Evening star., 1933-12-17
|PETNORTH GROWTH
AIDED BY CITIZENS
Association with Notable
Record Now Seeking
Branch Library

Of land north Of the District OF Coium-
bia was named Petworth, the citizens Of
that section organized to help guide the
progress Of their community as o part
Of the District.
It was In 1908 that Benjamin ogle
Tayloe purchased part Of an estate
granted to Lord Holmeade by the King
OF England and gave it the name Pet
worth. Today the National Capital has
grown out far past this area, and much
OF the later growth has been aided by
the citizens who formed the Petworth
Citizens Association October 20, 1902.
The organization meeting was held In
the home OF William F. GUIDE, then at
$500 New Hampshire avenue, as the re
suit OF efforts Of the late Z. w. Oyster
to organize representative citizens
group. Forty residents Of Petworth
were present and Austin p. Brown was
elected the first president. Other Of
ficers chosen were Ferdinand A. Heit-
muller, vice president: George w stose,
secretary, and e w. Davis, treasurer.
Presidents Are Listed
Mr.. Brown was succeeded BY Z. v.
Powderly, who served a year. Then
came the following presidents:
William F. GUIDE, who served until
1907: William Ne Varre Cromwell. uYa-
til 1910; Paul e. Lesh, to 1912, succeed
ed by Mr.. Cromwell, who served again
until 1914; Charles J. James, until 1917;
Joe L Carr, until 1923; Timothy s.
Tincher, until 1924; Clyde J. Nichols,
until 1926, succeeded by Mr.. Tinoher,
who served again until 1927; Christie
pher Lehmkuhl, who died in 1881 while
serving his third consecutive term, and
was succeeded by Edward 8. White, who
served the remainder of the unexpired
term Next came Horace J: Phelps,
elected in the Fall of 1881, who served
until succeeded by the present tncum-
bent, John T. Thomas, elected at the
annual election in October
The other officers incumbent are:
Lyster H. Dewey, first vice president;
Earl w. Cooper, second vice president;
Raymond z. Gable, SECRETARY: A D.
Sartwen. financial secretary; George w.
Potter, treasurer; Hugh 8. Smith, as
sistant secretary; Morris Kraisel, cor
responding secretary; s. Mormon Otto.
sergeant at arms: James G. Yaden and
Harvey Q. Craver, delegates to the Fed
GRAFTON OF Citizens Associations.
Fought for Dry Law.
Things the association has urged and
fought for are many. The Petworth
Citizens Association was one OF the
sheppard prohibition bill for the Dis
tr1ct OF Columbia, which made the
District dry before national prohibition.
The association carried forward its
fight in favor of the Sheppard law
with such vigor before the Federation
Of Citizens Associations that the lat
ter body finally indorsed 1t.
knother important item in the his
tory OF the association was its organ
izing, with other citizens associations,
q special Street Railway Committee,
which fought for better street railway
service.
The success of this committee showed
what could be accomplished by well
measure to bring about the organtza-
tion Of the Federation Of Citizens
Associations, to represent all the ssso-
Citations here.
When the association was formed
nearly the entire section constituting
developed Petworth was south Of Up
shur street. The association aided ma
terial1y In guiding the ensuing deveI-
opment Of the section.
Boundaries Expanded.
dairy Lines Hamilton street on the north,
Soldiers Home on the east, Rock Greek
Church road on the south, and Geor
as Hamilton street. Its membership
is now 300.
When the association began there
was only or-room school IN the i'm
mediate vicinity. Largely through the
efforts of the association this school,
the Petworth School, was added to
until 1t Is now a modern 16-room
structure. The association also joine6
with other associations in urging de-
velopment Of the Raymond School, the
Mcfarland Junior High School, the
Barnard School and finally the build
To show the need of additional
school facilities In the section, the
association, under direction Of Mrs.
Horace J. Phelps, took a census OF the
school children living In Petworth.
This census formed O concrete record
of school needs.
Also in the early days Of the asso-
citation, there were practically no paved
streets in the section and few macada-
mized thoroughfares. Ths association
continually urged the authorities to
pave streets here and there, until Pet
veloped sections Of Washington.
Worked to Get Parks.
The association urged development OF
parks until now there are both Sherman
and Grant Circles In the section as well
as q number of triangular park de-
velopments. Numerous trees also have
been planted, as urged by the associa-
ton.
The association was one Of those
which successfully opposed the proposed
erection OF a municipal hospital on the
tract OF Government-owned land now
occupied by the Roosevelt High School.
Through the efforts of the citizens
groups the proposal was defeated. with
the result that Gallinger Municipal
Hospital was added to and developed
on its present site near the District
jail.
Among the things which the associa-
ton has long favored are national rep
resentation for the District Of Columbia
and Improvement Of playground facili-
ties in the section. Now It Il seeking
increased playground facilities for the
Petworth School through the purchase
Of nearby land.
the association. 1t is well Remembered by
the citizens hers for its patriotic csle-
brationS on July 4 tn which citizens
from throughout the city participated.
Now the association, with other or
ganizattons, Is seeking an adequate
branch OF the Public Library, 70 be
erected on the Government-oVned land
near the Roosevelt High School. The
branch is needed, 1t Is pointed out, both
as a necessary convenience for the
school and for the citizens Of the Sec
ton.
AFFILIATE To Be PICKED
BY INTERPRETATION