Evening star., 1926-09-26
NEW FIRE STATION
IS SCENE OF RITES
Q. c. Joins Hands With Be.
thesda at Maryland Corner
Stone Laying.

In the face of lowering storm
clouds and with several hundred peo.
pie present. the District joining hands
with celebrants. the corner stone of
fthe new fire station for the Bethesda
Md, area was laid yesterday after
noon. The event. as speakers de.
scribed 1t. was one of the most signi-
cant affairs ever held in the history of
this suburb of the National Capital, as
the new fire department and the new
building represented concrete evidence
Of a merged community entity.
In view of the approachi,e, storm
the exercises began a half hour ear
lier than was scheduled. William w.
Bride, president Of the Edgemoor
Citizens Association, presided. The
speakers of the afternoon were Post
master General New, Commissioner
Proctor l.. Dougherty Of the District
of Columbia. George S. Watson, chief
of the Washington Fire Department;
Montgomery County Civic Federation,
and Barnard Welsh, chief Of the
Rockville department.
Beneath Historic Flag.
In opening the exercises Mr.. Bride
declared that realization of the
Bethesda department was the out
growth of month OF community
effort, and he declared that it was
fitting that the days event should be
conducted beneath an American flag
that had flown over q manifestation
OF international effort just as ii now
few over exercises marking unifica-
fion Of intercommunity effort. He re-
ferred to 9. flag, the property of Col.
+. l.. Gilbreth of Battery Park. which
was used by American forces in
Peking during the Boxer troubles.
He cited the activity Of the Mont
Eomery County Civic Federation in
focusing attention on the unprotected
area in Chevy Chase and Bethesda
The activities Of which had brought to
pass the new fire station. He de-,
clared that it was fitting that the
president of the Federation should
officiate at the corner stone laying.
Symbol of Firm Ideals.
Mr.. Bride then introduced oliver
Owen Kuhn, who declared that the
corner stone to be laid did not repre-
sent, in his mind, an inanimate thing
but It stood as a symbol Of firm ideals
and will to do which had been estab-
lished through a new born civic con-
sciousness in the Bethesda area. The
mortar symboliZed the firm friend
ships and understandings between all
the communities which ever were to
bind the people of the Bethesda area
and make possible even greater civic
accomplishments. Mr.. Kuhn then
officiated in the actual laying of the
corner stone.
Commissioner Dougherty congratu-
lated the Bethesda area on it's enter
prise and paid tribute to the men who
had made the new department pos
sible. He cited the value Of civic
endeavor and urged the communities
to cling together in realization of all
projects effecting the common veal.
At this juncture Postmaster General
New stated that he had been happy
to have participated in the first meet
ing launching the fire department
drive in this community and he was
glad to again have the privilege of
participating in rites which marked
actual realization.
Sees Washington as Suburb.
Introduced as one of the men who
had lent greatest aid and support to
the Bethesda campaign Fire Chief
Watson declared that the fire station
was but one of the many things
destined to be achieved by the Be-
thesda as a result of resolute inter
community effort why the first
tnlnS you KNOW, IL the same 1SfSy
is applied in other things as in this.
Washington will I've suburb of Be
thesda." He promised continued CO
operation with the department.
Barnard Welsh of Rockville de-
clared that at last Bethesda was
coming on the map. Rockville had
at last discovered the community. He
lauded accomplishments of the Be
thesda area in establishing its new
department but declared: Just wait.
Some day YOU folks with your fine
fire apparatus will be going down
the road and there will he whistle
and a whir and the Rockville de-
partment will go sailing by YOU" He
created much merriment by his good
natured joshinS OF Bethesda and de-
clared he hoped II soon would
grow UP.
Over $35,OO0 Has Been Raised.
Mr. Bride then cited the fact that
more than $35. 200 had been raised in
the drive with more to come into the
treasury. He urged further contri-
buttons that all might equally share
in their civic duties.
After the playing of The Star
Spangled Banner" by the Fort Myer
cavalry band the exercises came to
an end. The Silver Spring, Rock
vile and kensington fire departments
sent apparatus to participate in the
exercises.