Columbia Pike Interviews

Interviews with Olive Fornaro and Matthew Healey

Olive Fornaro is an elderly, retired mother of three residing in the Brockwood neighborhood (She lives across the street from me.). She has two sons and a daughter and a number of grandchildren. Olive has been a resident of her current home since 1966.

Stephen: So Olive, when did you move into this neighborhood?

Olive: My husband, John, and I moved into this neighborhood in 1966. We came from out of state, so it was our first time living in this state and in Arlington too.

Stephen: Do you know the history of your house?

Olive: Yes. My home was built in 1939 by a Mr. Brockwood. Mr. Brockwood was a very successful business man of his time. He built all the houses around this corner of the street. He built such beautiful houses. The walls and the foundation of my house are so very strong. They are very sturdy houses. They do all look very similar to each other, but it's much easier to build multiple homes that way. One day he went bankrupt. He had to stop building houses because he could not pay to build them anymore. That's why you only see a few of them built by him. He probably would have kept building more houses if he did not go bankrupt. He is the reason why we call this neighborhood Brockwood. The neighborhood is named after him.

Stephen: What drew you to this neighborhood?

Olive: The schools and the swimming pools. I remember when my husband and I first moved to this neighborhood back in 1966. We were from out of state. I laid a map of the entire county, of all of Arlington, on the floor. We looked at where everything was: the libraries, the schools, the swimming pools, etc. We felt that this neighborhood was the place where we could access all those aspects, where everything was at. I think it was a great decision. We have a great library, Central Library, close by. We have Dominion Hills just up the road from here. And the schools are great. My son went to Kenmore Junior High back when it was a junior high school and not a middle school. He used to walk there and back. My daughter, however, went to Swanson Middle School. I remember when I used to drive her from school everyday and then pick her up from school too. Before they built I-66 one of these roads here used to run straight through to Swanson. You could just take that one road through Westover and you would be there at Swanson. Now that I-66 is here you have to drive around it, which can be a real pain at times. They both went to Washington-Lee High School though. They really enjoyed it there. That's where you're going to school, right Stephen?

Stephen: Yes.

Olive: And what grade did you say you were in again?

Stephen: 11th.

Olive: So you have one more year then?

Stephen: Yep. I'm almost done.

Olive: And then you're off to college.

Stephen: Yeah... What was the neighborhood like when you first moved here?

Olive: Well it was pretty much how it looks right now, except for those new houses they built a couple of years ago. Before those five houses were built there used to be this one little home.

Stephen: Can you tell me the story of the home that used to be there?

Olive: Sure. The house was built by a man. He and his family, the Gauld family, lived there for many, many years. Their house used to be way up that hill, almost at the top of it. And surrounding the home used to be a thick, dense forest. You could barely see the house from the road because the forest was so dense. When the parents passed away, the house was left with the daughter. She lived there for many years as well. When she died, a construction company came in and bought the house. They torn the whole place done: the house, the trees, everything. Then they built all these houses in place of the Gaulds' home. The four on Jacksonville Street came up first. They aren't as nice as the ones they built on our street, on Kensington Street. Those houses have four bedrooms, three baths, a porch, a basement I think, but they're okay. The five they built on Kensington Street are much nicer. Those have five bedrooms, four to five baths, a beautiful veranda, nice hardwood floors. You guys have four bedrooms on the top floor right?

Stephen: Yeah. Four on top, and one in the basement.

Olive: You guys have that really nice stove right?

Stephen: Yeah it's pretty nice. It's very big. I know when my mom first saw the house, she went on and on about how nice the kitchen was and in particular how nice the stove was.

Olive: I remember when they first built the house, they had to get four men to carry that stove up the stairs and into the house.

Stephen: I can only imagine. The stove is quite big.

Olive: The houses were sold pretty quick. And although they all look the same, they have some unique features. You're house has wood floors in the basement right?

Stephen: Yeah it does.

Olive: Your house is the only one that has that feature. The couple that first bought the house, the wife was going to work her business at home, so she wanted wood floors down there. And the first house to the right was the model home. Everything in that home is so nice. In the gardener's shed that you guys have underneath the outside stairwell, they have a TV so people can like workout down there or something like that. And the house to the left of it, they have higher windows in all the bedrooms upstairs for safety purposes for the children. It also allows them to put furniture underneath the windows too.

Stephen: Is there anything else you remember from when you first moved here?

