USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1923 > Part 28
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Special Events
Certain occasional special events may be mentioned as factors in the work. Among these were Visiting Days for Parents, Outing for children of one playground or another at near-by Recreation Resorts, the Final Inter-Playground Track Meet, and the Twilight Play Festival.
Closing Play Festival
The closing festival held on the Wednesday evening of the final week of the season, at twilight, was calculated to serve a four-fold purpose, namely,
1. The purpose suggested by its name,
2. To demonstrate organized play to the public, and exhibit its results, with a view to securing wider public interest.
3. To encourage the children in their play activities, and to provide free public recreation for adults, while at the same time giving the children an opportunity to re- pay the community in part for the benefits they had received from the supervised playgrounds.
The Festival attracted several thousands of the public in addition to the seventeen hundred boys and girls who par- ticipated in the twenty events on the program. It was con- ducted on Central Hill park, in the area in front of the High School Buildings and the City Hall Annex. The program of events included competitive games for boys and girls, folk
396
ANNUAL REPORTS.
dancing, accompanied by music furnished by a brass band ; relay races ; marches ; drills; a doll carriage parade; and a procession of the participating children.
This Festival furnished a fitting close to the playground season.
Co-operation
One of the most encouraging feature of the playground undertaking, during the past season, is the assistance from agencies other than the department in direct charge of super- vised recreation. This co-operation manifested itself in vari- ous ways. A few instances will be mentioned.
The Fire Department officials were accommodating and sent to the playgrounds hose wagons equipped with spray nozzles on extremely warm days, to provide shower baths for the children.
The Departments conducted by the City Engineer, the Building Commissioner, the Water Commissioner, and others which are closely connected with the playground manage- ment, rendered courteous and valuable assistance, not only when called upon, but frequently on their own voluntary in- itiative.
The Public Library placed at the disposal of the summer playgrounds a large deposit of books, suitable for the children, furnishing an additional source of recreation, and at the same time a medium for promoting the interest of children in a very profitable diversion-the reading of good books.
The merchants and business men, in the several sections of the city, cheerfully donated prizes, or gave other valuable assistance to individual playgrounds and to the entire organ- ization, on various occasions during the season. The supply- ing of trucks for transportation of children to the track meet and to outings is an example in point.
To a striking degree, there was noted this summer, a de- gree of participation in play activities by the adult members of the community. For example : Many mothers came for long periods during afternoons to the Saxton C. Foss, Central Hill, Kent Street and Hodgkins Playgrounds, to mingle with the children, and even assisted in the actual supervision of the grounds.
These instances of co-operation furnish a hopeful outlook for the future, for when a municipal activity such as ours has secured the voluntary interest of the citizens, there can be no doubt as to its future growth.
397
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
Recommendations
As a result of study and from experience with the play- ground situation in Somerville for a number of years, the Di- rector submits the following definite recommendations for the future :-
1. The early completion of the playground in the rear of the Western Junior High School.
2. The placing of some permanent equipment on the Medford Street side of Central Hill Park.
3. Securing more adequate play space in the districts served by Kent Street and Bennett Playgrounds.
4. Early attention to improving Saxton C. Foss Park, with a view to utilizing the lower end of it for ath- letic purposes.
5. Initiating the operation of a new playground unit on the grounds of the Morse School, with these two pro- visions :-
(a) The removal of the old fence-now in a dilap- idated condition that divides this area into halves,
(b) The erection of a high wire screen fence along those two sides of the school grounds that border upon the private property of citizens.
6. Additional swings on Lincoln Park Playground.
7. The planting of shade trees on some of the play- grounds to provide a natural shelter for the future.
8. Widening of the scope of the. summer playground un- dertaking to include such fields as supervised play after. school hours, and on Saturdays; and a closer relation between school recreation activities in the field now covered by the Public Welfare and Recrea- tion Commission.
Conclusion
Concluding the report for the season of 1923, I comment on the general subject of recreation in Somerville.
Continued experience in this type of work has convinced me that a city as populous and congested as Somerville must meet the problem of recreation as a municipal activity; for the problem of municipal recreation under such conditions is rising from its hitherto undefined level to a more definite and comprehensive plane.
398
ANNUAL REPORTS.
To the Chairman and members of your body, for the as- sistance rendered during the season, I express appreciation. Gratitude is due especially to the Somerville Playgrounds As- sociation for the co-operation and assistance it has rendered ; as also to the other Municipal Departments mentioned else- where in this report.
