don't have any D.C. memories however my Mother was born and raised in DC. She was born in 1913 in the Columbia Heights section on Fairmont Street NW. Her grandfather owned 2 bakeries.................one at their residence 715 Euclid Street and one on Georgia Avenue (or Brightwood as it was first called). Kamm's Bakery. She spoke highly of growing up in DC. She attended Emory Elementary on Lincoln Road, Langley Jr. High on T Street and McKinley Tech High on T Street and was in the Alpha Tau Pi sorority. I am attaching a photo of the 1928 graduating class of Langley Jr. High. She started Tech High the year it opened. When she was a pre-teen in Washington one of her greatest pleasures was to watch the lamp lighter in the evening. DC had gas street lamps on the corners and every evening at dusk the lamp lighter would come around with his small ladder and light the lamps. In her words - "It was deliciously eerie". Her Dad worked at the city Post Office his entire life. She always talked about sledding on a long hill about a mile from her house. The police would block the entire hill off and they would build a huge bonfire at each end. When it got late the boys walked them home and they had hot dogs and hot chololate. No alcohol in those days for anyone -----it was prohibition. Tech Hi had dances every Saturday night with a live band. Her last year in high school she worked at Fiske Tire Company operating a PBX board Her parents bought a brand new 1931 midnight blue Ford with cream wire wheels. Neither of them drove so she had to drive them everywhere. You didn't need a driver license in DC at that time.

I love your web site and even though I didn't grow up in DC (but I was born there), I enjoy the stories. Thanks

Gail
Clearwater, Florida

I grew up in Marlow Heights during the 60s and 70s, back when it was a decent and pleasant area, and also lived before that in Hillcrest Heights and Oxon Hill (the old Dennis Grove apartments). Wow, have times changed in those areas! I miss:
Hot Shoppes Cafeteria, Jr. Hot Shoppes (whose Royal Burger was one and the same as the Mighty Mo), Red Barn, Gino's, Dallas Kitchen, Woolworth's lunch counter, Lum's.
The carnivals every Summer in the Marlow Heights Shopping Center, how the stores were decorated for Christmas and the special excitement of the season.
Marlow Heights Hobby Shop (bought my first pair of Chucks there), Iverson Mall, when there were stores such as the Italian Gourmet, Sumie's, and Montgomery Wards.
Collecting bottles for 2 1/2 then 5 cents a bottle for pocket change, 12 cent Marvel and DC comics, Big Buddy bubblegum, 7-11 Slurpee of the Week, buying chicken-in-the-can for sleepovers (yes, it was actually fried chicken in a can).
Watching all the old Friday and Saturday night TV horror shows and hosts, like the Great Zucchini, Shock Theater, Sir Graves Ghastly, Ghost Host, and Count Gore De Vol.
Being able to play outside all day without worries, as well as parents not worrying about where you were, and being outside after dark.
Enjoying Halloween trick or treating and elementary school parties at Sandymount.
These memories were so great to me that I created and maintain my own web site about Marlow Heights and vicinity of the 60s and 70s. It is:
marlow heights
Keep the memories alive,
Chuck Fraley
www.marlowheights60sand70s.com
Bringing you fun memories of Marlow Heights and vicinity of the 60s and 70s!

This is such a cool sight!! A former coworker, who also lived in the DC area tuned me in. Thanks, John.

Like most people on this page, I was born and raised in DC - Marion St. NW. I am a proud graduate of Shaw Jr. High; the original Shaw. I remember the smell from the Wonder Bread factory as we walked to Banneker's swimming pool. And the trip back when we would stop at the Hot Shoppe for one of those orange drinks. Also, I remember the ice cream cake rolls. Another thing I remember is the ginger bread form the "O" Street Market. Oh, how I miss that!

My favorite memories however are about Kennedy Playground - the original Kennedy Playground. I was there everyday until I moved to Memphis around 1974. On Marion Street there were block parties, bake sales, and go-cart races. At the playground, I "starred" in 1-act plays, learned to apply makeup and played touch football. But the best was the playground equipment - actual aircraft, boats, the train which is now in the Smithsonian - that would never make it past the safety inspectors today. (smile)

My father used to march around the White House protesting just about everything at a time when people could do that without being violent. My brother, nieces and a few friends spent a lot of time downtown at the Smithsonian, on the mall, everywhere. We did a lot of walking.

