James J. Roche


Company Names, addresses, dates1:
  James J. Roche, (Liquor dealer) 1242 4th St. NW (1889)
  James J. Roche, (Saloon propr.) 304 N St. NW (1890)
  James J. Roche, (Saloon propr.) 1251 4th St. NW (1891)
  James J. Roche, (Saloon propr.) corner of 4th & N Sts. NW (1892-1893)
  James J. Roche, (Saloon propr.) 302 N St. NW (1894-1900)
  James J. Roche, (Saloon propr.) 904 Pa Ave NW (1901-1902)
  James J. Roche, (Saloon propr.) 603 B St. NW (1904-1906)
  James J. Roche, (Liquor dealer) 1755 K St. NW (1907-1909)

Notes:
James J Roche (1860-1924)2 ran a saloon and liquor business in Washington DC from 1889 to 19091.

Besides the beer bottles shown below, the book lists some liquor bottles embossed with his name, including one that says: "SILVER EXCHANGE SALOON 302 N ST NW". I couldn't find any other references to his saloon by that name.

A newspaper article from 1900 described Roche as "one of the best known young business men in Washington DC". It goes on to say he "keeps the oldest and purest grades of wines and liquors". It also said that he had just moved his saloon from "302 N Street NW" to a new location at "7th and I streets SW", however the address in the city directories lists the new location at "904 Pa Ave". 3,1


Bottles:

roche book # 586
This is an aqua 9" Baltimore-loop top bottle embossed:
round slug plate: JAS. J. ROCHE / TRADE JR MARK / REGISTERED / WASHINGTON, D.C.
back: THIS BOTTLE / IS NEVER SOLD
roche_02 book # 588
This is an amber 9.25" crown-top bottle embossed:
oval slug plate: JAS. J. ROCHE / JR / REGISTERED / WASHINGTON, D.C.


1 Boyd's Directory for the District of Columbia (various years)
2 Find-a-grave entry for James J. Roche
3 The Colored American, 10-Feb-1900, page 12


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This page last updated on May 29, 2023.