NORFOLK
Algonquin Park: “Roots
and Transplants”
Sponsored by The Harborfront Garden Club and
Garden Club of Norfolk
Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Norfolk’s Algonquin Park residents
enjoy the tranquility of country living in the midst of a bustling city.
Picket fences, verdant flower beds and worn brick paths take the place
of sidewalks in this secluded haven on the Lafayette River. Originally
developed in the early 1920s, this quiet neighborhood features a web of
shaded lanes revealing houses of every architectural style and size. Tucked
away on estate-sized lots, many homes enjoy water views of the river and
creeks that surround this lush and private peninsula. Some residents are
second and third generation; others have recently discovered this hidden
jewel.
INFORMATION CENTERS:
Norfolk on the Virginia Waterfront
Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau
232 East Main Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Telephone (757) 664-6620
Tidewater Automobile Association
141 West Virginia Beach Boulevard
Norfolk, VA 23510
Telephone (757) 622-5634
Chairman:
Jean Bell (Mrs. Harold E.)
7400 Cortlandt Place
Norfolk, VA 23505
Telephone: (757) 489-2804
E mail: jeanbbell@gmail.com
Co-Chairman:
Pam Reed (Mrs. William W.)
6109 Studeley Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23508
E mail: pamelacreed@aol.com
TICKETS: A full ticket is $25 in advance: $30 the day of
the tour. Admission includes entrance to five private homes, the
demonstration and admission to the 3 Historic Homes (see listing
of Historic Homes). A ticket to a single
home is $10. Tickets available at all private homes.
ADVANCE TICKETS: Available at the Norfolk Botanical
Garden Gift Shop. Groups of eight (8) or more may
purchase advance tickets by contacting Carol Olsen (Mrs. Clark S.) Harborfront Garden Club, (757) 440-0604;
1217 S. Fairwater Drive, Norfolk, 23508; olsenmommy@msn.com. Checks
made payable to: The Garden Club of Norfolk Tour. Tickets
available online for an additional charge at www.VaGardenweek.org.
REFRESHMENTS: Complimentary refreshments will be offered from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Green, a green space in the middle of the tour neighborhood on North Shore Rd.
LUNCH: Enjoy lunch at several nearby
restaurants. A bag lunch is available by advance purchase only. Please
contact Jean Bell at jeanbbell@gmail.com or
(757) 489-2804 for details.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: A demonstration will be offered
by Patrice Dupuis of Bloom - The Art of Flowers, at 1 p.m. at The
Green.
PARKING AND RESTROOM FACILITIES: Restroom facilities,
off-street parking and free shuttle available
at the Titustown Recreation and Visual Arts Center. On-street parking is
extremely limited.
NOTES: This is a walking tour. Please wear flat-heeled,
comfortable shoes to allow for uneven surfaces and to protect floors. No
photography, sketching or cell phone use permitted inside the tour homes
as a courtesy
to all.
DIRECTIONS:
From North/Richmond, take I-64 East through the
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel toward Norfolk, merge onto I-564 via exit 276
toward Naval Base/Terminal Blvd. Merge onto 406/Terminal Blvd. toward Hampton
Blvd. and proceed 0.6 mi. to the first stoplight at Diven St. Take a left
and proceed through the stoplight at Little Creek Rd. The Titustown Recreation
and Visual Arts Center is on the right at the corner of Diven and Paul
Sts, 0.3 mi. from Terminal Blvd.
From East/Eastern Shore, travel the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Take a right on North Hampton Blvd. Travel approx 4.96 mi. to I-64 West. Take I-64 West to 406/Terminal Blvd. Merge onto 06/Terminal Blvd. toward Hampton Blvd. and proceed 0.6 mi. to the first stoplight at Diven St. Take a left and proceed through the stoplight at Little Creek Rd. The Titustown Recreation and Visual Arts Center is on the right at the corner of Diven and Paul Sts, 0.3 mi. from Terminal Blvd.
From West/Suffolk, take Rt. 58 East through the Midtown tunnel. Proceed onto Hampton Blvd. for approximately 3 mi. Turn right onto Little Creek Rd. Turn Right at Diven St. The Titustown Recreation and Visual Arts Center is on the right at the corner of Diven and Paul Sts, 0.3 mi. from Terminal Blvd.
