Sunday, July 28, 2013

The Blank Family 7-25-2013

Marjorie Blank was born in 1932. She lived in a stone house that her father built on Maple Avenue, now converted into a jewelry store. It was a "small country town" at the time. There were only a few stores in Vienna proper (including the Vienna Inn, formerly Feezers, and Doc Bradfield's pharmacy.) She remembers riding the W&OD train to her grandparents' farm at Clarks Crossing.
Marjorie attended Strayer University where she learned how to type. This led to a clerk job at the Pentagon. Marjorie's husband, Richard Blank, was a Navy sailor. They met at a dance in Washington, D.C. and were married in 1953. They moved to Vienna soon after. Richard eventually became a Town employee, working as the Town printer as well as in Public Works. They had four children; their only daughter, Jan Clarke, also joined the interview, offering a multi-generational view on Vienna.
Jan also remembers how "sleepy" Vienna was. As teenagers, though, she and her friends made their own fun--chatting at Pizza Fair, swimming in Lake Audubon, and of course shopping at the newly-opened Tyson's Corner Mall. She relates how different daily life was back then compared to now.
The family also shares fond memories of town activities, including the Fire Department Carnival and Vienna's 75th Anniversary in 1965.



Marjorie's Childhood


Vienna During Marjorie's Childhood--Sanitary, Doc Bradford's (Bradfield's), Faulkner's


Learning to Type and Working at the Pentagon


Daily Life in "The Sleepy Little Town"


The Bookmobile


The Fire Department Carnival


Telephone Party Lines


Jan's Childhood in Vienna


Current and Former Vienna Businesses and Restaurants


Vienna's 75th Anniversary and the Bicentennial

Tyson's Corner Mall

Vienna Development: The Beltway, Route 66, Yeonas Building Company


 Feelings About Vienna



Interviewers Caroline Gardiner and Virginia Harness

Friday, July 26, 2013

Paul Lyons 7-18-2013

Paul Lyons was born and raised in Washington, DC. He came to Vienna in 1957 with his wife, Bernadette, and their children, and the family moved into a Yeonas house. Paul worked as a film editor in DC, and was also very involved in the local government. He served as the town's first public information officer, was on the council for 9 years, and ran for mayor in 1976. His work in the film industry allowed him to meet several presidents, and in 1984 he traveled the country from coast to coast following the Olympic Torch with a film crew.


Growing up in Washington DC, Moving to Vienna


Vienna in the 1960s, Why Vienna isn't a City


Vienna's First Public Information Officer


First Council Run, Jim Martinelli's Write-in Campaign, 'Hip-Boot Martinelli'


Memories of Town Council, Boy Scout & his Petition, Toad in the Commode


Town of Vienna - 75th Anniversary in 1965


1976 U.S. Bicentennial Celebrations in Vienna


Film Librarian to Film Editor
Filming in Vienna, Funny Filming Stories

Stories from Filming Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK's Funeral, and Lyndon Johnson's Inauguration

1984 Olympic Torch Film Coverage

Community in Vienna

Interviewers: Virginia Harness and Caroline Gardiner

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

James & Gloria Carter, Ted & Lorraine Thomas, Jean Minor, Ronald Honesty, Daniel Bunaugh 7-16-2013

This interview brought together James & Gloria Carter, Ronald Honesty, Jean Minor, Ted & Lorraine Thomas, and Daniel Bunaugh. The group discussed a wide array of subjects, including attending Louise Archer (formerly known as the Vienna Colored School), their early memories of home and family, starting their careers, the community of their churches, and their experiences of segregation. 


1940s Vienna Colored School (Gloria Carter, James Carter)


Memories of Mrs. Louise Archer (Gloria Carter)

Carter Farm & Arrival of the Carter Family in Vienna (James Carter)

Shopping at Hecht's in DC, Valedictorian, Donating Property to Louise Archer, Jobs
 (Lorraine Thomas, Ted Thomas)

Salsbury Spring Water Supply (Gloria Carter, James Carter, Ted Thomas, Ronald Honesty)


Faulkner's, Businesses in Vienna in the 1940s, Segregation 
(Gloria Carter, James Carter, Jean Minor, Ronald Honesty, Ted Thomas)


African American Community in Vienna (James Carter, Ted Thomas, Ronald Honesty)


Accepting Segregation (James Carter, Ted Thomas)


Middle and High School in DC to Avoid Busing to Manassas (Gloria Carter, Jean Minor)



Meeting Spouses (Jean Minor, Gloria Carter)


Segregation in Hospitals & Maternity Wards (Jean Minor, James Carter, Gloria Carter)


Law Enforcement Career: Metropolitan Police, U.S. Marshall, and School Security (Ted Thomas)


Luther Jackson, Integration in Vienna (Ronald Honesty, Jean Minor, Daniel Bunaugh), 
Integration in DC (Ted Thomas)


 First Baptist Church & New Union Church (Ronald Honesty, Gloria Carter)

Baptismal Site for First Baptist Church (Ted Thomas, James Carter, Gloria Carter)

Interviewers: Virginia Harness, Caroline Gardiner, and Sarah Jane Brady

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Florence Roseborough 6-17-2013

Florence Roseborough was born in Colorado City, Texas. Her father worked as a cotton broker, which supported the small family during the Depression but meant they moved frequently all around the western United States. Florence attended Southern Methodist University, where she worked as a secretary. She then was employed by the Magnolia Petroleum Company, during which time she met her husband William Daniel Roseborough Jr.

William Daniel, a Navy engineer, was eventually stationed in Washington, DC. The family bought two houses for the price of one in Vienna, and spent many years renovating the larger. During her time in the Town, Florence became the president of the Ayr Hill Garden Club, and was very active in Town planning and zoning issues. Both her and her husband often attended Town Council meetings. She recounts the enormous change Vienna has undergone over the years, which admittedly left her feeling "shocked."

Early Life, Mother's Book Club, Father's Occupation as a Cotton Broker

Life During the Depression, Buying her First House at age 20, Tuition and Monthly Pay Rates

Old Vienna Businesses--Pharmacies, Safeway Grocery Store, Worthington's

Old Vienna Restaurants--Rolling Road and Freddy's

Vienna's First Halloween Parade

Momma and Poppa Duck

The Fight Against the Yeonas Company's Neon Sign

The Pig Story: The Roseboroughs' First Experience at a Vienna Town Council Meeting

The Ayr Hill Garden Club

            
Better Homes and Gardens Magazine's More Beautiful America Contest

Tyson's Corner's Rural Beginnings

Change in Vienna

Interview conducted by Caroline Gardiner, Virginia Harness, and Nancy Moats

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Frank Lancaster 6-28-2013

Frank Lancaster came to the Washington DC area in 1947, and secured a job as a librarian and documents expert for the Central Intelligence Agency right out of high school. Frank and his family moved to Vienna in the late 1950s, to ease Frank's commute to the new CIA headquarters in Langley. Frank helped with the beginning of the Pig-Tail/Pony-Tail softball league, volunteered at the local library, played Santa Claus and gave tours at the Freeman Store. In these twelve clips, Frank recounts some of his favorite memories of life in Vienna.

Starting at the CIA, Moving to Vienna

Vienna in the 1960s & Meeting Maud Robinson

Work as a CIA Librarian

CIA Carpool & Tysons Corner

Railroad Re-Enactment & Commemorative Coin

Halloween in Vienna

Pig-Tail/Pony-Tail Softball League

Rolling Road & Vienna Inn

Library Memories: Little Library, Bookmobile, Grand Opening of Patrick Henry Library

Library Memories: Store Front Library Volunteer

Historic Vienna Docent at the Freeman Store

Playing Santa Claus at the Freeman Store

Interview conducted by: Michael Cheselka, Caroline Gardiner, and Virginia Harness

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Maud Robinson 6-20-2013

Maud Robinson has long been a part of the town of Vienna. Her childhood was spent in Connecticut, where her father ran his own athletic gear business. She married Charles "Charlie" Robinson while both were young. Charlie persuaded her to attend the University of Virginia's law school--something Maud was not keen on--while he worked on his Masters degree. They then moved to the "dusty little town" of Vienna around 1950, which was, at the time, extremely rural. Both Maud and Charlie became very involved in the Town Council, fighting zoning battle after zoning battle. Charlie was elected Town Mayor in 1976.

According to Maud, three things drove Vienna's growth: the building of the first storefront library, the creation of the Vienna Community Center, and the increasing responsiveness of the town's government.  Maud credits the engagement of Vienna's citizens as the driving force behind why Vienna is what it is today.


