We are collecting emails from folks who remember Bellevue back then

Elizabeth Kambourian is looking for photos:

What's the possibility of soliciting old pictures from the 'hood, of  Bellevue,
Ginter Park (and all the other 'dales, parks, etc. in our area)  houses in former years?
I have found about eight pictures on E-bay of houses  along Chamberlayne Avenue.
I'm sure they are long gone now (the houses). I  also have a few pictures taken
"by accident" of houses along Fauquier Ave,  that happened to be in the background
of family pictures - from the 1930s,  40s & 50s. I would love to see how some of them
looked in former times, though from personal experience, I can't think of any that
have changed significantly since the 1950s.

Another thought I had, while tallying up reasons to feel superior: The Fan gets so much
attention for its beautiful houses, BUT ... has anyone ever noticed how many have been
divested of their front porches? From sad experience, I've learned (and also have read)
that these big old porches are the most expensive portion of a house to maintain. The
Fan was a semi-slum for many years and the long term lack of care no doubt made many
of the porches unsalvageable. Not so for good little Bellevue. I think there's been a lot
less mommicking up of the houses around here. There's something to be said for staying
the same.

Someone else in the neighborhood suggested this picture idea, and he is putting an ad in
the RTD. I thought it would be nice to have a notice in the newsletter, or on the web
page about old pictures. I'd be glad to scan any that folks might have, for the website.

Elizabeth

Terry Bagley wrote about the former Bellevue Theater:

From: <tbagley@mcguirewoods.com>
Subject: Bellevue Theater
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 11:42 AM

There is a new Dementi book that has a neat picture of the old Bellevue theater from
1937 (and a picture as it looks today). Back then I believe the street was called Rapahannock.
 The book can be found at Barnes & Noble. This, of course was the theater frequented by,
among others, Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty. Beatty saw his first movie there, Fantasia,
 which he said scared him to death. I was a little too young for this theater, but my siblings
often went there. When I came along, it was a Country Western hall where I recall Porter
Wagoner and Dolly Parton played on occasion. Just a bit of local lore.

Terrence M. Bagley, Esquire
tbagley@mcguirewoods.com
 

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Terry's note prompted this from Elizabeth Kambourian:

From: <Elizabe309@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Bellevue Theater
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 9:26 PM

Re: the business districts in Bellevue:

My two older sisters and I used to go to the Bellevue Theatre (now Samis Grotto) back
in the 50s. The other theatre, across from Nuttall's was closed, but I remember it had
posters all over it for "Meet Me in St. Louis". It did open as a skating rink for a while about
1962-63. We used to go ice skating there.

There was a field beside the old theatre that was full of wild wheat. The big field between
 Nuttall's (then Nuttall's and the High's Ice Cream Store) and the beauty shop (where the
MacArthur Apts. are, was also full of wild growing wheat.

There was Smither's Hardware across from the Apts. (field), and a grocery store, and Dr.
Hale's Drug Store.

I'll have to get a layout of the whole works from my Mother. Bellevue was very similar -
with Willie's. Dr. Willie used to run us out of his store for being hooligans, etc. There was
a Lukhard's on the corner of Lamont and Bellevue. Grandison's Barber Shop predated the one
that is there now. I was sitting in the shoe shine chair reading comic books with my best
friend when we heard President Kennedy had been shot.

The Beatty house is I think the 2nd or 3rd from the corner of Claremont and Fauquier, on
the west side of the street (even numbers). Rappahannock Ave changed to MacArthur sometime
during or after WW2.

My grandmother's house was at 3911 Fauquier, and my mother vaguely remembers Shirley
McLaine - who was somewhat younger.

Enough now - back to genealogy. I'll grill my mother about the other businesses.

Elizabeth

Janet remembers 'hanging out' on Bellevue...

From: DeVossAuto@aol.com
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 7:35 PM
To: editor@bellevueweb.org
Subject: (no subject)

Having lived in Northside all but about 1 - 1/2 years since 1955 (since 1977 actually in
Bellevue) I thought you may be interested in some information that I can remember
about business on Bellevue and MacArthur Avenues from the 50's when I hung out on Bellevue
Avenue after school - Ginter Park Elementary and then Chandler Jr. High (on Brookland Park
Boulevard) and then the NEW John Marshall High School.

Where CVS is now was actually two businesses. Willey Drug Store to the right (looking at
the building) and Woods Market (on the right side of the building).

Where the new restaurant (not sure of the name) is being worked on was another two
businesses. The left side was a "five and dime" (am I really telling my age -- many of you
probably don't even remember such a store) and the right side was a hardware store. I
can't remember the name of the family that owned both of these stores but they lived
on the Northeast corner of Claremont Avenue and Brook Road.

