Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-01
SEVENTEEN VOTERS
Decide at Special Town Meeting to
Discontinue Old Able Road and Au-
thorize Purchase OF Potter Farm for
Cemetery.

There was an attendance Of seven
teen at the special town meeting in
Town hall Wednesday afternoon to
take action on the discontinuance OF
the old Able road that runs between
the South Windham and the Wfndham
Center roads, and decide upon the mat
ter of purchasing the Arnold Potter
farm on West Main street for new
cemetery.
with First Selectnan S. Arnold
Peckham presiding and Frank p. Fen
ton clerk. the enthusiastic" meeting
voted to discontinue the old Able road.
There was not the least objection.
The matter Of buying land for GEM
etery entailed not little lively dis
cussion. All present realized that there
was need for buying more land for
cemetery purposes, but it was evident
that for some reason the voters were
averse to taking specific action in the
matter.
NJ Eugene Lincoln counseled a post
ponement on the action Of buying the
Arnold Potter farm, saying that the
selectmen and the cemetery commit
tee ought to report to the town meet
ing the results of their Investigations
and the prices obtained on the various
sites
He said he did not wish to go on
record as opposed to the Potter farm
for site, but deemed II the better poll
Icy to have the entire proposition I'M
derstood by the voters assembled and
permit them to select the one desired.
Daniel Clark stated that in his tray-
els throughout the states and Mexico
r. had seen many fine cemeteries, but
generally they were built along the
principal thoroughfares or boulevards,
and as Main and West Main streets
were the main boulevard of Whitman
tic the Potter farm was in his opinion
the logical ideal spot for the new cem-
etery. Judge A. ]. Bowen, also town
counsel. said that while he did not ap-
pear as an attorney for any parties.
he as a citizen was Of the opinion that
the Potter farm was the best site for
the cemetery.
Town Clerk Frank P. Fenton init
mated that the voters had sort Of side
stepped the matter of new cemete-
for some time, as the question has fire.
quently been brought up In town meet
ing, but action deferred, and expressed
his belief that the matter should be
decided. Jay NJ. Shepard stated that
only a small number Of lots are avail
able in the present cemetery, matter
of eight or ten, the need for a new
cemetery is imperative and as the
Potter property is on the trolley line
it was an excellent location. He
strongly urged it's purchase.
Selectman Peckham stated that the
board and cemetery committee had
looked over the Frank Bennett prop
erty on Ash street, lot on the North
Windham road and one on the South
Windham, road and the Rood lot on
the Windham Center road; in their
opinion the Potter farm was the best
of all D. A. Lyman said that he had
no particular objection to the Potter
farm but was of the opinion that there
was no right of way. and requested Mr..
Potter. who was present, to answer.
Mr. Potter stated that there was no
right of way
On motion of Judge Bowen It was
voted that the selectn1en be authorized
to purchase the lot mentioned in the
warning. Judge Lyman said the mo-
ton should have specified just what
land was to be purchased and the price
to be paid and in view of the facts
moved reconsideration of the action.
After some heated wranglfng over the
motion it was passed and a resolution
introduced by M. Eugene Lincoln au-
thorizinF the selectmen to purchase the
Arnold Potter farm on West Main
street at a cost not to exceed $4,000,
conditional on the title being all right
and also that no more suitable site be
called to the boards attention within
two weeks.
The resolution was adopted and upon
motion of Town Clerk Frank P. Fenton
the sum of $4,000 was appropriated for
the purpose. but the appropriation will
have to be ratified at a subsequent
town meeting by ballot.
Adjournment was then taken.