Evening star., 1932-01-08
ANALOSTAN ISLAND
TITLE ACQUIRED BY
MEMORIAL GROUP
Purchase of Site for Monu-
ment to Theodore Roose-
welt Completed.
WILL JOIN PARK SYSTEM
WHEN CONGRESS ACTS
Form Memorial Will Take May Not
Be Decided for Three Years.
Stadium Idea Out.

The Roosevelt Memorial Association
this morning formally acquired title to
Analostan Island, which has been Sc
lected as the site for a monument in
commemoration of the life Of Theodore
Roosevelt.
Contract for the sale was signed last
October, but disposal OF mortgages and
searching of the title were necessary
before the sale could be consummated.
At 10 o'clock this morning George 3:
Fraser, vice president and treasurer OF
the Washington Gas Light Co, which
owned the 90-acre island, turned over
the title to william Loeb, vice pres1-
dent of the Roosevelt Memorial Associ-
alton, and received In return a check
for 1863 900. The price agreed upon
was 364, 900, but the 81 900 difference
already had been paid, having been
deposited to the credit of the gas COM
pany to bind the contract of sale.
The transfer of ownership of the
island took place In the offices OF the
Columbia Title Co. in the presence OF
Herman Hagedorn, executive director
of the association; Loyal Leale, attor-
ney for the Memorial Association; F. B.
Ochsenreiter, attorney for the gas
company: Edgar M. Mayne, vice presi-
dent of the Columbia Title Co.; T. s.
Settle, secretary and legal adviser Of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, and Charles z.
Marsh, secretary of the title company
Offered to Government.
Now all that remains to be done for
the wooded tract to be made part of
the park system of the National Capt.
tai is the passage of bill before Con-
gress to accept the island as gift
fray fha DNncnyynlf MnnonrioI
citation.
The association has offered to the
Federal Government the island with
the restriction that it be allowed 10
erect a memorial to the late President
there at some future time
Mr.. Hagedorn said the form the me-
mortal will take has not been deter
mined and probably will not be de-
cided on for two or three years. He
made it clear, however, that at no time
has the association considered erecting
a stadium. The idea of a stadium was
advanced by local trade groups, but the
association never sponsored it, Mr..
Hagedorn declared.
Several months ago the Department
of Justice instituted condemnation pro-
ceedings against Analostan Island, so
that it might be procured as part of
the George Washington Memorial Park
way system, but the suit was dropped
when it became known the island would
be dedicated by the memorial associa-
ton.
Island Oval in Shape.
The island itself Is roughly oval In
shape, rugged and wooded, standing SO
feet above the level of the river. II Is
situated just down stream from Key
Bridge, slightly nearer the Virginia than
the District shore.
1t Is uninhabited and has but one
former habitation-the ruins of the old
home of Gen. John Mason The entire
area is covered with vegetation
Under tentative plans of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission,
bridges would link the island with the
Virginia shore and the Lee Highway as
well as the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway development to the |
nOrthWard and with the Arlington Me- |
mortal Bridge and the Mount Vernon |
Memorial Highway to the South.
Numerous walks would be constructed |
through the island for the convenience |
Of picnic parties and the entire develop |
ment would harmonic with the de- |
velopment of surrounding parks.
Some time ago, real estate interests |
endeavored 10 purchase the island as a |
site for an apartment house develop |
ment and at one time George Wash |
ington University was interested In |
securing it for stadium.