Arlington, Virginia residents remember days gone by in their community

SHARE YOUR MEMORIES Do you have memories of Arlington that you would like to share? Tell us about a favorite place or event from Arlington's past.

I thought the WETA documentary was awesome. I hope there are plans in the future to make at least one more episode, as there is so much more information about Arlington out there. I'd like to see more about the Nauck community -- now that the ART bus goes thru there I enjoy touring the neighborhood - it's much bigger than it appears from the street (Col Pike). I love that OLD (1850's???) house that you can see from Columbia Pike -- what's the history behind that house?

I have memories of St John's Baptist church (Col Pike and Rolfe Street) when it was a white clapboard wooden structure. Then it was remodeled and covered with stucco, and now it's been totally demolished (the old part of the church) and I'm looking forward to seeing the new structure.

Does anyohe remember when the AB&W buses used to go from 12th and Penn to Annandale? The rush hour Express bus had a sign that said "First off, Rolfe Street". Those buses were heavy and wheezy and had no A/C. The last "#16" bus out from 12th and Penn was at 4 in the morning -- I remember coming back from a party with a friend and taking that bus (which I think was designated as a #26 bus) -- alas, the bus DID not go to Columbia Pike!!! Instead it left us off somewhere near the 395 overpass on Glebe Road and we had to walk back to the Oakland Apartments -- as we trudged wearily home, we comforted our extremely exhausted selves by saying "at this hour, even the muggers are asleep!" (well, maybe back then they were.)

There were two #5 buses (5A, 5B) -- I think one went to 12th and Penn via 14th street bridge and the other via Memorial Bridge. They went past the (then) Fire House on Edgewood street (Fillmore???) right next to the Hot Shoppes.

Anyone remember the Book Nook? It was a leeeetle teeeny book store located in the rear parking lot of Arlington Hardward, back in the early 50's to early 60's. I'd love to know more about that store. I think Mom Sylvia said that someone from NY City owned it.

And what about Norton's Cafe? Anyone have more info about that? Was it really owned by a Mr. Norton?

And does nayone remember the Pet Store on Columbia Pike? It was located (50's and early 60's) near where the "Birds and Things" store is now located.

I remember in 1954 seeing a white draft horse (cart horse?) grazing behind the house on the corner of South Scott Street and Col Pike (the house is still standing -- the horse... I doubt it).

Does anyone remember the cemetery that stood on what is now the site of the Arlington Sheraton on Columbia Pike? It was on a hilly site. I believe it was an African-American cemetary. The chapel had been partially burned, and the graves looked old. It was relocated (to where????) when the Sheraton was about to be built.

Then, the site of what is now Dominion Towers used to be a field full of (abandoned?) Quonset huts, which were torn down in 1958.

And last but not least, the Warren Clardy House across the street from the Oakland Apts (Col Pike and So Oakland Street) and the beautiful forest with the green gabled house directly across from the Warren Clardy House. How I miss that beautiful forest!!!

For Dan Kiser, who asked: "Does anyone know of a website for Arlington memories, pictures, chat, etc.?"

There is a (more general, not just Arlington, but quite nice) website called http://www.norvapics.com. It has a well-populated Message Board.

And, not to toot my own horn, but well... it's relevant, so here goes:

I have an Arlington Memories page at http://www.bronxace.homestead.com/ArlingtonMemories2.html. Fourteen (16?) pages of memories of the days of my youth (and not-so-youth) in Arlington. Hope these two sites bring back some memories for you.

OH -- BTW !!! Remember LICORICE Ice cream at Baskin Robbins? It was GREY -- and it was Soooo GOOOOOD! I used to go into the Baskin Robbins next to that wonderful Bruce's 5&10 (mentioned on my web site)-- that little ice cream store with the school desks you'd sit on, to eat your ice cream -- and I'd order a Hot Fudge Sundae made with one scoop Licorice and one scoop Pumpkin ice cream. People sitting at their little school desks would look queasy and would stir uneasily in their seats when I sat down at my desk with that unholy-looking color combination -- grey and orange ice cream covered with deep dark fudge. Oh how I wish they still made that Licorice ice cream!!

High's also had Licorice Ice Cream -- but theirs was much more sedate -- vanilla ice cream with licorice swirls in it -- and thus the flavor was severely compromised. Cheers!!

Ace Attura
1/10/05

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I just discovered this website and wish I had seen the program mentioned so fondly. I am very nostalgic about my early years growing up in Cherrydale on No. Oakland St. which is just off Lee Highway. I lived just up the street from Cherrydale Elementary School (site is a nursing home now); walked to Stratford Jr. High and Washington Lee where I graduated in 1961. The community was a wonderful place to raise children. We walked everywhere even to the bank on an island in the middle of Lee Highway near Monroe St. Anyone remember Mr. Paddy's sewing machine shop? The Cherrydale Five and Dime and the wonderful Drug Store at Quincy St. The "Corner Store" at Lee Highway and Oakland, a stop on the way to and from school. The Hot Shoppe at Kirkwood Road for mighty mo's.

