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My understanding is that insurance laws that were put into effect in the late 1940's era spelt the end of turretts, spires, and decorative rooftop flourishes on regular office buildings in downtown DC. Perhaps this was as a result of the big church spire falling down on 8th & H street in what is now Chinatown- or because the buildings owners no longer cared to do much in the way of upkeep on "obsolete" structures. However it was- this city lost a lot of very very lovely and often eccentric looking and very fun and unique looking buildings.

The old Baltimore Sun Building, on F street,once had a very beautiful spire/finial on it's top. This building is considered by architectural historians to be one of the very first "skyscrapers" as it has a steel frame and a fully functioning elevator -possibly the oldest in the world or one of the oldest. Thank god Oliver T Carr or Donahue or Charles E Smith forgot about it.

They ruined a lot of the old city of DC.

by w on Apr 29, 2009 4:52 pm • link • report

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