The Public Scales and Freight Siding were beside the tracks in the
triangle between Springdale Avenue and Dedham Street
The Depot was one of the busiest spots in Dover back at the turn of the century. It was a time when steam trains stopped at Springdale Crossing on a regular schedule and Dover people found that the iron horse was the quickest and most convenient way to get to Boston and points along the way.
General rail freight was handled at a siding track between Springdale Avenue and Dedham Street, and that is where the'public hay scales was too. Installed the first week of July 1899, it was here that Dover farmers and others weighed their hay, produce and freight.
Jedediah Higgins, proprietor of Higgins' Store, was one of the first official weighers for the town. When someone drove a loaded wagon onto the scales it was up to Higgins or his storekeeper to come out and read the scales and sign a slip to certify the weight. There was a nominal fee for the service.
Located near the lower edge of the present grass park triangle between Dedham Street and Springdale Avenue, the hay scales consisted of a timber plank platform set flush with the top of the ground over a rectangular pit about three feet deep. A wooden box pedestal extended above the platform to enclose the scales mechanisms and weight indicator. Manufactured by Howe Scales Company, the scales were capable of weighing a ten ton load.
The Public Scales and Freight Siding were beside the tracks
in the
triangle between Springdale Avenue and Dedham Street
Sketch based on recollections by Chester F. Heinlein, Sr, news items in the 'DEDHAM TRANSCRIPT' in 1899 by Ansel K. Tisdale and other information in the Dover Historical Society files.