Red's Pier
Lewis C. "Red" Crossley
b. 01 Jan 1903, Newport News VA
d. 03 Apr 1971, Newport News VA
1961 Anchor, p. 12
"It was a short
walk (from Ferguson Park Apartments) over to Red's Pier to go fishing or
swimming.
(The James River was relatively clean and clear back then.)
Red's
Pier was owned by Red Crossley.
He would show up each year at the NNHS/HHS
Turkey Day football game carrying a pig.
It was some sort of tradition.
Both
Red AND the Pier (and I suppose the Pig) are long gone."
- Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA -
04/09/03
Thanks, Dave!
In visiting your site, which I do often, I was reminded of an argument that perhaps our classmates can verify or put to rest. One picture in the '61 Anchor was of 'Red' Crossley in his annual gala garb worn at the 'Turkey Day Game'. This brought to mind 2 questions: the pig and the pier! I had been
told many, many years ago, that there was in truth no such place as "Red's
Pier"!
Although we ALL referred to the pier as 'Red's', it in fact belonged to the
city of NN.
The shanty shack that rested upon the bank and at the foot of the pier,
selling bait and "sandwiches", was "Red's Place", not pier.
Thus, the name was transferred and cemented in all our brains as "Red's Pier"!
As to the
"pig", it is my understanding that was due to the name of the long standing
and successful football coach at HHS, Anyway, that's my understanding of the pig that Red always brought to the game. Its original intent was to insult "Suey" Eason. True? - Wayne Stokes
of VA - 05/02/03 |
I have read
Wayne's entry about "Red's" Pier, and I believe that he is correct.
I haven't done any research to corroborate it, but it does seem right that the
pier
and associated boat ramp were part of Huntington Park and were owned by the
City;
Red probably either owned or had a franchise to operate the bait shack.
Through time, Red and the pier became synonymous, and the name stuck. There is a
parallel much closer to home. - Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 05/03/03 |
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Anyone out there with answers to these questions? Anyone? Anyone? |
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First and
foremost, there is no need for Dave to "stand corrected"! As I said, many, many
years ago, I was informed that "Red's Pier" On to the
Pig!
Uncontrollably curious, I turned to one of the 'older' guys there Is any of it
true? That is the question! - Wayne Stokes
of VA - 05/05/03 |
How can we approach Thanksgiving without a
tip of the hat to Red Crossley and his pig? *******
Red's pier was replaced by the remnant of the old (1927) -
Frank Blechman of Northern VA - 11/25/03 |
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In trying to
determine the exact location of the
W & S before
Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA pinned it down, Yup! It
finally came to me Sunday afternoon. - Ron Miller ('59) of NC - 01/10/05
WILD
GIGGLES!!! |
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Does anyone know who took Red’s pig?
-
Chandler Nelms (HHS -
'63) of MD - 09/09/05 |
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Carol ... here is a shot from the '61 Krabba which shows the "great pig theft of 1960" that Chandler (Nelms - HHS - '63) referenced. It does not say WHO was responsible, just that the little fellow was in good hands (note that Sammy has a baby bottle of milk in hand). I was only five ... my momma wouldn't let me past La Salle Avenue, so ya know I didn't do it ... LOL.
- Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of
VA - 09/10/05 |
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I just new someone would
remember Red’s pig. It was a tradition for HHS to try to steal the pig the
week before the big game, and I know a few HHS guys that more than once mapped out elaborate plans to accomplish it (of course I’d never partake in such criminal activities). Strangely enough, I can’t remember that we..err…they were ever successful, but the rivalry between the two schools was incredible.
- Chandler Nelms (HHS - '63) of
MD - 09/10/05 |
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Sunday, April 4, 1971 - Daily
Press Newport News, VA
- Courtesy of Dave Spriggs
('64) of VA - 10/26/05 |
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While reading Red Crossley's obituary sent to you by Dave (Spriggs -
'64 - of VA), I recalled a picture that my wife, Ann Garrett Harrell ( NN 51 ), has of Red and her father (far right in picture) and other Typhoon. Supporters gathered at the Elks Lodge following the Thanksgiving Day Game in about 1950.
- Fred "Gus" Harrell ('51) of VA - 10/26/05 |
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WOW!! That has to rank among
the true treasures which have been unearthed due to the site. Recall that Red's obit mentioned that he was an Elk.
- Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA -
10/26/05 |
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Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of
Summer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days
of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer
Just fill your basket full of sandwiches and weenies
Then lock the house up, now you're set
And on the beach you'll see the girls in their bikinis
As cute as ever but they never get 'em wet
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer
Don't hafta tell a girl and fella about a drive-in
Or some romantic moon it seems
Right from the moment that those lovers start arrivin'
You'll see more kissin' <wolf whistle> in the cars than on the screen
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here
You'll wish that summer could always be here
You'll wish that summer could always be here
Fishing gif courtesy of
http://www.animation-station.com/bars/index.php?page=9.
"Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer" lyrics courtesy of
http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?id=5696,
at the suggestion of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 06/13/03.
Thanks, Dave!
"Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer" midi courtesy of
http://albertarose.freeyellow.com/music/midis/prerock/lazyhazycrazy.mid,
also at the suggestion of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 06/13/03.
Thanks again, Dave!
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Stomping Grounds