Evening star., 1944-07-09

Pennsylvania Avenue in tn,
Euening Star Building, in 1881
Gated from 1854 to 1881, at which later
date the present site was first occupied.
This early building was one Of the fin
est structures of its kind in the city. 1t
was erected about 1920 by w. J. Stone
and one of its first tenants was Jacob
Hilbus who kept here a music store.
Later ne was succeeded by Hilbus IL
Hitz, who in turn was succeeded by Mr..
Metzerott, and it was from here some
time prior to 1878 that the latter moved
to 925 Pennsylvana avenue NV, where
Mr.. Droop became partner in the
business, and upon the death of Mr.
Metzerott in 1884, became sole proprietor
ceeded by his sons, Carl and Edward H.,
both now deceased.
The Avenue building in which Mr..
Droop was then engaged had formerly
been the old District Legislative AS
sembly Building, the site now covered
three-story building, the top floor at
one time being occupied by the photo
graphic gallery of Merritt g. Van
Wagner.
Useless Officer
This old building was removed about
80 years ago. In the early days it was
referred to as Shanks Hall and later
as MetZerott's Hall. 1t was here that
the so-called Feather-duster Legislature
met from 1871 to 1874 when Washington
had a form of territorial government
and delegate in Congress, who proved
to be about the most useless officer this
city ever had for, although he was
an unusually capable man, a good
writer, a fluent speaker and general
right out of the Army with the back
ing OF Gen. Grant, the President. yet,
essentials in Congress-a vote-he was
a distinct failure.
Soon Congress decided that this form
of government for the District of Co
lumbia was not a success and adopted
the present commission form, which has
worked out satisfactorily except that
We are still not represented in the halls
of Congress and cannot vote for the
President and do other things accorded
the people of the States and, to some
extent at least, are living right here at
the Nations Capital under conditions
similar to those that brought on the
Revolutionary War.
Today the mere mention of the name
of some outstanding F or G street mer-
chant will be recognized by the present
generation, but many of us recall when
there were no large business houses on
these streets, all the big stores being on
Pennsylvania avenue and on Seventh
street
The old drug store stand at Ninth
street and Pennsylvania avenue NV
has finally given way to different bust
ness, leaving to us only remembrance
of the days when this corner was occu-
pied by such well-known men as Will
liam Gunton Joseph w. Nairn, John W.
Drew, Shelter e. Stevens and, more re-
Gently by Dr. Christiani
At 905 was the firm of Wilett &
Ruoff, hatters and furriers, and about
the same time George W. Davis con-
Quoted a Photographic gallery at 925
Indeed, this seems to have been a good
stand for photogra pliers, for in the same
block were the studios of Edgar j. Pull
man and Gus Theilkuhl, and for the
benefit of those who would go back to
Civil War days, the art gallery of Nc
Clees & Beck is mentioned
Early Residents
Some years ago the writer spent
pleasant hour talking with Alfred WAL
ford about the early residents of this
block. in which he was once located
at No. 909 until about 10 years ago.
Previous to this the cutlery jewelry and
sporting goods business founded by his
father, D. N. Walford, in 1873, was far
ther down the Avenue at John Marshall
place, later at ATT, and afterward at 625,
before moving tc 900, in 1894 At this
later place, it is said, Woodrow Wilson
used to come in person Harding, Cool
idge and Hoover would send for their
orders and often their wives would drop
in. Mrs. Hoover was a steady customer
for fishing tackle and archery goods.
After B. Robinson, the clothier, left his
old stand-later to be occupied by Mr..
Walford-it became the first home in
Washington of S. Kann & Co.-and
later B. Chamberlain, who furnished
Photographic supplies. Woodward e.
Lothrop got their start in this block
many years ago. as probably also did
M. Goldsmith, the jeweler, who after
ward moved to street. w. M. Shuster
& Sons dry goods house was at 919
Pennsylvania avenue, and then came
the Boston Dry Goods House, conducted
by the F street firm of Woodward IL
Lothrop before referred to-
Barber IL Ross hardware store was at
I'll Pennsylvania avenue, before moving