This headline appeared on page seven of The Day on August 9, 1944. After nearly three years of a war-time economy with at capacity manufacturing and a worker housing shortage, many older apartment buildings and duplexes were crowded and showing their age and limitations from lack of maintenance and the wear and tear of daily living. Though this survey covered the entire city, I have limited this posting to the Main Street neighborhoods. Please remember that this is the mid-forties. Much of the housing remained in neglected condition as the post war economic emphasis shifted to car-ownership and a Cape-style home with a yard in the suburbs. This continual decline in some of the Main Street neighborhoods fueled the drive for redevelopment, culminating in a referendum win for its supporters on “R Day”, April 30, 1962.

The report as submitted by Dr. Benjamin Pennell, health officer, at the council’s request, follows:

“The building survey now in progress has, up to the present, included 107 structures which contain 644 family living units, as well as a large number of rooms used for lodging only. Of the 107 buildings inspected, 22 are occupied by colored persons entirely or mixed white and colored families. These 22 buildings contain a total of 110 dwelling units of which 68 were available for inspection at the time the buildings were visited. Seven of these dwellings are in buildings considered entirely satisfactory. Five are in buildings requiring only minor repairs. 35 are in buildings with one or more major defects such as improper exits, serious structural or plumbing defects or serious sanitary defects. 63 dwelling units are in buildings which are substandard beyond the point of economic rehabilitation. This does not mean that all of these dwellings are unfit to live in at the present time, it is felt that they should eventually be replaced by new structures, or extensive repairs should be carried out.

“The following tabulations give locations of buildings at which conditions were found which are usually considered as contributing to substandard living. It will be noted that some of these undesirable conditions are primarily the fault of tenants, while others are due to lack of maintenance by the landlord.

Shared toilets — 28 Hill Street, 2; 32 Hill Street, 2; 243-245 Main Street, 2; 579 Main Street, 2; 587-591 Main Street, 2; 62-72 Douglass Street, 1;

Overcrowding — 243-245 Main Street, 1; 306-312 Main Street, 1; 579 Main Street, 1;

Unsatisfactory Toilets — 28 Hill Street, 2; 243-245 Main Street, 1; 306-312 Main Street, 1; 559 Main Street, 3; 579 Main Street, 4; 587-591 Main Street, 2; 192-194 North Bank Street, 1; 222 North Bank Street, 2; 62-72 Douglass Street, 1;

No Bathing Facilities — 28 Hill Street, 1; 31 Hill Street, 1; 8 School House Lane, 5; 243-245 Main Street, 1; 294 Main Street, 1; 306-312 Main Street, 1; 559 Main Street, 3; 570 Main Street, 2; 587-591 Main Street, 2; 192-194 North Bank Street, 1; 222 North Bank Street, 3; 62-72 Douglass Street, 2.

Vermin (rats, roaches, bedbugs) infestation — 20 Hill Street, 1; 28 Hill Street, 1; 8 School House Lane, 1; 243-245 Main Street, 1; 294 Main Street, 3; 306-312 Main Street, 2; 559 Main Street, 3; 579 Main Street, 5; 587-591 Main Street, 2; 192-194 North Bank Street, 3; 222 North Bank Street, 2.

Unsatisfactory sanitary conditions in dwelling units — 20 Hill Street, 1; 28 Hill Street, 1; 243-245 Main Street, 1; 306-312 Main Street, 2; 360 Main Street, 1; 559 Main Street, 3; 579 Main Street, 3; 587-591 Main Street, 2; 192-194 North Bank Street, 3; 222 North Bank Street, 3.

Yards, premises or structures in need of clean-up — 20 Hill Street, 28 Hill Street, 243-245 Main Street, 294 Main Street, 306-312 Main Street, 360 Main Street, 559 Main Street, 579 Main Street, 587-591 Main Street, 192-194 North Bank Street, 222 North Bank Street, 62-72 Douglass Street.

Inadequate means of egress — 8 School House Lane, 306-312 Main Street, 579 Main Street, 587-591 Main Street, 222 North Bank Street.

Dangerous Rails, Porches or Stairways — 20 Hill Street, 28 Hill Street, 33 Hill Street, 243-245 Main Street, 294 Main Street, 306-312 Main Street, 360 Main Street, 559 Main Street, 579 Main Street, 587-591 Main Street, 222 North Bank Street, 62-72 Douglass Street.

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“The shortage of desired housing has been aggravated by war conditions and some relief may be expected in the post war period. There are, however, many old buildings that through long use and lack of maintenance have deteriorated to a point where living quarters are substandard.

“There appears to be a definite need for a coordinated program of all city agencies to consider means of stimulating new construction, as well as requiring owners of substandard property to make repairs necessary to bring buildings up to compliance with the health and housing laws. Such a program should include all housing and not be confined to dwellings occupied by a particular race.

“There are many unfit buildings occupied by white families and these people are also entitled to consideration.

“In closing we wish to emphasize that much can be done by individual families to improve their own living conditions through the exercise of ordinary care in maintenance of sanitation and good housekeeping,”