the year Eighteen hundred and sixty-nine, at one o’clock afternoon.
Voted, that a Moderator be chosen by hand vote, and Freeborn W. Cressy, was thus chosen
Moderator.
Upon Article 2d. Petition of Bancroft Heirs for a Jury.
Voted, that the Selectmen be authorized to act for, and represent the Town in the matter, and that
they are hereby authorized to employ counsel, if they deem it necessary and take any action in regard
thereto, as they may judge best for the interest of the Town.
Upon Article 3.Town way from Cabot to Rantoul St.
Voted, that the Report of the Selectmen be accepted and said way established as a Town way forever,
according to said Report which is as follows.
“Upon the petition of Joseph Herrick and others, upon notice and hearing of all parties who decided
to be heard the Selectmen of the town of Beverly have laid out a Town way in said town as follows.
Commencing on the Westerly side of Cabot Street at a point 45 7/10 feet Southwesterly of the
Southerly corner of said Herrick’s house, and run thence North 60 ½ West about 692 7/10 feet to
Rantoul Street at a stake about 38 feet Southwesterly of the southwesterly corner of the house of
Seth Friend Jr.; laying said way forty feet wide Southwesterly of the line described, and extending the
lines of said Street on each side straight from Cabot Street, to Rantoul Street; and we award no
damages.
th
Witness our hands this 28 day of July A.D. 1869.
John I. Baker
F. W. CressySelectmen
Seth Norwood of
B. N. Dodge Beverly
Geo. Roundy
Upon Article 4.New School House at Bass River.
Voted, to lay this article on the table until the other articles in the warrant have been acted upon.
The remaining articles having been acted upon, this article was again taken up
and it was.-
Voted, that Francis Jenness, George S. Millett, and Eben H. Moulton be a Committee to take into
consideration the whole subject of this article, including the location, and report thereon at the
adjournment of this meeting.
Upon Article 5.Relating to a loan from State Treasurer.
Voted, that the Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow of the Commonwealth, on the credit of the
Town, upon notes approved by the Selectmen, a sum not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, payable
at the rate of five thousand dollars every five years, with interest at six percent payable semi-annually.
Voted, that for the purpose of providing for the loans authorized by the foregoing vote, there shall
annually be assessed upon the polls and estates, within the Town, such sum as may be necessary to
pay the interest each year, and also the sum of one thousand dollars, which latter sum shall be
invested in a sinking fund under the direction of the Selectmen and Town Treasurer, and appropriated
to the payment of the principal of said Loan as it may mature.
Upon Article 6.In relation to loans from other parties.
Voted, that the Town Treasurer be authorized from time to time to borrow from any parties on the
credit of town, upon notes approved by the Selectmen, such sums of money, as may be found
necessary to meet any demands upon the Town, in consequence of the construction of the school
houses and roads throughout the Town, and upon the laying of pipes for the Water Works.
Upon Article 7.Petition of Salem Street Railway for turn outs.
Voted, that the Selectmen be requested, not to locate any more turn outs, for the Street Railway,
upon Cabot Street.
Upon Article 8.In Relation to change of grade of Streets.
Voted, the Selectmen are hereby granted full authority to change and established the grade of any and
all the streets throughout which the water pipes shall be laid, and to Macadamize so much of Cabot
Street, as they may think for the interest of the Town.
Voted, that when this meeting adjourns, it be to Wednesday August 11,1869, at one o’clock
afternoon.
Voted, that this meeting now adjourns, and it was so declared by the Moderator, adjourned to
Wednesday August 11,1869, at one o’clock afternoon.
A true record.
Attest.
James Hill
Town Clerk.
At a meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly, held at the Town Hall on Wednesday
August 11, in the year 1869 at one o’clock afternoon said Meeting being an adjournment of a meeting
held in the same place on the fourth day of August, instant.
The Committee appointed by the meeting held Aug. 4th. to consider the subject of Article 4,
respecting a School House at Old Bass River District reported as follows.
