The area is in full "back-to-school" mode. Three local residents were invited to "think back to school" because they graduated from Washington-Lee High School, Arlington's only high school (for whites, that is), 75 years ago in 1938.
Pauline Koerner Franko of Arlington then lived at 1416 Lee Highway. Mary Edmondson, now of McLean (Franklin Park), resided at 1927 Glebe Road. Oliver Purdy, Jr. currently lives in Fairfax (Franconia) but set off from 2020 N. Uhle Street in Arlington each school day. All walked to school, although Purdy admits to riding a bicycle often.
The scenes they passed through daily were the same. There were individual and small clusters of one-family houses. Business corridors had developed along the main thoroughfares of Wilson Boulevard and Fairfax Drive. Two- and three-storied apartments were appearing, but slowly. West of the school building, some open spaces held working farms. Railroad and trolley tracks were everywhere, and all seemed to begin or end at Rosslyn.
The graduating seniors numbered abut 150. Twenty students, or so, were in each subject class. Washington-Lee’s school day spanned 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The school had a cafeteria but many, like Purdy, carried a lunch; for some the reason was food-choice, for others it was a matter of money. The Great Depression was in full bloom and impacted the lives of students and their families in many ways. For example, not all ordered class rings, a situation that was awkward for many. Also, the prom was not attended by a large number of graduating seniors. Purdy was one. He recalls breaking a date due to "youthful pride"; he did not own "good enough clothes" and he had no access to a car for the evening.
Once sufficient academic "credits" were earned, a student graduated in either February or June. Franko recalled that many, including her, left school as soon as possible to find a job. This was another effect of the Great Depression. Edmondson, on the other hand, could have graduated in February but stayed until June.
She chose to continue the study of Latin, a subject that has held her interest for more than seven decades.
One subject of their day that "now seems lost" is civics. Everyone was required to know how the levels of government were structured and the duties of each.
All three agreed that such appears not to be the case anymore. Purdy pointed to Jay Leno's "Man in the Street" interviews which, while funny, reveal that too many adults have no awareness of the way government works and what it takes to be a good citizen. Edmondson recalls civics as one of her "most meaningful" classes.
Franko, Edmondson and Purdy agree the only "celebrity" classmate was Forrest Tucker, who arrived for junior year and later became a star of screen, stage and television. All noted that the young ladies of Washington-Lee were very much aware of tall, good-looking, athletic Tucker. He was known to the entire student body due to roles in the school's drama program and for his prowess on the football field. Tucker learned enough football at Washington-Lee to join a semi-pro team in the year he attended George Washington University. Edmondson recalled "talk" about the football coach bending rules and recruiting Tucker, but he kept playing and nothing came of it.
Purdy's immediate memory of Tucker was: "A real talker, he could talk himself out of anything." This explains his yearbook entry as the "Class Bluffer."
Edmondson, of course, was "aware" of Tucker in 1938. However, it was years later that she found herself impressed at the way he carried his acting roles. "He was terrific. Clearly, the grown man really had substance," she said. She also recalled Tucker visiting Arlington when attending the 1949 Washington premiere of "Sands of Iwo Jima," starring John Wayne. He made time to be with school friends, although the main reason for crossing the river was to join his mother, sister and other family members who lived in Fairfax County.
A 1961 newspaper report underscored Tucker's attentiveness to old friends from Washington-Lee. While playing lead in "The Music Man" at the National Theater, his sister organized a group of 250 family and old friends, including many Washington-Lee classmates and spouses, to attend the show. It was Tucker's first stage appearance in his "hometown." Afterward, his followers removed to Arlington Towers in Rosslyn and there entertained Tucker.