Shaw/Mount Vernon West Historic District - National Register of Historic Places Registration Form...

8/2/2019 Shaw/Mount Vernon West Historic District - National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1999)

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N FS Form 10-900(Rev. 11-90) OMBNo. 10024-0018

United States Department of th e InteriorNational Park Service

This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties or districts. Se e instHistoric Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x " in the appropriate box"requested. If an i tem does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." Fo r functions, architectural classif icationT

ofan dareas of signif icance, enter only categories and subc ategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NFS Form 10-900a) . Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to compete all items.

1 . N a m e of PropertyHistoric name: Mount Vernon West Historic DistrictOther nam es/site number:2 . LocationStreet & Number: [N/A] N ot fo r PublicationCity or town: District of Columbia [N/A 1 VicinityState: Washington Code: D C County: District ofColumbia Code: 001 Zip Code:3 . State/Federal Agency CertificationA s the designated authority under the N ational Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this [ ] nomination [ ] request for determination of eligibility meets theIn my opinion, the p : ] meets [ ] does not meet th e National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered signif icant [ ] nationally [ ] statewide [iuatio\ sheetVfor additional comments. )

Signature \#certifying official/Title Date

State or Federal agency an d bureauIn my opinion, the property [ ] meets [ ] does no t meet the National Register criteria. ([ ] Se e continuation sheet for additional comments. )

Signature of certifying official/Title Date

State or Federal agency and bureau4 . National Park Service C ertif icatiI, hjfeby, certify that this property is:[\/entered in th e National Register.( ) se e continuation sheet[ ] determined eligible fo r the National Register( ) see continuation sheet[ ] determined no t eligible for the National Register[ ] removed from the National Register[ ] other, (explain:)


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Mo unt V ernon West Historic District Washington, D . C .N a m e of Property County and State5. ClassificationOwnersh ip of Property[X ] Private[X ] Public-Local[] Public-State[ ] Public-Federal

Category of Property[] Building(s)[X ] District[] Site[] Structure[] Object

Nam e of related multiple property listingN/A

N o. Resources within PropertyContributing Noncontributing599 106 Buildings0 00 00 010699 ___Number of contributingResources previouslylisted in th e NationalRegister 163____

SitesStructureObjectsTotal

6. Function or U seHistoric Functions (enter categoriesfrom instructions)DOMESTI C: Single Dwellings________DOMESTI C: Multiple Dwellings______DOMESTIC: Secondary Structures__________C O M M E R C E / T R A D E : Business__________C O M M E R C E / T R A D E : Professional____COMM ERC E/TRA DE: Financ ial Insti tu t ionsCOMMERC E/TRA D E: Special ty StoresC O M M E R C E / T R A D E : Warehouses_____E D U C A T I O N : Schools__________RELIG ION: Rel igious Facility________7 . Description _________

Current Functions (entercategories from instructions)DOMESTIC: Single DwellingDOMESTIC: Mult iple Dw el lingsDOMESTIC: Secondary StructuresCOMMERCE/TRA DE: BusinessCOMMERCE/TRADE: ProfessionalCOMMER CE/TRA DE: Financ ial Insti tu t ionsCOMMER CE/TRA DE: Spec ial ty StoresC O M M E R C E / T R A D E : Warehouses______C O M M E R C E / T R A D E : Restaurant______RELIGION: Rel igious Facility________

A rchitectural Classif ication(enter categories from instructions)I ta l ianate____________________Second Empire______________Queen A nne _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Renaissance R e v i v a l _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Commerc ial S ty le_____________Colonial Revival______________Gothic R evival

Materials (enter categories from instructions)foundation:walls:___roof: ___other:

Stone; Brick; Concrete BlockClapboard; Brick; Lime stone; G raniteFlat; Sloped; Gable; Mansard; Hipped

Narrative DescriptionDescribe the historic and current condition of he property on one or more continuation sheets[X ] See continuation sheet


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Mount Vernon West Historic District Washington, D . C .N a m e of Property8 . Statement of Significance

County and S tate

Appl icable N at ional Register Criteria(Mark x in on e or more boxes fo r the criteriaqualifying th e property fo r National Register listing.)

[X ] A Property is associated with events that havemad e a significant contribution to the broad patternsof our history.[ ] B Property is associated with th e lives ofpersons significant in our past.[X ] C Property embodies th e distinctive characteristicsof a type, period, or method of construction or representsth e work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, orrepresents a significant and d istinguishable entity whosecompo nents lack individual distinction.[ ] D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield,information important in prehistory or history.Criteria Considerations(Mark x in all the boxes that apply.)[ ] A ow ned b y a religious institution orused for religious purposes.[ ] B removed from its original location.[ ] C a birthplace or grave.[ ] D a cemetery.[ ] E a reconstructed building, object, or structure.[ ] F a commemorat ive property.[ ] G less than 50 years of ag e or achievedsignificance within th e past 50 years.

A r e a s of Significance(Enter categories from instructions)Architecture______Communi ty Planning &____DevelopmentSocial History_______Ethnic Heritage: Black

Period of Significance1833-1932

Significant Dates1833______1862_____1 8 7 2

Significant Person(Complete ifCriterion B is marked above.)N /A

Cultural AffiliationU nknown

Architect/Builder

Narrat ive Statement of Significance(Explain th e signif icance of th e property on one or more continuation sheets.)


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Moun t Vernon West Historic District Washington, D . C .N a m e of Property9 . Ma jor Bibliograph ic References

County and S tate

[ ] See continuation sheetPrevious docume ntation on file (NF S):[X ] preliminary determination ofindividual listing (3 6 C FR 6 7)[X ] previously listed in the N R[ ] previously determined eligibleby the National Register[X ] designated a National HistoricLandmark[ ] recorded by Historic Amer icanBuildings Survey #_______[ ] recorded by H istoric A mericanEngineering Record #______

Primary location of add. data:[X] State SHPO office[ ] Other State agency[ ] Federal agency[ ] Local government

[ ] University[X ] OtherSpecify repository:EHT Traceries

[X ] See continuation sheet10. Geographical DataAcreage of property approximately 12 5 acresU T M References1 /1/8/ /3/2/4/1/2/0/ /4/3/0/7/8/2/0/Zone Easting Northing2 71/87 73/2/4/1/0/47 /4/3/0/7/8/6/0/Zone Easting Northing3 71/87 7372/4/0/6/47 /4/3/0/7/8/8/0/Zone Easting Northing

4 /1/8/ 73/2/4/0/8/0/ 74/3/0/7/9/0/0/Zone Easting Northing5 /1/8/ 73/2/4/0/4/4/ 74/3/0/7/9/2/0/Zone East ing Northing6 7 1 /8 / 73/2/4/0/6/0/ 74/3/0/7/9/8/5/Zone East ing Northing

[X ] See continuation sheetVerbal Bounda ry DescriptionThe Mount Vernon West Historic District begins at the intersection of 9 t h Street and L StreetNorth, N W . The boundary runs north on 9 t h Street to N Street, including al l th e propertiesfronting the street to the west, and turns east on N Street. Running one block east to 7 t h Street,__________________[X] See continuation sheet________________________Boundary JustificationThe boundaries of the expanded historic district are comprised of a portion of th e m u c h largercommuni ty that grew around Mount Vernon Square . Drastic physical changes in th e latter p artof th e 20 t h century have created tw o distinct neighborhoods, Mount V ernon Square and Mount________________[X] See continuation sheet______________________


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Mount Vernon West Historic District______________________Washington, D . C .N a m e of Property County and State11. Form Prepared By________________________________________Name/title Laura V. Trieschmarm, Architectural Historian______________________Organizat ion EHT Traceries______________ Date July 27, 1999______________Street & Number 5420 Western Avenue______ Telephone (301) 656-5283City or Town Chevy Chase______ State Maryland_____Z ip code 20815_______Addi t i o na l Documentation________________________________________________Submit the following items with the completed form:

Continuation Sheets

M a p sA U S G S m a p (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the prop erty's location.A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerousresources.

PhotographsRepresentative black and white photographs of the property.

Addit ional i tems(Check with the SHPO or FPO for an y additional items)

Property Owner________________________________________(Complete this item at the request of the SHPO or FPO.)name _______________________________________street & number ____________________________telephonecity or tow n _________________state_________zip codePaperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties forlisting or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance withthe National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 47 0 et seq.)Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 1 8 . 1 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions,gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief,Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of the Management an d Budget, PaperworkReductions Projects (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503.


