Deep Creek North in Chesapeake, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Owens-Melvin House

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, January 27, 2022

1. Owens - Melvin House Marker

Inscription. James Edward Owens and Grace Catherine Melvin Owens, the college-educated children of formerly enslaved people, built this Queen Anne-style house ca. 1915. Their son Hugo Armstrong Owens, dentist and civil rights activist, was born here in 1916. After serving in World War II, Hugo Owens worked to desegregate public facilities in Portsmouth in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1970 he became one of the first two African Americans elected to the Chesapeake City Council. Owens served eight of his ten years on council as the city’s vice-mayor. He sat on the Board of Visitors of Norfolk State University and was rector of both Virginia State University and Old Dominion University.

Erected 2020 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number WP-14.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 36° 45.386′ N, 76° 20.097′ W. Marker is in Chesapeake, Virginia. It is in Deep Creek North. Marker is at the intersection of Shell Road

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and Owens Terrace, on the right when traveling south on Shell Road. Located in front of the Owens-Melvin House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 732 Shell Rd, Chesapeake VA 23323, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Justin Holland (approx. 0.7 miles away); Village of Deep Creek (approx. 0.8 miles away); Cody S. Childers (approx. 3.1 miles away); Site of the Nansemond Indian Public School #9 (approx. 4.1 miles away); Unknown and Known Afro-Union Civil War Soldiers Memorial (approx. 4.4 miles away); Dale Point (approx. 4.4 miles away); Sunray (approx. 4.6 miles away); Mount Calvary Cemetery Complex (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chesapeake.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, January 27, 2022

2. Owens - Melvin House Marker

Owens - Melvin House today image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, January 27, 2022

3. Owens - Melvin House today

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 549 times since then and 140 times this year. Last updated on December 4, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 7, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.