Posted onJune 5, 2025|Comments Off on An Explosive Experience: The Rocket Roller Coaster & Other Exciting Attractions at the Ocean View Amusement Park
By Keely Sinclair, HIST 368 Intern and Mellon Foundation Grant Recipient
Visitors exploring the Ocean View Amusement Park
The Ocean View beaches have served as a location for families to relax and swim during hot Virginia summers for years. Although the land is now occupied by apartment buildings, homes, and a shopping center, it was once home to the famous Ocean View Amusement Park. The Ocean View Amusement Park was founded in 1896 and shut down in 1978. The park was created by the Ocean View Traction Company to bring customers to the new trolly car line. During this period, the park consisted of seating areas, a small figure-8 roller coaster named “The Serpentine,” and of course, scenic views of the beach. In 1905, Richmond businessman Otto Wells purchased the park and transformed it into the bustling, spectacular amusement park long-time Ocean View residents recall fondly to this day. By the 1930s, the park hosted thousands of people every summer. Popular amusement park ride creator J.A. Fields said in 1928 that the Ocean View Amusement Park was “the most modern and attractive park in the South.”
In 1942, Wells sold the park to successful businessman and optometrist Dudley Cooper. Cooper planned to close it down, however, the naval base nearby encouraged him to keep it open because the men stationed there enjoyed the park. In 1978 during an interview with Old Dominion University, Cooper recalled that “The Navy was very much interested in [Ocean View] for the recreation of the men who were embarking in this area for overseas duty,” prompting him to keep the park open. Cooper worked tirelessly to make the park a success, something that was made even more difficult as a result of the WWII era economy. However, thanks to his hard work (ranging from 12 to 18 hours a day!) and military connections, he was able to keep the park afloat until the end of the war. In the 1950s, the park reached its peak popularity. Until its closing in 1978, The park was open every spring and summer. Families from all over Virginia visited the park to enjoy the 77ft high roller coaster, side shows ranging from monkey acts to thrilling high-wire performances, and to eat sugary amusement park food like the famous Doumar’s ice cream cone.
Dudley Cooper
In 1942, Dudley Cooper bought the Ocean View Amusement Park from Otto Wells, as he had been interested in the park since he was young and had wanted to buy it for some time. Before purchasing the park, Cooper practiced optometry and rented out properties to people for years, and he continued to do so even after purchasing the Ocean View Amusement Park. Cooper also helped three black businessmen in the area create the Seaview Amusement Park in 1946. Due to segregation laws, African Americans were not allowed to enter the Ocean View park, but Cooper was able to work with local African American businesses and individuals to create a park where African Americans could enjoy much of the same entertainment that was found at Ocean View, including rides, side shows, and concession stands.
Fun Fact: Cooper’s office was located in the Ocean View Amusement Park and was described as having “all of the color and glitter of the midway outside.” The middle of the office was decorated with a horse from the merry-go-round, the ceiling was painted to resemble a circus tent, and one wall had a large mural of the park painted onto it.
Portrait of Dudley Cooper
RIDES, LOCATIONS, AND EVENTS AT OCEAN VIEW AMUSEMENT PARK
THE ROCKET
“There is a Roller Coaster in Ocean View Amusement Park, near Virginia Beach, that sonnets should be composed about. In its white cloak of cracked paint it has the rarest of roller coaster majesty, lattice work piled upon lattice work, a pure monument to thrill.” These are the words of journalist Marion Clark in his 1975 Potomac article reviewing roller coasters across America. In the article, he sings his praises to roller coasters from roller coasters across the country, with The Rocket getting a glowing review from the roller-coaster-enthusiast. His sentiments were shared by tourists and locals alike, who spent their summers enjoying the thrills of riding the roller coaster.
The famous Ocean View amusement park roller coaster was first built in 1911 and named Leap-the-Dips. This roller coaster was 77 feet high at its tallest point. In 1914, the ride was damaged by a fire and rebuilt with some slight upgrades. Later in 1928, new safety mechanisms were added and the ride was made 13 feet taller. The name was also changed to the “Skyrocket.” A few years later, it was renamed again to simply “The Rocket.” Renovations in 1947 included new foam-padded seats, likely in response to passengers sustaining injuries while riding. In February of 1958, another fire started in the park and damaged the west end of the rollercoaster. However, it was once again rebuilt. The Rocket was a staple of the park, drawing tourists there for years.