The co-operative and friendly attitude of the playground supervisors deserves special mention, because without such assistance the Director would be handicapped.
A comment on the attitude of the children of Somerville towards the playgrounds seems not inappropriate here. Ap- preciating as much as anybody the short-comings and faults of children in the matter of respect for city property and undertakings, I nevertheless am confident that Somerville ex- periences what might be called a minimum of trouble in this regard.
Comparison with other communities, authoritative re- ports and personal observation indicate that we experience less difficulty in the conduct of the children during the sum- mer months than many other communities of our size. Such misdemeanors and breaches of conduct as do occur are con- fined to a very small minority, and there have been few dem- onstrations of organized lawlessness.
There is encouragement in the knowledge that the returns from supervised recreation in our city are being made in the manifestations of orderliness and appreciation given by those on whom our efforts are expended.
Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS J. MAHONEY, Director of Playgrounds.
Jan. 2, 1924.
Report of Canning Supervisor
To the Public Welfare and Recreation Commission :
Permit me to submit a report of the Summer Canning School of 1923.
Canning Clubs were organized and conducted from June 15, 1923 through September 1923. Eighty-nine children were enrolled from the following schools: Proctor, Pope, Cutler, Glines, Edgerly, Southern Junior High, Eastern Junior High, and Western Junior High.
399
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
The club from each school met one day each week dur- ing the summer. The work was carried on at two centers, one in the Western Junior High School and the other in the Senior High School. These clubs are also enrolled with the County and State Departments and receive valuable assist- ance from their agents. Two instructors were employed regu- larly five days a week.
A central exhibition was held in October at the Senior High School. At this time fifty-seven children had completed the work required of them with honor. A total of over 2500 jars was canned and 400 jars of jellies and jams were pre- served. The average value of each jar is $0.40 making a total value of the work done $1160.
Over 300 jars were attractively displayed at the exhibi- tion and competent judges from the State Department of Agriculture awarded a first, second, and third prize, and honorable mention to ten others.
The total cost of carrying on this work was: Equipment
$27 50 283 50
Salaries
$311 00
In closing, permit me to express my appreciation to all those who have shown an interest and have been a help in this branch of school work. It is largely due to the coopera- tion of principals and teachers that the high standard of work accorded the Somerville girl canners is maintained. Special mention should be made of the splendid spirit and enthusiasm with which the girls in the Proctor and Eastern Junior High Schools carried on their work.
Respectfully submitted, ESTELLE CROWE, Canning Supervisor.
Report on Saturday Playgrounds and Public Evening Recreation To the Public Welfare and Recreation Commission :
I am submitting a report on the conduct of two phases of public recreation, supervision over which has been assigned to me by your Commission :- namely,
(1) Saturday Morning Organized Play for Children, and
(2) Public Evening Recreation Centers for Adults.
400
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Both undertakings were begun in the second week of November, and this report deals with their conduct up to December 31.
Saturday Morning Playgrounds
The Saturday morning playgrounds supervision was un- dertaken with the same objective that directs the summer playgrounds organization, and with similiar methods.
A slight variation, however, is to be noted in the special aims of the Saturday Playground work as distinguished from the Summer Playgrounds work :
(1). The "Neighborhood Playgrounds" idea is empha- sized, as expressed in the selection of smaller and less pretentious play areas, close to the homes of children of districts somewhat limited in area, rather than the larger play centers, such as the pub- lic parks, which are intended to serve larger dis- tricts.
(2). Special emphasis is given to the attempt to inter- est and provide activity for smaller children-those below eleven years of age.
GROUNDS. Gradually, eight units of organized play have been successfully developed. The playgrounds are enumera- ted here :
FOR BOYS . FOR GIRLS
Prescott School Grounds Prescott School Grounds
Morse School Grounds Morse School Grounds
Perry School Grounds Perry School Grounds
Joy Street Playground Bennett School Grounds
(Boys under 8 years are welcomed on the Girls' Playgrounds.)
SUPERVISION. Correspondingly eight supervisors have been employed, four male supervisors for the boys' units, and four female supervisors for the girls' units. With two exceptions, these supervisors have previously been engaged in the same capacity on the Summer Playgrounds. The two excepted have essayed to fulfill the Civil Service require- ments for this work.
ACTIVITIES. The activities are similar to those of the Sum- mer Playgrounds though with the restrictions resulting from
1
401
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
the smaller size and from the location of the Saturday Play- grounds, and from the difference in the average age of the children.
SESSION. The session was at first two and one-half hours, but in some centers was later extended to three hours.