Where BelleArte is now was the wonderful Belle Bakery. Even Ukrop's bakery items cannot
compare to the wonderful cakes and pastries. How I wish Sammy's would bring back some
of the old goodies.

Where the cello maker (sorry I don't know the official name) is now was Nancy Jane's.
Now what was Nancy Jane's you may be thinking. It was the beauty parlor du jour - not a
salon but a beauty parlor.

I believe there was also a Safeway where the dry cleaners is now.

On MacArthur Avenue was the Bellevue Post Office where 4025 Yoga and Wellness is located.

Across the street was Tom Tom's (the local bar) which has evolved into Dot's Back Inn.

There were many more business at this time but this is all my memory can conjure up.

Janet

Prompting my reply...

Hi Janet,

Thanks for the memories. Let me try to remember some things…

I, too, went to Ginter Park Elementary (I still remember most of my teachers – Ms.Leverty
for Kindergarten, I forget 1st grade, 2nd- Connie Thoms, 3rd- Mrs. Dunnington, 4th- Shirley
McIntyre, 5th-Mrs. Sinclair, and 6th- Pauline Pasco. I finished in May or June ’66 – then went
to Chandler, and then Jayem! My three older brothers did the same (Ginter Park, Chandler,
JM). I guess if you were from Ginter Park or Bellevue, then that was the way it was (unless
you went to TJ for High School).

Please refer to http://www.bellevuebiz.com/bellevue_south.htm for the addresses that follow.

1201-1203 was Safeway – as you said. I remember when it closed – they had Sweda cash
registers that printed the total at the top of the receipt. (Why do I remember that?) Donna
Clark – who married Lewis Cooper – worked there. When it closed, I saw them take the safe
out of Safeway. (groan!) Then Terry Sotos opened the Dry Cleaners (the Sotos family still
owns many of the stores on Bellevue, and the parking lot across the street)

1205 – 1207 was Willey’s - Senator Ed Willey owned it. I think that Willey’s was originally
only 1205 – I seem to remember some kind of hoopla when they expanded. They had a
soda fountain with stools and booths that served lime ades, Green beer, Cherry Coke, and
grilled food. It was THE place to get school supplies. I don’t remember what was at 1207
before Willey’s. I do remember that a sundae was 25 cents and a soda was raised from a
nickel to 6 cents.

1209 - 1211 was Woods. Originally not self-service, you would go to the counter and ask
for the groceries (I am told). Charlie Wood ran the Grocery Store after his father retired,
then Eddie Mahoney (a bagboy when I was a teen) owned the store until it burned. After
the burn, it was (I think) Galaxy Market.

1215 was the variety store, 1217 was a hardware store – Erix and Roy Johnson ran them
both. And they did live at 3901 Brook. Neighborhood kids used to have plays on a stage in
their basement.

1219 was Grandison’s Barber Shop – the radio was always set to WRVA.

1221 was the Poly Clean Laundromat – we used to meet there before high school to
plan where we’d go when we skipped school.

1223 – 1225 was Belle Bakery – I remember the Boston Cream Pies.

1227 was, as you said, Nancy Jane’s. They always had the blinds drawn – it was, I think,
the mid 90s – right before they closed – before I saw inside for the first time.

1229 – 1231 was Lukhard’s Market – followed by the Li’l Rebel Market in ’67 or ’68
(I remember Gee Lake’s dad ran that).

http://www.bellevuebiz.com/macarthur_east.htm 

4009 MacArthur was a 7-11, then the 7-11 regional office. I don’t know what was there
before that.

I think 4017 was Ray’s Bar – later Ray’s Cock & Bull

4023 used to be a Laundromat.

4031 used to be a Sinclair gas station – later a BP – later a shop run by Sonny Taggert.

http://www.bellevuebiz.com/macarthur_west.htm

4010 used to be a Highs Ice Cream, I think. I always remember the whole building
being Nuttals.

4028 was Bellevue Theatre – I remember seeing 1 movie there

4030 was Teddy’s and Tom Tom’s (I think Teddy’s was 1st)

Oh, my head hurts…OK – let’s hear some more from out there!

 

Dianna made some corrections to my failing memory, and added lots more...

From: Billy and Dianna Presson [pressons@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 1:42 AM
To: Editor@bellevueweb.org
Subject: Bellevue

Janet,
Mr. Thoms was principle of Ginter Park School until he retired and lived on
Bellevue Ave. There were two theatres on MacArthur one was Bellevue the
other was MacArthur. One was located where the Vine is now located and the
other was where the Sammis Grotto is located now. Post office was where the
Yoga center is and the children of yester -year played ball on the lot where MacArthur
apartments are now. That property was owned by Ed Wiley, who sold to Goodman who
built the apartments if memory serves me correctly.