Cooper’s son, Charles Cooper, declared that The Rocket “may have been the most durable coaster in America.” Due to the vast number of repairs and upgrades it received over the years, the roller coaster was almost too sturdy by the time of the park’s shutdown, as when crew members tried to demolish the ride in 1978, they had to saw through multiple support beams in order to do any damage. Despite the wild popularity of The Rocket, many were still afraid of it, with parents refusing to let their kids board the ride, according to Charles Cooper. Why was the roller coaster given so many repairs? For one, the park suffered numerous fires over the years, each one causing slight damage to the ride. As a result, the rollercoaster was continuously rebuilt, repaired, and updated with modern safety equipment. In September of 1936, when the park was still owned by Otto Wells, the Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane swept through Norfolk, causing $30,000 dollars worth of damage to the park ($5 million in today’s economy).
DOUMAR’S
In 1907, Doumar, the famous inventor of the waffle cone in 1904, opened a small shop at the Ocean View amusement park. On the shop’s first day, 22,600 ice cream cones were sold, and these numbers only grew throughout the summers spent there, with Doumar’s ice cream stand selling around 23,000 ice cream cones every day in the summer. In 1933, a hurricane swept through the area, severely damaging the park and its attractions, including Doumar’s Ice Cream stand. After this event, Doumar’s moved to a new location near Monticello Avenue. This location was larger and included indoor seating and a drive through. Doumar’s is still located there today!
Acts
The Dudley Cooper collection contains a multitude of correspondences between Cooper and other acts interested in performing at the park. Most performances at the park were not permanent; every year new and exciting acts would set up at the Ocean View Amusement park to entertain guests. Acts ranged from high-wire acts by performers such as The Lovely Miss Rachel and the Navvaros, Leo and Josephine Gasca, and Erik, the “Golden Boy of the High-Wire,” to animal shows featuring chimps and even a reptile exhibition building. 1952 Correspondences between Cooper and the Expositions and Fairs Incorporated group show Cooper’s interest in their acts, which included an “Alligator Skin Boy,” a “Girl Without a Head,” and a girl who “hypnotize[ed] crocodiles and snakes.” Cooper also showed an interest in getting a collection of electric eels and piranhas for the park.
Suicide Simon
Captain Leo Simon was an ex-flame diver (someone who sets themselves on fire and then dives into a pool of gasoline) with fiery red hair and a matching mustache before he decided to change paths and perform a different act. Simon’s new act went as follows: he climbed into a wooden box and lit 1 ½ dynamite sticks over his head, blowing up the box with him inside it. This act caused him to go almost completely deaf, and his front two teeth were missing due to an accident years prior.
Memo from Leo Simon to Dudley Cooper
“Three Star Production – Clown Cavalcade” and “Candy the Clown”
The Clown Cavalcade was a three man company of professional clowns consisting of Benny and Freddy Heitmann and Don Meeker. Freddy started out as a part of the cleanup crew on the Ringling Bros. Circus and later worked with the elephant acts, where he sustained multiple injuries from handling the animals. When he left the circus, he started his own clown production with his brother Benny. Benny had been a brick mason and musician before joining his brother’s company. The two brothers had dabbled in live comedy as well, playing shows at the Cocoanut Grove Playhouse.
Don Meeker, a taxi driver and father of five, used to play as “Sparky the Fire Dog” for the Fire Department Carnival. He decided to become a clown after dressing as one for his son’s school carnival. The clown outfit his wife made him was a huge hit, and he decided to try calling a character named “Poopdeck Pappy” on WAVY-TV to ask if he needed to get a license to become a professional clown. He was then given a job as “Candy the Clown,” at the Portsmouth shopping center and soon joined the two brothers in their group. Candy the Clown became a staple of the Ocean View Amusement Park, with his face being present on advertisements and signs everywhere. A doll of the character is currently located inside the Ocean View Station Museum inside of a cart from The Rocket roller coaster.
In 1978, the park closed down after 80 years of operation. Because The Rocket was being demolished anyways, Playboy Productions, a studio working on a “suspense thriller” movie titled “The Death of Ocean View Park” blew up the beloved roller coaster as Ocean View residents looked on. Interestingly, it took the crew multiple tries to actually get the roller coaster to explode, and they even ended up needing to physically tear it down and weaken the support beams in order to fully destroy it. Cooper’s son found it ironic that, “people were afraid to have their children ride the roller coaster because they thought it didn’t look safe. It was so strong, they couldn’t even blow it up. It was pulled down”. In that same year, the park shut down entirely.
