USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1957 > Part 10
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
44,518.99
$462,482.17
Respectfully submitted,
SOMERVILLE RETIREMENT BOARD
FRANCIS E. WALSH, Chairman GEORGE L. DOHERTY, JR., Vice Chairman JOHN J. MURPHY, 3rd
175
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE J. HELEN CLOUGH Chairman JOHN J. CONWAY JOHN P. HENRY
COMMITTEES On Finance, Investigations, and Relief Mrs. Clough, Mr. Conway and Mr. Henry
GENERAL AGENT JOHN J. GRIFFIN
CITY PHYSICIAN
JOHN M. TAVARES, M. D.
STAFF OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN BENJAMIN BLESOFF, M. D. VINCENT L. SZWARC, M. D. MARIE A. HANRAHAN, R. N. MARY G. WELCH, Med. & Dent. Asst.
176
ANNUAL REPORTS
Somerville, Massachusetts February 15, 1958
To the Honorable 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 and the report of the City Physi- cian, together with illustrative statistical tables.
Respectfully submitted, J. HELEN CLOUGH, Chairman JOHN J. CONWAY JOHN P. HENRY
To the Members of the Board of Public Welfare
Gentlemen:
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, 1957.
Because of the death of Mr. John J. Griffin on January 3rd, 1958, the report is submitted by the present temporary General Agent. When one reviews the excellent and comprehensive annual reports of the two previous years as compiled by Mr. Griffin, it is to be regretted that time does not permit the attempt to duplicate them.
The total expenditure for all categories of relief, for 1957, was $2,836,617.97, exclusive of the cost of personnel and ad- ministrative expenses. Expenditures increased in all categories, despite a slight decrease in the actual case-load. Ever mount- ing medical costs, (hospitalization, nursing home care and medications), together with increased allowances for fuel and other living expenses are the responsible factors.
The following tables will serve to picture the financial operation of each division, with a recapitulation for the entire department.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM T. CASEY, General Agent (Temporary)
177
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
1957
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Ordinary Maintenance
$1,988,190.49 99,258.51
Personal Services
Equipment
220.50
GROSS EXPENDITURES
$2,087,669.50
Refunds
$19,008.68
Recoveries
23,274.15
Federal Grants (Assistance)
825,435.20
Federal Grants (Administrative)
62,029.92
Meal Tax
46,712.82
Cities and Towns
18,305.15
State Reimbursement
782,058.00
TOTAL REIMBURSEMENTS
$1,776,823.92
NET EXPENDITURES
310,845.58
NET COSTS = 14.9% OF GROSS EXPENDITURES
1957 AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Ordinary Maintenance
$460,629.80
Personal Services
43,651.90
Equipment
GROSS EXPENDITURES
$504,281.70
Refunds
$34,089.73
Recoveries
300.00
Federal Grants (Assistance)
202,479.66
Federal Grants (Administrative)
24,110.30
State Reimbursements
138,681.62
TOTAL REIBURSEMENTS
399,661.31
NET EXPENDITURES
$104,620.39
NET COSTS = 20.7% OF GROSS EXPENDITURES
178
ANNUAL REPORTS
1957
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
Ordinary Maintenance
$245,673.48
Personal Services
28,131.17
Equipment
198.00
GROSS EXPENDITURES
$274,002.65
Refunds
2,705.81
Recoveries
4,887.29
Federal Grants (Assistance)
79,660.49
Federal Grants (Administrative)
18,430.38
State Reimbursements (Assistance)
92,450.34
State Reimbursements (Administrative)
9,280.53
TOTAL REIMBURSEMENTS
207,414.84
NET EXPENDITURES
$66,587.81
NET COSTS = 24.3% OF GROSS EXPENDITURES
1957 MISCELLANEOUS WELFARE
Ordinary Maintenance
$142,124.20
Personal Services
51,471.07
Equipment
GROSS EXPENDITURES
$193,595.27
Refunds
$4,106.65
Cities and Towns
10,735.58
Commonwealth (Unsettled Cases)
22,913.21
TOTAL REIMBURSEMENTS
$37,755.44
NET EXPENDITURES
$155,839.83
NET COSTS = 80.5% OF GROSS EXPENDITURES
1957 RECAPITULATION
Gross Expenditures
% of Aggregate Costs
Net
% of Total
Expenditures
Net Costs
O.A.A.
