Manufacturer: Scammell China, Syracuse China
Customer: The Colony, Washington, D.C.
Distributor (of Scammell): E. B. Adams
Date of examples: Scammell: 1948-63; Syracuse: 1957

Syracuse bouillon

Scammell plate

Scammell bouillon

Scammell ashtray

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Notes: The Colony, at 1737 DeSales St., NW, was opened in 1948 by Army Air Corps veteran Alex Stuart. It was one of just a few luxurious dining rooms in Washington, D.C., with a team of three waiters assigned to each table. The main dining room was upstairs, with the Colony Lounge on the floor below. The lounge featured live entertainment in the evening. In 1950, changing art exhibits were introduced in the lounge.

One of Stuart's ideas did not work out as planned. The Colony announced in 1948 that there would be a "Puppy Parlor" in the basement, so that favored customers would not have to leave their pet pooches at home. The Board of Health, however said no go to the idea. "Seeing Eye" dogs were OK, but it did not approve of operating a restaurant and a shelter for dogs in the same premises. That $300 the Colony spent for design and construction of the dog houses was a lost expense.

The Colony closed in 1963.

Scammell produced Ivory-base Lamberton china for the Colony that is crested with a red crown above "CR" in connected script letters. Ashtrays were part of this china service.

Syracuse produced the same pattern with "CR" in connected script.

Interior views of the main dining room show service plates with full solid red borders. Whether or not Scammell or Syracuse produced these plates is unknown.

Source:
Streets of Washington

Contributor:
Larry Paul: author