USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1924 > Part 25
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1924 > Part 25
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316
1639
1496
. 2262
2582
5259
14737
Antoinette F.
Party
17
10
3
9
24 2264
21 2585
2608
14960
CONGRESSMAN Ninth District
Arthur D. Healey
Democratic
1686 1359
2295
1527
1172 1645
1968 2452
2209 2842
2037 5645
12894 16112
Harry I. Thayer
COUNCILLOR 4th District
Charles Lawrence Burrill
Republican
1391
448 1811
1738 1153
1663 814
2+54 1459
2891 1609
5567 1474
16152 9631 1
Charles S. Smith
1
SENATOR
Warren C. Daggett
Republican
1379
602 1983
1685 1322
1647 943
2241 1895
2812 1844
5356 1751
15722 11191
Charles C. Warren
1
REPRESENTATIVES IN GENEAI COURT 23rd District
William J. Bell
Republican
1407
1750
Francis J. Daley
Democratic
1380
1169
Lyman A. Hodgdon
Republican
1362
1573
Thomas F. Mackey
Democratic
1256
1215
811
1356
4638
James C. Scanlan
Democratic
1364
1311
824
1370
4869
Walter H. Snow
Republican
1267
1643
1615
2323
6848
Thomas R. Bateman
1
1
Alonzo B. Cook
Republican
420
1554
1539
1382
David I. Walsh
Democratic
1962
2471
1685
Charles L. Underhill
Republican
414
1755
1
1
Edward J. Caton
Democratic
1311
David J. Kelley
Democratic
:453
1
1753 880 1573
2650 1638 2246
7560
5067
6754
Knoikow
20
104
12831
371
CITY CLERK.
CANDIDATE.
PARTY.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Total
REPRESENTATIVES IN GENER. AL COURT 24th District
Alexander F. Anderson, Jr.
Democratic
1895
1694
1607
5196
Emerson J. Coldwell Republican
376
2768
5380
8524
Hiram N. Dearborn
Republican
355
2634
5173
8162
James A. Dwyer
Democratic
1770
1667
1420
4857
Joseph A. Haley
Democratic
2088
1682
1480
5250
Frank A. Teele
Republican
379
2672
5185
$236
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Alfred L. Cutting Republican
Walter C. Wardwell Republican
1505 1554
728 883
1866 1914
1775 1776
2686 2671
3052 3229
5605 5791
117,818
REGISTER OF PROBATE & IN- SOLVENCY
John J. Butler
Democratic
1449 1343
1919 417
1183 1706
926 1606
1587 2395
1776 2780
1656 5405
15,652
COUNTY TREASURER
Charles E. Hatfield
Daniel F. McBride
Republican Democratic
1420 1426
434 1967
1787 1158
1671 920
2478 1592
2902 1734
5602 1595
16,294 10,392
| 17,217
10,496
Charles N. Harris
Republican
WARDS.
372
ANNUAL REPORTS
WARDS.
1
2
3 .
4
5
6
7
Total.
REFERENDUM QUESTION NO. 1
Amendment to Constitution
Shall an amendment to the con- stitution relative to the qualifi- cations of voters for certain state officers striking out the word "male"), which received in a joint session of the two Houses held May 24, 1921, 258 votes in the af- firmative and none in the nega- tive, and at a joint session of the two Houses held May 10, 1923, received 254 votes in the affirma- tive and none in the negative, be approved ?
Number of "Yes" votes, Number of "No" votes,
1130 858
678 770
1407 705
1220 636
1889 998
2187 1103
3852 1366
12363 6436
REFERENDUM QUESTION
NO. 2
Amendment to Constitution
Shall an amendment to the con- stitution to enable women to hold any state, county or municipal of- fice, and which further provides that a change of name of any woman, holding a Notary Public Commission, shall not render her commission void but she shall re- register under her new name and shall pay such fee therefor as shall be established by the general court, which received in a joint session of the two Houses held May 24, 1921, 216 votes in the af- firmative and none in the nega- tive, and at a joint session of the two Houses held May 10, 1923, re- ceived 258 votes in the affirmative and none in the negative, be ap- proved ?
