The President (Lincoln) at a peace conference in
Hampton Roads aboard the USS Baltimore.
Monticello Hotel
Downtown Norfolk
OV Park's Boardwalk
View from the OV Casino
A Good Day's Catch in OV
OV Booming!
Kiddie Train
Seen Robert Jones' photos?
ro@rkpuma.com |
When Virginia seceded the Union in April 1861, the first skirmish of the Civil War was on Virginia turf;
the Battle of Sewells Point. On May 8, President Lincoln
left Fort Monroe to view Confederacy posts aboard a tug. Confederates were
fortifying when the USS Monticello opened fire. A decision was made to
assault Norfolk at the Willoughby end of OV and was met with hostile fire.
The final regiment landed the next morning accompanied by Lincoln, Secretaries Salmon
Chase and Edwin Stanton, General John E. Wool and Brigadier General Egbert
Vičle (later military governor of Norfolk).
In 1855 the Ocean View Company was formed, purchasing 10 acres of
waterfront property to build a resort, which was promoted in advertising but the Civil War
temporarily slowed development; yet by 1880 as its reputation flourished and the railroad
connection was established, the Ocean View Railroad Company began construction on a
hotel, pavillions, cottages and what would become the Ocean View Amusement Park. By
1904, Richmond amusement entrepreneur Otto
Wells (Wells Theater, built in 1912 and served as the
flagship of forty theatres in the South, owned by Jake and Otto Wells) saw the financial
potential in existing structures. Wells purchased the facilities catapulting
business in the 1920's from the Chesapeake Bay to the moon! The park's roller coaster
at the turn of the century was much smaller compared to the one we remember;
the first "Leap-the-Dips" was destroyed by fire in 1914.
Seaplane rides (moonlighting pilots flew passengers along the shoreline)
were the thing in OV through the early 20's. Electric cars (trolleys) brought the crowds
to OV in 1929 when it wasn't unusual to catch several hundred fish (mostly, Spot) in an
hour's time; when hotels and cottages booked capacity holiday crowds. The park still
enjoyed great crowds through the forties and fifties; sadly the park suffered $˝-million
(a fortune in those days) in damages due to a fire in 1958.
 In
more modern times, we owe thanks to Dudley Cooper for providing
community families with complimentary ride tickets, for Little League, Scouting and Soap Box Derby participants. Reba Kiriluk in
appreciation, donated her beloved green parrot, "Pedro" to the park's Reptile
House (we wondered if a snake had it for lunch).
 We rode
the "Leap the Dips", the "Salt & Pepper Shaker", the "Bumpin'
Cars", the "Swing Ride", the "Tilt-a-Whirl", the kid-sized train
which did an oval lap in front of the Reptile House-- and who can forget the two Fun
Houses?  One with small (light blue enameled) boats navigating through a
dark (not spooky) circular canal with recessed windows illuminating a display as your boat
passed-- Old Mill, greeted you with an operational "Down by the Old Mill
Stream" waterwheel and mechanized Fat Lady in a polka-dot dress rocking
forward in laughter, inviting you in.
 The
other fun house, Laff in the Dark with red, high-backed settees (seating 2 - 4
fares depending on patron sizes) propelled by small wheels, which would stop abruptly in
front of skeletons with glowing red eyes, screams and such was "hosted" by
the Little Old Man, throwing his head back but, with a less maniacal laugh than his
associate (a liquor bottle in his back pocket, with red bandana kerchief). We'd have the
carney-guy guess our age, weight & height, before stepping on the huge, elaborate
scales; magic is hard to get in today's theme parks. The candy apples were unparalleled!
The last one we enjoyed?-- 1975, during a pregnancy
craving.
GHS Part XIV, hep-hep!
About the Nickel Tour
Historic Doumar Family photos
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