Evening star., 1939-01-29
By John CIageft Proctor.

As has already been stated in the
press, the Washington Board of
Trade will hold its midwinter din
ner next Saturday evening at the
Maylower Hotel, and will celebrate
upon this occasion its golden
jubilee anniversary. A stage re-
vue of fine theatrical talent will en-
tertain the guests. But there will be
few, II any, of the old boys pres
ent-that is. the pioneer members
who met at the Ebbitt House, where
now stands the National Press Club,
and helped organize this valuable
civic organization.
This initial meeting was held in
the red parlor of the old Ebbitt on
Wednesday, November 81, 1889, when
temporary officers we're elected, in
cluding Crosby S. Ncyes as chair
man and Beriah wilkins as secre-
tary. Following the temporary or
ganization, regular officers we're
elected as follows: M. M. Parker,
president; S. w. Woodward, vice
president; Beriah Wilkins, secre-
tary; B. H. Warner, treasurer, and
A. T. Britton, counselor.
A board of directors, elected the
same evening, included: A. T. Brit
ton, Crosby S. Noyes, E. Kurtz john
son, H. A. Willard, NJ NJ Parker,
s. E. Wheatley, Charles Baum,
Beriah wilkins, S. w. Woodward,
James L. Barbour, George Truesdell,
r. L. Moore, Charles B. Church,
William B. Moses, Samuel Ross
John E. Herrell, O. G. Staples,
Isadore Saks, C. c. Glover, John H.
Magruder, Thomas Somerville, T. j.
Mayer, George A. McIlhenny and
I. N. jackson.
In the first annual report of the
board, published November 10,
1890, there is full list of commit
tees and members, which includes
232 of the foremost businessmen of
Washington of that period, nearly
ali of whom have answered the last
summons, leaving but very few
survivors today.
However, among the committees
listed then is the one on railroads,
of which B. H. Warner was chair
man, and on this committee Theo-
dore w. Noyes, who needs no intro
duction, was serving. He Is still ac-
lively working in the interest of his
beloved Capital and his 80th birth
day was celebrated by an outpour-
ing of devoted friends just year
ago. He has been president of the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants
for more than 80 years and holds
other high Offices too numerous to
mention.
Christian Heurich, who, If God
spares him, and We hope He will,
will be 81 years old next September
IL. He was then serving on the
Membership Committee of the
board, headed by Thomas w.
Smith. He is a vice president of the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants, as
Is also Charles A. Langley, another
pioneer member of the Board of
Trade, after having successfully
weathered nearly SO years. DR.. w.
p. G. Hazen has evidently not neg
lected his own physical condition
while treating his many patients, for
he Is one of the sturdy pioneer
members of this body, as is Allen c.
Clark, president of the Columbia
Historical Society, of which, Incl
dentally, Mr.. Noyes Is the only sur
vivor of the original members.
These five members, so far as
known, include all of the survivors
of this noted trade body, unless the
assumed passing of one or more "is
greatly exaggerated" as Mark
Twain would probably say
But these early members who are
still with us, and those who have
gone before, carried forward the
work begun years before by Crosby
S. Noyes, Alexander r. Shepherd
and others. Today its present mem
bership of trained businessmen, eX-
perts in their respective lines, serve
without compensation on the boards
various committees and devote much
OF their time in giving to the Ma
tion's Capital comprehensive
service that cannot be surpassed or
even equaled by any other agency.
Fifty years make big difference
In the life of a city, just as it does
In the lives of individuals. When
Washington was planning the city
that now bears his name, he plan
ned for the distant future, and the
scope Of LEnfant's design was pri-
marily the idea of the first Presi-
dent. The wisdom of his judgment
is recognized today by all. And so
can we, so years after the forming
Of the Board of Trade, recognize the
spirit that prompted the men of
that generation to band together for
the uplift and benefit of the District
Of Columbia Theirs was not
selfish motive, but desire to be
helpful and useful. Indeed, little
handbook before the writer, pub
lished by the board in 1895, clearly
states It's purposes, when it says:
"The Washington Board of Trade
was organized in 1889, it's object
being, as set forth in the bylaws, for
the consideration Of, and action
upon, matters concerning the COM
merce, prosperity and advancement
Of the material interests of the
National Capital, and the dissemina-