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 1953 > 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
-
18
City of Quincy
QUINCY SCHOOLS ARE MODERN, EFFICIENT AND PROGRESSIVE
Left: This centuries-old abacus is one of the modern teaching aids giving meaning to eon- eepts as these first grade students become inter- ested in arithmetie.
Left Center: The beauty of space - for display of children's work and for flexible arrangement of furniture is shown in this glimpse into a elass- room at the new demountable addition to the Squantum School .. .
ho Bb Cc
bird Stories
-
Right Center : Fresh young eyes of seienee students wateh as a eeeropia moth sees the first light of day in a elassroom.
Lower Right: In a modern elementary elassroom a teacher works with a small group of pupils.
FREE LIBRARY SERVICE IS A FUNCTION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN QUINCY
FX11
Above: Reference room of the Thomas Crane Public Library is a favorite gathering place for high school students in the afternoon after classes let out as they dig into their supple- mentary reading chores.
Below: Great Books Discussion Group, formed in 1953, meets bi-weekly in the attractive new quarters of the Norfolk Downs branch to study the authors whose works have made literary history.
-
The library shelves contain 158,945 volumes, an increase of 4,590 for the year. Total cir- culation for 1953 was 566,739 books and periodicals, 12,237 pictures and 23,338 phonograph records: a circulation per capita of 7.2.
20
- City of Quincy
QUINCY IS GROWING
MORE NEW HOMES MORE NEW STORES MORE NEW INDUSTRIES
Building permits in 1953 totalled $3.927.265. of which $1,631,000 represented construction of 252 new living units. Beautiful Adams Street home, left. is one of 203 new single-family dwellings in year's figures. Attractive home below is typical of new residences devel- opers are selling to newcomers set- tling in Quiney. Four out of five new dwelling units are one-family homes designed for owner occu- pancy, keeping Quincy essentially a city of home owners.
WARD TABULATION 1953 PERMITS
Ward
Estimated Cost
LES OR FE
1
$1.688,488
2
188.597
3
805,508
307,262
5
242,798
6
714.612
Total
$3.927.265
F
More job opportunities, more taxable valu- ation, more business will result from this big addition that will double the selling space of this Quincy retail store, The Bar- gain Center, which is adding 36,000 square feet more sales area by the two-story annex. Tentative plans call for parking cars on the roof and a ramp to augment present ground parking accommodations. An ad- vertised sale will bring many thousand shoppers to this store in a single day.
PROTECTION OF LIFE IN WAR AND PEACE IS A FUNCTION OF GOOD MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
MOBIL-DIRECTO SIRIEN
Quincy hopes that these historic shores will never be the target of an enemy attack; but with world con- ditions sensitive, the city has deemed it prudent to set up a eivil defense department.
Civil Defense Director THOMAS F. MACDONALD is shown inspeeting one of the six 25-horsepower 126-to- 128-decibel rating sirens the depart- ment installed during 1953 in various locations in the eity at a cost of more than $12,000.
RUSSELL TURCOTT and ERNIE GILLER play cowboy- and-Indian safe from the dangers of a nearby quarry. To abate the constant hazards of children falling into these yawning pits, the city in 1953 fenced five quarries, Field and Wilde's, Falconer's, Saulstein's, Galvin's and Finn's with six feet of woven wire fence topped by three strands of barbed wire. This $9,000 project was undertaken by the city upon the mass requests of parents whose homes are adjacent to quarries and whose children often play near the dangerous holes.
-
THE QUINCY OF TODAY IS PROUD OF YESTERDAY BUT BUILDS FOR TOMORROW
-
T
The year 1953 was marked by two events illustra- tive of Quincy which looks to the future without forgetting its past. THE ELIZABETH SERPOSS CLINIC was opened June 1 in the Atherton Hough School through a bequest left by the late ERVANT SERPOSS. a native of Turkey who so loved his Houghs Neck neighbors in his adopted land that he wanted them and their descendants to benefit from his estate. The out-patient clinic, which operates each Monday morning. charges a nominal fee for those able to pay. DR. ALBERT DAVIS, physician in charge, is shown examining a youngster, with MRS. ELLEN NISHULA, Quincy Hospital outpatient nurse, in attendance. The clinic is named in mem- ory of the wife of the benefactor.
