Evening star., 1951-03-18

llC 1l1S1AtWOO0 11NSl4AS SAp1-
zens' Association, as it was origi-
nally called-its name being sub
sequently changed to the Bright
wood Citizens Association, had as
it's first president, John L. Norris,
from March II. 1891, for several
years. Mr.. Norris, a Civil War
veteran, came to Washington in
1865, and to BrightWood some
years later. He was for many
years a clerk in the Adjutant Cen
erals Office, and died about 1910.
Brightwood was then post vii
lage on the Seventh Street road,
somewhat over two miles from the
city, and the Brightwood station
of the Metropolitan branch of the
B. & o. Railroad was in the vici-
nifty of the western part of what
is now Takoma Park.
At this period there were no
street railroad facilities, and the
people living so far out were COM
PEELED to depend upon a rickety
conveyance called the "Red Bird,
drawn by two ancient and jaded
horses driven by a good-natured
colored man named Cherry" d"
And off and on the passengers
would become exasperated and
would "hoof it" for days at a time.
In an address delivered in 1897,
William Van Zandt Cox. the
associations third president, he
speaks very entertainingly of this
phase: Although" he says. there
was no certainty of reaching our
destination, we all loyalty patron
lied the improved method of
transportation, claiming it to be
superior to the Red Bird At
first, being htmanitarians, 1t was
a pleasure to slight and help the
fearless driver to lift the car on
the track and assist him push it
and the balky horses up the hills;
but as time rolled on and the roads
grew muddy it became a trifle
monotonous and irksome, and our
sympathy gradually disappeared
until we finally became so callous
that when the car got off the track
(Which it did on the least provoca-
tom it was allowed to remain of
and run in the middle of the road
Disgust then took the place Of
sympathy and rapidly increased
against cars, horses and company
Finally, unable to stand any long
er what was facetiously called the
C. o. p (get out and push) line
the Brightwood association was
organized.
Population 104
In 1885, according to the police
census, the population of Bright
wood was given as 104, and follow.
ing the term of Office of Mr.
Norris. came. for a brief while
N. E. Robinson, he being sue
ceeded by Mr.. Cox, who served fol
upward of five years, or unit
succeeded by Louis P. Shoemaker
who was president from 1900 unit
the time of his death, November
"a, 1916. Following Mr.. Shoe.
maker as president was Charlie:
w. Ray, who served for about 81
years, being succeeded by George
r. Hess. and Karl K. Cover il
the associations present presi.
dent. When the association was
first organized, north of Rock
Greek Church road was mainly
farm land and comparatively few
houses were to be seen, and these
were in clusters. Brightwood anc
Takoma Park and the surrounding
country were without water
sewerage, gas light and electricity
A little two-by-four post Office il
about all Brightwood could boas
Of. This. however. rendered il
some respects better service thar
is afforded today.
| After having secured an cleo
trio railroad to Brightwood, tht
association secured with consider.
able effort a sewer for which s
larger and special appropriation
had to be obtained. This later
was enlarged into what is now tht
Piney Branch sewer which servee
a territory equally as large as tht
City of Washington proper. Watel
for this vast section was next OBJ.
tained from the Fort Reno reser.
voir, more than 4 miles away. Ir
1897, an engine house was OBJ
tanned which today is fully
equipped with the most modern
automobile fire-f1ghting apparatu:
and a corps Of skilled firemen.
A Jealous Group
For a time all of the street ex-
tensions for miles around Bright
wood were urged by this body OF
Jealous men. Fourteenth street
Sixteenth street, New Hampshire