A few years after Little died in 1876, his daughters subdivided the property into nine lots and sold many of them to real estate developers. Lots 1-4 where the manor house stood were left undeveloped as some of the family members continued living there. The manor house continued to be used by members of the Little family until the death of one of the daughters in 1901. By 1903, the estate only covered the modern-day boundaries of Kalorama Park. The surviving daughters sold the northern portion, which included the manor house, to lumber merchant Thomas W. Smith. The southern portion of the estate was sold to brewer and real estate investor [[Christian Heurich]] who planned to build the city’s largest apartment building on the site. After city government officials required Kalorama Road be connected, the plans were cancelled. After Smith died in 1919, his wife rented the manor house to [[United States Court of Claims]] judge [[Samuel Jordan Graham]]. Several years later the manor house became a boardinghouse. Heurich sold his portion of the former estate to Alonzo O. Bliss Properties in 1926.
A few years after Little died in 1876, his daughters subdivided the property into nine lots and sold many of them to real estate developers. Lots 1-4 where the manor house stood were left undeveloped as some of the family members continued living there. The manor house continued to be used by members of the Little family until the death of one of the daughters in 1901. By 1903, the estate only covered the modern-day boundaries of Kalorama Park. The surviving daughters sold the northern portion, which included the manor house, to lumber merchant Thomas W. Smith. The southern portion of the estate was sold to brewer and real estate investor [[Christian Heurich]] who planned to build the city’s largest apartment building on the site. After city government officials required Kalorama Road be connected, the plans were cancelled. After Smith died in 1919, his wife rented the manor house to [[United States Court of Claims]] judge [[Samuel Jordan Graham]]. Several years later the manor house became a boardinghouse. Heurich sold his portion of the former estate to Alonzo O. Bliss Properties in 1926.
===Park conversion===
===Park conversion===
[[File:John Little House.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of a three-story house|left|The Little manor house was razed in 1937, a few years before the park was established.]]
The first public park in Kalorama Triangle was the present-day Ann Hughes Hargrove Park, a small triangular lot between 19th Street, Columbia Road, and Kalorama Road NW, just south of the present-day Kalorama Park. Because of its small size, neighborhood residents wanted a larger space for children to play. The Washington Heights Citizens Association (later renamed the Kalorama Citizens Association) had been formed in 1906 for the purpose of establishing a neighborhood park, but it would take decades before a larger one was created. The manor house was demolished in 1937 and after successful lobbying by area residents, in 1942 the [[National Capital Planning Commission]] acquired the northern portion of the present-day park from the Smith family and named it Kalorama Park in honor of the citizens’ group. Four years later the southern portion of the former Little farm was deeded to the U.S. government, thus creating the modern-day boundaries of the park.
==See also==
==See also==
Kalorama Park is a 3.17 acre (1.28 ha) roughly triangular plot of land at 1875 Columbia Road NW in the Kalorama Triangle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is bounded by Kalorama Road NW on the south, Columbia Road NW on the east, the rear property lines of buildings on Mintwood Place NW on the north, and 19th Street NW on the west. The park is the topographical highest point of the surrounding area. The elevation of the park varies from 160 feet (48.8 m) to 182 foot (55.4 m), with the land sloping on the western and southern ends.[1] In the city’s planning system, the park is located on Square 2250, Lot 0818, Reservation 655.[2]
There are meandering paths throughout the park, two playground areas, picnic tables, a basketball court, a community garden, open lawns, a field house, and mature trees, some of which could date to the 18th-century.[1][2] The main entrance to the park is on Columbia Road NW with a set of concrete stairs measuring 20-feet long (6.1 m). On either end of the stairs are 43-inch tall (109.2 cm) tonalite stone walls. On top of the walls are bluestone slabs measuring 32 inches (81.3 cm). The pathway from the main entrance to the central lawn area is made of red bricks. This rectangular central lawn, measuring approximately 100 feet long (30.4 m) and 70 feet wide (21.3 m), was previously the site of a manor house.[1]
There are curved paths extending from the lawn on each side, some of which align with the driveway that once surrounded the manor house. These paths lead to entrances on 19th Street and Kalorama Road NW. The secondary entrance to the park is on 19th Street NW and is composed of a stairway varying in width from 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3.0 m). This stairway is also enclosed by tonalite stone walls and bluestone slabs. The third entrance is a concrete path leading from the corner of 19th Street and Kalorama Road NW. At this entrance is a wooden sign with the park’s name.[1]
The field house is a single-story brick building on the northwest portion of the park. There are two playground areas on the east portion of the park, one for small children and a second for older children. The community garden is south of these playgrounds and is surrounded by a locked gate and hedges. On the northwest corner of the park is the basketball court and is separated from 19th Street NW by a retaining wall. There are benches, two picnic tables, and 25 lamp posts throughout the park.[1] The archaeological site includes approximately 2 acres (0.8 ha) below the surface of the park where the manor house, outbuildings, and walls once stood. This portion is on the northern two-thirds of the park.[2]
The area where present-day Kalorama Park is located was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Nacotchtank.[3] A patent in the Province of Maryland was issued in 1664 for a large tract of land which includes the park site. The Holmead family acquired a portion of this land in 1727, and it was later sold in 1828 to brothers Christian and Matthew Hines. The brothers attempted to raise silkworms on their 56.5-acre (22.9 ha) property by planting numerous mulberry trees but were unsuccessful and lost their land to foreclosure in 1836. Irish immigrant John Little (1805 ‐ 1876) purchased the property which had a commanding view of the developing city of Washington.[4] At the time the property included a modest one-and-a-half story house the Hines brothers had built. The site where this house stood is now occupied by the The Norwood on Columbia Road NW.[5]
