Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-01-04
NON SIBI, SED OMNIBUS.
SEMi-cENTENNlAL OF WASHINGTON
FIRE COMPANY.


and Hook and Ladder Company No 2,
celebrated its semi-centennial last even
ing.
The meeting room Of the company on
the third floor of the engine house, at
Third and French streets, was crowded
with old and young members and invited
guests, as Chairman William McFadden
of the committee of arrangements opened
the evenings exercises. he said the ex-
ercises would be brief and left the floor
to the president of the company,
George M. Yates, who introduced u. S
Marshall John NJ. Dunn as the
orator of the evening. Because of the
sickness of George FL. p Simmons, he
had been elected to take his place On
December %, 1889, Thomas Mitchell,
Thomas Luff and William H. Balsheer
held a meeting in Dell Noblitts cabinet
shop, Sixth and Market streets, and de-
cided to form fire company A second
meeting was held on Shipley street above
Third, and on January 3, 1840 the meet
ing organized as the Fame Engine Com
pany. by electing the following officers:
President, John Quinby; vice-president,
Abner r. Bailey; secretary, Samuel J.
Mclaughlin; treasurer, Charles b.
Groom. They held the first meet
ing as a company in the room
in the City Hall, now occupied
by Mayor Harrington. The company
bought an old hand engine from the
Friendship company. The name Wash
ington" was adopted in 1910. The com
pany has had two hand, two steam engines
and four hose carriages. The first steamer
was purchased on June 6, 1866; the Sec
ond in June, 1889; the hook and ladder
was secured on July 4, 1869. The com
pony kept its apparatus on Sixth street
below Market for many years. 1t moved
to the present quarters in 1871. The of.
fcers now are President. George NJ
Yates; vice. president, John Shipley; sec
rotary, James M. Dickerson; treasurer,
William McFadden.
At the conclusion of the sketch the
officers of the department, the invited
| guests and members of the Washington
Company formed in line and headed by
the First Regiment Band Of fifteen pieces
marched TO Eden Hall by way of Market
and Tenth streets The line Of the pro
cession was illuminated by colored fire,
and special greeting was given by the
Fame Hose and Friendship Companies.
The latter building was a blaze with Fire
works and the enthusiasm lasted five
minutes.
The committee of arrangements, Will
liam McFadden, chairman, John Shipley,
William T. Smith, Thomas J. Davis and
James NJ Dickerson. had made everything
ready, and the procession moved intG
Eden Hall banquet room and surrounded
three large tables. The citv officials Fire
Committee of Council and old fremen rodi
to the hall in carriages
All were seated at Q 80 o'clock. TIL,
officers and guests sat at the middle
table ard the members sat at the othai
two; 100 men were present John ]
Mullin, the restaurateur had provided
big supper Of cold roast turkey cold ham
hot fried oysters, hot coffee and rolls, anS
fruits, and his able assistant, Frank M
Slack, was the busiest person in thu
, room for thirty minutes, as he saw tina
every one was supplied. Tongues waggeC
I as fast as jaws that we're working over
/ time would allow, and the fremen dis
eussed exciting runs and long aquirts il
/ the older days Of the "Washy.
The solid food was followed by ic
! cream and liquids, and then Lewis Sass
as toast master answered the first speak
I err George NJ. Yates, the young and ener
i getic president OF the company. Nh
J Yates said it afforded him great pleasur
occasion, and thought it should awaken
old associations that would and to tn
benefits OF the reunion. He hoped thei
r hearts and minds and stomachs would b
4 refreshed with good cheer.
g Mr. Harrington respo nded to the frs
q toast, the sentiment of which was
: "Our City 80 Years Ago-at Present tn
d Nucleus OF Manufacturers and Home 0
the Artisans-and its Anti eipated Flu
4 ture The following toasts were re
e sponded to: THE Wilmington Fire De
partment; Equalled by Few, Excelled b
3 None, John E. Hendrickson and Jane
v Kane, in the absence Of Chief McCracken
}. "The Fire Committee; Ever Ready I
l. Cater to the Wants of Firemer
Z Having the Justification Of Citizen
1, at Heart" Chairman William g. Baugf
f. the fire companies, by their president
y Councilman johnson spoke for Fam
Is Hose; 1.-THE Wilmington Fire Depar
s, ment. George H. P. Simmons; "OI
3. Departed Members" Isaac "
Hallam; women in Sympatf
with Firemen, Col w. B. Nortol
Baltimore Fire Department" B.
es Scipp; THE Name of Washington
1T City Solicitor Henry Clay Turner; FL
IS Alarm and Indicator, CouncilmanThom
= johnson; "The Press" Colonel Cody Al
Y, fenger Of the Freie Presse; w f. Kurt
Of the Every Evening" Charles
3. Palmer of the EVENING JoURNA
Miss Lungren. Marshal Dunn, A, v
p, Nowland, William Baker, William Shel
n, ardson and others made remarks Jol
a. @. Hardness, representing the Daily r
". publican, delivered an Grafton on Fir
- men Generally. and Firemen's Here
Il, ISM" in respose to "The Press
N, Mr.. Kaiser, leader of the ban
y, added his remarks to the rest. The
N. terval between speeches was filed wi
1t, music by the First Regiment Band, viii
ie- played many Of the popular airs 7
toasts were followed by protract
meeting and love feast, SO called. q
/, the Notification was concluded by singi
~ Aud Lang Syne. at Mayor HarriI
'n tons sensible suggestion.
The response OF Mr.. Simmons to t
ba toast 1.-The Wilmington Fire Depai
no. ment,S was the best of the evening.
are said that if the present members. Of
IA Wilmington Fire Department do th
ne duty without malice or i'll feeling, 1t "
ma be many years before this city will wa
al q. paid fire department. It depel
IA entirely on the volunteer fl
100 men to say whether tn
shall be paid hremen. If there is I
illfeeling among the companies, let it
dispelled, burn 1t to ashes from VIII
- white winged peace shsll mount
- spread over all. His speech received
uoA - nvrlauca IF anv duriner 4 H., .r,o.,,;