Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-08
HELPED BUILD CITY
Oldest Inhabitants Celebrate
Forty-Fifth Anniversary.
RAISING CASH FOR HOME
Mr.. Willard Starts Campaign With
$1,000 Contribution.
AN EVENING OF REJOICING
One Speaker Voices Sentiment When
He Refers to So Many "Bright
Young Faces"

Bonded by the fraternity of long asso-
citation and common ideals and aims, 150
members and guests celebrated the forty
fifth anniversary Of the Association OF
Oldest Inhabitants at banquet in Car
roll Institute Hall last night. In most
of the heads gray hairs were giving away
TO white and some limbs had lost the
spring Of youth, but the spirit of fra
ternity which pe-meated the entire at
mosphere seemed to have lifted years
from the person and mind Of every one
present. There were, at least for the
time. no 'old men, in evidence.
From the time the guests filed into the
big hall and grouped themselves around
the long tables until the affair came to
an end with the singing, in unison and
with hands clasped. of "Auld Lang
Syne,' there were no evidences Of a
troublesome thought or deed in the hall.
Judge c. s. Bundy, vice president of the
association, presided in the absence of
the president, Theodore w. Noyes. In
his opening remarks Judge Bundy made
it plain to the diners that the day was
nothing if not happy anniversary, and
| that it should be so celebrated. 1t was.
Funds to Be Raised.
The members had plenty of meat for
enthusiasm. At brief business session
before the dinner the project to raise
3d. 600 to restore, repair and improve the
present home Of the association, the his
toric old engine house at 10th and I
streets northwest was given sucn an I'M
petus as to practically assure the raising
of the necessary money in short time.
AS soon as 1t was decided to ask for
the funds among the members by sub
scription Henry K. Willard started the
ball rolling with a subscription of 81 600
and William e. Edmonston, president o.
the Columbia Title and Guarantee Com
pany, offered to see to clearing Of the
title to the building free. services which
would have cost the association in the
neighborhood Of $25.
The business meeting, over which Judge
Bundy presided, brought the enthusiasm
or the members up to the highest pitch.
FOLLOWING the announcement of Mr. Will
lard's gift, number of laudatory
speeches were made on the spirit of gen.
crosby evidenced in the large contribu-
ton. 1t was decided to collect the re-
mafnder of the money by means of a
circular letter. Pending the actual be-
ginning of the campaign no further con-
tribut1OnS were announced last night,
Remodeling Of Building.
The changes in the old building, 1t is
understood. will be altogether in the ex-
terror, and most of the improvement will
be for the purpose of affording better
protection to the invaluable collection of
relics contained in the building. John C.
Yost, as architect and builder, will have
charge of the work. A committee to
direct the campaign and oversee the
work on the house was chosen, of which
Judge Bundy will serve as chairman.
Other members selected last night are
| B. d. Drane, B. F. Colonna and NJ B.
| Marche.
When the banquet was announced at
$3.50 o'clock the members and Their guests
were ushered into hall hung and fes-
| TONED with flags and brilliant bunting.
| The guests of honor were seated with
Judge Bundy at long table, facing the
other diners. Among those at the speak
er's table We're William NJ. Dennis, Cha
pin Brown, Frank w. Hackett, Rabbi
Stern, A. K. Paris, William H. Singleton
and DR.. William Tindall.
| Judge Bundy called the guests to order
and introduced Rabbi Stern, who asked
the blessing. This Formally over, the
fun began. while all attacked with the
vigor of hungry schoolboys the dishes
that made UP a bounteous spread" II
there was anything Of the sedate in the
makeup of the youngsters 1t was not
in evidence The room rang with laugh
ter and hummed with talk, like girls
| seminary at recess time.
Personalities were INDUCED in, but to
the pleasure of victim as we'll as joker.
The tables resolved themselves into sepa-
rate gatherings. and each table was the
scene Of quip and Jest, laughter and all
To Tina
Music for the Feast.
Dishes came and went and more came
They left empty. but without interrupting
the fun of the gathering. In the course
Of the evening Mrs. William H. Shirclin,
Miss Minnie Bailey and Mrs Benjamin
A. Solonia furnished music Mrs. Shir-
cliffs rendering of "Annie Laurie to the
piano accompaniment of Mrs. Solonia
seemed to put the spirit of music into
the diners. and from that time on any
blank spaces in the program were filled
in with snatches of familiar songs from
different parts of the room.
After the diners had done as much dam
age as possible to the menu Judge Bundy
again raped for order. and spoke Of the
beginning of the campaign for the i'm
provement of the Union firehouse,' and
urged the members to get behind the
project and push it to success. Judge
Bundy impressed on his hearers the i'm
portance of finishing the project as soon
as possible, and enlarged on the need
Of better protection for the historic col
lection Of relics in the building. Judge
Bundy spoke of Mr.. Wizards contribu-
| ton, and said he had no doubt the rest
OF the necessary amount could be raised
among the members with but little trou-
| BILE.
In the absence of the president, Judge
Bundy read the report of Mr.. Noyes,
which contained strong plea for the
appropriation Of money by the associ-
alton for the house Judge Bundy
spoke Of the regret felt by the associ-
alton at Mr.. Noyes' unavoidable abb
sence, and in speaking again Of the
project expressed the hope that every
thing could be gotten we'll on to COM
pletion before his return
| letter from Commissioner Rudolph,
regretting his inability to accept an in
vitation' to be present at the banquet,
| and assuring the association OF his
loyal and affectionate regard. called
forth prolonged applause from the
| diners.
Many Bright Young Faces.
The first speaker, William Henry Den
mis-. congratulated the association on its
continued large membership and thanked
it for according him the privilege Of
| standing before 80 many bright young