Olive: Everything looks the same as it does now. All the houses on my side are all Cape Cods. Beautiful little homes they are. And all the original homes on your side are more Colonials. They're beautiful too. They have always been like that. It is weird though that all but one of the original houses on the street have garages.

Stephen: This is true. I don't recall anybody on the street besides that one home to the left with a garage. There also appears to be no sidewalks either in front of the original houses.

Olive: You're right. Interesting...

Stephen: So there hasn't been much changes to the neighborhood then?

Olive: Not really. Besides the five new houses being built and I-66 being built as well, the neighborhood hasn't changed much at all. The only thing has changed is the people in it.

Stephen: What's your opinion on such changes?

Olive: I like how the neighborhood has changed. A lot of people in the neighborhood disliked building all those new houses, but I liked them. The new houses are a nice break from all the other houses here which all look the same. The new houses also brings in new people, which is always exciting for the neighborhood. A lot of new younger couples have come into the neighborhood because of it, and it changes the dynamics of the neighborhood. You see now a lot of younger children in the neighborhood. There is so few older children in our neighborhood, but there seems to be a rising population among younger children in the neighborhood, and I like that this has happened.

Stephen: Right. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of this neighborhood?

Olive: Well the schools are great. You can't beat the schools. The library is so close and so is the swimming pool. It is great to see that everything is in such close proximity to this neighborhood. Also everyone in the neighborhood is just so nice. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I remember when the colored couple came into the neighborhood. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. We have such a friendly neighborhood.

Stephen: How do you see this neighborhood changing in years to come?

Olive: I see more and more young couples coming into the neighborhood. I think our younger generations are much larger than the older generations here in Arlington, and so I think the neighborhood will get a lot younger. I don't plan to see many more houses being knocked down to build newer and bigger ones. I don't think any houses have enough land to do so, and I don't think anyone wants to do that sort of thing. I like the mixture of new and old houses we have here, and I want it to stay that away. Besides, these older homes are so sturdy. The new houses they build are so thin and weak. I think the neighborhood is great the way it is now.

Stephen: Thank you for your time.


Matthew Healey is a 16-year-old resident of the Brockwood neighborhood. He has lived in the neighborhood with his family in his current house for all of his life. Matthew is a junior (grade 11) at Washington-Lee High School.

Stephen: So Matt, how long have you lived in this neighborhood?

Matt: I have lived in this neighborhood for my entire life.

Stephen: In the same house?

Matt: Yep. In the same house my entire life.

Stephen: What drew your parents to this neighborhood?

Matt: The schools. Arlington has some of the best schools in the nation. They also liked the feel of the neighborhood. In the surburbs, everything feels so close knit and joined together, like one big happy family. This neighborhood in particular shows that. We are such a united community. Everyone is so friendly with one another, and the environment here is just so peaceful, I could see why they would pick this neighborhood to live and raise a family.

Stephen: Do you know the history of your home?

Matt: Uh sort of. I know the guy that built it built a number of these houses next to us, all at the same time. That's why they all kind of look the same. The same guy identical houses next to each other. I think he ran out of money or something, and so he had to stop. I don't know the exact year that my house was built in, but I'm pretty sure it was after World War II ended. That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.

Stephen: What are some of your earliest memories of the neighborhood?

Matt: Well I can remember the times before the new houses were built. There was this one house in the middle of a forest right next to our house. The forest was kind of creepy looking, but I liked having it next to my house. I remember one time my dad shot off a couple rounds on his shotgun on New Year's Day. I think it was in 2000... Yeah, it was 2000. It was the start of the new millenium. That was his way of celebrating the new year, like his own new year's eve ball drop. I also used to enjoy going to Bon Air Park all the time. I used to ride my bike down there with my family. I remember learning how to ride a bike at the park. It's nice that it's so conveniently located next to the neighborhood. It's so close. I used to play in the playground. When I got older, my dad and I used to go on longer bike rides down the trails, the Custis and the W & OD. I also went to Westover Park too and participated in a number of activities there too. I remember walking with Eric and all them to Swanson and walking with you and Eric and everyone else home. Those were fun times too.

Stephen: How has the neighborhood changed since you can remember?

Matt: To be honest, I really don't think it has changed all that much. Obviously the biggest change to the neighborhood has been the five new houses built next to my house. I remember when that happened. But besides that, I really can't think of anything else that has changed since I can remember. The street has remained the same. Neighbors come and go, but the houses haven't changed really, and the street itself hasn't changed either. Bon Air Park is pretty much the same as it always has been, with the exception of the tennis courts. Those look like they are being repaved, but they're still there. And Westover Park changed a little bit, but not a lot. They just fixed up the playground and such. The neighbors have changed too, but the atmosphere of the neighborhood still remains the same.

