I have been intrigued if not obsessed with Capitol Hill’s alleys from almost day 1. In fact, one of my first multi-part stories was about what may be the Hill’s most famous alley: Gessford Court.
It is today a very quiet spot in the middle of the busy Hill, but it did not start out as quietly. In fact, the behavior of the residents of the alley gave it its original name: Tiger Alley. Over the years, it quieted down and was renamed after the builder responsible for most of the dwellings there: Charles Gessford.
It became historically important when Representative Adam Clayton Powell Jr. lived there, receiving visitors ranging from Barry Goldwater to some FBI agent.
Today, it’s a quiet refuge popular among singles and young couples that still gets a fair bit of attention, such as this clip from WETA. (Fast forward to 29:15 to see Gessford, including a cool overhead shot done by balloon)