Amy Waters Yarsinske

Ghent: John Graham's Dream, Norfolk, Virginia's Treasure Amy Waters Yarsinske First edition

"Ghent is more than just a pretty place," wrote Norfolk Compass writer Mary Adams-Lackey, as Ghent turned a century old in April of 1990, "Shaped by her creators, her abusers and those who finally rescued her, Ghent is a gritty Southern belle." Ghent, perhaps more than any other Norfolk suburb, has a story to tell that transcends its historic port city lineage, reaching national importance in its planning and execution.

That this "gritty Southern belle" remains is a testament to her good genes. The people who populated Ghent during its early years generally rebuilt the city of Norfolk after the American Civil War; they reconstructed the trade on which much of the city's power and influence still rests, and were instrumental in transforming Norfolk from a regional to a national city during the prosperous years between the Civil War and the end of World War I. This was a great accomplishment requiring a concerted team effort. The team lived in Ghent--and what a team it was, its legacy extending long after those whose collective achievements have passed into time and memory.

Ghent today provides intimate in-town living within walking distance of Norfolk's commercial heart. Gone are the spectacular trees planted by William H. White; the silver maples and magnolias that originally graced Ghent's streets have long vanished from the landscape, replaced by large oaks. The Trinidad asphaltum blocks have been paved over with asphalt, and the historic, steel-riveted bridge replaced in 1976 and since refurbished to enhance its pedestrian features. Despite changing times and tastes, Ghent's period architecture, tree-lined streets, and attractive waterfront location combine to ensure that Ghent will remain a beloved, integral area of Norfolk for generations