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 1948 > Part 5
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In the six-year plan prepared by William S. Parker several years ago, it was recommended that the City of Quincy expand its cemetery facilities to the Broad Meadows area diagonally opposite the present location, on the southerly side of Sea Street. This particular plan calls for an expenditure of approximately $150,000, the payments of which would be made at the rate of $25,000 per year.
75
If this plan is not carried out at once then the City must purchase immediately, a sufficiently large plot of land in order that careful development, so necessary for a proper cemetery, can be initiated at the earliest possible moment.
A total of 598 burials and 2 removals were made in 1948; this figure is somewhat in excess of the 1947 total of 574 burials and 5 removals.
During 1948, another section of land on the Sea Street side of Mount Wollaston Cemetery was graded. This land was plotted in lots of four to eight graves each, for family use. Since practically all of these new lots have been sold, the street in this section should be built as soon as possible as inclement weather makes it extremely muddy.
The remainder of the land in this area will be graded in the Spring of 1949, and plotted in lots of from four to eight graves each. At the present time, 200, single graves are being plotted in Section O. The grade of the streets in this section should be raised from twelve to fifteen inches as the level of the street is somewhat below that of the grade of the land. In the Spring of 1949, the Cemetery w'll be further beautified by the planting of trees along the wall on the north side of the Cemetery and along the newly constructed street in the Sea Street section.
The old Hancock Cemetery has been mainta'ned in its usual beautiful condition and many compliments have been received from citizens on the continual beauty of both municipally owned cemeteries.
SECTION VII
HISTORICAL PLACES LIBRARY SCHOOLS
79
Historical Places
ABIGAIL ADAMS CAIRN, PENN'S HILL
80
Thomas Crane Public Library
The following report for the year 1948 is the seventy-seventh annual report of the library.
During the past year, television was introduced on a widespread scale in the Boston area. The question has arisen as to whether or not this innovation in the field of entertainment would have an adverse effect on the use of the library. Similar questions had been raised on the introduction of radio and motion pictures, some years past. However, experience has proved that the new devices such as rad'o and motion pictures have instead injected a stimulus into the reading interest of the people. While television, combining the better features of radio and motion pictures, may prove to be a more formidable opponent of the printed page, it will be many years before the library is replaced as an outdated function of public service.
The total number of volumes on hand at the end of the year was 140,411. A net gain of 3,873 volumes was made by the obtaining of 9,422 and the discarding of 5,549 books. There was a total of 21,796 borrowers registered as of December 31, 1948, including 139 non-residents. Circulation amounted to 493,576 books and periodicals loaned in 1948, of these 322,899 were adult and 170,677 juvenile; 16,290 phonograph records and 7,281 pictures, 6,555 adult and 726 juvenile, were loaned during the year.
There was a slight gain in the number of borrowers registered and a satisfactory increase was noted in the number of phonograph records and pictures loaned in 1948.
A decrease of 7,105 in the number of books loaned during the year was 11/2% less than the total loaned in 1947. While this is a bit disappointing, it definitely follows a pattern which is noted in most library reports.
The Public Library is quite often recognized as a weather vane of business trends. When business and industry make sharp gains, library attendance and book loans invariably decrease; conversely when business and industry reverse to a downward trend, library activities increase. When business runs at a steady pace, there is no significant fluctuation in the losses and gains in library activities.
The above mentioned theory is substantiated by the trend of activities in the Quincy Library during the war years and in those years immediately preceding and following the war. In 1940 when the war preparedness program was started, the circulation was 695,000 volumes. In 1941, the circulation dropped 50,000; in 1942, it decreased 90,000 books. By the close of 1943, probably the peak of the war effort, another 90,000 was lost bringing the circulation to a low of 465,000 volumes. In the years beginning with 1944, a period of good business and relatively good employment conditions, the library circulation had risen only an approximate eight per cent, accompanied
81
by periodic fluctuations. However in November and December of 1948, a marked increase in circulation was made over the corres- ponding months of 1947.
Statistics measure only a part of a library's activities during any year. Questions are asked daily, information is secured and assistance is rendered by the reference librarian, the reader's adviser, and at the loan desks. Work with high school and college students comes under this category, and a great deal of cooperation and harmony is ob- tained by conferences with the high school faculty on mutual problems. Branch librarians acting in the capacity of reference librarians, children's librarians, and readers' advisers perform duties comparable to those at the main library and as such, the volume of this work cannot be measured by numerical data.
