I lived for a while at McLean Gardens up on Wisconsin Avenue (I believe) and since I worked the 3:30 to midnight shift, would ride down to the Smithsonian Institute and spend sometimes three or four hours there before work. I still remember being able to buy a weekly streetcar pass that entitled me to ride anywhere I wanted any day of the week. Then I met my wife at work, and began to spend a lot of time with her. Shortly thereafter, my brother and his wife also joined the Bureau, and we would all spend weekends at the Chesapeake Bay. What grand times we had out there! In those days, all males were susceptible to the draft and I knew my number must be pretty close, so I went into the Marine Corps, married my wife on boot camp leave from Parris Island, and was later stationed at Henderson Hall over in Arlington, near my duty assignment at Headquarters Marine Corps in the Navy Annex Building. We stayed in DC until I got out of the Marines and left to go elsewhere and carve out our lives in other parts of the country. You do us all a favor with your 'Memories' page. Thanks a bunch.
I chanced upon your website searching for my old Anacostia High School, Class of '64.
Not knowing whether your memories' section is still alive or not, I take this effort to share my few DC memories.
My youthful exposure to DC lasted quite a few years -- some of it lived from Fairfax, some from Falls Church, some from Friendship, MD.
But there were my grade 8.5 through grade13.6 years lived entirely within the confines of DC's political geography. Most of that time was in our home two blocks from the east steps of the Capitol building. I think my father bought this rather distressed rowhouse for some early Sixties' $15K. We learn later that this same property is now $2 million. Oh well. Just the same, it was a skinny little stretched-out long trailer. In brick.
I recall hearing the Marine Band playing on the Capitol steps while we sat in our tiny back yard. And that memorable day when our whole family simply walked over to witness President Kennedy's inauguration in the cold snow.
And that so much sadder simple walk to the lying in state under the Rotunda so few years later.
There was some Protestant Church nearby [close to the LOC] where suddenly-President Johnson was visiting that Sunday morning and we were outside the church waiting to catch a glimpse of him when others with radios in the crowd told us of the murder of the Lee Harvey Oswald fellow and my father grabbed us all and took us pronto back to the house. Those days were a bit confusing for a lot of us.
My brother and I volunteered to detail our neighbor's car to get it ready for him to go to the White House for some of the funeral ceremonies. He was some US Representative. Maybe Iowa. I forget.
There was a Catholic church directly in front of our house on D St. and I remember my grandmother sitting at the front window looking at the nuns walking into the church and mumbling something about the Pope and now this Kennedy fellow coming to the White House. I always thought her comments quite odd as she was, alone, so alone, the ONLY Democrat ever in our family!
Around the corner from our home were several favorite family haunts and private 'Bro and Me' sanctuaries we visited clandestinely coming back from school on the streetcar.
Family approved sites were primarily the Sampan Cafe on Pennsylvania Ave. not too far from 12th St as I recall. A pleasant ritual for the family. And still the only Chinese restaurant I've ever frequented that served French bread with the meal. Of course, dessert was ice cream as only a Chinese restaurant can serve ice cream -- crunchy with re-frozen blobs of melted ice in it. The place was sill in business forty years later when my Bro (in some quite strange moment of nostalgia) went back there with his wife.
Bro and I had Angelos on Pa. Ave. at 2nd, SE which served atrocious greasy hamburgers and even more disgusting greasy French fries. This pastime enjoyment we kept from our parents, of course. We would decline to eat at our school cafeterias and save up for the treat at Angelos.
For us there was the Trover Shop just down the street. A book store kind of place. Where I recall my first (and I truly believe my only) descent into the criminal world when I shoplifted a nudist magazine. It was probably difficult for a tenth grader to purchase a nudist magazine at that time, no doubt. [In all fairness to me, I add.]
Around the corner was the Charles DuBois grocery store. I always loved the name of the place. I believe now that he and his family were Pieds Noirs from Algeria. They were very nice to us and I learned to love to eat plums from their fruit bins. Another careful savings from our lunch money at school.