Number of "Yes" Votes. Number of "No" Votes,
REFERENDUM QUESTION
NO. 3
Shall a law (Chapter 370 of the Acts of 1923) which provides that no person shall manufacture, transport by aircraft, watercraft or vehicles, import or export spir- ituous or intoxicating liquor, as defined by section 3 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, or cer -! tain non-intoxicating beverages,
1165 911
739 770
1441 759
1292 689
1946 1077
2272 1202
3964 1514
12819 6932
373
CITY CLERK.
as defined by section 1 of said chapter 138, unless in each in- stance !he shall have obtained the permit or other authority required therefor by the laws of the United States 'and the regulations made thereunder, which law was ap- proved by both branches of the General Court by votes not record- ed, and was approved by His Ex- cellency the Governor, be ap- proved ?
Number of "Yes" Votes, Number of "No" Votes,
WARDS,
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Total.
1177 1351
696 1346
1637 1083
1217 1166
2078 1657
2372 1941
4309 2283
13486 10827
REFERENDUM QUESTION
NO. 4
Shall a law (Chapter 454 of the Acts of 1923) which provides for the raising of funds toward the cost of the construction and main- tenance of highways by means of an excise tax of two cents on each gallon of gasoline and other fuel used for propelling motor vehicles on the highways of the Common- wealth, said tax to be paid by the purchaser to the distributor. who, in turn, pays it to the Com- monwealth, and the money to be credited to a fund to be known as the gasoline-highway fund, out of which reimbursement is to be made to purchasers, who shall con- sume the gasoline or other fuel in any manner except in the opera- tion of motor vehicles on the high- ways, and the expenses of carry- ing out the act are to be paid. fifty per cent of the balance of said fund to be distributed to the cities and towns of the Common- wealth, in proportion
to the amounts which they contribute to the State tax, and this fifty per cent to be expended in construc- tion or improvement of public ways within the city or town lim- its, and the other fifty per cent to be expended by the State De- partment of Public Works on such highways as it may select, which law was approved by both branch- es of the General Court by votes not recorded, and was approved by His Excellency the Governor, be approved ?
Number of "YES" votes Number of "NO" votes
707 1617
373 1393
842 1633
746 1464
1064 2395
1150 2778
2057 4015
6939 15295
374
ANNUAL REPORTS
WARDS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Total.
REFERENDUM QUESTION
NO. 5
Shall a law (Chapter 473 of the Acts of 1923) which amends ex- isting legislation on the same sub- ject and provides that, subject to certain limitations, no person shall engage or be financially interested in the business of re- ceiving deposits of money for safe keeping or for the purpose of transmitting the same or equiva- lents thereof to foreign countries unless he has executed and de- livered a bond to the State Treas- urer, or deposited securities in lieu thereof, and has received a license from the Commissioner of Banks authorizing him to carry on such business; that any money which in case of breach of bond shall be paid by the licensee or surety thereon, or the securities deposited in
lieu thereof, shall constitute a trust fund for the benefit of depositors; that the li- cense shall be revocable by the Commissioner of Banks for cause shown; that the money deposited with licensees for safe keeping shall be invested in the manner prescribed by the act; and that the violation of any provision of the act shall be punished in the manner therein prescribed, which law was approved by both branch- es of the General Court by votes not recorded, and was approved by His Excellency the Governor, be approved?
Number of "YES" votes Number of "NO" votes
1132 572
618 570
1375 570
1067 577
1885 750
2181 1080
3800 951
12068 5070
REFERENDUM QUESTION NO. 6
"Shall daylight saving be re- tained by law in Massachusetts?"
Number of "Yes" Votes, Number of "No" Votes,
1235 ₹1260
|1207 981|
1590 1131
1293 1066
2167 1520
2598 1654
4067 2270
14157 9882
-
375
CITY CLERK.
CANDIDATE.
PARTY.