Right: QUINCY's History was further en- richened late in 1953 when Roland Wells Robbins, noted archaeologist, unearthed in part of Hall Place Cemetery the ruins of what he considers the first productive blast furnace in America. With the help of City workmen. Mr. Robbins, shown in excava- tion. discovered site of old bellows and pit of water-wheel with original timbers of water-race, broken clay moulds, sandstone lining and slag. The ancient furnace, which provided Colonial housewives with their first kettles, was operated by a company formed by John Winthrop, Jr., son of the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Mr. Robbins claims it was in operation by 1644. The city has appro- priated funds to continue the project of exploration.
Q.P.L. Foto
EARTH AND SEA FURNISH QUINCY
WITH RICH NATURAL RESOURCES
For more than three centuries the bountiful sca has spread elams along the beaches of Quincy to be had for the digging. Clams may be found today between high and low tide around Quiney's 27 miles of waterfront. A Quincy resident ean go out to one of the city's many open flats and dig a mess of shellfish in half an hour.
About 100 citizens earn their living, all or mostly, as commercial diggers. A good digger ean reap a barrel of elams at one tide, and net $18 to $20 in half a day's work. Some days two tides may be worked. The city conserves its elam beds by closing flats now and then to allow seed elams to mature. Clams under two inches are prohibited by law.
Long ealled The Granite City, Quiney furnished stone for the construction of the Bunker Hill Momment more than 125 years ago. Although the city's granite in- dustry is now devoted chicfly to cutting imported granite. the century old Swingle quarry, shown at left, still produces Quiney granite. A combination of the old Elcock and Mannex quarries, the Swingle quarry is the deepest in Quincy. Granite workers, shown in eirele, can be seen coming up from 345-foot hole in "bueket" hoisted by derriek and steel eable. First commercial railway in America was built here to trans- port stone, for the Bunker Hill monument, to the Neponset River. Original traeks and stone ties can still be seen in West Quiney.
-
QUINCY OFFERS BOTH LAND AND WATER SPORTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG
Q.P.L. Foto
A - Yacht Racing B - Little League Baseball C- Outboard Racing
D - High School Football E -Aquaplaning F - Marine Parade
50
4
3
A
48
3
-
-
-
SLOW BOAT TO CHINA
IN-SERVICE TRAINING OF CITY EMPLOYEES INCREASES EFFICIENCY OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES
JAMES P. DONOVAN, left, superintendent of water, and AMBROSE IGO, superintendent of highway and sanitation, took Basic Management Development Program sponsored by Quincey Chamber of Commerce and Thayer Academy.
ANTONIO DEL VECCHIO and JAMES RAGO, in truck, were among winners in Road-E-O, in which 26 chauffeurs participated, which wound up driver training course taken by 85 public works employees.
T
HELP KEEP TOOICY CLEA
15
Sanitary truck chauffeur stops a backing truek a few inches from an obstacle in one of the tests of skill that featured the Road-E-O in which Quincy truck drivers eompeted.
NEW TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION CREATES NATIONAL INTEREST IN QUINCY DEMOUNTABLE SCHOOL
-
-
Above: Exterior view shows new four-roon Squantum school addition which cut costs of con- struction through introduction of novel features in design that have attracted favorable comment from school officials all over the country.
Right: Airy, well-lighted spacious class room in new addition is shown in this interior view of children studying in small groups at movable tables.
F
Left: This scene shows workmen setting up panels in exterior wall. These panels are one of the differentiating features of this all-steel school addition. The building was planned so that it could be dismantled and crected at an- other location for other uses when no longer required for school purposes.
QUINCY SCHOOLS TRAIN STUDENTS TO TAKE THEIR PLACES IN LIFE
There are places waiting in Quincy business offices for these eager North Quincy High School students.
