Report of the city of Somerville 1920, Part 22

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 422


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1920 > Part 22


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Public.


40


1,123


....


Winter


College ave.


Holland st.


Public.


30


402


Winter Hill cir. Broadway


Northeasterly


Private.


25


...


583


Wisconsin ave.


Broadway


Penn. ave. Westerly


Public.


50


499


Woodbine


Centre st.


Lowell st.


Private.


35


212


*Woods ave.


North st.


Pow. House Bd. Private.


40


1,135


Woodstock


Victoria st.


Alewife brook


Public.


40 to 32


403


.. .


*Woodstock (Extension)


Victoria st.


Tannery st. (Ext'n.)


Private.


40


. . .


920


Wyatt circle


Wyatt st. around to Wyatt st.


Private.


20


· ·


315


Wyatt


Concord ave.


Lincoln pkway Public


40


496


...


Yorktown


Cambridge line


Malvern ave.


Public.


40


294


.. .


Yorktown


Malvern ave.


Northerly


Private.


40


...


100


* Proposed.


+Sidewalk in Somerville.


. ...


Warren


Medford st.


Cambridge line Public.


30 to 40


109


....


Washington av. Washington


st. Northerly


Private.


18


Washington


pl. Washington st. Southerly


Private. about 7.5


114


Washington


Fitchburg R. R. Cambridge line Public.


40


... .


236


Waverly


Washington


st. Roland st.


Public.


40


405


. . ..


Wesley


Pearl st.


Clarendon ave.


Broadway


Private.


40


....


+White


Elm st.


Cambridge line Public.


Private.


50


...


... .


·


177


Winthrop ave.


Mystic ave.


Middlesex ave. Private.


40


....


461


Woodbine Ex.


End of above


Private.


30


.......


. ...


William


Broadway


Medford line


. ...


N. E. line


N. E. line


Warren


Pow. House sq. Medford line


Public.


60


500


....


...


85


Weston ave.


307


315


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Table Showing the Location, Length and Width of


Public and Private Streets .- Concluded.


Street


From


To


Public or


Width in


Feet Public Private


Court


39 Adams st.


Southeasterly


Private.


8


..


90


Court


Albion st.


Central st.


Private.


12


. ...


216


Court


11 Albion st.


Northeasterly


Private.


9


....


100


Court


292 Broadway


Southwesterly


Private.


15


90


Court


612 Broadway


Southwesterly


Private.


20


....


. .. .


59


Court


12 Carlton st.


Southeasterly


Private.


25


75


Court


112 Central st.


Northwesterly


Private.


10


168


Court


113 Central st. Southeasterly


Private.


20


150


Court


227 Columbia st.Northwesterly


Private.


10


117


Court


Conlon ct.


Windsor st. ex. Private.


20


240


Court


36 Craigie st.


Westerly


Private.


25


126


Court


59 Craigie st.


Easterly


Private.


23.63


129


Court


58 Dane st.


Easterly


Private.


10


70


Court


20 Dimick st.


Southwesterly


Private.


39.25


136


Court


91 Franklin st. Westerly


Private.


12


171


Court


66 Lowell st.


Westerly


Private.


25


101


Court


78 Lowell st.


Westerly


Private.


25


101


Court


101 Medford st. Easterly


Private.


8


75


Court


Sacramento st. Southeasterly


Private.


25


318


Court


10 Stone ave. Northwesterly


Private.


20


113


Court


Windsor st. ex. E'ly and W'ly Total


Private.


20


370


445,083


87,128


....


. ...


188


Court


Buena Vista rd. Easterly


Private.


15


145


Court


Cambria st.


Northerly


Private.


9


... .


. .


. .


..


...


. . .


... .


....


....


Public, 84.60 miles [includes 1.406 miles of City Boulevard and Park Roadways, 2.331 miles of State Boulevard (Metropolitan Park Commission), and 1.596 miles State Highway]; private 16.21 miles.


Total length of streets in the city, 100.8 miles.


178


Court


21 Albion st.


Northeasterly


Private.


10


Length


Private


316


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


City Hall, Somerville, January 1, 1921.


To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville : -


Gentlemen : -


In accordance with the provisions of the City Charter, I submit herewith the annual report of the public buildings department for the year ending December 31, 1920.


The total valuation of the public property which is in the custody of the public buildings department is approximate- ly $3,550,000.


The total expenditure for the year 1920 for the care and maintenance of this property was $209,961.25.


This amount was expended as follows :


Care and


School Buildings


.


