Impact

Established in 1992, the Foundation and the Portsmouth Partnership initiated a fund raising campaign that launched the first floor of the Children’s Museum in its present location at 221 High Street. The Children’s Museum, founded in 1982, had its birth in the basement of the Portsmouth Public Library and its popularity prompted a move several years later to the first floor of the Courthouse Galleries on the corner of High and Court Streets. Another expansion was needed in the early 90’s and it was at this point the City of Portsmouth purchased the Leggett’s Department Store. Fund raising efforts enabled the new and refurbished exhibits from the Courthouse Galleries to go in a bright new space on the first floor of the former Leggett Department Store building at 220 High Street in Olde Towne Portsmouth.

The Portsmouth Museums Foundation was the vision of the late Senator William B. Spong, Jr. He and his wife, Virginia, and some of their friends comprised the first board of directors. The Foundation was incorporated by the State Corporation commission in November of 1992. The completion of the second floor of the Leggett Building came on the heels of the opening of the first floor – due to a gift from Junie and Millie Lancaster of Coleman Nursery of their wonderful antique toy and train collection.

Upon Senator Spong’s death in 1998, the Portsmouth Museums Foundation expanded its board and continued a major campaign for expansion of the second floor of the Children’s Museum. We owe much gratitude to Senator Spong because it was his vision and amazing fund raising ability across the Commonwealth of Virginia that enabled the City of Portsmouth to claim the largest Children’s Museum in the Commonwealth.

Below Reprinted from Western Branch’s “Your Corner” publication, article by Pamela Nichols:

The Portsmouth Museums Foundation recently sponsored its annual Oysters in Olde Towne fundraiser on the Portsmouth waterfront.

About 500 arts enthusiasts and lovers of great food gathered at the North Landing park on March 27 for a wonderful meal provided by J.P.’s Catering. Owner John Morris says he used 2,800 raw oysters and 25 gallons of the fried version for the affair.

The menu also included barbecue, fried chicken, baked beans, potato salad and coleslaw. If you missed the party but love oysters, the seafood section of the “Heart of the Harbor” cookbook has a great recipe.

East Coast Oysters combine country ham, oysters and butter prepared and served from a muffin pan for a down-home treat or transferred to votive glasses for a more elegant presentation.

Hatton Point resident Bett Cornetta, board member for the museums foundation and director of marketing for the cookbook, says the book is selling well and proceeds will help support Portsmouth’s four museums, including the renovation and expansion of the Children’s Museum of Virginia.

“Heart of the Harbor” is a cooking and history primer, containing classic and new recipes interspersed with stunning pictures of Portsmouth landmarks and a short discussion of each. At $27.95 plus tax, the book is the perfect Mother’s Day gift for new or seasoned cooks as well as lovers of local history.

Your Corner residents can buy a copy at Jems from Jennie at 3134 Western Branch Blvd. in the Rose’s shopping center, or at 18th Century Merchant, 3591 Forest Haven Lane in the Churchland Square Shopping Center.

Visit www.heartoftheharbor cookbook.com to order online or to see a complete list of local vendors.

When is a cookbook more than a cookbook? When it’s a memoir, history lesson and work of love rolled into one. Two and a half years ago, The Portsmouth Museums Foundation decided to develop a cookbook to raise funds to augment the upcoming renovation of the Virginia Children’s Museum. Committee members Betty St. George and Bett Cornetta of Hatton Point and Port Elizabeth’s Stephanie Moreland were charged with the project and at this year’s Seawall Art Show, “The Heart of the Harbor” cookbook made its debut.

“Heart of the Harbor” is not your usual cookbook. Made of the highest quality material, the cover and pages wipe clean. A spiral binding allows it to lay flat, a benefit busy cooks will appreciate. The book’s sections- appetizers and beverages, bread and breakfast, soup and stews, salads and dressings, meat/seafood/poultry, pasta and rice, vegetables and sides and desserts- are separated by dazzling Portsmouth snapshots, pictures of the city’s four museums and other landmarks, with a short history lesson accompanying each. Most pages have tips that will appeal to both seasoned cooks and kitchen novices. Recipes received from friends, family and acquaintances from across the nation and world were tested three times. Some have written remembrances to mothers, grandmothers and other family members. Seven local chefs donated recipes, including Peter Coe of Taste Unlimited, Deon Foster of The Kitchen Koop, Phillip Thomason of Vintage Kitchen and Sydney Meers of Stove.

“Risotto Fit for a Prince” got its name when England’s Prince Charles had the dish the first night of a visit to Charlestown S.C. and requested it daily for the rest of his visit. Soupa de Galinha is a Portuguese chicken and rice soup that has been in Bett’s family for five generations. The recipe had never been written, and Bett and her mother had to cook and recook the dish to get the correct measurements. A dessert favorite is the French dessert, Bete Noir (Chocolate Beast). There are kid friendly recipes too, including one created by ten year old Anna Cornetta.

“The Heart of the Harbor” is a high-quality, practical cooking manual that looks and reads like a coffee table book. It is the perfect gift for new and seasoned cooks as well as lovers of local history. It’s $27.95 plus tax and can be received by calling the Museums Foundation at 393-8983 or ordered online at www.HeartoftheHarborcookbook.com