by Ann Kessler In one newspaper article marking his passing in 1941 at the age of 73, Melvin C. Hazen was called “The Boss,” “First Citizen of Washington,” and “one of the city’s most beloved characters.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s particular name for Hazen was “Grand Old Man of the District.” FDR also said that […]
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Harry Truman paid $120/month for his 4701 Connecticut Ave. apartment and loved to walk the neighborhood
by Ann Kessler President Harry S. Truman loved to walk. He did so almost every morning of his adult life. “I go every morning at 6:30 to 7:00 for a half hour’s real walk usually doing two miles,” Truman once wrote to his mother. And for a few years, his starting point was 4701 Connecticut […]
One block, 90 years: From Piggly Wiggly to Bread Furst, and the “auto laundry” watching over decades of change
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 built in 1931. What else was on this block south of Albemarle Street in the 1930s? 4434 Connecticut The current home of Bread Furst, a one-story brick […]
When Van Ness was known as “Gasoline Alley”
by Ann Kessler Looking at Connecticut Avenue between Van Ness and Albemarle Streets today, it might be hard to imagine that it was once a destination for drivers seeking gas for their cars. There isn’t even one gas station left. But where there are office buildings and stores and restaurants today, there used to be […]
Where to find the ghosts of DC
The first indoor shopping mall in DC was in Van Ness. Lady Bird Johnson carpooled with other Murch parents. Elvis was here. We have neighbor and historian Ann Kessler to thank for these stories and more. (She’s working on something cool right now. Stay tuned.) Here are some of the other DC historians and social […]
In 1922 Forest Hills, a week of snow days and a brush with tragedy
Did you know that today’s neighborhood kids flock to the same sledding hills as they did a century ago? And even in the early part of the last century, siblings could be a pain in the neck. But kids in today’s DC don’t spend their winter days caring for livestock or trying (unsuccessfully) to keep […]
Looking back on 2019: Discovery, surprise and delight
At Forest Hills Connection, 2019 was a year of discovery, surprise and delight. Actually, that’s been true every year this publication has been around (a 2018 favorite was learning Lady Bird Johnson was a Murch parent). We get to discover new things about this corner of the District and the people who live and work […]
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 […]
Fall pastimes in Forest Hills a century ago: sandlot football and acorn battles
Who was Fred Rhodes? A federal worker whose long and varied resumé included the Manhattan Project and the Nixon administration, and later in life, a Baptist minister. But a century ago, he was just a kid in Forest Hills, and the Soapstone Valley was his playground. Thanks to the Historical Society of Washington and Ann […]
Forest Hills history: Joseph Sanders, inventor and philanthropist
by Ann Kessler The Forest Hills Citizens Association was founded 90 years ago this year by some extraordinary people. One such early resident of Forest Hills was Joseph Sanders, an inventor, businessman, banker, civic leader and philanthropist. Sanders was already quite wealthy by the time he built his home at 2612 Tilden Street NW (now […]
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