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Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Hambone ()
Date: March 19, 2007 10:20PM

Who remembers the old drive in? I recall seeing it as a kid in the 80's even though it was closed. I don't think they tore it down till right before they built the Multiplex Cinema.

Then there was the huge statue of the RCA Dog "Nipper" down Lee Hwy a bit. It sat on that old farm right by the Fire Station and Capt Pells Crabhouse. I loved it when my parents drove by that thing as a kid.

Then there's that weird Auto Body shop on the corner of 29 and Gallows. It's still there but it used to have all these crazy statues and antiques attached to the outside of the building.

And does anyone remember that giant crane someone used to rent just to display a humongous star with lights on it around Christmas?

Ahh the memories...

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Memories ()
Date: May 03, 2007 07:49PM

I remember those days.
Do you remember the Hack in the BOx thatuse to be there also?
Now I miss Jack in the box, I would eat there every morning.

The drive in days were sure memories. Wish there was a drive n close by but I heard the only one around was somewhere in Maryland

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: stinkypoon ()
Date: May 04, 2007 11:27AM

where was the drive-in? i remember the RCA dog, always liked that as a kid.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Robyn ()
Date: June 19, 2007 04:02AM

Yes I do remember that dog!! What a huge statue!! And Capt. Pells crabhouse...WOW that brings back old memories......I also remember the drive in before it was replaced by the movie theatres...I think the decorated crane was from the equipment rental place right next to the theatres?? Then you could drive down the road a little ways and see the football radio tower...(Im sure thats still there)

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: ya ()
Date: June 20, 2007 01:26AM

THE CRABHOUSE!!!! OH that brings back memories...everyone went there to get crabs. Everyone goes to pgens to get crabs now.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: live in chantilly ()
Date: July 11, 2007 07:29PM

Where Nipper was is now a townhouse development and one of the streets is Nipper Way. Which I think is a pretty cool way to remember local history.

And Capt. Pell's, it's still good at the new location which used to be Old Budapest Restaurant in Fairfax City.

My bus to Luther Jackson passed both of those everyday back in the late 70's, early 80's.

Memories...

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Joven ()
Date: August 13, 2008 02:41PM

There was a good little Frech restaurant at the corner of Lee Hwy&Gallows Rd.
What was its name?

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: missure ()
Date: August 22, 2008 07:54AM

la guingette

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Joven Malazo ()
Date: November 21, 2008 10:39AM

Was there a pool hall in that area?

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: strat ()
Date: April 22, 2009 10:23AM

Both the Lee Highway Multiplex and the Hybla Valley Multiplex were built on the sites of former drive-ins, if I remember correctly.

The coolest though was the Skyline drive-in, which used to be next to Washington-Virginia Executive Airport. You could look at glimpses of the movies while turning base to final on landing.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Ernie ()
Date: August 08, 2009 05:12AM

Yes, pool hall used to be called Shark Club It used to be right near Staples.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Blake ()
Date: January 14, 2011 04:59PM

I know this forum is old, but I had just typed in fairfax rca statue and this forum popped up, I remember Nipper. I was 4 years old when we moved to fairfax. That Dog was quite a sight to behold, Coming up over the hill watching the sunlight cascade off the back. I don't know why but I could have sworn there was a old steam engine or at the very least a rail car within close proximity to Nipper as well. We moved away in 89, Never saw it again. Oh well at least I have my memories!

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Bill N ()
Date: January 14, 2011 09:17PM

Blake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know this forum is old, but I had just typed in
> fairfax rca statue and this forum popped up, I
> remember Nipper. I was 4 years old when we moved
> to fairfax. That Dog was quite a sight to behold,
> Coming up over the hill watching the sunlight
> cascade off the back. I don't know why but I could
> have sworn there was a old steam engine or at the
> very least a rail car within close proximity to
> Nipper as well.

