History

DC Office of Planning Releases 2016 DC Historic Preservation Plan

By Prince Of Petworth

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From a press release:

“After a year-long planning effort with community partners, the DC Office of Planning (OP) has released Enriching our Heritage, the 2016 District of Columbia Historic Preservation Plan. Developed by OP’s Historic Preservation Office, the generously illustrated 92-page document is an informative guide to help District residents learn about local history and see how Washington’s heritage is shaping the city’s growth.

Using timelines and graphics, the plan traces how Washington grew from modest beginnings into a dynamic multi-cultural city. It describes how the city’s magnificent architecture and beautiful neighborhoods have been nurtured over the years through official protections and the contributions of communities and civic leaders. Drawing on views expressed in public forums, it discusses current challenges in preserving the historic ambience and quality of life that is attracting so many new residents to the city. It also identifies key opportunities to enrich the city’s environment with new vitality and an appreciation of an increasingly diverse cultural scene.

The plan proposes several innovations in the city’s approach to historic preservation. It explores ideas about celebrating the upcoming 225th anniversary of the District’s establishment, and suggests how everyone can participate in community heritage events. It proposes a pilot project to test the concept of conservation districts, and financial incentives to encourage reuse of the city’s older housing stock for affordable housing. In all, the plan identifies thirteen key goals with specific action items and targets for each goal.

The Preservation Plan was developed with the assistance of a steering committee of community and business leaders from across the city, as well as guidance from non-profit organizations working to engage District residents in local history and community heritage activities.”

Full report in PDF:

Historic_Preservation_Plan_2016

Photo from PoPville – Then and Now

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user NCinDC

NCinDC writes:

“A commercial building located at 804 H Street NE in the Near Northeast (H Street corridor) of Washington, D.C. Built in 1890, the property originally served as a private residence. It was later converted into Peoples Drug Store No. 5 where apparently they always sold the best. (here’s additional historic photos of this Peoples location) The left photo was taken sometime in the 1910s by the National Photo Company (via the Library of Congress). The building on the far left in the old photo was replaced with a bank building in 1921 while the building on the far right was probably destroyed during the 1968 riots.”

When becoming a member of the PoPville flickr pool please make sure your settings allow me to download your photos. Join the PoPville flickr pool here and follow PoPville on twitter here on facebook here and you can now sign up for daily email summaries here.

Remembering Bryson Latimer (1944 – 2013)

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

Bryson was a good friend and neighbor; a Petworth fixture; a long-term resident who worked tirelessly to ensure that our block was populated by friends…and not acquaintances.

As DC loses residents such as Bryson Latimer and Larry Byrd, we’re certainly diminished, but hopefully their warmth, generosity, and spirit of community won’t be forgotten.”

Bill shares his tribute:

“Bryson Latimer was a Petworth fixture.

When we purchased our house in 2010, Bryson would take a stroll each time we came by to look at the property. After we moved in, we asked him about it, and he said, “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t assholes.” We felt exactly the same way, told him so, and laughed with him about it in the years that followed.

We called Bryson “The Mayor” because he knew everyone and everything that went on in our little corner of Petworth. You couldn’t come home any evening in summer and not find Bryson out on his porch. He taught us about “porch culture”, and when we had our own impromptu porch party, Bryson was the first person to come over.

Bryson’s family moved to Petworth in the early 1950′s, one of the first black families on a block of 2nd generation German and Italian Americans. Although he moved away in the 1970s, he returned to Petworth during some of its worst years and stayed on, retired, and cared for his elderly parents—living in the same house that he was raised in and that his family has owned for almost 60 years.

Bryson was a kind, wise, intelligent, and thoughtful man who not only helped us understand our new neighborhood and neighbors, but helped them to understand us. He helped us make new friends of which he was the first. My wife referred to Bryson as “…our gift with purchase.”

Bryson Latimer died the evening of October 19th after a short battle with an aggressive form of lung cancer. He was 69. We miss him terribly. The neighborhood just won’t be the same without him.”

Museum Minute Vol. 10 – Neighborhood Heritage Trails

By Prince Of Petworth

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Museum Minute is written by Elle O’Flaherty. Elle lives in Mt. Pleasant and previously wrote about the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum.

This is a very special furlough edition of Museum Minute in which I tried to both go to a museum while many were closed and spend no money while most still in operation charged entrance fees. Thus, I bring you the Neighborhood Heritage Trail. We’ve all seen the large signs posted around town, but I hadn’t actually taken the time to walk one of the trails until suddenly Congress afforded me plenty of opportunity.

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I’m glad I did. I walked the Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail, which was interesting if you’re entirely too enamored of your neighborhood, which I am. It was also kind of nice to have a purpose to walk around on a beautiful day. The trail had all sorts of information about the architecture, famous former residents (and less famous, including a former presidential chauffeur), and interesting facts about MtP. There are 15 heritage trails throughout the city, a couple have free accompanying audio tours, and odds are there’s one for your neck of the woods. So, if you’re looking for a cheap way to learn more about your hood while taking a walk with your kid or dog, two thumbs up.

By the way, just in case you don’t think this furlough edition museum review isn’t up to Popville’s usual standards, I think we all know who to blame…

Awesome (Sad) History – La Tomate Restaurant in 2009 and 1900

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user NCinDC

NCinDC writes:

“From an article by Paul K. Williams in The InTowner:
“Though a major commercial corridor today, Connecticut Avenue north of Dupont Circle and the Circle itself was originally developed as a fashionable residential neighborhood beginning in the early 1880s. The large triangular lot at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, R and 20th Streets is today occupied by a distinctive triangular building built in 1922, now housing the popular La Tomate Restaurant. Before that, however, it was the site of a spectacular brownstone mansion built by Senator Philetus Sawyer in 1888…”

Remembering Larry Byrd by Jeremy Barr

By Prince Of Petworth

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Jeremy previously wrote about DC’s Best Wifi Network names.

