TThis headline greeted Virginian-Pilot subscribers from their doorsteps on

the morning of 6 April 1917. Congress had passed a resolution declaring war on Germany, heralding the entry of the United States into what would in

time be known as the First World War.

GermanwarshipswerealreadyinHamptonRoads,andhadbeenformorethantwoyears.InMarchandApril1915,GermanauxiliarycruisersPrinze Eitel Friedrich and Kronprinz Wilhelmsteamedintotheharbor,eludingBritishandFrenchnavalvesselspatrollingfortheenemyoutsidethethree-milelimit.TheypulledintoNewportNews,askingforcoal,suppliesandthetimetoundergorepairs.TheWilhelmwasespecially

desperateforrationsforhermen,manyofwhomhaddevelopedberiberiduringeightmonthsatseawithoutfreshfruitsandvegetables. Neithershiphadbeenbuilttofight.BothenteredtheworldaspassengerlinersontheNorthGermanLloydLineintheearly1900s.Theywereamongthefleetofformercivilianvesselsthatwerearmedand

convertedintowarshipsfortheGermanNavyatthebeginningofthewar. AfterfindingsanctuaryinHamptonRoads,theGermanofficersweighedtheiroptions–toreturntoseaortoremaininHamptonRoadsasinternees.TheenemyshipsoffshoreandtheillnessoftheWilhelm’screwarguedforthelatteroption.TheNorfolkChamberofCommerceweighedinonApril27,askingthattheshipsbeinternedattheNorfolkNavyYard,citingthedesirability“tothecommercial...interestsofthisport.”BytheendofApriltheshipsandtheircrewofsome600menwereattheNavyYard,dockedatalittle-usedsectionknownas“RottenRow,”wherescrapmaterialswerediscarded. TheGermansailorsenjoyedliberalleaveandbecamefamiliarsightsinthecommunity,visitingwithlocalfamiliesandattendingsocialfunctions.ThislibertycametoahaltinOctober1915afteradaringescapebysixofficersfromtheWilhelm.Theofficershadbeenallowedtopurchasethe60-footyachtEclipse fromNorfolkarchitectBenjaminF.Mitchellforrecreationalsailinginlocalwaters.TheyanchoredtheboatattheNorfolkBoatClubattheendofWestFreemasonStreetandspentamonthfittingitoutwithnewsails,freshpaintandamorepowerfulengine.TheyenjoyedseveraldaysailsontheElizabethRiveruntilOctober10,whentheyweregivenpermissionforanovernightouting.Theysailedaway,nevertobeheardfromagain.ThisfollowedontheheelsoftheSeptember29departureofthreeofficersfromtheEitel Friedrich,

F a l l 2 0 0 7

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kTreasures from the

Norfolk History Museum

hCalendar of Events

The German Village at the Norfolk Navy Yard

U.S. DECLARES WAR!

whohadbeengiventwoweeks’leavetovisitNewYorkCityandNiagaraFalls,promisingtoreturnbymidOctober.They,too,hadvanished. FutureleaveprivilegesfortheremainingcrewmemberswerecurtailedandthehomesicksailorsoccupiedtheirtimebuildingalittleGermantownoutofscrapmaterialsonhand.TheynamedtheirvillageEitel Wilhelm,combiningthenamesofthetwoships.Thefarmanimalsandsmallzoo,vegetablegarden,weeklynewspaperandnearly50miniaturebuildingsattractedthousandsofvisitorsfromthelocalcommunity.Proceedsfromthe10¢entryfeeandsaleof

bakedgoods,postcardviewsofthevillageandhand-craftedtoysweresenttotheGermanRedCross. InAugust1916,CongressdoubleditsappropriationfornewwarshipsfortheUnitedStatesNavy,andofficialsatthe

NavyYardhurriedtofindspaceforthenewshopsanddrydocksthatwouldbeneededfortheadditionalwork.TheGermanVillagehadtocomedown.TheshipsweresenttoPhiladelphiainSeptember,wheretheywereconvertedtoAmericantroopshipsaftertheU.S.enteredthewar.TheinterneeswouldbecomeprisonersofwarandwouldspendtheremainderofthewarinPOWcampsinGeorgia.

