[444] The amount paid by the town for support of the poor, from Feb. 15, 1854, to Feb. 15, 1855, was $3,571.86!
Tornado.
Medford bears its suffering testimony to the effects of the terrible tornado of Aug. 22, 1851. Such extensive destruction of property from such a cause has never before been witnessed in this State. At a meeting of citizens, Aug. 28, the following votes were passed:--Voted that a committee of five be appointed to appraise damages. Voted that Gorham Brooks, Charles Caldwell, Franklin Patch, Albert Smith, and Jeremiah Gilson, constitute the committee. Voted that the committee be instructed to consider the circumstances of the sufferers, and report cases (if any) where charity is deemed necessary. Voted that the committee be authorized to communicate with similar committees from other towns, in relation to the publication of the results of their investigations. Voted that Rev. Charles Brooks be a committee to collect and arrange the facts in reference to science.
Report of Committee of appraisement.
The amount of individual losses, as estimated by the committee, is as follows:--| Edward Brooks — Barn | $25 |
| Estate belonging to T. P. Smith and others — Buildings, $300; fruit-trees, $600; carriages, $75; vegetables, $10 | 985 |
| Charles Rollins--Two dwelling-houses, unfinished, which Mr. Rollins was building by contract, both entirely demolished, including, in one case, the cellar wall. One of these buildings was on the property belonging to T. P. Smith and others, $4,320; the other was for the Rev. Mr. Haskins, $1,450 | 5,770 |
| House building by J. F. Edward, on property belonging to T. P. Smith and others | 12 |
| Boston and Lowell Railroad Company — Freight car blown from track, and buildings injured | 40 |
| J. M. Usher — Buildings, $442; fruit-trees, $30; fruit; ornamental tree (horse-chestnut), $50 | 522 |
| L. B. Usher — Buildings, $50; fruit-trees and fruit, $58; ornamental trees (elm in road, and horse-chestnut), $100 | 208 |
| Heirs of Leonard Bucknam — Buildings and fences, $450; fruit-trees, $25 | 475 |
| J. M. Sanford — Fence, $10; vegetables, $5; furniture and clothing, $150 ;. carriages, $75 | $240 |
| H. T. Nutter — Vegetables, $5; furniture and clothing, $400 | 405 |
| Joseph Wyatt — Buildings, $250; fruit-trees, $150; fruit, $10 | 410 |
| Town of Medford — Buildings (school and poorhouse fences, &c.), $410; ornamental trees, $50; fruit-trees, $50 | 510 |
| George E. Harrington — Buildings, $30; fruit-trees, $50; fruit, $8 | 88 |
| J. Vreeland — Fruit-trees, $150; fruit, $12 | 162 |
| A. L. Fitzgerald (house slightly damaged). | |
| Samuel Teel, jun.--Buildings, $800; fruit-trees, $200; fruit, vegetables, and hay, $61; wagons, furniture, &c., $120 | 1,181 |
| George Caldwell — House, $25; fruit-trees, $20 | 45 |
| George F. Lane — Buildings, $600; fruit-trees, $250; vegetables, $16 | 866 |
| Thomas Huffmaster — Buildings, $275; fruit-trees, $500; fruit and corn, $45 | 820 |
| Wellington Russell — Clothing and furniture | 25 |
| E. T. Hastings — Fences, $30 ; fruit-trees, $100; fruit, $20 | 150 |
| J. B. Hatch — Fences, $5; fruit-trees, $75; fruit, $25 | 105 |
| Nathaniel Tracy — Fence | 10 |
| John W. Hastings — House and fence | 25 |
| Rev. John Pierpont--Buildings, $500; fruit-trees, $100 | 600 |
| Heirs of Jonathan Brooks — Buildings and fences, $677; fruit-trees, $500; ornamental trees, $200; fruit, vegetables, and hay, $80; carriages and hay-rack, $175 | 1,632 |
| Alfred Brooks — Buildings, $350; fruit-trees, $100 | 450 |
| Noah Johnson — Buildings, $445; hay and grain in barn, $40; ox-wagon and farming-tools, $42 | 527 |
| James Wyman — Fruit-trees | 30 |
| Moses Pierce — House | 25 |
| John V. Fletcher — House, $25; fruit-trees, $20 | 45 |
| Joseph Swan — Fruit-trees | 20 |
| P. C. Hall-Fruit-trees, $920; ornamental trees, $50; fruit, $80 | 1,050 |
| Jonathan Porter — Fruit-trees, $75; fruit, $35 | 110 |
| William Roach — Fruit-trees | 25 |
| Dudley Hall — Fruit-trees | 25 |
| Samuel Kidder — Buildings, $50 ; fruit-trees, $400; ornamental trees, $50 | 500 |
| Thatcher R. Raymond — Fruit-trees, $100; ornamental trees, $100; fences, $10 | 210 |
| John A. Page — Fruit-trees, $150; ornamental trees, $50; fences, $50 | 250 |
| ----Russell — Ornamental trees | 150 |
| Orchard (East of Andover Turnpike） | 40 |
| $18,768 |
