Log Cabin Beach
in the Jim Crow Era
Photo Courtesy: The Albert Durant Collection, Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
This article was written by Vicki Anderson Simons with oral history provided by Antoinette Anderson, both descendants of Anthony and Octavia Hundley.
My connection with Williamsburg is through my parents, Percy and Antoinette Anderson, high school sweethearts who migrated to New Jersey in the late 1950s to work and start a family. They had three of us - Vance, Craig, and me (Vicki).
Every summer my brothers and I were deposited at Grandma Buie’s house on Penniman Road to enjoy the season under the watchful eyes of our grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I would not see my brothers for weeks at a time because they were off with one set of male cousins while I spent time with my first cousin Tammy, who lived minutes away from Grandma. On weekdays we would ride bikes, play board games, read, and watch soap operas. On Sundays, we went to St. John Baptist Church located just across the way from Grandma’s (in city terms— a block over). On any given Sunday there was a parade of hungry relatives and friends coming to Grandma’s house for her lovingly prepared dinners which were followed by dessert and living room talk rivaling any news channel we see today.
Author’s grandmother, Victoria Payne Buie, preparing a Sunday meal at her home on Penniman Road, Williamsburg .
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
Victoria Buie relaxing in her home after church
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
Although I was young, I relished stories about “the old days,” and my ears would perk up when the chats turned to family businesses. One such story involved Log Cabin Beach, a Black-owned and operated recreation site frequented by Black locals, tourists and celebrities. In my mind, the beach had a “Happy Days” TV show vibe, with live bands, park rides, great food, and people dressed in cool “fifties” outfits. In reality, it was also necessitated by Jim Crow laws which prohibited Blacks from frequenting beaches with white patrons.
Nonetheless, I distinctly remember the pride I felt in learning that my grandfather, Jesse Buie, and his business partners, Benjamin Blayton and P.L. Brown, managed such a wondrous place “way back then.” My mother, Antoinette Buie Anderson, was employed there during the beach seasons from 1950 to 1954, and shares her experiences below.
But first, a brief history:
Sometime in the early 1940’s, 12 Black men, including some from prominent Williamsburg families such as the Blaytons, Whitings and Edloes, purchased the beach which also housed a log cabin. According to a Daily Press article about the beach published on October 16, 2019, Oscar Blayton (son of the original owner, James Blaine Blayton, Sr.) said the beach and cabin previously served as a hunting lodge for bankers in Richmond. Eventually the log cabin was turned into a five or six bedroom hotel and additional cabins were built.
Jesse Buie
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
The Hundley Connection:
An Interview with Antoinette Buie Anderson
Vicki Anderson Simons and Antoinette Buie Anderson
Courtesy: Vicki Simons
Antoinette Buie Anderson shares her memories of Log Cabin Beach in this oral history with her daughter, Vicki Simons.
VS: How did Grandaddy Jesse come to manage the beach?
AA: In 1950*, Daddy worked as a security policeman at Log Cabin Beach. The following year when the opportunity arose to manage the beach, Daddy and Mr. Benjamin Blayton of Washington, D.C. (brother of part owner Dr. J. Blaine Blayton) formed a partnership naming the enterprise B&B Amusement Company. After a couple of years Mr. Blayton returned to Washington DC and Mr. J. Brown of New Kent became a partner with Daddy.
Advertisement for the Grand Opening of Log Cabin Beach, Norfolk Journal and Guide, May 13, 1944
VS: Where was the beach located?
AA: The beach was located on the James River in the Grove section of Williamsburg Virginia. It was a hunting lodge before being purchased by a group of Negro (Black) businessmen including Dr. J. Blaine Blayton, Mr. Raymond Redcross, Mr. Charles Gary, Mr. Edloe, Mr. Whiting and others.* The beach was accessed via a long unpaved road, formerly Log Cabin Beach Road, now Ron Springs Drive.
*This is an incomplete list of owners of Log Cabin Beach- there were others.
Map indicating the location of Log Cabin Beach Road, now Ron Springs Drive.
VS: Can you give me a visual for how it looked? What do you remember?
