Report of the city of Somerville 1930, Part 22

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1930
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 574


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1930 > Part 22


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This addition will be ready for occupancy about October 20, 1931.


Western Junior High School


A contract has also been let for the addition to the West- ern Junior High School at a cost of $289,000.00.


331


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


The new addition will consist of 60 foot Wings added to the right and left of the present building at the front, giving the School on Holland Street, a frontage of 260 feet.


The Building has been extended approximately 100 feet to the rear and is to be the same width as the present build- ing. The Wings have been added in this manner to centralize all the school activities and make the supervision and the heat- ing and ventilating of the school more easily accomplished.


The plans also increase the size of the present lunch room, and make needed changes in the present Assembly Hall. Complete radio equipment with speakers in each room has been provided, so that the principal may address the students and communicate simultaneously with every room from his office, and if the school committee deem it advisable listen in to outside programs.


The exterior will be brick with stone trimmings, follow- ing in general the design of the present building.


As originally planned in 1916, the building contained 8 class rooms, 2 domestic science rooms, 2 wood working shops, and boiler room.


In 1922 an addition was made adding 6 class rooms, a mechanical drawing room, (equivalent to two rooms), a lunch room, assembly hall and enlarged boiler room.


The present addition will contain the following :


20 Class Rooms


2 Shops


2 Domestic Science Rooms


Gymnasium, arranged with folding partitions so as it may be divided for boys and girls. Bleacher seats have been provided for spectators.


Boys' and Girls' Showers and Locker Rooms New Boys' and Girls' Toilet Rooms Enlarged Lunch Room.


The completed building will contain :


36 Home Rooms 4 Shops


4 Domestic Science Rooms


44 Rooms, Total.


Assembly Hall-67 x 82 feet


332


ANNUAL REPORTS


Gymnasium-64 x 67 feet. Showers and Locker Rooms Lunch Room-67 x 100 feet Toilets Boiler Room


The new addition contains approximately 667,100 cubic feet and will accommodate 840 pupils, at 42 pupils per room.


Total capacity of school with new addition 1512 pupils.


Recreation Centers


His Honor, the Mayor, has decided to give the general public, both boys and girls, a chance to use the High School gymnasium when not needed for school purposes. Under this arrangement Mr. Mahoney, Secretary of the Recreation Com- mission, has arranged gymnastic exercises under properly trained instructors for boys and girls on separate nights. This has proven to be very well patronized and is working out in splendid shape.


During the past year the auditorium of the Northeastern Junior High School has been supplied with nets to protect the walls and new basket ball frames, the entire outfit of lock- ers put into service, and they are now having for the first time since the school has been built general atheletic and bas- ket ball work.


His Honor, the Mayor, has also ordered the opening up of several school buildings under supervision of the Recrea- tion Department for general instruction and amusement for the public. These are very well attended and gives to the pub- lic the benefit of school buildings for their pleasure which would otherwise be closed up.


General Repairs


During the summer vacation all school toilets were paint- edl, all kindergartens painted, 6,000 desk tops refinished, 3,000 chairs refinished.


Plaster repairs have been made in twenty different schools.


Window cords replaced in 250 windows.


Plumbing repairs were made in all school buildings.


Steam repairs were made in several school buildings.


333


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


One of the biggest items that this department has to con- tend with in school buildings is broken glass. During the past year this department spent $1221. replacing broken glass.


The cornices and parapet cappings on the roof of the Ben- nett School have been put in first class shape during the past year. The roof at the Prescott school has all been overhauled, new valleys put in, new gutters, and slate roof made in first class condition. Several other roofs have been gone over and repairs made where necessary. There are one or two roofs which we hope to be able to replace during the coming year.


We have at least five or six school buildings in which the plumbing facilities are of an old and extinct pattern and which should be changed. It is the hope of the Commissioner to be able to replace plumbing in these buildings with more modern and sanitary fixtures during the coming year.


During the past year the boys' toilets at the Cutler School have been thoroughly overhauled. Asphalt floors have been put in and drains from each toilet floor. They are now so arrang- ed that they are absolutely sanitary and should cause no of- fensive odors or trouble.


During the summer vacation a crew of men are put into all the school houses to make the necessary repairs on furni- ture.


