Report of the city of Somerville 1949, Part 6

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1949
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 412


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1949 > Part 6


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Ulick M. Burke


John F. Burlingame


William F. Blake


James L. Smith


Thomas F. Mahoney


John W. Murphy


John F. Powers


Fred A. Cammon


Thomas L. Hall


Patrolmen


1-John P. L. O'Keefe


2-Alfred E. Robitaille


3-Allan S. Burns


4-William H. Donovan


5-Georg R. Allan


6-Alfred J. McFadden


7-William E. Dwyer


25-John J. Gallagher


26-George B. Phillips, Jr.


27-Ricco J. Rossi


28-John J. Cronin


29-John M. Dunleavey


30-Harold L. Coffey


31-Joseph F. Curran 32-George W. McCauley


33-Garrett F. J. Mehigan


16-Edward G. Forristall


17-James Souza


18-Garnet L. Reid


19-Jeremiah F. Donovan


20-John J. Brosnahan


21-George Spiers


22-Charles W. Ellis


23-Patrick F. O'Brien


24-Jeremiah G. Sheehan


8-James F. Holmes 9-Patrick J. Lyons


10-Thomas A. Donovan


11-Thomas J. Flanagan


12-Timothy J. Corkery


13-John J. Courtney 14-Joseph P. Blake


15-John F. Cruise


34-Daniel J. O'Connell


35-Arthur W. Kelley


36-John H. Mckenzie


Captains


LeRoy V. Pierce Joseph F. Small


117


POLICE DEPARTMENT


37-William J. Baird


38-Joseph F. Fedele


39-William E. Johnson


93-Allan S. Mosher


94-Charles F. Meehan


41-George Gullage


42-Edward L. Berg


43-Cornelius Aucoin


44-William J. Fitzgerald


45-John K. Barrett


46-Frederick W. McGovern


100-Thomas F. Doody


47-George W. Crosby


48-Edward J. Kelley


49-Lester A. Caswell


103-Carmine L. Perna


50-Jeremiah G. Brennan


51-Francis L. Rogers


52-John H. O'Brien


106-Robert E. Doyle


107-William E. Bavin


108-John T. Canty No. 1


55-Herbert H. Stokes


109-Linwood N. Thompson


56-James V. Scotti


57-Daniel F. Murphy


58-Richard H. Skeffington


59-Eugene M. Canty


60-John J. Clark


114-William S. McDonough


115-Harold A. MacDonald


116-Charles T. McCarthy


63-Augustine W. Fitzpatrick


64-Walter J. McRae


65-William J. Quinlan


66-James E. Hughes


67-John F. Heafey


68-Howard F. Hallion


69-Preston C. Davis


123-Walter C. Barletta


124-Donald N. MacElree


125-Medardo A. Muzzioli


126-Vincent D. Hartnett


127-Francis D. O'Callaghan


128-James C. Mearls


129-Andrew L. Dennehy 130-Alfred J. White


131-Davis J. Santos


132-Vincent J. Izzi


133-William R. McMahon


134-James F. Tatosky


135-Earl S. Hemenway, Jr.


136-John Cunha, Jr.


137-Feliz J. Manfra


138-Frank Flammia


85-William J. Heafey


139-Joseph L. Mearls


140-John T. Canty No. 2


141-Daniel J. Donovan


142-Ernest A. DiNisco


143-Robert E. Ryan


144-Joseph A. Murphy


Matrons


Helen F. Kammerer


Susannah F. Bolt


117-William A. Kinsley, Jr.


