September 19, 2007

During the first meeting, we took a general overview of the history of H Street. Attendees were asked to remember all they could and to share it. Once the group got rolling, things started coming out. It was great to see what was coming out after just 20 minutes of conversation and mutual reminding!

Here is a list of things we discussed:--

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Topics to explore

Businesses and Enterprises

H Street in the 1930s and 1940s was the second busiest commercial corridor in the city, second only to F Street. It served a diverse population with mid-level businesses and bargain stores. The commercial area was dominated by Jewish merchants. The construction of Benning Bridge helped the neighborhood grow and develop. H Street was just inside the original boundary of the L’Enfant-planned city, which ended at Florida Avenue (old Boundary Street) and Bladensburg Road.

Businesses

Beverly Ice Co.

Calvin A Beauty Salon, formerly a beauty academy. The daughter of the owner has photos.

Chuck Levin’s Washington Music started here. He served everyone. Store is now at 11151 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton, MD 20902, http://www.chucklevins.com, 301-946-8808.

Hechinger’s (now CVS). This may have been the first Hechinger’s location. (See story on Developing Families facility in Washington Post.)

H.L. Green, where Cluck U Chicken is now

jewelry stores

Jupiter

Kay Jewelers, went on to become major suburban chain; this may be original location.

Mr. Mason’s barbershop might be the oldest continuous business in the neighborhood

McBride’s

McCrory’s

Morton’s

Men’s Fashion Warehouse (Jerry Goldkind, owner) has been around a long time.

O. Henburg’s on Morse Street

Ourisman Chevrolet – between 6th and 7th on H. This was their original location.

Sears

Smokey’s formerly was Jake’s Barber Shop – it opened at 4 or 4:30 am

Stewart Funeral Home – now on Benning Road

toy stores

Movie Theaters

Apollo movie theater – 624 H Street (1913-1955), now demolished. Built on site of open-air theater called Imp Park. Apollo had open-air hot-weather theater on adjacent lot for many years. See Headley movie theater history.

Atlas Theater, 1331 H St., (1938-1976) – formerly movie theater for whites only; now converted to performing arts center. Story of its restoration.

Langston Theater, 2501-2507 Benning Road, NE (1945-1977), demolished (see Headley movie theater history)

Plymouth movie theater – 1365 H St. (1942-1952), opened in convert car (Plymouth) salesroom. It’s now the H Street Playhouse.

Princess movie theater, 1119-1121 H Street, NE (1909-1948), demolished 1948.

Restaurants/taverns/nightclubs/Entertainment

Horace & Dicky’s has been there a long time.

Ice cream place near 15th and H

Argonaut (used to be a bank)

Klub Kavakos (segregated) had fights. Became the Coco Club. See http://www.victoriansecrets.net/kavakos2.html

Uline Arena: roller derby, wrestling, boxing, circus, Malcolm X, concerts

Grocery Stores

DGS stores on the corners off H Street.

Florida Avenue Market, wholesalers to the city

Hucksters’ wagons

Safeway – formerly two on H Street. One is now Hairlocks, the other is Murry’s.

Korean and Vietnamese merchants (esp. at Florida Avenue Market?)

Nearby Institutions/Employment Centers

Department of Human Services

Gallaudet University

Government Printing Office

Post Office, 1016 H Street

Churches/social services

Douglas Memorial Church – formerly segregated

Little Sisters of the Poor Orphanage, later Children’s Museum

Life in the Old Days

Law prohibiting chickens in the city, impact on rural-type activities of residents

Schools and segregated education

Recreation house at 10th and G. White only for many years, they closed the pool rather than allow African Americans to swim there.

Lovejoy ES

Brown JHS

Cardozo, Dunbar or Armstrong High Schools

Pierce School (white) – closed a long time

Eastern HS (white)

Transportation – H Street was a transportation hub

Capitol Cab at Third and K

Car barn at 15th Street

Streetcars, conversion to buses

Trailways bus station

Union Station and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters members who lived in the neighborhood; also the Pullman Company offices on H Street. Some Pullman porter families remain. Marqui Lyons’s family worked for the Pullman Co.

Try Me Soda

People:

Mr. Christian (library’s namesake) – daughter still around

Congressional staffers on E Street

J. Edgar Hoover – CK whether he lived in neighborhood

Miles Long

Malcolm X spoke at Atlas, Uline Arena

Dr. Granville Moore – African American physician who grew up in the neighborhood

Nadine Winters (now lives in SW) – ran Hospitality House, was Council Member