Battleground to Community

— Brightwood Heritage Trail —

The Grand, Neo-classical Revival style building that you see across Georgia Avenue north of Missouri opened in 1925 as the Bank of Brightwood, thanks to efforts of the Brightwood Citizens Association. Designed by Treasury Department architect Arthur Blakslee, the bank's ornate Corinthian columns seem to say "this is a serious institution!" Its arrival reflected the area's growth as a place of business.

The community's development began in earnest after Congress united Washington City (south of Florida Avenue) with Washington County (north of Florida Avenue to the District Line) in 1871. Soon Land developers envisioned housing where farmers grew wheat.

First came Brightwood Park, just south of today's Emery Park: 82 acres of the estate originally granted to James White in 1772. Next came "White-Coft," west of today's Georgia Avenue at Madison Street, followed by North Brightwood, east of today's Georgia Avenue to Eighth Street and north from Rittenshouse to Tuckerman.

The bank supported these ventures, but failed in 1932, victim of the Great Depression and embezzlement. The Bank building was sold in 1940.

The small Art Deco building beside the bank at 5915 was designed by William Russell as a restaurant with office space above. Its modern facade used glass blocks and large blue glass plates. In the 1940's George "Pops" Valltos operated the Seven Seas Grill there serving steaks and chops. I the 1970s, Jen Cheng and Lana H.C. Shao moved their Chinese restaurant there from Shaw, and decided the Seven Seas name worked for them as well.

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Show me all markers in:  Washington, DC  |  20011  |  District Of Columbia  |  United States of America

Build It And They Will Come
Hold the Mayo!
A Streetcar Named Brightwood
Mayor Emery and the Union Army
The Rock on Brightwood Avenue
"Get Down You Fool"
Aunt Betty's Story
School Days
Fort Stevens
Military Road School

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