lived on gaylord drive in Suitland and roseld court in Oxon Hills Maryland... Oxon hill Class of 72. Enjoyed it all and sure enjoyed the folks I went to school with at Shugart Jr. high... hope I can make contact with some . Living in Florida now... still miss Maryland but love the warm weather.

I would like to hear back from Chuck Fraley about soliciting non-drama written text histories and/or biographies about school and the first job I had as a teenager. Gregory Libby

So many memories I don't know where to begin only that they are all cherished

I grew up in Marlow Overlook apartments on Dallas Drive. I went to Sandymount starting in 3rd or 4th grade. Then followed on to Benjamin Stoddert and Potomac High. My first job was at the cleaners over by Country Kitchen. I still think to this day Demorelands ice cream has the BEST ice cream cake ever. I remember watching them thru the window, rolling out cake, then slathering on the ice cream, and rolling it up. The cake they use today does not compare. I remember registering to vote at Iverson Mall as soon as I turned 18, and I have not missed an election yet 🙂 Some of you may remember my brothers, Butch (was 1 year behind me) and Craig (was 4 years behind me). Very sadly, they have both passed on. Butch disappeared back in 1976 and Craig passed more recently in 2012. Living in Florida currently, Tampa Bay area, have been here for quite some time, after traveling with the Air Force. I still visit Annapolis and Reston, Va on an annual basis, and keep in touch with Terri Lund (Lagozzino) and Pamela Volm (Tucker).

I have a pet peeve that I see often written about in this guestbook - people who have moved away that say how the neighborhood went to hell. I know I'm not the only old timer that still lives in the neighborhood. Our family chose to stay, as have many original neighbors and relatives. Sure there is crime, but it isn't as bad as someone recently stated 'they wouldn't visit even with an armed escort'. Who knows, now with Metro the older inner suburbs might be making a comeback just like old DC. Anyway, this isn't the 1950's anymore but Hillcrest Heights is still a decent place in the sections with well built single family homes, and you can't beat the cost of living and easy commute. Don't be afraid to visit your old stomping grounds. The area isn't as bad as the media makes it out to be.

My mother is selling her house at 2112 Iverson Street. Some of you may be familiar with the house. My dad, Dr. James Brown, practiced family medicine there from the early 1970s until the 1990s. Before that, Dr. Leroy Hoeck practiced as a pediatrician. Dr. Hoeck was one of the co-discoverers of retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition that can cause blindness in premature babies. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052703412.html I feel a little sad about Mom selling the house. Here is the link to the listing for those of you who have memories of the house. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2112-Iverson-St-Temple-Hills-MD-20748/37455954_zpid/

Wow I thought I was the only one who remembered this stuff. Family moved away in 1975 to Columbia, MD (class of 1980 Oakland Mills HS). I found this page because Classmates.com sent me an invite to a dance not sure I can make that but viewing this site sure brings back memories. Regards, Kevin P. Inscoe

I lived at 6207 Akron St from 1954 til 1965. Have recently tried to find some of the old crowd but unsuccessfully. Anyone remember me?

Lost track of this website and now I'm back!!!

I REMEMBER GOING TO THE RED BARN AFTER THE 1ST TIME I GOT STONED. I HAD THE MUNCHIES AND ATE 2 BIG BURGERS. THEY WERE AWESOME ! GOOD TIMES.

Great to see the site!

I didn't live in Marlow Heights, was frequent visitor,had many friends there I visited after school &weekends.among my best memories was Hot shoppes cafeteria. My mother &i would have breakfast or lunch there some Sundays after church.we did most of our food shopping at Giant Food. Visits to Toys r us at holidays &birthdays always fun.Woolworths,Iversonmall mall,Kmart on Branch avenue.anyone remember Arby's?? On Branch avenue . Montgomery Ward at Iversonmall we used a lot. To buy school clothes,kitchen appliances,our stereos &television sets were ought there.my girlfriends in high school we'd go to Mc Donald's or Red Barn for cheap dates.Marlow theater too,though we didn't watch much of the movie!!im still in area in Southeast DC,though iam soon moving to Southern Md,job transfer &im getting married & want bigger,nicer home near the water in Charles or St.Marys county.I still visit Marlow Heights I live close by in SE DC &many of my teenage handouts &stores we shopped at my mother &i they're still there open.fond memories

lived on Boones lane walking distance opposite from the mall. 1968-1977

I was telling a coworker about Grits in the 60's and he had never heard of a Grit. We Googled "What is a Grit in 1960" and this site popped up. I knew all the places an it took me back in time. My mother sill lives in Suitland in the house we moved into in May of 1963. Thanks for a laugh and a memory. Jimmy

I remember the thrill of having a movie theatre we could walk to and not have to beg parents for rides. The first movie at Marlow was "The Thrill of it All" with Doris Day and James Gardner. We were blessed to live in a time that was still kid friendly. We could walk home and be safe all thru the area. My Mom would get us season passes to the pool at the Howard Johnson Motel on Branch Avenue and we would walk home when the pool closed at 10pm down Oxon Run and up 23rd Pkwy where we lived at the bottom of Dunlap St. Would not do that today without an armed guard.