ESTIMATE OF RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENT. This undertaking was new, and to some degree experimental. The outstanding conclusions, in the Director's judgment, follow :
1. The Saturday Playground is entitled to a position of great importance in. planning a Municipal Recreation pro- gram.
2. The "Neighborhood Playground" plan enlists the ac- tivity of quite as many children-though in a larger number of units-as does the Summer Playgrounds plan of organiza- tion.
3. The "Neighborhood Playground" plan has the impor- tant merit that it reaches very many children who otherwise have not acquired the habit of utilizing the City's Playground facilities.
4. The "Neighborhood . Playground" plan enlists the more intimate interest of a great number of parents.
5. The "Neighborhood Playground" plan must result in a greater attendance on the large playgrounds later, inasmuch as it "educates" children in their early years to the Municipal Playground idea.
6. The Saturday Playground plan contributes largely. to a "carrying over" from summer to summer of the desirable results obtained in following the objectives of the Playgrounds work.
Public Evening Recreation Centers
The Public Evening Recreation Centers aim at profitable recreation-indoors-for adults. The scope of the work rbus far has been limited to activities for young men. The work here was begun at the same time as that of the Saturday Play- grounds, and this report deals with the same period of time ..
CENTERS : By gradual process, three evening centers have been developed. They are located in three school buildings, namely-the Bennett, which was the first to be organized, the Morse and the Bingham.
402
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ATTENDANCE. The average attendance for all centers has been twenty-five young men for an evening, and the average age of those in attendance has been about eighteen. Very few above the age of twenty have been attracted, though it was not the original intention to restrict the activity for the benefit of youths.
ACTIVITIES. Since the whole enterprise is of a decidedly experimental nature, the program of activities is still in pro- cess of evolution. Naturally, a diversity is found among the local communities to which the individual centers cater ; and accordingly, there is slight diversity in the nature of the activities.
Among the activities carried on may be mentioned :
1. Group singing and the organization of Glee Clubs.
2. Some reading.
3. Table games, puzzles and pastimes.
4. Half-hour "talks" by prominent athletes.
5. Discussion of current topics of interest, as radio.
6. Indoor athletics (in the Bingham School only).
7. Informal, unpretentious, improvised entertainments.
8. Whist and checker tournaments.
Of special interest, perhaps, to the Commission is the fact that on the Eve of Christmas Day, a group of youths, representing two of the Evening Centers, journeyed through the city singing Christmas Carols. They were transported by automobile truck, the use of which was volunteered by some of the singers themselves. The preparation for this event furnished, of course, recreational activity for several evenings preceding the event itself.
SUPERVISION. In the conduct of this undertaking two per- sons besides the Director have been employed for supervision, one being a leader in the musical activities for all three cen- ters.
ESTIMATE. Recalling that this undertaking is still an ex- perimental one, the Director is ready to express freely the opinion that there is a decided field for desirable work in this Public Evening Recreation; and that the results thus far achieved warrant the financial expenditure involved.
403
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
The Director judges that the Indoor Recreation Center for adults should have a position in the planning of a Muni- cipal Recreation program.
Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS J. MAHONEY.
Jan. 2, 1924.
Report of Director of the Neighborhood House
To the Public Welfare and Recreation Commission :
One hundred and eight children have enrolled in the Neigh- borhood Club. The dues are 50 cents a year payable in two installments, October and February. By the payment of dues a member has the privilege of belonging to any or all of the classes and attending all the parties and entertainments at the House or the Bennett Schoolhouse, across the street.
The activities are as follows :-
Monday
Two Dramatic classes 10 each; leaders, Misses Day and Wellington.
Cooking class, 10 girls ; leader, Mrs. Perry.
Busy Work, 20; leader, Miss Fowler, Simmons College. Boys' Club membership 7, invited guests 5; leader, Mrs. Hood.
Tuesday
Cooking class, 10 girls ; leader, Mrs. Boothby, a Simmons graduate.
Sewing class, 15 girls; leader, Miss Smith of Simmons college.
Cane seating, 20 boys : leader, Mrs. Crosby, who is paid by the Service Club. Great enthusiasm is shown in this class. A boy can bring his own chair and pays 35 cents for the reed. After a boy has finished two chairs he re- ceives 25 cents a chair for his work.
Busy work, leader Miss O'Brine of Jackson College. A part of the busy work is with children too small to be in classes, but who enjoy the homelike atmosphere of the club.
404
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Wednesday
Two sewing classes, leaders, Mrs. Crosby and Miss Sadow, Simmons College.
