History

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…)

House of the Day – Historic edition

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve always admired this one (even though it’s been under renovation for a while) in Ledroit Park. I was psyched to see a little history about it when I passed it a couple of weeks ago:

1926 Ford on Capitol Hill

By Prince Of Petworth

I never know what I stumble upon when I my walkabouts take me through alleys. Suffice it to say this was a very pleasant find. The owner of the car explained that it is all original (not a kit car) except for the paint color. Top speed – 35 miles per hour. The details were amazing. I particularly liked how the wheels had wood spokes:

Can’t believe a car from 1926 is still running and looking this good:

Tenleytown Getting a Neighborhood Heritage Trail

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From a press release:

Cultural Tourism DC invites residents and visitors to journey to the highest point in DC with the Top of the Town: Tenleytown Heritage Trail. This newest addition to the Neighborhood Heritage Trails takes participants though the history of a vibrant neighborhood that began as an intersection of two Native American footpaths. From President Theodore Roosevelt and Kermit the Frog to the stone-carving Perna and Porto families, Top of the Town: Tenleytown Heritage Trail presents stories of the people who shaped this historic neighborhood.

Cultural Tourism DC and the Tenleytown Heritage Trail Working Group will host The Tenleytown Neighborhood Heritage Trail’s official unveiling and neighborhood celebration on Saturday, November 13, at 1 pm at Fort Reno Bandstand on Chesapeake Street between 40th Street and Nebraska Avenue Northwest. This event is free and open to the public.

Top of the Town: Tenleytown Heritage Trail explores the neighborhood’s involvement in the two world wars and the Civil War, its key role in the development of modern communications, and its lost African American community, Reno City. Other trail highlights include:

* The studio where Kermit the Frog started his career
* Grant Road, a winding byway that recalls the area’s rural past
* Stonework by some of Tenleytown’s master stone mason families
* The place where women of the U.S. Navy broke the Japanese code during World War II

New Group Seeks Preservation of DC Fallout Shelters Signs

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user districtfallout

As a lover of both history and signs, I fully support this group. Back in Dec. ’07 I wondered if we were safe from the Reds…

From the group’s organizer Adam Irish:

Fallout Shelter Signs – Cold War History in Your Neighborhood

At the climax of the Cold War in the 1960s, D.C. readied over a thousand fallout shelters for use in a nuclear disaster. The shelters wouldn’t have protected Washingtonians if the city itself was attacked–only from the fallout (radioactive dust) from detonations elsewhere. Fallout shelters were marked by luminescent black and yellow signs and stocked with food, water and other supplies to sustain occupants for two weeks. They were located in public and private buildings including offices, apartments, churches, and schools. Although civil defense activities were phased out in the 1970s, some of the signs remain to this day. Keep your eyes peeled, and you’re sure to find a few in your neighborhood.

Fallout shelter signs in D.C. should be preserved as monuments to one of the most frightening periods in American history. Only 5-10% of the signs remain and nothing prevents their destruction. For fallout shelters in your neighborhood and more local Cold War history, visit http://districtfallout.wordpress.com. District Fallout is a project by the DCPL Landmarks Committee to preserve the remaining signs in place.

If you’re interested in locating old shelter signs in your area (or who knows, maybe even an intact shelter!) or would like to get involved in preservation efforts, email us at [email protected].

Veterans History Project PSA

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

The Veterans History Project is a Congressionally mandated program at the Library of Congress that collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of America’s wartime veterans. To date, the Project has collected more than 70,000 stories, nearly all collected by volunteers. This Veterans Day, the Veterans History Project urges Americans to pledge to record the story of at least one veteran in their community or neighborhood for the Library of Congress. More than 1,000 veterans die every day in the United States, so these are important elements of history to capture before they disappear forever. People can take the pledge and learn more here.”

Sounds like a great project.

Fire Box Art Vol. 87

By Prince Of Petworth

And this fire box art is nearby the house of the day (below). And there’s a good bit of city history on the back:

Dear PoP – How Does a House get Razed in a Historic District?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I saw in an Everyblock update that a permit has been issued for the razing of 820 C St. SE. Attached is a screenshot from Google Maps Streetview. It does look like the house is boarded up and in really bad shape, but it also looks like it shares not only a wall but architectural features with the adjoining house. It seems like it would have had to be in REALLY dire shape for demolition to have been ok’d in the Capitol Hill Historic District.”

I put an inquiry in to DCRA but they must be focused on food trucks because I haven’t heard from back them. So maybe some readers happen to know? Does it just require an ‘ok’ from the Capitol Hill Historic District? From the photo there don’t seem to be too many extraordinary features. Would taking down this home damage the adjoining wall?

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