USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1958 > Part 19
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During the past ten years, two athletic areas (Glen and Trum) have been equipped with lights, and the Commission's two Softball Leagues play one game a night under lights, Mon- day through Friday, from the last week in April until the first week in September. Trum Field, with forty-eight lights, is reputed to be one of the best lighted fields in Metropolitan Boston.
297
RECREATION COMMISSION
New play areas include Albion St., Florence St., Mystic Ave. Housing Project, North St., and Woodstock St. Summer programs have also been established or re-established at the Baxter, Cholerton, and Cutler Playgrounds. The attendance at all of these areas has warranted their establishment. A few areas have been resurfaced, and there has been a complete "face lifting" at the Grimmons Playground.
New swing frames have been installed at every play area throughout the City where they were needed except at Dilboy Field, where provision will be made by the M.D.C. for an ample supply of swings in the new recreational development during the coming year. New baby-swing frames have been installed at Lincoln Park and Woods Playground. All other areas have provisions for at least one baby swing. New outdoor basketball uprights have been installed at all areas throughout the City where the Commission feels they are needed. At Trum Field, Lincoln Park, Shaw, and Woods Playgrounds the extension type of basketball upright has been installed. This type of upright is especially necessary for formal competition, and at the first three units mentioned the Commission conducts outdoor bas- ketball leagues.
New equipment ranges from moving stock (station wagon and truck) to ceramic molds. In between these are movie and slide projectors, cameras, public address systems, speakers, kilns, recording machines, office equipment, chairs, handcraft tables, and a lengthy list of playground and maintenance ap- paratus. With respect to playground, athletic, aand recreation supplies, the Superintendent has attempted, within the limits of available funds, to keep abreast of the demands and to provide each activity with the best items possible and in the quantity requested.
Pamphlets have been published to acquaint the people of Somerville as well as the various organizations with what the Recreation Commission is accomplishing. Perhaps the best single project for public relations during the past ten years, next to the "satisfied customer" himself, has been the Com- mission's motion picture film entitled "MUNICIPAL RECRE- ATION IN SOMERVILLE". This film is approximately eleven hundred feet in length, and has a running time of thirty-five minutes. It is in color, and has more than forty different scenes. The film has been well received by all groups and organizations which have viewed it, and invariably the remark is made, "We never knew such an extensive program existed." Slides have also been used successfully for the purpose of de-
298
ANNUAL REPORTS
picting the Commission's programs. Numerous feature articles with pictures of the Commission's activities have appeared in the newspapers, both. local and', metropolitan. The public has been informed also via television as to the Commission's pro- grams, and in 1957, WBZ-TV, together with the Massachusetts Recreation Association and the Boston Park Department, con- ducted a "PLAYGROUND U.S.A." Day; in which twenty-three Massachusetts cities and towns participated. The features of this "Day" were a Track Meet and a Handcraft Exhibit. Somer- ville won the Track Meet with seventy points, while its nearest competitor was Boston, with fifty points. Somerville's Hand- craft Exhibit also won many favorable comments.
Another highlight of the past ten years has been the Com- mission's Nativity Scene which graces the front portico of City Hall during the Christmas season, and is viewed by non-resi- dents as well as residents. It has brought many favorable comments, and was the subject of a feature article in the December 1958 issue of "RECREATION", a magazine with international coverage, published by the National Recreation Association.
All of what is contained in the preceding paragraphs should be convincing proof that no longer should a Public Recreation Service (specifically the Somerville Recreation Commission) be thought of only in terms of children, athletics, and Summer Playgrounds. As George D. Stoddard, Dean of the School of Education, New York University, so aptly states: "Recreation is a means of rounding out life experience and of establishing a firm base for good human relations. Democratically struc- tured for personal and intergroup excellence, recreational activities can give standing and satisfaction to everyone." To which I add an emphatic "Amen".
I like to think of the Public Recreation Service in terms of a lighted candle, with the flame representing the Commission's extensive program, the wick the corps of workers who do their work so well, and the wax the Recreation Commission itself, whose members unselfishly are ever present behind the scenes to make their contributions. Thus when the Commission re- lates the expression, "How far that little candle throws its beam" to itself, it has a metaphorical significance. Its beam is powerful and far-reaching, and projects a warmth not visible to the naked eye. But this could only be possible because of the quality of the wick and the wax.
