Do the roof lines and windows of these buildings look familiar?
If you thought each of these photos is of the same building, then you are correct!
The building was modeled after the Clarendon trolley station, constructed in 1904 and pictured here circa 1910. The trolley station stood opposite to 3211 Wilson Boulevard at North Washington and Clarendon Boulevard. Arlington‘s trolley stations ran throughout the County beginning in the 1890s up until the Great Depression when they were unable to compete with the rise of the automobile.
One way to trace Arlington’s history is through its development. The changing use of this building has paralleled Clarendon’s role for Arlington residents—as a place of utility in the mid-20th Century; utility and leisure in the late-20th Century; and leisure and socialization in the last 20 years.
Can you match the photos to the businesses, and put them in order by date?
Photos:
- Murkey Coffee
- Northside Social
- Hurt Cleaners
- The Flea Market Store
Dates:
- c. 1949
- 1998
- 2008
- 2019
To see more items like these, or to learn more about Arlington's history, visit the Center for Local History on the first floor of the Central Library.
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Use this form to send a message to the Center for Local History.
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I love this. Murky Coffee was great, and you all should include a link to an article or two about the owner, who really knew and loved his coffee. And I visit Northside Social every week to buy a bag of beans and get a free cup of joe, a tradition Murky started and they continued. But I’ve always wondered about the history of the building, so it’s super cool to hear that it was once the trolley depot in Clarendon! Thanks for the history lesson.
Can you match the photos to the businesses, and put them in order by date?
Recognize this?
You provided names of the building at various times and provided dates to choose from.
But nowhere did you provide the answers!
Lita’s made a valid point. Why not amend the website, so that it’s quiz that readers can take, and learn if they’re correct? I love Arlington history and know the answers to this particular building, but there may be others where I’ll learn something new…
Carol and Lita –
An official quiz and answer option has now been added to the post. Hopefully this works!
the survey didn’t show the results
Michael,
In order to see the answers you have to enter your own guesses.
You’ve left out one memorable use of the building — the parts department of British sports car shop Motorhead.
Don, do you know the dates?
Unfortunately, we don’t have a photo of that iteration. But we’d love to see one!