Actually, during WWII, there were many brothels in what was then Princess
Ann County (an entity subsumed after the war by the new city of Virginia
Beach or incorporated into Norfolk).  The county sheriff was notoriously
corrupt when it came to such matters.  While services of many kinds were
available in downtown Norfolk (particularly on East Main Street), the huge
influx of sailors provided more than enough customers to keep PA County
joints hopping.
      As to the Pleasure House itself, I doubt the was much ill about its
repute at the time of the War of 1812.  In my work, I remember making a copy
of a Norfolk Herald advertisement for the Pleasure House from about 1800.
It offered food, drink and pleasant breezes for the whole family, but no
hint anything irregular.  I'll try to find that ad tomorrow at work.
          I do remember on newspaper notice from a man claiming to have been
relieved of some bank notes while in his cups while visiting the house of
the "notorious Yorkshire Widow" in Norfolk.  Using the Simmon's Directory of
1801, I was able to identify her.  But again the material is at work.
Joe Mosier
Archivist
Jean Outland Chrysler Library
Chrysler Museum of Art & Historic Houses
Norfolk, Virginia

----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 10:29 PM
Subject: Re: Pleasure House on Lynhaven Bay, 1814


>
> I also attempted to use logic, wondering why any madam would place a
brothel
> way "out in the country", far from the teeming masses of Navy and other
men
> available in the Borough and later City of Norfolk. There was no regular
> transportation to that area other than what were, by best report, country
roads.
>

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