The End of the Park
After 83 years of success, the park’s popularity began to die down. Bigger parks like Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens opened, drawing tourists away from the older park. However, the Ocean View Amusement Park got the spotlight a few more times before it closed. In 1976, the movie Rollercoaster was shot at the park and a few years later in 1978, The Death of Ocean View Park was shot there.
Bibliography
“Clown Act To Open at Ocean View.” The Virginian-Pilot. Dudley Cooper Papers, Series VII – Scrapbooks, 1963,1964.
“Doumar’s Drive Major Word of Mouth With Their BBQ, Ice Cream, and Story.” Truested, May 21, 2019.
Dudley Cooper Papers. Series I – Correspondence, Accidents and Injuries 1944 to Advertising 1943-1958. MG 31, Box 1, Folder 8.
Dudley Cooper Papers. Series I – Correspondence Advertising to Construction & Repairs, 1963-70, Box 2, Folder 4.
Dudley Cooper Papers. Series VI: Miscellaneous – Articles to Closing the Park. MG 31, Box 14, Folder 2.
Dudley Cooper Papers. Series VII: Scrapbooks, 1948-49, 1949-52. MG 31, Box 15. “Amusement Park Sued for $50,000.” The Virginian-Pilot. Aug. 8, 1949.
Dudley Cooper Papers. Series VII: Scrapbooks, 1949-54, 1953-55, 1954. MG 31, Box 16, Book 1. “The Most Roller Coasters Ever.” Potomac. 1975.
Dudley Cooper Papers. Series VII: Scrapbooks, 1955-56, 1960. MG 31
“Easter Day Parade at Ocean View; Sunday, 3 P.M.” Ocean View, Seaside and Seaview Amusement Parks Collection. Series VII: Scrapbooks, MG 31, Box 22, Folder 3.
McHugh, Jim. “Optometrist Ogled, Made Success in Funspot Field.” The Billboard. Dec. 9, 1950. Dudley Cooper Papers, Series VII: Scrapbooks, 1948-49, 1949-52. MG 31, Box 15.
Ocean View, Seaside and Seaview Amusement Parks Collection. Series VII: Scrapbooks, MG 31, Box 22, Folder 1.
Robert H. Mason. “Old Flame Man Now Jars Self With Dynamite.” Ocean View, Seaside and Seaview Amusement Parks Collection, Series, VII: Scrapbooks, MG 31, Box 22, Folder 3.
The USS Vulcan was a repair and maintenance ship that saw action in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean. She was built in Camden, New Jersey, and commissioned on June 16, 1941. The journey of the USS Vulcan has many memories to share with the rest of the world from heroic rescues to cookouts with the Spanish Navy. She helped repair numerous ships and led merchant vessels to safety during typhoons. The Vulcan was sent to Cuba many times, even during the Cuban missile crisis. She broke new ground for women’s rights in the US Navy, and today, the Vulcan’s name continues to carry that legacy for many women who have built careers serving in the Navy. While the Vulcan has countless stories to tell, here are a few fascinating stories that I learned about from viewing the USS Vulcan Collection in the ODU Libraries Special Collections and University Archives Digital Collections:
The Vulcan helps save the HMS Arrow: On August 4th, 1943, three men from the USS Vulcan jumped in a small boat and raced to the HMS Arrow. The Arrow, a British ship, was on fire and the three Vulcan crewmen put it upon themselves to save the Arrow’s crew. The American men used torches to try cutting the hull open, allowing the English men’s escape. Unfortunately, complications from the fire made it impossible to save the Arrow’s crew. The three Vulcan crewmen were awarded medals from the Navy and Marine Corps, while the British Royal Navy awarded them similar decorations for their bravery.
The Vulcan and the Cuban Missile Crisis: The Vulcan was sent to Cuba to provide repair and support services to the warships that made the quarantine ring blockade around the island. They stayed around Cuba until the Soviet Union backed down and agreed not to ship missiles to the island. The Vulcan stayed in the area for twenty-three days until returning home to Norfolk, Virginia to relieved families on the 30th of November, 1962.
