Evening star., 1946-12-01

VhbtbtstSStSh
To Act Tomorrow on
Chevy Chase Petitions
The Commissioners are expected
TO set date tomorrow for the con-
ference at which members of the
Library and Recreation Boards and
Chevy Chase residents will be given
4 chance to explain why E. v.
Brown School should be made into
! combined library and recreation
center.
A call for the conference has been
delayed pending the return Of Com
missioner John Russell Young, who
has been Ill.
Commissioner Young said last
night, however, that he expects to
be back at his desk tomorrow and
that a decision on the conference
probably will be first order OF
business" The Commissioners are
expected to hold an informal meet
ing.
The Commissioner have received
requests from the Board of Library
Trustees, the Recreation Board and
the Chevy Chase Community Coun-
Gil for a conference on E. v. Brown
School. The three groups are unan-
imous In favoring combined lie
brary and recreation center in the
old school at Connecticut avenue
and Mckinley street NV.
No Final Decision.
Several weeks ago, the Commits
sioners announced after a board
meeting that they were reopening
the question of E. v. Brown School
and would invite interested groups
to a conference. At that time they
emphasized that no final decision
had been made on use of the school
after it Is vacated by the District
Ofice of Price Administration.
In preparation for the promised
conference, the library and recrea-
ton boards have been preparing es-
Inmates of costs and of benefits that
will result from using the school as
a center serving the entire comnlu-
nifty.
Sam Higger, president Of the
Chevy Chase Community Council,
who is spearheading the conlmu-
nity-wide movement to obtain the
school as a center. said last night
he was arranging for meeting at
the school.
Miss Clara w. Herbert, the public
librarian, Milo Christensen, super
intendent Of recreation, and Mrs.
Henry Grattan Doyle. president OF
the Board of Eduction, will be
asked to meet with Mr.. Higger at
the school "for another look
around" the council president said.
Library Quarters Cramped.
Miss Herbert predicted last night
that If the library moves into the
school it will attract twice the num-
ber of readers using the present II
brary facilities She pointed out that
the library not only is cramped in
its present quarters at 3815 Living
ston street NV, but also Is in an
inconvenient location.
aThe e. v. Brown School is a per-
feet location" Miss Herbert said. 1T
is near the post Office branch. the
theater, the grocery and drug stores.
It is also at the junction of two bus
lines Connecticut avenue and cross
town. I've visited the school several
times and it seems to be at the focal
point of community life"
In renewing their appeal for use
of the school, the library, recreation
and Chevy Chase representatives
are expected to present these argu-
ments:
/. That Chevy Chase, in spite of
the fact it is one of the older resi-
dental areas, Is one of the few
heavily populated areas not served
by an adequate library branch.
2. That the young people Of
Chevy Chase have fewer oppor-
tunities for supervised recreation
than young people In any other
section of the city.
New Building Expensive.
8. That, while the branch library
has outgrown its present quarters,
1t would take years to put up q
new building and no other quarters
except the E. v. Brown School are
available at present.
4. That building costs in the near
future are bound to be excessive
and suitable land would be costly
and difficult to find.-
5. That, traditionally, E. v. Brown
School has been the center of
community life in Chevy Chase. The
branch library started there. The
old Community Center Department
had "a recreation center there.
Hundreds of meetings were held in
its auditorium. Through the years,
the parents of students contributed
time and money to improving it.
6. That the costs of renovation
would be neglible in comparison
with the present costs of new con-
struction for expanded library or
recreation facilities in the area.
Z. That the parents, ministers,
students, merchants and every
organized group in the community
are jointly supporting the effort to
get the school, In an unusual ex-
ample Of community cooperation;
and that the project also represents
the combined efforts of the library