News Flash

9^th Annual BayShore Beach Experience - “Our Black Disney Land”
Saturday, September 16, 6-8 pm, Free
Museum admission free Saturday, September 16, 9 am-5 pm & Sunday, September 17, 1-5 pm.
Join hosts Reginald Robinson and Judy Leonard for this annual celebration of the “Vacation Paradise of the South,” with this year’s theme of “Our Black Disneyland.” Take a stroll down memory lane recalling the premier seaside resort for African-Americans during the Jim Crow era.

Your engaging hosts will entertain with skits and sing-alongs, and enlighten with history and stories. Evening highlights include honoring inductees to the BayShore Hall of Fame 2023 class, and presentation of the 2023 Charles H. William Award of Leadership. 

Accompanying the event is a weekend-long display of artifacts from Reginald Robinson’s extensive personal collection of photos, documents and mementos from BayShore that is not to be missed. Museum admission is free all weekend to enjoy the BayShore artifact display and explore over 400 years of the past in our galleries.

A Message from your host with the most, Reginald Robinson!
It's Baytember folks! So come one, come all to the 9th Annual BayShore Beach Experience!  As we celebrate "Our Black Disneyland," BAYSHORE! Admission to this yearly family reunion is free and seating is limited. Hurry, Hurry, Hurry come one come all bring your friends bring your neighbors.

Come see and experience a cornucopia of rare and vintage BayShore Beach artifacts on display. Come see the kiddie land carousel horse along with the Pinto Brothers fire engine amusement car, and much, much more.

Your evening of memorable experiences begins with a chosen selection from the writings of Helen Steiner Rice, to provide comfort to those who have recently lost loved ones. We like to pay tribute to those gone but not forgotten by announcing their names, accompanied by the tolling of the Church bells. After completion of the memorial dedication, there will be the invocation. For we are and always will be thankful for the opportunity to present this yearly BayShore family reunion.

At the 9th Annual BayShore Beach Experience, your host will focus on the history of the BayShore Beach Resort, "Our Black Disneyland." This year of 2023 in the month of Baytember. We will celebrate the 100th birthday of Mrs Virginia Lee Robinson, the inspiration behind all past, present and future BayShore Beach Experience events. In honor of this milestone, ice cream and cake will be served. The BayShore Beach Experience is pleased to have returning, once again, the Poet Laureate of The Black Experience, the very talented Mrs. Tonya Sinclair Swindell with another great selection from her writings to share with the audience, followed by the presentation of 2 more spectacular artist renderings by Richmond VA artist Kenneth Shelton, the "Maestro".

And not to worry, we have not forgotten the loads of fun associated with this yearly get together not at all. Throughout the evening there will be a sing-a-long or two and multiple chances to win great prizes. The BayShore Beach Scramble Board is Back! Unscramble a word associated with BayShore Beach and win a prize. Good Luck! But wait, there's more, pardon the grammar, but "we ain’t done yet!" Remember admission to the event is free, free, free, but upon entering the museum you will receive one ticket. Hold on to that ticket, like it states in the Green Book "you will need it"'. Yes you will need that ticket for a chance to win a television. You must be present to win, and there will be no substitutes and absolutely and positively no exceptions!

Your 9th Annual BayShore Beach Experience continues in this month of Baytember, as your host presents the BayShore Beach Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. This year's class of 2023 are The Old Dominion Dental Society; Mrs. Louise Turner; The Our World Club; Sunset Lake Park; Chowan Beach; Bias Shores and Hargraves Beach. Congratulations to all our inductees!

The honors continue with the awarding of the Charles H. Williams Award of Leadership for 2023. This yearly award for outstanding leadership and achievement is given in honor of Charles H. Williams. A native of Lexington Kentucky seeking a better education traveled to Hampton, VA enrolling at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in 1905, graduating in 1909. Mr. Williams received his B.P.E. from Springfield College in 1924 and a M.E. from Harvard in 1930. From 1910 to 1951 he served as the Director of physical training and Chairman of the Department of Physical Education and was the Director of Athletics at Hampton Institute. Mr. Williams was one of the founding Fathers of The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the C.I.A.A. And was also the Father of Modern Dance at Hampton Institute. Mr. Williams served on the board of Hampton University and The People's Building and Loan Association trustees from 1954 to 1969. A Real Estate developer and guiding force responsible for the resurrection, expansion and success of BayShore, "Our Black Disneyland". The C.H.W. award of leadership will be presented proudly to The Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center, and will be presented by Charles H. Jones M.S.E.D., the nephew of Charles H. Williams. Past recipients of the C.H.W. award is a Who's Who from the Hampton Roads/Tidewater region:  Laura Sanford, Dr. Mary T. Christian, Dr. Colita N. Fairfax, Dr. Christine Darden, Roger Saunders, and last year's recipient, The Barrett-Peake Heritage Foundation. Congratulation to the 2023 C.H.W. award recipients. Our guest speaker for the evening will be Mr. Leonard Powell from Hyattsville MD. Mr. Powell will share with the audience his memories of his time spent at BayShore, "Our Black Disneyland," and will answer any questions from the audience.  

So friends, there you have the "nitty gritty" of it and what a night it will be when you attend the 9th Annual BayShore Beach Experience. Presented at the Hampton History Museum on Baytember that's September 16, 2023 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Admission is free and seating limited. For more information call the Hampton History Museum at 757-727-1102. The BayShore Beach Experience, if you haven't experienced it. You have no idea of what you been missing!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     See you at The Experience! 
Reginald Robinson, Organizer

In addition to this special annual event, admission to the museum will be free Saturday, September 16, 9 am-5 pm, and Sunday, September 17, 1-5 pm.

 The Hampton History Museum is located at 120 Old Hampton Lane in Downtown Hampton. There is free parking in the garage across the street from the museum. For more information call 757-727-1102.