davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-03-17
BY John Clagett Proctor

by Jonn Clagett Proctor
kept hardware store on PENNSYLVANIA
avenue and is first mentioned in con-
nection with Savage Square In 1850,
when he is recorded as having a house
in this block as we'll as a nursery.
New Center Market
Erected in 1874
The work on the permanent market
building-the structure recently de-
stroyed by fire-began in July, 1874,
James H. McGill being the architect.
The contractors were Robert Clarkson,
Augustus Davis, c. c. Martin and j. c.
Walker. The contractor for the iron
work was the Architectural Iron Works
Of New York. The Star of January 4,
1875, gives us the following description
of>the building:
ut covers the whole of the west side
OF Savage Square, bounded by Fifth, K
and L streets NV. The inclosed
portion consists Of one immense room
324 feet long, 126 feet wide, IS feet high
on the sides and IS feet in the center,
without single interior column or OBJ
struction. The foundation walls are Of
stone, and on account of the marshy
condition Of the ground had to be started
IL feet below the SURFACE. The walls
OF the superstructure are of red brick
laid with white mortar with arches of
Evening star., 1946-03-17

perhaps their own business?
The War Department, which tabulated
those dreams In series Of surveys while
the men we're in the service, set out to
find whether the dreams were realized,
once the men were civilians again.
The guinea pigs" were 1912 men dis
charged last July, most of them on
points, at widely separated centers.
They were chosen carefully as cross
section Of all the men discharged
between victory in Europe and victory
In Japan. asf
The War Department gave them two
to four months to settle down, then sent
questionnaires or interviewed them per-
sonally. Here are their answers:
In the first two or three months after
coming home, majority of the men
made good start toward carrying out
the plans they had made in the service.
Majority Land Jobs
Within Three Months
After vacations averaging little less
than a month, about four-fifths set
about for work and had jobs within
three months after discharge.
On the other hand, many of them
Evening star., 1946-03-17
BY Hudson Phillips

BY Hudson Phillips
Associated Press stan Writer.
NEW YoRK.-Housing Trends, Inc,
a new Arm formed by veteran housing
men, has a plan designed to shelter
some ex-GIs or other homeseekers
almost Immediately in section of what
eventually will be a complete home.
Camping on your own home grounds"
is the way the proponents describe the
plan. 1t also is expected to help meet
the long-range Government goal of
100000 new dwellings in the next two
years.
The new concerns main function is to
furnish banks or mortgage institutions
varied architectural designs and layouts
from which prospective buyers of homes
can choose.
Here Is the plan:
Because of the shortage of building
materials, the home buyer is discouraged
from expecting complete new dwelling
as soon as market conditions loosen up
so that construction can be started.
But he Is told by the bank to select
lot and make his choice of the different
house designs furnished by Housing
Trends.
Then 1t is explained to him how he
can have temporary living quarters
constructed on the same lot where his
home eventually will be built.
Evening star., 1946-03-17

pressed brick laid with black mortar.
The belt and sill courses, keystones and
exterior trimmings are Of gray granite.
''The entire framework OF the roof is
Of wrought iron, about 200 tons, of iron
being used, The roof is supported by IA
arched trusses, each of single span OF
126 feet.
THE framework Of the roof is boarded
with narrow planed boards with the fin
ished side down and the outside covered
with tin. A skylight and ventilator
20 feet wide extends along the center of
the roof the length of the building.
"The floor Of the building is paved
with large flags of North River bluestone
laid with a fall of four feet In the
length of the building, so that when
water is turned on from the numerous
pavement washers inserted in the floor
it can be thoroughly washed out. - ="
Evening star., 1946-03-17
Center Market and Convention recently by
Generations Knew K Street Market

