USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1916 > Part 6
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The Boy Scouts of Melrose and Malden held their Annual Field Day, May 11th, attendance about one thousand.
The City of Melrose held its Fourth of July Celebration on July 8th, consisting of athletic sports and band concert.
The Melrose and Malden Y. M. C. A.'s held religious services at the park from June 4th to August 20th.
The Citizens Committee of Melrose invited the Christian and Missionary Alliance to hold religious services August 15th and 16th and the meetings were largely attended.
The children of the Malden playgrounds held their annual outing at the park with an attendance of about fifteen hundred.
The Malden High School Girls' Hockey Team used the park more or less between October 11th and December 9th.
On one Sunday twelve hundred people were known to have visited the park between one o'clock and five o'clock p.m., five hundred seventy- nine from Malden and six hundred twenty-one from Melrose.
The land near the entrance to Melrose Cemetery has been improved by filling in and grading and some two hundred and twenty-five shrubs have been planted.
The low land south of Pine Banks Road has been filled in and soon will be laid out in flower beds. Thirty-eight hundred tulip bulbs have been planted and will add greatly to the beauty of the park in May. Some two thousand annual flowers are raised in hot beds in the carly spring and transferred later to larger beds.
The Zoo has been the chief attraction as usual and the Trustees hope to be able to make some improvements the coming year.
The Trustees can see opportunities for improvements on every hand which cannot be carried out for want of ready funds. It is the aim of the Trustees to obtain the best results possible with the amounts received, but with a steady inc ease in e pense, find it impossible to do more than keep the park in presentable condition.
Th Trustees ask for an appropria ion of fifteen hundfed dollars from cach city for the year 1917.
Respectfully submitted, WM. D. SERRAT EDWARD E. BABB G. LOUIS RICHARDS \ Trustees CHAS. M. COX ยง Authorized
Report of Planning Board
Melrose, Mass., Dec. 31, 1916
To the Honorable, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Melrose. Gentlemen :-- The Planning Board herewith submits its third Annual Report.
The city is to be congratulated that the petition by the Park Com- mission and Planning Board, with the co-operation of and contributions from private citizens, two great improvements, viz., Spot Pond and Ell Pond Brooks and Removal of Main Street Ice Houses, has been unani- Iously granted, and the necessary appropriation made by your Honor- able Board with the approval of His Honor, the Mayor.
In another part of this report may be found a discussion of pertinent reasons for City Planning. Attention to the financial benefits that may be expected fron the improvements authorized are here considered.
The estimated cost by the Planning Board for the improvement of Spot and Ell Pond Brooks, amounted to $12,000.
Private contribution
$4,800
Bond issue
7,200
$12,000
Ice House property on Main Street.
$11,000
Private Contribution
$4,400
Bond issue
6,600
$11,000
Total expenditure .
$23,000
Total contribution
$9,200
Bond issue
13,800
$23,000
Annual interest charge at 4 per cent on Bond Issue. . $552.00
The damages awarded and recommended, plus legal expenses in connection with these brooks for the calendar year of 1916, are more than double the annual interest charge on the total bond issue for both the Ice House Property and Brooks.
There are forty-five different estates abutting Spot Pond Brook between Stoneham line and junction with the Ell Pond Brook, containing 908,242 square feet, and assessed as follows :
Building
Land
Total
$80,400
$45,675
$126,075
Other properties in this vicinity that are unfavorably affected by the present and past condition of the Spot and Ell Pond Brooks, are assessed at upwards of one-half million dollars.
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CITY OF MELROSE
It is not claimed that this plan will do everything that former plans involving very large expenditures of money would do, but it is believed that it will approximate a solution of the problem, and excepting at times of unusual and continuous rains, prove to be a complete solution, provided the conditions contained in our 1915 Report are adhered to, which are as follows :-
CLEANING THE BROOKS
"The brooks should be kept clean for all time, and these recommenda- tions are made contingent upon the Board of Aldermen making a sufficient annual appropriation for the cleaning and maintenance of the brooks."
A removal of the offensive ice houses; the discontinuance of the distribution of much ice unfit for domestic use and the improved environ- ment of all surrounding and in fact all property in Melrose ;- these benefits are so apparent as to be obvious to all.
