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Start of Brambleton: Bramble, Hemenway, and Richardson
(For more Norfolk geography tidbits, click here.)
Described by F. Richardson, "the Father of Brambleton" (quoted in Lamb's Our Twin Cities..., p.115):
"...In 1878 the first greenhouses were built by Mrs. Hemenway to start the Barker Floral Garden. In 1879 the great need of a public room was met by her building of Brambleton Hall. A superior school, started in the same building, was afterwards transferred to the elegant building finished in 1885 and now called the Hemenway School. And in 1887 the first market-house worthy the name was built by Mrs. Hemenway on Park avenue.
The growth of Brambleton for years was slow. When in 1873 a new omnibus was purchased of Stephenson in New York and put on the route to Norfolk with the name Brambleton on it, people would stop in the streets to look at the coach and ask where Brambleton was. Every device was used to inform them. Bath houses were built on Campostella bridge-Boat and tub races were organized. A band played in summer evenings in the grove at the end of Holt-street bridge, and constant advertisements were issued. Nevertheless, up till 1878 only 50 white families were on the old Bramble farm. The ladies thought the place lonesome, the physicians gave a cold shoulder to the idea of moving off the pavements, and the real estate men generally were doubtful of Brambleton and active on the north and west of the city. But by the year 1882 the natural advantages, the easy terms to purchasers and steady pushing had obtained 130 families. Since then the annual increase has averaged about 30 per cent., and on December 20, 1886, there were 840 families in Brambleton and Mayfield, and the need of municipal government of some kind began to be seriously felt by the citizens themselves. The subject of annexation had been agitated since 1884, principally by non residents. In March, 1887, equitable terms were agreed upon giving Brambleton low taxes for 15 years. And by act of Assembly which went into effect July 1, 1887, the old Bramble farm, together with the neighborhood known as Mayfield, was added under the name of Brambleton Ward to the ancient city of Norfolk."
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