The posts the Ghosts of DC editors think deserve a second look. Strange, vivid, and surprising stories from Washington’s past, hand-picked from the full archive.
Take a look back at an advertisement from the Washington Times from June 18th, 1912. See a snapshot of Walter Johnson’s 33 wins and the Red Sox winning the World Series that year. Enjoy a piece of Washington history!
The original Beltway Bandits were an actual crime gang. Plus: how I-495 was built, how it got its name, and why “inside the Beltway” means what it means.
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
There’s a strong element of sadness watching this video. A burning city, military occupation … what essentially was complete chaos in the city from April 4th to April 8th, 1968, following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Economically it seriously devastated the corridors of 14th St NW, 7th St NW and H St NW. It has only been in the last decade that these neighborhoods have seen a significant resurgence. The damage to 14th Street NW in particular created the conditions for what became DC’s red-light district through the 1970s and 80s.
This article looks back to January 11th, 1892, when Frank Rowler, a messenger boy, was assaulted by a man named Howard. Michael McDonald, a bystander, was so angry that he hit Howard a terrible blow, leading to his arrest. This paints a picture of a rougher town in a rougher time, without the use of guns.
