USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1958 > Part 18
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The Winter season was blessed with good weather for the weekly meetings, and the attendance at each meeting averaged between fifty-five and sixty, with a higher number attending on special occasions. Early in February a Valentine Party was held, and during the month of March the dinners were re- sumed. In May, the Club held its First Anniversary Party, with approximately eighty members attending; and in May, also, the Club won honors at the Sixty-Plus Hobby Show held at Horti- cultural Hall in Boston. June was an eventful month, with the Club assisting in the dedication of the first Federal Housing Project For The Aged on Highland Avenue. Later followed a trip for a joint meeting with the Brookline Senior Citizens Club and a return visit by the Brookline Club to Somerville. The Spring season came to an end with the second annual outing, which was held at Salem Willows on a warm, sunny day which followed a long spell of rainy weather.
The Summer program continued on a monthly basis, with a boat trip and outing to Nantasket Beach in July, which was attended by thirty-four members; and another outing in August to Canobie Lake, with fifty-six members making the trip in two buses.
Opening the Fall season, thirty-five members of the group attended a "Big Brother" telecast and entertained the televi- sion audience with a rendition of their theme song. By the first of October the membership of the group had reached its max- imum of one hundred, and no new members were admitted
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after that date. Other highlights of the Fall season included a Halloween Party with buffet lunch in October, and a Thanks- giving Dinner in November. In early December the Club con- ducted its first Bazaar, which gave the members an opportun- ity to display and offer for sale the many beautiful and varied specimens of their handiwork. Other activities included two visits to Cinerama, a Hi-Fi Show given by Mr. Allen Beavers of Boston University, and joint meetings with other Senior Cit- izens Clubs. The weekly programs of movies, guest speakers, card parties, and dinners each month continued to prove suc- cessful, and were of the highest quality. The season ended with a Christmas Party, at which a buffet lunch was served and each of the members was presented with a gift.
As stated in a previous paragraph of this report, the Senior Citizens Club has expanded to its maximum capacity, due to lack of appropriate facilities and personnel; and any further ex- pansion along these lines would have to come from some other agency of the City.
CAMERA CLUB
From a small beginning with a handful of members, the Recreation Camera Club has grown to a membership of twenty- six, including eighteen men and eight women. With meeting quarters provided in the Bow St. building, and two dark rooms in the basement premises of the same building, the Club meets weekly for discussion and work sessions. The members are not only photography "bugs", but there are within the group experts in many of the various phases of photography who give lectures at the weekly meetings and share their knowledge with the less experienced members. Authorities in the field of photography are also invited to give lectures from time to time. Additionally the Club conducts competition in slide and salon prints, and a special "Know Your City" slide competition was conducted during the year. This was an attempt to record in black-and-white the social, religious, and industrial life of the community. The members also engage in color slide competition with Camera Clubs in other communities - all members of the New England Camera Club. Another singular activity and one of the Club's outstanding during the year was a series of tape-recorded talks and slide demonstrations given before Service and other Somerville organizations by a group of the members. Trips were taken during the year to the White Mountains, the Green Mountains, Benson's Animal Farm, and Rockport, Mass. for the purpose of taking shots of landscapes, seascapes, and other nature scenes.
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The interests of the Camera Club members cover the com- plete gamut of photography including motion pictures, color development, enlarging, and the latest trends in this increas- ingly popular hobby.
TWILIGHT BASKETBALL LEAGUE
A few years ago when a prominent out-of-town basketball official drove by the outdoor basketball court at Shaw Play- ground on the day following a ten-inch snowstorm, he was amazed to see that, despite the low temperature, a group of boys had shoveled the snow from the court and were engaged in a spirited game. His comment was, "No wonder Somerville is a hotbed of basketball, and turns out championship teams year in and year out".
