1991-1992 Paul Cano

Paul Cano owned the house. He told a family member that the rooftop deck is what sold him on the property. Cano was a lobbyist for an Alexandria-based association of pharmacists.

In July 1992 he left on a Saturday morning to meet a female co-worker in Adams Morgan for brunch. He never returned. Two weeks later his body was found in Fort Dupont Park in Anacostia. He had been shot in the head. His car was found in the alley behind Girard Street, near Adams Morgan. A small fire had been set in the vehicle.

Paul Cano’s tombstone reads January 15, 1962 – July 26, 1992

Remodeling Circa 1980

Approximate date of another remodeling of the top floor bathroom. The ceiling was lowered about two feet. Drywall was added to the existing walls in the bathroom, further closing in the room. A shower in the middle of the tiny room replaced the bathtub. A new tile floor was added (2x2” cream colored tiles) and the new bathroom is painted peach.

Fire! Circa 1980

A major fire appears to have started in the ground floor bathroom, spreading into the top floor bathroom. Evidence includes a lot of smoke damage between the walls, discovered during the 2003 remodeling of the top floor bath. Also, the large, original runners that supported the top bathroom floor had been shaved on the top side, creating a gabled rooftop appearance (^). These old runners were reinforced during the 1980 remodeling. Other evidence of fire is the charred threshold on the first floor bedroom closest to the bathroom. It appears that carpeting in the bedroom was on fire. Even further evidence of fire, the entire floor of the first floor bathroom was replaced, including the supporting beams visible from the basement.

Circa 1930

The bathroom and kitchen of the top floor are remodeled. (It is likely that the remodeling included the bathroom and kitchen of the first floor as well.) The ceilings of the bath and kitchen were covered with a popular acoustic tile. At some point, the tile ceiling and walls are painted mustard yellow.

Built in 1907

Lot 93 in Square 1036

1318 Massachusetts Ave SE

Washington, District of Columbia

One of seven houses built in 1907 for Emma M. Gordon.

Each cost $3,500. Permit #1595 (April 17, 1907)

Architect Edward Woltz

Builder Walker & Davis 

Edward Woltz