Hall Place

I was so delighted to find a web page www.hallplacesuffolk.org/ about the neighborhood in which I was raised. I thought that this might be a good time to add a few pictures and notes about the homes, families and individuals as I remember them from my time on Cedar Street at 339 Cedar from 1952 until about 1961 when my grandfather George Franklin Whitley died and 329 Cedar Street which was the home of "Grumps" (as we called him) and "Nanny," Dolly Ann Bell Cross Whitley. Nanny had married in 1906 or so to Bennie Frank[lin] Cross of Suffolk, but Mr. Cross was killed in an an industrial accident only two weeks after they were married. Nanny married Grumps in 1907 and they first lived on Saratoga Street (on that I am not 100% sure) and then moved to 210 Cedar Street and finally to 329 Cedar Street.
At 327 Cedar lived the Presley Family and at 331 the William Ficare family.More later. Gotta run.

Try to Remember that day in September.....

I use this painting as my desktop background. I happened on it just after the death of my friend Allen Victor Kreger. "Kreger" and I met at Frederick College at a bull session in which he, the College Atheist and I, the College religious Freak were supposed to verbally fight it out in front of 40+ guys in a small dormitory room. We tried to fight, but in the end I agreed with him on all points and he agreed with me on all points save that in the end, the same points ended for me as a theist and him as an a-theist. Over the coming years we became best friends and communicated often. As we "mellowed" over the years I think the question of theist/atheist became a treasure we often joked about. He was a holy man. May he rest in Peace.

But this painting also reminds me of all the friends I had growing up in Suffolk-- Jim G., Ben T., George M., John M., Frank M., Lew W., Skid G., Sue P., Gloria F., Barbara and Judy O., Tommy W., Lonnie B., James G. , hanging out, looking to the future, looking into the past. Somehow, for me today, it is all one. God bless you all who have been a part of my life and so made me who I am. Joel

The Square

The only building left here is the one on the corner, what was the National Bank of Suffolk. I Remember Ben Traylor's father worked there and so I always felt like I had a friend there when I went in.

The building with the columns was The Farmers' Bank of Nansemond and it was incredibly beautiful inside, especially the ceiling. I never did understand why they tore it down.

I titled this "The Square" because that is what the crossing of Main and Washington was called. Is it today (2007)?

When I sold peanuts (that's another story) each weekend in Suffolk I used to visit several office in the upper floors of the building. Some of my "regular" customers were Jack Nurney (the young Jack Nurney that is), Rawls Woodward, I wish I could remember the others. At the corner of the National Bank in the sidewalk there was a plaque, shaped like a badge as I remember, stating that Suffolk was the first to honor some president-- don't remember which.