The demand for basketball as an almost around-the-calen- dar activity in Somerville was responsible for the establishment of the Twilight Basketball League by the Commission in 1951. Beginning with one League, consisting of eight teams, with games played on the court at Shaw Playground, it soon be- came evident that a second Division of the League would be necessary in order to accommodate the many teams seeking admission into the League. So in 1955 a second Division was added, with games played at Trum Field. And the ever- increasing demands brought about an expansion of the League into a third Division in 1958 at Lincoln Park. A total of twenty-two teams participated in the three Divisions during the May-June season. The Western Division, for boys of high- school age, played games twice weekly at twilight time at Shaw Playground. The Eastern Division, for players of post-high- school and college age, played three nights a week at Trum Field, the first game being played at twilight time and the sec- ond under lights. The newly established Southern Division, for boys of junior-high-school age, played two nights a week at twilight time at Lincoln Park.
It would seem that the Recreation Commission, with its provisions for outdoor as well as indoor basketball leagues on practically a year-round basis, is certainly providing ample op- portunity for the youth of Somerville to indulge in their favorite pastime.
To those who think of public recreation in terms of chil- dren, and athletics, and Summer Playgrounds only, some of the Commission's more recently established activities (of which
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RECREATION COMMISSION
the Ceramics Programs, the Senior Citizens Program, the Camera Club, Twilight Basketball League, and "Fisical" Fit- ness Program are but a few examples) must come as a complete revelation; but then the Commission is becoming accustomed to surprising Somerville citizens with the extent of its program.
Public recreation does not claim to be the panacea for everything. However, its importance is generally minimized. It knows no season or year. It is not only for the young, but
STORY HOUR
Between the hum and the hubbub, when the sun is beginning to tower comes a pause in the child's occupation, known as the STORY HOUR.
FACILITIES
also the old; it is for everybody, regardless of circumstances. Wholesome enjoyment through proper play is the life of the child, the guidepost for youth and teen-agers, the surest course for adults, and the "second Spring" for senior citizens.
The past year has brought about a few improvements in facilities. A set of the new type of extended basketball uprights was installed at Shaw Playground in May, and was used by the Western Division of the Twilight Basketball League for the
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ANNUAL REPORT
remainder of its schedule. As a result of this installation, all Twilight Basketball Leagues now have this type of basketball upright which in formal basketball is not only a decided psychological asset because of the modern style of "driving in" by the offensive team, but it also reduces the possibility of injuries. The same thought might also be applied to another major accomplishment during the past year. The Recreation Commission was able to bring about the installation of a sus- pended basketball backstop on the stage end of the Southern Junior High School Auditorium, with a 4} ft. x 12 ft. padding covering that part of the stage in the foul lane, thus eliminating a pronounced safety hazard that has been in existence since the auditorium was first used as a basketball court.
A tot-lot area including all types of apparatus was con- structed by the M. D. C. at Foss Park during the past year. Although it has proved popular (as is always the history of new apparatus) it is not located where the Recreation Commission recommended, and if the baseball diamond is ever developed as originally intended, the location of the tot-lot in left field will present a safety hazard. It is hoped that with the installa- tion of tide gates, the flooded conditions at Foss Park will disappear. Additionally it is hoped that the highway develop- ments contiguous to Foss Park will not affect the use of this athletic area in 1959. Another athletic area to be concerned about this coming year is Dilboy Field. Present plans call for an extensive recreational development on this site which will include everything from lighted basketball courts to picnic areas. Unfortunately the development of both athletic areas will not bring about an increase in the number of baseball dia- monds, something badly needed in a city of Somerville's size.
Public Recreation authorities throughout the country are especially concerned with the continued maintenance and preservation of recreation and park areas. In many parts of the United States such areas are being affected on a municipal, federal, and state level by highway, school, housing, and in- dustrial developments. In connection with proposed highway developments in Massachusetts, mention has been made of an "inner belt" and an extension of Route #2 (Concord Turn- pike) which would bisect this "inner belt." If these proposed highway developments become a reality, there is a possibility that two of our athletic areas (Glen St. and Lincoln Park) would be affected. Even now Somerville has only a small portion (52 acres) of what it should have, according to national standards, for athletic purposes (131 acres). The Recreation Commission has unanimously recorded itself as not favoring any proposed
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RECREATION COMMISSION
highway construction that might affect, in whole or in part, any of Somerville's existing athletic or recreation areas.
