The first town meeting was held on the first day of April 1811, at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., which stood upon the site of the residence of the late William B. Foss, now the home of F.D. Wood and family, a few rods north of the Free Baptist Church.

The advent of the town meeting was the beginning of a new era to the inhabitants of Garland. They had lived together for eight years with no semblance of organization. No inhabitant could be compelled to perform the slightest service equally with other inhabitants. The citizens had been groping along circuitous paths in the wilderness, carrying their burdens upon horseback or conveyances of the rudest character. Their children were living without schools, save here and there at uncertain intervals of time, supported by voluntary subscriptions.

Other matters relating to the public convenience and welfare had been neglected, but the town meeting, the most democratic of American institutions, had come, bringing with it the elements of prosperity and progress. It could not, indeed, create wealth, but it could levy taxes upon existing resources and establish schools. That potent factor of representative government, the voice of the majority, could compel the citizen, willing or not, to bear his share of the public burdens.

The coming of the first town meeting was an occasion of great importance to the inhabitants for reasons other than those which have been noticed. It created places of trust, responsibility and honor that must be filled. It created emoluments which although at the present time would be regarded of trifling importance, were not matters of entire indifference then. It would not be uncharitable to suppose that some of the more prominent citizens, ambitious for office, had been modestly awaiting honors which they believed would be thrust upon them. There were others who were glad of an opportunity to express in some tangible form their good-will towards an esteemed neighbor or friend. There were still others who cherished favorite plans in respect to the location of roads and schoolhouses, and if these could be realized, they cared but little who bore away the honors and emoluments of office.

Punctually at the hour, the inhabitants assembles at the appointed place, and organized the first town meeting by the choice of Thomas Gilpatrick for moderator, and Joseph Treadwell for clerk. Josiah Bartlett, Isaac Wheeler and Thomas Gilpatrick were chosen selectmen and assessors. Edward Fifield was chosen constable and collector, and was voted a compensation of ten dollars for collecting all taxes for the year 1811. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., was chosen treasurer. John Chandler, Amos Gordon, Josiah Bartlett, John Hayes, Joseph Saunders, Thomas S. Tyler and Ezekiel Straw were chosen highway surveyors. The choosing of highway surveyors at this meeting seems a little premature as no highways had been established. They were instructed to allow twelve and one half cents per hour for work on the highways, a precedent that has been followed to the present time. William Godwin, Andrew Kimball and James McClure were chosen surveyors of boards. Joseph Treadwell and Amos Gordon were chosen surveyors of split lumber. William Sargent, Benjamin Gilpatrick, William Palmer, P. Greeley, Cutteon Flanders and O. Woodward were chosen hog reeves. William Blaisdell, Justus Harriman and Moses Gordon were chosen fence-viewers. Isaac Wheeler was chosen sealer of weights and measures. John S. Haskell and William Sargent were chosen field-drivers. Enoch Jackman was chosen sealer of leather.

The record of Garland's first town meeting closes with the following entry:
Voted to dissolve the meeting. Accordingly it was dissolved.
A true copy of proceedings,
Attest, JOSEPH TREADWELL, Clerk.

The handwriting and general neatness of Mr. Treadwell's record is very creditable. An inspection of the records will show a disposition to make the honors of office go to as many of the inhabitants as possible. Seven highway surveyors were appointed when, as yet, not a single highway had been established. Several other offices were filled for which there was no apparent use.

This first town meeting was without doubt a meeting of the genuine New England type. The inhabitants had come together to exercise the rights and enjoy the privileges with which they had so recently been invested.

In the town meeting, each inhabitant was the equal of every other, and each could represent his own views upon every question by voice and vote. It may be assumed that the proceedings were not strictly parliamentary. In the typical New England town meeting, the sharp personal thrust and instant retort, whether in order or not, can no more be anticipated than lightening from a cloudless sky. The roar of laughter that follows is the safety-valve for the escape of dangerous elements.