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
August 24, 2018 marks the 204th anniversary of what may be the darkest day in the history of Washington, D.C.: The burning of the city by the British during the War of 1812. Today, it is little more than an excuse to have a party. Back then, it temporarily brought into question the whole existence […]
The 204th anniversary of the Burning of Washington is almost upon us, and so it seems appropriate to look at one of the episodes of this tragic time that took place on Capitol Hill. No, not the burning of the Capitol by the British, but the burning of the Navy Yard… by the Americans. Burning […]
As we hit the quiet days of summer, it seems appropriate to go back and look at some of my earliest pieces. Some of these early posts lost their pictures or other data somewhere along a previous site migration. In today’s installment, I want to look at something that is, indeed, ineffably lost: Eastern Branch […]
Closing off the streets of Capitol Hill for a block party is a pretty frequent occurrence. Using the empty street for some kind of sports competition is de rigueur, as well. Much more rare, however, is when the athletes playing are nationally known, whether for their ability for sports, or otherwise. However, just such an affair […]
In researching these pieces, there are a few sources to which I keep coming back. One of the oldest of these is a map drawn and printed in 1857, almost certainly the oldest of these sources. Today, I will look a little at this map and the man who made it. Albert Boschke (pictured) was […]