O V - The Nickel Tour VI: Comments by Robert Jones

~ OV Tour MAIL SPECIAL ~ All photos provided by Robert Jones

Click thumbnail at right for enlargement

By the way, Joe and I have been talking about the old Kiddieland foundation that I discovered a few months ago. Have you seen it? Why was this foundation left? Does it strengthen the dunes? Or was it left behind as an unmarked landmark? The foundation is located between the last two boardwalks nearest to the highrise. It is almost completely covered by the sand dunes so look closely. You can see it real [great] from the beach. I can make out where the columns were mounted that held the roof.

So for about a year now I've been trying to figure it out --why was this foundation left intact? By looking at aerial photos I have determined that it must be Kiddieland! The foundation's relation to Duffy's Lane is correct. An old wooden jetty is also in perfect alignment with the foundation! Could this be part of the concrete sewer? I don't think so, because bolt holes are visible where the roof columns were attached. Maybe this foundation was left behind to add strength to the dunes? When I see either corner of this old area I imagine years ago! The Lifeguard Station was to the left and the Snack Bar to the right. I remember riding the Scrambler there. Kiddieland had been moved down in front of the Giant Slide. Well, You have to see for yourself and please let me know what you think. There might be some really cool memories in this piece of slab! Is this the real thing ? I've never asked the city because I'm afraid they might demolish it. I have more pictures to send. --RJ

Thanks so much Robert, we needed that --this week, we received the first angry email, from a woman who will remain nameless--

HAVING VISITED YOUR SITE I FIND THE NOSTALGIA WONDERFUL BUT SURELY YOU MUST HAVE PICTURES OF THE NEW HOMES AND BUSINESSES. NEWS ABOUT THE NEW LIBRARY THAT WILL BE BE BUILT AT THE OLD STREETCAR TERMINAL. PICS OF THE NANSEMOND ON THE BAY CONDO. OCEAN VIEW IS COMING INTO IT'S OWN NOW PUMA. LETS HEAR IT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF GOOD PEOPLE! MY FAMILY WERE NATIVES SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY IN OCEAN VIEW AND BELIEVE ME IT'S GETTING BETTER WITH TIME. WE HAD A TIME OF TRASHY HUTS AND RUN DOWN SHACKS NOW WE'RE BACK ON THE MAP!

WE HAVE MOVED "HOME". WE LIVE WHERE THE AMUSEMENT PARK WAS LOCATED...[there] ARE... "POOR LIL PEOPLE" WHO WANT TO LIVE ON CHESAPEAKE BAY AND WHO WANT TO ENJOY FREEDOM OF TAXATION... I NEVER HEARD OF ANY PUMAS IN OCEAN VIEW AND MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER DELIVERED MOST PEOPLE IN OCEAN VIEW AS SHE WAS A MIDWIFE. BE KIND ENOUGH TO TELL US WHEN YOU ARRIVED IN OCEAN VIEW AND IF YOU ARE TRULY A NATIVE OR JUST SOMEONE WHO IS USING THIS FOR GRANDIZEMENT?

...IT OCCURS TO ME THAT WHEN YOU RODE THE MERRY GO ROUND AT OCEAN VIEW PARK THAT IF YOU GRABBED THE BRASS RING YOU GOT A FREE RIDE... THOSE PEOPLE WHO REVEL IN BEER JOINTS AND DIVES WHO REMEMBER JUST BUILDINGS... WE LIVE IN ONE OF THOSE VINYL HOMES YOU DETEST ...SORRY [we] GRABBED THE BRASS RING... DOES SMART DOES IT? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO GUEDEON WAS ROBERTA, OR TULLIE WRIGHT?

DO YOU KNOW WHERE PEOPLE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST SMALLPOX SHOTS/OR HOW MUCH IT COST TO ATTEND THE ROSELE? EVER HAVE GINGERBREAD FROM DRIVERS' BAKERY? MOST OF ALL HAVE YOU EVER SEEN WILLOUGHBY AWASH SHORE TO SHORE? ...BEING A DESCENDANT OF SIR THOMAS WILLOUGHBY, I DO GET A LITTLE PUT-OUT BY NEWBIES...

