My parents moved to Greenbelt in 1941. They had a 1-year old daughter, when they purchased their home in 2 Court of Laurel Hill Road. In 1945, they welcomed a second daughter and moved to a two-bedroom on Plateau Place. I was the last of three and arrived in 1953.
In 1956, we moved to a three-bedroom in 11 Court of Ridge Road. This was where my memories of Greenbelt began. There were so many kids to play with in the court and it seemed that we had a lot of freedom even at 3 to 5 years old. I started at Greenbelt Center School (now the Community Center) in the first grade. In the beginning, my mother would walk me to school until she was sure I knew the way. In many areas there were no roads to cross and we walked to school in complete safety. Greenbelt’s foresight of building underpasses was pure genius. Many lives have been saved in the past 80 years because of this, especially with the freedom and lack of good sense we had back in those days.
When I was six, during my first summer vacation after first grade, I met many new pals. The friendships made in those early days are still as solid 60 years later. You see, I was finally allowed to cross Ridge Road and it opened up a whole new world for me. Most of my new friends went to school across the big field (Braden) at St. Hugh’s.
So basically, my Greenbelt adventure began in the summer of 1959. That summer and for many more we played ball in the small fields between the rows of GHI homes until we got too big to play baseball there and started playing wiffleball to avoid breaking windows.
Sometimes we would just stop a while and sit in a circle to discuss things. I remember the summer of 1960 like it was yesterday. Believe it or not, we were talking about JFK and the election. All of my friends were saying that they were voting for him. Of course, I chimed in and supported him but one of my friends, Dewey, said, and I quote, “You can’t vote for him; you’re not Catholic.” Of course, I believed him and was disappointed until being able to tell him the next day that he couldn’t vote for Kennedy either because “you’re 10.”
The Woods
We would take breaks during games and all go to the front porch of the Bergin’s house at 16-B Ridge. It was closest to the field for water. Mrs. Bergin would patiently give each of us a drink and we would get back to the game. We had another field at the top of the sidewalk near 10 Court of Southway and Mrs. Lundregan was our water source up there.
Climbing the apple trees in the neighborhood was another favorite pastime. I always heard the same warning from mom, “You’ll get a stomach ache from those green apples.” But I don’t think I ever did. I even remember seeing a huge truck go by and spray the trees with insecticide. Each tree had its own distinct taste and some of them were guarded by very territorial people. We were chased away from some trees but welcomed to one or two others. Naturally, the ones we were chased from were the best, but the reward outweighed the risk.
As we grew older and were given more and more freedom, we began building forts in the woods. What is now University Square (and has been for many years) was not there. It was all wooded and many a fort, both above and under the ground, was built. We even used discarded trees after Christmas to build forts.
Fun and Games
When fall rolled around, the baseball fields became football fields and there was never a shortage of kids. We played tackle almost every day after school, always on the weekends. The field next to Center School was our gridiron. The library was inside the school back then and the library we now know did not exist. In 1961 the new Youth Center opened and quickly turned into my home away from home.
Between ages 9 and 12 we played baseball in the Greenbelt Little League. Those were the greatest years of all! The feeling was, we had gotten into the big leagues because we had been watching the games since we were little and eyeing the big guys and the cool uniforms they wore. It was amazing to a kid who was 6 or 7. Many who have had the Greenbelt Little League experience remember being a 9-year-old and stepping into the batter’s box to face a 12-year-old.
This was where I made so many new friendships with kids from the north side of town. When the season ended, we still played ball during the summer in the morning, choosing teams with gloves, balls, bats and water. After exhausting ourselves, we’d go home for lunch. After that the pool would open at 1 o’clock. Every single day the Greenbelt pool was packed and during the adult swims (18 and over) the entire perimeter of the pool was lined with kids. We’d try to sneak a dip off the side when the lifeguard wasn’t looking. If you got caught, the whistle would blow and the lifeguard would summon you over to do your 15 minutes on the bench. We soon learned it made good sense to try your luck early since the adult swim lasted 15 minutes.
Treats
Saturdays were movie day and to say the theater was full is an understatement. I still remember the Saturday that the movie, Ben Hur, came to Greenbelt. All the seats and the aisles were filled. I was given 55 cents: 30 cents for admission, 15 cents for popcorn and a dime for a coke. That seemed like a lot of money. If we wanted candy, we could scour the area for bottles. 16-ounce RC bottles brought two cents each and the small High’s milk bottles were gold, they got you a nickel each. A couple of those and your pockets were filled with bubble gum or any number of other treats that would destroy teeth.
Full Circle
As we grew into our teens, we enjoyed many new activities. Dances at the Armory with Lawrence and the Arabians and The Nowhere Men, splash parties at the pool and dances at the Youth Center starring the Midnight Marauders. I could go on and on.
At the age of 10, I started cutting lawns at $2 a yard. I guess it got in my blood because today at 65 it seems I’ve come full circle, still live in Greenbelt and cut lawns for a living. It wasn’t a plan but it has worked out pretty well.
Like many others, I have so much to be thankful for from this unique place. For me it was truly a blessing to have been born and raised in Greenbelt.
Along with cutting lawns, Alan Burt delivers bundles of News Reviews to the homes of the carriers.