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 1938 > Part 25
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Let us state that the three members of the new Board appre- ciate the fine program carried out by the previous Board; it will be our constant endeavor to maintain that standard and our am- bition to improve it.
We have arranged the report of the various recreation centers by the wards in which they are located, with the work accom- plished in each and our recommendations to assist each councillor to better familiarize himself with their needs.
In closing, the Board is ever mindful of Your Honor's splendid cooperation. Your faith in us will react in accomplishments that will in no small measure be a credit to your administration.
FRANK G. PRAY, Secretary.
WARD 1 Alfred N. LaBrecque Park
This is an ideal playground, but considerable damage was caused by the hurricane to the pavilion, backstop and bleachers. A W. P. A. Project is pending to erect and relay outfield and construct double tennis courts. Twenty-four plots of land, a total of 135,000 feet, were taken to complete the field, which when finished will be classed as one of the city's best. Two instructors are provided during the playground season, which is well attended, many activities being carried on.
Manet Lake
The grass and rubbish have been cleaned out here and the area flooded for skating. A hockey rink was erected and lighted for night skating and hockey.
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CITY OF QUINCY
William Cushing Baker Park
This Park was graded and seeded down. It contains a popular bathing beach, and has one instructor during the playground sea- son. A chain link fence was erected during the past year.
Sea Street Skating Pond
This area was flooded for skating and was well attended by the small children of the district.
Perkins Playground
The bleachers and backstop at this location were damaged by the storm. A hockey rink equipped with nets was provided during the winter season and was well used and appreciated by the youth of this section. The playground has two instructors during the summer season and is well attended. Under a W. P. A. Project a softball diamond will be constructed this spring, with backstop and bleachers, and two tennis courts.
Adams Shore Playground
This is a popular play area, fully equipped. Two instructors are in attendance during the season.
Faxon Field
This field is in constant use for football, soccer, softball, High School football practice, and outdoor gym activities for the High School. We recommend that a skating rink be provided on the Coddington Street side next winter.
Faxon Tennis Courts
These tennis courts are in use during the season and are very popular among the better tennis players. The City Tennis Tourna- ment was conducted here for cups offered by Mr. Henry M. Faxon. William Bowyer was supervisor.
Cranch School
A well equipped playground is provided here, with a full pro- gram during the season under the supervision of two instructors. It is a safe and popular place for small children to play.
WARD 2 Fore River Club House
This club house is one of the community buildings of the city and is under the supervision of the Park Board. It was used a great deal during the past year for a W. P. A. Center and local activities, as well as for dances, whist parties, banquets, weddings, and socials. Dressing Rooms are provided for baseball and soccer players who use Fore River Field. A full time janitor is in charge. The interior has been painted, the floors refinished, and the plumb- ing and heating system overhauled. Tables and chairs were pur- chased. The building serves also as a comfort station during field activities.
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REPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT
Fore River Field
Last year this field was graded and rolled, a fence was erected to enclose the field, the bleachers were repaired, and a chain link fence was constructed around the tennis courts. This year new bleachers will be built. This field was one of the most used in the city by baseball teams in the Park, South Shore, and Industrial Leagues, plus many independent teams. A soccer field was laid out for use during the fall and winter months. The tennis courts were put in good condition and were very popular among tennis lovers in this section.
Avalon Beach
At this location is the only city supervised beach. Two rafts are furnished, the seats and shelter are kept in repair, and the beach is cleaned daily during the season; a fully equipped playground is provided with two instructors. We recommend that a life guard be furnished during the bathing season as a safety measure.
Munroe Playground
This area is under construction, but is used for softball, foot- ball, and as a practice field for Junior High School football. A W. P. A. Project is planned to fill and grade the low land, and in time the field will make an ideal center for various athletic activ- ities.
Daniel Webster School Playground
A chain link fence was erected during the past year at this loca- tion. The playground is well equipped and ideal for small children; two instructors are provided during the season.
Whiton Park
This is a popular breathing spot for the people of this section. The shrubs and grass plot are cared for by Park workers.
Pollard School Playground
During the past year walks were laid out by the N. Y. A. at this fully equipped playground. It is a naturally shaded spot ideal for small children, and has two instructors during the playground season.
Elm Street Playground
This is one of the most popular playgrounds in the city, with three instructors in charge. It is well shaded, fully equipped, and well attended. A comfort station is needed.
