USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1919 > Part 17
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The Commission believes both of these undertakings should be carried on another year for the benefit of the children of this city. It recommends; therefore, that better areas be allotted another year for the use of the children as school gardens and that supervised playgrounds be conducted under the control of the Commission with increased facilities.
The Commission believes, furthermore, that it is desirable to add slowly to the work which it is conducting in order that whatever is undertaken shall be conducted efficiently and with economy before additions are made thereto. For the next year, therefore, it recommends only the continuance of the policies herein discussed with such additions as may develop during the year to indicate beginnings of new enterprises.
Following are the detailed reports of the supervisors of garden work and of the director of playground work.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. CLARK, Chairman, MRS. A. H. WEEKS, MRS. CHARLES E. MONGAN, ERNEST W. BAILEY,
J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN,
FRANCIS P. GARLAND,
GEORGE L. DUDLEY, Secretary.
.
252
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF PLAYGROUNDS.
To the Recreation and Playground Commission. City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :
It is with pleasure that I submit to your body this second anuual report of the activities of the Summer Playgrounds. In offering this report, I intend to bring to your attention the accomplishments of the past season, and suggestions for the conduct of the work in the future.
Conditions Resulting From the War.
The season of 1919, unlike the two previous ones, was not influenced by the atmosphere of war, and consequently the char- acter of some of the activities was different from the preceding seasons. This is particularly true of the handwork, which in 1917 and 1918, was devoted mainly to war activities. However. despite the fact that the war operations had ceased, the atten- dance on the various grounds was affected by the conditions which the war brought about. There was a noticeable decrease in the number of larger children attending the playgrounds, and upon investigation, it was learned that the same conditions prevailed in the neighboring communities where playgrounds are conducted. The general opinion is that the larger boys and girls had found employment and thus were not in attendance.
Grounds.
Playgrounds were conducted this year on eight different plots in the city, as opposed to seven grounds in 1918. The new ground was located on Somerville Field, at the western ex- tremity of the city. This ground had been in operation several years ago, but was discontinued at that time because of lack of patronage. The experiment this season proved that the same situation still exists in regard to this playground, for after a trial of three weeks, the numbers did not justify its continu- ance. One reason for this lack of patronage is, in my opinion, the need of adequate equipment on the ground. The addition of some permanent apparatus on this ground, which in many ways is well adapted for playground purposes, would attract a number of children from a district where the school popula- tion is very large. The other seven playgrounds were con- ducted as in the previous year, on Lincoln Park, Richard Trum Playground, Broadway Park, Kent Street Playground, and the Bennett, Perry, and Hodgkins school vards. Lincoln Park and the Richard Trum Playground were conducted exclusively for
253
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
boys, the three school yards were conducted for girls, and the Broadway and Kent Street playgrounds were accessible to both boys and girls.
Supervision.
The same number of supervisors and assistants was em- ployed this season as in previous years, with approximately the same amount of expenditure for salaries. Somerville spends less money for playground supervision than other communities of the same size, and has the reputation among playground officials of conducting its grounds on an economical basis. This policy can still be adhered to with no decrease in efficiency, but. in the opinion of the Director, better results would be obtained by a rearrangement of the method of supervision, whereby workers trained in special lines might itinerate. Such a policy has heretofore been adhered to in regard to sewing. The same arrangement might be made for a supervisor of folk dancing.
One difficulty with which the Somerville Playgrounds have had to contend in the last few years has been the large number of inexperienced playground supervisors and instructors on the staff of workers. In the early years of playgrounds in this city, it was customary for members of the playground corps to re- turn each season. The failure of experienced instructors to return has been very noticeable in the past few seasons. This failure to return is undoubtedly due to the low salaries which Somerville has offered in comparison with what they can earn in neighboring cities. During the past season several former Somerville playground instructors were registered among the lists of instructors of other cities. It is therefore necessary for this city to expend more money on playground supervision in the years to come if the playgrounds are to continue in an effi- cient manner.
Meetings.
