Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11

eVe-Jle
building open to the public.
Some of the stands had already been
deserted, while at others the mer-
chants were busily packing up and preparing
to make their departure. To the market peo-
pie the real crisis had come, for here and there
was even to be seen q stall or two that had
already been dismantled by its former tenant,
who had either moved elsewhere or perhaps
gone out of business entirely.
There were few happy faces to be seen. The
gravity Of the situation had dawned upon all.
Even the writer's big jovial friend, Mr.. Heit-
muller, In the south center Of the building,
smiled IN only Q businesslike sort Of . way.
He, too, he said, was vending his way toward
the Northern Liberty Market, at Fifth and X
streets, where many Of the merchants started
business anew after January /.
Everywhere there seemed to be q unge Of
sadness-and what other than this could we
expect? Here, in some instances, generation
after generation has succeeded each other in
order. Indeed, in some cases the businesses
have come down to the present prcprietors
from their grandfathers, and even great
grandfathers, who established themselves here
when washington was q mere village. And
the dear old companionships and friends-for
here was one big familiar family where every
one was called by ibis first name and the title
Mr." only used by outsiders. Time heals all
things, they say, but it will really take some
years to heal the sadness of the merchants who
have closed their stalls In the Center Market
for the last time.
or course, this Is not the only time the
market people Of the city have had to
move, nor will it be the first time that a
market house has been torn down. The
Western Market, which now stands at Nine
teenth and K streets, was many years ago
located in the Government triangular space on
the north side of Pennsylvania avenue between
Twentieth and Twenty-flrst streets northwest,
where it was opened on December 3, 1902.
However, as time advanced, and the west end
began to build up and grow, these nondeScript
buildings became an eyesore, and it was deemed
best TO remove them, which was done In 1855,
and the space Enclosed with an iron railing.
Naturally there can be no comparison between
this market and the Center Market building
but, nevertheless, the ground was needed then
for the Identification Of Washington, just as
the ground upon which the Center Market
stands today is needed for public buildings to
make more attractive the Capital City, for
which we all have, or should have, even a
sacrificing veneration If necessary.
Though, indicated, the Western Market
was not in the same class with the Marsh
Market" yet IL must have been a building of
some proportions for we find that in 1922
considerable addition was made to it, which
included the placing Of a "commodious and
useful room" as a second story.
On the Twentieth street side of the building
the Union Engine House had its headquarters
and gave protection to the War and Navy
buildings. room was also provided in this
old building for public and private meetings,
and many of the early questions and disputes
arising in the first ward were settled here.
MR. ALBION K. PARIS, who passed away
few months ago while on a visit to Canada,
speaks of the Western Market in his paper read
before the Columbia Historical Society on 1.-THE
FIRST Ward in the Early Sixties" OF course, in
his story, Mr.. Paris necessarily largely refers
TO the new building at and Nineteenth
streets, but nevertheless his story is none the
less interestings. He says:
I'm speaking of places and people, the Western
or X Street Market must not be forgotten.
Green groceries and provision stores we're hardly
In vogue IN the sixties. Hence for real market
ing all the family heads directed their steps
marketward with regularity. The market was
located near the center Of X street, between
Twentieth and Twenty-first streets, in proximity
10 the present cCe. II it cannot be said that