USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1950 > Part 16
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New Registrations during 1950 376
Average attendance
11
TUBERCULOSIS
Pulmonary tuberculosis reported in 1950 50
Other forms of tuberculosis reported in 1950
1
Number of patients admitted to Middlesex County Sanatorium in Waltham 53
Number admitted to Lakeville State Sanatorium ..
2
Number admitted to North Reading State Sana-
torium
4
Number admitted to Rutland State Sanatorium 5
Number admitted to Rutland Training Center ...
3
Clinics are held on the first and third Monday afternoons of each month, at the Knights of Columbus Building, Highland Avenue, for x-ray and examinations of patients and contacts.
246
ANNUAL REPORTS
TABLE SHOWING AGES AND SEX OF CASES REPORTED DURING 1950
PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS
Male
Female
Total
Under fifteen years of age
3
2
5
From fifteen to twenty years
0
2
2
From twenty to thirty years
5
6
11
From thirty to forty years
4
6
10
Over forty years
18
4
22
Totals
30
20
50
OTHER FORMS OF TUBERCULOSIS
Male
Female
Total
Under fifteen years of age . ...... ..
0
1
1
RECAPITULATION OF VISITS
Infant Hygiene
3963
Tuberculosis
2042
Miscellaneous
338
Total visits
6343
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE P. HIGHT, R. N. MARY V. RYAN, R. N. EILEEN A. DAILY, R. N.
247
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL INSPECTION
Somerville, Mass. January 3, 1951.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following is the report of the Department of Medical In- spection for the year 1950:
VISITS FOR RELEASE FROM QUARANTINE
Scarlet fever 77
Diphtheria
7
Total visits
84
HOSPITALIZATION
During the year patients were admitted to the Haynes Memorial Hospital or the Children's Medical Center as fol- lows:
Scarlet Fever
8
Diphtheria
4
Infantile Paralysis
4
Miscellaneous 10
Total 26
TUBERCULOSIS
There were eight deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis dur- ing the year.
All patients ill with the disease, coming to the attention of the Board have either been supervised at their homes by the Public Health Nurses or placed in sanatoria when such treat- ment was needed.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNIZATION
Clinics for immunization against diphtheria are held on the last Wednesday of each month, throughout the year, at the
248
ANNUAL REPORTS
Knights of Columbus Building, Highland Avenue. Notices are sent to the parents whose children have reached the age of six months advising them of the opportunity to have their children immunized.
Clinics were also held for the immunization of all children in the kindergarten and the first grade of each school in the city.
The attendance at the clinics was 2,322, of whom 760 had "boosters" and 631 had the complete series.
Respectfully submitted,
WILFRID C. MacDONALD, M. D. Medical Inspector
249
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS
Somerville, Mass. January 3, 1951.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The following is a report of the work of the department of Inspection of Animals and Provisions for the year ending De- cember 31, 1950.
Number of establishments visited
8128
Complaints investigated
648
Notices sent
116
CONDEMNATIONS
Meats
335 lbs. Fish
64 lbs.
Poultry
98 lbs.
Candy
181 lbs.
Nuts
21 lbs.
Canned Goods 250 Misc.
Bakery Products
60 lbs.
Vegetables:
Fruit:
1 bu. potatoes
25 lbs. oranges
2 bu. carrots
10 lbs. grapes
50 lb. Miscellaneous
22 lbs. tomatoes
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS HAGERTY,
Acting Chief Inspector
250
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND VETERINARIAN
Somerville, Mass. January 3, 1951.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The following is my report for the year ending December 31, 1950.
There were a total of 720 calls made in connection with dog bites reported during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
E. WILLIAM JOHANSEN, D. V. M. Inspector of Animals and Veterinarian
251
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR
CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
Somerville, Mass. January 3, 1951.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Four hundred and ninety-eight stores are licensed to sell milk, fifty-seven dealers are licensed to distribute milk and one hundred and twenty-two stores are registered to sell oleomar- garine. Four pasteurizing plants located in Somerville are licensed to operate and thirty-nine plants in cities and towns adjacent to Somerville are also under the supervision of this department. Four hundred and sixteen stores and distributors are licensed to sell and twenty-three dealers are licensed to manufacture frozen desserts or ice cream mix.
An average of 45,000 quarts of milk and 1,000 quarts of cream are distributed daily in Somerville.
Revenue for the department for the year was $3,425.50 of which $1,410.50 was for license fees and the balance of $2,015.00 for analytical work.
