USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1930 > Part 18
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897
Number of families having no settlement
20
Number of families having settlement in other cities and towns
17
Number of families added during the year 1930 119
Number of individuals added during the year 1930. 464
Number of families discharged during year 1930
60
In Massachusetts Hospital School at Canton
4
108
304
CITY OF QUINCY
Division of Child Guardianship
16
Being cared for in private families, minors 3
Being cared for in private families, adults 3
Being cared for by private societies, minors 1
Being cared for by private societies, adults
2
Being cared for in Tewksbury Infirmary
6
Being cared for in Braintree Infirmary 2
Being cared for in Pondville Hospital 0
Being cared for in Private Hospitals
6
The past year has again shown a great increase in relief to the needy of the city, more so than in previous years. This has been due, as heretofore, to unemployment and sickness.
Our City Infirmary is filled to its utmost capacity and we are boarding a great many cases in private and boarding homes.
At Thanksgiving this department distributed over one hundred baskets. Christmas, with the cooperation of this department and the school children of the city, the Family Welfare Society was able to distribute over one hundred baskets, including necessary food such as meat and vegetables for the Christmas dinners; also toys of all descriptions for the children.
I wish to take this opportunity to say that more spacious quar- ters are regarded as an imperative need. Congestion in the office is very great and the atmosphere is greatly affected. Considering this from a health point of view, the situation should be altered so that a greater degree of ventilation should be possible. The gen- eral office for employees is very much overcrowded, desks are close together and result in a degree of confusion and nervous strain. The present arrangement of the office does not permit the proper handling of applicants for aid, neither does it give oppor- tunity for segregation of employees necessary for the efficient performance of their duties. Applicants should have an opportu- nity to give information requested of them and also receive their orders for aid free from the observation and hearing of others. As this need is urgent, the department pleads for early action by His Honor, the Mayor.
It is the department's sincere desire to see that the activities of the department are so shaped that the greatest amount of good may be done for those needing its service and yet at the same time not lose sight of the fact that economy in expenditures must be prac- ticed.
I wish at this time to thank all those affiliated with me in the work of the Welfare Department, His Honor, the Mayor, and all departments who cooperated with me so heartily in the carrying on of the work for the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
CHANNING T. FURNALD, Commissioner of Public Welfare.
305
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Mayor, THOMAS J. MCGRATH.
DEAR SIR :- Every modern city of the first or second class has a number of official boards, among which are a Board of Park Com- missioners.
The reason for the creation of this board and the necessity of the same is possibly a question upon which a number of our citi- zens are rather divided in their opinion; it, therefore, behooves us, at the occasion of preparing the forty-second report of the "Quincy Board of Park Commissioners," to briefly meditate upon the rea- sons why a city should have a group of men to perform the work which this board is engaged in.
In the early decades of the Republic, we were an agricultural people; our cities were few and far between and of limited popu- lation, made up mainly of men bred upon the farm, blessed with the physical developments and rugged health which came from the life in the open, from simple food, and well ventilated homes.
The change to city conditions, with its lack of physical labor, its indoor life in crowded and not seldom ill-ventilated homes, quickly told upon the physical well-being of the city dweller. Es- pecially was this true of the children born and bred under these unfavorable conditions, with little opportunity for play, the chief method of child development.
In the long ago, our cities were without parks, our schools with- out gymnasiums, physical education was unknown. The city child was not expected to have as strong a physique as the country bred boy or girl had. This tendency to a loss of physical vigor in- creased in subsequent generations of city-bred people. Something had to be done to stimulate into the city folks the vigor of outdoor life; something had to be done to provide open spaces where our children could enjoy the great outdoors, where they could bask in the balmy sunlight, where they could fill their lungs with nature's pure, fresh air.
Conditions began to arise among the children in our cities, es- pecially in the more congested districts which men of far vision took notice of with apprehension. The general status of the health of city children, due to the lack of fresh air and sunshine, caused alarm. Tuberculosis, the white man's plague, began to gain a stronger foothold from year to year.
