44 thoughts on “Breaking News: Albemarle House On Fire”

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  4. From what neighbors have told me, no one was injured in the fire, though I have no official confirmation of that.

    The 3 historic houses there will need to be torn down though, and many of us feel sick to our stomachs about that.

  10. No problem! If anyone hears of how we can help the displaced folks, let us know. My church wants to help out and I’m sure all the other neighbors do too.

  13. This is my little brother’s house..He was touring with his band so luckily wasn’t there..his roommate Oliver, saved their cat and the neighbors pets…I am so sad for them, they have lost all of their belongings and their home. It is absolutely awful.

  14. Mojos (corner of laurel and cary) is a drop of spot for anything anyone wants to help with. Clothes (will update shortly with sizes), blankets, books, movies anything that can help is appreciated.

    There will be a benefit show at mojos saturday evening where donations will be excepted

  15. *sigh* I’m sorry to hear of this. I have yet to get around to photographing Oregon Hill. To have a record of what exists has always been my reason. I’m sorry for those who lived there. Scott up for one of my photo tours one day?

  17. This was my big brother’s house. Thank god for Oliver, he is like a super hero! And I am so sorry for anyone else who was on their street who lost their whole world.

  18. Thanks so much to our Fire Fighters! These folks stand at the ready to risk all to save us when we need them. Gob Bless them!

  19. We know a few of the guys that live there (Oliver and Carl). Haven’t talked to either of them yet, but hope to very soon.

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  21. Did the fire start from someone leaving a burning cigarette on the sofa? The news is reporting that it started from a sofa out front…don’t know what else could have happened..

  22. 200 years these houses stood, brought down by one asshat who was too lazy to put out their cigarette. Now one more part of the history of our neighborhood has been destroyed. You know who you are, and your neighbors probably do too. Be an adult and own up to it.

  23. Malcom,

    The only one that looks like an ” asshat” right now is you. Historical architecture and neighborhoods are fine and dandy, but someone easily could have died. It’s bad enough that these people have lost everything they own and a real sweet pup died, so I’m pretty sure they don’t need you gathering pitch forks and torches. Think about it, buddy.

    Branch

  24. “Someone” didn’t die, but a dog that didn’t deserve to did. If “someone” had died, it would still be the fault of the person who was too irresponsible to show even a small amount of common sense while indulging in a habit. I feel for the folks who lost their homes as I personally know how house fires can ruin lives. Watching those houses burn brought back memories which I would have rather not relived, a good chunk of my childhood gone. So while patting yourself on the back for being so concerned about “what could have been” stop to think that someone is culpable for causing the pain heaped upon those innocent neighbors not to mention causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. You seem more than willing to let them off the hook while patting yourself on the back for being so concerned. Since you want to play hypothetical situation…imagine if people had died and the person responsible walked. Think about that “buddy”.

    M.

  25. Malcom deserves to suffer a similar tragedy and then he might change his tune.
    My grandson Carl lived in this house and he and his fellow students have lost everything – but the thoughtfulness and help offered by the majority in the neighbourhood has restored my faith in human nature. Therefore, I would like to thank all those people who have contributed so much to their recovery.
    Thankfully, people like Malcom are in the minority in this world.

  26. just sad all around –for the dog, for the people, for the historic neighborhood. I put many many hours into that house, and never imagined this outcome. Hope folks donate stuff, and come to the benefit. Will someone post more details?

  27. Any more info on what kinds of things they need? I have quite a few people interested in donating, but we need a bit more direction. If we don’t hear back, we will just buy unisex general household items and hope not to duplicate efforts. Thanks for letting me know.

  28. Hi. More info:
    We are accepting donations of clothing, shoes, toiletries, blankets, pillows, pet supplies, books, music, comics (these kids were into comics and lost their entire collections), etc. at Mojo’s, 733 W Cary. Similar drop spots are being set up at 821 Cafe, Empire, and Rumors Boutique. You can donate cold hard digital cash at the paypal button on the above website, or at Mojo’s on Saturday night, which brings me too —
    the benefit show will take place at 9 PM on Saturday. Friendly Fire (Carl, Max & Harris’s band, who all lived in this house) is headlining, and our friends Frankzig, Pedals on Our Pirate Ships, and The Hotdamns are all also playing. We will ask for $4 donations at the door, plus all our staff have agreed to donate their tips for the evening to the cause. Also Berg’s Bicycles has donated us a beautiful vintage Motobecane 10 Speed to raffle off at the show. Raffle tickets will be $10.
    Our goal is to raise enough money to give each of these awesome nine kids cash towards their looming unexpected rent deposits and the restoration of their households. They’re all students or around that age and it’s really difficult to plan and save for such a sudden loss. If anyone has any more information, please contact us via the myspace page or mojosrva@gmail.com. We are open to any ideas of how to help. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

  29. Oh, and we are also still in the process of collecting clothing sizes, but I do know we need men’s shoes sized 10, 12 and 9, and also men’s clothes sized small & medium, pants sized 32, 30 & 28, women’s shoes sized 8 and women’s clothes sized medium and small. Still waiting for dress & pants sizes from the girls, as well as other shoe sizes. If anyone knows Michael, Carrie, Courtney, and Rachel and would like to post this information that would be awesome. Thanks again.

  31. I don’t agree with Malcolm’s sentiments, but I do think if the fire was caused by a burning cigarette at 712, the person who is responsible should take responsibility…if that is the case, this wasn’t entirely just some mishap that couldn’t have been avoided. I feel horribly for the nine displaced residents (and I have met one of the kids at 708 who is a great person all-around), but leaving a burning cigarette is easy to avoid if careful. Are these kids going to be responsible for the actual housing costs too? If so, that’s pretty rough.

