It was always a delight to be notified of an email from Ann Kessler, who died on August 19th after a long battle with leukemia. It meant that that this dogged and creative chronicler of our neighborhood’s history had dug up something new and fascinating about the people who used to live here, and the […]
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The Ghosts of Van Ness’s Past: Semi-hidden relics of our neighborhood’s history
Our history is everywhere. Scattered throughout Forest Hills, North Cleveland Park and Van Ness are relics and reminders of a distant (and sometimes not-so-distant) past. You just have to know where to look… and what you’re looking at. The earthen mounds on Peruvian government property: Visible to the public only when the Peruvian ambassador’s residence […]
Forest Hills history: More physicists next door
by Adam E. Sieminski The late Ann Kessler wrote an article for Forest Hills Connection in September 2014 titled “The physicists next door: Men on the moon.” Kessler became intrigued when she discovered the unusual number of scientists who once lived on the 2900 block of Brandywine Street NW and nearby. One of the physicists […]
In 1930, a Hot Shoppe arrived in the neighborhood and drew the young and rowdy. Its neighbors weren’t pleased.
by Ann Kessler On July 2nd, 1930, a new restaurant opened on Connecticut Avenue at Yuma Street NW. The grand opening was quite the affair, with a brass band playing and coupons for free root beer being passed around the crowd. It was the fifth of the Hot Shoppes chain of restaurants. Founded by J. […]
One block, nine decades: From Piggly Wiggly to Bread Furst, and the “auto laundry” that has stood through it all
by Ann Kessler On the Flagship Car Wash at 4432 Connecticut Avenue there’s a sign that says “Since 1941.” It’s off by a decade. The car wash was actually built in 1931, and has stood watch over decades of change along this block south of Albemarle Street. 4434 Connecticut The current home of Bread Furst, […]
Lost Forest Hills: The Rose Hill quarry
by Ann Kessler The first people who lived here left their mark here. Archaeologists believe that the first inhabitants of the Washington, DC area arrived around 13,000 years ago. According to a 2008 archaeologists’ report on Rock Creek Park for the National Park Service, these ancient people built villages and left many artifacts along the […]
Grant Road: A historic country lane in Northwest DC’s modern street grid
by Ann Kessler Throughout DC are several streets that run only a few blocks at a time. They don’t fit in the grid of numbered and alphabetical street names, and they’re not the avenues named for the states. These are remnants of roads that were here before the city grew into the District of Columbia […]
Only one sign remains of the Civil War defenses in Forest Hills. And it’s a literal sign.
by Ann Kessler There’s only one sign in Forest Hills that gives any indication of the neighborhood’s past role in Civil War history, and that’s at the Peruvian ambassador’s residence at 3001 Garrison Street NW. The left stone pillar of the entrance gates reads “Battery Terrill.” Inside the Peruvian compound are the remains of Battery […]
They paid $19,000 for their 4-bedroom Forest Hills home. The year? 1942. The buyers? LBJ and his future First Lady.
by Ann Kessler Around this time 80 years ago, Forest Hills got new neighbors: a congressman from Texas and his wife. That congressman would go on to serve in the Senate, then as vice president, and then as president of the United States. Lyndon Baines and Lady Bird Johnson moved into their home on 30th […]
Elvis was here. So was Marilyn Monroe.
We reshare this 2019 article by resident historian Ann Kessler in memory, and in tribute. We learn from her family that Kessler died on August 19th, after a long and fierce battle with leukeumia. We will have more to say soon about her life, her loves, and her knack for finding fascinating stories in unexpected […]
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