We are digging up all sorts of great images on the Smithsonian’s site. Here’s one near Center Market with a view of the Old Post Office Pavilion in the background.

View of the Center Market of Washington, D.C. from the north entrance of the United States National Museum, now the National Museum of Natural History, on October 16, 1909. There are horse-drawn carriages and carts, vendors, storefronts, and the Old Post Office is in background, center. In the foreground is the large wooden gate to the grounds of the Natural History Building and a small guard house next to it

view near Center Market

view near Center Market

view near Center Market

The post 1909 Views Near Center Market appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

We are loving the Smithsonian Archives! This is a great one from 1874.

Looking south from the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 11th Street, the silhouette of the Smithsonian Institution Building is seen in the distance. The photograph, taken by William Henry Holmes and signed “W.H.H. Phot.,” shows horse-drawn carriages along the avenue of storefronts. Above the first building to the right of 11th Street, the sign reads “Latimer & Cleary Auction and Commission Merchants”, the next building has a sign “Star Buildings,” and the third building “Metropolitan.”

The post Smithsonian Institution Building from Pennsylvania Avenue in 1874 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is definitely not what the square looks like today. This series of photos, courtesy of the Smithsonian, depict a far more tranquil and pleasant Farragut Square back in 1919.

Farragut Statue in 1919

Farragut Square in 1919

Farragut Square in 1919

Farragut Square in 1919

The post A Very Different Farragut Square With Flowers and Trees appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a view from the top of the Washington Monument, sometime late in 1940s. You’ll see old temporary buildings occupying the current site of the Museum of American History.

Aerial view from the Washington Monument showing the “Tempos” or temporary buildings before their demolition. They were located on the site of the future National Museum of History and Technology (NMHT), now the National Museum of American History (NMAH)

The post Temporary Wartime Buildings on the Mall as Viewed from the Washington Monument appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here’s the Thursday edition of “In the Paper” for May 17th, 1912.

front page of the Washington Times – May 17th, 1912

The post May 17th, 1912: Two Cranks Call to See President Taft appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Any GoDCers out there recognize this block? I’m guessing that most of these buildings are gone, but maybe that church is still around?

Washington street in 1919

Source: Smithsonian Institution Archives

The post Need Your Help. Identify This Street appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This one is amazing. Thanks to the Smithsonian for posting it online. The caption says this is around 1900.

Looking toward the west side of the United States Capitol building, a panoramic view of the city of Washington, D.C. shows the Mall area in the foreground before the railroad tracks were removed. A train is visible on the tracks. The domed structure in front of the Capitol is the Botanic Garden original octagonal greenhouse of 1859 and behind it the central pavilion added after the Civil War. The buildings were razed in 1932. The Botanic Garden was on a site previously occupied by the Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences in Washington, D.C.

The post Wow. Stunning Black & White Photo of the Capitol appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is an old photograph we dug up on the Smithsonian’s Flickr feed. It shows a crowd of people near the entrance to the Arts and Industries Building, around 1905.

At the turn of the century, visitors are entering and leaving the United States National Museum Building, now Arts and Industries Building, via the North Entrance. The entrance has glass doors, which dates it to before the Hornblower and Marshall designed doors installed between 1902-1907

The post Visitors Head to the Smithsonian in the Early 1900s appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Great photo. Speaks for itself. Sadly, no larger version.

This landscape image features the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., two of the capital’s most recognizable landmarks (date unknown)

Thanks Smithsonian.