“The undersigned chosen on the 4th instant to inquire what measures are necessary to secure
ample accommodations to the inhabitants of that part of the Town formerly known at Bass River
District would respectfully state that we have examined the Bass River School House, & that we find
it in a very dilapidated condition. To use it longer for school purposes, without extensive repairs, we
deem an outrage to the children of that section and a disgrace to the Town. The house may be made
comfortable by putting in a new floor, new desks and chairs, new doors, windows and window
frames, by moving the petition & outer doors, so as to make the primary room larger, by clapboarding
one end and a portion of the side, by raising and repairing the underpinning, putting on new blinds
and painting.
The estimated cost of these repairs is nearly $2000. Your Committee think it is inexpedient
to make so large an outlay on that old building. Mystic Hall in N. Beverly can be bought for $3000
& many in that section think it would be wise for the Town to purchase it for a School house, your
committee have experienced that building and are convinced that the alteration or repairs necessary
would make it more expensive than a new building of suitable size for a school room A portion of
your Committee believes that the cheapest and best way to meet the wants of the Bass River School,
is to move the Old South School House to N. Beverly. We have examined that house and find it in
excellent condition, it was thoroughly and tastefully built originally, and needs at present but little
repairing except shingling on one side of the roof and painting. We have consulted with Mr. John S.
Parsons of Gloucester & find that gentlemen willing to engage to move it for the sum of $350. It may
be urged against this plan that the South School House is considerably larger than is needed for the
Bass River School, that the house will probably not be satisfactory to the people of that section &
that the risks of moving may make this old building cost the town much more than is at present
anticipated. Should the Town decide to build a new school house, your committee would recommend
that it be sufficiently large to accommodate at least 100 pupils - for though the number of children
that school has averaged for the last four years but little more than 80 pupils, yet in former years the
number frequently exceed 100. We think a two-story building 31 feet by 40, would be sufficiently
large & that the cost of such a building would be above $4500. The best location for a new school
house we believe to be on or near the site of the old one: - that spot being near the center both of the
population of the district. We do not think it best to change the location of the school to suit the
convenience of the children in either of the adjacent districts. Two years ago the town voted by a
very large majority to re-establish the Dodge’s Row School. We see no reason to expect a change
of policy in this matter. But if the Town should decide to discontinue that school, the children in the
upper part of the district would be near the Bald Hill school in its new location, than the Bass River.
The children in the other part of the district could attend the Bass River School without walking any
farther than some in that district do at present. The increase of population in Washington District will
probably make it necessary in a few years to build a new school house to accommodate the upper part
of that district in connection with the Reservoir Road & Colon Street. The ownership of the common
in N. Beverly is a question in dispute between the authorities of the Town, and the Second Parish,
we would respectfully recommend that measures be taken to settle this question by arbitration or
otherwise before the erection of another house on the spot.”
Respectfully submitted
Eben H. Moulton
Francis JennessCom.
George S. Millett
Beverly Aug. 11/69.
Voted that foregoing Report be accepted.
Voted, that the whole subject of Article 4 be referred to the Selectmen and School Committee, with
instruction to remove the Old South School house, and put the same in suitable order for the
accommodation of the Bass River Schools.
Voted, that the Selectmen be instructed to sell the Old School house at Bass River to the highest
bidder.
Voted that the Selectmen be instructed to locate the School House at the Old Bass River District, in
the location of the present house, provided they are satisfied with the title of Town to the land, and
that they be authorized to take any action necessary to defend the right of the Town to said lands.
Voted, that the Selectmen be instructed to procure a lot or quantity of land adjoining the location of
the School House in North Beverly, formerly known as the Bass River District School House,
sufficient to enlarge said lot, to an extent, not to exceed in the whole 80 square rods, exclusive of land
occupied by school buildings and if the same cannot be procured at a reasonable price in the judgment
of the Selectmen, said Selectmen are authorized and directed to proceed to select at their discretion
and layout a School House lot in said locality and appraise the damages, if any, to the owners of said
lands, in the manner prescribed by law.
After some remarks by A. C. Goodell & Wm. R. H. Ward, Esq. who were by vote of the Meeting
allowed to make some representations in regard to the street railway. Voted that the vote passed
Aug. 4, requesting the Selectmen not to locate more turnouts on Cabot Street, be now reconsidered-
and the original motion to request Selectmen not to locate turnouts was put to the Meeting and lost.
Voted that this Meeting be dissolved.
A true record.Attest. James Hill, Town Clerk