I had previously asked this question, but I am asking it again as I
have recieved information which might help me answer my question, but
I need to be sure. I am trying to out information about the history of
the building usage of 1742 Church Street in NW over the last century.
I especially would like to know who the original owners were of the
building.  The current occupant is the Stanislavsky theater. The
building might also be known as the church street theatre too.  From
another resource I recieved I have discovered that the first occupant
of the building may have been the Holton Arms school.  I am wondering
if the building was built around 1900 for the school but they moved to
maryland when they outgrew the building.  Can anyone do some research
on this for me and let me know.  I really would apprecaite it.  Also
if anyone knows where I might be able to get some documented proof of
this, that would be very helpful too.

Thank you
stephenh-ga

Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. maps might help. While these are online,
they are only accessible to people and institutions with
subscriptions, such as the University of Virginia
(http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/maps/sanborn/). Perhaps
their Geospatial and Statistical Data Center could help you out.

This does nor get you where you want to go, but it's all I can find. 
First, here's a statement from a Washington Post article:

"One of the most charming theatrical spaces in Washington, and the
home of the Stanislavsky Theater Studio, the present-day Church Street
Theater is housed in a mid-19th-century brick building that originally
served as the gymnasium for the Holton Arms School."
Washington Post: Entertainment Guide
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=entertainment/profile&id=1025919&typeId=4


That's well and good, but if it is really a "mid-19th-century
building," it does not appear that Holton Arms could have the first
occupant of the building, since it was not founded until 1901:

"History 
Founded in 1901 by Jessie Moon Holton and Carolyn Hough Arms 
Moved from Washington, D.C. to the current campus in Bethesda in 1963."
Holton Arms School
http://www.holton-arms.edu/01_C_01.html