Shaw’s Historic Fire and Police Call Boxes: Call Box 1

Location: Northeast corner of intersection of Tenth and N Streets, NW

Style: Police

Condition: Missing access panel

Follow-Up:

Subject of Plaque: When Was Shaw's First Development Boom?

Draft Text of vignette:

The earliest buildings in the Shaw neighborhood pre-date the civil war. After the war, major development was spurred in part by the actions of Alexander “Boss” Shepherd. Shepherd led the Board of Public Works in a massive public services campaign in the 1870s that brought graded streets, water and sewer service, sidewalks, streetlamps, and trees to many areas of the city. Shepherd lived nearby at 1125 10th Street beginning in 1871.

One example of the area’s increased density and prestige is the classical revival styled apartment building known as "The Atlantic" right behind you at 1305 10th Street. It contains twenty four units and was designed by Albert H. Beers in 1911. Mr. Beers was one of Washington's most prolific architects. He worked most closely with developer, Harry Wardman, designing innumerable rowhouses and apartment buildings.

Sources for Text: http://ia700502.us.archive.org/16/items/apartmentbuildin00harr/apartmentbuildin00harr.pdf
and http://planning.dc.gov/OP/HP/District%20Brochure%20pdfs%204.1.2/Shaw_Brochure.pdf

Image for vignette: Image of Alexander Boss Shephered

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexander-Robey-Shepherd.jpg

Follow-Up: Determine/Obtain image

Image of current condition (06/2012)

Project Overview

The Shaw Main Streets Design Committee intends to repurpose thirteen historic police and fire callboxes throughout the neighborhood. The cast iron relics, many over century old, will each be transformed into beautiful historical markers, providing information about the surrounding area and each receiving an artistic overhaul.

The call boxes, some of which were originally the bases for gas streetlights, facilitated calling for assistance in the days before cellphones. The boxes covered by the project are located at 10th and N, 8th and N, 6th and N, 7th and P, 6th and R, 6th and S, 9th and S, 8th and T, 7th and Rhode Island, 8th and Q, 9th and Rhode Island, and 10th and Rhode Island. All are in various states of disrepair – some are mostly intact, some are missing parts and some are missing altogether.

Upon completion of the transformations, the callboxes will be another interesting draw to the neighborhood. Maps will be available at local businesses for self-guided tours, a website will be set up to help with their promotion, and local youth will be trained for providing tours of the call boxes.

If you are interested in taking a substantive, leading role in the project, please rsvp to shawcallbox@gmail.com.

Shaw’s Historic Fire and Police Call Boxes

Call Box 1 - 10th and N

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