Wow. What amazing detail in this photograph. Click on it to view the larger version (and you’ll probably spend about 15 minutes staring at it).

Washington, D.C. Georgetown ferry-boat carrying wagons, and Aqueduct Bridge beyond, from rocks on Mason’s Island (Library of Congress)

The post Civil War Photo of Georgetown Ferry Boat appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is an amazing old photograph with incredible detail.

Georgetown University from observatory (Library of Congress)

This was dug up in the Library of Congress archives.

The post Incredible Early 20th Century Photo of Georgetown University appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

If you have an iPhone, iPad or any other Apple product, chances are, you’ve set foot in an Apple Store … and if you live in Georgetown, it was likely the one at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

I long ago abandoned my iPhone in favor of an Android (shocking?) but I still love my Macbook, iPad, and Apple TV. (My first computer was also a 1983 Apple IIC.) Apple Stores have some terrific customer service. So, in honor of my Apple love, let’s do an “If Walls Could Talk” post about the shiny Apple Store on Wisconsin Avenue. And, this time, we’ll be doing it in reverse chronological order.

Apple paid $13 million for the property in 2007 and it took four attempts for them to have an architectural plan approved by the Old Georgetown Board. Their proposal was finally approved in March 2009 and the store opened the following year.

HMV Record Stores

HMV Record Stores ad (Washington Post)

Remember when you would go to a record store to buy CDs? Or cassettes? Maybe you even remember LPs.

Well, Here’s an ad from the Washington Post on September 15th, 1995, when the building housed HMV (which stands for His Master’s Voice … I did not know that).

Boogie’s Diner

Do you remember when this place held a diner? The Washington Post wrote a good article about seeking the best burgers in Washington on October 24th, 1991. Below is the write-up on Boogie’s.

While there’s nothing odd about eating a hamburger in a diner, there’s a lot that is unusual about Boogie’s Diner (1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 298-6060). This is a bright and cheery place with a corny sense of humor that supposedly is a throwback to the 1950s.

Boogie’s, whose slogan is “Eat Heavy, Dress Cool,” is most un-dinerlike in its location: one flight up from a clothing store that offers expensive takeoffs of 1950s items, French-label jeans, glittery bustiers and the like. Boogie’s also shamelessly hawks its name-brand souvenirs–such as sweatshirts and coffee mugs–from every corner.

The decor is a jumbled, post-modern mix with some nice nostalgic touches, including rich milkshakes made in old-fashioned stainless steel containers ($3.25). The fact is, Boogie’s is a good deal flashier than diners used to be–not to mention more expensive.

By the way, the clothing store below was called the French Connection.

ESPRIT

What happened to this company? They were everywhere in the 80s and now they’re gone. Apparently, in February of 2012, they shut down all retail operations in North America because they were completely irrelevant and losing tons of money. However, they still have 15,000 employees worldwide. I had no idea.

Well, back in 1987, they dominated and had a big retail presence in, what is now, the Apple Store. Below is their ad from December 26th in the Washington Post.

ESPRIT Superstore ad (Washington Post)

Doggett’s Parking

Doggett Lot

It might be hard to believe this, but the building that houses Apple isn’t that old. It was built in the early 1980s, and prior to that, it was a parking lot (Doggett’s Parking). Most advertisements for shopping in the area pointed out the availability of free parking.

Prior to Doggett, it was owned by David J. Wilkerson, who lived at 2323 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, and offered free parking in the 1950s.

Doggett Parking at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW (Washington Post – 1979)

A marriage announcement

Forest W. Hevener, 18 years old and resident of 479 F St. SW was to marry Virginia Lee Tucker, 17 years old of 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The Rev. Francis Yarnell was to perform the service and the Washington Post published on June 19th, 1940 that their marriage license had been granted.

Hevener went on to serve in World War II and was with the 29th Division of the Army Air Forces when he was wounded in France. After Europe, Hevener went to the Pacific and fought on Tarawa and Saipan.

Tucker household in the 1940 U.S. Census

National chain of disposers of stolen property

Below is the article from the Washington Post on August 20th, 1918.

What is said by the police to be the Washington link in the national chain of disposers of stolen property was broken yesterday when detectives arrested Barnet Levy upon a warrant issued by Gov. McCall of Massachusetts. Levy was indicted by a grand jury in Boston on June 18, when a true bill was found against him and eleven others.

…

According to Joseph L. Farrari, a police officer of Massachusetts, who arrived here yesterday to take Levy back to Boston to face charges, a number of manufacturing lofts were broken into last May, and more than $50,000 worth of wearing apparel and dry goods stolen.

Detectives working on the case discovered that these goods were systematically disposed of through a chain of jobbers scattered throughout the country. The main offenders, however, were stationed in New York city, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.

A large shipment of goods was traced to New York city, where they were reshipped by express to Washington. Detectives F. M. Cornwell and J. C. Berman were placed upon the case early in June, and the goods were traced to the establishment of Levy at 1229 Wisconsin avenue, the detectives allege.

Levy does a general jobbing business, selling at wholesale to small retailers in the District and in the neighboring towns. Several days after being placed upon the case, detectives entered Levy’s store and took therefrom goods valued at $6,000 which they alleged were stolen in Boston and shipped them back to their rightful owners.

The warrant for Levy’s arrest was issued on August 12. both Levy and his sister have been residents of the District for more than 25 years. Levy, through his attorney, Joseph B. Stein, denies the charges of conspiracy. He asserts that he could not have committed the crime as charged, as he had not been in Massachusetts for the last ten years.

According to Detective Cornwell, Boston police authorities have affidavits to the effect that Levy had been a frequent visitor to that city.

Wisconsin Ave. 1919 (Baist)

In the above map, 1229 Wisconsin appears to be lot 819.

The post If Walls Could Talk: Apple Store in Georgetown appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a great view of what Georgetown looked like in the 1850s.

View of Georgetown D.C. / lith. and printed in colors by E. Sachse & Co.

The post View of Georgetown, D.C. appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

this is a whip

This likely was a scene of great amusement for any who were able to witness it. This is an article from August 9th, 1894 in the Washington Post.

Three irate women with horse whips and a yelling special policeman gave plenty of amusement last Friday to a number of people who stood outside of a grocery store on Twenty-sixth, between F and G streets northtwest [sic], George Cunningham is the name of the special officer, and he is employed by the storekeepers around “Foggy Bottom” to watch their places of business.

He was supposed to have been the author of some derogatory reports against the character of Harriet Payne, a white woman who lives on Water street, in Georgetown. The report reached the ears of the woman, and she traced it to the special officer. The woman took into her confidence her two sisters and started out for revenge. They secured three heavy horsewhips, and on Friday night by strategy got the watchman to enter the grocery store. Once inside the front door was locked and the key taken away. Seeing the determined look on the faces of the females the special suspicioned that something was wrong and attempted to escape. This was the signal for the women, and all three started in to lash the man. Over his head and across his back the blows rained down on the unfortunate watchman. There was no escape from the blows, and not until the women were exhausted did they cease from their labors. The door was then opened and the watchman allowed to go, and he immediately vanished, leaving behind his hat.

The affair has been kept very quiet, the police not knowing anything of it. Further results are expected in the matter, and an assault case is likely to grow out of it.

That 1890s rent-a-cop will surely mind his mouth the next time. A couple of days later, this article was published in the Post.

Mrs. Harriet Payne, who keeps a store on Water street, Georgetown, denies most emphatically that she has had any trouble with Special Officer George Cunningham, as reported on Thursday. She says if there was a cow-hiding affair, as rumor has it, she was in no manner connected with it; in fact, she has no acquaintance with Cunningham. Mrs. Payne requests this statement to set herself right.

Seems fishy. Either Harriet is covering up, or some Washington Post fact checker didn’t do their job. Either way, this is an amusing story to share with the GoDC community.

The post Three Women Take Revenge Against Special Policeman appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a nice contribution by GoDCer Allan. Below is a shot of the C&O Canal, taken by Mathew Brady, taken in 1860.

C&O Canal in 1860

The post 1860 Shot of the C&O Canal appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

I love this. Click on it for some amazing detail. Get ready to waste a lot of time studying this image, courtesy of the Library of Congress.

1883 bird’s eye view of Washington

The post Bird’s Eye View of the National Capital in 1883 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.

