USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1922 > Part 20
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On Fridays Miss Edith Fox conducts a class in sewing. The girls in this class have been making warm flannel night- gowns for their own use. Miss Hood also has another class in cooking on Fridays.
One of the most important groups at the House is a club of twenty-eight women. They meet once in two weeks and at present their chief interest is a course in Home Nursing, with a Red Cross nurse acting as instructor. At Christmas time they made up seven baskets of food and clothing, which were taken to poor people.
In all, about two hundred people take an active part in the affairs of the House, but the number who receive the good influence which the House broadcasts in the neighborhood is inestimable.
It is around Mrs. W. L. Holland that the machinery of the House revolves. She has reached the hearts of the people and brought them together. And by keeping her faith with them she is gradually teaching them a spirit of kindness, a spirit of truth, and a spirit of co-operation. In other words she is leading them into the ways of good American citizen- ship.
BERTHA E. KEYES, Secretary for the Ways and Means Committee.
298
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
OFFICE OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, City Hall Annex, Somerville, January 1, 1923. To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :
The following report of the sealer of weights and meas- ures for the year 1922 is respectfully submitted : -
Work of Weights and Measures Department for 1922.
Scales
Adjusted
Sealed
Non- sealed
Con- demned
Platform over 5000 capacity
1
41
-
Platform under 5000 capacity
23
278
15
Counter
27
548
5
2
Spring
7
753
7
2
Computing
15
342
3
-
Slot personal
62
Prescription
38
Beam
32
Track
Weights, -
Avoirdupois
48
3262
Apothecary
553
Metric
16
Capacity Measures,
Dry
77
4
Liquid
879
15
Gasolene pumps
5
93 and 272
stops
Oil pumps .
18
79
12
Molasses pumps
31
3
Yard sticks .
140
-
Baskets
13
Leather measuring machine
1
Totals
144
7238
42
26
Fees collected and paid to City Treasurer, $619.79.
Amount paid City Treasurer for Pedlers' Licenses, $959.00.
-
-
Ice cream cans
299
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Trial Weighing in Stores.
Incorrect
Commodity
Under
Over
Coal in paper bags
36
10
1
Coal in wagons
-
-
-
Flour in paper bags
Butter
30
30
Dry commodities
207
178
25
4
Bread
12
12
Totals
285
245
35
5
Inspections : -
Hawkers and Pedlers Licenses
161
Ice dealers' scales .
48
Coal certificates
32
Junk scales
.
25
-
-
The decrease in number of capacity measures sealed in 1922 as compared with number sealed in 1921 is due to the fact that ice cream containers are now sealed by the manufacturers under the provisions of Section 10, Chapter 98 of the General Laws.
B. S. ABBOTT,
Sealer of Weights and Measures. .
Number Tested
Correct 25
300
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :
The annual report of the law department for the year ending December 31, 1922, is as follows :
A bill presented to the legislature by the town of Dover asking to be taken out of the Metropolitan Park District passed both branches of the legislature. At my request the governor gave a hearing on the bill and I secured the pres- ence of representatives of many cities and towns who ex- pressed their opposition to the proposed legislation. The governor vetoed the bill and the legislature failed to pass it over his veto. If it had become a law other municipalities situated like Dover in respect to the district would have asked to be taken out and the result would probably have been a large increase of the contribution by Somerville to the ex- penses of the district.
A bill was presented to the legislature providing for an extension of the Metropolitan Water District at an estimated cost of more than sixty millions of dollars. If this bill had been passed it would have added several millions of dollars to the obligations of Somerville. Every year of delay means a saving of many thousands of dollars in interest charges. I joined in the opposition and it failed to become a law at that- session of the legislature.
An act was passed by the legislature for widening a por- tion of Bridge street in Cambridge authorizing the work to be done by the County Commissioners of Middlesex County. A hearing was held by the County Commissioners and the act was accepted by them. It does not provide for any special assessment upon Somerville.
An action for personal injuries mentioned in my report for the year 1921 in which there was a verdict of $9,000 was set- tled for $8,000. An action brought by a suspended member of the Fire Department was tried before a jury in the Mid- dlesex Superior Court and a verdict was given in his favor. An action brought by a member of the Fire Department to
301
CITY SOLICITOR.
test the validity of a regulation under the two-platoon law was argued before the full bench of the Supreme Court and a decision was rendered sustaining the reguation.
