City - Washington, DC - Shell-Shocked 1921 - Side by Side

by Mike Savad

Title

City - Washington, DC - Shell-Shocked 1921 - Side by Side

Artist

Mike Savad

Medium

Photograph - Hand Colored Photo

Description

Hand colored photo from 1921
Original title: Wearley's front
Photographer: National Photo Company
Located: 418 12th St, NW, Washington DC

Wearley's Oyster House on Twelfth Street was once a cornerstone of Washington, D.C.'s vibrant seafood scene, a city staple where oysters and beer went hand in hand. But even institutions weren't immune to hard times. During a particularly lean period, Wearley's implemented a "one-beer-to-a-customer" rationing policy. The manager, clearly frustrated, explained the dilemma: "Most of our meals are seafood, and a majority of persons seem to like beer with their meals. We have enough on hand to last until tomorrow and we have to ration that to ensure continued food sales." Asked whether customers might accept wine instead, his answer was emphatic: "No! Washington is not a wine-drinking town."

That pairing of oysters and beer wasn't just local tradition, it was part of a much broader American culinary trend. In fact, you can blame New York for starting it. By the 19th century, oysters had become wildly popular there, available cheaply on nearly every street corner. They fed the working class, becoming a dietary staple. As immigration surged and railroads expanded, so did the oyster's reach, moving inland to cities like Washington, carried on the iron arteries of a growing nation.

Yet Washington had its own oyster pioneers. Decades before Wearley's, another man helped shape the city's seafood culture. According to The Washington Post on February 20, 1907, Edward Weser, a German immigrant, established one of the city's early oyster houses at Twelfth and E Streets in 1858. He ran the establishment until his death at age 83. Before becoming a restaurateur, Weser had sold sulphur matches. His long-running oyster house stood as a testament to the enduring appeal of oysters in the capital.

By the turn of the century, Wearley's Oyster House had firmly taken root. Opened in 1898 by Oscar B. Wearley, it quickly became a popular destination. Due to the expansion of the Raleigh Hotel, the restaurant moved in 1911 to 418 12th Street NW, likely the location captured in a 1922 photograph referenced in the Streets of Washington blog. The image shows Wearley's flanked by rival oyster houses, including Howe's, in a dense cluster of seafood competition.

Together, these threads tell the story of Washington as an oyster-loving city, fed by railroads, sustained by tradition, and, at times, rationed by necessity.

Color notes:
Not a single on of these buildings exist today, On the right was the Raleigh hotel which was removed, I found postcards that showed it beige, pink, gray, I chose something in between pink and tan. Based on the shading, I think both center buildings were white or pretty close to white, but white is boring, and I'm certain it had some kind of color so I gave it some. I think its pretty neat that every restaurant serves oysters, but they would think its weird that every one of our blocks serves burgers.

I do wonder if there was a storm before this as there are a few windows blown out, they have wood covering them. This was a long exposure, you can just barely see a guy walk buy on the left. There are little lobster signs at Wearley's.

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May 24th, 2025

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