Evening star., 1925-01-18
Washington S Harness Makers of an Early Day
Served Nations Leaders
And Other Figures In History, Says Rambler

trunk when appointed to the COM
mand of the eastern armies and al
so designed and made for him when
President $1,000 four-in-hand solid
silver mounted harlsss which was
used and displayed at Long Branch"
r EFT us turn to the firm of Lutz G.
IL Co, in business at 1925 G street.
In an article in the June, 1910 issue
of Trunks. Leather Goods and Um-
brellas it is written that this firm
conducts the oldest harness and trunk
business in America" The founder
was John Alexander Lutz. He kept
a harness store in Frederick, Md. (;
moved to the District of Columbia in
1904 and opened a harness and trunk
store in Georgetown. On his death
in 1S41 the business was continued
by his son, Francis Asbury Lutz, who
closed the Georgetown store and
opened one in Washington. in 1853.
That store was No 392 Pennsylvania
avenue. Francis Asbury Lutz. 1st,
was born in 1920 and died in 1885.
A few years after the Civil War
the LutZ store was moved to 497
Pennsylvania avenue and remained
there until 1907, when the G street
SlOEo was opened.
At the close of the Civil War
Francis Asbury Lutz, 1st, was sue
ceeded in the business by his sons,
Francis Asbury Lutz, I'd (born 1S43,
died 1903), and John Alexander Lutz.
under the firm name of Lutz & Bro.
On the death of John the business
continued under Francis Asbury
Lutz, I'd, who took as a partner A.
G. Gross. In 1895 Francis Asbury
LutZ, I'd, retired from the business,
which continued as Lutz & Co, the
firm consisting of Francis Asbury
Lutz, Sd, A. G.. Gross and H. o. Plugge.
Francis Asbury Lutz, Sd, retired from
the firm in 1911. A. G. Gross died
about two years ago and the surviv-
ing member of the firm is II. o.
Plugge.
The Rambler takes the following
from Trunks, Leather Goods and
Umbrellas: Many historical asso-
Citations are connected with this old
time store. While originally a har-
ness shop catering to the best class of
trade, Mr.. Lutz was one OF the pio-
neers in the trunk trade of Washing
ton, and the record of sales bears the
names of many notable personages In
national history.
Among those who patronized the
Lutz store was j. Wilkes Booth. On
the afternoon before President Lin
coin was shot. Booth entered the
store and inquired for the proprietor.
whom he knew quite well. Mr.. Lutz
was absent, and Booth left hastily,
expressing disappointment.
The incident, though considered
trivial at the time. proved a fortunate
one for the young harness maker, as,
in the prosecution of the conspirators
all available evidence was used by the
Government to connect Booths
friends with the crime.
"A relic OF those dark days is in
possession of the firm. 1t is the spur
worn by Booth when he escaped from
the theater and which caught in the
drapery of LincoIn's box when Booth
jumped to the stage. The pair of
spurs, of which this was one, had been
sold by Mr.. LutZ to Booth a short
time before"
When the Lutz store was moved
to Washington from Georgetown in
1853 there were four other saddle and
harness stores in this city. These
were carried on by Daniel Campbell,
William H Goods and F. Germuiller.
In the directory of 1853 are entered
Daniel Campbell, saddler, north side
of Pennsylvania avenue between
-Four and -ahalf and Sixth streets
house, Massachusetts avenue between
Sixth and Seventh west; +. Germuil-
Ter harness maker. west side of Sew
enth between ] and New York avenue;
William II. Goods, saddler, corner
Seventh west and I-house. Tenth be-
tween New York avenue and K street
Francis A. LutZ. saddler, north side
of Pennsylvania avenue between
-Four and a half and Sixth-house.
Sixth between G and H; Thomas Nor
flet. saddler. north side of G between
First and Second east.
This advertisement in the 1853 di-
rectory may interest you: w H.
Goods. saddle, harness and trunk
manufacturer, corner 1 and 7th
streets, opposite Dorsey's Hotel w.
H. G.. keeps constantly on hand sad
dies, harness, trunks, whips and COL
lars with every other article in their
line of business, all of which will be
sold on the most reasonable terms.
n. B. Old saddles and harness taken
in exchange for new. Also repairing
at the shortest notice"
There was a saddler and harness
maker in Washington about 1850
no doubt earlier-whose name was
Thomas Fftman. but the Ram bier did
not take the time to look up facts
about him. The only Fitman in the
1853 directory was T. Fitman (prob-
ably Thomas), a clerk in the Pension
Office, who lived on the north side of
/ between Sixth and Seventh west.