This Month
4 Journey into the
Past: The Overbeck
Tapes Part I
8 The Mayor of
Lexington Place
11 The Amazing Miss
Boone
13 The Old Naval
H o s p i t a l
40 Renovator’s House
To u r
D e p a rt m e n t s
Vo i c e M a i l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Ask Judith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9
O p i n i o n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1
Business Bits . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 3
Business Serv i c e s. . . . . . .2 9
D o w n L o a d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 7
Capital Kids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 8
H o ro s c o p e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 5
Community Calendar . . .4 5
C l a s s i f i e d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 6
Vol. 3 No. 7 September 28 2001
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being the leaders of advanced
knowledge, for sharing the
best of your knowledge and
skills with us, international stu -
dents and specialists, in order to
strengthen peace and international
understanding across the borders and
among the nations. My heart as the
hearts of thousands of those who share
the best values of the American society,
is full of grief and sor row.”
And finally from the Georgian
Institute of Public Administration in
Tbilisi, Georgia, an institute supported
by the U.S. Department of State which
trains Georgians in the fundamentals of
American-style public administration,
“We do express the deepest sympathy
to you and all Americans...You have to
be very brave to support each other in
such a disastrous time. Yesterday’s
events show how small is the WORLD
and how all of us are interconnected
with each other. This is the challenge
to every single person’s freedom, faith,
hopes for future. Hopefully human
beings will have enough common sense
and spiritual strength to preserve the
balance and find the wise ways out of
the current crisis. We and the whole
world are with you. We believe that the
United States will remain the outpost
of democracy and freedom.”
SUSAN G. LEHMANN,
Lehmann Surveys & Research
To the Editor,
Do you suppose we could start here to
spread the word about the proper display
of the Stars & Stripes?
Our US flag is always supposed to be
exhibited with the blue field and stars
in the upper-left-hand corner. That is,
when the flag is being hung out one’s
front windows, and one is looking at it
from the street, the blue portion should
be in the upper-left area. It doesn’t
matter if the Flag is shown horizontally
or vertically, either is fine. The point
is that the stars go in the upper-leftcorner.
It makes me cringe to see my patriotic
neighbors displaying the Flag in
the reverse position!
Thanks,
MICHELE PA G A N
To the Editor:
As a professional news editor, I
couldn’t help but enjoy Jim Myers’
clever article in the May issue putting
down Rodney Cook of Atlanta and his
plan for a classical monument at
Barney Circle. It was witty, biting and
delightfully written—and it properly
highlighted a number of shortcomings
with the project. But as a Barney
Circle resident, I was
saddened to see
fairness sacrificed
in the interest of
humor, especially
because of the
harm it could do
to my long-suffer -
ing neighbors.
This is a long-established neighborhood,
many of whose residents have
been here for 20, 30 or even 50 years.
They banded together more than a
decade ago to keep their streets safe
throughout the crack epidemic. They
fought off freeways, car impound lots
and correctional institutions. They
knew very well that it all sounded too
good to be true. Go ahead and make
fun of them, but when Rodney Cook
came along, they felt that for the first
time someone wanted to do something
for them, not to them. Sure, they knew
it sounded too good to be true but they
fought for it anyway.
They slowly began to believe in the
possibility as Mr. Cook held countless
meetings with the mayor, members of
the council, the directors of planning
and transportation and federal authorities.
Amazingly, the council wrote and
passed legislation to allow it to deal
with Mr. Cook’s formal application,
which is now to be submitted within a
couple of months.
Meanwhile Mr. Cook appeared over
and over at public meetings to explain
his plan to anyone who will listen. He
invited the neighborhood to the
“charette” where the design was prepared...
and he seems willing to explain
the design to just about anyone who is
interested.
Yes, the fundraising has been disappointing
and Mr. Cook is now talking
about putting housing into the monument
to help finance it. Some of the
neighbors are upset about this,
[though] a few think a little more density
would be a good thing. This is all
open to public discussion but, in any
case, the city has made clear that if
there is going to be a commercial forprofit
development on the site, it will
have to be open to bidding from other
parties.
Whatever happens now, because of
Mr. Cook the city’s planning and trans -
portation staff are for the first time
looking seriously at what can be done
with Barney Circle in a way that will
contribute to the neighborhood, and for
that we are very grateful to him. No
joke.
D AVID JONES
President,
Barney Circle Orange Hat Patrol
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 3
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VOICE o f
T h e
H i l l
Tom Hamilton
Kristen Hartke
Jim Myers
Dear Readers:
Some have said that the online edition
of the Voice of the Hill has been remiss
in not addressing the terrible events of
the past few weeks directly. We apologize.
Many beautifully composed statements
that speak to our mutual pain,
anger and fear have already been published
by the great papers of our
nation. The thought keeps revolving—
what more can we add?
We are each as devastated, as shattered,
as you are, and find ourselves
stuttering to express our own thoughts
and emotions. This is, perhaps, as it
should be. The Voice has no editorial
point of view; it was designed to be a
forum for the Capitol Hill community.
Your thoughts and words are as important
as ours.
We have set aside a section of the
website for all of us to speak, to
share—big thoughts or small. If you do
not have access to the web, your letters
are welcome. Please mail them to
the editor at: 242 Kentucky Avenue,
SE, Washington, DC.
STEPHANIE CAVA N A U G H
BRUCE AND ADELE ROBEY
Co-Publishers, The Voice of the Hill
To the Editor,
I am fortunate enough to hold two jobs
that bring me in regular contact with
citizens of the former Soviet Union who
travel to the U.S. on cultural, academic,
and professional exchanges. It is
easy to become cynical about whether
these programs have any impact on the
exchange participants, and whether
they do in fact foster democracy and
greater cultural understanding. As a
result of the ter rorist attacks, my colleagues
and I have been flooded with
condolences from cultural exchange
alumni from around the former Soviet
Union. Since so many of your readers
play some role in the legislative
process that supports these
exchanges, I wanted to share the following:
An alumna in Russia wrote “You
won’t believe how impressed are the
people here... Flowers, icons and candles
in front of your consulate. Many of
those whom you meet are with wet
eyes. At the university also. Tomor row
at 12:00 all Russia will keep silence
for a minute, official flags are down all
over.”
From Belarus, “I would like to convey
my deep condolences to the
American people, to all of you, who
stand for democracy and open society
and who bring knowledge and support,
hope and understanding to the rest of
the world. I would like to thank you and
the wonderful country you represent for (continued on page 41)
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
4 www.voiceofthehill.com
And before I went back to Texas
and to graduate school, I had bought
a house… in the 100 block of 12th
Street Southeast, at number 148, to
be precise… I got out of g raduate
school in 1970, in May. I came and I
moved into my house on 12th Street.
And I have never left it.
Franzén: Now, you came with an
interest in history already—you were
a student of history—and you simply
applied that interest to the place
where you came to live, yes?
Overbeck: Yes. I’m from Texas, as I
said. In Texas, one does not get out—
or at least when I was in school—did
not get out of school without having
had Texas history at fourth, eighth,
and eleventh grade… You knew who
the people were who had given their
blood, their sweat, their tears, their
joy. In many ways it made the place
make a lot of sense.
In Washington, I found that not
very many people knew what made
Washington make sense. Most of the
history that had been done, to that
time, had been focused on the
“monumental” Washington—certainly
not on Capitol Hill.
Georgetown had gotten more
than its share of history, because it
was the oldest part of the city. It predates
the rest of Washington, as we
now know it, by at least 50 years.
And we also had a whole group of
people who were interested in very
specific aspects of Washington, such
as…Congress, et cetera. But about
hometown Washington, I could
probably have put everything that
had been written in my two hands
and it would have measured a stack
of maybe six inches.
…There was a lot of mythology
running around. The Restoration
Society had done its share of
mythology. The real estate community
had certainly done its share of
mythology. And as I began to try to
find the answers, I got deeper and
deeper into it.
One of the fir st things I found out
was…[the mythology of] Daniel
Carroll, the original proprietor—and
this is not the signer of the Declaration
of Independence; it’s his
nephew. He [usually] had applied a
Tape #1
Recorded February 27,
2000 at Sibley Hospital
Franzén: Ruth Ann, why don’t you
start out by telling us a little about
how you came to Capitol Hill and
got interested in this subject.
Overbeck: …I had been to
Washington, DC…as an urban study
student one summer and I decided
that if I could possibly get back I
would. So in [1968], between college
and graduate school, [I came for a
visit].
It never occurred to me that I
would be doing anything unusual or
different when friends asked me to
go along on the [Capitol Hill
Restoration Society House Tour].
Later that afternoon, I found out
every other house and garden tour in
the city had been canceled that
spring because of the fear of additional
problems following the assassination
of Martin Luther King. And
here we were, walking through this
neighborhood of little bitty to medium-
sized buildings, some frame,
some brick, some very plain and
some highly ornate. Moms and dads
were out with babies in strollers.
There were middle-class people who
were obviously mid-level government
functionaries. There were people
who were not so middle-class
who were decked out in Easter finery…
looking to see what the decorators
would have done to the houses…
So, off we trekked…and it had
such a sense of community and such
a sense of: “Hello, how are you? I
haven’t seen you in six months.”
Well, nobody sees anybody in the
winter in Washington. We all stay
inside, unless we go to a party or
something like that…
My people in Texas…not so many
relatives, because relatives didn’t
want me to come to Washington,
DC…but my friends had said, if you
go to Washington, the very least you
should do is move to Capitol Hill
because that’s where all the
eggheads live. Well, that was a definition
I wasn’t really sure fit, but
that’s okay.
Early in the Winter of 2000,I received a phone call from Steve and
Nicky Cymrot bringing the sad news that Ruth Ann Overbeck,
beloved Capitol Hill resident and unparalleled expert on the commu -
nity’s history, had been diagnosed with a far-advanced cancer and
was not expected to recover. The Capitol Hill history she had long
planned to write,based on some thirty years of research,now
would not be written,and a vast store of information about the early life of our
community would go with her to her grave.
Did I know anyone,they asked,who might be able to interview Ruth
Ann—to tape record her words and preserve some of her knowledge for posterity?
I immediately volunteered—although at that time I knew Ruth Ann only slightly .
I was aware of her reputation as a scholar and community leader , and had spent
an evening seated next to her at the annual fundraising dinner of the CHAMPS
Community Foundation in the Spring of 1999. In the course of that evening she
had utterly charmed me with her wit and her knowledge of our neighborhood, and
I had resolved to get to know her better—not just to enjoy her company but to
deepen my woefully superficial understanding of my own community. I could not
have guessed the unfortunate terms under which my wish would be granted.
The slightly edited interviews transcribed here were conducted over a period of
32 days, beginning on February 27. By that time Ruth Ann’s condition had deterio -
rated to the point where she had to remain lying down. But to the very last—and
we recorded our final interview only two days before her death—she never lost
her enthusiasm for our project,her marvelous sense of humor or her Southerner’s
gift for storytelling.
We attempted in these interviews to “start at the beginning” and proceed
chronologically, but we didn’t adhere strictly to that pattern. With occasional
detours, our historical route was very roughly sequential up through the Civil War
era,but then, at Ruth Ann’s request,we jumped forward to discuss Capitol Hill
development and preservation efforts in the 20th Centur y. Our intention was to
return after that to the late 19th Century and the Boss Sheppard era, but our
efforts were cut short by Ruth Ann’s death.
Over the coming months,my conversations with Ruth Ann will be serialized here
in The Voice of the Hill. And meanwhile, as described in the August issue,an
enthusiastic group of community volunteers,supported by the CHAMPS
Foundation,are launching a neighborhood oral history project in her name. If
you’d like to help,go to www.CapitolHillHistor y.org.
Ruth Ann was a woman of rare intelligence,who approached her research, her
causes, her whole life, with joy and passion,and I trust the reader will sense this
in what follows.
J O H N F R A N Z É N
T H E O V E R B E C K T A P E S
A N O R A L H I S T O R Y O F C A P I T O L H I L L
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 5
place after his name… “of
Duddington” or “of Ddngton” …
Franzén: What does “of
Duddington” actually refer to?
Overbeck: It refers to the fact that
he lived on Duddington, and the
other Daniel Carroll didn’t. It was
the same thing as saying John
Carlisle of Boston versus a John
Carlisle of Queens, or something like
that…
Franzén: I know there is a
Duddington Place on Capitol Hill.
Overbeck: Duddington Place on
Capitol Hill is part of the land that
Daniel Carroll owned. It may or may
not—because I haven’t platted it
out—contain an actual piece of the
property that he retained and on
which he had his estate, his town
estate, after the city divided up the
property.
…The Duddington name is recent.
The real estate industry got into it
again. The original name of the
street… Heckman Place…didn’t
sound fancy enough and it wasn’t
going to intrigue people to come
and look at anything that was there.
Franzén: This was when?
Overbeck: Probably 1950s, I
believe.
Franzén: The name changed that
recently?
Overbeck: Yes, yes. It was definitely
a let’s-get-people-to-move-to-
Capitol-Hill place.
Franzén: Daniel Carroll owned a
lot of the property in what is now
Capitol Hill, going back to when?
Overbeck: To the 1680s. The
Carroll/Young family had inherited
it from the original proprietor, who
had received the land grant from
Lord Baltimore when the English
came over to form the colony of
Maryland.
Now, over time, other people got
land along the west bank of the
Anacostia River, but starting with
the original land grants, from the
mouth of the Anacostia River, all the
way up to what we now know as, certainly,
the Roseville area or
Isherwood area of Capitol Hill up by
Benning Road, it was dominantly
under the control of the Carroll’s or
the Young’s, and they were cousins
and intermarried and all that kind of
good stuff.
Franzén: So it was a plantation?
Overbeck: All of the land was listed
in its granting as plantations.
Whether we would think of them as
plantations or not is altogether a different
matter. There was nothing like
a Tara that stood on Capitol Hill.
Zero.
The person who owned the
biggest chunk of land east of Daniel
Carroll was a man named Walter
Houp [pronounced “Howp”]—that
funny “o-w” diphthong that they
say in Maryland for German “o-u.”
…The first group of land owners
on Capitol Hill—patentees, the ones
who got the grants—for the most
part did not live here. They used the
land for maybe the first 10 to 15
years for barter…As far as I can tell
nobody really took up residence here
until about the 1680s.
Franzén: It would have been wooded
land up to that time?
Overbeck: Probably, part and par t
[not]. You have this long history of
the Nactcatanke Indians…[who]
lived primarily on the east side of
the Anacostia River, as far down as
Bolling Air Force Base. Right at the
end of what we now know as the
East Capitol Street bridge was a
major settlement of them.
They moved. They did slash and
burn, which means as they wore out
fields they would move, let those
fields lie fallow, do the next field,
and go on.
Franzen: They were farmers.
Overbeck: They were farmers, but
primarily they were diversified. They
were settled. They were fisher persons.
They had wonderful ways of
seining the Anacostia River and
catching the herring runs or shad
runs that would come up.
Franzén: Seining…fishing with
nets.
Overbeck: Yes. In addition to this,
they were very, very active in trading,
and they tended to be, from all
that we are going to find out about
them, the anchor group that
enabled products of Indians from as
far away as places like the Great
Lakes, such as copper, to get all the
way down, not only to the
Washington area, but all the way on
down to the coast…
The residual culture of this is
wonderful. It is contained for the
most part at the Smithsonian…
Franzén: Are there other place
names from them? The Potomac, for
example, that’s an Indian name.
Overbeck: That’s an Indian name,
but not from the Nactcatanke. The
one from the Nactcatanke is the
Anacostia. And the Anacostia River
used to be called the Eastern Branch
of the Potomac. Old maps show it as
that. It was St. Isadore’s Bay at one
point. It was St. James Cove at one
point. There were a whole bunch of
changes right early on. Then it
became the Eastern Branch of the
Anacostin…They were calling it the
Anacostia, or the Anacostin River—
ending with a “t-i-n”—as far back as
the late 1600s.
“Anacostia River” was, I believe,
adopted in the 1920s as the final
name of the river.
Franzén: Let’s get back to this
mythology issue. You said a lot of
people’s assumptions about the early
history of Capitol Hill, in terms of
who owned what and where, are
mistaken.
Overbeck: Basically they thought
Daniel Carroll was God—he owned
everything, he did everything. He
did an awful lot, but in terms of the
Federal city, he was not necessarily
as pro-Federal city as we have all
been led to believe. First of all, he
was a curmudgeon.
Franzén: Can I interrupt for just a
moment? I want to get this straight.
The Daniel Carroll we’re talking
about now—when did he live?
Overbeck: I think it is the 1770s to
1834. He died a very bitter man.
There were people who accused him
no end of being parsimonious about
his land, that he wanted too much
money for it, and therefore people
wouldn’t move there; that he would -
n’t play all the games—although…he
furnished the land for and helped to
build or pay for the building of the
Capitol that was in use after the Brits
burned the original Capitol.
Franzén: So, he was the owner at
the time that the city was basically
laid out and planned as the Federal
city. Now, what exactly did he own?
Overbeck: He owned a lot of
Southwest, which people ignore. He
owned a lot of Buzzard Point, over to
about 2nd and Half Street, 3rd Street,
4th Street, and gerrymandered up
into the north, all the way up into
Northeast.
It was a nice little narrow strip.
These lands were laid out, in many
ways, the way old European lands
were. You fought very hard to get
water frontage.
Franzén: So, his land followed the
Anacostia River.
Overbeck: Yes. And he had made
an aborted effort at forming some -
thing called “Carrollsburg” back in
the late 1780s, to form a town…hoping
people would come and buy, and
so forth. Very few people did… So
that sort of bellied up.
…He ended up land poor. And in
the 1820s he lost a lot of his land to
taxes, or had to sell it very low for
that. His obituary lets you know that
he is not one of the most popular
people in town, but that rather he
had a heart of gold and he was a
good man and so forth.
One of the things that plays into
this…is that he was one of the
remaining Catholic families, and
once the colony of Maryland
declared Catholicism as a religion
persona non grata.
Franzén: Which was when?
Overbeck: In the 1700s. Then it
became Episcopalian. Christ Church
on Capitol Hill is the oldest church
chartered in the Federal City of
Washington…It came as close to
being a state church as we would
ever have had in the United States.
There were pews for the President.
They were expected to attend every
so often. It was the official church of
the Marine band and the Marines.
They marched down there every
Sunday morning and they went to
the balcony—their preserve, as it
were.
…Now, Daniel Carroll built himself
the house that he thought was
going to be “the” premier house in
Washington—certainly over in this
Ruth Ann Overbeck
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
6 www.voiceofthehill.com
towards you and the knuckle below
your thumb is Fort McNair and you
follow the line along Hains Point
and the Potomac River, up to where
Rock Creek really comes underneath
one of the bridges and keeps on
going up to P street, then there is a
little lump. If you look at the map,
there is a little lump there at the top
that goes sort of over from P Street
down to Florida Avenue. Then follow
your knuckles down to the third
knuckle along Florida Avenue, then
the little pinky usually drops down
enough, and that is where Benjamin
Stoddard owned some land.
He didn’t want to be in the
Federal city. And his good buddy
George Washington gerrymandered
the line so he didn’t have to be. And
that’s how we got that funny little
lump over there by the Anacostia
that drops down and goes over down
to C Street Northeast on Capitol Hill.
Then right down there you take a
turn down in the outside of your fist
and you’re along the Anacostia River
and the stadium, and get back to this
lump that is the base of your pinky
and you are sort of by that point
close to the Navy Yard. Go on across
and follow that and get on back
down here to the original bump
under your thumb, and that ’s where
Fort McNair is.
That’s all that was ever intended
to be the Federal city.
Franzén: All the area in
Northwest ...
Overbeck: That was Washington
County. And so was Washington
County over on the east side of the
Anacostia. The incorporated city of
Georgetown was part of the District
of Columbia, and the incorporated
city of Alexandria was part of the
District of Columbia, and Arlington
County was part of the District of
Columbia.
Franzén: Washington County?
Overbeck:Washington County
and Arlington County. And here we
were, this little thing in the middle,
and we are the city. Now, all of these
other areas were supposed to be the
end of town…[But first] you’ve got to
know how the city got itself divided.
Franzén: Divided?
Overbeck: Divided. George
Washington, once he determined
where he was going to have the
city—because it was left up to him
by Congress to do this…he then sent
some emissaries out to buy land as if
they were buying it for themselves.
Franzén: To pretend they were
buying it for themselves?
Overbeck: Yes, but to, in fact, be
buying it for the government.
That didn’t wash very well. Too
many people in town knew too
much. And a man named William
Prout came down from Baltimore
who had recently arrived there from
England, and Prout had the land
that had been originally Walter
Houp’s and two or three other people’s.
They combined them over
time…
Prout had a different idea about
his land, in that several years earlier
he had tried to find land in England
that would be income-producing
property—an estate that would have
a village, that would have industry,
et cetera… He understood that kind
of use of property. I don’t think
Daniel Carroll ever understood that
kind of use of property.
This Mr. Prout’s ideas about land
use were much more realistic than
virtually any of the other proprietors
in the Federal City in that he knew
what it took. Because he had gone
through years of this in England,
watching how small communities
built up, how estates built up, how
they functioned, what kinds of
things it takes to make them run.
Anyway, when Pierre L’Enfant
was tapped by George Washington
to [buy land for the] city, he told
him to start down along the
Anacostia at the east end…
Franzen: By “east end,” you
mean where?
Overbeck: Capitol Hill.
The only thing that was includ -
ed in the Federal City was, using
your fist, if you have it pointing
Exchange. However, in those days of
sailing ships, the way that took place
was by the water, where people
could see the ships coming in, ge t
the latest news of the ships, see
whose ship had gone down, whose
ship had made it, whose ship had
taken on an extra load, what a commodity
was selling for in Barbados or
Portugal or wherever, and then they
would do their speculating on that
basis, on that information…
This is why water was so important.
This is one of the reasons why
this city ended up being located
here… There would have been no
reason to have an international capital
that could not be reached by anything
other than land because there
was no good land transpor tation.
Franzén: And this is about as far up
as you could navigate with a large
ship on the river, yes?
Overbeck: Certainly on the other
side, because on the Potomac you
could not get past the Three Sister s
and the rocks up there, and on the
Anacostia you were beginning no
longer to be able to take big ships up
to Bladensburg. By “big” ships we are
really talking tiny ships. We think of
them as big ships from a his toric
point of view, but they are not. They
are really tiny.
Anyway, a perfect place—8th
Street from Pennsylvania Avenue
Southeast to the river was going to
be the seat of the Central Exchange,
with the exchange being the public
reservation that was right there on
the water, or at the water, at the foot
of where we now have most of the
Navy Yard. The Navy Yard now consumes
more than that, but much of
the Navy Yard was there.
…L’Enfant [also] planned to have
the local government sited where
Garfield Park is. It was going to be
where the legislature, the mayoral
offices, all of those things were going
to be.
Anyway…it turned out that virtually
everything except the Capitol
and the congressional buildings—
which weren’t planned for because
they didn’t think they would need
them—and part of the Navy Yard
had been platted on Mr. Prout’s land
and not Mr. Carroll’s land. So the
real city of Capitol Hill, our real
hometown, was not Daniel Carroll’s
of Duddington; our real city was Mr.
Prout’s city.
Franzén: I remember when I first
moved to Washington I was told this
was originally Jenkins Hill and this
was a sheep pasture, a farm, or some
such thing.
Overbeck: There supposedly is a
lease to a man, a farmer named
Jenkins, on that hill. I have never
really bothered with it. One of the
reasons I have never really bothered
with it is that right across the
Anacostia, in a direct line with
buffer zones. They were supposed to
be the support system. We could
lean on the infrastructure that was
already in place in Alexandria and
Georgetown, until we got our own
banks, our own libraries, our own
whatever started well enough to be
involved.
Franzen: This was George
Washington’s concept.
Overbeck: Yes, but not by himself.
Madison played a role in this;
Jefferson played a role in this…
At any rate, the city was only
supposed to be in this little knot.
And in that little knot, according to
George Washington’s public professions,
the east end of it was for
Capitol Hill. From the Capitol on
east would have been the biggy.
Franzén: The biggy?
Overbeck: The biggy. It would have
been the city.
Now, this suited L’Enfant beautifully.
L’Enfant was an engineer. He
was excellent at it, a very good
designer. Temperamental as heck. He
came across the ferry at about the
end of 14th Street Southeast and he
came across what he called essentially
this “plain,” and he rhapsodized
about what a wonderful place it
would be…
Franzén: This “plain.”
Overbeck: Yes, it was almost like a
plain. It was lumpy, but it was not
mountainous. It was not a valley. It
was not deeply gorged. We had a
creek going across Pennsylvania
Avenue—or where Pennsylvania
Avenue was going to be. There was a
creek going down to the Anacostia.
You can deal with creeks.
Franzén: He was referring to
Capitol Hill as a plain?
Overbeck: Yes… L’Enfant looked at
it as a whole. Eighth Street would be
the commercial center. It would be
the seat of the Central Exchange.
People who travel and go to
England and so on would know that
there is something called the Royal
Exchange. What happens at the
Royal Exchange is stock brokering,
same thing as the New York Stock
In their plan, Washington, Jefferson and Madison all set down parameters of what they
thought was crucial. Jefferson is the one agrarian who thought that public markets were
absolutely crucial to survival of the city. So he planned for there to be one in the eastern
section of the city, the central section of the city, the western section of the city, and the
northern section of the city.
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 7
[Capitol] Hill, out Alabama Avenue,
there is a Jenkins Hill…It belonged to
the Jenkins family for years.
So if no one knows anything more
about the Jenkins Hill name than I
just told you...
Franzén: So, it was Prout, more
than anyone else, who owned the
land that is now Capitol Hill.
Overbeck: Almost every school,
almost every public school is on
Prout land, what was Prout land,
including the natatorium, the market,
the new Eastern Market, going
right on up.
Franzén: You said the “new”
Eastern Market. Why do you call it
the new Eastern Market?
Overbeck: Because the original
market was built down on two reservations
that are between K and L and
7th and 6th Southeast.
Franzén: That was a market somewhat
similar to what Eastern Market
has become? An open-air gathering
place—or partly enclosed, partly
open air?
Overbeck: There are no written
descriptions of the market in its original
state that we have been able to
find. We have looked and looked
and looked. That doesn’t mean they
won’t turn up tomorrow.
In their plan, Washington,
Jefferson and Madison all set down
parameters of what they thought
was crucial. Jefferson is the one
agrarian who thought that public
markets were absolutely crucial to
survival of the city. So he planned
for there to be one in the eastern section
of the city, the central section of
the city, the western section of the
city, and the northern section of the
city.
Central Market is the one that was
built first and it was down on the
[National] Archives site.
…Mr. Prout lobbied throughout
the 1790s to the city commissioners
to build a market in the eastern sec -
tion… a “flesh and fowl market.”
Remember, this is at the time of the
10-hour workday, six days a week,
and if they’re going to go shopping…[
it’s] a long way to walk up
and down that bloody hill and come
all the way back down to the river
area.
So finally, in 1804 or 1805, Mr.
Prout and a couple of his buddies
down by the river send a letter to
President Jefferson and he okays it.
They start building the market
immediately.
Now, whether or not it was anything
more than a covered shed
arrangement initially—we do not
know because we do not know yet
which floor we found… It is a beautiful
brick floor. We don’t know if we
found the 1823 addition floor or if
we found the original floor.
Franzén: You are referring to the
floor of the old market that was
found during construction of the
new Marine Barracks ...
Overbeck: Not even demolition yet
or construction. It [was] during the
presentation for what is called “mitigating
the land” for the expenditure
of Federal money on a Federal project.
It is so exciting to see that floor
come up. They called me and said,
Ruth Ann, get over here. I said, great.
It was really great. We don’t know
yet. We will find out.
People are asking, What will we
find there? What kind of things
should we find? Well, hoops from
barrels; nails, obviously. Probably
virtually no cans at all, because
America was laggardly in getting
cans into production. They probably
wouldn’t have gotten their cans into
production and useful enough to be
taken to a diversified market until
after the Civil War, which is when
this market ceased to be used.