118-William J. Shine


119-Thomas J. Sullivan


120-Wallace E. Foskett


121-Leo J. Letendre


122-James J. Murphy


70-John J. Tanner 71-Glen B. Nicholas


72-Ernest C. Faulkner


73-Edward W. Kelley


74-Clifford A. McQuilken


75-William J. Downey


76-Robert J. Brady


77-William J. Kelley


78-Nicholas J. Calandrella


79-John F. Donovan


80-James F. Ryan 81-Joseph R. Estee


82-Chirstopher Cullinan


83-Cosmo DeVellis


84-John J. Mahoney


86-Thomas W. McGovern


87-William F. Lynch


88-John J. Donovan


89-Walter J. Willwerth


90-James F. Downing


91-Francis J. Keane 92-Allan L. Collins


95-Joseph M. Desmond


96-James E. Keating


97-George L. Gordon


101-Francis J .ยท Fulmine


102-James M. Fitzpatrick


53-John E. Dillaway


54-Thomas F. Fleming


110-Salvatore S. Salemme


111-John F. Colleran


112-Peter F. O'Brien


113-James C. Baird


61-James J. Higgins


62-Frederick A. Landry


104-Albert W. Dempsey 105-John R. Ambrogne


98-James P. Ryan 99-Edward L. Fahey


40-Ludwig Nelson


118


ANNUAL REPORTS


CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT


Appointments


Wallace E. Foskett appointed a patrolman January 14, 1949 Leo J. Letendre appointed a patrolman January 14, 1949 James J. Murphy appointed a patrolman January 14, 1949 Walter C. Barletta appointed a patrolman April 22, 1949 Donald N. MacElree appointed a patrolman April 22, 1949 Medardo A. Muzzioli appointed a patrolman April 22, 1949 Vincent D. Hartnett appointed a patrolman September 9, 1949 Francis O'Callaghan appointed a patrolman September 9, 1949 James C. Mearls appointed a patrolman September 9, 1949 Andrew L. Dennehy appointed a patrolman September 9, 1949 Alfred J. White, Jr. appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 David J. Santos appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Vincent J. Izzi appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 William R. McMahon appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 James F. Tatosky appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Earl S. Hemenway, Jr. appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 John J. Cunha, Jr. appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Felix Manfra appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Frank Flammia appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Joseph L. Mearls appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 John T. Canty No. 2 appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Daniel J. Donovan appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Ernest A. DiNisco appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Robert P. Ryan appointed a patrolman November 14, 1949 Joseph A. Murphy appointed a patrolman December 23, 1949 Captain John J. Killourhy promoted to Deputy Chief December 23, 1949 Lieut. Hugh R. Cunningham promoted to Deputy Chief December 23, 1949 Lieut. Joseph F. Small promoted to Captain December 30, 1949 Lieut. Earle W. Elliott promoted to Captain December 30, 1949 Lieut. LeRoy V. Pierce promoted to Captain December 30, 1949 Patrolman Ulick M. Burke promoted to Sergeant September 9, 1949 Patrolman John F. Burlingame promoted to Sergeant September 9, 1949 Patrolman William F. Blake promoted to Sergeant September 9, 1949 Patrolman James L. Smith promoted to Sergeant September 9, 1949 Patrolman Thomas F. Mahoney promoted to Sergeant September 9, 1949 Patrolman John W. Murphy promoted to Sergeant September 9, 1949 Patrolman John F. Powers promoted to Sergeant November 14, 1949 Patrolman Fred A. Cammon promoted to Sergeant November 14, 1949 Patrolman Thomas L. Hall promoted to Sergeant November 14, 1949


Retirements


Deputy Chief Thomas P. Walsh


Patrolman Walter C. Oesting


Patrolman Michael J. O'Loughlin


Patrolman Chester F. Warner


Patrolman John J. Curtin


Retired July 12, 1949


Retired July 6, 1949


Retired October 8, 1949


Pensioned December 23, 1949 Pensioned September 12, 1949


Transfers


Patrolman Harold J. Collins


Transferred to Metropolitan Police 12-30-49


POLICE DEPARTMENT


119


Deaths


Patrolman Frank A. Silva Patrolman Timothy J. Corkery


Died October 27, 1949 Died December 3, 1949


Deaths of Retired Members


Denis Downey Leo J. Reardon


Died May 27, 1949 Died December 5, 1949


IN CONCLUSION


I wish to thank his Honor the Mayor, members of the Board of Alderman, heads of the various departments, and all officers and members of the police department, for their loyal support, cooperation and assistance during the past year.