Stephen: How do you feel about the changes?

Matt: Well I like the new houses. I know some people didn't like them, especially when they were being built. It took a while to get them all done, and there was a lot of noise when construction was going on. But, I like them. It's something different from the rest of the houses, and they make the neighborhood look more impressive and aesthetically pleasing to people passing through. Plus they brought about a bunch of new neighbors. I've noticed that a lot of new, young couples have come into the neighborhood, and I kind of like it. Young couples with children allow us kids to bond with one another. With these new neighbors we have kids our age who we can go to school with and hang out with. Before there used to be very little kids my age in the neighborhood and very little kids at all. I feel like the changes that this neighborhood has gone through have turned out for the better.

Stephen: What do you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of this neighborhood?

Matt: I feel like the unification of the neighborhood is a big strength here. All the neighbors are so close to each other. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and warm with each other, especially new neighbors. It's obvious when you come to the block party or stuff like that that this neighborhood is like one big extended family. I also think the balance between new and old is a strength of the neighborhood. The mixture of new and old houses shows us developing with technology and new ways of life here but we also keep our tradition, our original homes. That's something you don't see in most neighborhoods. Also, the access to a variety of parks and bike paths is another strength. We're so close to like three parks, and bike paths that are so long, and that reach most parts of Arlington and other areas. We're in a great school district, and in the summer it's no problem gettting to a pool. Dominion Hills is just up the road. I think some weaknesses of this neighborhood include its size. Our neighborhood is really small, and although our small size allows us to be closer to each other, we don't really stand out in Arlington as a whole. We're just like another little neighborhood with nothing extraordinary. We also lack some defining features. We're basically surburbs, so you don't see many shopping places unless you go up Wilson Boulevard. It's not convenient to walk to like a McDonald's or a grocery store because there are none close enough. And although the parks are nice, they can get a little boring at times. They aren't really that big to be honest.

Stephen: How do you see this neighborhood changing in years to come?

Matt: I really don't think it will change all that much. I think people are going to do new things to their homes. I don't think I'll be seeing anyone knock down their house and build some huge mansion like what happened with these five houses here, but I expect some additions or garages or sidewalks to be built in the future like my parents are doing with our house. I don't see the parks or trails changing any time soon. Overall, I don't see the neighborhood changing very much at all in years to come, and I don't mind that at all. I like how the neighborhood is right now, and I would be satisfied if it stayed this way.

Stephen: Thank you for your time.

Interview with Walter and Ruth Birch

Walter and Ruth Birch are my elderly neighbors who live next door. Both of them went to Washington-Lee High School and raised their children in Arlington. They have been married for 57 years and lived in their house for about just as long. Walter graduated 1948 and joined the Navy during the Korean War. Ruth graduated 1953. Their reminiscences are transcribed in the following interview. The interview covers many topics including early life in rural Arlington, school life, Arlington and family history, Arlington's evolution over the last 75 years, segregation, and raising children.

Walter and Ruth are the “grandparents” of our street. I live in a cul-de-sac with five houses. Three of them have 3 kids each, Walter and Ruth live in one, and one is an old, beautiful white farm house. The nine of us (the kids) grew up playing ball with Walter and eating Ruth’s delicious cream cheese chocolate cupcakes. Every year for Walter’s birthday we all walk over to his door and sing, bringing treats and hugs. Recently, Walter has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease. I was always in denial that he was aging because I so fondly remember the way he rode his bike in circles on the street or talked to me about his life. Doing this interview made me come to terms that he is getting older and that I am getting older too. Talking to him and Ruth was so much more than a classroom assignment; it was a view into the beautiful simplicity of life, the strength of a powerful marriage, and the implications of an evolving 20th century suburban county. I know that when I grow up and come home, Walter will always be there, in person or in spirit, an eternal presence in the Tacoma Street family.

Interview with Walter and Ruth Birch
June 4, 2011
Time: 2:04-2:44 pm
Location: 3010 N Tacoma Street, Arlington, Virginia

Emma: So, Walter, tell me about Arlington when you were young, since you’ve lived here your entire life.