Janitors $56,957 56 753 00


Fuel $39,485 17 400 12


Light $10,557 17 104 41 3,000 07


Repairs $47,227 70 23 03


Totals $154,227 60


Electrical Dept.


1,280 56


Fire Buildings


4,545 45


2,773 42


10,318 94


City Home Buildings


1,228 39


553 13


1,704 99


3,486 51


Contagious Hospital


544 96


1,766 59


677 76


1,214 74


4,204 05


Highway Buildings


412 95


213 46


362 18


988 59


Central Library


3,057 00


1,051 64


1,436 65


443 94


5,989 23


West Branch Li-


brary


1,355 88


400 33


504 90


189 70


2,450 81


East


Branch .


Li-


1,086 59


263 68


271 01


12 88


1,634 16


Union Sq. Branch .


1,107 83


323 95


291 73


30 87


1,754 38


Municipal Buildings


5,776 60


2,027 59


1,550 73


2,460 82


11,815 74


Park Buildings


417 48


141 41


464 13


467 22


1,490 24


Police Buildings


2,021 82


956 09


598 28


712 93


4.289 12


Polling Places


8 31


18 42


1,098 23


1,124 96


Sanitary Buildings


114 46


240 31


398 84


753 61


Sewer Buildings


69 97


29 96


542 85


642 78


Water Buildings


619 03


313 87


53 74


986 64


Bathhouse


924 54


1,436 70


2,361 24


Bandstand


16 25


145 84


162 09


Totals


.


$74,003 26


$53,815 13


$20,842 24


$61,300 62


$209,961 25


Inspection of Buildings.


The Commissioner of Public Buildings is also the inspec- tor of buildings according to the terms of the charter and as such during the past year has made 1160 formal inspections of buildings in the process of construction.


The following table shows the number of permits issued for building operations during the year 1920 : -


...


...


·


brary


.......


317


COMMISSIONER . OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


WARDS.


Buildings


1


2


3


4


5


6


7 Totals


Dwellings


18


14


6


9


27


21


21


116


Stores


3


2


1


1


1


3


11


Dwellings and stores


1


16


14


14


24


22


70


175


Storage


4


3


3


4


3


17


Manufactories


5


2


3


1


2


2


4


19


Sheds


2


5


1


2


3


2


2


17


Offices


.


1


3


1


1


1


7


Shops


2


2


1


1


2


3


11


Warehouse and loading Shed


2


1


1


Creamery


1


1


1


Miscellaneous


1


1


1


3


2


8


Totals


54


51


28


33


62


58


112


398


Wood


Fire resisting


Totals


New Buildings


40


161


201


Alterations


186


11


197


Totals


226


172


398


WARDS.


Buildings


1


2


3


4


5


6


7 Totals


Wood


.31


37


11


17


35


31


37


199


Wood and Cement


1


6


7


Wood and Metal


1


1


2


Fireproofed wood


3


2


5


5


2


2


2


21


Brick


2


1


2


1


3


1


10


Brick and wood


3


2


5


Brick and Concrete


1


2


1


2


1


7


Cement Block


9


10


6


6


11


13


54


103


Concrete


3


1


2


3


8


4


3


24


Concrete and Wood


1


1


6


8


Artificial Stone .


1


1


Miscellaneous


1


1


Galvanized iron .


1


1


Totals


53


53


28


33


61


58


112


398


The number of plumbing permits issued during 1920 was .


Number of permits for plumbing in new buildings .


·


.


19


Number of permits for plumbing in old buildings


152


Number of buildings in which soil pipes were tested


102


2


1


1


4


Stables


Churches


1


1


1


3


2


Offices and stores


1


Hospitals


Wood and Concrete


2


2


1


Steel


1


2


2


5


Garages


15 .


·


171


The total estimated cost of the new buildings and altera. tions during the year 1920 was $1,384,456, while the estimated cost in 1919 was $773,099, showing an increase of $611,357.


318


ANNUAL REPORTS ..


The total number of permits issued during the year 1920, viz. 398, was 43 less than during the year 1919, when 441 per- mits for new buildings and alterations were issued.


There has been very little of speculative building of dwell- ings going on this year owing to the high cost of both labor- and materials.


There has been, however, a considerable number of altera- tions of dwellings owing to the scarcity of rentals.


Single family houses have been altered into two family houses and some of the larger houses have been altered into small kitchenette suites. These types of alterations demand very careful inspection and supervision by this department and entail considerable more time than new construction.


On September 1, 1918, the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville passed an ordinance requiring a fee to be col- lected for every building permit issued by this department. In accordance with this, fees collected for building permits dur- ing the year 1920 amounted to $1,051.


