I don't believe this is a picture of Fairfax, VA - there never was a hill/mountain such as is shown in that pic.

linda Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There was a gas shortage ... or so we were told.
> At one time you got gas according to your house #
> Odd #'s on odd days & even # on even days


It wasn't by your house number, but by the last digit of your car tag.

lbss82bruin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> linda Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There was a gas shortage ... or so we were
> told.
> > At one time you got gas according to your house
> #
> > Odd #'s on odd days & even # on even days
>
>
> It wasn't by your house number, but by the last
> digit of your car tag.

Yeah thats right and the county brought flags to the gas stations, green flag for all gas products available yellow for some gas products and red for no gas products available. I worked after school at the Amoco car wash on 236 in Annandale at that time. The owner (Mr Cohen) had a 3 dollar max gas purchace if you did not get a car wash and unlimited gas sale if you bought a car wash. That pissed people off and made the channel 5 news.

I remember the name but where was this located??
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Dave Henery Wrote:
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> I remember the name but where was this located??

I think that was their (mid 70s) location a little west of Tyson's on Rt. 7. Peacock Buick moved out there too from Falls Church.

1956
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Dave Henery Wrote:
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> I remember the name but where was this located??

I seem to recal there was one right where the King st metro staion is, and then it moved to Picket rd where the BMW place is.

Dave Henery Wrote:
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> I remember the name but where was this located??


Tysons Corner. The Audi dealer is there now and the building is a bit more updated.

Burke Horse Show in 1960. In 1972 it was still rural
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How about those great ads Templeton had in the 1980s. "Look at this car right HERE!!!!!" and "Pick up the phone. Give us a call."

boatloads Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dave Henery Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I remember the name but where was this
> located??
>
> I seem to recal there was one right where the King
> st metro staion is, and then it moved to Picket rd
> where the BMW place is.


According to Flicker:

8550 Tyco Road, Vienna. Note the Delta 88 Royale Indy 500 Pace Car Replica on the left.

Delta Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> boatloads Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Dave Henery Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I remember the name but where was this
> > located??
> >
> > I seem to recal there was one right where the
> King
> > st metro staion is, and then it moved to Picket
> rd
> > where the BMW place is.
>
>
> According to Flicker:
>
> 8550 Tyco Road, Vienna. Note the Delta 88 Royale
> Indy 500 Pace Car Replica on the left.


My Bad! I was thinking "Temple Buick". Different place alltogether, was in Alexandria.

Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I remember the name but where was this located??


Temple Hills MD. PG County

DeFGx Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dave Henery Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I remember the name but where was this
> located??
>
>
> Temple Hills MD. PG County


Hmmm, don't think so. Isn't that a Virginia state flag on the flag pole??

1963
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it's true MOST OF Fairfax was still seeing horses on the road in 1950

BUT ITS tru most of Fairfax was still seeing horses on the road in the late 1980's too

the absence of horses seen around Fairfax county is actually quite new

many of the photos are from a small high populated part of fx co

ie, you don't see herndon area Pepsi Manufacturing Plant

you don't see most of Fairfax is trees up until the 1990's

you don't see Herndon area did Metal Works and Manassass had (has) Lumber mills - or much at all about Manassas which played a key roll in the whereabouts and making of Fairfax. ie, that's a place where many of the project shovels rested and bedded.

I'm from Arlington. '80 HS graduate. Manassas. Herndon. Shit, Burke. Hell, just going to Fairfax Circle was a trip to the country. It's hard to believe the transformation in such a short time.

To the poster above, I'd love to hear more of your stories.

I'm just under a decade younger than you and I can't believe the changes around here. Doesn't feel even recognizable.

I recall a fruit stand at the corner of Keene Mill and Rolling Roads back when Keene Mill was a two lane road. Just beyond the fruit stand (across the street from Hardees On Rolling and Burger Chef on Keene Mill), there were several small houses set back from the road. There are townhouses there now, of course. Going towards downtown Springfield there were more of these original farm houses dotting the road. I watched these little houses slowly disappear.