1106 NORTH SHORE ROAD. Built in 1952 by Mr.
and Mrs. Samuel Weisberg, this 4,000-square-foot modern house was designed
for entertaining and active family life. Reminiscent of Joseph Eichler’s
designs, the residence was constructed incorporating the latest technology
trends of the time. Second and current owner Scott Fever purchased the house
upon moving to the area in 2004. He has retained many original elements,
beginning with the stained-glass panels in the foyer. The 1950s streamlined
black Geneva cabinets and boomerang-pattern Formica counters in the kitchen
are still in evidence, as are the multi-hued pastel bath fixtures and tiles
in each of five bathrooms.
Rooms have been re-painted in a host of brilliant colors similar to
those favored by the first owners, and the original pink terrazzo floors have
been polished to a warm glow and enhanced by blush-toned ceilings. Eclectic
appointments, from fine art to refurbished thrift-store finds, blend in perfectly
with the distinctive architecture. Expanses of glass (the house initially featured
more than one hundred windows and nine doors) blur the demarcation between
the interior and the surrounding gardens. A garden courtyard, accessible from
the interior on three sides, bathes the hallways and formal areas with natural
light. A pathway beyond leads past shaded seating areas to a recent addition:
a solar-heated, in-ground pool and hot tub perfect for the informal gatherings
the current owner enjoys. Mr. Scott Fever, owner.
7300 WOODWAY LANE. This traditional brick
Cape Cod constructed in 1951 has undergone several transformations. After
purchasing the house from the first owners in 1982, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Claytor
hired local architect Benjamin W. Hatcher to design the existing wood-paneled
pool addition, featuring soaring wood beams and skylights. Mr. and Mrs. Webster
became the third owners and the second generation to reside in the house
after Mrs. Webster inherited the property from her parents, the Claytors,
in 1993. Another major renovation, also designed by Mr. Hatcher, re-oriented
the flow of the residence to take advantage of the water views and expansive
gardens located at the rear. The resulting kitchen and family room addition,
with its high-sloped wood ceiling and split levels, created a spacious contemporary
hub for family activities and ties the existing pool enclosure in with the
rest of the house. The re-design retained the formal living room and spacious
foyer and added a formal dining room in place of the original kitchen.
Antique furnishings, many inherited from family members, are featured
throughout. Of note in the dining room are a corner cupboard made by Mrs. Webster’s
ancestor and an 1837 wooden cradle. Other interesting items include portraits
of the Webster children by Eugenia Scott and a silver tea service that belonged
to Mrs. Claytor. In the living room, a 24-foot Persian Malayer rug takes center
stage. Leather-bound books, family photos and Oriental porcelains fill the
built-in cabinets. Railroad memorabilia, passed down by the Claytors, can be
spotted throughout the house. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Webster, owners.
Norfolk—7301 Woodway Lane
7301 WOODWAY LANE. According to Mrs. Goode,
not one room of the 1949 house that they purchased 18 years ago is still
the same. Several major renovations have transformed this gabled contemporary
ranch into an elegant showcase for the Goodes’ extensive collection
of art prints, sculpture, glass and artifacts. The winding approach to the
house is bordered by an array of shade-loving plants. Recurring circular
and triangular architectural motifs unify the many transformations. Bluestone
pavers in the open glass foyer echo the paths leading to the entry. Just
inside, a luminous Bertil Vallien glass and metal sculpture hints at the
array of art within. Through the foyer, an expansive living room is appointed
with eclectic furnishings, art and artifacts. Western Indian clay pots, Ulysses
Davis carved heads, and numerous modern and traditional train motif artworks
are on display. Columns lead to the dining room, housing a significant collection
of art glass and antique furnishings.
In the sunroom, skylights in the high ceilings frame a view of the majestic
live oak outside. A fascinating collection of Oglala Sioux Indian relics, inherited
from Mrs. Goode’s grandmother, fill the shelves flanking the fireplace.
At the opposite end of the house, a handsome study features a collection of
tabletop bronze sculptures. Rich cherry cabinetry and floor-to-ceiling faux-painted,
burl-wood paneling are lightened by a wall of glass looking out over the gardens.
Nearly every room offers views of the whimsical sculpture garden, circular
seating areas and the Lafayette River beyond. Mr. and Mrs. David Goode, owners.