1
*
The magnificent field of nursing can use these Quincy High School students, members of the Future Nurses Club, getting first aid instruction, lower left, from Mrs. Nettiedean Alexander, health instructor.
-
These Quincy Trade School auto mechanics students taking down this engine won't have trouble finding jobs . ..
E
The world of art and photography may provide professional opportunities for these North Quincy High School students shown below absorbed in their respective techniques . . .
QUINCY IS NATIONALLY FAMOUS FOR ITS FINE OFF-STREET PARKING PROGRAM
-
Brightly lighted parking facilities are shown in picture above taken from the Granite Trust Tower for Quincy Elec- tric Co. during a busy pre-Christmas shopping evening. Hancock street bi- seets the retail area: with Parkingway at the right and John Hancock parking area at left.
Early morning scene in picture at left shows John Hancock parking area under construction in foreground; Han- cock street, left center to upper right; Parkingway and New Haven tracks in the background. Both pictures clearly reveal close proximity of parking areas to big retail stores.
Left: Typical busy week-day scene in Parkingway, looking north with rear of Hancock Street stores at right. Parkingway has metered stalls for 565 cars. First section of John Hancock parking area, com- pleted late in 1953. provides for 348. Second Hancock section. to be constructed in 1954, will add 250 more stalls.
Increase of $6,488,000 in Quincy retail sales in 1953 was credited largely to expansion of off-street parking facilities.
QUINCY-BUILT SHIPS AND YACHTS ARE FAMOUS ALL OVER THE WORLD
7
....
-
MARINE DOW-CHEM
S. S. Marine Dow-Chem plows through water on trial trip off Cape Cod
98
Baruna, with her huge spinnaker, drawing beauti- fully. pulls ahead in Bermuda Race.
The 551-foot Marine Dow-Chem, built at Fore River, and the 72-foot yawl Baruna, built at Quincy Adams Yacht Yard, are illustrative of the fine commercial and pleasure craft that have spread the fame of Quiney ship and yacht builders over the seven seas.
The Marine Dow-Chem, launched late in 1953, was a significant achievement in maritime history, as she was the first carrier designed from keel up for sea transport of liquid chemi- eals. She earries 3,500,000 gallons.
+- The auxiliary yawl Baruna, through her many vietories in the Bermuda and Annapolis raecs, proved herself one of the greatest ocean racing yachts of all time. Germantown yard that produced Baruna formerly flourished under the famous yacht-building names of Hanley and Lawley.
Yacht building, repair and storage has been a leading industry in Quiney for many generations.
QUINCY'S GREATEST ASSETS Boys and Girls with Keen Minds in Strong Bodies
MOCK WEDDING
The City of Quincy, realiz- ing that the boys and girls of today will be the eitizens of tomorrow, maintains a year- round recreation program under the direction of the Recreation Commission with the cooperation of the Park Department. Facilities in- elnde 10 baseball diamonds, 9 bathing beaches. 16 soft- ball diamonds. 24 tennis courts, 34 playgrounds and one big athletic field.
PUT THE SHOT
-
BATTER UP!
LONG JUMP
-
"ON YOUR MARKS ... "
Total recreation attendance ran accumulated activity figures up to 275,773 for the year. Some 84 part-time recreation leaders supervised the program.
Recreation leaders know that healthful sports and pas- times are the foes of juvenile delinqueney. No police officer ever brought a boy into court for stealing third base. Recreation expense for 1953 was $51.329, which is a little more than 18 eents per individual.
"Keep your eye on the ball," says Charles Malloy, famous golf pro.
Section Two MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS
THE CITY CLERK
Vital Statistics
BIRTHS DEATHS
2452
957
MARRIAGES
941
Hunting and Fishing Licenses
FISHING
1134
HUNTING
631
SPORTING
435
MINOR FISHING
117
FEMALE FISHING
104
DUPLICATES
6
MISCELLANEOUS
13
2440
Dog Licenses
MALES
1785
FEMALES
158
FEMALES SPAYED
1150
KENNELS
12
TRANSFERS
7
3112
THE LAW DEPARTMENT
Litigation involving the City of Quincy and its officers together with advisory services to various municipal officials kept the Law Department busy in 1953.
