Civil War and Emancipation Day at Tredegar Tomorrow

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Scott

This year’s Civil War and Emancipation Day highlights two significant themes in post-War Richmond that have evolved into fundamental components of our modern democracy: voting and education.

Join cultural, historical, and community organizations from Greater Richmond for a day of hands-on activities, performances, historical talks, and a mid-day keynote program.

Admission is free. For more information and a schedule of activities, visit https://acwm.org/richmonds-journey/civil-war-and-emancipation-day.

Participating Organizations:

American Civil War Museum
Black History Museum & Cultural Center
City Dance Theatre, Richmond, VA
East End Cemetery Cleanup & Restoration Project
Groundwork RVA
League of Women Voters Metro Richmond, VA
Library of Virginia
The Mariners’ Museum and Park
Richmond Ballet
Richmond National Battlefield Park
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
Richmond Public Library
Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project
Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church (The Mount – Richmond)
Urban Archeology Corps RVA
The Valentine
VCU Department of History
Virtual Curation Laboratory
The Virginia Defender
Virginia Historical Society
VMFA Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Virginia State Capitol
Virginia Union University
Venture Richmond

Riverside Park View From 80’s

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Scott

Photo courtesy of William Pickett

Were You An Earthling?

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Scott

Doing ‘Throwback Thursday’ a day early. Found some old signs while cleaning out my shed this past weekend (in preparation for this coming weekend’s yard sale). Some older residents may remember participating in the Earthlings Food Coop, which shared local seed/produce and split up truckloads from United Natural Foods.

Eventually the Earthlings dwindled away, but the dream continues with the Richmond Food Coop, which is setting up across the river. They are holding a volunteer interest meeting this evening at 6 pm at Cafe Zata.

You Are Invited! (No Joke)

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Scott

Please come and celebrate the unveiling of the new OREGON HILL highway marker to commemorate the important history of the Oregon Hill neighborhood!

What: Highway marker dedication ceremony with guest speaker Councilman Parker Agelasto

When: Friday, April 7, 2017 at 3:00 pm

Where: 911 Idlewood Avenue (one block west of St. Andrews School)

World War I Historical Reenactment In Monroe Park This Thursday

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Scott

After prolonged discussion between local history groups, the City government, and the Monroe Park Conservancy, plans are reportedly coming together for the staging of a historic reenactment of World War I trench warfare in Monroe Park this coming Thursday. This event will correspond with other World War I centennial commemoration events happening throughout the Commonwealth.

As one third-party observer put it:

After so much controversy regarding the taking down of trees and beginning of serious renovations for Monroe Park, I guess they thought they should make lemonade out of lemons and invite hobbyists and re-enactors to make use of the current state of the park by demonstrating the World War One innovation of trench warfare. They want to increase and diversify uses of the park going forward and in their ongoing conversations with the City, this was suggested as an educational opportunity for Richmond.

A local design firm has been engaged to set up barbwire and pillbox forts around perimeters, but they are still waiting for decisions on the use of replica tanks and inert mustard gas.

There will be some corporately-sponsored V.I.P. tents set up and rented during the event, which should help make Monroe Park a profit center and encourage the privatization of other public City parks.

The announcement of the reenactment event has already brought different responses. A gaggle of Oregon Hill residents have vowed to bring an old-style protest along Main Street, while some elderly Prestwould Condominium residents, a few of whom still have personal recollections of WWI, look forward to their bird’s eye view of the spectacle. ‘White helmets’ are organizing to protect nearby homeless.

Interestingly enough, the City’s Urban Design Committee is scheduled to meet this same Thursday, and while trench warfare is not on the agenda, some new Monroe Park plans are.

Eliza Jane and 811 W. Cary

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Scott

I am sorry to say that I just heard that “Granny”, the woman who inspired the “Eliza Jane RVA” blog, passed away earlier today. I enjoyed relating “The Lady in the Lavender Hat”. Here’s “Laughter & Freedom”, in her honor:

Granny’s family lived at 811 W. Cary Street. In those days Oregon Hill continued into that area, before the Downtown Expressway sliced through it’s edge, and before Virginia Commonwealth University put up a parking deck at Cary and Laurel. The house was just a few doors down from Paragon Pharmacy, where Granny and her friends would roller skate out front due to it having the only concrete. The rest of the sidewalks in the neighborhood were red brick. The family’s house had two sets of steps on the front: one set went up to the porch and front door, the other set went down to the family grocery store where Granny would steal penny candy throughout the day.

Backyard at 811 W. Cary St., Oregon Hill

The house was attached on the right side to another home and the two families were friendly. Granny says she rarely got from one place to another in the usual fashion, much to her mother’s (Lena’s) chagrin: To visit her neighbors, Granny would simply climb over the railing dividing their porches.

Sisters Frances and Claryce (“Ikey”), eldest two of the four siblings

Eventually the family moved around the corner to Randolph Street. On the left side of the home there was a low building with a metal roof. Instead of going downstairs and out the front door, Granny would jump from her second story bedroom window onto the metal roof next door, then jump once more to the ground to run off and go play. She still describes this act with a far away look in her eyes and laughter in her voice.

811 W. Cary Street (with Harvey Hardware in the background) Photo courtesy of Charles Allen Sugg

Author’s note:

The two middle homes pictured here – the first of which is 811 W. Cary St. – were torn down just a short time before I arrived to take a picture for my Granny. I was devastated. She had given me the address in her distinctive “Old Richmond” accent: “Eight Eleh’m West Curry Street” (811 W. Cary Street). Fortunately, Charles Allen Sugg had photographed it in 2008 and came to my rescue. A copy of this photo now sits framed in my Granny’s home.