Much of the work of the various library departments is carried on outside the Library buildings. The Children's Librarian holds classes in various elementary schools giving instruction in the proper use of the library. Exhibits have been arranged and lectures given at various social, religious, and civic organizations on the activities of the Children's Library. The Music Librarian received numerous requests to give a number of programs of phonograph recordings wth interpretive commentary before interested groups. In the Fall of 1948, at the request of many students, a program of Arthur Fiedler radio courses for schools was initiated. Mr. Fiedler appeared in person at the first of these sessions.
During the year, a policy of supervised group visits to various branch libraries by students of certain elementary schools and by various youth groups was effected.
The branch maintained at the Quincy City Hospital was moved from its single room confinement, where it had been maintained for 22 years, to more spacious quarters on the main floor of the Hospital, adjoining, though not a part of, the Hospital Medical Library. This change has greatly facilitated the library service in both the wards and the library itself.
The valuable Warren S. Parker collection of Quinciana is in the process of cataloging and much of the material, especially the old deeds, probate records, and genealogical notes, is put to constant use by a number of researchers. However, a new steel fire door is urgently needed to insure the utmost safety of this valuable collection.
STATISTICAL SUMMARY 1948
Central Library 1
Branches 13
Deposits 4
Number of days open during the year
for lending and reference 304
82
CIRCULATION AND USE: Volumes lent for home use Adult non-fiction 112,860
493,576
Adult fiction 210,039
Children
170,677
School Department
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Quincy:
Your School Committee presents herewith its annual report for the year 1948.
One of our major problems continues to be our concern for the general improvement of our school buildings. An adequate main- tenance budget has enabled us to continue the program so well begun a few years ago and our classrooms are now taking on a brighter and more cheerful appearance. This is largely due to the judicious use of paint in modernistic pastel shades plus the renovation of floors which are not too far gone for sanding and treatment. There is still much to be done with the replacement of floors and the installation of modern lighting fixtures in many of our buildings, and under the able direction of our Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Rudolph Lofgren, we are anticipating an early approach to desirable conditions. Our maintenance crew is filling a great need in the prompt and proper handling of minor repairs, and the work of our painters is accomplish- ing a great deal at a considerable saving cost.
Another major problem which confronts your committee is the proper housing of our children. We have now more than space will allow in the Atherton Hough, Wollaston, Massachusetts Fields and in the Central Junior High schools and have been obliged to resort to transfers to other buildings. There is every indication that the problem will be more serious in the next few years, and with this in mind we have again engaged the services of Dr. W. K. Wilson of New York as building consultant. Present indications are that addi- tions will be necessary at the Wollaston and Atherton Hough schools almost immediately and new schools will be required in areas which are rapidly growing and rather distant from existing buildings. We refer to Furnace Brook Parkway near Newport Avenue and the Beech- wood Knoll section.
The payment of adequate salaries to our entire staff is another problem that has required a great deal of attention. At the beginning of the year the pay of Men and Women teachers was equalized on the basis of training and experience at a cost of about $95,000 as
83
--
---
---
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QUINCY POINT JUNIOR HIGH
required by vote of the citizens. To keep our salaries in line with the cost of living, a further increase approximating $300 for each em- ployee has been provided for in our 1949 budget. It is our belief that the salaries of our entire staff are now favorably comparable with those paid in other communities and adequate to hold and attract first class personnel.
The first joint graduation for our two high schools was held at the Municipal Stadium on Saturday, June 12th, with Dean Havice of Northeastern University as the speaker. Although the weather was unfavorable, the program as arranged by the principals of the two schools was well executed, and we look forward to th's annual get- logether as a means to create a better community spirit.
Our athletic program has been enlarged in all schools, and we are cooperating with the newly formed Recreation Commission in pro- viding the use of our school facilities for worthwhile recreation pro- grams after school hours for all age groups.
84
SOUTH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
In schools with proper facilities, we are taking advantage of the Federal Lunch Program which enables our children to ob a'n a bal- anced meal at low cost. It is unfortunate that a greater percentage do not take advantage of what is offered. In other schools we are serving the Federal type "C" lunch which provides milk only at low cost.
In September the new class-room wing at the Squantum school was completed and immediately occupied to relieve the crowded condition at this building. This represents the first addition to our Elementary School facilities since 1932 and sets a new standard in class-room design to meet modern educational requirements and methods.
Among those retiring from our school system this year was Miss Hannah C. McEwan, who has capably served as a school nurse since 1920, and Miss Mary McConnell, a teacher at the Adams School for 22 years, whose retirement becomes effective January 1, 1949.