My second grade class attended our end-of-year party at a classmate's *farm* somewhere down Keene Mill roughly where the parkway runs now. Quite a thrill for this suburban girl - classmate had horses, chickens, pigs and an old outhouse.

I remember when Wolf Trap burned down. I must of been in my early 20's and going in sifting through the burned seats and ruble. Owned by Catherine Filene Shouse and called Wolf Trap Farm Park, Filene Centre for the Performing Arts , we called that Jewish lightning! It was totally rebuilt to its existing structure today without a penny coming from the once Shouse foundation or estate.

At the bottom right of this ad it says "Remember no sales tax in Virginia" What is that all about? I thought Va always had sales tax.
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.
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Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> At the bottom right of this ad it says "Remember
> no sales tax in Virginia" What is that all about?
> I thought Va always had sales tax.


Nope. Virginia sales tax began in '66 or '67. It was 2% back then.

Or maybe like Lionel Hutz there was a typo on the punctuation:

"Remember? No? Sales tax in Virginia!"


oold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dave Henery Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > At the bottom right of this ad it says
> "Remember
> > no sales tax in Virginia" What is that all
> about?
> > I thought Va always had sales tax.
>
>
> Nope. Virginia sales tax began in '66 or '67. It
> was 2% back then.

This is Alexandria somewhere.
Look at those inspection stickers on the cars, remember we had to get inspections every 6 months back then. What a PITA!
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Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is Alexandria somewhere.
> Look at those inspection stickers on the cars,
> remember we had to get inspections every 6 months
> back then. What a PITA!


I believe those are the apartments across 385 from Landmark.

Southern Towers and Skyline in the background.

Probably mid-70s.

Old Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dave Henery Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This is Alexandria somewhere.
> > Look at those inspection stickers on the cars,
> > remember we had to get inspections every 6
> months
> > back then. What a PITA!
>
>
> I believe those are the apartments across 385 from
> Landmark.
>
> Southern Towers and Skyline in the background.
>
> Probably mid-70s.


Make that 395.

Old Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dave Henery Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This is Alexandria somewhere.
> > Look at those inspection stickers on the cars,
> > remember we had to get inspections every 6
> months
> > back then. What a PITA!
>
>
> I believe those are the apartments across 385 from
> Landmark.
>
> Southern Towers and Skyline in the background.
>
> Probably mid-70s.


What kind of car is that white car? The quarter-panel reads what??? Is it Fairmont??

young dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Old Dude Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Dave Henery Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > This is Alexandria somewhere.
> > > Look at those inspection stickers on the
> cars,
> > > remember we had to get inspections every 6
> > months
> > > back then. What a PITA!
> >
> >
> > I believe those are the apartments across 385
> from
> > Landmark.
> >
> > Southern Towers and Skyline in the background.
> >
> > Probably mid-70s.
>
>
> What kind of car is that white car? The
> quarter-panel reads what??? Is it Fairmont??


I meant fender , not quarter panel

young dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > What kind of car is that white car? The
> > quarter-panel reads what??? Is it Fairmont??
>
>
> I meant fender , not quarter panel


Too old to be a Fairmont. They started in 78 and looked much more 'modern.'



The reason that I guessed mid-70s is the Monte Carlo behind it parked the other way is a 73-. Most of the rest look older.

Seems like I should know what that is but even zooming in I can't tell what it says. Looks like it starts with a T and ends with a T.

young dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> young dude Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Old Dude Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Dave Henery Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > This is Alexandria somewhere.
> > > > Look at those inspection stickers on the
> > cars,
> > > > remember we had to get inspections every 6
> > > months
> > > > back then. What a PITA!
> > >
> > >
> > > I believe those are the apartments across 385
> > from
> > > Landmark.
> > >
> > > Southern Towers and Skyline in the
> background.
> > >
> > > Probably mid-70s.
> >
> >
> > What kind of car is that white car? The
> > quarter-panel reads what??? Is it Fairmont??
>
>
> I meant fender , not quarter panel

1962 Pontiac Tempest. Photo looks to be circa 1976

Large Bulge Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> 1962 Pontiac Tempest. Photo looks to be circa 1976


Tempest is right. That was the only one that I could think of T??????T but no P in the badge threw me off. Must be broken off in the pic.

