Railroad Inn's Brother Conway Passes

Arthur "Brother" Conway, owner of the shuttered Railroad Inn, passed away on Thursday, August 18th, 2011. Click here to see the death notice, calling hours and funeral details in the Washington Post. Click here to view or sign the guest book on the Robert E. Evans Funeral Home site.






Below is a collection of memories of Brother Conway and the Railroad Inn from the Bowie Blade-News.

• After 56 years, Old Bowie's Railroad Inn closes, Bowie Blade-News, July 6, 2006. You'll notice in this article that Brother Conway isn't quoted. I've heard that he generally disliked talking to the media.

• Take a dip into Railroad Inn famous pizza, bleu cheese, Bowie Blade-News, January 25, 2007.

• Readers' views, Bowie Blade-News, July 13, 2006.
  

Brother Conway

This is not a letter about politics, high gas prices or increases in electricity. This is about the passage of time and many memories of the robust gray-haired guy with a twinkle in his eye - Brother Conway - the owner of Railroad Inn.

When visiting Railroad Inn, children were always welcome, you were greeted with a big smile and escorted to a table in this family eating place. A recent Blade-News obit for Thelma Ameling, a longtime Bowie resident, highlighted her enjoyment of weekly dinners with friends at Railroad Inn.

Twenty years ago when our daughter got married, pizza was on the menu for her bridal luncheon. When our kids and their families return to town, Railroad Inn pizza was always on the list of do's. One pair of grandkids was convinced that Santa ate there and took a long route to the exit to avoid him. We have been regulars along with others for years. After dinner we sat back and my husband enjoyed a beer while Brother and I had coffee and solved worldly problems.

Railroad Inn along with our favorite "maitre-dooo" will be missed.

You can always visit the Brother's Railroad Inn at Independence, Kan.

LYLE & PAT VERBEEK
Glenn Dale



Bear's last call

On June 30, after 56 years of continuous service to the community, the Railroad Inn gave last call and closed its doors.

The family-owned restaurant has served generation after generation of Bowieites its famous pizza. It has been the meeting place for birthdays and weddings and funerals for almost as long as I've been alive and that is no small feat.

My name is Bear and I've tended bar there since 1977. Some of you might know me. I have been standing behind that bar since I was 28 years old; turned 30 behind it, then 40, 50 and seven more years to boot. I grew up there and it has been a part of my life for more than half of it. I've laughed and cried and flirted and socialized with people. Mostly, though, I opened beers for them and poured drinks and sold pints of liquor. If I told all the stories I knew, I'd have to leave town.

Don't worry, however, the secrets are safe with me. That is what a good bartender does. I just want to take this opportunity to thank each and every person I ever waited on or worked with in that old joint. Drive safely and be well. It's been a real pleasure having known each and every one of you. This chapter is closed and life in the "Smoke Laden Room" is gone but not the memories and good feelings I have about the good people of Bowie. I'll be around and we will see each other again, I hope. In the meantime, here's to ya.

BARRY HARRIS
Bowie

• Aunt Agatha on Politics, Bowie Blade-News July 13, 2006
  

Oh dear, the end of an era: The Railroad Inn has shut its doors in Old Bowie. Now that's a loss!

Auntie remembers the fare at Brother Conway's establishment with fondness. It was basic, reasonably priced food served with a smile (well, not by Brother, who was as cheerful as a winter blizzard) by the personable waitresses.

Not too many newcomers to Bowie will know about the eatery since Brother never advertised, refused all requests for interviews and had no signs pointing the way to the inn hidden behind a bank and adjacent to the railroad tracks.

But we old-timers will miss it. Auntie wishes Brother the best of luck in his leisure days.

Suicide Suspected in Old Bowie Death

The man found dead early Tuesday morning in the back room of the Villa Hermosa Grocery in Old Bowie appears to have committed suicide, according to preliminary findings from a Prince George's County Police investigation. Police believe that Margarito Herrera-Vivar of Bowie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The news must come as a relief to Old Bowie residents to know that there is not a killer on the loose.

Herrera-Vivar's death came three years and one day after realtor Samuel D’Costa was murdered in the basement of a home that sits less than 1000 feet from the Villa Hermosa Grocery. D'Costa's murder remains unsolved.

A City of Bowie police officer keeps watch over the Villa Hermosa Grocery Tuesday evening.

Additional details can be found by following these links:

• Update from WJZ 13
  
• Original Bowie Living post
• Gazette article on the Samuel D'Costa murder
  

Man Found Dead in Old Bowie

A Bowie man was found dead early Tuesday morning in the back room of the Villa Hermosa Grocery in Old Bowie. The cause of death is not yet known, but the tiny store is being treated as a crime scene.

A City of Bowie police officer keeps watch over the Villa Hermosa Grocery Tuesday evening.