The Commissioner has under his charge and direction the. work of maintenance and keeping in repair all of the eighty- four public buildings of the city and the grounds in connection therewith, all janitors in the city's employ, a force of nine. mechanics who perform most of the work of keeping the build- ings in repair, the inspection of installation and care of all elevators, the supervision of construction of all new municipal buildings, the maintenance of the public bathing beach and public municipal baths in the Bennett and Bingham Schools and Lincoln Park.


The various activities in connection with the department work require a vast amount of time and attention in order to keep the property in proper condition for occupancy.


Coal.


As in the past years an invitation for bids was advertised for supplying the necessary tonnage of both anthracite and bituminous coal for the city buildings for the winter of 1920 and spring of 1921.


Two bids were received, one being from a local concern. After taking same under consideration His Honor, the Mayor, decided to reject both, as they were extremely high, and have all' coal purchased direct by this department. The wisdom of this has been amply justified as there has been a large saving in: money as a result of this decision ..


319


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


Elevators


According to an act of the Legislature the Building Com- missioner is required to have every elevator in the city inspect- ed yearly and a report of the conditions and necessary repairs made to the State District Police.


Plans and specifications of all new installations of eleva- tors must be filed in this office and certificates of approval granted by the Commissioner.


During the year 1920, there were 135 elevators inspected and 38 orders for repairs to be made, sent to the owners.


Plans and specifications were filed and applications grant- ed for the installation of 10 new elevators.


School Buildings.


The maintenance and care of school buildings has, as for- merly, demanded the most vigilant attention from this depart- ment and the appropriation made for that purpose has, I be- lieve, been expended carefully and judiciously.


Every year just before the summer vacation arrives this department sends out a blank to be filled in by both the prin- cipals and janitors of schools of all requisitions and repairs needed.


These repairs and requests are taken up with the Super- intendent of Schools and taken care of in the order which he suggests so far as the appropriation will allow.


First are taken into consideration the requests and re- pairs absolutely needed for the opening of schools. Then the others are taken up in the order of their importance. This in itself is a huge task as the wants of every section must be taken into consideration.


Among the necessary repairs that were taken care of this year are the following :


Four boilers were retubed. A number of new grates were installed and repairs made on 24 other boilers.


Steam repairs were made in 20 buildings.


Plaster repairs were made in 11 buildings.


Plumbing repairs and new installations were made in 21 buildings. "New water service with larger main installed in 3 buildings.


Mason repairs were made in 9 buildings beside repairs of fire boxes .of boilers in nearly every building.


65 teachers' guest chairs were recaned.


3 teachers' couches were recovered.


320


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Roof leaks and other roof repairs were taken care of on 14. buildings.


Carpenter repairs, such as:


Window cords.


Repairing and tightening furniture.


Fitting up one room in Morse, Southern Junior High, Lowe and Hodgkins Schools with larger size furniture.


A new hall has been fitted up in the Knapp School by the removal of a partition between two class rooms and the installa- tion of a Wilson Rolling lift partition. These two rooms can with this arrangement be used as separate class rooms, or, with the partition rolled up, make a hall with a seating capa- city of 300.


Painting :


The Hodgkins, Cummings, Prescott and Pope buildings were thor- oughly painted and renovated throughout and a few of the rooms in the Boys' Vocational School were fitted up and painted.


At High School several rooms and office walls and ceilings tinted and woodwork varnished.


3,000 desk tops, 40 Teachers' desks and 30 tables in various schools refinished and varnished.


All toilet seats finished in white enamel and several school toilets painted out.


Students' chairs in several buildings refinished and varnished.


Toilets at the Cutler School were thoroughly renovated, walls and ceilings painted and woodwork varnished.


The lintels and sills of the Cutler School which are of artificial stone and had broken off in a very dangerous and unsightly manner- have, during the year, been entirely replaced, adding a great deal to the looks and safety of this building which is located on Powder House Boulevard, a much travelled thoroughfare.


Lighting :


Proper lighting of school rooms is a problem to which the head of this department has given considerable time and study. We have made a good start during the past two years and established a sys- tem, from experience gained by studying the methods used by other cities, which we intend to follow up until every school has the proper lighting required.


In the following buildings we have installed electric lighting sys- tems with service lines, mains and cut-out boxes on each floor, of suffi- cient size to take care of the entire building at present and at any future time:


Northern Junior High, Bingham, Proctor, Lowe,


Prescott, Glines and Knapp Schools.


