Lost Capitol Hill: The John Fox Crematorium

In the early 20th century, cremation was still a new concept in the United States. Although there were 40 crematoria scattered around the country, and New Yorkers were increasingly turning to this method of disposal, cremation still was a repugnant concept to most Americans. Of course, there were those who could not let their views on the subject be known – the indigent and those without family. For these, cremation was considered perfectly adequate, and in 1907, a crematorium was built on Capitol Hill to handle those too poor to pay for burial.

On May 14, 1907, the city opened bids to build a crematorium for the indigent in the city. It was also to be used to burn all those who had died of certain virulent diseases, in the hopes of keeping these from spreading. A site that was far outside the city was chosen: 21st and B Street SE. Only the city jail, Congressional Cemetery and the poor house were located this far out. By April 1908, the building – designed by architect William L. Webster and whose exterior entirely belied what went on inside – was completed to the point that it could be tried out.

Two bodies of men recently found deceased were thus burned, the first by the name of John Fox. A newspaper article from that time states that the crematorium was thereafter given his name, though it never appears again in any account. Some final changes had to be made, and it was not until August, 1908 that the crematorium was open for business.

Detail of Baiste map of 1909 showing location within Reservation 13 of the alms house, the jail, and the crematorium in the upper center. (LOC)

It was not, however, only the indigent whose bones were burned there. A year after opening for business, the crematorium burned a trove of bones discovered at 16th and C Streets SE. This had been the burial ground for Ebenezer church for years, but in the intervening time, all traces of the cemetery had been lost and it was only when the ground was dug into to build houses that the bones were rediscovered.

For about 20 years, about 500 bodies a year were disposed of at the crematorium. By then, the furnaces were in poor shape, and so the decision was made to shut down the plant in 1929. The building itself survived almost another 20 years, during which time it was used for storage. Finally, in 1948, it was torn down to make way for the Pediatric Ward of DC General Hospital. Nothing remains of this building.