Evening star., 1948-09-14
Ribbon Cutting Opens
| New Eastern Avenue
Link 10 Takoma Park

A new gateway to Takoma Park
was officially opened last night when
Brig. Gen. Gordon r. Young, Dis
trict engineer commissioner, and
Mayor John c. Post OF Takoma Park
Md, performed a ribbon cutting
ceremony on Eastern avenue, linking
Laurel street NV, Takoma Park
with. New Hampshire avenue ex-
tended. @
| The broad, concrete highway is
directly on the District Maryland
time.
The ceremony was preceded by a
motorcade of officials, members of
the various neighborhood citizens
associations, the Takoma town coun-
Gil and citizens. The procession
started from Third street and New
Hampshire avenue, followed Eastern
avenue to Laurel street and returned
via Second and Walnut streets to
midway of the highway where exer-
Icises were held Under the auspices of
the Citizens Association Of Takoma
ID. C. The colors of Fort Stevens
Post, American Legion. were present,
Gen. Young Lauds Whitehurst.
Gen. Young, the principal speaker
paid tribute to the late Capt. Her.
bert C. Whitehurst, director of high
ways. who had displayed interest in
the Takoma Park improvement. He
spoke of the many highways planned
for the District and those now near
ing completion. and said that East
ern avenue, which was delayed by
the war, now is part of the perma-
nent highway system of the District.
He said he hoped that eventually
Eastern avenue would be extended
both east and west
Wallace c. Magathan, who for
many years was president of the as
sociation, outlined the early history
of Takoma Park. He referred to
the new highway as the beginning
Of the end of isolation" and said it
now provides the shortest and most
direct highway from Maryland into
the District and the eastern section
of the city He told of the part
various organizations have played
in bringing about the improvement,
including the Takoma Park, D. c.
Md, Citizens Association. the Ia
koma Park Chamber of Commerce
and the Washington Board of Trade,
over period dating back to 1885.
Promoted by Grabill.
One of the prime movers in
widening and extending Eastern
avenue was Lee r. Grabill, engineer
who for years was superintendent
of county roads of the District prior
to his retirement. He was chair
man of a special committee of the
Takoma Park Citizens Association
and drew plans for the highway.
Through his efforts and members of
the various associations the work
was finally started last September
and completed last July at cost of
s145 900. 1t is a mile long, extend
ing from New Hampshire avenue to
Laurel street in Takoma Park.
Among others prominently iden-
tilted with the new highway who
were mentioned by Mayor Post were
representative Beall. Senator Tyd-
ings and Representative Sasscer, all
of Maryland; John w. Coffman, sr.;
Wallace c. Magathan. A. J. Driscoll,
Jesse C. Suter. the late Capt. White
hurst and his successor, j. N, Rob-
ertson.
E. D. Merrill. president of the
Capital Transit Co., spoke briefly.
Charles H. Whitbeck, president of
the citizens association, gave the
address of welcome and was master
Of" ceremonies. The invocation was
by the Rev. r. Paul Schearrer, pas
tor of the Takoma Park Presbyter-
ian Church. The Washington Gas
Light Band and the Metropolitan
Police Band played.