Evening star., 1952-09-07
By John cIogett Proctor

By John CIogett Proctor
Andrew Ellicott and his colored
assistant, Benjamin Banneker,
in laying out the streets and
avenues Of the city.
Old Engine House
To most every one this build
ing would appear to be just
what it is-an old engine house.
It is far from being the Oldest
building in Washington. having
been erected in 1887. In a paper
read before the Association Of
Oldest Inhabitants, Washington
Topham. in speaking Of this
building, said:
1.-THE greatest firemen's parade
ever held on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. marked the near-comple-
ton of the brick building, Octo-
ber "a. 1887. The apparatus Of
other companies was drawn
down the Avenue by cheering
companies of volunteers. The
engines consisted Of carts
mounted with hand pumps and
tanks. Even after the bucket
brigade methods were scrapped
in favor of the hand pumps, the
tanks on the engines had to be
filled with buckets passed from
hand to hand.
1.-The present site Of the build
ing was purchased in April.
1887, and the work was started
at once. The decision to 10
cate a fire company In that
section of the city was an out
growth Of an order for the
protection of the city's four
principal markets. The Union
company was to look after the
interests of old Western Mar
ket. The company was organized
in 1915 and was located first at
Twenty first street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue"
Union Fire Compony
Evidently the Union Engine
Company was in existence at an
earlier date than 1915, for in
The Star of October 18. 1879. we
find this bit Of information:
1.-THE 9th Of September. 1904,
q meeting Of the Union Fire
Co. I'D ward) was held at
Rhodes Tavern. Richard For
rest In the chair. Officers were
elected for the first time as fol-
lows: James Hoban, president;
Andrew Way, jr., vice president;
Washington Boyd, treasurer;
James H. Kearney, secretary.
Clotworthy Stephenson. Peter
Lenox, Lewis Main and Henry
Langley were elected engineers;
IA firemen were elected, 8 lad
dermen, 6 sentinels. and John
Hewitt was elected to represent
the company in the Board Of
General Superintendents.
At the beginning Of the Civil
War the property Of the Govern
ment was poorly and inade-
quately protected from destruc-
ton by fire. No one realized this
more than did the public OFF,
cials, but no efforts were made
to be prepared for an emergency
along this line until a deStruc-
tive fire took place in 1851 at
the Government corral.
The Secretary Of War In 1862
ordered the first steam fire en-
CINE ever brought to this city
to make this engine house its
headquarters. William Dickson.
who afterward became identified
with the political life Of Wash.
ington, was brought with the
engine from Philadelphia to
take charge Of it, here, as were
also experienced men to serve
under his direction.
District Volunteers
When the District volunteer
fire companies were superseded
in 1864 by the paid department
the usefulness Of the former
came to an end. but its glorious
past was upon many an occasion
related here by the survivors Of
these volunteer companies,
which, through the generosity Of
Congress, were permitted to
hold their meetings here and
their organization Is still carried
on by members Of the Associa-
ton Of Oldest Inhabitants.
Members must be at least 80
years Of age and have resided In
the District Of Columbia for at
least 35 years and be Of the
Caucasian race. The association
/ has upon its roll some Of the
most influential residents Of
Washington. Character is the
qualification for membership.
THE Association Of the Old
est Inhabitants Of the District Of
Columbia" as it is officially en-
titled, had its birth in one of the
upper floors Of the old Masonic
Hall at the southwest corner of
D and Ninth streets NV, o
called meeting for the purpose
Of forming such an organization
having been held there Noveri-
Der 80, 1865.