Cradock Alumni and Friends Homepage

Cradock Alumni and Friends Homepage

 

A trip down Cradock's Memory Lane...
as told by Bob & Ruth Cutchins

Do you remember something special about growing up in Cradock? Something that made you laugh or cry? A special friend or place? Something you would like to share? Share your Cradock memories or tell us a story. You KNOW someone else will enjoy reading about it...


(New 09-26-2010)

Don't forget, Come Home to Cradock -  Afton Square - Sat. Oct 16, 2010 11am-4pm. Parade starts at 1pm. Frank Webster, CHS class of 1954, will be the Grand Marshall. 2010 Flyer

Frank Webster


(6-11-2010)

Official Football Programs - Cradock vs. Great Bridge, Sept. 11, 1953  now online.
File is very large. 20 MB, pdf. May take a few minutes to load if you have a slow connection.
 


(4-21-2010)

Our web site readers have been writing your stories about their relationships with Cradock’s doctors, forty, fifty, sixty and seventy years ago.

Take some time today and read what your schoolmates have to say about the good doctors who cared for them when they were youngsters. If you want to share your story about your favorite Cradock doctor, send an email with your story to revelerbk@cox.net  or to the webmaster at cradock_webmaster@cox.net  Later your doctor story may appear on the website.

The good doctors who cared for us

bk
 


(4-15-2010)

This photo, taken in the late 20's (probably), was believed to be a house on Alden Ave. in Cradock. Does anyone recognize this house and know the location of it. If you think you might know where this house is please email me Janie Thanks

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

  Is this it, modified? Click here to compare the two houses

(3-31-2010)

The irony of calling this creek "paradise" is not lost on its advocates.
Paradise Creek is on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River...click on link for more

What's In A Name? Paradise Creek

By Janie Bryant, The Virginian-Pilot, March 29, 2010
 

(New 03-12-2010)

Lately there has been discussion about Cradock's first doctor, Dr. Sidney Tabor. There are several former Cradock students who remember Dr. Tabor but most remember Dr. Powell. Dr. Powell died in 2001 at age 94. Apparently, he served Cradock for 63 years! See photo and obituary here  Dr. Stanley H. Powell MD

Would anyone happen to have a photo of the house with his office attached and the little white picket fence?
 


(New 03-09-2010)

A gentleman has posted the following message at our Message Forum. I'm not sure everyone checks that board, so I am posting it here as well.

Message:
I am working on a history of the Tabor family and am currently researching Dr. Sidney J Tabor who lived in Cradock until his death in 1959 at age of 93. Does any one have any memories or stories about Dr. Tabor?? If you do I would like to include in my section on him. Contact me directly at
taborbusiness@sbcglobal.net  Thanks for your consideration. Michael Tabor Hartford City, IN

The subject of his message, Dr. Sydney J. Tabor (wife's name was Virginia-member of Cradock Women's Club) lived on Afton Parkway at house number 37 in 1930 and house number 20 in 1956. (The difference in the house number could be a street number change but not sure) He was a practicing physician (Medical Doctor-General Practice) in 1930. In 1956 some of his neighbors were George Kincaid, Frank Brown, Marie Jackson, Walter Miller, Herbert Thompson and Clarence Taylor. Does anyone remember Dr. Tabor or know of any families who lived near him that might have surviving relatives that could possibly assist this gentleman? Dr. Powell, whom I think everyone remembers lived and practiced at #13 Afton Parkway

Dr Tabor was the first physician serving Cradock. According to email I have received so far, he delivered Cradock babies, did the physicals for the boys to play sports and most likely tended many other illnesses in Cradock families.

Dr. Sidney Johnston Tabor - First Physician to serve Cradock.
 