Taxes in Melrose will be no higher because of the cost of these im- provements, but on the contrary aside from all other benefits, the carrying out of these plans must be of financial benefit to the community.
AN ACT RELATIVE TO BUILDING LINES IN CITIES AND TOWNS
On December 18, 1916, the Board of Aldermen enacted as follows:
"Be it ordered that the provisions of Section 103, Chapter 48, of the Revised Laws; and Chapter 572 of the Acts 1913, relating to the estab- lishing of the building lines in a manner provided for the laying out of public ways, be and the same is hereby accepted."
The acceptance of the provisions of this Act, places at the discretion of your Honorable Board, the authority for the prevention of the con- struction of garages or other buildings up to the sidewalk line, whenever in the judgment of your Honorable Board such construction shall be deemed detrimental to the best interests of the street and community.
"Section 103. If the City Council of a city or if a town accepts the provisions of this section or has accepted the corresponding provisions of earlier laws, a building line not more than forty feet distant from the exterior line of a highway or town way may be established in the manner provided for laying out ways, and thereafter no structures shall be erected or maintained between such building line and such way, except steps, windows, porticos and other usual projections appurtenant to the front wall of a building, to the extent prescribed in the vote establishing such building line, and except that buildings or parts of buildings existing at the time of the establishment of the building line may be permitted to remain and to be maintained to such extent and under such conditions as may be prescribed in the vote establishing such building line. Whoever sustains damage thereby shall have the same remedies therefor as for damages sustained by the laying out of a town way."
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REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
CITY PLANNING
We shall mention only some of the broader aims which control city planning, but under these are included many, if not most of the more specific purposes which properly inspire and regulate civic action.
The first of these purposes is the preservation and the further develop- ment of the individuality of the city. Its history, its physical situation, the character of its population, and of its industries :- all these should be appropriately reflected in the city plan.
As our interest in human life is in the distinctly personal, so is our . interest in the city. We should cherish a love for and pride in local achieve- ments. Civic art furnishes the most available and most adequate means of expressing local customs and aspirations. In a word, we should frame an ideal of what we wish the city to be, and then make that one of the controlling purposes in the development of the city plan.
Another broad purpose that should control all city planning is a more sensitive regard for the common welfare. We need to make many im- provements for the benefit and enjoyment of everybody, for the common good.
The creation of an advisory committee to pronote the broader use of the Memorial building is in this line.
There is a striking contrast between American and European cities "Over there, they have improved, replanned and reconstructed their cities to meet the requirements of modern life. Acting with strong, well-regulated collective power, each city has provided facilities for wholesome physical exercise, for transportation, for good homes, for convenient opportunity to enjoy the beauty and the wonder of the nature world, and for a more intimate knowledge cf nelle examples of human life and beautiful products of human work. As a result of this sort of planning, fine city streets, orderly railroad approaches, beautiful public buildings, open green squares and plazas, ennobling statuary, convenient playgrounds, numerous parks, parkways and boulevards, art museums, theatres, opera houses and concert halls :- all these are so nearly free that they are easily available for all the people. To furnish advantages as these is one of the controlling purposes of city planning, for they not only provide wholesome recreation as a relief from the grind and fatigue of the day's work; they also make a definite and, in the long run, an in- dispensable contribution toward to-morrow's efficiency."
RECOMMENDATIONS
As a result of our studies, investigations and consultations with various authorities on the great problem of city planning, we would respectfully present the following recommendations :
Building Laws-Housing Problem
That our building laws be revised to conform to modern requirements for construction and housing.
93
CITY OF MELROSE
We repeat what we said last year that "There is pressing need for intelligent revisions of our ordinances to correct existing housing condi- tions and arrest the general tendency of these conditions to become worse as the city increases in density of population."
This problem is not only one of the most important but the most difficult with which we have to deal. Our present ordinances only protect lis against the worst forms of three-deckers, and leave us defenceless against the shack that shows a tendency to multiply in our more thinly populated sections.
We have no provisions to secure to all habitations proper ventilation and sanitation and adequate space to ensure air and light.
