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Ferguson Center and Ferguson High
Left photo by A.J. Jelonek
Right photo courtesy of Newport News Public Library |
The History of the Ferguson
By A.J. Jelonek
The Ferguson Center for the Arts in
Newport News, Virginia is known for magnificent performances in world-class
theaters and halls. What many don’t realize is the history and decades embedded
into its walls. The building and its grounds have seen many different chapters throughout
its lifetime. As a junior high and high school, it rose to the needs and
changes of its city. Following its sale to Christopher Newport University in
1996, it transformed into the jewel of performing arts in the Hampton Roads
area, raising the university and city to new levels of prestige. It has adapted
to fit the differing needs of its region, while never wavering in its original
mission to instruct the next generation.
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Ferguson High School.
Photo courtesy of Newport News Pubic Library |
During World War II and the Korean War, Hampton
Roads’ population had blossomed from personnel expansions at the area’s multiple
military bases and shipyards. Many of those individuals set down permanent
roots on the Peninsula and started families. This was true for the County of
Warwick, one of Virginia’s oldest established counties. Between 1940 and 1950,
Warwick’s population had grown from a predominantly rural area of 9,248 to a
bustling community of 39,875. The county had only two high schools: Warwick
High School for white students, and George W. Carver High School for Black students.
To help school systems across the country combat growing enrollment numbers,
the federal government passed Public Law 815 in 1950. This law provided aid to
build new school facilities in areas that had been impacted by federal
government-mandated activities. In April 1952, with their remaining entitlement
funds, the County of Warwick sent in an application to build a junior high school for white students.[1]
Two years of inactivity on the funds would
pass, during which Warwick County became the City of Warwick. In April 1954,
the U.S. Department of Education sent the school board a notice that their
funds would expire if they did not submit site plans by the end of the year.
The board started to look for 30-acre sites near Warwick High, which the junior
high would feed directly into. They initially tried to acquire a site owned by
the Mariners’ Museum, located across the street from the high school. After
many months, talks with the Museum ended fruitlessly, and the board looked into
alternate options. In November, they chose a 29.66-acre site on the southeast
corner of Shoe Lane and Warwick Boulevard. It was mostly composed of wood and
pastures, but featured two houses, barns, stables, and various outbuildings.[2]
The land choice was not without
controversy. The Morrison Civic League, a local Black neighborhood committee,
had been working towards purchasing these same plots of land to develop a Black
residential community. When they heard the board was pursuing this land, the
Civic League requested they consider other sites for the junior high. They
pointed out Black citizens could not purchase
similar-sized sites elsewhere in the city because Black people “are not
desired.”[3]
The school board informed the Civic League that “consideration would be given
to their request.” However, needing a site to be chosen before the funds expired
in the next month, “it would be difficult for the Board to relinquish its
efforts to secure this particular property.”[4] The school board would proceed forward with the Shoe Lane site. The landowners,
four out of five of which were Black, initially rejected the school board’s
offers, citing their asking prices were too low. This resulted in the board
requesting condemnation suits against each owner. By late May 1955, the board
had acquired all the parcels for a total of $70 thousand.[5]
The school building was designed by
Richmond architect Samuel N. Mayo. Warwick’s school system regularly hired Mayo
for their building projects, such as Deer Park, Sanford, and Katherine Johnson
(formerly Lee Hall) Elementary Schools. Mayo’s school design for the junior
high was dubbed the “most modern on the Peninsula.”[6] Construction began in the fall of 1955 by the Mottley Construction Company. The
school, to be named Warwick Junior High School, cost over $1.6 million to
build. It consisted of 24 classrooms, six science labs, two typing rooms, one
main gym, two smaller gyms for the different genders, two courtyards, a
library, an auditorium with 800 seats, and a cafeteria.
The building was placed diagonally on the property, facing the
Shoe-Warwick corner, so an exclusive bus loop road could be accessed from Shoe
Lane, but the parking lot could be entered from Warwick Boulevard for driver convenience purposes.
[7]
Warwick Junior High opened for its first
day of school on September 6, 1956. Only the minimum number of rooms required
for school operation had been completed. The cafeteria and other specialty
spaces would continue to be worked on through the coming months. By March 1957,
all construction had concluded, and the school was deemed complete. Warwick Junior
enrolled 8th and 9th grade students. In its first year,
it also taught 7th grade to ease overcrowding at Riverside
Elementary. Students chose the school’s mascot to be the Cavaliers, and their
colors red and gray.[8]
While the 1954 Brown vs. Board of
Education Supreme Court decision ruled that separate but equal Black and
white schools were unconstitutional, it did not provide a path for schools to
desegregate. As a reaction to the court’s decision, Virginia Senator Harry S.
Byrd brought about the Massive Resistance movement. This movement passed many
laws in Virginia intending to hinder and oppose integration, including the
creation of a pupil placement board and closing school systems that attempted
to integrate. The City of Warwick willfully maintained a segregated school
system during this time. As such, Warwick Junior High would only teach white
students.[9]
Shortly after the conclusion of the
school’s first year, the City of Warwick and the City of Newport News decided
to merge into one city. Warwick wanted access to established infrastructure and
the benefits provided by Newport News’ favorable business tax revenue rates.
Newport News wanted more land for its own overcrowded conditions and more white
voters to drown out its large Black population. The consolidation officially
occurred a year later on July 1, 1958, with the new city taking on the
better-known name of the two, Newport News. It now had two white high schools,
Newport News and Warwick, and two Black high schools, Huntington and George W.
Carver. Warwick Junior High School remained the only junior high in the city.[10]
As the dust of the merger settled, the
combined city continued to grow rapidly with new residents. Warwick Junior
High, originally built with a capacity of 1,200, held almost 1,600 students
daily during the 1960-1961 school year. That class’s yearbook reported that
“Many lockers are shared by two or more people, since there are not nearly
enough to go around.” The school hired “floating” teachers, teachers without a
permanent classroom. One floating teacher even repurposed his army footlocker
to store his supplies and graded papers. The City of Warwick had been preparing
to build a high school a mile up Warwick Boulevard along Roy’s Lane (now Minton
Drive), but the project was put on hold during the consolidation. The new
Newport News School Board (NNSB) brought these plans back, but consolidation
had cost the school system time, resulting in much more overcrowding. A new
white secondary high school was desperately needed.[11]
Meanwhile, the newly merged city also had
to decide if it wished to continue the junior high program. After a study was
taken, the findings led the school board to believe keeping the junior high
structure would require two junior high schools for every high school. Already
overburdened with needing so many more schools, they decided to end the junior
high program after the current school year. Now with a large, spare building
and an overcrowded secondary school system, the school board decided to convert
Warwick Junior High School into a fully-fledged high school. This would offer a
quick fix while the NNSB continued work towards developing the Roy’s Lane
property.[12]
Since there was already a Warwick High
School, the school would need a new name when it started teaching at the high
school level. Students of the junior high submitted an initial list of possible
names, including Riverside, Cavalier, Museum, Robert E. Lee, James River,
Peninsula, Deep Creek, and Hidenwood. At the public discussion, someone
suggested T. Ryland Sanford, who was the superintendent of Warwick when the
junior high school opened. As Sanford was a current member of the new city’s
school board, he humbly declined. Other citizens requested that the high school be named after Homer Lenoir Ferguson, whom had passed away in 1953.
Ferguson had been president of Newport News Shipbuilding through both World
Wars, co-founded the Mariners’ Museum just down the road, and had a hand in
developing both the Shipyard Apprentice School and Hilton Village. With unanimous agreement, the NNSB christened the school Homer L. Ferguson High
School.[13]
In its first high school year in 1961,
Ferguson held grades 8-11, with 12th grade being added the following
year. While school was in session, additions were built to increase capacity
and bring the facility to high school teaching standards. A new two-story
16-classroom annex was connected to the back of the school by an enclosed
promenade. On the east side, a choir room was added and the band room was
expanded. 10th and 11th grade classes were held in the library, auditorium, and
cafeteria until the new spaces were completed. Once construction finished, the
school was officially dedicated on February 15, 1962. Ferguson’s widow Eliza
was invited to the ceremony, where she presented the school with a portrait of
her late husband.[14]
Going along with the late Ferguson’s
nautical connection, students worked towards rebranding their school. The junior
high’s Cavalier mascot was replaced with the Mariners. The colors changed from
red and gray, to blue and white. Several publications sported
seaworthy names, including The Helm publication journal, The
Windjammer newspaper, and The Mariner annual yearbook. The school
also held a “Miss Mariner” pageant, the first one occurring in 1965. To make
the Mariner presence known by all those who passed the school grounds, students
were loaned an anchor from the Mariners’ Museum, and set it under the
newly-erected front sign.[15]
Even with its new additions, Ferguson was
still not able to keep up with the area’s growth. For the 1962-63 school year,
Ferguson’s additions had upgraded the school to a 1,700 capacity – yet enrolled
2,100 students. Plans to use the Roy’s Lane site as a high school were abandoned when multiple community groups petitioned the school board not build there.
Most of the growing white population of the city was to the north, and they
wanted a white high school centrally located to their neighborhood elementary
schools. As one elementary school PTA noted, “Geographically speaking, it does
not seem correct to locate a new school within 1 mile of Ferguson High School
and 2 miles of Warwick High School, particularly in a city of the configuration
of Newport News which is over 20 miles long in the North-South direction.” [16] The NNSB
agreed, eventually opening both Denbigh High (1965) and Menchville High (1970)
to the north. These schools would eventually ease Ferguson’s overcrowding. The
Roy’s Lane site was later used for the John B. Todd Stadium and the school
system’s administrative offices.[17]
While new schools were on the horizon,
Ferguson continued to build more additions and improvements to its campus. The
school received its first permanent tennis courts in August 1963, followed
shortly by a running track and baseball diamond. It would share these sporting
fields with its neighbor across the street, the newly-founded Christopher
Newport College. A cafeteria addition opened in 1964 to increase indoor seating
capacity. The school still lacked a space big enough to hold the entire student
population at once. This was finally solved in December 1966 when a new main
gymnasium opened with a capacity to hold 1,800 spectators. This would become
the boy’s principal gym; girl’s gym classes would use the three other gym
spaces.[18]
Ferguson made local history when Mary
Passage became Ferguson’s third principal in 1965. Superintendent George McIntosh told the board he was suggesting “a bold move in
search of excellence. We found it was not necessary to go beyond our own
personnel to find the person we needed.”[19] The appointment made Passage the first female principal in Newport News, the
first on the Peninsula, and the first at a larger-sized high school in
Virginia. "I must have been as smart as a man, or I wouldn't have gotten
the job," Passage later reflected.[20]
While Newport News made this stride in
gender equality, it still largely maintained a racially segregated school
system. Change would be slow to come. Following a 1960 court order, NNSB created
its first desegregation plan. Students wishing to transfer schools had to fill
out an application, take aptitude tests, submit recommendations from former
teachers, and be interviewed by a committee. The committee, in turn, would send
a recommendation to the school board, who would then make a final decision on
the student transfer. In 1961,14 Black Newport News students successfully
transferred into previously all-white schools. A year later, Ferguson would
welcome its first enrolled Black students: Quinton Hedgepeth, Brenda Lewis, and
Thomas Sterling. The placement tests were done away with in 1963, following the
state and the city of Norfolk eliminating testing in similar transfer plans.
