Today April 4, 2012 is the 44th anniversary of the DC 68 riot, triggered by the assassination of Doctor Martin Luther King, a man of peace, who I am

certain would never have wanted his death to cause riots throughout this nation.

I have written many articles on my riot memories which can be located on my blog WWW.LARRYROSEN.ORG.

Today, I felt very happy, when Ray Flowers, a devoted former employee of my drug store Smith Pharmacy, called to mention some of his memories that

occured during the riot,and before and after,that night..

Ray Flowers,who happens to be an  Afro American U.S. citizen and I, have kept in touch for approximately 30 years when I located his address.

Ray, as was  the custom for over 40 years ago still calls me “DOC”, as was the custom to address some pharmacists, and some drug store proprietors.

Ray recalls coming from the South, where as is known there was extreme discrimination against Afro Americans, before the 60′s.

I hired Raymond around 1960 to work in my soda fountain -lunchenette department, where he performed in a dependable and excellent manner,

always working extra time, when my other soda fountain employees, could not show up.

About a year,before the riot, Ray secured employment in the Montgomery Country school system, as a maintenance employee, finally working his

way up to supervisor.

He lived in the Clifton Manor apartment house next to the drug store, and when I first got word of the commencement of the DC riot, I phoned Ray  to remove some important documents located in the drug store, which he accomplished. He kept me informed of the riot activity, first the looting on the evening of April 4, 1968, and again phoning me on the evening of April 5, 1968, exclaiming, “DOC, YOU ‘RE  GONE”, THE DRUG STORE IS BURNED   DOWN”.

I lost contact with Ray,for about 10 years or more,  after not reopening Smith Pharmacy, and fortunately encountered an old drug store employee who informed me of Ray’s whereabouts.We got together, and periodically have kept in touch occaionally meeting to recall the pharmacy days,remember that some regular customers, like Geraldthe Hawk, Jitterbug, Chuck, Charlie the Barber, Jolly and others that  have vanished.,and probably passed away.

Ray’s opinion was that many of the looters and burners were individuals who did not live in the immeadiate area, and arrived from many other locations.

He recalled that many of the former Columbia Heights residents, moved out of the neighborhood, because many of the large and small grocery stores,

as well as many service retail businesses, were destroyed and decided not to reopen.

Some time ago, my better half and I attended the funeral service of Ray’s wonderful wife Juanita in Maryland. I also remember Ray’s brother,Roy

who helped me on the fountain luncheonette, and who has passed away.

I was very happy when Ray, joined me, and my family and friends, to celebrate my 80th birthday, 8 years ago.

Again, I was very happy when Ray joined me and my family to celebrate the erection of a permanent historical sign by the DC Cultural Tourisim organization, of Smith Pharmacy, across the street from its former location,some time ago.. The DC Cultural tourism group  erects permanent  historical signs  throughout the DC’s different neighborhoods.The entire Columbia Heights neighborhood was redeveloped now featuring stores like BEST BUY, TARGET,and manother well known large businesses.o

After the sign ceremony, we all enjoyed a great dinner at Christfield’s well known restaurant.I hope to hear many more greetings from Raymond, with “HELLO DOC”, a former great employee and friend.!

Larry Rosen (called “DOC” from 1959 to 1968)

Email Lazer66@MSN.COM

‘s

Quite a while ago, some relative told me to check Fischel Lapin, my great grandfather (Mother’s side) in the Encyclopedia Judaica. I checked and sure enough, there was such an individual.

Born in Grodno (then Russiaqn Poland), Lapin  was a contractor for the building of the Grodno railway and thus became wealthy. In 1862 he settled with his family in Jerusalem, where he contributed to the foundation and maintenance of various health and educational institutions. Lapin was a founder of Kol Yisrael Haverim for land settlement in Eretz Israel and was

elected its vice-president, but resigned under pressure from Jewish community leaders. In 1872, he joined a group of Jerusalemites who sought to buy land for Jewish settlement in Jericho, but later purchased lands near Jaffa and Moza.

During World War I Lapin organized an aid campaign  for Jewish soldiers in the Turkish Army.

Maybe I should have become a contractor like my Great Zade for the building of a railway and become wealthy.

My mother’s brother, Uncle Label Lapin was engaged in another “profession”. Uncle Label traveled to different American cities, and collected charitable contributions for a

Yeshiva, (place of religious study) in Israel.He collected the funds by installing “PUSKAS” (metal containers with slots in their homes  where folks could leisurly drop their coins for their charitable donations, and Uncle Label would collect the funds and send the money to Israel.

