Evening star., 1939-12-10
Rites at Bridge
Over Anacostia
Honor Sousa
Two Daughters
Help Dedicate
New Span
BY HORACE KNOWLES.

By HORACE KNOWLES.
The memory Of John Philip Sousa
yesterday was enshrined in granite
as a new bridge bearing his name
carried a stream of trafic across
the Anacostia River in Southeast
Washington.
Within earshot of the march
kings grave in Congressional Gene
terry, the structure was dedicated
yesterday to the accompaniment OF
his music, played by the United
States Marine Band, which he di-
rected for IL years.
A score of American flags flut-
tered in breeze warmed by bright
SUN as 5000 persons heard the
band strike up The Stars and
Stripes Forever" one of Sousa's i'm
mortal marches. The famous band
leader was a resident Of Southeast
Washington.
The dedication exercises were cli-
NAKED by the cutting OF a white
silk ribbon by 9-year-old Nancy
Virginia Lee, daughter of Adelbert
w. Lee, who presided at the cere-
mony, opening the bridge to cars OF
civic leaders and the thousands OF
pedestrians attending the dedlca.
ton. Young Nancy was accompanied
by John Frank Bullough, II, son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. John Bullough.
Sousa's Daughters Present.
Honor guests at the exercises were
two of Sousa's daughters. Miss Jane
Priscilla Sousa and Mrs. Helen Sousa
Albert, both of Port Washington,
Long Island, N. Y, and Sousas
eldest sister, Mrs. Catherine M. Va
.rela of Chevy Chase. The latter
sat in a car parked nearby ana
heard the dedication over the loud
speaker system.
Col. David McCoach, jr.. Engineer
Commissioner. accepted the bridge
on behalf of the Commissioners
from Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, d.
rector of highways. Commissioner
Hazen, who attended the dedication
of the old span In 1890, was unable
to attend because of illness.
In his presentation remarks, Capt.
Whitehurst pointed out that the
structure has spans of 154 feet
each, and the roadway, when both
sections are completed, will be 6O
feet between curbs, with two 6-foot
sidewalks. Only the downstream
half of the bridge has been built,
with the other half to be finished
within the coming year as soon as
| the old span is demolished.
The structure, with pier abut-
ments and a portion of the balus-
! trades faced with granite. will cost
SO 600 900 when complete. Capt.
Whitehurst said. 1t is being paid
for from the tax on i01 $50 900 gall
Ions of gasoline, he explained.
Suitable Service Roads Needed.
Col. McCoach, in his acceptance,
said that for a bridge to be useful
suitable roads and streets leading
to and away from 1t and serving
the surrounding community" are
necessary.
Among the projects of this ma
ture in Southeast Washington which
have been started or are contem-
plated in the very near future" he
said. "are the paving Of Minnesota
avenue from Pennsylvania avenue to
Benning road and the repaving OF
Pennsylvania avenue from Branch
| to Alabama avenue
Continuing, he said: Il can visu-
alize for Southeast Washington the
brightest future. And in closing let
me wish you success in your under
takings and I look forward to the
early completion of this and other
projects in Southeast"
Accepting the bridge on behalf OF
the Southeast citizens was Orrin j.
Davy, president of the Southeast
Council of Citizens Associations.
Tracing the history of the three
bridges which preceded the new one
over that point of the river, Mr.. Davy
said that as early as 1895 the Mary
land Assembly granted charter for
the first structure. This was de-
stroyed during the War of 1872 to
retard the British troops advancing
on the Capital, he said, and another
was built in 1915.
Steamboat Fired Span.
This latter bridge was destroyed
by fire in 1845, started by a passing
steamboat. and was not replaced un-
til the present old structure was
erected in 1890, Mr.. Davy said.
Louis F. Frick, secretary Of the
Southeast Business Mems Associa-
ton, referred to the long fight to
secure appropriations for the bridges
erection and expressed the gratifica-
ton of the sections businessmen for
the new improvement.
The invocation was pronounced by
the Rev. Edward Gabler, rector,
Christ Episcopal Church, and the
benediction by the Right Rev. Msgr.
Eugene j. Connolly, pastor of st.
Peters Roman Catholic Church.
William A.. Maio, president Of
the Southeast Citizens Association,
opened the ceremonies with an intro
duction of Mr.. Lee.
Two Boy Scouts, George Durham
and Jack Green, blew taps in an echo
arrangement, directed at Sousa's
grave.
Parsons. Klapp, Brinckerhof h
Douglas are the architects, and Nc
Kim, Meade & White the consulting
engineers. The Parker Construction
Co. is building the bridge and the
Highway Engineering Co. is paving
the approaches.