The Washington times., 1903-09-06
To the PTettu Little Suburb of BriGhtWood
Belongs the Honor and Credit of Hay
ING Formed the First ORGANIZATION for
the Protection and Advancement of
Public Interests. ~ ~ ~ =: ~


tion enjoys the distinction of be-
ing the parent organization OF
its kind in the District of Columbia
having had a continuous existence since
the early seventies Prior to that time
the residents along Brightwood Avenue
had grown weary of travelling between
the city and their homes through the
mud Of winter and the dust of summer
with no better facilities than a stage
coach. They determined to have better
,ransnortation. and the association was
formed. in 1872. to bring 1t TO pass
prof Joseph R. Keene was the preSi-
dent Of the new organization, man
who was universally respected and re
earded as the most public spirited cit-
zen on the line Of the Brightwood road
He and others of the citizens took hold
of the problem Of better transit facih'
ties in earnest. At the first meeting
the question of establishing a steam
road between Florida Avenue and tEo
District line witt cars propelled by a
dummy engine was discussed at great
length. At that time the distance was
so great and the idea of traffic SO large
that the steam road seemed most feasi-
bile. When. however, the cost OF the
construction was made known through
an engineer present it was seen the
project was too big for early realization.
The alternative was horse cars, and
the Brightwood Association addressed
itself to obtaining them with all the
energy it could bring TO bear upon 4
dificuIt undertaking. Months elapsed,
and the early courage OF the citizens
almost failed, but the result finally at
tanned was the Silver Springs Railroad,
on which horse cars ran at first from
Florida Avenue TO Scheutzen Park. later
TO the Rock Creek Church Road, and
then to Brightwood. This line was not
a very good one. The distance was
long, the grades heavy, cars too few,
and the poor beasts compelled TO draw
them grew tired at intervals and stopped
TO rest. The trackage was uncertain,
and sometimes the male portion of the
passengers were obliged to get out OF
the car TO assist in getting it back on
the track after II had run of. 1t is
said the average man living out the
obliged to practice in a gymnasium 20
develop the muscles of his arms and
back. He got all that was necessary
riding on the Get Out and Push Rail-
road" which was only a step in advance
of no railroad at all.
Rested on Their Oars.
After the completion Of the line 10
Brightwood the association rested for a
time in it's Iabors. It had a few meet
ings from time TO time. but the occasion
having gone. there was not the incentive
10 work there was before.
Incidentally the association in 1873
pointed out 10 the people of Brightwood
the need for public hall, in which to
hold gatherings Of various kinds. The
result was the formation OF a company
and the building OF Brightwood Hall.
Several years later the property was &C
ouired by the Stansbury Lodge Of Ma
sons. by whom It is now owned, under
the name Of Masonic Hall. The Citizens
Association Of the present day holds its
meetings there.
When the inventions in the electrical
field had made the running OF mechanical
street cars possible. and some Of the
city lines had been equipped with cable
or electric power, the Brightwood Asso-
ciation took on new life. with the in
centive to have trolley line out the
Brightwood Road. The body was reor-
gcnized. with william A. Gateley -
president. and Arthur L. Keene secre-
tary. Its most important work at this
time was with reference TO the street
railroad. BY argument with capitalists
and well-directed efforts in other direc-
tions. It was successful in having the
trolley line built. not only to the Dis
trict line. but on to Forest Glen. IN
Maryland.
The beginning OF rapid transit afforded
now life to that part Of the District
through which tie cars ran. Property
was increased in value. building projects
began TO spring up. Petworth. Bright
wood Park. Brightwood. and Takoma
Park began TO build UP, and the growth
OF the suburbs at these points has been
continuous since the new means OF com
naunication made IL possible TO 90 and
come without getting into the mud or
assisting in applying the motive power.
Tie stretch OF improvements. almost
continuous from Florida Avenue 10 the
District line today. with new streets
opened and improved. is very different
frcm the picture presented at the close