Harry Wardman
Encyclopedia
Harry Wardman was a real estate developer in Washington, D.C.
during the early 20th century whose developments included landmark hotels, luxury apartment buildings, and many rowhouses.
, England
in 1872 (the 1900 federal census - Washington, D.C. - says he was born April 1869), Wardman was the son of English textile workers. In 1889, at age 17, he arrived in New York City
, where he worked in a department store. He later moved to Philadelphia, where he worked at the Wanamaker's
department store and met his wife, Mary Hudson. They had one daughter, Alice. In 1893, Wardman arrived in Washington, D.C.
, where he worked as a carpenter
, learned to build staircases, and soon got into building homes and apartments. By 1900, Wardman was widowed and in 1908, he married Lillian Glascox. Harry and Lillian had one daughter, Helen.
, Bloomingdale
, Eckington
and Brightwood
. Wardman’s first houses, designed by architect Nicholas Grimm, included those located at the 900 block of Longfellow Street, NW. To this day, his homes are renowned for their high-quality construction and materials. In 1907, he embarked on a project to build 750 rowhouses in Columbia Heights, which included new design elements, most notably the front porch
. Some of his design ideas were copied by the dozens of other developers — Lewis Brueninger, Harry Kite, Francis Blundon, David Dunigan, and others — who built massive rows of townhouses in the District.
Wardman's success at rowhouses allowed him to move up to building luxury apartment buildings, mostly designed by architect Albert H. Beers, and located along 16th Street, NW, Connecticut Avenue
, Columbia Heights, and elsewhere. They include:
(now the site of the Marriott
Wardman Park Hotel and Conference Center) along Connecticut Avenue in Woodley Park. The hotel was successful, meeting the strong demand of an influx of government workers after World War I
. In 1984, the Wardman Tower, an apartment building located on the hotel site, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. In 1928, Wardman built the Hay-Adams Hotel
, designed by Turkish architect, Mihran Mesrobian
, and located across from Lafayette Park
. Other landmarks built include the British Embassy
.
Wardman's efforts made him wealthy, and for a time he lived extravagantly in Washington and abroad. But most of his $30 million fortune vanished in the 1929 stock market crash
. He continued to build middle-class homes. Wardman died in 1938 from cancer and is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery
.
. He held that position until the stock market crash of 1929
.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
during the early 20th century whose developments included landmark hotels, luxury apartment buildings, and many rowhouses.
Personal life
Born in BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1872 (the 1900 federal census - Washington, D.C. - says he was born April 1869), Wardman was the son of English textile workers. In 1889, at age 17, he arrived in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he worked in a department store. He later moved to Philadelphia, where he worked at the Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States. At its zenith in the early 20th century, there were two major Wanamaker department stores, one in Philadelphia and one in New York City at Broadway...
department store and met his wife, Mary Hudson. They had one daughter, Alice. In 1893, Wardman arrived in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he worked as a carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
, learned to build staircases, and soon got into building homes and apartments. By 1900, Wardman was widowed and in 1908, he married Lillian Glascox. Harry and Lillian had one daughter, Helen.
Rowhouses
Wardman built many of the city's rowhouses, especially in the neighborhoods of Columbia HeightsColumbia Heights, Washington, D.C.
Columbia Heights is a neighborhood in central Washington, D.C.-Geography:Located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., Columbia Heights borders the neighborhoods of Shaw, Adams Morgan, Mount Pleasant, Park View, Pleasant Plains, and Petworth. On the eastern side is Howard University...
, Bloomingdale
Bloomingdale, Washington, D.C.
The neighborhood of Bloomingdale is in the heart of Washington, D.C. less than two miles north of the United States Capitol building. Specifically, Bloomingdale lies south of Channing Street, N.W., east of 2nd Street, N.W. , east of Third Street, N.W. , north of Florida Avenue, N.W., and west of...
, Eckington
Eckington, Washington, D.C.
Eckington is a neighborhood in Northeast Washington, D.C. located south of the Prospect Hill and Glenwood Cemeteries. Eckington is less than one mile southeast of Howard University and exactly one mile north of the United States Capitol...
and Brightwood
Brightwood, Washington, D.C.
Brightwood is a neighborhood located in the northwestern quadrant of Washington, D.C. Brightwood and the rest of Ward 4 are represented in the Council of the District of Columbia by Muriel Bowser.- Geography :...
. Wardman’s first houses, designed by architect Nicholas Grimm, included those located at the 900 block of Longfellow Street, NW. To this day, his homes are renowned for their high-quality construction and materials. In 1907, he embarked on a project to build 750 rowhouses in Columbia Heights, which included new design elements, most notably the front porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
. Some of his design ideas were copied by the dozens of other developers — Lewis Brueninger, Harry Kite, Francis Blundon, David Dunigan, and others — who built massive rows of townhouses in the District.
