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 1944 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
War Production Board restric- tions on construction remained in force during the entire year.
A program was started late in the year to have old, dilapidated and dangerous buildings removed. The program will operate on a vol- untary basis, unless the buildings prove to be dangerous. In such cases, action will be taken, as pre- scribed in the General Laws. No- tices have been sent to about forty owners of such buildings, and many of these buildings have al- ready been demolished.
The Board of Appeals for the building code rendered decisions Eighteen appearances were made at the District Court on nine Court. on nine applications; five were granted and four rejected. Hear- cases and one at the Superior ings were held on seven applica-
City of Quincy
20
WIRING DEPARTMENT
FRANK LINTS Inspector
Employees - 2
1944 Expenditures $4,000.48
DUTIES
The fundamental purpose of the Quincy Wire Department is to safeguard the general public against loss of life or property by fire or shock, caused by defective electric wiring. By provision in- cluded in the General Laws of Mas- sachusetts every city is required to have an Inspector of Wires. A lo- cal ordinance requires that all per- sons proposing to install wires give notice to the Inspector before pro- ceeding with any installation.
In carrying out the powers and duties imposed by the law and the ordinances, I advise applicants for permits as to the proper wiring methods for particular installa- tions; advise electricians on the job as to the proper procedure and upon completion of all installa- tions, I inspect them to ascertain that the installation is safe from the hazards of electricity. This re- quires a careful examination to de-
termine that wires are of sufficient size, that they are properly insu- lated for the voltage which is to be used, that metal enclosures are grounded in a substantial manner and that the workmanship has been performed in a proper man- ner. In case of fire or changes in the structure of buildings, I inspect the wiring and determine what re- placements and alterations are necessary.
Representatives of manufactu- rers of electrical equipment submit samples to me for approval before they are sold to electrical contrac- tors. I often receive requests from owners of premises, who have rea- son to believe something is defec- tive in their wiring, to inspect their wiring and advise them as to whether such wiring is safe.
The entailment of building and scarcity of electrical materials dur- ing the war may have given the impression that there is very little necessary electrical inspection. However, the tremendous increase in war industries and the willing- ness of some agencies to circum- vent the National Electric Code. which is our wiring law, has made electrical inspection more impor- tant than ever. During 1944, 1,852 inspections were made and 1,010 permits issued.
Wire Inspector Lints and the late Deputy Fire Chief Creedon investigate cause of explosion and fire.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
JOIIN J. AVERY Chief
Captains DANIEL H. DORAN GEORGE W. FALLON WILLIAM FERRAZZI WILLIAM F. MCINTYRE Employees - 131 1944 Budget Expenditure. ... $330,739.43
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL <<<<<<<<<<
The Quincy Police Department consists of the chief, four captains, eight lieutenants, eight sergeants, one hundred and six patrolmen and twenty-four reserve officers. It is equipped with two patrols, two ambulances, ten prowl cars, each with two-way radio communica- tion, five motorcycles, one police boat, also equipped with two-way radio, and four rowboats.
The Department maintains a two-way police radio communica-
tion system, Station WQRP, the first in New England and the elev- enth in the United States. It is equipped with a teletypewriter system connected with headquar- ters of the Massachusetts State Po- lice, through which messages are relayed to all police departments maintaining similar systems in the country.
The above can be contrasted to the Police Department of 1889, the year after Quincy became a city, when it consisted of a deputy man- ager of police, twenty-one special police officers, ten constables, with headquarters and cells in the base- ment of City Hall.
Arrests during the year 1944 numbered 2,519, of which only 198 were females. There were 1,357 wagon calls and 330 ambulance calls.
The traffic bureau reports 457 accidents, 529 persons injured and 6 killed. Prosecutions numbered 864, warnings to motor vehicle vio- lators 2,044 and blue tags 6,018. This Department registers all auto
4A200
POLICE
Quincy Police Boat.
City of Quincy
sale transfers and issues bicycle reg- istrations, of which there were 375 in 1944.
A special juvenile bureau handles all cases involving juvenile crimes and misdemeanors. Last year there were 177 such cases in the Juvenile Court. There is a special photography bureau which in addition to photographing pris- oners takes pictures of accidents and street scenes and damage claims against the city.
The bureau of investigation re- ports 1,263 investigations includ- ing deaths, breaks, larcenies, etc .; stolen property recovered, $3,- 122.25.
