Memoirs of Mary Baden Parker

Mary wrote her memoirs sometime in the 1980's while she lived in Alexandria, Virginia.  She wrote them on her electric typewriter.  They are presented here almost in their entirety

EARLY YEARS: Woodford (approx. 1917-1921 or 22)

[The first house I remember was at Woodford, now part of Vienna, VA.] ---Little house with kerosene lamps - not sure about running water. Had to go to the "Big House" or boarding house to take tub baths and to wash hair.  I hated it and can remember screaming because I didn't want to do it.

Mary Baden and her mother in the yard at the Woodford Cottage

Some cooking done there but big meals were at the Big House -- a large dining room where all boarders ate family style.  I can remember waiting for dinner to be served on a big porch outside the dining room - high off the ground.

Also remember playing in the dirt under that porch - digging tunnels, etc.

Mary Adele with Mother and brothers

Also remember the smell of the wood smoke and to this day when I smell wood smoke the picture of  Woodford comes to my mind.

Remember sleeping on a pallet on floor in a bedroom once when we had company.

I remember the ice house - a mound in the ground with an entrance and a ladder going deep into the ground - it was filled with ice and covered with saw dust.  They would get the ice off of ponds, etc. in winter and store it there for use in the summer.

Tom, Mary Adele, and Jim Henry Baden at Woodford

Can remember going to a swimming pool -- or hole?

Can remember walks down the road - and paths to Commuter train station sometimes to meet Daddy when he came home in evening, etc.  [Woodford was a country area served by a "Toonerville Trolley" -- an electric rail system.  Electric Avenue now follows the route of the tracks.]

The Trolley Tracks at Dun Loring

[In the early 1920's the Badens purchased a new home ---]  High View Farm - 40 acres in Southwest D.C.

One of first memories is playing in tall grass on front lawn soon after we moved in - had not been cut and was taller than we were.

Remember the Knickerbocker Blizzard of early 20's - snow up to lst floor windows and above.

Remember when Daddy got first car and we would take rides on Sunday - no windows but isinglass inserts for cold and bad weather, Also had lap robes for cold weather.

Always a lot of cats and kittens to play with.  Used to toss them off the roof of a shed onto the garage to see if they would land on their feet!

Lady Niobe was about the first real pet allowed in the house - also made pets of some of her kittens (Fluffy and Cinnamon).

Jerry - a big black cat-sent to us from the McNulty's in N.Y. - lived about 15 years.

First dog was a Boston Bull - best remembrance of him was when he went "mad" on the way home-- from a walk down to the Kennedy's.  Elsie, our nursemaid, kept the dog away from us until we got home, then they herded him to the basement stairs (outer) and called for the dog pound.

Next dog was Pep - a hound dog; another appeared and was named Pup.

Spot I and Spot II followed - Fox terriers.

Later had a red Chesapeake Bay Retriever - too big so gave him away.  Also 2 Police dogs - Bismarck and Napoleon.

Next Section

Send mail to the Webmaster, High View Farm, with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 03/25/06

Sponsored by High View Music, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia.  Visit our web site for information:  www.highviewmusic.com