USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1926 > Part 23
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This branch of the work, previously regarded as experi- mental and reported as slowly evolving, has now shown the results of the study and care of the past two seasons. The boys have come to realize its advantages and to utilize the op- portunities ; and the supervisory organization has largely mastered the problems of attracting attendance, supplying desired activities, and organizing the work. Great impetus, too, has come from the improved conditions for athletics at Saxton C. Foss Park, mentioned earlier in this report.
Two centers have been operated-Richard Trum Field and Saxton C. Foss Park.
ACTIVITIES. Activities have included : Baseball, Basket Ball, Field Athletics, Soccer, Tumbling, Tennis, Schlag Ball and Paddle Tennis.
POSSIBILITIES FOR GIRLS. During the Fall Season, en- deavor was made to stimulate activities among girls of ages 13 to 18; and by experimenting with certain new activities, about 35 girls were encouraged to frequent activity at Foss Park. At the end of the season there was a regular per-session atten- dance of about 20 girls. These results were obtained by en- listing the voluntary and unpaid services of certain young women who are under training for this work of physical edu- cation through athletics. The foundations laid will be a nucleus and basis for development of work among girls corres- ponding to the previous gradual development of the boys' work. The Director urges that the Commission undertake the establishment of supervision for girls, and that the neces- sary finances be appropriated for this purpose.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS. Since the whole enterprise of after- school supervised athletics has now evolved from the experi- mental state, any progress in this branch requires immediate provisions, calling for substantial financial allotment, along the following lines :---
(a) Additional units for boys. (Increase from two to four or five, utilizing some or all of the following areas :- Glen St. grounds, Lincoln Park, Kent St.
360
ANNUAL REPORTS
grounds, Western Junior High School grounds.
(b) Assignment of young women leaders to two or three of the units to promote and organize older girls' athletics, at least two afternoons per week.
(c) Increasing number of sessions from three to four per week for boys.
(d) Supplying (by the City Departments controlling the grounds) of equipment needed for the activities in- volved : E. G .- additional basket ball and tennis courts, markings and goals for soccer, field hockey, etc., jumping pits, quoit pits.
Girls' Canning and Preserving Activities
A most efficiently supervised branch of the undertaking of the Public Welfare and Recreation Commission is the ac- tivity among girls, who during spare time in Spring, Summer and Fall, preserve fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. Though this branch is perhaps less spectacular and is less known publicly, a high degree of efficiency in preserving has been attained among many girls of Somerville, whose ages range from 10 to 15 years ; and a highly enjoyable and profitable form of recrea- tion has been provided them.
This work has been carried on in 1926 more extensively than ever before. Girls were enrolled in larger number; and a larger numerical proportion of them completed the season's exercises and requirements.
The organization of the work, requirements made upon participating girls, schedule of sessions, centers, etc., and the details of the work are carefully presented in the Director's Report for 1924 to which reference is again made. (See pp. 28-30, Annual Report of the Commission for 1924.) INCREASED ENROLLMENT. One hundred thirty-five girls were enrolled in the Clubs.
The products of their activity included approximately 8,000 jars, glasses, etc. These contained fruits, vegetables, jellies, jam, soups, meats, fish, and pickle products.
EXHIBITION. In September a central exhibition was held at the High School. About 800 jars were attractively dis- played. First, second and third prizes were given for the best work in each year of enrollment. Honorable mention was given to ten others. Over 75% of the parents of children enrolled in the clubs were present at the exhibition showing more decidedly than ever the widespread interest which is growing from year to year in this home-making work.
361
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
FINANCES. The total cost of carrying on this work was $568.81, of which $420 was expended on salaries of supervisors : $48.81 on supplies and prizes; and $100 for dues paid to the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Domestic Science Division of Junior Extension Work, for securing the County cooperation defined and described in the 1924 Report, page 29.
