Benson

Nice addition to Our Old Stomping Grounds. Benson-Phillips also operated two plants, maybe more.
One was located at the "Small Boat Harbor" on Terminal Avenue and the other was located adjacent
to the railroad tracks between Jefferson Avenue at the intersection of the overpass that would take you
to the James River Bridge in one direction and Mercury Boulevard in the other direction.
I remember the traffic circle was very near the entrance to this plant before that circle was
eliminated. Back then Mercury Boulevard was know as Military Highway.

Porter Phillips Booker, ('57) of VA was related to Mr. E. K. Phillips, Sr.
He was truly one of the "Captains of Industry" on the Virginia Peninsula.

- Joe Madagan ('57) of FL
Thanks, Joe!

Small detail in reference to the original name of Mercury Boulevard ... the original name was Military ROAD ... not HIGHWAY.
Military Highway was and still is in Norfolk/Chesapeake.
That name caused a lot of confusion and was often called "Highway" in error.

At least it was not as confusing as the original name of Pembroke Avenue.
The part that ran through the original city of Hampton (pre-1952 consolidation) was Mallory Avenue
(N. King Street east to Hampton Creek at Elizabeth City County line) and Mallory Avenue West in Elizabeth City County
(from N. King to N. Back River Road). Past that to the NN city line was called 39th Street Extension or "Super Highway".
Mallory Avenue became Hampton Avenue from Hampton Creek to Fox Hill Road (now Old Buckroe Road)
when it crossed the Elizabeth City County line, then the name changed to Hampton-Buckroe Road from there to Buckroe.
Over 100 road names required changing when Hampton, Phoebus, and Elizabeth City County consolidated in 1952.

(Gee ... just think how confusing it would have been if Hampton had consolidated with NN and Warwick in '58???)

- Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA - 12/22/04
YOW! Thanks, Tom!

If I had a hammer,
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening,
All over this land

I'd hammer out danger,
I'd hammer out a warning,
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

If I had a bell,
I'd ring it in the morning,
I'd ring it in the evening,
All over this land

I'd ring out danger,
I'd ring out a warning
I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

If I had a song,
I'd sing it in the morning,
I'd sing it in the evening,
All over this land

I'd sing out danger,
I'd sing out a warning
I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

Well I got a hammer,
And I got a bell,
And I got a song to sing, all over this land.

It's the hammer of Justice,
It's the bell of Freedom,
It's the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

It's the hammer of Justice,
It's the bell of Freedom,
It's the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

(This page created 12/22/04 at the request of Tom Norris - HHS - '73 - of VA.)


*1954 Anchor, p. 160*	Friday, December 24, 2004
Courtesy of Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA - 12/09/04 Thanks, Tom!	Image by Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/24/04 Thanks, Dave!