Interview with Alese Newman Hazelwood

May 23, 2006

GROWING UP IN ECLIPSE

Alese Newman was born in Eclipse Virginia in 1920 to Amy Mae Martin and Everett Hale Newman.  She was delivered at home by Dr. L.L. Eley who lived in the old Keeling house on Bridge Road (Leonard Willis property).  When Alese was 5 years old, she and her family moved to the 2-story house at the top of Devils Gorge on Eclipse Drive (currently owned by the Larry Willis family).  Alese’s cousin Mildred Williams was delivered on the same day by Dr. Eley in another house in Eclipse.  Everett and Mae Newman had four children – Everett Newman Jr., John Staley Newman, Audrey Newman, and Alese.

Grocery Stores

Alese’s grandmother (Sally Martin) ran the “Eclipse Grocery Store” (called Miss Sally’s Store), one of three local grocery stores that was located in the old green painted TV store on Eclipse Drive (across from J.C. Grays).  She is buried in the Martin Family Cemetery between Wigneil and Bleakhorn drives in Eclipse.  Alese’s grandfather, John Wesley Martin was an oysterman and also farmed.  The other two Eclipse grocery stores were “Bunkley’s Grocery Store” (end of Eclipse Drive), and the “Martin Grocery Store” – owned by Sally Martin’s brother-in-law (located at the corner of Dixon and Bleakhorn drives).  His wife Emma Martin ran this store.

Alese’s parents moved to Petersburg during World War I to work in a war industry, and her brother Everette Newman Jr. was born there.  After the war, her parents moved back to Eclipse where her father oystered in local waters and worked for the Rufus Miles Oyster Company for many years. 

Eclipse didn’t have street names when Alese was growing up and all the streets were dirt.  It wasn’t until __________ that streets were paved and named in Eclipse and Crittenden. (See Richard Davis who had a lot to do with naming streets) (See Dorothy Davis on when roads were paved)

Devil's Gorge

Areas of Eclipse were Devil's Gorge on Eclipse Drive (gorge between Staley Newman and Larry Willis houses); Clay Hill on Dixon Drive (near Kenneth Corson’s house); and Snake Ridge on Eclipse Drive (near Mt. Zion Christian Church -- Mt. Zion Fellowship).

As a child, Alese stayed in the water, swimming and playing at Rivershore Beach (end of Rivershore Drive).  This neighborhood beach, unlike today, was wide and sandy where families held cookouts and picnics.  The rule in the Newman house was children had to be accompanied by an adult to visit Rivershore Beach.  Alese would go to the beach with an adult, and when they had to leave, she would meet another adult coming down to the beach so she could return and stay longer.  Sometimes, this lasted all day.

Some Friends

Alese’s friend Frances Adams (a cousin of her future husband Bertram) lived in Newport News, but stayed in Eclipse during the summers.  Frances stayed with Bertram’s grandmother in a house on Eclipse Drive that is no longer standing (in front yard of Thomas Hazelwood’s house and across from Alese’s house).  Frances and Alese would take out bateaus, use cracked barnacles for bate to catch grudgers (minnows), then would feed neighborhood cats or throw them back.  The girls would stay under Bunkley’s Dock to stay cool while fishing.   Frances and Alese climbed trees and “made their own fun.”  Alese also would sneak over to Miss Bunkley’s yard to climb her trees.

As a friend since 7th Grade, Alese would spend at least one night each week at Garnell Holland’s home near Chuckatuck.  In high school, Alese and Garnell would double date, often going to the Chadwick Theater on Main Street in Suffolk.  Most every Saturday, Eclipse children would go on dates to the old Chadwick Theater.  Alese and Garnell would also often go to Frances Adams grandparents home (Bruce Keeling Sr.’s parents 2 story house on Bridge Road behind The Market) to pick pecans from two large trees.

Inez Hackney, another of Alese’s girlhood friends, originally lived in Hobson.  One year, Inez lived with Alese causing Bertram to have to find a date for Inez whenever he went to visit Alese.

School

Alese started first grade in 1925 at the Crittenden-Eclipse School (now the Ruritan’s C.E. &H.  Community Hall on Eclipse Drive) for 1st through 6th grades.    The school had three classrooms with 2 grades to each room (current Girl Scout room, Boy Scout room, and part of kitchen, with a large auditorium with a stage).  Each classroom had 8 to 10 children per class.  School started at 9:00 a.m. and let out at 3:00 p.m.  Starting with 7th grade, Eclipse and Crittenden children took a school bus to the Chuckatuck School.   Outdoor playtime activities at the Crittenden-Eclipse School included see-saws on the school yard and “swinging on grape vines” near the swamp across from the school.  Alese always wanted to go to school each day.  If she was sick her mother would take her to Grandmother Martin who would determine if Alese was able to attend school.  Grandmother Martin would generally let Alese go to school so she wouldn’t miss learning.  Alese believes today’s schools are too big and impersonal.  During her school years, schools and classes were small and children received personal attention in learning.

