Norfolk: 1959 Annexation & 1988 Acquisition

"At the west end of Poplar Hall Drive just beyond the white, split-rail fences and down the narrow, oyster shell driveway, are 12 acres of tranquility belonging to 200 years ago." In February 1761, The Hoggard family bought the 200 acres along Broad Creek from Lewis Thelaball for 235 pounds sterling. They built a slate-roofed, brick Georgian brick home there shortly afterward., overlooking Broad Creek. On both sides of the historic home are groves of stately trees which lend an air of rural tranquility. The tract was known for its stately poplar trees, which were said to have been planted as a symbol of loyalty to the British crown. Local historical accounts note that its Broad Creek waterfront was the site of one of the first three shipyards in America. The Hoggard family owned the farm from about 1799 until 1952.

During the Revolutionary War, British troops were quartered in Poplar Hall. They returned during the War of 1812, when they burned three ships and broke into the closets in the house. During the yellow fever epidemic of 1854, many Norfolk families sought refuge with the Hoggard family, and Poplar Hall's lawn was covered with tents. During the Civil War a garrison of 16 Union troops and an officer were living on the plantation. The Union forces correctly suspected that blockade runners were using Broad Creek, and they attempted to stop the evasions. Union troops seized the meat in the smokehouse and hauled it away by boat. Lucy Hopper, a slave, intercepted some of the provisions on their way to the boat and hid what she could for the family's use. Lucy also smuggled food to Horatio Cornick Hoggard, a Confederate soldier who hid in the woods when he came home on furlough and found Union soldiers on the grounds. Except for raiding the food stores of the plantation, the Union troops did no harm. The acres then, "sort of dozed off for more than a century, undisturbed by the outward push of Norfolk...," until 1952 when it was sold to William B. Copeland. The Poplar Hall neighborhood took its name from the old homestead.

The original water system in Norfolk was begun in 1872. The first system used Lake Wright as a reservoir and contained a pumping station, a 31,000 foot water main, and a distribution system of 61,000 feet of pipe. A brick pumping station was constructed on the site in 1899. A plaque on the site of this structure indicates that Elbert Tatterson was the builder. In 1920 the pumping station was completely overhauled; it has since been upgraded numerous times. Several newer buildings have been added to the complex.

"In the mid-1950'a, Norfolk suburban residential subdivisions seemed to be going up faster than the developers could find names for them. When they struck a name that met the public's fancy, they used it repeatedly. One such name is Camellia." Camellia Homes, named after one of the area's favorite flowering shrubs, was developed in 1954 by the Brody Organization. Camellia Shores and Camellia Acres are south of East Little Creek Road, east of Azalea Garden Road, west of Shore Drive and north of Lake Whitehurst. Across the lake is Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and just beyond is the Norfolk International Airport. The main east-west thoroughfare in Camellia Shores is Heutte Drive, named for the late Fred Heutte, probably the area's best known horticulturist. Camellia Road is the major artery, running north-south through Camellia Gardens.

The homes were conventional ranch designs of brick trimmed in cypress. The developers, Julian L Rashkind and Martin L. Rosen, associates of the Brody Organization, were pioneers in the then new trend of indoor-outdoor living. They were convinced that the new trend would prove popular here because of clement weather and the moderate temperatures prevailing through so many months of the year. The architect, E. Tucker Carlton, designed the homes to keep pace with this trend emphasizing indoor-outdoor living. All of the homes were served by fenced-in and screened patio areas. The patios, enclosed in woven masonite screening, were equipped with concrete stepping stones. The three-bedroom homes contained 1,505 square feet of floor space, not including the fenced-in and screened patio area, carport and adjoining utility room. Lot sizes ranged from 75-by-100 feet to 75-by-200 feet. There were two floor plans, each with three different exterior designs. Another innovation for the area was the "flex-wall," which could be folded to make space for one of the bedrooms available as part of the living room. With the flex-wall open, the space can become a den or bedroom or alternately a den or bedroom and part of the living room with the right furniture.

The Brody Organization was the first to use brick in the construction of moderately priced homes and went on to introduce the one and one-half story brick construction in the same price range. It also scored a first in the use of Tennessee crab orchard ornamental stone, aluminum awning-type windows, and baseboard water heat in lower cost homes. Also, in developing Wexford Terrace, they built the first split level home in this area and incorporated air conditioning into the construction phase for another first. North Camellia Acres is the northernmost of the Camellia neighborhoods. This is the one north of East Little Creek Road -- and north of Camellia Gardens -- that extends into Little Creek. Architecturally, the predominant designs are one-story, brick bungalows and ranchers, but there is also a generous sprinkling of split levels. The homes built in November 1958 in the 40 acres known as Camellia Gardens were featured in seven architectural styles, including that years Better Homes and Gardens design.

The boundaries of the 1959 annexation in modern terms are: Bounded on the north by the Chesapeake Bay, on the east by Little Creek, Lake Whitehurst, Lake Taylor, and the City of Virginia Beach. Bounded on the south by the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River. And bounded on the west by Broad Creek, roughly extending east in an arc from Broad Creek to Lake Wright. From Lake Wright, the boundary roughly extends northwest to Lake Whitehurst at around Robin Hood Road, and from that point extends west to the intersection of Military Highway and Azalea Garden Road. From this intersection, the boundary continues along Military Highway, terminating at Little Creek.

In 1988, the councils of the City of Norfolk, and the City of Virginia Beach approved a land swap which would will help Virginia Beach preserve their "green line," and Norfolk to revive East Ocean View. The deal gave Virginia Beach a crucial 1000-acre farm near Princess Anne Park, along with extensive wetlands around West Neck Creek.  Norfolk received 54-acres of bay front land overlooking the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, and 3.35 million in cash.

Boroughs:
Shore Drive West
Ocean View
North Camelia
Tarrallton
Wedgewood
Belaire
E. Ocean View
Camellia Shores
East Lynne
Larrymore Lawns
E. Little Creek Rd.
Hunt Club
Glengariff
Lakeland, Bromley
Azalea Acres
Camden Heights
Camellia Acres
Saratoga
Raby Road
Poplar Halls
Elizabeth Park
River Forest Shores
S. Easton Place
Wayside Manor
N. Easton Place
Pleasant Point
Woodbine
Lake Terrace
Janaf
Fairlawn Estates
Maple Hall/Hollywood
Military Circle
Stoney Point
Glenrock
Admirality Acres
Janaf Place
North Glenrock
Moore's Point

Civic Leagues:

Libraries:
Janaf Branch
Little Creek Branch

Parks & Recreation Centers:
East Ocean View Community Park
Fairlawn Recreation Center
Norfolk Botanical Gardens
Norfolk City Beach
Tarrallton Community Park
Wayside Park

Schools:
Fairlawn Elementary School
Larrymore Elementary School
Little Creek Elementary
Poplar Halls Elementary School
Tarrallton Elementary School
Azalea Garden Middle School
Lake Taylor Middle School
Norfolk Academy

Article researched by:
Stephanie Formby, ODU Student Intern
Karen Volkman, ODU Student Intern

1955 Article written by:
Stephanie Formby, ODU Student Intern

1959 and 1988 Article written by:
Karen Volkman, ODU Student Intern

Statistics compiled by:
Karen Volkman, ODU Student Intern

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