Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26
7 BY JOHN cLAGETr PROCTOR.

T Unless one keeps in touch with
historic Washington, he has nc
idea of the great interest taken
~ by the public generally in the
old buildings scattered through
out The Capital City, One OF these II
particular. which seems to attract un.
usual interest, is the high brick struc-
ture at the southeast corner OF Nine
teenth and II streets northwest, which
has been occupied for some years past
by the Association Of Oldest 1nhabi-
tants as its headquarters
Indeed. so quaint looking is the little
structure that visitors 10 the city often
SO out Of their way TO inquire what the
little old building means to the early
life Of the city, knowing that it must
1T in, IN some way, with the historic
past
OF course It is only 1877 years since
the corner stone Of the District of Co.
hnbia was laid, and only one year
more than this since the passage of the
act permitting the selection Of this par
ticular territory as the Capital Of the
United States Of America Therefore.
compared with many of our older cities,
what We call "old buildings" are not
old at alI-mere Youngsters But, new
ertheieSs, they are old to Washington,
ana consequently Ola 10 us.
Not only is this building quaint -look-
ing from the outside but equally so on
the inside, for on its walls are hung
framed pictures Of men and buildings
prominent in the history Of the Ma
uonal Capital Souvenirs and relics
reminders Of the early days of Wash
instou, are to be seen everywhere. In
Guiding even the original chain used by
Maj. Andrew Elllcott and his colored
assistant. Benjamin Banneker. in lay
ing out She streets and avenues Of the
very city itself
So tenaciously do the members of
the Association Of Oldest Inhabitants
insist on retaining its old appearance
that recently when II was found neceS-
sary 20 renovate the meeting room it
was agreed that all the pictures should
be replaced on the walls in at least
their former approximate positions.
To most every one this building would
appear to be Just what Il is--an old
engine house. II is far from being the
Oldest building in Washington. having
been erected in 1885. or less than 100
years ago. In a recent paper read be-
fore the Association of Oldest Inhabi-
tants Washington Topham, in speaking
Of this building said.
The greatest fiTemen's parade ever
4ltlO UIE EeflilSNNdIl8a avenue
the near-completion of the brick build
Ing, October %. 1886. The apparatus
OF other companies was drawn down
the Avenue By cheering companies Of
volunteers. The engines consisted Of
carts mounted with hand pumps and
tanks. Even after the bucket brigade
methods were strapped in favor Of the
hand pumps the tanks on the engines
had 70 be filled with buckets passed
from hand 70 hand.
The present site Of the building was
purchased in April. 1896. and work was
started at once. The decision to locate
a fire company in that section of the
city vas an outgrowth of an order for
the protection Of the city's four prin-
clpsl markets. The Union company
was TO look after the interests of old
Western Market. The company was
organized in 1915. and was located first
ct Twenty-f1rst street and Pennsylvania
avenue"
EVIDENTLY the Union Engine Com
pany was in existence at an earlier
date than 1915. for in The Star of
October iS, 1879, ne find this bit of
Information:
The 9Th of September, 1904, meet
tng Of the Union Fire Company second
varo) was held at Rhodes tavern,
Richard Forrest in the chair Offcers
we're elected for the first time, as fol-
lows: James Hoban. president; An