Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-12
Committee Of Citizens to Take
Charge Of Project.
NEIGHB0RH0oD HOUSE
REPORTS OF WORK THROUGHOUT
tE-@s.ii
THE CITY RECEIVED.
More Apparatus Needed to Provide for
= +
Children Patronizing Existing
servations-Model Gardens.

The committee on public Fairgrounds OF
the Associated Charities, recently organ
ized held its first meeting yesterday after
noon at 4 o'clock at 81 G street north
west. There were present: Commissioner
John Biddle. Maj. Richard Sylvester. Mr..
Cuno H. Rudolph Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mus
sey, Miss Clara Jessup Van Trump. Mrs.
Charles F. Weller and Mr.. Charles F. Wei
Ter. The committee organized by electirg
Mr.. Rudolph chairman, Mr.. John B. Sic
man, jr., treasurer and Miss Van Trump,
secretary. Mr. Rudolph, who sent out the
call for the meeting, stated its purpose as
being to undertake the management of the
two or three Fairgrounds which are now
assured, with a view to making them so
successful this summer that permanent
Fairgrounds can be established next year
with assistance from public funds. The
committee reviewed the condition of three
public Fairgrounds. first, small play
House." at 456 N street southwest which
was reported to have been successfully &C.
tive for the past year. This playground is
fairly we'll equipped with apparatus. and
1t turned over to the general fund SIS,
which has been placed in the hands Of the
treasurer for the further equipment of this
yard. This playground Is now used mainly
by girls and small children, leaving the
at 9TH and M streets southwest.
New Ground Secured.
A second playground, occupying a very
large area, extending from 9th to 7th
streets on NJ street southwest has recently
been made available through the kindness
of the District Commissioners by whom
this large square has formerly been rented
for the storage Of stone and other build
Ing materials. 1t was reported that the
ground had been largely cleared OF these
materials by Major r. D. Simms District
superintendent Of property, and that room
has been afforded for the laying out Of a
base ball diamond and the erection of play
ground apparatus. A special fund has been
contributed for the purpose of clearing this
ground and erecting the apparatus needed.
Two hundred dollars was subscribed by an
anonymous friend, s. by Mrs. Natalie s. B.
Forsythe: Commissioner H. B. F. Macfar-
land, IS; Miss A. c. Koerper. 81; John w.
Douglass. 81 Cuno II: Rudolph. 81: Lyman
L. Pierce. IS: DR.. William C. Woodward. IS,
c. F. Nesbit, IS; John B. Sleman, jr., 50.
This makes a total collection of s243, of
which $3.50 has already been expended
for clearing, the ground.
The committee decided to accept the bid
of George s. Rossen. who agreed to erect
the following apparatus for 500: -Four
swings, one teeter-ladder. one horizontal
bar. two see-saws. six travelling rings. one
inclined ladder. one set Of sliding poles,
one giant stride and one sand box In ad-
dit1on TO this apparatus. the committee
decided to put up punching bag with over
hanging drum. which will probably add
SO to the initial expenditures for appara-
tus. Mr.. Mel b. Rideout. athletic director
of the 7. M c. A.. has undertaken to Law
out the base ball diamond. upon request
Of the committee.
.. ). Model Gardens Made.
Ten model gnrdens have been made in
one corner Of this large playground by
ten children OF the neighborhood, who are
doing their garden work under the direction
of Miss Hedges and Mr.. Swingle Of the
Agricultural Department which is co .op-
Grating with the National Plant, Flower
and Fruit Guild for the DEVELOPMENT of
children's gardens in various portions of
the city. The playground committee au-
thorized the erection Of a fence around these
model gardens. 1t was reported to the
committee that similar gardens of this
character. cultivated by boys and girls. are
connected with the public Fairgrounds of
Boston and other cities. They are found
to be an effective means Of interesting the
children In outdoor activities and in a
wholesome educational employment of their
leisure hours.
A third playground to be used especially
for colored children was reported as as
sured for the summer on M street south
west between LIST street and Delaware ave-
nue.. The temporary use Of this ground
has been given by Mr. s. Bensinger. its
owner. and by the tenant who occupies a
men living in the neighborhood have al
ready accomplished great deal Of work.
under the direction of Prof A. u Craig
Of the Armstrong Manual Training School,
In clearing this large lot of the old iron
and other waste materials with which 1t
was covered. Mr.. Rudolph reported that
the ground was now in shape to permit
OF the erection of some simple apparatus,
a pr0f Crojcr
giving the amount Of lumber needed for
swings, see-saws and the few other SIM
pie devices desired The chairman Of the
committee was instructed to ask one or
more lumbermen to donate the material
needed for this playground.
Playground in Northwest.
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey reported to
the committee that small playground had
been opened at the northeast corner of
10th and streets northwest Here the
pastor of the Swedenborgian Church, which
adjoins the playground, has organized the
young colored people Of the neighborhood,
who have themselves erected the simple
apparatus which the playground now con-
tains.
Mrs Mussey stated that she would be
glad to put this playground under the d.
rection of the committee whenever its men,
bers feel themselves able to raise funds
with which to assist in equipping 1t prop
erly.
Commissioner Biddle called attention to
the fact that the first public playground
established In Washington extends from 9th
to 18th streets between Virginia avenue
and Georgia avenue southeast. This was
set aside for the children by Col. Theodore
Bingham, the government officer formerly
in charge of public buildings and grounds
In th04Distract. Senator James Macmillan
assisted at that time in providing a little
apparatus which has since disappeared. It
was suggested that this playground would
be much more useful If 1t could be sup
Piled with apparatus but no action was
taken in this matter by the committee.
CONDENSATION OF SQUARE.