Evening star., 1939-12-02
Fitting Ceremonies
Mark Openings Of 4
Santa Claus Lanes
Thousands of Children
Shout Their Welcomes
And Receive Toys

an enthusiastic welcome last night
as Santa Claus made his first official
1889 visit to Washington, opening
four gay Christmas lanes on business
thoroughfares.
A steady drizzle failed to dis
courage throngs of children and
adults who watched a colorful pa
rade at Bethesda. Nd, and waited
the lighting of Christmas streets at
Columbia Heights, Seventh street
NV, and Brookland.
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen
pressed the button that turned
upper Fourteenth street into a COL
orful Christmas highway from Co.
lumbia road to Monroe street All
that was needed was a Santa Claus.
A few minutes later there were six
Santas. complete with white boards
and red suits, riding up in open
automobiles.
Two thousand toys were distrib-
uted by the six Santas to the shout
ing youngsters crowding around the
cars. The opening ceremonies
marked the 10th anniversary Of
Washington's original Santa Claus
Lane, sponsored since 1929 by the
Columbia Heights Busienss Mems
Association.
Bethesda Parade.
Large crowds lined Wisconsin
avenue from Bradley lane to Old
Georgetown road in Bethesda to
watch the parade which added
gayety to the Maryland city's well
come Santa Claus helpers in this
celebration included more than 40
gaily decorated floats. uniformed
bands and drill teams competing for
prizes in the parade sponsored by
the Bethesda Chamber of Com
merce.
The Bethesda Fire Department
float won the chamber trophy for
the best Montgomery County entry
On the float. trimmed with 5000
paper red roses, sat Miss Fire Con-
scious," portrayed by Martha Ann
Harper. and her two maids of honor
and firemen.
The Campfire Girls won the
Bethesda Sign Service Cup for the
best juvenile unit and the Barbara
Briggs Post, American Legion, won
the Poole Printing Service Cup for
the best juvenile drum and bugle
corps. The Police Boys Club Band
of Washington received the Bethesda
Theater Trophy for the outstanding
musical entry.
The Mckee Auto Service Cup for
the most original entry went to the
Glover Crest Doughnut Co. and the
G. w. Imirie Garage received the
award for the most comical float
on which a patient was trying to
operate on himself. The best deco
rated bicycle was that of little Doro-
thy Warrington, who won a bicycle
from the Economy Auto Supply Co.
The Chesapeake & Potomac Tele-
phone Co. of Baltimore won the
Whittlesey Trophy for the best Wis
iting unit
Seventh Street Lane.
| Ponce inspector y. u. becketl
turned the switch that lighted
Christmas lane along Seventh street
NV. between K and o streets. The
Northern Seventh Street Business
Mems Association sponsored the
ceremony. which was opened by a
contest for four prizes to be awarded
to Christmas shoppers in the area
Charles Gordell heads the commit
tee which will award suites of furni-
ture, a radio and washing ma
chine between Christmas and New
Year.
Little Mitzi Davis, 9, of 1882 New
ton street NE, as Miss Brookland, u
greeted Santa Claus as he stopped
at the Christmas lane celebration at
Brookland where Twelfth street N E.
from Monroe to Newton streets
forms Santa's own pathway.
Santa Claus arrived in an auto
mobile, and his entrance was fol-
lowed by a drill by the Sons of the
American Legion Drum and Bugle
Corps. William Tobin acted as mas
ter of ceremonies at the opening and
led the youngsters in singing Christ
mas songs. Paul F. Monroe is presi-
dent of the Brookland Business
Mems Association, which sponsored
the lighting and ceremony.