History

Saint Martin of Birmingham

By Prince Of Petworth

Luther Place Memorial Church is located at 1226 Vermont Ave. NW, on Thomas Circle. This church has previously been featured for its mural of St. Francis. Following are the words given by the Rev. Karen Brau during the dedication of this mural:

We welcome to the 14th Street side of the Sacred Commons at Luther Place Church The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., painted by Amanda Weber. We honor Dr. King, born January 15, 1929, as a preacher who led a movement to bring civil rights to African American people, fulfilling this nation’s vision that all people are created equal. Using the powerful biblical theme of God’s love that liberates and sets free all who are in bondage, Dr. King appealed to a deep place of faith that called forth holy imagination from all manner of people. Dr. King was a strong and prophetic voice for change, knowing that it would be non-violent organized effort that would transform the degrading laws and policies that kept some people partial citizens in our nation. We learned again about dreaming from Dr. King, and we learned to reach out across barriers that kept us apart in order to move together towards that holy mountain where all God’s children live in harmony. The task is still not complete, so we life up a Saint whose guidance we still require and who teaches us that we need each other.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech just south of here in DC. In that speech he proclaimed passionately, “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.”

St. Martin of Birmingham, you gave your life to a dream of reconciliation and peace, may we not endlessly defer that dream, instead may we keep marching towards it strengthened by love and sustained by hope.

St. Martin of Birmingham joins the St. Francis of Assisi Door on the Thomas Circle side of the Sacred Commons at Luther Place. Look for the 3rd in our door triptych on the Vermont Ave side of the Sacred Commons in Spring, 2011.

The Rev. Karen Brau
Senior Pastor
Luther Place Memorial Church,
January 15, 2011

Riding in Style

By Prince Of Petworth

Found this classic in Hill East. I’m still drooling.

Anyone know what year it’s from?

Dear PoP – Building Demolition at 6th and M St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Any idea about what might be going up where this building once stood on M street, between 7th and 6th streets?
I took these pictures right before Christmas, and now it is entirely demolished.

From the looks of it, this building was probably from the 1850s or 1860s. Anyone know the history behind this building, or what is now going up in it’s former location?”

Looks like the building was affiliated with The United House of Prayer for All People from 601 M St, NW. Cultural Tourism DC writes:

“601 M Street, NW
Washington, DC

The United House of Prayer for All People, Church on the Rock of the Apostolic Faith, was incorporated in 1927 by Charles M. “Sweet Daddy” Grace (1881-1960). Originally from the Cape Verde Islands, Grace was one of several Washington religious leaders, including Elder Lightfoot Michaux, offering worshipers an expressive alternative to traditional Protestantism.”

Anyone know any other details? Anyone know what is going to be built here?

House of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

It’s been a while since I stumbled on a good history lesson. This is by far my new favorite:

DC Public Library Presents, “Howard Theatre: We Were There” Tonight

By Prince Of Petworth

From and email:

“Were you at the Howard Theatre? Did you perform there? Were you in the audience? Waiting by the stage door? Skipping school to come to a matinée? Come to the DC Music Salon at the Watha T. Daniel Shaw Neighborhood Library on Wednesday December 8th and bring your photos, posters and memories. Dr. Bernard Demczuk, Howard Theatre Community Committee chairperson, and Blair Ruble, author of “Washington’s U. Street: A Biography” will lead an informal discussion. There will also be a screening of the documentary, “Howard Theatre: A Century In Song” and James Brown and the Famous Flames performance from the 1964 T.A.M.I. Show. The Watha T. Daniel Shaw Neighborhood Library is located at 1630 7th St NW near the Shaw/Howard University Metro Station. The event will begin at 7 p.m.”

House of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

One of the great things about living in DC – all the history. I was surprised at how modest this house was. Pretty impressive former inhabitants:

Did You Know a Prime Minister and Princess are Buried in Rock Creek Church Cemetery?

By Prince Of Petworth

Most people know that Tim Russert is buried in this cemetery (by Rock Creek Church Rd and Webster St, NW and near the Old Soldiers Home grounds). And last week we looked at some sweet sculptures. But this is the first time I encountered the tombstones of a prime minister and princess.

Of course the French Prime Minister Camille Chautemps was described as “intellectually bereft” and “after World War II, a French court convicted him in absentia for collaborating with the enemy”.

And I’m not exactly sure who the princess is.

Nevertheless! A prime minister and a princess – not too shabby…

Ah So This is a Boundary Stone!

By Prince Of Petworth

Of course Amelia and Vaughn wrote an epic series about their quest to find all the boundary stones. If you haven’t read the series – it is a must. You can read them here. Now I am embarrassed to admit that I had never actually seen one before. I happened to stumble on one outside the Friendship Heights Metro on Sunday. It is very random but very very cool.

Trabant Rally Outside Spy Museum this past Sat.

By Prince Of Petworth

Well this was an odd scene on Sat. outside the Spy Museum at 800 F St, NW. Odd but cool. According to the Spy Museum’s Web site:

“The ONLY Trabant Rally in the United States!

Where were you when the Wall fell? The Berlin Wall is long gone, but one Cold War icon is still chugging away—the Trabant. Despite their questionable performance and smoky two-stroke engines, these little cars are now affectionately regarded as a symbol of East Germany and the fall of Communism. Trabants are a rarity here, but on 6 November some of the finest examples in the U.S will chug their way to the International Spy Museum to celebrate our Fourth Annual Parade of Trabants.”

It looks like Mr. T in DC was there too and snapped this great shot:


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

And one else happen to check them out? Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

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