Sincere thanks to Red Rooster (Paul Trice) of OV painting fame, for contributing these images.

The "original" Florence Drug Store was on the corner of First View & Ocean View Ave,
approximately where the KFC/TC Bell is located today. They later moved to the octagonal Esso location, now a hair salon.
"Mouse-over" the image below, for size information and click to enlarge. E-mail for very affordable prints.

Click to enlarge (from l-r) to see just 'a tad' of the horizontal marqee of the Rosele Theater in Rooster's print at right, then the vertical Palace marqee (bowling), Surf Tavern which was once owned by dear "Brother Barco" (who later owned Outer Banks Tavern on Chesapeake St), Yum-Yum Chinese Food, the Dixie Hotel, O'Haras (later Maddog's), the Idle Hour, and the fącade of Florence Drug Store. Turn the corner of 1st View, for a depiction of Crank's Roofing --then a small grocery, Jack's, Roses 5&10 & OV Grocery on Portview, owned by Les Hoggard, eventually an owner of the old Holiday Inn tavern which would someday become Ship's Cabin. Why two small groceries just across from the much larger Colonial Store? Why credit, of course! After the Colonial Store (remembered for rooftop parking, the site of today's Post Office) and coming back toward you, was Cliff Williford's Cleaners & Shoe Repair, the legendary Hughs' Hardware, a Laundry and a Davenport's Barbershop (Dennis D is no relation to Hubert D and at 83, Dennis still cuts hair in Portsmouth), Ferguson's Florist, an appliance dealer selling Magnavox TVs and the corner which was home of Rexall Drugs and upstairs the OV Chamber of Commerce which would later be home to the Tidal (& Ocean View) Times.

The above photo below the first set of railroad tracks, reads in white print: "FIRE. OCEAN-VIEW. FEB 7, 1923, GAUGHAN." It depicts the aftermath of a fire which destroyed the pool room next door to it (note the vertical "BILLIARDS" sign left of Florence Drug Store, the "DANGER R.R. CROSSING" to the right). At far left, is the Dixie Hotel which was located about where the Bugger King is today. Progress? (sigh) Not much regard has been given historic and vital areas of Ocean View beginnings. Please see another, more recent demolition. In Spring 2002, Rosy's was gone from First View, because the city has purchased the property. We recall Rosy's dear Hymie Rosenbaum. Have you seen "Downtown" Ocean View History? About the Nickel Tour

The above is a magnified images of the photo at left. It is a great thing that the faces of the fellas in front of Florence Drugs in 1923, after the Billiard Parlor went up in flames didn't have to witness the deliberate implosions, initiating the park's demolition in 1978 --but they'd have been proud of the coaster's resistance. The famous Roller Coaster demolition.

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