1868-04-06 Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss. To one of the Constables of 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 Monday the sixth day of April
next at Nine o'clock before noon for the following purposes. Viz.:-
1st. To decide the manner of choosing a Moderator, and to choose the same.
2d. To see if the town will give authority to the Overseers of the Poor, to sell any of the several
small lots of land belonging to the town, whenever they may think it for the interest of the town, and
empower the Treasurer to make and execute all necessary inslxuments to conveying the same.
Hereof fail not, but make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, before the time
of said meeting.
Given under our hands and the seal this 27th day of March A.D.1868.
Joseph Wilson
James Hill Selectmen of Beverly
J. H. Young
Beverly March 28,1868. Pursuant to the foregoing warrant I have notified the persons therein named
as therein directed, by posting notifications thereof, stating the time, place, and objects of said
meeting, at or near each of the public meeting houses and at other places in town according to the
Town Regulations.
John R. Tibbetts, Constable of Beverly.
A true record of the original warrant and return thereon.
Attest. James Hill, Town Clerk of Beverly.
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly held (in pursuance of the foregoing
warrant) at the Town Hall on Monday the sixth day of April in the year Eighteen Hundred Sixty
Eight at Nine o'clock before noon.
Voted that a Moderator be chosen by hand vote, and John I. Baker, was thus chosen Moderator.
Voted, that the Overseers of the Poor be authorized to sell at public auction, whenever they may
think it expedient, the lot of land belonging to the town, lying to the westward of the Eastern
Railroad, and that the Treasurer be authorized to make and execute all necessary deeds in the
conveyance of the same.
Voted, that this meeting be dissolved.
A true record.
Attest.
James Hill
Town Clerk
At a legal meeting of the qualified voters of the town of Beverly, held at the Town Hall on Monday
the Sixth day of April A. D. 1868, at Ten o'clock before noon, the same being an adjournment of the
Annual March Meeting, the meeting was called to order by the Moderator.
Voted by ballot, that John I. Baker, George Roundy, Seth Norwood and Benjamin N. Dodge be
Selectman, in place of Joseph Wilson, James Hill, John H. Young, and Ezra S. Foster who declined
serving.
Voted by ballot, the Charles L. Moulton, be Overseer of the Poor, in place of Benjn. Wallis,
declined.
The following officers were then chosen by hand vote.
Board of Health. Joseph E. Ober, in place of John Ober, declined.
Auditors.
Israel F. Lee in place of Hervey Lunt, declined.
Israel Lefavour 2d, in place of F. M. Cressy, declined.
Surveyor of Highways.
Ward 6. George F. Dodge in place of Hiram Preston, declined.
Field drivers.
Ward 2 Joseph F. Foster in place of John E. Foster, declined.
Ward 4 Isaac F. Trowt in place of Adoniram Pierce, declined.
Ward 5 George E. Cole in place of Henry E. Dodge, declined.
Ward 6 Jeremiah Choate in place of Andrew Dodge, declined.
Ward 10 George H. Edwards in place of Eli C. Glines, declined.
Ward 12 William A. Creesy in place of Joshua Trask, declined.
Sealer & Measure of Leather.
William D. Moses in place of David Thissell, declined.
Clerk of the Market.
Henry E. Dodge in place of James Stone, declined.
The Committee appointed the Annual Meeting to consider and Report upon the subject matter of
Articles 7 & 8 of the warrant, made the following report, which was accepted.
"The Committee to whom was referred the Articles relative to increased School accommodations
for those localities formerly the South & Washington Districts as well as in review of other
neighborhoods, would report that we have given the subject such consideration as time and the
weather would permit, and unanimously conclude that the Southern portion of the Town requires a
new School House much larger and more centrally located than the present house thereby better
accommodating those heretofore furnished with schooling in this section, and also providing for and
attracting thereto a portion heretofor connected with the Briscoe School House, and thus helping to
relieve the overcrowding of the schools there. With School room for only about two-thirds of its
children and a thriving neighborhood like this, where it is especially desirable to bring together under
one roof all schools, and all the children in the vicinity, there ought to be no necessity of urging upon
the Town the importance of at once proceeding to meet this demand by building at once a School
House, of ample capacity and conveniences for all the wants of that section of the town. It is
estimated that a building somewhere between 80 by 60, of two stories would be necessary, costing
about $12,000 besides the land. The present House and land could be sold and the proceeds
appropriated towards the new enterprise. And if Cox's Court should be continued through the
town's land to meet School Street the present property would no doubt sell well, and at the same
time the other adjoining land of the town be increased value. In the former Washington district,
there is also evidently a positive necessity and good opporttmity, for increasing the school
accommodations and advancing the cause of education, by building a new and commodious School
House, somewhere near the corner of Elliott and Rantoul streets, a locality much near the Briscoe
School House, thereby again helping to relieve the latter while furnishing attractive School facilities
and providing also prospectively for an anticipated increase of population in the section where the
new location is proposed. A building 50 by 40 feet and costing about $7000 exclusive of land it is
calculated would meet the demand here. The Old House and lot would no doubt sell for its value.
