Location: City Hall Ave & Boush St, Norfolk, VA 23510

Visited: July 3, 2009, 2:15pm

Transcription of marker: Tidal flooding from hurricanes and northeasters has always been a part of Norfolk’s relationship with the sea. In 1693, the Royal Society of London reported that “there happened a most violent storm in Virginia, which stopped the course of ancient channels and made some where there were never any.” Hurricanes in 1749 and 1806 formed the Willoughby Spit section of Ocean View, and a hurricane in August 1933 killed 18 people. In March 1962, the City was struck by the “Ash Wednesday Storm,” a massive, slow-moving northeaster which caused widespread destruction along the entire east coast. By the early 1970’s, permanent flood protection for downtown was constructed.

This storm water pump station and the adjacent floodwalls protect the low-lying areas of downtown from tidal flooding. Large steel doors at various points allow passage through the wall, but are periodically closed when tidal flooding is anticipated. Beneath City Hall Avenue, which was once a canal, is a large box culvert that collects storm water runoff from the downtown area. The box culvert carries storm water to a “sump” or pit beneath the pump station, where trash and debris are removed before pumping the water into the river.

My impressions: Having grown up in a town along a river, but with a great deal of elevation change beside the river, it is unusual for me to consider flooding, and given where I lived, hurricanes are also phenomena only experienced via the crazy news reporters who ride out the storms and broadcast on the news channels. I also remember the flooding from one of my early visits to Norfolk, where a walking path along the river was under a couple of feet of water from “run-of-the-mill” flooding.

It’s also unusual to think of the weather “creating land,” like Willoughby Spit. But these are things that the people here have lived with.

Markeroni status: Direct-logged.

Location: Corner of City Hall Ave & Granby St, Norfolk, VA 23510

Visited: July 3, 2009, 2:10pm

Transcription of marker: The Monticello Hotel, which opened at the corner of City Hall Avenue and Granby Street on September 27, 1898, was the largest and finest hotel in Norfolk for over 60 years. By 1885 Town Back Creek had been filled to Granby Street. Construction of the hotel spurred additional development along the new City Hall Avenue. The hotel suffered a devastating fire on January 1, 1918. In addition to the flames, fire fighters had to deal with bitter cold and ice. When it reopened in 1919, two additional floors had been added, including a large dining room and horseshoe-shaped ballroom known in later years as the Starlight Room. This became a favored location for balls, dances, and community events. The grandly appointed mahogany bar doubled as a billiards parlor during Prohibition. During the 1933 hurricane, the hotel and a broad area of downtown suffered considerable flood damage. The Monticello Hotel was the first building in Norfolk to be imploded in January 1976 to make way for the Norfolk Federal Building now on this site.

My impressions: Well, we have quite the elemental story here: fire, ice, wind, flooding, and implosion! I love some ways of glossing past something. When they say the “bar doubled as a billiards parlor during Prohibition,” that seems to me to be a sly way of saying tha the bar had a billiards parlor cover, but you could still get your drinks. I could be wrong, but that’s how it reads to me. This is also one of those times I’m glad I’m young, because no event described on this marker took place after my birth (although I’m not sure when the construction of the federal building was completed).

Markeroni status: Direct-logged.

Cannonball Trail
Town Back Creek and Stone Bridge

Location: City Hall Ave & Monticello Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510

Visited: July 3, 2009, 2:05pm

Transcription of marker: Town Back Creek, extending eastwardly from the Elizabeth River almost to St. Paul’s Church, was the northern end of the original town of Norfolk. By the early 1800’s new residential development had occurred north of the creek. Two early footbridges connected this newer area to the old town, one at Catherine (now Bank) Street in 1798 and one at Granby Street in 1801. In 1818–1819 the one at Granby Street was replaced by Stone Bridge. It was built by William H. Jennings  and was distinguished by an arched rise at its center. The bridge remained a local landmark until 1884 when filling of Town Back Creek to Granby Street was completed. City Hall Avenue was developed in 1885 as a grand boulevard from the City Hall (now MacArthur Memorial) to Granby Street. Most of the remainder of Town Back Creek was filled by 1905 and City Hall Avenue was extended westward. Major construction at this corner included the Monticello Hotel in 1898 and the Royster Building in 1912.

My impressions: Coming into a new place, it is quite hard to think of an urban downtown area as ever having been anything else. In most cases, very few traces of that earlier time remain, other than a river or railroad that may run through or past the city. Today, I would not have known that bridges were once needed in what is now downtown Norfolk. Always interesting to see those markers which are reminders of things we can’t see today.

Markeroni status: Direct-logged.

Location: Granby St (as you might have guessed), on the west side of the street between Main St and Plume St, Norfolk, VA 23510

Visited: June 23, 2009, 4:00pm

Transcription of marker:

Granby Street was named in 1769 to honor Englishman John Manners (1721–1770), Marquess of Granby. The original street ran three blocks from Bute Street south to Town Back Creek, a semi-navigable stretch of marshland running the length of today’s City Hall Avenue. Town Back Creek was a barrier to development in the northern portion of the Borough until a bridge was built in 1818 to span the creek at Granby. As it became more accessible, Granby Street was transformed into a residential area of stately homes.

The electric streetcar debuted in Norfolk in 1894, and neighborhoods were established along the route. Many Granby Street residents moved to the new suburb of Ghent, and businesses of every kind replaced their former homes. By 1910, Granby Street surpassed Main Street as Norfolk’s busiest shopping district. From 1976 to 1986 part of Granby was closed to vehicular traffic and renamed Granby Mall. Granby Street declined through the 1990s, but with the opening of Tidewater Community College and MacArthur Center it has been revitalized with residences, theaters, and restaurants.

My impressions: I think the big surprise to me in this marker is how honest a portrayal it appears to be of some very recent events. I mean, to only one decade later, refer to an area as declining, as this describes Granby Street through the 1990s, shows a willingness to face harsh realities.

Going off the topic of historical markers, I find it interesting that at one point part of the street was closed to vehicles, but that it didn’t work to attract people. It reminds me of the Sparks Street Mall in Ottawa, which never seems to live up to its potential (although part of the problem there may be the number of government buildings in that area).

It’s also interesting for me to see how recent some things I take for granted are. I mean, I just moved to the area six months ago, so it stretches my mind to think of the area without the MacArthur Center, despite how recently it’s been built.

Markeroni status: Awaiting inclusion.