Evening star., 1941-09-28
Northeast Civic Units Plan
Cooperation, Fowler Says
r. [. Avenue Head
Says Others Are
Consulted

The word "co-ordinate" may loom
large on the civic horizon of North
east Washington.
John L. Fowler, elected president
of the Rhode Island Avenue Cltl-
zens' Association the first of this
year, said his group was working to
coordinate attitudes as closely as
| possible" with the Burroughs and
National Gateway Citizens Asso-
! Citations.
Inan interview, Mr.. Fowler indicat-
ed that in every opportunity pos
sible" the Rhode Island Avenue group
and officers of the two other aSso-
Citations are attempting to co-ordl-
nate their views. He said that if a
particular question comes up, he
calls the officers of the other groups
to get their unofficial attitude"
Meanwhile, Mr.. Fowler revealed
| that the Zoning Committee is work.
ing on survey of the greater Wood
ridge area as a longtime guide
for the future development of the
community" He said the plan is
to establish Zoning policy in
particular communities, rather than
the hit or miss" system of the past.
The report is expected, he said, be-
fore the end of this year.
Mr.. Fowler, who joined the asso-
citation shortly after moving to the
Woodbridge area in 1924, was first
vice president last year. He was for
long time chairman of the Zoning
Committee.
Mr.. Fowler is a native of Illinois.
At the outbreak of the war with
Germany, he enlisted in the Navy
and made II round trips. doing
transport duty. He admitted that
he didn't know what it was all
about" at first and that he didn't
learn how to tie square knot until
he was on the train from the Great
Lakes training center to the coast.
After the war, he left the Navy
and returned to Illinois, where he
learned the printing trade. He then
came to the Government Printing
Office in Washington and earned
a high rating as linotype operator
He went to law school at night and
was graduated from the South
eastern Law School, which was then
District of Columbia College, in 1923
as president and winner of the 1928
public c-speaking contest
He was admitted to the bar that
year and has had an Office on Rhode
Island avenue ever since. Mr.
Fowler has served twice as presi-
dent of the Brookland-W Woodbridge
Association and was for three years
superintendent of the Sherwood
Presbyterian Sunday School. He is
past chancellor of the knights
of Pythias and is a member of the
East Gate Lodge of Masons.
Mr.. Fowler has also been active
in veterans affairs. He is a mem
ber of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
and was said to be instrumental in
arranging the merger that resulted
in the formation of Follow Me-
Defense Post of the organization.
IOiAoWillS LAD ClCCtlOIl, lSElSllUOl-
hood News, official organ of the
association, noted that las attorney
for the association and for the COM
munity he successfully defended the
validity of land covenants when
they were violated in the Woodbridge
subdivision through the sale of liquor
in an area on Rhode Island avenue
covenanted against such sale"
Other matters which Mr.. Fowler
said would come up this year in
clude opposition to rezoning the
north side of Irving street, between
Eighteenth and Twentieth NE from
residential A restricted to A, per-
mitting construction of apartments.
He said they were also working for
complete development of the Taft
School and for the purchase of a
suitable location. for a senior high
school in the area.
We've always encouraged COM
munity activities" Mr.. Fowler said.
For several years he has been chair
man of the Community Fourth of
July celebration
Mr.. Fowler, who married in 1923
and has two children, makes his
home at 2004 Otis street NE. He
enjoys football and baseball and is
always on hand at Taft Park when
the athletic club is there for base
ball.