First Memories of Vienna

Vienna Diner and Orange Sherbet Story


Maple Avenue Trees


Charlie Becoming Mayor


The Developer versus Charlie Robinson Story


Personal Memoirs of the Vienna Town Council


    The Fight for Vienna's First Library


The Fight for the Vienna Community Center


Patrick Henry Library: "The Last Big Battle"


Vienna Creates an Architectural Review Board


Forming Vienna's Historic District and Walk on the Hill


Integration at Louise Archer Elementary School


First Baptist Church's Historic Baptismal Site Story



Interview conducted by: Caroline Gardiner and Virginia Harness

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Shirley Martin 6-17-2013

Shirley Martin was born in a little house on Maple Avenue in 1925. She grew up in Vienna, where she lived with her mother, older sister, aunt & uncle, and two cousins. Shirley recollects how her mother kept her business going in the midst of the Great Depression, and typical activities in 1930s Vienna from riding the auto-railer to free movies in town hall. She explains her brief college experience, working at Cherry Smash, and how she met her husband. She talks about the mood in the town during World War II and some of the activities to help the war effort. Shirley also discusses segregation and integration, and how the town has changed as it has grown. 

Gladys S. Waggoner Ice and Fuel Co. & Riding the Ice Truck
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The Grumpy Watchman, Eating Marshmallow Cream, Model-T on Maple & Town Hall Movies
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Corner of Maple & Center, Doc Bradfield's, Feesers, Sanitary Grocery Co.
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Fire Department Summer Carnival, Dancing to the Vienna Syncopators
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Auto-Railer, Electric Line and W&OD Train
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World War II, Watchtower, Writing Letters
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Madison State Teacher's College, Cherry Smash, Marrying Wesley Martin
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Working as a Telephone Operator
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Segregation & Integration
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Halloween Parade and Wesley's 'House on Fire' Float
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Vienna Woods, Growth in Vienna
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Interview conducted by: Caroline Gardiner, Virginia Harness, and Anne Stuntz

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Barbara Chaudet 6-12-2013

Barbara Chaudet was born in Washington, D.C. in 1932. After growing up and attending college in that area, she moved with her husband Norman "Norm" Chaudet to Herndon, Virginia in the early 1954. Then, in 1960, Norm got a job as James Madison High School's first athletic director prompting a move into Vienna. Although she recounts many memories of the small businesses in town, Barbara still considered Vienna to be absolute "country". 

Norm eventually became involved in directing Madison's theater plays. In 1971, together with his former students, he and Barbara created the Vienna Theater Company, based out of the Vienna Community Center. While he directed, Barbara helped produce. She also was the director of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church's preschool. Barbara also shares memories of integration, town celebrations, and the change she has witnessed in Vienna. 


How Vienna First Was

W&OD Train

Old Businesses in Town, including a story on the Easter colored ducklings sold at the Peter Pan store

Old Restaurants and Businesses--Rexall, People's Drug, Conrad's--and Virginia Alcohol Law

Vienna Inn Memories

Norm Chaudet and James Madison High School Theater

Starting the Vienna Theater Company and Funny Memories of the Cast/Crew

Vienna as "Country"

Favorite Memories of Vienna including May Day at Vienna Elementary

"Hometown Story"


Interview conducted by: Caroline Gardiner, Virginia Harness, and David Shelby

Jane Seeman 6-11-2013

Born and raised in Hays, Kansas, Jane Seeman arrived in Vienna in the late 1960s. In these 10 clips, Jane discusses what it was like to come to the DC area from the Midwest, and adjusting to life in a small Virginia town. She describes what the town was like in the 1970s. Jane also explains how she became involved in the town government and the experience of being mayor since 2000. She chronicles Vienna’s growth, including the building of Route 66 and the Metro, the development of Tysons Corner, and the changes in local businesses and homes. 



Vienna's Racial Divide in 1960s/1970s
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Vienna's Rural Surroundings
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Treasure Hunting on the W&OD Tracks
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Viva Vienna & Festivals
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Shopping in Vienna & Tysons Corner
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Metro Arrives, Concern about Crime
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Mayor & Citizen of the Year
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Meeting Iraqi Women & the Mayor of Vienna, Austria; Halloween Parade
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Why Vienna Changed
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Interview conducted by: Caroline Gardiner and Virginia Harness