Did
you know that CPHS offers historic house markers for houses in the Cleveland Park Historic District? You can apply to purchase a marker if your house was listed in the original National Register nomination form for the historic district, or if it was built in 1941 or earlier or is an individually-designated landmark, and if it is in substantially its original condition. Markers are forged to order for CPHS by the Erie Landmark Company of Columbia, PA. They cost $175 for members and $225 for non-members. Before issuing an historic marker for your home, we will need to verify the age of your house – not least because that date is going to be cast in bronze! If you would like to check on the eligibility of your property, please send us an email and we will send you an application.
Did you know there were sheep living at the corner of 36th and Ordway as recently as the 1950s? From the Washington Post, Jan. 23, 1953:
"Mary Louise (foreground), a Southdown ewe, gazes unashamedly at the camera after her return home yesterday by Police Pvts. James R. Parris and Norman Tepper. Owner Robert E. Mathers of 3501 36th st. nw, accompanied by Homer, a ram, keeps a firm hold on her chain. Mary Louise took off for a bit of city life and went sashaying in front of a parked squad car at 35th and Newark sts. nw. The squad car shepherds lassoed her near the National Cathedral."
Love it!
Great story !
I can’t believe the police had to be involved lol
The neighborhood nickname for that house was "the shepherds cottage (before the additions) I thought, because it looked like a rural cottage. But I guess there was some truth to the neighborhood fantasy.
Our neighbor's dog would walk herself down to the Woodley Super Market to get a bone from the butcher. She would bring it back up the hill to their house and the store put it on their bill.
Washingtoniana's elf is showing how easy house history research is. Did you know Washingtoniana is currently in temporary quarters just up the road at 4340 Connecticut? Very convenient for Cleveland Park! Follow their FB page for more elf research tips and see www.dclibrary.org/wash for information about their hours.Looking up building permits is so easy, even Elf can do it!