The Vulcan welcomes women officers: During the 1970s, there were mixed thoughts about the military allowing women aboard ships to work beside men. During the integration of women on board the USS Vulcan, Captain Spencer said, “This ship is going to march off and make it work.” The captain also said “I think people make too much of the sex aspect of men and women residing together. It’s going to be the law. We’ll work within the law. We’ve got to make it work. Vulcan has a damn good reputation. There’s no question about it.” The time had come for women to work hand-in-hand with men in the Navy. Things were not perfect by any means, but it sprung open the doors for many women in the Navy.
The USS Vulcan is a reminder that there are many stories just waiting for someone to read in the ODU Special Collections and Archives. The archival material on the USS Vulcan spans close to over one hundred years and this blog only shared a few of the stories from this ship. The many transitions this ship went through are comparable to transitions the United States has gone through, and with every story, the Vulcan and her crew came out stronger. Even though the USS Vulcan is no longer in the fleet, they should be viewed as a symbol of cooperation and hope for our future.
by Special Collections and HIST 368 Intern Amber Kates
Amber Kates being interviewed in the ODU Chemistry Lab where the testing occurred
My favorite thing about working in archives is getting lost in the stories. The shelves are a treasure trove filled with others’ memories. Sifting through the pages reawakens moments long since passed. Some interconnect to form entire lives. Others are just snapshots of a single moment, bringing with them an air of mystery. They whisper out questions, begging you to discover their long hidden secrets. But these allurements do not belong solely to the two dimensional world. Artifacts contain their own stories; you just have to know how to read them.
In 2022, the ODU Special Collections was gifted a few pieces of pottery. They were just a small fraction of the 20,000 pieces found during the expansion of I64, headed by the Virginia Department of Transportation. After they were pieced back together by the team at William and Mary, they were placed in the possession of the Coastal Virginia Church – the owners of the property where the pieces were found. The Coastal Virginia Church graciously gave the pieces to the Special Collections. As the intern for the Fall 2022 semester, I was given the opportunity to research a large jug and tankard.
Not much was known about the pottery when it arrived at our Special Collections. They were accompanied by a report prepared by the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research. Based on this report, it appeared that these pieces were created around the 1730s by the William Rogers Pottery in Yorktown, VA. If everyone was correct, that meant the pieces were almost 300 years old, and a truly extraordinary find!
ODU Professor Rick Nickel explains the firing process that resulted in jug’s decorative surface to his Introduction to Ceramics Class.
Assuming that the experts were correct, I dove headfirst into my investigation. When looking at the pieces, they appeared to be common stoneware, consistent of the colonial period. The missing pieces in both the tankard and jug made their fragility obvious. Cracks slither across the jug, indicating places of reconstruction; both handles had been destroyed. The potter utilized a two-tone glaze technique on each piece. Artfully detailed ridges denote the deft hand of the maker. As I studied the jug, my eye was drawn to these drips of green glaze. Not only does the color not match any glaze used on either piece, but the finish is distinct. In contrast to the more matte, gritty-looking finishes, the green glaze is glossy and smooth. These markings are obviously unintentional.
After my initial observations, I began my research. I gathered as many sources as possible on William Rogers and colonial pottery. I read through the report that was sent with the pieces, but it was just a snippet of information. According to the report, the area in which the excavation was conducted was within the site of the old Newtown Colony. Like many colonies in the area, Newtown was an English settlement, and acted as a port for trade. However, by the early nineteenth century, the residents of the area moved on. They discarded whatever wares they couldn’t carry into a giant pit – a pit that wouldn’t be discovered for hundreds of years.
After immigrating from England, William Rogers was a resident of Yorktown colony until the mid-eighteenth century. Often referred to as the “poor potter”, Rogers was anything but. A natural businessman, Rogers had made quite the name for himself with several different ventures. Before building the factory, he was a brewer and merchant. The success from his various enterprises made him a prominent figure in the community, and a wealthy man.
So, why the nickname “poor potter?” Well, it stems from the lieutenant governor of the time, William Gooch. In a 1732 letter to the Board of Trade in London, Gooch mentioned Rogers’ pottery endeavor and stated that it was “of so little consequence.” Then, in 1739 he wrote “The Poor Potter’s operation is unworthy of your Lordship’s notice…” In reality, pottery from Rogers’ factory was transported up and down the east coast and to the West Indies. Gooch’s motivation for the way he handled the situation remains a mystery. After all, what Rogers was doing was illegal. At the time, English law made it clear that goods were to be manufactured in England and then transported to the colonies. Many have stated that Gooch must have been “on the take”. While there was probably some monetary incentive, I believe that the situation was far more complicated. Gooch’s position as lieutenant governor was a balancing act between keeping both Virginia and England happy. He was in charge overseeing the colony and its people while being a soldier for the English Crown. The success of Virginia was good for everyone involved, and Rogers’ pottery was a component of this success. Gooch also knew that he couldn’t turn a blind eye to it. Eventually the truth would be discovered, and there would be consequences.
