This is an interesting photo of a man precariously perched on a flag pole near the Capitol Building. It was taken on July 11th, 1939 as the man (Jack Tarzan) was painting the flagpole. The safety equipment of the day looks a little weak. Okay … his real name wasn’t Tarzan, just a nickname.

Washington, D.C., July 11, 1939. There comes a time each year when things around Capitol Hill need a bit of fresh paint, flagpoles no exception. Here is the flagpole over the Senate Office Building getting its new paint job, curiously enough, from a steeple-jack named Tarzan–Jack Tarzan

You can read a good blog post about this shot at the Library of Congress’ blog.

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Wow. You can barely renovate a bathroom for this amount of money today. Below is an advertisement for 6431 Barnaby St. NW on June 2nd, 1935.

6431 Barnaby St. NW

Here is the Google Street View of the same property today.

The post For Sale: Colonial Cottage in Barnaby Woods – $12,500 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a great personal story of a behind-the-scenes man. Francis H. Robinson was a long-time chauffeur for the White House, having arrived in Washington back in 1910. Robinson was originally from Massachusetts, born around 1876, and had been driving vehicles there for about two decades when Taft came calling.

The original chauffeur, George Robinson, was dismissed at the request of the President in July 1910 and Francis stepped in as his replacement. Abel Long became the head chauffeur, having come to the White House on a strong recommendation from the Pierce-Arrow company.

Francis H. Robinson (December 27th, 1919)

Long became sick in June of 1911 and Francis was then promoted to head chauffeur. He pushed for a raise to coincide with his promotion, but he was block by Taft’s aide, Archibald Butt (the man who tragically went down with the Titanic ten months later). He had to accept the $125 a month salary.

Washington Times – October 31st, 1919

Robinson, or “Robby” as he was known to his colleagues, was witness to an incredible amount of history, having served as official chauffeur for six presidents. Arriving with the first automobile during Taft’s administration, he continued to serve under Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover and Roosevelt.

Well over twenty decades behind the wheel, he also drove countless kings, queens, and dignitaries on during their visits to Washington. He was so well-admired that King Albert of Belgium bestowed Robinson with a military ribbon for his service. The medal was personally given by the King to thank Francis for his service during Albert’s visit to the city in 1919.

In the 1920 U.S. Census, Robby was listed as living at 1812 G St. NW with his wife Annue, and his occupation was “Chauffeur, Executive Mansion.” By the early 1930s, his address was listed as 733 22nd St. NW.

Francis H. Robinson in the 1920 U.S. Census

Here’s a great shot of Robinson driving President and Mrs. Wilson.

President and Mrs. Wilson (March 20th, 1920)

The history of the automobile at the White House is an interesting one. The automobile really came of age and started becoming a reliable enough mode of transportation at the turn of the century, during Teddy Roosevelt’s Administration. However, President Roosevelt preferred the rougher, 19th-century mode of transportation, riding his own horse around Washington and the countryside. On occasion, he would borrow a car to speedily take him somewhere, but he never ordered an official White House motor vehicle.

His successor, President Taft, was the first to order an official motor vehicle for the White House (which happened to be steam-powered).

An amusing article from the New York Evening Post on January 7th, 1928, mentions the driving preferences of each president. Coolidge preferred to ride in a closed car and not be bothered by the wind. He was also known to require the driver to follow the speed limit, strictly. This proclivity to slow-pedal it really irritated the drivers behind him, as the Secret Service would not permit tailing vehicles to pass the President.

His successor, Woodrow Wilson, was more sedate in his taste, taking a closed car and following most speed limits.

President Harding, on the other hand, was the wildest of them all. He opted for the closed car, but it was impossible for any vehicle to go fast enough for his taste.

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Here is a very different photo of the “Big Train” in April 1939. He is looking at a box of baseballs, autographed by six presidents. These are baseballs that were thrown out as the first pitch by presidents when Johnson was pitching in Washington. A pretty impressive collection, which was donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Baseballs autographed by six Presidents. ‘Big Train’s’ gift to Baseball Hall of Fame. Washington, D.C., April 29. Walter Johnson’s contribution to the National Baseball Museum at Cooperstown, New York, will be these six baseballs autographed by six presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. With the exception of the ones autographed by Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover, the balls are those which were thrown out at opening games pitched by Johnson during his regime as star pitcher for the Washington Senators. The ball autographed by President Hoover was presented to Johnson while he was manager of the Washington team while the one with the signature of Theodore Roosevelt was a special gift to the Big Train

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The Ballston Skulls sounds like a gang. They weren’t.

The Skulls played semi-pro football representing the village of Ballston. They played and practiced on a field, known as Ballston Stadium, at Ball’s Crossroads, currently the site of Ballston Common Mall. In 1937, when the Redskins moved here from Boston, the team worked out at the Ballston facility with the Skulls.

The Skulls didn’t last past the 1940s, but they did have a famous player in Forrest Tucker, though he was famous for his subsequent acting career and not his playing on the gridiron.

Sadly, we haven’t been able to dig up any old photos of the team or their field. So, if you know of any, please send them our way.

Washington Redskins work out at Ballston Stadium (1938 – Washington Post)

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This is an aerial view of Temple Heights and Oak Lawn, the current site of the Washington Hilton, north of Dupont Circle.

aerial view of Temple Heights in the early 1930s (Library of Congress)

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I had the pleasure of speaking to a great class at AU last week. One of the students asked if we had ever done a piece about Mad Hatter on Connecticut Ave. We haven’t yet, so this one is for you, Blaire. (By the way, Blaire told me her parents named her after the Blair House … and added an ‘e’ at the end  of her name.)

Let’s dig into a little history for the building at 1319 Connecticut Ave. NW.

The Antiques Dealer

Mrs. Julia D’Wald Cordley was a dealer in rare antiques, having moved to Washington in the  1920s from New York with her husband Frank. She was originally from Ohio, born in 1873 as the child of a Polish immigrant father and German mother.

She ran a prominent antiques business, initially out of 812 17th St. NW, but then moved to the space currently occupied by Mad Hatter, for close to a decade. The old Washington Post newspapers were rife with ads for her period furniture, silver, and rugs.

Mad Hatter needs to create a speciality cocktails calls Mrs. Cordley. What do you think?

Mrs. Cordley’s antiques store – May 5th, 1930

Mrs. Cordley’s retirement advertisement – April 20th, 1937

Interestingly, we dug up a few more advertisements for Mrs. Cordley through 1939. Her retirement sale went on for about two years!

Curved Eloquence

A few years after World War II, the building was occupied by The Jenny Shoppe,  a ladies fashion store. Below is an advertisement from the Washington Post which ran on leap day, 1948.

The Jenny Shoppe – February 29th, 1948

The store wasn’t there much longer. By the following summer, it had been replaced by Davanne Millinery, a high-end hat shop for women.

Wash and Wear Wigs

Need a wig? If you did in 1970, you would have stopped by Wig Fair to pick the “The Juliette,” a wash and wear stretch wig. Sounds like a name for one more Mad Hatter cocktail.

Here’s an advertisement from the Washington Post, published on Friday, August 21st, 1970.

Wig Far – August, 21st, 1970

Jewelry Holdup

After serving time as the home of wigs, a new tenant moved in. Cornelius Zwennes moved his store from Georgetown to Dupont Circle and in 1973, his store was targeted in a holdup. Below is the Washington Post article from May 10th, 1973, detailing the crime.

Since teeny boppers and other street people had become a Georgetown fixture, jeweler Corenlis [sic] Zwennes decided after 20 years there that Connecticut Avenue was “a better place for high grade merchandise.”

Yesterday after his one-year-old shop at 1319 Connecticut Ave. NW was the target of an attempted robbery, Zwennes said he was “not so sure anymore.”

The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Zwennes captured the accused robber, identified by police as John Willie Adams, 25, of 3200 16th St. NW. Police said Adams was on parole from a 10-year sentence he received in July, 1968, for burglary and grand larceny.

Zwennes was prepared. He had a burglar alarm system, unused since the shop opened in April, 1972. He also had a pistol, acquired three weeks ago, after another jewelry store five doors away was robbed.

Zwennes was out of sight in his mezzanine workshop, setting a diamond in a pin. His wife, Christine, was downstairs waiting on a man who was carefully scrutinizing a ring.

“I like it a lot, I’m going to take it,” Zwennes said he heard the man say.

The man then allegedly put a hand in his pocket, shoved the pocket towards Mrs. Zwennes, as if he had a gun, and said, “Now don’t make a move because this is a holdup.”

Zwennes overheard the remark, pressed the alarm system and came down the steps, pistol in hand. “When he saw me coming down the stairs with my gun, he sneaked out the door and tried to mix with the (rush hour) crowd,” the jeweler said. “I followed him, crept up behind him, put the gun in the center of his back, and in about a minute the police arrived.”

As the man left the store, Mrs. Zwennes snatched the ring from his hand. Police who searched Adams said they found no gun. Adams was charged with robbery.

Hello Handsome!

By the 1980s, the spot was where Nickleby’s set up shop.

Nickleby’s – 1983 ad

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We love digging through old newspaper classifieds to see these apartment listings. Check out a few of the ones we found this weekend.

How about a nice apartment in Dupont Circle for $125 a month? This one is the Rocksboro Apartment building at 1717 R St. NW on June 9th, 1961

1717 R St. NW – June 9th, 1961

How about a place on Meridian Hill near 16th and Fuller? This one is from the Park Meridian at 2637 16th St. NW, published in the Washington Post on Monday, May 30th, 1966.

Park Meridian advertisement – May 30th, 1966

Here are two older ones from July 3rd, 1932. These are ads for the Leland at 2012 O St. NW.

2012 O St. NW – July 3rd, 1932

2012 O St. NW – July 3rd, 1932

How about something from Georgetown, this time from May 14th, 1924.

Kew Gardens – May 14th, 1924

Now for something a little more contemporary. This is an ad for the Chastleton on August 1st, 1990.

Chastleton advertisement – August 1st, 1990

Here’s another great building and this advertisement is from September 24th, 1939.

Sedgewick Gardens advertisement – September 24th, 1939

The post Awesome Old Apartment Listings For Rent appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

It’s highly likely you have been to the D.C. institution known as Madam’s Organ at 2461 18th St. NW. It anchors the Adams Morgan strip, and has done so since the current patrons were in diapers.

It’s been a while since our last “If Walls Could Talk” post, so let’s kick it off with the legendary Madam’s Organ.