The Highs Team (1960 to 1982) Oxon Run Drive Hillcrest Heights, Md. A good part of growing up in Hillcrest Heights, especially if you lived down near the Oxon Run Golf Course, involved frequenting the High’s Delicatessen on Oxon Run Drive. I found myself spending many a hot sweltering afternoon making the one block trip to High's to get a lime popsicle for a nickel, or a tall bottle of RC Cola for 20 cents (it was Randy Campbell that turned me on to RC Cola and whose father drove the local Hostess delivery truck route), and of course, a five scoop ice cream cone for a quarter. That was a lot of money back in the 60’s, not to mention ice cream. And where did I and others hang out on a hot summer day where we’d gulp down our ice cold soda? The two sewer tunnels which ran under Afton Street and 23rd Parkway, of course! Store layout was simple: there was a long two-sided shelf running down midway with an opening to cross over to the other side in the middle. Between these two-sided display shelf’s was a side display of their cheap Tak-A-Toys with the opposing side of the other display counter that faced the toy section containing light bulbs, electric tape and cheap hardware. On the back shelves (facing away from the register) were cleaning supplies and canned goods, peanut butter, jelly, and pet food. The sides facing the register counter contained canned, boxed, and jar foods such a peanut butter and jelly, mustard, ketchup, jarred pickles, and mayo. On the side (facing the register) were potato chips, Fritos, and other snack foods like Hostess Twinkies (10 cents) and bread with the further rear shelf that faced the register containing stuff like instant potatoes, cake mixes, and other boxed instant foods. Next to the register and running to the rear wall where dairy goods were displayed was a frozen food open bin which contained frozen veggies, canned biscuits, frozen pizza TV dinners, amongst other frozen food products. If I remember correctly, the diary section was wood with clear glass doors displaying High’s many milks, creams, and canned whipped cream. At first, they sold milk in those horrible half-gallon and gallon containers with the steel handles that hurt like a bitch to carry home when I was sent on a milk errand. Later, they would switched to the new plastic handles and eventually to the plastic-coated lined paper cartons for the half gallon and smaller containers. I remember once being sent on a milk run and carrying back two one-gallon bottles. The wire handles hurt so bad to hold that I stupidly swung both glass bottles over my shoulders to relieve the pain and instantly had two gallons of milk running down my back. Just inside the door and against the wall was a penny weight machine that gave your fortune. On the wall behind the register were a candy shelf and rack for cigarettes and a black three coin pay phone on the wall above the record rack and near the entrance to behind the counter. Yes, Highs even sold record albums; like Broadway production of Superman, which I took a gamble on buying for a dollar and which I was deeply disappointed in when I played it. On the end of the counter was a self serving plastic container of pretzel sticks and a green metal and glass peanut dispenser where you got a hand full of salted peanuts for a nickel. And, of course, there were the friendly High's employees; well, almost all were friendly. Here is what I believe is a complete list of them from 1960 till they closed in the early 80’s: Mary – About 40 and less than five feet tall, she had black medium-length hair and who I swear couldn’t speak a single sentence without cursing (she built up my vocabulary). Contrary to rumor, she really wasn’t a nasty person at all, unless someone gave her a hard time. I cannot recall a time that I ever saw her smile. Also, she smoked, but never saw her smoke while behind the counter. I think that back then, employees stood outside the rear door to take a puff (something unheard of in today’s Hillcrest Heights). And for someone for here size, she performed all her work and checked out customers quite quickly and pleasantly. The last I saw of Mary was in the 70’s when she still worked there and was old and grey. She had a daughter who attended Green Valley Elm and occasionally her husband would come to pick her up after work. The lived in the Oxon Run Apartments on Southern Avenue (back when it was a safe place to live, play, or walk down