Hollywood Cemetery Specialty Walking Tour This Sunday

From the Valentine Richmond History Center:

May 12
Hollywood Cemetery Specialty Walking Tour* (2-4pm)
An extension of the daily “Highlights” tour, this version covers in more detail the cemetery’s unique history, landscape design, architecture, symbols and residents. Meet at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle streets.

Cannons for J.E.B. On Saturday

From email from Hollywood Cemetery:

This message is to notify you that there will be a memorial ceremony for J. E. B. Stuart on Saturday, May 11 at 11:00 a.m.

There will be cannon volleys fired as a part of the memorial service. The
participants have assured me that the minimum amount of powder will be used
in the volleys.

Thank you for assisting us in getting this message out to the surrounding
neighbors.

General Lee once said about J.E.B, ” He never brought me a false report.”

History Hounds Tour Hollywood Cemetery Saturday

From www.virginia.org:

Dogs are invited to join their owners for this walking tour of Hollywood Cemetery, in partnership with the Richmond SPCA. Dogs must have current shots, mix well with others and remain on a leash. Owners are responsible for water and cleaning up after their dogs. Space is limited. Reservations: (804) 649-0711 x301. Meet outside the cemetery gates at Cherry and Albemarle streets.
$10 per person
$5 for History Center Members
Walk-ups welcome.
Cash or check, or purchase online at richmondhistorytours.com.
On-street parking.
This tour is presented as part of the Richmond History Tours program, a service of the Valentine Richmond History Center. We offer a full schedule of walking and bus tours of city neighborhoods, waterways, parks, retail districts, historic sites and battlefields. Led by a trained master guide, a Richmond History Tour is the best way to experience the city’s rich past, present and future.

History Tourism

While the City is supposedly working on its tourism plan, the Valentine Richmond History Center is refining and announcing theirs. Here are a few of the Oregon Hill/Hollywood Cemetery ones:

April 1
Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour (10-11:30am)
Monday – Saturday, April 1-October 31
Learn about the cemetery’s history, artwork, symbolism and famous residents, including two U.S. Presidents, writer Ellen Glasgow, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Generals George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart. Meet at the rear of the stone structure on the left at the cemetery entrance, Cherry and Albemarle streets.

April 6
Civil War Sampler Bus Tour (1-5pm)
A comprehensive look at the unique role Richmond played as the Capital of the Confederacy. Includes Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom, Court End, the canal area, Hollywood Cemetery, Monument Avenue and the battlefields at Gaines’ Mill and Cold Harbor. Reservations: (804) 649-0711 x301. Meet at the History Center.

April 14
Hollywood Cemetery Specialty Walking Tour* (2-4pm)
An extension of the daily “Highlights” tour, this version covers in more detail the cemetery’s unique history, landscape design, architecture, symbols and residents. Meet at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle streets.

April 27
History Hounds Explore Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour (10am-12pm)
Dogs are invited to join their owners for this walking tour of Hollywood Cemetery, in partnership with the Richmond SPCA. Dogs must have current shots, mix well with others and remain on a leash. Owners are responsible for water and cleaning up after their dogs. Space is limited. Reservations: (804) 649-0711 x301. Meet outside the cemetery gates at Cherry and Albemarle streets.

There are even more in May. Check out the schedule by clicking here.

Saturday Rose Work Day For Hollywood Cemetery

I mentioned this earlier, but the Times Dispatch also recently ran a nice story on volunteer effort at Hollywood Cemetery, scheduled for Saturday.

Now come this post from Hartwood Roses’ FaceBook page:

Two days to go until our big Rose Work Day at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. I’m feeling freakishly calm and prepared at this point … so much so that I’m beginning to worry that I have forgotten to do something. (I don’t THINK I’ve forgotten anything.)

I just finished the rose map. It’s all divided into sections that show what each team’s responsibilities will be. 130 roses, divided by 12 teams of 2-3 volunteers = a very rewarding morning’s worth of work!

(Have I told you lately how excited I am to be doing this?)

Hollywood Cemetery’s Guardian Dog Now Has Urban Legend Beer

From Richmond BizSense article:

Through 19 years of business, Legend has been fairly straightforward with its names — Legend Brown Ale, Legend Pilsner, Legend Porter.

“We like to be sure that people know what they are getting,” said Dave Gott, vice president of operations. Names sell the brewery and build brand allegiance.

One day, though, assistant brewer Brian Knight and others started tossing around ideas. They came up with a theme, the Urban Legend Series, and four names: Guardian Dog Doppelbock, Richmond Vampire Imperial Red Ale, Lost City Saison and Locomotive 231.

“They had all the names ready to go. We said, ‘Sounds good to us,’” Gott said.

History and local lore predominate. The Guardian Dog Doppelbock, the initial release that’s out now, pays tribute to the iron statue of a black dog that watches over a child’s grave in Hollywood Cemetery. There are several versions of the tale, and Legend notes the mystique.

“The dog has a personality of his own and has been reportedly discovered looking in various directions. He is said to come alive if he feels the need to protect his young mistress,” Legend’s description says.

The Iron Dog is one of the most popular monuments in the cemetery, and it appears the Legend series is a hit as well.

“People are really reacting to the names,” Gott said.