tanning three schoolrooms. The ground
was then valued at $8,000 and the
building, which was of brick, at $4,000.
1t was used for the primary and secon-
Diary grades and Mary o. Whitney,
Lucy Mary johnson and Helen E. Ralph
taught here during the school year end
ing August 81, 1875, when it was known
as the Berret Building, named for James
G. Berret, Mayor of Washington, 1855
1850.
The Abbot Building was begun in
1875 and first occupied in 1876, and
then only by five male classes-three
primary and two secondary. In Miss
Sallie A. Daltons primary class for that
year, diplomas were awarded to Frank
w. Amrein, Francis Watkins, Edward
Columbus. Martin E. Hoyberger, Charles
E. Mahorney, Charles D. Watkins, VIII
liam F. Peabody, John s. Cissel, Frank
G. Roach, David F. Parker. Charles L.
Taylor, George L. Loefiier, Harry w.
Andrews, John L. Oliver, Bernhard U.
Behrend, Alfred H. Speaker. George H.
McDuell, Frederick A. Eckstein, Aloysius
A. King, Henry Poynton, William Gold
ing, william Hurley, Thomas Phillips,
william Culverwell. Phillips Hawley,
John Enders. Francis Kress and Abra-
ham Kaufman.
Those attending Miss Ralphs primary
class and who also received diplomas
were: Clarence E. Davis, Frank Tharp,
Edward w. Dom, Guy T. Trembly,
Henry Peterson, Seymour B. Wright,
Linnens La Fetra, Oden s. Scott, Ernest
A. Full, Solomon Peyser. Edward w.
Wolthaupter, George M. Copenhaver,
Harrison Stidham, George Terry, Ed
ward Spindler, Charles Wilson. George
Maloney, Percival Waters, George
Amrein, Thomas Howard, George Nc
Elwee and Charles Bailey.
The boys in primary class No. 13, Miss
Sarah Bartlett, teacher. and who were
likewise rewarded, included Frederick
Fischer. Theodore Fischer. John Har-
rington, Sydney Franc, Algernon Tassin,
Harry Karr, Edgar speiden. Hugo Lam
ger, Writ Tassin, Frank Harrington,
Harry Rothery, Joseph Gusdorf, Ber-
nard Young, James Tubman, Alexander
Hepburn Simon Kraus and Felix Denis.
Those similarly recognized in, Miss
Johnson's secondary class were: Cor
nelius A. Connor, Joseph Little, Charles
c. Mccormick, John A. Wagner, Hugh
F. McKenna, Edward A. Helmsen, Will
liam B. Thomas, John McDuell, Joseph
McCann. Frank D. Seiffert, John Wald-
kong, Edward Greet, John H. Drown,
Theodore Miles, Maurice Rosenberg,
Ernest Gibbons, Abraham Roginski and
William Maloney.
Miss Emma L. Bond taught secondary
class No. 10. and her worthy boys were:
Henry Franc. william Bosworth, Freder-
lex Church. Edgar Sturges, William
Bailey. Gustavus Simpson, Solomon
Lansburg, William Diests, Hugh Doherty,
Richard Bullard Augustus Toense, Wal
ter Marlowe, Eugene Robinson, William
Speiden, Frank Twombly, Robert Lynch
A. Jay March, Bernard Emmert, Timo-
thy Connor and Eugene Bernhardt.
The Abbot School was named for
George j. Abbot, who served as a mem
ber of the school board from 1845 to
1856 and rendered the schools most
eficient and valuable service"
Evening star., 1946-03-17

plans because their wives or parents
didn't like what they had in mind.
Most discouraged were the ones whose
plans were abandoned or postponed be-
cause of illness or injury incurred in
the Army. Most frequently mentioned
were recurrent attacks of malaria and
back injuries-although none of the
men surveyed had gotten out on medi-
cal discharges.
Finally, there were a few who found
to their chagrin that they didn't have
what it takes to get the job they wanted
they lacked training and experience.
The War Department wasn't trying
to get at the much-discussed psyche
logical problems of the returning vet
eran but some of the spontaneous COM
ments written at the end of the ques-
tionnaires indicated that at least for
some of the men, two problems were
acute. The first was restlessness and
the second was the veteran complex"
which the War Department described
as "a feeling that veterrns are entitled
TO dinerent treatn than other
civilians, leading to p resentment
when such treatment is not accorded"
Restless Complex
Shows in Action
The fact that fifth of the men had
eft their first postwar jobs was evidence
.uough of restlessness. So were the
comments Of men who had not even
5arted to work and the letters written
~ wives and mothers.
Il am returning the QUESTIONABLE
lou sent my husband because I don't
Evening star., 1946-03-17
Temporary Homes
Have 2h Rooms

His temporary house would be equiva-
lent to a two-and-ane half apart
ment. 1t would be structure approxi-
mately 20 by 20 feet which ultimately
would become garage and part of
the complete home.
Housing trends executives claim all
materials necessary to build such a
structure are available now, including
plumbing and heating equipment. and
that construction could begin at once.
Evening star., 1946-03-17
President Polk OK'd
First Use as Market

