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Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Washington Herald -- Wyoming Avenue." Where is this house? National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
I have had occasions to work off ladders equivalent to the taller one in the photo. It's as bad or worse than it looks. First off, you're probably carrying tools and equipment which adds weight and usually takes away one of your hands for holding on. And holding on has great significance as a ladder that tall gets to swaying a bit around halfway up. Plus, you better be paying attention to climbing right up the middle and not leaning to one side letting the thing roll on you. But the real chore is getting the dang thing up. It's hard enough with our modern fiberglass and aluminum ladders designed with pulleys to extend it in place, but that monster in the photo must have been wood, and I can't see any ropes and pulleys. Meaning, if so, they had to extend it on the ground and then raise it. Studs.
To the left of the parking lot is one of Washington's best addresses. It has gargoyles that appear to be hurling boulders at Connecticut Avenue. Across the street is the building where Lena Horne lived for many years. I looked at an apartment in the white building to the right of the parking lot in 1993. It was sort of awful.
It's a parking lot, now. But, its neighbor stands.
Here's sincerely hoping we can find this home today; I'd love to see how it has continued to evolve in the ensuing 89 years. There is a dormer, differently-pitched gables,a mini kickout to resemble a porte-cochere, different shingles on gables,painted brick,several levels of half-round gutters, a second-floor suspended sitting porch,a bow window area over a porch roof, a chambered chimney, even lightning rods!
What a interesting tribute to what money will get you.
I suspect that all the open windows are an indication that the house is freshly plastered. Notice that the big house next door has no open windows.
[Or that the inside is being painted. - Dave]
I haven't been able to find anything resembling this on the fairly short Wyoming Avenue in the NW quadrant of DC. The established hedges suggest it might have already been an older building undergoing renovations in 1920. There are a few buildings similar to the brick building at the right but no exact matches. Perhaps someone who knows the neighborhood better might identify the location by the rowhouses (?) in the rear?
Another wonderful residence; great details like that porch rail and the round bay. Interesting contrast with that masonry monster next door with an arch window on the upper floor that doesn't fit in with what's around it!
I hope it's still there and close to original as time has permitted!
"Asotosi" for everyone!!
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