Respectfully submitted,


AUGUSTINE F. SHARRY,


Chief of Police


120


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT


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


Gentlemen:


The annual report of the Law Department for the year 1949 is herewith respectfully submitted.


As in past years, the services of the Law Department were available to such other departments as found legal opinions necessary. Claims against the city for injuries to citizens arising out of alleged defects in streets and ways were settled whenever such was warranted, and in other instances court action was resorted to for judicial determination.


The Welfare Department availed itself of the legal services of this department frequently, because of the many settlement cases which arose. In some instances it was necessary to enter these cases in court.


As in previous years, this department assisted the Board of Assessors in the Appellate Tax Board; the Old Age Assis- tance Bureau in drawing bonds and mortgages and the City Treasurer's Office in obtaining tax lien foreclosures.


The foregoing report has been prepared from records on file in this department.


Respectfully yours,


ROBERT J. MULDOON


City Solicitor


121


SANITARY DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF THE SANITARY DEPARTMENT


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


Gentlemen :-


The report of the Sanitary Department for the year 1949 is respectfully submitted herewith :-


COLLECTIONS OF ASHES AND REFUSE


Loads


Yards


Tons


January


2550


16,575


5738


February


2450


15,925


5513


March


2400


15,600


5400


April


2300


14,950


5175


May


2250


14,625


5063


June


2200


14,300


4950


July


2050


13,325


4613


August


1950


12,675


4388


September


1900


12,350


4275


October


2350


15,275


5288


November


2500


16,250


5625


December


2600


16,900


5850


COLLECTIONS OF PAPER


Yards


Tons


January


4125


550


February


4275


570


March


4050


540


April


3975


530


May


4050


540


June


3975


530


July


3900


520


August


3825


510


September


3975


530


October


4125


550


November


4200


560


December


4350


580


122


ANNUAL REPORTS


The above figures are approximate and are based on the general average of amounts carried by the trucks.


The ashes and refuse are being collected with motor trucks on account of the distance to the Medford dumps, which are being used by this department subject to the rules and reg- ulations of the Board of Health of the City of Medford.


There is a general increase in the amount of rubbish be- ing collected due to the fact, so many householders converted their heaters from coal to oil.


The total estimated collection of garbage amounted to 4200 cords, the work is being done by a contractor who fur- nishes trucks and chauffeurs, the City suppling the laborers and collections to be the same as previously, namely: two col- lections a week throughout the year from private dwellings and three times a week from restaurants, stores, etc.


The department as a whole is operating efficiently and with the citizens co-operation we shall continue to carry on in the usual manner.


I wish to thank His Honor, the Mayor, the Board of Al- dermen and the employees of my department for their co- operation extended during the year.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN F. MESKELL, Supt. Sanitary Department


123


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


CITY OF SOMERVILLE REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


December 19, 1949.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE ROOMS


Ordered, that the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools be adopted as the Annual Report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the board to the opinions or recommendations made therein; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers; and that six hundred copies be printed sepa- rately.


EVERETT W. IRELAND,


Secretary of School Committee


124


ANNUAL REPORTS


SCHOOL COMMITTEE Somerville, Massachusetts 1949


V. THERESA MORRISSEY ARTHUR P. FITZGERALD


Chairman Vice-Chairman


Members Ex-Officiis


G. EDWARD BRADLEY, Mayor


40 Benton Rd.


EDWARD T. BRADY


President, Board of Aldermen


Ward One


16 New Hampshire Ave.


FRANCIS H. BROWN


Ward Three


47 Prescott St.


EARL W. LANDRY


Ward Four


190 School St.


WILLIAM J. SHEA


Ward Six


17 Warner St.


Ward Seven


86 Yorktown St.


Superintendent of Schools EVERETT W. IRELAND


Office: West Building, High School, Highland Avenue Residence: 18 Day Street


The Superintendent's Office will be open on school days from 8:00 to 5:00. His office hour is 4:00 on school days.


