In order to recruit more block leaders the Washington Heights Neighbors Board held a meeting in January at Horace Busch's home to discuss neighborhood problems and the effectiveness of active block units.
The 27 people attending expressed an interest in going back to their blocks and organizing block units. They heard Nancy Waggoner and Doris Pickett describe their successful block unit on the 5900 block of Kingsbury and Clarice Haynes and Georgia Barnett, their unit on the 5700 DeGiverville. A film on working with people was shown by Dale Portner from the Des Peres Library.
Those attending were asked to list what they thought were the two major concerns of the people on their blocks. High on their lists were loose dogs, alley trash, crime, Operation Ident, housing, youth activities, exit of business, etc. Participants were given a list of possible topics for block meetings and the names and numbers of community leaders. The WHN Board will have a follow-up to this meeting.
In a letter to the participants Mike Magrath, president of WHN, stated: "Without active block units working on the problems we can together solve, these problems will get worse instead of better. We want to welcome all people interested in the improvement of our community. If you are interested in doing something on your block, call any of the WHN Board members or the Council Office: 862-5122."
Thirteen blocks were represented. Those attending were: Nancy Waggoner, 5935 Kingsbury, 2E; William McReynolds, 5930 DeGiverville; Joseph Herron, 5858 DeGiverville; Lily Holland, 5835 Waterman; Janet Stokes, 5768 Westminster, 2nd E; Dorothy Goldsby, 5779 Pershing; Daisy Wilhite, 5742 McPherson; Leila Mae Harrah, 5938 Waterman; Bernard Gray, 5919 Pershing; Barbara Geisman and Cathy Murphy, 5795 Pershing 2E; John Madros, 5795 Pershing 3W; Doris B. Pickett, 5930 Kingsbury 1E; Dianne Johnson, 5956 Kingsbury; Olivia Williams, 6011 Kingsbury; Genevieve Holley, 5822 Pershing; Doris Farwell, 5768 Pershing; William Bolden, 5861 DeGiverville; Eddie Sanders, 5911 DeGiverville; Joyce Warren, 5824 Waterman; Anna and Horace Busch, 5765 Pershing; Clarice Haynes, 5745 DeGiverville; Blanche Reel, 5745 Waterman.
Anyone interested in helping with the block units on these blocks, please contact the person mentioned on their block.
Original newspaper source
Originally published in The Paper, February 1973.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
