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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