Category Archives: Other Cool Stuff
Ludington Airlines Sets New World Passenger Mark
Almost 80 years ago, Washington had an express airline with service to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. At cruising speed, Ludington Airlines was able to get you up to the New York City within two hours — an astonishing feat at the time.
Stinson SM-6000 Tri-Motors (edcoatescollection.com)
Brothers Charles and Nicholas Ludington founded their eponymous airline in 1930, based out of Philadelphia. The brothers put over a million dollars into the business with the goal of operating hourly plane service between the major east coast cities.
Fred and Ethel Mertz Perform at The Mayflower
Here’s a rare film I came across on YouTube.
Fred and Ethel Mertz (William Frawley and Vivian Vance) from I Love Lucy performed “Carolina in the Morning” at the 40th anniversary dinner for the Anti-Defamation League. This was held in the Mayflower Hotel in 1953.
Why Is It Named U Street?
Ben's Chili Bowl (Wikipedia)
I took a fair bit of time to do a little research into how U street got its name. After some research, it was abundantly clear that this wouldn’t be a short post.
This is an area of D.C. that has a rich history, went through some rough times, but has risen to become the core of the city’s renaissance. The story of U street might not be as obvious as you think, and it will definitely surprise you.
I also came across some excellent archival footage of U street in its heyday. The really interesting stuff doesn’t start until about 45 seconds into the film, but it’s worth the wait. I think you’ll like it.
Children and a Mock Execution
This is a shocking photo.
Look at this picture of two children playing with fake guns. Kids emulate what they see and this was taken at the height of World War II in 1943. The cadets in the background are performing drills at Woodrow Wilson High School.
Kids playing with guns at Woodrow Wilson High School (1943)
This photo eerily reminds me of the 1968 execution photo from Vietnam. Random side note … the trigger man in that photo (Nguyen Ngoc Loan) fled to Burke, Virginia after the war and lived out the rest of his days there.
Thanks again to Shorpy.
Related articles
- Video: Wilson, Harding and a Nation Pay Respect to the Unknown Soldier (1921) (ghostsofdc.org)
- Sheep Grazing at the White House (ghostsofdc.org)
Sidwell Friends Girls’ Basketball Team (1917)
Here’s a great photo from Shorpy. I can’t believe they played in those uniforms.
Sidwell Friends girls' basketball team (1917)
Bus Strike Creates Traffic Disaster
Talk about serious road rage … OMG, this would suck. Just be glad you’re not facing this carmageddon today. And don’t complain if there’s a 12 minute wait at Rosslyn for the Orange Line. You don’t have to deal with this disaster (or maybe you did 38 years ago).
Washington residents and those in the suburbs had a rough time in May of 1974 thanks to a Metrobus strike (remember, Metro didn’t open until 1976 … but they probably would have also been on strike).
D.C. workers waiting for cabs during Metrobus strike - 17th and H St. NW (1974)
Before Ovechkin: The Washington Lions and Uline Arena
My last post went way back to the 1920s. This one is a couple of decades after that, but well before the Washington Capitals arrived here. Our second “Before Ovechkin” post will cover the Washington Lions of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Stu Smith of the Washington Lions (1941-42)
Bandits Reign in Sight of Capitol
Fort Myer in Arlington, VA (1917)
Murders Committed, Trains Held Up, and Helpless Women Robbed, But Officers Do Nothing to Check Outlawry, for the “Crimes” Are in Moving Pictures.
This was the headline on the front page of the Washington Times on Thursday, November 16th, 1911. Back in the early 20th century, Fort Myer, in Arlington, was being used as a movie set for silent films. Here’s the text of the article:
A 17th Century History of Anacostia: Captain John Smith, Natcochtank and Settlement
Captain John Smith sailed up the Eastern Branch of the Potomac and was well received by the Nacotchtank, the Native Algonquin people in present-day Anacostia. The Captain’s oldest map, published in 1612, marks the area as Natcotchtank.
Nacotchtank - Captain John Smith's map (1612)
In 1621 the small sailing vessel, Tiger, headed up the Potomac from Jamestown, Virginia, with 26 men aboard. The goal of the trip was to trade corn with the Native Americans met by Captain Smith. The Nacotchtank ambushed the group and all the men were killed or taken prisoner. Henry Fleet was among those taken captive, and remained with the Natcochtank for five years, learning their language, customs and way of life.
After returning to Jamestown, Fleet made a few more journeys up the river to trade with his former captors. On one trip in 1632, he described in great detail his journey upriver. An entry of importance in the journal was the first referral to the location with the anglicized name of Nacostine, rather than Natcotchtank.
The next step in the etymology the name appears to be found in reports sent to Rome by the Jesuit fathers accompanying Leonard Calvert, the first Proprietary Governor of the Colony of Maryland. These reports refer to the area and the natives as Nacostine and add the prefix “A” to becoming a more recognizable Anacostines or Anacostans.
John Smith’s map below is pretty amazing. Click on it to get a blown up version of it.
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