Just how do you recruit a 19-year-old woman to live in a studio apartment atop a big chair in Southeast Washington? This was the incredible feat achieved by Charles Wendell Curtis, who the Post profiles in an obituary today. Curtis was the man who built Anacostia’s 19 1/2 foot tall Big Chair in 1959 to promote his family’s furniture store. The original chair — when built touted as the World’s Largest Chair — was replaced last year by an aluminium replica, after time and weather had taken its toll on the mahogany version. But it maintains its status as an area landmark.

What many current Washingtonians might not know, is that in 1960 Curtis paid Lynn Arnold, a model, to live in a specially-constructed box on the Big Chair for 42 days. Crowds gathered to see Arnold wave from her balcony, which had to be more interesting than seeing David Blaine do absolutely nothing in a glass box over London. While some people accuse D.C. of not having a true city identity, Charles Curtis, a native Washingtonian, had pride in the city. What modern entrepreneur would continue to maintain a publicity stunt for years after his company closed up shop? The businessman did that, and more. Through the 1970s the family made sure Santa appeared on the Big Chair at Christmastime. Curtis was also tremendously proud of the city’s residents. During D.C.’s 1968 riots in Southeast, the Big Chair emerged unscathed. He said, “No one laid a hand on the chair. They had respect for it.”

D.C.’s unique flavor can get overlooked by those who see only a collection of federal buildings and the 5:00 p.m. rush out of the city. Curtis, in many ways, represents the rest of us who are happy to call Washington home and see a vibrant community beyond the National Mall.

Photo from dc,gov.