Old Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Large Bulge Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > 1962 Pontiac Tempest. Photo looks to be circa
> 1976
>
>
> Tempest is right. That was the only one that I
> could think of T??????T but no P in the badge
> threw me off. Must be broken off in the pic.

A buddy in HS had one of these - Quick little car.

Okay, this one is from an old tc williams yearbook. That cab looks like a Ford Galaxy? Am I right?
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Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Okay, this one is from an old tc williams
> yearbook. That cab looks like a Ford Galaxy? Am I
> right?

1963 Ford Galaxy - That is what Andy and Barney drove when they went on those hot dates with Helen and Thelma Lou.

From that same yearbook,
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Falls Church Memorial day parade 1972. Pictures courtesy of James Jones.
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Okay I dont remember this one but it was supposed to be in Mclean and I was a west springfield/burke kid. Who can give us some background on Stecklers Gulf?
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My car pool was on the bridge when the plane crashed.

@Dave....According to an old Mclean thread, Steckler's is now Starbucks.

While we are on Mclean...a 1964 Wine list from my collection.
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Burke Horse Show in 1960. In 1972 it was still rural
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HorseShowInBurke.jpg


I had a friend whos family lived in this house off of 123 when I went to Fairfax High. Wasn't this property an old plantation? I was 04' btw.

Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Okay, this one is from an old tc williams
> yearbook. That cab looks like a Ford Galaxy? Am I
> right?


Why does the boulder in front of the school in the back of the picture on the right have "90" painted on it? That certainly isn't a 1990 picture.

> had a friend whos family lived in this house off of 123 when I went to Fairfax High. Wasn't this property an old plantation? I was 04' btw.

Millstone Farm was where the horse show was , don't know if was a plantation or still there 1/2 mile from Burke on Rt 652 6 miles from Fairfax, Springfield or Annandale, Sounds like it was near the Burke Fire Dept.

Its not a boulder. It is the lighted box on top of the cab with the cab's number on it.

Pretty kewl stuff that takes you back.

1989
Springfield Va
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Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Okay, this one is from an old tc williams
> yearbook. That cab looks like a Ford Galaxy? Am I
> right?


So WHITE people used to go to TC?

Hard to believe, isn't it?

Fischer's (RIP) in the background of the cop on the motorcycle on the Old Keen Mill/Franconia overpass when the beloved hardware store was located where Total Wine was (?) until recently, the old A&P site.

blanche Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fischer's (RIP) in the background of the cop on
> the motorcycle on the Old Keen Mill/Franconia
> overpass when the beloved hardware store was
> located where Total Wine was (?) until recently,
> the old A&P site.


Good catch blanche. Is that the howard johnsons sign just to the right of the tower?

Has to be a lifelong Fairfaxer!

Some of these are positively delightful!!

Does anyone know where I could locate a picture of the Indian that used to be on the roof of the Best store in Fairfax?

Here's what I think is the same Indian, in another location. Googling "Best Products" was the key to locating this picture.

I'd still appreciate a photo of the Fairfax installation.
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Back in the early 70s there was one of these Best products type stores in Falls Church around the Hillwood Avenue/Annandale Road intersection area. Does anyone remember if that was a Best or maybe a Service Merchandise or something else? Thanks!

Former Store Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Back in the early 70s there was one of these Best
> products type stores in Falls Church around the
> Hillwood Avenue/Annandale Road intersection area.
> Does anyone remember if that was a Best or maybe a
> Service Merchandise or something else? Thanks!


I think it was Evans. Bought my wife's engagement ring there in 1981. Hey, I was dirt poor back then. She still has it and we are still married.

Former Store Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Back in the early 70s there was one of these Best
> products type stores in Falls Church around the
> Hillwood Avenue/Annandale Road intersection area.
> Does anyone remember if that was a Best or maybe a
> Service Merchandise or something else? Thanks!


