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 1955 > Part 3
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The Health and Safety Committee, consisting of department heads and representatives of employee organizations, which was formed in 1954 continued its activities in 1955. Gerard Mullin, statistician in the Health Department. continued work on the safety program begun the preceding year.
Upon the recommendation of the Health and Safety Committee, a safety training course, consisting of six hours of instruction in accident prevention, was given to supervisory personnel in the Public Works Department by safety experts from private industry. This course was a successful introduction to plans for more advanced procedures in 1956.
Mr. Mullin's data, begun in June 1954, showed 34 accidents per 100 employees per year during the last seven months of that year. The data showed 32 accidents per 100 employee- for the full year of 1955.
In 1955 there were 558 accidents recorded. of which 474 were minor and 84 were disabling.
The 1955 total accidents showed Public Works, Hospital, Fire and Police Departments having. in that order. the higest frequency rates.
Annual Report
35
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
The Department of Public Works in 1955, in addition to carrying on routine activities in its vari- ons sub-divisions. exercised general supervision over a wide-ranged capital ontlay program. Publie improvements involving general contracts totalling more than two and a third million dollars are included.
Some projects were initiated during the year. some were completed and some were carry-overs from the preceding year.
The projects and their general contract costs were:
Broad Meadows Junior High School
229.618
Great Hill School
378,665
Furnace Brook School
269.547
Snug Harbor School Second Addition
100,473
Hancock Parking Area Addition
Hitchcock Quarry Municipal Dump
11,058
Adams Academy Parking Lot
7,374
Municipal Comfort Station
23,825
Covering Abandoned City Dnmps
20,000
The general contraet for the Broad Meadows Junior High School. which will accommodate close to 800 pupils, was let on December 20 to James S. Kelliher, Quincy contractor. Schedule ealls for eom- pletion in summer of 1957. Architects are Childs and Smith, and Harry J. Korslund.
The Furnace Brook elementary school, for which the contract was let late in 1954, was oeeupied in November. L. C. Blake Construction Company was the general contractor, and Anderson-Niehols Com- pany. the architect.
The general contract for the second addition to the Snug Harbor sehool was let February 4 to L. C. Blake Construction Company with Anderson-Nichols Company as the architect. It is expected to be ready for ocenpancy early in 1956.
Endecon Construction Company was awarded the contract for the Great Hill elementary school March 11: Perley Gilbert Associates, architects. Completion is due early in 1956.
Contract for Quincy's first municipal comfort station, to be built in the Haneoek Parking area, was let in October to John F. Griffin and Company: Edward J. Shields Associates, architects. It will be completed early in 1956.
Late in September the second half of the John Hancock Parking area was completed, adding 240 metered off-street parking stalls. Late in the year, through lease arrangements. the City converted the rear yard of the Adams Academy into a parking lot, adding 60 more stalls. These two projeets give Quincy 1272 off-street metered parking stalls, in addition to the 507 metered curb stalls.
The Veterans' Memorial in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery was completed in May in time for the Memo- rial Day exercises.
The year saw the activation of the Elm and Mechanic streets widening projeet that will make the Hancock Parking area more accessible to shoppers and will also case the traffie congestion at Hancock and Elm streets. The project is scheduled for completion in the early summer of 1956.
On August 18 and 19 a rainfall of approximately one foot inundated Quincy in a thirty-six hour period. cansing brooks to overflow and over-taxing the drainage system. Many areas were flooded. eans- ing extensive damages to home owners and necessitating pumping in ahnost 700 eellars and many yards and open areas. All divisions of the public works department were pressed into service during the emer- gency. The Quincy Fire Department assisted in the pumping. and Gloucester and Stoughton loaned pumps.
DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
The Division of Engineering of the Public Works Department served various other branches of the municipal government during the year of 1955.
- City of Quincy
36
$1,334,491
At the request of the City Council and the Planning Board taking plans and orders were prepared for 21 proposed strect acceptanees, all of which required field surveys and office plan work and calculation.