(New 01-10-2010)
 
I discovered this photo quite by accident.  After careful examination of it, and family photos, I am convinced that the individual on the far left front row is my father:  Clyde M. Bryant. He attended Cradock High School during that period, and did play baseball and football. 
Any chance of obtaining a copy of the photo?
(New 12-02-2009)

Memories from Ed Fox ('67)

From a class of ‘67er…………………..I have fond “kid” memories of hanging out in Cradock proper (I lived in Highland Biltmore)
with my cousin Don since he lived in Cradock (climbing on the cannon in the square, going to Red’s, getting kicked out of the Afton theatre, enjoying the pastries from the bakery, eating at Moy’s). Then the highlights from the elementary years included going with Tommy “Steamboat” Mitchell to Cradock basketball games, playing football in the field behind John “Scooter” Gibson’s house with
the Phillips (Benny and Lee “Two Pair”), Glen Ames, and Bill Hollins. My Cradock memories then “matured” to the high school
variety………………picking the flecks of Mr. Weldon’s chewing tobacco off of my face in football practice, dances after the games,
riding home from practice in the back of Lee Warren’s pickup truck, dances at the Ambassador’s Club with the allure of meeting
girls from Wilson (and doggoned if I didn’t marry a Wilson girl that I met after college), shaving a hunk of hair from Mike Bradley’s
head in a failed attempt to get him to shave his head like the majority of the football team, hanging out at Mid-City).
 

(New 08-17-2009)

Ron Fortune ('62) sent several interesting emails. His memory is still very sharp! (of Cradock anyway)

Just looked at the website you have built, what a beautiful thing, great job !! My youngest son and I rode through Cradock week before last on our way home from a week in the mountains with the Harleys. Looks like a lot of progress being made but, a long ways from home. Sure wish I lived closer to participate. My old house, 13 cotton place has a new roof and new siding as do quite a few others we saw that appear to be under various stages of renovation. Looks like the owners of the properties in the square need to get with the program now.  They may find quality renters for the vacant stores.
 
Rip Ripley would let us come to the community center over there (Williams Court) because we didn't have one. Fat chance of anyone doing that for outsider kids today !!
Do you remember when a farm was where the high school is. We used to sneak over there at night and swipe collards.There are so many awesome memories of growing up there. Riding around the square week before last I had flashbacks; The Afton Theater, Graham's, Sandra and Doug Shields mother's beauty shop, Mr. Levy's 5&10 cent store, then cross the street,Joe Sam and Jackie Hanbury's parents had a dry cleaners, then the old DP grocery store, Dave Carroway's barber shop, the Cradock Pharmacy
the Cradock Luncheonette, Chapman's meat market, Slim Foster's pool hall, Mary Brady's beauty  shop, Hoyt's Bakery, Geroge's florist, Cradock Hardware, Red's, across the square David and Marsha Jones dads cleaners, Bohannan's jewelry store, Kahler's, Highs,  ( used to save up the money to buy a pint of lime sherbet and sit on the high curb and eat it with one of those little wooden spoons) Ginger Wildman Stovall and I still laugh about that. Then there was Moy's laundry and Chinese Restaurant. then the A&P grocery store and in the next block was the famous VFW. The bank was not built yet, it looks like a restaurant or something now.

Janie I missed one the other day, the radio/TV repair shop was run by Billy Pollard Sr. Ruth Pollard. Eddie and Allen Seager's aunt was a teacher at James Hurst.
 

(New 05-28-2009)
 

Highland Park Little League Players (4 boys - Indians & Rangers teams)
courtesy Ben Phillips ('66)
 


(New 05-25-2009)

The photo sent in by Bonnie Porter (Smokey Porter’s wife) on 04/01/2009 of the Braves little league team really hit home for me. I played that same year for the Indians and my brother “Lee Phillips” played for the “Rangers”. I grew up with most of those kids, played sports with them and worked with them later.

I want to thank Bonnie for that great photo and that she kept it for so long. I lived down the street from Smokey and remember when he left to go to Vietnam; little did I know then that I too would be going over there. I’ve never forgotten that day when he left and I guess I never will. I’ve sent some photos when I played in the Highland Biltmore Little League and hope someone will see them and that they will bring back some good memories of that time.

