suffolklivingmag.com
oh, nuts! HISTORY, swamps and a day on the lake
july/august 2013 • vol. 4, no. 4
“HOLY COW”
Are You Ready To
“MOOOVE”?
L. ELLEN & DAVID DRAMES Your #1 Realtors Serving All Of Suffolk!
539-0000 • 335-3400 Ledholycow@aol.com
13.1
#1 Listing & Sales Agent For Rose & Womble Realty Company! Route 58 - Suffolk
$239,900
NEW HOME!
Deer Path - Suffolk
$239,900
6 ACRES!
Suburban Woods - Suffolk
$249,900
4 BEDROOMS!
New Ranch Style, 2 Car Garage, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths Great Room, Eat In Kitchen, Laundry Room, Corner Lot, Covered Porches, Deck & Approximately 1,900 SF!
All Brick Ranch, Approximately 6 Acres, 2 Car Garage, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Formal Living & Dining Rooms, Family Room, Hardwood Floors & Enclosed Sun Porch!
Private Cul-De-Sac, 2 Car Garage, 2 Story, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Formal Living & Dining Rooms, Eat In Kitchen W/ Bar Area & Family Room!
Lakes Edge - Suffolk
Bennett’s Harbor - Suffolk
Saddlebrook - Suffolk
$259,900
LAKEFRONT!
$299,900
APPROXIMATELY 2 ACRES!
$439,900
HUGE YARD!
Private Cul-De-Sac, 2 Car Garage, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Family Room, Dining Room, Sunroom & Approximately 2,200 SF!
All Brick Ranch, 2 Car Garage, Game Room 3 or 4 Bedrooms, Formal Dining & Living Rooms, Basement & Totally Renovated Throughout!
Approximately 3,900 SF, 5 Large Bedrooms, 3 Baths, Great Room, Game Room, Eat In Kitchen, Office, Laundry Room & Formal Dining Room!
Riverfront - Suffolk
Holland Area - Suffolk
Holland Area - Suffolk
$169,900
CONDO LIVING!
Fantastic Location! End Unit, Great Room, Kitchen W/Dining Area, 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Sitting Room/Office, Foyer & Fenced In Deck Area!
$489,900
28 ACRES!
All Brick Ranch, Approximately 2,500 SF, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Eat In Kitchen, Great Room, 28 X 58 Barn W/Lean-Too, Fenced Pastures & Garden House!
$119,900
19 ACRE FARMETTE!
19.55 Acres, Cleared & Wooded, Road Frontage, Great Buildable Lot, Possible Splits Available, Preliminary Plat & 7 Perk Sites!
Walk this way toward a better
joint replacement experience.
I N T R O D U C I N G S E N TA R A O R T H O J O I N T C E N T E R S With locations throughout Hampton Roads, Sentara OrthoJoint Centers offer an innovative joint replacement experience for total knee and hip replacements, including the direct anterior approach (JIFFY HIP*). This unique program features patient rooms, facilities and staff dedicated solely to joint replacement procedures and recovery. Experienced orthopedic surgeons practicing throughout the community use the latest surgical techniques, coupled with an upbeat, structured method for recovery delivered by orthopedic
nurses, therapists and other clinicians. There’s also an Orthopedic Patient Navigator with you every step of the way to answer your questions and keep you on the path to a healthy recovery. The Sentara OrthoJoint Center gets you actively involved in your own recovery with systematic motivation and camaraderie with other patients making a similar journey. Studies show consistently better outcomes and faster recovery. In short, it’s an approach that works and gets results.
Learn more by calling 1-855-2ORTHOJT (1-855-267-8465) or visiting sentara.com/OrthoJointCenter.
Orthopedic Surgeons Practicing At This Center Sentara Obici Hospital
Anthony Bevilacqua, MD
Anthony Distasio, MD
Jeffrey Persons, MD
Sentara OrthoJoint Centers | Sentara Leigh Hospital • Sentara Obici Hospital • Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital • Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center *registered trademark of Mizuho Orthopedics Systems, Inc.
sentara.com/OrthoJointCenter
Your community, not-for-profit health partner
Everyone who lives at The Village can tell you—
{ life here is a home run.}
When you make The Village your home base, you’re safe! On-site security means you can enjoy great freedom and peace of mind knowing that you and your home are secure. In addition, with our completely maintenance-free lifestyle, you can also leave behind the worries of home upkeep and chores. That means you’ll have much more time to do the things you really want to do like visiting with friends and family, participating in our clubs and events or joining us on one of our fun trips —like catching a baseball game. So come find out why choosing The Village is always a great play. Learn more about the maintenance-free lifestyle at The Village by calling (757) 562-3100 or visiting www.villageatwoodsedge.com. Find us on Facebook.
The Village at Woods Edge
Small town charm. Engaging senior living.
1401 North High Street • Franklin, VA 23851 • www.villageatwoodsedge.com • (757) 562-3100
Small town charm. Engaging senior living.
july-aug. | 2013 contents EDITORIAL R.E. Spears III Editor Tracy Agnew News Editor Matthew A. Ward Staff Writer news@suffolklivingmag.com
33
ADVERTISING
Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Michaela Chesson Marketing Consultant Hope Dennis Marketing Consultant Melissa Hamlin Marketing Consultant
A brief history of nuts
Planters Peanuts celebrates its 100th year in Suffolk this year. Join us as we crack into the history of the company that helped make Suffolk famous.
On the cover:
sales@suffolklivingmag.com
PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer
20
ADMINISTRATION Steve Stewart Publisher
Suffolk Living is published six times per year by Suffolk Publications, LLC. P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 www.suffolklivingmag.com (757) 539-3437
Swamp dwellers
Researchers have begun to unearth evidence about the lives of those who took shelter in the Great Dismal Swamp.
