Posts by Kent Boese — Guest Contributor
-
Then and Now: The Cedric
The Cedric, located at 4120 14th Street, NW, was designed by architect W.R. Lamar and built by the Upshur Construction Co. The endeavor received a building permit on June 5, 1925, and estimated to cost $200,000. The sign posted in front of the apartment building estimated that the building would be ready about December 15th. Ads in the Washington Post started to appear in… Keep reading…
-
-
-
-
Lost Washington: 1603 K Street, NW
The red brick home that was once located at 1603 K Street, was likely built in the late 1880s. It was most notable for being the home of William Howard Taft from 1904-08, while he was Secretary of War. In March, 1955, the AFL Bakers Union purchased the home, along with 1601 K Street (former home of Admiral Dewey), 1609 K Street, and 1006 16th Street with plans to build an eight-story… Keep reading…
-
Then and Now: Meridian Mansions/The Envoy
Meridian Mansions was built by Kennedy Bros., Inc., breaking ground in July, 1916. This impressive apartment building is located at 2400 16th Street, and cost $950,000 to build, making it the most expensive apartment house in the City at the time of its construction. It was a collaborative design from three of Washington’s leading architects: Alexander H. Sonnemann (plans),… Keep reading…
-
-
Lost Washington: Trinidad Car Barn
The Trinidad car barn at 15th and H Streets, NE, was once the last remaining structure in the city to have once housed a cable car power plant. According to a 1970 Washington Post article, the mechanism — which was gone long before the building was demolished in 1971 — consisted of a stationary steam engine that continuously propelled a steel cable beneath the streets… Keep reading…
-
Then and Now: Reservation at New York, 1st, & O Streets, NE
Washington has over 500 reservations, many of which were photographed and documented by the National Park Service between 1926 and 1936. The term reservation refers to the small park areas originally “reserved” for use by the city of Washington and primarily located on or near intersections of major avenues or streets. These intersections often created wedge-shaped… Keep reading…
-