The Blaine Mansion & The Massachusetts Avenue Historic District

Though 22 September represented the start of fall it was just hours after Richard's departure on Tuesday that, in connection with my ongoing project, In the Fall of the Year 2006, I would visit the Dupont Circle area to collect more images for my ongoing Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets and Dupont Circle Historic District projects.

Located just west of Dupont Circle the bold, monochromatic brick and terracotta building at 2000 Massachusetts Avenue is the Blaine Mansion built in 1881 for James G. Blaine, a Republican from Maine and three-time loser in his try for the White House. In 1901 George Westinghouse, of the electric company fame, bought this house and lived here until his death in 1914. This is the last standing Dupont Circle mansion of those homes that surrounded the circle in the earliest period of the area's development. Its newly renovated interior provides a historic setting for several firms.

As Chester A. Arthur settled into the White House in 1882, roofers a few blocks away were driving hand made nails to secure a new slate roof on a Dupont Circle mansion. Although the Arthur presidency hasn't weathered well (who even remembers President Arthur?), the roof on the Blaine Mansion lasted 115 years.

A new roof that was installed, in 2001, by Moisture Infiltration Consultants. Inc should last through an equally impressive number of presidencies. With 12,000 slate shingles weighing more than 27 tons, the roof is not only beautiful but extremely durable.

When searching the internet pertaining to the Blaine Mansion I'd learn that it is amongst the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District which includes buildings fronting on Massachusetts Avenue from 17th St., NW to Observatory Circle.

Currently, the Blaine Mansion houses several law offices including Phillips and Chohen, Mesirow & Stravitz, PLLC - DC Personal Injury Lawyers and Spencer, Graham and Holderman.

Cooper Lewis Condos @ 14th & P merges the past with the future!

The Cooper Lewis Condominiums are named after the two families that shaped city life at 14th and P Streets for over half a century. A pharmacist, Dr. Samuel E. Lewis, lived and worked on this corner for most of his life. In 1897, Dr. Lewis commissioned architect Paul Pelz to design a new building at 1502 14th Street. Pelz was renowned for having designed the Library of Congress and Healy Hall at Georgetown University.

In 1925, Lewis leased the building to Edward and Jenniw Cooper, who operated the Cooper Hardware store in the Pelz Building for over 50 years. Through creative preservation, the Cooper Lewis fuses the historic Pelz building with exciting new construction, creating a fresh urban architecture for the 14th Street of the 21st Century.

Asman Photo Prints Historic Images for Window Displays at 20 CVS Stores

Having just visited Eastern Market during my 27 August 2006 Sunday Photo Walk I'd head back to the Eastern Market subway. And while waiting for the traffic light to change at the northwest corner of 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue I'd observe, from a distance, that the historic images displayed in the windows of the CVS across the street, on the southwest corner of 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue, were different than those that had been there before.

Having observed similar displays in other CVS stores in the WDC area, in recent years, it was then that I would decide to embark on an ongoing documentary project that would focus on the Historic Images Window Displays at CVS Stores. At a closer inspection, I observed that the enlargements had been the work of Asman Custom Photo Service, Inc.

Having observed that some ... but not all ... CVS Stores displayed historic images in their windows and those that did displayed images that were reflective of the surrounding neighborhood I'd project that the historic images exhibitions were in collaboration with the respective neighborhood historic and/or preservation societies.

A week later, on Labor Day Saturday I'd observe a photo exhibition in the windows at the CVS located just off McPherson Square Park. Images in this exhibition had a more modern feel. While one was a depiction of Franklin Square Park another was of bicycle shadows on 10th Avenue in NYC. After taking a few photos I'd step inside the store and inform the manager of my ongoing project. He would inform me that in most cases, including his store, the window displays were the work of the lessor and that CVS had little, if anything, to do with the historic image displays.