24
26
Gone fishing
suffolklivingmag.com
oh, nuts! HISTORY, SwampS and a daY On THe lake
Sometimes fishing is about catching fish. And sometimes it’s all about watching the world wake up around you.
WHERE AM I? | Guess the location correctly and you could win a $25 gift certificate. july/august 2013 • vol. 4, no. 4
28
GET TO KNOW | Kermit Hobbs
submitted image
Advertising rates and information available upon request. Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state; $25 annually out-of-state; $30 for international subscriptions. Please make checks payable to Suffolk Publications, LLC• P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439
6 suffolk living
what to do TGIF CONCERT SERIES
Thursday July 18 The Suffolk Art League and Suffolk Art Gallery will host Summer Art Days at the gallery, 118 Bosley Ave. Classes are from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for children 5 to 8 and from 1 to 3 p.m. for children 9 through 14. The cost is $1. Registration begins 30 minutes prior to class. Other installments of the event will be held July 25 and Aug. 1 and 8. For more information, call 925-0448. Friday July 19 Suffolk Parks and Recreation will host its free TGIF Concert Series from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Constant’s Wharf Park & Marina, 100 E. Constance Road. The park opens to the public at 6 p.m. The Fuzz Band will perform. Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase. For more information, call 514-7250. Saturday July 20 Riddick’s Folly House Museum will host an American Girl program. Participants will have an opportunity to meet Molly McIntire before the doll is archived, and one of the dolls will be given away to one of the participants. Programs, which will include stories, crafts and light refreshments, will be held at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 934-0822 or email riddicksfolly@verizon.net. Thursday July 25 St. Mary Catholic Church, 202 S. Broad St., will host its final movie night chronicling how Christianity began. An episode from the 10-part PBS series titled “Catholicism” will be shown at 7 p.m. on July 25. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Aggie Dowd at 809-3431 or email ags7171@gmail.com.
Saturday July 27 A Lake Drummond Canoe Excursion will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $35 and includes all equipment. Registration is required, and tours depart from the Suffolk Visitor Center, 524 N. Main St. For more information, call 514-4130 or visit www.Suffolk-Fun.com. The Suffolk Art League will host an exhibition by Jenny Windsor, the winner of the 2012 Juried Exhibition. Windsor will display paintings and drawings in oil and mixed media. Her works are held in more than a dozen corporate collections including Norfolk State University, Duke University Hospital, Austin Peay State University, Central Carolina Bank and Smithfield Foods. The exhibit will be on display at the Suffolk Art Gallery, located at 118 Bosley Ave., through Aug. 23. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 925-0448. Friday August 2 Suffolk Parks and Recreation will host its free TGIF Concert Series from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bennett’s Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road. The park opens to the public at 6 p.m. The Janitors will perform. Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase. For more information, call 514-7250. Tuesday August 6 Suffolk will once again celebrate National Night Out, along with thousands of communities across the nation. Dozens of neighborhoods around the city will host events with picnics, entertainment, games and activities for children and adults alike. More than 45 million people around the country are expected to participate in the drug- and crime-
Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com
prevention event. Suffolk is a perennial award winner for cities of its size participating in National Night Out. For more information, call Diana Klink at 514-4104 or visit www.SuffolkNNO.org. Friday August 9 Suffolk Parks and Recreation will host its free TGIF Concert Series from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bennett’s Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road. The park opens to the public at 6 p.m. The Michael Clark Band will perform. Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase. For more information, call 514-7250. Friday August 16 Suffolk Parks and Recreation will host its free TGIF Concert Series from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bennett’s Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road. The park opens to the public at 6 p.m. Guava Jam will perform. Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase. For more information, call 514-7250. August 17 & 18 The Nansemond Indian Tribal Association will host its annual powwow, a two-day cultural celebration featuring music, dance, authentic crafts and food. The event will be held at Lone Star Lakes Park. For more information, visit www.nansemond.org. Friday August 23 Suffolk Parks and Recreation will host its free TGIF Concert Series from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bennett’s
suffolk living
7
what to do Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road. The park opens to the public at 6 p.m. Slapwater will perform. Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase. For more information, call 514-7250.
exhibition of photographs by Matt Eich
Saturday August 31 A Lake Drummond Canoe Excursion will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $35 and includes all equipment. Registration is required, and tours depart from the Suffolk Visitor Center, 524 N. Main St. For more information, call 514-4130 or visit www.Suffolk-Fun.com. Saturday September 7 The Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society will hold an heirloom sale at the Phillips-Dawson House at the southwest corner of Franklin and Bank streets in downtown Suffolk. Proceeds will go toward restoration of the historic home. For more information, call 539-2781.
FB-071 Suffolk Living Print Ad May 2013_FIN_OL.pdf
1
4/5/13
5:01 PM
The Suffolk Art Gallery and the Suffolk Art League will host an exhibition of photographs by Matt Eich through Oct. 25. The show is part of a major exhibition of this rising star in contemporary photography by the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach. Eich was a former Suffolk Art League student scholarship winner. The museum, located at 118 Bosley Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.
8 suffolk living
on the job
MISSISSIPPI RIVER TOWBOAT
Capt. William Powell, known as Capt. Bill aboard the towboat he commands along the Mississippi River, keeps a copy of Suffolk Living magazine for company as he pushes barges loaded with coal south along the Upper Mississippi near the Eads and MLK bridges at St. Louis, Mo., in February. Capt. Bill says he enjoys reading the magazine during down time on the river, because it helps him stay in touch with what’s going on near home. Originally from Suffolk, where his parents still live, Capt. Bill now lives in Corapeake, N.C.