The owner had an eclectic collection of items. At one time I believe he had a calliope. IIRC the Post did a brief article on it not too long ago, one of those what ever happened to things.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: BrandonVA ()
Date: January 16, 2011 06:16PM

According to Wikipedia:

A huge, four-ton Nipper can be seen on the roof of the old RTA (former RCA distributor) building on Broadway in Albany, New York.[6] A second slightly smaller one, after spending many years on private property in Merrifield, Virginia, perched over Lee Highway (US Route 29), has now been returned to Baltimore, Maryland where it originally graced the former RCA Building on Russell Street. Nipper now sits atop the Maryland Historical Society building at Park Avenue and West Centre Street in Baltimore. Though smaller than the Albany Nipper, Baltimore's is the only one of the two to include a gramophone for Nipper to listen to. The Baltimore Nipper was saved when the Virginia site where he briefly resided was sold to developers. It is currently the location of a group of townhomes. The street leading to the development is named Nipper Way.[8]

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Vexxxed ()
Date: February 13, 2011 09:57AM

This may be a little late in the day but here goes....

1. Nipper was originally sold to Jim Wells of Fairhill Farm for one dollar by the building owner in Baltimore. From almost the day he was relocated, the city of Baltimore tried to get him back even putting pressure on Mr. Wells through zoning means in Fairfax County. Nipper was never "saved", he was returned to Baltimore through a deal made with Mr. Wells long before the property was sold.

2. Yes, there was an entire train on the property at one time. It came from an amusement park and in fact Mr. Wells used the locomotive to heat his house for a time. I believe it was donated to the US Park Service.

3. There were several calliopes on the property over the years. One of which was built into a trailer that Mr. Wells would take to various events and schools. One was in a building and was almost three stories tall.

4. The crane that held the star at Christmas time belonged to the DA Foster Construction Company. It was raised every year for over 40 years until the property yard on Gallows Road was sold. For a time the Merrifield Businesss Association tried to get a program off the ground in which all businesses of Merrifield would light a star at that time of year but it didn't take off. The crane that Foster used to hang the star is the same one they used to set the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House up until a live tree was planted there.

5. Johnson's Autobody was originally a Texaco station. Long after it was converted to a body shop the state started making noises about taking it to expand the intersection. Old man Johnson had all the decorations added when he attempted to get it listed as a historical landmark. That didn't work so well for him. In any event, the state and county have been talking about fixing that intersection since the late early 70's. Money has been appropriated time after time only to be spent elsewhere. Any work you see going on right now at that intersection has absolutely nothing to do with fixing the roadway or expanding it. The bridge over 495 is being paid for with federal funds and all the rest is from having a new water/sewer line installed. One can only assume that if the roadway ever gets fixed it will be because the state or county conned one of the mosiac district developers into paying for it up front.

6. Merrifield is more or less the unwanted step child of Fairfax County. No one in Merrifield even has a Merrifield mailing address unless they have a p.o. box at the post office. All else are Fairfax, Vienna, Falls Church or Annandale. Unless someone in the county wants to show how progressive they are and mention that Johnny Cochran (of OJ fame) graduted from Luther Jackson when it was an all black high school, they pretty much collect their taxes and ignore it the rest of the time.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: so old school ()
Date: February 27, 2011 09:46PM

I found a pic of old Nipper he is now located on the roof of the Maryland Historical Society museum
Attachments:
bnipper3.jpg

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Cathy ()
Date: January 02, 2012 08:19PM

What a great trip down memory lane! i was telling a friend about the RCA dog and wondered what had happened to old Nipper. Glad to hear he is still with us. It's great that Jim Wells gave him a home in Merrifield for so many years. Always a great site to see. Thanks for being here!