After the federal government passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the school
system’s desegregation plan was deemed unacceptable. To remain minimally
compliant and still receive federal funds, the school board enacted a Freedom
of Choice plan, allowing students to attend any school they so desired. Every
student would receive an application annually and would be required to fill it
out, selecting the school of their choice with a parent/guardian signature. No
application would be rejected, unless the school requested was overcrowded.
While some Black students transferred to white schools, not one white student
transferred to a Black school.[21]
In 1968, the U.S. Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare (HEW) determined that Newport News had not been making
further progress on eliminating its dual school system. They ordered the school
board to submit a desegregation plan or face having their federal funding cut
off. A representative from HEW met to discuss and field the Board’s questions.
The meeting was held in Ferguson High’s auditorium, as it had drawn over 500 attendees.
HEW Representative Dr. Haddock noted that “the free choice method of assigning
students to schools is not an acceptable method of school assignment unless it
accomplishes its purposes,” its purposes being racial desegregation. Haddock
stated the school system still had ten schools entirely composed of Black
students and teachers, so it was not in compliance with the law. The board
vehemently denied this. They cited due to the shape, size, and housing patterns
of Newport News, it was financially unfeasible to bus students as desired by HEW.[22] One board member argued, “That some single-racial schools result from private
housing patterns and the desire of parents and children to attend neighborhood
schools can not [sic] properly be credited to the School Board.”[23] After the HEW representative left, the board doubled down and passed a
resolution stating their Freedom of Choice plan fully upheld the law, and they
would continue implementing it. After an administrative hearing the following
year in Washington, D.C., HEW cut off federal funding to Newport News Public
Schools.[24]
In 1970, on behalf of a group of Black
families, the NAACP sued the Newport News School Board on its dual school
system. In June 1971, Federal Judge Walter E. Hoffman ruled that Newport News’
Freedom of Choice plan was unacceptable. He ordered the school system to
immediately desegregate by means of busing for the upcoming school year. With
no other option, the school system complied with the ruling. Two weeks before
the start of the school year, the federal court approved the school system’s
busing plan. For secondary education, Newport News was broken into 7 different
busing zones. 1-2 different zones (usually on opposing sides of the city) were
assigned to a school, with student demographics set around 60% white and 40% Black
to match the population ratio. School faculties were also reorganized to create
racial balances. Huntington, Carver, and Newport News High Schools became
intermediate schools, covering grades 8 and 9. Each intermediate school was
paired with one of the remaining high schools, which now taught grades 10-12.[25]
Many white parents were not happy their
children would be changing schools and mixing races. They argued long bus rides
would developmentally impair their children, that their education at another
school could be substandard. These parents organized a local chapter of the
Save Our Neighborhood Schools organization (SONS) to protest busing. They made
sure their gatherings were highly publicized. While the school board was forced
to comply with the court order, they sided with the protesting white parents
and appealed the court’s decision. The board would continue to appeal until they eventually gave up in 1974.[26]
At Ferguson High School, busing brought
many changes. Paired with Newport News Intermediate, Ferguson received students
from the predominately-Black downtown Newport News and the predominately-white
midtown. 65% of the student population changed from the previous year, along
with half of the teachers. Former Huntington High School Principal Ross M.
Hines became Ferguson’s new principal, the first Black principal of the school.[27]
Two weeks into the school year, students
of Ferguson joined other Newport News high schools in a walkout protest.
Inspired by a parent/student walkout a few days earlier at Carver Intermediate,
others were hoping to repeat on a larger scale. Some white students had
complained of harassment and bullying from their Black peers. Parents/SONS
fanned the flames as much as they could. Some parents met students outside and
marched, others drove from school to school with their children, yelling at
students to join the walkouts. To minimize the driving instigators at Ferguson,
Principal Hines personally drove a school bus to block off the school’s
driveway. Following the walkouts, School Superintendent George McIntosh met
with 15 student representatives from the secondary schools to discuss their
issues. There, he proposed the creation of a city-wide student committee to
help ease adjustment problems for all students. This brought an amicable and
productive end to the city-wide student protests.[28]
Even so, there were still plenty of
tensions and points of animosity at the individual schools. At Ferguson High,
theft and vandalism had increased from the previous year. One student let out
their frustration by setting off three separate fires on a Sunday, resulting in
$3,000 worth of building damages. Participation in extracurricular activities
were down, and school pride was at an all-time low. The school tried to
alleviate any possible racial division when possible. Some sports teams chose
co-captains, one Black and one white, so students couldn’t choose along racial
lines. The Miss Mariner Pageant was simply not held for two years. Similarly,
there was no Homecoming King or Queen, but the school held elections for a
larger Homecoming Court.[29]
One thing that did help create some school
unity was football. The busing zones selected for Ferguson gave the school some
of the better football athletes in the city. Ferguson would go on to win their
season 9-1 and hold the Peninsula District Championship title that year. The
Peninsula title was not one that was easy to achieve, as that title was rarely
won by anyone other than City of Hampton schools. "I
think it helped that we were a good football team," Coach Harlan Hott
later reminisced, "That seemed to pull the school together … when we
started winning, it seemed to flow to the student body."[30]
It would take time, but tensions would
ease. Bused integrated schooling became normal. As Newport News teacher Vivian Miller summed
up five years later, “We do not have half as many outbreaks in the classroom,
fights or what-have-you, and everything is beginning to settle down. Even the
Blacks and whites now are making friends. The parents are friendlier.”[31]
During the evening of April 14, 1972, a
fire was discovered in the Ferguson library. Even though it was after school
hours, hundreds of people were in the building attending a recital by the
touring University of Auckland Choir. The blaze was quickly reported, allowing
everyone to safely evacuate. The fire department arrived shortly thereafter and
put out the blaze before it could spread elsewhere in the building. They
determined the fire was accidental, caused from a cable short-circuiting. The
fire caused $50,000 worth of damages. Among the things lost were over 3,400
books, as well as the portrait of Homer Ferguson that had been presented to the
school by his wife. The library was quickly renovated, reopening the following
month. A new portrait of Ferguson was presented to the school by his family a
year later.[32]
Ferguson High School and the City of
Newport News proclaimed March 6, 1973 Homer L. Ferguson Day, in honor of what
would have been Ferguson’s 100th birthday. The school hosted a ceremony on the
day and encouraged all students to wear blue and white. Ferguson’s sole surviving
son Attorney William McLeod Ferguson, Jr. was in attendance, along with other
family members. The family presented the school with medals he had been awarded
during his life. These included the Cross of the Legion of Honor from France,
Knight Commander - Order of King Leopold II of Belgium, and a Certificate of
Merit from U.S. President Harry Truman.[33]
Ferguson athletics continued to do well
throughout the 70’s. In 1976, the girl’s tennis team debuted undefeated and won
the state championship. The school’s crowning moment
came two years later, when the undefeated men’s basketball team went up against
James Robinson High School in the state championships. After being behind the
first two quarters, the Mariners caught up in the third quarter. After a tense
fourth quarter, Mariner junior Grant Robinson scored two foul shots with 14
seconds to go. Robinson High then received two free throws after a Ferguson
foul, but were only able to score one. The Mariners won 69-68, becoming the
1978 Virginia state Group AAA champions.[34]
Ferguson High would keep adapting to new
changes and programs throughout the 70’s. In 1974, a Naval Junior ROTC program
was established at the school. A building expansion in 1976 gave Ferguson a 30%
larger library with air conditioning (a first for the building), a 50% larger
main office, reorganized guidance offices, and the addition of a greenhouse.
1978 became the year the school offered co-ed gym classes for the first time.
In 1981, the intermediate schools were recategorized as middle schools. As
such, they would teach 6th-8th grades, returning 9th
grade back to being taught in high schools.[35]
On the night of December 9, 1982,
Ferguson’s principal and two other administrators were involved in a car accident
after a basketball game in Williamsburg. Principal Timothy Walter and Director
of Guidance Bob Lee Hearst died at the scene, while Assistant Principal Freddie
L. Travis was critically injured. The school community fell into shock and
mourning upon learning the news. A formal memorial service was held in the main
gym on December 13. Huntington Middle
School’s Principal Dr. John W. Kilpatrick was transferred over to Ferguson to
become the new principal. To honor the late men, a Walter-Hearst Scholarship was
established, which was awarded annually to a Ferguson senior. In the spring,
the drama department presented The Sound of Music, as that show had been
frequently requested by Mr. Walter. Ticket proceeds from the performance raised
$1,500 towards the scholarship. Freddie Travis would ultimately survive the
accident. Initially paralyzed from the neck down, he was able to eventually
regain some body mobility. He was given a disability retirement from the school
system in 1984, and passed away in 2010.[36]
During some pipe and ceiling tile
maintenance over the summer of 1983, some unknown white dust had fallen on the
floors. After samples were taken to a lab, the dust was determined to be
asbestos. Asbestos was a material commonly used in early 20th
century buildings for its effective insulator and fire-retardant abilities. Its
use was prohibited in 1973 once it was discovered to also cause cancer and lung
disease. The city’s health department had inspected all the schools for
asbestos materials in 1979, but no asbestos had been detected. Following the
discovery at Ferguson and another at Briarfield Elementary School, the school
system re-inspected all of its schools, finding asbestos present at nine
others. Ferguson would receive renovations in 1984 to remove asbestos from its
ceilings and lights. Asbestos removal would again happen in 1989 when the
school received building-wide air conditioning, as well as new windows.
Asbestos still remained within the building, but was deemed safe as long as it
was not disturbed.[37]
As the years passed since the Warwick
& Newport News merger, the consolidated city’s population shifted and grew
more towards the north. Despite this, school attendance zones had not been
changed since the 1971 court order. As a result, Denbigh and Menchville started
experiencing overcrowded conditions, while Warwick and Ferguson’s student
populations dropped. With not enough student interest in some courses at each
school, Ferguson and Warwick shared these particular classes. Students were
bused from one school to the other to be able to attend.[38]
To address the northern overcrowding, the
NNSB started planning for another high school in the northern half of the city.
