Robert Pohl worked for many years as a computer programmer but recovered from that and became a full time stay-at-home dad. With his son now in school, he has expanded his horizons and become a self-taught historian. He has written books about his house as well as Emancipation in the District of Columbia. You can reach Robert at Robert[at]thehillishome.com
Last week, I introduced Robert W. Smiley’s book on the nightlife of 1894 Washington D.C. While the examples I quoted are far from the kind of dirt I am sure those who purchased the guide back then were looking for, as the work progresses, it does live up to its name. On page 39, Smiley […]
In reading a book on the alleys of Washington D.C., I saw several references to a book entitled A Glimpse At the Night Side of Washington: A Guide-Book to Night Amusements. Obviously, this piqued my interest, and I went off in search of a copy. This turned out to be more difficult than I originally […]
We have looked at the highs and lows of Schott’s Alley for the last month, and now it comes to its end. And a protracted end it was. The death knell rang on 1941, when the Senate realized that its office space was too limited. World War II delayed any action on this, and only […]
Having now spent two weeks finding the good in Schott’s Alley, it’s time to go back to my real love: scandals. And Schott’s Alley had its share. In 1911, not only did a gang of purse snatchers make their home there, but it harbored an honest-to-god murderer. But first, the purse snatchers. On January 8, […]