USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1948-1950 > Part 32
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REPORT OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT
ciative audience at the Junior High School in February and May 1949. Curtail- ment of funds forced a postponement of resumption of classes until after January 1, 1950.
Boxing. Boxing classes were held for boys under high school age at the Civic one afternoon a week under Mr. Robert O'Donnell, for approximately a two month period during early 1949. Inadequate facilities seriously handicapped the boxing program, but the boys participating gained in knowledge of boxing and at the same time improved their physical condition.
Elementary Basketball for Boys. The smaller boys of Norwood had the opportunity to play basketball afternoons and Saturday mornings through early April in Swimming Pool Hall. This activity was resumed in late November 1949. Many boys who do not otherwise have the opportunity to take part in indoor physical exercise have such an opportunity in this program. Facilities at Swim- ming Pool Hall are very limited for this activity, but maximum use is made of those available.
Senior Recreation Basketball League. The 1948-49 season of this league concluded during the first week of March 1949 with eight teams competing through- out the season. The 1949-1950 season began the first week of December 1949 and will continue through February 1950. Twelve teams are playing this year, and much interest has been shown by the over high school age men participating. Games are conducted on three nights of the week at the Senior High School.
Juvenile Dramatics. In the original program plans for 1949 was provision for addition of this activity for young girls on various afternoons of the week. Shortage of funds in the Department, and lack of a suitable leader for this activity has delayed its undertaking.
Friday Evening Dances. Dances have been conducted for young people on Friday evenings throughout the year, as often as the Junior High School Auditorium has been available. Attendance at the dances has been very good, with as many as 250 attending at one time.
Summer Program
General Comment. Attendance figures for all playgrounds show a general increase over the preceding year of over 6,000. Leaders reported many children attending who previously had not shown interest. All playgrounds showed an increase in attendance except Winslow which showed a slight decline. In general, morning attendance exceeded afternoon attendance, but many children went to the swimming areas in the afternoon, so were still under supervision. During the extremely warm weather, some decline in attendance was noted. A breakdown of the attendance figures according to sex shows that at the Endean playground where only a female leader is assigned, nearly three times as many boys as girls attended. At Wilson Street playground where also only a female leader is assigned, only forty less boys attended through the year than girls. A growing need exists for play facilities in the new area off Washington Street between Everett Street and Prospect Street. The same need exists in the new area on the southerly side of Route 1 off Dean Street.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Leadership Institute. With the cooperation of Community Recreation Service of Boston, a Red Feather agency, a training institute for all summer playground personnel was held one week prior to the opening of the playgrounds for the 1949 season. Personnel from surrounding towns were invited, but none responded.
In addition to this training institute, a thorough review course in First Aid was held for the summer playground personnel by Mr. Joseph McAuliffe of the Norwood Fire Department.
Miss Shumaker of the Norwood Memorial Library met with the female leaders for purposes of giving instruction in story telling, and to arrange for book bor- rowing by the individual playgrounds.
Band Concerts. A total of eight band concerts were held during the months of July and August 1949, four being given by the Norwood Post No. 70, American Legion Band, and four by the Norwood Musicians' Union. These concerts were played on the Municipal lawn and proved very popular again this year.
Baseball Trips. On Thursday, July 21, 1949, 286 boys and girls from the playgrounds journeyed to Braves Field in the company of their playground leaders to watch the Braves play the St. Louis Cardinals. On Friday, August 12, 1949, 154 boys and girls returned to Boston, this time to watch the Red Sox play the Wash- ington Senators. For days after each trip, the children could be observed attempting to copy the styles of the different players they saw in action at the big league parks.
Beach Trips. Each playground had at least one outing to Nantasket Beach accompanied by their leaders. These outings began early in the morning from the respective playgrounds, and after a long day of sun, fun, and swimming at the beach the children returned in early evening.
Playground Baseball. Beginning the first week of the playground season, and extending through the last week of the season, an eight team league was operated in both the midget and intermediate classes. Teams played in the league at least twice a week, and in addition the various playgrounds had the opportunity to meet out-of-town competition from such towns as Sharon, Canton, and West- wood. The Junior boys played non-league games during the daytime with other teams from Norwood, and also competed with out-of-town teams from the towns mentioned. There were not enough Junior teams to form a day time league. One hundred fifty games were played during the daytime by the various playground teams.
