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Frank and Bacon: 1924
... D.C., circa 1924. "Stephen Frank -- Auth Provision Co., Center Market." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Razed in 1931 The block that Center Market occupied is now the home of the National Archives. D.C. still ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/17/2014 - 10:59pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1924. "Stephen Frank -- Auth Provision Co., Center Market." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Razed in 1931The block that Center Market occupied is now the home of the National Archives. D.C. still has markets like this. There is the more upscale Eastern Market, the oldest continuously operated fresh food market in the country. When Center Market was torn down, it was to make way for something more "modern" -- the self-service supermarket, where all the the individuals vendors in stalls were replaced by "departments" under one brand name roof. The 1930s saw an explosion of the chain grocery system, and Center Market was simply too old-fashioned. Too bad the owners had no idea that 50 years later, that antique system would be a tourist attraction. Still Around!Looks to be some tasty slabs of bacon he has his arm on. Possibly head cheese, salamis, and kolbas too. Thankfully, these types of markets still exist. Cleveland has one that closely resembles this photo. With many and varied vendors under one roof, each with their fresh specialty. It beats any supermarket, hands down. http://www.westsidemarket.org/ Detroit has its Eastern Market. It's not under one roof -- it much too large. It's an enjoyable adventure on a Saturday morning. http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com/ Any others out there? Despite the cleanlinesslet us hope the temperature in there is a blistering 20 below. Agree on the BaconSo when did they start producing the fat slabs they now call American bacon? Look at the bacon sold online at those ethnic grocers. Really like these old "market & store" type photos. O StreetEastern market in DC still has this feel. Of course, the bacon slabs are in coolers behind glass now. I am not sure this photo was taken at Center Market. The "O" Street address in background suggests that it was actually taken at the Norrhern Market, which was also called the O Street market. [Look again. The sign says "Branch of" the main store at 620 O Street. - Dave] Harry Potter and the Half-Baked Hollywood HamNotice the young man to the right of the hanging scales. Is this a young photo of George Burns, before he took up his alter ego as Harry Potter? Cleanlinessdoes not seem part of his remit, given the state of his apron. Center MarketThe wonderful, cahotic chaotic Center Market was located on Pennsylvania Avenue where the Natioanl National Archives is now. A breif brief histroy history of it can be found here. I'll take 18 pounds of old Leather Handbags please. Bacon and BraunschweigerThe sign fragments in the photo are Berkshire Sausage and Charles B. Althoff, 620 O St. N.W., dealer of bread, pies and cakes. The faded sign is N. Auth Prov'n Co., Wholesale & Retail. Smaller signage includes Positively No Checks Cashed and These Stands Close Sat. at 6 P.M. During June, July & Aug. Washington Post, October 19, 1924 Ask For Auth's Always! Steaming hot, crisp, tender, nutritious — just as good to your stomach as it is to your tongue. No wonder thousands of well-fed families start the day with Auth's Sausage Meat regularly. Auth's Pure Pork Sausage Meat with hot cakes — is the ideal cold weather combination. Nourishing for breakfast. Satisfying at night. And popular with every appetite all winter long. Think how easy it is to prepare, too. In less than fifteen minutes, you can have a real meal. Auth's Sausage Meat Other Auth Products: Frankfurters, Pork Sausage, Scrapple, Smoked Ham, Bacon, Pure Lark, Pork Pudding, Cooked Ham, Royal Pork, Braunschweiger. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Center Market: 1890
Wagons at the Center Market, Washington, D.C., circa 1890. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 11:49am -

Wagons at the Center Market, Washington, D.C., circa 1890. View full size. Susquehanna Hat CompanyTry: http://www.susquehannahats.com/ Re: In the DarkTelephone invented: 1876 First electric street lights (carbon arc lamps): 1870s. And of course telegraph wires on poles go back to the 1840s. When you're in the dark and you want to see..I noticed in the upper right corner a streetlight and a telephone (?) pole with wires hanging from it. I never associate electric streetlights with anything pre-1900. Are there any pictures of a nighttime street scene with street lights? Or would cameras of the time have needed more light to get an exposure? "How do I get to the Susquehanna Hat Company?" (The Gallery, D.C., Horses, Stores & Markets)
Center Market: 1922
"Center Market, 1922." Produce vendors in Washington, D.C. National Photo ... in 1886 and operated this fruit and vegetable stand at Center Market on Pennsylvania Avenue (present site of the National Archives) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 3:45pm -

"Center Market, 1922." Produce vendors in Washington, D.C. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Louis GattiThe stand on the left, as seen by the sign overhead, was run by Louis P. Gatti. Gatti emigrated to the U.S. in 1886 and operated this fruit and vegetable stand at Center Market on Pennsylvania Avenue (present site of the National Archives) from about 1900 to 1925. In the 1910s, the family lived at 736 5th Street, N.W., a site now across from the Government Accountability Office where a Red Roof Inn is located. Louis Gatti was one of the most successful of many members of his extended family that went into the fresh produce business in Washington. At his death in 1969, the Washington Post noted that his fruit and vegetable stand "won the culinary cachet of early 20th century Washington.[T]he fine quality of his fruits and vegetables — such as strawberries from Plant City, Fla., and typhoid - free watercress grown in pure mineral springs — won him an elite clientele of the rich and powerful in a day when even the most haughty of the city's housewives did their own daily grocery shopping." His wife’s obituary, from 1948, further elaborates: "Numbered among their clients were Presidents Taft, Wilson, and Harding, Cabinet officials, diplomats, and official leaders of the day. Mrs. Gatti often reminisced about the time Mrs. William Howard Taft came to her after the President's inauguration, asking if she would take as good care of the White House larder as she had the Taft residence." Gatti would take charge of procuring the best produce; his wife Mary Angela was in charge of operating the stand. Gatti became one of the first produce merchants to place orders directly with farmers outside the city, simplifying the buying process. In 1921, he retired from the produce business, turning his firm over to his sister-in-law and her husband, and concentrated on investing in real estate. By this time, he had grown quite wealthy, and his wealth drew some undesirable attention. In October of that year, Mrs. Gatti received a "blood-smeared" letter at the family home on 5th Street. The letter, signed by the "Black Hand" (the Mafia), demanded that she pay $15,000 "or your home goes in the air." She was instructed to wait for another letter with instructions on how to pay, and that letter finally came in January 1922. The terrified Mrs. Gatti placed 15 $1,000 bills into a bag for two neighborhood boys to take to a mysterious stranger, who was supposed to pick it up a couple of blocks away from the house. However, a visitor to the Gatti household, alarmed at the proceedings, called the police, who intercepted the two boys and apparently scared off the threat-maker. The police were unable to track down the extortionist, who they believed was not actually connected to the Mafia but perhaps instead associated with a local wholesale establishment because of the way the threat letter was stenciled. According to the newspaper account, Mrs. Gatti "intimated that she and her family would flee the city," and that is more or less exactly what they did, moving out to Park Road N.W. in the "suburb" of Columbia Heights within the next year or two. It is unclear if anything further came of the whole unpleasant affair. After Mrs. Gatti died in 1948, Louis Gatti moved in with his son Michael on Foxhall Road N.W., where he resided until his death in 1969 at the age of 96. Still the SameMany who don't travel fail to realize that markets around the world are still like this with, generally, minor changes such as better lighting and...and...well, better lighting. Is this the same Gatti who later went into the butchery business? Typhoid-Free WatercressSometimes a chance phrase reminds me that there were some things in the past that I never could have imagined. I'm completely derailed by the statement in Mr. Gotti's obituary that he attracted an "elite clientele of the rich and powerful" in part by securing a steady supply of typhoid-free watercress. Thanks to him, Washington hostesses could confidently serve their guests watercress sandwiches without having to budget for funeral flowers later. Who knew that luncheon buffets could be that exciting? A very familiar sight to meThis market looks very much like the market where I shopped for fruits and vegetables in the 1980s in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Look at all those wooden crates. Those would be cardboard boxes today. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
C.H. Javins: 1926
... seafood stand in our second look today at Washington's old Center Market. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full ... [What's the first word of the caption? - Dave] The Center Market Must have smelled like the rendering plant in this place. The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/13/2011 - 9:56am -

