Evening star., 1931-05-17
The End Of the Market Center.

Center Market has been swept away,
It's site almost wholly cleared OF the
rubbish OF demolition. A great stretch
Of open space presents itself to the eye
where once stood an extensive building,
ornate after a long discarded style. To
the west three blocks" have been
nearly cleared Of their structures, the
former commission houses" Of the
market center, old. old buildings that
crtmbled at the touch Of the leveling
gangs. In q few days another wide
expanse of ground will be exposed to
uninterrupted view, ranging from
Seventh to Tenth streets, and from
Pennsylvania avenue to the former 3
street, now formally named Constitu-
ton avenue. One Of these ancient
buildings. long . landmark, was once
one Of Washingtons principal tf1eaters,
scene Of some Of It's most attractive
dramatic entertainments, in days be-
fore the Civil War and later for several
decades. As it has fallen before the
onset Of the RACERS, the marvel has
been that 1t could stand 30 long, 90
frail 1t has appeared to be.
Thus passes, for the sake of Capital
making improvements, an institution
covering wide expanse, Washington's
principal market place for food supplies.
There are some who remember 1t a.
almost social center. q daily gather
ing place OF the housewives Of the city,
seeking supplies for their tables. Going
to market" was in earlier times an oc-
casion Of moment. There were no
telephones In the days when Center
Market was instituted, when the brick
building that has Just fallen before the
deniolishefs was erected. Housekeepers
did not order their meats and groceries
and vegetables ''by wire" and rely upon
deliveries. They went themselves TO
select from the great store spread forth,
and to carry home their purchases,
sometimes in the family carriages,
sometimes by street car-then horse
cars-and again, maybe, afoot with
small boys aa porters.
II was an adventure for the youth
of the family TO 80 to market with
their mothers or their fathers, particu-
larry on Saturdays, when school was
out. There were delectable odors there.
There were interesting sights. 1t was
like going to strange lands. A child
with vivid imagination dramati1ed the
scene. Outside of the market were the
basket vendefs, some Of whom have re-
manned, indeed, until the last days, ln-
til just a little time ago, staying even
while the bricks were falling about
them as the demolisfers ploughed their
way through the doomed buildings
Strange things these basket venders sold
-''yarbs" and roots and the odds and
ends of country gardens and meadows
and woods. pungent in their odors. fas-
cinating in their suggestions Of the
great open spaces" down country.
Now they are gone, all these houses
Of table supply, the meat markets, the
fruit stores, the grocery shops, the cheese
cbNAAog PANAlE 6bhllOCs ENOLll1flk B lSIb
but dust and debris, and there Is some
sentimental regret at the passing, how
ever bright the prospect Of improvement
in the scene, however great the advan-
tage of the change that this destfue-
ton betokens.
Other markets have developed, other
centers of food supply. But the great
focus Of interest, the one-tirne social
center, place of endless entertainment,
is gone and can never be restored. In
a few months vast holes will be dug In
the squares thus cleared. and buildings
will rise, beautiful buildings, Capital
like in outlines and dimensions, the
buildings the Government needs. Of
which Washington will always be proud,
buildings that will make this city notable
throughout the world. Another genera
tion viii have no concept Of the sig
niicance OF the site on which they
stand.