Playground Softball. A softball league was conducted for the girls on the playground both in the intermediate and midget classes. A total of 60 games were played in the leagues, and in addition the girls played teams from Westwood, Sharon, and Canton.
Playground Volleyball. A single playground volleyball league operated suc- cessfully during the playground season. The teams representing the playgrounds in this league were made up of girls from the midget and intermediate classes.
Mothers' Night. On Monday, August 22, 1949, a minstrel show was staged at the Civic by the playground girls for their mothers. Talent was recruited from each playground, and the final production by the girls was well received by the audience of over 200.
Fathers' Night. Again this year, the playground boys staged a track meet as the highlight of Fathers' Night. In addition, there were certain baseball events
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REPORT OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT
added to the competition. Father McAleer's playground took over possession of the trophy presented by Welch's Newsstand for the winning playground.
Leaders' Competition. The male leaders met the leading team in the Junior Twilight League at the Civic before a large audience of playground children near the end of the playground season. Shortly thereafter, the female leaders met an all-star softball team made up of representatives of the various playgrounds at Fr. McAleer's field. In both contests, the leaders emerged victorious, although they were hard pressed for their victories.
Tennis. The courts at the Civic were ready for use by May 15, 1949, and from then until late October they were well used. The excessive heat of the summer held down daytime attendance, but over the entire season, attendance was above that of the previous year, due in large part to the fact that the courts were ready for play earlier, and because of the fine weather that prevailed through- out the fall months. The annual tournaments were conducted this year, although entries were not as numerous as in previous years. Lack of prizes as an incentive may have accounted for the decline.
Senior Twilight Baseball League. Beginning with an All-Star game on Memorial Day and extending through mid-September, the Senior Twilight League for boys beyond high school age enjoyed one of its most successful seasons. The. exceptionally dry weather made it possible for three rounds to be played by the eight teams in the league. Including the playoffs, which were won by the Cobras, 100 games were played in this league.
Junior Twilight League. Seven teams, made up of boys between 14 and 18 years of age, competed in this baseball league. Beginning in mid-June, they were able to play two complete rounds, concluding with playoffs which were won by Fr. McAleer's. In all, 50 games were played in this league.
Senior Twilight Softball League. Following a tremendous show of interest, the Recreation Department undertook in June, the formation of a softball league for men, with games played on four nights of the week at Endean and Wilson Street fields. Eight teams played in this league, and a total of 100 games were played throughout the season. Representatives from Norwood participated in the Metropolitan Boston Tournament held this year in Everett, with teams in both Class "A" and Class "B". Both teams made a creditable showing in the tournament.
Summer Playground Leaders. The following is a list of the summer play- ground leaders and their assignments:
Supervisor of Girls' Activities-Anne Coughlin
Supervisor of Tennis-Martin B. Curran Callahan Leaders-Theresa McNulty, Anthony DeRoma
Shattuck Leaders-Joan Dwane, Thomas Curran Father McAleer's Leaders-Nancy Chandler, Charles Parker High School Leaders-Angela Kneizys, Charles Ennis
Elliot Park Leaders-Claire Burns, John Stapleton (2 weeks), Timothy McDonough (6 weeks) Civic Leaders-Irene Perniola, Robert Chandler
Winslow Leaders-Barbara Jefferson, Roy Meears Endean Leader-Barbara Dowd
Wilson Street Leader-Jean Nugent
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Swimming Program. For purposes of clarity, this subject is treated under two headings as follows:
1. Willett Pond-Because of the early onset of warm weather, life guards were assigned to Willett Pond on June 11, 1949, some three weeks before the scheduled opening of the season. Attendance ran to an all time high during the early weeks of the season. The season began with four life guards assigned to Willett Pond, but it later became necessary to transfer two to Hawes Brook Pool, and from that time on, the concessionnaire furnished the salary for one life guard. No serious accidents were encountered this year except for the usual number of cuts from broken glass. As the season progressed, and especially following the opening of Hawes Brook Pool on July 2, 1949, weekday attendance declined, but weekend attendance continued at an all time high. Observations of myself and the life guards place the figure at between 75 and 80 percent out-of-towners using the pond at all times.
