Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-11
IN OLD WASHINGTON
By James Croggon.

By Jane
The people of Washington OF three
score and ten years ago and over. were
not accustomed to observe the holidays
to anything like the extent they observe
them in the present day. With the ma
jority of people Christmas only was a
holiday and New Year day was half
holiday to some. In the executive de-
partments. il the condition of the busi-
ness permitted, holiday was given the
employees from noon the oath to the
.Sth instant: but during Christmas week
although the offices were open for busi-
ness, but few employees made full time.
for some of the clerks were absenting
themselves. eaving their associates to
keep I'D the pressing routine work. The
sentiment. however, was prevalent in all
the departments, in some instances &C
cented Hy the smell of the breath or the
unsteady walk of bibulous employees,
who however. did not receive reprl-
mand, unless there was some nllspehaNior
committed. There were tokens OF appre-
citation passing around the office, ana, as
q rule the subordinateS were more Tor
tunate than those higher up. Now and
then some popular officer would receive
such costly gift AS watch or piece OF
plate: and subsequently all on the clerica!
roll and below received silver pencils ana
fine penknives on New Year eve
The private schools were closed for
holiday week. but the two public schools
which were III operation until 1871, when
the number was increased by two, uSu-
aily closed on the day before christmas
and sometimes opened again the day
after, but study during the week was Il
matter of form to the few pupils in at
-t,,AN- Not in
frequently. however. were the public
schools closed Tor the week by consent
Of the trustees.
Christmas in the Twenties.
1t was a religious holiday observed by
the Catholic. Episcopalian and some other
denominations. The services in the Cath
Ole churches-St. Patrick's. on 10th and
r streets. and st. Peters. on I'd and e
streets Notwithstanding the twenties.
and st. Matthews. on 18th and II streets.
in 1S4G, were largely attended; and also
those at Christ Church, on q street
southeast: ST. Johns. 10Th and RI streets
northwest, and in the thirtieS Trinity, on
9TH street. opposite Judiciary Square, of
the Episcopal Faith. The Methodists cele-
brated usually by an early morning
prayer meeting, the churches then, being
East Washington, on ith near q street
southeast: the Foundry, at 18th and u
streets northwest. ana after ISIS Wesley
Chapel, corner of 9TH and L streets north
west.
There were then the Center Market.
now occupied by the Washington Mar
ket, ut Pennsylvania avenue and Ith
street: the West Market at 2Cth and l
streets northwest; the Capitol Hill Mar
ket on New Jersey avenue. south OF the
Capitol. before 1872, in East Capitol
street, north of the Library. from 1872 to
1888, and then on the site of ST Marks
LNy,,s. a
streets southeast
There was some preparation by the
dealers for the holidays, but very priln1-
tive were the decorations of the stores.
The market was supplied then with
greater portion Of game than at present,
In proportion to the population: renison,
possum, rabbit, etc, were much Sought
for. wild turkey and wild duck were in
profusion while domestic fowl for the
time contributed to the reduction of the
butchers traffic; nevertheless it was the
custom Of the butchers at the Christmas
time TO have lean cuts OF beef on exh1-
bition. for few families expected to make
their Christmas dinner without the head
of beef. The custom of mince pies at
Christmas occasioned a ready sale OF
beef for the mincemeat, but little mince-
meat being used unless made at home.
Firemen Observed the Day.
The fire companies also observed the
of the Capitol: the Union. at 18th and II
streets; the Franklin, at 14th and the
Avenue northwest, and the Anacostia.
near the navy yard. and the Persever-
arce on the Avenue and 9Th street north
west. 1t was the custom Of the members
to meet at the engine house at any time
after midnight and toward daylight the
bells were rung, the bonfires lighted,
drinkables were. found everywhere, for
the prohibition movement had not taken
much hold, and pandemonium regned.
The Sunday school entertainments had
not then come into vogue. Christmas trees
were to limited extent used. or course,
there was the Christmas spirit at the no
tels-in the twenties the Franklin House.
at 2lst and 1 streets; Gadsbys and
O'Neale's. east Of it; Sanford's, on Penn
sylvania avenue near 18th street; VOLTS.
on 18th and G streets; Strother's. now the
New Willard: keowin's had become Jesse
Browns; Indian Queen, on the site OF the
Metropolitan. and Rumpf's, opposite, be-
ing the principal ones. These taverns
usually had large bowls Of eggnog, apple
toddy and various other drinkables to re-
gale their friends. and money was out OF
the question. Among the tavern keepers
of that day were r. Payne and H. Drain,
David Appler. at the corner of 18th and
the Avenue. on the site OF the Raleigh;
Jonathan Appler. 18th and c streets
northwest: sam Black on Union street
near the ttn> street wharf,, James STdlu
on the west side of 7th street between e
and d; James Dougherty. James Dunn
beton, William bowling, George Miller
and John Kennedy were all on F street
between 18th and 1ith: Richard Hendley
at southwest corner of 9TH and E streets;
Hugh Herman was on eth street opposite
the Center market; James keirnaa, on
Tth and II streets northwest: Patrick
Herman. on It'll street between G and II
streets: John Pic. on south y street near
New Jersey avenue; John Smith. at 1Itn
st.eet and Maryland avenue; Robert
Tweedy on 9th street between r and r;
III. TIGER. on 18th street near the Tibei.
and Mrs. MARI. at the Andi ew Jackson
House, on the Avenue between LIST and
I'd streets northwest.
the principal confectioners were Joseph
Arney, + street between 14th and 18th,
who had lately moved from Georgetown;
Christian Buckley, on the south side OF
the Avenue between Jth and 10th streets;
ii. Julien. on the north side Of + be-
tween 14th and 18th: l.. Kervand. after
ward in partners with Lepreux, in the
Seven buildings. These were, OF course,
largely interested in Christmas and
friendly rivalry existed among them.
Population in 1910.
BY 1910 the population had increased
from about 1JCOD in 1870 TO over 20 coo