However, families in the southern half were not happy to hear this. All of the
current high schools were located in midtown or higher. The predominantly-Black
downtown had not had a high school in its area since the court ordered busing
began. Those in the downtown area faced longer bus rides than those in the
predominantly-white northern areas of the city. The downtown families argued
that the school system was ignoring their area, adding it to a growing list of
other civil rights violations.[39]
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Aerial view of Ferguson High School, Christopher Newport University, and its surrounding area
Circa 1993, Courtesy of the CNU Archives |
GRADUATING
HIGH SCHOOL
Across Shoe Lane, Ferguson’s neighbor
Christopher Newport College (CNC) was also in a bit of a bind. It had started
out in 1961 as a two-year branch of the College of William & Mary. In its
second decade, it became a full four-year college and had gained independence
from its mother school. By the late 80’s, the college had used up most
of its original 73-acre site. It was short on classroom space, and started to
look towards expansion. Its master plan listed several residential properties
along its border as future expansion pads, something those property owners were
not keen about. By being listed in the master plan, they believed their
property values would go down, and they would have trouble finding buyers other
than the college. "No one wants to invest their hard-earned money where
they never know when they'll be forced out," said Joyce D. Hunt, president
of the Home Property Owners Association. The Association even sued, saying the
college was trying to drive out predominantly-Black homeowners for the benefit
of its predominantly white students. CNC’s President Anthony Santoro repeatedly
explained the college’s policy that it would only buy properties if they were
already for sale. Residents were still not convinced.[40]
President Santoro could see the Newport
News school problems, as well as an opportunity to give everyone what they
wanted. What if Christopher Newport bought Ferguson High School? The college
would get an expansion that would instantly double the classroom space on
campus. They would no longer need to expand into the other neighboring
properties, easing residents’ worries. The school board would get money from
the sale, which could be used to fund the construction of two high schools
instead of one, each on different ends of the city. Santoro soon started talks
with the City of Newport News and the public school system over this idea. These
talks culminated with Newport News School Superintendent Donald Bruno adding
the Ferguson sale to his proposed Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) FY90-95 in
1989. The plan was to sell Ferguson High School to CNC for $12 million. In
exchange, Newport News would build a $17 million high school to the north along
Woodside Lane, and convert Hines Middle School (the former Carver High School)
into a modern high school for $11 million.[41]
Most of the members of the NNSB were in
support, while others had reservations. Board Member Gary Curbow pointed out
the federal government was considering defense spending cuts – could that bring
about a population decline in the area, nullifying the need for another high
school? James Batterson thought more time and study was needed before making
the sale. “Is this action best for now or would it be better to wait several
years to better see what the needs in the year 2000 will be?” he asked.[42] When the vote occurred the next month, the school board voted 5-2 in support of
the CIP – the benefits outweighed the uncertainties. A month later in January
1990, the Newport News’ City Council had their vote, unanimously supporting the
sale of Ferguson.[43]
Things became complicated in the Virginia
General Assembly, where CNC would be allocated money to buy Ferguson. The 1990
Virginia state budget was tight. However, Virginia Delegate of Newport News
Alan A. Diamonstein was able to secure the sale to the list of projects funded
by lottery proceeds. Months later, the early 1990’s recession forced Virginia
Governor L. Douglas Wilder to reallocate the lottery proceeds to fill budgetary
shortfalls, indefinitely shelving those capital projects.[44]
Prior to the start of the 1992 legislative
session, Santoro restarted attempts to get the money for the sale in the state
budget. He enacted a grassroots campaign, convincing community groups and
leaders to lobby on the necessity of the project. The efforts paid off. With
help from Delegate Diamonstein and Senate Committee Chairman Hunter Andrews,
the project was included in the state’s General Obligation Bond for $10.8
Million. The bond package was voted on and passed by Virginia voters in
November 1992. The new selling price then had to go back in front of the
Newport News City Council to get approved, as they had previously agreed to
sell Ferguson for $12 million. They, again, unanimously agreed. An official
deal was finally reached. On March 13, 1995, President Santoro of the now-named
Christopher Newport University (CNU), Rector David Peebles, Newport News School
Superintendent Dr. Eric Smith, and Newport News Mayor Barry Duval formally signed
the purchase contract in a ceremony on the front steps of Ferguson High School.[45]
On the public-school side of things, the
population had kept growing, forcing the school system to reckon with rezoning
while the Ferguson sale was still up in the air. Many options were discussed,
including combining Warwick, Denbigh, and Ferguson’s student populations, and
making either Warwick or Ferguson ninth grade only. Many Ferguson students and
teachers rallied against this option, not wanting to lose their school. The
school board relented, choosing a rezoning plan to transfer students from
overcrowded Denbigh to Ferguson and Warwick. The school board also changed
their plan from building one high school and renovating the former Hines Middle
School. When a large, previously unavailable plot of land in the southern part
of the city became available, the NNSB went about acquiring it to build a
second high school. In October 1994, the identical Woodside and Heritage High
Schools had their groundbreaking ceremonies. Each $20 million dollar school
would open in the fall of 1996. Since the Ferguson sale contract was signed in
1995, until the new schools opened, the City would lease Ferguson from CNU for
$45,947 a month.[46]
In July 1995, CNU’s Board of Visitors
toured Ferguson High School. A study on Ferguson completed earlier that year
stated “Although the space is well-maintained, its current configuration is
inadequate to provide the physical requirements or academic climate required
for college-level instruction.”[47] Some members of the board were dismayed with the building, and suggested it
would be easier to demolish the school and build an entirely new building. “I
went there. It was a piece of junk 25 years ago,” Board Member Lewis A.
McMurran III told the press.[48] These and similar sentiments circulated through the community, instantly
creating backlash. CNU was called a “spoiled child” by the press, and
legislators told Santoro, “Don’t you dare tear down a building we just paid $10
million for.”[49] Basic
renovations would cost approximately $3 million. However, the Ferguson sale had
come with a caveat. Senate Committee Chairman Andrews had privately warned
Santoro that if he asked for any additional money to renovate the building,
“this money is gone,” and the entire sale would be cancelled.[50] This came at a point where CNU had not been doing well overall, with a recent slump in enrollment, a dwindling state budget, and low morale across its
campus. The problems with the Ferguson acquisition did not help matters. With
fewer and fewer options available to him, Santoro announced his intention to
resign for the coming year. New leadership, and a new direction, was needed for
the university. Future plans on what to do with Ferguson would be decided by the next president.
[51] On January 2, 199
6, Paul Trible, Jr.
became CNU’s fifth president. He had served as both a US Congressman and
Senator for the state of Virginia. He had joined CNU’s Board of Visitors in
1994 and had fallen in love with the school. He saw a potential as to where CNU
could go. As soon as he took office, Trible started to get the ball rolling.
Six days into his presidency, he met with a group of state legislators,
campaigning for CNU to be allocated more money in the budget. He continued to
improve CNU’s visibility and relationship with the General Assembly throughout
the legislative session. When the budget was drafted, CNU received a 21.4%
increase in funds. $3.2 million was earmarked just for CNU to renovate
Ferguson. CNU and Trible were able to achieve so much success due to Delegate
Alan Diamonstein’s help within the Assembly. “Alan carried the day for us,”
said Trible.[52]
On March 20, Trible publicly announced his
comprehensive plan “Vision 2002” to raise Christopher Newport University to new
heights in the next six years. As part of his plan, Trible intended to convert
Ferguson High School into a performing arts center, one that would benefit the
whole Peninsula community. “Ours is the only community of any consequence that
also lacks a venue for the performing arts,” Trible said, “We must help shape
the cultural life of this community.” In support, the General Assembly promised
$5 million towards the new center.[53]
The dream of a large performing arts
center on the Peninsula had been around for decades. Joint Hampton-Newport News
committees had formed in the 60’s and early 90’s to try to make it a reality.
Christopher Newport’s second president James Windsor tried to build one at the
college in the late 70’s. He even went as far as ordering architectural plans
drafted and a model created. All of these attempts failed to make much headway.
Raising enough money ultimately became the largest obstacle.[54]
While Ferguson’s possible future was
dreamed up by the university, the high school prepared for its final year.
Alumni, students, and staff joined together to reminisce, mourn, and celebrate
their high school one last time. For homecoming, the large crowd of alumni
present were brought onto the field during halftime to be recognized and
welcome the football team back for the second half. Former Miss Mariner crown
holders were invited to the school’s final pageant for one last walk on the
runway. The school divested itself of many of the items that it had accumulated
over the years. Student athletes were allowed to purchase their sports jerseys.
Unclaimed uniforms were sold off during games for fans and alumni. Towards the
end of the school year, trophies and other memorabilia were sold in a community
auction. The proceeds from the auction were given to Woodside and Heritage High
Schools to help with their openings. 70 of the awards, including the 1978 state
basketball trophy, were held onto by the school system to be placed into a planned permanent display at Heritage High School. The awards, personal items, and
portrait of Homer L. Ferguson were returned to his living family members.[55]
After 35 years, Ferguson High’s bell rang
its last time for students on June 13, 1996. “The last day of school took on a
whole new meaning, as the building’s doors were locked, the last time,” wrote
the final Ferguson High yearbook.[56] Graduation for the senior class was held June 17. The remaining student body of
Ferguson was transferred to either Heritage or Warwick High School to finish
out the rest of their high school years.[57]
At the stroke of midnight on June 30,
1996, ownership of Homer L. Ferguson High School officially transferred to
Christopher Newport University. The building was renamed Ferguson Hall, in
honor of the high school and Homer L. Ferguson. While CNU did receive funds to
renovate, a serious renovation to address all of the building’s issues was not
possible right away. “In an old building, knocking down walls stirs up
asbestos. We cannot renovate without closing the building down,” Provost Robert
Doane explained.[58] As the
school was ending its lease on space in the 4-story Crestar Building, CNU was
in dire need of more classroom space. An extensive renovation would have to
come later. In preparation for its first semester of college, however, the building was
thoroughly cleaned. Phone and computer lines were installed throughout the
building, and new desks were brought in. Along with ample amounts of
classrooms, CNU’s departments of Fine & Performing Arts, English,
Government, Philosophy, and Modern Language moved their offices to the
building. Many administrative and support offices moved in as well, including
the Writing Center, the Southeastern Virginia Regional Free-Net (SEVAnet), the
English as a Second Language program, the Payroll Office, the Personnel Office,
and CNU On-line.[59]
Ferguson’s first college students were
greeted with an unflattering old-school smell. “One sniff assaults the nostrils
in a way that neither Ringling Brothers nor the SPCA could ever match,”
described student Karen DiGiorgio.[60] It was
evident the building still needed work. The roof leaked, the air conditioning
was unreliable, and a lack of insulation made the building hard to heat.
Ferguson Hall also initially lacked any amenities other than bathrooms. There
were no food options nearby – hungry students either had to trek off-campus or
cross Shoe Lane back to the main campus, where the dining halls were located on
the opposite sides of campus from Ferguson. Former congregating spaces of the
high school, such as the library and cafeteria, were left empty and devoid of
use. Students noted there weren’t any copy machines or seats available in
hallways or common areas. “The building itself is not very hospitable,” noted student Misty Mick, “CNU risks furthering the idea that it’s ‘not a real
college’ by operating out of Ferguson.”[61]
The only department that seemed to positively
receive Ferguson was Athletics. CNU only had a track and field, tennis courts,
and Ratcliffe Gym, the school’s original gymnasium that was no longer
adequately-sized for the college’s needs. Ferguson brought CNU more indoor gym
space, tennis courts, a softball field, and a baseball field. The college had
previously been using sports fields around Newport News, including Ferguson's, to substitute its
athletic insufficiencies. Having these fields now located on campus became an
important asset to the teams and sports-loving students.[62]
Conditions in Ferguson Hall did improve
over its first year. Places to sit were added in time. The Student Government
Association successfully converted the library into a student lounge with study
rooms, club offices, and a game room. Amenities, such as a computer lab, copy
machines, and a convenience store with food options became available in the
building.[63]
As students adjusted to their present
space, CNU continued planning for the hall’s future as a performing arts
center. Over the summer of 1996, CNU announced a call for architectural
proposals. Out of the 19 proposals it received, the selection committee
unanimously chose noted architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. Past
works by the group included the Louvre’s pyramid expansion in Paris, France,
the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. “We decided that we wanted to build
an architectural masterpiece, as well as a world-class facility. We knew that
if we hired this firm, that’s precisely what we’d get,” said Trible.[64] The project was led by Henry Cobb, a founding member of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. The Architects of Record for the project were the Hanbury Evans
Newill Vlattas & Company architectural firm of Norfolk, Virginia.[65]
The center’s preliminary designs were
unveiled March 1997. A third of the original Ferguson building would be
demolished, while the rest of it would be incorporated into the new design. A
brand new 1,750-seat concert hall would be attached to the eastern side of the
building. The western side would have a 500-seat proscenium theater and a
200-seat studio theater. The concert hall and theater were to be endowed with
impressive, state-of-the-art acoustics, designed by Kirkegaard &
Associates. Situated in front of the existing Ferguson façade, a two-story
curving colonnade would link the building together with its 900-car parking
deck on the western side. “[The colonnade] is intended to artistically
represent a ship’s sail,” explained Bill Brauer, CNU’s Executive Vice
President, “Each column in the colonnade is made up of two ‘sails’ that are
full of wind … at night, the light that comes down from above creates a column
of light in the gap between the two ‘sails.’”[66] The three clustered gyms in the back would become a fine arts center with
25,000 square feet of exhibition space. The remaining Ferguson spaces would be
renovated to be used as performance support spaces, classrooms, and offices.