During this portion of my research, I came across a book that proved to be surprisingly helpful. In, Yorktown, Virginia: A Brief History, author Wilford Kale has an entire chapter on William Rogers and the unearthing of his factory. Included in this chapter was the story of the initial discovery around 1970. According to Kale, the story goes that W.A. Childrey, a Yorktown resident, was sweeping the dirt floor of his garage when he noticed shiny green spots. Curious, Childrey dug a little further and revealed bricks covered in a green glaze. He contacted the College of William and Mary, and the real hunt began (Kale, pp. 30).
Inside an 18th Century Pottery Workshop.
My “spidey senses” were tingling. Was this, a brief mention of green glaze, my first clue? Steve Bookman, Head Archivist at the Special Collections, was kind enough to reach out to William and Mary for a copy of the original excavation report. This report described the kiln as being “coated by a thick (1-2 inches) accumulation of a lustrous light to dark green smooth and glass-like glaze” (Barka, 1973, pp. 14). I was like Nancy Drew gathering little fragments of information to solve a mystery.
I knew I needed to go on a field trip and see the site for myself. I reached out to the National Park Service and explained about the pottery and research. I was put into contact with Dr. Dwayne Scheid, Cultural Resources Program Manager and Archaeologist for the National Park Service. He was kind enough to invite me out to the site to discuss this project. I was excited, but nervous. Before I arrived, I emailed pictures of the pottery. Once there, he agreed that they looked like pieces of pottery found during the excavation of the property. However, the only way to really confirm was to get the pieces tested. Dwayne also pointed me to Lindsay Bloch’s work with testing historical ceramics.
I toured the space, which really is the size of someone’s garage. Looking down into the large kiln, it is easy to see the green glaze that was described by Barka. Just as I had hoped, visually it was a match to the drops on the large jug. Dwayne reiterated the need for testing. He explained that the best and easiest thing to do was to first get the pieces tested with an XRF machine. As an undergraduate intern who was clearly in over her head, I just nodded. There was no way that I was going to explain to this very knowledgeable man that I had not even the slightest clue what I was doing, though I’m pretty sure he caught on. I left feeling a little deflated. Was this the end of the road for my project? Nevertheless, I still had a few avenues of investigation to pursue.
Inside the Poor Pottery Kiln. Photo by Amber Kates, 2022
Overwhelmed but undeterred, once again, I began my research. Assuming the budget for student-led testing was practically nonexistent, I wanted to find out if the William and Mary’s Center for Archaeological Research had conducted testing during the preservation process. When the pottery was donated to the Special Collections, it was accompanied by a report prepared by William and Mary for VDOT. Reading the report, a second time, I realized that pages were missing. However, several names were listed, including Deborah Davenport. The report stated that she was in charge of “laboratory processing and artifact analysis.” I figured it would be best to go straight to the source and reached out to her with my questions. She informed me that due to their own budgetary constraints they had not performed any testing of the pieces but confirmed their belief that they were created by the William Rogers pottery in Yorktown. She was also kind enough to send me the full report – all 608 pages!
Realizing we were on our own in reference to the chemical analysis, I did a little digging to the basics of XRF testing. This was unknown territory. The Special Collections is not used to diving into the archaeological side of historical preservation. I was able to find a few different institutions who had the ability to help us out but wasn’t sure how many would be willing to assist us pro bono. I once again feared a dead end. On a whim, I contacted the department chair of the ODU Chemistry Department, Dr. Craig Bayse. I explained the situation and asked if we had the testing capabilities. To my surprise, not only did he have access to the equipment, but he was willing to conduct the tests himself.
This is where we are now. The chemical analysis is the final missing piece to confirm if all our work is correct. The wonderful Dr. Bayse conducted XRF testing on both pieces of stoneware. When the results are analyzed, we will be able to determine if the pieces are, in fact, part of the William Rogers collection. I am so lucky to have had the honor to work on this project. It has been an amazing example of different departments and institutions coming together to uncover the truth. Everyone served as an important piece of the puzzle. A special thank you to everyone in the Special Collections. You were all so supportive of me and provided a great learning experience. Jessica Ritchie in particular has been so amazing. She trusted me enough to allow me to run wherever the research led. This has been a truly remarkable hands-on experience.
