Jaybird's Jottings

When Cranks Occupied Freedom Plaza

Ron Kaplan provides a link today to a story by Philip Bump, who lives in Washington and writes for The Atlantic.

His piece, “How We Used to Follow Baseball,” focuses on the way fans used to crowd around scoreboards and monitor the World Series.  One of the photos he provides shows fans in downtown Washington “watching” the 1912 World Series between the Giants and the Red Sox.   

The visual clues, the open space and the angled street point to this being what we now know as “Freedom Plaza,” currently used by the Occupy DC protestors.

The scoreboard was placed at the Washington Post building.    I pulled out my copy of “Capitol Losses” by James Goode.  On page 393 you can see the three arches, part of the Romanesque Revival style.    In the Shorpy photo, you can see the far right arch.

In the photo of the crowd, you can see bikes, a few ladies, a vehicle spraying water, and the Johnson Hotel, long gone.

 The Washington Post building, built in 1893, was at 1337 E Street.   It was razed in 1954.    I think now there’s an entrance to the Marriott.

 

Not So Soft Opening for Pork Barrel BBQ

Soft opening? Not in this day and age. I actually felt sorry for Mango Mike and his staff last night. They tried to make it a softy, but Que Nation members like myself were determined, and easily informed via not only Patch, but the big boys at The Post, as well as City Paper and DC foodie blogs. At their Facebook, Pork Barrel notes they had 800 customers. They handled it well from what I saw. Anyway, I am pecking away on the better halfs iPad, with our iMac getting tlc at the shop. More later. For now, congrats to Pork Barrel BBQ. Pigs in Del Ray. Love it!

Pork Barrel BBQ Opens in Del Ray

Pork Barrel BBQ opened tonight at 5pm. Yours truly was third in line, with a long line behind me. Bottom up restaurants are few and far between, so their new digs is much appreciated. The bar is First class, and the bottled sodas add a homey touch. Major bonus points for having Cheerwine. My Tar Heel homies would be disappointed with the cue and slaw, but you have to stay away from such comparisons. BBQ means different things to different regions. For now, it's great to have this place in the heart of Del Ray finally open. Look also for a new Asian Bistro and a Sushi restaurant to open next door in a couple of months.

My Favorite Books of 2011

Last year I noted that I did not have as much time for books as in 2009, so I’m pleased to report I bounced back this year with more time for reading.   

 This year I continued to teeter between purchasing an e-reader or not.   Some days I say no way will I abandon my beloved paper books.   Other days I have doubts about how long that will last.   

Anyway, here’s my list of favorites, all the paper kind.

 

Five Stars

Destiny of the Republic

by Candice Millard

If you’re like me, you knew something about Lincoln and Kennedy’s assassination, but very little about the tragic shooting of William McKinley and James Garfield.    I had to do something about that, and picked up this book.  Then I could not put it down.   Millard also got great reviews for his first book, so her next effort will be highly anticipated.

Baseball in the Garden of Eden

by John Thorn

Baseball’s pre-eminent historian spent over 20 years digging up information on the early history of the game.    The book sagged a bit but Thorn re-wrote the book on the early part of the game.

1812: The Navy’s War

by George C. Daughan

The second war of revolution against the British was fought on several fronts, and none more important than the high seas.

 

Four Stars

Mightier than the Sword: Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Battle for America

by David S. Reynolds

Most influential book in US history?   You could never get a consensus on that one, but Uncle Tom’s Cabin packs a mighty punch.   Reynolds tells how in this excellent book.

Cuban Star:  How One Negro-League Owner Changed the Face of Baseball

by Adrian Burgos, Jr

The Giants need to erect a commemorative marker for Alex Pompez, and have the spelling in both English and Spanish.

 

Literary Capital: A Washington Reader by Christopher Sten

The anthology Washington bibliophiles were craving.  

 

Maps of First Bull Run

by Bradley Gottfried

Gottfried, who thrilled Civil War buffs with his 2008 book, “The Maps of Gettysburg,” turned to Bull Run for his second such effort.  Turning the pages, you feel like you’re there on Henry Hill, as the two sides turn the Virginia countryside in to billows of smoke and ear-deafening volleys of lead.

 

Three Stars

Historic Alexandria

by Ted Pulliam

Glossy covers and photo-filled books can sometimes translate to a lack of well-researched writing.  While pricey, this book is a wonderful exception, and the best book to date on this seaport town founded in 1749.

Inventing George Washington

by Edward G. Lengel

A nifty run down on the myths created about our Founding Father, and the comeback he made in our minds.

1861: The Civil War Awakening

by Adam Goodheart

Alexandria Civil War buffs must read his fabulous chapter on Colonel Ellsworth.

Lost Washington DC

by John DeFerrari

On the trail for fascinating what- was-there stories in Washington?

This book is your ticket.

Roger Connor Home Run King of 19th Century Baseball 

by Roy Kerr

The first full-length bio on the Giants best player of the 19^th Century.   Will the Giants new owner read it?

Second Reading:  Notable And Neglected Books Revisited

by Jonathan Yardley

Another must read for Washington book lovers.   He’s not a big fan of Steinbeck, but that’s ok, I forgave Yardley and enjoyed his book.