“We’ve kept the core of the old building and enveloped it as a new creation,”
Trible said. He hoped to open the building with a spectacular party on December
31, 1999 to herald in the new millennium, the new center, and the new CNU.[67]
The only thing that could hold up plans
was raising the necessary funds. The center was originally said to cost between
$15 - $25 million dollars. A year later, that
estimate became $30 million. While the General Assembly did not provide
additional fiscal support towards the center in 1997, they did authorize the
university the ability to start raising its own funds for the project. Local municipalities started
pledging money towards its creation. Newport News committed to over $5 million.
The City of Hampton sent in $1 million, and York County gave $400,000 for
the center. Later on, Poquoson also chipped in with $100,000.[68]
Christopher Newport also solicited gifts
from corporations and individuals. In May 1998, local businessman Robert
Freeman and his family donated $1 million towards the Center for the Arts, the
largest private gift CNU had ever received. Later that same year, CNU received
another $1 million, this time from Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. Ferguson
Enterprises (co-founded by Charles Ferguson, one of Homer L. Ferguson’s sons)
was a national plumbing supply company headquartered in Newport News. Two
Ferguson Enterprises officials had previously been appointed to CNU’s Board of
Visitors, including former Ferguson CEO David Peebles. Another $1 million for
the Center for the Arts would come from Pepsi Cola. In exchange, Pepsi became
the exclusive provider of beverages for CNU.[69]
As funds were raised for the building, plans were also in the works to
redevelop Ferguson’s grounds. As part of a state project to widen Warwick
Boulevard, an amendment was added to its proposal in 1996 to reroute Shoe Lane.
As it had been, Shoe Lane shot between Ferguson Hall and CNU’s main campus to
reach Warwick Boulevard. Warwick was frequently congested between its two close
intersections with Shoe Lane & J. Clyde Boulevard. The proposed reroute
would discontinue the first few hundred yards of Shoe Lane and cut off its
connection to Warwick. A new roadway would start at the Warwick and J. Clyde
intersection. Connecting to Museum Drive, the road would curve behind Ferguson
and cut through the former high school’s athletic fields. It would then end in
a roundabout, with connections to a new CNU entranceway and the remaining
roadway of Shoe Lane. Earthen berms would be laid to minimize road noise to the
residential houses that would border the new road. The new roadway would make
it safter for pedestrians travelling from Ferguson to Christopher Newport’s
main campus. It would also alleviate traffic congestion on Warwick & the
local residential roads when the university and future arts center held events.
Last but not least, CNU would get an impressive new entrance.[70]
While this pleased the University, many
local residents were not happy with this change. They feared the exact opposite
would occur – traffic would get worse, and their neighborhoods would suffer. A
“Save Shoe Lane” campaign started to gain traction. The University geared up as
well, circling petitions to staff and students and rallying support in favor of
the reroute. While both sides showed up to City Council meetings in full force,
the City Council approved the Shoe Lane plan. The amendment would continue to
be debated at higher levels and different departments for years, reaching
approval at every step. Its final approval hurdle was overcome January 2001
when the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board unanimously approved
Warwick Boulevard’s widening and the Shoe Lane amendment. Construction on the
roadway began in 2003.[71]
Ferguson Hall continued to serve CNU in
its lightly renovated form. With its extra square footage, CNU used it as a
flexible, catch-all space. Partnerships and collaborations were tested out
within its walls. The Hampton Roads Regional Academy of Criminal Justice rented
the hall’s annex and cafeteria for classes, sometimes holding training exercises outside on the grounds. Virginia Educators Credit Union
opened a branch inside, open at select hours to coincide with peak student
traffic hours. CNU even experimented with hosting college-level classes for
Newport News high school students there.[72]
Students found their own ways of using the
building. The Student Government Association brought ska-band Fighting Gravity
to perform in the Main Gym as part of the 1999 homecoming celebration. WCNU,
the student-run radio station, established a recording studio in the building.
Theater majors even converted one of the smaller gyms into a black-box theater
space called the Shoebox Theatre for a senior thesis project. Students could be
found in the building at all hours. Recalled student Danny Devlin, “There were various ways into and out of the building. Once inside, there were no rules. People used to skateboard and ride bikes in the hall.”[73]
December 31st, 1999 came and went. “Like
the mystical El Dorado, the Center for the Performing Arts has been alluded to,
but never seen by human eyes,” wrote one student news editorial.[74] No physical work on the Center for the Arts had started except for a billboard
alongside the road, advertising the future facility. Fundraising had taken more
time than previously thought. The school had raised $23 million for the
performance hall towards the turn of the century. At the same time, the
project’s cost had grown to $45-50 million. “The immense size and complexity of
the project requires the expenditure of a lot of money,” explained Trible. “We
set out to build a world-class facility, and that turns out to be a very
expensive proposition. When we set out … we had no idea how much something like
this would really cost.”[75] More money continued to be pledged. In addition to private gifts, the state
appropriated more money towards the project. Trible also tapped Virginia’s U.S. Senators George Allen & John Warner for help. They were able to include $1
million for the center in a federal appropriations bill.[76]
As funding goals got closer to being met,
action plans were devised to reduce the need for Ferguson’s classroom space
during its transformation. In 2000, the Freeman Sports and Convocation Center
opened, named in recognition of the Freeman family’s large gift for the Center
for the Arts. Once it did, Ratcliffe Gym was given a $5 million renovation to
be converted into a two-story academic building with classrooms, offices, and
athletic support spaces. The English department, Writing Center, and Government
offices moved there in the Fall of 2001. “Since I first walked into Ratcliffe,
I have felt no sense of nostalgia for Ferguson,” said Dr. Pollard of the
English Department, “I do not miss Ferguson’s often broken air conditioners or
the sagging ceiling tiles that could fall on your head.”[77] CNU also acquired nearby buildings, office parks, and houses for temporary
admin/classroom spaces.[78]
After 5 years of fundraising, CNU achieved
what many considered impossible: it had raised enough money to begin
construction on its Center for the Arts. The dream for a performing arts center
on the Peninsula would finally come true. Work started on the site January
2002. A Foundation Placement Ceremony was held April 17, 2002 to formally
celebrate the groundbreaking. Attendees signed their names into a
freshly-poured slab of concrete. The center was built in two phases, denoted by
the Ferguson’s clock tower. In Phase I, everything to the right of the tower
closed for renovation. The left/eastern half of the hall remained open,
holding classroom space for the ROTC, Nursing Labs, and Fine and Performing
Arts Departments. A year later, Phase II began, closing the entire building and
demolishing everything to the left of the clock tower. Out of the rubble of
Ferguson High’s auditorium, music rooms, and tech shops, the 1,700-seat concert
hall began to rise.[79]
Some design features had evolved since the
first envisioning. Trible had not been happy about the idea of placing a
multi-level parking deck in the middle of the campus. Instead, it was moved to
a location behind the Center. Without a parking deck out front, the colonnade’s
planned length was cut in half.[80] Another change involved budgetary reasons. As the price for the Center for the
Arts kept growing, some aspects had to be deferred or left off entirely. The
fine arts’ exhibit center was the largest of these cuts. The smaller gyms that
were to house this wing were not renovated, instead sealed off for possible
future expansions.
In December 2003, CNU announced the
center’s official name. Along with giving their initial $1 million in 1998,
Ferguson Enterprises and their employees gave another combined $1.6 million
gift towards the center. As thanks, CNU named the building the Ferguson Center
for the Arts. Announced simultaneously with the naming of the center was the
naming of the center’s Executive Director. After a nationwide search, William
Biddle was appointed to the role. Biddle had previously been the Director of
the Miller Auditorium at West Michigan University, revitalizing that hall’s
programming to be profitable and vibrant.[81]
Construction would continue on…
 |
| Ferguson Center. Photo by A.J. Jelonek |
FERGUSON REBORN
On September 1, 2004, concertgoers entered
the Ferguson Center’s 440-seat Music & Theater Hall for the first time. For
the inaugural performance, the CNU Jazz Ensemble opened for Tony Bennett and
his quartet. Tickets for the performance had sold out a half hour after they
went on sale.[82] As
former Mayor Joe Frank recalled,
"After a few songs, [Bennett] told
the technical people to turn off the sound system. As I recall it, he said, 'I
have sung in thousands of places around the world, and I've never performed in
a place where the acoustics are as good as this hall.’ At the end of the
evening Trible got onstage, put his arm around Bennett, and said, 'You've managed
to do what no one else has done, which is make an honest man out of a
politician.'"[83]
Phase I of the Ferguson Center had opened
to staff and students in late Summer 2004. Next to the new Music & Theater
Hall, Ferguson High School’s main gym had been retained. Divided with new
walls, it held a theater rehearsal hall, a set design shop, a light
experimentation lab, and the 200-seat black box Studio Theater. Nearby, the old
cafeteria had been converted into a dance rehearsal space, art classrooms,
dressing rooms, a costume shop, prop storage, a green room space, and the
relocated Falk Gallery. The school’s former library was doomed never to be
quiet again, instead filled with music classes and practice rooms. The building’s
second-largest gym, Warwick Junior’s original main gym, became a large music
rehearsal room. Classrooms around the building were converted into offices, practice spaces, as well as classrooms, both specialized and general-use.[84]
There were still many remnants of the high
school present. “It’s really weird because I remember and I see the old
building,” said student Greg Poljacik, “You walk around and have nice walls
built up, then you walk into an old Ferguson bathroom.”[85] Some elements were incorporated into the renovated design, such as the terrazzo
floors, the glass block windows, and the main structure of the building. Other
features were hidden away. The old school’s lockers were left in place, able to
be rattled behind new drywall. The new colonnade was built in front of the
remaining portion of the high school’s front façade. The back of the building
was blocked from view by earthen berms covered with landscaping.
In December, the Shoe Lane reroute was
completed. With its roundabout being one of the first in the area, the Virginia
Department of Transportation and Newport News spent months ahead of time
educating locals and the university population on roundabout traffic rules. In
an effort to connect the various museums and cultural institutions along the
same road, the City of Newport News ceremoniously branded the new route the
Avenue of the Arts.[86]
The departments of theater and music
mainly used the new theater spaces, but Executive Director Biddle also used
them for some ticketed programming. This pre-Concert Hall season consisted of
only 10 performances, giving a taste of what future Concert Hall seasons could
bring to the Peninsula.[87]
With the Concert Hall’s grand opening
firmly set for September 12, 2005, Phase II construction continued on the other
side of the Center. As the date creeped closer, work was amped up. The final
months of the summer saw construction schedules transition from 6 to 7
days-a-week. Some workers were asked to pull double shifts in one day.