Estimates were prepared following field survey work for 69 sidewalk resurfacings, 43 street resurfac- ings, 22 sanitary sewer extensions, 21 storm drain extensions, eight street reconstructions, 12 curbing in- stallations, three widenings, one parking meter area and seven miscellaneous projeets.
Reports were made. following the necessary investigations and surveys. upon many other matters. ineluding 66 drainage complaints, 22 sanitary sewer extension requests. 18 offers for city-owned land and the like.
Street betterment orders for 28 streets, totalling $149,897.59, were prepared for the Council.
Miscellaneous activities of the engineering division included : 294 building grades: 27 plans for ease- ments and sewer takings: plans for nine new sewers, 21 extensions and 150 particular sewers: plans for two parking areas; 2271 alterations to assessors' traeings.
Plans and specifications were prepared for 33 strect resurfacings. 14 street construction projects: the Mechanic and Elm Street widening: Adams Academy parking area: Faxon Field resurfacing; 2650 feet of sidewalk construction on Sea Street; grading Becchwood Knoll School property: fabrication and in- stallation of the city dump trash chute: and 2100 feet of quarry fencing.
Field engineering services were supplied for the construction of 35 sanitary sewers, 34 storin drains, 26 strect construction and resurfacing projects. 10 eurbing projects, nine widenings and eight sidewalks.
WATER DIVISION
Summary of Statistics - 1955
POPULATION :
Estimated on December 31, 1955 85,000
CONSUMPTION :
Average daily consumption of water in gallons
7,297,600
Gallons per capita 86
MAIN PIPE:
Main pipe laid in feet (new extensions)
10,649
Total miles of mains now in use
221.18
Leaks repaired in mains
57
SERVICE PIPE:
New service pipe laid in 1955 (in fect) (Ave. 45')
9.720
Length of service pipe now in use (in feet ) 891.883
Average length of service (in fcet ) SWS to house
46.7
Number of taps made during year
216
Total number of services now in use
19,307
Services cleaned out because of poor pressure
39
Services renewed
248
Service leaks repaired
310
Number of sprinkler connections for fire purposes
114
Services thawed out
31
Services discontinued during the year
78
METERS :
Total number of meters now in use
19,207
Meters installed in 1955 ( new services )
127
Percent of services inctered
99.48
FIRE HYDRANTS :
Hydrants in nse Dceciber 31, 1955
2,083
Hydrants broken by automobiles
27
Hydrants moved
12
New hydrants installed
12
Hydrants discontinued
5
Hydrants replaced
12
Annual Report
37
GATE VALVES:
Total number of valves in use December 31. 1955 3,794
Mains Laid in 1955
64 feet
6"
2.332 feet
8"
3.931 feet
10"
32 feet
12'
4,000 feet
20"
290 feet
10.649 feet
Average Daily Consumption of Water in Gallons for 1955
January
6.946.000
July
8,383,400
February
6.817,300
August
8,118,400
March
6.944.800
September
7.337,600
April
6,912.900
October
7,061.300
May
7,438.200
November
6.887,100
June
7,823,200
Deeember
6,847.500
Average Daily 1955
7.297,600
Emergency Connections with Other Water Systems
With City of Boston
2
With Town of Milton
5
With Town of Braintree
Storage Reservoirs in Distribution System
Name
Year Built 1900
Elevation of Water 251
Capacity in Gallons
Forbes Hill Standpipe
330,000 Met. Dist. Commission
Cranch Hill Standpipe
1936
233.5
2,000,000
Penus Ilill Standpipe
1926
233.5
1,000,000
Penns Hill Tank
1934
256
200,000
Houghs Neck Tank
1914
205
400,000
Squantum Tank
1926
211
300,000
Break Neck Hill Standpipe
1934
269
197,000
Water Pipe in Use December 31, 1955
WHEN LAID
4"
6"
8"
10"
12"
16"
20"
Totals
In use (in feet )
Dee. 31, 1954
15,606
64,462
511,877
299,949
111,065
106,400
37.474
16,226
1,163.059
Laid in 1955
64
2,332
3,931
32
4,000
290
10,649
15,606
61,526
514,209
303.880
111,097
110,400
37,474
16,516
1,173,708
Abandoned in 1955
400
1,752
3.705
5,857
In use
Dec. 31, 1955
15.206
62.774
514.209
300.175
111,097
110.400
37,474
16,516
1,167,851
- City of Quincy
38
DIVISION OF SEWERS
The Division of Sewers constructed 6181.30 feet, or 1.17 miles, of main sewer line in 1955. and at the end of the year had in operation 185.858 miles. All of the main sewer lines laid during the year were of 8" pipe. except 208 fect which were of 10" pipe. Thirty-six manholes were construeted.