AA: It sat in a clearing in a heavily wooded area. There were ample parking spaces for cars and buses. Beyond the parking lot was an entrance gate and ticket booth. The hotel was used only as a restaurant, and the upstairs rooms were occupied by the managers and their families who lived there during the season. The building sat on a hilltop among tall trees. Surrounding cabins —two or three—were to the left of the hotel. To the right was a whirl-a-twirl swing amusement ride and carousel. Further down was a log building used as a dance hall and shows. Jimmy Anthony and The Jamming Jammers was the band of choice on weekends. There was also an adjoining hot dog stand. The beach area could be accessed by stairs or walking down a steep hill. At the bottom of the hill there were bath houses, a hot dog stand, picnic tables and a fishing and boat ride pier. The beach was sandy with sea shells and gentle lapping waves. Life guards were on duty on weekends.
1955 Letter from AL. C. Beck, Inc. Insurance Company to Mr. Benjamin Blayton and B&B Amusement Co., indicating B&B's policy covered four cottages, two bath houses and a park area.
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
VS: You said you worked at the beach. Who else worked there?
AA: Employees were Fannie Dixon, Margret Patterson, Ethel Cook, Marjorie and Carole Payne, Deloris and Annie Druitt, Johnny Brooks, Laverne Patterson, Deacon Paul Jones, and others I can't recall. Family members including wives, Mrs. Victoria Buie, Mrs. Blayton, Mrs. Brown, and children, my sister Eva, myself, and Benny Blayton filled in where needed at the gate, hot dog stands, waiting tables or providing maid service. My little sister Jackie was there too, but was too young to work.
Victoria Buie holding daughter Jacquelyn
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
VS: What were the perks of your dad running the beach?
AA: The perks were that I had a summer job. The children of managers were paid a salary of $20 per week with half of that withheld until the end of the season. I always had enough money to buy all my school clothes. Another perk was having a summer place to hang out.
The Buie sisters at Log Cabin Beach...
Antoinette Buie (Anderson)
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
Eva Buie (Roberts)
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
Jacquelyn Buie (Wright)
Courtesy: The Hundley Family
The Buie sisters with their mother, years later...
Antoinette (3rd from left) with sister Jacquelyn, mother Victoria, and sister Eva, home of Victoria Buie
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
VS: How long was the beach season?
AA: The beach was open from May 30, Memorial Day, to Labor Day. I cannot remember the exact entrance fee. I think it may have been fifty cents for adults and twenty-five cents for children. Weekends were the busiest times when the parking lot would be full of cars and there would be many buses. The Fourth of July was the busiest day when there could be 40 or more buses.
Picnic on the beach at Log Cabin Beach, circa 1950s. Pictured are, left to right: unidentified, Roland Epps, Sarah Belpree, & John Billups.
Courtesy: The Albert Durant Collection, Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
VS: What was sold at the beach? What were the profits?
AA: The company was licensed to sell beer and food in the hotel. The menu included Southern soul food fried fish and chicken, pork chops, ham, liver and sandwiches, iced tea, and sodas. Vendors operated the amusement rides, boat rides, photos and other special food items (e.g., deviled crabs). The nickel toss and bingo concession was run by B&B. I don’t know much about profits.
People eating in the main dining hall
Courtesy: The Albert Durant Collection, Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Group photo of dining room waiters at Log Cabin Beach, circa 1950s. Waiters identified, left to right, as: James Dillard Brown, Robert Lee, Pete Coley, James Payne, John Holcomb, & unidentified
Courtesy: The Albert Durant Collection, Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
VS: Who frequented the beach?
AA: On Thursdays the Williamsburg-James City County Summer Recreation program brought a bus load of kids for the day. Local schools would also plan picnics there. In the fall, churches held baptisms there also because most churches were not equipped with pools. Black soldiers (including Baseball legend Willie Mays) from Fort Eustis and sailors from Cheatham Annex were regular visitors.
Members of an African American women's group at Log Cabin Beach, circa 1950s
Courtesy: The Albert Durant Collection, Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Letter from George W. Carver High School requesting a picnic at Log Cabin Beach
Courtesy: The Hundley Family History Committee
Narrator's note: Dates and times are estimates because I don’t recall the exact date. I know Daddy managed the beach during my high school days 1951-56. He gave up the business when he was diagnosed with scleroderma.