"This, by far, is the most challenging and most complex project I've been
involved in, and I think almost anyone involved with the project would say the
same thing," said Ron Lauster, one of the Center’s project managers.[88] Fortunately, construction was able to finish on time. The total cost of
construction ended up being $57.5 Million.[89]
The opening season was one with many stars:
The Irish Tenors, Bruce Hornsby, another night with Tony Bennett, B.B. King,
among others. Biddle pulled out all the stops, programming a variety of genres
to see what people would like. Between musicals from Broadway and classical
concerts from the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, there was something for
everyone. The Concert Hall’s inaugural concert featured Broadway star Michael
Crawford and the New York Pops led by Skitch Henderson. Like the Music & Theater
Hall before it, the Concert Hall received rave reviews for its beauty,
acoustics, and its impact on the Peninsula. The Daily Press editorialized, “The
word ‘transformative’ is getting used too much of late, a buzzword to describe
what sometimes seems little more than repositioning the shrubbery. But to go
into the new concert hall is to be reminded of what transformative really
means.”[90]
The
signature high moment of the season was the October 20, 2005 Andrea Bocelli
concert. After over a year of negotiations, Biddle was able to book the
world-famous opera singer for a rare U.S. performance at the center. Tickets to
the premium performance were set between $175-$300. This did not prevent the
show from selling out. The day before the performance, after meeting at a
scholarship luncheon, Bocelli invited CNU music senior Anthony Colosimo to
share the stage with him. At the concert, Colosimo sang “La Serenata,” to a
standing ovation by the audience and Bocelli. The rest of the evening, Bocelli
wowed the audience. It was a night to remember.[91]
That
first season, the Ferguson made $3.5 Million in tickets. While the average
ticket price was $35 and topped out around $75, some patrons surmised that
prices were too high and the Center was elitist. The Ferguson Center battled
these perceptions by starting to offer moderately-priced shows. Some
family-friendly shows offered $9-$15 tickets. The center also offered
discounted and complimentary tickets to local schools, Boys & Girls Clubs,
and An Achievable Dream. CNU current students also received discounts – most
notably $30 tickets offered to the Andrea Bocelli concert.[92]
At
the end of the year, the Daily Press’ Arts Reporter David Nicholson opined:
“This year belongs, in large part, to
Christopher Newport University, which changed the cultural landscape with the
opening of its concert hall in the Ferguson Center for the Arts. For decades,
Peninsula arts patrons had been traveling to Norfolk for Broadway shows, operas
and symphony orchestra concerts. With its excellent acoustics and spectacular
lineup of guest artists, the hall had South Hampton Roads residents flocking to
our side of the water. It also invigorated the Peninsula arts community.”[93]
The Ferguson Center was awarded Excellence
in Design from the Hampton Roads American Institute of Architecture. It won
grand prize in College Planning & Management magazine’s Education Design
Showcase, as well as the Louis I. Kahn award for American School & University
magazine. It was also selected as one of 15 projects to be represented in the
United States’ exhibit “Performance Spaces for a New Generation: Training
Facilities for the Performing Arts in the United States” for the 2007
International Prague Quadrennial.[94]
To honor the 400th anniversary
of the establishment of Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in the
Americas, the region celebrated with the Jamestown Celebration in 2007. As
Christopher Newport University was named after one of the captains of the initial
Jamestown voyage, the school got in on the action as well. The Ferguson Center
served as the venue for many lectures and special performances throughout the
celebration. TheaterCNU Professor Steven Breese wrote and directed Actus Fidei, a musical weaving the life
of Christopher Newport in the past and present. With music by Professor Joseph
Pollard White, Broadway actor John Michalski playing Newport, and a cast of 27
students playing 60 other roles, it premiered at the Ferguson Center.[95]
That same year, the Ferguson Center added
another theater to its roster. In March, John and Esther Mable Yoder gifted
their Yoder Barn Theatre to CNU. The barn had been part of the family’s dairy
farm a few miles away from CNU. In 1996, the Yoders converted it into a
community theater space. With the gift of the $4.1 million theater, CNU planned
to use it for a summer theater repertory company, the home of CNU’s Lifelong
Learning Society, and other school functions. On the public performances side,
the Yoder would focus on smaller, community-priced shows. “We also want to
present things that you don’t see in our Concert Hall, things that may be a
little more experimental,” said Bill Biddle, “It’s a nontraditional space, so
we’re trying to think outside of the box.”[96]
Before the barn could open under CNU’s
operation, the building had to undergo extensive renovations to bring it up to
code. A September 2007 opening was planned. Close to the opening, it was
discovered the building occupancy had only ever been for 75 people total, a space
that had previously held 300+ size crowds. Extra safety renovations had to be
performed, pushing back the opening until February 2008. Shows that had been
scheduled for the Yoder were moved to the Ferguson’s stages, pending
availability. When it finally opened,
the Yoder hosted five days of free performances to welcome the community. A few
months later, it premiered the first summer of Tidewater Regional Repertory
Theatre, its professional summer rep theater. CNU students, faculty, and others
from general auditions came together to put on three productions. The
Ferguson’s fourth theater was finally in business.[97]
The troubles, however, were not over. The
2008 economic recession took a toll on the performing arts center. State and
local grants were cut back, and ticket sales stayed few and far between. By
summer 2009, the Ferguson Center owed a deficit of $450,000. The cost was
covered by CNU, but the Center would eventually have to pay the school back.
Cuts were made to soften future blows. The 2009-2010 season was reduced to
around 25 shows, compared to 62 performances during the 2007-08 year. Tidewater
Regional Repertory Theatre was shelved indefinitely, while the Yoder stopped
presenting any ticketed performances. Staff vacancies were kept open, and housekeeping
was reduced overall. “I’m not sure what will sell anymore,” said Biddle at the
time, “I’ve been in this business for more than 20 years, and I’ve never seen
anything like this.”[98] The
Center’s budget reduction measures would help it weather the rest of the
recession. By Summer 2010, Biddle was cautiously optimistic, adding a few more
shows to the upcoming season. "We've turned things around from last year
and are looking at a small profit," Biddle said.[99] The Ferguson would eventually climb back to pre-recession show numbers, even
hitting its one millionth guest on March 27, 2011.[100]
When the Ferguson was transformed into the
Center, one of the former high school’s courtyards survived the conversion.
TheaterCNU’s scenic director Professor George Hillow and CNU landscape designer
Bob Goodheart came up with a plan to repurpose it. With the help of dedicated
student volunteers and community members, they started to transform the barren
space in 2005. The garden was slowly but diligently worked on, adding drainage,
re-grading the ground, adding a patio, plants, and a half-circle pergola. All
of its $40,000 cost was privately funded. The CNU Class of 2008 also stepped in
and donated a fountain for the space as part of their class gift. When it
opened in 2010, it was named the Arts Garden. “It’s meant to be a place to
celebrate the arts,” said Hillow, “A place for quiet repose, meditation,
studying, horsing around, rehearsals, performances… hold outdoor classes.”[101] The Arts Garden became a beloved hidden oasis within the Ferguson. Hillow
stayed actively involved in its gardening and maintenance. Upon Hillow’s
retirement in 2017, President Trible ceremoniously renamed the space the George
Joseph Hillow III Arts Garden.
In spring 2013, Ferguson Enterprises continued
their commitment to CNU and the arts center by donating $12 million, another
record-breaking donation to the university. $10 million went towards the
operations and programming of the center. The remaining amount went to arts
scholarships and CNU’s Center for Community Engagement. "[Ferguson
Enterprises] are a model for good corporate citizenship," said Trible,
"They encourage their people to be actively involved in the
community." The gift also ensured Ferguson would keep their naming rights
over the center through 2042.[102]
A few months later, CNU’s Department of
Music debuted its Torggler Vocal Institute, an annual summer music intensive.
It was named after and funded by George and Mary Torggler, CNU parents and avid
arts supporters. The Institute helped train high school and college students
through two weeks full of vocal lessons, master classes, workshops, and
performances. Top vocalists of different fields were brought in to give
students a well-rounded musical experience.[103]
In 2015, the Ferguson Center celebrated 10
years of operation. At the same time, Bill Biddle left the helm of the Ferguson
for the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at Long Island University. Bruce
Bronstein became the center’s next Executive Director. With a background in
performing, talent booking, and marketing, Bronstein had initially been brought
on by Biddle as the Ferguson’s first Director of Communications in 2005. Now as
the Executive Director, Bronstein planned to continue the Ferguson’s mix of
performing genres and artists. "I've seen the role the arts can play in
being transformative in the lives of students and the community. What a great
honor to be a part of that,” Bronstein said, “Bill created something very
successful here through hard work. My responsibility is to be a good
steward."[104]
Soon thereafter, the Ferguson theater
spaces were rechristened. In 2016, the Concert Hall became the Alan and Beverly
Diamonstein Concert Hall, and the Music & Theater Hall was renamed the
David & Mary Peebles Theatre. These naming honors were awarded to both of
these families due to their leadership and support towards CNU, the arts, and
the Peninsula community.[105]
On December 10, 2016, the Ferguson Center
hosted the 20/40/70 Celebration. The gala and night of performances was in
honor of President Trible’s 20th year as President of CNU, his 40th
year of public service in Virginia, and his 70th birthday.
"This university has been at the forefront of progress in Newport News and
the Peninsula for half a century, and Paul's leadership and vision has been the
driving force of that success," former Newport News Mayor Joe Frank
extolled that night.[106]
As the success of
the Ferguson Center and other CNU endeavors led to additional buildings and
improvements across campus, CNU eventually
looked back to the Ferguson to revive its plans for a fine arts exhibit center
along the back of the building. During the design
process of this new addition, the proposed location was determined to be too
tight to fit everything needed for the center. It
was then decided to move it to the western side of the Ferguson, where a ground parking lot was located. The fine arts center, later
named the Mary M. Torggler Center, would straddle the border of architectural
styles on campus – the campus-facing side would exhibit a three-story
Neo-Georgian façade with columns, while the Ferguson-facing side would match
the performing arts building’s modern contemporary style. While separate
buildings, they would be attached by a continuation of the Ferguson colonnade.
This would allow for the colonnade to finally extend to the length that Pei
Cobb Freed & Partners had originally envisioned. The Torggler’s
groundbreaking was held in January 2019, with an opening set for 2021.[107]
 |
| Ferguson Center. Photo by A.J. Jelonek |
THE UNFINISHED PRESENT
In the early parts of 2020, the COVID-19
virus spread to become a global pandemic. It soon reached the United States,
and then Christopher Newport University. On March 13, 2020 CNU sent its
students home, having cancelled all in-person classes and events the day
before. The Ferguson Center also announced that all of its performances would
be cancelled through April 13. Three days later, it cancelled the remaining spring shows of its season. In mid-April, the Center optimistically started announcing
rescheduled performances would take place in the fall. As the months went on,
these too would also be cancelled. Patrons were given refunds for all
ticket purchases.[108]
Over the summer, CNU developed health and
safety protocols to be able to safely bring students back to campus. Students
returned for the fall semester to a changed campus environment. Face masks were
required to be worn indoors. Campus, and the Ferguson Center, were closed to
individuals not actively enrolled/employed by CNU. Many of the larger spaces in
the Ferguson Center were repurposed as classroom spaces to allow for larger
class sizes with social distancing. The Peebles Theatre lobby was used as a
pop-up dining location that took students’ meal orders in advance. In the
spring semester, an outdoor socialization event called Fireside Lounges
utilized the top level of the Ferguson parking deck. Without evening
performances, the large, underutilized deck had plenty of space and a
captivating view of the CNU skyline.[109]
Despite the pandemic, fine &
performing arts students continued to hone and present their craft. The
postponed Spring 2020 Senior Thesis Art Major Exhibition finally had its time
to shine in the fall semester. Music recitals were presented audience-less, but
filmed and uploaded onto a newly-created CNU Music YouTube channel for all to
see. Their annual Holiday Happening musical extravaganza was broadcast
on local television for the first time. Theater students performed a
socially-distant production of the 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee in the Diamonstein Concert Hall. Performers were separated
from each other with plexiglass partitions. Only CNU students and staff were
allowed to attend the performances. Another production, The Living, a
play coincidentally about a 17th century plague, took place over a
Zoom webinar. The Diamonstein Concert Hall programming also pivoted during this
time. They celebrated the center’s 15th anniversary with a short
video series highlighting some of the acts and shows that had graced the stage
over the years. They also partnered with Broadway composer Drew Gasparini on
“Drew Gasparini’s New Voices,” a free virtual concert series showcasing
up-and-coming artists and composers each month.[110]
Largely unhindered
by the global pandemic, the Torggler Center opened as planned in 2021. Once the fine arts department moved into their new building, their
former spaces around the Ferguson were reallocated to the Music and Theater
departments. The Ferguson also saw its own share of smaller construction projects.