The radio department transmit-
ted 31,610 messages and received 23,829. The license bureau made 862 store license inspections.
The liquor department through the assignment of an additional man, was able to give more atten- tion to liquor law investigations, making nearly 5,000 more inspec- tions than in previous year. The total was 8,119, about 25 inspec- tions being made each night.
The Police Department renders many miscellaneous services to the community such as finding missing children, checking buildings for doors and windows left unlocked, checking on houses in absence of occupants, first aid work and many other services not ordinarily de- fined as strictly police work.
Dr. Walter Kendall, nongenarian cyclist, receives bicycle license No. I from Police Chief John J. Avery while Mayor Ross and Fire Chief Sands look on.
Annual Report
23
FIRE DEPARTMENT
11.
WILLIAM J. SANDS. Chief
Deputy Chiefs JOHN L. O'NEILL ROBERT FENBY THOMAS GORMAN Employees - 136
1944 Budget Expenditure. $354,508.17 1 1
The Fire Department headquar- ters station is located at 26 Quincy Avenue. Fire stations are also at Atlantic, Wollaston, Squantum, Hough's Neck, West Quincy and Quincy Point. Present apparatus consists of two hose combinations (booster pump), eight pumping en- gines, four city service ladders, one aerial ladder (100 feet), two special service trucks and three depart- ment cars. Personnel: Chief, three
deputy chiefs, 12 captains, 11 lieu- tenants, 108 privates, one mechanic.
The Quincy Fire Department responded to 1,851 alarms in 1944, which was 316 alarms less than in 1943. This satisfactory decrease, on analysis, is found to be entirely in the number of grass and dump fires, and is rather surprising con- sidering the abnormally dry season from May to October in 1944, when an increase in such fires might have been expected. It is likely that this decrease may be credited as a by-product of the waste paper col- lections carried on by the Quincy Salvage Committee. This was all to the advantage of the war effort in less paper burned, more sal- vaged, fewer unnecessary fire alarms and less gasoline consumed.
There were 28 less false alarms than in 1943, though the number, 97, is too many. Hose stretched amounted to 130,300 feet or 241/2 miles end to end, and ladders raised 7,934 feet.
Left to right: Chief Sands, Deputies Fenby, O'Neill, Gorman.
- - City of Quincy
24
FIRE INSURANCE LOSSES
Total fire insurance losses in Quincy in 1944 amounted to $336,- 382.29, an increase of $82,228.99 over the previous year. Two fires, both large and difficult, were en- tirely responsible for this increase. These were the fire at the Old Col- ony Crushed Stone Company plant on February 14 and that at Norfolk Downs, December 21, which in- volved a block with retail stores on the ground floor and dwelling apartments above. The number of fires investigated with an inspec- tor from the office of the fire mar- shal numbered 47.
FIRE PREVENTION
The fire prevention program is an important but unspectacular feature of the work of the Fire De- partment. Inspections numbering 12,456 were made during the year of public, industrial buildings and private homes in the interests of prevention of fire hazards and safety. The Quincy Fire Depart- ment is responsible for the issuing of all the permits which are re-
quired for the storage of all inflam- mables, including oil wells, all forms of alcohol, powder, etc., also for outdoor fires, including yard bonfires, and for blasting.
EQUIPMENT
With the exception of a new Chrysler car for the chief, no new equipment was purchased during the year.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That a new station be erected at Hough's Neck to replace the present frame structure.
2. That two 1,000-gallon pump- ers and one 65-foot junior aerial ladder be purchased to replace En- gines 2 and 3 and Ladder 5, respec- tively. This replacement would, with one exception, leave our ap- paratus less than 10 years old.
3. That eight new men be added to the Department to re- place the men assigned to fire alarm as operators and to place Ladder 3 back in service and thus give in- creased fire protection to the West Quincy section of the city.
*******
------
*********
Y & QUINCY
In Memoriam
DEPUTY CHIEF PETER J. CREEDON A veteran of World War I, he volunteered in the present war and on April 24, 1944, gave his life in the service of his country. His loyalty and unselfish devotion to this Department and to his country remain a cherished memory.
1111
CAPTAIN EDWARD O'NEIL Lieutenant, U. S. N. R.
Retired, loyal and faithful fire fighter for more than twenty-five years, died July 30, 1944.
PRIVATE WILLIAM BUCKLEY
Member of the Department since 1920, died July 10, 1944, in active service en- gaged in fighting a fire.