A large tract of land was taken for a Junior High School on Marshall street by right of eminent domain, having a front- age of 300 feet and comprising 13 lots. Settlement of claims for damages were made with all the owners and conveyances by them to the city were recorded.
A parcel of land on Marshall street formerly occupied by a fire station was offered for sale by the city and the title be- ing questioned the land was registered in the Land Court and the sale was carried through.
Very respectfully,
FRANK W. KAAN, City Solicitor.
302
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF SOMERVILLE PLANNING BOARD
December 31, 1922.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and Board of Aldermen. Gentlemen :
As required by the provisions of Chapter 494 of the Acts of 1913 the Planning Board herewith submits its annual report, containing also suggestions and recommendations for the improvement of the City.
During the year 1922 two new members were appointed by His Honor, Mayor Webster, namely, John Williamson and Benjamin J. Surett. The Board organized for the year by re-electing William F. Riley Chairman and David J. Kelley, Secretary. the other members of the Board being George J. Rauh, John Williamson and Benjamin J. Surett.
During the past year the Planning Board held several meetings and discussed the various matters of public interest for the welfare of the city, which is herein set forth. Some of these matters have been mentioned in previous reports of the planning Board, but no action has as yet been taken in regard to their adoption by the Board of Aldermen.
Fire Districts
Although the importance of the enactment of an ordi- nance establishing fire districts has been repeatedly called to the attention of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, nothing has been attempted, and no action taken, nor has the subject been considered during the past year.
The Planning Board again earnestly recommends that" some definite action be taken by the Board of Aldermen to provide proper fire protection for the city by establishing some fire districts without further delay. The Planning Board is ready to cooperate in every way with the Board of Aldermen in order to hasten action in this important matter.
Public Parks and Playgrounds
The Board again recommends that more small play- grounds be established in the different sections of the city for the exclusive use of small children. Particular attention is called to the necessity of providing a playground in Ward six, in the Morse School section.
Somerville's only bathing beach at the Wellington Bridge on the Mystic River, although under the direction and
303
PLANNING BOARD).
control of the city has been so neglected that its usefulness as a bathing beach is doubtful. The beach needs to be sanded and cleared of mud, so that the children and older people who use the beach can do so in safety and comfort. The city should either improve the beach, or turn its manage- ment over to the Metropolitan Park Commission.
Mystic River Development
The subject of the development of the Mystic River for commercial purposes has been discussed frequently in recent years, and efforts have been made from time to time to obtain the assistance of the National Government.
In 1892 the United States government dredged a chan- nel in the Mystic River from the B. & M. Railroad bridge to the head of navigation or Craddock Bridge in Medford. This channel is about one hundred feet in width for about one mile, and gradually narrows in width until it is about fifty feet wide at the Craddock Bridge in Medford. At the Wellington Bridge in Somerville the channel is about fifty feet in width and the natural channel is about eight feet is about eight feet deep at mean low water. From the Boston & Maine Railroad bridge up to Craddock Bridge in Medford the river is very crooked and unsuitable for the navigation of vessels over one hundred fifty feet in length, and is not of sufficient depth to accommodate vessels of a size suitable for commercial purposes.
Somerville has about thirty-six hundred feet of water front on the Mystic River. Part of this is owned by the Boston & Maine Railroad and private parties, and another part of it is controlled by the Metropolitan Park Commis- sion. The only shipping interest on the Mystic River in Somerville at the present time is the Somerville Coal Com- pany, which occupies Dennings Wharf, so called. The river is so winding and the draft so shallow that only barges of light draft can use the river for commercial purposes.
In order to make the Mystic River suitable for ships which would be of sufficient size to be useful for commercial purposes the channel of the river must be widened and dredged, as the existing channel is obviously inadequate.
The United States government has refused to expend any money for this purpose in that part of the Mystic River running through Somerville and Medford for the following reasons :-
304
ANNUAL REPORTS.
1. Difficulty in navigation on account of the many bends in the river.
2. The use of the largest part of the land on both sides of the river for park purposes.
3. The small number of business concerns using the river in their business either in Somerville or Medford.
As a remedy for this condition the Board suggests that your Honorable body urge upon our representative in Con- gress the necessity of some action towards securing an ade- quate appropriation so that this water way with the adjoin- ing terminal facilities furnished by the Boston & Maine Rail- road may be fully utilized. and the commercial interest of the City improved thereby.
