Old King Coal: 1925

Dave, I think these photos of are of the Hessick Coal yard at 14th and Water streets S.W. Three reasons:

1. If these photos were of of facilities at 53-59 N sreet N.E., why would the sign have to include the information regarding the location of the office?
2. Consulting the 1919-1921 Baist Realty Maps, the orientation of the pictured sidings corresponds very well with a coal yard at 14th and Water streets S.W. (shown below). The maps of the area at 53-59 N sreet N.E, while close to the B&O tracks, shows no coal yard or similar sidings. In addition to the general track layouts, two additional details seem to fit with this location: The Bradley School was located at 13 ½ & D streets S.W. and could be the building visible in the background (under the gantry crane) of the earlier photo; The signal bridge shown in this photo is consistent with a location over the main tracks of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad

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3. A 1924 advertisement (also shown below) displays a line of trucks in front of what appears to be the facilities at 53-59 N St N.E. It is not the clearest image but the buildings and signage appear quite different from these photos.

(click on images for larger versions)

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[The company's advertising prior to December 1925 has the coal yards on N Street N.E. The map below, from 1919, shows numerous coal yards and sidings there. The yard would have the address sign because it's east of the main office. Click to expand. - Dave]