Evening star., 1934-08-12
BROOKLAND UNITS
HISTORY REFLECTS
AREA'SP PROGRESS
improved Car Service and
Streets Largely Due to
Groups Persistence.

More than IS years ago q small
rroup Of citizens living about q mile
east Of the Soldiers Home tract or
ganized a society to flght for improve
ments In that nsighborhood and the
city at large. Stree Is birth early In
1893 10 the present day the Brookiand
Citizens Association has kept up that
fight.
Witnessed ModefnIEatlon OF Section.
Prom a mere handful Of members
the association has expanded until its
membership nov totals approximately
300. The group has witnessed the
passing of the pump and the advent
Of the water mains. has seen sewerage
facilities come into actuality, muddy
roads become macadarnized boule-
wards, grass grown paths give place 70
concrete walks, small trees and shrubs
grow from lanes Of saplings into
arches Of foliage along its thorough
fares. and has found many Washing
tonians seeking Brooklands higher
level for home sites.
Outstanding in the efforts Of the
association has been the improve
ments on streets In the Brookland
area, practically every meeting find-
ing some measure for improving GER
tain streets before the group for a
vote. During December, 1918, men,
bers Of Congress were besieged with
letters from members OF the associa-
tion urging them to carry out the
street improvement program outlined
In the estimates OF the District Com
misSioners, and through these letters
Brookland was included in the next
appropriations bill. In 1910 and 1914
70 streets were improved through the
efforts OF the organization. The con-
dition OF Girard street, between
Twelfth street and Brentwood road,
met disfavor In the January, 1907,
meeting and soon thereafter Senator
Tillman secured the passage Of q $l0,-
900 bill 10 improve that street.
one-Man Street Car Long Opposed.
Street car service has always been
an item OF primary consideration with
the Brookland organization. The real
reason for the success Of the group is
shown In their fight for better car
service. Brookland has been in the
flght against one-man street cars
from the time the idea was first
broached, and although they have not
been successful in eliminating tht
one-Tnan car, each year finds a re-
newal Of the subject and continued
agitation L. registered In the hope
that some day their demands will
meet favor.
The association held q celebration
at the Brookland Town Hall in No
vember, 1910, when street car service
was extended TO that area. Nineteen
twelve found the side entrance cars
of the w. r. g. e. Co. In demand by
the group and that request was
granted by the railway company a
little while later. Night street car
service was tnaugurated in the Brook
land community in 1919.
Public safety has been q hotbed Of
discussion and action by the Brook
land citizens since its early years. In
1910 Catholic University and Epis-
copal Church officials joined with the
association In protesting the continu-
ance of dangerous grade crossings on
the Baltimore 81 Ohio Railroad
through Brookland and urged legisla-
tion by Congress that would compel
the City & Suburban Railway 20 ex-
tend its tracks across the new bridge
at Monroe street. Congress enacted
that piece of legislation and the i'm
proVement was begun exactly three
months after the protest.
In 1918 the association again
showed its willingness to work for
public safety by heartily indorsing
The Stars campaign for fewer
accidents.
Secured School Site.
Schools have always caught the
undivided attention OF the citizens of
Brookland. The association secured
the lots upon which was erected the
Brookland School and have stead
tasty maintained vigilance over the
schools IN its area TO see that facil-
ities are Of the best.
The doggedneSs with which the
association keeps hammering on a
needed improvement or project is re-
markahle. For 20 years the group
advocated and worked on the propo-
sition that Fort Bunker Hill be
purchased for park before their ef-
forts were rewarded.
Brookland has been fortunate In
that many physicians have found
time TO work for the association, thus
assuring the community Of an ever
alert group striving for more sanitary
conditions. This association has
probably boasted of more members of
the medical world during its organi-
zation that any other citizens group
In the District.
Officers Listed.
Marvin H. Mclean has been one
reason for the success of the North
east group, having guided them as
president for q period Of IS years.
A. f. Kinnan served as president in
the early years Of the association for
10 years.
Present officers of the group include
Marvin H. Mclean, president; DR..
George r. Ellis, vice president; Robert
r. Mcleod, secretary; Noel B. Parks,
financial secretary, and w. f. Coff-
man. treasurer.
One can safely say that Brookland
would not be the enterprising COM
munity 1t Is today had it not enjoyed
the benefits wrought by the Brook
land Citizens Association.
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Modern Woodmen nf