From Barber Shop to Shoe Shop to $1 Million House: 605 Constitution Ave NE

The owners of the vacant lots where 605 (right) and 607 (left) Constitution Avenue were to be constructed, Filippo Di Bella and Letterio Ciatto, applied for and was granted an Application for Permit to Build numbered 1385 for their construction on September 22, 1915.  They listed architect A. C. Spaulding as responsible for their design, and themselves as builders.  They were both built at a cost of $2,500.  Di Bella had purchased lot 15 a short time earlier, on September 14, 1915 for $3,700; he immediately sold the eastern half to Ciatto.  Di Bella had constructed 605 Constitution as a barber shop for his son-in-law.   

The building permit indicated that the two buildings were to be constructed on solid land atop a foundation composed of concrete.  They would initially measure 29 feet wide by just 20 feet deep, but were later expanded when it was converted into residential use.  External brick walls were to be thirteen inches thick, the roof was to be composed of tin, and they would be heated by stoves.  The original configuration featured a shared, central opening between the buildings for access to the alley.  When built, the houses had the address of 605 and 607 B Street until the name was changed in the early 1950s.   

Owner and builder Filippo Di Bella constructed the building at 605 Constitution as a location for his son-in-law’s barber shop.  He himself indicated that he was a carpenter and resided at 1931 8^th Street, NW, according to the city directory. 

Fillipo Di Bella had been born in Italy about 1868; his wife Frances was born there about 1877.   Their daughter Louise had been born in Argentina on August 4, 1898, and they immigrated to the United States in 1903, according to the 1903 census when they resided at 1931 8^th Street, NW.  Di Bella indicated that he worked for himself as a house carpenter. 

Daughter Louise married Anthony Joseph Chirieleison who operated the barber shop out of 605 Constitution Avenue.  He had been born in Messina, Italy on June 7, 1895 and immigrated on June 8, 1903.  They had a son named Joseph (born March 26, 1920) and a daughter named Jane (born December 28, 1922).   Anthony had entered the Army on May 3, 1917 shortly after his barber shop had opened; he was Honorably Discharged on March 6, 1919, according to his Military Naturalization paperwork seen here.  The extended family resided at 1239 H Street, NE when they were enumerated in the 1940 census, seen here.

While Anthony Chirieleison was away in the Army, the structure at 605 was rented to Goda Norman, according to the 1917 City Directory.  She neglected to list an occupation or business type.  In 1920, the structure was listed as vacant in the Directory, which reflected information collected a year prior when Chirieleison was still in the Army.  607 housed a grocery store.  In 1925, the storefront at 605 was rented to a shoemaker named Paul Stanton, who was again listed there in 1930.    

Filippo Di Bella died on November 26, 1944.  His widow Frances, under the Will of Filippo, sold 605 Constitution Avenue on December 12, 1947 to Paul L. Mandolia, seen here in his shoe making and repair business that operated from the location (below).  This rare photograph was included on their family tree, posted by his grandson Ray Campagnoli.[1]  He had rented and run a shoe making shop at the address as early as 1935, according to the City Directory.  He and his wife Josephine resided close by at 614 Constitution Avenue. 

Mendolia had been born in Santa Ninfa, Italy on November 25, 1895, the son of Giuseppe and Giovania Mendolia.  He immigrated in 1911.  He too joined the military in 1918 and was a Naturalized citizen shortly thereafter (left).  In 1917 he married 16 year-old Josephine Biondo (1901-1985), left, and they had daughters Genevieve Rose (1921-2018) and Rose Margaret (1923-2018).  His wife had been born on June 21, 1901 in Italy.   He valued the house they owned at 614 Constitution  for $7,000 in the 1930 census, and indicated that they did not own a radio, one of the more unusual questions asked of occupants that year.   One wonders what Paul would think if he learned that his shoe shop was listed for sale for $999,999 in 2020.  

Mendolia died in Washington, DC in July of 1981 and Josephine died in August of 1985.  In 1960, the structure housed “Paul’s Shoe Repair,” while also housing Antonio and Joseph Cichello as residents, according to the Haines Directory.  The 1994 Directory lists Leo Demesaker as a resident.    

This continues our series on tiny houses, with previous entries on 233 12th Street, NE and 302 12th Street, SE.    

                                   Copyright Paul K. Williams

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[1] Picture and information from Christine McDonald family tree on Ancestry.com.

 

Another Tiny House on Capitol Hill

Continuing our little house obsession  since writing about 302 12^th Street, SE, (160sf), we turn to the other 12^th Street, this time in NE and this tiny gem at 233.   It was issued a building permit on October 5, 1907.  It comes in at just nine feet wide by thirty feet deep, or 252 square feet.   It was built as a store at a cost of just $300! 