2. Hawes Brook Pool-The new pool opened on July 2, 1949, with a swim- ming meet sponsored jointly by the Recreation Department, the Amateur Athletic Union, and the Boston Record-American, and attended by many hundreds of persons. Attendance which ran extremely high during the first four weeks of the season, took a remarkable drop during the last four weeks. This would seem to have been due in part to the early problem of keeping the pool clean in appear- ance, and largely due to the poliomyelitis epidemic which caused many persons to avoid swimming areas entirely. Many of the problems of sanitation and control of swimmers can be more easily met with the installation of a walk around the pool, and with the erection of adequate shower and toilet facilities. Because of the large numbers of persons using the pool, the Director of the Water Safety Division of the American Red Cross recommended that no classes in swimming instruction be undertaken this year. Night swimming was tried, but proved to be successful only during prolonged periods of extreme heat.
Lifeguards. The following is a list of the lifeguards and their assignments:
Head Lifeguard-Hawes Pool: Elizabeth Corcoran
Head Lifeguard-Willett Pond: Charles McDonough
Lifeguards: Hawes Pool-William V. Ahearn, Jr., William Slaney, Albert Hohmann Lifeguards: Willett Pond-Stephen Learnard, Carl A. Klinzman (part time)
In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Edward C. Monahan, General Manager, for his untiring efforts in behalf of the cause of Recreation in Norwood. His leaving Norwod represents the loss of one of the most Recreation minded municipal administrators in the country. I wish also to thank the members of the Recreation Advisory Committee who have helped immeasurably in making a success of the Norwood Recreation Department.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD E. READY, Superintendent of Recreation.
151
REPORT OF NORWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY
REPORT OF NORWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY
Board of Selectmen, Norwood, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
The following is the Report of the Norwood Housing Authority:
The term of membership of the Norwood Housing Authority as appointed by the Board of Selectmen expired on January 17, 1949. At the annual town election in 1949 the following were elected members of the Housing Authority: Daniel Collins, Frank B. Coughlin, Lawrence J. O'Brien and John Bamber. The fifth member, Arthur H. Gleichauf, is appointed by the State Housing Board for the term of three years.
The following are the elected officers of the Authority: Frank B. Coughlin, Chairman, Daniel Collins, Vice Chairman, Arthur H. Gleichauf, Treasurer, John Bamber, Asst. Treasurer, and Lawrence J. O'Brien, Temporary Secretary.
With the completion of plans and the approval of the State Housing Board, a contract for the construction of 75 dwelling units was awarded to the A. W. Smiley Construction Co. of Pawtucket, R. I., on November 25, 1949. The work Proceed Order by the Authority was dated December 9, 1949 and it is expected that in 240 days from this date the buildings will be completed. The project is located northeasterly of Roosevelt Avenue in the vicinity of the Callahan School.
The Authority expresses its thanks to the Board of Selectmen for their appre- ciated cooperation during the year.
The Authority gratefully acknowledges the service rendered by our consultant C. Roger Pearson and Harry J. Korslund our architect.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK B. COUGHLIN, DANIEL COLLINS, ARTHUR H. GLEICHAUF, JOHN E. BAMBER, LAWRENCE J. O'BRIEN, Norwood Housing Authority.
152
TOWN OF NORWOOD
REPORT OF VETERANS' HOUSING BOARD
To the Citizens of Norwood:
The Norwood Veterans' Housing Board is a permanent Board which was elected by the Town Meeting to operate a temporary housing project for veterans, using federal funds.
The project is located off Winter Street and has been in operation since August 1946. There are forty units in the development, and the veterans and their families find them to be comfortable temporary homes.
The Board is responsible to the federal government for the financial operation of the project, and the Board submits the following statement of cash receipts and disbursements for the year ending June 30, 1949.
