the issuance of $100,000 in bonds, with the view of using only a portion of them, $20,000 each year, as the work progressed.

By a provision of the City Charter, the issuing of bonds, or a permanent loan, must be submitted to the voters of the City, at the next annual municipal election, or a special election, called for that purpose, if a petition signed by one hundred legal voters be filed with the City Clerk. In this case this action was taken, and nothing more can be done in the matter of surface drainage until after the next election. It is to be hoped that the act will be accepted, and the means thus afforded of continuing this very important work for the peace, health and comfort of our citizens.

BOARD OF HEALTH.

Closely connected with this subject of Drainage is the supervising action of a Board of Health. To the wise oversight of this Board, in keeping watch of the presence of various diseases, requiring the observance of certain rules, the removal of offences of many kinds, especially those relating to sewers, plumbing, garbage, etc., is due to a very great extent the well being of our community. Many are the complaints made and remedies instituted.

Our first regular Board of Health was elected at the Annual Town Meeting, March 3, 1890, and consisted of the following persons: Ernest S. Jack, M. D., Chairman; Frank L. Washburn and George W. Burke. Previous to this time the duties of a Board of Health had been performed, as required by statute by the Selectmen, one of whom acted as Chairman. From 1890, until the Town became a City, a board of three members was regularly elected; the last one being composed as follows: John E. Sanborn, M. D., Chairman; Corydon W. Harlow, M. D., and William H. Dole. An annual report has been regularly made, the last one under Town government being the tenth.

After the City was incorporated the Board of Health was nominated by the Mayor, and subject to confirmation by the Board of Aldermen. The first Board thus appointed for 1900, consisted of Clarence P. Holden, M. D., Chairman; Paul H. Provandie, M. D., and William H. Dole. The members for 1901 were Paul H. Provandie, M. D., Chairman; William H. Dole and Joseph H. Robinson. Under the auspices of this Board a pamphlet of thirty-three pages has been issued giving at length

the "Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health." Mr. Dole resigned to become Inspector of Animals and Provisions, and Dr. John T. Timlin was appointed in his place. For 1902 the Board remains the same.

Notwithstanding all the trouble Melrose has had to contend with during all these years, in drainage matters, its health has been most excellent, as can be easily verified by facts and figures. When George Wingate Chase, author of the History of Haverhill, was one of our citizens, he was employed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, upon the census of 1865. From the State Registration Reports he then made a computation which showed that in point of health, Melrose stood number three when compared with all the other cities. and towns in the State. About that time a similar computation was made by Dr. Erastus O. Phinney, a resident physician for twenty years, of the immediately surrounding towns, which confirmed this statement. Other testimony is readily obtained to show that for healthiness of situation, and for the general good health of its inhabitants, Melrose occupies a very high position.

IN

CHAPTER XV.

PARKS AND BOULEVARDS.

N 1856, Hon. Daniel W. Gooch and Walter Littlefield bought the greater part of the Upham and Lynde farms, situated between Lebanon, Upham and Grove Streets, had the land surveyed and laid out in house lots, naming the tract "The Home Association Lands." The sale of these lots at public auction, took place in the Meonian Hall of the old Tremont Temple, and most of the lots were disposed of at that time; and soon after the purchasers began to build thereon; now nearly every one contains a dwelling or store. At the time of the survey, there was reserved all the land bounded by East Foster Street on the north, Sixth Street on the east, Laurel Street on the south, and Larrabee Street on the west, for a public park. It is now known as the "Melrose Common." It was a neglected spot for many years; but of late, after the establishment of the Board of Park Commissioners, the Town made small appropriations, at different times, for its improvement, but it still remains in a somewhat primeval state. Year by year, it is being utilized more and more as the place for the City's Fourth of July celebrations, display of fireworks, etc. It is hoped that some day the City will appropriate sufficient money to make of this a beautiful and healthful breathing spot and play ground.

In 1882, the Legislature passed an act authorizing towns and cities to lay out public parks within their limits; and at a Town Meeting held November 12, 1887, it was voted to accept its provisions, and the following Park Commissioners were then elected: Nathaniel P. Jones, for three years; William N. Folsom, for two years; John W. Farwell, for one year.

