Report of the city of Somerville 1954, Part 7

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1954
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 366


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1954 > Part 7


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118


ANNUAL REPORTS


the new metal basketball backboards located at Cutler, Perry, Prescott, Southern, and Northeastern, as well as the custom- built ones at Trum Field, are in constant demand. The Conway Playground has been resurfaced, and further development dur- ing the Spring of 1955 will provide long-awaited opportunity for use of this field for athletic purposes immediately there- after. The Commission is justifiably proud of the part it has played in consistently urging the development of this play- ground over a period of eleven years, and pays public tribute to all persons, including City officials and public and private agencies, who have contributed to its accomplishment.


The rooms now being used for Recreation activities at the Latta Memorial Swimming Pool Building from September to June have certainly warranted their original recommendation by the Superintendent for inclusion in the building plans, and further uses can be anticipated in the future. At the present time, four separate activities are being conducted successfully in these rooms, and the co-operation of the Metropolitan Dis- trict Commission leaves nothing to be desired. It is expected that the Commission will be able to make use of the new Foot- ball Stadium for public demonstrations in the future.


The resurfacing of the play area adjacent to the Carr School has certainly been of benefit to the children and youth of that neighborhood; and it is hoped that there will not be too long a delay in the re-establishment of a playground at the location of the former Marchi Playground. This is now the site of one of the new schools, and although the size of the play area will be larger (48,000 square feet instead of 29,000 square feet), the increased demands in this vicinity as a result of the new Hous- ing Projects are of such proportion that any temporary plans will merely alleviate but not solve the problem.


Efforts were made by one of the members of the Recreation Commission, Mrs. Joseph Mercurio, to inaugurate a tree- planting program this past Fall on many of our parks and play- grounds. She was successful in obtaining the trees, but the two hurricanes interfered with their planting. It is hoped that 1955 will see the accomplishment of these efforts.


HOUSING PROJECTS


With respect to the previously mentioned Housing Projects, the Recreation Commission has long been concerned about the probability of increased demands for Recreation activities, as


119


RECREATION COMMISSION


well as the increase in attendance that would naturally come about as a result of their erection. During the 1954 Summer season special efforts were made to provide a supervised Recre- ation program at the Mystic Avenue Projects. At the suggestion of the Superintendent, a form letter depicting the available program for children at Dilboy Field Playground and recom- mending procedures for parents to follow in order to insure the safety of their children to and from the playground, was for- warded to all tenants of the Clarendon Hill Project by Mr. George F. Hickey, Executive Director of the Somerville Housing Authority. (Three years ago the leadership personnel at this. area was increased as a result of the anticipated increase in attendance due to this Project.) Recreation Leaders at both Dilboy Field Playground (for the Clarendon Hill Project) and Marchi Playground (for the Mystic Avenue Projects) were in- structed to make periodic visits to both of these Projects for the purpose of attracting the children to their respective play- grounds. The Superintendent has been in communication with all agencies interested in the recreational welfare of the tenants of these Projects, and has made certain recommendations af- fecting facilities and personnel. He has also insured that the tenants of both Projects have been acquainted with the various Recreation programs conducted throughout the year by the Recreation Commission in the neighborhood of each.


PUBLIC RELATIONS


The Commission's motion picture film, "Municipal Recre- ation In Somerville", is now eleven hundred feet in length - four hundred and fifty feet having been added within the past month. included in the latter are eleven new scenes depicting outstanding activities of the past year. The film now runs for one-half hour, and it is hoped within the next year to complete it with an additional five hundred feet of film depicting some activities not photographed as yet. However, there will always. be some activities that cannot be included because of the ex- tensive lighting problem. The film has been well received at its showings to date, and the usual response is one of surprise that such an extensive program is being conducted here in Somerville.


Periodic Arts And Crafts exhibits, and a display of framed pictures indicating the variety of the Commission's program, have been other methods for promoting public relations. The framed pictures were also on display at the December 29 opening ceremony of the new West Somerville Post Office on Holland St. Additionally the Superintendent on several occa-


120


ANNUAL REPORTS


sions throughout the year has spoken before various P. T. A. groups on the subject of Municipal Recreation; was a member of a panel on Juvenile Delinquency conducted last April in the High School Auditorium before a capacity gathering; and was the principal speaker at the graduation exercises of the Somer- ville Evening Schools on Thursday evening, March 11.


HAPPIEST HOUR OF THE WEEK


Through the generosity of the Somerville Lodge of Elks, movies and film slides are provided weekly for the young patients at the Somerville Hospital. Our Recreation Commission staff handles the projectors and rounds out the weekly fun-fest with a Story-Telling period.


