The Georgetown Metropolitan

This week on Georgetown Time Machine, GM visits (again) the intersection of M St. and 34th. This photo has a nice view of the north side of M between 34th and Bank, which is what GM will focus on.

As for time, GM believes this photo is from the early 1960s.

The first thing that jumps out at you when you look closely is the shops just east of what would become the Cellar Door:

The first building on the left was the Eagle liquor store. That’s not too unusual, although the large neon sign is clearly long gone. (There were once tons of neon signs through Georgetown. It’s a real shame so many of them are now gone.) But next door was a bait, tackle and sports good shop. (It’s unclear what the name was. Look even closer and you can see it sold guns too. GM’s not sure what is harder to conceive of being sold on M St.: fishing bait or guns.

The liquor store had a parking lot just to the east of the gun shop.

Next to the parking lot was a Little Tavern burger shop. This was a regional chain that opened up dozens of small burger shop with the same green and white distinctive look. There were actually two Little Taverns in Georgetown, both of which are still standing. This one is occupied by the original Sweet Green. The other was incorporated into Paolo’s.

Beyond the Little Tavern you can see that the east corner of Bank and M St. was occupied by an Esso gas station. This was just one of the many more gas stations that used to dot Georgetown. Continue reading →

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Exhibit at NGA features piece honoring woman who was killed along the C & O Canal in 1964.
• Couple cool old photos of the Bayou on K St.

Photo by Ehpien.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The basement of Pizzeria Paradiso will become a game room.
• Fight over parking rules brewing.

1000 block of Wisconsin Ave.

GM bikes to work. Almost everything about his 5 mile commute is great. Almost. There’s one thing that’s a real, quite literal, drag: the wind.

Generally in the morning when GM’s riding east along the mall towards Capitol Hill, it’s not bad. If anything it’s typically a slight tail wind. But given the fact that morning winds are generally less strong than afternoon winds it doesn’t really matter that much. But when it comes to his return trip at night, then things get bad. Like sustained 25 mph wind in the face bad. It’s still the best way to get to work, but some days the wind can make that a closer call than it should be.

GM has joked with himself as he faces down another gusty ride that the wind has something against people from the western half of the city. And given that that side of town is generally more affluent it’s almost like the wind is populist force trying to level the playing field against the bourgeoisie.

Yes it’s a dorky joke, but there’s actually an odd truth to it! Continue reading →

Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• “Fashion Santa” is back.
• Hey GU, recognize this union already!

1600 block of 30th St.

This week on Georgetown Time Machine, GM visits the far north corner of Georgetown. Actually, technically the photo is taken in Glover Park looking down Wisconsin Ave. towards Georgetown, but close enough!

There’s not a lot to this picture, but it’s striking both in how much hasn’t changed and how much has.

But first up, what is the date of the photo? DDOT’s records indicate that this photo was either from 1960 or 1967. Given that the cars appear to be from the late 1950s or early 1960s, the earlier of those two years seems likely.

Now onward to what hasn’t changed:

The stone wall along Holy Rood Cemetery is still pretty much the same as it was in the picture. And south of 35th St., the Divine Science Church appears largely the same. Washington Post archives state that the church opened there in 1937, although the building itself appears to date back to 1874. At the turn of the century, it was known at the Mount Tabor Methodist Church. Continue reading →

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• How Cafe Milano survived 25 years.
• That copter flying around the west village Monday night was due to a hold up on Dent. GM understands that an arrest was made.

3500 block of Prospect St.