Report of the city of Somerville 1938, Part 20

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1938
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 444


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1938 > Part 20


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1890


Apr. 1894


Hon. William H. Hodgkins, chairman, ex- officio


1892


1895


"


James G. Hinckley


May, 1892


1894


Albert W. Edmands


May, 1893


Oct. 1918


Herbert E. Merrill


May, 1894


1909


Ezra D. Souther


1895


Feb. 1898


Hon. Albion A. Perry, chairman ex-officio 1896 James H. Butler March, 1898


1898


"


Hon. George O. Proctor, chairman ex-officio 1899 Henry F. Curtis, M. D. (president 1912-1919) 1910 Philip Koen


1912


Nov. 1916


Michael Coll


Nov. 1916


Fred E. Durgin (chairman 1919-1935)


.. Oct. 1918


Jan. 1935



James D. Sharkey


Dec. 1924


1933


Wilbur F. Lewis


June 1928


Jan. 1931


John C. McNally


.Jan. 1931


Frank Cole


1933


Jan. 1934


*Arthur C. Coffey


1933


date


*Quinlan Sullivan


1934


date


Walter V. Robinson (chairman)


1935


Jan. 1938


"


*Edward L. Hagan (chairman)


Jan. 1938


date


"


Dec. 1924


George G. Brayley


Jan. 1922


June 1928


1933


"


* Present Member.


160,269.41


13,393.85


173,663.25


1929


-104,000


A.D.C. 97,511.63


OAA 397,203.74


1899


1921


294


ANNUAL REPORTS


Table No. 10 RECAPITULATION (Miscellaneous)


Expenditures and transfers


$875,654.35


Reimbursements and Refunds 273,126.84


Net cost to city


$602,527.51


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES J. WILLWERTH,


General Agent


295.


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF THE WARDEN OF THE CITY HOME


March 1, 1939.


To the Board of Public Welfare Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen :


I submit the following as the report of the Warden of the City Home for the year ending December 31, 1938 :


Table No. 1


Number of weeks' board of inmates


3686


Number of males admitted during 1938


38


Number of females admitted during 1938


21


Number of males discharged during 1938


33


Number of females discharged during 1938


15


Number of males supported during 1938


92


Number of females supported during 1938


38


Number of males died during 1938


Number of females died during 1938


Number of inmates in Home December 31, 1938


73


Table No. 2 City Home Hospital


Number of weeks' board of inmates


688


Number of patients admitted


25


Number of patients in hospital December 31, 1938


18


Table No. 3


Expenditures


$16,740.71


Reimbursements and Refunds


6,461.74


Net cost to city


$10,278.97


Respectfully submitted,


HERMAN M. REYNOLDS,


Warden


296


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN


To His Honor the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen


Gentlemen :


The work of your city physician and his staff during the year 1938 is presented in the following abstract :


Office consultations and treatments


20,793


Total outside visits


9,229


Visits at City Home


126


Examinations :


Police Department 221


Fire Department


178


Miscellaneous Visits:


Hospital Investigations 338


Miscellaneous calls


629


X-ray Reports 359


Special Cases


67


Respectfully submitted,


CIRO GIOBBE, M.D.,


City Physician


297


CITY CLERK


REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK


Office of the City Clerk January 1, 1939


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen,


Gentlemen :


The following is respectfully submitted as the sixty-seventh Annual Report of the City Clerk of the City of Somerville, and is for the year ending December 31, 1938.


The receipts and payments were as follows :


For dog licenses issued in 1938 :


1458 males at $2.00


$2,916.00


256 females at $5.00


1,280.00


395 spayed at $2.00


790.00


1 kennel at $25.00


25.00


$5,011.00


For hunting and fishing licenses issued in 1938 :


397 fishing at $2.00


794.00


210 hunting at $2.00


420.00


107 sporting at $3.25


347.75


70 minor fishing at $1.25


87.50


3 trapping at $5.25


15.75


7 duplicate licenses at $.50


3.50


1,668.50


Recording mortgages, assignments, etc. 1,408 papers


2,327.50


Certificates of marriage intentions, 1308 (including postage)


2,203.29


Furnishing copies of records


300.32


Licenses :