85
CENTRAL JUNIOR HIGH
We ali deeply regret the loss of our only woman principal, Miss Margaret Sweeney, who passed away during the year. For forty years she served in our school system as a very capable teacher and administrator.
During the last five months of the year, we lost the active services of the only woman member of our committee, Mrs. Helen E. Spencer, because of serious illness. Mrs. Spencer took an active interest in many phases of our school system, faithfully and capably fulfilling the duties of her office since January 7, 1946. Her untimely death occurred early in January 1949, and she will be missed by those who learned to know her as a valuable public servant.
As your committee completes its work for another year, we wish to acknowledge the loyalty and cooperation of our entire staff in making possible what we have accomplished for the good of all. We tace the future with a determined effort to fulfill our obligation to our
86
NEW SQUANTUM SCHOOL
children that none may be denied the right to a good education in a clean, cheerful and healthy environment.
The foregoing report was prepared by Mr. Alexander Smith and Mr. A. Wendell Clark and was adopted as the report of the School Committee for the year 1948.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Quincy:
The year just closed was marked by the crest of war and postwar monetary inflation, the impact of the increasing numbers of pupils entering the schools, the still more serious shortage of adequately trained elementary teachers, and by a season with the heaviest snow-
87
falls in fifty years. In general, schools are experiencing a period of transition with seething professional and lay thinking about what the schools should do. Much is expected of the schools of the future, and we can hope that out of the medley of currents and cross currents in thinking much real progress will be made.
Quincy has excellent schools, better than most people realize. The members of the School Committee should feel pleased that their work has been productive in the quality of educational work being done in the Quincy schools. We know, however, that there are a number of ways in which the schools can be made better. Smaller classes, further improving of buildings, revitalizing of the curriculum, and continued improvement of teaching methods are among various ways.
When the first annual report was submitted by Superintendent Francis Parker in 1875, Quincy's population was between 7,000 and 10,000, with a pupil enrollment of 1,420. At the time this 73rd report is submitted the population is approximately 86.000 and the enrollment 11,700. It appears from our best estimates that Quincy will have about 9,500 pupils in the elementary schools in 1957 and about 8,000 in the secondary schools by 1963. One of the better known nationally circulated financial news letters states that most communities have not yet awakened to the seriousness of the problem they have ahead in increased enrollment. This is one of the problems that is taking much of the attention of School Committee members and officers.
The revisions developed for the various salary schedules of school employees have done much to overcome the loss of pur- chasing power experienced because of the higher prices. The in- creased amount of the budget for 1949 is offset to a greater extent this year because of an increased amount of state aid made possible by a law passed in 1948 by the Legislature. Unfortunately, these state funds are not definitely set aside for school purposes, but it should be kept in mind that the amount of funds to be raised by local taxa- tion for 1949 is decreased by state aid, tuition, and other receip's by the amount of about $238,000. Temporarily, there is some difficulty about the administering of this law, but it is certain that in the years ahead the new law will operate more smoothly in giving more state aid to the schools, a desirable tendency that is to be found in most states.
Probably never before in the history of the Quincy schools have so many teachers been taking professional courses to improve the quality of their teaching. This has been made possible for many of them by the provisions of the salary schedules for rewarding ad- ditional training.
The actual instruction in the classrooms is being enriched by the use of sound films, slides, and the use of wire recorders. For the second year, Quincy has been giving students opportunities to have
88
actual experience on the local radio station programs. In the class- room some teachers are getting desirable results from use of carefully selected radio programs for correlation with the regular work.
One of the most interesting teaching aids is a booklet of pictured stories on the history of Quincy. This was developed cooperatively by the School Department, Chamber of Commerce, and the Quincy Patriot Ledger.
The school plant is serving a great number of out-of-school youths and older persons. The evening school had an enrollment of 2,500 this year. The gymnasiums equipped for basketball were used prac- tically every evening through the season by community groups.
It has been a pleasure to work with the Quincy School Committee and with the employees of the schools. The problems have been many, but progress has been consistent, and the outlook for the years ahead is excellent.
