Family Photo Mystery

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A neighbor who lives on the 300 block of S. Pine Street has asked for some help with a mystery. After she moved into her row house in 2009, renovators found a trove of old photographs and bits of correspondence in the crawlspace under the house. While she has done her own investigating, she is still having trouble identifying the identities of the people in the photographs. She has asked that OregonHill.net help and ask its audience if anyone knows the people in the following photographs…the ultimate goal is to return these photos and things to the families…Please reply in the comments or send a contact form in.

In addition to the identities, a few more mysteries-

There seems to be a couple of family groups represented in the photos, including white and black members and groups- are these different family groups related? If so, how? Why are their photos together in this trove?

Why was this trove stashed in an Oregon Hill crawlspace? There’s nothing in the photos or bits of correspondence that establishes a connection to Oregon Hill. There’s no indication that the people in the photographs ever lived in the house or in Oregon Hill.

Oysters

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Manchester’s Dogtown Dish has a nice article on Oregon Hill resident Haleh Pedram’s upholstery business and her oyster-inspired pillows.

The RVA Environmental Film Festival has announced that the short film An Oyster’s-Eye View of the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program is the winning entry of the 2018 RVA EFF Virginia Film Contest.
Be sure to make plans to attend this festival in February. Attendance is FREE!

But the bigger picture news is that Chesapeake Bay oysters are making a tentative comeback. They are starting to show signs of resistance to scourges like Dermo and MSX. Sad to say, this good, desperately needed development may be threatened by offshore drilling.

Belle Isle POW Graves

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With the Artifacts Roadshow this weekend, perhaps this is a good time to share this fascinating blog post about using a high resolution Gardner image to find the actual names on a few of the tombstones of prisoners buried on Belle Isle during the Civil War.

From John Banks’ Civil War Blog:
Exploring photo of soldiers’ graves at Rebel prison in Richmond

On April 8, 1865, days after the fall of Richmond, Alexander Gardner captured scenes on Belle Isle, a 54-acre island in the James River opposite the former Confederate capital, where thousands of Union soldiers were imprisoned from 1862-65. Among the images Gardner shot was the poignant photograph at the top of this post of a graveyard for Union soldiers, many of whom died of disease, starvation or other inhumane treatment on the island that was home to nearly 10,000 prisoners of war at its maximum capacity. In the image, heaps of earth and crude, wooden headboards mark the final resting places of dozens of soldiers.

(Alexander Gardner/Library of Congress collection)

Artifacts Roadshow At Virginia War Memorial Saturday

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Style Magazine has a piece on the upcoming “Artifacts Roadshow” at the Virginia War Memorial.

Excerpt:

Whether a medal, canteen or helmet, every piece of military paraphernalia has its own distinctive story to tell.

One way to help unlock those stories is to take military-related items, whether passed down through the family, found in the attic or acquired antique hunting, to the Virginia War Memorial for the Artifacts Roadshow on Jan. 27.

The first-come, first-served event features Virginia War Memorial curator Jesse Smith, along with experts Robert House and Warren Shindle, examining items. House, whose area of expertise is firearms and edged weapons, works at Classic Firearms and Echoes of Glory Auction House in Virginia Beach and Shindle is a photo expert specializing in U.S. military photography from the 1840s to 1940s.

The public service event aims to help the public identify their memorabilia as well as any possible historical significance they hold. Artifacts of any era beginning with the War of 1812 through the Global War on Terrorism will be reviewed and preservation tips offered. There’s no admission charge or fee to have an expert review artifacts, although donations to the Virginia War Memorial are appreciated.

Neighborhood Association Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

Good morning neighbors!

Here is the agenda for our first OHNA meeting of 2018 which will be held tomorrow, Tuesday night 1/23/2018 at 7 PM at the ST Andrews Parish House next to the church on S Laurel. The times are most certainly not set in stone but I want to keep things moving to make the most of your valuable time. Lots of important people to meet and things to discuss so please come if you can and tell/bring a neighbor. ALL residents are welcome!

Todd.

Agenda 1/23/2018

7:00 Welcome

7:05 Introduction to new sector 413 leader Lt Roberts and update from RPD

7:15 Update from VCU PD Officer Greg Felton

7:20 Update fro Councilman Agelasto’s office- Amy Roberts

7:30 Introduction to Planning Director Mark Olinger followed by presentation on Richmond 300 Master Plan and discussion regarding inappropriate B3 Zoning on Oregon Hill Cary Street Corridor (Cherry to Belvedere and Belvedere to Cumberland)

7:55 Discussion of Holly St playground stabilization and improvements

8:05 Proposed development 800 block W Cary

8:20 New business
1. $200 grant for clean up/improvements discussion

8:25 Closing remarks

8:30 Adjournment

Plan Ahead- Off-Ramp Closing Next Week

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From City of Richmond:

Street Closure – Idlewood Avenue and Belvidere Street Off-Ramp
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works

WHAT: Street Closure

WHEN: Starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, January 29 through ending at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 2

WHERE:

· Idlewood Avenue from Harrison to Cherry Streets and

· I-95 Downtown Expressway/Belvidere Street off ramp

BACKGROUND: The aforementioned areas will be closed to complete the final stages of paving and to convert two-way traffic and pavement markings for the roundabout construction at the intersection of Idlewood Avenue, Grayland Avenue and the I-95 off ramp. Please use caution and follow the detour signs.