In the Alley

In the Alley. Tour of Duty. , You are standing in one of Washington’s remaining inhabited alleys, behind the buildings that face G, E (there is no F Street here), Sixth and Seventh streets. In 1897 the alley had 22 tiny dwellings sheltering well over 100 people. Today six houses remain, visible to your right along Archibald Walk., In 1841 Samuel A. H. Marks, Sr. (1818-1885) built his home at 630 G Street (behind you and to the left), and alley stables and workshops. He practiced law and sold metal work crafted here from his hardware store at 641 E Street, which backs onto this alley to your right. His major client was the Marine Corps. A popular figure, he was known for the dog he trained to run between his two front coach horses as he drove Capitol Hill’s streets., By 1897 the prolific builder Charles Gessford and others had constructed the 22 tiny brick houses on Marks Court (now the parking lot) and also here along F Street Terrace., William A. Simpson (1864-1948) bought Mark’s properties around 1900 and expanded the stables from his Walker Hill Dairy, which delivered Frederick County, Maryland, milk to area doorsteps until 1929., Eventually eight alley houses made way for the warehouse behind you to the right, once Shakespeare Theatre’s set and prop shop. In 1952, after city authorities complained about squalid conditions in the alley dwellings once found within the alley to your right, they were razed for the parking lot. The six survivors are now prized residences along Archibald Walk, named for long-time Capitol Hill resident Archibald Donohoe.