Philip W. Hiden
Encyclopedia
Philip Wallace Hiden was a businessman and mayor
in Newport News, Virginia
.
Hiden, whose earlier ancestors from England used the spelling Hyden, was born in Orange, Virginia
. He married Martha (née Woodroof) Hiden (1888–1959).
Philip W. Hiden owned the Hiden Storage and Forwarding Company and was a local land baron, owning most of the land in and around Nutmeg Quarter in Warwick County, Virginia
. He served as the mayor
of the independent city
of Newport News
from 1920 to 1924. He was the first mayor to serve under a new City Council-City Manager
form of government, as opposed to being directly elected.
Hiden was also an organizer and director of the James River Bridge Corporation, a privately-owned company which funded and built the new James River Bridge
and two other toll bridge
s along U.S. Route 17
between Newport News and Portsmouth
which opened in 1928. In combination with the separately-owned Norfolk and Portsmouth Bridge, later renamed the Jordan Bridge
for founding South Norfolk
businessman Carl Jordan, they formed a land and bridge route for automobiles as an alternative to several ferry
systems.
About 15 years after his death, Hiden's daughter Woodroof divided one 200 acre (0.809372 km²) parcel into a residential area. This area was developed came to be known as Hidenwood
. It currently borders Christopher Newport University
to the west.
His widow, along with the widow of Homer L. Ferguson
, (who had been a President of Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company and is credited with imitating development of Hilton Village
), were the guests of honor as they cut a symbolic ribbon at the ceremony that marked the consolidation of the cities of Newport News and Warwick
(the latter formerly Warwick County from 1634-1952) on July 1, 1958. The newly created much larger city assumed the better-known name of Newport News, and, in the early 21st century, is one of the major cities of Hampton Roads
which are linked by the Hampton Roads Beltway
encircling the harbor.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
.
Hiden, whose earlier ancestors from England used the spelling Hyden, was born in Orange, Virginia
Orange, Virginia
Orange is a town in Orange County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Orange County...
. He married Martha (née Woodroof) Hiden (1888–1959).
Philip W. Hiden owned the Hiden Storage and Forwarding Company and was a local land baron, owning most of the land in and around Nutmeg Quarter in Warwick County, Virginia
Warwick County, Virginia
Warwick County was a county in Southeast Virginia that was created from Warwick River Shire, one of eight created in the Virginia Colony in 1634. It became the City of Warwick on July 16, 1952...
. He served as the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Newport News
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
from 1920 to 1924. He was the first mayor to serve under a new City Council-City Manager
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government, as opposed to being directly elected.
Hiden was also an organizer and director of the James River Bridge Corporation, a privately-owned company which funded and built the new James River Bridge
James River Bridge
The James River Bridge is a four-lane divided highway lift bridge across the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia. Owned and operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation, it carries U.S. Route 17, U.S. Route 258, and State Route 32 across the river near its mouth at Hampton Roads...
and two other toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
s along U.S. Route 17
U.S. Route 17 in Virginia
U.S. Route 17 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Punta Gorda, Florida to Winchester, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line in Chesapeake north to its northern terminus at US 11, US 50, and US 522 in Winchester. US 17 is a major highway...
between Newport News and Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
which opened in 1928. In combination with the separately-owned Norfolk and Portsmouth Bridge, later renamed the Jordan Bridge
Jordan Bridge
Jordan Bridge was a tolled highway lift bridge which carried State Route 337 over the southern branch of the Elizabeth River from the City of Portsmouth into the City of Chesapeake in South Hampton Roads, Virginia....
for founding South Norfolk
South Norfolk, Virginia
South Norfolk was an independent city in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia and is now a section of the City of Chesapeake, one of the cities of Hampton Roads which surround the harbor of Hampton Roads and are linked by the Hampton Roads Beltway.-History:Located a few miles south of...
businessman Carl Jordan, they formed a land and bridge route for automobiles as an alternative to several ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
systems.
About 15 years after his death, Hiden's daughter Woodroof divided one 200 acre (0.809372 km²) parcel into a residential area. This area was developed came to be known as Hidenwood
Hidenwood
Hidenwood is a neighborhood in the independent city of Newport News, Virginia which is located off Warwick Boulevard just west of the campus of Christopher Newport University ....
. It currently borders Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University, or CNU, is a public liberal arts university located in Newport News, Virginia, United States. CNU is the youngest comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia...
to the west.
His widow, along with the widow of Homer L. Ferguson
Homer L. Ferguson
Homer Lenoir Ferguson was an author and businessman. He was President of Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia from July 22, 1915 through July 31, 1946.- Biography :...
, (who had been a President of Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company and is credited with imitating development of Hilton Village
Hilton Village
Hilton Village is a planned, English-village-style neighborhood in Newport News, Virginia. Recognized as a pioneering development in urban planning, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The neighborhood was built between 1918 and 1921 in response to the need for housing...
), were the guests of honor as they cut a symbolic ribbon at the ceremony that marked the consolidation of the cities of Newport News and Warwick
Warwick, Virginia
Warwick is an extinct independent city which was located in the State of Virginia in the United States from 1952 until 1958. Formed by a political conversion of the former Warwick County, Virginia , it is now part of the independent city of Newport News, Virginia.-History:Warwick River Shire, named...
(the latter formerly Warwick County from 1634-1952) on July 1, 1958. The newly created much larger city assumed the better-known name of Newport News, and, in the early 21st century, is one of the major cities of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
which are linked by the Hampton Roads Beltway
Hampton Roads Beltway
The Hampton Roads Beltway is a loop of Interstate 64 and Interstate 664, which links the communities of the Virginia Peninsula and South Hampton Roads which surround the body of water known as Hampton Roads and comprise much of the region of the same name in the southeastern portion of Virginia in...
encircling the harbor.