WARD 3 Bradford Street Playground
The playground apparatus here was repaired and replaced. A fine program is carried out, with three instructors in charge of the large number in attendance. Tennis courts are a great asset to the field. A comfort station is also needed here.
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CITY OF QUINCY
Henry L. Kincaide Park
The largest attendance in the city is at this playground, which is well equipped to serve the children of this section and carries out a complete program. Two tennis courts are in use at all times. The baseball field is used by teams in the Park, South Shore and Industrial Leagues, as well as by local teams. It is also used as a football practice field by the Junior High School and for their outdoor program. A W. P. A. Project is recommended to re-grade the land recently taken from the Quincy Column Turning Company, to erect a stone fence on the Water Street side, and to construct a field house.
WARD 4 William T. Shea Park
This beautiful spot was re-graded, walks were laid out, and a boulder and bronze plate placed in memory of ex-Mayor William T. Shea. New curbing and shrubs add to the effect, and the whole receives weekly care by Park workers.
Joseph O'Rourke Playground
At this location are a well equipped playground, with two in- structors in charge during the season, and a field used for base- ball by the Park, South Shore, and Industrial Leagues and inde- pendent teams. The outfield was filled in, a fence erected, and new bleachers and backstop built last year by the Park Department, and a Field House and Tennis Courts constructed under a W. P. A. Project which will be ready for use this year.
St. Moritz
The Park Department cooperated with the Metropolitan District Commission and took over the full maintenance of the skating ponds at this location. This included scraping off snow after storms and putting the ice in shape for the winter carnival. There were twenty-five skating days during the past winter. The Board spon- sored a resolution by the City Council and met the Metropolitan District Commissioner to present him with a proposition that his department take this work over in the future.
WARD 5 Merrymount Park
This is the recreation center of the city, where during the past year considerable work has been done.
Stadium. This fine project was completed, with a seating ca- pacity of 5500, and used for many purposes during the past year, including a Memorial Service by the Quincy Veterans Council, an Amateur Boxing Tournament under the auspices of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, and football games of the Quincy High School, Park League, and Fore River Apprentices, with two games played at night under floodlights. A custodian will be required during the next season.
Charles Francis Adams Baseball Park. This baseball field was constructed under a W. P. A. Project, and will be dedicated this year to Charles Francis Adams, a member of the Adams Family,
405
REPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT
who deeded this fine park to the City of Quincy. An enclosed baseball park will fill a long felt want of the baseball teams and fans, and it will be the purpose of the Board to keep and main- tain it for this use only. Teams holding permits will be allowed to use the field, but during off times the field will be locked.
Pageant Field. This large area is used for picnics, band con- certs, Fourth of July celebrations, and a playground. It is con- nected to Wollaston by a 750-ft. bridge with entrance on Florence Street, which was reconstructed during the past year.
Pine Island. This part of the Merrymount Park system has been separated by the creek the past nine years, but during the winter months a 70-ft. span was built by Park workers and placed over the creek to connect the island with the Park again. Pine Island will be used by Boy Scout Troops, Camp Fire Girls, and Girl Scouts, and for picnics and family gatherings. The underbrush will be cleaned out and fire places built to provide an excellent addition to the Park System.
Bowling Green. This is located on the Pageant Field and is used by the older men of the city for the game known as "Bowl- ing on the Green." It is used daily and lighted for use at night. One Greenskeeper is in charge.
Playground. One instructor is in charge of this playground, conducting a regular program. The apparatus is left up over week- ends for the use of people who bring children on picnics.
Considerable damage was done to the park during the hurri- cane. Trees have been removed and three thousand seedling pines (scrub type) have been set out. The cinder track at the Stadium will have to be resurfaced this year.
Safford Park
A retaining wall was built at this beautiful part of the Park system, and the whole received regular maintenance during the season.
Wollaston School
A fully equipped playground is maintained here, which is well attended and has two instructors who provide a fine program.
Massachusetts Field Playground
This is a regularly equipped playground which conducts a fine program under the supervision of two instructors, and has ad- ditional facilities for softball playing. A Pet Stock Show is one of the features here each year.
Stoney Brae
There are excellent possibilities here for a hockey rink and a skating area, as it can be naturally flooded. Development is planned this year.
Sailor's Home Pond
At this pond a hockey rink was erected, flood lights furnished, and a skating area maintained, giving twenty-eight skating days during the past winter. A first aid ladder and life preserver were placed near the pond.
