(via Internet e-mail)
Randy,
Thanks for putting up an address to e-mail back to. I finally found it on one
of the menu items. So, ... try 1947. Yep. Moved into Mrs. Hazel's 2nd Grade
class, midterm, in 1947. We had moved down from up-state NY, lived in DC for a
couple of months, and then bought a little white cinderblock house up at 5122
S. 11th St., Arlington 4, Virginia. That's what we called our town in those
days.
The only commercial area was on the s. side of Columbia Pike at Four Mile Run
Drive . There was a drug store, dry cleaner, and grocery store. All the stuff
on the north side of the Pike east of the "new" bridge was built the next year
or in '49. Then came the commerical development across the bridge, and much
later the stores n. of the Pike at Geo.Mason Drive.
We moved to Barcroft Apts. in '50 or so, and the School District transferred
all of us to Peyton Randolph School. I finished 5th and 6th there, moved on to
Dolley Madison JHS down east of Glebe on Shirley Highway. That was a terrible
place, so as Wakefield HS was completed they moved us all up there. I spent
five years at Wakefield. Third graduating class! 1958.
Down below the so-called "new bridge" was the (guess what) "old bridge" that
had been part of the original Pike from DC to Bailey's Xroads and on to
Annandale. In '47 Baileys was a crossroads of two two lane (one each way)
paved roads. It was out in the country. Down Rt Seven toward Alex. was the
W.&Va. Airport, where now (and since the sixties, I guess) tall apartments
grew. Across from them on Rt. 7 where a Walmart-style department store that
began with a Z was built, was a rock quarry. We used to go up there and find
petrified wood, civil war stuff, ... it was wonderful.
Congratulations to all of you for getting the web site going and having pride
in the neat little community of Barcroft. If you can keep things from
deteriorating (further?), the value of the community should grow. You are
practically down town by today's standards. I loved the picture of the
community house. I trudged by that building twice a day for three years
walking from Columbia Forest to Barcroft Elem. School. Well, some days I took
a different route to avoid fist fights with some of the other boys, but you
get the idea.
After Wakefield, UVa., after that USN, and during that Vietnam, which brought
me here to sunny and not quite as humid California. After my part in the war I
eventually got back into the academic stuff that Mrs. Hazel, Mrs. Bryant (3rd
grade), and Mrs. Ginter (4th) amply prepared me for. Ph.D. in Russian History
from UCLA, taught for a while, and am now Director, Office of University
Research at Cal State University, Long Beach, and live a long 15 minute WALK
from the blue, blue Pacific Ocean.
I was really proud of Arlington back when. Barcroft seemed like something of
the suburb of the future. If only you guys could bring the Lake (B.) a bit
farther east, I would move back. :)
Best regards to all and particularly anyone left from my epoch,
James R. "Jim" Brett
jbrett@csulb.edu e-mail welcome
Then this from Charles Haase
I have enjoyed my nostalgic visits to The BSCL Web site for a couple of
years now. My family lived at 379 S. Geo. Mason Drive in the early 50's.
I attended Barcroft Elem. and Wakefield High, the first year it opened (7th
grade) in 1953.
I also attended Our Saviour Luthern Church and was a member of Boy Scout
Troop 146A. Those early years spent in Barcroft were the most pleasant
memories of my childhood. I particularly enjoyed reading, "Message from an
Oldtimer" and "Marvon's House is Moved..."
Would it be possible to purchase a copy of "Arlington Reunion: Barcroft and
Its Neighbors"? Since I live in Tucson, AZ, I don't have any other way of
seeing it and I think my family and I would enjoy the experience very much!
Please let me know if a copy is available and how I can acquire one.
Thanks, Charles Haase
chaase@azstarnet.com Tucson, AZ
And this is a message Danette Blundell Bailly
September, 2000
BARCROFT MEMORIES
I was born and raised in Barcroft where my mother still lives on
4th Street South. She is the original owner of her home. Although
I now live in Miami, I cherish my memories of growing up
in a neighborhood filled with special people and special times.
My parents bought their home from Walter O'Hara and have lived
there for over 60 years. My father, George D. Blundell, worked
until he retired as a buyer for boys and men’s wear for the old
S. Kanns & Sons department store. He passed away in 1998.
My mother, Grace, is one of the surviving original members of a
local neighborhood club, K Klub, which now only has 6 members.
They have celebrated at least 60 years of friendship since being
started by some of the newly married women in our section of the
neighborhood (3rd, 4th, 5th Streets South west of S. Pershing
Dr.). My uncle, William Blundell, was president of the BSCL at
one time.
Some of the best times had to do with growing up in a great
neighborhood. As kids, we knew most of the neighbors and felt
so safe in our environment. We could play and build forts in
what was woods on our street (4th where today there are all
houses). I remember forts out of honeysuckle (today you couldn't
pay me to climb in them - snakes - yuck!). There was no need
for our folks to tell us to be careful of strangers there.
We all always walked to school (Barcroft Elementary). How proud
we were to strike out on our own. In the springtime we rode our
bikes there. Walking to the Community House was also no problem
and commonplace as most households only had one car. At the
Community House, I enjoyed Brownies and Girl Scouts meetings, as
well as ballet, tap, and even baton! Most of the mothers did not
work outside the home and took part in our activities as mine did
as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader.
I remember so fondly going trick-or-treating as kids (again,
innocently on our own) and knowing that certain houses held
certain treats. Old Mrs. Cooks' house, two doors from ours,
would delight us with homemade popcorn balls and Millie across
the street always made her decadent chocolate brownies (and not
from a mix).
Caroling at Christmas was also to be savored. How I remember us
singing off key with the glistening snow and the icy cold.
Another wonderful memory, and one we have captured on those old
8mm movies, was when the County would block off 4th Street so we
kids could sled ride. There we were, all bundled up so we could
hardly walk, experiencing the thrill of running with our sleds
down that "mighty steep" hill! Making snow ice cream afterwards
and drinking hot chocolate were treats to be savored after our
"feats"!
One of my favorite possessions is a map of Barcroft tee shirt
that my folks got me several years ago. I guess the civic league
must have been selling them. It shows a map of Barcroft and it's
neat because the Community House and, of course, my immediate
neighborhood, are on it. I wouldn't trade it for anything!
You can send your own "The Barcroft I Remember" message. Just select
this link or send your email to
oldtimerpage@bscl.org.
This page was last revised on: September 15, 2000.