...WE HAVE SEEN OCEAN VIEW GO FROM A LOVELY FAMILY RESORT TO A TRASHY BOTTOM FULL OF LOW LIFE AND WELFARE... THEREFORE WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE IT BECOME A FAMILY ORIENTED AREA AGAIN. IF I AM TOO CONSERVATIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN LOW RENT DRIVE OLD CARS AND CONTRIBUTE NOTHING SORRY AGAIN. WE BOTH GREW UP ON THE BEACH LIVED NICE LIVES AND JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE GRABBED THE BRASS RING. THAT ISN'T A CRIME-- ITS JUST OCEAN VIEW SPUNK! I CAN SEE NO FUTURE FOR A CITY THAT HAS PEOPLE THAT OFFER NO IMPROVEMENT. HURRAH FOR THE NEW OCEAN VIEW THOSE OF US WHO 'WERE' OCEAN VIEW ARE THRILLED!

The reply? Goodness... born here & lived teen years in Willoughby... married the boy down the street --Ocean Ave, in Lenox). The dear Puma family was there in 1950 before we moved, from near First View. We may know one another's faces from decades of traveling these roads. You mean Gudgeons? --a homeless, loveable legend (not a brass ring grabber). We too, are in a vinyl condo. Perhaps you're not so annoyed-- just feels that way with the CAPS. Having bartended through college in these 'beer joints & dives' as you refer to them, met some of Willoughby's most wonderful families. [churches and schools are also featured here]. The Rosele and Rose's five & dime --we don't think you've seen most of the tour by your comments.

We advocate Ocean View "improvements" --but not when decided on by the few. Real OViewers don't live in upscale homes and they aren't trash -- their homes and neighborhoods matter to them. They work hard and play hard. They are very family-oriented. They are lifelong residents.Tolerance is the key. We're no more tolerant of the powerful few, than you are of folks hit hard by the economy, military down-sizing, retiring to fixed incomes or unemployed (including NIT union folk) in an inadequate economical climate. We obviously have completely different "Views" here. We are still struggling to understand how greed for some here, has become a virtue-- how disenfranchising the majority of the community is such a gleeful endeavor. Thanks for writing. SHOUT back when you can. --R K

[Please hope Thomas Willoughby wasn't so exasperating, after all --our middle son's middle name is Willoughby. We love Robert's response below, and are glad we shared the mail, after all. His finding the foundation for Kiddieland sounds as fun as our finding part of Monkey Bottom behind Willoughby Elementary]

R K: You are much kinder than I would be to that nameless, stuck up lady. The brass ring that she grabbed should be shoved up her nose (which is stuck up high enough) --I can think of another place where [she should] stick it too! I'll be nice now. I am not a native of OV. I was a Navy brat - my dad got stationed here around 1968. I was 2 then. I have always considered Norfolk to be my home. I have many childhood memories - mostly OV Park! Back then, I didn't know how greedy people can be. I may be lower class and I do drive an old 85 S10 pickup, but I am a decent human being with feelings too. Unlike Miss Stuck Up! Let them have their nice homes on the beach. Let 'em drive nice automobiles. They will NEVER keep me away from the Park - part of my life is there as well as something that I lost. Even if the public beach is removed those rich snobs will STILL see me out there on the beach!

Right in front of their expensive homes! I'll be there on OV Ave next to them at the stop light. I'll be at the new library. And I will always have a cold brew at any of the fine establishments in OV! I love your web site and all the hard work that you have done. Thank you for defending the common man. God bless you and yours. I'll be sending more photos of "our" Park in a day or so!

P.S. Those homes on the park site are so close together that if one of them catches on fire they might all burn down. Just more poor planning and greed on Norfolk's part. --RJ

OV Park history & images now also include Part III, Part VI, Part VII,
Part XIII, Part XVII, Part XIXb, Part XXI, Part XXII & Part XXIIa

About the Nickel Tour
ro@rkpuma.com