1044 NORTH SHORE ROAD. The décor of
this charming cottage, built in 1928, reflects a casual elegance conducive
to comfortable family life. The pale-yellow and moss-green exterior, worn
flagstone paths and picket fencing lend curb appeal and complement the surrounding
woodland gardens. Mrs. Murphy, an interior designer, selected the fabrics
and wall coverings throughout the interior. A garden theme prevails in the
bright foyer where Thibaut wall covering sports butterflies against a crisp
white background. In the eclectic living room, a soft palette of pink and
green lends warmth to the formality of the space. An illuminated dollhouse,
built by Mrs. Murphy as a child with her grandmother, resides in the corner.
In the sunroom, a brighter array of pink and green sets a more playful tone.
Green ticking stripe window treatments, a sisal rug and black wrought-iron
furniture add the finishing touches.
Tonal cream-on-cream damask paper and the addition of crown molding
in the dining room create a more formal atmosphere. The newly renovated kitchen
and family room addition were designed to reflect the older portions of the
house. Cream kitchen cabinets, some with leaded-glass panels, lend an Old World
feel, while up-lighting and sleek black granite counters add drama. The family
room features two chocolate chenille sofas with wood trim that are functional
for a family with children, yet formal enough for entertaining. A nautical
theme prevails, from the teak flooring and the ship model adorning the mantel
to the sailing prints flanking a built-in media cabinet, a pleasant reminder
of their roots in Annapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Brendan J. Murphy, owners.
1033 NORTH SHORE ROAD. Constructed in 1930,
this traditional Colonial-style waterfront house is situated on the former
site of a ferry landing established in 1647. Past and present coexist: timbers
once used to guide the ferry are sometimes visible at low tide, and Colonial-era
artifacts and oyster shells from a road long since gone occasionally surface
in the gardens. The 13 massive live oak trees date to the early 1700s. Owner
William Gray was raised here from age 10 and inherited the property in 1999.
One interesting fact discovered by Mr. Gray, an avid historian, is that in
1933 the first planning meeting to form the Algonquin Garden Club took place
in the living room.
Architect Donna Phaneuf added a contemporary touch when she and Mr.
Gray married in 2000. Ms. Phaneuf designed a complete renovation that added
central air, expanded and modernized the kitchen, and created the spacious
family room. Original details such as wide raised-panel portals and quarter-round
windows are repeated in the new family room addition alongside innovative skylights
and bowed windows. Colorful contemporary paintings and sculptures complement
collections of artifacts and antiques including tins, horn goblets, broadaxes
and numerous decorated cuspidors. An Alaskan moose, one of many trophies that
reflect Mr. Gray’s hunting interests, dominates the wall above the brick
fireplace. The sharply peaked, modern skylights above create a space for its
substantial antlers without obstructing the second-floor view of the water.
The addition’s profile echoes the lines of the original house, a perfect
blend of past and present. Mr. William Gray and Ms. Donna Phaneuf, owners.
Historic Homes
Admission to the homes below is included with purchase of a full Norfolk Tour ticket.
THE HUNTER HOUSE VICTORIAN MUSEUM, 240 West Freemason St. In 1894, Boston architect W.P. Wentworth designed a new Richardsonian Romanesque townhouse for James Wilson Hunter Sr., a banker and prominent Norfolk merchant, wife Lizzie and children James Wilson Hunter, Jr., Harriett Cornelia and Eloise Dexter. In the 1960s, Eloise, the last surviving family member, requested that her estate be used in part to establish a museum, preserving the home’s architecture, furnishings and decorative arts. Rich in architectural details, the museum displays the family’s collections, including an unusual Inglenook, a Renaissance Revival bedchamber suite, a nursery of Victorian playthings, stained-glass windows and an elaborately embroidered crazy quilt. Lavish period reproduction floor and wall coverings and drapery treatments complement the collection. There is also a collection of 20th century medical memorabilia that belonged to Dr. James Wilson Hunter, Jr. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the day of the Norfolk Tour.
