Yes, I remember Thieves Market as well, somewhere down on Rt 1 Hybla Valley/Beacon Mall area.

In the mid late 70's, they had a place there, I think it was called "Beer Can City" or something like that, I got my mom to take me over there from fairfax to see all the Beer Cans they had.

Used to dig for beer cans (black labels, Gunthers, Old National Bohemians, Old Georgetown and Senate) at a place near Ravensworth Shopping Center.

Even used to find old conetops as well...but back then, those cans were only around 30 years old....

Just Wondrin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some time back I started a thread on Valle's Steak
> House and referred back to a Wikipedia article I
> had written on the topic.
>
> http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/110
> 0089/1264924.html#msg-1264924
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valle%27s_Steak_House
>
>
>
> I just finished another Wikipedia article last
> week: "Falls Church Airpark" which was the
> general aviation airport that was located on what
> is now Loehmann's Plaza. Lots of research (almost
> all of it via WaPo archives). One of the most
> interesting backstories concerned Leroy Eakin who
> apparently owned lots of acreage in Fairfax County
> and, according to one article, was successful in
> getting US 50 through FFX, at least as it is
> currently constructed. I suspect he made a good
> deal of cash in the process.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falls_Church_Airpark


Man, you do some incredible research.

Do you know anything about an airport in the Mclean Va area probably around the same time?

The only reference of it I have is some advertising piece I have from maybe Esso (I'll have to look) that lists where its aviation products are available including an airstrip in Mclean...

A lot of hard work went into that. Thank you for researching and compiling everything.

One picture from the wonderful Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields website (http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman) is that of a long lost airport that used to be located where the Springfield Estates housing development is currently. The picture is dated in 1949.

For those that don't know, this is the housing development across from Springfield Mall. At the bottom of the picture is Franconia Road. The perpendicular road in the middle leading up to a grove of trees was eventually extended and lead into the development. In that grove of trees was a house, which, as kids, we were convinced was haunted.

It's interesting just how many small airports there used to be just in the Northern Virginia area.





mclean airport Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just Wondrin Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Some time back I started a thread on Valle's
> Steak
> > House and referred back to a Wikipedia article
> I
> > had written on the topic.
> >
> >
> http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/110
>
> > 0089/1264924.html#msg-1264924
> >
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valle%27s_Steak_House
>
> >
> >
> >
> > I just finished another Wikipedia article last
> > week: "Falls Church Airpark" which was the
> > general aviation airport that was located on
> what
> > is now Loehmann's Plaza. Lots of research
> (almost
> > all of it via WaPo archives). One of the most
> > interesting backstories concerned Leroy Eakin
> who
> > apparently owned lots of acreage in Fairfax
> County
> > and, according to one article, was successful
> in
> > getting US 50 through FFX, at least as it is
> > currently constructed. I suspect he made a good
> > deal of cash in the process.
> >
> >
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falls_Church_Airpark
>
>
> Man, you do some incredible research.
>
> Do you know anything about an airport in the
> Mclean Va area probably around the same time?
>
> The only reference of it I have is some
> advertising piece I have from maybe Esso (I'll
> have to look) that lists where its aviation
> products are available including an airstrip in
> Mclean...
Attachments:

Thieves Market/others Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, I remember Thieves Market as well, somewhere
> down on Rt 1 Hybla Valley/Beacon Mall area.
>
> In the mid late 70's, they had a place there, I
> think it was called "Beer Can City" or something
> like that, I got my mom to take me over there from
> fairfax to see all the Beer Cans they had.
>
> Used to dig for beer cans (black labels, Gunthers,
> Old National Bohemians, Old Georgetown and Senate)
> at a place near Ravensworth Shopping Center.
>
> Even used to find old conetops as well...but back
> then, those cans were only around 30 years old....

Where near Ravensworth? I grew up there and my brother and I used to hunt cans too...

One more,
Attachments:

This was Tom Weston's restaurant, for many, many years after being the Annandale grill back in the 40's 50'...(to the left of Toms). Tom moved his place down next to Giant at the Annanadle store, becasue the people would stand in line for hours to eat at his place.... Tom sadly passed away from cancer at a very young age back in the 80's.

I have fond memories of eating at the soda fountain!