In conclusion, I find I have not been as brief as I would have preferred. However, to condense this report in any degree
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RECREATION COMMISSION
would have resulted in an incomplete ten-year summary. As it is, there are a number of subjects recorded above that have not been developed to the extent they should. I know that whatever satisfaction I feel of a job well done is shared by each and every member of the Recreation Commission, each and every member of the full-time and part-time staffs, those participants in the Commission's programs who realize the wholesome enjoyment that is theirs as a result of their partici- pation and the countless quiet but enthusiastic supporters of the Commission's programs who make it evident in their own fashion that they appreciate what is being done for them and theirs through the Public Recreation Service. I regard it a privilege to have been able to work together with the former groups and to have served the latter.
Appended to this Report is the Financial Summary of the Recreation Commission for the year 1958 and a list of Activ- ities Under The Commission, with notations indicating new activities, expansions, and improvements during the ten-year period 1949-1958.
Respectfully submitted by
CHARLES C. KELLEY, Superintendent
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ANNUAL REPORT
City of Somerville, Recreation Commission FINANCIAL SUMMARY, 1958
ANNUAL APPROPRIATION (March 31)
$102,021.73
TRANSFER TO POLICE DEPT. PERSONAL SERVICES AC-
COUNT (December 16)
2,500.00
$99,521.73
EXPENDITURES:
Salaries and Wages
$86,137.53
Athletic Supplies
2,332.36
Playground Supplies, Paraphernalia, Etc. ..
1,972.90
Other Recreation Supplies
1,816.21
Printing, Planographing, Etc.
102.00
Rental of Equipment, Trucks, Buses, Etc. ..
334.50
Music Scores, Records, Etc.
23.27
Office Supplies
396.61
Telephone
443.64
Postage, Parcel Post, and Express
288.87
Repairs
225.56
Photographic Services and Supplies
160.15
Special Services
35.40
Maintenance of Vehicles
1,044.24
Automobile Allowance
490.00
Books and Pamphlets for Workers' Profes- sional Improvement
15.07
Carfares and Other Personal Disbursements
46.14
Convention Expenses
163.50
Insurance
102.51
Special Items:
Basketball Set
198.00
Suspended Basketball Backstop
1,001.20
Station Wagon and Accessories
2,000.00
All Other
81.15
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$99,410.81
99,410.81
UNEXPENDED BALANCE
$110.92
ACTIVITIES UNDER THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE RECREATION COMMISSION - 1958 (With Notations Indicating New Activities, Expansions, Etc. During Tenure of Charles C. Kelley as Superintendent)
Recreation Activity
No. of Units Age Group
Location
Season
Plgds. & School Grounds
July-Aug. ** Summer Playgrounds 27
Under 16
School Grounds & Plgds.
Sept .- Dec .; Mar .- June*+Saturday Playgrounds
14
Under 12
School Buildings
Jan .- March* * Saturday Indoor Centers ........
8
Under 12
School Buildings
Sept .- June 1Boys' Clubs Sept .- June 1Girls' Clubs Nov .- May #Chess Club
1
11-19
Parks & Playgrounds
Oct .- Dec .; Apr .- June §Afternoon Supervised Athletics June #Baseball "Clinic" for Boys
1
9-16
Parks & Playgrounds
Oct .- June #Ceramics Clubs
5
Adult
School Buildings
Oct .- June *Arts & Crafts Clubs (Boy-Girl)
4
8-12
Public Building
Oct .- June #Teen-Craft Club for Girls
1
11-16
Public Building
Year-round #Camera Club
1
Adult
School Buildings
Oct .- May
* Children's Theatre
2
8-12
Public Library
Jan .- Apr .; Oct .- Dec. #Story-Telling Program
1
Under 11
School Building
Oct .- May Community Recreation Chorus ..
1
Adult
School Building
Oct .- May
Junior Recreation Chorus
4
12-16
School Buildings
Oct .- May
* Model Aircraft Clubs
3
10-16
Out-of-doors
Oct .- March §Gymnasium Program for Men
1
Adult
School Building
Oct .- March #Gymnasium Program for Teenage Girls Leagues for Boys:
2
14-18
School Buildings
Dec .- April * Basketball
20 teams
12-19
Plgds. & School Grounds
May-July #Twilight Basketball (Outdoor)
12 teams
13-20
Leagues for Men:
School Building
Nov .- March
* Basketball
8 teams
Adult
Public Alleys
Sept .- April
* Bowling
16 teams
Adult
Parks & Playgrounds
April-Sept.
