Thank you for all your replies. The high voltage only to seemed to
happen for a while but we are going to call the electric company,
National Grid, and have them put a recorder on the line.

When I took the reading of 133 volts it was from the hardwired
terminals inside the furnace. I then tried a couple of other outlets
and got similar readings. I then went looking for another meter to
confirm these readings but when I finally got another meter and tried
it the voltage was at 119.

I'm still going to try applying the resistor to the solenoid because
even with the line voltage at 119 and the furnace in an idle state, I
think the only load on the 24 volt transformer is the solenoid and it
is still getting hot.

Thanks again everyone,
Derek