Shirley Jones Speaks At City Council Meeting

Shirley Jones was an informed and eloquent speaker at the City Council meeting on June 10, 2008. After cordially greeting council members, she spoke the following words.
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I wish to encourage you to rebuild the Deep Creek pier as it was originally, along with the public access boat ramp. I understand that you are saying that there is no parking, but we had parking access there for years and years. What happened to it? What happened to the boat ramp that used to be there for all of us to use.

Council members, I understand that you are leasing nearly four acres of prime waterfront property, with three buildings on it, to Christopher Newport University – with piers for their eighteen sailboats. I think they have more than that but… I understand you’re leasing this property for a dollar a year. That doesn’t seem even reasonable to me. I can’t imagine it.

I also understand from the man who removed the pier at Deep Creek that only a small part of the pier was in poor condition. It could have been repaired very economically from what he said.

I think you’re putting an unnecessary burden on our watermen, and I don’t understand why. Our watermen are as much a part of our history, our Warwick history, as the Shipyard is of the Newport News history. And I think we have an obligation as citizens to respect that, and the gift from the Melzer family. I really would like to see you do something to support our history.

Thank you.

Oyster Grounds

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Oyster Grounds ~ April 17, 1937

Plat and Affidavit

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Plat depicting land conveyed – Melzer to Huffman
Plat depicting land conveyed – Melzer to Lozaw

Award Winning Plan for Deep Creek/Menchville

(click on title to see plats) The following article was contributed by Carol Hogge. I’m sure the City was proud of this plan, and with good reason. It was an award winning effort and stood to benefit the entire Chesapeake region, not just Deep Creek and Menchville. For the Deep Creek side the plan included: Seafood Harvest, Support Facilities, Parking, Boat Mooring and Marine Service. The watermen’s needs were taken into consideration in this plan. You can tell by the talent and effort brought to this plan that the Deep Creek/Menchville area was viewed as a valuable asset to the City. The text has been transcribed below for convenient reading.
Source: Metro Magazine
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The Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association has selected Newport News “Deep Creek/Menchville Plan” for recognition as part of its 1990 Planning Awards Program. The plan, prepared by staff of the Department of Planning and Development, is the culmination of months of research and labor.

After meeting with the approval of the City Planning Commission, it was forwarded to the City Council which, at a recent meeting, also approved it unanimously. Most importantly, the plan has been met with overwhelming support from citizens and residents of the Deep Creek/Menchville area. Major Components of the plan call for:

• Creation of a major community park overlooking the James River.
• Development of a center for seafood activities on Deep Creek Harbor
• Preservation of the historic character of the area
• Protection of the natural environment
• Development of a re-usable site for disposal of dredge spoil from the harbor entrance and channel.
• Reclaiming of sanitary landfill property for active and passive recreational use

The “Meritorious Award” for demonstration of excellence in the application of professional planning methods recognizes both the designs of the plan and the fact that the implementation will positively impact the entire Chesapeake Bay region.

Presentation of the award will take place at the VAPA Spring Conference, in the Omni Hotel Waterside, on May 14, 1990. Director Paul Miler will accept the award on behalf of the Department.

Deep Creek 1905

[click on post title to view photo] The following five photographs, offered by the one who posts as “Harris Store,” are something quite special, but this one is perhaps the crown jewel. Harris Store writes, “I believe it to be the oldest of Deep Creek in existence. It was taken in 1905, looking toward the river. Menchville can be seen to the right. The boats are log canoes, distant fore-runners of the Chesapeake Bay Deadrise.”

I don’t know about you, but the more I learn about the rich history of Deep Creek, and the determination of its people, the deeper appreciation I have for what we were fortunate enough to call home. We can not let this pier pass in the night like Harris’ Store did. Haven’t we learned that if we do not fight the fight that is given to us today, there will be nothing left for our children to fight for?

Deep Creek 1905

View of Lozar’s Store

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This photograph, taken in the 1950s, was taken from Menchville looking across Deep Creek. Frank Lozar’s store can be seen on the opposite shoreline.

View of Deep Creek from the Menchville side.

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Menchville looking easterly across Deep Creek. The channel marker shown has been removed.

Dredging in Deep Creek

Source: Daily Press 12/20/90

Caption was:

An employee of the Norfolk Dredging Company takes a sounding in front of Herman’s Harbor House Restaurant at Deep Creek in Newport News to measure water depth where maintenance dredging is being done.

From The Forum

The following is an offering from Deep Creek Pier and Civil War ~ Carrolton, VA

During the siege of Yorktown, Deep Creek was heavily fortified. This is because the creek was at the end of the first Confederate defensive line for Richmond. The Union advance was bogged down as both sides sought advantage. Toward this end, both the Union and Confederates used helium balloons for troop observation and map making.

We are aware that the Confederate tug/escort/gunship Teaser was dispatched up the James River to act as a platform for balloon flights over the mouth of the Warwick River, Deep Creek, and Mulberry Island.

This was the world’s first aircraft carrier, and it happened right here.

And there’s reason to believe the Confederate balloon was landed at Deep Creek from the Teaser. Exactly where is unknown, but there’s a good chance it could have been the first Deep Creek Pier.

The upshot of this is there may be much more than oysters under the Deep Creek Pier.

A Blast From The Past

I received these photos today. They were contributed by Carol Hogge. I couldn’t wait to share them with you. I know you’ll love them. Thanks Carol. Please, anyone else out there who has old photos of the Deep Creek area, send them to deepcreekpier@yahoo.com so we can all see them.

I’m not sure when this one was taken but it’s great. If anyone knows, please leave a comment in the comment section.

Jody Rowe’s boat. Ronnie Row was my friend and I can recall when we were very young; he always spoke so admiringly of Jody.