Colonel Crawford's Holiday History Tour Brings Life to Olde Towne Portsmouth

By David Cartier
'A New Day in Olde Towne'

This holiday season, take a walk through the streets of Olde Towne Portsmouth, with one of Colonel Crawford’s Holiday History Tours.

 You'll learn a lot about Portsmouth and it's a great way to stroll through Olde Towne and see the beautiful holiday decorations.  
The Holiday History Tour starts in December 1, 2010.  It's a little piece of Portsmouth Virginia's history that brings the holidays to life.
The 'Holiday History Tour' is a 75 to 90 minute stroll through the history, homes and hearts that created the “faire towne” of Portsmouth.  It covers approximately one mile of the historic district in Olde Towne.  Prepare to be educated and delighted with this walking production, which “is never quite the same!”
So who exactly is Colonel William Crawford?  Not much has been written about the Colonel’s personal life, but here is what is known about the founder of Portsmouth. Crawford was a wealthy merchant and ship owner who, at various times, held office as the Norfolk County presiding court judge, high sheriff, militia lieutenant colonel, and representative of the House of Burgesses.  Because of his militia service, he is frequently referred to as “Colonel Crawford”
The Colonel established the City of Portsmouth in 1752 upon 65 acres of land on the Elizabeth River that were a part of his extensive plantation.
Colonel Crawford’s vision for Portsmouth still lives on – 258 years later. 

Colonel Crawford leads a tour through Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

 Today, there is a different Colonel Crawford that strolls through Olde Towne Portsmouth.  Colonel William Crawford is a character created and performed by Eric Price while under contract with the City of Portsmouth in commemoration of its 250th birthday.  Based on Portsmouth’s real-life founder, the Colonel is well versed in all things colonial and, of course, all things Portsmouth.  After the celebration, Col. Crawford stayed to educate and entertain the citizenry of “Faire Portsmouth”, as well as visitors from her neighboring cities and places beyond.

Since 2002, Eric “Ricky” Price has portrayed the founder of Portsmouth, Virginia, Colonel William Crawford, and extolled the extensive history of this early colonial port.
Walking tours will be conducted Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 7:00 p.m. and will depart from the lobby of the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center at 425 Water Street.  Walking Tours are limited to 40 guests.

Advance Ticket prices are:  Adults $10.00 / two for $15.00.  Students & Seniors $8.00 / two for $15.00.  With a Military I.D., Buy One Get One Free.  Children 8 and younger – FREE.
Tickets can be purchased on the day of the tour with Col. Crawford.
Tours continue through December 23, 2010.  Dress appropriately for the weather.  Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.  Group tours and private events prevail.

Group 'Walking Tours' Available
Group tours with Colonel Crawford are available any day and time with ten or more advance reservations.  “Over the last few years, we have done a number of group tours", states Price.   To reserve a group tour, contact Colonel Crawford (Eric Price) directly at 757.391.0155 (message-quick return) to reserve a tour or email at ColCrawfordAndCo@aol.com.  For more information, visit Colonel Crawford & Company at www.oldetownetheatricals.com.

DVD Video “PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA”- Jewel of the Elizabeth
Enjoy Colonel Crawford’s VIRTUAL Walking Tour of Olde Towne Portsmouth.  The 60-minute DVD presentation was created as part of the 400th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of Virginia, in 2007.  Follow Portsmouth’s 'Path of History' as you travel through time with Colonel Crawford from 1620 and the beginnings of “the oldest shipyard in America” through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and beyond.  Truly an adventure you will not soon forget. 
See the DVD Trailer.  You can also purchase the DVD's for a special price when you take the walking tour.
So, whether you wander around on your own, or take Colonel Crawford's tour, you’ll see an Olde Towne Portsmouth as a city that has preserved its character through three centuries of change.

