Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
HARVEY'S.
THE ORIGINATOR OF STEAMED
OYSTERS.
The Beginning and Marvellous Growth
Of It's Bust
ness.

More than half a century ago Mr.. Thomas
M. Harvey Of this city opened general
avenue and 10th street. Shortly after Open
ing he added to his business that of the
purveying of fine grades of oysters and sea
food, which he obtained from the eastern
and western shores of Chesapeake bay and
various other southern points between
Richmond and Washington. This business
grew beyond his expectations, and in a
little while he found himself supplying
these luxuries, not only to the Washington
public, but to other cities and towns
throughout Virginia and Maryland.
His success in the sea food business led
him to drop the provision part and to es-
tablish, In connection with his brother,
George w. Harvey In 1853, what was known
as the oyster packing business. Having Sc
cured the old establishment corner of 18th
and streets, he fitted 1t up for this pur-
pose and began supplying families, restau-
rants, hotels and government institutions
with oysters by the quart, gallon or bushel;
also with fish of all kinds at wholesale and
retail. During their conduct of this bust
ness they were the first to introduce many
wenknown brands of oysters, such as
Lynn Ravens. Winter Harbors, Horn Har-
bors. York Rivers and many others. A
small space in the establishment was de-
voted to raw box. where customers were
served on the premises with raw oysters
by the plate or on the half she'll and later
on, owing to the public demand for cooked
oysters, large cauldroni was erected In
which oysters. after being thoroughly
washed, were boiled in shell and served to
customers hot, and were considered very
tempting and palatable meFsel.
This was In the years. just preceding the
civil war. When thev war broke out the
transient population became so great and
the demand for boiled oysters SO pressing 1t
was necessary to devise some more expedf-
tious way of cooking them. 1t was then
that Mr. George w. Harvey suggested the
idea that live steam applied for snort
time, to the bivalve would serve the pur-
pose. The experiment was made and proved
a success. and Immediately steamed oys-
ters became craze, but, unlike things OF
the kind. has not died out, but has con-
tinued to grow as years have gone by, so
that now steamed oysters are known the
world over and are as popular today AZ
they were in their infancy.
Newspapers sang the praises, as well as
tho public. of steamed oysters" and the
late John w. Forney, In an article In his
newspaper, remarked that ut was worth
the price OF trip from Philadelphia to
Washington to partake Of q dish OF Har-
vey's steamed oysters" and the Hon. w. D.
Wallach. the first editor Of The Star. was q
frequent customer and never missed day
In partaking of steamed oysters at his
lunch, and would often have some word Of
praise In the earlier editions of The Star.
Before the war a single boat load week
supplied the demand for oysters IN the
city Of Washington. With the war and with
the steamed oysters 500 boats week were
necessary, nearly all Of which were run by
the Harveys. At this time they supplied
not only the general public. but the Army
Of the Potomac bought nearly all their sup
ply OF oysters from them. and they also sup
piled all the hotels in the District Branches
were established at Annapolis, Baltimore
and Norfolk, and purchasing agents were