The First Baptist Church

I remember first being conscious of "God" about the same time I became conscious of war. Reason? Because my earliest memory of the First Baptist Church was the quonset hut which was used as a Sunday School room for us kids. Facing the Old church, it stood lengthwise parallel with the building and at the left in the back. A flight of steps lead from the hut to the porch on the side of the church. I hated the quonset hut, mainly because it was ugly, corrugated steel or aluminum or the like, and I was told that it was something that came from the war (at that time I guess it was the Korean War). It was quite like the one pictured here. As I remember, it had green paint, dark green, at the bottom. This was about 1940 0r 1950 as I remember. I don't know if my disgust of war came from the ugly building or if I remember the building as ugly because I even then associated it with war. It was one or the other. My opinions of both have not changed.
I remember later one of my Sunday School teachers was Mrs. Jernigan. We all had to learn the Books of the Bible and each week Daddy would coach me before we left home. "Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy...." Week by week I learned a few more until I got them! When we got them all right we were given our own Bible. To me that was a big deal. More later.

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.

Main Street Methodist Church, before 1914

This is the old Main Street Church that my grandparents Robert Edward and Janie Inez Cobb Watson attended until the new (and present church) was completed in 1914. The old church was just south of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad Station of Main Street [on the same side of the street] and today [2006] without the tower is an apartment building.

Mrs. Harrell's Kindergarten, September, 1950

I do not remember the exact date, but it must have been in September when those of us who could not get into the First Grade in 1950 because of the date of our birth (I never did really understand the question--- still don't)got signed up by our parents for Mrs. Harrell's Kindergarten. It was over in Lakeside. I can drive you to the house but I do not remember the street. I do remember some of the names... Pam Larmer, Charlotte Steele, Andy Dunn (for a reason I shall never remember I called him "Andy-Panda-Qooka-Canda," Buzz Hoffler, Rogie Coulbourne, Jimmy Caton, Johnny Pinner (his Dad and my Father used to play together when they were kids on Pinner Street), and others that you will recognize when I put up the Photograph taken of May Day, 1950 on the front lawn of Mrs. Harrell's Home. The "school" was in the living room. And one remember any of this? Feel free to add comments!O yeah, I have a better image of this-- a higher resolution for any who might want it. Peace upon you all.

Try to Remember... that Day in September, 1950

My purpose here is to try to remember things that I remember growing up in Suffolk during the 1950s. Good Grief! That's over fifty years ago! And boy, oh boy, Suffolk has changed. I hope that you will help with your own comments and rememberances too! Bless you all.