HomeMy WebLinkAbout2409B Report of "committee appointed to investigate and report upon the subject of a suitable building for Town Business," April 9, 1866The Committee appointed to investigate and report
upon the subject of a suitable building for Town
Business, and for the safe keeping of the Town Records
and Books, have attended to the duty assigned them,
and ask leave to submit the following
Report
The Committee are fully impressed with the belief that
the interest of the Town requires more ample accommo-
dation [accommodation] for the transaction of public business, and for
the preservation of its Records and Books. The Com-
monwealth [Commonwealth] from the first has provided each town
with a copy of all the laws that have been passed,
and with the Reports of the decisions of the Su-
preme [Supreme] Court, and with a rariety of other books pub-
lished [published] from time to time, some of which are very
costly and of great value. We have at present no
place where these books can be kept, so as to be ac-
cessible [accessible] to the people, or even to be kept in a state of
good preservation. The practical effect of this want
of a place of deposit is that some of the books are
packed away in one place, and some in another; some
are at the Town Hall, and some at the home of the
Town Cler, some are scattered here and some there;
so that in all probability not more than three fourths
of the books which have been distributed to the town
can now be found.
The Town Clerk who is the proper cus-
todian [custodian] of the Records and books has no place in
which to deposit them, either for use or safe keep-
ing [keeping]. Nor can it be expected of that officer, who-
ever [whoever] the individual may be, that he will furnish this
accommodation. The mere pittance he receives for his
services will hardly compensate him for keeping the
records of the town. There should be a room of con-
venient [convenient] size where all these books could be arranged
on shelves, and where the Records of the Clerk, Se-
lectmen [Selectmen] Assessors and other town officers might be
deposited.
The town needs not only a Hall for their
public meetings, but at least three common sized
rooms, one for the Selectmen, one for the Assessors
and other officers, and one for their Records and
books. The latter ought in justice to be fire proof.
The Committee have examined the Town
House with reference to such accommodations, and
are satisfied that no material inprovement can be
made there without greatly marring the appearance
of the building, and incurring an expense altogether
disproportionate to the advantages to be obtained. Be-
sides [Besides}, the House is now occupied and required by
the High School, and the wants of the town will de-
mand [demand] ere long the erection of another building.
your Committee are aware that the high price of
lumber and other materials for building, and the
financial condition of the town under the present
an unfavourable time to enter upon such an enterprise.
Nor has the matter been sufficiently considered
to justify the undertaking at this time. If a
House were erected of a suitable size to furnish
a commodious Hall and such other rooms as might
be required for town purposes, the lower story could be
rented, and the Hall could be rented for public object
so as to yield the town a considerable income from
those sources. The Town of West Cambridge realized
$1100. the last year from the rent of their
Town House.
The Committee have no recommendation
to make, but would suggest that if the town
think favorably of the project, it would be wise to commit
the whole subject to a large and intelligent Committee,
who could examine it in all its bearings, and
submit a detailed Report to the town at the next
Annual Meeting.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Lexington April 9, 1866
Charles Hudson
Charles Robinson
Oliver W Kendall
} Committee
Report of the Committee
on better accommodations
for the Town Records &c
accepted & adopted by the
town April 9 1866
A W Bryant Town Clk
2409B