Ray's was where Riche's Stitches is located . Then Ray Winder moved to larger space
where Shenanigan's is now located and opened Cock and Bull. The old Rays was then
operated by a fellar Oley or Oney as Ray's had been,it then became a ceramic studio.
Folks could take classes and make there own crafts,I think the proprietor was daughter
of Sue West, who lived in Bellevue for many years. Lauterbach's was also a Pure service
station in earlier days. Between Ray's and the laundry mat was a cleaners.

There was a beauty parlor on the alley of MacArthur and an appliance repair shop then
Organ repair place and a furniture refinisher were in the building where the new antique
shop in located. Nuttall's moved to MacArthur from North Ave. in Barton Heights and was
operated by B.B. Nuttal and three of his Sisters Edna Mae Chapman who lived on
Laburnum, Mrs Lowry who lived on Avondale or Greycourt and Louise who lived with Edna Mae.

They had a big home delivery business. when they closed Sterling Dunn operated the grocery
store with his wife Bessie. Then Eddie. I think Tommy"s Pizza place may have been a beauty
Shop also. Thinking and will share as I remember more. There is a fella who frequents Stir
Crazy who has been in Bellevue for years and shares stories over there but I can't remember
his name. Maybe Larry Jones can talk to him. I think he has interviewed him before for the
paper.

I hope you will mention your interest in the News letter since many are not on the website.
Old pictures etc. are probably still available and could be shared. lots of older Bellevue
residents are living at Imperial Plaza. If interest could be stimulated perhaps we could get a
few volunteers to record interviews or write if they prefer. Girl Scouts used to have
Day camp in the summer at Bryan Park when I was a child. I think the folks who live in
Mr Wood's old house on Fauquier still have the old wooden sign in there garage ,
I can check if you are interested.

Dianna

From: David j. Lydiard [dlydiard@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 4:02 PM
To: editor@bellevueweb.org
Subject: Memories 65-69

Here's what I can remember about growing up nearby...

My family lived at 3933 Chamberlayne Avenue from 1965-69. We were almost
directly opposite the Bellevue intersection. This was when Chamberlayne was
lined with towering, mature trees (much like Seminary) and dominated by large
homes. I went to Ginter Park Elementary for third grade and remember Mrs. Scherr
or Mrs. McIntire being the teacher. Mr. Clarke was the principal.

The big draw for me and my friends (ages 10-12) was to visit the Firehouse
on the end of our block. (North & Chamberlayne) The firemen maintained a
soda machine and a candy locker. Those guys were always good to the
neighborhood kids- helping us repair our bikes, giving us friendly advice about
pressing kid problems, and on occasion, playing catch with us. I remember the
excitement when alarms came in and we'd all cheer them on as they raced to a
fire. They always left the firehouse open and we'd go exploring. The upstairs
was where they lived and was off-limits. And as much as we'd all dreamed about
trying out that shiny brass fire pole, I don't remember any of us ever climbing those
stairs. And nothing was ever tampered with when they went out on calls. A much
simpler time. There were two firemen who stand out in my memory. One was an
older gentleman nick-named Baldy. He was a grandfatherly figure for all of us,
and he told great stories. I remember all the kids threw a retirement party for him
on his last day. The other was named Ford. Not sure if it was his first or last name.
He was a young, athletic African-American man whose claim to fame was that he,
allegedly, was able to throw a baseball from the rear of the firehouse and hit the
water tower behind the building. Feeling nostalgic, I visited the station about 10
years ago and, amazingly, Ford still worked there!

Our other favorite pastime was to go the Willie's Drug Store. We would swagger up
to the counter and, feeling very adult, order a Green beer. This was a house specialty.
We would also race each other inside to see who got the honor of sitting on the safe.
The stool closest to the front window had been replaced by a large combination safe.

Johnson's Hardware was another popular destination. Here you could load up on all
the essentials a young man needed to successfully get into mischief- slingshots,
pea-shooters, balloons for water battles and turning your bike into a loud chopper,
caps (not for your head), etc. Mr. & Mrs. Johnson both worked the store and treated
us well. They also had quite a selection of penny candy in case our blood sugar got low-
Wax lips, Pixie sticks, sacks of Gold Rush gum, Big Buddies (footlong pieces of gum in
different flavors), Mary Jane's, Sugar Daddy's, Zagnut's, Zero bars...

Bellevue Bakery was popular for their glaze doughnuts. I think they were $.99 a dozen
and worth every penny! I vaguely remember the 7-11 on MacArthur, but don't think it
lasted too long. Actually, I think it turned into a regional or district office at one point.

My first apartment was next to the old post office on MacArthur. It was across the street
from Tom Tom's (now Dot's) It was a little wilder than Dot's, and I remember hearing
the motorcycles run down the street when it closed in the early hours.

