History - PoPville

Official Word and more details from NPS: “Meridian Hill Park has a new armillary sphere”

Published November 14, 2024 at 9:00AM

Photo Credit: NPS / Nick Bartolomeo

From NPS:

“The National Park Service (NPS) has installed a new armillary sphere on the lower plaza of Meridian Hill Park.

The new sphere is a replica based on the original armillary sphere approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) in 1929 and present in the park from 1932 until the late 1970s. The original sphere was 6 feet 6 inches high, 5 feet 8 inches in diameter, 17.79 feet in circumference and weighed 1,250 pounds. It was the focal point of the southern end of Meridian Hill Park. NPS removed it because of damage and vandalism. The pedestal remained in the park and will serve as the base for the new sphere.

NPS oversaw the re-creation of the new armillary sphere, which was designed using historic photographs and drawings. (more…)

#Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park

“NPS is planning to demolish the bridge.”

By Prince Of Petworth

Published November 7, 2024 at 1:00PM

Thanks to DCbyLonghorn for sharing the update:

“A few months ago I signed a petition from PoPville to save the Foundry Branch Trestle Bridge in Glover Archbold Park. While digging through NPS docs, I found the update that no one appears to have picked up yet. NPS is planning to demolish the bridge. (more…)

Archeological Finds Vol. 97 – The Bank Nightclub – 915 F Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Published November 6, 2024 at 3:15PM

Thanks to a reader for sending: “Found during a purge of old documents. circa mid-late ’90s DC” (more…)

“17 years ago at Meridian Hill”

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 29, 2024 at 1:25PM

photo by Chris Campbell in Columbia Heights

Thanks to Chris for sharing this reminder of what once was and what hopefully will be again in the not too too distant future:

“I had forgotten what the falls looked like, but this popped up on my Google photos today!”

The latest on the fountains from NPS earlier this year was: (more…)

“DC Firefighters Memorial Helmet Project” Honoring DC Fire and EMS Lives Lost

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 21, 2024 at 12:15PM

Thanks to G. for sending: “This is new. At the entrance to the alley next to old H Street Country Club.” (more…)

“A Statement of Some Advantages of the Beautiful Columbia Heights A Neighborhood of Homes”

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 4, 2024 at 9:30AM

11th annd Euclid Street, NW in 1904

“Dear PoPville,

A while back, I was researching Columbia Heights and came across a book in the Library of Congress from 1904 titled “A Statement of Some Advantages of the Beautiful Columbia Heights A Neighborhood of Homes,” compiled and arranged by The Columbia Heights Citizens’ Association.

Recently, a single-family home at the corner of 11th and Euclid St NW sold and is slated for demolition. I remembered seeing it in this book, but the street name threw me off. Did you know Columbia Heights previously had street names like Princeton Street, Yale, Roanoke, Yale, and Kenesaw Ave? (more…)

#Archeological Finds

Archeological Finds Vol. 96 – Zebra Room Menus

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 3, 2024 at 12:30PM

“Dear PoPville,

I have a couple original menus for the Zebra Room restaurant. I would like to give them to someone that could maybe frame & display the historical items.

Any suggestions? Maybe the owners of the property?

I grew up just down the street from the Zebra Room. Classic place!”

More menus: (more…)

#Archeological Finds

Archeological Finds Vol. 95 – Some sorta ancient decoding device likely from the Hellenistic period or thereabouts

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 1, 2024 at 9:00AM

Thanks to Brad for sending from the Green Line.

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

Washington Post Express Truck is Still There!! However

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 19, 2024 at 9:00AM

On Monday another reader spotted this blast from the past. Chris spotted it last night still in 16th Street Heights. However, he provides a bit more detail – it looked like they were covering up the boxes with a new title. (more…)

“Sam the Man – Who was he?”

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 17, 2024 at 9:00AM

Thanks to Aaron for sending: “New sign on 18th Street. Who was he?”

From the Sam “the man” Burns Legacy Foundation:

“For more than forty years, Sam “The Man” Burns kept D.C. residents reveling on the dance floor, getting down to his signature deep house sound. More than just a DJ, Sam was an artist that brought crowds together for generations. He was a mainstay in many iconic dance clubs and a force of good in our community. (more…)