The post Old Man Fishing With Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in the Background appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Also of interest in this edition is Roosevelt being sure of his nomination.

front page of the Washington Times – May 16th, 1912

back page of the Washington Times – May 16th, 1912

The post May 16th, 1912: More Baldheaded Women Than Men, Says Authority appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here is another excellent photo of Pennsylvania Ave., also from the 1920s. We did a little Googling for this one too and came across it here.

view down Pennsylvania Ave. NW

The post A View of Old Washington Down Pennsylvania Avenue appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a cool old photo that we dug up via Google. We found it here. It appears to be some time in the 1920s, looking down Pennsylvania Ave. towards the Capitol.

winter driving in DC

The post Winter Driving on Pennsylvania Avenue appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Doing a little evening photo surfing and came across this stunning one from the Smithsonian’s archives. The building on the left is the West Wing and the one on the right is the State, War and Navy Building. And off in the distance, is the Washington Monument (of course).

West Executive Ave. and the Washington Monument (1919)

Here’s another one we dug up.

West Wing of the White House with Washington Monument in background

The post Great Photo of West Wing and Washington Monument appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Taft and Roosevelt were battling it out for the Presidency in 1912. Here’s the front page of the Washington Times for May 15th, 101 years ago today.

front page of the Washington Times – May 15th, 1912

back page of the Washington Times – May 15th, 1912

The post May 15th, 1912: Taft Depressed By Poor Showing, May Quit Race appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here is the second day of our “In the Paper” installment for this week. Here is the evening edition of the Washington Times from exactly 101 years ago.

front page of the Washington Times – May 14th, 1912

back page of the Washington Times – May 14th, 1912

The post May 14th, 1912: House Concurs in Direct Elections of Senators appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here’s an interesting shot of traffic heading up Route 1 towards Maryland. To be honest, this traffic doesn’t look bad at all.

traffic heading down Route 1 (1940)

The post I Hate Traffic … in 1940 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This week, we’re going to post the front and back page of the Washington Times from the week of May 13th, 1912, exactly 101 years ago today. Why didn’t we do 100 years? Because May 13th, 1912 was a Monday and May 13, 1913 was a Tuesday. We wanted to do a full week. Click on the images to see a larger version and read the paper.

front page of the Washington Times – May 13th, 1912

back page of the Washington Times – May 13th, 1912

The post May 13th, 1912: Boy’s Body Recovered From Potomac appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

What an amazing, detailed photograph of the Treasury building.

Department of Treasury (1910) – Library of Congress

The post Great Photo of the Treasury Department in 1910 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

I see 1806 as the address for the American Rescue Workers Thrift Store. Is this 14th St.? 7th St.? Can anyone identify the location of this image and whether the buildings are there today?

Photograph shows the ruins of a store in Washington, D.C., that was destroyed during the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

UPDATE: Thanks to our readers, it appears that we have identified this as 7th St. Unfortunately, these buildings no longer exist.

The post Help Us Identify This: Riot Damaged Store appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Oh, it’s been too long since we posted some bathing beauties. Well, today we post pie-eating bathing beauties.

July 31, 1921. Washington, D.C. “Pie eating contest at Tidal Basin bathing beach.” In the back row: the blurry but unmistakable facial contours of Iola Swinnerton. National Photo Company Collection glass negative.

The post Pie Eating Bathing Beauties appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Another amazing map, courtesy of David Rumsey. The map is based on the first official plan of the city, published by Andrew Ellicott in 1792.

1795 Plan of the City of Washington

Source: David Rumsey map collection.

The post Awesome: Plan of the City of Washington (1795) appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Sylvia Altman (Washington Post)

This is an interesting article that we came across, published in the Washington Post on February 10th, 1924.

A 10-year-old student in high school! She is Sylvia Altman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Altman, 612 Otis place northwest. The girl will not be 11 years old until June, and she entered Central high school February 1.

Besides being able to enter high school she is an accomplished musician and expects to make her debut in this art the latter part of this month also at Central High school.

When she graduated from the Park View school January 31, her report card showed that she stood “excellent” in every subject.

She was born in Buffalo and came to this city with her parents several years ago. When 12 months old Sylvia had shown no inclination to walk, but one day while her mother was in the kitchen the baby pulled herself up on her feet and without trouble of any kind, walked into the kitchen, almost throwing her mother into a panic.

