To view "Norfolk in the 50's", go to the map!

Downtown Ocean View ([click above/middle to enlarge] circa early 40's from atop the roller coaster) as seen from Ocean View Park heading toward Willoughby, First View & Ocean View, starting lower right: Southern Bank of Norfolk (later home of Mamma's Italian Kitchen), Nansemond Hotel, Myer's Hotel, New Richmond, Griswold's Pharmacy which was certainly connected to Griswold's Hardware --today, the home of the Thirsty Camel (with upstairs doctor's offices across from the Rexall & Ocean View Chamber of Commerce: President Jack Griswold (<==click photo left to enl); Treasurer Howard Williford; Secretary Grace Sumner), later known as Florence Drug Store, Ted's Nut Shop, Idle Hour Restaurant (later, Joe Philly's), Ocean View Boxing Arena, Dixie Hotel, Poy's Chinese Restaurant; not visible are the Rosele Theater and the Picadilly.

To save 15¢ at the Rosele Theater, though double features were only a quarter and boxed popcorn a dime, we'd walk around the corner onto First View before the show, up a block to the Rosy's 5&10¢ Store, for a tall bag of popcorn, up the seasoned hardwood floor aisle, to pay only a nickel. We do know that the Rose's five & dimes were connected to Center Shops (Wards Corner, downtown, 21st St near MacIntosh Photography where all Granby Seniors had their graduate portraits done) --in that Paul H. Rose who founded Roses --was also founder of the Center Shops and being familiar with Wards Corner, you must recall the Center Shops (approximately where Uncle Louie's is now). We recall the portrait of Mr. Rose hanging in an area to be seen on the escalator-- and how all the high school kids would spit on it riding down to the first floor. You could see the evidence without anyone pointing it out. But it was a wonderful store, not as pricey as Rices or Smith & Welton (but well above the discount stores that moved into the area biting into his business, and probably why he went in to Roses (Discount) Stores) --Mr. Rose was in that elite circle called FFV (a first family of Virginia) which means these families were affluent and influential and had old Virginia $. Speaking of' savings, it's no wonder Dollar Tree (see Doug Perry) is making a killing in our current economy.

To view 1950 street layouts and proposed sites, go to enlargement. Click thumbnail at right, but before going to enlargement: so that map details may be fully appreciated, you may want to go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Display/Settings/Screen Area and choose 1024 by 768 pixels for best viewing.

Norfolk Annual Report, 1950 The report included the following issues:

Civil Defense: A Regional Defense Council in Norfolk will be divided into 36 defense districts. Each will have headquarters and will be commanded by responsible citizens of the neighborhood.

Education: Architect's concept of elementary schools to be erected for Negroes in Roberts Park and for Whites in Ocean View and Bay View.

Parks: Council approved $33,000 for development of Norfolk Municipal (Botanical) Gardens.

Planning: Supply of planning funds to NRHA; completion of comprehensive study of Norfolk slums.

Health: Norfolk tightens control on TB; war declared on illegal dumping.

Port Authority: Create interest in international trade; encourage development of additional facilities and services.

Welfare: Integrated services, Social Service Bureau.

Police: Bureau of Central Records  and Communications speed operations and facilitates planning.

Fire: Norfolk's largest hotel installs sprinkler system (the Monticello, at a cost of $75,000).

Recreation: Department of Parks & Recreation organized.

Finance: (budget) Schools $3,473,000; Parks/Recreation $776,000; Relief/Courts/Prison $2,965,000; Debt $2,595,000; Police/Fire $2,583,000; Streets/Sewers/Water $2,315,000; Administration $707,000; Health $592,000; Capital Fund $550,000; Emergency Reserve $540,000; Port/Airport Development $75,000.

Water: Completion of $13,000,000 to give Norfolk adequate water supply until 1975.

Public Safety: Cottage Toll Road improvements to be made (from Lafayette Blvd to Virginian RR) widened/concrete pavement.

Proposals: Hague, City Park and Forest Lawn Cemetery beautification; a bridge or tunnel or combination of the two, between Norfolk and the Peninsula (estimated cost of $22,000,000) since ferry transport is no longer adequate; City Farm Prison, separate detention facilities for juveniles from prison population; Norfolk Civic Center grouping of City, State and Federal offices; Four-year college study for Norfolk/Portsmouth area.

Ocean View suffering: "Them Changes" - Part XXII

        
Family shots, circa 1953, "11th Stop" Willoughby Spit

About the Nickel Tour  rk@rkpuma.com