The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-04-25
WAsHINGToN HILL
Washington Park Club Has 25th Birthday
 Park and Club on "The Hill"
 Outstanding in Recreational and
 Civic Improvements
Civic ImproVements

Way back in December, 1926, q noticed appeared in the local press calling attention of the residents of washington Hill to meet in tho Washington School Gym-the req son--to form Q Community Club, Il was thought a club to further the needs of people living in this sec' ton for public Improvements wa; badly needed, At that time, Wash ington Park, which had been pur- chased by the city for Q park, was almost Q wilderness, very few streets had sidewalks, and as many again were without sewers, and street light were conspicuous by their abs sence.
 If one can form Q mental pie ture of all thlS--lt can be readily understood why the late Martin Scully and 6 few Of his neighborS felt a Community Club was needed to give this part Of Waterbury the improvements they needed,
 The first meeting, while 1t didn't come up to expectations, having only three people, MT. Scully and MT. and Mrs, Henry A. Hayden didn't discourage the old Irish pioneer blood, and as It was only two days from Christmas, 1t was thought people might not have seen the notice in the papers, being busy with the YuletIde preparations, Af- ter the New Year another meeting was called which was more promis- ing, and on March 26th, 1926, q Community Club was formed, and the man responsible for 1t all, Mar tin Scully, was elected unanimously to be It's first president, and Mrs II. A. Hayden, secretary.
 The Beginning
 The club was not named until the meeting on April eth, and other officers elected were Mrs, Patrick Grove, vice.chairman, and Mrs Prank McGrath, treasurer,
 As the club was to seek improve ments, suggestions for these were named very quickly police protec. ton, q call box at the corner ot sylvan Avenue and Luke Streets and elimination of the Keefe Street dump After much hard work the improvements were accomplished and the attention of the members was focused on Washington Park.
 By contacting Superintendent ot Parks Irving Harrison, benches and paths for people to walk through the parks were obtained after the people In authority saw they were needed,
 Men Who Helped
 No history would be complete without making mention of the names of the men then in authority who were responsible in helping the club get these needed improvement These were Alderman William Mo- her, Alderman Patrick McFadden, John J. O'Sulllvan, Senator Joseph Lawlor, as well aS Superintendent of Parks Irving Harrison. In ap- preclation of these favors. and in memory of their good deeds, the club dedicated Q tree In memory Of William Moher which now stands iil c conspicuous place in Washing ton Park, and Q copper plaque for Patrick McFadden, and for John J. OSuliivan.
 Details in connection with the incorporation of the club were tak- en care of, and under Articles of Association" in the Town Clerks office of tho City 'of Waterbury, dated November 23, 1926. recorded in Waterbury Corporation records, Vol. a, page 465, can be found this notation: washington Park Com munlty Club, Inc.
 SuhcrlberS:
 Martin Scully,
 K, Nellie Hayden,
 Mrs. Prank Mc0rath."
 Bylaws were also drawn up, through the efforts of the late At torney Vincent A. Scully, who at that time was just starting on his career.
 Memory Lane" Dedicated
 Washington Park Community Club is the second oldest Com 1nunity Club in the city: Overlook Cttage Park Club was formed few months before.
 Among the improvements made through the efforts Of the members of the club, Q pathway of trees donated by the graduation classes of the four schools in this district, St. Francis Parochial school, and Merriman, Washington and Null cahy public schools. This was called Memory Lane" and some of the original trees are still standing. PICKUP TWO
 With patience and hard work the Community House was made a real- ity during the time MT. w. F. Kelly was president of the club.
 Washington Park Community Club played an important part in obtaining bus service on Sylvan Avenue, the new Baldwin Street Bridge and in obtaining water supply to some of the people living in the outlying districts off Edge wood Avenue. The drinking foun- tain was erected from funds Solic- 5ted from door to door by members of the Community Club and with the help of the Park Department, the fountain was built and ded- icated to the three boys who lost their lives in 8 tragic electric storm July li, 194O. in Washington Park 
 After World War I, through ef- forts. of some of its members, a German cannon was given and now stands in Washington Park, with in khe shadow nf tha flaonoln an.