September 1926. "Thos. R. Shipp Co. -- C.H. Javins stand." The Charles Javins seafood stand in our second look today at Washington's old Center Market. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Where's the flypaper?For this photo, as for the one of the meat purveyor, there are no coils of flypaper festooning the ceiling. Perhaps they removed them for the picture; or it was midwinter. [What's the first word of the caption? - Dave] The Center MarketMust have smelled like the rendering plant in this place. The stench must have knocked people down in the summer months. Thank God I was not around to visit this place. When did Americans get so wimpy?Looking at this picture, from less than a century ago, with the whole chickens, heads, feet and all, makes me wonder when American got so wimpy about such things. I cooked chicken and beef hearts, chicken gizzards and all kinds of livers all those years my ex was in school, but I could never get near chicken feet and heads. Makes me kind of ashamed, really, that we Americans let anything like that go to waste. Later: Thanks, OTY! I knew that people all over the world used those parts, but I have never seen them offered for sale here in America. I have a recipe in The Black Family Reunion cookbook for chicken feet stew, but I don't even know where I would get the chicken feet, if I wanted to try it. African American women have always had a great talent for taking the parts that no one else wanted and making something tasty and nutritious for their families out of them! Fish or MeatAt last, I learn why there are no fish hamburgers. Advertisement, Washington Post, Mar 17, 1924. Differences and Similarities Between Fish and Meats Though fish and meats are commonly considered as different articles of food, they are nevertheless for nutritional purposes almost the same thing. The similarities are more striking than the differences. FISH will serve the purposes of MEAT in every particular and for an indefinite time. The choice is mainly in taste, price and variety. Still, if argument need to presented, fish will be found there and ready. One difference to be noted is in the physical properties. The connective tissues of fish are gelatinous, and on brief cooking, without chopping or pounding become so tender as to fall to pieces. This fact alone explains the easy digestibility of fish. It also explains why there is no such thing as a fish hamburger: You don't need to grind it as a preliminary to chewing it. FISH MEAT generally does not hold blood, and is therefore usually white. FISH has valuable minerals, vitamines and other constituents. Fish that are not too fat are always easily digestible. In summary, the main fact from your point of view is that you can have a refreshing change to sea food, introduce variety into your diet, and be sure that your food is rich, wholesome, adequate and fully justified by scientific research. You will make no mistake by getting the sea-food habit. If you want the best of Fish and Sea Foods, buy from the following wholesale and retail dealers, who are known for their fair prices and dependable service. … CHAS H. JAVINS & SONS, Center Market, B St. Wing, Main 8649 … Chicken of the SeaI always thought "Chicken of the Sea" referred to tuna. Sorry, Charlie! Hangin' OutThe fish hung on the rod include an Atlancic salmon and four striped bass, the latter found in waters local to DC. The most interesting is the flatfish, an Atlantic halibut, a species now almost extinct. They were once plentiful throughout the north Atlantic all the way down to New Jersey, and are the largest of the halibut species. In addition to being quite tasty, the Atlantic Halibut was prized for its liver, which produced an oil rich in vitamins. Nearest the FanI'll have two fancy chickens, nearest the fan that's operating if you please. Somewhere along the way us modern folk must have lost our immunity to samonella. A mysteryI still can't figure out -- with all that great food so readily available back then, why was the life expectancy average so low? 'Tis quite the paradox. AromasBet you didn't have to see Mr. Javins to know whether he was in church with you. FreeE. coli! 85 years in the futureWhen Shorpy shows pictures of today’s meat and fish markets 85 years in the future. Won't be around to see that one, I wonder what comments will be made about today’s unsanitary and unhealthy conditions. I feel the comments will be similar to those previously posted. Today's KickerThe kicker is there are thousands of markets, just like this one, operating today and tomorrow all around the world. And one doesn't need to travel all that far to find one: they are common in Central America. Indeed this is how a great proportion of the population still does their daily shopping, along with a second trip out to the bakery. Interesting is there usually is no strong "aroma" and the markets generally smell like your neighborhood butcher shop. Today, and probabl yesteryear as well, the markets are given thorough cleanings at the end of each day; after all, they must give a good impression to tomorrow's shoppers. There may be some visual objections but I would rather enjoy that fish caught early this morning rather than one which has been sitting around a modern supermarket for a week. Center MarketC.H. Javins & Sons had been selling fish since at least 1882 in Washington. At Center Market in stalls 229-48 and 280-82 (1923 Polk directory). Possibly this is 229-48, since behind Javins appears to be Gus G. Gillespie, produce, who had 249-52. Likely that is Chas. W. Smith, produce, in 199-204 to the right of Gillespie. More here on Center Market at the bottom of the page, and here. Paper CansThose boxes in the foreground are labeled "Paper Cans." What are those, and why don't we hear of them any more? This place looks excitingI guess I'm getting old, but I remember my folks (mainly my dad) taking me to places that looked like this when I was little - busy, dirty, crowded with stuff everywhere. They were very exciting. Sometimes it was markets, like this, sometimes city streets with stalls and vendors, sometimes factories - working or abandoned. He liked old repair shops with spare parts everywhere. His shop in the basement was festooned with stuff everywhere like this place. Sometimes we would get an outboard motor fixed, sometimes he would buy me a whole salami. It was always fun. My mom only took me to clean, boring places. Rooster Combs and Chicken FeetFor Noelani's reply, rest assured that the items in the title do not go to waste. Rooster combs are used to make a medicine called hyaluronic acid that is injected as a lubricant for osteoarthritis patients, some say it works, some say not sure. Chicken feet are used by multiple ethnic groups including Asians, Eastern Europeans, Africans, Latinos and others for delicious stocks, soups and regular eating and are not dirty because the outer skin on the chicken feet is removed (much like shrimp shells). Beneath that skin is juicy, fatty, very tasty chicken morsels and lots of bone. Very little, if anything, goes to waste among poor populations. I'm not sure about the beaks. Paper CansI believe you can see them in action right now if you peer into the ice cream cooler at any Baskin Robbins store. They have been in use there for a very long time. I remember a small advertising campaign there in the early 1960s in which they tried to encourage patrons to take home the hosed-out empties and reuse them as storage containers. One suggestion for the frugal proto-Martha Stewarts and starving students was to cover them in wallpaper to make a decorative waste basket. I will have to stop at a BR tonight for some field research to verify current use and see if the company noted still is the supplier. [You can see them in the freezer case at your grocery store. "Paper cans" are the waxed cartons that ice cream is sold in just about everywhere. Also used as deli cartons for potato salad and such. - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Confederate Veterans: 1917
... 60s in 1917. A cool and timely picture. Convention Center Market Built in 1874, the city’s first convention center extended ... and sporting events. 1930 By the early 1930s, Center Market – the city's largest building – was located at Pennsylvania ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 9:00pm -

The Gray and the gray. "Confederate veteran reunion, Washington, 1917." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. The last soldierThe last Union veteran to die was in 1947 in Minnesota. Life Magazine had a write up on this. There is one veteran from WW1 now living. It is in the newspapers as I write. He is 108 and lives in Pennsylvania. [The Wikipedia article on last surviving veterans, which is never an exact science. The most we can usually say is that someone is thought to be the last survivor of a particular war. That article has the last two Union vets dying in 1953 and 1956. - Dave] Johnny Reb in his 60'sThis was an eye opener for me as to just how long ago the Civil War took place. These guys were teenagers when it happened and here they are they are in their 60s in 1917. A cool and timely picture. Convention Center MarketBuilt in 1874, the city’s first convention center extended the length of Fifth Street between K and L Streets, and was known as the Northern Liberty Market. It was an immense single room 324 feet long, 126 feet wide and 84 feet high at the center. The architecturally significant structure featured a curved roof and was supported, without any interior columns, by a series of enormous iron and steel trusses. 1893 A second floor was added to form a large auditorium, with seating for 5,000. The building was renamed the Convention Center and popularly known as the Convention Hall. The facility operated there for 50 years, hosting revival meetings, fairs, auto shows, roller-skating, bowling and a variety of amusement and sporting events. 