It was a Bell Co. store. Now it's Coleman PowerSports.

larry McGaw Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Former Store Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Back in the early 70s there was one of these
> Best
> > products type stores in Falls Church around the
> > Hillwood Avenue/Annandale Road intersection
> area.
> > Does anyone remember if that was a Best or maybe
> a
> > Service Merchandise or something else? Thanks!
>
>
> I think it was Evans. Bought my wife's engagement
> ring there in 1981. Hey, I was dirt poor back
> then. She still has it and we are still married.

There was an Evans on the SW corner of Rt 50 & Glebe Rd. Know where that is?

Ahhh there was a W. Bell located at 435 S. Washington Street in Falls Church. I found it thanks to the tips on the names of the companies above. Thanks!

Tempis Fugit!

Ye Ole Woodson Man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > had a friend whos family lived in this house off
> of 123 when I went to Fairfax High. Wasn't this
> property an old plantation? I was 04' btw.
>
> Millstone Farm was where the horse show was ,
> don't know if was a plantation or still there 1/2
> mile from Burke on Rt 652 6 miles from Fairfax,
> Springfield or Annandale, Sounds like it was near
> the Burke Fire Dept.

Oh trust me I know where this is located, we had lots of parties here. Its about two blocks from Burke Lake Park and Golf. Anyone have any more history about this property?

Was the Tysons mansion located in Tysons?
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The mansion was located near the Beltway and 123, in fact, I believe it was located inside one of the cloverleaves (cloverleafs?) before it was taken down for some of those business buildings that litter the area in Tysons.

Ah yes, I remember it well.

I learned to fly out of Woodbridge Airport back in 1985. The airport was owned by Chales Benn. He previously owned an airport near I395 and Route 7.

The runway at Woodbridge was only 2200 feet long and 50' wide and was wavy. Trees on one end and power lines on the other, made for some dicey landings for a new pilot at times. There were several fatal crashes there in the mid-1980's. One involved an overweight plane that had stopped for fuel and crashed on takeoff. Another happened at night, while a pilot was making practice approaches. A helicopter also crashed, although I don't remember the reason why. Woodbridge Airport's former identifier was W22.

F3 in 1973:
On April Fool's Day, Sunday, April 1st, 1973, just past 3 p.m., a magnitude F3 tornado touched down three times in central Fairfax County, damaging homes in Fairfax Station's Middleridge Subdivision and the Zion Drive area and tearing the roof from Pickett Shopping Center, according to news reports. Woodson High School also lost a roof in the tornado. Property damage was estimated up to $25 million.

Barbara McNaught Watson, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Sterling, noted that the tornado touched down in Prince William County and traveled 15 miles northeast through Fairfax and into Falls Church. Extensive damage occurred along a six-mile stretch in Fairfax, including damage to the high school, two shopping centers, an apartment complex, and 226 homes. Only 37 people were injured. It could have been much worse, she noted since it was Sunday and "Blue Laws" were still in effect: The normally busy shopping center which had extensive damage, was closed and school was not in session.

fake screen name jim Wrote:
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> Was the Tysons mansion located in Tysons?


The Maplewood Manor was originally located at 7676 Old Springhouse Road and was demolished in 1970. Some old Washington Post articles follow with some Tysons Corner history.


Washington Post, July 30, 1956.

McLean Seeks U. of Va. Branch

A McLean, Va., group came forward with a last-minute proposal yesterday for the location of the Northern Virginia branch of the University of Virginia at the historic Maplewood estate of Dr. and Mrs. Sidney Ulfelder. They also suggested that the proposed Fairfax County Hospital be located on the property.

The 500-acre estate, which includes a 24-room mansion which at one time was the summer home of Woodrow Wilson, will sell for $2500 an acre, they said.

The McLean Group, made up of French Trammell, Robert A. Alden and O.L. Brandenburger, met yesterday with Col. Rudolph G. Seeley, manager of the estate and son-in-law of the Ulfelders. …



Washington Post, November 12, 1969.