to the shopping center without a worry in the world). From what I remember, he always wore a neck bandage or maybe a brace so I’m inclined to believe he may have had cancer or an injury. Helen – about 40 with short grey hair and about 5 feet tall, was the quiet one. Pleasant to talk with and who had a great sense of humor. I believe she was actually the manager. She eventually was transferred to the Penn Branch High’s where I last saw her before the mid 80’s. Big Jim (or perhaps Bill) – Was a gentle giant topping 6 feet in height and weighing over 300 pounds. He was nice and always liked chatting with customers, especially when the customers made queries about his large green sedan parked out front with “The Green Monster” painted on its front fender. He relocated to the Safeway on Iverson Street in the 70’s where he became the stores assistant manager. Gabby – Was Filipino. He was in his late 20’s and lived with a family who lived across from our house on Afton Street and whose family was attached to the Philippine Embassy in downtown DC. The Oxon Run Shell, first run by Bill Spencer and proceeded to be managed by Mel Henderson until his death, then by Mel’s wife, Susan, had this Shall Gasoline “Match the Halves” contest where every time you purchased gas you were given half a piece of play money. Match the halves and with the cash value. Well, it didn’t take me long to discover some of the Shell employees were taking wads of the bills and stashing them in the men’s room behind the toilet where they would come after work and get together to match them with the other bills some of the employees stole and hid. They must have really been pissed to discover them missing! I told Gabby about the discovery and he and I would frequent the men’s room for out secret booty of which we’d sit in his tan Dodge Dart and see if we had any winners (matches). Gabby left when our neighbors, The Aducayens, moved to another country; I believe it was Mexico City; he was somehow related to them. I really missed them when they moved. I’d stare out at the now empty house and tear up as I recalled the many parties and mischievous adventures they took me on in Bobby’s white mustang; like the thrill of flying down the new mile long Wheeler Roar that led to Southern Avenue and which had a very steep dip with no houses or traffic on it and feeling the sensation of hitting the dip at over 100 mph. Bobby had DPL tags so we were immune to being pulled over. Michael – Interesting person. He was in his late 20’s thin, had black hair and wore eyeliner, eye shadow, liner, and mascara. Even though my father could barely make him out (my father was near totally blind) he said that he could tell by the way [he] spoke that he was a ferry (that was the word back then) that he could tell from his voice. Anyway, Michael didn’t last very long at Highs and was gone around the early 70’s after showing up one day at work one day dressed in full drag. Reds – Thin, tall, and sporting red hair and freckles, Reds was the comedic one of the lot. He was good for bad jokes and puns; like The IBTC (Itty bitty titty committee). While I can’t recall any off hand, he had this thing about representing sexual activities in his stories by associating them with geometric equations. John – Was another quiet one. Of average height and sprouting short black hair, he resembled Dennis Mitchell’s father from the Dennis the Mennis comic strip, even down to the pipe. There wasn’t anything distinguishing about him, he just worked there and casually performed his duties. I guess he lived on Southern Avenue since I’d occasionally see him walking down 23rd parkway from the golf course club house and walk back there after work. Occasionally I’d see him walking along Oxon Run Drive but never learned where he was going. I never saw him drive to work. In the late 70’s, the Oxon Run Shopping Center was in its final throes of life when, on one Saturday night, armed robbers, unaware that other robbers were robbing the other store, actually backed out of both High's and the Oxon Run Liquor Store, panicked, fired a gun, and got in their cars and sped off. Yes, it actually happened! In the early 80’s, code enforcement condemned the entire shopping center, it became ghost town for a few years until a religious couple converted it into a tele-advangelist church which still is in operation to this day. High's is still in operation in and around Baltimore.