Respectfully,
Ben Phillips (CLASS OF 66)
QA Manager
QED Systems, Inc.
1885 Mealy Street South
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Office: (904) 247-3553
Cell: (904) 210-7696
Fax: (904) 247-1620
email: bphillips@qedsysinc.com

 
(New 05-17-2009)

CLASS OF '34 RECALLS LESSONS OF THE DEPRESSION
from The Virginian-Pilot, June 17, 1994
 

(New 05-25-2009)

The photo sent in by Bonnie Porter (Smokey Porter’s wife) on 04/01/2009 of the Braves little league team really hit home for me. I played that same year for the Indians and my brother “Lee Phillips” played for the “Rangers”. I grew up with most of those kids, played sports with them and worked with them later.

I want to thank Bonnie for that great photo and that she kept it for so long. I lived down the street from Smokey and remember when he left to go to Vietnam; little did I know then that I too would be going over there. I’ve never forgotten that day when he left and I guess I never will. I’ve sent some photos when I played in the Highland Biltmore Little League and hope someone will see them and that they will bring back some good memories of that time.

Respectfully,
Ben Phillips (CLASS OF 66)
QA Manager
QED Systems, Inc.
1885 Mealy Street South
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Office: (904) 247-3553
Cell: (904) 210-7696
Fax: (904) 247-1620
email: bphillips@qedsysinc.com

 


(New 05-17-2009)

CLASS OF '34 RECALLS LESSONS OF THE DEPRESSION
from The Virginian-Pilot, June 17, 1994
 

(New 05-16-2009)

Hi Janie: Some years ago, I had the opportunity to visit York,  England, where there is a memorial in the "York Minster", to Admiral Cradock. I have enclosed a copy of the tribute paid by Lord Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, in November 1915. The tribute is from a newspaper article of the day, written November 15th, 1915, by J. D. Atkinson. On Page 2, Lord Balfour explains the motive behind Admiral Cradock's attack on the superior German Fleet.
Regards,
FRED ZERKLE
Class of 1953
Click here, then click on Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock and scroll to the bottom to read part 1 & 2 of Admiral Cradock's Sacrifice
 

(New 05-13-2009)

Edna Everton was a graduate with the class of 1938 at Cradock High School. Edna was Class Historian that year so it seems appropriate that she would hang onto her yearbook as she has done. Edna will be 88 May 27, 2009. She still lives in her own house in Louisiana and does amazingly well despite a few health problems.  She is still very active and as funny as ever. Edna gave her yearbook, which was in the group of the first  Cradock yearbooks, to her nephew, Ed Seager ('60)  Ed scanned each page and sent it to be uploaded to the yearbooks section. To see this interesting old book go to  1938 Cradock High School Yearbook This is a great addition to the Cradock history collection. Thank you Edna and Ed.
 


(New 05-07-2009)

Articles from The Shipmate - abt. 1965 - 1966
New After-Game Dances Have Cafe Swingin' & YMA President Flies Solo On Jaunts
Courtesy Bonnie Jordan-Porter ('66)
 


(New 04-27-2009)

Here is newspaper article that should be of interest to Both Cradock and Wilson Alumni.
I got it from Joyce Waddell Hawkins, (Class of 53) when we were back in Portsmouth earlier this month (April). There's a lot of information in the article I had forgotten or never even knew. Click here  (date of newspaper unknown)

Fred Zerkle
 


(New 04-01-2009)

Bonnie Porter, wife of the late Joseph "Smokey" Porter sent a picture of the Highland Biltmore Braves Little League of which "Smokey" was a participant. There are some of the cutest little boys in this photo. Take a look here. Thank you, Bonnie.
 


(New 04-01-2009)

Someone submitted a few pages from the 1945 Alexander Park yearbook, The National. These pages are interesting accounts of the History of  Alexander Park and the History of Alexander Park Schools. For anyone who grew up in Alexander Park, this is something you won't want to miss.
 