Below is a terrific photo taken in 1893. This is the intersection (today) of Wisconsin and O St. NW in Georgetown.

Horse car in Washington, D.C. at Wisconsin and O St. NW (1893)

The main building you see on the corner is still there. Check out the Google Street View today. Cool.

The post Horsecar at Intersection in Georgetown appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

It’s often hard to believe how rural much of Washington appeared in the 19th century. This is one of those photographs that you marvel at for a while.

The image shows a view of Washington, down the Potomac River from the top of Georgetown in 1865. You can also see Aqueduct Bridge from Virginia into Georgetown and Mason’s Island (i.e., Roosevelt Island today). It was taken by William Morris Smith and we dug it up at the Library of Congress.

View of Washington and the Potomac from Georgetown in 1865

You can click on this one for greater details.

The post View of Washington from Georgetown Heights in 1865 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

How can you not read an article with this title?

We came across this one in the August 20th, 1903 Washington Post.

B. F. Chew, who runs a Chinese restaurant on Thirty-second street, near M street northwest, created no little excitement last evening by chasing a man who refused to pay for chop suey. About 11 o’clock Chew rushed out of his shop in hot pursuit of a fleeing customer, and excitedly blowing a police whistle. He chased his man up M street until the latter finally put on a spurt and disappeared in the darkness, leaving Chew to lament his misfortune.

chop suey … yum

The post Ate Chop Suey and Would Not Pay appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

I guarantee that just about every GoDCer out there has either been to Clyde’s, or one owned by them. The Clyde’s Restaurant Group has a big footprint in D.C. and the surrounding area, with Old Ebbitt Grill, 1789 Restaurant, The Tombs, The Hamilton and a handful of Clyde’s scattered throughout the metropolitan area.

Clyde’s of Georgetown

I’ll also go out on a limb here and say that the bulk of you don’t know the origin of the flagship restaurant’s name (don’t worry, I didn’t either). Bonus points if you did know where it came from.

Clyde’s

Stuart Davidson, Harvard grad and investment banker had been observing the changes brought about by the legalization of liquor at bars (prior to 1962, liquor could only be consumed at restaurant tables, not the bar). Davidson had been a frequent patron of the famous P.J. Clarke’s in New York and felt that a similar establishment could work in D.C. With that idea, he opened Clyde’s of Georgetownin 1963.

Stuart always said his concept was based on his belief that “It’s more fun to eat in a saloon than drink in a restaurant.” He decided to name the establishment after the River Clyde, running through Glasgow, Scotland. (If you thought there was some guy named Clyde, you’re probably not the only one).

Quick bit of trivia for you. The 1976 song “Afternoon Delight” by the Starland Vocal Band was named after a menu item at Clyde’s. Two more bits of trivia about the place: it was the first place in D.C. to open for brunch on Sundays and the first place to hire women as waiters.

River Clyde in Glasgow (source: yourlocalweb.co.uk)

The post Why is it Named Clyde’s appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

I recently saw “Lincoln” with Mrs. Ghosts and was blown away by the history and power of the film.

A number of visually stunning scenes depicted life in Washington during the waning years of the Civil War. The historic imagery and cinematography alone are reasons to see the film, yet, the true power of the film revolves around the struggle to pass the 13th Amendment, while pushing for an end to the Civil War.

The film’s climax takes place in the House of Representatives when a crowd of African American servants, freemen and former slaves enter the visitors gallery to observe the historic vote for the 13th Amendment.

Lincoln movie poster

It is not possible for any of us to wrap our heads around what it must have been like to be black in 19 century Washington, or imagine what it must have felt like sitting in the gallery that day.

After a little digging through Google Books, I came across a reference which can place a little more context around the times. “The Black Code of the District of Columbia in Place September 1st, 1848″ is 122 pages of laws governing all aspects of life and behavior for African Americans in Washington, D.C. (read a little more on Black Codes on Wikipedia).

Below are just a few excerpts from the book, which you will undoubtedly find shocking. I would also recommend reading the whole book.

Also, remember that different laws were in force for Georgetown, the City of Washington and the District of Columbia (i.e., land outside of Boundary St./Florida Ave.), the latter having laws of Maryland still apply.

Let me warn you, these actually might make it more difficult to wrap your head around what it was like because it just boggles the mind that these were codified into laws. This is but a small sample of the unconscionable laws governing Washington over 150 years ago.

District of Columbia

When Runaway Slaves May Be Lawfully Killed By Their Pursuers.

If any negro or other slaves, absenting themselves from their master’s service, running out into the woods and there remaining, killing and destroying hogs and cattle belonging to the people of this province, shall refuse to surrender themselves and make resistance against such persons as pursue to apprehend and take them up, being thereunto legally empowered, it shall be lawful for such pursuers, when such resistance is made, to shoot, kill and destroy such negroes or other slaves. Laws of Maryland, 1723; Ch. 15, Sect. 7.

Penalty Against Ordinary-Keepers Harboring and Entertaining Slaves, Or Selling Liquor to Slaves Without License.

If any ordinary-keeper shall harbor, entertain or sell any liquor to any slave, without license in writing first had and obtained from the master, mistress or owner of such slave, such ordinary-keeper shall for every such offence, forfeit and pay one hundred and sixty pounds of tobacco to the master, mistress or owner of such slave, to be recovered with costs, upon complaint of the said master, mistress or owner before a justice of the country where such ordinary-keeper lives. Laws of Maryland, 1780; Ch. 24, Sect. 17.

Penalty Against Importing Free Colored Persons and Selling Them Into Slavery.

If any person shall import or bring into this state any free negro or mulatto or any person bound to service for a term of years only and shall sell or otherwise dispose of such free negro, mulatto or person bound to servce for a term of years only, as a slave for life or for any longer time, than by law such person may be bound to serve, knowing such negro or mulatto to be free or entitled to freedom at a certain age, every such person shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay the sum of eight hundred dollars, to be recovered by action of debt or indictment, one half to the use of the county, the other half to the informer, and in case the said sum be not paid or secured to be paid within thirty days, then such person shall be adjudged to work on the roads for any term not exceeding give years. Laws of Maryland, 1797, Ch. 67. Sect. 16.

Penalty Against Illicit Intercourse Between Colored and White Persons.

Any white woman, that shall suffer herself to be got with child be a negro or other slave or free negro shall become a servant for the term of seven years, and if such begetter of such child be a free negro, he shall become a servant for the term of seven years, to be adjudged by the justices of the County Court where such fact is committed; and any white man that shall beget any negro woman with child whether free woman or servant, shall undergo the same penalties as white women; and the times of servitude, as imposed upon the said offenders, shall be disposed of or employed as the justices of such ounty shall think fit, the produce whereof shall be appropriated toward defraying the county charge. Laws of Maryland, 1715; Ch. 44, Sect. 25, 26, 27.

The Black Code of the District of Columbia in Force September 1st, 1848

Ordinances of the Corporation of Washington

Punishment of Free Colored Persons for Gaming.

If any free black or mulatto person shall be found playing at cards, dice or any other game of immoral tendency  or shall be present as one of the company where such game is playing, on conviction thereof before a justice of the peace, he shall forfeit and pay a fine not exceeding ten dollars. Ordinances of the Corporation of Washington, 1827, May 31st, Sect. 4.

Punishment of Slaves for Creating a False Alarm of Fire

If any slave shall kindle or set on fire, or be present, aiding, consenting or causing it to be done, in any street, avenue, or alley, open-ground or lot, any barrel, straw, shavings or other combustible, between the setting and the rising of the sun, whereby a false alarm of fire may be created, on conviction thereof, he shall be whipped, not exceeding thirty-nine lashes, at the discretion of the magistrate before whom the case may be tried, which punishment may be commuted by the payment of a fine not exceeding five dollars for every offence. Ordinances of the Corporation of Washington 1829, April 2d.

Punishment of Free Colored Persons for Having Dances, &C., at Their Houses, Without License.

All free black or mulatto persons are prohibited from having a dance, ball or assembly, at his, her or their house, without first having obtained a license or permit, for that purpose from the Mayor, in which shall be mentioned the place, time of meeting, number of guests, hour of breaking up, and the name of the person so applying for such permit; and any free black or mulatto persons, offending against the provisions of this Section, or suffering such disorder during said period, as to disturb the peace of the neighborhood, on conviction thereof before a justice of the peace, shall forfeit and pay for each and every offence a sum not exceeding ten dollars. Ordinances of the Corporation of Washington, 1827, May 31st, Sect. 5.

