Evening star., 1915-01-06
COLUMBIA CENTENARY
IS AR0US|NG INTEREST
Capital Printers to Celebrate Ami
versary at Polls Theater
Sunday Afternoon.
Two Veteran Members of the Graft
Who Are Expected to Be
in Attendance.

Interest in the approaching centen-
nial celebration of Columbia Typo
graphical Union, No. 101, which takes
place at Polls Theater Sunday at 2:S0
pm, is indicated by the large num-
Der of inquiries and requests to the
committee of arrangements for the
privilege of attending from those who
were formerly members of the organ
ization or had relatives connected with
either the old Columbia Typographical
Society, as it was called from 1915 to
1867, or Columbia Typographical Union.
No. 101, as it is now known.
The committee states that admission
will be free, the boxes and the stage
being the only portions which will be
reserved for the accommodation of
the surviving members of the old So
ciety, former presidents of the organ
ization, those who take part in the
ceremonies and specially invited
guests, such as the President of the
United States, the Vice President, the
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, members of the cabinet. senators.
representatives and others who find 1t
possible to attend.
The Association of the Oldest Inhab-
itants, with which some of the older
members of the society and union are
of arrangements that it will be repre-
sented by an official delegation compos-
ed of Henry L. Bryan, John Is. McCar-
thy and W. G.. Spottswood.
Two Veteran Printers.
Two members OF the old society, ac-
tive in shaping the destiny of the craft
in its early history, Thomas ]. Alleger
and John A. Goodrich, are expected to
attend the celebration.
Mr. Alleger was born September 13,
1929. He commenced the trade of
printer in 1S47 in the Office of the Mon
roe Democrat, Stroudsburg, Pa. COM
pleted his apprenticeship in 1850 and
came to Washington and Joined the
society, remaining in the Capital City
until 1854, at which time he went to
Scranton, Pa, and commenced the pub
lication of the Spirit of the Valley. He
was appointed railway mail clerk IN
1855, but resigned that position in 1853
to engage in the publication of the
this city in 1872, taking position in
the government printing Office, where
he worked up to few years ago.
During the sixty-five years of his serv-
ice at the printing trade Mr.. Alleger
has witnessed many changes. AL
though ne has retired from active
work at the trade, he stiN retains his
membership in the union.
Learned Trade in Capital.
John A. Goodrich, veteran printer and
veteran fireman, was born at Bryan
town, Md, October 9, 1885. Five years
later he came to Washington, and for
several years thereafter attended the
old Third District Public School, kept
by Hugh Mccormick and located about
where Providence Hospital now stands.
In 1850 he was apprenticed to Jonathan
Kirkwood to learn the printing trade,
the establishment being located at the
southeast corner of Sth and D streets
northwest. This concern was after
ward the firm of McGill & Witherow.
With these and other establishments
Mr.. Goodrich served an apprenticeship
of nearly seven years, in due time be-
coming a member of the Old Society.
He is still an active member of No. 101.
Early in his career young Goodrich
| joined the Perseverance" volunteer
| fire company, an organization at once
useful and famous in those days, and
| and enthusiastic members. This com
| pany had it's headquarters and held its
| meetings about where the Center mar
| ket is located, and Mr.. Goodrich recalls
| often "strenuously lively gatherings
| of those days. In 1863 Mr.. Goodrich
| went to work in the jobroom of the
government printing office, remaining
there until 1894, in August of which
year he was dropped from the rolls. In
| December, 1899, he was reappointed tc
his old place in the jobroom, where he
| still works.
George G. Seibold. the present secre.
| tary of Columbia Typographical Union
who prepared the historical sketch Of
the organization which is to be issued
! in connection with the celebration, is
serving his eleventh term in that ca.
pacity. Mr.. Seibold is native OF
| Washington. and most of his active
: connection with the trade has been de.
voted to serving the newspapers of this
| city. He joined the union November
! Is, 1888, when but eighteen years OF
| age, and has been continuously a mem
| Der. Mr.. Seibold was delegate from
| the Washington local to the 1nterna-
| tional Typographical Union convention
| in Syracuse in 1898, and at various
| times served the union on importan,
| committees.