Clarendon Steps - does anyone remember those? I can't remember the street leading to them, but we walked and then down these long steps, across railroad tracks into the Clarendon shopping area. Schiller's Music, Baker's Shoes, Hahn's GC Murphy, Sears, Lerners so many shops. Kann's my favorite at VA Square. I would like to know if the show referred to here is available for purchase. I would love pictures of Lee Highway from Stafford Street to Monroe Street during the 1940's and 50's. How about sitting at the top of Cherrydale Hill and watching the fireworks at the Washington Monument? Wow! Thanks for this trip.

Kathleen Ball
7/21/05

I missed the show as I now live in Plano, Texas.

I moved to Clarendon area in 1954 at the age of 10. I lived at Jackson Street and 6th Street, a long block from Wilson Blvd. Mario's where I had my first job folding pizza to-go boxes - later in 60s I worked at the Mario' miniature golf course. As I recall, Mario's was owned by Maurice Levin a DC attorney. At Kenmore and Wilson was the office of the Northern Virginia Sun, the must read local sports page to try and catch your name even if only in the box scores.

I entered the Fifth grade, Sister Marian's class, at St. Charles in the original building on Washington Blvd. and Johnson Street for one year. The square, two story brick building had been built in 1922. It had four classrooms per floor and a lunch room in the basement. In 1955 we moved across the street to the new school. The old school stayed put and the playground was the one we used thought my stay there. Leaving the playground was forbidden but we managed to sneak out most days and run a block up Washington Blvd. to Berkely's for some day olds as our dessert.

Next to Swiller's Record shop was the sports store. McQuens? That where I got my first little league glove, a PMM model, Mickey Mantle. The glove served me well playing little league for the Vet Vans, down at what we called 'Four Mile Run' Park. Everyone lost to the Optimists coached by Jim Bowman, a salesman at Edmunds Ford. When I was 10, I did hit a 3 run walk off (not called that then) against some other team and finally saw my name in big letters in the Northern Virginia Sun.

Summers from early morning to dinner time were spent at Maury School's playground. My Mom went to Maury for the First and Second grades before St. Charles opened in 1922. Playground directors of note were Ralph Hawkins and Fred Tate. There was a little IGA grocery across the street where we got our fill of Nehi Orange Soda. The softball field had a short left field fence and the apartments across Monroe Street used to take a beating.

It seems that every year or two the county would re-surface Jackson Steet. The process consisted of a truck spreading graveland soon after a another truck would spray tar. I don't remember if a steam roller ever came by or not. I do remember being sorry sliding to the ground off my bike and the major damage to knees and elbows.

I will close with Boyer's Drug Store that was torn down in around 1955. It stood across Wilson Blvd. from the Northern Virginia Trust Bank. It had wooden floors an wooden booths. The Boyer's lived across from my grandparents house on Jackson Street originally Marion Avenue when they moved in to it in 1912 or thereabouts.

Jerry Brown
11/6/05

My wife and I really enjoyed your program. My family moved to Arlington in 1961 just as I turned 6 years old. I attended Claremont Elementary and Kenmore Junior High Schools before moving to Franconia in 1971. We lived across the street from Wakefield High School, which was a haven for the neighborhood kids who needed fields on which to play baseball, football, or anything else we could imagine. Barcroft Park was one of my favorite hangouts, where I played baseball for the Black Knights, Tops Drive-In (champs in 1968!) and the Arlington Cubs before moving. My most-missed landmark is the Putt-Putt Golf at Parkington. I spent many a Friday and Saturday night there trying to improve my score with my best bud, Bruce Christiansen. My wife (Janine Ritter) is a native Arlingtonian who attended Taylor Elementary, Williamsburg Junior High, and Yorktown. The program brought back wonderful memories for both of us. Keep up the good work!

Mike Browning
12/22/04

I lived less than a hundred yards away from Madison Manor Playground (better known as Rose Park)located on 12th Rd North and North Quantico Street. Summers were spent with all kinds of activities that Arlington County & Playground directors provided for all the children (must've been about 60 of us alone on 2 streets)and the other neighboring streets. As we grew up, and started to drive, we headed to Topp's Drive-in, which was the place to start and end the evenings. Lots of memories at both places.

Laura Tassin Connelly
12/06/04

Wow! I loved this show. Sure does bring back memories. I'm surprised nobody out there has mentioned McCoy's hill! Talk about a sleigh ride and the great bonfires. What a great person he was that Mr. McCoy to open his land up to the public like that and build all those wonderful tire swings and things in the woods for the children to play on. Why heck he even built a rope style fence you could hang on to to make it back up the hill (that was one steep hill especially in the snow!)I was sad when 66 came through there and took that land!

Nancy Dikeman Crouch
12/07/04

Growing up in south Arlington in the forties and fifties and living there with my family up until the late sixties has left many memories close to my heart.

I remember so well as a young child every year the Holloween dances at Westmont Shopping Center at Columbia Pike and South Glebe Road. The many trips to Carrier's Drug store and Ben Franklin dime store in the same center. Marbles, nickle nips, wax lips, kites and those wonderful trinkets from the gum ball machines which I still have today.

