The German Village at the Norfolk Navy Yard U.S. · PDF fileThe German Village at the Norfolk...
4
T This headline greeted Virginian-Pilot subscribers from their doorsteps on the morning of 6 April 1917. Congress had passed a resolution declaring war on Germany, heralding the entry of the United States into what would in time be known as the First World War. German warships were already in Hampton Roads, and had been for more than two years. In March and April 1915, German auxiliary cruisers Prinze Eitel Friedrich and Kronprinz Wilhelm steamed into the harbor, eluding British and French naval vessels patrolling for the enemy outside the three-mile limit. They pulled into Newport News, asking for coal, supplies and the time to undergo repairs. The Wilhelm was especially desperate for rations for her men, many of whom had developed beriberi during eight months at sea without fresh fruits and vegetables. Neither ship had been built to fight. Both entered the world as passenger liners on the North German Lloyd Line in the early 1900s. They were among the fleet of former civilian vessels that were armed and converted into warships for the German Navy at the beginning of the war. After finding sanctuary in Hampton Roads, the German officers weighed their options – to return to sea or to remain in Hampton Roads as internees. The enemy ships offshore and the illness of the Wilhelm’s crew argued for the latter option. The Norfolk Chamber of Commerce weighed in on April 27, asking that the ships be interned at the Norfolk Navy Yard, citing the desirability “to the commercial . . . interests of this port.” By the end of April the ships and their crew of some 600 men were at the Navy Yard, docked at a little-used section known as “Rotten Row,” where scrap materials were discarded. The German sailors enjoyed liberal leave and became familiar sights in the community, visiting with local families and attending social functions. This liberty came to a halt in October 1915 after a daring escape by six officers from the Wilhelm. The officers had been allowed to purchase the 60-foot yacht Eclipse from Norfolk architect Benjamin F. Mitchell for recreational sailing in local waters. They anchored the boat at the Norfolk Boat Club at the end of West Freemason Street and spent a month fitting it out with new sails, fresh paint and a more powerful engine. They enjoyed several day sails on the Elizabeth River until October 10, when they were given permission for an overnight outing. They sailed away, never to be heard from again. This followed on the heels of the September 29 departure of three officers from the Eitel Friedrich, F all 2007 INSIdE: k Treasures from the Norfolk History Museum h Calendar of Events The German Village at the Norfolk Navy Yard U.S. DECLARES WAR!
Transcript of The German Village at the Norfolk Navy Yard U.S. · PDF fileThe German Village at the Norfolk...
TThis headline greeted Virginian-Pilot subscribers from their doorsteps on
the morning of 6 April 1917. Congress had passed a resolution declaring war on Germany, heralding the entry of the United States into what would in
time be known as the First World War.
GermanwarshipswerealreadyinHamptonRoads,andhadbeenformorethantwoyears.InMarchandApril1915,GermanauxiliarycruisersPrinze Eitel Friedrich and Kronprinz Wilhelmsteamedintotheharbor,eludingBritishandFrenchnavalvesselspatrollingfortheenemyoutsidethethree-milelimit.TheypulledintoNewportNews,askingforcoal,suppliesandthetimetoundergorepairs.TheWilhelmwasespecially
desperateforrationsforhermen,manyofwhomhaddevelopedberiberiduringeightmonthsatseawithoutfreshfruitsandvegetables. Neithershiphadbeenbuilttofight.BothenteredtheworldaspassengerlinersontheNorthGermanLloydLineintheearly1900s.Theywereamongthefleetofformercivilianvesselsthatwerearmedand
