History

I “Found” Logan’s Tomb in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve mentioned the Old Soldier’s Home Cemetery before but somehow I missed Logan’s Tomb. Since there are many fans of the statue in Logan Circle, I thought I’d give the address of the tomb – it’s on Harewood between Rock Creek Church Rd. and North Capitol in Petworth.

I actually was initially moved by how many Unknown Soldier tombstones I saw:

There were dozens of them. It really is a moving sight. Since the economy got so screwed up I feel like the sacrifices that are being made by our troops overseas have fallen a bit off the radar. I think it’s important that we continue to remember what’s going on.

Reader Submitted GDoN From Back in the Day – 105 years ago

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Does this count as a reader-suggested Good Deal or Not?? I think it’s a great deal at that price! That’s barely the price of a new iPhone and a weekly Chipotle burrito!!

I’m kidding, of course. A friend collects old magazine/news ads and found this one at a show this weekend. It’s from 105 years ago — an Evening Star ad for sales of housing (58 units total) in the area around Harvard between 7th and 11th Streets. Probably might be of interest to some of your readers, and it would be cool to find out if this model home still stands at 726 Dearborn Street, see how it’s held up all these years.”

Very cool.

Reader Finds Remnants of Truxton Circle Fountain

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I am researching the area around Truxton Circle. During my research, I discovered that the fountain from Truxton Circle is located in Fort Washington National Park in inventory, along with some other treasures (bricks from the Capitol, Washington Monument, McMillan Statue). I went out on Friday to photgraph the remains of the fountain and I attached some pics for any interested residents around the Truxton area.

The circle was located at the intersection of Florida and North Cap, GIS images still show the lots contoured to the circle. Fort Washington Park is located at 13551 Fort Washington Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744 and is quite the gem itself.”

Well this is super cool. Thanks a million for sending and keep us updated on your research!

New To Me – Former Griffith Stadium Location

By Prince Of Petworth

I can’t believe I missed this during the Georgia Ave. PoPtrekker but I just learned that the Howard University Hospital located on the 2000 block of Georgia Ave. was the home to the old Griffith Stadium.

It’s wild to think that there was once a baseball stadium there. I can’t believe I’m just learning about this now. I love these African American Heritage Trail signs!

1314 9th Street, NW – Displaying its History and Looking Good

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending the word on this cool space. I was lucky enough to run into owner, Lisa Fricano, who told me she was “holding out for something special” on the retail space. She’d love to see it turn into a bookstore or an art space. And what’s super cool is that she is a big fan of the history of the building. She told me it was once a disco in the 70s called “The Jerk”. Too cool. Building on her love of history she has placed historic pictures and items in the front window.

I also love the copper:

You can pick up a postcard of the spot that has a picture from 1931 on the front and a poem about the building on the back:

A hardworking gal in her prime
Times a comeback for 2009,
Her vacant-eyed slumber
Didn’t soften her lumber,
And her penny is now worth a dime.

Much lamented by those who had seen her,
While around her Shaw’s main streets got cleaner,
She drew on reserve,
To renew and preserve,
Her unconventional, centered demeanor.

Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

Reader Submitted Sweet (Old School) City Sign – Happy News Cafe

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from Shorpy

“Hey PoP,

I know you often post cool city signs and I saw this ridiculously cool one on a site I often search for old picture of DC (www.shorpy.com). Apparently 1727 7th Street NW used to be the “Happy News Cafe” back in 1933. Thought this was pretty cool. May not be new info, but it’s new to me.

Check our the High Def version of the picture here – http://www.shorpy.com/node/6071?size=_original
I also like the caption under the picture.

And if you want to see the inside of the place, it’s here – http://www.shorpy.com/node?page=1”

Very cool!

Wow! A Reader Takes A Look Inside The “Wonder Bread” Building

By Prince Of Petworth

Earlier in the week we looked at this building on the 600 block of S Street, NW. A reader commented:

“God I love this place!!! I snuck into the Wonder Bread Factory two weeks ago. There are thousands of bikes inside its like a chop shop.. its the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

She was kind enough to let me post some photos of the inside:

In an email the reader writes:

“Interesting to note: I called the cops about the bikes …”they had other priorities”. After doing some research I found out they have been there for a while.. with no investigation initiated.”

Pretty wild, yeah?

DC Public Library Joins Flickr – Sweet! Check out Henderson Castle

By Prince Of Petworth


Henderson Castle

I got an email from Aaron Schmidt the Digital Initiatives Librarian at DCPL announcing this venture. It is awesome. I’ll definitely be posting some cool old photos from here.

In the picture above they write:

“Built in 1888 for Senator John Brooks Henderson, the castle stood at the intersection of Florida Avenue and 16th Street, NW (northwest corner). Henderson was a skilled politician and was the man who drafted the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. In 1949 the house was razed, with only the great stone entrance gate posts having survivied the wrecking ball.”

This is so cool as we’ve spoken about the stone entrance in the past. It is amazing to see what it actually looked like. Good on ya, DCPL!

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