When 14 months old she began to talk and soon had a vocabulary of nearly 100 words. At 18 1/2 months she expressed her thoughts in full sentences, using a vocabulary of about 300 words. Her school education began when she was 3 years old, in the kindergarten. At the age of 3 1/2 years Sylvia was able to read the first and second readers used in the public schools.

…

From early childhood she has been fond of reading. Fairy tales were fer favorites at first, but as years went on she changed her reading to more serious literature. At the age of 7 years she had read nearly 700 books. Her favorite authors at present are Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Booth Tarkington. “They present so much of real life that one can’t help liking them,” she declared.

Sylvia Altman in 1926 (Washington Post)

The mental strength of the young lady seems to grow with her years. At the age of 9 years she took an intelligence test, which showed that she had the mental ability of high school students entering the third year of their course.

In music she has shown unusual ability. She is attending Washington College of Music five times a week for piano instruction, harmony, composition, ear training and history of music. She intends going to college when her high school course is complete.

Though busy with her studies, she finds time to help her mother in house work and to play. She assists her two younger brothers, Julius, aged 8 years, who, having skipped the 1 B and 2 B grades, is in the 4 B grade and who has completed a year’s course in violin study in three months, and Elmer, 6 years old, who is in the second grade. She is fond of the “movies” and plays with dolls. She weighs five and one-quarters pounds over normal.

Young Sylvia ended up graduating from Central High School in 1926 at the age of 13. Pretty impressive.

She went on to New York University and graduated in 1930 at the age of 17, at the time, the youngest graduate ever from the school.

Sylvia and her brothers went on to musical success as a trio. The Post wrote about the family on July 19th, 1931.

Genius is the word to apply to a 17-year-old girl and her two young brothers, originally of Washington, who are earning fame on the radio and in the New York musical world.

The three, Sylvia Altman, 17 years old, pianist; Julian [sic], 15 years old, violinist, and Elmer, 13 1/2 years old, are visiting Mrs. Sophie Simon, of 1116 Seventh street northwest.

Sylvia graduated from the Park View School at the age of 10 and from Central at 13 and graduated from New York University last June with honors. She is the youngest person to graduate from the university. She was one of the first children ever to broadcast, starting at the age of 10, making her debut over Station WCAP here. At the university she directed her studies toward a bachelor of science degree and majored in psychology, music and English. She recently was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key.

Her musical education has covered eight years. During this time she has won a number of scholarships. She is studying music at present with Ernest Hutcheson, dean of the Julliard Musical Foundation. She is well known to audiences who tune in on “The Children’s Hour,” “Toddy Party,” “Empire Builders” and “Universal Series.” She played the part of Tilly Toddy for 39 weeks and was a piano soloist in the Gold Medal Trio in “The Children’s Hour.”

She has been received by Presidents Coolidge and Hoover and has been a congressional guest of honor at a luncheon in the National Capital. She has a large number of medals and trophies and a Steinway grand piano as a gift.

Julian, who has the distinction of being the youngest high school graduate in New York City, completed the four-year course at Haaren High School this year, with a gold medal for excellent in music. He has won six gold medals as first prize for his musical ability. He is an outstanding athlete, having won medals in swimming, running, jumping and boxing. He also won a prize for his work in amateur photography.

Julian, a member of the WJZ Gold Medal Trio, has been broadcasting with his sister for several years, as well as filling musical arrangements in company with Milton J. Gross, of the National Broadcasting Co. Sylvia and Julian appeared in Keith’s vaudeville.

Elmer, who is studying the cello, takes part in the following radio programs: “The Lady Next Door,” The Children’s Hour,” “Uncle Don” and “The Adventures of Helen and Mary.”

The children live in New York with their mother, Mrs. Jeanette Altman, at Gainsborough Studios, 222 Central Park South.

These have to be some of the most accomplished children you’ve ever read about. Makes you feel like you haven’t really done that much with your life.

Julian, Sylvia and Elmer Altman in 1931 (Washington Post)

The post 10-Year-Old Girl Enters Central High School appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This photo was taken on March 15th, 1920 at the State, War, and Navy Building. It shows a group of press cameramen, posing in front of the building.

cameramen posing in front of the State, War, and Navy Building

The post Cameramen at the State, War, and Navy Building (1920) appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This was a time when cabs were pulled by horses. And this photo shows a cab stand at McPherson Square around 1918.

cab stand at McPherson Square

We dug this up at a new site that we stumbled across, Documentarist.

The post 1919 Cab Stand at McPherson Square appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This photo was taken in 1920 or 1921. It shows the old Penn Oil Company, located on Q Street in Georgetown. Ads of the day had a gas station at 27th and Q St.

Penn Oil Company on Q Street

The post Penn Oil Company on Q Street in Georgetown appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Preserving our history and heritage is really important. That’s one of the reasons why I started this blog last year.

Partners in Preservation is holding a competition between 24 local sites to earn a $1 million grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Make sure you cast your vote today and tell them where to invest the money.

Voting ends on Friday! Make sure to cast your vote at www.preservedmv.com.

The post Partners in Preservation … Don’t Forget to Vote! appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Wow. What amazing detail in this photograph. Click on it to view the larger version (and you’ll probably spend about 15 minutes staring at it).

Washington, D.C. Georgetown ferry-boat carrying wagons, and Aqueduct Bridge beyond, from rocks on Mason’s Island (Library of Congress)

The post Civil War Photo of Georgetown Ferry Boat appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Five shot on 7th St.

Now this is a crazy story. It was published in the Washington Times on Friday, March 20th, 1914.

Braving a fusillade of shots in which three persons had fallen, Policeman J. L. Edwards, of precinct 8, in the early hours of this morning, and in a dark room, captured Herman Kabansky, pistol wielder, after a desperate struggle, in which Edwards was grazed by a bullet, Kabansky was shot, and then felled with a blow from the butt of the policeman’s revolver.

Kabansky “ran amuck” early this morning in the home of his father-in-law, Abraham Raboy, at 1816 Seventh street, seeking revenge and the life of his wife.

Kabansky broke into the residence through a rear window, shot his mother-in-law, his wife four times, his little brother-in-law, six years old, once, Policeman Edwards once, a glancing shot that did not damage, and was then wounded by the policeman, who braved his fire in the dark.

Mrs. Lena Raboy, the mother-in-law, forty-five years old, is in a critical condition at Emergency Hospital, and her death is momentarily expected. One bullet entered her chin, passed through the head, and lodged against the spinal cord. She is paralyzed from the neck down, and physicians say there is no hope for her recovery.

Mrs. Fanny Kabansky, the wife, twenty-four years old, was shot once in the right arm, once under the left arm, once in the neck, and once in the back. She is likely to recover.

Wow, this is nuts. Plus, you would never see a story covered like this today … “her death is momentarily expected.” It continues.

Solomon Raboy, brother-in-law, six years old, was shot through the chest and, with his sister, Mrs. Kabansky, he is in Freedman’s Hospital and probably will recover.

Kabansky was shot once through the left wrist and once a glancing blow on the chest. It was believed that these were the two shots fired by Edwards but Kabansky says he turned his own gun upon himself and inflicted them.

Edwards was unhurt. One of the two shots fired at him by Kabansky grazed his hip, putting holes in his clothing and searing the skin.

Abraham Raboy, the father-in-law, escaped into the street unharmed. There were half a dozen other persons in the house when Kabansky opened his fusillade, but they, too, escaped.

Bessie Raboy, sixteen years old, and Rosie Raboy, ten years old, the only witnesses to the shooting, and the duel between Edwards and Kabansky, took refuge under a bed and escaped unharmed.