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NFS Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) OMB No. 10024-0018

United States Department of th e InteriorNa tional Park ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SCont inuat ion S h e e tMount Vernon Wes t Historic District, Washington, D CSection number 7 Page 1

Early Architecture of the Northern Liberties , 183 0-1865The oldest buildings remaining in th e Mount Vernon West historic district date from the secondquarter of th e 1 9 * century. This construction, overwhelmingly devoted to residentialdevelopment, is a direct result of th e northward migration along th e established turnpike of 7 t hStreet. A s a rule, these buildings have flat facades with limited decorative details, and are se tback from the street to create landscaped front yards. The structures were typically builtindividually, in pairs or in small groups. W hile influenced by the Italianate style, most of th eearliest houses are quite sparse in their use of ornament, representing a builder's vernacularinterpretation of a style. The buildings al l stand two stories in height and two bays wide. Theroofs vary from continuous side gable over a group of dwellings to th e slightly sloped roof thattypically covers a single or paired structure. Ornamentation is limited to the cornice, consistingo f a slightly overhanging element of wood construction. The cornice, detailed with scrolledbrackets, was more comm only found on th e buildings with sloping roofs.The buildings from this period were typically of wood-frame construction, clad withweatherboard. However , because of th e vulnerability of this building material, only 120 wood-frame structures are currently extant in Mount Vernon Wes t (961 properties were recordedoverall). Of th e 118 resources recorded from this period, th e number of wood-frame structuresto masonry is equal (5 8 wood frame and 6 1 masonry). The greatest concen tration of wood-framebuildings were found in Squares 367 an d 368, along 9 t h , 10 t h , M, an d N Streets. Yet, only fourexamples of wood framing are extant, while 45 masonry structures from this period still exist.The extant structures include the dwellings at 927 M Street (1839-1844, Square 368); 1211 1 0 t hStreet (1833-1939, Square 368); 1303 12 t h Street (c . 1850, Square 313); and 1217 1 1 t h Street(1864-1869, Square 340) .Dwellings erected in masonry displayed essentially th e same form an d massing as their wood-frame counterparts. The majority of these structures, constructed of brick, were built in circa1865 as part of a contiguous ro w of dwellings found in Square 366. Excellent representations ofthis type of construction are located at 1410-1418 Columbia Street (c . 1865) and 1413-1421Columbia Street (c . 1865). The buildings are similarly finished with sloping roofs crowned on


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N FS Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) 0 M B N o. 10024-0018

United States Depa r tmen t of th e InteriorNational Park Serv iceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t io n S hee tMount V ernon W est His tor ic District, Washington , D CSection n u m b e r 7 P a g e 2

the fa?ade by narrow wooden cornices with brackets and mod ill ions. Set back from the streetwith a substantially sized front yard, th e buildings ar e two-bay wide with fa9ades of pressedbrick.The buildings denominated as "al ley dwell ings" were general ly two-story brick structures thatmeasured tw o to three bays wide and two rooms deep. Flat facades with symmetricalfenestration, flat roofs, and corbelled brick cornices were the most prominent aspects of thesehouses, al l of which have direct orientation to the alleys. Seco nd story window openings on th efacades general ly have brick segmental-arched lintels and brick sills. T he side elevations of th eend rowhouses in the alleys ar e often pierced with small window openings, as ar e the rearelevations. Examples of extant alley dwe llings are found in Square 367 on Lots 824 and 827 andon Square 368 on Lots 106-111 , L ot 83, and Lots 150-151. T he ro w of al ley dwell ings onSquare 368 , Lots 106-111, denoted as 36-46 Blagden Alley South, was constructed in 1885 bybuilders Haney and Ward for property owner H.D. Boteler. While other individual alleydwe llings remain, this is the only grouping to survive as an intact row. All six of th e buildingshave large modified garage door openings on the ground level and single window openings onth e second story. The second story openings have segmentally arched lintels and brick sills,while th e cornice line is finished with corbelled bricks.

Victor ian Arch i tec ture of Mo unt Vernon: 1866 -1900During the latter part of th e 19 t h century, the construction of residential buildings increasedtenfold. Typical ly constructed in rows, the buildings are overwhelmingly buil t of brick. Of th e558 documen ted bui ld ings from this period, including both commercial and domestic, over 520were constructed of brick, while 39 were constructed of wood framing. Only 457 buildings fromthis period ar e ex tant today.The availability of mass-produced components from pattern books and hardware supplycatalogues al lowed local builders to create reasonable facsimiles of th e most fashionablearchitectural styles. Brackets, finials, molded bricks, windows, paneled doors, and cast ironelements, as wel l as interior stairs and moldings were all ready-made and could be pieced


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United States Depa r tmen t of the InteriorNational Park Serv iceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t i on S hee tMount Vernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r 7 P a g e 3

together by builders in infinite varieties. Stylistically , row buildings from this period wereinspired by eclect ic, medieval sources , with English Gothic, Queen A n n e , R oma nesque , andFrench Second Empire design motifs . Houses tended to be asymmetrical in form - emphasizedby th e towers, turrets, bay windows and oriels - and constructed in a dark palette of re d brick an dbrownstone wi th wood and metal trim painted in somber tones. The masonry facades of th epressed brick and stone buildings were never painted, instead relying on their natural colors togive the building character. Masonry joints of the facades were typically tinted to match th ecolor of th e brick. A rchitectural emphasis w as placed on the fronts of th e building, and sides fo rcorner structures, while rear elevations were conside red utilitarian, most often w ith anci l lary ellsthat projected off a portion of th e back wall.The Building Projection A ct of 1871, allowing for the construction of projecting bays into publicspace, and th e enactment of municipal building codes between 1872-1878, prohibi t ing frameconstruction and wood cladding, had a profound affect on the architecture in Washington, D.C.and Mount Vernon West . Houses constructed in this period also began to be larger in size andfeatured indoor plum bing as required by the building codes. While houses erected prior to 1875were typically two stories in height, buildings constructed in the late 1870s and 1880s t ended tobe three stories. By the 1890s, houses in the area were more typically four full stories.Projecting bays are a prominent and important character-defining feature of th e majority of th erowhouses in th e neighborhood. W ithin neighboring comm unit ies, th e first projecting bays,dating from the early 1870s, were tentative in nature, typically only one story in height , of woodconstruction, an d appeared as if tacked on th e existing flat-fronted buildings. In Mount Vernon,th e projecting bay arrived as an integral part of th e original design; thus th e majority of bays areconstructed of brick rather than woo d. This allowe d for the architectural presentat ion to be moreelegant an d finished in appea rance. The bays initially rose from the Engl ish basemen t to the firststory. Excel lent examples of th e height of the first projecting bays ar e found in the buildings at1424-1426 9 t h Street (c.1888, Square 366) and 920 O Street (1878, Square 367) . The tw o storybuildings, each crowed with a mansard roof, are se t upon raised foundations. As was thefashion, th e canted bays rise only the height of the first story. Thus, the projections arediminutive in size when compared to the overall m assing of th e buildings they adorn. The brick


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N FS Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) OMB No. 10024-0018

United States Depa r tmen t of the InteriorNational Park Serv iceN A T I O N A L REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t i on S hee tMount Vernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, DCSection n u m b e r 7 P a g e 4

facades are ornately detailed with projecting lintels, pedimented architraves, heavy overhangingcornices of w ood , and front gable dormers .The odd s ide of th e 900 block of O Street (Square 366) , constructed in 1868-1873 , is noteworthyas a block that was dev eloped entirely without bays. Decorative treatment, commonly applied toth e projections on surrounding dwellings, is instead transferred to th e heavily ornamentedroofline and architraves. The unifying overhangs ar e identically finished with plain friezesbelow denti l molding, saw n-cut scrol led brackets w ith foliage, and ogee cornices.A s the period progressed, so did the depth, height, and universal use of projecting bays,sometimes reaching above the roofline with a stylized parapet or tower. In addition to the largerproport ions, th e canted and round bays were ornamented with brackets, decorative tr im, andblind balustrades or panels below th e window openings. The use of a similar cornice t rea tmenton th e projecting bay and the to p of th e building united th e fa9ade 's composit ion. Yet , th evarying roofl ines of th e projections typically indicated an individual dwelling within a long row,with corbel ing, segmental-arches, mansard roofs, conical caps, and stepped parapets. Theappearance created by the rows and their projecting bays is very much in keeping wi th th eVictorian notion of th e picturesque, as it could be achieved on a small urban rowhouse. The fourhouses fronting 10 t h Street in Square 340 were designed by architect B. Stanley Simmons in1891 and illustrate th e overwhelming use of projecting bays, and the variations applied to each.Well into the 1890s , building design again showed variation with th e use of rough-cut stoneblocks on th e facades, Classical-inspired brick corbelled cornices rather than Ita l ianate-styledwood cornices, and imposing roofs hiding a full story within. One of th e best examples of thisevolution is found in the Classical Revival style freestanding building at 925 N Street in Square367. Designed by Thomas Franklin Schneider for A.S. Johnson, the 1891 building is clad withrough-cut stone blocks on th e first story and pressed brick on th e upper stories. A two-storyround bay is capped with a stone balustrade that mimics the ornate detailing on th e entablature.One of th e m ost interesting rows of buildings in Mount Vernon W e s t is th e four dwell ings at1602-1608 8 t h Street in Square 396. Following the fashions of th e period, th e contiguous brickrow has an undulat ing fa9ade created by projecting canted bays. The individual dwell ings are


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NFS Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) 0 M B N o. 10024-0018

