If you live in the DC area you've no doubt heard about this tragedy. If you're from out of town, please indulge a little local flavor. A DC institution, Eastern Market at 8th Street South East burned down early this week.

When I first started in the investigative business I lived only a few blocks from Eastern Market, a DC-local fixture and the spiritual center for the people who live and work in the Capital Hill area.

On the weekends the market is surrounded by a bustling mix of junk dealers, food vendors, busking musicians and a sea of locals, jostling for good deals or queuing up for a spot at the wonderful Market Lunch for a crab cake sandwich or blueberry pancakes.

For more than 100 years Eastern Market has offered a vibrant selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood, pastries, flowers, etc. It was, and hopefully will be again, one of the real treasures of the local community, having been in continuous operation dating back to 1873.

Y'see, 8th Street South East doesn't appear on any tourist maps. Most all of those stop at the Capital steps or, if they are really inclusive the Library of Congress. Eastern Market was a DC place - for us, by us - and it housed some kind, hardworking folks, many of whom built their family businesses within those walls.

This makes it all the sadder that due to a senseless, preventable fire the market that was is no more. Plans are in the works to repair the damage and to help the vendors there make due until they can reclaim their spots in a refurbished market. I look forward to that day and to continuing to patronize the Canales family's butcher counter for our summer barbecues (best andouille in DC).

If you're from out of town, make a point to visit Eastern Market on a future trip to DC. They'll need a little time to get back on their feet but the wait will be worth it.

For photos of the market in better times...try this gallery from Keith Stanley or these images from About.com. And for some really old-school images, check out this collection of images from the Library of Congress collection documenting historic American buildings.

-- MDT

Labels: DC, Eastern Market, fire, mourning