Comments on: Pat Parsons Pens Memories of Bygone Cape Charles

By: Bill Powell

Bill Powell — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 19:56:44 +0000

I grew up half a block from the ice plant. Its biggest customer was the railroad, using those big blocks of ice to cool the Pullman sleeping cars for the passenger trains and the Fruit Growers Express and American Fruit Express refrigerated produce cars for the freight trains.

By: Elizabeth Parsons Noble

Elizabeth Parsons Noble — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 20:26:37 +0000

I remember in the 1950s that a place was needed for an Easter Sunrise Service. Possibly mixed up in my mind, I remember that there was a cabin known as John Roberts cabin, which was where we went for a sunrise service. I think it was a hunting lodge, and I have no idea where it is. If anyone remembers, tell me! The owner, John Roberts, also owned the ice plant. Getting large hunks of ice 200-300 lbs. was important to my family, (vegetable packers/brokers). It was the only way to “ice down” a truck, by filling up the truck bunker with a lot of ice. Ice was important in the ’40s and ’50s so that vegetables could be trucked to market in the Northeast. As with all things later, there came machines called “precoolers” which cooled down a truck load of vegetables on a 90 degree day to a reasonable cooler temperature. And then came refrigeration, so eventually not much need for the ice plant. Walking across the vats of ice in the ice plant was really interesting. Lots of the guys worked there in the summer, making ice!

By: Kelly Ecimovic

Kelly Ecimovic — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:59:13 +0000

My comment is in response to Wayne Creed’s comments about Johnny Sample. My husband and I recently purchased the Sample home on Madison Avenue and are restoring it. We intend to place a marker identifying it as Johnny Sample’s childhood home. We would love to hear from anyone who can tell us more about the Sample family.

By: Patricia Parsons

Patricia Parsons — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 17:30:56 +0000

What a wonderful time I had writing “Before We Were Quaint.” Looking through old photos and talking to others who grew up in Cape Charles in the 1940s & 1950s made me feel young again. The book will be submitted to a publisher at the end of August or early September, as soon as the illustrator finishes his beautiful scenes showing Cape Charles during the years when it was a thriving community. It has not been easy to find good photographs of Cape Charles during the 1940s and 1950s, so the artist has blended bits and pieces of various photos to make one good picture.

Re: The Beach Casino: It had been part of the old ferry terminal at the end of Washington Avenue. My father had it moved to 2 Monroe Avenue. He died before he was able to finish it. I tell about it in the book.

I hope readers will enjoy this tribute to a small town with a big heart.

By: Terry Strub

Terry Strub — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 15:57:09 +0000

Excited to read the book! Will there be a book signing?

By: Allison Mills Duncan

Allison Mills Duncan — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 03:57:39 +0000

The school was Cape Charles High School which was a combination elementary and high school. There was no Central Park at that time. And yes, we were all raised by the people of Cape Charles in addition to our parents.

By: Joseph Corcoran

Joseph Corcoran — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 19:40:30 +0000

The title reminds me of the famous book about Doris Day : ” I knew Doris Day Before She Was a Virgin.”

By: Wayne Creed

Wayne Creed — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 18:47:54 +0000

Great, can’t wait for the book; not to jump the gun, but as a New York Jets fan (my dad was also Baltimore Colts fan), I was wondering if there was going to be any mention of the Sample family, especially Johnny, who played for the Colts and Jets (both championship teams). When you watch football today, and study the modern cornerback postition, it was Johnny Sample from Cape Charles that is the modern prototype. Good Luck!

By: Bill Powell

Bill Powell — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 18:23:47 +0000

The “old ferry dock” housed the Beach Casino, a dance hall. I don’t remember a dance hall across or behind the ferry dock. But, I left C C in 1950. Maybe it came later. Am eager to buy the book.

Also, the ice plant was at the corner of Mason and Fig.

By: Sandy Mayer

Sandy Mayer — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 17:51:07 +0000

I stand corrected. The niece of Mrs R. A. Parsons inherited 212 Bay Ave in ’71. There were no children raised here. I understand that the “dance hall” was not moved completely, but pieces of it were used to construct the rental property that is behind the B&B.