Shaw’s Historic Fire and Police Call Boxes: Call Box 11

Location: Southeast corner of intersection of Ninth and S Streets, NW
Style: Antique Fire
Color Scheme: Red
Condition: Top half missing; missing access panel
Subject of Plaque: Walter Fauntroy
Draft Text:

New Bethel Baptist Church has been worshipping at 9th at S Streets since 1915. In addition to its spiritual contributions to the neighborhood, the congregation and its leadership have played a vital role in the neighborhood’s stability, revitalization, and access to affordable housing.

Under the leadership of its third pastor, Reverend Walter E. Fauntroy, the New Bethel Housing Corporation was formed in 1958. In 1973, the nearby Foster House Apartment Building was constructed on the comer of 9th Street and Rhode Island Avenue N.W. This 76-unit complex continues to be a cornerstone within the community as it provides housing to low and moderate income residents in Shaw.

New Bethel was at the forefront of significant change locally and nationwide during Rev. Fauntroy's tenure. This includes the design and implementation of the Shaw Urban Renewal Project, engagement in civil and voting rights campaigns with Martin Luther King, Jr., the effort to win Home Rule for residents of the District of Columbia, and numerous worldwide humanitarian campaigns during Rev. Fauntroy's tenure as a Member of the United States House of Representatives.

Image: Reverend Fauntroy
Follow-Up: Identify/obtain image; contact DDOT to secure missing top half of callbox (or replacement antique fire callbox)

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 11 - 9th and T

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