I remember him staying at our home, when he visited Washington,D.C.. My brother would take some of his rolled coins to the bank,to exhange the cash for paper dollars.

Uncle Label was very religious, and his favorite dish was soft boiled eggs, with bread and butter which he himself churned.

Uncle Label, I recalled even traveled to Canadian cities–his profession was known and called   a “MISHULACH”.

Lately, I have not seen any “MISHULACHIM” around any Maryland neighborhoods, where I have lived.

 Like many senior citizens, I complain when food products and other type products go up in price.Today is October 26, 2011. What will the following   items and services cost 50 years from today?

Recalled prices when I owned and operated Smith Pharmacy 2518 14th Street,N.W  -

Smith Pharmacy 1959-1968

Active Soda Fountain-Luncheonette retail prices

Coffee, Soda, Ice Cream Cones ,Candy Bars ———–10 cents

“”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”2011–average retail

Coffee $2.39 Sodas $1.50, Ice Cream Cones-Baskin Robbins-One Scoop $3.00 including tax, Candy Bars –CVS formerly Peoples today $1.19

Smith’ s Pharmacy fountain milk shakes 25 cents–Hamburgers 15 cents (check

sign price on www.Larryrosen.org blog

Hamburgers 2011 $1.00 up to $5.00

Silver Diner, Rockville Maryland milk shakes $6.00 2011

Smith’s Tuna Sandwich, egg salad sandwiches—25 cents

Tuna Sandwich 2011 $7.00

PRICES ON ABOVE ITEMS IN YEAR 2060 ?????????????????

NO DOUBT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE YOUR CREDIT CARD TO PURCHASE

A CUP OF COFFEE–

APPROXIMATE MINIMUM WAGE 2011 CHAIN DRUG STORE CASHIER $8.00 AN HOUR–

APPROXIMATE MINIMUM WAGE 2060  CHAIN DRUG STORE CASHIER $10.00 AN HOUR

Tuna Melt-with cole slaw-Silver Diner–$8.95 2011

Smith Pharmacy, Chicken ,Veal Cutlet, Hamburger Steak 69 cents with two

vegetables,,lunch or dinner

2011–Chicken,Veal Cutlet, Hamburger Steak wth two vegetables-$7.00 to

$10.00 or more or more

1930′s Sam’s Barber Shop, I paid 25 or 35 cents for a hair cut –boys or men’s

2011 Average Barber Shop Hair Cut for Boys or Men $15.00 plus tip

Women’s hair cut and styling 1960′s $10.00

Women’s hair cut and styling 2011 $20.00 to $40.00

From 1959  to the LATE 80′s I owned and operate some small businesses. Some businesses produced healthy profits, while some did not do so well.

SMITH PHARMACY 2518 14TH STREET,N.W. WASHINGTON,D.C.

 I LEFT DISTRICT WHOLESALE DRUG 52 O STREET,N.W. WHERE I HAD WORKED FROM 1950 TO 1959, TO PURCHASE SMITH PHARMACY

A  “lending institution that assisted buyers of small businesses, that are not

operating today were the Ice Cream Companies. I was able to assume a loan

that the previous seller owned the Borden Ice Cream Company in the amount of approximately $5600 if I agreed to purchase all my ice cream

from their company. My brother Phil loaned me some money, and with a

small savings amount, I was able to purchase Smith Pharmacy.

 I worked long hours and made a good living from the date of purchase until

April 4, 1968, at which time Doctor King’s assassination triggered the D.C.

68 riot, at which time my drug store was burned down.

NEWS SPOT 1

 After working for another drug wholesaler, Drug Exchange, I purchased a

news stand, a 1828 L Street,N.W., around 1970, that sold magazines,newspapers, cold drinks, snacks, ice cream, health and beauty aids, ladies hose, pocketnovels,sandwiches, and pastry..

   Around 1973, I acquired, another news stand, Marbi’s 1730 Rhode Island Avenue from an estate,after the previous owner had passed away.As previously mentioned the landlord did not permit me to sell soda because he was worried that my sales would reduce the soda sales of a building

cafeteria. However, we were permitted to sell beer and wine.

After changing the name of Marbi’s to Stevensherry, I sold this news stand,

and opened Newspot 2 on 20th Street, N.W. between K and L Street,N.W.

