Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-01

In the early days of the last century
the making and mending of boots and
shoes was the occupation of quite num-
Der of Neutrality-suspicious.. The establishment
of boot and shoe stores was gradual. 1t
was necessary. too, to supply the ma
terial. and this was provided by the few
tanners and curriers' There was then
10 machine work done.
Prior to 1870 few tanyards were in
operation, one on the canal near the
intersection of Virginia and New Jersey
avenues, in which Capt. James Barry
was interested; another on tbe canal near
18th street. conducted by John Crothers,
who afterward occupied the present site
OF the Masonic Temple. New York ave-
hue and 18th streets. which for twenty
nve years after was operated by George
Cover; on New York avenue, north OF
convention Hall, James Moore had d
lannery. There were curriers' located as
follows: Daniel Coates. on the east side
vi l2th street. north of the Avenue; j.
X. fiarity. at the northwest corner OF
pennsylvania avenue and sd street; and
4 donlas Rice, east side o. 9TH street, be-
tween ID and e streets.
\ leather store was established at the
northeast corner OF Pennsylvania avenue
and 18th street, about 1S2U, by James Pat
terson. VINO Tor some years after conduct
I'd boot and shoe factory there believed
10 be the first OF the kind i'm the District.
The people mostly had their footwear
made TO measure Boots were for many
years popular, at least three-fourthS of
the men wearing them on dress occasions
In the twenties the only store devoted ex-
c!usively to the sale of ready-made boots
and shoes was that of Walter Clarke, on
the south side of the Avenue east of 9Th
street, TO which a factory was attached.
FOOT wear. Isaac Clarke, a few doors east
of the above, had a hat. cap, boot and
shoe store, as We'll as a stage office he
being the agent of the Union Line.
Thomas Spratt, on the east side of 9th
street. north of the Avenue. kept boots
and shoes, hats and caps. a number of
the boot and shoe makers when not en-
gagged in custom trade. made up small
quantities. which they kept on sale.
Prominent in Civic Affairs.
The boot and shoe makers were not the
least important of our citizens Some of
them took a leading part in advancing
The interests of the community being
members of the city councils and filing
also municipal offices. active in the mill
tary and fire companies, in the secret or
ders, churches. etc. Not a few left their
impress on the community. Some attained
means. Capt John Ill. Goddard. the we'll
known organizer and captain of the aux
Iiiary guard in 1S42. was also justice OF
the peace and alderman, and followed
ladies' Shoemaking on the west side of
10Th street between ID and f. streets.
James Crandle, whose shop was on l.
street between 9TH and 9th streets south
east, and WHO after for some years kept
store on Sth street opposite the marine
barracks. was a sixth ward councilman,
Il member of the board of health and
police magistrate. Harvey Cruttenden of
New Jersey avenue between and G
streets. afterward became a brick manu-
facturer. with kilns between n and o, 9th
and 10th streets northwest.
On Capitol Hill, besides Mr.. Cruttenden,
above noted were Jacob Janney. on the
south side of Il street between New Jer-
sey avenue and 1st street: Edward Rice,
near LIST and A streets. and Nathan Hall
on I'd 4etween A and b streets, all south
east. On the Navy Yard Horatio AUX
ward settled on /. street west of Sth
years or more. Patrick +. Nash, with
a shop on Sth street opposite bar
racks, as did n. Cassidy and Thomas
Virgins. j. Moody was at the corner of
18th and Pennsylvania avenue. and on
9Th street near the navy yard wall. near
NJ street, were F McClasky and John
Suit.
Besides the stores of the Clarkes, noted
above. there was opposite. in the Indian
Queen Hotel, the shop of William Thum-
lert. Thomas Davidson and Charles
White were opposite Strothers, now the
New Willard. Jonas Newell was on
Pennsylvania avenue between 9th and