In later years, this was THE place you could find ANYTHING that a pharmacy should carry. Kind of like a Fischer's Hardware of pharmacies of its day.




lbss82 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One more,

Original Springfielder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have fond memories of eating at the soda
> fountain!
>
> In later years, this was THE place you could find
> ANYTHING that a pharmacy should carry. Kind of
> like a Fischer's Hardware of pharmacies of its
> day.
>
>
>
I remember my Dad telling me how the guys at Fishers hardware would go into the subdivisions that were under construction in the area to find out exactly what plumbing fixtures, door hardware, and so on was being used so it was no accident when they had exactly what you needed right on the shelf.
Here is another shot of good old Springfield.
Attachments:

I know of another A&P/Drug Fair Combo that used to exist, just off Route 1/Richmond Highway, about 1.5 miles south of the Beltway. Both stores are no longer there now.
Attachments:

Is that a Vista Cruiser?

Man, look at everyone in suits in that picture.

"Honey, I'm putting my suit on to go to the drug store. I'll be back in ten minutes!"

This is a picture of the entrance to a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant

NS 13 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is that a Vista Cruiser?


Yes, looks like a 66 or a 67. Back in those days us kids would sit in the back of the station wagon un-belted while dad rolled down the interstate at about eighty miles an hour.

I remember the A&P and the Drug Fair. The last time I looked closely, the A&P location is now a Fast Eddies's, and the Drug Fair location is now a spanish supermarket.

At one time, the red part was a George's Electronic and Appliance store. This became Luskins. Tower and TJ Maxx were once the Zayre store. The space was subdivided.

formalwear Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Man, look at everyone in suits in that picture.
>
> "Honey, I'm putting my suit on to go to the drug
> store. I'll be back in ten minutes!"

That's assuming they ever took their suits off in those days (except to change into pajamas/robe at night). I remember in the early 80's, a 40's era movie was being filmed downtown, close to where I worked. Hundreds of extras walking the streets sporting 40's outfits simultaneously. I was thinking how much better we looked back then, style wise. All the cool cars parked along the streets helped that as well.

Original Springfielder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> End of King Street in Old Town Alexandria, 1900.

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/file.php?2,file=127113,filename=Alexandria_Foot_of_King_St._1900.JPG

Now this is completely awesome. I recognize where we now see Daniel O'Connel's (right side) and the Fish Market (left side). IS that also the original Alexandria Yacht Club that has been fought about so much over the last fifty years?

Looks like there was a pretty bad flood, but I can still make out the original street car tracks. Glad we tore those up and use a bus shaped like a street car like the rest of middle america now.

Please share the source of this, I'd love to see more from this era.

OldTowner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Original Springfielder Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > End of King Street in Old Town Alexandria,
> 1900.
>
> http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/file.php?2
> ,file=127113,filename=Alexandria_Foot_of_King_St._
> 1900.JPG
>
> Now this is completely awesome. I recognize where
> we now see Daniel O'Connel's (right side) and the
> Fish Market (left side). IS that also the original
> Alexandria Yacht Club that has been fought about
> so much over the last fifty years?
>
> Looks like there was a pretty bad flood, but I can
> still make out the original street car tracks.
> Glad we tore those up and use a bus shaped like a
> street car like the rest of middle america now.
>
> Please share the source of this, I'd love to see
> more from this era.


To add.. found some more information about this picture on page 28 of the following document: https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedfiles/historic/info/history/OHAHistoryWFFitzgerald.pdf

@OldTowner - good stuff man!

The page is still loading, but what I see so far is cool.

They used to build ships down at Jones Point, I'm sure some of those pics will come up.


EDIT- theres a lot of blank space on that site, thought they were pics loading but they never did.

Read the part about Dockside Sales, pretty interesting.

idontlikebeingrightaboutshitlikethisbutiam



Edited 21 time(s). Last edit at 5/31/1967 05:57AM by WingNut.

Last edit at 11/30/2015 01:37PM Last edit at 5/14/2015 03:52PM Last edit at 1/28/2014 05:57AM Last edit at 11/29/2015 01:10PM Last edit at 3/14/2011 11:52PM Last edit at 7/20/2012 04:07AM
Last edit at 6/29/2013 11:18PM Last edit at 3/19/2011 01:02PM Last edit at 3/26/2012 09:07PM



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2014 07:42PM by WingNut.

WingNut Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @OldTowner - good stuff man!
>
> The page is still loading, but what I see so far
> is cool.
>
> They used to build ships down at Jones Point, I'm
> sure some of those pics will come up.
>
>
> EDIT- theres a lot of blank space on that site,
> thought they were pics loading but they never
> did.
>
> Read the part about Dockside Sales, pretty
> interesting.


