Report of the city of Somerville 1959, Part 16

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1959
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 340


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1959 > Part 16


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).


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We were fortunate to have Dr. George K. Coyne and Mrs. Eva M. Wyse reappointed to the Board of Trustees for another three year term. The Rev. H. Daniel Hawver was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Rev. Dr. Guy H. Wayne.


Two outstanding social events were conducted by the staff. In June upon the occasion of the retirement of Miss Myrtle Nicholson, after forty-eight and a half years of faithful service, a tea was held at Tufts University in commemoration of the event. In December the Board of Trustees sponsored the an- nual staff Christmas Party at the Elks Home.


Staff changes have been as follows:


RETIREMENT Myrtle Nicholson


RESIGNATIONS


Helen McCarthy Davis Elizabeth A. Mclnerny Catherine M. O'Malley


Barbara T. O'Neill


PROMOTIONS Branch Librarian First Assistant 11


Ann M. Coleman


Thelma G. Donovan


Margaret E. Durkin


Margaret E. Ronayne


Mary F. Baker Senior Assistant


Shirley A. McCauley


Alice E. Hennigan


Junior Assistant


Edna F. O'Brien


APPOINTMENTS


Angelina Errico


Non Professional


Patricia Estee


Marie P. Lawless


Beverly A. Razzaboni


Mary E. Sweeney


Mary T. Tuccelli


As ever I am aware of the loyalty of our faithful staff and appreciate the confidence and counsel of the Board of Trustees.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN D. KELLEY, Librarian


257


PUBLIC LIBRARY


AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM FOR UNIFORM STATISTICS


City: Somerville County: Middlesex State: Massachusetts


Name of Library: The Public Library of the City of Somerville


Date of Founding: 1872


Name of Librarian: John D. Kelley


Report of the fiscal year ending: December 31, 1959


Governmental unit of support and service: City


Population served (1950 census) 102,254


Terms of use: Free for lending - Free for reference


Agencies


Central Library


1


Branches in Library Buildings


2


Branches in rented rooms


2


Stations in rented rooms


1


Others, in schools


288


in institutions


9


TOTAL


303


CIRCULATION AND USE


Number of volumes of adult non-fiction lent for home use 66,015


Number of volumes of adult fiction lent for home use 95,247


Number of volumes of juveniles lent for home use 262,055


Total number of volumes lent for home use


423,317


Period of loan for the majority of adult books stock-14 days


Number of inter-library loans: Volumes lent 23


Volumes borrowed 8


Number of reference questions answered


29,169


Total number of records lent for home use


17,957


REGISTRATION


Adult


Juvenile


Total


Total number of registered borrowers .


10,208


9,024


19,232


Borrowers registered during year


5,013


4,421


9,434


Registration Period :- 2 years


BOOK STOCK


Number of volumes December 31, 1958 96,560 57,137


153,697


Number of volumes added during year 4,717 6,453


11,170


Number of volumes withdrawn during year 4,545 4,709 9,254


Number of volumes December 31, 1959


96,732 58,881 155,613


Number of newspapers currently received excluding duplicates 14


Number of periodicals currently received excluding duplicates


174


258


ANNUAL REPORTS


FINANCE


Assessed valuation of the city (Real Estate) ... $125,034,500.00


Receipts


Local taxation


$225,532.94


Library Department


Fines included in above


$6,567.37


Dog licenses included in above


4,187.25


Invested funds:


Balance from 1958


$1,553.34


Income during 1959


1,186.32


2,739.66


TOTAL


$228,272.60


Expenditures


Salaries: Library Department


$190,498.62


Books: Appropriation


$20,977.57


Funds


1,323.76


22,301.33


Music


807.13


Periodicals


1,499.19


Binding


479.66


Insurance


.00


Other operating expenses


10,286.90


TOTAL


$225,872.83


Transfers to Other Departments


To Board of Aldermen - Ordinary Maintenance ... ...


$1,000.00


Balance


December 31, 1959


Library Department:


Appropriation - Services


$9.32


Appropriation - Ordinary Maintenance ...


