History

Memorial and Funeral Services for A.J. Cooper

By Prince Of Petworth

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From the DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy:

“THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF
Algernon (Jay) Cooper, III
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN US A MEMORIAL
CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE AND WORK

DECEMBER 8 at 6:00 PM
BUSBOYS AND POETS
1025 5TH STREET NW

WE REQUEST YOU BRING YOUR THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, AND FONDEST MEMORIES OF AJ AS WE MOVE FORWARD
TOGETHER AND ALWAYS CHOOSE PEOPLE OVER POLITICS. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT TO OUR FAMILY AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO AJ COOPER SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT DC CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY.

All I can say is that all of the emotions you are feeling need to be channeled into political power. Let that burning feeling in your gut be the fuel to power a movement. Otherwise when the smoke clears all we will have left are tears and ashes. – A.J. Cooper, December 2014

Funeral services for Algernon “Jay” Johnson Cooper, III will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at Nativity Catholic Church, 6001 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011; beginning with family visitation at 10:00 AM and Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. The family requests that in lieu of flowers or cards, contributions be made in Jay’s honor to DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 1112 11th Street NW, Suite 100 Washington, D.C. 20001.

Friends are invited to join the family for a repast in the Nativity Catholic Church Community Room immediately following the service.”

34 year old DC Council candidate, AJ Cooper, Died Suddenly Wed. Morning

By Prince Of Petworth

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Thanks to all who sent emails about the sad news (also discussed in yesterday’s rant/revel) – from the Washington Post:

“The death was confirmed by his mother, Brenda Rhodes Miller, who said he died “suddenly” Wednesday morning.

Last month, Cooper announced his intention to seek the Ward 4 council seat being vacated by Muriel E. Bowser, who will become mayor Jan. 2.

Cooper had become engaged to be married last week, according to a family statement.”

Streets of Washington Presents The Short Happy Life of the Washington Auditorium

By Prince Of Petworth

Streets of Washington, written by John DeFerrari, covers some of DC’s most interesting buildings and history. John is the author of Historic Restaurants of Washington, D.C.: Capital Eats, published by the History Press, Inc. and also the author of Lost Washington DC.

One of Washington’s perennial struggles has been to find suitable indoor venues for large public performances, conventions, and other events. The first convention hall was the one built at 5th and K Streets NW in 1875, which we profiled in 2010. It had many limitations, and by the beginning of the twentieth century, city leaders craved something more worthy of the nation’s capital. As we saw last June, Susan Whitney Dimock (1845-1939) tried unsuccessfully to have a grand George Washington Memorial Hall built on the mall. But even as the cornerstone for that project was being laid in November 1921, the city’s business leaders decided—wisely—not to wait for it. Instead they raised funds entirely on their own to demonstrate the business community’s independent ability to build a large, elegant new auditorium to meet the pressing need. But the beautiful and expensive theater they built would entertain Washingtonians for just ten years before being taken over by the federal government for office space.

Washington Auditorium 1926
The Washington Auditorium in 1926 (author’s collection).

The effort to build the Washington Auditorium, as it was called, was headed by “Colonel” Robert Newton Harper (1861-1940), a native of Leesburg, Virginia, who was president of the American National Bank. Harper broke fundraising up by commercial sector, with 100 different committees of business leaders in charge of raising $5,000 each. True to their business roots, the organizers decided to offer subscriptions to the project as investments, equally split between stock and bonds, rather than charitable contributions. Philip King, president of the Merchants and Manufacturers Association, pledged to head one of the fundraising committees, and in a letter to Harper he summed up the rationale for the new auditorium: “Not merely from the standpoint of the dollars that come to the community from a big assemblage but more particularly from the better understanding and educational factors, do big conventions appeal to me as an admirable acquisition to the community. Great gatherings of tradesmen, of the professions and all classes of people generally tend to the refining and betterment of all who come within the range of such gatherings.” (more…)

Details of Memorial Events for Former Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr. Released

By Prince Of Petworth

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From a press release:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and representatives of the family of Marion S. Barry, Jr. today released the details of memorial event for the late Ward 8 Councilmember and former Mayor of the District of Columbia.

“From his days as a leader on the front lines of the civil rights movement to his work to fight poverty and advance Home Rule for the District, Marion Barry leaves behind an incredible legacy,” said Mayor Gray. “It is fitting that we come together as a city to celebrate this legacy and allow the entire District to say goodbye to the ‘Mayor for Life.’”

The schedule of memorial events is as follows:

Thursday, December 4 to Friday, December 5
9:00 a.m.: Brief ceremony to receive Mayor Barry’s casket at the Wilson Building, where his remains will lie in repose for 24 hours.

John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Friday, December 5
10:00 a.m.: Mayor Barry’s body to travel to one of the churches he regularly attended
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Musical and video tribute celebrating Mayor Barry’s 40 years of public service
6:00 pm – 9:00 p.m.: Community memorial service

Temple of Praise
700 Southern Avenue SE

Saturday, December 6
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Thousands to attend a celebration of Mayor Barry’s life and legacy

Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Halls C & D
801 Mount Vernon Place NW

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Viewing
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Memorial Service

Private burial immediately following.”

Former Mayor and Council Member Marion Barry Dies at 78

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Carly & Art

Ed. Note: Whatever your feelings, please be respectful today.