Bauserman's gas station at the same intersection where social events took place above the one car show room for car sales. Rosenthal Chevrolet was built on the lot across the street, which at the time was a storage lot for old construction equipment and junk. You could get real frozen custard and have it dipped in chocolate, which was called a Brown Derby, where Rosenthal's used car office now stands.

The mom and pop grocery store at Columbia Pike and Monroe streets where daily trips for sodas, baseball cards and pretzels in those slim square boxes took place like a ritual.

Many outings day and nights to Four Mile Run Park playing wiffle ball and little league baseball for Arlington Motors, Coach Irwin, and listening to my mother scream from the bleachers rooting me on. I can still remember Timmy Hill from the dreaded Arlington Optimists Team, who could slap bunt a ball over the fence, also that crazy kid Jack Fenton from Vet Vans of Virginia team who could run like the wind, who later became a close childhood friend, along with Tommy Morton both who went to Peyton Randolph Elementary. I still have our first grade glass picture which looks like the Little Rascals. Unbelievable!

The Arlington theater with it's seperate ticket booth out front and the old Book Nook newsstand diagonally across the street, where many a comic book was purchased.

The bowling alley above the Arlington Theater was a popular hangout for teens and kids, who could make money setting pins by hand early on and we threw tips down the alley to them and at them. Fun!

With all the years that have gone by I can still look into the eyes of my wife, my love and my life, Mary Ellen(Magnotto), and see all these things appear miraculously each time we reminisce, because on a day in 1957 she appeared and Arlington and my life were changed for all times.

There are so many, many memories and stories that can be told from a place in time lost forever but not forgotten. For those of us who grew up in this wonderful town known as Arlington, we hold these memories close to our hearts forever.

I have been blessed and I hope your memories of this special place rest deeply in your heart forever as they do in mine.

Ted Druckenmiller
9/18/05

The '50s and '60s were the era of the drive-in restaurant. I remember "Tops Drive-In" on Lee Highway at George Mason Drive, a location that has since seen a series of eateries. At "Tops" you'd pull in a bay with a tray contraption that extended onto and attached to your open window. A two-way walkie-talkie would take your order. Moments later, an attractive young lady would emerge with your order - invaribly the two-decker "Sirloiner" (a Big Mac forerunner), french fries, shake. Ah, those were the days on balmy summer nights with your latest high-school heart-throb!

Lance Graham
12/05/04

moved to arlington at age 3 (1958). school at barrett/kenmore/yorktown (1973) college at A-U (1976). memories: tops, gino's, giffords; summer camp at lubber run park; the observation deck at national airport. remember when you could drop a quarter and listen to the control tower? or was it a dime? drop another quarter and look through binoculars at the DC-6s, constellations and electras? elementary school tours of the airport? security checkpoints? what were those? anything in buckingham. the pershing/glebe drug fair? buckingham theatre? toddle house? the buckingham swimming pool; now long gone. remember when bailey's x roads had an airport? tysons corner was a meat locker? al's motors. walking to the arlington county main library to research papers. mario's pizza (before the family's kids got hold of it). dances at the lubber run rec center on fridays and saturdays? "this announcement partial compensation to WEAM redcoats." maury elementary school. whitey's (it's broasted). clarendon BEFORE metro. how about ANY part of arlington before metro? the twin bridges marriott, now long gone. parkington shopping center (now ballston common). The Polynesian restaurant. PUTT-PUTT at wilson and glebe. too many more to list here. great show.

Sean Hall
12/09/04

I remember growing up in Washington when Rosslyn was where the trolly turned around and the main attractions were the pawn shops. Then, when I was in high school, we drove over the bridge to have a Mighty Mo and Onion Rings at the Hot Shoppe (where the Marriott is now) then on to Wilson Blvd to the Bowling Ally, across from Colonial Village (where my parents lived when I was born in 1940). I have snap shots of them with my older brother at Colonial Village.

Anne Hancock
12/02/04

Those were the good ole days...grew up in Buckingham...attended Barret Elementary..Kenmore...Washington & Lee. Can't even recognize the area now....I'm just glad it was the way it was way back when. Reminiscing can be happy... and sad..at times.

Robert Hancock
8/04/05

I was born in January 1945 and was raised in Arlington County. The Woolworth's 5 & 10 cent store, Peoples Drug Store, Berkley's Bakery (you could still see the yellow egg yolk in the warm donuts every morning), Lerners, the old Post Office, Clarendon Library and the bowling alley were part of my neighborhood. I lived on Irving Street right off Clarendon Circle. My whole family—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends all lived within walking distance of my home. I attended St. Charles Elementary School and D.J. O'Connell high school (the one and only Catholic high school in Arlington). Tops Drive-in was a gathering place for all teenagers in the 1950's and 1960's. Their french fried onion rings and sirloiners were the greatest! What a wonderful childhood I had. I have many, many good memories. These are only a few. Wouldn't it be nice to have communities ("villages") raising children again?

