History

Walter Pierce Cemeteries at Risk

By Prince Of Petworth


Volunteers Clean Walter Pierce Park in Adams Morgan

We last discussed the cemeteries at Walter Pierce Park here.

From an email:

The desecration of Washington’s largest post-Civil War African American cemetery continues today. National Park Service and Rock Creek Park officials are throwing large boulders and piles of dirt on to, and pounding wooden stakes into the west hillside of the Colored Union Benevolent Association cemetery site. They are doing this while one contract archaeologist with two days’ experience at the site–and apparently no knowledge of its history–monitors the work.

The fragility of this hillside cannot be overstated. It contains exposed and close-to-the-surface remains and grave artifacts.

Park officials have excluded the Walter Pierce Park Archaeology Team from the National Park Service-owned portion of the historic cemetery. They have refused to allow us to act as monitors or to conduct non-invasive ground-penetrating radar there. Our City Councilmember Jim Graham, Washington Parks & People, our neighborhood association (Kalorama Citizens Association), and our Adams Morgan advisory neighborhood commission (ANC-1-C) have all been rebuffed in their requests that the Walter Pierce Park Archaeology Team be part of an effort to protect the graves, while erosion on the hillside is contained.

Members of the Walter Pierce Archaeology Team have visited the site the past two mornings to announce their objection to what is taking place. The work continues as I write.

It is important that you–the DESCENDANTS, the SCHOLARS, the CONCERNED COMMUNITY–let National Park Service officials know immediately that you object to this dishonorable treatment of the Colored Union Benevolent Association Cemetery. The Director of the National Park Service is: Jon Jarvis, [email protected]; the Director of the National Capital Region is Peggy O’Dell, peggy_o’[email protected]; the acting superintendent of Rock Creek Park is Cindy Cox, [email protected] . Please note that the first and last names of each official is separated by an underscore line.

I will keep you informed,

Mary Belcher, community liaison to the Walter Pierce Park Archaeology Project

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Sangria Café by Tony

By Prince Of Petworth

Tony runs the blog goodenoughgatsby and last contributed to PoP in a post about life in the Woodner. We judged the Sangria Cafe back in July ’09.

Controversy swirls around the Sangria Cafe, a restaurant and bar in the lobby of the Woodner, (3636 16th St NW) the apartment building I call home. Based on some of the comments I get when I mention Sangria, many people think it is home to nothing but sots and stumblebums and MS-13. I have lived at the Woodner for a little over six months now, and I am surprised every day at some of the incidents. But every day, with the exception of Monday nights, the Sangria Cafe opens its doors to residents and outsiders alike.

Most nights only a handful of people are at the bar, ordering beer or food. Patrons filter in and out. A pair of tiny televisions dating to the early Clinton administration hangs on either side of the black formica bar, silently broadcasting subtitles and plots and subplots of telenovelas. A jukebox in the corner blares the sounds of drums and trumpets across a pool table, past the wooden tables, and out the giant windows into the Woodner’s main corridor. At the front of the place, a pair of bull’s horns sits atop a chest of drawers. A sign, written in Spanish and posted near the men’s restroom, suggests the barest hint of sordidity, advising patrons that the sale and use of illegal drugs is prohibited and the Sangria Cafe’s management will eject violators, as well as notify the police. “El que avisa no es traidor,” the sign admonishes. The one who informs is not a traitor. It’s important to know where Sangria Cafe stands in the drug war.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Back in the Day, Hemp grown in DC, Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville Flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

After reading yesterday’s article in the post about hemp being grown in DC:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/12/AR2010051204933.html

I came across the official press release and it states that hemp was grown in Petworth too:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/newly-discovered-diaries-of-usda-botanist-lyster-dewey-highlight-the-history-of-hemp-cultivation-in-washington-dc-area-93658099.html”

The last article says:

On Monday, May 17, 2010 at 7:30pm, the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) will display the diaries of USDA Chief Botanist Lyster Dewey in public for the first time at Capitol Hemp Clothing and Accessories, located at 1802 Adams Mill Road, NW. The diaries and personal photos of the USDA’s top expert on fiber production for more than 40 years reveal a treasure trove of information on hemp farming research by the US Government from the 1890’s to the 1940’s. Excerpts of the newly discovered diaries will be read aloud at the event and members of the media are encouraged to attend.

