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Washington: 1925

Union Station in Washington, D.C., circa 1925, with a baseball game next door. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Union Station in Washington, D.C., circa 1925, with a baseball game next door. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

 

On Shorpy:
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Ballgames Huge in DC - Grandfather built Union Station

I remember my father taking me to many DC Parks for Baseball games when I was very little. Most were at schools, but many were in regular parks too. (1953?) Every one of my fathers friends played baseball, he said everyone did back then. Of course this photo was before that time, but it carried on to his generation too. He was born in 1920.

My grandfather also helped to build Union Station. One of my cousins has a photo of him while it was being built, but getting a copy is like pulling teeth.
I don't remember it having any landmarks that shows that it's at Union Station, but it is part of our family history, and in his work record on ancestry too.

Government Printing Office roof

Having been employed at the GPO from 1972-1985, I would like to add that the open shelter atop the GPO building covered a shuffleboard court for lunchtime gamers. Tables & benches were also furnished. The roof-top area also was used for Peter Falk's opening appearance in the "The In-Laws"(1979).

Trolley Switch Tower

That switch tower was moved to the National Capital Trolley Museum after the DC transit system was dismantled. It was moved to the new museum site late last year to make room for the ICC.

[Wow. Amazing! - Dave]

Backward Bleachers

I noticed that too, but then saw the track running around the outside of the field.

Railroad lighthouse pagoda

That little guardhouse or traffic tower or whatever is wild!

Only in Washington

That's the first baseball field I've ever seen where the bleachers are facing away from the action.

Change We Need

One thing changed in this photo is the baseball field in the foreground: now it's an ugly parking lot for Congressional workers. I can't imagine that Congress would ever decrease the amount of parking for themselves, but how about consolidating the multiple surface lots in the area into a well-designed parking garage? Let's get rid of all the atrocious expanses of asphalt in the area and replace them with parkland. Hey, it would be investment in infrastructure, right?

Also changed from this time is the traffic pattern around Columbus Circle. It is due to be altered again in the near future with a newly designed pattern of roads and sidewalks.

All Three Buildings Stand Today

The Government Printing Office now has a lot of additional equipment installed on the roof, the Post Office is now an office building and Postal Museum. The former Postmaster's office is now a brewpub -- the heavy door to the safe has been cut in half and is part of the decor. Union Station looks today much as it did then. The streetcars have been replaced by car, bus and taxi lanes. Some of the nude statues indoors were given shields for modesty.

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