Evening star., 1942-09-03
Oldest Inhabitants
Honor Heurich, 100
Years Old Next Week
Recipient of Tributes
Reviews Progress He
Has Seen in Century


Inhabitants that of all the mar
velous" developments of the past
century, he considered radio to be
the greatest invention.
This message was read by his son.
Christian Heurich, jr., to a dis
tlnguished audience in the Old
Union Engine House when the as
sociation presented special pro-
gram in honor of the centenarian' S
forthcoming birthday anniversary
September IL. He is one of the vice
presidents of the association.
Apparently in good health, Mr
Heurich sat with his wife on the
stage behind banks of many baskets
of floral tributes and listened to a
program which included several
tributes, music and song. He wit
messed colored motion pictures taken
of himself and family at their near
by Maryland farm and was roundly
applauded several times. The audi
ence of men and women was the
largest ever assemebled in the an
cient hall by the association, Off
GERS said. Several persons stood
throughout the ceremony.
Greetings Received.
Speakers included DR.. John Clagett
Proctor, vice president of the aSso-
citation, presiding: Charles H Bates,
chairman of the Entertainment
Committee, who delivered the
principal address, former Secretary
of Commerce Daniel C. Roper and
others. Many greetings were re-
ceived. including one from Theodore
w. Moves. president of the Associa-
ton of Oldest Inhabitants.
At the conclusion of the cere-
monies, which were brief, Mr.. and
Mrs. Heurich, accompanied by sew
eral members of their family, held
an informal reception at the front
of the hall.
Despite his age, Mr.. Heurich arises
between 5 and $50 m. every morn
ing, his family said, and gets to his
Office at the Heurich Brewery about
sis am. Although he was up later
than usual last night, they predicted
he would be on hand at his desk
promptly today.
Mr. Heurich, in his statement, re-
ferred to his birth in Germany
nearly 100 years ago, and the great
changes made in life since that
time. When he was little, he said
'the only light we had was from
small tapers on oil in a glass. My
mother sewed by this light" he said
land father read by this light. After
this came candles made of tallow.
Then we had gas and now we have
electricity
Paying tribute to both parents
whom he said he lost by death in
childhood, he said, my ambition
was always to be an honor to my
fahter and mother"
sawssGermanyss First Railroad.
"Issaw tie first railroad that was
built in Germany. from Nurnberg to
Furth," he said, lust about the dis
tance from here to Alexandria. I
saw these roads grow longer and
longer, connecting every city and
hanllet. - Then saw what great
changes were made in ocean trans
portation, from small sailboats to
immense ocean liners.
when the telegraph and tele-
phone were put into use, everybody
said there cannot be any more in-
ventions,' that we had reached the
highest point in our civilization.
Now here we are riding in horseless
machines and in streamlined Diesel
electric trains"
Touching on the war, Mr.. Heurich
said; Il think this great war will
in way hold us back for many
years to come. We must readjust
ourselves, as I think our lives will
be greatly changed. I will not see
this any more"
Mr.. Bates paid tribute to Mr.
Heurich as man of temperance
and moderation. not only in his
diet, but also in all his acts. In
fact, said Mr.. Bates, "he was borr
and lived his first "a years among
a people and at time when mod
Grafton OF living was a principle oil
life. When and where his methoc
of living was developed there were
no extravagances of taste and en-.
tertainment. and a rugged habi
and temperament were the basis O.
conduct"
Cites Generous Gifts.
Praising Mr.. Heurichs attend
ance at association meetings, hi
kindly greetings" his generosit,
toward helping the association
Mr.. Bates said: while generousl,
blessed with the fruits of we'll
spent life, one would not hav
known, when he has been with us
that he was possessed of any NOR
than the least of us. His generou
gifts, of what amount many time
almost to fortunes, were neve
spoken of or made known to other
than those who receive them"
Mr.. Bates traced Mr.. Heurich'
career from Germany to the Unite
States, and reported many out
standing events during his life
time throughout the world. H
listed 1854 as the date when Com
modore Perry landed III Japar
opening up Japan to Occidenta
commerce, and the year when TIL
Evening Star began publication un
der Crosby S. Noyes, father Of tn
president of the association c
Oldest Inhabitants.
Recalling MI. Heurichs arrivs
in the United States in 1866. shortl
after the Civil War in a period {
progress, the speaker said: 1T mu;
be clear, therefore, that a man c
the energy, high character an
mental capacity of Mr Heuric
would fit in exactly with such time
and he did"
Mr.. Noyes, in a message read b
Or. Proctor, congratulated Mr.. Heu
rich on his hundred years of use
full civic life, helpful to the com
munity and full of loyalty to Ns
ton. city and association.
Heurich Expresses Appreciation.
Mr.. Roper declared the guest
honor was IAN unusual man." VII
demonstrated the virtues OF a RI
turn to "the fundamental verities {
~AJt,,c asfhe Snny1nr OF