Respectfully submitted, PAUL GOSSARD
Superintendent of Schools
89
4. General Statistics, December, 1948
Population of the City (U. S. Census of 1940)
75,810
Number of school buildings: Quincy High1, 1; North Quincy
High2, 1; Junior High Schools, 3; Elementary3, 19; Annex4, 1; total
123 4 25
Teachers in Quincy High School: men, 20; women, 37; total Teachers in North Quincy High School: men, 23; women, 50; total
73
Teachers in Junior High Schools: men, 21; women, 59; total Teachers in Elementary Schools: men, 3; women, 203; total Principals: Quincy High School, men, 1; (Asst. Principal),
80
206
1; North Quincy High School, men 1; (Asst. Principals), 2; Junior High Schools, men, 3; Elementary Schools, men, 95; total
17
Directors: Art, 1; Health Education, 1; Music, 2; Teaching Aids, 1; total
5
Special teachers: drawing, 1; health instructors, 2; libra- rians. 5; opportunity classes, 5; physical education, 2; physically handicapped, 2; lip reading, 16; sight con- servation, 1; total
6 19
Trade School: men, principal, 1; teachers, 15; total
16
Evening Academic School: principal, 1; teachers, men, 5; women, 8; total
₹ 14
Adult Civic Education: principal, 1; teachers, women, 5; total Evening Practical Arts: principal, 1; teachers, men 3; women, 24; total
9 28
Evening Trade Extension: principal, 1; teachers, men, 7; total
1110
Evening Apprenticeship: principal, 1; teachers, men, 9; total Total number of different teachers
515
General Control:
Superintendent of Schools, 1; Asst. Superintendents, 2; Director of Guidance and Research, 1; Principal Clerk and Secretary to Superintendent, 1; Principal Clerks, 3; Junior Clerks, 3; total
11
Clerks: Quincy High School, 2; North Quincy High School, 2; Junior High Schools, 3; Trade School, 1; Elementary, 3; total 11
Coordinate and Auxiliary Agencies:
Supervisor of Attendance, 1; Adjustment Service, 2; Nurses, 4; Physicians, 2 (part-time) ; total. Custodial and Maintenance Departments:
9
Supervisor of Custodians, 1; Senior Building Custo- dians, 14; Junior Building Custodians, 29; Cleaners, 11; Carpenters, 2; Construction Handyman, 1; Painters, 4; total 62
Total number of different persons employed by the School Department 608
1 Trade School located in Quincy High School Building.
2 Six-year high school.
3 Washington School closed because of decreased enrollment.
4 Used as offices for directors and storage space.
a One included in Junior High Schools.
6 One is also teacher of physically handicapped children
7 Nine included in regular day schools.
8 Four included in regular day schools.
9 Three included in regular day schools.
1º Four included in regular day schools.
11 Two included in regular day schools.
6 6
57
90
6. Attendance Data of the Regular Day Schools for the Year Ending June 25, 1948
SCHOOL
Number of Boys
Number of Girls
Number of Different Pupils
Enrolled Exclusive of Re-
enrollments in the City
Average Membership
Average Daily
Attendance
Per Cent of Attendance
Quincy High
667
853
1520
1440
1343
93.3
North Quincy High
912
911
1823
1756
1652
94.0
Central Junior High
404
378
782
752
702
98.4
Quincy Point Jr. High
179
206
385
370
345
93.2
Class for Older Boys
27
27
31
27
87.1
South Junior High
312
312
624
588
557
94.7
Adams
180
158
338
307
284
92.5
Atherton Hough
323
285
608
565
517
91.5
Coddington
107
123
230
211
194
91.9
Cranch
111
113
224
210
195
92.9
Daniel Webster
177
155
332
322
301
93.5
Francis W. Parker
251
191
442
416
384
92.3
Gridley Bryant
101
102
203
186
174
93.5
John Hancock
110
87
197
192
180
93.8
Lincoln
143
120
263
633
584
92.3
Merrymount
106
100
206
197
178
90.4
Montclair
250
256
506
474
434
91.6
Nathaniel S. Hunting
139
113
252
236
221
93.6
Quincy
230
230
460
451
414
91.8
Squantum
128
112
240
201
185
92.0
Thomas B. Pollard
238
196
434
399
366
91.7
Willard
157
165
322
308
288
93.5
Wollaston
247
234
481
460
422
91.7
Physically Handi-
capped Class
17
10
27
26
23
88.5
Sight Conservation Class
7
7
14
14
13
92.9
Totals
5,876
5,731
11,607
10,995
10.216
92.9
Trade School
229
. .