THE MOSES MYERS HOUSE, 331 Bank St. Built in1792 for a prominent Norfolk resident, this structure is a fine example of Federal-style architecture. The house contains nearly 70 percent of its first-generation furnishings, including the Gilbert Stuart portraits of Mr. Myers and wife Eliza. Much of the family’s cut glass, furniture, silver and china are on display. The house was home to five generations of the Myers family before it was sold in 1931 to become a privately operated museum. The City of Norfolk acquired the house in 1951 and placed it under the administration of the Chrysler Museum of Art. The Garden Club of Virginia renovated the gardens in 2002 to reflect historically accurate late-18th century garden design. Guided tours begin at 10 a.m. and are offered every half-hour with the last tour at 4 p.m. Open Wed. – Sat.
NORFOLK HISTORY MUSEUM at the Willoughby-Baylor
House, 601 East Freemason St., was built in 1794
by Captain William Willoughby, a descendant of English immigrant Captain
Thomas Willoughby I, who was the recipient of a 1636 Royal grant of 200
acres – 50 of which would become the town of Norfolk in 1682. The
house remained in the family until 1890 when it was sold. It subsequently
fell into decline and was slated for demolition until it was bought and
restored by the Norfolk Historic Foundation in 1964. It has been administered
by The Chrysler Museum of Art since 1969 and opened as the Norfolk History
Museum in 2005. The current exhibition showcases various aspects of Norfolk’s
architectural, commercial, maritime and military history through objects
from the Chrysler Museum’s collection and other institutions and
private citizens. The garden, designed by Siska Aurand Landscape Architects,
was installed in 1991 and represents the most current understanding of
Colonial gardens at that point. The recent addition of an oyster shell
paving is appropriate to the period. Admission is free, and the museum
is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wed. – Sat. and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays.
Other Places of Interest
THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART, 245 West Olney Road. Aptly described by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top twenty museums in the country, The Chrysler is home to one of America’s premier permanent collections. The museum possesses over 30,000 pieces spanning more than 5,000 years of art history and is renowned for its changing exhibitions that complement its permanent collection. The massive Italianate structure sits adjacent to the Hague inlet of the historic Elizabeth River and includes the largest art reference library in the Southeast – the Jean Outland Chrysler Library – as well as a theatre, gourmet restaurant and gift shop. In addition to offering visitors the opportunity to view the most stunning works of art, the Museum hosts a wide range of special events. Hours of operation: Wed. (Free or by Voluntary Contribution) 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thurs. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun. 1 to 5 p.m. Closed Mon., Tues. and major holidays. Admission is free for students with ID and children ages 18 and under.
THE HERMITAGE FOUNDATION MUSEUM, 7637 North Shore Rd. This beautiful 12-acre estate is nestled in a lush wooded setting along the Lafayette River. The Arts & Crafts style house features a combination brick and wood exterior, elegantly carved eaves and wrought-iron accents. Originally built to be the summer retreat of William and Florence Sloane in 1908, the residence became their year-round home and was later the permanent location of the Hermitage Foundation Museum. The foundation was established in 1937 by the Sloanes to increase public awareness and appreciation of the arts and to offer encouragement and support to creative artistic endeavors. The house is a work of art in its own right. The expert carving and detail of master craftsmen C.J. Woodsen, Karl von Rydingsvard, and M.F. McCarthy resulted in a home of uncompromising craftsmanship and an appropriate showcase for displaying treasured artwork from around the world. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. – Sat., Sun. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., closed Wed. (Located in the neighborhood of Lochhaven, a 10-minute drive outside the tour area).
NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN, 6700 Azalea Garden Rd. Originally started as a Works Progress Administration project in the 1920s, today Norfolk Botanical Garden consists of 155 acres of stunning beauty with 12 miles of pedestrian pathways surrounded on three sides by Lake Whitehurst. The Garden is located adjacent to Norfolk International Airport and boasts one of the largest collections of azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons on the East Coast. Norfolk Botanical Garden displays more than 20 theme gardens including the Virginia Native Plant Garden (Founder’s Fund Award, Garden Club of America), Bicentennial Rose Garden, World of Wonder and many more. Visitors may tour the Garden by foot, tram or boat. The gift shop provides distinctive items for both garden and gardener. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $7 for adults; $6 for seniors; $5 for youth (3–18); FREE for children 2 & under with accompanying parent. For information, call (757) 441-5830. Website: www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org