Atlas District in Northeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Enterprising Families
Hub, Home, Heart
— Greater H Street NE Heritage Trail —
The small scale and low rents of H Street's oldest buildings have lured waves of immigrant entrepreneurs since the buildings were new in the 1880s. By 1930, alongside Greek, Italian, Irish, and other immigrant-owned shops, at least 75 Jewish-owned businesses operated on H Street.
Abe and Anna Shulman ran a dry goods store and lived at 1237 H, with a kitchen in back and living quarters upstairs. Two of their five children remained on H Street as adults: Israel, a dentist, and Fred, who sold baby furniture and toys. Known as the "Queen of H Street," Anna founded the Hebrew Sheltering Society to house recent immigrants, and led the Sisterhood, a women's aid society, for Ezras Israel Synagogue at Eighth and I Streets. The Shulmans and most of their Jewish neighbors had emigrated from Russia around 1900.
In the 1950s former boxer Eddie Leonard brought sandwiches to H Street. A decade later Chuck Brown, the future "Godfather of Go-Go," bought his first guitar at Chuck and Marge Levin's music store at 1237 H Street. In 1968, after looters destroyed their store, the Levins moved to Wheaton, Maryland, opening Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center.
At 1238 H is the former office of Granville Moore, M.D., a native Washingtonian, World War II veteran (Buffalo Soldier), Howard University faculty member, and civil rights activist who practiced medicine here for more than 50 years. Former patients also recollect how Dr. Moore (1916-2003) made house calls and treated the ill free of charge two days a week.
Erected 2012 by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 13.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Immigration • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Buffalo Soldiers, the Greater H Street Heritage Trail, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.
Location. 38° 54.018′ N, 76° 59.331′ W. Marker is in Northeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in the Atlas District. Marker is at the intersection of H Street Northeast and 13th Street Northeast, on the right when traveling east on H Street Northeast. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1237 H Street Northeast, Washington DC 20002, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. Granville N. Moore (here, next to this marker); Culture and Commerce (within shouting distance of this marker); Henrietta Vinton Davis Residence (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); District of Columbia Fire Department (about 700 feet away); Mediterranean Imports (about 800 feet away); The Changing Faces of H Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Life on H Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Holyland Spiritual Temple (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northeast Washington.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Greater H Street NE Heritage Trail
Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2012, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 544 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on February 11, 2014, by A. Taylor of Laurel, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 7, 2012, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.