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 1940 > Part 28
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A special appropriation was received through the recommenda- tion of his Honor the Mayor, and granted by the City Council, to grade, build bleachers and sod the infield. A fence in right field and a wooden fence across the outfield, to prevent teams and automo- biles, making a thoroughfare through the field. These improve- ments will be completed in the early spring, making the field avail- able during the coming season.
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 and a softball field with bleachers to seat 500. There is room here for various activities. A request for two horseshoe pitching courts will be considered, and a three wall handball court. The Softball field will be regraded this year, without suspension of activities. Softball playoffs were played here with the North Quincy Associates the winners.
460
CITY OF QUINCY
Dennis O'Neil Playground
The results on this field have not been satisfactory. A skinned diamond has proved to be an expensive proposition. The field should be closed one year and the grass given a chance to grow. A skating rink is a real want here and will be given consideration. A chain link fence was built, abutting the Cusick Estate and around the Tennis Court wall. While this field is not to be compared with other fields, it was in constant use by teams in the Park, C.Y.O. and Industrial Leagues. A baseball school was conducted mornings during the summer and a field recreation program with two play- ground instructors was provided. Sessions were well attended.
North Quincy Stadium
During the past year, this Stadium was turned over to the Park Department for supervision and maintenance. It was prev- iously conducted by the School Department. It will be used by North Quincy High School for Track and Field, and out-door exer- cises during the school year. It will also be used as a practice field for the football squad. The field will also be available to teams for games by permit from the Park Department. The field will be re- graded, bleachers painted. cinder track re-surfaced and a general repair job done to put the facilities in first class shape.
Frederick H. Bishop Playground
Sunday, June 3, 1940, the Quincy Park Board accepted this well equipped playground, with appropriate ceremonies, to the Park System. Named in honor of the last G.A.R. Veteran in Quincy, "Frederick H. Bishop Playground" will serve as a fitting memorial to an outstanding citizen and soldier of the Civil War.
A full program was carried out during the playground season, with two instructors in charge. North Quincy High School used the field as their home grounds. Teams from the Park, South Shore B. Industrial and C.Y.O. Leagues and the Wollaston Post 295 American Legion Baseball Team, played their regular scheduled games, keeping the field in constant use.
It is planned to change the diamond and base paths, and do some resoding in the infield, to put the field in first class playing condition this spring. A Custodian is recommended for this busy playground.
Kendall Park
During the past year, considerable work was accomplished on this beauty spot, a rendezvous for horticulturists throughout the New England States. Many visitors were logged and instructions given on the pruning and growing of grapes and various species of fruit. Park workers, skilled in the art of gardening, were assigned to tend the many fine specimens, under Dr. Walter G. Kendall's care. Grapes and fruit grown at the Park, where awarded prizes at the Annual Show and Exhibition, held at Horticultural Hall, Boston.
There is considerable work to be done to enhance the beauty of this addition to the Quincy Park System. The building is in need of repair and painting, and will receive attention this year.
461
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
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. All are under the constant care of De- partment workers, lined off before games, and furnished with bases and pitcher's rubbers. Every Ward in the City has its own field and representative teams.
The Park Board co-operated in organizing the Park League. During the season, the competition was keen and a fine set of play-off games for the championship were played. The Sagamore Plebes were the winners in a set of play-off games, which drew large crowds and were well played. The League was guided through a successful season by Hobart Robinson, who served as President. A banquet to the winners was attended by the Board.
Baseball Leagues using the fields were the Industrial, Church, South Shore A and B Leagues, Quincy Post 95, Wollaston Post 295, American Legion Baseball Teams, South Shore Junior Twilight League and C.Y.O. League.
Baseball fields are located at Kincaide, O'Rourke, O'Neill, Adams, LaBrecque, Fore River, John Wendall Moses and Frederick E. Bishop Playgrounds. It is planned to have ground keepers at the busy fields, during the regular season.
Softball
Everything possible was done to encourage this popular game, largely participated in by the older men of the City, drawn from all walks of life, including Professional and Business men, Clerks, Lab- orers, etc. Three Leagues were conducted in co-operation with the W.P.A. Recreation. Industrial and Church Leagues were also organized, making it a problem to satisfy the demand for fields.
With the completion of Perkins Field, another field will be added this year, with hopes of adding more, when Munroe Play- ground is ready.
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 were furnished. Quincy and North Quincy High Schools played their home games at the Stadium as did the Junior High Schools.