Director’s Update: After graduating from ODU, Amber has continued to collaborate with the Poor Potter Site and ODU Libraries on a project to trace the pottery back to the site. Amber’s research and ODU’s pioneering chemical analysis methodology could help other repositories and museums officially trace their pieces back to the Poor Potter Site.
In December 1977, the Norfolk Unitarian-Universalist Gay Caucus (UUGC) undertook what may have been the first survey of the LGBT community in Hampton Roads. The survey was not intended to be a complete profile of the local gay community as those surveyed tended to be either bar goers or those active in the local Gay and Lesbian community. Questions pertaining to the local Trans community were virtually non-existent. Surveys were distributed in local gay bars including the Cue, the Nickelodeon, the Late Show, the Ritz, and at UUGC meetings. The results of the survey were released in the January, February, March, and April 1978 issues of Our Own Community Press. The January issue gave an overview of results. The February issue featured the results as they pertained to women / Lesbians who took the survey. The March issue shared results pertaining to gay and bisexual men. The April issue highlighted comments made by survey respondents.
According to the February 1978 issue of Our Own, “The typical woman who filled out one of the UUGC questionnaires… is between 18 and 24 years old, lives in Norfolk, is registered to vote, Protestant, makes between $5-10,000, rents, has some college education, considers herself exclusively gay, attends a gay bar once a week, and always feels good about her sexuality.” A total of 86 women responded to the survey.
Older women were not well represented in the survey. 69% of the women surveyed were under the age of 24, and an additional 29% were between the ages of 25 and 34. Only 2% of the women were over the age of 34. Half of these respondents were from Norfolk, and the rest were from other cities in Hampton Roads with ten respondents from outside the area. Two thirds of these women were registered to vote. Political affiliation was not reported, but religious affiliation was. Nearly half of the respondents identified as Protestant. Nearly a third were Catholic. A smaller number identified as Jewish, not religious, or other (including two who identified as witches). 48% of respondents had an annual income between $5,000-10,000, 29% had an income less than $5,000 a year. Very few respondents made over $15,000 a year. Only 14% of these women owned their own home; 68% rented, and 18% lived with parents, with a lover, or had other living arrangements. Only 14% of these women had college degrees, 43% had completed some college, 35% had only graduated high school. A very few women had advanced degrees or had not completed high school at all. The highest number of these women (20%) worked in service and blue-collar industries. 17.5% of respondents were students and another 17.5% worked in government jobs. Other jobs included healthcare, education, management, clerical jobs, merchandising, and artists. Very few women surveyed were lawyers, journalists, engineers, or housewives. 8% of those women surveyed were unemployed.
Of the women surveyed, 8% claimed to be exclusively heterosexual, 44% considered themselves exclusively homosexual, and others claimed varying degrees of bisexuality. Most of these women (84%) always or usually felt good about their sexuality. 14% had mixed feelings about their sexuality, and only one woman usually felt bad about her sexuality. No one claimed to always feel bad about their sexuality. 36% of the women surveyed went to gay bars once a week, 28% went to bars only once a month, and 25% went to gay bars more than once week. Only 22% of these women belonged to gay organizations, while 28% belonged to social groups; 20% to professional groups; 15% to political groups; 38% to special interest groups; and 13% to religious groups. 26% of the women surveyed did not belong to any organization at all.
Popular LGBT publications among women were Our Own Community Press, The Advocate, Gay Blade, and Gay Community News. Only a small number read Lesbian publications such as Lesbian Connection or Lesbian Tide.
A total of 440 men answered the survey. This was over five times the response rate for women. The typical profile for men answering the survey was very similar to that of the women. The typical man answering the survey lived in Norfolk, was between the ages of 18 and 24, was registered to vote, rented their housing, had some college education, was Protestant, had an annual income of $5,000-10,000, considered themselves exclusively gay, and always felt good about their sexuality.
