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 1956 > Part 4
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
FAMILY
533
603
BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS
Type of License
Fees Collected
Common Victuallers
$1,055.00
Lord's Day
735.00
Gas, garages, repair shops, inflammables
4,368.00
Motor Parking Spaces
2,220.00
Amusements, public halls
240.00
Junk shops, second hand stores
395.00
Bowling, pool, billiards
1,600.00
Liquor
73,885.00
Pinball
3,095.00
City of Quincy
42
Auctioneers, employment officers
42.00
Firearms, ammunition
21.50
Junk Wagons Pawn Shops Cabaret Hackney Old Gold
376.00
50.00
310.00
102.00
25.00
Golf Range
25.00
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL DEFENSE
The Department of Civil Defense operated most of 1956 under the direction of an unpaid director. In April, James D. Asher, head of Radio Station WJDA, volunteered his services; and he was ap- pointed to the vacancy created when the then director, Thomas F. Macdonald, was named assistant city solicitor.
The Quincy Department of Civil Defense is one of the most efficient and best organized depart- ments of this kind in the state.
During the Fall of 1956 the United Commercial Travelers Civil Defense Unit was formed and it re-activated the rescue equipment facility.
The Ground Observer Corps contributed more than 4,200 hours of actual sky watch, and main- tained weekly training courses.
The Auxiliary Police served 9,125 hours, of which 2,000 hours were spent in training.
The Auxiliary Fire Department contributed 4,188 hours, rounding out a total of more than 45,000 man-hours since the organization was first activated.
In 1956, there were 308 test air raid warnings.
The Communications Division contributed 1,572 hours of operating equipment. There were 32 two-way radio sets in operation at the end of the year.
The Medical Division has developed an organization working chart recognized for its high merit.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES
The year 1956 brought sweeping changes and revisions in the rights and benefits of veterans and their dependents under the Veterans' Administration laws and Social Security legislation. Widows and children of men who died in the service, or from service connected injury, may now obtain greater Federal benefits under Public Law 881.
Through these increased federal benefits, the costs to the City have been materially reduced. During the year, 8,712 persons sought aid, advice or assistance of some type from the department. By util- izing federal, state and private benefit funds, the costs to the City were reduced in the following manner:
Total cost of care
$701,104.00 172,548.00
From Veterans Administration
From Social Security 136,116.00
From State Employment Security
90,726.00
From Retirement and Sick Benefit Fund
22,585.00
From State Department Veterans Services
139,064.00
Actual cost to City
$561,039.00
140,065.00
This ability to return to the City such considerable sums from the various sources entails continual review of state and federal laws.
During 1956 Quincy veterans spent many thousand hours in the four veterans' hospitals in this area. The cost of this care came to $347,000 plus. Had these cases been treated in the City hospital, the City would have had to bear one half of this amount.
The utilization of the facilities of these veterans' hospitals not only saves the City much money but it also makes available more bed facilities in the Quincy City Hospital for the use of non-veteran citizens.
Annual Report
43
QUINCY RETIREMENT BOARD 1956 QUINCY RETIREMENT SYSTEM For the Year Ending December 31, 1956 RECEIPTS
Cash on hand January 1, 1956
$4,403.32
Deposits by Members
2,123.35
6,526.67
Income from Investments
5,937.50
Bonds Called and Sold
15,709.37
$28,173.54
PAYMENTS
Retirement Allowances and Withdrawals
$13,145.83
Transfers
3,004.51
Bonds Purchased
5,075.21
21,225.55
Cash on hand December 31, 1956
6,947.99
$28,173.54
STATEMENT OF FUND
Cash on hand
$6,947.99 147,050.57
Accrued Interest Due
1,797.91
Membership December 31, 1955
41
Withdrawals
2
Deaths
3
Membership December 31, 1956
36
Active Members
16
Retired Members
18
Beneficiaries of Deceased Members
2
36
STATE-QUINCY RETIREMENT SYSTEM For the Year Ending December 31, 1956 RECEIPTS
Cash on hand January 1, 1956
$ 22,500.77
Deposits by Members
232,650.65
Appropriated by City
60,130.64
Appropriated by Quincy Housing Authority
999.00
Transfer of Pension Reserve
1,039.00
Income from Investments
$317,320.06 52,019.63
Bonds Called and Sold
.00
$369,339.69
- - City of Quincy
44
Investments
$155,796.47
PAYMENTS
Retirement Allowances and Withdrawals
Securities Purchased
Accrued Interest on Securities Purchased
$178,444.48 169,674.40 933.43
Cash on hand December 31, 1956
$349,052.31 20,287.38
$369,339.69
STATEMENT OF FUND
Cash on hand
$ 20,287.38
Investments
1,799,994.44
Accrued Interest Due
13,328.22
$1,833,610.04
MEMBERSHIP
Active
1,323
Inactive
50
Retired
80
Total
1,453
LAW DEPARTMENT
City Solicitor George W. Arbuckle retired on April 5, 1956, and Assistant City Solicitor Douglas A. Randall was appointed by the city manager to succeed him. Thomas F. Macdonald, director of civil defense, was named assistant.