REFERENDUM QUESTION NO. 7
.
Is it desirable that the general court ratify the following pro- posed amendment to the consti- tution of the United States :- "Section 1. The Congress shall have power to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons un- der eighteen years of age. Sec-
tion 2. The power of the several States is unimpaired by this arti- cle except that the operation of State laws shall be suspended to the extent necessary to give ef- fect to legislation enacted by the Congress." ?
Number of "Yes" Votes, Number of "No" Votes,
532 2169
205 12249
628 2160
542 1910
925 2937
1074 3348
2103 4443
6009 19216
To vote on the following, mark a Cross X in the square at the right of YES or NO :-
"Shall an act passed by the gen- eral court in the year nineteen hundred and twenty-four, entitled 'An Act to establish the salary of members of the board of aldermen of the city of Somerville' be ac- cepted ?''
Number of "Yes" Votes, Number of "No" Votes,
1053 1256
872 1133
980 1505
933 1203
1387 1932
1502 2331
2638 3155
9365 12515
-
1
4
5
7
Total.
WARDA.
376
ANNUAL REPORTS
ASSESSED POLLS AND REGISTERED VOTERS.
REGISTERED VOTERS.
WARD
Pcr.
As- sessed Polls, April 1. 1924
Dec. 11, 1923
Der. 11. 1923 Men Women
Re- vised Lists of July 1924 Men
Re- vised List- of July 1924 Women
Add- ed in
Add- ed in
Nov. 4, 1924
4. 1924 Men Women'
1924
Ward 1 Pct. ..
1
1,648
772
550
733
521
183
197
916
718
1457
..
..
3
538
311
197
278
202
64
59
342
261
515
..
..
4
693
206
122
205
121
48
46
253
167
366
4,114
1,833
1,239
1 .: 26
1196
454
439
2,180
1,635
3,346
Ward 2 Pct.
1,097
337
177
337
186
73
87 223
1124
918
1,729
..
..
3
855
417
218
384
257
63
76
447
333
648
3,979
1,663
1,085
1,613'
1138
368
386
1,981
1.524
2,980
Ward 3 Pct.
1
1,552
884
759
903
846 772
117
141
918
916
1,649
2,956
1,695
1,455
1.701
1,618
254
298
1,958
1,916
3,483
Ward 4| Pet.
1
1,558
848
649
808
678
164
196
972
874
1,616
4
*)
1,459
746
573
708
601
155
185
863
786
1,454
3,017
1,594
1.222
1,516
1,279
319
381
1.835
1,660
3,070
Ward 5 Pct.
1
1,701
917
845
923
856
213
256
1136
1112
2,044
..
..
3
1,115
658
536
638
564
114
154
752
718
1,297
4,080
2.276
1,960
2,245
2,020
464
574
2,709.
2,594
4,769
Ward 6 Pct.
1
1,272
711
542
673
575
112
1:27
785
702
1,324
6
2
1,422
694
423
648
436
135
113
783
549
1,167
.4
6:
4 1,425
849
650
840
711
176
191
1016
902
1,710
5,206
2,862
2,095
2.775
2,258
526
539
3,301
2,797
5,430
Ward 7 Pct.
1
1,194
800:
647
806
698
102
140
908
838
1,600
. .
7:
3
1,819
1,006
757
989
823
203
193
1192
1016
1,927
4
1,219
757
579
751
646
115
118
866
764
1,471
71
5
1,327
637
509
735
652
225
214
960
866
1,643
6,964
4,012
3.168
4,059
3 511
808
835
4,867
4,346
8,237
City
30,316
15,935|
12,214
15.638
13,020
3,193
3.452
18.831| 16,472
31,315
1
..
2,027
909
660
892
695
232
137
154
1040
1000
1,834
3:
2
1,404
811
696
801
684
600
137
164
821
764
1,428
5!
..
3
1,087
608
480
614
536
103
108
717
644
1,229
6
7
..
2
1,405
812
676
778
692
163
170
941
862
1,596
5
..
