suffolklivingmag.com
Our Ghost Fleet DISCOVERY ON THE NANSEMOND
november/december 2019 • vol. 10, no. 6
2 suffolk living
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FEATURE
16
The newly discovered Nansemond River Ghost Fleet, as it’s being called, is providing a wealth of information for archeologists about how commercial activities on the Nansemond have changed over time.
CONTENTS nov - dec | 2019 15
WHERE AM I? | Think you know Suffolk well? Then see if you can identify this photo.
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
12 In the News
Dr. John B. Gordon III recently took the helm of Suffolk Public Schools and shared his vision for its future.
ON THE COVER suffolklivingmag.com
Who loves Jeeps?
22 Jim Holloman loves Jeeps so much he has five of them. They’re not just hobby vehicles, though; they’re all road ready.
Our Ghost Fleet DISCOVERY ON THE NANSEMOND
november/december 2019 • vol. 10, no. 6
By Troy Cooper
editor's note nov - dec
2019
A ghost fleet of one’s own It’s a fascinating story that is captivating archeologists not just in Suffolk and Virginia but also across the nation.
EDITORIAL
The James River might have its “Ghost Fleet,” which is a group of ships mothballed and
Tracy Agnew Editor
maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the National Defense Reserve
Alex Perry Writer & Photographer
emergencies, and they’re a popular sight for boaters, as long as they don’t get too close.
Jen Jaqua Photographer
the tide and under the trees along the riverbank. It was discovered
Jimmy LaRoue Writer
Nansemond and gathered a group to retrieve it and learn what
news@suffolklivingmag.com
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Fleet. These ships can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping during national But the Nansemond River has its own ghost fleet now, even more well hidden in the muck and by two local friends who had seen an old dugout canoe in the they could of local history from it. It was in the search for and recovery of this canoe that they eventually realized there was much, much more to be discovered
Earl Jones Marketing Consultant
on the riverbed. They noticed what looked like rows of sticks
Lindsay Richardson Marketing Consultant
read about it on page 16.
Kandyce Kirkland Marketing Consultant
to find. You can usually see a few of Jim Holloman’s Jeeps when
Amanda Gwaltney Marketing Consultant
about why he loves Jeeps — but the many reasons don’t include their poor gas mileage. You can
sales@suffolklivingmag.com
PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer
ADMINISTRATION John Carr Publisher
Cathy Daughtrey Business Manager Hope Rose Production
poking out of the water — and the rest, literally, is history. You can Another set of transport vehicles, of the wheeled kind, is easier you travel along Godwin Boulevard in Chuckatuck. He has five of them, and he can wax eloquent read about his Jeeps on page 22. You can also meet Suffolk Public Schools’ new superintendent, Dr. John B. Gordon III, on page 12. We’re always looking for your submissions to help us make Suffolk Living better. We need you for story ideas, submissions for the Through the Lens and On Vacation features, guesses for the Where Am I? feature and any other suggestions you may have. Please send these items to news@ suffolklivingmag.com.
God bless. Tracy Agnew, Editor
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
suffolk living 7
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN US....
LOCALS CHOICE
2018
LOCALS CHOICE
2018
8 suffolk living
what to do Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com
Grand Illumination NOVEMBER 22
Ring in the holiday season from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Market Park, 326 N. Main St., with the Suffolk Grand Illumination Ceremony. Watch the 32-foot tree light up at 6:15 p.m., visit Santa, enjoy seasonal music and purchase tasty treats from local vendors. Children can decorate a letter to Santa, and there will also be horse and carriage rides available for purchase.