LLLLLLL11111111111111
FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL
LALLLLLLLLLALALALAL <<<<<<<
THOMAS J. SMITH . .... Superintendent Employees - 4
1944 Budget Expenditure ... .. $26,781.62
11111111111111111111 <<<<<<
All fire alarm, police signal and traffic signals were efficiently oper-
ated and serviced during the past 12 months in spite of many diffi- culties and delays of obtaining ma- terials. Numerous additions and alterations were completed to all services maintained by this depart- ment. During the coming year all efforts of the members of this De- partment will be devoted to main- taining vital services with a mini- mum use of any material vital to war services.
1111111111
WATERFRONT DEPARTMENT
JAMES A. M. NASIL Harbor Master
1944 Budget Expenditure. $450.00 111111 111
Under the General Laws of Mas- sachusetts, Chapter 102, the duties of a harbor master are defined as the regulation of all shipping with- in the harbors of his city or town. Masters of vessels can anchor only under his direction and in such places as he designates and he has the power to direct the removal of such vessels whenever he deems it necessary. He reports shipwrecks, obstructions in harbor and all vio- lations of laws relating to the tide- water in harbors. He also reports
receipts by water and launchings.
Receipts by water for 1944: City Fuel Co., 13 barges, 8,749 tons of coal. Standard Oil Company, 146 barges and steamers, delivered 46,- 222,665 gallons of oil. No shipping reported for Procter & Gamble Mfg. Company and Quincy Lum- ber Co.
Launchings: Bethlehem Ship- building Co., Quincy Yard, 37 ves- sels; Quincy Adams Yard, seven sub-chasers. Northeast Shipbuilding Co., 27 tow boats, 43 barges. Total launchings, 114.
The harbor master made 11 trips with power boat to the aid of boats in distress, aground or capsized. He picked up five rowboats which were claimed, and reported various beacons extinguished and buoys out of position.
City of Quincy
26
PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT
ANTHONY J. VENNA Commissioner
Number of Employees - 23
1944 Budget Expenditure $611,476.16
LLLLLLLLLLALLALILLA <<<<<<<
GENERAL RELIEF
While employment in Quincy was at a high level in 1944, our general relief case load showed a net increase. Illness remains the chief cause for aid in this division. This is followed by cases where the recipient is a person of advanced age and unable to qualify for old age assistance. There was also an increase in applications brought about by desertions and domestic troubles. As our local war indus- tries have reached their peak and some have already started cut-backs this Department will undoubtedly be called on to assume additional problems and expense.
Our departmental truck and chauffeur were kept busy during the year in the picking up and de- livery of the following materials: Federal surplus commodities, furni- ture and clothing, household ef- fects of families receiving assist- ance, wheel chairs, hospital beds, fuel, and scrap paper and tin in connection with the salvage pro- gram.
COAL
The coal shortage which arose again this year due to war and transportation difficulties resulted in the resumption of the coal bank instituted last winter. The emer-
gency was much more acute this year and many more families were affected. Coal was delivered in bulk by the dealers to the Welfare Building, where it was bagged and sold in 200-pound lots by our em- ployees.
SELECTIVE SERVICE
We have continued to cooperate with the Selective Service Boards and the Boston Induction Center in the investigation of claims of dependency by prospective in- ductees and service men seeking discharges on the basis of undue hardship.
CLINIC AND DISPENSARY
Our clinic, under the supervision of our City Physician, Dr. Mac- Leod, and Mr. Walsh, Superinten- dent of the City Home, as our pharmacist, continues to operate one day weekly for general relief cases only.
CITY HOME
The average case load of our City Home during 1944 was 30. Besides service to our regular ap- plicants, we were called upon dur- ing the year, on several occasions, to provide shelter for persons taken from their homes because of fires, high-tide floods, hurricane ,etc. We cooperated on numerous occa- sions with the police in providing shelter for children when parents were held by them.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
During the year of 1944, the old age assistance case load had a slight increase from 870 cases, as of Jan- uary 1, 1944 to 883 cases, as of January 1, 1945. The steady work and high wages earned by the chil- dren in this defense area have eliminated many applicants from receiving old age assistance. Short-
Annual Report
27
age of labor in this community has also given older persons a chance of employment and has resulted in keeping the case load low.
