Phoebus - by Inez Knox
This small area
between Hampton and Old Point was
government owned. Many Caucasians,
soldiers, free Blacks and slaves
were trying to find a place to live.
The war having ended made them
displaced persons.
During the war between the states, a
hotel by the name of Hygeia had been
erected at Fort Monroe. This was in
1822 but it was torn down in 1862.
It had interfered with the guns on
the post.
Mr. Joseph Segar had been its
proprietor preceding the war. The
Hygeia Hotel was rebuilt in 1868,
where the bandstand is at Fort
Monroe. Hygela needed help ~ans
those who wanted and neded work were
employed -- some were Jeff Harris,
Joseph Williams, York Williams,
Solomon Smith, Hanover Banks,
Sherman Taylor, Sam Houston and
George Smith. These men were married
and houses had to be built.
The ex-slaves had their choice of
property as it was given them after
the war. Small houses were erected
with the small salaries.
The Hygeia had, in 1894,
competition, because the Chamberlin
first was erected. Both hotels were
doing flourishing business under the
leadership of Mr. Harrison Phoebus,
a young dynamic man.