It should just be a PDF. Depending on your browser, it may not be loading it properly, but chrome on a desktop seems to just fine. You can always try downloading it or viewing it alternatively from here: http://findpdf.net/reader/At-the-corner-of-King-and-Union-Streets-in-Old-Town-Alexandria.html

`

idontlikebeingrightaboutshitlikethisbutiam



Edited 21 time(s). Last edit at 5/31/1967 05:57AM by WingNut.

Last edit at 11/30/2015 01:37PM Last edit at 5/14/2015 03:52PM Last edit at 1/28/2014 05:57AM Last edit at 11/29/2015 01:10PM Last edit at 3/14/2011 11:52PM Last edit at 7/20/2012 04:07AM
Last edit at 6/29/2013 11:18PM Last edit at 3/19/2011 01:02PM Last edit at 3/26/2012 09:07PM



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2015 08:04AM by WingNut.

WingNut Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah I looked, cool stuff some floorplans, but
> there's still some missing pages or just blank
> space. Makes me wonder what we missed there.
>
> It's funny how there is a complete overload of
> photographs taken these days, and there are just
> about nothing of the Alexandria I remember as a
> kid in the 70's.
>
> There were some ugly spots, but I guess in those
> days they just weren't worth the film.
>
> I'd love to see some Old Town waterfront circa
> 1974, LOL.

As one of those horrible transplants that everyone hates, I feel as though Alexandria City is often forgotten about by much of NoVa, but is the most unique and interesting place here. I'm going to have to make it over to that Museum on Washington, because I really like the history of this place.

I'd like to know more about it before it was rebranded "Old Town" and when it was more of a dumpy industrial port. Annapolis, while being a larger port and the capital of MD, shares a lot in common. Someone who lived there in the 60s among all the shitty crab boats and ferries would not recognize the starbucks sipping north face wearing crowd you see when you go today.

OldTowner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> As one of those horrible transplants that everyone
> hates, I feel as though Alexandria City is often
> forgotten about by much of NoVa, but is the most
> unique and interesting place here. I'm going to
> have to make it over to that Museum on Washington,
> because I really like the history of this place.
>
> I'd like to know more about it before it was
> rebranded "Old Town" and when it was more of a
> dumpy industrial port. Annapolis, while being a
> larger port and the capital of MD, shares a lot in
> common. Someone who lived there in the 60s among
> all the shitty crab boats and ferries would not
> recognize the starbucks sipping north face wearing
> crowd you see when you go today.


I was forbidden to go to (pre "Old Town") Alexandria in the 60's. Sort of like how parents might tell their kids to stay out of SE DC today. Well, not THAT bad, but bad.

We would sneak down there anyway. Who could pass up seeing the Doors at the roller rink?

It was definitely industrial. There was a commercial bakery down near the river that exploded (who knew that flour is explosive under the right conditions?). Huge ass fire that destroyed a large area.

-

idontlikebeingrightaboutshitlikethisbutiam



Edited 21 time(s). Last edit at 5/31/1967 05:57AM by WingNut.

Last edit at 11/30/2015 01:37PM Last edit at 5/14/2015 03:52PM Last edit at 1/28/2014 05:57AM Last edit at 11/29/2015 01:10PM Last edit at 3/14/2011 11:52PM Last edit at 7/20/2012 04:07AM
Last edit at 6/29/2013 11:18PM Last edit at 3/19/2011 01:02PM Last edit at 3/26/2012 09:07PM



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2015 09:39PM by WingNut.

Old Dominion Boat Club is gone, Aex. city stole it, sad.

The boat club is just moving a few blocks further south to a new building on the river, but yes, the city stole it.

Janaye Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This was Tom Weston's restaurant, for many, many
> years after being the Annandale grill back in the
> 40's 50'...(to the left of Toms). Tom moved his
> place down next to Giant at the Annanadle store,
> becasue the people would stand in line for hours
> to eat at his place.... Tom sadly passed away from
> cancer at a very young age back in the 80's.


Did you know Whitey and Vinnie from Weston's by chance? They both worked there back in the day before opening their own place in Kings Park...

GeezerDude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> H B Lantzsch CRecent 3-6700.. His building is
> still at The Circle.. The Phone number is still
> for Volkswagen.. Fairfax Volkswagen

Same guy was behind HBL Porsche-Audi, also big in its day.

Original Springfielder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What cracks me up the most about this picture are
> the white gloves!

White gloves were standard for women's dress-up wear back then. The hats are lovely as well. Women were expected to cover their hair in church back then, and of course, everyone went to church, so every self-respecting woman both had and wore hats and white gloves for dress-up occasions.

blanche Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Original Springfielder Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Lee Highway, 1963. Anyone know where?
>
>
> The VW is heading up the hill into Cherrydale from
> the Spout Run area where 66 crosses Lee Highway in
> Arlington is my guess.
>
> See the W&OD engine on the tracks?

