Evening star., 1922-05-04
LECTURER IS GIVEN
new LIGHT 0NC|7Y
Oldest Inhabitants Add
Scores of Facts About Pic
lures on Screen.

Frederick L. Fishback. who has in
terested many audiences with his Illus
trated lectures on Washington. had the
novel experience Of being entertained
by his own lantern slides when he ex-
hibited them to the Association of Old
est Inhabitants of the District of Colum-
bia in Union engine house, at 18th and
H streets last night.
Usually a lecturer stands beside the
screen like a professor imparting knoWl-
edge to his auditors. But last night. as
MIR. Fishback himself put it, he felt like
pupil attempting to address a Gather-
ing Of professors
Hardly picture was exhibited of old
buildings that did not bring back boy
hood memories to one of the pioneer
residents who make up the Oldest in
nabitants.
Given Fund Of Information.
Mr.. Fishback took advantage Of the
opportunity to show a number of pic
lures about which he had not been able
of the facts he was seeking came readily
from the mental storehouses Of the old
students of Washington as the pictures
were flashed before them.
Taken as a whole. the lecture was
one of mutual instruction, for Mr..
FiShback was able to exhibit many
views of Washington half a century
ago that were new to the oldest in
habitants. At the conclusion of the
exhibition the association gave MIR.
Fishback rising vote of thanks FOR
his entertaining program.
At the business session the asso-
citation adopted resolutions of pro-
test against the drastic changes in
taxation in the District proposed in
the new appropriation bill
Gift to MacfarIand Fund.
On motion of DR.. Benjamin W.
Sunny, the association voted con-
tribution of s25 to the Macfarland
memorial fund and invited members
of the organization to make individ-
val donations.
The association instructed Corre-
to arrange with Commissioner oyster
for the placing of the fire chiefs anti
quated horse-drawn buggy in the as
sociation's museum. The oldest in
habitants have preserved at the
Union engine house two pieces of
fre-fighting days and the chiefs
buggy will represent the era of horse
propelled vehicles, now rapidly pass
ing out of use.
Milton E. Allies was elected a MEM
ber of the association last night. Gist
.
who joined few weeks ago. attended
his first meeting last night and made
brief address. He told his asso-
ciates that for many years he had
gazed with curiosity upon the outside
of the old engine house, and it gave
him keen pleasure to be welcomed in.
President Theodore w. Noyes pre-
sided.
Tells OF willard Site.
The recent fire in the Willard Hotel
prompted John Clagett Proctor to
read a brief history Of that site.
which. he said. has been used for hotel
purposes for more than a century. He
said:
"Originally, this site was covered by
erected in 1916 by John Tayloe. who
built, the Octagon House, at 18th
street and New York avenue
Here, in 1918. Joshua Tennison
opened a hotel, presumably in the
corner house, at 14th street. Later
had been in some way associated in
the hotel business with Tennison.
assumed the proprie4orship and con-
tinued as such until 1924, and 1t was
during his management that all of
the six buildings in the row became
a part of his hotel. which was known
as the Mansion Hotel.
Basil Williamson succeeded Stroth-
er in 1924, and it then became known
as Williamson's Mansion House Three
years later it was enlarged by the
Tayloe estate, the rooms being in
creased from forty to one hundred.
After this it went into the hands of
Frederick Barnard.
"Azariah Fuller became the pro-
prietor in 1888 and he changed the
name to the American House. 1t
later became the City Hotel, by which
name it was. known in 1s47, when
leased by Edwin D. and Henry A.
Willard. The Willards remodeled it
and gave 1t the name by which it
has been known for three-fourths Of
century. The present structure was
erected in 1901"