Additional details can be found by following these links:

• Bowie Police Department's Unusual Occurrences Report (PDF)
  
• News Channel Eight
  
• The Washington Post's Crime Scene Blog
• Gazette article
  

Recession Special - $70,000 House Available in Bowie

A recent Washington Times article indicates that there are $350,000 bargain houses that can be found in the Greater Washington D.C. area. As proof, the article mentions a $350,000 short sale in Bowie.

The Bowie house is a 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath "custom-designed contemporary-style residence built in 2007." This house is located at 12905 7th Street in the Old Bowie section of town, and it originally sold for $520,000 in June, 2007.




Many streets in Old Bowie offer a non-homogeneous selection of houses. The following house can be found less than 200 feet down the road from the custom designed contemporary house.



The good news is that this home is available for a mere $70,000. Seller is even paying closing costs. The following comments can be seen on the MLS listing:

*****BUILDABLE TRIPLE WIDE LOT IN OLDE BOWIE*****PERMIT READY FOR PICKUP FROM PG COUNTY--PUBLIC WATER & SEWER--HOUSE ON LOT TO BE RAZED BY BUYER--QUIET DEAD END STREET!! START THAT DREAM HOME--THIS IS A PRICE BLOWOUT & SELLERS WILL PAY ALL CLOSING COSTS!!!!!!

The same street contains a mix of newer homes and split levels built during the 80s.

Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe in Old Bowie

UPDATE: Simple Pleasures is Moving the first week of July, 2010. Read the story by clicking here.
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If you want ice cream in Bowie, you can always go to Cold Stone Creamery, Baskin-Robbins, Rita's or Dairy Queen. But if you want good homemade ice cream, you have to go to Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe.

Simple Pleasures is located in the back of the Bowie Antique Depot in Old Bowie's antique district - 13015 9th St (Route 564) - across from the post office and fire station. They have a small seating area. You can walk through the antique store to get to Simple Pleasures, or you can use the back entrance. The Simple Pleasures space was once occupied by the Retro Tea Room.

You can click here to learn more about Simple Pleasure's dessert offerings. They also sell soups, salads and sandwiches.

The restaurant is family owned and operated - a plus if you like to give your business to the little guys.

They also take their business on the road. In the past, they brought their ice cream cart to various events in Bowie. This summer they can be found at the Cheverly Community Market on Saturdays, and at the Greenbelt Farmers Market on Sundays.

I've made the mistake of going to Simple Pleasures on a Monday, and they were closed. The latest hours posted in the store indicate that they are only open Wednesday through Sunday - 12:30pm to 8:00, except they close at 7:00pm on Sundays. They have Winter hours from October through April, closing at 7:00pm each night that they're open.

Bowie Antique Depot storefront.

In case you forget about Simple Pleasures, they put out this giant ice cream treat to remind you.

Here's the cart that they take on the road. The back entrance can be seen on the right, and there are parking spaces out back.

The dessert menu.

Old Town Bowie Saturday Concerts in the Park

The free 2009 Concerts in the Park series opened Saturday at the Town Green Park in "old" Bowie with a performance by Joe Tichy. Concerts are from 2:00pm to 4:00 on Saturdays throughout the summer. The complete schedule can be found on the City of Bowie Web site. Pictures from the first concert can be seen below.

Bowie also hosts a Sunday concert series from 7:00pm to 8:00 at Allen Pond Park. A schedule is on the City of Bowie Web site, but that schedule doesn't appear to be complete.

This year's Saturday series will once again feature Project Natale.

We attended a Project Natale performance at Town Green Park several years ago. My daughter was not quite two years old at the time. She picked up a stick, and she tried to imitate drummer Lou Natale. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Lou thanked her by giving her a pair of his drumsticks. Great music. Nice people.

Noticeably absent from this year's line-up is Jericho Bridge. If you get a chance, it's worth checking out their CD, Bluegrass with a Twist. Have you ever known any bluegrass band to cover Pink Floyd, the Beatles and Tom Waits - all on the same album?

And while you're at the concert, you have to stop by Simple Pleasures for an ice cream, Italian ice or lunch. Watch for a posting on Simple Pleasures.

Joe Tichy

With several dogs present, this cat watches the show safely from behind the fence near the post office.

The plaque reads:

TOWN GREEN

This area was home to farmers and large estates until it was subdivided in 1870 as a town site called Huntington City. In 1871, the Bowie Station opened here as a junction center of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad. The rail line between Baltimore and Pope's Creek provided a market for Southern Maryland seafood and produce.

The town was incorporated in 1916 and named Bowie after Oden Bowie, a former governor of Maryland (1869-1872) who was instrumental in chartering the railroad.

Dedicated by the City of Bowie, 1985.