My family lived in the Oakland Apartments, on Columbia Pike near the intersection with Glebe Road, when I was born in the late 1950's. Nearby was Brenner's Bakery, the Toddle House, and Rosenthal Chevrolet, where I remember meeting Bozo the Clown at a publicity appearance. (I learned later in life that the smiling Bozo I stared at in fear and awe as a toddler was none other than Willard Scott, radio personality, local weatherman, and Today Show regular.)
I attended preschool at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on Glebe, but worshiped the amusement park at Bailey's Crossroads, where you could ride a miniature train, a merry-go-round, AND a pony, then go across the street for an ice cream treat at Gifford's.