229
190
173
91.1
250
233
93.2
Massachusetts Fields
353
314
667
3. Brief Description of School Property, Also the Value of Schoolhouses and Lots, Etc., 1948
BUILDINGS
Date of
Occupation
Wood or Brick
No. of Stories
Heating Apparatus
Assembly Halls
Number of
Schoolrooms
Assessed Value
Assessed Value
of Building
Value of
Equipment
Total
Sq. Ft. in Lot
Quincy High (Academic)1 2
1924
B
3
Steam
1
41
$122,000
$875,000
$103,897
$1,105,89/
146,279
(Trade) 13
North Quincy High 14
1927
B
3
Steam
1
57
45,000
955,000
65,32-1
1,065,324
188,052
Central Junior High1 5
1894
B
3
Steam
1
25
45,500
230,500
20.193
296,198
85,348
South Junior High1
1927
B
3
Steam
1
26
22,000
535,000
43 703
600,705
193,917
Quincy Point Junior High1 6
1928
B
2
Steam
18
24,851
24,851
Adams7
1913
B
2
Steam
1
16
14 000
180,000
6,450
200,450
137,300
Atherton Hough&
1911
B
Steam
1
17
15,000
210,000
14,80)
239,809
73,392
Coddingtonº
1909
B
3
Steam
1
13
108 000
115,000
5,731
228,731
56,785
Cranch
1900
B
2
Steam
9
15,000
61,000
2,000
78,000
62,628
Daniel Webster
1917
B
2
Steam
1
16
18,300
374,000
7,098
399,398
125.388
Francis W. Parker
1917
B
2
Steam
1
16
25,000
2 ,0,000
6,900
291,900
80,893
Gridley Bryant10
1896
B
2
Steam
13
5,500
100,000
5,113
110,613
53,475
Tohn Hancock
1886
B
3
Steam
10
12,000
53,000
2,000
67,000
106,255
Lincoln
1892
B
2
Steam
12
6.500
56,000
1,800
64,300
69.841
.
16
...
....
6
of Land
...
2
92
Massachusetts Fields11
1896
B
2
Steam
1
18
21,300
269,500
11,647
302,447
101,987
Merrymount
1929
B
2
Steam
10
18,000
147,000
7,980
172,986
243,470
Montclair12
1912
B
2
Steam
1
17
14,000
205,000
7,519
226,519
84,314
Nathaniel S. Hunting
1929
B
2
Steam
10
6,500
145,000
7,980
159,480
50,373
Quincy 13
1907
B
3
Steam
2
20
13,400
205,000
3,000
221,400
58,286
*Squantum
1919
B
1
Steam
1
10,500
215,500
26,359
252,359
123,831
Thomas B. Pollard1
1920
B
1
Steam
1
17
12,500
200,000
8,945
221,445
76,842
Washington14
1903
B
2
Steam
10
16,000
80,000
2,500
98,500
78.626
Willard1
1891
B
21/2
Stcam
1
20
10,000
80,000
3,500
93,500
50,240
Wollaston2
1912
B
2
Stcam
1
12
24,000
136,000
6,450
166,450
94,672
Annex 15
1922
W
212
Steam
10
....
Total
17
445
$600 000
$5.687,500
$400,757
$6.688,257
...
'Cafeterias, gymnasiums, special rooms and shops; Quincy High, 15; Trade, 6; North Quincy High, 25; Junior High Schools, 27; Thomas B. Pollard. 1; Willard, 1.
2 Assembly hall used for classroom purposes.
"Valnation of Trade School furniture included in Quincy High School valuation.
4East wing addition occupied September, 1931. West wing addition occupied September, 1936.
5Building renovated, and addition occupied January 1907.
"Quincy Point Junior High School valuation of land and building and the square feet in lot included in Daniel Webster School figures. "Addition of four rooms occupied September, 1931. "Addition of nine rooms and assembly hall occupied January, 1930.
"Auditorium used by Quincy High School class. Trade School uses six classrooms.
1"Addition of four rooms occupicd September, 1930.
11 Addition of ten rooms occupied September, 1924.
12 Addition of nine rooms and assembly hall occupied March. 1930. 13 Addition of eight rooms and assembly hall occupied September, 1932 14School closed due to decreased enrollment. September. 1942.
15 Located on Quincy High School lot. Valuation of land and building included in Quincy High School figure. Formerly Home Making School. *Four rooms and gymnasium under construction.
SECTION VIII WATER DIVISION
95
Water Division
The City of Quincy, with an estimated population of 85,600 persons, is a part of the Metropolitan Water System. During 1948, the City averaged a daily consumption of 6,250,000 gallons of water, o1 a per capita daily average of approximately 73 gallons.
The total of 10,160 feet of main pipe laid by this Division in 1948, brought the sum total of main pipe in use as of December 31, 1948, to 206.54 miles.
Service to this system entailed the repairing of leaks in the mains on twenty occasions during the current year.
SERVICE PIPE
City of Quincy December 31, 1948
New service pipe laid in 1948 (in feet)
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