2
1,264
701
579
510
352
159
137
669
489
1008
1.
..
1:
1,185
544
370
Nov. , Voted Nov. 4.
1924
1924 Men Women
410
273
60
2
1
1.
..
377
CITY CLERK.
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1924
-
1
Mayor JOHN M. WEBSTER. 76 Boston Street
Board of Aldermen President, LYMAN A. HODGDON Vice President. ALBERT E. HUGHES
WARD ONE
Lyman A. Hodgdon, Alderman-at-large
William F. Burns
Daniel A. Downey . .
8 Indiana Avenue 21 Illinois Avenue 155 Glen Street
WARD TWO
Edwin J. Grant, Alderman-at-large
Joseph A. Haley
John J. Hoban
21 Webster Avenue 7 Linden Street 39 Mansfield Street
WARD THREE
Thomas D. Mitchell, Alderman-at-large
William C. Abbott (Died December 23, 1924)
Charles E. Gerrish (Elected to fill vacancy Dec. 23, 1924)
George A. Berry
70 Boston Street 60 Prescott Street
WARD FOUR
John S. Smith, Jr. Alderman-at-large .
Henry J. Connell
Warren A. Perry .
20 Richdale Avenue 150 Pearl Street 11 Evergreen Avenue.
WARD FIVE
Arthur W. Russell, Alderman-at-large .
Warren C. Blair
.
Charles C. Grimmons
.
.
41 Sewall Street 155 Summer Street 72 Thurston Street
WARD SIX
Albert E. Hughes, Alderman-at-large .
William M. Morrison
I. Ormand Jackson .
20 Aberdeen road 97 Rogers Avenue 7 Lexington Avenue
WARD SEVEN
Arthur F. Mason, Alderman-at-large . Paul O. Curtis
Albert F. McLean
18 Hall Avenue 41 Mason Street 98 Electric Avenue
25 Warren Avenue 73 Avon Street
378
ANNUAL REPORTS.
City Clerk. JASON M. CARSON Assistant City Clerk. HENRY J. ALLEN City Messenger, FRED E. HANLEY
Regular meetings, second and fourth Thursday evenings of each month, at eight o'clock, except when such Thursday is a holiday, in which case the meeting is held on the preced- ing Tuesday evening.
Standing Committees of the Board of Aldermen
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS-Aldermen Mason, Mitchell, Perry, Hoban and Jackson.
FINANCE-The President, Aldermen Russell, Berry, Curtis, Hughes, Haley and Perry.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS-Aldermen Hughes, Berry, Russell, Connell and Haley.
LICENSES AND PERMITS-Aldermen Abbott, Morrison, Mason, Connell, Grimmons, Burns and Hoban.
PUBLIC PROPERTY-Aldermen Morrison, Blair, McLean, Downey, and Grant.
PUBLIC SAFETY-Aldermen Smith, Abbott, Grimmons, Curtis and Burns.
PUBLIC WORKS-Aldermen Mitchell, Smith, McLean, Blair, Grant, Jackson and Downey.
School Committee Chairman, HARRY M. STOODLEY Vice-Chairman, JOHN J. HAYES
Hon. John M. Webster Mayor, ex-officio 76 Boston Street Lyman A. Hodgdon, President of the Board of Aldermen, ex-officio 8 Indiana Avenue
WARD ONE
Francis J. Fitzpatrick
John J. Hayes .
2 Austin Street 10 Wisconsin Avenue
WARD TWO
Daniel H. Bradley . Christopher J. Muldoon
19 Concord Avenue 88 Concord Avenue
WARD THREE
Charles W. Boyer Oscar W. Codding .
66 Avon Street 59 Vinal Avenue
379
CITY CLERK.
WARD FOUR
Katherine C. Coveney
.
Walter E. Whittaker
.
73 Marshall Street 135 Walnut Street
WARD FIVE
Harry M. Stoodley .
.
.
Minnie S. Turner
.
WARD SIX
Walter I. Chapman . .
Walter Frye Turner
.