The original Warwick Junior High main gym, previously only painted and carpeted
for band rehearsal space and theater storage, would be acoustically renovated
to become a proper band rehearsal room. One of the two smaller, closed-off gyms
was demolished, while the other was renovated into offices and more music
rehearsal space.[111]
As vaccines became available and COVID
infections started to drop in the United States, theaters slowly became
community gathering points again. On May 14, 2021, the Virginia Symphony
Orchestra held the Diamonstein Concert Hall’s first ticketed performance open
to public attendance. Guests were welcomed back with a different experience.
Valet, concessions, and the golf cart shuttle service were all unavailable.
Guests were assigned specific concert lobby entry doors to enter the building.
Guests could choose the price points for their seats, but their specific seat
was assigned for them to socially distance groups.[112]
For the Summer 2021, the Ferguson Center
announced it would start to allow full-capacity seating at its performances.
Only guests who had not been fully vaccinated were required to wear a face
covering inside. It also launched a new summer program, The New Musicals Lab.
This incubation program would provide space for in-progress musicals to be
developed and presented. The Lab’s first summer helped with the creation of
eight new musicals.[113]
As the fall approached, more contagious
variants of the COVID virus spread throughout the United States. As these occurred,
the Ferguson made mask wearing required for all, regardless of vaccination
status. Once these particular variants waned by March 2022, the mask policies
were relaxed again, and the Ferguson’s pre-pandemic services were restored.[114]
With that, we have reached the present. The
conclusion of this historic moment is still unfolding. It’s not an ideal place
to wrap up, but this is where we are.
It has been 16 years since
the opening of the Ferguson Center. 26 years since the building’s ownership
transferred to Christopher Newport University. 51 years since its student body
started to be bused to enforce desegregation. 61 years since the Junior High
became a High School. And it has been 66 years since the school first started
teaching its first students. The story of the Ferguson is one of adapting to a
changing landscape, of always being a center for learning, and of becoming a
beacon for the arts on the Peninsula. May it continue to do so.
In memory of Amy Boykin. A Librarian, a Captain, a Friend.
Companion Articles
[1]“History of Consolidation.” Newport News,
VA - Official Website, https://www.nnva.gov//282/History-of-Consolidation; Bureau of Public Administration, University
of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1956, A Report on the Advantages and
Disadvantages of Consolidating the Hampton, Newport News, and Warwick Public
School Systems; Public Law 815; 64 Stat. 967, 81st
Congress of the United States, 1950. www.scribd.com/fullscreen/49333578?access_key=key-3bi0uh82bby4p7tcpby&allow_share=true&escape=false&view_mode=scroll; Warwick County School Board. Regular Meeting.
15 April 1952.
[2] City of Warwick School Board. Regular
Meeting. 9 June 1954; “Shoe Lane Site To Be Acquired For Junior High,” Times-Herald,
9 December 1954; Mayo, Samuel N. Warwick Junior High School, Site Clearing
Plan. 22 July 1955. CNU Architects’ Office; Knight, J.H. “Court To Decide Fair
Price For Proposed School Site,” New Journal and Guide, 15 January 1955.
[3] Knight, J.H. “Court To Decide Fair Price For Proposed School Site,” New
Journal and Guide, 15 January 1955; “Shoe Lane Site To Be Acquired For Junior High,” Times-Herald,
9 December 1954.
[4] City of Warwick School Board. Regular
Meeting. 8 December 1954. Superintendent’s Office, Newport News Public Schools,
hereinafter referred to as NNPS.
[5] Knight, J.H. “Court To Decide Fair Price For Proposed School Site,” New
Journal and Guide, 15 January 1955; “Board Acquires Last Acreage Needed For
Warwick School Site,” Daily Press, 27 May 1955.
[6]“Plans Underway For New
Warwick Junior High School,” Daily Press, 18 September 1955.
[7] City of Warwick School Board. Regular
Meeting. 10 September 1955. Superintendent’s Office, NNPS; “Junior High in
Warwick is Accepted,” Daily Press, 9 March 1957; “Award of Contract On
New $1,300,000 Warwick Junior High School Due Soon,” Daily Press, 18
September 1955; City of Warwick School Board. Regular Meeting. 23 February
1955. Superintendent’s Office, NNPS.
[8]“Public Schools In All Three Area Cities To Be
In Session Today,” Daily Press, 6 September 1956; City of Warwick School
Board. Regular Meeting. 10 October 1956. Superintendent’s Office, NNPS; City of
Warwick School Board. Regular Meeting. 8 March 1957. Superintendent’s Office,
NNPS; Warwick Junior High School. The Cavalier,1959. Print. Virginiana
Room, Newport News Public Library.
[9] Eskridge, Sara Kathryn, “Virginia's Pupil
Placement Board and the Massive Resistance Movement, 1956-1966” 2006, VCU
Thesis; “With Resistance” Daily Press, 9 May 2004.
[10] City of Warwick School Board. Regular
Meeting. 9 October 1957. Superintendent’s Office, NNPS; Le Moal, David, “Consolidation: Race, politics
and suburbanization in the Newport News-Warwick merger,” 2018. Masters
Theses. 629. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/629; Bureau of Public Administration, University
of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1956, A Report on the Advantages and
Disadvantages of Consolidating the Hampton, Newport News, and Warwick Public
School Systems.
[11] Warwick Junior High
School. The Cavalier, 1961. Print. Virginiana Room, Newport News Public
Library; City of Warwick School Board. Regular Meeting. 13 November 1957.
Superintendent’s Office, NNPS; City of Newport News School Board. Regular
Meeting. 18 August 1960. Superintendent’s Office, NNPS.
[12] City of Newport News School Board. Regular
Meeting. 20 October 1960. Superintendent’s Office, NNPS.
[13] City of Newport News School Board. Regular
Meeting.15 December 1960. Superintendent’s Office, NNPS; “New High School May
Bear Name of Homer L. Ferguson,” Daily Press. 18 February 1961; Erickson, Mark
St. John. “Shipbuilding boss Homer L. Ferguson shaped yard and region.” Daily
Press, 18 July 2015; Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1962. Print.
Virginiana Room, Newport News Public Library; Christian, Ralph J. “Hilton
Village Historic District,” National Register of Historic Places Nomination
Form, June 1979, https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/121-0009_Hilton_Village_1969_Final_Nomination.pdf, accessed 7 November 2021; City of Newport
News School Board. Regular Meeting. 23 March 1961.
[14] City of Newport News School Board. Regular
Meeting. 17 November 1960; Ferguson
High School. The Mariner, 1962. Print. Virginiana Room, Newport News
Public Library.
[15] Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1962.
Print. Virginiana Room, Newport News Public Library; Ferguson High School. The
Mariner, 1970. Print. Virginiana Room, Newport News Public Library;
Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1996. Print. Virginiana Room, Newport
News Public Library; Willoz-Egnor, Jeanne. Mariners’ Museum email
correspondence, December 2014; Joyce, Skipper. Ferguson High School Class of
1963 phone correspondence. 7 May 2021.
[16] City of Newport News School Board. Regular
Meeting. 15 November 1962; “Two Negroes Assigned To High School,” Daily
Press, 18 May 1963.
[17] School Board of the City of Newport News. Regular Meeting. 17 August 1967.
[18] City of Newport News School Board. Regular
Meeting. 15 August 1963;
Christopher Newport College, The
Trident, 1965. Print. Archives, Paul and Rosemary Trible Library; City of
Newport News School Board. Regular Meeting. 17 December 1964; Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1967. Print.
Virginiana Room, Newport News Public Library; City of Newport News School
Board. Regular Meeting. 16 September 1965.
[19] “School Board Names
Passage, Fleet Giedemann, Underwood To Top Posts,” Daily Press, 30 July
1965.
[20] Barrett, Stephanie. “Her Namesake School Will
Forever Bear Mary Passage's Devotion.” Daily Press, 12 Feb. 2000, https://web.archive.org/web/20180626084917/http://passage.nn.k12.va.us/about.html. Accessed 26 June 2018.
[21] Atkinson, Susan, “School
Board Approves Transfer Of 27 Negroes To 4 White Units.” Daily Press, 10
August 1962; Keyser, Seridan T. “Newport News School Board Transfers 24 Negro
Pupils to Formerly White Schools,” Daily Press. 19 July 1963; City of Newport News School Board. Regular Meeting. 17 June 1965; Quarstein, John V.,
and Parke S. Rouse. “Chapter X: A City for All.” Newport News: A Centennial
History, City of Newport News, Newport News, VA, 1996.
[22] School Board of the City of Newport News.
Regular Meeting. 15 February 1968; School Board of the
City of Newport News. Regular Meeting. Transcript. 27 June 1968; Holt, Jean. “School Board
Will Fight HEW Over ‘Choice’ Plan,” Daily Press. 28 June, 1968; United States, Congress, United States
Commission on Civil Rights, Virginia State Advisory Committee. School
Desegregation in Newport News City, Virginia: a Report, University of Michigan
Libraries Collection. May 1977.
[23] School Board of the City of Newport News. Regular Meeting. Transcript.
27 June 1968.
[24] School Board of the City of Newport News. Regular Meeting. 27 June 1968; School Board of the
City of Newport News. Regular Meeting. 19 February 1970.
[25] Hammond, Jane, “Resistance
and repercussions: How Newport News fought to keep schools segregated.” Daily
Press. 11 February 2017; United States, Congress,
United States Commission on Civil Rights, Virginia State Advisory Committee.
School Desegregation in Newport News City, Virginia: a Report, University of
Michigan Libraries Collection. May 1977; “With Resistance” Daily Press,
9 May 2004.
[26] Ibid.
[27] United States, Congress, United States
Commission on Civil Rights, Virginia State Advisory Committee. School
Desegregation in Newport News City, Virginia: a Report, University of Michigan
Libraries Collection. May 1977; Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1972.
Print. Virginiana Room, Newport News Public Library.
[28] Boyte, Sam, “Students,
Principals Confer Following Day of Walkouts.” Daily Press. 16 September
1971.
[29] “Youth Charged In High
School Arson, Burglary.” Daily Press. 25 January 1972; Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1972. Print. Virginiana Room,
Newport News Public Library; Hammond, Jane, “Resistance and repercussions:
Newport News alumni discuss early years of desegregation.” Daily Press.