The Board strongly recommends that the city immedi- ately purchase the land north of the Wellington Bridge as the first stop in the development of the river front. If the city acquires this land on the river front a bulkhead or pier could be built out into deep water by using the ashes or other filling now being dumped outside the city limits and thereby provide additional dumping facilities which would at the same time be of great value in reclaiming the marsh land and building a suitable wharf for the use of the City and business interests.
Survey of City
The Planning Board has considered the advisability of the enactment of a zoning ordinance which would correct the evils existing today on account of the absence of building regulations or restrictions. The subject is, however, very important, and should only be acted upon after having a com- prehensive survey made of the enitre city by a city planning engineer who would give an unbiased and disinterested report of conditions and suggest the establishment of zones based upon studies of the whole city.
The comprehensive survey should cover the following subjects :
(A) Business districts
(B) Residential districts
(C) Miscellaneous business and residential districts
(D) Industrial sites
(E) Population centres
(F) Schools, public buildings and parks
(G) Plan showing valuation of real estate by districts
(H) Transportation facilities and streets
(I) Water front
(J) Building regulations
(K) Fire Districts
The survey should be illustrated by plans which would be of great assistance in working out a zoning ordinance, and planning for the future development of Somerville.
305
PLANNING BOARD.
The draft of a zoning ordinance based on the facts found by the survey should be undertaken only after public hearing, to give all citizens an opportunity to be heard and to make suggestions.
Zoning was discussed in our last year's report, and is. fast becoming important to the life of every modern progres- sive city. Springfield last year spent $20,000 .; Worcester spent about $28,000. and Newton spent about $10,000. in making a comprehensive study, and in providing a zoning ordinance to protect the property values and regulate the use of property for the benefit of all the citizens.
Revision of Building Laws
In connection with zoning, and as supplementary there- to a complete revision of our building laws should be under- taken, as both are necessary to accomplish the desired result. The construction of all buildings should be carefully consid- ered at the same time that the use to which the building may be put is determined by the zoning ordinance.
In the opinion of the Planning Board there should be a preliminary survey of the city by an expert city planner, so that both the building laws and zoning ordinance would be- framed with facts in the possession of the Board to assist it in framing such ordinances as would be for the best interests. of the city for consideration and acceptance by the Board of Aldermen.
Appropriation
Somerville must do its share to provide for the welfare of its citizens, and the Planning Board is anxious to accom- plish some definite results by cooperating with the Board of Aldermen in recommending public improvements, but has been seriously handicapped by lack of cooperation on the part of the city government by its failure to provide sufficient appropriation to the Planning Board. If the work of the Planning Board is unnecessary and of no value to the citi- zens of Somerville, then the Board ought to be abolished, and no appropriation given to it, but if its work is of assistance, and is of value to the city the city government should not put Somerville in the same class as a town of a few thousand inhabitants by appropriating $50. for the use of the Planning Board. The Planning Board can accomplish nothing with such a small appropriation, and returns it herewith to the Treasury of the City of Somerville.
The Planning Board recommends that the city govern- ment appropriate $5000. for its use during the year 1923, so
306
ANNUAL REPORTS.
that it may proceed along scientific lines, and with the aid of expert assistance submit to the Mayor and Board of Alder- men a comprehensive plan for the future development of Som- erville, and also a suitable zoning ordinance, so that Somer- ville may keep pace with the neighboring City of Cambridge in providing adequate laws for the future growth of the city. Necessarily the work of the Planning Board must be for the future. The results obtained the Planning Board be- lieves will be for the best interests of Somerville, and will in the long run result in saving money for the city. The appro- priation if given will be carefully used in accomplishing the desired results.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN WILLIAMSON, Chairman GEORGE J. RAUH BENJAMIN J. SURETT DAVID J. KELLEY, Secretary.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CITY OF SOMERVILLE
School Committee Rooms, December 18, 1922. Ordered, that the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools be adopted as the annual report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Board to the opinions or recommenda- tions made therein; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers ; and that 1,000 copies be printed separate- ly.
CHARLES S. CLARK, Secretary of School Board.
4
308
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1922.
HERBERT CHOLERTON ·
WALTER I. CHAPMAN
.
.
Members. EX-OFFICIIS.
