National Register of Historic Places Registration Form

NFS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
(M6)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
CLEVELAND PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT
WASHINGTON D.C.
Section number ? Rage _J__
along Connecticut is significant in that it maintains its original integrity
in scale and in a number of original details.
The atmoshpere of the neighborhood has an old world charm reminding one
of Washington's southern graciousness and the slower pace of life at the turn
of the century. The hustle and bustle of human activity and cars along
Connecticut and Wisconsin Avenues contrasts sharply with the feeling of peace
and quiet which envelopes the pedestrian turning off the avenues into the
garden complex of the Broadmoor or Tilden Garden Apartments or as one walks
onto one of the East/west streets -Macomb, Newark, Ordway, Porter, Rodman -
which connect the two avenues and constitute the heart of the Cleveland Park
Historic District.
The cohesiveness of the architectural fabric and scale of the
neighborhood derives from the continuous line of development which occurred
from 1894 to 1941. Cleveland Park's initial growth was in direct response to
the opening of the electric streetcars connecting this area with the city
center; service began in 1890 on Wisconsin and 1892 on Connecticut Avenue.
The community grew rapidly and continuously reflecting changing aesthetic
tastes, housing needs and lifestyles. The houses were largely constructed
between 1894 and 1930 overlapping with the most intense period of apartment
and retail/commercial construction between 1920 and 1941.
The Cleveland Park Historic District includes two estates which predate
the development of the streetcar suburb. Both are listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. Two additional estates were established after
the intial phase of the suburb was completed. All four estates have
maintained the integrity of their buildings and grounds including some of the
original landscaping schemes.
EARLY ESTATES - COUNTRY HOMES AND SUMMER HOMES
Rosedale: 3501 Newark Street; 1794; owner/builder: Uriah Forrest;
D.C. Landmark and
listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This is the oldest house in Cleveland Park. Its style is closely related
to the original building of Mount Vernon before George Washington made all his
additions and alterations. It is a simple frame farmhouse, asymmetrical, with
chimneys at both ends recalling the 17th century colonial frame buildings of
the southern states.
It has a simple porch which extends across the entire front of the
building and it has four additional wings to the rear. The stone buildings,
which are the furthest wings from the house, were probably earlier than the
house, perhaps dating to 1740 and are considered to have been the kitchen and
a store room. In southern farmhouses, especially wooden ones, the kitchens
were located separately from the house to protect the house from the danger of
fire and from excessive heat in the summers. The house is in good condition,
having had some renovation work undertaken recently by its present owners, and