Day: April 20, 2007

BACA Transport committee needs vols

From Jim:

Neighbors,

BACA Transportation Committee Chairperson Ephrem Minasse is currently soliciting members to work with him on transportation issues in our neighborhood. For your specific information, work of the Transportation Committee is described as follows:

“The Transportation Committee shall be responsible for keeping an inventory of the transportation needs of the community and of making recommendations to the body as to how they might be appropriately addressed, including but not limited to streets, alleys, traffic patterns, traffic signals, traffic signs, residential parking, curb cuts, and the like.”

Some of the preliminary goals that the committee has established for 2007 include (1) the recommendation of four way stop signs at the intersection of First and Bates Street, N.W.; (2) the recommendation of four way stop signs at the intersection of First and N Street, N.W.; the recommendation of a left hand turn signal for North Capitol Street, N.W. onto P Street, N.W., or non-rush hour left turning ability at this location; and the recommendation that participation in the Residential Permit Parking Program be expanded to include more blocks in the community.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Transportation Committee, in making suggestions for Committee’s consideration, and/or in spear-heading a project that is under their purview, please contact Chairman Minasse at eminasse at verizon dot net.

Best,

Jim Berry
Bates Area Civic Association, Inc.

Fun with ProQuest: Truxton Circle pt I

I ‘heart’ ProQuest. It allows me to post on things historic without having to do to much work. Anyway, another part of my lazy posting because I have no pictures of the renovation right now….. Fun with ProQuest: Truxton Circle.
Using the all articles prior to 1968 in the Washington Post and all other papers it ate (like the Washington Star), the first mention of Truxton Circle is August 1891 regarding the District Surveyor. Then the name appears again in 1900 regarding shrubbery, which then just makes me think of the Holy Grail. A cursory look at the rest of the articles bringing up the TC in the 1900s refer to the circle as just the circle or a park, not so much a neighborhood, unless you count “near Truxton Circle”.
That “near Truxton Circle” thing appears in an April 27, 1919 article regarding house sales where it is written:

For Robert M. Harper, 51 Q Street northeast, an attractive six room and bath house near Truxton circle, at consideration of $3,500. Mrs. Henry Price has purchased this property and will occupy it as her home.

The same article does mention “1766 Church street an attractive residence in the neighborhood of Dupont circle….” So Dupont is a neighborhood, the TC, not so much. And we see it again more as a landmark than as a neighborhood designation in another house sales article from November 20, 1920, where a house on the 100 block of Bates street is “located near North Capitol and Truxton Circle” and 1842 North Capitol Street was “located in Bloomingdale.”
However I do see something very interesting in an April 26, 1925 article “Ryan Quits Central Citizens’: Will Head Movement to Form Another Association in Same Territory. Section called too big” The section Francis J. Ryan decides to chop up for himself was to “have as its approximate boundaries New York avenue to Truxton circle, and New Jersey Avenue to North Capitol street.” My, that sounds awfully familiar.
Well I need to pursue this further, doing another search, so maybe part II.

Bibliography:
THE DISTRICT SURVEYOR.; Recommendations About the Preservation of Plats and Records.
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Aug 1, 1891. p. 5

ASKS DISTRICT TO PAY; Dog Catchers Caused Injury to a Bicycle. CHASED BULLDOG, BROKE A WHEEL Animal in Attempting to Escape the Net Ran Into the Bicycle of P.J. Nee, Who Claims Damages — District Auditor Approved Application and Recommends Payment — Plants from Mount Vernon Square to Decorate Other Reservations.
The Washington Post. Mar 15, 1900. p. 12 (1 page)

SALE OF SIX HOMES SHOW PRICES HIGH
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Apr 27, 1919. p. R6

$110,500 IN SALES OF HOMES IN CITY; Houses Fetch $17,500 Disposed by Hartung & Gibbons.
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Nov 7, 1920. p. 34

RYAN QUITS CENTRAL CITIZENS’ PRESIDENCY; Will Head Movement to Form Another Association in Same Territory. SECTION CALLED TOO BIG
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Apr 26, 1925. p. 2