321


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


Heating :


At the Glines School an additional direct heating system has been installed during the past year. This system has been recommended by this department for several years, and has proven satisfactory and will eventually show quite a saving of fuel.


At the Central Heating Plant and Glines School a Coppus Blower system has been installed to the boilers enabling us to use a cheaper grade of anthracite coal instead of Bituminous, formerly used, with a saving of money on fuel, and the removal of the smoke nuisance which is so objectionable.


Fire Loss.


The city suffered a slight loss by fire at the Cummings School caused by spontaneous combustion. This loss was partially covered by insurance. The building was thoroughly renovated and repaired with very little loss of time to pupils, by fitting up two rooms at the Carr School during Christmas week, and using them for the scholars on half time.


The most pressing needs this year will be the following :


That the policy of yard resurfacing be continued so that the school yards may be kept sanitary and free from dust.


That the policy of painting as many school buildings as possible during the year be continued.


Additional windows in the Edgerly School.


Outside enclosed fire escapes on the Edgerly, Morse and High- land School buildings. These buildings are three stories high and the old style type of construction with very little distance between stair- ways.


New heating and ventilating plant in the Morse School, doing away with the present seven furnaces which are in bad condition.


New floors should be installed in both the Edgerly and Highland School buildings.


Installing direct steam coils thermostatically controlled in the new wing of the Brown School, also the Pope school and the High School Annex. This would mean a great saving of coal and would eventually ' pay for itself. A start must be made this year on at least one of the buildings. .


Extending the heat control system in the High School to the re- mainder of the building.


The third story of the Pope School to be fitted up for a hall.


Installing motor and doing away with the present engine used to run the ventilating fan at the Bell School as this engine is in bad shape and would cost as much to be repaired as a new motor.


Removing the partitions between the fire rooms and coal bins in the Bingham, Durell, Morse and Highland Schools and replacing same with eight-inch brick walls.


Continuation of the policy of installing sprinkler systems, doing, as many buildings as possible during the coming year.


Fire Department Buildings.


There has been considerable work done and many im- provements made in the several fire department buildings.


The front portion of the first floor of Hose 7. was torn out 1


322


ANNUAL REPORTS.


because of decayed timbers and replaced with cinder fill and a concrete floor.


At the Union Square Fire Station extensive repairs had to be made on the tower and roof again this year as the build- ing was struck by lightning during a severe thunder storm in August.


The great increase in the cost of fuel, light and labor cur- tailed a great number of the needed repairs during the past year but much necessary work was accomplished.


. The most pressing needs for this year will be the follow- ing :


New heating plants in Engine 6 and Hose 8, thus doing away with old and wholly inadequate furnaces.


Repairs to Engine 6 house.


New floor in shop at Central Fire Station.


Interior and exterior painting of portions of Engine 1, Engine 2, Hose 3, Hose 5, Engine 6, Hose 7 and Hose 8 houses.


Several other minor repairs are being considered and will be carried out as far as necessary.


I urgently recommend something being done to Engine 4 house. This building is in such bad shape that it does not seem wise to spend any money on repairs and as it is a well located building on a good lot of land, I urgently recommend it being torn down and a modern building erected on this site. There is much material in the present building which could be used in the new.


Municipal Buildings.


The municipal buildings consisting of City Hall and City Hall Annex, are in fair condition generally.


Considerable new fittings and furniture have been request- ed by various departments.


During the past year only such repairs as were absolutely necessary were attended to.


Libraries.


Very few repairs were necessary at any of the libraries the past year as the buildings are in very fair condition.


The outside of the Central Library building was repaint- ed 2 coats and much of the furniture refinished.


At the West Somerville Branch Library the roof needs


323:


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


repairing and some of the interior finish needs attention.


There is also quite a little new furniture required this. year which must be furnished.


Water, Highway, Sanitary, and Sewer Buildings.


Water Department buildings are in need of a new heat- ing plant, as the old plant which was installed as a power plant for the high pressure pumps is not economical and wholly inade- quate as a low pressure heating plant.


The Highway, Sanitary and Sewer buildings call for con- siderable repairs. Stall bottoms must be replaced, roof and other repairs made. One thing which calls for serious con- sideration is the replacement of glass of which there have been more than 200 lights replaced this year.


The Veteran Firemen's building which was Somerville's first Town Hall was repaired and refinished inside and out dur- ing December.


Hospital Buildings.


General repairs were made this last year in these build- ings, as follows :


New awnings were purchased and installed ; principally on the Tuberculosis Camp.


Quite extensive outside repairs were made to piazzas, steps,. etc., and some painting was done on the interior.


