Annandale Retrospective
The Year Was 1950
By: M. Callahan
GOVERMENT:
US President: Harry S. Truman
VA Governor: John S. Battle
US Senators from VA: Harry F. Byrd & Absalom W. Robertson
Chief Justice US Supreme Court: Frederick M. Vinson
Speaker of the House: Sam Rayburn of Texas
MAJOR EVENTS:
Korean War begins on June 25th
US develops first hydrogen bomb.
Spy Alger Hiss convicted of perjury.
Era of McCarthism begins.
AWARDS & PRIZES:
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Ralph J. Bunche, USA
Nobel Prize for Literature: Bertrand Russell
Academy Award Movie of the Year: All About Eve
Best Actor: Jose Ferrer, Cyrano de Bergerac
Best Actress: Judy Holiday, Born Yesterday


SPORTS:
NBA Championship: Minneapolis Lakers over Syracuse 4-2
NCAA Football Champions: Oklahoma 10-1-0
World Series: New York Yankees (4) v. Philadelphia Phillies (0)
Kentucky Derby Champion: Middleground
Heisman Trophy: Vic Janowicz, Ohio State
EVERYDAY LIFE:
Charles Schulz introduces Peanuts.
The first Xerox machine is produced.
First modern credit card is introduced.
Gasoline cost $.22 per gallon.
A gallon of milk cost $.82.
First Class Stamp: $.03
Average annual income was $3,216.00
Amount it took to equal $1.00 today: $2.43.
DEATHS:
Al Jolson
George Orwell

ANNANDALE IN 1950:
Annandale enjoyed a downtown shopping area centered around the intersection of Little River Turnpike, Annandale Road, and Columbia Pike. The following stores provided an interesting blend of products and services readily available to local residents. There was a better variety of retail in 1950 Annandale than there is now.


Annandale Community Cab
Pike’s Pickins Hobby & Gift Shop
Annandale Jewelers
Annandale Barber Shop
Annandale Beauty Salon & Kiddie Shop
Mason Hirst Real Estate
E.K. Uhler & Co. Insurance
Mike's Barber Shop
C. Douglas Adams Attorney
Lord Fairfax Service Station
Martin T. Webb, Real Estate
E.W. Long & Sons Plumbing & Shoe Repair
McWhorter & Associates, Surveyors & Developers
Willis Service Station and Edsel Dealership
Tony's Market
Jay's Family Clotheirs
Mettauer Bros. Service Station
Frank's Caterette
Jack Ange Plumbing & Heating Contractor
Mill Creek Park Development Co.
Reproduction of this article or photographs requires written permission of the author.
(Copyright © 2026 Annandale Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. (Photographs & images, on this page, and on this website, are not available for use by other publications, blogs, individuals, websites, or social media sites.)