The beginning of a market in this
square dates from March 80, 1846, when
President Polk gave his consent to use it
for that purpose. 1t appears that those
responsible for the project we're: Col.
William Doughty. David Saunders, H.
Cruttenden (who resided between
Eighth and Ninth on the south side of
K street,, John c. Harkness, Simeon
Mattock, ]. T. Walker, G. Crandall, H.
S. Davis, Joseph Bryan, Isaac Clarke.
N. B. Van Zandt, H. G.. O'Neale and
John Y. Bryant. Although it was gen.
orally known as the Northern Liberty
Market, its correct name was the North
ern Market. &
1t was removed September 3, 1872, but
not without casualties. Ample notice
had been given by the Board of Public
Works, but merchants were loath to
leave their stands for speculative trade
elsewhere. Saddest part of the razing
Of the structure was an accident which
caused the deaths of two persons under
falling brick wall. One was butcher
who had stand in the market. The
other was boy whose only excuse for
being there was that he had a good
rat dog and wanted to watch him work.
An item in The Star of September 4,
1872, carries an account of what actually
transpired, saying:
This afternoon at about half-past
o'clock the remaining walls, the south
ern gable end Of the main building of
the old Northern Liberty Market, the
demolition of which was begun last
night, as stated elsewhere in The Star,
fell, killing two persons-John Wild
mayer, aged about 40, and lad named
Millard Bates, aged about IA years. Mr..
Widmayer, who was butcher in the
market, was engaged in removing some
hooks and other fixtures from his stall,
south of the wall, at the time it fell, and
the lad, Bates, was near him. employed
with a dog in hunting rats among the
debris. The workmen had just removed
the props which held the wall from the
inside, in which direction it was sup
posed it would fall. when it commenced
to sway to the southwark and moment
after, fell with crash, with the fatal
result mentioned. A large force imme-
diately set to work to remove the debris,
and in about IS minutes reached the
bodies Of Widmayer and Bates, who were
found to be crushed terribly and quite
dead. The head of Widmayer was
smashed into shapeless and unrecog-
nizable mass, and several of his limbs
were broken and crushed. The injuries
received by young Bates were mainly
about the body, his neck and back being
broken. He had also received a frightful
confusion on the left side Of the fore
head"
Evening star., 1946-03-17
Postwar Complex
Tells Why Many
Still Hunt Work
BY Miriam Gutenberg

Wv YHAT happened to the foxhole
NA/ dreams Of soldiers better
wv job, home Of their own,
Evening star., 1946-03-17

1UO UeeES ago ne just
10ent off and left me-"
found 1t hard to stay at one Job. Nearly
a fifth had tried and left at least one
job at the time they were questioned
and another tenth we're just about ready
to quit.
Generally, the men returned to jobs
at about the same level Of skill they had
when they left to enter the Army, de-
spite the fact that many Of them had
been sure they could get better jobs
Immediately after discharge.
Because the men believed the stories
they had heard about $100-a-week
civilian Jobs, they were dissatisfied and
disappointed with the wages they found
Men who hadn't thought about re-
turning to school when they told the
Army their postwar plans, now were
beginning to decide school might be
a good idea.
On the other hand, men who had
cherished a dream, of going into busi-
ness for themselves were finding the
going rough. Men who attempted to
start business ventures ran into more
difficulties than any other group who
tried to make their dreams come true.
Farm Prices Found
Higher Than Expected
The dream of farm was popular
in the service with the men who had
done some farming as well as with
city boys who thought they'd like to
start new life or the land. How
ever, many of those who tried to rent
or buy farms ran into trouble locating
a good farm and found prices much
higher than they had expected.
Government jobs appealed strongly
to men looking for security. Eight per
cent had gone to work for the Govern
ment within three months after dis
charge, another 10 per cent had ap-
piled for Government jobs and nearly
a third planned o-epply later. Most
Evening star., 1946-03-17