Certainly any kind of jugs that
would have held oil or olives. Any
kind of glassware that would have
been used to import things. The land
in Washington is very acidic, so to
expect basketry to have survived is a
little bit out of line.
Anyway, we are all excited about
that. Our knowledge of the market
expanded by a thousand-fold when
we found that.
Franzén: When was that found,
exactly?
Overbeck: December.
Franzén: Just this past year, 1999?
Overbeck: Yes, 1999.
Franzén: And that [site]will be
thoroughly excavated before the
construction of the Marine facilities
goes forward, is that right?
Overbeck: It’s supposed to be, if
everything falls into train, yes. And
we are hoping even if everything
doesn’t fall into train, someone will
have the insight…to know how
important this is to Capitol Hill,
because we have nothing on Capitol
Hill that is an artifact trove like that
would be. So we are excited about it.
That market—and then all of a
sudden the Central Exchange didn’t
happen.
[End of Tape #1]
Next month: Prout’s land becomes
Capitol Hill
Overbeck project chair John Franzén
produces media campaigns for progres -
sive candidates and causes. He’s lived
on the Hill for 28 years.
Editor’s note: The archeological excava -
tion of the old market began this sum -
mer. “Can You Dig It? Nibbling the
Bones of the Original Eastern Market”,
an account of the recently begun archeo -
logical excavation of the old market by
Maggie Hall, was published in June
2001. The article is available in the
archives at www.voiceoftheHill.com.
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V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
8 www.voiceofthehill.com
Walter Slaughter
moved his family
to Lexington Place,
NE in the fall of
1956. He had been
living in the projects on Stanton
Road, SE, but there was an income
limit for living there. If you made “a
dollar more,” you had to go. “I had
to go,” he says with a slight shrug.
Slaughter and his wife, Eloise,
were shown a couple of houses on
Lexington, houses that were built in
1912 and 1913, about the year he was
born. He liked the last one best. The
agent started asking questions, promoting
the house’s features: “How
do you like it? It’s got a garage.” The
Slaughters liked it fine.
The agent’s questions grew more
pointed.
“Where you working?”
“At the Pentagon.”
“How long have you been working
there?”
“Four years.”
“What’s your salary at?”
Slaughter told him, and told him
what he could put down, which was
less than a fortune but seemed to be
enough.
“That’s good,” the agent said.
“That’s your house.”
Except it wasn’t all that easy.
When it came time for final settle -
ment, unexpected roadblocks mysteriously
appeared. Cast-in-stone, oral
agreements were no longer binding.
Fortunately, Walter had been “doing
some part time work for this lawyer.
He was a real nice fella.” The lawyer
intervened, the house was purchased,
and the family has been living
there now for close to half a century.
The Slaughters were not the first
African-American family to move to
Lexington Place. There were a couple
of others, up and down the block,
despite the fact that just a few years
before blacks were not allowed to
live south of Acker Street. But being
allowed to move in did not necessarily
mean they were welcomed. There
was still prejudice and discrimination.
While Walter Slaughter is a forgiving
man, he’s not a forgetting man.
“Now that you’ve got me talking,
I’m talking. I’m going to tell the
truth,” he says.
Black homeowners, he recalls,
were forced to replace wooden fences
and wooden stairs because they were
fire hazards, or sirens for termites.
White-owned wooden structures, it
seemed, were peculiarly bug-resistant
and nonflammable, hence
white-owned properties retained
their wooden stairs and fences. The
Slaughters, having been sold a prop -
erty with a coveted garage, were told
that they had to replace the dangerous,
original, wooden, garage door
with a metal one.
Unknown neighbors harassed the
family and tried to drive them away.
Two white city inspectors came by to
investigate a report that ten to
twelve people lived in the
Slaughters’ basement. They were
shown the basement, which was
obviously unlived in. A black inspector
came by to investigate an allegation
that there was a cesspool in the
back yard. There had been an outdoor
toilet at one time, but it was
long gone and hygienically sealed.
Walter went to the city to protest.
A city supervisor was polite and
frank: the office had no choice but
to investigate when an official complaint
was lodged. He opened the
investigators’ reports. In every
instance the allegations proved false.
Slaughter left, relieved, but that
didn’t change the fact that someone
was lying about him and his home.
And he knew why.
Discrimination was hardly limited
to the neighborhood. Walter could
buy a sandwich at a drugstore, but
couldn’t sit at the counter. He
couldn’t go downtown to a theater
or a nightclub, except to a strip of
burlesque houses, and even then the
white clubs were on a different street
than the black clubs. So he went to
the clubs on U Street, and to the
Lincoln Theater.
It is ironic, perhaps, that the clubs
on U Street probably offered the best
entertainment in town.
Slaughter’s sister was a seamstress
at a Richmond department store, but
she couldn’t shop there. Blacks in
Washington could shop at
Garfinkles, but caveat emptor:
African Americans could not try on
an item of clothing before buying it,
and nothing they purchased—fit or
not—could be returned.
He also remembers riding the
M e et the M AYOR OF
LEXINGTON PLACE
Walter Slaughter
BY TOM HAMILT O N
Walter Slaughter with his parents and two older siblings at the family farm.
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 9
streetcar to the North Capitol neighborhood
where his wife, Eloise, grew
up. As the family filed into the
crowded rear, his daughter, Pearl,
would always look at the front and
ask, “Hey, daddy, why do we have to
get in the back all the time? There
are plenty of seats up there.”
When a child wants to make sense
out of something that doesn’t make
any sense, how do you answer?
Individual whites, Walter believes,
wanted to do right by blacks but
were overwhelmed by the culture of
prejudice. It was not possible for any
individual, black or white, to bring
down American Apartheid. It
required a collective effort. Boycott
the buses. Walk, don’t ride. Boycott
the stores. Don’t buy. Once the businessmen
begin to realize that “the
coons aren’t coming here,” they’ll
get their consciences raised. “You
can’t fight a battle by yourself,” he
concludes.
Maybe this is why he has always
been a neighborhood activist. Walter
is a founding member of the Stanton
Park Neighborhood Association
(SPNA) and remembers how the
fledgling association would meet in
people’s houses, before finding a permanent
home at the Northeast
Library. But SPNA was not the fir st
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informally as The Club, was active
years earlier. The Club conducted
regular meetings, cleaned up the
street and the alleys, convened an
annual block party and held
fundraisers for various causes.
Walter makes it sound like the
women on the block—Eloise
Slaughter, Frances Ransom, Ruth
Hammett, and others—were in
charge of The Club, but it is Walter
Slaughter who is still referred to as
the Mayor of Lexington Place (a
characterization he dismisses with a
modest shrug). If you have one of
those metal, neighborhood-watch
signs at the rear of your property, or
one of those green signs admonishing,
“Please, clean up after your
dog,” you can thank The Mayor.
Walter Slaughter, now nearing his
ninetieth year, was one of ten children,
five boys and five girls. He was
raised on a small farm outside of
Charlottesville, Virginia. Two of
Walter’s siblings are still with us:
Rosa, who lives in Maryland, and
Cornelia, who resides to this day on
the family farm.
Slaughter’s daughter Frances—the
beloved provider of early childhood
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in this world. Rock, earth, tre e ,
mountain, seashore: good things last
longer than bad.”
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education on Capitol Hill until her
recent retirement—recalls visiting
that farm as a child. She remembers
the outhouse, and she remembers
taking baths in the kitchen. The
plumbing there, she tells us now, has
been modernized considerably.
Walter Slaughter remembers that
the family owned two horses, one to
pull the plow, Monday through
Saturday, and the other to take the
whole family to church on Sunday.
Besides chores around the family
farm, young Walter grew up earning
extra money at the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville, doing
odd jobs, tending lawns and gardens.
There weren’t many other
opportunities for a black American
lad back then in rural Virginia.
His father, a blacksmith as well as
a farmer, wanted his sons to go into
smithery. But Walter had heard that
there were jobs in Washington. So at
the age of eighteen, he headed nor th
and quickly landed a federal position.
He worked steadily for the government
for forty-two years—at the
Pentagon, at what he calls the public
hospital (better known to us as D. C.
General) and at the U. S. Postal
Service. He has a framed letter,
signed by the Postmaster General,
commending him for his long and
exemplary service. The letter hangs
proudly on the peach-colored walls
of his welcoming living room,
accompanied by family photographs,
often of the newest, sweetest
twigs on the Slaughter family tree.
Not long after moving to
Washington, he met the future Mrs.
Slaughter at a marathon dance in
Georgetown. “How long can you
dance… on the floor, you know,” he
explains. “We started dating… Went
well… You know how it is… We
stayed together for awhile…” And
then they decided to stay together
for a very long while. They mar ried
and had a family, six children, starting
with Cornelia, then Robert,
Pearl, Frances, Marquita and Walter,
Jr., nicknamed “Walkie.”
Frances remembers the rules of
conduct: the whole family had to go
to church every Sunday, no exceptions;
and everybody had to go to
school, no pretending to be too sick
to go. Faking it brought swift punishment
of the worst sort—missing
out on doing fun things, like going
to the movies. The whole family had
dinner together every night, and the
children were encouraged to speak
about any subject with their parents,
as long as it was done with respect.
Always talk to your children, adds
Walter. Teach them to respect their
teachers, and tell them to “do nothing
wrong, because someone’s looking
at you all the time.”
No one who has lived in Washington,
DC since 1956 could possibly
reminisce without thinking of
Marion Barry. The Slaughter family
is no exception. Their words hint at
the ambivalent relationship that
many members of the African
American community still have with
our ex-Mayor.
Once, when the Lexington Place
Community Organization was having
a block party, Mr. Barry, then
early in his political career, wanted
to speak at the event but was not
allowed. Frances Slaughter remembers,
“My mother had a broom and
was shooshing him off the street.”
Walter recalls that, after the assassination
of Martin Luther King,
some people unfairly accused Barry
of making incendiary remarks that
led to or abetted the burning of the
H Street corridor, just a few blocks
away. He believes that Barry was simply
describing the injustices that
whites had perpetrated on blacks,
and that black youths misinterpreted
the message. You do not take
something down, he adds, unless
you have something better to build
in its place.
During Barry’s final mayoral campaign,
Slaughter remembers standing
in his front yard speaking to his
then next-door neighbor, Phyllis
Jane Young, the well-known realtor
and recent CHAMPS Foundation
honoree for her years of community
involvement. Young wanted to know
who Slaughter was supporting.
“I’m going to tell you who I like. I
like Marion Barry,” Walter told her.
Phyllis Jane, he recalls, just looked
at him, stupefied.
While we had a pretty good idea of
what the Mayor was up to, Walter
explains today, Barry didn’t hurt
anybody, except maybe himself,
which is nobody’s business: “We
never found out that he had his
hand in the cookie jar. So what ’s the
problem?” He shrugs his shoulder s
innocently.
But then a glint appears in Walter
Slaughter’s eyes. He sports a slightly
rakish grin and says, “I’m a rascal.”
Tom Hamilton is proud to count Walter
Slaughter as his friend and neighbor.
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 11
of a world of picket fences and ice
cream socials. But our neighborhood
has no picket fences. So you
must understand, too, that Miss
Boone has an adventuring spirit that
takes her to unusual haunts. She
explains it this way: Her people are
“Kentucky Boones,” and she is the
grand niece of Daniel Boone, the
noted pioneer.
Yet whatever she says, Miss Boone
always speaks precisely, with purposeful
diction, as a dedicated elementary
school teacher should.
Among the early surprises I got
from Miss Boone involved how
much this kindly woman knew
about the awful warfare that
engulfed our community in the
1980s and ’90s.
BY J IM MYERS
My friend Clara Lyle Boone—Miss
Boone to those of us in the Capitol
East neighborhood—is a woman of
surprises.
Not only does she bring a special
quality of caring to our neighbor -
hood; Miss Boone also knows the
neighborhood in ways that are rare;
and she regularly teaches the rest of
us about aspects of our community
we did not know. She is one fine
teacher.
From 1967 to 1977—a turbulent
decade for eastern Capitol Hill—Miss
Boone taught fifth grade at Payne
Elementary School on C Street. I
think of her thusly—as teacher and
community figure.
Yet there is much more to our Miss
Boone: Back in March 1997, she was
profiled in The Washington Post—
practically a whole page—for another
endeavor that many neighbors
hardly knew about. She is also the
founder and guiding spirit of Arisis
Press, an inspired venture dedicated
to publishing the works of women
composers.
Miss Boone, whose first love was
music, discovered early on that ser ious
women composers were not getting
their due. “I liked to write music
from my early years,” she explains.
“But I soon learned that standard
publishers didn’t want anything to
do with women composers except
for children’s music.”
She was also determined to do
something about this injustice—
which is very much in keeping with
her approach to life. “It’s not that I
can do much,” says Miss Boone,
never one to boast. “But I do what I
can.”
* * * * * *
Miss Boone founded Arisis Press in
1974; the name derives from the
music notation for “upbeat” in
Italian. She says it means “upbeat for
women” in this context. Arisis Press
currently stocks a 10-page catalogue
of more than 150 choral, orchestral
and chamber music works—all, with
one exception, by women. (The lone
male composer, John Webber, of
Portsmouth, England, is there,
among other reasons, to show that
Miss Boone has nothing against
men).
Still, you also need to see Clara
Lyle Boone to understand why her
presence delights her neighbors—
even those who have no ear for classical
music. Miss Boone, who recently
turned 74, has striking white hair
and regularly walks though the
neighborhood in wide-brimmed
straw hats or flowing scarves. Or she
rides a bicycle with wire basket on
the front handlebars. Also, she often
wears white gloves.
Seeing Miss Boone, you might
expect that she had just stepped out
families in our community.
Sometimes in discussions about
our neighborhood, the name of a
young man who had been killed
would come up, and Miss Boone
would react with great sadness. One
time, I remember she responded
with these exact words, “Oh, he was
such a soulful child.”
So often did she raise kindly memories
about young men who had
died that I asked her if she knew how
many of her former pupils had been
lost.
“I never dared count,” she replied.
“It would be too sad.”
* * * * * *
Clara Lyle Boone was raised in
Stanton, Kentucky, (population
Ignoring the obvious, I initially
wondered how a woman who favors
white gloves could know so much
about the young black men who
were murdered on our streets. Miss
Boone spoke kindly about many of
them; indeed, it was haunting to
hear her. And then, of course, I eventually
realized that she knew so
many of these victims because they
had been in her fifth grade classes at
Payne.
It was sweet Miss Boone, for example,
who pointed out to me that five
young men who grew up in one row
house on Bay Street had all been
murdered—five! And it was Miss
Boone, as much as anyone, who
seemed to recognize how totally devastating
the violence had been to
The Life and Times
of the Amazing
Miss Boone
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
12 www.voiceofthehill.com
2,795) in the Cumberland
Mountains. She attended Asbury
College and graduated from Centre
College in Kentucky as a music
major. She then received a Master’s
in education and music from
Harvard-Radcliffe. “That was back
when women could be nurses, librarians
and teachers—and, well, housewives,”
she says.
She taught in schools in
Massachusetts, Kentucky, Iowa,
Michigan and New York before taking
a teaching post at Washington’s
National Cathedral School in 1957.
She remembers looking out and seeing
other parts of D.C. far in the in
the distance. “I wanted to teach
poorer children,” she says, “ones
that were suffering from educational
neglect.”
She was also a strong believer in
civil rights and demonstrated in
front of the White House in 1960 in
support of the lunch counter sit-ins
in Greensboro, North Carolina. She
remembers she carried a sign, “Hot
Dogs For All.”
The same year, she stopped teaching
to work on John F. Kennedy’s
presidential campaign. Then, in
1962, while again teaching in
Washington—at Stanton Elementary
at Naylor Road and Alabama
Avenue—Miss Boone briefly established
legal residence in Kentucky
and ran for Congress in the state’s
4th District. “I ran on a very specific
civil rights platform,” she says. “But
I only got to campaign for one week
during Spring Break.”
She finished third of five candidates
in the Democratic primary,
which was good, she says, considering
that most press coverage of her
campaign focused on the issue of her
residence. “That was the most publicity
I got,” she says.
* * * * * *
In her early years in D.C., Miss
Boone shared an apartment on
Cathedral Avenue in Northwest.
Those were days, she recalls, when
“proper” single woman did not rent
apartments alone. But she had tired
of the attitudes of her housemate,
particularly on racial issues, and
wanted to live on her own.
Fate, she says, guided her to an
apartment on Bay Street, where the
entire 1700 block was owned and
rented out by B.F. Saul Co. At the
time, the houses were divided into
upstairs and downstairs flats and all
the renters were white.
But the demographics of eastern
Capitol Hill were about to change.
Miss Boone moved to Bay Street in
February 1961—the same month the
nearby Eastern Branch Boys Club on
17th Street SE was integrated
(though girls were invited in much
later, Miss Boone notes). Suddenly,
most of the white youths from Bay
and nearby streets refused to go to
the club, leaving this potentially
volatile group of white youngsters at
loose ends on the streets.
Soon, one of the youths started
showing up in Miss Boone’s living
room—then others began to arrive.
“There were about 50 boys and girls
who floated in and out of the house
on a daily basis,” Miss Boone recalls.
“The boys came, and then their gir lfriends,
and I fed them all.”
Eventually, the youth authorities
assigned a Roving Leader outreach
worker to help Miss Boone out.
Yet the white families soon began
leaving Bay and surrounding streets.
Most initially headed for Maryland,
and in 1971, B.F. Saul sold its Bay
Street holdings under a Federal program
designed to relocate large families
displaced by urban renewal in
Southwest.
Miss Boone, however, exercised an
option to buy her house, and she
still insists the neighborhood got
better thereafter. Before 1971, her
house was burglarized eight times;
after 1971, the burglaries stopped.
* * * * * *
From the beginning, Miss Boone
was active in the community. She
still faithfully attends PSA meetings,
contributing knowledge of the community
that no one else seems to
have. Yet I was recently surprised to
find “Clara Lyle Boone” listed in
1960s documents at the Martin
Luther King Library as the corresponding
secretary of the Southeast
Civic Association, one of the g roups
that “represented” D.C. residents in
the era before D.C. had an elected
City Council.
What’s noteworthy about this was
that Miss Boone belonged to the
Southeast Civic Association, a key
distinction in the semantics of seg regated
Washington. “Civic” associations
in those days were black, while
“citizens” associations were white.
Miss Boone says the Southeast
Civic Association was a notable
group, founded in 1926; as far as she
knows, she was its only white member.
“They invited me to join,” she
says, as if there should be nothing
surprising about it at all.
She recalls that the g roup opposed
the proposed freeway that would
have split Capitol Hill down 11th
Street and also opposed calls for
building basketball courts in Lincoln
Park. “We wanted Lincoln Park to be
restored and kept as a beautiful
park,” she says.
* * * * * *
In September 1967, Miss Boone
began teaching at Payne and was
briefly the only white teacher there;
another white teacher came a few
months later.
The following April, Martin
Luther King Jr. was assassinated and
the city was engulfed in rioting.
“When King was shot,” Miss Boone
recalls, “the white teachers were sent
home…But I didn’t stay home very
long. I went out to see what was happening.”
She recalls looting at the small
businesses along 15th Street, and
unusual scenes outside her house:
“You could see kids running up and
down with items of clothing. On
Monday morning, half my class had
new outfits.”
She recalls, too, that some of her
fifth graders didn’t know who
Martin Luther King was. “I taught
them,” she says proudly.
* * * * * *
Those with less devotion to our
community than Miss Boone might
surely have abandoned the area in
the years that followed. During what
she calls “the black power period,”
she was robbed in the street eight
times. “I learned to stop buying
purses,” she says. Yet that was hardly
the worst of it.
I once took a reporter from
America’s Most Wanted to interview
Miss Boone about the neighbor -
hood, and she happened to note
that an event occurred “about the
time I was shot.”
Both the reporter and I wer e
momentarily stunned. “You were
shot?” the startled reporter asked.
“Yes,” Miss Boone said in her everprecise
way. “I took a bullet.”
* * * * * *
It is not known who shot Miss
Boone; to her knowledge, no one
was ever arrested in the case. It
remains a puzzle, too, what kind of
person would do such a thing. Yet it
is also possible that the individual
who pulled the trigger is still among
us—another disturbing thought.
The shooting occurred on Palm
Sunday in 1976, or as Miss Boone
notes, in the year of nation’s bicentennial.
She was walking to church
in the 1600 block of C Street SE,
when two assailants emerged with a
gun from the alley behind the Boys
and Girls Club.
When they tried to force Miss
Boone into the alley, she took off. “I
started running toward the fire
house [in the 1500 block], and one
shot hit me in the leg…The adrenaline
was flowing. I had this bullet in
me, but all I felt was a little ping.”
Others, it seems, did not take well
to the shooting either.
“My principal [at Payne] told me it
was getting too dangerous in the
neighborhood,” she recalls.
What the principal meant was
that Miss Boone should look for a
position elsewhere. She applied for a
downtown administrative post but
did not get the job.
In1977 she retired from teaching
to devote herself to women composers.
* * * * * *
But she stayed in contact with her
former students. She merely left
Payne, where she had founded the
student council and an annual
spelling bee and also put on annual
operas like Robin Hood or Hansel and
Gretel with student performers.
Though they’re now grown, Miss
Boone is still very concerned about
what happens to her former fif th
graders. Some former pupils have
become personal crusades, largely
because she often sees the good in
people that others seem to have
overlooked.
She has taught me that there is a
sweet fifth grader lurking inside
most of us.
On several occasions, she has
enlisted me in her causes. The fir st
time I visited the Lor ton prison complex
was with Miss Boone; she was
trying to help a former student she
believed was unjustly imprisoned.
While we were at Lorton, she took
me down a dirt road into the woods
to visit Stony Lonesome Cemetery, a
sad place where deceased inmates—
apparently those whose bodies were
never claimed—are buried.
It seemed to me that only someone
like Miss Boone would know
such a place—or think of those
buried there.
She surprised me again in an interview
for this article, telling me that
she is “a crack shot” with a hunting
rifle.
“You’re what?” I asked.
Of course, this practice at shooting
was a byproduct of her
Kentucky/Cumberland Mountain
upbringing. Miss Boone insisted she
knows how to shoot a deer or a
pheasant. But then she confessed
she has never actually shot any real
animals—just targets.
“I’ve never harmed a living
thing,” she said. “Except mice.”
Journalist (and community activist),
Jim Myers, is the author of Afraid of
the Dark: What Whites and Blacks
Need to Know About Each Other. He
wrote about the Arc de Barney in the
July issue of the Voice of the Hill.
Miss Boone moved to Bay Street in
February 1961—the same month the
nearby Eastern Branch Boys Club on
17th Street SE was integrated
Navy
and the
Marine Corps—
both struggling to impose
a blockade on the South—overwhelmed
that facility. Several
months after the bombardment of
Fort Sumter, on April 12, 1861, the
Secretary of the Interior leased several
wards at the “Government Asylum
for the Insane” (known today as St.
Elizabeth’s) for use as a temporary
naval hospital.
On March 4, 1864, Congress
authorized construction of our
Naval Hospital on Pennsylvania
Avenue. The location was selected,
not merely because it was near the
Navy Yard and Marine Barracks, but
also because the Federal government
already owned two of the four lots
on this block. In 1821, lots 1 and 2,
valued at $3,000, had been transferred
to the Federal government
from the estate of Louis DeBlois, a
Naval Purser who died with his
books out of balance.
On March 14, 1864,
President Abraham
Lincoln signed a bill
authorizing construction
of a Naval Hospital in
Washington City on
Pennsylvania Avenue SE,
between 9th and 10th Streets.
Ironically, though it was built
to treat Sailors and Marines dur -
ing the Civil War, it was not opened
until 18 months after Lee’s surrender
at Appomattox Courthouse ended
that terrible conflict. And curiously,
it has been known as “The Old Naval
Hospital” since 1903.
Even before our hospital was built,
this site was associated with naval
medicine. Soon after the Federal
government moved to Washington
in November of 1800, medical services
and supplies were provided for
the Navy Yard from a small apothecary
at the corner of Pennsylvania
Avenue and 9th Street, where the
hospital was later built.
Then, during the War of 1812, a
building on the corner of
Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th
Street SE was rented for use by the
Naval Surgeon for $200 a year—
though records aren’t clear if this
was a hospital or a clinic or just an
office for the Surgeon; for at some
time during this period there was
also a medical dispensary established
at the Marine Barracks, around the
corner on 8th Street, SE.
At the outbreak of the Civil War
the vast increase in the size of the
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 13
Regrettably,
no one has yet been
able to locate the original plans for
the Hospital. Neither do we know
the name of the architect who
designed it, nor the contractors who
built it. We do know that the massive
fence surrounding the property
was cast before 1870 by the local iron
foundry of F. & A. Schneider, but
only because they stamped their
name on some of the parts.
Construction was finished in July
of 1866, and on October 1, the first
seven patients were admitted—one
sailor and six Marines. The very first
patient was Benjamin Drummond,
whose admitting ticket describes
him as an “Ordinary Seaman,
Colored.” Though we know relatively
little about him, his story is far
from ordinary—and worth a little
detour.
This was not the first hospital stay
for Drummond, a New Yorker enlisted
in the Union Navy.
He was first wounded in
January 1863, during a
Civil War battle off the
coast of Texas. Rebel cutters
captured his ship, the
U.S.S. Morning Light, and he
and his mates were interned
in a Confederate prisoner of war
camp. Drummond not only
escaped, but found Union transport
to a hospital in New Orleans. With
his wound apparently healed, he
reenlisted, serving aboard a monitor
patrolling Charleston Harbor in
South Carolina, where the Civil War
began.
It was during hard service here
that Drummond’s wound reopened.
He was sent, by ship, to Annapolis
and from there to the District of
Columbia for treatment at the temporary
naval hospital at the
Government Asylum for the Insane.
He was admitted to our Hospital on
the Hill the day it opened.
Though still not completely recovered,
Drummond was discharged
from the Hospital at the expiration
of his enlistment in March of 1868,
and returned to his wife in New
York. The sailor was granted a fifty
percent disability for his combat
wound, for which he was initially
paid a pension of $4 a month. This
had increased to $12 a month by the
time of his death in 1881.
Marine Private Charles Straib was
the first person to die at the hospital;
on October 5, 1866. The 20-year-old
The Old Naval Hospita l
C e l e b rates its 13 5 th
BY DAN DALY
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
14 www.voiceofthehill.com
native of Germany contracted
typhoid fever as the result of “exposure
to epidemic influences” while
stationed aboard a warship.
We are lucky to have records of
these patients and others that were
cared for at the Old Naval Hospital,
and enough clues exist about the rest
that a fairly complete record can be
created over time. Unfortunately,
despite the efforts of Navy archivists,
historians and other specialists,
many other hospital records are
sketchy and some appear to have
been discarded.
Congress, we know, had originally
budgeted $25,000 to build the
Hospital, but the final cost was
$115,000, which included the cost of
purchasing the remaining two lots.
Built to accommodate 50 patients,
there were generally about half that
number. On average, the Hospital
appears to have treated approximately
100 patients a year.
Some measure of conditions in th e
n e i g h b o rhood can be ta ken from a
l etter from the Bureau of Medicine
and Surgery in 1892 complaining of
the dust and noise from the st re et s
a round the building. The fo l l ow i n g
year the Surgeon General re c o m m e nded
that the Dist rict pave the st re et s
ra ther than continuing to re ly on
private parties • celebrations • special events
2 Quail 2 Quail
The Old Naval Hospital ca. 1900.
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 15
s p rinkling carts to reduce the dust .
Hospital records show that three
ambulance horses died between
August of 1897, and January 1898,
without explaining the cause. On a
happier note, they also show that in
March of 1901, the facility’s horsedrawn
ambulance participated in
the inauguration of President
McKinley.
After only a decade of service,
Congress began pressing to close the
hospital, possibly because of an oversupply
of hospital beds—though
that is not certain. We do know that
in 1876 the Secretary of the Navy
was directed “to report to the next
session of this Congress the best
method of making sale of the naval
hospitals at Annapolis and
Washington and the same shall be
closed during the coming year.”
