The one-story commercial building at 1365 H St. NE was designated a DC landmark in 2006 and listed on the National Register for Historic Places later that year. The designation notes that the building typifies the small automobile dealerships that helped transform traditional retail streets into automobile-oriented shopping strips. Both Mott Motors, a Hupmobile dealer of the 1920s, and Duke & Otey, a used car dealer of the 1930s, were housed in the eclectic Italianate building. Duke & Otey advertised “You’ll find the dependable used car bargain you want at Duke & Otey.” In 1936, they offered a 1932 Chevrolet coupe with rumble seat for $225.

Built in 1927-1928 of textured limestone and designed by noted local firm Upman & Adams, the building features Moorish entrances, a tile roof, and a battlemented cornice. In 1943, the building was converted into the Plymouth Theater, which catered principally to African-Americans – the first such facility in the Near Northeast neighborhood when segregation was still widely practiced in public buildings. The H Street Playhouse sponsored the landmark nomination and used the building as a black box theater for many years.

NOTE: This is one of four commercial buildings I’ll be uploading fairly quickly. Interesting histories, I guess, but not particularly interesting buildings except perhaps for this one.

Best to view in "Original" because other versions resized by Pbase are decidedly unsharp.

Lotuses as far as the eye can see, posted earlier: