Portrait of a Town: Cape Charles, 1940-1960

by Patricia Joyce Parsons, Hugh Harris (Illustrator)

Situated on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Cape Charles was once a vibrant railroad town, serving as a vital hub for troop movements between the northern and southern states during World War II. Its placement on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, along with its fleet of ferries and fishing boats and its position among the farming communities of the Eastern Shore, made it a town of plenty in the lean times of rationing that occurred during the war-and a perfect place for a child to grow up. Portrait of a Town takes the reader on a nostalgic, invigorating journey through Cape Charles with a child's-eye-view-from playing in a swamp, to jumping the railroad's coal chute, to fishing the barrier islands that line Virginia's oceanfront. In this collection of vignettes, Patricia Parsons portrays life in Cape Charles during World War II and beyond. Using her own childhood memories and her family's life as a powerful touchstone, she follows the town's period of prosperity into a period of decline that transformed it from a bustling commercial center to a forsaken backwater-and back again. Recently, this historic town has experienced revitalization, rising from its own ashes to become a family-style tourist destination. Today, Cape Charles beckons you to explore-and see why it truly is a memorable town.

158 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2015

Reviews

[Nicole Northrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always wondered why Cape Charles, VA looked like it had been such a bustling town at some time. This story of the author's childhood there gave me a great insight. This book was really enjoyable.

[J.P. Cane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very charming recollection of a town in its hey-day. With a light touch, Parsons leads you through Cape Charles, Va. as though you are there, ready to meet her neighbors and friends, and participate in the town's diversions and rituals. Makes you want to visit today.

[Arty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up my family would always take Summer vacations to Cape Charles, Va. There's a campground in town called Cherrystone, and whenever we wanted to venture out from the campground, we'd go into the small town of Cape Charles. There's so many memories for me as a kid. From food shopping on Mason Ave, to crabbing off the piers behind Mason Ave. by the Coast Guard, to getting creosote burn from playing by the rocks and water. There was a great restaurant called Etz's/Rebecca's which was cool because Patricia Joyce Parsons talks about a hotdog stand by the beach that served snacks and the families name was Etz!

The reason I picked this book up was to get a nostalgic feel for a place I miss very much. Venturing around town and seeing the train tracks and cement warships down the road at another beach made me feel like Cape Charles, Va was some kind of war town. Turns out it was. Parsons does a great job detailing the transfer from Northern cities to Cape Charles, and to eventually Fort Custis.

This book gave me a great deal of how people lived in this town over the years. EVen though it's from the 40's to 60's, I always felt like even in the 80's and 90's that life could've never been much different in a small run down town. A lot of places weren't open when I was there. Just a pharmacy, auto shop, fire department, food store, restaurant, and I believe a general store that sold guns and had a Popeye arcade machine. It's a really great, small beautiful town. I hope I get to visit it again some day to see how far it's come.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable slice of life.

[D Thatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and fascinating.