Evening star., 1936-10-21

An elQeTly WiuOW-WUilaus Witih
real happiness glowing in o wide
smile, opened the door of her recondi-
toned brick home yesterday afternoon
in a southeast alley formerly known
as London court and proudly invited
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen to
"jest step right in and see what de
good Lawd has brought me-"
Behind Commissioner Hazen trooped
some of Washington's foremost citi-
zens and the trim tidiness and COM
forts of the house apparently pleased
them as much as they did the woman.
For London court has changed its
character and yesterday it also
changed its name to that of Hopkins
place in grateful memory of the late
Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, whose earnest
efforts to eliminate Washington's slum
districts eventually resulted in the
dedication of the first Government
built homes in this city for alley
dwellers. -
Rentals From $3.50 to $2S.
The "house-warming" was a social
success and a revelation to those who
had come out of curiosity to see just
what the Alley Dwelling Authority
had accomplished in demolishing a
sordid area and remaking 1t into
habitation of modernly equipped, sani-
tary homes at rentals ranging from
$3.50 to s28 q month.
Hf fHA trim NJ
houses. glistening with white paint.
stood out in sharp contrast the nu-
merous shanties and decayed brick
dwellings that are typical of living
conditions in some sections down
near the gas house district" along the
railroad tracks.
The spirit Of the old colored woman
who welcomed visitors to her home
was typical, too, of the attitude OF
the other occupants of the recondi-
toned houses. They are among the
''less fortunate" Of the former dwellers
in London court who are unable to
pay the slightly higher rent for the
brand-new homes.
For her reconditioned home this
colored woman pays $3.50 a month,
with roomer to help out" Former
ly she paid $12.50.
"Jest look at that bath room and
bathtub," she said to her visitors.
There wasn't anything like that IN
my old house and it was all ratty
and coming to pieces, too"
Message From Mrs. Roosevelt.
From the Presidents train came q
message from Mrs. Franklin d. Roose-
welt, who, with the late Mrs. Ellen
Wilson and Mrs. Hopkins, engaged
more than any other women to bring
about the causes of yesterdays cele-
bration.
Il feel Mrs. Hopkins should have
all the credit and honor that any OF US
can bring to her memory because OF
the wonderful work she did for bet
ter housing in Washington, not to
mention the innumerable other things
In which she was the moving spirit"
read Mrs. Roosevelt's message.
Following Commissioner Hazen's
dedication Mrs. Henry G. Patterson
Of New York. Mrs. Hopkins daughter.
spoke Of the qualification her mother
would have felt had she lived to see
this realization Of hope long de-
ferred. Mrs. c. Carroll Glover, jr.,
niece Of Mrs. Hopkins, and q son,
Lawrence Hopkins of Boston, also at
tended the dedication.
In his address Hazen referred to
the first protest against the alleys In
1870, and added:
While Washington owes q debt Of
gratitude to many persons, to Presi-
dents, to citizens, to members of Con-
gress, for keeping up the long fight
during periods of disbursement, we
owe an especial debt to three women,
without whose aid we would not have
our present hope Of success.
Mrs. Roosevelt Came to Rescue.
"Ellen Wilson, wife of the President,
dramatized the problem, focused at
tention upon 1t. secured, even on her
death-bed, enactment Of the law Of
1914, necessary predecessor 10 the law