History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

5oU HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
five hundred volumes. Tlie Newton Centre Li-
brary Association, organized in 1S59, had about fif-
teen hundred volumes, which, after the inauguration
of tiie A'ewton Free Library in 1869, were trans-
ferred, by vote of the subscribers, to that institution.
Tlie Newton (Corner) Library Association was
organized originally as only a book-club ; but in
January, 1849, it assumed the character of a cir-
culating library, and gradually acquired, through
the liberality of the members and others, about
seventeen hundred and fifty volumes. The subject
of a Newton free library was from time to time
debated in an association of gentlemen styled the
Newton Literary Association. But no definite
action was taken till June, 1866, when §3,300
were raised by subscription, with which to pur-
chase a lot of land on Centre Street, to be offered
as a free gift to the Newton Library Association,
on which to erect a suitable building for library
purposes, and, if declined by that association, to
be ofi'ered to any other organization which would
guarantee the erection of such a building.
In 1867 the late Hon. J. Wiley Edmands offered
the sum of $15,000 towards the establishment of
a free public library in Newton, provided that an
building on its present location June 10, 1868.
The rough stone for the walls was taken from a
quarry in Newton Centre. The corner-stone was
laid August 13, 1868, and the building dedicated
June 17, 1870, — the ])ublic exercises on the oc-
casion being held in a tent spread in front of the
building. The cost of the building and fixtures
was about $37,000. Before any books were pur-
chased, the donation of the Newton Lilirary Asso-
ciation formed an important and valuable nucleus,
and donations from individuals added five hundred
volumes more. The principal room in the build-
ing was named Edmands ILill, in honor of ITon.
J. Wiley Edmands, the most munificent donor.
A beautiful copy of Raphael's celebrated painting
of the Transfiguration, in the A'alirnn at Rome,
given to the library by Mrs. D. 15. Jewel t, adorns
Edmands Hall; also' a bust of Charles Sumner,
and portraits of distinguisiied individuals, formerly
residents of the town. The number of volumes in
the librarv is about fifteen thousand.
On the third day of November, 1875, the trustees,
in behalf of the subscribers to the Newton
Free Library, were empowered to transfer the
Newton Free Library to the city of Newton, on
the city's assuming the conditions of trust of the
existing organization, under the act of incorpora-
tion obtained in 1871. The terms being accepted,
the transfer was duly made, and the library became
thenceforth a city institution.
Newton Water- Works. — Prior to the year
1871 two or three private aqueducts had been
constructed in Newton, which yielded a limited
domestic supply; but there was no public pro-
vision adequate to the necessities of the town.
In April, 1871, a resolve was passed by the citi-
zens in town-meeting assembled, appointing a
committee of three gentlemen "to investigate the
best method of supplying the town with water,
and to report at a subsequent town-meeting." At
a town-meeting held November 13, 1871, this
committee reported in favor of taking water
from Charles Eiver. The report of this com-
mittee, which was thorough and of considerable
extent, took into view a careful consideration
of sources of supply, cost of works, mode of
equal sum should be secured by the trustees of the distribution, water damages, and other points im-
fund. The requisite amount was obtained, and
even more, — the whole sum secured being upportant
to a full understanding of the subject, and
closed their report by recommending that a comwards
of §53,000. Mr. Edmands subsequently mittee be chosen to apply to the legislature for an
gave $5,000 more as a special donation for the act giving the town full power to carry the report
purchase of books. Ground was broken for the into effect, and report at a subsequent meeting.
In order to obtain an expression of the popular
opinion concerning the introduction of water, the
citizens were called upon in 1871 to vote " Yes" or
" No " on the question, " Shall the city of New-
ton be supplied with water for fire and domestic
purposes, at an expense not exceeding §600,000,
in accordance with the special Act of the Legis-
lature of 1872, chapter 311, authorizing the
same?" The vote was taken by ballot Decein-
ber 1, 1874", and resulted in yeas 928, nays 443.
On the 9tli of Deceiuber a board of three water
commissioners was apjjointod, who in May, 1875,
made their report to the city council, recommend-
ing as a source " a well at a point on Charles
River above Pettee's works at the Upper Falls " ;
advising the use of a reservoir for distribution,
and estimating the cost at not over § 800,000.
A vote was passed to purchase Waban Hill,
formerly called Prospect Hill, in the east part of
the town, as a site for the reservoir. October 9,
1875, the first pipe was laid, in Washington