United States Departm ent of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t i on S hee tMount Vernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, D CSection n umb er 7 Page 5

visual ly connected by the prominent wooden entablature that projects to the face of th e bays,rather than the fa9ade of th e main block. The entablature is composed of two ogee moldingsmarking the wide frieze, foliated brackets, scrolled modillions, and an overhanging cyma reversacornice. Metal balconies on the second story are visual ly supported by brackets r ising from thelintels over th e main entry.Commercia l design did not substantially differ from the residential trends. Commercia lbuildings, like those found along 7 t h Street and Massachusetts A venue , were three and fourstories in height. The buildings were divided into two zones; the lower devoted to publicshopping space and the upper containing residences, offices, and hotels. The storefronts, th emajority of which have been significantly altered to provide wider window openings, weremarked by a narrow cornice that w as simpler in design compared to the overhanging cornices atthe rooflines. The facades were typically flat fronted with heavily ornamented cornices of woodor metal. The ornamentation found on th e roof cornice commonly mirrored th e detailing overth e window openings of th e upper stories.The n u m b e r of buildings erected exclusively fo r commercial purposes w as surprisingly limitedwithin wha t ar e now th e boundaries of Mount Vernon West . Many of the commercia lestabl ishments support ing th e neighborhood were located along 7 t h Street, P Street,Massachusett s A venue, and Mount Vernon Square. Overwhelmingly, th e commercial bui ldingswere constructed w ith residentia l space on th e upper stories. An excel lent example of th e dualuse is il lustrated at the William H. Z eh dwell ing and store at 1314 9 t h Street (Square 367). TheZeh building, constructed in 1887, is a three-story brick building with a rectangular footprint.While the elevations fronting the alley ar e devoid of ornamentation, th e fa9ade is highly detailedwith architectural o rname ntation fashionable in th e Late Victorian era. Designed by architect E.Esdorf, th e building w as leased by 1910 to Julius Viedy, Jr., w ho maintained a grocery store onth e first floor while living with his large family on th e upper tw o floors. Viedy painted anadver t i sement on th e primary alley elevation - Julius V iedy, Jr . G R O CE R IE S & P R O V I S I O N S .Wines & Liquors . Cigars & Tobacco.The Fine Family Groceries at 1000 O Street in Square 339 is another example of the dualresidential and commercia l use in Mount Vernon West . The three-story c orner building, erected


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NFS Form 10-900(Rev. 11-90) OMB No. 10024-0018

United States Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SCont inuat ion S h e e tMount Vernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, D CSection n umb er 7_ Page 6

in 1874-1876, is constructed of brick in the Italianate style. The building rises above theadjacent dwell ings with an architecturally distinguished entablature of metal. A modil l ionedcornice and doublewide entry opening mark the first story (subsequently altered). The elongatedopenings of the second story and the standard openings on the third story ar e f inished withsegmental ly arched rowlock lintels. The red brick of the lintels is contrasted by the light coloredgranite crossetting. The metal entablature consists of a wide frieze with ogee molding,modil l ions, fluted brackets, and a boxed cornice. The stepped parapet above has ogee-moldedcoping, paneled returns, and is inscribed w ith th e words " F I N E F A M I L Y G R O C E R I E S . "Religious structures constructed during this period included seven religious structures, eachprominently sited at th e corner lots. The grandest of the churches erected in Mount Vernon wereth e Church of th e Ascens ion and St. Agnes and Immaculate Conception Church , both datingfrom the early 1870s. The Church of th e Ascens ion and St. A g n e s is located at 1215Massachusetts Avenue , where it intersects with 12 t h Street . The imposing church is an excel lentexample of th e late 19 t h century Gothic Revival style with its lancet-arched openings, pointedspires, and rough-cut stone exterior. Baltimore architects Tho ma s Dixon and Charles Carsondesigned th e masonry building. Characteristic of th e High Victorian Gothic style, the buildinghas a polychromed exterior of Maryland white marble and Ohio sandstone of l ight pink andorange. A t th e southeastern corner of th e building stands a 90-foot tower surmounted by a 97-foot copper-sheathed spire f inished with finials and a Latin-style cross. A large principle arch ofpink Missalon stone surrounds th e doublewide entry on Massachusetts A venue . Col umns ofgray stone support each of th e smaller aches, finely carved and graced by corbels. A b o v e th eentry are four lancet arched window openings surmounted by a small rose window. Each of th eexposed side elevations is pierced by six paired windows with molded mull ions, symmetrical lymarked above by dormers .The Imm aculate C oncept ion Catholic Church at 1315 8 t h Street (Square 423) was constructed in1870-1874. The imposing Gothic Revival style building is one story in height with a squaretower dating from 1904. In contrast to th e polychromatic coloring of th e Church of th eAscens ion and St . A gnes , Imm acula te Conception Catholic Church is a dark red brick structure,t r immed with red stone. The rectangular form is augmented on the side elevations by rel ievingbuttresses that rise 60 feet from the base of the building. A s th e buttresses engage within th e


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NFS Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) OMB N o. 10024-0018

United States Department of th e InteriorNational Par k ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S T O R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t i on S hee tMount Vernon W e s t Historic Distr ict , W ashington, DCSection n umb er 7 Page 7

roofline, pointed fmials rise above the flat parapet of the building. Symmetrical ly placedbetween the buttresses ar e narrow lancet arched window openings with sta ined glass. The mainentry, fronting on N Street, is set within lancet arched surrounds. Large rosette windows ofstained glass surmount the doublewide doors.The contemporary Hamline Methodist Church a t 1500-1508 9 t h Street was constructed in 1873.N ow th e home of th e Shiloh Baptist Church, the imposing two-story brick building was designedin the Rom anesque R eviva l a t the corner of 9 l and P Streets. The building, rising forty feet tothe eaves, has a square corner tower standing fifty feet. The dark re d brick structure is piercedby expansive semi-circular arched w indow open ings f i lled with stained glass. It w as extensivelyrenovated fol lowing a fire in 1924, thus, th e building w as enlarged to cover all of L ot 17 1be tween 9 t h Street and the alley dividing Square 365 .

Early 20 t h Century Architecture of Mount Vernon West: 1 90 0 -1 945Rowhouse construction w as primarily limited to th e 19 1 century, as most of th e area had beenconsiderably infilled by the turn of th e 20 t h century. Some of th e few remaining v acant lots inresidentia l blocks were developed with modest apartment buildings in the early 20 t h century tome et the residentia l shifts taking place. The first of the apartments w as th e Henrietta at 1241 10 t hStreet, constructed in 1900 to the design of B. Stanley Simmons. Other early examples ofapartme nt buildings are th e Carlisle at 1213 N Street (pre-1902) and the Plymouth at 1236 1 1 t hStreet (1903), the Royalton at 918 M Street (1903, demolished) , and the Homestead at 1314-1318 1 1 t h Street (1904 , demolished). The brick and stone apartmen t buildings each displayed thefashionable styles of th e period, incorporating projecting bays, overhanging cornices, andmolded lintels. The Henrietta, fo r example , stands five stories in height with project ing endbays. This classically inspired building is divided into zones with a base, shaft, and capital. Thefirst story has crenellated granite surrounds, scrolled keystones, a f la t arched entry opening withconcave imposts, and roundels applied below the stringco urse. The three upper stories areminim ally detailed in contrast to the semi-circular arched openings and entablature of th e upperzone. The highest level of detail is found on this upper zone, consisting of three full stories


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NFS Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) OM B No. 10024-0018

United States Depa r tmen t of th e InteriorNational Park Serv iceN A T I O N A L REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t i on S hee tMount Vernon W est Historic District, W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r 7 P a g e 8

orname nted w ith keystones, project ing ogee cornice with scrolled surrounds on th e round dormeropenings, dentil molding, modillions, and overhanging ogee-molded eaves.The national change in architectural tastes away from the eclecticism of th e Victorian periodtoward th e classical w as visible in Mount Vernon in the early 20 t h century, particularly in th edesign of apartment buildings and freestanding single-family dwellings. One of th e bes texamples of the digression from the traditional to the contemporary fashions is seen in the onceflat-fronted dwelling at 1217 10 t h Street . Constructed in th e 1850s of brick, the single-familydwe lling stands three stories in height on an English basement . Examination of th e facade andexposed side elevation indicates the building w as extensively em bell ished w ith Classical Revivalstyle detailing. Alterat ions include a one-story canted bay, dentil molding, scrolled modil l ionswith f lut ing, reeded cornerboards with oversized ogee molding and dent i l molding, projectingwindow h oods wi th roundels and plaster masks, swags, and plaques carved w ith classical scenes.The curvi l inear parapet placed atop the entablature is metal, and physically to o small fo r th eaccompanying detai l ing below. To give the effect of a piano nobi le, a wrought-iron balcony w asplaced below a second story window opening and the original main entry opening on th e firststory w as rehabilitated to serve as a fixed window divided by muntins .After the turn of th e 20 t h century, the construction of larger commercial bui ldings, warehouses,and industrial structures began in earnest with th e erection of over sixty such facili ties. Primarilyconstructed as infill development, th e buildings were al l constructed of brick with flat roofs. A sth e majority of the structures fronted 7 t h and 8 t h Streets and on corner lots along 9 t h and 10 t hStreets, the facades were often detailed with many of the same architectural elements displayedon the residential buildings. The Seventh Street Savings Bank at th e southeast corner of 7 t h andN Streets in Square 423 stands as one of th e most prominent illustrations of early 20 t h centurycommercial bui ldings in Mount Vernon West . Constructed in 1912-1913 as a combination bank,store, and apartmen t building, the Seventh Street Bank is designed in th e Classical Re vival styleby the architectural firm of Rich and Fitzsimons. The structure originally consisted of two parts:the principal, two-story bank building still on th e site and a two-story commercial wing that nolonger stands. The commercial aspect of th e building facing 7 t h Street consisted of tw o separatecommercia l spaces. The four individual apartments - wo over th e bank and one over each store- were rented independently, though in several cases the merchants lived above their respective