At regular intervals during the summer season the entire staff of playground supervisors met with the Director at the High School to plan various features which were conducted on the grounds. These meetings have undoubtedly resulted in a uniform arrangement on all of the grounds, and have been the means of exchanging ideas for the betterment of the playground system.
Exhibitions.
On Wednesday, the 20th of August, a Demonstration Day was held at the Lincoln Park playground at which the children from all of the playgrounds of the city were present, and par-
254
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ticipated in the program of games, dances, and competitive races which was presented to the public. This demonstration was somewhat different from any previous event conducted by the city's playgrounds in that it lacked the formality of pre- pared events and was unaccompanied by band music. There was, at this demonstration, also, an exhibit of the handwork made by the children during the season. Such Feature Days should be conducted each season when the circumstances so allow, as they serve both to stimulate the interest of the public in playground activities and afford the children something to which they can look forward during the summer season.
In addition to the demonstration on Lincoln Park, the chil- dren of the Bennett School gave a neighborhood festival on their ground on the evening of August 19, the principal feature being the presentation of the playlet entitled "Milk Fairies". This feature, which is intended to teach the advantage of milk as an article of diet, introduced many novel dances, and the costumes for the affair were made by the children on the grounds. A like performance was given on the same day at the Kent Street Playground.
Handwork.
The handwork this year consisted almost entirely of work on materials supplied by the Junior Red Cross Organization. Infants' and children's clothing formed the bulk of this allot- ment, and the children from the five girls' grounds all partici- pated in the making of the articles. This work was supervised, as in the past few seasons, by Mrs. Lillias T. Lawton, and at the close of the season the finished articles were returned to the Junior Red Cross. This is the first season that the hand- work has been devoted almost entirely to one type of work. It is felt that such undertakings provide for the children a lesson in public service in addition to the mere practice they receive from the making of the articles. A few of the girls' grounds made additional articles, the girls from Broadway Park mak- ing a few quilts for the neighboring children's hospitals.
Games.
The portion of the day allotted for more active recreation was occupied, during the summer, in the playing of the cus- tomary playground games as in the past seasons. Special effort was made this season to provide games suitable to the younger children who came in larger numbers than heretofore. On the girls' grounds an unusually large number of new games were employed, while the boys, for the most part, adhered to the customary boys' games which are universal on public play- grounds.
255
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
Baseball.
As has been the custom heretofore, both in Somerville and every other American city, baseball was the chief attraction on the boys' playgrounds. Baseball leagues were organized at the outset of the season, and the boys were divided into three groups, as follows :
Class A-the boys above fourteen years ..
Class B-the boys between twelve and fifteen years.
Class C-the boys under twelve years.
There was keen competition in each of these three leagues, and a number of boys showed their proficiency in the national game. It is the proud boast of the Somerville play- grounds, since their inception, that more than seventy-five per cent of the players on the High School baseball teams received their first training on the local grounds. The past season has been no exception in bringing to the front several boys showing marked baseball ability. In the opinion of the Director, some method of coupling the baseball interest of the summer play- grounds with the same activity in the schools of the city, would be to the decided advantage of both organizations.
Dancing.
Folk dancing received its customary attention in the pro- gram carried out on the girls' playgrounds, the usual well- known dances being most prevalent. This feature of the play- ground work is greatly handicapped in our city by the lack of a dancing instructor who should visit each playground regu- larly. There is great need, also, of providing musical accom- paniments for the folk dancing. Many other communities pro- vide phonographs for this purpose, and Somerville would do well to furnish the same.
Despite the above handicap, the children of the play- grounds exhibit much talent in dancing as was evidenced at the demonstration on Lincoln Park and the neighborhood festi- vals at the Bennett and Kent Street playgrounds.
Outings.