Assistant Superintendent of Schools LEO C. DONAHUE 108 Summer Street


Superintendent's Office Force Marion E. Marshall, 62 Highland Avenue Regina Truelson, 38 Rogers Avenue Margaret R. O'Connor, 2 Adrian Street Frances C. Geaton, 29 Tennyson Street William E. Hogan, 23 Calvin Street Mary P. Brady, 164 Washington Street


277 Washington St.


JOSEPH F. LEAHY


Ward Two


34 Bow St.


ARTHUR P. FITZGERALD


Ward Five


27 Aberdeen R.d.


V. THERESA MORRISSEY


JOHN F. FITZGERALD


125


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Standing Committee of the Whole


with Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen designated to act during such times as the matters set opposite their names are under discussion:


TEACHERS


Brown, Shea


FINANCE


Landry, A. Fitzgerald


CURRICULUMS AND INSTRUCTION


J. Fitzgerald, Landry


HEALTH, PHYSICAL TRAINING AND ATHLETICS


Shea, J. Fitzgerald


INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION Leahy, Brown.


SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS


A. Fitzgerald, Morrissey


RULES AND REGULATIONS


Morrissey, Leahy


Board Meetings


January 3


April 25


October 31


January 31


May 23


November 28


February 28


June 27


December 19


March 28


September 26


126


ANNUAL REPORTS


TO THE HONORABLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS


MRS. MORRISSEY AND GENTLEMEN:


In accordance with the provisions of the Rules and Regu- lations of the Somerville School Committee, the Superintend- ent of Schools has prepared and submits herewith his twenty- second annual report, which is the seventy-eighth in a series of annual reports of the Somerville Public Schools, and covers the calendar year 1949.


This document is prepared in three sections, Part I of which is the report of the Superintendent of Schools to the School Committee, comprising a discussion of (1) the matters involved in the outstanding activities of the School Committee, and (2) the condition of the schools with respect to changes, improvements, and progress, which includes statements re- garding personnel, membership, and buildings, with recom- mendations concerning the immediate and necessary needs of our educational system.


Part II is prepared as a report of the School Committee to the citizens and consists of (1) a description of the school property, (2) statistical tables which set forth comparative figures covering a period of years concerning enrollment, membership, attendance, cost of instruction and maintenance, and other matters of organization, and (3) tables showing statistics, not necessary for comparison, covering the last fiscal year.


Part III presents the organization of the school system at the close of the year 1949 and the lists of graduates of this year from the secondary schools, the evening high school, and the vocational schools.


Respectfully submitted,


EVERETT W. IRELAND,


Superintendent of Schools


December 19, 1949


127


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


PART I REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 1949


Our municipality is concluding another year of activity, and it is the privilege of the Superintendent of Schools, and also his duty, as required by the Statutes of the Commonwealth and the Rules and Regulations of the School Committee, to confer with the citizens of the City of Somerville, that they may be made acquainted with and kept informed of the well sustained progress of their public school system. Inasmuch as it is impossible to meet the entire citizenry as individuals, or even in large groups, a written statement is the only avail- able means of reporting upon the activities and progressive accomplishments of what is a joint responsibility, namely, the education of the youth of our community.