suffolk living 9
what to do
THROUGH DECEMBER 6
The Suffolk Art League’s Annual Juried Exhibition will be on display through Dec. 6. The Suffolk Art Gallery, 118 Bosley Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. All exhibits are free and open to the public. THROUGH JANUARY 11
The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave., will have “Fresh from the Studios: The Greater Lanexa Studio Tour Exhibition” on display. The tour is a group of 20 juried artists from the Lanexa area. Once a year, they open their studios to the public for a weekend tour. This is the first time they will be exhibiting at SCCA. The group will showcase work in a variety of mediums including paintings, woodwork, sculpture, glass and jewelry. The galleries are open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Visit www.suffolkcenter. org or call 923-0003 for more information. NOVEMBER 16
“Red, White and BREWS — Love Local” will take place at 7 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. This Veterans Day celebration will include a beer tasting by local favorites, MoMac Brewing
and Nansemond Brewing Station. Local bands Stolen, Cool Tones and Just Us will entertain. Tickets are $20 to $25. Visit www. suffolkcenter.org or call 923-0003 for more information. NOVEMBER 23
The Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion, 524 N. Main St., will host the ninth annual Artisan Gift Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 pm. Artisan-quality crafts, jewelry, soaps, fine art, candles, woodcrafts, birdhouses, jams and jellies, ornaments, wreaths, food items and more will be available for purchase. Visitors will also enjoy live music, a petting zoo, face painting and a bounce house, plus light refreshments inside the Visitor Center. Riddick’s Folly House Museum, 510 N. Main St., will have an American Girl program featuring Blaire Wilson, the Girl of the Year. Blaire enjoys cooking with fresh ingredients from her family’s farm in New York and hosting events, and she’s working on her first wedding ceremony. There will be three sittings at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Space is limited to 20 girls per sitting, and reservations are required. Ages 5-12 are welcome and must be accompanied by an
adult. Call 934-0822 or email riddicksfolly@ verizon.net for reservations. NOVEMBER 30
The {Re}Stored Pop-up Shops event will take place on Small Business Saturday in downtown Suffolk. Find handcrafted, homemade and eclectic gifts for all the people on your list by shopping dozens of merchants offering artisan-quality crafts, jewelry, fine arts, woodcrafts, pottery and more. Established retailers and restaurants will offer discounts and holiday specials. Come out to the village of Driver at the intersection of Driver Lane and Kings Highway to celebrate Christmas from 6 to 9 p.m. See Santa on a fire truck, visit him inside the Knot Hole Station, sip on free hot cocoa and listen to carolers, plus support local merchants. DECEMBER 14
The Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery annual wreath-laying event will take place beginning at 9 a.m. The goal this year is to place about 9,500 live wreaths, and many volunteers are needed. This is a free, family event with no registration required. Upon the laying of
As we celebrate this year we are taking time out to thank YOU, our loyal customers, community partners, neighbors and friends. We are looking forward to the next 100 years of nurturing existing relationships and building new ones!
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10 suffolk living Second Saturdays in Downtown Suffolk will be held by the SPARC (Suffolk’s Premier Art, Retail and Cultural) Initiative. Second Saturdays offers the opportunity to tour more than 20 artist studios, some with demonstrations; browse the SPARC Shoppe, an artisan retail sales gallery featuring handmade items by local artists; free art activities; and more. This holiday celebration will take place from 1 to 7 p.m. Visit SPARCVA.com or call 809-3229 for more information.
Taste of Suffolk Downtown Street Festival
The Suffolk Holiday Parade will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in downtown Suffolk. The theme is “Home for the Holidays.” DECEMBER 20
Suffolk Holiday Parade
the final wreath, a formal ceremony will be conducted at the committal shelter featuring guest speakers and music. The event will conclude by 1 p.m. There is absolutely no
parking available at the cemetery on this date; visit www.hortonwreathsociety.org for more information on parking sites and free shuttles.
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra Holiday Brass show will take place at 7 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. Experience the festive sounds of the season in a concert filled with wit, virtuosity and the glorious music of the holidays with the VSO brass and percussion sections in an all-new program. Special seasonal surprises are also in store. Tickets are $32 to $37. Visit www.suffolkcenter.org or call 923-0003 for more information.
Make yourself at home in one of our 79 air conditioned rooms featuring mini refrigerators, microwaves and Keurig Coffee Makers. Wireless internet is complimentary and the Flat Screen Televisions come with HBO. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Convenience includes desks with free local calls. Our Business Center has two new HP Computers available 24 hours. Rent our meeting space which boasts 672 sq. ft., that can host 40 people comfortably. Our fitness center is open with a cedar sauna and includes free hand weights.
