preservationaction.org

On April 30, 2007, fire ravaged two of the District’s significant historic resources, the Georgetown Neighborhood Library and Eastern Market, located in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. Eastern Market, built in 1873 is the last surviving market from a public chain operated by the District. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The fire destroyed much of the South Hall, which housed food stalls and lunch counters. The Georgetown Neighborhood Library was built in 1935 and is known for its local history collection. The library is a contributing resource to the Georgetown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1967. The fire destroyed much of the roof of the Georgian Revival building, along with some of its structural members and the Children’s reading room. The DC Preservation League established a fund “to assist with the planning costs associated with preservation efforts at these historic landmarks.” Work on Eastern Market has since been completed, while work on the Georgetown Neighborhood Library is ongoing.