A total of 8209.9 feet. or 1.55 miles. of surface drains were constructed, with 30 manholes and 75 catch basins. The number of feet of various sizes of pipe included in the construction follows: 2843.5 feet of 10"; 2315.6 feet of 12"; 864.4 feet of 15": 384.2 fect of 18": 444.5 feet of 24"; 638.4 feet of 30"; 637.5 feet of 36"; and 81.8 feet of 72".
A total of 13,364.4 feet of particular sewers were constructed. There were 293 connections with the common sewer and eight drains connected during the year. The 301 connections included 255 single family dwellings, seven two family dwellings, one three family dwelling, three four family dwellings, six churches, five office buildings, six factories. seven stores and markets. three schools, and five miscellaneous.
During the year there were 448 stoppages in the sewer system.
Of the 187 miles of sewers now in operation, about 60 miles are over 50 years old and require con- siderable attention. Main sewers were repaired in eight locations, and flushing and cleaning operations were carried on at almost 50 locations.
HIGHWAY DIVISION
The work program of the Highway Division in 1955 ineluded: construction of accepted streets. 7055 feet ; streets rebuilt, 685 feet: streets resurfaced, 37,432 feet; bituminous concrete sidewalks, 15,612 feet: sidewalks rebuilt, 1150 feet; granolithic sidewalks constructed, 852 feet; concrete curb installed. 1868 feet; granite curbing installed, 12,198 feet.
Widenings included: Elm Street. Mechanie to Hancock: Mechanic Street : Newport Avenue at Brook Street, and Rice Road at Morrissey Boulevard. only the last being completed at the end of the year.
The last half of the Hancock Parking area was completed, and parking areas in rear of the Adams Academy and in rear of the Health Center. A tennis court was constructed at Faxon Field.
City employees completed the construction of Princess Eve Drive, Lois Terrace, Squanto Road and Carrigg Road, and the reconstruction of Thayer Street and Eaton Street and a portion of Chapman Street.
West Squantum Street from Hancock Street to the Milton line was resurfaced by the Old Colony Construction company with Chapter 90 funds.
The contract for the construction of Hilma Street. Arthur Avenue. Clement Terrace. Everett Street, Glynn Terrace, London Avenue. Hynes Avenue and Stanley Circle, awarded in 1954, was completed by C. P. Gardiner and Sons. The Quincy Contracting Corporation completed the contract for the construc- tion of Piper Street, Audrey Street, Morgan Road. Hawthorn Street, Hodges Court, Longwood Road and Barham Avenue. The Walter Reed Corporation completed the construction of Charles Street, Hillsboro Street and Shelden Street. C. P. Gardiner and Sons started work on the construction of Broady Avenue and Glenview Road.
