Mick Hartley

Marion Post Wolcott, 1941:

"Schoots Court [i.e., Schott's Alley] with Senate Office Building in background. Four very small dark rooms rent for fifteen and eighteen dollars per month with water and privy in yard. It used to rent for six and eight dollars. Frank Coles and his friend are sitting on the bench. He was a cement plasterer but has been on relief during the past year. He has frequent heart attacks and his feet and ankles are all swollen. Doctor advises a chicken and lamb diet, no pork or beef, but he doesn't even have money to buy fuel. He can't get waited on in a clinic or get to one. He waited from before 11 until 4 p.m. but still could not see a doctor. He has been in Washington since 1906."

"Negro slum area near the U.S. Capitol, between D and C Streets off First Street S.W. Most houses have five small rooms renting for twenty dollars and fifty cents a month, with rear wood kitchen shed, cold water, outdoor privy."

Still, in George Clinton's memorable phrase, Chocolate City – with its vanilla suburbs.