Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-15


the war Gill destroyed by fire> as a mill
tary hospital. In 1876 large frame build
ing erected On the lot was used some
months for fair, and it was here that
McCormcks reaper and the sewing ma
chine were first exhibited.
A new building had been erected for the
jail In the northeast corner of the square
few years before, and served for the pur-
popular name of the blue Jug That
section southeast of Judiciary Square in
the neighborhood of and Sd streets was
known then as Irish Hil,'' the most of
the settlers being of that nationality
"lthln nearing of the court house and Jail
people there were frequent eruptions
ana .i family jars in a frame on bank near
4th and F streets that the name MT Etna"
was given it, and it became well known to
the people of that day
Within the city" section were to- be
found the alleys; a. least all those to
which names had been given. Among the
most prominent were Calf alley now
Known as Express alley, north of B be-
tween I'd and Sd streets; Prop" now Nc
Dermotts south of avenue between Sd and
~ streets; Marble" on the square west
Jackson Hail. opening on avenue between
81 ana AZ streets; Slate" opening on Z
street between 18th and 18th streets:
Black Dog the west part of what is now
Theater alley. opening E east of 14th
street But few of these alleys had been
in the least improved, though there were
dwelling houses in some
lhere were but four banking houses-the
Bank of Washington, originally on New
Jersey avenue, then, as now, at the inter-
section OF Z street and Louisiana avenue,
near fth street; the Bank of the Metropo-
us now Metropolitan, on its present site,
18th street; the Patriotic Bank on 7th near
d street which liquidated in the early
eos. and succeeded by Latham & Co.; and
Sorcoran d Riggs, now the Riggs National
BANK pennsylvania avenue and 18th
street. known then as the Exchange Bank.
Newspapers Then.
The newspapers of that day were the
old National Intelligencer published at the
corner of 7th and D streets by Gales &
Seaton, the National Union. the organ of
the democracy. conducted by Thos. Richie
and j. p. Heiss, both daily. A German pa
per, Gazette, at eth street and Louisiana
avenue; the Times. Pennsylvania avenue
and 18th street. Hewitts Register. Z street
between 9th and 10th streets; the Column
ban FOUNTAIN "a temperance Journal, pub
lished by Rev. U. Ward, and edited by the
late Kew. DR.. j. T. Ward), at Pennsylvania
avenue and I'd street Some of these were
printed by what was called jug power"
Tor steam was not then in general use, and
some presses were worked by two or more
men usually colored), at a Wheel and to
aid them jug of whisky was provided by
some Offices
, Among the business houses there have
oeen many changes. and though with the
than corresponding increase of business
the oic-time houses have been overshad-
owed and hidden, some of the familiar
names in those days may be seen in the
signs, business cards and advertisements
OF today. The coach factory of M:-ilael
McDermott, on the avenue near Sd street
hourished till late years under the man
acement of the McDernott Brothers. The
modest frame undertaking establishment
OF Lee & Espy near by is represented by
the imposing building of J. VIM. Lee
Oh the senior partner. Gait & Brothers,
in their handsome quarters near The Star
office. are the successors of the old house
Tor rather room of James Gait then on
the north side of Pennsylvania avenue a
Few doors west of 9th street. The drug
store conducted by Il. d. Gilman in a mod
est two-storied brick has been replaced by
a more modern establishment on the old
site, Pennsylvania avenue east of 18th: II vet
bears his name, the family being interested
In 1t. The loCksmith and bell-hanging bus
mess then conducted on the south side of
the avenue west of 10Th street by j. NJ
kuehling is continued today by his son. ].
H. Kuehiing. Mr.. L. H. Schneider then
similar business a few doors
east of 11th street, and subsequently, till
a few years since. when he retired from
the hardware business at the same place
Michael Rriel e Brother for many years
manufacturing confectioners on 9th street
above p street. were then on 9Th street
above F. George Wilmer, for a long time
in the paperhanging and upholstery bus
mess on 9th street near f. was then a sad
Ole and harness maker near the avenue
The business of Allison Naior. ST., coach
factory and livery stables. on F. street be-
tween 1872 and 18th street (the entire avenue
'front.' was continued the livery business
by the sons TO recent date.
Business Firms.
w. H. Narrower, in the stove and timing
business. was located half a century or
more. till his Ct ath. few years since, on
18th street near ID street and the business
is continued by his family. Mr.. Daniel
business as a timer, on 18th
street above the avenue, has been con-
tiLued by the family to the present The
Old book and stationary trade of W. NJ.
Morrison. on the avenue between Az and
'th street. passed down to the sons. two
of whom are iii the old trade on + between
18th and 18th streets.
The bakery known as Havenner's on G.
street between AZ and 9th streets. was then
an OLD institution with a Weather-beaten
sign. inscribed May our country never
want for bread" above the door Mr.
Thomas Iiavenner who established the
business and his son, managed it, and to-
day the third generation of the family
carry it on.
The firm of r. W. Garter & Co, dry goods
merchants, on Market space in those days
was recently in existence on the same spot
VIM. r. Riley then was at the corner of
sth street and Market space. and after the
war at 9th and + streets Mr.. Perry, now
at 9th street and the avenue. succeeded his
father. who was then of Perry 4 Ashby, on
the square east. The old house of W. B. Todd,
hats, caps, &c. in Concert Hall buildings.
Pennsylvania avenue near Browns HOTEL
soon after became Todd & Co., Col Davis
the CO." and Davis Brothers, Pennsyl-
vania avenue and 18th street, succeeded to
the business. DIR. Humphries and r. Fin
ley Hunt practiced dentistry from those
days to a very few years ago. Many
names and places of business are not diff
cult to recall by Washingtonians of middle
age, for some were in business more than
the average lifetime. Tenth and ID streets
was then, as now, an auction house. con-
Quoted by r. w. Dyer, afterward Dyer Il
Mcclure. Benz. Hobans was next door in
the same business, and other auctionaers
were VIM. Marshall, Pennsylvania avenue
between 9th and 10th streets, and Anon
Green, near Browns, the latter succeeded
by Wash. b. Williams, now at 9TH and D
streets, and his brother Walter is at Dyers
old corner. An o!d-fashioned yellow brick
house on the site of the Central National
Bank was the principal drug house con-
Quoted by Mr.. Chas. Stott, and at the cor
ner of 9th and the avenue Mr.. Robert S.
Patterson had succeeded DR.. VIM. Gunton
in the drug business established by him
years before.
The Book stores.
There We're a number of book and period
ical stores. and from the location of num-