Punishment of Slaves for Bathing in Certain Waters Between Sun-Rise and Sun-Set.

It shall not be lawful for any slave to bathe or swim in the Anacostia river, between Sixth street east, and Fifteenth street west; or in the canal or any part of the Tyber east of Fifteenth street west, or in the Potomac river adjoining the city of Washington, lying between the Potomac Bridge and the northern boundary of the public ground at Greenleaf’s Point, or in that part of the Potomac river, adjoining said city, lying between the mouth of the Tyber and Twenty-third street west, and between D street north and the mouth of Rock Creek, or to bathe or swim from or under the Potomac Bridge, on pain of being punished for each offence, on conviction thereof, with any number of stripes on his or her back, not exceeding five, unless his or her owner shall choose to pay a fine of two dollars for each offence. Ordinances of the Corporation of Washington, 1821, July 10th, Sect. 3.–1826, June 8th–1830 July 24th–1843, Demcember 21st, Sect. 3.

Ordinances of the Corporation of Georgetown

Punishment of Slaves for Sitting, Standing, or Lying Upon the Benches or Stalls of the Market House.

It shall be unlawful for any slave to sit, stand or lie upon any of the benches or stalls of the Market House, either during the day or night season, and upon conviction thereof, before any tribunal competent to try the same, he or she shall be punished by inflicting not more than ten stripes, unless the owner of such slave, or some other person, shall pay a fine of one dollar, in lieu thereof. Ordinances of the Corporation of Georgetown, 1845, November 4th, Sect. 3.

Punishment of Slaves for Flying Kites.

If any slave shall fly any kite or kites, within the limits of this corporation, on conviction of the same before the mayor, and being found unable to pay a fine, for every such offence, not exceeding two dollars, to be recovered before the mayor, one half to the informer and the other half to the corporation, such offender may be punished by whipping at the discretion of the mayor. Ordinances of the Corporation of Georgetown, 1827, June 23d, Sect. 1, 2, 3.

The post Abraham Lincoln and The Black Code of the District of Columbia appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

In response to a couple requests on the last 1915 Georgetown map, here is one of the neighboring plates, showing the area down to the Potomac River.

Map of Georgetown in 1915

The post 1915 Map of Georgetown Waterfront appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Another fantastic Baist real estate map, this time from 1915. The map shows a good chunk of Georgetown.

map of Georgetown in 1915 (Baist real estate atlas)

The post Georgetown Map Circa 1915 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Key Bridge was being built between Georgetown and Rosslyn. Construction started in 1917 and completed in 1923.

Below is a shot from Georgetown looking towards the Washington Monument, which you can see in the distance.

Key Bridge under construction

The post Key Bridge Under Construction appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here are two great old maps that we found showing Georgetown. We know how much GoDCers love maps (we do too), so here you go.

Georgetown street map with old names (gutenberg.org)

Below is a more detailed view of a part of Georgetown.

Old plat of Georgetown (gutenberg.org)

The post Old Map of Georgetown appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is the best contribution thus far by a member of the GoDC community. This is from Tom H. in Bethesda, and when I first saw it, I was blown away at how professional it looked. Thanks Tom!

The video is a fascinating history of the gun barrel fence in Georgetown, made from 364 reclaimed Washington Navy Yard muskets.

Georgetown’s gun barrel fence

To complement this wonderful video, we dug up an article published in the Washington Herald on Sunday, June 25th, 1911.

Surmounting a crumbling retaining wall of age-worn stone which stands in front of three of the oldest houses in historic Georgetown is an iron fence which boats a more interesting history than the majority of fencing.

If you will examine the iron uprights standing close together, you will discover that near the top of each one is a projection, which apparently performs no office as a part of the fence. Research into the history of this partition of iron reveals the reason for the projections and many things besides.

Way back in 1814, when Washington was threatened by the invasion of British troops, which were hovering about the ancient hamlet of Bladensburg, Md., foraging and destroying property, the United States government had not the unlimited resources it now possesses.

So when the Capital City of the nation was in imminent peril of being destroyed by the hostile troops the authorities here appealed for help to the public-spirited citizens of the locality. Most of the wealth of the District of Columbia was then centered in Georgetown, as at that time it was one of the most important ports of entry of the Southern Atlantic seaboard. There were great shops and mills there in those days. Merchants of Georgetown had thriving business in the Westt [sic] India trade, importing molasses, coffee, sugar, and rum in large quantities. Among the foremost of these big merchants and landowners was Reuben Daw, whose posterity still figure conspicuously in the assessor’s book of Georgetown realty.

Reuben Daw and a number of others immediately advanced money for the defense of the Capital against the invading forces, asking no security from their government. When Washington was invaded by British troops under Col. Ross, shortly after the battle of Bladensburg, when the Americans, under Maj. Barry, were defeated and the Capital burned, the funds advanced by the Georgetown citizens did much good.

When the war of 1812 was over the government was nearly bankrupt and was in no position to repay debts for which no security was held. But the Secretary of the Navy, the commandant of the navy yard, or some officer in authority who was cognizant of the sacrifices made by the Georgetown citizens realized that something should be done for them. There was little that could be done, but it was finally decided to let those who so desired go to the navy yard and take anything in the way of castings that they could use.

Reuben Daw took advantage of this opportunity and asked for a consignment of antiquated flintlock muskets which were rusting in a neglected pile in an old warehouse. He received permission to remove them and took them to Georgetown.

About that time Mr. Daw built the mansion that still stands in Georgetown on P street, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets. Removing the stocks from the old guns, he had plates forged at one end and made them into the fence which still stands in front of the three houses just beyond Twenty-eighth street.

The small projections mentioned are the corroded remains of the sights at the ends of the gun barrels.

The barrels make an unusually serviceable fence, as the length of time they have stood testifies. They are in as good condition to-day as when they were put up, and it would take a good deal of force to knock the old fence down.

In different parts of Georgetown old iron castings may be seen which came from the navy yard in 1814 or 1815. Window gratings, boot scrapers, stair rails and many other contrivances were fashioned out of the junk taken from the navy yard, and on more than one piece of iron about Georgetown may be seen the coat-of-arms of the United States.

Nearly every on of the castings is directly traceable to the war of 1812, and when one of them is seen it may be taken as mute testimony of the patriotism of the original owner of the property.

Now this a great story. I’m sure the next time you’re walking the brick-lined streets of Georgetown, you’ll be even more observant of these marks of hidden history, connecting us back to the War of 1812.

Check out the Google Street View of these homes today.

The post Georgetown’s Gun Barrel Fence [VIDEO] appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

I have been receiving emails from GoDCers with increasing frequency. Quite often these emails contain wonderful personal or family history relating to DC. This is one such email that I have to share.

1321 33rd St. NW in Georgetown house on left (Google Street View)

I received it this weekend while enjoying a Father’s Day dinner at the Tabard Inn with my wife and visiting father. I don’t check my email at the dinner table (that would be rude), but as we were walking home, I had to read it out loud for my wife and dad. They agreed. This is a really cool story. So, thanks to GoDCer Sharon for passing this along. I trust that the rest of the readers will agree with me.

I have another cool story. My great great grandfather, William B. Easton, purchased the house at 1321 33rd St. NW from Alexander Graham Bell. My grandmother, Lillian Easton, grew up in the house, and after her marriage to my grandfather, Claude, they lived there together, where they raised their four children. When Grandmom was giving birth to her second child (my father William on May 16, 1918) in that house, my grandmother went deaf. Her hearing never returned. I have always found it ironic that Grandmom lost her hearing in the house that Alexander Graham Bell once owned, as he devoted his life to inventing devices that would help his deaf sister. The house stayed in the family until the early 1970s.

The Kennedys lived on N Street, just around the corner from my Grandmother’s house on 33rd Street and when I was a young girl, I often saw a very young little Caroline walking with her Governess by Grandmom’s house.

My grandmother’s next door neighbor for many years was Louise MacArthur, first wife of General Douglas MacArthur. She gave grandmom a writing desk and other furnishings that had belonged to the General.

