THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 22, 1994 TAG: 9412200166
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: In the Neighborhood
SOURCE: Mike Knepler
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
There's much talk about how more folks need to get involved in their communities.
But when other responsibilities take precedent, a community feels the loss - especially when the people leaving are the likes of Idaclaire Kerwin and Charles Cameron.
One wouldn't think to link Kerwin and Cameron except in coincidence: they're both leaving Norfolk.
Kerwin, a volunteer, led the Norfolk Historical Society in renovating old Fort Norfolk for public use. She also volunteered with the YWCA's battered-women's shelter and the boards of the YWCA and YMCA.
This month, she and her husband, Tom, a retired Norfolk Southern executive, moved to Arlington.
Cameron is leaving his job as Norfolk's assistant police chief to be police chief in Nags Head.
But, in common, they love Norfolk so deeply that they exemplify the art of making a difference.
Idaclaire Kerwin spent only 12 years in Norfolk. Her stint with the historical society was shorter.
She joined the historical society in the late 1980s after noticing that shards of ancient pottery were being uncovered and discarded at a downtown construction site. After that, her interest in history became more focused.
By 1990, Kerwin was the group's president. Her activism included challenging City Hall.
She was concerned that the city was erasing more local history by changing ``Boush Street'' to ``Waterside Drive North.''
The street, less than a mile in length, dated to 1762 when it was named for Samuel Boush, Norfolk's first mayor. City Hall wanted to drop the historic name to help improve promotional efforts for the Waterside marketplace.
Kerwin and Peggy Twohy, then the vice president, outflanked politicians, urban planners and professional marketers by going to every business on Boush Street.
City Hall backed down.
Kerwin's most notable achievement was launching Fort Norfolk's restoration. The four-acre fortress now is open on Sundays. This year, the society commemorated the site's 200th anniversary.
Bill Wooldridge, current president, once described her contribution this way: ``Fort Norfolk's history can be divided into three eras - the Army era, the Navy era and the Idaclaire Kerwin era.''
Kerwin's parting words: the city made great progress rebuilding downtown, but it must take more interest in promoting history.
If not, don't be surprised to hear from Kerwin. She has resubscribed to her cultural favorites, such as Virginia Opera and Virginia Stage.
No question, Kerwin plans to visit often, even if it means ``laying down a sleeping bag in the Fort Norfolk guardhouse,'' she said.
Charles Cameron, who leaves Jan. 13, is described as a ``cop's cop.'' The son of a policeman, the late Charles H. ``Scotty'' Cameron, the younger Cameron worked every unit, except youth and canine, in his 27 years on the force.
No matter the assignment, Cameron was a steady presence in Norfolk neighborhoods, starting as a patrolman in East Ocean View.
``I think it's important for every person who has the privilege of working for a city government to spend as much time in the communities as they can,'' he said. ``The citizens want it, they deserve it and, most of all, they appreciate it. I've never gone to meet with a group of citizens when I haven't learned something about them and something about myself.''
That attitude continues.
Instead of spending all his time on loose ends or preparing for his new job, Cameron continues to meet with community groups.
``I've decided to spend my time in the community and one-on-one with citizens to tell them how much I've appreciated them and their efforts,'' he said. by CNB