JOHN M. WEBSTER, Mayor, ENOCH B. ROBERTSON, President Board of Aldermen,
76 Boston street. 39 Highland road.
JULIA A. CROWLEY, FRANCIS J. FITZPATRICK,
. .
.
.
·
.
.
WARD THREE.
CHARLES W. BOYER, OSCAR W. CODDING,
66 Avon street. 59 Vinal avenue.
WARD FOUR.
KATHERINE C. COVENEY, *RICHARD L. RICE, +EDWARD I. TRIPP,
..
. .
..
WARD FIVE.
.
.
WARD SIX.
18-A Central street. 15 Highland road.
WARD SEVEN.
HERBERT CHOLERTON,
.
.
.
Superintendent of Schools. CHARLES S. CLARK.
Office : City Hall Annex, Highland Avenue. Residence: 75 Munroe street.
The Superintendent's office will be open on school days from 8 to 5; Saturdays, 8 to 10. His office hour is 4 o'clock on school days, and 8:30 on Saturdays.
Superintendent's Office Force.
Mary A. Clark, 42 Highland avenue.
Mildred A. Merrill, 26 Cambria street.
H. Madeline Kodad, 104 Sharon street, West Medford.
Marion E. Marshall, 30 Gilman street. Ruth O. Elliott, 4 Lincoln place.
Marguerite E. Flanagan, 10 Auburn avenue.
Board Meetings.
January 30. April 24. February 27. May 29. March 27. June 26.
September 25. December 18.
October 30.
November 27. 8:15 o'clock.
* Resigned September 25.
+ Elected November 16.
.
73 Marshall street 2961/2 Broadway 21 Wigglesworth street. .
HARRY M. STOODLEY, MINNIE S. TURNER,
283 Highland avenue. 64 Hudson street.
WALTER I. CHAPMAN, WALTER FRYE TURNER,
.
94 College avenue. 41 Mason street.
PAUL O. CURTIS,
2 Austin street.
WARD TWO.
19 Concord avenue. 88 Concord avenue.
DANIEL H. BRADLEY, CHRISTOPHER J. MULDOON,
WARD ONE.
Chairman Vice-Chairman
1
309
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Standing Committees, 1922.
NOTE .- The member first named is chairman.
District I. - Fitzpatrick, Crowley, Bradley. PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, BENNETT.
District II. - Muldoon, Bradley, Fitzpatrick. KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER.
District III. - Boyer, Codding, Muldoon. POPE, CUMMINGS.
District IV. - Rice, Coveney, Codding. EDGERLY, GLINES.
District V. - Miss Turner, Stoodley, Coveney. FORSTER, BINGHAM, PROCTOR. 1
District VI. - Chapman, Turner, Stoodley. CARR, MORSE, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN.
District VII. - Curtis, Cholerton, Chapman. HIGHLAND, CUTLER, LINCOLN, LOWE.
High School - Chairman Bradley, Stoodley, Crowley, Codding, Cov- eney, Chapman, Cholerton. 1
Finance - Chairman Stoodley, Fitzpatrick, Muldoon, Codding, Rice, Chapman, Cholerton, Webster, Robertson.
Text Books and Courses of Study - Chairman Chapman, Muldoon, Crowley, Boyer, Coveney, Miss Turner, Curtis.
Industrial Education - Chairman Boyer, Miss Turner, Crowley, Mul- doon, Rice, Turner, Curtis.
School Accommodations - Chairman Codding, Rice, Fitzpatrick, Brad- ley, Stoodley, Turner, Cholerton, Webster, Robertson.
Teachers - Chairman Cholerton, Chapman, Fitzpatrick, Muldoon, Cod- ding, Rice, Miss Turner.
Health, Physical Training and Athletics - Chairman Curtis, Bradley, Fitzpatrick, Boyer, Coveney, Stoodley, Turner.
Rules - Chairman Miss Turner, Boyer, Crowley, Bradley, Coveney, Turner, Curtis.