$2,087,669.50
68.2%
$310,845.58
48.7 %
A.D.C.
504,281.70
16.5%
104,620.39
16.4%
D.A.
274,002.65
9.0%
66,587.81
10.4%
G.R.
193,595.27
6.3 %
155,839.83
24.5%
$3,059,549.12
100.0%
$637,893.61
100.0%
NET COSTS REPRESENT 20:8% OF GROSS EXPENDITURES
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
179
GROSS EXPENDITURES
1956 $3,006,616.51
1957 $3,059,549.12
+ OR -
+ $52,932.61
% of Increase or Decrease 1.7% Increase
NET COSTS
1956 $659,271.43
1957 $637,893.61
+ OR -
-$21,377.82
% of Increase or Decrease 3.2% Decrease
STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN - 1957 Calls Made to the Clinic
Miscellaneous Welfare (General Relief)
481
Aid to Dependent Children
1318
Disability Assistance
629
Old Age Assistance
498
Veterans' Services
90
Recreation Commission
191
Examinations for Camp
438
Vaccinations
78
Emergencies
1
Home and Other Calls
Miscellaneous (General Relief)
326
Aid to Dependent Children
879
Disability Assistance
94
Old Age Assistance
299
Veterans' Services
58
Firemen
102
Policemen
102
Station "Prisoners
22
Retirements
7
Emergencies
7
Candidates for Fire Department
5
1901
3724
180
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
January 2, 1958
To His Honor the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen
Gentlemen:
We respectfully submit the following, which is a summary of the work of the department for the year 1957 as the Eight- ieth Annual Report of the Board of Health.
RECORD OF LICENSES AND PERMITS ISSUED
SLAUGHTER POULTRY - Two applications for a permit to slaughter poultry under the provisions of Section 139a of Chapter 679 of the General Laws were received. Both were granted.
MELT AND RENDER - Two licenses to carry on the busi- ness of melting and rendering were granted.
COLLECT GREASE - Twelve applications for a permit to collect grease were received and all were granted.
MASSAGE - Twelve persons were licensed to practice massage.
BOTTLING CARBONATED BEVERAGES - Five licenses to engage in the business of bottling carbonated beverages, soda water and mineral spring water were granted. A fee of twenty dollars is charged for each license, ten of which is paid to the Commonwealth.
CONVALESCENT OR NURSING HOMES - In accordance with Sections 71 to 73 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, five licenses to operate Convalescent or Nursing Homes or
181
BOARD OF HEALTH
Boarding Homes for the Aged were approved and forwarded to the State Department of Public Health for licensure.
MORTALITY
There were 702 deaths and 37 stillbirths during the year, as specified in the following tables:
Deaths at the Central Hospital
37
Deaths at the Somerville Hospital
201
Deaths at Home for Aged Poor (Highland Ave.) 32
Deaths at other Institutions
87
DEATHS BY AGES
Male
Female Total
Under one year
9
11
20
One to five years
1
0
1
Five to ten years
0
0
0
Ten to fifteen years
2
0
2
Fifteen to twenty years
0
2
2
Twenty to thirty years
1
4
5
Thirty to forty years
8
1
9
Forty to fifty years
15
14
29
Fifty to sixty years
51
33
84
Sixty to seventy years
74
64
138
Seventy to eighty years
107
111
218
Eighty to ninety years
65
100
165
Over ninety years
3
26
29
Totals
336
366
702
182
January
February
~ March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Totals
1. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
4
8 10 15
9
6
9
5
7
6
8 7
94
2. Cancer and Other Tumors
3. Rheumatism, Diseases of Nutrition, etc.
4. Diseases of Blood Forming Organs
1
5. Chronic Poisoning and Intoxication
6
6
9
7
11
7
6
6
6
5 8
8
85
7. Diseases of the Circulatory System
4 8 7
2
4 2
3
2
1
5
6
5
49
8. Diseases of the Respiratory System
2 1
1
3
2 22 3
2 1
4 ....
23
9. Diseases of the Digestive System
1
1
3
1
1
2
4
4 2
19
10. Diseases of the Genito-Urinary System .. .
1
.. ..
..
...
....
....
1
..
