Life on the Park 16th and euclid streets nw
during the civilwar ( 1861-1865 ) , Union Army hospitals and camps occupied Meridian Hill. The facilities attracted African American freedom seekers looking for protection and employment. By war’s end,a black community had put down roots. Soon Wayland Seminary opened to train African American clergy and teachers. (The semi- nary later moved to Richmond.) In the late 1880 s, Mary Foote Henderson purchased most of this land and evicted residents.Many settled in today’s Reed-Cooke neighborhood. The building at 2600 16 th Street once was painted pink and called the Pink Palace.Mrs.Henderson commissioned it as she began creating her elite enclave.It was designed by her favorite architect, George O.Totten,Jr. An early owner,Delia Field, widow of Chicago department store mogul Marshall Field,entertained the Prince of Wales here in 1919 .Architect Totten lived at 2633 16 th Street, later home of the Antioch Law School. Totten would design 11 grand houses,including the elegant 2460 16 th,first occupied by the French Embassy.Mrs.Henderson originally offered Totten’s 2801 16 th Street to the U.S.government for a vice president’s residence.The government declined,so Spain took it for its embassy. At 2480 16 th Street is Dorchester House,briefly the residence of John F.Kennedy and his sister Kathleen in 1941 .Across 16 th Street is Meridian Hill Hall,Howard University’s first co-ed dormi- tory.It opened in 1942 as apartments for women war workers at a time of severe housing shortages.
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