Mary Riley Styles: Exploring the New Digital Archives of Falls Church History

By Christopher Jones

How could we not take a deep dive down Mary Riley Styles Public Library's new Digital Archives of Falls Church History?

In our last F.C. Bulletin, we reported that MRSPL's new digital records trove provides, "online access to a wide range of local history materials," and features, "photographs, obituaries and death notices, Civil War letters, oral history recordings, City Council minutes, City budgets, local newsletters, and other significant historical documents."  

So we plunged right in to see what kind of vintage publications we could explore and enjoy.

Back to 1948

Soon something from early January, 1948 caught our eye. Back then, The Fairfax Standard weekly newspaper covered the Township of Falls Church as it was still within Fairfax County, Va., and not yet an independent city – though it would become so later in the year.

So we had a look at the Standard's first two issues of the new year, 1948, from Friday, Jan. 2, and Friday, Jan. 9, 1948.

Unpaved Roads, Dust, and Mud

Frustrated with constant construction in Falls Church City today? Well....

In their Jan. 2, 1948, p. 4 lead editorial "Unfinished Business," the Standard expressed dismay that much of "the Leesburg Pike" running through the Town of Falls Church had yet to be paved.

"One of the most unsightly items of unfinished business that 1947 is leaving for the new year is the Leesburg Pike paving fiasco," the Standard opined. "For more than a year, work has been 'progressing' on this project involving slightly more than one mile of paving through the Town of Falls Church. Thousands of people have bumped slowly through dust and mud for many months in the reasonable expectation that the inconvenience was a temporary necessity. The encouraging signboard which says 'This Construction is for Your Future Convenience and Safety' has been there so long that it is getting weatherbeaten and illegible…. Asphalt paving is currently in progress in many places in the Washington area. It can be done in Falls Church if the Highway Dept. will recognize its duty to the gas-tax paying traffic on the Leesburg Pike." 

Polio Everywhere

With the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt just two years earlier, polio was much on people's minds. FDR had contracted infantile paralysis at age 39, yet had been elected president four consecutive times, despite perambulating in a wheelchair. On Jan. 9, the Standard reported "Polio Hit 80,000 in Last Five Years."

"Infantile paralysis in the United States in the past five years has increased 150 percent over the previous five-year period, according to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis which disclose[d] that some 80,000 people were stricken by polio from January 1943 through December 1947," the Standard said. "During the past seven years, the National Foundation points out, the number of children and young people crippled by the disease has increased almost 45 percent." 

A polio vaccine would not be discovered (by Jonas Salk) until nine years later.

Lower Prices Just after the Second World War

At 7 cents per copy, the Jan. 2, 1948 edition of the Standard – running around 3-6 text-rich pages – reported a "100 percent increase in sales" since the previous January 3, 1947.

A quick glance at the Classified section reveals a price of only $250 on an automobile listed under: "Chevrolet, 1935, 4-Door, heater: passed Va. inspection."

Wish you could escape inflation and go back in time to cheaper prices – like a 35 cent chicken dinner? Then, check out these prices from Jan. 9, 1948 in the Standard!

Some Falls Church Concerns Similar to Today's

Traffic violators seemingly incensed many Falls Church residents in 1948 at least as much as they do now. On the Jan. 2 front page, the Standard reported that angry citizens pressured the Town Council to protect kids' safety from out-of-control vehicles.

"A drive to report to police the license number of every car exceeding the speed limit in residential areas of Falls Church got underway Monday night at the meeting of the Town Council," the Standard said. "Mayor Jenner Hazelgrove, the Town Council and Town Manager Roy Dunn gave whole-hearted support to a plan advanced by Walter L. Mess, 1301 Seaton Lane, chairman of the Safety Committee of the Southwest Falls Church Citizens Association."

"Dunn has promised that motorists reported will be warned in writing of the alleged offense and that subsequent offenses, clocked by stop-watch or speedometer, will result in fines," the story continued. "Mess presented a platform for safety drawn up by citizens of the Southwest Association, who, he said, are at the “end of their patience and fighting mad” about speeding in residential areas where children are playing…."

"The recent injuries to six children, Mess reported, spurred the association in its determination to halt speeding in Falls Church...."

