History

“Frederick Douglass Home to reopen July 4”

By Prince Of Petworth


inside 1411 W Street, SE Frederick Douglass National Historic Site via NPS

From the National Park Service:

“Join us at the reopening of Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (1411 W Street, SE) on July 4! The celebration will start at 11 a.m. with a special ceremony featuring a ribbon-cutting, music, and a dramatic portrayal of Douglass’s famous speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

Following the ceremony, visitors will be able to walk through the first floor of the historic home from 12:30 – 3 p.m. Ranger-lead tours of the entire house will be available from 3 – 5 p.m., with timed tickets available at the event.

Initially closed in March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic home remained closed so a new HVAC system could be installed. (more…)

“There was a Circle there at North Cap. and Fl. Ave., called Truxton Circle!”

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader wrote after our Truxton Inn closing post:

“There was a Circle there at North Cap. and Fl. Ave., called Truxton Circle! Not sure of the date when they took it out, but for years later my mother and aunt would always call that area Truxton Circle!”

And of course, the neighborhood is still called Truxton Circle today – but for those who were not familiar with the history: “Reader Finds Remnants of Truxton Circle Fountain“

Archeological Finds Vol. 80 – “Sharon Pratt Kelly hasn’t been mayor since 1995!”

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to J. for sending: “Saw this ~30 year old sign on my walk in Petworth the other day. Sharon Pratt Kelly hasn’t been mayor since 1995!”

If you have a photo of a neat find from your house, place of work or neighborhood please send an email to [email protected] thanks. Please let me know where/what neighborhood you found it in too. Thanks.

Archeological Finds Vol. 78 – Olde Heurich Amber Lager beer bottle

By Prince Of Petworth

If you have a photo of a neat find from your house, place of work or neighborhood please send an email to [email protected] thanks. Please let me know where/what neighborhood you found it in too. Thanks.

Thanks to D. for sending this awesome find: “I also came across this sole Olde Heurich Amber Lager beer bottle in my dad’s garage. He found it when he was cleaning out his dad’s basement in 1990 and decided to hang on to it.” (more…)

Archeological Finds Vol. 77 – A 1961 Brochure for Class Trip to DC

By Prince Of Petworth

If you have a photo of a neat find from your house, place of work or neighborhood please send an email to [email protected] thanks. Please let me know where/what neighborhood you found it in too. Thanks.

“Dear PoPville,

When I was visiting my parents in Indianapolis last month, my mom mentioned that she had a brochure from her senior class trip to Washington and New York back in 1961. I had fun looking at this brochure exactly one week shy of 62 years since she’d left on that trip. I thought you (and possibly others) might also enjoy seeing what highlights were listed way back then for a trip to our fine city (or “the ‘Paris’ of the western hemisphere”). (more…)

Flashback: Anita Hill Mural in Woodley Park

By Prince Of Petworth


Connecticut and Calvert St, NW photo from the early 90s from kalcat

“Dear PoPville,

I grew up in DC, and recall distinctly that for many years in the 90s and maybe even into the early 2000s there was a large mural of Anita Hill basically across the street from the famous Marilyn Monroe mural at 2602 Connecticut Avenue NW. (more…)

“With a Sad Sad Heart we say good bye to Tommy. Hopscotch will not be reopening”

By Prince Of Petworth


Tommy Mazzocchi via IG

“Dear PoPville,

Not sure if you heard the news, but Tommy Mazzocchi – the owner of Hopscotch Bar and Grill in Bloomingdale, formerly bartender at Maddy’s, Old Ebbit and Clydes Tower Oakes (and many more), passed away very unexpectedly earlier this week. Services information is here, and Hopscotch will not be reopening, (more…)

“The Story of Our Schools and Eastern High School Unveil Exhibit Detailing 100 Years of School History”

By Prince Of Petworth


photos courtesy Story of Our Schools

From a press release:

“The Story of Our Schools and Eastern High School are proud to present “100 Years of Eastern High School” as part of the school’s 100th anniversary celebration. The exhibit features a replica of the Greensboro Four lunch counter, where civil rights activist and Eastern Alum, Franklin McCain, staged the famous sit-in, as well as a photographic timeline that honors Eastern’s academic, athletic, and creative accomplishments over the last 100 years. (more…)

View More Stories