Truckin' on the Western Branch

Dan Hoffler Dan Hoffler, founder of Armada Hoffler Properties, grew up in Sterling Point in a brick ranch that was one of the first on Bidgood Drive. He graduated from Churchland High School in 1967. No one ever locked their doors. We came home from school, got on our bikes and rode all over the neighborhood. Mother always told us “Go out and play.” We played Wiffle ball, and everyone’s home was our home. We hunted turtles and snakes around Lake Circle and fished on the lake. It was crystal clear although I remember seeing houses across the lake draining their dishwashers into it. My earliest memory of Churchland is my Dad taking me on a Saturday errand run to the blacksmith shop where they sold tack for horses. I remember seeing the smith work with the forge and iron, shaping a horseshoe. We also went to what my Dad called the slaughterhouse—the butcher shop across the bridge. My second earliest memory is going to Churchland Baptist where my father was a deacon. Later, I skipped church to go to Speers where people drank beer. I got to know Eddie Speers really well. He later served on Chesapeake’s City Council. I credit our families with our successes. We were taught family values and honesty. No one lost their moral compass, and success was something to strive for although no one was pretentious. Dad was a naval architect at the Navy Yard, and although we were never rich, we were rich in many other ways.

Dan Hoffler. Images by Sheally

116