Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE TRUXTUN COMMUNITY IN PORTSMOUTH,
VIRGINIA
______
HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a
historic neighborhood in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. The
Historic Truxtun Community in Portsmouth, Virginia will celebrate its
centennial on May 18, 2019. To mark the occasion, I would like to take
a moment to highlight the history of this neighborhood and recognize
its contributions to our community.
The community of Truxtun was named after Thomas Truxtun, a
Revolutionary War sailor who was known for successfully capturing
British ships during the Revolutionary War. He went on to captain the
USS Constellation and the USS President. There have been six United
States Navy ships named in his honor.
The Truxtun community sits on 43 acres of land within walking
distance of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. It was
constructed in 1918 as a project of the U.S. Housing Corporation to
address the housing shortage for shipbuilders employed at the Norfolk
Naval Shipyard. At the time, the United States had just entered World
War I and the newly developed Naval Operating Base was gearing up to
assist with the war effort.
Truxtun stands out in United States history as the first government
housing project developed for African-Americans. The neighborhood had
250 lots consisting of duplexes and five-bedroom single family homes.
The homes in Truxtun had a distinguished style--exposed rafter ends,
jerkinhead roofs, and central chimneys. Truxtun homes also offered
indoor plumbing and electricity at a time where many people, especially
African Americans, did not have access to such amenities. Despite the
modern architecture and amenities in Truxtun, it was still a segregated
community. Because of the Supreme Court's 1896 decision in Plessy v.
Ferguson, Jim Crow segregation laws forced blacks to reside in Truxtun
while whites lived in their own nearby government housing project
called Cradock.
Those who relocated to Truxtun considered the community tightknit and
vibrant. Rents were affordable and started at $17.50 per month.
Southern black workers were happy to abandon their agricultural lives
and start fresh with higher wages and improved working conditions.
Truxtun helped transformed the Hampton Roads region and the region
benefitted economically, socially and culturally.
The Truxtun community was developed with a ``new urbanism'' style and
had everything a town needed to thrive. From its own convenience store,
school and church to civic leagues and sporting events, this town
provided residents a place to live, play and shop within an easy
commute to the shipyard. The neighborhood had four policemen, a town
manager and even a townhouse to do official work. Since Truxtun was
formed as an independent township within what was then Norfolk county,
its locally elected town manager could levy taxes and provide public
services. That is, until Portsmouth acquired the community in 1923.
100 years after its founding, Truxtun is experiencing a revival that
places it as one of Portsmouth's most prized cultural centers. In 1982,
Truxtun was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was
one of the first out of about 100 federally financed housing projects
during World War I, and it remains a national model for communities
that are looking to plan and build inclusive, pedestrian-friendly
neighborhoods.
Madam Speaker, I congratulate the residents of Truxtun on their
centennial celebration and for helping to make Portsmouth a great place
to live and raise a family.
____________________