1896 was the year that Holliston was “modernized” with the introduction of the electric trolley car. But progress brings new problems.
August 31, 1896 – A large audience listened to the practical discourse of Rev. N. Van Der Pyl at the Congregational church Sunday morning on “Law and Lawlessness in Holliston.” The existing condition of trouble, he considered, was due to a lack of public sentiment in the matter, and urged action to suppress the illegal sale of liquor and preservation of better order on the streets. He asserted that the town authorities were powerless to act successfully unless their constituents were ready to support them. Some of the nightly disturbances were attributed to the presence of strangers stopping off from the electrics, which could not be prevented.
November 22, 1896 – Work on the electric road was stopped Sunday by Selectman York, on complaint, but not until he appeared on the spot with constables and threatened to arrest them. Large coils of copper trolley wires are being distributed along the line and workmen are busy engaged in stringing it, only a mile or so remaining unset on the entire line.
“Sweet Marie” will be out of town for a few months.
May 14, 1897 – Last evening Officers Robbins and Baker went to the West End in search of a notorious character known as “Sweet Marie.” She was captured by Officer Robbins near the railroad and was taken to the district court for trial. She has often been before the court and will be detained in some institution for a long sentence.
May 15, 1897 – “Sweet Marie” was given a six months’ sojourn in the house of correction at East Cambridge. Officer Robbins, with his prisoner, was the observed of all observers enroute to Cambridge, so strangely attired was she in an old army coat.
“Get-out-of-jail-free” keys
May 28, 1897 – The locks to the cells in the lockup are to be changed at an early date, as so many keys have been lost and others retained.
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