Samples Collected
2418
Samples Submitted 963
Bacteriological Examinations
3246
Chemical Examinations
1893
Sediment Tests
1086
Phosphatase Tests
1695
Microcospical Examinations
1061
Total Examinations
8981
Nine milks were found to be not properly pasteurized, six were low in food solids and forty-three milks, creams and ice creams slightly exceeded the maximum plate count.
Regulation #11 of Chapter 94 of the General Laws relat- ing to standards of pasteurized milk has been amended. This amendment requires that pasteurized milk shall show a count of not more than three colonies of organisms of the coliform
252
ANNUAL REPORTS
group per cubic centimeter as determined by the Standard Methods of the American Public Health Association.
This determination, requiring additional materials and equipment, will be made on all samples hereafter.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. WALLIS, Inspector of Milk and Vinegar
Total
9203
3753
1316
586
Total Number
of Patients
Number of
Fillings
Extractions
Number of
Cleanings
Treatments Number of
tificates Granted Number of Cer-
Given Gas Number
Number of
Patients
Extractions Number of
Number of
Patients
Number of
Hospital
Number
Cases
Novocain or
Number
Given Ges
Number
Oid
Patients
Patients
Emergency
Cases
Special
2 873
532
209
140
1166
112
11
11
37
14
34
14
4
10
590
169
150
78
4
672
416
184
147
1096
131
3
3
9
13
17
:3
6
February March
571
199
95
1
866
592
256
156
1259
150
5
5
11
25
54
25
9
16
378
124
46
0
551
392
157
137
845
114
00
8
16
12
58
12
3
=
April
605
194
72
2
875
496
268
202
1088
170
10
10
25
25
47
25
5
20
May
333
72
24
0
429
214
120
173
519
162
10
10
30
14
37
14
4
10
June
SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED
July
August
September
EXAMINING EXAMINING
October
376
264
93
0
831
421
221
156
1178
99
7
7
21
November
460
144
81
0
687
408
215
130
929
99
6
6
16
December
O
5784
3471
1630
1241
8180
1037
60
60
165
103
247
103
31
74
-
SCHOOL CHILDREN
-
OPERATIVE CASES
------- WELFARE CASES -
Examined
January
7
440
New
Extractions
Ethyl Chloride
Casos
Number of
9203
253
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DENTAL HYGIENE
Somerville, Mass. January 3, 1951.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I submit the following statistics as the report of the Divi- sion of Dental Hygiene for the year ending December 31, 1950.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY F. BIANCHI, D. M. D. Supervising School Dentist
254
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
December 31, 1950
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Term Expires
Mr. William J. Donovan, President
January 1, 1951
Mr. George K. Coyne, Vice-President
1950
Mr. Walter Avery
1952
Mrs. J. Helen Clough
11 1952
Mr. John J. Griffin
1950
Rev. Anthony J. Flaherty
11
1951
Mrs. Josephine J. Hurley
1950
Mr. William H. McKenna
1952
Mrs. Mabel J. Wedlock
1950
COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION
Mr. William H. McKenna, Chairman
Mrs. J. Helen Clough
Mrs. Mabel J. Wedlock
The President, Mr. William J. Donovan, ex-officio
The Vice-President, Mr. George K. Coyne, ex-officio
COMMITTEE ON BOOKS AND CATALOGING
Mr. Walter Avery, Chairman
Mr. John J. Griffin
Rev. Anthony J. Flaherty
Mrs. Josephine J. Hurley
The President, Mr. William J. Donovan, ex-officio
COMMITTEE ON BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY The President and the Vice-President
SECRETARY OF THE BOARD Mr. John D. Kelley, Librarian
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL December 31, 1950 JOHN D. KELLEY, Librarian
PUBLIC LIBRARY
255
PROFESSIONAL GRADED SERVICE
John T. Mackey
Assistant Librarian
Gloria F. Graham
Executive Assistant
Ruth Holmes
Reference Librarian
Anna E. Cullen
Chief Cataloger
Rita D. Adams
Supervisor of Schools and Deposits
Elsie K. Wells
Branch Librarian, West Branch Library
Kathryn Kenny
Branch Librarian, East Branch Library
Barbara C. Niles
Branch Librarian, Union Square Station
Myrtle K. Nicholson
Desk Chief, Central
Katharine V. White
Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding
Emma Merlini
Station Executive
Mary M. Noonan
Station Executive
Elizabeth W. Hennigan
First Assistant
Ruth D. Warner
First Assistant
E. Lillian Clifford
First Assistant
Beatrice H. Williamson
First Assistant First Assistant
Lillian G. Casey
Children's Librarian
Children's Librarian
Children's Librarian
Mary F. Warren