2
1
3
4
1
1
7
1
14
15. Diseases Peculiar to First Year of Life
16. Senility
17. Violent or Accidental
18. Ill Defined and Unknown Causes
.
....
..
..
65 58 55 64 70 56 53 40 57 51 52 81 702
Totals
...
1
1
..
....
....
....
....
..
..
..
..
....
1
1
1
....
....
....
....
..
..
..
....
1
..
..
..
.. ..
6. Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs
.
.
...
.. ..
1
..
..
..
.. ....
....
12. Diseases of Skin and Cellular Tissue
13. Diseases of the Bones and Organs of Movement
1
...
....
...
...
.......
....
..
..
..
..
....
....
....
3
2
3
1
2
3
2
5
22
..
..
....
1
1
..
.. ....
....
....
...
14. Congenital Malformations
2
..
..
..
..
....
...
. .
....
..
..
...
4
2
1
43 32 23 33 38 32 26 21 33 30 19 52 382
11. Diseases of Pregnancy, Childbirth, etc.
..
ANNUAL REPORTS
3
1
183
BOARD OF HEALTH
DEATHS DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS
1948
941
8.88
1949
847
7.99
1950
828
7.88
1951
868
8.48
1952
806
7.88
1953
779
7.63
1954
760
7.43
1955
789
8.19
1956
774
8.03
1957
702
7.28
Average death rate per 1,000 for ten years
7.97
SPECIMENS AND SUPPLIES
Outfits for specimens to be examined for tuberculosis, diphtheria and typhoid fever, as well as biologicals may be obtained at the office of the Board of Health, City Hall and at the following places:
Reed Drug Co., Inc., Davis Square
Ernest M. Vose, 310 Broadway
Union Square Pharmacy, 23 Union Square
McClure's Pharmacy, Magoun Square
LePore Pharmacy, 725 Broadway
INSPECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
Eight physicians are employed by the Board of Health for Inspection of School Children and to them are referred all children who show evidence of disease or abnormal condition. Children who are found unfit to remain in school are sent home with a notice to the parent or guardian that the family physician should be consulted.
Children in the first and fourth grades of the elementary schools and those in the first year of junior high and first year of senior high school are examined annually and any defects discovered are called to the attention of the parents or guard- ians.
In accordance with the provisions of the statutes, tests of sight and hearing are made by principals and teachers.
Monthly inspections of the school buildings and premises are made and suggestions or criticisms are referred to the
184
ANNUAL REPORTS
proper authorities. Every effort is made to protect the health of the children and to cooperate with the parents in keeping the children in as normal a condition as possible.
Following are the School Physicians and the schools under their jurisdiction:
Philip Bloom, M. D.
District One 57 Cross Street- Prescott, Hanscom, Dickerman and Edgerly Schools
District Two
David F. O'Brien, M.D. 44 Summer Street Southern Junior High and St. Joseph's Schools
District Three
Emil Goduti, M.D. 434 Broadway Senior High, Cummings, Proctor and St. Ann's Schools
District Four
Benjamin Blesoff, M.D. 333 Highland Avenue Morse, Carr, Lowe, Burns and Cholerton Schools
District Five
Benjamin Russman, M. D. 33 Curtis Street Cutler, Hodgkins, Conwell and Western Junior High Schools
District Six
Joseph Scaringi, M.D. 66 Curtis Street Bingham, Brown, Forster and Northeastern Junior High Schools
District Seven
Anthony R. Russo, M.D. .. 2 Austin Street Grimmons, Healey, St. Benedict's and St. Polycarp's Schools
District Eight
Charles J. McCarthy, M.D. 432 Medford Street Pope, Perry, Baxter and Durell Schools
During the year 2342 children were examined by the school physicians and 19 were sent home because of illness.
The following list will show the disease and defects, except those of sight and hearing which have been found:
185
BOARD OF HEALTH
1. Infectious Diseases 0
2. Diseases of the Nose and Throat:
Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids 216
Inflammatory Diseases 217
Other Abnormal Conditions 155
Total 588
3. Diseases of the Eyes 3
4. Diseases of the Ear 66
5. Diseases of the Skin:
Eczema
2
Herpes
22
Impetigo
25
Dermatitis 19
3
Pediculosis
57
Miscellaneous Conditions
Total 128
6. Diseases of the Feet 234
7. Miscellaneous Conditions:
Diseases of the Circulatory System 42
Diseases of the Lymphatic System 85
Diseases of the Respiratory System 1
Wounds and Injuries 33
Other Conditions 251
Total 412
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
In accordance with Section 49 of Chapter 114 of the Gen- eral Laws, thirty-two persons were licensed as Funeral Direc- tors.
