USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1920 > Part 17
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256
ANNUAL REPORTS. 1
playground season. I suggest that the framework of the old: gymnasium on Lincoln Park might be utilized to furnish addi- tional swing accommodations at that ground and perhaps. others in the city. The iron swing frame in the yard of the Bingham School which has not been used for some seasons may- be in condition to be used if it can be transferred to the Rich- ard Trum Playground. Slides would add much to the equip- ment of the Broadway Playgrounds and also Richard Trum Park. An unused slide in storage in the basement of the Union Square Branch Library could possibly be put into condition for .. use if sufficient funds are available. I have also referred to the desirability of adding shelters to some of the grounds. There should be drinking facilities on every playground and the wad- ing pool at Trum Park should be placed in condition for use. With assistance from the City Engineer's Department some seats were placed at the Kent, Bennett, and Perry grounds during the past summer.
Handwork. For the first time in the history of Somer- ville Playgrounds the handwork was supervised by a person em- ployed solely for the purpose. This was made possible by the co-operation of the supervisor of school gardens, an arrange ment being made whereby the same person was employed three days per week as handwork supervisor for the playgrounds and the remainder of the week as a canning instructor for the school garden organization. Heretofore it has been necessary to use- one of the regular supervisors on part time for this purpose. The new plan proved a success over the former one, because it provided more frequent visits to the individual grounds by the person in charge and thus brought about more interest on the . part of the children and a better finished product. It is hoped that such a plan of supervision can be adhered to in future sea- sons.
The original cost of operation for the handwork, exclusive of the salaries of the supervisors was borne by the Somerville Playgrounds Association, and whatever new material was pro- vided during the season was furnished from the money obtained by the sale of the finished articles to the children on the grounds. In the opinion of the director this is also a desirable method of handling this portion of the playgrounds movement because it eliminates the undesirable feature of free distribu- tion to the children at public expense.
Dancing. Folk-dancing, which has always been one of the principal activities on the girls' playgrounds was likewise con -- ducted in a new and improved manner this past season. A spe- cial supervisor was employed to visit each ground and take charge of the dancing, whereas in previous seasons the super -.
257
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
visor of the ground conducted this activity. Accordingly uni- form instruction was provided with the result that at the close of the season the children were well prepared to present the dances for the demonstration. As noted before, however, the dancing in our city is greatly handicapped by the lack of musical accompaniment which is so essential to this particu- lar feature of the playground program. The acquisition of a few used phonographs would greatly assist in this connection another season.
Games. At the outset of the 1920 season an effort was made to provide a series of playground games which would com- bine physical activity with enthusiasm on the part of the parti- cipants. It is believed that this objective was obtained in the games used on the grounds last summer. This is particularly true of the boys' grounds, and the best testimony of the above statement was given in the popular approval of the games and races displayed at the final demonstration of the season. As usual baseball received its share of attention, three mornings each week being devoted to the playing of inter-playground league games. These leagues were conducted in three classes as follows : Class A, boys under sixteen years; Class B, boys under thirteen ; Class C, boys under eleven years of age.
Co-operation of the Public Library. One of the features of the past season which has proved both popular and educa- tional was the use of each playground as a place of deposit for books from the Somerville Public Library. At the outset of the season the director arranged with the library manage- ment to secure a deposit of more than five hundred books suita- ble for both boys and girls of the playground ages. These books were divided into lots and placed on each ground and interchanged during the season so that the children had access throughout the seven weeks to the whole deposit. The best testimony of the popularity of this feature was evidenced in the interest displayed by the children in reading and their re- quest for more books in succeeding seasons.
Co-operation from the Community. The custom of con- ducting outings during the summer for the children who visit the playgrounds was followed in the past season. This feature is very popular with the children and no season would be considered a success unless the children from each ground had at least one day's outing at some favorite picnic ground. The picnics conducted this season proved more popular than ever, probably due to the fact that in every case transportation to and from the grounds was furnished by several business men of the city who gave the use of their automobile trucks for the purpose. In the mind of the director nothing gave more satis-
258
ANNUAL REPORTS.
faction to those who conducted the playground work than the ready response of these merchants to the request for the service of their machines. During the last three weeks of the play- ground season everyone of the seven grounds enjoyed its own picnic, and when one considers that the number of children who attended each ranged from one hundred to five hundred, it can readily be seen how many automobile trucks were furnished to accommodate the entire group.
