Safe Havens
is the city’s first Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) for African Americans. It honors Phyllis Wheatley ( - ), considered America’s first published black poet. The Wheatley YWCA was organized in by the Booklover’s Club,a black women’s literary club,to provide housing,recreation,and vocational and Christian guidance to women. The Y opened in Southwest Washington, then relocated to this larger facility in to accommodate the hundreds of young women drawn to Washington during World War I.Carter G.Woodson frequently lectured and took meals here. Sororities met here. During World War II, when the Y became a social center for ser- vicemen and women,Civil Rights leader Dorothy Height served as secretary general.Recently reno- vated,the building provides accommodations,day care,and meeting spaces. Business High School for whites,and then Cardozo Business High School for African Americans, once occupied the block of Rhode Island Avenue. Business High School became part of the new Roosevelt High School in .Cardozo moved to its current th Street hill site in . The original rowhouse at R Street once housed the Clef Club (later Lewis Thomas Cabaret).The façade of the current house recreates the look of the original.The popular nightspot presented Duke Ellington and Bricktop and,despite its residential location,proudly advertised that it was open from dusk to dawn.At R Street is the former Engine Company No. fire house.In Company (then located in Southwest) became Washington’s first all-black company after black firefighters requested a separate facility run by African Americans.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker