THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501130233
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
A hundred years ago, you could have bought miles of Virginia Beach's oceanfront for practically nothing. It was a long, lonely stretch of sand unfit for agricultural use, the chief business of the day in Princess Anne County.
From those humble beginnings, the world's largest resort city has emerged, says Stephen Mansfield, history professor at Virginia Wesleyan College and author of ``Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach: A Pictorial History.''
Mansfield offered his well-researched portrait of the city's evolution as the first speaker in Kellam High School's ``Awareness'' program, a series of lectures on political, historical and social issues. The free series began with Mansfield's presentation Tuesday and will continue through May 16. All the lectures are being sponsored by and held at Kellam High School.
Mansfield's presentation included a slide show depicting an oceanfront unimaginable today. The area was isolated until a railroad connected the oceanfront to Norfolk in 1883. Only then did hotels slowly rise, cottages begin to be built and the resort strip slowly develop into a much-sought-after vacation spot.
``Real estate values were low. The railroad company bought a 5-mile stretch and tried to sell it off for cottage sites,'' said Mansfield.
He also told the audience of students, teachers and parents gathered in the school cafeteria about Virginia Beach's distinguishing characteristics:
``It was one of the first communities in Virginia to establish public education, in the 1840s.''
The city also is notable for its physical features, such as Back Bay and Seashore State Park, its agriculture and the military.
Mansfield's inaugural presentation should serve as an appropriate beginning for the cultural series, the brainchild of Kellam history teacher Mike Lambiotte.
``I have a farm operation, and I spend time on a tractor thinking,'' said Lambiotte, who has taught at Kellam for 17 years. ``That's how I came up with this idea. I wanted a program that would go beyond the students, to reach people in the community.''
Lambiotte started planning the series in August. He wanted to include arts, music, history, politics and current social issues.
``I knew many of the speakers, so I contacted them,'' Lambiotte said. ``I've always admired (WVEC-TV news anchor) Jim Kincaid. Dr. (William) Whitehurst has spoken to my classes, and I thought talks on the Holocaust and AIDS would be beneficial.''
``I took the idea to Dr. Williams (Kellam principal) and he supported it.''
Future speakers will include Kincaid, former Congressman Whitehurst, Salem High history teacher Joanne Lewis and School Superintendent Sidney Faucette.
``I consider it one of the finest undertakings we've been involved with,'' said Williams. ``Schools have individual speakers, of course, but this is the first time a series has been presented, I believe.'' ILLUSTRATION: LECTURE SCHEDULE
Jan. 25 - Councilwoman Barbara Henley, Mary Heinricht, Judy
Dunscomb on Agriculture Reserve Program and the North Landing
River.
Feb. 3 - Navy Atlantic Fleet Jazz Ensemble ``Big Bands-Rock and
Roll''.
Feb. 7 - Jim Kincaid on ``The World Around Us.''
Feb. 15 - Joanne Lewis on ``The Plight of Slavery in America.''
Feb. 21 - Pat Davidson on ``HIV/AIDS: It Can't Happen to Me.''
March 7 - Paul Lecesse on ``Clinton/Allen Crime Bills: Will They
Work?''
March 14 - Betsy DiJulio on ``You Call That Art''
March 22 - Sidney Faucette on ``Can the Public Schools Meet the
Public Promise?''
March 28 - Robert Grant on ``The Life and Times of Edgar
Cayce.''
April 4 - Skip Wilkins on ``Doing Your Best Is a Lifetime Job.''
April 18 - William Whitehurst on ``The New World Order.''
April 25 - Hanns Lowenbach on ``Holocaust Survivor Speaks for
Those Who Can't.''
May 9 - Dorothy Laverdiere on ``Amazon Rainforest: Destroying Our
Future.''
May 16 - Jenny Malinsky on ``The Economic Present and Future of
the Beach.''
Each lecture/presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the Kellam High
cafeteria with the following exceptions: the Jazz Ensemble will
perform in the gymnasium and Jim Kincaid will speak at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is free, donations are accepted. Call Mike Lambiotte at
427-3232.
by CNB