Evening star., 1947-01-08
U. 5. Aid Sought
For RemodeIinq
Brown School
Request for Funds
May Go. to Congress
Before June 30

Before June 30
: The District may ask Congress
some time in May or June for
money to remodel the E. v. Brown
School at Connecticut avenue and
Mckinley street NV, into a recrea.
ton center and branch library fol
Chevy Chase.
District Budget Officer Walter l.
Fowler discussed the matter briefly
by telephone today with Miss Clara
w. Herbert, public librarian.
Mr.. Fowler took the position that
since the library has a rental con-
tract running until June 80 on its
present quarters at 1915 Livingston
street NV, it would be better policy
to delay asking for the money until
near renewal time.
The appropriation could then be
justified, he explained, on the ground
that the money which ordinarily
would be spent for rental could &C
toward preparing the new quarters
IN the District-owned building.
Transfer Approved.
In the meantime, he told Miss
Herbert, the library could proceed
with plans for alterations and make
any changes for which it could find
money in its present budget.
Transfer of the old school building
to the Recreation Board for the Gen.
ter and branch library was approved
by the Commissioners yesterday
after long campaign by Chevy
Chase citizens.
1t was abandoned as public
school some years ago and used
recently as the Office for the Dis
trict branch of OPA.
The library transfer was expected
to be main topic of discussion at
the regular monthly meeting of the
board of Library Trustees tomorrow
afternoon.
Albert W. Atwood, president of the
board, this morning praised the
action of the Commissioners in
recognizing the long campaign of
Chevy Chase residents for a more
appropriate library site.
Delighted With Action.
Were delighted that they have
taken this progressive STEP" he said.
The present library branch in
stalled in three converted stores, has
been criticized as providing made
quate space and not being readily
accessible to the majority of Chevy
Chase residents, he pointed out.
The Commissioners decision to
convert the school came suddenly
yesterday, climaxing a long cam
paign in The Star on efforts of the
library and recreation boards and
the Chevy Chase Community Coun-
oil to get the school.
Meanwhile, Sam Higger. presi-
dent of the Chevy Chase Com
Inunity Council, which spearheaded
the united drive of Chevy Chase
residents to get the center, said
the council would meet soon with
library and recreation officials to
offer its support to any plans
worked out by the two boards for
use of the school.
At the same time, Mr.. Higger
recalled that conversion Of the
school into a community center was
first proposed two years ago by
Henry C. Schreiber, then a Capt.
tai Transit Co. employe, who was
q leader in Chevy Chase community
affairs. Mr.. Schreiber now is liv-
Ing in Florida.
Recreation Board Chairman
Harry S. Wender said he was CRATE
full for the Commissioners support
of the boards recommendation" to
use the school. The acquisition of
the school was the result of Coop
Grafton among residents of the area,
the Recreation Board and the Board
of Library Trustees, he said.
1--WE appreciate the way The Star
reported our efforts" he continued
adding Il do not believe we could
have accomplished our project with
out The Star"
Real Center Planned.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, presi-
dent of the Board of Education, be-
lisVes the Commissioners acted in
the interest of good administration
to make use of an existing facility.
"All of u.s." she said, will con-
tinue the fine tradition of E. v
Brown for the betterment of the
community. We will make it q
community center in the real sense
of the word, with something fol
everybody"
Henry M. Fowler, president of the
Chevy Chase Citizens Association
said the center will do much to COM
bat juvenile delinquency.
The Girl Scouts are one of the
groups definitely planning to use the
new recreational center for meet
ing place Many troops in the area
now are meeting in churches or in
the homes of leaders and are look
ing forward to the larger space the
new building will offer-"maybe
even room to fix up" according
to Mrs. Proctor Dougherty, vice
chairman of Girl Scout District g.
which includes Chevy Chase.
Provides Indoor Play.
Mrs. Dorothy Weisman, secretary
of the Chevy Chase Community
Council, said she had three boys
who will be among the first to take
advantage of the recreational facili-
ties. AS it is, she explained, they
have nowhere to play except in the
streets and nothing to do aftel
school.
School principals in the ares
agreed the center offered "a wonder
full opportunity for the communit.
to develop a real program for it
boys and girls" Miss Berte Backus
principal Of Alice Deal Junior Higf
School, said she was hopeful "ver,
good program" would be developed
She thanked The Star for doing {
good job and keeping right after it..
Miss Margaret r. Pepper, princi
pal of Lafayette School, is grateful
for the center because it will Civ,
the children a place for indoor rec.