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United States Dep art ment of th e InteriorNational Park ServiceN A T I O N A L R E G I S T E R O F H I S TO R IC P L A C E SContinuation S h e e tMount Vernon W e s t Historic District, Washington, D CSection n u m b e r 7 P a g e 9

stores. The 7 t h Street elevation is divided into three bays by double-story brick pilasters that spanth e full two-story height. The first story features three large, semi-circular arched openings,including a central entry and flanking windows , al l articulated with brick voussoirs an dl imestone keystones. The second story, separated from th e first by three raised brick panels,features paired wind ows in each of the three bays. Immediately above th e second story wind owsare th e building 's notable frieze, visually supported by th e double-story brick pilasters and theirl imestone caps. The frieze is constructed of terra cotta panels and offers the bank's nameinscribed into it s surface: " SEV ENTH STREET SA V INGS B A NK." Buttressing ei ther end ofth e frieze on cornerblocks above the building's end piers ar e stylized roundels. Egg-and-dartmolding encloses th e to p of th e frieze, while two layers of continuous foliated molding form th elower edge. A b o v e the frieze is a wide, overhanging cornice with it s heavy modil l ions and ogee-shaped profile.

tHThe emergence of th e automobile m arkedly affected 20 century development and revitalizationefforts along 7 t h and 8 t h Streets, M and N Streets, and M assachusetts A venue . Auto showrooms,repair shops, and garages began to appear along these major thoroughfares in th e 1920s and1930s. A significant number of brick garages for private uses were constructed at th e rear ofindividual lots accessible by th e alleys. The private auto-related structures typically had asloping roof and stood one- to two-stories in height. The two-bay wide buildings hadsegmental ly arched openings wide enough to allow fo r a single automobile to enter. No stylisticornamentation w as typically applied to th e designs of the private garages, excep t fo r th eoccasional corbel led brick cornice to identify a relationship with th e adjacent main dwell ing.Examples of the shift from horse-drawn transportat ion to th e automobile include the three pub licgarages and auto repair shops erected in the early part of th e 1920s at th e center of BlagdenAlley. The brick and concrete block garages replaced late 19 t h century livery stables and alleydwell ings. An ex ta n t example of the change is th e United States Storage Company Garage atBlagden Alley North, constructed in 1921 to the architectural designs of J.T. Malvin.Constructed of concrete and cinder block, the one-story garage had a rectangular plan, flat roof,and no stylistic detailing.In 1922, the bronze sculpture memorializing English orator an d statesman Edmund Burke (1729-


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United States D e p a r t m e n t of th e InteriorNational P a r k Serv iceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S T O R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t i on S hee tMount V ernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, D CSection n umb er 7 Page 10

1797) w as placed in the t r iangular Reservation 68. The 8-foot-high portrait, a copy of th eoriginal located in Bristol, England, was presented to th e American people by Sir CharlesWakefield, former Lord Mayor of London, on behalf of the Sulgrave Institute. The bronzememoria l w as sculpted by J. Harvard Thomas on a granite pedestal designed by architect HoraceW . Peaslee. In 1933, th e Samuel Gompers Memorial, designed by sculptor Ro bert I . A itken, wasplaced in the adjacent Reservation 69. Gompers (1850-1924) was the English-born founder andpresident of th e A merican F edera tion of Labor. The bronze sculpture depicts a seated Gompers,with six allegorical figures in the background representing th e American labor movement . Inthis sculptural group, the seated female on the left symbolized th e protection of the home, whileth e seated male on th e right symbolized th e overthrow of industrial exploitation by education.The two s tanding w omen represent justice; the left female holds a fasces (the R oma n symbol ofpower and justice). The two principal background figures, two standing m en with clasped hands,denote unity and cooperation of th e labor movement . Emblems of labor, such as a 1930 steamlocomotive engine, are arranged among the Neo-classical figures. Excerpts from th e writ ings ofGom pers appear on the granite base. 1By the 1930s, th e Mount Vernon W e s t communi ty w as fully dev eloped, with over 805 resources .I t was comprised of ornamental late 19 t h century residentia l rowhouses and early 20 t h centurycommercia l buildings and apartmen ts . Predominately con structed of brick in a variety of colors,th e architecture of th e neighborhood continued to be stylistically compatible, despite the varyingperiods of development , architects, and property owners . W hile some significant buildings werelost during th e 1968 riots and the subsequent urban redevelopment, many of th e area's landmarkssurvive intact and continue to characterize th e physical development of th e communi ty flanking7 t h Street . Mid- to late 20 t h century c onstruction includes a 1957 grocery store, two-story brickand l imestone Chinese church, a one-story brick car wash, and numerous masonry apar tmentbuildings. This construction has been minimal, thus of th e 710 extant properties within th eMount Vernon West boundaries, 61 buildings were e rected af ter 1932.

1 James M. Goode, T he Outdoor Sculpture ofWashington, D.C.: A Comprehensive Historical Guide, (Washington,D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974), pp . 276-277.


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N F S F orm 10-900(R ev . 11-90) O MB N o. 1 0 0 2 4 - 0 0 1 8

United States Departm ent of the InteriorNational Par k ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S T O R I C P L A C E SCont inuat ion S h e e tMount Vernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r _8_ Page 1

S T A T E M E N T OF SI G N I FI CAN CEThe Mount Vernon W e s t Historic District amends the Blagden Alley/Naylor Court NationalRegister Historic District, designated in 1990. The expansion of th e Blagden Al ley/Naylor CourtHistoric District, supported by detailed docum entation and intensive survey work, incorporatescommercial bui ldings, rowhouses, and alley dwellings along transportation routes vital to th edevelopment of Washington, D.C. The history, both social and architectural, of the amendeddistrict is analogous and maintains sufficient integrity to warrant expansion of th e BlagdenA lley/Naylor Cou rt Historic District under the name Mount Vernon West Historic District. Theproposed district maintains th e designated historic district's period of significance of 1833 to1932 an d the areas of significance (architecture and communi ty planning/development) . TheBlagden Alley/Naylor Court Historic District included 159 properties, five of which weredetermined to be non-contributing. The amended boundary includes 705 properties, 599 ofwhich contribute to th e significance of th e Mount Vernon W est Historic District.The Mount Vernon Wes t Historic District is significant as a mid- to late 19 t h century comm ercia land residentia l neighborhoo d located within th e historic boundaries of th e District of Columbia ' sFederal City. Developed in part during the second quarter of th e 19 t h century, the communi tywas ini t ia l ly known as th e Northern Liberties, having attained its name from th e NorthernLiberty M arket , constructed in the 1840s on L'Enfant's Reservation 8. W ith the relocation of th emarket , and th e creation of a landscaped park in the reservation, th e neighborhood w asunofficially t i t led "Mount Vernon." The developing neighborhood's rapid growth was inresponse to the city's increasing demand fo r housing fol lowing th e Civil War , th e extensiveprograms to modernize the city in the 1870s, and the expansion of th e national capital 's economyand population. Seventh Street, chartered as a turnpike in 1810 by an act of Congress, becamethe spine of the neighborhood, as well as a primary transportation artery into the center of th ecity. W h e n th e turnpike w as macadamized in the early 1870s, commercia l developmentmigrated along 7 t h Street, northward across Massachusetts Avenue to th e north. The laying ofstreetcar rails alon g th e north/south corridors of 4 t h , 7 t h , 9 t h , and 1 1 t h Streets and along N ew YorkAvenue fur ther augmented development in th e Mount Vernon communi ty . The new streetcar


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NF S Form 10-900(Rev. 11-90) OM B N o. 10024-0018

