January 14, 1879, the first Town Council was organized by an act of the General Assembly. The first meeting was held in the station house of the Washington and Ohio Railroad. Isaiah Bready was the first mayor elected.
January 14, 1879, the Town Council decided that they could issue notes or certificates of indebtedness for a specific reason but could not exceed $2,000. No indebtedness could be created that could not be paid back within a year, except if two out of three resident taxpayers agreed.
February 8, 1879, the first Town Council, first Town Clerk, H.W. Blanchard, and the first Town Sergeant, C.M. Burton, took their oaths.
April 26, 1879, the Town Council adopted stock regulations, which made it unlawful to allow horses, mules, hogs, cows and ox to run at large and graze on sidewalks or highways of the town.
June 7, 1879, it was announced that the first pound (30x40) for animals that were picked up for running at large was completed at a cost of $4.40 for labor and materials (oak post and pine boards), but it did not include a padlock. The Town Council instructed that a padlock be purchased but not for more than 25 cents. (Eventually the padlock was purchased for the amount of 65 cents on April 24, 1880.)
June 14, 1879, the Town Council voted to pay the Town Clerk (H.W. Blanchard) a salary of $25 per year.
March 6, 1880, the Town Council passed a general ordinance, which stated: "Ball playing shall not be lawful anywhere within a radius of 300 feet from the Post Office in Herndon."
March 6, 1880, it was reported that 1,500 feet of oak plank, measuring 2-inches thick, would be needed during the coming spring for town roads.
May 28, 1880, then Mayor Bready, authorized by a vote of Council to employ an attorney for the Town.
Nov. 13, 1880, the Town Council passed a dog tax: 75 cents per year for each male dog, $1.50 per year for each female dog. If the owner failed to pay the tax, the sergeant or collector was empowered to kill any dogs for which tax remained delinquent after the second request for payment. Moneys derived for the taxation of dogs were appropriated for the use of public schools.
Jan. 29, 1881, the Town Council order payment of $3.10 for insurance on the school house.
April 16, 1881, C.M. Thomas presented a bill of $30.00 for Clara A. Jeweel as teacher, which was approved by the Town Council. Stephen Killam also presented a bill of $10.00 for five months of rent on a building used as a school house.
July 24, 1881, the town was indebted to various individuals in the amount of $32.23.
Jan. 12, 1882, a resolution was passed stating that any member of the Council failing to attend any regular meeting shall pay a fine of 25 cents for each failure unless excused by unanimous vote of the Council at its next regular meeting.
March 6, 1886, the Council voted to appoint a committee of three to investigate what distance shade trees and hitching posts should be from the side of a street.
June 30, 1910, an ordinance was passed that said no person shall sell or offer to sell any milk from a diseased cow. Anyone found in violation could be fined no less than $5 and no more than $20.
July 25, 1910, the mayor suggested the duties of the Town Sergeant also include being the town patrolman, lamp lighter and health inspector.
Aug. 22, 1910, an ordinance was passed that said no one could ride or drive a horse or any other animal on the streets of the town at a speed above eight miles per hour.
Aug. 22, 1910, an ordinance passed where if you were caught riding a bike after dark without a light you were fined $1.
Aug. 22, 1910 an ordinance was passed that stated all gates have to swing in, and not out. Violators of this ordinance were fined no less than $1 and no more than $5.
Aug. 22, 1910, Temple Jackson was taken up on his offer to act as Town Scavenger for $25 a month.
March 31, 1911, Temple Jackson was removed from his position as Town Scavenger and the mayor was instructed to employ a new one.
Complied by the Herndon Historical Society. For more information on Herndon’s history, visit the town’s Web site at www.herndon-va.gov and click on "About Herndon."