For more information, Contact the hotel at 1018 Centerbrooke Lane Suffolk, VA 23434
1-757-923-1010
we will be eager to help you.
suffolk living 11
12 suffolk living
in the news
Gordon sworn in as new superintendent LOCALS CHOICE
2018
LOCALS CHOICE
2019
suffolk living 13 Story by Jimmy LaRoue
I
n front of city officials and the state superintendent of public instruction, Dr. John B. Gordon III was sworn in on Oct. 10 at City Hall as the new Suffolk Public Schools superintendent. Gordon, who officially took the reins Oct. 14, succeeds the retired Dr. Deran Whitney just as the school division achieved full accreditation. “It seems like it was fate when they came to my session and we talked about culturally responsive instruction,” Gordon said. “And from that day forward, I began to really research Suffolk Public Schools, and I was just so excited to meet all of our great principals and leaders this morning.” Dr. James Lane, the state superintendent of public instruction, who was superintendent in Chesterfield County when he hired Gordon to be chief of schools, said Gordon was coming to a great place and said “this is the beginning of the next step of great things for Suffolk.” “I want to congratulate the school board on a great selection,” Lane said. “I’ve known Dr. Gordon for several years, but certainly have worked closely with him for the past couple of years, and you could not get a better educator to
lead your schools.” Gordon cites that experience as critical, and said if not for that, he likely wouldn’t be superintendent in Suffolk. He said he is stepping into a great situation. “If it really wasn’t for that opportunity, I’m not sure I would be here today,” Gordon said. He is already reaching out to Lane to position Suffolk for the future. “James, I’m going to let you know, Suffolk’s going to be a huge partner. Put me on some committees,” Gordon said to laughter, “so we can make sure we can represent this Hampton Roads and Tidewater region well.” School Board Chairwoman Phyllis Byrum, in
introducing Gordon following his swearing-in, said, “We look forward to productive times. I know Dr. Gordon, if you haven’t already met him and worked with him, I think you’ll find out that he’s a people-oriented person,” Byrum said. Besides the principals, Gordon said his aim is to get to know the students and to share his vision for the division. To that end, he held a trio of meet-the-superintendent events at the city’s three high schools in October to share that vision and take questions. He plans to be a presence at sports, musical and other afterschool activities. He dropped a hint at what his vision is for the school division. “The only hint I can drop to you is I think my theme for this year is going to be ‘Building the Best SPS,’” Gordon said in an interview following the ceremony. “And that ties directly into building exceptional schools. … Mrs. Byrum hit the nail on the head. I need to be around the people to really be able to understand that. And so, one of my primary goals is making sure that all of our families, everyone in the city, and most importantly, our kids, know who their superintendent is.”
14 suffolk living
Kick off the Holidays with Handmade Seasonal Gifts!
THE 8TH ANNUAL
Artisan Gift Fair in conjunction with the Suffolk Farmers’ Market
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2019 | 10AM - 3PM MUSIC PETTING ZOO FACE PAINTING BOUNCE HOUSE REFRESHMENTS
SEASONAL PRODUCE ARTISAN GIFTS BAKED GOODS MEAT & POULTRY AND MORE!
SUFFOLK VISITOR CENTER PAVILION 524 North Main Street Suffolk, VA 23434 Free & Open to the Public | 757.514.4130 | VisitSuffolkVa.com
SuffolkFarmersMarketVirginia
SuffolkVaFarmersMarket
SERIOUSLY
SASSY GOURMET
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR SWEETS! PLACE YOUR HOLIDAY ORDER TODAY Cupcakes, Cookies, Cheesecakes and Deliciously Baked Food Stuffs
Ways to taste - Order by: 1maddecoratator@gmail.com Send a message to Facebook.com/bitemebakery Place an order at Uncork’d in Historic Downtown Suffolk
Take a BITE today! It’s #SuffolkingSweet!
suffolk living 15
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 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!
16 suffolk living
Searching for in the Nansemond Story by Alex Perry Photos by Troy Cooper and Brandon Upright
A
rchaeologists have been scouring the Nansemond River to dive deeper into the Suffolk “Ghost Fleet,” a project that’s shining a light on local maritime history and waterlogged relics that date back to the Civil War. This search began two years ago with another search entirely, when two men were looking for an old dugout canoe in the Nansemond River. Suffolk historian Kermit Hobbs and his friend John Cross were searching for the
canoe in early 2017 in the banks of the Nansemond River, in the area behind the Walgreens on West Constance Road. This canoe was eventually recovered and transported to the Riddick’s Folly House Museum, and was later added to the MidAtlantic Logboat Registry. The project coordinators for this registry are Bob and Mary Hayes, representing the Maritime Heritage Chapter of the Archeological Society of Virginia. They work under Dr. John Broadwater, acting state underwater
archaeologist for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and president of the Maritime Heritage Chapter. But it was in their search for this canoe that Hobbs and Cross found something else sticking out of the mud. Hobbs said it looked like rows of sticks that poked out of the water. They came back later with a drone for a bird’s-eye view of their discovery. Footage and photographs captured by the drone during low tide revealed wooden frameworks of See GHOSTS page 18
suffolk living 17
Local historians noticed the remains of boats sticking out of the riverbed at low tide on the Nansemond River one day, and it has led to some amazing discoveries.
18 suffolk living
Local historian Kermit Hobbs shows the area in which he was among the first to notice the remains of boats partially buried in the riverbed of the Nansemond River near downtown Suffolk. GHOSTS continued from page 16
boats in the mud — the outlines of watercrafts from long ago. The images stunned Hobbs and Cross, and can be seen online in the “Nansemond River Ghost Fleet” video on YouTube. “I was excited,” Hobbs said. “It’s a history buff ’s dream to make a discovery, and this was something really neat. Something I had never seen before.” Bob and Mary Hayes were drawn to the recovered logboat in fall 2018, after reading a Suffolk News-Herald article about the finding. Hobbs shared his drone video of the Ghost Fleet with them while they were locating the exact location of the canoe on the riverbank. A pair of amateur archaeologists and historians, Bob and Mary Hayes recognized the “potential significance” of the Ghost Fleet vessels and the overall site, according to an email from Bob Hayes. They shared the video with Broadwater over dinner later that fall. The three of them then did their first field reconnaissance of these ghosts in late April. They were already researching the history of the Suffolk riverfront in the late 19th century, digging into early records and sketchbooks of the area. “Mary and I are excited that we were able to share Kermit Hobbs' video of the Ghost Fleet with professional maritime archaeologists and get them excited about investigating the site,” Bob Hayes wrote. “To be part of the team helping to research something of historical signifi-
cance to Suffolk is all that we could ever ask for." Because of the number and sheer size of the vessels, Hayes wrote, they needed to bring in people with more professional expertise in maritime archaeology. The project grew into a combined effort between multiple agencies and Suffolk organizations, including the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which is providing support through funding and staff assistance. Progress was made in the mud through a two-week investigation in October. Brendan Burke, an archaeologist with the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program, based out of the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum in Florida, presented their findings at a presentation to the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society on Oct. 7. “The project was planned and organized for several months prior to field work in October,” Burke wrote in an email. “Archaeologists and support staff participated from three states and five organizations. This collaborative approach was able to achieve much success in learning about Suffolk’s maritime history.” Burke and his team have thus far identified 13 different boats in their search area of the Nansemond River, starting from the initial Hobbs site, as it’s been called. “We cleaned off timbers to record details of vessel construction and searched adjacent waters to identify historic watercraft hidden
below the low tide line,” Burke wrote. “Additionally, Fairfield Foundation, a non-profit research group in Gloucester, assisted us by providing a drone and drone pilot to record the wrecks from the air.” Burke’s team even constructed 3D renderings using more than a thousand pictures of the wrecks and specialized software. The acuity of these images is brilliant — down to 0.08 millimeters in accuracy, Burke said. “The ability to generate a 3D model of an archaeological site using hundreds, or thousands, of pictures allows us to record things that we may not be able to using traditional manual recording techniques,” Burke wrote. “Additionally, intertidal sites are only exposed for brief periods, and 3D photo modeling enables us to work quickly to gather a lot of data that in years past would have taken hundreds of hours to record.” The vessels range from 15 to more than 80 feet in length, and are considered to date back from the Civil War era to World War I. They include working craft boats and others for transportation, lumber and oysters. As of Nov. 4, Burke and his team believe they have narrowed down the vessel referred to as the “Hobbs site.” Burke said in a phone interview that they believe this was a square-rigged bugeye, a unique Chesapeake Bay watercraft, and they’ve been able to narrow it down to a list of about 13 vessels registered in the Chesapeake See GHOSTS page 20
suffolk living 19 Archeologists have identified the remains of 13 different boats in the area of the Nansemond River near downtown Suffolk.