The Quincy City Football League was composed of the fol- lowing teams: North Quincy Alumni, Crescents, Quincy Alumni, Fratus Motors, President City and Quincy Warriors, with Frank G. Pray as President. North Quincy Alumni were the winners in the regular league schedule. The Quincy Manets were the only Professional Team in Quincy. This team played one game at the Municipal Stadium and gave a fine exhibition of football, under professional rules.
462
CITY OF QUINCY
Fore River Apprentices are made up of a group of young men attending the Apprenticeship School at the Fore River Ship Build- ing Corporation and coached by Mr. Anthony Colucci. The home games of this team were played at the Municipal Stadium, before large gatherings. The grand total of attendance at the Municipal Stadium for the football season was 200,600.
Tennis
With the completion of two courts at LaBrecque Field and three courts at Perkins Palyground, the Park System will have twenty-four courts available for Tennis. During the past season, the courts were taxed to the limit. Supervisors were provided on some of the busy courts.
Tennis courts are located in Atlantic, Montclair, Squantum, Merrymount, Wollaston, West Quincy, Houghs Neck, Faxon Field and Quincy Point, giving every Ward in the City at least two tennis courts.
Horseshoe Pitching
Interest in this popular barnyard sport was keen this year- - so much so, that the Board encouraged it as one of the regular play- ground features. Competition was conducted on an inter-playground 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 invest- ment. It gives the men of mature age a chance to exercise in keep- ing with their age. The green was in use during pleasant weather and also during the evenings under floodlights.
Basketball
Six leagues were conducted in co-operation with the Recreation Project in the following gymnasiums at North Quincy High, Ath- erton Hough and South Junior and Central Junior High Schools. There are three senior leagues made up of boys of out-of-school ages, known as the City Park and District Division in these cir- cuits. These include eight teams each, while ten teams comprise the City Circuit. There are two Junior Leagues, one for boys 14 to 16 years of age, and one made up of boys 12 to 14 years of age. There is one girl's league with six clubs enrolled.
Hockey and Skating
Five hockey rinks were provided during the past winter, with four lighted for night playing. With proper weather next year, ef- forts will be made to organize a hockey league.
Skating areas were provided on several ponds and rinks. The skating days did not compare with the unusual ones of the year previous, having forty days listed. However, some good skating was enjoyed by thousands on the Quincy skating areas.
463
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
Recreation
During the period covered by this report, it has become in- creasingly evident that there is a wide-spread demand for year- round indoor and out-door recreation. This is true not only in Quincy, but from what the Board can gather, it is general through- out the United States. In view of this situation, the larger Cities must prepare to meet the demand, when W.P.A. Recreation Pro- jects are eventually dropped by the Government, as an emergency measure.
A well planned system of recreation is essential to the well- being of every community. It may be purely passive, such as natural scenery, or it may include various degrees of activity, to the most intensive physical exercise, such as tennis. All forms are necessary to serve varying public demands.
Liveableness An Asset
"Make Quincy a good place to live," should be the aim of our City government, our business men, citizens and our boys and girls. In the days that lie ahead. may we meet the pledge that is ours, to the strangers within our gates. The qualities of good living must prevail on them to stay with us, and benefit by our many assets.
Recommendations
Complete Munroe Field. A survey be made of the body of water known as "Sandbergs Bath Tub" with the idea in mind to develop it as a place to bathe, by cleaning out the present mud conditions by suction and the construction of a dam that will let out all the water on night tides, cleansing the whole basin thereby eliminating chances of stagnation. This would make an excellent W.P.A. Project. Construct three softball diamonds on Pageant Field, purchase a new two-ton Power Roller, six sets of equipment for baseball fields and employ six additional men as caretakers of larger playgrounds. Employ an all-year round director of athletics. Make a survey of Recreation, with a view of all year-round activity.
Report of Supervisor of Playgrounds
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS:
I herewith .submit my report for the regular playground season of 1940. The playgrounds were officially opened on July Sth with a Supervisor and twenty-five female instructors, selected from a Civil Service List, in charge. One Instructor was assigned to each playground, with two on some of the large areas.
The season proceeded successfully with a well-planned pro- gram, including baseball, slug-ball handiwork, story periods, vol- leyball, mass games, tennis, rafie, tennis, woodwork, folk-dancing, dramatics, track and field events, horseshoe pitching and such games as beanbag, and ring toss were provided. Picnics to the Blue Hills, Faxon Park, and Nantasket Beach were enjoyed by many of the children under the custody of the instructors. Hop Scotch and Horseshoe tournaments were city wide with finals held on August 7th, with entries in two classes from each playground.
