Back in the 1980's Clifton was an intersection with a gas station and a church. There wasn't much to see or do here, and there weren't any houses. Compare that to today.
Clifton's gas station in the 1980's
Single-family house at Prospect Hills is in Clifton 20124
Manor with wide frontyard
Manor with many rooms
Centreville Green is in Clifton
Manor with wide frontyard
Swift Run Trials is in Clifton 20124
House with garage
House with garage
Single-family house at Cavalier Woods is in Clifton 20124
Gillespies Texaco Gas Station was located close to the intersection of Lee Highway and Main Street. Check out how this station looked back in the 1920's.
Gillespies Texaco Gas Station was located close to the intersection of Lee Highway and Main Street. 1920's
Rosslyn is an urban village in Arlington County Virgina. It's at the epicenter of the world, located just across the Potomac within eye-shot of just about every recognizable structure in Washington DC. Today Rosslyn is the location of the Rosslyn Metro, several high-rise communities, the Newseum and the Iwo Jima Memorial. But at one time it was a sleep village outside of Washington.
If you don't remember, that's okay. Most of us don't. This picture was taken in 1937.
Backyards. Rosslyn, Virginia 1937Rosslyn offers great views and beautiful landscapes in Arlington County, Virginia. The area sits in view of the Potomac River, Arlington Cemetery, and Washington, D.C. Rosslyn is also home to the United States Marine Corps War Memorial and Freedom Park.
The name Rosslyn came from a local farm behind the shore. The farm was known as Ross Lynn, owned by William and Carolyn Ross. In the 1860’s Rosslyn’s largest development was a large brewery. It was changed to the Cherry Crush Bottling Co. after prohibition. When electric trolleys were introduced the real estate business picked up.
Some of the more prominent businesses of Rosslyn include the “ABC” T.V. Affiliate, and the Art Institute of Washington. In the 1960’s Rosslyn had a development growth with the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. This brought construction of high rise office buildings, hotels, and living spaces.
The Chain Bridge is a viaduct which crosses the Potomac River at Little Falls in Washington, D.C. It carries close to 22,000 cars a day. It connects Washington with affluent sections of Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia. In 1919, Chainbridge had a roadhouse on the Virginia side.
Chain Bridge, with the roadhouse on the Virginia side - 1919
Here's what Clarendon looked like in 1949
The Clarendon neighborhood in Arlington County is urban, upscale and sophisticated. Residents here enjoy Metro access, restaurants and shops. In 1949, as evidenced by the picture above, Clarendon was a sleepy small Virginia village. Below, you'll see what Clarendon looks like today.
Ravensworth is in Annandale just outside the Capital Beltway. The area is well-known for single-family homes with big lawns and lots. The area was largely developed in the 1960's and 1970's.
Entrance to Ravensworth Park subdivision in 1960
Our vintage picture of the day is in Arlington showing Lee Highway in the 1930's. The present day location is almost unrecognizable. Most of the structures and even the rail line in his image are long gone.
Looking southbound on Lee Hwy. toward Cherrydale 1930's.
Green Spring Farm is located at 4601 Green Spring Road in Annandale VA. Back in 1940 this structure was dilapidated and ready to crumble but today the site has been fully restored.
Green Spring Farm in 2013Green Spring Farm in Annandale in 1940
