What the Helen of Troy is This

“is there a weird mechanical sound emanating from h street?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Sarah Yoder

EZ asks last night: “is there a weird mechanical sound emanating from h street which sounds vaguely like a computer fan but scaled up annoying anyone else (besides my husband and I)? Anyone?”

Matt replies: “heard it on a walk with the dog about an hour ago. seemed to be coming from the red building across from sherwood at 10th & g.”

and K: “I hear it (in Trinidad) along w/the usual traffic sounds & that ONE noisy hound that a neighbor walks 2 early that howls like he’s hunting … maybe it’s metro/ Amtrak echos”

Time to Talk about that “Mystery Silo”/Ventilation Shaft

By Prince Of Petworth


2nd/3rd Mass. and H Street, NW

Thanks to Dr. Dion for asking about the famed “Mystery Silo” in the 200 block of H Street, NW. We last broached the subject back in August 2019.

We’ve previously learned that this is a ventilation shaft for the 395 highway tunnel below. The artist responsible for the awesome mural, Val E. Lewton, passed away in 2015.

Others have commented that: “It’s been known unofficially for years as the Nixon Memorial.”

“Why does the monument have this streaking?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Why does the monument has this streaking? Looks like it’s been power washed, I’ve never noticed it before. I might have thought it was some crazy trick of the light, but it’s like this on the east side as well. Tried looking it up online and only came up with an NPS acid rain article but I’m not sure if that’s the cause. Searching made more difficult since the monument is two different colors every day.”

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…)

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