Submitted photo
“Dedication to Service Above Self”
✓ Specialized Shoulder, Hip, Knee and Joint Replacement Program ✓ Specialized Arthritis Pain Management Program ✓ Specialized Post Stroke Recovery Program
suffolk living
Making Memories for a Lifetime.
Isle of Wight Academy “A Tradition of Excellence�
Independent Preschool, Elementary and Secondary School * Isle of Wight Academy admits students of any race, color and national or ethinc origin.
17111 CourtHouse Hwy. • Isle of Wight, VA 23397 757.357.3866 • Mr. Benjamin Vaughan, Headmaster
LOOKING FOR BALANCE? ²:LWK žYH NLGV XQGHU DJH WKH < LV P\ VDQLW\ , WDNH H[HUFLVH FODVVHV DQG JHW D EUHDN ZKLOH WKH NLGV DUH VDIH LQ 6WD\ 3OD\ RU WKH ,QWHUDFWLYH =RQH 7KH < LV OLNH H[WHQGHG IDPLO\ \RX JHW WR NQRZ DQG WUXVW HYHU\RQH ³ NICOLE, Y member, pictured with two of her daughters
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re helping WITH our community grow stronger. CONNECT YOUR COMMUNITY. Become a part of the Y and pay no joining fee JOIN THE YMCA25. TODAY! through September SUffOlk YMCA YMCA OFfAMIlY SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS 2769 Godwin Boulevard, Suffolk, Virginia ORFDWLRQV Â&#x2021; Â&#x2021; -RLQ7KH<0&$ RUJ (757) 934-9622 â&#x20AC;˘ www.JoinTheYMCA.org
0LVVLRQ 7R SXW -XGHR &KULVWLDQ SULQFLSOHV LQWR SUDFWLFH Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through WKURXJK SURJUDPV WKDW EXLOG KHDOWK\ VSLULW PLQG DQG programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. ERG\ IRU DOO
9
10 suffolk living
in the news
Music from the stars
I
t is Suffolk’s annual homage to the peanut, the lowly legume that put the city on the map. But Peanut Fest is about far more than its name might imply, and organizers have been working for most of the year lining up entertainment, carnival rides, food and crafts vendors and games and competitions for the thousands of people expected to attend the 36th annual celebration, which is scheduled to take place Oct. 10-13 at the Suffolk Executive Airport. There will be fireworks, a full carnival, a demolition derby, a peanut butter sculpting contest and all your favorite festival foods, along with some of the best local, regional and national entertainment acts to be found. Suffolk Festivals Inc. has announced the headline entertainment acts for the event, and the entertainment promises to provide a little something for everyone throughout the three-day event. Saturday night’s headliner will be Sawyer Brown, a five-member band led by Mark Miller that has released several gold and platinum records and has produced top singles including “Some Girls Do,” “Thank God for You,” The Dirt Road,” “All These Years” and “Step That Step.” The band’s diverse setlists feature musical selections infused with country roots and influenced by rock and roll and gospel genres. Closing the festival on Sunday afternoon will be Tate Stevens, winner
Suffolk Peanut Festival announces headliners
of the second season of “The X-Factor.” Stevens’ country twang and Midwest personality endeared him to millions of viewers on the hit show. The Belton, Mo., native released a self-titled debut album in April and quickly rose to No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. “I am so proud of this album and so excited that music fans have chosen to spend their hard-earned money to buy it,” Stevens said. “It has been my lifelong goal to record an album that people would enjoy, and to see it debut at No. 4 is truly a dream come true. I am a blessed man and so thankful for all of my fans.” Another television talent, this one a local favorite, will take the headline position on Friday night. The Bria Kelly Band, featuring the teenaged talent from Smithfield, has performed at a variety of events in Suffolk and the surrounding area. Peanut Fest will be Kelly’s largest local venue yet, and those who catch her show are sure to be entertained by the star, who claimed a share of national fame with her YouTube-fueled run on America’s Got Talent. Other acts appearing at Peanut Fest will include Luke Willette and the Show Me Band, A Touch of Spice and the Steel River Band. For more information about Suffolk Peanut Fest, visit www.SuffolkFest.org or call 539-6751. ←
Mortgages FROM THE NEIGHBOR WHO’S FINANCED NEW ADDRESSES since 1941
We’ll help you move.
That’s what good friends are for. At Bronco, we offer Mortgages, Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit. Talk to one of our friendly Lending Specialists, and let someone you already know help you open new doors. 757.569.6000 • www.broncofcu.com
Federally insured by NCUA
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LENDER
suffolk living
11
suffolk scene Memorial Day
Philip Beck, a veteran of the Korean War, lays a wreath during the Memorial Day service at Cedar Hill Cemetery; Michael Eberhardt blows â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tapsâ&#x20AC;? on his bugle near the end of the ceremony at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery; the Patriot Guard Riders stand at attention during the ceremony at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery; Confederate re-enactors parade the colors during the United Daughters of the Confederacy service at Cedar Hill Cemetery; Melanie Williams of Portsmouth looks at the flowers on one of the graves at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery.
