It was a handsome building then and it still is. Not the least bit flashy, simple, well proportioned and elegant. Good to see that it's qualities were appreciated.

Before department stores moved from downtown Washington to new-fangled suburban malls in the mid-50s, my mother would take me shopping at this Hechts, also to Woodward & Lothrop nearby. That was always a big deal: dresses and nice shoes, overcoats and hats in winter. Classy stores encouraged classy customers, I guess. Before Visa & Master Card, my mother had her Washington Shopping Plate, good at Woodies, Hechts, Raleighs, Jelliff, Kanns & Lansburgh. Starting around the late 60s through the 80s, those old department stores fell by the wayside - all are gone now. So sad.

Regarding escalators, when I was a small tot I almost pitched headfirst down one. Nearly 60 years later, when I approach that moving top step, my stomach still twists into a knot. Doesn't help I have macular degeneration and terrible depth perception now.

That corner is actually 7th & F Streets NW.

This is at 7th & G Streets NW. Point of view is the present-day Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, looking to the South-East out a window, notice the stone along the right edge of the original photo.

Not long after this picture was taken, my folks moved to Washington from Nebraska during the depression. (Yes, they avoided the crowds headed for California.) My mother quickly got a job at this Hecht's store, originally selling baby clothes. But when Hecht's installed the first escalators of any store in Washington, they found that customers were intimidated and afraid to use them. So my mother found herself assigned to ride the escalators all day, to show how safe and easy it was.

But one of the many, often self-inflicted, adventures in her life....

And today my day job is located only five blocks away. Small world.

Like the bottoms of wheels, a leg on the ground does not have blurring forward motion.

Never seen a clock wrong 4 times a day before!

You take a guess, 3:50 or 1:34.

Now known as Terrell Place.