Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16
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names for all the products. They cover every
fruit OK vegetable and wild or domesticated
flower which can be grown successfully in this
latitude. At Christmas time many of the
farmer merchants" add Christmas trees, holly,
misteltoe and other holiday green's to their
varied stocks Just before Easter and Decora-
ton day they sell large quantities Of home
grown flowers, ornamentals and shrubbery
Some few made speciality Of growing OUT
of-SeaSon flowers under glass. They receive
correspondingly higher prices for such decora-
tions
Strange to say, an antiquated act of Congress
still governs the rental of the curb space at
Center Market. This aged enactment provides
that the producer who operates a one-horse
wagon shall pay 10 cents daily for his curb
space, while the man who drives a team in
conveying his merchantable truck to market
pays Is cents daily. Yet, at present, one OF
these horse-drawn vehicles Is almost a curiosity
among the curb" dealers They all wheel their
ways to the city shortly after sun-up on week
days, In automobiles.
The modern gasoline conveyance, in fact,
has revolutionized marketing methods while
good roads have extended the rural radius from
which Washingtonians now procure their edi-
bles. Time was-and not so many years ago
when all the curb produce came in by wagon
or OK cart, while some of the colored growers
walked TO the city with their salable supplies
strapped on their backs or carried in big
baskets which they balanced adeptly on their
heads.
The regular growers then lived only 10 to Is
miles from Center Market while, on special oc-
casions. q few came as far as 20 miles over
rough and dusty roads. Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday were then the official market
days.
The direct dealers usually left home for the
tedious trek to the city the day before market
day. On arrival at Washington, they "camped
out" in or under their wagons or in neighbour
ing stores or shops until market time rolled
around.
fires, around which were clustered groups OF
chilled producers, made the Center Market tn.
vironment look like military encampment
One man. who operates a wall stand on B
street. "kitty-corner" from the National
Museum. Is regular" ct Center Market and
comes all the way from Westminster Md, a
round-trip jaunt of several hundred miles. The
general range of production extends from Fred
erick. Md. to Fredericksburg, Va, with the ma
jority of producers located within one or two
hours drive of the National Capital
THERE are two general classes of trades
men-the regulars" and the "squatters."
The regulars are those who rent either curb or
wall stands or space by the week or month,
while the squatterS have no regular stands but
occupy whatever vacant spaces are available
WdCCL1xnan AhSlBuS THESE uDOCcup1eQ spaces
about O'Clock each morning.
On banner marketing day, such as the eve
Of some national holiday, all the regulars are
on hand, and the squatters have to await their
turns until certain of the stands are vacated
by regulars, who sell out their stocks of goods
rapidly.
Turkey and duck growers, as well as Christ
mas green Seliers, usually are classified among
the squatterS because they appear at Center
Market only sporadicalIy.
The original market place, which occupied
the site of the current Center Market was
commonly known as Marsh" or Mash"
market. 1t was a part of an extensive swamp
bordering the old Washington Canal where
youths shot ducks and caught catfish on oc-
caSion, In order to sell them to the neighbor-
Ing market hucksters.
In those early days the butchers carted hog
carcasSes and shoulders of beef around on
wheelbarrows, while fish was sold from live
boxes" These live boxes" were nothing more
than small piscatorial natatoriums. The fish
as caught, were placed in containers partly filled
with water. and thus were transported 20 the
market Customers in quest of fresh fish
handled the various offerings and selected their
favorite flnny swimmers for the evening meal
1t was not extraordinary to see a mess OF fish
Hopping about on the dealers counter The
use of the Give boxes permitted the carrying
of the fish In stock for extended periods with
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