464
CITY OF QUINCY
Slugball, baseball and softball was conducted as an inter-playground feature. All equipment was provided by the Park Department.
Inter-playground Track and Field meet was held at the Quincy Municipal Stadium, August 15th, with each playground represented by a team. John J. O'Rourke Team scored the highest total of points. Prizes were awarded to first, second and third. The gener- osity of local merchants and citizens made this possible. The win- ners represented Quincy in the Southeastern Track and Field Day on August 22nd at the Municipal Stadium. The team representing our City scored the highest team total.
On two occasions, the children were guests at the Baseball Parks of the Boston American and National League Baseball Clubs.
Recommendations
A tree planting program on all Parks. Handball and horseshoe courts would be an asset to small plyagrounds. Drinking facilities at O'Neil, Bishop, Faxon and Moses Playgrounds should be moved closer to the apparatus. Basketball boards at Adams Shore. Trips to Blue Hills, Franklin Park and Nantasket Beach should be planned during the hot days of the summer. Each week should have a planned objective, such as Hop Scotch week, Slugball, Horseshoe etc. Badminton should be tried on playgrounds that are not equipped with Tennis Courts. The apparatus at Daniel Webster Playground should be moved to Munroe Playground. Regulation dress in the form of jacket and slacks for instructors. Each play- ground adopt a color for use in competition and for identification on trips and picnics. A fence should be erected in South and South- west sections of Pollard Playground. The apparatus at O'Rourke should be moved. The Pollard School area should be graded for softball.
Instructors with special programs should concentrate on smaller play areas, such as Baker, Avalon and Adams Shore. A Bocce court at Kincaide would be popular and appreciated.
In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation to the Park Board, W.P.A. Recreation Project and to the tweny-five young ladies who served so splendidly as Instructors the past season. It was a pleasure to work with them and I felt that the results were worth while.
HAROLD W. CHAPMAN, Playground Supervisor
Quincy W. P. A. Recreation Project
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS:
Progressing along the general policies established by the Park Board and Recreation office during the past few years, the aim of the staff and of the Department has been to firmly secure certain definite objectives :
1. To acquire and develop additional indoor and outdoor recre- ation centers throughout the City so that opportunities for leisure time are available for every citizen young and old. Splendid progress
465
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
has been made, new playgrounds, tennis courts, skating rinks have been constructed as well as school yards surfaced and marked for after school play, also additional space has been secured from Churches, Improvement Associations and other Community- minded organizations.
2. To attract and hold the interest of youth and adults, our facilities must be attractive, accessible and usable.
3. To broaden the scope of the program of activities so that interesting opportunities for developing recreation skills are avail- able to any individual and to provide challenging opportunities to test skills and abilities either in competition or in participation.
4. To recognize the fact that social problems, maladjustments, and anti-social behavior may be the outcome of the increased leisure of the employed and unemployed. Hand in hand with the present fast geared rearmament program in which our City is so geographic- ally located to play an important part both industrially, naval and military, new and vital recreation needs will be demanded. How leisure time will be used in Quincy depends in a large and to the degree we are able to develop a positive attitude and earnest desire in our citizens to use their leisure time in making life more inter- esting, more challenging and more worthwhile to themselves and their city. This end may be accomplished only through the com- bined efforts of public and private agencies.
5. The influence of a well balanced program plus trained lead- ership has been reflected in the large numbers of children and adults of every sphere in life who have frequented the Community centers, playgrounds, tennis courts, fields and parks in search of interesting and wholesome activities. Although a year round pro- gram is somewhat new in Quincy its citizens are fast realizing its grave necessity as an essential part of government function.
6. Perhaps, no other City Department has as great an oppor- tunity to feel the pulse of the lives of as many of our people and to meet them on the level where joy and happiness replace mental and physical disturbances. With a population that has sprung from scores of different nationalities, racial divisions, religious faiths, and living in extremes of social and economic levels, the recreation pro- gram in which participation is not compulsory, and provides a con- mon language on the field of play, has a tremendous value as a means of interpreting American citizenship and American Demo- cratic principles. As we learn to play together, to that point we continue to work together and live together.
7. Together with the splendid co-operation of City Officials, School Department and so forth, the success of the entire pro- gram depends largely on the quality of the leaders in charge of the programs and facilities. In our opinion the staff members can com- pare favorably with any private or public department in the loyal, co-operative and willing service which they have given to the City.
