Here’s an advertisement from the Washington Times that caught my eye. This was published on April 10th, 1920. This garage was located where DC USA is today. Related articles The Chastleton: Parlors With Apogees of Luxury (ghostsofdc.org) Columbia Heights Arcade Gets First Roof Garage in D.C. (ghostsofdc.org) The Kenesaw: Fine New Structure Goes Up in Mt. Pleasant (ghostsofdc.org) Different Styles ... Read More »
I came across an article in the Washington Times about three giants of the Washington police force … and I mean real “giants,” as in super tall cops. Well, super tall by standards back in 1903, not Gheorghe Muresan. Though these men do not eclipse GoDC favorite, Officer Sprinkle, our next “Three Things…” post will highlight these 20th century “giants.” ... Read More »
If you know who POTUS 25 is off the top of your head, congratulations. You are an über history geek. Enjoy the Libary of Congress photos below. Read More »
This is an amazing, symmetrical photograph from 1924 with a Ford in the foreground and the Capitol Building in the background. Share this one on Facebook with your friends. Related articles Calvin Coolidge, Vermont Native and Our 30th President (ghostsofdc.org) If Walls Could Talk: Chateau Bonaparte on K Street (ghostsofdc.org) Officer Sprinkle, Opium, Murder, Suicide, Herbert Hoover, Chuck Berry, Jerry ... Read More »
This is a guest post by GoDCer from Poolesville, Jack (the guy that tipped us off to some great stories, like the decapitated convict). On the afternoon of August 23, 1933 the Weather Bureau updated an already ominous forecast by predicting that strong winds and heavy rain would inundate the Washington area. The storm had formed in the Atlantic days ... Read More »
It’s Friday! …and it’s time for some cool old shots of our city. Take a look at this view down F St. NW. Click the photo for a high resolution version, because it has some amazing details. Related articles Incredible Photo of State, War, Navy Building (ghostsofdc.org) If Walls Could Talk: Chateau Bonaparte on K Street (ghostsofdc.org) Officer Sprinkle, Opium, ... Read More »
This is amateur 16mm film shot and uploaded to YouTube. The voiceover is amusing, but the scenes are a great step back in time over 80 years. Related articles Decapitated by the Hangman’s Rope (ghostsofdc.org) Calvin Coolidge, Vermont Native and Our 30th President (ghostsofdc.org) First to Answer This Question Gets a GhostsofDC.org T-Shirt (ghostsofdc.org) Read More »
There was a real estate and building boom in Washington early in the 1900s. And when money flows into the market like that from countless speculators, they try to stand out from the rest by providing the most stylish and differentiated home. This led to the wide variations in architectural style throughout the District, with the primary governing rule being ... Read More »
Here is a terrific old advertisement from 1918, soliciting young men between 22 and 35 to join the Metropolitan Police Department (a limited number of intelligent and educated women will also be considered). Click on the advertisement for some greater details because it’s really interesting to read through this World War I era ad. All persons between 22 and 35 ... Read More »
History happens every single day and many of you witnessed this one (I did). The sight of the 747 and Space Shuttle over DC was amazing and it warrants a quick video post to share with everyone. The video was taken by the folks over the Department of Interior, when the fly by happened just two months ago on April ... Read More »
Chalk another great find up to GoDCer and Poolesville resident, Jack. Thanks! Do you hang out with your kids in Walter Pierce park? Maybe you played kickball or soccer on the fields there, or take your dog to romp in the dog park. In the 19th century, it was the site of the ghastly (and not uncommon) practice of grave ... Read More »
Jack, a GoDCer in Poolesville, sent over a series of great story ideas, mostly focused on the ghoulish and ghastly. This is an excellent candidate for best “From the Crazy Vault” post yet. Well done Jack, you dug up some impressively crazy stuff. This is an article from the Washington Post on January 24th, 1883. Charles Shaw was tried and ... Read More »
This is a guest post by John (from The Lion of Anacostia), cross-posted here. Frederick Douglass was no born fool, simpleton, sucker, or gump. He came up from slavery, he came up in the the streets of Jacksonian Baltimore. As has been better said by others before the “overly honorific public memory of Douglass belies a life entirely defined by action—sometimes action-hero type action. Frederick Douglass ... Read More »
GoDCer Ryan sent me a cool fact — or possibly historical rumor — that I’d like to share with the rest of you. It’s a simple, yet well-known quote, but there is some debate as to whether these words were actually spoken (or written), as claimed in 1865. Washington is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, ... Read More »
Here’s another excellent story idea from Poolesville GoDCer Jack. If we gave awards for class participation, Jack would win. Thanks for all the tips. If any of you have story ideas, feel free to email tips@ghostsofdc.org. The Washington Post had yet another crazy article on April 3rd, 1880 about an execution that was, well … over-executed (another, more recent hanging had ... Read More »
Ghosts of DC The lost and untold history of Washington