We live in the historic district of Hyattsville, Maryland; adjacent to Takoma Park. We're a couple of miles inside the Washington, DC, Beltway and a couple of miles from the District line.

There are many of these American foursquare homes in this district. Our home is one of a row of five Sears kit homes on this side of our street built in 1926. The Fullerton model sold then, delivered in two railroad cars, for $2,243. They're going for $250K and above now, depending on condition and upgrades.

Interestingly enough, the story is that in another one of these foursquare homes two blocks from our house, Jim Henson lived when he was attending nearby Northwestern High School. He created his first Muppets for the local Wilkins Coffee company's TV commercials while living there. You can find some of those commercials on YouTube.

With the coming of BRAC, the Walter Reed Army Hospital was merged with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Walter Reed Army Hospital was closed and the old Walter Reed site in D.C. will be redeveloped.

Also, concerning the date in Zillow, if D.C. tax records are like those in nearby Montgomery County, Maryland, the built dates on properties built in the 1930s and before are often wildly inaccurate. It is not unusual to see newspaper ads for house complete with photos years before the tax records say the houses were built. In other cases tax records have build dates years before the subdivisions were established.

Just a very few blocks' walk to the Walter Reed Army Hospital. That must increase the value of houses in the neighborhood.

It's too bad that the sweeping sidewalk is gone, and shame on whomever replaced the twin single-hung windows in the dormer with a single horizontal sliding window.

From June 13, 1920, edition of The Washington Times.

Takoma Park
7221 Blair Road
Price reduced $2000
Immediate possession

Owner leaving city. Will sell this beautiful home at a sacrifice in order to make a quick sale. House contains 8 rooms, sleeping porch, breakfast porch and attractive bathroom; entire house is screened including the sleeping porch; hardwood floors; hot-water heat; electric lights; awnings; garage harmonizing with house.

And unfortunately, when you bring up this page from archives, you also see real estate listings for "coloreds" :(

Spacious front lawn with concrete walkway replaced with concave gravel driveway populated with weeds here and there. Improvement? Don't think so.

The house is for sale, and the negative's mold makes it look like the interior hasn't been dusted for years, there is snow or huge pollen blowing about, and an eerie glow hovers above.

It's gonna be a hard sale!

It's a foursquare!

With a few changes, but still very recognizable.

On Zillow it states that the year built is 1925.

Bedrooms: 4 beds
Bathrooms: 2 baths
Single Family: 2,347 sq ft
Lot: 16,176 sq ft
Year Built: 1925
Heating Type: Forced air

My grandparents had the same cloth awnings on the windows, and over the porch. You cranked them up and down by hand with a long metal pole. It was amazing how much cooler the porch got when the awning was down.

It's a small realtors' "for sale" sign to be sure. They probably didn't want to bring too much attention or offend the neighbors.

Wonder what the sale price was in 1920 for this "ample two-story home, good windows (some with screens) and cross-ventilation, breezy shaded front porch, mature plantings, nice lawn and in friendly neighborhood close to paved road."