Look at all the empty lots in what would become weekend crazytown for drunk 20-somethings.

1907 map of Washington Heights

The post 1907 Map of Washington Heights (Adams Morgan) and the National Zoo 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

The post If Walls Could Talk: Madam’s Organ appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Washington Heights (Adams Morgan) and Kalorama were both very undeveloped back when this map was made. It shows the area just north of Boundary Street (Florida Avenue) as it looked in 1903.

1903 map of Kalorama and Washington Heights

The post 1903 Map of Kalorama and Washington Heights appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

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.

Here’s another chance to read a full page from an old newspaper. We spend hours scanning these for interesting stories and information and our new “In The Paper” series allows you to enjoy getting lost in old newspapers as well.

Here’s on from Saturday, June 22nd, 1901. This is the Evening Star’s real estate section. A couple interesting points of reference … nine days earlier, Cuba became an official protectorate of the United States. And on Sunday, June 23rd, Chuck Taylor was born (i.e., Converse All-Stars).

The Evening Star – June 22nd, 1901

Let everyone know if you find anything interesting, because we didn’t read through the page before posting.

The post June 22nd, 1901: Real Estate Gossip appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Old real estate advertisements are the best. This one is from the Evening Star on Saturday, May 28th, 1904. For some interesting trivia, soccer fans will be thrilled to know that exactly one week earlier, May 21st, the International Association of Federation Football (FIFA) was created.

Washington Heights real estate advertisement in 1904

Also, Washington Heights is now known as Adams Morgan.

The post Superior Homes in Fashionable Washington Heights appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is pretty cool … if you live in Lanier Heights or Adams Morgan, you’ll also find this fascinating.

This is a real estate advertisement for newly subdivided lots just north of Columbia Rd. NW.

Fitch, Fox & Brown real estate advertisement for Lanier Heights – April 19th, 1884 (The National Republican)

Related articles

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• The Police Play the Ontario Theater on Columbia Road (ghostsofdc.org)
• Email From a GoDCer: Alexander Graham Bell’s Georgetown Home (ghostsofdc.org)

The post Lanier Heights: A Fine Tract of Land on Columbia Road appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Chalk another great find up to GoDCer and Poolesville resident, Jack. Thanks!

guy digging grave

Do you hang out with your kids in Walter Pierce park? Maybe you played kickball or soccer on the fields there, or take your dog to romp in the dog park. In the 19th century, it was the site of the ghastly (and not uncommon) practice of grave robbing. Jansen, the creepy dude we mentioned in this morning’s post was at it again.

Early this morning two mounted policemen, F. M. Sullivan and Thomas Markland, halted an express wagon in front of the Young Mens’ Burying Ground corner of Chaplian avenue and Columbia road. On the front seat of the wagon sat Vijo Jansen, the notorious “resurrectionist,” sandwiched in between two colored men named, respectively, Thomas Brown and James Stovenson. Right behind them in the body of the express were the dead bodies of a man and woman, both colored. Jansen made no attempt to resist arrest, and was driven with his ghastly burden to the Second precinct station-house.

The officers who made the arrest had been watching for about an hour, their attention being attracted by a noise in the cemetery. Jansen made no resistance whatever. He said he had taken up one body and put it back again, as it was not in a marketable condition. The negroes were not so cool and appeared considerably frightened at their arrest.

When the wagon was driven into the police-station yard, the following was found painted on each side: “C. E. Sill, 25 cent express, Fifth and I northwest.” The sight inside the wagon was horrible. The body of the man lay with the head towards the end board and the woman was jammed up against the left side of the vehicle.

It was evident that they had been thrown in hurriedly as they were taken up from their coffins. The stench was intolerable, and the policeman, who, candle in hand, conducted a POST reporter to the spot, turned away with a shudder from the sickening spectacle.

Jansen was found smoking a short clay pipe in his cell. He said to the reporter: “This is a bad night’s work, but it cannot be helped.”

“You still pursue your old trade regardless of consequences?”

“Yes” (with a smile), it pays better than anything else that I know of.”

“For whom did you snatch those bodies in the wagon?”

“For the National Medical College and the Columbian University, if you will only call down on Dr. Adams, the demonstrator, he will get me out of here.”

