Harvey was born in Nansemond County in October 10, 1932. His parents were living close to Buckhorn as a farmer. In 1933 he moved to Chuckatuck on the Butts Farm. Then with the depression his dad went to work with Lone Star. He lived in the Dvorack Place which was behind the new Fire station now. Then they moved across the road which has also been torn down.
When they crossed the road it was about 1950. Prior to it being Lone Star there was another company that did the work but moved it by truck.
Mr. Saunders’ first job was test drilling. They drilled all the way to Smithfield. At Morgets Beach there was a marl hole. Lone Star bought the drag line for 1 million dollars in 1938. Harvey, Jr. bought the drag line when they closed down.
The drag line was a 200 ton unit. When they had to blast they would put Mr. Saunders in the bucket which you could put a pickup truck in, lower him down so he could drop his charge and then move away so they could blast.
Cement was a strategic material, thus no one working with Lone Star went in the service during WW2.
He worked with Alec from the time he was 9 years old until he died. Worked with him building the first clay court in Chuckatuck as well as the first BBQ pit. Harvey told him he could not build a fire directly on the cement. But he did anyway and it exploded.
W.G. Saunders, Jr. as the scout master made sure that he went to camp.
Mr. and Mrs. Wood bought the house from the bank and then the Powells moved in. After the Powells left the Saunders moved in.
Talks about a desk that was sold to Jimmy Brasfield and they found an envelope with 100 dollar bills in it. He told Harvey, Jr. that if he got through school without smoking he would give him $100.00. He did.
15:00 Mr. Powell’s son moved his folks to the old folks home. House sat vacant until they moved in 1924. Mr. Powell owned a big saw mill in SC which was hit by lightning. He had six farms including the Butts Farm. Mr. and Mrs Saunders use to cook for him. Mr. Powell gave Harvey, Jr. a tricycle.
21:00 Talks about the Blands.
23:00 Harvey, Jr. use to swim in the water tank right in Chuckatuck. 50,000 gallons which served several homes. It was filled from a ram which was down by the Duck Hole.
Started delivering papers when Sonny Jim left home. It was a 26 mile route. He delivered groceries for Alex and Mr. Johnson. Delivered papers on a motor scooter.
One trip to VA Beach burned 20 plus quarts of Oil in a 1936 Desota. Mayo Latimer was living at the packet wharf and legend has it that that old Desota was left there. Lucy Upshur use to mine marl as well.
He bought the marl inventory at $2000 when the plant shut down. He had 900,000 tons. He has records of 6800 loads moving out at $6.00 per load. Lone Star bought some of it back.
32:00 talks about selling the marl and how much he made on it. It was a great liming material used by the farmers and for driveways, etc.
Came out of the Service and went to work with a refrigeration firm in Norfolk.
38:00 Talks about Peck Iron Works buying the dragline.
40:00 talks about blasting again. Finding artifacts, etc. as well as the graveyard. Possible large village on the Buppet farm. Talks about the meteorite.
Normally dug about 80 feet deep which was the sea shore then. Dug up several whale verterbra.
Graduated in 1951 from Chuckatuck. He was in boot camp at Cape May, NJ when he graduated.
50:00 Saw a Tug pulling a DE which had separated. Was in the Coast Guard for 3 years plus. Talks about going in the Service.
60:00 – 89:99 Talks about flying with the USCG as a pilot.
Not much here on history except when he talks about Katrina and Thad Allen.
Most memorable things were W.G. Saunders.
Met Jackie in first grade. Stayed back a year to be with Jackie.
Walked from Jackie’s home on Rt. 10 to Chuckatuck and never met a car.
Double dated with Spunk and his crosley.
Pushed the crosley from Bennetts Creek Market to Chuckatuck one night.
Martha Powell was a teacher and she wore pleated skirts. She smacked him when he grabbed her as she walked down the isle. He never came back to school.
Married in 1952.
101.00 Talks about Jackie’s family