Sunday, May 19th, 2013

Shabby Houses on Mass Ave

Posted by: Ghosts of DC on December 12, 2012 in Faces & Places of Yesterday 9 Comments

Here’s a shot by Carl Mydans from 1935. We found it on the Library of Congress’ site, but we’re not sure where this is on Mass Ave. Any ideas? Go to lunch, show your friends, debate it and post your thoughts in the comments below. Are these homes still there?

Section of Massachusetts Avenue showing block of shabby houses with outside toilets and water supply

Section of Massachusetts Avenue showing block of shabby houses with outside toilets and water supply

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Ghosts of DC is a blog about the history of Washington, D.C. and its surroundings. We live in a great city, and it's important for everyone to know a little more about their communities, neighborhoods and city.
  • http://www.facebook.com/hankkuhfeldt Hank Kuhfeldt

    It looks like a double digit number over the door on the first house, but hard to make out, unfortuntately.

  • http://twitter.com/benfortney Ben Fortney

    Approx 20 Mass Ave. NW, looking towards Columbus Circle. The tall building’s the current Phoenix Park Hotel, Sunlife Bank building on the corner is the giveaway.

  • DCHistory

    We think it’s the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue NW, right by Union Station. The structure at the end appears to be what is now the Suntrust Bank. Interesting note about the bank building, it was originally the Childs restaurant and was an earlier work of Williams van Allen, who went on to design the Chrysler Building in New York City.

    The houses no longer exist, however, and were replaced by what is now an office of the Department of Homeland Security.

    • Dougl

      Hurrah, good to see others recognize one of the very few works by van Alen! And in DC no less.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=667153425 John Nugent

    Right on, Ben! The small building with the arched front facade looked so familiar! Guess the Phoenix Park used to house a “…..Lantern Cafe” at one point.

  • Matthew Gilmore

    Another photo on the Library of Congress website by Mydans shows more of the block: LC-USF33-T01-000147-M1. Childs Restaurant (now Suntrust Bank) at 2 Massachusetts Avenue is visible in the distance; so these houses are directly across from the still-standing Gales School–where 20 Massachusetts Ave NW is now. see your previous: http://ghostsofdc.org/2012/12/04/children-of-poverty-near-union-station/

  • Tish

    it’s the unit block, south side of Mass Avenue between North Capitol & First Street. Phoenix park hotel in the background. The Dept of Homeland security is on that site now. No house.

  • Rabi Hussein

    Good catch!

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