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Box #14
Box Location:
Dupont Circle South at 19 St.

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You are standing at the heart of the Dupont Circle Neighborhood, roughly bounded by 16th St., M St., Florida Ave. and Swann St. Early on, as the westernmost circle on L’Enfant’s 1792 plan, the large park was called Pacific Circle. Like other circles or squares not already named for a Revolutionary War hero, it was renamed in the 1880s for a Civil War officer, Rear Adm. Samuel DuPont. In 1921 the DuPont family replaced the admiral’s statue with the present fountain dedicated to the Navy. The figures that make up the memorial represent the three elements necessary to navigation: Wind, Sea, and the Stars.

Of the mansions built around the Circle from 1895 to 1905, only two remain: the Patterson house (left) at 15 Dupont Circle (1901-03), and the Wadsworth house at 1801 Massachusetts Ave. (1903), both private women’s clubs.

At 1400 New Hampshire Ave. stood the home of Senator George and Mrs. Phoebe Hearst. He made millions from mining; she gave funds and time to DC education, including the National Cathedral Girls’ School. Their son, publisher William Randolph, was a frequent visitor. Seer Jean Dixon lived at 1312 19th St. until her death in 1997.

This call box is sponsored by:
The Cosmos Club Historic Preservation Foundation

The Dupont Circle fountain is a favorite subject for neighborhood artist Nicolas F. Shi, whose bright and colorful style has become his trademark.

More info: www.nfshi.com

Fire Fact | December 12, 1955 

A fire swept through a converted stable at 1730  New Hampshire Ave., NW, badly burning seven people including five firefighters. Fire fighters saved two women, a young child, and a firefighter who became trapped trying to save yet another woman.

FIRE ALARM BOXES such as this one (originally painted red) were installed in the District after the Civil War. Telegraphs transmitted the box number (on round topper sign shown above) to a fire alarm center. This system was used until the 1970s when the boxes were converted to a telephone system. By the 1990s, the callbox system had been replaced by the 911 system and was abandoned.
An “icy” engine and firefighter

Fire Department information and images courtesy of Capitol Fire Museum
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Art on Call is a program of Cultural Tourism DC with support from DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development District Department of Transportation.

This community project is also supported by Dupont Circle Citizens Association and The Dupont Circle Conservancy, Inc. and generous donations from community residents and businesses.

©2005 Dupont Circle Call Box Project No reproduction or distribution of any site content without consent of author.Links to this or any other page on the site are permitted. No hyperlinks to pictures are permitted, query info@dupontcirclecallbox.com for copying permission.