Evening star., 1898-11-11
ANCIENT FIREf COMPANIES
Several Sketches Read b. Mr.. John F. Riley
LastsEvsaing.
Veteran Volunteer ..Firemen's Asso-
citation ENTERTAINERS Action Upon
Death of COlp AMOS Webster.

Mr.. John F. Riley was to have read last
evening before the Veteran Volunteer
Ffremen's Association paper sketching
the history of the old volunteer fire COM
panies of the District, hut owing to the in
clemency of the weather the attendance
was small, and the reading of the paper
was postponed till Thursday evening next,
when 1t is hoped by all concerned that
the hall, corner of 18th and H streets, will
be filed.
Mr.. Riley read a few sketches of some of
the companies. He stated that the Ana
costa company was organized December s,
1918, John Davis of Abel taking an active
part, and a rival organization, known as
the Navy Yard company, was formed
shortly after. In 1893 or 1904 Congress
bought and located an engine in the navy
yard, but he could find UP to 1918 but two
occasions when it was outside of the yard.
The Columbia was organized September
-, 1904, but diSbanded subsequently. In
January, 1918, at Queens Hotel it was re-
organized, and was continued in service
until the steam fire department came into
existence.
The Alert company was organized at the
Lancasterian school house, 14th and G
years In 1919 the Perseverance was or
ganiZed in the central portion of the city,
and May 10, 1880, a company called the Pa
tr1otlc was formed and succeeded to the
Need of Better Equipment.
In March, 1889, Andrew Coyle jr., pub
hshed card calling attention to the need
of a well-equipped company, and in 1910 a
meeting was held at the Masonic Hail. cor
ner of 412 and D streets, when another or
ganization, known as the Perseverance,
was formed. 1t was first located at the
Center market, in a shed, and afterward in
n fl,a, l.. Co. ,n1 hyvp pnron nc1rt-
Vana and Louisiana avenues, where, after
the apparatus had been wrecked, the build
1866
The Franklin company was formed De-
cember 81. 1914. Peter Lenox, General
Weightman and Mr. Glover taking part,
and 1t was reorganized in 1927 The en-
gine house was located on the triangular
reservation formed by Pennsylvania ave-
nue., L and 14th streets till 1851, when a
new house was erected on d between 18th
and 18th streets, and it remained in ser
vice till the modern steam fire department
superseded the hand apparatus
The Union was organized in August, 1904,
and located north of the treasury. The
company appears to have disbanded and
was reorganized April 3, 1899, at a meet
ing held in the town hall over the West
market, Pennsylvania avenue and Goth
street. 1t was located at19th and H streets.
The Northern Liberty was organized in
1889, and in 1910 apparatus was purchased
and house built on Sth street, within
what is now Mount Vernon place. Subse-
quently a portion of the school building
{AbbotD corner of. 9th and l. streets was
occupied by the company. Most of the
members belonged to the Know Nothings,
and in 1858 the company was disbanded.
States Hose.
The States Hose, which could scarcely
be called a fire company, having only a
reel disbanded November g. 1857, tender
ing the reel and hose to the corporation
A vote of thanks was rendered Mr.. Riley
by the veterans last night and handsome
bouquet was presented him by Mr.. j. Rich
ard Brown.
Mrs. Jere Mattock presented to the COM
pany tickets to the balls of the Northern
Liberty company November 6, 1895, and
Union, February 4. 1856, for which thanks
were voted III
President Richards, in feeling terms, an
nounced the death of Colonel Amos Web
ster, a life member, statiug that in respect
to his memory the flag he presented to the
association (used by General Grant at City
Point was hung at half mast the day of
the funeral.
The meeting adjourned to Thursday night,
when Mr.. Riley will conclude his reading.