Evening star., 1901-07-15
TAkOMA CLUB AND LIBRARY
or. VALUE T0 A SUBUR-
BAN COMMUNITY.
Facilities for Amusement Provided
Library Has Over 600 Volumes
On HI Shelves.

Perhaps no better evidence of the inter-
est and appreciation Of home life and sur
roundings, generslly speaking. could be
given than that which is shown by the
people of Takoma in the establishment of
a Social Club and Library" This under
taking originated with few gentlemen
and ladies little over year ago, and by
their persistent and ardent support the
Club and Library Association has increased
to such an extent in membership as to in
sure future success. Here can be found
an Illustration of. the earnestness with
which few people of a community have to
labor, even to establish an Improvement Of
great general advantage. which will subse-
quently receive, as this Institution is now
receiving, the general and hearty support
of the public.
The association is now recognized not
only as useful and beneficial In the inter-
est OF Iakomar and the peoplesof that sec
tion OF the District Of Columbia. but as a
real factor in It's development and improve
ment.
At present rented quarters are used con-
slstlng OF an entire new 12-room brick
building, No. IL Oak avenue, located very
near to the terminus of the electric car
line, and also in the vicinity of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad station. The house
mas oeen provided with a double entrance,
SO that those desiring to visit the second
floor, where one of the large rooms Is fur
nished with a new billiard and pool table,
can do so without passing through the
library on the first floor. The walls of the
billiard room are handsomely decorated
with pictures.
The room of the board of governors and
also a reception room for ladies, both of
which are handsomely furnished. adjoin the
billiard room. The library and a large
reading room adjoin on the first floor. More
than six hundred volumes, many of which
nave been donated, are on the shelves of
the library, and several handsome water
color paintings and etchings, all of which
nave been donated by members and friends
OF the club, together with portraits of &
number of gentlemen prominent in Dis
trict of Columbia affairs, who are honorary
members of the club. adorn the walls.
Ihere is large basement, the most of
which Is above the ground, extending un-
der the entire building. In this room is to
be found a, handsome shuffiing board and
other games, and facilities for indulging in
various athletic sports.
Success Assured.
Mr.. Louis P. Shoemaker, who was re-
Gently unanimously reelected president of
the organization for a second year, in con-
versation with a Star reporter expressed
himself as highly pleased with the success
of the enterprise, and declared that he
was not only fully confident of its future.
but was sure that 1t will continue to be of
great benefit to the people of Takoma and
vicinity. He was also much gratifed to be
able to say that he had received ardent
support and assistance from the board of
governors and members. without which
such success, he declared, could not pos
sibly have been STAINED
Mr. Shoemaker expressed the hope that
other sections of the District will soon be
provided with reading rooms. and places of
innocent amusement made available for
young people, so that they would not be
tempted to seek recreation in what might
be termed questionable resorts and lin
places far removed from their homes. He
referred to the numerous advantages that
would, in his judgment, be derived by the
public library, now being erected In WASH
ington with funds donated by Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie. In this way. he said, the new
library will become of the greatest public
utility to the people of the entire District of
Columbia. Mr.. Shoemaker remarked further
that 1t seemed strange. but is vertheless
true, that in the District of Columbia the
home of the United States government,
with population of 300, 900 intelligent and
educated people within it's limits, many of
whom reside in and have acquired homes
beyond the old city limits, the Takoma
Club and Library is the only well-equipped
and thoroughly organized library associa-
tion to be found in the new and greater
Washington, beyond Florida avenue.
The board of governors of the club and
library is considering plans for the con-
struction of building with ample grounds
as a permanent nome for the organization
which, when completed, will greatly adorn
Takoma Park and furnish ample facilities
for all-Whe wish to avail themselves. of the
clubs privileges.