Page 20 - REALLY What A time Book IX

REALLY SO WHAT
What A Time

FAIRLINGTON

across Washington to Virginia. We were the first family in our
block, and possibly the first in North Fairlington. Without
knowing it our move made all the difference to me.

st
Our address was 4644 31 Road, North Fairlington, South
Arlington, Virginia.

That was a lot to remember, even though we didn’t have zip
codes back then. Our telephone number was JAckson 7-
5471. The first two letters and the numbers were dialed on
our black rotary phone.

In Fairlington we were on the outskirts, isolated from the
Washington world. Beyond us there was only forests, not yet
opened by the massive growth that would become the great
city. Yet, change was coming and we could see it happening.
The change for us would come through the Shirley Valley; our
back yard. A four lane super-highway was planned. It would
run from Washington, past the Pentagon, the Army Navy
Country Club, the Shirlington Shopping Mall, right up
between North and South Fairlington and south through the
‘Phantom Forest’ on toward Richmond Virginia.

The ‘Phantom Forest’ was across the main road to Alexandria,
King Street. I never crossed King Street as long as we lived in
Fairlington. Only much later when older I’d drive to
Richmond for special occasions like the ‘Old Dominion Barn
Dance’ or High School Wrestling or Basketball State
Championships.

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