18 February 2017; Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1996. Print.
Virginiana Room, Newport News Public Library.
[30] Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1972. Print. Virginiana
Room, Newport News Public Library; “Ferguson High School Closing: Ferguson
Memories.” Daily Press. 09 June 1996; Johnson, Dave, “How Sports Smoothed Racial Transition.” Daily
Press. 23 May 2004.
[31] Miller, Vivian “Vivian
Miller Oral History Interview,” YouTube, uploaded by The Say It Loud
Project, 2 June 2021.
[32] Fisher, Marianne, “Concert
Halted By Fire.” Daily Press. 15 April 1972; “Mariners
Observe Homer L. Ferguson’s 100th Birthday” The Windjammer. 6 March 1973;
Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1972. Print. Virginiana Room, Newport
News Public Library; “Portrait
Replaced.” Daily Press. 6 October 6 1973.
[33] Vol. X Special Issue. The Windjammer.
6 March 1973.
[34] “Ferguson Memories.” Daily
Press. 9 June 1996; Johnson, Ernest “Mariners capture State crown,” The
Windjammer, 24 March 1978; Robinson, Grant “Robinson recalls game,” The
Windjammer, 24 March 1978.
[35] “Ferguson Naval ROTC
Activated,” Daily Press, 27 April 1974; Clark, Mike
“Fergie gets $.5 million
facelift,” The Windjammer, October 1976; “Coed Gym, “The New
Experience”,” The Windjammer, December 1978; School
Board of the City of Newport News. Regular Session. 21 January 1981.
[36] Gibson, David & Smith, Randy “FHS Principal, 2 Others Killed,” Daily Press, 10 December 1982; Barry, Ann “Walter Given
Farewell,” Daily Press, 14 December 1982; School
Board of the City of Newport News. Regular Session. 15 December 1982; Raper, Betsy “Pat Quinn – An ‘Artist’ At Work,” Daily
Press, 1 May 1983; “Play Nets $1,500,” Daily Press, 24 May 1983; Knott, Tom “Travis:
Hopeful, Always Hopeful,” Daily Press, 17 February 1983; School Board of the City of Newport News. Regular Session. 21 March 1984; Freddie L. Travis Obituary, Daily
Press, 16 September 2010.
[37] Murray, Phil “Exposure to
asbestos suspected,” Daily Press, 21 July 1983; Murray,
Phil “Asbestos report was ignored
at first,” Daily Press, 12 September 1983; Murray, Phil “5 schools
scheduled to be rid of asbestos,” Daily Press, 19 May 1984; Miller, Jeff D. “Schools expect 64,000 students on Peninsula,” Daily Press, 19 August
1984; Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1996. Print. Virginiana Room,
Newport News Public Library;
School Board of the City of Newport News, Regular Session, 22 September 1988.
[38] School Board of the City of Newport News, Public Hearing, 12 March 1992; School Board of the
City of Newport News, Special Session, 23 March 1992.
[39] Katz, Lisa “NAACP accuses
NN schools of bias,” Daily Press, 9 September 1991; Hamilton, Phillip. Serving
the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport University 1958-2011.
First ed., University Press, 2011.
[40] Colvin, Leonard E “Old fears of displacement still arouse homeowners,”
Journal & Guide, 1-7 March 1989; Griffin, Bethanne “Residents Upset
over CNC’s plans for expansion,” Daily Press, 26 January 1989; Green,
Frank, “Black homeowners sue to stop Newport News college’s growth” Richmond
Times-Dispatch, 20 June 1989; Hamilton,
Phillip. Serving the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport
University 1958-2011. First ed., University Press, 2011; Somerville, Sean “CNC plan
for Ferguson: Use it for classes, offices,” Daily Press, 17 November 1989. [Rev.
Marcellus Harris: “This college under Dr. Santoro has taken leaps and bounds
aggressively pursuing expansion.”].
[41] Hamilton, Phillip. Serving
the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport University 1958-2011.
First ed., University Press, 2011; “Welcome to Crittenden
Middle School!” Crittenden Middle School, Newport News Public Schools, http://crittenden.nn.k12.va.us/about.html, accessed 7 November 2021. [There have been
two Hines Middle Schools in this school system, and both of them are still in
use. In 1971, Carver High School an Intermediate School. In 1980, it became
Homer L. Hines Middle School. In 1990, the building closed for renovations.
Shortly after, another middle school was built. This new school was named Hines
Middle School. When the older school finished its renovations and reopened, it
was renamed Flora D. Crittenden Middle School.]; Somerville,
Sean “Plan would sell Ferguson High to CNC,” Daily Press, 16 November
1989.
[42] Somerville, Sean “NN board
approves plan to sell school,” Daily Press, 21 December 1989; Somerville,
Sean “Officials question proposed
high school sale,” The Times-Herald, 5 December 1989; Batterson,
James G “CNC-Ferguson proposal:
Will waiting awhile cause any harm?” Daily Press, 19 December 1989;
[43] Somerville, Sean “NN
board approves plan to sell school,” Daily Press, 21 December 1989; Katz,
Lisa “City Council backs Ferguson
sale,” Daily Press, 24 January 1990.
[44] Katz, Lisa “Sale of NN
school to CNC hits snag; agency seeks study,” Daily
Press, 7 December 1990.
[45] Claffey, Michael S.C. “CNC
seeks support for Ferguson sale,” Daily Press, 25 September 1991; Kale,
Wilford “CNC gets boost in
property quest, but two hurdles remain,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 23
January 1992; Hamilton, Phillip. Serving the Old Dominion: A History of
Christopher Newport University 1958-2011. First ed., University Press, 2011;
“1992 – Statewide – Question 3” Virginia Elections Database, https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/ballot_questions/view/2784/, accessed 28 June 2021; Goldstein,
Jonathan “CNU Acquires Ferguson,” Daily Press, 13 October 1993; The Office of University Relations “Ferguson
Purchase Complete,” CNU News, Spring 1995.
[46] “Students fight to save
FHS” The Windjammer, Spring 1992; Sweeney, Annette “Rezoning, Did It Help?” The Windjammer,
Fall 1992; Di Vincenzo, Mark “School Work,” Daily
Press, 28 February 1996; Di Vincenzo, Mark “School
purchase boosts CNU size,” Daily Press, 16 February 1995.
[47] Mushinsky, Kate “What’s
the big deal?” The Captain’s Log, 4 December 1995.
[48] Di Vincenzo, Mark “Much
ado about Ferguson High,” Daily Press, 22 November 1995; Di
Vincenzo, Mark “Ferguson changes
costly, CNU says,” Daily Press, 15 November 1995.
[49] Montgomery, Dan “CNU’s
story sounds like a spoiled child,” Daily Press, 26 November 1995; Di
Vincenzo, Mark “Ferguson changes
costly, CNU says,” Daily Press, 15 November 1995.
[50] Hamilton, Phillip. Serving
the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport University 1958-2011.
First ed., University Press, 2011;
[51] Di Vincenzo, Mark “Santoro
Resigns as CNU President,” Daily Press, 14 June 1995; Hamilton, Phillip. Serving
the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport University 1958-2011.
First ed., University Press, 2011; Mazzarella, Mario D. “Opinion: Trible inherited a school in better shape than portrayed,” Daily Press, 16 June 2022, https://www.dailypress.com/opinion/vp-ed-column-mazzarella-0617-20220616-ftnkh6pdc5byhfj7xyo4sck3de-story.html.
[52] Di Vincenzo, Mark “CNU
Officials Make Plea to Legislators for Funds,” Daily
Press, 6 January 1996; Stokes, Melanie L “CNU nets $15.7 million from General Assembly,” The
Captain’s Log, 18 March 1996; Hamilton,
Phillip. Serving the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport
University 1958-2011. First ed., University Press, 2011.
[53] Nicholson, David “Arts
Center Dream In Spotlight Again,” Daily Press, 27 March 1996; Pesola, Eric “The new CNU,” The
Captain’s Log, 25 March 1996.
[54] Wilson, Madge “Idea of
Municipal Auditorium at CNC Revived,” Times-Herald, 21 May 1969;
Nicholson, David “Performance Hall Inches Toward Reality,” Daily Press, 24
November 1991; Jones, Yolanda “Lack Of Space Could Hold Up
CNC Expansion,” Daily Press, 9 November 1979.
[55] Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1996. Print. Virginiana
Room, Newport News Public Library; School Board of the City of Newport News,
Regular Session, 15 November 1995; “Buying a part of NN history,” Daily
Press, 9 June 1996; School Board of the City of Newport News, Regular
Session, 13 December 1995.
[56] Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1996. Print. Virginiana Room, Newport News Public
Library.
[57] School Board of the City of Newport News, Regular Session, 20 March 1996.
[58] Stawowy, Miriam “Tribute
Produces Tears, Memories,” Daily Press, 18 June 1996; Bailey,
John, and Melanie L. Stokes. “Taking over Homer’s Hall,” The Captain’s Log,
9 September 1996.
[59] Christopher Newport University Board of Visitors, Board of Visitors
Meeting, 18 June 1996; Bailey, John, and Melanie L. Stokes. “Taking over Homer’s Hall,” The
Captain’s Log, 9 September 1996.
[60] DiGiorgio, Karen “High School Goes to
College,” The Captain’s Log, 9 September 1996.
[61] Stokes, Melanie, and Andrew Berrigan. “A miniature campus center coming to Ferguson,” The Captain’s Log,
12 November 1996; Daggett, Jessica “Snow showers down in Gosnold and Ferguson,”
The Captain’s Log, 7 February 2000; Cline, Wesley “The day time stood
still at Ferguson Hall,” The Captain’s Log, 3 February 1997; DiGiorgio, Karen “High
School Goes to College,” The Captain’s Log, 9 September 1996.
[62] Bailey, John “Safer Shoe
Lane approved by City Council,” The Captain’s Log, Summer Issue 1997.
[63] Stokes, Melanie, and Andrew Berrigan. “A miniature campus center coming to Ferguson,” The Captain’s Log,
12 November 1996; DiGiorgio, Karen “The pen is mightier
than the sword,” The Captain’s Log, 29 April 1997.
[64] “World renowned architect contributes to CNU,” The Captain’s Log,
24 September 1996; Berrigan, Andrew “For
Campus and Community: The Center for The Arts,” The Captain’s Log, 13
October 1999.
[65] Nicholson, David “Pei
Firm To Design Cnu Center,” Daily Press, 22 August 1996.
[66] Ibid; Nicholson, David “Ferguson
Plays Role in Cnu Arts Center” Daily Press, 27 March 1997; Brauer, Bill. Email to author, 14 October 2020.
[67] Nicholson, David “Ferguson
Plays Role in Cnu Arts Center” Daily Press, 27 March 1997; Miller, Kimberly “Cnu’s
Grand Plan” Daily Press, 17 August 1997.
[68] Nicholson, David “Cnu Performing Arts Center Plan Debuts,” Daily
Press, 12 April 1996; “State gives CNU more authority, less cash,” The
Captain’s Log, 24 March 1997; Lohr, Greg A “York Oks $400,00 for arts center,” Daily Press, 3 December 1999; Forest,
Angela “Is Access For All Scripted?” Daily Press, 30 October 2006.