* Softball
16 teams
Adult
Playground
May-July
#Twilight Basketball (Outdoor)
10 teams
Adult
Y.M.C.A.
Year-round #Senior Citizens Program
1
Over 60
Somerville Hospital
Year-round #Program for "Shut-Ins"
1
Under 14
* Expansion.
Established.
§ Revived.
* Improvements within program.
6
11-19
School Buildings
5
11-18
Public Building
5
9-16
Public Building
RECREATION COMMISSION
12-18
School Buildings
Oct .- March #"Fisical" Fitness Clubs (Boys)
Sept .- June #Bicycle Club
11-16
School Building
Adult
School Building
Oct .- March&tGymnasium Program for Women
..
301
302
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE SOMERVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1958
December 31, 1958
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen:
The Somerville Housing Authority organized for the year 1958 at its Annual Meeting held at the Authority Office, 30 Memorial Road, on January 8, 1958. The following were elected to serve as officers for the ensuing year:
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 at the outset of the year; Mr. Jennings serving as a holdover member since the expiration of his term of office on June 8, 1957, no other appointment having been made. On May 22, 1958, the Board of Aldermen confirmed the re-appointment of Ernest E. Jennings as a mem- ber of the Authority for a five year term to expire on June 8, 1962.
On June 8, 1958, the five year term of Francis J. DiCiaccio expired. On May 22, 1958, the Board of Aldermen confirmed the appointment of John J. Gay, 64 Moreland Street, Somer- ville, as a member of the Authority, for a five year term which will expire on June 8, 1963.
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HOUSING AUTHORITY
On December 8, 1958, Chairman Albert F. Fitzgerald, who had served as a member of the Authority, since May 27, 1954 and as Chairman since January 12, 1955, officially re- signed both as Chairman and as a member of the Authority. Since Chairman Fitzgerald had served the Authority most faithfully and well, it was with deep regret and reluctance that the Honorable William J. Donovan, Mayor of Somerville, ac- cepted Chairman Fitzgerald's resignation. It is also a matter of regret to the remaining Commissioners that the Authority will be without the continuing service of our past Chairman, Albert F. Fitzgerald.
In the Administration Office, Mr. Amleto M. DiGiusto and Mr. William T. Deegan continued their services as in the past two years, as Executive Director and Administrative Assistant respectively. Mr. Thomas P. Russell, Attorney, continued his duties as legal counsel.
Mr. George S. Ryan continued to serve as Administrator of the Redevelopment Section of the Authority. On September 12, 1958, Mr. Joseph Marino resigned as Assistant Adminis- trator in order to accept a position with the City Government as Assistant City Solicitor. It is significant that both the present City Solicitor, Joseph D. Neylon, Esq. and his assistant, Mr. Marino are former employees of this Authority, Mr. Neylon having served as acting Executive Director.
STATE-AIDED HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY
Our Annual Report for the year 1957 reflected our hopes that we would soon be able to provide state-aided housing for the elderly. These hopes were realized when in April, after seven general contractors had responded to our advertisement for bids, the Authority awarded a contract for the construction of sixty-four units of housing for the Elderly at the Capen Street site to M. Spinelli and Sons, Inc., the low bidder, in the amount of $587,000.
Ground was broken at Capen Street on May 1, 1958 and at the present time, barring unforeseen circumstances, it is expected that construction will be completed and the project ready for occupancy no later than June 1, 1959.
The Authority believes that when completed this develop- ment will be one of the finest and most modern housing projects specifically designed for the elderly in the entire
304
ANNUAL REPORTS
Commonwealth. The development is located in a residential area, in the western end of the City, which is almost rural in nature. It is well set back from a main parkway which gives it a seclusion and privacy which could scarcely be obtained elsewhere within the City. The buildings are eight in number, of two story duplex motel type, with eight units to each build- ing for a total of sixty-four units. Each unit consists of a living room, bedroom, kitchenette, and bath. The buildings are ar- ranged in a circular pattern with all adjacent ground areas to be fully landscaped. A separate building contains laundry facilities, a kitchen and hall for Community use.
