Evening star., 1937-10-07
REVIEW CENTURY
OF ENGINE HOUSE
Oldest Inhabitants Recall
MiIestones of Progress
by Washington.

A century, of progress from the
horse and buggy" days Of Washing
ton was reviewed by chroniclers Of
the Association of Oldest Inhabitants
last night as nearly 200 members and
friends observed with song and story
the Tooth anniversary Of the dedica-
ton OF the Old Union Engine House,
which has served as their home since
April 7, 1909.
Elra G. Palmer, chairman Of the
anniversary meeting, recalled that the
actual corner stone laying occurred
on October "a, 1887. 1t was a men,
orable day for Washington then, as
related in the columns of the National
Intelllgencer of that date From the
new Engine House site at Nineteenth
and H streets, the firemen and city
fathers. forming column a half mile
long, marched through Georgetown,
back around the White House to the
Capitol and the Washington Barracks
and thence to old Center Market, on
pennsylvania avenue, where the pa
rade dispersed. 1t was a day when
men were men" and during the en-
tire march of 10 or IL miles not a
man dropped out, according to the
account in the Intelligencer, read by
Jesse c. Suter, vice president of the
association.
h The meeting last night was auspi-
clouS in more ways than one. AS a
poignant reminder, perhaps, that
time marches on" the guests in the
assembly hall of the Old Union Engine
House were "serenaded" twice during
the meeting by the shrieking of fire
sirens and the clatter of automotive
equlppage as modern engines dashed
down Nineteenth street. It recalled to
the mind Of John R. Mahoney. who
Will be 80 years old on his next birth
day, that in 1857 he was "one of the
neighborhood boys" who used to help
pull the famous old Union Engine to
fires.
Band Also Serenades.
AS tribute to the occasion, the
association was serenaded also outside
the building by the 12lst Regiment
Band of the District National Guard.
Col. John w. Oehmann, Guard COM
mander, who brought the band as a
part Of his initiation to membership
in the Association of Oldest Inhabi-
tants, attended his first meeting and
signed the bylaws.
The principal chroniclers of the
evening were Robert N. Harper, whose
memory of Washington dates back to
1885. and John Claggett Proctor, vice
president and poet laureate of the
organiza ton.
Earlier in the day Mr.. and Mrs.
Proctor had observed their fiftieth
wedding anniversary and fluctuations
were extended again last night. The
occasion served to remind one of the
members that there was present at
the meeting Mr. and Mrs. Charles F.
Hauke of sos Massachusetts, avenue
northeast, who will have been married
Sc years on october TO-
From Theodore w. Noyes, president
of the association, came hearty
greetings to my friends Of the Oldest
Inhabitants, old or middle aged, but
all youthful in spirit" He expressed
his regrets through Mr.. Suter at not
being able to attend the meeting, but
hoped to be able to greet the members
in person at their next session.
U. S. Neglect Cited.
Mr.. Noyes' message recalled that
today, AS 100 years ago, the Federal
Government has failed to do its full
share toward the financial support
of the District. He reminded that the
reign of Andrew Jackson" just a
century ago. marked "the era of tn