In and Around Morningside-Skyline
By Mary McHale 301-735-3451
Memories: Morningside in the ’50s
Did you live in Morningside back in the 1950s? Did you get your hair cut at Johnson’s Barber Shop (Suitland Rd) or Eleanor’s Beauty Shop (305 Larkspur Rd)? Did you go to E.H. Webster (7 Pickett) to have your watch repaired? Buy Avon from Alvina Beardmore (221 Woodland Rd)?
Did you shop at Skyline Market (5995 Suitland Rd), Morningside Variety Shop (5993 Suitland Rd) or G.I. Market (6220 Suitland Rd)? Buy beer and wine at G.I. Liquors or drop by for cocktail hour at Skyline Restaurant (previously, Skyline Tavern) (5989 Suitland Rd)?
Did you gas up at Morningside Esso (6000 Suitland Rd) or Morningside Texaco (6221 Suitland Rd)? Did proprietor Jerry Bond sharpen your saw at the Morningside Lawn Mower Shop (6120 Suitland Rd)?
Were you a member of the I-C-E Club (6119 Suitland Rd)? Visit Helen B Hooper, Notary Public (313 Boxwood Dr)? Attend Mrs. Smith’s Morningside Co-operative Kindergarten at the Morningside Town Hall (corner of Forest and Woodland Roads)? Pray at Morningside Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Winfield?
Did you read The Morningside Press, published by Dalton V. Brunsdon? Did you tune in to W.P.G.C, 1580 on your dial, the “Morningside of Things?”
These ads ran in the Morningside Directory, January 1955.
If this column sounds familiar, you’re not wrong. I ran it several years ago and had some fun email comments. I’m trying it again.
Votes are in!
Edward Burroughs has won in a special primary election for a seat representing District 8 on the County Council, defeating Sidney Gibson, Ebony Sunala Johnson, Tony Knotts, Jerry Mathis, Marjorie Smith and Vernon Wade. I’ll tell more about this amazing guy in next week’s column. BTW, District 8 is where I live.
Town of Morningside
Morningside will hold its monthly Town Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building. For information, call 301-736-2300.
Neighbors & other good people
Former Morningsiders Anita Cook and Dean Woods are now doing DoorDash, at least part of the time. I looked it up online and learned it was founded in January 2013 and is the largest food delivery company in the United States. I suspect it will continue to thrive, even after covid-19 becomes history.
I recently had an email from former Morningsider Lance Neale who once was one of my Webelo Scouts. He writes that he and his wife Sandra moved to “beautiful Sunset Beach” in June 2019. He’s retired from the insurance business but still has business he manages from home.
Grace Pooley, a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County, is one of WSSC Water’s 2021 Commissioner’s Engineering Scholarship winners. The Anacostia River is the focus of her thesis as a PhD student in environmental engineering at Catholic University. To try for the scholarship, she wrote an essay addressing the challenges of climate change on ensuring a sustainable water supply. She was awarded $2,000, renewable annually for three more years.
Sunday Worship, Friday Bible Class at SRBC
Suitland Road Baptist Church Community Outreach invites you to their Friday Bible Classes, 10:30–11:30 a.m. They are currently studying the book of Romans. The conference number is 617-761-8377.
Sunday Worship service is at 4:30 p.m. on conference number 617-761-8377. Or call Pastor Kelvin McCune at 301-219-2296.
Changing landscape
SNOW! I’ve waited and waited and waited at least three years for it. And it finally came—beautiful and troublesome. (Ask those who spent 20 or more hours stranded on I-95 in Virginia).
It was the sad end of an era when Captain White’s picked up and floated away from the Wharf in SW Washington after half a century following a lease dispute with the Wharf’s developers. However, the iconic seafood barge has fortunately found a place to anchor in Prince George’s County near National Harbor at 6308 Livingston Road.
The County’s Deportment of the Environment—Recycling Section—is now offering residents the opportunity to participate in the curbside collection of food scraps and receive a County-issued 32-gallon wheeled organics cart, a 2-gallon kitchen countertop pail, a refrigerator magnet and informational materials. I’d like to participate but don’t have enough scraps.
A home at 6906 Pickett Drive recently sold for $325,000.
Used stamps
I have torn the stamps off envelopes for, probably, 80 years; I had stamp-collecting relatives who wanted them. Then, for a time, I sent them to Stamp Camp (I think the name was). In recent years I gave them to someone at the Knights of Columbus in Forestville; I’m not sure what he did with them.
I’m still tearing stamps off envelopes. Do you know anyone who wants them? I’ll mail them—with new stamps.
Mary’s covid-19 report: Flurona
Many are now suffering from “Flurona,” a blend of flu and coronavirus. It’s become a problem because it involves a patient fighting two infections at the same time. Some are given the flu shot along with the booster. In my case, I was told to wait two weeks after the booster before getting the flu shot.
Through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, there have been 776,230 cases of the virus in Maryland, and of that number, 10,286 (!) were the last day. As for Maryland covid-19 deaths, there have been 11,993. Of that number, 49 died the last day.
Among those who’ve recently tested positive for the virus is Cardinal Wilton Gregory, head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. He last celebrated a public Mass on Dec. 26 at Holy Family Church in Hillcrest Heights.