There is still much to be done, however, in order to keep these buildings in proper sanitary condition.


City Home Buildings.


Quite extensive repairs have been made to the buildings during the past year, some of which are the following:


A new sun room was added to the Hospital wing.


A cement platform was built at the piggery, and a cement run was made into the barn.


A new hot water boiler was installed in the wash room.


Besides these considerable new furniture had to be purchased.


Request has been made by the Overseers of the Poor for con- siderable work to be done this coming year.


Police Buildings.


Very little was done during the past year to the Police Buildings outside of the necessary boiler repairs and the pur- chase of a few much-needed, metal lockers for the patrolmen.


I urgently recommend a new heating plant be installed in the stable and garage in the rear. This is needed to properly


1


324


ANNUAL REPORTS.


heat these buildings as the heater in the stable is beyond re- pair and there is no heat in the garage.


Bathhouse.


The public bathhouse on the Mystic River at Wellington Bridge was opened and maintained as usual last year with a very good attendance. No serious accidents were reported for the year.


We were able to secure 500 tons of sand for the resanding of the beach which was greatly appreciated by the patrons.


The theft of bathing suits by the patrons is causing a great deal of trouble and thought to the Building Commissioner and a very large unnecessary expenditure of money by the City. Changes are being planned to eliminate this trouble the coming / vear.


We hope with these changes to give better service and ex- pect that the bathing beach will another year be taxed to its utmost.


Park Buildings.


This coming year the building located in Broadway Park will need considerable attention in the way of repairs as the building leaks badly and new sills must be installed.


I heartily recommend the erection of a permanent band- stand in Broadway Park as it is fair to assume that we will continue to have more band concerts here in the future than in the past, and there is no permanent place to have such af- fairs in the city.


There is considerable agitation being made for a new recre- ation building to be located in Recreation Field, West Somer- ville; this building to have toilet facilities for the public and locker and shower-bath rooms for the various athletic teams.


Drawings have been made by the Building Commissioner for such a building and an appropriation of about $3500 stands available to be used, but this amount is entirely inadequate and should be greatly increased.


In General.


The Commissioner of Public Buildings has had the co- operation of all branches of the City Government, including Ilis Honor, the Mayor, the honorable members of the Board of Aldermen and all the city officials, and desires to thank them for their kindly consideration.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE L. DUDLEY,


Commissioner of Public Buildings.


1


COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS. 325


REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1921.


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.


Gentlemen :-


I most respectfully submit my twelfth annual report as Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights for the year end- ing December 31, 1920.


Inspection of Wiring in Buildings.


With conditions gradually approaching the normal and prices of materials being somewhat reduced, installations of electric lights and appliances have increased in number.


While few new buildings have been erected this past year a larger number of old houses have been wired for electric lights, heating and cooking appliances.


Careful inspection has been made of all work done for which permits have been issued and other old work has been followed up as far as possible.


/


The practice of attaching unapproved wiring and appli- ances to existing installations by persons using electricity still continues but soon comes to the attention of the Inspector, who, if conditions are found to be dangerous, notifies the owner of the premises and if defects are not remedied the removal of the meter is liable to occur.


Very few refuse to rectify such conditions after being noti- fied, as want of proper information is generally the cause of existing defects.


Occasionally work is done by unlicensed workmen caus- ing considerable annoyance to the customer who should not employ such persons who have not a State License to do wiring. No work should be accepted until inspected and approved.


I again call your attention to the unwise practice of over. fusing circuits for light or power. The approval of an installa-


-


326


ANNUAL REPORTS.


tion provides that proper fuses are supplied and they should not be changed to larger sizes.


Changes in the construction of buildings that interfere with the existing wiring should be immediately reported to the inspection department.


The ordinance passed July 1, 1918, requiring permits to be obtained to do work in the City has been a great help in keep- ing the inspections down to a minimum.


Number of notifications of new work . 1400


Number of inspections of new work . 1897


Number of re-inspections of new work 57


Number of inspections of old work . 98 .


Number of defective installations of old work


10


Number of defective installations remedied


CO


Number of re-inspections of old work


10


Total number of inspections . 2080


Number of permits issued to the Edison Electric Il- 1


luminating Company for installing meters, lamps, etc., 1909


Number of permits issued to the Malden Electric Com-


pany


3


Fire Alarm System.


The Fire Alarm System is in first class condition and is giving excellent service, being rated as one of the best systems in the State.


240 bell alarms have been received and transmitted during the year.


Over the central telephone desk with connections to each Fire Station 448 calls for fire have been received and telephone alarms sent to the different stations.




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