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. > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html