Even though they were built well into the Victorian era—known for its ornate architectural embellishments—the 12 semi-detached houses that Diller B. Groff built on Caroline Street are characterized by a simple design. His choice may have been a matter of economics, that is, building something that could be quickly constructed and would be affordable by the government clerks and others of modest means seeking reasonably priced housing. In the center of the block on each side of the street across from each other, Groff placed two units with flat fronts, each with two semi-detached residences. Then, on each side of these center units he built two additional structures, again with two semi-detached residences each. These units had indented corner entrances. This created a series of 24 individual residences, 12 semi-detached ones on each side of the street in six structures. Between each structure he left an approximate 10-foot-wide passage (5 feet for each residence) that provided access from the area of the street front to a small rear yard. This combination of flat and indented fronts, with a break between each semi-detached pair, and with a set of white marble steps accenting each residence, created a simple yet unifying architectural and spatial rhythm that still defines the street today. All but two of the houses (1506 and 1519) are two stories. One (1505) has a bay front and small porch with ornate wood- and ironwork. In recent years another (1524) had the front entrance moved to the side.
In August 1993, Traceries, an architectural and cultural research group, prepared a final report of a large multi-block neighborhood architectural survey that included Caroline Street. This report was written as part of an overall area study to determine eligibility for historic district status, a designation granted by the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board in December 1998. Traceries’ report contained the following about Caroline Street:
“Diller B. Groff did not limit himself to the typical speculative row, however, On Caroline Street, instead of one long row of dwellings, the builder erected twelve pairs of dwellings. These pairs are identical in terms of size and massing, but differ in their use of ornamentation. The two-bay elevations have alternating corbelled and bracketed cornices and [either] recessed side entries [or] flush [center ones].”[1]
Photos of these two house styles, with their architectural embellishments, appear below.
Caption: Flat front-style houses
· Brick corbelling at the top with a simple
metal cornice.
· Note crenellation on the house at the
left (1515). This embellishment may [picture here, with arrows
flat front houses. possible]
· House at the left (1515) also retains
its originally wrought iron Washington
loop fencing and the stone foundation
blocks holding it in place.
· The unpainted brick front of 1515
represents how all houses on the street
originally appeared.
Caption: Indented entry-style house
· Corner indentation is handsomely
angled.
· Bracketed metal cornice is more [photo here with same arrow
elaborate than on the flat-front houses. use]
· Signature white marble steps and
· landing are clearly visible.
· Replacement Washington loop
fencing
Crenellations appear above the brick corbelling and decorative metal cornice on 1515 Caroline (see photo above) suggesting that other houses on the street—probably all those with flat fronts in the center of the block—may have originally had the same treatment. The distinctive white marble steps and landings, built as an integral part of Caroline Street houses, can also be seen on the Groff-built dwellings in the 1900 block of 15th Street and on the north side of the 1500 block of neighboring T Street.
There are enough vestiges of window hardware on several Caroline Street houses to indicate that all had shutters on the side and rear windows. This appears to have been a standard dwelling feature, at least with small houses. Research on old Southwest Washington, DC, conducted prior to the development of a walking route highlighting that neighborhood’s history before urban renewal, revealed photographs showing the same side and rear shutter placement on houses of a similar size.[2] Similarly, because of the lack of window hardware on the front of Caroline Street houses it is safe to say that the shutters seen today are a much more recent addition. Further, the painted front facades that today add color and variation to the streetscape are a relatively recent addition.
The last original front door (a speculation) disappeared from the street when 1516 Caroline was extensively renovated in the mid-1980s. That door looked like the one in the picture below on 1912 15th Street, another Groff-built house. Examples of this style door (replacements) can be seen today on both 1910 and 1912 15th Street. Original house windows were double hung, two over two panes, with likely examples visible today on 1518 and 1522.[3]
Caption: Door at 1912 15th Street, NW
This is an example of the style of front [door photo]
Door that originally existed on many
All of the Caroline Street houses originally came with front yards enclosed with what was called Washington loop fencing. It was made of wrought iron and over the years much of it was replaced by a chain link variety. In recent years, however, much of that too has again been replaced with good replicas of the original fencing.
Three houses on Caroline Street differ architecturally from the majority. These are pictured here with their distinguishing features.
Caption: 1505 Caroline Street
· Bay front
· Covered front porch [Insert 1505 photo]
· Ornate wood- and wrought iron work
Caption: 1506 Caroline Street
· Third story is fronted with a Mansard-style
front.
· Juxtaposition with 1508 Caroline next door [Insert 1506 photo]
provides a comparison view of two- and three-
story houses.
Caption: 1524 Caroline Street
moved to the side during extensive
remodeling during the 1970s.
· Prior to this change the then owner had [Photo of 1524 to come]
excavated the basement to create a rental unit.
During that work the building’s alley-facing
side wall was not properly underpinned and
it collapsed into the alley. This accounts
for the new look of 1524’s brick side wall.
[1] The Northern Shaw-Striver Cultural Resources Survey, Phase II, Final Report, Prepared by Traceries for The Historic Northern Shaw-Striver Coalition, The D.C. Preservation League, and the D.C. Historic Preservation Division, August, 1993, p. 42.
2 Richard Busch research, 2002.
3 Since December 1998, when it was so designated by the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board, Caroline Street has been part of the Greater 14th Street Historic District. To ensure the future architectural integrity of the district property owners must obtain approval from the Historic Preservation Office (part of the Office of Planning) of any exterior changes to their properties. This includes replacing windows and doors.
[1] The Northern Shaw-Striver Cultural Resources Survey, Phase II, Final Report, Prepared by Traceries for The Historic Northern Shaw-Striver Coalition, The D.C. Preservation League, and the D.C. Historic Preservation Division, August, 1993, p. 42.
[2] Richard Busch research, 2002.
[3] Since December 1998, when it was so designated by the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board, Caroline Street has been part of the Greater 14th Street Historic District. To ensure the future architectural integrity of the district property owners must obtain approval from the Historic Preservation Office (part of the Office of Planning) of any exterior changes to their properties. This includes replacing windows and doors.
Last update 14 May 2004
Copyright Richard Busch, 1993, 2004
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