Madam’s Organ mural

Square 2560, Lot 74

Here is a great map of the area in 1907. The intersection you’re looking at is 18th and Columbia. The building that would eventually become Madam’s Organ is lot number 74.

1907 map of 18th and Columbia

The Hertzberg twins celebrate their birthday

The Washington Post on January 24th, 1907, published the Hertzberg twins’ birthday celebration in the social column. Allan and Lewis lived at 2461 18th St. NW with their parents Julius and Carrie.

Julius had originally come to the United States from Germany in 1896 and worked as a dry goods buyer.

Below is the mention of the birthday celebration.

Masters Lewis and Allan Hertzberg, twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Hertzberg, were hosts at a very enjoyable birthday anniversary party last evening at their home, 2461 Eighteenth street, northwest. Those present were Mrs. and Miss Altman, of New York; Mr. and Mrs. H. Hollander, Mrs. L Heilbrun, Mrs. T. Salomon, Mrs. L Hertzberg, of Baltimore; Misses Blanche Hollander, Clara Price, Florence Price, Helen Sanger, Sophie Sanger, Lillian Heilbrun, Bertha Greenberg, Pauline Kuntz, Julia Salomon, and Theresa Karger, and Messrs. Irvin Harold Price, Louis Greenberg, and Del Reliance. A vocal and instrumental programme was given by Master Allen and Master Lewis.

The vocal programme seems rather odd, given that in the 1910 U.S. Census, the boys were listed as four years old, which would mean they were one at this party.

Hertzberg family in the 1910 U.S. Census

Dear Santa

This is a touching one from 1928. This was a Washington Post letter to Santa Claus competition held prior to Christmas of that year. First prize was $20, awarded to Charles Fugitt of 521 Shepherd St. NW. Fourth prize that year ($1) was given to Norman Rosenburg of 2461 18th St. NW.

Norman Rosenburg – November 25th, 1928 (Washington Post)

This is the letter he wrote, published in the newspaper on November 25th, 1928.

Editor of The Post:

“Why I Know There Is a Santa Claus.”

When Christmas comes, of course we always think of Christmas trees, presents, holidays, parties, but when you think hard the first thing that comes in your mind is Santa Claus. For the benefit of those who can not believe me, I will try to make them understand. When we turn on our radio around Christmas we always hear Santa. The radio, which is heard the world over, could never lie. Don’t we write letters and generally get what we ask for> Don’t we all know that Santa comes down the chimney late at night and surprises us? Many books have stories about Santa’s reindeer, his home, his ways, his adventures. Aren’t they written in black and white for everyone to see, by famous writers? Indeed, those who do not believe in Santa Claus, in my estimation, lose most of the joy that live gives.

The radio definitely doesn’t lie, and neither does the Internet.

Man nearly killed in mystery attack

This is a super sketchy story we dug up in the Washington Post from March 16th, 1930. The title says it all.

Severely injured when he apparently was “taken for a ride,” John Byroades, 42 years old, of 2461 Eighteenth street northwest, was dumped out unconscious at Emergency Hospital at 11:15 o’clock last night by an unidentified motorist, who gave an incoherent, mysterious story and ran out to disappear in his waiting automobile.

Byroades, identified only from personal effects in his clothes, was reported by hospital attendants in dying condition, with possible internal injuries and numerous injuries on the head. Belief was expressed that he would not regain consciousness.

The motorist lugged the injured man from his machine, dropped him to the flor [sic] of the emergency room at the hospital, and mumbled a few words to the effect that Byroades had been riding along Wilson boulevard near Clarendon, Va., with ostensible friends when an attack was made, and that Byroades was beaten and then slung out of the machine to the roadway. He was rushed out without making his own identity known.

The hurts received by Byroades indicated that he had been the victim in a terrific mauling. His clothes were badly torn.

Arlington County autorities [sic] early today had not received any reports of the crime, other than that Byroades was in the hospital, where Policeman Will Thompson was dispatched to investigate.

There wasn’t much else about the case in the newspaper. The only other fact reported in another article was that Byroades spent time that evening drinking in an I St. speakeasy. According to him, he was drinking with some friends when they decided to head to another notorious roadhouse in Silver Spring. He ended up being brutally beaten, breaking three ribs, fracturing his skull and was robbed of $200.

Toys for every child

Charles Lazarus, the founder of Toys “R” Us started out with a small store at 2461 18th St. NW. He had returned from World War II, and in 1948, at the age of 25, saw an opportunity to capitalize on the growing baby boom with a store to capture this market, Children’s Bargain Town.

So, every time you order another round at Madams Organ, think about all the happy children who used to roam the building, looking for new toys.

Baby Supermart advertisement – November 4th, 1954 (Washington Post and Times Herald)

Today, 2461 18th St. NW is one of the more popular late-night destinations in the rowdy Adams Morgan neighborhood. Far from it’s days as a store where you could buy a crib.

Madam’s Organ

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This is a beautiful shot of the Memorial Bridge under construction, some time in the early 1930s. It’s part of the Library of Congress’ Theodor Horydczak collection.

construction of Memorial Bridge

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We dug up this undated photo at the Library of Congress. It appears to be from the late 1930s or early 1940s. The good news, is that the firehouse is still there. Check out the Google Street View below.

Truck Company Number Four, Firehouse, 219 M Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

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You recognize this building. Yep, the one with CVS and Krispy Kreme. This is a view of it from the air in the 1930s.

Dupont Circle Building at 1346 Connecticut Ave. NW

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It’s probably obvious to GoDCers where Chain Bridge Road gets its name. There is a bridge that connects the eponymous road on the D.C. side to the one on the Virginia side. But, this bridge has no chains. What’s the deal?

View from the Maryland side of the Chain Bridge over the Potomac River in 1839. This was the fourth bridge at that location, with several more since (September 1839)

The bridge plays a significant part in Washington’s history, and as we were digging through the archives for some history, we came across the perfect old article to share: “Where Washington’s Historic Chain Bridge Gets Its Name,” published on November 21st, 1909 in the Washington Post.

This is a great one for our “Why Is It Named?” category.

The first question that is generally asked by persons on arriving at the Chain bridge for the first time is, “Where are the chains?” There are no chains, and there have been none for the last half century of more. But there were chains at one time that particularly designated the bridge that crosses the Potomac River at the Little Falls, several miles above Georgetown. The chains, too, were the all-important part of the bridge, for it was borne entirely by chains.

The first bridge over the Potomac at Little Falls, the head of navigation of the river, was built in 1809, just 100 years ago. It was built by a Mr. Palmer, and lasted only a short time, when it fell to pieces during a violent spring freshet. A second bridge took its place, but that only lasted even a shorter time, about six months. What was known as the Chain bridge was erected in 1810. It was a suspension bridge, supported entirely by chains thrown over the piers erected upon the abutments, which were about 20 feet high. These chains were four in number. the pendents were hung on them alternatively about 5 feet apart, so that each chain received a pendent in every 10 feet. The bridge was invented by Judge Findley, who lived near Uniontown, Pa., and where he had erected a similar chain bridge, which performed very good service for many years. the span of the bridge was 128 1-2 feet and the width 16 feet. Its weight was about 22 tons, which was regarded as a heavy weight in the bridge line in those days.

The bridge was built by the Georgetown-Potomac Bridge Company, the principal stock being owned by Virginians, through considerable of it was owned in Georgetown. It performed nearly all the service that was needed of it until 1852 when it was partially destroyed by a freshet. It was seriously damaged during a storm in 1840. In 1833 the corporation of Georgetown purchased the bridge from its owners by authority of an act of Congress, and by the provisions of the purchase it was made a free bridge. Previous to 1833 there was a heavy toll charged for crossing the bridge by its owners, 25 cents being charged for each horse that passed over it. The toll was so heavy that public sentiment was solidly against it, and this brought about its purchase by the corporation of Georgetown, Georgetown being then and for many years afterward an independent city.

Highway robbery! 25 cents was a lot of money back then, and just to cross a bridge.

The Chain Bridge as it looked in 1842 (Washington Post)

The article continues.

On March 3, 1853, Congress passed an act appropriating a sufficient sum of money to repair the bridge, and incidentally took the corporation of Georgetown out of the transaction, the United States stepping in as its owner, a transaction which was perfectly satisfactory to all concerned. This repaired bridge was still practically a chain bridge, though in the repairs iron in other forms was considerably used. The bridge covered only the river channel proper, there being a dirt roadway that approached the bridge from either side. It was the washing away of these approaches more than injury to the bridge itself that put the chain bridge out of commission so frequently, for it became almost an annual occurrence, particularly during the spring freshets, though in two or three years the washouts also occurred during the fall storms.

Strange as it may appear, there are no drawings or views of the bridge in possession of the War Department, and until today, in this issue of The Post, no authentic picture of the Chain bridge has ever been printed in a newspaper. This picture was secured from A. H. Ragan, the vice president of the Oldest Inhabitants’ Association, who found it in Morrison’s handbook of Washington, published in 1840, a copy of which is in the archives of the association.

The Chain bridge, besides being famous for its chains and equally famous because it has no chains, played a very important part during the civil war [sic]. At one time one end of it was in possession of the Confederates, while the other end was guarded by Union troops. The particular command being volunteers of the District militia. The opposing forces were in talking distance of each other, a condition of things which, in the ordinary course of happenings, could not last long. In this case, however, it lasted for a couple of days, there being no orders issued for an advance from either side. In fact neither side was ready. Wars, like everything else, do not make much progress until there has been organization. Organization being secured, orders follow, the fun begins, and separations, victories, and defeats ensue. In this case the War Department was not ready on either side, and nothing serious to either side happened. When orders did come, and the District soldiery advanced to the other side, it was ascertained that the Confederates had left for Alexandria. There was, therefore, no battle of the Chain bridge for historians to write of, but there was all the anxiety and nervousness on both sides that usually precedes a battle.

It’s fascinating to think of the soldiers on either side of the bridge, on opposing sides of the war, being within shouting distance of each other. One wonders what conversations, taunts or intimidations took place. It reminds us of the Christmas truce in the trenches of World War I back in 1914.

And imagine if there had been a battle of the Chain Bridge. Then imagine that the Confederates were able to defeat the Union troops stationed there. It’s a quick march down the river to Georgetown and on to Washington.

