They marched to the Capitol, where Congressman Richard Hobson from Alabama and Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas greeted them. The two introduced legislation to their respective chambers of Congress.

Ultimately, this first grassroots attempt to persuade legislators failed, but persistence pays off. The movement gained momentum with powerful forces like the Anti-Saloon League and the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Letters, telegrams and petitions were flooding Congressmen and Senators with demands to push for a Prohibition amendment. Over time, more dry legislators were elected and support increased for the movement in Congress.

It took a number of years to finally reach their goal of a dry country, but they finally achieved it by the end of the decade. The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified on January 16th, 1919 and went into effect on January 17th, 1920. The grand experiment of national temperance had begun (we know how this story ends).

Anti-Saloon League slogan

Both Officer Sprinkle and Leopold Birkle ended up on the wrong side of this new law.

Related articles

• If Walls Could Talk: Smith Commons (ghostsofdc.org)
• Meet Officer Sprinkle – Captured Geronimo, Bodyguard for Wilson and Prohibition Violator (ghostsofdc.org)
• prohibition (aimlesswithpurpose.wordpress.com)

Stinson SM-6000 Tri-Motors

Well, this week you learned that Ron Paul had a pretty sweet swing in 1983. I also shared with you more Washington bathing beach babes (have you had enough?). Let’s not forget, now you know the history of Constitution Avenue’s name (and that it was almost named Jefferson Avenue). Poor Congressman Henry Cooper. He proposed the grand new name, but never lived to see the street signs change.

You also now know that one of the first express air routes flew through Washington and JFK was human like the rest of us and screwed up on camera.

So, when you’re knocked back a DC Brau or Old Fashioned this evening — at our last IWCT, Smith Commons, of course — make sure you regale your spouse, date, friends or dude sitting next to you with all this great history you’ve learned.

There are a ton of D.C. blogs out there, but none as educational as this.

Here’s a great photo to leave you with … Union Station in 1908, the year it was built.

Union Station (1908)

If you have comments, questions or requests about what to post next week, fill up the comments below. We’re always happy to take suggestions.

Related articles

• Why is it Named Constitution Avenue? (ghostsofdc.org)
• Ron Paul Crushes a Double in Congressional Baseball (ghostsofdc.org)

Ron Paul crushes double

This is awesome and appears to be the latest minor D.C. Internet meme. Well, I love baseball and I love D.C., so I want to share this with those of you who haven’t seen it yet (if you haven’t seen this, you don’t surf the Interwebs enough).

Ron Paul is the only player in the history of the Congressional baseball game to hit a home run over the fence. He also killed it in this game, going 2 for 3. Below you can watch him stroke a double. Not bad for a 47-year-old doctor from Texas.

According to Wikipedia, the game ended after nine innings in a tie at 17 runs. Sounds like some seriously crappy pitching. So far, this has been the only tie. The Republicans hold a 41-35 game advantage over the Democrats. Another interesting bit of trivia is that the game dates back to 1909, although it hasn’t been continuously played since then.

It was banned in 1914 by Speaker Champ Clark when he felt it interfered with the legislative business of Congress. In 1962, the game came back after being played intermittently and has been played annually ever since.

Nice old school Astros uniform. Reminds me of Nolan Ryan, Glenn Davis and Mike Scott.

Do you want to watch the whole game? I warn you, it is well over three hours. C-SPAN has it for you.

Smith Commons

I’m a little tardy with delivering this next “If Walls Could Talk” … sorry.

The winner of our second IWCT poll is the H Street hot spot, Smith Commons (I don’t think I like that acronym).

I came across some interesting stories related to the spot at 1245 H St. NE, not to mention my favorite D.C. police officer. The next time you hit up happy hour at Smith Commons, you’ll have plenty to talk about with you friendly bartender.

Smith Commons street side

Four riders in a heap

I’m not sure if this was drunk biking, but this is a weird story. Also, I don’t know how this warrants an article in the Washington Post, but it did. I guess news was slow in 1896. This was from May 28th.

