The Washington herald., 1922-01-29


observer driving through the we'll
lighted. well-paved streets Of Wood
ridge to believe you II you should
tell him that fifteen years ago
cows were grazing where these
rows of modern homes now stand,
and that there were cornfields in
the center Of what is now the brisk
little metropolis in the vicinity OF
upper Rhode Island avenue north
east. Yet this is the simple truth.
as every old resident OF the Dis
trict knows.
The natural overflow OF a grow
ing city will fill its outlying dis
tricts as long as that growth con-
tinues, but II Is apparent that some
thing more than overflow popula-
ton accounts for the order, clean
illness and smart appearance Of that
part OF the Northeast known as
Woodbridge. The impression one
gets In going through this section
is similar to that experienced upon
entering q well-kept home - you
know At once there Is someone in
terested in the place. And II curl
osity should move you to inquire
of 4 resident Just who on what that
IS, II would not take 90 long TO
learn that II Is the Rhode Island
Avenue Citizens Association that Is
so actively on the Job to make
woodbridge a better place to live in
Organized in 1905
The history OF the growth OF
woodbridge Is the history of the
Rhode Island Avenue Citizens As
ISOLATION. About fourteen years
azo the few residents Of this sec
ton felt the need OF cooperative
action to obtain their share Of the
improvements from the District
" government and to bring before the
con1nissioners the needs OF the com
mundty There was already one
citizens organization in East Brook
land an another in what was then
northeast Washington. embracing
the area from North Capitol TO
Twelfth street northeast, neither OF
which. however, felt the need OF
giving any attention to the upper
Rhode Island avenue section. then
looked upon mainly as = good sec
ton for hunting rabbits and Bob
whites For this reason the pioneer
residents of Woodbridge determined
20 act in their own behalf, and on
May 20, 1908 met at Carol Morri-
sons country store. located at what
f. now Eighteenth steet and Brent
wood place northeast, and organ
lied themselves into the RHODE
Island Avenue Suburban Citizens
Association, . name which was later
shortened TO Rhode Island Avenue
Citizens Association.
Won Respect of Congress.
Charles McCauley was elected
q nrst president Of the association
There were siIty-nine charter mem
L. NnfArAdffn0
that Of this body Of public-spirited
citizens there were about IL wom-
en- In spite Of the small number
Of founders and the almost hopeless
condition Of roads and the absence
Of all improvements, the little band
made the grade" and formed what
has proved to be the main factor in
the orderly Development OF Wood
ridge.
IRON the birth Of our organiza-
non." said q prominent citizen Of
woodbridge, things began to move.
Congress and the District govern
ment acquired a new respect for
US Their changed attitude re-
nninda me Of two darkies who came
upon . hornets nest while hunt
ing. Said the nrst, Git out de
way, George, so I can bus dat
neA'
=, MAN replied his dusky COM
panIon, you better leave dat mes
alone and hunt squirrels. A SPUR
rers neg Is q squirrels mes but
dat hornets nes' Is organization
we were an organization and we
compelled respect"
Fought for Sewer System.
The organization Immediately
got 10 work Among the first steps
taken were the advocating OF
Rhode IAl&hd avenue extension, the
placing Of q viaduct over the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad tracks
on South Dakota avenue crossing,
long q recognized menace to the
lives Of the people Of the section;
and the beginning of prolonged
and dnally successful effort to get
a RSveraEe system for Woodbridge.
In the fall Of 1908 s. s. Symons,
for years one Of the best known
figures in the United States PEN
sion once, succeeded Charles NC
Caulsy as president OF the asso-
eIatton and carried the work of the
erKanization forward for three and
uoo-half years, obtaining the open
Ing and paving OF streets, the
laying Of sidewalks. installation Of
electricity, etc. In March. 1912
Nlr. 6r15LO" AoAL1S - OAoSNoN ~
the presidency to succeed Mr.. Sy-
mona During the term of onice
of Mr.. Adams the association sue
ceeded In having the sewerage,
street car and lighting systems e1-
tended for the accommodation of
the community. From this period
on the accomplishments Of the as
Eociation were numerous.
Publication Il Issued.
President Adams served until
March, 1915, when g. s. Symons
again wa. elected and served for
another period of four years. He was
followed IN 1919 by William S. Tor
bert, attorney. who began the pub
licatIon Of ''Neighborhood News" Of
4. nncial organ Of the association. Mr..
Torbert was succeeded in March,
1891. by the preSent leader. Guy V.
Collins Of the Washington Evening
y . During the fourteen years OF the
life Of tbs Rhode Island Avenue Citi-
Gems Association its accomplish
ments have been reflected in the
growth and development of Wood
ridge. Judged by the impartial
e standard Of results obtained. the as
. ISOLATION has succeeded. The organi-
ration Is proud to stand on the record
II has made, for 1t furnishes a solid
foundation for future achievement.
An outstanding accomplishment of the
q. association was the securing of the
p, District sewerage system, which
necessitated an underground tunnel