convertedintowarshipsfortheGermanNavyatthebeginningofthewar. AfterfindingsanctuaryinHamptonRoads,theGermanofficersweighedtheiroptions–toreturntoseaortoremaininHamptonRoadsasinternees.TheenemyshipsoffshoreandtheillnessoftheWilhelm’screwarguedforthelatteroption.TheNorfolkChamberofCommerceweighedinonApril27,askingthattheshipsbeinternedattheNorfolkNavyYard,citingthedesirability“tothecommercial...interestsofthisport.”BytheendofApriltheshipsandtheircrewofsome600menwereattheNavyYard,dockedatalittle-usedsectionknownas“RottenRow,”wherescrapmaterialswerediscarded. TheGermansailorsenjoyedliberalleaveandbecamefamiliarsightsinthecommunity,visitingwithlocalfamiliesandattendingsocialfunctions.ThislibertycametoahaltinOctober1915afteradaringescapebysixofficersfromtheWilhelm.Theofficershadbeenallowedtopurchasethe60-footyachtEclipse fromNorfolkarchitectBenjaminF.Mitchellforrecreationalsailinginlocalwaters.TheyanchoredtheboatattheNorfolkBoatClubattheendofWestFreemasonStreetandspentamonthfittingitoutwithnewsails,freshpaintandamorepowerfulengine.TheyenjoyedseveraldaysailsontheElizabethRiveruntilOctober10,whentheyweregivenpermissionforanovernightouting.Theysailedaway,nevertobeheardfromagain.ThisfollowedontheheelsoftheSeptember29departureofthreeofficersfromtheEitel Friedrich,
F a l l 2 0 0 7
I N S I d E :
kTreasures from the
Norfolk History Museum
hCalendar of Events
The German Village at the Norfolk Navy Yard
U.S. DECLARES WAR!
whohadbeengiventwoweeks’leavetovisitNewYorkCityandNiagaraFalls,promisingtoreturnbymidOctober.They,too,hadvanished. FutureleaveprivilegesfortheremainingcrewmemberswerecurtailedandthehomesicksailorsoccupiedtheirtimebuildingalittleGermantownoutofscrapmaterialsonhand.TheynamedtheirvillageEitel Wilhelm,combiningthenamesofthetwoships.Thefarmanimalsandsmallzoo,vegetablegarden,weeklynewspaperandnearly50miniaturebuildingsattractedthousandsofvisitorsfromthelocalcommunity.Proceedsfromthe10¢entryfeeandsaleof
bakedgoods,postcardviewsofthevillageandhand-craftedtoysweresenttotheGermanRedCross. InAugust1916,CongressdoubleditsappropriationfornewwarshipsfortheUnitedStatesNavy,andofficialsatthe
NavyYardhurriedtofindspaceforthenewshopsanddrydocksthatwouldbeneededfortheadditionalwork.TheGermanVillagehadtocomedown.TheshipsweresenttoPhiladelphiainSeptember,wheretheywereconvertedtoAmericantroopshipsaftertheU.S.enteredthewar.TheinterneeswouldbecomeprisonersofwarandwouldspendtheremainderofthewarinPOWcampsinGeorgia.
Treasures from the Norfolk History Museum
TTradefigureswereacommonwayfor19thcenturymerchantstoadvertisetheirmerchandiseinthedaywhensomecustomerswerestillilliterateandtherewasagrowingimmigrantpopulationnewtotheEnglishlanguage.TheNorfolkHistoryMuseumhasseveraltradefiguresonexhibit,includingthisjollyfigureof“Punch,”whichstoodoutsideIsaacMoritz’MainStreetcigarstoreformanyyears.Whocouldresisttheinvitationofthispart-clown,part-imp,whoholdsoutasamplingofthewaresforsaleatMoritz&Companyandpointsthewayinside?AlthoughtheAmericanIndianismosttraditionallyassociatedwiththecigarstore,othertradefigures,includingthatofPunch,werealsopopular.
“Punch” Cigar Store Show Figure, ca. 1865American, perhaps made by William Demuth & Co., New York CityPainted woodChrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, Gift from the City of Norfolk, Norfolk Police Museum 2005.9
The Norfolk History Museum is in need of volunteer greeters. .......................................................................................................
VolunteerhoursareWednesdaythroughSunday(especiallySaturdayandSunday).Nospecialskillsarerequired,justasmile.Formoreinformation,pleacecontactJeanneBollendorfat333-1086orjbollendorf@chrysler.org.
September. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wednesday, September 12, 7:00 PM – Norfolk History Museum Program Series: “Baseball in Norfolk, Virginia”LocalauthorsClayShampoeandTomGarrettwillpresent
thefirstinathree-partseriesonthehistoryofsemi-professionalbaseballinNorfolk,tracingthesportfromitsearlydaysto1934.ItwillbeaneveningfullofFunFactsandSurprisingStoriesaboutAmerica’sfavoritepastimeandtheBoysofSummerwhoplayedthegameinNorfolk,manyofthemgoingontothebigleagues.Location:KaufmanTheatre,ChryslerMuseum.Freeandopentothepublic.Book
signingandlightrefreshments.
Monday, September 17, 11:30 AM – Hampton Roads Naval Museum Speakers Luncheon Series: “Theodore Roosevelt: Selling Sea Power”AnAmericanFleetNavyisanideawetakeforgrantednow.Butattheturnofthecentury,ittookthepoliticalskillofaU.S.PresidenttosellthisideatotheAmericanpeople.dr.LoriBoglewilldiscusshowTheodoreRooseveltusedthe1907JamestownExpositionandtheGreatWhiteFleettomarketaFleetNavytoAmerica.Location:ThirdfloorofNauticus.Lectureandluncheon:$15perperson.Aftertheluncheon,guestsareinvitedtotourthenewSteelNavyexhibit.Reservations required, call 322-3109.Sponsored courtesy of Lockheed Martin
October. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wednesday, October 10, 7:00 PM – Norfolk History Museum Program Series “Prelude to Freedom: The Contraband Slave Story” ComposerGerriHollinswillpresentselectionsfromheroriginalfolkopera,firstperformedatThomasNelsonCommunityCollegein2005.TheoperaisbasedonthethousandsofslaveswhosoughtandfoundfreedomatFortMonroe,before theEmancipationProclamation.Ms.Hollinswillperformseveralofthevariousroles,accompaniedbypiano.Location:KaufmanTheatre,ChryslerMuseum.Freeandopentothepublic.Lightrefreshments.November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wednesday, November 14, 7:00 PM – Norfolk History Museum Program Series: “An Audience With His Excellency, George Washington”Hewasafarmer,asoldierandapresident.SpendaneveningwiththemanknownasTheFatherofHisCountryasVirginiaPatriotsinterpreterKevinGrantzbringsGeorgeWashingtontolife.WhatwasAmerica’sFirstPresident’sconnectiontoNorfolk?didhereallysleephere?LearnwhatitwasliketohelpshapethedestinyofthisfledglingcountryasoneofitsFoundingFathers.Location:KaufmanTheatre,ChryslerMuseum.Freeandopentothepublic.Lightrefreshments.
C a l e n d a r o f E v e n t s
Norfolk in Autumns PastSeptember 12, 1930 – NorfolkdivisionoftheCollegeofWilliamandMaryopensSeptember 13, 1926 – dailypassengerplaneservicebeginsbetweenPhiladelphia,WashingtondCandNorfolkSeptember 15, 1736 – TownofNorfolkismadeaBoroughbyRoyalcharterSeptember 18, 1935 – NorfolkUnitofVirginiaUnionUniversity(nowNorfolkStateUniversity)opensSeptember 21, 1923 – Virginia’s firstradiostation,WTAR,goesontheairinNorfolkSeptember 22, 1904 – John McNerneyisthefirstNorfolkpolicemankilledinlineofdutyOctober 1, 1849 – NorfolkGasLightCompanyturnsoncity’sfirstgaslights
October 3, 1936 – ForemanFieldisdedicatedOctober 13, 1894 – FirstelectrictrolleybeginsoperationsOctober 19, 1749 – Hurricanewashesup800acresandspitatwhatisnowWilloughbyNovember 1, 1957 –HamptonRoadsBridge-TunnelopensNovember 8, 1919 – Norfolk’s firstdialtelephonesgointoeffectatmidnightNovember 14, 1910 –AtWilloughby,EugeneElylaunchesfirstplanetotakeofffromashipNovember 18, 1939 – Norfolk’sfirstunderpassopens atN&WRailroadtracksonHamptonBoulevardNovember 24, 1852 – CommodoreMatthewCPerryleavesfromNorfolkonnavaltourthatwillopenJapantoworldtradeNovember 29, 1789 – ThomasJeffersonvisits
..................................
