#danvers ma

An photo of the Nathaniel Bowditch House, which is located at Wilson Square. Bowditch was born in Salem (March 26, 1773-March 16, 1838), but he came to Peabody when he was an infant. It is unclear when the photo was taken.

The Salem and Danvers Aqueduct began with a November 22, 1796 petition from citizens of Salem, stating their concern over the dangers of fire and the need for a reliable water supply.  They asked to be incorporated "for the purpose of bringing Water in subterraneous Aqueducts from Spring Pond in Salem and Brown's Pond in Danvers or either of them into the town of Salem."  The petition was signed by Benjamin Goodhue, Elias Hasket Derby, George Dodge, Abel Lawrence, Benjamin Pickman, William Lang, William Gray, Joseph Hiller, Ichabod Nichols, Joshua Ward, William Orne, Jerathmeel Peirce, Jeduthun Upton, Dudley Porter, Jacob Ashton, Squires Shove, John Jenks, Edward Southwick, Jonathan Dean, Joseph Fenno, Benjamin Carpenter, Elizabeth Orne, Benjamin Watkins and Ebenezer Putnam.  

Their first meeting took place on December 30, 1796 at the Sun Tavern in Salem and the act of incorporation was completed March 8, 1797.  Subscribers were solicited to help fund the construction of wooden water pipes to be laid in Salem and Danvers.  The Directors voted "to dispose to the Inhabitants of Salem & Danvers for a term not exceeding one Year, a privilege of drawing water from the Aqueduct upon such terms & under such restrictions as they shall judge proper."  By 1799, enough pipes were laid for rules and regulations to be made for the "privilege of drawing water."  

The early minutes record the transfer of shares, report on the progress of laying pipes, problems encountered when it was discovered the logs were too small to accommodate the amount of water needed, the numerous complaints by customers not receiving the promised water, elections of new directors and other officers, copies of leases and deeds for land purchased or rented for the laying of pipes and decisions made as the corporation expanded.  

Included with these papers are stock certificates, stock legers and dividends.  The Aqueduct survey log records the location and daily progress of pipes laid, homes where the branches were located, information regarding the early residents of Danvers and Salem and the depth of water in sewers at various times.  Treasurer's Accounts record the expenses incurred during construction and repairs.  Alphabetical customer accounts list names, street locations, number of people in family and amount paid for water. By 1852, the corporation began to lay iron pipes instead of wooden ones but by 1859, with the increasing demands of the tanners, water became scarce again.  In 1869, Salem transferred the ownership of the corporation to the city of Salem.  And on July 24, 1873, Peabody formed its own Water Board to begin the management of their water. Water Board minutes record the work of laying pipes, recorded the necessary funds needed for expansion of water delivery, discussed the rates to be set for consumer and business use, and problems encountered with the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company.  

In 1896, the need for a proper sewage system was explored.  The Report of the Sewerage Committee describes the impact of Peabody tanneries, bleachery and glue works on the North River.  The report includes a topographical map of both Salem and Peabody and stresses a need for a sewerage system in Peabody because of the pollution being dumped into the river.  This investigation includes photographs, graphs of water flow, pictures of the weirs used to measure the water flow and descriptions of the industries in Peabody and their influence on the problem.

When the town finally created a Sewer Commission in 1906, it met weekly. Their minutes describe the installation and upkeep of the Peabody sewers.  Included are legal agreements with neighboring towns, difficulties with the work and companies with which the city had contracts.  There is also a daily log of sewer construction, including the amount of earth excavated, ledge or rock encountered, cubic feet of pipes and cost of project, street by street. Work on and around B & M Railroad is mentioned, as well as work done around various parks, high school and the pumping station.  

Accounts for the Department of Public Works record monies spent on general street work, on parking meter maintenance, sewer maintenance; monies for cleaning brooks; construction on Lowell Street, Foster Street, Andover Street, Margin Street, Pulaski Street, Johnson Street, Pine Street, Winona Street and Lake Street; funds used for street paving; sidewalk construction; for traffic signals; and storm drainage.  Records also include sewage usage for factories and manufacturers in Peabody.

A water bill by the Peabody Water Rates to a Mr. E. D. Kimball in the amount of $22.00 ($575.03 in today’s money). This bill was from services made from January 1, 1874 to July 1,1879. The bill was to be paid to the Town House of Peabody, or at No. 12 Sewall st, Saken, between the hours of 8 - 12 A.M. The bill also states a contract for billing for a stable and 1 house located on Briggs street for $4 per year ($104.55). The bill was issued by Nathaniel H. Poor of the WAP.

Ezra Dean Kimball was born Feb. 21, 1838 in Danvers, MA. He was the second child of 6, his parents were Dean Kimball (born in Middleton MA) and his wife Polly Batchelder (born September 9, 1810) they were married on March 18, 1835. It is unclear what Ezra did for a living until his marriage to Mary A DeCosta Gould in Danvers, Massachusetts, in 1864 when he was 26 years old. He died at the age of 30 in Solano,California 1868.