We moved out of the DC area 12 years ago and I am still “homesick”. Visiting your site makes me feel like home isn’t so far away after all. Keep up the good work! It’s wonderful that you have such a passion for DC!

Sharon

I can’t seem to verify the ownership of that house in Georgetown, and I know Alexander lived at 1500 Rhode Island Ave. NW when he was in DC, but he also had a laboratory near this house. Anyway, the email was good and I wanted to share it with all of you.

Thanks for sending this Sharon! And to the rest of the GoDCers out there, keeps sending your stories, tips or ideas to tips@ghostsofdc.org.

Related articles

• They Were Neighbors: Officer Sprinkle Lived Here (ghostsofdc.org)
• Officer Sprinkle Breaks Up Street Brawl (ghostsofdc.org)
• A “Bomb” is Found and Officer Sprinkle Saves the Day (ghostsofdc.org)
• Mr. and Mrs. Walter Johnson Tie the Knot on Monroe St. NW (ghostsofdc.org)

The post Email From a GoDCer: Alexander Graham Bell’s Georgetown Home appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

I was poking around the archives of both the Washington Post and Washington Times to come across a gem of a story to share and the one that caught my eye involved two Georgetown boatmen engaged in a brutal fight to the death.

Reading through any article titled “Murder in Georgetown,” you’re primed for a taste of some horrid scandal or macabre titillation that a Ghosts of DC reader has come to expect.

C&O Canal from Wisconsin Avenue Bridge, Georgetown circa 1920 (Library of Congress)

The article is from the Washington Post and was published on March 22nd, 1886.

In a tall and dilapidated brick house facing the river, on Water street, above Thirty-third street, there occurred on Saturday night one of the most brutal and desperate fights between two canal-boat men which has for years startled the quiet community of West Washington, and which resulted yesterday in the death of John Bruebaker from the injuries he received from his adversary, George Seaman.

Both are men of more than usual strength and distinguished by their brutality, but had always been friends until the frequent visits of Bruebaker’s wife to Seaman’s house led to an estrangement and the fight Saturday.

Murder in Georgetown headline (Washington Post)

If you’re a biker (bicycles, not Harleys), you have probably passed this location on a number of occasions en route to kick off your weekend adventures on the Capital Crescent Trail. The location is just past the The Papermill Condos in Georgetown and right next to the The Flour Mill. Here’s a little back story, and these always involve some intoxicant. Believe me, this gets a little crazy. George Seaman (aka, G.W. Simmons) was not a good dude.

It seems that while Bruebaker was sleeping off in his cabin a customary fit of intoxication on Saturday evening his wife determined to pay a visit to her friend, Mrs. Epps, who lives on the third floor of Seaman’s house, and while there was obliged to call for assistance in consequence of the sudden illness of her friend.

Seaman responded instantly, and while the two were engaged in assisting the sick woman, the door was suddenly thrown open and Bruebaker staggered in in search of his wife. The moment he saw her his eyes, bloodshot from the effects of his recent debauch, lighted up with malignant fury, while the poor woman shrank frightened into a corner.

“You are here again,” he said through his clinched teeth as he walked straight towards her and seized her by the shoulder. “This is the way you heed what I tell you,” and without paying the slightest attention to her entreaties, he struck her fiercely in the face. Before he could repeat the blow Weaman, who was still in the room, seized his arm and tore them apart. Then the two ruffians glared at each other and prepared for a struggle, but as they did so Mrs. Bruebaker rushed between, imploring Seaman not to strike her husband and saying that she was willing to stand the blows herself.

Seaman, though violently angry, tore himself away and abruptly left the room. When he had departed Bruebaker turned to his wife and again commenced abusing her, exclaiming as he did so, “Seaman is the bully of Georgetown, but he can’t whip me.”

By now, you know this is not going to end well. It’s almost like a low budget B movie … “the bully of Georgetown, but he can’t whip me”? Come on, seriously? Fast forward 100 years to Stallone’s masterpiece Cobra (by the way, Ron Jeremy was an extra), and you’ll get some equally poignant quotes.

C&O Canal and Wisconsin Avenue Bridge, Georgetown circa 1920 (Library of Congress)

He had hardly uttered the words when Seaman re-entered the room and the two men rushed at each other. Both were infuriated and this time Seaman paid no attention to the cries of the woman. The fact that his adversary was drunk gave him a decided advantage and he beat him mercilessly about the face, while the terrified wife clung to her husband, and forgetting all the ill-treatment he had subjected her to, she endeavored to shield him with her person from the fierce rage of his assailant.

Finally becoming desperate at the cruelty of Seaman she flung herself upon him and, at the risk of being seriously hurt herself, she seized the ruffian’s arm and held it. Freed in this manner from the punishment he had been receiving, Bruebaker assumed the aggressive and rushed on his antagonist. As he approached Seaman the latter kicked at him viciously and, stroking him full in the stomach, knocked him into the corner of the room, where he fell and laid. His wife rushed to him, but he was unable to rise, and assistance had to be procured in order to get him out of the house. He was then taken to his boat, lying in the canal just back of where the fight occurred and put to bed.

His wife and friends, who had been frequent witnesses of similar affairs, did not suppose that he was seriously injured, but as he gradually sank into unconsciousness, they became alarmed and called in a physician. By this time, however, he was beyond the reach of medical aid and he grew rapidly worse and died in a few hours.

The police had been kept in perfect ignorance of the matter, but on the death of Bruebaker one of his friends informed the officers, and Seaman was arrested by Segt. Hess and Officer Volkman. Bruebaker’s body was removed to the station house, and on an autopsy held by Dr. Hartigan it was found that death had been caused by a rupture of the mesentery, caused by violence, and he was rather of the opinion that Seaman had knocked his victim down and then stamped on him. This, however, does not seem to be the case, if the witnesses of the affairs are correct in their statements.

Mrs. Bruebaker, who was found on board the canal boat, said the her husband could not have been kicked more than once, but that she was too frightened to bu sure of what occurred. “I told George,” said she, “that I could take all the blows John wanted to give me and I could,” with this she broke down completely and wept bitterly.

Seaman is reported to be a man of very bad character, and it was stated yesterday that this is the third man whom he has killed. An inquest will be held today at the station house.

Wow … three men. George was a seriously bad dude. Seriously, three men killed?

In the Baltimore Sun the following day, it was reported that Bruebaker had died of internal hemorrhage due to a kick from Seaman. The coroner called upon a jury of six Georgetown men at the local station house to hold an inquest into the death and ultimately committed George to jail as a result of his actions, awaiting trial.

Bruebaker was buried on March 23rd at Congressional Cemetery, east of Capitol Hill. Below is his death certificate, which I found on the cemetery’s impressive website. The poor man was only 41 years old and had been in the District for just one year.

John Bruebaker’s death certificate (Congressional Cemetery)

George Seaman, not guilty (1886)

Seaman went to trial the following month — the justice system was relatively swift compared to today — and the verdict was read on April 7th, 1886. The Washington Post reported the following day that a jury of his peers found George Seaman not guilty of manslaughter and he was released. I find it hard to believe, but after having been involved in the premature deaths of three men, George was still free to walk the streets of Georgetown.

Sadly, I wasn’t able to find much more on Seaman as he faded into history.

If you enjoyed this post catch up with us on Facebook or Twitter to follow our stories.

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The post Georgetown Canal Boatmen Brawl; Brutal Fight Ends in Murder appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Portrait of John Adams by Gilbert Stuart (Smithsonian)

By 1800, the City of Washington was ready – as ready as a hastily constructed city could be – to be occupied by the federal government. In Philadelphia on May 15th, President Adams issued the order to begin removal of the federal government to Washington.

Adams stayed in the city for two more weeks while things were packed up and started his own journey to the new capital on May 27th. William Shaw, the nephew of his wife Abigail and the President’s personal secretary, accompanied him on the journey.

Adams and Shaw had only two routes to choose from: the eastern route through Wilmington, Baltimore and Bladensburg or the western route through Lancaster, York and Rockville. The President chose the latter, partly motivated by the superior roads as well as some political considerations.

It was an election year and he would be returning to his home in Massachusetts shortly using the Baltimore route. Thus, he would be able to hit two constituent groups in a short period of time.

The circuitous route through Pennsylvania on his way down to Washington would allow him to visit with people he would otherwise not be able to meet with (check out the contemporary walking directions on Google Maps … says you could walk this route in 2 days and 16 hours).

