I grew up in Oxon Hill in the 60s and 70s. The area has deteriorated significantly since then.
I went to Oxon Hill Sr. high for 10th grade, then they built Friendly Sr. High and finished up there just before bussing turned it into DC South. You know Allentown Road, close to Andrews AFB, Indian Head highway? Almost went to Surratsville high but took Air Force JROTC at Oxon Hill.
I knew things had changed when I went back to visit `Friendly’ a few years ago and the first thing I noticed was a large new building right next to the school.
“What’s that?” I ask the principal.
“That’s the nursery,” he replies
I heard they went to a dress code recently because of fights over gang colors. Rose Valley, Forest Knolls. Like I said on another PG county thread, I won’t go back unless I’m—how do the bloods put it ... “strapped”? My brother (lives in Ashburn, VA) and he wouldn’t get out of the car. A police car pulled up while we were there and hauled off some angry kid. No country for old men, huh?
I lived in Hyattsville in the late 1970’s, on Longfellow so we could walk to the church just up the hill. I went back there a couple of years ago and felt as if I’d walked onto the set of “Back ToThe Future” where Biff was in charge.
Beirut used to be beautiful, too, and look whats’s been made of it!
I muse that the those that lived closer to DC on Baltimore Avenue all got gubmint jobs and moved outward to “more affordable”, higher-end housing and were not able to help help themselves in trashing the place with their habits learned in their childhood.
Many sad!
HF
I lived near near Oxon Hill, during the ‘60s. Yes, the place has changed.