Evening star., 1951-09-09
In Old Center Market
Woshington's Busy and ColorfuI Murketploee Of a
Now Almost Forgotten Generation
By John cIoqett Proctor

OF all the early landmarks that
had to give way to progress, the old
Center Market was perhaps the most
now stands the National Archives.
one of the most beautiful marble
structures in the Capital City.
We who knew the old Marsh or
Mash Market from infancy have
seen many changes. The building
itself remained substantially un-
changed for so years. Its methods of
doing business did not remain the
same. recall the large number of
boys. both white and colored, who
used to get up bright and early in the
morning particularly on Saturdays
and walk downtown to the Mash"
Market to pick up few dimes or
quarters carrying the baskets for
women. Boys were not allowed to
enter the market. but just as soon as
a man or woman emerged from one
OF the doors with basket the boys
in waiting made dive for the pros
pect, and the fleetest boy was usually
employed.
Prominent Shoppers
In the early days of Washington,
1t is surprising how many really i'm
portant people did their own market
ing, and, If anything, the men were
in the majority. Senators, Represent
atives, cabinet officers, foreign diplo-
mats, were frequently to be seen at
the Center Market. laying in a sup
ply Of meats, game and vegetables
for their tables.
Though President William Henry
Harrison lived but month In the
White House before he died, in that
short space Of time he was frequently
seen at the Center Market.
Though many farmers continued to
bring their vegetables, chickens and
other farm products to market, as
We well know, their number tapered
OH as large quantities of commodities
were shipped in by rail. 1t was a
common thing. years ago, to see the
roads leading into Washington crowd
ed on Friday nights with farm wag-
onS bringing to market the re-
suits of the honest toll of the in
dustriouS farmer. Well do I remem-
ber the large covered wagons, now
almost entirely crowded out by the
automobile truck, to which were fire.
quently hitched as many as six horses
for the pull over heavy roads.
The typical old Southern Negro was
a picturesque character around the
market, selling herbs and garden
stuff. It was common to see some
old nanny, with basket on her head
and clay pipe in her mouth. trudg-
ing along as happy as if she were
worth a million dollars. Some wore
bandannaS to cover their hair, giving
them an exotic appearance.
A visitor who went to the market,
back in the early '80s, to take in the
sights, said: 1.-THE market is ever a
source of attraction to me, it is ever
so full of color-I was somewhat
astonished to find elegantly equipped
vehicles worthy of Rotton Row, or the
Bois de Boulogne, or the Prater, or
Unter den Linden, daShing up to the
principal entrances. the coachman in
the orthodox half-moon collars and
pickle-jars, while ladies attired in the
ripest fashion descended to be as
sailed by another regiment Of small
boys of various colors, who clamored
for the happy and pecuniary privilege
of bearing home the choice little cuts
to be selected by the fair and fash
ionable housewife on marketing bent.
Open-Air Restaurants
"Venturing close to the market, /
was attracted to group Of open-air
restaurants set upon the sidewalk.
where 'delicacies' at least the
habitues of the place consider them
So-were administered to hungry ap-
plicantS with dexterity and rapidity
bewildering to behold These res
taurants' are but indifferently shell
tered. and the accommodations are
of the poorest; when 1 saw them,
under pouring rain, the proprietors
stood in puddles of water, slender
streams trickling down upon them
from the canvas tops which were
meant to protect the viandS. But all
were doing lively trade, wholly un-
affected by the aqueous interference
of Jupiter Pluvius. The surroundings
were infinitely picturesque, but the
menu-well, it was suited to those for
whom 1t was provided"
An artist for an out-of town news
paper. visiting the city many years
ago. had this to say of our markets,