All modern cities are studying these problems, and various States, including our own, have commissions at work upon uniform housing codes. A Recess Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature is preparing to' bring in a bill at the forthcoming session. Therefore, your Planning Board has delayed its action in the hope that during the coming year we may have a general code, prepared by experts, offered for our acceptance. Meanwhile, all good citizens should concern themselves with this matter, that we may have a public sentiment that will support the adoption and enforcement of such laws as may be made available by legislative action, or proposed as a part of our local ordinances.
PLAYGROUNDS
That the city immediately purchase at least two playgounds and continue such purchases at the rate of one each year.
City Planning has thought for the children, and reserves spaces in every section of the city for playgrounds, for without a chance for play children will not grow as nature intended that they should.
It is a matter of regret that the city has not yet bought land for a single playground.
The thing that needs most to be understood about play is that it is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is not simply something that a child likes, it is something that he must have if he is to grow up strong in body, clear in mind, and clean in morals. The value of play in the development of children is being better understood, and our city should give its children a place for wholesome recreation properly supervised. The playground takes the child from the street and provides right environment.
Many, possibly most, of the offences of children in cities come from a natural desire for play, a desire which cannot be satisfied in the streets.
Statistics show that many inmates of juvenile reformatories might have escaped such a career had they had normal play experience. We are told that eighty per cent of all offences against society are committed during the leisure time of the people.
"Every city in our country spends a hundredfold more money for juvenile reform than is spent in providing means for public recreation, and few of us as yet see the folly and shame of it."
94
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
When the children are left out in the planning of our cities, when we close nature's path to the growing child, we make it almost certain that he will find some other path or cease to grow at all.
The argument that will be most strongly urged against providing playgrounds will be the matter of expense. But one thing is certain, -- the expense will never be any less than it is now.
LINWOOD AVENUE
That the City adopt the Report of the Planning Board for the extension of Linwood Avenue, contained in our Annual Report for 1915, a copy of which follows :-
"The extension of Linwood Avenue from Grove Street northerly to East Foster Street, would materially shorten the distance to and from the thickly settled territory lying east and south of the line of proposed extension.
This together with the extension of Linwood Avenue at its southerly end, across Sylvan Strcet to the cemetery, would open a dignified avenue to Wyoming Cemetery.
Main Street with its multitude of teams, automobiles and electric cars is not an appropriate approach to our cemetery."
Extension of Linwood Avenue about 500 feet north.
Extension of Linwood Avenue about 400 feet south.
Re-surfacing portion of Linwood Avenue.
Setting out trees on Linwood Avenue.
Gate for cemetery entrance.
1915 Estimated cost $13,000.00
1916 Estimated cost. 16,000.00
Since the printing of this report, Hon. Charles M. Cox, of this city, has risen to the needs of the hour by presenting to the City, without money and without price, a sufficient amount of land to make three splendid playgrounds. What individuals can do, the com- munity itself can do.
CITY HALL
Recommendations of the Planning Board to Public Service Com- mittee of the Board of Aldermen relative to the remodelling of City Hall.
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CITY OF MELROSE
Copy City of Melrose City Planning Board
Melrose, Mass. Nov. 23, 1916
A. M. Tibbetts, Esq.,
Chairman of Committee on Public Service,
Board of Aldermen, Melrose, Mass.
Deur Sir :- The Melrose Planning Board in response to the request of your Committee, under date of February the 8th, 1916, "Paper 8776", beg leave to submit the following report, contained in a report from the Committee of the Planning Board, Victor A. Friend, Chairman, a copy of which is herewith enclosed; said report receiving the unanimous ap- proval of the planning Board.
The Planning Board and its Committee, have given much time and thought to the consideration of this subject, and trust that the information herewith given, will be of value to your Committee, to the Board of Aldermen, and to the City of Melrose.
Figures named in the cost of construction and repair, under competi- tive bids, can probably be somewhat reduced, but in order to leave a margin for unlooked for contingencies in actual construction, we believe the estimates are as low as it would be wise to assume the actual con- struction of the work will cost.
The Planning Board feel under obligation to, and have appreciation of the assistance received from: Angus MacDonald, Contractor; George C. Glover, Architect.