In the continued interest, encouragement and valuable support which Mr. Spargo and every member of the Park Board has evi- denced during the past year, lies the answer to our progress. As- sured of their continued interest and support, the entire staff and
466
CITY OF QUINCY
myself will assist the Park Department in every way, to carry out, to the best of our ability, a public recreation program which will help make Quincy "A fine City in which to live."
GERALD GHERARDI, W.P.A. Recreation Supervisor
QUINCY RECREATION REPORT 1940
Conducted by the Park Department and W. P. A. Recreation Project
1940 FACILITIES
Schools
Wollaston, St. Johns, Nathaniel, Adams School, Atherton Hough, Gridley Bryant, Lincoln and Merrymount.
· Gyms
Atherton Hough, South Junior High, Central Junior High and North Quincy High.
Skating Rinks
Manet Lake, Sea Street Skating Pond, Faxon Meadows, Stoney Brate, Sailors' Home, John Wendall Moses, O'Neil, Perkins and LaBrecque.
Full Centers
Atlantic Community Building, Fore River Club and Montclair.
Tennis Courts
Squantum, O'Neil, Young, Montclair, O'Rourke, Kincaide, Brad- ford, Fore River, Fenno Street, Perkins and LaBrecque.
Playgrounds
Pollard, Adams, Daniel Webster, Avalon Beach, Elm Street, Fore River, Baker, Nathaniel Hunting, Kincaide, Merrymount, LaBrecque, Mass. Field School, Shell, O'Neil, O'Rourke, Squan- tum, Montclair, Wollaston and Welcome Young.
Part Time Buildings
Adams Shore Church, Rock Island Improvement Bldg., Squan- tum Yacht Club, City Hospital and Wollaston Library.
Special Events
Tap Dancing Review, Baseball Trip Fenway Park, Baseball Trip Braves Field, Baseball Picture, Halloween Parties, Hikes, Entertainments, Holiday Parties, Bus Trips, Boat Trips, Base- ball Picture, Quincy Field Day, So. Eastern Mass. Area Fiela Day, Christmas Parties, Folk Dancing and Suppers.
SEASON LEAGUES
Grammar School Baseball-Four Leagues-20 Schools
467
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
Boys
Northern Division
Mass. Field, Parker, Quincy, Wollaston, Montclair and Squan- tum.
Eastern Division
Washington, Nathaniel Hunting, Webster, Pollard, Atherton Hough, St. Joseph.
Western Division
Willard, Cranch, St. Mary's, Gridley Bryant.
Southern Division
Adams, Hancock, Lincoln and St. John's.
74 games were played. Spectators 2,010.
Willard School final winners with Atherton Hough Runner-up.
Playground baseball 5 Leagues Jr. & Sr. Teams LaBrecque Fore River
Merrymount From 4-6 teams each League both Jr. & Sr.
O'Neil O'Rourke
O'Rourke Jr. won playground championship.
O'Neil Sr. won playground championship.
Men
Softball: 3 Leagues, 22 teams-Played 156 games to 2,240 spectators.
Park League
Lou's Variety, Clothes Mart, Westlands, Wollaston Recreation, *North Quincy, Italian A.A., Kiley's and Vardi's.
Social League
Casco, *North Quincy 2nds, Tower, Grossmans, Bon Ton and Wollaston Whites.
City League
*Purpura's, Manets, Mold Loft, Lakin, Bini's, Wollaston Blues, Ward 2 and Protection.
