Report of the city of Somerville 1924, Part 25

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1924
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 446


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


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29


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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