Kabansky and Fanny Raboy were married three years ago. Eighteen months ago they separated, were reconciled, and then a few months ago separated again. Kabansky, according to his own statement, brooded over his family trouble and inability to see an only child, Helen, thirteen months old. The child is in the Washington Home for Foundlings. Kabansky went to New York six weeks ago, and his wife went to live with her parents. Just before that Kabansky had sold out a small store operated by him at Tenth and R streets northwest.

…

An unsigned and unaddressed letter was found in Kabansky’s pocket when he was searched. It bore no date, but was to the general effect that his wife and her people had caused him trouble and he hoped they “broke their necks.” The letter also: “I am only sorry I cannot get all that caused me trouble and broke up my home and business.”

Kabansky told the police he had gone to the house to get those who caused him trouble, but had made a bad job of it. He declared that he had been drinking since his trouble, but that drink was not responsible.

Kabansky came to Washington from New York yesterday afternoon, and, according to his own statement, bought the gun at a pawnshop “to end it all.”

Early this morning he went to the Raboy home  over a clothing store conducted by his father-in-law. He broke in a rear window on the first floor, tearing off a shutter and turning the window clasp with his knife. The father-in-law and mother-in-law were sleeping on this floor in the rear of the store. They were awakened and mistook Kabansky for a burglar.

Nuts. Absolutely crazy.

The post Five Shot on 7th St. NW; Death Momentarily Expected appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

GoDCer Gail wrote in the other day about Cardozo High School (i.e., old Central High School) and wanted to know if we had some more photos of the school. We did dig up a few more, so here they are. Hope you enjoy them Gail!

Central High School stadium in the 1910s

Central High School in the 1910s

Central High School football game – May 5th, 1920

Central High School pageant between 1915 and 1923

Central High School swimming pool around 1910

Photograph shows young men practicing rowing on stationary machines in a gynmasium as others wait their turn to practice. Pictured rowing are: Stanley Durkee, Arthur Dorton, Ronald Collauday, Donald Kline, William Stewart and Elkin Hale. (1919)

Central High School assembly around 1900 (Frances Benjamin Johnston)

The post Great Old Photos of Central High School appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here is a very unique map of Washington, D.C. from 1825. This is (obviously) a French map and it comes from an incredible map collection we stumbled upon, run by David Rumsey.

Carte geographique, statistique et historique du District de Colombie

Source: David Rumsey map collection.

The post Carte Géographique, Statistique et Historique du District de Colombie appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is an amazing old photograph with incredible detail.

Georgetown University from observatory (Library of Congress)

This was dug up in the Library of Congress archives.

The post Incredible Early 20th Century Photo of Georgetown University appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

If you have an iPhone, iPad or any other Apple product, chances are, you’ve set foot in an Apple Store … and if you live in Georgetown, it was likely the one at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

I long ago abandoned my iPhone in favor of an Android (shocking?) but I still love my Macbook, iPad, and Apple TV. (My first computer was also a 1983 Apple IIC.) Apple Stores have some terrific customer service. So, in honor of my Apple love, let’s do an “If Walls Could Talk” post about the shiny Apple Store on Wisconsin Avenue. And, this time, we’ll be doing it in reverse chronological order.

Apple paid $13 million for the property in 2007 and it took four attempts for them to have an architectural plan approved by the Old Georgetown Board. Their proposal was finally approved in March 2009 and the store opened the following year.

HMV Record Stores

HMV Record Stores ad (Washington Post)

Remember when you would go to a record store to buy CDs? Or cassettes? Maybe you even remember LPs.

Well, Here’s an ad from the Washington Post on September 15th, 1995, when the building housed HMV (which stands for His Master’s Voice … I did not know that).

Boogie’s Diner

Do you remember when this place held a diner? The Washington Post wrote a good article about seeking the best burgers in Washington on October 24th, 1991. Below is the write-up on Boogie’s.

While there’s nothing odd about eating a hamburger in a diner, there’s a lot that is unusual about Boogie’s Diner (1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 298-6060). This is a bright and cheery place with a corny sense of humor that supposedly is a throwback to the 1950s.