I quit now.
As with so many of us in later years, so many memories.
Jim,
from Florida
Grew up in Burleith north of Georgetown before you get to Tunlaw Road. My father owned a delicatessen/restaurant at MacArthur and Dana in the 50s and 60s between the Amoco station and Barber Shop and Myers Delicatessen It later became Charlie Browns and has gone through many incarnations since then.
Best memories are of: Georgetown playground especially the swimming pool; Halloween in Georgetown with a costume party at a local śmom & popť store âthey gave us mini loaves of Wonder Bread for our trick-or-treat bags; Glen Echo; streetcars; Mt. Pleasant Street (grandmother lived there); Woodies, Garfinkels, Kahns, Landsburg (my aunt wrapped gifts at Christmastime there); Fillmore Elementary School; “green lot” at 37th and Whitehaven (almost next door to where we lived); RKO Keiths movie theater; Calvert movie theater; taking the bus downtown with my younger brother on Saturdays he went to Coors hobby shop and bought a model car I went to Campbells music store and bought sheet music; Little Caledonia; Pearsons drug store (Calvert Street); Avignon Freres (my mom got our birthday cakes there); Cellar Door; Key Bridge; lack of heavy security around the White House. Best memory of all is being able to run and play without being afraid of anything in the alley behind my house where there was a beautiful weeping willow tree and lots of honeysuckle ând better stop because I could go on forever. I adore this website.
Lisa
I am
80 now, but lived in Washington from age 2 to age 16, mainly on Capitol Hill
in the Methodist Bldg at 110 Maryland Ave., just across the street from
the Supreme Court and the Capitol Grounds.
Thanks
a lot for your great web site !!
Paul Edwaard
Thurlow
Summary
of a small fraction of memories:
Age
3 to 6: Lived in row house (
When
I was about 8 yrs old, started wandering around the Capitol Grounds as my
personal playground.
Got bags of peanuts at the Peoples Drug Store at the corner of First and
Made friends with the Capitol Guards and took friends into the Capitol
Rotunda to demonstrate the famous echo effect. Liked
to walk on the low red walls around the Capitol parking lot.
Moved to the Methodist Bldg at about 8
yrs. Lost my last
baby tooth while I scootered past the Supreme Court
after buying and biting a frozen Milky Way from Peoples Drug Store.
On my beautiful rubber tired scooter with 12 inch wheels, ball bearings
and a brake I would start at the top of the wide walk on the South capital grounds,
and go whizzing down that walk at much too high a speed.
If I had hit a pebble --
well too bad. I could scoot from that walk and down the mall to
the
Went
to Paul Jr. High and enjoyed Saturday matinees at the
Worked
at the Library of Congress from age 14 to age 20, first on lower level check
stand, then on stack elevators, then in book receiving and segregating dept. Trolley
car system was probably the best in the world.
Could get within a couple of blocks of most areas of
DC. Weekly pass was $1.00.
The bouncy ride out to Glen Echo was great, especially with a beautiful
date. Too many more happy memories to mention here.
I hope very much we can all get together in DC to spend a few days while
we can still travel. I would be
happy to coordinate this if needed. My
Email address is peft@alum.mit.edu. Phone
805-967-1964
Debi, I found this website by trying to locate information about Wylie's Ice Cream..I love this site! I was born in 57 at Providence hospital..we lived in Four Corners..I remember Wiley's Ice Cream, and the frozen custard place down Silver Spring..borrowing $10 from my sister to get a ticket to see the Beatles in DC..fountain drinks at People's..Tops restaurant..the Charcoal House in Silver Spring..visiting my grandparents on Lebaum St in Southeast..taking 3 buses to go downtown shopping..eating at Reeve's..field trips at school going to the Wonder Bread bakery.. going grocery shopping with my parents at the A & P - my job was to get the produce weighed before we checked out..Shakey's pizza parlors..Wheaton Plaza..George Pelecanos? I remember him from high school..Korvette's department store..Jumbo Foods..Lum's Restaurant..and of all things..going to the corner drugstore with a note from my mother and 35 cents to buy her a pack of Kents or Trues!
