The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports planned construction of a $37 million, 28,500-square-foot building that is expected to begin early next year. American Civil War Museum Foundation president Waite Rawls says the new building will offer expanded gallery spaces, an experience theater and improved storage and preservation areas for the museum’s collections of Civil War artifacts. It should open around summer 2018.
From Hollywood Cemetery and the FaceBook event page:
President James Monroe’s birthday celebration is an annual event at Hollywood Cemetery. A gravesite presidential wreathlaying ceremony will be hosted by the James Monroe Memorial Foundation. The event will begain at 11:0am, but is subject to any changes by the Army, which conducts the ceremony.
Don’t forget to RSVP for the upcoming Friends Of Hollywood Annual Picnic.
Well, last time this was scheduled, Slayer was playing the National, former President Bill Clinton paid a last minute visit to the Hippodrome, and there were tornado warnings, complete with VCU sirens. Let’s see what happens on Tuesday-
The Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council, (OHHIC) a neighborhood membership organization whose mission includes historical preservation, is presenting an author’s talk about historic Tredegar Iron Works on Tuesday, April 19th at 7 pm. Local historian Nathan Vernon Madison, a graduate of the University of Mary Washington (BA) and Virginia Commonwealth University (MA), will present and discuss his recently released book, Tredegar Iron Works. His account utilizes a wealth of primary sources and firsthand accounts to chronicle the full history of the Richmond industrial icon. The Oregon Hill neighborhood was built and occupied by many of the foundry’s workers and therefore has a special connection to this history. This author’s talk is co-hosted by St. Andrew’s Church and will take place in their chapel at 236 S. Laurel Street. After the presentation Mr. Madison will be available to sign books. This event is free and open to the public, however seating will be limited and RSVP’s are appreciated.
From event website:
Join us at Historic Tredegar on Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the seventh annual Civil War and Emancipation Day.
Free Parking.Enjoy a variety of special events and programs, including walking tours, hands-on activities, living history, scholarly talks, and more. In particular this year, explore the immediate and modern legacies of the Civil War and Emancipation, including how citizens chose to rebuild their communities and make sense of the impacts of four years of war, as well as how their choices are still visible in our community today.
See schedule by clicking here.
Note: This event has moved indoors due to the inclement weather.
From Hollywood Cemetery and FaceBook event page:
President John Tyler’s birthday memorial takes place on March 29th each year in Presidents Circle. The presidential event celebrates the life of the tenth President of the United States.
This event is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, March 29 at 11 AM
From a neighbor:
my friend Mike Garrett and wife in 1972 in part of Oregon Hill that was obliterated by VCU.
Thanks to some polite correspondence from Laurel Street neighbor, Charles Pool, the Times Dispatch kindly made this correction to their earlier story on the history of the Virginia War Memorial.
The Virginia War Memorial lies on the eastern side of Oregon Hill. A Feb. 24 story on Page A1 about the memorial’s 60th anniversary incorrectly described its location.
The Times Dispatch ran an article this morning on the 60th anniversary of the Virginia War Memorial. Unfortunately, it lacks acknowledgement of the historical fact that many Oregon Hill homes were demolished to build the War Memorial.
Instead the article begins with this: “In 1953, the hill overlooking the James River along Belvidere Street was home to a couple of small buildings and a billboard for Purelube motor oil.” The article later describes the site as being atop Gambles Hill rather than Oregon Hill: “But for decades, the memorial often stood vacant atop Gambles Hill …”
The reality is that the Va. War Memorial is sited on Oregon HIll where many homes were demolished to make way for the memorial.
From the http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/richmond/oregonhillhd.html”>National Parks Service website, regarding the Oregon Hill Historic District:
“In 1847, the Harvie Family platted their property east of Belvidere and south of the penitentiary as the Oregon Hill subdivision. The community’s name came from the witty geographic observation that a pedestrian excursion trip from the center of Richmond to Oregon Hill seemed the equivalent of a trip to Oregon by the standards of the day. The original portion of Oregon Hill consisted of modest houses east of Belvidere and south of Spring Street. Its early occupants were a mixture of white and African American laborers and artisans. This area, just outside the boundary of the district, was demolished to construct the Virginia War Memorial and state office buildings.”
From press release:
The Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council, (OHHIC) a neighborhood membership organization whose mission includes historical preservation, is presenting an author’s talk about historic Tredegar Iron Works on Wednesday, February 24th at 6:30 pm. Local historian Nathan Vernon Madison, a graduate of the University of Mary Washington (BA) and Virginia Commonwealth University (MA), will present and discuss his recently released book, Tredegar Iron Works. His account utilizes a wealth of primary sources and firsthand accounts to chronicle the full history of the Richmond industrial icon. The Oregon Hill neighborhood was built and occupied by many of the foundry’s workers and therefore has a special connection to this history. This author’s talk is co-hosted by St. Andrew’s Church and will take place in their chapel at 236 S. Laurel Street. After the presentation Mr. Madison will be available to sign books. A small reception will follow the talk next door at the St. Andrew’s Parish House. This event is free and open to the public, however seating will be limited and RSVP’s are appreciated.
Related links:
St Andrew’s Church
Richmond Magazine article on Mr. Madison and Tredegar Iron Works
Amazon.com author’s profile
(photo courtesy of William Pickett)