There are a few scary things I remember, like the riot of '68 with National Guard troops standing outside of Mr. Hunter's store when I went to get some penny candy. (yes, kids, you could buy a lot of candy with a quarter!!) But I don't remember the DC as it has been portrayed in media. Even when I went back there a few months ago for my father's funeral, I saw an old lady walking from the grocery store at night with her shopping cart and thought how this was the side of DC that most people will never know. It was a great place to grow up and still a great place to visit.

By the way, is there anyone here who knows someone who spent time at the TB hospital in Glenn Dale?

Bonnie

I think it was called "the blue room" where Blaze Starr performed...14th st i think.....Tom Sweeney

My Grandfather, "Pappy" Harrigan owned Harrigan's Restaurant at 9th & H Sts., SW, I have a picture of the restaurant that I can send you. The restaurant was torn down when SW was renovated. It is a precious memory to my whole family, love this web site.

Pat Sczuka (Harrigan)

Boy WHERE do I start with this. I lived my childhood in Wheaton Maryland from 1962-1974. My dad was the Deputy Director of the Interstate Commerce Commission in DC at the time. I remember as a kid buying all those practical joke chatchkies at Planter’s Peanuts, hanging out at Earl E. Hindman’s “Crazee Collectibles” and getting toys at Juvenile Sales. There was that slot-car racing arcade “Hi-Speed Raceway” (I believe), Little Tavern (you needed a tetanus shot before eating there) and the Country Boy Store. We ate subs at Jerry’s Sub Shop, bought model airplanes at the hobby shop in the block with People’s Drug (don’t recall the name) and wandered the old African American Cemetery at Wheaton Baptist church. I also vaguely recall an ice cream place that had some sort of reindeer props and Mr. Haney’s farm (don’t know if that was his real name—we were just frightened to death of him) behind Glen Haven Elementary School. I remember the “Army Section” that housed the Walter Reed workers and some Italian restaurant about which I recall next to nothing. I was Bar Mitzvahed at Har Zion on University Blvd and got picked on regularly by the “greasers”; the guys who wore the white hi-top “Chucks” with chinos and white t-shirts (they used to like to hang outsde of SS Kresge’s in the Woodie’s Mall. I recall exploring the sewer lines that ran beneath the Town, we could near stand up straight in much of it; playing in that old jet fighter at the playground in Silver Spring, buying gumballs in the machine at the Co-Op; and, how my dad wouldn’t let us swim in the beautiful pool right behind our townhouse on Bucknell Terrace until the Courts forced the pool to allow African Americans to be able to do so (this was 1973!!). Someone else mentioned a man with half a body on a rolling wood platform… I cannot believe it. I saw him once in my childhood, for maybe 5 seconds, in a parking garage with my dad, and the sight has never left my memory.

We moved to the Boston area in 1974 and I was pulled out of 8th grade at Sligo Junior High. Life has never since been the same.

Mike Knight

Debi, this is a wonderful site! I was looking for information about the hospital I was born in and found this site.

I was born in Garfield Hospital in 1948. My Mom and Dad lived with my great grandmother, my grandparents, and my mother's two sisters on Alton Place in Northwest Washington when I was born. Granddaddy worked for Chevy Chase Dairy delivering milk in glass bottles. You would be hard pressed to find milk sold in glass bottles today! I have an old Chevy Chase Dairy bottle that has raised letters on it that reads "SAFE MILK FOR BABIES" with the word "REGISTERED" written underneath. My grandmother (I called her Mommo) stayed at home taking care of her mother (Mommo B) and my mom and two aunts. Mom tells the story about the time the three of them decided to hitchhike. A lady picked them up and started talking to them, asking where they went to school, what their daddy did for a living and so on. Of course they told her to drop them off someplace other than where they really lived. They couldn't let her know where they lived. By the time they got home from where they had been dropped off, Mommo knew all about their little adventure! They were in so much trouble!