Boogie’s, whose slogan is “Eat Heavy, Dress Cool,” is most un-dinerlike in its location: one flight up from a clothing store that offers expensive takeoffs of 1950s items, French-label jeans, glittery bustiers and the like. Boogie’s also shamelessly hawks its name-brand souvenirs–such as sweatshirts and coffee mugs–from every corner.

The decor is a jumbled, post-modern mix with some nice nostalgic touches, including rich milkshakes made in old-fashioned stainless steel containers ($3.25). The fact is, Boogie’s is a good deal flashier than diners used to be–not to mention more expensive.

By the way, the clothing store below was called the French Connection.

ESPRIT

What happened to this company? They were everywhere in the 80s and now they’re gone. Apparently, in February of 2012, they shut down all retail operations in North America because they were completely irrelevant and losing tons of money. However, they still have 15,000 employees worldwide. I had no idea.

Well, back in 1987, they dominated and had a big retail presence in, what is now, the Apple Store. Below is their ad from December 26th in the Washington Post.

ESPRIT Superstore ad (Washington Post)

Doggett’s Parking

Doggett Lot

It might be hard to believe this, but the building that houses Apple isn’t that old. It was built in the early 1980s, and prior to that, it was a parking lot (Doggett’s Parking). Most advertisements for shopping in the area pointed out the availability of free parking.

Prior to Doggett, it was owned by David J. Wilkerson, who lived at 2323 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, and offered free parking in the 1950s.

Doggett Parking at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW (Washington Post – 1979)

A marriage announcement

Forest W. Hevener, 18 years old and resident of 479 F St. SW was to marry Virginia Lee Tucker, 17 years old of 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The Rev. Francis Yarnell was to perform the service and the Washington Post published on June 19th, 1940 that their marriage license had been granted.

Hevener went on to serve in World War II and was with the 29th Division of the Army Air Forces when he was wounded in France. After Europe, Hevener went to the Pacific and fought on Tarawa and Saipan.

Tucker household in the 1940 U.S. Census

National chain of disposers of stolen property

Below is the article from the Washington Post on August 20th, 1918.

What is said by the police to be the Washington link in the national chain of disposers of stolen property was broken yesterday when detectives arrested Barnet Levy upon a warrant issued by Gov. McCall of Massachusetts. Levy was indicted by a grand jury in Boston on June 18, when a true bill was found against him and eleven others.

…

According to Joseph L. Farrari, a police officer of Massachusetts, who arrived here yesterday to take Levy back to Boston to face charges, a number of manufacturing lofts were broken into last May, and more than $50,000 worth of wearing apparel and dry goods stolen.

Detectives working on the case discovered that these goods were systematically disposed of through a chain of jobbers scattered throughout the country. The main offenders, however, were stationed in New York city, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.

A large shipment of goods was traced to New York city, where they were reshipped by express to Washington. Detectives F. M. Cornwell and J. C. Berman were placed upon the case early in June, and the goods were traced to the establishment of Levy at 1229 Wisconsin avenue, the detectives allege.

Levy does a general jobbing business, selling at wholesale to small retailers in the District and in the neighboring towns. Several days after being placed upon the case, detectives entered Levy’s store and took therefrom goods valued at $6,000 which they alleged were stolen in Boston and shipped them back to their rightful owners.

The warrant for Levy’s arrest was issued on August 12. both Levy and his sister have been residents of the District for more than 25 years. Levy, through his attorney, Joseph B. Stein, denies the charges of conspiracy. He asserts that he could not have committed the crime as charged, as he had not been in Massachusetts for the last ten years.

According to Detective Cornwell, Boston police authorities have affidavits to the effect that Levy had been a frequent visitor to that city.

Wisconsin Ave. 1919 (Baist)

In the above map, 1229 Wisconsin appears to be lot 819.