Connie Herrmann
11/28/04

I grew up in Arlington attended Drew Elementary school, Thomas Jefferson Middle School (now known as Jefferson Middle) and graduated from Wakefield HS in 1983. My first residence was Barcroft aparments on 16th street at the bottom of the big hill, then moved to Westmont apartments. We moved up as it had a pool! I can remember when the big snow storm hit on Washington's birthday and everything was shut down, you could walk down Columbia pike and not worry about getting hit. Brenners bakery and thier iced cookies, and their infamous snow flake rolls. That was a tradition in our house. Dart Drug, Drug Fair and who could forget The Broiler Pizza. I remember when you could go to Rosenthal on Memorial day and July 4th and get free hotdogs, apple pies and actually sit in the corvettes. Oh those were the days.

Amanda Feder Hoxworth
12/03/04

We lived next to Kathy Holt on Quebec Street. My family moved to N.Fillmore St. in Maywood in 1960 and I remember a pony ring where the Lyon Village Shopping Center now stands. Across Kirkwood Road from the pony ring was STEVE's DINER. Neither were mentioned in the Arlington show!

Donna Welhaf Jacobson
12/08/04

Wow! Good memories listed already! I spent the first couple of decades of my life growing up in south Arlington and loved it (Patrick Henry Elem., Hoffman-Boston, TJ JUNIOR HS, Wakefield HS). I appreciate it all more and more as time goes on and as our world changes.

Memories of Arlington? Food, shopping, old businesses, and fun places...Putt-Putt and duckpin bowling in Clarendon, movies at great old theatres like the Arlington and Buckingham, Roy Rogers, Red Barn, Korvettes, Genos, Topps, Dart Drug, Drug Fair, A&P, and Grand Union. Parkington, Pizza Pantry (go get a Fillmore, they're still around!), Marios, Ben Franklin, G.C. Murphy's, and the old Arlington County library next to Brenner's.

Baseball at Barcroft Park (does anyone remember Cupball?), Jack and Jill's (pinball, pool), Krispy Kreme on Rt. 7 for those late night fresh doughnuts, The Broiler, High's stores, Arlington Trust Bank, and, of course, Jack-in-the-Box! The new TJ and it's huge community center. Does anyone remember Finkelstein's on South 2nd St.? Indoor bowling on the second floor near Courthouse, indoor mini-golf by the Arlington Theatre, and the Sunset Drive-In. And, the holiday greetings Hecht's would put up on the side of their Parkington (Ballston) store. Thanks for letting me ramble!

Last thought: Does anyone know of a website for Arlington memories, pictures, chat, etc.? It would be great to have a place archive all of this (and memorabilia).

Dan Kiser
12/02/04

I grew up in Arlington during the 50's and 60's. We lived on South Edgewood St., across the street from retired Arlington County Fire Chief, Albert C. Scheffel. He had the distinction of being the first paid fire chief in the County. Much more important to me was the fact that he was a true friend of mine during my teen years especially. He was an extremely skilled carpenter and took time to foster my interest in the mechanical trades. There was quite an age difference between us - 16 to 75 or so, but that made no difference for the enthusiasm we had for the various projects we got into. This was extremely important to me as my father died when I was 10 years old. Due to the Chief's (that's what his friends called him) influence, I have had a successful career in the tool and die trade later to supervise the mechanical operations at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Wish the Chief were here today so I could tell him all about it!

Jim Lawton
12/02/04

Born in Arlington in 1950, attended Taylor Elementary, Stratford Jr. High and W-L (one year at Yorktown). Favorite memories include Donaldson Run Swimming pool, Swiller's record shop, Mayer's gifts in Clarendon, WEAM 1390, Drug Fair soda fountain in Cherrydale, Skor-Mor bowling on Quincy St., Super Garden Market on fairfax drive, Thompson's Milk (delivered) The Old Hecht's in parkington, Kann's dept store, Marios, Tops, Hot Shoppes, Little Tavern, Toddle house, Glebe Theater, Pizza Box, 47 cent McDonald's meal on Lee Highway, and all the girls I fell in love with from O'Connell, Yorktown, and Washington-Lee!

Robert McEachern
1/26/05

I watched your program with great interest, as my family goes back at least 5 generations in the Alexandria/Arlington area, and I am the amateur geneaologist in the family. I have found my ancestors recorded in the Alexandria Free Negro Registry, which came about when free blacks living in Washington, DC became subject to being re-enslaved once Arlington/Alexandria was ceded back to slave-state Virginia. All free blacks had to "register" so that those who were legitimately freed could remain so. As there were no social security numbers then, the registry consists of vivid physical description. All that said, I was disappointed that the contributions of blacks in the history of the area were limited to Freedmen's Village. I'm not sure what you can do about it now, since the documentary has already been filmed and aired, but I did want to make the point known that there is a rich history in the area that didn't make it into your film.

Marquita Melvin
12/03/04

As a resident of Hampton Roads (Norfolk, VA) for 20+ years, I did not see the referenced program. However, reviewing the comments on this site confirms that Arlington still has a LONG way to go to recognize that its Afro-American residents/communities still remain unacknowledged. I grew up on S. Queen St. (Johnson Hill), attended Hoffman-Boston Elementary/High School (graduated June '63). The history of that school appears ignored, although the name continues as "elementary school." I remember the segregated buses, restaurants, theaters, etc. I was spat upon by a 5-yr old child encouraged by his mother while walking a picket line in front of the Arlington Theater on Columbia Pike (Blacks were excluded) and arrested during a sit-in at a drug store on Glebe Road near Parkington. Arlington, if you're serious about presenting a TRUE history, dig deeper into the roots of the area!!!!!

