1860 Copying Book: Secretary's Letters and Treasurer's Letters, 2005.062.003

Boston March 4, 1862

Edward Brinley Esq

Dear Sir,

Yours of the 1st inst. was rec^d yesterday. I have no definite recollection of your lot, although I spent some time there late in the Autumn completing our great survey. It is pleasantly (although rather publicly) located near the junction of Poplar and Willow Avenues. The present price of land is 50 cts per foot, and yours would probably be worth $250. I don't suppose you could call the improvements worth much. It might not tempt one much even at that price, but if you desire, when the snow is off, I will look at the lot and give you more particular answer. - It might be well, meantime, if you have determined to sell, to give me an idea of what you will take for it, in case I should have any inquiry for such a lot.

My last catalogue was of June 1860, which I think you have: if not, I will send.

Yours very truly

A.J. Coolidge Sec.y

48

Boston March 11. 1862

Capt D.L. Winsor

Dear Sir,

Mr Rufus Wyman refr. of lot 133, Willow Av. has just called on me in reference to the circular addressed to him about the bounds of his lot.

You will remember that it was opened last week for Dr. Wyman's daughter. This lot & 296, that of Jos. N. Howe are together without any passage between, and measure 900f. or 450 f. each. - We drove stakes thirty feet each way - making 120 linear feet round the lots.

Mr Wyman would like to have you make an estimate on filling and grading up somewhat, and putting a suitable curb round the lots. The monument is so large and bold, that all the parties interested have come to the conclusion that no enclosure other than a curb will answer the purposes. I suggested it was possible to put a suitable curb on at $2 per foot - but was not certain that that sum would put one on heavy enough for so large an area.

He thinks it would do to fill up a foot. I don't know whether the monument would bear so much - should doubt it: but it ought to come up enough to protect it from parties crossing to & from the Indian Ridge.

I wish you would look at the lots, if the snow is down enough, and make up your mind what would look best, and make some estimate on the thing. He seemed to think $240 a considerable sum - but probably is not used to the thing, and will change his mind before he gets through.

He says he will call in again in a few days.

Yours truly

[obscured] A.J. Coolidge

49

Boston March 17, 1862

R.S. Wade Esq

Dear Sir,

I read the letter, which you handed me addressed you by Mr Woodcock on the 17^th ulh., to Mr Curtis Chairman of the Comm. on Lots within a day or two after you were here, and told him you were anxious the Comm. should have what you regarded as material to the case - Mr Woodcock's interview with his Mr Mann.

He, however, did not regard it as good ground for changing the decision of the Comm^ee, as the prop^r or his agent should have insisted on his rights while it was an open question. He says the land is there - it was yours to use or not as you saw fit - that the the land is there still but of no use to the Corporation as it cannot be sold.

I felt very sure such would be the view taken, and therefore preferred you should see the Comm^ee yourself, as I prefer that you should have the opportunity of satisfying yourself that the subject has been fairly presented, which you can hardly have without acting as your own counsel.

I wish now, if you are not entirely satisfied with the decision of the Comm^ee, you would see them yourself.

If you do not wish to urge the matter further, I suppose you will be ready to pay the Treas^r the bill due the Corporation.

Very respy.

Your humb^le servant

A.J. Coolidge Secretary.

50

Boston, March 17, 1862

Jos. B. Glover Esq.

Dear Sir,

The Committee on Lots have considered the questions whether they will guarantee the perpetual care of the lot of the late Winthrop Ward for the sum specified in his will; and have unanimously come to the conclusion that they cannot give such guaranty for less than $600. The monument is quite elaborate, and they are unwilling to assume the risk for less than the sum named.-

But they are willing to receive the $300 named in the will on the usual terms stated in the by-laws, without their guaranty of perpetual care. In this case, they simply expend the income, in hand so there still be of no use to the responsible beyond amount - nor for the care of the lot beyond the failure of the fund, if it should ever become worthless by no fault of theirs.

Proprietors, however, often consider a donation in this way perfectly safe. There are more in number, that wish the guaranty.-

But I do not understand the clause of Mr Ward's will on this subject as requiring a guaranty. He certainly took the responsibility of giving $300, without inquiring of the other party to contract for guaranty of perpetual repair, and must therefore be presumed not to have intended that to be required, as we must also suppose that he had seen the by-laws in print.-

If you prefer to make up the amount to what the Comm^ee name, such a contract can be made.

Yours truly

A.J. Coolidge

51

52

33 School St Boston March 18^th/62

Hon. Nath^l Silsbee, Treas^r Harv. Coll.-

Dear Sir, The subject referred to in the accompanying circular is not now for the first time brought to the notice of the "Pres. & Fellows"

I find upon the records of our Board of Trustees, three years since (Feby. 1859.) the following as the Report of a Com^ee to whom the subject was ref^d.

"The Committee to whom was referred the memorial of Mr Lawrence, Treas^r of Harv^d College, respecting the boundaries of the lot in the Cemetery belonging to that Corporation - with full power.

Reported that they had arranged with the Treasurer of the College that said lot should be surveyed, and that is should be optional with him whether the monuments now said to encroach upon the lands of this Corporation should be removed within the present bounds, or whether sufficient land should be exchanged from another part of said lot to be equivalent to the land now occupied by said monuments."

And the report was accepted - and here, it now appears, the matter ended. -

The lot in question (no. 330 in the Cemetery) is