Evening star., 1923-11-14
ORGANIZATION ASKS
i ADEQUATE HOME
Association Of Oldest Inhab.
itants Joins Other So
cieties in Quest.

The inadeQuacy Of the old Union
engine house, at 18th and H streets
northwest, as a meeting place and as
a display place for valued articles OF
historical iAterest has brought about
a joint movement by the Association
of Oldest Inhabitants. the Columbia
Historical Society and the Society of
Natives OF the District of Columbia
to find ways and means of obtaining
a building suitable for the purposes
of the three bodies named. The
project will involve an expenditure
of approximately 100000.
A committee Of fifteen, Ave from
each of the respective organizations.
met last evening at the headquarters
of the Oldest Inhabitants, in the en-
gine house. and after discussing the
matter decided to report back to their
respective organizations that a gen.
eral proposition for the securing OF
a suitable building for the needed
purposes of the three bodies be en-
tered into and that other organiza-
tions be invited to participate in the
undertaking.
Property Owned by District.
1t was said that while the Asso-
citation OF Oldest Inhabitants was In
no immediate danger OF being ousted
from its present meeting place, there
Is no certainty as to when the Dis
trict government will decide that It
needs the property for other pur-
poses. 1t also was pointed out that
the quarters are entirely too small
for the large number Of historical
tion. The walls are completely COW
cred with pictures. banners. flags.
old newspapers. ancient fire-aghting
implements. helmets. badges and 9TH
er relics (too numerous to allow of
proper display, while the closets and
and manuscripts and the engine room
contains the old hand pump engine.
chiefs carriage and other objects, of
interest not only to members of the
association but also to the thou
sands of visitors to the National Cap
ital.
The Society of Natives has been en-
deavorinE for several years to pro-
cure permanent meeting place with
facilities for exhibiting its vast
amount OF museum material Re-
Gently the Columbia Historical So
ciety, 1t was said. was required to
give up its headquarters and the
many articles Of historical signif-
now stored in some place deemed in
accessible. Both of these organiza-
tions welcomed the opportunity to
cooperate with the Oldest Inhabit-
ants Association in obtaining a site
in central location on which could
be erected building along appro-
pirate lines. to meet the requirements
of the respective organizations, in
which could be located a floor set
apart for a museum.
Reports ON Location.
William F. Duhamel. chairman Of
the joint committee and a member
Of all three of the societies interested
in this movement. presided at the
meeting and reported on the various
locations available. together with the
cost thereof. DR.. Benjamin w. Sum-
my spoke of the honor roll estab-
lished by the Association of Oldest
Inhabitants. wherein number of
members had made donations toward
entirely probable that as soon as the
movement Is we'll under way many
persons would come forward with
financial assistance. DR.. G. NJ. Brum-
baugh stated that the Genealogical
Society would be eager to enter into
the general scheme Of a permanent
headquarters. 1t also is said that the
Sons of the American Revolution. the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion and other bodies have expressed
a desire to affiliate with a movement
such as Is being carried on by the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants. the
Columbia Historical Society and the
Society of Natives.
1900 Jointly Concerned.
There are about 1900 members in
TIE three societies jointly concerned.
and 1t is realized what a huge task
is set before them in raising the nee
essary funds ito complete the propo-
sition. but 1t is planned to elicit the
support of other organizations and
individuals through bequests in Wills,
1egacies, tetc.
The Joint committee. OF which will
liam F. Duhamel is chairman, is COM
posed Of the following: Association
Of Oldest Inhabitants, William Nc
Nier, Albert Harper, A. K. Paris, J.
Z. Briggs and DR.. Benjamin w. Sum
my; Columbia Historical Society, AL
Ian G. Clark. Henry p. Blair, Henry
l.. Bryan, DIR. Ira w. Dennison and
F. Regis Noel, and the Society Of
Natives of the District Of Columbia,
Joseph l. Keefer, Washington Top
ham. Mrs. G. w. Evans and Miss NJ.
b. Morris.
A subcommittee was appointed by
Harper. A. X. Paris and F. Regis
Noel, to act with the chairman, in
drawing up the report to be submit
ted to the three organizations A !
meeting will be held early in De-
cember and 1t is expected that the
three societies will favor the report
of the joint committee and some def
mite plan of action will then be map
ped out.