Port Norfolk Historic District, historic district in Virginia, United States
Port Norfolk Historic District is a residential neighborhood in Portsmouth, Virginia, covering about 175 acres with houses built primarily between 1890 and 1910. The district displays various architectural styles including Queen Anne, Bungalow, and American Foursquare, with many homes featuring porches and detailed woodwork.
The land was originally owned by Colonel Crawford and donated to the parish church before becoming a private farm after 1815. In 1890, a company purchased it, divided it into thirty blocks, and marketed it as a healthy residential area for workers in shipping and railroad industries.
Port Norfolk's name combines Portsmouth and Norfolk, the two nearby cities. The neighborhood originally had a small shopping area where residents could buy groceries, bread, and medicines without traveling downtown.
Most houses are private residences and not open to visitors inside, but exteriors can be viewed from public streets. It is important to respect residents' privacy while walking through public streets to enjoy the architecture and neighborhood character.
A streetcar line connected the neighborhood to downtown Portsmouth, making commuting easier, while the area also offered a hotel, pavilion, and fishing pier for visitors. These amenities were part of the plan to make Port Norfolk an attractive destination for workers and their families.
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