  33. I want to thank this neighborhood for all of the support you have given us through this. I do ask that everyone remains respectful and sensitive to our loss as you blindly speculate and point fingers. If someone is responsible for starting this fire what does that change. What does that bring back? It would definitely calm my curiosity, but the more I learn about the first moments of the fire, the more I get a little disappointed. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for pretty much 6 years. I’ve seen it at it’s best and worst. This week, I’ve never been prouder of Oregon Hill. The support from this community has been overwhelming. Thank you for everything. Below is a eulogy I have reposted about SOMEONE named Duke.

    As you may have heard, my apartment burned down March 10. Everything I had was lost including my best friend of 6 years, an eight year-old German Shepard like mutt named Duke. For those of you who knew Duke, you share my loss. Duke was a pretty amazing dog. Everyone says their dog is amazing, but Duke was really special. Duke wasn’t so much a pet as he was a best friend. He was always there for me to help me through tough times and celebrated great ones. He woke me up every morning when I refused to acknowledge my 2 alarm clocks. He often flirted with girls I was trying to flirt with proving his game was far superior to my own. He was very particular how he ate with the exception of trash or pizza (the latter would usually inappropriately excite him.) Whether it was sneaking into the cemetery or walking me home from the bar, Duke was always pretty reliable and down for anything. He taught me so much about life and I hope I made life fun for him.

    Duke’s six years with me is only the second part of his story. Little is known about his mysterious past other than how he was found. Neglected and tied up, Duke was rescued by animal control then turned over to SPCA where they had to surgically remove his ingrown collar. When I found Duke in the SPCA 2 months later, it was on my 21st birthday. He had a nice room about the size of mine at the time. He was the first dog I saw before visiting the rest of the dogs. The way he trotted over and leaned into my shins for affection hooked me. Then I saw the effect his performance had on girls when they wouldn’t let me take him right away until they could all say goodbye. In the face of much trauma, Duke persevered to become the manipulative, loyal, adorable, hilarious, anal, lovable sarcastic pain in the ass mutt who completed my life. This is thanks in no small part to the dedicated work done by the SPCA. I know that times are tough financially, but I am asking you to please donate $10 dollars or whatever you can spare to the Richmond SPCA in Duke’s name.

    https://www.richmondspca.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=234

    And the next time you eat pizza, drop a little on the floor in honor of Duke. I want to thank all of my friends and family for their offers of help, condolences and jokes that make me strong through this difficult time. I love you all.

    -Michael

  34. the community has been bursting all expectations of generosity and altruism – makes me love my species and my neighborhood and my lady richmond all that much more… thank u all

  35. i didn’t see the URL link either, but if anyone still needs it, it is http://www.myspace.com/hugyrfriendsandneighbors

    just an update, and we are SOOOO proud of how quickly & selflessly everyone in this community jumped at the chance to help out, we have on overwhelming amount of stuff at mojo’s that people have donated, and after the benefit show, monetary donations were over $5,ooo!! we are still working on this, because though that’s a very respectable sum, split 9 ways it’s barely enough for a security deposit. so please continue to support these folks if you can. Any of them would do the same for you. Thank you all!!

    oh, and Michael, i will totally drop pizza for my homie. and i’ll try to remember to call first.

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  41. Just a comment for Malcolm, and all those who think like him…
    Why are you so hell bent on placing blame on someone?? Would you like to have a name, so we can maybe hang him or her from a tree? Put them in a stockade? Throw stones at them? The past is behind us now…we can only move forward, and the blame game serves absolutely no purpose at this point, it will not change the outcome, nor will it help those who need help. Why not put some of that vengeful energy into doing something positive to help the residents of this move forward…? And, BTW, if there IS a responsible party, dont’ you think they are feeling bad enough at this point?? I really don’t think that publishing a name is going to make them feel any worse or keep them from making the same mistake again..I am pretty sure that will take care of itself, as they are probably in their own private hell of guilt…so, let it go, already, and help out in ways you can!!

  42. I really don’t want to belabor this, and I don’t plan to publish a firestarter’s name without permission, Oregon Hill is for the most part a live and let live place, and I am very thankful that no humans were seriously injured or killed, and I do want to move forward.

    All these disclaimers aside, I am glad Malcom spoke up, even if I do not quite agree with his tone. For one thing, there are people in the neighborhood who do agree with Malcom, and they do have a point- there’s something to be said for accountability, responsibility, honor, and shame. This neighborhood is NOT some hippie-dippy, quasi-VCU commune where there are no consequences. In other words, Sandi- I am calling you on your b.s. What if this incident, these three historic houses being destroyed, this dog dying was caused by a drunk person behind the wheel of a car?
    I don’t know how much it would help at this point if a firestarter did come forward, take responsibility, apologize, and try to make amends. It might though.

    As for positive next steps- I hope everyone who smokes (and this does include some dear friends of mine) re-evaluates their habit and thinks twice before throwing their butt down. The amount of cigarette litter around here is atrocious. I hope students recognize and take better care of their residences. I hope people stop putting flammable couches on their porches. I hope people follow the Fire Dept.’s recommendations for fire safety. I hope the houses that are built in the burned lots are good quality and compliment the neighborhood. I hope more people recognize and do more to support historic preservation and affordable housing efforts.

    The Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council (wwww.ohhic.org) besides being the oldest neighborhood community development corporation in Richmond may be the last neighborhood one standing. It would be nice if it had resources for the burned lots but right now it is trying to get infill done further down Laurel St. Like most non profits, it is struggling to stay afloat in this depressed economy. If a firestarter is looking for a place to make amends, OHHIC is not a bad place to start.

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