Evening star., 1960-12-06
Farmers Market
Closing Threatened
Told to Abide
By Building,
Health Codes

~ ~"''o"'H
Health Codes
The District Commissioners
decided today to shut down the
farmers market In Northeast
Washington unless a prompt
start Is made towards bringing
health and building code con-.
ditions there up to municipal
standards.
officials said there Is a wide
spreaed violation Of basic
sanitary and building regula-
tions at the market, which Is
bounded by Fifth, Sixth, Penn
and Morse streets.
Maryland and Virginia truck
farmers have been selling their
produce from rented space
there for about 80 years, Of
flcials said. -
The commissioner decision
was made on the recommends
ton Of j. j. ngenfritZ, director
Of the Department Of Licenses
and Inspections, and DR.. Daniel
L. Finucane. head Of the Health
Department. -
Prompt Answer Sought
Commissioner Mark Sullivan,
jr.. recommended that a special
notice be sent to the market
officials requesting an answer
within 10 days whether inn
provements will be made. II
the answer is no, then the mar.
ket should be closed down at
the end Of this month, Mr.. Sul1
livan said.
In their report, Mr.. Ilgen-
fritz and DR.. Finucane indi-
Gated that the chances for i'm
provement Of the m arket
standards were slim.
]. o. Harrison, jr.. market
master Of the farmers market.
said that District officials for
the past three years have been
trying to get his company to
rebuild the market stands.
Mr.. Harrison said 1T wouldn't
be economically feasible" to re-
build the market. and. therefor,
he would seek District approval
to make certain improvements.
But he said past attempts In
this direction have not sue
ceeded because District officials
are not interested in any COM
promise"
Shelter Sheds Temporary
The market area charged
with health violations consists
OF three Islands" where farm.
ers and wholesalers display
fresh produce and meat. One
island has temporary shelter
sheds which have come In for
criticism. Also. the display
area has patches on its siding.
The dealers at the open-air
market are split on the uues.
ton whether the facilities
should be rebuilt.
Edward D. Ruefly Of 61I9
Fifth street NV. a wholesale
vegetable dealer since 1888.
said. Il think things are ali
right as they are."
But Jack Ebbess of 7Ol Nc.
Ceney street, Silver Spring. a
produce wholesaler. said a re-
built market might be a good
idea for all concerned. IF
they rebuild it. we'll move
back"
Improvements Made
He said that under his firms
operation the market has un-
dergone several improvements,
including q cleanup of the
parking area and stands. He
charged that William H. Cary.
Jr.. OF the District Health De.
partment is coninced improve
ments are not enough but that
the whole operation ought to
CO."
Mr.. Harrison said he leases
the market property from the
trustees Of the Winslow est
tate. He said that many Of the
farmers and wholesalers came
to the area in 1880 after the
Government took over the old
B street market to make room
for the Federal Triangle. The
area threatened with closing is
only part Of the market
facilities.
The market is on private
property owned by the Winslow
estate. DR.. Finucane said. 1t is
leased and operated by Mr.. Har-
rison and Edward Widmayer,
who. in turn, rent out space to
the farmers.
Do Not Own Property
In the report, the Commis.
sioners were told that tho
trustees ARE not inclined to
invest money in capital i'm
provements" on this property.
The men leasing the property
also do not want to put large
sums in capital outlay on prop
erty they do not own, and
particularly when they do not
have a long term lease, the re-
port said. The rental had been
on a yearly basis and now is on
a month to month arrange
ment.
The violations, according to
DR.. Finucane, range from in
adequate refrigeration to lack
OF toilets and wash basins. In
addition to the health factors.
the sheds do not meet require!
ments of the building code, he
said.
The unsanitary conditions at
the market. located near Gall
laudet College, are far from
new. officials said. City officials
4