4.50


Funds - Ordinary Maintenance


1,385.95


1,399.77


GRAND TOTAL


$228,272.60


SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS BY THE VETERANS' SERVICES DEPARTMENT --- 1959


RECAPITULATION OF VETERANS' BENEFITS - SOMERVILLE


Cases


Persons


Somerville Veterans® Benefits


State Veterans' Benefits


Veterans' Services Burial Expenses


Total Relief


Cash


$3,491.75


$1,312.59


$432.00


$262.50


142


313


$10,997.66


January


135


279


815.33


525.50


February


279


March


4,987.26


4,987.26


106.67


140.00


132


252


April


148


252


May


91.13


122


244


June


102.50


127


270


July


172.50


140


310


August


5,837.47


11,431.92


3,847.73


974.73


525.00


226.00


137


280


September


133


263


October


294


November


6,555.83


December


3348


$1,936.13


1627


$3,508.00


$17,247.90


$41,682.03


$129,346.83


$106.67


$64,374.06


$64,866.10


12,060.14


3,652.75


1,684.83


468.50


224.00


143


312


$5,498.84


6,030.08


6,030.06


10,081.19


9,339.76


3,036.80


999.57


493.50


142.50


123


4,669.87


4,669,89


9,974.24


2,856.73


1,986.90


4,986.13


4,988.11


9,608.96


3,236.53


4,804.47


4,804.49


9,700.46


3,485.81


998.57


8,190.12


2,979.00


1,608.47


11,664.96


4,046.52


5,827,49


5,858.46


13,190.91


3,872.23


2,007.24


546.00


100.00


115.00


145


13,106.51


3,733.75


2,184.43


517.50


6,525.47


6,665.44


6,550.68


Groceries


Fuel


Medical


$5,493.82


204.00


3,442.43


1,411.94


1,263.30


4,840.24


4,860.22


4,110.05


4,080.07


5,573.46


156.00


259


VETERANS' SERVICES


REPORT OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES


May 19, 1960


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville


Gentlemen:


Submitted herewith is the Annual Report of the Veterans' Services Department. There was an increase of $28,734.94 Total Relief over the amount expended in 1958.


The cost of medical benefits under the program continues higher than in past years in view of the current rates for the services. The daily rates at hospitals and nursing homes are set by the State and we have to accept the rates. The heavy medical program furnishing medicine and medical services for recipients has been continuously increasing.


I believe some action should be taken at State level as to these continual increases on hospital costs, especially on Aid Cases where the taxpayer has to assume the burden.


We referred a number of cases to the Veterans' Adminis- tration and to the Division of Employment Security as well as to the Social Security Administration to apply for benefits available for them at those agencies thus reducing our expend- itures proportionately. This Department has received fine co- operation from the Division of Employment Security, Somerville Office, in processing Claims for Unemployment Benefits.


The records indicate we operated during the year in an efficient manner and in accordance with the policy.


Very truly yours,


THOMAS F. MCGRATH,


Commissioner


260


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


January 1, 1960


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville


Gentlemen:


The Board of Election Commissioners respectfully submits the following report for the year 1959:


REGISTRATION


Before the Preliminary Election in October, registration was held in the office at City Hall, beginning on January 4th and continuing until Wednesday, September 16th, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. every day except Saturday. Also Thursday, August 20th; Friday, August 21st; Monday, August 24th; Tuesday, August 25th; Wednesday, August 26th; Thursday, August 27th; Friday, August 28th; Monday, September 14th; Tuesday, September 15th, from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and Wednesday, September 16th from 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.


OUTSIDE SESSIONS WERE AS FOLLOWS:


Thursday, August 20th John A. Dickerman School, Cross St.


Friday, August 21st


Perry School, Washington St.


Monday, August 24th Southern Junior High School, Summer St.


Tuesday, August 25th Healey School, Meacham St.


Wednesday, August 26th


Morse School, Summer St.


Thursday, August 27th


West Somerville Library, College Ave.


Friday, August 28th Western Junior High School, Holland St.


Two Thousand and sixty names were added to the Voting list.


After the Preliminary Election, October 6, 1959, registra- tion was held in City Hall until October 14th, from 8.30 A.M.