Under contracts awarded to the Old Colony Construction Company the following streets were resur- faced. either in part or in the entirety: Albion Road. Alton Road. Beale Street. Beechwood Street, Ben- nington Street. Brooks Avenue. Carlson Street, Charlesmount Avenue. Cheriton Road, Conant Road, Dale Avenue. Elm Street. Faxon Road, Gilbert Street. Macy Street, North Central Avenue. Oxenbridge Road. Prospect Street, Richie Road, Rodman Street, Sherman Street, Station Street. Summit Avenue. Sunnyside Road. White Street, Willow Street, Young Street, Clive Street, Farnum Street, Glendale Road. Pine Street and Royal Street.
SANITARY DEPARTMENT
Garbage and rubbish collections were made as usual. Funds were placed in the 1956 budget to in- crease garbage collections to twiee a week during the summer and to take care of routes affected by holiday collections of rubbish.
A new dumping ground was made available at the Hitchcock Quarry where a rubbish chute was in- stalled. Plans called for a dragline installation next year to facilitate the distribution of the rubbish in the quarry.
Annual Report
39
A contract was let to Marinucci Brothers to furnish the city with about 50,000 cubic yards of peaty sub-soil to cover quarries previously used as dumping areas: and fencing was installed along Quarry Street to improve appearances in the dumping areas.
Two new 81% enbie yard garbage trucks. Elgin bodies and Dodge Chassis: and two 20-cubic yard rub- bish trueks with Leach bodies and Diamond-T chassis replaced older vehicles during the year at a cost of about $28,000, net.
CEMETERY DIVISION
In 1955 the Cemetery Division opened in Mt. Wollaston cemetery 606 graves for burials and five for removals.
There were 355 graves sold, and foundations were laid for 265 monuments.
With the facilities in Mt. Wollaston sufficient for only three or four more years. the City is faced with the necessity of acquiring land for cemetery purposes soon if it elects to continue this publie serv- ice. About two acres of land is left in Mt. Wollaston. This will be seeded and plotted, and ready for use for lots and graves in the Spring of 1956.
During 1955 considerable work was done in Sailors' Snug Harbor in Germantown and the old sailors cemetery off Fenno Street, such as regrading, resetting monuments and repairing fences.
Total receipts for 1955 were $87,214.18. including $17,750 for the sale of lots and graves and $26,625 for interments.
DIVISION OF FORESTRY
The Division of Forestry cut down and disposed of 176 Elm trees stricken with the Dutch Elm dis- ease in 1955. Employees of the department also cut down 120 other trees damaged by storms, including 86 Maples. 12 Willows. six Oaks and five Poplars.
Plants raised in the greenhouse during the year included: 4500 Geraniums, 7000 Aureau Atheran- theria, 100 Centerliner, 6000 Sweet Alysum and 500 Marigold.
DEPARTMENT OF WIRE INSPECTION
The Department of Wire Inspection issued permits during 1955 for 243 new one-family dwellings, 2 two-family dwellings. one four-family dwelling. 6 manufacturing buildings, four schools, three garages and 20 miscellaneous structures.
Additional wiring in old buildings was authorized as follows: 1276 single-family houses, 137 two- family honses. 19 three-family houses, 16 multiple family dwellings, 17 mereantile buildings, 35 mann- facturing buildings, 15 schools, 45 garages and 318 miscellaneous structures.
Permanent wiring for appliances was authorized as follows: 146 hot water heaters, 858 oil burners, 8 electrie regulators, 398 electrie ranges. 48 gas burners, 98 dryers, 20 dishwashers, 48 disposals and 45 air conditioners.
A total of 2298 permits was issued; and fees collected eame to $5.597.75.
In August the city was inundated by a severe rain storm that caused extensive water damage to elec- trical installations. During a period of two days the city sustained water damage to 205 electrical services.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
The Scaler of Weights and Measures in 1955 made 8186 reweighings of commodities, finding 6400 correet. 1131 under weight and 655 over weight.
The Department sealed 1230 seales, adjusted 76 and condemned 36. A total of 2317 weights were scaled: 8 condemned.
A total of 782 automatic measuring devices were sealed. 26 adjusted and 12 condemned. During the year 16,558 inspections were made. Total fees collected were $2984.50.