The post If Walls Could Talk: Apple Store in Georgetown appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

These are some great prints of Washington as it looked in the mid-1790s. They were done by George Isham Parkyns and they show a slightly different and more pastoral landscape.

View of the suburbs of the city of Washington

Here is the print of the Potomac and I’m guessing that island is Roosevelt Island.

view of the Potomac River in the 1790s

The post 1790s Views of Washington appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C. by John Muller

John Muller has been an avid and early supporter of Ghosts of DC, contributing a few posts of his own.

He wrote an excellent book about Frederick Douglass recently and now I’d like to rally the GoDC community to support him. The D.C. Library is holding a vote on a book to be selected as the official book of their annual literacy program called D.C. Reads.

Let’s all put in a vote for John’s book and help it be selected as the official book for the program.

Go here to cast your vote today! Thanks for your help and support!

The post Vote for an Original GoDCer and Help Him Out! appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

That’s a really long title, but this is an awesome old photograph of Washington, from the air, taken on August 29th, 1924.

Washington, DC from the air in 1924

The post Capital City of the World’s Greatest Nation as It Looks From an Airplane appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Jordan Zimmermann in action

Jordan Zimmermann’s stunning 1-0 one-hit victory over the Cincinnati Reds Friday night quite possibly was the best pitching performance for the Nationals since baseball returned to Washington in 2005.

Zimmermann, however, would have to hurl five more complete-game shutouts in order to get close to matching what Walter Johnson did for the Washington Senators exactly 100 years ago.

In April and May of 1913, Johnson pitched 55 2/3’s consecutive innings without allowing a run.

The story is told by Henry W. Thom as in his remarkable 1998 book “Walter Johnson: Baseball’s Big Train.”

“Of all the great streaks and records in his career, Johnson was proudest of his 56 (sic) consecutive scoreless innings, a record set in St. Louis on May 14 in a 10=-5 win over the Browns. Although normally paying records and statistics little heed, he bore down from the start on this occasion, when just two outs were needed to break Jack Coombs’ standard of 53 straight innings without giving up a run. A strikeout of the first batter tied the records before a fly-out to centerfield (by Pete Compton who had also ended Johnson’s 16 game win streak) broke it. Johnson then added three more innings to the record” before the Browns got a run in the fourth on a double by rightfielder Gus Williams and a single by Del Pratt to end the amazing streak.

Johnson’s scoreless inning streak lasted until 1968 when Don Drysdale put together 58 scoreless innings in a season now known as the year of the pitcher. In 1988 Orel Hershiser dramatically bested the Drysdale record by one inning pitching 10 scoreless innings for the Dodgers in their final game of the regular season.

Walter Johnson

The post Jordan Zimmermann and the Big Train appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is an interesting photo of a man precariously perched on a flag pole near the Capitol Building. It was taken on July 11th, 1939 as the man (Jack Tarzan) was painting the flagpole. The safety equipment of the day looks a little weak. Okay … his real name wasn’t Tarzan, just a nickname.

Washington, D.C., July 11, 1939. There comes a time each year when things around Capitol Hill need a bit of fresh paint, flagpoles no exception. Here is the flagpole over the Senate Office Building getting its new paint job, curiously enough, from a steeple-jack named Tarzan–Jack Tarzan

You can read a good blog post about this shot at the Library of Congress’ blog.

The post Tarzan Paints the Senate Flagpole appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a terrific old photograph of East Capitol St., before a street was even there. This was from the Library of Congress, and apparently was mislabeled as Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park. This too was taken by William M. Chase.

Bird’s-eye view of the east Capitol grounds, including the Greenough statue of George Washington, and East Capitol Street taken from the dome of the U.S. Capitol.

Don’t forget to compare this with the East Capitol shot we posted the other day.

The post Incredible 1860s View of East Capitol Street appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

pepper will make you sneeze

This is a story about a creative, and poorly armed, burglar in Kalorama back in the 19th century. Below is an amusing article from the Washington Post from June 21st, 1898.

