USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1958 > Part 13
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
In 1958 the manhole inspection and cleaning program started in January was completed March 5, and then resumed in November. Catch basins are cleaned twice a year and busy areas, such as the squares are cleaned on Sundays. The sewer cleaning program using power machines is carried on during the winter season and the Medford St. pumphouse reservoir chambers are cleaned semi-annually.
Coupled with a program of improving drainage facilities and removing old trouble spots, this rigid cleaning and inspec- tion program has paid dividends in easier, safer walking for our residents. Despite record rainstorms in the early part of the year and usually protracted storms in October, complaints from flooding have become relatively few.
With much of the problem posed by the need to determine the causes of trouble existing for many years solved, the de- partment has been successful again this year in completing projects which pay dividends in health and safety, a direct result of our concerted drive throughout the City.
202
ANNUAL REPORT
A. Drainage Improvements
1. MYSTIC AVENUE AT MORELAND STREET
Discovery and removal of an obsolete flap gate relieved a condition which for 30 years had caused water of the Mystic River at the foot of Moreland Street to be dirty and caused consternation to bathers in past years and concern to present day small boat owners.
Sewage in the Moreland Street drain, which comes down the steep incline with considerable force, had been jumping the route to the MDC main and overflowing into the river. A 24-inch opening was cut from the bottom of the drop-manhole at the foot of the main into the regulator chamber and a flap- gate at the foot of the manhole was located and removed, making a clear passage for the sewage into the large MDC drainage line. Work was performed with extreme difficulty because of the rush of the sewage through the line and the fact that the manhole and regulator chamber are under water at high tide.
2. GLEN STREET
A drainage problem at Glen Street, near the playground, dating back approximately 20 years, was solved with repairs to a brick sewer. It was found that due to a faulty construction in WPA days, the sewer was being blocked with a resulting backflow into adjoining streets in bad weather. The stoppage was removed and the condition corrected.
3. COLUMBUS AVENUE AND BOSTON STREETS
Flooding at the south side of Columbus Avenue and neigh- boring yards was alleviated with the laying of 200 feet of 10-inch vitrified clay pipe from the end of the existing sewer 110 feet from the manhole at Warren Avenue and 200 feet toward Walnut Street, where it was connected to another line of the combined system.
Several house connections were re-located to tie-in with the new sewer system and two new catch basins and three new manholes were constructed in establishing this new link in the 75-year-old system in the area.
The storm drain on Boston Street was also extended and two catch basins built. These particular projects were part of the preparations of these streets for reconstruction under the Chapter 90 program.
203
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
4. HOUGHTON STREET AREA
Houghton - Oak Street and a large area was relieved of flooding conditions when a sewer in the Boynton yards in back of South and Ward Streets was found blocked for a long dis- tance. Approximately 800 feet of the 30-inch brick sewer was cleaned, involving construction of two new manholes and re- modelling of an existing one. Blockage was caused by dis- charge from nearby processing plants and we are attempting to determine the source more accurately so as to avoid a re- currence.
5. MYSTIC AVENUE - FOSS PARK
Relief will be forthcoming to approximately 500 families in the vicinity of Foss Park this summer when the MDC com- pletes its installation of new tide gates on the Mystic River at our request. Further explanation of this project may be found under 111 C2, state-aided projects.
6. OTHER SEWER WORK
In February a manhole under the Newton Street bridge damaged by B. & M. crews attempting to alleviate flooding in their tracks was repaired and reinforced to avoid a recurrence.
A storm drain on Alewife Brook Parkway near Woodstock Street, broken by the Algonquin Gas Transmission Co. in lay- ing a main through the City, was repaired by the gas company during the summer.
In December an 8-inch cast iron sewer suspended on the Walnut Street railroad bridge was replaced when it was found to be eaten away by the exhausts of the engines. The City has no redress since the bridge is railroad property.
Broken sewers were repaired at 106 West Adams Street, intersection of Orchard and Day Streets; 72 Moreland Street; Walnut Street at Columbus Avenue; 21 Lincoln Street; 69 Mt. Vernon Street; and 44 Prescott Street.
Following are a few tabulations of the work done under routine maintenance, excluding the drainage work on Chapter 90 streets, all of which was done by City crews:
New manhole rings and covers installed 11
Manholes remodeled 1
Manholes built 2
Catch basins repaired 26
Catch basins remodelled 16
New catch basin trap and tongue 6
204
ANNUAL REPORT
Catch basins drains were excavated and repaired at 33 Porter St.
12 Stein catch basins were rebuilt and metal liners removed. New catch basins - 2 on Skehan St. at the angle; one at the
end of Albion Pl .; one at the corner of Cady Ave. and Simpson Ave.
Broken catch basin connection on Gilman St. at Aldrich St. was replaced.
(Further tabulations of drainage work by City employees may be found under 111 C 1. State-aided, road work.)
B. Surface Work
1. SIDEWALKS AND PATCHING
The engineering crews worked closely with highway division on tree removal, sidewalk work and patch paving. Engineers did considerable permanent patch paving of city water trenches and tree removal holes during the summer and temporarily patched others in preparation for winter.
The replacement of temporary patches of long standing with permanent surfacing was another program given tremen- dous impetus by the department in response to a demand built up over many, many years of temporary patching.
Sidewalk brick was removed on Cross Street East from Cercle Hall to Broadway and replaced by bituminous concrete after the highway men had removed and reset edgestones. Brick walks were also removed for the highway division on Central Street and Berkeley Street. All usable bricks were stored at the Public Works garage for masonry work during the winter, for such items as catch basin construction.
After the Housing Authority Contractors had completed re- modelling of the streets within the Brickbottom redevelopment area, excess edgestone was salvaged and stored in the public works yards.
2. BUILDINGS
The division's work in and around the public buildings included excavating and freeing of drains on the roofs of City Hall and Public Works garage; pointing of steps to public works building; stone work repairs to the Powder House at Tufts Park and the concrete block field house at Conway play- ground, and various items on the schools.
205
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Debris was removed from three-alarm fires at McGrath Highway and Pearl Street; and the walls of the florist's barn on McGrath Highway were levelled for the Fire Department.
3. ROAD WORK
During 1958 improvements were made to the surface of eight streets - all at little expense to the City.
Work was performed as follows:
Villa Avenue - Graded and smoothed by engineering division, in accordance with the law permitting the City to work on private ways as long as the abutters pay the cost of any materials involved.
Mt. Vernon Avenue and East Albion Street - Surfaced by the MDC on request. Eventually area of Mt. Vernon Street from East Albion Street to Mystic Avenue will also be surfaced.
Edmands Street and Dana Street - Included in M D C McGrath Highway widening project. Original plans called for the surfacing of Dana Street. Plans were changed to recon- struction, including regrading and complete new surfacing at our request.
Mystic Lane - Will be graded by MDC on our request, creating 40-foot street out of what is now 20-foot street ad- jacent to dirty, muddy gully containing MDC water main.
Capen Street - Alewife Brook Parkway side extended into area of new housing project by engineering division. An 80- foot long roadway was cut and a steel-reinforced concrete mat constructed over a shallow MDC water main to facilitate con- struction of the elderly housing project. The road will be surfaced when the project is complete.
Eustis Street - 40 feet of gutter surfaced.
Events which resulted in the successful scheduling of 15 streets for reconstruction under Chapter 90 aid are detailed below under 111 C 1.
206
ANNUAL REPORTS
C. State-aided Projects
1. ROAD PROGRAM - CHAPTER 90
Work on the 1958 program began in the winter of 1957 when the engineering division prepared drawings and sketches for the submission of the 1958 requests for Chapter 90 aid. During the winter, also as a member of the Governor's special Advisory Commission on highways, we first broached the sub- ject of broadening the interpretation of Chapter 90 eligible streets, which had heretofore been confined to main through streets - in order to obtain for Somerville maximum benefit from the program and continue road construction on the less traveled streets, as introduced under the special program of 1957.
A formal request was subsequently submitted to the State Department of Public Works asking permission for use of Chapter 90 funds on a list of main feeder streets, serving through arteries and carrying a heavy total of traffic, when certification is made that all main through streets are in good condition.
The sum of $40,000. was appropriated to cover the City's share of the 1958 Chapter 90 work, which is proportioned 50 per cent State and 25 per cent County and City. The State allocated $90,000 as its and the county's share of Chapter 90 work in Somerville.
