History in a House
,what tales would it tell? The private residence at M Street would tell of hundreds of Shaw residents who came here to play and worship. The house at was built in the s for Joseph Prather,a butcher at nearby Northern Liberty Market.After Prather the house became the first DC home of the Young Men’s Hebrew Association ( - ),serving the recreational and spiritual needs of young local Jews. The YMHA evolved into today’s Jewish Community Centers (DC, Fairfax,Virginia,and Rockville,Maryland).Next came the Hebrew Home for the Aged ( - ), which still operates in Rockville. Shomrei Shabbos,an Orthodox Jewish synagogue, occupied for about years. Then, in , the Church of Jesus Christ moved in,remaining until .Mother Lena Sears founded the church after nearby Bible Way Church refused to let women preach.Next came the Metropolitan Community Church,a Christian church with a special ministry to the gay,lesbian,bisexual,and transgendered community.It is now located one block north of here on Ridge Street. A quick detour to Ridge Street reveals a rare row of small,wood-frame houses from as early as the s. (Shaw housing generally is brick.) At num- ber ,the Northwest Settlement House has pro- vided social and day care services since . The Tuesday Evening Club of Social Workers, a group of African American women, founded the center “to extend a helping hand to friendless girls, deserted women and neglected children.”
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker