James Frederick Oyster (February 14, 1851 – May 19, 1925) was an American politician and merchant who was a member of the District of Columbia Board of Commissioners, president of the D.C. Board of Education. During his time as a commissioner, Oyster helped enforce

Prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic b ...

and gambling laws in the

District of Columbia Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...

and worked to remedy traffic issues in the city by establishing one-lane streets and

block signal Railway signalling (), or railroad signaling (), is a system used to control the movement of railway traffic. Trains move on fixed rails, making them uniquely susceptible to collision. This susceptibility is exacerbated by the enormous weight ...

traffic lights.

Early life

James Frederick Oyster was born on February 14, 1851, in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

He was educated in public schools and the Rittenhouse Academy.

Career

In 1871, Oyster joined his father and brother in the butter and egg business in Washington, D.C. After his father's retirement in 1886 and his brother's retirement in 1889, Oyster led the business. Oyster served as vice president and director of the Washington Chamber of Commerce. He then served as president for two years. Oyster was also the president of the Board of Trade. He served as president of the Board of Education from 1906 to 1913. Oyster was a member of the Washington Light Infantry Corps. He assisted with the organization National Rifles and held the rank of captain until 1895. In 1914, Oyster was appointed as a member of the Federal Reserve Board for the Fifth District. He served three terms; last elected in 1920. He served on the Rent Commission for the District of Columbia from January 21, 1920, to his resignation on March 21, 1921. On March 21, 1921, Oyster was appointed to the

Board of Commissioners A county commission (or a board of county commissioners) is a group of elected officials (county commissioners) collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States. A county usually has three to five ...

for the District of Columbia. He served alongside Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph. In his role as commissioner, he served as the head of the police, fire, health, playgrounds, and the weights and measures office. He was elected again in 1924 and served as commissioner until his death. In 1921, Oyster argued before the District of Columbia Public Service Commission for the merger of the

Washington Railway and Electric Company The Washington Railway and Electric Company (WREC) was the larger of the two major streetcar companies in Washington, D.C., and its Maryland suburbs in the early decades of the 20th century. Founded as the Washington and Great Falls Electric Rai ...

and the

Potomac Electric Power Company The Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) is an American public utility, utility company that supplies electric power to the city of Washington, D.C., and to surrounding communities in Maryland. It is owned by Exelon. The company's current tra ...

. During his administration, Oyster supported the enforcement of the Prohibition Laws and the prosecution of gamblers. In 1923, Oyster filed complaints that prohibition agents weren't enforcing the Prohibition Laws. Oyster also worked to combat traffic issues in the city. He argued for lower speed limits in Washington, D.C. to help combat traffic issues in the city. He also led the effort to establish one-way streets in the city. In 1924, Oyster tested out

traffic lights within the District of Columbia to replace the hand-operated

semaphore Semaphore (; ) is the use of an apparatus to create a visual signal transmitted over distance. A semaphore can be performed with devices including: fire, lights, flags, sunlight, and moving arms. Semaphores can be used for telegraphy when arra ...

s. Oyster was in favor of the District of Columbia having representation in the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

. In 1921, Oyster was known for his campaign against weeds in Washington, D.C. and his goal to "make Washington a weedless city". He worked with the health and police departments to make it unlawful for weeds to grow longer than four inches. Oyster operated the business James F. Oyster Inc. and Norman W. Oyster Inc. At the time of his death, the interest in his companies was shared between his son, daughter and Clark G. Diamond.

Personal life

In 1900, Oyster built a summer residence in

Bethesda, Maryland Bethesda () is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. Located just northwest of Washington, D.C., it is a major business and government center of the Washington metropolitan region ...

called Strathmore Hall. He sold the mansion in 1908 to Charles Corby. Oyster had a son and a daughter: James F. and Helene. Oyster died on May 19, 1925. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. His funeral was attended by President

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. A Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer from Massachusetts, he previously ...

Legacy

The James F. Oyster School opened in 1926, at 29th and Calvert Street NW in

Woodley Park Woodley Park is a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., located in Northwest D.C. Primarily residential, Woodley Park hosts a commercial corridor of restaurants and shops located along Connecticut Avenue. The neighborhood is noted as the home of the ...

, Washington, D.C. It was named after Oyster. In the 1960s and 1970s, the school became bilingual with the influx of Spanish-speaking immigrants to Washington, D.C. It was later named Oyster-Adams Bilingual School.

References

External links