Take a look at the two Civil War era photographs we dug up at the Library of Congress. Click on them for some amazing detail in a much larger version.

soldiers stand guard on Chain Bridge during the Civil War (Library of Congress)

Chain Bridge during the Civil War (Library of Congress)

Chain Bridge at the end of the Civil War (Library of Congress)

In 1872, Congress appropriated $100,000 for a permanent replacement made of iron. Construction on the bridge lasted until 1874, when it was rechristened “Chain Bridge” though no more chains were involved. The bridge also received significant damage by floods over the years, eventually leading to traffic restrictions in the 1920s due to safety requirements.

The floods of 1936 damaged the bridge to the point that it had to be shut down completely. In 1939, a new bridge was built on top of the old 1870s supports. This is the bridge that stands to this day … with no chains on Chain Bridge.

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Amusing and true, this is an article we came across in the New York Amsterdam News, published on June 18th, 1938.

WASHINGTON, June 15 — Residents surrounding Meridian Hill Park, where once stood old Wayland Seminary, telephoned police that a colored man in the nude was roaming through the park. When members of the park police unit arrived, although a thorough search was made of the park, no man could be found. However, the sergeant in charge says he found one pair of pants, one shirt, two shoes, one belt, one hat with the initials B. T. and five dollars in cash. The articles are at the Park Police hearquarters [sic]. No man was found — GONE WITH THE WIND?

fountains at Meridian Hill Park (Wikipedia)

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If you live in Cleveland Park, or have ever seen a movie at the Uptown, you will recognize the photo below. This is the Park and Shop at Connecticut Ave. and Ordway St.

It was built in 1930 as one of the country’s oldest strip malls.

Park and Shop on Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park

The development was done by Shannon & Luchs, and at the time was a major departure from existing commercial development plans. Parking had become a major problem for commercial areas, and creating a large setback from the street to allow for parking was a major boon to shoppers and store owners alike.

Park and Shop mock-up in the Washington Post – September 14th, 1930

Check out the invitation for a public opening on Friday, December 5th, 1930. This was published that day in the Washington Post.

Park and Shop opening advertisement – Washington Post (December 5th, 1930)

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This room is full of middle-aged white dudes.

The photograph below (courtesy of the Library of Congress) is the annual dinner of the American Engineering Council at the Mayflower Hotel, held in 1937.

annual dinner of the American Engineering Council (1937)

January 15th, 1937

Their annual meeting was held that morning in the hotel at 10 a.m., according to the Washington Post’s “What’s Going On and Where” column in the January 15th, 1937 paper.

Senator Joseph O’Mahoney was the featured speaker at this thrilling event, and it was written up in the Washington Post the following day.

Senator Joseph O’Mahoney, of Wyoming, told members of engineering societies meeting at the Hotel Mayflower last night that the only way for mass production to continue was to find a method to insure mass consumption.

This isn’t exactly our most exciting post subject matter, but the photo was pretty interesting.

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Look at this great route map we uncovered from 1936. This shows the major streetcar routes in 1936.

1936 streetcar map

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If you drive to work downtown and live somewhere up in Northwest D.C., you might be one of the thousands of people who drive down the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway (the formal name), one of the most pleasant (and fastest) commutes in the city.

The zippy commute can be attributed to the one-way rules in place during both morning and evening rush hours, though the latter gets a little nasty with the choke point going into the tunnel past the Duke Ellington Bridge.

Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway one-way hours (Wikipedia)

Have you ever wondered when those rules were put in place? We did. So, we dug around the archives to see what we could find.

Below is the earliest reference we could uncover in the Washington Post, from February 13th, 1938.

Beginning tomorrow, the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway will be placed on a one-way rush-hour basis between Lincoln Memorial and Calvert street bridge. Extension of the single-direct zone was necessitated by construction in replacing a bridge below the Shoreham Hotel.

From 8 a.m. to 9 a. m. only southbound traffic will be permitted between the two points mentioned, and from 4 p. m. to 5 p. m. only northbound traffic.

Happy Valentine’s Day 1938. Enjoy your faster commute.

In July 1939, the one-way rules were extended to 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. going southbound and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. heading northbound. These summer hours were necessitated by the earlier opening and closing hours of the government during the hotter, summer months.

Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway in 1939 (Library of Congress)

Another interesting thing to note … according to an old article in the Washington Post, it takes nine policemen to change the parkway from two-way to one-way during each rush hour. And, while this is underway, 25 more policemen block off intersections leading onto the Parkway.

Now, since this article was from 1975, I suspect (or hope) that it’s a little more efficient today.

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Ghost Dog visits the Duke Ellington Bridge

Ghost Dog went on another walk this past weekend to seek out three more stories for the GoDC community. This time, she passed through Adams Morgan, en route to the Duke Ellington Bridge (formerly known as the Calvert Street Bridge). It was named in honor of Washington’s native son in 1974, after Ellington’s death.

Construction on the bridge began in 1933 to replace the original 1891 streetcar bridge built by the Rock Creek Railway. That old bridge was a steel trestle bridge with a wooden roadway … and most likely a scary experience, riding 750 feet across over 100 feet over Rock Creek.

What’s really amazing is the old bridge was moved 80 feet south to be kept in service while the new bridge was being built. And, the bridge was successfully moved in 48 hours!

original Calvert St. bridge around 1910 (Library of Congress)

Ghost Dog had no problem walking over the current bridge and she (BTW, Ghost Dog is a girl) scouted out some stories. These are the three she came up with.

1. Opening day after $1,175,000: December 19th, 1935

The opening of the bridge in the evening of December 19th, 1935, was a grand affair, attending by over 30,000 people. Below is the Washington Post piece detailing the formal dedication of the bridge.

In and above the valley of Rock Creek, where violet and green and red spotlights played upon the three limestone-faced arches, 30,000 Washingtonians and a United States Senator from Oklahoma last night formally opened the new $1,175,000 Calvert Street Bridge.

Actually, half of it had been open to traffic since October 14.

Two little girls–Geraldine Clark, 4, daughter of the Assistant Engineer Commissioner, serious and soulfully brunette  and tinier, smiling Ann Laser, 6, with a big blue ribbon in her tumbled yellow curls–snipped the white tape that let traffic through for the first time along both lanes.

Then the parade swung across–big black limousines, carrying Commissioners Melvin C. Hazen and Dan I. Sultan and Board o Trade and citizens’ leaders.

Off to Connecticut avenue, the parade blared; then up to Woodley road; and so to Cathedral avenue and down into the valley of Rock Creek.

The reviewing stand was halfway down the valley, and half the parade never got there–three sections, the labor, commercial, and American Legion groups, were disbanded on Woodley road to save reviewing time so that the reviewers might go on father down the valley to speakers’ stand in time for the radio program.

All told, the full parade had 1,413 participants, in 106 automobiles and five floats; it had 10 bands; and it took 35 minutes to pass Eighteenth street and Kalorama road.

…

Commissioner Sultan said:

“It is a monument to the engineering profession, a thing of beauty that should serve for many years to come–I hope for a century.”

Commissioner Hazen said:

“It is a magnificent Christmas gift to the City of Washington.”

Senator Elmer Thomas, of Oklahoma, who guides District appropriations through the upper House, said:

“This is the bridge that gasoline built. It was paid for out of gasoline taxes, most of it, not all of them paid by residents of the District. Pennies for this bridge came from residents of Virginia and Maryland, even of foreign countries. This is one of the wonders of Washington.”

I love that label. One of the wonders of Washington.

There is also another interesting Oklahoma connection in Woodley Park. The Oklahoma State Society used to occupy the Greenberg House at 2301 Calvert St. (currently occupied by Syracuse University’s D.C. program).

Duke Ellington Bridge (Wikipedia)

2. Girl survives 100-foot fall plunge

Barbara Truitt (Washington Post)

Yes, the story is as crazy as it sounds. Below is an article we came across in the Washington Post from May 26, 1953.

An attractive, 19-year-old radio station clerk survived a 100-foot plunge from the Calvert st. bridge yesterday afternoon.

The girl, Barbara Truitt, of 3025 15th st. nw., vaulted over a railing in the middle of the bridge about 1:15 p. m., a witness told police. Physicians said she will live.

Police said when they found her under the bridge, she was moaning: “Let me die. Why didn’t I die. Put me out of my pain.”

Eighth Precinct Pvts. Kenneth E. Tippet and George Meikle, who arrived shortly after the plunge, said the girl’s fall was broken by a thick cluster of tree limbs.

Taken to Emergency Hospital, she was reported to be in “fairly good” condition, though suffering from fractures of all limbs, including a compound fracture of the left left, and possible back injuries. She later was transferred to Gallinger Hospital.

…

Employed at WTOP since last August, Miss Truitt moved to her 15th st. apartment a month ago.

3. Compromise on aesthetics to save lives

Sadly the Duke Ellington Bridge, like all bridges, was a prime location for suicides. The newspaper archives are full of tragic stories of depression and death. In one 10-day span in the 1980s, there were three deaths. Between 1978 and 1985, there were 40.

It was a horrible, growing trend that needed to be addressed. Unfortunately, for some, it meant compromising the aesthetic beauty of this grand triumph of engineering.

Construction on a fence began in 1985, but it was halted midway through completion due to loud protests by Ward 1 residents.

By December of that year, Mayor Marion Barry stepped in to announce that the fence would be completed to prevent any further suicides. Below is the article from the Washington Post, published on December 19th, 1985.

Mayor Marion Barry said yesterday that the city will finish construction of an eight-foot suicide barrier along the Calvert Street bridge that was halted after strong opposition from neighborhood groups and preservationists.

“Life is more important than esthetics,” Barry said.

In the last eight years, 37 persons have jumped off the bridge, known officially as the Duke Ellington Bridge. and a nearby span on Connecticut Avenue.

Opposition to the fence has come from City Council member Frank Smith (D-Ward 1), neighborhood groups and preservationists who have argued that such a barrier would be unsightly and would not stop those determined to jump from the Ellington bridge, the landmark arch over Rock Creek where most of the suicides have occurred.

James Morrison of the Kalorama Citizens Association said his group opposes Barry’s decision.

The mayor said that the fence would be erected on a trial basis and that its effectiveness would be reviewed in one year. A spokesman for the mayor said he believe the fence would be completed only along the Calvert Street bridge and not the Connecticut Avenue span.

aerial view of Duke Ellington Bridge in 1993 (Library of Congress)

The post Ghost Dog Fetches Three Stories About the Duke Ellington Bridge appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is totally fascinating. GoDCer, and early contributor, John sent along an awesome site, which is a gold mine for old maps. This is one of our early favorites.

It is a map from 1935, plotting all the residences housing a juvenile delinquent, according to the Juvenile Court of the District of Columbia.