City of Quincy
40)
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Population
Books Owned
Circulation
1945
82.084
130.105
196.078
1950
83,835
149,106
546.786
1955
84,495
170,506
649,362
Quiney residents continue to find new interests in their library as evidenced by the increased circu- lation of books, records, pictures and films which totaled 649,362.
Continuing the re-registration begun in 1954. which was necessitated by the change to electrie book charging machines, 7,925 borrowers were enrolled during 1955.
Highlights of 1955
The library took an active part in the historie festival held during the month of August. The Refer- ence Room was converted to an Art Gallery where many choice paintings were displayed. Local artists displayed their eraft in jewelry, silver and eeramies in the Lecture Hall. The Omnibus films on The Adams Family, shown during the week of the festival. were viewed by an appreciative audience.
The Junior High Debating Club met weekly and is a most successful and worthwhile project of the Boys and Girls Room where story hour and film programs are also held weekly.
During the summer a reading program with a nantieal theme evoked great interest and was met with enthusiastie response by many children who participated in the book review meetings held weekly throughout the summer. Prizes were awarded at the closing of the programs for the best book reviews.
The Senior Citizens continue to attend their Thursday afternoon meetings where they enjoy a social hour following the day's program.
The American Heritage Project for Young Adults made possible through the library's participa- tion in a grant from the Ford Foundation. again brought many fine young citizens together for animated discussion of timely topics.
Daily bedside book service to patients at the Quincy Hospital is one of the very rewarding aspeets of library service as are the weekly visits to all nursing homes where book service is desired. and books are delivered to many shut-ins throughont the city who have expressed a desire for reading material.
Many program planners have used the Film Department and have been most enthusiastic about this service. The library has a varied selection of films for the use of clubs and societies, and can provide information on sources of free and rental films.
The Musie Department continues to be used extensively, having loaned 18,984 records and the Pic- ture Collection provided a splendid selection of pictures and prints. circulating over 8.000 from its extensive collection.
The Board of Trustees obtained the services of two library consultants whose recommendations in- clude re-arrangement of the various departments at the main library. the construction of two new modern branch library buildings. the addition of bookmobile service. and the consolidation of some of the existing branch libraries.
Books in Library
Number of books. January 1955
163.446
Added in 1955
12,502
Withdrawn in 1955
5.442
Number of volumes December 1955
170.506
Pictures
22.261
Recordings
6,239
Annual Report
41
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
A total of 8197 persons songht advice or financial assistance in one form or another from the Department of Veterans' Affairs in 1955.
Direct financial relief was granted in 3718 cases. This assistance totalled $355,729.92. Veterans" benefits for 1954 were $304.619.24 and for 1953 they were $226.354.64. These comparative figures indi- cate the increasing requests for assistance from veterans and their dependents.
Much of the assistance given in 1955 went to recipients classified as "permanent case" types. usually to permanently disabled veterans or parents of veterans.
There were 711 elaims for compensation, pensions, widows' benefits, insurance claims and death and burial claims. Such claims are satisfied by federal funds without cost to the city.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs continued in 1955 its program of hospital placement of ill and disabled veterans in veterans hospitals in this area. Quincy veterans spent 20.280 patient-days in vet- erans' hospitals. Prompt placement of these cases in veterans' hospitals enables Quincy taxpayers and veterans to escape the hospitalization costs, estimated at $303.000: and also permits the limited bed eapaeity at the Quincy Hospital to be used for other patients.
QUINCY RETIREMENT BOARD
The Quincy Retirement System in 1955 lost two members by death and two by withdrawals, end- ing the year with a membership of 41. Of these, 19 were active members, 20 were retired and two were beneficiaries of deceased members.
As the year ended the statement of fund showed: eash on hand. $4,403.32: investments. $155.584.72. and acerned interest, $1,856.25.
The State-Quincy Retirement System ended 1955 with a total membership of 1443. Of the mem- bers. 1335 were active: 43 were inactive and 65 were retired.
