South Norfolk

By Raymond L. Harper

South Norfolk, Virginia, now a part of the bustling metropolis of Chesapeake, was once a small, close-knit community with sprawling farms and cozy locally-owned businesses. South Norfolk had its beginnings as a village. As population increased, it became a town, then a city of the second class, and finally, a city of the first class. By this time, South Norfolk was already offering residents a friendly, small-town identity in the midst of lovely homes, schools, and churches. Through vintage and present-day photographs, readers will experience the nostalgic and striking contrast between the world of old South Norfolk and the Chesapeake of today. Step back in time when life moved at a slower pace, and the community blossomed with friendship, trust, and goodwill. Meet prominent families such as the Portlocks and the Tilleys; travel dirt streets lined with horse-drawn wagons and a variety of vendors; walk the wintry snow-covered paths of beautiful Lakeside Park; visit the Grand Theatre, Jus Maid Ice Cream Store, Gornto's Bakery; or catch up with the gang at Preston's Pharmacy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Mar 19, 2003
• ISBN: 9781439629321

Raymond L. Harper

Author and local historian Raymond L. Harper celebrates the greater Chesapeake area of a bygone era, when the city wore a much different countenance and life moved at a much slower pace, through a fascinating selection of old photographs and postcards. Whether a longtime native who remembers the city under an assortment of different names and boundaries or a newcomer to Chesapeake, Norfolk County will prove an entertaining and educational addition to any library.

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1916.

INTRODUCTION

As a community, South Norfolk began to take shape in 1661 when the Southern Branch Chapel of the Church of England was built on a site between Scuffletown Creek and Jones’ Creek, in the vicinity of present-day Lakeside Park. Though there were settlers already in the area, the opening of the chapel marked the beginning of formal record-keeping of events such as births, deaths, and marriages.

Throughout the Colonial period and most of the 19th century, the area that would become South Norfolk consisted mostly of individual farms and plantations. There was also a large amount of marsh land and drainage ditches, some of which still exist today. At that time the entire south side was considered Berkley and in very early years South Norfolk was considered its suburb. By the time Berkley became a town in 1890, several homes had already been built in South Norfolk and developers began to make plans for its growth as early as 1889.

Prior to September 1919, South Norfolk was a flourishing community in the Washington District of Norfolk County. On September 19, 1919, the village of South Norfolk was incorporated as a town and on January 5, 1921, it became a second-class city. The Virginia constitution required that a city’s population reach 10,000 before it could qualify as first-class, and it was not until South Norfolk annexed the town of Portlock in 1950 that this requirement was met.

The growth of South Norfolk was rapid. Among the first industries to appear were the Roanoke Railroad and Lumber Company, the J.R. Young Fertilizer Company, and Robertson’s Chemical Company. Eventually the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River was lined with fertilizer and creosote plants, oil refineries, cement plants, and other industries that contributed to the pollution of the river over the years. Most of these industries are gone now, and the Army Corp of Engineers has since initiated The Elizabeth River Project in an attempt to clean up the portion of the river between Scuffletown Creek and the Jordan Bridge. Should this succeed, a larger effort to clean the entire river will ensue.

South Norfolk was a close-knit community and a wonderful place to grow up. There was always sure to be some exciting event taking place. In the summer, all the members of the local churches boarded a train and spent the day at Virginia Beach for the annual church picnic. Numerous ball games would also take place, offering good times to those who participated or attended. In the winter months, there were football games at Cascade Park and Baker’s Field and ice skating at either Lakeside Park or Johnson’s Pond. The less energetic might take a peaceful afternoon stroll along the paths of Lakeside Park or head to the Grand Theatre to see the continuing story of The Lone Ranger every Friday afternoon. After the movie, if you had a spare nickel, a visit to the Jus Maid Ice Cream store or Gornto’s Bakery was in order.

In the old days, vendors with horse-drawn wagons lined the streets. Some sold produce, fish, ice, coal, or just plain junk; others would grind scissors, sharpen knives, or repair umbrellas. At Mr. Tucker’s meat market, a Sunday roast could be purchased for 20 cents per pound,while five pounds of fish could be bought for a dollar at Mr. Spivey’s fish market. In our family of six, fish and hot cornbread usually made up the Friday evening