The Georgetown Metropolitan

Although not over at all, the Omicron wave that hit DC starting last December is definitely in retreat. Case numbers are down 52% from the peak on January 4th. If things continue, we should be back down to pre-Omicron numbers in a matter of a few weeks.

So while the wave is not completely in the rear view mirror, it’s well enough along that we can compare how Georgetown as a neighborhood did compared with the rest of the city. And the answer is pretty well.

Here’s a chart from DCcovid.com showing how Georgetown’s two sub-neighborhoods (Georgetown and Georgetown East) did compared with all other DC neighborhoods (all the other neighborhoods are represented by the gray lines):

Georgetown (i.e. west Georgetown) recorded among the lowest cases of any DC neighborhood through the end of December into early January. Not surprisingly when the students returned the numbers jumped. But even then, it remained in the lower half of neighborhoods. East Georgetown (which for this purpose includes parts of west Dupont) was higher throughout, but still well below the median neighborhood.

Several factors probably contributed to this result. Georgetown has a high vaccination level and probably has relatively few residents who work in-person in a high risk environment. Moreover, anecdotally, it appears that residents have been quick to re-mask up, using higher grade masks. In either event, keep it up!

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Omicron may be fading, but GU still is recording over 100 new cases a week.
• Takeout Tuesday returns with call to buy lunch from Chaia or Peacock today!

This week for Georgetown Time Machine, GM is exploring a fascinating photo that came to his attention care of the fantastic Old Time DC account (which you should follow if you love DC historical photos!) The photo shows the old Aqueduct Bridge that once stood between Georgetown and what then a rural part of Alexandria County.

The date of the photo is approximately 1860, which makes it a rather early photo of any part of Georgetown. And the best part is how it clearly shows the aqueduct bridge operating as its name suggests.

If you want a deep dive into the bridge’s history, read this fantastic article. But here’s a shorter version. The C&O Canal was partially constructed and opened by 1830. This brought a great deal of shipping to the Georgetown waterfront for transfer to ocean going ships. The port of Alexandria was cut out of this model, as it didn’t make sense to transfer goods from the canal to a river boat at Georgetown, only to transfer to another boat at Alexandria. So Alexandria lobbied to create a direct access from the C&O canal to Alexandria.

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Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU back to in-person learning by the end of the month.
• Absolutely stunning mansion on 30th St. finally sells.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Absolutely wild story of alleged jewel theft of a deceased Georgetown socialite by her companion.
• Georgetown lost 790 people in last year’s census count versus the 2010 count. GM guess it’s more a case of undercount than true population decline.

GM is back again with Ghosts of Markets Past. This is a series in which GM highlights properties around the residential parts of the neighborhood and discuss their previous life as a commercial establishment. Today is a property close to GM’s heart, in that it is literally just down the street from his house: 1531 33rd St.

This property, on the southeast corner of Volta and 33rd, is a classic former market building. Two features jump out on that score: a door facing the corner and a large picture window.

The property is actually only a recent ghost, as it was used for retail until last year. But GM will start with the deeper past.

As early as 1896, the building hosted a grocery store:

Building records indicate that the structure itself was only built in 1893, however a structure previously occupied the lot, as seen in this 1887 survey:

(Volta Place was called Q St. at the time. It didn’t become Volta Place until 1920).

So it’s possible the grocery store existed even earlier. In either event, the store was owned by a succession of shop keepers. Like many grocery stores around DC, the proprietors were often Jewish. For instance, for a while the grocery store appears to have been owned by Jacob Bass, who was prominent in the Washington Jewish society, having once served as president of the Adas Israel synagogue.

In the 1920s, the grocery store joined a syndicate of small grocery stores called District Grocery Society:

The relationship with DGS lasted at least through the 1940s, but the operator changed several times. For instance, in 1935 it was run by Meyer Yalom:

Continue reading →

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• A driver smashed his car into a Book Hill shop last week.
• Some fun reminiscing of Britches of Georgetown.