Yet it was not until 1903, following
a report by the Secretary of the Navy
that our Hospital was “antiquated
and insufficient, and conforms in no
respect to the conditions of modern
hospital requirements” that
Congress appropriated $125,000 for
a replacement, which was completed
in 1906.
Built on a high point between the
current State Department and the
Kennedy Center, it was called the
“New Naval Hospital” to distinguish
it from the building on the Hill. And
what was now known as the “Old
Naval Hospital” became the Hospital
Corps Training School, which was
moved north from Norfolk, Virginia.
The building was not in use as a
school for long. Only seven classes
graduated before the Corps moved
out in 1911. It was said that the
grounds were not large enough for
the students to conduct required
practice drills and exercises. It has
also been suggested that too many of
the students were taking advantage
of the “Three B’s” (Bars, Brawls, and
Brothels) in the neighborhood.
The hospital was then variously
designated as an emergency facility
and as headquarters of the Naval
Reserve. However, it appears to have
generally stood empty from 1911 to
1922, when it was leased for use as
the “Temporary Home of Union Ex-
Soldiers, Sailors and Marines” for $1
a year.
Operated by the Grand Army of
the Republic, a Civil War veteran’s
organization, it was used essentially
as a hostel for veterans who had
business with the government in
Washington. They could stay for up
to ten days if they met modest standards
of proper behavior and assisted
in cleaning duties.
As the years—and the wars—
passed, and the veterans aged, the
character of the operation changed
and different groups arrived to manage
the home. By the 1920’s the
sponsoring organization was the
United Spanish American War
Veterans.
At some point—here, again, we’re
not sure when—the city began handling
the maintenance of the building,
courtesy of an appropriation
provided by Congress. In 1960 the
Navy declared the property surplus,
and in 1963 it was transferred to the
Board of Commissioners of the
District of Columbia.
Although Congress was still picking
up the tab for building mainte -
nance, the District felt too g reat a
pinch. On August 1 of that same
year the tenants of the Temporary
Home for Soldiers and Sailors, were
evicted and sent to nursing homes—
but they didn’t go quietly. The newspapers
had a field day covering the
furor.
Except for a brief period when the
hospital was used as a training facility
for police dogs, the building has
been occupied by social service agen -
“It’s an invitation from Randolph Cree!”
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Sips and snacks…October 13, 2-7pm
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V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
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cies ever since. For many years it was
used for various anti-poverty programs
run by the District’s
Department of Human Resources. In
1982 the city leased it to a private
agency, the Center for Youth
Services, which remained in the
space until nearly the end of the
century. Then Friendship House
considered, and abandoned, the idea
of moving in and setting up a computer-
training center.
Sadly, this beautiful, publicly
owned building now stands virtually
abandoned—a fate that is inexplica -
ble, considering the rich history of
the surrounding neighborhood.
To the west are, of course, the
Capitol, the Library of Congress and
the other great buildings of government.
To the south is the Marine
Barracks, erected in 1801 on a plot of
land selected by Thomas Jefferson.
And down at the river is the
Washington Navy Yard—which the
hospital was built to serve.
The Navy Yard was established
during the Adams administration—
before the Federal government
moved to Washington. When the
British invaded the city during the
War of 1812, this was the farthest
point reached by troops who were
sent to seize or destroy war supplies.
While most of the Yard was
destroyed, British troops spared the
Marine Commandant’s house, using
it as their headquarters.
Eighth Street SE, between
Pennsylvania Avenue and the Navy
Yard, was once the gateway to
Washington. During the Civil War,
President Lincoln’s carriage was a
frequent sight, rattling along to the
rebuilt Yard for strategy sessions
with Admiral Dahgren, the
Commandant. In more recent years,
the first diplomatic mission from
Japan entered the District by this
route, as did Charles Lindburgh
when he returned to the United
States after his historic solo flight
across the Atlantic.
The Unknown Soldier from World
War One was landed at the Navy
Yard and transported to a ceremony
in the Capitol and then interment at
Arlington.
These landmarks are still vital and
alive, most beautifully preserved—
8th Street, Barracks Row, should be
back in its glory days soon, a major
restoration will begin next spring.
Meanwhile, next door to the Old
Naval Hospital, is a preservation lesson
to be learned. The original
Tunnicliff’s Tavern once occupied
the southwest corner of 9th and
Pennsylvania Avenue, where
Distad’s Amoco stands today. Built
in about 1796, Tunnicliff’s was not
only a grand hotel, and the largest
commercial building in the area; it
was briefly home to President
Adams, who arrived in the District
before the White House was completed.
A fine piece of history gone
forever.
Let us hope the fates will be kinder
to our hospital.
Dan Daly is a history buff and a mem -
ber of the Friends of the Old Naval
Hospital—which provided much of the
reference support for this article. The
Hill resident, and former Marine, works
for the Department of Labor.
The temporary home of Union ex-soldiers, sailors and marines ca. 1922
Log On!
Join in the hottest
discussion around…
www.voiceofthehill.com
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 17
18 www.voiceofthehill.com
Vs The First Amendment,
home rule and the neighborhood
Now is the time for Capitol Hill and Capitol East to choose sides!
On August 14, Father Val Peter, executive director of Father Flanagan’s Boys Town of
Omaha, Nebraska stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and announced that his
$900 million corporation was suing the city, the mayor, our city council member, the
director of planning, Southeast Citizens for Smart Development, Inc. and two hill residents,
ANC Commissioner Will Hill and neighborhood activist Ellen Opper-Weiner.
We think this is wrong.
For over a year and a half, the neighborhood volunteers of Southeast Citizens for
Smart Development, Inc. have led the effort to persuade Boys Town that placing a facility
for what Boys Town’s own literature refers to as ‘very troubled’teenagers at the
corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE is a bad idea.
Here’s what’s happening. The District of Columbia Department of Consumer and
Regulatory Affairs has issued building permits to Boys Town. We believe the permits
were issued in error and that Boys Town needs a zoning special exception to build within
500 feet of an existing group residential facility. Competent legal authorities tell us
we are right and we have appealed the zoning administrator’s decision.
Now, we urgently need your help. We have established a fund to help defray our legal
defense costs and to help with the expenses we will incur in the zoning appeal process.
Without your support, this battle could be lost and you may be seeing bulldozers at 14th
and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE sometime this autumn. Please send a contribution and
remember this is not yet a ‘done deal.’
Southeast Citizens for Smart Development Legal Fund
c/o Kathleen Donner, Director
18 3rd Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-543-3063
Paid forby Southeast Citizens for Smart Development, Inc.
Boys Town
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 19
Ask Judith
H a n d y m a n
on the Hill
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Concrete Brick Pointing
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Doolittle
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A spacious and
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Dear Judith:
I would love to know more about the history of my
house, but don’t know where to start. How about a
tip or two?
D. TRACY
Dear D:
When we bought our house on Capitol Hill in 1979
we focused our early energies on exorcising the previous
owners, who we’ll refer to as the V’s. Calling
what we did exorcising implies malignance and is
probably the wrong word—at closing they seemed
a sweet older couple who were retiring to their
homeland, Hungary, to take advantage of a vigorous
social welfare system under the Communists.
But the house. The modifications they had made
were predicated on just about everything we found
repugnant. (It had languished on the market for
some time, testimony to the fact that we were not
the only ones to consider it hideous.) The brick was
painted a sickly shade of green; the front had been
stripped of the brick eyebrows at the windows; it
had phony-Colonie, 6 over 6 windows, that were
too small for the openings; there was the largest
single piece of ironwork I have e ver seen covering
the front windows; and there was a pierced brick
wall running along one side of the iron stair.
We had an empty house party the night after we
closed so everyone we knew could see that we had
bought it in this condition, thus were not responsible.
Over the years we’ve reconstructed Mr. V’s methods.
When we came across a steel electrical box
with the Hechinger’s price tag still on it, we knew
how he had spent Saturdays. When we tackled the
8,000 psi concrete (2,000 psi is typical), we imagined
Mr. V adding a little extra Portland cement for
good measure. Then there was the interior design,
Mrs. V’s province. Let’s leave it at that.
Even while faced with the formidable task of
cleansing the house of the palpable presence of the
previous owners, we wondered about its history
before the 1960s. As soon as I possibly could, I
began doing some haphazard research.
(Now for my caveat: I am just like the average person
on the street when it comes to my research aptitudes
and skills. This is to say that places like the
National Archives make me nervous. While the typical
Ph.D. type has the tenacity of a bloodhound
when faced with a few million primary source documents,
I don’t. So, the following is really my version
of house history for dummies.)
The first effort I made was to send one of our
employees down to the National Archives with the
house lot and square number* to look for a building
permit. (Delegation is one of my favorite resear ch
methodologies.) Though the Archives has microfilm
records of the District’s building permits from
1877 to 1949, organized by street and house number,
she didn’t find one. Neither did I when I looked
again some years later.
This was disappointing because these old building
permits are treasures, including all kinds of
interesting stuff like the original owner and builder,
the th i ckness of party walls and the types of
mechanical systems. And all of it’s written in that
wonderful 19th century script.
(I have since discovered that when developers
and builders were applying for building permits for
unbuilt lots, or parcels that had not yet been subdivided,
and were intending to build a group of houses,
there might not be separate permits for the
buildings. They might be listed under, say, the “800
block.” Next trip I’ll check to see if my house was
part of a g roup.)
Then I discovered the Washingtoniana Room at
the Martin Luther King Library. I am not exactly
sure why I find this setting so much more congenial
than the Archives (they are both first rate buildings
by fir st rate architects, although MLK has lots
more window area to recommend it—and free parking)
but I do.
The Washingtoniana Room has real estate atlases
for the city from about 1879. Year to year, book to
book, you can trace the evolution of your block. It
was here that I discovered that our house existed in
1887, along with its five companions, while none of
the rest of the block was yet built. This was not a big
surprise to me. These six houses have wood cornices,
permitted under earlier fire laws. The rest of
the houses on our side of the block have brick or
metal cornices.
The other aspect to researching your house history
is finding its former owners, and if you can’t find
the building permit, or the house was built as part
of a development, this is the way to find that first
owner.
One favored method is to use city directories and
tax records, working backwards from when you
bought your home. This I did, in fits and starts, over
a 20-year period. Early on I used the directories to
amass a reve rse ch ronology from the year we
bought our house in 1979 back to 1905.
Though the list is not complete (there were gaps
in the publishing of city directories after 1940 that,
at some point, I will fill in from tax records), what
Experienceit allthisSundayat St.James’
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*The very fir st thing you need to begin researching
your house is the lot and square number because that
is the way so many records are organized. When you
close on the purchase of a house, you always get a little
812 x 11 or 812 x 14 “survey” of your house and property,
which will include lot and square numbers.
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
20 www.voiceofthehill.com
strikes me is that the house had nine owners during
this period, and that the longest tenure was about
twelve years—no doubt testimony to the fact that
people moved around a lot during this entire century.
Between 1925 and 1937 the house was owned by
Albert Prevost and Nicola Morana (tailor). Some
years listed one as the owner, other years listed the
other and two years listed them both! Mrs. Sarah
Merritt, widow of John D., owned the house from
at least 1910 through 1923, making her another relatively
long-term owner.
Discovering their names gave rise to questions
about the way these early settlers lived. I knew 19th
and early 20th century families tended to be bigger
than ours today, though they had a lot less stuff.
They also frequently had live-in domestic help. But
my house, before the first of its several additions,
was a typical modestly sized Capitol Hill row house,
the type I characterize as 212 bedrooms: two decently
sized bedrooms and a tiny rear one, just about big
enough for a crib. How many people could have
lived here?
And still, and most nigglingly, who was the original
owner of my house?
For answe rs, I looked to the census re c o rd s .
Ignoramus that I am, I thought 1890 would be good
place to start since I knew that many of the houses
on our block were built by then. Then I found out
that much of the 1890 census was lost in a fire.
When I looked at the 1880 census at the Archives
not only did I discover it had been so poorly filmed
as to be almost illegible, but that the organization
of the data as enumerated was beyond my comprehension
—one of the disadvantages of being a poor
re s e a rch e r. I have since discove red, from th e
C a p i tol Hill Re sto ration Society handout (see
b e l ow), that th e re are indexes to these census
records of the residents. Another avenue to pursue,
someday…
Then I tried bouncing my way backward between
tax re c o rds and city dire c to ries, beginning in
1890—for the same reason I began there with the
census. (I would check tax records for a given year
to see who was paying the taxes, then check the city
directory to see where that person lived. If it was
my address, I would go backwards in the directory
year by year until they didn’t live there anymore
and then would check tax records again.)
Eureka! I discovered that Sarah Brereton, widow
of Samuel, lived in our house beginning in 1877 and
that there were no tax assessments for the lot before
that year.
From the city directory, Boyd’s for those years, I
discovered that Sarah was sometimes called “Sallie”
and that her deceased husband had kept a billiard
parlor at 419 Ninth Street, NW and also had a billiard
parlor in Seaton Hall at Ninth and D, along
with someone named Flannigan. The widow Sarah
bought the brand new house at our address in 1877
and lived there at least until 1887. The house assessment
in that year was $200 for the ground and
$800 for the improvement.
Houses slightly less modest than ours were noted
on their building permits in 1887 as costing $2,100.
But, in those years, unlike the appreciation pattern
we’ve seen in post-World War II housing, houses
depreciated. So, a ten-year-old house in 1887 was
worth less than half what a new house built that
year was worth.
I know Sallie, (whom I hope was happy in our
house, a widow surrounded by family and friends
in her declining years) was no longer living there by
1892 because Leonard Geneste, Machinist, then
owned and lived in the house. In 1893 his assessment
was $701 for the ground and $1, 000 fo r
improvements. Since there was a worldwide economic
panic and crash in 1893, this elevated value
may have been for Leonard like dot-com wealth was
for so many last year…
Whew! Now I am pretty cer tain our house was
built in 1877, relatively early for Capitol Hill, and its
first owner was a widow named Sallie Brereton.
Research Materials
Now is clearly a time when the house history stars
are aligning. There is an exhibit at the Museum of
American History called Within These Walls about a
p a rticular old house called the Ipswich House.
Accompanying the exhibit is a pamphlet called
House Detective: Finding History in Your Home about,
guess what?
The Capitol Hill Re sto ration Society has a
d etailed and useful five-page handout called
Researching Your Capitol Hill House: the Basics. Also,
a number of years ago the D.C. Preservation League
(then called Don’t Tear it Down) published a little
pamphlet called A Guide to Resources for Researching
Historic Buildings in Washington, D.C. They’re both
full of good advice from much more seri o u s
archival researchers than I.
Judith Capen, AIA, practicing restoration architect, is
the author of many of the Capitol Hill Restoration
Society’s award-winning guidelines for work on Capitol
Hill homes.
You heard it here first
If you logged onto www. vo i c e o fthehill.com eve ryday
you would have known about these issues befo re yo u
read it in The Washington Po stor saw it on the
eve n i ng news.
• Boys Town gets buildi ng perm i t s .
• Police open substation in Buchanan Sch o o l
• The Halfway House…it’s ba-a-a-a-ck
• Ruth ann Ove rb e ck Histo ry Project
k i cks off in a big way.
All of these sto ries and more we re first re p o rted on
w w w. vo i c e o fth e h i l l . c o m
CAPITOL HILL’S #1 ON-LINE
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Find out what you’ve been missing
and be the first in the know
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V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 21
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Why is Fa ther Flanaga n’s Boys Tow n
suing the Dist rict of Columbia,
Councilmember Sharon Ambrose and
t wo community activist s — u s — i n
order, they say, to help troubled teens? We’ve wondered
about that.
We think we know the answer.
Boys Town filed suit because it isn’t getting its
way. The Nebraska-based charity wants to silence
Capitol Hill residents who say that its plan to const
ruct group homes at 14 th and Pe n n s ylva n i a
Avenue, SE is a huge extravagance at taxpayers’
expense.
Apparently, the organization’s leadership doesn’t
think that neighbors have a right to say such
things—even though they expect the DC government
to shell out $2.2 million each year in operating
costs once the project opens. These are our tax
dollars at work.
Boys Town officials seem to believe that they
don’t need to deal with ordinary citizens when they
have multi-million dollar government contracts in
hand; the non-profit received a $7.1 million congressional
appropriation in 1999 to pay for “expansion
in DC”.
We sense they want to “chill” any opposition—
or any questions—about these deals, particularly
from those who are pointing out that more children
could be better served if these millions were to
be spent in some other way.
The lawsuit claims that we, and others, have discriminated
against the children the organization
plans to serve. And how did we do that? We mer ely
raised questions about a plan to build a residential
facility for 40 youths on a troubled section of
Pennsylvania Avenue—that’s all.
Our lawyers, of course, will argue that the
suit is an attempt to stifle our First Amendment
right to free speech, and an attempt to intimidate
us from lawfully petitioning our government.
Many others agree. The American Civil
Liberties Union has stepped forward to represent
us, as has the Center For Individual
Rights, which re p resents those whose Fi rst
Amendment rights have been threatened.
We surely recognize that the District, with
3000 children needing foster care, has a desperate
need for foster family services. But Boys
Town, with a capital investment of more than
$13 million, will serve just 40 youths—many of
whom will re c e i ve only limited care in an
emergency shelter for 30 days or less.
We rather suspect that Boys Town wants to
build an expensive monument to itself on Capitol
Hill. The 1.6 acre lot—a former car wash—-cost a
whopping $8.2 million. It is generally believed that
they paid two to three times what the land is worth.
By comparison, Steve Case, AOL’s CEO, just purchased
11 acres for $10 million in exclusive McLean,
Virginia. Acre lots in Potomac, Maryland start at
$500,000.
The property was purchased under a cloak of
secrecy in February 2000. There was no notice or
input from the immediate neighbors or any community
group then, and there has been virtually no
communication since.
Last February, Mayor Williams tried to convene a
task force so that Boys Town would finally meet
with concerned citizens like us. He was rebuffed.
Fa ther Val J. Pet e r, the non-pro f i t’s Exe c u t i ve
Director, specifically insisted that we not be a part
of this Task Force and he further insisted on setting
the Task Force’s agenda. Mayor Williams refused
Father Peter’s demands.
According to documents submitted to the city,
Boys Town plans to build four group homes that
will cost a minimum of $625,000 each, plus a shortterm
emergency shelter and administration building
for unspecified millions more.
Though the organization received $7.1 million
from Congress, once the program opens its doors, it
will also receive $150 per day from the DC government
for each child in its care. The annual cost per
child to DC taxpayers is $55,000—or $2.2 million
each year. In fact, the amount of money the nonprofit
will receive for each child is equivalent to
funding a Harvard education plus a new car for
each child, every year.
What do the children actually receive for this
Battling Boys To w n
BY WI LL HI L L AND EL LEN OPPER-WEINER
Opper-Weiner and Hill.
money? They live in a group or institutional setting
while attending DC public schools. Boys Town is
not required to provide counseling or tutoring for
the ch i l d ren under its current contract, which
many of these troubled teens need. Medicaid pays
for the kids’ medical care.
M e a nwhile, the fo ster parents who provide a
family environment for the children living in these
homes only receive about $24 per day for each
child—or $8,500 per year.
It appears that Boys Town is not the sweet charity
it claims to be in its fundraising appeals. Their
endowment is valued at more than $900 million,
but how much of the charity’s own money will be
used to help our children? Why is it that they
accept government monies when they have sufficient
funds to provide services to DC children at no
cost to us?
There are other issues as well.
We believe that Boys Town cannot develop this
property as a “matter of right,” because there is a
community-based residential facility located within
500 feet. DC zoning rules clearly state that a special
exception must be received from the Board of
Zoning Adjustment (BZA) before ANOTHER comm
u n i t y-based residential facility is built in th i s
area.
Boys Town appears to have intended for DC zoning
officials to overlook this rule. And, apparently,
DC officials did just that. On September 7, the DC
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
quietly—without telling anyone in the community
as it had previously promised—issued full construction
permits for the four g roup homes.
The city’s action has fo rced the South e a st
Citizens For Smart Development, Inc. to appeal the
zoning administrator’s decision to the BZA—asking
that the Board rule on whether the proposed construction
meets zoning law requirements. We have
also asked the BZA to order a stay on construction
until it decides our appeal.
On September 19, ANC 6B’s executive committee
voted unanimously to support our appeal and will
support this action.
We expect a public hearing in November and
have hired an attorney to press our case.
Although the permits have been delivered, and
Boys Town’s lawsuit was filed to force that issue, the
o r ganization has refused to dismiss its laws u i t
against the city, the other defendants—and us.
Do we not have the right to raise concerns and
ask questions about Boys Town—or any other issue
or organization in our community? Think about it.
They could file a lawsuit against you, if you get in
their way. Is that the kind of neighbor Capitol Hill
wants?
Boys Town believes it can stop us from speaking
out by bullying us with a lawsuit. A legal fund has
been established to support our effo rts. Those
interested in helping may send contributions to:
Southeast Citizens for Smart Development Legal
Fund
C/o Kathleen Donner, Interim Director
18 3rd Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 543-3063
Will Hill and Ellen Opper-Weiner are respectively
Chair and Vice Chair of the Southeast Citizens For
Smart Development, Inc.
V O I C E of the Hill /August 17, 2001
22 www.voiceofthehill.com
It appears that Boys Town is not the sweet charity it claims to be in
its fundraising appeals. Their endowment is valued at more than
$900 million, but how much of the charity’s own money will be used
to help our children?
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V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
BY STEPHANIE CAVA N A U G H
Eye Popping Signs Raise Brows
Owner Says He’ll Change ’Em, But to What?
Richard Tolbert has answered a mess of nagging
questions. He’s the owner of the building on the
alley across from Eastern Market on 7th Street, SE.
The one that was occupied for many years by artist
Agnes Ainilian.
Since then, oh, about 8 or 10 years it must be, the
shop has sat, looking like something is just about to
happen. Peek through the glass and a big desk sits
in the middle of the floor, along with a few boxes
and other business paraphernalia. Weeks, months,
years have passed and the picture never changes.
Some weeks it’s a little dustier than others.
Until now.
Suddenly, plastered across the broad panes of the
front window are red and white signs. “Fast cash for
your house,” blares one, “No haggl i n g ,” shouts
another. It’s hurtful to some sensitive eyes.
Tolbert tells me he owns this building and 15 others
on the Hill, plus another 115 or so in the area,
and has been in the mortgage business for 32 years.
So, is he planning to open up shop?
Nope. He says, “I’m planning on using it as a nonfunctional
building—as a billboard. I put a sign on it
because I’m in the real estate and inve stment business
and just wanted to utilize the window.”
Tolbert claims he has “no reason to rent it or sell
it. It has a greater benefit for me as advertising.”
“I have 12 cars,” he continues. “Does it matter if
the cars sit in the driveway? [The building] sits
because I don’t like to rent property and I’m not
interested in selling. I have a purpose, and I’ll let
you know the purpose when I get to it.”
On the other hand, if you have a spare $1.5 million,
he says he could work up an interest in selling
it now.
As for the suggestion that the signage is a little
less than tasteful, Tolbert sallies, “I would think
that the Market’s rats and roaches would be dista
steful; not putting something on a re n ova t e d
building.”
He’s placed similar signage on bus kiosks all over
Maryland, and posters will soon be all over DC too.
Between the signs and his radio infomercials, he
claims to spend $100,000 a month luring in divorcing
couples that are in a hurry to sell and owners of
houses that are being abandoned. No one has ever
complained before.
So he’s shocked at the notion that folks would be
concerned about the appearance of the signage in
his window, “It was not designed to offend. We
could have had a neon sign, or a 3D billboard,
wouldn’t that have looked worse? People need to
see it from a car and from across the street. It’s a
very transient area”
He’s also amazed that anyone would get their
knickers in a twist about it, “Boys Town, that’s an
issue. A halfway house, that’s an issue…If people
want to complain about things I can give you a list.”
On the other hand, he’s a reasonable man. “If
you don’t like the sign, I’ll take it down. It’s not
worth the aggravation,” he promises, then adds,
“You spearhead this and tell me what everyone
wants me to do. I have a good heart.”
Your comments and suggestions are welcome in
the discussion area at www.voiceofthehill.com, or
as a letter to the editor: stephanie@voiceofthehill.
com, or at 242 Kentucky Ave., SE, Washington, DC
20003
One more thing: The telephone number in the
window was wrong at this writing. Tolbert’s correct
number is 301-576-1233.
Renee Scoots…Gwin’s In
And the Pottery Stars in a TV Dating Game
We are embarrassed to disclose (though not embarrassed
enough to not disclose it) that after nearly 19
years on Capitol Hill we have finally made our way
up the tre a ch e ro u s ly winding steps to East e rn
Market’s attic; the home of Eastern Market Pottery.
It’s not that we don’t like pots, or potting, or
whatever it ’s called. We do. But rumor has always
had it that the place is for one reason or another
closed, or that classes are booked solid for the next
half-century, whatever.
www.voiceofthehill.com 23
Business Bits
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(202) 544-8710 www.doolittles.com
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We salute all the
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V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
24 www.voiceofthehill.com
T HOM BURNS
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OPPORTUNITY
But we dutifully followed up a tip from a faithful
reader who announced, rather gloomily, that word
on the st re et is that long-time teacher Re n e e
Altman has left to open her own studio in the wilds
of Virginia.
Susan Jacobs, who’s been managing the place for
better than 20 years says it’s true. Renee will be
moving on as soon as the studio is completed and
Holly Gwin will be taking over her classes. Gwin’s
been a student there for 20-some years, which kind
of puts her on a tenure-par with the rest of the staff.
The Pottery’s two other teachers, Ellen Jaffe and
Au d rey Jones, have each been teaching at th e
Market for a couple of decades.
The pottest was happy to correct some of our
other misinformation.
Yes, the studio was closed briefly: for about 7
weeks at Christmas-time a year and a half ago. The
ceiling was falling. It is now, we ag reed, admirably
smooth.
No, it is not impossible to get into classes. They
offer four classes with room for nine students in
each. “We have a waiting list,” says Jacobs, “ and
have had one for about 10 years.” But, there is fairly
frequent turnover. “It’s not like landing tickets for
the Seagull,” she quips. The wait for a slot might be
as little as two weeks—though it might also be a
couple of months.
Here’s something to do while you wait: keep your
eye on the cable-TV listings. The Eastern Market
Pottery will be playing a starring role in the first
episode of a new Warner Brothers TV series called
“Elimidate” (we hope that is just a working title).
The scenario is that four bachelors meet a bachelorette
somewhere on the farmer’s line. She then
lures the guys up to the Pottery to see how they
work with their hands (nudge—get that?). At the
end of the hour, she eliminates the most fumblesome.
The next episode is at an Ethiopian restaurant
elsewhere in town where another fella bites the
dust. And so on.
Jacobs says she didn’t see which boy was axed at
the Pot t e ry. But choosing, she imagines, wo u l d
have been tough, “They were all cute as a button.”
The Market was one of several “romantic” settings
chosen for the series. Other insta l l m e n t s
include spots in Pa ris and somew h e re in Ita ly.
Jacobs gets a big kick out of this. “Romantic,” she
hoots. “Eastern Market Pottery, in the alley above
the fish!”
Teaser…
Firehooked on Bagels
Received several e-scribbles this past month from
commercial real estate wiz Harry Schnipper about a
deal he’s finally inked with Fi rehook Bake ry.
“Washington’s premier bakery and patisserie,” he
raved, has taken over the old Chesapeake Bagel
Bakery space and will open sometime this holiday
season. This will be the 7th store for the Alexandriabased
mini-chain, which also has outlets in
Georgetown and Cleveland Park.
The closet of a shop at 215 Pennsylvania Avenue,
has been vacant since Chesapeake shut down in
July 2000. Schnipper, who represents a very patient
building owner, has been cooking up this deal with
Fi rehook ever since—using results of the Vo i c e
Business Survey as a prod. (Harry insisted I mention
that, by the way, since it’s been a huge help to him.
The survey remains on line at www.voiceofthehill.
com, so if you still haven’t had your say, go say
it!)