[69] Miller, Kimberly “$1
Million Donated for Arts Center,” Daily Press, 8 May 1998; Office of
University Relations, “Ferguson Enterprises Contributes $1 Million to Center
for the Arts, Christopher Newport University Alumni Magazine, Winter
1998; “Whaddayaknow?” Daily Press, 13 October 2005; Office of University
Relations, “Ferguson Enterprises Contributes $1 Million to Center for the Arts,
Christopher Newport University Alumni Magazine, Winter 1998; Hamilton, Phillip. Serving the Old Dominion:
A History of Christopher Newport University 1958-2011. First ed.,
University Press, 2011; Office of University Relations “CNU & Pepsi Announce Multi-Million Dollar
Partnership,” Christopher Newport University Alumni Magazine, Summer
1999.
[70] Hamilton,
Phillip. Serving the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport
University 1958-2011. First ed., University Press, 2011.
[71] Bailey, John “Safer Shoe Lane approved by City Council,” The
Captain’s Log, Summer 1997; Hamilton,
Phillip. Serving the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport
University 1958-2011. First ed., University Press, 2011; Carroll, Fred “Warwick
Widening Work to Begin,” Daily Press, 19 January 2001; Heinatz,
Stephanie “Road Closures Will Remain Constant Near Cnu,” Daily Press, 25
June 2003; Downs, Adam. Email to the author, 1 January 2013.
[72] Bailey, John “Police Academy rents Ferguson space,” The Captain’s
Log, 10 December 1996; Mojica, Stephanie “Convenient credit union opens in
Ferguson” The Captain’s Log, 6 October 1997; Di Vincenzo, Mark “Cnu To Offer College Course to Nn High School
Students,” Daily Press, 2 October 1996.
[73] Plewe, Danna “Fighting
Gravity Concert Rocks Ferguson,” The Captain’s Log, 23 February 1999; Devlin, Danny. Email to the author, 28 December 2012.
[74] “Where We Stand:
Advertising the Arts Center,” The Captain’s Log, 26 September 2001.
[75] Ibid; Berrigan, Andrew “For Campus and Community: The Center for The Arts,” The
Captain’s Log, 13 October 1999; Barrett, Stephanie “CNU Ready To Build Arts
Center With $1 Million From Congress,” Daily Press, 9 November 2001; Barrett,
Stephanie “A Dramatic Entrance For
Campus Project,” Daily Press, 17 April 2002.
[76] Ibid.
[77] Barrett, Stephanie “CNU
Names New Center After Peninsula Businessman,” Daily Press, 21 October
2000; Sanchez, Jeremy “Moving Out, Moving In,” The Captain’s Log, 5 September 2001.
[78] Devlin, Danny. Email to the author, 26 December 2012; Poljacik, Greg. Email to author. 28 December 2012.
[79] Heinatz, Stephanie “Fine Arts Center Set In
Stone,” The Captain’s Log, 24 April 2002; Tucker, Virginia “Wait
Continues For Appearance Of Fine Arts Center,” The Captain’s Log, 3
October 2001; Sanchez, Jeremy “Moving Out, Moving In,” The Captain’s Log,
5 September 2001.
[80] Trible Jr, Paul “State of
The University,” YouTube, uploaded by ChristopherNewportU, 5 Sep 2017.
[81] Nicholson, David “Cnu
Arts Center Gets Name,” Daily Press, 6 December 2003; Rowell, Jenn
“Ferguson open, departments settling in,” The Captain’s Log, 1 September
2004; Nicholson, David “CNU art center lands a director,” Daily Press, 11 January 2004.
[82] Nicholson, David “CNU Arts Center Hosts 1st Concert,” Daily
Press, 2 September 2004.
[83] Nicholson, David “Ferguson Center celebrates 10 years,” Daily Press,
19 December 2015.
[84] Ferguson High School. The Mariner, 1962.
Print. Virginiana Room, Newport News Public Library; Mayo, Samuel N. Warwick
Junior High School, Plan, 22 July 1955, CNU Architects’ Office; Pei Cobb Freed
& Partners, Christopher Newport University Performing Arts Center, Phase 2
Plans, May 2002; Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, Christopher Newport University Performing
Arts Center, Phase 1 Plans, November 2001.
[85] Rowell, Jenn “Ferguson
open, departments settling in,” The Captain’s Log, 1 September 2004.
[86] Payne, Kimball “Don’t Let
Traffic Circle Make You Dizzy,” Daily Press, 6 December 2004; “Part of
J. Clyde Now ‘Avenue of the Arts’,” Daily Press, 18 August 2005.
[87] “2004-05 Season,”
Ferguson Center for the Arts, 9 October 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20041009200442/http://www.cnu.edu/fergusoncenter/season.html. Accessed 23 January 2022.
[88] Forest, Angela “Built To
Impress,” Daily Press, 30 October 2006.
[89] Forest, Angela “Is Access For All Scripted?” Daily Press, 30
October 2006.
[90] Nicholson, David “Is This the Ticket? The Ferguson’s First Year,” Daily Press, 29
October 2006; “Where the Newspaper Stands,” Daily Press, 12 September 2005.
[91] Nicholson, David “CNU
Lands World Class Tenor,” Daily Press, 19 October 2005; Nicholson, David “Andrea
Bocelli at CNU,” Daily Press, 21 October 2005.
[92] Nicholson, David “Center Fights Perception that it’s only for
Well-Heeled, The Ferguson’s First Year,” Daily Press, 29 October 2006; Nicholson, David
“CNU Lands World Class Tenor,” Daily
Press, 19 October 2005.
[93] Nicholson, David “Great
Performances On Both Sides,” Daily Press, 1 January 2006.
[94] Gil, Karen L. “Ferguson Center For Arts Wins Four Architectural
Awards” US Fed News Service, 12 October 2006.
[95] Nicholson, David “See a
New Side of Jamestown’s Other Captain,” Daily Press, 30 March 2007.
[96] Jelonek, A.J. “The Yoder Barn Theatre,” History Scout,
Blogger, 23 April 2016. https://historyscout.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-yoder-barn-theatre.html; Nicholson, David “Yoder Barn is Ready for Business” Daily
Press, 24 February 2008.
[97] Ibid; Nicholson, David “Taking stock of a new
venue: The Yoder Barn Theater hosts the first of three summer plays” McClatchy-Tribune
Business News, 15 June 2008.
[98] Nicholson, David “During slower times, the show
still must go on,” Daily Press, 1 June 2008; Nicholson, David “The Art of Losing Money,” Daily
Press, 19 April 2009.
[99] Nicholson, David “Ferguson
Center’s Lineup Includes Broadway Shows, Country Music, Comedy,” Daily Press, 30 May
2010.
[100] Nicholson, David “Ferguson Celebrates 10 Years,” Daily Press,
19 December 2015; “Ferguson Center Milestone,” Daily Press, 15 April
2011.
[101] “Faculty on the Move:
George Hillow,” CNU on the Move! 2011-2012, CNU Office of Communications
and Press Relations, 26 Jan 2012, p. 14, Issuu, https://issuu.com/cnuocpr/docs/cnu_on_the_move_2011/14; Hillow, George “The
Scoop: CNU’s Art Garden,” YouTube, uploaded by cnuthecaptainslog, 9
February 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVaf-_d_8g;
Hillow, George “Christopher Newport University-Arts Garden,” YouTube,
uploaded by cnumediamatter, 23 August 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw4aEWbnmPo
[102] Nicholson, David “Ferguson donates $12M to CNU,” Daily Press, 1
May 2013.
[103] Nicholson, David “New
vocal institute will start up at CNU in 2013,” Daily
Press, 2 December 2012.
[104] Nicholson, David “Ferguson Center celebrates 10 years,” Daily Press,
19 December 2015; Holtzclaw, Mike “Bruce
Bronstein, Ferguson Center’s new director, aims to share power of performance,”
Daily Press, 30 July 2016.
[105] CNU OCPR “Theatre Named
for David and Mary Peebles,” Voyages, Summer 2017. https://issuu.com/cnuocpr/docs/alumni_voyages_2017/15
[106] Smith, Hillary “Christopher
Newport University celebrates president, 40 years of service to Virginia,” Daily Press, 10
December 2016.
[107] Holmes Jr, H. Randolph “Fine
Arts Center Sneak Preview” YouTube, uploaded by ChristopherNewportU, 1
October 2020, https://youtu.be/cH9csXXfQSI; Trible Jr, Paul “State of The University,” YouTube,
uploaded by ChristopherNewportU, 5 September 2017, https://youtu.be/kSsLyl22bS0; Jones, Matt “CNU breaks ground on $57.6 million fine arts center,” Daily Press, 15
February 2019.
[108] Jones, Matt “CNU and
Hampton University cancel in-person classes,” Daily
Press, 13 March 2020; Albiges,
Marie “Students head home as CNU closes campus to prevent spread of
coronavirus,” Daily Press, 17 March 2020; Ferguson
Center for the Arts. Performances suspended until April 13, Facebook, 13
March 2020, 7:38pm. www.facebook.com/fergusoncenter. Retrieved on 14 December
2020; Ferguson Center for the Arts. Performances suspended until May 15, Facebook, 16 March 2020, 2:45pm. www.facebook.com/fergusoncenter. Accessed on 14 December 2020; Ferguson Center
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following posts: 20 April 2020, 5:00pm; 17 April 2020, 5:00pm; 15 April 2020
5:00pm; 14 April 2020, 8:30pm; 14 April 2020, 5:00pm; 10 April 2020, 5:00pm. www.facebook.com/fergusoncenter. Accessed on 14 December 2020.
[109] McMillan, Ashley “TheaterCNU
opens its doors this weekend,” The Captain’s Log, 29 September 2020; Dixon, Emma “The times
they are a changin’” The Captain’s Log, 8 September 2020; Christopher Newport University, Fireside Lounge sunset, Facebook,
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Accessed 2 March 2021.
[110] Vigil, Taylor “2020
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[111] Ferguson site visit, 3
August 2021. The theater storage of furniture that had been in the gym space
was moved to the first floor of CNU North, the former Crestar Building.
[112] “Virginia Symphony
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[113] “Venue Policies,” Ferguson
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Awesome, a great read and thank you for this amazing information. I didn’t get to go to my neighborhood high school. They rezoned the neighborhood and blacks and whites were bussed to each other’s school. I was bussed to Ferguson, definitely an adjustment. I’m a Ferguson High School graduate of 1976. A bitter sweet memory.
ReplyDeleteThis article has been very exciting to read. Reminiscing the time that busing in 1971 from Carver HS to Ferguson happened, this article brought back great memories for me. I didn’t mind the busing and made some excellent friends during my time at Ferguson. It hurts my heart to know that I’ll never be able to see FHS again or show my kids my high school I graduated from. I’m a Mariner forever and thank you for sharing this story.
ReplyDeleteI really like and enjoyed the history of Ferguson High School. I cringe that it was called Warwick High in the past. But I was there from 1976 to 1979 and I remember Mr Kilpatrick being my principal in 1979.
ReplyDeleteThe N.J.R.O.T.C. Drill team from 82-86. I remember them guys. Performance pep rally F.H.S
ReplyDeleteGreat story!
ReplyDeleteI didn’t go to Ferguson, but Denbigh and graduated in 1971! This was a great article, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI went to Riverside and was in the first class at Warwick Junior High. It was very exciting to be a part of the first group. I remember vividly meeting in the auditorium to be given instructions on getting our polio shots.
ReplyDeleteVery informative article with a lot of great information on the school and some interesting history of Newport News and Warwick. I remember when they voted to consolidate the two cities.
Great job on the article.
Jerry Robertson
Thank you for your efforts in putting this together.
ReplyDelete