Northern Division in a historic structure?

[SchuminWeb]

Drove past Northern Division on 14th Street NW recently, and in looking at the building, am curious as to the history of it.  It looks too historic to have only been a WMATA depot its entire life, and so I'm curious: does anyone know what that building was in a former life?

[Antozilla]

A DC Transit Depot

[WayneNYC]

It's definitely an old building.  Perhaps it was a car barn at somem point.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

It's definitely an old building.  Perhaps it was a car barn at somem point.

I'm pretty sure I've read that it was.

[WMAveteran]

Yes, it was a streetcar barn.  I rode the trolleys up until the end in 1962 and I rode past the barn many times.  There was a marvelously complicated set of switchovers on 14th Street to allow trolleys to enter and leave the barn.  According to a map I have dated November 1, 1943 published by Capital Transit Co., the building was called the "14th Street Car House."   Sometimes during the day trolley runs would terminate at the "14th Street Car House" rather than travel to the end of the line at 14th and Colorado Ave. (that terminal building is still in use today).   Trolleys that terminated at the "14th Street Car House" would display the destination sign "14th & Decatur."   

"The 14th and Decatur barn was opened in 1907, replacing the 14th and Park Road facility.  The new barn was an outstanding one, by far the most attractive in the city.  For this it received much favorable comment in the trade press of the times."  (100 Years of Capital Traction, by LeRoy O. King, Jr., p.75.)     

[Tristan]

The doorway to the sales office says CAPITAL TRACTION CO above it, IIRC.  I have pics of this at home.  It's a pretty neat building actually.