Firehook’s coming is great news for foodies. The
bakery wins constant raves from mavens for their
pastries and naturally-leavened breads—and there’s
a good bit of gush about their sandwiches and salads
as well: The illustrious Zagat dining guide rates
them the area’s “Number 1 Bang for the Buc k.”
That guarantees they’ll be a hit with the lunchat-
the-desk set.
The Black Tie’s Optional But..
Do Look Mahvelous Dahling
Andrei Kushnir’s glorious landscape, Sky Meadows,
was officially unveiled at the September 8 Second
Saturday. Sure, you can wander into Taylor & Sons
gallery and take a gander most any day of the week:
c u t - o f fs and Nikes, or if yo u’re feeling art s y,
Birkenstocks, will do for that trip. You’ll probably
run into the charming Mr. Kushnir, too. But what
fun is that?
On Saturd ay, September 29, ga l l e ry ow n e r
Michele Taylor will be hosting a fancy schmantzy
reception for Andrei—actually her second annual
creative black tie bash—and, once again, we’re all
invited.
Last year ’s party was swell. We don’t remember
exactly why we were there, but we do recall how terrific
everyone looked, clinking champagne glasses
in their tuxedos and slinky dresses. Pa rt i c u l a rly
since we’d just seen most of them that morning at
Eastern Market, schlepping grocery bags and look-
V O I C E of the Hill /August 17, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 25
ing like they’d just crawled out of bed; which was
probably because they’d just crawled out of bed.
So dust off the fancy duds—you can borrow my
boa if you want—and toddle along to: Taylor &
Sons Fine Arts, 660 Pe n n s ylvania Avenue, SE.
Saturday, September 29, 6-9PM. For more info call
546-0021. It’s absolutely free and open to all.
Department of Non-Development
Rumors were quick to fly a week or so back when
Community Connections, a non-profit that has
been based for years at 801 Pennsylvania Avenue,
SE, began moving boxes and other office stuff into
that spiffy-clean space across from the East e rn
Market Metro and next door to Radio Shack.
“Nuts,” went the chorus. “Gimme Krispy Kreme!
A café bookstore! Not another non-profit in a storefront.
Noooooo!”
Purely temporary, says Maurice Kreindler of the
investment firm, Capitol Hill LLC—which, besides,
Radio Shack, recently delivered unto us our first
Starbucks. “Community Connections…had a flood
in their basement suite and needed some space on a
short term basis so we put them in as a temporary
user.”
Whew.
Maurice adds that he still hasn’t found a permanent
tenant for the space. So dream on.
Monmartre Opens with a Splash
The café walls are still sponged the color of a sundappled
field, the curving service bar remains the
focal point of the room and pale wooden tables and
chairs still crowd the walls and the patch of floor—
but there are big changes at the old Blue Stone Café.
On Saturd ay night, September 1, the doors
swung open on Monmartre, and the bistro has been
packed ever since. We’ve heard little but raves about
the food, and folks are swooning over the service.
One couple we know was turned away that first
weekend but completely charmed by the gracious
way the s taff handled the unexpected rush, all the
“please, please comes backs” and such.
We got a taste of the niceness of the new owners
when we came snooping around a few days before
the opening. We don’t know what insanity came
over us, by rights they should have tossed us out on
our can can. They’re Fre n ch for heave n’s sake .
Gallic temper and all that. You know?
The atmosphere was, however, shockingly
mellow. Chef and partner in the venture,
Stephane Lazla, was quietly ordering linens
from a vendor while his wife, Heather, was
changing the art on the walls. Plants and
flowers, still in their black growing containers,
lined the patio; she’d fuss with those
later in the day, or maybe in the morning.
Shrug, shrug.
The Lazlas had just returned from Paris—
Monmartre, in fact—where they picked up
old tin advertising and street signs and vintage
posters. Heather is an art handler by
trade, which means she prepares shows for
museums and pri vate collecto rs, mov i n g
the art and installing the pieces. Her custo
m e rs include the National Gallery, th e
C o rc o ran and the Wo m e n’s Museum. In oth e r
words, she knows how to hang a picture.
Finished with the vendor, Stephane told me he
was born, raised and trained in Paris—three years at
Ecole de Paris des Metiers de la Table. He has been
here six years, time split evenly between Cleveland
Park’s Lavandou and Georgetown’s Bistro Lepic.
His specialty? “French food,” he said with a shrug
and a grin, all the while fidgeting with the fax
machine, trying to get it to make some copies of the
menu for the website.
We got him to embellish that a little. Everything
served at Monmartre will be house made, he said,
including the desserts. A French farmer now living
in Colonial Beach will supply the baby gre e n s ,
herbs and other vegetables. Deliveries of fish—and
Tom & Alice Fa i s o n
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V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
26 www.voiceofthehill.com
LARRY CHARTIENITZ Pardoe/ERA
(Direct) 202-546-7000 x 228
(Cell) 202-255-3731
Specializing in Residential and Commercial Real Estate
E-mail: lchartienitz@pardoe.com
Licensed in DC, VA and MD.
We love Capitol Hill
and know you will too.
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For a free analysis of
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With Corrin Bennett, Certified Yoga Instructor
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8 week sessions
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202 543-7437
Private instruction available
here he paused and made a very definite, if mysterious,
point of noting—will be made daily.
Last question. Why the Hill? Stephane said he
and partner Christophe Raynal—who was also formerly
with Bistro Lepic—love the area and particu-
Church School Sunday 9:45 a.m.
Worship Sunday 11:00 a.m.
Dr. Kimberly Rodrigue, Pastor
larly Eastern Market on weekends. “A cosmopolitan
neighborhood,” Stephane called it, “that deserves a
French restaurant.”
Monmartre is open for lunch/brunch and dinner
Tuesday through Sunday.
One Stop Noshing
Tortilla Café Rates a Few Thumbs Up from
Sietsema
It seems Washington Post restaurant reviewer, Tom
Sietsema, has been doing some serious chowing
down at Tortilla Café, the little sit-down/ carryout
opened last January on Market Row.
His mini-rev i ew in the Sept. 5 Food Section said
the café “travels around Central and South Ameri c a ,
o f fe ring eve ry thing from empanadas and pupusas
to cev i che and a Cuban sandwich, all at prices an
u n e mp l oyed dot-comer would admire. Two gri l l e d
beef tacos, spiked with lemon pepper, wine and ga rlic,
sell for $3.95, a deal that includes a small salad
and spunky salsa. And those th i ck comfo rt i n g
pupusas, lined with a choice of pork or cheese or
b oth, are a mere $1.50 per hand-patted piece…”
Tortilla Café is owned by Jose Canales, whose
family runs several popular stalls in Eastern Market.
Banana Café Seeing Star(fish)
New Barracks Row Bistro Opening Soon
The hammers are yammering and the paintbrushes
swishing at the Starfish Café on 8th Street, SE. The
seafood restaurant with the Latin twist—an offshoot
of the popular Banana Café—is getting ready
for an any day now opening.
Owners Jorge Zamorano, Dawn McGowan and
Miguel Ro d riguez are going for a vibrant and
sophisticated flavor for the new eatery, a different
feel from the tangy, tropical—and casual—Banana
Café. Even so, “This will not be a special occasion
restaurant,” says Jorge. “We want to keep it affordable
and see people often.”
Chef Miguel, who has been ruling the kitchen at
the Embassy of Argentina for the last ten years, says
that the emphasis will be on broiled and grilled
seafood—but there will also be steaks and chicken
dishes. The menu will change frequently. Dinner s
at the Embassy need to appeal to a wide variety of
tastes, he tells us, “so we do a lot of French and
Continental dishes, a little bit of everything.”
D awn adds that the new ve n t u re is possible,
“Thanks to the patronage of our wonderful customers
over the last five years. We’re so g rateful for
their support .” Translated, that means we ’ve
ordered quite a lot of margaritas.
And will there be a sidewalk café? But of course—
though that will need to wait for next year.
These Business Bits have previously appeared, in some
form or other, at www.voiceofthehill.com.
Showing our colors…The Voice wandered the Hill to
see how we have put patriotism on display.
www.voiceofthehill.com 27
V O I C E of the Hill /June 15, 2001
Gingko Gardens
911 11th St., SE 543-5172
See our ad on page 23
Ornamental Garden
544-7831
Hardware
Fragers Hardware
1115 Pennsylvania Ave., SE 543-6157
See our ad on page 22
Health & Fitness
Results the Gym
3rd & G Sts, SE, 234-5678
See our ad on page 17
Finley’s Boxing Club
518 10th St., NE 202-544-9132
Women Members Welcome!
Home Furnishings
Woven History
311 7th St., SE 543-1705
See our ad on page 46
Home Repair
Handyman on the Hill
Washington DC 206-7185
See our ad on page 19
Hotel
Capitol Hill Suites
200 C St., SE 543-6000
See our ad on page 19
Income Tax Services
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
8th St., SE 554-8840
Internet Provider Services
DC Access
118 Kentucky Ave, SE 546-5898
www.dcaccess.net — a local ISP
Massage Therapy
Capitol Hill Massage Associates
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Seated Massage
544-6676, www.speedbumps.org/massage
Accounting
Marina Martin, MBA
Innovative and versatile range of services for
small business and non-profits 547-9536
Air Conditioning & Heating
John W. Fulcher
510 13th, SE, 544-8156
Service, replacements, installations
Antiques
Antiques on the Hill
701 North Carolina Ave., SE
Attorneys
Rick Halberstein & Karen Byrne
705 D St., SE 543-1110
Arts Center
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
545 7th St., SE 547-6839
See our ad on page 39
Association
CHAMPS
621 PA Ave., SE 547-7788
Bank
National Capital Bank
316 PA Ave.,SE 546-8000
See our ad on page 9
Bed and Breakfast
Bullmoose B&B
5th and S Sts.,NE 547-1050
See our ad on page 16
Doolittle Guest House
504 E. Capitol Street, SE 546-6622
See our ad on page 19
Maison Orleans
414 5th Street, SE, 544-3694
maisonorln@aol.com
Bicycles
Capitol Hill Bikes
709 8th St.,SE 544-4234
See our ad on page 40
Books
Capitol Hill Books
657 C Street, SE, 544-1621
Good Used Books Bought & Sold.
Riverby Books
419 E. Capitol St., SE 547-3228
See our ad on page 9
Contractor
Thoreson & Associates
Capitol Hill’s local Norwegian carpenter
Renovated homes in DC since 1986. We
Work where we live. 544-3700
Chimney Cleaning
Winston’s Chimney Service
Washington DC (301)571-8546
See our ad on page 28
Church
Christ Church Washington Parish
620 G St., SE 547-9300
See our ad on page 32
St. Peter’s Church
2nd & C Street, SE 547-1430
See our ad on page 44
Lutheran Church of the Reformation
212 E. Capitol St., SE, 543-4200
www.reformationdc.org
St. James’ Episcopal Church
222 8th St., SE, 546-1746
www.saintjameschurch.org
Clothing & Gifts
Art & Soul
225 PA Ave., SE 548-0105
See our ad on page 35
The Village
705 N. Carolina Ave., SE 546-3040
See our ad on page 21
Computer Consultant
Better Computer Solutions
623 N. Carolina Ave., SE 546-8084
See our ad on page 33
Dog walking services
Zoolatry, Inc
202-547-WALK
www.zoolatry.com
<http://www.zoolatry.com>
Mid-Day Dog walking Service
Insured - Bonded
Drug Store
Grubbs Care Pharmacy
326 E Capitol SE 543-4400
See our ad on page 10
Electric Repairs
Bob Willett / K&W Electric
301-283-4004
Service work small jobs
Funeral Services
Pinckney-Spangler Funeral Home
524 8th St. NE, 544-7720
A full service funeral home. Traditional burial
or cremation services. Burial or cremation
can be accompanied by a viewing and/or
funeral or memorial service.
Garden and Landscape
Art Garden Design
546-6920, artgarden@starpower.net
Specializing in urban gardens with an emphasis
on functional and non-functional art elements.
See our ad on page 21
District Cityscapes, Inc
202-544-4886
Frager’s Garden Center
1115 Penna Ave., SE,
543-6157
Business Directory Listings:
Voice of the Hill is including a yellow-pages style directory of businesses and services that cater to the Capitol Hill community.
To be included in the directory businesses must commit to a one-year contract, payable in advance by check, Visa or
Mastercard. The annual fee is $250. Display advertisers on annual contracts will be included in the directory at no additional
charge.
Each business will be given three lines in the directory; two must be used for the company name, address and phone number.
An extra line is available for your name, a description of your business or service, or a direction to see your ad. Additional
lines may be added at an annual cost of $60 per line (per year). If you would like to be included in the next directory, please
fill in the following form and send it, along with your check or payment information, to: The Voice of the Hill, 120 11th St., SE,
Washington, DC 20003. If you have questions please call Bruce Robey at 544-0703.
Your Name:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Company Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Business Description: (30 character maximum) ____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please charge my Mastercard or Visa
Name on Card: _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Card Number: _______________________________________________________________________Expiration Date:____________
Business Serv i c e s
Mason
Michaliga Masonry
321 C Street, SE
544-4484
Mortgage Lenders
Apex Home Loans
301-474-7100
See our ad on page 14
Jeffrey A. Love, Loan Officer
Federal Funding Mortgage Corp
202-210--7106 jlove@ffmcorp.com
Oracle Solutions
Casetech, Inc.
Elizabeth Jenkins
611 Penna. Ave, SE 543-4499,
www.casetech.com
Office Supplies
Capitol Hill Innervision
Art and Office Supplies
701 8th St., SE 544-4664
Pet Supplies
Doolittle’s Pet Supply
224 7th St., SE 544-8710
See our ad on page 25
Photography
Motophoto
666 PA Ave., SE 547-2100
See our ad on page 2
Picture Framing
Frame of Mine
522 8th St., SE 543-3030
See our ad on page 31
Newman Gallery and Custom Frames
511 11th St., SE 544-7577
See our ad on page 33
Real Estate
Valerie M. Blake
Prudential Car ruthers Realtors
5025 Wisconsin Ave, NW 202-362-1348,
x111, www.DCHomeQuest.com
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
28 www.voiceofthehill.com
Thom Burns
Coldwell Banker Real Estate
109 8th St. NE 547-5805
Larr y C
Pardoe Real Estate
605 PA Ave., SE 546-7000
Tom & Alice Faison
REMAX Real Estate
220 7th St., SE 546-5881
John C. Formant
John C. Formant Real Estate
225 PA Ave., SE 544-3900
Pardoe Real Estate
605 PA Ave., SE 546-7000
See our ad on the back cover
Jackie von Schlegel
REMAX Real Estate
220 7th St., 547-5600
Phyllis Jane Young
Pardoe Real Estate
605 PA Ave., SE 546-7000
John Parker
Pardoe Real Estate
605 PA Ave., SE 546-7000
Kristof Realty Group/Pam Kristof
REMAX Capital Realtors
202-588-2021, www.kristofgroup.com
See our ad page 7
Winston’s
Quality Service since 1976
Cleanings • Repairs • Relinings
Expert second opinion
Air duct cleaning
301-571-8546
Licensed • Insured • Certified
202-CHIMNEY
(244-6639)
Recommended by
Washingtonian Magazine
1984-1987
DCHIC #3615
Chimney Serv i c e
Real Estate Settlement
Congressional Title
650 PA Ave., SE 544-0800
See our ad on page 33
Eastern Market Title
210 7th St., SE 546-3100
See our ad on page 28
Restaurants
2 Quail
320 Massachusetts Ave. NE 543-8030
See our ad on page 14
Banana Café
400 8th St., SE 543-5906
See our ad on page 33
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
327 7th St., SE 546-CAKE
See our ad on page 34
Bluestone Cafe
327 7th St., SE 547-9007
Café Berlin
322 Mass. Ave., NE 543-7656
German American Cuisine
Hawk ’n’ Dove
329 PA Ave., SE 543-3300
See our ad on page 34
Sheridan’s Steak House
713 8th St., SE 546-6955
Stompin’ Grounds
660 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, 546-5778
See our ad on page 34
Salons
Randolph Cree
325 7th St., SE
See our ad on page 15
Social Services
Capitol Hill Group Ministr y
421 Seward Sq., SE 544-0385
Schools
Capitol Hill Day School
210 S. Carolina Ave., SE 547-2244
Edmund Burke School
2955 Upton St., NW 362-8882
Levine School of Music
2801 Upton St., NW 686-9772
St Peter’s School
422 3rd St., SE 544-1618
Spiritual Advisors
Corrin Bennett
Private Consultations
543-5825
Vacation/Travel Consultants
Jan Cammarata
Judiciary Express Travel
7th & Penn SE, 547-3007
Workshops
Writer’s Way Workshops
Make time for you! 547-3506
www.dcwritersway.org
Yoga Studio
Corrin Bennett
543-5825
Private Yoga instruction, group classes
Dancing Heart Center for Yoga
221 5th St., NE 544-0841, www.dancingheartyoga.com
See our ad on page 35
St. Marks Yoga Center
3rd & A St., SE 546-4964
www.us.net/edow/1/stmch/yoga.htm
Computer We e n i e s
• Repairs, Upgrades, Troubleshootong
• Network & Lan Installation
• Internet Web Page Development
• Quality Work at Reasonable Rates
202-543-7055
Eggs-traordinary
Capons • Turkeys •
Ducks • Cornish Hens
Eggs-traordinary
Capons • Turkeys •
Ducks • Cornish Hens
Mel, Sr. Mel, Jr.
MARKET POULTRY
Eastern Market
225 7th St., SE 202-543-7470
MARKET POULTRY
Eastern Market
225 7th St., SE 202-543-7470
Business Serv i c e s
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 29
Capitol Hill Fest is Coming
Mark Your Calendars for October 13th and 14th
September 22. While our national tragedy and continuing
local tensions have forced the scaling back
of Capitol Hill Fest, the long-planned celebration of
community that is scheduled for October 13th and
14th—organizers say, the show will go on. Both
days are filled with events, including a 135th birthday
party at the Old Naval Hospital, art shows at
many galleries and shops, entertainment and craf t
sales along 8th Street and a Renovator’s House Tour.
Starting it all off at 10AM Saturday and running
‘til 5 is the House Tour, which features a whole
b u n ch of Hill homes in va rious states of
A rch i t e c t u ral Digest readiness. A benefit fo r
Watkins Elementa ry School, orga n i z e rs pro m i s e
that these houses are packed with great “ideas” for
remodelers. This is one of only two events that will
cost, by the way. But the $20 per person tab is for a
ve ry good cause (tickets are already on sale at
Eastern Market on weekends).
Abe Lincoln will be conducting the opening ceremonies
for the Old Naval Hospital’s 2-day birthday
bash. The grand—if tattered—Victorian at 9th
and Pe n n s ylvania will be open Saturd ay and
Sunday from 11AM until 4:30 PM with tours of a
recreated ward, historic photos of the hospital’s
early days and artworks loaned for the occasion by
the Naval Medical Museum. Also scheduled are a
Civil War reenactment, banjo concerts, and performances
of historic gospel songs by the Ebenezer
United Methodist Church choir.
Meanwhile, from 1PM to 4PM, neighboring 8th
Street will be featuring a preview of the Barracks
Row Heritage Trail, a march back to the time when
this commercial corridor was Washington’s premiere
Main Street.
But that’s not all. The sidewalks will be filled with
craft vendors and artists and there’s a great schedule
of entertainments like: mask-making at th e
S h a ke s p e a re Theatre (th ey’ll provide eve ry th i n g
you’ll need, including an inspirational collection of
ancient Greek and African tribal masks); ghoulish
makeup demonstrations—and tips on Halloween
costuming—from the fanciful folks at Backstage;
more kids’ crafts from the devilishly clever Capitol
Hill Arts Workshop; and a brass quintet to add some
zing.
At 4PM you get a choice. You can meet up with a
guide at the Eastern Market Metro for a walking
tour of the Hill—you’ll know her when you see her,
she’ll be the one in the bustle and white gloves.
(There is a small fee for the tour, but it’s worth it.)
Or, you can start partying.
Because, also beginning at 4PM, and tying ever so
s we et ly into the day, is the umpt e e n th Second
Saturday Gallery Walk—which in our case is frequently
a real stretch of the definition. Not only do
we include splendid art spaces like Taylor and Sons
Fine Arts at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue but such
unconventional venues as Capitol Hill Bikes on 8th
Street, SE and The DancingHeart Center for Yoga
and the Art of Living at 221 5th Street, SE.
Lots of our shops and galleries have gotten into
the habit of trotting out artful offerings every sec -
ond Saturday of the month—not to mention (free)
wine and platters of (free) goodies. Just wander
around between 4PM and 7PM and watch for the
posters and orange balloons. If you absolutely have
to have this on a piece of paper, ch e ck in at
www.voiceofthehill.com the week of, for the list.
On Sunday, as we said, the Fest-ival resumes.
The Old Naval Hospital will continue its 135th
b i rth d ay revels from 11AM to balloon popping
time: 4:30PM.
The big deal of the day is at 1:30PM, when
Capitol Hill Bikes rolls out our first historic bike
tour. The starting point is Christ Church at 620 G
Street, SE, where a brief tour of the antique church
will be offered at 1PM. Then riders will peddle a
winding route that ends at Congre s s i o n a l
Cemetery. Ken Withers, former leader of Boston’s
Tour de Graves, will be the guide. (Tour de Graves—
Congressional Cemetery. Get it?)
A slew of neighborhood groups are behind this
shebang: vo l u n t e e rs from the Barra cks Row
M a i n St re et Project, the Barra cks Row Business
Alliance, the Friends of the Old Naval Hospital, the
C a p i tol Hill Association of Merchants and
P ro fessionals—Second Saturd ay committee, th e
Earth Day Partnership and the Watkins School PTA
have been working their buns off to put this weekend
together. Pray that the sun shines. There’s no
rain date, it will go on whate ver…
Station Place Stalled on the Tracks
Fine Arts Commission Blows a Raspberry
S e ptember 21. Councilmember Sharon Ambro s e
was crowing last night. The Commission of Fine
Arts had reviewed the architect’s designs for Station
Place at a session held earlier in the day, and
“ripped it up one side and down the other.”
Station Place is the massive new office complex
that is being planned by Paris-based developers, the
Louis Dr eyfus Property Group, for the parking lot
adjacent to Union Station. Last October, Dreyfus
bought the plot from CSX Corporation, the railway
people, with the intent to build a 1.5 million square
foot office building to run along 2nd Street from F
to H Streets, NE.
This spring, the Securities and Exch a n g e
Commission signed a 14 - year lease for 650,000
square feet, roughly half the complex.
The design, which was unveiled in June, drew
immediate fire from those living close by. What the
developers proposed was a ten-story building at F
Street backed by four 8-story cubes—each of them a
solid wall of glass above the first floor. The buildings
would rise directly from the sidewalk’s edge,
b ro ken only by 4 small landscaped court ya rd s
along the 2nd Street façade, dwarfing the small
townhouses across the street.
Councilmember Ambrose and two local powerp
l aye rs, the Sta n ton Pa rk Neighborh o o d
Association (SPNA) and the Capitol Hill Restoration
Society (CHRS), were quick to support the neighb
o rs—hopping right into the brewing fray and
helping to set up a committee to wrastle with the
developers.
But it looked to be a David and Goliath of a battle.
The Mayor had fought hard to get that SEC
lease. The commission, which is now crowded into
two DC locations at 450 5th Street and 901 E Street,
NW, had been threatening to move out of the
District and consolidate their offices in the suburbs
—this was the plan that finally won them over.
W h i ch meant, said Councilmember Sharo n
A m b rose at a jam-packed June 29 community
meeting, if we’re unhappy with the proposal we can
expect that the Office of Planning “will support us
to a point. The city has worked hard to keep the SEC
in town. Now that they’ve decided to stay, the city’s
not going to say ‘we hate the building.’”
Then there were the heavy hitting architects for
the project, former Commission of Fine Arts members
Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo Associates—a
team that is well known around the world for glass
skyscrapers like the United Nations Towers 1 and 2
in mid-town Manhattan.
Was there any chance that the neighborhood
could not only fight city hall but a brace of hot shot
architects with an in with Fine Arts?
Roche and Dinkaloo rather arrogantly assumed
that the ice palace they were proposing was a gift to
the community and the city, and pretty much
refused to negotiate.
Then, they didn’t anticipate that we would have
a leg, as it were. The plot lies outside the Hill’s historic
area—so the project would not need approval
by the Historic Preser vation Review Board—and it
is zoned “commercial light-manufacture .” The
developers figured, and the neighbors feared, that it
could be built upon as a matter of right.
That was before the Commission of Fine Arts got
an eyeball full of it.
A bit of quick background here, for too many of
us utter, “Ah yes, the Commission of Fine Arts,” and
maybe get out, “J. Carter Brown,” before trailing off
with a fakey little knowing nod. (I’m one of the
guilty.)
The Commission of Fine Arts, (and it is “of”, not
“on”) is a design review agency that was established
in 1910 to protect Federal interests within the city
of Washington. The board consists of 7 presidend
o w nL o a d BY STEPHANIE CAVA N A U G H
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
30 www.voiceofthehill.com
t i a l ly appointed commissioners that advise th e
president and members of Congress on issues of
design in certain of our more public areas.
J. Carter Brown, Dire c tor Emeritus of th e
National Gallery of Art, has chaired the commission
since the mid-1970s. The rest of the board
includes architects, urban planners, developers and
artists: “All schooled in the arts and experts in their
f i e l d ,” explained Fre d e ri ck Lindst rom, a senior
architect on the commission’s 8-member staff.
Lindstom handles the cases that fall under the
Shipstead-Luce Act. (Isn’t this excellent to know?)
The Shipstead-Luce Act, which is entitled, “An
act to regulate the height, exterior design and construction
of private and semi-public buildings in
certain areas of the National Capital,” was signed
on May 16, 1930. The area that is included, said
Frederick, “includes the perimeter of Rock Creek
Park, the Monumental Core of Washington, and
the properties surrounding those under control of
the Architect of the Capitol.”
While Station Place is on the edge of th e
Monumental Core, Frederick said the Act includes
for the review of properties “facing, abutting or
adjoining it.” So review it they did.
The architect was circumspect in his description
of the proceedings. “There were concerns with the
height and the overwhelming mass, or bulk, of the
building,” he said. “This building, at 900 plus feet
in length, is longer than the U.S. Capitol.”
Which means?
“It’s a big building,” he said. Then he laughed,
“It’s a REALLY big building…It’s one of the largest
buildings to be built in DC since the Ronald Reagan
Building.”
What that means “contextually,” is that th e
board asked, “How does this building fit into the
city…and the Capitol Hill histo ric dist ri c t ,” he
added, rather soberly.
We hear the meeting was a good bit livelier than
that.
The SPNA’s Drury Tallant, who is co-chairing the
neighborhood task force subcommittee on design
and scale, said J. Carter Brown likened the proposal
to a “beached whale,” then said to the architects
and the developer, “We need a building we can
swallow without choking.”
Tallant added, “Brown was pretty rough on them
I thought.”
Drury and committee co-chair, Russell Sturm,
addressed the board after the architects made their
presentation. The task force hammered at six main
points: the “exc e s s i ve height of the buildings”;
“The re p et i t i ve glass facades along 2nd St re et ,
which do not provide a sensitive transition from
the Monumental Core around Union Station to the
residential neighborhood”; the “narrow passage”
this building would create along F Street, NE; the
lack of r etail on the ground floor; lack of a setback
along 2nd Street; and lack of “any recognition of H
Street, or opportunities for people from H Street to
get to Union Station.”
Tallant says that the developers have raised the
issue of security to explain away some of their
design decisions, including the lack of retail on the
ground floor of the complex.
“But,” he said, “We felt security was being treated
in a very disingenuous manner… If they were to follow
the Department of Justice guidelines for security
of Federal office buildings [the building] would
have to have a 140 ft setback to create a blast zone.
If you tried to apply that standard to this site, there
would be no site left. It’s long and skinny and it
wouldn’t work.”
