This wonderful photo is from a relation of W. R. Fensom, who built the livery stable at 917 Green Alley. The photo shows Fensom’s mother seated in the vehicle, which is in front of 140 S. Cherry (now demolished at the corner of Cumberland and Cherry). Fensom’s plumbing business was to the rear of this building.

The man in the middle with the hat on is Ashby D. Fensom Sr. I think the older woman sitting in the car is Mrs. Emma Arline Rowe Fensom White. She is the mother of William Rowe Fensom and Ashby D. Fensom Sr.

Welcome to the new Oregon Hill community new blog. We’ve been working on this for a few weeks and it seems like everything is good to go, so spread the word. Wanna get involved?

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VCU’s latest plan to demolish one historic livery stable in the Oregon Hill Historic District and to move another is strongly opposed by the neighborhood’s civic association. “We strongly object to VCU’s biased study that the livery stable at 917 Green Alley proposed for demolition lacks integrity,” stated OHNA President Scott Burger. “It is obviously the University that lacks integrity by going back on their promise to not encroach further into our historic neighborhood. The latest in a long string of misrepresentations on the project is VCU’s assertion that it will make the 100,000 sq. foot addition fit in with the modest 1,500 sq. foot Oregon Hill homes.”

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1914 Foster photograph of C. W. Antrim & Sons, “Better Acquaintance Week.” Hugh Antrim is the gentleman in the white suit standing on the left streetcar third from the left of the Morara Coffee sign. Source, John Antrim.

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Livery stables are very rare survivals in the City of Richmond. The livery stable at 917 Green Alley, built in 1909 by William Rowe Fensom, is the best example of the 6 or so left in the city.

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Being not nearly as hot as last week, today is a great day to wander on over to the Byrd House Market (open from 3:30-7PM). Musical entertainment this will be provided by Mike Vogil.

Style Weekly’s The Arts 25 profiles locals that include Minimum Wage Recording’s Lance Koehler and artist Adam Juresko.

Just got back from walking the dogs- man, the VCU traffic congestion is out of control. Makes me so much eager to post some thoughts on the latest draft map of western downtown from the City’s Community Development downtown planning process…

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Mary West delights toddlers and pre-school age kids with her engaging story telling today @10AM in Story Time In the Library, and later the Byrd House Market is open from 3:30-7PM. Musical entertainment at the Market this week will be provided by Jim O’Brien playing acoustic guitar.

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Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association members have new information of a 1994 attempt by VCU to acquire/demolish 911 Green Alley and demolish 917 Green Alley, but the EIR was rejected by the DEQ, in large part because the DHR cited the rarity of surviving livery stables in Richmond. It is indisputable that thirteen years later these same livery stables are an even rarer historic resource.

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