To comply with the legislative act placing responsibility for the care of their parents on the chil- dren according to their means, the Department was obliged, during the year 1944, to have appear be- fore the Probation Officer 17 cases of children for failure to comply with the law. As a result of the hearings, 15 were settled and con- tributions were made available out of court. The Department was forced to take the other two before the judge for disposition. Both were ordered to support their parents.
In June of 1944, notice was re- ceived for the additional liberal- ization; this time it was an exemp- tion for servicemen's wives liable for support in old age assistance. Also in August, another allowance was made for reimbursement for
grants in advance when hospitaliza- tion occurs.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
During the year 1944, the aid to dependent children case load in- creased from 92 cases to 104 cases for two major reasons: Many fath- ers suffered ill health due to over- work, and others, because of law- breaking, left their families totally dependent. It is expected that these conditions will continue. The State Department suggested no mandatory changes during 1944, despite the rising cost of living, but is enforcing an increase for cloth- ing expenses in all cases and it is possible that a further increase in the cost of food will be granted in each case later. These increased allowances on clothing will go into effect March 1, 1945 and will bring the average semi-monthly payroll total to $4,142.50 instead of the present figure of $3,842.50 semi- monthly.
Quincy City Home.
.....
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
RICHARD M. ASH, M.D. ..... Commissioner
Number of Employees - 16
1914 Budget Expenditure .. ......... $83,902.54
HEALTH REPORT
The full report of the commis- sioner and heads of the various divisions of this Department in- cluding vital statistics and other information for 1944 is on file at both the office of the City Clerk and that of this Department.
A study of these reports indicates a particularly busy year for those persons whose work is largely out- side of the office. Conditions exist- ing in Quincy today, due to the great amount of war work and con- sequent crowding of our living fa- cilities, have greatly increased the efforts required of all of the mem- bers of this department. This is true in our inspection and clinic work, and doubly so in our office duties. We have carried on with no increase in personnel, everyone having accepted the additional burden.
Our efforts in diphtheria im- munization continue to pay very large dividends. Only two cases of this disease were reported during 1944. We are looking forward to the day in the near future when clinic immunization of other con- tagious diseases will be practicable.
DEATHS
There were 766 resident deaths recorded for 1944 in Quincy, a rate of 9.9 persons per 1,000 population. Only twice in the last 10 years has a lower rate been attained. Heart diseases, cancer and intracranial lesions continue to be the leading causes. The only deaths from re- portable diseases were from tuber- culosis and lobar pneumonia. In- fant mortality had the lowest rate ever recorded in Quincy, 27.7, over a third of the total being due to pre-maturity. Only one maternal death occurred in the city, an un- usually splendid record. The pop- ulation figure for Quincy used for the above is 77,656.
BIRTHS
A total of 1,588 births was cred- ited to Quincy in 1944, a birth rate of 20.4 per 1,000 population, the third largest in the city's records. Nearly 99 percent of these births occurred in hospitals.
RECOMMENDATIONS
First and most important is the problem of mosquito control. For the past two years it has been an actual torture to be out of doors during the early morning or eve- ning because of their prevalence. It is most essential during the war that our citizens supplement the national food supply with what- ever means are available. Most of us could raise vegetables on our properties if it were physically pos- sible to remain out of doors. Many gardens were discontinued or suf- fered because of our residents ac- tually being unable to stand the swarms of mosquitoes. In addi- tion there is a great deal of uneasi-
Annual Report
29
ness as to the possible spread of malaria from those returning vic- tims of this disease. This is not probable because we are fortunate, according to the last survey in not having the "anophales mosquito" in our area. This is the particular type that spreads disease. However, we cannot be certain that this will always be the case. There is no question in my mind that the con- trol program of the State is far from efficient, and certainly the
City's program is insufficient. I recommend an immediate confer- ence between State and City au- thorities, to the end that a proper and sufficient control project be immediately started and carried through.
Second, but equally important, is our method of garbage and rub- bish disposal. A very limited sur- vey by this Department shows that our present method is costly, ineffi- cient and absolutely not in accord-
ance with public health standards. Conclusions in writing from this survey were presented in 1941. At that time one of the best known en- gineering concerns in this field of- fered to make a survey and recom- mendations for the sum of $500. At that time it was apparently im- possible to get that sum appropri- ated for this purpose. It is possible to so use the energy that is obtain- able from an incinerator, so that in a reasonably short period the proj- ect will pay for itself and thereafter pay dividends. It is almost certain that our method of garbage dis- posal will only be allowed for a few more years. I most earnestly re- quest a reasonable appropriation for a proper survey of our present disposal costs, and recommenda- tions for proper incineration of both garbage and rubbish in the very near future, so that arrange- ments for the construction and completion of same can be pre-ar- ranged as a post war project.