The burglar who entered the home of John C. Fill, 1846 Wyoming avenue, Sunday morning, and threw pepper into the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Fill, had a narrow escape from capture by the police of the Eighth Precinct. Officer Kennedy was just turning in for the 2 o’clock call at Nineteenth street and Columbia road, half a block from the scene of the robbery, and Sergt. Jones and Officer Bannigan were at Eighteenth street and Florida avenue, not 200 yards away, when they heard the screams of Mrs. Fill. All of them ran at once toward the house. Kennedy quickly shut the patrol box and caught the sleeve of his coat in the door in his haste. As he arrived in front of the Fill residence, one of the sons of the house called to him to stay where he was and expected the burglar was about to make a break in that direction, he waited for him. Sergt. Jones and Offier Bannigan ran directly toward the house, and as they approached a pistol was discharged in the air from one of the upper windows. Their eyes were naturally on the house, and the burglar, taking advantage of the opportunity, dropped down in the long grass on the lot, and concealing himself until the police had passed on to the house, made his escape.

The post Pepper Thief Makes Narrow Escape appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

These are a couple great photos of Chevy Chase Country Club in the 1920s, thanks to the Library of Congress.

Chevy Chase Club in the 1920s

Chevy Chase Club in the 1920s

The post Photos of the Chevy Chase Club in the 1920s appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a terrific old photograph from the Library of Congress. It’s a great view of the Capitol Building from the old post office on F Street (now Hotel Monaco). It was taken by William M. Chase.

view of the Capitol Building in 1888

The post Bird’s Eye View of the Capitol from Post Office in 1888 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here is a terrific photograph from the Library of Congress, showing a traffic policeman at 14th and Pennsylvania, making use of a rearview mirror. The photo was taken some time in the 1920s.

Policeman using mirror to direct traffic at 14th St. and Pennsylvania Avenue

The post Excellent Photo of Traffic Cop at 14th and Penn. appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is the Smith Transfer and Storage Company, formerly at 1313 U St., where the Ellington Apartment Building sits today. This photo was taken sometime between 1910 and 1920.

Smith Transfer and Storage Co., 13th & U Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C.

The post Smith’s Storage Co., Currently the Ellington Apartments Location appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is a photograph from, what appears to be, Central High School (Cardozo), some time in the 1920s. These young ladies are competing in the low hurdle race.

Women competing in low hurdle race

The post Women Competing in Low Hurdle Race appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is an awesome photo dated November 14th, 1888. The photo is labeled “Riggs Bank – the Dept. of Justice for A.P.A.” and was taken by Frances Benjamin Johnston.

Riggs Bank – the Dept. of Justice for A.P.A.

The post Riggs Bank Photo Dated November 14th, 1888 appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Here is a nice photo from the late 1920s of two young women skating on the reflecting pool, with the Lincoln Memorial in the background. I think it’s safe to say, this isn’t something you’re likely to see today.

Abbey Jackson, seated, and Celene DuPuy ice skating on reflecting pool, with Lincoln Memorial in background

The post Ice Skating on the Reflecting Pool appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

This is an interesting photograph from the 1920s. A policeman is chatting with the driver of a car and he appears to have a young African-American man as a passenger.

policeman having coffee

The post Policeman Loves His Coffee appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

How great is this shot? And, how much fun is this guy having? Chances are we wiped out shortly after this was taken during the winter of 1919.

young man pulled by horse

The post Man on Skis Pulled By Horse appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

I love this building and I’m so glad we still have it. I’m a little skeptical about what Trump is going to do with it, but … we’ll see. Just don’t turn it into a casino!

Here are two great shots from 1920, thanks to the Library of Congress.

inside the Old Post Office

work being performed on the clock tower

The post Great Photos of the Old Post Office Building appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

view of the Franklin School in the 1920s

The post Franklin School in the 1920s appeared first on Ghosts of DC.