A second evidence of how the playground links itself up with the community interests, is the fact that the prizes for all of the events conducted at the aforesaid picnics were given by the merchants who have places of business in the vicinity of the respective playgrounds.
In addition to the above, one hundred and fifty children from the Richard Trum and Hodgkins Grounds were the guests one afternoon of the management of Keith's Boston Theatre.
As has been remarked before, interest of the above sort is the best proof that playgrounds are well received by the people of the community. At the same time the thanks of the playground management is tendered to those who have helped to make a public undertaking successful.
Annual Demonstration. The annual demonstration of the playgrounds was conducted at Lincoln Park on Wednesday, August 18th. Taking advantage of the Daylight Saving which gave the opportunity for more adults to witness the events. the exhibition this year was held at twilight beginning at 6 p. m., and finishing before 8 p. m.
Approximately two thousand children from all parts of the city took part, each playground being well represented. It is estimated that about three thousand people witnessed the demonstration which consisted of folk-dancing, competitive games, races, drills, and exhibition games. An exhibit of hand- work made by the children during the summer was also placed in a prominent position at the grounds. The competitions were all closely contested and the whole affair was conducted with such precision that it showed the training and efficiency of the playgrounds upon the children.
Recommendations. From close contact with the situation, I respectfully submit the following recommendations as means of improving our playgrounds system :
1. Early fitting out of High School Athletic Field or land in rear of Western Junior High School as a large play- ground for West Somerville.
2. Enlargement of Kent and Bennett Grounds.
3. Opening Central Hill Park as a playground for small children.
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PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
4. Employment of a supervisor for girls at Richard Trum Park.
5. Setting aside funds each year for permanent equip- ment.
6. Erection of shelters on grounds where needed.
7. Additional swings on all playgrounds. Repairing swings at Broadway Park. Using the frame of gymnasium at Lincoln Park for additional swings. Transferring swing frame at Bingham School to Trum Park.
8. Repairing broken slide for use at Broadway Park.
9. Use of wading pool at Trum Park.
10. Providing musical accompaniment for dancing.
11. Drinking facilities at every playground.
12. Extension of supervised play to the period after school hours.
Conclusion. In closing my report, allow me to frankly state that from the standpoint of co-operation the season of 1920 has been the most satisfactory of any I have experienced in my twelve years' connection with the Somerville Play- grounds. Cordial assistance has been rendered by the Chair- man and other members of your Commission, by other depart- ments of the city, and by the Somerville Playgrounds Associa- tion. The staff of supervisors and assistants worked constant- ly for the betterment of the playgrounds and the welfare of the children. The children themselves have co-operated to the best of their ability and have undoubtedly acquired considerable experience in the fundamentals of citizenship involved in or- ganized play, i. e., submission to authority, team-work, loyalty, and regard for the rights of others.
Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN H. MAHONEY,
Director of Playgrounds.
-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF SCHOOL GARDENS.
To the Members of the Recreation and Playground Commission :
It is with pleasure that I submit to you my third annual report as your Garden Supervisor.
The year 1920 proved to be one of exceptional weather con- ditions which greatly affected work and the results obtained in gardening. Early in the spring we had continued rain which made some of the areas of ground used for School Garden pur- poses unfit for use until very late in the season. The piece of ground used by the Bingham School children at Lowell Street, we were forced to abandon after their garden had been com- pletely submerged.
But to me the pleasant part of work with boys and girls is the fact that they often surprise the general public and older people, in particular, by showing ability to persevere and win out in spite of great difficulties. This was the case with the Somerville gardens the past season. In every instance but the one mentioned the gardens were brought through difficult and trying times on account of weather conditions, and made a fine showing both from the standpoint of general appearance and production.
Sixteen different schools participated in school garden work this season. There were a total of 365 children who cul- tivated public areas, given for their use by the City and private citizens, which covered a total acreage of nearly ten acres.
