Norton Will Honor 'The Costume Lady' at Park Dedication
Norton Will Honor "The Costume Lady" at Park Dedication
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells will speak at the dedication ceremony of the "Lola Beaver Memorial Park" located at the corners of Massachusetts Avenue, Ninth and A streets, NE at 12:00 p.m. onMonday, July 5, 2010 to commemorate what would have been Lola Beaver's 100th birthday.
A longtime Washington resident, Lola Beaver converted a dry cleaning storefront at the corner of 8th and A streets NE, into "The Costume Shop" after the 1968 riots, relocating her business from K Street to Capitol Hill, where she lived until her death at the age of 96. Beaver became well known for designing costumes for the city's most prestigious live theaters as well as for every president from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton. One of her many notable designs included a handmade bowtie to compliment President Lyndon Johnson's navy blue tuxedo.
"Kudos to all of Lola's neighbors, including my former chief of staff Donna Brazile who organizes our neighborhood when she is not organizing presidential campaigns," said Norton. "Lola's neighbors have maintained this park and have received City Council approval to name it after her. Lola's park, located a block from my home, gives new meaning to the notion of neighborhood park as far as I am concerned."
Earlier this spring, two redbud trees were planted in honor of D.C. Law 17-520, the "LolaBeaverMemorialParkDesignation Act of 2008, which established the park. Lola died on November 28, 2006. Had Lola lived, Monday, July 5, would have been her 100th birthday. Following the dedication, Lola's neighbors will host a picnic in her honor.