Little was a successful butcher and farmer. He operated a stand at Center Market and a slaughterhouse between present-day 18th and Champlain Streets NW where he dumped entrails that flowed down Slash Run toward Dupont Circle.[1][3][5] He raised cattle east of Taylor Lane (Columbia Road NW) and built a house on the highest point of his property, present-day Kalorama Park.[1][3] As his business flourished, Little expanded the operations of his farm and built a three-story Italianate-style manor house in the 1850s on the present-day park site.[1] Here he raised five daughters with his wife while slaves were forced to perform duties on his property.[3] The 1860 United States census shows Little owned thirteen slaves and by the following year he owned four additional slaves. He had also added a carriage house, outbuildings that may have been slaves’ quarters, and a smaller house on the north side of the property where the Woodley Condominium now stands.[1][3][5]
One of the slaves Little owned was Hortense Prout, who was born into bondage on his estate. When she was around 20 years old, Prout attempted to escape in June 1861 as the Civil War took place and Union troops were stationed throughout the city.[4] She joined an Ohio troop camp, possibly as a cook, in the present-day Bloomingdale neighborhood but was soon apprehended..[5][6] A newspaper article at the time reported on Prout’s escape, noting she was “completely rigged out in male attire” and “immediately turned over to the custody of Mr. Little.”[7] It is believed Prout was assisted in her escape by people associated with the Underground Railroad.[6] Little sent Prout to jail for ten days as punishment on June 15, 1861, after which she was returned to his estate.[5][6]
After President Abraham Lincoln signed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which took effect on April 16, 1862, Prout and the other slaves owned by Little were freed.[8] As part of the act, Little received money for his “lost property”.[6] He took the enslaved people to District of Columbia City Hall and they were valued by slave traders. Little attempted to receive $1,500 for Prout but was given $525.60.[6] It is unknown what happened to Prout after she was freed, but her mother continued working on the Little farm.[5] Little continued operating his farm with the assistance of hired laborers after his slaves were freed.[1]
A few years after Little died in 1876, his daughters subdivided the property into nine lots and sold many of them to real estate developers. Lots 1-4 where the manor house stood were left undeveloped as some of the family members continued living there.[1] The manor house continued to be used by members of the Little family until the death of one of the daughters in 1901.[4][5] By 1903, the estate only covered the modern-day boundaries of Kalorama Park. The surviving daughters sold the northern portion, which included the manor house, to lumber merchant Thomas W. Smith. The southern portion of the estate was sold to brewer and real estate investor Christian Heurich who planned to build the city’s largest apartment building on the site. After city government officials required Kalorama Road be connected, the plans were cancelled. After Smith died in 1919, his wife rented the manor house to United States Court of Claims judge Samuel Jordan Graham. Several years later the manor house became a boardinghouse. Heurich sold his portion of the former estate to Alonzo O. Bliss Properties in 1926.[3]
The first public park in Kalorama Triangle was the present-day Ann Hughes Hargrove Park, a small triangular lot between 19th Street, Columbia Road, and Kalorama Road NW, just south of the present-day Kalorama Park. Because of its small size, neighborhood residents wanted a larger space for children to play. The Washington Heights Citizens Association (later renamed the Kalorama Citizens Association) had been formed in 1906 for the purpose of establishing a neighborhood park, but it would take decades before a larger one was created. The manor house was demolished in 1937 and after successful lobbying by area residents, in 1942 the National Capital Planning Commission acquired the northern portion of the present-day park from the Smith family and named it Kalorama Park in honor of the citizens’ group. Four years later the southern portion of the former Little farm was deeded to the U.S. government, thus creating the modern-day boundaries of the park.[3]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cherkasky, Mara; Belcher, Mary J. (February 2016). “National Register of Historic Places Registration Form – Kalorama Park and Archaeological Site”. National Park Service. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- ^ a b c “Kalorama Park Archaeological Site, 51NW061” (PDF). District of Columbia Historic Preservation Review Board. September 23, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hansen, Stephen A. (2011). Kalorama Triangle: The History of a Capital Neighborhood. History Press. p. 16, 30-31, 80-83. ISBN 9781609494216.
- ^ a b c “Kalorama Park Archaeological Site, 51NW061” (PDF). District of Columbia Historic Preservation Review Board. September 23, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hansen, Stephen A. (August 11, 2014). “What Once Was: A Slave Owner Once Lived in Kalorama Park”. The InTowner. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Kramer, Kirk (March 14, 2018). “‘Double honors’ for Hortense Prout: Underground Railroad marker in Kalorama Park”. The Northwest Current. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ^ “Local News: A Fugitive”. The Evening Star. June 17, 1861. p. 3. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ^ Austermuhle, Martin (November 23, 2018). “Escaped D.C. Slave Gains Formal Recognition In Adams Morgan Park”. WAMU. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
[[Category:Adams Morgan]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:History of slavery in the District of Columbia]]
[[Category:Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Kalorama (Washington, D.C.)]]
[[Category:Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.]]