The following Friday, Jan. 9, the Standard then ran front-page reporting showing that the Falls Church Police were taking Mr. Mess's messy message extremely seriously. "F.C. Police Report 10 Traffic Arrests," the headline blares. "Charge Speeding, Reckless Driving."

Upon closer inspection, however, it appears that the term "arrest" in 1948, simply referred to being pulled over and issued a ticket. But still....

So much Sled-Riding...

In that same police blotter, the Standard reported that multiple Falls Church streets – Poplar Drive, from Robinson Place to Timber Lane, West Greenway Downs; Buxton Road, from Villa Ridge Road to Forest Drive, and Highland Avenue, [North] – had been "blocked off for sled riding" according to the town manager.

"The American Automobile Association had urged provision for out-of-doors play by children of school age 'so that their lives will not be endangered by motor traffic on streets and highways.,'" the Standard said. "‘Automobile traffic to and thru cities is growing steadily,' the Association reported, 'yet the average age of the car on the roads today is nine years. All of this means that it is not always possible for the driver to stop as quickly as is needed.'”

Post-War Residential Boom

In 1948, suburban residential growth was taking off as a result of so many returning World War II veterans' ability to secure college educations under the GI Bill – hence larger work salaries – as well as cheaper FHA mortgage home-financing for [White] veterans.

As a major developing suburban area near the nation's capital, Falls Church was not immune to such a boom.

On Jan. 9, the Standard reported on p. 1, that a brand new development, Tyler Gardens – today known as the Winter Hill neighborhood – was slated to open in April, 1948.

The "First units of Tyler Gardens, 481-unit apartment project of the Tyler Corporation, Falls Church, are expected to open in April, Carl Hink, vice-president, has announced," per the Standard. "The project is under construction on West Broad Street (Leesburg "Pike") just west of the stop light. The masonry buildings will have one, two and three-bedroom apartments."

Concerns Over Growth

Similar to today as well, local population growth and rapid housing development ushered in concerns just after the Second World War. On Jan. 2, the Standard reported that "Population Rise Brought Utility Problems in ’47"

"Fairfax County and town governments and public utilities strove with little success in 1947 to cope with increasingly complex problems resulting from unprecedented residential building," the Standard said. "Approximately 4,000 building permits issued during the year indicated a population increase in the County of more than 15,000, bringing the total County population to nearly 100,000."

"Completion of many individual homes and small projects plus the huge King’s Kitchen, John N. Campbell, Tyler Gardens and Westcott apartment developments would add even heavier burdens to the school, road and sanitary systems…."

Introducing: The Dial Telephone

In that same Jan. 9 article, the Standard reported, "The C. & P. Telephone Company made Falls Church happy late in the year with installation of a dial system. Throughout the County, however, individuals and citizens’ groups sought abandonment of 'intervene charges' between the County and Washington and the County and Alexandria."

Lots of Hunting

In 1948, hunting with packs of dogs seemed a major concern, much more than today in City of Falls Church.

A regular column "Open Road and River," by Larry Westcott, begins on Jan. 3, "At last, the big-game season has ended in Virginia, with all gunning for both bear and deer in all counties coming to a close on January 5. It will be interesting to get the data on the final count on deer. Some states have already made this count, and as soon as all nearby states have their information this column will publish the statistics. Small game, which includes quail, rabbits, grouse, turkeys, ring-necked, Mongolian or Chinese pheasants, will remain in season east of the Blue Ridge until January 20, with the exception of Culpeper, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock and Stafford."

But then later in the column, this wild provocation ensues from Westcott toward Caroline County, Virginia!

"Deer hunting in Caroline County is not open to anyone that likes this sport as much as we do," Westcott says confidently. "The many countless thousands of woodland and second growth acres of ground are usually posted against trespass and hunting. So that in order to hunt it is necessary to secure permission. In view of the fact that this is just about unattainable, the devotees of this sport must usually be a member or guest to participate."

And the deer hunters Westcott describes love to use packs of dogs to flush out their quarry, just as in fox hunting. "Hunting in this county is always with dogs used to chase the deer. But don't think for a moment that because of this it is only necessary to sit on a stump and wait a few minutes for the pack of hounds to chase the deer right up to the gunner. Several drivers usually take the pack of dogs, ranging from five to ten or more, to a starting point with standers or watchers a mile or two away on all sides of the area to be hunted."

Sometimes the hunting dogs would tire, however. "....The other day the hounds ran a fox for three hours before it was killed to end the chase. Consequently, after this long run the hounds were pretty well exhausted when a large buck jumped out in front of them," Westcott concludes.

Where to Access Information? The Corner Grocery.

Also in that same Jan. 9 article, the Standard reported, "The Washington, Virginia, and Maryland Coach Co. (Arnold Lines) was.... under fire by the Federation of Citizens Associations. Inadequate bus service east and west in the County was a problem discussed in many corner groceries.”

Funny Headlines

Seeing the front-page blurb headline "Postmaster Improves," we were sure the text would inform us about some sort of data-based study on the improvement of mail delivery in the County.

But no – it's literally about the Postmaster feeling better.

"B. Frank May, Lemon Road, Falls Church postmaster, is recovering from a severe bronchitis. He is able to be at his desk several hours each day."

Not only can you reach the Postmaster, propped up at his desk, but he'll certainly "B. Frank" with you! 

We were also taken aback by the headline "Skull Heads for China."

What sort of gruesome gift is this?

Well.... it's actually about a Mr. Skull who's – believe it or not – en route to China.

"David Scull, Annandale, is on his way to China where he will participate in a State Dept. Administrative Survey," the Jan. 3 front page blurb reads. "He left last Friday and expects to return March 20. Other countries he will visit are the Philippines and Siam. Mr. Scull is employed as a management analyst by the State Department’s Division of Foreign Service Planning."

The following year, 1949, China will successfully test its atomic bomb.

Hopefully, Mr. Skull had nothing to do with that....

Women's Civic Engagement

Continuing their historic civic activism from the Great Depression and the Second World War, women in the Falls Church area were reported by the Standard to be taking charge of numerous fundraising and resource drives for all manner of community causes. (See above reference to the Federation of Citizens Associations who hang out at corner groceries.)

However, women's names were barely mentioned beyond the traditional story lines believed prevalently in the 1940's to be "of interest to women."

Reflecting language differences of the time, the Standard reported on Jan. 2 that "County Red Cross And Women’s Clubs Help Make Christmas Gay at Fort Belvoir."

"The Fairfax County Chapter House of the American Red Cross was a beehive of activity for days before Christmas, assembling and delivering Christmas decorations and holiday goodies, wrapping and marking gifts for the Fort Belvoir Hospital, and other military and veteran hospitals in the nearby area," the Standard said.

Yet more women's decorating activities were reported in "Mrs. Vasant Wins Decoration Contest," on Jan. 3, 1948. "During the holidays the Vienna Garden Club held a contest for the most attractively decorated doorway in the town. Winner was Mrs. Corwin Vasant, with honorable mention going to Mrs. N. Hugh McDiarmed. First prize was a flowering plant."

A Safeway Manager's Hobby

But women couldn't even have horticulture to themselves, apparently.

On Jan. 3, the Standard's Eleanor K. Morrow, taking on a front-page "women's interest" piece, reported that a "Falls Church Safeway Manager Grows Poinsettias With Aid of Heat Plant and Thermostat: Built Greenhouse At Annandale Home to Grow Prize Crops."

"Poinsettias at Christmas, lilies at Easter, and fun all the year around is the greenhouse schedule maintained by Gilbert Sherfey, manager of the Safeway at Lee Highway and Hillwood Avenue," Morrow wrote. "Horticulture has been Mr. Sherfey’s hobby for years with peonies, boxwood and various other plants taking their turn in his affections." 

"But he got restless in the winter with only the seed catalogues to pore over; so seven years ago he built himself a greenhouse 14 by 20 in back of his home on the Annandale Road. At first he tried heating it with a stove but found it too uncertain for the maintenance of even temperature. A hood-up with the household heating plant took care of this difficulty. A special valve arrangement with its own thermostat keeps the greenhouse at the required temperature which varies, of course, with different plants...." 

"While he raises the plants primarily as a hobby, Mr. Sherfey does sell them all tricked out in a professional manner with bright bows and tin foil."

Overt Racial Segregation Reflected

When we first spotted the "Colored Citizen's News" on p. 2 of the Standard's Jan. 2 edition, we were prepared to read perhaps some not-too-subtly racist put-downs reflective of 1948 Fairfax, Va., still six years before the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling desegregating U.S. public schools.

However, we saw that the dedicated column was penned by none other than Ollie W. Tinner. Recognizing the Tinner name, we looked the columnist up and found out he was a co-Founder of the Colored Citizens Association of Fairfax County, Va. (CCAFC), founded in Merrifield, Va., in 1928.

According to one of its brochures, the CCAFC's mission was: "To organize the Negroes in Fairfax County, Virginia for the purpose of voting in all elections. Aims: To better Negro citizenship in Fairfax County through its stand for:

A. Fuller Use of the Ballot by all Negroes

B. Greater Improvement in Colored Schools

C. Justice in the Courts and Public Conveyances

D. Active Participation in All County and Civic Affairs

E. Promotion of a Better Feeling Between the Races

F. Boosting the County as a Desirable Place to Live

The Colored Fair Ground and 'White Only' Signs

Among the group's many accomplishments, the CCAFC listed: "Fought for and obtained the right to participate in primary elections in Fairfax County for first time in August 5, 1930;" "Staged a 'Citizens’ Day Rally' at Colored Fair Ground; Speaker, Congressman Oscar DePriest. Proceeds directed to the establishment of libraries in Negro schools;" and, "Caused the removal of 'White Only' signs in the restrooms of two local auto service stations." 

And, remarkably, Tinner was noted as serving as one of the very first Black jurors in the County, on May 24, 1935, when "the first Negroes to serve on the jury in Fairfax County were drawn from our association. These members were…. Ollie W. Tinner, Falls Church."

The CCAFC brochure was indeed, "Compiled By Ollie W. Tinner, Publicity Manager since organization in 1928."

Turns out, another one of the achievements the CCAFC listed was that they, "…. Established a new relationship with the local white press which permitted us to advertise our meetings, narrate our achievements, purposes, and problems in an uncensored manner, for the knowledge of other groups." 

So, it was not a surprise to see that the "Colored News" reported by Ollie W. Tinner reflected positively on the local African American community, though it's sadly surrounding by news from a clearly racially segregated community.

Because the pride of achievement is an inspiration and so well captured, here is the verbatim text of the Colored Citizen's News on the editorial page (p. 2) of The Fairfax Standard, Jan. 2, 1948 (with some edits for brevity):

Colored Citizen’s News

The Falls Church Boy Scout Troop No. 523 attended the Court of Honor in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 19. Scouts Idus Chester, Sherman Settle, Jr., Merton Thomas, Coleman Hudson, Jr., Jesse Dickins, Jr., received their second class rank and honor insignia from Camp Banneker where they were in attendance this summer. Gene Hudson received his first class rank and also a merit badge in swimming and a merit badge in cooking. Scout Andrew Jackson also received his Camp Banneker insignia….

Atom Research

Howard University physicists are now carry[ing] on extensive research in the study of radioactivity, a study of which is basic for the production of the Atomic bomb. A $5000 grant from Research Corporation of New York was recently received by the dept. of physics at Howard University….

Negro News Commentator

George P. Clarke, former manager of Lincoln Theatre, Washington D.C., who is at present city manager of five district theaters in Richmond, last week became the first Negro news commentator to be heard regularly over a Richmond radio network.

Bi-Racial Group Formed

According to a recent press report a bi-racial advisory council has been formed by the teachers of Norfolk…. The School administration brought to Norfolk for two days, Dr. Clyde Kohn, social studies expert of Northwestern University to guide the social studies group of the Negro elementary teachers in their setting up of a new social studies program. Dr. Kohn was in Norfolk last summer and conducted a workshop for the white teachers for the same area of study….

Negro College Fund

Frank M. Cotton, National Chairman of the United Negro College Fund Campaign announced that over a million dollars have been raised in the fourth annual campaign in fifty-seven communities to help finance the thirty-three private Negro Colleges and to improve education opportunities for young Negro men and women. Each year, more and more people become convinced that a fine contribution to the whole field of race relations is being made by the Negro Colleges and their graduates....

By Christopher Jones