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: CDM ()
Date: April 01, 2012 10:23AM

The huge crane with the star was either from Burkholder & Craig or Skyline Cranes 2 companys that did steel erection.Both were right near the intersection of Lee Hwy And Gallows road

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Randy Wyant ()
Date: April 11, 2012 10:13AM

Just want to add one more thing. The first year we were married (1980-81) we lived in the Merrifield Apartments off the corner of Lee Hwy. & Gallows Rd. On Gallows Rd. next to the apartments was a dairy farm (at least a farm with a bunch of cows!). Those were the last cows I remember in Fairfax County. It hung around for a while, maybe into the 1990's.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: SoylentGreen ()
Date: September 30, 2012 06:59AM

CDM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The huge crane with the star was either from
> Burkholder & Craig or Skyline Cranes 2 companys
> that did steel erection.Both were right near the
> intersection of Lee Hwy And Gallows road


DA Foster Co.

Which was at the corner of Lee Highway and Gallows Road.

They are now located next to Dulles Airport and the star is in the possession of Williams Enterprises/Steel Erection.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: BrentB ()
Date: February 17, 2013 09:46AM

There was a white house there next to the apartments. I remember the people that use to live there back in the day. Other things I remember. Luviz Furniture, Best Company, Taco Bell, Al's Towing, Roy Rodgers, sir walter raleighs, The Multiplex movies great high school hang out, That old ass body shop on the corner. Still cant remember the name of it.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: waldenthreenet ()
Date: May 23, 2013 07:48AM

RE: That old ass body shop on the corner. Still cant remember the name of it.

Yea, I remember that. It was an eye shore. Glad it's gone.

Now we need quality stuff, some greenspace where people can go, poor and middle class.

All the new townhouses and condo are all for uppper middle class. Us poor can't afford to live there.

The Fairfax Public Access across from the U.S. Post Office is still there.
Anyone know the FPA-10 Public Access TV Station ?

LinkedIn New group:
Café Twin Show & Friends
REF URL:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Caf%C3%A9-Twin-Show-Friends-5018276?home=&gid=5018276&trk=anet_ug_hm
Attachments:
COOK SHOW FPA TURKISH AMERICAN  Zeynel_Uzun-Erju_Ackman_20111.jpg
Cafe Twin CONV C2C 05 Music 0120.jpg

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Debbie ()
Date: August 07, 2013 11:35PM

They have Jack in the Boxes in NC and SC & CA.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Tina S ()
Date: April 30, 2014 04:28PM

Oh those were the good ole days. I remember that like it was yesterday. I was wondering what happened to Nipper. And the Auto body. Someone was looking for a picture of the Auto Body. And Jack in the Box...lol my brother was a manager there. lol

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Avonjeanette Hill ()
Date: April 03, 2015 10:47PM

Do any of you remember Dunn, Vincent, Moss's Store the corner of Gallows Rd. and Lee Hiway? Today the Tax Place is in the spot where Mattress Discounter was. The IGA was next to or in the Tire store rangy Parker and Lewis. Charles Dunn kept a house on Gallows Rd with cows just as you pass Merrifield Garden center.On the Left hand side of the road coming from Lee HiWay on Gallows Rd was the beginning of the Black community. Where The Silver Diner is today was homes Porter Rd. was homes on both side ,The First Baptist Church Of Merrifield more houses then the Black one Room School where the Hotel is now on Porter Rd.Back on Gallows going towards Rt.50 Left side Black homes to Gatehouse Rd,Howard Rd to gatehouse Rd was more houses and the Black 2 room school.
On the right hand side of the road was White family farmers from Lee Hiway on Gallows Rd to the first entrance to Luther Jackson High School.Boyds Piano Place was the Odd fellows Hall owned by Blacks

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: TunaC ()
Date: May 17, 2015 03:19AM

Thank you for this forum. Answered a lot of questions. My future husband and I visited Mr. Wells on his property one time. In addition to the huge Nipper statue, he had a car (1950s style) that had a front end on both ends, no rear end. He said you could drive it either direction. It must have had 2 engines.

For awhile back then, the McDonalds on Gallows Road had 2 large and beautiful framed pictures inside: one of Johnson's Auto Body still fully decorated; and the other of Nipper on the Lee Highway property.

I also remember the cows on that farm on Gallows Road. We took pictures of them. There were also cows in Fairfax City then, right across Old Lee Highway from St Leo's Catholic Church. Now the Farrcroft (expensive housing development) is there. They did keep the Farr family's house and restored it.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Skip ()
Date: May 30, 2015 03:23PM

Couple of additions. The Drive In initially (60's) had a huge playground under the screen. Kids would play there in their pajamas waiting for the movies to start. Some movies I remember seeing there as a kid...Hatari, Rio Bravo and El Dorado. The side entrance road to the drive in, off of Gallows...was the location of a milk company in the 50's. The buildings were in disrepair by the early '60's. Worked at the AAA national headquarters on Gatehouse rd off of 50 from '77-'83. There is a school across the street from the intersection at Gatehouse ( Luther Jackson ) which had ball fields us employees would use for beer ball softball games and touch football. This land is long gone...and is actually a road.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Skip ()
Date: May 30, 2015 03:31PM

One final remark about the Drive In. In the late 70's early 80's...the Drive In was dying. No current movies anymore. But they did offer 3 ( maybe a year after their initial release) horror movies....for 5 dollars. They had removed the old wired speaker boxes and had radio sound delivery. We could pull up to an almost empty lot...get out chaise lounges...recline in comfort...party unmolested...while listening to the movies on a boom box or a cars radio with the doors or trunk open. Grand times!

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: John B. ()
Date: January 27, 2016 07:30AM

Saw Ghostbusters there at the drive in. Does anyone remember those mules in the yard of that small house near where the garden center was?

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Anita ()
Date: December 08, 2017 05:07AM

That restaurant was La Guinguette. My father and his best friend that immigrated here from Greece were partners in that restaurant. It was magical for me to eat there with the white table cloths, Freda the perfect hostess and waiters in tuxes.
However, I also loved eating in the kitchen with Manoli, the chef and his amazing staff. Beautiful memories.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Merrifield Hair Salon ()
Date: December 13, 2017 12:59PM

In the late seventies I got my hair cut a few times at a salon in the same shopping center as La Guinguette. Don't remember the name of the place, but remember that Lauren, Judy and Serena cut my hair. Did the one of the owners of La Guinguette also own the hair salon?

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Unit 8 ()
Date: January 07, 2018 01:36PM

does anyone remember the mules along gallows rd?

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Unit 8 ()
Date: July 01, 2018 07:12PM

Bump.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Unit 8 ()
Date: August 07, 2019 06:35AM

Yearly bump.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Unit 8 ()
Date: August 17, 2019 10:10AM

.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Unit 8 ()
Date: August 19, 2019 06:23PM

.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Unit 8 ()
Date: December 20, 2019 04:47AM

Bump.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Unit 8 ()
Date: January 10, 2020 03:55AM

Merrifield bump.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Unit 8 ()
Date: February 11, 2020 03:57AM

.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Nate W. ()
Date: August 08, 2021 11:03AM

I have lived in Northern Virginia since 1969 and remember the Nipper statue, Merrifield Drive In and Johnson's Auto Body. The drive in used to show R rated porno flicks and when about 15 my friends and I would watch them from the field at Luther Jackson School next door.

Johnson's Auto body was one strange and very interesting and unique looking place. I delivered automotive body parts for a dealership in the early 1980s and made several deliveries to Johnson's. Old man Johnson was about 70 at the time and looked kind of sickly, probably from breathing the really strong chemical fumes that were in the body shop all the time.

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: V ()
Date: May 16, 2022 10:44PM

Anyone got more pics of it?

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Re: Old School Merrifield!
Posted by: Colleen ()
Date: April 07, 2023 10:04AM

Nipper was owned by Jim Wells. He acquired it for $1 from the City of Baltimore before they demolished the RCA building. He just had to get it off the building, which he did and sat it on his property for all to see. A much beloved landmark. He also had an extensive collection of calliopes carousels and antiques of all sorts. He operated a carousel and popcorn wagons on the DC Mall for years. Quite a character. Sad that he appears to be forgotten.

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