310
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Hereby is submitted an annual report upon the condi- tion of the public schools for the municipal year 1922. This is the fifty-first in the series of annual reports and is the fifteenth which I have written. As it is the custom of the School Committee to use this report as its own, I have pre- pared and present herewith the usual statistical tables, showing facts concerning pupils, teachers, and expenditures. The first thing to consider is the membership. The num- ber of pupils belonging to the day schools December 5 was 14,419, an increase of 196 pupils over the number belonging at a corresponding time last year. The average membership for the school year ended June, 1922, was 14,004, an increase of 608 over the average membership of the preceding year. These figures, taken with those of the preceding year, repre- sent a steady growth in the membership of the schools. The following table shows distribution of the membership among the large divisions of the school system.
Membership
High
Junior High
Elementary including Kgn.
Voca- tional Total
Increase
Dec.
1922
1962
3493
8878
86
14,419
196
Dec. 1921
1966
3367
8766
124
14,223
It will be noted that the membership of the High School is practically the same as that of last year at this time. This condition is especially significant when taken in con- nection with the fact that last year there was a double senior class numbering 631. The present senior class now numbers 437. The present junior class numbers 634, and the present first year class 858. Last year these classes numbered 524 and 794. The present senior class of the four Junior High Schools now numbers 1098, exceeding the membership of last year by 85. These conditions indicate that the Senior High School is still growing. They also show a disposition on the part of the pupils to remain longer in school.
The shrinkage in the Boys' Vocational School is due to the withdrawal of the students in training under the Rehabil- itation Act. This withdrawal was due to a change in the policy of the Government in respect to training the veterans.
311
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
They are now being taught in a government school and the Boys' Vocational School now has only boys to deal with.
Teachers
High
Junior High
Elementary including Kgn.
Voca-
tional Total
Increase
Dec. 1922
71
116
226
9
422
1
Dec. 1921
72
115
224
10
421
Thirty-three teachers were elected during the last year, and were assigned as follows: High School 7, Junior High Schools 9, Elementary Schools 16, Boys' Vocational School 1. Twenty teachers resigned,-four to be married, twelve to ac- cept better paying positions elsewhere, four from other causes. Two teachers were transferred from the Junior to the Senior High School. Two were transferred from Elementary to Junior High School. There were two deaths and three retire- ments.
The work of the schools during the past year has been successful to a high degree. With the exception of over- crowding in certain schools there have been no especially un- favorable conditions to meet. A brief review will be pre- sented to show in part what has been attempted and accom- plished in the several departments of the school system.
Elementary Schools
Under our present practice the elementary schools com- prise the kindergarten and the first six grades. These grades correspond to the years of childhood, stretching from 5 to 12 years of age. During this time the children are characterized by great physical activity, robust health, and retentive mem- ory. It is a period when the forming of habits of obedience to authority, the mastering of details through repetition and drill, and the cultivating of the memory will constitute in a large measure the work of teachers and pupils. During this period the child will be engaged in acquiring the essen- tials of an education. These are reading, writing, language and spelling, arithmetic, geography, history, civics, hygiene, music, and drawing. Along with these studies goes instruc- tion in morals and conduct. These are the time-honored fun- damentals of education. They constitute the foundation up- on which the future structure must be built. There must be no skimping on these if the future work is to be solid and sub- stantial.
On the other hand, with so much to be done by pupils and teachers with the wealth of material that is inviting con- sideration, it is necessary that methods be used which ensure
312
ANNUAL REPORTS.
to the highest degree the efficient and economical use of time and effort. Herein the modern elementary school differs great- ly from its predecessors. Much material has been eliminated from the subject matter of the various studies of this period, and improvement has been made in methods of teaching and study. Our teachers have been alive to both of these necessi- ties. They are keeping abreast of the times in both respects.
Among the numerous interesting illustrations which could be given of the present methods of conducting elemen- tary school work the following are cited :
History and Civics in Our Elementary Schools
At my request, Mr. Knight, Supervising Principal of the Cutler, Lincoln, and Highland Schools, has furnished a state- ment quoted below :
During the past year an effort has been made to improve our teaching of History and Civics. When we stop to think that the problem of democracy is a problem of education and that democracy rests upon education, then the teaching of these subjects becomes a matter of great importance. Since education must be for life and not merely for efficiency, our task is to develop each individual into an intelligent, self- controlled, and sanely-balanced member of society.
"If we want democracy to succeed, we must educate for democracy. It is nothing short of treason to democratic in- stitutions to send forth from our schools young men and wom- en who know nothing of the responsibilities, duties, and privi- leges of citizens in a democracy, and of social conditions and ideals which are necessary for the success of democratic so- ciety."
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