Report of Committee,
Estimate of Architect,
Letter of John H. Plunkett, Chief,
Copy of Report of J. J. Carey, Deputy Chief,
Letters and order submitted to the Planning Board by the Committee (Signed) JOHN C. F. SLAYTON, (Signed) L. S. HUNT, Secretary .. Chairman
Mr. John C. F. Slayton,
Chairman Melrose Planning Board, Melrose, Mass.
Dear Sir :- The committee appointed for the purpose of investigating and reporting on a plan for the remodelling of City Hall, beg to submit the following, which can be no better stated than In the Annual Report of the Planning Board, for the year of 1915.
"The Auditorium in City Hall in its present condition, should no longer be used for the assembly of large audiences.
"Melrose could hardly forgive herself if a fire catastrophe should occur, similar to those which have occurred in other places, where in some instances the fire menace was less than it is at the City Auditorium
96
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
"The added space, gained by utilizing the present hall, would permit a rearrangement of the building, furnishing a dignified and properly ventilated council chamber, with adjoining space capable of accommo- dating citizens who may wish to be present.
"The suggested changes would also furnish the necessary room for our police headquarters, and permit other changes and readjustment consistent with the growing needs of the several city departments."
The plan is hereby submitted with an estimate of $25,862 to carry out and embody the recommendations of the Planning Board.
In order to have the appropriation large enough to cover all con- tingencies, including architect's fees, etc., the committee would suggest an appropriation of $28,000.
The Committee submit as follows :--
First .- The expense in connection with the remodelling of the base- ment of City Hall, is approximately $7,850, made up as follows :-
Police quarters, including four modern cells. $4,000.00
Public convenience stations. 2,800.00
Reinforcing vault's and fireproofing boiler room and stair-
way. 1,050.00
$7,850.00
Second :-- The installing of police quarters, including four modern cells, has an estimated cost of only $4,000. All other expenses in connection with remodelling of the building including public convenience stations, and largely increased vault space, are absolutely essential to the proper requirements of the City's growing needs (and necessary repairs of the building) whether the police department continue to occupy a part of the bui.ding or not.
Third .- The remodelling of City Hall will remove much of the present fire menace, and will carry out recommendations in the general fireproofing of the building as contained in letter of John H. Plunkett, Chief of the District Police of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, addressed to the Chairman of the Planning Board, under date of June 20, 1916, copy of which is herewith attached.
VICTOR A. FRIEND WILBUR W. DAVIS D. W. FITZPATRICK,
Committee
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CITY OF MELROSE
J. C. F. Slayton, Esq.,
19 Blackstone Street,
Boston, Mass.
Dear Mr. Slayton:
The new approximate estimates for altering the City Hall at Melrose, as per sketches prepared in this office and revised in accordance with the conference with your committee, Thursday eveing, November 2d, are as follows:
General Work-A. MacDonald, 79 Milk Street, Boston $18,362.00
Plumbing, J. C. McCarron, 29 Central Street, Boston. 2,500.00
Miscellaneous-Heating, Electric Work, etc .. 5,000.00
Total. $25,862.00
Included in the above estimates, the work in the basement for police quarters and modern cells, amounts approxim- ately to. $4,000.00
Proposed public convenience stations.
$2,700.00
Reinforcing of vaults and fireproofing boiler room and stair- way, approximately 1,050.00
$7,850.00
These estimates provide also for 4,000 square feet of additional floor space on the third floor. Furnishings and architect's fees are not included.
Yours very truly, (Signed) GEORGE C. GLOVER.
Copy Chief of the District Police
State House, Boston. June 20, 1916
John C. F. Slayton, Chairman,
City Planning Board, Melrose, (19 Blackstone Street, Boston) Dear Sir:
In compliance with your request, I am enclosing you a copy of the conclusions and recommendations made by Deputy Chief Carey, relative to the City Hall at Melrose. You will note some of these are based on the use of the hall for moving picture entertainments.
These are to be considered in the light of recommendations only for the safe occupancy of the hall.
Respectfully, (Signed) JOHN H. PLUNKETT, Chief.
98
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD.
Copy
John H. Plunkett, Chief,
State House, Boston, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I would recommend that the following changes be made if this hall is to be used in the future for the exhibition of moving pictures.