This is the twenty-second annual report prepared and submitted by the present Superintendent in a series of seven- ty-eight such reports since Somerville became a city in 1872. In each of these reports it has been a privilege and an honor to be able to show a sustained advancement of program in keeping with the tendencies of the times, the needs of the changing circumstances, and the social and welfare require- ments. Each report has also shown an advance in the provi- sion of methods and curricula, to the end that our school system functions for its primary purpose. This primary pur- pose has been very ably stated by Alonzo G. Grace, former Commissioner of Education of Connecticut, as follows: "that all the children of all the people, irrespective of race, creed, or economic status, may have the opportunity to develop those talents that permit free men to contribute their maximum endowment of mind and body to the insurance of their own happiness and the welfare of their fellows and to become a contributing constructive force in the preservation and im- provement of the democratic state."


A former President of the United States has stated. "Education is our biggest business. It is our only indis-


128


ANNUAL REPORTS


pensable business." It is a fact that approximately half of the population of the nation is directly or indirectly engaged in the business of education; and the other half of the popula- tion, whether they be property owners or rent payers, is also concerned with taxes for education. Therefore, serious and earnest consideration must be devoted by those charged with the establishment and maintenance of the educational insti- tutions, to the problems involved with special reference to that phase which concerns cost.


Public education is a public purchase, a purchase made by the citizens of a community for the benefit of their child- ren. In self protection every community buys education for its future citizens and the amount and quality of the education which the people buy is one of the best evidences obtainable of the general level of civilization and culture which they have reached. The schools of a municipality reflect the aspirations of its people for their children and for their community. It is evident that for over an extended period of time the public was unmindful of the extent to which education under- lies our whole economy, for one of the greatest problems of education was public apathy and public indifference.


Eric Johnston, President of the Motion Picture Associa- tion of America, recently said, "We demand more of our schools than of any other of our institutions. We spend too little on Education. The unselfish devotion of self-sacrificing educators has made us accustomed to expect miracles of accomplishment for a relative pittance of investment. Only a public thoroughly aroused to the situation can correct this unhappy imbalance. I have no fear of the great majority of our educators ever failing in their responsibility to the foun- dations of our freedom, but in their efforts they need our help and fullest support."


An editorial in the Saturday Evening Post calls attention to the fact that the only way to attract top-flight men and women to the tremendously important job of educating our children is to make it worth while. If the quality of teaching is to be improved, it will be accomplished from the point of view of ascertaining how much, not how little, can we afford to pay. The concluding sentence asks, "How much is a teacher worth who works, not with iron or steel or brass, but with young minds"


It certainly is encouraging to educational administrators to note that leaders in labor, law, medicine, and publishing,


129


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


as well as leaders in business, are calling attention to the problem of eliminating the apathy and indifference with reference to public education. Such interest has also inspired school committees throughout the country to attack the problems of their obligations and responsibilities with enthu- siastic vigor, realizing that there is promising evidence of the beginning of a new era of public interest.


The School Committee of 1949, entering upon the sec- ond year of its stewardship with only one change in its mem- bership (Edward T. Brady having been chosen President of the Board of Aldermen to succeed Leo B. Mallard), felt that it could continue to provide, without fear of unjust criticism, the type and amount of education which it believed in its considered judgment to be necessary for the well rounded education of each child in the community. It has been recog- nized for many years that no activity of local government in our community has been so efficiently administered, and, at the same time, kept so close to the people as have the public schools.


The School Committee organized on the first Monday in January by the selection of Mrs. V. Theresa Morrissey to serve as Chairman for the current year. Mrs. Morrissey, serving her fourth year as a member, has always maintained a keen interest in all the problems concerning the welfare of the children from the health, safety, and learning points of view, and indicated through her actions her thorough know- ledge of practical child psychology influenced by the natural instincts of motherhood.


Arthur P. Fitzgerald, who had been elected for two two- year terms before his entrance into the armed forces, and was beginning the second year of his third term, was selected to be the Vice Chairman.


In all of his service, Mr. Fitzgerald has always indicated an intelligent understanding and an appreciation of the com- plex problems of the schools, which, combined with his fair- ness, sincerity, and devotion to his duty, merited the esteem and admiration of his colleagues.