Michael C. Murray
12/07/04

I went to tiny Woodmont Elementary, (as did my 6 siblings: Ben, Bob,Bill,Betsy,Jim and Barbara), Stratford and Washington-Lee, ('65). The first African American students entered Stratford while I was there, each flanked by policemen. I remember that it was only the parents who had any difficulty; we seemed like happy campers to have new friends.

Rte. 66 wasn't built. My dad, Joe Fisher, was on the very first Metro planning board. He went on to be chairman of the County Board, then Congressman for Northern Va. The White Castle, the pawn shop and the bus stop were about the only things in Rosslyn.

Used to love shopping in Clarendon, especially Junior Sophisticates, getting a cherry coke at Drug Fair and driving out to the CIA building and Dulles. There was not one single building between Spout Run Parkway and Dulles. We got our licenses at 15.

Those were the days!

Carrie Fisher Ostrander
5/16/05

My brother Jim and I grew up in Arlington from the late 40's, first in Fairlington, then Barcroft, Glen Carlin, Abingdon...many other areas. We went to a lot of schools there ending with Kenmore and Wakefield High. Did a lot of theater with the Arlington Workshop Players and Teen Theater of Arlington in the 60's, and then got into music. Our many bands included The Outriders, The Nark, Polk Bros. Blues Drops, Paperback, and Hybird-Arlington's first jazz/rock fusion band. Had so many friends in Arlington that I couldn't name them here. It was a great place to grow up in the 50's and 60's, no place finer. In '72 I moved to CA, and it's never been the same!

Doug Polk
5/05/05

I grew up in Arlington, have lived there now 44 years. Graduate of Barcroft Elementary; Kenmore (Junior High) Middle School and Wakefield High. I remember many a hot summer day playing down by the creek, I think it's Doctor's run; swinging on the swings and sliding down this HUDGE sliding board at Alcova Heights park. What a joy to be able to show my children what I enjoyed and the landmarks of my youth!

Katie Raab
11/24/04

Conklyn's Florist—Dan Conklyn was my step-father. He purchased his first building on Wilson Blvd. in the 1940's. He later expanded to the Pentagon concourse and Old Town Alexandria. He was an active member of the Arlington Host Lion's Club for 55 years. The story he used to tell was about the Kennedy Inaugration. How there was a record snow the night before and how all the area florists volunteered to do all of the decorations. It took hours to get from Arlington to Washington, but they all made it. He loved history & would loved to have seen this show.

C. Elaine Rinaldi
11/30/04

Barret Elementary. Endless summers in Buckingham and Arlington Forest. Tops to Parkington was my bicycle beat. Jerry Jones and Ricky Farber were the greatest leaders of all time.

Two-year stint overseas. Kenmore Junior High. Short stay at the boarding house in Lyon Park. Buying flowers for mom at Mr. Culpepper's. Putt-Putt, Buckingham Theater, Lubber Run.

Wakefield High. The Beltway, Dulles Airport, Springfield, Fairlington became my beat.

Off to college. Never to live there again.

Nostalgia and sorrow; what grand competitors they are.

Skip Ross
05/26/05

Barbara Whittier, the Wakefield teacher who wrote earlier....I was a Biology student of yours back in the 70's when you were known as Barbara Thomas! I remember dissecting frogs in that class. I secretly hoped you and Mr. Kenefake would get together (2 of my favorite teachers!).

I remember Bob's Big Boy Restaurant, Louie's Rock City, learning to drive in the Korvette's parking lot, and working at Roy Roger's..we were required to wear cowboy hats and to say "Howdy Partner"when customers arrived and "Happy Trails" when they left. When I was younger I enjoyed riding my favorite pony, Rudolph, at the pony rides near Bailey's Crossroads(he got tired of trotting one day so he jumped from the fast ring into the slow ring while I was on his back....wheeee, it was exciting!).

The fire station between 18th Street and Walter Reed Dr....Mary Preston and I would ride our bikes to it and get a soda out of their soda machine.

I recall ordering food from a pink phone at the end of the booth at Topps restaurant (later became Gino's). I remember the hard rubber floor of the huge gym in the new TJ Junior High (go Yellow Jackets). I recall being bussed into Hoffman Boston for a year because the new TJ wasn't finished on time.

I remember getting free ice cream from the ice cream man at a special sale at Rosenthal Chevrolet.

I remember lazy summer nights looking for shooting stars and watching the light from National Airport circle around.

I remember being crowned Wakefield's Homecoming Queen 1976 and feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.

Tuula Rissanen Ross
08/22/05

Too many good memories to mention them all. A few of my favorite are sledding down the big hill in Fairlington with my brother & sisters across the street from my grandparents. There was a park with benches and a water tower. Another favorite was visiting my Nana on Jackson Street and strolling down to Marios Pizza for a $.20 slice of pizza with my brother & sisters. Saturday afternoons were spent with my best friend at the Arlington or Buckingham theaters with our $.05 candy bars.

