Cradock High School - Admiral Yearbook (Portsmouth, VA)

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Through the Years Cradock proper was once Mr. Barkley's farm, not a very fancy farm, just a homestead. Few remember this far back, as it was approximately three genera- tions ago. Mr. Barkley's first home was where the store district of Cradock proper is at present, and his second home, where the new road from Naval Am- munition Depot to the Navy Yard is now. During this time what is now George Washington Highway was the only road excluding the land to the Barkley home. In about 1880 the Highway was repaired and became a toll-road, the toll house stood where Chicks market was located recently. Many travelled over this highway then without difliculty, but around 1905 and 1906 bicycle riders had quite a time. Automobiles and bicycles had just come out and because they frightened the horses, bicycle riders were compelled, by law, to take their bicycles completely off the road when a horse was seen coming. During the first World War Cradock was built, for the same reason and on the same red-tape order as Cradock's Suburbs in this war. It was known as United States Housing Corporation Project 150A and was intended to house Navy Yard employees. The original grant covered 310 acres and provided homes for 759 families when completed, at a minimum rental of 330.00 Complete with a school house of 16 rooms and provided with utilities set up by the Cradock Utilities Company, the project was ready for occupation in january, 1919. At this time it was under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States government. In 1920 project houses were offered for sale with preference given to the occupants. Cradock was named after Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, a British Admiral of the First World War. The streets were laid out in alphabetical order and named after famous naval men. The main streets form an anchor with George Washington Highway as the cross-bar, Afton Parkway the stem, and Gillis Road, the base. The plan is still followed today although a little disfigured by the ex- tension of some of these roads. World War II from 1942 to now has seen the rapid settlement of the area around Cradock proper. Cradock Gardens was developed at the southern end of Cradock by a private corporation. Across the highway from Cradock Gardens, the Williams Farm, remembered as the Jonquil Farm, became Williams Court, a government sponsored project intended for Navy Yard personnel. Lee Hall, a private enterprise, sprung up from the wooded swamps to the north of Cradock and New Gosport another government project for Navy Yard workers, developed to the south of Paradise Creek. Loxley Place and Highland Park on the Deep CreekiRoad, with its new extensions, are alike a part of the Cradock area. Two World Wars stimulated the development of the Gosport area. Today Cradock is no more a homestead, or a neighborly little community, it is a large, happy, healthful, congenial township-Cradock marches on through the years. Q..

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DEDICATION.. The student body of Cradocli High School, now and in the years to come, is indebted to the citizens of Cradock, whose diligent, unending work, brought about the realization of a dream which the school has long cherished-the Cradock Memorial Stadium. This long hoped for stadium is dedicated to boys from this community who courageously gave their lives for their country during World War Il. No one person can be given the credit for work done on this project. The entire community worked cooperatively to build this stadium which is for the benefit of the town as well as the school. The actual labor was performed by the citizens who gave up their leisure time to this task. Every person who assisted in this project cannot be personally thanked, but appreciation for their outstanding work is shown by giving recognition to those who formed the Stadium Committee- Purl B. Powell, Chairman, Chester D. Morgan, Vice-Chairman, Whitney A. Le Compte, Secretary, L. Marshall Hall, Treasurer, and R. T. Daughtrey, Publicity Chairman. The members of the Ad- visory Committee are G. A. Treakle, O. P. Koch, Owen T. Kelly, A. B. Haga, Garfield Shafer, James N. Garrett, and Elizabeth Lewis. To them and to all others who shared in the work of building the stadium, to those who contributed so liberally, the Senior Class of1947 dedicates this edition of The Admiral.

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