Evening star., 1942-10-26
Officials Seek
Navy S Help in
Saving School
Assistance Sought
For Completion Of
Patterson Project

School officials indicated today
that they will appeal to the Com
missioners and to Navy Yard au-
thorities to intercede with the War
Production Board and the Federal
Works Agency in an effort to have
construction of the Patterson School
continued. The appeal will be made
by Thursday.
The Patterson, an eight-room
temporary building for elementary
school children at Nichols avenue
and Chesapeake street S.W., is one
of the 220 building projects which
WPB last week recommended to
FWA be discontinued for the dura-
ton. The ground already has been
broken for the building and the
framework is being erected.
A stop order has not yet been
Brig. Gen. Philip H. Fleming, FWA
administration, has informed WPB
Chairman Donald B. Nelson that
SO of the 220 projects which are
already actually underway, includ-
ing the Patterson, will be restudied
by FWA before stop orders are
given. The 122 projects still in the
blueprint stage have been definitely
postponed for the duration.
Overcrowding Expected.
The school was being constructed,
according to First Assistant Super
intendent of Schools Robert L. Hay
cock, to care for the children OF
workers at the Naval Research Lab
oratory.
Even if the Patterson is finished,
Heights Elementary School a mile
and half away still will be seri-
ously overcrowded with children
of workers.
1T is believed by the school Of
flciaLs,'' said Mr.. Haycock, that in
fluX of population since our original
surveys for the Patterson were made
will crowd it beyond its capacity as
soon as it is built
Homes for about 1900 families
plasized the need for the Patter-
son last year, Mr. Haycock esti-
mated. Besides such large dwelling
units as Bellevue Gardens, with $50
units, Livingston Manor, with 300,
and the Alley Dwelling Authority
project, Highlands with about 200,
an additional 800 homes have been
opened up in the area since last
year.
Navy Requested School,.
Besides serving the children of all
these families, the Patterson was to
have taken the children of 600 Belle
vue Reservation dWellers who are
now taken in buses to the Van Buren
School more than two miles away
School officials are anxious to dis
continue use of the old Van Buren
structure, long ago earmarked for re-
placement.
In addition to these children. &C
cording to J. E. Doran, resident
manager of the Bellevue housing
project, about Is more from the
OCllCNuC hlAldSl Sdl CCll WCiC W iiosC
entered the Patterson in February
The kindergarten is maintained on
the reservation by the Bellevue
Mothers Club.
The Van Buren, Parent-Teacher
Association also plans to appeal to
Navy Yard authorities to intercede
with FWA, Mr.. Haycock said. He
added that the Patterson was
planned first after requests had come
from Navy Yard authorities that
school accommodations be provided
for the childreM of workers the Navy
planned to house in and near Belle
Vue.
Capt. J. A. Wellbrock, chief of
staff of the Navy Yard, wrote a
letter when justification for the
Patterson was being considered, de-
claring that the Navy authorities
considered need for the school i'm
perative in view of influx of Navy
workers.
It was estimated that construction
of the temporary school could be
finished in five weeks.