1930 By the early 1930s, Center Market – the city's largest building – was located at Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventh Street. It was later demolished for the government's Federal Triangle construction project. Many of that market's vendors moved a half-mile north to the Convention Center building, which was renamed New Center Market. News Travels SlowlyLooks like the Gillette Safety Razor was slow to take hold in the South. Great image!I'm guessing that this group from Nashville had ridden with Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest based on the flag they carry. I bet they all could tell stories to keep you going for days if anyone would listen. Commander at the front looks like he takes his position very seriously. Old DixieDying (slowly) for their cause. StubblyI must say, Confederate vets knew how to rock the facial hair. UniformsObviously these men are better dressed than they ever had been during their war when the Confederate uniforms were nominally gray, and later "butternut" but sometimes ended up being whatever you could find or even scrounge off of dead bodies. I wonder how many of our images of Confederate soldiers and how they dressed come from seeing images like this and the studio portraits that the young men going off to war had taken rather than the reality of the field. Yes they all look oldYes they all look old, but what does that say about me? I can remember when the last Confederate (in fact the last Civil War) veteran died, sometime in the 1950s, and the reason that it is in my memory bank is that it happened near where I lived at the time (Baytown, Texas) and the high school band from Robert E. Lee High School (Go Ganders!) played at the funeral. I would later attend REL. And apparently, things going the way they are, I will live to see the last WWI veteran die. A Mighty Host of Gray1917 marked the 27th annual Confederate reunion and the first to gather outside of the Confederate States. I've extracted only a few of the many newspaper articles of the time, and in just this small sample, there are inconsistencies regarding the age of the youngest. [Upon Stanton Square's blue fingers, I hereby bestow the Purple Heart. - Dave] 1,500 Veterans in City Special Trains Bring Gray Hosts From as Far as New Orleans. More than 1,500 Confederate veterans, representing a majority of 22 States that are to send delegates to the annual Confederate reunion that opens here tomorrow, were registered at headquarters yesterday. In addition incoming trains from the South brought Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy and thousands of others whose sympathies are Southern. Col. Robert N. Harper, after hearing reports from John Dolph and others of the registration committee lat night again expressed the opinion that the total number of visitors, including delegates, will reach the 75,000 mark before the first day of the reunion is over. From an early hour yesterday shifts of volunteers were busy constantly registering the veterans at the Union Station, where scenes similar to those that characterized the inauguration preliminaries prevailed. An extra force of policemen was on duty at the station handling the crowds and seeing to the necessary enforcement of rules. As early as 6 a.m. the "vets," many wearing the suits of gray that will be conspicuous here during the week, began to arrive. Many were intent on attending the memorial exercises at Arlington and to obtain a glimpse of President Wilson. The first excursion train to pull into the station was the "Tom Green Special," from the cotton belt, bringing veterans from Memphis, Texarkana, Pine Bluff and the vicinity. Closely following it came others from Augusta, Ga.; Newberry S.C., and New Orleans. At noon several special excursion trains, each carrying an average of 300 veterans and others, arrived. In the afternoon, the Elliott Tour Special brought large delegations from Birmingham and Atlanta. H.F. Cary, chairman of the transportation committee, said yesterday that at least 38 specials from every point in the South would reach Washington before Wednesday. It is conservatively estimated that of the 40,000 survivors at least 5,000 will attend this year's reunion. ... Veterans were taken either to their hotels or to the "tented city" not far distant from the station. Last night, close to 200 of the visitors slept under canvas. The majority were fatigued after long journeys and expressed a preference to "stick close to quarters" rather than see the sights as some suggested. More than 500 were quartered in a large red brick structure at the corner of New Jersey and C street northwest. Arriving there they were assigned to rooms. Meals were served under a large canvas tent close by. Washington Post, Jun 4, 1917 Sidelights of Confederate Reunion About a half hundred veterans responded to the sounding of the dinner gong at the tented city yesterday and enjoyed the first meal served "under canvas." The menu consisting of vegetable soup, fresh pork, prime ribs of beef, new potatoes, green peas, stewed tomatoes, assorted pies, iced tea, coffee and bread and butter, was a sample of the generous treatment the "boys" can expect during their stay in camp. ... When some one had the audacity to inquire of A.B. Rowland, of Fulton Ky., one of the party at the tented city, as to his age he answered, "I'm one of the kids. I'm only 72." As a matter of fact, the youngest Confederate veteran is 69. Washington Post, Jun 4, 1917 Dixie's Sons Own City Washington surrendered yesterday to a mighty host of gray - without a struggle. White-haired and gray-coated veterans owned the city. Streets and avenues were a dense gray mass from early morning until late at night. Hotel lobbies were crowded to the doors. Public parks, the Capitol, government buildings and nearby places of historic interest were given over ungrudgingly to the venerable guests from Dixie. Bands played familiar airs, fife and drum corps beat age-old battle marches and buglers sounded the reveille and taps. ... The Tented City on the Union Station plaza was the mecca last night for veterans and sightseers from all parts of the District. The large mess hall was the busiest place in Washington from 4 p.m. yesterday until 8 o'clock last night. Nearly 15,000 meal tickets had been issued to veterans since Monday morning. Camp fire meetings were held last night in every nook and corner of the plaza. War time stories were "swapped" and Southern songs filled the air with melody. Officials of the registration booth at Union Station said last night that between 15,00 and 20,000 veterans had arrived in Washington since Sunday morning. Washington Post, Jun 6, 1917 Sidelights of Confederate Reunion Editor C.A. Ricks, of the Courier, Huntington, Tex., who was born February 28, 1851, claims to be the youngest Confederate at the reunion. He enlisted August 1, 1863 in Courier battery at Shreveport, La. ... The Georgia delegation greeted the President with a shower of peanuts, while the ladies literally bombarded the stand with flowers. Washington Post, Jun 8, 1917 Third Veteran Wins Bride at Reunion The third Confederate veteran to take unto himself a wife while attending the recent reunion is Dr. John A. Pollock, 71, of Kingston, N.C. His bride is Miss Lula L. Aldridge, 50, of the same city. ... Dr. Pollock also is the next to the oldest of the three "vets" who are going South with brides. The oldest was Frank H. Raum, of Richmond, Va., who was one of Mosby's men. He is 73. The "vet" who got the youngest bride is James A. Thomas, 63, of Atlanta, Ga. He married Miss Elizabeth Roberts, only 25. Washington Post, Jun 10, 1917 ObservationsNotice Santa Claus on the left has a peg leg. As for facial hair, if you look at silent movies of the period they usually have old geezers shown with similar whiskers. I think this stereotype was based on truth, that the oldsters kept the style from their youthful days. There are only about 11 confirmed WW1 vets still living, as listed on Wiki. All of the Central Powers guys are gone. Only 2 remain who actually spent time in the trenches. MedalistsSeveral of the veterans, including the officer in the frock coat, are wearing the Southern Cross of Honor. These were given by the United Daughters of the Confederacy starting in 1900 to Confederate army and navy vets. The Confederate States of America did not issue any medals. And the last Civil War widowI read the article below a few years ago. The Shorpy photo brought it to mind. "Civil War widow, final link to old Confederacy, dies" The cantankerous 81-year-old man struck up a few conversations with the 21-year-old neighbor and a marriage of convenience was born. They were married in a civil ceremony at the courthouse in Andalusia on Dec. 10, 1927, and 10 months later had a son, William. The story actually gets better but I'll leave it to everyone to read the whole thing. It still amazes me that so much history walks among us. Whenever I get the opportunity to talk to a WWII veteran I grab it because they are fast disappearing also. Oldest Confederate WidowThere may still be a couple of Confederate widows among us but it's their choice to remain in anonymity. Maude Hopkins was the last one publicly known. She died Aug. 17 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maudie_Hopkins Why did young girls marry veterans old enough to be their grandfathers? The pension was attractive in Depression days. BeardI think the guy on the far left bought his beard at the Acme Novelty Shop so he could join this Facial Hair Club for Men reunion WW2 VetsI saw on Fox News on Veterans Day that there are about 2.1 million veterans of WWII left. About 900 die every day. Actually, the United Confederate Veterans were organized locally into camps and drew from veterans living in the area. They took their names from famous officers, units and the like. The label on the flag here is more likely the name of the camp from Nashville. Southern Cross of HonorThe UDC awards a Cross of Military Service to any veteran of WWII or Vietnam upon application. The only additional requirement for the award is that in addition to proof of their own service, he or she provide proof of direct lineage to a soldier similar to one of the men shown in this fine picture. These crosses are beautifully made pieces and serve to establish a remarkable lineage to the present day. Many, if not most, of the men shown in this picture had grandfathers or great grandfathers who were soldiers of the American Revolution--and many of their fathers served in the War of 1812. Shades of GrayI've colourised this picture at https://www.shorpy.com/node/11187 if anyone's interested. (The Gallery, Civil War, D.C., Natl Photo)
Market Watch: 1921
Washington, D.C., 1921. "Center Market, 9th Street wing." Bananas, dancing and roller skating. National ... for Six Years C. Engel's Sons, wholesale provisions, Center Market, Washington, say about Autocar: "Best car ever made. We have ... The National Archives In this location today. Center Market had room for 700 vendors inside in 1900. Was built in 1871 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 1:42pm -

Washington, D.C., 1921. "Center Market, 9th Street wing." Bananas, dancing and roller skating. National Photo Co. Collection glass negative. View full size. Engel's Autocar Have Used Autocar for Six Years C. Engel's Sons, wholesale provisions, Center Market, Washington, say about Autocar: "Best car ever made. We have three of them and they are absolutely O.K. We bought our first six years ago." The Copywriter's ArtSomewhat underdeveloped here, ain't it? "Absolutely O.K." is not the kind of hyperbole you'd find in a car (or truck) ad today. The National ArchivesIn this location today. Center Market had room for 700 vendors inside in 1900. Was built in 1871 according to The National Museum of American History. Would love to see pictures inside of vendors and later skating rink and dance floor. [More photos here. - Dave] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Parker, Bridget: 1921