Google Map of President Adams' route from Philadelphia to Washington

The western route was 198 miles and the roads were less than ideal by today’s standards. The cranky president was 65-years-old and this was a rough road to travel (at least by today’s standards), especially for an old guy.

Carriages of the day were able to cover an average of 25 miles each day, which meant Adams and Shaw had eight days of introspective monotony to look forward to, sitting in a bumpy carriage. The level of comfort was about a thousand notches below Air Force One or Marine One.

By the way, today, President Obama could be in Philadelphia in 20 minutes (although I don’t see why he’d want to go … kidding! Don’t be so sensitive, Phillies fans).

President's House in Philadelphia (Wikipedia)

President Adams spent eight nights in small towns along the way, meeting with the locals (great campaign move). His first night was spent in Downingstown, a small village halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. The following day he arrived in Lancaster and spent the night there.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any historical accounts of his time in Dowingstown or Lancaster, which apparently was the same problem the Columbia Historical Society (Volume 3) had when researching the topic.

Lancaster was then the capital of the State of Pennsylvania, and the largest inland town in the Union; a heated campaign was in progress which was to determine whether he was to succeed himself in the Presidential office, or be succeeded by his political rival, Mr. Jefferson, and members of the Federalist party, of which Mr. Adams was the candidate, were numerous in Lancaster county; in fact, Mr. Adams in response to the address presented to him at York, his next stopping place, gratefully acknowledges courtesies extended to him by the people of Lancaster and York counties.

He was traveling through counties dominated by his political base and arrived in York the next day, Thursday, May 29th. A body of cavalry, commanded by a Lieutenant Fisher and Captain Gossler, greeted President Adams upon his arrival, not unlike the pomp and circumstance surrounding a contemporary presidential visit (just on a smaller, early 19th century scale).

The next day, he was ceremoniously escorted out of town by the two commanding officers from the previous day, accompanied by the cacophony of church bells signaling the momentous occasion and the grand honor bestowed upon the town of York.

Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale (1805)

The traveling party reached the town of Frederick, Maryland in the evening of Saturday, May 31^st. He was greeted near the Monocacy River, about three miles outside of the town by Doctor Tyler, ironically a Presidential elector who supported Jefferson and not Adams.

The following day, being a Sunday, saw the President and Shaw attend religious services at the Lutheran Church, conducted by Rev. Samuel Knox. The sermon focused on text from the book of Matthew: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” This was particularly poignant, with the ongoing negotiations with France to settle the Quasi-War (we had been skirmishing with them in the Caribbean for nearly two years).

They set out from Frederick with the destination of Georgetown, their first stop across the District line. A meeting of prominent Georgetown residents was held upon hearing of the near arrival. The following was resolved unanimously by the meeting:

That an address on the part of this town be presented to the President of the United States upon his arrival here, welcoming him to the banks of the Potomak [sic], and expressing the high respect entertained by the citizens for his character, and their gratitude for his high and distinguished services to the country.

View of Washington in 1800

Adams arrived at the boundary line of the District on Tuesday, June 3rd, where he was met by a large contingent of citizens on horseback. The greeting party escorted the President and his companion to Union Tavern. The military, stationed in the city of Washington demonstrated respect for the President’s arrival with a formal sixteen discharges of musketry and artillery.

There, he was presented with the town’s agreed upon formal address:

Whether we regard your signal services in the hour of our country’s difficulty, or your diplomatic exertions in the conclusion of peace, when national rights of the highest import were put in peril—whether we view your firmness in repelling foreign aggression, or your sincerity in the pursuit of peace, when compatible with honor, we find abundant cause for admiration and should commit violence to our feelings were we to suppress the emotions of respect and affection which your presence excites.

In every situation to which you have been called by the public voice, we recognize with delight your unvarying devotion to the public good conspicuously manifested in your discharge of the duties of the high station you now fill.

…

Yourself sharing in the general felicity, to the preservation of which your care and toil chiefly contribute, will like your august and revered predecessor enjoy the most precious reward which freemen can bestow, the lasting attachment of a grateful and happy people.

This is quite an honor to say the least and Adams obviously agreed. His response the following day was brief.

I receive with much esteem, affection and gratitude this obliging address. The approbation you have the goodness to express is both a reward and an encouragement. I congratulate you, gentlemen, on the translation of the Government to the city so near you. As the country between the former seat and the present is beautiful and fertile in a high degree, I hope all the reluctance which remained against the change will soon be removed, and the virtues and talents of the United States may here be displayed forever, for the preservation and protection of our country.

JOHN ADAMS
Union tavern, Georgetown, June 4, 1800

Tunnicliff's in 1931 before it was razed (Historical Society of Washington)

On June 5th, he made his was into Washington City and proceeded to Tunnicliff’s Hotel, where he stayed until the completion of the arrival of the entire government in the city. He was a celebrated man in the District and the honor of his attendance at events was highly sought after.

That Friday, June 6^th, he attended a festive banquet held by the grateful citizens of Georgetown at McLaughlin’s City Tavern. It was a large and exceedingly celebratory crowd, thrilled to finally have the arrival of the government in their city.

The local Georgetown paper, Centinel of Liberty, reported that seventeen regular toasts were given in the President’s honor and two voluntary toasts were drunk. The following humorous comment was published in the Records of the Columbia Historical Society about the event:

…if there was on the part of those assembled to do honor to the President, but a moderate indulgence, in the case of each toast, in the liquors used on such occasions in those early days, it is doubtful, from the numerous repetitions which were necessary, whether any one of those individuals found himself ultimately in what Gouverneur [sic] Morris in one of his letters to Alexander Hamilton humorously adverts to as: the awkward situation of the man who continues sober after the rest of the company are drunk.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that room. I suspect this was a ridiculously fun banquet, of which to be a part. Below are the toasts, in chronological order.

1. “The United States.”

2. “Public Gratitude—May it ever be the reward of the firm and distinguished patriots.”

3. “Congress—May there be no competition among the members, except that which will prompt them how they shall best promote the prosperity of their country.”

4. “The State of Maryland.”

5. “The State of Massachusetts—Our elder sister in the cause of freedom—May she continue to be the nurse of Patriots and Heroes.”

6. “The City of Washington—May the virtues and talents of the United States be there forever displayed for the preservation and protection of our country.”

The sixth toast was taken from the President’s reply to the official address given to him upon his arrival. Also, by this time, I’m guessing most of the attendees are beginning to feel the effects of the liquor … and only 13 more toasts to go!

7. “The memory of our late departed friend, George Washington—May the citizens of America ever keep in view his last political advice.”

8. “May the spirit that achieved our independence watch over and perpetuate our present Constitution and Government of the United States.”

9. “The Rights of Hospitality—May they exclusively be conferred on the virtuous stranger who visits our country with honest intentions.”

10. “To all nations at war, peace, and to all nations at peace, prosperity.”

11. “Our treaties with foreign powers—May they be observed in good faith and vindicated with firmness.”

12. “Public Spirit—While it rouses us against foreign hostility, may it secure us against foreign intrigue.”

13. “The triumph of religion and order over infidelity and confusion.”

14. “The Navy and the Army of the United States.”

15. “May the zeal, promptitude and discipline of the militia supercede if possible the necessity of regulars.”

16. “The Agriculture, Commerce and Manufactures of the United States.”

17. “The fair daughters of America—May their smiles excited deeds off worth and reward them.”

By the President: “Georgetown—May its prosperity equal the ardent enterprise of its inhabitants, and the felicity of their situation.”

After the President retired: “John Adams—The early, the uniform, the steady and unshaken friend of his country.”

The Capitol Building in 1800 - only the Senate side is completed

Having spent a grueling eight days on the road, in addition to consecutive nights full of revelry and liquor, it was fortuitous that the citizens of Washington spared the President of yet another booze-filled evening at a complimentary banquet.

The President rested for 10 days before heading down to Mt. Vernon and paid his respected to the recent widow, Martha Washington. From there, he headed back north to Alexandria for yet another celebration, a military parade down King street, 16-gun salute followed by another large banquet at Gadsby’s Hotel.