When we got a little older, we spent our Saturdays at Parkington, Clarendon or 7 Corners always finding time for a Hot Fudge Sundae. My favorite, though, was the Alpine Split from Giffords. I can still taste the Swiss Chocolate. Tops, Hot Shoppes, The Broiler, Weenie Beenie--the list goes on and on. My brother and sisters and myself played one sport or another on probably every ballfield in Arlington County. Our parents were staunch supporters and also our coaches. It wasn't unusual for them to have 2 or 3 kids playing on 3 different fields at Barcroft Park (it seemed like our 2nd home for a time; but we loved it).

My paper route carrying the Northern Virginia Sun took care of my duckpin bowling fees at Rinaldis. I could go on & on but I must mention the springs, summers, winters and falls exploring the rocky crevices and waters of Four Mile Run Creek with my best friend. We loved the outdoors. We once had to build a small campfire at the park off George Mason Drive to dry out our wet socks and boots. We didn't want our Moms to know we had been walking on the ice again. Recently, I was at the dog park with my Dad and his retriever, Missy, at Jenny Dean Park. It was a beautiful fall day and as I looked into the rolling stream, for a few brief moments I became a 10 year old girl again.

Thanks, Arlington, for the memories.

Debbie Smith
12/07/04

I am also a native of Arlington. I was Born in 1943 and grew up on North 26th Street (off Military Road). Our house was built by my Great Grandparents and my Grandparents lived across the street. I attended Cherrydale Elementary; Taylor Elementary (it opened in '54); Stratford Jr. High and graduated from W-L in 1961. Whenever I am in Arlington and driving on familiar streets or pass by a familiar site, my mind flashes back in time to events like it was yesterday. I have many fond memories of growing up in Arlington and I am really looking forward to tonight's program on Arlington. Thank you WETA.

Joe Smith
12/02/04

I grew up in the Barcroft neighborhood in the 50's - 60's. I attended Barcroft Elementary ('58-'64, Kenmore ('64-'67) and Wakefield ('67-'70). As a small child my roaming range was bordered mainly by S. George Mason Drive on the east, Arlington Blvd. on the north, Four Mile Run on the west and Columbia Pike on the south.

I lived next door to Walter and Anna O'Hara who moved into that old house on 8th St So, between Wakefield and Buchanan, around 1911. Mr. O'Hara used to shoot varmints in his yard, that he had a mind to eliminate, from his workshop behind his garage. I think that's where he went to get away from it all. He must have had a special arrangement with the police! It wouldn't have surprised anyone on the street if that was the case.

In the old house across the street, at the corner of 8th St & Buchanan, lived Mr. Gregory and his extended family. He always claimed that the A,B&W bus line started in his garage as a flat bed, horse drawn wagon with benches on it that operated between Bailey's Crossroads (and later Annandale) and the District.

The Gregory house was torn down along with the historic garage to make way for two $1M homes. Same with the O'Hara house. The small Cape Cod house, built by Walter O'Hara's son Robert, where I grew up is still there.

On the corner of 8th Rd. and Buchanan St. lived Mr. Handy who was ancient when I was born. The Handy's, I believe, were the first people to settle into the area back around the turn of the century. Mr. Handy's property and the stream beside it was the site of a popular 19th Century retreat for people from Washington to escape to to get away from the oppressive summer heat the area is famous for.

Times were different when I was a boy, of course. I was out in the neighborhood full-time by age 5. My Mom would let me go to the small shopping center on Columbia Pike at the foot of Buchanan St. hill. Imagine letting your 5-year old roam like that today!

That small shopping center was anchored by Drug Fair on the Buchanan St. end and a toy store on the railroad tracks end. I think there used to be a train depot on the spot where the toy store was. In between lay Sam's Hardware, High's and the Raw Bar restaurant.

There was an old ice house on Old Columbia Pike below the bridge, built in the '40's, that carries Columbia Pike over Four Mile Run. We used to go in there and buy dry ice to play with. You had to be careful with that stuff!

Sam, of Sam's Hardware, was a neighborhood legend. The story goes that Sam and Vic Blue grew up together on the mean streets of what was then Foggy Bottom in DC. When Vic had a wayward student he wanted redeemed, he would see to it that the student got a job at Sam's. Between Vic and Sam, it wasn't long before the JD in question found religion!

That Drug Fair is where I spent my allowance and later my paper route earnings on Marvel Comics, french fries (the real kind), chocolate milk shakes and fountain Cokes.

After a feast at the fountain, I would buy some candy and read my comic on the train tracks or sitting on a rock with my buddies along Four Mile Run. We would chase each other, jumping from rock to rock in the creek, and put pennies on the tracks when the afternoon train came by.

I had a paper route for the Northern Virginia Sun that ran from 7th St So to Columbia Pike. So, I got to know many of the neighbors. When I first started the route, there was nothing between 8th Rd and Columbia Pike except for a wooded ravine that ran north-south from the Handy property to Columbia Pike.