Provide a means of egress from gallery, that will have no connection with egresses leading from the auditorium, the same to be at least 4 feet in width.
The rear egresses from the gallery and auditorium now entering the corridor of first floor should be changed so that egress can be made from building.at first floor without entering corridor, a partition be constructed in said corridor dividing portion at foot of stairway from main corridor of building.
Secure seats in gallery.
Provide illuminated exit signs to indicate all means of egress.
Provide approved hardware on all egress doors.
Remove doors of auditorium which now swing into corridor and obstruct egress or rearrange said doors so that they will not obstruct egress.
Extend hand rails by window, rear stairway.
Provide centre hall rail on main stairway, from second to first floors.
Remove windows at foot of stairways leading from gallery to audi- torium and extend hand rails of said stairways full distance of flights.
Remove all movable articles from rooms, corridors and platforms used as egress.
Maintain full width of aisles in auditorium by removing seats at raidators and enclosures.
Remove or open outwardly screen doors, corridor, rear at first floor.
Remove storage closet under main stairway. The main stairway leading from first floor to auditorium is one continuous flight of twenty- four risers. I would recommend that said stairway be constructed with platform at least four feet in width to break flight in the middle thereof.
I would recommend that a sufficient number of gas fixtures be ar- ranged in an approved manner to provide auxiliary lighting.
Respectfully, (Signed) J. J. CAREY, Deputy Chief.
CONCLUSIONS
There have been presented in the previous pages of this report only some of the larger and more important problems. It is realized that the Park Commission and Planning Board, in giving the people of Melrose plans for a beautiful and unified city, are asking for the carrying out of a great work, and one which seems to involve large expenditures of money. This is only a seeming condition, for in fact the plans can be carried out
99
CITY OF MELROSE
in their entirety without seriously increasing the present tax burden. The very growth of the city which is creating increased valuation with resultant increased income, gives a basis for expenditure in excess of the cost of carrying out the plans submitted.
City building means man building. Who is there among us who is not lifted above sordid industrial existence into the realm of the beautiful and ennobling things in life, by attractive surroundings? Beautiful parks, well laid out streets, properly lighted, paved and amply provided with shade trees; relief from noise, dirt and confusion-all these things and many others are agencies that make not only for the future growth of the city, but the happiness and prosperity of all the people within its gates.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriation .
$300.00
Expended for:
Stationery, stamps, etc.
$6.00
Miles Greenwood. 11.65
George B. Dodge Co. Printing reports 68.00
Balance unexpended.
214.35
$300.00
JOHN C. F. SLAYTON, Chairman
VICTOR A. FRIEND
RICHARD H. SIRCOM
HAROLD MARSHALL
WILBUR W. DAVIS
DENNIS W. FITZPATRICK
E .. GERTRUDE COPELAND
AGNES L. DODGE
LOUISA S. HUNT, Secretary
Report of the Public Library
To His Honor, the Mayor, Charles H. Adams and the Honorable Board of Aldermen.
Gentlemen :--- The Trustees of the Melrose Public Library submit the following report for the year 1916, being the sixteenth annual report to the city, and the forty-sixth since the establishment of the library.
During the year 1916, 84,371 volumes were circulated, which, con- sidering the fact that for several weeks the Juvenile Department was under quarantine, is a splendid record and certainly demonstrates the reality that the Library is appreciated.
Bulletin No. 4 has been issued, containing 718 titles, divided as follows: Fiction, 239; children's non-fiction, 64; social and political science, 49; European War, 49; children's stories, 48; geography and travel, 41; literature, 35; useful arts, 33; biography, 27; philosophy and ethics, 23; fine arts, 22; history, 18; natural science, 17; religion, 13; drama, 11; education, 11; general works, 10; art, 8.
The South East Branch has shown a steady. increase in circulation and the outlook is very encouraging.
The Highlands Branch has had a circulation of 17,422 which has ex- ceeded the expectations of all directly interested.
On Oct. 31, 1916, a branch library was opened on the East Side in the Winthrop School and during the two months which it has been open has made a creditable record, having circulated 498 books.
The Trustees regret that the Mary A. Livermore Art Library is still incomplete, but hope within a reasonably short time to have it ready for the use of the public.
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