Auctioneers, 25 at $2.00


50.00


Barber Shops, 9 chairs at $2.00


18.00


Carried forward


$4,899.11


$6,679.50


298


ANNUAL REPORTS


Brought forward


$4,899.11 $6,679.50


Billiard, pool tables and bowling alleys, 137


licenses for 88 tables and 49 alleys, at $3.00


411.00


Bus Route, 2 at $10.00


20.00


Cut meat and sausage, 4 at $50.00


200.00


Drain layers, 2 at $1.00


2.00


Drivers, 27 at $1.00


27.00


Engines and motors, 5 at $1.00


5.00


Garages, 4 licenses:


1 at $5.00


$5.00


3 at $10.00


30.00


35.00


Garage renewals


583.00


Hackney carriages, 29 at $1.00


29,00


Intelligence offices, 5 at $2.00


10.00


Junk and second hand licenses:


Collect junk, 14 at $10.00 Junk shops, 11 at $25.00


275.00


Lodging houses, 32 at $2.00


64.00


Second hand auto dealers:


4 licenses at $50.00


$200.00


36 licenses at $25.00


900.00


1,100.00


Slaughtering, 11 at $1.00


11.00


Street Musicians, 12 at $.50


6.00


Storage of explosives:


1 license at $1.00


$1.00


7 licenses at $10.00


70.00


3 licenses at $20.00


60.00


2 licenses at $40.00


80.00


2 licenses at $50.00


100.00


4 licenses at $100.00


400.00


711.00


Storage of explosives renewals


3,419.00


Wagon licenses, 17 at $1.00


17.00


Wagon stand licenses, 28 at $1.00


28.00


Permits for projections over the sidewalk, for


4 awnings


16 electric signs


34 neon signs


3 shelves


1 cottage sign


3 metal signs


1 canopy


1 building front


4 wooden signs


4 licenses at $1.00 $4.00


63 licenses at $5.00


315.00


319.00


Badges


8.00


Carried forward


$12,319.11


$6,679.50


$6,211.11


$6,679.50


140.00


299


CITY CLERK


Brought forward


$12,319.11


$6,679.50


Registration of physicians, optometrists, and chiropodists


3.25


Copies of ordinances


9.00


Fees for notices of hearings


8.80


Advertising fees


40.00


Recordings


17.20


Duplicate of dog license tags


3.90


Transfer of dog licenses


.75


12,402.01


$19,081.51


PAYMENTS


To City Treasurer for dog licenses in 1938:


1458 males at $2.00


$2,916.00


256 females at $5.00


1,280.00


395 spayed at $2.00


790.00


1 kennel at $25.00


25.00


5,011.00


Less City Clerk's fees, 2110 at $.20


422.00


$4,589.00


To the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game for hunting licenses, etc. in 1938 :


397 fishing at $2.00


794.00


210 hunting at $2.00


420.00


107 sporting at $3.25


347.75


78 minor fishing at $1.25


87.50


3 trapping at $5.25


15.75


7 duplicates at $.50


3.50


1,668.50


Less City Clerk's fees, 787 at $.25


196.75


1,471.75


To the City Treasurer monthly :


City Clerk's fees for issuing and recording dog licenses in 1938, 2110 at $.20


422.00


City Clerk's fees for issuing and recording hunting licenses, etc. in 1938, 787 at $.25 .... All the receipts above specified except for hunting licenses and dog licenses


196.75


12,402.01


13,020.76


$19,081.51


LICENSES AND PERMITS


Besides the licenses mentioned in the foregoing list of re- ceipts, licenses and permits have been granted by the Board of Aldermen, without charge, as follows:


300


ANNUAL REPORTS


To hold religious services in streets, etc. 1 To parade in streets with music 5


Newspaper licenses 26


BIRTHS


1938


Number of births reported by physicians and midwives for 1938 :


Males 676


Females 604


1280


1937


The following is a statement in full of the births for 1937 :


Number of births (exclusive of still-births in Somerville in 1937 registered


1223


Males


622


Females 601


1223


Born of American parents


698


Born of Foreign parents


256


Born of American father and foreign mother


100


Born of Foreign father and American mother


150


Born of American mother and father unknown Nationality 17


Born of Foreign mother and father unknown Nationality


2


1223


Number of still-births in Somerville in 1937 registered.


