Above,
the Hotel Willoughby-- another namesake of Captain
Willoughby. The hotel had a pier and seafood --the specialty of its restaurant.
The Jamestown Expo likely spawned the hotel. It was
situated at 946 WOV. Brick apartments there today (at right) were
built in the late 70's, a good while after a twin across the parking lot (938). Enlarge
the above right photo and note the two left sections of the hotel-- the two
were still standing in the 1970s, having been converted to apartments. Dear friend and
artist, Maggie (now Annie Moon) lived
there in 1977. We know this because "moi" (RK) sat in her
hammock on her birthday-- when another friend joined me --the hammock broke and we fell
six feet to the sand (from between the two posts at far left facing the beach).
We weren't seriously hurt but some serious wind was knocked out of the
"boat" of us-- you don't sumpin' like that. In the photo, note Maggie standing
off the curb --because with the exception of Aaron, we were all taller-- she's a
hoot. Note also, in the spot we were standing, there is now a dumpster. Progress (sigh).
We recall also that Maggie once lived in another hotel converted to apartments on OV
beach-- at the foot of the Chesapeake Street-- there was once a lounge in it called
"Hotel California", facing the bay, left of the stoplight. Anyone
remember the name of that one?
The Willoughby Hotel not far from American Legion Post 35 (right/photo
taken Memorial Day weekend, 2004). Architectural similarities are comparable.
Incidentally, the Legion post itself, was also a Boys Club about twenty years ago,
and we recall Willoughby boys and girls played raucously in an indoor pool. The old
building couldn't withstand such activity, so the Legion reclaimed it, and it is
unavailable for most functions, today.
Famed hotel Nansemond,
located just past First View going due west, was apparently named for the Nansemond
Indians who drove out Captain John Smith in 1607. There was also a cottage in
OV, of the same name (at right). Most of our Nansemond e-mail focuses on Operation Torch.
Of three task forces during 
WW2, the Western Force was commanded by Rear
Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, who with staff in 1942, prepared for the operation at the
Nansemond. They were to land some 35,000 troops and 250 tanks of General Patton's
Western Task Force at various points on the Atlantic coast of Africa. 
A busy time
for the Nansemond, no doubt. Growing up in the fifties, our first distinction for the
Nansemond is that before it severely declined, it was home for many professional wrestlers
of the day, peers of Gorgeous
George or OV local Lou Thesz.
Many recall the Nansemond's
destruction by fire, in 1980. The popular hotel built in 1907 by the Bakers, was gone. We
all owe dear Mr. Davenport for those images
crediting him. According to Dudley Cooper the Wells brothers
(Otto and Jake) were the original owners of the consolidated OV Park area... "He
owned the property towards the west of the amusement park and built a hotel known as the
Nansemond Hotel, and that's how that came into being..."
We tend to agree with Norfolk Public Library
historians that...
"Mr. & Mrs. C.A. Baker opened their residence to lodge a few
out-of-town visitors to the Jamestown Exposition. The Bakers so enjoyed the innkeeping
business that they added 15 rooms to their home and christened it The Nansemond..."
--and assume that the Nansemond cottage (above
the Hotel Fire image) figured into this in some way. In our research we discovered
a very rare image (above right) of the "early Nansemond" gateway.
Somewhere in the same vicinity
(closer to First View) of the Nansemond, was the Woodhouse Cottage.
Once, we received an email from someone asserting to be a descendant of Grace Woodhouse.
We recall dear Sally Mount & Andy Anderson-- when the Hotel
Pinecrest was obviously converted to apartments. It was located across from OV Golf
& Senior Center, across from "A&P" Beach.
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