This ‘Throwback Thursday’, check out this eBay sale for an early 1900`s Chinese hand laundry advertising blotter for W. Lew’s, which was on Beverley Street. The seller gave me permission to post this photograph:
And for those who wonder where Beverely Street was, it was between Cumberland and Albemarle. Here is a screenshot from the Baist Atlas of the City of Richmond, published in 1889, available from VCU Libraries’ Digital Collections.
RVA Archeology has released a new video on YouTube and elsewhere about burials at the old Virginia State Penitentiary, close to Oregon Hill.
The Virginia State Penitentiary was a notorious Richmond prison — where many prisoners died. This video introduces the human skeletons that were found there, and who they represent. If this story interests you, please take our survey about how we should proceed next to investigate and memorialize the site: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RZMCHK8
A few quick notes-
Some of these burials are probably related to the building of the James River and Kanawha Canal, a history that the neighborhood has tried to bring forward.
If you are looking for a good history of the old prison, you may to want to pick up Dale Brumfield’s book Virginia State Penitentiary: A Notorious History, which was released just last year.
Of course, Oregon Hill’s history has often intertwined with the Penitentiary’s, but a lot of history, including these burials, is still coming to light.
Pine Street Baptist Church is selling 2019 Historic Oregon Hill Calendars. The calendar is composed of black and white photos from years gone by in the Oregon Hill community. The calendars are $15 and may be purchased at the church. Money raised will be used for Pine Street’s ongoing ministries. Call 644-0339 for more information. The calendars make a great Christmas gift.
Here’s a ‘Throwback Thursday’ for ya…The Bowties appearing at Benny’s…
From Throttle Magazine, May, 1985–
Keith MacPhee has left the Bowties, so that band is in the market for a bass player to join forces with Lloyd Huckstep, 800 and Earl Smith and Michael Pritchard. Together since November 1979, the Bowties are one of Richmond’s most enduring groups.
Sort of a different “Throwback Thursday” history post, that looks at another community called Oregon Hill:
This may also be the Pennsylvania locale that inspired Ted Toot’s 45.
Stealing from Dogtown Dish’s FaceBook feed for this ‘Throwback Thursday’ post:
Tredegar Ironworks During World War I, Richmond, VA. Date: Circa 1914-1918. “An interior photograph of the machine shop at the Tredegar ironworks shows production taking place during World War I. Though by late in the nineteenth century Tredegar had lost its position as one of the premier southern industrial enterprises, the company survived as a manufacturing entity into the 1980s.” Credit: Encyclopedia Virginia
A recent article in the The Nation magazine opened with this provocative statement- ‘Today, thanks in part to the efforts of a single Virginia family, as many as 97 percent of Americans have toxic flame retardants in their blood.” While it goes on to look at the insidious chemical industry and in particular Richmond’s Gottwald family and what was the Ethyl Corporation, it prompted some old Oregon Hill memories to resurface.
Besides its questionable international trade practices, the Ethyl Corporation bought a large swath of Oregon Hill overlooking the river and tore down many of the old houses.
While there are many important aspects to the history- here’s one to remember:
Around this time pubic radio station WCVE broadcasted a national environmental issues show called ‘Living On Earth‘. Worried about offending their main corporate sponsors, local NPR WCVE balked at broadcasting a show that was critical of Ethyl. When Chris Maxwell (an Oregon Hill resident at that time) complained to their board about it, one of them obnoxiously told him to go ahead and start his own radio station then. So Maxwell started Radio Free Richmond Project which eventually lead to WRIR 97.3 fm Richmond Independent Radio. And that is the true story about how WRIR got started- but don’t expect the local corporate media to repeat it. This is an important lesson for Richmond to remember- do NOT always trust large entities to tell the true stories and nonprofits should NOT become dependent on large corporate entities.
From Library of Virginia‘s recent photo aquisitions– Monroe Park, looking south across West Main Street in the 600 block, Richmond, Va. 1976
The Parsons House historic highway marker/sign that was destroyed in a vehicle accident a few years ago has been replaced, courtesy of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council. The Parsons house is an integral part of the historic fabric of Oregon Hill.
Price: $15 Adult, $5 Child, $5 Valentine members
Length: 2 hours
Parking: On Street
Meeting place: Enter at Cherry and Albemarle streets, meet at the rear of the stone structure to the left.
Tour Notes
Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged. Space is limited.
Valentine walking tours are typically between 1-2 miles in length. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water.
Accessibility- People of all abilities are encouraged to join us for tours. If you have accessibility challenges or need accommodation, please let us know in advance.
Tours are held rain or shine. However, in extreme weather a tour may be cancelled. Call 804-649-0711 x 301 to verify the tour will take place.
Admission includes a $5 donation to the Friends of Hollywood Cemetery for ongoing restoration. Tours are made possible through a generous partnership with Hollywood Cemetery.