'We Were Violetville Teens in the 1970s'

Whoever said that you can't go home again has never met Phillis Phillips Beach. 

Beach has not only moved back to Violetville after being away for years, but she also hosts a happy hour gathering once a month at Kibby's Restaurant, on Wilkens Ave., that attracts many old friends who have moved away from the old neighborhood.

It all began when Beach and her friend Terry Ross started a Facebook group called "We Were Violetville Teens of the 1970s" about 18 months ago. 

"We only had about six people at the first happy hour," Beach said.  "Now we can have as many as 60 people show up."

About 25 people showed up to the happy hour on Friday night.

The Facebook group has grown to 216 members.

"People we have not seen in 30 years show up," Beach said.

The "We Were Violetville Teens in the 1970s" group held a picnic at the Patapsco State Park last summer and they plan on holding one again this year.

At Friday's happy hour, the group was offering a 50-50 raffle with proceeds going to Albert Snyder, whose son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, died in the Iraq War, and whose funeral was protested against by the Westboro Baptist Church.

 Albert Snyder used to live in Violetville.  Beach said his sister is a member of the "We Were Violetville Teens in the 1970's" group.

"We are planning a dance to benefit the Snyder family," Beach said.

Not everyone at Friday night's happy hour was a teen in Violetville in the 1970s.

Paul Gill, who declined to give his age, used to own Judy G's sub shop on the corner of Coolidge Ave. and Haverhill Rd. It was a popular hangout for the kids of Violetville in the 1970's.

"They were good kids...for the most part," Gill said with a smile.
 
Gill, who is active in Violetville events and is a past president of the Violetville Community Association, said he has lived in the community for about 40 years. 

"This is the kind of neighborhood where generation after generation of families live," Gill said.

Ross, the co-founder of the Facebook group, now lives in Linthicum, but said "my heart is always in Violetville". 

"My sister lives in my parent's house in Violetville," Ross said.

Johnny May said he recently returned to the area after moving to Las Vegas in 1994.  He is looking to move back into Violetville.  "My mother still lives in Violetville."

Beach moved to Perry Hall in 1999.  She moved back into a house in Violetville three months ago.

Beach said, "Don't let anyone tell you that you can't go home.  You can.  I did."