1935 map of D.C. juvenile delinquents

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World War I mortar bomb

Chalk this up to recent GoDC convert Lisa, who dug this up a while ago while looking for information on her grandfather. It’s always great to find a connection to your past, but when the story is as bizarre as this, it’s extra special. Thank you Lisa for sharing with us.

This is a piece from the Washington Post on February 24th, 1931. (By the way, did you know that about a week later — March 3rd — The Star Spangled Banner was officially adopted as our national anthem?)

Two 12-year-old youths, bound in quest of adventure, succeeded in finding it yesterday afternoon in the shape of a 10-pound airplane bomb, which they unearthed on the playground of the Emery School, Lincoln road and Randolph place northeast.

Partially concealed under a pile of dirt, the bomb was discovered by James R. Carroll, jr., of 27 Randolph place northwest, who in company with Bernard Wood, his playmate who lives next door, had gone to the school grounds “to find something to do.” As the two boys were playing near the far end of the lot, young Carroll suddenly discovered the end of the bomb protruding from the dirt.

It was immediately dug from the ground and carried to the basement of the Carroll home where the boys were trying to “see what was inside” when Jame R. Carroll, sr., the boy’s father, entered and took possession of the bomb.

At the Second Police Precinct, where the bomb was taken, it was declared that the missile was fully loaded, although the fusecap which causes it to explode, had been removed. It was placed in a corner to await the arrival of the homicide squad, who took it to police headquarters.

The bomb is of the type used by the air forces during the World War, and weighs approximately 10 pounds. It is torpedo shaped, with four small “wings” at one end. Police declared it was extremely dangerous to handle and were at a loss to know how it happened to be on the school grounds. Headquarters detectives are investigating.

It is a damn good thing that thing didn’t explode in the basement. Also, bomb scares were certainly handled differently back then. Just ask Officer Sprinkle.

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More maps! Below is a great assessment map of Alexandria and Arlington County.

1930 assessment map of Alexandria

The post 1930 Assessment Map of Alexandria appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Click on the link because of the title? Perv.

Anyway, this is a photo of Jean Wallace, the daughter of Henry Wallace, who was FDR‘s Vice President before he was dumped for Harry Truman. This was taken in 1937, when Wallace was still Secretary of Agriculture. FDR still had his first of three veeps then, John Nance Garner.

Washington, D.C., circa 1937. “Jean Wallace.” The daughter of Henry A. Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture and future Vice President, at the Wardman Park Hotel pool.

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Bizarre title? Check out this great pic of the Irish Minister’s son (and cat) giving a brief radio address from his home. Yes, really.

Washington, D.C., circa 1938. “Patrick Brennan, son of the Minister of Ireland, and Mrs. Brennan.” Or something like that. One of a series of photographs depicting children of various diplomats speaking from their homes to a radio audience. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative.

The post even reported on it back in December 1938.

Christmas Broadcast Speeches Talks to Be Carried to Their Native Lands By Short Wave as an Annual Good Will Gesture to the World from Washington

The junior Diplomatic Corps in Washington, meaning the sons and daughters of foreign representatives here, are busy learning speeches — some are even writing their own — in preparation for the seventh international children’s Christmas broadcast Tuesday, December 20.

The speeches, which will convey their greetings to distant nations will be broadcast from the Shoreham. This event is arranged annually by the Greater National Capital committee as a good-will gesture to the world.

…

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You have to love this old photo from 1938. It shows two cars, a Ford on the left and on the right, a new brand they just launched, Mercury. I also love how the men are dressed. Nobody dresses up any more.

November 23, 1938. Washington, D.C. “Ford Motor Co., Union Station.” For the 1939 model year, Ford debuted a new brand called Mercury.

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In January 1939, a snowstorm hit the D.C. area, dumping five inches of snow. Normally, this would be cause for celebration as area children would beg their parents to let them play and sled.

January 14, 1939. “National Capital digs out after storm. Nearly five inches of snow blanketed Washington yesterday, followed by sleet. Icy steps made the going to and from the Capitol difficult until workmen arrived this morning and scraped away the menace.” Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative

The city was digging out from the storm, including the workmen on the Capitol steps above. In the newspaper, the next day, the following tragic article was published.

little Betty Amberger (Washington Post)

Four-year-old Betty Amberger couldn’t wait to see her father yesterday, and last night she was dead, crushed under the wheels of her father’s automobile.

Betty begged her mother to take her in her sled over 1939′s first snow to meet her father, due to be on his way home from the filling station he operates at Landover road and Defense highway in Prince Georges County. They set out, Mrs. Amberger towing the little girl on her sled.

A quarter of a mile from their home, an automobile approached through the blinding snow. Slithering and groping its way, it struck the sled. Mrs. Amberger screamed, the car stopped, and Paul Amberger, the baby’s father, stepped out.

He told police he could not see through his windshield, iced over by the snow which had so delighted Betty.

Attracted by Mrs. Amberger’s screams, James F. Fitzhugh, a neighbor, rushed the child to the rescue unit of the Bladensburg fire department. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Casualty Hospital.

This is such a sad story.

Below is the Amberger residence in the 1940 U.S. Census … just Paul and Dorothy.

Amberger residence in the 1940 U.S. Census

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GoDCer Patrick sent in a great suggestion a couple of weeks ago and we’re now digging up some great stories about the Quaker house on Florida (i.e., The Friends Meeting of Washington, D.C.).

The Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, dates back to the mid 1600s in England. To escape religious persecution, they began emigrating to New England. Interestingly, only two original colonies tolerated Quakers, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, where the largest groups began settling.

Well known for their pacifism, a number of notable Brits and Americans have been part of the church, including Susan B. Anthony, Joan Baez, Judi Dench, George Cadbury (i.e., the chocolate guy), Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Dolley Madison, Dave Matthews (yes, that one), James Michener, Edward R. Murrow, Presidents Hoover and Nixon, William Penn, Bonnie Raitt, and quite a few more.

Contrary to common belief, Benjamin Franklin was not a Quaker.

So, let’s share three interesting stories from the Quaker Meeting House on Florida Ave.

Florida Avenue Friends Meeting House (Haverford College)

1. President and Mrs. Hoover at opening

Built in 1930, the dedication and first services at The Friends Meeting of Washinton, D.C. took place early in 1931. The Washington Post published the following account of the service.

President and Mrs. Hoover were present yesterday at the first services conducted in the new Friends Meeting House at 2111 Florida avenue northwest.

Many Government Officials, members of Congress and persons in all walks of life, gathered at the new house of worship with the President of the United States and the First Lady of the land. Long before the service began, the building was filled to capacity, and hundreds crowded about the doors.

The edifice is of colonial design and is considered the most beautiful building of its kind in the Eastern section of the United States.

It was constructed as a national institution and will be used as a meeting place by Friends from all parts of the country.

Those who made addresses were Dr. Augustus T. Murray, of Palo Alto, Calif.; Henry Roth, Miss Esther Smith, George Waltham and Dr. Hornell Hart.

Never knew that Hoover was a Quaker. Frankly, didn’t know Nixon was either. Did you?

inside the Florida Avenue Quaker Meeting House (Haverford College)

2. Dynamited civil rights leader to speak

On Tuesday, February 26th, 1957, the meeting house hosted the Ralph D. Abernathy from Montgomery, Alabama. At the epicenter of the civil rights movement, he served as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery and was targeted in a bomb attack in January of that year.

The Washington Post published a short piece about Abernathy speaking at the meeting house.

The Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Montgomerty, Ala., whose home was damaged by dynamite last month, will speak at the Friends Meeting House, 2111 Florida ave. nw., 8 p. m. Tuesday.

Mr. Abernathy is vice president of the Montgomery Improvement Association and an associate of its president, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., in the months-long bus strike in Montgomery.

“Non-Violence and the Struggle for Equality and Justice” will be the subject of his talk, sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and the Joint Committees on Peace and Social Order of the Washington Friends.

Ralph was a contemporary and good friend of Martin Luther King, Jr., enduring numerous injustices at the hands of southern police officials, including 44 arrests and numerous property confiscations. Abernathy was at the March on Washington with King and shared Room 306 with him at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where King was assassinated.

Florida Avenue Quaker Meeting House (Haverford College)

3. Washington Post editor, Ben Bradlee, sued for assault

Yes, very bizarre. The headline “$500,000 Suit Filed Against Post Editor” was certainly intriguing, especially in the context of a pacifist Quaker post. This was published on November 14th, 1979.

A $500,000 suit has been filed in D.C. Superior Court accusing Benjamin C. Bradlee, executive editor of the Washington Post, of assault, battery and defamation.

The suit was brought by Henry Rosin of the District of Columbia in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Aug. 14 at the Friends Meeting House, 2111 Florida Ave. NW, following funeral services for Laurence M. Stern, assistant managing editor for national news of The Post.

Bradlee declined yesterday to comment on the suit. He referred questions to his attorney, Edward B. Williams.

Sadly, we couldn’t dig up much else on this lawsuit, but we were able to find out that Rosin had written some letters to the editor denouncing the Post’s coverage of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s. He claimed that the Post characterized much of what was said about Khmer Rouge as being “cold war propaganda.” Given this disdain for the publication, we’re guessing there was a less-than friendly exchange of words between the two men.

Friends Meeting House of Washington, D.C. (Wikipedia)

By the way, Haverford College has a great collection of images for the meeting house that you can check out.

The post Three Stories About the Quaker Meeting House appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Don’t you love these old photos? This one is creepy and haunting. The girl in the photo is Liana de Bayle, the daughter of the Minister of Nicaragua. Remind you of Poltergeist?

Washington, D.C., circa 1938. “Liana de Bayle, daughter of the Minister of Nicaragua and Senora de Bayle.” Harris & Ewing glass negative.of N

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This is our first “If Walls Could Talk” guest post. Marty wrote a great bit on one of the incredible mansions on Mass Ave.

Walsh-McLean Mansion in 1970 (Library of Congress)

The stately mansion at 2020 Massachusetts Ave NW surely must be one of DC’s greatest real estate bargains ever. The Indonesian government bought it back in 1951 for $335,000, less than half of what it cost Thomas Walsh to build in 1907.

But the untold tales of what took place behind the walls of what now is the Indonesian Embassy would be pure gold. Literally and figuratively.
That’s because gold-mining magnate Walsh installed a gold bar in the archway over the front door. He also included gold-flecked marble in the mansion’s pillars and supposedly buried a gold nugget in the foundation.