There was a small stream, that emerged from a culvert pipe behind a house on 8th Rd occupied by the Copans family, that ran along the bottom of the ravine until it disappeared into another pipe that took it under the Amoco gas station on Columbia Pike. I spent all of my early years playing in those woods.

The Columbia Park apartments weren't built until around '61. There was an old house with an even older woman on the side of Buchanan St. hill below 9th St. and across from Buchanan Gardens apts.

Below that house was a white framed house that served as a boarding house on the lot where Hot Shoppe's, Jr. was later built. On the corner of Buchanan St & Columbia Pike, across from Drug Fair was a gas station (Gulf or Shell, I think)that later was razed to expand the parking lot for Hot Shoppe's, Jr.

9th St was a dead end between Buchanan and Wakefield streets. The street was connected and the houses in between built when the Columbia Park apts. were built. The day they started bulldozing the trees to make way for the apts. was the darkest of my childhood.

On Wakefield St, below 9th and opposite the Davis's, was an small white frame house that sat in the middle a grassy meadow that ran down to the stream. That house was actually moved from that location to a location at the foot of 9th St at the railroad tracks. I vividly remember watching them transport that house on a big flat bed truck.

Mr. Davis was another neighborhood old timer who spawned about 10 kids. I went to school with Paul Davis. Paul's brother, Mush (Raymond), was one of the neighborhood characters. Mush and his friends, Charles Riner, Freddie Ahern and Paul Carter were nice guys but nobody you wanted to cross. They were more than capable of taking care of business! We had several large families like that in Barcroft: the Cargill's, the Riner's, the Davis's and the Nightengale's; all products of the peak Baby Boom years.

Mr. Davis attended elementary school in the old school house up on Columbia Pike near Bailey's Crossroads. It sat for years on a hill overlooking the Pike. It was torn down long ago.

Those times are gone forever, of course. And so are the characters that inhabited them (except for the Riner's maybe). But, what great memories were created then. Barcroft was a great place in which to grow up in those days. I will always cherish those memories.

Alan Steele
4/27/05

I left the area 20 yrs. ago, but still think about Mario's Pizza,the 5&10 in Westover where Mr. Aires would give out free candy to children and the great people at the YMCA on Kirkwood Road. WEAM radio, baseball at Barcroft Park,my favorite urban legend,"the bunnyman" - a homicidal maniac who dressed in a full bunny outfit and stalked the wooded areas of Arlington. Party times in the parks, Lacy Woods, Bon-air etc. and the Washington Senators.

Jack Tirko
8/17/05

I have so many memories that it is hard to relate them all. My mom and uncle owned Norton's cafe in answer to someones querry yes there name was Norton, Everett Norton and Elizabeth Norton Goldblatt. I remember walking all up and down Columbia Pike on the Saturdays I had to go to work with my mom. Bruce's Variety was where I got my first Barbie Doll, the ponytail one, and my first Ken doll, the one with hair.

Arlington Theature was popular in the summer because you could go to the noon show and stay for 3 more showings in the air condition. Does anyone remember the bowling alley on top of the theature?

How about Peoples Drug Store on the corner and the soda stand where you could get a cherry coke for 10 cents in a paper cup in a metal stand? Sledding down the 8th street hill? My first job was at the Hot Shoppes in Shirlington as a car hop and we carried the orders out on plates and placed them on the window with an angled tray!!!

How about the little airport out on Rt 7. I went to TJ Junior High (Hail TJ our hearts in song we raise, and Wakefield High School (Go warriors) Anyone remember Marios pizza on Saturday night?

How about Kann's Dept store and Landsburg's department stores, and elevators that had an operator that announced the floor and what was on the floor. How many Little Tavern Hamburgers do you think were consumed in the 50-60's. The broiler was the best subs but the pizza place that made the fillmore meatball sub was great as well.

The pet store on Columbia Pike was near Norton's and it caught fire in the early 60's and I don't think it ever opened up again. There was a barber shop on Columbia Pike where you could get a shoeshine for 10 cents. How about 6 oz coca cola in the bottle out of the vending machine. Does anyone remember the ice skating rink at the Hot Shoppes at 14th street bridge? Thanks for the opportunity to go down memory lane. Arlington will always be my home, at least at heart.

Cheryl Goldblatt Todd
3/10/05

My family lived in the Oakland Apartments, on Columbia Pike near the intersection with Glebe Road, when I was born in the late 1950's. Nearby was Brenner's Bakery, the Toddle House, and Rosenthal Chevrolet, where I remember meeting Bozo the Clown at a publicity appearance. (I learned later in life that the smiling Bozo I stared at in fear and awe as a toddler was none other than Willard Scott, radio personality, local weatherman, and Today Show regular.)

I attended preschool at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on Glebe, but worshipped the amusement park at Bailey's Crossroads, where you could ride a miniature train, a merry-go-round, AND a pony, then go across the street for an ice cream treat at Gifford's.

Alas, our family moved in 1963. My parents' Arlington friends and neighbors could not imagine why we would move way, WAY out to the boonies of Annandale.

