Mar 22, 2021 | Not on Home, Uncategorized
It’s increasingly difficult to picture, but Capitol Hill was once home to many industrial and commercial operations including manufacturing, beer brewing, coal yards, and other now-vanished businesses. Traces remain; you’ve doubtless walked by them and may have wondered about their origins. Join the “Our Industrial Past” tour to learn about this fascinating aspect of the neighborhood. Plan on walking 1 mile in about 90 minutes.
SOLD OUT Tour Times:
Saturday, May 8 at 2pm and 5pm
Sunday, May 9 at 10am, 1pm, and 4pm
National Capital Brewery
Residence Assoc. with Organ Factory
Mar 22, 2021 | Not on Home, Uncategorized
Visit the Capitol Hill institutions and residences, and hear the stories of a diverse set of people and groups who have stood up for political, social, and cultural change in the area of civil, women’s, and gay rights. Some names are well known, like Frederick Douglass and John Lewis. Others, including Belva Lockwood and John Paynter are less familiar. Robert Pohl, local professional tour guide and author, will lead the tour; he can be found at www.facebook.com/RobertPohlAuthor. Plan on walking 2 miles.
SOLD OUT Tour Times:
Saturday, May 8 at 2pm and 5pm
Sunday, May 9 at 10am, 1pm, and 4pm
Philip Reid: Enslaved Man Responsible for the Statue of Freedom Standing Today
Belva Lockwood, 1st Woman Lawyer Before the Supreme Court
Mar 18, 2021 | Historic Preservation Committee, Not on Home, Uncategorized
The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB or the Board), considered this case at its virtual hearing on March 4, 2021. CHRS testimony: 631 G St.SE HPA21-177 (03/04/2021) (more…)
Aug 31, 2020 | Not on Home, Uncategorized
Image courtesy Walter C. Dean
As you might guess, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) won’t have a physical House and Garden Tour this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But to keep the continuity of our annual tour (63 years!), and to keep in contact with the community at a safe distance, we’re offering this virtual house tour, featuring homes from past tours and others never before seen, all free of charge. We want to thank our sponsors for their incredible support and understanding.
Thank you to the Rob and Brent Group, our PLATINUM Sponsor. Thank you to our SILVER sponsors – National Capital Bank, Michael Halebian & Co., and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Thank you to our many advertisers, their logos sprinkled through the nine tour pages. We hope you remember their support as you make decisions on who to call for services.
Thank you to our home owners for opening their doors to us! We appreciate your giving us a peek into your wonderful homes.
Finally, thank you to you for your interest and support of CHRS’ house tour! We hope you will consider joining CHRS – it’s the easiest way to support the Capitol Hill Restoration Society.
This virtual tour uses digital technology that allows you to “walk” through the homes in 3D and zoom in on points of interest. Click on a glowing circle, and you’ll be transported to that spot in the home! Also be on the lookout for special items along the way, noted on each home’s page. Use your computer mouse or touch screen to zoom in. You can also use your arrow keys to move you through. Play around and have fun with it! If you’re “stumped” this tutorial may help.
Each home has an accompanying write-up so you’ll know what to look for as you’re in the virtual tour. Again, if you’re not already a CHRS member, we’d appreciate your support!
Please enjoy!
★ House One, 102 13th Street, NE
★ House Two, 24 9th Street, NE
★ House Three, 630 E Street, NE
★ House Four, 137 D Street, SE
★ House Five, 707 E Capitol Street, SE
★ House Six, 521 2nd Street, SE
★ House Seven, 1345 F Street, NE
★ House Eight, 132 13th Street, SE
★ House Nine, 511 Seward Street, SE
Aug 31, 2020 | Not on Home, Uncategorized
Home Owners: John K. McDonald and Gina T. Pruitt
Tour Highlights:
511 Seward Square, SE
★ Vintage wallpapers, chandeliers, tin ceilings
★ There are six fireplaces in the house – four of them with spectacular fireplace surrounds.
★ Harpsichord in the front parlor
★ Gina is an artist and has a fascination with cows – note her paintings and other cow-themed art and objects.
Fun to Find:
★ Giant lobster claw
★ Shark
★ Deerstalker hat
House Description:
This elegant two-story, bayfront brick house was built in 1890 by William Covington for Mr. Hollins. Architect Julius Germueller designed its Queen Anne-style exterior using a mix of brick and stone in patterns common to that era. Restrained decorative brick detailing provides architectural definition to the arched entrance door and other elements of the house façade, while stone defines the basement level and serves as a belt course between the first and second stories of the bay.
Harpsichord In Front Bay
The interior also offers rich evidence of a well-preserved past. When the house was on the 1991 House Tour it contained many original finishes and some original furniture. That was due to then-owner Charles Verbeck’s choices when he moved into the house in the 1970s and spent the next five years renovating it in collaboration with his contractor/interior designer Dennis Filter. Most of the original features are still significant elements of the interior thanks to the current owners’ decisions when they made the house their own in 1997. They preserved the historic fabric of the house to a remarkable degree while modifying it to provide modern comforts and additional living space.