The Authority started distributing applications for admis- sion to this project in September and we now have on hand some two hundred and forty applications. We expect to start processing these applications within the next few weeks and we can assure all our senior citizens that each application will be thoroughly investigated and every applicant given due consideration.
The Authority will continue its efforts to procure additional housing for the elderly under the State or Federal Program. In these efforts we ask the citizens of Somerville to recognize with us the fact that progress will be slow due to a great lack of suitable land in our city.
FEDERALLY AIDED HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY
Thursday, June 12, 1958 was without a doubt the most auspicious date in the twenty years of existence of the Somer- ville Housing Authority. The eyes of the entire nation focused on the City of Somerville as the Authority played host to fed- eral, state and municipal officials in dedicating our newly completed Highland Garden Apartments. These apartments constituted the first Housing for the Elderly under the Federal program to be completed in the nation. Naturally the Au- thority is proud that Somerville was the first to spearhead the Federal Program for Housing for the Elderly.
We are particularly pleased with the fact that we were able to achieve what we consider to have been a selection policy of the highest order, administered in the fairest manner possible. After a most thorough investigation of each and every appli- cation filed, the total number of such applications being in excess of three hundred, the Authority held numerous special meetings at which all eligible applications were studied in de- tail and the forty-two successful applicants chosen. In making
305
HOUSING AUTHORITY
our initial selections we were governed strictly by Public Hous- ing Administration regulations which required that we give first priority to those applicants who came within the following categories: 1. Those displaced by public slum clearance (Brickbottom) 2. Those families of displaced veterans, and 3. Families of deceased disabled veterans. Those in these cate- gories alone exhausted the first eighteen out of the forty-two units. The remaining twenty-four units were also awarded strictly in accordance with Public Housing Administration re- quirements to those applicants who, as revealed by our investi- gation, had the greatest housing need.
The general reaction to this project has been most gratify- ing to the Authority. The selected tenants have been both grateful and delighted, with their selection and with the com- fort and convenience of their apartments. They have made full use of the facilities, enjoying their balconies and outside sitting areas during the warm months and participating in many pleasant hours together in their recreation room during the colder months. The laundry in the basement is a great asset to the tenants and is well patronized by them.
The building as a whole and the apartments within have been the subject of great praise from Housing officials throughout the State and Nation.
ADDITIONAL LOW-RENT HOUSING
The Authority continues to retain a reservation with the Public Housing Administration of 242 units of low-rent hous- ing. While the Authority has every intention of using this reservation it has been seriously hampered by lack of suitable land. Efforts are being speeded up to provide for at least 100 more units for the Elderly under this program in 1959.
The Authority is particularly interested in using this res- ervation to provide low-rent housing specifically suited to the needs of our elderly citizens. The success of our Highland Garden Apartments, along with a concern for the many elderly persons who could not be accommodated there, convinces us that more of this type of housing is presently our greatest need.
MAINTENANCE FEDERAL LOW-RENT HOUSING - MYSTIC AVENUE
During the past year, as in former years, this project con- tinues to be the subject of our greatest pride. While we
306
ANNUAL REPORT
recognize it to be the best maintained of all our projects we also feel confident that it compares favorably with any other project in the Nation. This exceptionally high standard of maintenance has not been attained in any easy manner. It is the sole result of the devotion and ability of John Mclaughlin, Maintenance Foreman, and his staff of four men.
VETERANS PROJECTS - CLARENDON HILL AND MYSTIC AVENUE
The Authority is of the opinion that this past year, for the first time, some definite progress has been made toward im- proving maintenance standards at these two projects. Four of our maintenance men, having reached the compulsory retire- ment age, left our employ. They were all good devoted workers. However, they were replaced with younger men of greater work capacity which should reflect a more improved standard of maintenance. A further encouraging factor is that three of these men are specialists, two painters and one carpenter.
Perhaps the most encouraging contribution to future ap- pearance and maintenance of these two projects occurred on December 13, 1958 when the Authority signed a contract for site work at both projects with Rossano Construction Co., Inc., the low bidder, in the amount of $113,144.00. Improvements which will be made in accordance with plans drawn up by the Robert Charles Associates calls for drainage improvements, levelling of grounds, resurfacing with new hot top and land- scaping at both projects. At Mystic Avenue it is planned to reconstruct the parking area behind the Administration Build- ing by installing stone curbings and bumpers and thus create a parking area in the true sense of the term rather than the present wide open area. We trust that this improvement will induce the tenants to refrain from parking on Memorial Road and thus eliminating a safety hazard.