The mansion, known as the Walsh-McLean house, was occupied by Thomas (who died in 1910) and his wife Carrie Bell Reed and their daughter, Evalyn Walsh McLean, up until 1932. Alice Roosevelt, daughter of Teddy, and Florence Harding, wife of the 29th President, were frequent visitors as were many other political and business luminaries of the time. The royal family of Belgium stayed there during a U.S. visit in 1919.

Thomas Walsh commissioned the house in 1903. Word around town at the time was that it was destined to be the most costly house ever constructed in the nation’s capital.

Walsh built it for his daughter, the flamboyant socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean. The estimated $853,000 cost of construction is 1907 translates to more than $20-million today.

Walsh told architect Henry Anderson that he wanted the staircase to resemble that of an ocean liner, according to a 1997 account on embassy.org. He created an open deck promenade through three floors of carved mahogany.

The fourth floor featured a large ballroom and a theater with guests brought up aboard early elevators.

Some major soirees were held there during the 1920s. The New York Times reported on a legendary New Year’s bash where the guests drank 288 fifths of Scotch, 480 quarts of champagne, 40 gallons of beer, 35 bottles of liquors and 48 quarts of assorted cocktails. (Talk about in-depth reporting.)

Indonesian embassy (Walsh-McLean Mansion)

Evalyn Walsh McLean inherited the mansion following her mother’s death in 1932. But the house was vacant for a time as she and husband Edward Beale McLean were living at their Friendship Estate at what now is McLean Gardens off Wisconsin Avenue in Upper Northwest.

During the New Deal, Evalyn rented her mansion first to the Rural Rehabilitation Settlement Administration and later to the U.S. Rural Electrification Commission. During World War II, she let the Red Cross use it rent free.

Red Cross women made surgical dressings there and set up classes to train nurse’s aides, all part of the war effort.

On Dec. 19, 1951, Ali Sastromidjojo, the Indonesian ambassador, bought it for the bargain basement price of $335,000. The new owners searched the place for the missing gold but never found anything.

Best guess is that the McLeans may have sold the gold bar over the front door to help pay the bills during the depths of the Depression. (After all, Ned McLean’s Washington Post had been forced into bankruptcy in 1933.)

In 1982, the Indonesian government built an addition to the mansion, set back further from Massachusetts Avenue, opening up many of the large rooms on the main floor for entertainment and reception purposes.

Tours are available by arrangement with the Embassy. If you go, you might want to carefully check out the foundation for that long-missing golden nugget.

Walsh-McLean Mansion drawing room in 1970

The post If Walls Could Talk: Could They Tell Us What Happened to the Gold Nugget? appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Wise-Hooe-Lloyd House, 220 North Washington Street

If you live in Alexandria or have been there, you have undoubtedly been by this house. This is the Wise-Hooe-Lloyd House on North Washington St, sometime in the 1930s.

Check out the house today. Looks exactly the same.

The post Wise-Hooe-Lloyd House, 220 North Washington St. appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

The caption on this photo states that the home was for rent. It’s unclear where this building is, but it looks like a pretty crappy place to live. I’m also pretty sure this building no longer exists.

One of few available houses for rent. Washington, D.C. One of the few available houses for rent under the crowded conditions. A study of the structure, however, will explain why there is no one now living in it

This photograph was taken by Carl Mydans in 1935 and I dug it up at the Library of Congress.

The post Rundown House Available for Rent appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

I know it’s probably hard to imagine, but Georgetown wasn’t always the bastion of Washington’s wealthy. Back in the 1930s many working class and even poor families lived in the neighborhoods now mostly occupied by lawyers, politicians and rich diplomats.

Below is a photograph from September 1935 taken by Carl Mydans. The caption states that it’s a group of young, poor children playing on a street in Georgetown. The best part is the sheer joy on the face of the kid to the left.

poor children in Georgetown, playing on the street (1935)

I wonder what happened to these children. They appear to young to be destined for the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific during World War II.

The post The Poor Kids of Georgetown appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

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

The post Shabby Houses on Mass Ave appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

What a great shot. I only wish we knew this guy’s name, where he lived, what he did and what happened to him. He was a taxi driver in Washington around 1935 when this photograph was taken.

taxi driver in Washington around 1935

As you can see, I’m coming across a number of great photos this evening and sharing them piecemeal … be prepared for a big photo week coming up!

The post Who Was This Taxi Driver? appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Wow. I think this photo speaks for itself. What an amazing shot of what would become Federal Triangle.

Looking southeast at the Old Post Office Pavilion (far left), Southern Railway Building (middle), and District Building on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., in 1932. On in the fall of 1932, the structures in rear of the District Building would be razed to make way for the U.S. Department of Labor building, whose cornerstone would be laid on December 15, 1932

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Here’s a great photo from Shorpy. This shows a row of houses on Massachusetts Ave. near Union Station in 1935.

Sept. 1935. Washington, D.C. “Houses on Massachusetts Avenue near Union Station.” Photo by Carl Mydans, Resettlement Administration.

And here is the photo of the the kids again, this time up close.

September 1935. A closeup of the Washington, D.C., row house seen here over the weekend. “Front of old brick structure in section near Union Station. Land is low here and water collects in front and backyard after a rain and remains for many days. Entrances to privies are usually under water. Interior of homes similar in shabbiness to exterior.” 35mm nitrate negative by Carl Mydans for the Resettlement Administration.

The post Children of Poverty Near Union Station appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Ugh, nobody likes parking meters. I always forget to have enough change, but thankfully, Parkmobile has saved the day.

But, for our less fortunate grandparents, the installation of parking meters was a serious pain in the ass back in the 1930s.

This brilliant, money making nuisance was first installed in Oklahoma City in 1935 to help reduce congestion and encourage parking turnover … and of course, generate revenue for the city, both from the meters and parking tickets.

Melvin Hazel testing out a nickel parking meter in 1938

To say that meters were controversial would be an understatement. Pay to park your car on a public street? How unbelievably American.

Pay your taxes to make sure the streets are paved, swept and patrolled by police … AND now pay to park your car on them? You can imagine how objectionable this proposal was, not to mention having the appearance of an unfair tax. Wealthy people had no issues forking over the nickel, but it added up for regular folks.

Needless to say, people were pissed. One such person wrote a letter to the editor, published in the Washington Post on December 9th, 1938, entitled “Parking Meter Taxes.”

To the Editor of The Post–Sir: The purpose of this letter is to ask a question that must have occurred to many people: Bu whose authority were the parking meters installed in downtown Washington?

The parking fee is nothing more nor less than a tax, and the power to tax rests with the people. The people of Washington are taxed heavily and without their consent, in return for which they receive inadequate police protection, antiquated fire-fighting equipment, and schools forced to operate in the winter with poor heat and light because of a a curtailed budget.

Today there is a great hue and cry, and rightly so, against the undemocratic policies of certain European nations, but let us look to the protection of our own rights under a Constitution that places sovereignty in the hands of the people.

The fathers fought a bitter war for the right to tax themselves  The people of Maryland were subjected to a Nazi-like rule during the Civil War when a citizen was shot dead for shaking his fist at Federal troops passing through the State, a man was kept in jail after Chief Justice Taney had personally made a trip to Baltimore to declare on the legality of the action, and the use of the polls was limited to the people of one political party.

When the District officials announce that the people of Washington will be taxed for parking on their own streets, it is just as serious an offense against democracy as the above instances. And to those who claim the meters are not a tax but an attempt to regulate parking, we refer them to the Drexel Furniture case, where the Supreme Court disallowed a tax on products of child labor because it was not a tax but an attempt to regulate.

Nowhere in America are the people taxed without their consent. Why not let the people of Washington into the Union to enjoy the privileges and immunities of a democracy.

JOHN B. STRUBLE.
Washington, Dec. 6.

Wow. There are quite a few subtexts in this hyperbolic letter. Where do we start? The Nazis in 1938, ramping up power and control in Germany, on the brink of unleashing the worst war the world has ever seen? Okay, but the Maryland comparison is a little much. Probably a little much.

man checking out parking meters in 1938

Also, I don’t know if we should take solace in the fact that John is complaining about high taxes and crappy District services. Things don’t change do they?

… and the D.C. statehood people will love that last line.

By the way, do you think Ron Paul ghost wrote this letter? Pun intended.

The post First Parking Meters in D.C. appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a photo from Shorpy of Happy News Cafe at 1727 7th St. NW.

Washington, D.C., circa 1937. Exterior of the Happy News Cafe (described in a 1933 news item as “the new dietitian restaurant for the unemployed”) at 1727 Seventh Street N.W. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative.

… and the best part, is that the building is still there, albeit, slightly altered.

The post Happy News Cafe on 7th St. in 1937 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

The Department of Commerce‘s massive, beast of a building is bound by Constitution Avenue (why is it named Constitution Avenue?), 14th St., Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th St. Construction finished and it opened in 1932, at the end of President Herbert Hoover‘s lame duck presidency and in the depths of the Great Depression.

The Public Buildings Act of 1926 set aside $165 million for the construction of a number of government buildings in Federal Triangle, $17 million of which was dedicated to the Commerce building. In 1929, Herbert Hoover, former Secretary of Commerce, and then president, laid the cornerstone for the building using the same shovel George Washington used when laying the cornerstone of the Capitol Building.

Constructed with 9 million bricks and Indiana limestone, it has 3,300 rooms, has hallways that stretch a 1/5 of a mile and at the time of dedication, was the largest federal office building in the country with 1.8 million square feet of space.

Upon completion, the building required 3,701 radiators to heat the space during the winter, with a total weight of 420 tons. I could go on with these crazy statistics, but I think this building makes a perfect subject for the next “Three Things…” post.

Department of Commerce

1. Reporter walks 7 3/4 miles of hallways

You could easily complete a marathon by running the hallways of the Commerce Department. The building opened in January 1932 and, that month, a Washington Post reporter spent three hours walking the hallways of the new federal building.

A. N. Wecksler walked 7 3/4 miles of Commerce Department hallways with a pedometer and watch, furnished by the Post’s editor, to determine how many miles of corridor actually existed in the building.

The Washington Post goes a long way to greet the workers of the new Department of Commerce Building as a matter of fact, the editor presented a small watch-like arrangement and good wishes to me with instructions that his regards were to be relayed the workers, and the watch, a pedometer, would check the distance I walked.

A visit to the captain of the guard, Tom Breslin, who assured me that if I lost the way, he would instruct me by telephone which way to turn, began an excursion into the strange and hidden labyrinths of the new structure, of which any single offi,ce floor is larger than that of any other building.

