Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-11
F|REMEN As ARTISTS
Will Convert Barren Square
Into Thing of Beauty.
NEAR NO. 8 ENGINE HOUSE
Commissioner West to Start the I'm.
provement.
ONE SOUTHEAST OBJECT LESSON
Firefighters Keep Green and Bloom
ing an Attractive Spot Ada
cent to Their Quarters.
NEAR NO. 8 ENGINE HOUSE
)NE SOUTHEAST OBJECT LESSON

For heantifyiuy ire surround 'ngS OF NO.
8 engine house on North Carolina avenue
between 9th and 7th streets southeast
movement has been started by Fesiaeh'H
in the vicinity and tie firemen of the sta
tfon. aided and abetted by Commissioner
West.
For some time a vacant piece OF ground
between the eng ne house and the East
ern market, at the intersect on oil North
Carolina avenue and 7th street southeast
owned by the District. has been an eye
sore to the persons VINO view II from the
windows of their homes or who pass IL
daily: and the firemen, although they
wi not saw so for publication, have been
ashamed of the appea: ance of the lot.
Fronting on North Carolina aveaue-one
of the sire. is of which the res dents OF
the southeast are proud--for about sew
enty-five feet, the lot extends back IN a
tr angular shape over lou f-tt. Fart OF
this lot is used as wagon stand for
truck and delivery carts. which are In
more or less demand around the market
The greater part of il looks, residents OF
the neighborhood say, like a barnyard
most OF the tine In the hot weather. II
is pointed out what little grass there Is
on the lot DIR es up and YES the land a
particularly barren appearance.
During the months wnen there Is an
over abundance of rain, as one person
living nearby described it, 1t looks like
a huge dish of gravy.
Part of the lot covered with posts and
other iron castings used by the cleo
TT cal departing but tn can easily be
transferred To the department property
yard In the rear of the reservation in
question. When seen by Star reporter
yesterday the lot was Uttered with pal er.
bricks, big stones and other SIMILAR de-
bris that S never considered by land
scape gardeners as decorative features.
Striking Contrast.
This reservation, which is east. OF the
engine house, is In strong contrast to
hat on the west. A few years ago the
western lawn was similar In appearance
20 the one on the east. Now, however. II
one of the attractive spots along the
avenue. The smooth lawn Is green from
judic.ous but generous watering: and
dotted here and there. as special attrac.
ons. are tubs filled with blooming flow
els of many varieties Clinging vines
conceal the tubs from view. To the
interest OF the firemen connected with
he engine company in the beautificat on
Of the houses surrounding. S and to theI
hard work-as a practical dem .nstration
Of that interest-are due the attractive
ness CT the lawn west of the engine house
That looked as bad as the other side
few years ago." said one of the fire
men yesterday. But we wheeled dir,
and have been taking care Of it ever
since"
The iremen are enthusiastic for the
project of making the other side Of the
avn look just as we'll; but they want
little help from the District Commits
sioners. few days ago one Of tn,
remen stopped Judge Ivory G. Kim !.
BALL, of the Police Court, who lives op
poSite on the street. and asked him 10
lake up with the Comm ssioners the mat
er of the Improvement of the reseY>a
ton between the engine house and me
market house. Juds e Kimbaii had been
:rowning every tine he looked at that
.ot: and he piom!sed to take some action
Commissioner West Interested.
To Commiss oner West he related the
story of the reservation, painting it's
present condition In striking language.
Other residents Of the vicinity a'so added
condemning touches. Commissioner West
at once promised his aid IN the project,
after he had been told that the firemen
of No. 8 engine company were ready and
anxious to take ca of the reservation,
ii II were improved by the District.
He announced yesterday that he would
ask the sup .rintendent of parks and
parking to improve the reservation. 1t
needs to be graded and sOdded, he will
be tod, and when that is done the fire.
men IL see that the Dist. let will here
after be proud of its appearance.
When told yesterday that Comm SIS oner
West had promised to aid them In their
efforts to get the reservat on improved,
the fremen waxed enthusiastic. talked
over the proper location for couple of
flower beds. and how to get some pants
that will keep in bic ssom during the
summer. The present appearance of the
lawn on the west side Of the engine house
Ii Is pointed out. speaks vel for what
the firemen can do to the reservation in
question.
Need Little Help.
eff the District authorities will only
give us little help to start with" said
one of the firemen yeste day. they will
soon be proud of the reservation. With
the numbe.. of men around the engine
house we could find time to keep it in
fine condition.
The men of the company. all of whom
are enthusiast about the project, are
Capt. G. S. Heiff L cut. II. j. Ra.ey
Eng neer w. c. Kicks. Assistant Engineer
s. b. D. Rollins, Privates T. j. Albers
W. Anderson. r. Hayes, L. O. Lusby
VIII am Ashe. c. l.. Southland, j. f. Nc
Enhany, Driver f. Dyer. Assistant Driver
b. Key. The men conneo ted with the
fire department machine shop, which is
connected with the engine house. have
also omised to hep They are T. NJ
Rob nson. superin. endent of mach merry:
D. Leaman, assistant superintendent of
machinery: c. E. keefe. machinist. and