Ethel Ulfelder, 84, a major land owner in Fairfax County and the widow of Dr. Sidney Ulfelder, a physician at the American-British Cowdray Hospital in Mexico City from 1900 until his death in 1959, died Monday after a brief illness in Mexico City.

She owned the 512-acre Maplewood Farm, part of which is now the Tysons Corner shopping center, the Westgate Industrial Park and nearby sections of what is now the Beltway and Dulles Airport access roads. The old Maplewood house itself is now the Westgate office, on Rte. 123 in McLean. …



Washington Post, February 25, 1970.

Wrecking Crew Steals March on History Buffs in Fairfax

Wrecking crews stole a march on history buffs last weekend. A 100-year-old Victorian mansion the buffs had hoped to preserve was demolished and apparently none of them know anything about it until it was too late.

The 24-room, yellow-painted brick home, known as Maplewood, was torn down at the Westgate Research Park near Tyson's Corner to make way for construction of another industrial building.

“We are just terribly depressed, surprised and shocked,” said Joyce Wilkinson, chairman of the Fairfax County Historical Commission. She and other commission members claimed that Rudolph Seeley, executive vice president of Westgate Corp., told them last October that the structure would not be torn down for up to three years and not sooner than one year.

Seeley said the demolition was ordered because the “house is standing on very valuable, highly taxed land” and was “not a particularly architectural gem under any stretch of the imagination.”



Washington Post, January 6, 1988.

Col. Rudolph G. Seeley, 72, a Fairfax County civic leader and developer who helped pioneer the explosive commercial growth of the Tysons Corner area, died of cancer Jan. 4 at his home in McLean.

It was not until after the war that Col. Seeley moved to the Washington area. The family of his wife, the former Martha Ulfelder, had been farmers in the Tysons Corner area since the 1920s, and the colonel became manager of their dairy business during the late 1950s. Construction occurred between 1958 and 1964. There were 14 interchanges on the highway in Fairfax County alone. The idea that major commercial development would take place so far from downtown Washington was thought to be preposterous. Where the Beltway passed near Tysons Corner there was a feed store, a gas station, a restaurant and a general store. Much of the Ulfelder farm was taken for the Beltway right of way. Mindful of development opportunities, Col. Seeley led a group in acquiring more acreage with a view to rezoning it for commercial use.

The wisdom of this move was affirmed with construction of the Dulles Airport Access Road. The Seeley-Ulfelder holdings were at the intersection of Rtes. 7 and 123, roads that had existed since Colonial times. With the building of the Beltway and the Dulles Access Road the land was better served by major highways than any location in Northern Virginia. In 1961 Col. Seeley and Gerald Halpin, a former officer of Atlantic Research Corp., combined land holdings to build a research and industrial park and they helped found the Westgate Corp. to carry out their plans. Col. Seeley also was part of a partnership that leased land to Maryland builders who erected the Tysons Corner Center. It opened in 1968 with three anchor stores and about 70 smaller businesses.

More pics and info here:

http://wikimapia.org/14736366/Villa-Nuova-Maplewood-Mansion-Site

Steve Palmeter provided this picture. It was supposed to be on Broad street in Falls Church. I have no memory of this place though. I wonder what year it was taken.
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Looks like the 50s: Grown-ups still dressing up; kids dressing down. Co-ops were in Maryland, PG county back then. Don't know about Virginia.

Bradlick shopping center 1983. Are they sitting on a Ford Fairmont or is that a LTD? Looks like a Ford to me but who knows?
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Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Steve Palmeter provided this picture. It was
> supposed to be on Broad street in Falls Church. I
> have no memory of this place though. I wonder what
> year it was taken.


That looks like 803 W Broad...maybe.

If I recall correctly, by the late 80's, it was an art supply shop.

Has it been razed?

"Gordon Blvd" , Thanks for posting the advertisement from Yeonas Realty in 1954 for the mid-century Charles Goodman contemporary house. Our 1955 house matches that design exactly and is located on Acorn Circle in Vienna. I had not seen this before and did not realize who had designed it.

