Learn about the history, artwork and symbolism of Hollywood Cemetery, as well as the famous personalities buried there, including two U.S. Presidents, writer Ellen Glasgow, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Civil War Generals George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart, and thousands of Confederate and Union soldiers in a special 2-hour walking tour on Sunday, July 13, from 2-4PM. Meet your guide at the cemetery entrance at Cherry & Albemarle Sts. [via]

One of the few good things about the VCU rec center project is that VCU will finally properly renovate the historic City Auditorium building. Right now you can really see and appreciate this magnificent architecture of the original structure, though sans its supporting stables. It was the ‘white elephant’ arts center project of its day, and went through a couple of uses, including a farmer’s market as well as concert hall. It hosted a number of famous speakers, including Presidents.

See it while you can, because it is supposed to be enveloped by the construction of the massive, 100,000 sq. ft. rec center.

Check out this link on Scotty Moore, Elvis’ guitar players website. Great shots. Please notice the New Years Day, 1959 picture of Monroe Park in the background as the Pilgrimage of Prayer marched to the Capitol.

Tip of the hat to Todd Woodson at Candyland Music.

http://scottymoore.net/richmond.html

Built around 1818, the residence of Quaker abolitionist Samuel Pleasants Parsons at 601 Spring Street is strongly believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. [via]

Blog post on 611 W. Main St. has very cool old photos and music video.

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Over the years, Oregon Hill’s boundaries have clearly changed. In fact, some wags say that the actual Oregon Hill neighborhood, as first established, existed mostly further east of it’s current location. Whole streets of row houses (and Pratt’s Castle in Gamble’s Hill) made way for institutional development, like the Virginia War Memorial and Virginia Housing Development Authority. Of course, the neighborhood has been steadily forced to give ground to the expansionist plans of Virginia Commonwealth University. Oregon Hill used to be on Main Street.

As King I declare Oregon Hill’s current boundaries as the following: to the east, Belvidere Street, to the west, Hollywood Cemetery and S. Harrison Street, to the north, W. Cary Street, to the south, the north bank of the Kanawha Canal.

This is necessary for three reasons. One is that VCU, the City, and other entities keep trying to play games with the official borders and that is unacceptable. Secondly, in addition to defining the current area, with this royal declaration, I am unilaterally acting to name Oregon Hill one of the City of Richmond’s Old and Historic Districts.

Some explanation may be in order: Oregon Hill already has Federal and State recognition as a historical district. “Oregon Hill is one of the best examples of an intact working-class Victorian (1837-1901) neighborhood in the United States.” It has many historic structures- from Grace Arents‘ legacy- the William Byrd Community House (the first free library in Richmond), the Arents School (Open High), St. Andrew’s Church, to earlier Quaker and free black buildings- the Jacob House, the John Miller House, and the Parsons House, to name a few. There is no doubt that it is worthy of being included as a City Old and Historical District.

For years, many preservationists have lamented that Oregon Hill had not received this status. If it was just a matter of getting a vote from the neighborhood association, it would have been done years ago. Unfortunately, it had required a petition drive that many absentee landlords and speculators would not want to take part in. With this decree, I bypass the bureaucracy.

While State and Federal status offers some protections, City designation offers more. In the past there has been concern from residents and property owners that going with the designation would surrender too much control to the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), but since I am King and all final decisions come to my absolute authority anyway, there is now less concern with CAR’s power. I will hear neighbor appeals and rule accordingly.

Which bring me to the third reason for declaring the boundaries. As King, I reserve my right to expand them in the future. Since the City no longer annexes surrounding areas, I might as well annex on behalf of the neighborhood. To be announced…

The Valentine Richmond History Center’s Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour kicks off tomorrow. The tour is every Monday-Saturday from 10-11:30 until October 31st. Meet the guide at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle Street. $10 adults; $9 in advance; $5 History Center members and children 6-18 years old; children under 6 are free.

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Unfortunately, I could not find a web link for it, but there is a fanciful Oregon Hill memoir by Sara Daves in the VCU student magazine the vine.

She describes growing up in a bohemian household at 700 S. Laurel called “the 700 Club”. The house was eventually torn down and Overlook condo town homes are there now.

ACORN’s 5th Annual Susan Carter Williams Memorial Seminar, Researching the History of Your House, this morning at the Library of Virginia included the presentations Architectural Eras, Styles and House Types by Kim Chen , Your Historic Property: Detective Work at the Library of Virginia by Vince Brooks, Resources available at your Main Public Library by Harriet Henderson, Property Record Evidence at the John Marshall Courthouse by Michael Dodson, and Uncovering Clues at the Valentine Richmond History Center by Meg Glass.

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I have posted volume II of the OH then and now series. This set focuses on the changing landscape of the northernmost portion of the neighborhood, most of which is long gone. It’s best to click on the OH now and then set and watch it as a slideshow, as I have the current and former pictures arranged, back to back. The link is once again: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadrichmond/

Thanks, greg