Milestones
Happy birthday to Eva Hugings and Charles Boxley, Jan. 8; Patty Gallatin, Jan. 11; Martin Miller, Frank Binsted and Roc Wheeler, Jan. 13; Curtis DeMarco Knowles, my son Mike McHale, Kathleen Giroux and Joanie Mangum, Jan. 14; Robert Koch, Jan. 15; Dolly Wood (VFW), Jan. 16; Nikial M. Boston, Jan. 17; Dennis Seaman and Linda Cullinan, Jan. 19; June Nicholson, Gina Glagola Hull and my sister Stella Mudd Thelen, Jan. 20.
Happy anniversary to Diane and Steve Zirkle, Jan. 9; David and Lori Williams, Jan. 9; Gary and Melody Barnes, Jan. 14; and Frank and Sharleen Kelly Cappella, their 67th on Jan. 1.
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Brandywine-Aquasco
By Audrey Johnson 301-922-5384
THE PETER A. GROSS MEMORIAL FUND, INC.
The Peter A. Gross Memorial Fund, Inc. has selected their 2021–2022 scholarship recipients. Three outstanding students will receive scholarships to support their respective college educations. The scholarship recipients are Ajanae Gross (Virginia Commonwealth University); Amaya Butler (St. Mary’s Community College) and Jordon Carter (Bowie State University).
This scholarship program enables local youth to continue their education on the collegiate level. The organization has a long-standing history of service to local communities, and these funds help support those who exhibit the same commitment.
Congratulations students for your high achievements and thanks to all who supported the Scholarship fund. There was no award ceremony this year due to COVID-19 and checks were mailed to each recipient.
ANNUAL GAME DAY SPAGHETTI DINNER
Sunday, February 6, 2022, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Annual Game Day Grab and Go Dinners Only at St. Philip’s Church, Baden Parish, 13801 Baden Westwood Road, Brandywine, Maryland 20613-8426. Basket of Cheer Raffle $5.00 each or three for $10.00. All dinners cost $5.00. Pre-orders and pre-payments only. Cash App.
Dinners will include “Mitty’s” Homemade Spaghetti, Potato Chips, Garlic Bread, Water, Fruit Cup, and a Dessert. Spaghetti dinner orders can be pre-ordered until Sunday, January 30, 2022. Points of contacts regarding this matter are Shirley Ann, 302-690-4260 or Doretha Ann 301-233-3136 and or Vivian 804-301-9530. Benefit St. Philip’s Church 301-888-1536.
LUTHER RELIVES
Let Bowie State University help you plan your Valentine’s weekend 2022. A Valentine’s Day Affair Luther Relives brings to life the Great Love Ballads of the Legendary Luther Vandross. Grab your sweetheart and get ready for a magical night that will feature a delicious 3-course dinner while watching Smooth and the band deliver a level of energy and showmanship to the stage that will have you walking away wanting more.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m. Cost is $80–$90. Location Student Center, Wiseman Ballroom, 1400 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, Maryland 20715. Contact: Keshia Aiken. E-mail: Kaciken@bowiestate.edu. Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/luther-relives.tickets-223602319557. Categories: Featured: Performance/Exhibit, Social/Entertainment.
WESTPHALIA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Westphalia United Methodist Church has a unique outreach opportunity to partner with a community organization in Prince George’s County that develops immediate solutions to assist people experiencing homelessness and other crises.
If you are interested in finding out how you can help those in need contact us by emailing Visitors@westphaliaum.org or call the church office at 301-735-9373 and leave your name and number. A Council member will return your call.
ADULT EDUCATION
The first adult education class offered in the county was a course given to chiefs of volunteer fire companies in 1932. In 1934 the Maryland Emergency Adult Education Program provided funds made available through the Federal Emergency Relief Administration to organize classes for unemployed adults to be taught by unemployed teachers. Prince George’s County offered one of the most extensive programs in the state.
In 1937 an adult education class was organized in Bladensburg High School for men seeking related trade training in woodwork and drawing. In 1938 a Sewing class in addition to the trade training class was offered at Bladensburg and classes in dressmaking, foods and nutrition, and household arts were organized in Greenbelt.
In 1939 the board adult education program as we know it today started with additional courses in typing, shorthand, bookkeeping, business English, child study, family cooking, and cabinet making. New centers for adult classes were opened at Marlboro, Oxon Hill, Laurel and Maryland Park High Schools and Berwyn and Riverdale Elementary Schools. Course offerings continued to expand, and additional centers were opened.
In July 1940, our county was one of the first in the State to start adult classes to train men and women for essential defense plants. Full-time day classes were opened at Bladensburg and Hyattsville High Schools with an enrollment of 117 in Pre-employment and 96 in supplementary training classes. The enrollment and variety of shop training rapidly increased. During the heaviest part of the training program our school shops were open for defense classes from the time day school classes were dismissed until they returned the next morning. Defense classes were also operated on Saturdays and Sundays. For three years the County Board of Education operated Defense Training Classes in the NYA shop building at then University of Maryland. Special Out-of-School youth defense classes were opened at the Beltsville CCC Camp, Fairmont Heights and Cheltenham NYA centers, Laurel, Oxon Hill, Marlboro and Mt. Rainer High Schools and special farm machinery repair classes were offered at Mitchellville and Brandywine. Information received from Public Schools of Prince George’s County 1950–1980 (Prince George’s County Retired Teachers Association).
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