THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 27, 1996 TAG: 9604270329
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN JOLLY DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CAPE CHARLES LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
If you like local history, steam railroads, old ferries or vintage movies, the place to be today is Cape Charles. Volunteers with the town's historical society have spent nearly a year converting a Delmarva Power plant into a museum.
It wasn't easy. The plant, built in 1947, was filled with huge generators and spare parts. Broken windows, twisted metal, oil and trash. The place was a mess. But 110 volunteers poured time and labor into the brick building, hoping to preserve a piece of the town's former glory.
That alone was enough to impress Lyn Wyatt.
``It rejuvenates your faith and trust in your fellow man,'' said Wyatt.
Wyatt is an artist who moved from New York City to Cape Charles about two years ago. He's president of the Cape Charles Historical Society.
The museum opens at 3 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting by Susan Allen, Virginia's first lady. Inside, visitors will see photographs of steam ferries and their crews, plus railroad memorabilia, including the last ticket sold for the last passenger train out of town on Jan. 11, 1958.
``I think the photographs are truly, truly wonderful,'' said Wyatt. ``They put you in touch with history as close as you can be.''
The historical society got a $7,000 grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy, a state-funded organization, to open the museum. They matched the grant with $8,000 in labor.
Elizabeth Hoover, a retired Harrisonburg lawyer living in Cape Charles, created an ``oral history''exhibit. She videotaped the recollections of some of the town's oldest residents, including 101-year-old Molly Merritt.
The museum's biggest exhibit is the power plant's original 1,600 horsepower Busch-Sulzberg diesel generator. It's huge. It is rigged with a smaller engine that will slowly lift its massive pistons.
Today at 7 p.m., the Palace Theater in Cape Charles will screen ``The Story of Mr. Hobbs,'' a movie filmed in Cape Charles, Willis Wharf and Hog Island in 1947. At various times the film was called ``Tides,'' ``The Clam Digger's Daughter'' and ``Tale of the Tidewater.''
The movie had more names than funding, and it was never finished or shown. It disappeared, leaving locals wondering what happened to it. Bill Neville of Cape Charles tracked the film to the British Film Institute archives.
``I just wanted to see if there were any movies of what it was like back in the Cape Charles boom days,'' said Neville.
Leading lady Frances Helm, who plays the youthful Timmy Hobbs in the movie, is expected to attend its Saturday debut. She will answer questions and talk about the making of the film.
Today's museum opening coincides with Garden Week on the Eastern Shore. Several homes in Cape Charles will be open, as well.
So, what do the Cape Charles Historical Society volunteers want for their big day?
``Good weather,'' said Wyatt. ``A good turnout, and for everyone to be thrilled with the effort.'' MEMO: Editor's note: This story is being rerun due to technical problems in
yesterday's editions.
EVENTS
All activities are free. For more information, call (804)331-1008.
Saturday
9:45 a.m. - Susan Allen bike tour starts at Cape Charles Pavilion.
3-6 p.m. - Museum opening, Stone Road (Route 184).
7:30-9 p.m. - ``The Story of Mr. Hobbs'' movie at Palace Theater.
Sunday
1-2 p.m. - ``Cape Charles: Danger of Tunnel Vision'' slide
presentation at Palace Theater.
2-5 p.m. - ``Designing Our Future - On The Best of the Past''
symposium at Palace Theater. by CNB