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
Two weeks ago, we looked at the old Washington Canal and its short and unhappy life, by the end of which it was an open sewer. Today, we will look at its life after death, how the land on which it was originally built was used since.
With the opening of Yards Park and the imminent opening of Canal Park, it seems only appropriate to look at the history of the original canal on Capitol Hill. It’s hard to imagine, but there once was an active waterway cutting through Capitol Hill, by which it was possible to get all the way to […]
Keeping cool is today hardly an issue unless, of course, your AC breaks– necessitating an expensive call to your mechanic. Before Willis Carrier invented this fine piece of equipment, life on Capitol Hill (and anywhere in DC) was extremely unpleasant for anyone stuck here during the summer – something that was most certainly true for […]
As Hill residents, we are all well aware of the fire engines that go screaming down our streets every day and the sight of a hook and ladder tearing by is one that only the youngest of us still find in any way exciting. It would be a very different situation, though, if those were […]
When we think of the phrase “Home Theater” today, it is usually in terms of large screens, surround sound, and well-padded chairs, all recreating the experience of going to a movie theater – in the comfort of your own home. Amazingly enough, this phrase has been used since 1949 to describe the experience, even though […]