261


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


to 4:30 P.M. except Saturday. Evening sessions at City Hall were Tuesday, October 13th, from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and on Wednesday, October 14th from 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.


Nine hundred and eight names were added to the voting list making a total of 46,824.


NOMINATION PAPERS


The Board of Election Commissioners received four hun- dred and twenty-one (421) nomination papers on which ten thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven (10,837) names were certified.


JURORS


In accordance with Chapter 234 of the General Laws, as amended by Chapter 211 of the Acts of 1924, the Election Commissioners prepared a list of the inhabitants of Somerville, liable to serve as jurors.


The Board has established a system, whereby each person provisionally selected for jury service, fills out a questionnaire, and appears before the Board at the office and makes oath to the statements contained therein. This gives the Board an op- portunity to meet each individual and note, if any, his physical defects or disability to render the county the service that would be required from him as a juror. These personal examinations, also, enable the Board to know the educational qualifications of each prospective juror.


The Jury List for the year 1959, prepared by the Board, contains the names of Nine Hundred and Eighty-three (983) prospective jurors.


RECOUNTS


After the Election, November 3, 1959 there was a recount for the office of Mayor. This recount was held in the Alder- manic Chamber at City Hall on November 19, 1959. Original figures and figures of the recount may be found on Page 57 of "Record of Elections" in the office of the Commissioners.


EXPENSES


The expenses for the Election Department for the year ending December 31, 1959 were as follows:


Board of Election Commissioners $41,275.37


Pay of Election Officers 13,630.00


Total Expenses


$54,905.37


262


ANNUAL REPORTS


The Board of Election Commissioners has had the coopera- tion of His Honor, the Mayor, and the Honorable Members of the Board of Aldermen and all City Officials, for which it is deeply grateful.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN J. McDONNELL DENNIS L. DONOVAN ALFRED S. WASS LEO F. HENEBURY, JR.


263


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


REGISTERED VOTERS OCTOBER 14, 1959


Ward Pct.


Women


Total Women


Men


Total Men


Total


1


1


578


588


1166


1


2


561


528


1089


1


3


534


517


1051


1


4


614


575


1189


1


5


667


629


1296


2954


2837


5791


2


1


311


330


641


2


2


552


541


1093


2


3


442


358


800


2


4


674


629


1303


2


5


636


600


1236


2


6


491


470


961


3106


2928


6034


3


1


641


610


1251


3


2


597


497


1094


3


3


751


647


1398


3


4


683


562


1245


3


5


684


460


1144


3356


2776


6132


4


1


747


676


1423


4


2


540


514


1054


4


3


789


643


1432


4


4


830


710


1540


4


5


760


676


1436


4


6


899


739


1638


4565


3958


8523


5


1


609


553


1162


5


2


632


597


1229


5


3


594


573


1167


5


4


667


609


1276


5


5


584


517


1101


5


6


669


620


1289


3755


3469


7224


6


1


692


601


1293


6


2


713


638


1351


6


3


654


520


1174


6


4


673


526


1199


6


5


640


506


1146


3372


2791


6163


7


1


727


635


1362


7


2


684


599


1283


7


3


696


641


1337


7


4


811


736


1547


7


5 750


678


1428


3668


3289


24776


22048


6957 46824


264


ANNUAL REPORTS


ENROLLMENT OF VOTES OCTOBER 14, 1959


Women


Men


Wd.


Pct.


Rep.


Dem.


Rep.


Dem.


Rep.


Dem.