NORWOOD VETERANS' HOUSING BOARD
Statement of Cash Receipts and Disbursements For the Year Ended June 30, 1949
Cash Receipts:
Rent income
$14,129.00
Security deposit, contra
10.00
Total cash reecived
$14,139.00
Cash Disbursements:
Repair, maintenance, and replacement:
Grounds
$ 159.35
Structures
584.85
Plumbing and gas
45.03
Electrical
5.00
Heat
500.00
Ranges
12.00
Total
$ 1,306.23
Management
1,153.84
Operating services
360.00
Dwelling utilities, water
480.00
Insurance
23.75
Rent of land
600.00
153
REPORT OF VETERANS' HOUSING BOARD
Furniture allowances, heaters
204.30
Taxes .... 2,300.53
Security deposit refund, contra
10.00
Rent refund
15.50
Payment to United States Government for year ended June 30, 1948
6,153.74 $12,607.89
Net increase in cash, July 1, 1948-June 30, 1949
$ 1,531.11
Cash balance, July 1, 1948
8,862.95
Cash balance, June 30, 1949
.... $10,394.06
Disposition of Cash Balance
Due to United States Government ........ $ 5,318.08
Reserve for repairs and maintenance
4,714.98
Security deposits ..... 400.00
Cash on hand, June 30, 1949
15.00
Rent receivable
( 54.00)
Cash balance, June 30, 1949
$10,394.06
During the year 1949, there were seven vacancies which were filled from .a list of applicants still desiring temporary housing.
Using town and federal funds, macadam parking spaces were provided for the tenants of the project, and the properties were painted. These were much needed improvements.
During the year, the Federal Housing Administration offered the temporary properties to the Town of Norwood for its operation. After consideration, and on recommendation of the Housing Board, the Selectmen voted to decline the offer and to continue under the present method of administration.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation to all Town officials and employees for their cooperation during the year.
Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS W. SMITH, Chairman, THOMAS A. RORKE, JOSEPH V. NUTTALL, JOHN J. FEENEY, WALTER A. BLASENAK,
Veterans' Housing Board.
.
154
TOWN OF NORWOOD
REPORT OF MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
To the Citizens of Norwood:
1
We transmit herewith the annual statistical and narrative reports of the Morrill Memorial Library for the year ending December 31, 1949.
Respectfully submitted,
MAUDE A. SHATTUCK, Chairman, Board of Trustees
RACHEL P. MARTIN
MARY L. DUNN
GEORGE H. WELLES
FRANCIS J. DORAN
EUGENE A. NELSON
To the Board of Trustees:
The following is a statistical report of the Morrill Memorial Library for the year 1949, arranged according to the form recommended by the American Library
Association:
Name of Library
Morrill Memorial Library
Town
Norwood, Massachusetts
Name of Librarian
Edna Phillips
Date of Founding
1873
Terms of Use
Free for Lending; Free for Reference
Number of Agencies
3
Number of Days Open in 1949
302
Number of Hours Open Each Week
69
Number of Staff
7
Books
Volumes Added to the Library:
Fiction by Purchase
1,479
Non-Fiction by Purchase
1,016
Fiction Gifts
127
Non-Fiction Gifts
80
Number of Volumes at End of Year
36,844
Circulation
Non-
Fiction
Fiction
Total
Adult Department
46,580
23,650
70,230
Junior Department
10,901
4,536
15,437
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REPORT OF MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
South Norwood Adult
6,709
2,669
9,378
South Norwood Junior
4,450
1,883
6,333
Hospital Adult
4,091
1,712
5,803
Hospital Junior
368
73
441
Balch School
1,414
740
2,154
Callahan School
1,784
634
2,418
Junior High School
21
52
73
Peabody School
35
52
87
St. Catherine's School
895
171
1,066
Senior High School
64
188
252
Shattuck School
1,701
613
2,314
Winslow-West Schools
943
288
1,231
Playgrounds
61
39
100
Church Deposits
0
7
7
Westwood P.T.A.
0
36
36
Cub Leaders
1
11
12
80,018
37,354
117,372
Finance
See Report of Town Accountant.
Registration
Number of Borrowers Registering in 1949:
Adult
575
Junior Department 192
South Norwood 119
Total 886
Number of Registered Borrowers:
4,854
1,547
749
7,150
Respectfully submitted,
EDNA PHILLIPS,
Librarian.
A YEAR AT YOUR LIBRARY 1949 MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Norwood's Books
Our 36,844 books is a smaller collection than is usual in New England com- munities of our size. The large area covered by our population calls for book service outlets not equally needed in places having more population density. Hence, we need more books than we now have.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Here, as in most progressive libraries, book selection is considered a professional task, delegated by the Board to the Librarian. A review of her stewardship follows.