A Travel Guide to the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake

by Ralph Eshelman

It's time for you to learn how to draw the shape of Maryland without looking at a map.   Seriously, this is a well-researched book that will allow you to learn where and how the The War of 1812 impacted Maryland and the Bay Region. 

States of Confusion

by Paul Jurt

Didn’t think I would buy this one but glad I did.   Speedy read of the author’s trip.  Did he reach his goal?  What was his goal?

Hidden History of Alexandria

by Michael Lee Pope

Banner year for history buffs in Alexandria.  First Ted Pulliam’s Historic Alexandria and then this one.   Pope takes an interesting look at the rivalry between DC and Alexandria.

Far and Away: A Prize Every Time

by Neil Peart

Neil Peart has carved out quite a legacy as a drummer, lyricist and travel writer.    This book, his fifth, is a collection of essays he wrote from his travels across North America.   Based in L.A., Peart loves hitting the road on his motorcycle, sometimes seeking a 1,000 mile ride in one day.   But as he philosophically noted once, “the point of journey is not arrive.”  

"Roadshow" is Peart’s most compelling book, but this one would be the one to buy for your non-Rush fans who appreciate inner-beauty. 

 

Book of the Year

As always, tough to choose.   Garfield was well written and quenched my desire for a great book.   1812 was timely, well told and deeply researched.  

Thorn’s Eden dipped at spots but considering what he uncovered, and the massive amount of research he did, I have to give the award to him.    He told us more than we ever knew about baseball’s origins and in doing so, re-established himself as one of the great baseball historians, if not the greatest.

Congratulations to John Thorn and thanks to all these authors for making 2011 a great year.

 

Peabody Room

One of the joys of life is discovery.   Such a moment came for me last week when I arrived at the Peabody Room in the Georgetown Library.    I knew Local Collection rooms could be special places based solely on the books and resources contained therein.   Thanks to the loving care Jerry McCoy gives this one, it stands out as one of the best you will ever see.

Particularly poignant is the display of surviving material from the fire that roared through the building in 2007.   The good news is that not all the resources were lost, and the renovated library is even better than before.

Jerry and I talked about the hope that someone is writing a biography on Key for the bicentennial.   This or any other researcher will find three biographies here.  

These are good sources, but were written in 1911, 1935 and 1937 respectively.    Sam Meyer’s “Paradoxes of Fame” is fairly recent (1995) and provides excellent information, but does not take a traditional linear approach.

Fingers crossed for this void to be filled, and thanks for this wonderful library and local history room.   

 

 

Inclusive Map of Washington – Found! (Sort of...)

Last week we talked about maps of Washington, the appeal of the typographic ones, and the limitations of the ones that just show the District.   Gleefully, it took only a few days to find someone who addresses that problem.     

One of my goals is to visit all or most all of the bookstores in the area.   Last week I finally made it to Reiter’s Books on the eastern edge of Foggy Bottom.

As part of my browsing, I noticed their Ork posters.   Walking over towards the adjacent café, I spotted a poster of Washington.   The gentleman behind the counter said they’re made by Axis.   I was thrilled to see they expand beyond the traditional border of the District, and take the creative approach of depicting not only streets and highways, but parks and physical features.    

  Reiter’s Books is small but the café makes for a superb pairing.   Their 19^th and G location is a fairly new one.   Fans of theirs may recall the K Street location.   When Washington Law Books went out of business last year, Reiter’s moved in.   Their specialty is technical and science, with some political and biographies.   

 

Finding Francis Scott Key: The Key Mansion

In my initial piece on the places associated with Francis Scott Key, we looked at the Key Bridge and Memorial in Georgetown.  Today we will talk about the nearby house he and his family lived in from 1805 to 1828.

Key Mansion Site, Southwest corner of M Street and Key Bridge

Costing as much as $75 a square foot, rents run high on M Street in Georgetown.   A stones throw away from this glitzy retail row lies a small patch of land.   Nothing but a lightpole, sidewalk, grass and trees are there, but to some, the price tag for this property is price less. 

This site, across from the Car Barn (an interesting story itself) at 3200 M Street, is where Francis Scott Key and his family lived from 1805 to 1828.   Thomas Clark built the Federal style house, later known as the “Key Mansion,” in 1795.

Francis Scott Key was born in Terra Rubra, a Federal-style estate in a rural setting about 60 miles north of Washington.  After graduating from St. Johns College in Annapolis, he began his career as a lawyer in Frederick, joining with Arthur Shaaf.   A few years later he met and married Mary Tayloe Lloyd of Annapolis.   The young couple moved to Georgetown, a lovely spot perched between the bluffs on the western edge of the city and the Potomac River down below.  (Georgetown remained separate from Washington until 1871).    

Their back yard was unique, describe by his granddaughter Anna Key Bartow this way.  (“Modern Culture” magazine published “Recollections of Francis Scott Key.”)

