Evening star., 1909-05-05


George W. Harvey.
After an illness Of several months,
sufferer with heart trouble, George w.
Harvey, a former restaurant proprietor,
and one of the most widely known men
in Washington, died at his residence, 923
Massachusetts avenue northwest, at $50
o'clock this morning.
Arrangements for the funeral have not
been completed. Services are to be held
at ST. Patrick's Church, it has been de-
termined, Friday afternoon. The burial
will be at Mount Olivet cemetery. For
NAL notice of the arrangements will be
made tomorrow.
Surviving Mr.. Harvey are his widow,
who was his second wife. one son. George
s. Harvey of Little Rock, Ark, and four
daughters. Mrs. j. Fendall Cain, Mrs. L.
A. Fischer and Mrs. w. s. Mccarthy, all
living in Washington, and Mrs. Charles
F. Stiles of Orange, N. ].
Native Of Washington.
George w. Harvey was born in Wash
ington in April, 1910. He was the son Of
Henry Harvey. a contractor and builder.
With his brother, Thomas M. Harvey, he
was engaged in the produce business. In
| 1856 the brothers conceived the idea of
conducting an oyster house. something
unknown in Washington at that time.
They established it and became famous
Probably there was never a better
known restaurant in the world than ''Har-
veys oyster house as conducted by Mr.
| Harvey. During the civil war it's first
success was achieved and Its future as
sured.
Federal forces passing through WASH
ington soon learned Of ''Harvey's." its
| famous sea food and other delicacies. For
| months after they had left the capital
| life the memories of the feasts they had
at 'Harvey's" were strong within them
Gallen upon gallon. bushel upon bushel
| of oysters went to feed the army In those
days. 1t was the great demand for Oys-
| ters that caused Col. Harvey to invent
| the steamed oyster.
Men stood around in hundreds clamoring
| for cooked oysters of all sorts. No force
of walters and cooks that Col. Harvey
commanded could supply the demand fast
| enough until he hit upon scheme of
throwing q bushel of unshucked oysters
| into boiling water and taking them out
| quickly.
From boiling water to steam was the
next STEP Soon steamed oysters were
great favorites.
"Harvey's' First Home.
! The first home of "Harvey's" was an
old brick blacksmith shop at 11th and C
streets northwest. 1t was opposite the
celebrated Carusi Theater, then the most
fashionable playhouse in Washington. In
little while theater supper parties at
''Harvey's" came into vogue.
The theater building was also, used for
dances and balls The suppers for these
functions came from "Harvey's." When
came. what they have been ever since in
Washington. the popular form of oys-
| tiers.
| 1t was in 1863 that Harveys steamed
oysters received their first formal and
official recognition from the government.
This recognition came in the shape of a
| request from Mrs. Seward. wife of the
/ then Secretary Of State, who asked the
Harvey brothers If they could not pre-
pare steamed oyster supper for Presi-
/ dent and Mrs. Lincoln.
A private room was decorated for the
| occasion. President and Mrs. Lincoln
and Secretary and Mrs. Seward sat down
| to private steamed oyster feast.
Harvey's Claim to Fame.
All sorts Of stories are told of Col.
Harvey and his famous place. One Phila-
delphia newspaper correspondent wrote
his paper that:
| Jacobs claim to fame rests upon his
culinary skill in the preparation of a
single mess Of pottage and the subse-
quent profitable disposition of 1t for
Esau's birthright. while Col. Harvey has
won fame for his art in preparing three
delicacfes-oysters. terrapin and canvas
back duck"
/ On one occasion Col. Harvey was in
New York when several prominent chefs
| competed In the making Of a salad dress
Ing. Every man in the competition was
an artist in his line The mixing was
done In the presence of a number Of
epicures gathered together for the oc-
| casion.
AS he watched the others work Col
Harvey realized that nothing that human
ingenuity could accomplish could add
anything to the salads made by the diff
ferent experts. But bright thought
struck him.
He excused himself for few minutes
and went across to drug store and pur-
| chased a small vial. When his turn came
| to make the salad dressing he put in
everything that the others had put in
| theirs and then. just as he had finished
| mixing his dressing. he reached into his
vest pocket and pulled out the little vial.
Prize Dressing Maker.
Uncorking 1t carefully. he dropped from
1t into the dressing three drops OF color
less liquid. Then he gave an extra turn
Of the spoon and passed the dish over to
the verdict to Col. Harvey.
The competing experts were mystifed.
They wanted to know what Col. Harvey
had added for the finishing touch. He
merely smiled and declined to tell.
On the way home he confessed to q
Washington friend who had witnessed the
performance. and who was as puzzled as
the rest. that the vial contained pure wa
ter. extracted from water cooler that