In Part 1 of the interview, Alice and Loretta Tate, mother and daughter, talks about life in the Marshall Heights community., Alice Tate is native Washingtonian that spent the majority of her childhood in Marshall Heights. She lived on one of the few farms in the neighborhood. She worked for the federal government and also raised her children in the Marshall Heights neighborhood. Mrs. Tate is an avid church-goer and a devout Christian. Loretta Tate is a native Washingtonian and was born and raised in the Marshall Heights community. She is daughter of Alice Tate. She is the former Chair of the Marshall Heights Civic Association and was instrumental in the start up of the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization and bring other resources to the community. Ms. Tate is Sunday school teacher and continues to live in the neighborhood.
In this Part 1 Interview, Debbie Thomas talks about growing up on C Street, memories about the Marshall Heights community during her childhood, and life after retirement., Debbie Thomas, born Debbie White is a native Washingtonian. She still lives in the house where she was born. Mrs. White worked for the Newspaper Guild and after her retirement, dedicated her time to working with elementary schools in a program that reads to students in various languages. Mrs. Thomas helps organize an annual Central Ave reunion of neighbors that grew up in the community. The Thomas lost their son, Chris Thomas, to gun violence on C Street SE.
Dr. Rutherford, 'DOC,' speaks about his life long passion of education. Dr. Rutherford was the principal of Fletcher-Johnson School in the Marshall Heights neighborhood., Dr. Rutherford was born in West Virginia. At an early age, his sister inspired him to pursue his education. After returning from college, he came to the District as a physical education teacher. The school administration recognized his commitment to and effectiveness with the students and continued to be promoted eventually rising to an Assistant Principal and finally as the Principal of Fletcher-Johnson all while earning his PhD. Dr. Rutherford has a wife and three children.
Chris Squier discusses Jacobsen and Heurich family history and legacies, Chris’s experiences growing up in New Jersey and visiting his family in Washington, D.C., his college years, his career in the beer industry, his interpretation of the American Dream means and how it is changing. Chris shares memories of his grandfather Charles J. Jacobsen, a career Air Force officer, and stories of his great-grandfather Christian F. Jacobsen, who had a long and successful career as a banker at Metropolitan Bank in Washington, D.C. Also discussion about his role as the “keeper” of family history and legacies and his interest in learning more about that history., Christian (Chris) Squier was born in 1965 to Donald Squier and Karla Jacobsen Squier. On his mother Karla’s side, he is descended from Elizabeth Heurich Jacobsen, Christian Heurich’s sister. He grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey and visited his extended family in Washington, D.C. often for holidays. He attended Pfeiffer College in North Carolina, where he played lacrosse. He eventually settled in the Charlotte area where he raised two daughters and built a career as a beer marketer and salesperson at Anheuser-Busch before working as a regional sales manager at Craft Brew Alliance, where he was employed at the time of the oral history interview. Chris is interested in learning more about his family history on the Jacobsen-Heurich side and collects bottles, labels, and other items from the Christian Heurich Brewing Company and the Arlington Bottling Company. During the early – mid twentieth century, the Jacobsen family were important entrepreneurs, bankers, and members of Washington society. At the turn of the twentieth century, they owned the Arlington Bottling Company, which bottled the beer that the Christian Heurich Brewing Company produced. Other Jacobsen family businesses included a laundry business, Ford dealership, hotel, and florist shop in the Willard Hotel.
Discusses Jan’s childhood and schooling in Washington, D.C., her recollections of the brewery as a male-dominated sphere, her memories of visiting and staying with her grandparents Christian and Amelia Heurich, and her relationship with Amelia in particular. Also discusses memories and stories from her mother, Karla. Includes discussion about German heritage, Christian’s immigration and American Dream story, and the long history of military service in her family., Jan Allison Evans was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 22, 1932 to Karla Heurich and Charles King, who was killed at Normandy during World War II. Her grandparents on her mother’s side were Christian and Amelia Heurich. Jan was an “army brat” who spent time in different places growing up but had strong connections to Washington, D.C., and to her grandparents, especially Amelia. She graduated high school from the Cathedral School while living with her aunt Anita in Washington, as her mother and stepfather were stationed in Japan, where Jan had also lived for a year. While in Japan, she met her future husband, Lt. Benjamin Crabbs Evans Junior, with whom she had two daughters - Karla and Louise. Her engagement to Evans was announced at the annual Christmas Party at the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. by her uncle, Chris Heurich, Jr. Jan was active in local Republican politics and has served on numerous boards and committees, including the American Red Cross. Jan, along with her cousin Gary Heurich, was largely responsible for establishing the Heurich House Museum. Today she lives at the Fox Hill Residences in Bethesda, Maryland.
In Part 2 of this interview, Mrs. White talks about growing up in the Marshall Heights community. Mr. White talks about his initial perspective of the Marshall Heights community., Debbie Thomas, born Debbie White is a native Washingtonian. She still lives in the house where she was born. Mrs. White worked for the Newspaper Guild and after her retirement, dedicated her time to working with elementary schools in a program that reads to students in various languages. Mrs. Thomas helps organize an annual Central Ave reunion of neighbors that grew up in the community. The Thomas lost their son, Chris Thomas, to gun violence on C Street SE. Charles Thomas is a native Washingtonian. He worked on various construction projects in the District of Columbia, including helping with the construction of Southern Ave. The Thomas lost their son, Chris Thomas, to gun violence on C Street SE.
In this interview, Vannie Kirby talks about moving to Petworth in Washington, D.C. from North Carolina and raising her children in Fort Totten. She recalls her own childhood in North Carolina and attending Cortez Peters Business School after coming to D.C. Kirby compares and contrasts the neighborhood from when she and her husband moved there in 1964 and how it is at the time she gave this interview. She speaks about shopping downtown, the Fort Totten Civic Association, and changes brought by the Metro., Vannie Kirby was born in Rockingham, North Carolina and moved to Washington, DC to attend business school. Mrs. Kirby and her husband moved to the Fort Totten neighborhood in 1964. She attended Cortez Peters Business School for two years and worked for the Department of Public Health for 31 years. As of this interview, she continues to reside in the Fort Totten area.
