Evening star., 1934-08-05
OLD NAYLOR FARM.
WAS BIRTHPLACE.
OF CIVIC GROUP.
RandIe Highlands Citizens
Association Boasts OF
Ancient Heritage.

AAfAALJHhlM ALAsGfs " ~ u fAAk3AVf tAtt0
n busting community more than half
n century ago was recalled recently by
Robert r. Bradbury, who stin Is
known TO oId-timers by the same title
he held then--"Mayor Of Twining
City"
The title. Of course. is purely hon.
orary. il was conferred on Bradbury
because. back In the old days when
the section was devoted 10 agriculture.
he was its first citizen. His general
merchandise store was the first TO
supply the needs OF the farmers OF
the area. and later. when homes and
places OF business began TO spring up
on Just about every available piece Of
land, he became Twining City's pio-
neer real estate dealer. Even now,
after all these years. he still is carry
ing on his real estate business at the
same old stand-the same old build
ing in which he started out as
storekeeper. It's 222s Pennsylvania
avenue southeast now, but In those
days It was merely part Of Nay
lor farm.
Founded Bradbury Heights.
The distinction OF building and liv-
ing In the first house In Twining City
was held by Bradbury long before
the river was even bridged, but ac-
cording to his own version Of the in
cident, il was q seelusion that he en-
Joyed only q short time.
In his own mind, his greatest ac-
complishment was the founding and
settling Of Bradbury Heights in 1910.
Just 10 minutes ride from the city
even In those days of poor transporta-
tion facilities, the community was
considered ideal for the pioneers"
who fiocked TO 1t, rapidly building up
70 what is now thriving community.
II was some time after Twining
City had become thickly populated
that a group Of citizens met to dis
cuss minor needs of the section. With
the group was Bradbury, and 1t was
suggested by him that a civic body
be organized to tackle the many prob
lens faced by the "early settlers"
That was In 1880. The associa-
tion that sprang up after that initial
meeting was called the East Washing
ton Citizens Association, and after
few meetings, the membership rolls
were cranmed with the names of
persons who were eager to improve
their community and have one that
would stand out in beauty. Some
years later the association was re-
named the Twining City Citizens
Association, and then, in 1906, was
again reorganized and called the
Randle Highlands Citizens Associa-
ton.
Sponsors Of Bridge.
One OF the first major accomplish
ments OF the group was the con-
struction of the present Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge, authorized by Con-
gress in 1887, after q group of citi-
xens, headed. by Col. S. T. Suit, had
met a. congressional delegation and
pointed out the need for such a span
George Francis Dawson, then presi-
dent Of the organization, and A. r.
Sperry, secretary. played important
roles in obtaining the bridge, and
also participated In the dedication
after II was completed.
At present, the Randle Highlands
group is waging q fight for appro-
the same site, which they hope to
obtain in the near future.
Schools were much in need when
the association was formed and, in
order that the children might not be
made to walk to AnacoStia, a school
room was improvised above the store
operated by Bradbury. Glasses con-
tinued there until a site sold to the
District by Bradbury some six years
later was used to erect the Benjamin
Orr School. After the Orr School
had become overCrowded, the Randle
Highlands School was built.
Adequate educational facilities for
Twtning City children always has
been one of the major aims of the
association, and the citizens feel that
they have been well rewarded for
this work
Organize Boy Scouts.
Recently the association has been
responsible for the sponsoring and
organizing of a Boy Scout group In
their community, and it, according to
latest reports, has swelled in numbers
and has become quite a large group.
Bradbury was the first president
OF the association, and following him
we're:
Charles G. Robinson. 1908 and 1909;
Charles A. Barker, 1910 and 1919;
j. Walter Mitchell, 1912; DR.. B. T..
woodward, 1918 and 1914; Samuel E.
Snyder. 1916, 1917 and 1926: Rex
B. Duckett. 1920: Thomas Crane, 1921
and 1922; Alfred K. Ware, 1928; Reu-
ben H. Randle. 1924; Joseph G. Her
bert, 1925; Clifford Shoemaker, 1927;
Paul E. Mckinney, 1928; William G.
Gath, 1929: J. Milton Collins, 1880:
John Gibson. 1881; Herbert F. Marti.
1882, and Adelbert w. Lee, 1888 and
1894.
The organization has always made
1t point to know what is going
on IN Congress, and a special Con-
greSSional Committee has been ap-
pointed to keep on hand all bills that
refer to the welfare of the District,
so that the association may approve
or diSapprove.
Fairgrounds Obtained.
Fairgrounds. paved and well lighted
streets, several small parks, sidewalks,
alleys. sewer and water mains are
some Of the minor accomplishments
of the group. A fire house at Twenty
eighth and Pennsylvania avenue
southeast was granted after the group
had waged q fight with the District
Commissioners for some time.
The association always has kept in
mind that the District Is without
proper representation and it is shown
that, as far back as 1909. they were
active in this battle. Records show
that on May 5, 1909. Thomas Clar-
ence Moves. then news editor Of The
Star, was guest speaker of the asso-
citation, and discussed the present
form Of government IN the District,
urging the organization to take action
In obtaining fun representation for
the District.
The association now is composed
Of the following committees Execu-
tive, Membership, Public Schools,
Highways. Lights. Laws and Legisla-
tion. Public Reservations. Public Utin-
ties. Public Health and Sanitation
ran1krR Esx=-