Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-04
THE EVENING STAR.
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OLD.
Incidents OF It's History.
Washington AS A Journal
istic Graveyard.


TIC UTSJ number az HE EVENING STAR WIS
issued December !, 1872 and the paper there
fore enters upon its 18th year to-day. The his
tory of THE STAR is 81 much the history OF the
city during this period that We doubt not a re
view of its career viii be of interest to our
readers. THE STAR was started by Joseph Il.
Tate practical printer, and who was popu-
larry known as Captain Tate from his having
commanded the crack company OF those days,
the Washington Light Infantry.
The first number OF The STAR was what
would be called seven by nine affair in size
but quite neatly printed: particularly for a
first issue. In the Sautatory appeal for ma
teTial aid of subscribers and advertisers in
behalf of the enterprise the editor continues:
Let ii not be said hereafter. as il has been too
often remarked heretofore, that there is not
public spirit enough at the National Metropo-
lis. among population of upwards of forty
thousand. to maintain a neutral daily news
paper" la another column was a congratu-
latOry article upon the growth of Washington
IN the five preceding years, and an emunera-
ton of the bright prospects ahead. In the list
of new features was the Washington MOnu-
mcnt. of which it was said; Five years ago
the W. Shingion Monument had not vet had its
corner stone laid. but now bursting out of the
earth like the bean stalk climbed by the noted
Jack, il may be seen presenting a height of
one hundred and twenIy-fOur feet above the
level OF the ground" Sad to say THE STAR OF
to-day. twenty-five years later, has to record
that the monument remains unfinished. and
worse yet. that it may have to bear the fate of
It's prototype bean stalk Of rapid growth. and
come down altogether. In the locals it was
stated that Philip Barton keyh&d been elected
captain Of a new military company. A new
law passed by the city councils preventing mi
nors from running with working fire
apparatus. was commended, and the hope was
expressed that the lawleSs scenes witnessed
during fire alarms. especially on Sabbath
days. and Outrages committed i'm the vicinity
OF engine houses at night would be repreSsed
by this law. This item will call to the mind of
old citizens the scenes of disorder referred TO-
and which were inseparabe from the cd yo,-
unteer fire department system while boys o.
the class mentioned were allowed to run wild
der masheen.''
There was q notice of the Jackson mOnu-
ment by Clark Mills. and report OF the dem
Ocratic festival at IIackney's United States
Hotel, Ito celebrate the recent democratic
victory" Mayor Maury presided. and speeches
We're made by Senator Douglas, General Lane,
SENATOR Weller, Senator BrOdhead, the Hon.
Mr.. Odds. Judge BrOcchus. Mr.. BOykin, of Ala
bama, William Selden. esq, and the mayor.
Y
column of the little paper is given to notice
of Kate and Susan Denim, who were perform.
ing at the National Theater. then under the
charge of T.. 4. Marshall The critic seems to
have been quite enthused over these two
young and lovely girls Who, he adds "haye
not met with the encouragement their high
moral worth deserves" In the news columns
il was stated that upon the Inauguration o
General Pierce The l. ;. Senate would con,iS
of - democrats. freeSOilors and Is wings.
The advertisers in the first number of THE
STAR were Joseph Shillington. bookseller; Ba-
con & Co. groceTs Hall 4 Fro. dry goods; G.
Gauticr- cOnfectioner. corner of Pennsylvania
avenue and llth street. (nOw occupied by the
Hood buildng:) \. hammond, fancy goods:
A. Tate. dry goods; N. w. Gait & Bro. Jewel
ers. sign of the Golden Eagle. PENNSYLVANIA
avenue. between 9Th and 10th streets: Yerby.S
Miller. dry goods, corner of eth street and
Pennsylvania avenue, Miss Dermott's new
building: L. W. BOteler, house furnishing
store: George w. Cochran, tObaccOnist: Mid
dletOn 4 Beall, VIM. Orme, George & Thomas
Parker & Co, grOcers; Maxwell. Sears &
COlley, dry goods: Wall & Stephens, ready
made clothing; James Winner, stationary and
fancy store, 9th street; Selby Parker, fancy
and perfume store under National He.
tel; Noah Walker & Co., clOthiers: f. A.
Tucker. merchant tailor; Henry Kuhll, rcstau-
rateur: Todd s Co. hatters; John Mills fash
ionable bOOtmaker; Ignatius f. Mudd, tailor:
Nj. T. Parker. painter and glazier: Samuel
Hamilton 4 Co, dealers i'm wooden ware
Several of these advertisers of q quarter Of
century ago are dead, and some other, have
changed their business. or their places of busi
ness, but quite a number may be found yet al
their old stands There was. also, an adyer
tisemcnt OF the 9Th annual ball of the Walker
Sharpshooters, at Shanks iron building The
list of managers were: Maj. Gen. Jones. Brig
Gen. WeiGhiman, Lieut.. Col J: II. Riley, COlW.
Hickey. Maj K; Keyworth, Maj. p. +. Bacon
Mai. {. 3 Wallach. Mai. Mordecai. Capt w
X. Bradford, Capt. jos. B. Tate, Capt c. Buck
ingham, Capt. Schwarzman. Capt. Bright,
Capt. Wilson, Lieut.. Eirkhead, Lieut. w. j.
McCOllum, Lieut. Eall, Lieut. JAS. Wood. Lieut.
Kelly, Lieut.. j. L. Tucker. Lieut.. j. Eird
Lieut.. Sutton. Lieut.. Peterson. Lieut.. Lea
man. Lieut.. Clarke, Lieut.. Otterbach, Lieut.
MOhun.
Its First HabftatiOn.
The STAR was first printed at the corner Of
sth and ID streets, and in the first part of 1853
was removed to OH street. below PENNSYLVANIA
avenue. The press work was done by Buell. a.
Blanchard. The counting room was on Penn
Sylvania avenue, near 9th street. about where
Platz now has restaurant On the first of
May, 1853, The STAR was removed to the sec
ond story OF blacksmith shop on ID street.
ent Franklin Engine House. where it WAS
printed until September Both. 1854
The Star Changes Hands.
About the lst OF July, 1855, The STAR was
purchased by w. ID. Wallach and w. II. Hone
and on the 5th of July it was issued by them
in enlarged form. Captain Tate continued
with The STAR as cashier, but declined an in
vitatiOn by the new prOprieiOrs to retain an
interest in The paper. Either he had got al
ready tired of the heavy work of starring a
newspaper on small capital, or had Some mis-
givings as to the success of the venture under
the new management. At any rate he prefer
red to take sure thing i'm the way Of a weekly
salary, and thus. it turned out, he MISE
a golden opportunity. He remained with
The STAR until his death in 1853 IL
was an honorable, straight forward kind
hearted man, and greatly esteemed.
During Tate's ownership of THESTAR. the
Rev. c. w. DenisOn was an editorial
contributor. Frank MeNerhany was also a
writer for it i'm editorial and poetical articles
In the early years Of the paper, L. A. GObright
and Major Ben Perley POOre did editorial