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CITY OF QUINCY
Fenno Street Tennis Courts
During the past year the fence was rebuilt and minor repairs made to the surface of the tennis courts at this location. It is a popular place for Wollason tennis enthusiasts.
WARD 6 John Wendall Moses Playground
At this location the field was graded, new backstop provided, and bleachers built. Under W. P. A. a concrete skating rink was completed and used during the winter, providing a welcome ad- dition to the facilities of this section. Two instructors are in charge of the Playground during the season. Twelve lots have been taken to enlarge the playground and provide space for a field house.
Welcome G. Young Playground
A fully equipped play area is provided for this thickly popu- lated section, with two instructors in charge. It also contains two tennis courts, horse shoe courts, and a soft ball field, where bleach- ers are to be erected to serve the many soft ball fans.
Dennis O'Neil Playground
At this field bleachers and backstop have been erected and 1490 feet of six-foot chain link fence erected. It is used by North Quincy High School, Park, South Shore, and Industrial Leagues. A W. P. A. Project constructed two tennis courts and graded the field and playground. A fully equipped playground is maintained, with two instructors in charge. During the past winter the field was flooded for skating. The Board intends to construct a skat- ing area in the clearance at the left field.
Montclair Field
Nothing in the way of development was accomplished on this field during the past year, with the exception of the erection of two tennis courts. The field, however, is to be closed this year to permit the W. P. A. Project to construct bleachers, backstop, and regrade the field. A skating pond was created in the rear of the Montclair Community Building, which was ideal for small children.
SPORTS Baseball
No city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, outside of the City of Boston, has better facilities for playing baseball than the City of Quincy, with eight first-class regulation baseball fields, plus a new enclosed field which has been added for the coming season. All are under the constant care of department workers, lined off before games, and furnished with bases and pitcher's rubbers. Every ward in the city has its own field and representa- tive teams.
The Park Board sponsored a Park Baseball League. The West Quincy Pals were the winners in a close series of 2 out of 3 games. The South Shore, Industrial, Church and Junior Leagues, with many independent teams, used the fields, as did the Wol-
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REPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT
laston Post American Legion Junior Baseball Team, which played its home games at Merrymount Park, including games in the state finals. North Quincy and Quincy High Schools used O'Neil and Merrymount Parks respectively.
Football
This great American game for rugged youth was encouraged in every way possible by the Board. Floodlights for night practice were erected on several playing fields and goal posts furnished. The Park League was sponsored and directed by the Board, all games being played in the Municipal Stadium on Sundays. Two games under floodlights were tried, and they were successful vent- ures. The League was composed of six teams, and the North Quincy Alumni were the winners in the series of very close and interest- ing games. The Park Board awarded a suitable trophy.
Soccer
Provision was made for soccer during the early spring and fall on Faxon, Merrymount, Fore River, and Munroe Fields. Goal Posts were furnished and the fields properly lined off. Quincy boasts several soccer teams, and the Junior High Schools all in- clude this sport on their athletic programs.
Swimming
One of the most enjoyable and healthful recreations for all is bathing. Our city beaches at William Cushing Baker Playground, Avalon Beach, and Merrymount Park were under constant super- vision, and everything was done to make bathing safe and enjoy- able. Every child and grown person should be able to swim; it will be the aim this year of the Board to see that some program along this line is carried out at our city beaches.
Winter Sports
The Board encouraged winter sports this year by making it possible in many sections of the city through the flooding of areas for skating. This proved very successful, as there were listed twenty-eight skating days. Considerable work was done at St. Moritz, and it was deemed advisable by the Board to try to dis- continue this in the future and devote the time to perfecting areas in all sections of the city for this popular winter sport. Sailor's Home Pond, Manet Lake, O'Neil Field, Sea Street, Montclair, Stoney Brae, Perkins Playground, and Squantum all had excellent skating during the winter season. We hope to develop this further next winter.
Tennis
Tennis enthusiasts are indeed fortunate in the extraordinary de- velopment of facilities for this sport. The coming spring and sum- mer will see the opening of many new double courts in West Quincy, Hough's Neck, Atlantic, and Montclair, in addition to those now at Merrymount Park, Bradford Street ,Squantum, Faxon Field, Fore River, and Welcome Young Playground, giving every ward in the city a double court. This offers a fine opportunity to conduct a city-wide tennis tournament, with eliminations at each court and the winners of each meeting in a final tournament.