Photos by R.E. Spears III, Matthew A. Ward and Tracy Agnew
12 suffolk living
757.745.7440
www.DavisDrugVa.com
Like us on
Locally owned
and invested in the health of
our community
suffolk living
13
suffolk scene Relay for life
More than 900 folks participated in the Relay For Life at Bennettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek Park in May, raising money for the American Cancer Society, raising awareness of the illness, and remembering lives it has claimed. Clockwise from right, Heather and Willie Dunlow with 3-yearold cousins Brennan and Hayden Dunlow; Suffolk Commonwealthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorney Phil Ferguson with wife Cindy Ferguson, a cancer survivor; for many cancer survivors, taking part in the Relay was an expression of resilience; and the colors are presented during "The Star-Spangled Banner" as part of the opening ceremony. PHOTOS BY Matthew a. Ward
14 suffolk living
757-934-8101 1411 North Main Street, Suffolk Shopping Center, Suffolk, VA 23434
NaNsemoNd-suffolk academy
Compare and Save • No-Hassle FREE Estimates
Mega ʻDors & Windows
Entry Doors • Garage Doors • Replacement Windows 15521 Carrollton Blvd. • Carrollton, VA 23314
757-238-9149 www.garagedoorsandmore.com
^ Madelyn Kate, Class of 2027
Pre-K3 through Grade 12
(757) 539-8789 • www.nsacademy.org Nansemond-Suffolk Academy admits qualified students without regard to race, color, ethnic background, national origin, handicapped status or religion.
suffolk living
15
suffolk scene
Mingle ON Main
The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mingle on Main Street took place at the Visitor Center Pavilion on May 30. Clockwise from top left, Elizabeth Jenkins, Daniella Reynolds and Kristin Rountree hand out Planters samples; Lisha Wolfe of Paul D. Camp Community College promotes the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs; Michael Camden, Shirley McDaniel and Roger A. Smith of Troy University participate; Bree Boone and Shira Low Itzhak of Remedy Intelligent Staffing mingle with potential clients; Robbie Laughton and Marcie Laumann of the Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community and Keisha Cutler of Healthy People/Healthy Suffolk encourage healthier lifestyles. PHOTOS BY TRACY AGNEW
16 suffolk living
suffolk scene
Shake, rattle & roll
The Shake, Rattle & Roll car show was held in downtown Suffolk on May 11. Clockwise from top left, David Hadden and W.A. Dunaway, both of Chesapeake, enjoy the car show; Leigh Mattox of Chesapeake and Carlton Bell of South Mills, N.C. inspect a 1970 Plymouth Satellite; Suffolk’s Phillip Barnes, Hopewell’s Marion and Bill Thompson, with Suffolk’s Bill Branton in the rear, attend the car show.
PHOTOS BY MATTHEW A. WARD
• Asphalt Paving • Stone & Mulch Sales • Grading • StreetPrint Parking Lots & Driveways www.blairbros.com
Providing Quality Paving Since 1968
Like us on Facebook For
757-538-1696 1 Blair Brothers Rd., Suffolk, VA
Monthly Specials!
suffolk living
17
suffolk scene
State of the City
Nearly 450 people attended the final event in the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City Series, at Suffolk’s downtown Hilton Garden Inn May 8. Mayor Linda T. Johnson gave an upbeat report of the city’s progress. Clockwise from top left: Worth Remick and David France enjoy the event; Lipton Tea’s Justin Rowe and Mike Urbanek; Joanna Hall and Valerie Schmidt came to hear the city outline its plans; Capt. William Kessinger and Deputy Fire Chief Ed Taylor represent Suffolk Fire and Rescue; Andrew Farthing, Ben Slaughter, Kyle Williams, Jamie Weist and Jason Fowler anticipate what’s on the menu from the Hilton’s kitchen. PHOTOS BY MATTHEW A. WARD
18 suffolk living
Suffolk Public Schools
Share Our Success. 100 N. Main St. Suffolk, 23434 (757) 925-6752 www.spsk12.net
NOW HIRING Caregivers & PCA’s
757-774-5051
3614 Pruden Blvd., Suffolk, VA 23434 deneen.evans@homestead.com www.HISC712.digbro.com homeinstead.com/712
The World’s Trusted Source of Non-Medical Companionship and Home Care of Seniors. • Companionship • Meal Preparation • Transitional Care • Respite Care • Light Housekeeping • Medication Reminders • Escort to Shopping and Errands • Personal Care Our services grow as Caregivers & PCA’s nd new and innovative ways to meet the needs of our clients
suffolk living
19
suffolk scene
Last Day of School
Dismissals from school on June 14 came with much excitement and fanfare, as it was the last day for Suffolk Public Schools’ 2012-13 school year. Clockwise from top left, Danielle Hare and Darlene Carter wave goodbye to their charges at Northern Shores Elementary School; Early Start student My’Javious Watkins prepares for his bus ride home to begin the summer after the last day of school at Elephant’s Fork Elementary School; Elephant's Fork Elementary School teachers Peggi Parker-Butler, left, and Kim Petrasek get Early Start student Landon Panzera to spell out and read the sign before his bus picked him up on Friday, the last day of school; students at Booker T. Washington Elementary School leave for the summer as teachers and other staff cheer them on; Karen Jones, a counselor at Kilby Shores Elementary School gives a high-five to first-grader Jeremy Briscoe.
