Rhodes Tavern is the site of a historic tavern in the early history of Washington, D.C. It was located at 15th Street and F Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C.
History It was built in 1799 by Bennett Fenwick on land he had purchased in 1797. It was sold or rented to William Rhodes in 1801 and he operated it as a tavern and inn until 1805. During that time it was a polling place in the first city council election on June 7, 1802. In 1805, Rhodes sold it to Joseph Semmes, Rhodes future brother-in-law who had run the successful City Tavern in Georgetown. Semmes renamed it the Indian King and ran it until 1809, when he sold it to Virginia Congressman John George Jackson. From 1810 to June 1814, Jackson lived here and Mrs. Barbara Suter ran it as a boarding house for him. Several members of Congress stayed here during that time including John Sevier the first governor of Tennessee. Jackson sold it, and it became the Bank of Metropolis, and later Riggs Bank. Contrary to popular belief, British soldiers did not dine or stay here as they burned the city in August 1814. That occurred at Mrs. Suter's new place on Pennsylvania and 15th. An image of how the building looked in 1817 was painted by Anne Marguerite Hyde de Neuville in 1817.
It was the first home of Riggs Bank, from 1837 to 1845. It was here, in 1881, that Charles Guiteau would buy the gun with which he would later shoot and kill President James Garfield. It was the home of the National Press Club from 1909 to 1914, and was visited by Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.
Demolition controversy
The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on March 24, 1969. In March 1978, the United States Commission of Fine Arts recommended demolition, while finding the Keith-Albee Theater and National Metropolitan Bank facades historic."The Battle to Save Rhodes Tavern: A Chronology." The Washington Post September 11, 1984.Perl, Peter. "Panel Approves Rhodes Demolition, Calls for Delay Pending Vote in Fall." Washington Post. May 11, 1983 J. Carter Brown referred to Rhodes Tavern as: "the missing tooth in the smile of 15th Street."Benjamin Forgey, "One for The Rhodes: Saving the Historic Tavern Saving the Rhodes, A Historic Tavern", The Washington Post, September 24, 1983
In 1979, the D.C. Superior Court halted demolition of the Keith Albee building,"Court Order Temporarily Halts Demolition of Albee-Keith Facade." The Washington Post C4. April 24, 1979 but then allowed demolition of the interior.Wheeler, Linda. "Solomon-Like Court Order Is Slicing District's Historic Keith-Albee Building." Washington Post. June 15, 1979 The developer said he would preserve the historic facade of the Keith-Albee theater building, if he could demolish Rhodes Tavern.Oman, Anne H. "Developer Has New Plan For Historic Buildings." Washington Post. August 2, 1979. In 1981, the Supreme Court declined to review the District of Columbia Court of Appeals allowing demolition.
The White House curator, Clement Conger, advocated restoration of the tavern, like Fraunces Tavern, and Gadsby's Tavern Museum. In 1982, a House Subcommittee held hearings about the demolition.Bowman, LaBarbara. "Fight to Save Tavern Site Moves to Hill." Washington Post. December 1, 1982Rudolph A. Pratt Jr. "Congressional Meddlers Slow D.C. Development." The Washington Post C7. December 03 1982 A ballot initiative to preserve the building was approved by Washington citizens in 1983.Pichirallo, Joe. "Rhodes Tavern Initiative Carries 91 Percent of City's 137 Precincts." Washington Post. November 10, 1983
City attorneys argued that the ballot initiative did not bar demolition.Al Kamen, "Rhodes Tavern Razing Not Ruled Out." The Washington Post B1. February 8, 1984.Al Kamen, "Rhodes Tavern Faces Next Cliff-Hanger." The Washington Post B1. May 17, 1984. Mayor Marion Barry named seven people to a review board in accordance with the initiative.Sargent, Edward D. "Barry Names 7 to Rhodes Tavern Panel." Washington Post. June 8, 1984
In June 1984, the D.C. Superior Court granted a preliminary injunction against a demolition permit.Ed Bruske, "Court Ruling Blocks Demolition of Rhodes Tavern." The Washington Post B2. June 30, 1984.Peter Perl, "Taverns Demolition Held Up by Judge." The Washington Post C1. June 20, 1984. In August, the D.C. Superior Court found the initiative to halt demolition unconstitutional."Ruling Backs Demolition of Tavern." The Washington Post B1. August 21, 1984. The D.C. Court of Appeals blocked demolition, but required a $100,000 bond."More Delay on Tavern." The Washington Post C2. August 31, 1984 Warren Burger, of the Supreme Court declined to stay the order by the District of Columbia Superior Court to allow demolition.Barker, Karlyn. "Appeal to Save Rhodes Tavern Turned Down." The Washington Post C1. September 07, 1984"Demolition of Tavern In Capital Approved", New York Times, September 7, 1984 After the D.C. Court of Appeals lifted the injunction, demolition began at 1:57, September 10, 1984.Barker, Karlyn. "Demolition Of Rhodes Tavern Starts." Washington Post. September 11, 1984. Wrecking Corporation of America demolished through the night to avoid further Court review. People collected nails and bricks from the demolition.
The lot is now the site of Metropolitan Square office building, phase II, completed in 1986.
The United States Commission of Fine Arts recommended placing a marker on the site. A marker was placed by the Rhodes Tavern – D.C. Heritage Society, on June 7, 1999.
Legacy The preservation battle was an impetus for the use of preservation law, by the Historic Preservation Office, for redevelopment in the District of Columbia. The papers of the Committee to Save Historic Rhodes Tavern are held at George Washington University.Citizens Committee to Save Historic Rhodes Tavern papers, Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University.
A musical group The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours won a 2001 Wammie.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in the District of Columbia
References