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Emerson and Orme: 1926

Washington, D.C., circa 1926. "Buick Motor Co. Emerson & Orme garage, M Street." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1926. "Buick Motor Co. Emerson & Orme garage, M Street." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

 

On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5

Odd Fellows make Good Neighbors

Building in the background with the funny dome is an Odd Fellows Hall at 1604-1606 M St NW.

National Geographic

National Geographic Society headquarters now occupies the entire block with two modern buildings. The Society's original building, Hubbard Hall, still stands at the corner of 16th and M -- the corner is visible in this photo through the trees on the left.

Intakes & Exhausts

I love the juxtaposition of the upright commercial brick buildings and sagging old wooden houses. Only the building at the far left (located on the S.W. corner of 16th and M) survives today.


Washington Post, Feb 13, 1924

Intakes & Exhausts

By Si Grogan

...
Today, Emerson & Orme, retail Buick dealers, celebrates their fourteenth business anniversary. Starting in a small way this firm, composed of James Orme and Bruce Emerson, opened a salesroom and service station at 1407 H street. They were one of the original electric car dealers in the city, handling electric commercial as well as passenger cars. As the day of the electric car began to wane, due to the simplification of the gasoline vehicles and its wider range of operation, they added a gas car to their line. Outgrowing their H street quarters, they moved to the present location on M street between Sixteenth and Seventeenth, where they occupy a three-story building built to suit their needs. Shortly after moving to their present quarters they took a Buick retail car franchise and during the past few years in a the car sales department have devoted their attention to the sale of this car. Their garage which houses the machines of many of Washington's famous people is one of the most complete and best known in this section of the country.

E&O

Emerson & Orme, Washington, D.C., agents for the Detroit electric, have commenced the erection of a two-story fireproof building to contain salesrooms, service station and garage. It is located on M Street, between 16th and 17th Streets, and will have a frontage and depth of 135 ft. On the first floor there will be a salesroom, 19 by 54 ft., for new cars and a salesroom 19 by 54ft., for second-hand cars. Offices and a waiting room will be located on the main floor, together with a large garage. The charging plant will be located on the second floor. Provision has been made for a 3rd story at some future time. The building will be completed in January. -- Automotive Industries, 1919

Not big players in the art scene, apparently

There is a certain charm to the stark billboard and occasional Buick sign being the only cues to what the building is. I have an idealized image of the past, where car dealerships and garages looked more like the one in this 1920 postcard:

Can anybody identify the markings near the top of the building? I assume they represent the original owner, although I cannot identify them.

[Emerson & Orme seem to have been the original owners. - Dave]

1620 M Street NW to-day

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