Georgetown neighborhood in Washington, D.C. - Page 8 of 8

The Story of How The White House Got Its Name

March 20, 2022March 2, 2012 by ghostsofdc

President's Palace design by John Collins

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.

The Night John Lennon Died: U2 Plays Raw Emotional Gigs in 1980s Washington

December 8, 2023February 28, 2012 by ghostsofdc

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.

U2 and the Slickee Boys at the Bayou (1980)

The Washington Senators Signed Georgetown Shortstop Charley Moran in December 1902

December 29, 2021January 30, 2012 by ghostsofdc

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.

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

If Walls Could Talk: The Looking Glass Lounge

November 22, 2021January 20, 2012 by ghostsofdc

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.

The Washington & Great Falls Electric Railway Line (“Cabin John Trolley”) from Georgetown

March 10, 2023January 6, 2012 by ghostsofdc

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

Remembering JFK: A Powerful Video of the Kennedy Family Leaving the White House

November 19, 2023January 4, 2012 by ghostsofdc

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.