20 suffolk living GHOSTS continued from page 18
Bay area. “A couple of the attributes that were in the timbers left in the mud indicated design features that are only consistent with the square-rigged bugeyes, which is a small sample of all the bugeyes built,” Burke said. These oystering crafts are crucial, based on the findings the team and its local partners have uncovered so far regarding the oyster industry in Suffolk and the surrounding region. Through the Library of Congress, Library of Virginia and Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s records, history has been pieced together regarding an oyster plant on this part of the Nansemond River. Using Sanborn fire insurance maps and other documents going as far back at the late 19th century, the investigation has highlighted the story of William Norman McAnge. "It was the work of Brendan Burke and LAMP through finding the historical Sanborn Fire Insurance maps that truly identified the McAnge oystering business in that area and offered a possible link of the vessels to that business and time,” Bob Hayes wrote in an email. McAnge and his wife moved to Suffolk from South Carolina in the 1880s, and they remain interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery to this day. According to an 1899 volume of “Confederate Military History,” McAnge first got into the lumber business at age 19, and from there went into the oyster business. His success in the oyster business was “widely known throughout the United States,” according to the Confederate Military History volume. His oyster beds covered 275 to 300 acres in the Nansemond River and Chesapeake Bay, the Maurice River in New Jersey and the sounds of North Carolina. “He ships more fresh oysters to the South and West, through the great territory between Chicago and New Orleans, than any other man in the States,” the volume reads. “His headquarters are at Suffolk, and he keeps constantly engaged a fleet of his own oyster boats, operating with such system and regularity that it is very seldom an oyster remains in his packing house over a day.” An 1898 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Suffolk clearly shows the William N. McAnge and Co. Oyster Packing House projecting from the south bank of the Nansemond, close to where the boat remains have been found. An ad and illustration of McAnge’s business are in the 1886 book “Sketches of Suffolk” by
A team works to uncover information on the remains of a boat in the Nansemond River near downtown Suffolk. Edward Pollard. But his business interests went even further inland. McAnge also had interest in the Nansemond trucking industry, according to the Confederate Military History volume, and he was “heavily interested in the manufacture of fertilizer for peanuts, selling about two thousand tons annually.” At the Oct. 7 historical society meeting, Burke showed how boats would bring oysters to the McAnge plant to be processed. Oysters went to the nearby canning factory, and shells were burned in a kiln downtown for peanut field fertilizer. “McAnge’s operation wasted no motion or product,” Burke wrote. “Oyster shells were burned in a kiln to produce lime for peanut farmers in southeastern Virginia. McAnge also helped bring the telephone to Suffolk, likely because his business benefited from the immediate communication telephones introduced. “He had businesses in New Jersey and North Carolina,” Burke continued, “and this innovation probably enabled him to best direct those operations remotely. McAnge really seems to have been an innovator.” For the next phase of the project, Longwood
University archaeologists and students will use a laser-scanning device to collect enough data for a 3D model of the wreck site, and Burke and his team will continue to study their findings thus far. The work will take time, but Burke is grateful for all the partners his team has found for this project, including many in the Suffolk community. “Collaborative projects bring communities together,” Burke wrote. “We are happy to partner with so many knowledgeable people and groups to learn about the maritime history of Suffolk and the lower Chesapeake Bay. As a science, archaeology requires not only patience but many participants to make and keep it democratic.” Citizens are sharing information and collaborating to protect their local ghost ships, spreading this Suffolk history far and wide. “You cannot protect and understand what you don’t know,” Burke wrote. “Learning about these vessels and the maritime history of Suffolk and the Nansemond River is what enables it to be protected. This is a history to learn from, to cherish, to expose honestly, and the more we know about it, the better we can protect it.”