“What price could you procure for this morning’s haul.”

“Well, about $30, that is $15 a piece; the women and men sell alike.”

Jansen recently came out of jail for snatching the body of the boy Shaw, who was hanged here for murder. A few years ago he was arrested in Baltimore for stealing the body of a young lady named Jennie Smith. The desecration of her grave was discovered by the finding of a scapular [sic] near her mound. Friends who visited the grave remembered that she had it round her neck when buried and ordered a disinterment. It resulted in the discovery of an empty coffin, and Jensen was arrested as the body-raiser. He managed to escape. Jennie Smith was a beautiful young lady, and one of her arms, preserved in alcohol, is now in possession of Dr. Coroner Alexander Hill, of Baltimore.

1907 Baist real estate map of Young Mens’ Burying Ground (Library of Congress)

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The post Jansen the Body Snatcher Strikes Again appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

The Police live in 1979

I had heard that Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland (aka, The Police) had played in Adams Morgan and wanted to do a little research into that. Unfortunately, they weren’t a huge band when they played here in 1979, so there was very little on their arrival here. After all, they had only been around for a little over two years.

They played the Ontario Theater on Columbia Rd. NW on October 8th, 1979 — the same place that U2 played in 1981 — and there was a short review of the show in the Washington Post the following day.

The shrill sound of police whistles careened off the walls of the Ontario Theater last night. Crowds of people flung themselves into the aisles. Spotlight sliced through the darkness as a murderous barrage of sound thundered from the stage.

The Police had arrived!

The Police, in this case, were an English-American rock trio that has emerged from the new wave of punk scene. Like many of their counterparts, they draw much of their power and substance from the crunching power chords and raucous rhythmic assaults of mid-’60s musical styles. But this group adds a melodic flair and urbane lyrics that are an intelligent twist to current rock.

Their show blended bright vocal harmonies with savage musical onslaughts in a dazzling display of exuberant energy. Andy Summers’ guitar and Stewart Copeland’s drums slashed out at the crowd while Sting added thumping bass lines, creating a powerful yet chunky sound. The addition of swirling, electronic chords and quirky reggae beats on some of the numbers gives the group a sense of style that evades many new wave musicians.

The Police gave a truly arresting performance.

Not a bad review. Thus far, the reviews I come across of legendary rock acts have been hit or miss. Were any of you at this show?

Check out this video of The Police live in 1979. They’re playing a West German TV show called Musikladen.

Related articles

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• First Lady Grace Coolidge Visits the Tivoli Theater in Columbia Heights (ghostsofdc.org)

The post The Police Play the Ontario Theater on Columbia Road appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

There were a couple of requests a short while back to do a post on The Cairo, the most famous residential building in the city. You can Google it or check it out on Wikipedia, so no need to do the building’s history. I want to dig up the more anonymous stories of people associated with the building.

So, here’s one that I came across about a guy named Robert Muir. He was the Cairo Hotel’s manager back in the 1910s, about a little over 15 years into its existence.

The Cairo advertisement (1915)

Robert was a very regular man, being a hotel manager (I’m not using that pejoratively, it’s just a bit of a challenge finding anything of substance on him in the newspapers).

He was born in New York on November 27th, 1873, a first generation American with parents from Scotland. In 1906, he married his wife Marie. He was 32 years old and she was 41 … a significant age difference. By 1910, he shows up in the U.S. Census, living at 1664 Columbia Rd. NW (the building is still there).

1664 Columbia Rd. NW

In September of 1917, a year and two months before the end of World War I, he registered for the draft. At the age of 43 — advanced for a potential draftee — he was listed as having moderate height, medium build, brown eyes and brown hair. He was living at 2518 17th St NW (this building is also still there). with his wife Marie.

Robert H. Muir’s World War I Draft Registration Card (Ancestry.com)

2518 17th St. NW

Sadly, in July of 1927 Marie passed away in her residence. She was 62 years old and poor Robert was now a widower. They must have been Catholics because the memorial was help at St. Aloysius’ Church at Gonzaga. Also, I came across Mrs. Muir in the police brief from May 3rd, 1916, stating that her rosary of blue stones (valued at $25) was stolen from her home on 17th St. NW.