... is right of center. View above from here . Center Market Center Market and Market Square used to sit on what is now the National ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2012 - 11:53am -

Washington, D.C. "Parker, Bridget & Co., Ninth Street and Market Space N.W. 1921 or 1922." View full size. National Photo Company glass negative. Grand ScaleThe "grand scale" of the stores in this latest series is wonderful. It helps me remember that there really is nothing new under the sun... Parker, BridgetLooks like it was close to the mall and the Museum of Natural History. The store is right of center. View above from here. Center MarketCenter Market and Market Square used to sit on what is now the National Archives, at Seventh St and Penn Ave NW. I believe the corner shown in the photo is now the Navy Memorial and a Metro station. Bootblack's DreamLook at all the shiny shoes. It seems like everyone's were just polished. Eternal PresenceI find it fascinating that the people in this picture, although probably long-gone, have been captured on a day when their energy, activity and exuberance for life was in full bloom. Photography is a miraculous invention to record living history and I LOVE Shorpy. As for the shiny shoes, my grandfathers and father would not even leave the house without shining their shoes, even though we were as poor as churchmice. They made sure they were presentable when they went downtown and even if you owned only one pair, your shoes had to be shined. Fire hazard!A building wrapped in fir trees: what a fire hazard! Christmas!It must have been a grand Holiday for everyone. And a Merry Christmas to each of you! (The Gallery, Christmas, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Shoe City: 1920
... by the Hahn's chain of shoe stores at Washington D.C.'s Center Market in July 1920. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. ... opened to hordes of shoe shoppers yearning to be shod. Center Market So here you see why the building would be familiar in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/04/2014 - 9:59am -

"Hahn's Coliseum, interior." A flag-bedecked footwear sale held by the Hahn's chain of shoe stores at Washington D.C.'s Center Market in July 1920. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. 11 o'Clock BulletinOver 200 salespeople! Click to enlarge. Reserve Stocks at Consistent ConcessionsAm I right in interpreting that all these men looking at the camera are sales clerks waiting for customers? They are all wearing similar clothes: rolled-up sleeves and no jackets. Would any business ever ask patrons to pose in this way for the camera? I count 60+ clerks, an astounding ratio of salespeople-to-square-footage compared to today's norms. Washington Post, June 20, 1920. The Pick of the Market in Women's White Shoes Joins the Great Mark-Down The fame of Hahn's wonderful Mark-Down has spread through the market—and makers are giving their co-operation in offering us their reserve stocks at consistent concessions. We are very discriminating in what we accept, however, for even at Mark-Down prices the Hahn standard of quality must be maintained. … The Mark-Down is making broken lots and short lines rapidly and as fast as they are created we're turning them into the ‘Bargain Sections’— where you can make your own selection—and our assistants will help to fit your choice. Tomorrow you'll find rare choosing—especially of the popular White Shoes—the variety is large; and so are the values—and you can be sure of your size in one style or another. Shoe salesmenstanton_square's speculation about all those guys being sales clerks is correct. Until recent times (well, if you can include my childhood years as "recent") each customer was waited upon individually, even in the humblest shoe store. The stock was kept in a mysterious (to me) area accessible only to the salesman via a drapery-shrouded portal. I still feel a bit weird doing everything myself in these self-service days. Presumably this photo was taken before the doors were opened to hordes of shoe shoppers yearning to be shod. Center MarketSo here you see why the building would be familiar in the Herald ad. (BTW I bought most of my shoes from Hahn until they went out business in 1995.) "I'm born and bred to be a shoeman"I think I see Al Bundy! Odd man outThat's his bow tie and he's stickin' with it! Not WalmartIt's amazing to see so many people and not one who is obese. Crisis of solesThat ad is the first I've heard of the Great Shoe Glut of 1920. Was that a thing, or mere ballyhoo? MemoriesWe used to shop at the Hahn Store at Albemarle Street and Connecticut Avenue NW, now all I have as a reminder is a steel shoe horn they used to include with a new purchase. An excellent store with a good staff. But that shoe horn takes me back about 56 years to when I was in high school. Late again!Did I miss the sale?? Where are the crowds of consumers rushing to stock up on shoes I'd heard about? (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Meat Market: 1926
... stand." The Charles Javins meat counter, or a neighbor, at Center Market. View full size. Sewing with fat I've always wanted to ... us. First, Charles H. Javin & Sons were fishmongers at Center Market. Second, Thomas R. Shipp was not a butcher but a PR man. More ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/13/2011 - 12:42am -

September 1926. Washington, D.C. "Thos. R. Shipp Co. -- C.H. Javins stand." The Charles Javins meat counter, or a neighbor, at Center Market. View full size. Sewing with fatI've always wanted to try larding a fancy cut of beef. That is literally taking a needle, threading it with a long strip of fat which is shaped kind of like extra large linguine, and pulling it through the meat, a bit like tying a quilt. I've seen Julia Child do it and it looks quite amusing! Sawdust onthe floor When I was living in New Jersey, some 35 years ago, I would go to a butcher shop a few blocks away from my first apartment. They had sawdust on the floor there. It was, I was told, to help soak up any blood that might leak form the packages of freshly cut meat and to keep the floor from getting slippery. They used cedar sawdust and it gave the place an interesting scent. This Ain't RussiaThe starving masses in the workers' paradise of Soviet Russia 1926 would not have looked at this bounty with pecksniffian disdain but more than likely a feeling of envy and even resentment that a corrupt Capitalist populace had easy access to such plenty! SeepageI am inclined to agree with History Lover. I prefer things from the ground not things sitting on the ground. I really like the far package with its dark liquid seepage. Ewwwww! Light WeightThe scale over the display case isn't reading heavy, it's actually reading 2½ lbs light! But, not to worry, it'll be much more accurate when they hang the pan back on it. Honest Weight.Hope they don't use that scale over the display case,looks like it weighs a little heavy! Those baskets on the floor look like they have wrapped cuts waiting for pickup.I like the Jones sausage advertising on the side of the New York Beef cabinet. Jones sausage is still made today! Looks like prime rib or rib roast in that cabinet as well. Last but not least we have a cigarette butt and a sawdust covered floor. Health codes back then were a little looser than now. Where's the Board of HealthI know subway tiles are supposed to convey a sense of sterility and hygiene but this doesn't quite "cut" it! Telephone 5394What a confusing caption Mr. Herbert French has left for us. First, Charles H. Javin & Sons were fishmongers at Center Market. Second, Thomas R. Shipp was not a butcher but a PR man. More on Shipp at Atwater Kent: 1927. Finally, when the New York Beef Co. declared bankruptcy in 1935, the owner was listed as Charles J. Johnson. A great photo for details: the menacing saws hanging in back, the knife sharpener under the cash register, the Hobart meat grinder, and lastly the telephone: No. 5394, according to ads. [Names in National Photo captions are often the clients who commissioned the picture. - Dave] Small ReminderI seriously hope they didn't turn on those fans -- the blades are filthy! But I really got a kick out of the little sign in the sausage case "Keep Smiling." Haven't seen much like that in old photos. CollywobblesThat ceiling fan hanging loosely by its wiring must have put on an interesting floor show when it was running. Mr. Upton Sinclair?"Your order is ready, sir. Right there on the floor with the others!" Know Your CutsI don't know anything about cuts of meat, but the one lying on the paper in the center of the counter certainly intrigues me. I can't imagine what it could be -- it almost looks like firecrackers. Yikes!Can you say, "I like shopping in an abattoir"? And a filthy one, at that! VegetarianBy the looks of this meat counter, I may have considered being a vegetarian back in the day. No wonder my mother and grandmother were always so concerned about preparing meat throughly well-done. I guess I still may not want to know about any lack of sanitation that occurs today, unless I am in the position to prevent it! "Keep Smiling"We made at least 93 cents today! Larding OptionalThe two prime cuts resting on butcher paper on the counter have been larded. Check your "Joy of Cooking" for details. The dial scales may have been accurate enough for 1926 meat prices. Today's meat prices demand weight accuracy to the hundredth of a pound. New York Beef CoFound an earlier 1923 R. L. Polk Washington DC Directory, Page 1196, that lists New York Beef Co (Chas J. Johnson) 577-79 Center Mkt., same stand numbers as found in picture on this inviting display stand. Is that John E. Hager,(corrected spelling) Wholesale and Retail Poultry, Fruits & Vegetables, Coconut and Horseradish, in stall behind? He is listed in same 1923 directory, p. 771, Center Market, 9th St. Wing, Main 6556, at stalls 571-604, although the numbers might have changed in intervening years. Always enjoy market stands, especially in DC, so very happy to see such a fine detailed interior view. If only there were a few people within we could feel its age. Sure hope to see more of these great interior views. Keep SmilingI suppose they need that reminder on summer afternoons when all that unrefrigerated meat got a bit ripe. If you think this is badIt's nothing compared to the meat counter at a modern supermarket in Venezuela that I saw in 1992. I don't believe they ever removed the old meat, let alone cleaned "refrigerated" meat cabinet. The meat on the top was fresh but the layers below became progressively greener, then grayer. The stench from halfway back in the store was beyond description. Frankly, compared to THAT I'd happily buy meat from C.H. Javins. Things you don't want to see ... being made in Washington. The other one is laws. Swim FinsI'm ready to order those delicious-looking snorkel fins hanging at the top left. Chilled Beef? I'm pretty sure all that meat is only on display for the publicity photo. The glass display case to the left has an ice tray at top, you can see the drain petcock on the right of it. Most of the meat would have been kept in an ice cooler in back and brought out for customers as needed. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Birdman of Washington: 1915