51


Number of births in other places in 1937 registered


657


Number of cases twins


18


MARRIAGES


1938


Number of intentions issued in 1938


1040


Less than previous year


74


Marriages registered


1061


Less than previous year


44


Both parties American


801


Both parties foreign


76


American groom and foreign bride


82


Foreign groom and American bride


102


1061


First marriage


1916


Second marriage


182


Third marriage


23


Fourth marriage


1


2122


301


CITY CLERK


DEATHS 1938


(Exclusive of Stillbirths)


Number of deaths in Somerville in 1938


69


More than previous year Males


490


Females


478


968


Under ten years


77


10 and under 20 years of age


10


20 and under 30 years of age


21


30 and under 40 years of age


45


40 and under 50 years of age


85


50 and under 60 years of age


125


60 and under 70 years of age


222


70 and under 80 years of age


254


80 and under 90 years of age


115


90 and over


14


Age of oldest person deceased


104


Born in Somerville


135


Born in other places in U. S.


406


Of Foreign Birth


427


Of unknown nationality


0


"


"


February


92


=


"


"


May


72


"


"


June


74


July


52


=


=


August


84


=


,,


September


77


"


"


October


71


"


November


80


" December


95


968


March


87


=


April


89


Number of deaths in January


96


968


The number of stillbirths during the year was forty-one; In addition to the above, 301 deaths occurred elsewhere, were recorded in Somerville. Almost the entire number of persons deceased having been residents of this city.


302


ANNUAL REPORTS CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1938


MAYOR JOHN M. LYNCH, 52 Porter Street


BOARD OF ALDERMEN


President, LEO B. HAVICAN Vice-President, GEORGE W. PRATT


ALDERMEN-A-LARGE


JOHN F. FOSTER, 62 Willow Avenue EDWARD F. MOYNIHAN, 905 Broadway GEORGE W. PRATT, 35 Clark Street IRVING L. STACKPOLE, 36 Lowden Avenue


ALDERMEN


WARD ONE


WALTER J. MORAN 28 Kensington Avenue


WARD TWO


THOMAS J. DOYLE 87 Concord Avenue


WARD THREE


WILLIAM J. MELLEY 145 Summer Street


WARD FOUR


LEO B. HAVICAN


32 Willoughby Street


WARD FIVE


JAMES M. REDMOND 8 Bellevue Terrace


WARD SIX


ALLAN ROY KINGSTON 77 Liberty Avenue


WARD SEVEN


RALPH L. GARRETT 519 Mystic Valley Parkway


303


CITY CLERK


City Clerk, NORMAN E. CORWIN Assistant City Clerk, WILLIAM C. ARBUCKLE City Messenger, DANIEL A. DOWNEY Assistant City Messenger, RICHARD A. KEYES


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 preceding Tuesday evening.


STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN


ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS-Chairman Foster, Stackpole, Red- mond.


FINANCE-Chairman Havican, Kingston, Foster, Moynihan, Melley, Doyle, Garrett.


LEGISLATIVE MATTERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY-Chairman King- ston, Stackpole, Melley, Redmond, Foster.


LICENSES AND PERMITS-Chairman Moran, Pratt, Doyle, Garrett, Moynihan.


PUBLIC PROPERTY AND PUBLIC WORKS-Chairman Pratt, Hav- ican, Moran, Moynihan, Doyle.


SOLDIERS' RELIEF-Chairman Havican, Kingston, Moynihan.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE Chairman, CHARLES A. CAMPBELL Vice-Chairman, WILLIAM J. KOEN HON. JOHN M. LYNCH Mayor, ex-officio LEO B. HAVICAN President of the Board of Aldermen, ex-officio


WARD ONE


WALTER E. WHITTAKER 135 Walnut Street


WARD TWO


LAWRENCE J. DONOVAN 68 Elm Street


WARD THREE


EDWARD M. MCCARTY


42 Pleasant Avenue


WARD FOUR


EDITH L. HURD 125 Central Street


304


ANNUAL REPORTS


WARD FIVE


WILLIAM J. KOEN ..... 34 Lexington Avenue ....


WARD SIX


EDWIN A. SHAW


63 College Avenue


WARD SEVEN


CHARLES A. CAMPBELL 22 Barton Street


Superintendent and Secretary EVERETT W. IRELAND


Assistant Superintendent WALTER P. SWEET


Regular meetings last Monday of each month, except July and August.