Claims and actions against the City arising out of motor vehicle accidents and defects in public ways increased slightly over preceding years.
Litigation concerning the taxability of the Squantum Gardens Housing Project evoked substantial interest as considerable sums in future tax revenue were at stake. An adverse decision in Superior Court was appealed by the City to the Supreme Judicial Court.
The City secured an injunction against several contractors and land owners from the removal of fill in large quantities from the Willard Street area near the Braintree line.
The Law Department successfully completed negotiations with the Navy Department for the ac- quisition of government-owned land free of charge for the Myles Standish school site.
The action of the health commissioner in granting a permit for the construction of a motel on Hancock Street was successfully defended in the Supreme Court, thus resulting in the construction of the city's first motel units.
The Law Department successfully disposed of the land damage cases arising out of the widening of Mechanic Street.
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Circulation 1956
Books and Periodicals
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Fiction
216,218
164,286
380,504
Non-fiction
141,678
88,712
230,390
357,896
252,998
610,894
Pictures
9,429
Phonograph Records
18,984
Films
545
639,852
Annual Report
45
Books in Library
Number of volumes, January 1956
170,506
Added in 1956
11,884
Withdrawn in 1956
9,193
Number of volumes, December 31, 1956
173,202
Pictures
21,716
Recordings
6,488
Year
Population
Books Owned
Circulation
1945
82,084
130,105
496,078
1950
83,835
149,106
546,786
1955
84,495
170,506
649,362
1956
84,495
173,202
639,852
The slight drop in total circulation figures of the Thomas Crane Public Library in 1956 is attributed to the closing of the Lakin Square Branch late in 1955 and the Merrymount Branch in August 1956.
The request of the Board of Managers for a budgetary appropriation to purchase a bookmobile in 1957 was approved by the City Manager and the City Council. This bookmobile will replace the services lost by the closing of the two branches.
The Wollaston, Norfolk Downs and Parkway branch libraries showed unusually large gains in cir- culation while the Montclair, Baxter, Temple, Manet, and General Palmer branches showed varying losses. The bedside bookservice at the Quincy City Hospital has showed a steady decline over a period of years, the loss undoubtedly being attributed to the shorter stay of patients.
The Film Service providing free films for clubs, societies, schools, etc. has continued popular and many program chairmen have expressed their appreciation of this service.
Progress has been made during the year in putting into effect the recommended changes suggested in the survey of the library made in 1955.
During the Christmas vacation the Boys and Girls Room was closed for two weeks so that this de- partment could be transferred to the Richardson Building while all the adult services were trans- ferred to the new building. It is expected that renovations will be completed early in 1957, the first major improvements to be made in the Richardson Building since its erection in 1881.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES
Personal Tax of 1956
Committed by assessors
$595,713.72
Collected during 1956
559,264.59
Uncollected Jan. 1, 1957
34,475.08
Real Estate Tax of 1956
Committed by assessors
$9,343,125.26
Collected during 1956
8,836,979.82
Uncollected Jan. 1, 1957
372,821.37
* Complete Report in Financial Section.
TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT
Cash on hand January 1, 1956
$ 2,726,072.31
Cash receipts 1956 Cash payments 1956
23,796,121.91
Cash on hand December 31, 1956
2,828,585.69
* Complete figures in Financial Section.
23,898,635.29
- City of Quincy
46
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Assessed Valuation 1956
Valuation of Buildings
Valuation of Land
$114,434,325.00 39,742,650.00
Total Value of Land and Buildings
Value of Tangible Personal Property
$154,176,975.00 9,830,250.00
Total Valuation of the City as determined January 1, 1956
$ 164,007,225.00
1955
1956
School rate
$21.28
$20.64
General rate
39.32
39.96
Total tax rate
$60.60
$60.60
* Complete Report in Financial Section.
