I remember before the levees and flood control along the Anacostia River branch, the deluge of rain from Hurricane Hazel (October of 1954) swelled the river to where it covered the 38th Street bridge, and the water was halfway up the concrete side rails.

The Peace Cross intersection was totally under water and Red Cross workers were evacuating people in row boats. I believe it was then that the original Cross Roads night club burned down to the water line. I was just a kid then, but I remember the talk was that the owner burned the club down to collect the insurance payoff.