Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Sandbank


One of the first places Johnny Pugh took me on our excursion last week was the site of the former Sandbank Wharf which lies at the end of Route 602.

There's not much left of it thanks to a series of storms, including the hurricane of 1933.  Referencing that storm, the book History and Progress, Mathews County, Virginia, compiled by the Mathews Historical Society, says "Practically all wharfs and steamboat landings in the county were either badly damaged or entirely wrecked, and the loss to oil companies with distributing stations on the waterfront was severe."


Johnny provided several photos of Sandbank back in its heyday for use in my book.  Chances are good I'll be able to use them, assuming they meet the publisher's specifications (mainly for size - the quality of the photos is excellent), but for some odd reason they will not upload to this blog post. I was really hoping to provide a glimpse of what this wharf looked like back in the day.

(I get a "server rejected" error if anyone still awake reading troubleshoots these things.)

If I weren't so tired from all the running around today, I'd figure it all out.  And by that I mean I'd have Chesapeake Bay Son help me. And when I say help me I mean I'd walk away and let him figure it out because I lack the required patience.

But he's asleep after a very long soccer game played on a field so long it spanned from Williamsburg to Toano in temperatures and winds rivaling the Arctic tundra.



Although not much remains of Sandbank, I still find the place hauntingly beautiful.


A few questions for this fine Wednesday:

1.  If you are from this area, what do you know about Sandbank and/or the storm of 1933?
2.  Is there anything more soothing than blue skies, blue water and white sand? If so, please let me know whether a passport is required and how soon I can come for a visit.
3.  How is it possible that a person who once wrote college term papers in three different languages cannot figure something out that her teenaged son would intuitively know and fix in a matter of seconds, all the while chuckling under his breath at his mother's ineptitude?
4. What tips do you have for mothers who obviously have never attended night soccer games in Siberia cold, far away places?  Evidently blankets are standard and folding chairs are not.  All those years of Saturday morning YMCA soccer games did nothing to prepare me for high school sports.
5.  Have a wonderful Wednesday.

7 comments:

Meg McCormick said...

I can't help you on most of those questions but on the outdoor games? BUy those toasty-toes warmers and the ones for your hands, too. That, and slip a little something grown-up into your coffee and you'll be just fine.

Love those photos!

WV is recome. I wanna recome to Mathews!

Maria_NJ said...

I can't give you blue water but I can give you some really nice stretch of beach, not too crowded, with a casino 20 feet away. Does that classify for anything??

CBW I am impressed, term papers in 3 languages! I for 1 think that you should not print the pictures here...make us buy the book!!!

I remember those days of the kids playing sports. You really do have to be prepared, some of the nights wee frigid. I really, really like Meg's solution, not so much the warmie things but the adult beverage thing!!

wv: farer: I wish I was nearer and not farer

Jamie said...

1. As I recall, the storm of 1933 was a real doozy. Oh, wait, I'm thinking of Hurricane Gloria in 1985 because I'm just too damn young to remember 1933.
2.No, there isn't anything more soothing which is why I'm headed there April 9th come hell or high water (both of which I have been dealing with currently where I am). And I so want to check out Sandbank Wharf.
3.I managed 2 languages fluently and murdered a third. Apparently mastering 3 languages renders you inept at computer issues because I can typically figure things out (it's called clicking buttons until something looks right)
4.For field hockey I always have a folding chair in the car (more comfy than bleachers) and a blanket. My mom who is always cold in 70* weather brings an old sleeping bag.

Sorry the photos didn't load of the wharf back in the day. (I was going to add something here but I censored myself- it's been one of those mornings)

deborah said...

As usual I don't know much. But I do know that soccer require you to pack your trunk with blankets, extra clothing, a spare pair of shoes, socks, windbreakers, umbrellas, chairs, mud removal equipment, and the makings for a good stiff drink. 12 years experience, ya know:)

Nothing is more pleasing that blue skies and a stretch of sandy beach, love the pictures!

My kids laugh at me when I even try to describe a computer problem, but can fix stuff with a few keystrokes. Humiliating...

Daryl said...

Cant help with the book stuff but I can with the server issue .. I am guessing you scanned his photos or that he emailed them to you ... where did you 'put' them before you tried to upload to blog? If you upload them to Picnik.com or Picasa or another online photo site they will load to your blog more easily ...

WV ially .. i am your ally but i am not kirsty ally

Mental P Mama said...

I know that 1939 was a bad hurricane up here. 1933 is not clear for me. Being the historian that I am. And everything. Wait. What?

foolery said...

Wait, people watch soccer? On purpose?

Why?

; )

(kidding -- lots of loves to the CBKids, who I'd watch play tiddly winks, but I would need Meg's grown-up coffee)