Unen- rolled


Total


1


1


55


347


54


351


109


698


359


1166


1


2


82


335


53


312


135


647


307


1089


1


3


68


324


55


328


123


651


277


1051


1


4


83


331


61


346


144


677


368


1189


1


5


52


395


47


384


99


780


417


1296


340


1732


270


1721


610


3453


1728


5791


2


1


9


218


11


233


20


451


170


641


2


2


36


347


35


359


71


706


316


1093


2


3


27


263


36


207


63


470


267


800


2


4


30


453


33


411


63


864


376


1303


2


5


51


363


49


365


100


728


408


1236


2


6


24


315


20


297


44


612


305


961


177


1959


184


1872


361


3831


1842


6034


3


1


57


404


38


420


95


824


332


1251


3


2


110


295


56


285


166


580


348


1094


3


3


152


376


83


390


235


766


397


1398


3


4


67


364


43


358


110


722


413


1245


3


5


119


371


53


289


172


660


312


1144


505


1810


273


1742


778


3552


1802


6132


4


1


114


362


88


374


202


736


485


1423


4


2


45


332


38


342


83


674


297


1054


4


3


127


371


76


355


203


726


503


1432


4


4


152


433


94


409


246


842


452


1540


4


5


117


402


82


390


199


792


445


1436


4


6


54


561


58


468


112


1029


497


1638


609


2461


436


2338 1045


4799


2679


8523


5


1


62


335


50


318


112


653


397


1162


5


2


61


402


54


391


115


793


321


1229


5


3


75


257


79


268


154


525


488


1167


5


4


108


352


83


346


191


698


387


1276


5


5


35


381


26


346


61


727


313


1101


5


6


101


375


70


373


171


748


370


1289


442


2102


362


2042


804


4144


2276


7224


6


1


131


333


82


328


213


661


419


1293


6


2


165


272


123


280


288


552


511


1351


6


3


210


198


111


215


321


413


440


1174


6


4


166


333


83


302


249


635


315


1199


6


5


188


233


109


210


297


443


406


1146


860


1369


508


1335 1368


2704


2091


6163


7


1


169


448


129


337


298


785


279


1362


7


2


124


313


87


301


211


614


458


1283


7


3


156


319


125


324


281


643


413


1337


7


4


107


445


100


401


207


846


494


1547


7


5


113


322


109


312


222


634


572


1428


669


1857


550


1675


1219


3522


2216


6957


3602


13280 2583


12725 6185


26005 14634 46824


265


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


PRELIMINARY ELECTION OCTOBER 6, 1959


Mayoralty


Ward


Prec.


Wells


Neves


Donovan


Reynolds


1


1


355


8


287


4


1


2


370


15


229


10


1


3


285


4


232


6


1


4


292


11


247


10


1


5


335


3


316


7


2


1


300


2


102


1


2


2


282


31


254


4


2


3


245


10


175


5


2


4


400


23


364


4


2


5


374


5


215


5


2


6


258


58


168


2


3


1


405


6


290


4


3


2


282


5


226


3


3


3


390


7


365


8


3


4


317


9


267


10


3


5


263


1


330


2


4


1


396


11


286


17


4


2


403


2


164


2


4


3


447


6


236


7


4


4


487


4


304


9


4


5


446


5


323


1


4


6


551


9


355


4


5


1


571


3


120


4


5


2


391


5


242


17


5


3


333


17


215


8


5


4


331


3


381


4


5


5


453


5


202


11


5


6


382


7


296


10


6


1


254


6


376


7


6


2


309


5


255


8


6


3


240


2


269


11


6


4


250


8


394


7


6


5


191


3


294


12


7


1


297


4


337


7


7


2


291


5


240


5


7


3


355


3


256


3


7


4


322


4


304


8


7


5


341


1


214


7


13,186


316


10,130


254


CITY ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 1959


Wards


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


Totals:


Total Vote


Cast


4438


4695


4755


6484


5657


4731


5266


36026,


Mayor


William J.


Donovan


2058


1878


2358


2788


2459


2807


21710


17058


Harold W.


Wells


2336


2777


2354


3641


3152


1897


2510


18667


266


ANNUAL REPORTS CITY ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 1959 SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Ward One


Ward


Precinct


Ciampa


Chisholm


1


1


635


210


1


2


567


281


1


3


475


262


1


4


449


408


1


5


734


249


Total


2860


1410


Ward Two


Ward


Precinct


Casey


August


2


1


345


126


2


2


409


417


2


3


395


174


2


4


498


514


2


5


419


466


2


6


372


298


Total


2438


1995


Ward Three


Ward


Precinct


Coyne


3


1


765


3


2


646


3


3


874


3


4


776


3


5


732


Total


3793


Ward Four


Ward


Precinct


Mclaughlin


Guidi


4


1


571


446


4


2


280


522


4


3


571


411


4


4


686


461


4


5


570


485


4


6


606


611


Total


3284


2936


Ward Five


Ward


Precinct


Bretta


5


1


827


5


2


793


5


3


773


5


4


801


5


5


739


.


