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Last week, William Offut made the case in the Washington Post that the name Dumbarton, as used by various Georgetown locales, is incorrect and that they should all use the name Dunbarton.

Offut’s argument boils down to an assertion that the name is at its heart a joke. Ninian Beall, who came to own all the land that became Georgetown, was a Scotsman who fought for Charles II against Oliver Cromwell after the fall and execution of Charles I. Beall was there when a greatly outnumbered English army destroyed the Scottish army at the Battle of Dunbar. Offut claims that when Beall obtained the land that became Georgetown decades later, he was making a joke on the name Dunbar when he called the plot the “Rock of Dunbarton”

This may be a familiar argument to longtime Georgetown Metropolitan readers. It’s the same one Offut make in a comment here five years ago.

Is it correct though?

It’s hard to tell. As GM wrote five years ago, the name of the street used to sometimes be called Dunbarton. And, old records do refer to the land grant as “Rock of Dunbarton”. But plenty of old records use Dumbarton or Rock of Dumbarton, too. Continue reading →

3100 block of Dumbarton St.

Last month the Georgetown Business Improvement District issued a whitepaper calling for the end of the Georgetown liquor license moratorium. After meetings and negotiations with the Citizens Association of Georgetown and the ANC, a draft agreement is circulating that, if agreed to, would call on the ABC Board to effectively end the liquor license moratorium as we know it.

The proposed deal has been approved by the BID board but hasn’t been voted on by CAG or the ANC. (Disclosure: GM is on the board of CAG, and will be voting on the measure, but did not actually take part in any of the negotiations.) The agreement would call for the ABC board to end the Georgetown moratorium. In its place would be an enhanced vetting system to ensure that only legitimate operations get to the placard-stage of the license issuing process. Continue reading →

Photo by Paul Goddin.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• A look inside Chaia, which is open now.
• New head bartender and bar manager at the Rye Bar.
• Hey, if you’ve got kids, check out the new kids show at Gypsy Sally’s tomorrow morning featuring Rocknoceros.

3000 block of R St.

Last time on Now and Long Time Ago, GM visited the corner of 30th and M in the 1920s. Today he visits the same intersection but several decades earlier.

At the northeast corner once stood the Union Hotel. It was built in 1796. According to James Goode’s Capital Losses, at the time the Union Hotel was built it was the largest and most prestigious hotel in DC.

The hotel went through several design changes before it appeared as it does above. Reflecting the time period it was originally federal in style. After a fire in 1832 it was remodeled into the then popular Greek revival style. Finally in 1875 it took on the Second Empire style seen above. Continue reading →

Photo by Joe Flood.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• How a Georgetown seamstress can save you money on your wedding dress.
• Five things to know about Chaia taco.

Dumbarton Oarks Park

The annual Breakfast with Santa will take place on Dec 6th at the Volta Park playground, 10am – 12pm. Come on out for Santa, songs, and treats. It’s always a great way to officially kick off the sprint to the holidays and to chat with your neighbors. See you there!

Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU students pushing for a novel and creative form of reparations.
• When a gang of Georgetown bootleggers fought a war for turf.