Evening star., 1915-12-07
A REVIEW OF HISTORY !.
COVERING Fifty YEARS
Association of Oldest Inhabitants
Assemblies This Evening at Semi
Centennial Banquet.
Organization Preserves for Future
Generations Historical Evidence Of
National Capitals Development.

Fifty years of service to the District
in preserving for future generations
historical evidences of the development
of the National Capital will be observ-
ed by members of the Association of
the Oldest Inhabitants at the organiza-
tons semi-centennial banquet to be
| held at the New Ebbitt Hotel tonight.
| The association was organized De-
cember = 1865. During the fifty years
of it's existence it not only has gathered
much historical data of Washington's s
growth since the civil war. but has set
| in motion machinery for making its
work in this direction perpetual. The
records include written memoirs, pho
togra phic displays and souvenirs which
are kept at the associations headquar-
| ters in the old Union engine house.
| 18th and II streets northwest.
Not Charter Member Living.
OF the thirty-odd persons who COM
posed it's charter membership none is
alive to observe its fiftieth anniversary.
though several members who VIII at
tend tonights banquet attended some
of the early meetings of the associa-
ton. John B. Mccarthy. corresponding
secretary, attended the very first meet
ing, though his age made .ae h,m tia,a .heiist-
Despite the fact that the association
has probably the highest mortality
rate of any organization in the Dis
t, ,ict, it's affairs have been directed py
only seven presidents. The first presi-
dent was Benjamin Ogle Tayloe. oth-
ers in order were DR.. John b. Blake,
John Marbury, jr.: Thomas 3. Brown,
Allison Nailor, jr.; J. Edward LDbs
and the incumbent, Theodore w. Noyes.
1t now has a membership of 323, but
during the present year Its gain IN
numerical strength has been silsht as
the number of new members exceeds
the number of those who have died by
only one To be eligible for member
ship one must be fifty years of age and
have resided in Washington for thirty
five years.
Had Home in Corcoran Building.
Shortly following it's organization the
association was presented with per-
petual quarters in the Corcoran build
ing, at 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue, but in 1908, moved into the
quarters it now occupies on the second
floor of the Union engine house, TINS
having been made possible through an
act of Congress 1t spent $3,ooo IN
furnishing the quarters
Here the associations monthly meet
ines are held. The attendance inva-
riably is good and it is no uncommon
thing for members in their ninetieth
year to attend these sessions Gener.
ally, the most interesting feature OF
the programs is the relating Of remi-
niscences. 1t is an exceptional meet
ing when photograph or other bis
torical memento is not presented to the
association to become part of its per-
manent records.
Except when visits are made IN COM
pany with members the associations
headquarters are not open to the pub
lie. but effort is to be made in the near
future to provide caretaker in order
that the historical exhibit may be in
spected at any time. The display has
now developed to such proportions as
to be of educational value and un-
doubtedly will soon be made available
for general inspection.