Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-08


ball teamS-one for boys 18 and
under, one for IA and under and
one for IL and under. The older
team plays about one game a week.
The others usually play two. These
teams are having scheduling diff
ficulties, too, because such organi-
cations as the Walter johnson
League are integrated now and they
can't play against them anymore.
Altogether. the number of boys out
each day is not much more than
those at the Powell Playground
averaging perhaps 40. Before 1t
walked out of its clubhouse, No. 10
used to attract 400 boys each day.
according to club figures. An All
Souls spokesman says the number
was about half that.
Aside from the teams, there is
little No. 10 can do for its members.
There are Halloween and Christ
mas parties, held in a movie theater
or in another clubs quarters. Some
of the boys get a free trip to the
Police Boys Club summer camp at
Scotland, Md But there is no longer
any library. television, pool tables.
woodworking. painting. table ten
mis-. basketball, hobbies or crafts.
Before the indignation flareup.
Club No. 10 had about 1900 boys
on its rolls. Now it has 1000, but
club officers know that figure is
unrealistic. THE boys on the ball
teams are really the only ones still
with us. one director said. The
clubs equipment is still in storage.
Officers have not been able in a
year and half of searching. to find
another clubhouse.
Other Two in Same Fix
The other two homeless Police
Boys Clubs are in much the same
situation. Neither has been able
to find another clubhouse. They
manage to maintain several ball
teams and meet on public play
grounds for practice and games and
an occasional trip. Apart from this,
they are able to offer their men,
bers very little.
OF the six Police Boys Club club
houses still in operation, three are
the property of the club three are
on District owned property-an old
school building. an abandoned fire.
house and the basement of police
precinct station house. The biggest
club for colored boys is No. 10, at
1900 U street NV. 1t is housed in
four-story building which once
was a Pythian Temple In warm
weather. the upper two floors, con-
tanning a library. shops and craft
rooms, are closed. On summer
afternoon, there will be a dozen
or more boys practicing on the
first floor and as many more watch
ing. In the basement, the coolest
part of the building, several dozen
boys will be taking turns using the
four pool tables. two ping-pong
tables and Switchboard court, while
others read magazines and play
checkers or dominoeS.
Each club department has an
adult supervisor on duty. The club
has a total membership of $3.50,
OF whom $500 come more or less
regularly. Average attendance for
a winter day is about 700. In sum-
mer, it drops to about 300 There
are II workers on the staff. of
whom six to ten are on duty at all
times. The rooms are somewhat
dingy. but they are kept clean
Photographs of championship teams
and boys paintings hang on the
walls
No. 4 Hos Modern Quarters
The largest white club is No. 4,
at 8l6 Sixth street S.W. 1t is housed
in modern brick-g lass-and-con-
crete building two-stories high. The
biggest room is bright. airy gym
which seats 1000 on folding stands.
There are six basketball baskets,
tumbling mats and badmlnton,
softbal and tennis courts marked
on the floor. The floor is made OF
handsome end-set hardwood par
quetry, designed to be splinter
proof. On the same level is tele-
vision theater with permanent fold
ing seats and a movie protector.
Each of the clubs three age groups
midgets. to 10; juniors. IL to IA;
seniors, Is TO 49, has its own recrea-
ton ROOM equipped with suitably
sized pool tables, ping-pong tables,
wooden booths and a closet full OF
games and crafts materials.
The woodshop is closed for the
summer 1t has a set of full-sized
power tools-a drill press. circular
saw, band saw. sander. planer-
jointer, two jig saws and two lathes
The closets are full of pieces OF
furniture boys are working on. The
library is also closed for the sum-
mer. except for meetings of special
groups. The built-in shelves are
lined with fiction. reference works
histories and technical books III
the lobby, the boys have arranged
a seven-tank display of fish ano
marine vegetation.
The basement has a shower and
locker room and space for wres-
Ting and boxing There are five
staff members on duty at the club
most of the time. Special instruc-
tors come in for arts and crafts
courses. The club has about the
same hours as the other police
clubs. II is open from to 9 pm
on weekdays and 9 am. to pm
on Saturdays during the summer
During the school year, it is oper
from 3 to pm weekdays ano
9 am, to 9 pm Saturdays The
club has $500 members and an