Thanks for this. I wish we could look at the pictures longer. I grew up in NN, Warwick H.S. '79. It breaks my heart to go downtown & see parking lots and Interstate where homes & neighborhoods once stood. Also sad: from these photos you'd never know black people ever lived in NN. Our memories may be of a segregated town, but we don't have to perpetuate that. Let's remember--and rebuild--the whole town for all its people.
This was great! Thanks so much for putting this up. I've been a cop in NN for almost 20 years now and lived here 15 years prior to that. This brings back so many memories.
my home sweet home for my first 47 years & still in my heart today, I was born on Old Riverside, downtown, NN. So many great memories & I miss living there
I have watched this many times, has brought tears to my ol' eyes everytime. I was raised in NN. Lived there from 1954 to 1967. I lived on 45th St. 3 doors down from Ernest's place, which is still there I Think .My Momma ran a boarding house in order to care for me. I went to Stonewall Jackson and a while at NNHS. I also lived on 37th street later on. I miss those days so very much.do any of you remember the Royal Crown Bottle Cap shows at the Paramount on Saturdays? 6 RC bottle caps and you got in free. we played games, played Bingo, won prizes, then watched cartoons, old keystone cops, 3 stooges, and a full length movie. That woulda been around 1960-64 just guessing. NN was not perfect, but it was great for me. I came back to NN in 1991 for the 1st time since 1971...Wow!!! Almost everything was gone between 50th street and 37th street!! I drove from 50th street all the way to where the ramp from 64/664 came down into the downtown area. I remember Woolworth, W.T. Grants, Antines, all of the them had little snack bars where you could get real fountain drinks, a hotdog or burger, french fries, or a little meal. It was heart breaking to see everything about gone, almost like I was never there. I wish I hadn't gone down there and seen. I just try and remember the way it was.
Great memories. I can remember almost all of the buildings featured in the videos. Fond memories of downtown newpoet News with it's shopping, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. Graduated from Ferguson High in '67 so all of this is familiar. Thanks for the presentation, loved it!!! Dave Epley
I was stationed in NN whilst in the Navy. Lived in Huntington Hall. Now back in early 90s most everything shown here was gone, literally and towards the end of town whole blocks of abandoned buildings from the 50s thru 70s stood there like people one day just got up walked out and left forever. Even with the so called blight , one could still see how gorgeous that town was. I truly loved my time in NN. My submarine was getting built and like I said it was early 90s. Before cell pbones, social media and all the other crappola we have now which only separates us from each other even further, NN was/ is still a great place for a very young man whom considers NN some of his very best memories of his lifetime in youre great city. Thank You NN for helping and young kid grow into a decent man he us today.
Enjoyed the montage...I lived in Hampton 40 years,used to go to Sears downtown before they moved to Newmarket North. Sad to see what continues to go on in the East End,some people will never change. Living in Danville now and loving it. Best regards...John
What great memories this brought. I went to town every Saturday with my Mother shopping at Leggetts, etc. Always had lunch at Woolworths and remember their turkey/dressing/gravy meal. Still remember how good it tasted back then. I graduated from Warwick High in 1963 (45 years ago). I lived in Huntington Park growing up and then we moved to Hilton Village. Loved looking at all the churches, librarys, etc. Wonderful video and thanks for sharing. I'll pass it on. Susan Jones
I was born and raised in newport news and now live in Florida after 60 years in newport news. The images brought back such fond memories to me.__ron bell
So glad I found this. Grew up in the Hidenwood area 1955-77. Attended Ferguson High. My parents lived in area for some 60+ years. We would get our hair cut at Mr. Diggs, downtown, and then go to the Sears.
Wow. I got my first haircut at the Diggs barber shop on 37th Street. Yoyr comment really sparked early memories. Thank you. ___ron bell ( southwest Florida)
Thanks for posting. We lived there from 1962 through 1967. I sang country with a band there and at the "Jamboree" in Phoebus. It was a great place to live. I take it that it no longer like that. Are the shipyards still there? We saw the John F Kennedy Aircraft carrier launched & I worked at J M Fields on Mercury blvd-- long gone, I'm sure
Those 15 cents thick shakes at Antines, Santa at both Nachman's and Leggetts, Roy Rogers Riders Club at the Warwick Theater - that is what I remember the most!
