Jaybird's Jottings

Old Town Alexandria Commemorative Plaques: World War I Memorial

World War I Memorial

400 Cameron

This plaque honors the "Soldiers, Sailors and Marines" from Alexandria who gave their lives during World War I.

Old Town Alexandria Commemorative Plaques: American Legion

American Legion Post 24

400 Cameron

It’s an appropriate coincidence that my next two commemorative plaques are located at the American Legion.   An active lodge that hosts events for veterans, the building was in the news earlier in the year when a couple discovered a Thomas Jefferson letter in an upstairs office.  Army veteran Tom Hewitt and his wife Candice Bennett made the finding.   It is hoped the City will preserve and display the letter (Anne Miller, Washington Post, January 25)

 

Our Day of Remembering

A salute today to all our veterans and those who served in uniform.  

Thank you for your service and sacrifices.

A special mention for my late Dad, who served on the USS Beatty in World War II, and my brother who wore the Air Force uniform in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

Our country is greater thanks to all of you, and those who serve today.

 

Old Town Alexandria Commemorative Plaques: Gadsby's Tavern

Gadsby’s Tavern

138 N. Royal

In a conversation I had a couple of weeks ago with a docent, the subject of Old Town’s “most historically rich” spots came up.  We both agreed Gadsby’s Tavern was one such place, and perhaps the number one place.   The six plaques (four on front, one by the underground ice well, and one inside) there testify to that belief.

In colonial days, Gadsby’s five star establishment, hotel and tavern, was the center of social, business and political activity, a bustling place that eclipsed anything the young city of Washington could offer.   In the tavern’s grand ballroom, Gadsby entertained Washington and the next four Presidents.   Washington’s Birth Night Ball was held here in 1798 and 1799 and famous guests such as Thomas Jefferson and Marquis de Lafayette graced the corner spot.  

In 1928 the American Legion purchased the house and with the help of other organizations in the city, they restored it.   In the mid 60s, this corner sport was one of the few on this block that survived the wrecking ball that made way for Urban Renewal.

Guided tours are available.  Even if you don’t go on one, be sure and walk down the spiraling stairs at the corner, which takes you down to the ice well.   

And, if you want to impress your out of town guests, take them to dinner here when the sun is setting.   The early-American food is not very good when we last went, but the place goes 18^th Century authentic when the sun goes down, a reminder of what life was like all those years ago.

Additional Reading:

A Spirit of Restoration

By Monta Lee Dakin

C&O Canal Boat Ride

It moves along just above a snail’s pace, you don’t actually see a lot, cell phones have to be turned off, and the seats are hard.

But if you want a peaceful peek into 19^th Century life, and desire a relaxing and cool hour while you’re in DC, try a boat ride along the historic C&O canal in Georgetown.

The better half and I did that yesterday.  We had taken walks along the canal, but didn’t know you could take boat rides.    The National Park Service runs a small spot in a red brick building along the canal at 1057 Thomas Jefferson Street (between 30^th and 31^st).   They are currently offering rides for $5.   The Post notes that reservations are highly recommended, but the NPS told us that is only for groups.  Non-groups is first come, first served.   If you get there 30 minutes before hand, you should be ok.

While you are waiting for the ride to begin, walk up to M Street, and check out Old Stone House and Park.    Built in 1765, it is the oldest standing building in the District.

 

Train Station in Old Town

As you may have noticed, my survey of commemorative plaques in Old Town has sometimes led me to what could be called “side tracks.”   This happened once again a couple of weeks ago. Turning the pages through A Seaport Saga, I came to a series of photographs of a railroad depot that was located near the intersection of Henry and Duke Street.

Photo from A Seaport Saga: Portrait of Old Alexandria, Virginia by William Francis Smith and T. Michael Miller, 1989. Used with permission of the Donning Company Publishers.  Photo from the Brady Collection, in the National Archives.

The more I looked, the more I liked.  Taken from Mathew Brady’s extraordinary body of work at the National Archives, these black and whites are the 19^th Century’s version of Google street view, a series of panoramic shots showing every aspect of the station.

The yard occupied all of what is now Old Town Station, and part of Old Town Village.   The track from Washington ran down Henry Street, curved to the right as it crossed Duke Street, continued to turn and then went due west along Wolfe Street, which no longer exists to the west of Route One.

Photo from A Seaport Saga: Portrait of Old Alexandria, Virginia by William Francis Smith and T. Michael Miller, 1989. Used with permission of the Donning Company Publishers.  Photo is from the Brady Collection, in the National Archives.

I am familiar with this part of town so I decided to draw up an overlay map.   Normally, this would be a fairly easy task, as most all of Old Town is laid out on a grid system.  This part of the city, however, presents some tricky challenges.  For one thing, Wolfe Street, as mentioned, no longer crosses South Patrick.   Throw in the change in the traffic pattern for Route One (the part where the one-way Route One South (Henry) veers left back to two way (just after Duke), and the fact that the depot facility buildings weren’t oriented to the street, and, well, I had my work cut out.