CITY PHYSICIAN
LALALALALALAL <<<<<<<<<<
JOHN M. MACLEOD, M.D. 11
The following is a synopsis of the work done by this Department: Number of house visits 103
Number of patients treated at clinics 203
Number of patients referred to hospital from clinics 8
Number of patients referred eye, ear, nose and throat specialist 1
Number of vaccinations 4
Number of minor operations and special treatment. . 11
Number of physical examina- tions 113
Number of police calls 7
Number of patients receiving dressings 38
Number of patients referred to Board of Health 2
Number miscellaneous
26
City of Quincy
30
CITY HOSPITAL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLALLA <<<<<<<
BOARD OF MANAGERS
SAMUEL G. SLOANE Chairman
EDWINA M. ROBB Secretary
WILLIAM A. CAREY
AUGUSTUS E. SETTIMELLI WILLIAM J. MARTIN
JOSEPH P. LEONE, M.D., F. A. C. H. A. Superintendent
Employees - 351 1
While our receipts also estab- lished a new high record, it is evi- dent that we must expect an in- crease in the new cost to the city in the operation of the Hospital. The increase of $300 per year granted all municipal employees amounts to some $90,000 in our de-
partment, and some further in- creases were necessary in order to make it possible to retain some of our operating force.
With a depleted professional staff of nurses and doctors, more patients were treated and cared for in our Hospital than in any pre- vious year. The Board of Manag- ers is deeply grateful to the staff for the many hours of service that they have rendered the charity cases admitted during the year. The cooperation given by the en- tire staff to our administration and the Hospital Board, is appreciated.
Our Superintendent, Dr. Joseph P. Leone, with his able assistants, has performed an outstanding serv- ice to the City in his tireless efforts to secure sufficient personnel so that required services could be maintained, but he never inter- posed an objection when nurses decided to leave for war work.
BOARD OF MANAGERS - Standing: Mr. Settinelli, Mr. Martin, Dr. Leone, Superintendent. Left to right, seated: Mr. Sloane, Chairman; Mrs. Robb, Mr. Carey.
Annual Report
31
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
For the third war year, the Quincy City Hospital, with its pro- fessional staff, employees, and vol- unteer corps, has responded in an unprecedented manner in meeting our unusual responsibilities to the community. The demands upon us have been greater than ever be- fore.
HOSPITAL CO-OPERATES WITH NAVY
Upon request of the Navy, the Board of Managers allowed the use of Ward A, a new 50-bed unit, that was completed in 1943, for the care of "Navy dependents." The Hos- pital furnished the basic essen- tials, such as food, medical and surgical supplies, laundry, and the use of the operating room and X- ray department by their Navy doc- tors. All patients in this ward were cared for entirely by the Navy doc-
tors and their personnel. The "Navy dependents" paid to us their hospital bills at the existing ward rates. From February 9th to August ist 600 patients had been entered and cared for in this new unit. The Navy staff and their commanding officers worked to- gether with the Hospital staff and administration during their entire stay. This arrangement permitted the City of Quincy, through the Hospital Department, to make an additional contribution to the United States Navy and its war ef- fort.
WHOLE BLOOD AND LIQUID PLASMA BANK
In December, a whole blood and plasma bank was established. The Quincy Salvage Committee con- tributed $500 for this purpose. The committee in charge is: Drs. F. P. McCarthy, J. Brudno, D. Swan and Conrad Nobili. Liquid plasma
-
Whole blood bank established and 455 blood transfusions given in 1944.
- City of Quincy
32
and whole blood are now available to all patients needing this service. The patients' relatives are expected to contribute two units for cach unit of plasma or blood given to a patient from the blood bank. The usual professional fee of $25 is made for cach transfusion when no blood is given by the relatives and deposited to the blood bank.
DAY NURSERY
The day nursery, at the Sears' estate, which opened in the sum- mer of 1943, was officially taken over in conjunction with the hos- pital in March of this year. This was necessary in order that mothers with children could leave their children at the nursery while they worked at the Hospital. This ar- rangement has helped considerably in meeting the nurse shortage, but it has far from completely solved this problem.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.