And, he continued, it’s an all glass building,
w h i ch is “harder to blast prot e c t … Yet when it
comes to allowing us access to the building, or
ground level retail, they invoke security.”
“All that being said,” Tallant concluded, “even
though it was a loss for the current design proposal,
it was also a loss for the community: they may or
may not proceed. We want this project to go forward
and I wish we had been able to negotiate with
the developer and walk in hand and hand to the
Fine Arts Commission, and in October to th e
Zoning Commission. It will be regrettable if the
community and the city lost this project.”
Nancy Met z g e r, who usually handles histo ri c
issues for the Restoration Society, but has extended
her reach to cover this area for the Task Force,
agreed. “I don’t want this to be seen as an antidevelopment
thing. We’d all like to see a development
there, but something smaller.”
At the same time she’s crowing like th e
Councilmember, “We thought there was no hope
and that the project would go through, so this was
a nice surprise—to have the Commission of Fine
A rts agree with so many of our points. So I’m
pleased.”
What happens next, said Frederick Lindstrom, is
that the Commission’s comments will be sent
along to the Board of Zoning. “The letter,” he said,
“will not give specific strategies. The tone will be
more expressing the Commission’s concerns.”
The process in this case has been a little backwards.
Usually, said Lindstrom, the case comes to
his office after it clears zoning. In this case, “The
BZA asked pointedly for our comments and that is
what we’re here to do.”
Will the BZA accept those comments? “In these
matters, the District has the ultimate jurisdiction.”
Lindstrom cautioned. “We are advisory only…They
have disagreed with Fine Arts on occasion…but
generally the District listens to our comments, and
heeds them.
And When the Dust Settles
Two Big Projects Hit the Starting Block
September 21. It looks like a good bit of the Capitol
Hill neighborhood that lies between Lincoln Park
and Safeway will be suffering stereophonic dust for
the next year or so. Both the Br yan School and the
Kentucky Courts redevelopment projects appear to
be moving toward a simultaneous start.
Jessica Franklin, Redevelopment Manager for the
Kentucky Courts project says that she’s “about to
issue orders to get contractors in to remediate”—
meaning scrape up the pigeon poo and rid the elderly
public housing project of asbes tos. This should
begin in about two weeks, she told an eager flock of
residents that had gathered at Payne Elementary
School for a September 20 briefing.
The next step will be demolition, which should
begin in about 45 days. Then the deve l o p e r,
Innovative Development Solutions, Inc. (IDS) will
begin const ruction of a 38-unit mixe d - i n c o m e
townhouse community on the triangular plot at
Kentucky and C Street, SE. This should begin early
next year—at about the same time that Eakin
Youngentaub will begin rehabbing the old Bryan
School building a few blocks to the nor th and constructing
luxury town homes in the playground.
Since last spring, and the last neighborh o o d
review, IDS has selected a contractor, Abramson
Associates, an Alexandria-based firm that has built
townhouse communities priced from the mid-
$ 100 ’s to over a million bucks. They’ve also
engaged Kriegsfeld Corporation, which manages
50 or so other multifamily projects in the area, as
the property manager for this one.
IDS has made some design modifications as well.
Instead of the 40 units proposed earlier, there will
be 38—including 12 “affordable” homes instead of
the 10 that had previously been announced. These
will be available for low-income families earning up
to about $25,000 for a family of four.
Andy Botticello, president of IDS, said these units
would be mingled with—and indist i n g u i s h a b l e
from—the market rate homes.
The buildings will line Kentucky Avenue, C Street
and 14th Street and resemble townhouses. Each will
contain two units: “flats” at street level, priced from
$150,000, and two-story units above, priced from
$250,000. Twelve of the homes will be “suitable for
the elderly and the disabled,” said Botticello.
There will also be two 3-story turreted townhouses,
one on the corner of Kentucky and C and the
other on the corner of 14th and C that will be
priced from $400,000.
(These “froms,” by the way, mean the developer
will be offering an array of pricey embellishments—
like sunrooms.)
Each unit will have a parking space and 4 extra
parking spaces have been provided for visitors. A
new drive will be cut on C Street, which will open
into a central courtyard and parking area. All of the
units will have access both front and rear.
IDS architect, Suman Sorg of Sorg & Associates,
appeared pleased with the design she presented,
saying the brick homes, “fit like pieces of a puzzle
that should have been there from the start.” The
staff, she added, “looked at 3-story buildings in the
neighborhood. These are similar to existing townhouses,
with a lot of brick detailing and railings.”
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Sorg’s firm specializes in urban infill projects, and
has won numerous awards for both high and low
end projects in the District.
“The goal,” said Botticello, “is to serve a variety of
housing needs, integrate the architecture with the
community and create a lasting solution, not a
quick fix project.”
There is one very big change from the proposal
presented last spring. The apartments set aside for
l ow-income residents will be re n tals, with no
option to buy. IDS, said Botticello, “will own and
operate the rentals…which will be subsidized by
the DC Housing Authority.”
This raised some eyebrows. One man in the audience
wor ried that the renters in the complex will
neglect their units, and wondered why there would
be no ownership opportunity.
B e rnie Tet reault, Real Estate Advisor to th e
Executive Director of the DC Housing Authority,
explained that a deal of sorts had been cut.
On the south side of the Fre eway is th e
C a p p e r / C a rrollsburg Project, a 770-unit lowincome
development for families and senior citizens.
The city has applied for a HOPE 6 grant—
HUD funds—that would provide seed money for a
n ew mixed income housing development to
replace the project. The tenants, meanwhile, have
been promised that if the grant is secured (we
should hear about this sometime in October) there
will be a one for one replacement of the lowincome
rental units.
The ten apartments at Kentucky Courts will go
towa rd fulfilling that pledge—though, Tet re a u l t
cautioned, they will not necessarily be filled with
residents of Capper/Carrollsburg.
Those high-end units didn’t sit particularly well,
either. Some might feel, said activist Jim Myers,
“that you threw out poor people and put in fancy
houses. There’s a lingering uneasiness with tearing
d own public housing and putting up $400 , 000
homes.”
Kentucky Courts was, after all, public housing on
public land. The IDS project is one of these increasi
n gly popular public-pri vate part n e rships where
the developer gets the land in exchange for including
units and services for low income residents.
In this case, besides the low-cost rental units, IDS
will provide continuing education: “Renters must
go th rough emp l oyment training or support to
help them increase their income and buy a unit,”
Botticello explained.
Considering the current real estate market, that
might have to include tuition at Georgetown Law.
Holladay Makes the Rounds
New Hospital Plan Gets Reviewed, and Reviewed,
and Reviewed…
September 7. The Holladay Corporation is making
another pass through the Hill ringer with yet one
m o re concept for the re d evelopment of th e
M e d l i n k / C a p i tol Hill Hospital site at 8th and
Massachusetts into a luxury apartment house.
This latest iteration—in a growing line of iterations
—is a dramatically scaled back, stripped down,
design. The buildings are lower against the sky, contain
fewer units and the emphasis is on remodeling,
not new construction. Says Rita Bamberger: “It’s a
fairly major concession to the community, dropping
50,000 square feet of density.”
It is also a less ambitious, less flashy, and less costly
project that will stand a better chance of getting
past the HPRB at this month’s meeting.
Bamberger introduced the design at a September
5 community meeting at St. James Church :
“Tonight’s plan represents a lot of hard thought
since late May and July and the HPRB meetings. We
h ave decided to re h a b i l i tate existing buildings;
some to a great extent, others not.”
The only new construction would be a pair of
apartment houses at the corners of 8th and C and
7th and C.
The two buildings that face Massach u s et t s
Avenue would be restored, returning them to their
“original appearance in the mid-1950’s.” A later
addition to what ’s known as the West Wing would
be removed to give the façade more variety and
green space, and several changes to the windows of
that building are planned. Juliet balconies might be
added as well.
The nursing home on the 7th Street side would
be gutted and turned into loft apartments, with setb
a cks on the top floor to lower the “perc e i ve d
height” of the building. It would stand no taller
than it does now.
Building heights have been lowered throughout
the complex, said architect Eric Colbert, “to be
more in scale with the neighborhood.”
Colbert has completely redesigned the two new
apartment buildings on C Street so that they resemble
smaller, older, apartment houses on the Hill—
not the mock-townhouses that were proposed last
spring.
Both would be 3-stories and red brick, and of different
but complementary design: the existing flattopped
tower at 7th and C has been incorporated
i n to the design of that building while a turret
would mark the corner of the apartment house at
8th and C. “The idea,” said Colbert, “is to celebrate
the corners.”
“Our overriding objective,” added Bamberger,
“was to create a different streetscape on each block;
create a lively pattern. We think we’ve done that.”
While the small—but ve ry intense—audience
voiced approval for the design, there were a few
concerns, most having to do with parking.
The major non-car issue was the fate of the venerable
Magnolia Grande Flora that graces the St.
James Church garden. St. James is the only piece of
property on the square that does not belong to
Holladay Corporation, and how it fits into the picture
has been a concern for many residents. While
the new design provides more air and space around
the chur ch, the apartment building slated for the
corner of 8th and C now abuts the garden wall.
That means the tree will require drastic pruning. It
also means that tenant windows will overlook the
sleepy garden paths.
One suggestion that had some support is to provide
a 15-foot setback from the garden wall. The
benefit to the ch u rch would be pre s e rving th e
Magnolia; the benefit to Holladay would be the
ability to add terraces to the side of the building
that could bring in higher rents.
When it came to parking—THE big issue here—
the developer mentioned several concessions: the
number of rental apartments and condominiums
have been reduced from 335 to 275, lessening the
impact on the streets; the cost of spaces has been
included in the rental and condo fees, to address
the fear that tenants would refuse to pay for park-
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V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
32 www.voiceofthehill.com
ing; and at least one space per unit is planned, 3
times as many as code requires. And, Bamberger
promised “We’ll try to allow for more.” The stress
being on the “try.”
Still, neighbors pressed on. Seve ral urged th e
developer to reduce the number of apartments by
i n c reasing their size—adding as encoura g e m e n t
that pro p o rt i o n a t e ly higher prices could be
charged.
That larger apartments might also encoura g e
young congressional staffers to double, triple, or
quadruple up—and bring cars—was not discussed.
The developer is expecting to carve out 180 to
200 rentals and 75 to 95 condominiums. They will
be studios, 1 and 2-bedrooms. Larger apartments
would be very expensive, Bamberger said. Six or
seven room apartments, at an average “$300 per
square foot, would drive costs to between $900,000
and a million dollars.”
One gentleman encouraged Bamberger to work
with the city to create a special residential parking
zone around the parameter of the building, which
would guarantee tenants additional parking while
preserving street spaces in the surrounding neighborhood.
(This is a variation of a proposal floated
earlier, to deny residential parking stickers to tenants
of the complex, which Councilmember
Ambrose said was illegal).
There was also the suggestion to go deeper on the
new underground parking lot, to 3 or 4 levels. But
Colbert said the cost of that would be prohibitive,
requiring underpinning of the adjacent building,
“the expenses increase exponentially.”
Parking was again the issue at an ANC6A meeting
held the next night. Though we understand that
the design was favorably reviewed, the board voted
against the project because of the number of parking
spaces now being provided.
While the position of the ANC carries “great
weight” in deciding numerous community issues,
this is not one of them. Holladay has already greatly
exceeded the number of spaces required by zoning
and they are not asking for zoning relief for the
construction, so it will not come up for review.
It will be up to the Historic Preser vation Review
Board to decide if this project continues in limbo or
finally goes forward. And the HPRB does not consider
parking, only issues of design in the historic
district. The Board will be meeting as we are going
to press with this issue, so check in at www.voiceofthehill.
com for an update on the story.
But Where Do We Put Them?
CSOSA’s Race for the Head of the Curve
September 17. For the last 3 years CSOSA, the Court
S e rvices and Offender Supervision Agency, has
been operating a 21 bed “assessment and orientation
center” at DC General Hospital, a residential
program for paroled prisoners, or those about to be
paroled, that have serious substance abuse problems.
Its operation has been so quiet and trouble-free
that few know that it is there. The community only
found out about the operation last spring, when a
fire forced the evacuation of the facility. These days,
however, the center is at the center of a brewing
controversy.
CSOSA is lobbying hard for its expansion to 100
beds: the whole of 7- story Karrick Hall, a building
that stands between the hospital and DC Jail. But
officials are meeting with opposition from th e
neighborhood and the city government. Language
was re c e n t ly introduced into the FY2002 DC
Appropriations Bill that would prohibit expenditures
for the development of the hospital grounds
until the Mayor and the City Council create a plan
for the area—a move that has the strong support of
Councilmember Sharon Ambrose.
Officials at CSOSA maintain that there’s more to
fear from not expanding the Karrick Hall center—
and in fact radically expanding all of our facilities
for r eturning prisoners, including halfway houses.
In the next year, thousands of individuals will be
released from jail with little provision for their
re h a b i l i tation. The fear is th ey’ll ret u rn to th e
neighborhood, create mayhem, and end up back in
the clink.
While CSOSA is very sensitive to community
concerns about halfway houses, Karrick Hall is a
“different horse,” insists Bob Murphy, the agency’s
Public Affairs officer. Individuals paroled from jail
and placed in halfway houses can come and go to
work, or go out to look for work. This facility is
guarded and locked, Murphy says. “They cannot
leave this building.”
It is a sad truth that many of those that are now
in jail have serious problems with drugs and alcohol,
and these problems are not dealt with while
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they are incarcerated. Some manage to find ways to
feed their habits while in prison, others r eturn to
the drug culture as soon as th ey are re l e a s e d .
During a 30-day stay at Karrick Hall the men go
through detoxification, receive counseling and are
introduced to a 12-step program for addiction and
substance abuse.
Karrick Hall, sitting smack between the jail and
the hospital, is well located for providing such services,
says Murphy. “Though DC General is only an
emergency room, it is useful to be next to this type
of facility. Any drug rehabilitation center will tell
you that there’s a medical side to detoxification…
[such as] seizures when getting sober. And if they
were going to be a danger to themselves, or those
inside the building, the jail would be a sanction.”
Meaning, acting up while at the center could
send them back behind bars.
When the program is completed, the men are
released to their homes—though steps are taken to
e n s u re that the housing situation is adequ a t e .
“There has to be something acceptable in place,”
says Murphy. And they are “escorted, transported,
off the property by CSOSA staff. They do not walk
out into the neighborhood.”
There is also considerable follow-up. As soon as
they’ve left Karrick Hall they are registered at one of
C S O SA’s field offices—essentially probation centers
—and are required to continue with “60 to 90
day outpatient, substance abuse counseling,” says
Murphy.
CSOSAs arms are long and drug rehabilitation is
just part of the agenda. The independent Federal
agency was established in 1997 as part of the DC
Rev i talization Act and now handles all of th e
District’s probation and parole services. Its mission
is simple—meaning the implementation is extraordinarily
complex. They want to turn ex-cons into
productive members of society.
Speaking at a briefing held earlier this month at
C S O SA headqu a rt e rs, Interim Dire c tor Jasper
Ormond said, “reducing the rate of recidivism for
drug related and violent crimes by 50% would have
a major impact on the quality of life in D.C.” While
that s tatement might seem absurdly obvious, this
will be a critical concern in the coming months,
when a huge number of “ex”-offenders—between
2,000 and 2,500—will be released from prison.
D u ring the cra ck epidemic in the late 80’s ,
explained Ormond, mandatory minimum sentencing
swept many criminals off our streets and into
prison. The fir st wave of those loc ked up under the
guidelines is now due for release. Most are African-
American males in their mid-30’s, single (though
54% report having children), and have less than a
high school education. 70% have a history of substance
abuse, drugs or alcohol, and they have each
been arrested an average of 9.2 times—with an average
of 4.5 convictions.
“Some say that the reduction in crime that we’ve
seen over the last decade is due to the incarceration
of these people,” said Ormond. “Will we be seeing
another rise? DC gets penalized for being behind
the curve—we need to get ahead of it.”
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requires an it-takes-a-village approach and, to a limited
extent, this is happening now. Orm o n d
explained that, whenever possible, CSOSA lodges
parolees in halfway houses for a 30 to 120 day—or
longer—stay. This allows them to be closely monitored
and counseled as they look for and begin jobs,
lets them save some money and also find a place to
live if they don’t have a decent home to return to.
Whether they’ve gone through a halfway house
or have been released directly to their own homes,
Ormond stressed that parolees remain under tight
control. “Field Sites,” have been set up in areas of
the city with large concentrations of returning prisoners.
Parolees check in with case officers as often
as several times a week or as little as once a month,
depending on the terms of their release. They also
receive counseling and assistance with jobs, job
t raining, education, and housing—whateve r’s
needed to help make a successful transition to the
community. The agency is collaborating with St.
Luke’s for computer training and UDC for literacy
skills. These men, said Ormond, “have another 30
years in the workforce.”
(The closest Field Site to the Hill is at 25 K Street,
NE, and no others are planned for the area. A facility
proposed for the Atlas Theater on H Street, NE
was strongly opposed by residents.)
To monitor conduct between visits to the Field
Sites, Community Relations Specialists (CSRs)—
CSOSA employees assigned to each location—work
closely with officers in charge of each of the Police
Service Agencies (PSAs) in the city.
Former DC Police Captain, CSR Thomas Grey,
said they meet with PSA officers “on a weekly basis
to discuss new cases—with the emphasis on high
risk releases.” The PSA officers are given photographs
of the returning offenders and a history of
their offenses. CSRs and officers also team up for
surprise visits at homes and job sites to reinforce
the message that they are working together, “and
that there’s a new way of doing things.”
This system has already been set up in 50 of th e
c i t y’s 80-some PSAs—including those on the Hill—
and 3,000 Met ro p o l i tan Police Officers have been
t rained in the concept. Captain Alan Dre h e r, commanding
officer of police substation 1D, says his
o f f i c e rs are wo rking closely with the CSR’s: “Shari n g
is occurring. They do give us info rmation when people
are let out. We know who’s out th e re — i t’s a to o l
we can use.” Captain Ta l i a fe rro at 5D says he also
has “a good wo rking relationship” with the CSRs.
He goes along with them on “regular visits” to th o s e
on parole in PSAs 510 th rough 513 .
ANC commissioner Will Hill and activist Jim
Myers, both involved on the community side of the
PSAs, agree that CSOSA seems headed in the right
d i re c t i o n — though th ey feel that the agency’s
involvement has been more with the police than
the residents.
That might not be the CSOSA’s fault, however.
“They were around a lot last year…coming to all of
the PSA meetings,” says Myers. “They were expecting
a lot of community involvement—but communities
are hard pressed…The city is asking for a great
deal of involvement with initiatives. You can wear
people out.”
While Councilmember Sharon Ambrose has
opposed expanding Ka rri ck Hall—or allowing any
expansion of the prison system on the DC Genera l
c a mpus—her staff still gives CSOSA high marks fo r
its pro grams and ability to wo rk with the communit
y. Legislative Assistant, Eric Ro g e rs, who fo l l ows
issues invo lving the correctional system for th e
C o u n c i l m e m b e r, says his experience has been th a t
“ th ey wo rk extre m e ly well with the local gove rnment
to meet our needs, and th ey have been re s p o ns
i ve to neighborhood concerns—finding more
a p p ro p riate locations [for facilities] when aske d .”
But finding, and agreeing on, more appropriate
locations is increasingly the issue. Ormond said he
needs 600 halfway house beds for returning prisoners,
but the city has less than half that capacity:
“They’re coming back, and must be housed or be
homeless, wandering.”
Rogers agrees that facilities like Karrick Hall and
CSOSA’s tightly monitored, community based residential
facilities (CBRFs) do seem to be having a
positive impact on recidivism: “In the old days they
gave them $20 and a bus ticket, or just dropped
them off on the street: no drug counseling or anger
management.” Helping ex-cons ease their way back
to the community from a safe location and with a
strong support system appears to be “the best way
to deal with them.”
But where do we put these facilities? Next door
to…you?
Perhaps, yes. “We have people in every corner of
the city,” said Ormond. “Truly, they are the sons
and daughters of Washington.”
Meanwhile, most halfway houses are located in
Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8 says Rogers. The path sweeps
down Georgia Avenue, through Trinidad, on past
the Northeast side of Capitol Hill to RFK and then
crosses the river into Anacostia. “They’re always in
the same neighborhoods—and it gets to just i c e
issues and housing discrimination issues. We know
we need some correctional facilities—but lets get a
panel together to discuss their placement.”
And, while Karrick Hall may indeed be an excellent
place for CSOSA’s drug assessment and orientation
center, it could also open doors for additional
Department of Corrections programs. “We could
have an expanded jail—with the closing of DC
General, there are a lot of vacant buildings. Perhaps
a better use would be an extension campus of UDC,
or another institutional use.”
That might also provide a prettier view from our
dreamed of Riverwalk.
Boys Town Gets Green Light from City
Permits Issued, But Law Suit Sticks
“I am very disappointed with the Mayor,” says Ellen
Opper-Weiner. “They rushed the permits as if their
rear-ends were on fire. They just caved in.”
O p p e r-We i n e r, vice-chair of the South e a st
Citizens for Smart Development (SCSD), was talking
about the construction permits that will allow
Boys Town to build a group home at 14th and
Pennsylvania Avenue, SE: “Full permits, not partial
—there’s nothing to prevent them from going
ahead with the entire project.”
The permits were issued on September 7 with no
notice to the community. This despite the continuing
question of whether Boys Town can build as a
“matter of right” in a location that is less than 200
feet from an 8-bed residential facility for retarded
adults that is run by DC Health Care.
On the books is a regulation prohibiting the const
ruction of a Community Based Re s i d e n t i a l
Facility if another such home exists within a 500-
foot radius—or, at least, prohibits doing it without
a public hearing.
In late June, SCSD chair, Will Hill, and Opper-
Weiner met with DC Zoning administ ra to r,
Michael D. Johnson, and requested a formal investigation
and a ruling.
They also developed an environmental impact
analysis covering everything from noise to sewage
to public safety to traffic concerns. The analysis was
sent to the DC Department of Consumer and
Re g u l a to ry Affairs, the DC Planning Office and
Councilmembers Ambrose and Brazil along with a
request for a full environmental impact hearing.
What neighbors hoped—and th e re are th o usands
of neighbors opposed to or uncertain about
this project—was that that one way or another
there would finally have to be a public hearing on
Boys Town.
I n stead th e re was a lawsuit. On the 14 th of
August, Boys Town filed a suit against the District of
Columbia, Councilmember Sharon Ambrose, city
See your favorite football games
via our multi-satellites!
TRADITIONAL OKTOBERFEST
MENU RETURNS OCTOBER 1
Daily specials Monday - Friday
Oktoberfest beer specials
EVERYDAY!
www.voiceofthehill.com 35
V O I C E of the Hill /August 17, 2001
212 East Capitol Street • 202/543-4200
www.reformationdc.org Chapel open daily
sidering your needs for this fall and winter. The
deadline for grant applications to the CHAMPS
Community Foundation is Friday, October 12, at
5PM.
The Foundation meets twice each year, in fall and
spring, to award grants of up to $1500—and if funds
are available, sometimes more—to neighborhood
groups, schools and non-profits in the Capitol Hill
community. Applications for this cycle of giving
will be considered, and awa rds made, at th e
November 15 meeting of the Board of Directors.
The CHAMPS Community Foundation supports
projects in the areas of education, enrichment for
children, the arts, beautification and anything else
that benefits people who live and work on Capitol
Hill. These grants are funded by the donations of
residents and local businesses, and every cent that
is received is returned to the neighborhood in the
fo rm of grants. The costs of running th e
Foundation are covered by CHAMPS, the Capitol
Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals.
If you wish to apply for a grant this fall, you’ll
need to fill out the worksheet (available on line at
www.voiceofthehill.com), and a write a BRIEF proposal
—maximum 3 pages—describing the project
and exactly what you need the money for. The proposal
should include the budget for your project
and how you will cover costs in excess of the grant.
23 copies of the proposal and worksheet should be
mailed or hand-delivered to the office of Richard
H a l b e rstein, 705 D St re et, SE, Wa s h i n g ton, DC.
20003 (this is the street facing the Eastern Market
Metro plaza).
You may also include, if you wish, ONE set of
supporting materials: financial statements, names
of your Board members, newspaper clippings and
brochures.
In addition to the fall and spring grant giving sessions,
the Foundation has a mini-grant program
that is available throughout the year to cover emergency
and short-term necessities. Sums of up to
$250 are available. Over the years mini-grants have
been awarded to all manner of groups, and to cover
all sorts of projects and needs: gardening supplies,
orange hats for a senior citizen safety patrol, classroom
books and other school essentials. All that’s
required is a completed grant application worksheet,
faxed to Stephanie Deutsch at 547-6333 or
mailed to her at 500 East Capitol St re et, NE,
Washington, D.C. 20003.
The largest sum given by the Foundation each
year is the Arnold Keller Award, a $10,000 grant
that is presented each May at the Capitol Hill
officials Ellen McCarthy and Andrew Altman, the
DC Department of Consumer and Re g u l a to ry
A f f a i rs, Police Service Area 112, Will Hill, Ellen
Opper-Weiner and the SCSD—which was singled
out “as the driving force behind efforts to stop construction
of the home.”
DC, they claimed, was violating the Federal Fair
Housing Act by discriminating aga i n st handicapped
children.
Though the suit has not been withdrawn, the
city seems to be making haste to make amends. In
addition to not explaining why construction is permissible
without a hearing, “They never responded
to the env i ro n m e n tal impact qu e st i o n ,” says
O p p e r-We i n e r. “T h ey never even ack n owl e d g e d
that it was received. They just ignored it.”
The SCSD filed an appeal with the Board of
Zoning Adjustment on September 12, hoping to
overturn—or at least understand—the administration’s
decision. They have also requested a stay on
the issuance of those permits; once this project gets
rolling it will be even harder to stop.
“The administ ra to r’s decision has to be ove rt
u rn e d ,” says Opper-We i n e r. “This is still about
being too close to another residential facility.”
An attorney will soon be hired to handle the matter.
See you at the fundraiser.
Buchanan School to Get Mini-Police
Station
September 13. The old Buchanan High School at
13 th and E St re ets, SE, which now houses th e
National Graduate University, will soon be getting a
mini-police station. While that’s rather a grand
name for what amounts to a table, chair and telephone,
it will be a home away from home for the
cops; a place to fill out reports and do other paperwork
without returning the station. “It keeps offic
e rs in the neighborh o o d ,” says Captain Alan
Dreher, commanding officer of police district 1D.
“They stay on the beat.”
There are several other mini-stations around the
Hill, including one just a block away at Safeway.
They help to keep visibility high and a police car in
the neighborhood, says Dreher. ”They are not permanently
manned, but if the car is outside you can
go in and see the officer and you can file a report.
It’s a handy place to be.”
The station will be in operation as soon as the
phones are insta l l e d — a ny w h e re from matter of
days to a few weeks, says the Captain.
Rats!
Are Not Pets
August 30. Living around Eastern Market has its
p l e a s u res but colonies of fat juicy rats are not
among them. Leo Pinson, our Wa rd 6
Neighborhood Coordinator for city services, says
officials have been waging an intense war against
the fur ry critters for the last few weeks and it will
continue until neighbors feel some relief.
Pinson was along for a mid-July march on the
M a rket that included Councilmember Ambro s e ,
and a “vector control team” that included officials
from the Water and Sewer Authority, Solid Waste
Education and Enforcement (SWEET), DPW’s Solid
Waste Management—Street and Alley Division and
the Department of Health’s Rat Control Division.
The team scouted the Market area and found
some delicious temptations, including a pile of
food splattered cardboard waiting for a hauler. “A
lovely feast,” Pinson called it. Management was
threatened with hefty fines and we’re told they’ve
now stopped this practice.
Another major area of concern is the C Street side
of the Natatorium; a fine bit of open space that is a
virtual swiss cheese of burrows. “I’m not a rat, of
course,” said Pinson, “But it’s a nice piece of land to
take up residence.”
