“There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know” -Harry Truman
A Walk Through History...
A Quick Trip Back in Time: In 1873, Ivy City was developed and became a brick manufacturing center. In 1890, the Ivy City Brick Company was the major employer in the community. "Brick produced primarily by Ivy City and the Washington Brick Machine Company in Trinidad furnished the materials for the District’s construction boom of the late 1800s. United Brick Works, which later took over the brick-manufacturing business in Ivy City was the site of the District’s first post-WWII labor strike." -Ward 5 Heritage Guide, 2014 Throughout the 1890's the Ivy City Track hosted a slew of horse races that ultimately became a large part of the city's identity. Coming out of its industrial past, Ivy City evolved into a predominantly African American community.
Historic Ivy City map (top left), Ivy City roundhouse (top right), Original Hecht Building (bottom left)
Ivy City soon grew out of its small Ivy City School (above left) and the Crummell School (bottom right) was built to handle the growing community.