Evening star., 1934-02-11
Association Has Taken
Active Part in Getting
Improvements.
ORGANIZED in 1924
Achievements Reviewed
at Meeting Honoring
Former Heads.

past Presidents night" held last
week by the Citizens Association Of
Takoma. D. c., brought the nine
year history Of the organization pass
ing In review.
Wallace c. Magathan, president.
acted as master of ceremonies and
announced the terms of the six presi-
dents, some of whom served two-year
terms. They included Charles H.
Spencer, 1924-25; Samuel H McCrory.
1925; DR.. Horace w. Whitaker,
1929; DR.. D. N. Shoemaker, 1929
80; Erwin j. Hibbs, 1881. President
Magathan Is now completing his sec
ond term. All but DR.. Whitaker
were either present or represented
at the meeting. and spoke briefly re-
garding the future of the association
as well as reviewing its history.
On December /, 1924. citizens re-
sizing on the District side of Takoma
Park met and organized in the Ia
koma Park Branch of the Washing
ton Public Library. Two hundred and
twenty-five persons signed up to voice
the needs and desires of the COM
munity.
Spencer Named Chairman,
Mr.. Spencer was elected chairman.
and a resolution to organize and ap-
point a committee to draft a con-
stitution and bylaws was adopted.
The name selected was THE Citi.
zens' Association of Takoma, D. c."
with boundaries extending from Geor-
gia avenue on the west to Underwood
street on the south, and all territory
northeast to the District Line. The
following officers were elected for the
ensuing year: Mr.. Spencer, president;
John F. Barghausen, first vice presi-
dent; Mrs. L. B. Burdett, second vice
president; S. j. Dennis, secretary;
Mrs. Horace w. Whitaker, financial
secretary; Frank E. Reppert, treasurer;
DR.. Shoemaker and Jesse C. Suter,
delegates to the Federation of Citi-
zenS' Associations.
The remaining business was a mo-
tion by Mr.. Suter that a committee
attend the hearing to be held at the
District Building regarding the de-
velopment of the tract of land be-
tween Georgia avenue, Piney Branch
and Blair roads.
At the next meeting, in January,
1925, committee reports were sub
mltted and many important problems
discussed. These included a resolu-
ton requesting 100000 for removal
OF snow from the city streets. urging
a subway beneath the tracks of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Van
Buren street. zoning matters, elec-
tion OF new members and a decision
to celebrate Washington's birthday.
Aftiliation with the Federation Of
Citizens Associations had been ap-
proved and in recent years the new
genization has furnished both a
president and vice president of the
federation.
Improvements Reviewed.
During the past nine years the as
sociation has been active and today
feels it is primarily responsible for
many Improvements in the Takona
section, and is planning to campaign
for future needs.
One of the first improvements se-
cured was an auditorium to the Ia
koma Public School, Piney Branch
road and Dahlia street. where many
civic organizations meet and where
several flower shows under auspices of
the Takoma Horticultural Club have
been held. The removal of the trolley
poles in the center of Butternut street
from Walter Reed Hospital entrance
on Georgia avenue to the terminus of
the electric line at Fourth and Cedar
streets resulted from efforts of the
association, as did also the paving and
widening of streets at the intersection
of Fourth and Cedar streets and Blair
road.
After a long battle the underpass
was constructed at Van Buren, street,
and the school children in that
vicinity safely protected from railroad
trains The widening and improve
ment OF Plney Branch road and the
elimination of the grade crossing of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at
Chestnut street by the construction Of
another underpaSs connecting with the
Maryland side has Just recently been
accomplished and the citizens are now
waiting for its official dedication
IN Al