Since the Natatorium will be renovated shortly
(we’re waiting for details on that) neighbors are particularly
concerned that those nests will be disturbed
and the rodents will be searching for new
homes nearby.
How many rats are we talking about? “It’s hard to
g et a head count,” said Pinson, but enough to
require a hefty effort to squash the problem.
The Department of Health has been baiting
sewer lines for several weeks, “and has made some
gains,” claims Pinson. They’re also baiting burrows
and stopping them up. “Say you’ve got 8 burrows,”
he explained, “and you bait them and plug the
holes. When you come back to check and you find
5 have been reopened, you still have a serious problem.
If just 2 have been reopened you’re making
headway. If none have been reopened…” Need he
say more?
CHAMPS Community Foundation Fall
Grants
Proposals Due Friday, October 12
September 14. Attention community and neighborhood
organizations: now is the time to begin con-
Wo rship with your neighbors
In the heart of your commu n i t y.
SUNDAY HOURS
Worship 8:30 am and 11 am
Christian Education 9:45 am
Children’s Chapel 11:20 am
Nursery Opens 9:45 am
ABENDMUSIK SERIES Free Concert
Friday, Otober 5 at 7:30 pm
Celtic Cultural Music
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
36 www.voiceofthehill.com
Community Ach i evement Awa rds Dinner. The
Keller Award is not necessarily tied to a specific
project, though it might be. It is a special merit
grant; given to a local organization that is working
hard to support the Capitol Hill community—and
the funds can be used for general organizational
support. Past Awardees have included Friendship
House, the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop and Trees for
Capitol Hill.
The deadline for proposals for the 2002 Keller
Award is coming up fast. They must be received by
5 PM, Friday, November 30, 2001 for consideration
at the January 24, 2002 Board meeting.
To apply, fill out the basic worksheet and attach it
to a proposal of no more than 3 pages and include
s u p p o rting documents such as financial sta t ements,
listing of your Board members, newspaper
clippings and brochures. 23 copies of worksheet
and proposal should be delivered to the office of
Richard Halberstein, 705 D Street, SE, Washington,
D.C. 20003.
If you have any qu e stions about Fo u n d a t i o n
grants, please contact Stephanie Deutsch ,
Chairman of the Grants Committee, at 202-547-
8624 or e-mail scd@his.com.
Overbeck History Project Takes Off
by John Franzen
The newly launched Ruth Ann Overbeck Capitol
Hill History Project reports great success in recruiting
its first round of volunteers. More than 30
members of the community have already stepped
forward to help with this effort to tape record the
recollections of longtime neighborhood residents.
As I mentioned in the August issue of the Voice,
the Overbeck Project plans to build a permanent,
accessible, ongoing record of the people, places and
events that have shaped our community.
Training of the project ’s first round of interviewers
begins this month with the help of some of the
nation’s best oral history experts, including longtime
Hill residents John Vlach of George
Wa s h i n g ton Un i ve rsity and Peter Bartis of th e
A m e rican Fo l k l i fe Center at the Libra ry of
Congress.
Also, Nancy Metzger, who’s been tape recording
neighborhood old timers for several years under the
auspices of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, will
be heading up the Overbeck Project’s “search committee”
– identifying good interview prospects and
linking them up with the volunteer interviewers.
The pro j e c t’s managers, Jim and Bern a d et t e
McMahon, say th ey need more vo l u n t e e rs, not
only to conduct the interviews but to help with
tape transcription, archiving and other needs. And,
of course, they want to hear from you if you know
someone who ought to be interviewed. You can
phone Jim and Bernadette at 543-4544 or email
them at McMahons@his.com.
The Ove r b e ck Project is sponsored by th e
CHAMPS Community Foundation. Its web site
(www.CapitolHillHistory.org) will be up soon.
Watkins Walks to School
Slow Down!
August 29. International Walk to School Day, an
annual event that includes over 2 million students
worldwide and is intended to raise awareness of
child pedestrian issues, foster community spirit—
and get kids to shake a leg—will include a contingent
from Watkins Elementary School this October
2.
Organized by Hill resident, Dr. Cathie Woteki,
past Undersecretary of Food Safety at USDA, and
ANC6B CommissionerAnn Black, the event gained
e a rly backing from Councilmember Sharo n
Ambrose, School Board member Tommy Wells, the
ANC, and the CHAMPS Community Foundation,
which is providing financial support.
Walk to School Day was sta rted in 19 97 in
Chicago, where the first such event was sponsored
by the Partnership for a Walkable America. It is now
an international movement, with students from 47
states participating. “Quite simp ly,” says Black ,
“the guiding principle behind the walk is: healthy
people make a healthy community.”
Besides Wot e cki and Black, the core st e e ri n g
committee now includes: Watkins School representative
Elise Ashby; Suzanne Wells; PTA leader, Leslie
L e a hy; Regina Greer of the 1st Dist rict Po l i c e ;
ANC6B Commissioner Will Hill; Tommy Wells; and
Bill Wright from the Mayor’s office. Denice Grant
of DC Safe Kids, one of the Walk’s national partners,
has recently partnered with the Hill effort.
The drill for the day is this: students, parents,
teachers, VIPS and volunteers will gather in Lincoln
Park at 7:30 AM on October 2nd for refreshments
and a short program. The walk will begin at 8:25
AM, proceeding down a balloon-lined 12th St. SE to
the school, where the kids will be gre eted by
Principal Jennifer Smith.
Black urges residents (this would be a cute one for
toddlers) to watch from the sidewalks and cheer the
kids on—or join the parade if you’re so inclined.
All of the Hill’s schools were invited to participate
this year but only Watkins responded, says
Black. It is not, however, too late for other schools
to get involved. Adds Black: “We now have a model
event and can help them get on board. There is a
web site, www.walktoschool.org where schools can
register. Anyone interested can also call Cathie
Woteki 543-8560 or me at 547-2570 to partner with
us. Now that school is starting up and we have put
this together, I hope this will happen.”
The Download section of the Voice of the Hill is just a
taste of the news that’s been posted to www.voiceofthe -
hill.com over the last month—articles and newsbites
that are still timely, and worth including. The date pre -
ceding each article is the date the piece appeared on the
site. Unless otherwise noted, all Download articles are
written by the Voice of the Hill’s Co-Publisher and
Editor-In-Chief, Stephanie Cavanaugh.
Sea Kayak
the Potomac
Experience,Discover,Explore
• Evening, day, and half day trips
• Nature watching
• Instruction
CHARLES AGLE
THE PATHFINDER GROUP
202-546-0269
kayaking@washpathfind.com
Douglas Tots Town Child Development
Center
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
The Child and Adult Care Food Program of the USDA provides
funding for meals and snacks served in participating
day care facilities. In order to be eligible for reimbursement,
meals and snacks must meet specific nutrition requirements.
Meals will be provided at the Douglas Memorial
United Meth o d i st Church, 800 11 th St re et, NE,
Washington, DC 20002. The eligibility for free and reduced
price meal reimbursement is based on the following scale
which is effective, July 1, 2001.
Family Size Eligibility Scale Family Size Eligibility Scale
for Free Meals for Free Meals
One $0 to $11,267 One $10,168 to $15,892
Two $0 to $15,093 Two $15,094 to $21,479
Three $0 to $19,019 Three $19,020 to $27,066
Four $0 to $22,945 Four $22,946 to $32,653
Five $0 to $26,871 Five $26,872 to $38,240
Six $0 to $30,797 Six $30,798 to $43,827
Seven $0 to $34,723 Seven $34,724 to $49,414
Eight $0 to $38,649 Eight $38,650 to $55,001
Each addl +$3,926 Each addl+$5,587
Family Member Family Member
The same meals will be available at no separate charge to all
participants at each CACFP facility without regard to race,
color, sex, national origin, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, or marital and family status. Any complaints
of discrimination should be submitted to:
USDA
Director, Office of Civil Rights
Room 326-W, Whitten Building
14th and Independence Aves., SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
202-720-5964 (voice and TDD)
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 37
500 NJ Associates c/o The Hellman
Co.
A G Edwards
Aatish On The Hill
Alvear Studio Design & Imports
America At Union Station
American Legion, Kenneth H.Nash
Post #8
Anatolia Turkish Cafe
Antique & Contemporary Leasing,
Inc.
Antiques on the Hill,Inc.
Apex Home Loans,Inc.
Appalachian Spring at Union Station
architrave p.c.,architects
Art & Soul
ArtWorks
Asman Custom Photo Service
Atlas Properties,L.L.C.
B&B On A
B.Y. Associates
Balancing Acts Consultants
Banana Cafe & Piano Bar
Bank of America
Bank of America Military Bank
Barracks Row MainStreet Project
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
Better Computer Solutions
Betty Ann Kane & Company
Bowers Communications
Bowers Fancy Dairy Products
Bubbles Hair Salons
Bull Moose Bed & Breakfast
Burger Real Estate Services
Burnham Communications
C & M Exterminators,Inc.
C. Dudley Brown & Associates.,Inc .
C.K.Rental
Canales Deli - Tortilla Cafe
Cap Hill Ctr For Indiv & Family
Therapy
Capital Children’s Museum
Capitol City Brewing Company
Capitol Financial Partners/Mass
Mutual
Capitol Hill Acupuncture
Capitol Hill Art & Frame
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
Capitol Hill Bikes
Capitol Hill Books
Capitol Hill Computer Corner
Capitol Hill Flea Market
Capitol Hill Group Ministry
Capitol Hill Investors LP
Capitol Hill Map / FLARE,Inc.
Capitol Hill Partners
Capitol Hill Restoration Society
Capitol Hill Stay
Capitol Hill Suites
Capitol Lounge
Capitol Title Insurance Agency, Inc.
CapStar Commercial Reaty
CASEtech,Inc.
Change By Choice Consulting
Charles C. Parsons & Associates
Citibank
Clothes Encounters
Coldwell Banker
Computer Sciences Corporation
Computer Weenies
Congressional Exxon Of Capitol
Hill
Congressional Title & Escrow Co.,
Inc.
Council of Insurance Agents &
Brokers
Crawford/Edgewood Managers,Inc.
DBT Development
D L Printing
D.C. Barnes & Co.,Inc.
D.C. United
Davis & Gooch
DBT Development Group, LLC
DC Visitor Information Center
Deborah W. Mueller, MSN CS
Distad’s Amoco
Doherty Investments
Doolittle Guest House
Doolittle’s Pet Supplies &
Grooming
Douglas Development Corp.
Drs.Edge, Basch,Reed Jones &
Waterman
Drs.Reed,Fissel,and Baker
Dunphy Properties,Inc.
Eastern Market Title
Edge Advertising
Eisenstodt Associates,LLC
Empty Attic
EnviroTek,Corporation,Inc.
First Union National Bank
Folger Shakespeare Library
Frager’s Hardware
Frame of Mine
Franzen & Company
Friends of the National Arboretum
Friendship House
J.Y. Fujimoto
David Gencarelli,Esq.
General Typographers Inc.
Ginkgo Gardens
Glass Construction,Inc.
Goldstein Loots PC
Good Health
Goodman & Johnson
Greenstein,DeLorme & Luchs, P.C.
Grubbs Care Pharmacy & Medical
Equipment
H Street Community Development
Corp.
Halberstein & Byrne
Handyman on the Hill
Harps & Scallan,Inc.
Harry C Ballman,MBA,CPA
Hawk ‘n’ Dove
Hayden’s Liquor Store
HDB,LLC
Headlines Salon
Herbert Lehner Real Estate
Herrema Associates,Inc .
Hill Rag,Inc.
Holiday Inn on The Hill
Holly Ross Art Services,Inc.
Hotel George
Hugh J. Kelly,Associate Broker
Ed Huse
Hyatt Regency Washington
Il Radicchio
Innervisions
Insight Treatment Services,Inc.
International Realty Group
J.K.Moving and Storage
Jackie Grimmer Decorative Painting
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
Jarboe & Associates
Jill of All Trades
Jimmy T’s Place
Joel Truitt Management,Inc.
John C. Formant Real Estate, Inc.
Joseph Tarantolo, MD
Judiciary Express Travel
Juleon Personalized Books
JuniperDC
Noel Kane, Esq.
Khan El-Khalili
James Forrest King,Esq.
Kinko’s Copy Center
Larry Bowers,DDS
Larry M.Bruni,M.D.
Larry Quillian Real Estate
Las Placitas Restaurant
Lesbian & Gay Chorus of
Washington,DC
Lincoln Park B & B
Linda Norton Interiors
Linda Parke Gallagher & Associates
Long & Foster Real Estate
Lydia A.Hofer Consulting
Maids-N-Things
Mail Boxes Etc.
Maison Orleans Bed ‘n Breakfast
Margot Kelly Real Estate
Marine Barracks,Washington DC
Marjorie Shovlin,M.Ac.
McCue, Inc.
Merrill Lynch - King/Burness Group
Morris R.Battino, Esq.
Morton’s Pharmacy
Moses Films Ltd.
Motophoto Capitol Hill
Mr. Henry’s
My Little Secret
Nancy Lithgow, LICSW
National Association for Home
Care
National Capital Bank of
Washington
National Postal Museum
National Telecommunications
Services Inc
Nationwide
Naval District Washington
Newman Gallery & Custom Frames
Nortel Networks
Northwestern Mutual Financial
Network
Oehme,Van Sweden & Associates,
Inc.
Old Town Trolley Tours
Pardoe Real Estate
Pascal & Weiss, P.C.
Paychex
Pellet Construction Company
PEN/Faulkner Foundation
Phoenix Graphics Inc./Voice of the
Hill
Phoenix Park Hotel
Platypus Media,LLC
Politiki
PRDC
Prego
Project Development Associates
Prudential Carruthers Realty
R & R Analytics
Ralph H.Dwan,Jr. Esq.
Randall Hagner
Re/Max Capital Properties
Red River Grill
Red River Western Wear
Regional Title, Inc.
Reid & Associates
Results,the Gym II
Riverby Books
Salient Real Estate Investment Co.,
Salomon Smith Barney
Scheuermann & Terhune
Schneider’s Liquor Co.
Schramm,Williams & Associates,
Inc.
Sewall-Belmont House
Sharyn Danch Attorney
Simply Wireless.
Sizzling Express
Skip’s Appliance Service
Splash! Car Wash
St.James’ Episcopal Church
Stanton Development Corp.
Stanton Development Corporation
Starbucks Coffee Company
State Farm Insurance
Stillwater Custom Renovations
Stompin’ Grounds Coffee House
SunTrust
Susan Perry
Szechuan House Restaurant
Tawann P. Jackson, D.D.S.
Tech Painting Company
Tenleytown Trash
The Attire Buyer
The Baldwin Group, Inc.
The DancingHeart Center for Yoga
The Heritage Foundation
The Hill Preschool
The Law Office of Gina Lynn
The Library of Congress
The Monocle on Capitol Hill
The Shakespeare Theatre
The Stafford Institute
The Village
Thomas Jenkins and Company
Through the Grapevine, Inc.
Tortilla Coast
Tourmobile Sightseeing
Traditional Acupuncture
Trover Shop Books & Greeting
Cards
Two Lions Antiques & Interiors
Two Quail
Union Station d.b.a. Jones Lang
LaSalle
US Navy Memorial
Usselman Consulting
Washington Court Hotel
Washington Freedom
Washington Gas
Washington Sports Club/Capitol
Hill
Weichert Realtors
Wickham & Associates,Inc.
Winning Connections,Inc.
Woman Friday, LLC
Woven History
Xando Coffee And Bar
Yarmouth Management Company
Yellow Cat Productions
Yes! Organic Market
Yvonne Eider Tours
UNITED WE STA N D
Urges the Capitol Hill community
to support its local bu s i n e s s e s ,
s e rvices and organizations…
Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals (202) 547-7788
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
38 www.voiceofthehill.com
C a p i t a lK i d s
The idea seemed simple to Jackie Sink. “I love
going on house tours,” she says, “and I’ve
a l ways wanted to organize one myself, a
house tour that would showcase houses that
I find interesting.” The more she thought about it,
the more it seemed like a great way to raise money
for Watkins Elementary School, where Jackie’s son
Daulton had just finished first grade. One day on
the playground she mentioned it to another parent,
Libby Clarke, and before they knew it other
parents had joined in and “A Renovators House
Tour of Capitol Hill” was born.
S cheduled for Saturd ay, October 13 th, th e
Renovators House Tour really began to take shape
during July and August as Sink and Clarke s tarted
their search for houses. Their idea was to include
houses both in and out of the historic district,
houses that might not necessarily be ready for a
shoot by Architectural Digest—though some on
the tour certainly are—but are filled with terrific
ideas for people who are fixing up their own older
homes.
“My husband and I renovated a house on Nint h
Street a f ew years ago,” says Libby, “and we moved
into a larger house near Lincoln Park which we’re
still working on. We have four daughters, so we’re
always looking for ideas on how to fit comfortably
into the space we have.”
The ten houses that have been selected run the
gamut from the glossily beautiful homes of DINKs
(you know, those double-income, no-kids couples
who don’t have smears of grape jelly on their dining
room chairs) to crowded houses belonging to
families who have cleverly renovated to squeeze in
extra space for squabbling adolescent siblings. The
tour will also feature two sets of twin houses—
buildings that are identical from the outside but
entirely different within.
Jackie is thrilled with the twins. “One set is an
absolute shock, because they look so exact from the
front, and then you get inside and the differences
in the renovations are absolutely stunning.”
The home of D.C. Congressional Delega t e
Eleanor Holmes Norton is one of the siblings. Tourgoers
will be able to compare her three-story home
to the identical house of her neighbors, Amy and
Woody Woodhull, who have squirreled away six
children under the age of twelve in the same space.
The tour will also be showcasing “The Corner
Store,” the building at the corner of Ninth Street
and South Carolina Avenue, SE which was boarded
up for decades before nationally-reknowned sculptor
Kris Swanson and her husband bought and renovated
it to use as both a studio and home.
“The Corner Store is such a fascinating space,”
says Libby, “because Kris Swanson has all kinds of
historic material relating to the store that was there
back in 1915 and she even met with someone from
the family who had owned it. The owners actually
raised their six children in the apartment above the
store!”
Tour-goers will also enjoy seeing photographs of
the building’s renovation—which took less than
three months—as well as an unexpected treasure:
the 100-year-old privy, which still stands just outside
the back door.
There’s something for every taste on the tour,
from the compact shabby-chic home of Stephanie
and Gregory Cavanaugh to the bright pastels of
S h a ron and Bern a rd Ra i m o’s double-wide
Victorian, which Watkins School librarian Cathy
Pfeiffer calls the “Sweet Tart” house, because the
paint colors in the rooms reminds her of the colors
of that popular candy treat.
Variety was important to the house selection
committee, says Jackie Sink: “We really wanted to
give people a lot of different kinds of houses to visit,
so that we can all learn from each other about how
we live, in our modern lives, within these old houses.
Here on the Hill, our houses were built for different
people with different lifestyles. For instance,
many of our houses have trunk rooms, but they are
generally not used in the way in which they were
originally intended. And that’s really what this tour
is about — seeing how we are adapting our houses
to our needs, and how we are adapting ourselves to
our houses.”
According to Sink and Clarke, community support
for the event has been overwhelming, coming
from the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, which
hosts Capitol Hill’s premier House and Garden Tour
each spring, as well as from many local businesses,
which have willingly put up cash donations in support
of the event.
When Jackie contacted former Speaker of the
House Tom Foley and his wife Heather to ask if they
would be willing to put their house on the tour,
Mrs. Foley said they would love to, except that they
had just returned from living overseas and that the
house was absolutely full of boxes. She asked if they
could make a contribution to the school instead. A
couple of days later, Jackie received a call from
Brenda Millard, assistant principal of Watkins, who
said they had just received a check for $1000 from
the Foleys. Sink laughs, “I think that’s the first time
I’ve ever heard Ms. Millard actually speechless! And
it was such a great way to start off this event; it
made us feel like this was really wor th the effort, to
get that kind of support right away.”
The event, of course, is in support of Wa t k i n s
E l e m e n ta ry School, which is the pri m a ry education
c a mpus of the Capitol Hill Cluster School. Wa t k i n s
houses grades 1 th rough 4, has a Montessori program
which begins at age 3, and is also the site of th e
popular Capitol Hill Coopera t i ve Nu rs e ry Sch o o l ,
run by the beloved Ms. Frances Slaughter (yes, th a t’s
a sto ry about her dad on page 8 of this issue).
When Sink and Clarke first came up with the
House Tour concept, they sat down with teachers to
discuss how the proceeds from the event should be
used. What they found was that teachers had very
basic needs that needed to be met.
Says Libby Clarke, “It was really an eye-opener for
us. Teachers talked about how it would be nice to
have a laminating machine, and we thought to ourselves,
“A laminating machine?” I mean, as parents,
we’re thinking about wouldn’t it be great to raise
money to hire a foreign language teacher, and our
teachers are looking for a laminating machine. It
made us realize that public schools really have to
stretch their resources all the time and so sometimes
there are small things that would be nice to
have, but just aren’t at the top of the list.”
But one big need emerged. While Watkins has a
wonderful counselor to work with children who
have special needs, she is often bogged down with
paperwork. The teachers urged that proceeds from
the event be used to hire an assistant, perhaps a
graduate student seeking to gain experience in the
field. This would give the counselor more time to
work with the students.
A Renovators House Tour of Capitol Hill
C o n g resswoman Norton and other homeowners Open Their
Doors in Support of Watkins Elementary
BY KRISTEN HART K E
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
cordially invites you to attend our
OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, October 16, 2001 • 8:45-10:00a.m.
Prekindergarten-8th Grade Enrollment for Fall 2002
• Field Education • Computer Lab • Spanish and French
• Art/Music/Drama • Physical Education • After School Program
• Summer Camp • Transportation • Founded 1969
Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
& Association of Independent Maryland Schools
210 South Carolina Avenue, SE • Washington, DC 20003
For additional information or to schedule a visit call
202/547-2244 ext. 120
Visit us at our web site: http://www.chds.org
Capitol Hill Day School
“You know,” says Jackie, “it’s not glamorous. But
it’s what the teachers wanted, and it really is incredibly
important to the life of the school. If you have
a child in a classroom who is having difficulty at
home, or who does not understand how to deal
with his or her emotions, then that is disruptive to
the class. The teacher must spend more time with
that child.” The whole point of having a good
counselor in the school, she adds, “is to provide
some one-on-one attention for that child. So we’re
planning to raise enough money here to provide an
assistant who can cope with paperwork and let our
counselor do what she does best.”
Sink and Clarke also hope that they’ll be able to
provide some of the other things on the teachers’
wish list, including that laminating machine.
A Renovators House Tour of Capitol Hill will take
place from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, October
13th, with a reception in the garden at Watkins
Elementary from 3 - 5:30 PM. Tickets for the tour
are $20 and may be purchased at the Tour Booth on
weekends at Eastern Market, as well as at Antiques
on the Hill and Trover’s Books. For more information,
please call 543-0805.
Kristen Hartke is one of many Watkins School parents
working on the House Tour and takes credit for think -
ing of a name for the tour.
Here’s a sneak peek at the
House Tour:
900 South Carolina Avenue, SE — “The Corner
Store”
The original store space on the first floor has been
t ra n s fo rmed into a light-filled art studio. The
kitchen is preserved in its original condition and
the 100 - ye a r-old privy stands just outside th e
kitchen door.
12 Ninth Street, SE
The gorgeous restored plaster reliefs on the firstfloor
ceilings of this huge 3-story home are worth
the price of admission alone. The kitchen and
baths have been completely renovated to serve this
busy family of eight.
10 Ninth Street, SE
Identical in its structure to #12 Ninth Street, this is
the home of the District’s Congresswoman Eleanor
Holmes Norton, and is designed to accomodate the
frequent entertaining that comes with her office.
125 Twelfth Street, NE
Dubbed by its owners as their “Miami Vice” house,
this three-story brick Victorian features atrium skylights,
an unexpected floor plan, and all-white
decor. Don’t forget to wipe your feet!
Backstage, Inc.
Now in our LARGER
location on
Capitol Hill
2 blocks from Eastern Market
Metro on the corner of 8th and
G Streets, SE
Hours 11-7, Mon-Sat.
Groovy 60s, Psychedelic 70s
Costumes
• 1000s of costumes for sale
and rent (plus sizes available)
• 100s of wigs—Afros to rival
“Li’l Kim’s Closet”
• 100s of feather boas, masks
and wings
• 100s of makeup items from
hair colors to glitters and even
glow in the dark eyelashes
• Temporary Tattoos
• Children’s Costumes
• Pet costumes
Call for extended
hours during October
202 544-5744
10% off any purchase
Must present this at time
of purchase
www.voiceofthehill.com 39
545 7th St., SE /Washington, DC 20003
LOG ON
for FULL
DETAILS!
www.
chaw.org
Fall’s-a-poppin’ at the Capitol Hill
Arts Workshop!
A HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART
a five-part slide and lecture series with scholar, Emery
Battis. October 1, 15, 22, 29 7:30 p.m. $15/lecture
THIRD ANNUAL PUMPKIN CARVING WORKSHOP
Saturday, October 27, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
$5/person ($10 maximum per family)
You must register beforehand.
THEATER ALLIANCE
Reading Series:
Wedding of the Painted Doll, by Anne McCormally
Tuesday, October 16 in the Black Box Theater
7:30 pm $5 suggested donation
OPENING NOV. 29: Gospel at Colonus
CAPITOL HILL ART LEAGUE: LANDSCAPES OF THE MIND
On exhibit October 4-25 in the gallery at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
Opening Reception/Gallery Talk: Thursday, October 4, 7:30-9pm.
Second Saturday Reception: Saturday, October 13, 4:00-7:00 pm.
With guest judges, Reid Baron & Deborah Gay, of GALLERIES MAGAZINE
Free to the public.
FILMS ON THE HILL
presents two days of Halloween hor ror:
DRACULA (1931) and DRACULA'S DAUGHTER (1936)
Friday, October 26 at 7:30 pm.
THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)
Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 pm.
Admission to each film is $5 and is payable at the door only.
Fall 2001-02 course listings and program schedules are available
at www.chaw.org. After School Arts Program (ASAP) for ages 5 -
13 in dance, theater, music and art. Adult evening classes in Photography,
Painting, Drawing, Drama, Ballroom, Salsa & Cha-Cha, Tae Kwon Do and
more, with new sessions beginning mid-November.
202-547-6839
NEW!
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
40 www.voiceofthehill.com
Please join us for the Capitol Hill
Baseball and Softball League Fundraiser
Saturday, October 27, 2001 from 4-8 pm
American Legion Hall, 3rd and D Streets, SE
$20 donation at the door only
Kids in baseball shirts are free!
More info? 202-546-7000 ext. 251
New Winter Hours:
Mon-Fri 11-7 • Sat 10-6 • Sun 12-5
709 8th Street, SE • Eastern Market Metro
202-544-4234 • www.capitolhillbikes.com
Join us on Sunday,
October 14, 2001
for Capitol Hill Bikes’
first annual
TOUR DE GRAVE
Bicycle tour of historic
Congressional Cemetery
and other Capitol Hill sites.
Also join us for helmet decorating
and a mini bike rodeo as part of
Capitol Hill Fest-ivities on October 13.
For more information, check out our web site
at www.capitolhillbikes.com or call us at
202-544-4234
1323 North Carolina Avenue, NE
This early 20 th - c e n t u ry porch f ront mainta i n s
many original details while also featuring extensive
stencilwork done by the owners. In addition, renovations
were made to the kitchen and basement to
create plenty of private space for the owners’ three
teenage daughters.
1321 North Carolina Avenue, NE
The twin of 1323, this home couldn’t more different
from its neighbor, although it also houses many
of the same original details. Walking into th i s
home is like entering a three-dimensional image
from Architectural Digest, with its open floor plan
and contemporary styling.
157 Kentucky Avenue, SE
One of just 15 double-wide homes on Capitol Hill,
a white-and-glass eat-in kitchen centers a house
filled with brightly painted rooms and a fun and
funky collection of art and potter y.