Approximate price Of the temporary
dwelling was stated as between $500
and $2,500 depending on the area) but
it was explained that all except about
$500 worth of materials could be trans
ferred to the real home when built
including kitchen equipment, plumbing
and bathroom fixtures
The camping" house would have a
living room, bedroom and bath, Kitchen
facilities would be at one end of the
living room, as in some apartments
An attic would furnish storage space.
One of the advantages claimed under
the plan Is that the homeseeker can
sit back for while and wait until
materials came on the market in enough
volume to offset expected higher prices
for almost everything going into house
Current price range for the complete.
home is listed between s. 900 and $4,000.
Plan Claims Economies 3S 70
AT Mass Production %
Among a growing list of banks from
coast to coast which have subscribed
to the Housing Trends service are
Franklin Square (New York; National
Bank, Underwood Mortgage & Title Co.,
1rvington, N. j.; Manchester IN. h
Federal Savings & Loan Association
and City Savings Bank. Charlotte, N. C.
The company said these were long
range aspects of its service: s4
Under the system, banks viii be able
to offer prospective home buyers plans
which will compete with those of pre-
fabricators and other mass producers
of houses who claim great economies.
This will be accomplished by using
the same basic floor plans for houses
in given territory served by a bank,
but completely changing exteriors. other
arrangements and color schemes 50 as
to make dwellings appear different.
Along with this will come savings in
ordering lot Of the materials by the
carload instead OF piecemeal-just al
the prefabricator or housing developer
does.
Evening star., 1946-03-17
Soldiers Barracks
Erected in Vicinity

During the Civil War, barracks for
Union soldiers were erected in the block
bounded by Sixth, Seventh, O and p
streets, known then as Corcoran Square.
Later, the west half of this block was
bought by the Government and tenn
porary stalls and sheds were erected to
take care Of the merchants OF Mount
Vernon Square. They formed the North
ern Market Co. and purchased the
ground where the o Street Market now
stands at Seventh and O streets. It was
early known as Rothwell's Garden. The
ground was purchased from Michael
Hoover. cattle dealer.
Some occupants OF the Northern Lib
erty Market had taken advantage Of
Corcoran Square; another group decided
upon the purchase Of the western half
of Savage Square, between K and L,
Fourth and Fifth streets. George Savage,
from whom the square received its name,
was ran ardent temperance worker and
was in Washington at least as early as
1927, when the city directory gives his
occupation as brushmaker at the corner
Of Pennsylvania avenue and Ninth street,
and residence at Eleventh and r streets.
In 1843 he had a variety store on the
north side Of Pennsylvania avenue near
Ninth, and evidently had his dwelling
on the north side Of D street between
Ninth and Tenth streets. IN 1850, he
Evening star., 1946-03-17
Moody and Sankey
Held Revival There


the building is given as $15o,000. The
building was opened January IA, 1875
with promenade concert given for the
benefit Of the families Of those killed
or injured while working on the build
ing, and was formally opened for busi-
ness January 16.
OF considerable interest to the public
has been that part Of the building known
as Convention Hall, reference to which
was hrst made in July. 1891, when the
Washington Convention Hall Co. offered
for sale $4,000 in 7 per cent stock for
financing that addition to the market.
1t was completed and opened to the
public May 6, 1893, with stated capacity
of 5000 persons, although on October
%, 1897, mass meeting Of 10000 citizens
was held there to pay homage to Karl
Decker and Evangeline Cisneros, a
beautiful Cuban patriot, whose escape
from prison in Havana was success
fully effected by Mr.. Decker, an Ameri-
can newspaperrnan.
Prior to this, there was held here the
great revival held by Dwight L. Moody
and Ira D. Sanky, which lasted for one
month. The great Masonic fair Of 1905,
which netted that organization $4,000
was an important event, as was the
meeting there in November, 1922, of the
18th triennial session Of the General
Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern
Star. In Its time, the place was devoted
to roller skating, food and auto shows,
athletic meets and amusements Of all
kinds. and In recent years has attracted
crowds who were fond Of bowling.
The neighborhood is not without his
toric Interest. Besides Savage Square
and the market, in the block just north
OF New York avenue, was the copious
willow spring and to the south, on Fifth
street between and K was the Northern
Liberty we'll, which for years furnished
water to the nearby residents until 1t
was ordered filled up in 1897. At the
northeast corner Of Fifth and M streets
resided. at least as early as 1865, John
E. Thompson, principal Of the old Jeffer-
son School, under whom Theodore w.
Noyes, editor Of The Star, received a
part of his education, when residing on
the Island"
But one Of the most interesting sites
hereabouts is the one where now stands
the second police precinct at Sixth street
and New York avenue. Here stood q
building erected as an ensinehouse in
1885, and also used for educational pur-
poses as early as 1856. It was 50 by 2S
feet. and was three stories high. con-
Evening star., 1946-03-17
Comments illustrate
Both Sides of Complex

The department took note Of the
veteran complex" as illustrated by
these comments from veterans:
Tell vets not to expect too much
from the people because they don't
give d for'any of us. To hear
some of them tell it, we never done
so much"
Most business concerns expect
veteran to work for practically Moth
ing because he was willing to give his
life for his country. Yes, we veterans
are kicked around and spoken to like
buns. I personally feel that those
boys who died for our country are
better off because they will never know
what a lousy deal they might have
received in the business world"
Impress upon these other jokers
that when they come out of the Army,
come out with both fists up"
At the other extreme are men like
these:
THE self-confdence that acquired
from Army training is extremely bene-
fetal towards getting a top job.
Don't act like people owe you
debt. I have found that employers
give the ex-soldier more breaks than
necessary"
Perhaps more typical Of the men
who had to change the shape of their
dreams was this veteran:
After you have been in the Army
for four and half years, you start
getting funny ideas about the out
side. When you get out, you find
things different"
Evening star., 1946-03-17
" HE fire that recently destroyed
the New Center Market, Fifth
and K streets NV, while not

anu Ia oGICCtS INV, WIllle mol
the most spectacular or costliest
In Washington history, did remove
landmark which afforded pleasure to
several generations since it opened in
1875.
The building supplemented the orig
inal Northern Liberty Market, which
was small sbrick structure, erected in
1846 on the west side of Seventh street
In Mount Vernon Square.
Predecessor of the market was the
Northern Liberty Fire Company which,
In 1910 erected its engine house on site
corresponding to what is now the main
entrance of the District Public Library
at Eighth and K streets. Officers of
the company were: John Y. Bryant,
president; Joseph Bryan, vice president;
j. G. Robinson, treasurer, and Benjamin
Evans, secretary.
The company occupied the place for
Is years and the second floor of the
ediflce was tenanted by various indi-
vlduals and orders. Prof. Weber gave
dancing instructions, the Northern Lib
critics Division of the Sons of Tenn
perence promulgated the principles of
total abstinence, military instruction
was given by Maj. S. H. Walker and
the Rev French S. Evans, for time,
preached on Sunday afternoons.
Evening star., 1946-03-17
Job Plans Thwarted
For Lack of Opportunity

Aoi LAIN O1 opportunity
To that question, 80 per cent were
able to answer with a confident Eyes"
OF the others, Is per cent replied, "I
haven't tried to carry out my plans
yet, but still expect to-; II per cent
reported they had tried and failed, 8
per cent said they had changed their
plans before they tried to carry them
out and 26 per cent protested that
they didn't really have any definite
plans.
From the answers, the War Depart
ment estimated that about a fourth O.
the men were having hard time get
ting foothold in the economic world
Some had their job plans thwarted be-
cause the specific job they planned on
had fallen through, but most of them
simply couldn't find the kind of Job they
wanted-sometimes because they we're
looking for opportunities that didn't
exist.
There seems 10 be no agency that is
solely devoted to veterans and that
actually has jobs" complained one ex-
servicemen. The word veteran seems
to imply a person who is willing to work
for what is known as a nominal salary"
mo demand for Army-trained pho
tographers." reported another veteran.
Had decided to continue the work
I was doing in the Army (aircraft in
strument specialist), but the airlines and
the CAA do not seem to be ready yet"
explained another. -
Financial problems were the particu-
lar headache of the men who wanted
to start businesses or to buy farms.
Il have rented building, but have
yet to get a Government loan Prices
are enormous" wrote veteran who had
tried to open radio repair shop.
Il would like to have my y>own busi-
ness, but find 1t impossible under pres
ent conditions reported another
Prices on available materials are too
high and GI Bill doesn't give much help
unless you're near a millionaire"
A third veteran who wanted to be a
farmer complained, II have tried to get
a loan but haven't got enough security
to get CT loan.'
Other thwarted veterans blamed fall
ures on the lack of housing in the COM
munities where they wanted to work,
the difficulties of getting surplus prop
erty or locating place Of business.
Family Ties Force
Some Into Amy Job
Some men took jobs they didn't want,
feeling impelled to take the first job
offered because they had to support
their families.
Others abandoned their cherished
Evening star., 1946-03-17
Army Checks on Foxhole Dreams Of Jobs
Veterans Asked
To Give Report
OF Experiences

know where he is," wrote one wife HE
wasn't himself after he returned from
the Army. Two weeks ago, he just went
OF and left me. He had been very
restless"
A mother wrote: He was very rest
less after his discharge. 1t seemed hard
for him to get used to being out OF the
Army. He hadn't looked for any work,
was just visiting around at home and
among relatives"
Then she told the end Of the story.
Her son, a young overseas veteran with
several campaigns to his credit, had
sbeen killed in an automobile accident
a few weeks after discharge.