5


6


828


Total


4761


267


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


Ward Six


Ward


Precinct


Bowdring


Abate


6


1


544


393


6


2


625


308


6


3


586


221


6


4


646


270


6


5


545


247


Total


2946


1439


Ward Seven


Ward


Precinct


McDonald


Scimone


7


1


729


244


7


2


657


269


7


3


..


680


306


7


4


...


839


251


7


5


811


232


Total


3716


1302


WARD ALDERMEN


Ward One


Mackenzie


Ryan


1


1


336


512


1


2


. .


346


410


1


4


417


443


1


5


554


442


Total


2072


2247


Ward Two


Ward


Precinct


Joyce


Profirio


2


1


332


159


2


2


569


237


2


3


409


168


2


4


654


397


2


5


538


345


2


6


374


294


Total


2876


1600


Ward Three


Ward


Precinct


McKenna


Kenney


3


1


727


192


3


2


567


194


3


3


717


324


3


4


650


266


3


5


629


228


Total


3290


1204


..


..


419


440


1


3


..


..


..


.. ....


Ward Precinct


268


ANNUAL REPORTS


Ward Four


Ward


Precinct


Lynch


Drew


4


1


736


252


4


2


420


378


4


3


623


366


4


4


721


413


4


5


651


412


4


6


482


747


Total


3660


2568


Ward Five


Ward


Precinct


O'Connor


Travaline


5


1


552


373


5


2


242


665


5


3


310


567


5


4


459


490


5


5


430


419


5


6


362


612


Total


2355


3126


Ward Six


Ward


Precinct


Moynihan


Neas


6


1


486


483


6


2


394


572


6


3


459


366


6


4


605


329


6


5


418


499


Total


2362


2149


Ward Seven


Ward


Precinct


Morrissey


DiTucci


7


1


648


329


7


2


600


322


7


3


633


354


7


4


826


267


7


5


710


336


Total


3417


1608


269


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


CITY ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 1959


Assessors


Ward


Precinct


Bailey


Corbett


Haley


Havican


1


1


419


419


297


374


1


2


449


351


287


383


1


3


399


358


280


298


1


4


508


358


257


384


1


5


557


496


319


387


2


1


181


186


266


164


2


2


302


308


617


221


2


3


243


194


394


197


2


4


413


376


588


377


2


5


350


343


544


338


2


6


269


292


445


179


3


1


436


340


421


388


3


2


418


274


361


283


3


3


590


392


418


458


3


4


436


378


360


432


3


5


496


292


268


472


4


1


695


417


349


394


4


2


469


317


242


310


4


3


628


412


286


446


4


4


682


405


322


657


4


5


658


380


370


412


4


6


653


488


387


575


5


1


402


381


253


606


5


2


380


312


267


588


5


3


376


311


236


622


5


4


403


370


275


688


5


5


292


362


221


615


5


6


364


317


217


795


6


1


498


390


271


553


6


2


537


466


305


485


6


3


496


370


281


379


6


4


485


402


277


509


6


5


505


352


236


423


7


1


497


433


303


568


7


2


491


458


304


458


7


3


514


430


282


564


7


4


526


546


356


587


7


5


515


487


397


517


Total


17,552


14,121


12,599


17,082


270


ANNUAL REPORTS CITY ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 1959 Aldermen-At-Large