Dan Tompkins
11/30/04

I was born in arlingtn co. in 1944 on veitch st.We lived in the Fairlington apts from 1948 to 1960,Altough my parents divorced in 1951 I still have many fond memories of my childhood there.I went to Abington elementry ,fairlington elementry,and gunston jr high. WE lived in on N. fairlington on abington st. I remember all the kids that used to live and play in that area. WE played ball for the Arlington co. recreational dept during the summer and we hung out the fire dept station #7 on abingdon st and would walk to either Center or Shirlington shopping centers each about a mile away. We used to play in the civil war fort where Park Shirlington is now. After you passed Fairlington on Shirley hwy it was all country until they built Springfeild.

Doug Treakle
3/24/05

I'm currently watching your program on Arlington History. The program has just made a big point about how Arlington got it's first elected school board in 1948. It does not, however, answer how or why Arlington lost its elected school board around the time of integration which lasted for 15-20 years. I would be interested in the answer. I taught at Wakefield HS for 32 years (1966-1998) and for most of that time we had an appointed school board. Thanks

Barbara Whittier
12/06/04

As a child I lived on a farm in Fauquier County and I visited my aunt who lived at 1001 N. Pollard St. That may be symbolic now, since it is the site of Arlington's main library, and I absolutely love books and reading!

Moved into the Barcroft Apartments on S. 16th St. when I married an Alexandrian. Rent was $92.50 for a 2-bedroom and we worried if it was more than we could afford. :-) 2 daughters went through the Arlington school system (including Drew when it became an alternative school) and graduated from Wakefield in 1980 and 1983. After 11 years in Barcroft moved to Westmont apartments for the swimming pool and 3-bedroom apartment at about $200 a month. How times change!

Brenner's Bakery on Sunday mornings for the cream cheese pastries - "snowflake" rolls for holiday dinners. When I was pregnant with my second daughter, my husband would get up during the night and go to Tops at George Mason and Columbia Pike to get me a SirLoiner. They were the best! 7-11 opening at Monroe St. was a big event, and then, McDonald's on the Pike. The Broiler pizzas - so good! Are they still rectangular? Worked at Rosenthal's and could walk to work. Changed to a job in Rosslyn and seemed so far away - was I spoiled! Remember when the Rosslyn Metro station opened? Does not seem that long ago. Our fife and drum corps (Patowmack Ancients)played at the opening.

What a ramble, and still so many wonderful memories of Arlington not mentioned. I moved to Oakton (a wilderness at the time, but not anymore) 21 years ago, but I would love to be able to afford to move back to Arlington. It is just such a wonderful community and place to live. And I still work in Rosslyn.

Ann
12/03/04

I recently moved out of one the wonderful areas in Arlington, Fairlington Villages. This community was my home for over five years. I loved living in this area and the fond memories of my time there will never fade.

Brandi
11/22/04

Putt-Putt golf at Parkington. As kids, we usually played about once a week. Also, the W&OD railroad that ran through the county. It ran where I-66 now runs. We used to flatten coins on the track when we were kids.

Don't forget the drag races on George Mason drive that were set up at Topps Drive in at Lee Hwy and George Mason. We would start at Yorktown Blvd and blast up George Mason to about 26 St. We would drive on both sides of the road because then George Mason had a creek running down the middle with one lane on each side. Very dangerous now, but back then nobody cared.

Horses where Lee-Harrison center is now. Johnny's Grille on Lee Highway, "Where good friends meet." Yorktown Elementary School. Sledding on 25th St. when they blocked off the road. Lyon Village park with pony rides and amusement rides. Arlington Motors (Ford Dealership) in Rosslyn. Edmonds Ford, later Dick Blanken Ford in Clarendon.

Trolley rides to Glen Echo park from Rosslyn. It seemed like it went 80 MPH though the woods alongside MacArthur blvd.

Craig
12/03/04

I grew up in Westover. Walter Reed Elementary and Swanson JHS. We also attended Lee Elementary School for 1 year too as they started the integration of the schools. My parents spent their careers working for the Arlington Police Force and what was then Arlington County Data Processing which had the 1st IBM 360s and 370s in the state. We lived on North 4 Mile Run then the state bought our house when I was in 2nd grade to build I66 so we moved to Washington Blvd. Although I now live out in Loudoun County, I will always have the warmest memories of growing up in Arlington!!

Mike
12/05/04

I love Arlington! Even though I'm originally from San Salvador, El Salvador, Arlington is my home now and it's just the place for anyone. This is the county where your feel great about knowing you are part of a great community!

Anonymous
12/02/04

I too remember McCoys Hills. We used to sleigh ride down steep hills and have large bonfires. In the summer we loved those swings! Every kind imaginable. My grandmother lived nearby and that's where we went every time we visited. She always told us never talk to strangers and one time when we were in the woods we met Mr. McCoy himself. But I would not speak to him! He had a house and a very tall swing set nearby. He was a nice friendly man, the real McCoy!

And I remember The Wilson Line. We used to take a large boat to Marshall Hall Amusement Park and we met Claire and Coco on the boat. My other grandparents would take us there so they could gamble while we rode the rides. I remember a large roller-coaster was the first thing you would see as the Wilson Line approached the shore. I think it was a wooden roller coaster.

Anonymous
12/07/04