There does not seem to be in the immediate future any indication of a new Community Recreation Building for the exclusive use of the Recreation Commission in the conduct of its activities, and including office and storage space. That there is a need for such a building should require no proof. Even three activities such as Arts And Crafts, Ceramics, and Basketball, would warrant the erection of such a building as these three alone, selected from the long list of activities ap- pended to this report, would result in the constant use of such a building ten months of the year. There has been mention from time to time of a new Court House and the possibility of the Recreation Commission taking over the old Court House. This building has many possibilities, and it could be a partial solution to the existing need for adequate indoor facilities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations for further improvement of outdoor recreation facilities in Somerville, as well as certain improvements with respect to public buildings, have already been forwarded to the Commissioner of Public Works, and the Commission feels confident that every effort will be made to bring them to completion :---
1) CONWAY PLAYGROUND :-
An addition or suspension to the existing Backstop, to prevent balls from going into yards and break- ing windows of residents of Park St. Erection of a Backstop for Diamond #2. Heightening of Fence on Park St. side of Playground.
2) LINCOLN PARK :-
New Bleachers on Diamond #1.
Establishment of a Multi-Use area between Diamond #1 and Diamond #2.
Provision for a Bubbler on the smaller diamond on Perry St.
Permanent cement floor in the Storage Shed. Shade areas over the Sand Boxes.
3) GLEN ST. PLAYGROUND :-
Replacing of lights where required on Softball Dia- mond.
Development of a Multi-Use area on the Palmer Ave. side of the Playground.
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ANNUAL REPORT
4) TRUM FIELD :-
Installation of additional lights in Basketball Courts .. Repair and extension of Backstop on Diamond #1. Replacing of lights where required on Softball Dia- mond.
Erection of Portable Bleachers (3 to 5 tiers high) on Cedar St. side.
5) SHAW PLAYGROUND :-
Repair and extension of Backstop.
Resurfacing of entire area, and either removal of present "hot-topped" area in left field, or con- version to a Multi-Use area.
6) WOODS PLAYGROUND :-
Removal of old black swing Frame, replacing it with a Horseshoe or Shuffleboard Court.
7) HOYT-SULLIVAN PLAYGROUND :--- Establishment of a Multi-Use area.
Permanent Storage Place similar to present one at Conway Playground.
8) NORTHEASTERN PLAYGROUND :-
Barbed tops on Fence surrounding the building should all be turned down. Repair of outside Water Faucet.
9) CUTLER PLAYGROUND :- -
Installation of cement Sand Box on lower level of Raymond Ave. side of Playground.
10) NORTH ST. PLAYGROUND :-
Provision for a stoop at rear entrance, leading to Housing Project.
11) CHOLERTON PLAYGROUND :-
Barbed tops on Fence surrounding the building should all be turned down.
12) MYSTIC AVE. HOUSING PROJECT PLAYGROUND :- Installation of Drinking Water and Shower facilities. Establishment of a Multi-Use area on land adjacent to parking lot (currently used as "playground") on Veterans Project.
Erection of some type of Storage Place. (Present storage facilities unsatisfactory and impractical.)
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RECREATION COMMISSION
13) CUMMINGS PLAYGROUND :-
Extension of Fence on both sides of Playground ad- jacent to houses. Change in location of Basketball Upright.
14) FLORENCE ST. PLAYGROUND :- Hot-top entire play area.
15) WOODSTOCK ST. PLAYGROUND :-
Reduce the size of the opening at the Playground by the erection of a Gate. (Present large opening, because of Playground slope, presents a safety hazard,)
16) Installation of Horseshoe Boxes at all athletic areas.
17) Planting of Trees on all Parks and Playgrounds.
18) Continued efforts to bring about the development for play purposes of the area located on Lexington Ave. opposite the end of Hancock St., formerly the site of the Highland Railroad Station.
19) Establishment of a Summer schedule by the Highway or Engineering Divisions that would result in a periodic clean-up of the larger playgrounds.