Questioning a few of the passersby on the seventh floor as to their estimate of the length of the corridors, I received replies ranging from five to twenty-five miles. A messenger boy, some one said, could, if his shoes lasted, walk the halls in a day, and perhaps have time for lunch.

A number of persons were walking, some peering at the doors to read the numbers; others seemed to have given up hope and were just wandering.

The corridors are wide and a large diagram of the floor plan is posted near every elevator, with a large star labeled “this star indicates your present location.” You might doubt the sign, but no one has as yet been able to do so on good authority.

The pedometer, housed in a watch pocket, clicked slowly as I paced the halls. Stops at the different offices to impart the message of good will–accordingly silence its click. Thoughts of the watchman as he made the rounds at night, walking the same miles that were being registered on the meter, blended with a vision of a new easy chair that was most likely before some Patent Office official, in the building, for his stamp of approval.

Three hours had passed when the last corridor hove in sight, and an end to the exploration jaunt seemed imminent. The pedometer registered seven and three-quarter miles, and I registered fatigue. It’s a long, long trail through the new Commerce Building, and it gets longer in the walking. Pity the messenger boy who traverses the walks, and don’t forget your roller skates when visiting the Department of Commerce.

And there you have it … 7 3/4 miles of wandering the halls of the Department of Commerce. Any GoDCers work there? How many miles have you walked?

By the way, my GoDC curiosity took over and I had to know at least where this Wecksler guy lived. According to city directories of the time, he resided at 1420 Oak St. NW in Columbia Heights. His given name was Abraham and he was born in 1913, so he was just 19 when he was wandering the halls of the Commerce building, on assignment for the Washington Post.

By 1940, he had left D.C. for Houston with his wife Julia and taken a job as an advertising salesman.

Department of Commerce, 15th St. side

2. Alligators in the building … literally

alligators are scary

Um, this is weird. Not just one, but a handful of articles about alligators in the building. In the early days of the building, three humorously named gators lived in the basement of the building. Below is an article from the Washington Post on June 24th, 1932, with a little more detail.

There are just three things causing a great amount of worry among the thousands of Government employes in Washington–Pay Cut, Furlough and Dismissal. But only those working the new Department of Commerce Building have actually come face to face with these problems.

From 9 o’clock in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, employes of this building are kept on the jump attempting to avoid Pay Cut, Furlough and Dismissal. Even Secretary of Commerce Lamont directs his steps in the opposite direction when confronted with these problems.

But these folks can’t be blamed, Pay Cut, Furlough and Dismissal are really something to worry about. They are alligators, and have free run of the entire Commerce Department basement.

The three ‘gators came from Chicago, a present of the Bureau of Fisheries. Zoo officials have refused to accept them. There is no room to house them, they say.

Lovely names for the reptiles, but WTF?! Letting alligators roam loose in the basement?

Commerce Department entrance

3. Built on top of an ancient pirate, ghost river

Well, not exactly a ghost river, but that’s a catchy name given the blog’s name! A fascinating Washington Post article from August 14th, 1929 mentioned that the building was being constructed right on top of an old, long passed, river bed. This old river didn’t give up its flow, causing water problems with the foundation during construction.

Seepage from a river of a hundred years ago–an historic ribbon of water that now wends its way beneath the streets of Washington–has caused a large pool of water to appear in a portion of the foundation of the new Commerce Building, it was learned yesterday.

The constant flow of this old river, that refuses to be stemmed, will necessitate the installation of seven pumps on the new building to drain off the water, it was discovered. The Roman-like pool that now lies at the end of the foundation nearest Pennsylvania avenue is being allowed to gather so that a test can be made, it was explained.

Years ago, before Washington and L’Enfant visualized the National Capital, a river flowed east from the Potomac. Pirates used this tributary for their nefarious traffic. Proof of this fact was given about a year ago when a boat was excavated as the foundations were being made for the new Revenue Building, the location of which lies in the path of the river.

On and on the river flows, and as long as the new Commerce Building stands there will be danger of damp basement floors if the seven pumps loaf on the job. When the Commerce Building was first started, it was thought that the constant appearance of water in the foundation excavation was from the Potomac, but since then it has actually been proved that the seepage comes from the ancient river, a river whose name has gone with the lost memories of the pirates.

Consequently, the new Commerce Building is a modern castle built upon sand–and upon the bosom of an old river. The foundation of the new building does not rest on bed rock. No bed rock exists. But, as the architects and contractors who are erecting the building will explain, the absence of bed rock will not interfere with its strength.

The construction of the new Government edifice will be as firm as any skyscraper that rests on the bed rock of Manhattan. The entire foundation is anchored and made secure by 13,500 concrete piles. Thes [sic] piles, together with many other kinds of reinforcement, support the steel columns that will form the framework of the new building.

So a huge building to be built upon sand and a river will endure as long as those erected on solid rock. If you are still skeptical, remember that Uncle Sam is particular about the durability of his monuments.

Besides the pumps, an elaborate drainage system will carry off the water that seeps into the foundation. The large pool that now exists will continue to form until architects have discovered the maximum height the seepage will reach. Then, they will know at what point to place the pumps. The pool started July 24 and it is rising about one-half inch a day. Architects believe that in about two weeks it will reach its maximum level.

Public health officials are keeping a careful watch on the pool in case mosquitoes start breeding. Mosquitoes have bred in many small pools that formed in other parts of the foundation and were exterminated through oil. Oil, however, can not be placed in the large pool, as it will destroy the waterproof lining on the foundation sides. If mosquitoes do appear from the test pool a colony of hungry fish will be put in the water to eat the larvae and the eggs, it was announced by public health officials.

Okay, an ancient pirate river? This is one of the most fascinating discoveries we have come across and it makes the building ten times cooler. Spread the word Department of Commerce employees! You are working on top of a river, formerly traversed by swashbuckling pirates! So cool.

B St. between 15th and 14th St. in 1913 (Baist real estate atlas)

The post Three Stories About the Department of Commerce Building appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Congratulations to the latest “If Walls Could Talk” poll winner, The Pig.

Congrats! @thepigdc with a huge late surge to 45%, you are indeed the winner over @rustikdc @darlingtonhouse @nelliesdc @18thamendment

— Ghosts of DC (@GhostsofDC) November 2, 2012

So, let’s look into the story behind 1320 14th St. NW.

The Pig at 1320 14th St. NW (foodnomad.net)

Auction sales today

The first mention of the address we could find was in the Washington Post on April 3rd, 1878.

B. H. Warner–4:30 P.M., improved property, No. 1320 Fourteenth street northwest.

Warner’s property was one of four auctions listed in the paper that day. Warner was just over 30 at the time and originally from Pennsylvania. He was listed in the 1880 U.S. Census as a real estate agent and lived with his wife, son and three daughters at 1321 11th St. NW.

Warner family in the 1880 U.S. Census

Baist real estate map in 1903

We love these maps, so here is the Baist map, centered on 1320 14th St. NW. The ping buildings are brick structures and yellow are wood. It looks like number 23 is the location of The Pig.

1300 block of 14th St. NW in 1903 (Baist real estate map)

Holbrook Motor Company to sell the Allen

1916 Allen Touring Car

At the end of 1919, the Holbrook Motor Company announced that it would open a showroom at 1320 14th St. NW to sell the Allen car and place a service station at 627 L St. NW.

H. Guy Grimmel was the head of the new operation in D.C., coming here from the Baltimore office.

Holbrook Auto Corporation advertisement in 1920

Yeggs, baffled, take safe away

Here’s a story from the Washington Post during the heart of the Great Depression, November 26th, 1934.

Thieves who couldn’t crack a safe in the Superior Motors Co., 1320 Fourteenth street northwest yesterday, hauled the safe off for a little homework, according to police.

Harold A. Simmons, of 2909 Thirteenth street northwest, president of the company reported to police that the unskilled cracksmen had entered the company’s offices through a glass skylight in the roof. They had slid down a rope and then begun work on the safe–work that was evidently fruitless from the disarray in the office.

Baffled in trying to force the steel door, but unwilling to give up, the yeggs pulled and tugged the safe through a door and hauled it away.

Now that’s some serious determination, but how the hell did nobody see and report this? I’m sure dragging a giant safe down a street would be a little conspicuous.

By the way, a yegg is a safe cracker (if you didn’t guess that from the context).

Rucker Electronics and Beat the Clock

Roxanne (aka Dolores Rosedale)

Rucker Electronic Products held the space in the 1950s and they opened their store in 1954 with an open house. The guest of honor that day was Roxanne, of “Beat the Clock” fame. Leslie C. Rucker had a number of stores in the area, including one at 608 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, 1213 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington (want to know why it’s named Arlington?) and 8099 13th St. in Silver Spring (want to know why it’s named Silver Spring?).

Maybe The Pig will name one of their dishes “Roxanne” after reading this post.

Police seize betting cards

Here’s an article from February 4th, 1969 in the Washington Post.

Card showing betting odds

The owner of a printing shop was arrested yesterday in connection with the printing of thousands of cards showing how to figure the odds in the numbers game.

Police said Robert H. Brown, 44, owner of Brown Printing Shop at 1320 14th st. nw., was charged with advertising and promoting a lottery and possession of gambling cards and papers.

They said they believed it was the first time such a charge, which comes under local lottery laws, had been used here.

Lt. Robert Dollard, head of the gambling squad, said Brown was arrested in the shop at 10:30 a.m. on a search warrant. He said that thousands of cards, both printed and blank, were confiscated.

Residents protest Logan Circle sex shop

Oh, this is where is gets good … the dirty, seedy D.C. of the 1980s. Remember those days? Marion Barry does.

Here’s an article from the Washington Post, published March 27th, 1985.

Angry Logan Circle residents protesting the opening of a sexually oriented business in their neighborhood heard its operator say last night that he would operate it as “Hugh Hefner would run the playboy mansion.”

The shop, marked by a sign that reads “Met Personals–Models Wanted,” opened last week in a commercial area a block from Logan Circle and featured women dressed in bikini outfits posing in the front window.

The business was closed by D.C. police yesterday because it lacked a commercial certificate of occupancy. However, operator Dennis Sobin said he intends to reopen as soon as he secures the required permit.

Last night, as about 100 people filled the sidewalk in front of the small shop at 1320 14th St. NW, Sobin made his way into the crowd and told them : “Anyone is invited in my house to have sex or anything else they want to do.”