During the past summer a new school room was fitted up in the High School in place of a store room.


The curtain contract for replacement of all damaged and worn out shades was awarded to J. C. McLean Company of Somerville, who were the lowest bidders.


We have had about 150 chairs recaned by blind citizens of Somerville.


Blackboards


Several of the buildings are equipped with paper black- boards, and the surfaces of same have to be renewed every year at a cost of several hundred dollars. I would recommend that slate blackboards be installed in place of paper black- boards, as the slate boards last indefinitely and the saving on repairs would more than repay the cost of purchasing same.


Sprinkler


We have as yet several school buildings without sprinkler systems in the basement. I should recommend that a start


334


ANNUAL REPORTS


be made on these, and that all new buildings erected should have the sprinkler systems in the basement.


It has been the experience of engineers checking up on fires that 90 per cent of fires start in basements, and we feel now that nineteen of our school buildings are adequately protected there being a sprinkler head to every 36 square feet of the basement area of these buildings.


The Buildings which now have the sprinkler systems in the basements are as follows :


Cutler School


Prescott School Forster School


Highland School


Bennett School


Edgerly School


Bingham School


High School Pope School


Morse School


Lincoln School


Knapp School


Cummings School


Burns School


Hodgkins School


Glines School


Brown School


Folsom Building


Carr School


Changes in School Buildings


During the past year a new set of larger grade furniture hase been installed in the Grimmons School owing to a change in the class from the original intent of the building.


Also fifty folding chairs were sent for the use of the small hall in the Grimmons School. Fifty folding chairs were sent to the Morse School for use in the evening work.


At the High School Gymnasium a new set of track corners has been added to enable the track division of the High School to use the gymnasium as an indoor running track. These cor- ners are made so that they can be taken up and pushed out of the way for regular gymnastic work.


The present lunch room at the High School has been en- larged by the installing of a number of oak tables and 300 additional chairs.


A new fireproof room was erected in the basement of the High School for the storage of stage scenery.


A new kindergarten room has been installed at the Hodg- kins School, Carr School and the Folsom Building during the past year.


A new door and flight of iron stairs has been installed in the boiler room of the Central Heating Plant so that the en- gineers or fireman can go through the building without going out of doors.


.


335


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


The plumbing at the Bennett School shower baths has been thoroughly overhauled and new curtains installed.


A new electric pump has been installed on the Johnson Service of the Cutler School to replace two present water pumps which are worn out.


At the Northeastern Junior High School a new lathe has been installed in the shop, and new yard gongs put in.


We have during the past year removed what has been one of the most serious menaces to health in any school building in the alterations of the drains of the Perry School. After every severe storm, when the tide was right, the drains back- ed up in the Perry School over the toilet seats and created a condition that has in the past several years caused us con- siderable work. An entirely new drainage system has been in- stalled during the past year and we will not have to contend with such a condition again. We now have as good a san- itary system in the Perry School as in any building in the state.


Fire Department Buildings


Engine No. 6 house has been renovated and a new kitchen installed in what was formerly the old stable, a screened-in piazza built for the men off of the kitchen and new recreation rooms fitted up on the first floor. The entire interior has been painted and new equipment installed. It has proven to be very satisfactory. A new driveway was installed doing away with the brick driveway which was pretty badly broken and in rough condition.


At Engine No. 3 new electric lights have been installed. An alteration has been made to the front of the building and a new door installed. This alteration removes a menace that has been in existence since the new ladder truck has been lo- cated in this section. The tiller man had to bend down almost double to clear the door when going out. We have put in a new set of dutch doors. In the rear of the apparatus floor the old stable has been altered for a new ward room with a door entering on Washington Street. This will take the place of the present ward room in the old Veteran Fireman's building. New gratings were installed in the sidewalk for window open- ings.


At Engine No. 2 the building has been painted through- out.


336


ANNUAL REPORTS


At the Central Fire Station a new linoleum was laid on the floors of the Chief's Office and Captain's Office. New elec- tric light fixtures were installed. A new set of steel furniture was installed in the Chief's Office. Several additional lockers were supplied during the year for additional members in the department. The recreation room and the deputy chief's office painted throughout.