Marion Barry (March 6, 1936 – November 23, 2014)

From United Medical Center:

“The following statement is issued following the death of Councilmember Marion Barry, Former Mayor of the District of Columbia.

“This morning we are sad to announce the passing of the Honorable Marion S. Barry, Former Mayor and Councilmember of the District of Columbia. Mr. Barry was brought to United Medical Center by ambulance at 12:15am. He was pronounced dead at 1:46am.

United Medical Center’s Board and Staff extend its condolences to Mr. Barry’s family, his wife Cora Barry, his son Christopher Barry, and many other relatives. We also extend our sympathy to the residents of the District of Columbia.

Mr. Barry has had a long history of social and political engagement in the District and across the nation. His advocacy on behalf of the poor, the less fortunate and others will certainly be missed.

Over the years, Councilmember Barry has maintained a strong and heartfelt resolve to keep United Medical Center open for the people east of the Anacostia River. Without his involvement and continued work on our behalf we are certain that this hospital would not be where it is today.

Mr. Barry taught us all so much about fighting for justice; fighting for the people; fighting for the poor – it now becomes our responsibility to keep his legacy alive.

May he rest in peace.”

From Mayor Gray’s office:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray expressed deep sadness after learning of the passing of Ward 8 Councilmember and former Mayor Marion Barry. Mayor Gray spoke with former First Lady Cora Masters Barry late Saturday and shared his condolences and sympathies with her, and as well said his thoughts and prayers were with the Councilmember’s son, Christopher.

“Marion was not just a colleague but also was a friend with whom I shared many fond moments about governing the city,” said Mayor Gray. “He loved the District of Columbia and so many Washingtonians loved him.”

Mayor Gray said that he would work with Councilmember Barry’s family and the Council to plan official ceremonies worthy of a true statesman of the District of Columbia.”

From @MurielBowser:

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mayor Marion Barry”

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Statement by the President on the Passing of Marion Barry:

“Michelle and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Marion Barry. Marion was born a sharecropper’s son, came of age during the Civil Rights movement, and became a fixture in D.C. politics for decades. As a leader with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Marion helped advance the cause of civil rights for all. During his decades in elected office in D.C., he put in place historic programs to lift working people out of poverty, expand opportunity, and begin to make real the promise of home rule. Through a storied, at times tumultuous life and career, he earned the love and respect of countless Washingtonians, and Michelle and I extend our deepest sympathies to Marion’s family, friends and constituents today.”

Discovery of old milk bottle labeled “Thompson’s Dairy 2012 11th St NW” inspires cool documentary

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

My friend Richard and I came across a old milk bottle labelled “Thompson’s Dairy 2012 11th St NW”

It got us curious about the Dairy and the area itself during that time period.

As we did some research we met some great people and found out some interesting facts about the Dairy and what life was like back then.

We decided to put together a little documentary:

“King of Soul Food” Henry E. Smith, Owner of Henry’s Soul Cafe Passed Away Last Month

By Prince Of Petworth

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1704 U Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

You shared the great news yesterday that Henry’s is reopening soon, but I didn’t know if you were aware that Henry himself passed away just last month.

My dad and his friends were close with Henry and his crew in the ’70s, and I’ve heard many fantastic stories. It’s a great loss for this city.”

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From Henry’s Soul Cafe Facebook page:

The District’s legendary “King of Soul Food” Henry Smith, died Friday, October 10, at the age of 73.

His world-renowned Washington establishment, Henry’s Carry-out & Delicatessen, has drawn celebrities, politicians, tourists and locals alike to enjoy its famed soul food for more than 45 years.

Smith, opened the U Street restaurant in 1968, featuring Southern cooking staples like fried chicken, barbeque ribs and collard greens. However, it was best known as the “Home of the Sweet Potato Pie,” having served its famous dessert to every District of Columbia Mayor since Walter Washington and even United States President’s Clinton and Obama.

“Today I lost my father, but D.C. has lost a legend,” said Jermaine Smith, son of Henry Smith.” During the 1968 riots, Henry and his brother sat in the window of his “then” new business armed with a shotgun and a bible. His restaurant was one of the few businesses that remained unscathed during the historic incident.

Henry’s Smith’s legacy continues today with his son and daughter at the helm of the original Henry’s at 17th& U Street as well as operating several other locations in the Washington Metropolitan area.

PBS Video – UNUSUAL SPACES: “The Mysterious, Abandoned Silos of Washington, DC”

By Prince Of Petworth

The Mysterious, Abandoned Silos of Washington, DC from PBS Digital Studios on Vimeo.

Thanks to all who sent links to this video:

“The McMillan Sand Filtration Site is one of Washington, DC’s most conspicuous mysteries: a fenced-off 25-acre grassy plain just over 2 miles north of Capitol Hill, marked by rows of tall concrete cylinders clothed in overgrown ferns. Unbeknownst to the thousands of commuters and residents that pass by its rusted gates daily, below this sprawling parcel of land lies a series of vast underground caverns built in the early 20th century by the Army Corps of Engineers as a natural purification facility for DC’s turbid water supply.

Sealed to the public at the onset of World War II, the park above the filtration cells has been inaccessible ever since. Now, almost 30 years since its official closure, the site – a curious holdout among DC’s recent wave of rapid urban development – has become the subject of a widespread debate over its future use.”

Ed. Note: You can see some renderings for the planned new development here.

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