Five music pupils, kindness of Miss Alice Fox; leader, Miss Colman.
Cooking class 10 girls, leader, Miss Levy, Simmons Col- lege.
Thursday
Boys' Gym class 24, leader, Mr. Shaw, Technology. Girls' Gym class 20, leader, Miss Twist, Jackson College. Cooking class 10 girls, leader, Mrs. Boothby. Busy work.
Friday
Two music classes 10 each, Miss Colman, leader. Sewing 10 girls, leader, Miss Edith Fox.
Under the local chapter of the Red Cross there is a class in home nursing, Miss Andrews, R. N. instructor; 30 girls enrolled. The interest in this class is pleasing; already sev- eral girls have expressed a desire to become a nurse and asked for information in regard to the educational requirements to enter a training hospital.
The Girl Scouts have a class at the House in Home Nurs- ing.
We are drilling the children in the Operetta "On 'Plym- outh Rock" to be given about the first of May.
The children are also working on Fancy Articles for a sale in June.
A Christmas Party with a performance by a Magician, A Valentine Party, four plays by the girls in the dramatic classes, and a party for the boys have been conducted.
At a social evening, the Greek and Italian mothers brought their needlework to show. They expressed great ap- preciation for the hospitality of the House and we hope to make this a monthly feature.
The Women's Neighborhood Club, 25 members, meets the second and fourth Wednesday afternoons when they have talks and entertainments, with a social tea. The first and third Wednesday evenings they have the use of the House for so- cial times with their friends. The third Thursday evening they have the schoolhouse where they hold a Whist Party or entertainment.
Miss Baldwin read "Daddy-Long-Legs" to an audience of 250.
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION. 405
Mr. Harlan P. Knight will soon give his lecture on Lin- coln.
All who come to the house appreciate their good times and the work shows a normal, healthy growth, proving that . the work is worth while.
Respectfully submitted, EMILY CAROLINE HOOD, Director of the Neighborhood House.
PUBLIC WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Summer Playgrounds
Salaries,-Director
$210 00
Supervisors, Assts.
1,484 00
Janitor
105 00
Labor .
3 00
Supplies (Athletic, etc)
277 20
Badges
24 54
Disbursements
18 20
Sand
20 48
Repairs to equipment
45 31
Teaming
30 00
Band
55 00
Printing
20,00
Connecting lights (for last day)
1 25
Use of automobile
75 00
Total
566 98 $2,368 98
Canning Work
Salaries
283 50
Supplies
27 50
311 00
Social Center Work
Rent of McCarthy house .
.
87 50
Part salary of social worker
.
.
162 00
Coal
166 15
Electric Lights
. .
9 03
·
.
424 68
1,802 00
406
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Evening Centers and Saturday Playgrounds
Evening
Saturdays
Director
$546 67
Supervisors
196 50
80.50
Games, Etc.
16 59
6 50
Postage and disbursements
9 02
855 78
Miscellaneous
Middlesex County-for furthering garden work, etc.
100 00
Total
$4,060 44
407
CITY CLERK.
REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK
-
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, January 1, 1924.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen :- The following is respectfully submitted as the fifty-second annual report of the City Clerk of the City of Somerville, and is for the year ending December 31, 1923.
The receipts and payments were as follows :-
Receipts
Balance from year 1922, being for dog li- censes issued in December 1922 2 males at $2.00
$ 4 00
Less city clerk's fees paid to the city treasurer, 2 @ $ .20 40
$3 60
For dog licenses issued in 1923 :-
715 males at $2.00
1430 00
168 females at 5.00
840 00
86 spayed at $2.00
172 00
2 kennels at $25.00
50 00
2492 00
For hunting and fishing licenses issued in 1923 :-
177 hunting and fishing at $2.00
354 00
167 hunting and trapping at $1.50
250 50
5 alien hunting at $15.00 75 00
206 fishing at $1.00
206 00
2 alien fishing at $2.00
4 00
1 nonresident fishing at $2.00
2 00
891 50
Recording mortgages, assignments, etc., 797 papers
1,090 90
Certificates of marriage intentions,- 1285 licenses and 3 duplicates
1,288 00
Furnishing copies of records .
262 75
2,641 65
3,387 10
408
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward . 2,641 65 3,387 10
Licenses : -
Auctioneers, 32 licenses including 1 granted in 1922 at $2.00 . 64 00
Billiard and pool tables and bowling alleys, 164 licenses for 113 tables and 51 alleys, including 7 tables granted in 1922 at $2.00 328 00
Drain layers, 6 licenses at $1.00 ·
6 00
Drivers, 11 licenses at $1.00 . .
