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
There has been freemasonry and freemasons on Capitol Hill since at least the day that the cornerstone of the Capitol was laid on September 18, 1793. George Washington was there that day in full masonic regalia, presiding over the ceremony. It was over ten years, however, before the masons officially opened for business on Capitol […]
George Washington may have given his name to our city, but he did not live to see the Federal Government move here. This did not mean that he was never in the city that he always preferred to call “The Federal City.” Indeed, he was here numerous times, often on his way from Mount Vernon […]
Fear has been an American tradition since 1692, so it is hardly surprising that Stephen Colbert picked ‘Fear’ as a guiding principle for his rally on October 30. Colbert understands what Americans want, and he is giving it to them. Whatever your fear may be, whether it’s fear of higher taxes, fear of losing your […]
On September 24, 1895, the Washington Post ran an article with the intriguing title “A Capitol Ghost Story.” Reprinted from the Kansas City Times, it related a story told by Colonel Brent Stacy, who had been a tour guide in the Capitol for “several years.” During this time, he saw numerous “queer things” of which […]
As the nights get longer and colder, and as we get closer to Hallowe’en, it is time to dig out the ghost stories of the Hill. Fortunately, there seems to be an unending supply of them, and so today we look at a ghost that haunted the northeast Hill for many years.