Patty
There was always something to do like going to the Queens Chapel drive-in to watch movies, or cruisen the Mighty Mo or Tops for the sandwiches which were oh soooo good!! Eddie Leonards, and who could forget the Little Tavern hamburgers for only 10 cents. My hubby, Joe, 3 of his brothers and 1 of his sisters lived at 9th. & C st. S.E., he remembers going to the dances on Wednesday night at the Friendship House and riding the old Friendship bus to play baseball. Hanging out at Peoples drugstore at 7th. & Pa. Ave S.E. where his mom worked, his brother Larry was an usher at the Penn Theater. He and his brother would ride the trolley under the Capitol to the House Office Bldg. and getting chased out of the fountain in front of the Capitol by the police. Climbing all over the statues, going to Union Station at night just to fool around and getting your picture taken 4 for 25 cents. Does anyone remember Office Simmons, he would take you back to your parents when he caught you hooking school. If anyone is interested in getting together for a reunion for meeting old friends and having fun, they have a reunion every year at the Cedarville State Park, the first weekend after Labor day.
My wife and I were born and raised within two blocks of each other in northwest Washington, D.C. in the mid and late 20’s.
We remember the moonlight cruises to Marshall Hall and the trolley rides to Glen Echo. That old rickety roller coaster was something else.
How about the walks to the Hot Shoppes? There was one on Georgia Avenue at either Farragut or Gallatin Street. That one was frequented by the students of Theodore Roosevelt High School (my wife’s alma mater). There was also one out Georgia Avenue at Piney Branch Road (?) that was frequented by the students of Calvin Coolidge High School (my alma mater).
Both of us remember the blackouts during World War II. I served as a runner in the Civil Defense Corps. One of our duties was to walk around in the pitch black looking to make sure that all windows were sealed from any light leakage. Another duty of the runner was to take messages back and forth between various headquarters.
I served in the ROTC unit at Calvin Coolidge High School which served me well when I enlisted in the army upon graduation in February, 1946.
As I look back over growing up in Washington, D.C., it becomes obvious that I was very fortunate. So much happened in those days and Washington was always the center of it so we were always a part of history being made.
How many remember the White Tower and the Little Tavern Hamburger Shoppes? Yes, hamburgers for a nickel and WERE THEY GOOD? Yum Yum!!!
One of the reminisces asked about the name of the burlesque theater that was on 9th Street between F and G Streets. It was the Gayety Theater (I think I spelled it right). I remember that it was in the same block as Bergmann’s Laundry (which, incidentally, was the Washington Redskins home office). I would go down there to hang out in order to get autographs of the football players. My mother gave me you know what for being in such a neighborhood.
One of my coaches in high school was Bob Masterson. He played end for the Washington Redskins. Do you remember Sammy Baugh, Wee Willie Wilkin, Andy Farkas and others? I attended the very first Redskins game played in Washington, D.C. in 1937. I earned money in those days collecting newspapers and magazines and taking them to a junk yard on Georgia Avenue near the old Griffith Stadium. I remember getting twenty-five cents per hundred pounds; but, if I remember correctly, a general admission ticket cost less than a dollar.
I also saved money to go to the Washington Senator baseball games. Remember them – “Washington, first in war, first in peace and last in the American League.” Yes, I remember Mickey Vernon, Stan Spence and George Case. They, and others, were my role models. Dutch Leonard, the great knuckleballer, was the uncle of a schoolmate of mine and I had the good fortune to see a real knuckleball up close and personal. How could anyone forget going to Griffith Stadium for a night game when they were baking at the Continental Banking Company Bakery? I’m sure that the smell from the bakery caused us to buy more hot dogs than we needed.