RECOMMENDATIONS


Considering the present needs of Recreation in Somerville, and looking to the future of the Recreation Service, the Recre- ation Commission respectfully submits herewith a series of recommendations for further improvement of Recreation fa- cilities in Somerville :-


1) Completion of the Conway Playground.


2) Another baseball diamond at Dilboy Field to compensate for the loss of a diamond through the erection of the new Football Stadium.


3) Resurfacing of Shaw Playground.


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RECREATION COMMISSION


4) A multi-use area at Lincoln Park (similar to the new one at Trum Field) between Diamond #1 and Diamond #2, at the site of the present basketball courts.


5) A multi-use area at Glen Street Playground, in the vicinity of Palmer Avenue.


6) A multi-use area on the Sycamore Street side of the Hoyt-Sullivan Playground.


7) A block storage place at the Albion Street Play- ground similar to the one at Conway Play- ground.


8) Dismantling of the unused black swing frame at the Woods Playground, and utilization of this area for other Recreation purposes.


9) Permanent cement sand-boxes at Tufts Park, Trum, and Dilboy Field.


10) Erection of fixed, permanent benches, or repair of benches, at all the parks and playgrounds throughout the city.


11) Establishment of a play area on Lexington Ave- nue - opposite the end of Hancock Street. There are now 13,597 square feet of unused railroad property at this location. It is a highly desirable site, and the number of children in this neighborhood warrants such a recommen- dation.


12) Establishment of a play lot at the corner of Broadway and North Street, contiguous to the Clarendon Hill Housing Project.


13) That the responsible authorities take advan- tage as early as possible in 1955 of the offer by Dilboy Post, V. F. W., to establish a play area in the rear of the Post Headquarters.


The following recommendations affecting the recreational welfare of Somerville have been forwarded to the proper au- thorities of the Metropolitan District Commission :-


1) Change in layout of baseball diamonds at Foss Park.


2) Resurfacing of athletic area at Foss Park.


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ANNUAL REPORTS


3) Gymnasium appended or added to Foss Park Swimming Pool Building.


4) New storage house at Foss Park.


5) Multi-use area at site of present obsolete wad- ing pool at Foss Park.


6) Change in location of swing frame at Foss Park.


7) Improvement of Recreation facilities, and the possibility of erecting outdoor ovens, at Dilboy Field.


8) Permanent sand-boxes at both Foss Park and Dilboy Field.


9) The possibility of an additional Swimming Pool (similar to the one at Foss Park) in the M. D. C. West Somerville area that will serve not only the western end of Somerville but North Cam- bridge and Arlington as well.


10) Outdoor ice skating rink this side of Boston, similar to the one in the Milton area.


As the Recreation Commission begins its twenty-sixth year as a full-time Service it is aware that there is still a real need for community co-operation both from individual citizens and from organizations of Somerville. Much of what has been accomplished since the inception of Community Recreation in Somerville would not have been possible without the unselfish efforts contributed by civic-minded individuals or groups in the early beginnings and throughout the years since the establish- ment of the Recreation Commission as a Municipal agency.


It seems to be a general policy that, once an organization (whether public or private) has apparently attained full growth or status, it can continue under its own power, and that it no longer needs support of any kind, even from its former cham- pions. May this never be the case with Community Recreation in Somerville! The Recreation Commission knows that it can succeed in the accomplishment of its objectives only through the continued co-operation and efforts of the citizens for whom the public Recreation Service exists.


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RECREATION COMMISSION


In closing, the Commission gratefully acknowledges the co-operation during 1954 of His Honor The Mayor; the Board of Aldermen; the Department of Public Works, including the Engineering, Public Buildings, and Electrical Divisions; the Fire and Police Departments; and the Metropolitan District Commission; and acknowledges especially the co-operation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Masters of the Senior High and Junior High Schools, and the Supervising Principals and Teachers of the Elementary Schools.


Acknowledgment is made also to the various churches and members of the clergy, and to Veteran, Service, and Social organizations of the City for their co-operation during the past year.


Appended to this Report is the Financial Summary for the year 1954 and a list of Activities Under The Recreation Com- mission.


Respectfully submitted by


THE RECREATION COMMISSION, BY REV. N. PROPERZI,


Chairman


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ANNUAL REPORTS


City of Somerville, Recreation Commission


FINANCIAL SUMMARY. 1954


ANNUAL APPROPRIATION (March 29)


$87,051.34


TRANSFER TO P.W.D. SNOW REMOVAL ACCOUNT


(December 27)


1,800.00


$85,251.34


EXPENDITURES:


Salaries and Wages


$72,681.64


Athletic Supplies


1,907.06


Playground Supplies, Paraphernalia, Etc. ..


1,554.45


Other Recreation Supplies


1,488.56


Printing, Planographing, Etc.


155.00


Rental of Equipment, Trucks, Buses, Etc.


279.00


Music Scores, Records, Etc.


20.66


Office Supplies


432.76


Telephone


446.95


Postage, Parcel Post, and Express


327.21


Repairs


374.90


Photographic Services and Supplies


340.73


Special Services


165.69


Maintenance of Vehicles


704.68


Automobile Allowance


300.00


Books and Pamphlets for Workers' Profes- sional Improvement


10.25


Carfares for Itinerant & Volunteer Workers


83.11


Other Personal Disbursements


15.39


Convention Expenses


15.00


Special Items:


Truck


1,523.50


Swing Sets and Accessories


731.50


Basketball Sets and Rings


502.00


Public Address System & Record Changer


316.55


Folding Chairs .


199.88


Mats and Accessories for Tumbling and Gymnasium Activities


200.00


All Other


38.00


TOTAL EXPENDITURES


$84,814.47


84,814.47


UNEXPENDED BALANCE


$ 436.87


ACTIVITIES UNDER THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE RECREATION COMMISSION - 1954


Recreation Activity


No. of Units


26


Age Group Under 16 Under 11


Plgds. & School Grounds School Grounds & Plgds.


Saturday Indoor Centers


7


Under 11


School Buildings


Boys' Clubs


6


11-18


School Buildings


Girls' Clubs


1


11-19


Public Building


Oct .- May


Chess Club


4


9-16


Parks & Playgrounds


Sept .- Dec.


Afternoon Supervised Athletics


...


.


1


Adult


School Building


Oct .- May


Arts and Crafts Club


4


8-15


School Buildings


Oct .- May


Arts and Crafts Clubs (Boy-Girl)


1


14-18


School Building


Sept .- June


Junior Community Theatre


2


12-15


School Buildings


Sept .- June


Children's Theatre


3


8-12


School Buildings


Story-Telling Program


1


Under 11


Public Library


Jan .- Apr.


Oct .- Dec.


Community Recreation Chorus


1


12-18


School Building


"Fisical Fitness" Clubs (Boys)


3


12-16


School Buildings


Oct .- April


Model Aircraft Clubs


3


10-16


School Buildings


Oct .- April


Bicycle Club


1


11-16


Out-of-doors


Sept .- June


Gymnasium Activities for Men


1


Adult


School Building


Oct .- April


Gymnasium Activities for Women


1


Adult


School Building


Oct .- April


LEAGUES FOR BOYS:


16 teams


12-19


School Buildings


Dec .- April


Twilight Basketball (Outdoor)


6 teams


16-20


School Grounds


May-July


LEAGUES FOR MEN:


8 teams


Adult


School Buildings


Nov .- March


Basketball


.


..


16 teams


Adult


Public Alleys


Sept .- April


Bowling


16 teams


Adult


Parks & Playgrounds


April-Sept.


Softball


..


Program for "Shut-Ins"


1


Under 14


Somerville Hospital


Year-round


125


.....


.


......


...


..


Adult


School Building


Oct .- May


Junior Recreation Chorus


... ..


......


.


.


..


......


RECREATION COMMISSION


Season


Summer Playgrounds


15


Saturday Playgrounds


July-Aug. Sept .- Dec. Mar .- June Jan .- Mar. Sept .- June Sept .- June


11-19


School Buildings


8


.


Baseball "Clinic" for Boys


9-16


Parks & Playgrounds


Apr .- June June


.......


Youth Theatre


Sept .- June


Oct .- May


Basketball


... ........


Location


126


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


CHARLES J. SULLIVAN Chairman JOHN J. CONWAY J. HELEN CLOUGH


COMMITTEES


On Finance, Investigations, Relief and City Home


MR. SULLIVAN, MR. CONWAY and MRS. CLOUGH


GENERAL AGENT


JOHN J. GRIFFIN


CITY PHYSICIAN


JOHN M. TAVARES, M.D.


STAFF OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN


BENJAMIN BLESOFF, M.D. JOSEPH BALDASSARRE, M.D. MARIE A. HANRAHAN, R.N. MARY G. WELSH, Med. & Dent. Asst.


