What the Helen of Troy is This

Why It’s the Remnants of the old “Henderson Manor Garden” of course!

By Prince Of Petworth


16th and Florida Ave, NW

Zay asks us: “what is this?”

This curiosity used to come up every year but it was last asked back in 2016. They are the remaining columns from the Henderson Manor Garden at 16th and Florida Ave, NW.

The Post’s Answerman dug up the full story. In part:

“Burnap’s 16th Street garden featured an open lawn bordered with shrubbery. A high wall faced Florida Avenue and turned the corner at 16th before stepping down to a low wall and ornamental iron fence. At the rear of the property, four Doric columns held up a hanging garden. Most striking was the intricate latticework that covered most of the interior walls.” (more…)

Hold my prepared food

By Prince Of Petworth

Well then, thanks to Christine for sending “From today’s Post “health code violations”. Not sure why this struck me as funny this morning – Ax(e) throwing is a prohibited activity”.

Can we get some clarity on hatchet throwing please?

Was that a Cannon you heard around 7am on a Tuesday Morning? Vol. 8

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Erin

Yes.

Many, many rounds of cannon fire/booms reported to us this morning from all over D.C.

From a previous discussion revealed by old guard alum:

“The Old Guard’s Presidential Salute Battery conducts rehearsals (aka Blank-Fire Crew Drills) on Thursday [Ed. Note: since this post they’ve been on Tuesdays] mornings starting at 0700 in Arlington National Cemetery and on Ft. Myer. These drills are used to rehearse for upcoming ceremonies and certify new Soldiers on the ceremonial 105mm howitzer cannons. They do the drills before the cemetery opens for the day. The modified howitzers can only fire blank rounds; no projectiles.”

Another insider advises a good way to tell if it’s from Arlington: “An easy way to confirm is time and count, if they are 3 or 5 seconds apart in odd numbers between 11 and 21”

“There has been a strange plane flying circles over NW DC/Bethesda down to 395 & back”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Hoping someone might have some ideas….

There has been a strange plane flying circles over NW DC/Bethesda down to 395 & back for the last 20 minutes or so, I’ve been watching it on Flight Rader & it’s stayed between 5,000-5,300 ft.

It’s passed within hearing distance of me about 6 times.

In any event, since it’s in restricted airspace & I don’t see/hear any fighter jets chasing it, I have to assume it’s Gov’t, but who & for what reason.”

“Mystery tree tag on Mass. Ave”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

On a walk this weekend I noticed a copper looking tag/plaque way up high in the tall tree in the triangle park at Mass Ave/35th St NW/Fulton St NW, just south of St Sophia’s. I’ve walked by here many, many times before and never noticed it, but the sun was hitting at just the right angle for it to flash in the corner of my eye. I thought at first it was a mylar balloon or something similar caught in the branches, but getting as close as I could it’s obviously a large metal tag or plate of some sort (about license plate size?) zip-tied to one of the boughs. (more…)

Was that a Cannon you heard at 7am on a Tuesday Morning? Vol. 7

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Erin

Many, many rounds of cannon fire/booms reported to us this morning. This comes up every few months, just enough time to forget why it’s happening for a minute :)

From a previous discussion revealed by old guard alum:

“The Old Guard’s Presidential Salute Battery conducts rehearsals (aka Blank-Fire Crew Drills) on Thursday mornings starting at 0700 in Arlington National Cemetery and on Ft. Myer. These drills are used to rehearse for upcoming ceremonies and certify new Soldiers on the ceremonial 105mm howitzer cannons. They do the drills before the cemetery opens for the day. The modified howitzers can only fire blank rounds; no projectiles.

During changes in the seasons (usually late spring or early fall), the sound from the blank shots tends to travel further and more residents hear it. Not sure if it has something to do with the changing temp… foliage…?”

I know it’s not Thursday but this is still my guess.

Doug also notes: “So this has to be the answer, the cadence is def cannon-salute-esque

Gotta be some sort of weather/atmospheric situation this am that’s making the noise carry more than usual though”

And Brad shares the article “Here’s Why Sound Carries Farther on Cold Days”

“Those sensors monitor geographical shifts in stations”

By Prince Of Petworth

Rodrigo writes: “Instead of biking, I finally took the Metro home and noticed all these sensors on the walls of L’Enfant Plaza; anyone know what these are for?”

WMATA replied: “Hi Rodrigo, good eye and great question! These sensors were put in from our Engineering Department. Happy Friday!”

“Those sensors monitor geographical shifts in stations.”

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