Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-11-25

as such will be a thing of the past
after December /, which is already
near at hand. AS the writer under
stands it, the building will remain gen.
orally about as it is, and will receive
only such additions as will fit it for
It's new occupant, the L. P. Steuart Co.,
Inc.
OF course. we do know that the
market at this site has been on the
decline for some years, and yet it will
be greatly missed by the people in its
vicinity, who greatly depend upon it
for their produce and table supplies
generally.
AS market it has stood in this block
for many years, at least dating back
prior to 1878, when a hourishing bust
ness was carried on there, and patron
lied, not only by people residing nearby,
but by many living northward as far
as Florida avenue, and in other direc-
tiosn almost equally as far.
Old. Time Butchers
Those were the days in which the
butchers did their own killing, and had
their own slaughter houses, thing only
done in limited way today. At an
early date we find such butchers hav-
Ing stalls here, as Fred J. Augusterfer,
Thomas Boyle, George F. Brown James
l.. Brown. Richard A. Cronin, John H.
Davidson, Frederick Dietz, John T.
Donaldson, Andreas S. Dyer, jr.; Will
liam A. Ehrmentrout, Estler g. Smith,
Henry Gerhold, George w. Hurley, Kid
well Bros, John H. Rupert, Joseph
Schneider, A. D. Sheele, Warthen &
Bro, Philip Young and others.
Henry Gerhold, here mentioned, re-
sided for some years near the south
west corner of Whitney avenue (now
Park road in what was once known
as the Sarah Ogden cottage, which
was moved to this site some time in
the '90s. This famous cottage once
stood on the south side of I street, at
No. 1884, where in later years was the
Tracy mansion, recalled with sad mem
cries because of the burning of Secre-
tary Tracy's home on February 8, 1890,
and the ensuing loss of life, which
robbed him of his wife and daughter.
Sarah Ogden
Sarah Ogden, who built this cottage,
was well-known character of the Dis
trict previous to and during the Civil
War, and her cottage stood lust in
the center of the square. Mrs. Ogden
owned the whole place, and was reputed
to be OF immense wealth. She was a
woman OF many peculiarities. The cot
tage in those days was regarded as one
OF the sights of the city. 1t was con-
structed in half Gothic style of archi-
lecture, while Virginia creepers and
clinging Ivy gave it decidedly romantic
appearance.
When the march of improvements
commenced in this section, Mrs. Ogden
having died. and the property going
to her heirs, the cottage was raised
on jacks, and by means of large wooden
rollers laid on heavy, wide timbers,
was moved through the streets to its
new location, being pulled by a very
stout rope, operated on a continuance
that was turned round and round by
a single horse. It was quite tedious
operation and it must have taken two
weeks or more to move the Ogden house
out on Sixteenth street near S street.
After few years the building UP of
this street caused it to be moved fur
Their north on Sixteenth street. Later
1t was moved to the southeast corner
OF Florida avenue and Fifteenth street
on what was probably lot 20, square
z02. And as final move 1t was pulled
up the steep incline of Thirteenth street
north OF Florida avenue, past Calumet
place, once the home of Gen. John A.
Logan, and few blocks farther north.
the residence of Dr. Hammond, thence
to its final resting place selected by
Mr. Gerhold. During this period of
moving houses in Washington Caleb
L. Sears was the principal contractor
for raising and moving of houses, from
about 1879 to 1900. At first he resided
at I'LL r street NV, and later moved
to 1883 Howard avenue, Mount Pleas
ant. He was Union veteran of the
Civil War.
Early Butter and Egg Men
The butter, cheese and egg dealers in
the Riggs Market in 1883 included WAL
ter G. Coburn, T. D. Daily & Son, Isaac
T1ker, James H. Fry, j. B. Lockhart and
John w. Wetzel, while William NJ Cross
sold fish and John H. Locker fruits.
Andrew l.. Payne was the poultry dealer,
While among the produce dealers were
Michael G. McKeever, who had for
merly been in partnership with George
T. James. The grocers were David
Baker, Adam Ehlslager, Lemuel Ergood,
John F. Green, Ransom l.. Main and
Abner o. Wright.
Nearby in 1880, were the drugstores
OF George A. Bentley at 1913 Fourteenth
street; Ara M. Daniels at Fourteenth
and Pierce street and Samuel E. Lewis,
14i8 Fourteenth street. Some Of the
other early business houses and pro-
fessional people hereabout included Al
bert F. Gudekunst, confectioner, 1924
Fourteenth street; Julius H. Albers, Jew
eler, near Rhode Island avenue; G.
Wythe Cook, physician, 1418 Fourteenth,
and DR.. Sargent S. Stearns, 1425 Rhode
Island avenue. An old house that may
still be recalled by many stood on the
northeast corner of Fourteenth and P
streets. Its number was 1918 P street.
1t was low two-story building, made
OF rough brick, painted red, and ex-
tended north on Fourteenth street,
seemingly about the full length of the
lot. It was owned and occupied by
Caleb c. Willard for Ynsnv wars yro
pr3etor Of the Ebbitt House, where now