Thanks Groucho! The key was provided by Splunge when he noted that way back in 1921, Maryland Avenue was the only street with lot numbers as high as 137. A quick check of the 1922 Sanborn map showed houses on Lots 135 and 137 that resembled those in the photo. Drawing a line on the map along the photographer's line of sight passing between the two houses, it intersected the north wall of a large building across the street (Maryland National Guard Armory). The building is still there, although it's now owned by a church. A trip around the block on Google Street yielded the photo clearly showing the sloping roof, stone wall, and window!

Jumbo, I think you're right but how in the world did you find it? I had to study your posted photos twice to see the similarities.

The building visible between the two houses is the north wall of the Maryland National Guard Armory. That means the two houses occupied Lots 135 and 137 on Maryland Avenue (now Baltimore Avenue), and both were demolished in 1929 to make way for the new 'C & P Telephone Co.' building, which was built in 1930. It's now the Verizon building.

Excellent sleuthing by E Helliwell and jumbo501. Max Vollberg was councilman (ca 1925-30) and mayor (1930-32) of Riverdale, Md. - now Riverdale Park.

According to official Hyattsville records, in 1941 'Wingrest Avenue' was changed to the 4100 block of Decatur Street.

This is the house of Max Vollberg, not Balberg. It is at 137 Wing Rest Avenue. The family is in the 1920 census of Hyattsville. Mr. Vollberg's 1922 US Passport application has pictures on the second page showing members of his family and one picture showing a part of the front porch beams of this house. All of this information can be found at ancestry.com.

Oh, I can remember those old double swings. My grandmother had one of those!!!!

I figured the easy path to locating this house would be the 1920 US Census. Appears there isn't even a Balberg living in Maryland (not the first time I've been wrong).

Also, having lived in the area I know that Hyattsville blends into adjacent communities, so the house could be as far north as College Park or south towards Bladensburg.

I think I might have found the location. Based on the 1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Hyattsville, it appears that only one street had addresses going as high as 137 - that being Maryland Avenue, which is now Baltimore Avenue. What was once a far more residential area is now quite commercial, with only a few reminders of its not-so-distant past. The structures depicted on the 1922 map seem to align with the photograph that Dave posted. Here is where I believe the "Balberg House" once stood (note that the building that is visible on the Google map would have been obscured in the ca.1921 picture; the Sanford map suggests that it was standing at that time):

View Larger Map

Further evidence: if you scoot Street View back a few feet (just to the south of Jefferson, say, about here), you'll note that the distinctive old "two-paned" sidewalk is still in place, barely protruding above street level:

Street view may tell us, but my guess is either Farragut, Gallatin, or 42nd.

I'm not sure if Dave knew it when he posted, but giving the house number from 1921 and asking for the street is a trick question. On 11 August 1941, Prince George's County (including Hyattsville) renamed and renumbered their streets to better match the scheme from neighboring Washington DC. Thus, today's Ingraham Street was Oak Street in 1921, Oglethorpe Street was Arundel Avenue; Locust, Park, Avon, and Adalyn Avenues were combined with Grove Street to create the modern-day 42nd Place, etc. The house numbers changed as well, so looking for a modern-day "137" will prove fruitless.

I am following a few leads to identify this house and its location (I need all the bonus points I can get). Question for Dave, in case my frustration level gets too high - do *you* know the street name and true location?

This is seen nicely here. Laundry is hung in the back of the house and a very pretty pergola creates a formal decorative garden in the side yard, and it hides the vegetable garden which is located behind. Note the gardener wearing a straw hat.

Please advise what a Shorpy addict can do with his or her "bonus points" which you occasionally offer, as in this photo?

It apperas that they painted the name of the street right on the pavement in the lower left corner of the picture, Shorpy Street. Nice houses way before they all got plastered w/Vinyl.

It's just past the fence and beyond the sidewalk.

Looks like Becky Thatcher's house and Tom Sawyer is about to come along with a stick to run along that wooden fence.