Author Archives: Topher

About Topher

From 1820 to 1837, a newspaper called the Georgetown Metropolitan was published in the city of Georgetown, DC. The copy above is from July 12, 1826, reporting on the deaths of Presidents Jefferson and Adams on July 4th, exactly fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For a short while, it was published by John L. O’Sullivan and his brother-in-law Samuel Langtree. O’Sullivan faded into obscurity until the middle of the 20th century when the term “Manifest Destiny” was attributed to him. So what does this have to do with 2008? Well, not much. But, basically I’ve realized that the neighborhood of Georgetown lacks a neighborhood blog. I’ve decided to give it a try. I looked through Georgetown’s history for a worthy name to resurrect and the Georgetown Metropolitan sounded perfect to me. And so I have reestablished the Georgetown Metropolitan, 171 years since it last was printed. With luck, the Georgetown Metropolitan will serve as a valuable information source for Georgetown residents.

The Georgetown Metropolis

Dumbarton Oaks

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Georgetown Butcher Staying Put

Last March, GM had the pleasure to announce that the fantastic Georgetown Butcher was planning on opening a new location at Wisconsin and Volta. GM understood that the move would enable a wider offering to go along with the larger space (they would take over the former Little Birdies and Georgetown Olive Oil spaces). A great deal of GM’s excitement stemmed from the fact he lives a block away. He was already counting down the days.

The opening date was originally targeted for last summer. But that got pushed back till this spring. However now the move is off entirely. The shop will remain in its Grace Street location.

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The Morning Metropolitan

Georgetown Gulls
Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

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The Georgetown Metropolis

Potomac River

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Georgetown Time Machine: Jacob Ramsburg and Sons

This week for Georgetown Time Machine, GM is back to Boyd’s Directory to highlight another ad. This time it’s an ad for Jacob Ramsburg & Sons from the 1870 directory.

The firm sold gloves from its location at 105 High Street. That was the left side of what’s now Wisconsin Ave., somewhere between N and O St. The firm also dealt in wool and “extra-fine Virginia sumac”. The later is a spice made from ground up berries from a sumac tree.

Ramsburg was born in 1811 in Frederick, Maryland. He appears to have lived above his shop, along with the “and sons” part of the name. Specifically it was Valerius Elias Ramsburg and Cornelius Stille Ramsburg.

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The Morning Metropolitan

Georgetown University across the icy river
Photo by Joe Flood.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

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The Georgetown Metropolis

The Potomac River

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Black Georgetown Remembered, at 30

This month, the Citizens Association of Georgetown is hosting a meeting to discuss one of the essential works on Georgetown’s history: Black Georgetown Rememered. The book, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, tells the story of the Black community in Georgetown, from the town’s founding in 1751 through the the historical preservation-driven gentrification of the mid-twentieth century that left the community devastated. It is a book that anyone hoping to understand the neighborhood deeper than on a superficial level must read.

The event will bring together members of the community to discuss the book and their stories. It will be held Feb 9th via Zoom. Register here.

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The Morning Metropolitan

The Birdfeeder
Photo by Jeff Vincent.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

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The Morning Metropolitan

Blues Alley in the Snow
Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

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