First, some history!

The home at 1209 Chesapeake Ave. was built by the builders of the Grand Theater, who traded both house and theater for a farm.

In 1918, the house at 1209 Chesapeake Ave. was under construction at the same time the Grand Theater was under construction, by two brothers named “Williams.”

At about the same time, Ed Reass (pronounced “Reese”) had a farm in Princess Anne County. Reass made a deal with the Williams brothers to trade the Reass farm for the theater and this house. So the Williams brothers never operated the theater or lived in this house, even though they built both.
After WWII in late 1945, Reass returned to his hometown of Pittsburgh. Eventually, the Chesapeake Avenue Methodist Church across the street bought the house and used it as their parsonage. Today the home is a private residence.
–from interviews with Raymond Harper , although some of this information is included in several of his books.
This address is just one dozens of points of interest on our Historic South Norfolk Tour Map. Have you see it yet? CLICK HERE! If you haven’t visited our map, we hope you will soon. We invested hundred of hours in its creation, and we guarantee you won’t find anything like it anywhere.

Fourth of July sponsors & vendors needed

Organizers are currently seeking sponsors for South Norfolk’s Fourth of July festivities at Lakeside Park. If you want to reach thousands of people for very little investment, CLICK HERE to email the civic league and let them know of your interest.

If you want to be in the Fourth of July parade, or participate in the park as a food vendor, a crafter or a community vendor, forms are now available on the South Norfolk Civic League’s web site HERE.

New on Poindexter

Christopher Falk has built a new residence at 1203 Poindexter St. Some have complained that the new building is too plain and lacks windows and a front porch. Falk said he wanted to build something better but built this to keep within regulations.

There is a new house at 1203 Poindexter St. While not quite finished, some have already complained that the new building is too plain, lacks windows and needs a front porch.

Builder Christopher Falk said on Facebook, “We wanted to build a much bigger and nicer home. However the current zoning regulations would have required us to spend about 20 grand in fees to get the matter in front of City Council with no guarantee of approval. Thus, u (sic) go with what is allowed currently by the zoning ordinance this is what the community gets.”

Calling all farmers

The Historic South Norfolk Community Garden, 1014 Jefferson Street, is open for gardening. Meet your neighbors for garden workdays on  the 2nd and 4th Saturday each month, weather permitting. The garden is open sunset to sundown daily. Contact Carolenn Latham for plot application forms. Visit the SoNoWatch website page for more information.

Cherries in Bloom

There are beautiful trees blooming all over South Norfolk!

If you missed the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, don’t fret! You can take a drive through South Norfolk and get your fix of beautiful trees. Mature cherry trees and others are in bloom all around South Norfolk and Portlock. Temperatures have been up and down, but spring really is coming… we promise.

“Rolling on the River” Food Truck Series begins Thursday, April 12

Happy, hungry revelers can gather every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 5-8:30 p.m. starting April 10. Join the fun at Elizabeth River Boat Landing & Park, 1400 Elizabeth River Way, Chesapeake (under the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge).

The Rolling on the River Food Truck Series is produced jointly by the South Norfolk Civic League, the City of Chesapeake Department of Parks, Rec and Tourism, and Eat the Streets 757 and will continue through September.

April Meetings

April 9 – SN Civic League
6 p.m., 1217 Godwin Ave.

April 12 – Historic and Architectural Review Board
5:30 p.m. The Portlock, 3815 Bainbridge Blvd.

April 15 – SN Neighborhood Watch
6:30 pm, 801 Poindexter St.