Your Garden Supervisor was employed by the School Com- mittee during the winter months in giving instruction to boys and girls who were interested in gardening. Those who had a garden at home or else expressed a desire to have a school garden during the summer were organized into classes and were given practical lessons one period each week in the class- room. In this way the children were better prepared than ever to start actual work when the planting season arrived. With the aid of one high school boy, supervision and help was given to the 365 children having school gardens ; aid and assistance was also given to several hundred who carried on successful back-yard gardens at home.
The same general plan used in the past two years for the planting and care of all school gardens was continue l during the season of 1920. Children paid for the seeds and plants actually used in their individual plots. Everything raised was the property of the children and could be taken home and used
261
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
or sold. One half day was devoted by the supervisor to each garden area, and the children showed their interest and enthusi- asm in this work by their prompt and consistent attendance during the entire garden season. Less than one half dozen gardens suffered from neglect out of the total of 365.
In connection with this garden work arithmetic and spell- ing were linked through the use of a garden record book. The keeping of this record book by the children was made one of the garden requirements, and has proved to be a valuable means of stimulating an interest in the value and ways of marketing garden products. A careful analysis of these books by your garden supervisor after the close of the garden season has re- sulted in the gathering of some rather valuable and interesting information. The total value of all garden crops on school garden areas was $8,214.45. Some of the books showed total receipts from their gardens, which in all instances were 300 square feet, of more than $20. A schedule showing the amount and value of all the different kinds of vegetables raised in the school gardens is appended to this report. On every garden area wherever there was sufficient land a community plot was planted where sweet corn and winter squash were raised. Every boy and girl having a garden on this area did his part towards taking care of these two crops which were harvested by the supervisor and equally distributed among the children.
During the summer we received aid and encouragement from the Middlesex County Farm Bureau and State Depart- ment of Agriculture whose agents visited our city several times. The school children made exhibits again this year at the New England State Fair held at Worcester where they carried away the first prize, won in competition with 26 other cities and towns representing all parts of New England.
For the first time a County Fair was held in Middlesex County this year at Waltham. The Somerville School Garden- ers again won first prize for their exhibit of garden products in competition with many other cities and towns in this coun- ty.
The raising and care of flowers is also included in garden work. On all school garden areas where there was sufficient suitable land flower seeds were planted and plants set out this year, and the children instructed in their proper care. They were also encouraged to plant flowers at home wherever a suita- ble place could be found and through this means I believe the general appearance of a great many of the homes of this city were improved.
Early last spring the garden supervisor purchased a good
.
262
ANNUAL REPORTS.
supply of vegetable and flower seeds and the same were dis- posed of to boys and girls through the public schools at cost, thereby placing in their hands only the varieties adapted to soil and climatic conditions in this vicinity.
This fall our garden areas were properly cleaned up by the children and the garden refuse disposed of. Most of these areas have since been plowed and dressing placed on them ready for use another year.
This year 56 children carried on canning operations at two canning centers. Through the courtesy and co-operation of the School Committee the basement of the High School and the cooking room at the Western Junior High School were utilized. One teacher was employed for the whole season of ten weeks and one other for a part of that time.
These children canned an average of 32 jars apiece with an average value of 40c each, their products totaling in value $716.80. Most of the materials canned were vegetables taken directly from their school gardens, which insured a good canned product because of the fact that they were freshly gath- ered and properly picked.
This useful form of summer work for boys and girls has gained in popularity very rapidly the last three or four years. Many other cities and towns now carry on canning operations on a very much larger scale than we have been able to do here in Somerville, and I would recommend that more equipment and better facilities be provided another year and two teach- ers hired to devote all of their time to this work.
Besides the actual work of canning the vegetables and fruits the children are taught to demonstrate and explain the work in its different stages. Two demonstration canning teams from Somerville participated in a competitive demonstration held at the Middlesex County Fair at Waltham, and at Jordan Marsh's Department Store in Boston, and a very favorable showing was made in both instances. A public exhibition of canned products was held in one of the school halls at which the general public were present, and a competent judge sent from the State Department of Agriculture to score and mark the work and results obtained by the children.