ASSESSORS


MAURICE F. AHEARN, Chairman, term expires 1939


JOHN A. COLBERT, term expires 1940


HORACE A. LEWIS, term expires 1939


FRANCIS J. TAGUE, term expires 1941 ALBERT A. WALSH, term expires 1941


BOARD OF APPEALS


PLUMER E. POPE, Chairman, term expires 1940 CHARLES BRUNELLE, term expires 1939 ALBERT F. BYRNES, term expires 1941 GEORGE W. LOWDEN, term expires 1940


ROBERT J. MOSELEY, term expires 1939


Associate Members


GEORGE FULGINITI, term expires 1941 JOSEPH SOUZA, term expires 1939


BOARD OF HEALTH


PROFESSOR JAMES REYNOLDS, Chairman, term expires 1940 CHARLES F. McCROSSAN, M. D., term expires 1939 EDWARD McPARTLIN, term expires 1939


Agent, GEORGE I. CANFIELD Medical Inspector, FRANK L. MORSE, M. D. Veterinarian, E. WILLIAM JOHANSEN Inspectors of Animals and Provisions


305:


CITY CLERK


HENRY T. MURRAY - JAMES A. DWYER Inspector of Milk and Vinegar, WILLIAM H. WALLIS


Assistant Milk Inspector, JAMES C. MOORE Supervisor of Dental Hygiene, DR. ANTHONY F. BIANCHI


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


EDWARD L. HAGAN, Chairman, term expires 1941 ARTHUR C. COFFEY, term expires 1939 QUINLAN J. SULLIVAN, term expires 1940 Agent, CHARLES J. WILLWERTH Warden, City Home, HERMAN M. REYNOLDS Matron, City Home, MARY REYNOLDS


LICENSING COMMISSION


EUGENE M. FLANAGAN, Chairman, term expires 1940 LAWRENCE SHEEHAN, term expires 1939 JOHN F. McNAMARA, term expires 1941


PLANNING BOARD


JOHN J. HURLEY, Chairman, term expires 1942 JOSEPH LONERGAN, term expires 1943 HARRY MacNUTT, term expires 1940 JOHN P. SILK, term expires 1939 DR. VINCENT W. SENA, term expires 1941


PUBIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES


CHARLES L. DOHERTY, President, term expires 1941 J. HELEN CLOUGH, term expires 1940 LOUIS B. CONNELLY, term expires 1939 REV. ANTHONY J. FLAHERTY, term expires 1939 JOHN J. GRIFFIN, term expires 1938 KATHRYN HUEBER, term expires 1939 JOHN F. McGANN, term expires 1941 WILLIAM H. McKENNA, term expires 1940 DAVID Y. ROSS, term expires 1940 Librarian and Secretary, JOHN D. KELLEY


SOMERVILLE RECREATION COMMSSION


REV. NAZARENO PROPERZI, Chairman, term expires 1939" MARY R. COUGHLIN, term expires 1939 JOSEPHINE HAM, term expires 1940 WILLIAM F. HARKINS, term expires 1940 WILLIAM STUART HOWE, term expires 1939 MRS. ARTHUR W. HURLBURT, term expires 1939 JAMES J. McCARTHY, term expires 1940


306


ANNUAL REPORTS


ANNETTE MURPHY, term expires 1940 ANTHONY TRANIELLO, term expires 1940 DR. SOTER G. ZAHAROOLIS, term expires 1939


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


WILLIAM F. BURNS, Chairman, term expires 1941 WARREN C. DAGGETT, Secretary, term expires 1939 DENNIS L. DONOVAN, term expires 1940 WARREN S. JOHNSTON, term expires 1941


RETIREMENT BOARD


EUGENE M. CARMAN, Chairman, term expires 1940 MAURICE F. AHEARN, term expires 1941


FREDERICK W. HALE, City Auditor


SOMERVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY


In accordance with Section 26L, Chapter 449, Acts 1935, five members of the Somerville Housing Authority were ap- pointed and confirmed in the year 1938, as follows :


DAVID LOONEY, Chairman WILLIAM J. EAGAN, Vice-Chairman, term expires 1943 "MARY CARR, Secretary, term expires 1940 "EUGENE B. HAMILTON, term expires 1942 RICHARD C. TIGHE, term expires 1939


