Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-16
HOUSING CONTEST
. WINNERS CHOSEN
Bay State Girl and Idaho
Boy Awarded $1,000 and
Job Offers.

Miss Marion Higgins, young high
school student Of Chelsea, Mass, and
Robert B. Scharf, a student In the
Occur d'Alene High School, Occur
d'Alene. Idaho. won prizes OF $1,000
and offers of a position in the Fed
eral Housing Administration last night
when they were adjudged winners in
the National Educational Better Hous-
ing Contest, sponsored by the F. H. A.
The two were selected from among
eight contestants who came here to
compete in the finals, after their prize
essays on better housing had carried
them through school, district, county
and State contests The selections
were made by five judges after each
student recited his or her essay In
the auditorium of the United States
Chamber Of Commerce. This program
also marked the close of the celebra-
ton of Better Housing day in Wash
3ngton.
Second Prize Is $500.
Second prizes of $500 were awarded
to Robert ]. Mcbride, st. Patrick's
High School, Elizabeth, N. j., and
Miss Margaret Dillon, Cathedral High
School, Omaha, Nebr Allan Brown
of 5412 Thirtieth place, western High
School student and the lone Washing
ton finalist, won the boys third prize
of $3.50. while Miss Rita McGuane,
Mercy High School, Chicago, Ill, won
the prize for the girls. Fourth prizes
of 500 were awarded to Miss Wilma
Kirby. Boyne City High School, Boyne
City. Mich. and George Lourna, Clat-
skanie High School, Clatskanie, Greg
The offer of positions in the Fed
eral Housing Administration to the
two who won top honors came as a
surprise award. The offer was made
by Paul Fitzpatrick, director Of pub
lie relations, F. H. A.. who said that
after he had heard the speeches. !
was sure that they are the kind OF
persons we need"
Miss Higgins, student In the st
Rose High School, chose as her essay
topic The Modern Home" Schart
subject was Better Housing and Bet
ter Homes" The judges in the finals
we're Mark Foote. president of the
National Press Club; Mrs. r. c.
Hearn. chief of the Housing Study
Committee, D. G. League of Women
Voters; F. Stuart Fitzpatrick, chief
of the construction and civic develop
ment division, United States Chamber
of Commerce; DR.. j. G. Wright, as
sistant commissioner, United States
Office of Education. and Mrs. Grace
Hayes Riley, dean Of the Washington
College of Law. -.
Discusses Housing Change.
A dynamic and convincing speaker
Miss Higgins discussed the vast changes
in housing and home equipment ano
the new inventions and appliances IN
recent years. Unfortunately. she said
all our homes do not have this modern
equipment at present. but through the
benefits afforded by the Federal hous-
ing act. the average man can now see
his way clear to improve, modernize or
build home.
Young Scharf declared in his speech
the better housing program affects
every one in the United States. either
directly or indirectly. Renovizing or
building homes not only stimulates al
business. he said, but tends to make
life healthier and happier because OF
a real moral value in improvements
and new homes.
The prizes were awarded by w. D.
Flanders, r. H. A. official. In add
ton to the money awards, each final
ist received a gold medal and cert1f1-
cate of achievement. Contestants
from more than 5000 schools took
part in this Nation wide educational
attempt to focus attention on the
benefits of the housing act
The aims and advantages Of this
decentralization act as set forth
BY these young students took more
definite form earlier yesterday with
the observance here and throughout
the country of Better Housing day.
The day marked new era IN home
building when in widely scattered
communities throughout the United
States and Hawaii ground was broken
on the sites of 3,436 model homes.
Silver Spade Presented.
The Washington Better Housing
construction program was officially
inaugurated on the east steps of the
Capitol when Speaker Byrns presented
a silver spade to Mrs. John S. Ben
nett. chairman of the women's d.
vision, Better Housing program. The
spade was used in turning sod for the
10 model homes to be constructed in
the District.
Senator Fletcher of Florida and
Representative Mary T. Norton, chair
man of the House District Committee,
also were guest speakers.
Immediately following the ceremo-
MES, Mrs. Bennett, members of her
division and officials of the F. H. A.,
boarded decorated automobiles and,
accompanied by two floats depicting
model home and a model front
yard, went about the city breaking
the ground cu the sites of the 10