Comments on: ORAL HISTORY: How Harbor Avenue Got its Skew

By: Andy Dickinson

Andy Dickinson — Thu, 29 May 2014 17:22:18 +0000

Regarding the pilings at the north end of Harbor Avenue, that originally was a ferry terminal operating back in the early ’30s carrying passengers to the western shore, maybe around Reedsville. Failed and in the late ’30s, early ’40s an excellent restaurant opened up in one of the buildings in existence at the time and in a larger building, an indoor skating rink and dance hall, quite popular during the war.

Sandy Island, the small island off of the entrance to Bay Creek, was home to a brick Army barracks during the First World War. Legend has it that doughnuts were being cooked in lard which caught on fire and burned it all down. I think Billy Smith’s father was stationed there during WWI.

By: Marion Naar

Marion Naar — Thu, 29 May 2014 11:32:43 +0000

Answers to Joseph Corcoran’s questions:
Visit the Cape Charles Museum and you will find exhibits with information and photos in answer to both your questions. Briefly:
1. The Peninsula Ferry company had a terminal there and operated briefly in the early 1930s.
2. Sandy Island housed a naval base during WWI and later was a fish processing plant.

By: Allison Mills Duncan

Allison Mills Duncan — Sat, 24 May 2014 01:15:25 +0000

Now I know why the house in which I grew up always flooded in the basement!

By: Joseph Corcoran

Joseph Corcoran — Mon, 19 May 2014 11:14:14 +0000

Very interesting . I had never considered that Cape Charles city was built on land fill over a swamp . ( I just wonder if it is sinking like Norfolk is now ?)

Two questions I have had for years now :

1.What was the structure built on the pilings at the north end of Harbor Avenue ?

2.What was the big brick structure on Sandy Island and when was Sandy Island abandoned ?