Children, away from the beauties of nature, knew not how to appreciate our then small parks; in fact, to destroy the shrubbery and flowers in our parks was considered an almost heroic act by the youth of those days.
Thinking men and women throughout our land began to urge the erection of gymnasiums for our schools; they urged physical education. For years wide-awake citizens of the leading cities throughout our land have seen the necessity of the creation of parks and have donated tracts of land for park and playground purposes. Gradually these have been laid out in the various cities of our country; parks, beautiful and practical.
It is, therefore, the pledge of your "Board of Park Commis- sioners" to acquire, preserve and beautify our city parks, to pro-
306
CITY OF QUINCY
vide adequate playgrounds for our children in general, and to give our citizens an opportunity to enjoy nature in her grandeur and majesty, to have their children learn to appreciate nature, and to provide for them an opportunity to play outside where they may inhale pure fresh air and enjoy the sunshine, so that they may become strong, healthy citizens, that is, in short, the purpose and the aim of this Board.
With this in mind, our Board has completed another year's work and, herewith, wishes to submit to you, Mr. Mayor, and to the public in general a short resume of our work during the year of 1930.
We have arranged the various parks in the city in the wards in which they are located with the sincere hope that the ward coun- cillors will study the work accomplished and take note of the rec- ommendations for the betterment of parks in the district they represent.
Ward 1-Houghs Neck
This is one of the most ideal playgrounds in the city with ample space for all sports. Interest was keen in all activities during the summer and fall. Teams from this playground won the cham- pionship in baseball and slugball. Baseball and football were the leading sports. A permanent fence is needed and a suitable gate- way properly marked. Bleachers, back stop, flagpole straight- ened and painted, infield graded for baseball. One band concert. Playground pageant and exhibit held at the end of the playground season. Two supervisors.
River Street Beach
A popular place during the bathing season, scene of many picnics and penny sales. Beach under care of park workers.
Maypole Park
Flagpole painted and flower beds laid out.
Narragansett Park
Shrubs and flower beds trimmed and cared for.
Faxon Field
Lined off for soccer and field hockey for girls. Used by High School for drills. This piece of land makes a beautiful approach to the city from the State Reservation; when completed will be a fitting memorial to its donor, Mr. Henry M. Faxon.
Faxon Tennis Courts
Five courts under the direction of a paid instructor through the generosity of Henry M. Faxon, who also maintained the upkeep. Tennis championships of Quincy High School and junior and senior open tournaments for the City of Quincy were played off here. The Park Department is greatly indebted to our good friend for the many pleasant hours our people were able to enjoy on these courts.
307
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
Manet Lake
One of our natural skating ponds cleaned out weeds and other growth, then flooded. Hockey rink erected and equipped with goal nets.
Rink used by teams in the Amateur Hockey League. Flood lights were provided by a special act of His Honor the Mayor.
Ward 2-Baseball Field
There was a constant demand for this field by teams in the Industrial League and semi-pro and amateur teams of the district. Flagpoles straightened and painted. Bleachers, backstop, players' bench painted and repaired. Infield graded, outfield filled in. A fence is necessary for safety in the outfield, which drops off into a steep gravel pit.
Stewart Park
Shrubs and flower beds make this one of the beauty spots of this section, under care of Department.
North Street Playground
Ideal shaded spot for children to safely play during the summer months. Received weekly attention of park workers.
Quincy Point Bathhouse
Open from June to September. Proved a popular place for mothers and children during the vacation period. Usual repairs made. Two attendants, one male and one female, on duty from 10.00 A. M. to 6.00 P. M. daily. The unsightly gravel pit could be beautified. Hand ball courts erected would make this beach a popular one for the young and older men of the city.
Avalon Beach
This beach, as in other seasons, proved a popular resort for the citizens of this district. A swimming instructor held daily classes in swimming and life saving, which were encouraged by awarding buttons and emblems in cooperation with the Red Cross. The Swimming Carnival, sponsored by the Association of Quincy Point, was held on Sunday, August 17th. It proved to be a big success, and upwards of 10,000 people were in attendance. Prizes were awardød in all events. Members of the Park Board acted as judges. Four rafts, one water chute and a life boat are park equipment. Recommend that a comfort station and more benches be erected this year as a necessity. A suitable shelter should be built over the sand box for the children. The one now there is poorly erected and does not serve the purpose.