As well I am still growing up in NN, I wish i could go back to the old days to see what it was all about. And I wish i could meet Ella Fitzgerald lol (she was born in Newport News :D fun fact ) I am 9 and love NN as it is now.
I skipped school and attended the first showing of April Love at the Palace. The Langley and Lee were my main theaters as a teen. The Warwick and James as a kid. Don't remember the Rex, on King Street in Hampton, open but went there when the Youth For Christ used it.
Wow, now I lived at 5501 Huntington Ave. from 1953 to sometime in 1954. I only remember the house (Methodist church there now) and the ship out on the James River. I believe the house next door (facing the house on the right) was there then. It I seems you could walk down to the James then down some steps. I was 4 years old but I can remember...
What great reminders from yester year when I was a kid getting dragged by Mom and Dad to go shopping at Woolworths, Sears or Leggets. I very much remember the Christmas decorations ( frame 0:32 ) during the Holiday Season. This video was just as good as the one "Memories of Hampton" where I grew up - H$ Jr.
Sadly, I will be leaving this wonderful city for an area more prone to tornadoes and floods. For 18 years we called Newport News home. I will have many pleasant memories of here, good, bad, sad and happy. Goodbye to all those that befriended me, I will greatly miss you.
Just a list: Red's, Hilton Pier, dances at Buckroe,Skateland, Briarfield Community Center dances, Anchor Drive-in, Shoney's, Terry's, feeding the ducks at the Mariner's and Huntington Park, softball games at Deer Park, Deer Park school, Hilton school, Warwich Jr High, Warwick High and the best hamburgers anywhere in the world at the Dairy Freeze across from Deer Park. Just some of my memories
My mom took me to see "April Love" at the Palace as shown here at 2:47! I swear this is the truth! I was in those fabulous downtown theatres every weekend as a kid...Paramount, Warwick, James, Palace...I can name the movies I saw in them, too...plus the Wythe and the Langley in Hampton.
Does anyone remember when Elvis Presley performed at the Paramount Theater. Seems like it was around '55 or '56. I recall the price to get in was like either 50 cents or a dollar.
Grants, Woolworths and Leggetts. I haven't seen those names in a LONG time. I remember as a kid when Sears left downtown for Newmarket North. Dowtown hasn't been the same since. That was the end of Downtown. I grew up in Denbigh when it actually had trees. I guess you can't stop change.
I remember this event very distinctly. The year that movie came out and show'd at the Paramount; they chose to rate it "X" cause people were going in walking and being carried out on gurney! They were fainting up in there!! I was either 15 or 16 and I went by myself, I never laughed so hard in my life!! As in real life; people get caught up in religious dogma; unable to separate belief from reality! Paramount used to host all night movies during the summer. This before I got my license so I walked across the 39th street bridge all by myself at three or four o'clock in the morning. Not that it was safe then for boys at that age especially black boys but it was less likely something jumping off the opposed to now. Girls being out by themselves at any age was a beacon for trouble!
“The Good Old Days” when African-Americans had no civil rights in Newport News, or anywhere else in the country. Old images that bring trauma to some but beautiful nostalgia to others (hence the music).
Thanks for this. I wish we could look at the pictures longer. I grew up in NN, Warwick H.S. '79. It breaks my heart to go downtown & see parking lots and Interstate where homes & neighborhoods once stood. Also sad: from these photos you'd never know black people ever lived in NN. Our memories may be of a segregated town, but we don't have to perpetuate that. Let's remember--and rebuild--the whole town for all its people.
You can slow the video down by clicking on the little gear icon and select "Playback Speed". You might have known my half brother, Leon Johnson.
This was great! Thanks so much for putting this up. I've been a cop in NN for almost 20 years now and lived here 15 years prior to that. This brings back so many memories.
my home sweet home for my first 47 years & still in my heart today, I was born on Old Riverside, downtown, NN. So many great memories & I miss living there
where did you escape to?
I have watched this many times, has brought tears to my ol' eyes everytime. I was raised in NN. Lived there from 1954 to 1967. I lived on 45th St. 3 doors down from Ernest's place, which is still there I Think .My Momma ran a boarding house in order to care for me. I went to Stonewall Jackson and a while at NNHS. I also lived on 37th street later on.