NURSES
Eight nurses are employed by the Board of Health, three as Public Health Nurses and five School Nurses. The work of the Public Health Nurses consists of follow-up work on tubercu- losis cases, post natal hygiene, quarantining for contagious diseases and other related duties. The reports of the School
186
ANNUAL REPORTS
Nurses are included in the report of the School Committee while those of the Public Health Nurses are submitted in de- tail in subsequent pages of this report.
INFANT HYGIENE CLINICS
Under the supervision of the Board, clinics have been held every Thursday, at the Western Junior High School, except when the days were holidays. The average attendance at this clinic was 7 and total attendance 293.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. FRASER, M.D., Chairman CHAS. W. ELDRIDGE N. JOHN ROSSELLI, D.S.C.
Board of Health
187
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE HEALTH OFFICER
January 2, 1958
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following is the report of the Division of Medical Inspec- tion for the year 1957.
During the year patients were admitted to the Haynes Memorial Hospital as follows: Miscellaneous Conditions 2
TUBERCULOSIS
There were two deaths in the city from tuberculosis, three died in sanatoria and eight patients reported as having tuber- culosis died of other causes.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNIZATION
Clinics for immunization against diphtheria, whooping- cough and tetanus are held on the last Wednesday of the month, throughout the year, at the Old Police Station, 50 Bow Street. Notices are sent to the parents when children reach the age of four months, advising them of the opportunity to have their immunized.
Following are the statistics on these clinics:
Total Number of Doses of Vaccine Administered 1355
Number Who Completed Three Doses 346
Number Who Received Two Doses 411
Number Who Received One Dose 455
Boosters
143
POLIO INOCULATIONS
Clinics were held in the schools during March and April at which approximately 8500 children received a third polio in- oculation.
188
ANNUAL REPORTS
A clinic is held at the Old Police Station, 50 Bow Street, on the first Wednesday of each month, to take care of children reaching the age of six months. Also those children who were absent from previous clinics have completed the series of in- oculations at this clinic.
Following are the statistics on these clinics:
Number Who Received First Dose 840
Number Who Received Second Dose 954
Third or Booster Doses 2704
Total
3498
ASIAN FLU VACCINE
In November 710 of the school personnel and city employ- ees were inoculated against Asian Flu.
Respectfully submitted,
WILFRID C. MACDONALD, M.D.
Health Officer
.
189
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE HEALTH NURSES
January 2, 1958
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
We sumbit the following report of the work performed by us in infant hygiene, post natal, contagious and tuberculosis cases for the year ending December 31, 1957.
INFANT HYGIENE
There were 20 deaths of infants under one year of age dur- ing the year as shown in the following table:
Prematurity
13
Congenital Diseases
1
Pneumonia and Other Diseases 6
Total Attendance at Well Baby Clinics
293
New Registrations 87
Average Attendance
7
TUBERCULOSIS
Pulmonary Tuberculosis Reported
25
Other Forms of Tuberculosis Reported 2
Patients Admitted to Middlesex County Sanatorium .. 43
Patients Admitted to Rutland State Sanatorium
4
Patients Admitted to North Reading State Sanatorium
6
Clinics are held on the first Monday afternoon of the month at the Old Police Station on Bow Street, for x-ray and examina- tion of patients and contacts.
Total Attendance at These Clinics 316
Average Attendance 25
AGE AND SEX OF CASES REPORTED PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS
Male Female Total
Under Fifteen Years of Age
1
2
3
Fifteen to Twenty Years
0
0
0
Twenty to Thirty Years
1
4
5
Thirty to Forty Years
1
1
2
Over Forty Years
9
6
15
Totals
12
13
25
190
ANNUAL REPORTS
OTHER FORMS OF TUBERCULOSIS
Female
Total
Under Fifteen Years of Age
1
1
Over Forty Years
1
1
Totals
2
2
RECAPITULATION OF VISITS
Infant Hygiene
3825
Tuberculosis
1584
Contagious Diseases
80
Miscellaneous
118
Totals
5607
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE P. HIGHT, R.N. MARY V. RYAN, R.N. EILEEN A. DAILY, R.N.
