Scene 1:  The Great Tempest

Long before Ocean View became a place of neighborhoods and summer memories, this shoreline belonged to Mother Nature and the restless waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

In 1749, a tremendous hurricane slammed into our shoreline. Powerful waves and strong winds pushed sand from beneath the Chesapeake Bay, beginning the formation of new land. Then the Great Coastal Hurricane of 1806 continued the transformation, extending and reshaping the land into the Willoughby Spit we know today.

Willoughby Spit’s story began with the sea, the wind, and the unstoppable power of nature.

Because before there were stories of Willoughby Spit… there were storms.

Scene 2:  Grace Sherwood

The storms that shaped this land were powerful. But sometimes the greatest storms were stirred not by nature… but by fear.

Just beyond these waters, where the Lynnhaven River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, lived a woman whose story would become one of Virginia’s greatest legends.

Her name was Grace Sherwood, forever remembered as the Witch of Pungo.

Grace was a strong, independent midwife and healer. But in a time ruled by fear and superstition, those qualities made her a target. When crops failed, or misfortune struck, neighbors blamed Grace. Rumors spread that she practiced witchcraft… and that she was a witch.

In 1706, Grace was bound hand and foot and taken to what is now remembered as Witch Duck Point, giving us the name Witch Duck Road that still exists today. There, she was thrown into the waters of the Lynnhaven River.

But legend tells us Grace refused to surrender. She freed herself from her bindings and swam to shore. As she emerged from the water, a powerful thunderstorm rolled across the Chesapeake Bay. Thunder cracked. Lightning flashed. Rain poured down upon the very people who had gathered to condemn her.

They accused her of witchcraft. They tried to silence her. But Grace survived.

More than three centuries later, the Witch of Pungo is remembered not for the fear that condemned her, but for the strength that carried her through it.

Scene 3: The Freedom Seekers

The waters before you have witnessed more than storms. They have also carried hope.

On the night of April 14, 1776, eighty-seven enslaved men, women, and children made an unimaginable choice. Under the cover of darkness, guided by little more than candlelight and hope, they escaped from the Willoughby Plantation and crossed these waters toward the British fleet and freedom.

Behind them were lives of bondage. Ahead of them was uncertainty. They traveled not knowing what tomorrow would bring, only believing that freedom was worth the journey.

History often forgets those whose fight for liberty began long before the promises of equality reached them. Their footsteps, their voices, and their courage became part of the story of this shoreline.

Tonight, we remember those eighty-seven souls, and all who have risked everything for the simple hope of living free. Because every generation has its own uprising… and every act of courage begins with one brave step toward a better tomorrow.

Scene 4: Ichabod Crane

Before Ichabod Crane became a legend, he was a real man.

Long before Washington Irving penned The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Colonel Ichabod Crane served here along the Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812, helping defend these waters from British attack.

Years later, that very name found its way into one of America’s most famous ghost stories. Washington Irving borrowed it for the schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, linking history with folklore.

From that story emerged another legend: the Headless Horseman, a ghostly rider said to haunt lonely roads, searching through the darkness.

Here along these shores, where history and legend often walk side by side, it’s easy to imagine that on a stormy night, when the wind begins to howl and the mist rolls in from the bay… some riders are more than memories.

Some legends never stop riding.

Scene 5:
The Ghost of Willoughby Spit

Every community has its ghost story, and Ocean View is no exception.

For generations, locals have whispered about a mysterious figure wandering along the shoreline of Willoughby Spit. Some describe a woman in white, or simply a ghostly silhouette emerging from the fog, silently warning of storms to those who pay attention.

Whether fact or folklore, this legend has passed from one generation to the next, becoming part of Ocean View’s history.

So if you happen to catch a glimpse of something strange drifting through the Chesapeake mist… don’t panic. Around here, we don’t run from our ghost stories. We celebrate them.

Because if there’s something strange in your neighborhood… who ya gonna call?

Scene 6: The Ocean View Railroad

By the late 1800s, Ocean View was becoming more than a quiet stretch of shoreline. As Norfolk grew, so did the desire to escape the city’s summer heat. The answer arrived on steel rails.

The Ocean View Railroad brought passengers from downtown Norfolk to the Chesapeake Bay, transforming a remote seaside retreat into one of Virginia’s favorite vacation destinations.

With every whistle and every stop along the line, families arrived carrying picnic baskets, bathing suits, and dreams of a day by the water. Hotels, cottages, restaurants, dance pavilions, amusement rides, and bustling businesses sprang up along the bay. What had once been difficult to reach became a place where generations came to laugh, celebrate, and make memories.

The railroad brought more than passengers. It brought joy, music, friendship, and the spirit of Ocean View itself. And when a place is filled with that much life… you can’t help but dance.

Scene 7: Seaview Beach

In 1945, along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, a remarkable dream became reality. Twenty-one African American businessmen and professionals came together with a vision: a beautiful place where their families could gather, celebrate, and enjoy summer by the water. Together, they built Seaview Beach, a resort that became a source of pride, opportunity, and community.

