Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
ESTABLISHED IN 1888
WELL-KNOWN CARRIAGE FIRM
OF McDERMoTT & BRO.
Gratifying Progress and Success Of
One Of Washington's Oldest
Business Houses.

| Tho well-known carriage firm Of John
McDermott s. Bro. at BIO Pennsylvania
avenus, was established in 1888 by Michael
McDermott, who conducted the business
with marked success for many years and
established a reputation for making car
riages of every description. Mr.. McDer-
mott died in 1857, leaving four sons-John.
James, Frank and Arthur. These four
| sons conducted the business under the name
of John McDermott & Bro until 1895. when
the last two having any interest in the
| firm died.
| Since 1895 the business has been conduct
| ed under the name Of the McDermott Car
rage Company, the three surviving part
ners, who were supervisors under the old
management now being in control Of the
| establishment. These gentlemen are Mr..
John w Hibbs, Mr.. Frederick Bex and
MI Robert L. Murray.
This firm Is one Of Washington's Oldest
| business houses and was among the first
carriage factories to be established in the
city. The work of the firm has always
| been noted, and besides making carriages
| for many prominent people Of former days,
1t did a great deal Of work for the United
| States government during the civil war.
During this war the signal service was
supplied with telegraph poles, and wagons
| for carrying the wire and instruments, and
| other wagons for paying out the wire and
Keeling it again. This concern made all Of
| these different wagons for the service and
for the United States training school at
Fort Whipple. The durabinly of these
| wagons was tested to its utmost strength
| during the civil war, and SO well made were
| the vehicles that the government ordered q
| set which consisted Of nine wagons, to be
| built and exhibited at the centennial expo
~ yxyha fl@,y
| were given a diploma and medal for their
| excellence. The firm received another order
for a set Of these signal corps wagons,
| through the United States government.
which were shipped to Egypt.
| In former days the knowledge Of the
| number of miles from point to point was
not ascertained as it Is now. The distances
| were calculated by a machine attached to
| single wheel and driven by man on
| horseback, the machine registering at every
| revolution Of the wheel, after the order
Of the cyclometer on the bicycle of to-
day. This concern made all of these ma
| chimes, which were somewhat odd. During
| the engagements with the various Indian
| tribes in the west this firm furnished the
used in striugtng the wires between the DIFF
| ferent Notifications, and the number which
| were furnished Is inconceivable owing to
| the fact that almost as fast as the poles
were erected the Indians cut them down for
| hrewood.
This firm has made all the police and
patrol wagons ana ambulances for the DIFF
ferent hospitals in this city. The hose car
riages for our fire department with the ex-
ception Of two. Were also made by this
company Its reputation for building am
balances is not excelled by that Of any
other concern in the country It not only
makes this class Of vehicles for this
city, but also for New York, Philadelphia.
Brooklyn, Chicago and other large commu-
nities and within the last four years has
shipped these ambulances to twenty cities.
The firm also made and shipped to South
America number of ambulances
In 1885, when the last two brothers died,
four of the old employees of the firm took
up the business on their own account From
a small beginning the business has grown
to occupy a ground space of nearly three
quarters of an acre. The front facing on
Pennsylvania avenue is four stories high
and in part is used for finished work and
for the storage Of carriages. The working
plant occupies three lots. facing Missouri
avenue.