The Washington times., 1925-06-18
MANY Old
STORES.
STILL
HERE
Long-EstabIished Local Firms
Carrying Famous Names
Continue to Flourish

Continue TO Flourish
Native sons of the District of
Columbia who returned to Wash.
ington for what the sons of natives
designated as "Old Home Week
were impressed with the changes
throughout the city as a whole.
but three things in particular
ELECTED comment by way of conn
parison with former days.
First and foremost, the immacu
late cleanliness and sanitation OF
the National Capital impressed
them. Second, the absence or
horses, and third. the narrow side
the city's streets.
Not Always Immaculate.
II you were an old time
expatriate, say, for instance, resi-
dent OF the District who left here
fifty years ago. your comment
probably would be the same
Cleanliness and sanitation are taken
for granted today. but fifty years
ago Washington was represented
as perhaps the dirtiest and most
unsanitary city in the Uniteu
States. The three District Commits
eioners at that time, William DEN.
nison, Henry T. Blow and j. III.
Ketcham, whose offices were at 2l6
Four and-a-half street, were con-
stantly tleluged with complaints
because of the accumulation or
trash. rubbish and litter on the
streets and downtown vacant. lots,
and the non-removal of garbage
was characterized as "a crime that
smells to heaven for vengence
Cattle, goats, sheep and other
domestic animals clutter1ng up the
streets and blocking the passage
of the horse-drawn cars also was
problem. :.
The absence of horses today -
atrfkingIv in contrast with the days
of fifty wears ago, for at that time
everybody who was anybody had
several horses, If not a whole stable
full and there was the most ID
tense rivalry between Washington
and other dorsey cities. Some
idea as to the lengths to which
neopIe went to make a splurge
with their equinines may be
cleaned from the fact that q horse
owner was considered out OF the
running unless the harness ne
used was gold or silver trimmed
and the driving reins were OF Wnite
bnckskin or the saddle hanonlaae
ana hand carved. Harness costing
from 81 900 to $500 set was
nothing out OF the ordinary.
sidewalks Yield To Traffic.
with the passing of the horse
and great increase in the number
of automobiles, with consequent
traffic congestion. more driveway
and less sidewalk has been found
necessary in this day and age.
Originally it was intended that the
two sidewalks on eihter SIDE OIL
4 thoroughfare in washington De
equal in width to that OF the
driveway, but today it Is different.
Large sums were appropriated Dy
the last Congress for decreasing the
waIkways and widening the drive
ways and with the cutting OH OF
the sidwalIxs many of the city
beautiful shade trees have gone.
Returning native sons also com
nnent on the number Of old-ttme
firms which are stih in business
end thew marvel at the growth and
EXPANSION of these firms. Half a
century ago many of the mammoth
business establishments here today
were housed in one-story buildings
and were conducted by one man,
or the proprietor and his wife.
washington various shopping
districts also command attention.
Business houses in Washington in
former days were usually found all
grouped together, but today there
are at least d score of separate
and distinct shopping acrees. Be-
cause the Capitol was the center
of interest and attraction, the
stretch along Pennsylvania avenue
from First to Seventh street, was
considered the business district"
until after the civil war The
greatest number of business houses,
smart shops. hotels and gay res
taurants were found along this
stretch. In the late eos and early
res Seventh street sprang into
great popularity and most of the
prominent firms moved to that
thoroughfare. Those were the days
when Odd Fellows Hall was the
center of social interest.
Return To Pa. Avenue.
In the late eos. however, Sew
enth street became so congested
with business houses and the de-
mand for business space there so
far exceeded the supply, that many
i
sylvania avenue, but this time to
the west of Seventh street instead
Of to the east. The result was
that from Seventh to Fifteenth
street, on both sides of Pennsyl-
vania avenue, was as fine a stretch
of high-class business houses az
could be found in America. Since.
however, many business houses
have located along F, G and II
streets. as well as Connecticut aV.
enue. Columbia road, upper Four
teenth street and other numbered
streets running north and south.
Today Washington differs from
most American cities in that its
distinctive shopping districts are
widely spread apart. but are adj.
vantageously located with regard to
the populous residential sections.
Notwithstanding the shifting of
business sections many of Wash
iBgton's old-established firms today
occupy the same location that they
cid when first established.