Children walked to the Crittenden-Eclipse School during Alese’s school days on unpaved roads.  Alese remembers walking to school with Charles Mason, Ella Adams, Bruce Keeling, Alice Dixon, Norma Dixon, Frances Gray, Hulda Gray, Clarence (Sammy) Wright, William Adams and Clifford Bush.

Mrs. Alice Lewis lived across the yard from the Crittenden-Eclipse School (Ginny Bagnel’s house) and Alese remembers that school children believed she was the “nearest thing to a witch.  Mrs. Lewis always wore a black blouse, skirt and hat and carried a black purse.  She would walk and hitch hike to town.  There was a fence between Mrs. Lewis’ property and the school yard, and if school children hit a ball into her yard, she would give the children a fit.  If school children were playing after 3:00 p.m., Mrs. Lewis would bring a clock to show the children that it was “time for them to go home.”

Children in Eclipse were also afraid of another person.  Hays Williams, a mentally challenged handyman, did odd jobs and went after the mail for the Dixon family.  He would scare neighborhood children because “he wanted it that way.”  However, at other times, Mr. Williams would get candy from Bunkley’s Store and give it to children.

Alese’s cousin Mildred Hogue, who was visiting from Newport News, stayed at a house on Cross Street (now owned by David Wright).  One day, she and Mildred went to play on Bunkley’s dock and Mildred slipped on some moss at the end of the dock.  Alese heard a splash and a scream and found Mildred floundering in the water.  Shelton Moger, a waterman jumped off the dock and Jim Lewis brought his boat to the rescue.  Alese heard later that when Mildred was rescued, she accused Alese of pushing her into the water.  Those were the days.

Eclipse had a neighborhood baseball diamond located at the intersection of Eclipse and Dixon drives (properties currently owned by Carter Hicks and Christine Wright).  On Saturday’s, large groups of people “from all over the area” would gather at the baseball field to watch the games.  Alese remembers a team from Smithfield playing there with a lot of Smithfield fans coming to watch the games.  She also remembers watching all the automobiles passing the baseball field driving down Dixon Drive to the auto ferry at Sheffield’s Point.

Bert was popular and everyone liked him.  When his parents died at age two, he went to live with his grandparents (T.H. Adams) who raised him in the old Hazelwood house at the corner of Eclipse Drive and Cross Streets (Sidney Hazelwood Jr.’s house).  One day at age 13 when Alese was riding her bicycle to her grandparent’s house, Bert who was six years older than Alese stopped her and asked for a date.  Alese told him she had to go home and ask her mama if it would be all right to see Bert.  When her mama said yes, the rest is history.  Bert, who had previously dated two Bush sisters – Violet and Virginia (B.Bush’s sisters), could not see enough of Alese.  The story going around Eclipse was that “Bert could not get past Devils Gorge” since the Bush sisters lived in the John Brown Bush house on the hill and Alese lived across the street in the Newman house (Larry Willis house).  When Alese finished high school at age 16, she married Bertram Hazelwood Sr. on June 27, 1936.

Alese and Bertram Hazelwood

Alese and Bertram Hazelwood lived with his grandparents, T.H. Adams, in the Adams house (Bert’s mother’s parents) from 1936 until 1956 when they built their home on Eclipse Drive overlooking Chuckatuck Creek (Thomas Hazelwood home).  Grandfather Adams died in 1940 and grandmother Adams died in 1947.  In 1936, Bert built his first boat, naming it for his grandfather – the “T.H. Adams.”  Prior to this time, Bert worked on his grandfather’s boats oystering and fishing.  Alese remembers Bert and her spending some nights on the T.H. Adams during the summers.

Bert and Alese had three children – Bertram Junior, Gloria, and Thomas – who were all fond of the water  Alese remembers having a Boy Scout, Girl Scout and a Cub Scout all at one time in her family.

Bert Jr., born in 1941 lived his entire life in Eclipse, marrying Mary Ainsley Saunders of Chuckatuck in 1963.  Bert Jr. and Mary Ainsley had a daughter, Elizabeth who married Bruce Jamerson, a Virginia House of Delegates Staff member in 1986.  Elizabeth has one daughter, Ainslie, who is in the 6th grade.  Bert Jr. worked the water and in the oyster business with his father until his death in 1968.  He was an Eagle Scout and attended the University of Virginia before pursuing a career as an oysterman.  Alese remembers when she was in labor about to deliver Bert Jr., husband Bert was working the night shift on the James River Bridge.  A neighbor, Denny Adams and Daisy Adams (L.L. Johnson’s daughter) drove Alese to the bridge where Denny relieved Bert Sr. so he could drive Alese to the old Buxton hospital in Newport News to deliver Bert Jr.