Oak Forest is the western wedge of Dunn Loring Woods between Cedar Lane and 66. There are similar-looking homes in the general vicinity, but I'm not sure they are all of Goodman's design. He did design the Hickory Cluster in Reston, and they maintain a list of his other work in the DC area...

http://hickoryclusterassociation.blogspot.com/p/the-goodman-houses.html

Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bradlick shopping center 1983. Are they sitting on
> a Ford Fairmont or is that a LTD? Looks like a
> Ford to me but who knows?


Looks to be a early 80's Mercury Grand Marquis. The LTD Crown Victoria had different tail lights.

The girl on the left has on one of those soft fuzzy sweaters - Too magical to touch.

RodneyDsouza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Gordon Blvd" , Thanks for posting the
> advertisement from Yeonas Realty in 1954 for the
> mid-century Charles Goodman contemporary house.
> Our 1955 house matches that design exactly and is
> located on Acorn Circle in Vienna. I had not seen
> this before and did not realize who had designed
> it.


Rodney, this forum is not very safe. You have already given out way too much personal information. Please be more careful!

And All of our names in the Phone Books, Property tax records, Wills at the courthouse, marriage licenses, And NSA/Govt Spying , GASP!

Relax Rodney its not a problem at all. You told us nothing at all that is any big deal.

Now if you would post some pic's of a big gun safe or nice gun or rare coin collection with home blueprints and security details the "Sponges Leeches and those too Lazy to work" here "The Obama Democrats", would adore that.

Is this the Dixie Pig in Beacon Hill?

Yes I Agree Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "The Obama Democrats", would adore that.

Let's try to keep that kind of crap out of here, okay?

More old yearbook pics
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Looks like an old Jeffersonian -- circa 1969-70

Color wheel in Mclean or Langley. I think its still open.
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I think this was in the same shopping center that had a 24 hour bowling alley. In later years this theater had XXX movies at night.
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Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think this was in the same shopping center that
> had a 24 hour bowling alley. In later years this
> theater had XXX movies at night.


That's the shopping center on Duke Street in Alexandria near "Fox Chase" or what used to be called Shirley Duke.

That pic makes me feel even older than I am... I remember when they first BUILT that theater. lol As underage kids, we'd get people to buy beer or wine for us at the Dart Drug in that same strip mall (88 cents for a 6 of Ballentine) and go hang out in the uncompleted construction or down at the creek and drink and smoke up.

They never had real XXX movies there. They were more barely X movies. Also was a crappy strip joint in the same place around that same time. If I remember right I think that somebody tried to turn it into a dinner theater kind of for thing for a while. I don't recall there ever being a bowling alley.

The West End Dinner Theatre lasted for quite a while, until the shopping center got an upgrade -- the upgrade prior to when Harris Teeter moved in. This was when Cameron Station was demolished and then land was yuppified/gentrified, a few years back.

The WET had terrible food but the shows were fairly decent, sometimes having special shows for the urchins. The X-rated movie house also showed independent/art house movies for a while. One needed to make sure you went in the correct theatre and not the ones with sticky floors...

Maybe the bowling alley I remember was off of king street, not duke street. Who knows,,, I am getting old and dumb!

Dave Henery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe the bowling alley I remember was off of king
> street, not duke street. Who knows,,, I am getting
> old and dumb!

Perhaps off of Glebe on the north side of Four Mile Run, formerly Arna Valley Shopping Center with the Giant now some other gentrified area...

I certainly remember them. I had my first real job in high school atthe Rt 1, Alexandria location. Started washing dishes and moved up to to the prep and doing pantry work. Many years later I became a chef. That place will always have a special place in my heart.

Anyone know the history behind the name Shirley Duke? My guess it also has some relationship to Shirley Hwy. as well.

I worked at the Gino's at Tyson's Corner in 1975-1977. Thank you for the memories!

Shirley Duke? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyone know the history behind the name Shirley
> Duke? My guess it also has some relationship to
> Shirley Hwy. as well.


