Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-10

| In honor of its fiftieth anniversary
| banquet was given last night by
! the Columbia Engine and Motor. Co.,
No. 4, in the Westminster Building
which was attended by nearly 200
guests, including city officials, fire.
men from the various fire companies
| If the city, special guests from the
business organizations and number
If veteran firemen.
Six out of the original membership
IF the company, organized fifty years
ago last night, are today living, and
four of them sat dswn to the ban
1uet board and arose when their
names were called by President Nor
nan Roberts, toastmaster, and were
.heered to the echo. 1t was great
sight as the veterans stood and gave
thrill to the young members as
hey saw the four S.en who served
he old Columbia from the day of
its inception. In their order those
present who were charter, members
we're: George S. French. William
D. Zimmerman, George Uhler and J.
n. Mansfield. The absentees were
Edmund Burke and r. Lee Fleming.
The guests for the banquet assem-
bled at the Columbia Engine House
snd marched in body to the West
Minister building. The big banquet
hall was prettily decorated and on the
stage were large pictures of the late
William A. Smoot, for many years
president of tie Columbia Company
and the late Henry Posey, for about
forty years driver of the Columbia
engine and in the center was a man.
mouth gilded horseshoe. There were
also several of the company's pictures
suspended on the stage. At the south
md of the hail was the company's
service flag containing twenty-five
stars, including one gold one for
Samuel Haynes who made the su-
creme sacrifice during the world war
Officers Of several of the companies
occupied seats on the stage.
The tables were prettily decorated
With red candles and the sidewalks
with red candles and the sidewals
with flags, the color scheme through
out being red. The tables were ar
ranged in E shape and presented an
unusually attractive appearance.
Silver fire trumpet horns also were
scattered at the various tables.
Looking around the tables one
could see many veteran firemen OF
she city who had come to participate
in the fftieth anniversary among
l;whom in addition to the four men,
toned above were I.oudoun Campbell.
|; for many years engineer CT the Old
|; Columbia Company and Stephen
Taylor, veteran driver. Of that COM
,any; james B. Hughes, John
/ Hughes, Charles Herbert. Captain
Fountain Bcattic. Dr. Samuel Il.
! Lunt, Charles Duffey, John McCuen'
md a host Of others.
The gathering was raped to order
by President Roberts and blessing
was invoked " Rev. George J. Hill.
pastor of the Methodist Protestant
| Church, and at 1O:45 o'clock benedic-
ion was pronounced by Rev. Louis
Smet, rector of St. Mary's Cathoiie
Church, which brought. the affair to a
| close.
| During the evening selections were
given hv the Citizens Band both
at the engine. house. and at the hall
| and music also was furnished by
Rogers orchestra.
At OILS o'clock President. Roberts
rapped the assemblage to order anc
announced that he had received let
tcrs Of regret at their inability ::tc
attend from Former President Wool:
| row Wilson. Governor .Westmoreland
Davis, K. NJ. Gilpip. Chief Watson
| If the Washington Fire Department
and Chief. Lloyd of the Camp Hum.
1 phreys Fire Department sr 90
Mr.: Roberts in, q brief address .a-