Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-18
.HE proposed Improvement OF
what for years was regarded
as second only to Pennsylva-
mia avenue as a business thor

MIA avenue as business thor
ouehfare recalls the fact that
less than a hundred years ago the
present 7th street was common oir'
road, and that the first improvements
came gradually and were mostly OF
the simplest character. 1t became an
important business highway for the
reason that after the establishment OF
the old Marsh market. called such from
its location near the Tiber. on the site
now occupied by the Washington mar
ket, there was need Of a road for the
country produce from the adjacent
farms north of the city. Gradually the
intersection of 7th street and the Ave-
nue. came to be regarded as the hub OF
Washington, and after the line OF
travel from Montgomery county was
made a turnpike by a company incor-
porated by an act of Congress in 1910
the WAGON tracks from that direction
were we'll worn.
The line intersected the Bladensburg
and Georgetown road just beyond the
old Crossed Keys tavern, which was
street and the street which then bound
the city. AS 1t was in the first quar-
ter of the last century. public houses,
stores and private dwellings appeared.
Many Early Day Groceries.
At the corner Of 7th street and the Ave
nue. the grocery house Of Bacon Moore
was established early. from which In a few
years the latter retired, and Mr.. Bacon
and his sons continued in business for
we'll nigh a century. South of this.
before the 20s. were the groceries Of
John Conway. Thomas Murray. Rap
ley & Avery and Michael Mcdaniel and
the tavern and grocery of Hugh Ker-
nan. There were two other Herman
taverns farther north on 7th street
Mrs Salome Meyers also conducted
boarding house here, in which were
quartered a number Of members Of
ward of the Bacons' store was the
Hughes grocery. and opposite that was
Mrs. Canas grocery. Steninius dry
goods store and other buildings. North
ana avenue, there was the printing Of
fee of Edward De Kraft, and north of
that Solomon Drew kept the Column
bian tavern.
the Dermots. who owned at one time
one-fourth of the square. The two
buildings were mostly used for board
ing house and residential purposes, but
at the corner Capt. Philip Mauro was
for long time in business as an auc-
tioneer and commission merchant, while
above 1t Mrs. Tucker conducted a
boarding house for q number OF years.
Mecca for Many Of Military Taste.
Capt Mauro's popularity in tho
militia service made the lower part of
the premises mecca for many Of mill
tary BASKERVILLE the members Of Con-
gress stopping with Mrs. Tucker drew
many Of the local politicians about
them.
In 1909 Messrs. Gales and seaton.
who had been employed a number of
years on the National Intelligencer.
were in full control Of that paper; re-
about the center Of the south side of
the square. Here, during the invasion
of Washington by the British, led by
Admiral cockburn. the office was
the back aV Windows .s and burned. In a
few days, however. the paper resumed
publication and continued at this place
until in 1918, when q new office was
erected at the northwest corner of 7th
and D streets
All Water From Street Pumps.
Messrs. Gales and seaton built resi-
dences not far of and many Of their
employees were close neighbors. 1t is
ways an important place and the IA
vorite meeting place for politicians and
military men and those interested in
municipal affairs.
Up to about 1920 there had been very
little municipal improvement, there be-
ing no improved streets other than the
sidewalks south Of F street, and these
were of brick, with blue stone curbing
and cobble stone cutters. Water was
procured from pumps. and there was
no system as to their location, some
being within the curb and some with
out. The greater part of 7th street to
the northward for fifty years or more
bore the appearance Of a country road.
and though by law and plat the length
of the street was known, in the pop
uIar mind anywhere from street and
the toll gate the road became a street
and the street a road.
At F street was located tho fridge"
the popular pathway along F street
from the first ward to the Capitol, and
north Of G street the grade was de-
pressed to beyond H street and then