Northern Liberty Market used to operate at Mount Vernon Square, one of the busiest parts of town at the time.

[1] On September 3 1871,[2] the market was torn down by order of President Ulysses Grant to General Orville Babock, Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds for Washington, DC authorizing Governor Alexander Shepherd.

The market by that point was guarded day and night by armed men in what looked like a siege of war.

Finally, twenty-five years later in April 1899, checks totaling $125,346.35 were paid out to the few surviving victims and their descendants since many had passed away by then.

Due to the marshy land, the foundations were made of stone sunken to a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m).

[4] On May 22, 1893, the Convention Hall, also known as the Northern Liberty Auditorium was officially dedicated under the auspices of the Washington Lodge, No.

[5] On March 1, 1946, a fire destroyed the top floor of the structure where Convention Hall was located.

Large flames engulfed the metal structure and at 2:09 am, the roof made of 209 tons of wrought iron collapsed.

[5] While the fire did not spread to the market underneath thanks to the reinforced cement ceiling, there was severe damage to products due to the water used.

The one owned by Charles Carrington (a smoked meat dealer) was completely crushed by an iron girder which fell in an opening in the concrete ceiling.

For the safety of the public, a 20-foot section of the wall on 5th Street NW was pulled down on March 2 by order of the Chief Building Inspector, J. J.

Prior to re-opening, the Health Department inspectors were to inspect the meats to determine if they were fit for consumption.

In 1964, the National Historical Wax Museum moved to the site leaving its former home of Foggy Bottom because of the Kennedy Center.

The CityVista condominiums are now on the site with a Safeway supermarket and several other businesses on the ground floor.