Update – Deep Creek Pier and Menchville Marina – From the office of City Manager, Randy W. Hildebrandt 4-4-08

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Click on documents to enlarge. If it doesn’t work on first try, try again.

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.

From The Forum

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From the Daily Press forum – “James River Marina against city rebuilding Deep Creek Pier”

Posted by: Deep Creek and Civil War ~ Carrollton, 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.

Photos Of The Old Neighborhood

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A big thank you to a kid from the neighborhood. These are great.

1870 Civil War Campaign

April 17, 1937 Deep Creek Road, Newport News, Virginia Notice the sandbar by the channel. I’m told by some senior seniors that this was a wonderful beach. When they dredged, it was covered up.

2005 Aerial photo