... cart. This block of Louisiana Avenue is just west of Center Market and seems to have accommodated an overflow of merchants and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/27/2012 - 11:52am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1915. "P.K. Chaconas Co. Market." Pictured: Proprietor George Chaconas, whose grocery ("fancy fruits and vegetables") was at 924 Louisiana Avenue N.W. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Genuinely PleasantHow rare it is to see a sincere and guileless smile on a person's face. Such direct and genuous happiness is impossible to fake. This is a kind and happy man. Oldest Greek MarketWashington Post Jul 2, 1922 P.K. Chaconas & Co., Inc. The oldest established Greek-American firm in the Capital and probably the most prominent and successful one is the P.K. Chaconas & Company (Inc.), at Ninth and Louisiana avenue northwest. Its officers, P.K. Chaconas, president; P.C. Nicolopoulos, vice president; Chas. Chaconas, secretary and treasurer. E.G. Nicolopoulos and P.G. Xedes, founded the business seventeen years ago, dealing in fruits, vegetables and groceries. As the commission district grew, so did the company. Their slogan reads: "Honesty in all business dealings," and it is safe to say that is quite correct. The charter member of the firm, P.K. Chaconas, first started the business at 1440 P street northwest, near Riggs market, more than a quarter of a century back. The latter is accredited for having originated in Washington the store on wheels, more familiarly known as the huckster wagon. The aforementioned members of Chaconas & Company are active in all Greek-American affairs in business and society. Additional Notes: Moved to pictured location ("Pickford's Old Stand") circa November 1906. The location of Louisiana Ave has changed over time such that Ninth and Louisiana do not intersect on the contemporary map of Washington D.C. The location of this photo would be in what is now eastern edge of Federal Triangle - just west of the current National Archives building. Top portion of Washington Monument visible in backgroud. The Washington Post refers to "huckster wagons" as early as 1878 Earliest mention of 'Chaconas' in Washington Post archives is Aug 14, 1894: George Chaconas was fined (along with a dozen other Greeks and Italians) for lingering too long and obstructing the street with a vending push cart. This block of Louisiana Avenue is just west of Center Market and seems to have accommodated an overflow of merchants and wholesalers. 1909 map from Baist's Estate Atlas His wife, and fluffy bunnies, tooIs that his wife we see in the left-hand side of the frame? Also note the fresh rabbits, atop the open crates. PrideI see a man who is so very proud of what he has built up (I would bet from nothing) since he, or maybe his parents came to the United States. The Land of Opportunity. Yech.One would think he would stop smiling long enough to sweep that filthy sidewalk he is selling food on !! The Source of GreatnessI fully concur with Lincoln's remarks and would like to take it a step further. Small businesses (like this one) were/are the foundation for a community's and a country's greatness. His genuine happiness was surely the result of more than commercial success. We can learn a great deal by understanding the personal stories of such gentlemen and ladies. Local LandmarksNote the Washington Monument sticking up behind the roof. Xmas 1915I love the Christmas greenery. (The notice by the window is promoting a Charity Ball for Monday, January 3, 1916.) When I was a small child in the mid-1950's, my grandma used to go to a butcher where you could pick out your live chicken and they would kill, clean and dress it for you. This brings back memories. He does look like a happy man, as does she. What made America great!This is a beautiful picture of a man truly proud of what he does and where he does it. Trusting soulTwo cash registers, no waiting! I bet they wouldn't last two minutes out in the open street today. Haconas?The banner at the top center, under the overhang: we can see a partial K and a period, followed by HACONAS & CO. Where's the C? [The left section overlaps the right. - Dave] Central MarketIs this essentially part of the old Central Market? Deja viewIsn't this the same butcher shop that was proudly displaying a row of greasy old possums a couple of weeks ago? [That was in New York. This is Washington. - Dave] My great grandfatherThis is a photo of my great grandfather in front of the business that he built up from nothing. Although our times did not cross, I grew up with the family stories, seeing this picture is like getting a piece of my history. Where did you find this and do you have any others? [This photo is part of the Harris & Ewing collection of glass negatives at the Library of Congress. There's a photo of a Chaconas delivery truck here. - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Stores & Markets)
Vegetable Kingdom: 1924
... circa 1926. "Thos. R. Shipp Co. -- A.A. Anselmo stand, Center Market." Delectable produce from all points of the compass, fetchingly ... and Mrs Anthony Anselmo Ran a wholesale business at Center Market for many years. More recently the store was located at 1325 Water ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 6:47pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1926. "Thos. R. Shipp Co. -- A.A. Anselmo stand, Center Market." Delectable produce from all points of the compass, fetchingly arrayed. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Howling DogsPoor woman's feet are swelling right out of her shoes. She needs to sit down and take a load off. I also get an uneasy feeling with beautiful displays like this. Seems as if you picked just the right veggie or fruit, avalanche. Key piece per say. I'd be afraid to yank one of those beauties. String ring thingsOn close inspection, they look like coiled up wiring, possibly a dis-used power drop from the lighting circuit. And *really* dusty! The overhead dust collectors have the look of being in a greasy (like kitchen) environment. Probably wouldn't pass Health inspection today, even for an open market. DaveB [What it is, as noted above, is an old gaslight fixture. - Dave] A. A. AnselmoI found the below info using Google. Angela Gatti Anselmo Birth: Nov. 11, 1885 Death: Mar. 3, 1935 Washington District of Columbia District Of Columbia, USA Wife of Andrew A Anselmo Mother of Michael P and Andrew A Anselmo Jr, Ursula and Louise Anselmo Daughter of Mrs Michael Gatti Sister of Joseph D Gatti, Mrs Louise P Gatti and Mrs Anthony Anselmo Ran a wholesale business at Center Market for many years. More recently the store was located at 1325 Water st SW Washington Dc Residence -- 4021 Alabama Ave SE Washington DC String Ring Thing ReduxPossibly the rings are the means of turning the gas valve on and off to the long unused gas lamp fixture. The lamplighter used a pole with a hook to engage the rings and a taper to light the gas, similar to a gadget familiar to altar-boys. The considerable grunge does not appear on the electric fixtures. [I think you're right. Similar fixtures in quite a few other photos here. - Dave] Tempting both palate and palletteLooks good enough to eat. Especially the bananas hanging on the right. This would be a great pic to colorize with all the different colors of the veggies such as the peaches in the lower right and the bananas, etc. Alsoinquiring minds want to know what the two string rings dangling from the light fixture over the patron's head is? Is it some form of fly catcher or possibly a drying rig for some of the peppers? [Scroll up for the answer. - Dave] Good Lookin VeggiesI wonder how the vendor felt if someone messed with his presentation? This is one I'd love to see colorized!I can only imagine all the colors in this photo, but I bet there is just about everything under the rainbow. Andrew AnselmoAnselmo was a cousin of Louis P. Gatti, whose fruit stand was previously seen on Shorpy (https://www.shorpy.com/node/5506). So tempting!I wonder who created the display. Everything about the stall is perfect in its conception--a real artist was at work here. Is that an eggplant?In the center of the display? Holy Cow! It's big enough to make parmesian for a village. And even I looks forward to a colorization of this picture, if anyones has the time and patience. [Looks like a watermelon. - tterrace] Leaf GreensI don't think the leafy greens are Romaine lettuce. They don't resemble Romaine, does anyone have an idea or suggestion as to what they might be? Andrew A. Anselmo purveyor of fine produceThos. R. Shipp Co. Center Market, Washington DC. This is an on going coloration. Truly a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables, Eggplant, Romain Lettuce, Bananas, Oranges, Tangerines, Clementines, Grapefruit, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Persimmon, Lemons, Limes, Musk Melon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Figs and or Dates, Mangos, Pears, Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, Apples, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Pineapples, Mushrooms, oh and Cauliflower. The guess work of Artistic license is needed to fill in the blanks of the original B&W image. Without color it's near impossible to know what various different types of fruits and Vegetables we're looking at. I sampled colors from dozens of them to best recreate the colors of what the produce might have looked like in the image. Addressing the "White Elephant" in the center of the display, is that really a giant Eggplant or Watermelon? Watermelons have very bold pronounced dark green and pale green striations, but not all. I'm not convinced it's a giant Eggplant. So Watermelon it is... Given the date, the crate packing material used was most likely Wood Excelsior. That innocent looking fruit wrapping tissue used to protect delicate, easily bruised and fragile fruits, especially Pears, came with a hidden secret a pesticide called ethoxyquin, as well as copper to inhibit mold growth. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Bright Star of Flatbush: 1948
