Norfolk

I was futzing around on the internet today, and got to perusing the LIFE Magazine images hosted on Google. I marvelled at the pictures of Atlantic City, what it looked like before the garish & imposing casinos showed up. As a six year-old, My mom would ride a train with her grandmother from Philadelphia to spend the day in this version of Atlantic City. It's hard not to get totally consumed by nostalgia.

When I'd gone through all of Atlantic City, and any boardwalk they had on film, and anything in New Jersey, I turned my attention to a place I lived in and explored for some 6 years; Norfolk. Some of these made me laugh, some made me cringe, and some were just shocking. I'll refrain from commentary so as not to unwittingly offend anyone or myself (with naivete').

The ferry to Portsmouth, 1944.

Emergency wartime housing, 1944.

The slums, 1944.

Granby Street, 1944.

Airman wearing light suit on the deck of an aircraft carrier, 1953.

Sailors cleaning up after a fancy party, 1957.

Cheerleading practice, 1958.

Queen of the Azalea Festival & her father, 1958.

Creativity, 1958.

Lewis Cousins' first day at a desegregated Maury High, 1959.

Bettie Jean Reed completes her first day of school at newly desegregated Granby High, 1959.