Older Americans Month may be over but we can't contain our extraordinary Villagers to just one month! So many members and volunteers are Flipping the Script on aging, that we will continue to share their stories. Each of them are breaking the stereotypes of aging by demonstrating their contributions to their communities, staying active and engaged, and embracing opportunities for purpose, exploration, and connection that come with getting older.

Ed Hayes and his wife Alice
with the the call box
commemorating Vera Rubin

Iron Guardians in Chevy Chase Village, DC
By Ed Hayes

Strong, Tall, Sturdy. The iron guardians have stood fixed in their spots for more than a century. They were placed there, in corners of DC's Chevy Chase Village. They were put there as police and fire call boxes for the protection of the residents in the community.

The blue boxes, with the spikes extended and with a ball on top, were used to advise the police that assistance was needed. The red boxes, with their rounded tops, sent alerts to the fire men that they were needed with their trucks. The guardians were dependable, but, with age, they became rusty and corroded. They were always reliable but new technology surpassed them. Telephones became plentiful, efficient, and a faster way to send out alarms. In the 1970's, they were replaced by the 911 telephone system. From 2000 to 2019 DC had a Cultural tourism program and a Commission of the Arts and Humanities that had the mission of restoring the boxes but neither program reached up to Chevy Chase in the far west corner of DC and the programs were terminated.

Fortunately, the community organization Historic Chevy Chase DC took notice of the blighted condition of the boxes and developed a program to restore them as beautiful artistic works of art in our community. Wanting the restoration to be a community project, the organization obtained the joint participation of community organizations including Ch/ART (Chevy Chase Art), Chevy Chase Main Street (District Bridges), Chevy Chase Community Association, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4G, and Little Beast Cafe & Bistro.

Closeup of Dr Rubin's callbox

There are two restored boxes just south of the Chevy Chase Circle, guarding entrance into and out of the city, just across from the historic trolley depot. There is a box at 32^nd and Jocelyn that guards those that are exiting out of or entering into Rock Creek Park. Another is on the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Morrison Street. It guards the historic arcade, one of the first in the country, and the PNC Bank Building which has been designated historic by the District of Columbia. Another at 32^nd and Jocelyn which highlights the work of Vera Rubin and her associate Kent Ford; they are the discoverers of Dark Matter in space. She lived in Chevy Chase and worked at the Carnegie Institute which has a building at the site. Carnegie was also a financial partner in the development of the Outer Space Box. This box has beautiful mosaic art which was developed by local artists Danielle Feuillan and Laura McCarron, along with Sharon McCarron.

The most recently restored call box is at 33^rd and Rittenhouse, which guards the students of Lafayette Elementary School and is dedicated to Walter Tobriner, who served as president of the DC Board of Commissioners, chairman of the Board of Education, member of the Lafayette School PTA, and a fighter who worked with others to win the right for all DC residents to vote.

With additional financial assistance, HCCDC hopes to develop more boxes, perhaps a salute to the numerous civil rights figures, artists, political leaders, and others who have lived in our community and have contributed to our city and beyond. The good news is that our metal guardians, standing proud, will be here to continue protecting and encouraging all of us.