My grandfather was Frank Scuderi and he developed the Marlow Heights Shopping Center. The green building in the shopping center that was used by Santa Claus during the holiday season was moved into our back yard the rest of the year. Great place to grow up.

I also liked the cast parties after the school plays!

This is a great idea. I think about Marlow Heights and remember how big it seemed to me being a young person. Thanks for putting this together.

We grew up in Camp Springs and I remember going almost everyday to the store at the intersection of Temple Hills Rd and Hagan Rd ( I believe it is a Laundromat now )to buy licorice and "chum gum" (3 sticks for a penny), Upper 10 & Dr Pepper in a bottle. Roy Rogers and Toys R Us (I was a manager there), Steak in a Sack, Pep Boys, Hecht Company, Jr. Hot Shoppes, Quonset Hut, Murrays Steaks, Guys N Dolls Pool Hall in Suitland, Marlow Theatre, Amoco Gas Station on the corner of Rte 5 & St. Barnabus, Ourisman Chevrolet, Kellys Drive In, Hillcrest Heights Shopping Center ( My Dad owned the TV and Bicycle repair shop. Meyers Liquor Store on Temple Hills Rd (I played little league baseball with Teddy & Ronnie Meyers)

remembering the fila store and baskin robbins

My Uncle Tommy Hessler passed away last week from Cancer. As many of you knew him, I wanted to let you know that he will be laid to rest on Monday, March 31st at Resurrection Cemetary in Clinton, Maryland at 2:oo p.m. My mom Regina (Tommy's sister) is his only living relative and I am asking that if you should have any fond memories of Tommy - could you please share them so I may pass them along to my mom. Thank you so very much.

Just wanted to start by saying rest in peace to my dearest and best friend Sharon Church and my brother Kevin. God bless them. We had such a great time living in Gateway Sq. The parties on the "dirt road", the Topic House, hanging at the pool all summer, going to the Red Barn, memories, memories! Going to Fort Washington and hanging out w/friends or camping out at the quarries in West Va were some of the best times! Also the awesome concerts, the Who at Cap Center, Uriah Heep, Blue Oyster Cult, the Moody Blues at Baltimore Civic Ctr. And many more great groups. Those were the days! Well aft 25 yrs I finally found my besty from Gateway, Sharon Church, unfortunately I also found out she had lung cancer. I also aft 30 yrs finally found a very dear friend Bobby Baker. There are so many ppl that I havent seen or heard from in yrs! Mike Ray, Jim and Joe Huckstep, Jean and Brenda Perry, Kathy Godbee, Sharon Hogan, I could go on and on. I'm glad this site was created for MEMORIES! Live on RED TAG GANG!

Hi, I was searching for Dean Scuderi...I worked with him and for his Dad back around 1978-79... Every time I hear the song "Radar Love" by Golden Earing, I think of Dean...since I turned him on to the song. He was driving a beautiful Covette at the time...an orange color...what ever happened to Dean? Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Howard

Came back to read up on new posts and walk down memory lane. I went to La Reine High School, Grad. 1966. Three brothers, and three sisters. Sharon, Mary, Madelyn, Francis (Dit) Timothy, Michael Reidy. This is just a small update, and I pray all from the "Old Stomping Ground" are doing well. I thank God Almighty that I grew up in this neighborhood, we were truly blessed. God's grace to all, Sheila

I lived on 28th Parkway for first grade and moved to Oxen Hill for second. My brother was tragically run over by a car while we lived at 28th Parkway but is alive and well today. Lots of memories of playing Batman with my neighbors, whose father was an FBI agent. Remember playing with my boomerang in the median of the parkway.

I noticed someone made reference to Silver Hill Elementary and the three of the teachers. My teachers were, Mrs. Fitzwater - Kindergarten (75-76); Mrs. Pinkney - First grade (76-77; and Mrs. Elder in third grade (78-79). My apologies, but I cannot remember my second grade teacher. The only two names I can vividly remember are Troy Spencer and Antoine Page...both were classmates of mine.

Born in Washington, DC, but raised in PG County. Was a die hard Block, Redneck, etc. and only hung out with people like me. I remember me and my friends going to Marlow Heights Carnivals all the time for years. We met a lot of guys at Marlow Theater (old and new). We used to troll the Iverson Mall, Red Barn, Hot Shops, etc.. Hung out some in Suitland and the McDonalds and the Carnival's that used to come to the old Census Bureau. I did most of my running around in Capitol Heights and was in a gang called the Kings Thieves (Lol). I was really a good girl that used to get in a lot of trouble. I did all the same stuff that most rebellious teenagers did. When I was in the Kings Thieves we used to hang out a lot on T Street. Anybody that knows T Street knows that it was nothing but trouble. When I went to Bradbury Heights Elem., I had Mr. Cash in 5th grade and Mr. Palaneious (spelling?) in the 6th. Remember he ALWAYS picked his nose with his ink pens...gross! I also remember we had 1 black kid in my 6th grade class, can't remember his name, but we called him black boy and he was our friend and I liked him. We didn't know better back then. Such an uncool thing to do. After that, I ended up in Francis Scott Key and literally fought my way through and into Suitland Senior High. Seems there was a rumor that preceded me that told random girls I was looking for them (you know to fight). OMG...what we wouldn't do back then just to be considered cool. Like I said, I was a good girl that got in a lot of trouble, but now I know all the wonderful memories I made and would love to relive those days. If only....

My parents remain in the area and I love the old memories there because it's much different now.