suffolk living 21
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History IN SCHOOL AND IN THE FIELD
Community Garden AND VOLUNTEERS THAT LOVE BOOKS september/october 2019 • vol. 10, no. 5
may/june 2019 • vol. 10, no. 3
Road Warriors KEEPING WARM AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY
january/february 2019 • vol. 10, no. 1
Email us: news@suffolklivingmag.com • suffolklivingmag.com
22 suffolk living
WHO DOESN’T LOVE A JEEP? Story by Phyllis Speidell Photos by John H. Sheally II
J
im Holloman’s passion for Jeeps started more than 50 years ago when he got his first Jeep Wrangler. He was a student at Indian River High School in Chesapeake, and his affection for the adventure-loving vehicles has only grown since then. Now his small collection numbers five Jeeps. Travelers along Godwin Boulevard are likely to spot one or two of Holloman’s vintage Jeeps parked by his business, Isle of Wight Plumbing Service, in Chuckatuck. Their classic lines and rakish flair suit the village’s country crossroads character. Why does he love Jeeps? He was never in the military. He doesn’t show them at car shows. Until 10 years ago, he had never fourwheeled along an Outer Banks beach. He doesn’t spend hours tinkering with them to hone their performance. He isn’t even certain how to use all the gears on the oldest models. “I just enjoy the Jeeps for myself,” he said, chewing thoughtfully on his ever-present Thompson cigar as he considered why he loves a Jeep. “The best thing about a Jeep is that you can go anywhere you want to go — they have a low gear ratio and four wheel drive. My Jeep truck and the 1948 Jeepster will go 70 miles per hour,” he said, gazing at the cigar, now in his hand, as if the answer might be there. “When you get a Jeep, it is so expandable you can personalize it — but the gas mileage is terrible.” Still deep in thought, he added, “Oh, I don’t light the cigars — except when I’m with my brother. I just chew on ‘em.” Holloman’s career started in maintenance, but when the company plumber arrived one day too hung over to work, he moved up into the positon and continued to learn the trade. He moved to Suffolk in 1987, then to Zuni when he moved his business to Benn’s Church. When a building became available in Chuckatuck, he was happy to move the business there and have room for his Jeeps. His favorite driver among the Jeeps might be the 1946 Army Jeep he bought for $10,000 at a charity auction. “It’s all original, just like the jeeps on ‘M*A*S*H’ — no heat, no AC and no power steering,” he said. It’s a contrast to his newest Jeep, a 2018 Wrangler that he likens to a Cadillac. His “other” favorite Jeep is his 1954 Jeep truck, his work vehicle. “It was born the same year I was and gives me the least trouble,” he said. “The first things to go on old Jeeps are the carburetor and the distributor.” Then there is another favorite, the Kelly green 1948 Willys-Overland Jeepster that he found on eBay and then found someone to restore it for him. The Jeepster, Willys’ first attempt to break into the passenger automobile market, is also the favorite of Deb Holloman,
HISTORY continued from page 22
suffolk living 23 Jim’s wife. “The others are so jacked up that it’s harder to climb into them,” he said. Holloman rounds out his collection with a bright red 1953 M38 Jeep, a Willys ¼-ton military light utility truck, with four wheel drive, dual transmissions and dual gas tanks. After finding the Jeep in South Carolina, Holloman had it restored with a rebuilt engine and transmission. Vintage as they may be, the Holloman Jeeps are not “garage queens,” but are all road ready — and often on the road with Holloman at the wheel. Keeping the Jeeps running requires a good mechanic, and Holloman is quick to say, “I am a plumber, not a mechanic, and I struggled until I found Tony.” Tony is Tony Macioci, owner of the Smithfield Auto Center, who agrees that he is the more qualified mechanic but knows who to call if he needs a plumber. Macioci grew up working on cars 30-plus years ago in garages owned by his grandfather and father in Ohio. He claims, with a smile, that nothing automotive intimidates him, not even Holloman’s occasional attempt at repairs. If you happen to see a unique vintage Jeep on the road and the driver is chomping on a cigar, wave or give Holloman a thumbs up. He loves to see people enjoy his Jeeps as much as he does.
Jim Holloman shows off the engine in his 1946 Jeep.
