Evening star., 1928-08-02
PIONEER BUILDERS
Of D. {. SKETCHED
Oldest Inhabitants Vote to
March in Fire Parade With
Columbia Engine.

This careers NJ waShington's early
builders and financiers. Robert Morris,
James Greenleaf. John Nicholson,
Thomas Law and Capt. William M.
Duncanson. we're Sketclled for the As
xociation of Oldest Inhabitants OF the
District of Columbia by Artemas G.
Harmon, member. at its August meet
Ing last night in the old Union Engine
House, Nineteenth and H streets,
During the business session which
preceded the reading OF Mr.. Harmon S
lengthy paper the association voted TO
participate in the firemen'S Labor day
rarade by marching as guard OF honor
Tor the old Columbia f1re engine. pro-
video the parade committee furnish
scnre means Of hauling the relic IN the
line of march Eliot Wright. secretary
cf the association, read a letter from
SerSt A. J. Bargagii parade marshal
irvitinS the organization 70 participate.
4 was first proposed by John Clagett
Proctor. . vice president, thas the as
ISOLATION take no part.
Need Men 70 Pull Engine.
Fred L. Harries. however. suggested
that the old engine be offered TO Sergt.
Bayvagni If he furnish the necessary is
men to pull IL. or some means of trans
porting il. A Gordon Of association
members. he added, coul4 march as a
guard Of honor for the engine. He
recalled that last year Serst. Bargagni
sad promised 10 supply Is men. when
q reality only two presented them
Se;~eS for the duty. A definite promise
OF q means of propulsion be supplied
shcul6 be obtained from the parade
committee before the engine Is consid-
cred for the march. Mr.. Harries said,
after declaring the task of pulling the
eie machine is too great for most
ef the men Of this association" Mr..
EarTaes. who has the distinction of
being the oldest volunteer fire chief
Of Takoma Park. will ride with the
Takonna Park apparatus. he said.
In his paper. Pioneers OF Washing
ton" Mr.. Harmon told Of the creation
OF = building syndicate by Morris,
Greenleaf and Nicholson and its unSuc-
cessful efforts 70 build large numbers
Of houses in the Federal City during its
infancy Greenleaf, who was born in
Boston in 1865. came to washington
with q fortune and through the build
fnr Specula lions OF the syndicate. lost
million dollars before 1875. Following
his financial failure he was put in the
debtors prison. but was released to re-
turn 70 his financial efforts. dying here
In 1s43, an "honored citizen" Mr.
Harmon showed a pen-and-iTlk sketch
ef the Greenleaf monument above the
pioneers grave in Congressional Gene
tegy
Put in Debtors Prison.
Robert Morris. fnancier. of the Revo
fItiorary War. launched the building of
The Arst full block Of houses in Wash
ine4on, Mr. Harmon told the aSsocia-
ton members, when he began construc-
ton Of q row Of dwellings on South
Capitol street The houses were left
uncompieted when the building syndi-
cate was unable to pay its contracted
debts and they were torn down years
later. Morris and John Nicholson, the
third member Of the syndicate. also
served in the debtors prison. Public
sympathy for the financier of the Revo-
hFticr, however. brought about Morris
release and restoration to his family.
Thomas Law, "Washington's first
rich man" who lived at Sixth and N
streets southwest In a mansion built
by Robert Morris. with Daniel Carroll,
Maryland patriot. probably Is largely