(lived on Lyon St. walking distant to the Marlow Heights Mall my old house is painted yellow now, it was green when I lived there it was green. Also walked to the Safeway and sometimes to the A&P in the Hillcrest. Moved to Apartments just around the corner of my old house when my Daddy got real sick. Living on Lyon St in Marlow Heights was a Happy Time. Use to play with Maria and David Lopes, Billy Hayes Paul Charlie Blume and woul chat with his brother Alan when he was outside, their was Patrick and Timmy O'Neal around the corner. Remember this older girl Judy Gohiends (Spelling?)would tease the heck out of me. And one Linda.I think wanted us to undress our Barbies and GI Joe's and play Nudist Camp with them. allot of Childhood memorys.

Great time to grow up. Would love to get in touch with old friends

While looking for some old photos of where I grew up, I stumbled onto your web site, I bought my first Chuck Taylors at Iverson Mall. I actually lived over in Oxen Hill before moving to Suitland so, I recall going to Marlow Heights as a little kid as well. The area was really nice then, though there were some rough areas-parts of Suitland, Coral Hills and Bradbury Heights by the time I left were sometimes rowdy places. Oh well, things change-my grandfather told me Suitland back before World War 2 was nice peaceful farm land, so it has been undergoing change for past 100 years. Nice site. Oh, no one believes me when I tell them about the sub culture that sprang up in some of that area-The Grits. I was friend's with some of them.

Great Site! At the ripe old age of 62, I was sitting at my computer eating a few Hershey Kisses when I had a flashback of my Dad driving his used 1956 Buick (probably around 1958 or 1959....but dates are a bit fuzzy) and handing me huge chunks of milk chocolate. Of course there was no such thing a seat belt then and parents had no clue about the effects of too much chocolate. I remember that there was a candy counter in a store near Hillcrest Heights (Long before Iverson Mall), maybe Hechts, that was the source of the unbelievably delicious chocolate. This caused me to remember that the shopping center was Marlow Heights, which inspired me to Google it, and I came across your site. Do you remember venturing to Coral Hills to the ONLY MacDonalds within a Gazillion miles and spending the exorbitant amount of $.45 for the best burger, fries, and chocolate shake on the planet? Cholesterol was non-existent in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Do you remember the Mighty Mo and Eddie Leonards in District Heights? Ralph Bucca Real Estate in District Heights (I graduated from Suitland High with his twin sons Paul and Steve)? I remember that rough Pool Hall near the DC line that had a fight break out about every 6 minutes...maybe Guys & Dolls? I remember that DC used to serve alcohol (beer & wine) to very young people.... maybe 18 year olds or less. I remember Malfunction Junction down below Clinton MD on Rte 5, where we lost a dear friend and neighbor in a horrific traffic accident. I remember when smoking didn't cause cancer (I never did smoke), professional baseball players played baseball because they loved the game, cursing would warrant a mouthful of soap, and women were an enigma (this will never change). While on this nostalgic trip through time, remember when even American Indians loved having a team like the Redskins. People weren't worried about political correctness. Even though people always had their own agendas, they weren't Right In Your Face with it. TV shows didn't cater the the extreme left. Gays, Lesbians, Angry Black People, Skinhead Nazis, Shock TV, Reality Shows, and every Whacko Political Group that nobody cares about, were the rare exception rathter than the rule. I really miss the "good old days" and wish that some of the values that we cherished could be experienced by people growing up now. When I was growing up, we amused ourselves by participating in sports, or exploring nature, or by hitting a rock with a stick! We didn't have play stations, and cell phone capable of starting a nuclear holocost, and the internet. As a kid, I was forced to go to Church, but am none the worse for the experience. I seem to be rambling, so I will say so long for now. Thank you for your Fantastic site and thank you for giving me the opportunity to think back on some great times. Regards, Keith

Such great memories!! It was a great place to grow up so much to do and safe enough to walk everywhere!

went to Holy Family then St. Johns lived on Jameson St. North of the Iverson Mall about 8 blocks - walked to elementary school and drove to high school had a government job in 1986/87 and then moved to CA live in Los Angeles and get back twice a year.

I lived on the corner of St.Clair Dr.and Kenton Place. Our neighbors were the Sukontarac family. There were five of them and six in our family.

My father had died when I was in 3rd grade and we finally moved when I was in 9th grade to be near grandparents. I have been a nurse for 35 years and just published my first book "I Believe In Believing". I have wonderful memories of growing up in Hillcrest Heights. Wonderful schools, churches, parks and people....fun memories!