address of Fords

[asobbingfilm]

I show the address of Fords Theater to be today 511 10th St NW. Was it 511 in 1865? If not what? Was it just 10th between E and F? Seems Ive run across this before but cant put my finger on it today.Same with Petersens, I show 516. Something tells me this was the 400 block back then. Someone please put me in my place for forgetting such "rookie" trivia.

[Laurie Verge]

This is not rookie trivia. We'll have to call in the Ford's crew - Jim Garrett and Steve Lohrmann, where are you?

However, I do know that the Petersen House was #453 Tenth Street.

[RJNorton]

James P. Ferguson stated at the trial that he lived at 452 Tenth Street in the building adjoining the theater (Greenback saloon/restaurant just north of Ford's).

[asobbingfilm]

At least I have the block right. Thanks Laurie for the Petersen address Ill update my page.

[Jim Garrett]

Many streets have had their numbering system re-vamped over the years. In the last 150 years, there has been at least 1, maybe 2 changes of street numbers in Washington, D.C. The same is true of the Surratt boarding house. I don't have the old address at hand, but it was in the 500s. Today, the street number for the boarding house (aka Wok N Roll), is 604 H St. In some cases, there was no completely systematic numbering of buildings in many major cities. Norfolk Virginia has had the streets re-numbered at least twice since the 1860's.

[L Verge]

Joan Chaconas on my staff is the Washington, D.C. history expert. She also has several City Directories from the 1860s that might help. She has her homework assignment for the night - find the address for Ford's Theatre in 1865.

PS: The Surratt boardinghouse was 541 H Street, Jim, in 1865.

[RJNorton]

Go here.

Scroll down to p. 41 and it says, "The old Ford's theatre building in which President Lincoln was assassinated had been closed after the tragedy. Congress had authorized its use for the purpose of the Museum and the Pension Records. The building had been altered and repaired and was nearly ready for occupancy and preparations were made to occupy it. Its old number was 454 Tenth Street, N.W., afterwards No. 511."

The spelling of a few of the words on my screen did not look right, and I corrected them to what I think they should have been.

Can 454 Tenth Street be right? Which way would the numbers be going - Ferguson said the Greenback was 452 Tenth Street.

[L Verge]

454 sounds right to me with Petersen's right across the street at 453. The numbers should go down towards Pennsylvania Avenue, which is just down two blocks. Today, you walk out of Ford's, turn left, pass the Star Saloon, and pass the Hard Rock Cafe (originally the headquarters for Pepco, the big electric company for the metro area, from the 1930s until the 1960s or so). That puts you on the corner of E Street. Crossing over E, you are right at the mighty FBI Headquarters and that leads you down to Pennsylvania Avenue.

[BettyO]

Found this in the 1864 Boyd's Washington and Georgetown Directory:




Unfortunately this is the only address given in this directory - anyone else?

[BettyO]

This has gotten me to thinking now -- I don't have the 1865 DC Directory - the only FREE directory online is the 1864 one.....

[asobbingfilm]

I think we have a winner !! 454 10th street is most likely it. Thanks everyone who pitched in to track this one down. Of course if anyone can find any reason that it is NOT 454 Im listening.

[Jim Garrett]

Another example of the numbering system (or lack thereof) in Washington, Gautier's Restaurant has been listed as 1215 and 1217 Pa. Ave. In an ad, Gautier listed his restaurant at 11th and Pa.