Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-06
WOULD PRESERVE
PICTURES SHOWING
OLD WASH|NGT0N
Association of Oldest In.
habitants Will Photograph
Historical Buildings.

In order that Views OF old WaShln&-
| ton may be preserved, the Association
of Oldest Inhabitants Of the District
| of Columbia will take photographs OF
historic buildings that are likely to
| be torn down.
Decision to begin this practice was
reached at a meeting of the associa-
| tion in Union engine house, 18TH ana
H streets. last night. On motion OF
DR.. Thomas Calver, the chronfcler,
Capt. George w. Evans. was charged
with the duty of getting the pictures
Henry X. Willard's Offer.
Henry X. Willard offered to start the
| collection with photographs of the old
Willard Hall. old Willard Hotel, and
the Daniel Webster house at Connec-
ticut avenue and H street, which is
| to be the site of the new home of the
United States Chamber of Commerce.
The question of saving photographs
of these relics Of the early days of
Washington was brought up by Mr..
Willard. who deplored the tearing
down of All Souls Church, 14th and
L streets, to make way for a modern
commercial structure.
Mr.. Willard told the Oldest 1nhabi-
tants he fought the rest of the con-
gregation on the proposal to build
new church in one of the outlying
sections. He failed to prevent the
plan. he said, because many of the
present members of the congregation
are unfamiliar with the history of the
edifice.
IT had hoped" said Mr.. Willard,
that All Souls Church would be pre-
served as one of the downtown churches,
like St Johns and the Church Of the
Epiphany"
Story OF All Souls Church.
Mr.. Willard then recited the story of
how All Souls Church was started and
built, how his father went around col
lecting nearly all of the contributions
with which it was erected and how the
first services were held in the Willard
residence at 1888 K street.
Publication yesterday Of the fact that
the Willard Hotel had changed hands
led Mr.. Willard to relate the story Of
how his father reopened the old City
Hotel under the name of Wizards
Hotel in 1S47. Prior to that time the
senior Mr.. Willard had been steward
on New York boat. the Niagara.
Mr. Willard. who is one Of the vice
presidents Of the association, also
gave a brief account Of an automobile
tour he made recently of the western
states.
Members Asked to Help.
During discussion of the plan to
take photographs of old buildings
William McNair suggested that every
member Of the association should put
in writing and file with the associa-
ton interesting stories he remembers
Of old Washington.
Mr.. McNair said there are only
few worthwhile collections from
which a historian could prepare an
authentic account of old Washington.
No group Of men, he said. are as well
n II
tions the history Of early Washing
ton as the members Of the Associa-
ton Of Oldest Inhabitants.
Capt. Evans said he is keeping
which appear about old buildings or
references to the early days Of the
District. He was applauded when he
announced that these scrap books
would some day become the property
of the association.
rotary. announced that since the last
meeting two members. Benjamin F.
Larcombe and Rabbi Louis Stern, had
died.
Three New Members-
Charles W. Gwynne. 1s1 A street
northeast; Gustav voiEt. so3 H street.
Henry Z. Bryan presided.
John Clagett Proctor brought pain
full memories to his associates when
he read q paper on THE High Cost of
Living-Past and Present" 1t read.
in part, as follows:
Days When Living Was Cheap.
Since the chief topic Of the day is
the high cost of living, 1t might be of
great interest to know that. there was
a time at least when the necessities
OF life, and luxurfes too, for that mat
ter. could be had without drawing on
ones bank account or without be-
coming bankrupt entirely by the pur-
chase of those things which 60 toward
making up for the pleasures and COM
forts of our earthly existence.
las Washington is now, along with
the rest Of the republic, as dry as
powder, 1t will be Of especial interest
to the thirsty, and perhaps. indeed.
offer some consolation to them. to
know that there was a time when
hotel in Washington, with a bottle of
brandy or whisky to wash It down.
without extra charge. for the liberal
price of IS cents. This was at Browns
Indian Queen Hotel. now the Metro
politan, where transients were once
served with breakfast and supper for
so cents each and dinner for Is cents.
with refreshments. If you had a Sir
John Falstaff capacity, and were able
to afterward attend the bar, the
jovial dispenser of liquid connections
would serve you with a bottle of real
bid madeira, imported into Alexan-
dria, for three dollars: sherry brandy
each, and bottle Of Jamaica rum for
as low as 81. Mint juleps were 12h
cents each, and the Xxx ale served
came from a brewery then on the
banks of Rock creek. If you did not
mind walking the distance in those
n Holr h~A
jug along and obtain one real gallon
of "redeye" at Bladensburg for the
almost unbelievable price Of so cents
Steak-12 IL Cents . Pound:
However. if your appetite did not
run in this direction. but for the more
substantial things Of life. you could
go to the Marsh market (now the
Center market) and get q nice steak
for from to l211 cents pound. Nut
a pound: lamb. SO to IS cents quar-
ter: wild turkeys. Is cents each; tame
turkeys. $1.25 to $3.50; geese. Is cents
each: shad. so cents a pair: perch. 25
cents bunch: butter. 20 to IS cents a
pound: eggs. Is cents a dozen: potatoes.
bushel; meal. 66. and apples, 81 cents a
peck. This was along about 1S41.
Few years earlier than this the
price for beef was to 10 cents a
pound; mutton. to Z: pork. to 8:
chickens rs to e2 cents a pair: ducks.
same: Blacklist. 8 to s cents a pound :
sea bass. to Z: Holsters. to cents
each; white potatoes. 80 to 40 cents q
bushel; turnips. 3 to s cents q peck =;
carrots. the same: beets. 4 to 9; cab
cents apiece: watermelons, { to Is
cents: muskmelons. 3 to cents, and
pineapples. rs cents each. Wood at
| that period was generally burned as
fuel. for which one paid. during mild
weather. - a cord. and in severe