Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12

were SuppllIlSQ Lldily SCdlS oSO ~
the District of Columbia by the
horse-drawn apparatus, did not die
or pass into the discard without
leaving something worthy OF their
existence Like many another institution of
the carly days they lef: to u historic record
still neriting the highest praise and commenda-
ton for bravery and efficiency.
Thcre are very few men living today who
were volunteer fremen attached to some par
ticular company, for the reason that the paid
department-the nucleus Of what We have today
game into existence on May 10, 1854, IN &C
cordance with an act of the Board of Aldermen
and Board of Common Council Of the City OF
Washington, approved April IS, 1864, or 81
years ago, and to have even been boy OF Is
years old at that time would now mean man
of 81. Indeed, the last surviving member OF
the volunteers remaining in the paid depart
ment in 1904 the late Chief Engineer VIII
liam T. Belt who was presented with q loving
cup by the Volunteer Ffremens Association at
the old engine house, Nineteenth and streets
northwest, on October 3 Of that year upon the
occasion Of the celeb alton Of the Tooth ami
versa1y Of the organization Of the first IRE
company in the city, which took place August
IL, 1904
FROM an account printed at the time Of the
I celebration we find that Chief Belt joined
the Franklin Company in 1862, and that after
the firemen were put on salary basis he hned
every position in line from private to chief
engineer.
The honor of being the first volunteer fire
company on record this side OF Rock Creek
seems to rest with the Union Fire Company,
organized in 1904, and which for the few years
1t existed had its headquarters at the West
Market, building also known as the Town
Hail. and the construction of which was begun
late in 1902, while it opened early in 1903. 1t
stood in the triangular space on the north side
~ v1x Yio between Twentieth and
Twenty-first streets, and its lower floors were
used to house the stalls for the market, while
the upper floor was used as public han, and
for while meeting place fey Hiram Lodge,
No. TO- F. A. A. M
This company was organized mainly for the
protection of the War and Navy Buildings and
was given the of the engine that belonged
to the Government and which was then said
10 be in building near the Treasury once"
The engine house itself was a frame building
which stood on the Twentieth street side OF
the market, and when the company was re-
organized in 1914 it occupied the same wooden
structure OF its first officers find such well
known names as James Hoban, president;
Andrew Way, jr., vice president; Washington
Boyd treasurer; James Kearney, secretary
Clotworthy Stephenson, Peter Lenox, Lewis
Marin and Henry Langtry were the engineers;
John Hewitt Thomas Thorpe Thomas Car
penter, Henry Hereford, John P. Van Ness and
Joseph Calvert, flremen; James HuddleSton,
John Aiken, Orlando Cook Hugh Boyd, George
Moore, Thomas Given, John Dobbin and G.. M
NautZ, laddermen; David Shoemaker, Richard
Forrest, John MCGOWAN, George Way, Lewis
Clephane and Thomas Heitz sentinels and the
company's Board Of General Superintendent
consisted Of John Payne, Edward Fretby, s. L.
Mccormick, Ezra Warden, Alexander Cochran,
Robert Tally, William Thornton, James Thorn
ton and John Hewitt.
"A GLANCE into the early social history OF
n washington will show these men to have
been of the very highest order. James Hoban
designed and twice built the White House and
was the first worshipful master Of Federal
Lodge, No. /, Of Masons, and marshal at the
head of its members in the parade incident to
the laying Of the corner stone Of the Capitol
Andrew and George Way were early Wash
ington printers, one Of whom was probably
member Of the frm of Way & Gron rs far
back as 1901. Washington Boyd was one OF
the principal men in the surveying department
of the District from 1894 to 1898 and later tax
collector and treasurer Of the city and United
States Marshal for the District Of Columbia