Secretary of State John Marshall, Attorney General Charles Lee, and prominent citizens of Alexandria attended the dinner in honor of the President. This time, only 16 toasts were offered, capped off with a final one by Adams:

“Alexandria—May it become intimate in commerce with its namesake in Egypt.”

He left early in the evening for a stop back in Washington before heading up to his home in Massachusetts for a visit.

President Adams returned to Washington on November 1^st and occupied the President’s Palace (i.e., the White House). By the December of that year, the move was complete. The federal government was planted in Washington for good.

Sadly, John Adams would be making the long journey home to Massachusetts within a matter of months after losing the election to his friend Thomas Jefferson.

"A view of the Capitol of Washington before it was burnt down by the British." Watercolor by William Russell Birch circa 1800. (Library of Congress)

Related articles

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• Robert Brent: Friend of Thomas Jefferson and Washington City’s First Mayor (ghostsofdc.org)

The post President Adams’ Journey to the New Capital in 1800 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

George Washington

The hundred square mile plot selected as the new seat of government was not unclaimed land. There were farms, estates and towns that were being swallowed up by United States government. But, I should add, that this wasn’t a case of eminent domain.

Nineteen original landowners were negotiated with, directly by George Washington himself at the end of March, 1791. He met with them during the day and in the evening, closed the deal with them at Suter’s Tavern in Georgetown.

By the way, Suter’s — formally known as the Fountain Inn — was the main gathering place in Georgetown at the time and is purported to have been at what is presently 31st and K St. NW.

After acquiring all the land for the new federal district, Washington wrote a letter to fellow Founding Father and Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson.

The terms entered into by me on the part of the United States, with the landholders of Georgetown and Carrollsburg are, all land from Rock Creek along the river to the Eastern Branch, and so upwards to or above the Ferry, including a breadth of about one and one-half miles, the whole containing from three to five thousand acres, is ceded to the Public on condition, that, when the whole shall be surveyed and laid off as a city (which Major L’ Enfant is not directed to do), the present proprietors shall retain every other lot, and for such part of the land as may be taken for public use, for squares, walks, and so forth, they shall be allowed at the rate of twenty-five pounds per acre, the public having the right to reserve such parts of the wood on the land as may be thought necessary to be preserved for ornament, the landholders to have the use and profits of all the  grounds until the city is laid off into lots and sale is made of those lots, which, by this agreement, becomes public property. Nothing is to be allowed for the ground which may be occupied as streets or alleys.

View of the Georgetown waterfront in the 1790s (Library of Congress)

Also of note is a record of September 8th, 1791 of the Commissioners meeting with Jefferson. This is important documentation of the streets naming convention in Washington.

…to name the streets of the Federal City alphabetically one way and numerically the other from the Capitol, and that the name of the City and Territory shall be the City of Washington and the Territory of Columbia.

The printers throughout the United States are requested to insert the above in their papers.

Well, unfortunately for President Washington and the Federal Government, the generous contractual clause granting the landowners continued use of the property created some serious problems. The farmers continued to raise their crops on land now owned by the government, preventing the proper laying of planned streets and roads.

One of these farmers was particularly troublesome and labeled obstinate by President Washington. David Burnes had approximately 700 acres coveted by the government, including the land on which the White House currently sits. Burnes was the recipient of numerous letters from the Commissioners, imploring him to cease growing his crops on land that was laid out to become Pennsylvania Avenue.

Washington in 1792

David Burnes’ cottage in 1894 prior to razing (PGCist on Flickr)

UPDATE: Per the comment I received, I should probably clarify that this refers to the city of Washington, not the entirety of the District. Today they are one and the same, but they were very much distinct back then.

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The post Washington is Composed of Land from 19 Original Owners appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

The White House (Wikipedia)

Way back in the day, the building we now know as the White House was called the “President’s Palace”, “President’s Mansion”, or the “President’s House.” The nomenclature evolved over time, with the accepted name for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue becoming the “Executive Mansion.” It wasn’t until Teddy Roosevelt‘s presidency that the building would be officially referred to at “The White House.”

In March 1792, the three appointed commissioners overseeing the planning and design of the new city (Thomas Jefferson, Daniel Carroll and David Stuart), put out an advertisement to all major towns in the United States calling for designs to be submitted for the new President’s House.

A premium of five hundred dollars or a medal of that value to the person, who before the 15th of the following July, should produce to them the first approved plan, if adopted by them, for a President’s House. On the 16th of July it was recorded that the President of the United States with the Commissioners examined the several plans for the Capitol and the Palace which had been forwarded agreeably to advertisements of the 14th of March.

Suter’s Tavern in Georgetown (Library of Congress)

This meeting of President Washington, Jefferson, Carroll and Stuart took place in Georgetown at a place called the “Fountain Inn,” or Suter’s Tavern. Most White House history aficionados know that the design of Irishman James Hoban of Charleston, was selected as the plans for the President’s house. But, I’m guessing they don’t know who received the silver medal.

Below are the meeting minutes from that gathering.

July 17, 1792,–The President of the United States, with the commissioners, continued the examination of the plans for a capitol and President’s palace.

The premium for the best plan for a President’s house was adjudged to Mr. James Hoban, or Charleston, S. C.

A resolution and order were drawn by the commissioners in favor of Mr. John Collins for $150 as a token of their sense of the merit of his essay and for the plan for a President’s house prepared by him, appearing to the commissioners to be scientific and second in merit.

So much for coming in second place; at least he received $150. John Collins was an architect and builder from Richmond, Virginia and submitted his design anonymously as “A.Z.” There is some speculation that the design wa actually from Thomas Jefferson himself, but the records point to Collins being the designer.

Below is his design of what the White House could have looked like.

President’s Palace design by John Collins

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The post Who Almost Designed the President’s Palace? appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This might shocking to some of you, but had the outcome of some debates and votes been different, people might have taken their eighth-grade field trips to a different United States capital city.

The War of 1812 was disastrous for Washington as the British rampaged through and razed the city. After the British defeated Napoleon in April of 1814, they had an excess of military resources ready to deploy to their conflict in North America.

In August of 1814, they won a decisive battle on the outskirts of the Federal City, at Bladensburg, Maryland, and marched on Washington.

The burning of Washington in 1814 (Library of Congress)

The British commanders had orders to burn all public buildings in the capital, torching both the President’s House and the Capitol Building. Were it not for the courageous actions of First Lady Dolley Madison and President Madison’s personal servant and slave, Paul Jennings, many of the valuables on display in the White House today would have been lost forever.

The United States Capitol after the burning of Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812. Watercolor and ink depiction from 1814 (Wikipedia)

Major investments were made to build a city from nothing on swampy lands near the Potomac. Despite that fact, the act of governing and running a nation at war from the ruins of the Capitol Building and the President’s House was not possible.

Congressman Jonathan Fisk of New York introduced a resolution to study the temporary removal of the capital. The resolution came to the House floor on October 3rd and passed by a vote of 72 to 71.

Almost immediately, this kicked off a crisis for Washington as northerners saw an opportunity to move the capital to a more urban and cosmopolitan location (i.e, north of the Mason-Dixon line). Massachusetts Congressman John Quincy Adams stated “the removal of the seat of government … may prove a great benefit.” The momentum was slowly shifting in support of moving the capital, yet southerners had great fears that temporary removal of the capital would become permanent, firmly entrenching the seat of government in the north.

The city of Philadelphia jumped at the chance to volunteer itself as a temporary home, eager to reclaim the title of nation’s capital. A number of other localities offered to become the temporary quarters, including Georgetown, when Mayor Thomas Corcoran hastily offered the campus of Georgetown College (without permission of the school).

The White House ruins after the conflagration of August 24, 1814. Watercolor by George Munger (Wikipedia)

Washington’s legitimacy was being attacked on numerous fronts and it was at serious risk of becoming abandoned, irrelevant and fade into history. A final bill was brought to Congress to move the seat of government to Philadelphia for the duration of the war with only two concessions to Washington: money would eventually be appropriated to rebuild the city and a pledge was made to return to D.C. after the war. Weak promises, especially with the fact that inertia would likely keep the government in Philadelphia permanently, had it moved.

Fortunately, the bill was defeated 83 to 74 votes. Washington was saved … well, sort of.

Congress had settled into a tiny space in the city post office, shared with the Patent Office; the space was less than accommodating and grumblings of relocation were resurrected. This time, private citizens and Washington businessmen came to rescue, quickly raising enough funds to erect a another building to house Congress while the Capitol Building was being rebuilt.