That would suggest that it is the crossing behind the Lyon Village shopping center, but the angle is wrong. At that location the right side of the bridge should have appeared closer to an observer on Lee Highway from either side of the bridge. The W&OD tracks remained on the north side of Lee Highway the rest of the way into Rosslyn, so there was no crossing further in, The next crossing out would have been at East Falls Church, but I am fairly sure that was at grade, just as the crossing at Leesburgh Pike was.

formalwear Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Man, look at everyone in suits in that picture.
> "Honey, I'm putting my suit on to go to the drug
> store. I'll be back in ten minutes!"

Hmmm. I guess you missed the 40's and 50's. These gentlemen would already have had their suits on before they ever left the house. It was entirely common -- more like expected -- that the "man of the house" would be in a jacket and tie at virtually all hours. Clothes appropriate to things like yardwork, automobile maintenance, or swimming would have been acceptable while actually engaged in such activities, but one was not to be seen -- even by family members -- without proper dress at other times. There was an image to uphold, after all.

Keep in mind that in those days, wqearing blue jeans (aka dungarees) was the cause of many a young boy being denied entrance to a public school with the principal placing a call to the student's mother to come get him and return hom once he was properly dressed. Things began changing in the 60's, but there was still a long and divisive battle between the suit-wearers and the jeans-wearers that was fortunately won in the end by the long-haired, dope-smoking hippies.

WingNut Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @ OldTowner-
>
> I can't remember at all when the phrase Old Town
> came to. I remember some crappy falling down piers
> on the waterfront, a kinda beatdown looking strip
> on Duke, the old Potomac Yards, and the area in
> central Alex near Henry and Queen and Fayette St
> being real hood in the day. This was in the 70's.
> I lived 3 o4 miles the other way, but it had a
> much different look and feel. IF I rode my bike
> down that far as a kid, you'd kind of be watching
> your back.
>

It really is surprising how few pictures of the authentic Old Town are out there. At least I can't find many. But then I guess there weren't a lot of people taking pictures of those areas either.

I grew up in Del Ray in the 60s-70s. If the yups could see what the place looked like back then they'd run. lol Not a nice area at all.

The projects down by the Rt 1 split and toward the tracks probably were the worst. Some of that still there but not like it was. Also on the other side of town off of S. Payne around where the animal shelter is. Most of the business strip along King was a dump. A couple of pawn shops, appliance stores, old furniture stores, drug store, a bunch of vacant places. Not much there.

All of the houses headed into town along Duke and north and south of there were complete dumps. Pink and green paint. Clotheslines out of broken windows. Shingled siding. Tarps on the roof. Poor brothers hanging on the steps drinking. Junkies fallen out in the alleys. It wasn't Detroit but that's kind of the atmosphere.

About the only nice area back then in "Old Town" itself was a few streets to both sides of King near the water and South of there a little ways. Around where the cobblestoned street is. Even a lot of those hadn't been renovated and weren't in that great of shape.

Like you said, wish I could find some good pics from the time but haven't seen much.

Another shot of Kamp Washington penguin feather and Mr. Donut early 80s.
Attachments:

Springfield mall or Tysons??
Attachments:

Vienna love.
Attachments:

Herman's at Tysons was a large store outside the mall wasn't it?

Alex Andria Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WingNut Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > @ OldTowner-
> >
> > I can't remember at all when the phrase Old
> Town
> > came to. I remember some crappy falling down
> piers
> > on the waterfront, a kinda beatdown looking
> strip
> > on Duke, the old Potomac Yards, and the area in
> > central Alex near Henry and Queen and Fayette
> St
> > being real hood in the day. This was in the
> 70's.
> > I lived 3 o4 miles the other way, but it had a
> > much different look and feel. IF I rode my bike
> > down that far as a kid, you'd kind of be
> watching
> > your back.
> >
>
> It really is surprising how few pictures of the
> authentic Old Town are out there. At least I
> can't find many. But then I guess there weren't a
> lot of people taking pictures of those areas
> either.
>
> I grew up in Del Ray in the 60s-70s. If the yups
> could see what the place looked like back then
> they'd run. lol Not a nice area at all.
>
> The projects down by the Rt 1 split and toward the
> tracks probably were the worst. Some of that
> still there but not like it was. Also on the
> other side of town off of S. Payne around where
> the animal shelter is. Most of the business strip
> along King was a dump. A couple of pawn shops,
> appliance stores, old furniture stores, drug
> store, a bunch of vacant places. Not much there.
>
> All of the houses headed into town along Duke and
> north and south of there were complete dumps.
> Pink and green paint. Clotheslines out of broken
> windows. Shingled siding. Tarps on the roof.
> Poor brothers hanging on the steps drinking.
> Junkies fallen out in the alleys. It wasn't
> Detroit but that's kind of the atmosphere.
>
> About the only nice area back then in "Old Town"
> itself was a few streets to both sides of King
> near the water and South of there a little ways.
> Around where the cobblestoned street is. Even a
> lot of those hadn't been renovated and weren't in
> that great of shape.
>
> Like you said, wish I could find some good pics
> from the time but haven't seen much.