I, too, delivered the Washington Post in the morning and the Herald or News in the afternoon. I also sold the Saturday Evening Post, Liberty and other magazines from door to door.
When I went to pick up my newspapers on Georgia Avenue right near Kennedy Street at 4:00 or 4:30 in the morning, I would buy a real Kosher dill pickle at a store where my papers were left off. The pickle cost a nickel and was it good?
While I was a student at Calvin Coolidge High School in 1945 (I think), we had an undefeated, untied and unscored on season until the ninth or tenth game of the season. I believe that it was Western High School that scored twelve points on us in a tie game.
I do remember the train windows at Christmas time at Kann’s Department Store. I had a train set that my Dad bought for me before he died in 1931 and I could only dream that I could have such a set-up as was in their window.
My Mother had a ritual every Sunday evening to park downtown on F Street between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets to go “window shopping.” We would walk from the car down F Street to Fourteenth Street, cross F Street and backtrack to Twelfth Street, cross F Street again and walk back to the car. How many of you remember the BIG polar bear that was always in front of Zlotnick’s Furrier?
I remember the beggar with the monkey that was always panhandling on F Street.
How many wonderful days were spent at the Smithsonian Institution? I think that you could go there every day of your life and still have more to see. When I was quite young, I remember that they had a glass sided bee hive with a glass tunnel arrangement to the outside. You could stand there and watch the bees going and coming with their loads of honey. That really fascinated me and created a lifelong interest in bee keeping.
The Washington Zoo was another place that drew us as young folks.
Rock Creek Park was a place of real wilderness right in the heart of town. In the summer time we rode our bikes over to the park. We loved to ride through the fords where the road crossed the creek. We usually entered along side the old McMillan Reservoir (near 16th Street and Kennedy Street) that was covered over in the 30’s or early 40’s. We would go down that winding road (Snake Hill) into the park. Our Scoutmaster took us to the park on many Friday night scout meetings to just learn all we could about nature.
I also served as a Sea Scout when I was a junior or senior in high school. We met at the Anacostia Navy Base.
Saturday mornings were good to ride bikes or to take the bus to the Washington Monument. I remember trying to run all the way up the stairs. I can’t remember if I ever succeeded but it was fun trying.
Students had three cent bus tickets but I think they were only good on school days.
Remember transfers? You could get on the bus or streetcar and go for what seemed forever by using the transfers.
We used to ride our bikes to the Chain Bridge and cross over into Virginia and then ride up to Great Falls where we would scamper around the falls on the rocks.
How great it was to be able to do all of those things without having any concern for your safety.
Many weekends we drove down to Beverley or Triton Beach on the Chesapeake Bay to go swimming. There was always the picnic lunch which was so delicious after a round of swimming. But always – “No swimming until an hour after you eat.”
The Ice Cream Shoppe at the University of Maryland was one of the most wonderful places in the world. They always had something to tweak you interest and to whet your appetite.
The Polar Bear on upper Georgia Avenue was another neat place to go if you wanted soft serve ice cream.
I do remember the Kennedy and the Colony and the Sheridan movie theaters. What exciting times we had at the Saturday matinees.
When my wife and I were courting, we often went to the Starlight Roof of the Roger Smith Hotel (just west of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue) where we enjoyed a wonderful evening of dining and dancing.
We also remember the big bands that played in Washington at the D.C. Armory.
I have had such a wonderful time reading all of your reminisces that I just had to add my two cents worth.
Lester B. Davis
Hi -
I was born in Washington, DC at the old Garfield Hospital. I am told it is a parking lot now. My family moved to the Four Corners area of Silver Spring when I was about 9 months old (1946). I remember all the old “clubs” in Washington, Benny’s, Rands, the Speakeasy, The Starlite Lounge. Roller skating at the Capital
Area off Georgia. The Frozen Custard stand at Colesville and East West Highway, HL Greenes Five & Dime. Jelleff’s, Holiday Shoes. I even worked at the Silver Theater (which has been beautifully restored).