photos by Titus mohler, tracy agnew, matthew a. ward and r.e. spears III
20 suffolk living
the swamp dwellers Researchers dig up a rich history in the Dismal Swamp story by Matthew A. Ward photography by R.E. Spears III
L
et’s call him Walter George. He lives in captivity on a plantation somewhere in Tidewater, his recent ancestors having been captured by slave traders in West Africa. Duncan Finley, meanwhile, a first-generation white Virginian, has found work with the Dismal Swamp Land Company, supervising a labor camp. Early in the year of 1800, both men are making their way to the swamp, which in their time is 10 times bigger and considerably less accessible than today. George, with wife and children, strikes out for one of hundreds of autonomous communities of escaped slaves, given sanctuary by William Byrd II’s “vast body of mire and nastiness.” Byrd had led a surveying expedition into the swamp almost 70 years earlier. The history our fictional characters represent — on the one hand, freedomseekers who hope not to be discovered; on the other, workers laboring on the network of canals and lumber operations — is gradually being unearthed by students of archaeology, anthropology and history. “A lot of people lived out here before the Civil War,” says Professor Daniel Sayers of American University, who initiated the Great Dismal Swamp Landscape study in 2002 and has been leading field classes into U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge. “Thousands came from a variety of backgrounds, starting with indigenous Americans. They found a place to live … to remove themselves from the world outside.” Sayers, whose latest — and, he says, final — field class wrapped up June 14, has been excavating former maroon camp sites, turning up various artifacts including what he believes were defensive weapons. “Maroons” (from the Spanish word cimarrón, meaning fugitive or runaway) were runaway slaves who formed independent settlements around North America, South America, Central America and the West Indies. Meanwhile this spring, anthropology doctoral student Syndi Goode led a See Swamp page 22
American University doctoral student Syndi Goode displays artifacts — specifically, keys to open tins of food — that her research team uncovered at the site of a former labor camp in the Great Dismal Swamp.
suffolk living
21
22 suffolk living SWAMP continued from page 20
small team digging at a different site, where a labor camp once rested. Laborers, she said, were given provisions and sent off with a quota of shingles to produce. Their superiors didn’t particularly care how they did it. “They were given a fair amount of leeway,” Goode says. The researchers say evidence collected so far supports the theory that maroons subcontracted their labor to those enslaved by, or perhaps sometimes working gainfully for one of the many companies engaged in the trade at the time. “I really want to question how the laborers were working with the fugitives, rather than resisting against them,” says Goode, who expects to use grant money to return to the swamp to look for answers. Sayers says the swamp supported communities of maroons going back to the founding of the United States. Slavery’s abolition with the end of the Civil War is an obvious answer why they ceased to be. Other reasons may also have contributed. According to Sayers, the arrival of labor camps could have shaken the maroons’ sense of security and seclusion. The discovery of possible “defensive items” and structure back this up, he said. “Company workers were out in the swamp, living in company settlements, going out several miles at a time, days at a time, lumbering,” Sayers says. “That becomes a threat, then, to the safety of these interior communities. Suddenly these outsiders are betraying their location. That’s when you start to see the development of the defensive posture.” So it was a case of George meeting Finley. George had managed to escape oppression, finding sanctuary for his family in a community built on a patch of slightly higher ground, deep within the swamp. Families teach their children, care for the elderly, hunt game, forage for edible plants and perhaps grow rice. Life is far from easy, but they are their own masters. See SWAMP page 23
suffolk living SWAMP continued from page 22
The stability and autonomy they enjoy is threatened with the coming of Finley’s labor camp. Finley doesn’t care how the slaves and laborers under his direction get the shingles ordered of them. Perhaps some of Finley’s workers joined the maroons they encountered, setting the stage for recovery expeditions and reprisals. Historians don’t know the history, because the record on the subject is very thin, says Ohio State history doctoral student Marcus Nevius. Nevius explains why he joined Sayers’ class with a rhetorical question: “How am I able to use this experience learning about archaeology to augment the paucity of primary source documents? I’m interested in figuring out ways to interpret those silences in the documents based on my experiences here.” Kathryn Benjamin, a doctoral student from the University of California Berkeley’s Department of African-American Studies, sheds tears while explaining that the swamp communities were an example of successful early black resistance. “I think it can give a great sense of pride to what it means to have a black community in Suffolk,” she says. The story of the swamp maroons has lessons for modern America, Sayers argues. “The world we live in right now is not perfect,” he says. "I think there is a need for different visions of how to proceed in our collective future. “I think we can look to the present, but we can also look to the past — to people who successfully developed new ways of living.” ←
Opposite page at top, Syndi Goode explains her archaeology work in the Great Dismal Swamp, where communities of labor camp workers and escaped slaves lived. At bottom on opposite page, Caitlyn Sellar, another American University student, excavates around a tree root. At right, the artifacts — nails and other simple items — tell the story about how interior swamp communities interacted, researchers believe.
23
24 suffolk living
where am I?
I
n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is. If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!
suffolk living
25
Why I chose The COVE for my pet’s EMERGENCY CARE: PET: Buddy 3 Yr. Old Exotic Shorthair TREATED FOR: Lack of Appetite and Liver Enzyme Elevations
The loving staff at The COVE saved Buddy’s life so he can play with his brother and sister. Everyone at The COVE is a “Pet Angel.”
thecovevets.com
—Linda Capilli.
The Velveteen Rabbit
6550 Hampton Roads Pkwy, #113 • Suffolk • 757.935.9111
Want to advertise in Suffolk Living and reach 42,500 potential customers?
WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS
• Residential • Commercial • Industrial
VOTED BEST PEST CONTROL 6 YEARS IN A ROW!
SPECIALIZING IN TERMITE & MOISTURE INSPECTIONS
suffolkliving mag.com
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: TOP: REX, JOSH & ALLEN BOTTOM: DONNA, FAIRREN & KATHY
• Fleas • Ants • Termites • Roaches • Monthly Maintenance Inspections • Termite Pre-Treatment • Moisture Control • Free Insect Identication: Bring In Your Bugs
Call us
757-539-3437
www.suffolkpestcontrol.net
3508 ROBS DR., SUFFOLK, VA (Just off Rt. 460 across from NSA)
26 suffolk living
Morning on Lake Meade Awake! shouts the sun, Peering through trees stretching their limbs in the dawn. Awake! bark the gander and the goose, Rousing their downy troops for a groggy march to the water. The chicks stumble and bumble down the hill While mother and father scan the sky for danger. Arise! croaks the heron, Stretching skinny legs and stepping into the water Like a matron in gray testing the pool temperature. To sleep! Mutter the bullfrogs, Putting away their horns after their nighttime serenade And now seeking shelter from the great bird now stalking amongst the reeds. Wake up! grunts the turtle, Struggling to get its footing on a slippery log rising from the lake. Depart! cries the mist in the last still moments of the day, Swirling in unseen currents above the still waters And waving farewell to its sister, the dew, Who silently bedazzles the grass nearby. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go! whispers the electric motor, Pushing the little aluminum boat into the lake. Breakfast! beguiles the bright yellow fly As it plops into the shallows at the end of a line cast by the fisherman, Holding a rod in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other. Wake up! â&#x20AC;&#x201D; R.E. Spears III
Clockwise, from top, Frank Creasy of Chesapeake waits for a bite near the Route 58 bridge over Lake Meade; employees of Culpepper Boats at the Cohoon-Meade Fishing Station rescue lures that have wound up in the trees and bushes alongside the two lakes and give them new lives as decorations inside the bait shop; and Mark Johnston hopes for an early-morning strike during a trip out to Lake Meade recently.
suffolk living 27
Clockwise from below, the boat ramps at Cohoon-Meade Fishing Station open at dawn, and most days there are boats waiting for the sun to make its appearance so the fishermen, like this one on Lake Cohoon, can get an early start; fishing near the Route 58 bridge over Lake Meade recently were Clarence Wright, left, and Frank Creasy of Chesapeake; and Mark Johnston, left, and Danny Culpepper are lit by the sun as it rises over the tree line on Lake Meade.
28 suffolk living
get to know
Focus on history Retirement gives Kermit Hobbs time for his favorite subject story by Tracy Agnew photography by R.E. Spears III
If it’s possible for an introvert to be a “people person,” Kermit Hobbs has succeeded. Suffolk’s favorite historian loves getting to know what makes people tick. This natural curiosity about what’s inside people’s heads informs both his historical research and his part-time work as a certified mediator. “I like looking into people, so to speak,” he said. As a young boy in Suffolk’s Eastover area, Hobbs grew up pulling the weapons of the past, arrowheads and minie balls, from the ground in the woods around his home. That sparked a lifelong interest in learning more about the people who loaded and fired the weapons. He graduated from Chuckatuck High School in 1961 and studied mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech. He came back home and married a Suffolk girl, Earlene, and started working at the family business — Hobbs Adams Engineering Company, which later would become Amadas Industries. He left and went to Union Camp for eight years, then returned to the family business and stayed there until December 2009. “The thought of retiring turned me off,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine how I could survive doing it.” But it seems Hobbs has survived just fine. He has become a certified mediator and visits area courts to find clients and get referrals. “To me, it’s very rewarding to get people together and help people work out their problems,” he said. “It beats watching ‘Law and Order.’” It’s perhaps not surprising that Hobbs’ greatest historical interest lies in one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history — the Civil War, and particularly Suffolk’s See HOBBS page 30
suffolk living 29 Suffolk historian Kermit Hobbs looks at the tombstone of Mattie Smith, the infant whose mother was killed in the crossfire between Union and Confederate forces near the beginning of the Siege of Suffolk. The child died soon after her mother. Both are buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in what is now downtown Suffolk.
siege of
SuffolK The 150Th AnniversAry
23 DAys of
Turmoil
The Civil War Comes to suffolk By Kermit hobbs A special project of the Suffolk News-Herald, Suffolk Living and the Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society
Price $9.95
Excerpt From "Siege of Suffolk"
The Rebels Appear Saturday, April 11, 1863 Union Gen. John J. Peck anticipated an attack by Confederate Gen. James Longstreet’s corps at any time, and the waiting must have been nerve-wracking. Peck had signal stations in several locations around Suffolk, and some distance further out he had posted cavalry pickets to bring news of the oncoming Confederates the moment they were spotted. Finally, at 3:30 p.m., Peck got the dreaded news. Lt. Amos Thayer was posted at a signal station at the intersection of South Quay Road and Carrsville Road (which today is across the road from Suffolk Golf Course on Holland Road). A “contraband” — a former slave — ran up to Lt. Thayer and reported that the Rebels were coming and not far away. Thayer signaled back to headquarters, “Pickets driven in, reinforcements needed.” As he signaled, he saw Union “cavalry soldiers coming in at a furious rate, riding barebacked.” News of the advancing enemy spread through Suffolk in a matter of minutes as the Union army prepared to meet the attack.
30 suffolk living HOBBS continued from page 28
involvement in it. What makes history exciting to Hobbs is something quite unexpected. “The things that excite me are the new revelations that are still coming about,” he said. “We’re still finding new things about Suffolk. It’s kind of ironic that we’re 150 years from it, but new stuff is becoming available.” In collaboration with William Paquette, Hobbs has authored two books encompassing Suffolk’s entire history. Recently, he partnered with the Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society, Suffolk News-Herald and Suffolk Living Magazine to produce his newest book, “Siege of Suffolk,” which was compiled from a series of stories commemorating the 150th anniversary of the siege that ran in serial form in the newspaper. The book details the battles and the down time, the victories and the blunders, the soldiers and the civilians of the 23-day siege that gripped Suffolk in 1863. Perhaps most important, it focuses on stories of actual people — the only civilian death of the siege, the generals, and the rank-and-file letter-writers who used their down time to pen notes to their girls back home.
Kermit Hobbs describes the Civil War-era original and reproduction rifles he has loaned to Riddick’s Folly House Museum for its continuing Civil War exhibit. Hobbs says most of the guns have been shot at one time or another.
When he’s not mediating or researching history, Hobbs enjoys playing classical guitar, a hobby he has recently picked back up after putting it down after college, and spending time with his wife. They visit their two sons, who live out of town, and five grandchildren
when they can. The “Siege of Suffolk” book is available for $9.95 plus tax at the Suffolk News-Herald office, 130 S. Saratoga St.; the historical society office, 137 Bank St.; or the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, 326 N. Main St. ←
suffolk living 31
32 suffolk living
through the lens: marsha rooks
M
arsha Rooks has lived in Suffolk since 1984, when she moved from Florida to take a job at Obici Hospital as a health information manager. She keeps her camera nearby at all times to help her preserve memories. Email her at marooks1@ verizon.net. Through the Lens is a monthly Suffolk Living magazine feature that highlights a single photographerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s views of Suffolk. Participation is open to both amateurs and professionals. To have your work considered for publication, email editor Res Spears at news@suffolklivingmag.com.
suffolk living 33
A brief history of nuts Suffolk prepares to celebrate Planters’ 100th anniversary story by Tracy Agnew submitted images
B
ankers thought he was convincing. Stockholders thought he was crazy. Competitors thought he was bold and rash. But the bottom line was that Amedeo Obici was just plain nuts. Just 11 years old when he arrived in New York from Oderzo, Italy, on March 17, 1889, young Amedeo marveled at the fact that folks took off work and had a parade on a regular Monday, until he learned about an Irish holiday called St. Patrick’s Day. The son of an Italian saddlemaker who had died when Amedeo was 7, Amedeo and his three younger siblings were sent away after the death so their mother could make a living as a housekeeper. Amedeo at first boarded and apprenticed with a tinsmith and
worked his way up from a sweeper to a waterspout-painter. Then his maternal uncle, Vittorio Sartor, who lived in Scranton, Pa., far away in the United States, offered to send for his nephew. That started a string of events that led to, not two decades later, the Planters Peanut empire being set up in Suffolk in 1913. A century later, Amedeo’s adopted city in his adopted country prepares to celebrate 100 years of the company’s continuous presence. “Our Kraft Suffolk team is very excited about our plant’s centennial,” Kraft Suffolk Plant Manager Dan Huss said. “We have a great heritage here in Suffolk, and it goes hand in hand with the wonderful history of our Planters brand.” After arriving at his uncle’s home in Pennsylvania, Amedeo See PEANUTS page 34
34 suffolk living
Above left, this photo courtesy of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society shows Amedeo and Louise Obici. Above right, this aerial photo of the Planters Peanut plant in Suffolk is courtesy of Kraft Foods. PEANUTS continued from page 33
quickly began his enterprising pursuits, according to a Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society booklet, “Strictly for Peanuts,” published in 2005 and compiled from two biographies of Obici written in the 1940s by Ludovico Caminita Sr. and Ludwig Caminita Jr. It didn’t take long for Amedeo to find a job in a Scranton cigar factory for 80 cents a week. But after about a year, the 12-yearold answered the call of adventure to nearby Wilkes-Barre. He was barely there an hour when he passed a fruit vendor’s stand just as an apple fell. He handed it back to the proprietor and answered the “thank you” with “you’re quite welcome” — in Italian. The surprised fruit vendor, Giovanni Frutta, hired him on the spot upon learning the lad was looking for work. Amedeo stored his suitcase under the stand and started work on the spot. At the fruit stand, Amedeo learned the concepts of marketing long before they were ever taught to anyone. He learned them by process of elimination, watching sales go up and down when he moved different fruits to different locations on the stand, piled them differently and polished them or didn’t polish them. The stand was located in front of a saloon, and the boy soon had a job as a helper, which
“Our Kraft Suffolk team is very excited about our plant’s centennial. We have a great heritage here in Suffolk, and it goes hand in hand with the wonderful history of our Planters brand.” Dan Huss — Manager, Kraft Suffolk Plan
led to a promotion as bartender. But he dreamed of bigger and better things. He opened his own fruit stand, but the fruit soon became a sideline business to the peanuts sold at the stand. The stand was sold when he opened a restaurant that specialized in oyster stew — and peanuts. He soon bought the building on a $39,000 loan, which drew snickers from the other local businessmen. Never minding them, Obici installed several peanut-roasting machines on the second floor of his new building, with the third floor used for storage.
He went into business with a friend, Mario Peruzzi, who would later marry Obici’s sister Elisabetta. Peruzzi sold peanuts to grocers and handled the books, and Obici was the proprietor, manager and producer. Obici continued to keep the company on the cutting edge of innovation. He started putting letters of the alphabet into each bag of peanuts, and giving free peanuts — later free $1 Ingersoll watches — to anyone who collected the letters O-B-I-C-I. He revolutionized the machinery industry by demanding, and receiving, machines that shelled, skinned, roasted and sorted peanuts. Some businessmen were still snickering, but others took notice — including some in Suffolk. Obici began to notice that when he arrived in the Suffolk area to purchase peanuts at the cleaning houses, prices mysteriously went up. He was upsetting a small clique of manufacturers that had once dominated the peanut industry, and he had only one idea of how to remedy the problem. So Obici borrowed $100,000 from a Suffolk bank to move the operation south. As they say, the rest is history. Mr. Peanut, still the company’s mascot, was born in Suffolk when Obici hosted a contest to come up with a symbol for the company. See PEANUTS page 35
suffolk living 35 PEANUTS continued from page 34
Suffolk schoolboy Antonio Gentile drew an anthropomorphized peanut with arms and legs. Not only did he win the prize, but Obici took a liking to the boy and paid his way through college and medical school. The original factory was on East Washington Street and expanded greatly throughout the years, according to a timeline provided by Kraft, which now owns the brand. In 1960, Standard Brands acquired the vast majority of Planters stock, and in 1961, the two companies merged. In 1994, Planters’ new $35 million nut-processing plant began production after a ribbon-cutting ceremony in which Mr. Peanut performed the honors. The original plant was demolished the next year, and Planters donated the land to be used as an industrial park. In 2005, a 57,000-square-foot warehouse addition was added at Culloden Street. In celebration of the impact young Amedeo’s vision has had on Suffolk, a number of events will take place this fall to recognize the 100th anniversary of Planters’ presence in Suffolk. From Sept. 14 to Nov. 2, a special showing of Mr. Peanut memorabilia and collectibles will take place at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Planters employees will participate in a community beautification of the Tynes Street Park on Sept. 30. On Oct. 2, the Nutmobile and Mr. Peanut will visit Suffolk, along with peanut samples, photo opportunities with Mr. Peanut, children’s activities and games. On Oct. 5, the Peanut Fest Parade will take place with Mr. Peanut as the grand marshal. Peanut Fest lasts from Oct. 10-13. The Peanut Pals fall conference will take place in the city Oct. 19-20. Peanut Pals is an organization dedicated to people who collect Planters Peanuts memorabilia. ← Above is a 1919 advertisement for Planters Peanuts. Below left is a 1935 photo of an employee driving an early "Peanutmobile." Below right is a 1935 photo of the Planters peanut oil refinery. All photos on this page are courtesy of Kraft Foods.
36 suffolk living
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1985
Chris Jones Owner
Delivering More Than Just Prescriptions
SCAN FOR WEBSITE
3219 BRIDGE RD., SUFFOLK, VA 23435 | 757-483-6966 www.bennettscreekpharmacy.com
MON.-FRI. 9AM-7PM • SAT. 9AM-2PM
Suffolk
ONLINE ORDERING
Drive-Thru • Delivery • 24/7 Online or Phone Ordering Senior Citizen Discounts • Diabetic and Medical Supplies Compounding Specialists for People and Pets Medicare Billing Provided • Immunizations Most Insurances Accepted • Unique Gift Shop
suffolk living 37
index of advertisers Autumn Care.......................8 Bennett's Creek Pharmacy..36 Blair Brothers...................16 Bond's Fine Cigar Shop.....25 Bronco FCU......................10 Chorey & Associates.........40 Cornerstone Private Practice...9 The Cove...........................25 Davis Drug........................12 Davis Lakes........................37 D.B. Bowles Jewelers.......14 Denison's....................….8 Drs. Jett, Sellers and LaRusso..18 Dr. Steven Gwaltney, DDS.......31 Duke Automotive..............14 East Coast Homes.............18 East End Baptist Church….18 Ellen Drames.......................2 Farmers Bank.......................7 Harbour Veterinary Office...14 Home Instead Senior Care...18
Last edition’s Where Am I?
Isle of Wight Academy........9 Mega 'Dors........................14 Mike Duman Auto Sales....30 Nancy's Calico Patch.........16 Nansemond-Suffolk Academy...14 Nansemond Veterinary Hospital.....16 Rawlings Mechanical.........18 R.L. Howell........................7 Sentara............................3 Suffolk Pest Control............25 Suffolk Public Schools........18 Triple T Sports..................37 Velveteen Rabbit...............25 The Village at Woods Edge.....4 Virginia Fire Extinguishers...37 YMCA..........................9 Have your business listed here! Call 539-3437 to advertise in Suffolk Living.
Network with us See what we’re up to on Facebook. Need more information 757-539-3437 • suffolklivingmag.com
Suffolk Living reader Amy Gay won the May/June edition of our Where Am I contest by recognizing the Blue Star Memorial, which is located at the where am I? Albert G. Horton Jr. I Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk. The Blue Star Memorial Highways and By-Ways are a tribute to the armed forces that have defended the United States of America. The program was launched in New Jersey in 1944. After having her name chosen at random from among those who correctly guessed the answer, Gay wins a $25 gift certificate to the advertiser of her choice. For this month’s challenge, see Page 24. suffolk living
n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is. If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!
19
38 suffolk living
scrapbook
Working for peanuts: This photo, perhaps from 1917, shows Amedeo Obici in the center of the front row, along with other employees of Planters Nut and Chocolate Company.
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Photo courtesy of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society
Suffolk Living All Year su ff ol kl iv
in gm ag .c
Subscribe and you can get Suffolk Living delivered to your door six times a year. Don’t miss out.
om
suffolk summer and s, m u t ts m a r k et ol tr n co r em o te pl a n es
su ff o lk
li v in g m
Six times a year in Suffolk
a g .c o m
for ju ly /a ug
su ff ol kl iv
in gm ag .c
.4 • vo l. 3, no us t 20 12
Out-of-state subscriptions
powwo w
om
T r ac T ors, a Tr and a c a n o e ib e r id e
se p te m b e r/ o ct o b e r 2012 vo l. 3 , n o. 5
s u ff o lk
li v in g m
$20
for
$25
a g .c o m
Call to subscribe no ve m be
r/ de ce m be
l. 3, no . 6 r 20 12 • vo
suffolklivingmag.com
baskets
539-3437