“…shady lawn and orchard sloping to the Potomac’s edge, and the terraced garden with its lofty walnut and Lombardy poplars…”

The town of Frederick provided some employment opportunities, but living so close to Washington gave Key the opportunity to learn the law under the tutelage of his uncle, Philip Barton Key.  Not a bad choice.  Uncle Philip built and lived in the famed Woodley mansion in what would become Cleveland Park, and went on to serve as a Federal Judge and Congressman.

The pair also enjoyed a home field advantage other barristers did not, and benefited from the proximity to “richer Federal pickings.”  (Weybright).

Key and his wife raised their family at this house.    Their early years in Georgetown must have been idyllic.  But the summer of 1814 brought high anxiety for Mary and the kids.   The British Navy and Army seemed unstoppable, a revengeful mission headed for the capital of the young nation.   

  From their two and a half story home, the Keys witnessed the burning of Washington on August 24, 1814.    The night before, Lt. F.S. Key had served as an aide to General Smith at the Battle of Bladensburg.   

It was also here that Richard E. West (Mary’s brother-in-law), hastily arrived in early September to ask for Key’s help.    On August 28^th, the British had seized Dr. William Beanes, a friend of the Key family, at Upper Marlboro.   Key sprung into action and obtained approval from President Madison to negotiate Beane’s release.   Two weeks later, Key witnessed the assault on Baltimore from a British ship, the event that inspired the lawyer-poet to pen the lyrics to what would become known as the “Star Spangled Banner.”

The Keys enjoyed their years at this home, frolicking around the back yard and the gardens he made for each of his children.   Around 1828, however, work began on the C&O Canal, which would run between the river and his backyard.    This prompted the family to move to the southeast part of Washington City.  

For the purposes of our look at the Key Mansion, the story should end there.  But it’s worth recounting the saga that took place over the next hundred years and more.  In “Lost Washington DC,” John DeFarrari documents the story to save the house and its ultimate fate (Key also had an attached office space).     

A half-century after Key’s death, the part of Georgetown where he once lived had turned into an industrial area.   In 1906, developers wanted to tear the house down and built a commercial site.     The Key Association bought the house and hoped to raise money to turn the home into a museum.  Those attempts were unsuccessful, so new owners bought it, replaced much of the original material, and turned the house it into a store.   

In 1941, plans were approved to build a ramp for the new Whitehurst Freeway.     Six years later, Congress approved funds to build a replica, which would rise across the street, but President Truman vetoed the bill.   Contractors then dismantled the house, numbering and then placing the bricks in a pile nearby, and the wood in storage.  

DeFarrari refers to Barry Mackintosh, an historian for the National Park Service, who wrote an article about the Key Mansion in 1981.  

Interviews with National Park Service staff indicate the bricks and stones might have been used in nearby homes or sidewalks.   The wood was stored in a warehouse, but at some point was “informally disposed of” or “used elsewhere.”    

There’s been debate through the years over the honoring of Francis Scott Key.    Are there enough places already, or are even more warranted? (In his book, "Paradoxes of Fame," Sam Meyers covers this quite well).  

I’d like to see a commemorative marker on this site.    Some might say it isn’t necessary because there is already one over in the memorial park.   But the reader faces the sun there and the material is worn.  A new one on the site itself, made of more permanent material, would solve that problem and mark the site.   Walkers passing by could then be directed to the Memorial Park.

At the far end of the site, by the stoplight, there is a stone marker for the Whitehurst Freeway.    That elevated road has lifted a lot of people, but Key’s “Star Spangled Banner” has lifted many, many more.

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

We’re turning off the lights here at Blog Central.

 Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

 

 

 

More "Washington Togetherness" Maps

Last week I provided a more inclusive map of Washington that included everything inside the Beltway.    Today we’re going to fill in the District’s diamond shape and see what it might look like if more Wards were added.

We’ll draw the lines and provide a motto for each one.

 

Ward 9

Alexandria, Crystal City

“The Waterfront Redevelopment?  Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

 

Ward 10

South Arlington

Nosotros hablamos Espanol.”

 

Ward 11

National Airport, Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery

“Could someone tell those damn reporters we’re located in Virginia??”

 

Ward 12

North Arlington

“Smart People, Smart Growth”

 

Barnes and Ignoble

Whoever is writing a book on the decline of the printed book industry keeps getting material, at least here in our fair realm. The latest casualty is the Barnes and Noble in Georgetown, who announced last month they will be closing down by the end of the year.   

I didn’t make it to this particular store a lot, but when I did, I loved the experience.   The view from the second floor café was always fun, and unlike most other bookstores, it offered browsers three floors-worth.   And unlike the suburban locales, their front door was a two-step away from the sidewalk. 

Business is business, and we as consumers must adapt.  But in this case, there’s a real blow to the community.   It’s not just the retail aspect, but the loss of a “third place.”  

As Wiki notes:

This term, coined by Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place, described those places in a community where people come together outside their home (first place) or work (second place). They can be bookstores, cafes, pubs, libraries, whatever. To Oldenburg, and those that follow him, these places are most essential parts of that community.

Sad to see this one go...   

Note:  Georgetown Metropolitan blog reports the new tenant will be a Nike shoe store.