Evening star., 1934-11-11
70-yEAR RECORD
BEH|ND0LDEST0F
D. c. civic BODIES
Inhabitants Have Patriot
ism, Both National and Lo-
cal, as Keynote Ideal.

dents, with the lives of the first and
the present president overlapping to
cover the entire life of the Capital
City.
Distinctive in it's aims and purposes
the organization stands alone in its
field, proud Of its antiquity, proud that
so years of age is prime requirement
for membership, and proud of a long
list of accomplishments, which stretch
far back down the years, and look
forward into the future.
AS expressed in its own official docu-
ments, the objects and aims of the
association declared to be praise
worthy and elevating from the begin
ming" are as follows:
Purposes Are Outlined.
ITO cement and strengthen the in
terest and associations arising out OF
a common residence for long period
in the same locality, to keep alive the
"reminiscences Of the past, and the
social and fraternal communion of the
present and the future. Assuming
that. as the oldest residents Of the
District, we cherish the greatest
solicitude for its prosperity, 1t Will be
for the association to lend its aid in
every way to its prosperity and I'M
provement in good order, right gov
ernment and social intercourse. nos
pitality and in courtesy and respect
to all public functionaries and author
tiles without regard to sectional or
political distinctions"
Eligibility to membership In the
association is confined to men in the
District of Columbia so years or more
of age, "of good moral character,
centlemanly department, and unolem-
ished reputation, and who have re-
sided In the District for a period OF
not less than 35 years"
The nine presidents OF the organi-
cation have been as follows: Ben
iamin Ogle Tayloe, DR.. John B.
Blake, S. Jenkin Thomas, George A.
Bohrer, John Marbury, jr.; S. Thomas
Brown. Allison Nailor, jr.; John Ed
ward Libbey, and the incumbent, Theo-
dore w. Noyes, who was first elected
in 1908.
The 13 vice presidents stand for
the thirteen original States of the
Union, it is explained by John Clagett
Proctor, one of the vice presidents
and chronicler Of the association.
Patriotism Is Keynote.
Patriotism has been keynote OF
the organizations ideals, expressed
through many ways, including special
exercises on Americas two greatest
holidays, independence day and Wash
ington's birthday. On January /,
when the President of the United
States has held the customary White
House reception, the members have
marched In a body to pay their re-
spects.
Referring to patriotism, Chronicler
Proctor in a history of the organiza-
tion says: Indeed to such an ex-
tent has its love for the flag been
carried that the association points
with pride to the fact that 1t is re-
sponsible for the flying of the colors
on the public schools of the city. and
for other constructive, patriotic work,
and believes that the people of the
District of Columbia are justly en-
titled to all the rights and privileges
guaranteed by the Constitution and
exercised by the 48 States of the
Union, that are consistent with ex-
elusive control by the Nation Of the
Nations city, and that in this con-
nection they are entitled to voting
representation in Congress and the
electoral college.
Its record is an enviable one," re-
lates Mr. Proctor. "and to use the
words expressed by the incumbent,
Mr.. Noyes, may we, the Wash
ingtonians of today, so play our
parts as devoted citizens of the District
and loyal Americans, that the president
of the Association of Oldest Inhabitants
in 1865 may point with pride to as
wonderful development of the Capt.
tai and of the Nation in the inter-
vening years till then, as that
wrought in the years already passed
since its organization.
Meet in Engine House.
The historic old Union Engine
House at Nineteenth and H streets,
in which the association has held its
meetings since April 7, 1909, was
built by the Government as a home
for the Union Fire Company during
the latter part of 1887, for the pro-
lection of the War and Navy De-
partments, on ground decided. April
81 of that year, by Henry R. Randall
and his wife, Emily, to William No
land, Commissioner Of Public Build
ings, in behalf of the United States.
The early history of the association,
according to Chronicler Proctor, goes
back to a preliminary meeting held
November 80, 1865. 1t was formally
organized and held its first meeting
in the Council chamber OF the City
Hall, now the Court House, on De-
cember 7, of the same year.
Minutes of the preliminary meeting
are not full and briefly recite that the
meeting was held in Franklin Hall.
that Col. j. S. Williamson was called
to the chair, that John F. Callan acted
as secretary and that an adjournment
was taken to December 7 Of the fol-
lowing month. The only persons men
toned as being present, in addition to
the temporary chairman and secre-
tary, we're James Clephane and
George Savage, though undoubtedly a
number of others attended.
The first regular meeting which fol-
lowed was held in the council cham
ber. when the temporary officers again
filled the chairs; constitution was
adopted and the following officers
elected: Col Tayloe, president; Will
liam A. Bradley. first vice president;
Peter Force, second vice president;
Nicholas Callan, treasurer; John Car
roll Brent, corresponding secretary,
and Alexander Med. Davis, recording
secretary. The first president, Col
Tayloe, came to Washington in 1901,
and it is his life which overlaps the
life of the present head of the organi-
zation, Mr.. Noyes, who was born in
1858.
President Tayloe had witnessed
President Jefferson's second Inaugural
ton, at a time when the city was, as
he describes it: "A morass with scarce
" house on the Avenue" Another
early member of the association re-
called when he said the city was not
only a morasS. but when the site of
the City Hall was covered with scrub