Capitol Hill in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Life on the Park
Tour of Duty
— Barracks Row Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 2, 2018
You are standing across from Marion Park, named for Francis Marion, the celebrated South Carolina state senator (1782-1790) who earned the moniker "Swamp Fox" for his brilliant stealth tactics against the British during the Revolutionary War.
Dorothy Owens Hawkins grew up beside the park in 515 E Street, next door to her grandfather William Owens, a policeman who lived in 513 and was stationed at the Fifth Precinct across the park (no Substation 1-D-1). He also served at the White House As a child in the 1920s, Dorothy would take a table and chairs to the park for tea parties under the trees.
Ahead of you on the corner is 423 Sixth Street, known as the James Carbery House. Carbery served as a Navy Yard architect and engineer, and as an elected city Common Councilman (1826-1829). He purchased the 1803 Federal style house in 1833 and lived there until his death in 1852. After Carbery's heirs sold the house in 1881, the tower was added and the roofline was altered. Before Carbery purchased the house, it was owned by Robert Alexander, first architect of Christ Church, who lived there and later rented it to his friend and colleague, architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe.
The church and parsonage across Sixth Street were designed fro Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church in 1883 by Calvin T.S. Brent, the first African American architect to practice in Washington. Built by freed slaves, the church (now Pleasant Lane Baptist Missionary Church) is one of seven Brent designed, of which only three remain.
Erected 2004 by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 14.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion • Government & Politics • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Barracks Row Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1803.
Location. 38° 52.97′ N, 76° 59.903′ W. Marker is in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Capitol Hill. Marker is on 6th Street Southeast north of E Street Southeast, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 6th Street Southeast, Washington DC 20003, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Fine House In the Woods (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); In the Alley (about 500 feet away); Christ Church (about 500 feet away); "The Maples" (about 500 feet away); John Philip Sousa (about 700 feet away); Christ Church and Its Parishioners (about 700 feet away); Ebenezer United Methodist Church
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 2, 2018
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 2, 2018
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 257 times since then and 13 times this year. Last updated on March 7, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 2, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.