18 (previously 2440) SNOWS COURT NW
Year Built
1884
History
As an end unit, this rowhouse is designed to fit in to the long row facades, even though it's entry is around the corner from the other houses. The cluster of houses at 8-20 Snows Court were designed and built in 1884 by Oliver Cox for developer Edwin Greer. Nos. 10-20 are simple two-story rowhouses, with doors at ground level. The windows have shutters. The buildings end without a cornice. The houses were renumbered in the 1950s.
Resident/Owner
1909 - Virginia 'Vinie' Taylor, colored, dies suddenly at home of natural causes, age 104 (Evening Star, Jun 14, 1909, p. 18)
1911, Resident places an ad offering services of "washing to take home or work by the day, cooking in apt." (Wash. Post, Mar. 6, 1911, p. 12).
1912 - Gilbert King dies, age 64 (Evening Star, Jun. 1, 1912, p. 7)
1922 - Colored woman at the house seeks work as chambermaid or dishwasher (Evening Star, Oct. 10, 1922, p. 26)
1928 - Lucy Howard dies at home. "Devoted mother of Frank Howard and mother-in-law of Louise Howard" (Evening Star, Dec. 10, 1926, p. 9)
1939 - House is listed for rent in the 'Colored Low Rent' section for $11.50 a month by Hohenstein Bros. Agents (Evening Star, April 23, 1939, p. 66).
1940 - Marjorie A. Robinson was jailed for 65 days for stealing clothing totaling $0.65 from a Salvation Army. The two women with her were also jailed for a collective total of 300 days in jail. "The loot consisted of two pairs of boys pants, two girls dresses, and one pair of baby shoes." (Wash. African American, Sept. 28, 1940, p. 24) (See article in Documents section.)
1943 - Izea Martin dies at age 58. (Wash. African American, Mar. 6, 1943, p. 24)
1944 - Daisy B. Parker dies at age 28. (Wash. African American, Sept. 23, 1944, p. 24)
1948 - June Chase is the team captain of Afro Clean Block Drive program. Block captains were nominated to organize neighbors for local clean up efforts. June had 20 neighbors on her team. (Wash. African American, July 17, 1948, p. 4) (See article in Documents section.)
Recollections
Source Material
A History Project, FB Historic District Walking Tour. "Snows Court Row Houses ." https://theclio.com/tour/2098/6
Foggy Bottom Association News, Feb. 1961
Rhea Radin, "From the Bottom Up," Foggy Bottom News, June 1959
George Beveridge, "City's Foggy Bottom See Test Ground of Urban Renewal," Evening Star, Oct. 23, 1955
The side view of 18 Snows Ct with front entry. (D. Vogt, Dec 2022)
The end view of this house appears to complement the existing rows. (D. Vogt, Dec. 2022)
Alleyway at rear of the house in the 1950s. (Robitscher collection, 1950s)
Construction/reconstruction seen from 18 Snows Court in the 1950s(Crane Collection)