11 00
Engines and motors,-
24 licenses for 19 motors and 2
boilers, including 2 granted in
1922, at $1.00 .
24 00
Garages,-
417 licenses including 21 granted in 1922, at $2.00 834 00
Gasoline Tanks, 56 licenses at $1.00 56 00
Hackney carriages, 11 licenses at $1.00 11 00
Intelligence offices, 4 licenses at $2.00 8 00
Junk and second hand licenses,-
27 licenses, including 1 granted in 1921 and 1 granted in 1922 at $10.00 $10.00 .
270 00
270 00
23 licenses including 5 granted in 1922, at $25.00 . . Liquor licenses (Third Class), 21 at $1.00 21 00
575 00
· Lodging house licenses, 43 including
2
granted in 1922 at $2.00 .
86 00
Second hand auto licenses, 29 includ- ing 2 granted in 1922 at $25.00 . Slaughtering, 8 licenses at $1.00 . 8 00
725 00
Street Musicians, 6 licenses for 6 per- sons at $.50
3 00
Victualler /licenses, 71 including 1
granted in 1922, at $2.00 142 00
77 00
Wagon stands, 6 licenses at $1.00
6 00
Permits for projections over sidewalks, 43 permits for 37 signs, 2 awnings, 1 wire, 2 swing arms and 1 pole at $1.00 .
43 00
Filing certificates, under Acts of 1908,
Chap. 502 at $.50 .
3 00
Interest on deposits . . . Witness · fees . .
3 10
Physicians' Registration, 7 at $.25
1 75
5,964 70
9,351 80
Total receipts
17 20
Wagons, 77 licenses at $1.00
.
409
CITY CLERK.
Payments
To Charles E. Hatfield, county treasurer, June 1 and December 1, receipts for dog licenses from December 1, 1922, to November 30, 1923, both inclusive :-
710 males at $2.00
$1,420 00
167 females at $5.00
835 00
85 spayed at $2.00
170 00
2 kennels at $25.00
50 00
2,475 00
Less city clerk's fees, 964 at $.20
192. 80
2,282 20
To the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game, for Licenses for hunting and fishing in 1923
177 hunting and fishing at $2.00 .
354 00
167 hunting and trapping at $1.50
250 50
5 alien hunting at $15.00 .
75 00
206 fishing at $1.00
206 00
2 alien fishing at $2.00
4 00
1 nonresident fishing at $2.00
2 00
891 50
Less city clerk's fees, 558 at $.15 807 80
To the city treasurer, monthly :-
City clerk's fees for issuing and re-
194 20
cording dog licenses, 971 at $.20 · City clerk's fees for issuing and re cording fishing and hunting licenses, 558 at $.15
83 70
All the receipts above specified except for dog licenses and hunting and fish- ing licenses
5,964 70
6,242 60
Total payments
9,332 60
Balance, January 1, 1924, being for dog licenses issued in December, 1923 :-
7 males at $2.00
$14 00
1 .female at $5.00 . 5 00
1 spayed at $2.00 . 2 00
21.00
Less city clerk's fees paid to the city treasurer 9 at $ .20 · 1 80
19 20
$9,351 80
.
83 70
410
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Licenses and Permits
Besides the licenses mentioned in the foregoing list of receipts, licenses and permits have been granted by the Board of Aldermen, without charge, as follows :-
Children under fifteen to take part in entertainments 4
Parade in streets, with music, etc. 8
1
To hold religious services in streets and squares . Newsboys . 11 .
To move buildings through streets
2
Births
1923
Number of births reported by physicians and midwives for 1923
Males
975
Females
956
A canvass of the city is at present being made under the direction of the city clerk as required by section 5, chapter 29, of the Revised Laws, to ascertain the facts required for record relative to children born during the year.
As the information derived from such canvass will not be available in time sufficient for its incorporation in this report, a statement in full of the births of 1923 will be given in the city clerk's report for the year 1924.
1922
The following is a statement in full of the births for 1922.
Number of births (exclusive of still births) in Somerville
1,924
More than previous year
41
Males
993
Females
931
1,924
Born of American parents 894
Born of foreign parents
. 659
Born of American father and foreign mother . 172
Born of foreign father and American mother
185
Born of American mother and father of unknown nationality 14
1,924
in 1922 registered
CITY CLERK. 411
Number of still-births in Somerville in 1922 as registered
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