Existing comment:
Foodstuffs
Aside from being the most essential of local businesses, the making and distribution of foodstuffs added to Washington's character. In the 1800s workers bought oysters for lunch from street vendors. Because part-time legislators tended to live in boarding houses, taverns and restaurants thrived. Most operated on a racially segregated basis. The city built large markets to serve neighborhoods, and as the 20th century began, corner stones brought convenience to home cooks. |