Concluding my report for the season of 1920, I desire to express appreciation of the service and valuable assistance rendered by heads of departments and city officials, with whom I have come in contact. Whatever success was accomplished in garden work was due to a large extent to the interest and en- thusiasm and the actual work of the boys and girls themselves.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM B. MOORE,
Supervisor of School Gardens.
263
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
SCHOOL GARDEN DATA, SEASON 1920.
Location
School
No. Children
Area
Adrian Street
Knapp
30
1 Acres
Prospect Hill
Pope
18
1/4
Glen Street
E. Jr. H.
12
1/4
1
Broadway
·
(
(Glines
12
Central Hill
.
(
1
Highland Avenue
(Perry
·
8
Central Hill
(S. JJ. H. . (
.
12
1
School
(Proctor
.
20
Craigie Street .
Morse
25
1
Lowell Street
Bingham
40
1
Powder House .
Brown
14
1/4
66
Powder House .
Lowe
15
1/4
Tufts Oval
11/2
-
(W. J. H.
30
City Farm
.
Cutler
55
1
365
Season 1920. ESTIMATE OF AMOUNT OF CROPS GATHERED AND THEIR VALUE. Individual Plots.
Retail
Kind
Amt. from each plot
Total Amount
Mkt. value per unit
Total Amount
Radishes
30 bunches
9,600
.08
$768.00
String Beans
8 qts.
2,560
12
307.20
Shell Beans
7 qts.
2,240
.15
336.00
Dried Beans
21/2 qts.
800
.20
160.00
Table Beets
200
64,000
.025
1,600.00
Table Carrots
100
32,000
.02
640.00
Swiss Chard
4 pks.
1,280
.35
448.00
Summer Squash
20
6,400
.15
960.00
Ripe Tomatoes
3 pks.
960
.85
812.00
Green Tomatoes
11/2 pks.
480
.50
240.00
Beet Greens
1 pk.
320
.35
112.00
Cabbage
7 heads
2,240
.15
336.00
Lettuce
16 heads
5,120
10
512.00
Parsnips
75
24,000
.02
480.00
.
(Edgerly
20
.
.
22
(Cummings
12
(N. J. H. .
.
(
(Highland
20
66
$7,711.20
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
Community Plots.
Sweet Corn
·
1,035 doz. .45 465.75
Turban Squash
750 1bs. .05 37.50
Total value of Garden products
$8,214.45
Canning Club Values.
Total
No. Participating Average No. of Jars
Value per jar
Value
56 32 .40
$716.88
Value in money of garden and Canning projects
$8,931.25
December 1, 1920.
COMPARISON OF GARDEN AND CANNING VALUES TO COST OF UNDERTAKING.
Value of Crops.
Value of vegetables sold
$1,630 45
Value of vegetables used at home (Fresh) .
5,868 50
(Canned) 715 50
Total Value of Garden Crops .
$8,214 45
Value of Canned Products.
1792 Jars
@ 40c $716 80
Total Values .
$8,931 25
Cost of Garden Undertaking.
Salaries
Supervision
$1,079 89
High School Boy as helper @
169 50
$1,249 39
Instruction
Salary of Agricultural Teacher 1,024 75
Cost of preparing land for Garden Use .
1,024 75
Plowing
150 13
Teaming
94 50
Fertilizer
75 00
Labor. Helper on team
59 00
Miscellaneous disbursements
Use of Auto
235 33
Express
11 40
Painting signs
14 00
Sundries
.
11 70
378 63
272 43
$3.00
$4.00
.
$503.25
265
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
Cost of Canning Operations.
2 Teachers @ $3.00 each per day $93 60
Total Cost to City ·
$3,018 80
Actual money profit from undertaking
$5,912 45
REPORTS OF THE WORK OF ORGANIZATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECREATION AND PLAYGROUND COMMIS- SION IN THE PROMOTION OF THE RECRE- ATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SOMERVILLE
Somerville Playgrounds Association.
The secretary of this association, Mrs. Mary F. Lincoln, furnishes the following report of the work of this organization for 1920.
The Somerville Playgrounds Association, organized in 1909 to provide summer playgrounds, has since that time, in co- operation with the city, conducted supervised playgrounds dur- ing the summer vacation.