In connection with these site improvements it is also. planned to level-off the area behind building 10 at Mystic Avenue and create there a soft ball field for the use of the youth of the project.
During the past year an air conditioning unit was installed in the Administration Building and the office was completely repainted.
RECREATION
The summer playground conducted in the parking area at the rear of the Administration Building at our Mystic Avenue Veterans project by the Somerville Recreation Commission and
307
HOUSING AUTHORITY
directed by the very capable Charles C. Kelley, Secretary of the Commission, enjoyed another most successful season. We are most grateful to the Commission for providing this facility each year as we are cognizant of the fact that it is of great benefit both to the children and to the Authority by providing the children a means of wholesome recreation and helping to keep them out of mischief.
Boy Scout and Cub Scout units at both Clarendon Hill and at our Federal Low-rent project continue to thrive. Numerous activities were conducted providing excellent opportunity for the children to engage in productive recreation.
As in former years, the excellent wading pool at our Fed- eral Low-rent project proved to be a real relief to the small. children on hot summer days.
TENANT STATISTICS
On December 31, 1958, there was a total of 714 units of housing under the supervision of the Somerville Housing Au- thority distributed as follows:
Clarendon Hill Veterans Housing 216
Mystic Avenue Low-rent Housing 216
Mystic Avenue Veterans Housing 240
Highland Garden Apts. (Elderly)
42
In the Mystic Avenue Veterans project the number of move-ins and move-outs amounted to 23% of the total occu- pancy. At the Clarendon Hill Veterans project the number of move-ins and move-outs amounted to 21% of the total occu- pancy.
In our two veterans projects, the average monthly rental, including utilities, was $55.41.
In the Federal Low-rent project the number of move-ins. and move-outs amounted to 16% of the total occupancy and. the average rental per unit was $40.86 including all utilities.
In the Highland Garden Apartments, our Elderly Project, only one move-out occurred during the year. The average rent, including utilities, was $40.80 per month.
308
ANNUAL REPORTS
THE PROJECTS AND THE COMMUNITY
The Authority is convinced that all of its projects perform a very definite service to the Community. We feel that they enable the less fortunate among us to enjoy clean and health- ful living in modern apartments. In addition, most of our housing was built on unproductive land which contributed very little to the tax base of the city.
During the past year, a payment in lieu of taxes in the amount of $22,554.81 was made to the City by the Housing Authority on our various projects. As direct taxpayers in the Brickbottom Section, the Housing Authority will be paying the City a sum of about $20,000. The long range benefits to the City to be derived from the Brickbottom Redevelopment proj- ect are beginning to be realized by the completion of con- struction of additional buildings in the area.
We further feel that with the opening of our Highland Garden Apartments last June and with the advent of our Capen Street project the Authority has been able to make what is probably its greatest contribution to the Community, namely clean, safe and comfortable housing for our elderly citizens.
In June the Authority voted to name the circumferential road in back of the Federal Low-rent project, the Robert E. Connors Drive in memory of a deceased member of the Armed Forces who was killed in action on November 8, 1951 while serving with the USMC in Korea.
LITIGATION
Through the efforts of our Counsel, Thomas P. Russell, Esquire, the case of Herbert F. Sawyer vs. Somerville Housing Authority was settled after Court action at a figure which was most satisfactory to all concerned.
We consider it of importance to note that six tenants were evicted either because of destructiveness of children, their own misconduct on the premises or because of poor housekeeping habits. It is the intention of the Authority to continue to evict tenants for these reasons in order to guarantee to our decent tenants that they may continue in undisturbed enjoyment of their apartments.
309
HOUSING AUTHORITY
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT SECTION
Under the guidance of George S. Ryan, Administrator, Urban Redevelopment, the Brickbottom Redevelopment Area showed the following progress during the year 1958: On the final day of 1957, the contract for site improvements in the area had been awarded to Charles Contracting Co. Notice to Proceed was given on January 13, 1958. This contract covered the construction of streets, sidewalks, water, sewer and the Relocation of the Public Utilities. The work was completed September 26, 1958. Another contract will be advertised for bids within the next two months for the surfacing of the streets. and sidewalks.
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