Public Evening Recreation Centers
The Public Evening Recreation Centers aim at profitable recreation-indoors-for adults. The scope of the work thus far had been limited to young men. No elaborate or intensive program has been carried out, because of a variety of reasons, which are here indicated. But in general summary the Direc- tor submits as his estimate that results have been proportionate to the City's financial expenditure (about $400.00 for the Jear) ; proportionate to the possibilities of an undertaking in which appropriate indoor recreation facilities are almost totally lacking and the workers in supervision all part-time or occasional workers; and proportionate to the time during which this branch of the work has had opportunity for evolu- tion.
For purposes of economy, the Centers have been com- bined, during 1926, into one, located in the building of the Bingham School. A room, used during the day by children of the lower primary grades, is at the disposal of the young men in attendance, and the attic, spoken of as "the hall" is used for physical activity, principally basket ball. A piano is available.
Sessions have been held three evenings each week. Two sessions a week had been held in 1925 and during the earlier part of 1926. The additional session is possible because of the financial result of eliminating the former centers.
ATTENDANCE. The average attendance has been sixty young men an evening, with a maximum attendance of 175. The average age of those in attendance has been 19 years. The minimum age for participation is 17 years. Very few above the age of twenty-one have been attracted, though it has not been the intention to restrict the activity for the benefit of youths.
ACTIVITIES. Since the whole enterprise has not passed the experimental nature, the program of activities is still in process of evolution. Among the activities carried on may be mentioned :
362
ANNUAL REPORTS
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. Indoor athletics.
6. Discussion of current topics of interest.
7. Informal, unpretentious, improvised entertainments.
8. Whist, and checker tournaments.
9. An orchestra.
10. Organization of a basket ball league for Somerville young men, which operates successfully. The mem- bers and followers of each team hold occasional meet- ings at the center in the hours of the center sessions. Eight teams are in the league. Some of the teams have conducted recreational enterprises, such as whist parties, to finance the outfitting of the teams, and in this way they have provided recreation for parents and friends in their respective communities ; and have also enlisted the interest of persons in those communities in the Recreation Centers and in the general program of the Public Welfare and Recrea- tion Department.
11. Initial steps in developing activities in drama.
12. The early stages of a movement leading to a baseball league which will be active in the season following the closing of the indoor center in the Spring.
General Public Activities
Under head of General Public Activities, the promotion of amateur basket ball and baseball leagues for young men are reported as the outstanding features of the year. Eight teams, members of the leagues, have large followings. Hun- dreds of Somerville people besides the participants were fur- nished recreation by the activities of the league, including the preliminary preparations during which were held various meetings for organization. Committee meetings, etc., which have had, the Director believes, great social-civic value to Somerville as a community. The great social and recreational values of organized public recreation were brought to the at-
363:
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
tention of hundreds of residents. Groups from distant sec- tions of the City met in common enterprise. Exchange of ideas and reflection on the recreation possibilities available and needed in Somerville were some of the products this busi- ness. The expenditure by the City is so small as to be almost negligible. So strongly have the possibilities been demon- strated that the Director is fully convinced that with workers and facilities provided, and with very small expense, there could be rapidly developed in Somerville a far-reaching organi- zation of young men who would be actively interested in all- year-round program of indoor and outdoor sports, with great profit to themselves physically, socially and morally, and with immeasurable benefit to the Community at large.
Such development is, of course, impossible with the pres- ent limited organization of workers, and with the extreme limitations of time at the disposal of present workers under the Commission.
Summary of 1926 Activities
This report, up to the present point, has dealt with all of the important divisions of the work during 1926 :- (1) The Summer Playgrounds, (2) The Spring and Fall After-School Playgrounds, (3) The Saturday "Neighborhood" Playgrounds, (4) The Girls' Canning Activities, (5) Evening Recreation Centers, (6) The General Public Activities. In summary it may be said that a secure footing in all of these fields of undertaking has been secured and that the future will show that the year 1926 has seen far-reaching effective work for community welfare in Somerville. While some of the begin- nings have been necessarily modest and slow, this is a natural condition attendant upon the limitation of resources and equipment at the disposal of your Commission. Experiences during the past year prompt the expression of the estimate that the near future will demonstrate that an effective basis for future work has been set up.
