Evening star., 1939-04-02
Memorial Planned
By Citizens for
Pop Clements
'One-Mon Federation
Was Leader in Boys
Playground Work

Erection Of memorial to the late
William r. Pop" Clements, disabled
World War veteran who organized
Edgewood Playground, will be pro-
vided for at tomorrow nights meet
ing Of the Metropolis View Citizens
Association, President Vincent P.
Boudren announced yesterday.
Miss Sibyl Baker, District super
visor Of Fairgrounds, will speak at
the meeting, which will be con-
cerned largely with drafting resolu-
tions in honor Of Mr.. Clements and
arranging for the memorial.
Mr.. Boudren said that an "extra"
of the Metropolis Viewpoint. post
card newspaper Of the citizens asso-
citation, had been distributed In
honor Of the man called Pop by
the children and known affection
ately in the Northeast section as
"the Mayor of Edgewood"
zone Man Federation"
"One-man federation in the inter-
est of Metropolis View children"
was President Boudren's description
of Mr.. Clements. In 1881 Pop"
unable to work because of injuries
received in the war, gathered lads
of the neighborhood between 10 and
13 years old together into the Edge
wood Peewees," baseball team us
ing st. Pauls Field as its practice
ground.
Shortly thereafter Mr.. Clements
began to fight for a playground in
the Metropolis View community Mr..
Boudren attributed the acquisition
Of the vacant lot near Third and
Douglas streets NE. by the Dis
trict. and its subsequent develop
ment into the present playground,
largely to Mr.. Clements efforts.
Pop" elements visited c. Marshall
Finnan, supervisor of the National
Park Service, and the Office of the
Park and Planning Commission fire.
quently in the interest Of his hobby,
Mr.. Boudren said
AS the "PeeWees" grew up. Pop"
enlarged their sporting activities to
include basket ball and football.
forming, when they had reached the
ages between 18 and 2l, the
twenty-five Club When the orig
inal boys became older, Mr.. Clements
worked among the younger boys as
we'll, forming the Ten Little Dukes"
softball team.
Directed Playground.
Pop" served for years as the un-
paid director of the Edgewood Play
ground and was commended to Con-
gress by the District Commissioners
for his work. His house, a few
doors down from the playground,
was headquarters for the boys of
the community, It's basement fitted
out as dressing room for the teams,
its garage used for the storage of
equipment. Mr. Boudren told how
the boys of the neighborhood would
gather at Pops" house in droves
for the meetings of the clubs in the
basement or just to sit on his front
stoop and talk. Mr. Clements gave
the boys advice and was known on
occasion to help them find jobs,
Mr.. Boudren said.
When the Metropolis View Citi-
zens' Association was formed Mr..
Clements became chairman of it's
Committee on Parks, serving in
that capacity until october of last
year, when i'll health forced him to
become less active.
Shelter House Sought.
At the meeting tomorrow. Mr..
Boudren stated, the citizens will be
informed officially by Mrs. w. M.
Flinchum, chairman of the Educa-
ton Committee, that the Edge
wood Playground is still included
in the 1910 District budget as site
for a $4,000 shelter house. project
in which Mr.. Clements was deeply
interested.
Mr.. Boudren said that the me-
mortal to Pop" Clements would
probably take the form of lagpole
and tablet or of a bronze plaque.
Surely there is no better place
to perpetuate Mr.. Clements mem
ory than where the children of
Edgewood can play and gain the
strength and happiness he desired
for them" the Metropolis View pres
ident quoted Miss Baker as saying.