Improvements began toward the war's end. A horse car "trolley" line was installed along 14th Street in 1864 to help early commuters reach work. This new-fangled transportation, the tremendous growth of DC's downtown population, and the machinations of a local politician, Alexander "Boss" Shepherd, all helped to transform the former shanty town. By the 1870s, Iowa Circle emerged as one of the most desirable residential neighborhoods and most fashionable addresses in the city. The Circle itself was landscaped in 1874 (in time for annual "high cycle" races around the circumference in the 1880s). A small fountain sparkled at its center. Most of the three and four story brick and stone townhouses around the Circle were built between 1874 and 1887 in eclectic styles today referred to asSecond Empire, High Victorian Gothic, Romanesque Revival, and New Orleans. Victorian thumbnails below (click for full size). 14th Street Horse Car "Trolley," ca. early 1870s Senator Logan and family, ca. 1870s Iowa Circle #4-7 (now called Logan Circle), ca. 1890 Iowa Circle #6-8 (#9 is under construction), ca. 1890 Close up of Children in window of #7, 2nd floor, ca. 1890 Fountain, residents and odd lamp/fountain, ca. 1890 Close up of women and pram, ca. 1890 Woman drinking at combo lamp/fountain, 1898 Iowa Circle with Logan Statue, ca. 1900 President McKinley at dedication of Logan statue, 1901 Lutheran Church on Thomas Circle, 14th and M, ca. 1906 Blodget's Wilderness | Victorian Splendor | The Age of the Automobile | Heart of Black Washington | The Circle Gets Its Name | Diamond in the Rough | A Time of Change and Revialization