 

From: Bellevueneighborhood@yahoogroups.com
on behalf of Vickie Hall [vickie.hall@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 4:31 PM
To: Bellevueneighborhood@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Bellevueneighborhood] Memories

I've enjoyed hearing the background on so many of our familiar Bellevue locations.
The Mrs. Lowry who helped run Nuttal's lived on Avondale -- in the house I live in
now. I discovered about a year after we moved in that she was actually my great
aunt "once removed" so I guess the house stayed in the family in a way!

From: Elizabe309@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 5:13 PM
To: editor@bellevueweb.org
Subject: Our Gang 1947 - 1960

I looked at the Bellevue site for former (and current) residents born before 1946.
Amazingly (it seems, these days), I'm far to young and beautiful to be in that group.

However, reading the Bellevue Forum, it appears there are others who might be
a wee bit too young yet for that group.

Also, do I know you people? Don't be confused by the Elizabeth Kambourian. I was
formerly Dudley Cann. The Dudley is my middle name, and confuses people about
gender, and drew draft notices, etc. I acquired the Kambo later.

Mr. Toms was principal when I started Ginter Park. He was also principal when my
mother and father-in-law went there. Mr. Clarke was principal my second year.

I also went to Chander and John Marshall grad. 1969).

Any others amongst us from this time period.

I would love to interview IP residents. My daughter is a nurse there.

More later,

EK

 

From: Michael Schmitt [aw8_f8@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:45 PM
To: editor@bellevueweb.org
Subject: Did the first make it?

Hey people

My name is Michael Schmitt and at age 6 in ’67 I, along with my mother (Susanna Farley Schmitt)
and brother (Carl Schmitt), moved into 3607 Brook Rd. with my Grandmother (Maude Starke Farley).
This house was a Sears kit house built by my grandfather Earnst Watson Farley. Supposedly he built
or contracted the building of a few other houses mostly on Seminary and east of Chamberlyne.
After that he went on to found Richmond Engineering Co. (RECO). He and my Grandmother also
founded GP Baptist Church.

My mother related a lot of stories about growing up in Ginter Park and there are numerous pictures
which I am going to try to locate. Some things got lost in Gaston but we’ll see. I believe she also
attended Ginter Park and Thomas Jefferson Growing up. She taught at Thomas Jefferson in the
early forties and John Marshall after we returned and moved to Maggie Walker during bussing. I
believe she stuck with Richmond Public Schools as a silent statement against racism and for equality,
and because that is where she felt she could do the most good. There is a room dedicated to her
at the current Maggie Walker Governors School. She was also a behind the scenes supporter of the
New Community School as it originated in the basement of GPBC and Alice Ansara, the founder, roomed
with us during the start up.

I was half way through the first grade in ’67 and entered Ginter Park Elementary School in Mrs. Kasiahas
(sp???) 1st grade and then Mrs. Thoms 2nd Grade class. I also hung with the Firemen. Mr Law was the one
I remember because he was the father of a friend, Brian Law, who is currently a Richmond Firefighter.
Bussing started then and I went from there to Jeb Stuart, Norell Anexx, Northside (Mary Scott??)
Henderson Middle (the first half year it was open) before my mother decided I needed more stability in
my education and sent me to Collegiate Schools. I don’t remember seeing to many local boys in
Richmond Public Schools after bussing started.

My memories of growing up in GP revolve around Bellevue Ave. Willey’s (Lime Ades, Sundeas), Woods Bi-Rite,
Johnsons Hardware (mmmm), Belle Bakery, (taught my pup tricks to get us both goods), Safeway (of which my
Grandmother drove thru the front window – no one hurt but she exclaimed “everybody from GP Baptist Church
was standing on the corner watching when I did it!), McArthur was Tom Tom’s, Cock and Bull (where I believe
the motorcycles at night originated), 7-11 – which did not last long, and the Wagery (where Ritches Stiches is) –
a foozball/pinball place that got shut down for the payoff machines (I never saw) in the back. Two weeks before
they got raided Tom Toms removed the Payoff machines from the end of their bar (in full view) and they did not
come back for about 4 months. Hmmmmm.

My favorite parts were the alleys – that’s where the kids ruled. We traveled everywhere on bikes and could out
run cars through the hood. Sleigh riding in Bryan Park, Azalea Mall when it had Thalhiemers, Miller and Rhodes (I put
a box of detergent in the fountain as a juvenile delinquent), The Johnsons on Halloween, roller skating at Lingle Hall
(on Brook across from the Seminary), touch football in the Seminary Quad Area, the 24 hour snack bar at Richmond
Memorial, tennis across Westwood, swimming at Ginter Park Community Pool, organized Little League at Pine Camp,
pick up baseball games at Parker Field Annex (now Parker Field), season tickets to the Braves at Parker Field (where I
saw Hank Aaron), the Tee Pee room there, and many more great memories.

Look Forward to reading more and sending more when time permits.

Mike Schmitt

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