As Gloucester grew in the 1800s, town affairs became more complicated. This document shows a variety of anticipated expenses – from the fire department to snow bills and the care of the “insane”. By 1860 Gloucester has established itself as a large and thriving community.
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Estimate of the Selectmen for Town Expenses for 1860
| For Interest | 3300 | 00 | Amt. brought up | $10840 | 00 |
| “ Engine Men1 | 2500 | 00 | Overseers of the Poor | 5000 | 00 |
| “ Town Officers | 850 | 00 | Committees Pay | 100 | 00 |
| “ Printing | 300 | 00 | Town Clock & Bells | 175 | 00 |
| “ Fire Dept. | 1500 | 00 | School Fund | 1200 | 00 |
| “ Harbor Master | 140 | 00 | Board of Health | 1250 | 00 |
| “ Public Buildings | 200 | 00 | Snow Bills2 | 200 | 00 |
| “ Insane | 300 | 00 | New roads and inforcement | 1000 | 00 |
| “ School Books | 100 | 00 | Miscellaneous Expenses | 2000 | 00 |
| “ Hannah Duref’s Case | 800 | 00 | |||
| “ Lockeep3 | 200 | 00 | Total | $20765 | 00 |
| “ Engine House Parts, &c | 650 | 00 | |||
| $ | 10840 | 00 |
1 Engine men = men who run the “fire – engines”
2 Snow bills = money spent to clear the roads of snow
3 Lockeep = ?
Citation
Estimate for Town Expenses, 1860. Gloucester Archives, Gloucester, MA.
Using Essex History 
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