Don’t fool yourself though … The businessmen of Washington, including former Mayor Robert Brent, were not being altruistic or patriotic. They wanted to protect their significant real estate investments, which would collapse should the government leave town.

They rapidly erected this new Brick Capitol, a three-story building offering both houses of Congress more space than they ever had in the ruined Capitol. Congressional business was conducted in this building for almost a decade, until 1825.

Old Brick Capitol (Wikipedia)

Another bit of trivia is that our fifth president, James Monroe, took the oath of office outdoors, in front of the Brick Capitol. This was the first time the inauguration was held outside, and it is a tradition that continues to this day.

Once Congress moved back into the Capitol Building, the old Brick Capitol became the Old Capitol Prison (where Mary Surratt and a few Lincoln assassination conspirators were held) … a great subject for a future post (a friend already suggested this a while back). The Supreme Court is now located where this building once stood.

I will add that this was not the only time there was a threat of capital relocation. There was very serious movement, pushing for moving the capital in 1868 — also a subject for a future GoDC post.

UPDATE: I found another cool image of the Brick Capitol building on the Architect of the Capitol’s website.

Brick Capitol in 1815 (Architect of the Capitol)

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The post The War of 1812 and Relocating the Nation’s Capital 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

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• 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.

The front page of the Washington Times reported a big local signing in December of 1902 for the Washington Senators. They had inked the Georgetown shortstop, Charley Moran, to a contract

Washington Times Headline (1902)

Here is an excerpt from the article.

Charley Moran, the clever little shortstop, who captained the Georgetown University baseball team last season and helped the Blue and Gray nine to scalp almost everything it came across, has been signed to play with the Washington American club next year.

Lew Drilk, the Georgetown catcher, who signed with the Senators last season, is said to have been instrumental in securing Moran’s services for the Senators. He had had Charley in tow for some time, and it was through him that Moran consented to cast his professional fortunes with the Senators.

Moran has an enviable record in college circles, and is considered the crack college shortstop of the country. He will be placed in the infield on the local team. Moran is a Washington boy.

It is stated that Jimmy Ryan will be among the Senators next spring. He asked for more salary and the matter was adjusted to his satisfaction. Loftus is out looking for new players, and has signed a few, but will not divulge their names. He declared that he has had too many men snapped from him because of premature publicity and has decided to keep mum.

Poor Charley Moran … his college dominance did not translate into success on the field with the Senators. He turned out to be quite awful as a professional, completely overmatched.

Half-length portrait of Charles Moran, baseball player for the American League Washington Senators, standing at South Side Park which was located at West 37th Street, South Princeton Avenue, West Pershing Road (formerly West 39th Street), and South Wentworth Avenue in the Armour Square community area of Chicago, Illinois.

In 1903, he batted a paltry .225 while playing both shortstop and second base (in his defense, the team average was .231). 1904 was even worse, when he hit .196, splitting his time between shortstop, second and the outfield. Washington had seen enough, and they shipped him off to play for  the St. Lous Browns in the middle of year. He would last only one more year and was out of baseball after that.

Charles Moran died in 1934 at the age of 55 in Washington, D.C. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery off of Bladensburg Rd. NE.

Little known fact … baseball is the oldest collegiate sport at Georgetown, first organized by the university in 1870.

Another little known fact … another Georgetown baseball player, William G. Martin (Billy Martin), also went on to play professional baseball for the 1914 Boston Braves. Yes, the same Billy Martin that ended up opening Martin’s Tavern in 1933.

Related articles

• The Georgetown to Glen Echo Trolley (ghostsofdc.org)
• This Day in History 1/23: The Founding of Georgetown University (mrdsneighborhood.com)
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The post Washington Senators Secure Moran of Georgetown appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

WOW. This one is awesome. It’s a colorized photograph from 1924 and it shows cars lined up outside the District National Bank, Dupont Circle branch.

I’ll need a little help locating exactly where this is. It’s highly likely that this building no longer exists. I can’t quite place it.

District National Bank, Dupont Circle (1924)

From what I can find in old newspapers, this appears the be the branch at Connecticut Ave. and K St. NW. The branch office opened in January of 1924 according to an article in the Washington Post.

The uptown branch of the District National Bank, at Connecticut avenue and K street northwest, will be open for business beginning next Tuesday, it was announced yesterday by Robert N. Harper, president. W. C. Looker, assistant cashier, who has been with the bank since its inception in 1909, will be manager of the branch.

According to the 1920 U.S. Census, Mr. Harper lived at 1515 16th St. NW (currently split into condos) with his wife Caroline, a son, mother-in-law, butler, a maid (the butler’s wife), a chauffeur, another maid, a lodger, the lodger’s wife and their son. A seriously full house and if you ride the S1, S2 or S4, you probably pass it every day on your way to work.

Robert Harper, 1920 U.S. Census

William C. Looker was living in slightly more austere accommodations at 2909 O St. N, with his wife Margaret, son William and daughter Margaret. Also, he was renting a house that had a value of $12,000 in 1920.

William Looker, 1920 U.S. Census

This one was a pretty good fine on Shorpy. They’re the best and you can follow them on Twitter.

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The post District National Bank Branch Office (1924) appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

The Facebook post that spurred the most recent chatter was the question about which restaurant to research for a post. So, the second installment of “Reader’s Choice” will be a post about Au Pied de Cochon — which is now a Five Guys, like a quarter of the restaurants in the D.C. metro area. This was the suggestion from our reader Nick (sorry it took so long).

I do want to give two shout outs for a couple posts in the blogosphere that helped me out in my research … so, thanks to The City and the World and the Georgetown Metropolitan (photo below is from GM).

Au Pied de Cochon

Read about Au Pied de Cochon and its tenure at 1335 Wisconsin Ave. NW below. The rest of the building’s history will be in the second part of this piece coming out tomorrow.

Au Pied de Cochon (1976 – 2004)

Au Pied de Cochon review

It was a sad day for Georgetown and all of Washington when Yves Courbois closed the doors to his restaurant for good in 2004. The greasy french restaurant was a mainstay at Wisconsin and Dumbarton St. NW for nearly three decades.

It opened in 1976 to some positive reviews by the Washington Post. Yves also started two more establishments nearby, Aux Fruits de Mer and Au Croissant Chaud, much to the delight of Georgetown’s Francophiles.

Below is an excerpt from Donald Dresden’s review in the June 6th, 1976 Washington Post titled “Au Pied de Cochon: Sturdy bourgeois food at practically any hour.”

The “foot of the pig” is the kind of place where one comes for a snack or a full meal in unpretentious informal surroundings at hours that run almost around the clock. One of the owners/operators said recently, “This is a place where people come to eat, not dine.” It’s really a neighborhood restaurant that is trying, and succeeding, in being just that and nothing more.

The premises were one of Georgetown’s old-fashioned bars that had changed hardly at all over several decades. The Cochon’s owners have done the place over with informality, polished up the bar and put in tables with artificial marble tops, much in the style of a French brasserie.

I’m terribly sad to say that, even in my ten plus years in the District, I never dined at Au Pied de Cochon. It’s a total bummer that I never experienced this place, as I’m sure a number of the Georgetown or Glover Park readers have.

By the way, interesting side note, Yves Courbois was born in Hanoi, in what was then, colonial French Indochina (i.e., Vietnam) and came to the U.S. in 1960, beginning his D.C. restaurant career by washing dishes at The Monocle — which opened in 1960 — on Capitol Hill. That’s a pretty cool story, in and of itself.

Bistro in bankruptcy

1984 was a bleak year for the restaurant as Courbois had to declare Chapter 11. According to a Post article that July, it was far more complicated than the restaurant being in financial dire straits. This was an issue of disputed ownership and feuding partners, long a problem of the restaurant (I don’t know how it lasted almost 30 years).

Claire Smith, of Alexandria, dealt with all the finances for the restaurant (and two others owned by Yves). She had invested $500,000 in 1982 to become an even partner in the business, but Courbois claimed that he never received a cent. Leonard Sloan, the former attorney for Mr. Courbois, advised him to file bankruptcy in an attempt to force Smith out of the business. To make matters more confusing, Sloan claims he was legally entitled to the option of acquiring a 30 percent stake in the three restaurants … hence, the title of former attorney, due to a major disagreement over that fact with Courbois. At the end of this entangled mess, the three restaurants and Courbois survived. Yves remained the sole proprietor, but he learned a valuable lesson.