Robert lived alone at 2518 17th St. NW, Unit 1, for four more years until he died on Thursday, November 5th, 1931. His memorial was held at St. Paul’s Church at 15th and V St. NW and he was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery next to Marie.

The Cairo advertisement (1917)

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The post Robert H. Muir: Manager of The Cairo appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

U2 in 1980

Yep, that’s right. Paul (aka, Bono), Adam, Larry and David (aka, The Edge) rocked the nation’s capital in the early 80s. The Irish supergroup was less super back then, playing small (much smaller) venues like The Bayou in Georgetown and The Ontario Theater in Adams Morgan. How incredible would that be? I’m sure someone reading this went to one of these shows.

During the first half of the 1980s, U2 made four stops in D.C. (once with a two show night). I was able to dig through old newspapers and come up with some great stuff.

The first show in Washington was on December 7th, 1980 at The Bayou on K St. near Wisconsin (where the movie theater is now). This was their second concert in the U.S. after playing the night before at the Ritz in New York. In the December 5th, Baltimore Sun’s “Best bets in D.C.” section, next to a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra was U2, performing with the Slickee Boys at the Bayou.

There is a good post about the Bayou at Georgetown Dish and there appears to be a documentary film in the works.

The Bayou in 1977 (via Dave Nuttycombe)

U2 and the Slickee Boys at the Bayou (1980)

They traveled to Buffalo for the next concert on December 8th. In New York City, while U2 was on stage, Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon and killed him. The band’s next show would be their first in Canada. The show in Toronto was raw and emotional, receiving rave reviews from the press.

The band returned the following spring and again played the Bayou. They had a two concert night on March 3rd, 1981, again with the Slickee Boys opening. Tickets were $3! The last time they played around here, crappy seats were $125.

The Bayou advertisement for U2 (1981)

U2 and the Slickee Boys at the Bayou (1981)

The following morning, George Mason graduate, Harry Sumrall wrote a great review of their performance in the Washington Post.

U-2 is like a lot of other groups. Their music has the hard edge of new wave, like other groups’. They rely heavily on electronics and their melodicism derives primarily from the ’60s British sound, like other groups’.

Forget the other groups. Remember U-2.

The Dublin-based group appeared last night at the bayou and this city’s perception of new wave may never be the same. Tearing away at the crowd with searing guitar solos and jittery, electronically echoed vocals, U-2 also brought to their performance a sense of refinement that has been lacking in rock for some time.

The musicians have smoothed out the rough edges of punk while not relinquishing any of that style’s punch and verve. Cool harmonies, subtle dynamic touches and intricate, almost dissonant melodies combined to produce a sound that was at once enlightening and exciting.

“Stories for Boys” was a compositional tour de force, with haunting minor-key chords and moody lyrics that were contrasted by pounding beats and a throbbing bass line.

U-2 like the Police and the Clash are taking new wave to the next, higher, musical level. Their music is still simple, but never simplistic and simply marvelous.

Their next show was December 11th, 1981 at the Ontario Theater on Columbia Rd. It’s crazy to think that people saw U2 live in Adams Morgan. Tickets for this show were $9.50, a fair bit more than at the Bayou. The British new wave band Bow Wow Wow opened for them that night.

U2 live at the Ontario advertisement (1981)

The band took a little break from D.C. until they returned for a concert December 5th, 1984. They upgraded venues again, this time playing DAR Constitution Hall to a sold out crowd. The show sold out so quickly that the band even put a brief apology in the Washington Post, assuring those that didn’t get tickets that they would return the following spring — they did, to the Capital Centre in Maryland.

U2 apology in Washington Post (1984)

The city was gearing up for U2′s third appearance in the nation’s capital and the fans were ready for another incredible performance.

U2 live at DAR Constitution Hall (1984)

And they certainly did not disappoint. J.D. Considine wrote the following review the day after, on December 6th.

You couldn’t have asked for a better example of U2′s magic last night at Constitution Hall.

Midway through a rousing rendition of “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” a cry for peace inspired by the Bloody Sunday riots in Northern Ireland, singer Bono Vox broke off to lead the crowd in a chat of “No more, no war!” A girl at the foot of the stage reached up to hand the singer a small bouquet; Bono accepted the flowers, then lifted the girl onto the stage, embracing her as if in demonstration of the brotherhood the song was advocating. The fans roared their approval.

