The Georgetown Metropolitan

This week for Georgetown Time Machine, GM explores the rebirth of the Georgetown waterfront. No, not the most recent rebirth, where it was transformed from a parking lot to a lovely glade. This was a rebirth 100 years prior: the transition from commerce to industry.

It’s easy to think of the waterfront’s history as one long story of centuries of vaguely industrial uses finally giving way to recreation uses. That’s broadly correct, but there are some nuances to that, which an article from 1912 helps illuminate.

Georgetown was founded as a port town. It was located where it is because this is about as far up the Potomac that 18th century ocean-going vessels could navigate. And for the first 150 years or so, the primary use of the waterfront was for goods sent from afar to be unloaded while raw materials (mostly tabacco) were loaded in return.

But by the beginning of the 20th century, the port commerce of Georgetown declined. This coincided with the decline of the C & O Canal, which was made obsolete by the railroad before it was even completed in 1850. Continue reading →

Photo by Vincent.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The Aviary Hotel on P St. is seeking to add restaurant space.
• GU students complaining about harsh penalties for non-Covid related infractions.

Dumbarton Oaks Park

In June, GM told you the story of a masked intruder who slept one of on top of his bike shed. The intruder was, of course, a raccoon. After getting alarmed at finding a raccoon in such an urban setting and calling animal control, GM learned that they are a lot more common than he thought, and the city doesn’t think they’re cause for alarm.

After the raccoon left that night, GM thought it have moved on, since he saw no evidence of it returning.

Cut to a couple weeks ago, at least.

Well, before we get to that, GM should first mention that he found a couple dead rats on or near the shed in August. The location made him a bit suspicious, particularly since they were the first dead rats he ever found in his garden. But he didn’t want to make any assumptions. Yet.

Now we can cut to a couple weeks ago, when GM noticed a couple watering cans and other things inexplicably knocked over. He had an “a ha” moment and checked the security cam footage. And low and behold: the raccoon was back. It seemed to show up every night and just chill on the shed for a few hours. It didn’t stick around for the daytime, like it did in June, but it seemed to find the place a comfy spot to hang.

At this point, GM honestly didn’t mind. It appeared healthy. And hey, maybe it would kill or otherwise deter some rats. Continue reading →

Photo by Angela N.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The Vice-President elect stopped by Dog Tag Bakery yesterday.
• Despite the surging Covid numbers, GU is easing back into in-person classes.

3400 block of Water St.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, GM wants to revisit a famous veteran from Georgetown’s past: Stubby.

As the Smithsonian explains:

Stubby the dog, known to many as “Sgt. Stubby”…was the mascot of the 102 Infantry 26th Yankee Division in World War I. He showed up at training camp one day on the grounds of Yale University, and was such a hit with the soldiers that he was allowed to stay (he would drill with them, and even learned to salute). When it was time to ship off for Europe, Stubby went along for the ride to Newport News, Virginia, and was smuggled by Private J. Robert Conroy aboard the SS Minnesota. Upon discovery by Conroy’s Commanding Officer, the story goes, Stubby saluted him, and the CO was so impressed he allowed Stubby to remain with the troops. Stubby took to soldiering quite well, joining the men in the trenches. He was gassed once, and wounded by shrapnel another time, and once he disappeared for a while, only to resurface with the French forces who returned him to his unit. Stubby even captured a Hun (that’s WWI slang for a German soldier)!

After the war, Stubby’s caretaker enrolled at Georgetown University. Stubby, already a celebrity, became the mascot for the Hoyas. Stubby passed away in 1926 and was the subject of multiple newspaper obituaries. He was stuffed and eventually donated to the Smithsonian, where you can see him today, draped in about a dozen medals.

In the photo above, Stubby is being inspected by none other than the great Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing.

So here’s to Stubby, the original Georgetown bulldog.

Photo by Vincent.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Quarters of the workers enslaved by Georgetown University may have been found.
• Speaking of GU, it racked up the highest representation in President Elect Biden’s transition team.

Dumbarton Oaks Park

Two dynamics appear to be converging to make parking in Georgetown more frustrating than ever. And we may be stuck with them until the pandemic finally passes.

First, think back to the days of spring and early summer. With so many people escaping to other locations, and nobody coming to shop or work in Georgetown, the streets were almost entirely empty. GM’s own block would typically have no more than six cars on it. Most other blocks felt similar.

But as activity has returned to Georgetown, the daily influx of cars has returned. In fact it is probably even worse, given that so many people are avoiding public transit. The lack of parking enforcement (more on that below) has also likely contributed to more people driving. On top of this larger influx is the fact that many Georgetowners who would normally drive to work, and simply staying at home. Demand for street parking may be higher now than it has ever been.

One thing you may have also noticed (and GM certainly has) is a huge spike in out-of-state cars parking literally for days without moving and without being ticketed. This is actually a result of a policy decision by the Department of Public Works, which gives out tickets. As described by ANC Commissioner Kishan Putta at the last Commission meeting, the agency has determined that it has such a backlog of tickets to adjudicate that it can’t add more to the system right now. So drivers working or visiting Georgetown can basically park all day with little fear of ticketing right now. Continue reading →