Just one of those typical combinations of two unrelated names that they tend do around here, e.g, Bradlee, etc. I believe that it actually was spelled "Shirley-Duke". Probably because it was between Shirley Highway as 395 was known at the time and Duke Street.

The development was the result of government programs to build rental housing in the 50s and was the subject of Congressional investigation into corruption in Federal housing program. The original builders/investors formed a group of six individual corporations to take advantage of government guarantees for building loans and to skirt limitations on how much one entity could hold. Basically, they got mortgage loans far above the actual building costs and then pocketed the difference:

Quote

June 28. The Senate Banking and Currency Committee resumed hearings on the alleged multi-million dollar housing scandals.

Deputy Housing and Home Finance Agency Administrator William F. McKenna, newly appointed to “clean up” HHFA, gave details on 27 government-insured rental housing projects where investors had reaped huge “windfall profits.” Among those he named as having interests in firms that benefited from “windfalls” were three members of the DuPont family, railroad executive Robert R. Young, and a group of British subjects.

McKenna said some of the “abuses” he cited were apparently within the law, but could have been averted under “proper administration” of housing laws. McKenna said FHA had taken no action on most of 163 cases sent to it by the FBI involving alleged fraud in home improvement loans.

Citing examples of “windfalls,” McKenna stated they amounted to $336,000 on a rental housing project on Long Island, and $549,000 on a similar project in New Castle County, Del. In Alexandria, Va., stockholders of the Shirley-Duke Apartments corporation put up $6,000 and netted, profits of more than $2 million, he said.

http://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/document.php?id=cqal54-1358024

There also was another ghetto right next to it at the time called Regina Apartments.

I wonder if the builders/developers/investors paid their loans off in full and on time?

Thanks for the history.

Speaking of places with two names combined we also had "Arlandria".
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usually when hardware stores begin dedicating floor space to women and children things - like sony music and telephones - the chain is about to shut down in the area

the Bad News Bears - one of many amazing artworks of Walter Matthau's

they dont make them like they used to

Late 1970s photo of the (very) humble interior of the old YMCA at Little River Tnpk and Prince William Dr (now a Chabad Lubavitch center), where I took my first tumbling classes and got a certificate for my prowess in doing a mean Egg Roll.
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causeican Wrote:
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> I wonder if the builders/developers/investors paid
> their loans off in full and on time?
>
> Thanks for the history.


I lived not far from it and always wondered how such a massive tenement ended up there and how it ended up a mess. Been a while since I looked into it but the story was that it basically was a money-making scheme from the start. How it seemed to work was that a group of investors set up corporations to take advantage of Federal housing programs. They'd get loans in excess of building costs and then pass the excess money received through to the investors as distributions. So the investors got their big money from the front-end windfall and the corporations were left holding the property and long-term debt.

From there, it was only much smaller, much harder money to make from actually operating the joint and I believe that it was intended to a large degree for lower income to begin with so the end result was kind of predictable. Nobody was interested in putting money into it to keep it up and a long downhill slide began. I believe that there were at least a couple of bankruptcies along the way headed into the 70s when it really went into the toilet with things falling apart and more units boarded up than not. The place was a real mess then. I'd cut through there all the time. You had junkies and drunks passed out on the ground behind buildings. Needles all over the place. People burning stuff in barrels for heat. Looked like something out of Detroit.

Then the yuppietization of Alexandria began and the original Foxchase developers bought the place on the cheap and got Federal and city money in exchange for keeping something like 1/4 of the place for low-income residents through 2000. It was sold to another group at some point who voluntarily extended that to 2005. Don't know what's happened since. Driving through a while back it looked like it was kind of starting to head back downhill again rather than up.

Anyway... longer story than I'd intended. I'd bet that it's a similar one for some of the other large rental complexes in the area built around that same time that turned ghetto to varying degrees.

Another yearbook page. I remember the name Herby's Ford, was it on route 1 somewhere?
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Dave Henery Wrote:
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> Another yearbook page. I remember the name Herby's
> Ford, was it on route 1 somewhere?


1600 Duke Street. That would be on Duke near the King Street Metro stop.

Datsun dates it too.