Finances
A complete general financial statement for 1926 is ap- pended to this report. But at this point it seems wise to state briefly the direction in which have been expended the increased funds at your Commission's disposal during 1926, as compared with the appropriation for the previous year.
Two thousand dollars more were appropriated in 1926, than in 1925. Of this amount-
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Distribution of 1926 Increase
(1) Approximately $1,450 was added to the cost of conducting the Summer Playgrounds, (See explan- atory Note for Item (1), next paragraph)- Supervision, Equipment, and Maintenance;
(2) The greater part of the remainder was expended on extension of the Saturday "Neighborhood" Play- grounds organization ; (See Note for Item 2, next paragraph) ; and
(3) A small amount on the increase in the number of sessions (from 2 to 3) in after-school supervised athletics.
Explanatory : -
Item (1) Four new units were added to the Summer system; the supervisory corps was increased from 26 to 32 exclusive of the Director; a substantial increase was made in the number of children under super- vision, as stated in this report under the caption "Summer Playgrounds,-Attendance"; the length of the working day for supervisors was increased three-quarters of an hour, but without proportion- ate wage increase except to veteran workers; im- portant equipment was added, and important old equipment was efficiently repaired.
Item (2) Ten Saturday areas, as opposed to five in 1925, were operated; the supervisory corps was in- creased, gradually, from 8 to 19 persons, exclusive of the Director; the playgrounds have been sup- plied with long-desired play materials; and the attendance on Saturdays has been increased about 50%.
Item (3) The application of increased funds to the After- School Supervised Athletics has already been ex- plained under the report of this branch of the work.
Recommendations
Before listing the Recommendations which I feel it my duty to submit, I respectfully call attention briefly to consider- ations on which some of these recommendations are based :- NEED OF ADDITIONAL PLAY AREAS. The Glen Street Playground is located on the vacant land (a large part of which is City property) at the junction of Glen and Oliver
365
WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Streets,-a piece of land which the Director urges upon the Commission as extremely desirable for complete ownership by the City and for very thorough-going conversion into a play- ground. Its operation during the past two Summers has been a boon to hundreds of children who reside in an area hitherto totally unserved. The immediate district, within four minutes of this land, has a child population of several hundred, and the districts outlying are also unequipped with playgrounds. Several main thorough-fares for motor vehicles -the new "Northern Artery", Franklin Street, Cross Street, Washington Street, Medford Street, Glen Street and newly paved Pearl Street-pass within one or two minutes' walk of this playground, constituting a menace to so many hundred children who might be freed from danger by means of a prop- erly equipped, active and attractive playground. Regardless of more detailed plans the Director urges complete fencing of this area by a 12 ft. wire screen fence; provision of drinking- water facilities and seats; resurfacing; replacement of base- ball back stop; provision of shelter or shade trees or both.
The attention of the Commission is again respectfully called to the necessity of more space for playing in the district served by the Kent St. Playground. This ground caters to a very populous section of our city, and is at present inadequate for the playing of active games.
Attention is called emphatically, again at this point, to the Director's recommendations regarding the need of a small children's playground in the southerly section of the Bingham School District-the Albion-Lowell-Vernon Streets district -and to the considerations on which this recommendation is based. Please refer to caption, "Saturday Playgrounds".
CONDITIONING PRESENT AREAS. The surface of the Joy Street grounds has been somewhat improved by operations by the City Engineer's department. But there is imperative need of still further improvement of the ground, providing of shade trees, and the erection of a durable screen fence for the triple purpose of protecting the children at play from the extreme danger of intense commercial traffic through the ad- joining streets (which are among the narrowest in the City,) protecting neighboring property, and affording a touch of at- tractiveness to the grounds which at present have a most cheerless and unattractive appearance. Equipment is lacking.
Even under conditions of great improvement the total area of the Joy and Bennett playgrounds is so small that the provisions would be extremely inadequate for this locality, which has a greater child population within the immediate vicinity of the playground than can be found in any other
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ANNUAL REPORTS
district of similar size in the City. It seems, therefore, that the City would do well to make some approach to providing attractive, safe, and play-provoking features on the present area, and to consider seriously the possibilities of increasing or even multiplying the area of both of these playgrounds.