CITY CLERK NORMAN E. CORWIN


ASSISTANT CITY CLERK WILLIAM C. ARBUCKLE


CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES JOHN J. DONAHUE


CITY MESSENGER DANIEL A. DOWNEY


ASSISTANT CITY MESSENGER RICHARD A. KEYES


MAYOR'S SECRETARY JAMES F. STYNES


CITY CLERK 307


CITY AUDITOR FREDERICK W. HALE


CITY SOLICITOR ROBERT J. MULDOON


ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR CHARLES L. DOHERTY


CITY ENGENEER THOMAS HEGARTY


COMMISSIONER OF STREETS JAMES J. CORBETT


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS ALBERT PARKER


WATER COMMISSIONER JOHN T. FORD


SUPERINTENDENT OF SANITARY DEPARTMENT JOHN F. MESKELL


CLERK OF COMMITTEES JOHN P. CLAIR


ASSISTANT CLERK OF COMMITTEES JOHN J. MANSFIELD


ASSISTANT TO CLERK OF COMMITTEES FRANCIS L. McGONAGLE


CHIEF OF POLICE THOMAS DAMERY


CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT JOHN C. MCNALLY


COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS ROBERT F. MAGUIRE


308


ANNUAL REPORTS


CITY PHYSICIAN CIRO GIOBBE, M. D.


ASSISTANT CITY PHYSICIAN JOHN M. TAVARES, M. D.


AGENT OF MILITARY AND STATE AID AND SOLDIERS' RELIEF AND BURIAL AGENT THOMAS F. MCGRATH


INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR WILLIAM H. WALLIS


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BENJAMIN S. ABBOTT


CONSTABLES


Charles M. Austin


Philip J. Beyer, Jr.


Arthur J. Bibby


Henry A. Blackman


Daniel A. Downey


Anthony John Scolles


Maurice Gilbert


Joseph A. Silva John M. Smith


Frank H. Gilmore


William R. Judson


Manuel C. Souza


Bernard Levin


Samuel L. Terhune


Francis MacDonald


James E. Votour


Thomas A. O'Connor


Daniel J. O'Donoghue


Charles G. Pickett


William M. Quirk


John F. Scannell


Arthur W. White


309


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


OFFICE OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES CITY HALL, MASSACHUSETTS


January 1, 1939.


To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN :


The following report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year 1938 is respectively submitted.


Work of Weights and Measures Department for 1938


Scales :


Not


Adjusted


Sealed


Con- Sealed demned


Platform over 5000 1bs


0


28


2


0


Platform 100 to 5000 lbs


0


200


58


6


Counter 100 lbs or over


0


21


4


1


Counter under 100 1bs


0


297


6


4


Beam 100 1bs or over


0


4


4


0


Beam under 100 1bs


0


0


0


0


Spring 100 1bs or over


0


42


1


0


Spring under 100 1bs


0


346


0


8


Computing 100 lbs or over


0


0


0


0


Computing under 100 1bs


0


396


5


5


Personal Weighing (Slot)


0


72


0


6


Prescription


0


47


0


0


Jewellers


0


3


0


0


Weights:


Avoidupois


0


1225


0


0


Apothecary


0


464


0


21


Metric


0


104


0


4


Troy


0


31


0


3


Capacity Measure:


Vehicle Tanks


0


0


0


0


Liquid


0


488


16


13


Oil Jars


0


0


0


0


Dry


0


0


0


0


Fuel Baskets


0


2


0


0


310


ANNUAL REPORTS


Automatic Measuring Devices:


Not


Con- Sealed demned


Gasoline Pumps


0


5


14


0


Gasoline Meters


0


323


0


46


Kerosene Pumps


0


0


0


0


Oil Measuring Pumps


0


30


542


0


Quantity Measure on Pumps (ea.)


0


76


0


0


Grease Measuring Devices


0


18


38


4


Linear Measure:


Yard Sticks


0


90


0


4


Taxi Meters


0


19


0


0


Cloth Measuring Devices


0


4


0


0


Total


0


4411


690


125


Summary of Inspections made:


Clinical Thermometers


124


Coal Certificates


4


Ice Scales


72


Junk Scales


0


Marking of Bread


138


Marking of Food Packages


416


Metal Ice Cream Containers


252


Milk Jars


1032


Oil Jars


2213


Paper or Fibre Cartons


0


Pedlers' License.