I miss those days so very much.do any of you remember the Royal Crown Bottle Cap shows at the Paramount on Saturdays? 6 RC bottle caps and you got in free. we played games, played Bingo, won prizes, then watched cartoons, old keystone cops, 3 stooges, and a full length movie. That woulda been around 1960-64 just guessing. NN was not perfect, but it was great for me. I came back to NN in 1991 for the 1st time since 1971...Wow!!! Almost everything was gone between 50th street and 37th street!! I drove from 50th street all the way to where the ramp from 64/664 came down into the downtown area. I remember Woolworth, W.T. Grants, Antines, all of the them had little snack bars where you could get real fountain drinks, a hotdog or burger, french fries, or a little meal. It was heart breaking to see everything about gone, almost like I was never there. I wish I hadn't gone down there and seen. I just try and remember the way it was.
When You Say 45th street was tht on Jefferson ave side or Washington ave side. My family built a house in Jefferson park in 64.
WoW, born in 1950 from this area. Brings back lots of childhood memories! Thanks.
Great memories. I can remember almost all of the buildings featured in the videos. Fond memories of downtown newpoet News with it's shopping, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. Graduated from Ferguson High in '67 so all of this is familiar. Thanks for the presentation, loved it!!! Dave Epley
I was stationed in NN whilst in the Navy. Lived in Huntington Hall. Now back in early 90s most everything shown here was gone, literally and towards the end of town whole blocks of abandoned buildings from the 50s thru 70s stood there like people one day just got up walked out and left forever. Even with the so called blight , one could still see how gorgeous that town was. I truly loved my time in NN. My submarine was getting built and like I said it was early 90s. Before cell pbones, social media and all the other crappola we have now which only separates us from each other even further, NN was/ is still a great place for a very young man whom considers NN some of his very best memories of his lifetime in youre great city. Thank You NN for helping and young kid grow into a decent man he us today.
Thank you for showing this ,I miss it very much i was more happy in those days and can live a good life too. 1930's and up to the 1975's
Enjoyed the montage...I lived in Hampton 40 years,used to go to Sears downtown before they moved to Newmarket North. Sad to see what continues to go on in the East End,some people will never change. Living in Danville now and loving it. Best regards...John
I lived on 28 street and chestnut street some of my family still there.
the palace at 2:44 is now full gospel, a church. I miss bad news, va!!! Heritage High '00!
What great memories this brought. I went to town every Saturday with my Mother shopping at Leggetts, etc. Always had lunch at Woolworths and remember their turkey/dressing/gravy meal. Still remember how good it tasted back then. I graduated from Warwick High in 1963 (45 years ago). I lived in Huntington Park growing up and then we moved to Hilton Village. Loved looking at all the churches, librarys, etc. Wonderful video and thanks for sharing. I'll pass it on. Susan Jones
I recognized most buildings. I came to NN in 1960. Downtown was still alive. Sad ending, especially to the name NN High School.
I was born and raised in newport news and now live in Florida after 60 years in newport news. The images brought back such fond memories to me.__ron bell
So glad I found this. Grew up in the Hidenwood area 1955-77. Attended Ferguson High. My parents lived in area for some 60+ years. We would get our hair cut at Mr. Diggs, downtown, and then go to the Sears.
Wow. I got my first haircut at the Diggs barber shop on 37th Street. Yoyr comment really sparked early memories. Thank you. ___ron bell ( southwest Florida)
This is beautiful.
Thanks for posting. We lived there from 1962 through 1967. I sang country with a band there and at the "Jamboree" in Phoebus. It was a great place to live. I take it that it no longer like that. Are the shipyards still there? We saw the John F Kennedy Aircraft carrier launched & I worked at J M Fields on Mercury blvd-- long gone, I'm sure
Those 15 cents thick shakes at Antines, Santa at both Nachman's and Leggetts, Roy Rogers Riders Club at the Warwick Theater - that is what I remember the most!
crazy thinking the city used to look like this
warwick high '03!!I l live in San Diego but I was born and raise in VA!!!Riverside Hospital!!