Great imagery. I guess back when every picture cost money to develop, people weren't as willing to waste them on pictures of shit. I've lived in or around the area since 2006, and the transformation since even then is pretty amazing. I currently live in one of those high rises between King and Eisenhower, which used to be an EPA superfund site due to railyard contamination right up into the 90s.

If anyone is truly interested, you can load up the google earth program (not maps.google.com, but the actual program) and use the historic sliders to look at old aerial imagery of the DC area going back to the 60s in NoVa and 40s in DC.

You can watch as the beltway is built, 66 is carved out, the springfield interchange go through various incarnations. You can see the old potomac railyard (50+ tracks wide) and the spur railyard on duke where my condo currently is.

The pictures get sort of shitty the further back you go, but still cool and overlayed with modern maps so you can get a sense of where you are.

This forum would be way better if there were more threads like this and less political trolling.

Can anyone tell me where this picture was taken and about what year? Thanks.
Attachments:

33 and a third Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can anyone tell me where this picture was taken
> and about what year? Thanks.
I'm pretty sure that's Kamp Washington in Fairfax City -the cars in the foreground are heading west on 29-211. We moved to Fairfax in 1959 and Dad would get his oil changed at that Exxon station which I believe was an Esso back then. About a 1/4 behind that Super Giant was Old Virginia City. When it rained heavily Kamp Washington intersection would flood with several feet of water. Based on the cars in that photo it's about 1970-71. One building at Kamp Washington which has not changed in all these years is Weber Tire about 1 block behind the photographer. I got a million memories of Fairfax!

think you're correct about the pic being of Kamp Washington but Virginia City was located where Costco in Fairfax now stands. Loved going there as a kid. Pretty sure outdoor movies (what the heck did we call em?) were right behind Virginia City. Anyone else remember the other ones in NoVa? Merrifield, Mt Vernon, ?. Would love to see old pictures with the movies.

I believe the term you're looking for is Drive in Movies.

I believe the term you're looking for is Drive in Movies.

lbss82 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Vienna love.

The original Vienna Anita's is now the eclectic and multiple award-winning Maple Avenue Restaurant run by Tim Ma, though he's usually to be found at Water and Wall in Ballston these days. Maple Ave is a destination restaurant if you've not been there. Skip it if you think Fuddrucker's is upscale.

@ geezer
@ cowboy
@ Jc

Thanks! I see it now. Great stuff!

Former Resident Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Herman's at Tysons was a large store outside the
> mall wasn't it?

Where Petco is now?

Red Barn, supposed to be somewhere in Falls Church but I have no memory of this one. I remember the red barn on the main drag in Fairfax and I think there was one down on route 1 somewhere. Anybody remember where this was? Is the building still there?
Attachments:

Farrell's and chess king. Pic from Marshall high school 1977 yearbook. I am guessing that is the old Tyson's Corner center?
Attachments:

lbss82 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Red Barn, supposed to be somewhere in Falls Church
> but I have no memory of this one. I remember the
> red barn on the main drag in Fairfax and I think
> there was one down on route 1 somewhere. Anybody
> remember where this was? Is the building still
> there?


Not sure about this one, perhaps on Broad Street and long gone? They just knocked down the former Red Barn on Annandale Road, near Arlington Blvd, that had been a dry cleaners for a long time.

This is a picture of the Red Barn in Fairfax City.....the old Potomac Bank building is on the left...this pic would have been taken from the car wash across the street.......I am old

lbss82 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Red Barn, supposed to be somewhere in Falls Church
> but I have no memory of this one. I remember the
> red barn on the main drag in Fairfax and I think
> there was one down on route 1 somewhere. Anybody
> remember where this was? Is the building still
> there?