United States Depa r tmen t of th e InteriorNational Pa r k Serv ice

NATIONAL REGISTER O F HISTORIC PLACESContinuation SheetMount V ernon W est Histor ic D istr ict , W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r 8 P a g e 2

technology opened up the outer reaches of th e Federal City fo r residentia l development, makingit more convenient to commute downtown to work and shop. Consequently, th e Mount Vernonarea, like ma ny of its surrounding neighborhoods, grew as a cohesive residential neighborhoodwith nearly all of th e rowhouses constructed by speculat ive builders and real estate developers.Much of th e area's mid- to late 19 t h century brick architecture remains intact along th e residentialstreets that radiate from the transportation corridors and commercial strips from which th e MountVe rnon neighborhood evolved.The Mount Vernon W est Historic D istrict is also significant fo r it s illustration of Washington ' surban history, specifically th e residential patterns of th e working and middle classes . AsWashington became increasingly racially segregated, the Mount Vernon neighborhood w asstriated with white residents living primarily in dwellings facing onto th e public streets, whileAfr ican Americans lived within the alleyways. The numerous alleys, labyrinths lined withdwell ings, stables, and commercial structures, were visually separated from the everyday lifefound on th e surrounding pub lic streets. During the late 19 t h and early 20 t h centuries, legislationand the humanitarian efforts of social organizations and individuals improve d th e welfare of th ealley inhabitants, eventually eradicating alley dwellings altogether. This prompted northwardmigration to th e nearby U Street neighborhood, which w as emerging as th e center ofWashington ' s African American comm unity. Con sequent ly, the Mount Vernon neighborhoodevolved into a predominately white and middle class neighborhood by the second quarter of th e20 t h century.Today, th e Mount V ernon neighborhood is defined by its many original mid- to late 19 t h centurybuildings, including residential and commercial structures fronting on both public streets andal leyways. This building stock includes l imited examples of th e wood-frame houses that predate the Civi l War , representing th e long history of residential occupation in the neighborhood.The middle-class dw ell ings oriented to the public streets illustrate a variety of building types an dth e changing fashions in architectural design w ith vernacular interpretations of the late 19 t h andearly 20 t h century revival styles. The resources are typical ly brick rowhouses flanked by two-and three-story com mercial bui ldings, churches, and multi-story apartment buildings. Within th einteriors of th e squares, the extant alleys feature a m ix of utilitarian residential, commercial, and


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United States Depa r tmen t of th e InteriorNa t ion a l P a r k Serv ice

N A T I O N A L R E G I S T E R O F H I S TO R IC P L A C E SContinuation S h e e tMount Vernon W es t Historic D istr ict , W ashington, DCSection n u m b e r 8 P a g e 3

auxiliary buildings such as stables and garages. The alleys demonstrate the spatial configurationsof Washington, D.C. in the middle part of th e 19 t h century, and th e social reforms to eliminatealleys from urban design plans throughout th e United States in the early 20 t h century.The Mount Vernon West Historic District meets National Register criteria A and C, and issignificant under th e themes of architecture and communi ty p lanning /development wi th th eperiod of significance extending from 1833 to 1932. The area making up the Mount VernonW e s t neighborhood consists of 705 historic properties, th e majority of which are residentialresources. Of th e 705 properties, 599 contribute to th e historic district, while 106 are non-contributing.Within th e boundaries of th e historic district are th e 154 resources contributing to the BlagdenAl ley/Naylor Court Historic District (designated to th e National Register in 1990), th e PlymouthApar tments at 1236 1 1 t h Street (listed in th e National Register in 1986) , and the Church of th eAscens ion and St . A g n e s at 1215 Massachusetts Avenue (l isted in the National Register in 1984) .Listed in the D C Inventory of Historic Places only are th e Immacula te Concept ion Church at1315 8 t h Street and the Morrison and Clark Houses at 1013-1015 L Street (listed in 1968 and1972, respectively) . The homes of Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce at 909 M Street and Carter G.Wood son at 1538 9 t h Street were both recognized as National Historic Landmarks in 1975 and1976 , respectively.Al though platted as part of the Federal City in 1790, th e Mount Vernon a rea saw littledevelopment in the period between 1790 and 1820. During this t ime, there was li tt le turnover ofproperty, and most of th e real estate holdings were large and general ly unimproved. In fact,w h e n the federal government arrived in 1800, only 109 "permanent" structures (brick or stone)stood in all ofWashington to house the 500 families already residing there and the additional 300civilian members of the government . The comm issioners reported 372 dwell ings as "habitable,"but as a cabinet officer noted, "most of them [are] small miserable hu ts." 1 The commercial sector

1 James Sterling Young, The Washington Community, 1800-1828, (New York, NY : Columbia University Press,1966) , p. 22 .


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NPS Form 10-900(Rev. 11-90) OM B N o. 10024-0018

United States Department of th e InteriorNational Park ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t io n S hee tMount V ernon W est His tor ic Distr ict , W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r 8 P a g e 4

consisted of a few warehouses, wharves, and an abandoned hotel. 2The completion of 7 t h Street by 1822 laid the foundation fo r commercial development andresidentia l growth north of Massachusetts Avenue at 9 t h Street . The second phase ofdevelopment, extending from the C ivil W ar period to th e turn of th e 20 t h century, involved th e re -subdivision of the large squares into smaller lots, th e sale of these lots, the improvement of th earea's infrastructure, and the emergence of a residentia l community burgeoning aroundcommercia l and transportation corridors. The final phase of development, from 1900 to 1932,saw the decl ine of alley dwell ings and construction of apartment buildings, gas stations,automobile garages, stores, laundries, and warehouses along the principal commuter routes of 7 t hStreet, 9 t h Street, 1 1 t h Street, Massachusetts Avenue , and N ew York A venue .The Mount Vernon W est neighborhood retains some of its original early 19 t h century residentia land com me rcial bui ldings, and many of its late 19 t h and early 20 t h century buildings. T he greatestdevelopment phase for the area occurred in the last four decades of th e 19 t h century, with th emajority of th e resources designed and erected by local builders and architects fo r speculativedevelopers. Primari ly dwell ings, the buildings comprise an intact and cohesive col lect ion ofbrick, flat and bay-fronted rowhouses executed in a variety of styles and expressions. The form,massing, and siting of these bu ildings w as shaped by municipal building codes first enacted in1871 and the mass production of building elements available to the speculative builder. Thiscommuni ty is also significant fo r it s intact alley dwellings and commercial resources . The alleybuildings are primari ly composed of two-story, flat-fronted residential structures. Thecommercial bui ldings general ly front 7 t h Street, 9 t h Street, and Massachusetts Avenue, and standtw o to three stories in height w ith storefronts on the first floor. These mercanti le bui ldings rangein date from th e middle part of th e 19 t h century to th e early 20 t h century, document ing theexistence of the significant transportation system that serviced the communi ty as it grewnorthw ard. Collective ly, the architecture ofMount Vernon W est has achieved significance as anembod iment of a distinctive period with artistic v alue of ornamentation, style, and form.

Young, pp . 22-23 .


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NFS Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) OM B No . 10024-0018

United States Depa r tmen t of the InteriorNational Park Serv ice

N A T I O N A L R E G I S T E R O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SContinuation S h e e tMount Vernon West Historic District, Washington , D CSection n umb er 8 Page 5

E a r l y His tory of th e M o u n t V er no n A r e a ; 1 7 9 0 - 1 8 3 0Prior to the organization of the City of Washington, the ent i re terri tory that became the F ederalCity was part of some thirty tracts of land, known in their entirety since 1715 as R ock CreekHundred. R ock Creek Hundred w as originally part of Charles County and, later, Prince G eorge'sCoun ty, Maryland. Most of th e settlers of th e territory were farmers who raised tobacco, wheat ,corn, and cattle. Other individuals , including merchants , bricklayers, and carpenters, w howorked and lived in Georgetown or the larger municipality of Montgomery County, Maryland,began in the mid-18 t h century to purchase land in the area as a speculat ive venture. In 1791,when the site of th e new nation's capital w as officially designated, nearly half of the originalproprietors w ho deeded their land in trust fo r th e new city were merchants and businessmenanticipating benefi t ing from the birth of th e city.At this t ime, the area that would become th e Mount V ernon neighborhood w as part of a tract ofland k n o w n as Por t Roya l which original ly encompassed 500 acres patented by John Peerce in1687. With th e subdivision of th e vast tract by 1791, Joseph Coombs , Jr., purchased the easternthird that included th e Mount Vernon area. Clarification of the title, however , did not occur until1794, after which Coombs was forced to convey ownership to William Bayly. By January 1796 ,Dom inick Lynch and Comfort Sands ofN ew York City owned th e Mount Vernon area. 3Pierre L'Enfant's 1791 plan fo r th e new Federal City included the future Mount Vernonneighborhood, with Reservation 8 and it s intersecting diagonal avenues and broad vistas as th efocal point. Reservation 8 w as created at 7 t h and 9 t h Streets where Massachusetts and N ew YorkAvenues in tersected at K Street . The rectangular square was eventual ly bisected by 8 t h Street,thus creating tw o smaller squares. More commonly known today as Mount Vernon Square,Reservation 8 w as not one of th e seventeen government reservations designated fo r publicbuildings. Rather, the square w as one of the original fifteen public squares to "be divided amongthe several states in th e Un ion for each of them to improve." 4 L'Enfant proposed that th e center3 Priscilla W . McNeil , "Rock Creek Hundred: Land Conveyed for the Federal City." Washington History, Vol. 3,N o. 1 , Spring/Summer 1991, p. 50.4 Alison K. Hoagland, "The Carnegie Library: The City Beautiful Comes to Mt. Vernon S quare," Wash ing ton