As well I am still growing up in NN, I wish i could go back to the old days to see what it was all about. And I wish i could meet Ella Fitzgerald lol (she was born in Newport News :D fun fact ) I am 9 and love NN as it is now.
I skipped school and attended the first showing of April Love at the Palace. The Langley and Lee were my main theaters as a teen. The Warwick and James as a kid. Don't remember the Rex, on King Street in Hampton, open but went there when the Youth For Christ used it.
Wow, now I lived at 5501 Huntington Ave. from 1953 to sometime in 1954. I only remember the house (Methodist church there now) and the ship out on the James River. I believe the house next door (facing the house on the right) was there then. It I seems you could walk down to the James then down some steps. I was 4 years old but I can remember...
What great reminders from yester year when I was a kid getting dragged by Mom and Dad to go shopping at Woolworths, Sears or Leggets. I very much remember the Christmas decorations ( frame 0:32 ) during the Holiday Season. This video was just as good as the one "Memories of Hampton" where I grew up - H$ Jr.
What happened to NN?
i wish they would bring Newport news back from the grave...id love to walk down the street and see how my town looked in the past
I work at the Paramount Theater as a Teen.Went to NNHS 57-60 Brings back some good memories.You are right."The Good Old Days" JJ
Wow I grew up downtown didn't know it use too look like this crazy how time flys
Wow Newport News has changed so much !
I has a store there on 3404 Washington Ave...
I am going to assume that your store has nothing to do with either English, or verb tense agreement..
Sadly, I will be leaving this wonderful city for an area more prone to tornadoes and floods. For 18 years we called Newport News home. I will have many pleasant memories of here, good, bad, sad and happy. Goodbye to all those that befriended me, I will greatly miss you.
Just a list: Red's, Hilton Pier, dances at Buckroe,Skateland, Briarfield Community Center dances, Anchor Drive-in, Shoney's, Terry's, feeding the ducks at the Mariner's and Huntington Park, softball games at Deer Park, Deer Park school, Hilton school, Warwich Jr High, Warwick High and the best hamburgers anywhere in the world at the Dairy Freeze across from Deer Park. Just some of my memories
Awesome
My mom took me to see "April Love" at the Palace as shown here at 2:47! I swear this is the truth! I was in those fabulous downtown theatres every weekend as a kid...Paramount, Warwick, James, Palace...I can name the movies I saw in them, too...plus the Wythe and the Langley in Hampton.
Hermoso! 2020.
Does anyone remember when Elvis Presley performed at the Paramount Theater. Seems like it was around '55 or '56. I recall the price to get in was like either 50 cents or a dollar.
Grants, Woolworths and Leggetts. I haven't seen those names in a LONG time. I remember as a kid when Sears left downtown for Newmarket North. Dowtown hasn't been the same since. That was the end of Downtown. I grew up in Denbigh when it actually had trees. I guess you can't stop change.
I grew up in the denbigh area 1991-2011
very nice
thats down town isnt?
what is the second song in this vid
Now its tore up.:(
Yeah make a gr8 new day!,,,,
@Ms1outlaw yes my uncle use to go to that church.
yea i went there to im in the class of 07
And all of that stuff is still there....Crazy how things change but DON'T..
I remember this event very distinctly. The year that movie came out and show'd at the Paramount; they chose to rate it "X" cause people were going in walking and being carried out on gurney! They were fainting up in there!! I was either 15 or 16 and I went by myself, I never laughed so hard in my life!! As in real life; people get caught up in religious dogma; unable to separate belief from reality!
Paramount used to host all night movies during the summer. This before I got my license so I walked across the 39th street bridge all by myself at three or four o'clock in the morning. Not that it was safe then for boys at that age especially black boys but it was less likely something jumping off the opposed to now. Girls being out by themselves at any age was a beacon for trouble!
what movie
Anybody familiar with World Credit furniture store on Jefferson?
They demolished all that architecture 😢😢😢...because they owned land uptown. Used to be woods up there. Now its humming. But downtown...😢😢😢😢😢
“The Good Old Days” when African-Americans had no civil rights in Newport News, or anywhere else in the country. Old images that bring trauma to some but beautiful nostalgia to others (hence the music).
they need to fix downtown back up
I am glad I moved away from Newport News