*Winners
PARTICIPATION REPORT FOR 1940
Activities
Male Under 16
Female Under 16
Male Over 16
Female Over 16
Total
PHYSICAL
January
565
986
22
1573
February
883
154
994
51
2082
March
2565
1342
98
4305
April
1557
25
783
84
2449
May
870
1017
48
1935
June
3277
710
1024
200
5211
July
13462
14942
3919
32323
August
13613
7854
1985
602
24054
September
5219
666
1458
207
7550
October
667
121
256
71
1115
November
654
14
360
14
1042
December
384
14
242
14
654
Total
44016
24500
14366
1411
84293
468
CITY OF QUINCY
Activities
Male Under 16
Female Under 16
Male Over 16
Female Over 16
Total
ARTS & CRAFTS
January
253
160
844
1257
February
225
213
866
1304
March
259
417
1051
1727
April
267
297
971
1535
May
118
432
1196
1746
June
132
30
383
545
July
182
221
403
August
224
449
673
September
71
591
662
October
35
869
904
November
2
59
10
1098
1169
December
12
44
8
750
814
Total
1268
2164
18
9289
12739
DANCING
January
307
1374
53
84
1818
February
291
1332
36
154
1813
March
432
2202
113
238
2985
April
659
2515
81
336
3591
May
412
3112
91
230
3845
June
104
520
624
July
397
397
August
8
293
301
September
22
300
38
114
474
October
67
308
·16
37
428
November
73
1131
92
128
1424
December
37
923
55
1015
Total
2412
14407
520
1376
18715
DRAMA
January
12
60
72
February
23
181
204
March
34
473
507
April
16
242
258
May
45
297
342
June
28
89
117
July
14
182
196
August
22
300
322
September
13
132
145
October
4
139
143
November
3
139
146
December
8
74
82
Total
222
2312
2534
OTHER RECREATION
January
1015
1241
243
277
2776
February
1177
1015
156
208
2556
March
1319
1720
499
338
3876
April
775
1088
321
272
2456
May
1059
1409
315
276
3059
June
492
573
130
354
1549
469
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
Activities
Male Under 16
Female Under 16
Male Over 16
Female Over 16
Total
July
119
219
21
359
August
294
318
74
92
778
September
513
590
21
131
1255
October
1022
917
127
348
2414
November
888
828
141
404
2261
December
301
417
72
199
989
Total
8974
10335
2120
2899
24328
SPECIAL EVENTS
January
27
57
17
68
169
February
82
116
21
149
368
March
42
140
38
111
331
April
41
66
28
112
247
May
584
422
696
343
2045
June
61
121
19
123
324
July
915
327
26
64
1332
August
1445
815
89
169
2518
September
116
122
26
119
383
October
231
220
85
125
661
November
101
173
65
213
552
December
327
562
28
403
1320
Total
3972
3141
1138
1999
10250
TOTAL MONTH PARTICIPATION REPORT
Mcn.h
Under 16
Over 16
Under 16
Over 16
January
5071
2594
2659
3840
February
6842
2503
2999
3296
March
9902
3828
4422
3274
April
7548
2988
2484
1647
May
8760
4212
4467
6683
June
6137
2233
1648
2736
July
30757
4251
1294
1563
August
25186
3460
4800
8500
September
7764
2705
1763
971
October
3731
1934
3825
2905
November
4069
2525
635
976
December
3103
1771
635
976
December
3103
1771
428
384
Total
118870
35010
31424
36775
TOTAL PARTICIPATION-FOR 1940.
153,880
TOTAL SPECTATORS-FOR 1940
68,190
TOTAL
222,070
AVERAGE MONTHLY
PARTICIPATION-UNDER 16
9,906
AVERAGE MONTHLY
PARTICIPATION-OVER
16.
2,918
TOTAL
12,824
470
CITY OF QUINCY
AVERAGE MONTHLY SPECTATORS-UNDER 16. 2,619
AVERAGE MONTHLY SPECTATORS-OVER 16 3,065
TOTAL 5,684
Cost per Capita .51
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM J. SPARGO, Manager of Parks and Playgrounds
GERALD GHERARDI, Recreation Supervisor
ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED (Men & Women)
Classes
Metal Craft, Metal Tooling, Knitting, Pottery, Square Dancing, Sewing and Dress Making, Bridge, Navigation, Rug Making, Badminton, Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Mothers' Clubs, Ballroom Dancing, Needle Craft, Bowling and Gym.
Leagues and Tournaments
Baseball, Basketball, Softball, Football and Bridge.
Special Activities
Entertainment, Social Parties, Lecture, Bus Trips, Boat Trips, Hikes, Costume Balls, Square Dancing, Card Parties, Holiday Parties and Craft Exhibits.
EXTENDED SERVICES
Supplying musical and Dancing entertainments to over 25 pub- lic and private agencies.
Officials for Junior High School, Baseball, Basketball and Foot- ball.
Co-operated with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Hospital, Improvement Associations, Clubs and so forth by supplying instructors, facilities etc., in aiding their program.
Aided school department in planning and marking school areas for extended after-school recreation.
Co-operated with P.T .- A. groups to further interests in recrea- tional facilities and program.
Aided Social, Improvement and other Clubs and Agencies in conducting field days, athletic meets etc., for the general benefit of the Public.
471
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
for
Permits
During the year the following number of permits was issued various activities.
Estimated Permits Attendance
24 Tennis Courts
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