THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602020175
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Alumni of the former Oceana High School were so impressed by the way Princess Anne High students rallied after last fall's fire that they recently donated $1,000 to the school's recovery fund.
``We looked at the kids and what they were doing and were impressed,'' said Catherine Dozier, who chairs the Oceana Alumni Association. ``They've shown so much school spirit and togetherness. It reminds us of what we were like. We would have pulled together.''
The schools share a special affinity because Princess Anne replaced Oceana and adopted its Cavalier logo when Oceana closed in 1954.
Princess Anne is the city's oldest existing high school. Oceana was the first high school established in the area.
On Sept. 1, an as-yet-unsolved arson at Princess Anne destroyed a large portion of the building, forcing a temporary move for many of its classes to nearby Celebration Station, a former shopping mall.
Soon after the blaze, Princess Anne students initiated a fund-raising effort that so far has collected $76,000. The money is paying for things insurance doesn't cover - basic instructional supplies and items needed in the temporary classrooms.
Sara Bowles, president of Princess Anne's student body, was on hand last Saturday at Scott Memorial United Methodist Church when Dozier presented the alumni group's check to Princess Anne principal Patricia Griffin. It was Bowles' idea to raise money for her school through a car wash, which brought in the first $3,000 and led to an outpouring by the community.
``You hear about what teens do wrong, but more do right,'' Dozier said. ``They deserve a pat on the back.''
Oceana opened in 1908, the first high school in what is now the city of Virginia Beach. Then, the Oceana section was part of Princess Anne County, which incorporated with the resort town of Virginia Beach in 1963.
Even at the beginning of the 20th century, education in Princess Anne County consisted of several one-room schools, none of which offered high school instruction. When Oceana opened with 80 students, it was the realization of a vision to consolidate the smaller schools.
The four-room, white clapboard structure was soon found inadequate and was augmented by another, identical building in 1909. Later still, in 1926, Oceana High students were housed in a brick building at the corner of what is today Southern Boulevard and West Lane.
Oceana and Princess Anne schools also share the misfortunes of fire.
On June 1, 1928, a blaze destroyed Oceana's newest building. According to information compiled by Joyce Whitehurst Salmons, Oceana class of 1949, arson was suspected. Another structure was erected on the site and served until 1954, when Princess Anne opened on Virginia Beach Boulevard.
Princess Anne also replaced old Kempsville and Creeds high schools.
Work on the gutted portion of Princess Anne is expected to be complete in about a year. A 17-room, free-standing wing due to open last fall will soon be ready.
The alumni association includes representatives from all its graduating classes and is instrumental in the all-school reunions that take place every five years. The active group also publishes a newspaper, ``The Lighthouse,'' and gives four $500 scholarships each year to graduating seniors who are descendants of Oceana students. by CNB