…

Sobin, who later described the crowd as “a crazy mob,” said he has applied for a certificate of occupancy for a sporting goods store and a publishing company and that he expects to receive certificates soon.

Now this story surely would generate a good name for either a menu item or a special cocktail. Post a few ideas below in the comments.

Logan Circle residents protest a sex shop at 1320 14th St. NW (Washington Post)

The post If Walls Could Talk: The Pig appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Francis Shoemaker – Photograph, 1934, Collection of U.S. House of Representatives

This is another example of how you don’t want to see your name in the papers. This is an article from the Baltimore Sun, published on Mar 9th, 1934.

Washington, March 8 (AP)–Representative Shoemaker (F.-L., Minn.) was arrested tonight on a charge of assaulting a taxicab driver. At police headquarters he posted a $25 collateral for appearance tomorrow morning.

Two District of Columbia detectives served the warrant, sworn out by Charles Newman, the cab driver, on Shoemaker outside the latter’s suite in the House Office Building, and took him to headquarters in a police car.

Shoemaker said he would appear for trial at 9:30 A. M., although he may elect to forfeit his collateral.

The warrant was issued two days ago after Newman had alleged that the Minnesota Representative had struck him in a row at a traffic light.

The post Congressman Arrested After Striking Cab Driver appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This photo captures such a sad face on the child’s face.

Children browse a street market in Washington, D.C. Photograph by John Vachon, November, 1937.

The post Children at Magazine Stand (1937) appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

The “Three Things…” post about Cannon was pretty popular, so we’re going to continue our Hill-oriented posts with another one on the Longworth House Office Building. We suspect that the building houses and equal to possibly larger number of GoDCers (we’ll see with our traffic stats).

Longworth House Office Building (Architect of the Capitol)

1. Elevator plummets five stories with Congressman’s daughter inside

Absolutely terrifying. How are those elevators today? Maybe you will be more inclined to take the stairs after reading this article by the Washington Post from February 23rd, 1934.

Miss Reba L. Doughton, pretty daughter of Representative Robert L. Doughton (Democrat), of North Carolina, narrowly escaped serious injury yesterday when an elevator in the New House Office Building dropped five floors.

The elevator failed to stop at the floor Miss Doughton had ordered and the operator, fearing it was out of control, turned off the electric current, stopping the cab by emergency device.

Miss Doughton, who is employed by her father, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was treated for shock in her father’s office and later sent home.

An inspection of the ultramodern elevator system in the New House Office Building will be made today as a result of the accident.

Doughton last night declared that the “elevator service never has been satisfactory” despite the fact that the system is of the most modern type.

David Lynn, architect of the Capitol, said that the elevator, had not actually dropped but that the operator, Early Gilkey, had become frightened when the cab did not stop when he thought it should.

Miss Doughton spoke highly of the presence of mind of the operator, however, and said that her life was probably saved by the alacrity with which he turned off the power.

Reports that the elevators had dropped on previous occasions, though without injuring any one, were “news” to Lynn.

Don’t worry. I’m sure the elevators have been replaced since 1934. You should be fine.

Representative Robert L. Doughton of North Carolina

2. Foreign steel not welcome

If you’re pro-union, or maybe from Pittsburgh, this is right up your alley. the Longworth building (then known as the new House Office Building) was being built and a large quantity of foreign steel was discovered to be included in the building materials. And of course, the Washington Post was there to report on it in 1932.

The office of the Capitol architect has ordered the removal of 15,000 feet of foreign made steel, which had been delivered at the new House Office Building for use as “channels” in holding metal lath as a basis for plaster.

When the McNulty Bros. Co. of Chicago, the plastering contractors, were unable to furnish affidavits that the steel it had purchased from the Hudson Supply Co., of this city was of domestic make, the removal order was issued.

The Hudson Supply Co., according to Horace D. Rouzer, assistant Capitol architect, admitted that it had foreign steel in his storeyard, as well as domestic steel. The foreign material was removed and the company agreed to replace it with steel of domestic manufacture.

The removal order came clsoe on the heels of an order of President Hoover that domestic material is to be used wherever possible in all Government projects. In the building contracts made between the Government and contractors, there is a clause providing that domestic material be given preference over foreign products.

Federal building inspectors have been on the alert for foreign steel as the result of information given by the Concrete Steel Institute that a large quantity of steel has been imported from Belgium.

If you ever happen to be giving a Capitol tour to a Belgian family, now you can tell them that the Longworth building is not made from Flemish steel. I’m sure they’ll enjoy that fact.

3. This shotgun is for the Congressman

The guy in this story would be arrested in a nanosecond. This is from a Washington Post article on March 31st, 1954.

A man strode into the new House Office Building the other day with a shotgun under his arm. He looked the guard in the eye and said: “this is for Congressman Latham.”

If there was ever any thought that the Capitol Hill police had recovered their aplomb since the Puerto Ricans shot up the House of Representatives, this dispelled it.

The guard stared at the shotgun in wide-eyed horror. Obviously he didn’t think he was long for this world. He was still gibbering when the man deposited the shotgun on the guard’s desk and departed without potting a single Congressman.

It may be months before the guard recovers, although he has learned that the episode had an innocent explanation.

It developed that the shotgun belongs to Rep. Henry J. Latham of Queens Village, Long Island. The Republican Mr. Latham is a naval reservist.

Some time back, he loaned the gun to a fellow naval reservist. The latter called up Representative Latham a few days ago and said he wanted to return the firearm because he is leaving Washington.

“All right,” Representative Latham replied without thinking of the effect it would have, “bring it to my office at the Capitol.”

So … literally, it was for the Congressman.

Do not try this today.

The post Three Bits of Trivia About the Longworth House Office Building appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Taking a look at our web analytics, we see that we are reasonably popular among those of you working on the Hill (with a large spike during August recess – not a lot to do then other than surf the Web).

So, to pique your interest and see if we can write our most emailed article by those of you with @mail.house.gov addresses, we’re going to focus our latest “Three Things…” post on the building you work in (at least a good chunk of Hill GoDCers).

Cannon House Office Building (Library of Congress)

Of course, keeping true to Ghosts of DC style, only obscure stories that will be great additions

1. No admittance or “watermelon parties” after 5 p.m.

According to an article on September 8th, 1923, wild parties were a common occurrence in the building. When Congress was on recess, the staffers went a little nuts. Remember that this was during prohibition, inside a federal building.

In an effort to stop an epidemic of wild parties which have been held with great frequency in the House Office building during the recess of Congress, the superintendent of public buildings and grounds has had erected this sign in the rotunda of the main floor:

“Visitors not allowed after 5 p.m.”

Policemen stationed at the entrance to the building have been instructed to enforce the rule strictly and they are, much to the embarrassment, if not disgust, of the employes of the representatives.

…

However, all sorts of reports are current as to the nature of the offense which brought forth the ban on visitors. One is that at one of the parties staged in the office of a dry representative corn whisky and hard cider were the chief liquid refreshments. All went well for a short time until the whisky and the cider got in their work and the men got in a free-for-all fight over the girls. One of the men was knocked against a wash bowl in the room and so badly cut that it was necessary to take him to a hospital.

On the heels of that affair a “watermelon party” was held in the office of a representative on the fourth floor. Corn liquor was also served at that function and the guests became extremely hilarious. Two of the girls dressed like Eve, ran up and down the corridors it is said.

For some time certain offices in the building have been under surveillance and policeman stationed in offices have been able to learn the names of the offenders. Just what action they intend to take has not been disclosed.

I suspect the same shenanigans and tomfoolery exists today, however, mostly located in the bars on Pennsylvania Ave.

DISCLAIMER: If congressional staffers throw a “watermelon party” after reading this post, Ghosts of DC cannot be held liable, nor responsible for any damage caused to federal property (unless GoDC is invited and materially participates).

Washington Post headline 1923

2. Pennsylvania Congressman ends his life in office

Samuel A. Kendall (Library of Congress)

This is a sad and tragic story of Samuel A. Kendall, the 73-year-old Republican representing Pennsylvania’s 24th Congressional District (eliminated in 1983), representing Fayette, Greene and Somerset counties.

On January 9th, 1933, the Washington Post reported on the tragic end to Congressman Kendall’s life.

Seeking from death an anodyne that life denied him, Representative Samuel Austin Kendall, 73-year-old Pennsylvania Republican, yesterday calmly ended his career with a .38 caliber pistol as he sat in his easy chair at his suite in the House Office Building.

A neatly penned note lay on the dead Representative’s desk, saying he had been unable to “throw off my grief” caused by the death of his wife last August and of a favorite son 20 years ago, and was going to “join them in heaven.”

The body of Representative Kendall was found by William Whelan, House mail clerk, just before 11 o’clock yesterday morning. A number of persons in the office building said they heard a shot some time between 10:15 and 10:45 a. m. Among these was Representative Hall (Republican), North Dakota.

A second note simply declared “notify J. W. Kendall, son, 2401 Calvert street,” giving the telephone number. Another son, Samuel A. Kendall, jr.,  also was notified and, searching among effects of his father at his home, discovered another missive identical with that found on the representative’s desk. This indicated to Capitol authorities that Representative Kendall’s death had been contemplated for weeks. The note found on his desk read:

“Dear children: My work on earth is completed. The sudden death of your dear mother was the most severe shock of my whole life and I have been unable to throw off my grief.

“Every day has added to my sorry, and I can no longer bear my suffering which I have kept from you.

“Mother has been calling me to join her and little Van in Heaven and I can no longer resist th call and am going to join them. Good-bye.

“FATHER.”

Sad.

According to the newspaper, this was the first suicide at the Capitol.

Representative Kendall served from 1919 until his death. His term was to expire that year, as he lost the election in 1932. While serving in Congress, his office was 408 in what is now the Cannon House Office Building, currently occupied by Democrat Karen Bass (CA-33)

3. Lost dog takes up home in House office building

Who doesn’t love a dog story? On January 18th, 1924, the Washington Post had a story about a dog who had started shacking up in the building.

A chow dog, aristocratic in appearance, evidently lost ,has been making the House office building his home since Wednesday morning.

Shy of strangers, the chow divides the day between trotting through the corridors and sitting on the front steps, awaiting the return of his owner.

Representative John C. Speaks, of Ohio, yesterday treated the dog to a sumptuous feast of meat. Mr. Speaks said the owner probably can find the chow at the main entrance to the office building.

super poofy chow

Stay tuned … Longworth is coming up tomorrow!