THE PLANNING BOARD
The Quincy Planning Board during 1956, composed of five citizens serving without pay and a professional director with a small staff, rendered service and advice on the development of the city. The board held 27 meetings, seven public hearings and conducted 19 field inspections during the year.
The specific actions of the Board considered outstanding due to the probable effect on the over-all development of Quincy are :-
LOT SIZES
A recommendation covering increases in lot areas, widths, setbacks, side-yards and rear-yards was forwarded to the City Council. This action was considered necessary to more properly control the growth of residential properties in, as yet, undeveloped areas in order to protect the health, safety, convenience and welfare of the residents of the City.
URBAN RENEWAL
An Urban Renewal and Rehabilitation Program was recommended to the City Council by the Plan- ning Board. The Board feels that the City has much to gain by accepting the offer of aid by the Federal Government to stop the growth of blight.
REVERE ROAD
The recommendation of the widening of Revere Road to 90 feet was forwarded to the City Council for action. This action was considered necessary to provide easier access to the John Hancock Parking Area, relieve the present traffic congestion and make possible a greater development of the Central Busi- ness District.
CANAL STREET
The widening of Canal Street to 60 feet was recommended by the Planning Board in order to pro- vide a proper connection between Washington Street and Southern Artery. This connection will lead into the center of that portion of the main business district lying east of Hancock Street.
FURNACE BROOK ROTARY ACCESS
The Board recommended the construction of a major connection between the Furnace Brook Rotary on the Southeast Expressway and improved Quarry Street. This is considered the obvious solution to two vexing problems:
a. What to do with commercial traffic which is to be permitted on the Expressway but is not permitted on Furnace Brook Parkway.
b. How to handle the traffic generated at the Rotary (20,000 vehicles per 24 hours) without increasing the congested conditions of existing streets.
Annual Report
47
MID-CROSS-TOWN ARTERY
The Planning Board has recommended the extension of the Mid-Cross-Town Artery from its pres- ently indicated terminus at Hancock Street and School Street. This proposed extension will be easterly via Elm Street, Union Street and Pond Street to Southern Artery. The construction of this extension will prove beneficial by providing easy access to the center of the City while at the same time permitting free and easy movement between the two major north-south arteries- The Expressway and Southern Artery.
GERMANTOWN CAUSEWAY
The Board recommended the construction of a causeway between Houghs Neck and Germantown. We feel the need for better fire protection in Germantown and a second access/egress for the eastern portion of Houghs Neck makes this project one of first importance.
FURNACE BROOK ACRES
The Planning Board has recommended legal action to compel the developer of this subdivision to fulfill his obligations. Said obligations including the completion of roads and installation of utilities. The Board feels this action is necessary in order to have effective subdivision control in this City.
Other important actions recommended by the Planning Board were:
1. Traffic solution for Faxon Avenue and Saville Avenue.
2. Taking of Butler's Pond for school-recreational purposes.
3. Land Takings for Atlantic Junior High School and Gridley Bryant School.
4. Land Taking (Craig Property) for park purposes to enhance the Adams' birthplaces.
5. A complete population census of the City every two years.
6. Hancock Court Widening.
7. Tentative or final approval of ten subdivisions ranging in size from two lots to fifty lots.
Additional 1956 activities included - 14 Street Acceptances; 7 Requests for Rezoning; 58 Offers for City-Owned Land; and Endorsement by the Director of 127 Division Plans not requiring the approval of the Planning Board under the Subdivision Control Law.
The Planning staff has completed an Existing Land Use Map, Traffic Flow Map and Street Status Map. In addition, the Director has attended all Council meetings since June, 1956, numerous conferences on Planning matters with State and City departments and local organizations and presented discourses on Planning before local organizations.
The Board has attempted to direct its actions to the improvement of living standards, community growth and development and towards controlling the tax rate by placing improvement costs, where possi- ble, on those who benefit most therefrom.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The total fire losses in Quincy during 1956 were $434,243.00 as against $393,673 in 1955 and $261,523 in 1954. Unfortunately, four civilian deaths resulted from fires in the city during 1956.
The total fire loss in 1956 included $154,746 to buildings; $252,222 to contents and other property; $10,555 to automobiles and $16,720 to government property.
Insurance paid on building losses came to $137,508, and insurance on contents and other property to $224,430.
