USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1949 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
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
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.