H Street

Firefighters finish putting ot a blaze on the street.

Since the early twentieth century, H Street was an area of high commercial prosperity.  It featured a number of successful stores and businesses including the first Sears in the entire city, Woolworth, and Morton's.  The street allowed thousands of African-americans to have jobs at these locations and many more to shop there.  The riots completely destroyed the entire industry of the area; leaving nothing but burnt and abandoned buildings and lost jobs.  Crime and poverty set in, causing the residents to flee the area where they beleived they could have safety and employment.  The area would not recover economically until over three decades later.