In District, Mourning For Eastern Market

Will the market be rebuilt?

"Yes, the mayor says it could reopen in 18 months."

Fire officials also passed out plastic fire hats and paper firetrucks to children, who stood on tiptoe or sat on their parents' shoulders to see over the plywood barricade. Adults received pamphlets about safety and prevention.

The viewing was unusual, Cole said. "In my 15 years on the department, I've never seen a building opened up to the public like this," he said. Not one to give up hope, he told the crowd: "See what it looks like before the rebirth."

Fenty (D) said he hopes to use a mix of federal and local funding, along with private donations, to rebuild the market and the Georgetown branch of the D.C. Public Library, which also was heavily damaged by fire last Monday. No one was hurt in either blaze.

The Eastern Market's vendors have been resilient. The outdoor activities will continue today, and the community plans to go ahead with an annual celebration that had been in the works long before the fire.

Yesterday, a few South Hall merchants managed to sell their goods outside on the sidewalk. They borrowed tables, chairs and pop-up tents to fashion the outdoor stores, joining other vendors who operate al fresco every weekend.

"I think there are four of us out here," said Jenny Glasgow, who ran the Fine Sweete Shoppe inside South Hall for 11 years. The market had 14 vendor stalls. She and her employees sold pastries and baguettes, unable to provide the cookies, pies and cakes that used to be baked fresh inside the market. "I thought, 'Keep it simple and test the waters,' " said Glasgow, 49. "I have to figure out how to become a street vendor, how to load the truck and remember all the little things. We were kind of comical putting the tent up. We had never done it before."

Glasgow was worried about her workers -- three are part time, and three are full time. "Hopefully, we can figure something out so they can pay their bills," she said.

There were plenty of people ready to pitch in. The Capitol Hill Community Foundation, founded in 1989 to fund after-school programs, Little League and streetscape improvements, continued yesterday to raise money for the vendors and the rebuilding effort. In just one hour, for example, the group raised $3,500 to add to the more than $100,000 collected since Monday's fire, said Nicky Cymrot, foundation president.

Surrounding shops were also offering help. Marvelous Market advertised that 50 cents from every baguette sold would be donated. "Help raise some dough," a sign read.

People wore buttons with a photo of Eastern Market, reading "Keep it Going."

Michael Bowers, whose grandfather opened Bowers Fancy Dairy Products in 1963, wore his white apron over a sweatshirt and shorts and scurried down Seventh Street alongside a vendor bringing him small bottles of milk.

He stopped for hugs and handshakes. "We're not going anywhere!" he shouted.