... E. 83rd and E. 87th Streets. [Bright Star was on Center Market Street north of Foster, where East Flatbush and Canarsie come ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/19/2014 - 8:42pm -

March 22, 1948. "Brooklyn Terminal Market, Flatbush. Manson Clay Products, client." Who must be very proud. Gottscho-Schleisner photo. View full size. NazSgt...we are alumni of the same school!!! My dad attempted to teach my mother how to drive in the vacant lanes east of the market where the farmers would pull up their trucks. That was her one and only lesson as she almost lost control of the car. She gave up the idea of driving. The market was always a good place to shop for certain items. I remember it getting very crowded in the spring with homeowners picking up their gardening supplies. Driving Sgt McG's dadA few blocks from my high school (see John 1:46 for further). The markets were closed by two or three in the afternoon, a perfect place for my dad to teach me the fine art of driving a standard shift. Also where he picked up his fifty pound bags of potatoes, a staple for our family. There were still small farms in the area when I was a yute, long gone now. That '42 BuickIs long in the teeth! I expect the war years have taken quite a toll on it! Ain't FlatbushI was in my nappies in Flatbush in 1948 but the market is in Canarsie on Foster Avenue between E. 83rd and E. 87th Streets. [Bright Star was on Center Market Street north of Foster, where East Flatbush and Canarsie come together. Neighborhood boundaries are subjective. To the photographers in 1948, this was Flatbush. - Dave] East Flatbush ain't Flatbush neither. I know my neighborhood geographicals outta Holy Cross. Sister Mary Jean learned me. Still quite busyView Larger Map (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Butter Eggs Cheese: 1925
... feel to it with that balcony. Nice picture. [Center Market was torn down in the 1930s to make way for the Constitution and ... The company will be located at No. 6 Wholesale Row, of the Center Market. Always Fresh Samples Will Be ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:12pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. "Semmes Motor Co. -- National City Dairy Co. trucks." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Many topicsWhat an interesting building; when was it torn down in the name of 'progress'? Is that a U.S.Army car just after the subject trucks? The one marked "USA 17574"? The building has a real New Orleans feel to it with that balcony. Nice picture. [Center Market was torn down in the 1930s to make way for the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. - Dave] View Larger Map Well, OkehThat's perfectly acceptable, it was in a very good cause! Golden SheafI like a nice sheaf of butter on my morning toast. Federal touring carThe first car to the left of the Golden Sheaf vans is painted on the back with the legend "U.S.A. 17574." Was that a federal car license number? Did that exempt it from needing a license plate for each state it was driven in? [U.S.A. = United States Army. - Dave] Golden Sheaf Butter Washington Post, Apr 11, 1906 Company Incorporates A $200,000 concern was yesterday incorporated by certificate filed with the recorder of deeds. The name of the corporation is the National City Dairy Company, formed for the purpose of carrying on a general commission business. The incorporators are Edward O. Whitford, George L. Whitford, Shipley Brashears, Jr., Henry V. Tulloch, Arthur A. Birney, Fred B. Rhodes, and Samuel W. Curriden. The company will be located at No. 6 Wholesale Row, of the Center Market. Always Fresh Samples Will Be Served Dodge TrucksAll of the trucks shown are Dodges, the first two are 1927 models, the next two date from 1925/26, and the very last is from 1923/24. note the changes in roofline, windshield and fenders over time, the oldest truck has thinner tires as well, as balloon tires were adopted industry wide during 1924-26 (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
But Wait, There's More: 1923
... 7th Street facade so the geometry is not right to see Center Market in the reflection. Across the street would have been the Lincoln ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 8:38pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1923. The Hub furniture store at Seventh and D Streets N.W. Free with any kitchen cabinet: One each of 74 "nationally known food products." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. CondimentsI'm more apt to wonder about the lye and soap being included amongst "food products." [Hm. Basic foodstuffs? - Dave] Hub '08They don't give out food anymore, but here it is 2008 and Hub Furniture is still with us here in the DC area. Aunt JemimaI'd like to try out some of that Aunt Jemima pancake mix. I had some of her syrup just this morning. Mrs. Schlorer's Olive-NaiseWith a name like that, it has to be good. Or, on the other hand, never saw that on the store shelves. It must have been bad. Only ONE bottle of Pabst?BAH!!! Olive-Naise?Everything old is new again. Here is a new product promotion: "Hellmann's® Mayonnaise Dressing With Extra Virgin Olive Oil is creamy and delicious with the added great taste of Bertolli® Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It's lower in fat than regular mayonnaise and a great complement to a healthy diet." Fab!So many brands, so many questions. Gorton's Flaked Fish in a can sounds like mealy cod-mush; Astor's Uncoated Rice sounds almost naughty. It's a surprise to see FAB, since that sounds like a brand from the era of punchy three-letter surfactant merchants, like DUZ, BIZ and VEL. Bonus: there's a reflection in the window for Ceresota Flour, which was made in Minneapolis for 60 years in an industrial complex six blocks from my office. Re: the pointy tower in the reflection – was that the Central Market at 7th & B? [Yikes. A comment -- and a question -- from Lileks himself! What is the answer somebody? This is like finding out Conrad Hilton has checked into your B&B. I'm all tingly. - Dave] Pre-FabSo many survived. There was a Fab detergent in the 60s/70s, as I recall. The Borax and lye they can keep, along with the naptha and cleansers. I too am all tingly that the great Lileks is here. I have lost -- I mean "enjoyed" -- entire afternoons on his site. Granite CountertopsTthe more things change, the more they stay the same... Unusual carCan anyone tell me what make and model that unusual car in the background is? [It's a Franklin. - Dave] Reflections on a PhotographLike Hitchcock, the photographer (and tripod) make an discreet appearance in the window. Pabst Blue Ribbon in 1921?A bottle of Pabst is one of the items listed, and there's a poster for PBR in the center of the window. What exactly was PBR in 1921? That was during Prohibition -- did they make a nonalcoholic beer or something? [Beer was legal during Prohibition -- as long as it didn't contain more than a half-percent of alcohol. Below, a Pabst ad from 1921. Note that now it's called a "brew" rather than a beer. - Dave] Those aren't just any cabinetsThose are Hoosier cabinets. The Sellers brand shown in the window was made until about 1950. I have a Hoosier in my kitchen, helping out with the decided shortage of built-in cabinets. No ExcuseHub Furniture was located on the SE corner at 7th and D (309-319 7th). I think the Shorpy photo is looking at the 7th Street facade so the geometry is not right to see Center Market in the reflection. Across the street would have been the Lincoln National Bank, but I have yet to find any photos of this lost building to see if it had a pointy tower. The Historic American Buildings Survey photographed Hub furniture in 1987. The awful monolithic facade was applied in 1958, covering up the original 6 buildings composing the store. Evidence of the former display windows is still visible along 7th street. Wow!Wow, lots of familiar old names there, like Comet and Astor rice, Dromedary, Karo. I didn't know that FAB was so old. And James Lileks has a userid here? It only makes sense. Hi James! How do you like the new I-35W bridge? TreatOh my goodness...one of my favorite bloggers posted on my favorite blog? I am beside myself. I'm a big fan of all Mr. Lileks' work, and there have been so many times I've connected his site(s) and this one in my head. The Tower in the WindowThat's probably the Strand Theater at Ninth and D. Home of the Loomis Radio School! Click to enlarge. Worth Over $15It amazes me how many of these products have disappeared from history - at least in the sense that there are no google hits for them (until now). Loffler's Sausage James F. Oyster's Butter [Personal Note: James' brother once lived in my house!] Buck Near Beer Beardsley's Herring Hecker's Pancake Maker Swindell's Potato Chips Auth's Lard Dr. Schindler's Salted Peanuts [We all thank you for this fascinating piece of detective work! Click the ad below to enlarge. Interesting how Coca-Cola has become "Cocoa-Cola," both here and in the store window. - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Kitchens etc., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
This Little Piggy: 1935
