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