At the Morse School Playground, there is need of resur- facing the ground. One section was formerly surfaced with concrete, which is now higher by inches than the remainder of the area; and that part which is not concreted is uneven and stony, with here and there uncovered parts of tree roots. Another screen fence along the Craigie Street side is almost a necessity both from the standpoint of safety on the play - ground and for the interest of the abutting property.
The grounds of the Western Junior High School, where the area affords possibilities for the play of active games, but where the City has long delayed in providing presentable sur- face and any play equipment, have been slightly improved under the Commissioner of Public Buildings by the applica- tion of one layer in the re-surfacing process. While this was encouraging to play, by contrast with previous extremely wretched conditions, these grounds now meet only to a feeble ·degree the needs of an ever-increasing population in a district where no playground suitable for active boys' play is nearer than a mile almost in any direction.
NEEDS IN SUPERVISION. During 1924, 1925 and 1926 the number of Summer units has increased from 11 to 17, and the number of children under supervision has increased about 40 per cent. Direct superintendence by the Director of individual supervisors' work among their own groups of children is more difficult. Administrative problems are larger and more compli- cated. Special supervision for special activities can no longer be delegated to part-time specialists, but requires full-time special supervision. Any progress, and in fact maintenance "of present efficiency, urgently demand
(a) Employment of Assistants to the Director, who shall not be attached to any given playground in particular.
(b) Increased provision for inter-playground visitation and transportation of supplies.
(c) Increased provision for expense of coordinating su- pervision through central headquarters.
(d) Employment of additional persons to assist in su- pervision on larger units,-Lincoln Park, Foss Park, Glen Street.
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
A Summer problem that confronts us annually is that of "breaking in" new Summer workers as a result of the fact that our skilful play leaders are attracted by higher salaries to other communities. The energy and time expended by your Director in this "breaking in" process might be diverted into channels leading to improvement of the system by new enter- prises, if there were available the very small fund necessary for advancing the salaries of the experienced workers.
Several of the more largely attended playgrounds, attract so many children-hundreds at a time- that the employment of assistants on these grounds is imperative.
EQUIPMENT NEEDS. The report of the Somerville Plan- ning Board, 1923, contains the following statement :
"It is necessary that there should be sand boxes for the very young; swings, slides, the Giant Stride, and similar apparatus for the somewhat older by pre-adoles- cent boys and girls; and there should be small ball field for the larger boys and men. In addition to these, pro- vision for tennis, wading, outdoor basket-ball or volley ball, skating, toboganning, and a variety of other games are the only ones physically adequate in size to meet the needs of children, young and old, of their districts, even after they have been properly organized and equipped."
The same Planning Board reported in 1923 the following general recommendation regarding establishment, equipment, and supervision of playgrounds :-
"The program for Somerville's playground improve- ment should include three things: first, the provision of apparatus for the playgrounds already established and supervised ; second, provision during six months of con- tinuous supervision for all the playgrounds already ex- isting ; and third, the provision of supervised playgrounds with adequate apparatus for areas not yet served."
These statements of the Planning Board are here quoted because they coincide with the Director's views and express the considerations on which are based some of the recommen- dations below.
Recommendations Listed
(1) Expansion of Summer Playgrounds Organization to include new units at Brown School premises and grounds of Union Square Branch Library ; and man supervisor for boys at John M. Woods Playground.
(2) Providing a playground surface and equipment on
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ANNUAL REPORTS
the vacant land (a large part of which is City prop- erty) at the corner of Oliver and Glen streets, the equipment to include fencing, swing frames, seats, shelter house and trees.
(3) Securing more adequate play space and improved conditions of present areas at Joy Street, Bennett and Kent Street grounds.
(4) Early completion of the playground in the rear of the Western Junior High School.
(5) Re-surfacing the Morse School Playground and erection of high screen fence on westerly side of this area.
