West Avenue
Newport News, VA 23607
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1905 - West Avenue Homes Newport News: A Centennial History. John V. Quarstein and Parke Rouse, Publisher-City of Newport News, 1996 |
"New" West Avenue Residence Section | 1912 - "West Avenue, Newport News, VA" | "West Avenue Showing Part of New Residential Section" | West Avenue Looking South |
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Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA -11/18/03 |
Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/28/03 |
Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 07/20/04 |
Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 04/12/04 |
Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA -10/22/03 |
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| 1907 - West Avenue | Back of postcard at left | |||
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Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 08/22/03 |
Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 08/22/03 |
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| WAY BACK THEN and NOW: | |||
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| 1912 - Post Office, Hotel Warwick, and C&O Grain Storage |
Saturday, April 10, 2004 -
Post Office and West Avenue Looking South |
West Avenue Looking South | Sunday, August 8, 2004 - West Avenue Looking South |
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Courtesy of Dave
Spriggs ('64) of VA - 04/09/04 |
Courtesy of Dave
Spriggs ('64) of VA - 04/10/04 |
Courtesy of Dave
Spriggs ('64) of VA - 10/22/03 |
Courtesy of Dave
Spriggs ('64) of VA - 08/08/04 |
| THEN: | NOW: | ||
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This was taken from my mother's apartment (Belle Farmer - '49) around 1950. The building across the street is the old Medical Arts Building and of course beside that the library. |
Sunday, August 8, 2004 2900 Block West Avenue |
Sunday, August 8, 2004 3037 West Avenue |
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Courtesy of Tim Parsons ('73) of VA - 11/19/04 COOL! Thanks, Tim! |
Images by Dave
Spriggs ('64) of VA - 08/08/04 OHHH, NOOOOOO!!! Thank you, Dave, for these beautiful shots of such hideous, nauseating images. What a tragic ending for such lovely, gracious old homes! |
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I wish I could recall something about these beautiful old structures.
Continental Insurance Company rented me an office in the Medical Arts Building
on West Avenue,
in the same block as the public library. It was a great location. Except for the lack of available parking it was an excellent location. You could walk to the post office, and most of our insurance agents were within walking distance, which really helped to give good claim service back in the 60's when there was still that goal of insurance companies. The Medical Arts Building was built to withstand enemy attacks, and had provision for anti-aircraft guns mounted on the roof top, to protect the shipyard. |
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Tuesday, August 10, 2004 Do you mean THIS Medical Arts Building???? |
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- Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 08/09/04 |
Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 08/10/04 | ||
| As a young lad, I can recall my Dad showing me the concrete pads on the greenway on the west side of Huntington Avenue above 60th St. He explained that there were AA gun emplacements there during WWII, also to protect the Shipyard. |
That is the one!
Great shot of the Medical Arts Building on West Avenue in the 2900 Block.
She still looks pretty good, and it is not surprising since it was so well
built with lots of steel. Thanks for sharing those great photos. |
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| - Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 08/09/04 | - Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 08/10/04 | ||
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WAY BACK THEN and NOW: What a difference 99 years makes! |
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1905 - West Avenue Homes Newport News: A Centennial History. John V. Quarstein and Parke Rouse, Publisher-City of Newport News, 1996 |
This was the best I could do today due to now-existent buildings and trees. Indeed, this was taken from the steps of the Library. | ||
| Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 11/18/03 | Courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 08/10/04 | ||
The Trolley Song
Words and Music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blake
(Sung by Judy Garland in the
movie "Meet Me In St. Louis")
With my high-starched collar and my high-top shoes,
And my hair piled high upon my head,
I went to lose a jolly hour on the trolley and lost my heart instead.
With his light brown derby and his bright green tie,
He was quite the handsomest of men,
I started to yen so I counted to ten
Then I counted to ten again.
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley,
Ding, ding, ding went the bell,
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings,
From the moment I saw him I fell.
Chug, chug, chug went the motor,
Bump, bump, bump went the brake,
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings,
When he smiled I could feel the car shake.
He tipped his hat and took a seat,
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet.
He asked my name, I held my breath,
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death.
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer,
Flop, flop, flop went the wheels,
Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings,
As he started to go then I started to know
How it feels,
When the universe reels.
The day was bright, the air was sweet,
The smell of honeysuckle charmed you off your feet,
You tried to sing but couldn't squeak,
In fact you loved him so you couldn't even speak.
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer,
Flop, flop, flop went the wheels,
Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings,
As he started to leave,
I took hold of his sleeve with my hand,
And as if it were planned.
He stayed on with me
And it was grand just to stand
With his hand holding mine
To the end of the line.
"The Trolley
Song" midi courtesy of
http://www.garyrog.50megs.com/midi/trolleysong.mid (sequenced by Gary
Rogers)
at the suggestion of Gave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 04/12/04
Thanks, Dave!
"The Trolley Song" lyrics courtesy of http://www.lyrics007.com/Judy%20Garland%20Lyrics/The%20Trolley%20Song%20Lyrics.html - 04/12/04