24 suffolk living
suffolk scene
Suffolk’s First Citizen Dr. L.D. Britt was honored by the Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary Clubs with their 2019 First Citizen award during a ceremony Sept. 26 at the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts. Proceeds from the event were donated to charitable organizations. PHOTOS BY JIMMY LAROUE
Dr. Rosa Biggs and Gregory Lawrence
Richard Chaing, Katie Burgus and Kelly Henson
Hunter Odom Jr. and Susan Blair
North Suffolk Rotary Club President Tom Powell, Dr. L.D. Britt and Suffolk Rotary Club President Stephen Jackson
Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett, Dr. L.D. Britt, Mayor Linda Johnson, Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander and Vince Mastracco
First Citizen honorees Karla Jean Smith (2018), George Birdsong (1996), Billy Chorey Sr. (2015), Dr. L.D. Britt (2019), Chris Jones (2009), Whitney Saunders (2006), Curtis Milteer (2005) and Robert W. “Rusty” Hundley (1976).
suffolk living 25
North Suffolk Oyster Roast The North Suffolk Rotary Club held its annual oyster roast on Oct. 23 at the Rose Family Farm off of Everets Road, where around 400 people came out for oysters to help support local charities and organizations in one of the club’s biggest fundraisers of the year. PHOTOS BY JIMMY LAROUE
Lisa Graves and Jeff Graves
Sandra Harris
Bill Turner
StOLEN
suffolk scene
Woody Sweet and Cindy Sweet
26 suffolk living
suffolk scene
Shrimp Feast The Suffolk Ruritan Club’s Shrimp Feast was held on Oct. 10 at the Suffolk Peanut Fest. Suffolk Ruritan Club members cooked 2,000 pounds of shrimp to go with about 900 pounds of barbecue for their annual Shrimp Feast, and tickets for the drinks, entertainment and all-you-can-eat menu sold out at 2,500 total tickets. PHOTOS BY ALEX PERRY
Caitlin Kershner, Cassidy Ellison and Amber Holmes
Jennifer and Cody White
Patricia Fields and Natoshia Bell
Latoya Dildy and Dontrail Eley
Alexandra Roberson, Janna Williams, Angelann Collins
suffolk living 27
Touch a Truck, Train and Trick or Treat The Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society held its annual Touch a Truck, Train and Trick or Treat event at the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum and adjacent Market Park on Oct. 26. Children got to see, touch and even handle the controls of different large vehicles while also enjoying their Halloween costumes and getting candy at each vehicle. PHOTOS BY TRACY AGNEW
suffolk scene
Ishmael Gilmore
Colby Lefkowitz, 2
James Starnes, 5, and Mr. Peanut
Olivia Hatton, 1, and Emily Hatton, 3
Quinnley and Cooper Darling, 4
Noah Bratton, 2
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on vacation
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Opposite spread, top to bottom and left to right: Bill Bradshaw and his wife Terry, Terry’s sister Cindy Butts and her husband Cleve hiking in Utah; Trina Burkett and Dianne Pigford visited Pensacola Beach; the DiStasio family enjoys vacation in Florence, Italy; Kay and Mike Gambardella and Susan and Dick Talton visited the Empire State Building in October; Paula and Karl Darden went on a fall foliage cruise out of Quebec City, Canada, with Mike and Kay Gambardella; Carol and Tom Harry traveled to Portland and went up to the Rowena Crest at the Columbia River Gorge; this page, top to bottom and left to right: Wayne Livesay and Rose Bowers went on a cruise visiting Demark, Norway, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland and Canada; Bob and Carol Warwick on their trip to Cape Cod; Marion Ritter, Steven Lindblad and Callie Bear at the World War II Museum in New Orleans; Robert Johnson visited the Bahamas; Stacy and Sal Simonetti celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary in Key West.
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Last edition’s Where Am I? The Where Am I? challenge in the September/October issue proved to be a difficult one! We had very few correct guesses, and even some of our most prolific correct guessers told us they were having trouble finding it. You had to be familiar with the Harbour View East shopping center to spot this one — it’s the side of the sign listing the various merchants where am I? located in the center, I which includes Kohl’s, T.J.Maxx and Bed Bath & Beyond. We received only two emails with correct guesses, and Aimee Tait was randomly chosen to receive a $25 gift card for her keen eye. Check out page 15 for this edition’s challenge. 14 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!
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scrapbook
HOTEL: The Nansemond Hotel once stood at the corner of West Washington and Saratoga streets. Built in the late 19th century, it primarily served business travelers. It was known as the Hill Hotel for a while before becoming the Nansemond. Baker Furniture Store and Bowden’s Florist shared the block with the hotel, which had a café at street level. The row of buildings was demolished in the 1960s. COURTESY OF “SUFFOLK IN VINTAGE POSTCARDS” BY THE SUFFOLK-NANSEMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY