Georgetown in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Georgetown Theater, Slave Pen, and the Marshall Family
Georgetown African American Historic Landmark
— 2020 —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 23, 2023
1. Georgetown Theater, Slave Pen, and the Marshall Family Marker
Inscription.
Georgetown Theater, Slave Pen, and the Marshall Family. Georgetown African American Historic Landmark. From 1760 to 1850, at 1351 Wisconsin Avenue stood John Beattie's slave auction house, one of the more humiliating and degrading sites in slavery. (It's the old Georgetown Theater, formerly the Dumbarton Theater.) Beattie's slave pen was nearby, at 3206 O Street. After the Civil War, Wisconsin Avenue at O Street became a hub for the African American community, with streetcar lines, barbershops, and beauty salons. In the 1910s, African American Marshall bought 3206 O Street and property at 3226, 3228, and 3230 O Street. (Francis Scott Key had owned 3226 O Street a century earlier.) John and his wife, Della, lived at 3228 with their children, John Jr., Susie, and Celia Esther. Customers came to 3260's second floor to Esther's Beauty Salon. On the first floor were shoe shiners, hat blockers, and cleaners. During holidays, John Jr. kept and sold live turkeys in the basement.
From 1760 to 1850, at 1351 Wisconsin Avenue stood John Beattie's slave auction house—one of the more humiliating and degrading sites in slavery. (It's the old Georgetown Theater, formerly the Dumbarton Theater.) Beattie's slave pen was nearby, at 3206 O Street. After the Civil War, Wisconsin Avenue at O Street became a hub for the African American community, with streetcar lines, barbershops, and beauty salons. In the 1910s, African American Marshall bought 3206 O Street and property at 3226, 3228, and 3230 O Street. (Francis Scott Key had owned 3226 O Street a century earlier.) John and his wife, Della, lived at 3228 with their children, John Jr., Susie, and Celia Esther. Customers came to 3260's second floor to Esther's Beauty Salon. On the first floor were shoe shiners, hat blockers, and cleaners. During holidays, John Jr. kept and sold live turkeys in the basement.
Erected 2020 by Georgetown African American Historic Landmark Project.
Location. 38° 54.474′ N, 77° 3.827′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Georgetown.
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Marker is at the intersection of O Street Northwest and Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, on the left when traveling east on O Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20007, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 23, 2023
2. Georgetown Theater, Slave Pen, and the Marshall Family Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 86 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 23, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