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United States Depa r tmen t of th e InteriorNational Park Serv iceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t io n S hee tMount Vernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r 8 Page 6

of each square "wil l admit the Statues, Columns, obelisks, or any other ornaments, such as th edifferent States m ay choose to erect...." 5 L'Enfant 's plan for the fifteen "State" squares w as neverimplemented; al though the federal government had purchased 2.78 acres of land to be designatedas Reservation 8 from Lynch and Sands.Despite th e city's attempts to encourage development by subdividing and platting land, fe wproperties were improved. The city's development lagged, the product of seeming disinterestand the lack of serious commi tment by Congress. Factors that discouraged early development inth e Mount Vernon neighborhood specifically included the lack of reliable roads and th e area'sdistance from the central residential core, then located south ofMassachusetts A venue .Further study of L'Enfant's plan for the nation's capital indicates a primary concern with th epositions of streets and public spaces, as th e creation of Reservation 8 suggests. In 1791, GeorgeWashington issued th e first regulations to govern how th e streets and squares were to be laid outand subsequently improved. Of th e eight original building regulations, only one , number six,addressed al leys, how eve r indirect th e assertion:

Sixth: The w ay into th e squares being designed in a special ma nner fo r th ec o m m o n use and convenience of th e occupiers of th e respective squares. . . theproperty in th e same is reserved to the public, so that there m ay be an immediateinterference on any abuse of the use thereof by any individual, to the nuisance orobstruction of others. The proprietors of th e lots adjoining the entrance into thesquares, on arching over the entrance, and fixing gates in th e ma nner th ecommiss ioners shall approve, shall be entitled to divide the space over th earching, and build it up with the range of that line of th e square. 6

History, volume 2, n um ber 2, Fall /Winter 1990-1991. (W ashington, B.C.: The Historical Society ofWashington , D.C., 1990), p. 80.5 Hoagland, p. 80.6 J.L. Sibley Jennings, Jr., "Artistry as Design: L'Enfant's Extraordinary City," The Quarterly Journal of h eLibrary ofCongress, Volume 36 , No, 3, pp . 225-278 .


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United States Depa r tmen t of the InteriorNational Park Serv ice

N A T I O N A L R E G I S T E R O F HI S T O R I C P L A C E SContinuation S h e e tMount Vernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, DCSection n umb er 8 Page 7

While i t remains unclear ifGeorge W ashington actually w as referring to alleys, Regulation N o. 3specifical ly me ntions alleys as public thoroughfares in 1795:1 . That every owner of th e soil, master workman, or other person employedin erecting dwell ing houses, ki tchens, stables, or other buildings, within th e Cityof Washington, w ho shall lay the materials prepared or collected fo r suchbuildings, or shall knowingly suffer them to be laid or disposed or, so that suchmaterials shall, in any wise, obstruct or impede the free passage of waggons , carts,drays, or other carriages in the squares, avenues, streets, or alleys of th e said city,or in any of them, shall forfeit the sum of twenty dollars, for every such offense. 7

A s noted in the "Original Survey of Squares" (1793-1796) , a total of 487 squares in th e City ofWashington were subdivided to include alleyway s. The most prevalent alley configuration w asthe H-shaped alley. This arrangement w as used in the design of 176 squares, of which Square368 in Mount Vernon Wes t is an excel lent illustration. Within th e overall contex t of th e MountVernon area, th e majority of the squares with alleys had an H-shaped design, including Squares367, 368, 369, 447, and 449, to name a few. The H-shaped alley configuration persisted overt ime, and was used in 223 out of th e 38 1 squares that included alleys by the middle part of th e19 t h century.In the early 19 t h century, set t lement occurred primarily in the area of Georgetown, Capitol Hill,th e Navy Yard, th e White House, and F Street, N . W . In 1809, A n Act to Prevent Swine fromGoing At Large w as passed. This act designated Massachusetts Avenue as the northernboundary of the urban city, beyond which p igs were al lowed to roam. 8 Located north ofMassachusetts Avenue , th e Mount Vernon neighborhood w as still outside th e limits of th edeveloped city. By th e 1830s, the area was known as th e "Northern Libert ies," a labelcommonly g iven to regions beyond the limits of th e city. 9 Bounded approximately by 3 r d , 15 t h ,7 District of Columbia Building Regulations, No. 3, City ofW ashington, July 20, 1795.8 Sue Kohler, "Massachuset ts Avenue," in Th e Grand Amer ican Avenue 1850-1920 , eds. Ja n Cigliano and SarahBradford L andau (San Francisco: Po megranate A rtbooks, 1994) , p. 178.9 The term "Northern Liberties" w as used in similar com munities in Philadelphia and Savannah, to name just two.


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NF S Form 10-900(Rev. 11-90) OMB No. 10024-0018

United States Department of th e InteriorNational Park Service

N A T IO N A L R E G I S TE R O F H I S TO R IC P L A C E SContinuation S h e e tMount Vernon W est Historic D istr ict , W ashington, D CSection n umb er 8 Page 8

G, and O Streets, the Northern Liberties area of Washington, D.C. experienced virtual ly nodeve lopmen t ini t ia l ly, save a few scattered wood-frame dwellings surrounded by vast squares ofopen land.With many streets little more than cow trails, development in the nation's capital w assignificantly hampered in the first quarter of th e 19 t h century. Hou ses were so fe w and farbe tween that the inhabitants found it necessary to identify their place of residence in directoriesnot by house n u m b e r or street, but by th e nearest public building - "a fe w paces from th eCapitol," "near th e president 's house," "wes t of the War Office," and "op posi te th e Treasury."A s late as 1817, a cabinet officer gave his address to th e Congress ional Directory as "highground north of Pennsylvania A venue." 1 0Growth in th e Northern Libert ies , however, w as spurred by th e creation of th e 7 t h StreetTurnpike. Chartered by Congress in 1810, th e turnpike ra n northward from Center Market onPennsylvania A v e n u e to th e District line, where i t t raveled w est to Rockv ille, Maryland. SeventhStreet, laid between 1818 and 1822, became the spine of th e Northern Liberties, as well as aprimary transportation artery into the center of th e city. Development , primarily of a commercia lnature, commenced at th e southern end of 7 t h Street, and gradually spread northward towardMassachusetts A venue .

Subdivision and Residential Improvements: 18 30-18 7 0With th e growing populat ion of th e city to the south of th e Northern Liberties, migrationnorthward was inevitable. To support th e established residential and commercia l areas, as wellas future development to th e north, th e Northern Liberties Fire Company constructed a firehouseon the western port ion of th e as yet undeveloped Mount Vernon Square. The firehouse w as

James M. Goode , Capital Losses, (Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Institute, 1979), pp . 264-265; andDonald E. Jackson, "L'Enfant's Washington: A n Architect ' s View," Records of h e Colum bia His toricalSociety, Volume 50 (Washington, D.C.: Columbia Historical Society, 1980), p. 410 .1 0 You n g , pp. 42-43.


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N F S F orm 10-900(R ev . 1 1 -90) OMB N o. 1 0 0 2 4 - 0 0 1 8

United States Department of the InteriorNational Park Service

N A T I O N A L R E G I S T E R O F H I S TO R IC P L A C E SContinuation S h e e tMount V ernon W est Historic D istr ict, W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r 8 Page 9

erected in October 1840 between 8 t h and 9 t h Streets. President James K. Polk authorized th eerection of th e Northern Liberty Market in March 1846 on the eastern half of th e square. Themarket became a focal point as development moved north ofMassachusetts A venue , assisting inth e es tabl i shment of a commercial community and residential neighborhood. I n fact, subsequentmarket structures erected in the area followed the commercial and residential developmentnorthward along 7 t h Street, culminating in th e construction of th e O Street Market in 1881.The focal point of the Mount V ernon W est neighborhood in the second quarter of th e 19 t h centuryw as Squares 36 7 and 368 , bisected by Naylor Al ley and Blagden Alley , respectively. Originallysubdivided to include both public streets and alley access, th e large squares were eventual lysubdivided into smaller and smaller parcels, some with no access to th e public streets excep tthrough th e alleyways. Square 36 7 illustrates this subdivision trend, having been plat tedoriginally with an H-shaped alley. The square w as replatted by 1839 to provide 58 lots, 48 ofwhich faced the street an d 10 ofwhich were located in the middle of th e square. The square wasthen bisected east to wes t by a 20-foot alley behind the lots facing onto N Street . Tw o 30-footwide alleys ran north to O Street, and were intersected by a 15-foot alley that ran east-westbehind th e property facing O Street . This new configuration created lots facing solely onto thealley.Before 1833, no improvements were assessed in the Mount Vernon W e s t area, al though most ofthe land was in private ownership. The first improvements appeared between 1833 and 1840within Squares 36 7 and 368 . Of th e buildings constructed during the initial development phase,only three ar e extant - he wood-frame rowhouses at 927 M Street and 1211 10 t h Street in Square36 8 and th e brick John Nourse House at 10 7 Massachusetts Avenue in Square 315.A report prepared by U.S . A r m y General Montgomery C. Meigs in 1853 attests to th e area'scharacter prior to the Civil War , as well as th e impact 7 t h Street had on development . Animportant designer in creating several of th e city's post-Civil War architectural monuments ,Meigs served with th e Engineer Corps of United States A rmy. His report w as prepared inpreparation for a n ew municipal water system, which Congress funded with th e largest outlay offunds for a single project since appropriat ions had been provided for the construction of th e


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NF S Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) 0 M B N o. 10024-0018

United States Depa r tmen t of the InteriorNational P a r k Serv iceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SCont inuat ion S h e e tMount Vernon W est Historic District, W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r 8_ Page 10

