Blog Archives
Blaine Mansion: Pizza and Good Beer Today
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.
If Walls Could Talk: Eastern High School
I thought it would be a good to branch out and do a on Eastern High School (check them out on Facebook) near RFK Stadium. It’s a beautiful building at 1700 East Capitol St. NE, originally built in 1923. The original Eastern High School building was building in the 1890s at 7th and C St. SE.
This past fall, they started a unique program of enrolling a new ninth grade class, growing the school by one class each year until this incoming class of 300 freshman graduates in 2015.
So, the next “If Walls Could Talk” will be Eastern High School: The Pride of Capitol Hill. Also, I know the poll we’re running is for the next “If Walls Could Talk,” but I thought I could slide this one in before since it’s a school and not a restaurant. I’m sure you won’t mind … and plus, Capitol Hill is underrepresented on Ghosts of DC.
Eastern High School, 1700 E St. NE (Wikipedia)
Then And Now: The Evening Star Building
Here’s a cool “Then and Now” photo set. This is the Washington Star (or Evening Star) Building down at 1101 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, right across from the Old Post Office Pavilion.
This striking Beaux-Arts building was originally constructed in 1898 (designed by Marsh & Peter) to house the newspaper, which was the anchor tenant until 1955. The paper eventually ceased printing in 1981. By then, the building was in dire need of a second life, and thankfully, it was saved by the Pennsylvania Development Corporation and fully renovated in 1989.
It looks very much like it did back in 1900 when this photograph was taken.
Evening Star Building (1900)
Pat Garrett, Lawman Who Killed Billy the Kid, Visits Washington and Teddy Roosevelt
In December of 1905, Pat Garrett came to Washington to seek reappointment as customs collector in El Paso from his friend President Theodore Roosevelt. Unfortunately for Pat, he had lost his good standing with the President by associating with the low-life gambler and alcoholic Tom Powers of Wisconsin.
Pat Garrett
Garrett and Powers were attending a Rough Riders reunion in San Antonio with Roosevelt and Tom asked his friend Pat for an introduction to the President. Garrett obliged and they the three of them posed for a group photograph. Once Teddy learned of Tom’s background he was incensed with Garrett for allowing an alcoholic gambler to associate with the President, sullying his reputation. Garrett’s relationship with Teddy never recovered.
If Walls Could Talk: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
I’m missing tonight’s slow braised pork shank, but a deal’s a deal (if you’re reading this on Friday, I wrote this Thursday night and ordered take out from Pho 14 … yum).
Winner of the inaugural “If Walls Could Talk” reader poll is Pearl Dive Oyster Palace (@PearlDiveDC), taking 33% of the vote. Cleveland Park’s representative, Dino (@dinodc), took second place with 27% of the vote, staying alive for the second poll (starting Monday). It was a tense and hard-fought battle between these two, but ultimately, Pearl Dive pulled out the victory.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Let’s dig into the history of the new hot spot at 1612 14th St. NW.
This Ain’t Your Regular Soccer Mom
This photograph from 1908 caught my eye. It is of 28-year-old Mary A. Bliven (wife of Frank S. Bliven) and Bertha, her 7-year-old daughter, sitting in a 1907 Franklin Model D.
Mrs. Frank Bliven and daughter in Franklin Model D (Shorpy)
Annie Oakley’s Dandruff
Here’s an odd one. I found an advertisement in the April 30th, 1905 Washington Post which featured Annie Oakley. Apparently she had some problems with dandruff.
Newbro's Herpicide advertisement with Annie Oakley (1905)
In Hotel Lobbies: Buffalo Bill at the Willard Hotel
I’ve come across a mountain of great society columns in old Washington Posts titled “In Hotel Lobbies.” This is going to make for some great material, so I’m kicking off a new category with the same title.
Buffalo Bill (1903)
On December 21st, 1903 Colonel William F. Cody was in Washington, staying at the recently opened New Willard at 15th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
Washington Senators Secure Moran of Georgetown
The front page of the Washington Times reported a big local signing in December of 1902 for the Washington Senators. They had inked the Georgetown shortstop, Charley Moran, to a contract
Washington Times Headline (1902)
If Walls Could Talk: The Seaton at 150 Rhode Island Ave. NW
I received an email from a reader saying she learned of Ghosts of DC through this post on Big Bear Cafe. She kindly asked if I would look into the history of her Bloomingdale condo building in, as she knew very little about it (other than old stories from local cabbies).
I’m starting to see an increase in email requests like this, and I wish I could get to all of them, but for this one, I’m happy to oblige. I’ll see what I can dig up for her (and her neighbors) to bring to life the history of 150 Rhode Island Ave. NW, The Seaton. Plus, she asked very nicely and said please. So here’s our next “Reader’s Choice” and “If Walls Could Talk.”
150 Rhode Island Ave. NW
Thanks for voting in our latest poll!