A custom has grown among the playgrounds to conduct on some one day during the season a picnic or outing for the chil- dren of the respective grounds. The arrangement of this out- ing is left entirely in the hands of the individual supervisors who report their plans to the Director. This past summer nearly all of the playgrounds conducted such picnics, the chil- dren journeying to Norumbega Park, Middlesex Fells Reserva-
256
ANNUAL REPORTS.
tion at Stoneham, and such places. In two or three instances this year the business men of the community in which the play- ground is located offered the use of large automobile trucks for the purpose of transporting the children to and from their picnic ground. Other merchants of the vicinity donated prizes for the sports which were conducted at the picnics. The Direc- tor feels that no better testimony of the value of play- grounds could be presented than such action on the part of the people of the community. At the same time the thanks of the Playground Organization is tendered to those individuals who have thus helped to make successful a public undertaking.
Evening Supervision.
The repeal of the Daylight Saving Act by the national congress has for the present, at least, interfered with a program which the Director had outlined for evening supervision. The large patronage which some of our city play spaces received during the last two summers had suggested the extension of the playground supervision to go over at least the twilight hours. But unless daylight saving is again resumed, perhaps such supervision will not be advisable.
Recommendations.
The playgrounds of Somerville have been under supervi- sion for more than ten years, and have now arrived at a posi- tion where the work is no longer in the experimental stage. After such a period of trial, the experiment should be either considered a success or otherwise. Judging by the public sen- timent both in Somerville and other communities, it seems plausible to pronounce the movement a success. But if we are to endeavor to progress in this movement, there is much yet to be done in the way of improving our play facilities. I firmly believe that the present is a fitting time to add considerable equipment to the playground system. The following recom- mendations are made because they seem to the Director very necessary for the future.
1. Permanent store houses for materials on every play- ground.
2. Additional wading pools, such as the one now in use on Lincoln Park. The repairing of the pool at Trum play- ground.
3. The re-surfacing of the school yards now used as play- grounds.
4. Seating facilities on all the schoolyard playgrounds.
257
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
5. Additional swings on nearly every ground.
6. Additional play space by the enlarging of the Kent Street and Bennett school grounds.
7. The purchase of some permanent equipment, such as, slides, and frame apparatus, on the grounds which do not now possess them.
8. The purchase of a large supply of smaller material, such as, play balls, quoits, etc.
9. The employment of a supervisor to take charge of danc- ing throughout the city.
10. The extension of supervised play to cover the school year as well as the vacation period.
Conclusion.
In concluding my report for the season of 1919, I desire to express my appreciation of the service and co-operation ren- dered by the heads of departments and other officials of the city. Thanks are due also to the members of the Somerville Playgrounds Association and the ladies of the city for their assistance in procuring and donating handwork material.
Whatever success was accomplished in the past season was due to a large extent to the efforts of the several supervisors and assistants in co-operating with the Director. Finally, too much credit cannot be given to the children of the city for their assistance in aiding the playground management to give to them the best facilities for play that the city could offer. It is to be hoped that the spirit of team work, fair play, and loy- alty, developed upon the city's playgrounds, will be manifested in the larger civic undertakings of the future.
Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN H. MAHONEY, Director.
October 24, 1919.
258
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF GARDEN SUPERVISOR.
To the Members of the Recreation and Playground Commis- sion : -
Permit me to submit a report of my work as Garden Su- pervisor in the City of Somerville for the season of 1919.
After one year as your Garden Supervisor, I felt somewhat acquainted with the work to be done, and the desired results to be obtained from this branch of your activities.
The same general plans that were in vogue last year, were put into operation again at the begining of this season. It was desired by Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Clark, that the gar- den work be more closely correlated with the general work of the school room. With this idea in mind I made up a school garden record book, one of which is appended to this report and each child having a school garden was given one of these record books, and expected to keep the same. In so doing, arithmetic and spelling, as well as penmanship are linked up with their garden activities.
This year seventeen different schools, with a total number of 374 children participated in garden work. Two large areas were acquired for this work in addition to land used in previ- ous seasons, giving a total area devoted to this work of about 91/2 acres.