The necessity existing here for a new house and the advantages of plan proposed enlarging the
schools there are so manifest, that we trust the Town will concur with the Committee in deciding in
favor of the plan suggested.
As to other parts of the town, the traveling has been such, as within the time allowed, has not
allowed of such thorough visitations and investigations as the importance of the subject demands.
But we have seen enough to convince us there is room for improvement. Thus we are satisfied that
a location could be found where those parts of the town known as East Farms and West Farms could
fairly and satisfuctorily be brought together advantageously to the cause of education, especially so
to that community. So in that locality known as Bald Hill District we think the location of the
School House in the immediate vicinity of the Hill whose name it bears, would much better
accommodate that section, the few families southerly of Gloucester Branch Railroad could then be
properly attached to the Cove School. Whenever any more permanent repairs or improvement shall
be called for on the present house there or a new one become necessary we trust it will be located
somewhere near the corner of Standley and Essex Streets, say between Bald Hill and Groce's Hill.
There are suggestions also that might be made as to other localities but we have not sufficiently
matured the matter to add to those we have made. The subject is one well worthy the constant
attention of the School Committee or some other authorized organ of the town in order to secure the
greatest harmony, equality and efficiency of our School System throughout the town. And in this
connection also we think the suggestion of the School Committee in favor of a Central Grammar
School well worthy of the consideration of the town. In order to carry into partial effect the
suggestions as to our immediate necessities we recommend the adoption of the following vote: viz.-
Voted, That the Town will procure a lot of land adjoining upon Bartlett Street or upon Stone Street
to build and locate a new School house upon and also for a similar purpose a lot adjoining upon
Elliott and Rantoul streets and if the same cannot be purchased 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 at each locality described for the above purposes but not exceeding in
either lot, eighty square rods, under Sect. 38, Chapter 38 of the General Statutes.
Voted, that the Town will build a new School House two stories high, about
80 by 60 feet; upon the lot which may be procured as aforesaid adjoining upon Bartlett Street or
Stone Street and furnish the same.
Voted, That the Town will build a new School House two stories high about
50 by 40 feet; upon the lot which may be procured as aforesaid, adjoining upon Elliott and Rantoul
Streets, and furnish the same.
Voted, that the School House and lot adjoining upon the way known as School
Street, and the lot adjoining upon Mill and Beckford Streets or upon either of them shall be sold at
public auction.
Voted that for such sums as may be necessary to carry into effect the above
votes, more than the old house and land sells for, the credit of the town shall be pledged and used.
All of which is respectfully submitted."
John I. Baker
Benin. D. Grant
Joseph Foster 2d
Geo. Roundy
Committee
Beverly April 6,1868.
Noon having arrived it was Voted, to adjourn to one o'clock P.M. to which Town the meeting again
assembled, when it was
Voted, that the Town will procure a lot of land adjoining upon Elliott and Rantoul Streets to build
and locate a new school house thereon, and if the same cannot be purchased at a reasonable price in
the judgment of the Selectmen, said Selectmen are authorized and directed to proceed to select at
their discretion and lay out a school house lot in said locality and appraise the damages to the owner
of said land, to be used for the purpose aforesaid but said lot shall not exceed in the whole eighty
square rods exclusive of the land occupied by the school buildings, under Chap. 38, Sect. 38 of the
General Statutes.
Voted, that the Town will build a new School House two stories high about 50 by 40 feet upon the
lot which may be procured as aforesaid adjoining upon Elliott and Rantoul streets, and furnish the
same.
Voted, that the School house and lot at the corner of Beckford and Mills streets, be sold at public
auction and the proceeds appropriated toward the payment of the new school house and lot, and that
the Town Treasurer be authorized to execute deeds of the same.
Voted, that the Town will build a new School House two stories high, sufficiently large to
accommodate the South Schools, and furnish the same.
Voted, that the Town will procure a lot of land adjoining upon Rantoul Street lying in front of the
present school house lot and between said lot and Rantoul Street to build and locate a school house
thereon for the South School, 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 to the owner of
such land, in the manner provided by law, but said lot shall not exceed in the whole eighty square
rods, exclusive of the land occupied by the School buildings, under Chap. 38 Sect. 38 of the General
Statutes.
Voted that the Selectmen and School Committee be a joint Committee to carry into effect the
foregoing votes.
Voted, that for such sums of money as may be necessary to carry into effect any and all the foregoing
votes, more than the old school house and land may sell for, the said Committee are hereby
authorized to use the credit of the town to such an extent as may be necessary.
Voted, that this meeting be dissolved.
A true record. James Hill, Town Clerk.