VOICEScleveland park historical society

www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org Vol. 23 No. 3 Fall 2009

President’s Letter By John Poole Cleveland Park Home Tour I hope to see you and your friends at Set for Nov 1 our Home Tour on November 1. Many of the houses on the Tour are on or By Melanie Gibbons near Highland Place, which is one of Cleveland Park’s, and the City’s, great For years, Cleveland Park has opened treasures. I once heard a member of its doors for what is one of the area’s the Historic Preservation Review Board most historic home tours. (not a resident of our neighborhood) This year, the Cleveland Park tell a crowded hearing room that it was Home Tour will be held on the loveliest street in Washington. You Sunday, November 1 from may well agree. 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and will We have the good news that, after begin at the newly renovated much effort and perseverance, our Call National Child Research Box Committee has found a way to deal Center Preschool (NCRC) at 3209 with the last of the many technical and Highland Place. NCRC’s extensive If purchased the day of, all tickets financial issues that were involved to renovation, completed this past prices will be $30. Proceeds from the complete the Project. The remaining December, is a wonderful example of tour benefit CPHS. two of the original 15 crumbling ancient integrating modern necessities and safety Please join us for this chance to peak call boxes in Cleveland Park will soon features within an historic structure. inside Cleveland Park’s finest homes. be fully rebuilt, restored and decorated For young students and neighbors See for yourself how these beloved with art by one of our neighbors. These alike, the renovation is a great success historic homes have changed over time beautiful and instructive objects will and a highlight of the house tour. We to accommodate modern lifestyles, need attention and maintenance in the welcome you to start the tour at NCRC, while still maintaining their historic future to ensure that they stay beautiful; where refreshments will be served. integrity. CPHS is committing time and funds to Tickets can be purchased in advance For more information, please email make sure that happens. by check or at NCRC the day of the staff@clevelandparkhistoricalsociety. ROMP, now led by Leah Thayer, is tour. Ticket prices are $25 for members, org, call 202/237-2538 or visit www. another neighborhood program that $30 for non-members. clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org CPHS originally started. Working with the City as we have on Call Boxes, ROMP was responsible for transforming another aging landmark in Cleveland Homes on the tour include: Park, the Macomb Street Playground, into a beautiful and bustling place for • 3100 Highland Place • 3301 Highland Place children and families. • 3209 Highland Place • 2941 Newark Street We like to hear from you and get • 3220 Highland Place • 2957 Newark Street your feedback; feel free to contact me or Lou Ann May in the CPHS Office with • 3225 Highland Place • 3307 Newark Street your questions or suggestions. Romp • 3250 Highland Place will launch a project to ensure that the playground remains well cared for. It For more information, please email [email protected], deserves our support. call 202/237-2538 or visit www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org Giverny in Cleveland Park The Great Outdoors CPHS Board 2008-09 by Lou Ann May Street Trees of John Poole, President Newark Street Close to thirty CPHS members Following the presentation, guests Cleveland Park Camilla Carpenter, Secretary and guests arrived at Café Deluxe on peppered Ms. Gignoux with questions By Chris Rose 34th Street Wisconsin Avenue for the September specific to our area, while enjoying CPHS Preservation Café. They were a delicious three-course meal in the Mike Goldstein, Vice President Our neighborhood has been fortunate Mulch - Don’t be a volcano mulcher! Lowell Street transported to the gardens of France, private dining room of Café Deluxe. courtesy of landscape architects Leslie For additional information on Fritz to have so many street trees planted to Keep a 2-3 inch (5-7 cm) layer of Thor Halvorson, Treasurer Gignoux and Scott Fritz of the firm & Gignoux, see their website at www. replace those that have been lost to shredded hardwood bark mulch around Lowell Street Fritz & Gignoux. Ms. Gignoux’s fritzgignoux.com. age, wind, and storm. Here are some your tree leaving about 10 inches suggestions to ensure the survival and around the trunk free from mulch to Dick Jorgensen, Vice President Powerpoint presentation illustrated the Upcoming Preservation Cafes will Newark Street use of color, hardscape, metal work, focus on the History of Washington’s healthy growth of newly planted trees as prevent burning. and water features throughout some Streets and Neighborhoods; Windows, well as our aged giants: Pruning - Residents can request Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford, Vice President- Tree trunks are tough but can still be pruning of street trees through the DC Lowell Street of the most beautiful and noteworthy Walls and Wood Floors; and A “How gardens of Europe such as Versailles and To” Guide to Researching Your Home’s Call Box Artists injured. Protect the base of the tree and Service Request Center. Only the DC Giverny. She then showed color photos History. Watch the CPHS website exposed roots from scrapes. Nails injure Urban Forestry Administration can John Buchanan Kay Kohl of homes and gardens in Washington trees; look for other places to hang signs authorize pruning or removal of street Newark Street Newark Street www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety. and Volunteers in to demonstrate how characteristics of org and your mail for a postcard with rather than on a tree. The tall stakes trees. This is for your safety and the Tony Bullock Paul London those remarkable gardens can be scaled details. If you know of a speaker or a Ward 3 Honored installed around young trees at planting health of the trees. 34th Street Ross Place to meet the confines of a more typical topic you think might be of interest to protect the tree from car doors, lawn To request or track your request to By Rhona C. Hartman mowers, weedwhackers, and other have a street tree planted or pruned or Anne Clark Drew Maloney residential garden. our membership, please let us know. Macomb Street Macomb Street hazards so keep stakes in place as long to report a damaged or fallen street tree, D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh, as you can. contact the DC Service Request Center Aurora Ferrari Sarah Mathias Water - Young trees require 10-20 via the web: http://dc.gov/contact/index. Rodman Street Highland Place on May 5, 2009, recognized and Exploring the Architecture honored the artists and neighborhood gallons (40-80 liters) of water each week shtm. You can also call the DC City Melanie Gibbons Marylyn Paige volunteers in Ward 3 who worked on during May to October. When there Service Center at: 311 and provide your Macomb Street Lowell Street of Cleveland Park the District-Wide Art on Call Project. are weeks without rain, soak the ground request. The case number they give you Chris Goldthwait Christine Rose by Lou Ann May Pictured above with Ms. Cheh is Roz around the tree. Gator bags are a great will allow you to track the progress of Porter Street Rodman Street Beitler, Clevland Park Historical Society option but be sure to remove the bag your request. during the winter or when not in use so To find out more about trees, check Ann Hamilton Anne Hatfield Weir Last June, in conjunction with unique architecture. Led by architect Board Member and Chair of the CPHS Newark Street Newark Street Washington Architecture Foundation MK Lanzillotta (who voluntarily created Call Box Project. Representatives of the tree trunk can get sunlight and air. the DC Urban Forestry Administration of the Washington Chapter of the the fabulous guidebooks), the children Cathedral Heights, Forest Hills, Glover Generally trees are established three website: http://ufa.ddot.dc.gov/ufa/site/ Rhona Hartman Sheila White years after planting and do not need the default.asp. The Broadmoor Porter Street American Institute of Architects, CPHS and their parents enjoyed a guided walk Park, McLean Gardens, Tenleytown, presented “Exploring Architecture through Cleveland Park where they and Woodley Park were also present. gator bag. During drought, even big The Tree Committee is happy to talk Christine Hobbs Margot Wilson with Kids: The Neighborhoods of learned about basic architecture and Ms. Cheh presented to each trees benefit from a good watering. with neighbors about trees. Norton Place Macomb Street Washington, DC – Cleveland Park”. 16 looked at their built environment from neighborhood a Ceremonial Resolution Sheldon Holen Michael Winer children had the opportunity to learn a new perspective. The tour concluded which summarized the Art on Call Macomb Street Quebec Street about their neighborhood through its with a snack and an opportunity for Project initiated in 2001. Fifty-seven Preserving the Character of Cleveland Park Danny Ince Gwen Wright participants to create a of the 19th century abandoned and by Tony Bullock Highland Place 34th Street unique city. deteriorated cast iron police and fire call Thank you to MK boxes in Ward 3 were transformed into Lanzillotta for donating permanent public art. We all know that Cleveland Park the Cleveland Park Community, is a day- Kitty Forest and Rhona C. Hartman her time, expertise and Each neighborhood conducted is a very special place. And keeping to-day effort. The CPHS Architectural Co-editors sketches, the WAF’s Beth successful fund raising campaigns Cleveland Park special is what the Review Commission (ARC) reviews and Lou Ann May, Judy and CPHS’s Board to supplement the funds provided Historical Society is all about. offers recommendations on all projects Administrative Director Member Carol Lynn Ward- by Cultural Tourism DC; selected a Though we are better known for our within the Historic District that come P.O. Box 4862 Bamford for bringing this distinctive color scheme to identify its more public activities—such as our before the D.C. Historic Preservation 3601 Connecticut Avenue, NW program to our attention, House Tour, our Antiques Appraisal Review Board. Washington, DC 20008 call boxes; and tapped local artists to 202-237-2538 Washington International illustrate a theme reflecting the rich Day, our Garden Tour, the renovation There is no group in Washington, D.C. School for donating the of Macomb Playground, the historic that is more active and more committed [email protected] architectural, historical, and cultural space and Gwen Wright history of its location. The Ceremonial Call Box restoration project, our new to maintaining the historic character of VOICES designed by Melissa Allen Design for her assistance in Resolution has been published in the “Preservation Cafes”—our important Cleveland Park than the Cleveland Park underwriting the program! District of Columbia Register. work, to preserve the historic character of continued on page 4

