1871-04-24_comCoolidgeAve1_2021_019_001

The special committee to whom were referred the
applications of H. W. Muzzey and J. G. Coolidge for pay-
ment of damages caused to their estates by grading Cool-
idge Avenue by the City of Cambridge in 1869 submit
the following report.

In the year 1862, a claim made that this Corpo-
ration was bound to grade and repair the avenue was
referred to Messrs. C. P. Curtis and E. S. Rand, and from
their full examination and report we find, that the
fee of the avenue is in this Corporation, that it was laid
out as a private way in 1830 and has since been open
to public travel. It is not a public way except by dedi-
cation. Since 1846 no way can be made public unless
laid out by the public authorities. As the Corporation
as lately as 1848 exercised its power of granting rights
in the way it seems clear it has never become a pub-
lic way by dedication.

The original agreement between [Businesses?] and
Josiah Coolidge provided that this way should be
kept open and unobstructed, and that said Coolidge
his heirs and assign should at all times have free