During the year the total number of fires was 1,281, of which 367 were in buildings, 1,171 were grass and brush fires, 86 involved machinery and automobiles and 24 were mutual aid calls. Fires in buildings were as follows: residential, 242; non-residential 45; mercantile, 61; manufacturing, 16; storage, three.
There were 4,750 alarms, exclusive of 806 false alarms. There were only seven multiple alarms, of which six were seconds and one was a third alarm.
Special Service operations included six inhalator cases and six resuscitation cases.
City of Quincy
48
General statistics include the following: time out of quarters for all companies, 2,824 hours and 43 minutes; feet of 21/2 inch hose laid, 157,550; feet of 11/2 inch hose laid, 31, 650; pumping time, 726 hours and 19 minutes; feet of ladders raised, 5,356; aerials raised, 73; drills held, 1,246; company inspections, 8,083.
During the year there were 215 malicious false alarms; 55 needless or accidental alarms and 431 first aid emergency calls.
Activities of the Fire Prevention Bureau included: oil burner inspections, 1,476; inspections of nurs- ing and boarding homes, 16; inspections of storage of explosives, 48. Other types of inspections totalled 616. Company officers made 136 inspections of schools during the year.
Five new boxes were added to the fire alarm system.
Major line and cable installation work included: (overhead) multiple cable, 2,300 feet; supporting messenger, 2,000 feet; single conductors, six miles. Underground installations included 1,815 feet of mul- tiple cable; 600 feet of composition duct and 600 feet of iron duct. All of the installation and maintenance work was done by the Fire Alarm Maintenance Division.
In 1956 a new 1,000 GPM Triple Combination Pumper was placed in service, replacing former Engine 1. Following the delivery of this new piece of apparatus, Engine 1 was relocated at Engine 3, and Engine 3 at Engine 5. The latter was taken out of active service and used in a reserve capacity.
BOARD OF MANAGERS OF HISTORICAL PLACES
The importance of Quincy's historically rich history to the Quincy of today and tomorrow was fur- ther recognized and emphasized in 1956 when the City Council created the new salaried position of City Historian.
William C. Edwards, author of "Historic Quincy," scion of one of the city's oldest Colonial families and a public-spirited citizen who has given much of his life to the study of Quincy history, was appointed to the post by City Manager Donald H. Blatt on April 3.
The ordinances were revised to place under the direction of this historian the birthplaces of John and John Quincy Adams and other city-owned properties of historical interest. The Board of Managers of Historical Places retained the duty of establishing general policies in the maintenance and administra- tion of the city's historic shrines.
In 1956 the City also took two other steps of historical significance. The Hall Cemetery in West Quincy was purchased for a nominal sum through the cooperation of Hall Cemetery Association; and the John Winthrop, Junior, Iron Blast Furnace, located on the property and the first productive iron works in the country, was excavated. The City, furthermore, acquired the Craig property to enlarge and enhance the grounds and setting of the Adams' birthplaces.
Immediately following the acquisition of the Hall Cemetery by the City, Roland Wells Robbins, Con- cord archaeologist, was awarded a $6,800 contract to develop the blast furnace. The excavation, done under the general supervision of the city historian, started on June 22 and was completed on August 22.
Late in the year money was appropriated to protect the site from winter elements.
"The results of the excavation are most interesting and of great historical value and should increase greatly the number of visitors to the historical shrines of Quincy," Historian Edwards advised the city manager in his annual departmental report.
On the last day of the year the City Council appropriated $8,250 to take the old Craig property adjoining the Adams Houses. The property, once part of the original Adams farm, will give the birth- places a proper setting, and protect them from the possible encroachment of new construction that might prove detrimental to the shrines. Part of the 9,061 square feet of land thus acquired will provide parking for visitors and the balance will be converted into an old fashioned garden.
The Adams' birthplaces, open to the public from Patriots' Day, April 19, to November 1, were visited during that period by more than 5,000 persons from 45 states, Alaska, Hawaii and 18 foreign countries. From an educational point of view, these historic houses are becoming more important each year: in 1956 more than 920 children from various school and organizations got a graphic insight into one interesting phase of early American history by visiting these old houses.
Annual Report
49
A summary of activities of the city historian during the year included: ten inspection tours of the Birthplaces; 25 conducted tours of the city for special guests and students; 40 tours of the Presidents' crypt in First Parish Church; 20 tours of the John Winthrop furnace; and 15 lectures on Quincy history to various groups.