The effects of the cooperative endeavors of the School Committee for 1949, under the leadership of Mrs. Morrissey and Mr. Fitzgerald, will be shown in the following pages to


130


ANNUAL REPORTS


be the result of the individual and collective interest of the members in the welfare of education and children.


Naturally, during the month of January, the School Committee devoted much of its attention to proposed legis- lation concerning Education which was presented to our Great and General Court for consideration. Much study was given to bills which again attempted to encroach upon the powers and jurisdictions of school committees by making provision for veto power for mayors in cities and selectmen in towns over the action of school committees, which would result in very definite detriment to the schools and the chil- dren. At hearings before the proper committees of the Legislature, the opposition of the School Committee was re- corded both in writing and by personal representatives. As. in previous years these bills all failed of passage into law.


Favorable consideration resulted from the School Com- mittee's deliberations on two bills, the passage of which would, in its opinion, materially benefit the City of Somerville, both financially and in efficiency. The first of these bills con- cerned the increasing of the amounts of state aid for educa- tion, which had been set up by the passage of Chapter 643 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1948. Chapter 643 provided that the City of Somerville would receive state aid for educa- tion on or before November 20, 1949, in the amount of $471,056.14, which represented an increase of 370% over the approximately $100,000 which had been received annually for a number of years under the previously effective "general school fund". The intent of Chapter 643 was to benefit those cities and towns which had large school enrollments and low property valuation rather than to benefit industrial and manufacturing communities which usually have adequate valuations to provide the revenue necessary to pay their governmental expenses. Therefore, the formula for the dis- tribution of funds was made dependent upon the number of children in a community between the ages of seven and sixteen and the assessed valuation of the community. Chapter 643 was so exceptionally beneficial to Somerville because of its having the fourth largest school population in the State and a low asset valuation.


At this point, it should be recalled that in the report of the Superintendent of Schools for 1948 attention was called to the act of the School Committee in providing in the budget for1949 for a salary increase of $300 each for all of


131


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


its employees from the anticipated increase of approximately $372,000 in state aid, and the study being given to the estab- lishment of a new salary schedule. It was stated that the increase in salary and the proposed schedule were necessary to prevent the migration of some of our best, most capable and competent teachers to other fields of endeavor or to teaching positions in other communities where the compensa- tions are much more remunerative. It was further stated, as follows: "Ordinarily such a procedure of raising salaries would cause the taxpayers and the rent payers of our community to feel concern over the possibilities of a considerable increase in the tax rate, although of course they would be pleased to have the employees of the School Committee given a sufficient living wage in order to retain our fine group of well trained, competent teachers. However, there is no such cause for serious concern because this action of the School Committee, in spite of its increased budget, is causing no increase in the tax rate, but is actually making provision for a decrease in the tax rate, because of the increased state aid being provided by the provisions of Chapter 643 of the Acts of 1948 in the sum of approximately $367,000. Al- though the Committee plans on needed increases for its employees, it is using only a portion of the increased state aid and releasing for the use of the City Government an amount sufficient to reduce the tax rate approximately one dollar."


The preceding figures quoted were estimates and ap- proximations. Let's look at the actual facts now that the year is over. The actual increase in state aid over that of the previous year 1948 was $368,924.44. The increases in salary voted to be effective on January 1, 1949 amounted to $169, 800. The School Committee, therefore, released the dif- ference between $368,924.44 and $169,800 to the City Government to be used for the purpose of reducing the tax rate. Such an amount, $199,124.44, was sufficient to reduce the tax rate approximately one dollar and a half.


The proposed bill in 1949 called for the distribution of an additional twenty-five million dollars for state aid for education to the communities of the State. Had this act been approved, Somerville's share of the increase would have raised the state aid to approximately one million two hundred thousand dollars. Various amendments were proposed until finally a substitute bill providing for a five million dollar in- crease by the state, to supplement the Federal Aid of five million dollars, which it was anticipated would be provided




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