(New 03-23-2009)

Glenn Stephens ('74) sent a wonderful photo of his 6th grade class. If you have any old class pictures that you would like placed on the Cradock site, please send a copy to Webmaster
 


(New 03-16-2009)

A short history and larger photos of the 1934 Baseball found in the wall of a West Norfolk home and posted on this site in 2005 is now online. To read the short history and view the larger photos click here. Courtesy of Don Powell.
 


(New 03-13-2009)

Newly posted is the 1928 Cradock baseball team photo. You can see it at this link.
 


(New 03-04-2009)

Clifford Mann, class of 1967, has contributed an old photo of James Hurst Elementary School. It looks like there are lights in some of the rooms (might just be defects in the picture) and some of the windows appear to have a curtain on the bottom windows. Does anyone have any photos of this school, inside or out, that I could place online with this one? Would sure love to have a collection of this old school.

You can see the picture here James Hurst Elementary School
 
(New 02-22-2009)

Bill Norris ('58) shared this link with me.  I enjoyed it very much and thought those of you who grew up in the 40's & 50's watching and loving the western movies might enjoy it as well.
Those Old Westerns  (website gone)

Thanks Bill, for taking me back to our Lee Hall days, walking across the bridge, through the woods, past the high school, down Prospect Pkwy and into the square to go to the Afton Theatre to watch the western movies many Saturdays. I can see you now in your cowboy outfit. You were so cute!
 


(New 02-19-2009)

Curt Spear has uncovered another old photo of some Cradock boys from his grandmother's collection. Three boys from Cradock were on the team that won the state track meet championship about 1923-24.
See photo here

 


(New 02-19-2009)

Re: The Post Cards on cradock.org

Hi Janie: I just looked at the post cards you posted to the cradock.org home page, and saw the one's of the old Ferry Buildings in Norfolk. For your information, my wife, (Verna Rae Boush); her ancestors, founded and operated the original ferries, that ran from "Boush's Bluff" in Norfolk, over to what is now Portsmouth.
It was originally located at the foot of Boush Street (1600's), although it wasn't named that until later in the 1700's when Samuel Boush 1st, became the first Mayor of Norfolk. He died before taking office, but he donated a large piece of land that would become Main Street, and all of the waterfront, where the Norfolk County Ferry's ran over to Portsmouth and Berkley.
The Boush Family was very prominent in Norfolk & Princess Anne County history.
Regards, FRED ZERKLE San Jacinto, CA Class of 53'
 

(New 02-15-2009)

Another great find by Curt Spear ('57)

“Grandma Stella” lived with Phil and Carrie Lee Spear, across Prospect Parkway from Don for many years.  Her pictures were left unattended in the house for years after her death and now since Curt’s mother has died, the folks being photographed are near impossible to be identified. 

Look close in the photograph for Pearl or Paul Powell or Hank Barnett.  This is the 1924 Cradock High Baseball team. Curt says his dad, Phil Spear, is front row in the middle.  Maybe Beef Treakle is in the photo.
 


(New 02-14-2009)

Janie,

            My good friend and classmate (CHS57), Curt Spear, was sorting old photographs earlier today and sent me the one attached.  My thought was to identify those in the photo we could and then send it to you.  Perhaps you could post it for others to peruse, remember their youth and then help identify some of the folks who are in the photo.  

            The photograph was taken in the southeast side yard of the Presbyterian church on Afton Parkway at Prospect Parkway cattycornered from the old fire station.  Because the boys are Cub Scouts therefore under age 12, our guess is it was produced on a winter’s day circa 1950.  

            Fifty-eight winters later, Curt’s identification from left to right follows:  

Standing left to right:  Unidentified, Clyde Beasley, Unidentified, maybe Charles Buck, Unidentified, Unidentified,, Curt Spear, Unidentified, Unidentified, Billy Boggs, Unidentified, Donnie Whitesell, maybe Nelson Harris, Robert Sweazy, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified,.  