Treasures from the Norfolk History Museum

TTradefigureswereacommonwayfor19thcenturymerchantstoadvertisetheirmerchandiseinthedaywhensomecustomerswerestillilliterateandtherewasagrowingimmigrantpopulationnewtotheEnglishlanguage.TheNorfolkHistoryMuseumhasseveraltradefiguresonexhibit,includingthisjollyfigureof“Punch,”whichstoodoutsideIsaacMoritz’MainStreetcigarstoreformanyyears.Whocouldresisttheinvitationofthispart-clown,part-imp,whoholdsoutasamplingofthewaresforsaleatMoritz&Companyandpointsthewayinside?AlthoughtheAmericanIndianismosttraditionallyassociatedwiththecigarstore,othertradefigures,includingthatofPunch,werealsopopular.

“Punch” Cigar Store Show Figure, ca. 1865American, perhaps made by William Demuth & Co., New York CityPainted woodChrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, Gift from the City of Norfolk, Norfolk Police Museum 2005.9

The Norfolk History Museum is in need of volunteer greeters. .......................................................................................................

VolunteerhoursareWednesdaythroughSunday(especiallySaturdayandSunday).Nospecialskillsarerequired,justasmile.Formoreinformation,pleacecontactJeanneBollendorfat333-1086orjbollendorf@chrysler.org.

September. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wednesday, September 12, 7:00 PM – Norfolk History Museum Program Series: “Baseball in Norfolk, Virginia”LocalauthorsClayShampoeandTomGarrettwillpresent

thefirstinathree-partseriesonthehistoryofsemi-professionalbaseballinNorfolk,tracingthesportfromitsearlydaysto1934.ItwillbeaneveningfullofFunFactsandSurprisingStoriesaboutAmerica’sfavoritepastimeandtheBoysofSummerwhoplayedthegameinNorfolk,manyofthemgoingontothebigleagues.Location:KaufmanTheatre,ChryslerMuseum.Freeandopentothepublic.Book

signingandlightrefreshments.

Monday, September 17, 11:30 AM – Hampton Roads Naval Museum Speakers Luncheon Series: “Theodore Roosevelt: Selling Sea Power”AnAmericanFleetNavyisanideawetakeforgrantednow.Butattheturnofthecentury,ittookthepoliticalskillofaU.S.PresidenttosellthisideatotheAmericanpeople.dr.LoriBoglewilldiscusshowTheodoreRooseveltusedthe1907JamestownExpositionandtheGreatWhiteFleettomarketaFleetNavytoAmerica.Location:ThirdfloorofNauticus.Lectureandluncheon:$15perperson.Aftertheluncheon,guestsareinvitedtotourthenewSteelNavyexhibit.Reservations required, call 322-3109.Sponsored courtesy of Lockheed Martin

October. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wednesday, October 10, 7:00 PM – Norfolk History Museum Program Series “Prelude to Freedom: The Contraband Slave Story” ComposerGerriHollinswillpresentselectionsfromheroriginalfolkopera,firstperformedatThomasNelsonCommunityCollegein2005.TheoperaisbasedonthethousandsofslaveswhosoughtandfoundfreedomatFortMonroe,before theEmancipationProclamation.Ms.Hollinswillperformseveralofthevariousroles,accompaniedbypiano.Location:KaufmanTheatre,ChryslerMuseum.Freeandopentothepublic.Lightrefreshments.November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wednesday, November 14, 7:00 PM – Norfolk History Museum Program Series: “An Audience With His Excellency, George Washington”Hewasafarmer,asoldierandapresident.SpendaneveningwiththemanknownasTheFatherofHisCountryasVirginiaPatriotsinterpreterKevinGrantzbringsGeorgeWashingtontolife.WhatwasAmerica’sFirstPresident’sconnectiontoNorfolk?didhereallysleephere?LearnwhatitwasliketohelpshapethedestinyofthisfledglingcountryasoneofitsFoundingFathers.Location:KaufmanTheatre,ChryslerMuseum.Freeandopentothepublic.Lightrefreshments.

C a l e n d a r o f E v e n t s

Norfolk in Autumns PastSeptember 12, 1930 – NorfolkdivisionoftheCollegeofWilliamandMaryopensSeptember 13, 1926 – dailypassengerplaneservicebeginsbetweenPhiladelphia,WashingtondCandNorfolkSeptember 15, 1736 – TownofNorfolkismadeaBoroughbyRoyalcharterSeptember 18, 1935 – NorfolkUnitofVirginiaUnionUniversity(nowNorfolkStateUniversity)opensSeptember 21, 1923 – Virginia’s firstradiostation,WTAR,goesontheairinNorfolkSeptember 22, 1904 – John McNerneyisthefirstNorfolkpolicemankilledinlineofdutyOctober 1, 1849 – NorfolkGasLightCompanyturnsoncity’sfirstgaslights