The Association feels that Somerville has now a well-estab- lished playground system, and that its methods compare favora- bly with those of other cities of its size and that it is only pre- vented by limited funds, from extending its work.
The Playgrounds Association has acted as a stimulating force to assist and encourage all recreational activities in the city. It has for some time desired to broaden its work and to establish a year-round system. To carry out this idea, it has lent its aid towards the establishment of evening centers in school buildings, believing this to be the best kind of Ameri canization work that could be done.
The Association is supported by donations from organiza- tions and individuals and by annual membership fees. Among other annual donations, eighteen women's church societies con- tributed this year toward the purchase of materials for sewing for the summer playgrounds.
The Association has this year been obliged to accept the resignation of the treasurer, Frank W. Kaan, who has held the position at our urgent desire since its formation, eleven years ago. His advice and help have also been of great value in many legal and legislative matters which have come before the organization.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
We are still fortunate in being able to secure as treasurer, another valuable man, well known in Somerville, Frank M. Hawes, who is giving us much assistance.'
Meetings of the Directors Board have been held at City Hall Annex on a Tuesday of each month from October to May, with good average attendance. The annual public meeting was held December 2, 1920, at the Y. M. C. A. rooms.
Field Day .- The one special event conducted under the auspices of the Playgrounds Association was a Field Day, or school athletic day, held on June 9, 1920. A vacation was granted by the School Committee and hundreds of children and their parents spent the entire day at Somerville Field.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY F. LINCOLN, Secretary.
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PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
SOMERVILLE PLAYGROUNDS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
Officers :
President : Hon. Albion A. Perry
Vice-President : Charles S. Clark
Secretary, Mrs. Charles P. Lincoln Treasurer : Frank M. Hawes
DIRECTORS :
Hon. Charles W. Eldridge Mrs. A. H. Weeks
Mrs. George Whiting
Rev. James J. O'Brien
Mrs. Frank E. Bateman
Mrs. Charles E. Mongan
William P. Jones
Mrs. James T. Mulroy
Mrs. Gilbert Hood
Rev. Geo. E. Soper, D. D.
Mrs. F. E. Dickerman
Mrs. Geo. G. Brayley
Hon. Charles L. Underhill
Mrs. Walter A. Ladd
Mrs. Warren Dalton
Mrs. Henry C. Fish Clarence R. Skinner
Frederick J. White
Mrs. Charles A. Landers
Ways and Means Committee.
The Ways and Means Committee consists of twenty-seven women, representatives of the several women's clubs of Som- erville and the Somerville Playgrounds Association and As- sociated Charities. Regular meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at the home of Mrs. F. E. Bateman, 1633 Highland Avenue. At each meeting, the civic social worker gives a detailed report of the work being carried on at the social centers and recommends certain things necessary for the improvement of her work. Members of the committee question, criticise, advise and plan ways and means to strength- en the work.
The chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Mrs. S. C. Bateman, furnishes the following report of the work for 1920 :
The Ways and Means Committee introduced a new feature at the Neighborhood House this year in the person of a matron who kept the house open from 3 to 9 :30 p. m. each week day. Her duty was to keep order among the children who came in large numbers after school, to direct their games and to help them with sewing. With the help of Miss Belmont, a volunteer, she
268
ANNUAL REPORTS.
aided the children in making small articles for a sale which was held in June. Four classes in cooking, three afternoon classes and one evening class, were conducted and instruction in sew- ing and dramatics was given. One cooking class entertained the mothers an afternoon with refreshments of their own cook- ing.
Last Fall the opening of the house was delayed by illness in the family of the house chairman. After the matron was em- ployed, the children used the house as formerly, but of course classes were late in starting. At present there are several cooking and sewing classes being held and two dancing classes have just been started. In January a new matron is to begin work and we are expecting this undertaking to advance rapid- ly. Our new house chairman, Mrs. Perry, is a fine worker and deeply interested. The Neighborhood House we consider now as an auxiliary to the school center, gathering in the younger children in the afternoons and the older girls in the evening. These older girls are very anxious to use the building for social purposes in the evening, and with the proper super- vision, they will be allowed to do so.
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