HISTORICAL SOCIETY, VI. ORDER OF EXERCISES AT THE Dedication of the Ancient House NOW OCCUPIED BY THE SOCIETY AND THE Proceedings at the Annual Meeting, Dec. 5, 1898 INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THE HOUSE BY THE PRESIDENT. Ipswich: THE INDEPENDENT PRESS. ANNUAL MEETING. At the annual meeting of the Ipswich Historical Society on December 6th, 1897, the President's Report called the attention of the Society to the ancient house near the depot, commonly known as the Saltonstall house, as an interesting local relict of the remote past, an admirable type of an early style of architecture, too valuable to be allowed to fall into utter ruin, and an ideal home for the Society. A committee of inspection was appointed, and a thorough examination of the house was made. It was found that notwithstanding the decayed condition of the exterior, the interior was well preserved, and of such phenomenal attractiveness that the work of repair and restoration, while extensive and costly, was well worth undertaking. The owner, Mr. James W. Bond, was willing to sell, and the committee reported favorably to the project. In May, 1898, after some preliminary canvas for funds had been made, the Society voted to purchase the property, and a committee of five was appointed to repair and restore the house, as it seemed best to them. The work was begun as soon as the transfer of the title to the designated trustees was accomplished, and was pushed as rapidly as possible through the summer. Before it was completed, it seemed best to secure the incorporation of the Historical Society. The Charter, and By-Laws of the corporation, a list of members, the proceedings at the dedication, and at the annual meeting, the President's report, which discussed at length the history of the old mansion, and the other reports then presented are published in full in the following pages. Gommonwealth of Massachusetts. Be it known, That whereas T. Frank Waters, Joseph I. Horton, Charles A. SAYWARD, EVERARD H. MARTIN, JOHN H. COGSWELL, JOHN W. Goodhue, CHARLES W. KELLEY, THEODORE F. COGSWELL, WILLIAM S. RUSSELL, JOHN HEARD and JOHN J. SULLIVAN have associated themselves with the intention of forming a corporation under the name of The Ipswich Historical Society, for the purpose of gathering and recording of knowledge of the history of Ipswich, and of individuals and families. connected with Ipswich, collecting and preserving printed and written manuscripts, pamphlets and other matters of historic interest, and collecting articles of historical and antiquarian interest, and preserving and furnishing in colonial style, one of the ancient dwelling-houses of said Ipswich, and have complied with the provisions of the statutes of the Commonwealth in such case made and provided, as appears from the certificate of the President, Treasurer and Directors of said corporation, duly approved by the Commissioner of Corporations and recorded in this office. Now, therefore, I, WILLIAM M. OLIN, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that said T. Frank Waters, Joseph I. Horton, Charles A. Sayward, Everard H. Martin, John H. Cogswell, John W. Goodhue, Charles M. Kelley, Theodore F. Cogswell, William S. Russell, John Heard and John J. Sullivan, their associates and successors, are legally organized and established as and are hereby made an existing corporation under the name of The Ipswich Historical Society, with powers, rights and privileges, and subject to the limitations, duties and restrictions which by law appertain thereto. WITNESS my official signature hereunto subscribed, and the seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereunto affixed this twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight. WM. M. OLIN, Secretary of the Commonwealth. |