Friends and families filled the beach for celebrations that brought Seaview to life. As evening fell, the stage came alive with some of the greatest entertainers of their generation: Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Portsmouth’s own Ruth Brown.

Close your eyes and imagine the sun setting over the Chesapeake Bay. The crowd grows quiet. Then, a familiar trumpet breaks the silence, with Louis Armstrong performing one of his signature songs right here on these shores.

Scene 8:
The Nansemond Hotel and the Road to Normandy

Just steps from where we gather tonight once stood one of Ocean View’s grandest landmarks, the Nansemond Hotel. Once a seaside resort, its story changed dramatically during World War II.

The hotel became headquarters for the Atlantic Fleet’s Amphibious Training Command. Day and night, thousands of sailors and soldiers trained on these beaches, practicing the dangerous landings they would soon carry out overseas.

Training along these shores helped prepare troops for the historic D-Day landings at Normandy.

Imagine boots in the sand, waves crashing, bugles calling, and young men preparing for an uncertain future, less than one hundred feet from where we stand tonight.

The hotel is gone, but its legacy remains woven into Ocean View’s story.

And through every goodbye, every victory, and every long wait to come home, there was music. It lifted weary hearts, filled dance halls, and reminded a generation that joy was still worth celebrating.

Scene 9: Harrison’s Fishing Pier

As Ocean View continued to grow, one landmark became a favorite for generations… Harrison’s Fishing Pier. Stretching into the Chesapeake Bay, it offered more than a place to fish. It was a place to slow down, watch the sunrise, cast a line, or simply lean against the rail and follow the rhythm of the tide.

For countless families, Harrison’s Pier became part of life’s traditions. It carried generations beyond the shoreline and onto the water, where they caught their first fish, had their first dates, and watched dolphins and boats pass by. Here, the Chesapeake Bay wasn’t just something to admire… it was something to experience.

So close your eyes for just a moment. Feel the salty breeze. Hear the waves beneath your feet. And imagine yourself on the dock of Harrison’s Pier, watching the tide roll in.

Scene 10
Ocean View Amusement Park

At the end of the trolley line, beside the Chesapeake Bay, Ocean View Amusement Park became one of Virginia’s favorite seaside attractions. Thousands came for the Ferris wheel, games, and thrilling rides.

Towering above them all was the legendary wooden roller coaster known as The Rocket. It became a symbol of Ocean View and gained national attention in the 1977 film Rollercoaster.

The park closed after Labor Day in 1978, but The Rocket wasn’t finished yet. In 1979, it took center stage in the made-for-TV movie The Death of Ocean View Park, as local residents gathered to watch the real amusement park come down. Even dynamite couldn’t finish The Rocket on the first try. It took multiple blasts and a bulldozer to finally bring down the Ocean View legend.

For generations, this was the place to go with family, friends, or someone special. A place filled with laughter and memories. Every climb up The Rocket brought anticipation, every drop brought screams, and every ride ended with smiles.

Now, hold on tight… because we’re about to take one more ride.

Scene 11: Hurricane Isabel 

On September 2003, Hurricane Isabel slammed into Hampton Roads with powerful winds and a devastating storm surge. Bay waters and powerful winds destroyed streets and homes. Boats broke free from their moorings. Businesses were damaged, possessions disappeared, and Harrison’s Fishing Pier was destroyed.

Across Ocean View, residents faced the difficult task of cleaning up and rebuilding.

But when the storm passed, something stronger remained. Neighbors helped neighbors. Strangers became friends. Together, the people of Ocean View proved that while hurricanes may reshape a shoreline, they can never wash away the heart of a community.

Tonight, we remember Hurricane Isabel and celebrate the resilience that carried Ocean View forward.

Scene 12: Ocean View Beach Park

In 1979, the City of Norfolk made a decision that would shape Ocean View’s future, purchasing this waterfront land to preserve it for the public. Over the years, the shoreline was restored, beach access returned, and by the 1990s, this park, boardwalk, and pavilion had become the heart of a renewed Ocean View.

For more than 250 years, Ocean View has been shaped by storms and sunshine, history and folklore, resilience and community. This park continues that tradition as a place where families gather, friends share sunsets, music fills the air, and memories are made.

It’s also one of the places the OV Sea Hags proudly call home. We practice right here in the section affectionately known as Greenie’s Graveyard, where neighbors stop to watch, wave, laugh, and sometimes even dance along.

So tonight, let’s celebrate Ocean View, let’s celebrate each other, and keep making memories together. Because I’ve got a feeling… tonight’s gonna be a good night.

Grand Finale

Tonight, we’ve shared just a few of the stories and legends that helped shape Ocean View.

But Ocean View’s story is still being written.

The OV Sea Hags were born right here in Ocean View, bringing people together through music, laughter, and dance.

And now, we’re ready to do what Sea Hags do best!

Our Grand Finale features the traditional German Witch Broom Dance, along with another round that includes audience participation.

Thank you for celebrating 250 years of Ocean View with us during our witch walk.

And now, it is my pleasure to present your favorite local dancing witches… the OV Sea Hags!