Holiday Homes Tour offers a rare glimpse into history

Photo By Max Lonzanida | A view of Maryland House, which is along historic Dillingham Boulevard aboard Naval Station Norfolk; aptly named called by some as Admirals Row. The homes serve as Flag Officers Housing, and were once part of the 1907 Jamestown Exposition. The exposition homes and surrounding areas known as Sewells Point were eventually purchased and incorporated into what was to become Naval Station Norfolk shortly after the United States Entered World War One. The homes were open for tours during the Holiday Homes Tour, hosted by the Tidewater Officers Spouses Association. During the tour of the homes, Darcy Sink, Volunteer Coordinator with the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, coordinated volunteer docents from the museum; and the museum’s Registrar, Katherine Renfrew, provided historical information about the homes to aid in meaningful interpretation and provided educational booklets for distribution. Pennsylvania House, served as a staging point, with refreshments and craft and unique gifts for sale via TOSA’s Tidewater Collection. Proceeds from sales are donated to charitable organizations that support military families. TOSA is dedicated to providing morale, friendship and community service opportunities to all officer spouses in the Hampton Roads Region of Virginia. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is one of several museums that are operated by the Naval History and Heritage Command. The museum maintains an archives, artifact processing and storage, and special collections facility aboard Naval Station Norfolk; and also provides research assistance by appointment along with historical presentations at their H9 facility. To inquire, contact their registrar at [e-mail] or at [phone]. (US Navy Photo by Clay Farrington/Released).  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

12.27.2018

Story by Max Lonzanida  

Naval History and Heritage Command

The stately Pennsylvania House, at the corner of Dillingham Boulevard and Farragut Avenue aboard Naval Station Norfolk, was a buzz of excited activity on Thursday, December 6, 2018. In the grand foyer of the home, polished wood floors greeted visitors. Homemade treats and refreshments were served in an adjoining reception area, while another hosted artisan crafts and gifts for sale. The building itself traces its history to the 1907 Jamestown Exposition; and architecturally, the grandiose structure is a two-thirds reproduction of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. During the exposition, visitors would marvel at the technological and agricultural advances of the day; but on this brisk evening, the historic building served as a staging point for the bi-annual Holiday Homes Tour hosted by the Tidewater Officer’s Spouses Association (TOSA). Visitors to the event were in for rare and magnificent treat; with 16 homes that line Dillingham Boulevard open for touring.

Each home along Dillingham Boulevard bears the name of an individual state that participated in the 1907 exposition. Today, the homes are the residences of flag officers from area commands and are generally off limits. In fact, many know the homes that line the street aptly as Admirals Row. During the tours, visitors were greeted with ornate table decorations, a large gingerbread house, the smells of fragrant potpourri, and festive decorations inside each home. Ornately decorated Christmas trees towered inside of large foyers, while a dazzling display of lights adorned the outside of the homes. At each home, volunteers from TOSA and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum provided guidance and meaningful interpretation for visitors. The museum’s Registrar, Katherine Renfrew, provided historical information about the homes to aid in meaningful interpretation. Renfrew also provided copies of their Postscripts booklet; which has a wealth of historical information regarding the origins of the homes and their significance to the history of Naval Station Norfolk.

Volunteers from the museum numbered nearly a dozen, and took their posts along at each home ready to greet the string of visitors. The museum’s Volunteer Coordinator, Darcy Sink was on-hand as well. According to Sink:

“The Jamestown Exposition and its links with the origins of Naval Station Norfolk are a significant part of our interpretation at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. Museum staff and volunteers had a great time volunteering for the tour, both as a professional learning opportunity and the chance to support TOSA’s and their charitable work on behalf of military families.”

As the evening progressed, a string of visitors kept the volunteers from TOSA busy inside of the reception area of the Pennsylvania House. The mood was light and cheerful as visitors waited in line to check in; and sales of craft gifts and specialty items was brisk. Visitors also trickled into an adjacent reception area, where refreshments, home baked treats and lively conversations among visitors and volunteers made for a cheerful evening. The event concluded at 7pm; and volunteers from TOSA and the Museum concluded the event with warm smiles knowing that the successful event allowed visitors a glimpse into these historic homes during the holiday season.

About the Hampton Roads Naval Museum:

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is one of ten Navy museums that are operated by the Naval History & Heritage Command. It celebrates the long history of the U.S. Navy in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is co-located with Nauticus in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Admission to the museum is free, simply by-pass the ticket line and take the stairs or elevator to the museum on the second deck. The museum hosts a robust educational program for area schools and commands, with free educational programs to area schools aligned with state curriculum standards, a travelling sea chest program, a premier Lego outreach program, and historical presentations for area commands. To inquire, contact their Educational Director, Laura Orr at [e-mail] or at [phone]. The museum is also host to a robust volunteer corps, who serve as docents, support special events, and assist in museum archives. To inquire, contact their Volunteer Coordinator, Darcy Sink at [e-mail] or at [phone]. Lastly the museum proudly hosts military ceremonies, such as re-enlistments, retirements, and promotions for area commands aboard the U.S.S Wisconsin and in the museum’s gallery. To inquire, contact their special events coordinator, Tom Dandes at [e-mail] or call [phone]. More information about the museum can be found at https://www.facebook.com/HRNavalMuseum/

The Tidewater Officers Spouses Association (TOSA), is dedicated to providing morale, friendship and community service opportunities to all officer spouses in the Hampton Roads Region of Virginia. More information about the group can be found by visiting https://www.tidewaterosa.com

• Date Taken: 12.27.2018
• Date Posted: 12.27.2018 13:27
• Story ID: 305357
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US