October 3, 1936 – ForemanFieldisdedicatedOctober 13, 1894 – FirstelectrictrolleybeginsoperationsOctober 19, 1749 – Hurricanewashesup800acresandspitatwhatisnowWilloughbyNovember 1, 1957 –HamptonRoadsBridge-TunnelopensNovember 8, 1919 – Norfolk’s firstdialtelephonesgointoeffectatmidnightNovember 14, 1910 –AtWilloughby,EugeneElylaunchesfirstplanetotakeofffromashipNovember 18, 1939 – Norfolk’sfirstunderpassopens atN&WRailroadtracksonHamptonBoulevardNovember 24, 1852 – CommodoreMatthewCPerryleavesfromNorfolkonnavaltourthatwillopenJapantoworldtradeNovember 29, 1789 – ThomasJeffersonvisits

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P.O.Box6367Norfolk,VA23508-0367..................................

PRESIdENTLouis L. Guy, Jr. RVICEPRESIdENTCharles A. Miller, AIA RSECRETARYPeggy Haile McPhillips RTREASURERCharles V. McPhillips, Esq. RC O u r I E r EdITORPeggy Haile McPhillips RC O u r I E r dESIGNBart Morris

BOARdMEMBERSJoanne S. BerkleyTommy L. Bogger, Ph.D.Ashlyn M. BrandtCaroline riddle Doonanrussell D. Evett, MDSteven A. ForrestCarter B. S. Furr, Esq.robert E. Garris, Jr.Greta S. GustavsonCraig S. JonesAnne H. KilandJohn W. Kuehl, Ph.D.Norman L. MaasJoyce S. McKeeverralph W. Miner, Jr.Mark D. PerreaultDavid K. Sutelan, Esq.

www.NorfolkHistorical.0rgwww.NorfolkHistorical.0rg

IIt is time to reviewourprogress and revise/refineourworkplanfornextyear.Wehavedonethisannually,guidedbyprofessionalplannerBillMiner,sincewedevelopedanewStrategicPlantwoyearsago.Inthateffort,theNHSBoarddefinedourMissionasto:

“serve as a catalyst for the collection, interpretation, preservation, and dissemination of Norfolk area history and as an advocate for broader understanding, education, and preservation of our history to both citizens and visitors.”

Thisisambitiousbutveryworthwhile,andwearechippingaway.Asa“catalyst”wewelcomepartneringopportunitieswithorganizations,institutions or individuals wherever there may be a commoninterest.RecentpartnersincludeFriendsofHistoricHousesoftheChryslerMuseum;HamptonRoadsNavalMuseum;U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,Norfolkdistrict;Harbor’sEdgeRetirementCommunity;2ndVa.Regiment,Warof 1812; JuniorLeagueofNorfolk&VirginiaBeach;NorfolkPublicLibrary;ContrabandHistoricalSociety;CitizensforaFortMonroeNationalPark;andtheNationalCouncilofStateHistoricPreservationOfficers.WeappreciateallofthishelptorelateNorfolk’srichhistory. Sharing the fascinating stories about this region is central toour Mission. Our Norfolk History Museum Series, the second

Wednesday of every month at the Chrysler Museum’s KaufmanTheatre,isasuccess.Wehaveattractedacoreaudiencethisyear,nowrangingreliablyfrom50to100everymonth.Thisnucleusofpeopleinterestedinlocalhistorywillgrow.Plansareunderwayforthe2008programs,includingsequelstosomeofthisyear’smostsuccessful,such asdr.RobertWojtowicz’s presentation onNorfolk architectClarence Neff. In 2007 we have already hosted ten free events,includingeighteveningNHMprogramsandtwoafternoonprogramsatFortNorfolkduringweekendencampmentsofre-enactors. OnNovember14,thebriefjointAnnualMembershipMeetingofNHSandFriendsofHistoricHouseswillprecedeourNHMSeries event. Featured will be George Washington, who visitedherein1763.Later,hisAdministrationbuiltFortNorfolkandin2007NHSisthefort’scustodian!AlthoughsomehowheiscomingtousAFTERweheard fromAbrahamLincoln inearlyAugust,his appearancemeans that we are covering all four centuries ofNorfolk’shistory.don’tmissit. Webadlyneedyourfeedback.NHShasalimitedsupplyoffunds,andanevenmorelimitedsupplyofvolunteerhourstoorganizeandsupporteachprojectorprogram.Wearefacedwith“insurmountableopportunities,”asPogowouldsay,anditisimportantthattheyareprioritizedtoyourliking.Letushearfromyou.

—L o u i s G u y , P r e s i d e n t

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