DescriptionEastern Market Fire, 4.30.07.jpg	A burned up structure in Washington, DC.
Date	1 May 2007
Source	originally posted to Flickr as Eastern Market Fire, 4.30.07
Author	dbking
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Extensive description: The Eastern Market is a public market in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., housed in a 19th century brick building. 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. It was badly damaged by an early-morning fire on April 30, 2007. The building is expected to be closed until late 2008 or 2009.

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.

History Public fresh-food markets were included in L'Enfant's original plans for the City of Washington. Capitol Hill has had a farmers' market from almost the inception of the City of Washington. The Eastern Market, completed in 1873, was designed by Adolph Cluss, a prominent local architect who designed the Franklin and Sumner Schools as well as many other post-Civil War buildings in the District of Columbia.

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. Artisans and antiques dealers also sell their goods outside the market on weekends, making Eastern Market a popular stop for locals as well as tourists. The Market 5 Gallery organizes art shows, music and theatre performances, and craft sales at the Eastern Market.

As Capitol Hill's population spread in the early 20th Century, a new addition consisting of the Center and North Halls was added. Eastern Market was unofficially recognized as the "town center" of Capitol Hill. Both the Eastern Market building and its interior are designated National Historic Landmarks. The market had been in continuous operation since 1873! Eastern Market is one of the few public markets left in Washington, DC, and the only one retaining its original public market function.

Fire closes down market 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.

Fires Ravages Eastern Market

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

A pair of massive fires ripped through two treasured city buildings in separate incidents yesterday -- first destroying the butcher, bakery and fishmonger stalls at Eastern Market and 12 hours later claiming valuable books, leather-bound documents and artwork at the Georgetown branch of the D.C. Public Library.

About 400 D.C. firefighters and other emergency personnel responded to the three-alarm fires at the neighborhood landmarks, which are about seven miles apart. No one was hurt in either blaze.

The causes are under investigation, but Acting Chief Dennis L. Rubin said last night that he was "90 percent" sure that the Eastern Market fire was accidental, probably caused by an electrical problem. The 134-year-old market, beloved for its food, flowers and flea markets, sustained $20 million in damage, a city official said.

Authorities said they do not think the fires are connected but noted several coincidences, including the timing, scope and damage caused. Both were in busy parts of the city: Eastern Market is at Seventh and C streets SE in Capitol Hill, and the library is at Wisconsin Avenue NW and R Street NW.

Three-alarm fires are rare in the District, and officials said it was rarer still to have two such emergencies in the same day. About one-fifth of the department's workforce was at one scene or the other, and neighboring jurisdictions helped the District keep up with other calls.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) raced from one place to the other with Rubin, the former Atlanta fire chief who took over in Washington just two weeks ago. Fenty reassured people at both locations that the city will rebuild and quickly began working to find ways to pay for the projects.

People in both neighborhoods were crushed.

"This is devastating," said Kimberly Konkel, 35, a regular at the market. "I'm surprised how emotional it feels to lose a building."

Fenty called Eastern Market "a historic landmark that has been the lifeblood of the Capitol Hill neighborhood and a great source of pride for the entire city for more than a century."

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), a 30-year resident of Capitol Hill, said she was looking for federal money to aid in the Eastern Market reconstruction. Capitol Hill neighborhood activists banded together to quickly set up a donation fund and announce that the site -- at least the outdoor flea market -- will be open this weekend for business. And, the neighbors said, the annual Eastern Market Day celebration will be held Sunday as scheduled.

The city-owned red-brick market was built in 1873 and designed by Adolf Cluss, one of Washington's most influential architects. The fire there began about 1 a.m. when flames jumped through the South Hall, where the food stalls and lunch counter are located.

The market had no sprinkler system. All 14 small businesses were destroyed.

The North Hall, where artists and craftsmakers set up shop, was spared. All told, about 80 vendors work inside and outside the market, officials said.

Authorities initially said the fire started in a dumpster behind the market, but after further investigation they said it appeared that the flames started in the building and spread to the dumpster.

Scores of residents showed up in the early morning, many hugging as they mourned the damage of their neighborhood gathering place, the city's only functioning Victorian-era market.

"It is the center of our community. This is a big deal for us to see this," said longtime resident Pat Durrand as she aimed her camera at the crumbling roof.

Residents and vendors know each other well because many converge either daily for morning coffee or every weekend. Many employees know the residents by name. The spot is also a popular tourist attraction.

"This is a real blow to the heart of the community," said D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6). "This is going to be a time for us to grieve for a while. There's no reason we can't restore the market. It won't be the same, but we can move quickly," Wells said.

Vendors met with Wells and Dan Tangherlini, deputy mayor and city administrator, pressing for answers about the future of their businesses -- when they will be allowed to retrieve their goods and they will be able to reopen. City officials said they hoped to have more information by today.