WARD


PRECINCT


BURKE


HALL


MCCARTHY


WHITNEY


GRASSIA


JOYCE


McDONALD


VITIELLO


1


-


452


347


621


329


181


232


266


230


1


N


409


355


551


366


220


217


322


261


1


a


386


339


462


315


231


209


264


238


1


A


452


343


588


372


204


228


369


238


1


5


531


432


646


389


268


278


351


298


2


1


169


188


122


124


316


193


89


222


2


2


463


556


276


262


389


385


165


201


2


3


298


342


233


230


201


273


123


160


2


4


437


675


302


306


486


449


202


296


2


5


356


403


257


285


461


389


240


456


2


6


320


378


228


184


439


298


132


174


3


1


463


479


383


385


330


295


239


282


3


2


435


458


358


390


201


290


217


140


3


3


554


543


475


500


314


411


287


309


3


4


446


382


358


390


273


298


214


527


3


5


501


475


457


508


199


273


217


231


4


1


518


435


614


439


247


269


526


995


4


2


285


195


322


243


252


176


564


319


4


3


530


407


585


438


280


271


443


274


4


4


610


561


597


581


273


396


427


368


4


5


449


362


460


438


282


303


617


325


4


6


540


419


577


649


344


298


675


392


5


1


439


298


460


365


297


302


413


348


5


2


377


350


299


442


296


297


189


488


5


3


398


371


319


412


254


361


223


442


5


A


526


451


579


512


199


329


331


267


5


5


396


285


413


345


282


239


296


393


5


6


490


431


442


503


263


372


277


347


6


1


536


489


449


475


189


342


351


310


6


2


506


471


389


549


237


504


321


271


6


3


490


431


395


482


150


317


316


206


6


A


602


477


506


535


165


324


282


192


6


5


462


466


363


486


155


309


321


243


7


1


635


491


448


523


247


303


328


347


7


2


592


394


426


468


235


353


384


301


7


3


555


497


441


537


272


370


379


294


7


4


665


535


551


612


268


425


372


315


7


5


596


487


502


523


258


452


427


315


17,869 15,998 16,454 15,890 10,183 12,030 12,157 11,316


271


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville


Gentlemen:


The Listing Board of the City of Somerville respectfully submits the following report for the year 1959.


Listing of males, twenty years of age and upwards, for poll taxes, and listing of females, twenty years of age and upwards.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN J. McDONNELL, Chairman DENNIS L. DONOVAN ALFRED S. WASS LEO F. HENEBURY, JR. THOMAS J. O'BRIEN


Listing Board of the City of Somerville .


272


ANNUAL REPORTS


NUMBER OF PERSONS LISTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1959


Wd.


Prec.


Male


Female


Total


Male


Female


Total


1


1


866


842


1708


1


2


697


790


1487


1


3


706


747


1453


1


4


823


852


1675


1


5


831


888


1719


3923


4119


8042


2


1


492


500


992


2


2


695


771


1466


2


3


509


613


1122


2


4


848


944


1792


2


5


795


885


1680


2


6


697


762


1450


4036


4475


8511


3


1


776


887


1663


3


2


739


855


1594


3


3


816


966


1782


3


4


700


851


1551


3


5


570


853


1423


3601


4412


8013


4


1


912


1015


1927


4


2


652


680


1332


4


3


843


1091


1934


4


4


898


1027


1925


4


5


846


1013


1859


4


6


894


1098


1992


5045


5924


10,969


5


1


644


733


1377


5


2


702


782


1484


5


3


723


807


1530


5


4


707


809


1516


5


5


715


802


1517


5


6


751


857


1608


3551


4284


7835


6


1


753


883


1636


6


2


837


967


1804


6


3


667


803


1470


6


4


604


782


1386


6


5


690


849


1539


4242


4790


9032


7


1


812


950


1762


7


2


758


883


1641


7


3


807


903


1710


7


4


943


1068


2011


7


5


794


917


1711


4114


4721


8835


GRAND TOTAL


28,512


32,725


61,237


273


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


NOTICES


Notices were sent to Voters who did not appear on Police Listing taken January 1, 1959.