135


Pedlers' Scales


49


Transient Vendors


0


Wholesale Milk Cans


176


Taxi Meters


0


Fuel Meters


0


Gas Pumps and Meters


0


Coal in Paper Bags


50


Kindling Wood in Paper Bags


330


Oil Measures (5 Gallons)


0


Summary of Tests made:


Berry Baskets


0


Cartons (approved as measures)


0


Gasoline Devices (other than Sealing)


54


Ice Cream Cartons


0


Scales in Stores


205


Taxi Meters (other than Sealing)


7


Fuel Meters (other than Sealing)


14


Beer Kegs


11


Applications inspected and signed for Special Licenses:


Special City Licenses


27


County


92


State


65


Disabled Veterans


8


Transfers


8


Total


200


Adjusted


Sealed


311


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


Gasoline Station Tests:


Total number of calls


153


Number of different stations


125


Number of call-backs to stations previously inspected


28


Number of Gallons drawn for tests


3975


Trial weighings and measurements of commodities sold or put up for sale:


Total No. Tested


Number Correct


Under


Over


Beans


276


189


43


44


Bread


138


102


10


26


Butter


214


191


22


1


Coal (in paper bags)


50


34


1


15


Coal (in transit)


4


1


0


3


Confectionery


38


38


0


0


Dry Commodities


389


254


50


85


Flour


136


79


27


30


Fruits and Vegetables


265


146


48


71


Ice


0


0


0


0


Lard


87


87


0


0


Meat and Provisions


181


112


25


44


Potatoes


75


13


22


40


Total


1853


1246


248


359


Miscellaneous :


Court Cases


5


Complaints investigated


4


May I respectfully call to your attention again the need of a public scale, for reweighing purposes. The department is greatly handicapped in reweighing of coal in transit by having to direct vehicles to different parts of the City to weigh loads on privately owned scales that have been sealed previously by this department.


The purchase of a 50 gallon Test Tank has filled a long felt want, and added greatly to the accuracy of testing Fuel Truck Meters.


B. S. ABBOTT,


Sealer of Weights and Measures.


Incorrect


312


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES


To the Honorable Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :


Gentlemen :-


The sixty-sixth annual report of the Trustees of the Public Library is herewith respectfully submitted ; being the report of the librarian and tables of statistics of operation.


Very respectfully, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,


CHARLES L. DOHERTY,


President.


313


PUBLIC LIBRARY


PUBLIC LIBRARY


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Charles L. Doherty, President


Term Expires January 1, 1941


Rev. Anthony J. Flaherty, Vice-President


1939


John J. Griffin


1938


Mrs. Anna C. McBrearty


(resigned February 16, 1938)


1939


Louis B. Connelly (appointed March 14, 1938)


1939


Mrs. Kathryn E. Hueber


"


1939


Mrs. J. Helen Clough


,


1940


William H. McKenna


1940


David Y. Ross


1940


John F. McGann


1941


COMMITTEES


On Administration The President, Mr. McGann, Mr. McKenna, Mrs. Clough, and Rev. Anthony J. Flaherty


On Books and Cataloging The President, Mr. Ross, Mrs. Hueber, Mr. Connelly and Mr. Griffin


On Buildings and Property The President and the Vice-President


Secretary of the Board JOHN D. KELLEY


314


ANNUAL REPORTS


ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL December 31, .1938


CENTRAL LIBRARY-Highland Avenue and Walnut Street WEST SOMERVILLE BRANCH-40 College Avenue EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH-Broadway and Illinois Avenue UNION SQUARE BRANCH-50 Bow Street


WINTER HILL STATION-424 Broadway


GEORGE H. EVANS, Librarian Emeritus JOHN D. KELLEY, Librarian


GRADED SERVICE


NELLIE M. WHIPPLE, Assistant Librarian


VIVIAN J. MORSE, Executive Assistant


CORA B. EAMES, Reference Librarian and Second Assistant


MABEL E. BUNKER, Chief Cataloger


DOROTHY H. TERRY, Branch Librarian, West Branch


ELSIE K. WELLS, Branch Librarian, East Branch


KATHRYN KENNY, Branch Librarian, Union Square Branch


MARY B. BARTLETT, Supervisor of Schools, Deposits, and Children's Work


R. VIVIAN SMITH, Assistant Cataloger MYRTLE NICHOLSON, Central Desk Chief


CATHERINE COTTER, Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding


GERTRUDE REYNOLDS, Executive-in-Charge, Winter Hill Station MILDRED A. BOWLEY, First Assistant, West Branch