At Ladder No. 4 a new door was installed in the hallway to prevent a draft through the bunk room. Also a new door cut into one of the bunk rooms from the recreation room so that it gave access directly from the bunk room to another pole. New lockers were supplied for the additional men as- signed to this station.


During the past year there has been installed in the var- ious Fire buildings an electrical unit for the charging of the batteries and the apparatus. This work was completed at a cost of $750, and has proven very satisfactory in the various houses.


New furniture has been sent to the several fire stations.


General repairs to the plumbing and heating have been made throughout all the buildings.


Libraries


The Central Library has been thoroughly cleaned and renovated during the past year. There was a fire from the soft coal in the basement of this building and as dust and smoke caused considerable damage to the books and building I should recommend the installing of an oil burner during the coming year. The extra cost of the oil would offset the cost of the necessary work caused in the building by coal smoke and dust from ashes.


A new roof was put on the West Branch Library. The sky-lights were found to be in such poor condition that it was necessary to replace same. We hope to be able to refinish the entire inside of this building during the coming year.


In regard to the Union Square Branch Library it would cost a great deal to put this building in proper shape at this time and with the hope that a new building may be erected sometime in the near future I should advise getting along as best we can until the new building is erected.


A new storm porch has been added to the Winter Hill Branch Library.


337


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


Sanitary Buildings


The Sanitary stables have had new floors and new stall bottoms installed. The garage shed and fence have been re- paired and painted. A new boiler was installed for heating the water in the men's quarters ..


Owing to a fire in the Incinerator building and the burn- ing of the runway it was decided to replace this runway with a concrete driveway that would be permanent. This was done at a cost of $2800. and a new four foot wire fence erected the entire length of the runway on either side.


Highway Buildings


Considerable alterations and repairs have been made on the Highway Buildings. The cement shed has been re-built, a new foundation put in, and building painted. The basement of the stable has been made over into a heated garage with wire lath and plastered ceiling. By doing this we are able to make arrangements so that the new sanitary trucks can be housed in a city building. New stall bottoms have been laid. Additions to the present heating system made. The present steam boiler has been thoroughly overhauled and repaired. Owing to two fires in the paint shop this building will have to be thoroughly re-modeled and fixed up at a cost of several hundred dollars. As these fires seem to be of incendiary origin I should advise the installing of watchman boxes at several points in the yard so that same can be covered regularly there- by preventing a happening of this sort again.


I should advise the erection of a large garage to take care of all of the city cars. We have plenty of room for this at the end of City Road. Owing to the land elevation this garage could be made a two story fireproof building and made large enough so as to take care of the future as well as the present needs. There are several now obsolete wooden buildings hous- ing trucks which are costing considerable for the heating and repairs. These could be done away with if a modern garage was erected. Eventually such a building would pay for it- self.


Contagious Hospital


Considerable painting and varnishing has been done in- side of the Contagious Hospital. A new fire-resisting roof has been put on the entire plant. The outside of the building has been repaired and painted with two coats of lead and oil paint. A new boiler has been installed for the heating of the nurses quarters.


338


ANNUAL REPORTS


Owing to the conditions in the State Tuberculosis Hos- pital, the State being unable to house some of those needing at- tention, His Honor, the Mayor, ordered the opening of the Tuberculosis Camp. This building was painted inside, and the heating and plumbing facilities remodeled and repaired. Telephones and electric lights were installed and the exterior of the building painted. This building is now occupied with tuberculosis patients, and will so continue until the new state hospitals are completed to take care of them.


The old wooden fence which was unsightly has been re- placed with a new six foot wire fence.


City Home


There have been many additions to furnishings made to the City Home during the past year. The stucco on entire hospital has been gone over replaced and refinished where necessary. The roof has been repaired and the building paint- ed on the outside. Considerable painting has been done to the interior of the buildings. New linoleum has been installed in the kitchen and dining rooms. New sanitary rubber top tables have been installed in the dining rooms. All dining- room chairs have been replaced with new ones. The exterior of the buildings have been painted. New beds and other fur- nishings have been installed. A new fence has been erected along the entire North Street side. This completes the fenc- ing in of the entire lot with a six foot wire fence thus doing away with the unsightly wooden fence that we have had to contend with for so many years.


Police Buildings


Cells have been renovated and painted, and several minor repairs made.


