In the 50s the Washington Post dubbed the 2nd Police Precinct as the ‘Wickedest Precinct’. The 2nd Precinct mostly was what we know as Shaw. It went from K Street NW on the south, the Union Station tracks on the east, Florida Ave NE to North Capitol then S Street NW to the north and 15th St NW to the west.
In “Illegal Liquor Sales An Industry in No. 2 :2d Precinct 1st in Drunks.” by S.L. Fishbein (March 17, 1954) The Washington Post p.1 there is a lovely map (sorry I don’t have a copy to provide to you) showing where there were illegal liquor sales busts and there is a big ol’ splotch of 1953 busts at 5th and Neal Place. I’m trying to think if Neal Place is still there, it’s where the Co-ops are now. There’s a smaller splotch between S and Rhode Island Ave between what looks to be 6th and 7th St. NW. Somewhere around there was a place called Glicks Alley. Anyone have an idea where that was exactly? Is it the unnamed alley between those modernist Susan Reitag buildings? I can find out in time, but I may as well ask.
The only Shaw mention in the article is the mention of Shaw Jr. High students who had the joy of walking past the drunks in the alley as they cut through to get to school.
There is something about ‘gill joints’ but I’ll write about that later.
Tag: neighborhood history
January 8, 1905
From the Washington Post/ Star under “Social and Personal– Gay Season Open Until After Inauguration” pg E8[grumble] I bet their streets weren’t blocked[/grumble]
Mr. And Mrs. Thomas D. Schnopp entertained a number of friends at their residence, 318 Florida avenue northwest, last Monday evening, the occassion being a New Year’s party. During the evening a pleasing programme, consisting of vocal and instrumental solos, were rendered by well known talent. At 10:30 the assembled company repaired to the dining room, where a generous repast was served. The decorations consisted of palms, ferns, and cut flowers, the whole making a pretty effect. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ruppert, Miss Florina Ruppert, Mr. John T. Schnopp, Mrs. Ellis, Mr. and Mrs. George Glorius, the Misses Glorius, …
Longtime readers may realize that the Glorius’ didn’t have far to walk. Barely 1 block. Also I wonder what kind of one hick town DC was if your little dinner party is getting reported. Today such a gathering would barely be noted as a noise complaint.
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Speaking of history there is a newish blog/website about the criminal and quirky DC of the past.
Buy a church for your new home
This place has been on the market for a while and I do wish I could find a non MRIS picture, but 1641 4th St NW is up for sale. According to a 1957 study of NorthWest 1 churches, it served as a house church. That’s sort of like a storefront church, but instead of a store, worshipers used a house. Up until last year or two years ago, a small sign reading “Faith Temple” was near the door of this house.
A few years ago, I swear there were more of these little house churches around the hood. I remember years ago walking around 1st and Bates and hearing a woman preaching, well saying words loudly in a rhythm similar to preaching. That’s gone now. There is a house church on the corner of 3rd and P. The building looks nice and seems to be well kept every time I pass by. I do have a pciture of that.
The Redfin ad for 1641 4th St, the former Faith Temple, says it has the original wood floors and looking at the pictures it looks like it has a lot of original stuff. I can see how the layout can serve a small number of people.
Now that I think of it, I have attended an Eastern Orthodox service in a converted rowhouse in Columbia Heights. While there I was paying more attention to the fact they had chairs, than the normal, non-churchy windows. Depending on the size of the congregation, a house can work for worship purposes and neighbors like it if worship does not require drums, electric bass and amps.
DC Police Districts
If you can make this map out, it is the police districts for the city, circa 1900-1950-ish. I’m betting 1930. This is once again another sad tale of where I copy stuff and completely fail to note where I got it from exactly.
I know this much, I got it from the Census. The image is sitting on my computer in PDF form and the dates and all sorts of wonderful information would be revealed if I could remember what folder on what drive it sits.
DC CensusMap.jpg
I putting this up because occasionally I need to know what census district is which. The dates for this? Your guess is as good as mine. I think it could be 1920, 1940, something like that.