Moments like that are what live rock ‘n’ roll is all about, and they happen all too infrequently these days. More common by far is blind adulation and passive acceptance, in which the stars are cheered merely for walking on stage. There was a fair bit of that, too, in U2′s concert. There were times when the applause in response to the Edge’s guitar flourishes made it impossible to hear what he was playing, and Bono even earned cheers for simply loosening his shirt.

But though the fans’ unfettered enthusiasm tended to blunt the band’s performance, scaling down the dynamics and removing the risk-taking that made previous U2 shows so invigorating, the songs themselves were still strong enough to occasionally life the concert to unexpected peaks.

The next time they came to play in the District was 1987, and by then they were playing RFK stadium. Joshua Tree had been released and the supergroup had arrived. U2 was well on their way to becoming the biggest band on the planet and one of the most influential bands in a generation.

The show played at the Bayou in 1980 was the same one in this video, where they played “I Will Follow.” The dancing is ridiculously 80s. Watch them both, and alternate between them to see the similarities and differences.

And this is the same band today, playing the same song. Amazing. Just amazing.

Related articles

• Hendrix Plays the Washington Hilton (1968) (ghostsofdc.org)
• The Beatles’ First Concert in the U.S. (1964) (ghostsofdc.org)

The post U2 Live in Georgetown Day Before Lennon Shot appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is the first in a four-part series of posts covering the colorful homes on Cliffbourne Pl. NW, between Calvert St. and Biltmore St. You’ve seen these before, the green, yellow, red and blue homes, perfectly complementing each other. I imagine that I’m not the only one curious about the history of the four houses in this rainbow row of historic homes. So dive into the first home … the one at 2515 Cliffbourne Pl. NW.

The Green House: 2515 Cliffbourne Pl. NW

The Speech Reading Club of Washington

In April of 1927, the home was serving as the clubhouse for the Speech Reading Club of Washington. Miss Frances Harrod Downs was going to represent the club at the national speech reading tournament that July in Chautauqua, New York which was organized by the American Association of Organizations for the Hard of Hearing.

The club was founded in 1920 and incorporated in 1924. Below is an excerpt from the Washington Post about its mission and core values.

It’s objectives were to promote the study and development of the science and art of lip reading as a substitute for normal hearing, to create a center for the deaf and hard of hearing where social intercourse and opportunity for the practice of lip reading and mutual helpfulness may be encouraged and provided and be an active instrument of helpfulness to the deaf and hard of hearing.

They offered regular lip reading classes every Tuesday evening at 8 p.m., card game parties on Saturday nights and social gatherings on Monday evenings.

Queen of the Cherry Blossom Festival

16-year-old Doris Sheldon points to the Wheel of Fortune

The Washington Cherry Blossom Festival is always a big draw, and even more so back in the 1940s. By 1948, World War II had slowly started slipping into the past and that spring, 150,000 visitors were on hand for the crowning of the Cherry Blossom Queen at Hains Point.

Mrs. Louisa Sheldon of Wilmington Delaware was the proudest attendee, as she had brought her 16-year-old daughter, Doris Sheldon, to Washington for her coronation as the festival’s queen.

At the ceremony that April afternoon, Doris was being escorted by her uncle, Navy Chief Petty Officer Kenneth G. Hayden of the Washington Naval Gun Factory.

At the time, Hayden resided at 2515 Cliffbourne Pl. NW with his wife.

A modern-day rooming house

Boarding and rooming houses seem to have fallen out of favor in large American cities, but if you read this post, you might think that it would be a good idea to bring them back.

Back in 1987, the building was a rooming house with nine rooms for rent.

Below is an excerpt from an article in the Washington Post about the conflicts brewing over allowing rooming houses, inns and bed and breakfasts in residential neighborhoods.

Owners of rooming houses, who have the same certificates of occupancy as the inns, have their own reasons to be furious. Mary Godwin owns a nine-unit rooming house at 2515 Cliffbourne Place NW and for 15 years has had long-term tenants. Restricted by rent control measures, the rooms rent for about $240 per month. Godwin said she found it hard to believe that Kalorama Guest Houses and the Adams Inn seem to be growing, after city officials informed her that the anticonversion law prevents her from turning her building into an inn.