SUPERINTENDENT AND MATRON, CITY HOME


EDWARD V. COLBERT LEONA F. COLBERT


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WELFARE DEPARTMENT


Somerville, Massachusetts March 15, 1955


To His Honor the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville


Gentlemen:


The Board of Public Welfare submits, herewith, the annual report of the General Agent, the report of the Superintendent of the City Home, and the report of the City Physician, to- gether with illustrative statistical tables.


Respectfully submitted,


J. HELEN CLOUGH, Chairman JOHN J. CONWAY JOHN P. HENRY


REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT


To the Honorable Mayor and the Board of Aldermen


The following is respectfully submitted as the Annual Re- port of the General Agent of the Board of Public Welfare for the year ending December 31, 1954.


The year 1954 was without doubt, one of the most eventful in the history of the Somerville Welfare Department. A suc- cession of significant developments marked the course of the consecutive months.


In January a new municipal administration took office with Mr. William J. Donovan as Mayor. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. J. Helen Clough was named to the Board of Public Welfare to succeed Mr. J. Clement McCann whose term had expired. At the subsequent organization of the Board for the year, Mr. Charles J. Sullivan was elected Chairman as successor to Mr. John J. Conway.


The final draft of the Department's Budget for the year was scarcely finished when Charles J. Willwerth, the General Agent of the Board since 1937, was stricken acutely ill and hospitalized on Monday, February 8. Less than three weeks


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ANNUAL REPORTS


later, after undergoing major surgery, "Charlie" Willwerth as he was familiarly known, succumbed to the fatal malady which had so suddenly seized him.


John J. Griffin, Supervisor of Old Age Assistance was named Acting General Agent during Mr. Willwerth's illness and was appointed Temporary General Agent by unanimous vote of the Board and with the approval of the Mayor, as of March 1, 1954.


A series of influential events occurred in rapid order, dur- ing the ensuing period of the year.


EXPANSION OF QUARTERS


Immediately upon assuming office, the Temporary Agent sought and obtained the Mayor's confirmation of previously proposed plans to take over the entire basement floor of City Hall as enlarged quarters for the Department. This project necessitated the shifting elsewhere of the Office of the Election Commission, the Engineers' Department, and the Office of the Sealer of Weights and Measures, which moves were in turn contingent upon changes in quarters for several other Munici- pal Departments. Nevertheless, the work progressed with remarkable speed and efficiency, under the guidance of Com- missioner of Public Works Walter J. Manning, and within a few short weeks the long sought space for expansion was available.


The original blueprint for using the additional floor space was discarded, and the revised draft resulted in major altera- tions, perhaps the most notable of which was the taking over of the former quarters of the Election Commission as the Office of the General Agent. The space hitherto occupied by the Staff of the City Engineer was converted into accommodations for the Social Workers, and the Office previously used by the Sealer of Weights was transformed into an urgently needed Ladies Lounge. Numerous other changes included the recon- struction of the Old Age Assistance Office to include interview cubicles for the convenience of clients, the construction of a windowed reception counter walling off the main office from the corridor used by externs, the assignment of the Office previously used by the Agent to the Supervisor of Disability Assistance, and the private Office of the City Engineer to the Supervisor of Aid to Dependent Children. Before the year's end, the office space formerly used by the Municipal Credit Union had been surrendered to the Department, and when


129


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


telephone installations have been made, it will be designated as the Office of the Supervisors of Social Work in the Old Age Assistance Bureau.


The new Offices of the General Agent were renovated, and refurbished by the Public Works Department. Improvements included new tile-patterned floor covering, new cushion- equipped chairs, an electric fan, better lighting fixtures, venetian blinds, re-modelling and re-painting.


We would indeed be remiss if we did not record here an expression of genuine gratitude to Commissioner Manning for the considerable work he accomplished, and for the very ef- ficient service and continued cooperation of his Department. No one is more aware than the Commissioner himself, that although impressive advances have been made, the ideal situa- tion cannot be achieved under the circumstances of basement location, and circumscribed structural possibilities. Whether we are utilizing the accessible floor space to the best possible advantage may ultimately be determined by studied experience and periodic re-appraisals.


