50^TH REUNION HIKE AT THE NEWPORT NEWS CITY PARK

by Jim Horton, Hiking Meister

The stalwart hikers met a 9:a.m. on Friday, October 7 at the Discovery Center at the Newport News City Park.  The Typhoon geezer hikers included Trudy and Jimmie Michie, Myrtle and Willard Weaver, Jay Burke and his brother Pat, Rodney Llewellyn, and Anita and Jim Horton.  The day was overcast with some fine drizzle, but there was no heavy rain.  It was very different from the writer’s hikes in Arizona.  The forest floor was wet as were leaves on the trees. 

We were met at the Discovery Center by a most delightful gentleman, Senior Park Ranger Jerome Bridges, who graduated from Huntington High School in the 1970’s.  I never understood the relationship of Huntington High to Vikings.  He was familiar with Newport News High School.  Ranger Bridges led us on a wonderful hike and tour of the area known as the Battle of Dam # 1 which occurred on April 16, 1862.  This is not a report on Civil War History, but the battle was an important one.  The Confederate actions helped to delay the Army of Major General George McClellan, the Union Commander in his efforts to capture Richmond.  The Confederate General was Major General John Bankhead Magruder. I remember a Magruder Grammar School in Newport News.  Richmond was reinforced by Confederate General Joseph Johnston, and the war continued.

The unique and wonderful part of this tour was seeing the actual infantry trenches and artillery pits, almost undisturbed for over 140 years.  Our guide led us to each site explaining what happened on the day in 1862.  At various points, Ranger Bridges would quote from letters written by some of the soldiers who were there that day.  It was very meaningful.  After the hike we returned to the Discovery Center and looked at some of the old artifacts including bullets and military insignia.              

With the tour over, the hikers decided to take a short walk in the woods, but not too long as to not chance Mother Nature and the rain.  We did observe hickory nuts, pine cones and gum balls.  We then had to make the big decision as to where to eat lunch.  As an experienced hiker, the lunch is the most important part of the hike.  The hikers decided to eat at Pop’s Drive Inn located on Route 17.  The owners of Pop’s Drive Inn are our class mates Joe Allen and Ruth Strickland Allen.  This hiker needed his Tidewater fix of a chili dog and a Barbeque, North Carolina Style.  In those classic words, a good time was had by all.    

Those attending the hike in the park were:

Jim  & Anita Horton

Willard and Myrtle Weaver

Jim & Trudy Michie

Jay & Pat Burke

Rodney Llewellyn

Photos by Rodney Llewellyn (4)

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