Filling in the gaps

Here are some shorter stories from our research.

A happy notice in the Washington Post on April 12th, 1936 mentions that a marriage license was granted to William Austin Calvin, 38 years old, of 2425 1st St. NW and Iranell Marian Jester, 27, of 2515 Cliffbourne Pl. NW and their marriage ceremony would be presided over by the Rev. Wiley Westray.

Back in 1948, a young man by the name of Robert Simms lived in the house. He had a photo in the newspaper around Christmas, while he was working at a Christmas tree lot at 1324 13th St. NW. Much like this winter, it was an unseasonably warm 60 degrees around the holidays.

In keeping with the abundance of traffic accidents in the District, here’s one I came across from August 18th, 1952.

Frank H. Glugston, 17, of 2515 Cliffbourne pl. nw., suffered a bloody nose when his automobile went out of control in the 3800 block of Porter st. nw. and caromed off three parked cars. His passenger, David Atkinson, 16, 0f 3801 Macomb st. nw., was also treated for a bloody nose at Emergency Hospital.

My guess is that the teenagers were horsing around while driving, Frank was distracted and slammed into some parked cars. Come on … they’re teenagers. Teens are horrible drivers.

Check back later today for the post on the yellow house. If you’d like to be notified, why not follow Ghosts of DC on Twitter or Facebook?

The "Rainbow Row" of homes on Cliffbourne Pl. NW

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The post If Walls Could Talk: The Green House at 2515 Cliffbourne Pl. NW – Part 1 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This next installment of “If Walls Could Talk” will be the Petworth watering hole, The Looking Glass Lounge. This is one of my favorite places for a Sunday afternoon beer, especially in the warmer months, out on their back patio. I imagine the place will be packed this evening, and now you guys have another interesting conversation topic … what’s the story of the building inside which you’re drinking beer? So, let’s look into the history of the building at 3634 Georgia Ave. NW.

The Looking Glass Lounge, 3634A Georgia Ave. NW

I should also add that two businesses occupy the top floor of the building — Fission Strategy and Big Window Labs.

Dominic who?

The first thing I came across is the listing of a building permit in the November 18th, 1928 Washington Post. Dominic Polnerendo applied to build a two-story front brick addition for 3634 Georgia Ave. NW with the estimated cost of $3,350. That’s a fair bit of money for the time. Full homes would sell for about $5,000 to $6,000 at the time.

I will support and defend the Constitution …

On November 2nd, 1949, Judge Henry A. Schweinhaut presided as 34 people were sworn in as American citizens at the District Court. In this group was Frank Weltlinger of 3634 Georgia Ave., who was an immigrant from Hungary.

Eleven years later, poor Frank (63) and his wife Marie (64) were attacked and robbed by two men and a woman. The Post reported in April of 1960 that they were closing up their market at 3rd and Q St. NW when the mugging happened. The Weltlingers had to go to the hospital, but the injuries were minor. By that time, they were living way up Georgia Ave., in Silver Spring.

A taxi and automobile collide

Here’s a report from May 12th, 1955:

Seven persons were hurt early yesterday in a two-car collision at 12th and K sts. nw.

Investigators identified the drivers as Walter J. Dymek, 32, of 1305 N. Herndon st., Arlington, and taxicab driver Vincent E. Hawkins, 50, of 408 M st. se.

Hawkins, they said, was admitted to Emergency Hospital in serious condition with a fractured neck and head cuts. Others listed as Emergency patients were Maxine Shafer, 26, of 1664 Columbia road nw., a passenger in the private car, fractured left leg, and Woodrow W. Williams, 39, of Georgia ave. nw., a passenger in the taxicab, head injury.

Treated at Emergency, police said, were Dymek, Edythe Murdock, 40, of 1664 Columbia road nw., and Spikes Haronis, 30, listed at 1614 N. Danville st., Arlington, both passengers in Dymek’s car, and Williams, wife, wife Pearl, 36 a passenger in the cab.

The first thing I’d like to point out is that there is a passenger named Spikes Haronis. What a name! Second, I will not make any snide comments about Virginia drivers in the District. Maybe I’ll cut them some slack because the other car was a taxi … not exactly known for stellar, safe driving habits.

