Once Upon a Time

Sandra R. Fenner

·

The Once Upon a Time" series was published in the BTW Class of '58 Newsletter

April '88 - June '88 & May '88

These people had many obstacles to overcome. Let's take a look at society during this era..

.

BEHAVIORAL CONDITIONS - If any of these kids acted in school, they would get punished in school and punished at home. Punishment was an embarrassment. If they acted up in the neighborhood, Miss Sally would whip them, tell their parents and then their parents would whip them again.

CULTURAL CONDITIONS - They attended such cultural events as the Commencement at St. Joseph's Catholic School, the Booker T. Washington High School Choir Concerts, the Battle of the Bands, (where the BTW Band members were dressed to the "nines" in long gowns and tuxedos). They also attended the Debutante Balls.

SCHOOLING -They went to segregated schools (of course they did not know what segregated meant). They used books that had been torn up by some blue-eyed, blond-haired pupil from Maury and/or Granby High School. They rode school buses that passed "white schools" to get to Booker T. They took biology and chemistry classes without the benefit of science labs. They had used athletic equipment. They got leftover instruments for the band. They had to memorize the music for the band and chorus, because there was not enough sheet music. They received used parts in the cafeteria and for maintenance, used books in the library and left-over food for lunch. BUT they learned to appreciate their teachers who worked under such adverse conditions.

HOUSING - Most of them lived in the ghetto. The only thing is that they didn't even know what the word ghetto meant. They thought that all Negroes were supposed to live together, and the white folks were supposed to live on the other side of the tracks. No one seemed to be embarrassed by where they lived. As far as they were concerned, they lived in mansions. A few who lived in the projects wanted to live uptown. It seemed that the kids who lived uptown had more fun. A few of their parents owned their homes, but most rented from someone named Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Some even had extended families in the household - They didn't know what extended family was - they thought it was the norm. But they were loved and had fun.

---

MY BUS STORIES: How traveling through Norfolk in my youth was an education.

There were many stories about riding the bus in Norfolk during my youth.

Early on, I walked to BTW from Downtown Young Park. There were no buses for us to take, and we envied those who lived further and rode the City bus to and from school. That was until we realized that they had to buy punches, actually spend money to ride to school.

I never missed a day of school, I went to school, no matter what. I remember that walk from school on a particular day. It was the day that I had the flu. I was almost home, and so sick, when I met my mother who happened to be coming out of the Colonial Store. She had to help me home.

When I started Norfolk State University (College), I no longer walked, but rode the Liberty Park bus. I would get on in front of Bank Street Church, because, the next stop, at the corner of Church and Brambleton, those connecting from other locations would pack the bus. However, I already had my seat from the previous stop.

J. Wilkins: “Back in the day, it was nothing to see all grades of students everywhere in Norfolk trudging to elementary, junior and senior high schools... some teachers too!! Rain, sleet or snow! Now, I don't see ANY kids walking!! Lucky devils! Yep! It was like a pilgrimage every morning!"

A. Avery: “I DID NOT UTILIZE THE YELLOW BUS. LAMBERT POINTERS HAD TO CATCH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ( TRT )”.

In the beginning that was the only bus to take. They added a VA Beach Blvd bus the year, in 1963, after the Civil Rights Bill. Only then were Blacks allowed to sit ANYWHERE on the bus. We would ride the bus from NSU on VA Beach Blvd, pass our stop, ride to downtown and back. Each of us would sit in a different bench seat up front because we knew that whites would stand so as to not sit beside us. We got a hoot out of that.

I did my first college internship at Union Kempsville High School but had to ride the Greyhound bus because the school was out of the Norfolk bus line, Virginia Beach, (Princess Anne County). I could only ride to Chinese Corner, (who knows where that was?) and walk the rest of the way.

When we moved from Young Park to Brambleton section of the City, I only had to walk through a path to get to classes at Norfolk State. I hated 8 AM classes, and only had one. I couldn’t imagine the bus ride for an early class. Living so close to the school meant there was always someone willing to walk me home if I stayed late for an extra curricula activity.

My last bus story was the most challenging. During my student teaching assignment, I had the misfortune of being assigned to teach at Carver High School in Newport News. I had no clue how the heck I would get there. I did not have a car. Somehow, word of mouth connected me to a ride to Portsmouth and then connected with other teachers who were going to another school in NPN. I would then have to walk two miles to Carver. One Friday afternoon, they forgot me, and there was no one to call. Fortunately, the football team was practicing, and the coach let me wait in the school for the next Greyhound bus. However, it didn't leave until 12 midnight. I got home about 2 AM. Long day, and a longer bus ride.

What was your Norfolk bus story?

Sandra F.

To BTWHS - Walked from 742 Windsor Avenue to Olney Road to Park Avenue waited for Blondell, then Marshall Ave. Cut across Stonewall Jackson School yard to Reservoir Ave. down Reservoir to " The Factory"! My most dangerous walk was to Ruffner! Down Windsor to Brambleton to Park to Clairborne, past John Goode to Reservoir to the cut past Lula’s family home, near Gretchen family home, up the slope, cross Norfolk and Western Tracks, down the slope through the back gate to Ruffner.

Marcia S.

I forgot to add walked from Tidewater Park to Laura E. Titus Elementary School. I remembered being chased by dogs! Awful experience back then, but had the best teacher

Barbara H. Back in the day it was a joy walking to and from school with a group of your friends.I walked from Abraham Lincoln Elementary in Berkley. Then went to Ruffner and Booker T. and would walk from each school to Diggs Park with various groups of friends. So much fun doing nothing but enjoying each other's company. GOOD CLEAN FUN.

---