Senior Assistant Senior Assistant
Irene M. Westhoff
Senior Assistant
George F. Hickey
Senior Assistant
Barbara T. O'Neill
Senior Assistant
Mary J. O'Brien
Senior Assistant Senior Assistant
1. Marguerite Sawin
Junior Assistant
Rita F. Brunet
Junior Assistant
Joan E. Brunet
Junior Assistant Junior Assistant Junior Assistant
Constance R. McGrath
Catherine M. O'Malley
Junior Assistant
Marion E. Griffin
Junior Assistant
Marilyn F. Legere
Junior Assistant
NON-PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Katharine V. Nolan Alice P. Burkhart
Barbara A. Murphy
A. Marion Johnian
Ethel Mullaney Clara L. Osgood M. Louise Ross John W. Patten
UNGRADED SERVICE - Part Time Attendants
Ann Patricia Davis Mary L. Denning Patricia A. Flynn John R. Ford Joseph C. Kelley Thomas Lynch Anna I. Marchesani
Dorothea Matsas M. Ronayne Powers Marion Reppucci Rita J. Ryan Philip A. Stynes
Patricia A. Turner Mary A. Willwerth
Station Executive
A. Frances Dennis
Lois E. MacDonald
Anne J. Durkin
256
ANNUAL REPORTS
RESIGNED DURING YEAR
Patricia C. Bellini
Part Time Attendant
Francis A. Cruise
Part Time Attendant
Mary E. Cullinane
First Assistant
Mary A. Heneghan
Senior Assistant
Carol Ann Jones
Part Time Attendnnt
Agnes J. Kelley
Junior Assistant
Vivian J. Morse
Executive Assistant
William P. O'Hara
Part Time Attendant
Helen M. O'Neil
Junior Assistant
Margaret B. Scanlan
First Assistant
Faith A. Small
Part Time Attendant
Paul J. Stynes
Part Time Attendant
Evelyn Thompson
Part Time Attendant
257
PUBLIC LIBRARY
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville:
Dear Sirs:
As a foreword to the Annual Report of the Librarian of our city for the year 1950, and with no member of the Board of: Trustees dissenting, I direct to you the following message:
Libraries are reputed to be as old as civilization itself. The earliest records of inscribed or written signs were undoubtedly of a religious or political nature and were kept in temples; the earliest librarians being the priests of those temples.
With the development of the arts and sciences the amount of written literature increased; books and manuscripts were laboriously printed and illuminated by hand but when their volume increased so tremendously with the advent of the printing-press and the cutting of type, libraries, as we now speak of them, became a necessity in every sizeable commu- nity.
If some depository had not been selected for the collection and preservation of religious, historic, political and scientific writings down through the ages the world would be immeas- urably poorer today through the short-sightedness of our an- cestors.
In the Central Library, opened in 1914, in most part through the generosity of Mr. Andrew Carnegie who gave $80,000 towards its construction, we have an excellent library. We may be proud of the West Somerville Branch on College Avenue, the East Branch on lower Broadway and the Teele Square Branch. The Ten Hills and Union Square Branch Li- braries are inadequate and as my predecessor John Griffin, a most learned man who has made a study of the subject, pointed out in his 1950 report, a branch on Spring Hill and Magoun Square would be of great benefit to a large number of our citi- zens.
What more fitting memorial to the departed heroes of Somerville could be erected than a branch library dedicated to their memory?
Why, with the Public Library System such an important and valuable part of our city property and so necessary to the
258
ANNUAL REPORTS
children and citizens, do you, our "City Fathers" dislike to ap- propriate sufficient funds for its proper upkeep?
It is almost a ritual for the Administrative offices at City Hall to be decorated with every change of administration. Worn rugs, shabby furniture or dingy walls and wood-work would not be tolerated. The aldermanic chamber is also kept in first-class condition.
Much needed painting of the Central Library is now under way. It would be well, at this time to consider the advisability of converting the heating system to the use of oil. This would provide more satisfactory heating and what is equally impor- tant, prolong the life of our books, furniture and other equip- ment.
Since proper lighting is of prime importance in a reading- room and library I urge the Building Commissioner while su- pervising the painting, to give you a report on the deplorable inadequacy of the lighting system.
