Manufacture

1864 · 29021415 — Anthony Coventry RI 1864-1894. General wear and toning. The smaller of the two notebooks has semi detached covers. . A set of two notebooks containing nearly thirty years of the meeting minutes of the annual July 4 gathering of the Coventry Factory Fire Engine Company. These minutes includes a list of members and officers voted in each year as well all the outcome of any topic put to vote. The meetings take place in Anthony RI which is a small village within Coventry RI. The smaller copybook is completely full and contains minutes from their annual meetings dating from 1864 to 1881. The second and larger notebook begins where the first notebook left off in 1882 and continues until 1890 when at the annual meeting there was no quorum present and as such "the charter of the company was declared forfeited sic and the company disbanded." In August of 1893 the company was reorganized under the old charter. Four more meetings follow in 1893 with the last meeting recorded stating that the fire company met to compete at the Kent Co. Fair and won the third prize of ten dollars. Included with this set are several receipts and notes of the fire company. There are eight 8 receipts dating between 1893-1894 two of them are undated. One scrap piece of paper which served as a draft for a portion of one of the annual meeting minutes. A roll call list of members from the 1893 annual meeting. A list of dues paid by each individual member. And lastly a note dated September 15 1893 which certifies that the fire company won the third prize in the Hand Engine Contest Open at the Kent Co. Fair. Below is an excerpt from one of the entries: "The squirt gun was tested and proved very satisfactory. It was voted that Lt Capt Byron Matteson be a committed to inspect the Hay Cart and any other machine he may see fit and report as soon as posable. There being more business the meeting adjourned to the call of the Captain." - August 3 1893 Meeting These journals most likely belonged to Arthur J. Matteson 1859-1925 who was the Secretary of the Company from 1888-1893. Matteson lived in Coventry RI and worked as a machinist. Small Notebook: Brown illustrated wrappers depicting several scenes of children on a farm. The back cover has a multiplication table and a decorative border. String binding. Completely full. Measures 8" x 6 1/2" Large Notebook: Black decorative paper over boards. Red fore edge. One fourth filled. Measures 8 1/2" x 6 3/4" <br/><br/> hardcover books