CHRS Projects
CHRS
Annual House and Garden Tour
Each year since 1958, CHRS has organized a tour of homes, gardens and other structures on Capitol Hill. This annual event, held every Mother's Day weekend, showcases approximately ten renovated buildings in the 200-year-old community. Community grants are usually awarded from a portion of the proceeds.
Save the Dates! May 9-10, 2009
CHRS is working closely with the Barrack’s Row Main Street merchants and other community groups to produce a tour full of historic features, intriguing histories, great gardens, and remarkable interior designs and decorations. More information, including a full list of houses and ticket locations will be available on the CHRS website (www.chrs.org) early in the Spring.
CHRS is the oldest and largest civic organization on Capitol Hill. Founded in 1955, this volunteer driven group is dedicated to preserving the historic residential character of the nation’s Capitol. 52 years ago, CHRS started the house and garden tour tradition to highlight Capitol Hill landmarks and to raise funds to support projects to preserve the neighborhood’s historic character and to enhance its livability through efforts in planning, zoning, traffic management, and public safety.
House
and Garden Tour Community Grants Awards
Since 2000, CHRS has donated 20 percent of net House Tour proceeds each year to worthwhile projects of Capitol Hill organizations. The CHRS Board has established criteria for grant awards and a committee reviews annual grant applications. Grant applications are due around Labor Day each year; awards are usually made in October.
Community Grants Awards (also known as the Beall Bequest Grants in honor of former CHRS President and community activist Austin Beall) of varying sizes have been made every year since the Board first approved the concept in February, 2000. Grants have been awarded for these projects, among many others:
- To collect oral histories in a local neighborhood
- To expand a local playing field
- To restore ironwork at a small triangle park
- To fund an anti-littering video produced in part by children
residing in local
low-income housing, as well as many others
Art
on Call: Call Box Revitalization Project
Introduction
Years ago, back at the turn of the 20th century, before telephones and cell phones were ubiquitous, there were ornamental iron boxes on poles at many street corners throughout the city. They were not only attractive, but they served a civic purpose as well. Residents could turn in a fire alarm or the police in the precinct house could check on the progress of an officer on patrol. Then came the 1970s when the police had other means of checking back to the precinct house and the number of false fire alarms rocketed causing problems for the fire department. The 911 emergency system was instituted and the police and fire call boxes were inactivated.
Just before the turn of the 21st century, several Hill residents and others from across the city began wondering how these relics from another time could once again grace their communities. The Art on Call project, under the direction of Cultural Tourism DC through an agreement with the DC Department of Transportation, is the answer.
Neighborhood organizations across the Hill – Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Barracks Row Main Street, H Street Main Street, Hill East, North Lincoln Park, Stanton Park – have joined together to work on this project. This web page can tell you how to get involved in the project – or what will be happening on a corner near you.
CHRS hosts monthly Preservation Cafes during the spring and fall, where the community hears from experts on a variety of restoration issues. This popular, free forum is open to everyone and no reservations are required.
Since the 2007 series, the Café has been convenitng in the attractive and comfortable downstairs room of Ebenezer’s Coffee House, Second & F Streets, NE, just two blocks from Union Station Metro stop, on the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30pm–7:15pm. The facility is wheelchair accessible.
Recent Café topics have included:
- The Pros and Cons of Conservation Easement
- House History: How to Start and Where to Find Information
- Zoning 101: The Basics About the Process and the Players
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CHRS Projects Capitol Hill History & Database of Historic Building Permits, Squares 1000–1125 © Copyright 2001-2008, Capitol Hill Restoration Society. All rights reserved. Last updatedJuly 6, 2008. Website hosted by DC Access. |