If this is the one in Falls Church (I am stumped by the building to the left, as I cannot remember it), it is on Annandale Road, just south of Rt. 50/Arlington Blvd, on the east side of the road. The Red Barn building is still there, and house either a Kabob place or a dry cleaners.

Again, if this is the Red Barn on Annandale Road, the Corvette is heading the the direction of Rt.50.

Barnbuster.net has a shot of the Annandale road location but I could not copy it to post here. It does look like the red barn pic above^^^.

Looking at the barnbuster site was nice. It has not been updated in years but has lots of Red Barn trivia. I had no idea that there were so many red barns nationwide.

http://www.barnbuster.net/barnsgonebye7.html

lbss82 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Red Barn, supposed to be somewhere in Falls Church
> but I have no memory of this one. I remember the
> red barn on the main drag in Fairfax and I think
> there was one down on route 1 somewhere. Anybody
> remember where this was? Is the building still
> there?


This is the building in the photo. It is in Fairfax City. http://goo.gl/maps/2k5kN

Times Have Changed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Former Resident Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Herman's at Tysons was a large store outside
> the
> > mall wasn't it?
>
> Where Petco is now?

Yes. The building was originally a Safeway. The architecture style was common for Safeway back then. The Safeway on Old Dominion Drive has the same features

Great thread - I did not visit each page of this thread - I grew up in Fairfax County in the Annandale area - one of my fondest memories was going to the

Three Chefs restaurant on a Friday or Sat night after the school week was out

I can still remember the taste of their mashed potatoes and gravy!

As far as area Red Barns...check out page 3 in this great thread...myself and FB Thief posted some pics....Sleepy out!

Some Sat AM Springfield love....
Attachments:

TANFARM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is a picture of the Red Barn in Fairfax
> City.....the old Potomac Bank building is on the
> left...this pic would have been taken from the car
> wash across the street.......I am old


TANFARM is right
Here it is on Google maps today
Look at the buildings behind and to the left of it.
Attachments:

Great pics Sleepy!

In case someone doesn't know, the Skylark was converted into the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge in Springfield in 1958. The A-frame office was then built.

The mention of Route 350 got me curious. Shirley Highway originally opened as Route 350 before the Interstate system was designated.

Sleepy Holla Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some Sat AM Springfield love....


Great stuff Sleepy! As most of you know the Skylark motel was purchased by Howard Johnson's at some point and the Managers building was demolished then replaced by the standard Hojo gate lodge. I lived there for about two weeks when my Dad had sold our house and we were waiting for our new house to be completed. This was 1969 and it was a Hojo at that time.


From highwayhost.org a Howard Johnson's tribute site,


Springfield, Virginia



-- Shilrey Hwy @ Franconia Rd (6310 Augusta Dr.)




Having begun existence as the Skylark Motel, the property was converted into a Howard Johnson's complex in 1958. It is believed to have been the second Virginia Motor Lodge--perhaps hanging its HJ shingle just prior to the purpose-built Hollins Motor Lodge. At the dawn of the Motor Lodge concept, the Company permitted a limited number of conversions, and even later a few were added to the fold in New York state and in New England. However as a rule Howard Johnson's were purpose-built following standardized plans to further cement HoJo's identity into the mind's of the public.

Of the conversions, Springfield was unique in that an A-frame Gate Lodge was added to the pre-existing motel. Moreover it was among the first Gate Lodges to have been built!

http://www.highwayhost.org/Virginia/Springfield/springfield1.html

Original Springfielder Wrote:
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> The mention of Route 350 got me curious. Shirley
> Highway originally opened as Route 350 before the
> Interstate system was designated.

Shirley Highway predated the Interstate highway system, and was later incorporated in it. At one time the W&OD crossed Shirley Highway at grade, and it wasn't unheard of for people on their morning commute to have to stop for the train.

Original Springfielder Wrote:
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> Great pics Sleepy!
>
> In case someone doesn't know, the Skylark was
> converted into the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge in
> Springfield in 1958. The A-frame office was then
> built.
>
> The mention of Route 350 got me curious. Shirley
> Highway originally opened as Route 350 before the
> Interstate system was designated.


We are on the same page Original Springifielder. Remember sometime around 1980 give or take a few years the motel was renamed the Friendship inn and lasted a few years before it was torn down.

One here for folks who grew up in LA.

