Dupont Circle
—Diverse Visions, One Neighborhood —
Fire Fact, Sunday February 7, 1904
Great Baltimore Fire, several DC fire companies answered Baltimore Chief's urgent telegram, "Desperate fire here. Must have help at once." DC, responding by railway flatcar, was accompanied by New York City, Philadelphia and other cities.
Caption:
Fire Department information and images courtesy of Capitol Fire Museaum
The Dupont Circle area has always been racially and economically mixed. The Dupont Circle Citizens Association, predominantly white established in 1922, and the Midway Civic Association, predominantly black established in 1939, served their communities with overlapping boundaries. Among the area's eminent African Americans was Dr. Laura Killingsworth, a gynecologist, who lived in the 1500 block of S St. Barred from practicing medicine in all but the Freedman's Hospital and some small clinics, Dr. Killingsworth operated a clinic for black women at 13th and T Sts.
Nearby at 1530 15th St. (left), stands the modest home of noted African American artist and teacher, Alma Woodsey Thomas, who lived there from 1907 to 1978. In 1987 the house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fire alarm boxes such as this one (originally painted red) were installed in the District after the Civil War. Telegraphs
transmitted the box number (top) to a fire alarm center. This system was used until the 1970s when the boxes were converted to a telephone system. By the 1990s, the callbox system had been replaced by the 911 system was abandoned.
Artist,
Eric B. Ricks
Originally from Liberia, West Africa and currently living in Dupont Circle, Ricks is a self-taught artist experienced in many art forms such as photography, painting, bookbinding, clothing and handbag design. His work is "a form of self expression that allows communication without words."
Reverse:
Dupont Circle
Art on Call
The Dupont Circle Art on Call project explores neighborhood history and local fire and police events. It also celebrates our diverse political, artistic and intellectual community by presenting original artwork by 22 local artists featuring the hub of our neighborhood. Dupont Circle and the beautiful fountains designed by Daniel Chester French.
Art on Call is a program of Cultural Tourism DC with support from
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
District Department of Transportation
This call box is sponsored by:
The Kimpton Hotel Group
Kimpton: every hotel tells a story
Dupont Circle Art on
Call Corporate Sponsor
PNC Bank
This community project also supported by
Dupont Circle Association and the Dupont Circle Conservancy, Inc.
and generous donations from community residents and businesses.
See all 22 Dupont Circle Call Boxes!
Development Committee Members:
Marilyn Newton, Chair
Michael Beidler
Phil Carney
Elaine Faye
Carol Galaty
Bill Glew
Gil Hill
Steve Hoglund
Maureen Lynch
Gary McLeod
Amanda McNally
James H. Mears
Gerald Allen Schwinn
Tour guide, map and artist information available at: www.DupontCircleCallBox.com
Graphic design coursesy of: e-lanestudio
Fabrication: Gelberg Signs
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