Last week, I had the opportunity for touring one of the most magnificent buildings on Capitol Hill – the large Beaux Arts building at the foot of New Jersey Avenue SW, right on the Anacostia. If you’ve ever been to Yards Park, you know exactly the building I’m talking about.
Below, some of the pictures I took that day.
The tour was given by DC Water and Sewer Authority, as it is their building. (RSP)
A number of Near Southeast residents came along. Here the view of the west side. (RSP)
It’s tough to imagine, given the pristine interior, but this is actually a sewer pumping station (RSP)
A plaque inside gives the main details – it was built between 1903 and 1908, at the behest of the District Commissioners and designed by the architects Clement Didden, his son George Didden, and Oscar Vogt (RSP)
Another view of the interior, showing some of the grand iron work that is used throughout . It’s hard to imagine that its main purpose is to keep sewer flowing under the Anacostia and on to Blue Plains, as well as letting rainwater directly into the Anacostia. (RSP)
The pumping station has a great view of Nationals Stadium, and the plan is to sell off the land closer to the stadium for development (while keeping the pumping station as is) (RSP)
Inside the control room. Given the computerized nature of the controls, the station can be operated from any number of DC Water locations (RSP)
More iron work. This is found in what used to be the public entrance. Apparently, you could come in to pay your bills back in the day; today, the building is open only to DC Water employees –and the occasional tour. (RSP)
NJ Ave *SW*, eh? 🙂