A bicycle accident which might have been more serious happened in the White Lot oval about 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Mr. George ball, of 1245 H street northeast, and Mr. Harry Gier, of 1413 Eighth street northeast, procured a tandem and went into the White Lot road for a spin. Mr. Willard Lenicker, of Twenty-second and P streets northwest, happened to be in the same place at the same time, and on the same business, and the trio began racing. Mr. Lenieker, in some unaccountable way, ran into the other pair, throwing them to one side, and straight at Mr. Fred Moore, of 325 P street northwest, who was passing on his wheel.

For the space of five minutes it was difficult to tell which was who and where the wheels began and ended. Then the crowd interfered and got the quartet disentangled, after which an Emergency ambulance made its appearance and the riders were taken to the hospital. There it was found that all but Mr. Ball had got off with bruises and scratches. He had not been so fortunate, having received a long, jagged cut on the head. The wounds of all were dressed, and after a short rest they returned to their homes. The bicycles will have their wounds attended to later.

At least it’s nice to see that the author had a sense of humor at the absurdity of this story.

Erecting a garage

A small mention of a building permit led me down quite an interesting path. I came across a permit approval in the Washington Post from August 12th, 1917.

L. Birkle, owner; to erect brick garage, 1245 H street northeast; cost, $1,000.

On an aggressive night (with a large group) you could probably rack up a bar bill more than the cost of that garage. The good thing for me is after this post, I will drink for free at Smith Commons. Okay, well maybe my wife and I will get a DC Brau on the house … and maybe some Cheetos to snack on.

Leopold Birkle was German immigrant and his children were first generation Americans, born in Washington. Even cooler is the fact that he was a brewer (of course, he’s from Germany).

In the 1900 U.S. Census, he was living at 1400 E St. NE with his wife Katie, brother Baltias (also a brewer), young daughter Katie, son Baltias and infant daughter Josephine. They also took in a 25-year-old male boarder from Germany, Jacob Ensel (also a brewer).

Leopold Birkle family in 1900 U.S. Census

The Birkle’s had a little scare in May of that same year. The following was reported in the Washington Post.

Mrs. Katherine Birkle, 1245 H street northwest, found unconscious in her room from gas yesterday, is recovering at Casualty Hospital.

Mrs. Birkle in that article was the young daughter, born in 1894. Sounds like the lights in her home sprung a leak, spewing gas throughout her bedroom. Katherine, or Katie, lived through this incident and didn’t die until 1967 at the age of 72.

“Padlock” injunctions for Prohibition violators

Here’s an interesting one from April of 1924, right in the middle of Prohibition.

Assistant District Attorney Frank J. Kelly applied to the District Supreme court yesterday for three “padlock” injunctions, to prevent further alleged violations of the prohibition laws. The persons named are Leopold Birkle, proprietor of a near-beer saloon 1245 H street northeast; Verling Harris, 525 T street northwest; James W. Hunter, malt and hops dealer, and his clerk, Sarah G. Hunter, 919 D street northwest.

Lieut. Joshua L. Sprinkle, of the Eleventh precinct, was arrested in the Hunter establishment and later indicted with James W. Hunter and others on a charge of conspiracy.

OMG … our favorite D.C. police officer! Officer Sprinkle was a badass.

Our friend, Leopold Birkle was the proprietor of this near-beer saloon. Given his German heritage, he must have thought Prohibition and the temperance movement was utterly ridiculous.

The Redskins marching band

It’s almost like college football. In 1941, the Washington Redskins were the first team to have a band support them on the field (also the first team to have a fight song — Hail to the Redskins). Evidently, after a game against the Giants, a freak window accident injured one of the band members.

Bernie Eisenberg, a member of the Washington Redskin band, suffered slight facial cuts in a freak accident on the return trip from the New York Giant game last night.

Six car windows were broken when a northbound train passed the Redskin special and Eisenberg, of 1245 H Street Northeast, was seated next to one of the broken windows.

Train officials could not explain the incident but a track crew was dispatched to the scene immediately.

First, I love that the train is called the Redskin Special. Second, that glass should be tempered. Oh, and to make matters worse, we lost to the Giants 20-13.

Need some paint?

Here’s an advertisement from 1948. At that time, 1245 H St. NE was the location for Norman’s Pure Paints.

Norman's Pure Paints advertisement (1948)

Off-duty policeman steps out for a bite

Pvt. William Rosenthal (1952)

Here’s one from crazy town in 1952. These kleptomaniac women seem a little nuts.