Gloria, born in 1944 grew up in Eclipse and attended Mary Washington College.  She moved to Richmond to work and marry Ed Norris, a pilot.   Gloria and Ed were married in 1974 in the Hazelwood home on Chuckatuck Creek and had two children, Teddy and Kindal.  She and her family died in a tragic aircraft accident in 1987.

Thomas was born in 1949 and still lives in the family home on Chuckatuck Creek in Eclipse.  While Alese was pregnant with Thomas, she and Bert would often go to Willoughby Bay in Norfolk on his boat the Dora, staying several days at a time anchored in front of their friend’s home, Captain Rufus Miles.  Alese’s father worked for Capt. Miles, while Bert worked for the Ballard Fish and Oyster Company.  While Alese was concerned that she might deliver Thomas during one of these visits, Capt. Miles assured her that he would “get her to the hospital” in the event Thomas came unannounced.  Lucky for Alese, Thomas cooperated and didn’t come early.  After college, Thomas married Karen Spady of Chuckatuck and had two children, Jean Adams Hazelwood and Sidney Hazelwood Jr.  Jean after finishing college and graduate school taught at the college level in the northeast.  She has recently accepted a teaching position at Randolph Macon College in Virginia.  Sidney, after graduating from VMI works in developing golf courses around the country.  After college, Thomas worked with his father in the oyster business between 1971 until 1991 when he became Commissioner of the Revenue for the City of Suffolk.  He still maintains interests in the oyster business.  Karen teaches high school computer science.

In 1958, Alese’s father was burned in a boat accident and was hospitalized for a long time at Obici Hospital.  Alese sat with her father for long periods of time during his recovery.  While visiting the hospital, Alese met with Elizabeth Gardner, the Director of the Practical Nursing School, discussing a career in nursing.  Elizabeth had previously taught home nursing in Eclipse during World War II.   Alese talked to Bert about a career in nursing and with his approval, she applied to the Obici Nursing School.  However, since nursing schools were segregated and a black class was scheduled, Alese had to wait a year to start her career.  She entered the Obici Nursing School in 1960 and became a practical nurse in 1961 at age 40.  In 1967, Governor Godwin appointed Alese to the Virginia Board of Nursing, and Governor Holton reappointed her in 1967.  She served a total of 10 years on the board retiring in 1977.  Since meetings were held in Richmond, she had to stay in a hotel while there.  She said until staying in Richmond, she had never visited a hotel without her husband Bert and now she had to stay at the hotel all by herself.  Alese was a nurse until 1981, having nursed at Obici and as a private duty nurse at many area hospitals.  She said “she retired when Bert retired.”  Bert was Treasurer of the City of Nansemond and then of the City of Suffolk from 1974 to 1981.

Grandfather William Thomas Newman, born in 1865, was a farmer and carpenter and lived on many farms in Nansemond and Isle of Wight counties.    Grandfather Newman had three brothers – John, Nathaniel, and Charles - who were Christian church preachers and three sisters – Lilly Newman (Stagg), Martha Sarah (Pattie) Newman (Wicker), and Anna James Newman (Joyner).  John Newman taught at Elon College in North Carolina for 50 years.  Nathaniel, called Uncle Nat, was the preacher at Holly Neck Christian Church in Nansemond County, and Charles was the preacher at a Christian church in Virgilina Virginia/North Carolina.  Uncle Nat Newman also went to England to research Newman family history and started writing “The Newman Story 1618-1958.”  William Thomas Newman is buried in Oakland Christian Church Cemetery.

HISTORY OF THE AREA

FLU OF 1918

Bert’s grandparents – Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Adams lost 3 children in 18 months.  Their two daughters Grace and Della, who were married and had children of their own, lost their lives to the flu.  One was Bert’s mother Grace Hazelwood who became infected with the flu while visiting a cousin in Newport News.  Della who was Ernest and Grace Lee Hazelwood’s mother caught the flu locally.  Their son, T.H. Adams Jr. who was in college at the time, died of tuberculosis.  Alese’s mother, Mae Newman lost a brother – Eddie to the flu.

