The Changing Faces of Adams Morgan 19th and vernon streets nw
adams school was built at 1816 19 th Street in 1930 for white students when the DC Public Schools were segregated.An Americanization School taught immigrant adults and children the English language and American culture here from 1949 to 1967 ,when it moved to Georgetown. As early as the 1920 s Adams Morgan was a desti- nation for European immigrants attracted to its boarding houses,accessible employment,and,even- tually,the presence of family and friends.In addi- tion to the many Latinos who came between the 1950 s and 1980 s, Southeast Asians came during the Vietnam War,and subsequent unrest in Ethiopia and Eritrea brought more immigrants from those nations. It has become common for signs to advertise prod- ucts or church services in multiple languages. In the early 1970 s, the grassroots Adams Morgan Organization,a homegrown precursor of the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission system, adopted the motto “Unity in Diversity,” recognizing some 40 ethnic groups.Residents may disagree on how unified the neighborhood actually is,but many take pride in its long history of tolerance and diversity. The mansion at 2001 19 th Street (now condo- miniums) was built in 1903 as the Royal Chinese Embassy.When it opened,the press hailed the building as the “finest and most costly” diplomatic residence in the city. City Council Chairman David Clarke ( 1944‒1997 ), known for his concern for civil rights,the poor, and affordable housing,once lived at 1909 19 th Street. He was first elected to represent Ward 1 in the City Council in 1974 .
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