Evening star., 1934-02-19
INHABITANTS MAKE
BIRTHDAY PLANS
Senator CopeIandtoA Address
Association in Honor OF
Washington.

When Senator Royal s. Copeland.
Democrat, of New York, addresses the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants on
Washington's birthday Thursday
morning at the Old Union Engine
House, Nineteenth and H streets, the
organization will be carrying forward
one of its most cherished traditions.
the observance of patriotic anniver-
saries.
The history Of the association goes
back to the close of the Civil War,
when Col. Benjamin Ogle Tayloe and
other leading citizens Of Washington
Of that day. whose names loom large
in the history of the National Capital,
organized the association at a meeting
in Washington's City Hall, now the
Court House.
Carries on 10 Years.
Almost 10 years 1t has carried on,
proud Of its prestige as a patriotic
and civic group of men, qualified by
age and character, who have known
Washington for at least 35 years, who
have helped build Washington. and
who are devoted to the best in
terests Of the National Capital In all
these years there have been but nine
presidents, from Benjamin Ogle
Tayloe In 1855 to Theodore w. Noyes,
whose election has been unanimous,
annually, for more than a quarter Of
century. Carrying out its patriotic
ideals, its l3 vice presidents stand for
the l3 original States Of the Union.
So 1t has never failed, as each year
rolls on, to hold special exercises on
Americas two greatest holidays,
Washington's birthday and Indepen-
dence day, and annually to pay its
respects to the President at the White
House whenever the President holds a
New Year day reception.
The first meetings of the associa-
tlon we're held at City Hail. Later,
William W. Corcoran, one of its mem
bers, invited the association to hold
its meetings in the Corcoran Build
ing where now stands the Washington
Hotel. Since 1911, the association
has held its regular meetings in the
historic Engine House, at Nineteenth
and H, which was built by the Gov
ernment as a home for the Union
Fire Company in the latter part of
1887 for the protection of the De-
paTtrlellt Of War and the Department
of the Navy.
The objects and aims of the asso-
citation are:
To cement and strengthen the in
terest and associations arising cut Of
a common residence for a 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 5e
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. hos
Pitality, and in courtesy and respect
to oil public functionaries and au-
thorities, without regard to sectional
or political distinction"
More Than 450 Members
There are over 450 members Of the
association. The members must have
attained so years of age and must
have lived IS years at Washington
and must be men of good moral char.
acter and unblemished reputation.
While the organization was created
in 1865, 1t is interesting that the
life of the first president, Col Tayloe,
and the life of the present president,
Mr.. Noyes, overlap, so that between
+tcy,a he - -
the National Capital is covered. In
cidentally, Col. Tayloe is responsible
for bringing to Washington Henry A.
Willard, with resulting moving here
of the other Willards, all of Willard
and Ebbitt House hotel fame. who
have been conspicuous in Washington
history.
The association, among other
things, points with pride to the fact
it IS responsible for flying Of the ma
tional colors on the public schools Of
Washington and for many other con-
structive, patriotic developments. It
believes, like all the leading city-wide
organizations Of Washington, that the
people of Washington are entitled to
all the rights and privileges guaran-
teed by the Federal Constitution and
exercised by the 48 States of the
Union, and so has been active in
urging constitutional amendment
for voting representation in the two
Houses of Congress.
On Rules Committee.
Senator Copeland of New York, who
will be the orator of the day Thurs
day, is chairman Of the Senate Com.
mittee on Rules and a veteran mem.
Der of the Upper Branch of Congress.
Just as 81 years ago Col. Tayloe, later
president of the association. invited
the first of the Willards to Washing
ton, the association has invited two
former Vermonters, Mr.. and Mrs.
Arthur c. Barrett, who once lived at
Brattleboro and Mount Holly, Vt,
now Washingtonians, to take part in
this years Washington birthday pro-
gram. Mrs. Barrett will play the
grand polka d concert, Mountain
Stream and Country Gardens" Mr..
Barrett will sing THE End Of the
Road Roaming in the Cleaning"
and IAN Day on the Prairie"
Theodore w. Moves will preside.
Washington's Farewell Address will
be read by Fred A. Emery. one Of the
vice presidents. An original poem
will be read by John Clagett Proctor,
another vice president. Rev. j. Har.
vey Dunham, pastor Of the Western
Presbyterian Church, will deliver the
invocation. The assembly will sing
America" and Aud Lang Syne," for
which Mrs. Barrett will be accom-
panist. j. Eliot Wright Is chairman
and James F. Duhamel secretary of
the Entertainment Committee.
The association will have its bust.
ness meeting at 10 o'clock and the