Global Food Heritage Project:

Eastern Market
Washington, D.C.'s food heritage gem--Damaged by fire April 30, 2007

Eastern Market (photo source Beyond DC)

The Eastern Market is an important food heritage site in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., housed in a 19th century brick building. The Eastern Market was designed by Adolf Cluss and has been in continuous operation as a public market from 1873 until April 30th, 2007 when a fire closed the market.

It was the first in a larger city-owned public market system, initiated to urbanize Washington, make orderly provision for the distribution of goods to its residents, and serve as a magnet to draw residents. The Market was expanded in 1908 with the addition of the Center and North Halls designed by Snowden Ashford. At the start of the 20th century, the Eastern Market was recognized as the unofficial "town center" of Capitol Hill. It is the last of the city's public markets still in operation.

Despite nearly closing due to competition from grocery store chains and a decline in neighborhood investment, local residents fought to keep it open, and the area has since revitalized. The Eastern Market is still a thriving home to a working farmers' market. Fresh meats, baked goods and cheeses are sold from indoor stalls, and fresh produce is sold outside beneath the covered sidewalk

Eastern Market interior, (unknown date): photo source

According to Eastern Market historian Stephen Ackerman: "Adolph Cluss toured America's finest markets to create a state-of-the-art facililty. Eastern Market was an instant hit, with advanced lighting and ventilation through ceiling vents and a soaring truss roof. Basement meat coolers served so well that butchers preferred them to refrigeration well into the 20th century." ("Cluss's Lively Legacy: Eastern Market" from the Adolf Cluss Exhibition Project.)

Eastern Market has many associations with the movers and shakers of Washington for over a century. To name just one: J.Edgar Hoover's first job was as a delivery boy carrying shopping bags home for Eastern Market customers. (" 'Speed' of Eastern Market: A notable boyhood on the hill a century ago" by S. J. Ackerman in The Capitol Hill Current, October 1, 2005.)

It is located on 7th Street SE, a few blocks east of the U.S. Capitol between North Carolina Avenue SE and C Street SE. The Eastern Market is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Eastern Market also marks a smaller community within the Capitol Hill neighborhood by serving as an anchor point for other nearby stores and restaurants. It is served by a nearby eponymous stop on the Washington Metro Blue and Orange Lines.

The Fire

Eastern Market was badly damaged by an early-morning 3-alarm fire on April 30, 2007. The heaviest damage was in the South Hall of the market, the portion occupied by vendors' stalls, where the roof suffered a partial collapse. The Washington Post has described the South Hall as "gutted so badly that birds can now fly in through the front windows and out the back ones." Following the fire, Washington D.C. Mayor, Adrian Fenty, promised to rebuild the market.

Stephen Ackerman, author of the forthcoming The Eastern Market Book, has been researching and lecturing about the history of the market. He is a Capitol Hill native and sixth-generation Washingtonian. Here are excerpts from his email reports to The FOOD Museum.

April 30---When I got there at around 8 am, there were lots of people in tears around the building. New Mayor Fenty was on the spot, not just to do photo ops, but really listening and interacting with the people. He told me (and all others) that the market will be back. One lady pointed out that Market Day, the big fundraiser for Friendship House, is scheduled for the weekend. Others spoke of making a temporary market arrangement, which the mayor was clearly already pondering. In general, there is incredible energy and determinatiion and imagination pouring out.
It looks like Snowden Ashford's 1908 fire-prevention measures worked, as Center Hall and North Hall seem from the bystander's distance undamaged. However, all the ventilation caps on the roof melted to some extent.

South Hall--the old part--is thoroughly gutted, with windows blown out and parts of the roof caved in. To my layman's eye, however, the external walls appear sound. There is some concern that Cluss's distinctive wrought-iron roof trusses--hard to replace now--might be compromised. I went back a couple of times and saw many neighbors and merchants.
The sight of the building is really devastating, but the spirit is oveerwhelming that we shall bring our market back.

:May 1--I just went to Mayor Fenty's press conference at the Market, which was thoroughly impressive. Overnight, he had produced a well-thought out, comprehensive plan for rebuilding. He even had a huge banner reading "We Will Rebuild" up so fast that the paint was still wet.

Things are happening fast. Market Day will go on this weekend. There is a fundraiser tomorrow night. Already they are seeking a location for the inside merchants and financing them for the interim.

Good news: it now appears not to be arson. Also, Snowden Ashford's firewall worked, leaving the 1908 extension with very little damage if any. Best of all, the new fire chief believes that the outside walls remain sound.

Stephen Ackerman can be reached at <sja@sjackerman.com>

Exterior photo of Eastern Market (source)

Links:

Make a Comment about Eastern Market here at The FOOD Museum Blog.

Eastern Market website

Eastern Market South Hall vendors

Eastern Market: description, issues, history

Project for Public Spaces feature on Eastern Market

Eastern Market: "Corner Store and Cornerstone", Washington Post report by Philip Kennicott

Global Food Heritage Project

Public Markets and Civic Culture in 19th Century America by Helen Tangires (2003, Johns Hopkins)