LeDroit Park in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The University Next Door
Worthy Ambition
— LeDroit Park/Bloomingdale Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 22, 2020
Howard University's Employment, educational, and cultural opportunities have attracted and kept families in LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale for generations. Ettyce Hill Moore, a third generation Washingtonian who grew up at 128 V Street in the 1930s and '40s, remembered taking lessons at Howard's Junior Music School, complete with recitals in Rankin Chapel. "People from all over the city would come," she recalled, "and we had to dress in evening gowns." Renowned jazz singer Shirley Horn lived with relatives at 47 R Street to study at the music school. May Miller Sullivan, who grew up in faculty housing here as the daughter of Howard University's Dean Kelly Miller, became a noted playwright and poet.
Howard University also has physically influenced its neighborhood. By the 1970s many early LeDroit Park houses were abandoned in the aftermath of desegregation and the 1968 disturbances following the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The university bought properties with plans to raze them for a hospital expansion. But when LeDroit Park residents sought and won Historic District protection, the university let its houses sit neglected. Finally in the 1990s, under pressure from its neighbors and with support from Fannie Mae, the university secured financing to rehabilitate neighborhood housing and help Howard and city employees buy them. Local nonprofits Manna, DC Habitat, and People's Investment Corporation took on similar projects to revive the community.
Howard University Hospital occupies the former site of the Griffith Stadium (1911-1965). The stadium hosted the Homestead Grays, Washington Senators, Washington Redskins, and community events. On a legendary, gusty afternoon in 1953, Mickey Mantle hit a record home run out of the park all the way to Oakdale Place.
Erected 2013 by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 5.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the LeDroit Park/Bloomingdale Heritage Trail series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 38° 55.001′ N, 77° 1.118′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in LeDroit Park. Marker is at the intersection of 5th Street Northwest and U Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north on 5th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 419 U Street Northwest, Washington DC 20001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Willis Richardson Residence (within shouting distance of this marker); Alice Moore Dunbar [Nelson] and Paul Laurence Dunbar Residence
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 22, 2020
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 22, 2020
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 245 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on February 11, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 22, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.