We are preparing to donate some images I took in the early 1990s of the U Street neighborhood to the Washingtoniana Division, so I thought I would create a short series of before and now pictures of the same structures. I bought 1800 Vermont Avenue, NW in 1992 (for $95,000 !) and these pics were taken with a good old fashioned camera that year and in the ensuing few years in the early 1900s. We fought hard to create the historic district in 1998 that saved all of these structures.
Not much was around then - mostly abandoned houses and essentially only THREE businesses on U Street between 9th and 16th Street. (Lee's Florist, Ben's Chili & Polly's Cafe)
Our first photo comparison is the corner house at 11th and T Streets, NW at 1901 11th Street. Back then, it was an abandoned mess, as was the adjoining house on T Street to the right. What a change!
This was designed and built in 1878 by Diller B. Groff at a cost of $6,000 for the two houses.
Copyright Paul K. Williams