(6) Purchase of land for additional playgrounds, es- pecially for serving smaller children near their homes; with particular attention to the southerly part of the Bingham School district. (See "Satur- day Playgrounds" above).
(7) The planting of some shade trees on several of the playgrounds to provide natural shelter for the future.
(8) Increasing the length of Summer supervision by at least one week.
(9) Provision for increase in the Summer supervisory corps to meet the needs mentioned earlier in this report under the heading "Summer Playgrounds- Supervision."
(10) Increasing the number of Saturday Playground Units so as to make the organization City-wide.
(11) Expansion of after-school supervision of athletics to provide four units for boys instead of two, and at least two units for girls.
(12) Provision of necessary field equipment for Tennis, Field Hockey, Soccer, etc., for use at these after- school sessions.
(13) Employment of a part-time, all-year, clerical worker to assist the Director and to act as clerk for the Commission.
(14) Provision for out-door active recreation in Winter for children and adults, such as Hockey, Toboggan- ing, and Skiing.
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
(15) Providing a Recreation Center, with others to fol- low, for women, on parallel lines with those of the young men's centers.
(16) Provision for additional facilities for indoor athlet- ics and physical exercises at Recreation Centers for men.
(17) Appropriation of funds for promotion of adults" athletic leagues in baseball, hockey, basketball, etc.
(18) Appropriation for promoting Community Drama and kindred activities as community recreation.
The foregoing recommendations have to do with those branches of the work to which, by the present activities, your Commission is definitely committed, or to which the City Government is already committed through the work of other Departments. Below are submitted, in addition, suggestions looking toward expansion of the plans to raise municipal recreation from its hitherto undefined level to the more defi- nite and comprehensive plane to which it is destined if Som- erville is to meet the problem presented by its large and con- gested population.
Pageantry Dramatic Clubs Other Activities in Drama
Forum Civic Meetings Music Week
Public "Hikes"
Lectures Hockey Rinks
Aquatic Sports Day at Somerville Beach Vacant Lot Playground Campaign
Marble Tournament
Respectfully sumitted,
FRANCIS J. MAHONEY,
Director.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
APPENDIX General Financial Statement
$9,999.69 were expended from the City Treasury, for the operations here reported. The sum appropriated had been $10,000.
Following is a general statement of financial expendi- tures : -
Equipment and Supplies
$2,575 11
Teaming and trucks
109 50
Clerical Hire
19 98
County Cooperation
100 00
Disbursements
137 38
Automobile Maintenance
5 00
Telephone
71 52
Music
72 50
Printing
72 15
All other
52 23
Typewriter
58 50
Salaries and Wages:
Supervisors and Instructors
$4,965 00
Laborers
135 00
Clerks
161 55
Director
1,304 17
6,565 72
Total
$9,999 69
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Office of Sealer of Weights and Measures.
City Hall, Somerville, January 1, 1927. To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
The following report of the Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures for the year 1926 is respectfully submitted :-
Work of Weights and Measures Department for 1926
Adjusted
Sealed
Non- Con- Sealed demned
Platform over 5000 capacity
....
53
....
....
Platform under 5000 capacity
6
412
15
2
Counter
10
749
11
6
Spring
5
894
10
67
Computing
1
512
4
9
Slot Personal Weighing
....
83
....
....
Prescription
....
53
....
N
Beam
....
18
1
....
Weights
Avoirdupois
36
3,955
....
....
Apothecary
....
694
....
22
Metric
....
....
....
Troy
....
33
....
....
Capacity Measures
Dry
....
40
....
2
Liquid
....
1,388
1
112
Gasoline Pumps
1
221
36
....
Oil Pumps
....
85
326
....
Molasses Pumps
....
....
....
Quantity measures on pumps
....
1,016
....
....
Yard Sticks
....
178
....
10
Wood Baskets
....
23
....
....
Cloth Measuring Devices
....
2
....
....
Taxi Meters
....
....
....
-
Total
59
10,604
404
232
145
25
28
371
372
ANNUAL REPORTS
Inspections other than sealing:
Number of scales and measures in stores
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