While the “typical” snapshot of respondents was similar, actual percentages varied and there were some differences between the men and women surveyed. The typical male (49.2%) went to gay bars more than once a week whereas the largest number of women (36%) only went to bars once a week. There was a larger number of men than women over the age of 24 who responded to the survey. There were more men over the age of 35 and even some over the age of 50. Men were less likely to have a religious affiliation at all, or if they did – to have a non-Christian affiliation (Jewish, Humanist, Buddhist, Moslem, B’ai H’ai, etc.). Twice as many men than women had completed college, and men generally had higher incomes. Women were slightly more likely be registered voters. Men were more likely to consider themselves “exclusively” homosexual than women, but women tended to overall to feel better about their sexuality. Men were more likely to belong to a gay organization or conversely to no organization at all than were women.
As for men’s statistics, 51.5% of men lived in Norfolk. 34.5% lived in other Hampton Roads cities. The remainder came from other places in Virginia, Washington DC, or from out of state. 54% of men were aged 18-24; 34% were 25-34; 9% were 35-49; and 1.5% were over age 50. 45% of male respondents identified as Protestant; 25.5% as Catholic; 15.0% as none; 7.0% as other; and 4.5% as Jewish. The highest percentages of men worked in either government or service jobs (16.2% and 16.4% respectively). Other higher percentage occupations included students (9.7%); management (7.7%); healthcare (7.4%); merchandising (7.4%); and other professionals (7.0%). Only 4.9% of men surveyed were unemployed. 65% of male respondents were registered to vote. 37% of those men surveyed had annual incomes between $5,000-10,000; 23.3% had annual incomes of $10,000-15,000; 17% had incomes over $15,000; and 20% had incomes under $5,000. 29.8 percent of the men surveyed had college degrees; 35.6% had some college; 27.8% had only graduated high school; and 5.9% did not have a high school diploma. 52.5% of men rented their housing; 21.0% owned their own home; and 23.5% had other living arrangements.
Of the men surveyed, 43.6% identified exclusively homosexual; 1.6% claimed to be exclusively heterosexual; and the rest claimed varying degrees of bisexuality. 79.6% of the men always or usually felt good about their sexuality; 18.7% felt both good and bad about their sexuality; and only 1.1% usually or always felt bad about their sexuality. Nearly half the men surveyed (49.2%) visited gay bars more than once a week; 25.5% visited gay bars weekly; 18.2% visited gay bars once a month or less; and of these only .7% never visited gay bars. 26% of the men surveyed belonged to gay organizations; 37.3% belonged to no organizations at all. Men also took part in professional organizations (27.3%), social organizations (26.2%), political organizations (14.1%), religious organizations (18.0%), and special interest groups (24.4%).
Popular publications among men included Our Own Community Press, The Advocate, In Touch, Gay Blade, Blueboy, Cruise, Gay Community News, Christopher Street, Gay Times, Eagle, GPU News, Drummer, Mandate, Playgirl, and After Dark.
While the demographics created a snapshot of LGBT bar goers and those active in the local LGBT community in 1977, the most revealing and sometimes entertaining portion of the survey were open-ended responses to the questions “What do you see as the greatest need of the lesbian/gay community of Tidewater?” Overall themes to these questions included the need for unity and a sense of gay community; gay and straight education on gay issues; politics and legislation for gay rights; acceptance and understanding; more and better bars; and social outlets other than the bars.
Comments included practical suggestions for the community – a Lesbian bar, live gay/lesbian music events, a gay military organization, a gay bookstore, a gay business association, an organization for aging gay men, a gay community center, and a gay church. All of these things have come to pass in Hampton Roads (at least at some point) since the 1977 survey. Some comments were idealistic like this one. “For them to learn to live together. To be friends no matter what color the person’s skin might be or what sex the person might be. To be openminded with everything, because being gay is hard enough without fighting each other.” Other idealistic responses included developing a unified gay/lesbian political philosophy, or ending division and labels within the community. Some comments focused on educating the public on gay/lesbian issues, helping gay and lesbian folks to feel better about themselves, and helping folks come out of the closet. There were also a few colorful comments by folks who obviously weren’t comfortable with segments of the gay/lesbian community at the time. “The flaunting of homosexuality is the major problem. The super “fags’ and ‘butch’ are what gives the rest of us bad names.” Another respondent suggested, “More Gay Bars!… Make anyone over 40 stay out! And have a special bar just for trolls.”
Since 1977, hopefully at least some things have changed for the better in the Hampton Roads LGBT community. Gay bookstores have come and gone, as have Lesbian bars. LGBT military organizations have formed, especially at the height of the gay military ban and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We have an organization for aging Gay men, an LGBT business organization, and an LGBT community center. There’s an LGBT church, and even room at the annual Pride month Interfaith event for non-Christians and LGBT folks involved in non-traditional religions such as Wicca and Paganism. We have an LGBT Pride organization, an annual Pridefest, a Pride Boat Parade, and even a whole month of local Pride events. While not well represented in the 1977 survey, we now have organizations and events for Trans folks in our community too.