(Lower Alexandria)
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lbss82 Wrote:
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> One here for folks who grew up in LA.
>
> (Lower Alexandria)

Google Maps shows 7926 Ft. Hunt Rd being on the SW corner of Ft Hunt Rd and Shenandoah Rd. There is currently a gas station, Hollin Hall Automotive, on the NW corner of that intersection that sports a sign stating "50 years of continuous service". I drive by there everyday but am not sure if that current building looks like the one in the older photo. Wondering if it is the same place or were there gas stations on both corners back then?

Did a street view and the building currently on the NW corner looks just like the one in the older photo. Didn't think to check that until after I posted.

lbss82 Wrote:
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> Original Springfielder Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Great pics Sleepy!
> >
> > In case someone doesn't know, the Skylark was
> > converted into the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge
> in
> > Springfield in 1958. The A-frame office was
> then
> > built.
> >
> > The mention of Route 350 got me curious.
> Shirley
> > Highway originally opened as Route 350 before
> the
> > Interstate system was designated.
>
>
> We are on the same page Original Springifielder.
> Remember sometime around 1980 give or take a few
> years the motel was renamed the Friendship inn and
> lasted a few years before it was torn down.


Thanks lbss82. I had completely forgotten about the Friendship Inn! Never did have a good memory.

Anyone remember having to climb these stairs to have lunch at National Airport?
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One of the good things about flying in the old days was that you didn't have to wait around. It was more like taking Metro on the weekend. Get dropped off, and you'd be rolling across the taxiway in 20 minutes. The Dining Room would pretty much have been for people waiting on arriving passengers whose flights had been delayed.

Remember this on WDCA 20?
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Ehat? They just had one Munster? One Li'l Rascal? And why was the apostrophe in front of the R? Kind of weird.

I am remembering something I have not seen posted - anyone remember a bank with a large circular mosaic tile of a Cardinal, I think maybe with a dogwood branch? This was on the floor, not wall art. Original Springfielder, help me out - I am sure this was in Springfield, before the days of drive thru banking. My family moved from Springfield when I was 6 so my memories are not only old (I am 52 ) but young as well if that makes sense. I also remember Lake Accotink being drained and my Father walking us on the lake bed. I am sure that must have been dam repair but it sure was exciting to a kid, we saw purses in the mud and I wanted to grab them but my Father would not let me, said they were dirty and not ours to take. All I thought was MONEY!

Linda Wrote:
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> I am remembering something I have not seen posted
> - anyone remember a bank with a large circular
> mosaic tile of a Cardinal, I think maybe with a
> dogwood branch? This was on the floor, not wall
> art. Original Springfielder, help me out - I am
> sure this was in Springfield, before the days of
> drive thru banking. My family moved from
> Springfield when I was 6 so my memories are not
> only old (I am 52 ) but young as well if that
> makes sense. I also remember Lake Accotink being
> drained and my Father walking us on the lake bed.
> I am sure that must have been dam repair but it
> sure was exciting to a kid, we saw purses in the
> mud and I wanted to grab them but my Father would
> not let me, said they were dirty and not ours to
> take. All I thought was MONEY!


I think that might be this bank. I do not remember the name as it changed often but I remember that bird.
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Bank of America now, Lynch sign? Founding father of Springfield. Lynch family owned Pinecrest golf course,burke lake area was to be like dulles,his land deal switched lorton from park land to residential. When he died he left his estate to GMU. He left millions to many who worked for him over the years. anybody know what the LYNCH Store sold?

Cool pis! Neat to see them

Posting porn from a work IP in Fairfax.. now that's ballsy.

OldTowner Wrote:
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> Posting porn from a work IP in Fairfax.. now
> that's ballsy.


That's your tax dollars at work my friend!!!

Thanks for removing the porn from this great thread.

.......
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edit by Cary: Offensive unrelated imagery removed. Posted by alpmspsrvz2ts212-dmz.mycingular.net



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2014 02:26AM by Cary.

I believe it is on Annandale Rd, off Rt 50 - its now a dry cleaners

Lorton area
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This is from Prince William county but just over the line.
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when did storybook land close? when did they tear down the remains?

gottaquestion Wrote:
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> when did storybook land close? when did they tear
> down the remains?


closed late 70s as I recall. It was never torn down, parts of it are still there or they were there as of 2009.

http://wikimapia.org/9229542/Story-Book-Land-historical

Sleepy thinks it's time for some Sunday eye-candy....Hot Shoppes and Peoples Drug Store menu love...really like the shot of the HS Jr...Seven Corners I believe.
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Sleepy Holla Wrote:
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> Sleepy thinks it's time for some Sunday
> eye-candy....Hot Shoppes and Peoples Drug Store
> menu love...really like the shot of the HS
> Jr...Seven Corners I believe.