.
18a Central Street 15 Highland Road
WARD SEVEN
Herbert Cholerton
.
Edwin A. Shaw
.
.
94 College Avenue 63 College Avenue
Superintendent and Secretary-CHARLES S. CLARK
Regular meetings last Monday evening of each month, except July and August, when none are held, and December, when meeting is held on the Friday preceding the first Mon- day in January.
Assessors
FRED E. WARREN, Chairman (term expires 1926) WINSOR L. SNOW, (term expires 1927)
HARRY VAN IDERSTINE (term expires 1926) J. ROBERT FENELON (term expires 1925) DAVID B. ARMSTRONG (term expires 1927)
Assistant Assessors
FRED B. CLAP JOHN J. MCCARTHY
HARRY L. HASELTINE JOHN M. NANGLE
HERBERT S. KINGMAN LEONARD C. SPINNEY
Board of Health
WESLEY M. GOFF (term expires 1925) JAMES A. KILEY (term expires 1926) CHESLIE A. C. RICHARDSON, M. D., Chairman (term expires 1925)
Executive Clerk-LAURENCE S. HOWARD Agent-GEORGE I. CANFIELD Medical Inspector-FRANK L. MORSE, M. D. Inspector of Animals and Provisions-CHARLES M. BERRY Inspector of Milk and Vinegar-HERBERT E. BOWMAN
238 Highland Avenue 64 Hudson Street
380
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Licensing Commission
WILLIAM J. SHANAHAN (term expires 1928) EUGENE M. CARMAN (term expires 1926) WILLIAM H. SMITH (term expires 1927)
Department of Public Welfare
FRED E. DURGIN. Chairman (term expires 1926) MICHAEL COLL. Vice-Chairman (term expires 1927) (Died December 7, 1924) JAMES D. SHARKEY-appointed Dec. 29, 1924 GEORGE G. BRAYLEY (term expires 1925)
Agent-WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE
Warden. City Home-J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN Matron. City Home-CATHERINE COLQUHOUN
Planning Board
WILLIAM F. RILEY. Chairman (term expires 1926)
DAVID J. KELLEY. Secretary (term expires 1929) BENJAMIN J. SURRETT (term expires 1925)
JOHN WILLIAMSON (term expires 1927)
GEORGE J. RAUH (term expires 1928)
Registrars of Voters
EDWIN D. SIBLEY, Chairman (term expires 1927) DOUGLASS B. FOSTER (term expires 1926)
CHARLES LEO SHEA (term expires 1925) JASON M. CARSON. City Clerk
Assistant Registrars of Voters
JOHN L. AHEARN (term expires 1925) HENRY J. ALLEN (term expires 1925) JOIN H. KELLEY (term expires 1925) JAMES W. KENNEY (term expires 1925)
Public Library Trustees
THOMAS M. DURELL. Chairman (term expires 1925) J. FRANK WELLINGTON (term expires 1926) WILLIAM L. BARBER (term expires 1925) HERBERT L. BUFFUM (term expires 1926) GILES W. BRYANT (term expires 1927) FRANK M. BARNARD (term expires 1926) LEON M. CONWELL (term expires 1927) GEORGE E. WHITAKER (term expires 1927) Librarian and Secretary-GEORGE H. EVANS
381
CITY CLERK.