While we may have lost some things this past year or more due to Covid, this Pride month consider all that we have gained and learned since the early days of the Hampton Roads LGBT community. What will the Hampton Roads LGBT community be like 44 years from now?
You can browse the issues of Our Own Community Press mentioned in this blog post, as well as all other issues of Our Own, in our digital collections: https://dc.lib.odu.edu/digital/collection/ourown
by Jessica Ritchie, Head of Special Collections and University Archives
Illustration of Grace Sherwood’s “ducking” from The Witch of Pungoand Other Historical Stories of the Early Colonies by Louisa Venable Kyle
If you have lived, visited, or grown up in Virginia Beach like I did, then you are probably familiar with the infamous Witchduck Road. The road was named after the site of the last “witch ducking” that took place in Virginia in 1706. According to historians, local townspeople were searching for answers as to why their crops were dying and, as was fashionable at the time, they blamed women. They were particularly suspicious of the farmer’s wife Grace Sherwood, who dared to wear trousers, worked as a midwife, and knew a little too much about the healing power or herbs. Neighbors accused Grace of bewitching their pigs and cotton crops, and even flying through a keyhole in the black of night! A judge agreed with Grace’s accusers and ordered her to be tried by ducking. On July 10th, 1706 Grace was bound by her toes and thumbs, and dropped into the Lynnhaven River. The judge decreed that if she drowned she would die an innocent woman, but if she survived, it was because she was a witch. Luckily, Grace managed to escape her bonds and swam to shore, but shortly thereafter was imprisoned for witchcraft. After approximately 7 long years in jail she was released and returned to her three sons, and eventually died at the age of 80 on her farm in Pungo (now a part of Virginia Beach) in 1740. Go Grace!
A statue depicting her was erected near Sentara Independence on Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach, close to the site of the colonial courthouse where she was tried. The statue depicts Grace standing near a raccoon and holding herbs, which represent her love of animals and her nursing skills.
As a child, I struggled to understand that there was a time in history where innocent women were blamed for society’s ills and drowned just to prove their innocence. I still struggle with that thought, but I am pleased to see that Grace Sherwood’s legacy has been preserved in the Sherwood Trail, including Witchduck Road and other landmarks in Virginia Beach. Her legacy has also been preserved in many stories, books, and news articles, including a children’s book by author Louisa Venable Kyle.
The Witch of Pungoand Other Historical Stories of the Early Colonies by Louisa Venable Kyle, ODU Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives Rare Book Collection
Born in Norfolk, Louisa Venable Kyle studied at Mary Baldwin Seminary and graduated from Lasell Seminary. She wrote for the Virginian-Pilot and The Portsmouth Star and was one of the founding members of the Princess Anne County Historical Society. Her children’s book The Witch of Pungoand Other Historical Stories of the Early Colonies is based on seven folktales from Princess Anne County, including the tale of Grace Sherwood. The book was published in 1973 by Printcraft Press, Portsmouth, Virginia, and was reissued in 1978 and 1988 by Four O’Clock Farms Publishing Company.
The Witch of Pungo author’s signature
ODU’s Special Collections and University Archives is fortunate to have a rare, autographed hardcopy of The Witch of Pungo. The books is in great condition with a vibrant orange color, and features a wonderful collection of illustrations and short historical essays related to each folktale. I am so pleased that we can keep the legacies of both Grace Sherwood and Louisa Venable Kyle alive and well by sharing this book with our students, faculty, and community members. It’s incredible to think that we have so much important history here in Hampton Roads, and I am glad authors like Kyle have kept those stories alive for future generations.
Further reading: “The Virginia Case of Grace Sherwood, 1706.” In Narratives of the New England Witchcraft Cases, ed. George Lincoln Burr, 433–442. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 2002.Davis, Richard Beale. “The Devil in Virginia in the Seventeenth Century.” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 65 (April 1957): 131–149.Gibson, Marion. Witchcraft Myths in American Culture. New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, 2007.Kyle, Louisa Venable. The Witch of Pungo and Other Historical Stories of the Early Colonies. Portsmouth, Virginia: Printcraft Press, 1973.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Accept
