RSS FeedHistory on Foot: 7th Street Shopping
I was driving down 7th Street the other day and noticed for the first time a series of old and modern signs for furniture stores. Curious to know more, I did some research to find out the significance of this apparent cluster.
According to various sources, 7th Street was the commercial hub of the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Here are just a few examples of the furniture stores and major department stores along 7th Street at that time:
- 1015 7th Street – Alperstein’s Furniture, 1904 – present
- 932 7th Street – John Rudden’s New Furniture, 1880s
- National Furniture
- 921 7th Street – House & Herrmann, 1886
- Marlo Furniture, 1963
- 915 7th Street – Jackson Brothers, 1903
- 819 7th Street – Samuel W. Augenstein, pre-1891
- Peter Grogan’s Furniture Company, 1891- 1933
- Peerless Furniture Company, 1935 – 1968
- Home Furniture and Appliance Company, May 1969-1972
- 801 7th Street – John Rudden’s New Furniture, 1899
- 718 7th Street – Anton Eberly & Sons, 1868
- Mayer Dodek, Dodek’s Furniture & Clothing,1898
- 515 Seventh Street – The Hecht Co. Department Store, 1896; re-opened as “Terrell Place” 1925
- 7th and D – The Hub Furniture Store, 1855
- 7th and Pennsylvania – A. Saks & Co., built in 1885
I found the extensive information about our neighborhood’s history available on Streets of Washington, DC’s Goethe Institut, Shorpys and Jewish Washington very interesting and helpful.
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Comments
Please do not dismiss the incredible local history resources available at the DC Public Library’s Washingtoniana Division and Peabody Room…just because you have to visit them in person!
Why was Lansburgh’s Department Store not on your list? It started on 7th Street and then expanded in two phases to 8th Street in the 1900s; its offices (above where Austin Grill now is) were in the Busch Building on E. That building predated the 8th Street expansion. The store’s stable for horses and carriages was across 8th Street in the building between The Lexington and the Pepco substation that we fondly called The Stables Art Center when arts organizations, a photographer, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities moved there during the 1980s.
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Looking at “Lost Washington, DC” Lecture and Book Signing by John DeFerrari Wednesday, February 29, 2012 6:30pm – 8:00pm German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA 719 6th Street, NW Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown
Join DCPL for a lecture by author John DeFerrari as he discusses his writings from his book Lost Washington, DC and blog Streets of Washington,which explores the fascinating stories behind some of the city’s nineteenth and twentieth century buildings and the people associated with them. Many buildings have been demolished or altered beyond recognition, others remain to remind us of the special history and development of our great city.
The lecture will be followed by a reception and book signing with an opportunity to meet the author.
$15 for DCPL Members $25 for Non-members
Click Here To Register Today! Or visit us at http://www.dcpreservation.org