Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-06-10
4O.YEAR-OLD UNIT
F0RMEDT0OBTA|N
SCHOOL FACILITIES
Original President of North
Capitol Group Is Now
Committee Head.

The North Capitol Citizens As
ISOLATION, since its organization more
than 40 years ago, has concentrated
all its resources in battle for
adequate educational facilities for
the community which it represents.
Since its foundation by William G..
Henderson, who served as its first
president, and is, even now. chairman
of its Public Utilities Committee, the
organization also has waged a fight
for well paved and well lighted
streets.
The rolling meadows of the Ecking-
ton and Bloomingdale sections have
come a long way since Henderson and
five other residents of the community
got together, back in 1889, and
formed what was then known as the
North Capital and lexington Citizens
Association.
At that first meeting. held in the
home of Abram r. Server, Henderson
was elected to the presidency-a post
he held for more than Is years. Also
present were W. ]. Fowler, w. ].
Hughes, T. r. Crane and R. B. Nixon.
Other presidents that followed
Henderson we're: Irving B. Linton,
DR.. Edgon D. Thompson and Seldom
NJ. Ely.
The first open meeting was held
eoon afterward in Washington Col
lege. BY the end of the first year
more than 80 persons had been
aroused to active participation.
Schools Obtained.
+rolIa,,s ,,,ara tho fret
thoughts of the group, and for sew
eral years they waged battle that IN
the end brought them the needed
transportation as far as lexington,
and. through bill enacted by Con-
gress, fine new school building at
First and Quincy streets.
The school was Immediately filled
to OVERCOMING and a battle for
another school was at once started.
The Gage School at Second and U
streets was the next granted. and
then, in 1919, the growing need of a
high school in the Bloomingdale
district was seen and a drive was
begun for an lexington high school.
1t resulted in the granting OF funds
for a Junior high school on a tract OF
ldUQ IUCdlcu vi OIlCCb LiOi tAASo%,b
between First and Second streets, and
running back to Seaton place. After
the completion of the Junior high
school. the present Mckinley High
School was erected.
The fire house on North Capitol
and @ streets was the result OF a fight
made by the Executive Committee,
after they had pointed out to the
District officials that they were
without any kind of fire protection
More policemen were placed on
night beats after the group had COM
planned of lack of burglar protection,
The Bloomingdale and LIE Droit
Park Citizens Association, organized
in 1908 and which was later re-
named the Bloomingdale, LIE Droit
Park and Reservoir Heights Citizens
Association and then again changed
to the North Washington Citizens
Association, in the latter part of 1924,
was consolidated with the North
Capitol group.
Early Presidents Recalled.
Among those who served as presi-
dents before the group consolidated
E. Emig. Washington Topham. Gen.
Charles H. Ourand, R. M. Yost and
Henry Gilligan.
The first meeting of the newly
formed group took place February Is,
1928, in the United Brethren Church,
North Capitol and r streets, and the
following officers were elected: Presi-
dent, Henry Gilligan; first vice presi-
dent, DR.. Ella r. Fales; sec
ond vice president, Raymond Lor-
ang. and secretary and treasurer,
Jesse w. Morgan. Mr.. Gilligan con-
tinued in the Office of president until
1881. when he was succeeded by Will
P. Kennedy who served for the years
1892 and 1888 B. j. McGuirl was
elected president for 1884.
The association is now composed
of the following committees: EXecu-
tive. Committee, Membership Commit
tee, Publicity Committee, Committee
on Public Utilities, Committee on
Schools. Committee on Taxation and
Federal Relations, Committee on
Streets, Sidewalks and Lights; Com
mittee on Fire and Police Protection,
Committee on Public Safety, Sewers
and Water Committee. Committee on
Public Health, Zoning Committee,
Committee on Parks, Lawns and Play
grounds; Property Committee and
Committee on Postal Facilities.
Achievements Listed.
Major achievements of the associa-
ton include: lexington School,
Emery School, Gage School. No. IL
Engine House on North Capitol street,
the North Capitol street railroad
north from H street, the Florida av-
enue line of the Capital Traction
Co. retaining wall to Prospect Hill
Cemetery on v street east from North
Capitol street to Lincoln road, i'm
provementS of Truxton Circle and the
park at Florida avenue and First
street west. the substation post Offices
at North Capitol and Florida avenue
and Bryant street and North Capitol.
The extension of Fairgrounds at the
Emery, lexington and Gage Schools,
and the establishment of the Bloom
tngdale Playground at First and
Bryant streets, motorization of the fire
apparatus in No. II Engine House,
a flve-acre site for the Langley Junior
High School and the school itself
Site for the Mckinley High School,
pavements, sidewalks and lights, po-
lice protection, assembly hall and
gymnasium in the Langley School,
paving of North Capitol street from
v street to Michigan avenue, buses
to High View along Rhode Island
avenue. Aided in securing additional
ground in connection with the con-
struction of the Mckinley swimming
pool 1t has been instrumental in
keeping all streets, sidewalks and al
leys well paved and lighted and has
endeav0red to keep the community
~ h. l,inl, nlnrc hock