Edgar I. Booraem had obtained the building permit; he worked as a clerk in the War Department and resided himself at 1008 O Street, NW.   He had been born on June 23, 1841 in South River, New Jersey, meaning that he was age 66 when he built his real estate investment.   He died in 1925 in Washington, DC. 

Morris Stein was listed as the tenant in 1914, who utilized the building for his tailoring business.  He rented a room close by at 508 C Street, NE.  

 

Copyright Paul K. Williams

Is This The Smallest House in Washington, DC?

Have we stumbled onto the smallest house in Washington, DC?  Measuring just ten feet wide by sixteen feet deep, and only one story in height, we certainly think so - it's a mere 160 square feet!

The one room house on Capitol Hill, now an apartment under renovation, is located at 302 12^th Street, SE.  At first glance, it appears connected to a house next door, but it is an independent structure.  Intrigued, I located the original building permit that was issued to J. A. Clark in 1912 for a “coal office.”  It provided the measurements and the cost to construct – only $150!

Researching a bit further, the 1914 City Directory listed Bernard A. McDonnell living in the adjacent house at 300 12^th Street, a coal merchant.  It had been built in 1895 by Richard Rothwell, who rented it out.  McDonnell was new to the coal business.  In 1910, according to the census, he worked as a bartender in a saloon while he rented 510 B Street, SE.  He lived there with his second wife, Florence, whom he had married in 1903.  Both of his parents had been born in Ireland.   

Earlier, he worked as a clerk, and according to the 1891 City Directory, he operated a restaurant at 1102 8^th Street, SE.  It still exists today and was most recently home to Taco City DC (left).  In 1899, he was a bartender at 507 E Street, SW, a building since demolished.   

McDonnell had been born on June 15, 1856 in Alexandria, Virginia.  He died in Washington DC on May 10, 1924 at the age of 67 and was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery in that city.    

                                                            Copyright Paul K. Williams

Washington Nationals at the Swampoodle Grounds

Swampoodle Grounds.  Photograph courtesy Architect of the Capitol

Swampoodle Grounds, also known as Capitol Park (II), was the home of the Washington Nationals baseball team of the National League from 1886 to 1889.  The park was named for the surrounding  Swampoodle neighborhood.   The right field and the infield portions of the site are now occupied by the Union Station (Square 678). The left field portion was later occupied by the Main Post Office, which is now the National Postal Museum.

The owners of Square 678 in 1887 were listed as Thomas Galt and William Smith; they owned the west side together, and had split up the east side with Smith owning the top portion and Galt the lower half. On the 1887 Hopkins map seen here, there are just a few small wood frame buildings on the entire square (those yellow squares you see on the west side of the square).

One was built in 1887 as a "clubhouse" by the Washington Baseball Club, according to the building permit index.  It measured 10x30 feet, and had to be removed within 90 days upon request from the owner of the land.  That was all about there was in regard to physical structures.  Spectators apparently lined the edge of the field instead of sitting in grandstand seats.  

Swampoodle Grounds held 6,000. The Washington Statesmen folded after the end of the 1889 season.

Copyright Paul K. Williams

 

A Drive-In Once Across from Union Station? It's True!

Matchbook Cover from the Red Circle Food Shop

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that an Art Deco styled drive in once sat right across from Union Station.  Who would have though that land values and urban density would allow that to exist?  Well, construction began on the Red Circle Food Shop on February 25, 1937 - it was located on the northwest corner of Massachusetts Avenue and North Capitol Street, NW.  The unique round design provided both counter service inside, and curbside service for automobiles on a large rear parking lot.  It was designed by architect E. Burton Corning and built at a total cost of $24,450.   

Photographs and plans appeared in the March 1938 edition of Building News, seen here.  Its unique design of duel service meant that one kitchen was located on the ground floor, and a smaller one in a basement.  "The circular plan, says the architect, is the result of an attempt to 'get something different from the ordinary run of drive-in restaurants and at the same time keep the cost comparable" (Building News).  The angular size of the lot also played an important role in the circular design, and in fact, the building located there today follows this same curvature - the National Guard memorial Building (built 1990). 

The plan allowed for a small serving area, and a cashier that was able to handle transactions from both interior counter patrons, and those seated in their car.  Waiters entered one side, pick up their orders, pass

the cashier, and exit ont he other wide in a continual loop.  The exterior was clad in enameled red panels, lending a visual to the name Red Circle Food Shop.  A neon sign sat on top the roof, whose soffit concealed spot lights illuminating the chrome and enamel walls.  It was noted that the entire structure had year-round air conditioning.

It certainly is more interestigng than the bland food court now located on the lower level of Union Station, and would have been a fun place to catch a meal, waiting for a delayed train.    

Table service was handled from the swinging door at the right; windows were covered with flesh colored mirrors.

Dining room looking toward the cashier booth and entrance doorway. 

         Copyright Paul K. Williams