Whiton Park
A beauty spot. Drinking fountain equipped with dry well to drain off water. Shrubs and grass plot under care of park workers.
Ward 3-Elm Street Playground
Strictly a children's playground, a most popular one, supervised by two instructors, well shaded, an ideal spot for supervised play. Settees, sand box painted, gate shifted and new wall built. Base-
308
CITY OF QUINCY
ball team from this playground were runners up in playground league. Comfort station needed. Doll carriage parade at the end of season one of the high lights of exhibition.
Robert Burns Monument
Keep statue clean and cut grass; spot lights here for night lighting.
Fort Hill Square Park
Flower beds set out, received regular care of park workers.
Bradford Street Playgrounds
Tennis court amesite, playground under supervision of two in- structors, sand box and flagpole painted. Tennis court used as skating rink for children in winter. Pageant and display of work held by supervised classes.
Smith Field Playground
Largest attended playground in the city. Three instructors, merry-go-round erected, a new novelty in Quincy which proved very popular. New slide installed. Bleachers and backstop on ballfield painted. Flagpole straightened and painted. Infield graded and kept in shape for baseball. Flood lights for football practice pro- vided. Baseball and football games played here in season. Rec- ommend that the brook be covered, a new loam infield for the ballfield, and' comfort station is an absolute necessity. Pageant, display of work and sports of the supervised playground season was held by the children of this district and was attended by the largest gathering of parents during closing week.
Liberty Square
One of small plots that have been beautified with shade trees and flower beds.
Ward 4-Shea Park
A beautiful park laid out with flower beds, grass trimmed. Flag- pole painted, dry well dug around drinking fountain.
St. Moritz
The State reservation in the Blue Hills the winter playground of the South Shore. The Park Board cooperated with the Blue Hills Recreation Club to obtain betterments from the Metropolitan District Commission. Painted large toboggan slide and ski jump. Erected children's toboggan slide and hockey rink. Cleaned the ponds for skating. Sixteen flood lights installed for two skating ponds and toboggan slides. The Park Board acted as judges during the winter carnival of 1930. Amateur hockey league teams played their games in the rink on holidays and Sundays. Six toboggans, property of Department, in constant use.
West Quincy Baseball Field
Field used mostly for baseball by Industrial League, semi-pro and amateur teams. Bleachers and backstop painted, grade outfield and infield. Dry well dug around drinking fountain. Grass cut, field lined for ball games. Floodlights for football practice. Com- fort station recommended.
309
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
Playground
Popular place for the children of this district well attended. Two instructors. Flagpole and sandbox painted. Dry well dug around drinking fountain. Grass cut and ground cleaned weekly.
Adams Street Lots
Two striking islands of beauty laid out with flower beds.
Ward 5-Merrymount Park
Fifteen acres of natural beauty, making it one of the most beau- tiful parks in the state, with a pageant field, bathing beach, soccer field, football gridiron, cinder track, baseball fields, tennis courts, picnic grove and band stand.
Third Field
Scene of the Quincy Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Pageant. Picnics were held here every week-end by churches and societies of Quincy. Two pavilions for refreshments and dancing make it an ideal spot.
Second Field
This field was used for baseball, soccer and parking.
The Quincy Chamber of Commerce Trading Post was held on this field during Tercentenary Week. When the pond is filled in a ball field can be laid out to help the over demand for the upper field.
Upper Field
This field was in constant use during the spring and summer months for band concerts and baseball. The gathering place for the American Legion Membership Drive, which drew thousands of people from all over greater Boston to witness the attack of Quincy from the air.
The baseball field was put in excellent condition by having a turtle back diamond in the infield built, and treated with calcium chloride. This work was supervised by an expert engineer.
The bleachers, backstop and players' benches were painted and repaired.
The dressing room under the bandstand was equipped with hooks and a shower bath installed. New fence built along driveway. Tool house enlarged, equipped with necessary implements to prop- erly carry on the work.
