Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 25.

Medford in 1837

The year 1837 was in many ways a notable one in Medford's history. Medford had then about twenty-two hundred inhabitants, its ship-building was increasing (thirteen being built that year) and its roads were alive with ox-teams hauling in the requisite ship timber. The Lowell railroad had been in operation but two years, but in that time had sounded the knell of the canal [p. 57] which had but reached its high tide of success in the years just preceding.

The long controversy with the First Parish concerning the town's rights in the meeting house had been settled—adversely to the town—the result of two centuries union of church and state. During the years of controversy, the town had erected a town-house at a cost (including land) of $10,062, that was destined to serve town and city for eighty years.

In this new building convened the March meeting of 1837 (on the sixth). Two days before, in Washington, Martin Van Buren was inaugurated eighth president of the United States. Though during the previous eight years administration of Andrew Jackson the national debt had been discharged and surplus distributed, 1837 was a year of widespread financial panic. But it speaks well for Medford's citizens and administrators of that time that it was an era of publicity, and that six town meetings (by warrant or adjournment) prior to that of November were held in that new town hall. At the first meeting for town business the former town clerk, William D. Fitch, moved and it was voted:

1st That it shall be the duty of the committee for auditing the Treasurer's accounts to furnish a true statement of the expenses of the town the past year up to the 20th day of March 1837, together with the outstanding notes with interest against the town and make report thereof at the adjournment of this meeting

2nd Also to prepare a statement of the receipts and expenditures of the town the past year, have the same arranged under distinct heads, and as particular as may be, and cause copies thereof to be printed for the use of the inhabitants at the expense of the town.

3d Also the said committee to make an estimate of the probable necessary expenses of the town, and what money ought to be raised by taxation the current year and make report

Also Resolved That it shall be the duty of a committee to be chosen at the November meeting to make the above statement annually up to the 15th of Feb. and cause copies of the same to be printed at the expense of the town, for the use of every voter and distributed with the warrant for March meeting, and also cause the same to be posted up in public places in the town. [p. 58]

Voted That the aforesaid committee for auditing the Treasurer's accounts and attending to the foregoing resolves be paid for their services the same as allowed the assessors for the time employed in said services.

That year the compensation of the town clerk was raised to $50, the selectmen were allowed $25 and the overseers of the poor $30. The assessors were paid $1.75 per day. The highwaymen, i.e., ‘man and horse each’ on the roads, ‘nine shillings per day’—‘horse and cart the same’ until July 1—after that, $1.25 per day.

As a matter of interest we present a summary of that first printed report:—

RECEIPTS		EXPENDITURES
Bal. in treasury Feb 15, '38 Lowell Institution for	$1419.58	Schools	$5764.28
Savings	4000.00	Poor	2082.92
Taxes	7938.31	Notes payable and int.	3331.79
School. Com. damage to Schoolhouse collected	10.75	Highways and Bridges	780.27
Nathan Adams for removal of house	10.12	Fire Dept. 324.62
Sale of Fishing rights	96.00	Law Suits	534.06
Stone posts from Charlestown	8.25	Salaries & Fees	609.95
State Treas. for State paupers	111.94	Miscellaneous	524.89
State Treas. for School Fund	64.03	Bal. in treasury	31.07
State Treas. for Military	15.00
Jonas Coburn rent of store	332.37
S. S. Green rent of store	127.50
Reading Room Assn.	50.00
	———		———
	$14,13. 85		$14,13. 85
		Probable outstanding	$1,183.

One item in ‘Miscellaneous’ is ‘Charles Caldwell. —platform and rail in front of desk, 17.50.’ A few of our older citizens will recall this furnishing of the old town hall that did duty until Medford became a city (perhaps longer), the elevated aisle through which the voters passed before the selectmen in voting by ballot.

Another: ‘Zephaniah Stetson—new hearse $80.00’ [p. 59] and ‘Andrew Blanchard—covering for same 3.78,’ this last a sort of cloth bag, placed over and about the hearse in its house at Cross street cemetery to protect it from dust in the intervals between its use. It did it so well that the hearse appreciated in value, being listed at $400 in later years.

Certainly that old first printed ‘Town Report’ is interesting reading and furnishes ‘food for thought’ as we compare it with those of recent years.