Some time later, space in a Alexandria, Virginia building for another news

stand was available, which I rented around Washington and Duke.

The last news stand I opened was at 1910 K Street, N.W. I was able to

sell this business, but unfortunately the buyer neglected the proper operation and had to vacate the premises.

 I sold my existing news stands when an opportunity to purchase a larger business, arose—an approximate 1800 square foot gift shop in an Holiday

Day Inn hotel, that sold gifts, and many drug store health and beauty aids.

This gift shop was purchased in 1978. After a short period of time, I also

became an agent for Western Union, sending and receiving money transfers.

When the Atlantic City began to open gambling casinos, I had the 

opportunity to sell Bus tickets to some of the Atlantic City casinos.

This business did well, and after 7 years .I decided to take a break, and sold

the shop in 1985.

 I  will continue this history on my next post.

 When I operated my drug store, most customers called the owners and pharmacists “DOC”, probably because many customers needing advice about

which medications to purchase for colds, coughs, stomach problems etc.

www.lafrryrosen.org     May 24, 2011

   I previously posted some memories of growing up in S.W.

Washington, D.C. I recorded some of the following memories a

long tme ago.

   I arrived in SW D.C. at the age of four (4) from Cheyenne,

Wyoming where I was born,(a Jewish cowboy)where my Dad

had a “Stehleh” (job) as a schochet (ritual poultry slaughterer),

and mohel l(circumsized baby boys) per Jewish religion

practice.My Dad and Mother, brothers Phil and sam and my

sister Sarah all born in Palestine (now Israel) moved into the

premises vacated by theRetiring cantor Yoelson, father of the

famous well known entertainer Al Jolson, at 713 4 1/2 Street,

SW. My father placed a sign in the front window of our residence.

“A. Rosen Shocheet and Mohel from Jerusalem. I still recall

our brick rose with its black iron steps and small porch,which

was very outstanding, since most of our neighbors operated

retail stores.

On our left was Sam Hyatt, the barber,(hair cuts 35 cents), and

on our right Miller the sheet metal expert and later Friedman

the shoemaker.

On the same corner of our block 4th and G Street,SW was a

Sanitary grocery, and a gas station of the corner of H Street,SW.

I still remember Voronoff’s hardware with large rolls of oilcloth

flooring always displayed on the street in front of the store.

On the middle of the block there was Rosenberg’s pawn clothing

shop, and Pivenstein’s grocery. Across the street from our

home was Schneider’s hardware with its Xmas window always

displaying moving trains,Rubinstein’s candy store -snowballs

5 cents, and Sherman’s liquor store on the opposite corner of

the Sanitary grocery.Mr. Sherman always provided a radio with

loud speaker on the outside of his business that broadcast the

championship fights of the well known boxer, Joe Louis.

On most of the surroundings streets, a corner grocery was

located with the proprietors, living behind or on top of the

store.The grocery proprietors worked long hours, taking a

half a day break on Sundays. Many of the grocery owners

worked hard so that they possibly could save enough money

to send their children to college..

My father worked hard preparing kosher chickens, for 15 cents

which included the plucking of the feathers, and performing

circumcisions for $10.00,and $25.00 for more affluent Jewish

folks. My Dad was very active in our neighborhood  synagogue,

located at 467 E Street, SW,as the recording secretary,and

blowing the shofer, (ram’s horn) on the high holidays.

We enjoyed our home, even though gas jets in the walls

provided the lighting instead of electricity when when we first

moved in–later we were able to acquire electricity illumination.

A radio and large victrola,upright record player provided our

music not television. A close feeling existed between all the SW

residents. Afro Americans, then known as negroes and the SW

residents got along.

 Today the entire SW neighborhood is a beautiful area, having

had its area redeveloped,replacing all the older residences with

town houses, large office buildings, and a large super market

and drug store. The old neighboring waterfront  is also

scheduled to be completely replaced with modern structures.

Growing up in SW D.C. is one memory I will never forget.

WWW.LARRYROSEN.ORG MAY 13, 2001

     April 4, 1968 was a BAD day.

Doctor King’s sudden assasination triggered the DC 68 riot, at which time, my drug store, Smith’s Phamacy was burned down. Also at the same time my brother Phil’s recently constructed building at 7th and S Street, N.W.that was leased to a liquor store proprietor, was burned down. My Sam’s 5 & 10 at Georgia Avenue and Lamont Street, N.W.that he had owned and operated for 20 years  was completely looted.