Last year, the President of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library recommended machines for micro-filming our most valuable documents. Even an appropriation for having this work done outside would be most welcome. Our library is the sole permanent depository for every issue of the Somerville Journal Press, a newspaper which constitutes a record of Som- erville's history and progress. Experience has taught each and every one of us what the passage of a few years will do to the most carefully preserved newsprint.
The past year saw a revision of the former "Scheme of Ser- vice for Library Employees" which makes plain the duties and system of advancement for those working in the library system. The Board is now in the process of revising the "By-laws of the Board of Trustees".
The establishment of a record department proves, by the steady patronage it receives by young and old, to have been a popular move for the music-lovers of our city.
My term on the Board of Trustees has expired. I have en- joyed six years of association with some of Somerville's finest and most unselfish citizens. I take this opportunity to con- gratulate the City of Somerville in having one of the finest li- brarians in the country in John D. Kelley. He has been re-
259
PUBLIC LIBRARY
peatedly honored by his fellow-librarians by election to the highest offices in their association and who obtains, for the taxpayer, a maximum amount of service and merchandise on a minimum appropriation. If I have been of service to the city, and to Mr. Kelley and his able staff, I am satisfied.
In conclusion, it is my hope that those who have accepted and will in the future accept appointments as Trustees in the Somerville Library System, will realize that they are assuming a responsibility and not a political appointment which might add a little to their prestige in the community. If they have neither the time nor inclination to attend meetings and give some thought to the problems involved, they are morally wrong in taking the position.
Sincerely,
(Signed) WILLIAM J. DONOVAN, President.
260
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees:
In our report of last year we were most optimistic of the trend in our circulation, convinced that we had overcome an apparent stalemate and the upsurge would be a continuing process. Through the month of March this upward trend pre- vailed and then turned about-face with a slow and gradual de- cline. Explanation may sometimes be construed as alibis but the evident fact remains that a decrease in book purchasing power logically and inevitably is followed by a decrease in cir- culation. We appreciate economies are necessary and the Librarian and the Board of Trustees have always prided them- selves on their conservativeness in presenting honest and necessary budget requirements to the City Fathers. This fact was evident by the attitude of the Mayor when he reviewed this year's budgetary requests of the Trustees. When the Librarian was interviewed and questioned by the Finance Committee of the Board of Aldermen all requests were con- sidered necessary and based upon actual factual data. How- ever, for some unknown reason and without any explanation the Library Department along with practically every other city department received a cut so drastic that for the past year we have merely existed with no evidence of progress or meeting the demands of the public. In protest we wrote in part, and without avail, to the Board of Aldermen, as follows:
"This reduction comes at a most unfortunate time. Because of the increased demand of service by the public and with increased costs of books and supplies, we will be forced to discontinue many of our normal functions.
"The estimated budget submitted to the Mayor was figured after careful study at a minimum, but he saw fit to cut it 7%, and your Honorable Board cut it 13 % more, making it a total cut of 20% below what was actually considered necessary. It might interest you to know that from national standards $1.50 per capita is set as the lowest figure possible to operate a library with any semblance of efficiency and now we are at- tempting to operate on a basis of $1.06 per capita.
"As an interesting comparison, the library ordinary maintenance budget for 1950 is only $1,425.70 more
261
PUBLIC LIBRARY
than the budget of 1943. In other words, with a budget of only 8% more than 1943 we are forced to compete with a price rise of well over 35% ."
The complete revision of the former "Scheme of Service" under the new titles, "Organizational Plan and Personnel Standards" and "Order and Classification of Staff Positions" was accomplished. Now the duties, standards, salary scales and promotional methods are clearly set forth. We are certain this revision will prove invaluable to the Board of Trustees and Li- brarian and will eliminate any cause for mistaken methods of employment or promotion.
A very important forward step was taken at the November meeting of the Board of Trustees by the adoption of a system of awarding increments to staff members who by their own initiative and effort desire to further their knowledge of library science through study courses. Under date of November 16, 1950 the vote was as follows:
"Any permanent staff member who successfully completes two educational courses of relevance and value in library work in an accredited academic institu- tion shall be eligible for an increase in salary equiva- lent to the regular annual step rate increase, effective as of January first of the year following the completion of the courses. Such increments in salary shall be con- sidered and called for recording purposes: 'Regular Step-rate Increases': (Under the provision of Chapter 11, Act 3 of the Personnel Standards).
