The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1959-08-21

Belhaven. He was exceptionally
thoughtful of me, and never was
Norfolk so crowded he didn't find
me room.
Loyalty to old friends and Caro-
lima people moves me in many di-
rections, commercially as well as
otherwise. When Dan Miles had
gone away to New Bern, l discover
ed that one of the managers of the
Thomas Nelson was Judge w. l.
Halsteads son Hubert. For many
years he has been exceptionally
thoughtful, and the family has
often used this convenient hotel.
Back in the eos / got acquainted
with Mr.. Calvin, operator of the
Fairfax. He later added the South
land and the Victoria on Main St.,
to his chain The advertisement of
fireproof hotel-sleep where life
is safe caught my eye. This hoteF
developed into my principal stop
ping place when / went to Norfolk.
1t had good dining room, and
grille too. 1t was just about COM
plete. A childhood acquaintance,
the late Miss Lucy Smith of Man.
teo had it newsstand concession.
1t was pity the government had
to take this hotel from Mr.. Calvin
for a rendezvous for the country's
merchant seamen in World War ii.
The hotel did not get the physical
consideration that might have been
expected of the elite. 1t was con-
sidered wrecked at the end of hos
tilities. It's recovery has been slow.
But through the years, it has long
been my favorite place for quiet
rest, with its view across the
water. The old faces are gone; one
most of the time ascends or de-
scends alone in its newly installed
self-service elevators. But from it's
view of the harbor and the sound
of salt whistles that come in from
the inward bound rusty old tramp
ships, one who loves the sea and
the life about it, feels coy and at
home.
And now we read of great i'm
provements that are coming. Faced
with the threat of new competition,
the once luxurious old Monticello
has installed new elevators, cost
ing million dollars, we are told.
Biggest news of all is the state
ment that northern capital is to
build a $50 room hotel in the Bank
Street-Brambleton Avenue tri-
angle, or maybe it's $50 rooms. It's
going to cost millions. It's the first
actual addition of consequence to
Norfolk hotels in over half a CEN
fury.
l have never, up to now, stopped
at any of the Norfolk Motels.
Several of them, ultra-modern have
been added. Motels are wonderful
when you travel with a wife or
children, and you can unload es-
sential paraphernalia at your bed
room door. You save the fees which
are the lackey's due, and you can
get a quick start in the morning.
But for a man travelling along,
with only a handbag, which he can
throw in the corner; with nothing
to wait for and no one for whom
courtesies are due, I'll take the
hotel. When weary and sore, at the
end of day, it is comforting to be
able without ceremony to turn on
the fan take a drink of ice cold
water, flop down on the bed, and
begin reading the evening paper.
Although my rooms usually have a
T-V set, l rarely turn one on. 1t is
so nice to be relieved of all the
things l don't want. 1t is nice to
pick up the phone only when l
wish, and this l do often for the
purpose of calling up old friends
from the coastland, who have re-
sided many years in Norfolk.
| I write these lines as I prepare
now to go to Norfolk for the night.
l have invited my grandson, age
Ia n un xxr;fh mo Hnxy ho oni0ur