  According to Wikipedia, 1200 buildings were burned down,including more than 90 stores. Damages reached 27 million dollars (big bucks in 1968)

The most informative book on the DC 68 riot,  “Ten Blocks from the Whitehouse by Ben Gilbert and the Washington Post staff records that most of the riot victims were the merchants, most of whom were Jewish. Most of the riot victims did not reopen their businesses.

   Looking back, I feel and believe that the DC federal and local authorities could have done a better job of protecting the DC merchants. Although history records that many riots had occurred in many major cities, they made no plans  fora possible  similar major disturbance in the nation’s capital.

  Instead of summoning the National Guard on Thursday, evening, April 4th

when the riot began, the DC and federal government phoned the National Guard on Friday afternoon, from gas station pay phones. The Guard arrived Friday night, to a city already in flames.

   In response to many questions, how I made out on insurance, the answer is not good, because there was no insurance for loss of good will, the livelihood value of business. A suggestion to Mayor Washington, that merchants be reimbursed for losses not covered by insurance such as good will was completely IGNORED.This motion was suggested by the then DC Council head, President John Hechinger.

Innocent victims of floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires, also oil spills, farmers who had a bad year have received final assistance from the government.

The DC 68 riot victims are still waiting for a BONE from the federal and local goveernment. WE received 0000.

   I have never forgot Warrant Officer Brown’s good deed, when he lent me money to help in purchasing a ticket for my airfare to D.C. for my father’s funeral. When I returned to Ft. Sill, I had obtained some cash from my brother,and repaid my debt to Mr.Brown. Some time after being discharged from the service, I attempted to locate Mr. Brown,through many sources, but probably because his name was so popular,it became difficult to find him.

 After returning to Camp Gruber,from our special duty at Ft. Sill, the word was out, that are division would be going overseas.Many of the Rainbow units were instructed to start packing their specialized equipment. The Rainbow infantry units sailed to Europe in the fall of 1944, and all the other units left the New York harbor on January 6,1945 arriving in Marseilles,France,January 18, 1945.I have previously described, our temporary quarters–CP 2-rows and rows of pup tents on cold,cold ground,and also the cities we were stationed, in France, Germany, and Austria. Our infantry units, went into combat without artillery support,which resulted in many casualties,both killed and wounded,and also many of our GI”s being captured by the Nazis when they engaged in combat around Strasbourg, France.

 Our artilllery personnel unit would set up a temporary “office” in different enemy homes, not too far from the 542d howitzers.

 As mentioned, units of our division entered and liberated the Dachau concentration camp on April 29, 1945.

  Our personnel unit was stationed in Austria most of the time after the completion of World War II. When my unit was stationed in St. Gilgen,Austria, I would often catch a ride with our mail truck on the week end to Salzburg,Austria. I had the opportunity to visit many Holocaust survivors in a DP (Displaced Persons) camp. Because I was able to speak Yiddish, I conversed with many of the survivors, and heard the unbelievable,horrible ,treatment, they received as captives of the Germans.

  Our personnel unit, computed the amount of points,based on longevity in the army service of  members of our battalion,which would determine, when they could begin their trip home. While we waited, the army made available,to the troops, furloughs to visit different European cities.

I received a V-mail letter from my brother letting me know, that we had an, Uncle, Aunt, and cousins in Aulnay Sous Bois, a small neighborhood near Paris. Some time near the end of 1945, another GI, received a furlough to Paris, and we were able to catch a train to my relatives’ home. Fortunately, I had studied french in high school and college, and was able to converse with my relatives.My Uncle and Aunt were in another area, but I did locate three cousins,(My uncle was my Dad’s brother who settled  in France many years ago)–My cousin David had been in the French army,and then captured by the Nazis–a cousin Bernard was about 15 years old,and my cousin Simone,was in the 20′s. I spent about 3 days visiting, and enjoying all their memories. We communicated after I returned to Austria and even in the U.S,but unfortunately we lost contact. When my son Stan, visited Paris, about three years ago, he  attempted to locate the relatives but was not able to find them.

   I also had the opportunity to visit Salzburg,which was a very interesting and beautiful city.

   Finally as indicated on another post, ,my 48 points made me elgible to begin my trip back to the US.

On April 4, 1946, at Ft. Meade, I received my discharge, and given a free fare for a bus back to Washington,D.C.. My mother had moved from my previous address.

   My brother Sam served in an Air Corp s recruitment location, and wasdischarged before me. I missed his wedding by 4 days