Having been unsuccessful at finding a phone number or e-mail for Fred Fiske, I've decided to write him a traditional business letter and send it in care of WAMU radio.
I can't remember the last time I wrote a formal letter on paper. What business style would be best? Block? Modified block? Does anyone even know what those terms mean anymore?
Hopefully, Mr. Fiske will have some insights on what the Home Show was like, and how the Customliner construction was received.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A Trip to Herndon Woods
I've been sitting at my computer trying to compose an e-mail to Fred Fiske. But it doesn't seem to be happening tonight. So instead, I shall update you, dear readers.
I reached Chris Martin last Monday. Unfortunately, he didn't have a lot of information on the Customliner. He suggested the answer might be found by knocking on doors or talking to senior citizens who might remember the event. He encouraged me to continue, noting that I would find the answer, it would just take some time.
Knocking on strangers' doors? That will take time. Most of the time will involve me getting up the nerve to do it.
Or so I thought, until a fellow musician and I took a field trip to Herndon Woods on Tuesday. This National Homes community still thrives on Austin Lane. A vintage car is even parked on the street. And through the large front windows of one of the homes, we noticed someone was inside.
"Should we go ask?" my friend says.
"We can't just walk up to their front door and knock!" was my first answer. But ... it could make a good story for the blog. And so we did.
Far from having the door slammed in our faces, my friend and I were greeted by a gracious young couple. They clearly had not been born when the Customliner arrived in Herndon, and didn't know much about their home's history other than it was built in 1955. But they did refer us to two long-time residents who might know.
Neither of these people were home at the time. But I took down their addresses and will attempt to locate phone numbers for them. And get in touch with Fred Fiske.
Once again, it's time to get on the phone.
I reached Chris Martin last Monday. Unfortunately, he didn't have a lot of information on the Customliner. He suggested the answer might be found by knocking on doors or talking to senior citizens who might remember the event. He encouraged me to continue, noting that I would find the answer, it would just take some time.
Knocking on strangers' doors? That will take time. Most of the time will involve me getting up the nerve to do it.
Or so I thought, until a fellow musician and I took a field trip to Herndon Woods on Tuesday. This National Homes community still thrives on Austin Lane. A vintage car is even parked on the street. And through the large front windows of one of the homes, we noticed someone was inside.
"Should we go ask?" my friend says.
"We can't just walk up to their front door and knock!" was my first answer. But ... it could make a good story for the blog. And so we did.
Far from having the door slammed in our faces, my friend and I were greeted by a gracious young couple. They clearly had not been born when the Customliner arrived in Herndon, and didn't know much about their home's history other than it was built in 1955. But they did refer us to two long-time residents who might know.
Neither of these people were home at the time. But I took down their addresses and will attempt to locate phone numbers for them. And get in touch with Fred Fiske.
Once again, it's time to get on the phone.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Some New Angles
The dog days of summer are upon us, blunting my enthusiasm for the search.
On a quiet Sunday afternoon, I returned to the historical Washington Post, looking for any relevant articles I might have missed. Nothing new to be found between February 27, 1955 (when the Home Show closed), and December 31, 1956 (an artibrary date of my choosing.)
I did get a whiff of how big the Home Show was when I browsed the radio listings from February 19, 1955. At 1:00 pm on station WWDC, deejay Fred Fiske hosted "Prize and Party:" four hours of music from the Home Show.
Is this the same Fred Fiske who is now a senior commentator for WAMU radio? Would he care to share his insights?
At 1:45 pm, station WRC broadcast the Home Show opening, with Johnny Batchelder "handling the interviews."
My other promising source is "Mid-Century Mike." Mike blogs on Modern Capital, where he keeps track of mid-century modern homes and neighborhoods surrounding Washington, D.C.
In the July 13 posting, Mike describes a 1955, two-story home in Herndon Woods that was designed by architect Charles Goodman and built by National Homes. As of August 1, the home is for sale for $250,000.
Could this be it?
I e-mailed Mike and asked if he knew whether this was the property that had been built for the Home Show. He has not seen anything in his research, but he does know someone who lived in the house in the 1970s and has asked her what she knows. Needless to say, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
So with the weekend drawing to a close, it looks like I have some more phone calls to make.
Meanwhile, check out Modern Capital for more information on mid-century modern architecture in D.C., and Charles Goodman, the architect who designed the Customliner (and other models) for National Homes.
Sources:
Modern Capital
The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959); Feb 19, 1955; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post pg. 21
On a quiet Sunday afternoon, I returned to the historical Washington Post, looking for any relevant articles I might have missed. Nothing new to be found between February 27, 1955 (when the Home Show closed), and December 31, 1956 (an artibrary date of my choosing.)
I did get a whiff of how big the Home Show was when I browsed the radio listings from February 19, 1955. At 1:00 pm on station WWDC, deejay Fred Fiske hosted "Prize and Party:" four hours of music from the Home Show.
Is this the same Fred Fiske who is now a senior commentator for WAMU radio? Would he care to share his insights?
At 1:45 pm, station WRC broadcast the Home Show opening, with Johnny Batchelder "handling the interviews."
My other promising source is "Mid-Century Mike." Mike blogs on Modern Capital, where he keeps track of mid-century modern homes and neighborhoods surrounding Washington, D.C.
In the July 13 posting, Mike describes a 1955, two-story home in Herndon Woods that was designed by architect Charles Goodman and built by National Homes. As of August 1, the home is for sale for $250,000.
Could this be it?
I e-mailed Mike and asked if he knew whether this was the property that had been built for the Home Show. He has not seen anything in his research, but he does know someone who lived in the house in the 1970s and has asked her what she knows. Needless to say, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
So with the weekend drawing to a close, it looks like I have some more phone calls to make.
Meanwhile, check out Modern Capital for more information on mid-century modern architecture in D.C., and Charles Goodman, the architect who designed the Customliner (and other models) for National Homes.
Sources:
Modern Capital
The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959); Feb 19, 1955; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post pg. 21
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