The post Three Bits of Trivia About the Cannon House Office Building appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

For this last post, let us turn to the December 2, 1936 copy of the Washington Post. In this article, we observe a great tongue-in-cheek opening line (a nod to various failed multilateral trade initiatives, notably the 1933 London World Economic Conference):

“The State Department last night refused to make a reciprocal trade agreement with Cupid.”

On President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s instructions, the State Department announced that diplomats in the foreign service had to get permission from the Department to marry foreigners. A study ostensibly conducted by State noted that 18% (127 out of 684) of the foreign service officers were “married to aliens.” In the list of names mentioned in the article, five U.S. foreign service officers had married Canadians (three from Ontario and one each from Nova Scotia and British Columbia).

Each picture here is probably a love story of some description (like the Bio pages in the Express). To prohibit such stories because of the randomness of nationality seems like a sad thing. Yet, fear is such a strong emotion. I can understand the situation and that it happened is completely believable. But know this: DC, like all capital cities, is a bit of a weird place. There are lovely, delightful foreigners running around marrying Americans, and newspapers like the Washington Post are printing portraits of lovely, delightful foreigners (you know, to entice the Americans). It’s a vicious, twisted cycle.

So, at the end of all this, how can I sum up these reflections?

When comparing the past and present, we can point to continuity and change–and both of these analytical categories are important for social science. On the one hand, the diplomatic circle in DC remains a unique segment of the community. We can identify them by their license plates. On the other hand, the character of social interaction today weaves them straight into the Washington, DC happy hour scene rather than exclusive “hospitalities” like those ca. 1914 (though these happenings surely still occur).

Social media is a part of DC culture, including the diplomatic corps, and the incorporation of these technologies has accelerated and intensified our sense of ‘lived time’. We don’t check to see if we’ve made the Society pages of the Washington Post, but we check-in on Foursquare. These tools have made it possible to configure our social groupings in unique and unprecedented ways. Whether these groupings further isolate us into various communal echo chambers, or allow us to experience the diversity of humanity for the purpose of living meaningfully is solely up to us.

[Some credits: My name is Jason, and I'm finishing my PhD in International Relations and teaching a course on theories of international politics at the university near Tenleytown. I used ProQuest via the university to access the Washington Post archive, and these posts were purely for educational purposes. It's true that I'm not Canadian, but my wife is. And my father-in-law is always reminding me who torched the White House in 1814.]

The post Franklin Roosevelt: No Marrying Foreign Aliens appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

We are guaranteed to play postseason baseball after last night’s win over the Dodgers. Our magic number to win the National League East is down to eight games. Let’s see some #NATITUDE from GoDCers and pride in our baseball team!

Along those lines, here are two great films from the last time out team was in the World Series. These are from 1933 when the Senators played the New York Giants, sadly, losing in five games (two in extra innings). By the way, Game 5 of the World Series was the last postseason game played in this city … so you can see why last night’s win was so important.

The video below starts off with Babe Ruth shaking Joe Cronin’s hand at the Polo Grounds before Game 1. Some silent film highlights from Game 1, including Carl Hubbell on the mound and a Mel Ott home run.

The video below is a short film clip from the History Channel featuring a Fred Schulte home run and Mel Ott’s blast.

The post Washington’s Last World Series appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

The story we dug up on Herbert Hoover’s rural camp the other week piqued our interest in learning more about it, and since it was within driving distance, we wanted to see it in person.

Last weekend Ghosts of DC decided to take a field trip out to Shenandoah to visit Rapidan Camp, the site of President Hoover‘s getaway. This was the precursor to Camp David and a little more rustic.

We — and by “we” I mean my dog and I — headed west for Skyline Drive and south to Big Meadows and a nice two mile hike into the back country. The sign said it was a two hour hike, one-way. I’d like to put it on the record that we made it in one.

So, wandering around the camp we snapped the photos below (sadly no photos were allowed inside Hoover’s cabin, but you can see a couple in the old post).

I won’t share all the interesting facts about the camp here. You can just read the Wikipedia article for that. But, it is interesting to note that Hoovered deeded the property to the U.S. Government upon exiting the White House for use as a presidential retreat. Unfortunately, FDR wasn’t a big fan of the camp since he was in a wheelchair and it was so difficult to get around between buildings. And so, that’s why we now have Camp David (formerly known as Shangri-La).

By the way, Camp David was named after President Eisenhower’s grandson, David.

The post A Visit to President Hoover’s Rapidan Camp appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

We have posted a couple times about the legendary slugger Josh Gibson. He is both a fascinating subject to learn about and a terribly tragic figure. We came across this short biographical clip that we thought we should share.

The post Don’t Forget Josh Gibson appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

White House honey ale

That’s a pretty good attention grabbing headline from the Washington Post. And I think this is appropriate, given the current media focus on the White House’s home brewed beer. There was even an official response by the White House regarding the current beer recipe as well as a Wikipedia page.

This one was published on September 30th, 1934 about claims of a slightly out of control party thrown at the White House.

An expression of surprised indignation was the White House reaction yesterday to a report, rejected by the New Jersey Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which criticized President and Mrs. Roosevelt for an alleged hilarious beer party in the Executive Mansion last winter.

…

The White House party in question was given last January 30–the Saturday before New Year’s–for the President’s children and their friends, including a number of newspapermen. The United Press, quoting one of those present, said:

“It was entirely sedate and formal. There were two kegs of 3.2 beer, the unsightly portions covered with napkins. About 500 guests were present and there wasn’t more than one glass of beer for each. The only other beverage was punch and it was not spiked. Nobody could get drunk on that. Nobody was tipsy.

I’m not sure how January 30 is before New Year’s. The paper probably mistyped it. Nevertheless, this is important because Prohibition was not officially repealed in Washington until March 1st, 1934, when the first legal drinks were consumed in D.C.

legalize beer cartoon by Pat Enright

The article continues …

Deets Pickett, research secretary of the National Methodist Board of Temperance, Prohibition and Public Morals, commented:

“I think that President Roosevelt believes there is no particular harm in beer and a great deal in whisky, and that the proper policy would be to let the beer traffic run and keep whisky down to an absolute minimum … Sooner or later I think we will be justified in going to him and asking action, and I believe he will strike a blow at the liquor traffic.”

So, FDR was a beer man? I kind of see him as a wine person. Obama is apparently a beer man. Check out the video below.

The post Charge of ‘Beer Orgy’ Angers White House appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Babe Ruth and the Yankees came to town in September of 1934 for one last hurrah. They were to play the Senators in a doubleheader on Saturday, September 29th, followed by a Sunday afternoon game. Already having lost the American League pennant to the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees would close out the 1934 season at Griffith Stadium.

George Herman Ruth was aging and starting to perform like a mortal. Coming into the first game, he was hitting .290 (his career average was .342). Nevertheless, he was still their third hitter and was sitting on 21 home runs for the year and 707 for his career.

Babe Ruth at bat against Washington

Below is the Washington Post article from the next day, summing up the day, honoring the hero’s 22-year career.

The count is three and two on the Mighty Man of Baseball.

Tonight he will be out–out of the regular line-up for one of the few times in his 22-year career, but. nevertheless, his last.

The crowd at Griffith Stadium will rise as one and cheer him, and it will be “curtains” for the Mighty Man who has made his name synonomous [sic] with the very game he so helped to build into the massive business it is today.

It is hard to write of the final game of Babe Ruth. It always is hard to write of the passing of great men.

It is safe to say the Babe will never be a has-been. He may, years and years from now, be forgotten, but a has-been, never.

This afternoon, in the final game of the season, the Babe will make his last great stand. The Yankees and the Nats will play a sort of finishing-out-the-schedule routine. There are not many who care who wins. But there are many who care whether of not the Babe will be there–and he will. In all his glory. He may not slam a home run. He may even strike out, but still they’ll cheer him.

During the afternoon a group of Washingtonians, including Clark Griffith, president of the Nats, will present Ruth with a scroll that it is hoped will go a long way toward making he Might Man remember that he will always have friends.

All the kids in town, who can, will be there. They’ll look at the Mighty Man with eyes of envy, watch his every move, and then later in the evening go home, never to forget the day as long as they live.

In every city, town and vicinity in America the kids know who Babe Ruth is, know that he can hit the longest home ru, know that he is the greatest guy in the world. And they know why, too. He is their pal, your pal, and my pal.

Oh, the article forgot to mention that the Babe loves booze, fast women, cigars and hot dogs. I digress.

Babe Ruth signing a baseball in an undated photo

Yesterday afternoon Babe Ruth hit a home run with two of his teammates on base. As he rounded third base and trotted toward home a grin spread over his face. When he touched the plate the 5,000 fans let out a whoop, and they cheered and cheered until he doffed his cap (see the box score).

Later on, in the ninth inning (see the game’s box score), the Babe connected with one of Jack Russell’s heaves. The ball went foul into the lower stands near the right field line. It hit a kid on the arm and the kid rubbed vigorously for a few moments.

Then Russell walked the Babe. Upon reaching first base Ruth signaled for pinch-runner Hoag and then started out for the kid his foul had hit. On the way the Babe called for a baseball from an umpire. He reached the stands and looked down at the kid and the kid looked up at him. He autographed the ball and gave it to the lad and also put his autograph in the boy’s book.

The kid forgot all about his sore arm. As soon as the Babe left he got up and literally ran from the stadium, probably to exhibit his new-found treasure to his chums.

The 5,000 cheered again–not the Babe this time, but his big heart.

He did not have to go out there and do that for the kid. He did not do it for showmanship, either. He’s not that kind of a man. If he were, he would not, half an hour later in his dressing room, have halted while putting on his shoes to sign a score or more cards and baseballs for the youngsters who were waiting anxiously.

That’s why he is the Might Man of Baseball.

Yes, this guy had some serious flaws, but man … he was great to his young fans. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Chipper Jones, A-Rod … you’d never see them do this. I also suspect they ate few fewer hot dogs (except, maybe Clemens). The small crowd that was on hand for the Saturday games were able to see The Bambino’s 708th career home run, and the final of his career in a Yankee uniform. The hero of baseball would wrap up his career in Washington with those final three games.

Well … sort of. He was to retire after the 1934 season, hoping to be installed as the next manager of the New York Yankees. Things didn’t really work out that way. He landed with the Boston Braves after the Yankees negotiated a trade to unload their unhappy, aging slugger. Ruth didn’t have it in him, retiring shortly into the 1935 season with a .181 average and six home runs to finish with his then-record 714 career home runs.

New York Yankees’ Babe Ruth clouts a towering home run in this undated photo

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