Early Work in Aviation 39 



You didn't really find it inconvenient living in Dahlgren? 

 No indeed. I loved the country. 



/ think the Potomac was your primary connection with Washington, wasn't it? 



For material, yes. All the big guns that came in had to be brought down on a 

 lighter, and then they had two oversize tugs that made trips baf k and forth to 

 Washington by Indian Head. Any passenger or express packages went on the 

 tugs. 



Also, wasn't there a practice of taking the officers' unves to Baltimore or Washington to go 

 shopping! 



They had one car each week which went on shopping trips. When Dahlgren 

 was really opened in 1918, all they had was a little country store here, and they 

 couldn't handle the people. They had a cracker barrel which the cat slept 

 in — things like that. So people, both military and civilian, who were assigned to 

 Dahlgren and lived on the base took up some funds to start their own store. The 

 store was where it is right now. Of course, it was small compared with what we 

 now know the commissary to be. They expanded their wares all the time, and it 

 was good shopping. But the women wanted clothing and things used for 

 sewing, so there would be one trip a week to Washington. Sometimes, the 

 Captain or some officer would have to go up for a conference. When the car 

 went, they were permitted to take one or two wives with them. They would get a 



lE^ IIS IH 



ane ramp and hangar at Dahlgren in April 1920. I'lic hru-iiio; M-apla)if ni the 

 hangar was protected by the latest in canvas doors. 



