Evening star., 1934-03-25
.H|LLCREST UNITS
HISTORY RECALLED
Many Community Benefits
Obtained During Past
Seven Years.

The Hillcrest Citizens Association
in its slightly more than seven years
of existence has helped sponsor the
growth and development of the Ana
costa community from 25 scattered
homes to a thriving town OF LOU
population.
The association has rendered in
valuable service IN opening up and OBJ
tanning modern urban improvements
to a section that a decade ago was en-
tirely rural and was one of the least
known sections of the National Cap
ital However, organization offlcials
realize that for them the work has
lust begun" and they readily picture
their section to be in future years one
of the most desirable residential dis
trictS in the city.
Advantages Pointed Out.
Geographically and geographically
the section is well suited Tor resi-
dences. 1t occupies one Of the highest
and airiest parts of the District-on
the crest of the Anacostia hills. Ala
bama avenue runs from end TO eno
and is the main street OF HlllcreSt.
1t is an exceedingly narrow commun-
itv running only few blocks on
either side of its principal thorough
fare.
The association was founded Mo-
vember 3, 1926, by a group Of men
who discovered that individually they
could not obtain any OF the improve
! ments to which they were entitled as
residents of the National Capital.
A statement from Rudolph Malth,
Veterans Bureau official, current
president who took leading part In
founding the organization, well de-
scribes the condition of the section
when the association came into being
The streets had dirt surface and
were not graded" Mr.. Malth recalled.
There were no city sidewalks, no
curbs and cutters, no garbage or trash
collections. We were without sewers,
mail service and in case of fire the
only way we could summon apparatus
was through use of the telephone.
The water system was entirely made
ol,ate and our roads at night were
dark and dangerous. Police protec-
ton was virtually an unthought-ot
thing"
Transportation Inadequate.
Mr.. Malth said that transportation
to and from the street car line at
Seventeenth and Pennsylvania avenue
southeast was on hourly scheoule
with the last bus leaving Hillcrest at
pm. Bus patrons were taxed two
tokens before they reached downtown
Washington. Shelter was not pro-
yided at the transper point.
The movement for a citizens asso-
citation received Immediately the
whole-hearted support of the resi-
, dents. Rev. James w. Many, then
pastor of the East Washington Heights
Baptist Church, offered the facllltles
of the church as meeting place, ana
it has been used ever since. MI
| Many was intensely interested IN the
association work and attended lts
meetings regularly until his retirement
several years ago.
The new association elected as its
| first president George Sizemore, VINO
since has moved from the section.
However. he returned for the March
meeting and along with other past
| presidents addressed the group. Others
active in founding and advancing the
| organization were: The late Calep
| powers. C. A. Brody, Harry E. Burke,
| George E. Eckendorf, Mr.. and Mrs.
| Charles E. Foster, Henry L. Gramp.
George Marshall James A. Reed. Clln-
| ton L. Scott and A. H. Sellman.
The terms of Mr.. Malth were the
1 1900 euocasSflll in the associations
history, so he was extended man
date by members to serve third
term. He has stated that his main
! detectives would be the early installa-
! ton of a sewer south OF Aiapama
avenue. the extension Of these faclll-
! ties to the north of the avenue; the
| laying of sidewalks and the grading
| and surfacing of additional streets
| The ureSident has established q strong
| inter-association organization, and
community interest in the accomplish
ments of the group has been running
! high in recent months. Attendance
/ at meetings has more than doubled
In the main the accomplishments
of the infant association have been
theobtaining of primary improvements
for its community. The main streets
have been paved, streets lighted, and
| the many urban services greatly i'm
proved. However, in many parts OF
Hillcrest the people still do not enjoy
as many benefits as they are entitled
| as taxpayers, and it is toward this
! end that Mr.. Malth has dedicated the
work Of the association during the
coming year.