I was able to track down a U.S. Census record for Woodrow in 1920. He was 7 years old and was living with his family at 1526 34th St. NW, in Georgetown. I’m sure the he’s be shocked to hear that the home is now worth $1.3 million (thanks Zillow). His father, Joseph Williams, was a sergeant in the Washington Police Department. Maybe he knew everyone’s favorite policeman, Officer Sprinkle.

Woodrow is listed in an article about the Thanksgiving meal served in 1941 at Ft. Belvoir. It states that he was being chosen for induction into the military (Pearl Harbor and the U.S. involvement in World War II is still weeks away). The best part of the article is where they talk about the menu.

A letter was received at The Post yesterday written on the back of a Thanksgiving Day menu which evidently inspired Private First Class Joseph E. Marcus stationed at Fort Belvoir, Va., to poetic ecstasy.

Lovingly he called attention to the “shrimp cocktail, sage dressing, giblet gravy, mince pie and cocoanut [sic] layer cake,” among the list of items on the menu which, of course, centered around the traditional roast turkey. “Won’t Hitler be mad when he sees what our boys are eating,” wrote Private Marcus concluding his letter.

I found another article, this time from May 29th, 1945, which listed Woodrow Williams as one of 22 District residents who were ordered to report for induction into the armed forced. Lucky for Woodrow, World War II would be over in about two month. But also odd, since the previous article mentioned he was inducted in 1941. Either he slipped through that first time, or maybe this would be a second tour of duty.

Old ads and classifieds

I found the small advertisement below in the March 23rd, 1927 newspaper.

BARBER-First class: good guarantee and commission. Apply 3634 Georgia ave. nw.

Interesting. I guess there used to be a barber shop in the building.

The help wanted section on April 17th, 1940 had a listing for male painters and paperhangers. The advertisement said to call at 7 a.m. by showing up at 3634 Georgia Ave. I’m curious whether this was a request to help paint the building or because the person living there had a painting business. Another curiosity was right below it, looking for an experienced presser to apply at Walker & Co., which was located at 2317 18th St. NW — the current location of Brass Monkey.

Here’s another one I came across in the classifieds from August 8th, 1965:

NW-3634 Georgia Ave. Lge. 6 bed rm. home, oil heat, ref. required. Rent $195. per mo. EX 3-0303.

Holy cheap, right? Well, it was 1965.

For sale: Georgia Ave. row house

In the March 26th, 1986 Washington Post, an announcement listed 3634 Georgia Ave. NW as up for sale by the trustees. Below is what was in the paper.

DOUGLAS K. GOLSTON
AUCTIONEERS, INC.
3408 Wisconsin Avenue
Northwest, Suite 208
Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 966-0100 (202) 686

TRUSTEES SALE of Valuable store known as premises 3634 Georgia Ave. N.W., Wash. DC.

By virtue of a deed of trust duly recorded February 1, 1985, Instrument #04096 and in accordance with Public Law 90-566 noticed [sic] filed February 12, 1986, the undersigned Trustees will offer for sale Lot 131 in Square 2897 at 1:00 PM Friday March, 21, 1986 in the office of the Auctioneer.

TERMS OF SALE: ALL CASH Sold subject to prior deed of trust, further particulars of which to be announced at time of sale. Settlement 30 days. A deposit of $2,500.00 cash or certified check to be made at time of sale. All other terms and conditions to be announced at time of sale.

ROBERT STRAUSBERG
HARRIET MAYERSON
TRUSTEES

I’m guessing that the owner of the building passed away, and as a result, the property was to be sold at auction.

So, when you’re knocking back that Old Fashioned, PBR (read this post about the beer) or Dogfish Head, think about these stories in conversations with the bartenders and your buddies. Don’t forget to tip your bartenders!

3634 Georgia Ave. NW

Here’s a great indoor shot I found on their website (sorry I took it without permission, but I’m hoping it’s cool since I’m writing this post).

Inside the Looking Glass Lounge

UPDATE: Reader Kent from Park View emailed to tell me that, technically, The Looking Glass Lounge is in Park View … Which is correct. So make sure you correct your buddies tonight when they ask to meet in Petworth.

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