During the year there were 63 claims for property damage and personal injuries arising out of aceidents involving vehicles owned by the city; 15 were settled without suit and four resulted in suit.
There were 56 claims arising out of alleged street defeets: 10 were settled without suit and 13 re- sulted in suit.
There were 20 land damage cases: three were tried before jury and three settled during trial.
During the year 124 council orders and resolutions were drafted by the Law Department. The de- partment assisted in five civil service hearings. Of 29 pension applications coming to the department, 24 were granted and five denied.
OFFICE OF THE TREASURER
Receipts and Payments 1953
Cash on Hand, January 1. 1953 Receipts 1953
21.645,474.58
Payments 1953
21.161,471.81 2.962.890.25
Cash on Hand. December 31. 1953
$ 2.478.887.48
* Complete Report in Financial Section
Annual Report
33
BOARD OF ASSESSORS *
Valuations 1953
Valuation of Buildings
$106.682.125.00 38.755.625.00
Valuation of Land
Total Value of Land and Buildings
145.437.750.00
Value of Personal Property
9,526.700.00
Total Valuation of City, January 1. 1953
$154,964.450.00
School Rate $16.38
General Rate $34.42
1953 Tax Rate $50.80
1952 Tax Rate $53.80
Net Valuation Motor Vehicles December 31, 1953 $ 11.153.910.00
Total Valuation of City, including Motor Vehicles. for 1953
$166.154,060.00
Amount to be Raised by Taxation $ 7.872.194.06
Amount to be Raised on Poll Taxes 53.486.00
* Complete Report in Financial Section
* TAX COLLECTIONS 1953
Personal Property Tax of 1953
Committed by Assessors
$ 485.734.36
Collected in 1953 160.441.12
Uncollected January 1, 1954
24,742.03
Real Estate Tax of 1953
Committed by Assessors $7.388.273.26
Collected in 1953 7,011,106.09
Uncollected January 1, 1954
281,407.10
Motor Excise Tax of 1953
Committed by Assessors
$ 562,380.17
Collected in 1953 510,813.56
Uncollected January 1, 1954
40,092.29
Poll Tax of 1953
Committed by Assessors $ 54.376.00
Collected in 1953 41.702.00
Uncollected January 1. 1954
3.528.00
Real Estate Taxes for Years Prior to 1953 uncollected
as of January 1. 1954
* Complete Report in Financial Section $ 1,054.97
During the year the tax collector took in a grand total of $8.631,540.19. This total in- cluded in addition to the major current 1953 taxes tablized above. back taxes. and various types of betterments and liens and interest charges.
City of Quincy
3.4
PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
Reduction of the city's annual expenditures through efficient buying practices and techniques is the primary function of the Purchasing Department. The efficieney with which the department operates has a direct bearing on the tax rate.
Of Quiney's total expenditures of $21,161,471.81 in 1953, slightly more than $4,075,000 was spent through the purchasing department, or more than one dollar out of every five. The dollar value of the 14,705 purchase orders issued amounted to $2,865,703.57; and the dollar value of the 224 contracts awarded eame to $1,210,232.25.
Total department expense for the year was $23,876.34. Percentage of expense based on purchases was .8331% as compared with a national average of approximately 2%.
Beginning April, 1953 the purchasing department put into effect supply contraets for commodities for the balance of the year with an option for extending the contracts through the first four months in 1954. The options were exercised to the financial advantage of the city. These supply contracts cov- ered sneh commodities as gasoline, lubricating oil, fuel oil, coal, tires, tubes, road oils, bituminous prod- nets, crushed stone, sprays and sewer and hospital supplies - amounting to a large percentage of all commodities purchased by the city.
The year brought the first contraet for tires and tubes at a great saving, with the cost based on Key Dealer prices with a series of discounts therefrom. A working schedule was also set up during the year, and this predetermined schedule of activities produced most satisfactory results.
BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS
Types of Licenses
Fees Coll.
Common Victualer
$ 1,010.00
Lord's Day
685.00
Gas, Garages, Repair Shops, Denatured Alcohol, Inflammables
4,572.00
Motor; Parking Spaces
2,535.00
Amusement, Public Hall
515.00
Junk Shops, Second Hand Stores
500.00
Bowling, Pool, Billiards
1,425.00
Liquor
71,275.00
Pinball
2,711.50
Auctioneers
14.00
Firearms, Ammunition
39.00
Employment Offices
22.00
Junk Wagons
210.00
Pawn Shops
100.00
Cabarets
325.00
Hackney
96.00
Old Gold
75.00
$86,109.50
QUINCY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Numerous changes were made in the Quincy Health Department in 1953 in an effort to utilize to an even greater extent the physical facilities provided by the two-year-old half-a-million dollar Health Center dedicated to the prevention of disease and the promotion of health. Existing programs were expanded and new activities initiated.
Detailed surveys of the department's programs in tuberculosis control. public health nursing and sanitation were completed, resulting in recommendations which were put into effect.
A well qualified nursing supervisor added to the staff during the year reviewed basie program activi- ties and assisted the nursing staff in modifying the program to conform with the highest standards of public health nursing. Through the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, an educational coordinator was assigned to the department with the objective of developing a training field for publie health nursing students.
Annual Report
35
With a view of improving the quality of services rendered, emphasis during the year was placed on an in-service training program for the staff.
Main objectives sought by Dr. Brooks Ryder, the commissioner, in 1954 include: (a) revision of rules and regulations of the department: (b) initiation of a school health program in parochial schools; (c) an educational program to familiarize citizens with benefits of fluoridation of the water supply; (d) inauguration with the School Department and other agencies of a survey to review the health pro- gram in public schools; and (e) to review and improve the procedures and policies of the environ- mental sanitation program.
HEALTH EDUCATION DIVISION
The health educator devoted most of her time to coordinating the activities of 20 health agencies working in the Quincy area through a committee of the Quincy Community Council known as the Quincy Health Information Committee.
Over and above its routine activities of furthering health education through the press, radio and bulletins, this committee sponsored three major programs in 1953.
In January a Health Interest's survey was conducted to determine the health interests of the citi- zens and, to a lesser extent, their knowledge of the community's health resources. Results indicated that health interests lay generally in the field of chronic discases, and that there was little knowledge of the Quincy Health Center's activities.
In an effort to satisfy the interest and to increase the knowledge of health resources, the Committee conducted a Health Fair at the Center on May 5, 6 and 7. Some 9,000 persons visited the Fair; 35 ex- hibits were set up; five screening tests were offered in addition to blood typing; a lecture was held each evening and each afternoon, and films were shown.
Ascertaining from the Health Interest's Survey that there was little interest in public health pro- grams in certain sections of the city, the Committee in the Fall inaugurated the first Miniature Health Fair in North Quincy. Others are planned for 1954.
NURSING DIVISION
Quincy public health nurses in 1953 assisted in carrying out the basic functions of disease preven- tion and control by home and school visits and clinics.
Accomplishments during the year included: increase in child health conferences, increase in refer- rals to allied agencies and professions, increase in volunteers or lay participation in child health con- ferences, increased tuberculosis control, appointment of a qualified supervising public health nurse.
During the year nurses made 1859 home visits.
The school health service, which is limited to the parochial schools, included 242 visits, 45 nurse- teacher conferences, 553 nurse-pupil conferences. 722 special tests, including vision and hearing; and 2557 inspections to rule ont communicable disease and physical defects.
Health supervision through home visits included 129 infants, 480 pre-school, 168 school and 20 adult cases.
Clinic sessions included 385 well child conferences and 102 tuberculosis conferences.
Child health clinies held during the year numbered 482.