If you see me, give me .50c
There is research I can do for free, and nearly free. Following the chatter on the Eckington list about I went to look at the 1929 city directory for eye-talian names. Well, it cost me two quarters to get a sheet copied properly. I’m annoyed, ’cause that’s kinda pricey. I’m okay with a dime a copy, .15 cents a copy, but not a quarter a copy, especially when the copier cuts off a lot on the 1st try.
Anyway, I’m not listing all the names, nor am I scanning it anytime soon. But yes, there were Italians on North Capitol, if I go by names. There were some non-Italian names like Charles Quong, laundryman, at 1518 and H. Lee another laundryperson at 1412. But you want Italian examples. Don’t you? Ok. At 1410 N. Cap lived Carmelo Puleo, 1420 Venuto Salvatore, and at 1416 Fortunato Figliozzi, a barber. As far as I can tell the other two guys were shiftless unemployed layabouts.
Just as a tad of info if you’re looking at the 1930 census Mr. Quong is in the 42nd Enumeration district, page 11B, roll 293. Puleo or Pulis (as listed in 1930 census) is in enumeration district 39, and must have had some employment to take care of those 4 kids of his.
Historic KFC closes
We’re in danger of losing a bit of Eckington history as one of its businesses has shut it’s doors and is possibly in danger of losing some classic late-20th century commercial architecture. The Bulletproof KFC, as one Bloomingdale/Eckington resident once called it, was a testament to a period in the neighborhood’s life. It fed many a traveller and resident, overlooking the busy intersection of Florida and North Capitol.
Before this neighborhood landmark was, there was a church, Eckington Presbyterian, that sat there. According to a 1966 article in the Post [1] Eckington Presbyterian “rather than admit Negroes as members, the Church’s White congregation disbanded 19 months ago. The 62 year old church building, at Florida Avenue and North Capitol street, has stood vacant ever since and will be torn down soon.” Such a pity that a monument to racism was not preserved.
[1]”Clerics Find Prejudice Killed Church” The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973). Washington, D.C.: Oct 31, 1966. p. B4
Billard hall circa 1958
From the DDOT files showing 9th and Florida Avenue. Traffic looks kinda light.
Oral History
One of the things they teach you in library school (colleges of information studies/science, whatever) is where to find information. You’ve got your information in books, on-line, other print media and the written word has value. Then there is getting information from people, because really who writes the books, the government reports, the news articles, and the on-line content? People. And when you don’t want to flip through a zillion pages of stuff to find the answer, it is sometimes just easier to find an expert and ask them directly.
Yesterday, I hung out with the Davitts, the experts of Bladgen Alley and Naylor Court. I learned a lot, and got a history lesson on late-mid century Washington, DC social and political life. And that history, considering that several of the players then are still alive and involved, is still shaping and coloring the social and political climate of 2008.
I’ve talked with a number of folks in and around the area. People who grew up around here and left. People who grew up around here and stayed. People who were involved with this or that thing. And I have been told, I need to talk to so-in-so. And as some of the really old timers who are hitting 80 and beyond, or 50 with a bunch of health issues, I know I should try to talk (and better yet interview & record) to, as well as others.
Make the ghetto go away, and work together
Of course, we all recognize that if we are ultimately to improve psychological and physical conditions for minorities there must be total elimination of ghettoes and the establishment of a truly integrated society. In the meantime, however, all those working for economic and social justice are forced to address themselves to interim programs which, while not totally changing the situation, will nevertheless bring about improvement in the lives of those forced to live in ghettoes. And so, whiel [sic] many of those steps may lead to limited integration, those which do not must clearly be seen as interim steps until the objective situation makes a more fundamental approach.
and later
… Labor, Housing and the Office of Economic Opportunity, ought to work with the people of Shaw in developing, coordinating and concentrating their various programs upon social and economic problems of this area.
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking at a March 13, 1967 rally for Shaw