Thursday, December 13, 2018

The New Deal Around DC: The Home of Harry Hopkins

Above: New Deal administrator Harry Hopkins lived in this house, at 3340 N Street NW, Washington, DC (in Georgetown), ca. 1943-1946. This photograph was taken during Hopkins residence, but I'm not sure if the car in front of the house was his (it looks like a 1940 Chrysler Windsor Coupe). Photo by International News Service, scanned from a personal copy, and used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: The Hopkins Home today. A 2008 article about the home reported: "Recently completely remodeled and restored, this home is now on the market for $2,495,000. The restoration project, completed this year, was undertaken by John Richardson Ltd., known in Georgetown as a premier provider of period restoration" ("House hunting: Georgetown home with charm," Washington Times, October 24, 2008). Personally, I think the home looked brighter and more inviting during Hopkins' ownership; but the 2008 renovations probably restored the house to its original 1830s appearance (see next image). Photo by Brent McKee, December 2018.

Above: A plaque shows that the house was constructed around 1830, and also shows that there is a preservation easement on the deed. Such easements typically limit alterations to historic homes, especially on the exterior, and frequently offer tax benefits. Photo by Brent McKee, December 2018.

Above: The front view of the Hopkins Home is a little deceptive, making it appear somewhat small. But, as you can see from this side view, the house has surprising depth and a rooftop patio--and there is also a basement level--all of which makes it a fairly large house. Photo by Brent McKee, December 2018.

Above: When Harry Hopkins first came to Washington, DC, to serve in the FDR Administration, he was too busy with work to look for a house or apartment, so he stayed at the Cosmos Club on Massachusetts Avenue (his family stayed behind in New York). His living conditions at the Cosmos Club were described as: "good library and newspaper facilities, comfortable beds, very reasonable and very good food, and not very good bathroom accommodations" (Henry H. Adams, Harry Hopkins: A Biography, 1977, p. 53). Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid, provided courtesy of Wikipedia, used here under the CCA-SA 3.0 license.

Above: Harry Hopkins also lived at the White House, from about 1940-1942. FDR offered a room to Hopkins so that Hopkins could perform his national defense-related duties while convalescing from his numerous health problems. (I'm not sure where Hopkins lived in between his time at the Cosmos Club and his time at the White House.) Photo by Brent McKee, September 2018.

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