Indicative of the varied activities of the Health Department in the field of preventive medicine are the following figures:
Milk and Dairy Farm Inspector
Milk Samples Analyzed 2219
Ice Cream Samples Analyzed 544
Processing Plant Inspections 720
Dairy and Dairy Barn Inspections
469
Store and Restaurant Inspections
371
Food Inspector
Restaurant and Cafe Inspections
1170
Meat and Provision Store Inspections
179
36 - - City of Quincy
Drug Store Inspections Food Vehiele Inspections
117
237
Bacteria Tests of Eating and Drinking Utensils
1837
Food Handlers X-rayed
293
Laboratory
Milk Tests. Total
3536
Ice Cream Tests, Total
1041
Water Tests, Total
180
Swab Tests
1821
Solids Calenlated
734
Solids Weighed
21
Blood Sugars
19
Food Handlers Tested for Syphilis
20
Nutrition Service
Clinies, Pre-Natal
16
Pre-School Well Child Conferences
41
Classes, Weight Control, Sehools, Student Nurses
131
Lectures, Radio Talks
51
Pre-School Dental Clinic
Number of Clinies
181
Number of Appointments
1481
Temporary Teeth Filled
1193
Temporary Teeth Extracted
59
Number of Oral Prophylaxis
231
Cases X-rayed
16
Other Treatments
123
Individual Children Treated
325
Cases Dismissed as Completed
301
School Dental Clinics
Number of Clinie Days
176
Number of Appointments Kept
4599
Number of Children Treated
723
Permanent Teeth Filled
2233
Temporary Teeth Filled
1492
Permanent Teeth Extracted
48
Temporary Teeth Extracted
807
Number of Oral Prophylaxis
646
Number of Cases X-rayed
127
Other Treatments
212
Number of Cases Completed
501
X-ray Department
Number of X-rays Taken in 1953
2300
Number X-rays at Health Fair
1500
3800
Clinies Held
239
Results of 70 min Screening Films Showing Positive or Suspicious Findings
19
Pulmonary Tuberenlosis. Active or Otherwise Heart Abnormalities
65
Other Pulmonary Abnormalities
22
......
7371
Annual Report
37
Child Guidance Clinic
1953
1952
Number of Sessions
368
350
Visits to Clinic
3768
3216
Average Visits Per Day
20.4
22
Average Monthly Case Load
177
147
Total Interviews
4515
6582
Vital Statistics
1952
1953
Population. Estimated
** 86.244
*83,835
Crude Birth Rate
28.2
29.24
Crude Deatlı Rate
9.8
11.41
Number of Births
2438
2452
Number of Deaths
851
957
* Federal Census 1950
**
Estimated
00000-000000
SOUTH SHORE MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECT
Quiney in 1953 joined the towns of Weymouth, Braintree, Hingham, Cohasset and Hull in the in- auguration of the South Shore Mosquito Control Projeet under the direction of a joint commission. Quiney appropriated $15,000 for the projeet.
The program was designed to wipe out a majority of mosquitoes while still in the larval, or "wig- gler", stage. This type of control had been found more effective and economieal than programs aimed at adult mosquitoes. The projeet ineludes drainage to reduce breeding areas; chemieal treatment of water whiel ean not be drained; and provisions for adult control in areas in which neither of these methods are praetieal.
Actual operations started early in April after Lewis F. Wells, Jr., an entomologist with training and experience in mosquito control, had been selected as superintendent. Surveys and tests produced data for mapping eritieal areas.
The first aerial spray was applied from April 25 to May 8, with 100 aeres in Quiney treated. A see- ond aerial spray, aimed at adults eseaping the first one, was applied June 19 to 25, with 235 aeres in Quincy treated. To support the second aerial spray. certain areas were treated by mist blowing on a contraet basis: with 20.5 hours of work expended in Quiney. The Quiney forestry department supple- mented the work by treating additional areas.
Ground treatment was begun on May 18 with paek sprayers and trueks borrowed, and later with the commission's own equipment. Ground erews during the summer treated areas found to be breeding. Salt and brackish water breeding grounds were treated after each extreme high tide.
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.