Past and Present Monroe Park Edifices

Ok, I might be stretching the term ‘edifice’, but neighbor Todd Woodson and Richard Lee Bland have been sharing some research on the fountain in Monroe Park on the FaceBook group Fans of Monroe Park.

Todd cited this passage:

“In 1872, Colonel Albert Ordway, Provost Marshal for Virginia (who lived close to the park) donated the park’s first fountain, built of stone, but city council rejected a petition from the “citizens near Monroe Park” for $2,500 in additional improvements. The requested improvements included a brick wall about two feet high around the park to prevent the embankment from washing on the pavement, granite post and chain to enclose the fountain, twenty iron seats, granite steps at the gates and for putting up the fountain donated by Colonel Ordway”.
From The Ghosts and Glories of Monroe Park- a Sesquicentennial History by David M. Clinger 1998.

Now quoting and paraphrasing Richard Lee Bland:

The history of (a later) fountain is very sketchy. Mary Wingfield Scott fixed the date of its appearance in the park in 1908. This stone pyramid precede but no dates to confirm.. In 1896 the original memorial to Jefferson Davis was intended to be at the park, a large colossal temple. The cornerstone was laid, but the project was abandoned. The 1970 article at the collapse states, “the fountain’s original upper tiers, which broke off many years ago, were replaced by new ones during a 1961 renovation.” Memories are both short and imperfect. I will comment the 1908 date is interesting due a four tier fountain once stood in Gamble’s Hill Park, overlooking the James River, now owned by Ethel Corporation.

The theory is that the Gamble’s Hill fountain was moved to Monroe Park in 1908 and that is the one there now. Here is a 1962 News Leader newspaper clipping where Mary Winfield Scott made that observation:

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An old photo of the fountain at Gamble’s Hill near Pratt’s Castle.
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Here is an old painting of the fountain in Monroe Park that is in the Special Collections at the VCU library:
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So, in terms of present edifices, an old and persistent hoarder has started to create a pile in Monroe Park. This woman is infamous for having done the same sort of thing in the Fan and Oregon Hill previously.
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This adds on to the current perception that the City and Monroe Park Conservancy are not being adequate stewards to historic Monroe Park. Still, young people continue to flock to Monroe Park to play Pokemon.

Holly Street Extortion

From RAIDSonline.com:

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
3XX TREDEGAR ST
Jul 28, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police Department

EXTORTION/BLACKMAIL
8XX HOLLY ST
Jul 28, 2016 at 8:45 am
Data provided by Richmond Police Department

CITY CODE VIOLATIONS – OPEN CONTAINER
X BELLE ISLE
Jul 28, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police Department

HIT AND RUN
2XX S LAUREL ST
Jul 26, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police Department

CITY CODE VIOLATIONS – OPEN CONTAINER
X BELLE ISLE
Jul 26, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Data provided by Richmond Police Department

Echo is Missing, Missing Still

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From posting:

Our cat, Echo is missing from the 400 block of Laurel. She is a domestic short hair. Calico with a split face—half black the other orange and white. Very sweet but she doesn’t ever wander out so we are very worried. If found please call 225-8921.

Reviled On Saturday

If you missed the Byrd Theater showing, here’s another chance to see this locally made zombie film at Mojo’s:

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From FaceBook event page:

Encore screening of REVILED Ep. 2 – the latest installment of Richmond filmmaker Jim Stramel’s zombie vs zombie pit fighting series. Starring Randall Robinson, J.R. Foster and Lee Reynolds and Featuring Sara Carpenter. Music by Angry Johnny and the Killbilles NOT RATED: Contains Foul Language, Violence and Questionable Taste – FREE