408
CITY OF QUINCY
Horse Shoe Pitching
Interest in this popular barnyard sport was keen this year- so much so that the Board encouraged it as one of the regular playground features. Competition was conducted on an inter-play- ground scale, with finals played at the end of the season. Clay courts will be built on several playgrounds this year.
Bowling on the Green
The Bowling Green has proved to be a popular city investment. It gives the men of mature age a chance to exercise in keeping with their age. The green was in use during pleasant weather and also during the evenings under floodlights.
Basketball
The Park Department-W. P. A. Basketball Program composed of seven leagues enjoyed a successful season. Games were played from December 2, 1938, to March 25, 1939, in the School gyms.
With participants composed of boys of out-of-school age, three senior circuits were operated and known as the City, Park, and District Leagues. A total of 140 league contests were held with 60 exhibition games. An average of 168 players and 800 spectators took part each week, with the season totals showing 2,688 parti- cipants and 12,800 spectators.
One league composed of boys above elementary school age was conducted with seven teams operating. All games were played at Atherton Hough Auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. A schedule of 42 league games was played, with the average weekly participants numbering 26 and attendance 150. One girls' league (4 teams) played 12 games scheduled Saturday afternoons at Atherton Hough School. Average participants, 24. One boys' league averaging 12 to 14 years played games at Atherton Hough Audi- torium. There were 4 teams in the league playing a 12-game schedule with the average participants 76 and attendance 500.
W. P. A. instructors were present and in charge of all contests.
Liveableness An Asset
The absence of parks and playgrounds is a blow to the financial future of any city. Our Chamber of Commerce in its efforts to se- cure more industries for Quincy could find no more persuasive argument than the progress we have made in this direction. It might well be said by industries that "We find it was the liveable- ness of your city that decided the issue; nowhere did we find the qualities of good living as highly developed as they were in Quincy." Keep Quincy a good place in which to live and our fu- ture is assured.
Recommendations
Field House, Merrymount Park; Comfort Stations where needed; Field House, O'Neil Playground; Floodlighting equipment for Municipal Stadium; Field House, Kincaide Park; Purchase of O'Brien lot adjoining O'Neil Park; Abandonment of the upkeep of St. Moritz skating area; Provision of facilities for mass recrea- tion for women and young women as outlined by the Playground and Recreation Association of America; Cooperation with National Youth Administration to develop Pine Island as a center for out- door activities; Encouragement of a year-round program at all playgrounds.
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REPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT
Permits
During the year the following number of permits was issued for various activities.
13 Tennis Courts
Permits 3,821
Estimated Attendance 9,648
8 Baseball Fields School Baseball
740
200,000
14 Softball Fields
345
30,000
10 Football Fields School Football
120
45,600
15
60,000
North Football Stadium
Unlisted
Unlisted
4 Soccer Fields
66
3,000
1 Bowling Green
180
9,000
Field Days and Picnics Fore River Club let other than
110
45,000
to W. P. A. Recreation
48
5,040
Total
5,685
493,738
Expenditures
The expenditures of this department may be found in the Auditor's Report.
Vandalism
As in years past the havoc wrought by vandalism has been one of our major expenses in the spring. Locks broken, doors kicked in, windows broken, plumbing wrecked and torn out, wire ripped off backstops, flag halyards cut, and drinking fountains damaged, all necessitated the expenditure of money that could well have been used for real playground activities. It is hoped that in time the public can be educated that to destroy city property is a move against their own pocketbooks. With all this going on it seems impossible to catch the culprits and bring them to justice.
Conclusion
We acknowledge the magnificent spirit of cooperation evidenced by His Honor, the Mayor, the City Council, the Quincy Patriot Ledger, the Police and Fire Departments, the City Engineer's De- partment, Public Works Department, Manager of Parks and Play- grounds, Foreman of Parks, Park workers, Supervisor of Play- grounds, W. P. A. Recreation Project, Playground Instructors, members of all leagues sponsored by the Board, referees and umpires of all leagues, and any one who by act or deed has made the work of 1938 a pleasure. It is fitting that we should here record our appreciation and gratitude.
We are proud of our city, our citizenry, and our parks, and earnestly hope that this, the 50th Annual Report, will mark an- other milestone in the upward path.
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. WILLIAM M. TRUSSELLE, Chairman, FRANK G. PRAY, Secretary, EDMUND J. SAUNDERS.