Ferries

The “Clayton,” a “foot boat” (carried no cars) operated by Johnny Adams was the main transportation between Eclipse and Newport News.  It carried passengers, groceries and mail each day.  Alese remembers accompanying her mother on trips to Newport News to visit relatives and go shopping.  Before 1928 when the James River Bridge opened to automobile traffic, Johnny Adams also operated automobile ferries between Sheffield’s Point in Eclipse to Newport News.  Alese said these ferries replaced the old foot ferries that operated between these two localities.  When husband Bertram and Johnny Adams sons were in their teens, they would help operate the ferries.  She remembers Bert often stating that he would have to “swing his weight to the gear shift.”

Bunkley's Store

Bunkley’s Store was a place where neighborhood men would assemble after work each day to talk and get the news.  In fact, even after marring Alese, Bert would walk to Bunkley’s each evening after supper for 20 to 30 minutes.
While the men were meeting at Bunkley’s Store, the neighborhood women would meet after supper at their “gathering place” -- Florence Mason’s house on the corner of Eclipse Drive and Cross Street (now owned by Priscilla Zimmerman).  The ladies would “sit on the porch and gossip.”  It was considered an “open house” to all women that cared to stop by.

Boat Parties

Bert and Alese would host weekend river parties on their boat the DORA, when Bert was not working (never knew about the weather).  Alese would call up their friends and ask them to “bring their leftovers” for a floating dinner party on the DORA. (see picture of church party on DORA)

The Adams Floating Theater

The Adams Floating Theater (no relation to local Adams families) would visit Chuckatuck Creek each summer staying one or two weeks at a time.  The theater put on Broadway shows and musicals and performers lived on the theater barge.  The floating theater tied up at L.L. Johnson’s railway and everyone came to see the productions.  Alese remembers after the play, customers would then pay 10 cents each and performers would put on a concert.  After leaving Chuckatuck Creek, the floating theater would visit Smithfield Virginia.

1.     Pictures:  ((We have these pictures on disk from Addison Group))

• a.      Sally E. Martin House (two-story white house with porches on both floors.  Edith (old Edith’s Beauty Salon on Eclipse Drive) sitting in front of Sally Martin House.
  
  

b.      Picture of young Thomas Hazelwood in 1948 watering and looking at his mother’s flowers.

c.       Bertram Hazelwood Sr. with young Thomas Hazelwood in 1959 standing in yard of family home overlooking Chuckatuck Creek.

d.      Picture of three women with baby in 1941: Grandmother Martin holding Bertram Hazelwood Jr., Alese’s mother Mae Newman standing on left, and Alese standing on right.

e.       Picture of three people: Laura Adams, Bertram Hazelwood’s grandmother on left; Sam Adams, Laura’s son, in middle; and Sam’s wife, Mamie Johnson Adams on right.  Home is the Bell Home on Eclipse Drive (owned by Sammy Bell).

f.        Picture of T.H. Adams (Laura and Dinksy) House (Bertram Hazelwood’s grandparent’s two-story house with fence) where Bertram and Alese lived from 1936 to 1956.

g.      Florence Mason (Charles Mason’s mother) age 17, with Sommers Mertig on left and Bertram Hazelwood on right in 1918 (picture of tall women with tall boy on left and small boy on right).

h.      Florence Mason’s house (Pricilla Zimmerman’s house on Eclipse Drive) with dog.  (Two-story white house with screened porch).

i.        Church Party on Bertram and Alese Hazelwood’s oyster dredger, the DORA.  (2 small children in front on left are Thomas Hazelwood and Richard Davis Jr., Wyatt Davis is on right front with white T-shirt, and Richard Davis Sr. and his wife Dorothy are on left in back row).

j.        Another picture of spontaneous dinner party on the DORA.

k.      Anne Bagnell and Bertram Hazelwood Sr. dancing at 1956 house warming for Bert and Alese’s new home on Chuckatuck Creek.

l.        Picture of DORA in Chuckatuck Creek.

m.    Two pictures of DORA on railway being overhauled.

n.      Painting of Hazelwood Oyster Company dock and shucking shed.

o.      Painting of Bertram Sidney Hazelwood Sr. on dock with shucked oyster.

p.      Painting of Thomas Hazelwood on the oyster dredger – the Dora.

q.      May 11, 1965 Suffolk News Herald article “Eclipse is Picturesque and Quiet.”  Following pictures are from this news article:

                                                              i.      Picture of Bertram Hazelwood and George Causey at Bunkley’s Store.

                                                            ii.      Dock behind Bunkley’s Store.

                                                          iii.      Captain E.H. Newman Sr. on oyster dredger Delphine.

                                                          iv.      Oyster dredger Dora coming into the dock.

                                                            v.      Shoreline of Eclipse.

                                                          vi.      Oyster dredger and oyster boat.

                                                        vii.      Marie Coley.

                                                      viii.      Oakland Christian Church