The statement of fund showed: cash on hand. $22,500.77; investments, $1.630,159.16: and accrued interest. $11.694.14. The 1955 receipts included $32,130.00 appropriated by the City and $1,057.00 by the Quiney Housing Authority.
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Park Commissioners maintained in 1955 nine regulation baseball diamonds, 11 soft- ball diamonds. seven beaches, one pienie area. two stadia, one bowling green and more than a seore of tennis courts located throughout the city.
Permits issued during the year were 895, broken down as follows: baseball. 310: softball. 515: football, 35: soceer. six. specialties such as pienies and the like, 29. Rentals of the Fore River clubhouse numbered 99, including weddings, meetings, banquets, parties, showers and danees.
As a result of unusually cold weather in December, there were 29 days of good skating at Sailors" Home Pond. Manet Lake, Faxon Park. Welcome Young Field. North Stadium, Scotch Pond, Furnace Brook. Montelair and Perkins Fields.
During the year more than 2,000,000 square feet of marshland southeasterly of the East Squantum Street causeway and land at the rear of the Rock Island elubhouse on Allerton Street were taken for park and playground purposes. O'Neil Playground, off Hollis Avenue, was transferred to the School Department as a future school site.
Park Department property again sustained considerable vandalism during the year, most of the damage coming during the summer program when equipment was accessible. Tools valued at $150 were stolen in breaks at the Merrymount Park headquarters.
City of Quincy
42
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTION
Building activities in Quincy during 1955 missed by only a few thousand dollars reaching the all- time record valuation set in 1951. Total valuation in 1955 was $6,301,096 as against the 1951 record of $6,302,503; and far surpassed the 1954 valuation of $4,891,419.
The growth of Quincy as a residential city was illustrated by the issuance of permits for the construc- tion of 175 one-family dwellings, four two-family dwellings and four four-family dwellings for a total valuation of $1,780,000. During the year, 199 living units were provided by new construction and 44 additional units through alterations for a total of 243 units.
The Board of Appeals for the building code held 133 hearings, granted 129 appeals, denied four. The Board of Appeals for Zoning held 50 hearings, granted 41 appeals, denied eight and revoked one decision.
Ward Tabulation of Building Operations
Ward
Permits
Estimated Cost
1
430
$3,399,057
153
343,326
3
174
316,286
4
243
698,679
5
264
696,788
6
285
846,960
1549
$6,301,096
Permits Issued
Permits
Type
Estimated Cost
175
One family dwellings
$1,653,584
4
Two family dwellings
58,200
1
Four family dwellings
68,800
10
Mercantile
547,800
1
Manufacturing
15,000
6
Storage
12.100
132
Garages
97.243
912
Residential Alterations
673,924
176
Non-residential alterations
1.190,725
67
Removals
26,055
1
Elevator
2,250
44
Signs
34,720
17
Miscellaneous
1,890,695
Department collections
$12,734.50
RECREATION COMMISSION
The year 1955 was a significant one in the history of the Recreation Commission in that it had for the first time the services of a full-time professional city director of recreation. Up to late summer, when William F. Ryan was appointed to the post, direction of the recreation program had been handled on a part-time basis by a member of the school department.
A winter program for boys and girls from eight to 12 years of age was operated for 15 weeks from January to the end of April. Nine schools and the Fore River clubhouse were used for these activities, with 25 part-time leaders as supervisors.
A summer program was conducted for eight weeks in July and August, with 23 play areas in use daily from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., Mondays through Fridays. Supervising these activities were 55 leaders, assistant leaders, specialists and supervisors.
Annual Report
43
Nine beaches were used in the water safety program that included swinning instruction, life saving and water ballet. Most of the ten instructors active in this program were graduates of the National Red Cross Aquatic School. Basic skills and the safety involved in boating. sailing and casting were taught during the summer at the Black's Creek Boathouse.
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