Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-14

volunteer F1remen's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Strobel, Henry c. Thorn and William T.
| sorrei-to arrange the apparatus and ell
| IectS Win other relit of the old city hre
| department. whose existence covered from
the year OF 1904 to 1864 in Washington.
| WINE Georgetown companies did not go
! Out OF service until 1867 is nearly COM
piete 1t is an interesting collection
Inc completion of the fremen's museum
Will be the achievement of one of the OBJ
1ects set forth in their constitution. When
the paid department took the place of
the volunteer companies in 1864 many of
| the members of those companies were left
out OF job. Some of them formed the
| new companies authorized by the act of
the corporation. and the names of a num-
per are yet on the District pay rolls. hav-
ing peen retired from active service. The
organization of the veterans is due to the
efforts OF the late John ]. Peabody. who
had served as chief engineer of the vol
unteer department In 1887. when the
Alexandria firemen We're arranging for
the celebration in that city of Washing
tons birthday, there was no volunteer
organization here to escort the Baltimore
veterans under Chief c. =. Holloway. Mr..
Peabody called on number of the old
volunteers to meet the Baltimoreans and
Join with them in the Alexandria celebra
tlon. and they participated. Soon after
fected by the local survivors of the cd
volunteers. and Mr.. Peabody was elected
president.
After meeting at a number of public
places they We're given possess on of the
old Union engine house about twenty one
years ago. The Oldest Inhabitants whose
quarters were In room Corcoran build
ing. granted them by Mr.. Corcoran. on
nndlng their quarters growing too small.
cast about for another location. In 1907
| a resolution was adopted by which the
nremen became associate members of the
Oldest inhabitants Association and the
use of this house was granted them un-
der the supervision Of the Commissioners
Or the District AS soon as the firemen
found Judgement here they began to as
| semble apparatus and other paraphernalia
pertaining to the o volunteer days. The
volunteer companies went out of exist
| ence in 1864 and in a few more years
there Will be none to represent them but
| the Oldest Inha bitants' Association. draw
| ing its membership from citizens as soon
| as they become fifty years of age and
| thirty-five a resident, will last for all
| time, and it will eventually have control
of the firemen's effects.
!. x
On entering the hall Of the firemen the
first object to attract attention is the old
Columbia suction engine. which was In
possession of the company from 1858 I'M
1864. This was one of the finest engines
Of that period, the box being rosewood
and the works being of the best material.
When the veterans found it In Virginia
town it was out of repair and the rose
wood had been covered with several coats
Of paint. but it was restored and put in
working order. This piece of apparatus
caused the death of BENJAMIN c. Green
up. who fell while guiding 1t down Capt.
toll Hill on the night of May g. 1856.
while going to the Shreeves stable fire on
7th street between II and 1 streets. Mr.
Greenup was a popular young man. fine
singer and had endeared himself to the
public by giving his services in aid OF
any charitable object on public occasions:
A few moments before mis- death he had
been serenad'ng some ladies on Missouri
avenue near Sd street. and hard y had his
last notes of Good Night, Ladies'" been
uttered when the bell sounded the alarm
and he rushed to the engine house. The
memory of Mr.. Greenup Is still revered
by the very few members of the volun-
teers remaining. 80.
They have his uniform in a glass case
and picture and a frame Of resolutions
on the walls is a photograph of fne
monument erected to his memory over
his grave in Glenwood cemetery in 1865
Another piece of appara US is the hose
arriage Of the Sun Fire COMPANY of
Alexandria. Once gorgeous 1t affair
IL now wears coat of maroon Near
by is q fine bell, once used by the North
ern Liberties Fire Comp any. which has
quite a history. After its use by that
company 1t was in the possession Of the
Metropolitan Hook and Ladder organiza-
ton, and later was hung in Central
guardhouse, and for time 1t was loaned
to a church. In It's day 1t rang the alarm
when troops were called out. when news
was received of the surrender OF Lee and
on other mOmentous occasions. A smaller
bell. used by the Anacostia Fire Com
!, ctT hoo az Il
also here. There are few Of the old
fire buckets used a hundred years ago,
and curious instrument Is pointed to as
a 'spontOon." or policeman's la on. used
by Henry Ward. long a member of the
Franklin Fire Company. when he was an
auxiliary guardsman. This is a pie Of
hickory over two feet long. In VIII CHI a
stout iron spear is mounted. The spear
was used to pry open doors and windows
in cases of fire or when pursuing Offend
ers. This peculiar instrument is said to
be a modification of the first weapons
used by the Alexandria police about the
beginning of the last century. They were
made from the pixies used by the SER
geants of Braddock's army and left In
the old market house building when 1t
started on its expedition aga 'nst the
French and Indians. On the organiza
ton Of the auxiliary guard here in 8 >
Capt. Goddard adopted them for his men.
leaving off the hook.
About the room are badges which were
tied around the firemens hats and bear
ing the name of their company. Around
the room near the ceiling are displayed
many belts of the old companies. There
are a number of the old-style hats worn
| prior to the adoption of leather helmets,
and there are a number of the latter
style. The rosters of several compan es
od tha
Columbia for 1918 and 1853, the Union
1897, Al and II. the Anacostia of 1865
and Franklin 1855. and numbers of pic
lures of fire scenes are exhibited. A
large painting represents Capt. c. D.
Andrees and Capt. James Ward of the
Northern Libert es fire companies Of
Philadelphia and Washington. respective
~. shaking hands. In the background
are representations of the two engine
houses. This was painted in Phladel-
phia and presented to the Wash ngton
company In 1857 The framed resolutions