Kneeling left to right: Gary Barnett, Unidentified, Unidentified, maybe Cary Hibble, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified, Creighton Kelly, Unidentified, 

Unidentified, a Potenza boy, maybe Frank, David Spivey, Unidentified.  

 bk

This is a great find! Cub Scouts - Presbyterian Church - about 1950
Please help identify these boys, if you possibly can.  Thank you
 


(New 02-13-2009)

I received an old photo today of the 1948 8th Grade Cheerleaders at Alexander Park School. This photo was received from Mavis Daniels-Tompkins ('52) with compliments of Frances Finch Respess ('52)
 


(New 02-10-2009)

Don Becker has submitted two photos from his personal collection made on Baby Day May 1, 1952.
You can see these photos at Baby Day 1952.
 


(New Dec. 19, 2008)

Janie, Sammy Baugh died this week at age 94-95.  He was a great Redskin Quarterback from 1938 to 1952.  Our Cradock Coach Larry Weldon played with him on the NFL Championship team in 1942.  In the photograph above from the Virginian Pilot this week is #31 Larry Weldon’s backside as he pulls out to block pass rushers for “Slinging Sammy Baugh”. bk


 


(New Dec. 18, 2008)

The Christmas edition of the class of 1957 newsletter is now online.

News and Notes Christmas 2008
 
(New Dec. 18, 2008)

More memories of the Afton Theatre
 


(Nov. 8, 2008)

My first date at the Afton
Summer 1969 I guess. I had an afternoon date with Kathy. We were both twelve at the time. I knew her for about 6 months and all I did was wrestle with her around in the yard when me and my mom used to go over to their house. Finally I asked her to the movies.
So one Saturday, off we went to see Planet of the Apes. We sat on the right side in the center. I sat in the isle and she sat to my left. All through the movie, my heart was pounding because I wanted to put my arm around her. So, probably near the end of the movie, I tried the old yawn - stretch thing and put my arm around her shoulder. There it sat for the next 30 minutes, my arm and her shoulder sweating profusely.
After the movie was over and the sweat dried, she asked me "what took you so long to put your arm around me"?
Confidently I asked if she wanted the last California Almond.
That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
Scot Ennis

CHS 1975


(New Nov. 7, 2008)

I would like to know the status of the restored chair from the Afton theatre for sale by Mr. Dupriest (class of '52)…I sent a couple of e-mails to the address in the ad, but have heard nothing..any help appreciated…thanks  

Please contact Webmaster if you have any information about Frank Dupriest and his chair. Thank you.

Michael Buck
 


(Nov. 4, 2008)

More Admiral excerpts

This one is about Yesteryear in the Afton Theatre
by Alice Faye Cooper Linton

This one is about The Fabulous 50's Boomers
by Phil Cannela

And this one is about Dancing and Booze
by Phil Cannella

(Nov. 3, 2008)

More excerpts from The Admiral Newsletter

Christmas in the fifties
Alice Faye Cooper Linton

Do you remember Jimmy Buck?
Phil Cannella

Phil, a '53 graduate, grew up in Williams Court ,pt. 2- working very hard, very early
Phil Cannella


(Nov. 1, 2008)

Mickey Riggs is a Cradock Folk Hero
Excerpted from The Admiral Newsletter
Reflections by Phil Cannella

Phil, a '53 graduate, grew up in Williams Court
Reflections by Phil Cannella

Excerpted from The Admiral Newsletter

 

Idle Musings
by Alice Faye Cooper Linton
Excerpted from The Admiral Newsletter

Organization of the Teenage
Now & Then
By Fred Zerkle
Excerpted from The Admiral Newsletter


(New 10-30-2008)

What made Cradock great for us?
 

(New 9-30-2008)

Greetings,

I am the son of Joyce A. Spivey class of (I believe 1954) who married Vernon England. She gave me this picture and I thought I would share it. The Cradock High School site is the best place I could find to share it with. She told me this picture was taken in 1942 just after they put up the Building Date. She also stated that that was the first all girl class that was used to compare scores between boys and girls. 

Vernon R. England III

Joyce Spivey was a 1952 Cradock graduate and  Vernon England graduated with the 1950 class
Thank you, Vernon England III

1942 James Hurst School First All Girl Class

 
 

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