Police Pvt. William Rosenthal had his own alertness and the strong teeth of two women to blame for spoiling his day off yesterday.

According to the 32-year-old Sixth Precinct policeman’s account, all began when he left his home at 1311 E st. ne. about 11 a. m. to do a little shopping in the 1200 block of H st. ne.

There, he relates, he saw two women come out of a store. One pulled a mass of garments from beneath her skirt and hastily stuffed them into a shopping bag. Then they both calmly entered another store in the block.

Rosenthall asked Joseph Kipperman, who runs Kip’s Kiddie Shop at 1245 H st. ne., which the women had left, whether anything was missing. Kipperman discovered some children’s trousers were gone.

As the women came out of the second store, Lord’s Department Store, 1221 H st. ne., Rosenthal attempted to take them into custody. But he reports, they screamed, bit and beat him so furiously he finally had to let one go and concentrate on the other.

She was identified by police as Estelle Mitchell, 20 of 1608 New Jersey ave. nw., a former known narcotics addict who is currently under bond on shop lifting charges.

It’s never a good day off when you’re bitten by a former narcotics addict. At least he looks reasonably chill in the photo from the Washington Post. Even though he had permanent bite marks, he’s still not as cool as Officer Sprinkle.

Police charge D.C. painter with entering

By the mid 1950s, the address was a residence again. And here’s a strange article from June 27th, 1954 (also, the world’s first nuclear power plant that day).

A painter, who told police he carried a tire iron under his shirt to open windows when they stuck, was charged with housebreaking Friday.

Lieut. James Sartain of the Fourth Detective District said Nevin O. Barber, 43, of 1245 H st. ne., broke into the apartment of Margaret DeHart, 7414 Georgia ave. nw.

Police said she told them she heard someone trying the door to her apartment about 11 a. m. Thursday. As she looked out the front window, the door opened and Barber walked in, they said He [sic] apologized, said he had the wrong apartment and left.

Barber was arrested Friday when she again saw him walking in front of her apartment and called police.

Sartain, said police, found a hack saw, tire iron and cotton gloves on him. They were tools of his painting trade, he told police.

Not sketchy at all.

Only $1.00 per inch

That’s a super awkward line for an advertisement. Well, you could buy a TV at 1245 H St. in 1960 according to the advertisement I found in the Post.

Muntz TV advertisement (1960)

Furniture for sale

In 1966, the building held Sweet’s Discount Sales. Just two years before the riots, this was the place where you could get your home furniture for the reasonable price of $277. I’m guessing this wasn’t high-end stuff.

Sweet's Discount Sales (1966)

So, now that you know all you could ever want to know about 1245 H St. NE, you will have plenty of talking points to cover while waiting for your next pint. Saddle up to the bar and have a little chat about Leopold Birkle or everyone’s favorite, Officer Sprinkle. Hmmm … Sprinkle and Birkle. I like the sound of that.

If you’re a fan of these posts, why don’t you follow us on Twitter or Facebook?

Related articles

• If Walls Could Talk: The New LivingSocial Live Events Center (ghostsofdc.org)
• If Walls Could Talk: The Looking Glass Lounge – 3634 Georgia Ave. NW (ghostsofdc.org)
• If Walls Could Talk: Eastern High School (ghostsofdc.org)
• If Walls Could Talk: Big Bear Cafe (ghostsofdc.org)
• Smith Commons (almost30something.com)
• Why is it Named Constitution Avenue? (ghostsofdc.org)

Washington Gas Light Co. advertisement (1906)

By the way, the company has been around since it’s founding in 1848. President James K. Polk signed the Congressional act creating the company on July 8th, 1848. The company went on to install gas lights in the House and Senate chambers, followed by the lighting in the White House and down Pennsylvania Avenue.

By 1856, Washington Gas had grown to include nearly 1,700 customers, more than 30 miles of gas mains, and about 500 street lights.

Related articles

• Need a Gas Range circa 1916? (ghostsofdc.org)

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.

By 1932, the company was setting world recording for the number of passengers it was transporting up and down the Eastern seaboard. The Baltimore Sun reported on July 10th, 1932 that a new world record had been set the previous day.

