Norfolk History

[BFG]

I'd wondered why the streetcars were removed. Didn't realize congestion played a huge role in it. A lot of fascinating history about the city, although I think if it were me with a blank slate in the 1950s, I still would've laid things out differently, esp. with Tidewater Park and downtown.

[metalman]

They replaced trollies with busses.

[skylinefan]

Downtown Norfolk 1955.

[Diego Maradona]

Whoa!!!!!^^^^

[BFG]

10 hours ago, skylinefan said:

Downtown Norfolk 1955.

Every time I see a shot from the 50s, I swear I'm looking at NY or Chicago. Is this Monticello or Main St?

[Virginia City]

So much brick.

[lammius]

10 hours ago, BFG said:

Every time I see a shot from the 50s, I swear I'm looking at NY or Chicago. Is this Monticello or Main St?

City Hall Av, I think

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8477692,-76.2898364,3a,67.2y,287.1h,89.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spPgk7kskdpMm4mopzmEFgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Norfolk757Kid]

Wonder what happened to that sign

[urbanlife]

Old photos of Norfolk make me depressed for Norfolk, it has so much historic urban history that was erased. The city could have had a much larger urban core today had it not bulldozed so much of its history. Had the city built all the new buildings for the "new downtown" that replaced the historic core along what is now St Paul Quadrant, it would have doubled the city's downtown and would have created a new tower district next to a historic urban core.

[EJ_LEWIS]

Yes this is City Hall Ave. 

[EJ_LEWIS]

Storm Approaching a much smaller Downtown Norfolk Skyline in 1980.

[EJ_LEWIS]

Norfolk's sailor row on Granby Street.  The Hilton at Main stands in this location. 

https://pilotonline.com/news/local/history/back-in-the-day/article_135d5f86-b559-11e9-a376-2febc5c978bc.html

 

Edited August 5, 2019 by EJ_LEWIS

[Diego Maradona]

Looking at old pics of Norfolk is depressing  

I feel like it's just best to not even talk about it because.....wow....just wow

[Diego Maradona]

Wow!  Church St!

[EJ_LEWIS]

Here is a late 19th Century early half of 20th Century Brewery which use to exist in Olde Hunterville.  Also Attached is a photo at what stands today on 710 Washington Street Norfolk. 

Edited November 7, 2019 by EJ_LEWIS

[EJ_LEWIS]

This is exactly how I remembered Downtown Norfolk when I was in College around 1982.  The Trailways bus station was in the foreground and Waterside was under construction.  This was the dawn of the renaissance of Downtown Norfolk.  

[EJ_LEWIS]

WPA photo of Granby St. in the 1930s.  

[Virginia City]

Wow. Too bad they f*cked most of that up.

[Virginia City]

1 hour ago, NFKjeff said:

Actually, most of what is in that photo, which is of Granby St., still exists.

You're right. What was getting me was the Norva sign. The Norva entrance is on Monticello not Granby. I was getting the two streets confused because of that. That made me flip the picture and think that the water is to your back looking towards the Scope, of which the buildings don't go too much farther down from there. Not like in the picture at least. However, I used Google street view and assumed the Norva had an entrance on Granby too and figured out the large white and brick building on the right with the fire escape is The James where Grilled Cheese Bistro is. Also, the cross street where the streetcar is located is Freemason.

Edited April 18, 2020 by Virginia City

[HRVA]

2 hours ago, Virginia City said:

You're right. What was getting me was the Norva sign. The Norva entrance is on Monticello not Granby. I was getting the two streets confused because of that. That made me flip the picture and think that the water is to your back looking towards the Scope, of which the buildings don't go too much farther down from there. Not like in the picture at least. However, I used Google street view and assumed the Norva had an entrance on Granby too and figured out the large white and brick building on the right with the fire escape is The James where Grilled Cheese Bistro is. Also, the cross street where the streetcar is located is Freemason.

It’s easy to forget that the Norva’s entrance was on Granby. I’m thinking this was taken from the Flatiron building, which was demolished & is now a park. 

[urbanlife]

3 hours ago, 23320 said:

It’s easy to forget that the Norva’s entrance was on Granby. I’m thinking this was taken from the Flatiron building, which was demolished & is now a park. 

If that building had survived, it would have been my favorite building in Norfolk growing up. 

[EJ_LEWIS]

Downtown Norfolk 1922. 

[urbanvb]

That density is incredible!

[Norfolk757Kid]

sad reacts only

[Virginia City]

So much potential it makes me sick.