The original staircase faces visitors as they enter. It is constructed of walnut, cherry and oak carved with the rising sun motif popular in the Eastlake building
supply catalog. The sunrise motif is echoed in the paper border of the entry hall’s cornice. The walls of the main-floor rooms are covered in richly colored Bradbury and Bradbury wallpapers of Anglo-Japanese design, a continuing theme of Eastlake style. Zoom in to appreciate the wide band of floral designs where the walls meet the ceilings. Look up further to see the embossed tin ceilings that were added in 1910, when pressed tin became the rage. Original cast iron radiators are present in all the rooms. And throughout the house you’ll see original hardware and chandeliers fashionable in the late Victorian period.
On entering the front parlor our eye is drawn from the cherry wood and tile mantel towards a remarkable painting. The artist is unknown but it provides a spectacular backdrop for the two delicate armchairs and table in front of it. Tall double-hung windows offer views to Seward Square over the grand curves of the late 19th-century sofa and a harpsichord graces the front bay.
In the second parlor, the original mantel was retrofitted by Mr. Verbeck to provide a working fireplace. The print of a panda was made by Rob Pruitt.
The dining room, with its richly colored wallpaper, deep red curtains, and another carved wood mantel with embossed tile border, offers a deep immersion in the spirit of late 19th-century living. The heat register adjacent to the fireplace mantelpiece is original to the house and has been repurposed as part of a modern cooling and ventilation system. A closet in this room houses a butler’s pantry wallpapered with the previous owner’s Brazilian lottery tickets. The still life in pencil is by Janice Goodman.
Renovated Kitchen
The kitchen, completely renovated by the current owners, presents an interesting insertion of modern appliances and a central island with granite counter into a traditional-looking space, with white cabinets and original window- and door-trim painted to match. Gina is a gourmet cook and uses her previous experience as a caterer to throw fabulous parties for large groups. She did the painting of Quaker Grits near the entrance. A small powder room continues in the same spirit with a white porcelain sink and white tile. If you take the back stairs to the second floor, look up to see the wooden water tank that served the original toilet on the back porch. Running the water pipes inside the house prevented the pipes from freezing. The original toilet room, still on the porch, is now purposed for storage; it is not included in the scan. 
A back bedroom, at the rear of the second floor, is made bright and cheerful by light plaid wallpaper in addition to the three windows open to a southern exposure. This room, once used by the owners’ son, now grown, currently serves primarily as an exercise space. A full bath is conveniently located right next door. It retains its traditional flavor, with white tile common in the 1930s and white porcelain fixtures.
Two other bedrooms, a few steps down the hall, have strong individual personalities. The first is ready to welcome guests with floral wallpaper and a large armoire. Note the tin ceiling and light 
fixture. As you continue toward the front of the house, a decorative arch spans across the hallway. You’ll soon find yourself outside the third bedroom, also with a tin ceiling and elegant wallpaper. This room features a remarkable, heavily carved headboard and lovely wardrobe. Janice Goodman also did the pencil drawing in this room.
Next up is the study at the front of the house. Here the traditional décor continues, with richly textured wallpapers, carved wood mantel and original woodwork. It offers a full view of the Capitol
Cow Painting by Gina T. Pruitt
dome from the bay window, sadly, not visible in the scan. The series of photographs is John’s work. Another bathroom, this one a show-stopper created from an existing trunk room, features a traditional pedestal sink and deep soaking tub set against richly textured wallpapered walls. A beautiful rug on the floor, two of Gina’s cow paintings, and light streaming through the window make this room a unique oasis.
Retrace your steps a few feet to the top of the main staircase and wend your way down to the ground level. In the most dramatic change to original house, John and Gina dug out the dirt-floored cellar (complete with oil-burning boiler) and reconfigured it into a bright, spacious guest suite. Accessible directly from the street, it is a fully functioning living space, with separate entertaining and sleeping quarters, a small kitchen, bathroom, plenty of space for a bicycle collection, and a music studio in the rear. Both the bedroom and living room have their own fireplaces. The studio is used by the owners’ son Duncan, a senior at American University, to compose, record and produce music. He plays with the Gimmicks, a band founded by Duncan and two classmates when they were in grade school. A recording of their music can be enjoyed at this link.
As evident in this tour of their home, both Gina and John have had long-term interests in the arts and historic preservation in addition to pursuing careers in 
other fields. Gina received her BFA from the Corcoran School of Art, had exhibits in DC and New York, and managed art galleries prior to the birth of her son. She taught at Saint Peter School on the Hill for seventeen years before becoming a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. John was educated at the University of Oklahoma; Magdalen College, Oxford University, England; the Corcoran School of Art and Georgetown University Law School. Now retired, he was Deputy Director, Office of Indian Rights, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, and spent over thirty years in private law practice.
