A deep dive into the stories of the victims of the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic in Washington, DC. Learn about the families affected and the heroic efforts of charities to save the children who were left behind.
Every time I see an old photo like this on Shorpy, I want to know more about the person staring back at me. Where did they live? What was their occupation? Who were their family members? Who were their neighbors? I started this blog eight weeks ago (wow, feels a lot longer than that) with the intention of focusing on stories of regular Washingtonians. We’ve had the chance to meet some interesting characters like Minnie Wiseman the sad suicide girl, Don Glendening the tragic murder victim, Robert...
Discover the anonymous story of Robert Muir, the Cairo Hotel Manager from the 1910s. Learn about his life, marriage to Marie, and his tragic death in 1931.
Smith Commons Curious about Smith Commons on H St. in DC? Check out our latest “If Walls Could Talk” post. The winner of our second IWCT poll is the H Street hot spot, Smith Commons (I don’t think I like that acronym). I came across some interesting stories related to the spot at 1245 H St. NE, not to mention my favorite D.C. police officer. The next time you hit up happy hour at Smith Commons, you’ll have plenty to talk about with you friendly bartender. Four riders in a...
Before Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, we had the Whiting brothers playing roller hockey in Columbia Heights. Learn about the thrilling roller hockey matches of 1926 and the 24-hour roller skating race of 1922!
This post takes a look at the 1907 Franklin Model D, an early automobile in Washington, DC. Learn more about Mary A. Bliven, her 7-year-old daughter Bertha, and Frank S. Bliven, an early adopter of the automobile in Washington.
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...
Get to know the history of the Boulder Bridge of Rock Creek Park, designed by Captain Lansing H. Beach and constructed in 1902. Learn about its designer, Major General Beach, and the Melan method of construction used for the span.
Discover the strange history of Coke Dandruff Cure in Washington, D.C. at the turn of the century. Find out more about Henry Evans, a druggist on F St NW, and how he used cocaine as an ingredient in his dandruff cure. Explore the Carnegie Institution and its founding on January 28th, 1902.
This blog post investigates Elmer Ardeeser, the driver at the center of a 1930 Dupont Circle car crash. Elmer had an interesting past, including ties to Babe Ruth's orphanage. Learn more about the event and the people involved.