Courbois said he now runs the businesses from top to bottom, putting in 18-hour days, seven days a week. “I know every piece of bread sold.” Now his wife counts the money, and all books are checked by an outside accounting firm.

“I don’t want no more partners,” Courbois said. “I just want good managers. I want to expand the bakery. Nothing is going to stop me.”

“All my life, everything I got is in the companies,” he said. “The most important thing has been to keep it going. The bread has to come out.”

Now that is a dedicated restaurateur that endures through the hard times. This is a cautionary tale for any of you thinking about starting a restaurant, especially with partners. Proceed with caution.

Don’t forget to pay your taxes

Twelve years after his major financial and partnership snafu, he hit another little bump, this time with the United States Government (the Wikipedia link is here if you want to learn about the government). I dug up a small bit in the May 16th, 1996 Washington Post, which mentioned the IRS closing two Georgetown restaurants for back taxes dating back a decade. Ouch, that’s not good.

Two French restaurants, Au Pied de Cochon and Maison de Crepes, were forced to close and begin selling off tangible assets to satisfy their debt. Well, clearly they addressed this problem because they were in operation for another eight years, but this was not the best of luck for Yves Courbois.

KGB spy defects … then un-defects

This is the most famous story that took place at the bistro, so you may already know it, but I still find it fascinating. It happened on November 2nd, 1985, towards the end of the Cold War. Here’s the really brief summary …

Vitaly Yurchencko

On August 1st of that year, Vitaly Yurchencko, 49, slipped into the U.S. Embassy in Rome, asking to defect. He claimed to be frustrated with his stagnant life as a Russian spy, his failed relationships with his wife and son, not to mention that he had a Russian mistress living in Canada.

According to CIA reports, he was No. 2 in the KGB department overseeing spying in North America. He had actually already lived in Washington in the 1970s as the chief of security at the Soviet Embassy (i.e., the guy that prevents defections) and was a man-about-town known as “Vity” to the bartenders in posh downtown establishments.

After defecting in Rome, he exposed a couple of CIA agents that were double agents working for the KGB. The Agency felt they had a valuable commodity in Yurchencko and persistently debriefed him to extract more information, activities that Vitaly claimed led to a deep depression and regret for his decision.

Later, in September of that year, the CIA assisted in reuniting him with his beloved in Canada, with the hopes of lifting his spirits. Unfortunately for Vitaly, the love was not mutual and she spurned him, which only deepened his depression.

By October, his security detail was far more relaxed and he was relatively free to go where he wanted in Washington. Below is how the Washington Post reported the details of November 2nd (disclaimer: this is how the Post guessed it went down).

… On Saturday, Nov. 2, Yurchenko was assigned a fairly new employe [sic], a young and inexperienced agent who agreed to take him to Au Pied de Cochon, a Georgetown brasserie, 1 1/2 miles from the Soviet compound on Tunlaw Road NW.

As they finished their dinner about 8 p.m., Yurchenko looked at the young agent, said he wanted to take a walk, and asked, “If I walk away, will you shoot me?”

Of course not, came the answer. This is America.

Perhaps out of fatherly feeling toward a young agent, perhaps out of anger at his debriefers, he parted with these words: “If I don’t come back, don’t blame yourself.”

And with that, Yurchencko vanished.

Russian Embassy on Wisconsin Ave. NW

Now, the Post’s story takes a bit of creative license and isn’t the generally accepted version of events (although it is a little like Jason Bourne). It’s believed that Vitaly asked to use the restroom and then crawled out the window, en route to defect back to the Soviet Union.

There’s a second side to this story. Many claim that Vitaly was, in fact, a double agent himself, and his plan all along was to return to the Soviet Union.

The Soviets were desperate to jump ahead in the intelligence war and embarrass the CIA. There would be no better way to do that and shake their confidence by planting a fake defector in their hands, only to have him return. The double agents he turned in were no longer of use to the KGB, so they were collateral damage.

I don’t know which story you think is true, but I’m inclined to believe the former. It may not have transpired exactly as the story proffered by the Post, but doesn’t that make for great dinner table conversation?

Always one to spot an opportunity to monetize something, the restaurant added a new drink to the bar menu called the “Yurchenko Shooter,” a combination of Stolichnaya vodka and Grand Marnier on the rocks. Gross, I’ll pass.

If you’d like to see an interesting interview of John Stockwell, former CIA agent, who talks about the Yurchencko affair, watch the clip below.

Fire shuts down Georgetown restaurants

Just after Christmas in 1992 a fire severely damaged two of Courbois’ restaurants. Below is an excerpt from the Post mentioning the upcoming reopening of the restaurants.

Two Georgetown restaurants damaged by a smoky fire on Sunday are to reopen soon, according to a spokeswoman for the businesses.

Aux Fruits de Mer, a seafood restaurant at 1329 Wisconsin Ave. NW, is to reopen tonight, and renovation of its sister business, Au Pied de Cochon, is expected to be finished by Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, the spokeswoman said.

Au Pied de Cochon, 1335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, which sustained the brunt of the damage from the fire, became a part of Cold War legend in 1985 when a high-ranking Soviet defector slipped away from his CIA escort during dinner and sought refuge in the Soviet Embassy compound. It also has become something of a local institution as one of the few restaurants in the city open 24 hours.

The fire started in a basement storage area. Fire officials said at the time that they believed it was caused by an electrical malfunction.

Don’t mess with Iron Mike

Angry Mike Tyson

The gossip column of The Washington Post on March 11th, 1998 had an interesting paragraph on Mike Tyson. Two Baltimore women were suing him following an incident that transpired at the bistro.

Sherry Cole and Chevelle Butts, both 30, sued Tyson in Montgomery County alleging assault, battery, defamation and mental distress stemming from a predawn meal at Au Pied de Cochon. They say he propositioned one of them, cursed both of them and upended a table on them; Butts acknowledges throwing coffee on the Bethesda-based boxer after he swore at her.

What? The Champ needed to quickly get out of the way of scalding hot coffee, and in doing so, inadvertently flipped over the table. No big deal. He’s normally a pretty chill dude.

Farewell Au Pied de Cochon … much has happened inside your walls.

Au Pied de Cochon advertisement (1990)

Now that you’ve read all the way through this post, you probably want to find out what else happened at 1335 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Check back tomorrow for the second part of the building’s history. I will post it here (this link won’t work until tomorrow).

Related articles

• If Walls Could Talk: Au Pied De Cochon and 1335 Wisconsin Ave. NW – Part 2 (ghostsofdc.org)
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The post If Walls Could Talk: Au Pied De Cochon and 1335 Wisconsin Ave. 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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The post If Walls Could Talk: The Looking Glass Lounge – 3634 Georgia Ave. NW appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here’s another cool old streetcar video. This is the The Washington & Great Falls Electric Railway line (“Cabin John Trolley”) from Georgetown. Disclaimer: the music is horribly cheesy, so you might want to mute it.

Here’s a little about it from Wikipedia:

Incorporated in 1892 and opened in 1895, The Washington & Great Falls Electric Railway began in Georgetown at 36th and Prospect Streets and ran in a private right-of-way along the lands of the Washington Aqueduct to Glen Echo and from there along the old tracks of the Glen Echo Railroad to Cabin John. Because the railroad never reached Great Falls, but instead terminated at Cabin John, it was often referred to as the “Cabin John Trolley”. It was acquired in 1902 by the Washington Railway and Electric Company. The railway was dismantled in the 1960s, but the former roadbed is still discernible in The Palisades and in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Related articles

• The Georgetown to Glen Echo Trolley (ghostsofdc.org)
• Glen Echo Park (raoulpop.com)
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The post The Georgetown to Glen Echo Trolley appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

The country was in mourning, having just lost our President a few weeks earlier in Dallas. This is a pretty somber, powerful and moving video of the Kennedy family leaving the White House and moving into their new Georgetown home at 3038 N St NW. There’s another shot of Jackie visiting JFK’s grave in Arlington Cemetery.

The post A Country Mourns With the Kennedy Family (1963) appeared first on Ghosts of DC.