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, we looked at several abortive attempts to build a street railway from the Navy Yard to Georgetown. Today, we will look at the eventual successful bill and how it was implemented. On January 20, 1862, John Hovey Rice, (pic) Representative from Maine, introduced a bill “to incorporate the Washington and Georgetown railroad,” according […]
With the extension of the H Street streetcar line now looking more likely again, and with people pontificating – as usual – about the unacceptable amount of time it has taken to get to this point, it seems appropriate to look at the past and see whether there are any parallels to be found there. […]
I recently found myself reading an 1842 guide to Washington D.C., written by none other than George Watterston (pic), one of my personal favorite Capitol Hill characters. I turned, as always, to the parts describing the Hill, and found my way to the description of the Library of Congress. After a description of the room, […]
I have written of the connections between John Wilkes Booth and Capitol Hill a few times before. Today, I want to look at the coda of the whole affair. After the death of Lincoln’s assassin, one of the uppermost thoughts of those in charge of his body was that neither it nor any part of it be […]
Today is Columbus Day, a Federal Holiday. This means that most government institutions are closed. For the librarians at the Library of Congress, this is not an excuse not to work, but rather an opportunity to show everyone what it is that they do. For this purpose, the main reading room of the Library of […]