Public Welfare and Recreation Commission
ERNEST W. BAILEY (term expires 1925) SOPHIE C. BATEMAN (term expires 1925) CHARLES S. CLARK. (term expires 1926) WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE (term expires 1925) GEORGE L. DUDLEY (term expires 1925) FLORENCE B. HAMILTON (term expires 1926) WILLIAM S. HOWE (term expires 1926) MARGARET L. MAGUIRE (term expires 1925) MARY M. McGANN (term expires 1926) ANNIE M. SMITHI (term expires 1926)
City Clerk JASON M. CARSON Assistant City Clerk -- HENRY J. ALLEN
City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes JOSEPH S. PIKE
City Messenger FRED E. HANLEY
Mayor's Secretary SUMNER M. TEELE
City Solicitor FRANK W. KAAN
City Auditor HOWARD E. WEMYSS
City Engineer ERNEST W. BAILEY
Commissioner of Streets ASA B. PRICHARD
Commissioner of Public Buildings and Inspector of Buildings GEORGE L. DUDLEY
Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights WALTER I. FULLER
Water Commissioner FRANK E. MERRILL
Superintendent of Sanitary Department EDGAR T. MAYHEW
Clerk of Committees RICHARD A. KEYES
382
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Chief of Police CHARLES A. KENDALL
Chlef Engineer of the Fire Department SEWALL M. RICH
City Physician FRANK E. BATEMAN
Inspector of Plumbing DUNCAN C. GREENE
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar HERBERT E. BOWMAN
Inspector of Animals and Provisions CHARLES M. BERRY
Inspector of Petroleum SEWALL M. RICH
Sealer of Weights and Measures BENJAMIN S. ABBOTT
Fence Viewers CHARLES M. BERRY HOWARD LOWELL
Agent of Military and State Aid and Soldiers' Relief and Burial Agent BENJAMIN S. ABBOTT
Constables
MAURICE F. AHEARN THOMAS DAMERY CHARLES A. KENDALL
CHARLES M. AUSTIN WILLIAM J. DIGUISEPPEMICHAEL T. KENNEDY
CHARLES W. F. BENNETTCHARLES L. ELLIS ELBRIDGE G. LAVENDER
SALVATORE BIANCHINO ARTHUR L. GILMAN EDWARD E. MARSH
EUGENE A. CARTER FRED E. HANLEY
JOHN M. NANGLE
WILLIAM E. COPITHORNEJAMES M. HARMON JOHN A. RAY
WINSLOW W. COFFIN ERNEST HOWARD .
JOHN F. SCANNELL
ALBION B. CROCKER FRANK B. KARCHER
WILLIAM H. YOUNG
WILLIAM E. YOUNG
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
383
PUBLIC WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION, 1924
CHARLES S. CLARK
Chairman
MRS. SOPHIE C. BATEMAN
Vice-Chairman
GEORGE L. DUDLEY
Secretary
MEMBERS
Term Expires January
CHARLES S. CLARK
1926
WILLIAM STUART HOWE
1926
MRS. FLORENCE B. HAMILTON
1926
MISS MARY M. McGANN
1926
MRS. ANNIE M. SMITH
1926
MRS. SOPHIE C. BATEMAN
1925
GEORGE L. DUDLEY
1925
ERNEST W. BAILEY
1925
WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE
1925
MRS. MARGARET L. MAGUIRE
1925
FRANCIS J. MAHONEY
Director
384
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :
Having a somewhat larger appropriation for the fiscal year just closed, the Public Welfare and Recreation Commis- sion was able to expand its activities in several directions without curtailing any of the major policies which it has followed in the past. The effort has been to give greater serv- ice in the well-established lines and to seek by experiment-' ing to discover new fields wherein the Commission could give to the community additional opportunities for wholesome rec- reation. Of its appropriation of $7,000, the larger part was applied to the carrying on of supervised playgrounds during the summer season and on special days in the Spring and Fall. The next larger emphasis was upon social centers, sev- eral of which have been conducted two evenings a week while another has been in operation on week days. Public meet- ings have been held, holiday observances have been assisted, and the spread of athletic undertakings outside of school hours has been encouraged among the youth of the city throughout the year. In addition to these things accom- plished, various things have been attempted by way of study and inquiry to discover the possibilities of providing a more diversified program for another year. Some of these begin- nings are promising and indicate possibilities for leadership by the Commission within the scope of its present financial resources.