NOTICES SENT TO VOTERS NOT ON POLICE LISTING


MARCH 19, 1959


Ward


Women


Men


Total


One


219


22


440


Two


218


207


425


Three


268


222


490


Four


368


339


707


Five


239


232


471


Six


252


238


490


Seven


287


222


509


1851


1681


3532


JOHN J. McDONNELL, Chairman


274


ANNUAL REPORTS


THE RECREATION COMMISSION 1959


THE REVEREND NAZARENO PROPERZI, Chairman (Term Expires January, 1961)


MEMBERS


Term Expires January


Mrs. Marion M. Cabral 1960


William J. Crotty


1961


William J. Koen 1960


Edward M. McCarty 1961


William E. McNamara 1961


Mrs. Nora C. O'Shea 1960


Robert S. Phillips 1960


Harold D. Taylor


1960


Dr. T. Leo White


1961


Secretary To The Commission: CHARLES C. KELLEY


275


RECREATION COMMISSION


REPORT OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION


December 31, 1959


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville


Gentlemen:


In the 1955 Annual Report of the Recreation Commission, mention was made of trends in Public Recreation during the past twenty-five years (and especially the last ten years), in- cluding recognition of the recreational needs of senior citizens, trainable retarded children, residents of housing projects, etc. Any year-round Public Recreation Service, especially in the larger cities, should always have its finger on the pulse of the community with respect to its recreation needs, and should attempt to satisfy these needs by providing the desirable services wherever and whenever possible within the limits of its resources. The Somerville Recreation Commission has endeavored to do just that. Several of its more recent and most successful September-to-June activities, including Senior Citizens Program, Ceramics Program, and outdoor Twilight Basketball Leagues, have expanded far beyond the capacity of the Commission to absorb any more participants. Further expansion in a number of other activities is also impossible be- cause of facility and personnel problems.


The quality, and in some degree the quantity, of the serv- ices provided by the Commission are known throughout the community, although not to the degree desired. However, very few realize the manifold benefits obtained through these serv- ices. There is no yardstick for measuring them. How can they be defined? And yet it stands to reason that every time a group, whether young or old, gathers together for an activity, these benefits must be there; because the indispensable requisites- the activity, a responsive group, and a Leader capable of LEADING-are all present. In every case of a successful pro- gram, one always tinds a capable Leader mainly responsible tor the group's success.


Apart from the values received from its activities, there is another service rendered by the Commission of which the com- munity is not aware to the extent it should be. This service is not only indicative of a trend of the times in general, but also


276


ANNUAL REPORTS


a trend in Public Recreation in particular. The telephone has a major role in this "play". Only one who has been on the receiving end can possibly imagine the thousands of telephone calls received by the Commission's office during the course of a year. (In various degrees the same is true of many other pub- lic services.) The reasons are numerous-requests for assist- ance (loan of equipment, planning programs, etc.), requests for information pertaining to the Commission's activities and for information pertaining to other activities, and even com- plaints. This last just has to be endured; it is an occupational hazard. Even the warranted complaints are unreasonable. In- variably they come in groups, and usually at the worst possible time. Paradoxical as it sounds, the more successful and more extensive the program, the wider is the horizon for inquiries, assistance, and (perish the word) complaints. It is to the ever- lasting credit of Miss Brown, General Supervisor, and Miss Peters, Principal Clerk, who are the Commission's shock troops in the handling of telephone calls regarding programs, in- quiries, and complaints, that they can perform their duties in a most creditable manner in spite of the demands made on them day-in and day-out and still survive the frequent flood of telephone calls. Mention is made in this report, under the caption "Summer Playgrounds", of the observance of fifty years of supervised play in Somerville. The pioneers of this movement back in 1909 never could have envisioned what would constitute "supervised play" services in 1959.


Another example of a trend in Public Recreation during the past twenty-five years is the multiple demands on the Rec- reation Superintendent. Not only must he be proficient in matters of administration, organization, finance, program plan- ning, and selection, training, assignment and supervision of personnel; but he also must be concerned with anything per- taining to recreation facilities, both indoors and outdoors. In this last capacity he must insure the interests of Public Recrea- tion with respect to (1) the disposition of any recreation area for industry or new highways; (2) the further development of existing areas; (3) the development of new areas; and (4) the acquisition of additional indoor and outdoor facilities. He must keep informed as to new movements in the field of Public Recreation and where applicable inject them into the local pro- gram. He must be expert in the field of public relations. For example, the Superintendent during recent years has spoken before the majority of Parent-Teacher Associations in the Somerville Public Schools system, all Service organizations, and many Church groups. He has written articles on Public Rec- reation for the local newspapers, and also for Recreation Maga- zines. In the Spring of this year, for the third time he served




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