Capitol. Meigs w as appointed chief engineer for the new water system, preparing a detailedreport in 1853 on the development of th e nation's capital and it s future needs. His reportdocuments tha t approximately seven of th e 24 squares comprising Mount Vernon W e s t weresubstantially improved. Fronting Massachusetts A venue and/or bounded by 9 t h and 10 t h Streets,Squares 315 , 341, 367, 368, and 36 9 collect ively contained 139 houses and tw o stores. Square368 , between 9 t h , 10 t h , M and N Street, had th e greatest concentration of residential growth, themajority of which were white m iddle class citizens. Square 315, fronting Massachusetts A venue ,provided the only commercial establ ishments in Mount Vernon West . Yet , based on Meigs 'report, development of th e entire Mount Vernon area primarily faced 7 t h Street, w ith the greatestconcentrat ion of physical improvements centered around Re servation 8 and th e Northern LibertyMarket . 1 1 Construction typical ly consisted of modest two-story wood-frame rowhouses withcont inuous side gable roofs and flat facades. These vernacular buildings exhibited little appliedornament or detailing on their two-bay wide facades.In 1859, the majority of th e assessed improvements in the Mount Vernon Wes t neighborhoodwere wood-frame buildings valued below $500. Assessments over $1000 primari ly includedmasonry structures. Of th e 68 buildings documented from this period, 51 were constructed ofwood framing, while only 17 were masonry. The earliest brick dwe llings included those at 9 IT -919 M Street (1839-1844) , 1107 Massachusetts Avenue (ca. 1840) , 931-943 M Street (1844-1859), an d 1225-1227 10 t h Street (1854-18 59). The most notable wood-frame buildings fromthis period included th e row of wood-frame dwellings at 926-932 N Street in Square 368 . Therow, now demolished, w as constructed in the m iddle part of th e 19 t h century by Thomas Blagden.A prominent merchant , Blagden maintained a lumberyard as early as 1834 on the east side ofN ew Jersey Avenue near th e city's canal. N ot th e f irst improvem ents to Square 368 , th e ro w offour dwell ings w as constructed as speculat ive housing, one of th e earliest il lustrations of suchdevelopment in the area. Blagden became synonymous with the square, lending his na me to theH-shaped alley bisecting it.With th e exception of three bu ildings in Squares 31 3 and 315, th e majority of the improvementsin the Mount Vernon W e s t neighborhood were located in Squares 367 and 378. Early residents

The 1853 Meigs Survey can be found in th e Report of he Commissioners of h e District ofColumbia , 1875.


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NF S Form 10-900(Rev. 11-90) OM B No . 10024-0018

United States Depa r tmen t of th e InteriorNational Park Serv ice

NATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SCont inuat ion S h e e tMount Vernon W e s t Historic District, Washington, D CSection n umb er 8_ P a g e 11

included Genera l Land Office draftsman Horatio G. O'Neale at 917 M A venue (1839-1844) andcarpenter John W . Marlow at 941 N Street (1844-19 54). Pump maker Thomas B. Sprigg residedat 1213 10 t h Street (1833-1839) and waiter Samuel Thomas lived at 900 O Street (1839). BothSprigg and Thomas were free African Americans born in th e nation's capital. Of particular notein Square 367 are residents Henry Naylor at 1217 10 t h Street (1854-1859) and grocer DickersonNaylor, w ho owned th e buildings at 1311-1313 10 t h Street (1844-1854) and 943 N Street (1859-1863). A s w a s Square 36 8 with Blagden Alley, an H-shaped alley originally divided Square 367.Presently know n as Naylor Court, the alley was historically kn ow n as Naylor Alley. In MountVernon, as in ma ny of Washington ' s newest neighborhoods, improvements in the cityinfrastructure followed th e streetcar lines, with real estate values directly tied to a lot's proximityto th e streetcar route. This finally prompted construction both east and wes t of 7 t h Street,particularly on the developing transportation arteries of 9 t h and 1 1 t h Streets where migratingmerchants and tradesmen could get housing near their commercial space. For example, bakerDavid Vol land lived at 907 N Street while maintaining a stall at th e Northern Liberty Market andAllison Nailor, Jr . worked at a livery stable at 1 3 t h and E Street while living at 815 9 t h Street .More buildings were initially constructed on the squares to th e wes t of 7 t h Street, while those toth e east remained sparsely improved. 1 2 Deve lopment remained south of O Street along 9 t h and10 t h Streets. To attract dev elopment, owners of th e larger lots began to further subdivide theirholdings into smaller parcels, some of which had no access to the streets excep t through th eal leyways. The greatest development w as residential construction, particularly brick rowhouses.Du ring this period, construction in the alleys swelled, moving from Blagden and Naylor Alleysto include I o w a Al ley in Square 280, Shepherd Alley in Square 369 and Turner Al ley (laterk n o w n as Columbia Street) in Square 366 . Alley improvements were l imited to the erection ofmodest two-story wood-frame rowhouses and uti l i tarian structures. The al ley dwell ings inMount Vernon were constructed primari ly betwee n th e 1830s and 1870s.To support the increasing domestic construction, religious institutions m o v e d into th e area. Thefirst church in the Mount Vernon West area was the McKendree Methodist Episcopal Church onMassachuset t s Avenue between 9 t h and 10 t h Streets in Square 370. Located outside the present1 2 Lloyd Van D erveer, M ap of he C ity ofWashington, D.C . , 1851.


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United States Depa r tmen t of the InteriorNa t ion a l P a r k Serv ice

N A T I O N A L REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t io n S hee tMount V ernon W est Histor ic District, Washington , D CSection n u m b e r 8 P a g e 12

boundaries of the Mount Vernon W e s t district, this mission chapel provided th e comm uni ty wi thit s first religious institution. This modest b rick building w as constructed on th e outskirts of th ecity in the 1840s. With th e growth of th e religious communi ty , and development migratingnorthward, th e congregation split. A second church building w as constructed at 4 t h Street andN ew York Avenue in Square 514 between 1854 and 1857. Designated th e Fletcher Chapel, thebuilding was the first religious structure erected in the Mount Vernon Square area, as wel l as oneof th e first buildings erected east of 6 t h Street to th e north ofN ew York A venue . The McKendreeMethod ist Episcopal Church con tinued to serve th e Mount Vernon W est comm uni ty wel l into th esecond quarter of th e 20 t h century.Other contemporary rel igious structures erected in th e commun i ty worthy of note included th eChurch of th e Incarnation at 1112 N Street in Square 314 an d th e Mount Vernon Place MethodistEpiscopal Church at th e corner of 9 t h and K Streets in Square 402 . Serving a white Episcopalcongregation, th e Incarnation church w as constructed on a rectangular corner lo t at 12 t h and NStreets in the period between 1869 and 1873. This stone building currently serves as th ePentecostal Church. The Mount Vernon Place Methodist Episcopal Church , a two-story, brickbuilding that faced Mount Vernon Square, was erected in the late 1860s. This imposing rel igiousstructure, assessed for $30,000 in 1874, served the communi ty until it was razed in 1918 to allowfo r construction of th e International Machinists Building.

Late 19 t h Century Development; 1870-1900T h e Terri torial G o v e r n m e n t and M unicipal Bui ld ing C od e sThe greatest to the physical com position of the city and it s lagging amenit ies occurred during th eshort-lived administration of th e Territorial Government . In February 1871 , Congress passed abill establishing a new government fo r th e District of Columbia that was composed of alegislative assembly, a f ive-member Board of Public Works, and a governor. U nd erCommiss ioner Alexander R . "Boss" Shepherd, th e Board of Public Works began a massiveprogram to modernize th e city and improve the intolerable road conditions. The Board le t


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NF S Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) OMB N o. 10024-0018

United States Departm ent of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t io n S hee tMount Vernon W est Historic Distr ict , W ashington, D CSection n umb er _8_ P a g e 13

contracts fo r laying public sewers and water mains, planting thousands of trees, and grading andpaving streets. The $20,000,000 ultimately expended by the Board w as intended to ensure thatth e City ofW ashington w ould remain th e national capital.Immediate and rapid improvements were targeted for the "center ci ty," an area defined by th eMall on the south, P Street on th e north, N ew Jersey A v e n u e on th e east, and N ew Hampshi reA venue on the west . In addition, special consideration w as paid to the improvement of certainthoroughfares in order to facilitate the transport of produce to the markets. Seventh Street inparticular was graded and macadamized. Ninth and 1 1 t h Streets were graded and streetcar lineswere installed in 1872 and extended just one year later. By 1874, sewer lines, gas mains, andwater pipes were laid along 9 t h Street .One of th e first projects undertaken by the Board of Public Works was the enactment of newbuilding codes. George Washington ' s original 1791 prohibi t ion against wooden buildings hadbeen eased in 1796 and, thus, wood framed houses became predominant , in both type andnumber . The new 1872 building regulations still a llowed w ooden structures to be constructedwithin the city l imits , though not w ithin twen ty-four feet of any house buil t of brick or other non-combustible material. Eventual ly, th e construction ofwooden buildings was forbidden within anarea called th e "fire limits," defined as the limits of the City ofWashington and the southern partof Georgetown . A lthough exist ing woode n buildings were not demolished, the buildingregulations essentially required that after 1877 al l new dwel lings would be of brick and/or stone.This regulation had a dramatic influence on th e architectural developme nt of Washington, D.C. ,specifically such residentia l n eighborhoods as Mount Vernon where rows of modest wood-framedwell ings housed th e middle class. Consequent ly, during the late 1870s an d 1880s, rows ofattached brick houses were buil t along the main pub lic streets. These n ew brick rowhouses werebuil t adjacent to and often replaced their wood-frame predecessors, creating a second phase ofarchitectural development in Mount Vernon. Larger and containing more architecturalembel l i shment than the wood-frame houses, the brick buildings reflected contemporaryarchitectural trends in residential design and featured elaborate cornices, metal, stone or moldedbrick window surrounds, and other applied ornamental elemen ts .