242 Kentucky Avenue, SE
Good things do come in small packages! This tiny
gem is the epitome of “shabby chic” design with
muted colors and a wonderful assortment of family
heirlooms and flea market finds. You’ll drool over
the gorgeous mahoga ny countertops in th e
kitchen.
246 Eleventh Street, SE
Looking deceptively tiny from the front, the generous
interior dimensions of this former bakery are a
real surprise. The open plan and newly-remodeled
kitchen make this a g reat house for entertaining.
350 Eleventh Street, SE
This large corner porch f ront is a delight in its
design and decor. Extra bathrooms, closets, and
and a pantry are cleverly tucked into the original
floor plan; the owner was sold on this house
because its dining room was big enough to fit her
huge Asian dining room table!
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 41
S TA R RY DAYS
Your Astrological Guide to the Pursuit of Happiness
by Ajai
Got something you want to do? This calendar helps
you get things done, and it works for everyone! There
are more Planets in Astrology then just your Sun Sign.
The pull of all of the Planets impacts every one of us
regardless of our birthdays, and using this calendar
can help us all in our Pursuit of Happiness.
Friday 09.28.01
What thoughts arise when you hear the caw of the Crow?
Saturday 09.29.01
Apply yourself to challenging problems. Throughout the day
pause to listen to your intuition.
Sunday 09.30.01
When I was a child, stores were closed, by law, on Sunday.
Pretend now is then. Work around the home.
Monday 10.01.01
Go slow. Pause before you speak. Take in a breath. Mercury
turns Retrograde later this afternoon.
Tuesday 10.02.01
Some people remember jokes. Some people don’t. Can you
write down 10 jokes right now? Share them.
Wednesday 10.03.01
Stay loose. Nice and relaxed. You can get a lot of work done
after lunch, if you can let go of results.
Thursday 10.04.01
Rest a hand upon a tree. Trees are Time Travelers. They
don’t go anywhere, but they live for a long time.
Friday 10.05.01
Be alert for the unexpected after dinner.
Saturday 10.06.01
Get together with someone you’ve not seen for a while, after
lunch, or later
this evening.
Sunday 10.07.01
Make note of your Life’s Ambitions just before you go to bed.
Monday 10.08.01
Be still, be quiet after lunch; reflect, instead of initiate. After
dinner you can be bold, but after lunch chew your cud.
Tuesday 10.09.01
Buy a house. Contemplate your navel. Honor an ancestor.
Wednesday 10.10.01
As the evening sky fills with showers of meteors step fully
into all of your dreams, live the largeness of who you are.
Thursday 10.11.01
Cultivate a mustache. Wear a cape. Draw attention to yourself.
Share your heart.
To the Editor:
This summer, when I came home from my second year
at college and walked around my Capitol Hill neighborhood,
I saw simple but determined signs in the windows
of many houses. “NO BOYS TOWN” they shouted
in bright red capital letters. My immediate reactions
were of disbelief and discouragement. How could any
Capitol Hill resident protest a social service agency? I
grew up surrounded by a community that took pride in
its concern for its poorer and more afflicted neighbors
and turned up its nose at the detached and homogenous
suburban neighborhoods.
Boys Town has been planned for 14th Street and PA
Avenue…to provide services for the area’s troubled
and neglected youth. Instead of alternative suggestions
to address the obvious need that Boys Town
aims to accommodate, I’ve heard only complaints
regarding its construction and operation. The most
prominent complaints are the possible threats to public
safety and to the badly needed economic development
for that area, and the large public expense of
housing and supporting the youths who are to participate
in the program. While these may be legitimate
concerns, perhaps the community should consider
Boys Town an investment in their futures.
The country is facing the release of a record number
of prisoners this year (about 600,000) who are
completing the lengthy mandatory sentences they
were given in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Some of them…will
undoubtedly move into or around Capitol Hill. Because
of their demeaning and harsh institutionalized experiences
as well as the ex-con stigma, the ability for exoffenders
to remain outside of prison as functioning,
tax-paying members of society is often considerably
more challenging than efforts to prevent troubled
youth from ending up behind bars in the first place.
The Boys Town on Capitol Hill may cost a lot to run;
it may scare away businesses and middle class couples
hoping to join the Capitol Hill community; it may
bring more unwanted young troublemakers to the area
(though I doubt it because the youths that Boys Town
looks to serve are youths that already live nearby—
and youths who are asking for a chance, because
Boys Town only accepts those who want to be
helped). But Boys Town may also prevent many future
crimes and incarcerations, which would increase public
safety, save tax dollars, and contribute to an overall
healthy community.
Rather than facing the release of the masses that
we continue to incarcerate, my community ought to
take an active stake in prevention. Whether or not
this prevention comes in the form of Boys Town, it
must come in some form. The need to ease the social
(and financial) burden that both ex-offenders and troubled
youth pose is a responsibility that must come
from the communities and sur rounding communities
into which these ex-offenders are returning and in
which these youths live. It is not so much the opposition
to Boys Town alone that discourages me, but
rather the failure of my community to support all of its
members by their unwillingness to recognize and
invest in alternatives to alleviate the barriers facing
many of its youth before these barriers lead to a
prison term.
JENNY OSBORNE,
Junior at U. of Penn
To the Editor:
The history and legacy of the Hill are the main re a s o n s
why I moved into the area two years ago. Every walk
a round the neighborhood is fascinating in one-way or
another: a house under renovation, a sculpture hidden
behind a bush, a friendly smile from a passer-by.
T h e re is one seeming tradition, however, to which I
would like to draw the community’s attention and to
which I object: grass and weeds growing through the
sidewalk bricks and along the street curbs. I re c o g n i z e
that I am relatively new to the neighborhood and may
not fully appreciate all of its charms, but this pro b l e m
is nothing but unsightly. It contributes to an overall
appearance of being unkempt. C o n s i d e r, for instance,
the tufts of grass sprouting through the Eastern
Market Metro patio area or the small triangle at 8th
S t reet and Independence Avenue SE that is practically
hedged in by the grass and weeds along the curb.
I recognize that there are many different problems
that confront a historic and diverse neighborhood, but
the issue of cleanliness and beautification is one upon
which most everyone can agree. Indeed, if this is the
case, I propose that a new tradition be started of an
annual Capitol Hill Clean-Up, with the primary aim of
sprucing up the sidewalks, corner parks, tree boxes,
and innumerable small public spaces across the community.
Sincerely,
D AYNE WA L L I N G
This is an excellent spot to mention that the Earth
Day Partnership’s Fall Clean-up of 8th Street, SE and
the Eastern Market Metro Plaza is Oct. 13 from 9-
noon (before Capitol Hill Fest). Pack up your gloves
and gardening tools and meet at World Cuisine, 523
8th St., SE. Breakfast will be provided. For more infor -
mation, call Christine McCoy 546-2539. See you
there, Dayne!
To the Editor:
As a newcomer to the Hill, I appreciated the article
“Bringing Up Baby,” in the August 17, 2001 edition of
the Voice. As a Chicago native, no one understands
my love of the Hill. I too dote on being able to walk
places like Eastern market on a Saturday to buy yet
another photograph of the Capitol—and sample yet
another cheese from the friendly cheese vendors.
Furthermore, I feel very secure knowing that I have
such fearless neighbors. I was amazed when I read in
another article that four Kentucky Avenue work-athomers
responded to cries of help, running down and
thief and sitting on him until cops arrived. Job well
done!
KARA KEZIOS
Friday 10.12.01
Thinking of a big purchase? Wait til
tomorrow.
Saturday 10.13.01
Do you smoke? Want to quit? When
you arise this morn, smoke no more.
Sunday 10.14.01
Enjoy a nice long walk before lunch.
Monday 10.15.01
It’s a sweet day. Share your smile!
Tuesday 10.16.01
Get everything going you want to get going, by 3:53pm.
Then step back and see what happens. Observe. Take notes.
Wait til tomorrow if you need to make any changes.
Wednesday 10.17.01
Just before bed take note of any thoughts that seem to be
kind of hanging around.
Thursday 10.18.01
Ever meet someone you instantly disliked? Can you recall
that moment; that person? Send ‘em some love.
Thursday 10.18.01
Ever meet someone you instantly disliked? Can you recall
that moment; that person? Send ‘em some love.
Friday 10.19.01
Work that is challenging in the morning surrenders to you in
the late afternoon.
Saturday 10.20.01
You can be a powerhouse of energy this AM, and still have
some left for fun after dinner.
Sunday 10.21.01
Save your shopping til after lunch; then walk the line of
responsibility.
Monday 10.22.01
Mind your wit. Think twice. Align your ducks. Then around
8:30 pm list everything you intend to do.
Tuesday 10.23.01
After you’ve moved on from this life, what will you have left
behind? Any room for improvement?
Wednesday 10.24.01
Time brings change. What are your values today? How do
you honor the things you value?
Thursday 10.25.01
After work, skip shopping, do yoga!
May you be happy, Ajai
Ajai once lived nine years in a yoga ashram, he now teaches
yoga and studies astrology and cats. Usually a Capitol Hill
resident, he’s currently wandering the west coast, in search
of….
Letters continued from page 3
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
42 www.voiceofthehill.com
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY Jackie
PEACHES AND POOH BEAR
K i d s ’ C a l e n d a r Activities of Particular Interest to Kids and Their Pare n t s
Jackie von Schlegel, CBR, GRI
Capitol Hill is our neighborhood, we hope you’ll make it yours.
202-547-5600 (W) • 202-543-4296 (H)
email: jvonschlegel@aol.com / Licensed in DC, MD and VA
REMAX Capital Realtors
EXHIBITS
Living Traditions—Japanese Arts, October 1
through 21 at Union station
Kimonos, origami, martial arts, geishas and music fill
the Great Hall at Union Station. Of particular note are
M. Nagakui’s collection of modern oil paintings
reflecting traditional Japanese objects such as
Origami, Flower and Fish; Japanese Dolls decorated in
Traditional Kimonos; and a beautiful collection of
Japanese kimonos. Special Performances—including a
traditional tea ceremony, music and Geisha performances,
a kimono fashion show, and marshal arts
demonstrations—are scheduled every Wednesday and
Saturday from noon to 2PM. See individual dates for
what’s when.
Tuesday, October 2
n Watkins Walks to School. Kids from Watkins
Elementary School take part in national Walk to
School Day. Come out and watch them parade—or hop
right in and march along! Route is from Lincoln Park
along 12th St., SE at 7:30AM. A sweet one for toddlers.
n Toddler Storytime at the NE Library. 10AM. 330 7th
St., NE 698-3299.
n Arts & Crafts at the SE Library. From toddlers (with
a little help from you)—to teens at 7PM. 403 7th St.,
SE. 698-3377.
Wednesday, October 3
n Toddler Storytime at the SE Library. 10:30AM. 403
7th St., SE. 698-3377.
n Sado Tea Ceremony. Japanese Tea Ceremony and
Geisha Performance at Union Station. Free. Noon to
2PM.
Saturday, October 6
Family friendly films at the NE Library. 11:30AM. 330
7th St., NE 698-3299.
n Eye on Japan. Kimono Fashion Show at Union
Station. Free. Noon to 2PM.
Tuesday, October 9
Toddler Storytime at the NE Library. 10AM. 330 7th
St., NE 698-3299.
Wednesday, October 10
Toddler Storytime at the SE Library. 10:30AM. 403
7th St., SE. 698-3377.
n Geisha Performances at Union Station. Free. Noon
to 2PM.
Saturday, October 13
n Capitol Hill Fest. Celebrate the Old Naval Hospital’s
135! Reenactments, classic photos, gospel music and
a recreated hospital ward at 921 PA Ave., SE. Lots of
arts and crafts activities and entertainment for the
kids on 8th St., SE. Details in the Download section of
this issue. Today and tomorrow—and mostly free.
n Renovators House Tour. Walking tour of 10 of the
Hill’s most interesting houses, including the home of
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Benefits
Watkins Elementary School. $20. See Capital Kids for
more info. Tickets at Eastern Market, Antiques on the
Hill and Trover’s Books. 543-0805.
n Family friendly films at the NE Library. 11:30AM.
330 7th St., NE 698-3299.
n Eye on Japan. Musical and martial art performances
at Union Station. Free. Noon to 2PM.
Sunday, October 14
n Capitol Hill Fest. Today’s big do—a historical bike
tour of the Hill sponsored by Capitol Hill Bikes. Just
show up at 1PM at Christ Church on G St. and get
ready to roll. Tour ends at Congressional Cemetery.
Also today—the Old Naval Hospital’s 135th birthday
bash continues with reenactments, classic photos and
a recreated hospital ward. 921 PA Ave., SE. 11-4! See
Download for more info.
Tuesday, October 16
n Toddler Storytime at the NE Library. 10AM. 330 7th
St., NE 698-3299.
Wednesday, October 17
n Toddler Storytime at the SE Library. 10:30AM. 403
7th St., SE. 698-3377.
n Japanese musical performances at Union Station.
Free. Noon to 2PM.
Saturday, October 20
n It’s national Stamp Collecting Month. Where better
to learn about the hobby than from the pros at the
Natl. Postal Museum. Tools of the trade tutorial for
kids and grown-ups. 1-3PM in the Discovery Center. 2
Mass Ave., NE 357-2991
n Book Sale! Pick up some favorites—cheap! SE
Library 7th St., SE at the Eastern Market Metro. Rain
or shine. 10AM to 4PM.
n Discover Japan! Musical and martial art performances
at Union Station. Free. Noon to 2PM.
n Family friendly films at the NE Library. 11:30AM.
330 7th St., NE 698-3299.
n Teddy Bear Parade. 10 & unders-—grab mom or dad
and your fave stuffed animal and hop to the 4th
Annual Kiwanis Parade. 3PM at Eastern Mkt Metro.
$50 bond to Best Loved, Kid & Pet Look-alike, Movie
Star, Mobile Pet, and Patriotic Pet. 544-0875.
Tuesday, October 23
n Toddler Storytime at the NE Library. 10AM. 330 7th
St., NE 698-3299.
Wednesday, October 24
n Toddler Storytime at the SE Library. 10:30AM. 403
7th St., SE. 698-3377.
Saturday, October 27
n E x p l o re witchcraft, spells, and hexes, just in time for
Halloween. Open up the excitement and adventure of
S h a k e s p e a re’s plays with a morning of drama, impro v
and fun on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library !
P a rents and kids, ages 9-14, are invited. No experience
needed—there’s a reason why they are called
plays.10AM and Noon. $10. 201 E. Capitol St., SE.
n Family friendly films at the NE Library. 11:30AM.
330 7th St., NE 698-3299.
Tuesday, October 30
Toddler Storytime at the NE Library. 330 7th St., NE
698-3299.
Wednesday, October 31
n Halloween Pumpkin Patch Party on the NE library
lawn (weather permitting). 2-4 PM. NE Library. 330
7th St., NE 698-3299.
n Halloween party at the SE Library. Face painting,
fortune telling and goulish stories at 7PM. 403 7th
St., SE. 698-3377.
n Hill-O-Ween at Eastern Market. Traditional spooky
celebration snares 100s of screaming tots each year
with apple bobbing, hay truck rides, horrible treats
and a haunted house peopled (?) by and spooky realtors.
5PM ‘til the witching hour (in this case, please
go home at 7). Across from the Market on 7th St.
Warning: Unaccompanied kids will be eaten! Free.
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 43
ARTS
Bird-In-Hand Bookstore &
Gallery presents “Botanicals”
by Florida artist Janet
Dowling. These lovely color
and B&W linoleum block
prints will be on exhibit until
November 15. Join the artist
for her opening reception on
Saturday, October 13, from 4
to 7 PM. 323 7th St., SE.
543-0744.
Art Works celebrates the
addition of new gallery space
at 623 PA Ave., SE with an
opening celebration on Friday
evening, October 12 from 5-
8PM that will include a sam -
pling of new works by many
of the artists the gallery represents.
10AM to 6PM, Tues
through Sat.
Second Saturday is
October 13 and this month
the Hill’s gallery walk and
pub-crawl ties in with Capitol
Hill Fest. See Download section
for details. 4-7PM—
Free. Wine, hors d’ouvres,
dining discounts, more.
Check www.voiceofthehill.
com the week of the event
for a rundown on all the
action. Call CHAMPS at 547-
7788 if you’d like to get
involved.
Capitol Hill Art League.
Landscapes of the Mind, the
League’s October show goes
on view October 4. Judges
will be Reid Baron, publisher
of Galleries Magazine and
Deborah Gray of the magazine’s
art production department.
Capitol Hill Arts
Workshop. 545 7th St., SE.
547-6839.
Karen Currie Clearance
Sale. The highly collectable
Hill-based artist, Karen
Currie, will be holding her
first ever clearance sale.
50% off some very fine
pieces, 2PM to 7PM,
October 13 and 14 only.
Those in the know are snap -
ping up Currie’s. This is your
chance to get started—and
get 20% off the framing at:
Frame of Mine, 522 8th St.
SE, 543-3030.
EXHIBITS
Union Station
Living Traditions—
Japanese Arts, October 1
thru 21
The Japanese Arts have survived
centuries of change.
The traditions of kimonos,
origami, martial arts,
geishas and music still
remain in Japan. All this
month, Union Station is
exploring Japanese culture
through an array of exhibits
and performances.
Exhibits include M.
Nagakui’s collection of modern
oil painting reflecting the
traditional Japanese objects
such as Origami, Flower and
Fish; Japanese Dolls decorated
in Traditional Kimonos;
and a beautiful collection of
Japanese kimonos.
Special Performances are
scheduled every Wednesday
and Saturday from noon to
2PM—including a traditional
tea ceremony, music and
Geisha performances, a
kimono fashion show, and
marshal arts demonstrations.
See calendar dates for
what’s when.
The Library of Congress
By Securing to Authors:
Copyright, Commerce, and
Creativity in America
Check out a wide range of
items that have been copyrighted
in America, including
the original Ken and Barbie
dolls, Martin Luther King,
Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech
and the statue of the
“Maltese Falcon” that was
used in the film of the same
name. Madison Bldg. Open
indefinitely
Here to Stay: The Legacy
of George and Ira Gershwin
See! George’s piano and
desk, Ira’s typing table and
typewriter, a self-portrait oil
painting of each brother,
handwritten musical manuscripts
and other documents
that chronicle the of the fab -
ulous brothers Gershwin.
Jefferson Bldg. Open indefi -
nitely.
American Treasures of the
Library of Congress
240 “American Treasures”
represent the breadth and
depth of the Library’s
American historical items.
Thomas Jefferson Bldg. For
additional information, call
707-3834.
Folger Shakespeare
Library
The Reader Revealed
The earliest readers of the
earliest books left us tantalizing
bits about themselves
and how they responded to
what they read—signatures
on title pages, presentation
inscriptions, notes in margins,
and passages copied
out into manuscript commonplace
books. Using books
(both manuscript and printed),
broadsides, and engravings
from the mid-fifteenth
through the seventeenth centuries,
we examine how and
what people read in early
modern Europe. Those who
produced reading materials
will be highlighted too. How
were books promoted? What
role did illustrations play in
attracting readers? Just as
the escalating availability of
e-books and the World Wide
Web has changed the way
we read today, so too did the
transition from a scribal to a
print culture change the
habits of early modern readers.
The National Arboretum
Closing Sept. 30! Asian
Accent: Botanical Art on
Silk
A kaleidoscope of color! This
unique juried exhibit of
framed artwork and banners
by members of SPIN, Silk
Painters International, interprets
botanical motifs on lustrous
silk using brilliant
dyes. During the opening
reception, SPIN artists will
demonstrate and encourage
visitors to try various silk
painting techniques. Exhibit
and opening reception are
free. 9AM to 4:30PM.
Administration bldg.
National Postal
Museum
Forwarding Address
Required
Following the attack on
Pearl Harbor and the out -
break of World War II, more
than 120,000 Nikkei, or people
of Japanese descent that
were living on our West
Coast, were sent to isolated
internment camps. While
other civil rights and liber -
ties were restricted during
this time, the U.S. Post
Office was committed to providing
the internees with regular
mail service.This exhibit
traces the close cor respondence
between
Japanese American children
sent away to internment
camps and Miss Clara Breed,
a librarian in San Diego. The
letters used in this exhibit
are on loan from the
Japanese American National
Museum in Los Angeles.
Closes May 8, 2002
As Precious as Gold
The discovery of gold in the
Canadian Klondike set of f
the 19th century’s last great
gold rush. Thousands of
stampeders, most of them
Americans, raced to the gold
fields in Alaska and Canada.
This exhibit examines the
great Klondike Gold Rush
and the unforgettable role of
the mail carrier in providing
contact between those so
far from home and the fami -
lies they left behind. Thr u
Sept. 2002
EVENTS
Friday, September 28
The Dispute—Marivaux’s
comedy asks the ultimate
question—which of the
sexes was the first to prove
inconstant in love. US pr emiere
of this translation by
Neil Bartlett, commissioned
by the Royal Shakespeare
Company. A co-production of
the Capitol Hill Theater
Alliance and the Worldwide
Art Collective. $15. 7:30PM.
CHAW, 545 7th St., SE. 547-
6839.
Saturday, September 29
Dust Off Your Tux. Black-tie
reception for artist Andrei
Kushnir at Taylor and Sons
Fine Arts, 660 PA Ave., SE.
6-8PM. Free and open to the
public—but you have to
promise to look ab-fab. See
Business Bits for details.
• Last Day! The Dispute—
Marivaux’s comedy of love.
Co-Production by the Capitol
Hill Theater Alliance and the
Worldwide Art Collective.
$15. 3PM and 7:30PM.
CHAW, 545 7th St., SE. 547-
6839.
• Last day! “Tranquil
Reflections,” watercolors
and oils by mother/daughter
artists, Emily D. Robertson
and Heather Dee Robertson.
Bird-In-Hand Bookstore &
Gallery. 323 7th St., SE.
543-0744.
Monday, October 1
Intro to PC 1. Free class at
the SE Library—part 2 is
next Monday. 10AM 403 7th
St., SE. 698-3377.
• “Courting Justice: Gay
Men and Lesbians v. the
Supreme Court. Meet the
authors, Joyce Murdoch and
Deb Price at the Library of
Congress, Madison Bldg,
12:30PM. The authors will
sign their book after the lec -
ture.707-1956.
• Secrets & Lies Gala at
the Folger. Reading and
black tie dinner benefits
PEN/Faulkner’s Writers in
Schools program. Get a load
of this line-up: Andrea
Barrett, Ann Beattie, Peter
Ho Davies, John Rolfe
Gardiner, Beth Henley,
Matthew Klam, Wally Lamb,
Alison Lurie, Valerie Martin,
Joyce Carol Oates, James
Salter, A.J. Verdelle, Colson
Whitehead, & Richard Wiley.
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
201 E. Capitol, SE. 6:30PM.
$375. 636-8745.
Tuesday, October 2
Writing Science for Kids.
Janice VanCleave, author of
more than 45 books on sci -
ence for children, talks abt
making microbes and test
tubes interesting. Library of
Congress. Mumford Rm., 6th
floor of the Madison Bldg.
Free at Noon. 707-5664.
• Plucky Performance.
Spanish guitarist, Francesc
de Paula Soler, is in concer t
at the Library of Congress,
Jefferson Bldg., at 1 PM
Free. No tickets required.
707-5400.
• Poet Robert Giron reads
from “Songs for the Spirit” at
the Southeast Librar y. Free
at 7:30PM. 403 7th St., SE.
Free.
• ”Human Jungle” (Roy
Baker, 1964). Film at the
Library of Congress. All LOC
programs begin at 7 PM
unless otherwise noted.
Reservations may be made
by phone, beginning one
week before any given show.
Call 707-5677 during business
hours (Monday-Friday, 9
am to 4 PM). Reserved
seats must be claimed at
least 10 minutes before
showtime, after which standbys
will be admitted to
unclaimed seats. All programs
are free, but seating
is limited to 64 seats. The
Mary Pickford Theater is
located on the 3rd floor of
the Library of Congress
Madison Bldg.
Wednesday, October 3
Sado Tea Ceremony.
Japanese Tea Ceremony and
Geisha Performance at Union
Station. Free. Noon to 2PM.
• Treasure Talk. Join a
Library of Congress curator
each Wednesday at noon in
the “World Treasures” exhibition
to learn more about
some of the individual items
drawn from every corner of
the Library’s international
collections. Northwest
Gallery of the Jefferson Bldg.
Free. 707-9203.
• World Premiere Concert.
Four cellists from the NSO,
conducted by Leonard
Slatkin, present “Blizzard in
Paradise” by Augusta Read
Thomas. Other works for
cello are also on the program.
Soprano Linda
Hohenfeld is featured soloist.
Coolidge Auditorium,
Jefferson Bldg, 8 PM. Sort of
free tickets are distributed
by TicketMaster at 432-
SEAT—they have various little
service fees. You can
also try for standby seats by
appearing at the will-call
desk in the Jefferson Bldg.
by 6:30 PM on concer t
evenings. 707-5502.
Thursday, October 4
ANC6A Meeting. Please
check in at www.voiceofthehill.
com for location and
agenda—if they send one.
• Intro to PC 1. Free class
at the SE Library—part 2 is
next Monday. 10AM 403 7th
St., SE. 698-3377.
• ”Throne of Blood” (Akira
Kurosawa, 1957). Part of
the Library of Congress
Ukiyo-e film series, Pickford
Theater, 3rd floor of the
Madison Bldg, 7 PM See
entry for October 2 for reservation
information. 707-
5677.
Friday, October 5
Free HTML Class!! Learn to
make your own web page @
the SE Librar y. Today and
October 19 at 3:30PM. 403
7th St., SE. Call 698-3377 to
register.
• The Folger Consort presents,
Chansons D’Amour.
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
201 E. Capitol St., SE. 8 PM;
Saturday at 5 and 8 PM;
Sunday at 2 PM.
Tickets: $25.
• ”Notorious” (Alfred
Hitchcock, 1946). A
cliffhanger from the master.
Part of the Library of
Congress National Film
Registry series, Pickford
Theater, 3rd floor of the
Madison Bldg, 7PM. See
October 2 for reservation
information. 707-5677.
Saturday, October 6
Second Annual City-wide citizen
summit. The Mayor once
again hears from residents.
8:30AM—4PM at the
Washington Convention
Center.
• Eye on Japan. Kimono
Fashion Show at Union
Station. Free. Noon to 2PM.
• Blooming Orchids.
Hundreds of exotic colorful
orchids are on display at the
National Arboretum during
the National Capital Orchid
Society’s 54th Annual Orchid
Show and Sale. 3-day event
opens today. Free admission.
Administration Bldg. 10-5.
3501 New York Ave., NE
• The Folger Consort presents,
Chansons D’Amour.
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
201 E. Capitol St., SE. 5 and
8 PM. $25.
Sunday, October 7
The Folger Consort presents,
Chansons D’Amour. Folger
Shakespeare Library. 201 E.
Capitol St., SE. Sunday at 2
PM. Tickets: $25.
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
44 www.voiceofthehill.com
• Blooming Orchids.
Hundreds of exotic colorful
orchids are on display at the
National Arboretum during
the National Capital Orchid
Society’s 54th Annual Orchid
Show and Sale. Free admis -
sion. Administration Bldg.
10-5. 3501 New York Ave.,
NE
Monday, October 8
Intro to PC part 2. SE
Library. 10AM 403 7th St.,
SE. Free. 698-3377.
• Last day! Blooming
Orchids. Hundreds of exotic
colorful orchids are on display
at the National
Arboretum during the
National Capital Orchid
Society’s 54th Annual Orchid
Show and Sale. Free admission.
Administration Bldg.
10-3. 3501 New York Ave.,
NE
Tuesday, October 9
Don’t fight Mother Nature.
The Capitol Hill Garden Club
features a talk by Scott Aker
of the US Arboretum, and
Wash Post columnist, on
adapting your garden to local
weather and soil and managing
pests the “integrated
way.” 7PM, Capitol Hill
United Methodist Church,
5th St. at Seward Sq.
