Introduction
“a place between places,” where races and classes bumped and mingled as they got a foothold in the city.The neighbor- hood is situated just north of what were down- town’s federal offices and largely white-owned businesses, and south of the African American- dominated U Street commercial corridor and Howard University.The neighborhood has been home to the powerful seeking a convenient loca- tion,immigrants and migrants just starting out, laborers in need of affordable housing,men and women of God — and people living on luck, both good and bad. In the early 1900s,Seventh and Ninth streets north of Mount Vernon Square offered bargain- rate alternatives to downtown’s fancy department stores.There were also juke joints,storefront evangelists,and dozens of schools and houses of worship.Longstanding local businesses took root here.Today’s Chevy Chase Bank,BF Saul Company,and Ottenberg’s Bakery all got their starts along Seventh Street. Shaw’s name comes from the area’s junior high school,named for Robert Gould Shaw.The Civil War hero was the white commander of the 54th
Sen.Blanche K.Bruce and Josephine Bruce.
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