20) Distribution of stationary Barrels for refuse at all play areas throughout the City, especially during the Summer season.
21) WESTERN JR. HIGH SCHOOL :- Cages for Locker Room lights.
Padding on walls behind both baskets in Gymnasium.
22) TRADE HIGH SCHOOL :-
Suspended Basketball Backstop (similar to the one installed this year at the Southern Jr. High School), with corresponding padding on front apron of stage.
23) 50 BOW STREET (REAR) :-
New door for entrance and egress (other than exist- ing ones) for purpose of safety.
(No recommendations are included here for Dilboy Field, as it is hoped that 1959 will bring about the proposed complete redevelopment of this area.)
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ANNUAL REPORTS
In closing, the Commission gratefully acknowledges the co-operation during 1958 of His Honor The Mayor; the Board of Aldermen; the Public Works Commissioner and the Depart- ment of Public Works, including the Engineering, Public Buildings, Highway, Sanitary, and Electrical Divisions; the Fire and Police Departments; and the Metropolitan District Com- mission; and acknowledges especially the co-operation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent, the Masters of the Senior High and Junior High Schools, and the Supervising Principals and Teachers of the Elementary Schools.
Separate acknowledgment is made of the many co-oper- ative services rendered this Commission by the Director and Teachers of the Trade High School in the construction of play- ground and recreation equipment, electrical work, printing, and other specialized services which not only represent a saving of dollars and cents to the City, but also a guaranteed quality of work.
Appreciation is expressed 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.
Deserved recognition is also given to the "SOMERVILLE JOURNAL-PRESS" and to the Somerville Edition of the "BOSTON AMERICAN" for the excellent coverage given the Commission's program and activities throughout the year. Without the continuous and accurate presentation to the public of the recreational opportunities available to them via these two excellent media, the response to, and recognition of, the Commission's program would be substantially reduced.
Appended herewith, as part of this Report, is the Report of the Superintendent to the Recreation Commission.
Respectfully submitted by
THE RECREATION COMMISSION, By REV. N. PROPERZI, Chairman
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RECREATION COMMISSION
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To The Recreation Commission:
Inasmuch as with the submission of the Recreation Com- mission's Annual Report for the year 1958 ten years of my stewardship (1949-1958) as Superintendent of Recreation will have been completed, I feel it is in order to present an account- ing of accomplishments during that period. I shall attempt to be brief, as a ten-year span in a work such as ours embraces so many vicissitudes that to develop each item would result in an indigestible and lengthy volume.
Three things should be kept in mind throughout this summary. One is that what has been accomplished during this period is the result of the combined efforts of many - the Recreation Commission, the full-time and part-time staffs, other Municipal authorities (Mayor, Board of Aldermen, etc.), and heads and staffs of other Municipal Departments. The second is that no mention will be made of disappointments during this period, as frustrations seem to go hand-in-glove with a work such as ours where the public's interpretation of Municipal Recreation has a number of different concepts. The third is the important part played by the late Francis J. Mahoney, former Superintendent of Recreation, in the accom- plishments of the past ten years. It was he who shaped the mold, and it remains for those who follow him to assume the responsibility for perfecting it. To the best of my ability, I have tried to do just that.
The people in general see only what is visible and what is related to them personally. Therefore, the first major accom- plishment to be pointed out is the expansion and development of the year-round program during this ten-year period. Simply a cataloging of activities never gives a true picture of the activity itself. Even words, regardless of how descriptive, are inadequate. For example, the four major successful activities during this period (three of the four are of recent origin) have been the Ceramics Programs, Senior Citizens Club, Twilight Basketball Leagues, and "Fisical" Fitness Program. The simple mention of the word "Ceramics" opens up such an avenue for enthusiastic development that I hesitate to even think of it. I visualize hundreds of molds, thousands of figures, and a thou- sand busy fingers. The same is true of the Senior Citizens. Just to see the expressions on the faces of these elderly people as they take part in their programs illustrates what I mean. Truly it is a "second Spring" for them in the Autumn of their lives.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Following is a breakdown of developments within the Commission's program during the period 1949-1958, including mention of newly-established programs, and expansions and improvements within existing programs :-
Personnel is as vital to a successful program as clouds to a colorful sunset. The Recreation Commission retains the tradition of enlisting only qualified personnel to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors. To carry on the extensive pro- gram mentioned previously in this report requires the nucleus of a competent full-time staff. And we have just that. How- ever, to do the job as we would like, and without making the existing demands on the full-time staff, requires double the number of present workers. And that is without expanding the present program one iota. The quality of the part-time personnel remains exceptionally high, but the availability of part-time leaders for our extensive September-to-June program is limited because of school conflicts (graduate courses, late college classes, etc.).
The unavailability of part-time personnel in some in- stances, and in others the requirements of the activity itself, often result in the same workers having a number of different assignments, and this means that any unanticipated absences present a constant problem of replacement.
The financial picture today is much better with respect to both the full-time and part-time staffs. But "better" indicates only a degree. I wonder if the workers, especially the full-time staff, will ever receive the financial recognition their con- tributions to the community and their devotion to the Service deserve. The Commission is well aware of my efforts to do all within my power to make salaries more equitable. I believe my initiating in 1954 the establishment of a Salary Schedule by the Commission was a step in the right direction. All members of the full-time staff have received a number of salary in- creases since I became Superintendent, and the rates for part- time personnel now compare favorably with those of other communities. Appropriations have increased from $60,944.00 in 1949 to $102,021.73 in 1958.
Improvements have taken place in another direction essen- tial to the successful conduct of a Recreation program; namely, with respect to facilities. In 1953 the Recreation Commission played a major role in the retention of the Conway Playground on Somerville Avenue. Although this area (200,000 sq. ft.) has never been developed to the degree desired, the Conway
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RECREATION COMMISSION
Playground has been most successful in athletic competition and participation especially in recent years, and no summary would be complete without mentioning it with a great amount
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MACLONE PHOTO
FAMILY FUN - NOT FAMILY FEUDING
Visible proof that "a family who plays together stays together". Togetherness is more than just a word with the members of the Ackerley family (plus a son-in-law and nephew) who take part in a number of the Commission's activities throughout the year.
of satisfaction. The loss of this playground would have meant that on the Cambridge side of Somerville there would have been no athletic area between Lincoln Park and Shaw Play- ground.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
The Recreation Commission was also responsible for rec- ommending that, in the event of construction of new school buildings, provision should be made for an auditorium and gymnasium with direct entrance from the outside, and with separate heating unit, toilet, and drinking facilities. The new Conwell and Pope Schools have auditoriums, and the new Healey School has both an auditorium and gymnasium. The Commission conducts an extensive indoor program at the Healey School building (which incidentally is contiguous to two housing projects), and makes maximum use of the gym- nasium there. The Commission also recommended to the Metropolitan District Commission that recreation rooms be in- cluded in the new Latta Swimming Pool Building at Foss Park for September-to-June use. This recommendation was carried out, and the rooms are now in use. The Commission was also largely responsible for the installation of a new suspended basketball backstop in the Southern Junior High School Audi- torium, as well as a 4} ft. x 12 ft. padding in the foul lane overlapping the apron of the stage. And a new floor has been laid in the Northeastern Junior High School Auditorium, which had been recommended by both School and Recreation author- ities. Additionally the Commission has recommended a new lighting system at the High School Gymnasium, and it is be- lieved this will be accomplished in the not-too-distant future.
And then there's the "Workshop", a small brick building in the rear of the building which houses the Commission's of- fices. Formerly used as a garage by the Police Department, Sewer Department, and the Park Division, it was taken over by the Recreation Commission when the new Public Works build- ing was constructed. Words cannot adequately describe all of the developments and the "recreation" in the form of accom- plishments and happiness that have taken place in this building since the Commission took possession. I venture the opinion that in no building in Somerville, except in churches, and in certain educational institutions, has so much been done for so many by so few for the well-being of Somerville residents. The Workshop stands as concrete evidence of what could be done if the Recreation Commission had a community building ex- clusively for its own use.
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