An 1888 advertisement from the Rainwater and Boogher Hat Company on Washington Ave. downtown. At one time, the Garment District on Washington was the second largest textile producer in the United States, behind New York City. Between 1880 and 1920, a number of large warehouses were constructed on the street for the textile producers, who sold their clothing in their shops as well as in department stores, such as Famous Barr or Stix, Baer, and Fuller. As the textile industry left, the buildings became abandoned, and some were demolished, while many survived long enough to be converted into loft apartments. The building in the advertisement was located where the Convention Center is today.