Aug 30, 2020 | Not on Home, Uncategorized
Home Owners: Fynnette Eaton and Jim Miller
Tour Highlights:
132 13th St. SE
★ Mosaics, mosaics, mosaics!
★ Rugs
★ Japanese and Chinese art and artifacts
Fun to Find:
★ Dog’s head mask
★ White ceramic cat
★ American flag
House Description:
This house reflects the passions of archivist Fynnette Eaton and historian Jim Miller, who made this 1907 home a celebration of art — filled with antiques, ceramics, stained glass, Japanese and Chinese artifacts, contemporary American works, and mosaics in many styles.
Since moving into the house in 1988, Jim has created the mosaics seen throughout the home while retaining the original woodwork. Floors and ceilings are designed to reflect the early 20th-century style. The result is a house that feels like a word-of-mouth, off-the-mall Smithsonian.
Tile bathroom on 13th St. SE
Mosaic derives from the Greek museon (of the muses); at #132, Fynnette is the muse behind the mosaic art. The first mosaic you’ll see is the transom above the front door. In the front hallway is an Alex Katz silk screen; Jim’s mosaic interpretation of Katz’s minimalist style can be seen on the other side the hall.
The living room has original pocket doors and a custom tray ceiling with a Roman-inspired exploding-star motif. Facing the Katz on the left wall is a work by Farhana, a Pakistani American painter whose use of color is reminiscent of mosaic art. Evolution, one of Jim’s works, introduces his muse across about 12 years of a natural change from honey to platinum blonde hair. The vase by the fireplace is a Qing Dynasty recreation of a Ming Dynasty piece. The restored Greco-Roman plate above the fireplace dates to the second century BCE. The two small mosaic tables in the living room are Scan; one is a portrait of the family cat, Corelli, and the other, two birds drinking sacred water, is a scene from a Ravenna, Italy imperial tomb.
The focal point of the dining room is a Federalist table surrounded by four restoration chairs and four refinished chairs; their fronts are inspired by Klimt, the backs feature Arabesque and Greco-Roman motifs (the latter from nearby Dumbarton Oaks). Also hanging in this room are a Salvador Dalí and two Matt Phillips paintings. The hutch is 1920s French Art Deco. The sculpture on the sideboard, Substantial Thoughts, is a modern take on Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker. A semi-finished, full-length portrait of Fynnette faces the hutch.
As you walk to the rear of the house, you can’t miss Ms. Portugal, a ceramic spanning the wall between the dining room and kitchen. Poke your head into the bathroom to see more of Jim’s glass work.
Cabinet Inspired by Venice
The kitchen takes you to Venice. The century-old cupboard has been refinished with an 18th-century Venetian veduta. The gold mosaic to the right of the cupboard is based on Palermo’s Tree of Life (12th century); the ceiling is inspired by a S Marco floor. Three precisely detailed Timothy Richards’ models support the Venetian theme. Jim built the stained glass doors and cabinets and laid the travertine floor as part of a 2013 remodeling. The rear addition, finished in 1990, replaced a rotted-out enclosed porch. Showtime’s “The Borgias” inspired an exterior mosaic of Lucretia Borgia played on TV by British actress Holliday Grainger.
Ascending to the second floor, the glass tiles below the chair rail in the stairway were inspired by Leighton House in London, known for its orientalist interiors. Fynnette & Jim’s Staircase Hanging above is quarter-millennia-old Portuguese Pombal-style wall tile (c. 1760). Mosaic copies of Klimt’s Judith 1 and 2 surround a smaller portrait of Fynnette on the wind-blown Amalfi Coast.
The front bedroom ceiling mosaic began as a major leak in the air conditioning system. Jim covered the damaged ceiling by creating an abstract mosaic and enclosed it with a boundary excerpting the Declaration of Independence.
The shelves below the Japanese screen (c. 1790) on the hallway wall are inspired by those in James McNeill Whistler’s Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery and host both oriental art and small Art Nouveau orientalist statues.
Rear Window
The library recalls Florence, where Jim and Fynnette lived in the 1980s. It is painted in the white and light grey found in the Medici library. On the left wall is a favorite 1980s Pop Art piece by Patrick Nagel. Facing it is a Portuguese wall decoration in the Queen Maria style (c. 1780) together with two Florentine Renaissance art posters.
In the Ottoman-inspired upstairs bath is an original piece imagining Vasco da Gama’s expedition to India as chronicled in the Portuguese epic poem Os Lusíadas by Luís Vaz de Camões. Da Gama never made it as far east as “Katistan,” the home’s Roman- themed guest bedroom, with a custom cat door that affords Corelli a private two-room suite away from 
resident dog, Blue. Tucked away in one corner is a mosaic of Fynnette at the Greek ruins of Agrigento, Sicily.