Walter: Well, everything that you see outside was farmland. Everything. There were fields everywhere and dirt roads. The only road that wasn’t dirt was Little Falls, right down there. Bishop O’Connell, the high school right across the boulevard, used to be a dairy farm and I would ride my bike right along it. The farms were used for many different crops, especially corn fields up on that far hill. What’s it called?

Ruth: Powhatan Street.

Walter: I lived on a farm right by Nottingham Elementary School. It wasn’t a school when I lived there. The entire school grounds were our farm. We had a huge field. We grew up in that farm house with six kids. I was born in that house. I had two brothers and three sisters.

Emma: What did you farm?

Walter: We farmed everything. We had horses, too.

Emma: Was it your entire livelihood?

Walter: Yes, we lived off of the farm. When my father died it started becoming hard to get by. I was six.

Ruth: The house is still standing on the back side of Nottingham field.

Walter: Eventually the county came and took our farm to build a new school.

Ruth: The house used to be on Little Falls Road, the street that Nottingham is on now. But when they built the school they moved the address to 29th street.

Emma: And it’s still there, wow.

Walter (laughing): Not for long. It’s old.

Ruth: Walter’s family dates all the way back. I’ve done a lot of genealogy in regards with his family. They have been here since the 1700s. The Birch Cemetery, which is that space that looks like an empty lot on Sycamore street, is where Walter’s great-grandparents are buried. They haven’t developed it because it’s a graveyard that dates back generations.

Emma: And do you know what life was like during the Civil War, Arlington being right on the border between the Union and the Confederacy?

Ruth: Well, Walter’s grandparents were married in a “southern” church in Falls Church. Ironically, there was a “northern” church right here in Arlington. This area really was on the margins. I suspect that people were pitted family against family, brother against brother even.

Emma: And what about World War Two? What was that like for you Walter?

Walter: I was born in 1929, so when the war was going on, I used to run from my house down Little Falls and fetch the Evening Star to read about what was going on in the war. Everyone was very affected. We had to ration all the necessities. You couldn’t buy a pair of shoes back then without a coupon.

Emma: Life seemed so different back then; it’s hard for me to imagine. What was life as a kid like for you?

Walter: We were always outside, climbing trees, playing kick the can, or playing tag. We had to find a way to entertain ourselves. There was nothing else. I rode my bike.

Emma: I really wish kids did that more often.

Ruth: Tell her about the sledding.

Walter: In the winter, we would bring our sleds to the top of Quantico street and slide down the hill towards where Sycamore street is now. Of course, Sycamore street didn’t exist then, so we would sled down until we reached a small stream. There were many springs around. One time, back by Little Falls Church, which wasn’t a church then, I fell into a spring. It terrified me!

Emma: What schools did you attend?

Walter: I went to Robert E. Lee, Swanson, and W-L. Washington-Lee was the only high school in the county back then. I remember having to walk from my house to Washington-Lee. I played football and baseball there.

Ruth: On the cement, dirt field.

Walter: The dust bowl field, yes.

Ruth: I moved here right before I went to Washington-Lee. I was at Swanson for a semester and then went to W-L. Back then, high school was only three grades.

Emma: What do you remember about school?

Ruth: Every day we had to say the pledge of allegiance and a prayer. A student would go up to the front of the class and read a scripture.

Emma: What if the student wasn’t a Christian?

Ruth: I don’t think that ever came up.

Walter: Whenever it was my turn to read, I always picked the shortest psalm there was. Psalm 117!

Ruth: And our biggest rivals back then were from George Washington in Alexandria because there was no other high school in Arlington. Also, I remember there being big bonfires at W-L whenever there was a celebration.

Walter: No, I think they were at Ballston.

Ruth: Oh, yes. Ballston, that’s right. Clarendon was the center of things though. It was one street and there were a couple stores.

Ruth: It was the place to go if you wanted to shop. Sometimes, though, my aunt would take me into DC to shop. That was always special.

Walter: Clarendon was also where we went every Halloween to celebrate.

Ruth: Back then, there were a lot less bad things that kids could get in to. You didn’t have to constantly watch your back. It was harder to get suspended for little things.

Emma: Like what?

Walter: It was more funny things, not bad things.

Emma: You mean like pranks?

Walter: Yes, pranks. I remember there were these boys in my class who would go down to the store and buy these pizza pies for ten cents. They would bring them inside the school--remember this was the old old building--and throw them out the window at people walking by.

Emma: But they didn’t get suspended or anything?

Walter: Oh no, it was just a prank.

Emma: Things really have changed.

