The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-09
EAST ENDERS HAVE
WORKED WONDERS
WITH PLAYGROUND
Church Civic Association Has Done Much Towards Develop
Of Boys Church Hill Athletic Field Is Open Both
Day andrNight to Voting Men and Children.
Prominent Men Behind Organization.
by ERNEST POLLARD.

Taking an active part in the physi-
cal, moral and social betterment OF
Church Hill. during the existence OF
the Church Civic Association. pioneer
81 the playground work I'm Richmond,
has made remarkable strides during
the past few years towards the de-
velopment OF the young men ana boys
In this section of the city.
When the people Of the East End
were aroused to full realization that
amusements play q large part in the
drama of life. they set to work, CIV
inx both their time and means, and
organised the association. The or
Ranixation was confronted with many
obstacles when 1t was first started, for
ut that time the people living in the
EAst End never once realized what
Il meant to their boys, and of the
GOOD that could be accomplished with
such an organization. Those who
started the work met the obstacles
one By one, and as fast as they would
crop up they were pushed aside, and
1t the present time everything Is run
ming along as smoothly as weli-oiied
machine The work is going on with
considerable rapidity, and the accom-
plishments OF this association Is moth
1ng less than remarkable.
Behind this organization are some
or the most prominent men in the
East End The officers of the assoc
ciation are: DR.. William II. Parker,
president: John X. Jeter. vice. presi-
dent; Oscar e. Parrish. treasurer;
Charles A. Felvey. Jr.. secretary: Ber-
nard L. Patterson. supervisor. and
nAN acgfGf ayRf gIfr
y.sors. The directors are: Thomas
Poindexter. I. j. Marcuse, J. r. Day.
w. C. Hobson, w. II. Burkert, w. ].
Harris. W. r. Akers. together with
the olacers of the association.
Have Worked Hard.
These men have been working hard
10 make the work a success, and their
efforts have been crowned with sue
cess When this board was elected
one year aEo.-the members set 10
work with a vim 10 enlarge the work
OF the association. and they have sue
ceeded beyond a shadow of doubt.
All Of the meetings during the past
year were well attended and the men
went about their work with enfhusi-
aam However, they will not remain
contented with what they have al
ready accomplished In this work, but a
movement Ia already on foot to ex-
tend during the coming year. meet
ing OF the officers and board OF d.
fsctors will be held this week. and
plans will be mapped cut for an extern
sion Of the work In the near future.
The Church Civic Association play
sround Is the only one in Richmond
which remains open throughout the
year There are several others In
various sections OF the city. including
the West End, East End. Northsi
and South Richmond. but they are run
only during the summer months 70
afford recreation for school chiIdren
In vacation period.
From early morning until late al
right both the athletic field and club
HOUSE In the East End are open. not
only to school children. but to those
who are employed during the day
The field II lighted each night. AFFORD
Ing opportunities for recreation to the
employed men and boys after working
hours. In the clubhouse are lockers
and free baths, together with towels
and soap. which are furnished at mod
crate rates.
Clubhouse II Heated.
The clubhouse LIS heated throughout
the cold fail and winter months the
clubhouse, though small, Is COM
portable little building. and each even
Ing a large number of young men In
the East End And pleasure there In
the clubhouse are various kinds OF
games. besides popular magazines and
4 player piano.
ground are baseball, basketball, ten
MA and volley ball. According TO
f,gurer Of the supervisor. the attend
ance at the baseball games last sum
n,er was SASS, while s.s76 took ad-
vantage OF the playground. The at
tendance at the basketball games 20
far has been 2S2, only few games
having been staged on the field. the
tennis courts are gaining considerable
popularity among the fairer sex ana
before the cold weather came many
vounr ladies' were seen engaging In
the popular feminine pastime each al
ternoon.
practically all OF the athletic con-
tests az the seven East End schools
are staged at the Church Civic Assoc
l4ciAtion. and this field Is recognized as
the official grounds for all champion
ship grammar school baseball anu
basketball contests in this section OF
the city. Track meets and yolley-
hy the public schools. The seven
schools In the East End which take
adv1nta1s OF the opportunities ar
. forded the children are Paramount,
Prevocational. Bellevue. Springfield.
chimboraso. Nicholson and Jener-
son.
Rsquiroments Are Few.
the only requirements for the men
ana boys are that they conduct them
seives a. gentlemen while on the
association field or in the clubhouse;
family or bringing any alcoholic .hev-
araRea On the grounds and that they