Quicksilver Times Vol.II, No.15 (June 23-July3, 1970)

Washington DC: Quicksilver Times, Inc. Good+. June 23-July3, 1970. Self Wrappers. 24 pp. pages; Newsprint, tabloid format. Wrappers worn, with hole and minor loss at the center of the fold. This issue has been folded once at the centerline. No postmarks, address labels, etc. Somewhat browned, toned, and fragile, as usual. This issue of one of the mainstays of the DC underground press during its Anti-War heyday is of particular interest. Not for the cover story, an account of the "Revolutionary Peoples' Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, PA September 7, 1970." But rather for the story taking up the whole of page 11, with two photographs: "C.I.A. Training Center Uncovered." An account of activities at 3222 M Street, North West -- in the heart of commercial Georgetown. A connection with American University is discussed. Neither the story nor the two photographs are credited. It is well known that one of the main members of the collective which wrote, illustrated, and assembled the issues of 'Quicksilver Times' during its three-year run was one "Sal Torey" -- now thought to have been a pseudonym for Salvatore John “Sal” Ferrera. A modern website, easily found by google describes him as a Chicago native with Beatles-style hair, a nervous demeanor and a master’s degree from Loyola University (his thesis was on Marxism). He was also a CIA spy." The building illustrated would have been described by officialdom at the time of publication as the home of the "United States Defense Communications Annex E." One hundred years before, the building had been stables for the first horsecar line for Georgetown -- the Washington and Georgetown Railroad. It was later converted into a machine shop for streetcars. Now it is part of the legal mess that was once the thriving upscale shopping center, Georgetown Park. In one of history's odd coincidences, this site was not the only M Street former streetcar structure which had a past involvement with Intelligence work. Interested parties might turn their attention to the Capital Traction Company building -- further down M Street just beyond Key Bridge. After the streetcars no longer required this huge structure, at least part of it was rented to the CIA, who used it as headquarters for their "International Police Academy" training center -- and who knows what else? .