Evening star., 1942-02-22
Need for Alley Lights
Got Hellmuth Into Civics
He has Worked
Is Years in
Anacostia Area
BY BAINBRDGE CRIsT.


1t sometimes takes small thing
to start a man on civic work. 1t
was, for instance, the task Of getting
lights In a dark alley beside his
home that started Robert ]. He'll
muth of Anacostia on his civic acti-
vities for Southeast washington.
That was about Is years ago. At
that time, he went to No. II police
precinct and complained about the
lighting in the narrow alley beside
his home at 1918 w street Sc. The
lieutenant on duty listened sympa-
thetically and then advised him to
60 to the Citizens Association and
press his demands there.
Mr.. Hellmuth followed the offlcer's
advice. And 1t was not long before
the alley was lighted. incidentally,
for many years Mr.. Hellmuth has
been n member Of the Police and
Fire Committee, serving as chair
man part of the time.
It Is not dificult to get Mr.. He'll
muth to talk about the Anacostia
Citizens Association, which he
headed for two years, but it Is dif-
ficult to persuade him to say any
thing about himself. After answer
ing questions politely for about 20
minutes during an interview at his
home, to which his almost 3-year-
old granddaughter listened rest
lessly, he suddenly exclaimed:
Nov let's talk about the organi-
zation. That interests me more
than anything else
Then he stood up and drew out
several small pages of hand-written
notes, outlining the history OF the
association, part Of which he gath
cred from DR.. George c. Havenner
who served as its president inter-
mittently for some IS years.
Briefly, according to his history
the association was first organized
in 1882 by II. L. Linger, q pioneer
mattress manufacturer, who was its
first president. It disbanded and
then reformed In 1895. when DR.
Havenner became its head.
During DR.. Havenner's long
regime there were many changes IN
Southeast Washington. Street carr
came shortly before the turn Of the
century, the Anacostia bridge wa
built, Nichols avenue was paved
and widened. and Fairlawn Park
playground and field houses were
made. Recent years have seen other
changes in that section. There are
now some 500 homes in Fairlawn
Village and in cooperation with
other civic groups, the association
successfully worked for the new
Sousa Bridge over Pennsylvania
avenue and for better bus service
| In the area.
From what little Mr.. Hellmuth
would say about himself, this much
can be pieced together. He wa
born In washington, went to schoo
here, and is electrical foreman at st
Elizabeth's Hospital, where he ha.
worked for IS years. He is at pres
ent delegate to the Southeast Coun-
Gil Of Citizens Associations and the
Federation. He Is . past president
Of the Holy Name and st. Vincent
De Paul Societies Of st. Teresa's
Parish.
A devoted family man, Mr.. and
Mrs. Hellmuth have three children
q son, Stephen, and two married
daughters, Mrs. James Dalton anc
Mrs. John Lambert, and the grand.
daughter who sat in on the inter.
view.
At present, Mr.. Hellmuth said th'
Anacoetia group is working for
South Capitol street bridge, adding
that he was hopeful one would b
built and pointing out that the ap'
proaches were practically completed
A bridge at that location, he said
would relieve congestion on tn
Eleventh Street Bridge.
7 Ths association would also hks y