what do you know about nannie helen burrows? >> oh. >> reporter: nannie helen burrows was born in virginia in 1879. at age 5 her mother brought her here to washington. she left washington when she was a teen but years later came back and started a school. burrows was an activist who battled for women's equality and fought against racism now that miss buckman knows a bit more about his burrows -- >> an honor to actually live on her street. >> reporter: now it's on to our next stop. we're going about five miles southwest to first sterling avenue in southeast washington to see if it's the same story there. of course first sterling i have to say is one of the biggest tongue twisters in town. it's less than two miles long flanked by homes and a highway packed with history. but one not many people knew one we had to look into. >> this is first sterling. you know what? i couldn't tell you. >> reporter: it was a steel company that used to sit on the site of boeing air force base. it opened here in the spring of 1907 and was later highlig

we hit the street her street here in northwest washington to find out what folks know about nanny helen burrowsaven't the slightest idea. >> do you wonder about it? >> honestly no. >> reporter: some not curious, others just don't know. >> i don't have the slightest idea. i a clue. >> reporter: d.c. school teacher debra backman is eager to learn. she's lived here at the corner for 21 years. >> reporter: what do you know about nanny helen boroughs? >> reporter: she was born in virginia in 1879. at age 5 her mother brought her here to washington. she left washington when she was a teen but years later came back and started a school. she was an activist who battled for women's equality and fought against racism. now that she knows -- >> it's an honor to actually live on her street. >> reporter: we're now going about five miles southwest to firth sterling avenue to see if it's the same story there. firth sterling i have to say is one of the biggest tongue twisters in town. >> reporter: less than two miles long flanked by homes and a highway, packed with history. one many people didn't know. >> this