Walter: The school was segregated too. Everyone was white.

Ruth: The only integrated school was Stratford Middle School, where Hoffman-Boston now.

Emma: What class did you graduate?

Ruth: I graduated 1952. My class was 735 people. It was big because Washington-Lee was the only high school, but they built Wakefield soon after. Walter graduated 1948. Then he went to the Navy for four years.

Emma: And then you got married.

Ruth: Yes, in that church on Glebe Road past Marymount. We’ve been married 57 years now.

Emma: Wow, congratulations. I remember going to your 50th anniversary. I can’t believe that was seven years ago. Time really flies.

Ruth: We got our wedding cake from this bakery at the Pentagon concourse. I used to work at the Pentagon as a secretary.

Walter: Yes, back then you could just walk right on in. There was no security. I would come from the naval yard to visit Ruth.

Ruth: During coffee breaks I would go down to the concourse and buy donuts from that bakery. They were the best donuts ever. Also, I remember every payday going to buy another piece for my sterling silver collection. Every single payday.

Emma: And then you moved into this house?

Ruth: Yes. We were the third owners, but the two before us were only there for a short time. In fact, your family and the Sathers are also the third owners of your houses. They were all built in 1952, and the man who built them lived in this house. And that big white house across the street has been here for a longer time.

Emma: Was it a plantation?

Walter: A farm, I think. All the surrounding land belonged to it. But these small, older brick houses are disappearing now that the area is becoming so much more developed.

Emma: Yes. Tell me about Arlington’s evolution in your eyes.

Walter: It just exploded. Right around the time I can back from the Navy, everything was just moving so fast. It was both good and bad. Good because there were more roads and stores. But bad because there are so many more people. There’s no more peace anymore. Everyone is driving around and not walking. It’s very different.

Emma: What was it like raising children in Arlington?

Ruth: We had four girls and one boy. I limited each child to two activities each, partly because we couldn’t afford any more, but also because I wanted them to have some time for themselves, to look up at the sky and relax.

Emma: I think that’s very valuable. In today’s world it is so easy to get swept up in expectations and pressure, that I often find it hard for me to find time for myself. It really is a completely different culture.

Ruth: We used to take the kids down to National airport and just watch the planes take off and land. It was really easy to park and get close, not like today. There was also a small airport by Bailey’ Crossroads. We took them there too.

Walter: And they had drag races right here on the boulevard. Every weekend you could hear kids yell “3...2...1!” and they raced right on down the street. Walter Jr. was the only boy and he wanted to do everything. He played sports, sang in Madrigals, was the lead in the school plays, and graduated number one in his class.

Emma: And they were at Yorktown?

Ruth: Yes. Did you know that Yorktown used to be an elementary school?

Emma: No, I didn’t.

Ruth: It was; my father was a custodian there.

Walter: So they all graduated from Yorktown.

Ruth: And then they all went off to college. It was really something driving two girls down to college with a car full of luggage and two bikes on the back. Do you remember that?

Walter: Yes.

Ruth: We couldn’t get the car out of the driveway! For vacations all we would do was hop into the car and drive--to Disney World once...

Walter: No, twice.

Ruth: Oh, yes, twice. To Pennsylvania to visit the grandparents, and to Nag’s Head for fifteen summers. It was a real typical beach house where the kids could come and go to the ocean as they pleased. I doubt it’s still standing though.

Walter: Those were the good old days.

Ruth: The good old days...yes. Everyone has their good old days. Pretty soon you will too.

Emma: I can’t wait. Thank you so much for your time. It was an honor to talk to you.

Interviews: Alcova Heights Residents

Stacy Cavanagh has lived in Alcova Heights for almost 4 years now. She lived in an apartment in another area in Arlington before she moved to the neighborhood. What she likes most about Alcova Heights is the safe environment filled with friendly neighbors and the how close and easy it is to get from one place to another. Stacy lives in one of the many homes in Alcova Heights with her son. They love living so close to Alcova Heights park, especially on nice warm days.




Hernan De La Via, another resident of Alcova Heights, was born in Bolivia, but moved to the United States in his early twenties. He's lived in California, New York, and Virginia. Out of all those places, he's adapted to living in Virginia the best. He's lived in the neighborhood for 16 years. He's lived in Arlington for about 20 years, and once he decided to buy his first house with his family, he knew Alcova Heights was the perfect place to call home. He currently lives with his wife and daughter. During his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, and visiting new places.