The chief criteria for purchase are (1) the worth and standing of books, judged as a whole; (2) the needs for addition, in relation to the library's other books on the subjects; (3) local readers' interests, both demonstrated and potential; (4) public trends, in events, in book production, and in reactions to books; (5) a comparison with the experience and conclusions of other libraries of standing.
The methods of selection by the Librarian and other staff members working with her is to evaluate books from the broad base of having access to all the best pre-publication and post-publication sources of criticism and information, plus such reading of the books as is deemed necessary.
It is the goal of this library to have a live collection, stressing the more important books, but including those for entertainment; to give readers access to the best books of their kind esteemed by the leading authorities; and to make the library a center for the pursuit of truth, information, the aesthetic experience, and happiness, in conformity with the following Library Bill of Rights, adopted by Council of American Library Association, at Atlantic City on June 18, 1948:
Library Bill of Rights
"The Council of the American Library Association reaffirms its belief in the following basic policies which should govern the services of all libraries:
"1. As a responsibility of library service, books and other reading matter selected should be chosen for values of interest, information and enlightenment of all the people of the community. In no case should any book be excluded because of the race or nationality, or the political or religious views of the writer.
"2. There should be the fullest practicable provision of material presenting all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times, international, national, and local; and books or other reading matter of sound factual authority should not be proscribed or removed from library shelves because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
"3. Censorship of books, urged or practiced by volunteer arbiters of morals or political opinion or by organizations that would establish a coercive concept of Americanism, must be challenged by libraries in maintenance of their responsibility to provide public information and enlightenment through the printed word.
"4. Libraries should enlist the cooperation of allied groups in the fields of science, of education, and of book publishing in resisting all abridgment of the free access to ideas and full freedom of expression that are the tradition and heritage of Americans.
"5. As an institution of education for democratic living, the library should welcome the use of its meeting rooms for socially useful and cultural activities and discussion of current public questions. Such meeting places should be available on equal terms to all groups in the community regardless of the beliefs and affiliations. of their members."
Inspection of every book in the library at intervals of not more than five years
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REPORT OF MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
is almost as important as adding books. This has been completed in 1949 by the Librarian, the Assistant Librarian and other staff members. Books that had become obsolete or superceded were withdrawn.
Schools and Libraries: Joint Action
At the request of the Library, the Superintendent of Schools and all principals of high and elementary schools met with the Librarian and the Junior Department Librarian to plan further development of library-school relationship. A basis of discussion was a statistical record of circulation covering twenty years, made for the occasion. Among plans mutually agreed upon were monthly book talks by the library staff at the Senior High School; wider grade coverage for class instruction at the library; wider school coverage for state certificate reading; more visits at Elementary and Junior High Schools by the library staff. Progress has been made in putting each of these in effect. One result is a gain of 3,470 in school circulation of library books.
The Peabody School has started a substantial loan collection from the library.
At the request of Mr. Hayden, the Librarian met with faculty and a group of students to confer on further developments of the Senior High School Library.
Building Improvements
A lighting project for the Adult Department, Lobby and Reference Room; and Junior Department, Children's Room and Intermediate Room; was completed.
Remedial waterproofing of the outer walls and re-tiling of the roof were completed.
A small electric refrigerator and two-burner electric plate were installed in the Staff Room.
Book display shelves at the ends of stacks in the Plimpton Wing have been installed with income from the Plimpton Fund.
The library continues to be indebted to the fine judgment, and knowledge of all matters pertaining to the building, of Carl B. Pearson, Senior Building Custodian.
Junior Department -
As reported by N. Dorothy Shumaker, Junior Department Librarian, whose fine work with boys and girls is highly valued both in Norwood and in a wider pro- fessional field.
During the story hour season, one special program was planned for each month, such as: moving-pictures, slides, a short book review program by the children, and a Doll Story Hour, to which girls brought a doll, and boys, a toy.
The summer reading club, with a hobby-horse as its symbol, was called the READING RIDERS, and kept many youngsters interested in reading during the vacation months. All members were invited to a special film program as a reward for their reading efforts, with certificates of merit to those who had earned them.
Library instruction was given to the sixth grade pupils of all schools. A new plan of giving instruction to all grades is under way.
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