What Norfolk, VA, looked like at the Turn of the 20th Century

During the first half of the 20th century, Norfolk continued to grow as it annexed surrounding areas. Norfolk annexed land north of Atlantic City and along the Lafayette River in 1902. The development of this land coincided with the planning of the 1907 Jamestown Exposition. This was a celebration commemorating the 300th anniversary of the landing of the first permanent English settlers in Jamestown.

In 1903, Sterling Place Corporation purchased Peter March’s 166-acre farm for $150,000. George W. Dillard, the president of Sterling Place Corporation, occupied the first home completed in 1906. Sterling Place was originally called Colonial Place, but it was renamed in honor of the Jamestown Exposition.

In 1906, the Town of Berkley was annexed to the City of Norfolk, stretching the city limits across the Elizabeth River. The town and Beacon Light and Hardy Field neighborhoods were incorporated as boroughs. Five years later, in 1911, Lambert’s Point and Huntersville were annexed into Norfolk. This was the birthplace of Mary Pinckney Hardy, the mother of General Douglas MacArthur. S Main St. has a memorial to Mary Hardy MacArthur on the former Hardy family estate site.

These fascinating historical photos show what Norfolk, VA looked like in the 1900s.

#1 Public Library, Norfolk, 1906

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#2 Monticello Hotel, Norfolk, 1902.

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#3 Old City Hall, Norfolk, 1905

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#4 Post Office, Norfolk, 1905

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#5 Lafayette Park, Norfolk, 1906

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#6 Naval Hospital, Norfolk, 1902

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#7 Old Custom House, Norfolk, 1905

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#8 Granby Street, Norfolk, 1905

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#9 Interior, St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, 1905.

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#10 St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, Norfolk, 1905.

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#11 Atlantic Hotel, Norfolk, 1903

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#12 Post office, Norfolk, 1903

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#13 Custom house, Norfolk, 1903

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#14 Lafayette Park, Norfolk, 1904

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#15 Union Depot, Norfolk, 1904

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#16 Alcove containing books on art, showing cabinets for storing photographs, 1900

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#17 Confederate Monument in commercial square, Norfolk, 1900s

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#18 Interior view of steamboat cabin, 1906

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#19 Dry dock no. 2, Norfolk Navy Yard, 1901

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#20 St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, 1902

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#21 St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, 1902

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#22 St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, 1902

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#23 Waterfront, Norfolk, 1905

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#24 Commercial Place, Norfolk, 1905

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#25 N. & W. coal piers, Norfolk, 1905

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#26 The Great crane, Norfolk Navy Yard, 1905

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#27 Torpedo boats in the wet dock, Norfolk Navy Yard, 1905

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#28 A Glimpse of the harbor, Norfolk, 1905

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#29 Norfolk Navy Yard, torpedo station, Portsmouth, 1905

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#30 Str. Pennsylvania, N.Y.P. & N. R.R. (New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad, 1905

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#31 St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, 1905.

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#32 Stone dry dock, Norfolk Navy Yard, 1905.

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#33 Reading room in the Dedham public library, Dedham, Massachusetts with ornate counter or delivery desk, 1905

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#34 Old Custom House, Norfolk, 1905

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#35 Main Street and Market Square [i.e. Commercial Place], Norfolk, 1905.

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#36 Center Hill, Petersburg, 1906.

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#37 View of Granby Street, Norfolk, 1906.

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#38 View of Main Street, Norfolk, 1906.

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#39 Church in Virginia, 1906.

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#40 Building at the Jamestown Exposition, Virginia, 1907

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#41 Administration building, (modelled after Monticello), Jamestown Exposition, Virginia, 1907

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#42 Pennsylvania State building, reproduction of Independence Hall, Jamestown Exposition, Norfolk, 1907

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#43 Palace of Manufactures, Jamestown Exposition, Norfolk, 1907

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#44 Interior of States Exhibit Palace, Jamestown Exposition, Norfolk, 1907

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#45 Norfolk Harbor from Naval Hospital, 1903

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#46 Alcoves and gallery in the book room, Brookline Public Library, 1903

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#47 Merchants’ and Miners’ Wharf, Norfolk, 1904

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#48 Norfolk & Wash. Steamboat Co. fire, 1904

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#49 Harbor, Norfolk, 1904

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#50 Confederate Monument, Norfolk, 1904

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#51 The Harbor, Norfolk, 1905

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#52 The Harbor, Norfolk, 1905

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#53 Naval Y.M.C.A., Norfolk, 1907

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#54 Miller & Rhoads Main St. Market Sq. Norfolk, 1905

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#55 Government Docks Ft. Monroe Chamberlin Hotel Hampton, 1905

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#56 Portsmouth Ferry to Norfolk From Waterfront, 1905

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#57 Torpedo Boats Norfolk Naval Yard, 1905

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#58 Norfolk Ports Ferry Terminals (with Horses in center), 1905

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#59 Commercial Place (with horses and Statue) 1905

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#60 Norfolk, 1900s.

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#61 Downtown West. Granby Street at Night, 1909

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#62 Granby Street looking South from Brooke Avenue, 1909

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#63 George Newton House. Granby Street at College Place, 1909

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#64 Taylor Building.Corner of Market Street & Granby Street, 1909

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#65 East side of Granby Street between Monticello Hotel and Tazewell Street, 1909

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#66 Looking North on Granby Street from City Hall Avenue, 1907

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#67 Macarthur Center, 1908

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#68 Crowd at Norfolk – Taft party, 1908.

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#69 Nina benefit parade, Norfolk, 1904

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