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Box #2 |
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All the row houses in the 1700 block of Q St. (north and south, pictured below) were built in the mid-1880s by one of Washington’s most prolific architect/builders, Thomas Franklin Schneider. The prosperity a nd growth during the 1880s in DC resulted from the enlarged role of the Federal Government after the Civil War and the general prosperity of the nation.
The next major builders were Harry Wardman, 1920s, and Morris Cafritz, 1940s. Schneider’s dual expertise contributed to quality housing for white-collar workers during and after World War II. Across the street to your left, you can see new buildings that replaced five original residences. Their demolition in the 1960s spawned the neighborhood’s preservation movement. The more than 60 remaining Victorian rowhouses, all with English basements, constitute the largest concentration of intact 19th-century homes in the city. This call box is sponsored by: |
 Freya Grand, an oil painter and muralist, exhibits widely in galleries and has created large scale commissioned murals. She believes that “the Dupont area’s vitality and diversity make it the best environment in DC.” More info: www.freyagrand.com |
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| Fire Fact | 1871 The District of Columbia Fire Department was established on September 23, 1871 and included six fire companies. The “all paid” fire department replaced the volunteer fire companies that had protected the District. 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 By the 1990s, the callbox system had been replaced by the 911 system and was abandoned. |
 Original Members of the Washington City Fire Department 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. |
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