"In order to qualify for the increments established by this section, candidates must have the courses in question approved by the Librarian and the Board of Trustees in advance, and upon completion of each course must file with the Librarian an official certifica- tion in writing to this effect from the educational insti- tution where the course was taken.
"No more than three increments shall be given under the provision of this Section.
"Staff members who have attained their maximum salary shall not qualify under the provisions of this Sec- tion unless together with the credentials already de- tailed, they submit a written statement that they will
262
ANNUAL REPORTS
continue their service in the Somerville Public Library for at least two years.
"This Section shall become effective upon ap- proval by the Board of Trustees and courses taken dur- ing the current year which meet with the approval of the Librarian and the Trustees shall be available for consideration under its terms."
It is seldom that the time, energy and effort expended by the Board of Trustees and the position of the Library in our community is publicly acknowledged, however, due recogni- tion was publicized through an editorial in the Thursday, No- vember 30th edition of the Somerville Journal Press in which the following appeared:
OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY
"The Board of Public Library Trustees is cer- tainly deserving of enthusiastic congratulations for many if its recent actions. The forthright and com- prehensive Annual Reports of the past two years, the preparation and publication of valuable bibliogra- phies for the use of students, research scholars and professional persons, the obviously new approach to public relations, that is a sustained program to keep the general citizenry informed of significant facts and important factors in the Library's development, and now the introduction of an incentive plan for personnel, based on educational advancement, all of these assuredly indicate that a fresh spirit of dy- namic progress has been installed into our library institution. The entire community should not only be alert to the earnest efforts being made to have the Library attain superior standards of service, but it should demonstrably support these strivings for the common good.
"Our public libraries, it should always be re- membered, are not simply a series of static public buildings. They are chief cultural centres of the community. In the course of the years the literature which they make accessible and circulate affects the thinking and therefore, the daily lives of tens of thousands of our citizens of every age and level. They are, as was pointed out in one of the recent
263
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Annual Reports, veritably social agencies respond- ing to the intellectual interests and practical needs of vast numbers of our people. Their influence penetrates and radiates to an extent virtually in- calculable.
"Despite the diversion of attention caused suc- cessively by the advent of the automobile, the cinema, the radio, and more lately, by television, the demand for public library service has continued to mount throughout the nation as our people have grown more literate and have cultivated a greater desire to learn. Every encouragement, therefore, should be given to those who labor without hope of reward (other than the satisfaction of serving the civic body) to enhance the value, the utility and the prestige of our library system. It will be to the last- ing advantage of all, of both our adults and of our school children, if the staff, facilities and equip- ment needed to carry out their high purposes are made available. There can be no sounder criterion of the mental health and vitality of Somerville than the measure of prosperity which characterizes its tradition-rich Public Library."
Also, Local 1040, Somerville Municipal Administrative Employees' Union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees extended their congratulations and com- mendation to the Board of Trustees on their action stating "Whereby the furtherance of education by the individual em- ployee will bring, not only increased talent to the great public and social functions of the dispensing of books, but also an increased stipend for the employee who thus increases his value to the library service."
The establishment of a Music Record Department in Janu- ary has proven the popularity and the need of this important function. In this setup we have brought together all musical scores, books on musical subjects, and musical records with the resultant greater use of all these facilities. The circulation of records has increased month by month with an approximate circulation of 5000 for the year. With publicity given this ser- vice next year we are not hesitant to predict that the circula- tion will easily double. The use of the recording machine and listening room is constant and the need for another machine is imperative. The need of language and children's records is evident but cannot be met until we have sufficient appropria-
264
ANNUAL REPORTS
tion. Miss Marion Griffin deserves commendation for her out- standing, faithful and conscientions work in this department. Her musical background and education, her tactful manner, zeal and enthusiasm in developing this department is the major reason for the success of this new service.
It is our pleasure to report after many years of pleading, that the Central Library is in the process of being redecorated. At this writing the School and Catalogue Rooms have been completed and through the good office of Mr. Edward Moyni- han, Building Commissioner we are informed that the entire building is to be refinished. We trust that the recommenda- tions of the Boston Edison Company for sufficient lighting facilities will be followed in the coming year. Mayor Lynch also informs us that during 1951 at least one of our coal burn- ing boilers will be replaced with oil burners. For these im- provements at Central we are duly grateful. And, we sincerely hope that upon the expiration of the lease at Union we may relocate this station, that we may also improve the conditions which are very unsatisfactory in regard to heat and interior decorations at Ten Hills, and the installation of oil burners at West and East.
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