In 1889, William A. Rodman was elected for three years; resigning soon after, George T. Brown was elected to fill the vacancy,

In 1890, the Town voted to buy the Barry homestead, corner of Main and Lynde Streets, as the site for a new Hose House for the Wyoming District, for the sum of $2,500. It was afterwards decided not to be a suitable location, therefore the house was sold and moved away; and the little triangular tract of land remains the property of the City, and was placed under the jurisdiction of the Park Commissioners. Perhaps it had better be called the "Barry Park."

SEWALL WOODS PARK. At a Town Meeting held June 8, 1891, it was voted as follows:

That whereas, it is understood that the Sewall heirs desire under certain conditions to present to the town of Melrose, ten acres of land for use as a public park, embracing the central and highest portions of the Sewall estate, it is hereby resolved, that a committee of nine be appointed, to consist of the Selectmen, the Park Commissioners, and three citizens to be named by the Moderator, who shall confer with the representatives of the Sewall family and ascertain their wishes and intentions in the matter, and report at the next town meeting.

John W. Farwell, Royal P. Barry and D. Webster Dow were appointed as citizens; the Selectmen were Levi S. Gould, John P. Deering and Charles W. Higgins; the Park Commissioners, Nathaniel P. Jones, William N. Folsom and George T. Brown. This reservation was the central part of the wild and beautiful tract of land which belonged to the late Hon. Samuel E. Sewall, adjoining his homestead at the corner of Perkins and Vinton Streets, and which was now offered to the Town by his daughter, Mrs. Edward C. Cabot of Brookline, in accordance with the wishes of her late sister, Dr. Lucy E. Sewall, with the proviso that the Town build a street, to be known as "Sewall Woods Road" around the tract thus donated, according to a plan drawn by Walter C. Stevens. Another wish of Mrs. Cabot, not a condition or restriction, was:

That none of the trees on said premises shall be cut down unless decayed, or that it shall be considered necessary so to do for the benefit of the remaining ones, or for the benefit of the public use of said woods, and that the woods shall be maintained as far as possible, or reasonable in their present wild condition.

At a Town Meeting held July 7, 1891, the committee made a report which was unanimously accepted and adopted, and it was voted:

That the town of Melrose hereby accepts the proposition of Mrs. Edward C. Cabot, of Brookline, Mass., as contained in her letter of July 6, 1891, addressed to the Board of Selectmen, presenting to said town certain land, for a public park with the conditions therein expressed, that the town build and make the road as indicated on a plan drawn by Walter C, Stevens, and accept it as a town way and that the town provide perpetual care of said park, and call the gift "Sewall Woods," in honor of the memory of our late respected citizen, Hon. Samuel E. Sewall.

April 25, 1892, it was voted to build this Sewall Woods Road, and that so much of the bank and corporation taxes of this year, as may be necessary, be appropriated to build the street.

The Sewall Woods Park is being kept by the City in the state desired by the donors, and is being gradually surrounded by first-class dwellings. The Sewall Mansion, which was not included in the gift to the City, still remains as left by the family.

In 1893 and 1895 three new Park Commissioners were chosen: Maurice G. Cochrane, Charles H. Adams and Frank F. Preble, and the last Board previous to City corporation, consisted of Charles H. Adams, Chairman; Maurice G. Cochrane and Willis C. Goss.

At a Town Meeting held November 15, 1894, it was voted:

That the park commissioners, together with four others to be appointed by the chair, take into consideration matters in relation to the internal improvement of the town so far as parks are concerned, and report at some future meeting.

Col. Francis S. Hesseltine, Hon. William E. Barrett, Joshua T. Nowell and John W. Robson, were appointed. April 8, 1895, this committee reported through its chairman, Charles H. Adams,

showing the advantages to be gained by laying out certain open places as parks, particularly the place known as Dix Pond, in the rear of the Town Hall, embracing about six acres of land and water.

He moved that an appropriation of $25,000 be made to carry out the proposition, but it was indefinitely postponed. The next movement in behalf of extending the park system was more successful.

At a Town Meeting held Nov. 8, 1897, a committee of five, three of whom were the Park Commissioners, was appointed