My map is not 100% precise, but pretty darn close.  As you can see, Old Town Village’s community center is built to resemble the old roundhouse and the city named one of the streets Roundhouse Lane.   Also, they left a stretch of track about 20 yards long along the sidewalk on the west side of Henry as it approaches Duke.

One thing to be noted is I left out the railroad’s name.   I didn’t want to clutter up my map further, and the map from Seaport Saga shows them.  

Also, as it turns out, there is a commemorative plaque of the roundhouse, but it is at the Wilkes Street Tunnel, about nine blocks away.  

I think it would be great if the City removed it from that spot, and re-dedicated the plaque at Old Town Village, or perhaps a Roadside Marker on Duke or Route One. 

Coming to Your Neighborhood: Homebuyers

Urban Turf, a real estate blog that I always enjoy reading, has a peek into DC 2015, some ideas from area experts of what neighborhoods will emerge as big league players in the next five years.

With that in mind, we asked a selection of bloggers, journalists, real estate agents and developers to give us their thoughts on the unsung DC neighborhood that will be attracting homebuyers in 2015.

Seven are tabbed, including Southeast Riverfront.  The Nationals have to really like this neighborhood's future (aka Capitol Riverfront).  In addition to what’s already there and what is planned, this downtown-adjacent neighborhood has one of the better proximities to the center of the city, a key factor considering the cost of commuting.   

Things have been slowed there due to the economy, but are starting to pick up.  JD posted a set of photos the other day, showing the progress of the waterfront park, which is expected to open in late summer.

And as she notes: 

The biggest news is that the 60-foot light tower on the water's edge at the foot of Third Street, which was originally not going to be installed until the park's second phase, is now going to arrive (by barge!) in July and be in place when the park is unveiled. 

One place that is not mentioned is National Harbor.   It doesn’t get much attention or respect in the DC blogosphere, but it has a lot of doors, and commuting to the District on a ferry boat would be a nice perk.

 

Strasburg's Debut: Update

There’s a new twist in the Strasburg waiting game.   Bill Madson is reporting his debut will come against the Pirates, not against the Reds.

Fans who bought tickets for June 4 are mad at the Nationals but others are saying the team never said anything, it was all reporters and bloggers speculating.   In fact, just yesterday, Adam Kilgore reported this in the Post:

General Manager Mike Rizzo reiterated the Nationals have not set a date for Stephen Strasburg's first major league start, bristling at the fact that several media outlets, including The Post, have floated June 4 as a potential and/or likely date for the debut.

One angle to consider is that I-Rod is expected to come off the DL in time for the Pirates series.

I do feel for those who shelled out big bucks for the June 4 game, but they were taking a chance, fueled perhaps by Dave Sheinin, who has been writing a series of articles on Strasburg.

 

Two quick thoughts:

One, this franchise has survived for five years without him. What's another two months?

And two, you may want to get your tickets now for the June 4-6 weekend series at Nationals Park against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Strasburg pressure cooker was getting too hot, and in a way, it needed this development.   Kilgore wrote this yesterday after the news broke.

 

I write all this with a caveat, though: Lining up Strasburg's start is an extremely fickle process. It can be moved by rain, an extra day of rest or an injury, just like that. Think about how many times teams set their rotation at the beginning of the year, and pitchers are completely out of order a week or two later. The same thing applies here. It looks like June 8 or 9 is a good possibility, but it can change just as easily. So specifically, the caveat I'm using is 'caveat emptor,' or buyer beware.

 

In this case, it's ticket-buyer beware, and take this with a grain of salt.

By the way, I’m not blaming anybody.  The Beast is hungry, and will remain so until a young kid steps on the mound for his major league debut, one like no other.

Anyone got a long range weather forecast…

Old Town Alexandria Commemorative Plaques: Memorial Fountain

In addition to the Urban Renewal Phase I, and the Tavern Square plaques, a third one was unveiled on June 2, 1967.  This Memorial Fountain had been located at the corner of N. Fairfax and Cameron, and was re-dedicated by the Mount Vernon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.   The fountain is located next to Gadsby’s Tavern.

 

Virtue Restaurant

Two weeks ago, we noted that Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong applied for a new restaurant at 106 S. Union.  The City stamped it approved last week, and now we’re hearing the inside and outside (awning for al fresco dining) work will begin in August, with a spring 2011 target for opening.    

I’ve also heard the City may re-surface Wales Alley with brick, perhaps like it is on the 200 block of Prince.  

Tom Sietsema of the Post has the scoop on some other details.   “Virtue” will be a 300 seater (window seats on second floor will be killer hard to get).

This one is going to rock, and yes, I am waiting for an invitation...