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NP S Form 10-900(Rev. 11-90) OMB No. 10024-0018

United States Departm ent of th e InteriorNational Park Service

N A T I O N A L R E G I S T E R OF H I S TO R IC P L A C E SContinuation S h e e tMount Vernon W est Historic District, W ashington, D CSection n umb er 8 Page 14

The passage of th e Building Projection A ct in 1871 was equally formative in its impact on thephysical form of buildings in Mount Vernon. The act allowed builders to erect projecting baysup to four feet deep over th e building line into the property at the front of th e building, known asth e parking area. Architectural ly, th e first bays were tentative in design, typically only one storyin height, of wood construction, and appearing as if tacked onto existing flat fronted houses.Once generally accepted, the projecting bay became almost universal ly used in Washingtonrowhouse construction, and builders constructed larger bays that were better integrated into thebody of th e house.Another major initiative of th e Board of Public Works affect ing Mount Vernon w as it simprovements to Washington, D.C.'s dilapidated older markets. I n time, the Northern LibertyMarket had become th e "intolerable nuisance" that al l such markets became before Washington ' ssewer system was created. In 1860 , local citizens unsuccessful ly filed a petition fo r th e removalof th e unsanitary facilities. In 1867, th e market w as described in the fol lowing words:

On market days the most offensive matter accumulates in th e adjoining streets,greatly detrimental to th e health of th e residents of th e neighborhood. The refusevegetable matter thrown from the wagons of the hucksters, and the offal from th estall of the butcher , mingle with the filth created by the many animals which arebrought and al lowed to stand around the place, causing a most disagreeablestench, especially in the summer. 1 3I t w as not until 1872, however , that action was taken, as Shepherd notif ied vendors that th eNorthern Liberty Market was to be closed. When they refused to move, he had a largedemoli t ion crew raze the building at night; the falling debris accidentally killed two marketworkers . Shepherd ' s actions were highly controversial, and l itigation went on for years. 1 4 Afterth e demoli t ion, some of th e dealers formed th e Northern Liberty Market Company and purchased"Savage Square" bounded by K, L, 5 t h and 6 t h Streets, just south of th e Mount Vernon Square1 3 George J. Olszewski, Mount Vernon Square, Washington, D.C . (National Park Service, Office ofHistoricArchitecture Eastern Service Center, 1970), p. 7.1 4 Olszewski, p. 8.


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United States Dep art ment of th e InteriorNa tional Park ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t io n S hee tMount V ernon W est Histor ic District, Washington , D CSection number 8 Page 15

neighborhood in Square 483. James McGill , a prominent Washington, D.C. architect, designedth e new Northern Liberty Market , which w as completed in 1874. Distinguished by towers,dormers, and rich brickw ork, th e new ma rke t w as touted as one of th e most innovative structuralachievements in Washington: the i ron and steel truss roof spanned th e full length and width ofthe b uilding. While many Mount Vernon residents maintained stalls in th e new market, it neverachieved the anticipated success as it was unable to compete with th e draw of th e establ ishedCenter Market on Pennsylvania A venue . Additionally, th e market w as considered to be too farfrom the major transportation artery of 7 t h Street.For the remaining displaced vendors , Shepherd allocated space at 7 t h and O Streets (Square 422)for the site of a new market . A s was his practice, Shepherd awarded th e construction con tracts tofirms in which he owned large amounts of stock. With the discovery of his corrupt practices,Shepherd was promptly forced to abandon his post. Consequent ly, ma ny of th e commissioner ' simprovemen ts , whether in th e planning stages or underway, were deserted. Construction of th enew market structure in Mount Vernon was delayed unt i l 1881. Commonly known as th e OStreet Market , the market is a rectangular, one-story brick building with a standing seam metalroof capped by a mon itor . The dominant feature of the structure is a two-level square tower witha tall pyramidal roof. A t th e time of it s construct ion, th e nation's capital contained between si xand eight markets . Recognized as a local landmark in 1968 , th e O Street Market stands today asone of only three extant 19 t h century public markets in th e city.With th e removal of th e Northern Liberty Market, the immediate future of Reservation 8 w asuncertain; yet, fo r the surrounding commun ity, th e square was an essentia l elemen t to it s identity.Although not officia l ly declared, some years earlier Reservation 8 beca me known as MountVernon Square (or Place). The report of Brevet Brigadier General Nathaniel Michler of th eOffice of Public Buildings, Grounds, and Works appears to be one of th e first documentedsources to label th e site as Mount Vernon Place. 1 5 This 1867 report included city widerecom me ndations for landscaping improvem ents, w ith part icular a t tention paid to Reservation 8:

The Office of Public Buildings, Grounds, and Works w as the processor to the Board of Public Works.


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United States Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S TO R I C P L A C E SC o n t in u a t io n S hee tMount Vernon W est Historic D istr ict, W ashington, D CSection n u m b e r 8 P a g e 16

In planning the city, a large reservation, known as Moun t Vernon place , was laidout at the intersections of K street north with N ew York and Massachusettsavenues. Most unfortunately for the ornament and health of that part of the city,th e original design has not been perfected. Eighth street has not only been openedthrough it , separating it into two parts, but on one of these divisions has beenerected a m ost unsightly building fo r a market house. The latter, with it sattending annoyances, forms an intolerable nuisance, which should be abated atonce.... By wha t authority th e market is located on this public reservation cannotbe ascertained. I t [the market] should be removed, and arrangements similar tothose in all our large cities be adopted to supply wants of the comm unity. Thegrounds could then be improved and become what they were originally intendedto be. 1 6

Of course, no one ever knew for certain wha t the grounds were originally intended to be, saveone of the public reservations L'Enfant wanted devoted to th e states of the Union. Thus , in aneffort to provide a more direct route through th e area, both Massachusetts and N ew YorkA v e n u e s were subsequently extended through Mount Vernon Square. Aspha l t carriage roadsdivided the square into several triangles. In spite of the bisecting roads, landscapingimprovements were gradually carried out. In 1877, th e District Board of Publ ic Worksconstructed concrete roadways and planted lawns and shrubbery in th e square. I t also installedsidewalks, curbing, and an ornamental iron fountain on a mound at the center of th e square.Despite these improvements, th e conditions in the square were unpleasant and often dangerous.I ts central mound proved to be the only safe point fo r pedestrians w ho sought to escape th ewheels of rapidly passing carriages. A r e a property owners were displeased and signed a petitionrequesting th e removal of th e roadways and improvement of th e park area. I n 1882, this situationw as addressed: th e carriage roadways were closed and eventual ly removed, and in their placewere gently curving footpaths surfaced with gravel. Drinking fountains and lampposts wereinstalled, flowerbeds were planted, and th e ornamental fountain w as given a new coat of paint. 1 7

1 6 Nathaniel Michler , "Appendix T," Repor t of h e Secretary ofWar, p. 524.1 7 Olszewski, pp. 9-10.


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NF S Form 10-900(Rev. 1 1 -90) OMB No. 10024-0018

United States Depa r tmen t of the InteriorNa t ion a l P a r k Serv iceNATIONAL REGISTER O F H I S T O R I C P L A C E SCont inuat ion S h e e tMount V ernon W est Historic District, Washington , D CSection n umb er 8 P a g e 17

Park visitation increased as a result of these improvements and, in 1884, twenty-five newbenches were placed along the walks.With th e loss of th e Northern Liberty Market and th e decline of it s successor on Square 483, thesurrounding community w as deprived of it s namesake. Fortunately, the new park set t ing ofMount Vernon Square (Reservation 8) provided the area with a nucleus from which to take itsidentity, thus th e neighborhood to the north of K Street, along N ew York and MassachusettsAvenues wa s christened Moun t Vernon. The name Northern Liberties continued to denote th ecommuni ty , however , in official documents such as city directories and maps unti l th e late1870s, when improvements to the landscaped square encouraged overwhelming acceptance ofth e sobriquet "Moun t Vernon" for the surrounding neighborhood.T h e V i c t o r i a n BuildingBoomCombined wi th a strong, rapidly growing nat ional and local economy throughout much of th elast quarter of th e 19 t h century, Washington, D.C. experienced a t remendous residentia l bui ldingboom during the Vic

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Shaw/Mount Vernon West Historic District - National Register of Historic Places Registration Form...

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