Vanished: Washington

by Simon Jacobsen

The Weathermen

February 16, 2012

Sitting on the south side of M between 24th and 25th Streets was this unusual government building (shown above). It was The Department of Agriculture's Weather Bureau. 

Today (Photo by: ) Today

Demolished in 1965, the block sat vacant for many years as large portions of the West End did in the 1960's and '70s, until the construction of the large masonry office complex seen here.

For more examples the lost architecture of Washington, visit The Ruined Capitol.


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The Dead Waffle Society

February 9, 2012

Washington was not known for, nor ever cared to be, a café society until very recently, but one thing that it had plenty of was greasy spoons, soda fountains and all-night breakfast and grill joints starting in the 1930's.

One in particular was The Waffle Shop located across the street form Ford's Theater on 10th Street in Penn Quarter. It was built in 1954 and was still in operation until a few years ago.

Today (Photo by: HABS) Today

The unique design of the store front incorporates elegant period and high styled signage and a flowing organic tile design that moves uninterrupted from the interior of the shop to the exterior and surrounding buildings. What is marvelous about the whole visual experience is that it is so modern and beautifully thought out. The iconic letters of the exterior visually encompass the building giving it a wonderful layering effect that entices one to come in and experience the urban waffle society. The stainless and aluminum glass spandrels were of the latest technology of the time and show the optimism and progressive attitude of post-war America and its desire for change. The interior has no tables, just a serpentine long Formica counter, the stools, waffle irons and equipment are all original and they sit in the dark  gathering dust on the thin layer of grease that such a place would have after so many years of 24 hour waffle production.

(Photo by: Google Street View)

The fate of the Waffle Shop is not certain. It has been granted landmark status just as a developer was seeking to remove it for an office building.

A deal has been reached where the building and its unique design, facade and signage will be preserved, but its ability to thrive as a business remains to be seen.

For more examples like this and to those gems that were never saved, visit The Ruined Capitol.

 

 


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A Look Back at 7th And K Streets

February 2, 2012

We continue our tour of demolished Washington with one of the more important early neighborhoods of Mt. Vernon Square which sits just south of New York Avenue, NW at 7th Street. It is a collision of intersections: K Street, 8th and 7th, and New York Avenues and they connect the neighborhood to the rest of the city.
7th and K Street today (Photo by: Google Street View) 7th and K Street today
 
Mount Vernon and Penn Quarter was the downtown shopping center of old Washington where Garfinkel's, Lord and Taylor, Palais Royal (to name a few) got their start. This corner also was home to the first People's Drug Store No. 1  (See the Ruined Capitol website for many the of early Peoples stores). 
 
The chain store concept took off in the 1920's  and so did the Hahn's Reliable Footwear stores. At the corner of 7th and K street sat the magnificent flagship store with its grand clock and French dome roof. Most of the other stores were smaller in scale around the city. 
 
The men in the photo are tending to the streetcar system. Washington had a system similar to San Francisco's; the cars were pulled by an underground cable. One of the giant steam engines that did this heavy work was located in the neighborhood called the Atlas District which is very near where today's RFK stadium is today.
 
Until the system switched over to electric in the late 1920's, the city did indeed have a true cable car system.
 


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