Washington, D.C., circa 1935. "Shopping at Center Market." Perusing the original whole foods. Acetate negative by Theodor ... of modern food courts within walking distance of the old Center Market location. Note however, that many of the food court vendors buy ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 2:38pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1935. "Shopping at Center Market." Perusing the original whole foods. Acetate negative by Theodor Horydczak. View full size. Why the Disguise?The vendor is incognito, wearing his Groucho Marx glasses.I wonder if the pigs are on the lam(b) Hair in the FoodThis picture reminds me of my habit, custom and practice of not eating anything still sporting a full set of eyelashes. Poultry has changedCompare the svelte leggy birds in the picture to modern birds also for sale today in markets. They hardly seem to be the same species. Hm. Also true of humans! Imagine a customer touching meat in a display today! HeadwearWhat are the pigs wearing on their heads? It looks like slits have been made in their skin to form three straps along the snout and to between their ears, and then their tongue or liver or a great big leech has been inserted into those straps, proudly displayed to the buyer. Can anyone explain this? [Pig-tongue. - Dave] Beautiful piglets & chickensCome on, fanhead, you should know that when you eat chicken or pork, you're eating a bird or a pig. Those are delicious looking. What should make you turn vegetarian and join PETA are things like McNuggets. Those are disgusting. Somewhere around WWII, Americans went from "eating like champs," to borrow a phrase from Tony Bourdain, to being a bunch of squeamish little children who don't want their meat to resemble anything that was once alive, and we're worse off for it. Location, location, locationThis is almost directly across the street from the National Museum of Natural History. What's amazing is trucks loaded with carcasses a block from the National Mall. I work right around here, and it's much harder to find a decent lunch today. Shorpy changed my life.I've been a red blooded meat eating American male for 60 years but after seeing this photo I'm going vegetarian first thing Monday, and joining PETA. Or not. Yes sweetheart..the piggies are fine, they're just taking a nap. Let's go look at the nice veggies now. A Cleaner, Slimmer PigCan't help but notice that the porker being fondled is cleaner and slimmer than the other one. Are they trying to tell us something? Also, ya'all can eat whatever you like but meat is good food, supplies us with iron, vitamin B complexes, necessary red blood cells, minerals and appetite satisfaction. The feline family requires meat to stay alive and will die without it. And the lady better watch out she doesn't get chicken or pig blood stains on her fur-collared leather coat. JFYI, my sister was born anemic and sickly, the old doc put her on "beef stock" and she grew healthy. My brother had a low blood count as a child and the same doc prescribed lots of rare beef and bro became captain of the varsity football team in highschool and college...I think of meat as an ally. I also eat plants and sweets and everything else and have the body to prove it. Buen appetit! What E.B. White didn't writeWhat really happened to Wilbur after the fair. And Sidemeat TooIn the case to the left of the piglets. Unlike fanhead, this pic makes me hungry!! A Tough Old BirdDid anybody else notice (may need to view full size) the striking similarity between the texture of the hand of the lady assessing the pigs and that of the turkey feet? Suckling Pig!If I remember correctly from what I've read, you would have to dip the piglet in boiling water and scrub the hair off before dressing and roasting. Hm, maybe some nice eggs for dinner would be better. They're serious!In this day and age of "casual dining" and a multitude of prepared foods available for any taste, it's easy to forget how seriously the average American took their food supply back in the day. Just look at those dour faces. Of course, if you were confronted with naked chickens and pigs, along with the associated smells, maybe you'd look dour, too. It must have been worse when folks had to hunt down and/or slaughter their own dinners on a daily basis. Great Shorpy click in time! EwwwwwI am not a big fan of pork but if it comes in a cellophane and styrofoam package, I will eat some. But I can't eat anything that still has eyes, mouth, and legs, etc.!!! The ladyI would guess would have been born about 1860. She probably thinks this meat market is a modern time saver compared to the process of butchering your own hog as she may have done growing up. Brother, can you spare a food court?Today, the act of food purchase, preparation, and consumption is often consolidated into one transaction, like what happens when you buy lunch from a "food court." Coincidentally, there are a number of modern food courts within walking distance of the old Center Market location. Note however, that many of the food court vendors buy their inputs from the wholesalers located just off New York Avenue, in the warehouse district northeast of Union Station. The wholesalers' presentation of goods, from which most of us are mercifully spared, is not too different from what you see here. Fine diningWell, I don't know where my grandma found these whole pigs. But my mom would eat the brains, Uncle John would pop the eyeballs, and my other two uncles would devour the rest of the head. I would quietly walk outside and puke. (The Gallery, D.C., Stores & Markets, Theodor Horydczak)
The Shop Unique: 1919
... in the distance on the left is a large sign for the Center Market. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full ... from the 400 block of 8th Street NW (toward what was the Center Market as Dave noted and is now the National Archives). Looks like I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 10:18pm -

Washington, D.C., 1919. "Automobile with ad for Oppenheimer's shop, 800 E Street N.W." Faintly visible in the distance on the left is a large sign for the Center Market. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. 8th Street NWApparently, Oppenheimer's had more than one location. The address on the truck clearly notes "800 E Street, N.W." but this view (with "Oppenheimer's" noted on the storefront) is looking south from the 400 block of 8th Street NW (toward what was the Center Market as Dave noted and is now the National Archives). Looks like I might have to take "+91" tomorrow if I can get out of my office for a few minutes. Update: Dangit! I just realized that it was a corner building and had to log on to update my post, but an Anonymous Tipster pointed it out first. View Larger Map 800 EThe photo does indeed show the Oppenheimer's at 800 E Street. It was on the corner with facades on both 8th and E Street, which is just behind the camera. Ribbosene Silk: For Sweater Knitting Advertisement, 1918 Oppenheimer's 8th and E Sts. Headquarters for Sewing and Knitting Needs. Plaiting, In All Its Branches: Embroidery, Initialing, Braiding, Hemstitching, Beading, Picot Edges. Fringes: All the vogue for waist, dress and gown trimming. We make them to order in any color you want. Buttons: Pearl, Fancy and Cloth, in All Shapes and Sizes. Buttons to Order to Match our Garments. Ribbosene Silk: For Sweater Knitting. We Carry in Stock All the Pretty Colors. Yarn and Wool: Our stock is always complete. Dress Forms: Dressmaking is a simple pastime if you have a good dress form to make your dresses, waists or gowns over. We have all styles at popular prices. Sewing Machines: Singer, New Home and other makes. Always bargains to be had here in sewing machines. Sold on Easy Payments. Oppenheimer's Shop Unique Cor. 8th and E Sts. N.W. For a buck an hourCan you figure out what's making that funny noise under the hood? And go ahead and burn out the carbon while you're at it. Oh wait, I'm fuel injected now. The truckDodge Brothers commercial screenside, a sort of van-pickup hybrid that was popular until the 1930s. +91Below is the view from September of 2010. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Home Brew: 1926
... circa 1926. "Thomas R. Shipp Co. -- S.A. Gatti stand, Center Market." Offering malt extract, wine jelly and hops, three items for ... He was 96. His stand was one of many in the old Center Market, a two-block wholesale and retail produce emporium located on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/15/2013 - 2:25pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1926. "Thomas R. Shipp Co. -- S.A. Gatti stand, Center Market." Offering malt extract, wine jelly and hops, three items for your Prohibition-era shopping list. National Photo glass negative. View full size. LoopholeI believe that during Prohibition it remained legal to make beer or wine at home for family consumption (though not for sale or other distribution). Distilled spirits remained outside that exemption, however. Still Going Strong!Among the hops and malt are other product names that have survived and are still recognizable brands: SOS - scouring pads, Libby's - vegetables, Angostura - bitters, Crisco - shortening. Household staples still! And the Winner of the Blue Ribbon isWhen I was still in highschool I had a job at a local IGA grocery store. They sold Hop Flavored Blue Ribbon Malt Extract. I wondered what good anything could be that was flavored by hops. Then I learned how to make home brew. My question was answered. MaltWhen I moved to Georgia in the 60's it was exceedingly hard to find any alcoholic beverages, much less pizza. Necessity being the mother of somebody I was able to obtain an old 5 gallon glass water jug into which I placed a 3 lb can of Blue Ribbon Malt and 5 lbs of sugar, topping up same with water - which in a week or two made an almost serviceable beer, although on occasion the stuff would would overflow the jug making a bit of a mess. Strange posterWhat is that a poster for just to the left of the womans hat brim? I can't zoom in on it enough to see. [Bertozzi Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. - tterrace] Hot tin roof (but no cat in sight)I have noticed that in many of the pictures of stores on Shorpy, they appear to have some type of corrugated metal ceiling. I would have to hazard a guess this must be a lower level from a multi-story building, as it doesn't look sturdy enough to support the occasional heavy winter snow that might come to the DC area; and there also doesn't appear to be any insulation. [Photo of the exterior here, along with a link in the comments to more photos inside. -tterrace] Re: Strange PosterThere's another Bertozzi poster to the left of the "cheesy" one: Gatti Bros. Washington Post, April 30, 1961. Seraphin A. Gatti Dies; D.C. Wholesale Grocer. Seraphin A. Gatti, 80, a wholesale grocer in the District many years, died of heart ailment Friday in Arlington Hospital. He was one of the first institutional wholesale grocers in Washington, serving restaurants, hospitals, schools, clubs and government establishments. Mr. Gatti started in the retail business shortly after arriving here in 1886 from his native Italy. He ran a grocery with his brother on the site of the Archives Building. Later he went into wholesale work with his son, and retired in 1952. … Washington Post, December 20, 1969. Louis B. Gatti Dies, Produce Merchant. Louis B. Gatti, a retired produce merchant whose fruit and vegetable stand won the culinary cachet of early 20th century Washington, died Thursday in Georgetown University Hospital after a long illness, He was 96. His stand was one of many in the old Center Market, a two-block wholesale and retail produce emporium located on the present site of the National Archives in downtown Washington. But the fine quality of his vegetables and fruit—such as strawberries from Plant City, Fla., and typhoid-free watercress grown in pure mineral springs—won an elite clientele of the rich and powerful in a day when even the most haughty of the city's housewives did their own daily grocery shopping. Perhaps his most discriminating customer was Mrs. William Howard Taft, wife of a gourmand, the 27th President of the United States. The day after her husband's election in 1908, she appeared at Gatti's stand to let him know that she would soon be taking delivery at the White House. President Taft lost the next election but apparently Woodrow Wilson found Gatti's produce just as tasty. He continued to supply the White House, his wife Mary Angela, doing the selling, he the buying. … (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Pineapples on Parade: 1936