During the year the historian supervised repairs to the Adams places. He was named associated historian of the Boston National Historic Sites Commission; and he also acted as consultant for the Hingham Committee for the observance of the 275th anniversary of Old Ship Church.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
While economic conditions remained stable in Quincy during 1956 the number of requests for assist- ance from the Welfare Department continued at the same level as in 1955.
Because of increasing living costs, all recipients' budgets were adjusted in July, allowing a 5.8 percent upward revision.
As a result of increased work-loads on the two social work supervisors, a third supervisor was added to the staff in the Fall.
The total disbursements for the five divisions were $1,852,858.75 and the total receipts for the five divisions were $1,408,883.17. Income from liens on real estate totalled $32,827.83. Receipts from the Meal Tax totalled $27,025.22. Cost to the City amounted to 24.2%. This indicates that, for every dollar spent by the City, 75 8/10( was recovered.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
The category of Old Age Assistance was broadened to include aliens for the first time and, as we anticipated, the number of new applicants was negligible. The Federal Social Security Act was amended to allow women to qualify for benefits at age sixty-two, instead of age sixty-five. Very few of our re- cipients were able to take advantage of this change. The caseload in this category on January 1, 1956 was 1,207 and on December 31, 1956 it was 1,202. It is significant that in 1956, with Social Security and high economic conditions, the total caseload remained about the same.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
The caseload in this category on January 1, 1956 was 121 cases and on December 31, 1956 it was 137 cases. Although at this particular time this shows an increase of 13%, the caseload during the year remained constant. The expenditures in this division were $15,230.59 less than in 1955.
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
The caseload in this program on January 1, 1956 was 121 and on December 31, 1956 it was 121. In this program, although the caseload remains the same, costs are constantly increasing due to the rea- sons enumerated in the Old Age Assistance section of this report. Expenditures in this category were $13,473.80 more than in 1955.
GENERAL RELIEF
There were no particular changes in the General Relief program during 1956. Expenditures were approximately $2,000. more than in 1955. Should economic conditions change, it is possible that the costs in this division could sky-rocket. However, costs are kept down because of Social Security, Un- employment Insurance, and other benefits incident to business and industry. The juvenile problem is costly to the Department, but it is the policy of the Department to co-operate with the court and other juvenile agencies in the placing and rehabilitation of young boys and girls. We feel that this money is well spent, and the fruits of the spending will be indicated by the lives of these young people. The Department is presently boarding children in foster homes. We also have crippled children in the Massa- chusetts Hospital School which involves a considerable expense. During 1956, persons capable of working performed duties for the Department. This consisted of working on the truck, maintenance of our buildings, transportation of cases to hospitals, etc. In 1956 Federal Food Surpluses were distributed to needy fami- lies. These articles were provided from the surpluses of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
City of Quincy
-
50
CITY HOME
The City Home continues to be operated by the department as a haven for homeless men and other persons who are encountering difficulty in adjusting their lives to society. There were a total of forty-eight admissions to the Home in 1956. During the year, substantial alterations were made on the second floor to comply with the requirements of the Mass. Dept. of Public Safety and the Mass. Dept. of Public Health.
CONVALESCENT HOMES
At the present time, the Department of Public Welfare of the City of Quincy has 174 cases in Nursing Homes, Chronic Hospitals and homes for the Aged. Of these, 156 are receiving Old Age Assist- ance; 16, Disability Assistance and 2, General Relief. Although the majority of the cases are cared for in licensed homes in or near the city, about one-third are scattered through the Commonwealth since no restriction is made on the locality that a patient or his relatives may choose. The worker in charge of these cases personally visits all cases at least twice a year. In addition, she makes revisits whenever a patient has been to the hospital or has been acutely ill.
INTAKE DIVISION
The total applications taken on all categories in the year 1956 were 662. The number of notices sent to other cities and towns, the State Department and cases settled other than Quincy, including hos- pital cases, were 409 on General Relief and 188 on Old Age Assistance.
POLICE OFFICER
The value of the assignment of a full-time police officer to the Welfare Department has again been demonstrated during 1956. Detective Charles Griffin, working in close liaison with the local Court and Probation Office, has accomplished much in obtaining support for families who would otherwise have been dependent upon Public Assistance.
THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The enrollment in Quincy schools continued in 1956 the gradual increase it has experienced during the past few years.
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.