The Last Boat Out…

… airs tonight on PBS at 9 o’clcok.

“The Last Boat Out,” a documentary about the Chesapeake Bay focusing on Peninsula-area families who have worked its waters for generations, will premiere on PBS at 9 p.m. tonight.

The 26-minute film was written and directed by Washington, D.C., filmmaker Laura Seltzer, who grew up in Newport News near the Deep Creek Pier.

She began working on the project after she learned from friends that the pier was being torn down.

Source: Daily Press

Newport News owes much of its existence to its watermen and the seafood industry. Watermen brought their harvest into Deep Creek Harbor for many decades where it was placed on the Deep Creek pier and then hauled over to Oyster Point and shipped out to other parts of the country.

When she became aware of its imminent demise a few years ago, Laura Seltzer, a film maker, visited the Deep Creek pier. Having grown up near the pier, she was interested in memorializing some of the history surrounding the seafood industry, the watermen who work the river, and the Deep Creek pier in Newport News. “Last Boat Out” is the film she made. It will air on PBS tonight at 9 o’clock.

The following video is a clip from “The Last Boat Out.”

Storm damage at the Deep Creek Landing Marina 2009

City Council Meeting~

Last Night: Shirley Jones once again gave a moving speech to City Council in favor of rebuilding the Deep Creek pier. Though the meeting ran long, she patiently waited until her name was called. The applause for her effort was great. Her speech follows.
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Good evening, Mayor Frank and Council Members. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you.

My name is Shirley Jones and I have lived in our present Woodmere neighborhood since 1957. My husband and I have raised three children who have become good members of society, and I would like to leave my 3 children and 16 grandchildren a legacy of integrity.

I feel that the elected members of the City council from the central district and the City of Newport News have failed to live up to their words and deeds in the matter of Warwick County to honor all agreements, and there was an agreement with the Melzer family to keep the pier in good condition for all citizens and the watermen, just as there was with the Federal Core of Engineers and the state. I understand that the City of Newport News has accepted money from the state to keep the pier in good repair. Instead you have torn it down. You have failed to honor your agreements with The County of Warwick, with the State of Virginia, with the United States Federal Government and last but not least, the people who elected you, the citizens of Newport News.

I am deeply disturbed by our total lack of consideration for the watermen of this Hampton Roads Area. I consider myself at fault for not studying the history sooner and standing in defense of the watermen and citizens affected by the actions of Council. We have taken away their promised free protected area to dock their boats and given it to businessmen and what i call “fat cats.” The watermen are not fairly represented here because they go to work between 2 and 3 am. They are sleeping now so they can get up to go to work tomorrow!

I was at the City Council meeting when six of you voted to rebuild the Deep Creek Pier, only Mayor Frank dissented. He is the only one with a distant relative who would be affected by rebuilding the pier and rebuilding the boat ramp and returning the rightful parking property to the citizens of Newport News.

I suggest you fund the rebuilding of the pier with the two hundred thousand plus designated for performing arts, the Ferguson Center and the Yoder Barn.

I urge you to consider the future of your own children and grandchildren and the legacy you are leaving – will it be one of supporting integrity?

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

[click on post title to view photos]

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

Sources

dailypress.com was the source for both of the following: Newport News’ historian will finalize retirement in February and Let’s try to save Deep Creek pier.

Deep Creek

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Contributed by Mayasbop

Capt. Jody

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Jody’s Boat
Be sure to click on the article to enlarge it for easy reading.

Capt. Jody – Doing what he did best.

These were sent in by Carol Hogge.

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.