Published on: Wednesday, June 23, 2010

By Peggy Dee

Jam session

On Friday evening, June 11, our city hosted its second Jam Session of the season with an excellent band that featured Motown hits. A great time was had by all.

The same evening, Congressman Steny Hoyer hosted his 30th Annual Bull Roast and birthday party at the Newton White Mansion in Mitchellville. As part of Hyattsville is in Hoyer’s congressional district, a few brave souls went to both the Jam Session and the Bull Roast.

Mark your calendars for Friday evening, July 9, the date of our next Jam Session.

Young at heart

On Thursday, June 16, I went with the Young at Heart Senior Club to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although the Young at Heart Club meets in Beltsville, there are numerous members who reside in Hyattsville.

After an enjoyable boat ride of the length of the boardwalk in Atlantic City, we spent the afternoon at the Tropicana Casino and Hotel. We indulged in their delicious buffet, saw a Chinese acrobatic show and took a stroll along the boardwalk.

Atlantic City always holds such dear memories for me as I used to go their with my family back in the 1950’s.

I still miss the older, stately hotels on the boardwalk and the Steele Pier with its entertainment and the diving horse. Remember the boardwalk fudge?

Ordination

Congratulations to Deacon John Ruteamann of St. Jerome’s who was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 19, at the National Shrine. I went to the ceremony and it was outstanding. Deacon Ruteamann served weekends at St.Jerome’s as he was completing his senior year in the seminary.

We hope that he has a lovely, bright future ahead of him.

High’s ice cream stores

Memories, aw memories. I enjoyed the phone calls that I received regarding High’s ice cream stores.

We had three locations in Hyattsville: Hamilton Street, 40th and Nicholson and the Prince George’s Plaza. Our family dearly loved the butter brickle ice cream.

A few of the mothers remember sending the kids out for bread and milk on Sunday afternoons. Having enough lunch meat in the house for the preparation of sandwiches for work and school was also a special memory.

Yes, High’s served us well during snowstorms when we could not drive to the larger grocery stores. I remember breaking my diet on weekends by indulging in a double-decker chocolate and vanilla ice cream cone.

Thank you all, again, for calling and sharing those special memories with me.

Hyattsville history

In 1939, one spot that still seemed to thrive was “Jungletown,” the old watering hole. Lively times and stories emanated from the spot for many years. For instance, it seems that one Saturday night the manager had put his gun on the counter while he counted the daily receipts.

When some of the customers questioned whether he knew how to use the weapon, he picked it up and shot at the bulb in the light fixture.

Although he missed with the first shot, the second bullet not only hit the light but went through the ceiling and the floor of the apartment upstairs.

The police were called, but very few customers were still around when they arrived.