U - Newton Free Library

24 ORGANIZATION.
As Newton's earliest settlers were well-to-do
people, it is not probable that any of the houses
were built with wooden chimneys or thatched
roofs, which only the poorer classes elected.
Newton's first fire-engine was located at the
Lower Falls, and was purchased by the residents
of that village on both the Newton and Needham
now Wellesley) sides of the river, prior to 1812.
At that time that was one of the most densely
populated sections of the town, — a thriving,
progressive manufacturing village.
For authority to organize a company to operate
this engine, its owners sent the following
petition to the state legislature: —
"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives
in General Court assembled on the
last Wednesday of May, A. D. 1812.
"The subscribers inhabitants of the towns of
Newton and Needham humbly represent that
they together with others are the proprietors
and owners of an engine which they are desirous
may be employed for the benefit and preservation
of the paper-mills, dwelling-houses, stores
and other buildings situated at the lower falls
part of which are in the town of Newton and
part in the town of Needham; whereupon they
pray that the selectmen of the towns of Newton
and Needham may be respectively authorized
and empowered to appoint enginemen from their