Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-24
yULEFETE IS HELD
IN MONTRQSE PARK
More Than 500 Georgetown
Residents Gather at Com.
munity Tree.

hA'n'Fcu on the slopes OF tho mn IN
| MontrOse Park in front Of the living
| Nordman fir tree, planted to serve as
a permanent Christmas tree, more
than 500 residents Of Georgetown, In.
Guiding several hundred c.aildren. par.
ticipated in the annual Christmas com
munitv celebration of that section,
under the auspices of the Georgetown
Citizens Association last night. The
tree WIS brightly illuminated for the
Yuletide.
Led by double brass quartet from
the Army Band, tho multitude joined
enthusiastically in the singing ~
carols. the words tn which were
flashed on II huge screen. They asO
listened with interest and enthusiasm
ms Richard V. OulaEan. dean of Wash
ington newspaper correspondents, told
of history and traditions of George
town. which he declared still main.
tains it's individual identity. in spite Of
acts of Congress merging il politically
and other ways with the Nations
Capital Mr.. Oulahan named men.
former residents of Georgetown, who
have gone down in history as having
played outstanding parts In moding
the traditions IF this country and
urged the prescnt.day citizens Of
Georgetown ~ he proud Of the section
in which they live.
Early History Described.
Declaring that last nights gather.
ing stamped the neighhorly fecln"
reminiscent Of bygono days when
Georgetown was known as tho Court
End of Washington. Mr.. Oulahan de.
srribed tn" early history of that SHC-
ton, recalling that George Washing
ton. Lafayette. Francis Scott Key
Commodore stephen Decatur had re.
sided there. while Stoddert. the first
Secretary of the Navy. was n George
town merchant He also told Of Rob.
ert Fulton testing the model Of the
first Steamboat on Rock Creek and
named John &. Calhoun as one who
resided on the estate that now joins
Montrose Park
These and many others among the
great" he declared. walk Gcorge-
towns streets in spirit ut this Christ.
mas time. the time Of memories
1t was on n Christmas day in 1889
that Georgetown was formally organ.
lied as corporation. although 1t had
been nm officially recognized commu
nifty Of the Colony Of Maryland a quar-
tor Of century before the Revolu
ton. Mr.. Oulahan said. 1T was al
Christmas party mt the Russian lega.
ton. still standing on what Is now q
street. that GeorEetoWns most cele.
hrated romance began. when the
Cars Minister Plenipotentiarv met
his bride-to.he n Georgetown school
girl. who lived near where we are now
assembled" the speaker declared. As
4 result. he said. the Georgetown com.
munity became celebrated AZ the
most marrying place in the country. :"
Toward the close Of his address he
said. Let us impress upon theSe boys
and girls here tonight the privilege
that in theirs In living in the National
city later adding that they possess
an additional advantage through living
in Georgetown" Mr.. Ouiahan was in,
troduced by Dean Aehcson of the
Georgetown Citizens Association.
School Children Participate.
The ma ioritv Of the children prexcn,
were from the public schools ol
Georgetown. although children below
the school age. some in their mothers
or fathers arms. witnessed the crie
bration and brightly Illuminated Christ.
mas tree. Large flood lamps added
William I. Pierson, radio announcer.
led in the group singing. and Miss
Mary wilkins. teacher nj the Jackson
school and widely known organist. led
a group of school children In singing
several numbers and played accom-
paniment for them and the whole
group. 4 solo was rendered hy Doro,
thy sherman pierson.
The committee on outdoor singing
Of the Georgetown Citizens AsSocia
ton. j. r., Wyckoff. chairman. was in
direct charge 81 the celebration, Other
members of the committee are: Miss
Meta Craig. William r. Glover. Mr..
and Mrs, John ihlder Mrs. W. r. Me
REYNOLDS. |. II. Nordlinger. j. a. Oliver.
Albion n Paris. Miss Mary Radford
Mrs. Laura T. Roege. Roger NJ. Stuart,
Mrs. LLOYD i. shipper. Mrs, H. u. Tor.
bert. Rev. r. Riand Tucker. Capt and
Mrs. Jared I. Wood and Rev. r. Pink
ney Wro;h.
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