Lexington Park . St. Mary's County . Southern Maryland
in connection with the ongoing project Christmas With the Family . 25 December 2004
Elvert Xavier Barnes Architectural & Industrial Photography
Joe then said "I don't see the number 23 ..."
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| Lexington Manor (Flat Tops) Lexington Park . St. Mary's County . Southern Maryland in connection with the ongoing project Christmas With the Family . 25 December 2004 Elvert Xavier Barnes Architectural & Industrial Photography |
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As we pulled into the circle Joe said "this looks like it may be the place ...but it just doesn't feel right.". I agreed but once I saw the two units to the left and across from each other I jumped out of the car proclaiming "This is it ... Pamela lived on the right and we lived on the left." And once we ran around the back and took a peep inside I was even more convinced than was Joe that it was the place that we had once lived in. Joe then said "I don't see the number 23 ..." |
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When I'd ask 'what does 23 have to do with it?" he'd respond 'we lived at 23 Roosevelt'. And while '23 ...' rung a bell I remembered more '605 Chinlee Drive' and '3 Van Buren Street' which is where whe'd live before and after '23 Roosevelt'. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| And when Joe on Christmas Day 2004 was driving the car through the projects looking for '23 Roosevelt' which I cognitively knew to have been in the Carver Heights section which historically had been where blacks had lived I almost said 'while this area looks hauntingly similar I believe it is the 'Flat Tops' which I remembered, historically, to have been 'more White'. But, with the onset of integration and as time passed along the development's deterioation ... and as is often the case ... Flat Tops would became more Black populated. | |
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| At this particular time ... it is a fact that White Americans lived in an area called Flat Tops - near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station's main gate. African Americans lived two miles below the main gate. First Missionary Baptist Church History | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| And almost as if we, literally, had stepped back in time but with an excitement that he may would have shown when we were young boys and not unlike the passion that he has always expressed when he speaks of Diana Ross - Joe blurted out "I see 14". Which I could tell, in his voice, that he still was not convinced that we were in the right place. And with an excitement similar to his I ran over and asked 'Where? I like to photograph numbers'. After taking a few shots of his own he'd say "Can't you see? It's right there!". I'd respond 'O, that number. But what I see is 21763. Not 23. Can't you see?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| And as we'd drive away observing that the street sign at the corner read 'Banks Place' ... and not 'Roosevelt' ... we'd both reiterate 'it just don't feel right.' And then said "let's find GW Carver School and that will settle everything". Read more (Part 2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||