Washington, July 9–Another world’s record has been set by the Ludington Airlines, Inc., operating hourly plane service between New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. The line recently carried its 100,000th passenger between Washington and New York, according to an announcement made today by James M. Eaton, airline president. The line has been in operation twenty-one months.

The carrying of 100,000 passengers in the space of twenty-one months has never been even nearly approached before, it was said, the figure constituting a world commercial airline passenger carrying record.

Inaugurated September 1, 1930, the Ludington Line recently increased its hourly plane departures by the addition of a number of half hourly schedules.

On June 4 the airline established a new high speed non-stop “special dispatch” service between Washington and new York using planes cruising at 160 miles an hour and making the airport-to-airport flight in eighty minutes. This faster service brings the downtown sections of both cities within two hours time of each other.

By 1933, the airline had been acquired by Eastern Air Transport, the precursor to Eastern Airlines.

Dulles Airport serves about 60,000 passengers on a daily basis now and in 2010 saw 23.7 million passengers through its terminals.

The Ludington brothers would be shocked.

Ludington Airlines advertisement

Henry A. Cooper

Not too long ago, the main drag through Washington, on the north side of the Mall, adhered to the structured naming convention of this city. It was B St. NW.

Wisconsin Congressman Henry A. Cooper didn’t feel the name suited a central and important boulevard in the nation’s capital. The Mall was undergoing significant redevelopment and Cooper put forth a bill to give the thoroughfare a more impressive name.

Representative Cooper was seeking a name that would reflect the magnificent stature of B Street, yet this was not without a fair number of challenges. In July of 1930, the D.C. Commissioners would not give their support to renaming the street.

The District Commissioners yesterday refused to give their approval to the proposal or representative Cooper, of Wisconsin, to change the name of B street northwest to Constitution avenue. The proposal was contained in a resolution introduced in the House and sent to the Commissioners for a report. Constitution avenue is one of several names which it has been proposed to give to B street.

The street, when the Government building project is completed, will be a great ceremonial street, the Commissioners said, and agreed that it “should be given a name commensurate with its dignity and importance and  directly associated with some great person in our national history,” but of the many names which have been suggested the Commissioners said they “do not desire to express a choice.”

Fast forward through the fall and into the next year, momentum was building and sufficient support was garnered to rename B street. Below is an article from the February 10th, 1931 Washington Post.

The bill to rename B street, the ceremonial street in the center of the Mall development program, Constitution avenue, was ordered favorably reported yesterday by the Senate District committee.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Henry Allen Cooper (Republican), Wisconsin, was passed by the House last Saturday. Representative Allen was the only witness before the Senate committee when his bill was under consideration. He discussed the suggestion that the avenue be named Jefferson avenue in honor of Thomas Jefferson.  Paying high tribute to the author of the Constitution, Mr. Cooper said there should be erected a great memorial to Jefferson and the naming of B street Constitution avenue was in itself a tribute to Jefferson.

It’s quite interesting to imagine the street being named Jefferson Avenue, although that’s an equally grand name in my opinion. Cooper was right about the memorial for Jefferson, but construction on a monument to our third president did not begin until 1939, near the tidal basin, and was finally completed in 1943.

Department of Labor at 14th St. and Constitution Ave. NW (1935)

A couple weeks later, President Herbert Hoover signed the bill into law, officially changing the name to Constitution Avenue.

President Hoover signed two measures of interest to the District of Columbia yesterday., one was the joint resolution to change the name of B street to Constitution avenue and the other an act authorizing $100,000 for the District of Columbia Commission for the George Washington Bicentennial.

Sadly, a few days later, on March 1st, Henry Cooper died in his hotel room, accompanied by his wife. He was 80 years old.

Related articles

• What I like about the District (Part I): DC like a local (brunetteabicyclette.com)

Blaine Mansion (1900)

Here’s a great color photo courtesy the D.C. Public Library Flickr photostream. It was taken, just at the turn of the century.

The house was built in 1881 and was the home of James G. Blaine, former Speaker of the House, Senator, and twice the Secretary of State. His LinkedIn resume would look pretty sweet.

We are look at the corner of 20th and P St., where there is a Le Pain Quotidien (solid and healthy brunch) and Pizzeria Paradiso (awesome beer selection) today.

James G. Blaine mansion today (Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Proposed White House on Meridian Hill (ghostsofdc.org)

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.