2 | Voices Fall 2009 | 3 Preserving continued from page 3 / Historical Society. And that Mark your calendar! commitment is essential to maintaining our quality of life and preserving the property values we all enjoy. Ginger Bread Houses This event is an opportunity for family Please remember to renew your and friends to create a decoration to be membership to CPHS when it arrives and Sugar Plum Fairies used at home during the holiday season. in the mail and get involved in the For full details, check the CPHS website, Cleveland Park Historical Society -- it’s by Kitty Forest www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org. a small price to pay to help preserve our community. Sunday, December 6, 2009 - CPHS For information on membership is sponsoring a Gingerbread House and volunteer opportunities, contact Decorating Event this holiday season for CPHS president at president@ children of all ages. Come by yourself clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org or or bring members of your family and call the CPHS office at 202/237-2538. plenty of friends. The event will be held at the Cleveland Park Club (3433 33rd Pl) starting at 1:00. Children are not required to accompany adults, if CPHS WANTS the adults are of an artistic bent or just YOU! want to have some fun! Constructed Gingerbread Houses will be available For membership, go to clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org as will all the decorations necessary to create your own house design - from Victorian to Industrial Modern! r

NOn-profit organization Cleveland Park Historical Society U.s. postage paid PO Box 4862 washington, d.c. permit no. 1415 Washington, DC 20008 202-237-2538