Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-14
CHEST TALK ON AIR
RICH IN OLD DATA
EfWood Street Gives History
of Neighborhood House
Location.

The second in series of talks en-
titled Little Journeys to the Homes of
Great Services" sponsored by the Com
munity Chest, was delivered over Sta
ton WRC yesterday by Elwood Street
director Of the Chest.
Mr. Streets talk was woven about a
mythical journey to Neighborhood
House, one Of the member organiza-
tons Of the Chest. located at 470 N
street southwest Discussing the his
tory Of the site OF Neighborhood House.
Mr. Street said 1t was located in one of
the oldest neighborhoods in Wash
tngton.
When Congress was still meeting in
Philadelphia in the 1905 he related,
land George Washington still was
President, Capt Duncanson and Thomas
Law, wealthy Englishmen, decided that
they might add to their wealth by
housing development in the new Capital
of the new Nation. George Washing
ton himself was glad to entertain them.
He advised them on the most suitable
locations for their purchase of land in
the Capital City as yet unoccupied by
the National Government. They began
their development at the foot of what
Is now N street southwest, then called
Greenleaf Village.
Architect and Builder.
Another Englshmen. DR.. Thornton,
inspired by the example of Duncanson
and Laws. became an enthusiastic
architect and builder. He married into
the Washing on Gusts family, and
drew the plans for many of the early
Washington houses. He did some of
the architectural work on the Capitol,
and became known to posterity as the
father of Washington architecture"
DR.. Thornton, Mr.. Street explained,
lived for some time at 468 street in
half of double house which he de-
signed The whole of this house and
two adjacent buildings are now occu-
pied by Neighborhood House.
Neighborhood House, Mr.. Street said,
has the first hranch station Of the
Public Library established in Washing
ton. More than 500 cares are held by
neighbors. he said. and 300 books on
the average are given out during the
two hours when the library is open on
Monday evening"
Mr.. and Mrs j. P S. Neigh are head
residents of the settlement. having sue
ceeded the founders, Mr. and Mrs
Charles F. Weller, in 1905, Mr.. Street
said
The chief endeavor of Neighborhood
House now is to furnish recreation
through play and through work. SO as
to keep the attitudes of the neighbors
normal. Although people have left off
dancing because they haven't money to
pay for the music. community singing
is in increasing favor as a tonic against
depression"
Vacation School Plans.
Mr.. Street explained plans for Sum-
mer vacation school about to begin,
which will make use of the cityS mu-
seums and parks With older girls and
boys serving as a junior faculty. this
school was conducted for eight weeks
last year, he said, the children attending
the school visiting through the medium
of study and plays the children of vari-
GUS countries, learning their songs and
presenting their dances.
The activities conducted at the set
Element in the fields of the arts and
crafts were outlined by the speaker.
These include the making Of hooked
rugs, table runners, woven fly sWatters
and towels, and painting of furniture
OF the Neighborhood House, Mr.. Street
said. turns cut luncheon cloths. bed
spreads and doilies. and makes over
clothing donated to the settlement
Discussing the needs of Neighborhood
House. Mr.. Street explained that volun-
teers are wanted to help teach women
and children in the sewing school, Vol
unteers are also wanted with motor
cars to drive children to the hospital
and to take families to the parks, to
teach dancing and to take children from
the overcrowded day nursery on excur-
sions to the Fairgrounds.
Neighborhood House, the speaker con.
cluded, would welcome gifts of music
for its music library, of clothing for the
mlnlstrations of its "Shipshape" Com
mlttee, and magazines for making cut
out" scrapbooks