• Talk on Congressional
Cemetery: Linda Donavan
Harper, chair of the
Association for the
Preservation of Historic
Congressional Cemetery,
will discuss APHCC’s strategy
for restoring this sacred
place in time for its bicenten -
nial in 2007. 6:30-8 PM.
Natl Building Museum. 401 F
Street NW. (Judiciary Square
Metro, Red Line) $8 mem -
bers, $12 non-members.
Registration required. 272-
2448, ext. 3109
• Super Tuesday! Bobby
Huntley, author of “Italy and
Back: A Black Man’s Odyssey,”
discusses his inspirational
story of life as a black
man in the US Marine Corps.
7:30PM. Southeast Branch
Librar y, 403 7th St., SE
• ANC6B Meeting. Catch
up on all of the community
sturm und drang: booze, pay -
phones, neighbor vs neighbor
over remodeling projects…
Free. 7PM-til? 921
Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Bring
popcorn.
• ”The Cardboard Lover”
(Robert Z. Leonard, 1928).
Another gem from the
Library of Congress National
Film Registry series,
Pickford Theater, 3rd floor of
the Madison Bldg., 7 PM See
October 2 for reservation
information. 707-5677.
Wednesday, October 10
Geisha Performances at
Union Station. Free. Noon to
2PM.
• Talking About 8th St..
The Restoration Society’s
October Preservation Café
features Jill Dowling,
Executive Director of the
Barracks Row/MainSt.
Project, with a talk on revitalizing
the Federal City’s
oldest business corridor.
Sheridan’s, 713 8th St. at
6:30PM. Free—but do think
about dinner, it’s roast beef
night.
• Henry Kissinger
Lectures at the Library of
Congress. Henry gives the
inaugural lecture in the
Kissinger Lecture Series in
the Coolidge Auditorium of
the Jefferson Bldg, at 7 PM
No tickets are required. 707-
3302.
Thursday, October 11
The Juilliard String Quartet
performs for two evenings in
the Coolidge Auditorium of
the Jefferson Bldg, at 8 PM
All Library of Congress concerts
are free, but tickets
are required (maximum of
two tickets per person). See
entry for Oct. 3 for ticket
information. 707-5502.
• Intro to PC part 2. SE
Library. 10AM 403 7th St.,
SE. Free. 698-3377.
Friday, October 12
The Juilliard String Quartet
performs in the Coolidge
Auditorium of the Jefferson
Bldg, at 8 PM All Library of
Congress concerts are free,
but tickets are required
(maximum of 2 per person).
See entry for Oct. 3 for ticket
information. 707-5502.
• Writers Way Reading.
Writing buffs read from their
new works. 7:30PM. Market
5 Gallery, 7th St SE and
North Carolina Av SE
• ”The Life and Death of
Colonel Blimp” (Michael
Powell, 1943), Tonight’s
screen gem at the Library of
Congress. 6:30 PM Pickford
Theater, 3rd floor of the
Madison Bldg. See October 2
for reservation information.
707-5677.
• Not What You Think.
NWYT, an ensemble of the
Lesbian & Gay Chorus, presents
its annual concer t
tonight at 8PM at St. James'
Episcopal Church, 222 NE,
between Constitution and C
Streets NE. Admission is
$10 at the door. Two other
LGCW ensembles, Nuance—
a trio of tenors, and Ties
Optiona—an octet of men
and women—will also perform.
Reception follows the
concert.
Saturday, October 13
Capitol Hill Fest. Celebrate
the Old Naval Hospital’s
135th! Reinactments, classic
photos, gospel music and
a recreated hospital ward at
921 PA Ave., SE. Discover
the rich history of 8th St.-
Barracks Row! Walking tours
galore along the city’s first
Main Street. Buy some
tchotchkes! Craftspeople will
line-up on 8th St. from 11 to
4; there’ll be plenty of arts
and crafts for the kiddies
too. And did we mention
entertainment? For all the
details check the story in
the Download section of this
issue of the Voice. The Fest
is today and tomorrow—and
most everything is free.
• Renovators House Tour.
Walking tour of 10 of the
Hill’s most interesting houses,
including the home of
Congresswoman Eleanor
Holmes Norton and two sets
of “twins.” Tickets are $20
and benefit Watkins
Elementary School. Recep -
tion at Watkins School’s
Children’s Garden from 3 -
5:30 PM Tickets at Easter n
Market, Antiques on the Hill
and Trover Books. 543-0805.
• Help Get Hill Fest Off to
a Clean Start: Pitch in at the
Earth Day Partnership’s fall
cleanup of 8th St, SE and
the Eastern Market Metro
Plaza. Bring gloves and tools
for weeding the tree boxes
and cleaning up litter.
Breakfast will be provided.
Come on, it’ll be fun.
9AM–Noon. More info? Call
Christine McCoy 546-2539,
otherwise just meet at World
Cuisine at 523 8th St., SE.
• Have your perennials taken
over the border? Do you
need expert advice on how
and when to divide and
transplant? Let Scott Aker,
“Digging In” columnist from
the Washington Post and
Arboretum horticulturist,
demonstrate the proper
steps to reclaim your space.
Scott will also discuss the
proper tools for the job, the
best time to make the cut,
and how to ensure a healthy
transplant. 10-11:30 AM.
National Arboretum. 3501
New York Ave., NE. Fee: $10
(FONA $7). Registration
required.
• Special! Stamp Collectors
Club meeting. Stamp lovers
can hear presentations from
Club members and view their
collections. Members will
also help you evaluate your
stamps, covers (envelopes),
and postcards. 2-3:30PM.
Free. Natl. Postal Museum. 2
Mass Ave., NE. 357-2991.
• Eye on Japan. Musical and
martial art performances at
Union Station. Free. Noon to
2PM.
Sunday, October 14
Capitol Hill Fest. Today’s big
do—a historical bike tour of
the Hill sponsored by Capitol
Hill Bikes. Just show up at
1PM at Christ Church on G
St., SE and get ready to roll.
Tour ends at Congressional
Cemetery. Also today—the
Old Naval Hospital’s 135th
birthday bash continues with
reenactments, classic photos
and a recreated hospital
ward. 921 PA Ave., SE. 11-4!
See Download section of this
issue of the Voice for details.
Monday, October 15
Word 1. Intro Word Perfect.
Free class at the SE Librar y.
10AM 403 7th St., SE. 698-
3377.
Tuesday, October 16
“Tall Ships of the 21st
Century” Thad Koza lectures
at the Library of Congress at
1PM. Free. 6th floor of the
Madison Bldg, at 1 PM. 707-
1409.
• SE Library Book Group
discusses “Baghdad Without
a Map and other misadven -
tures in Arabis” by Tony
Horwitz. 6:30PM, 403 7th
St., SE. Free-and open to all.
Call 698-3372 for info.
• ”Dr. Mabuse, the
Gambler,” Part 1 (Fritz Lang,
1922). Tonight’s film at the
Library of Congress is one
from their World Treasures
film series. Part 2 will be
shown tomorrow night.
Pickford Theater, 3rd floor of
the Madison Bldg , 7 PM.
See October 2 for reservation
information. 707-5677.
Wednesday, October 17
Japanese musical performances
at Union Station. Free.
Noon to 2PM.
• An Evening with Michael
Dirda, Pulitzer Prize winning
columnist for the Washington
Post’s Book World. 5:30 pm
– 7 PM. Reception follows
with book signing and exhibition
viewing. Folger
Shakespeare Library. 201 E.
Capitol St., Tickets: $25,
members; $30, non-members.
Thursday, October 18
Poetry at Noon. Library of
Congress program presents
readings on the theme of
“Urban Life,” in the Pickford
Theater, 3rd floor of the
Madison Bldg, at noon. 707-
1308.
• Word 1. Intro to Wor d
Perfect. Free class at the SE
Librar y. 10AM 403 7th St.,
SE. 698-3377.
Friday, October 19
Free HTML Classes!! Learn
to make your own web page
@ the SE Librar y. 3:30PM.
403 7th St., SE. Call 698-
3377 to register.
• ”Burn!” (Gillo
Pontecorvo, 1969). Tonight’s
hot flick at the Library of
Congress is from their World
Treasures series. Pickford
Theater, 3rd floor of the
Madison Bldg, 7 PM See
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
www.voiceofthehill.com 45
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Wednesday, October 24
Author Talk. Joanne Freeman
discusses her new book,
“Affairs of Honor: National
Politics in the New
Republic,” and the new
Library of America edition of
Alexander Hamilton’s writings,
which she edited.
Madison Bldg-Library of
Congress. 6 PM Free. 707-
5221.
• MacBeth at the Folger.
A wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets: $25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
Thursday, October 25
Web Surfing Basics. Free
computer class at the SE
Librar y. 10AM 403 7th St.,
SE. 698-3377.
• ”The Devil’s Rain”
(Robert Fuest, 1975).
Another hand picked flick
from the Library of Congress,
National Film Registr y
series, Pickford Theater, 3rd
floor of the Madison Bldg, 7
PM See October 2 for reser -
vation information. 707-
5677.
• MacBeth at the Folger.
A wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets: $25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
October 2 for reservation
information. 707-5677.
• Music from the Harlem
Renaissance. The New York
Festival of Song in performance
at the Library of
Congress. Jefferson Bldg, at
8 PM. See entry for Oct. 3
for ticket information. 707-
5502.
Saturday, October 20
Musical and martial art performances
at Union Station.
Free. Noon to 2PM.
• Teddy Bear Parade. 10
& unders--grab mom or dad
and your fave stuffed animal
and hop to the 4th Annual
Kiwanis Parade. 3PM at
Eastern Mkt Metro. $50
bond to Best Loved, Kid &
Pet Look-alike, Movie Star,
Mobile Pet, and Patriotic
Pet. 544-0875.
• Book Sale! A totally
painless way for bookies to
help the Friends of the SE
Library: buy something great
to read. All hardcover are a
buck. Chubby paperbacks
are 50 cents, skinny ones
are 25 cents. 7th St., SE at
the Eastern Market Metro.
Rain or shine. 10AM to 4PM.
• Opening Night! MacBeth
at the Folger. Double, double
toil and trouble…come and
watch the cauldron bubble.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets:$25-$41.
Folger Shakespeare Librar y,
201 East Capitol St., SE.
• Washington premiere of
“An American Decameron,”
Richard Felciano’s song
cycle, based on texts by
Studs Terkel, at the Librar y
of Congress—Jefferson Bldg.
at 8 PM All. See entry for
Oct. 3 for ticket information.
707-5502.
Sunday, October 21
MacBeth at the Folger. A
wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets:$25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
Monday, October 22
Web Surfing Basics. Free
computer class at the SE
Librar y. 10AM 403 7th St.,
SE. 698-3377.
Tuesday, October 23
“Manson” (Robert
Henrickson and Laurence
Merrick, 1972). Another
selection from the Library of
Congress National Film
Registry series, Pickford
Theater, 3rd floor of the
Madison Bldg, 7 PM. See
October 2 for reservation
information. 707-5677.
• MacBeth at the Folger.
A wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets: $25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
Friday, October 26
Halloween warm-up from
Films on the Hill at the
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.
Sink your teeth into this dou -
ble feature: Dracula (1931)
and Dracula’s Daughter
(1936). 7:30 PM, 5 bucks,
545 7th St., SE. Get ther e
early if you want a seat—
otherwise, bring a pillow for
your rear.
• ”Burn Witch Burn”
(Sidney Hayers, 1962) and
“Taste of Fear” (Seth Holt,
1961), 6 PM Creepy classics
at the Library of Congress.
Pickford Theater, 3rd floor of
the Madison Bldg. See
October 2 for reservation
information. 707-5677.
• Ursula Le Guin. Worldrenowned
fantasy writer
reads from The Other Wind, a
major new Earthsea novel.
This is a rare opportunity for
East Coast fans to hear her!
A PEN/Faulkner presentation
at the Folger Shakespeare
Library. 201 E. Capitol St.
8PM. $15.
• Go Baroque. Andrew
Manze, Baroque violin, and
Richard Eggar, harpsichord,
perform works from the
Baroque period at the Librar y
of Congress. Jefferson Bldg.
8 PM See Oct. 3 for ticket
information. 707-5502.
• MacBeth at the Folger.
A wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets: $25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
Saturday, October 27
Horrors! It’s “The Bride of
Frankenstein” (1935). Films
on the Hill at the Capitol Hill
Arts Workshop revives the
classic at 7:30PM. 545 7th
St., SE. 5 bucks.
• MacBeth at the Folger.
A wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets:$25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
Sunday, October 28
MacBeth at the Folger. A
wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets:$25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
Monday, October 29
Music for Winds and Piano
— Enjoy scintillating chamber
music for wind quintet
and piano featuring works by
Prokofiev and Poulenc.
Refreshments follow concert.
$10 donation requested.
7:30PM. Capitol Hill
United Methodist Church.
421 Seward Sq. SE.
• Folger Poetry Series
presents: David St. John.
Supper at 5PM, reading and
reception at 7:30PM.
Tickets: $40 for seminar,
supper and reading or $10
for reading. 201 E. Capitol
St., SE.
• Make professional looking
charts of chores for your
spouse. Intro to Powerpoint
is a free class at the SE
Library. 10AM 403 7th St.,
SE. 698-3377.
Tuesday, October 30
MacBeth at the Folger. A
wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets:$25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
Wednesday, October 31
Hill-O-Ween at Eastern
Market. Traditional spooky
celebration snares hundreds
of screaming tots each year
with apple bobbing, hay
truck rides, horrible treats
and a haunted house peopled
(?) by spooky Realtors. 5PM
‘til the witching hour (in this
case, please go home at 7).
Across from the Market on
7th St. Free.
• MacBeth at the Folger.
A wickedly good time at the
Folger Shakespeare Librar y.
Through December 12. Tues-
Thurs, Sun at 7:30 PM; Fri &
Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2
PM. Tickets:$25-$41. 201
East Capitol St., SE.
Hiring Holiday Help
Enjoy the excitement of the Holiday
season working for an award winning
retailer of American Craft.
Call our Union Station store now!
Contact
Carolyn Buchanan
202-682-0505
V O I C E of the Hill /September 28, 2001
46 www.voiceofthehill.com
• classifieds • classifieds • classifieds •
Positions
Baby Sitter on the Hill
French speaking mother of a
4 month old girl looking for a
toddler to baby sit at home.
Located in a lovely house on
the hill. Flexible hours and
competitive rates. Call 202-
546-7794. (9/28)
Part-Time Assistant
Manager
Attributes needed: Positive
Mental Attitude, Dependable,
Honest, Patience,
“Nordstrom-like” service oriented,
to manage all steps in
running Guest Houses on
Capitol Hill. Daily Responding
to ads via phone and
internet, showing properties,
bookings, greeting and orienting
guest arrivals, oversee
maintenance staff and
housekeeping staff. Be available
for check-ins on week -
ends and weekdays.
MUST ENJOY and have expe -
rience in customer service
and sales via phone, inter -
net, and, in person. Hourly.
410-991-0038. Immediately
Available (9/28)
Part-Time Assistant
Manager
Manage and implement all
steps in internet auctions,
including developing concise
and correct descriptions,
assist in determining market
values, daily follow internet
auction progress, photograph
objects, scan, pack and ship.
Must keep boss accurately
briefed in a timely manner
using your excellent communications
skills. Must have
own computer and internet
access. Capitol Hill Resident
with internet auction experience
preferred. Hourly, 410-
991-0038 (9/28)
Nanny available for
part-time position on
Capitol Hill
I currently employ this nanny
for three days a week and no
longer need her. She works
for another family on the hill
the other two days and is
looking for 2-3 days additional
work. She is a US citizen,
has first aid and CPR train -
ing and has extensive experi -
ence caring for children from
newborn through school age.
She is available immediately
and has other references
also. Please call Jennifer at
(202) 546-9391.
Work From Home
WORK FROM HOME AND
GET Up to $1200/ $1500
month PT or $6000/ $8000
month FT. No experience
needed Will Train! Free
Recorded Info. 24 hrs 888-
357-1775 http://www.successcycle.
com/monamehta
(9/28)
Services
Catering
Chef, Inc., an innovative
approach to creating your
special food event. Catering
to the stars of the Hill and
beyond. Chef Le’Jon and
staff from the Pentagon will
style your event from a cozy
meal for two to a major
event. Attention to details
and providing food styling is
our goal. On site prepared
dinners at home, Menu cr eativity
and other food offerings
available upon request.
Call Chef Le’Jon at Chef Inc.,
202-546-3129 (9/28)
Buy, Sell, Rent
Apartment/Room
Needed
Looking for a space on the
Hill, at least 300 sq. feet in
size, where I can write and
work on my website. I will
need to install two phone
lines—one DSL for high
speed computer access and
one fax. (202) 546-1298
(9/28)
Classified Ad Placement Form
First Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Last Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City/State/ZIP_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number__________________________________________________________________________Email_________________________________
Category
h Apartments/Rooms h Autoh Booksh Children’s Items h Electronics
h Furnitureh Office h Marketplace h Other ____________________________________________________________________________________
h Personals h Positions h Services h Tools
h Website h Newspaper h Both
Classified ads are $25.00 for print edition and $10.00 on the Web. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
Please describe the item and please be concise, there is a 200 website character limitation (there is no limit to print ads)__________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please enclose payment with order. Mail to Voice of the Hill, 120 11th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Or fax information
(credit card payment only) to 202-547-5133. Telephone 202-544-0703.
Credit Card Number (Visa and MC only)_________________________________________________Exp. Date________________________________
Name on Card__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Beach Vacation/Golf
Reserve for this season or a
fall golf outing. Cher ry Grove
Section, No. Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina. 3BR 2BA
home, 1 block from beach
with dock and channel at
back door. Over 100 golf
courses nearby, and more
mini-golf than you can play.
Rent the Robeys’ beach cottage.…
call 202/546-7410
for rates or www.voiceofthehill/
cricket
Garage for Rent
One block from Lincon Park.
Only cars, boats, recreation
devices—no storage. Lock
provided. $200 per month.
410-991-0038. (9/28)
English Basement
Apartment
Available Oct.1. Month to
month. 3 blocks to Capitol
South Metro. Call (202) 544-
4674 for details. (9/28)
For Sale
Sofa for Sale
FOR SALE: New, never-used,
Ethan Allen, queen-sized
sleeper, beige. Must sacrifice
at cost. Doesn’t fit in
new house. Capitol Hill,
202-547-3620. (9/28)
Miscellaneous
Books
Want to purchase
Quality used books. Single
volumes or entire library!
Call Steve at Riverby Books
202/544-1925
Books Bought and Sold.
We want what you can give,
we pay what we can afford.
Capitol Hill Books. Capitol
Hill’s used bookstore across
the street from Easter n
Market. 657 C Street, SE
202/544-1621
Two Treasures - One Gate, On Capitol Hill
at Eastern Market Metro
Vegetable Dyed, Hand-Spun Wool
Tribal and Village Rugs
Tribal & Village Art
Open Tue-Sun 10-6
311-315 7th St., SE • Washington, DC
www.wovenhistory.com
202.543.1705
Appraising • Repairing • Cleaning •
Acquiring
Bi-monthly shipments from our own looms
®
La Strega
Italian Classes
Native Professor offers Private and
Semi-Private Courses
Special Travel Course over two weekends
Call 202 547-9536
email: lastrega@hotmail.com
Classified ads get results!
1Secrets & Lies Gala. Black
tie benefit for PEN/Faulkner.
Sample tonight’s readers:
Ann Beattie, John Gardiner,
Wally Lamb, Alison Lurie
and Joyce Carol Oates. And
that’s just a sample! Folger
Shakespeare Library. 201 E.
Cap. 6:30PM. $375. 636-
8745.
4See it now. The plays of
Aeschylus, Sophocles,
and Euripedes blended
into an evening of entertainment
by Kenneth
Cavander. Catch it quick at
Arena! “Agamemnon and
His Daughters” closes Oct
7. 488-3300.
2Full Moon
Spanish guitarist, Francesc
de Paula Soler, gives a
plucky performance in honor
of Hispanic American Month
at the Library of Congress at
1 PM. Free. No tickets
required. 707-5400.
3“Blizzard in Paradise.”
Leonard Slatkin conducts 4
NSO cellists in a world pr emier
concert at the Library
of Congress—w. Soprano
Linda Hohenfeld as soloist.
8 PM. Free, but tickets are
required! Call 432-SEAT.
5Sail Away. The always fabulous
Annapolis Boat Shows
begins today. Size up the
sailboats through the 8th.
Powerboats put put in Oct.
12-14. Annapolis Yacht
Basin. 410-268-8828.
8Columbus Day Observed
Canadian Thanksgiving
Blue Monday activity: Make
a reservation with the
Octagon Museum for a
kayak tour of The Bridges of
Washington or a bike tour
that follows the path of our
city’s early history. 638-
3221.
9ANC6B Meeting. Catch up
on all of the community
sturm und drang. Free. 7PM
921 PA. Ave. SE.
Cap. Hill Garden Club features
Wash. Post columnist
Scott Aker on managing garden
pests. 7PM. Cap. Hill
United Meth. Church, 5th St.
at Seward Sq.
10 Preservation Café. Jill
Dowling talks abt. renovating
historic Barracks Row.
Sheridan’s, 713 8th St. at
6:30PM. Free
Henry Kissinger Lectures at
the Library of Congress.
Yeah, you can just go. 7PM.
707-3302.
11 Check out White Oaks, this
year’s decorator showhouse
—benefits the NSO,
you know—is at 4845
Colorado Ave, NW. Info:
416-8149.
12 Last Chance! “Restructured
Reality: The 1930s Paintings
of Francis Criss” Intriguingly
surreal cityscapes by an all
but forgotten master are at
the Corcoran Gallery of Art
thru Oct. 14.
13 Capitol Hill Fest,
part 1. Celebrate
the Old Naval
Hospital’s 135th!
Discover Barracks Row!
Visit 9 smashing homes!
Buy tchotchkes! Do some
crafts! Browse art! Eat,
drink, be merry! Mostly free
and centered around 8th St.,
SE.
14 Capitol Hill Fest, part 2.
Today’s big do—historical
bike tour of the Hill spon -
sored by Cap Hill Bikes. Meet
at 1PM at Christ Church.
AND, the Old Naval Hospital’s
135th birthday bash goes on.
11-4.
15 Cézanne, Caillebotte,
Degas, Gauguin, Manet,
Monet, Morisot, Renoir
and van Gogh tackle
plums, grapes and roses.
“Impressionist Still Life,”
is at the Phillips
Collection, through
January 13. 387-2151
16 One night only! Yo Yo Ma
and the Silk Road Ensemble
play for free at the Freer
(how appropriate). Tickets
go on sale Oct. 8: 432-
7328.
17 An Evening with Pulitzer
Prize winning columnist,
Michael Dirda. 5:30 pm – 7
PM. Reception & book signing.
Folger Shakespeare
Library. 201 E. Cap.St. 544-
4600
19 Revolutionary War ended
in 1781
Music from the Harlem
Renaissance. The NY
Festival of Song performs
at the Library of Congress.
8 PM. Free. 707-5502.
20 Race to the Plains for the
Intl Gold Cup. A great
day—bet on it. 540-347-
2612
Calling all bookies! Pick
‘em up cheap at the SE
Library Book Sale!
Nothing’s more than a
buck. 10AM to 4PM.
Eastern Mkt. Metro. .
21 Closing Night! The Oedipus
Plays, at the Shakespeare
Theatre. Michael Kahn has
set the trilogy in Africa, and
adapted it for a single
evening of powerful theater.
Avery Brooks leads the fine
cast. 547-1122.
22 The sculptures of Juan
Munoz are not just great
art, they’re fine theater.
The new show at the
Hirshhorn features his
near life size figures in
intriguing tableaux. My,
my…what are they murmuring?
357-2700.
23 The Washington Intl Horse
Show trots out hundreds of
horses and riders competing
for prizes—$100,000 is
the take for
the Grand
Prix. MCI Ctr.
thru the 28th.
301-840-0281
24 An Evening with Zoe
Caldwell. The multiaward
winning actress
discusses her memoir, I
Will Be Cleopatra, with the
Shakespeare Theatre’s
Michael Kahn. Dept. of
Agriculture, 12th and
Indep. Ave., NW. 357-
3030. $20.
25 The Seldom Scene—our
legendary hometown bluegrass
band celebrates 30
years of
getting
down at
The Barns
at Wolftrap.
8PM. $16.
703-938-2404.
26 Halloween Howl Masquerade
Party. Dogs & Lovers—dinner
and raffle benefits PAL. 202-
895-1395.
Horrors 1. Sink your teeth into
these flicks: Dracula (1931)
and Dracula’s Daughter (1936).
7:30 PM at the Arts Workshop.
545 7th St., SE. $5.
27 CH Kid’s Baseball Benefit at
Amer. Legion Hall. 4-8PM.
My team’s the Phillies—call
me for info: 544-4236
Horrors 2. Think your wife is
aging badly? Catch: “Bride of
Frankenstein” (1935).
7:30PM at the Arts
Workshop. 545 7th St., SE.
$5.
28 Daylight Savings Time Ends
Marine Corps Marathon
“Virtue and Beauty:
Leonardo’s ‘Ginevra de’
Benci’ and Renaissance
Portraits of Women.” Rare
and fine portraits that speak
volumes about their sub -
jects—and their vanity. Natl
Gallery of Art, West Building.
737-4215
29 Trading up? Thinking
smaller? Call me at 262-
7253!
30 What better warm-up for
Halloween than a dose of
MacBeth? And what better
place to see it than the
Folger stage? Something
wicked this way
comes…heh
heh heh.
544-4600.
31 Hill-O-Ween at
Eastern
Market. Face
painting, free
pictures, apple
bobbing, hay truck rides,
horrible treats and a haunted
house…5PM ‘til 7PM.
Warning: Unaccompanied
kids will be eaten!
18 One for the Girls. “Elegant
Fantasy: The Jewelry of
Arline Fisch” Stunningly
wearable weavings with
threads made of gold, silver,
and not-so-precious metals.
Textile Museum. 667-0441.
6DC Aids Walk. Meet on the
Mall at 9AM. Call 332-
WALK.
Yum Yum 1. Red Line it to
“A Taste of Bethesda.” Food
and fun from 11AM-4PM at
Fairmont and St. Elmo.
EQUAL HOU
OPPORTUN
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
7Fire Prevention Week
begins. Check your batteries!
Yum Yum 2. Roll down the
Hill to “A Taste of DC.” 40
restaurants, entertainment.
PA Ave. bet. 9th and 14th.
Come hungry!
Dieting? Feast on the glori -
ous orchids at the Natl
Arboretum. 54th Annual
Show and Sale. Free. 10-5.
Office 202.262.7253 • Home 202.544.4236
email: phyllisjaneyoung@realtor.com
Licensed broker in DC, MD and VA.
PHYLLIS JANE YOUNG
PARDOE Real Estate ERA
G ET ON BOARD
WITH PHYLLIS!
605 Pe n n s y l vania Avenue, SE / 202-547-3525 / www. p a rd o e . c o m EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
Capitol Hi l l Capitol Hi l l
Am e r i c a ’s
Neighborhood
and Proud
of It.
CAPITOL HILL
BASEBALL &
SOFTBALL
FUNDRAISER
Saturday, October 27
4 - 8 PM
American Legion Hall
3rd & D Streets SE
202-546-7000
Ext 251
ST. PETER'S
INTERPARISH
SCHOOL
Saturday, November 3
6:30PM +
PTO Annual Auction
St. Peter's Church
1st and C Street, SE
12TH ANNUAL
HILL-O-WEEN
Wednesday, October
31, 5 pm -8 pm
Hundreds of Kids
Balloons, Face
Painting and more.
Across from Eastern
Market
202-546-7000
Ext 226
PUMPKIN
CARVING
WORKSHOP
Capitol Hill Arts
Workshop
Saturday, October 27
10 am - Noon
202-547-6839
Here’s just a sampling of what makes us a great neighborhood...join in!
RENOVATORS
HOUSE TOUR
(10 HOUSES)
To benefit Watkins
Elementary
Saturday, October 13
10am-5pm
202-543-0805