The five volume set of sixty-two diaries begins in 1879 and spans until Dewey’s death in 1944. Recovered at a garage sale and then resold to the HIA, there are two photo albums, one of which includes a picture of Dewey himself measuring a 20 foot high hemp plant grown at Arlington Farms, the current location of the Pentagon. The diaries also contain evidence of Dewey growing Hemp in the District of Columbia in his own backyard in the Petworth neighborhood.

History Everywhere

By Prince Of Petworth

One of the fun things about wondering around DC is just randomly bumping into historical sites. 2425 L Street, NW is where the Rush-Bagot agreement was signed. “The treaty provided for the demilitarization of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. A plaque also stands at the former site of the British Legation in Washington, D.C.”

And when I googled the address it turns out there’s a condo for sale here…

Dear PoP – Who was Otis Street, NW Named for?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo courtesy of AOK Library & Gallery, UMBC

“Dear PoP,

Do you happen to know who “Otis Street, NW” is named after?

My kids go to E.L. Haynes on Otis Street, so that’s how it came up. In discussions among parents, we found many exceptional people named Otis. There were some of our suggestions.

James Otis, Jr. 1725 – 1783 was an early patriot who coined the phrase “Taxation without Representation is Tyranny” D.C.’s motto, I think.

Bass Otis (July 17, 1784 – Nov. 3, 1861), was a famous early American artist, inventor, and portrait painter.

Harrison Gray Otis (October 8, 1765 – October 28, 1848), was an important Federalist and member of congress.

Another Harrison Gray Otis,(February 10, 1837 – July 30, 1917) was a civil war general and hero.

Other suggestions:

Otis B. Driftwood was the famous Groucho Marx character who said, “Those are my principles. If you don’t like them…well, I have others.”

Finally, one person suggested Otis Redding, the soul singer.”

Hmm, if I were to guess I’d say James Otis, Jr. but if I were to dream I’d say Otis Redding? Any historians out there know for real? Saf? Folks from Cultural Tourism? Anyone?

Just out of curiosity were any other famous Otis names left out of the list?

Dear PoP – Old School Street Rails from 14th St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I was walking home today along 14th St. in Columbia Heights and noticed this pile of steel in the middle of the road where demolition of the street is taking place.

It appears this is the old streetcar track from the line that used to run up 14th street during the first half of the 1900’s

As someone who loves old photos of neighborhoods, and any urban archaeological relic that speaks of a time gone by, this was a goldmine for me.

It made me a little sad to see them there, as I was the only one even looking at them, and thinking about how important they were when they once linked this part of the city to downtown D.C.
People drove by, horns were honking, a fire engine came blaring through, people strolled along with their headphones on, and others just gazed straight ahead without even glancing over to wonder what this discarded pile of junk even was.

I rushed home to get my camera and snapped some photos.”

Super cool. I look forward to their new cousins on H St, NE and later Georgia Ave, NW to become active!

Sweet History from Wiltberger Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Looking at it from the front you’d almost have no idea that there was a row of houses here:

I was fortunate enough to run into the nephew of one of the street’s longest residents, Mr. Roland Swingon. Mr. Swingon is in his 80s and was unfortunately unable to speak at the time I passed by but his nephew, Dave, recounted a couple of cool stories for me. First let me situate you, the street is between S and T behind the Howard theater:


View Larger Map

Well apparently after the great musicians would play the Howard Theater they would sometimes come to this row of houses for a visit. One time the great blues singer Billie Holliday came to visit Mr. Swingon. Dave told me that when he was growing up the whole area smelled like bread from the nearby Wonder Bread factory (soon to be a recipient of a horse’s ass award…). But before’s Dave time he told me that when Mr. Swingon moved to the block the floors were made of dirt, there used a coal stove, and an ice truck drove and dropped off blocks of ice. I love hearing stories like this. It is wild to imagine the city back then. But truthfully I was most intrigued by Billie Holliday’s visit. One day, I hope to meet Mr. Swingon in person to get the full story of Billie Holliday’s visit.

“History in a House” – 415 M Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve always done a double take when I pass this big orange house at 415 M Street, NW. Despite the fact that there is a big Trail marker out front, for some reason I never checked out the story. Wow, it has a great history! And in honor of my people’s escape from bondage allow me to share the history of this house:

Hag Sameach and Happy Passover. A bit more history from the Heritage trail after the jump. (more…)

View More Stories