RUTH HOLMES, First Assistant, East Branch MARION E. SMITH, First Assistant, Union Square Branch


MARY M. NOONAN, Children's Librarian, Central


SOPHIE MARGOLIS, Children's Librarian, West Branch


EMMA MERLINI, Children's Librarian, Union Square Branch BARBARA NILES, Senior Assistant KATHLEEN MARTIN, Senior Assistant


MARJORIE L. HOLT, Senior Assistant


GERTRUDE F. CONNOLLY, Senior Assistant


FRANCES M. HAYES, Junior Assistant IRENE F. WARD, Junior Assistant


RITA FINN, Junior Assistant, and Acting Children's Librarian, East Branch


FLORENCE I. CLARK, Junior Assistant


MARY B. CONNORS, Junior Assistant ANNE HOPKINS, Junior Assistant


ELEANOR F. DEWIRE, Junior Assistant


315


PUBLIC LIBRARY


NON-PROFESSIONAL SERVICE


MARY E. CULLINANE


HARVEY CURTIS KATHARINE J. WHITE


ANN F. DENNIS MARGARET B. SCANLAN ELIZABETH FLYNN


UNGRADED SERVICE


RICHARD LOMBARD GEORGE DOOLING


LOIS J. MCCARTHY MARY F. WARREN


KATHERINE AUSTIN PATRICIA SULLIVAN NELLIE EGAN


LILLIAN G. CASEY


RUTH D. WARNER


APPRENTICE SERVICE


ELIZABETH L. CLIFFORD, Senior Apprentice ANNA E. CULLEN, Senior Apprentice CATHERINE P. KILLILEA, Senior Apprentice


316


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN


To the Board of Trustees :


The Annual Report of the Librarian to the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Somerville, being a part of the Sixty-Sixth Annual Report of the Library for the year 1938 is herewith submitted. It is concerned with the details of admin- istration, the present condition, and the problems of the library.


Special statements of the records of the year setting forth in statistical form the use and condition of the library will be found in Appendix A.


In the past few years the outstanding feature of the Libra- rian's Report has been the crying need of finances to stem the tide of our continuing decreasing collection. At this time I am very happy to report that this condition has at least been temporarily corrected, yet it will require a number of years to offset the financial disadvantages under which the library labored during the depression period. Many books which should have been discarded have been salvaged, through the generosity of the Commissioner of Public Buildings in loaning to the libra- ry a bookbinder who has saved a tremendous number of volumes which otherwise would have been discarded because of the lack of sufficient funds for binding. We also have, through his as- sistance, repaired a considerable number of the popular circu- lating books of fiction and non-fiction which ordinarily would have been set aside during the period of their popularity because of broken bindings or loose pages.


The work of the past year makes it certain that the book purchase appropriation must remain the same, if not larger, if the library is to satisfy the requirements of its readers. As predicted in the annual report of last year-"The trend in reading appears to be leaning toward informative rather than the recreational and leisure type" has been fulfilled during the current year. The demand for non-fiction of a general nature- history, philosophy, biography, economics, travel, poetry, and drama-has increased throughout the system. The library is now purchasing practically all of the best books in most fields. A large circulation of books of fiction could be maintained at low cost, but books dealing with science, technology and eco- nomics are expensive and become out-of-date. To give service the library must have books.


317


PUBLIC LIBRARY


That the public appreciates the efforts of the Trustees and Library Staff to maintain the high efficiency for which the li- brary has always been noted is evidenced by the remarkable increase in circulation during 1938 of 67,818 in addition to the increase of 61,803 in 1937, but more effective is the decided increase in the number of borrowers, 20,358 in 1938, an increase of 895 over 1937. I point to the increase of borrowers with a feeling of pride for, without any intensive effort to obtain reg- istrations, many of our citizens are turning to the library in appreciation of the courtesy and cooperation of the staff. Another factor is the innovation of placing on each charging desk a box marked "Borrowers' Requests" which contains cards to be filled out by the borrower (without the assistance of the staff members) for any volumes which he may desire. These cards are checked each morning, and either the books are reserved for the borrower, or, in the case of new titles for the library, the borrower is advised that same day whether or not we will consider the purchase of the book. The effect on the public has been most encouraging for they appreciate the personal service and attention of being notified as to our deci- sion.




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