Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-13
Memorial to Westerly's BenefaCi0rs
Project Erect Monument to Mr.. and Mrs. Stephen Will
cox-Annual Meeting of Watch Hill Fire District
Committee Appointed to Bring About Widening and
Beautifying of Bay Street-Trespass Case Settled.

There is increasing desire on the
part of the people to show practical
appreciation of the munifcence of the
late Stephen Wilcox and Mrs. Wilcox
in endowing for the residents of West
erly and vicinity the magnificent Will
cox park and the Westerly Public Lii
brary and Memorial building. 1t is set
forth by the parties who are taking a
lead in the matter that fitting me-
mortal to Mr.. Wilcox would also serve
as a memorial to Mrs. Wilcox, who af-
ter her husbands death did what he
desired and what he made possible for
her to do.
Nearly midway between the West
erly High school building and the pub
lie library building is an oval space
that seems to have been selected as a
suitable site for the proposed memo
rial. It is a slightly location, facing
Broad street and within the park en-
closure. 1t is here where the people
of the town would like to erect statue
of native granite of the man who gave
the park for public comfort and con-
venience. 1t is proposed to raise a
fund for this memorial by popular SUBJ
scriptions in which everybody can par
ticipate, thus making it an offering of
all the people and giving all oppor-
tunity to show appreciation of what
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilcox have done for the
people.
interested in showing pTblic apprecia-
ton of the Wilcox znunificence has
called upon Postmaster Walter Price
and requested him to make a start and
he would have many followers. 1t is
estimated that a suitable statue me-
mortal in granite could be had for from
$4,000 to $4,000 and it is believed
that the sum required could be raised
within year, with no subscription too
small to aid in the appreciative work
Mr.. Price has expressed his willing
ness to take active part in the propo-
sition.
The annual meeting of the Watch
Hill fire district was held Monday
morning at Watch Hill. On account Of
the large number Of persons present
the meeting was adjourned to the ball
room or the Plimpton house from the
office Of Horace z. Burdick There was
large number of cottagers, men and
women, present, as well as the legal
voters.
The meeting was called to order by
Moderator Frank Larkin, and Clerk
george N. Burdick read the records of
me previous meeting. On motion of
John w. Sweeney the privilege of the
NNSA was 0AlSAOSQ 10 oil taxpayers
present The regular business of the
meeting consisted in the reading of the
>treasurer's report made by Horace, E.
Burdick, the report of Superintendent
mckenzie of the water works, and both
or these reports were received and
placed on file.
The treasurers report showed that
there was cash on hand $32S.9S and two
outstanding notes. against the district,
amounting to $4,000.
The report Of the superintendent OF
the water works showed that the water
rentals paid to the town of Westerly
during the past year for water services
and Migrants amounted to $5,542.66.
An appropriation of $50 was made
for benefit of the Watch Hill Fire
company The treasurer of the dis
frict was authorized to hire the money
necessary to defray the expenses of
the district. The following officers
were then elected for the ensuing
year: Moderator, Frank Larkin; clerk.
George N. Burdick; treasurer, Horace
p. Burdick; assessor, William H.
Doane; collector, George N. Burdick;
chief engineer, Steven w. Collins; as
sistant engineer, James L. Nash; audi
tors, George A. Pope, Daniel L. Lyon
and S. H. Davis The most important
matter to come before the meeting was
the report of the committee to pro-
cure legislation from the state of
Rhode Island which would authorize
the fire district to purchase the land
between the land of William H. Peck
on the north, Bay street on the east
and the merrygo-round on the south
and Narragansett bay on the west.
The committee consisted of H. N. Fen
ner, John w. Sweeney. H. E. Burdick,
Frank Larkin and Walter Price John
w. Sweeney reported for the commit
tee that the necessary legislation had
been procured at the last session of the