About Portsmouth Virginia's History
Portsmouth history dates back to the settlement of Jamestown in 1607.  Captain John Smith, while mapping lands surrounding Jamestown, sailed down the Elizabeth River and marveled at the lush beauty of the terrain.
The first settler on the land, which is now Portsmouth, was Capt. William Carver, who was issued a land grant in the mid-1600s.  In 1672, Capt. Carver stabbed Thomas Gilbert and following Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, Capt. Carver was captured, recalled to England, was tried and hanged.  His confiscated land was granted in 1715 to Colonel William Crawford, who in 1750 laid out a parcel of land into one hundred and twenty-two lots, commodious streets, places for a court house, market, and public landings for a town . . . and made sale . . . to divers persons . . . desirous to settle and build thereon speedily.
Naming the place Portsmouth, he presented it to Norfolk County.  Portsmouth gets its name from the English naval port of Portsmouth, England.   In 1752 the general assembly 'enacted . . . that the said . . . parcel of land be . . . established a town . . . and retain the name of Portsmouth.'  Thus, the The Colonel established Portsmouth in 1752.  The 65 acres land on the Elizabeth River were part of Colonel Crawford's extensive plantation and were constituted as a town.  The original town was enlarged in 1763, in 1811, and in 1899.
The town was laid out checkerboard style with 122 half-acre lots around its town square at High and Court streets. Streets were organized in a grid pattern with street widths alternating between 32, 50 and 100 feet.  Each block or square was named for noted Virginians, Englishmen, or places in England or the United States.
Streets were named similarly.  Many of the streets of the new town reflected the English heritage.  High Street was named for the main commercial corridor in Portsmouth, England. It is 100 feet wide, with two narrow parallel streets of 32-foot widths (Queen and King streets), located to the north and south. Narrower streets served as alleys for High Street, facilitating the access to commercial buildings from the rear.
As you walk through our many period street names, such as London, Glasgow, and Court, to name a few, you can trace the roots of Olde Towne when William Crawford had the 65 acre plot laid out to imitate Portsmouth, England.   You will also find mounted plaques on imported English street lanterns that signify our many architecturally or historically significant houses.  Because of its excellent location on the Elizabeth River, early Portsmouth was rich in waterfront commerce.

The town grew from the river inland.  Col. Crawford built his home on Crawford Street, and most of the houses were built in the eastern portion of the city.  In 1793 there were 300 homes and a population of 1700 people, and by 1806 there were 700 homes and 3,000 inhabitants.  A rail line was built to handle the shipping of goods to and from the wharfs.
There is a statue of Col. Crawford (shown right) at TowneBank at High and Crawford streets.  A historical maker where Colonel Crawford's home was located is on the 100 block of High Street.
As a city is dedicated to preserving its heritage, Portsmouth presents an architectural view unrivaled in elegance and diversity.  Colonial.  Federal.  Greek Revival.  Georgian.  and, Victorian structures – our Olde Towne Historic District – encompasses, in a single square mile, one of the largest collections of historic homes between Olde Towne Alexandria, VA., and Charleston, S.C.
The area north of High Street has been listed as the Olde Towne Historic District and is mainly residential. The style of the buildings vary by time period, with many Federal and Greek Revival houses located south and just north of High Street. As the turn of the 20th century, the Revival styles, such as Classical Renaissance, Gothic and Romanesque were incorporated into the construction of homes. However, it is during the Reconstruction period that Portsmouth built its grand churches, which dominate its skyline.
Located on High Street is Trinity Episcopal Church, one of the oldest (1761) of the city's lovely places of worship.   Among those resting in Trinity's churchyard is Commodore James Barron, the man who surrendered the Chesapeake to the British without much of a fight and who years later killed Navy hero Stephen Decatur in a duel. Next door to the cemetery is the Art Deco style Commodore Theater, named for the man who won the duel but lost his honor.
For more information on Portsmouth, Virginia, visit www.visitportsva.com.  For the offical events website, visit www.portsvaevents.com.

Photo credits: Pictures of Colonel Crawford and Statue of Colonel Crawford by Clyde Nordan.  Olde Towne residence photo courtesy of the City of Portsmouth. Colonel Crawford leading visitors by Joe Elder.