Among the more readily observable improvements which are still needed, we may mention the following:


1. A general survey of lighting with a view to better and more scientifically balanced illumination;


2. A completely new and efficient system of telephonic communication and inter-communication;


3. New floor covering in the main office, and repair of cov- ering in adjacent offices;


4. Shelving in the vault of the Social Workers Office and in the storage room proximate to the "Machine Room";


5. Heavy screening on the windows of the Ladies Lounge;


6. A storm-door, or, weather-stripping of the present door, in the rear of the main office, which is exposed to the wintry blasts sweeping over the hill;


7. Some additional filing cabinets, new desks and posture chairs, and various minor pieces of equipment;


8. New shades and weather-stripping of several windows through which sand seeps into the offices.


LIQUIDATION OF THE CITY INFIRMARY


Under date of February 15, 1954, the Board received a letter from the State Department of Public Safety calling at-


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ANNUAL REPORTS


tention to the fact that the City of Somerville had failed to comply with certain stipulations of the State Building Inspector in regard to the correction of alleged deficiencies in the build- ing housing the City Infirmary, and warning that the provisions of the Law governing such matters, would be enforced. The language of the communication seemed calculated to suggest the probability of early drastic action, and accordingly the Acting Agent promptly conferred with the Mayor, who in- structed him to arrange for a conference with the State Official in question. On Wednesday February 24, Inspector Bernard Whitney came to the Mayor's Office for the conference, and after some preliminary discussion, it was decided to make an inspection tour of the City Infirmary. The Mayor, his Secre- tary, Mr. Sinclair, Building Commissioner Rosselli, and the Acting Agent accompanied the State Inspector on this tour of the City Infirmary premises, as did also the Superintendent of the Infirmary, Mr. Edward V. Colbert. A photographer took pictures of several sectional conditions considered defective by the State Inspector. At the conclusion of his thorough examina- tion, Inspector Whitney voiced the conviction that the building was dilapidated beyond the possibility of being brought into conformity with the State Code, and should be condemned forthwith. He subsequently formalized his findings in a letter sent to the Mayor and to the Board of Public Welfare, under date of March 2, 1954, which reads in part as follows:


"Due to the general physical conditions of this antiquated and obsolete structure, I cannot conceive how it is possible or practical to alter or reconstruct it to meet the requirements of Chapter 143 of the General Laws and the regu- lations which apply thereto.


"It is obvious that the sanitary, egress, ventila- tion and fire protection facilities are deplorable and should a fire gain headway, the loss of life would be terrific, regardless of the fact that you have a very efficient fire department under the capable management of Chief O'Hara."


Research into the Municipal Archives reveals that author- ization to purchase the Levi Russell estate at Clarendon Hill for use as a City Home was voted by the Somerville City Coun- cil on Wednesday July 13, 1898, and that the Home was formally opened on November 15, 1899. The purchase price was $18,000. While it is popularly claimed that the converted building was approximately a half century old at the time of procurement, its precise age is not readily ascertainable.


131


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


The condemnation proceedings in any event, confronted the Welfare Department with somewhat of a crisis, inasmuch as arrangements for the suitable placement of the 57 residents, most of whom were aged or disabled, had to be made. After careful study, it was decided to set October 1, 1954 as the date of closure. In addition to the problems involved in locating proper facilities for the residents, it was of course, but reason- able to provide an adequate period of time during which the faithful personnel of the institution could effect acceptable adjustments.


Despite the plethora of difficulties inevitable in such a major undertaking, the transference of patients and the entire work was accomplished with consummate ease, speed and skill. Indeed it may be said with all modesty, that the efficiency of the Department reached a new high level of performance in this endeavor. The need of each individual resident was care- fully assessed, and eligibility for one or another type of cate- gorical assistance was determined. The preponderance of the aged and incapacitated proved eligible either for Old Age Assistance or Disability Assistance, and they were satisfactorily placed in proprietary nursing homes. The systematic case work and placement process were expertly handled by Mr. William T. Casey, Supervisor of Disability Assistance, and Mrs. Helen E. Haselton, Medical Social Worker, of the Old Age Assistance Bureau.


Tribute here must justly be paid to the excellent coopera- tion given by Mr. and Mrs. Edward V. Colbert, Superintendent and Matron respectively, of the Infirmary. Once the final decision was made by Mayor Donovan, to abandon the struc- ture, all members of the Staff of the Infirmary displayed a most remarkable and unselfish spirit of service, and stayed on their jobs until the very end. To each and all of them the Board of Public Welfare wishes to express publicly its great gratitude.


Virtually all of the guests of the Infirmary were removed by Labor Day, and the ancient landmark closed its doors on October 1, as planned. Shortly thereafter, the building was demolished. Somerville's archaic almshouse, like thousands of similar institutions throughout the country, yielded albeit reluctantly, to the progressive march of time. Its passing was in a very real sense, an historic event, for with it there was swept irrevocably into the solemn shadows of abiding oblivion, perhaps quite mercifully, the pathos-pregnant stories of a thou- sand souls who (whether because of personal deviation or social distress, we need not speculate) suffered more than the com- mon lot, from "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune."




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