The Commission during the past year has continued to study the local situation with a view of determining what service it could best perform for the community. It recog- nizes the duty of giving to the public information concern- ing its own undertakings and concerning conditions which af- fect the development of a larger program of municipal provi- sion for recreation. It believes that it should encourage a progressive increase in expenditure for this purpose in or- der that the city may gradually come into possession of bet- ter facilities for this important interest of the people. It believes strongly that the welfare of a community is pro- moted by its possession of adequate means for wholesome outdoor recreation available especially for that large. pro- portion of the people who spend most of the time within its limits. Therefore, in this report will be found a careful an- alysis of present conditions and recommendations for improve- ments. The Commission believes that it is the part of good
385
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
public policy for the city to expend upon such improvements sums sufficient to make a material advance in bettering condi- tions.
The carrying on of the work of the Commission under the leadership of a director has involved a large amount of detail and the direction, at different times, of considerable numbers of workers. Since the beginning of this work, through the courtesy of the School Committee, the Director has had office space in the rooms of the School Committee. The work has reached the point, however, when special provision should be made for the Director and for the general work of the Commission. Such provision should include an office with suitable equipment including a telephone. This need must be met in the near future if the work of the Commission is to go on with unchecked efficiency.
The various undertakings noted in this report have been carried on under the personal supervision of the part-time Director employed by the Commission. To his energy and enthusiasm is due in a large part the success of the work of the year.
At the request of the Commission, Mr. Mahoney has sub- mitted a detailed report of all of the undertakings conducted during the last year under the direction of the Commission and has set forth with clearness the conditions under which this work has been carried on. He has also made numerous . recommendations for the improvement of these conditions. The Commission believes that such a statement will be of value in determining future action in respect to improving means of recreation in our city. That there is need for such improve- ment there can be no doubt in the mind of any one familiar with the facts. No stronger argument in favor of increased provision for the welfare of the children of the city is needed than that found in the annual report of the Somerville Plan- ning Board for the year 1923. Chapter VI, on Parks and Playgrounds. It strongly advocates increased provision of playgrounds, supervision of playgrounds, and increased equip- ment upon the grounds already provided. In discussing the playgrounds of the city, the Commission estimates that at that time "the school and park playgrounds would at best raise the play area per child to 20 square feet." This it com- pares with the "minimum standard of 50 square feet per child that most progressive cities are obtaining." Concerning super- vision of playgrounds, the Commission makes the following statement :
"Supervision is crucial in playground operation. An un- supervised playground is for the child, hardly better than a vacant lot .A good playground director is a God-
386
ANNUAL REPORTS.
send to the children In visiting the playgrounds it was found that there was no play of value going on, as a rule, outside of the days and hours and places where super- vision was provided. This finding, however, is in accordance with the experience of American cities in general. During six months of the year play can be directed during the day- light hours when the child is not in school, to the enormous advantage of the children and of all citizens No criticism of the quality of the present supervision of play- grounds is intended, for the investigators have been most fav- orably impressed with the character of supervised play so far provided. What is suggested is an increase in quantity, which means eventually a several-fold increase of the appropriation for play purposes in the city. Such an increased appropria- tion should come back to the city many-fold in the form of healthier, happier, and better citizens."
In this connection, the Commission wants to put on ree- ord its approval of the action of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen in adding to the playgrounds of the city during the last year such an important area as that on the corner of Cherry and Elm Streets. This piece of property, situated in a densely populated region, will be a boon to the children of that neighborhood.
The Commission has carried on its work during the past year with a profound conviction that the children of the City need and are entitled to receive greater attention from the public than has been given to them in the matter of provision for wholesome recreation. The report of the Planning Board quoted above shows that the City is not giving to its children an amount of play space recognized as a minimum of provi- sion by most progressive cities. There can be no doubt that the citizens of Somerville have a pride in their city and a pride in their children. There can be no doubt that when once the citizens become acquainted with the true state of af- fairs they will determine to give more numerous play spaces to the children. In the matter of use of playgrounds and in the purchase of new ones, the record of the year just closed is encouraging. The Commission looks forward to greater ac- complishments in 1925. It is the hope of the Commission that this report will show to the citizens of the City sufficient rea- sons for more rapid development in the future of the work and interests which the Commission was created to foster and manage.
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