Main Drag on Warwick Blvd. Photo courtesy of David Spriggs
Photos below from Ruth Chamber's book entitled "Hilton Village 1918 - 1968"
Book courtesy of Frederick Mays
Corner of Hopkins and Warwick - 1918
Sketch of a Hilton Duplex - courtesy of Frederick Mays
Change (or NOT)
By Ron Lowder (your webmaster)
I will admit that I am easily amazed. In this particular episode of amazement, the topic is the change (or lack thereof) that has (or has not) occurred in regards to Hilton Village. I would guess that the Hilton area has actually changed less in the past 94 years than most other notable spots in the area. I am told that there are strict homeowner regulations in force in the area. But we must also credit the efforts of many independent individuals who (both in a private and public role) value the historic significance of the area. To give you a few examples of this preservation, I went out yesterday and took some photos of specific spots in Hilton that match photos from around 1918. The three "spots" were the corner of Hopkins and Warwick Boulevard, Hilton Elementary School and the corner of Main Street and Warwick Boulevard.
Hopkins & Warwick facing North East from Hopkins Street - 1918
Hopkins & Warwick facing North East from Hopkins Street - 2012
In the photos above, it is evident that the houses that existed in 1918 are still there. I'm not sure about the right side of the street. In very right-most side of the photo, you can see the beginning of the roofline of a house that still faces Warwick Boulevard. Not sure above the building(s) on the right behind that house. But, all in all, it seems the corner has stayed pretty much in tact over the years with a few obvious necessary improvements such as pavement and curbing. Even a 1918 tree or two on the right side of the photo may still be with us.
Hilton Elementary School - 2012
The two photos above left are from Ruth Chamber's book entitled "Hilton Village 1918 - 1968"
Book courtesy of Frederick Mays
Hilton Elementary is surely a landmark which many of us became familiar with early in life. Although I did not attend Hilton School, I can remember going swimming behind the school off Hilton Pier.
These pictures of the school show that the core of the building looks very much like it did shortly after completion in 1919. Notice that the window style has been preserved over the years, saving an important part of the building's original architecture. Additions were constructed on both sides of the school and in the rear. The school grounds and the terrain to the right of the school is still a beautiful area. I believe it is the only public school in the area that sits on a waterfront lot.
Corner of Warwick & Main - '60s/'70s. Photo courtesy of David Spriggs.
Corner of Warwick & Main - 2012
The corner of Main Street and Warwick Boulevard, pictured above, has undergone a few changes but the overall look of the corner has remained very static for at least 50 years (these photos were taken standing on the Northwest corner looking down the main commercial area). The photo on the left was taken (I'm guessing) in the late '50s or '60s. Notable positive changes include the lack of utility wires dangling overhead and a historical marker. The building that once stood to the right of the (former) Beecroft & Bull store has been replaced by a parking lot. Of course the corner building which, up until the middle of the 20th century, was a pharmacy is now Silverman's Furs (since 1976).
It is good to see that this historic area has (except for careful improvements) remained the same...few things do!!!
More pictures of Hilton Village can be found in the "Memories" section of this website:
RE: Change (or NOT) - Hilton Village (webmaster comment), view the article below.
David Spriggs, our 1st Decader Committee Chairman, has contributed many photos on the topic of Hilton Village to the Newport News High School Class of '65 Website. You can view his Hilton photos by clicking on this link:
RE: Change (or NOT) - Hilton Village (received 2/29/2012), view the article below.
I lived in Hilton Village twice. The first time was 1964, when my parents and I lived in the Colony Hilton Apartments. It was from there that I joined the Coast Guard and there I returned after I was released from active duty in 1968.
In 1970, right after getting my RN at Riverside and returning to CNC to earn my BS in Psychology, I rented a third floor attic apartment at 82 Post Street, on the southeast corner of Post and Hurley. I lived there three or four years.The house was owned by a Mrs. Swangum, who was a volunteer at Riverside, and knew that I was looking for an apartment. I rented it for $70/month, all utilities included.
The sloping attic roof made it impossible for there to be a shower. I hooked a hose to the spigot in the bathtub so that I could take a sitting shower. By he time I returned to Hilton Village to live on Post Street, the drug store had already been replaced by a men's clothing store. My barber, who was always in a foul mood, had his shop on the west side of Warwick. If I remember correctly, there was a bank on the southwest corner of Main Street. Pru Wood, a nursing school classmate of mine whom I was very fond of, lived on Fergerson. Her mother was also a Riverside volunteer, and is probably the one who told Mrs. Swangum I was looking for an apartment.
I enjoyed living in Hilton Village, and stayed in my attic apartment until I left for medical school (MCV) in 73.
Jim Lowell (72 Decader)
RE: Change (or NOT) - Hilton Village (received 2/28/2012), view the article below.
The old Beecroft and Bull men's clothing store used to be The Village Restaurant owned by my grandfather Herbert Webster Rankin Sr. This must have been in the early 50's because I was in the first grade at St. Vincents Elementary school when I visited with my grandparents who lived in Hilton Village. My father was in the restaurant business with my grandpa and I spent many an hour playing on the piano when there were no customers in the restaurant. The Cove Restaurant further down the road (right side heading toward the shipyard) was also owned by my grandfather and father. Boy, those pictures bring back tons of happy memories. Thanks for sharing.
Ellen Rankin/ Ellen Powell-Lasher (63 Decader)
Link to Christopher Newport University home page: http://cnu.edu