During the summer city crews completed the work on tree removal, necessary drainage improvements, and test pits on the approved streets. It was decided to request the State to adver- tise the 1958-59 Chapter 90 roadwork in one job in the spring of 1959 in order to obtain the full price benefits of quantity bidding and thereby get more local streets constructed with the money available.
It is our hope that the State will advertise the work early in 1959, since the preliminary work has been completed.
Following is the tabulation of drainage improvements on Chapter 90 streets completed by city personnel. Larger proj- ects are included in discussion of engineering division sewer work:
207
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
New catch basins
33
New manholes
13
New catch basin frames and grates 47
New manhole rings and covers
16
Catch basins remodelled
18
Manholes remodelled
2
Curb inlets
32
Sidewalk manhole casting
5
Pipe installed:
330 feet 8 inch vitrified clay
100 feet 10 inch vitrified clay
21 feet 12 inch vitrified clay
22 feet 8 inch cast iron
Work remaining includes one new catch basin and four curb inlets.
Following are the Chapter 90 streets approved for recon- struction in 1958-59:
Boston St. Fairfax St. Mansfield St.
Church St.
Gilman St.
Quincy St.
Columbus Ave. Gordon St.
Sterling St.
Concord Ave. Heath St. Sycamore St.
Delaware St. High St.
Washington St., between
Mansfield and Boston Sts.
Following are the streets on which approval was requested September 17, 1958 for future work:
Bonair St.
Merriam St. (Somerville Ave. to Washington St.)
Crocker St.
Moreland St.
Crown St.
Morrison Ave. (Cedar St. to Willow Ave.)
Otis St.
Grove St. (Elm St. to Highland Ave.)
Harrison St. (Ivaloo St. Tower St. to Kent St.) Willow Ave. (Elm St. to Morrison Ave.)
2. TIDE GATES
The MDC agreed to our oft-repeated request and plans for new tide gates on the Mystic River at Middlesex Avenue and Cummings Street were included in their $650,000 road widen- ing project along Fellsway - Mystic Avenue, McGrath Highway to Medford Street. Work began on this project in September.
First installed in 1900, the gates have been useless and in need of replacement for some time. The new gates will elimi- nate flooding of Foss Park and the tidal back flow in cellars in
208
ANNUAL REPORTS
approximately 500 homes and considerable industrial area. It is our expectation the gates will be installed with completion of the project this spring. The operation is a vital one and represents a considerable saving for the City.
3. DILBOY RECREATION AREA
I am more than delighted to be able to report to you the successful climax to almost three years of work on our part. The MDC began work in November on construction of a multi- purpose recreation area in the vicinity of Dilboy Stadium, fol- lowing their removal in August of the bleacher wall of the old Dilboy field. They had previously requested the City to finance this latter project.
As you will recall I first proposed this plan to you, Mayor Donovan and the Board of Aldermen in April, 1956, and it was immediately ratified by both. During the next two years we attended innumerable public hearings and discussions with legislative committees and MDC officials, which culminated in the overall plan for expansion of MDC facilities and a final on site inspection between City and MDC officials last February.
The land included in the project runs along Alewife Brook Parkway from the MDC pumping station at Mystic Valley Park- way to Broadway. The area of old Tevlin field, 200,967 sq. ft., running approximately from Fairfax to High Streets, is owned outright by the City and is partly covered by the new Dilboy Stadium. Except for this section the land from Woods Avenue to Gordon Street and from Powder House Boulevard to Broad- way is leased to the City from the MDC and was part of the old 99 year lease for old Dilboy Field.
The MDC owns the small remaining lots on either end and a narrow strip running in back along the length of the brook. All the land would revert fully to the MDC in exchange for development and maintenance of the area.
MDC contracts for the work so far total approximately $155,000. Coupled with the maintenance costs of the project, the facility represents a tremendous saving to the City.
The MDC has been cooperative in including items we have requested in their specifications for the multi-purpose area.
Last June also the MDC granted our request for special "children crossing" signs near the playground and placed three
209
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
in the vicinity of Dilboy Field. We have hopes that, with con- struction of this multi-purpose area, the MDC will further grant our request for pedestrian crossing lights in the area.
Included in the layout for the facilities is a cinder track around the football field with high and broad jump pits and a scoreboard for football games.
Outside the stadium, plans include a tot-lot for children of kindergarten age and a separate children's playground; a full- scale baseball diamond and a combination Little League and softball diamond; four basketball courts; two horseshoe courts; and a handball court. There will be a picnic area with tables, benches and fireplaces; and two parking lots, one on each side of the stadium. A portion of one will be converted into a nat- ural ice skating rink during the winter and may be used for roller skating in the summer.
The commission expects the project to be completed in time for use in the summer of 1959.
I want to express my appreciation for the cooperation of Commissioner Charles W. Greenough, Benjamin Fink, Chief Park Engineer; other MDC officials; and our local State Legis- lators during the various discussions.
4. MARINA
One project on which our search for State or Federal Aid has yet to bear fruit is the construction of a small boat launch- ing ramp on the Mystic River.
Aware of the provisions of the new law requiring cities on tidal rivers to provide public landing places, we attended a public hearing on January 13, 1958, at the State Department of Public Works to request State aid for construction of such a ramp. The City's share of such a project was among the items eliminated from the budget before its final passage, however.
It is our belief that a saving would result from such a project because it would also solve the problem of our need for a pier from which to dump snow into the river.
5. CAESAR MARCHI PLAYGROUND
Besides the surfacing of streets in the rear of the Healey School already mentioned, the MDC has agreed to expand the
210
ANNUAL REPORTS
City's Caesar Marchi Playground at the school, part of which they surfaced two years ago.
Plans and specifications for the project have been prepared for bid by the MDC and approved by this office. They include surfacing the rest of the 80,000 sq. ft. area, making the play- ground four times its present size and many times larger than the original Marchi playground on which the Healey School was built. Work will include proper drainage, fencing, and water sprays for the youngsters. It is expected that the work will be completed some time this spring.
During the year also the MDC agreed to our request for a police detail to protect youngsters from the Healey School as they crossed Mt. Vernon Street, while construction was under- way in that area.
6. POLICY
It is the policy of this department to see to it that full advantage is taken of all opportunities for state or federal aid on local projects and to protect the interests of the City on projects of the various state agencies within the City of Somer- ville.
Much has been accomplished with the above projects; and we shall continue to watch legislation and policies of state agencies in order to get full benefits for local residents and to protect their interests when necessary.
D. Parks and Playgrounds
1. GENERAL MAINTENANCE
In the spring the skating dikes were removed, fields were graded, stones raked out, benches and play equipment through- out the City's 26 parks and playgrounds painted and repaired; interiors of field houses painted; and two car loads of calcium chloride spread to control the dust nuisance on the play- grounds. Fence repairs were made throughout the City.
Wooden picnic tables and chairs were constructed by the. building division with plans and wood supplied by the recrea- tion commission and set out in Lincoln, Tufts, and Woods play- grounds.
Old fashioned wooden sandboxes have been eliminated and cement sandboxes installed at all supervised playgrounds, with.
211
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
the exception of the Cutler, which will be provided with same this year. Cement sandboxes are also in use at Dickerman and Bailey Parks.
In December skating dikes were erected at Trum Field, Memorial Park on Glen Street, Lincoln Park, Sanborn Court - Stone Place playground and Woods playground. There was very good skating at the above locations and also on Albion Street basketball courts, because the month was so much colder than the normal temperatures. Plans are being made to improve conditions at Conway playground for flooding.
Sanborn Court - Stone Place playground was graded and sur- faced with bituminous concrete and fences repaired.
New extended baskets were erected at Shaw playground to replace less satisfactory ones; and suspended basketball back- stop was put in the Southern Junior High School auditorium.
2. BASEBALL BACKSTOPS REPAIRED
The 20-inch snow storm in February overloaded the softball backstops at Lincoln, Memorial Park (Glen Street), and Trum Field. Since it had less damage, the Trum Field backstop was repaired immediately by engineering division and bids were advertised for repair of the other two, in which two sections had collapsed.
Bids were advertised April 24 and were opened May 9. By combining the lower half of two different bids, we were able to obtain a price lower than the original low bid for the job and the contract was awarded in two parts for a total of $4,722.
3. CEMETERIES
During March and April fertilizer was applied to grass areas and shrubs at both cemeteries and a large amount of loam was hauled into the veterans' cemetery. An unusually large number of plants and shrubs, killed during the winter, were replaced.
The annual flowers were planted in cemeteries and other beds throughout the City during May and June. A big increase in theft of the new plants was noted this year.
A concrete retaining wall was built across the rear of the cemetery to discourage vandalism and 48 flowering crab trees were planted at the left side of the cemetery.
212
ANNUAL REPORTS
4. PROSPECT HILL TOWER
A large bulldozer, clamshell shovel, dump trucks and hand crews were used to regrade the slope at the rear of the Prospect Hill Tower, preparatory to its sodding.
The southeast side of the tower grounds, the area of the steepest embankment and greatest erosion, was reshaped and regraded. In order to solve the problem of continual erosion, the embankment was then pinned with rows of wire and the grass sod attached.
Seeding of the ground would have been impossible of suc- cess due to the action of wind and rain on the slope and the cavorting of children and animals. The result of the sodding is a fine green lawn, making a final fitting touch to our im- provement of the tower and its grounds.
Plans call for the construction of a tot-lot and skating rink on an adjacent lot in 1959.
213
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
IV. HIGHWAY DIVISION
The only change in supervisory personnel during the year was the Mayor's appointment late in January of Herbert G. Wall, 101 Willow Avenue, as superintendent of the Highway Division, succeeding Anthony N. Fantasia, who resigned to re- turn to his private business.
The highway division does the City's housekeeping.
A. It sweeps the streets. Every night at midnight (except in the relatively few weeks from mid-December - February when snow may be expected) four street sweepers go across a section of the City, following generally the same routes as the sanitary trucks on collections. They operate from midnight to noon time, the hours of less parking problems.
The sweepers must pass over each street two nights in succession in order to do both sides with the alternate parking. Every street gets swept once every two or three weeks.
In addition regular hand crews are assigned to Davis, Ma- goun and other squares and are used in parking lots, school yards, and other trouble spots when the occasion demands.
B. It plows and removes the snow, scrapes and sands the streets. Again the work is well-planned out on assigned routes in order to do the best job automobile crowded streets will al- low. First assignments are main thoroughfares and hills.
Sandboxes-A program originated by this department, the putting out of sandboxes for the convenience of motorists, has reached a total of 36, all constructed by the building division.
They were put out this year at the following locations: Powder House Square; Prospect Hill Tower; Magoun Square; Munroe St. at Walnut St .; Temple St. at Broadway; Veterans' Cemetery at Clarendon Hill; stairs at Ten Hills Rd .; Fire House at Teele Square; Mt. Pleasant St. at vacant lot; Belmont Park at Belmont St. side; City Hall grounds; Edgar Ave .; foot of stairs leading from Washington St. down to Lincoln Park; Lowell St. at Hudson St .; Florence St. at vacant lot; Sacramento St. underpass; Powder House Blvd. at Curtis St .; Powder House Blvd. on island; Powder House Blvd. and North St .; intersection
214
ANNUAL REPORTS
of Webster Ave. and Newton St .; Kidder Ave. at Liberty Ave .; Mt. Vernon St. on hill; Dane St. at Dane Ave .; Benedict St. between Mystic and Union Sts .; Eastman Rd .; Central St. at Highland Ave .; Stone Ave., at foot of stairs from tower; Gilman Sq. on Medford St .; top of hill on Chandler St .; (Broadway end) 167 Central St .; top of walk at rear of Healey School; top of hill on Crocker St .; midway on hill, Tower St .; Central St. at Greek church; Broadway off Sycamore St.
C. It cares for the trees on all the streets; spraying and trimming the good ones and removing the diseased and dan- gerous ones, holding public hearings on tree removal when re- quired. This year 225 trees were trimmed; 122 were topped preparatory to removal in the spring; and 114 stumps were removed, many of them on Chapter 90 construction-scheduled streets. Removal began March 24, last year.
D. It repairs the streets and sidewalks in conjunction with the engineering division. This year concrete sidewalks were put down on three extensive locations and bituminous concrete at five extensive locations. Repairs and replacement of small sections were made at a total of 730 locations; and a total of approximately 5,996 linear feet of new cement was poured. Bricks were replaced in several spots. The division operates a constant program of patching and applied cold patch to 1,021 street locations.
E. It constructs driveway entrances and every reasonable encouragement is given in the form of tree removal or slightly altering drainage on this program so that residents will be able to park their cars off of the streets. Last year 119 new drive- ways were constructed.
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.