Apartments
Connecticut Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
Connecticut Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., and suburban Montgomery County, Maryland. It is one of the diagonal avenues radiating from the White House, and the segment south of Florida Avenue was one of the original streets in Pierre Charles...
, Columbia Heights, and elsewhere. They include:
- The Chastleton - 1701 16th Street, NW
- The Wardman - 1916 17th Street, NW
- The Dresden - 2126 Connecticut Avenue, NW
- The Maxwell - 1419 Clifton Street, NW
- Northumberland ApartmentsNorthumberland ApartmentsThe Northumberland Apartments is an historic apartment building at 2039 New Hampshire Avenue, NW in the U Street Corridor of Washington, D.C. The Classical Revival building was constructed in 1909-10 by local real estate developer Harry Wardman and Albert H. Beers...
- 2039 New Hampshire Avenue, NW - Rutland Court - 1725 17th Street, NW
- South Cathedral Mansions - 2900 Connecticut Avenue, NW
- Wardman Court (formerly, Clifton Terrace) - 1312 Clifton Street, NW
- Wardman RowWardman RowWardman Row is a block of historic apartment buildings at 1416-1440 R Street, NW in Washington, D.C. The buildings, located in the Greater Fourteenth Street Historic District were designed in 1911 by Harry Wardman and Albert Beers. In 1984, the buildings were placed on the National Register of...
- 1416-1440 R Street, NW - Copley Plaza - 1514 17th Street, NW
- Cavanaugh Court - 1526 17th Street, NW
- Apartment Building at 2225 N Street
Hotels
In 1916, he built the 1,200-room Wardman Park HotelMarriott Wardman Park
The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel is a Marriott International property in Washington, D.C.. The hotel is located in the Woodley Park neighborhood at 2600 Woodley Road, NW and Connecticut Avenue, NW, adjacent the Woodley Park station of the Washington Metro system.The Wardman Park is the largest...
(now the site of the Marriott
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
Wardman Park Hotel and Conference Center) along Connecticut Avenue in Woodley Park. The hotel was successful, meeting the strong demand of an influx of government workers after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1984, the Wardman Tower, an apartment building located on the hotel site, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In 1928, Wardman built the Hay-Adams Hotel
Hay-Adams Hotel
The Hay–Adams Hotel is a luxury hotel located at 800 16th Street NW in Washington, D.C. Lafayette Square and St. John's Episcopal Church, also known as the Church of the Presidents, are located across the street...
, designed by Turkish architect, Mihran Mesrobian
Mihran Mesrobian
Mihran Mesrobian was a Turkish-born Armenian who immigrated to the United States and became a prominent architect in the Washington, D.C. area.-Career:...
, and located across from Lafayette Park
President's Park
President's Park, located in Washington, D.C., encompasses the White House, a visitor center, Lafayette Square, and The Ellipse. President's Park was the original name of Lafayette Square. The current President's Park is administered by the National Park Service.-White House:Washington, D.C...
. Other landmarks built include the British Embassy
British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
The British Embassy in Washington, D.C. is the United Kingdom's diplomatic mission to the United States. It is located at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C..-Consulates:...
.
Wardman's efforts made him wealthy, and for a time he lived extravagantly in Washington and abroad. But most of his $30 million fortune vanished in the 1929 stock market crash
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
. He continued to build middle-class homes. Wardman died in 1938 from cancer and is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery — also Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery — is an cemetery with a natural rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE in Washington, D.C.'s Michigan Park neighborhood, near Washington's Petworth neighborhood...
.
Suburban developments
In 1927, he assumed the presidency of Washington Suburban Realty Company, developer of Cheverly, MarylandCheverly, Maryland
Cheverly is a town in central Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., United States. The town was founded in 1918 and it was incorporated in 1931. Cheverly had 6,433 residents as of the 2000 Census....
. He held that position until the stock market crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
.
Further reading
- Berk, Sally (2004) “Wardman Row House Tour”, D.C. Preservation Advocate. Spring 2004 newsletter. http://www.dcpreservation.org/newsletter/spring_04/spring04.pdf
- Fleishman, Sandra (October 15, 2005) “Wardman’s World”, The Washington Post. p F01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/14/AR2005101400789.html
- Kelsey & Associates, Inc. (Paul K. Williams). History of the Hay-Adams Hotel. Manuscript, 2000.
- Toomey, Helen, Faith Hofstader (1998) Harry and Lillian Wardman Papers, 1916-1930, Special Collections Finding Aid. The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. http://www.citymuseumdc.org/Do_Research/FindingAidPDF/a/ms0382.pdf
- Washington Post (March 19, 1938) "Wardman Dies: Made and Lost Riches in Realty Englishman Who Became D.C. Building Leader Was 65. Wardman Dies Made and Lost Riches in Realty Wardman", The Washington Post. p. X1.
- Williams, Paul K. 'Harry Wardman,' section included in various house histories, 1995-2006.