June 1936. "Center Market -- Washington, D.C." Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/04/2012 - 7:53pm -

June 1936. "Center Market -- Washington, D.C." Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Turkeys in seasonI have never heard of "Turkeys in Season." What did that pertain to? darnitToo bad there are no price signs visible; would be very interested in what pineapples brought in 1936 on the east coast, being as they are so perishable and were shipped such a long distance. Wabbit seasonExactly when is Turkey season? SeasonsTurkey Season generally starts about the same time as Pumpkin Season and runs through Egg Nog Season. Bon appétit! Season-ingA large local furniture business starts aggressively promoting formal dining sets for "dining room season" just about this time every year and it runs through January, so I'm thinkin' it must co-incide with the "big eating season" which would include turkey and the several feasting celebrations beginning around November. Turkey SeasonIt wasn't all that long ago that turkey was only for Thanksgiving... was it? SuckersWhen seersucker ruled. East Coast PineapplesMy guess would be they were grown in Florida or the Caribbean. I would think shipping them from the Pacific would be cost- and time-prohibitive. (The Gallery, D.C., Dorothea Lange, Stores & Markets)
CarMax: 1921
... a feed, grain and hay business here, adjacent to the Old Center Market on what is now Constitution Avenue. In 1914, foreseeing the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 11:00am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Geo. C. Rice Auto Co., front." These deals won't last long, folks. Come in TO-DAY! National Photo glass negative. View full size. Great site! I visite evereday! Greetings from Brazil! I want onePutting those prices through an inflation calculator, the range is from the low $4,000's to $27,000 for the Willys. Today's cars are certainly far more complicated and safer, but how much of that price is due to factors that have nothing to do with the actual car? Looking Forward to the Future Washington Post, Mar 23, 1919 To Handle Stearns-Knight Geo. C. Rice Auto Co. Will Represent Builders of Knight Type Motor Stearns-Knight cars will henceforth be represented in this city by the George C. Rice Auto Company, who has handled the Davis line for the past two years in addition to operating a large garage and accessory store. To better display the new line this company is enlarging its salesroom, which when completed will give a window frontage of 40 feet on H street and a depth of 50 feet. The Stearns line, built in both open and closed models, was the first to adopt the sleeve valve motor [video] in this country. This type motor had already won recognition abroad, though an American invention. Daimler in England, Panhard in France and Minerva in Belgium use it in their chassis. During the war the Stearns factory was selected by the British government to build a number of Rolls Royce aviation motors. So large did this business become that by the time the armistice was signed practically the entire factory was given over to this work. Washington Post, Apr 5, 1978 Pioneer Washington Auto Dealer Celebrates 100th Birthday George C. Rice, a resident of Washington, D.C. since the age of four, began his career as owner and operator of a feed, grain and hay business here, adjacent to the Old Center Market on what is now Constitution Avenue. In 1914, foreseeing the demise of horse-drawn transportation, he opened the first Stearns-Knight Agency on H and 13th Streets N.W., selling and servicing such early cars as the Marmon, Davis, Columbia, Dagmar, Fiat and Chevrolet. Mr. Rice was honored last Saturday at a reception given by his three sons, six grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren, most of whom were able to attend. His comments were that surely there is a difference between driving to work in a horse and buggy or a horse car and driving through heavy traffic in the fast cars of today. However, all the new things invented during his lifetime have made life much easier and he is looking forward to seeing what happens in the future. (click on following ads to enlarge) Disappearing BrandsLast year I would have made some wisecrack about the brands that this dealer sold. None of them were around. Now we can list Pontiac, Plymouth and Oldsmobile among the missing. Jackrabbit shiftsThe Apperson was the only car of its time that afforded its driver the ability to select a gear ahead of time. If you saw a steep hill ahead you would slip the transmission into a lower gear, and when the motor started to labor a quick press on the clutch would shift gears. Or you could start with the transmission in low, the shift lever in second, and "She's off like a jackrabbit!" Making it ideal for "ladies" and the uncoordinated. BullwinklemobilesFans of the old Rocky and Bullwinkle shows will recall that two automobiles involved in various episodes were the Apperson Jackrabbit and the Stearns-Knight Runabout. You've got personalityCars back then were more anthropomorphic. With those big round headlights, this place has more of a feel of a pet store. The autos are waiting to be adopted and set free on the open road. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Rolling With the Punches: 1926
... -lesle Butcher Brown Walter Brown was a butcher at Center Market. The location is the north side of C Street NW, now the National ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 4:55pm -

1926. "Semmes Motor Co. truck, Walter Brown & Sons." Another from National Photo's series of Washington, D.C., working trucks. This Dodge's battered body notwithstanding, motor trucks were a relative newcomer to a workaday world where dray wagons and horse teams had long dominated. View full size. Adam Weschler AuctioneerIt's nice to see the truck in front of Weschler's Auction House (warehouse?) now at 909 E Street NW. http://www.weschlers.com/ Lord Baltimore's White ArchAnyone have any idea about the arch on the right, what's written above it, and what's in the space--fire fighting apparatus of some sort? [It's a Lord Baltimore filling station. The thing sticking up is the glass globe atop an "American Strate" gas pump. - Dave] Dave, thanks for answering this. -lesle Butcher BrownWalter Brown was a butcher at Center Market. The location is the north side of C Street NW, now the National Archives. We see here the rear of buildings which faced on to Pennsylvania Avenue. Adam A. Weschler Auction House was at 920 Pennsylvania Avenue. Lord Baltimore Filling Station No. 1 was at 912 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Shorpy post, Street View: 1922, shows an aerial of the larger area. The burned-out furniture store at 910-912 Pennsylvania Avenue would become the Lord Baltimore Filling Station. In contrastit looks like a brand new, shiny 1926 Model T Ford behind the beat up old Dodge. Weschler FireThis spectacular three alarm fire was reported in the Washington Post 26 March 1915 on page 5. I have a copy of the WaPo article if anyone is interested. I am so grateful for a photo of this fire damage! My great great grandfather's hotel and saloon, Bessler's Hotel, was next door at 922 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Bessler's hotel and saloon was also extensively damaged due to the fire and had to be completely evacuated. The fire may have been linked to a growing dislike of the hyphenated Americans as tensions mounted pre World War I. Bessler's Hotel had a hall where many German-American citizens gathered and on 26 Aug 1914 one of these groups declared themselves loyal to the fatherland (Germany). That must have caused some strong feelings, IMHO. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Butter Eggs Cheese: 1926
... right, as this photo seems to have been taken near the Center Market at Eighth and Pennsylvania. Kudos for correctly identifying the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/08/2014 - 12:49pm -

Washington, D.C., 1926. "Semmes Motor Co. National City Dairy truck." A dented Dodge. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Looking along 8th StreetWith the Old Patent Office (now the National Portrait Gallery) at Eighth & F Streets NW in the background. [It could also be the identical north facade at Eighth and G but I think you're right, as this photo seems to have been taken near the Center Market at Eighth and Pennsylvania. Kudos for correctly identifying the building as the Patent Office and not the Treasury. - Dave] Sleek, manApart from the damaged fender, this vehicle has a sleek look accentuated further by that spare tire. Fabulous material for a hot rod in later years. The ViewYes, Odie is right. I'm sitting a couple of blocks from there right now. The building you can see behind the truck, through the trees, is the old Kann's department store on Pennsylvania Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
He Sells Celery: 1912
April 1912. 10:30 p.m. at Center Market in Washington, D.C. Eleven-year-old celery vendor Gus Strateges, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 5:28pm -

April 1912. 10:30 p.m. at Center Market in Washington, D.C. Eleven-year-old celery vendor Gus Strateges, 212 Jackson Hall Alley. He sold until 11 p.m. and was out again Sunday morning selling papers and gum. Has been in this country only a year and a half. View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. apr. 1912wow. this picture was taken the same month the Titanic sank. amazing. interestingso this photo was taken the same month the Titanic sank; amazing. (The Gallery, D.C., Kids, Lewis Hine, Stores & Markets)
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