100 Years Ago: Roosevelt Lays Cornerstone Of 12th Street Colored YMCA (DC)
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This week marks the 100th anniversary of the date (November 26, 1908) that President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Twelfth Street Colored Y.M.C.A. Branch building in Washington, D.C.
In a formal ceremony involving “many prominent persons of both the white and colored races,” Roosevelt spread the first trowelful of mortar on the foundation for the stone. As the proceedings continued, the chief executive looked around and asked an African American workman who was standing nearby to come up to the front.
“Come here; I want to shake hands with you,” Roosevelt commanded. Turning to the crowd, he continued, “I always like to shake hands with the man behind the gun — the man that does the work.”
Later, a local official remarked, “In this District, where there is a larger and better colored population than anywhere else, the colored branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association has great opportunity and great promise.”
The building was designed by African American architect William Sidney Pittman, the son-in-law of Booker T. Washington.
It officially opened in April, 1912.
The beautifully restored structure is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
It’s home to the impressive Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage.
What’s cool is that they rebuilt the original interior, so walking inside is like going back in time.
If you’re planning be in D.C., why not stop by this wonderful site?
It’s at 1816 Twelfth Street, N.W., between S Street and T Street.
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[…] In a special ceremony tomorrow (Saturday, February 7) the historic Twelfth Street Colored Y.M.C.A. building in Washington, D.C. will unseal the contents of the more than 100 year old time capsule contained in its cornerstone, which was laid by President Theodore Roosevelt. […]
I feel foolish, living in the DC metro area and probably drove past this building a zillionith times…whoa…this is deep…Roosy laid the first cornerstone of this building built in 1912…can’t wait to visit tomorrow for sure…wow, lol…also when you come to visit the D.C. area, come to Old Town Alexandria…On Duke Street is a “slave office”, this is where most of the slaves in America came from when they came in port in Old Town Alexandria, VA…also visit the historic slave cemetery, for years a gas station sat on top of the cemetery, the archeologist’s did some excavation of some sort and found graves, lots of children’s graves also…