Evening journal., 1899-02-20
VA HIHGTON'S ANNIVERSARY


The fnty-ninth anniversary celebra-
ion Of The Washington Steam Fire
Engine Company will be held IN Ger
man Hall tomorrow might.
1t has been the custom ever since
the foundation of the company to each
year hold some sort OF celebration
in honor Of the b.u,h Of the organiza-
ton, but the reception this year prom
ises to eclipse any heretofore given
from every point Cf view.
HISTORY OF THE COMPANY.
Always foremost in matters pertain
ing to the Fire Department. the his
tory Of the 'Washy" Fire Company Is
an interesting one.
The first preliminary meeting OF
what resulted in the formation Of this
company was held in the second story
Of DELL NOblit's cabinet shop on De-
cember 2S, 1899, when Thomas Mitch
ell, John Luff and William II. Black
met to consider the advisabiNty OF
forming a new fire company. This led
to a second meeting a few DAYS later.
when these same gentlemen and about
twenty-five others met in the old
school house on Shipley street above
Third, where Woodward & Bros. hard
ware store now stands. There the
matter was favorably considered and
a third and still larger meeting was
held at Brooke T. Turner's tavern III
nally, on January 4, 1910. The new
company met in the room n the .,ity
Hat. now occupied by the mayor. and
organized the WASHINGTON Engine
Company, with the following charter
members: James Scott. John IMff.
Isaac G. Saxton, Lawrence Wander
braak, Wilson Carswell, George II. p.
Simmons, Charles NJ. Brcome and
Thomas MiiShe-l, who is the only
member Il the original company now
living.
New members were soon aided TO
the organization, William Hall being
the hrst man to be elected by ballot on
March IA. 1910.
T'rc first election OF Offers toUi,
place on January Is CT the same year,
and resulted as follows President.
John Quimby; vice-presiden.. Ahner p.
Bailey; secretary. S. J. McLaohan;
treasurer, John Luff, directors, John
l-uff. Lewis Kirk; Kennard W. Mar
tin; engineers, J. II. Eistke,a, Thomas
Lund, George Gregg. Philip Jones and
william Jones. A second election wa.
held on July 20. 1910. at which Abnei
p. Ra.lcy was chosen precdon-, ant
George Gregg, vice-pres isnt.
AXE AND TORCHAlEN.
It was at this election that axe ant
torchmen were first introduced into TIT
company, and Thomas Russell. Johi
H. Springer. william Willis, rhoma
Mitchell w B. Lund, Lewis Young
We're selected to bear torches an,
axes. The election OF the compan.
was held semi-anually unta the yea
1885, when Jane s B. Tucker wa
chosen PRESIDENT for one year, aid tn
elect ons thereafter were he.l anna
ally.
! OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT
The "Washy' Fire Company has ha
more Of its members in office than an
other company in the service. wiz
one exception, and wiuh that compan
It is tie.
In the years 1S72-3-4-5, George Nj
Call, Of the Washington, served a
chief Of the Fire Department, and wa
succeeded in 1S76-77 by william Har
ma. also a "Washy" man. william M'
fFadhen was second assistant in 1856
ard in 1SSS-S9, ]. B. Tucker was cho.
en- first assistant engineer. James \
Dfckerson served as first assistant ]
lS92-93. and the present chief, Geora
w. Sasse, was elected last year.
ENTERPRISE OF THE COMPAN'
! since its organization the Wasi
/ inprnn Fire Company has always bee
10 the front, not only in fighting hre
but in the apparatus used. IL was u
FIRST company to introduce hook an
4 ladder truck into the local serNiS
+, This truck was drawn by nand' an
4 in 1898 was abandoned by the con
many. as It was too small to be OF us
= and was sold to the Salisbury CMd
fire department, where II is still Coll
i good service. a.
y The "Washy" also had the iil'
chemical engine in use in the CIT
which was purchased in 1898, the hr
fire il attended being a house on Hea
street. over Eleventh street brids
where it performed excellent serVie
- Il was christened at this fire by u
y, phoenix company. The first steam
= used by the company was sold TO E4
= ton parties. after having been in Sc
e vice twenty-three years, and the
present engine was purchased in lSs
The original fire house OF o
p "Washy" company was located
East sixth street, the present locau'
of the city treasurer's office. II 7
j. mained there until 1872, when the COZ
many moved into its present quarer
: IMPROVEMENTS CONTEMPLATE
y Extensive repairs are contemplat
at the company's house in the sprir
lg The building will be entirely reno
" eled. a new main floor will be laid. t
ar cellar dug out, and cemented. an op
d stairway leading to the secOnd-sio
g. wall be erected, Siding poles put
re toilet rooms added. and portable was
islands put in throughout the buildil
" The bunk room viii be enlarged OF
ne third more, and a new back wall ere
IN ed The most improved heating ;
I'd paratus. both for the building and