As this building is of antiquated design and wholly in- adequate for the needs of the present force the Commissioner recommends that an early consideration of a modern station be contemplated.


Park Buildings


Numerous repairs have been made to these buildings dur- ing the past year, new toilets have been installed and repairs made to shower baths, heating apparatus, electric light fix- tures, and general repairs to buildings.


Dilboy Field House must be enlarged and the Commis- sioner hopes that plans for same will be drawn during the coming year.


339


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


The Commissioner hopes that during the coming year he will be able to install a new field house on the Glen Street Playground for which an appropriation was made during the past year and for which plans are now being drawn up.


Excessive damage has been done to the Park Buildings owing to the rough element which collect about these build- ings after they are closed at night. Doors and windows have been broken and forced, toilet fixtures ripped from the walls and broken, electric light fixtures destroyed and tile roofs badly damaged.


Bathhouse


The public bathhouse on the Mystic River on Shore Drive was opened and maintained as usual this year.


About 400 tons of sand were purchased for resanding the beach.


The Beach has been enlarged during the past year by tak- ing over the adjoining lot between our present bathhouse and the Hinckley Rendering Company. Considerable money has been spent removing dangerous rocks. One of the greatest needs now is the planting of shade trees and general grading, together with additional sand for the beach.


This particular recreation has been a great help to many mothers and children during the hot weather of the past sea- son. It is a common sight to see mothers and children arriv- ing at the beach as early as nine o'clock with lunches to spend the entire day. The attendance at the beach during the warm weather has sometimes exceeded 1,000 a day.


Polling Places


As it is the intention of the Board of Aldermen to cut down the size of the present precincts it will be necessary for this department to have considerable additional money for the establishment of new voting places, that is; for the purchasing of voting stalls, tables, ballot boxes, furniture and equipment. It may also be necessary to erect a few more voting booths. If so I would suggest that these be of the type that can be taken down and stored away when not in use. We now have in use seven booths of the fixed type.


Fire Alarm Building


This building has been painted and tinted throughout. New furniture has been purchased for a new office for the


340


ANNUAL REPORTS


Commissioner. A new linoleum should be laid in the appa- ratus room to relieve all possibilities of dust from the present cement floor injuring the delicate apparatus housed there.


Municipal Buildings


There has been several alterations and changes made in City Hall during the past year. A new office was installed for the City Engineer, and a new office installed for the City Treasurer. Also a new Employment Bureau Office was in- stalled. A new door has been cut between the Mayor's office and the room in which the switchboard now installed in City Hall is located. A new cage has been installed in the Treas- urer's Office enclosing the Cashier. A new office was made for the Sealer of Weights and Measures as the Employment Office was put into one of the offices formerly occupied by them. A new office was equipped and installed for the Soldier's Relief Commission. Considerable new furniture has been purchased for the several departments.


In General


The Building Commissioner has had the co-operation of all branches of the City Government, including His Honor, the Mayor, the honorable members of the Board of Aldermen and all the city officials, and desires to thank them for their kind- ly consideration.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN H. KELLEY,


Commissioner of Public Buildings.


CHIEF OF POLICE


341


REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville, Massachusetts.


Gentlemen :


I respectfully submit the annual report of the Somerville Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1930.


Arrests


Whole number of arrests made


2,493


With and without warrants


2,077


On Summonses and notification


416


2,493


Males


2,362


Females


131


2,493


Americans


1,774


Foreign born


719


2,493


Residents


1,506


Non-residents


987


2,493


1. Crimes and Offenses Again the Person


Accosting


1


Assault


1


Assault and Battery


90


Assault and Battery on a police officer


9


Assault with a dangerous weapon


7


Assault, Mutual


2


Assault with intent to commit a felony


3


Assault with intent to commit rape


2


Assault with intent to rob


1


Manslaughter


1


Murder


2


Rape


4


Assault with intent to murder


2


Infanticide


1


Infanticide, Accessory to


1


Bigamy


1


Robbery attempt


1


Robbery, armed


1


Robbery


13


Threats and intimidation


2


138


342


ANNUAL REPORTS


2. CRIMES AND OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY


Arson


1


Attempt, larceny of automobile


1


Breaking and entering, attempt


20


Breaking and entering


13


Breaking and entering and larceny


40


Breaking glass


1


Breaking glass in building


6


Breaking street lights


2


Concealing leased property.


