Funkstown Blog

By Frank Leone & Denise Vogt To celebrate its fifth anniversary, the Foggy Bottom Association History Project  made a presentation to the FBA’s March Community Meeting at the West End Library.  Co-Chairs Denise Vogt and Frank Leone briefly discussed Foggy Bottom’s History, the History Project’s activities, and some stories from the Historic District.  (You can see the presentation HERE .)  FBA President John George then shared the history of his residence at 915 26 th  St. an

By Frank Leone The massive Udall Department of the Interior building (1849 C St. NW) was the first of the New Deal generation of federal buildings. The Interior headquarters features more New Deal era artworks than any other Federal building – they can be viewed by calling to reserve a free tour  (Tuesday and Thursdays at 2 pm). The Department of the Interior at night -   The building covers 5.5 acres spanning two city blocks (bordered by 18 th  and 19 th  Streets, C to E St

By Frank Leone George Washington University’s northeast corner of 22 nd  and H Streets has a plaque recognizing the site as the former home of Underground Railroad conductor and abolitionist Rev. Leonard Grimes . The corner also features a bronze statue of Aleksandr Pushkin, the founder of modern Russian literature. The two have more in common than you might think. Pushkin’s great grandfather was an African who arrived in St. Petersburg as an enslaved boy and became the godso

By Denise Vogt and Frank Leone One benefit of immersing oneself in the neighborhood’s history is rediscovering the stories of its residents. For many families, it was the Black women who held this community and their families together. Meet Angeline James  (1877-1979). She resided at 2507 I Street and lived to be over 100 years old. She was born in Halifax, Va. and her parents were freed slaves. She was married and widowed twice and had a good friend named Kathleen. She took

By Frank Leone   Washington D.C. appropriately named its first purpose built Junior High School for African American students after John R. Francis (now Francis Education Center ). He was a notable African American doctor, civic leader, educator who was familiar with the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, having operated a private sanitorium at 2112 Pennsylvania Avenue. Known as “Washington’s leading colored physician,” Francis practiced medicine in D.C. for 35 years and his sanitori

By Frank Leone   Francis School (2426 N St. NW) was built in 1927 with additions in 1929,1953 and 2024, but its historic core retains sufficient integrity to convey its architectural and historical significance. The D.C. Historic Preservation Office granted it historic landmark  status on December 18, 2025 with a period of significance of 1927-1953. Formerly Francis Junior High School, the building is important as the first Junior High purpose-built for African American stude

By Denise Vogt and Frank Leone   If the walls could talk, imagine the history we could share. Let’s start with what we have discovered. For example, in 1922, 2400 I Street resident Alan Phillips, age 20, was one of three enterprising FBWE boys who attempted to hike to New York City to see Babe Ruth in the World Series. They were arrested in Baltimore as runaways, but were released and told to return to Washington, so they did (see articles below). This is just one of the stor