Yeah, that is good stuff. When I was a kid we would ride our bikes to Peoples drug on a hot day and just sit in the A/C and drink a icy coke. The waitresses were reluctant to wait on us kids. I'm quite sure we were annoying as hell.

As I recall the Hot Shoppes Jr. stores were changed into Roy Rogers in the 70s. This one is supposed to be at Glebe rd and Route 50. I think some of the Gino's stores were turned into Roy's as well.
Thanks for the memories Sleepy!
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What I remember most about Storybook Land was the Crooked House.

There was a crooked man, who walked a crooked mile... And they all lived together in a little crooked house!

Priceless actually being able see a nursery rhyme come to life!

The place opened in 1959 and closed for good in 1981.

StoryBook Land is all gone now, they are building apartments on the land now -part of the Potomac Town Center. Sure with the county would do something with the eyesore across the street (route 1) with Dominion towing and an auto junk yard.

Worked here in the 60's Man on the right is Gilbert Hollowell

kamel Wrote:
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> Lorton area

Kamel Kourt-pic

Opposite from Pohick Church? Would that put it in the currently empty corner at the top of Telegraph and Rt 1?

Kamel-
never mind. I answered my own question
Pohick church on the bottom- and must be Kamel on the top of the intersection

Southern Fried Chicken-mmmm.
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random old Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Linda Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I am remembering something I have not seen
> posted
> > - anyone remember a bank with a large circular
> > mosaic tile of a Cardinal, I think maybe with a
> > dogwood branch? This was on the floor, not wall
> > art. Original Springfielder, help me out - I
> am
> > sure this was in Springfield, before the days
> of
> > drive thru banking. My family moved from
> > Springfield when I was 6 so my memories are not
> > only old (I am 52 ) but young as well if that
> > makes sense. I also remember Lake Accotink
> being
> > drained and my Father walking us on the lake
> bed.
> > I am sure that must have been dam repair but it
> > sure was exciting to a kid, we saw purses in
> the
> > mud and I wanted to grab them but my Father
> would
> > not let me, said they were dirty and not ours
> to
> > take. All I thought was MONEY!
>
>
> I think that might be this bank. I do not remember
> the name as it changed often but I remember that
> bird.

Is this the intersection of Backlick & Bland or possibly Backlick & Commerce? This photo reminds me of July 4, 1976 when me and a friend decided we were going downtown for the Bicentennial fireworks.

The bus line at the time (maybe still AB&W?) was offering free rides into DC. We were waiting for the bus somewhere along the strip there in this photo. My friend had some Swiss army knife type gadget and, while waiting for the bus, he removed the access plate on a metal pole. Might have been the traffic light pole.....We're standing there looking inside this pole and a cop stops to see WTH was going on. He chewed our asses out, told us to replace the cover, and took off.

The bus trip into DC was a breeze. When the fireworks were over there were people swarming the buses and we never did find the bus heading back to Springfield. Had to call my parents to come get our sorry asses.....LOL.

Remember Falls Church cops when they had to drive Volvos?
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From FHS yearbook circa 1975.
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This one was before my time I guess.
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Bump

I believe that the Esso Clinic went on to become Kasun Olds, then Farrish. The bones of this old structure were still evident ubtil their recent and huge improvements.

Lake Barcroft Dam Break.

My father was the dam operator at the time the dam broke. Me and my mother were in GA visiting family when we got the call that he was OK. We drove all night and the rest of the day to get home. The real story of the dam break; The dam had 40 gates that was manually opened or closed (My dads job). 10 of the gates were chained up to be fixed, or have maintenance done on them. The kicker was they didn't leave my father a key for the locked gates, so in the thick of the storm, he was only able to open the working 30 gates. It wasn't enough of course, and as you can see in the last pick, the right side of the dam was badly damaged. The land where it ties into the dam was washed away. It was a miracle that it didn't wash out 236/Columbia Pike, which runs right in front of the dam. After that, all the gates were replaced with a fully automatic system.

I remember helping my dad remove trees and boats near the dam with nothing more then a "come a long" cable tool. I was totally fascinated by the site. It was really cool to see the bottom of the lake. It was such a mess. There was a big investigation, and my father was exonerated of any wrong doing. As soon as the dam was repaired, and the lake restored (took about two years), my father was "relieved of duty" as the dam operator.

Anyone have pics of a drained Lake Barcroft?

Did someone call on the Sleepy phone....Lake Barcroft after Agnes and the Dam failure...
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It looks like 1960s to me.
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