5


Fraudulent conveying


1 6


Larceny, attempt


3


Larceny of automobiles


46


Larceny


159


Malicious injury to property


1


Receiving stolen goods


3


Trespass


28


Larceny at a fire


1


Larceny from a building


7


Unlawful use of electricity


3


Unlawful use of gas


1


332


3. Crimes and Offienses Against Public Order, etc.


Adultery


2


Capais


56


Conspiracy


10


Cruelty to animals


2


Default


14


Disorderly house


1


Disturbing a public assembly


4


Dog keeping, unlicensed


9


Drunkenness


1006


Drunkenness, common


6


Escaped from prison


2


Exposure of person


3


Fugitive from justice


4


Fire-arms, carrying without a permit


7


Injury to property


5


Idle and disorderly


1


Gambling nuisance


1


Fornication


2


Gaming and being present


33


Glass breaking


17


Incest


2


Lewd cohabitation


8


Lewdness


4


Promoting a lottery


2


Neglect of parent


4


Neglect to support


145


Neglected children


3


Peddling without a license


1


Procuring an abortion


1


Runaway boys


9


Runaway girls


2


Safe keeping, demented


23


Injury to property


343


CHIEF OF POLICE


Destroying trees


1


Attempt rescue


1


Breaking street lamps


2


Common railer and brawler


1


Gaming machines


3


Interfering with funeral procession


2


Eavesdropping


1


Perjury


1


Escaped insane person


1


Disturbing peace


1


Obscene pictures


1


Selling ammunition to a minor


1


Setting fire to a building


1


Stealing ride on electric car


2


Straggler U. S.


1


Stubborness


13


Suspicious persons


4


Throwing missiles


4


Uttering forged instrument


4


Vagrants


3


Violations of city ordinances


44


Violation of illegitimate child act


28


Violation of labor laws


5


Violation Lord's Day


7


Violation of liquor laws


109


Violation of motor vehicle laws


345


Violation of narcotic drug law


1


Violation of probation


16


Violation of the pure food law


5


Violation and revoke of parole


11


Violation of school laws


11


Violation of traffic regulation


10


Violation Board of Health regulation


2


Vagabonds


1


Violation true name iaw


1


2,023


Recapitulation


(1) Crimes and Offenses Against the person


138


(2) Crimes and offenses Against property ...


332


(3) Crimes and offenses Against Public Order, etc ...


2,023


Total number of arrests made


2,493


Bailed to appear elsewhere


17


Released from custody


4


Released by probation officer (drunkenness)


8


Surrendered to other officers, institutions, etc.


168


197


Note: Two hundred and twenty-nine of the above number of cases were juveniles and delinquents.


Miscellaneous Reports


Abandoned automobiles


90


Accidents reported


1,032


Amount of property stolen


$172,958 99


344


ANNUAL REPORTS


Amount of stolen property recovered


291,044 92


Amount of property lost


2,441 81


Amount of property found .


151 25


Assaults and assaults and battery


39


Attempts to break and enter


108


Attempted larceny


7


Bombs found


4


Buildings broken and entered


392


Buildings found open


889


Cruelty to animals


0


Dead animals found


134


Defective bridges


26


Defective catch basins and sewers


24


Defective electric lamps


26


Defective hydrants and gates


48


Defective manholes


6


Defective police signal service


2


Defective sidewalks


348


Defective signs and sign-posts


243


Defective streets


194


Defective wires


34


Disturbances


90


Disturbances suppressed


3


Dogs killed


34


Dogs vicious


34


Fires, false alarms


4 2


Fires reported


290


Gas leaks


2


Gas poisoning


0


Houses unoccupied


35


Indecent exposure of person


12


Larcencies, no value given


217


Larcencies


954


Lost children


330


Malicious mischief


85


Missing persons


139


Missing persons found


139


Obstructions on sidewalks and streets


18


Obstructions on sidewalks and streets not lighted


5


Obstructions on sidewalks and streets lighted


5


Panes of glass broken


254


Permits to labor on the Lord's Day


38


Persons accosted


8


Persons bitten by dogs


62


Persons notified


499


Persons rescued


0


Property lost, no value given




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