around the turn of the 20th century, the eastern side of judiciary square became an enclave of italian immigrants in washington - the equivalent of a little italy (although it was never called that). the italian neighborhood rested on the eastern edge of the square proper, stretching eastward to about 2nd street nw. the heart of the community was holy rosary church, a chapel built at 3rd and f streets nw. the neighborhood lasted well into the 20th century, with a particular surge of italian immigrants in the 1950s and 60s; in the mid 1970s, however, construction of the i-395 northbound extension through the city gutted about half of the neighborhood and forced its remaining residents to move away from the heavy commuter traffic. today the former italian enclave is dominated by federal office buildings and law offices for the trial attorneys who argue in judiciary square courthouses, although holy rosary church remains standing and continues to draw a heavily italian congregation along with its "casa italia" cultural center next door.