Evening star., 1936-05-31
AVENUE HISTORY GOES BACK TO DAYS OF DUST AND MUD
wv SHINES AS A GREAT WHITE WAY
Capital Has Been Associated With Great American
After Having Been under Cultivation Infancy of the Nation.
Recolectons of Fanastca Parade.

grander appearance About noon, while
the wooden carriageway was crowded
with gay equipages and the sidewalks
were lined with spectators, all in their
holiday best, and the houses decked
with gay colors, all Lit up by the warm
sunshine, the scene was brilliant in
the extreme.
Commencing at the eastern end Of
the Avenue, the gate Of the Capitol
grounds at that point was spanned by
massive arch of evergreens. Then
came Newkirk's saloon, beautifully
decorated; then Celtic Hall, in the
same manner, adjoining which was q
saloon inprovised for the carnival,
and appropriately named Welcome
House Adams express Office was COW
cred with flags from door to roof, and
not content with that, the flag pole
was fastened to the top. Charley
MadeS' Hotel was decorated with vari-
colored Chinese lanterns; Ben. Bev-
eridge's saloon also, and Bregazzi's,
the tournament headquarters was
beautifully festooned over the whole
front; so was Lerch's cigar establish
ment; and Joe Shillington, not content
with the string of lanterns along the
entire Avenue, put up an extra wire
around his corner. thus having a
double tier of lanterns to throw light
on the decorations of the building,
which were flags, both of miniature
and large size, entwined in ever
greens.
"Wangemann's Arbeiter Hall, No.
1853 and ASS, was very beautifully deco
rated with evergreens, United States
and German flags and Chinese Ian
terms, and during the day his NAM
moth orchestrion was attracting at
tention. Brueggeman's Arbeiter Hall,
opposite. displayed flags of all nations.
the United States, Swiss, German and
Irish colors being prominent, with the
words Fools Headquarters with
comic faces at either end; and Joe
Platz had profusion of Chinese Ian
terms, miniature flags and evergreens
at his place; L. c. Campbell had his
windows festooned with red. white
and blue: Mrs. E. Lalley's place at
|
of the decorations, several fancy rugs
being employed; j. w. Kennedy's es-
tabliShment had large streamer and
American flags on the front; Nolan &
Conroy had a myriad of miniature
flags from their windows"
THERE was horse racing on the
Avenue to celebrate the event,
goat racing, foot racing, various kinds
of sports, and it was an occasion that
is not likely ever to be repeated, and
there are still old-timers who fondly
recall this notable celebration Of IS
years ago. However, all this enthu-
siastn eventually came to naught. for
the block pavement, laid at consider
able expense, proved complete fail
ure in a very few years and had to be
replaced with asphalt in 1851.
This at least put an end to the mud
holes in the Avenue and the necessity
for the boys sweeping the crossings on
rainy days in order that pedestrians
might cross from one sidewalk to an
other without getting their blackened
boots ruined and the girls having their
hose soiled. Perhaps there may be
still among us some early citizen who
thus occupied himself in spare mo-
ments, in order to make few pennies
that he might see the circus or a
variety show at the Canterbury, which
later became Ford's Opera House. In
deed, one such boy had rel unique
experience, and has left a story that
| is worth repeating:
Il was one Of many boys who did
not have as much spending money as
I could have gotten rid of easily.
About the only way could get spend
ing money was to earn it. This did
by doing odd jobs, carrying water, for
very few houses were supplied by
Potomac water in those days, and in
nearly every other way that came a
boys way. One evening was espe-
cially anxious TO get some money, and
with another boy, who, like myself
was armed with a broom, we entered
into the business of crossing sweepers,
depending on the kindness of passers-
by to chip in a few pennies. The
| place We picked out was from DR..
Samuel B. Waites drug store, then at