THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503180101
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY CAROLE O'KEEFE, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
WILLIE NELSON STANDS in the middle of the street, seemingly undecided whether to mosey over to Virginia Beach Feed & Seed or to return to the Driver Variety Store.
He opts for Driver Variety, where he is well-known. ``Ol' Willie Nelson loves ice cream,'' says Frank Nelms, who owns a contracting business.
As long as the regulars of the downtown Driver stores have anything to do with it, Willie will get just about anything he wants - including the run of the main street.
Willie, whose story of narrowly escaping a life in the dog pound - and possible euthanasia - could rival a sad ballad of his famous singer namesake, may be the most beloved four-legged creature in Driver.
Just as it was in the old days, when everybody knew everyone else, just about everyone seems to know Willie and to yield to the dog whenever he decides on an outing.
But things are changing in Driver. It recently got its first traffic light, a yellow blinker, at Bennett's Pasture Road and King's Highway. That bespeaks more traffic, which bespeaks growth, which bespeaks change.
Driver's town center is the V-shaped section formed by Routes 337 and 125, or Portsmouth Boulevard and King's Highway. As merchant Lee Murphy sees it, it is a ``small, last little bit of country to be in.''
The feed and seed has been selling here for 41 years. Rio Grande Trader is the new guy on the block: one year. Boney's Place, at the severe bend in the road, has been refreshing passers-by for 65 years.
Last year, a big sale - Driver Days - saw some 2,000 people milling around the quaint village.
There's an interesting mix of residential and retail, both mostly family. That includes Willie.
Driver, once part of Nansemond County, was briefly part of the City of Nansemond before a merger with the City of Suffolk 20-some ago.
Besides farms, the first commercial activity in Driver was a tavern where travelers could get refreshment. In those days, it was a place to get fresh horses.
More than 250 years ago, philanthropist John Yeates left money in his will for two schools, one in Driver. A former high school, now a middle school, was much later named for him.
The first Driver school had one room, as most did then. It stood for more than 100 years, then was replaced with a two-story building that was torn down several years ago.
Driver became a stop of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The railroad station and trainmaster's house are still standing, used for retail sales.
In the early days, Driver was known as the Persimmon Tree Orchard. A large country store was run by E.J. Driver after the Civil War.
About 10 years ago, the population of Driver was 200. But the population is growing today as new developments like Driver Station, Chatham Woods, Warrington and Britanny Farms go up.
There are three churches and a Masonic hall.
A drive through the town toward Suffolk has Boney's Place on the right. People breeze in and out - except the regulars, who gather to talk at the front of the store.
George Whedbee runs Boney's, which was founded 65 years ago by his father, George, nicknamed Boney.
There's a canopy out front, like most of the store-gas stations of its time had. Customers park haphazardly on the dirt lot or on the grass.
``We have fishermen, hunters, all in a hurry,'' Whedbee said.
The pace is sometimes more relaxed at Virginia Beach Feed & Seed, housed in the former train station. Of course, that depends on the season: Spring is busy with people coming in to buy seed for commercial acreage and for backyard gardens.
Jacques Gutelius, a Frenchman nicknamed ``Jake,'' runs the place. He's in his 41st year at the intersection.
He stayed open on Sunday during Driver Days, not his usual practice.
``I believe I would do it again.'' he said. ``I did very well on Saturday. It was the first year, and I'm not one to put it down.''
Parking at the feed and seed, you can walk across the street to the Rio Grande Trader and Arthur's General Store - the oldest and newest retailers in Driver, side by side, with an open door between them.
Ronnie K. Gould and his wife, Martha, run the Rio Grande. They sell, wholesale and retail, items like turquoise and sterling silver jewelry, southwestern-style pottery, Western hats, boots and clothes, and Indian blankets. He will trade, he says, but ``I prefer trading for the green stuff.''
The couple live in Bennett's Harbor and travel frequently to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona for merchandise.
Gould opened the store as much to store his stuff as to sell retail, he said. He's usually open every day, but ``call first,'' he advises, because he travels a lot.
Gregory A. Parker, 41, owner of Arthur's store, at one time also the post office, said he liked Driver Days because it introduced newcomers to Driver. ``If they speed through, they overlook us,'' he said.
Parker was raised in Driver and is a grandson of Arthur, a founding father, and the one after whom Arthur's was named.
Separating Arthur's from Driver Variety Store is Driver Lane. Down about a block is Driver School. One of the buildings there is being considered by the Nansemond Indian Tribe as an Indian cultural center.
Across the street is Driver Trading Post, owned by Phyllis Murphy for 22 years and run by her daughter Lee. Lee Murphy makes hand-crafted items, among them New World Pilgrims. She shows her wares at the trading post and at craft shows. ``We buy, sell and trade.''
Next to her is another family-owned-and-operated business, the Knot Hole Station. Ken Parsons is one of several family members who own and operate the store.
The Knot Hole Station advertises regularly and draws patrons from across Hampton Roads.
Booming Driver. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
[Color] ON THE COVER
``Willie Nelson,'' the Driver town dog, gets his ears scratched by
Red Parker in front of the Driver Variety Store in the photo on the
cover. The picture was taken by staff photographer John H. Sheally
II.
Arthur's General Store, owned by Gregory A. Parker, is the oldest
store in Driver. Parker is the grandson of the Arthur's first owner
and namesake.
Ronnie Gould's Rio Grande Trader store is the new kid on the block -
just a year old.
Red Parker, second from left, tells stories to friends gathered
'round the wood stove in the Driver Variety Store. Enjoying the
tales are Jerry Parker, seated, Edward Jones and Irvin Knight,
right.
``Jake'' Gutelius, at right, who runs the Virginia Beach Feed and
Seed store in Driver, takes a bag of feed to customer Catherine
Smith's car.
Lee Murphy, at left, makes hand-crafted items to sell in the Driver
Trading Post, owned by her mother, Phyllis Murphy. ``We buy, sell
and trade,'' she says.
by CNB