240
2,400
410
CITY OF QUINCY
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1938 Published by the Trustees 1939
TRUSTEES, 1938
COL. GEORGE E. ADAMS, Chairman
GEORGIANA C. LANE, Secretary
VINCENT J. READDY, Treasurer
PAUL A. COLETTI
HENRIETTA C. THOMAS
PAUL C. REARDON
LIBRARIAN GALEN W. HILL
STAFF
GERTRUDE F. CALLAHAN, First Assistant
MARTHA E. ROSVALL, Cataloger
MARGARET M. HEBERT, Chief of Circulation
SARAH B. KINGMAN, Children's Librarian EDNA AMET, Assistant
FLORA DIBONA, Assistant
JOSEPHINE GALANTE, Assistant
ELEANOR GOW, Assistant
DOROTHY HENRIKSON, Assistant
ELIZABETH G. KEATING, Assistant
MARTHA MATTSON, Assistant
DOROTHY E. NEWTON, Assistant
IRENE M. PONTI, Assistant
+DOROTHY K. WHITE, Assistant
JESSIE D. WILFORD, Reference Librarian
BRANCH LIBRARIANS
MARIE CORAYER, Parkway Branch MABEL E. CORIATI, General Palmer Branch M. LOUISE DINEGAN, Lakin Square Branch BARBARA M. HILL, Montclair Branch BEATRICE M. KENILEY, Manet Branch
CAROLYN KITTREDGE, Atlantic Branch RAGNHILD LINDBERG, Temple Branch RUTH MACDOUGAL, Hospital Librarian
* MARY I. MILLS, Baxter Branch BETHIAH MORRILL, Squantum Branch MABEL F. PORTER, Merrymount Branch DORIS E. RIZZI, Norfolk Downs Branch CATHERINE SAVILLE, Wollaston Branch CHARLOTTE STONE, Baxter Branch
JANITOR JOHN V. MEAD
CHAUFFEUR AND GROUNDS KEEPER LESTER A. WHITE
+Part time * Resigned
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REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
DIRECTORY AND LIBRARY HOURS
MAIN LIBRARY, 40 Washington St. Tel. Pres. 0081. Open 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. daily except Sunday. Open Sundays (for reading only) October to May, 2-6 P.M.
BOYS' AND GIRLS' HOUSE, 25 Spear St.
Open daily except Saturday and during vacation, 1.30-6 P.M. Open Saturdays and daily during vacation, 10-12 A.M., 1.30- 6 P. M.
BRANCHES:
ATLANTIC, 137 Sagamore Street, Atlantic Open every afternoon, 1-6 P.M. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, 7-9 P.M.
BAXTER, 139 Water Street, South Quincy.
Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1-6, 7-9 P.M.
GENERAL PALMER, Hunting School, Pelican Road Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1.30-6 P.M. Open Monday and Friday, 7-9 P.M.
LAKIN SQUARE, 495 Beale Street Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 1-6 P.M. Open Tuesday and Saturday, 7-9 P.M.
MANET, Atherton Hough School, Houghs Neck Open every afternoon except Saturday, 1-6 P.M. Open Monday and Friday, 7-9 P.M.
MERRYMOUNT, Merrymount School, Agawam Road Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1.30-6 P.M. Open Monday and Friday, 7-9 P.M.
MONTCLAIR, 91 Holbrook Road, Montclair Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1-6 P.M. Open Monday and Friday, 7-9 P.M.
NORFOLK DOWNS, 6-8 Tyler Street, Norfolk Downs Open every afternoon, 1-6 P.M. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7-9 P.M.
PARKWAY, 1248 Furnace Brook Parkway, W. Quincy Open every afternoon, 1-6 P.M. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7-9 P.M.
SQUANTUM, Squantum School, Huckins Avenue Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1-6 P.M. Open Friday, 7-9 P.M.
TEMPLE, 516 Washington Street, Quincy Point Open every afternoon, 1-6 P.M. Open Monday and Friday, 7-9 P.M.
WOLLASTON, 41 Beale Street, Wollaston Open daily except Saturday, 1-6, 7-9 P.M. Open Saturday, 9-12 A.M., 1-6, 7-9 P.M.
HOSPITAL SERVICE, Quincy City Hospital Daily except Saturday, 1-6 P.M.
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CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy:
The sixty-eighth annual report of the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library is submitted herewith.
It is gratifying to report that there has been during the year 1938 an increase over the preceding year in the use made of the facilities offered our citizens by the library. As will be seen from the annual report of the librarian, there has been a decided gain in circulation. An increase of $2,000 in the appropriation for books was doubtless a factor in bringing about this result.
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