Gallatin St & 13th Street NW.

The general layout, brick construction, raised yard, privet hedges and two-story-plus-attic-and-cellar closely resemble my father's family home in Binghamton, NY, built about the same time or a few years earlier.

The garage had a turntable that let your rotate the car to avoid backing dowj the long driveway. On the back porch, opening into the kitchen off the drive, there was a small cupboard door opening to the outside for the milkman to use, and I think the original icebox was arranged so the ice man could deposit his block from the outside as well.

These features were long disused when I visited in the 1950s, but my aunts loved to show me the fixings. It was my father's chore as a kid to get up early (which he loathed) to stoke the coal furnace in the basement and get the heat going.

I have a 1929 Hit of the Week recording of "Cottage for Sale," indeed a sentimental little piece.

[My favorite is Nat Cole's version from 1957. - Dave]

Based on following article, I checked a little around the neighborhood of 16th St and Longfellow, Kennedy, Jefferson, etc. (18th street doesn't extend this far north). Found a house in 5200 block of 16th which matches the photo quite closely. Of course it could be a design that is repeated elsewhere in the neighborhood.

---

Washington Post, Jan 16, 1921

$1,000,000 Invested in 70 New Homes

Most of Dunigan Project on Fourteenth Street Already Sold

New homes already representing an outlay of over $1,000,000 have been erected within less than a year on the old White tract now known as Fourteenth Street Highlands, according to an announcement yesterday by D.J. Dunigan, real estate operator, who purchased the tract early last year.

This thriving new subdivision is located on the crest of the hill, at the end of the Fourteenth street car line, and is bounded on the east by Fourteenth street and Colorado avenue. It is intersected by Longfellow, Kennedy, Jefferson, Ingraham, Hamilton and Thirteenth streets. From this high and healthy area there is a beautiful and comprehensive view of the entire city.

Mr. Dunigan has already built 70 substantial homes on this tract. Most of the 70 which he has put on the market have been sold. Many of these homes are large, with four bedrooms. Some of them are only two squares from Sixteenth street, where most of the residences range in cost from $20,000 to $60,000.

Mr. Dunigan buys materials in large quantities, and does his own building, thus eliminating many intermediary items of building costs.

View Larger Map

A detached garage in brick and shingles to match the house, a pair of real doors and no foolin'.

The guy who built this house had a very clear idea of what he was about.

Man I'd love to have that garage. Just think of the hours I could spend putzing around in there, fixing a vacuum sweeper, soldering up patch cables or changing the water pump on an engine. There's nothing like a detached garage. Watch "Gran Torino" and you'll see why.

I google mapped it and wound up at a bus yard in an industrial district. I hope there is some mistake, like renumbered addresses in the 40's or some such thing. Are there any locals who know where this house might be today?

Jeff

[1321 New York Avenue is the address of the real estate office, not the house. Which, according to the caption, was on 18th Street. So far I haven't been able to find it. - Dave]

Our little dream castle with every dream gone
Is lonely and silent -- the shades are all drawn,
And my heart is heavy as I gaze upon
A cottage for sale. ...

The key's in the mail box, the same as before
But no one is waiting for me anymore
The end of our story is told on the door:
A Cottage for Sale.

Larry Conley and Willard Robison, 1929

A very nice example of a center-hall Colonial with superb brickwork including some classic quoins. And not your wimpy modern brick veneer, but true brick and block construction I'd wager. Built to last!