191
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
January 2, 1958
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following is my report for the year ending December 21, 1957.
A total of 526 calls were made in connection with 263 dog bites reported during the year.
· Respectfully submitted,
E. WILLIAM JOHANSEN, D.V.M., Inspector of Animals
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF INSPECTION OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS
January 2, 1958
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following is a report of the work of the Division of Inspec- tion of Animals and Provisions for the year ending December 31, 1957:
Number of Establishments Visited
5942
Complaints Investigated
482
Notices Sent
127
CONDEMNATIONS
Bakery Products 3,167 lbs.
Fruit
135 lbs.
Canned Goods
650 misc.
Poultry
138 lbs.
Fish
82 lbs.
Meat
4,693 lbs.
Cheese
150 lbs.
Butter
126 lbs.
Cookies
20 lbs.
Eggs
52 doz.
Candy
310 lbs.
Misc. Vegetables
135 lbs.
Ice Cream
60 Gals.
Frozen Foods, Misc. .. 1,054 pkg.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS J. HAGERTY, Supervising Sanitary Inspector
192
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
January 2, 1958
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Three hundred and forty-eight stores and restaurants are licensed to sell milk, forty-nine dealers are licensed to distrib- uate milk and two hundred and ten stores are registered to sell oleomargarine. Three pasteurizing plants located in Somerville are licensed to operate and thirty-nine plants in cities and towns adjacent to Somerville are also under the jurisdiction of the department. Three hundred and thirty-eight restaurants, stores and distributors are licensed to sell and eighteen 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 $1,501.50 of which $1,291.50 was for license fees and the balance of $210 for analytical work.
Samples Collected 120
Samples Submitted 70
Bacteriological Examinations 380
Chemical Examinations 311
Phosphatase Tests
190
Total
881
Georgia H. Moreland, Ph.G., Ph.C., resigned on January 31, 1957, after thirty-two years of service, the last five as Milk In- spector.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL X. MURPHY, B.S.,
Milk Inspector
193
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF DENTAL HYGIENE
January 2, 1958
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I submit the following statistics as the report of the Di- vision of Dental Hygiene for the year ending December 31, 1957.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY F. BIANCHI, D.M.D., Supervising School Dentist
1957
SCHOOL CLINIC PATIENTS
1957
Extractions
Cleanings
Treatments
Certificates
Granted
Patients
Extractions
Gas
January
475
130
40
0
643
414
231
79
783
37
5
18
February
388
83
47
2
510
413
142
71
708
59
5
15
March
478
87
59
1
619
522
181
80
888
78
6
13
6
April
416
104
46
0
566
471
115
79
786
63
1
2
1
May
641
111
65
2
838
660
192
153
1090
121
8
22
8
June
251
44
30
1
326
228
93
52
419
38
6
20
6
July
SCHOOL CLINIC CLOSED SCHOOL CLINIC CLOSED
September ...
EXAMINING
1503
October.
10,902
EXAMINING
1607
10
31
10
November
314
281
38
1
634
386
246
101
784
24
15
33
15
December ..
372
89
32
8
498
373
144
65
607
34
4
10
4
10,902
3335
929
357
15
4634
3467
1344
680
6065
3564
60
164
60
194
Number
Old
Cases
New
Cases
Emergency
Special
Total
Fillings
5 01 01 Anesthesia 5
ANNUAL REPORTS
August
OPERATIVE CASES
Examined
ŻO
195
HOUSING AUTHORITY
REPORT OF THE SOMERVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1957
December 31, 1957
To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen:
The Somerville Housing Authority held its Annual Meeting on January 9, 1957 and elected as officers for the year 1957 the following:
Chairman
ALBERT F. FITZGERALD
Vice-Chairman
CHARLES P. MAMAKOS
Treasurer
·
JOHN R. WISEMAN
Assistant Treasurer
CHARLES P. MAMAKOS
PERSONNEL
The above-named officers, along with Mr. Francis J. Di- Ciaccio and Mr. Ernest E. Jennings, constituted the entire membership of the Authority during the year 1957. The term of office of Mr. Ernest E. Jennings expired on June 8, 1957. However, no reappointment or other appointment having been made Mr. Jennings has continued to serve as a holdover mem- ber of the Authority on an indefinite basis.
