Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-18
Shepherd Park Reflects
AIertness Of Its Citizens
Nv Carl IRVING

by CARL IRVING
Shepherd Park. q pleasant,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. area at the
iorthernmost tip of the District,
Is represented by q citizens asso-
citation with q consistently active
record in neighborhood and city
wide affairs.
Over the years. the group has
been instrumental in having the
District pave streets. plant trees,
install street lights, and, in later
years. provide safety devices such
rs traffic lights and islands. The
citizens have obtained better bus
and streetcar service and have
been able to resist commercial
Eoning.
Its joint efforts with the
Shepherd Park School Parent
Teacher Association viii be re-
warded some time next year with
completion Of 4 $3.50. 000. school
addition. Besides needed class
room space. the areas school
children will obtain indoor recre-
alton facilities and an auditori-
um for the first time.
History Making Suit
One member. Vernon v. Baker.
made District history In 1850
when he successfully flied suit to
have . gas rate increase set aside
by the courts. More than 81 mil
lion was later refunded to con-
sumers, thanks to the efforts Of
Mr.. Baker, assistant director ct
the Bureau Of Finance.
In other city-wide actions. the
organization four years ago
asked for fiuoridation Of the
water supply. and last year repu-
dated the Federation Of Citizens
Associations attempt TO delay
lntegration Of District schools.
The association was founded
In 1917 Ia the then sparsely-
populated area by q dozen resi-
dents who elected Daniel g..
Roper. later Secretary Of Com
lnerce and Minister to Canada.
Is the first president.
The members first met In the
old Brooke Tea House ct East
ern and Georgia avenues. later
In the Northminster Presbyterian
Church frame structure which
was there before the present
stone building ut Kalmia road
and Alaska avenue. When the
school was completed in 1882.
the association moved It's meet
lngs there.
Name Changed In 1913
The original name, Sixteenth
Street Heights. was changed In
ls43 owing to its similarity to-
Sixteenth Street Highlands just
to the south.
Ernest w. Brown, retired SUE
perintendent Of District police,
suggested the new name. after
Alexander. Shepherd, the Dis
trict's last Governor.
Judge James r. Kirkland of
District Court was president in
1888 and 1899. During his ten
,ire. the citizens canpaigned for
and got express bus service on
Sixteenth street.
The late Earl Sapp. the Judge
recalls, obtained needy traffic
improvements, particularly at
Georgia and Alaska. Streetcars
were no longer permitted TO park
overnight in the middle Of
Georgia avenue and trafiie
islands and later street lights
were installed.
Much to BE Done
There's still plenty to be
done. = Bernard Margolius. WASH
ington attorney and outgoing
president, emphasizes. THE chill
dren don't have an adequate
playground, and the area has no
library.
THE association Mr.. Margo-
Illus says. constantly must re-
main alert to prevent any com
liberalization Of the area"
He is seconded by Mai. Brown,
who adds that the group should
continue to aim for Q firehouse.
preferably at Georgia avenue and
Geraniurl street.
'.The nearest IRE equipment
now is on Georgia avenue south
of Military road good distance
away he declares.
The new president. Mrs. SAM
uel Bigio, concludes that the as
sociation represents one OF the
finest residential areas In the
District. But, to remain so, we
must increase our activities in
keeping with the fact that citi-
zens' associations have more and
more influence on District Gov
eminent as the years 90 by"
Omission Protested
AT the first fall meeting last
night, the members voted q pro-
test against omission Of four
civic groups from representation
on the Districts delegation to
the White House Conference on
Education. November % TO De-
cemher /.
Mrs. Willard n. Culver. vice
president. declared that 1.-THE 40
States delegates, winch we will
host. are all sending their PTA
State presidents. while our Con-
gress Of Parents and Teachers
won't be represented"