The land was prepared and ready for planting about the 15th of April, and all pieces of ground were actually planted and the seeds germinated by the first of June. Everyone of the 13 different pieces of land produced good crops, and all of them are this fall left in good condition for use another year.
The idea of community plots in connection with each school unit was enlarged upon this season, and the sweet corn and squash raised on these pieces produced fine results.
Before the garden work was started each child in each school having a school garden was organized into a Garden Club, with a President, Secretary and Treasurer. Meetings were held at which the Supervisor was present, and gave instructions to the members in the school-room before the planting season opened. In this way the child had a very good idea of how to proceed when the actual work out-doors began. Along this same line all children in public schools cultivating a garden at home or on vacant land were enrolled in the United States School Garden Army. I obtained 2250 signed enroll-
259
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
ment cards from children who carried on this form of garden- ing during the past season, and gave help and advice to all such children who requested it.
During the summer the general appearance of our gardens called forth many words of commendation, both from Somer- ville citizens and others. The officers of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau paid us several visits, bringing with them farm experts from all over the state to see the methods used and the results obtained.
The children showed a keen interest in their work through- out the entire season and none of the products of their gardens were permitted to be wasted at any time. Parents of children having school gardens were interested enough to see that the vegetables were picked and brought home for their own use or sold by the child.
Another work carried on in connection with the garden activities is that of canning for food conservation. Two young ladies were employed for two days a week during the summer months who carried successfully five canning clubs, with an enrollment of sixty-five members. Most of the children in the canning clubs were also members of the garden clubs, and at least 50 per cent of the material canned came from the school gardens. This material being perfectly fresh and of the very best quality, very little trouble was experienced in getting satisfactory results.
I have just been informed by State Department of Agri- culture, that three of the five clubs are to be awarded a banner which certifies that all the members have done work of the high- est class and completed all the State requirements in this branch of the work.
On the 14th of August a Field Day and picnic, with sev- eral neighboring cities was held at Spot Pond, Stoneham. About 100 members of our garden and canning clubs attended this outing, going in special cars, and a most enjoyable and instructive day was spent.
At the close of the garden season we held very successful exhibitions, one at the Cutler School, and the other at the Southern Junior High School. The interests shown by the children in these exhibits was most noticeable, and the large attendance of adults was very encouraging. At both exhibits were shown lantern slides made from pictures taken of the chil- dren at work in their gardens, during the various stages of the garden season.
The work of harvesting all crops and cleaning all pieces of ground was completed in every instance on the 15th of No- vember, and the record books kept by the members of the gar- den clubs were turned in at this time.
260
ANNUAL REPORTS.
From a careful survey of these books a statement of the amount and value of the garden products for the season has been made, and copy of the same is appended to this report, also a list of tools and equipments owned by the commission and their location this year. Also find appended a report of all expenses connected with the garden activities for the entire season.
I might state that some little notoriety was brought to this city from the fact that first prize of $15 in cash was awarded the City of Somerville for their school garden exhibit at New England State's Fair, held at Worcester, September 1st. This was won in competition with 22 other cities from all of New England, and helps to prove that the quality of the products raised in the school gardens is of the best.
Permit me to express my appreciation to each individual member of the commission for the interest shown in this work as well as the valuable assistance given at all times, which is in a large degree, responsible for the results obtained.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) WILLIAM B. MOORE,
Garden Supervisor.
261
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
Somerville, Mass. SCHOOL GARDEN. Data Season 1919.
Name of School
Location of Garden
Area in No. of Acres Children
Knapp
Adrian St.
1
26
Edgerly
Broadway Park .
1
25
Morse
Craigie St. .
1/2
22
Pope
Prospect Hill
1/4
15
High School
Central Hill
1
5
Perry
Central Hill
1/4
10
Bingham
Lowell St. .
1
44
Cutler .
·
Powder House Park
1/4
18
Highland .
Powder House Park
1/4
20
Baxter
School Yard
1/4
12
Eastern Junior High
Glen St.
