Woodley Park grew up around the Connecticut Avenue bridge and the National Zoo, becoming one of DC’s most desirable residential addresses in the early 20th century, defined by its grand apartment buildings and tree-lined streets.
The Maret School began in 1911 in a rented Washington apartment, founded by three immigrant sisters. The story of how it started, and of the school’s first student.
Before the abdication crisis, the future Duchess of Windsor spent four quiet years in Washington as a young, separated Navy wife. She shared a small house in Georgetown, lunched at the Hotel Hamilton on K Street, and met an Argentine diplomat who would change her mind about her marriage. Her mother ran a boarding house on Woodley Road.
The neighborhood surrounding the circle was once dubbed Fairview Heights, which no longer seems to appear on any contemporary maps.
This guest post by Phil Dickieson explores the history of kit homes, which were popular in the early 20th century. Learn how a $2,425 house can now be worth over $2 million!
Explore an old 1924 advertisement from the Evening Star for the Wardman Construction Company in Washington D.C. and see what the home is worth today. Plus a look at the house and the Lighting Educational Committee.
Harry Wardman was a prolific developer of Northwest in the 1920s. This ad from The Evening Star shows some of his homes on Cathedral Ave. in Woodley Park.
The Woodley estate in England was torn down in 1962. Its DC counterpart still stands on Connecticut Avenue and became part of Maret School in 1950.
Take a look back at DC in 1913 with maps of Observatory Circle, Woodley Park & Glover Park. See what’s changed and comment your observations below!
Take a look back in time with this 1928 Woodley Park advertisement from The Washington Post. Learn more about the Wardman homes and the area’s history in this nostalgic piece.
