James River Park Public Service Announcement

James River Park System PSA - Pick up Your Trash! from Max Posner on Vimeo.

A message from James River Park System Superintendent, Nathan Burrell on the importance of picking up the trash you bring into the JRPS.

Please pack out what you pack in to The James River Park System.

Don't trash our treasure!

Brought to you by The James River Outdoor Coalition.

https://www.facebook.com/jroc.rva?fref=ts

…same goes for Oregon Hill. Resident or visitor, please pick up your trash!

Pratt’s Castle

Quite visible from Oregon Hill was one of the most celebrated buildings of Richmond, known as Pratt’s Castle (Folly or Cottage). This building with crenelated towers was constructed on Gamble’s Hill above the Penitentiary Basin by a master of the daguerreotype, William Pratt. An article in the Daily Dispatch from February 1853 records that the unusual edifice was under construction: “[W]e observed the new and unique cottage of Mr. Pratt, the Daguerrean, looking up in skeleton grandeur … The architect has, even in its chrysalis state, imparted to this building an imposing aspect.” This reporter also notes that two “spacious and comfortable” canal boats were being built in the Penitentiary Basin below Gamble’s Hill.

A later article in the Times Dispatch from May 1904 details the rich contents of the castle, lately owned by Samuel Cornick and his wife Hennie, the daughter of Mayor Joseph Mayo. All of the extensive art work, silver, china and diamonds were being sold, including, “25 tons of coal, stores of provisions sufficient to withstand a siege of famine …”

An advertisement for the sale of the castle in 1906 highlights the “cathedral glass” in the hall and parlor. This cathedral glass is notable in the 1865 photograph (detail) of Pratt’s Castle taken by Matthew Brady, found in the National Archives.

In 1958, Ethyl Corporation demolished Pratt’s Castle, one of Richmond’s most distinctive buildings, over the strong objections of Richmond’s preservationists. Around 1983, Ethyl Corp. traded Brown’s Island on the flood plane for the city’s prominent Gamble’s Hill Park with spectacular river views.

Photo credits:
Daily Dispatch, February 4, 1853, Library of Congress
Times Dispatch, July 1, 1906, Library of Congress
Pratt’s Castle, by Matthew Brady, National Archives
Pratt’s Castle, by Matthew Brady (detail), National Archives
Pratt advertisement, February 6, 1854, Daily Dispatch, Library of Congress
Pratt’s Castle, 1905 Sanborn map, Library of Congress

Pratt's Castle, Feb 4  1853, Daily Dispatch copyPratts Castle, July 1 1906 Times DispatchPratt's Castle (detail) National ArchivesPratt's Castle, National ArchivesPratt advertisement Feb 6 1854 Daily DispatchPratt's Castle on 1905 Sanborn map

RVA Clean Sweep – Oregon Hill Monthly Clean Up

RVA Clean Sweep is an all volunteer trash clean up group that aims to help neighbors and neighborhood associations establish monthly clean ups. From the MeetUp.com event page:

Sunday, August 2, 2015
8:00 AM to 9:30 AM

We will be holding trash pickers & wearing some orange shirts!
We will be meeting on the corner of Idlewood & Cherry and covering Harrison to Belvedere.

All supplies will be provided. Please wear closed toed shoes and bring a water bottle.

Lane Closure – Belvidere Street Bridge

From City press release:

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2015
For more information, contact:
Paige Hairston – (804) 646-3659

Lane Closure – Belvidere Street Bridge
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works

WHAT: Lane Closure

WHEN: Wednesday, July 29 through Friday, August 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Belvidere Street Bridge over Brook Road and CSX

BACKGROUND: There will be alternating lane closures between northbound and southbound Belvidere Street to prepare for the mill and overlay of the bridge.

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Richmond2015/UCI Bicycle Race Information Meetings Schedule

From Richmond2015 email:

Richmond 2015, the organizers of the UCI Road World Championships will host a series of informational meetings to help the community “Get Race Ready”!

During these meetings the community can learn from race officials about the race routes and schedules, the traffic management plan, where to party and how they can get engaged with this once in a generation opportunity to see the best cyclists in the World race through their backyards.

The series of meetings will take place daily the first two weeks of August at various times and locations throughout the region. See below and attached for a schedule of these public meetings.

Please share this information with your customers, patrons, members, employees, etc. As well as on your webpages, social media pages, etc. to help Richmond 2015 reach those who live, work and play in the impacted areas.

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