1/4
10
Southern Junior High
Central Hill
1/4
16
Northern Junior High
Central Hill
1/2
22
Carr
Central Hill
1/4
15
Proctor
Central Hill
1/2
24
Western Junior High
Tufts Oval
1
40
91/2
374
·
City Farm .
1
50
Brown .
·
.
·
.
·
.
.
.
262
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Season 1919. ESTIMATE OF AMOUNT OF CROPS GATHERED AND THEIR VALUE.
Individual Plots.
Kind
Amt. from each plot
Total amount
Retail mkt. value per unit
Total amount
Radishes
100
37,000
.01
$370 00
String Beans
6 qt.
2,220
.10
222 00
Shell Beans
8 qt.
2,960
.10
296 00
Yellow eye
2 qt.
740
.25
185 00
Table Beets
.
200
74,000
.02
1,480 00
Table Carrots
100
37,000
.02
740 00
Swiss Chard
4 pks.
1,480
.25
370 00
Summer Squash
25
9,250
.10
925 00
Tomatoes, ripe
3 pks.
1,010
.65
656 50
Tomatoes, green
1 pk.
370
.30
111 00
Cabbage
6 hds.
2,220
.15
333 00
Beet Greens
1 pk.
370
.25
92 50
Parsnips
50
18,500
.02
370 00
$6,151 00
Community Plots.
Sweet Corn
825 doz.
.35
288 75
Winter Squash
·
8,500 Ibs.
.04
340 00
6,779 75
Canning Club Values.
No. Participating
Average Value of Products
Total Value
42
16.50
693 00
Total Value
7,472 75
November 15, 1919.
263
CITY ENGINEER.
REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, CITY HALL, Somerville, January 10, 1920.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen :- In accordance with the city ordinances, the following report of the work done and expense incurred for the year ending December 31, 1919, by the Engineering Department and of appropriations under my charge and supervision, in- cluding the accounts of city engineer, sewers construction, sewers maintenance, parks maintenance, playgrounds mainte- nance, and other public works, is herewith presented.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
In previous reports the general work, charter requirements and city ordinances relating to the duties of the city engineer have been fully described.
On account of the excessive cost very little new construc- tion work has been attempted, the greater part of the work done, being for repairs and maintenance in the various divi- sions.
Divisions
Appropriations and Credits
Expenditures Balances
City Engineer $12,540 00
934 00
$13,473 42
$ 58
Parks Maintenance 9,990 00
9,989 46
54
Playgrounds Maint. . 4,050 00
265 87
4,312 97
90
Sewers Maintenance . 20,660 00
107 81 20,766 62
1 19
Sewers Construction 5,295 77 142 50 4,753 52 684 75
(Expenditures are shown in detail in the City Auditor's annual report).
CITY ENGINEER DIVISION, CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENSES, 1919.
Sewers, - comprising surveys, estimates, profiles, lines, grades, titles, plans, assessments and all engineering work relating to sewers and supervision . Highways, - comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving and all other engineering work relating to the department . Sidewalks, - comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, inspection, titles, costs and assessments .
Water Works, - comprising lines, grades, locations of mains, gates, hydrants and services and other mat- ters relating to the department . . Parks and Public Grounds, - comprising surveys, plans, estimates, profiles and grades, including laying out of
$1,475 25
2,927 11
1,118 96
690 95
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
parks, playgrounds, boulevard and supervision .
1,256 89
Public Buildings, - comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to construction and laying out of grounds .
362 47
Street Numbering, - comprising locations of buildings, plans, assigning street numbers 253 75 Street Lines and Grades, - comprising establishing of lines, grades, and miscellaneous data given parties for building and grading 195 52 . Bridges and Grade Crossings, - comprising surveys, plans, profiles, estimates, lines and grades, etc. . 25 00 .
City Survey, - comprising establishing of street lines, ac- ceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city map, etc. . .
·
484 56
Middlesex Registry, - comprising copying of plans, and abstracts from deeds and examination of titles filed at East Cambridge, also tracing of street acceptance and sewer taking plans filed for record
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