P.O.Box6367Norfolk,VA23508-0367..................................
PRESIdENTLouis L. Guy, Jr. RVICEPRESIdENTCharles A. Miller, AIA RSECRETARYPeggy Haile McPhillips RTREASURERCharles V. McPhillips, Esq. RC O u r I E r EdITORPeggy Haile McPhillips RC O u r I E r dESIGNBart Morris
BOARdMEMBERSJoanne S. BerkleyTommy L. Bogger, Ph.D.Ashlyn M. BrandtCaroline riddle Doonanrussell D. Evett, MDSteven A. ForrestCarter B. S. Furr, Esq.robert E. Garris, Jr.Greta S. GustavsonCraig S. JonesAnne H. KilandJohn W. Kuehl, Ph.D.Norman L. MaasJoyce S. McKeeverralph W. Miner, Jr.Mark D. PerreaultDavid K. Sutelan, Esq.
www.NorfolkHistorical.0rgwww.NorfolkHistorical.0rg
IIt is time to reviewourprogress and revise/refineourworkplanfornextyear.Wehavedonethisannually,guidedbyprofessionalplannerBillMiner,sincewedevelopedanewStrategicPlantwoyearsago.Inthateffort,theNHSBoarddefinedourMissionasto:
“serve as a catalyst for the collection, interpretation, preservation, and dissemination of Norfolk area history and as an advocate for broader understanding, education, and preservation of our history to both citizens and visitors.”
Thisisambitiousbutveryworthwhile,andwearechippingaway.Asa“catalyst”wewelcomepartneringopportunitieswithorganizations,institutions or individuals wherever there may be a commoninterest.RecentpartnersincludeFriendsofHistoricHousesoftheChryslerMuseum;HamptonRoadsNavalMuseum;U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,Norfolkdistrict;Harbor’sEdgeRetirementCommunity;2ndVa.Regiment,Warof 1812; JuniorLeagueofNorfolk&VirginiaBeach;NorfolkPublicLibrary;ContrabandHistoricalSociety;CitizensforaFortMonroeNationalPark;andtheNationalCouncilofStateHistoricPreservationOfficers.WeappreciateallofthishelptorelateNorfolk’srichhistory. Sharing the fascinating stories about this region is central toour Mission. Our Norfolk History Museum Series, the second
Wednesday of every month at the Chrysler Museum’s KaufmanTheatre,isasuccess.Wehaveattractedacoreaudiencethisyear,nowrangingreliablyfrom50to100everymonth.Thisnucleusofpeopleinterestedinlocalhistorywillgrow.Plansareunderwayforthe2008programs,includingsequelstosomeofthisyear’smostsuccessful,such asdr.RobertWojtowicz’s presentation onNorfolk architectClarence Neff. In 2007 we have already hosted ten free events,includingeighteveningNHMprogramsandtwoafternoonprogramsatFortNorfolkduringweekendencampmentsofre-enactors. OnNovember14,thebriefjointAnnualMembershipMeetingofNHSandFriendsofHistoricHouseswillprecedeourNHMSeries event. Featured will be George Washington, who visitedherein1763.Later,hisAdministrationbuiltFortNorfolkandin2007NHSisthefort’scustodian!AlthoughsomehowheiscomingtousAFTERweheard fromAbrahamLincoln inearlyAugust,his appearancemeans that we are covering all four centuries ofNorfolk’shistory.don’tmissit. Webadlyneedyourfeedback.NHShasalimitedsupplyoffunds,andanevenmorelimitedsupplyofvolunteerhourstoorganizeandsupporteachprojectorprogram.Wearefacedwith“insurmountableopportunities,”asPogowouldsay,anditisimportantthattheyareprioritizedtoyourliking.Letushearfromyou.
—L o u i s G u y , P r e s i d e n t
Visit our website for membership benefits and news of upcoming events.
H i s t o r i c a l O p p o r t u n i t i e s
.....................
Non-ProfitOrg.U.S.Postage
PAID PermitNo.318
.....................
