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Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Old Capital Hotel, 3rd and Pennsylvania N.W." When the place was torn down in 1926, the sign had changed from "Capital" to "Capitol." Originally the St. Charles Hotel, it had a colorful (at times appalling) history going back to 1813. National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size.
Has anyone like me noticed that in almost every old pic, there is a "Coca-Cola" sign?
That druggist's signage (he no doubt did a roaring trade in rubber goods) has a beautiful Art Nouveau font - got to find it, if only for the ampersand!
... refreshed by good cigars and Coca-Cola.
For most of its long life, this was known as the St. Charles Hotel. Jesse Holland's 2007 book "Black Men Built the Capitol" notes that ads for this hotel bragged of elaborate "slave pens" in the basement, complete with iron doors, wall rings and chains. Those pens were a convenience to owners who would come to Washington for its vibrant prewar slave trade. The hotel's notice promised that, in case of escape, its proprietor would pay the slave's full value.
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