16670 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE July 22 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS John Philip Sousa Birthplace Is Marked where that music is played. It will also give park and playground areas. In fact, already continuing evidence of the initiative and scarce recreation facilities, particularly for community spirit of the Capitol Hill Restora­ children, have been reduced due to freeway EXTENSION OF REMARKS tion Society and its members, including construction. I hope that all of you will OF Messrs. R. C. and J.B. King. I certainly am urge appropriation of the funds necessary to delighted to extend my thanks and good provide this area with the amenities for its HON. CHET HOLIFIELD wishes to all who have made this ceremony children and adults alike that will be at least OF CALIFORNIA possible. equal to the level of the rest of the city. This house, since John Philip Sousa was IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES However, that is a digression. The Hill born in it 110 years ago, has certainly seen does have its proud history. It has had its Wednesday, July 22, 1964 many changes. I lay no claim to be a his­ full share, and more, of the famous residents torian, but there must be few people indeed and residences of Washington. It has advan­ Mr. HOLIFIELD. Mr. Speaker, it is who can live and work in Washington with­ tages of location. And, most important of highly fitting that the people of our Na­ out becoming interested in the history which all, it has momentum. This ceremony is evi­ tion's Capital continue to lead the way enriches every nook and cranny of this city. dence that the momentum is continuing. It in appropriately restoring and designat­ This area in which we now stand, as many is also evidence that its residents appreciate ing places of significant historical inter­ of you know, was a very important part of their stewardship of its historic past, and of est. Among the most active of Wash­ the original L'Enfant plan-in fact, he the memory of men, like John Philip Sousa, ington organizations working tirelessly planned it as the major residential area of who lived here. toward this goal is the Capitol Hill Res­ Washington. East Capitol Street was L'En­ Mr. BOSWELL. It is most appropriate that fant's primary entrance to the city. Unfor­ we have with us today Miss Elsie Carper, toration Society. tunately, land speculators tried to take ad­ president of the Women's National Press On June 27, 1964, this society-with vantage of his plans. Anticipating a rush of Club and for many years a Washington the cooperation of the Washington Post purchasers, speculators priced the land so Post congressional reporter on District of and the U.S. Marine Band--sponsored high that people refused to buy, and turned Columbia affairs. Miss Carper. ceremonies marking the house at 636 G toward the northwest section instead. For many years the only streets which were REMARKS OF ELSIE CARPER Street SE., as the birthplace of John more than a line on a map were Maryland Miss CARPER. I am most pleased to repre­ Philip Sousa. To make the historical Avenue, which followed the old post road to sent the Washington Post on this occasion. notes concerning the "March King" the northeast, and East Capitol Street itself. I was born and brought up on Capitol Hill available to our colleagues and other in­ Even 50 years after L'Enfant, when Sousa so for me this ls a homecoming. terested persons, I offer the following was born, the area east of here and north of Washington has many famous sons but remarks spoken at this ceremony for Pennsylvania Avenue was almost entirely none who has brought so much pleasure as the RECORD: open fields. John Philip Sousa. The Washington Post By the time Sousa was old enough to care, has a great affection for him. He made us REMARKS OF H. CURLEY BOSWELL the development of this area-then known famous by writing the "Washington Post Mr. BOSWELL. I want to thank all you as Navy Yard Hill-had begun to get under­ March" long before the newspaper achieved good people for being here today and joining way. Philadelphia Row, that wonderful se­ eminence through its news columns and with us to do honor to John Philip Sousa­ ries of 16 3-story row houses on 11th Street editorials. a famous American whose birth and early SE., brought attention to its residential pos­ It was a family occasion, much as this one, life we associate with Capitol Hill. sibilities. The a.rea was also famous for that inspired Sousa to write the "Washington We have some very distinguished guests having one of the best schools in the city­ Post March." The dedication of this plaque with us today. May I introduce to you Mrs. Wallach School, which was constructed in today comes almost on the 75th anniversary Helen Sousa Abert, of New York City, daugh­ 1864 on the site of the present Hine Junior of the first performance of this stirring ter of John Philip Sousa; Mr. and Mrs. High. march. James L. Dixon. Mr. Dixon ls cochairman Sousa, himself, first went to a private The Washington Post had sponsored an of the John Philip Sousa Memorial, Inc.; school on 7th Street, and then, in 1863, en­ essay contest among schoolchildren and the seated are members of the John Philip Sousa rolled in public schools. So far as formal Marine Band was to play at the awards cere­ family: Mrs. James H. Pugh, Mr. and Mrs. academic education is concerned, I suppose mony on the Smithsonian grounds. The J. Hunter Pugh, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Geiger, today we would call him a dropout. Not publisher of the Washington Post met Sousa Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Varela and their so, however, with that part of his education on the street and asked him to write a two sons, Arthur, Jr., and Robert, and with for which we have most reason to be grateful. special march for the event. We don't know them ls their niece, Miss Betsy Ann Boyn­ At age 7, he was a student in John Esputa's how long it took Sousa but the "Washing­ ton, of Atherton, Calif., and Mr. and Mrs. conservatory of music. At age 10, he was ton Post March" was the result. John P. S. Pugh. playing the violin with the Marine Band. No one recalls who made the speeches The following telegram has been received At age 13, he was a member of the band. that day but the march will never be for­ from John Philip Sousa III: Before he was 20 he, too, was teaching music gotten as long as there are bands to play it. on Capitol Hill. NEW YORK, N.Y. It became an overnight success. Dance H. CURLEY BOSWELL, Capitol Hill does not have a Wallach School bands took up the music for a daring new Executive Vice President, Capitol Hill Res­ today-a school so superior as to be an at­ dance, the two-step, and in Europe the two­ toration Society, Washington, D.C.: traction to prospective residents. Unfortu­ step became known as Washington Posts. Deeply regret I am unable join the mem­ nately, quite the opposite is true. There are no schools still in use which Sousa might Two and a half years ago the Post tried bers of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society to pay back some of the debt of gratitude it at the ceremony marking the birthplace of have attended 100 years ago, but there are my grandfather, John Philip Sousa. My some that come close. Hine Junior High, owes to Sousa. It dedicated in his honor a which stands on the Wallach School site, room in the Washington Post Building that family and I can only express our gratitude ls for community meetings and is in use al­ that your organization has taken this means dates back in its oldest part to 1887. Brent of honoring our grandfather's memory and Elementary stands essentially as it was con­ most every night. A spotlight shines on a his achievements. We thank you and wish structed in 1883--81 years ago. Only three life-sized portrait of the magnificently you every success in the good and important new schools have been built in this bearded march king in the scarlet uniform work you are doing on historic Capitol Hlll. area south of East Capitol Street since of a Marine Corps bandsman. JOHN p. SOUSA, III. 1945. Hine, of course, is finally being re­ On that occasion Mrs. Helen Sousa Abert placed, and will be open for business in Sep­ recalled an incident told by Sousa in his Several of our honored guests will address biography, "Marching Along." you briefly. First, I will introduce Mr. tember 1965, although it will be several months later before the old building can be While traveling in Venice, he saw the mu­ Charles Horsky, Presidential Adviser for Na­ sic for the "Washington Post March" in a tional Capital Affairs. Mr. Horsky. torn down and the playground rehabilitated. The new Gibbs Elementary School, at 18th shop window. "Is that a good composer?" he REMARKS OF CHARLES A. HORSKY and E, ought also to be in being by the end asked. The shopkeeper replied "He is one Mr. HORSKY. Mr. Boswell, Mrs. Abert, Con­ of 1965. of our best Italian composers." gressman Brooks, Miss Carper, ladies and Capitol Hill, in fact, is a prime example of So the music of the Capitol H111 boy be­ gentlemen, that a plaque should mark the the starvation diet to which capital con, came known all over the world.