Evening star., 1922-09-10

| I'uci =" nBtOnldns rememb Der
| vividly the sensation caused by the
demolition of the
Northern Liberties Northern Liber-
Market Razed. ties m K e t.
ago occupied the eastern half OF
| the reservation now the site OF the
| Public Library. For some time prior TO
the destruction a new market was in
| course Of construction in what cas
known as Corcoran Square. Occupants
J OF the old market, however. objected to
| removal. The Star Of September 4, 1872.
| says:
The board Of public works received
information a day or two since which
| led them to believe that the parties
opposed to the removal Of the North
ern market to Corcoran Square in ac-
cordance with the acts passed at the
| last session of the District legisla-
ture which attempt by legal process
| or otherwise to delay the necessary
works OF clearing the old market from
the public space it occupied. The mar
ket people, IL appears. were preparing
10 OBTAIN al injunction against the re-
| moval Of the building, and on SatuT-
day and Monday large numbers signed
a petition therefor. This was to have
been presented in court today by Messrs
| Riddle and Merrick. and the board
being apprised of this intention, de-
! iermined on coup d'etat, and yester-
| day an order signed by the vice presi-
| dent of the board was sent to Mr.
| Ihomas NJ. Plowman. architect and
superintendent of the new market
buildings on the Corcoran Square. di-
| recting him TO remove all buildings
and sheds belonging to the Northern
| market situated in public reservatioS
| between 9TH and sth streets at theiN
intersection with X street and Massa.
chusetts avenue tonight, storing ALI
private property in the reservation
| west or the one now occupied by tho
/ market and removing the fixtures to
! the sheds in course of erection on
Corcoran Square. You will execuf .
this order and complete the new al
commodations is rapidly as possibly
to avoid mountaineering the public
| and dealers more than is necessary:
! to effect the change
| Mr.. Plowman at once employed
laborers. directing them to report on
the square west of the market at s
O'Clock pm. yesterday. Maj. Rich
ards having been informed Of this
action. telegraphed to the several sta
| tions ordering the reserves at each
to report to Lieut.. Eckloff of the sixth
precinct for duty at the market at
| the same time to protect the property
| to be removed and TO prevent any
breach of the peace. At 6 pm. nearly
200 laborers We're on hand and a force
| of over fifty police officers. Mr.. Plow-
| man placed the laborerS under the
| charge of Mr.. John Collins. who in
structed the men what they were to
do. and in short time all were AZ
IL ,, H.
toned about the market to prevent
| petty thieving and stop persons from
, going into danger.
Some Of the butchers and bacon
dealers had meat in their stalls,
| which they refused to move. saying
that they might well sue for a
| whole loaf as a half loaf, and that
! they intended 20 make the board pay
for any damage or loss. The work
| of raZing this old landmark naturally
attracted large crowd. but good or
der was observed. Most OF the deal
ers were on the ground when the op-
! erations commenced. and some coun-
try people had taken positions with
their truck wagons for this mornings
market. About IL o'clock pm. the
roof was removed. and. the roll hav-
! ing been called. the men were sent
| home. the police being left in charge
/, of the property.
, This morning the laborers resumed
/ work at daylight. tearing down the
/ sheds. The lumber was piled in the
| square west. The dealers. or the ma
| jority of them. came as near the site
Of the market as they could and oc-
cupied the pavements about the place.
some of them claiming that had they
received 4 few hours notice they
would have removed and taken their
chances at Il stand in the new sheds;
but as it is. they Will neither take
! stands in the sheds nor remove their
goods, but Will sue The board for dam
/ ages.
| "Later-The dealers are allowed 10
remove their stalls and fixtures, and
some have taken their things away.
| The committee Of dealers were IN
conference with Mr.. Riddle today. but
the action they propose taking has
not yet transpired. 1t is stated by
some that they intend to ask for All
! injunction TO stop the erection OF the
buildings on corcoran Square.
The demolition of the market was
not accomplished without disaster.
During the morning of the 4th John
Widmyer butcher. undertook to re-
! move some of the fixtures from his
sstall and was caught by the falling
wall, and he and a boy named VIII
liam Bates. who with a dog Mas
hunting rats in the old market. wcr-
killed. The coroner's jury later CEN
sured the board of public works f"'
neglect ITO give notice of the re-
movar' Of the market
Damage claims for the destruction
of the market. for loss of goods and
business were pending in courts for
long period, and years afterward
appeared in the form OF bills proposed
in Congress for the relief of those
who suffered from this action.