I meant to write about Larry Byrd when I learned of his death in late June at the age of 90.

Larry was the first person I met when I moved into my former home on 4th St. NW, a few blocks east of the Convention Center, in February 2012. “Welcome to the neighborhood,” he said, seeing me lugging boxes up the stairs into the early 20th century row house I shared with several friends.

We chatted for a few minutes. To my surprise, our conversation quickly veered beyond small talk. He asked me about the masters program I was about to begin and my long-term career goals. He told me that he was legally blind, able only to see “orbs.”

He seems like a nice man, I thought. What I didn’t know is that Larry would become more than just a friendly next-door neighbor.

Well into his retirement, Larry spent his days perched on his steps or on a bench just inside his gate. As people walked by, he said hello and offered up one of his trademark phrases, telling people, “Have a wonderful day,” or, “Be good to yourself.”

And the neighborhood loved him. Not only was he a beacon of warmth and friendship, he was known for being a mentor to several men who battled drug addiction. (more…)

Union Station Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Grand Reopening Sept. 29th

By Prince Of Petworth

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September 29, 1988. Photo credit Carol Highsmith courtesy of Union Station Redevelopment Corp.

From a press release:

“On September 29, 1988, Washington Union Station reopened its doors with a gala celebration after a three-year transformative rehabilitation project. A collaborative public/private partnership funded the $160 million project per 1981 congressional legislation to restore the station to its historic grandeur. At the time, the project was considered the largest, most complex, public/private restoration project ever to be completed in the United States. Key improvements included: the creation of a mezzanine level within the Concourse, which provided expanded retail; the addition of dedicated areas for Amtrak seating and signage; restoration of the floors in the West, East, and Main Halls and exterior walls, doors, and windows; upgrades to the exterior lighting; the addition of two escalators connecting the ground level and mezzanine level outside the Main Hall; and the addition of an elevator providing accessibility to all three levels of the station.

Today, the bustling retail and multi-modal facility serves over 32 million visitors annually, and station partners continue to focus on enhancements. Recent renovations include improving vehicular and pedestrian circulation on Columbus Plaza, expanding the intercity bus terminal, rehabilitating the historic Main Hall, and introducing new modes of transportation resources.

In 2012, Amtrak and private developer, Akridge, released the Washington Union Station Master Plan in partnership with USRC, the commuter railroads, and other local stakeholders. The plan sets forth a new vision to again revitalize the station through a multi-phased approach, to gain increased passenger and rail capacity, add new station amenities and transit-oriented mixed-use development above the tracks. While work continues to refine the plan, early action items focus on passenger waiting areas and concourse expansion.”

From the Events Calendar – Book Talk and Signing: Historic Restaurants of DC

By Prince Of Petworth

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Book Talk and Signing: Historic Restaurants of DC:

“Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
901 G Street NW
September 24, 2013 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

John DeFerrari, author of the Streets of Washington blog and “Lost Washington, D.C.,” will speak about his new book on the history of Washington restaurants. Washington’s first true restaurants—places where you could choose when to eat, select items from a menu, and be served at a private table—appeared here by the 1830s, not long after they got started in New York. From these early beginnings through the flowering of ethnic restaurants in the late 20th century, Historic Restaurants of Washington, D.C.: Capital Eats presents the sweeping evolution of the city’s eateries, from exclusive bastions of haute cuisine like the Rive Gauche and Sans Souci to beloved diners like Hot Shoppes and Little Taverns. DeFerrari will speak on a few selected aspects of the city’s restaurant history and will also have copies of the book for sale ($25, cash check or credit) and signing. Join us in the Washingtoniana Division (Room 307) for a lively and informative evening!”

Ed. Note: You can see all events here and you can schedule your own event listing here.

Civil War Diary on Display at President Lincoln’s Cottage Sept. 26th – Dec. 31st

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo via Lincoln’s Cottage

“The original Civil War diary and personal artifacts of Albert Nelson See, a member of Abraham Lincoln’s Presidential Guard, will go on public display for the first time in history at President Lincoln’s Cottage this autumn. See’s eye-witness accounts detail President Lincoln’s life at the Cottage, Jubal Early’s attack on Washington at Fort Stevens, and the inner workings of the presidential guard. Visitors to the exhibit will discover an authentic perspective of Civil War life in Washington. The exhibit opens to the public on September 26th 2013 in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center at President Lincoln’s Cottage, and will remain on display until December 31st, 2013 [UPSHUR ST AT ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD, NW].

“When President Lincoln and his family resided at the Soldiers’ Home, they moved closer to the action of the Civil War,” says Erin Carlson Mast, Executive Director of President Lincoln’s Cottage. “From greeting wounded soldiers en route to Harewood Hospital, to witnessing growing numbers of contraband camps and military burials, Lincoln’s life at the Soldiers’ Home connected him profoundly to the stark realities of the Civil War. As a member of his presidential guard, See lived on the Soldiers’ Home grounds and bore witness to the Lincoln family’s daily life, as well as Civil War events such as the battle at Fort Stevens in the summer of 1864. Lincoln himself left only a few written records of his life at the Soldiers’ Home, and See’s narrative offers an invaluable window into that period.”

The Albert Nelson See Diary was a gift to President Lincoln’s Cottage from Ms. Betty Kessler, the great granddaughter of Albert Nelson See. Having been passed down through several generations of the See family before being donated to President Lincoln’s Cottage in December of 2009, the diary underwent significant conservation efforts. It is now being displayed to the public for the first time.”

Ed. Note: You can see all events here and you can schedule your own event listing here.

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