Back in those days I'm sure there was some danger around but nothing like it would be today for three little girls hitchhiking. When my Mom was about 15 she worked parttime in a Five and Ten Cent store where my Dad was an assistant manager. They met, fell in love, and then the trip to Garfield Hospital! The reason I'm telling this "short" story: My Dad used to sing the song, "I met my million dollar baby in the 5 & 10 cent store." Six weeks before I was due to be born my Dad and Granddaddy bought a little grocery store in Clinton, Maryland. That was about 15-20 miles from Alton Place. Because every bridge that crossed the Potomac River was a draw bridge, the doctor would not let Mom go to Maryland with Dad. He was afraid she wouldn't make it to the hospital in time if one of the bridges were to be raised when she went into labor. Mom and Mommo stayed in Washington until I was about 4 months old and could then "safely" leave Washington to live in Clinton. Because the house on Alton Place remained in the family I was back and forth between DC and Maryland all the time visiting with my aunts. Like so many before me have written, I too remember the street car rides, the window displays at Hecht's and Woodies and the special places to eat and shop. I'm proud to call myself a Washingtonian. I live about 20 miles from DC now and go into the city quite often to walk and visit all it has to offer today. Everytime we are there I say to my husband, "Have I ever told you how much I love this city?" He rolls his eyes at me and says, "Yes, every time we come here." Thanks for the memories!

Susan DeHetre

What a great page. I went to Jefferson Jr. (1959) Does anyone remember the Penny-Room in the basement. After lunch you could got to the Penny-Room and dance. Songs on the juke-were one penny. I remember my first love or should I say puppy love. It was Wanda McGee. She was on the Milt Grant Show, but also went to Jefferson. She was in the 9th and I was in the 7th. She would let me carry her books. I was like a little puppy. I sure miss those times. I live on the Eastern Shore. Would love to hear from some of the old gang. Thanks for the memories...

Ronnie L. Lacy

ronlacy@dmv.com

My mother worked for Washington maid ice cream in DC many many years ago. I have an old black white photo of her in uniform with hat.

Ms. Marti

This sight is totally awesome....I just returned from a cruise on the Radisson Seven Seas, what a great ship but the best part of it were the people. I met 2 families that were born and raised in DC....One family lived at 14th and Irving Street and attended the same grade school I did. Sacred Heart Grade School on Park Rd and 16th Street, but she continued on to Sacred Heart School I continued on to Immaculate Conception. What a small world. I would like to know if anyone else went to Sacred Heart School. Everyone has to remember Heller's Bakery in Mt. Pleasant. BayWaves2@aol.com

Hey, there's more....

Used to go to and see the National Christmas tree and the nativity scene. Christmas tree is still there but the nativity scene is gone.

Scholl's Cafeteria. What a great place to eat. Anyone else been there. Forgot the street it was located on and I hope that is the correct spelling.

All peoples' drug stores had soda fountains. They should bring them back.

White Castle in Georgetown. Burgers 10 cents.

Went downtown to see the windows decorated during Christmas and Easter by the department store.

Bay Ridge Beach, Annapolis, Md.

Connecticut Avenue Television Station. Advertisement The beginning of the neon lights. 7777777 Hey Good Looking! I loved watching it. Thought it was so cool. Which TV station was it. WTOP?

Hot Shoppes across the street. Remember the Mighty Mo with it a chocolate milk shake....yummy

Garfinkles, I liked that store. My mom liked it more.

Holy Trinity High School. Immaculate Conception on Pennsylvania and 24th Street.

Would like to know more from others in regard to Sacred Heart School 16th and Park Rd. and Scholl's Cafeteria and Georgetown Cabinet and Finishing, Inc.

I am reading your wonderful stories about DC. I grew up in PG county, Beltsville, Laurel & Landover Hills. I graduated from the "old" Laurel High in 64. I too was on Pic Temple & I LOVED the Milt Grant Show. Anyone remember Buddy Dean? I remember riding that rattling old roller coaster at Marshall Hall. Anyone remember the Casino Royale on 14th St. NW? I was the girl in the velvet swing. Glen Echo was as close to heaven as I could get at the time. As a child I lived in Landover (Ardmore) and attended Landover Hills Elem. Glenridge JH. The road I lived on in Ardmore is now the Landover Mall. I recall riding a streetcar with my mom going downtown (DC) to have my eyes examined. How about SE DC? Remember Clancy's on Good Hope Rd.? And the Beehive just down the street? I have sooooo many memories of DC & MD. If any of you would like to share some old times, get my email addy from the Webmaster.

Loree

am younger than most of the people who have posted here and never lived in DC, (I was brought up in Falls Church), but I was born there in 1955 at Columbia Hospital for Women. (Ironically, when the hospital closed down, my employer had business with them and I was one of the employees who communicated with their employees on a daily basis)--funny part about being born there was when I started working for this company I dated a young man I worked with, he was born there too and even delivered by the same doctor! My parents took me to the doctor and dentist in DC (one was just off Mass Avenue), and we would sometimes stop at Eddie Leonard's for a sandwich on the way home, if Dad was going to the bank, it was the National Bank of Washington, I don't recall which street it was on, but I remember the big brass and glass doors.Back then, you knew you were in the bank, it wasn't quite so sterile looking.We went downtown to see the Christmas displays in the store windows too (I always think of that when I watch the beginning of "A Christmas Story"). I remember when the Beltway wasn't quite finished and we had to go through Alexandria to go across the bridge into Maryland, also remember Arlington before 66 was finished, and for those who mentioned the Frozen Dairy Bar, it is still around, just one highway over, now located on Lee Highway, past the cemetery, and across from the apartments.

We went to 7 Corners to shop, rode on the ponies at Bailey's Crossroads (across from the Hot Shoppes on Route 7), went to Dixie Pig on Route 1 into the '90's, until it was bought, kept open for a while and then sold by someone my husband knew. Someone mentioned the little airport at Bailey's, pre-Skyline Towers, but do you remember the one at Loehmann's Plaza (before the strip mall?), or the Sunset Drive-In? For those who remember Northern Virginia, check out the message board at this site: http://www.norvapics.com.

Also how about the Ice Capades at Uline Arena (or was it the DC Armory?) I also recall when we would leave DC to come home to Virginia, there was a fascinating cloverleaf that ran under a building just before you left the city, the road you came out on is part of 95 now---I think you could see the Jefferson Memorial as you rounded the curve. Does anyone know which building this was?

When we were kids, we usually ended up with High's Ice cream, and it was every bit as good as Breyer's is today. Almost forgot, my Dad used to go to Takoma Park to get his hair cut (I think it was Tony's Barber Shop). I have enjoyed everyone's memories as I always wondered what everyday life was like in this area before the mid-'50's.

Kathie

Hi,

I grew up in DC but was born in Norfolk, VA in 1945. DC resident from1946 to 1968 when I married and moved.

I went to Paul Jr. High, Woodrow Wilson HS and lived off of Mass Avenue near 45th.

Here's some good trivia. I worked in DC radio as an on-air personality in the 1960's. I was Bob "The Duke of" Earl on WINX for several years and then Johnny Rogue on WEAM as a member of the WEAM Team.

I remember Hot Shoppes, Mighty Mo's, Teen Twists, Tops and the Tops Sirloiner, Kentucky Fried Chicken ( Used to air the original Tops commercials with Col. Sanders when I was at WEAM). More....People's Drug Stores, Garfinkles on Mass Avenue, Gifford;s Ice Cream Parlor on Wisconsin Avenue, Eddie Leonard's Sandwich Shops, The Toddle House on Wisconsin Ave., Rodman's Discount Drugs (Their commercial included: Between Harrison and Garrison, there's no comparison). I used to listen to Don Dillard every morning and every afternoon on WDON if he remembered to get up and sign the station on the air.

Best regards,

Bob Silverman
Cherry Hill, NJ
rmsnj@aol.com

Do YOU have any memories of D.C.? If so, please e-mail me and I will add them to this page.

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