Monument erected to Charles Francis Adams, 2nd, on grounds facing Southern Artery.
The baseball field was used by the Quincy team of the Boston Twilight League, Granite Trust team of the Bankers and Brokers League, and semi pro and amateur teams.
Tennis Court
It was in constant use at all times under the supervision of a caretaker. Dry well installed around the fountain to prevent water running on the courts.
310
CITY OF QUINCY
Pfaffmans Oval
A natural spot to view athletic contests. During the summer this was a popular place for drills. The school children of the city held their pageant here before thousands of spectators. N. E. A. A. U. meet was held as part of the Tercentenary Week cele- bration. Soccer games were played in the spring. Semi-profes- sional football and the Quincy Park Board Amateur League use the oval every Sunday and holiday during the season. Quincy High School five afternoons a week for practice in football and track.
The field was roped and lined off for each game.
Two bubbler fountains were installed. New boards put around the cinder track, which was loamed and rolled. Flood lights for football practice were installed. Soccer goal posts equipped with regulation nets.
Field House
A park this size should have a field house equipped with dressing rooms, shower baths, a storage room for park equipment. As this is centrally located it should have a room for the Board to hold weekly meetings and properly carry on the growing activities of the Department.
Band Stand
The band stand's present location is not in a suitable place to accommodate the large turn out of our citizens who enjoy band concerts. It is located alongside of a road leading into the park. Facilities for parking are inadequate.
To protect the baseball field from the damage wrought by ma- chines driving over it the Board was forced to prohibit this prac- tice. As the majority of the people enjoy a concert sitting in their cars we recommend that this band stand be discontinued and moved to the lower field, where cars can park all around it if erected in the center of the field.
Pine Island
A bridge to Pine Island will open up this popular picnic grove to the public. At present it can only be reached by boat-the bridge was wrecked two years ago by ice and tide. Would recom- mend that a pontoon bridge be erected for summer use and pulled ashore during winter months.
Municipal Band Concerts
The Board is heartily in favor of a system of municipal band concerts, and will quote a statement of Walter M. Smith, Quincy's nationally known band leader and trumpeter, in which he states: "The American Bandmasters' Association convention to be held in Boston in April of 1931 is a fact that should be of the greatest interest to all lovers of band music, as the impetus which this meeting will give to band music in this locality through the focus- ing of the attention of the public and public officials on the band as a concert organization can hardly be overestimated. It may easily be expected that band concerts in the city of Boston will be on the increase as a result of the limelight of publicity being thrown on band music in general, and it is not unreasonable to sup- pose that possibly our own City of Quincy may feel the urge to do a little more toward the summer entertainment of her citizens and
311
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
her guests. For instance, a regular evening concert, once each week, sponsored by the city, and free to all, in Merrymount Park on the Pageant Grounds, away from the noise of the traffic of Han- cock street, with a program of good music well played by a good band, and free from 'Song Pluggers' and all musical trash, could not fail to attract an attentive and appreciative crowd of music lovers of from five to ten thousand people nightly. Such a plan is not at all unusual in many of the western cities of the size of Quincy, and would bring our city to the forefront among eastern cities in the matter of municipal music.
"We have the bands, and the most ideal location in Massachu- setts. The cost would be so small as to be practically negligible in comparison with the creating of such an attractive feature in our public life. Let us hope that sooner or later the city will awake to what it has in its midst and do its part in restoring at least some part of loving music to the people."
Park Roadways
The two roadways leading into the park are the cause of a real dust nuisance on windy days. It is the purpose of the Board to see that this is abated by oiling or a treatment of calcium chloride.
Bowling Greens
There is ample space to build a bowling green at Merrymount Park. This will be a popular move as many of our citizens are members of clubs which now use the greens at Franklin Park and Milton. At the same time give the middle-aged and older men a chance to enjoy our park facilities.
Wollaston School
The playground facilities are available only during the super- vised playground season. The group dancing and display of work, especially by the basket weaving class, were the features at the end of season exercises. Two supervisors.
Massachusetts Fields
Children's playground in rear of school provided with facilities for supervised play during the season, one instructor. Basketry, tray work and needle work were of excellent design and well done.
Butler's Pond
Butler's Pond, flood lights erected by a special act of the Mayor. Ice cleared of snow and flooded when necessary for good skating.
Safford Park
Considered the most striking of the smaller parks, well shaded, laid out with shrubs and flower beds, well cared for by park workers. Suggest that more settees be placed here so that the people in this section can enjoy its beauty.
312
CITY OF QUINCY
Ward 6-Montclair Playground
The Board in its last year's report recommended the early com- pletion of this playground as a long felt want in this section. The covering of the brook will solve the problem and the rest will be a matter of filling.
Some work of a temporary nature was done, as this park has not been accepted by the Board. Two instructors accomplished much and held a successful pageant and display of work. Horse shoe pitching tournaments were received with great favor among the older people and was encouraged by the instructors. The Mont- clair Improvement Association cooperated with the Supervisor of Playgrounds and loaned its building for a pageant and enter- tainment.
Ward 6 Playground
This is an excellent plot of land and was much used. Owing to numerous complaints, ballplaying was restricted to smaller boys. North Junior High School, North Quincy Amateur League played home games here. At the end of the baseball season the bleachers were removed and erected on the Hollis Avenue Field. This made it possible to lay out a regulation football field, which was used during the season by teams in the Park Department Amateur League. This playground had two instructors and ranked with the highest in attendance. A successful pageant and display of work ended the season. Floodlights installed for football practice.
With the discontinuance of baseball and football on the Ward 6 Playground, there is an opportunity to erect tennis courts. This can be done by selling one portion, the money derived to be used in developing the part retained.
With the opening of Hollis Avenue Playground to baseball and football there will be ample space to install tennis courts in the spring.
Norfolk Downs Sand Pit
In rear of Francis Parker School used as a supervised play- ground during the summer season. Instructors obtained good re- sults and conducted a successful Field Day with a display of the work accomplished. Bubbler fountain moved in from the road, underbrush and trees cut down. If this place is to be a permanent playground many changes should be made. It is hoped on the completion of Hollis Avenue that we can abandon the Sand Pit.
Hollis Avenue Playground
Not accepted as a city park as yet by the Board. Bleachers back stop erected, drain run through field, filled in and graded. The early spring should see loam spread and seeded, making the field ready for baseball in May. Field house with dressing rooms and comfort station recommended.
John Wendall Moses Playground
Squantum, popular playground of this district, baseball, football and tennis leading sports. Field used by Industrial League. Play- ground teams, home field of Squantum A. C. in both baseball and football. Floodlights provided for football practice. Infield treated with calcium chloride to lay dust. Tennis courts and club house taken over by Department. Club house used as dressing
313
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
room. Tennis courts in constant demand. New tennis tapes, court rolled and put in shape, new nets furnished.
Many unique ideas introduced by the instructors at the end of season field day. Playground well attended. Children showed the results of careful instruction. Two supervisors.
John R. Nelson Park
A beautiful park, the gift to the city by Mrs. John R. Nelson. Memorial to Squantum veterans in the World War, dedicated with appropriate services by Wollaston Post 295, American Legion, Armistice Day, November 11, 1930. Mayor Thomas J. McGrath accepted the gift for the city. With flower beds this can be made a beautiful spot and a fitting memorial to that sterling citizen, John R. Nelson.
As briefly as possible the Board has stated the needs and ac- complishments of the parks in the various wards. It is our sincere desire that some of the recommendations be worked into the pro- gram for the coming year.
Daily Program for Playgrounds
NINE O'CLOCK
Flag raising. Arrange swings and see-saws.
NINE-FIFTEEN TO TWELVE O'CLOCK
Playground games for smaller children.
NINE-THIRTY
Baseball for large boys (league). Indoor baseball for small boys. Folk dancing and playground games for girls.
ONE O'CLOCK
Modeling in sand, bean bag, ring toss for small children. Quoits, croquet for larger boys. Croquet, weaving for girls.
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