Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
WORK Of SCHOOL
LAUDED BY HOOVER
Conversion of Shack Into
Model Home Held Achieve
ment in U. S. Campaign.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

ROCKVILLE. Md, July 16.-NIiss
Maude Y. Broome, teacher of home
economies at the Gaithersburg High
School, has received letter from
Herbert Hoover. Secretary of the
United states Department of Com
meree and president OF the board Of
directors OF Better Homes In America,
imparting the information that the
better homes project carried out under
her general direction at QaithersbOrg
$50 for the best school demonstration
in the 1927 national campaign.
Miss Broome conceived the idea that
an old shack, near the Gaithersburg
High school, formerly used for manual
training purposes, could be recon.
structed and equipped as a model
home, and with the consent of the
County Board of Education the plan
was put into execution.
Most Of the work OF reffiedeling the
building was done by the boys Of the
high school. who ranged in age from
IA to 20 years. The shack was par.
titioned into four rooms and bath,
hardwood floors were laid. the interior
was painted two tones with dark oak
trimmings and the exterior was
painted light cream. with white trim.
mings. A portion of the money was
raised by pupils selling candy.
The dining room furniture was pur-
chased unfinished. serving table was
made by the boys. French door was
used in building q corner cupboard in
the dining room, some OF the furni'
-. knh s<st< =.
Of a play given by the girls OF the
donated by patrons and other friends
OF the Gaithefsburg school.
Curtains Made BY Pupils.
The curtains for the entire house
were made by pupils. the complete
fixtures of the bathroom were do
mated, the kitchen floor was covered
With linoleum and much of the kitchen
equipment was purchased with money
contributed BY pupils who put the
money they would have otherwise
spent for motion pictures, sofa water,
ice cream. ETC., into the f,iId. The
pictures were studies cut from vari-
Gus magazines and the frames were
made by boys Of the school who
bought the glass and moulding. A
bookcase ana magazine rack also were
made by the boys. The grounds sur
rounding the building were beautified,
shrubbery being donated by the
County Board of Education.
In connection with the observance
Of Better Homes week, program
extending throughout the week was
given in this practice house" and
included lectures, contests, a pageant
ana other features.
In his letter to Miss Broonne, Sec.
fetary Hoover says:
1.-THE Better Homes project carried
out under your general direction has
been awarded q special prize for the
best school demonstration IN the 1927
campaign. and / congratulate you and
Your fellow workers.
1.-THE committee on awards felt that
the whole project made an unusually
strong appeal to the boys and girls OF
the high school. and the others who
worked with you. The low cost at
which the project was carried out,
and the fact that there was no call
on the school authorities for funds,
showed great resourcefulness and in.
itiative.
First OF Kind IN State.
II understand that the building IL
the first home economics cottage own
ed by high school in Maryland. 1t
should serve not only as great aid
In the home economics work or your
school, but should encourage other
communities toward similar undertake.
ings.
Progress toward improved housing
for the country as whole may seem
slow to some OF us. but our national
productivity is increasing at an amaz.
| ing rate and ID rapidly placing more
personal and household equipment
within reach Of the average family.
At the same time the Better Homes
committees are furnishing splendid
leadership which Is encouraging more
and more families to buy or build
good looking, well built homes, and
to make their homes more attractive
and convenient by thoughtful study
in furnishing and equipping them.
Such leadership helps to raise the
general standards and level OF hous.
| ing conditions and home life, and
helps to prevent US as a people from
dissipating our added resources in oh.
| tanning mere ease or passing pleas
ures.
"The devoted work Of groups like
yours in Gaithersburg 10 a great con.
structive force and hope 1t may con.
| sinue. I know 1t will serve as an in
cpiration to others"
James Ford, executive director Of
Better Homes in America. also wrote
| Miss Broome regarding the award.
Among other things he said:
1T was a remarkable and distinctive
achievement for your committee to
| have arranged for the blishmefit
| of home management cottage. and
you have done such an effective piece
Of renlodeling with the cooperation Of
the school and other interested agen-
cies. Your unusual program Of con.
tests must also have had widespread
educational value, as well as your lee.
tufe program ana pageant"