Having visited Saturday night's closing reception of the Ledelle Moe's (Memorial) Collapse installation, on 14th Street, and while engaging in Night Photography I'd head back to the Dupont Circle South Station. Crossing P Street just west of the circle I'd observe, from a distance, that the historic images on display in the windows of the CVS Dupont Circle store were different than those that had been there before.

At a closer inspection, I'd observe that the enlargements were the work of Asman Photos. Barry Asman has printed historic images for more than 20 CVS stores which, according to CVS HQ, has resulted in a 15% increase in sales at respective stores.

Architectural Photography

When I speak of architectural photography I speak not only of photographing the exterior of buildings but also the interior of structures. Not unlike Architectural Digest and, perhaps, more in the vein of Art Deco architectural themes may also include fashions and jewelery. Which may shed lihgt on why since the early 90's when it was located on 17th Street that I have photographed the window displays of Reincarnations.

On Friday evenings and over holiday weekends, in recent months, it has been my practice to photograph the Windows of 14th Street. And, in particular, those of Reincarnations.

Construction Cranes

A crane is a tower or derrick equipped with cables and pulleys that is used to lift and lower materials. Cranes are commonly used in the construction industry and in manufacturing heavy equipment. Construction cranes are usually temporary structures, either fixed to the ground or mounted on a purpose-built vehicle. Photo taken by Elvert Barnes on 15 September 2006 at the future site of Metropole 15th and P Streets in the Logan Circle of WDC.

WHO KNEW ... that Tohoga & Harlem were in Georgetown?

WHO KNEW?

When posting images to the internet, as a documentary photography, it is imperative that I include as much accurate information, as possible, pertaining to each image that I post. And, therefore, I spend a great deal of time researching. Of course, the internet makes researching much easier. But, even then, one must be careful because the infomration posted to the internet may not necessarily be accurate.

In the process of uploading images that I took of Key Bridge and in Georgetown on Labor Day Monday, 4 September 2006, I'd try my hand at geotagging, for the first time. Which took from yesterday afternoon until early this morning for me to figure out how to map my images. The problem resolved when I, finally, would download an updated verson of the Macro Flasher.

After dropping and dragging my Francis Scott Key Bridge photo set to the proper location on the yahoo/google map, I'd learn that the area surrounding Key Bridge is knwon as Tohoga. And that the intersection of M Street and Key Bridge known as Harlem is listed as a Historic Popular Place in the District of Columbia.

So, now I will embark on a documentary project to learn more about Tohoga and Harlem in the Georgetown area of WDC which Peter Square is located in the former. And the Foundary Branch Valley Park and John Carroll Statue, in the latter.

Who knew ...?

The Woodward Building (Redevelopment)

The Woodward Building is located at the southeast corner of Fifteenth and H Streets, in NW Washington DC. With entrances at 733 15th Street and 1426 H Street, the structure is eleven stories high and massed to form a modified U-shape facing H Street. Located within the boundaries of the Fifteenth Street Financial District, a locally designated historic district, the building was listed in the nomination for historic designation as a structure that contributed to the significance of that district. Constructed in 1911 for Washington businessman Samuel W. Woodward, the Woodward Building was designed in a classical revival style by the local architectural firm of Harding and Upman which was founded in 1904 by Lowell Harding.

Taken on Labor Day Sunday, 3 September 2006, during my ritual Sunday Photo Walk this particular series of photos represents the beginning of an ongoing documentary projects that will focus on the redevelopment of the Woodward Building as well as the Fifteenth Street Financial District.

The latter which I had never heard of until searching the internet for information pertaining to the Woodward Building. Some which is as follows:

1. Committee of 100 on the Federal City v. DCRA, 571 A.2d 195 (D.C. 1990)
2. DCRA, 571 A.2d 195 Application #88-330
3. "There Goes The Neighborhood" . Washington Monthly dated December 2005
4. Lot #108 Grace Coolege - Free Frank Signed 10/18/1934 Document 80672