There has been very little turnover in Administrative per- sonnel during the year. Mr. Amleto M. DiGiusto has continued to serve as Executive Director, with Mr. William T. Deegan as his assistant. Thomas P. Russell, Esquire, continued as legal counsel throughout the year.
In the Urban Redevelopment Section Mr. George Ryan re- mained as Administrator. However, in October, Mr. Francis
196
ANNUAL REPORTS
McAuliffe resigned as Assistant Administrator to return to private employment. On September 30, 1957, Joseph Marino, Esquire, was appointed to serve as Assistant Administrator. Richard S. Kelley, Esquire, continued to serve as legal counsel to the Urban Redevelopment Section.
STATE-AIDED HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY
At the conclusion of the year 1956 the matter of providing State-Aided Housing for the Elderly remained in a most nebu- lous state due to a natural scarcity of suitable land which would meet with the requirements of the State Housing Board, and which could be acquired by the Authority without too much complication at a satisfactory price. Due to the efforts of Mayor William J. Donovan, and with the cooperation of the Board of Aldermen, an ideal site has been obtained at Capen Street adjacent to the new Leon M. Conwell School and just off the Alewife Brook Parkway. Due to the further coopera- tion of Chairman John E. Maloney of the State Housing Board complete approval by the State has been obtained. Edward Sears Read and Associates, Architects, have drawn up plans calling for 64 units of housing to be distributed through eight two-story motel type buildings. The plans call for arrangement of the buildings in a somewhat circular pattern with provision for shrubs, walks and benches in the center, thus creating a park-like effect; the whole promising a development which will be practical, attractive and especially suited to the need of our elderly citizens. It is hoped that specifications for this project will be ready soon and that we will be able to go out to bid in the very near future. We are also presently seeking an additional allotment from the Commonwealth so that we may provide still more units for housing for the elderly under the State program.
FEDERALLY-AIDED HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY
It was with great disappointment that, in 1956, the Au- thority was forced to reject all bids for the construction of a seven story building on Highland Avenue designed for housing our elderly citizens. However, at the end of 1956 we received a ray of hope when the Public Housing Administration in- formed us that we could rebid this project under the provisions of the new Housing Act of 1956, which provided for Housing for the Elderly and which allowed increased per room con- structions costs.
.
197
HOUSING AUTHORITY
In March, after receiving bids, the Authority was able to award the contract for construction of this project to the low bidder, G. L. Rugo & Sons, Inc., at a cost of $446,442.00.
On Friday, June 21, 1957, our fondest expectations were brought to fruition when at most impressive ceremonies, at the site of the new project on Highland Avenue, this new housing facility was dedicated. The dedication was attended by digni- taries on all levels, City, State and Federal, and addresses were delivered by Mayor William J. Donovan, Herman D. Hillman, Director of the New York Regional Office of the Public Hous- ing Administration, John E. Maloney, Chairman of the State Housing Board and Amleto M. DiGiusto, Executive Director of the Somerville Housing Authority.
In addressing the gathering Mr. Hillman stressed the fact that "the Somerville Development is the first to be built spe- cifically for them, the elderly, in accordance with amendments to the U. S. Housing Act enacted in August 1956. Mr. Hillman further accented Somerville's leadership by citing the facts that Somerville was also "the first city in the United States to have developed a "workable program" for rehabilitating and renew- ing the community, approved and certified by the Housing and Home Finance Agency, and the first in New England to start a slum clearance and urban redevelopment program with fed- eral assistance.
At year's end this project was rapidly nearing completion and we are hopeful that it will be ready for occupancy on or about April 1, 1958. Physically it is a 42 unit, seven story el-shaped structure, in a spacious landscaped setting with sit- ting areas for tenants outdoors, a community lounge and other features in the interior especially designed for the elderly. Each unit consists of living room, bedroom, kitchen and bath. The baths are equipped with grab bars and each unit has a bell system which will sound in adjoining apartments in case of emergency.
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.