This is de ja vue for me because after living in Frederick, MD since 1978 I now work in Silver Spring across from the Metro (where Frozen Custard used to be). When I first came to work in Silver Spring I worked in the building that replaced Hahn Shoe Store on the corner of Colesville and Georgia (coincidentally it is the first place I worked part time I Silver Spring).
I went to private school, but had many friends that graduated from Blair, Northwood and even High Point.
I remember cruising the Hot Shoppe in both Silver Spring and Wheaton with my friends and the dances at the old Silver Spring armory.
My brother’s best friend was a regular on the Milt Grant Show so I got to go a few times. WOW what memories.
Does anyone remember Cousin Nicks across from the old car barn??
I will continue to visit this website and read all the great stuff.
Terrie
I was born at the Columbia Hospital for Women in August 1947… I was born on 39th Street in Georgetown…but the 1st residence I remember was in the Palisades on Sherier Pl…. I attended FS Key ES from K- half way thru 3rd grade…. The Glen Echo streetcar ran in the front of our house and we would put our pennies on the tracks to get flattened…. Bought all my Topps baseball cards (’56-’57 series) at the Drug store near the DGS at the corner of Dana Pl & MacArthur Blvd….thanks mom for never throwing them out….
Moved to 43xx Harrison St just West. of Wisconsin Ave so my father could literally walk out the back door and pick up his bus at the Western Div car/bus barn (Capital/DC Transit) for his morning rush hour run down Connecticut Ave in his L-4 to Federal Triangle and back to Chevy Chase Circle; Picking up his uniforms from Tolman Laundry.
Growing up in Tenleytown
- Janney ES; Alice Deal; Woodrow Wilson HS…..
- Lunchtime at Janney meant Hot dogs and Home made Donuts on the 3rd floor of Sears Roebuck.
- Joe Gould’s Variety shop for daily ration of red laces licorice (still my favorite 50yrs later);
- Waffle Shop waffles and fries;
- Van Sant’s Pharmacy soda fountain for Vanilla and Cherry cokes;
- Cruising the drive up Hot Shoppes (“I’ll have an Orange Freeze- Mighty Mo & Hot fudge Ice Cream cake”) on Connecticut Ave
- Eating dinners with my mom and dad at the CockRobin (Brother Gus) Inn at Wisc and Jennifer…our family favorites- Crisfields in Silver Spring..and Peking’s at Conn and McKinley st.
- the Xmas decorated channel 9 tower; The Xmas decorations at the Woodies at Friendship Hgts and in the Sears basement Toy Dept……
- Sledding in the snow….. down Fort Reno hill to Belt Rd…- highest elevation in DC….What a ride!!!!
- Dalmo’s/Rodmans- the 1st “Discount” stores
- Collecting Top Value stamps…those books were all over the house.
- The Uptown Citizen;
- Going to the movies at the Apex theatre in Spring Valley- taking the D6 bus to the Avalon theatre….the Uptown & Calvert theatres…..Big treat- taking the 30 streetcar downtown to see Peter Pan and Ol’ Yeller at the RKO Keith’s Theatre.
- Playing baseball at Friendship playground- Fort Bayard park…Jelleffs Boys Club…WW….and every night in the summer at Harry’s Field behind the 42nd St Safeway;
- Mitchells Sport Shop to buy my green WW Letterman jacket.. (Mr Sklar just passed away recently)…
- Taking the Cross Town bus at Tenley Circle to Georgia Ave and transfer to the streetcar to Griffith stadium baseball games;
- Standing on the corner of Wisc Ave (11/23/1963) watching in a crowd as the Grey Navy hearse goes by carrying the casket of JFK to Navy Medical… with Jackie…still in her pink dress….
- And…..The adrenalin rush every time we heard the sirens and horns of another B-CC Rescue Squad vehicle come down Wisconsin Ave. …. cross the District line into DC…. for yet…..another mission of mercy.
Respectfully,
Dan Morrison
703 671- 5623
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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