Your guide to the region's top events, mixed with some commentary about life, media, gossip and politics in Washington, DC.
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More on the Georgetown Library Fire (and pictures)
By
Harry Jaffe
Published Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Fires yesterday torched two of Washington's precious few local landmarks: Eastern Market and the Georgetown Library. Both were housed in brick buildings dating back to the 19th Century. Both had been studied to death by local community activists, historic preservation committees, and District officials. Squabbling over how to renovate Eastern Market, built in 1873, has gone on for more than two decades; still, not one thing has been done to fix the aging pipes and wiring, which apparently may have sparked the fire that destroyed the building. "It takes a fire to fix a village," a top DC official said this morning after Mayor Adrian Fenty vowed to keep the market's vendors in business, and to quickly rebuild the structure—at a cost of at least $20 million and an estimated time of at least two years. Which begs this question: If it took Boston one year to rebuild Faneuil Hall, why does DC need two years to rebuild Eastern Market?
Ditto the Georgetown branch of the DC library system. Plans to renovate have been batted around for years. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin said the fire was started by faulty wiring.
Fenty promised to fix both buildings. Will he get results where other leaders failed?
Here, below, are pictures of the fire that burned the Georgetown library on Wisconsin Avenue.
Photographs courtesy of Robb Duncan (owner of Dolcezza I argentine gelato cafe).
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Comments
Our hopes and prayers are with the Georgetown Public Library, staff, board and community. Our library burned on October 8th, 2006 due to arson that was started in the dumpster. We know the heart ache associated with a tragic loss such as this. After six months we are still putting the pieces of our lives back together. Our community, state and country were so supportive and offers of books came from across our great nation as I hope they will for you. If there is anything The Williamsport Public Library can do to help please let us know until then you are in our hearts.
Chris Brown, Director of the Williamsport Public Library, Indiana
Posted by: Christopher Brown, Director of the Williamsport Public Library,
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02:14 PM/ET, 05/01/2007 in
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